Are we heading in the right direction? 2025 Version

[WeThreeKings]

In 2021 rank 63 Kidney 5'11, rank 64 Kapanen 5'11. Kapanen is in the future plans of Habs somewhere, unless they trade him in a package.
2022 rank 26 Mesar 5'10, rank 33 Beck 5,11, rank 75 Rohrer. Beck is in the future plans of Habs somewhere, unless they trade him in a package.

They also traded valuable picks to acquire Newhook, needless to say he's small, soft and not helping the team to win anything. He was a second line player and now we think of a 3rd line player. A soft and small 3rd line player who can't score. And when they acquire big and heavy players, sometimes they are so soft and/or are injury prone like Dach and Laine.

You think Kapanen, Newhook, Dach, Beck, Evans and Laine will help Habs to be competitive in playoffs?

Kidney and Kapanen were not drafted by this regime. Kapanen is 6'1" and was the 1C for a team that just won the SHL.

Beck is 6'0", Memorial Cup MVP, plays a heavy game, defensively reliable. Rohrer is a bit undersized but he plays with the bite and edge of Marchand.

Newhook won a Stanley Cup with Colorado.

Dach had 6 pts in 9 games in his only playoff appearance at like 19 years old.

Evans played a big role in our cup final appearance in the covid year.

So yes, everyone of them except Laine can play a role in being competitive in the playoffs.

 

[Captain Mountain]

In 2021 rank 63 Kidney 5'11, rank 64 Kapanen 5'11. Kapanen is in the future plans of Habs somewhere, unless they trade him in a package.
2022 rank 26 Mesar 5'10, rank 33 Beck 5,11, rank 75 Rohrer. Beck is in the future plans of Habs somewhere, unless they trade him in a package.

They also traded valuable picks to acquire Newhook, needless to say he's small, soft and not helping the team to win anything. He was a second line player and now we think of a 3rd line player. A soft and small 3rd line player who can't score. And when they acquire big and heavy players, sometimes they are so soft and/or are injury prone like Dach and Laine.

You think Kapanen, Newhook, Dach, Beck, Evans and Laine will help Habs to be competitive in playoffs?

2021 was a different management team. Kapanen is 6'1. Kidney is 6'0. The team reached for Mailloux in part because of his size.

And if we're talking about Wilson, his team is currently being thoroughly outplayed by a team that's smaller than the Habs.

Laine is also massive, so is your issue size, physicality or going into hard areas of the ice? Or are you just complaining.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Kidney and Kapanen were not drafted by this regime. Kapanen is 6'1" and was the 1C for a team that just won the SHL.

Beck is 6'0", Memorial Cup MVP, plays a heavy game, defensively reliable. Rohrer is a bit undersized but he plays with the bite and edge of Marchand.

Newhook won a Stanley Cup with Colorado.

Dach had 6 pts in 9 games in his only playoff appearance at like 19 years old.

Evans played a big role in our cup final appearance in the covid year.

So yes, everyone of them except Laine can play a role in being competitive in the playoffs.

You write like a fan. In reality the nhl in playoffs time, these players you mention are not gonna make the Habs win anything. And no, Evans didn't played a big role in the SC run in the covid years. There was at least 15 other players who played a big role before him.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

2021 was a different management team. Kapanen is 6'1. Kidney is 6'0. The team reached for Mailloux in part because of his size.

And if we're talking about Wilson, his team is currently being thoroughly outplayed by a team that's smaller than the Habs.

Laine is also massive, so is your issue size, physicality or going into hard areas of the ice? Or are you just complaining.

Wilson's team are gonna get eliminated yes. Wilson's team eliminated Habs easy in 5 games. That tells you how far Habs are before they go far in PO. And I doubt the team who will eliminate the Caps will win the next SC. So Habs are way way far from winning the SC.

As for Laine, I wrote Habs get big players who plays soft, so their size doesn't count. They don't get the kind of players who succeed in PO.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Wilson's team are gonna get eliminated yes. Wilson's team eliminated Habs easy in 5 games. That tells you how far Habs are before they go far in PO. And I doubt the team who will eliminate the Caps will win the next SC. So Habs are way way far from winning the SC.

Everyone knows that, Montreal's in the middle of a rebuild.

But they didn't lose to Washington because of size, they lost because they aren't deep enough and lack high end talent. And the reason that's the case is they are mid rebuild.

 

[WeThreeKings]

You write like a fan. In reality the nhl in playoffs time, these players you mention are not gonna make the Habs win anything. And no, Evans didn't played a big role in the SC run in the covid years. There was at least 15 other players who played a big role before him.

Actually, you write like someone who is sensationalizing one playoff series and using it as a springboard to complain about something.

The fact that you targeted a guy who won a cup, another guy who played a role in us getting to the cup final, another guy who was memorial cup MVP and has shown all of the qualities you look for in bottom 6 players in the playoffs, and then a 3rd round pick playing in the Swiss league who plays harder and more nastier than the 6'3 Dylan Strome in the Capitals series.. just shows you are throwing names out there based on sizes (outdated sizes, too) and saying they can't contribute in the playoffs.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Everyone knows that, Montreal's in the middle of a rebuild.

