Grant McCagg: The Habs Will Draft Slafkovsky - Habs Talk

On this episode of The Sick Podcast, former NHL scout and founder of recrutes.ca Grant McCagg joins Tony Marinaro to discuss if Slafkovsky has a chance to be drafted first overall, the pros and cons of drafting Shane Wright and more! Don’t forget to follow The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro on KZbin, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SiriusXM and all other podcast platforms!
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#Habs #MontrealCanadiens #Canadiens #NHL #TheSickPodcast

[@pilonpatrick573]

Well, a year and a half later, this aged VERY WELL.

[@Pxrcupine3]

Slaf is becoming the monster we hoped for! His progression is impressive 🔥

[@micheleparadis2808]

J'allais le dire!

[@juliencormier8760]

I'm confident that our current management team are going to make the right picks. They have a solid team (they run it by committee, not just one person) and we are eventually going to witness the modernization of our HABS to today's NHL IMO.

[@fatfish2067]

Habs have rectified the emmense shortcomings of Bergevin’s management. I trust Gorton and Hughes to make the best decisions. I would be terrified if Bergevin was still making the calls. Who knows but I wouldn't doubt Bergevin selecting someone with a French name just to please the Quebec media.

[@stockey]

The Wright pick..

[@thedrizzle6984]

This came up on auto play while I was taking a shower. Hope the Habs keep buying Grant’s draft rank notes in the future

[@habsnation71]

Grant also believes KK is still the right pick at 3 for the Habs. He also had Laine above Matthews. He's a former scout for a reason. Of course it's his opinion and I respect that but holy hell the second 1 person disagrees with him he loses his shit

[@paulalkenbrack6084]

I dont respect him. He hates Wright and I'm from Kingston so I know he's full of shit!

[@sprungrobin9978]

Lol

[@anvilcloud]

Grant didn’t draft KK, the Habs did. So rightly or wrongly, they came to the same conclusion. Grant wasn’t on their payroll, but Habs guys came up with the same conclusion. BTW, KK was going to go high no matter what.

[@robrick9361]

@@anvilcloud Problem is the Habs could have had Tkachuk who was universally considered to be the 3rd overall pick by the draft.

[@anvilcloud]

@@robrick9361 I understand completely, but that was not my point, which was that , rightly or wrongly, Habs came to the same conclusion as Grant. He didn’t draft KK, they did.

[@robrick9361]

Remember when the Habs passed on Tkachuk for Kotkaniemi? Yeah that turned out super great.

[@regularcarguy7844]

Going for position instead of best player available is almost always wrong.

[@JoeBoozer]

yep and kk had more points than slav lol

[@guillaumepoirier8365]

Yeah of course and Slafkovsky is the best player,i agree with Mckagg!Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky gonna be sick like Pastrnak-Bergeron-Marchand!

[@sb0182]

Yes I do remember. Here the KK is actually Wright, who has bust written all over him. And Slafkovsky is the Tkachuk of that example. Stop crying. Your GM saved you from the bust of the draft.

[@sb0182]

@@regularcarguy7844 Shane Wright WASN’T the best player available. That’s why THREE teams passed on him

[@user-ij3pj9hz2g]

McCagg is the real deal. Love listening to this guy. He is not a fan of Zegras.

[@lalalafamille]

Tony I don't need a survey analysis to discover you are the best hockey sport podcast in Canada, and wtf in the world... Des invités exceptionnels. merci Tony Keep on the good work

[@cmacctron7787]

this aged very well

[@pilonpatrick573]

One year later, do you realise...it did ?? 😊

[@ShabbsArt]

it's not about who is better yesterday or today, it's about who is better tomorrow. happy habs took juraj

[@madeinedmundston]

That man is the real deal...i'm not a fan of his but still he was freaking right.

[@paulgale9521]

Sick! As always. I’m still in the Wright camp, would only be slightly displeased if we took Slafkovsky. I think Wright has more upside & will make a great 2C in time.But I trust this management team to do what’s best for the greatest team in pro sports. Go Habs Go, after next years draft!

[@cecaju9516]

Coming back to this video 2 years later and it looks like Grant nailed it. Let’s see how it looks in 2 more years.

