HF Habs: Montreal Canadiens Draft (#3, #35, #38, #56, #62, #66, #97, #102, #122 & #128)

[NotProkofievian]

I keep thinking about how if people are still skeptical on the whole "C or W" thing with Kotka as if the fact he plays a bit on the wing is a red flag that he cant play center...

Evgeny Malkin plays wing ALL THE TIME, doesnt mean he is not still a great center when used there, its just about using good players in key spots in the line up sometimes and if it means temporarily playing wing for a shift or a game, it does not mean the guy is not a center


now after having said all that, i fully and completely understand we just BOTCHED a 6 YEAR experiment in Galchenyuk.. so the confidence isnt exactly high in player development right now... nor should it.

Kotkaniemi is just a lightning rod for skepticism currently. Everyone else is getting off scott-free. Bouchard, for example, exhibits a worrying misunderstanding of his position for a 3rd year OHL veteran of 153 games before the season even began, but the only criticism you'll ever hear about him is ''skating.'' It's neither accurate (his skating is just fine), nor does it address the real issue that he has as a prospect: which is soft as a marshallow, bewildering defensive play.

This is sort of the thing that I don't like about Canadian prospects, specifically late birthdays. You just don't get to see them against a wide range of competition. Canada doesn't play in the friendly tournaments, and even if you're eligible for the U18s you may be unable to play due to the CHL playoffs, we don't have a separate pro-league, and we don't play against college teams. If you're a late birthday, league play is the whole story, and any issues that, say, a stint in a pro-league might expose, go unnoticed until it's too late.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Timmins said in his latest meeting with the press that we have 10 picks but that will change...

 

[Habs Halifax]

Seems very quiet on the trade front. GM's saving all their moves for tomorrows draft day or what?

Feeling each other out on possible deals. Trades will happen after players are gone from certain teams target lists

 

[Belial]

Seriously just draft Kotka, even if he ends up a solid second line center it will still be a great pick!

 

[WeThreeKings]

More TT BS and lies. These kids are so heavily tested an monitored the last 3 years, TT discovered nothing of the sort. He stretches the truth, calls a hangnail a future bone illness, a wart a serious skin condition, etc. Was he wearing his little lift shoes when talking?

It happens at the combine a lot. So? It just happened this year with Kaut. I'm also very certain an NFL hopeful also had one discovered at the combine.

 

[Habs]

It happens at the combine a lot. So? It just happened this year with Kaut. I'm also very certain an NFL hopeful also had one discovered at the combine.

I just like to poopoo on your tidbits when I can

 

[BB88]

How's 21+27 similar to 10+19?

0.75 ppg vs. 0.51 ppg.

He's not a Barkov. NO no.

He was probably comparing their rookie seasons.

 

[Habsfan18]

 

[A55P2]

He was talking about Zadina just before, took him as an example. To me this is non-relevant

 

[Sterling Archer]

Don’t see the misdirection here. Zadina expected to be there at 3. Seems more like stating a fact.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Don’t see the misdirection here. Zadina expected to be there at 3. Seems more like stating a fact.

They are trying to get a team to bite to trade up.

 

[Scriptor]

They are trying to get a team to bite to trade up.

Maybe.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Maybe.

Carolina said they are taking Svechnikov.. they could say they are taking Zadina in that situation and nothing changes.

 

[WeThreeKings]

For this time only I'm watching Grant's twitter.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[Sterling Archer]

They are trying to get a team to bite to trade up.

Ok?? Don’t see that working with GMs in the league. Besides the fact that’s incredibly simple minded thinking, I doubt they’re listening to Timmins in Montreal radio during draft week.

Thanks for framing it but still really dumb on his part.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Lalancette says that if he was to decode TT's press conference, his prediction would be that Kotkaniemi would be part of the Habs tomorrow.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I think it's like 95% either Zadina or Kotkaniemi. I think if we can't make any deals it's Kotkaniemi... where as if we trade Pacioretty and acquire ROR then Zadina is the guy.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Ok?? Don’t see that working with GMs in the league. Besides the fact that’s incredibly simple minded thinking, I doubt they’re listening to Timmins in Montreal radio during draft week.

Thanks for framing it but still really dumb on his part.

It's not just Montreal radio, it's saying it in front of reporters and getting the word out there. It's all game playing. It doesn't mean people fall for it but it's about creating doubt. Just like the Senators took Kotkaniemi out for dinner and they announced it. they are trying to thwart the Habs from moving back and having someone jump them for the guy they want.

 

[Sterling Archer]

It's not just Montreal radio, it's saying it in front of reporters and getting the word out there. It's all game playing. It doesn't mean people fall for it but it's about creating doubt. Just like the Senators took Kotkaniemi out for dinner and they announced it. they are trying to thwart the Habs from moving back and having someone jump them for the guy they want.

And I quote “it would be some world class misdirection.”

Hardly...

 

[NHL]

I wonder if the habs could go with Zadina and then try to trade for mid 1st round and land Veleno using Patch ++

 

[WeThreeKings]

And I quote “it would be some world class misdirection.”

Hardly...

Yea it's not what Arpon thinks it is. It's mild gamesmanship nothing more.

 

[Laurentide]

Kotkaniemi is just a lightning rod for skepticism currently. Everyone else is getting off scott-free. Bouchard, for example, exhibits a worrying misunderstanding of his position for a 3rd year OHL veteran of 153 games before the season even began, but the only criticism you'll ever hear about him is ''skating.'' It's neither accurate (his skating is just fine), nor does it address the real issue that he has as a prospect: which is soft as a marshallow, bewildering defensive play.

This is sort of the thing that I don't like about Canadian prospects, specifically late birthdays. You just don't get to see them against a wide range of competition. Canada doesn't play in the friendly tournaments, and even if you're eligible for the U18s you may be unable to play due to the CHL playoffs, we don't have a separate pro-league, and we don't play against college teams. If you're a late birthday, league play is the whole story, and any issues that, say, a stint in a pro-league might expose, go unnoticed until it's too late.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I wonder if the habs could go with Zadina and then try to trade for mid 1st round and land Veleno using Patch ++

Veleno is really bad. so I hope not. Timmins was asked about Veleno and subtext tells me that he wasn't impressed.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Did Zadina's combine results come into play on Bob's list?

Not that I think they should, just asking.