But they didn't lose to Washington because of size, they lost because they aren't deep enough and lack high end talent. And the reason that's the case is they are mid rebuild.

They are in mid rebuilt and they have Newhook, Kapanen and Beck in their plans. They also have big and soft players like Laine and Armia. And a big and strong D like Struble who doesn't hit hard enough. They didn't dressed Xhekaj the 2 first games. I thing Arber doesn't figure in the future plans of the Habs. That's the direction they are taking, that's the dna of the team : small and soft.

 

[Captain Mountain]

They are in mid rebuilt and they have Newhook, Kapanen and Beck in their plans. They also have big and soft players like Laine and Armia. And a big and strong D like Struble who doesn't hit hard enough. They didn't dressed Xhekaj the 2 first games. I thing Arber doesn't figure in the future plans of the Habs. That's the direction they are taking, that's the dna of the team : small and soft.

Armia is a UFA and Laine will be a UFA in a year. Beck isn't undersized and he definitely isn't soft. Arber is 24, there isn't a reason to think he's not in Montreal's plans any more than Newhook or Kapanen that isn't irrationally reactionary.

Feels like you've drawn a conclusion and are trying to justify it tbh.

 

[WeThreeKings]

They are in mid rebuilt and they have Newhook, Kapanen and Beck in their plans. They also have big and soft players like Laine and Armia. And a big and strong D like Struble who doesn't hit hard enough. They didn't dressed Xhekaj the 2 first games. I thing Arber doesn't figure in the future plans of the Habs. That's the direction they are taking, that's the dna of the team : small and soft.

You keep using Beck as an example of someone who is soft. It screams someone who has never watched Owen Beck.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

You keep using Beck as an example of someone who is soft. It screams someone who has never watched Owen Beck.

Agree I could include Beck as a future stud. I saw he plays a solid game and he skate fast enough. But the rest of the team, there is a ratio of 40/60% of small and big players. The ratio of small players is still too high. Go back in time, I was the first to mention Slaf on this board and the first one too for Reinbacher. Go back and read the threads. I have a good intuition for what the Habs will draft. Habs needs more than ever to gain in size and hardness. Not just the draft. Any trade, any occasion.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Agree I could include Beck as a future stud. I saw he plays a solid game and he skate fast enough. But the rest of the team, there is a ratio of 40/60% of small and big players. The ratio of small players is still too high. Go back in time, I was the first to mention Slaf on this board and the first one too for Reinbacher. Go back and read the threads. I have a good intuition for what the Habs will draft. Habs needs more than ever to gain in size and hardness. Not just the draft. Any trade, any occasion.

But you are arguing they aren't coveting those things?

 

[Soaker]

Habs still draft. developp and waste energy with small players who will never be able to handle big and mean players like Wilson and co. They didn't realised the game is different in Playoffs. Or they just realised it, like if they haven't watched PO hockey previous years, lol. Yes they drafted some big players but that's not enough or they are not big bad mean players. I predict Habs will still be among the smallest and softest teams in the next 10 years.

Small soft talented players are fine if the roster surrounding them supports it but Montreal doesn't have enough size, nastiness, get in your face type players. It would be great if Montreal had some talented players with those attributes but I don't envision Slafskovsky getting to that level that is coveted. He's large but Byron was as effective hitting as he is currently. Players are like leopards, they don't change their spots, what you see in a player in the minors, they usually end up as later on. I read here somewhere that if Gallagher was in Slafskovsky body, that that would be a real beast. The only intimidating players with nastiness on Montreal is Anderson, that many, many fans begged to part with, stupidly, and Arber, and he's still a work in progress.

 

[Sorinth]

We didn't lose to Washington because of size, we lost because in 5 games we scored 3+ goals once. If you aren't scoring 3 goals you don't have good odds of winning.

And the reason we could score more was because we didn't have 2nd line, again nothing to do with size.

 

[Scriptor]

Is expectation/need that we have a 50 goal scorer on the 2nd line?

No, but a genuine sniper would be ideal, a winger that can score 30+ goals, but is more dynamic than Laine at the same time.

Donato may be an affordable UFA option once Montreal trades for Horvat (1st round pick + Mailloux + Newhook as suggested elsewhere)?

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Donato - Horvat - Demidov
Xhekaj - Kapanen - Laine
Anderson - Evans - Gallagher
Heineman

 

[Scriptor]

Kidney and Kapanen were not drafted by this regime. Kapanen is 6'1" and was the 1C for a team that just won the SHL.

Beck is 6'0", Memorial Cup MVP, plays a heavy game, defensively reliable. Rohrer is a bit undersized but he plays with the bite and edge of Marchand.

Newhook won a Stanley Cup with Colorado.

