2023 Draft and UFA Thread

[Krustchev]

This year, we need to nail it….top 5 in a great draft class….we need to get a top center, or a goal scoring freak at wing….no two-way safe player, no safe #3-4 dmen. Pick the most talented player available

Slaf was not a safe pick.

 

[Rolex]

You weren't alone

If i recall, only 3 of us voted for Brady in the pre-draft poll….most picked Zadina or Hughes

 

[Rolex]

Slaf was not a safe pick.

Never said he was….

 

[CH1]

Slaf was not a safe pick.

Exactly. HuGo has made zero safe bets so far. He hired a bantam coach for crying out loud. He knows thinking safely like everyone else = mediocrity.

 

[GrandWazoo]

Exactly. HuGo has made zero safe bets so far. He hired a bantam coach for crying out loud. He knows thinking safely like everyone else = mediocrity.

MSL was interim coach, no risks. Slaf was also the consensus #1 prospect.

There is a real risk that Michkov might never play a game in the NHL.

 

[Sal_Butera]

Hughes: We're gonna draft the best player available

General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens Kent Hughes joins Jon Still and Mitch Gallo on the draft lottery show to talk about the Habs drafting 5th overall, expectations for the draft, the possibility of drafting Matvei Michkov and more.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Rolex]

I somehow doubt that in 2023, a phenom player will forego millions and a life of freedom to play in the NHL….and before you pull the politics card, NHL always finds a way to get the best players to come over…..war or no war, communism or no communism….they’re gonna find a way

There’s millions in play…..Mitchkov will end up in North America

 

[Sal_Butera]

Button compared Michkov to the Soviet great Valeri Kharlamov and the athleticism of Messi

 

[CH1]

MSL was interim coach, no risks. Slaf was also the consensus #1 prospect.

There is a real risk that Michkov might never play a game in the NHL.

When’s the last time it happened though?

And what are you really losing in the rare event your fear materializes?

You lose out on a Kirby Dach level player that can be acquired via another method?

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

If Michkov is somehow there at #5, the Habs will grab him. The talent disparity is too great vs the next tier of prospects. You can’t let a potential homerun pick move the needle elsewhere while you settle for a nice safe player. Three years is not a long wait. Slaf should be good by then

unless he reups in St Petersburg

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

Not all draft classes are the same. This is the best harvest in years.

As disappointing as Galchenyuk was, he has the 3rd most goals scored among that draft class

he was fine, Bustitsyn and Judas were brutal picks

 

[Sal_Butera]

When’s the last time it happened though?

And what are you really losing in the rare event your fear materializes?

You lose out on a Kirby Dach level player that can be acquired via another method?

When Habs drafted Tretiak… yeah it hasn’t happened since fall of Berlin Wall.

my only question should Mitchkov be available @ 5 - is the Habs org willing to wait 3-years or do have some intel they can get him out of Russia earlier to satisfy their needs?

 

[Sal_Butera]

Posted on TSN.ca about 30 minutes ago.

Button's full top-16 mock draft:
1. Chicago Blackhawks – Connor Bedard
2. Anaheim Ducks – Adam Fantilli
3. Columbus Blue Jackets – Leo Carlsson
4. San Jose Sharks – Will Smith
5. Montreal Canadiens – Dalibor Dvorsky
6. Arizona Coyotes – Matvei Michkov
7. Philadelphia Flyers – Ryan Leonard
8. Washington Capitals – David Reinbacher
9. Detroit Red Wings – Colby Barlow
10. St. Louis Blues – Matthew Wood
11. Vancouver Canucks – Axel Sandin-Pellikka
12. Arizona Coyotes (via OTT) – Zach Benson
13. Buffalo Sabres – Oliver Moore
14. Pittsburgh Penguins – Brayden Yager
15. Nashville Predators – Gabe Perreault
16. Calgary Flames – Nate Danielson

 

[CH1]

When Habs drafted Tretiak… yeah it hasn’t happened since fall of Berlin Wall.

my only question should Mitchkov be available @ 5 - is the Habs org willing to wait 3-years or do have some intel they can get him out of Russia earlier to satisfy their needs?

I don’t even mind the 3 yr wait. Just means we’ll get more prime years with an entry level cap hit.

It’ll probably take Leonard 3 years to be a top 6 player

 

[GrandWazoo]

When’s the last time it happened though?

And what are you really losing in the rare event your fear materializes?

You lose out on a Kirby Dach level player that can be acquired via another method?

I’m not the one that needs convincing. I’m just stating the risk. They’ve already killed his father, you think he won’t get any additional pressure on him?

 

[CH1]

You think they killed his father for draft reasons?

 

[CH1]

I’m not the one that needs convincing. I’m just stating the risk. They’ve already killed his father, you think he won’t get any additional pressure on him?

You’re stating the risk but not providing context or explaining risk/reward parameters

 

[Sal_Butera]

I don’t even mind the 3 yr wait. Just means we’ll get more prime years with an entry level cap hit.

It’ll probably take Leonard 3 years to be a top 6 player

None of us here may care but does the Habs org / Molson care?

 

[GrandWazoo]

You think they killed his father for draft reasons?

They killed his father for some reason, and I don’t put it past the Russians to try to keep their best player home as much as they can. I don’t think the murder was draft related though.

 

[Habsy]

If i recall, only 3 of us voted for Brady in the pre-draft poll….most picked Zadina or Hughes

Nope.