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

[Forsead]

You draft a player for what you project him to become. What I don't like about Zadina is his age vs his draft class. Also, at 6'-6'1 and 192 lbs, he seems more advanced physically with not much more room to grow and he's playing vs young players in the worst CHL league.

While for example, Kotkaniemi is more than 7 months younger, plays against men and is 6'2 and 190 lbs. Look at their pictures, Kotkaniemi look like he's 3 years younger . I'm not saying we should draft him instead as I don't know him enough, but I'm just showing why scouts could prefer others players over Zadina.

 

[admiralcadillac]

You draft a player for what you project him to become. What I don't like about Zadina is his age vs his draft class. Also, at 6'-6'1 and 192 lbs, he seems more advanced physically with not much more room to grow and he's playing vs young players in the worst CHL league.

While for example, Kotkaniemi is more than 7 months younger, plays against men and is 6'2 and 190 lbs. Look at their pictures, Kotkaniemi look like he's 3 years younger . I'm not saying we should draft him instead as I don't know him enough, but I'm just showing why scouts could prefer others players over Zadina.

And yet, according to the combine Zadina is apparently not as fit as some of the other players. If you want to convince yourself about Kotkaniemi fine but maybe Zadina has a ton of room to grow into his frame as well as get in better shape. If he' 6' 192 now maybe he'll play at 210.

If he's not testing as well at the combine yet he's dominating a league that's a pretty good indication of talent.

 

[Garnet76]

Draft the BPA 3rd and focus on centers and dmen with the remaining picks.
Reaching for a center at 3 in a draft that is weak at center is silly in my opinion. The fin isnt a guarantee 1st line center. He isnt barkov, I see a 2nd line center or winger. Pretty big gamble at 3 in my opinion especially with the amount of centers later in the draft with top 6 potential.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Lehkonen actually had better production than Kotkaniemi at the same age in the same league.

Lehkonen Draft year in the Liiga : 30 points in 45 games as a 17 years old.
Kotkaniemi Draft year in the Liiga : 29 points in 57 games as a 17 years old.

Of course Kotkaniemi skills set will translate to the NHL a lot better than Lehkonen but his offensive production is not out of the ordinary. Definitely not as impressive as Svechnikov and Zadina ability to score goals imo.

It is out of the ordinary. 7th all time pre-draft.

 

[admiralcadillac]

It is out of the ordinary. 7th all time pre-draft.

Does that mean Lehkonen is 6th? Because I like Lehkonen but he's by no means a star.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Does that mean Lehkonen is 6th? Because I like Lehkonen but he's by no means a star.

Artturi's 4th. By no means is it a rule that if you do well in a league historically that you'll be a star. But it is out of the ordinary. Only the very best finnish prospects reach or exceed that mark. Most first year eligible players don't even play the full season in Liiga.

 

[Treb]

Does that mean Lehkonen is 6th? Because I like Lehkonen but he's by no means a star.

Also important to consider that Lehkonen highest scoring forward teammate (Sakari Salminen) had 55 points while Kotkaniemi's had 35 points (Antoine Laganière).

 

[Habs Halifax]

(sooooo...........good management teams perform due diligence prior to draft day hence the term Best Player Available)


now a couple of things; BPA exists throughout every draft- every round- every year, calling this management “stupid” is simply observant, I never “relax” but always chill.

Was Puljujarvi the best BPA at 3rd in the 2016 draft? Well, to a lot of people he was. Blue Jackets went after their Need/BPA and took PLD. I think you get my point and the argument is BPA only exist in hindsight. Picks 3-10 are very hard to determine who the BPA is. So why no go after the center we need?

I like Zadina a lot and watched him play all year. I don't think we can go wrong with taking him but I am giving Dobson and Kotkaniemi serious consideration. Those are my BPA with our 3rd pick.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Zadina seems to be the consensus but he’s not unanimous. I’ve seen him as low as 5th, but more lists peg him at #3.

Bob McKenzie’s list should give us a stronger idea of consensus when it comes out, likely this weekend.

While I don’t think Zadina is BPA at #3, I don’t think Kotkaniemi is either. Anyhow, doesn’t matter what I think or what Bobby Mac publishes. It’ll be what the Habs think. If they think Kotkaniemi is the best choice, just take him. If they got 3 kids they like equally, trade down.

Agreed. I see it the very same. I am hoping for Zadina, Kotkaniemi or Dobson. Those are my picks. I then have Boqvist and Wahlstrom a notch behind them. Then Tkachuk & Hughes. Then Bouchard, Veleno, Hayton, Smith.

