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2023 Draft and UFA Thread

Thurston said:
If the Habs really wanted a prospect and feared a team ahead of them might take that player, what would a fair offer look like to move up to picks 2-4? Does the NHL have an NFL-style draft value system that can be used to determine what is a fair price?
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Probably no point moving to 3 or 4. Could probably move up with our second rounder. And we have nothing to offer for second overall.

I'm terms of pick value I'd see the groupings like this..

1
2
3,4,5
6 to 10ish

So if we are not picking michkov at 5 it might be worth trading down.
 
Sal_Butera said:
More I think about potential of Michkov selection (should opportunity present itself), it dawned on me, Habs are the best positioned of all NHL teams to make THE decision - given the ability to access information / intel w their present Euro scouting dir and his father having both worked for / continue to work for SKA St Petersburg and both also understanding the needs of the NA game (smaller ice surface, two way focus / playoff intensity ramp-up, potential ability to navigate language barrier etc.), having worked for NHL orgs - father Sergei Bobrov for Kings and son Nick for NYR & now Habs.

Would also think Molson’s family / political connections would enable access to intelligence agencies for “information and enablement of moving the asset to safe havens if required….”

Why does every opportunity at a top pick have to be so complicated for the Habs!
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I've been on this path for awhile now. Michkov is the 1OA in almost any other year and you can get him at 5?

Plus. Canada is not the US. Less animosity towards it from Russia and no, they don't give a shit about Justin.
 
Habsy said:
I've been on this path for awhile now. Michkov is the 1OA in almost any other year and you can get him at 5?

Plus. Canada is not the US. Less animosity towards it from Russia and no, they don't give a shit about Justin.
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And the Habs have a history of drafting Russians.

I think you need to take the risk. I'd even take the risk for that giant Russian if he is still around with our second rounder.

The value above the pick exists for short players (see hutson and Caufield) or Russians (kucherov).

Gotta use it to our advantage.
 
GEEMAN said:
You cant have size being an issue on D or upfront

Skill and will prevail but you cant have 3D or 4-5 forwards 5`10" and under

You can get away with it in the regular season , but the grind of the playoffs wont work
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Is there any evidence for this though?

I don't naturally disagree as I said we can have 3 elite small players total but I'd like to see evidence.
 
If bedard, Fantilli, Smith, Carlson go in the top 4 and we are scared of putin. Who do we want at 5?
 
McGuire shared on 98.5 FM about the tragic disappearance of Michkov's father.

: « Évidemment, se faire confirmer des histoires quand ça vient de la Russie, vous comprendrez que c'est difficile. Mais semble-t-il que son père tentait de faire invalider le contrat. Le désir de son père, ça aurait été de l'envoyer en Amérique du Nord rapidement. »
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“Obviously, having stories confirmed when it comes from Russia, you will understand that it is difficult. But it seems his father was trying to have the contract invalidated. His father's wish would have been to send him to North America quickly. That's why it's going to be a bit 'touchy' this story because we don't know if the young man will be obliged to respect the contract he would have signed because no one can say clearly he really signed this contract and if it is really 2 years, 3 years, 4 years that is on this contract. That's what's a little annoying in his case.” - Martin McGuire
 
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Sal_Butera said:
More I think about potential of Michkov selection (should opportunity present itself), it dawned on me, Habs are the best positioned of all NHL teams to make THE decision - given the ability to access information / intel w their present Euro scouting dir and his father having both worked for / continue to work for SKA St Petersburg and both also understanding the needs of the NA game (smaller ice surface, two way focus / playoff intensity ramp-up, potential ability to navigate language barrier etc.), having worked for NHL orgs - father Sergei Bobrov for Kings and son Nick for NYR & now Habs.

Would also think Molson’s family / political connections would enable access to intelligence agencies for “information and enablement of moving the asset to safe havens if required….”

Why does every opportunity at a top pick have to be so complicated for the Habs!
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when you are the world's team, life is more complicated
 
worm said:
Probably no point moving to 3 or 4. Could probably move up with our second rounder. And we have nothing to offer for second overall.

I'm terms of pick value I'd see the groupings like this..

1
2
3,4,5
6 to 10ish

So if we are not picking michkov at 5 it might be worth trading down.
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We know Bedard is #1 and we know the Hawks ain't trading the pick.

Who do you see as the #2 guy? Fantilli? Michkov?

And 3, 4, 5 are who? Carlsson is one, Smith is another. I've seen lists where Fantilli is either 2nd or 5th, where Michkov is anywhere from 2nd to 9th.

I trust Boisvert's assessment that Michkov is a stud. My only worry is will he ever actually play in the NHL. If you can tell me that it's a lead pipe cinch that he will then I would take him if he's available.

But if he were to go at #2 I'd definitely try to move up and get Fantilli at #3. I'd trade the 5th pick and the Florida pick at a minimum to get Fantilli.
 
Sal_Butera said:
McGuire shared on 98.5 FM about the tragic disappearance of Michkov's father.



“Obviously, having stories confirmed when it comes from Russia, you will understand that it is difficult. But it seems his father was trying to have the contract invalidated. His father's wish would have been to send him to North America quickly. That's why it's going to be a bit 'touchy' this story because we don't know if the young man will be obliged to respect the contract he would have signed because no one can say clearly he really signed this contract and if it is really 2 years, 3 years, 4 years that is on this contract. That's what's a little annoying in his case.” - Martin McGuire
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This is troubling because it suggests that the elder Michkov was killed specifically because of hockey reasons. If they're literally willing to kill a kid's dad in order to force him to play in their league is there really any point in drafting him? You could wind up getting the kid killed too.

I think the safest play for the Habs is to sell their 2 picks and a prospect for a chance to get Fantilli.
 
Sal_Butera said:
McGuire shared on 98.5 FM about the tragic disappearance of Michkov's father.



“Obviously, having stories confirmed when it comes from Russia, you will understand that it is difficult. But it seems his father was trying to have the contract invalidated. His father's wish would have been to send him to North America quickly. That's why it's going to be a bit 'touchy' this story because we don't know if the young man will be obliged to respect the contract he would have signed because no one can say clearly he really signed this contract and if it is really 2 years, 3 years, 4 years that is on this contract. That's what's a little annoying in his case.” - Martin McGuire
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Exactly what I speculated. They killed the dad for the advice he was giving his son.
 
Also keep in mind the source of info was likely Bob Hartley who coached the team in Sochi that Michkov was loaned to by SKA St Petersburg who happen to have the same oligarch owner

It’s all f*cked up…
 
IMG_1601.jpeg
Looks like the lottery draw was pretty close for Habs getting 1OA pick - first 3 balls were the same for MTL and Chi. So it’s on the last ball that Chi won.
 
worm said:
I made a giant post about it.

Here is my top 5 order

Bedard, Fantilli, Michkov, Carlson, Smith
So whichever one is there at 5.
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100%

If we don't end up with one of those 5 it's a massive fuck up.

I prefer them in the exact order that you posted, but if someone ahead of us goes off the board, I can forgive Hugo for selecting any one over the other.

That said, I'm mostly referring to the latter 3. If by some miracle Fantilli is available, then I absolutely take him over the others. That ain't happening though.
 
Hypothetical scenario should Michkov be available @ pick but information gathered makes it too risky ro select:

Would NYR entertain 5OA for Lafreniere + Kaako?

Would / should HuGo entertain such an offer vs selecting another prospect?

 
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