[@juliencormier8760]

Mr. Hughes did say, and to paraphrase it: We're going to pick based on how successful a player can be long term as he matures into his 20's, not based on limited sample size.

[@evancara1]

Grant's the same guy that got everyone giddy over Kotkaniemi. How did that work out? He also blocks anyone that has a different opinion from him. So, his Twitter handle is pointless for many of us.

[@BrianK49]

Guess there is a reason that he is a "former" NHL scout - not a 'current' NHL scout!

[@Therionsylar]

literally no one cares about Grant's opinion.

[@centerhice7948]

Great 👍 👌 episode 👏, Tony .

[@dennissnow8754]

SicK! I agree with Grant on everything he said.Thanks for a very insightful show.

[@juliencormier8760]

Sick Tony great show! 👍

Sick as always very great conversation

[@guymercier627]

Tony, after the draft I was thinking... can you bring McCagg back and ask him a couple of Loto-Québec numbers : --)

[@SketchyAR]

If Slaf is this amazing winger with no major holes in his game, then why was his Liiga production so low? He produced at half the rate that Armia did in Liiga.

[@crazydj9739]

He doesn't have the same role there that he has when he plays with Slovakia. I don't know the reason but he is a third-fourth liner and his team is all about winning not developping prospect. In Slovakia team he is first liner. I still have my doubts on him obviously but I did not follow his progression as many scouts did.

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Nobody in European hockey scores many points. They play half the games maybe 50 max , They play in a much larger rink, nobody hits anyone.

[@theraphman2.0]

@@FooFahFoeFum Slafkovsky put up 10 points in 31 games, that’s awful

[@JoeBoozer]

@@crazydj9739 lol you sound like a woman that defends her husband for beating her.. get a life

[@jeffpedler6094]

He has many holes in his game, but for some reason, some people think he has a higher ceiling than Wright.

[@kevinn1158]

Well they called that right. Wright didn't go until 4th. Amazing.

[@Sockieknowshockey]

The problem is the sample size. Wright is consistent. Slaf has had good tournaments not a good season.

[@stephanel6637]

Kent Hugues said said 4 days ago that he would always be more comfortable drafting a player that he is familiar with and knows that they can do over two or three years based on what he saw VS being great over one tournament or the span of a few weeks!!!

[@sb0182]

Wright has indeed been very consistent this year at being ordinary 🥰

[@asefrahman4049]

I hope the Habs make the "Wright" choice. He and Suzuki will make a great 1-2 center line combo in a few years time.

[@robrick9361]

@@ArchibaldLiam They won't get Bedard, which in my book is great since Bedard's contract after 3 years worries me. People compare him to Mcdavid yet Mcdavid just finished the playoffs with the most points but didn't even make it to the cup finals. 12.5 million prevents the depth pieces needed to win cups.

[@sb0182]

Shane Wright is a bust.

[@JC27813]

Cooley is laughing while watching this.

[@guythibodeau4976]

My pick would still be Wright.

[@steve8803]

Your pick would be wrong.

[@guythibodeau4976]

@@steve8803 Time will tell. I really hope the kid does great for us. And us getting another center softens the blow for me. (Dach)

[@steve8803]

@@guythibodeau4976 This draft is a crapshoot. No clear #1. We'll see what happens.

[@symesmind597]

Shane Wright definitely did himself a disservice by not playing flashy this year. But if the Habs don't take him, I think they'll live to rue it. Slafkovsky has had some good tournaments of late, he's the rising star but he's also burning so bright I think he'll extinguish a lot quicker. Shane is a slow burner, and should take his time to develop as a C2 behind Suzuki.

[@jsghetler]

Wright has more offense than Suzuki. Which will take some pressure off the captain (Suzuki)

[@symesmind597]

@@jsghetler I think Suzy hasn't hit his ceiling yet and can bring more offence to his game as he continues to grow. With the right teammates and better circumstances in and around the room than they had this year, I think Suzuki could be a point per game guy. Nonetheless, you could be right and Shane Wright may be even better than that in the long run and that would be great! Two young centres of a high caliber, fully capable across the full ice surface is a great way to start a new era of Habs hockey

[@aaronleroy8479]

Im also thinking a guy like wright might challenge the number 1 spot instead. like hall and mcdavid. I think Montreal will pick slaf #1 and then reach for a trade in the top 10 for a center and then tank for mitchkov/bedard/fantilli next year

[@symesmind597]

@@aaronleroy8479 I hope you're wrong. First of all I want Shane Wright. Secondly, I don't want to sit through another season like this one, even if the reward is Bedard. I don't know how Oilers / Sabres / Coyotes fans do it / did it. It was extremely painful.

