Habs Fan in Edmonton

I am no scout but really like Slavkofsky at 3, has perhaps the greatest potential but also perhaps the greatest uncertainty. I just hope the Hab scouts get it right whomever they pick.

I would be happy with either of those guys but that might just be a comparison in styles. Quite the write up on Cooley, makes you think that drafting 2nd overall wouldn't be awful. NHL Central Scouting analysis: "Cooley is a player who can impact games. His top-end speed is off the charts and his ability to quickly process and execute on plays make him a scoring threat every time he steps on the ice. He's a dynamic skater, shifty with a great burst with the puck and plays above the pace. He has high-end compete and makes players around him better. He decommitted from Notre Dame and will attend the University of Minnesota next season. It's the big Olympic rink in Minnesota so he's going to be hard to handle for NCAA defenders with all that extra space."

Plus Arber got a 10 minute misconduct and a 2 minute unsportsmanlike penalty. Glad to see my boy isn't losing his edge.

I agree, I think this is roughly how their picks look in the 1st 4 rounds, I expect they will try and trade up with some of the extra picks. A lot of picks in the 1st 4 rounds, don't need to use them all to draft players, maybe trade a couple forward to next year's draft if they are not used to trade up in this year's draft. Round 1 (1-3) their own pick (25-32) Calgary's pick Round 2 33 - their own pick 52-55 Oilers pick (reverts to 2023 if they make the cup final) Round 3 65 - their own pick 74-75 Anaheim's pick 93-94 Carolina's pick Round 4 97 - their own pick 120-122 Tampa's pick 120-122 Ranger's pick

Yes plus hat tricks from Caulfield and Suzuki and a shutout from Price.

What's guaranteed though is that they will have the 1st pick in rounds 2 through 7, almost like having an extra 1st round pick.

Came back from a 3-0 deficit, that is hard to believe. WOOHOO!!!

Are you kidding me!!! How about those Yotes!!!

I can't disagree with anything you said. Integrity is important, I expect a full effort from the players. I just wish the Habs would have lost. Go Yotes, at least they will get a point. The Yotes are certainly trying, have to give them credit for that.

On the bright side, Petry increased his trade value.

It is a lot of money but I don't think Carey Price is the kind of guy to hang around and collect a pay cheque if he is only going to be a shadow of his former self.

yes, if it's a regulation loss. Ok, here are all the possibilities that make up 2 points to clinch last place 1) Regulation loss by Montreal 2) 2 overtime losses by Montreal 3) Win by Arizona (regulation or otherwise) 4) 2 overtime losses by Arizona 5) 1 Overtime loss by Montreal and 1 overtime loss by Arizona Have I missed any?

Yeah, but nothing we can do about that now. I just hope things get settled tonight (Montreal loss or Arizona win, or OT loss for both) so there is no drama Friday.

That's certainly a legitimate fear. It's such an important draft for the Habs that I think we are all a little worried that it doesn't work out. I am also very curious to see whether they trade up at all as they have so many picks.

Good points. There are no guarantees even with the #1 pick, the higher pick just improves your odds. Like you and probably everyone on this board, I want the #1 pick and we will see where it takes us.

What happened before with Montreal drafting at #3 will have zero bearing on what happens this year should they happen to draft #3 again. Hopefully this group is a little smarter about rushing an 18 year old kid (ie KK) and it was a horrible draft year when they drafted Galchenyuk (none of the top 4 turned out).

But you are correct, one more loss in regulation for the Habs and they have the best odds. Hopefully it's over tomorrow night so I can cheer for the Habs against Florida.

As Commandant says, magic number is 2 points, 2 overtime losses would also do it or one regulation loss, or Arizona getting 2 more points. Tie breaker in favour of Arizona for the higher seed because they will have more regulation wins.

YES!! WOHOO!!! Love those Yotes!!!

I like that proposal too, love it from a Habs point of view but not enough for Winnipeg. Winnipeg would also be taking on 10M/year in salary, not a chance. I think the Habs wait for the lottery to see where the balls fall. If they get the #1 pick and they love Wright then PLD is not coming to Montreal. The money and resources required to get him can be better spent elsewhere.

I think he would be a great addition but it comes down to what you would be willing to give up and what can you sign him for. I don't think Suzuki/Caulfield are going anywhere. I think the Habs #1 pick would be a big component in any deal. A trade like that would signal that HuGo wants to accelerate the rebuild process and that Winnipeg want to do a major rebuild. I don't think I want to trade the #1 pick but Dubois won't come cheap, he is only 23 and he and Suzuki would be a formidable 1-2 punch up the middle for a long time.

That might be the reason. You would think they would want very good young center in return as that would leave a big hole up the middle and Scheifele is 29, not a young buck anymore.

He is certainly getting more than $5M in his next contract, likely 7.5-8 at least on a long term deal. I agree about drafting Cooley or Wright and then being a little patient and let them develop. The only way I could see adding someone like Dubois is if they were able to get a contract like Gallagher or Price off the books and I don't see that happening.

Perhaps, to me a "re-tool" shouldn't include trading a big, strong and talented 23 year old center as those are hard to find. That doesn't make sense to me.

No doubt, there is no questioning his mobility or his hockey smarts.