Player Discussion Denis Gurianov - "Change of scenery edition"

[cphabs]

At yesterday’s presser following practise, Marty was asked whether Gurianov had the attributes and the profile of a top 6 player. The question was asked in French at about the 10:30 mark:



His answer appears to suggest that Gurianov is not a top 6 player:

Il a un shot top-6. Il a la rapidité d’un top-6. Mais pour être un top-6 dans la LNH, ça prend plus que ça parce que généralement, tu joues souvent contre des top-6 l’autre bord. Juste être vite pis avoir une bonne shot, c’est pas assez. Faut que tu sois capable de jouer la game.

TRANSLATION: “He has the shot of a top-6. He’s got the speed of a top-6. However to be a top 6 in the NHL, it takes more than that since generally, you’re often playing against the opposition’s top-6. Just being fast and having a good shot, is not enough. You need to be able to play the game.”

Sounds like he’s inferring that Gurianov has a low IQ and might best be suited to a bottom 6 role.

Or needs a home and motivation.

 

[Walrus26]

Gurianov is as invisible as Drouin in his worst streaches. Apart from when he's within 10 feet of the net you never hear his name during a game. I love him dearly anyways and I want to keep him.

Apart from his A+ play to put Drouin clean in for his goal, you mean?

 

[Tyson]

It will be interesting what becomes of Gurianov. Habs won't pay 2.9 per season based on what I have seen.

 

[Wateredgarden]

Apart from his A+ play to put Drouin clean in for his goal, you mean?

10 feet from the net, like i said.

 

[Walrus26]

It will be interesting what becomes of Gurianov. Habs won't pay 2.9 per season based on what I have seen.

They probably would in a vacuum, were it not for one or two really terrible value contracts hanging around their neck.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

It will be interesting what becomes of Gurianov. Habs won't pay 2.9 per season based on what I have seen.

They will qualify him. He's been scoring on a regular basis, so that alone will merit the QO. Next year, they will probably let him go if he seems like a Mike Hoffman clone. I mean do you believe the Habs will land some big name UFA? The Habs will have around 10 mil in capspace and Cole will eat a bit more than half of that. So why not qualify Gurianov?

They probably would in a vacuum, were it not for one or two really terrible value contracts hanging around their neck.

Pretty sure one or two of those contracts will be traded. HuGo will take the lowball offer just to create valuable cap to sign youngsters long-term.

 

[boompuffboom]

hes better than, say, Hoffman, Armia, Dvorak, Hoffman, Drouin (maybe?)... amirite?

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I think they could be parts of a good top 9. We need a healthy Monahan level 3c though:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Farrell - Dach - Gurianov
RHP - Monahan - Anderson
Richard - Evan's - Ylonen
Belzile, Pez

What happened to DVO?

 

[Tyson]

What happened to

Delete

What happened to DVO?

I doubt Monahan comes back. Dvorak has 2 more years.

 

[HabbyGuy]

I dunno, but with his shot, Gurianov kind of reminds me a bit of a younger bigger faster Hoffman. Hopefully MSL can help round out his game to be more than that. He has intriguing potential, but you can also see he needs work.

That said, for Dadonov/Weber's contract. I've been pleasantly surprised.

 

[26Mats]

Every good 3rd line needs a genuine scoring threat on it that won't outweigh their own contributions with piss poor IQ and awful reads when the puck is going the other way, and who can make the most of favourable matchups.

I wonder if he can be that guy for us?

The way I see it, we're currently built with three good C's: Suzuki, Dach, and hopefully Dubois replaces Dvo.

Then our future depth chart at wing has the following 6 top 9 wingers in the lead:

Caufield - Slaf
Farrell - Gurianov
RHP - Anderson

Maybe others like Roy, Mesar, Heineman, and Ylonen will challenge them, but at least starting next season, that can be the top 9. Caufield, Gurianov, and Anderson are more shooters. So they should be spread out, one on each line. Caufield can also make plays. Slaf may be more of a shooter, but I think he can also make plays. So they can play together on a more complete 1st line. Plus Slaf's size is needed, Anderson didn't work there, and Gurianov is too soft. Anderson has worked with RHP, so I have them together. Maybe Farrell works better, we'll see. But Gurianov needs someone to get him the puck, so Farrell should be good opposite him. If not maybe Farrell plays with Anderson and RHP with Gurianov.

