A Different Route to top 5 in 2023 draft

Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 25, 2022

Published: Aug. 25, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This post is for the start of the season only.
Not doing TDL or Draft day deals just building to start the year.


Laval Rocket 2022-23 :

Slavkovsky- Stephens - Ylonen
Bourque - Schnarr - Heineman
Teasdale - Simmoneau - Belzile
Condotta - Poirer-Martell
Francis

Ghule-Barron
Norlinder-Bowey
Leiskanen -Schuneman
Fairbrother

Poulin(Dobes come year end after he signs ELC)
Vrbetic



By AHL standards this is really good actually
Given Dobes is a top goaltender in the NCAA on a team that's half way through a rebuild similar to what Primeau went through before turning Pro after 2 years when he won the Mike Richter award for to Goalie. I see Dobes in a similar position on a team that has nothing to offer him and leaving because of it.

I mean its one thing if its a top NCAA team but Ohio University have made 5 playoffs since 2005 losing in the 1st round 3/5 times and the truth is they're not equipped to win the Frozen Four (2 appearances all time both loss's).

I think Dobes will join Laval at the end of the season to help The Rocket on a playoff push.
He's legit and i think could help Laval in the long run as Poulin has a history of choking when games count.
Vrbetic's still young about 2-3 years behind Dobes

Now MTL if need be can call up as needed with many ELC waiver exempt players.
Primarily this year should be about building value in the 10 UFAs we have the next 2 years.



Now onto to the NHL roster and 2 objections im sure to have.
Mysak>Evans just makes sense letting Mysak grow while any issues could benefit us.
He'll have Monahan on standby and Stephens after that if need be.

Can Mysak handle the Faceoffs and Center Responsisbility?
Look at the IIHF All Star Line up's history and ask that again.
Mysak and Mctavish the Bulldogs 3rd and 2nd line Centers took 2/3 Forward spots this year.
Others Scorer more then Mysak and we left out because Mysak's Faceoff Win rate's were ridiculous.
That final game in Sweden i heard the announcer say 73% on the night .
Beyond that he finished 15th in Faceoffs in the OHL on a Memorial Cup Final Team.
He's on like his 14th month straight of playing and is still training for Camp for a spot.
That's some next level dedication you dont see too often last i remember being Lehkonen.

At this point you're either Sold on Mysak using this window to establish himself.
Or your not and that's ok too this is just a prediction based on the Camp i feel he's about to have.


Xhekaj was a Final Cut last year sent down to the OHL where in 18 games he was traded after matching his last seasons point total with 17 points.
It earned him a trade to a top contender the Bulldogs playing Blueline for Mysak's team.
Xhekaj had to switch sides to play top pair RD beside Staois who took CHL player of the year.
Xhekaj had an amazing playoff run with 6 goals,16 pts in 18 games and 5 pts in 5 Memorial Cup games.
Against the WHL MVP Kaiden Ghule having an amazing year of his own Xhekaj not only shut him down.
He also set up the GWG to Mysak to send Hamilton to the Memorial Cup Final vs Saint John.

Given MTL's RD hole and that Xhekaj's style projects him as a 4th/5th Defensman .
I dont see the point in holding him down so Wideman can get minutes.
Especially when he's offering just as much if not more on Special teams with his Howitzer.
He's Physical and plays a Weber style protective game of the Goalies.

Bringing Ghule up makes no sense when you can have him and Barron eat up top minutes.
Let Slavkovsky, Ylonen, Ghule and Barron get used to working together on Special teams.
Then after the 2023 draft we'll have all sorts of spots open they can claim after we profit of UFA's



Does this build take more time and put emphasis on top players getting top minutes? Yes.
But it also see's Value in building up the contracts we have to offload for these kids to play in MTL
Moving Forward without paying to do it , but instead being paid to do it come TDL


P.S : Cap was left for Byron (doubtful he'll return) and Monahan. If they both return its RHP and Byron i send down keeping Monahan up to play 4th C pushing Mysak to LW and Pitlick to the Press box until the TDL.

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