HF Habs: Blueline Prospects/Young Players - Who to Keep Who to Trade

[HomeAndHome]

In 5 years time I think the most valueable to the team/best NHLer will be

Reinbacher
Guhle
Hutson
Mailloux

Reinbacher and Guhle as the big minute, all situations types.
Hutson as a 3rd pair, 1st PP - Gostisbehere style, but better
Mailloux had a great season for the Knights last year, but with the time he missed before that I just want to see more before I can personally rank too high.

Add in Engstrom,Barron,& Xhekaj and things are looking pretty damn good!

 

[Scriptor]

It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I like the 'logic' of the rebuild so far, HuGo were fortunate enough to have some surprising pieces already, like Guhle, Xhekaj, Harris and probably Mailloux (at least, potential is there and he does seem to do everything needed to get back on track thus far), then add Reinbacher, Hutson and Engstrom as draftees, Barron in a trade...

Then this year, all-in on goalies.

I hope next year we'll focus a bit more on forwards, but overall, there's a good base to hopefully build on.

Labrecque, I think much along the same lines as you do. However, it's not certain that this year was the year to load top on Gs (maybe it was), so I'm not sure that targeting a position is better than the BPA approach.

We'll see, but the D definitely has a lot of potential (that still needs to be confirmed, though).

Montreal can use few more high end pieces up front, IMO.

If the D hints at panning out to the level expected within a couple of years, Hughes might have to sacrifice some futures to nab a missing high end forward or two to complete the lineup.

The most intriguing prospects up front, for me, apart from Slafkovsky, are Roy, Kapanen and Beck. I'm not certain about the ceiling for Mesar, Farrell, or Kidney, TBH?

That's two third line players (Beck and Kapanen) and a potential top-6 player in Roy (who might also top out as a 3rd line player).

We still need a couple of top-6 youngsters who will fit, at some point, with the younger core group of today, IMO, even of one of those two, because of the newly formed depth up front, needs to play on a third line.

A top line and two second lines is a good model to aim for if the GM can stick-handle through the potential cap quagmire.

 

[HomeAndHome]

It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I like the 'logic' of the rebuild so far, HuGo were fortunate enough to have some surprising pieces already, like Guhle, Xhekaj, Harris and probably Mailloux (at least, potential is there and he does seem to do everything needed to get back on track thus far), then add Reinbacher, Hutson and Engstrom as draftees, Barron in a trade...

Then this year, all-in on goalies.

I hope next year we'll focus a bit more on forwards, but overall, there's a good base to hopefully build on.

I like the logic for the most part too. Building a solid D core with options to help if/when injuries or lack of progress happens to 1 or 2 of them is great.

I'm not as all in on goalies as you just yet, but I definitely see the need for it. Goalies are just not my forte and they just seem so hard to pin down and unpredictable to me. Maybe thats just because it hasn't been an issue for MTL in so long that I take it a bit for granted getting that next stud.

Using the depth on D, upcoming cap space when some bad contracts are gone, and (I'm assuming) another top 10 draft pick to target forward(s) it's a good position to be in at this stage imo.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Didn't you call Zadina a generational talent? This you, right? Just post your list dude.

Prospect Info: - Welcome to Montréal, Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1st round pick, 3OA 2018 - signed ELC)

True, completely miss managed. This doesn’t mean though that all centreman we draft moving forward will have the same fate as galchenyuk. You hear Timmins raving on Kotka and his true abilities as a centre, there’s no doubt this is where he will play. If I remember correctly, Kotka played...

forums.hfboards.com

That's a clear joke man lmfao. I was making fun of some of the insane takes going on about passing on Zadina (nothing has changed around here, just change the names).

And I can certainly post my list, but there's a difference between a list pre-draft and then doing a re-draft and putting those names ahead of Guhle. That's insanity.

Here you go - I got Holtz wrong, Laf wrong like everyone, way too high on Gunler, Hirvonen, Weisblatt and Chromiak.

