GDT: Game 79: Habs @ Sens - Friday, April 11, 7 PM EDT | SN, RDS

[vokiel]

For whatever it's worth, Stu Cowan posted the official rosters for tonight's game, Demidov is listed for the Habs.

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It's the "roster", so 22 players... It just confirms to me that there ain't any such thing as black aces after the TDL anymore. You can just sign anyone and add him straight.

 

[LaP]

It's the "roster", so 22 players... It just confirms to me that there ain't any such thing as black aces after the TDL anymore. You can just sign anyone and add him straight.

Here's the rule. You can't sign random players and have them play in playoffs. Drafted players are part of a team they can be added at any time to a lineup even if they were not signed at the beginning of a season. Been this way for as long as i can remember i think.

Signings​

A player not on an NHL reserve list that signs can play down the stretch during the regular season but is ineligible to play in the playoffs. We see this typically with college free agent signings who get into a game or two for the stretch run, but technically a player on an AHL contract can sign an NHL deal and play with that team until the playoffs.

Reserve Lists and Exclusive Signing Rights​

Teams are allowed to have up to 90 players on their “reserve list.” That includes players signed to a “standard player contract” (SPC) and unsigned players, including draft picks. With a number of exclusions, a club retains the rights to a drafted player for two seasons after the draft. With some exclusions, players drafted by a club whose rights the club retains count toward the 90-player limit. There are lots and lots of little details involved in how long a club retains a player’s exclusive signing rights.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Flashback to the post game thread after we beat the Sens 4-1 on October 12th. If only the past me could see where we are now

 

[overlords]

Flashback to the post game thread after we beat the Sens 4-1 on October 12th. If only the past me could see where we are now

View attachment 1011646

 

[Theodore450]

I doubt that.

I’d expect they’ll go with the following forward lines:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Laine-Newhook-Demidov
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Kapanen/Heineman-Evans-Armia

I can’t see them going with 11 forwards and sitting both Kapanen and Heineman.

Yeah in my eyes it really depends on how good Demi is. Because it’s gonna be tough to scratch those 2 or struble. Don’t see how X plays

 

[Rapala]

They have in fact. He needs reps there. He wasn’t protecting the sticks much in front of the net.

Again, he’s a puppy hockey wise. Let’s have him grow up a bit. He’s got athletic qualities. He just needs to learn how to play better during defensive assignments.

A number of commentators have remarked on his PK and they weren't disappointed.
For me Xhekaj will be fine once he truly buys into his role which is to be a modern day Lyle Odeline on that left side.
He still wants to make a difference at the other end of the rink and failing that get a rise out of the crowd with a big hit.
We've all seen very good games out of him when he remains patient.

 

[Uber Coca]

Montréal needs to win before Detroit loses to Tampa Bay, so we avoid the Red Wings eliminating themselves.

 

[Miller Time]

Uh, Arbs has played all year and will be needed in the playoffs .. and to GET to the playoffs.

So you really haven't been watching the team since February lol

Sitting Savard has no impact on this team.

PK success suggest otherwise.

We need the kid to play, he's been here all year in the trenches, you don't bench him for 3 then play him for one. If you want to do anything in the playoffs, he will be important and may as well rest a guy or two regardless.

No. We need to win hockey games.

But, if you care so much olabout the "kids", you'll be happy to know that we have the youngest roster of the playoff teams and we're about to get even younger with Demidov.

Thanks to MSL & the coaching staff, the kids in the Habs organization are more than alright.

Once we secure a spot, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a few vets get some rest and X, Roy, Heineman, Kapanen & Strubble seeing a bump in playtime for the last few games...

I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that wether X touches the ice or not in the playoffs will have virtually no impact on our playoff success... And... If we end up seeing him play more than #6 minutes, those games will be blow out wins (mop up duty) or blow out losses

Watch the Sens dick around tonight and everyone cry 'why no Arbs!' it's just a matter of time.

You mean the way the Preds took a run at Hutson... Oh wait, Arber had ice level tickets to that cheap shot.

The deterrent fantasy is just that... Fantasy.

Fortunately the coaching staff is focused on the real world and the real task of making the playoffs. Odd that some fans prefer novelty over wins, but you do you.[/QUOTE]

 

[KevSkillz4]

Flashback to the post game thread after we beat the Sens 4-1 on October 12th. If only the past me could see where we are now

View attachment 1011646

100% Photoshop, but nice try man!

 

[sampollock]

any line ups yet?

 

[TheBuriedHab]

any line ups yet?

Same line ups from last game, no changes according to Engels

 

[Justin11]

I hope so. But.....being a Habs fan and stress free. Usually don't go together in the same sentence.

True dat...

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Demidov when

 

[Habssince89]

We've seen Xhekaj make progress but a lot of fans need to remember he's still a big work in progress.

 

[JadedRandom]

We've seen Xhekaj make progress but a lot of fans need to remember he's still a big work in progress.

He was a work-in-progress his first season, and hasn't made much strides in the four years since to go towards being anything more.

