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Draft '20
Aug 27, 2020 5:17:34 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Aug 27, 2020 5:17:34 GMT -5
we have to redo our drafts we did during pandemic shutdown. As draft positions been switched around. Yup. 12 of our 14 picks have moved since pre lottery and play-in/playoffs. Two of those 12 picks can still move one spot each depending on those results referenced above. I have never seen so much movement in draft picks before. Welcome to 2020. I'll do mine a day or two before draft. As sounds like a few trades maybe involving picks. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Sept 3, 2020 17:55:36 GMT -5
According to Button this evening: Lafreniere (Rangers) Byfield (Kings) Stutzle (Senators) Drysdale (Red Wings) Rossi (Senators) Sanderson (Ducks) Raymond (Devils) Perfetti (Sabres) Lundell (Wild) Jarvis (Jets) Holtz (Predators) Guhle (Panthers) Askarov (Hurricanes) Quinn (Oilers) Mercer (Penguins) Not saying that Button is super accurate most years, but if somehow in whatever order they go off the board those 15 players are gone, who do you pick at #16? Right off the top of my head...Amirov or Reichel. HM to Holloway. Interesting serious look at Gunler. We get to pick from leftovers like a brother-in-law at a Thanksgiving dinner. One of the guys I like is Perrault, great shot, fast skater and improving year over year production. Average size but smart with good vision. He is not another Leblanc. Almost certain to make the team eventually with uncertainty on his upside limit. If he improves his skating mechanics he becomes a very good player immediately. Julien will bench him until he backchecks. Goodbye to our 12% of Lafreniere or 8th place Rossi but a shot that will help. Hope everyone enjoyed our costly play-in appearance. |
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Post by folatre on Sept 7, 2020 17:44:41 GMT -5
LA, I like Perreault too. The kid is a real sniper and he's a jet out there compared to his dad.
The dilemma for the Habs, if indeed Bergevin and Timmins really like him, is that Perreault feels like a bit of a reach at #16, but he will definitely go in the first round (I would say in the 20-25 range) so unless they want to spend some assets to move up to grab an extra first round pick in this draft then I do not see a way to get him.
Seeing the draft slots (#16, #47, #48, $56, #77, #97, #101, #108, and so on) for Montreal and the relatively full cupboard of prospects in the system, I would like to see management eschew playing it safe. For me, out of the first five picks the Habs possess, it is best to take home run swings with at least three of those initial five.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Sept 7, 2020 22:23:41 GMT -5
LA, I like Perreault too. The kid is a real sniper and he's a jet out there compared to his dad. The dilemma for the Habs, if indeed Bergevin and Timmins really like him, is that Perreault feels like a bit of a reach at #16, but he will definitely go in the first round (I would say in the 20-25 range) so unless they want to spend some assets to move up to grab an extra first round pick in this draft then I do not see a way to get him. Seeing the draft slots (#16, #47, #48, $56, #77, #97, #101, #108, and so on) for Montreal and the relatively full cupboard of prospects in the system, I would like to see management eschew playing it safe. For me, out of the first five picks the Habs possess, it is best to take home run swings with at least three of those initial five. I agree with you about home run swings. We are loaded with mediocre players. Moving up means quality over quantity. Perrault could be a home run swing. Bergy ignored conventional wisdom to pick KK. We could use a great shot Perrault to improve our scoring. It’s not like we’re picking top ‘8’. |
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Post by PTH on Sept 8, 2020 2:32:13 GMT -5
LA, I like Perreault too. The kid is a real sniper and he's a jet out there compared to his dad. The dilemma for the Habs, if indeed Bergevin and Timmins really like him, is that Perreault feels like a bit of a reach at #16, but he will definitely go in the first round (I would say in the 20-25 range) ... If you like a guy who's projected as a top 25 pick, and you're picking 16, you just take him. I think us fans overthink the draft far too much, so many players just never pan out. GMs go for the guy who seems most likely to work out in some kind of a role, and have a limited list of truly well-scouted guys they've done their homework on properly. I'd add though that the Habs should have a particularly good read on a local kid. |
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Post by folatre on Sept 8, 2020 9:04:10 GMT -5
For sure, I very much agree with the principle that you are encouraging. I believe that I heard Timmins talking about this with regard to selecting Romanov when they did.
