Connor Geekie is your man

-Grant McGagg

https://www.nhl.com/canad...or-the-future/c-334433426

I can't see them NOT drafting a center, yes Slaf would be great but he will need a great center to work with, outside of Suzuki the Habs don't have a great young center and everyone knows you build up front with your center line FIRST, not wingers.
- Symba007

yeah, Hughes was pretty clear about that. they'll pick the bpa. period.

yeah, Hughes was pretty clear about that. they'll pick the bpa. period.
- fidopro

it's the way to go, I think it'll be Wright, but if they determine Slafkovsky has the highest potential then so be it.

https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/adam-douglas-is-building-for-the-future/c-334433426
- Symba007

it would seem Bergevin didn't hire him early enough lol

it's the way to go, I think it'll be Wright, but if they determine Slafkovsky has the highest potential then so be it.
- Pat1993

I think it will be Wright too, I would not be upset or disappointed if it was Sly though. looks a bit like the Ovie/Malkin year. not comparing the players, but can't go wrong either way.

it's the way to go, I think it'll be Wright, but if they determine Slafkovsky has the highest potential then so be it.
- Pat1993

i can't see them drafting a winger without having solved the center line first. Centers are much harder to find and to draft than wingers.

I think it will be Wright too, I would not be upset or disappointed if it was Sly though. looks a bit like the Ovie/Malkin year. not comparing the players, but can't go wrong either way.
- fidopro

I only think it'll be Wright based on the quasi-consensus, I have no clue what their ceiling is if you compare both players, as I haven't followed them at all.

i can't see them drafting a winger without having solved the center line first. Centers are much harder to find and draft than wingers.
- Symba007

oh I agree with you, but if their player evaluation concludes that Slaf is the better player, shouldn't they grab him..? we've all seen what can happen if you draft by need...

oh I agree with you, but if their player evaluation concludes that Slaf is the better player, shouldn't they grab him..? we've all seen what can happen if you draft by need...
- Pat1993

we are talking about drafting the consensus pick in Wright vs the new shinny toy in Slaf.

KK was the new shinny toy the last time, Tkachuk was the safe bet

I only think it'll be Wright based on the quasi-consensus, I have no clue what is their ceiling if you compare both players, as I haven't followed them at all.
- Pat1993

from what I read, Wright brings a lot of character and leadership (2 things Hughes said he was looking for), seems also pretty good under pressure, in a market like Mtl that could be important. for these reasons I think they will pick him.
who cares about the consensus?

we are talking about drafting the consensus pick in Wright vs the new shinny toy in Slaf.

KK was the new shinny toy the last time, Tkachuk was the safe bet
- Symba007

it's true that the situation does seem different this time around, there doesn't seem to potentially be a KK-type player in the top 3

from what I read, Wright brings a lot of character and leadership, seems also pretty good under pressure, in a market like Mtl that could be important. for these reasons I think they will pick him.
who cares about the consensus?
- fidopro

habs management should stick to their own conclusions, but I use the consensus as something to drive my opinion because I didn't follow these players closely like all these folks building drafting lists did.

habs management should stick to their own conclusions, but I use the consensus as something to drive my opinion because I didn't follow these players closely like all these folks building drafting lists did.
- Pat1993

you're too young to remember, you were'nt even born, but old (frank) like me remember very well the 1980 draft. Habs had the 1st pick, after winning their 4th consecutive cup. the consensus #1 ranked prospect was a big center named Doug Wickenheiser.
the rest is history.

you're too young to remember, you were'nt even born, but old (frank) like me remember very well the 1980 draft. Habs had the 1st pick, after winning their 4th consecutive cup. the consensus ranked #1 prospect was a big center named Doug Wickenheiser.
the rest is history.
- fidopro

yeah, while I agree that's a fine example that the consensus isn't always right and that it shows that the draft is far from being an exact science, I think it's safe to say situations like these are more of an exception than the rule...

and Wickenheiser had 89 goals and 81 assists in the 1979-80 season with the Regina Pats, that's (frank)ing insane lol... wasn't crazy to think he'd turn out to be a great player.

yeah, while I agree that's a fine example that the consensus isn't always right and that it shows that the draft is far from being an exact science, I think it's safe to say situations like these are more of an exception than the rule...
- Pat1993

to the the contrary, take a look at past drafts. you'll see that kids who were the consensus #1 ranked prospect, and picked 1st, very often do not end up being the best player later on. the list is endless.
like you said, Habs need to do what they think is the Wright thing. their list might be very different the ones we see on tv.

I can't see them NOT drafting a center, yes Slaf would be great but he will need a great center to work with, outside of Suzuki the Habs don't have a great young center and everyone knows you build up front with your center line FIRST, not wingers.
- Symba007

Unless the interviews go wrong/right for somebody.

to the the contrary, take a look at past drafts. you'll see that kids who were the consensus #1 ranked prospect, and picked 1st, very often do not end up being the best player later on. the list is endless.
like you said, Habs need to do what they think is the Wright thing.
- fidopro

but the contrast between the consensus and the actual best player usually isn't as bad as your Wickenheiser example lol

I can't see them NOT drafting a center, yes Slaf would be great but he will need a great center to work with, outside of Suzuki the Habs don't have a great young center and everyone knows you build up front with your center line FIRST, not wingers.
- Symba007

Bergevin didn't know that.

but the contrast between the consensus and the actual best player usually isn't as bad as your Wickenheiser example lol
- Pat1993

yeah, but that one hit close to home.

Unless the interviews go wrong/right for somebody.
- AdamFrench

apparently there were teams that had interviewed Yakupov and knew after 5 minutes they wouldn't draft him

yeah, but that one hit close to home.
- fidopro

for sure, like I'm saying it's one of those ultimate historical draft failures lol

apparently there were teams that had interviewed Yakupov and knew after 5 minutes they wouldn't draft him
- Pat1993

So sayeth Brian of the House Burke

apparently there were teams that had interviewed Yakupov and knew after 5 minutes they wouldn't draft him
- Pat1993

see? another example of a #1 ranked prospect drafted 1st who didn't end up the best player years later.