Pre-Game Talk: Game 1 Preseason Habs vs. Philadelphia (Monday Sept. 23 – 7PM ET) RDS

  • PLEASE check any bookmark on all devices. IF you see a link pointing to mandatory.com DELETE it Please use this URL https://forums.hfboards.com/

Pompeius Magnus

Registered User
May 18, 2014
20,857
18,473
Kanata ,ON
Barron was OK , the problem is Mailloux was better , kid has no shot going up against Mailloux and Rein on the depth chart imo , and his game is not fit for a bottom pair like Struble or Arber or Harris were
Plus, they're both just as able to move the puck and bring in some offense from the blue line, so Barron doesn't have that edge over them. No size advantage either. TBH, had he been a left side shot instead of a right side one, he would already be in pretty big trouble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Gr8 Dane

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
41,240
37,817
Montreal
How much experience/how many AHL/NHL games was a threshold for retention in the last expansion draft? I'm thinking Rainmaker won't be eligible, but Mailloux might be?
I have no idea.
What I do know is if we make a move it's likely up front and logically it would be at center.
Graduating one this season and one next season just makes sense for a team looking to progress smoothly.
As much as I'm not a fan of Dvorak's Evans might be easier to move without retaining while we keep the left hander.
Only one pre season game in but already a high bar has been set when was the last time we could say that.
Most of the kids graduated recently because of necessity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Boss Man Hughes

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
41,240
37,817
Montreal
Barron was OK , the problem is Mailloux was better , kid has no shot going up against Mailloux and Rein on the depth chart imo , and his game is not fit for a bottom pair like Struble or Arber or Harris were
Mailloux was not better and I really don't get the idea that Barron is not fit for a third pairing role. :huh:
He is the player they have given that role to.

The players higher up the depth charts are slated to be top pairing guys.
Struble is going to be our 7 and hopefully be able to spell either side.
In what scenario does Mailloux replacing Barron and loosing out on playing top line minutes make sense?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Vachon23

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
41,240
37,817
Montreal
Hutson didn't have a bad game so far, every game, he was one of the best players.
He did get caught out a couple of times and beat with speed twice so it wasn't perfect.
The pucks didn't find the back of our net so that was good.

I'm really curious about what Matheson's mandate will be as a top pairing guy.
My biggest concern with Hutson has always been having two riverboat gamblers in our top 4.
The media asked Matheson about it in a roundabout way and he claims he'll do anything to help the team.
Best case scenario that means focusing on shutting down the opposition's top line(s)
I also don't see how we could possibly give Matheson PP1 if we do indeed put the "Team" first.
 

The Great Weal

Phil's Pizza
Jan 15, 2015
54,085
68,750
They did it with Armia, I think they do have the balls lol
That’s fair but I think it’s a bit different. Armia genuinely couldn’t do anything right at the time and didnt have much of a leash. Dvorak is good on faceoffs and can PK which makes it less likely to waive than Armia. Anderson has speed and size, a history of scoring around 20 goals a season most of the time, and you can see that we’re giving him lots of chances no matter how he plays.
 

Boss Man Hughes

Registered User
Mar 15, 2022
15,952
11,022
I have no idea.
What I do know is if we make a move it's likely up front and logically it would be at center.
Graduating one this season and one next season just makes sense for a team looking to progress smoothly.
As much as I'm not a fan of Dvorak's Evans might be easier to move without retaining while we keep the left hander.
Only one pre season game in but already a high bar has been set when was the last time we could say that.
Most of the kids graduated recently because of necessity.
Yes, Evans would be far easier to move. 1.7 mil expiring contract should be no problem and garner something. I doubt they would retain (before the deadline) unless they are getting a 1st or equivalent so Dvorak wouldn't be movable until the deadline. Unless they take a body back but it would have to be someone they can send to the AHL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rapala

zx81

Registered User
Aug 2, 2005
21,551
14,540
That’s fair but I think it’s a bit different. Armia genuinely couldn’t do anything right at the time and didnt have much of a leash. Dvorak is good on faceoffs and can PK which makes it less likely to waive than Armia. Anderson has speed and size, a history of scoring around 20 goals a season most of the time, and you can see that we’re giving him lots of chances no matter how he plays.

Dvorak isn't awful nor great. He's the definition of bland. He should be replaced as soon as possible by a younger player with a bigger upside.
 

FLHabs

Send all your underacheiving prospects!!
Feb 18, 2017
2,100
3,516
Say there is a draft in June 2027. We'd be in good shape, losing just one player.

With 7-3-1, we could projecy to protect (exempt have an *)

Suzuki
Caufield
Slafkovsky
Dach (assuming re-signed before draft )
Newhook (RFA)
Roy
Beck
*Demidov
*Kapanen (assuming Sweden this year)
*Hage
*Koivu
*Thorpe
*2025 1st rounder
*2026 1st rounder

Guhle
Reinbacher
Hutson or Mailloux
*Konyushkov
*2025 1st rounder (Calgary)

Montembeault or Primeau or Dobes (whoever is the #1)
*Fowler
*Volokhin


Then Slaf, Hutson and Beck from 2022
If 7-3-1 is the way, losing Mailloux AND Xhekaj would really suck, especially if they fufill their potential.
 

Trabdy2

Registered User
Nov 30, 2018
514
646
While they don't look great at the moment, the Dach, Laine and Newhook line is worth giving some time to. Dach and Laine need to get their pace of play up a bit and get a bit sharper. Each of them had moments that I liked though; you can see that great things are possible.

Kapanen looks great and seems to have a pretty complete game. Skates well with the puck, heads up playmaker, pretty good on the boards, finds and uses space well to create offensive pressure. It's going to be hard to send him back, as he's pushing hard to snag a role in the bottom 6.

Tuch looks like a solid 4th liner. Moves well and really strong physical play. He's going to be a boon to our bottom six in terms of forechecking. If he doesn't stick with the team, it won't be long before he's called up.

Hutson looks like the real deal. He consistently manufactures offense organically and the coaches will love that. He is going to need to learn to pick his spots in terms of positioning and pinching, but I can't imagine him starting the season in Laval.

Mailloux and Engstrom look like they both need some time in the AHL to continue sharpening their game, especially defensively. They both made some good plays, though. Both of these players have tools that seem good enough for them to eventually find success in an NHL role, whether that's later this year or beyond.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad