HF Habs: 2023 Roster, Schedule & Standings Thread

[26Mats]

Defensively hes not quite what you want there. Monahan is being traded and its the right move.

That sounds good to me, though I'm not sure that...

A contender may want him as a 3c.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Just tuned in to Ducks/Wild on Sportsnet after the soccer game. It's 3-3 with about 10 minutes left in the game.

If Wild win, they pass Habs in the standings. Of course, if Habs win, they move back ahead of the Wild.

Edit: Ducks score to make it 4-3 with 8 minutes left in the game.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Wild ended up tying it 4-4 with 2:30 minutes left. They're in OT.

About a minute left and Ducks will go on the PP.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

You're killing it. We just need to aim to be bad for 5 more months, draft really well and look towards building a contender.

Pretty much. This needs to a great draft for us, but that also begins with a top 8 pick preferably a top 4.

In 2017, Dallas drafted Miro Heiskenan (3rd), Jake Oettinger (26th) and Jason Robertson (39). They moved up to get that 3rd place finish. I think they finished 10-12 that year. It was a big move up. This draft can be that for us.

Prior to 2022 draft, I said it was a great draft to build organizational depth. That you'll get middle 6 forwards/D through the first 100 players (early 4th round). Quality players to fill in nicely behind Suzuki & Caufield, and/or to build Laval with home growns.

2023 is about getting Franchise altering players. Players who will lead this team with Suzuki/Caufield, Guhle & Slafkovsky.

If we kill it this draft, we'll have a core we can allow to grow, and we can start building around it. Hell, we could even trade some of our extra 1sts in 24/25 for more quality, or sign some UFAs.

I believe that's HuGo's plan. They don't want to extend the tank for too long, and I don't believe it includes next season.

 

[Gravity]

Pretty much. This needs to a great draft for us, but that also begins with a top 8 pick preferably a top 4.

In 2017, Dallas drafted Miro Heiskenan (3rd), Jake Oettinger (26th) and Jason Robertson (39). They moved up to get that 3rd place finish. I think they finished 10-12 that year. It was a big move up. This draft can be that for us.

Prior to 2022 draft, I said it was a great draft to build organizational depth. That you'll get middle 6 forwards/D through the first 100 players (early 4th round). Quality players to fill in nicely behind Suzuki & Caufield, and/or to build Laval with home growns.

2023 is about getting Franchise altering players. Players who will lead this team with Suzuki/Caufield, Guhle & Slafkovsky.

If we kill it this draft, we'll have a core we can allow to grow, and we can start building around it. Hell, we could even trade some of our extra 1sts in 24/25 for more quality, or sign some UFAs.

I believe that's HuGo's plan. They don't want to extend the tank for too long, and I don't believe it includes next season.

Exactly and that's why I'm so pro tank. I've witnessed mediocre Habs teams for the last 20+ years. I do not believe our core as it stands is good enough to be a perennial contender. We need the franchise talent. It's what makes these meaningless wins soooo frustrating.

 

[NORiculous]

I don't think that's what happened at all.

I think that Wright clearly projected as a potential generational player a few years back. But as time went on he regressed, for reasons I don't claim to know. I think that this probably happens to a lot of players between 17 and 18, and I turn a lot of drafts look fabulous one or two years in advance but then regress to the mean.

COVID happened.

Then Wright choose to not play for a year ( a key year I might add). Then other players caught up. Draft came up. Then teams got scared. Then he fell to #4. Then his coach did not want to play him. Then SEA sent him to the AHL.

So far he has 4 goals in 4 games. I haven’t watched his games but if he keeps this up, I’m guessing he could become an Eichel level type of guy. Not too bad. We will see though, because that off year still has weight.

 

[26Mats]

Tonight's loss was good for the tank.

But we played well 5 on 5. That doesn't bode so well for the tank. Anderson and Kovacevic were the tank heroes tonight.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Habs did their job losing in regulation. Now Florida needs to do their job and lose in regulation, as well.

Washington is playing Calgary. Whoever wins will move ahead of the Habs in the standings.

 

[BozoTheClown]

f*** yeah!

 

[26Mats]

Habs did their job losing in regulation. Now Florida needs to do their job and lose in regulation, as well.

Washington is playing Calgary. Whoever wins will move ahead of the Habs in the standings.

Hopefully the Calgary game goes to OT.

I'm hoping Washington, Calgary, St. Louis, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Buffalo all pass us relatively soon.

Then when we are sellers we can try to out tank San Jose, Philly Columbus, Chicago, Anaheim, and Phoenix.

 

[WinterLion]

a 4 point game with Tampa winning would be nice...

Ottawa is creeping upwards... 4 points back now... unfortunately it looks like Detroit may be pretenders...

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Habs did their job losing in regulation. Now Florida needs to do their job and lose in regulation, as well.

Washington is playing Calgary. Whoever wins will move ahead of the Habs in the standings.

What we want there is a 3pt game with Calgary winning in OT. They both tie us in points but pass us based off 1st tiebreaker, RW.

Minnesota win this aft dropped us to 13th & Florida to 14th. Back to back nights where both teams dropped a spot.

Regardless, by end of night, we'll be down to 12th, as one of Washington or Calgary will pass us. Hopefully, 11th if both pass us.