Regarding Perreault, I like him but I believe at #16 there will be two or three players who I like a little more than him. Hockey is debatable, particularly evaluations of 18 year old kids, so I would not have a huge problem with Montreal taking Perreault if he is the best prospect left on their board.
Though I am not entirely certain, I would imagine Perreault speaks French. But like quite a few kids of hockey dads who hail from Quebec, Perreault grew up in the U.S. and played in the USHL and later with Sarnia in the OHL.
I know that Covid cut the season short, but given how this draft class has a really excellent crop of kids from the Q, hopefully Timmins and Audette saw a lot of games and talked to a lot of people and thus have a good read on where a local kid may represent good value in any particular round. Also, Timmins should be able to pick the brains of Ducharme and Bouchard for insights.
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Draft '20
Sept 8, 2020 10:12:56 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by GNick99 on Sept 8, 2020 10:12:56 GMT -5
LA, I like Perreault too. The kid is a real sniper and he's a jet out there compared to his dad. The dilemma for the Habs, if indeed Bergevin and Timmins really like him, is that Perreault feels like a bit of a reach at #16, but he will definitely go in the first round (I would say in the 20-25 range) so unless they want to spend some assets to move up to grab an extra first round pick in this draft then I do not see a way to get him. Seeing the draft slots (#16, #47, #48, $56, #77, #97, #101, #108, and so on) for Montreal and the relatively full cupboard of prospects in the system, I would like to see management eschew playing it safe. For me, out of the first five picks the Habs possess, it is best to take home run swings with at least three of those initial five. I agree with you about home run swings. We are loaded with mediocre players. Moving up means quality over quantity. Perrault could be a home run swing. Bergy ignored conventional wisdom to pick KK. We could use a great shot Perrault to improve our scoring. It’s not like we’re picking top ‘8’. Maybe we will pick top 8? |
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Post by PTH on Sept 8, 2020 10:48:31 GMT -5
I know that Covid cut the season short, but given how this draft class has a really excellent crop of kids from the Q, hopefully Timmins and Audette saw a lot of games and talked to a lot of people and thus have a good read on where a local kid may represent good value in any particular round. Also, Timmins should be able to pick the brains of Ducharme and Bouchard for insights. I'm skeptical. I've often thought there's a disconnect between Timmins' drafting and the reality of a team in Montreal, where having some local players is seen as important, and can lead to pressure to make moves to acquire some. In fact, it's why I'd fire Timmins even though I think his drafting record is good: his lack of interest in local players forces management to make trades, and it doesn't buy us any slack if a local kid isn't seen as the best player available. I've said it before, but I want the Habs to be the team that everyone knows scouts the Q best and doesn't miss out on anyone. We can't draft only local guys, but if we pass on one, we shouldn't ever have our scouts saying "oh, I guess we missed him". |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 8, 2020 15:27:50 GMT -5
The draft is moving up a few days so that it does not conflict with the planned UFA day on October 9th. Yeah that it is sooner. Weird that it will be mid week (Tuesday night for round 1 and Wednesday for the rest).
Four weeks tonight!!
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Post by franko on Sept 8, 2020 18:27:13 GMT -5
I'm skeptical. I've often thought there's a disconnect between Timmins' drafting and the reality of a team in Montreal, where having some local players is seen as important, and can lead to pressure to make moves to acquire some. In fact, it's why I'd fire Timmins even though I think his drafting record is good: his lack of interest in local players forces management to make trades, and it doesn't buy us any slack if a local kid isn't seen as the best player available. I'm confused . . . are you saying "forget drafting the BPA, draft the BFPA"? that's why we've wound up with Therrien part deux, Julien part deux, and eventually Vigneault part deux (though that will be an upgrade. I don't want to reignite the anglo/franco discussion, but if we are drafting by heritage rather than ability then we are going to continue being mediocre. last coupla rounds, sure . . . but then the complaint will be that the Habs/Timmons doesn't regard local well enough. definitely with you there . . . has it actually happened, or happened more than once or twice? |
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Post by PTH on Sept 8, 2020 19:15:24 GMT -5
I'm skeptical. I've often thought there's a disconnect between Timmins' drafting and the reality of a team in Montreal, where having some local players is seen as important, and can lead to pressure to make moves to acquire some. In fact, it's why I'd fire Timmins even though I think his drafting record is good: his lack of interest in local players forces management to make trades, and it doesn't buy us any slack if a local kid isn't seen as the best player available. I guess I'm saying draft the BPA, but make sure you've thoroughly scouted the local talent first. I want a team that vets local kids so closely that if we pass on one, we know they did their homework. It's insane to have a guy like Timmins drafting US High school kids in large numbers and seemingly less interested in local kids, and he then uses that as an excuse for later moves to acquire the local kids. If we'd had a solid representation of local talent, we can pass on Leblanc if management isn't sold on him, but we have a scouting team that seems determined to stay away from local talent, knowing we'll be under pressure for trades and UFA signings later on. Well, if there's no local talent available, fair enough. But a team goes into the draft with a list of 50 to 60 guys they've done their homework on, and have a feel for when they could go. I want a team that has every draftable Quebecer on their list, even if it's because they've picked up too many red flags on a guy. definitely with you there . . . has it actually happened, or happened more than once or twice? Honestly, I don't follow the draft closely enough and it's rare to have a team say outright "we really liked X and should have picked him", since it quickly gets close to tampering, so they'll steer clear, other than years later when they passed on a clear cut better choice (ie: saying we should have taken Claude Giroux rather than David Fischer ain't exactly controversial. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Sept 8, 2020 22:03:31 GMT -5
I guess I'm saying draft the BPA, but make sure you've thoroughly scouted the local talent first. I want a team that vets local kids so closely that if we pass on one, we know they did their homework. It's insane to have a guy like Timmins drafting US High school kids in large numbers and seemingly less interested in local kids, and he then uses that as an excuse for later moves to acquire the local kids. If we'd had a solid representation of local talent, we can pass on Leblanc if management isn't sold on him, but we have a scouting team that seems determined to stay away from local talent, knowing we'll be under pressure for trades and UFA signings later on. Well, if there's no local talent available, fair enough. But a team goes into the draft with a list of 50 to 60 guys they've done their homework on, and have a feel for when they could go. I want a team that has every draftable Quebecer on their list, even if it's because they've picked up too many red flags on a guy. definitely with you there . . . has it actually happened, or happened more than once or twice? Honestly, I don't follow the draft closely enough and it's rare to have a team say outright "we really liked X and should have picked him", since it quickly gets close to tampering, so they'll steer clear, other than years later when they passed on a clear cut better choice (ie: saying we should have taken Claude Giroux rather than David Fischer ain't exactly controversial. It’s rare when a player from the Q is better than picks from the O or W. Home grown juniors in Quebec have been inferior in the last few years. There are always exceptions and Louis Leblanc, but if you are building a contender there are more choices in Europe, the US and other major junior leagues. As much as I would like Lafreniere I would still prefer Mackinnon or McDavid. Forcing yourself to pick a French speaking GM greatly reduces the talent pool and keeps the team from being successful. I would have no problem trading GMs with Tampa Bay but that ship has sailed. Listening to Bergevin explain why we are still losing after 8 years is painful. I think Timmons is a decent judge of talent but I agree it may be time to move on for success and change. |
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Draft '20
