An expert unveils his mock draft ahead of the draft, and it's generating a lot of buzz
The much awaited 2023 draft lottery has finally concluded, and we now all know what the first round landscape could look like on June 28th.
It won't be an easy task for the Canadiens, considering the choices and contracts of certain prospects.
In the eyes of the fans, the choice is quite obvious, with certain names standing out more than others, like Matvei Michkov and Will Smith.
However, Corey Pronman, a draft expert and writer for The Athletic, has recently unveiled his mock draft, surprising many.
Here's what the draft would look like, according to his opinion:
1. Chicago: Connor Bedard
2. Anaheim: Adam Fantilli
3. Columbus: Will Smith
4. San Jose: Leo Carlsson
5. Montreal: David Reinbacher
6. Arizona: Dalibor Dvorsky
7. Philadelphia: Ryan Leonard
8. Washington: Matvei Michkov
9. Detroit: Samuel Honzek
10. St. Louis: Tom Willander
Indeed, according to Pronman, the Canadiens would surprise us all by ultimately selecting 18-year-old Austrian player David Reinbacher, who is considered the top defenseman in this year's draft.
This would mean that the Russian phenomenon Matvei Michkov could slide down to the 8th position and thus be acquired by the Washington Capitals.
David Reinbacher, a young right-handed defenseman standing at 6'2"/185 lbs, excelled in the Swiss Elite League with a stat line of 3 goals and 19 assists (22 points) in just 46 games.
If this scenario materializes, would it be a good decision on the part of the Canadiens? Does Martin St. Louis' team need another player on the blue line, or should they focus on improving their forward lines?
We'll have to see which young prospect among the draft choices will don the Canadiens jersey on June 28th.
| POLL | ||
Who would you like the Canadiens to draft? | ||
| Matvei Michkov | 123 | 47.5 % |
| Will Smith | 112 | 43.2 % |
| David Reinbacher | 7 | 2.7 % |
| Other | 17 | 6.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