[@aaronleroy8479]

@@symesmind597 SO they did pick slaf and then reached for 13 to get dach in a trade. Which makes sense, both big players that will make an immediate impact not to mention mesar which is a very nice addition.

[@lemmy37]

Bust. Seen this movie before.

[@SeanyMac1986]

What was the name of that beer again? It had 2 numbers in it I think?

[@comikdebris]

Grant was Wright all along

[@gaetanb.]

Did not convince me.

[@protasisprotasis8696]

I hope Montreal does not overthink this. Wright is already a 6’1 200 center who will combine with Suzuki over the next 10 years to be 1-2C. What’s not to like? Wright from all accounts is a true center with a very high hockey IQ / and a great shot. I expect that on July 7th we make the wright choice.

[@AG-xc5ni]

This guy acting like he is some kind of victim on Twitter when he instigates arguments. Give me a break. If you can't take the heat back, don't open your mouth.

[@crazydj9739]

I trust the management decision. Nothing we can do anyway besides cheering for the young man we will pick and hope for the best.

[@JoeBoozer]

no if they draft wrong again we can shun the organization

[@giannirocky747]

@@JoeBoozer poor pick garbage can team

[@Carloc756]

On twitter he said that Slav was number 1 because of his performance against Kazakhstan…..

[@sb0182]

He did score against USA, Sweden & Finland… but hey I guess we’ll burry that under the carpet and pretend like it never happened, RIGHT? He just scored against Kazakhstan, sure let’s go with that narrative 😂🤦‍♂️

[@yannik9341]

I like how he gave specific examples of Wright. For example, not back checking. But the Habs didn't have a good draft record when he was scout in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

[@gazzarip]

blow me.....Wright MUST be the habs pick

[@theraphman2.0]

I’m not apologizing, Slafkovsky is awful. There’s a reason why Grant McCagg is a FORMER scout. The players the habs drafted in the 1st round when he was a scout were Louis Leblanc, Jarred Tinordi, and Nathan Beaulieu for Christ’s sake

[@stockey]

Agreed.

[@ericb.8023]

ouch...that's not very good.

[@ShabbsArt]

lol this will age poorly. do you know how many scouts Montreal has at a time? you think Grant made all the decisions? his scouting was focused on maybe one league at most.

[@juliencormier8760]

Agreed with you Tony. If we have to be bad for a few years and be patient to see the rebuild through properly then so be it. Specially with the powerhouse management team that we have.

[@yobiyhob]

"I honestly have strome over McDavid. People will laugh now but come back to me in a couple years and see who's laughing" -Grant McCagg

[@TheBraylen78]

Did he actually say that? Lol

[@stenlis]

@@TheBraylen78 No, turns out the tweet was fake.

[@TheBraylen78]

@@stenlis Oh ok! Thank you for the update :)

[@HFTVSportsOfficial]

If you can become a #1 overall pick after 2 goals vs Kazakstan, get me in a Team Canada jersey, I’m going 1st overall too

[@stephanel6637]

Kent Hugues said said 4 days ago that he would always be more comfortable drafting a player that he is familiar with and knows that they can do over two or three years based on what he saw VS being great over one tournament or the span of a few weeks!!!

[@HFTVSportsOfficial]

@@stephanel6637 yeah that was a good sign that we’ll pick Wright. In the end, this is not an amazing draft, I’ll cheer for either player when they get picked, but I’d be disappointed that they pick Slaf largely based on tournament experience against really really average opposition (5 goals 5 assists in regular season)

[@p.hhenry4454]

Let me ask this question. If Shane Wright didn't receive his exceptional status would he be the be first pick? It seems like the argument people have given for Wright is always about his past self and who he was as 16 year old. Nothing really stands out about this guy as a first overall pick. Slafkovsky toolsets with his size is actually beyond Shane's in my opinion. He has better creativity, puck control, poise, competitiveness, drive, playmaking skills and overall clutchness. He was completely dominant against men in the Olympics and WC (even whe didn't receive a point, he was present the whole game). Put Wright on that same Slovakia team he's not even close of reaching the same achievements.

