Around the League - 2023/24
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henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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- Aug 25, 2006
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You have herpes?
- Apr 25, 2006
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If I were the Habs I'd have paid a higher AAV for the extra 2 years but it's a good contract regardless
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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- Aug 25, 2006
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It is not always up to the team to decide the terms and AAV. The guys sitting on the other side of the bargaining table also have something to say about it.
UncleRisto
Not Great, Bob!
He's good, is he?
Obviously I haven't watched a single second of the Habs. The Habs are bad.
- Jan 18, 2016
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henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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Yeah he's a bright spot there. Legit 2/3 who is a rock defensively and the offense has shown signs of coming around. It wouldn't shock me at all to seem him round out into a ~50 point, strong two way #1D. Not a star guy, but a legit #1. If he doesn't progress, he's at least a shutdown top pairing guy. What may hold him back offensively, numbers wise, is the existence of Hutson. Ghule doesn't have the skill to take those roles from Hutson... if Hutson translates.
22FUTON9
Registered User
- Jun 30, 2010
- 3,312
- 2,495
Montreal seems like they have a bunch of good contracts, but then I actually look at the roster as a whole, and it just screams mid to me. Feels like them they’ve been doing this for 20 years and are going to keep on doing it, atleast for another 10 years
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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They really need the hyped names to take a step. Slaf showed a lot of promise to end the season, he needs to take another step and be their gamebreaker. Dach actually needs to approach the hype he's had for years and find a way to stay healthy. Caufield needs to actually pop in 40g. Newhook needs to solidify into a 2nd liner. Ghule a #1. Etc. A collection of guys who haven't quite clicked. If they all do, the base is actually pretty solid there. If they don't or even if only half do... it'll be tough to get over the hump.
- Apr 25, 2006
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Add Demidov, Hutson and Reinbacher coming up. Their defense is super stacked.
IMO the key is Demidov. If he's Kaprizov level they should become legit contenders.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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I'm more worried about their centers... Suzuki is a fantastic player, but is he good enough to be a 1C on a contending team? Do Dach/Newhook take the steps need to secure their spots at center? If not, does Hage progress quick enough to fill that role on the right timeline?
I personally feel they have enough at wing, the likelihood is good enough on defense, in net they have a few options.... center is a pretty large question mark. Beyond that if guys fill out to their hype levels, they should have a good team for a while.
Suzuki would be a dominant 2C, he's an amazingly smart, capable two-play player. I think he's a very good, albeit not super-elite, 1C.
IMO you can build around a guy like that, but they still need a gamebreaker or two elsewhere. I have a feeling this will be a make-or-break year for Dach, and he's gonna break...literally.
IMO you can build around a guy like that, but they still need a gamebreaker or two elsewhere. I have a feeling this will be a make-or-break year for Dach, and he's gonna break...literally.
Bill Peckerskull
Fargin' Icehole
dahrougem2
Registered User
I think Suzuki is good enough at 1C for a team to contend. He showed a lot to me during Montreals two random ass playoff appearances in 20 and 21 for me to believe this is a guy who elevates his play when the games matter.
LOFIN
Registered User
- Sep 16, 2011
- 16,064
- 22,474
The only two coaches to beat Cooper in the Stanley Cup Final are Bednar and Quenneville. Not picking Quenneville actually makes sense even though he's technically available now, but Bednar...that reeks of wounded ego.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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I think the crux of the center spot is that the Habs either need Dach/Newhook/Hage develop into a 1B to have a very good, but not elite 1-2 punch... or one of them needs to surpass Suzuki and allow him to dominate as a 2C.
This is a good point though I still don't think it would allow them to have a meh 2C. One thing on both of Montreal's runs, Suzuki had Danault pulling all the heavy defensive work. Given their structure now, Suzuki will have to carry that load the next go round.
- Apr 25, 2006
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Like I said earlier it's all about Demidov. If he can drive his line like Kaprizov he won't need a good center to play with. Then you can keep Suzuki with Caufield and Slaf on the first line and they'll be fine.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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I don't buy that this really happens. Even Ovi, arguably the greatest wing of the last 30 years, needed centers when the playoffs ramped up.
Only winger I can think of who could perform with meh centers is Patrick Kane, and he's basically a center who just lines up at wing. Q even used him as a center for a while there.
henchman21
Mr. Meeseeks
- Feb 24, 2012
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Yeah Kane pulled a lot of center duties... but he even played with Richards in 15 (which Richards was washed compared to his prime, but still a decent player), split between Handzus and Toews (Handzus was certainly not capable at that point... but Sharp was also on that line and played a lot of center in his career) in 13, and with Toews in 10. The only Cup winning run where he spent most of his time away from a better center was 13 with Handzus where Sharp was the other wing.
We just haven't seen wings carry lines to Cups. Even if you give it to Kane in 13 (which is valid IMO), that's once in like 40 years. You need centers to have success. It is easier to win without a #1D than it is to win without a good center rotation.
- Apr 25, 2006
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