HF Habs: Blueline Prospects/Young Players - Who to Keep Who to Trade
- Thread starter HuGo Burner Acc
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Guhle/Reinbacher are gonna be top pair of the same quality as Marko and Subban in 13.
I expect one of Hutson or Mailloux to bust but the other puts up big points John Carlson style.
I expect one of Hutson or Mailloux to bust but the other puts up big points John Carlson style.
Based strictly on the investment made, you'd hope Reinbacher will be #1. A 5OA pick in a supposed strong draft carries a lot of expectations.
Very true, but we also know that doesn't always happen.
Our own Markov was a 5th round pick? Shea Weber was a 2nd round pick....and so on.....
That said, Guhlie/Reinbecher should be 1-2 and Mailloux and Hutson 3-4
They all could be interchangeable, but Guhlie will be top pairing.
Hutson, Guhle and Reinbacher will all be considered among the top 64 D men in the league (ie first pair). One of them in the above order of probability will reach top 10.
Mailloux has an outside shot, but I think he ends up in the 64-128 range (2nd pair).
One of Xhekaj, Barron and Engstrom will also reach that 64-128 range while the other two may also be there, but certainly in the early half of the 128-192 range.
Our depth at D is very very good.
Mailloux has an outside shot, but I think he ends up in the 64-128 range (2nd pair).
One of Xhekaj, Barron and Engstrom will also reach that 64-128 range while the other two may also be there, but certainly in the early half of the 128-192 range.
Our depth at D is very very good.
Absolutely. Sometimes you stumble upon a later-round gem. It's a terrific surprise when it happens, but hardly a strategy you can bank on. We've spent three of the last four years debating when/how/if to tank, because we all know most of the gold is at the very top of the draft. Consecutive 1OA and 5OA picks are huge opportunities to strike it rich; we damn well better get something out of it.
Rant over. I love what I saw from Guhle and am excited to see how Hutson and Mailloux develop. Our defence projects to be one of the league's best in a few years. Now we just have to juice up our offence...
I see is similar but I'd group it in waives.
Guhle and Reinbacher have top pairing quality. Guhle is ahead right now due to seeing him play in the NHL last year. But if Reinbacher develops well, I see them having close to similar value.
Hutson is the wild card. Skating/IQ/Skill is there no doubt. Can he improve his shot from the point and perform well in the physical areas? Not sure. I have fait he can today but we won't know for sure until he plays NHL games IMO.
Xhekaj, Mailloux, Barron, Engstrom are the next waive. Barron gets the lower rank due to seeing him in the NHL and not being a trusted guy like Guhle is but there is growth left for Barron. Mailloux and Engstrom have lots of potential as well so most rank them both higher than Barron. We will see about that... It's very subjective to track Mailloux and Engstrom forward.
IMO, it's very possible we have 7 guys very close in potential when they are all above the age of 23. It's too dam hard to predict today because only 3 of them have played NHL games and none of them played a full season yet.
7 guys who have good probability of all being top 4D quality.
The difference between Reinbacher and Guhle might be the difference between Sergachev and MaAvoy in that 2016 draft. 9/14 vs 5/16.
Guhle in a redraft goes much earlier so I have him and Reinbacher neck/neck where one year one guy might look better than the other but then it reverses the next season.
I personally don't think that Guhle will be top pairing, not because he's not good to be top pairing, but because I don't see a top pairing of Guhle-Reinbacher as those two Ds, with strong defensive acumen to go with solid offensive upside, are ideal complements for Hutson and Mailloux.
If it works out best, the top-two pairings would be:
Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux
The only way I see it shaking out as a top pairing of Guhle - Reinbacher, which would make a helluva shutdown pairing with some physical oomph and solid offensive upside, nonetheless, is if Mailloux busts out.
If Mailloux does bust out, from what's currently in the system, we might be pleasantly surprised by Engstrom who is already solid defensively, likely able to shield Hutson defensively (Engstrom can play on his right side)
Guhle- Reinbacher
Hutson-Engstrom
if it's not
Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux
My guess is that Guhle and Reinbacher are the safest bets for establishing themselves as perennial top-4 material; and should thus in principle not be paired together, but rather use to alleviate the defensive duties of their more offensively-inclined prospective partners; namely Hutson for Reinbacher, and Mailloux (or Barron) for Guhle.
As for Hutson and Mailloux, the projections are murkier; undeniable offensive talent for both, but remains some doubt in each case as to how it will effectively translate at the NHL-level. Could end up top-4 material, but could also become 3rd pairing/PP specialists.
This being said, with Engstrom, Harris and Barron - and, to a lesser extent, Xhekaj and Struble - also in the pipeline, the Habs shouldn’t have to worry about their new core’s emerging defensive depth.
The crux of the issue in regards with the Habs’ (crucial) D pipeline will be: identifying the « keepers » and navigating between sustainable long term deals to secure them and leveraging the others as trade baits to acquired talent up front or between the pipes!
Guhle and Reinbacher will both be 20+ minute defensemen for the next decade. Both will be able to play all over the ice and especially when we have the lead late in game.
I see Hutson being a PP specialist and getting his minutes primarily in the offensive zone and facing our opponents weaker forwards.
Mailloux looks to be a 2nd pairing type of Dman that will play the PP. A couple of years in Laval will hopefully evolve his game to make him an all situation player down the road.
I see Hutson being a PP specialist and getting his minutes primarily in the offensive zone and facing our opponents weaker forwards.
Mailloux looks to be a 2nd pairing type of Dman that will play the PP. A couple of years in Laval will hopefully evolve his game to make him an all situation player down the road.
Guhle Reinbacher Hutson Mailloux
Will always put more value to the more rounded D
Will always put more value to the more rounded D
None of these debates will matter if we can’t keep them healthy. Seriously my friends.
Reinbacher
Guhle
Barron
Mailloux
Tom
John
Joe
Blow
Billy
Steve
William
Sobolev
Lane Hutson
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No love for Barron in here ??
He might end up being better then Mailloux
He might end up being better then Mailloux
You're both right. Hutsons edge work is godly. But his straight line speed needs work. So yes he's a great skater just not a speed demon
Seriously, posting opinions based on outdated scouting reports is just wrong.
Hutson's skating has improved and, although he might not win a race in a straight line against the better forwards in the NHL, his furtive skating and ability to switch directions at will in a split second is an element of skating that will maximize the strong points of his game. He's also a non-stop motor and will beat out opponents that way.
Hutson's skating has improved and, although he might not win a race in a straight line against the better forwards in the NHL, his furtive skating and ability to switch directions at will in a split second is an element of skating that will maximize the strong points of his game. He's also a non-stop motor and will beat out opponents that way.
Skating is not a weakness for Hutson. We can try to nit pick that part but it's going overboard. His weakness is physical strength and his shot from the point.
Hutson doesn't need straight line speed in terms of taking it from one end to the other without passing the puck. He's shifts his weight with his edge work and that's how he creates that critical time and space.
Attacking his skating with a "LOL" narrative is ridiculous.
I agree with you and have never said so. Just pointing out that that other poster is technically correct in an aspect of his skating. I don't think it matters that much but it's still there regardless of what you and I think. Again I did say his edge work was godly which more than compensates for the lack of elite straight line speed IMO
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