[@Youwoketube]

@@stephanel6637 🤡🤣 you probably thought Kotkaniemi was better than Tkachuk too! You clearly dont know hockey skills

[@rower1698]

Shane Wright who?

[@magicmike7198]

Nah... that man's judgment is tainted with bad faith. It's clear that he doesn't like Wright and picks on him without being discerning. He destroys him and adds that he will score a lot of goals... I don't know this former scout but if I believe the comments here, his previous choices leave something to be desired. This is the problem with this kind of ranking that is over-analyzed on the Net in order to attract clicks: each individual wants to show that he knows something that the others have not understood. Wright has been No 1 for years. There was even talk of the ''Wright Lottery''. He was injured and did not play for many months. C'mon. This scout who is obviously not impartial even says of Slafkovsky that he is not a ''Jaromir Jagr''. What the hell...

[@JoeBoozer]

Grant is a fraud

[@cameronveno]

We’ve needed a center since 2018 when we reached at took KK. It’s really simple… take the center and let him develop. Also there are question marks with slaf. The fact that he SUCKED in liga is very concerning

[@jmac3322]

He was 3rd 4th line all year in an extremely tough league to score to be fair. Still wouldn’t take him 1st overall though

[@rgood1204]

SICK!!!! Unless the "former Montreal Canadiens scout" was with the team for 3 years 1984, 1987 and 2007 specifically, I'd be careful of taking his opinion on 1st round picks. Brown, Ward, Bilodeau, Vallis, Ryan, Fischer, Tinordi, Leblanc, McCarron, Scherbak, Juulsen, Kostitsyn, Chouinard, Matt Higgins (chris played for a bit at least), Wilkie, Charron. A regular whose who of first round busts from the decades of the 80's, 90s, 00's and 10's. I'll add Komisarek (picked #7 overall), but only played 551 games thanks to Lucic beating the daylights and "heart" out of him several times.

[@dahabs123]

not sure what to say... wright has been projected as the #1 overall since he was 15 years old. the habs need to make a splash at the draft. they dont need to swing for the fences with the pick,just lay out a solid double to move the players along...they already have guys on base. they need a skilled center.that can play ahead or behind suzukis minutes. a guy like pinard can go fish out the puck.or fairbrother or mysak or or or...but not a #1 pick guy...cuz thats stupid. if the habs are in doubt,trade the pick. for assets that speak french :O #gohabsgo

[@goppo9230]

Past projections are irrelevant. They should pick the player who they feel is better.

[@cameron81anderson]

hmm

[@chrisL1993Hab]

sickkkk!

[@Str8FromMtl]

Im hoping they take Wright. He already has an elite nhl shot. He is gonna be a great player.

[@JoeBoozer]

yep and we need a center

[@randycollins7910]

I had a feeling Wright was wrong and I was right. Go Habs Go!!

[@russdavies9686]

No one should apologize. If he's not big enough to deal with flack he shouldn't be doing this.

[@stephster6762]

At the moment, a year later, this video is aging very very well

[@dandesjardins2552]

Oh man I hope they pick who ever is the best for the team now.

[@carminepirone6516]

I'll be at the Bell Centre for draft day in person. I'm pretty sure that Wright will be number 1 pick overall.

[@giannirocky747]

what a joke

[@vinnie2033]

Follow up? Lol

[@TonyPrigioniero]

This was a great pod cast. The hate Grant gets is unwarranted. You don’t have to agree with everything he says but he knows hockey and I find him to be very insightful. Great podcast. Sick !

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Habs should draft Slafkovsky. ... Everyone, meaning most scouts and GM’s say that the best pick this year would be the 5th or 6th best next year 2023 .... For their 13 remaining picks, the Habs should switch / trade / upgrade with other teams for 2023 draft picks. The Habs could end up with two 1st rounders and 3 second rounders for next year, meaning the 13 picks from 2022 are gone/ renegotiated for 5 picks for 2023. Also, the Habs already have 9 picks in the bank from 2023 to upgrade to 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounders for 2023.

