Pre-Game Talk: 2023-2024 Habs Rookie Camp & Training Camp

[BLONG7]

Savard is not a #1 pair dmen, but neither are the Habs young RDs. The kids aren't ready to play against the top opposition each nights.

Savard is at the end of his career...........these kids are learning the ropes....
I hope there is some movement as to who is where each and every night.
Bottom line is, for years we had big D who had zero idea on how to move the puck, other than bang it off the glass................
Glad to see we are moving towards a few of them, being real PMD men.

I think Habs going to be competitive this year. Challenge for a playoff spot.

Just a notch below.............but better days ahead for sure!!

 

[BLONG7]

Habs were ravished with injuries last two years. More than any other team in NHL 100+ year history. They better than most think. Changing doctors and last June trainers, I think will be big help.

Especially losing front line talent for long periods of time. Guys like Dach, Suzuki, Matheson, Monahan, it's impossible to replace them.

We do have to be healthy for any type of positive move in the overall standings...........this is not a team who can lose it's better players, period....for any length of time.
We do not have the depp yet....we do have charakter, and culture!!

 

[McGees]

Habs were ravished with injuries last two years. More than any other team in NHL 100+ year history. They better than most think. Changing doctors and last June trainers, I think will be big help.

Especially losing front line talent for long periods of time. Guys like Dach, Suzuki, Matheson, Monahan, it's impossible to replace them.

Yes injuries, I'm sure there will be less, but don't forget that the young kids came up and played out of their minds trying to make a name for themselves. We will be better but we are still young.
You think we will win 10 more games than last year? Even that would keep us out of a spot and don't forget we are in a crazy strong division.

Justin Barron in an interview with Anthony Martineau:

Pourtant, il affirme, quitte à en surprendre plus d’un, être satisfait de son travail, jusqu’ici.

«Globalement, je suis très heureux de ce que je démontre. J’espère maintenant avoir l’occasion de jouer à Ottawa samedi.»

Surprisingly, Barron is claiming that he’s happy about how he’s played so far in the pre-season. He says « overall, I’m very happy about what I’m showing. Hoping to play on Saturday vs. Ottawa. »

On the one hand, what else was he going to say? Maybe he could have chosen to leave that assessment to others?

On the other, well some pundits feel that he’s not putting in enough effort, is not hungry enough for someone who doesn’t want to get demoted to Laval. Is he delusional? Coaches have asked him to be better in his zone and to show more creativity offensively. Martineau states that he has not excelled in either facet. If so, what’s there for him to be so happy about?

I've come to realize that the 'he's not hungry enough' is just his style. I'm almost always feeling that way when I watch him, lots of skill but no tenacity or urgency.

 

[HuGort]

Yes injuries, I'm sure there will be less, but don't forget that the young kids came up and played out of their minds trying to make a name for themselves. We will be better but we are still young.
You think we will win 10 more games than last year? Even that would keep us out of a spot and don't forget we are in a crazy strong division.

10 more wins would put us in playoff race. About where I put them. Florida got in last year with 42 wins. If any of the big 4 stumble I think we can get in.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I've come to realize that the 'he's not hungry enough' is just his style. I'm almost always feeling that way when I watch him, lots of skill but no tenacity or urgency.

I never played at a high level, but almost all the skilled guys I played with were like that.

This is why "Karakter" is legit. Knowing and truly understanding how you can impact the game just as much without the puck, and both ways, is a skill in of itself.

 

[417]

I've come to realize that the 'he's not hungry enough' is just his style. I'm almost always feeling that way when I watch him, lots of skill but no tenacity or urgency.

He switches off too much when he's on the ice, he gets casual, especially when he has the puck in his own zone.

If he can figure out how to get rid of that bad habit, he can be a solid top 4 D in the near future imo.

 

[The Great Weal]

Didn't Hughes say they specifically targeted Lindstrom in the Petry trade and were adamant that he was included? Wouldn't waiving him go against that?

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Didn't Hughes say they specifically targeted Lindstrom in the Petry trade and were adamant that he was included? Wouldn't waiving him go against that?

Really? I think HuGo was looking at an old hockey card with the name Lindstrom on it.

 

[salbutera]

Didn't Hughes say they specifically targeted Lindstrom in the Petry trade and were adamant that he was included? Wouldn't waiving him go against that?

What else was he going to say?

 

[The Great Weal]

What else was he going to say?

Nothing?

