GHT120

The references to "culture" in the post-draft de-brief by Lapointe & Bobrov makes me think that ***MAY*** have also played a role in the Habs passing on Michkov ... I see culture as different than MB's famous "character" ... character is about an individual ... culture is about an organization ... while a player with character issues obviously doesn't contribute to a good culture, even a player with no character issues could not be the right fit for a good culture.

Do the Habs have the roster space to take on contracts ... 11 "NHL" forward contracts (Suzuki, Gallagher, Anderson, Hoffman, Dvorak, Armia, Dach, Evans, Caufield, Mohanan, Slafjkovesky) ... and expect they also plan to keep Farrell, and RFA RHP ... that leaves Pitlick, Pezzetta, UFA Belzile and RFAs Ylönen and Gurianov on the outside looking in ... 13 forwards ... in the same context they have 9 defencemen (Matheson, Edmundson, Savard, Harris, Barron, Guhle, Kovacevic, Wideman and Xekaj). HuGo will have to move some current roster players to make room before they can make any "Monahan moves" (whether or not for that good a return) ... I see Anderson, Evans, Edmundson, Kovacevic and Wideman as the easiest to move if they so choose ... so I am not expecting a lot of activity ... or it will be contract-in/contract-out.

The current reports I've seen have been that Mailloux's defence definitely needs to "catch up" to his offence ... going forward I have lower offensive expectations for Barron than Mailloux based on all reports.

Really want to add more chances ...

Guess they want to add "chances" to find a future goalie

Possibly consistent with the emphasis on "what will the player be in 2-3-4 years" approach that HuGo seem to have to drafting.

Mailloux's projections when drafted were difficult because he had played only 4 OHL games at that point ... comparing their "after-drafted" seasons not much more useful ... Mailloux only got in 12 games (sitting out half the season until re-instated and then injured shortly thereafter) with 3 goals and 6 assists in 12 games; Baron missed much of the season and went 33-8-23 ... Mailloux certainly has a breakout season last year but no direct comparison possible as Barron was in the AHL in his second year after drafted.

👍 Welcome aboard LITTLE brother

For those of us who don't recognize the name

The same reason fans want their team to trade up is why teams were not willing to trade down ... it is a deep draft.

I agree ... the way some have reacted I wondered if Fantilli was expected to slip to 31st.

From the Journal de Montreal ... some first-hand observations about the Habs' top pick (tweaked to smooth out linguistic differences). Quebecer Éric Faille has played with David Reinbacher for two years in Switzerland, with the Kloten organization. Until now, he had refused virtually all media requests to provide his opinion on the potential draftee. He changed his mind when Reinbacher was selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. He witnessed a wave of negative reactions from disappointed fans, who were not ready to give the pick a chance, too upset at having seen Kent Hughes pass on Matvei Michkov. "I hope everyone in Montreal will calm down a little and appreciate David for the player he is," Faille said in an interview with the TVASports.ca. “I hope the fans will see the big picture, the player he can become. It's sad to see a young person being drafted in Montreal and receiving this kind of reaction..." Reinbacher is not Michkov. Two players couldn't be more different. But in his own way, he is a prospect with very high potential, recalled Faille. The Austrian was hardly on the radar of National League teams last year. His rise has been meteoric and there is no indication that he is about to stop. "He's such an underrated player," said Faille, former member of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Toronto Marlies, among others. “He has come a long way; we're talking about a guy that people saw coming out around the third round last year. He is now fifth overall. I've been around him in the last two years and I've seen an incredible progression. At 17-18 years old, he was playing against men and he was our best defender. In my book, Canadians did not make a mistake with their choice." As Reinbacher rose to each challenge posed to him, Kloten's staff then increased his responsibilities. His development continued throughout the year. Reinbacher was always asking for more. "All year, he took a step, he took a step, he took a step," Faille said. We fed him, we fed him, we fed him and he always wanted more." The main criticisms directed at Reinbacher revolve his offensive skills. "He was the one who quarterbacked our powerplay at 18 years old," replied Faille when confronted with that criticism.” Against men, in one of the best leagues in Europe. His offensive potential, it's there. He even has a certain flair." … Faille had a little discussion with his teammate about <the Montreal media/fanbase after there was criticism of his performance at the Draft Combine>. "I told him, 'Big guy, it is like that in Montreal. You're going to have to ignore it. Perform on the ice and they're going to be on your side.'" Reinbacher is shy/reserved. But he is a man on the ice and he should not be distracted in the great metropolis of Quebec. "He's very, very humble," Faille said. “He's a down-to-earth guy, he's not going to think he's someone else. He puts on his gear and he works hard. He's humble, but he's a confidant on ice."

Think Peter was (a) responding to a specific suggestion that the absence of 31 and/or 37 was what prevented a trade ... and ... (b) just saying other teams didn't want iMchkov enough to give up what it would take to interest Hughes, not that they weren't interested in Michkov.

They *** MAY *** have tried to exploit what they thought would be a PR-problem for Hughes in passing on Michkov and low-ball them ... now they have proof that Hughes will do what *** he *** believes is right for the Habs, regardless.

I think teams wanted to trade up ... but offered nowhere near what was rumoured.

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

No ... and I am appropriately ashamed 🙄

Merci

But we will not know WHAT they were willing to offer. And who is the Sand Covered Pelican?

we will never know anything but rumours ... some perhaps more reliable than others but still rumours.

If it eventually happens, will Gary remember how to say "I have a trade to announce". EDIT: If Trotz wants to make a "big move" he was three picks by other teams to make an impact trade.

With Mitchkov gone, call the Caps for #8?

Who knows what the offers actually were.