General 2025 Off-Season Discussion Thread

[morhilane]

Yall crazy if we make barely any moves having Dach as our second center next season with Carrier and Matheson as top 4 is a good ''approach''

That team is horrendous without Suzuki carrying the team with Hutson.

Unfortunately, it's the most likely outcome of the off-season. You can't buy if nobody is selling and won't get UFAs if none wants your short term contracts (most 2c UFAs are over 30 years old).

 

[DAChampion]

Yall crazy if we make barely any moves having Dach as our second center next season with Carrier and Matheson as top 4 is a good ''approach''

That team is horrendous without Suzuki carrying the team with Hutson.

Last year at this time, the expected second line was Roy-Dach-Newhook. It's good to project even if we don't know which changes will take place.

 

[BLONG7]

Hey guys..........is today the media day, talk to players and HuGo year end presser type of meetings going on?

 

[26Mats]

Hey guys..........is today the media day, talk to players and HuGo year end presser type of meetings going on?

Players today 9am
HuGo Monday 10am.

 

[26Mats]

Unfortunately, it's the most likely outcome of the off-season. You can't buy if nobody is selling and won't get UFAs if none wants your short term contracts (most 2c UFAs are over 30 years old).

It's hard to say what the market will be.

I don't like the idea of going out a n.v d getting a 2c at all costs. Better to be patient and wait for one to become available (Eichel, Dylan Strome, PLD last summer, Monahan in free agency last summer). But we can't be patient. We need one now. So we'll have to overpay.

 

[BagusJohn]

How I see things:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Dach/Laine - XXX - Demidov
Anderson - Newhook/Dvorak - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - XXX
Kapanen

- Armia OUT 100%
- Dach or Laine OUT: I would prefer keeping Dach and him remaining healthy, as I still believe in the player and his potential. Plus he could replace an injured C.
- Dvorak or Newhook OUT: I wouldn't be opposed to Dvorak IF Newhook is included in a package for 2C or D.


The defense is where the real head-scratching begins... We have a surplus of LDs, and a lack of RDs. Hughes and Gorton must get this right, and I envision a tough, heart-wrenching decision will occur in the offseason.

 

[Treb]

Mike Matheson isn’t a bad player, he’s just being deployed to a level that he isn’t. He is consistently being used as a #1 or # 2 but is likely a second pairing D man. Might have had proper deployment this year if Reinbacher was healthy but likely will next season

He's also redundant with Hutson and more comfortable on the left where we already have other younger guys.

For both the Habs and Matheson, it might be better to switch him for a RD.

 

[The Real Timo]

Unfortunately, it's the most likely outcome of the off-season. You can't buy if nobody is selling and won't get UFAs if none wants your short term contracts (most 2c UFAs are over 30 years old).

If there is no bonafide 2C joining Habs before next season this is a massive fail on Hughes part. Massive.

 

[BagusJohn]

He's also redundant with Hutson and more comfortable on the left where we already have other younger guys.

For both the Habs and Matheson, it might be better to switch him for a RD.

Or option B, switch him to the RD position. He's still extremely useful on the penalty kill.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Unfortunately, it's the most likely outcome of the off-season. You can't buy if nobody is selling and won't get UFAs if none wants your short term contracts (most 2c UFAs are over 30 years old).

Then expect another bad team. This roster is ass bottom 6 is a complete joke. Only 2 good defs , beyond average goalie and Dach on the top 6 is a biggest joke than Buffalo

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

He's also redundant with Hutson and more comfortable on the left where we already have other younger guys.

For both the Habs and Matheson, it might be better to switch him for a RD.

I think he gets more hate than he deserves, but it is best for both Matheson and the Habs to move on this off-season.

He'll be 32 next February and looking for his last big pay day, no reason for a younger team like the Habs to give him that contract especially with all the depth on the left side.

Then for Matheson he went from having 62 points last year to finishing the season with only 16 points in his last 57 games when he got bumped off the first PP, if he gets moved to a team that will give him first PP time that could help his point totals leading to him getting more money in free agency.

 

[Treb]

Or option B, switch him to the RD position. He's still extremely useful on the penalty kill.

Habs can do a lot better than Matheson on the PK.

 

[Archijerej]

Unfortunately, it's the most likely outcome of the off-season. You can't buy if nobody is selling and won't get UFAs if none wants your short term contracts (most 2c UFAs are over 30 years old).