There was a stretch of games in January where Xhekaj was very good, and sort of carried Savard in my opinion.

Unfortunately, Xhekaj then had a rough stretch of games, showing his complete lack of consistency.

From late-February on, Struble has been better than Xhekaj in my opinion, and developed a good chemistry with Hutson as the LD of that pairing.

Struble was recently put with Savard, and though he hasn't looked anywhere near as good with him (Savard unfortunately brings down the 5-on-5 play of whomever is matched with him at this point) I would still say that he is a superior player right now to Xhekaj, bringing lesser toughness and shot but greater puck skills, speed, and defensive IQ.

Overall, given the relative health of our team, Xhekaj deserves his current stint in the pressbox.

And unless we see an injury on D, give rest to someone before the playoffs, or someone on D starts playing really badly, I think we might not see much of Xhekaj this year.

 

[HabsForHire]

Demidov when

Hopefully tomorrow

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I hope we see a different team tonight than the one that goalied there way to two wins against Nash and Detroit. Two days of rest. Hopefully that is enough for the Habs to come out flying and sharp. If we have to see another prevent defense effort...

 

[Habssince89]

He was a work-in-progress his first season, and hasn't made much strides in the four years since to go towards being anything more.

There was a stretch of games in January where Xhekaj was very good, and carrier Savard in my opinion.

Unfortunately, Xhekaj then had a rough stretch of games, showing his complete lack of consistency.

From late-February on, Struble has been better than Xhekaj in my opinion, and developed a good chemistry with Hutson as the LD of that pairing.

Struble was recently put with Savard, and though he hasn't looked anywhere near as good with him (Savard unfortunately brings down the play of whomever is matched with him at this point) I would still say that he is a superior player right now to Xhekaj, bringing lesser toughness and shot but greater puck skills, speed, and defensive IQ.

Overall, given the relative health of our team, Xhekaj deserves his current stint in the pressbox.

And unless we see an injury on D, give rest to someone before the playoffs, or someone on D starts playing really badly, I think we might not see much of Xhekaj this year.

I pretty much agree with all of that except I think Xhekaj has made good strides from his debut, and I think nothing has shown us that he won't keep working hard to improve even more. I don't ever expect him to be more than a 3rd pairing guy

 

[Habs]

So you really haven't been watching the team since February lol



PK success suggest otherwise.



No. We need to win hockey games.

But, if you care so much olabout the "kids", you'll be happy to know that we have the youngest roster of the playoff teams and we're about to get even younger with Demidov.

Thanks to MSL & the coaching staff, the kids in the Habs organization are more than alright.

Once we secure a spot, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a few vets get some rest and X, Roy, Heineman, Kapanen & Strubble seeing a bump in playtime for the last few games...

I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that wether X touches the ice or not in the playoffs will have virtually no impact on our playoff success... And... If we end up seeing him play more than #6 minutes, those games will be blow out wins (mop up duty) or blow out losses



You mean the way the Preds took a run at Hutson... Oh wait, Arber had ice level tickets to that cheap shot.

The deterrent fantasy is just that... Fantasy.

Fortunately the coaching staff is focused on the real world and the real task of making the playoffs. Odd that some fans prefer novelty over wins, but you do you.

[/QUOTE]

You and me, behind the monkey bars, 3:15 , bring a ziploc for your teef!

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I can see a Demidov chant getting started in Ottawa's barn tonight

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Demidov when

Grant McCagg seems to think he will make his debut tomorrow in Toronto. He finds it weird they had him fly into Toronto, not Ottawa or Montreal. He also said "other people" seem to think it may happen tomorrow as well, whatever that means.

 

[CrazyBob]

Demidov when

Monday

 

[CanadienShark]

Let's clinch this so I can finally unclench.

 

[JadedRandom]

I pretty much agree with all of that except I think Xhekaj has made good strides from his debut, and I think nothing has shown us that he won't keep working hard to improve even more. I don't ever expect him to be more than a 3rd pairing guy

I agree that Xhekaj has improved since his draft year.

But the point I was making is that I plain don't think Xhekaj has learned to be consistent or good-enough defensively in the four years since his debut to even be part of a regular top-6 for a team in the playoffs right now.

Defensemen infamously develop late so there's still tons of time for Xhekaj to redeem himself given that he has lots of good tools.

But I wouldn't qualify Xhekaj's progress as anything significant since hitting pro ice unfortunately.

Xhekaj has slowly gotten better, plateaued for a while, and made some incremental progress here or there that still portend more or less well today, on that I agree.

But if Xhekaj fails to show much progress in the next couple of years we could definitely move on from him, either sign a steadier veteran to help insulate other players, or do something else.

Xhekaj adds toughness to our team, makes some nice physical plays, but I wouldn't say that his contributions are anything close to irreplaceable right now.

 

[Boyon90]

Flashback to the post game thread after we beat the Sens 4-1 on October 12th. If only the past me could see where we are now

View attachment 1011646

he can

he is seeing it right now

he is..

you