[@user-xg6sx5ev9u]

Nahhh

[@lizardking89]

This is the same guy who keeps pumping KK's tires so I don't put much stock in what he has to say. Could you imagine the Habs not draftijg a potential first line center? I can't see that happening.

[@TonyPrigioniero]

Drouin has been crucified for “lack of compete” “laziness” “not engaged” grant’s description of Wright is concerning. He not only looks like Drouin, the criticism sounds like him too. Every habs fan want him to be selected. It sounds like he looks be a potential whipping boy if these bad habits translate in nhl

[@aaronleroy8479]

Slaf is right pick by far, they need to solidify the first line and have a big talented player that can make a direct impact and support caufield x suzuki. If they want a center the right move would be to trade into the top 10 and acquire their second-line center there. Even then i think Montreal should acquire their star center at next years draft. Wright is honestly nothing special, his underwhelming overrated and still a kid and he looks like lafferriere or drouin. and they could easily get an as impactful player like cutter Gauthier in the top 10.

[@eco3thoughts286]

If Kemell was named the rookie of the Year. You think seriously think about it. For sure! But I really like Cooley. Kemell impressed me very much.

[@paulalkenbrack6084]

If you keep bringing on these clowns that hate players im out.

[@TORHABSFAN1]

I'm not going to pretend to be a scout. I just don't see how a guy with 10 points projects to what Grant is saying. Yes he dominated a couple of tournaments. So he had a 2 week hot steak vs mostly jabronis at the non nhl Olympics and mostly bad countries at the world championships. A few other SM Liiga forwards were drafted in the top 5 who had better draft year stats and they were busts. Maybe I'm being far too simple but I see a bust. 5 g 5 a is not a QST overall player or even a top 3. If he was 6'0 instead of 6'4 we wouldn't be having thos debate.

[@sb0182]

That’s the problem with just pulling up hockeydb stats sheet and looking at it, thinking you can have a full understanding in 2seconds 😅🤣

[@mrdave4714]

Draft Gaston Gingras! Sorry wrong draft...

[@justinst-jean9356]

not married to either of the picks, just hope that the habs take the best player available . GHG 🔵⚪️🔴

[@stephenungar9965]

Sick!

[@tomcrouchman]

All right OK!

[@barryallen5313]

Reading all the bs from posters.Slppper was the player with best upside!!!

[@sb0182]

Future Roster/Line-up : Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield Joshua Roy-Dach-Ylonen … Riley Kidney … Guhle - LANE HUTSON Harris - Barron Xhekaj - Mailloux Primeau Dobes Dichow

[@giannirocky747]

god have mercy on the first pick of montreal run for the hills you still have time to run fast

[@warriorcobra.]

this aged pretty well for now

[@duketonyviking2186]

Nhl version of Giannis 6’7 winger let’s go baby

[@kennytownes1979]

Better take wright if not finding new club done with this bs

[@henrifortier8621]

lol

[@AcousticHunter]

So what is ur new club?

[@henrifortier8621]

@@AcousticHunter epic 😂

[@Elpatronn866]

How the new club doing Kenny

[@adam.vision]

Guys remember Brady Tkachuck had 8 goals all season in the NCAA… Slafs numbers in Liiga are similar. Question is who will be the better player 5-7 years from now ?? #sick

[@sb0182]

Also !!! Slafs was burried on the 3rd line in the Liiga. When he went to the Olympics & World Championship, he was put on the 1st line & 1st PP. But most people won’t dig deeper than just hockeydb stats. No one looks for context

[@andrewwills8516]

ok i have to draw the line a Toronto possibly making it out of the first round is funny 😝not sick ,but the shows sick

[@Ivan-dca]

Juro slafkovsky je jednoznačne najlepsi hráč draftu 2022. slovakiaaaa 🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰

[@itsHindsight]

Habs take Wright 100%

[@KrolKaz]

100%

[@nealmac9017]

I feel like center can impact the game more, unless the winger can shoot like ovi I take a center

[@Darkside-to6bs]

Hearing Montreal is looking to get another top ten pick, if this is the case I am thinking they are looking for a center because they will pick Slafvosky # 1

[@aaronleroy8479]

Thats what i heard too, i think picking slaf at #1 and reaching for a top 10 to get a guy like cutter gauthier would be ideal. The problem is i feel wright might challenge suzuki for the #1 spot.

