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Wow Mesar that high? I don't see it.

Dach was rushed. He should have spent a year or 2 in the AHL. Hawks screwed that up pretty bad.

Dobber ranks him at 15, Schouching at 10, Smaht at 9 and Mckeen's at 12. I personally think he's being over shadowed by Slafkovsky, he's got skills that translate directly to the NHL and was already playing in a mans league at 17 years old this year scoring almost half a ppg and showing up big at the U18. His stock's on the rise from now on to the draft, the only downside is that he's 5'10''.

About Dach ... It's easy with hindsight but yes. He likely got promoted too early and that got to his head where he now thinks he's the top gun so he doesn't have to listen. Staying in the A sometimes teaches you humility.

Oh I didn't realize Mesar had risen so much, I haven't kept up to date the last couple weeks. I'd still rather Trikozov or Gauthier I think.

This is why I was okay with Eklund going back to Sweden one more year. He needed it more than he thought he did despite Djurgarden's trainwreck season.

I've long thought Slaf was a bit overrated...

Lambert way too high...

People's opinion on this draft differ greatly. You say it isn't top heavy, some say the Top 12-14 is great but it gets significantly worse than usual after that. I really have no idea how I'd compare this year's draft class to the average draft class. I think I'd say the Top 5 looks average, nothing crazy, 6-12 (/14) is above average and the rest of the 1st round is below average. No generational or franchise player upfront (imo as of now).

Impossible to judge a draft class until it's a few years after. I'd guess its an average draft. My guess is we're going to see a lot of trading at the draft.

By not being top heavy I meant top end guys like Matthews or McDavid but there's plenty of potential NHL players in this draft. It's an odd year in part because of the amount of defenders seen as first rounders, it's like every 03-04 baby decided to be a defenseman so that kind of goes against the usual "there's a premium for good defenders in the draft" thought process. I could see 3 top pairing guys and half a dozen more being top 4 by the end of their development in this year's first round.


That be great for once to have some action early and often... After watching the NFL draft last weekend, the NHL is miles away from being so entertaining for 7 rounds. Could we have some kind of action or is it always going to be prepared like a bingo contest?

Obviously. I meant the opinion of scouts beforehand, because they almost always have one.

NHL draft is so boring. Even round 1. Like last year when it took a full hour for picks 1-10. Everything else just drags and drags. Bit of a torture fest.

If you're opening phone lines at 3 overall, what's the ask to move from 16-3?
I'd offer 16, 41, Ryan Johnson, Erik Portillo, and taking whatever contract you wanna shed back the other way.

Can't see any players being part of that deal considering Montreal's contract limit. As far as the ask, I'd ask Buff's top two selections and maybe a switch of mid rounders (Montreal getting the better), taking into account the latest TheAthletic value chart for picks it's a slight over payment in term of value. Adams' a young GM that sees success since Eichel's departure so he could get excited by it and make a rookie mistake by paying more than he should.

I can't see Habs trading with Barfalo in the same division - if Habs trade down it would be #3 and say 27 for Columbus' 2 picks 6 & 12 or whatever - assuming the hawks don't move up to top 2 protection

That would be too much for me...
Johnson and Portillo are NCAA so they wouldn't count until the following year.

Both of whom fits nowhere in Montreal, LD's our deepest position by a mile and a half and we've already drafted 4 promising young goaltenders so neither fits the bill.