2023 Draft and UFA Thread

[GGpX]

I'm sure McPhee was fired because he drafted Kuznetsov and not because he made one of the worst trades of the last 30 years with the Forsberg for Erat trade. I'm sure.

 

[Sal_Butera]

I'm sure McPhee was fired because he drafted Kuznetsov and not because he made one of the worst trades of the last 30 years with the Forsberg for Erat trade. I'm sure.

At the end of the day almost no GM will want to explain to their boss why their 1st round asset will not be dressing for 3 / 4-years, unless they are in a full accepted rebuild or the team has enough depth / competitiveness to buy time

 

[lecoqsportif]

But three years is not uncommon.

 

[GrandWazoo]

Waiting 3 years for a superstar is nothing, especially when the organization has been waiting 40 years already.

 

[Habspatrol]

At the end of the day almost no GM will want to explain to their boss why their 1st round asset will not be dressing for 3 / 4-years, unless they are in a full accepted rebuild or the team has enough depth / competitiveness to buy time

Passing on one of Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and maybe Smith for a guy that won't play for 3 years might be a tough conversation... after that though... it's a better conversation than 3 years from now, explaining why you passed up on a superstar who's 21 years old and lighting it up on an ELC while Zach Benson is struggling on the 3rd line.

 

[Habsy]

The distended between fake and success is recognizing opportunity and pursuing it.

 

[GGpX]

I mean, there are tons of players that don't become NHL regulars until they're 22 or 23, but that's okay because they're not Russians and they're playing somewhere in North America, whether it's college or in the AHL.

I mean, this isn't even a serious discussion.

 

[Habsy]

Passing on one of Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and maybe Smith for a guy that won't play for 3 years might be a tough conversation... after that though... it's a better conversation than 3 years from now, explaining why you passed up on a superstar who's 21 years old and lighting it up on an ELC while Zach Benson is struggling on the 3rd line.

And the other top 4 will be coming out of their ELC while he's just entering. Perfect addition for a cup run.

 

[Habspatrol]

I mean, there are tons of players that don't become NHL regulars until they're 22 or 23, but that's okay because they're not Russians and they're playing somewhere in North America, whether it's college or in the AHL.

I mean, this isn't even a serious discussion.

I'm all in on Michkov, but I do see the war and rumoured pressure on him to stay in Russia being a little scary. But I don't hesitate, especially if the top 4 go in order.

 

[Habsy]

You also would receive pick 33 in the subsequent draft if he doesn't come over.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Really?

 

[GrandWazoo]

You also would receive pick 33 in the subsequent draft if he doesn't come over.

And you can always trade him to another team that has more patience.

 

[Habsy]

We've been waiting so long. I think it would be lunacy to pass on him if the other four are gone.

 

[GrandWazoo]

There is more risks passing on him than there is picking him.

 

[Krustchev]

There is more risks passing on him than there is picking him.

You have no way of knowing that . . . but I’d still probably take him.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Granted it was a completely different geo-political era… recall Malkin had a 3-year KHL deal in place prior to being drafted by Pens in 2004 and negotiated his way out of the deal after 2-seasons.

At the end of the day NHL is unmatched in terms of best combination of lucrative remuneration + business stability + luxury amenities of any pro level hockey league…

It's called the entry level contract. If the Habs can pay Michkov a huge bonus to make up the difference then maybe. Otherwise the KHL can offer more.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

View attachment 16414

So of the Caps draft him, Ovi will make a couple of calls.

 

[worm]

Random thought.

For what seems like the last 20 years, there's always been the so-called "Russian Factor", where a Russian player would have concerns about him because nobody was sure if they'd actually come over to North America. You had players like Kuznetsov, who was seen as a top 5 to 10 talent, fall all the way down to the late first because they weren't sure if he'd come over. Kaprizov, in terms of talent alone, was a project late first player who dropped to the 5th.

During that time period: Can any of you name me a single notable Russian prospect that didn't end up coming to North America? Or how about this: Can any of you name the notable Russian prospects that took an ungodly amount of time before they came over?

The only two prospects I can think of that fit the bill. Kirill Kaprizov took 5 years and Alexei Emelin took 7 years.

Literally every other notable Russian prospects - without exception - came to North America in a timely fashion.

If you're not going to take him because, hurr durr ruski hurrrrrrr hes not gonna come hurrrr, then I think you need to re-evaluate things.

Unless he said I dont want to play in the NHL.... But he said he'd be at the draft.

 

[Habsy]

Unless he said I dont want to play in the NHL.... But he said he'd be at the draft.

His father was trying to get out of the KHL contract. He wants to come over.

 

[legoalie]

We pick 5th, if he is available at 5 you pick him because that will mean the other top 5 are gone... pretty clear to me...of course i have had too many pucks to the head...