Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley : Time to make that final decision

[Milhouse40]

The combine is over.
All the informations that can be gather is on the table.
From what we know, dinner, interviews and general consensus, there's really seems to have only three in the race to be the 1st overall.

Shane Wright

Juraj Slafkvosky

Logan Cooley

There's no more hockey left to play before the the draft so it's time to make the final decision.

Click to read more...

 

[RealityHurts]

Wright for me. Won't be flashy, but he strikes me as the type of player that you'll win many games and, ultimately, championships with.

 

[HomeAndHome]

Just because it's the easy choice doesn't mean it's the wrong choice and I personally can't wait to see him in a Habs uniform.

Shane Wright

 

[expy]

It'll probably be Wright, but I dunno something tells me Cooley is going to be really good.

 

[River Meadow]

God this is so hard.

If I'm being very honest, and I'm scared to even say this, but I'm a bit worried with Wright's compete level.... and that flowed into the testing and his answers on the testing.

Cooley had great answers and his testing backed that up, but the US program focuses more on weight lifting, etc.

But Wright took 1 year off... did he not focus on working out?

Idk.

And then Slafkovsky, who could be a literal beast in the NHL.....

 

[Fixxer]

Slafkovsky and you bring back Slovakian teammate Tomas Tatar to MTL ...

 

[NewDef]

Wright for sure but I'd let go Petry + 26oa + 33oa + throw in Armia/other for the 2nd to get Slaf. That body type, we'd have our own Wilson which is extremely rare.

 

[Kaladin]

Wright for sure but I'd let go Petry + 26oa + 33oa + throw in Armia/other for the 2nd to get Slaf. That body type, we'd have our own Wilson which is extremely rare.

New Jersey would never take that. Would you take that for 1st overall?

I think Cooley will end up the better player but the habs probably pick Wright if they keep the pick.

 

[JustAHabFan]

I voted Wright, but it would not surprise me one bit if Cooley would become a better player.

 

[Milhouse40]

I'm going with Shane Wright and not because I think he's the BPA even if he might be.
Development is paramount and it will come with a ton of pressure to be the 1st overall pick for Montreal.

I think Wright is the one with the best chance to develop well in Montreal.

Wright lived all his life with high expectation, he knows the Canadian market and he's the most fit to understand and to deal with the pressure of Montreal. He received exceptionnal status in the OHL, was almost always the captain of his teams, had been touted as the next 1st overall pick for 2 years......that's a lot of pressure for a kid that age and didn't disappoint.

I think all 3 will become very good players in the NHL.....but I think Wright has the best chances to become very good in this crazy market.

 

[River Meadow]

I'm going with Shane Wright and not because I think he's the BPA even if he might be.
Development is paramount and it will come with a ton of pression to be the 1st overall pick for Montreal.

I think Wright is the one with the best chance to develop well in Montreal.

Wright lived all his life with high expectation, he knows the Canadian market and he's the most fit to understand and to deal with the pressure of Montreal. He received exceptionnal status in the OHL, was almost always the captain of his teams, had been touted as the next 1st overall pick for 2 years......that's a lot of pressure of a kid that age and didn't disappoint.

I think all 3 will become very good players in the NHL.....but I think Wright has the best chances to become very good in this crazy market.

Very good point. I didn't think of it like that.

 

[Mr Mom]

I've been HUGE on Slaf since November 2021
Slaf is who I wanted....... but, that's because I never thought we'd get a chance to pick 1OA and get Shane Wright!!!!!!!!!

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

I’m still on the Nemec train but went with Wright out of those 3.

 

[Hins77]

Shane Wright. He is the pick. He is gonna be a better Nick Suzuki in my mind. I can’t ask better. 1-2 punch at center.

 

[Karma Police]

I'm voting for Wright because he seems like he's the most NHL ready of the players in the top 5 and he's gonna fill a need at center that we lacked for 25 f***ing years.

I'm tired of projects like Slafkosvky that might not pan out (ala Kotkaniemi)

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I voted Wright, but it would not surprise me one bit if Cooley would become a better player.

Go with the best, most dynamic skater: Cooley. Easy choice.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I'm going with Shane Wright and not because I think he's the BPA even if he might be.
Development is paramount and it will come with a ton of pressure to be the 1st overall pick for Montreal.

I think Wright is the one with the best chance to develop well in Montreal.

Wright lived all his life with high expectation, he knows the Canadian market and he's the most fit to understand and to deal with the pressure of Montreal. He received exceptionnal status in the OHL, was almost always the captain of his teams, had been touted as the next 1st overall pick for 2 years......that's a lot of pressure for a kid that age and didn't disappoint.

I think all 3 will become very good players in the NHL.....but I think Wright has the best chances to become very good in this crazy market.

Very well said.

I also take Wright, without question.

 

[McGees]

*Posted already in combine thread but perhaps here is better:

Non data driven gut feelings:

Slaf:
Great energy.
Has best personality for Montreal market and a 'watch me' attitude.
Perfect complimentary piece if we had the rest already in place.
Will definitely give us moments of regret for not choosing him.

Cooley:
Most dynamic.
Going to college next year could work out amazing for all parties.
Part of me believes he is the best pick.

Wright:
Best pedigree but can't say this season inspires total confidence.
There is something about his energy that puts me off, like he gets in his own head too much.
Smart, hard worker, skill for days.
I think in the end they will still take him.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

I will still go with Cooley as its just a preference at this point.

All 3 could be stars if developed well. Very different stars but stars nonetheless.

People talking in absolutes then acting like they are draft pros if it ends up correct is meaningless to me. I just want the player to be a star in MTL more than being right

 

[BLONG7]

Wright for me. Won't be flashy, but he strikes me as the type of player that you'll win many games and, ultimately, championships with.

The kid wants to model his game after a guy, who is a premier 200ft player. We will gladly take it.
Add him to Suzuki, Dvorak and Evans............

 

[WeThreeKings]

Cooley still my guy.

 

[Cubebrick]

Wright closely followed by Cooley then Slafkovsky.

But despite my preference for Wright, I'm fine with any of these 3 (or Jiricek/Nemec, but it's not happening). Habs are getting a good player and at this point I'm trusting the hockey ops to build an appropriate development plan for whoever they pick. A trust that sure as shit was non-existant under the previous staff.

 

[Whalers Fan]

I've been HUGE on Slaf since November 2021
Slaf is who I wanted....... but, that's because I never thought we'd get a chance to pick 1OA and get Shane Wright!!!!!!!!!

I felt the same way about Cooley, who I have watched for the past two years with the NTDP here in Plymouth.

I would still take Wright at #1.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Looks like Wright by a landslide right. Makes me think a few loud dissenters are banging the drums pretty loud.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Can't vote, I don't know enough.

Gun to my head, I go with Shane Wright and hope for the best.