 

[Andrei79]

Draft the BPA 3rd and focus on centers and dmen with the remaining picks.
Reaching for a center at 3 in a draft that is weak at center is silly in my opinion. The fin isnt a guarantee 1st line center. He isnt barkov, I see a 2nd line center or winger. Pretty big gamble at 3 in my opinion especially with the amount of centers later in the draft with top 6 potential.

If Raphael Lavoie was available this year, would you take him over Zadina ?

 

[Adam Michaels]

The only name I've heard that Habs had invited to their European combine is the Norwegian Mathias Emilio Pettersen. I saw someone post the link to the site it was mentioned in: Pettersen invitert på Montreal-samling

And here is his Elite Prospects profile: Mathias Emilio Pettersen at eliteprospects.com

 

[Adam Michaels]

We saw the picture of Zadina in Ottawa visiting the Sens last week. Here's a behind the scenes video released by Sens on Zadina and Tkachuk visiting their facility.



So with this video, I get the impression that if Habs take someone else (Kotkaniemi or Hughes as an example), Sens will take Zadina. But if Habs take Zadina at 3rd, Sens would most likely take Tkachuk.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Raphael Lavoie was available this year, would you take him over Zadina ?

No and keep in mind that Lavoie probably plays wing in pro.

 

[Adam Michaels]

For anyone who cares for Brian Wilde's Top-15:

 

[SOLR]

Why are the habs, all of sudden, deciding to have a combine in Sweden?

 

[G0bias]

Or rather why didn't they think of doing one before. Can't hurt, can it?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Some Final Rankings have been released:

McKeen's: Elite Prospects - NHL Draft Center MCKEEN'S HOCKEY TOP 31

ISS: Elite Prospects - NHL Draft Center ISS HOCKEY TOP 31

Future Considerations: Elite Prospects - NHL Draft Center FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS TOP 31

Hockey Prospect: Elite Prospects - NHL Draft Center HOCKEYPROSPECT.COM TOP 31

Craig Button: https://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-svechnikov-solidifies-hold-on-second-spot-1.1103996

 

[WeThreeKings]

Why are the habs, all of sudden, deciding to have a combine in Sweden?

Probably finally realized that they were getting destroyed on euro talent.

 

[TheRocket87]

We saw the picture of Zadina in Ottawa visiting the Sens last week. Here's a behind the scenes video released by Sens on Zadina and Tkachuk visiting their facility.



So with this video, I get the impression that if Habs take someone else (Kotkaniemi or Hughes as an example), Sens will take Zadina. But if Habs take Zadina at 3rd, Sens would most likely take Tkachuk.

I seriously don't want us to touch Tkachuck or Kotkaniemi at 3. Their ceiling just doesn't seem as high as 3oa should be. It's been Zadina or Dobson for me for quite some time and I'm praying that we end up with one of them. I've seen a lot of Kotkaniemi this season and he's been totally unable to transition any of his marketed strengths to the pros. He played a smart simple game at the u18s, but his play among men mainly consists of bad plays though he can be dangerous in the o-zone.

Tkachuck looks like an obnoxious teen bully and makes me dislike the thought of taking him even more. Zadinas ridiculous haircut on the other hand is a tribute to the 90's Euro imports and makes me want us to take him!

 

[Habs Halifax]

Why are the habs, all of sudden, deciding to have a combine in Sweden?

Look at the prospects from Sweden in this draft. This is the Swede draft year.

 

[le_sean]

For anyone who cares for Brian Wilde's Top-15:

He doesn’t even watch prospects. He just listens to Grant and creates a Top 15.

Anyone who watches both Bouchard and Dobson and has Bouchard ahead is just looking at statistics.

 

[jaffy27]

Probably finally realized that they were getting destroyed on euro talent.

So what you’re saying is that this is good on managements part

 

[WeThreeKings]

So what you’re saying is that this is good on managements part

Yes, just as getting Bouchard and Ducharme were good moves.. and firing Lefebvre finally with Carriers stupid son.

Im not a blind hater, I will acknowledge things that are good or bad. But too much bad has been done that the small little things being done (too late) doesn't really move the needle.

 

[jaffy27]

Yes, just as getting Bouchard and Ducharme were good moves.. and firing Lefebvre finally with Carriers stupid son.

Im not a blind hater, I will acknowledge things that are good or bad. But too much bad has been done that the small little things being done (too late) doesn't really move the needle.

It moves it so slightly, I, like most fans, need to see the on ice product change, as defining as his gaffs were the last few years, this summer can be as significant, his moves can surely move the needle in the right direction.

But he’s got to do it, time to shit or get off the pot. Essentially, he’s Roy Scheider and has one bullet left to kill the shark.....he CAN’T miss or he’ll end up like Robert Shaw.....fodder

 

[417]

Habs are gonna draft Quinn Hughes...i'm convinced of it.