General 2025 Off-Season Discussion Thread

[HuGo Burner Acc]

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.

It's a good thing Anderson stepped up in the PK this season. Him and Evans will probably be the first unit. Suzuki plays PK. And they'll probably carve out a niche for another player next season so they can have a real role on the team.

As for the D, they'll just have to evaluate who can lay on the ice the best lol

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

If Panthers aren’t resigning Bennett I’d trade one of our 3rds for his rights to negotiate before July 1st, Hughes should know his ask being a former client. He has to be the #1 target.

Trade for Horvat #2 option and Kadri #3.

Tavares is slowing down but could be the 4th option.

Duchene’s been MIA in the playoffs last 2 years and only plays when the mood hits him right, would avoid him at all costs.

 

[HabsAddict]

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.

Mailman and Little X are fixtures on the PK in Laval.. In fact the first playoff game M was on for 2 minutes on a couple of PKs.

No idea how good they will be in the NHL. Beck, Kapenen and LX have to practice their draws.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Trade for Horvat #2 option and Kadri #3.

Tavares is slowing down but could be the 4th option.

Kadri same age as Tavares and signed for 4 more years. Probably just as slow, or slower, too.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Kadri same age as Tavares and signed for 4 more years. Probably just as slow, or slower, too.

Shows up for the playoffs plus had Habs PJs as a kid instead of Leafs but that’s plan C unless Hughes has something better cooking

 

[Ozmodiar]

Shows up for the playoffs plus had Habs PJs as a kid instead of Leafs but that’s plan C unless Hughes has something better cooking

Point about PJs is a good one.

 

[CzarDemidov]

It’s a more tricky summer than appears at first glance.

Demidov being here helps big time… Reino too. But there will be more turnover and more opportunities and more uncertainty than in any of the recent years (dating well into Bergevin’s time).

Good luck to Hughes and the organization. May the odds be in our favour.

 

[Steve Shutt]

I'm glad HUGO was able to lock in Evans earlier

 

[LaP]

Anybody saw those Hockey Writers grades for our forwards? Those are nuts. Dvorak got an 8 for playing 30 games. One of the best rating among our forwards. 4th highest grades among forwards.

Those were Dvorak's stat february 1st :

51 GP 4G 15P -11 (14:39 TOI with 2 empty net points)

Those were Laine's stat february 1st

23 GP 12G 18P -6 (15:26 TOI)

Those were Slaf's stats february 1st

48 GP 8G 29P -9 (16:46 TOi)

The team would have been eliminated by then if it was not for other forwards playing a full season like Suzuki and Caufield instead of just 30 games. Even Slaf's stats were sort of fine by that point. This is f***ing crazy that they gave him a 8.

 

[Vachon23]

Personally I would try in the top 6 next year:

Caufield - Suzuki - Dach
Slaf - 2 C - Demidov

 

[HabsAddict]

...

 

[HabsAddict]

...

 

[David Suzuki]

Send Suzuki to WHC to go recruit Crosby

 

[Miller Time]

Anybody saw those Hockey Writers grades for our forwards? Those are nuts. Dvorak got an 8 for playing 30 games. One of the best rating among our forwards. 4th highest grades among forwards.

Those were Dvorak's stat february 1st :

51 GP 4G 15P -11 (14:39 TOI with 2 empty net points)

Those were Laine's stat february 1st

23 GP 12G 18P -6 (15:26 TOI)

Those were Slaf's stats february 1st

48 GP 8G 29P -9 (16:46 TOi)

The team would have been eliminated by then if it was not for other forwards playing a full season like Suzuki and Caufield instead of just 30 games. Even Slaf's stats were sort of fine by that point. This is f***ing crazy that they gave him a 8.

Dvorak as our 4th most effective forward for the whole season isn't that far fetched.

Suzuki
CC
Slaf

Then a toss up between Evans & Dvorak.

Laine's a tough one because you can't ignore our record before he joined the lineup, but to say he was a one-dimensional contributor is an understatement.

 

[LaP]

Dvorak as our 4th most effective forward for the whole season isn't that far fetched.

Suzuki
CC
Slaf

Then a toss up between Evans & Dvorak.

Laine's a tough one because you can't ignore our record before he joined the lineup, but to say he was a one-dimensional contributor is an understatement.

For me it would be

Suzuki
Caufield
Slaf
Gallagher

My main problem is not really that he is 4th it's just that a 8 rating for 30 good game is way too much. He did not show up for more than half the season. That should not be more than a 6 maybe 7 at the very best imo.

 

[LaP]

...

I agree

...

I agree even more

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Habs need an energy line.

They need some forwards who can hit. Get the crowd going, whether it's your own crowd, or the other crowd gets a bit ornery with your energy line.

Habs can probably not pay the high price for 2, but get 1 top 4 RHD.

Need a 2nd line centre, 3rd line centre.

 

[TeacherMan]

Habs need an energy line.

They need some forwards who can hit. Get the crowd going, whether it's your own crowd, or the other crowd gets a bit ornery with your energy line.

Habs can probably not pay the high price for 2, but get 1 top 4 RHD.

Need a 2nd line centre, 3rd line centre.

And we need third and fourth liners who can chip in offensively with clutch goals

 

[zx81]

...

 

[Jack Spider]

They trade for a 2c.
A)Is he an offensive 2c
B)a grinder/two way?

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

They trade for a 2c.
A)Is he an offensive 2c
B)a grinder/two way?

Bo Horvat is the golden choice as he checks like everything, but if there's a choice I'll go with the offensive 2C. Habs need more offense and you can get the grinder/two-way centre for your 3C spot, or get it for your 4C and bump Evans up

 

[salbutera]

Send Suzuki to WHC to go recruit Crosby

 

[salbutera]

MacKinnon’s also expected to join Team Canada for WC

 

[Jack Spider]

Bo Horvat is the golden choice as he checks like everything, bu if there's a choice I'll go with the offensive 2C. Habs need more offense and you can get the grinder/two-way centre for your 3C spot, or get it for your 4C and bump Evans up

Is Caleb Desnoyers cheaper ?

 

[DAChampion]

I remember with sorrow the really great photoshops of Sundin in a Habs jersey.

Tanguay-Sundin-Kovalev
Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
Higgins-Koivu-Latendresse
Pacioretty-Chipchura-Lapierre

Could have completed hard.

But, Sundin wanted to go to Vancouver.