[@sloburnjo]

if SW distributes like NS and is hockey smart we good to go ! should help our snipers maybe not.

[@rogerbutchbouchard8019]

Now I'm flipping from Wright to Slafkovsky. Thanks Tony for making me a very insecure man. All kidding aside, great insightful show!

[@Barracuda7]

18:01 lol

[@sorus888]

I don't believe it's slaf. From the last interview of Hughes he said he had a long-term view instead result in tournament for the draft choice. My hot take it's Cooley instead slaf or wright

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Kojak loves American college kids.

[@MooseOllini]

If it was just that he had Slaf first id be ok fine, but he straight up hates Wright for some reason lol. He sounds like a financial adviser trying to sell me a bad mutual fund.

[@marcsauriol9130]

here we go, kakko/kotkaniemi all over again.. i so hope i'm wrong

[@simontessier3360]

Is this the guy who said Strome before McDavid ?

[@HABWARRIOR]

Perhaps he’s not a centre in the NHL? Who is this clown? Wright is as pure a centre as there is. My goodness.

[@joepallotta2879]

You never give up Tony, the habs stand no chance picking in the top 5, I got a feeling they might surprise everyone who gives them no chance to make the playoffs, one more thing, your recipe doesn't always work, Buffalo's recipe is been going on for a decade, habs fans hate this kind of recipe

[@bgood4449]

Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles and now Colorado. Even Buffalo has a couple of elite young defensemen. Buffalo has been the outlier.

[@timblackett6561]

This guy is a disgrace as an ex scout....

[@robrick9361]

If Bergevin was still running the show I'd be nervous but Hughes knows what's up and won't be distracted by the doubt.

[@micheldesormeau6828]

Perhaps he’s not a center in the NHL?……lmao this guy is delusional what a maroon

[@Jamescraigjohnson]

If this guy is such an amazing scout why was he fired and why is he unemployed?

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Most people become unemployed because they did not kiss their bosses you know what.

[@KingOdin]

Don't like McCagg but this aged well lol

[@oforkya]

Suzuki 2 slavkofski 2 caufield. SCOOOOOOOORES . Sick ts. !

[@jlindien8972]

Hum not sure about Slafkovsky, i just don't want another Kotkeniemi...

[@elvisisalive2716]

Hey tony your videos need more alcohol sponsors

[@MAG1KxMushRoOm]

Agree or not with him, we should not insult people online over young hockey players we don't even know personally hahah

[@ellenkeefe76]

If anyone watched Hughes interview with Frank Servillie few days ago , you would know Hughes is gonna pick , you just have to read between the lines, go watch it, you will find out who the #1 overall is , Wright 😊 if you come to the same conclusion as me , let me know 😉

[@sb0182]

And how did that thinking & reading between the lines turn out?😅🥰

[@canadian1445]

Why doesn't anyone ask about Slafkovsky's production in Liiga? Worst ppg than KK, Lundell, Lehkonen, Armia, and a long list of others. Armia is a big left winger also with significantly better Liiga numbers than Slafkovsky, great puck protection skills, and also performs well at Intl. events. He went 16th overall. Can't wait for us to take Wright so we don't have to listen to all this nonsensical debate anymore

[@adam.vision]

Shane Wright isn’t even the best player on Kingston !!! Wtf

[@canadian1445]

@@adam.vision Lucas Edmonds is 3 years older than Wright, that's an eternity in OHL years. Look at McDavid's first year in the O? Wright had better numbers. Look at their second year in the O? McDavid 3rd in his team on points and Wright had similar second year numbers. I'm not saying Wright is anything near McDavid, but your comment makes no sense lol Slafkovsky was 16th on his team in points.

[@utooslow]

@@canadian1445 Your comments were more informative than Marinaro’s whole show! Thank you

[@adam.vision]

@@canadian1445 Shane Wright will be a good #2 centre right? That’s seems pretty high for a first pick. He’s the safer choice, but I mean cmon you gotta admit once Slafkovsky gets into his early/mid 20s the dude will be a beast.