1. Alexis Lafreniere
   
2. Tim Stutzle
   
3. Quinton Byfield
   
4. Jamie Drysdale
   
5. Alexander Holtz
   
6. Lucas Raymond
   
7. Yaroslav Askarov
   
8. Cole Perfetti
   
9. Jake Sanderson
   
10. Marco Rossi
    
11. Jack Quinn
    
12. Anton Lundell
    
13. Mavrick Bourque
    
14. Dylan Holloway
    
15. Lukas Reichel
    
16. Noel Gunler
    
17. Seth Jarvis
    
18. Dawson Mercer
    
19. Kaiden Guhle
    
20. Braden Schneider
    
21. Jan Mysak
    
22. John-Jason Peterka
    
23. Rodion Amirov
    
24. Connor Zary
    
25. Helge Grans
    
26. Marat Khustudinov
    
27. Roni Hirvonen
    
28. William Wallinder
    
29. Ozzy Weisblatt
    
30. Theodor Niederbach
    
31. Hendrix Lapierre
    
32. Martin Chromiak

 

[Le Tricolore]

Reminder not to post full lists or anything from behind a paywall. If you want to post your thoughts, or even the top 5 or whatever, go for it. But the full lists / articles are not allowed.

 

[HuGort]

Grant McCagg was on said Mailloux, Hutson, Reinbacher are Habs next Big 3.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

You get p

1. Reinbacher
2. Hutson
3. Guhle
4. Engstrom

Points for putting Engstrom up there. I doubt Guhle will be #3 though. If that’s the case we’ll have dynasty level D which is not impossible.

I think Guhle’s could be an absolute monster. Reinbacher’s development curve is going to have to be pretty steep to overtake Guhle convincingly. Never mind Hutson’s. But Hutson has enormous offensive potential which could make up for his deficiencies. I don’t know if it’ll be enough to overtake Guhle though. Again, it’s not impossible and oh what a position we’re in to be debating where these guys could end up.

Throw in Engstrom, Mailloux, Xhekaj and geriatric Matheson and my god our D is going to be a dream to watch for the next 10 years possibly.

Edit: Forgot Barron. Holy mother of God

 

[WeThreeKings]

Engstrom with another assist this time primary at ES. He’s now at 10pts in 20 games in his D+2 year in the SHL with Rogle. Seider finished his D+2, also played in Rogle, with 28 pts in 41games. I’m not saying we have a Seider type of player but we definitely have a prospect that’s playing far far superior to a 3rd rounder. Should make it in the first round if we were to do a redraft today.

Engstrom in the SHL
Konyushkov in the KHL
Reinbacher in the NLA
Hutson in the NCAA

All in addition to Mailloux, Trudeau, Struble in the AHL and Guhle Barron Harris Xhekaj in the NHL.

I just have 0 concerns. Defenseman have more value than forwards and we will draft a good forward this year.

 

[skidcells]

Engstrom in the SHL
Konyushkov in the KHL
Reinbacher in the NLA
Hutson in the NCAA

All in addition to Mailloux, Trudeau, Struble in the AHL and Guhle Barron Harris Xhekaj in the NHL.

I just have 0 concerns. Defenseman have more value than forwards and we will draft a good forward this year.

I hope we keep the right ones (I.e. the best long term players) and flip the others in a package for good top end forward. It’s almost assured we get some late first rounder or first round type prospect in the Monahan trade as well.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I hope we keep the right ones (I.e. the best long term players) and flip the others in a package for good top end forward. It’s almost assured we get some late first rounder or first round type prospect in the Monahan trade as well.

My guess is
Guhle (already our best)
Hutson (offensive catalyst PP1)
Reinbacher (will be our best RD)
Xhekaj (unique elements)

For sure. The rest to sort itself out.

 

[skidcells]

My guess is
Guhle (already our best)
Hutson (offensive catalyst PP1)
Reinbacher (will be our best RD)
Xhekaj (unique elements)

For sure. The rest to sort itself out.

Which one comes 5th for you right now? It’s engstrom for me.

 

[Don D]

Engstrom with another assist this time primary at ES. He’s now at 10pts in 20 games in his D+2 year in the SHL with Rogle. Seider finished his D+2, also played in Rogle, with 28 pts in 41games. I’m not saying we have a Seider type of player but we definitely have a prospect that’s playing far far superior to a 3rd rounder. Should make it in the first round if we were to do a redraft today.

Not sure about first round but a solid prospect for sure!

 

[WeThreeKings]

Which one comes 5th for you right now? It’s engstrom for me.