Dach had 6 pts in 9 games in his only playoff appearance at like 19 years old.

Evans played a big role in our cup final appearance in the covid year.

So yes, everyone of them except Laine can play a role in being competitive in the playoffs.

Evans had a concussion in the series against Winnipeg. How was he a huge part of advancing to the Cup final?

 

[CHwest]

They are in mid rebuilt and they have Newhook, Kapanen and Beck in their plans. They also have big and soft players like Laine and Armia. And a big and strong D like Struble who doesn't hit hard enough. They didn't dressed Xhekaj the 2 first games. I thing Arber doesn't figure in the future plans of the Habs. That's the direction they are taking, that's the dna of the team : small and soft.

Aber needs to learn to be a player that can be trusted to make good decisions before he can become a regular. He needs more than intimidation to stick.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Wilson's team are gonna get eliminated yes. Wilson's team eliminated Habs easy in 5 games. That tells you how far Habs are before they go far in PO. And I doubt the team who will eliminate the Caps will win the next SC. So Habs are way way far from winning the SC.

You're absolutely correct. We are years away from contending.

As for Laine, I wrote Habs get big players who plays soft, so their size doesn't count. They don't get the kind of players who succeed in PO.

I'd have agreed on this with previous regimes but not now. X and Anderson are solid big players. Dach would've been but got hurt. RB looks like a big body that can help. Guhle has a lot of grit...

I wish Dach didn't have the injuries because he's exactly what we need as a 2nd line center. Big, skilled... it's going to be hard to find that.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Evans had a concussion in the series against Winnipeg. How was he a huge part of advancing to the Cup final?

Because they're eliminated in round 1 without his play? His injury was a big blow that we all lamented when it happened

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Aber needs to learn to be a player that can be trusted to make good decisions before he can become a regular. He needs more than intimidation to stick.

I agree with that. But keeping Arber on the press box doesn't help his hockey IQ and his confidence. He do have some good hockey beside his toughness, Habs have to find a way to include him in the line up. But Anderson and Arber who are the 2 who can drop gloves isn't enough. Slaf is risky when he fight, he can get hurt with his non orthodox style of fight. Ghule is already an injury prone def, I don't want to see him fight. Habs needs players on the 3rd and 4th lines who can drop gloves like Tuch, Davidson, Condotta and Florian X. And maybe someone on the second line, an ufa or a player acquired by trade.

 

[BLONG7]

I really think that the Sheriff should be a 4th line forward. He and his brother could do winders for our heavy game.....

Glad to see 98% of the fans on here, agree we are moving forward. 3rd year rebuild that hits the playoffs, is a huge step.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Because they're eliminated in round 1 without his play? His injury was a big blow that we all lamented when it happened

Scriptor is right. The Evans narrative about how he was important in that SC run is so overrated by Mtl fans. I can name at least 16 players who were more important than him. Habs survived after his injury, they eliminated Jets and Vegas without him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Everyone knows that, Montreal's in the middle of a rebuild.

But they didn't lose to Washington because of size, they lost because they aren't deep enough and lack high end talent. And the reason that's the case is they are mid rebuild.

Mostly agree with this. We were in every game and if we had even a decent second line we probably beat them.

But I do think more size would be helpful. I'd love to get another big winger. Dach was the perfect 2nd line center but that ship has sailed. You need a mix. I think we've got some size in the lineup but I'd love to have a little more.

 

[Sorinth]

No, but a genuine sniper would be ideal, a winger that can score 30+ goals, but is more dynamic than Laine at the same time.

Donato may be an affordable UFA option once Montreal trades for Horvat (1st round pick + Mailloux + Newhook as suggested elsewhere)?

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Donato - Horvat - Demidov
Xhekaj - Kapanen - Laine
Anderson - Evans - Gallagher
Heineman

If you have Horvat who regularly scores 30 goals + Demidov coming in with say around 25 goals and 60+ points (ie about what Michkov did), and end up with a less then ideal winger filling it out like say Newhook. You don't need a Lemieux who could turn Newhook into a 50 goal scorer, just having him go from the 18 goals he's averaged as a Hab to a 20 goals would mean a net +30 more goals compared to last year. And 30 more goals on top of last year puts us in a tie for 6th in GF and only 2 goals from 3rd OA.

That's why it's kind of irrelevant, if we get a real C like Horvat and Demidov is as good as we all think, then we will already be a top offensive team. At that point filling out the top-6 with another sniper just isn't important and arguably not even ideal since there's a case that the ideal would be someone who brings size and a physical and forechecking element.

 

[CHwest]

Mostly agree with this. We were in every game and if we had even a decent second line we probably beat them.

But I do think more size would be helpful. I'd love to get another big winger. Dach was the perfect 2nd line center but that ship has sailed. You need a mix. I think we've got some size in the lineup but I'd love to have a little more.

Why do you think that ship has sailed?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Why do you think that ship has sailed?

We can't depend on him as our 2C. His health simply isn't reliable enough to hold that position for him.