[@canadian1445]

@@adam.vision he may be. But they said the same about Pulujarvi, Armia, Kaako, Kotkaniemi... I'd rather take a high chance at having Suzuki-Wright as a 1A1B setup for the next 10-15 years. And we could trade for Pulujarvi if we want a big 6.04 young winger for much cheaper than a 1st overall. I personally think taking Slaf is too risky.

[@stephanel6637]

Grant McCagg said that the Montreal Canadiens are looking for a left winger and that why they going to pick Slafkovsky!!! You NEVER draft by your needs!!!!! You draft the best player, the player you think willbe the best in 5 years Bergevin drafted by team needs of a center in 2018, and they picked Kotkaniemi... as better player were available like Hugues, Tkachuk, Zadina,... You NEVER draft from you immediate needs...that's an error!

[@bgood4449]

​@@glaframb - are you saying Pouliot because they would have picked him if available?

[@JoelNads72]

Is this the same Grant McCagg that said Laine would be better than Matthews? Or Strome over McDavid and Eichel? There is a reason that no NHL team will employ this person....

[@lalalafamille]

Tony, please keep a copy of this podcast... In a couple of years we will look back and say wtf, these guys had it on the money... would never play cards against you : --)

[@stevenbiggar8223]

I agree with grant..i think Juraj slafkosky.. Is a better player.. And they need a big wing power forward..

[@patricklafleche5847]

do you even drink some of that beer?

[@ComicsAreEscapism]

So that's going to be the first mistake?

[@jordansailer5328]

Oh god! Not another one! Is it 1980 again? Please pick Wright!

[@sojiroseta98]

It would be a mistake to take him, unless you think this kid is Patrick Kane i'd rather stick with the safe pick for a position we have a need for. A quick reminder that Lafreniere was way more hyped than Slav and although he's steadily getting better it really hasnt been that #1 that was expected (even of he will undoubtedly end up really good sorta like Huberneau who took time) the Habs need as many quality centers as possible, wingers can be had via trades or free agency. And plz dont tell me we're gonna do the whole lets turn a winger into a center experiment that has failed time and time again....plz just go with Wright Habs!

[@p.hhenry4454]

That's why they drafted Kotkaniemi over Tkachuk, because he's "center" when Tkachuk was the better player. You take the BPA at 1st and you worry about positional needs once you move past the top 15.

[@sojiroseta98]

@@p.hhenry4454First of all KK wasnt close to being considered a #1 overall pick and the pick was a reach to begin with and there was actual evidence to suggest Tkachuk was a better player. As Hughes pointed out, being hot for a few months isnt enough to put you over the guy who was considered #1 for years, this comparison you are making doesnt work here for many reasons but if your main reason is best player available there is no evidence he is better than Wright. This isnt a case of 'because he's a center' its a case of 'he's th better overall player'.

[@denisjl100]

sojiro b. the last two times that canadiens drafted by need rather than taking the best player was kk and wikenheiser. i have always said you pick the best player and adapt him to your team instead of the other way around. i'm not saying who is the best choice, i'm just saying take the best player. they are the experts and i'm not. it would be a shame if montreal wasted another pick because they pick by need rather than taking the best player.

[@p.hhenry4454]

@@sojiroseta98 There’s plenty of evidences that suggest Slafkovsky is better than Wright. He’s a fast dominant winger who plays an energetic 200 foot game and has shown he’s clutch when it mattered most couple that with his playmaking ability and his hockey sense. The only knock you can give about the guy is his production at SM Liiga which is something I don’t even worry about. His overall upside is much much higher than Wright.

[@sojiroseta98]

@@p.hhenry4454 And you spent how long looking at him? A few International tournaments and 10pts in SM liga? THATS your evidence? To each his own, its like Hughes himself said, he's more comfortabke with the player he has spent years examining, good logic imo and Slavkovsky's skill isnt so much higher than Wright to make that call especially with that sample size and quality of competition. Thats not my idea of 'plenty of evidence' additionally we ha e had way more time with Wright so more time to disect his game unlike slav.

[@noluck9679]

bruins had a high pick in Seguin.

[@kennethswab6613]

The Canadiens messed up the first round of the 2021 draft, They will not upset the fan base again in 2022. Shane Wright will be the first pick. Remember the draft is in Montreal and this organization has spend a year correcting the wrongs of the 2021 draft

[@giannirocky747]

worst again like always

[@vinnie2033]

Lol what you think now