Sept 8, 2020 22:21:57 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by frozone on Sept 8, 2020 22:21:57 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't follow the draft closely enough and it's rare to have a team say outright "we really liked X and should have picked him", since it quickly gets close to tampering, so they'll steer clear, other than years later when they passed on a clear cut better choice (ie: saying we should have taken Claude Giroux rather than David Fischer ain't exactly controversial. It’s rare when a player from the Q is better than picks from the O or W. Home grown juniors in Quebec have been inferior in the last few years. There are always exceptions and Louis Leblanc, but if you are building a contender there are more choices in Europe, the US and other major junior leagues. As much as I would like Lafreniere I would still prefer Mackinnon or McDavid. Forcing yourself to pick a French speaking GM greatly reduces the talent pool and keeps the team from being successful. I would have no problem trading GMs with Tampa Bay but that ship has sailed. Listening to Bergevin explain why we are still losing after 8 years is painful. I think Timmons is a decent judge of talent but I agree it may be time to move on for success and change. Just FYI, Mackinnon is actually a QMJHL product despite not being Quebecois. |
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Post by PTH on Sept 8, 2020 22:56:15 GMT -5
It’s rare when a player from the Q is better than picks from the O or W. Home grown juniors in Quebec have been inferior in the last few years. There are always exceptions and Louis Leblanc, but if you are building a contender there are more choices in Europe, the US and other major junior leagues. As much as I would like Lafreniere I would still prefer Mackinnon or McDavid. Forcing yourself to pick a French speaking GM greatly reduces the talent pool and keeps the team from being successful. I would have no problem trading GMs with Tampa Bay but that ship has sailed. Listening to Bergevin explain why we are still losing after 8 years is painful. I think Timmons is a decent judge of talent but I agree it may be time to move on for success and change. Just FYI, Mackinnon is actually a QMJHL product despite not being Quebecois. I'd suggest though that non-francophones from the Q are also good picks for the Habs - showing attention to "local" junior hockey and junior hockey fans, as well as getting Europeans who might well be more willing to live in Quebec than some American kid who doesn't know squat about Canada. The best example is Radulov - played in the Q and was thrilled to come to Montreal a decade later. |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 9, 2020 0:25:46 GMT -5
Just FYI, Mackinnon is actually a QMJHL product despite not being Quebecois. I'd suggest though that non-francophones from the Q are also good picks for the Habs - showing attention to "local" junior hockey and junior hockey fans, as well as getting Europeans who might well be more willing to live in Quebec than some American kid who doesn't know squat about Canada. The best example is Radulov - played in the Q and was thrilled to come to Montreal a decade later. The best way to judge, perhaps, is with some facts. I hope this turns out ok as it involves tables. | 2016 | Pick #
| 2015 | Pick #
| 2014 | Pick #
| PL Dubois
| 3 | Timo Meier
| 9 | Nik Ehlers
| 9 | M. Sergachev
| 9 | Jakub Zboril
| 13 | Nikita Scherbak
| 26 | Pascal Lagerge
| 36 | Thomas Chabot
| 18 | Mason McDonald
| 34 | SamGirard
| 47 | Evgeny Svechnikov
| 19 | Nicolas Aube-Kubel
| 48 | Evan Fitzpatrick
| 59 | Noah Juulsen
| 26 | Vaclav Karbacek
| 49 | Vitali Abramov
| 65 | Anthony Beauvillier
| 28 | Jake Evans
| 207 | Victor Mete
| 100 | Jeremy Roy
| 31 |
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| Gabriel Gagne
| 36 |
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| Nicolas Meloche
| 40 |
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| Daniel Sprong
| 46 |
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| Filip Chlapik
| 48 |
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| Jeremy Lauzon
| 52 |
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| Lukas Vejdemo
| 87 |
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| Nicolas Roy
| 96 |
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| Mathieu Joseph
| 120 |
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| 2013 | Pick #
| 2012 | Pick # | 2011 | Pick #
| N. McKinnon
| 1 | Alex Galchenyuk
| 3 | Jonathan Huburdeau
| 3 | J. Drouin
| 3 | Mikhail Grigorenko
| 12 | Sean Couturier
| 8 | Samuel Morin
| 11 | Sebastien Collberg
| 33 | Nathan Beaulieu
| 17 | Anthony Mantha
| 20 | Raphael Bussieres
| 46 | Philip Danault
| 26 | Emile Poirier
| 22 | Martin Frk
| 49 | Zack Phillips
| 28 | M McCarron
| 26 | Alexandre Mallet
| 57 | Tomas Jurco
| 35 | Adam Erne
| 33 | Cedric Paquette
| 101 | Xavier Ouellet
| 48 | Zach Fucale
| 36 | Charles Hudon
| 122 | Chris Gibson
| 49 | Valentine Zykov
| 37 |
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| J.G. Pageau
| 96 | Laurent Dauphin
| 39 |
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| Logan Shaw
| 76 | Nick Sorensen
| 45 |
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| Gabryel Bourdreau
| 49 |
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| Phillipe Desroisier
| 54 |
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| William Carrier
| 57 |
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| Anthony Duclair
| 80 |
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| Sven Andirghetto
| 86 |
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| McKenzie Weegar
| 206 |
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A few ground rules. I listed all the QMJHL draft picks, even the non French Canadian kids until I hit the 55-60 range and then only the ones picked after that who we would recognize. Pageau in 2011 for example at pick #96. He was available to lots of teams. I also listed our picks of any consequence just for context. I didn't list Delarose or Lehkonen in 2013. There were enough rows as it was.
