2018 NHL Draft Discussion

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IPreferPi

A Nonny Mouse
Jun 22, 2012
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Nearly every Canadien fan I speak with wants the team to draft Zadina.

I'm sure they'll be calling for Bergevin's head if he doesn't select him.

Though I'm sure the same could have been said about Dubois jumping over Puljujarvi a couple years back.

Somehow I doubt both Montreal and Ottawa pass on him. We're just not that lucky. It might happen if Edmonton were here.

Most people thought Filip Forsberg wouldn't fall out of the top 5, much less the top 10 in his draft. And he was also the 3rd ranked prospect on MacKenzie's list that year.

All it takes is a run on premium position players. And both Montreal and Ottawa need those.
 

XX

Waiting for Ishbia
Dec 10, 2002
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Chayka being adamant about staying put speaks volumes about the smoke show going on. They probably have some intel that suggests one of Zadina or Svech will be there at 5. Some teams are prone to falling in love with players and not going BPA. I don't think he'd come out and state so definitively how they feel without said intel.
 
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hbk

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Chayka being adamant about staying put speaks volumes about the smoke show going on. They probably have some intel that suggests one of Zadina or Svech will be there at 5. Some teams are prone to falling in love with players and not going BPA. I don't think he'd come out and state so definitively how they feel without said intel.
They know one of Zadina or Tkachuk will be there. Question is if there is a D on our list (or Kotkaniemi for that matter) that comes before those names.
 

Mosby

<3 Uncle Gary
Feb 16, 2012
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A full two weeks for Montreal media to pressure the local team to draft either the C or Quebec League D.

Talking to a friend of mine, Habs fan, doesn't follow the draft. He just wants "whoever is the best center". There is a LOT of frustration after last year's farce with Drouin, not to mention putting Galchenyuk on the wing and moving Plekanec. Our center depth looks dominant compared to Montreal's.
 

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Talking to a friend of mine, Habs fan, doesn't follow the draft. He just wants "whoever is the best center". There is a LOT of frustration after last year's farce with Drouin, not to mention putting Galchenyuk on the wing and moving Plekanec. Our center depth looks dominant compared to Montreal's.
Huge pressure on Montreal to take the C. Will only get worse now that 2 is official.
 

RABBIT

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Chayka being adamant about staying put speaks volumes about the smoke show going on. They probably have some intel that suggests one of Zadina or Svech will be there at 5. Some teams are prone to falling in love with players and not going BPA. I don't think he'd come out and state so definitively how they feel without said intel.

I sure you're right. This would be insanely ideal. I'm in love with that top 3 of Dahlin, Svech and Zadina
 

XX

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Dec 10, 2002
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I sure you're right. This would be insanely ideal. I'm in love with that top 3 of Dahlin, Svech and Zadina

They've also talked with Montreal about swapping. Ottawa is probably the unknown. So they are probably doing the math on whether or not being assured Zadina is worth something small in a trade up.
 
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Ebb

the nondescript
Dec 22, 2015
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While the rankings are fun to watch, I'm pretty sure all of the GMs have their lists by no (or shortly) without even referring to them. They know their business and certainly don't need the media's input. As it stands, I'm content with BPA, with a slight edge (if there are two very close players) towards a forward. I certainly don't think we are "horrible" at D, so drafting a D for need is unnecessary. There are also no standouts at Center around 5 (compared to other options), so hopefully we go with a forward.

Currently, I'd be fine with Wahlstrom. 6'1, 208, RHS. I can't say I'm too keen on the college path, but it might work out. Of course, if Zadina is available, I'd definitely prefer him, but other than that, I can't say anyone stands out to me (unless Dahlin or Svechnikov were available).
 

lanky

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Jun 23, 2007
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I think it's either Bouchard or Dobson. Judging by Cosintino's commentary on Sportsnet you almost have to think it's Dobson.