Engstrom for me as well and then its between Barron or Mailloux

 

[skidcells]

Engstrom for me as well and then its between Barron or Mailloux

And I would say Mailloux ahead of Barron. He has a better shot (I’d say Mailloux’s shoot good+/elite light) at the nhl level is more physical/meaner. Barron has a better hockey iq but doesn’t seem to bring any unique element to his game. Mailloux will have to clean up the defensive side to his game and his propensity to make boneheaded plays

 

[Ezpz]

And I would say Mailloux ahead of Barron. He has a better shot (I’d say Mailloux’s shoot good+/elite light) at the nhl level is more physical/meaner. Barron has a better hockey iq but doesn’t seem to bring any unique element to his game. Mailloux will have to clean up the defensive side to his game and his propensity to make boneheaded plays

Barron is already playing a top 4 role in the NHL while Mailloux is getting caved in defensively in the AHL. I think Barron is comfortably ahead of him at this point. They were only one draft apart too. Last year Barron was better than Mailloux is now at the AHL level and Barron also forced his way to half an NHL season.

 

[DesmondDekker]

Engstrom feels like he could be a decent Jack of all trades kind of dman. PP2, PK2, top 4 minutes.

 

[Tyson]

Until any non NHL prospect proves they can play at the NHL level I won't claim they are ahead of Barron who can currently play 20 minutes a game in the NHL and not look out of place.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Engstrom in the SHL
Konyushkov in the KHL
Reinbacher in the NLA
Hutson in the NCAA

All in addition to Mailloux, Trudeau, Struble in the AHL and Guhle Barron Harris Xhekaj in the NHL.

I just have 0 concerns. Defenseman have more value than forwards and we will draft a good forward this year.

Only wingers.

Centres are worth the most, the d, then wingers, then goalie.

Habs need to get some good centres now to go along with the d.

 

[montreal]

I thought this should have it's own thread as it's likely the most important topic for the Habs rebuild currently since we have so much stock tied up on the blueline. What they do with these guys in the next few years is going to be massive to the strength of the rebuild.

I know Gorton said the plan was for Engstrom to come over next year so he could be here in April. Hutson as well but I would not be shocked if he does 1 more year at BU.

Mailloux I would expect to need more time in Laval next year.

Trudeau is more of a nothing burger until he shows he can make much better decisions in his own end. He should be back in Laval as he has not impressed this year.

Norlinder I assume is in the SHL next year or traded if some team thinks they can get him on track.

Konyushkov is under contract till '26 in Russia so we'll see what happens, he has said he plans on playing in the NHL. He reminds me a bit of Jordan Harris but better at offense and worse at defense. Similar frames, mobility, skating, shot.

 

[1909]

Harris is nothing special. But I would keep Matheson-Guhle-Xhekaj and Struble for the left side.

 

[Sorinth]

Obviously how it turns out will be critical to how our rebuild goes, I'm just not sure we can say much right now as there's too many unknowns. I'm not even 100% we don't extend Matheson.

I know what I don't want to see is a repeat of Tinordi's development with any of our prospects where we yo-yo them between the AHL and NHL, never give the a chance to grow but being too afraid to trade them because they still have potential to grow into a good player and then ending up with nothing because we held on to long.

And so I think key will be for Hughes to identify the guys that either don't have a clear fit and/or have high trade value while being semi-redundant so that we can trade them while they are still "highly touted". And that means we might trade away a guy who goes on to have a good/great NHL career while keeping the lesser player who was the better fit. So long as the trade value we get back is very good then it's probably the right move.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Based on playoff hockey and what we need to compete, I'm keeping Guhle, Xhekaj, Struble, Reinbacher, Hutson. Engstrom and Mailloux.

I'm moving Barron, Harris, Kovacevic etc for a young forward if possible

 

[Ezpz]

Based on playoff hockey and what we need to compete, I'm keeping Guhle, Xhekaj, Struble, Reinbacher, Hutson. Engstrom and Mailloux.

I'm moving Barron, Harris, Kovacevic etc for a young forward if possible

I think expecting the team to ice seven homegrown d is a little absurd. At least one of your chosen seven will bust and at least one more will be traded.

 

[McGees]

I think Matheson needs to be a sell high candidate in the next year or 2. Too many mistakes to be a pillar moving forward and with all the depth coming we should cash out on him pronto.

 

[JianYang]

It's probably the strongest pipeline the Habs have had since 1989 when it comes to defensman, although the top 2 guys in the 2007 pipeline are better than this crop (this crop is deeper though).

They pissed away some of it back then, but they still had enough guys from that who played a meaningful role in the 93 cup.

Hopefully, they manage it a bit better this time because if you look at what they did with some of that late 80's pipeline (Desjardins, lumme, odelein, hill etc...) its not pretty.