It's too easy to blame the Habs for passing on Kuznetsov.

Back in 2010, the KHL was seen as a serious competitor for Russian players and Kuznetsov already had a 3 year contract over there.

He was an obvious top 5 talent in the draft but people didn't want to "waste" a first round pick on a guy that might just stay in Russia.

Washington picked him because they were confident having Ovechkin, Semin and Varlamov would help bring him to the NHL.

That doesn't excuse picking Tinordi though.
- Scabeh

you can rationalize any move or non move individually. bottom line, there's a reason why Washington just won a Stanley Cup and the Canadiens just finished 28th overall.

All this talk about Eller, DSP and Alzner... whatever.

The biggest mistake I take from this is trading “up” in 2010 to draft Tinordi, and skipping over Kuznetsov. A 6’3, 200lbs skilled centerman who had good numbers for a 17 year old in the khl at the time.
Who also would have just won the Conn Smyth if not for Ovechkins story.
- QuickSCF

Read yesterday that Kuznetsov said prior to the draft that he wouldn't play in North America, he also had a 2 year contract un the KHL. Ovechkin convinced him to come to the NHL.

It's too easy to blame the Habs for passing on Kuznetsov.

Back in 2010, the KHL was seen as a serious competitor for Russian players and Kuznetsov already had a 3 year contract over there.

He was an obvious top 5 talent in the draft but people didn't want to "waste" a first round pick on a guy that might just stay in Russia.

Washington picked him because they were confident having Ovechkin, Semin and Varlamov would help bring him to the NHL.

That doesn't excuse picking Tinordi though.
- Scabeh

Dumbest was Tarasenko.

you can rationalize any move or non move individually. bottom line, there's a reason why Washington just won a Stanley Cup and the Canadiens just finished 28th overall.
- DoubleDown

...

They had the chance to draft Ovechkin and Backstrom to be the backbone of their team for 15 years?

Dumbest was Tarasenko.
- AdamFrench

Yeah, same boat.

...

They had the chance to draft Ovechkin and Backstrom to be the backbone of their team for 15 years?
- Scabeh

Take a look at the 2006 draft and how different teams would be if the Penguins didn't go off the board and take Staal 2nd.

Take a look at the 2006 draft and how different teams would be if the Penguins didn't go off the board and take Staal 2nd.
- AdamFrench

I usually try and forget the 2006 draft.

...

They had the chance to draft Ovechkin and Backstrom to be the backbone of their team for 15 years?
- Scabeh

That helps a lot but they also made a lot of good picks in the later rounds. Something mtl has a lot of problems with.


Well, let's say at the end of the 1 st round.

I usually try and forget the 2006 draft.
- Scabeh

Jame Sheppard

Jame Sheppard
- AdamFrench

Si c'était vrai j'aurais plus de succès.
- deadpoulet

That helps a lot but they also made a lot of good picks in the later rounds. Something mtl has a lot of problems with.


Well, let's say at the end of the 1 st round.
- deadpoulet

Oh for sure.

They landed guys like Kuznetsov, Carlson etc...

Habs need to be better. No denying it.

...

They had the chance to draft Ovechkin and Backstrom to be the backbone of their team for 15 years?
- Scabeh

stop it. they drafted well across the board and built their team smartly and shifted course when things were not working a few years back. Montreal's had some top picks as well, one of which turned out to be a league MVP.

have they had the luck to acquire Ovechkin? no. but there's so much more separating a team like Washington and a team like Montreal.

That helps a lot but they also made a lot of good picks in the later rounds. Something mtl has a lot of problems with.


Well, let's say at the end of the 1 st round.
- deadpoulet

Not true, Habs draft pretty good in later rounds (Gallagher, Hudon, Mete...etc). They just didn't draft a franchise player in forever.

Not true, Habs draft pretty good in later rounds (Gallagher, Hudon, Mete...etc). They just didn't draft a franchise player in forever.
- BashCH

Our first round draft picks have turned out horrible for a while now. That's a big part of the problem.

Beaulieu, Leblanc, Tinordi, McCarron...

Scherbak still has a shot but still has loads to go.

stop it. they drafted well across the board and built their team smartly and shifted course when things were not working a few years back. Montreal's had some top picks as well, one of which turned out to be a league MVP.

have they had the luck to acquire Ovechkin? no. but there's so much more separating a team like Washington and a team like Montreal.
- DoubleDown

I agree, they've done better than the Habs across the board. I'm not arguing with you there.

But let's face it, they'd still be a much more average team if they didn't get the first overall that allowed them to draft the best goal scorer of his generation.

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-looking-to-trade-milan-lucic-by-sweetening-a-deal-says-tsns-seravalli

For what it's worth...
- obie

"In other words, to a U.S. city where hockey isn’t such an obsession."

So ya, not getting rid of Alzner anytime soon

Not true, Habs draft pretty good in later rounds (Gallagher, Hudon, Mete...etc). They just didn't draft a franchise player in forever.
- BashCH

Tinordi, scherbak and all. Habs don't know what to do with a late first round pick. Mtl had their chances and went with Price and Galchenyuk. You may blame the draft year, but still.

Also, I would not call Hudon or Mete a steal either. At least not yet.

Our first round draft picks have turned out horrible for a while now. That's a big part of the problem.

Beaulieu, Leblanc, Tinordi, McCarron...

Scherbak still has a shot but still has loads to go.
- Scabeh

That's the main problem. The first 2 rounds are where most of the difference making players are drafted and the Habs didn't get 1 since 2007.

Tinordi, Sherback and all. Habs don't know what to do with a late first round pick. Mtl had their chances and went with Price and Galchenyuk. You may blame the draft year, but still.

Also, I would not call Hudon or Mete a steal either. At least not yet.
- deadpoulet

Getting a player that plays in the NHL in the 4th/5th round is a complete success.

We just need to start drafting better when the elite talent is still available.

Gallagher was a homerun in my book.

Tinordi, scherbak and all. Habs don't know what to do with a late first round pick. Mtl had their chances and went with Price and Galchenyuk. You may blame the draft year, but still.

Also, I would not call Hudon or Mete a steal either. At least not yet.
- deadpoulet

Drafting NHL players in the later rounds is already pretty good.

That's the main problem. The first 2 rounds are where most of the difference making players are drafted and the Habs didn't get 1 since 2007.
- BashCH

Well we drafted Sergachev. That one was good.

In fact, in retrospect, Timmins is pretty damn good at drafting in the top 10.

Price, McDonagh, Sergachev, Galchenyuk are all very good picks.

Well we drafted Sergachev. That one was good.

In fact, in retrospect, Timmins is pretty damn good at drafting in the top 10.

Price, McDonagh, Sergachev, Galchenyuk are all very good picks.
- Scabeh

McDonagh wasn't top 10.

Our first round draft picks have turned out horrible for a while now. That's a big part of the problem.

Beaulieu, Leblanc, Tinordi, McCarron...

Scherbak still has a shot but still has loads to go.
- Scabeh

That was my point. And the org made some poor decisions with the players they have picked. Mcdonagh was the worst, but Subban and Sergachev backfired as well.

Now they decided to give 10,5 millions a year to a 30 year old goalie. You have to look at those things at some point.

They also made the decision to try to make the playoffs year after year without being a true contender. So of course, you don't get Crosby, Ovie, Kane or Toews.

"In other words, to a U.S. city where hockey isn’t such an obsession."

So ya, not getting rid of Alzner anytime soon
- Xizord

That was mostly the reporter speculating, wasn't there a story on how Lucic showed interest in playing in Montreal but couldn't pass up the opportunity to play with McDavid? He and Gallagher are buddies or something...?