A few things stand out. First, that the number of high quality players coming out of the QMJHL is small. There are some outstanding difference makers in there....McKinnon, Huburdeau, Dubois, Chabot and Couturier but they were all gone well before we picked. I know the Habs were really keen on Dubois, but Columbus wasn't trading that pick and without being able to make a deal with the Oilers, it wasn't to be. Canucks were really high on him too, so it was either Edmonton or nothing....and in the end it didn't matter anyway. Secondly, even when some other good, later picks were available, our turn came later. Ehlers...gone. . Mantha....gone. Beauvilliers was one guy who actually was available. I wonder if the Habs were focusing on defenseman at that time. Or maybe Juulsen was just a better prospect. Girard would have been available if we hadn't traded our 2nd round pick.
Frankly, I can't see any major mistakes. Beauvilliers is the only guy I might like better than who we picked at that spot, and even then, we have to give Juulsen a healthy year or two to judge that. I'd say the opportunities simply haven't been there. Either we didn't have a high enough pick, or the guys that were there, weren't worth picking.
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Post by GNick99 on Sept 9, 2020 6:29:07 GMT -5
I guess I'm saying draft the BPA, but make sure you've thoroughly scouted the local talent first. I want a team that vets local kids so closely that if we pass on one, we know they did their homework. It's insane to have a guy like Timmins drafting US High school kids in large numbers and seemingly less interested in local kids, and he then uses that as an excuse for later moves to acquire the local kids. If we'd had a solid representation of local talent, we can pass on Leblanc if management isn't sold on him, but we have a scouting team that seems determined to stay away from local talent, knowing we'll be under pressure for trades and UFA signings later on. Well, if there's no local talent available, fair enough. But a team goes into the draft with a list of 50 to 60 guys they've done their homework on, and have a feel for when they could go. I want a team that has every draftable Quebecer on their list, even if it's because they've picked up too many red flags on a guy. definitely with you there . . . has it actually happened, or happened more than once or twice? Honestly, I don't follow the draft closely enough and it's rare to have a team say outright "we really liked X and should have picked him", since it quickly gets close to tampering, so they'll steer clear, other than years later when they passed on a clear cut better choice (ie: saying we should have taken Claude Giroux rather than David Fischer ain't exactly controversial. Can tell Draft is where it is at. If we picked Giroux, think of where we would been in '10 and '14 Conference Finals. Plus, taking Boston to Game 7 overtime in 2011? |
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Post by folatre on Sept 9, 2020 8:28:36 GMT -5
There are many reasons youth hockey has declined to some degree in Quebec over the last twenty years. Setting aside that complex phenomenon for the moment, I think it suffices to say the quality and depth of draft eligible prospects from the Q varies considerably from year to year. According to all the guys (McKenzie, Button, among others) analyzing the 2020 draft, the consensus is that there is great quality and depth.
Obviously it all depends on who is available at any given pick, but the point I would make is that 2020 is certainly a year where it would not require "reaching" or favouring French players to end up with two or three local kids.
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Post by Andrew on Sept 9, 2020 10:43:00 GMT -5
We could have picked local boy Angelo Esposito in the first round in 2007. Just like with Louis Leblanc it would have been a great story on draft day and everyone would have gone home happy.