Sens moved within 4 pts of us with a win. Vancouver can move within 2 if they beat Arizona. We play them Monday in a 4 pt game.

 

[SwiftyHab]

HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO: what would you do?

- pre lottery, we have 10th and 16th pick from Florida
- Florida’s pick wins lottery and jumps to 6th so we have 6th and 11th
- do you trade 6+11 for the 2nd overall (Fantilli)

I think so

 

[Adam Michaels]

What we want there is a 3pt game with Calgary winning in OT. They both tie us in points but pass us based off 1st tiebreaker, RW.

Minnesota win this aft dropped us to 13th & Florida to 14th. Back to back nights where both teams dropped a spot.

Regardless, by end of night, we'll be down to 12th, as one of Washington or Calgary will pass us. Hopefully, 11th if both pass us.

Sens moved within 4 pts of us with a win. Vancouver can move within 2 if they beat Arizona. We play them Monday in a 4 pt game.

If Washington ties Habs in points, Habs stay ahead of them because Habs have played less games.

So Caps have to pass them in points in order to move ahead of Habs.

So if Calgary wins in OT. Habs, Flames & Caps will be tied at 25 pts. But only Calgary will pass ahead due to RWs. But Habs will stay ahead of Caps.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

If Washington ties Habs in points, Habs stay ahead of them because Habs have played less games.

So Caps have to pass them in points in order to move ahead of Habs.

So if Calgary wins in OT. Habs, Flames & Caps will be tied at 25 pts. But only Calgary will pass ahead due to RWs. But Habs will stay ahead of Caps.

Yeah, missed gp. Still think OT win by Calgary is best option.

 

[Kojo]

I’d like to think if we draft a guy like Fantilli/Carlsson our top 6 could look like

Caufield-Fantilli/Carlsson-Dach
Farrell-Suzuki-Slafkovsky

Or something like that

That's never going to happen. We're not drafting top-5 this year our team is too strong.

 

[SlafySZN]

That's never going to happen. We're not drafting top-5 this year our team is too strong.

I wouldn’t be so sure. They had an easy schedule to start the year. They’ll be well in the lottery.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Calgary beats Washington, so we only fall to 12th. Still within the last couple of days, we've fallen 3 spots. We were 15th Thursday night.

Florida won though and have taken WC2 from Detroit, although Wings have 2 games in hand on Florida. They jump to 19th. Really want that pick to stay in top 20. Teams do have games in hand on them.

Vancouver won, and are now only 2 pts back.



After this road trip, I would send Harris to Laval, and recall a forward, either Richard or Ylonen. Xhekaj has won his spot, as has Kovacevic. Wideman can sit as 7th D.

 

[Nicko999]

Not a perfect tank day but a decent one. Anaheim got a point, Chicago won, Ottawa won, Arizona got a point.

Habs gained ground on those teams.

 

[the valiant effort]

26th GF/G
23rd GA/G
25th goal differential
29th PP
10th PK.... lol
T-27th regulation wins
T-25th reg/OT wins
27th HDCF%

Studly rankings right here

 

[ReHabs]

I’m guessing he could become an Eichel level type of guy. Not too bad.

Not too bad? Not too bad?! Eichel is a touch below PPG in his career and he played on Buffalo with nobody, this year on a playoff team he is on pace for 90+ points.

Meanwhile every Slaf supporter keeps lowering expectations and says we should look forward to a 60-70pt winger if everything turns out well.

Wright really should've played that Covid year, everything would've been different. His mistake and I don't hold it against the Habs for seeing too many question marks in Shane Wright.

Slaf has a lot going for him and he's our boy - we don't need to look to other 2022 draftees. But the thought of Wright turning into another Jack Eichel is very bitter.

 

[Kojo]

Every team in the league would like to have 70 points power forward who compete hard. It's not lowering expectations.

 

[dcyhabs]

I wouldn’t be so sure. They had an easy schedule to start the year. They’ll be well in the lottery.

A couple of trades and they should be back on track for a high pick. Monahan will be a significant loss. Looks like they are showcasing Matheson. If they succeed in moving some vets like Hoffman and Dadanov it’s a long term win but will likely drop them a bit this year.

Overplaying Allen should ensure either an injury or weak outings. I suppose an injury could improve the team if Montembault keeps it up.

 

[26Mats]

A couple of trades and they should be back on track for a high pick. Monahan will be a significant loss. Looks like they are showcasing Matheson. If they succeed in moving some vets like Hoffman and Dadanov it’s a long term win but will likely drop them a bit this year.

Overplaying Allen should ensure either an injury or weak outings. I suppose an injury could improve the team if Montembault keeps it up.

What makes you think they are showcasing Matheson?

 

[ReHabs]

Every team in the league would like to have 70 points power forward who compete hard. It's not lowering expectations.

Slaf is big boy but he doesn't play like the proto-typical "power forward". In any case, to choose Rick Nash over Jack Eichel would be a very dumb in my opinion.

But they didn't do that, and Wright had a bunch of warts of his own (though, personally, I would be quicker to forgive a lack of intensity versus a total inability to produce points) so we can move on from the draft without many doubts. None of them were perfect, and we chose Slaf so let's root for his success. Rushing him to the NHL was not a good move imo but it's been done.