Being patient when the market is unfavorable is one thing. Going into the season with BOTH Dach and Newhook as your middle six centers is just silly.

There are moves to be made even if the optimal scenario is unavailable. We can sign Pius Suter. We can sign Dvorak.

Dach should have a spot open as the 4th line RW, but even then he has to prove he can skate and compete at NHL level.

 

[Team_Spirit]

RD is impossible to fix Neal Pionk just got 42M lmao

Pray DR and Mailloux keep progressing

 

[Apfle Strubble]

While plan A is obviously to bring in a Top6 UFA veteran C (Nelson, Bennett, Duchene, Granlund?) and plan B to trade for one assuming availability (Horvat, other), what would be your plan C if both other options are too prohibitive in AAV and trade assets respectively?

Extend Dvorak, sign a top6 W and try Demidov at C? Try again with Dach (can't see this one happening at all)?

 

[Guy Larose]

While plan A is obviously to bring in a Top6 UFA veteran C (Nelson, Bennett, Duchene, Granlund?) and plan B to trade for one assuming availability (Horvat, other), what would be your plan C if both other options are too prohibitive in AAV and trade assets respectively?

Extend Dvorak, sign a top6 W and try Demidov at C? Try again with Dach (can't see this one happening at all)?

That isn't obviously plan A as you say. HuGo already said they weren't planning on over spending in UFA and they tried trading for Cozens. That means that they want someone that fits the age of the others if they can. UFA is plan B.

 

[LaP]

While plan A is obviously to bring in a Top6 UFA veteran C (Nelson, Bennett, Duchene, Granlund?) and plan B to trade for one assuming availability (Horvat, other), what would be your plan C if both other options are too prohibitive in AAV and trade assets respectively?

Extend Dvorak, sign a top6 W and try Demidov at C? Try again with Dach (can't see this one happening at all)?

Going for plan z would be very Marc Bergevin like.

We need a 2nd line center and Dvorak ain't one. What would be the point?

 

[ahmedou]

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

RD is impossible to fix Neal Pionk just got 42M lmao

Pray DR and Mailloux keep progressing

The best option that isn't too expensive to get, has a good AAV and a good term is Adam Larsson. Kraken fans say he's not an untouchable and he's probably not gonna cost and arm and a leg. This could be a potential D core in the next year or two:

Hutson-Larsson
Guhle-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Carrier

 

[Doctor Bold]

Love this..

 

[26Mats]

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Marner - Bennett - Demidov
Anderson - Dvo - Gallagher
Heineman - Evans - Armia

Hutson - Ekblad
Guhle - Reinbacher
Matheson - Carrier

Monty
Dobes

 

[BozoTheClown]

Lol you want Dach as the 2C with Laine? So you want the team to actively to get worse.

Depending on guys to get to free agency in two years is just silly. A lot of them will re-sign.

You have a really narrow view on the potential of the team. They squeezed in when everyone thought bottom 10 team. One of the best 1st lines in the league, now adding Demidov. The time to go for it somewhat is when he’s still on an ELC, same with Lane

They don’t have much value right now, but if they come to the training camp in shape and have a decent start to the season you then look at trading them.

I don’t have a narrow view and I am being realistic when I say the team needs to add talent, size and grit up front, on the back end.

The team needs a 2nd line center and winger, a top pairing RHD and the jury is still out on Montembault. That a whole lot of holes to fill in one summer.

Matheson needs to go and we need to find a top pairing RHD.

 

[Apfle Strubble]

That isn't obviously plan A as you say. HuGo already said they weren't planning on over spending in UFA and they tried trading for Cozens. That means that they want someone that fits the age of the others if they can. UFA is plan B.

I don’t know. If getting that age fitting 1C is going to cost the equivalent of 2 to 3 first round picks, is the money saved that important in expanding cap world?

 

[HabsAddict]

RD is impossible to fix Neal Pionk just got 42M lmao

Pray DR and Mailloux keep progressing

They are...

Mailloux got a software upgrade. At one point I thought that M was never going to stop sinking. Bad board play. Soft net presence. Bad pinches. Bad clearing. I even thought he may be on something. For the last 3 games, completely different play. He looks like what we thought we had. Vincent has him front and center on the specialty teams.

Less and less worried about Reins knee. He's starting to be physical and even picking up penalties.

Many have written M off without actually watching his playing.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Lots of our PK unit will be gone. Armia, Dvo, Savard and potentially Matheson. PK was 8th in the NHL this year. Big holes to fill.