One last year, 6 picks in the top 3 rounds and then get rid of gallagher anderson and sign some good veterans and complimentary pieces. Really believe the Habs will be in the 2026 playoffs
agree. The projection looks good but it’s still prematureIt's done when it's done. We have some very good pieces, but the job is far from finished. We just don't know what we have yet.
To be frank, the quality of the last three draft/ our position in the draft might be the culprit.It's a concern to leave your tanking years without an elite centre or #1 defenceman....
Newhook produced at about a 50 point pace. Not too many teams can claim that the number 6 guy is a 50 point player.No it’s not done until I see Dach be healthy and fully take that next step. Also need Caufield to start performing to the level of his contract.
We also need to see someone step up to be the 1D. Who can we play 25 mins in a playoff game? Not sure right now.
And finally, what winger will plug the hole on the 2nd line? I see Slafkovsky and Demidov as 1st line guys, Caufield to make a nice 2nd liner. Who is on the opposite wing? I don’t think it’s Newhook long term. I need to see Roy more.
It was more encouraging once he came back from injury. He showed something at centre. Hopefully he can find consistency, then you never know.Newhook produced at about a 50 point pace. Not too many teams can claim that the number 6 guy is a 50 point player.
Newhook produced at about a 50 point pace. Not too many teams can claim that the number 6 guy is a 50 point player.
It was more encouraging once he came back from injury. He showed something at centre. Hopefully he can find consistency, then you never know.
We will get an established winger via trade or FA and push Roy down to the 3rd line where he belongs.I mean who wouldn’t take more prospects?
That being said we are stacked at every position. Slowly get rid of the anchor vets and let time do its magic.
The way I see it our top 6, center line, D, and goalie are done deal. All assets under team control for many years!!!
Center line
Suzuki
Dach
Newhook
Beck
Wingers
Slaf
Demidov
Caufield
Roy
LD
Guhle
Hutson
Xhekaj
RD
Reinbacher
Mailloux
Barron
G
Fowler
Pretty much how I feel as well honestly bud, people writing off Dach way too soon (again)Yes because I believe in Dach.
We have our two top 6 centers (Suzuki & Dach), we have our 3C (Beck & Kapanen), we have our elite offensive talent up front (Demidov) and on the back end (Hutson), we have two defenseman in Guhle/Reinbacher who can match up against any type of forward in the league, we have our big power winger (Slafkovsky), we have our sniper (Caufield) and between Dobes/Fowler/Volokhin I believe we have our goalie.
Getting McGroarty gives you a different vibe for either the 2nd or the 3rd line. I think if we nab him, you can go forward with that group and add in a more conventional manner (UFA, trades or some astute bargainbining).Pretty much how I feel as well honestly bud, people writing off Dach way too soon (again)
And all that was without mentioning Newhook and Roy who could REALLY round out the Top9 as above average 3rd liners that you can also squeak into top 6 in a pinch
(Hage is insurance at C, could be top9 too)
And all that is without potential trade+free agency in the coming years
These guys are building it RIGHT man, and it was fun and exciting... even before getting Demidov bahaha
Happy days
On paper it looks like done but there are too many wild cards and variables that can mess things up
Ideally a contender has 2 top 6 centers and one solid 3C. Suzuki, Dach and Beck looks like it on paper but we have to hope Dach stays healthy and Beck does indeed turn into what we think he will be
Other than that we've got 3 very solid pieces on the wing with Caufield, Slaf and Demidov.
The one thing we are lacking for the rebuild is a solid PMD, ideally RD. While Matheson is one, I'm not sure he'll be here in 2 years
Yes. I see two obvious pieces missingWe don’t yet have a true #1 D, but a few hopeful top 4 defensemen at least
Our own GM sees Reinbacher as a #2 dman, Guhle's offensive game isn't good enough for a 1D on a cup contender, and Hutson/Mailloux defensive game needs to be exponentially better to be that type of player.I don't know what people are talking about when they say we don't have a future 1D. We have several dman with 1D potential.
Hutson, Guhle, Mailloux, and Reinbacher all have 1D potential.
Yeah but they also have 100+ point players. The Habs don’t have that, so they need the 2nd and 3rd lines to be better.Just did the nerd calculations when I saw this post. The last 5 Stanley Cup winners when you pro rate their no. 6 F's points, it averages out at 50.4 pts with the outliers being Colorado in 2022 with burakovsky at 62 points and Florida in 2024 with Rodrigues at 40 points
I agree on your D thinking btwMaybe an Askorov for a 1a/1b tandem with Monty? What do you think needs to happen in nets?
I want to make sure we don’t end up like Oilers or Avs or Leafs, and have a juggernaut without a credible G optionI agree on your D thinking btw
its actually why all of a sudden I want to hold onto Savard incredibly lol
Askarov could definitely be an option *now after* actually picking our #5+#21 kids this year, I just didn't want to trade them honestly
But our *entire* 2025 ammunition is up for grabs now as far as I'm concerned
Monitor Fowler and Volokhin next 2 years carefully too
See if any 'star' goalies are on the upcoming draft horizons maybe too
Getting Demidov has literally changed everything, it's wild.
Yeah but they also have 100+ point players. The Habs don’t have that, so they need the 2nd and 3rd lines to be better.
Well Florida have Tkachuk who got over 100 points the season before so to me he’s that type of talent. But you’re right about Vegas and I think that would be the model that Kent and Gorton will have to follow.The Habs biggest problem as seen during the season is depth. Their 3rd and 4th lines were absolute trash. The 2nd was not good enough. Needed Dach back badly. And high end defenceman which they're getting soon. Demidov will probably be able to be the best forward on your team for a cup winner. Slaf is an excellent no.2. Suzuki is a great no.3. There's no reason to assume he won't progress again this year and up his point totals to PPG. I'm hoping Dach bounces back and shows his preseason form from last year and if he can, could be a 70ish point player. That's good enough on the top end. The only SC winners recently to have 100+ point players were Colorado and Tampa.