Is that good enough to contend? Not sure, but we'll have a high first this year who should be an upgrade eventually.

What happened to DVO?

He either plays wing and we send a youngins down to Laval, or he's traded. Imo we need a better 3c than him. But the hope is PLD takes his spot this summer or next.

 

[Sorinth]

The way I see it, we're currently built with three good C's: Suzuki, Dach, and hopefully Dubois replaces Dvo.

Then our future depth chart at wing has the following 6 top 9 wingers in the lead:

Caufield - Slaf
Farrell - Gurianov
RHP - Anderson

Maybe others like Roy amd Mesar will challenge them, but at least starting next season, that can be the top 9. Caufield, Gurianov, and Anderson are more shooters. So they should be spread out, one on each line. Caufield can also make plays. Slaf may be more of a shooter, but I think he can also make plays. So they can play together on a more complete 1st line. Plus Slaf's size is needed, Anderson didn't work there, and Gurianov is too soft. Anderson has worked with RHP, so I have them together. Maybe Farrell works better, we'll see. But Gurianov needs someone to get him the puck, so Farrell should be good opposite him. If not maybe Farrell plays with Anderson and RHP with Gurianov.

Is that good enough to contend? Not sure, but we'll have a high first this year who should be an upgrade eventually.

The interesting thing about that top-9 is that we would have 5 guys with size who can skate. When was the last time we could say that.

 

[Tyson]

Has he done enough after 13 games? He has some really decent skills. His shot, size, speed and passing ability have all been on display.
His play without the puck needs work.
What's the future with this team, if any?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Has he done enough after 13 games? He has some really decent skills. His shot, size, speed and passing ability have all been on display.
His play without the puck needs work.
What's the future with this team, if any?

I think you qualify him and give him an entire season with Marty. Then you can make the decision the following off-season. He's shown enough to keep him around for next year.. the problem is the number of spots available, so Hughes will have to be busy looking at how he can get us out of Hoffman, Armia, Gallagher, Dvorak and Anderson.

 

[JustAHabFan]

I think we should qualify him. His pass to Suzuki for the goal last night tell me he is not as dumb as we think he is. He starts to fight for the puck near the net. His play is getting better which tell me MSL's message get though.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

As I said a week or two ago, I can live with one Gurianov in my lineup. If we can get rid of Hoffman and finally cut the Drouin cord, I'll be fine with giving him an opportunity next season. I do want a team who will be hard to play against though, so I wouldn't want to overdo it with the one-dimensional players.

 

[Rapala]

One thing is for sure I already like him far better than Hoffman on PP1. He has more versatility better vision and playmaking ability to go along with the shot.
I don't think it was a coincidence we controlled the puck so well with both he and Dach slotting in. RHP is now the weak link but at least he does a good job of jumping on loose pucks and he isn't afraid to go to the net.

I didn't like the fact that we sent Hoffman back out there when he returned to the game. How is it possible after having some of the best possession in ages
on that wave?

 

[1909]

As I said a week or two ago, I can live with one Gurianov in my lineup. If we can get rid of Hoffman and finally cut the Drouin cord, I'll be fine with giving him an opportunity next season. I do want a team who will be hard to play against though, so I wouldn't want to overdo it with the one-dimensional players.

Hughes gonna need some magic or hypnotism skills to get rid of Hoffman, Armia, and Gallagher. (Drouin is gone anyway). Two of them could still be around. I want Gurianov, RHP and Belzile in the Habs 13 forwards set. (we can live without Pitlick and Tierney, too).

Habs have to build around Suzuki, Dach, Caufield, Anderson. They can also keep Dvorak, Evans. Give good minutes to Slaf. Farrell could surprise. UFA market is really shallow. Of course, trading for Dubois is another possibiity.