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Post by Anardil1 on Sept 9, 2020 10:57:05 GMT -5
I guess I'm saying draft the BPA, but make sure you've thoroughly scouted the local talent first. I want a team that vets local kids so closely that if we pass on one, we know they did their homework. It's insane to have a guy like Timmins drafting US High school kids in large numbers and seemingly less interested in local kids, and he then uses that as an excuse for later moves to acquire the local kids. If we'd had a solid representation of local talent, we can pass on Leblanc if management isn't sold on him, but we have a scouting team that seems determined to stay away from local talent, knowing we'll be under pressure for trades and UFA signings later on. Well, if there's no local talent available, fair enough. But a team goes into the draft with a list of 50 to 60 guys they've done their homework on, and have a feel for when they could go. I want a team that has every draftable Quebecer on their list, even if it's because they've picked up too many red flags on a guy. definitely with you there . . . has it actually happened, or happened more than once or twice? Honestly, I don't follow the draft closely enough and it's rare to have a team say outright "we really liked X and should have picked him", since it quickly gets close to tampering, so they'll steer clear, other than years later when they passed on a clear cut better choice (ie: saying we should have taken Claude Giroux rather than David Fischer ain't exactly controversial. Claude Giroux only played in the Q. He is an Ontarian. |
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Post by franko on Sept 9, 2020 11:06:01 GMT -5
We could have picked local boy Angelo Esposito in the first round in 2007. Just like with Louis Leblanc it would have been a great story on draft day and everyone would have gone home happy. yup, until he got on the ice. |
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Post by Tankdriver on Sept 9, 2020 11:26:26 GMT -5
We could have picked local boy Angelo Esposito in the first round in 2007. Just like with Louis Leblanc it would have been a great story on draft day and everyone would have gone home happy. yup, until he got on the ice. It's amazing how much his career tanked in his final season in junior and the the NHL. At one point he was the consensus #1 overall pick and then he just kept dropping. Then at the draft, you were kind of thinking, that someone is going to get a steal...fast forward a couple years and he was no longer in the NHL as a never was. Montreal lucked out because I believe they passed on him in the draft. If he would of succeeded, there would be no end to it. |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 9, 2020 11:54:53 GMT -5
Esposito is an example of why scouts prefer a guy who keeps improving as the year progresses instead of someone who was more highly rated at the beginning of the year but hasn't gotten any better. There is always the question of whether the guy has plateaued and that's as good as he'll ever be. Filip Zadina looked like that at one point, but might be turning out ok.
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Post by folatre on Sept 9, 2020 12:16:51 GMT -5
I am not quite sure why a lot of people are concerned about the spectre of Bergevin and Timmins reaching for Quebecois players in the draft. In the Bergevin/Timmins era (this will be their ninth draft together), Fucale was the only one ever taken in rounds 1-4. It is not as though they have demonstrated any tendency whatsoever to exaggerate the value of local kids vis-a-vis kids from Sweden, Finland, the States, or wherever.
Bergevin and Timmins' crucial misses have mostly been Americans and Swedes.
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Post by frozone on Sept 9, 2020 13:00:52 GMT -5
I don't know this for sure, but I speculate that Timmins' philosophy to local drafting is to use the draft as a platform to draft mostly non-local kids. He then uses his knowledge of the local scene for signing some lesser-knowns from the Q, which generally don't materialize. I actually can't think of a single one that has really panned out... But you know the type:
Joel Teasdale
Alex Alain
Antoine Waked
Stephan Fournier
Robert Mayer
etc
We haven't even gotten to all of those QMJHL players and/or Quebec-born that are invited to the Habs' camps. Honestly, I can't say that I have much of a problem with this approach. Eventually, one of these guys will materialize into something. Yes, it may take a while because the probabilities are extremely low. But probabilities are already low in the draft anyway. To a certain degree, you're just hoping to get lucky. At best, maybe we'll find the next Alex Burrows.
