GHT120

I disagree ... HuGo have always spoken of a sustainable rebuild ... that doesn't happen in one draft/season ... I do think they are trying to accelerate the rebuild ... not make the 2022/23 playoffs.

IMO it's a leap to assume that proves that they will play together ... it may happen, but that picture is also a GREAT bit of PR ... the three young stars.

The difference is that, as I recall, KK suddenly rose into the 5-10th range in the last week or two before the draft and was still a reach at 3rd ... Slafkovsky has been in the top 3 for months, and a 1st overall coin-flip in the final week or two.

Some positive comments from Tomas Tartar (of course wouldn't expect TT to slag JS) from an article in The Athletic: “He’s a very strong guy, he can do a lot of things on his own,” he said. “He’s very strong on the puck. He has a man body and a kid’s mind, which is awesome to see. He’s one of the strongest guys for his age that I’ve ever seen in my life.” ...Tatar said Slafkovsky and Nemec set themselves apart by their desire to learn and improve. They are sponges, he said, on and off the ice, and were looking to absorb every little detail ... I take the "kid's mind" to mean youthful enthusiasm.

Interestingly (?) the Hawks still have Colton Dach on an ELC signed he was drafted last year.

OR ... the Hawks have decided to go full-tear down ... which will perhaps encourage Kane, Toews, Jones and others to waive their NMC/NTCs and allow the Hawks to recoup more assets.

I think he said laid off the beer and started working out ... pretty common amongst teenage CHL players. Hughes said post draft they did a lot of research, including speaking with Justin Barron who was with Dach on Team Canada (Dach missed games due to wrist surgery).

Manon's nephew and son of journeyman NHLer Pascal

There is a fear attached to any high pick ... would have been the same regardless of who was selected ... with rare exceptions, we are all basing our opinions on what we have read/heard "experts" say ... and those rare exceptions are still just opinions, albeit very well-informed and hard-researched opinions ... even NHL scouts and management teams "ratings" are just opinions (it's just that in the long-term their jobs depend on those opinions).

If he doesn't grow a bit or add an ounce, that small frame more than likely (but not totally) dooms his NHL career ... but clearly Habs believe the previously referenced doctor's report and are confident he will sprout and fill out ... the key element of the article for me is: The NCAA's schedule allows for smaller players to take more time to develop and grow physically, which will do wonders for Hutson's development. Expect him to add some muscle to his frame ... NCAA is perfect for players who need to develop physically and/or in terms of skills ... I have always wondered how things would have worked out for Louis LeBlanc if he had stayed at Harvard for a couple of more seasons ... It will be interesting to see where Hutson (wonder how often he gets called Hudson) is physically this time next year ... although he likely is at least two years away from considering leaving school for the Habs.

https://bchl.ca/nhl-draft-profile-ryan-hopkins

BUT ... they had no leverage to force a decision as he had a No Movement Clause ... this was a HUGE favour ... wonder how soon he gets a new position with the Oilers paying most/all of that $$$ from which he walked away

Internet forums of any type not my favourite barometer for predicting success

Of the two, Laval gives them more control over his development and allows for a promotion if he earns it

Walking away from $1.5M in actual money ... a lot of money, but easier to do when your estimated career earnings (before taxes and agents fees) are $73,704,878.

Dach on a Zoom call at 4:00pm ... will carried n TSN690 ... and these are always available on the Habs twitter feed

Gives me an excuse to take in a couple of games next season

TSN690 guys saying that Hutson's "bone age" is lower than his chronological age ... supposedly meaning he potentially has more growth potential than most his age ... sounds like a good guy for NCAA development (apparently going to Boston College) ... his older brother (20yr-old) Quinn is 5'11", so there is genetic hope

TSN690 guys saying that Hutson's "bone age" is lower than his chronological age ... meaning he potentially has more growth potential than most his age ... sounds like a good guy for NCAA development EDIT: Apparently going to Boston College

Also ... I've never understood why faceoffs HAVE TO BE taken by the centre.

A team thrown out there as a possibility ... not certain there were strong reports of "want"

One less option for teams needing an offensive RHD ...

Don't see an outright tank, but do see a development year.

Neither was Hughes apparently