Consentino is a CHL specialist and not an NHL insider. I think his excitement over Dobson is cuz he just covered the Memorial Cup and Dobson was the leading D scorer and showed a lot of potential. I think he feels Dobson deserves to go 4th more than he thinks the Sens are fixed on him.
 

hbk

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Consentino is a CHL specialist and not an NHL insider. I think his excitement over Dobson is cuz he just covered the Memorial Cup and Dobson was the leading D scorer and showed a lot of potential. I think he feels Dobson deserves to go 4th more than he thinks the Sens are fixed on him.
He's talking to scouts and GM's. He has an idea on who is ranked where on several teams lists. Possibly even AZ.
 

rt

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Just rewatched the first Titan v SC game from the MemCup. Lot to like about Dobson. Lot needs work. One thing really stood out negatively was what a weak bitch he his. Man oh man does he get pushed around in his own zone. Lost the puck behind his own next half a dozen times in the third because basically every SC player was eating his lunch. I hope when he gets some muscles, he finds some balls. He’s got a ton of tools and the frame to build on, but he’s a pretty sackless player for any size.
 

rt

The Kinder, Gentler Version
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He’s a good prospect, though. Don’t get me wrong. He gets a lot of Pietroangelo comps. I think that’s a little rich. Pietroangelo seems much more dynamic and much more of a Lightning rod.

I think Dobson more closely resembles Jay Bouwmeester. If he can be some mix of the two that’s a mid-point in terms of effectiveness, he’ll be a hell of a player. I’ll take a Pietroangelo/Bouwmeester hybrid 5th overall. Easy.
 

BUX7PHX

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Jul 7, 2011
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Need at centre makes Canadiens a wild card in 2018 NHL Draft - Sportsnet.ca

Engels suggests 3 OV and a 2nd rounder for 5 OV and Domi

No thanks

Yeah, people don't tend to understand that if you are keying on C and taking a C at #3 is a reach, that doesn't mean you get the same value in return for a trade. Each side knows what is up.

Montreal wants to trade back to line up the value of the pick with the value of the player. Kotkaniemi is very likely to go in the 6-8 range, so Montreal doesn't want to trade back much further than that. We simply get the better quality player, but that is the very definition of going need vs BPA. If you are drafting for need, you must be prepared to sacrifice that fact when investigating moving around, otherwise you paint yourself into a corner where teams are going to call the Canadiens bluff and tell them to take Kotkaniemi at #3.

The perfect scenario would be that we trade up with Montreal for a limited amount of something (#5 OA, 2019 2nd round pick and Garland?) to get the #3 pick. We take Zadina at #3. Ottawa then decides that they want to go defense and trades back to #7 with a team like Vancouver, who moves up to #4 to take.... Kotkaniemi. Right in front of Montreal. In fact, in that scenario, Tkachuk could fall to 5, 6, or 7, which could create a whole other level of teams trying to move around to get Tkachuk. Philly and the Islanders could be the teams that would be interested in moving up then.

So much that could go on b/c the team at #3 seems focused on need - it is crazy.
 

Mosby

<3 Uncle Gary
Feb 16, 2012
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Supposedly Montreal had Kotkaniemi in town for a visit, so who knows if their interest in him is a smokescreen or not.

I suspect if we trade up to 3 and take Zadina, the draft goes like this (based on what players have been linked to what teams):

Buf-Dahlin
Car-Svechnikov
AZ-Zadina
Ott-Tkachuk
Mtl-Kotkaniemi
Det-Hughes
Van-Bouchard

That's the top 7 at least. Hawks at 8 could get Wahlstrom, Boqvist, or Dobson.
 

rt

The Kinder, Gentler Version
May 13, 2004
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Supposedly Montreal had Kotkaniemi in town for a visit, so who knows if their interest in him is a smokescreen or not.

I suspect if we trade up to 3 and take Zadina, the draft goes like this (based on what players have been linked to what teams):

Buf-Dahlin
Car-Svechnikov
AZ-Zadina
Ott-Tkachuk
Mtl-Kotkaniemi
Det-Hughes
Van-Bouchard

That's the top 7 at least. Hawks at 8 could get Wahlstrom, Boqvist, or Dobson.

If you’re going to smokescreen, you might as well go the whole way and have him to town for dinner.
 
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rt

The Kinder, Gentler Version
May 13, 2004
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I can't knock him for a bad u18, guys go through bad series/slumps all the time. I think the talent and ability are there.
His skating is fantastic for his size. Million dollar tools, ten cent head. That’s what he looked like at that one tourney anyway. Poor instincts and hockey sense and decision making.
 

hbk

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His skating is fantastic for his size. Million dollar tools, ten cent head. That’s what he looked like at that one tourney anyway. Poor instincts and hockey sense and decision making.
These were legitimate concerns we had on Chychrun his draft year after his performance at U18.
 
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