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Post by PTH on Sept 9, 2020 14:27:21 GMT -5
I don't know this for sure, but I speculate that Timmins' philosophy to local drafting is to use the draft as a platform to draft mostly non-local kids. He then uses his knowledge of the local scene for signing some lesser-knowns from the Q, which generally don't materialize. I actually can't think of a single one that has really panned out... But you know the type: Joel Teasdale Alex Alain Antoine Waked Stephan Fournier Robert Mayer etc We haven't even gotten to all of those QMJHL players and/or Quebec-born that are invited to the Habs' camps. Honestly, I can't say that I have much of a problem with this approach. Eventually, one of these guys will materialize into something. Yes, it may take a while because the probabilities are extremely low. But probabilities are already low in the draft anyway. To a certain degree, you're just hoping to get lucky. At best, maybe we'll find the next Alex Burrows. I understand the approach for the 5th round onwards, but for guys who are going to get drafted for sure, you have to prioritize scouting them and drafting the best. |
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Post by PTH on Sept 9, 2020 14:51:53 GMT -5
I'd suggest though that non-francophones from the Q are also good picks for the Habs - showing attention to "local" junior hockey and junior hockey fans, as well as getting Europeans who might well be more willing to live in Quebec than some American kid who doesn't know squat about Canada. The best example is Radulov - played in the Q and was thrilled to come to Montreal a decade later. The best way to judge, perhaps, is with some facts. I hope this turns out ok as it involves tables. Well, I'd take Dauphin or Erne over McCarron (I know since we traded for Dauphin it works out to the same, but if we're to be the team who looks hard at the Q, it helps to get the enthusiasm and positive PR of a local guy, even if he doesn't work out. Dauphin would also have been a better pick than Fucale... we need to pick the right guys from the Q as well. Through multiple picks we missed on Duclair who was clearly a anatural talent. The guy has attitude issues, but a team scouting the Q heavily needs to see through that. Danault would've been a better pick than Beaulieu. Aubé-Kubel would've been a better choice than Sherkak, though probably too much of a reach at that point in the draft. Beauvilier would have been a solid pick, probably better than Juulsen, and I guess my point is that we shouldn't be treating getting local kids as a bonus, it should be the Habs very identity to get local guys as much as possible, so that when our scouts pass on Esposito, we know it's not because they didn't look at him enough, it's not because they just tend to like US High school kids, it's because they deliberately chose someone else with higher potential. When interviewed, Timmins clearly thought his job was to get the BPA, and didn't care if it means overpaying in a trade later on to get local talent because he missed out on it. We aren't the Mighty Ducks, we're the Montreal Canadiens, an icon of French Canada that needs to have local talent on its radar at any and all times. Heck, I'd have favored getting Fleury as a backup over Allen, just for that reason (if Fleury was available. But since management doesn't care about local content until someone whines, we can't know if they even called). |
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Draft '20
Sept 10, 2020 8:11:44 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by GNick99 on Sept 10, 2020 8:11:44 GMT -5
We could have picked local boy Angelo Esposito in the first round in 2007. Just like with Louis Leblanc it would have been a great story on draft day and everyone would have gone home happy. With all the hype surrounding Espo and he never made WJ team was first red flag to me. |
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Draft '20
Sept 10, 2020 17:02:19 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Willie Dog on Sept 10, 2020 17:02:19 GMT -5
Speaking of drafts... this video about JK watch the video from his draft is funny.
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Draft '20
Sept 10, 2020 20:26:23 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by GNick99 on Sept 10, 2020 20:26:23 GMT -5
Wonder how many would have taken Hughes now?
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Post by seventeen on Sept 10, 2020 23:06:39 GMT -5
Depends. If KK stays at the same level he is at right now, Hughes is the obvious choice. If, however, KK keeps improving and filling out, that can change quickly. He's got the vision, the shot, the passing skills. If you add a 6 foot 2 or 3 body at 220 lbs and improved speed (which comes with more strength), you might have a monster on your hands, a guy who could overwhelm a Hughes. Let's give this question another 2 years. BTW, I was a huge Hughes fan. My choice at #3 was either KK or Hughes, though I was leaning toward the centre because we had been so weak for so long at that spot and KK was nearly a year younger. Both are and/or will be great players.
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