Fantilli is the better player right now I think. His size and power-forward traits are extremely promising as a means to transition to the professional level. He’s a higher floor prospect than Bedard. But Bedard’s upside is higher. Hall of Fame level ceiling compared to Fantilli, who I see as a top line forward but not elite, if you get my meaning.

I think the analysis is fair. But if I draft Fantilli and end up with the next Ryan Getzlaf and he lives up to it... I am thrilled!

Is it brave or just contrarian. A bunch of idiots had eichel ahead of Mcdavid because they were contrarian

He literally lives off his scouting reports and needs sales. That's all he is, a salesman.

Fantilli as the commenter said above, is a Getzlaf, which is an awesome player that any team would be lucky to have. Only thing with that is that Bedard is likely closer to the Crosby, McDavid tier player. Both with be great and will be fun to watch for years to come but I would still take Bedard over Fantilli

But if you draft the next Getz and you pass up on the next McDavid (Or something along those lines?), are you as thrilled?

Lots of traction on your two threads today...Cheers dude!

I hope the leafs somehow get the 1st pick and Dubas passes on Bedard.

Bedard has generational potential where as Fantilli has high elite upside . Fantilli is like Eichel or possibly a bit better (pre injury Eichel) . Bedard could be Matthews/McDavid level

Thanks Lenny! What's that they say about a broken clock? My posts are an acquired taste but once in a while they hit!

I'm sure all the experts are right. But when I watch both players on the attack, Fantilli gets me out of my seat. Bedard is surgical and efficient, Fantilli is those things to a lesser degree, but he's also a Bulldozer at times.

I’m not saying who should go before who but I don’t think it’s a hot take to say I’m taking Fantilli at 1 because he’s got the size , the high upside and is a safe pick

I think Bedard @1 is a given, and Fantilli @2 is a no doubter. Spiciest thing is going to be "who's the GM that's willing to draft Michkov, knowing that there's a pretty high chance that they won't even been the GM when he shows up?"

For a team like Chicago or Arizona or maybe SJ it doesn’t matter. Those teams will take years to even stop bottoming so Michkov will join as a developed player like Kaprizov was

I don't think this is a hot take at all, but it's perhaps a bit aggressive / early in the season. Bedard has been billed as a generational talent all along, but that doesn't mean he will attain that status automatically. His current season (again, it's early) has his looking like a smaller Nugent-Hopkins. He's clearly more dynamic than Nuge was at 17, but the production is similar. Fantilli, on the other hand, is tearing the cover off the ball in the NCAA. His NHLe is 50% higher than Bedard's, plus he projects as a center, is much bigger and is known to play a sound defensive game. If I'm looking for a player to play tonight, I know I'd chose Fantilli over Bedard without a second thought. However, the draft is about projecting over the long term and Fantilli won't maintain his torrid pace all season, just as Bedard will likely show improvement over last season's numbers (he isn't so far). So as I say, it's aggressive and early to be making that switch, but as of today there's no doubt who the better player is.

fantilli is a big chungus and bedard is 5 foot nothing. clear reason why bedard is slipping.

Yup, or a perennial playoff team who drops out of the playoffs for a year and doesn't need the boost right away. Like, say if Tampa or Washington miss the playoffs this year, I could see them nabbing Michkov if he's still available in the teens.

Washington grabbed Ivan Miroshnichenko late in the 22 draft. I could see something similar playing out with Michkov.

It *shouldn't* matter, but if you're a Kyle Davidsson or one of those other guys, are you confident you're still around in 2026? Or, are you going with a safer "Get better quicker and try to save my job" prospect.

It absolutely wouldn't shock me to see him drop to the middle like @cdc282 said, to a regular playoff team that has an off year.

No rebuilding gm should be fired, Davidson should absolutely make it to 2026