 

[jrom]

Arber played a lot of games in Hamilton on the right side, did Harris played RD in the NCAA?

Yes, I didn't watch him play but he played RD for NE with some regularity (more then Xhekaj did with Hamilton). That said I prefer Harris as LD because of his non-physical / pressure evading playstyle.

Last year when they tried him at RD he did fine but it seemed to me more often forecheckers were able to bog him down in his zone e.g. his "finesse" game wasn't as efficient and failed executions led to opponents able to take advantage of his smaller frame.

The few games they tried Xhekaj on RD he was more shaky in his zone but it didn't seem to "degrade" as much his overall play probably because it's simpler. It's also way harder to win physical confrontations vs Xhekaj.

Personnally I hope he can pull it off as 3rd RD because otherwise with the depth at LD he may not have a regular place in the lineup in 2 years. Would also help his cause if he can become a good PK2 guy.

 

[windycity]

A player I love to watch. I want to get another 1st for him. But man, would I love to keep him if he could stay healthy until he's 35.

Yup, that play to set up Dach was sooo good

 

[MadMslm]

Saturday night can’t come quickly enough.

We’ll be really interesting to see who gets one last audition. Hopefully we get a good show.

 

[Tyson]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

Plus better competition from some of last seasons weaker teams in the east will keep them down IMO. When the puck drops I can never cheer for a loss, but we know a bottom 5 finish will go a long way towards building this team further.

 

[Ghetto Sangria]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

It's kind of a win/win situation this season. If the habs suck, they can get their hands on the final piece of the puzzle offensively... a skilled top line player.

If they somehow become a bubble team, they will accomplish it without being pretenders considering the strength of their division, and that in order for them to achieve that, the young core would have to take huge strides forward.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It's kind of a win/win situation this season. If the habs suck, they can get their hands on the final piece of the puzzle offensively... a skilled top line player.

If they somehow become a bubble team, they will accomplish it without being pretenders considering the strength of their division, and that in order for them to achieve that, the young core would have to take huge strides forward.

This is where we are and a perfect summation.

Outside of being dragged forward by unsustainable goaltending. There aren't enough non-key future pieces in big roles to propel us forward.

Drouin and Hoffman can't annoy us, anymore.

 

[The Real Timo]

We do have to be healthy for any type of positive move in the overall standings...........this is not a team who can lose it's better players, period....for any length of time.
We do not have the depp yet....we do have charakter, and culture!!

WHAT?! I distinctly remember that we got a lot of depp. Who lied?!

 

[Runner77]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

Meh, we all know the team to watch is your Rockets this season. ;-)

 

[1909]

This is where we are and a perfect summation.

Outside of being dragged forward by unsustainable goaltending. There aren't enough non-key future pieces in big roles to propel us forward.

Drouin and Hoffman can't annoy us, anymore.

But Armia and Gally can !

 

[Captain Mountain]

This is where we are and a perfect summation.

Outside of being dragged forward by unsustainable goaltending. There aren't enough non-key future pieces in big roles to propel us forward.

Drouin and Hoffman can't annoy us, anymore.

People that want to be annoyed by players will ALWAYS find players to be annoyed by.

 

[Rapala]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

35-37-10 We will probably end up at around Detroit Red Wing numbers after they pulled the tent pegs.

 

[26Mats]

MSL at his post practice presser today saying: everything is calculated when it comes to making the lines. If I put one piece in one place, that means I lose it in another. But we have great options. We'll come up with something for October 11th. And then who knows how long it's going to last.

This makes sense to me. The lines will develop over time on the ice, with who does well with who.

Edit: Dach talking about playing with RHP and Slaf.

 

[morhilane]

MSL at his post practice presser today saying: everything is calculated when it comes to making the lines. If I put one piece in one place, that means I lose it in another. But we have great options. We'll come up with something for October 11th. And then who knows how long it's going to last.

This makes sense to me. The lines will develop over time on the ice, with who does well with who.

Edit: Dach talking about playing with RHP and Slaf.

I'm pretty sure RHP/Dach/Slaf will be a line on October 11th.

It's more the 3rd wheel with CC/Suzuki and who is on the 3rd line that is in flux.

And also that they have 27 healthy players up and MSL act has if he can carry that many around instead of just 23.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Those who are hoping that the Habs finish bottom 5 are probably going to get their wish. This team is still in the middle of a rebuild and while they have accumulated many solid young players, they are still going to suck. I hope we are ready for another 31 win season.

31 wins may be a tad overly optimistic.