 

[26Mats]

Hughes gonna need some magic or hypnotism skills to get rid of Hoffman, Armia, and Gallagher. (Drouin is gone anyway). Two of them could still be around. I want Gurianov, RHP and Belzile in the Habs 13 forwards set. (we can live without Pitlick and Tierney, too).

Habs have to build around Suzuki, Dach, Caufield, Anderson. They can also keep Dvorak, Evans. Give good minutes to Slaf. Farrell could surprise. UFA market is really shallow. Of course, trading for Dubois is another possibiity.

I don't want the washed up vets (Hoffman, Armia, Gallagher) getting in the way of the following 8 young wingers when they're NHL ready:

Caufield - Slaf
Farrell - Gurianov
RHP - Anderson
Heineman - Ylonen

So I don't know what MSL Hughes is going to do with Armia, Hoffman, and Gallagher.

Hoffman - try to trade at 50% retained and maybe buy him out.
Armia - Laval
Gallagher - pressbox/injury replacement until he hopefully goes on LTIR himself one day, or is bought out in summer 2025.

 

[David Castillo]

I think we should qualify him. His pass to Suzuki for the goal last night tell me he is not as dumb as we think he is. He starts to fight for the puck near the net. His play is getting better which tell me MSL's message get though.

His 20-goal rookie campaign happened next to Corey Perry and Jason Dickinson followed by Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski. Needless to say, they never once stuck him with anyone close to that level in talent. (I know a lot of this is relatively unimpressive but I think it speaks to his potential to be closer to the player he was his first year rather than the one recently) Check his high danger passes. He's not a playmaker, but he's a functional passer in prime areas which talented linemates should really coax out of him.

 

[HuGort]

Not sure whether to offer him a contract or not? How much is he than a Belzile type? Gain 2 million in caproom

 

[Egresch]

2y @ 2M contract is easy yes for me. We do not need caproom now and he is solid NHL player (at least) at the level of Hoffman, Armia, We will not be real cup contender in next couple years, so absolutely no harm to the team. We can still trade him later if we do not his long-term future here.

 

[CDN24]

2y @ 2M contract is easy yes for me. We do not need caproom now and he is solid NHL player (at least) at the level of Hoffman, Armia, We will not be real cup contender in next couple years, so absolutely no harm to the team. We can still trade him later if we do not his long-term future here.

We are going to have a logjam at forward again next season. I like what I see from him and think he is worth a gamble on a 2 yr contract in the $2m range. The issue is we have a lot of forwards- can we move some out in the summer? not commited to these lines just as place holders

CC- Suzuki- Slaf
Farrel-Dach - Anderson
Hoff-DVO Gally
RHP-Evans- Gurianov.

Still have
Armia/Pitlick/ Ylonen/Pezz

Kind of think if you sign Gurianov you have to move Hoffman. Pitlick and pezz you send down and if they are claimed so be it. Could do the same with ArmiaI think RHP and Ylonen deserve a spot. Farrel- does he need AHL time to start.

Given our history maybe 5 of them start on IR anyway

 

[26Mats]

We are going to have a logjam at forward again next season. I like what I see from him and think he is worth a gamble on a 2 yr contract in the $2m range. The issue is we have a lot of forwards- can we move some out in the summer? not commited to these lines just as place holders

CC- Suzuki- Slaf
Farrel-Dach - Anderson
Hoff-DVO Gally
RHP-Evans- Gurianov.

Still have
Armia/Pitlick/ Ylonen/Pezz

Kind of think if you sign Gurianov you have to move Hoffman. Pitlick and pezz you send down and if they are claimed so be it. Could do the same with ArmiaI think RHP and Ylonen deserve a spot. Farrel- does he need AHL time to start.

Given our history maybe 5 of them start on IR anyway

Yeah, I assume Farrell will be NHL ready. But maybe he won't. It will be even more of a log jam if both Farrell and Heineman are NHL ready. Because RHP and Ylonen clearly are, imo.

 

[26Mats]

Gurianov is very limited.

But we're not going to see his positive attributes when Drouin or Tierney are his centers.

The question is, with many other young players up and coming, is there room for him with the good centers? And, can we get a 3rd good offensive center to lead an offensive 3rd line?