Line Combos: HABS 2024 LINE UP

[_vivelequebec_]

Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Anderson
RHP Monahan Dvorak
Gallagher Evans Ylonen

Matheson Barron
Guhle Savard
Xhekaj Mailloux

Montembeault
Allen

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Dach-Suzuki-Caufield
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Newhook-Dvorak-Gallagher
Hoffman-Evans-Armia

my best guess for this season.

Dach can take over for Monahan when he gets injured

Need to clear a body for RHP, ideally 2 or 3 get moved actually

 

[Saku K]

Dach-Suzuki-Caufield
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Newhook-Dvorak-Gallagher
Hoffman-Evans-Armia

my best guess for this season.

Dach can take over for Monahan when he gets injured

Need to clear a body for RHP, ideally 2 or 3 get moved actually

Thanks for taking a more realistic approach to this process. It's clear Bergevin's bad contracts won't magically dissappear. Since HuGo won't buyout any of Armia/Gallagher/Hoffman even Dvorak we are stuck with them. I would probably put slaf on the third line and Newhook on the second on your lineup with Pezz/RHP/Ylo as extras to start even though they deserve better.

The only way I see us clear a body would be sending slaf temporarily to the AHL or moving Evans to a team like arizona or chicago for example with maybe a mid-to-low draft pick to take him which would allow to move RHP into the lineup and Ylonen/Pezz to play unless the injury bug happens (and probably will).

 

[Maitz]

RHP-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Anderson
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Gallagher
Pezzeta-Dvorak-Armia

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Extras: Hoffman,Evans, Kovacevic

Monty
Allen

 

[Ozmodiar]

Newhook - Suzuki - Caufield
Monahan - Dach - Anderson
Hoffman - Dvorak - Gallagher
RHP - Evans - Ylonen
Pezz/Armia

Guhle - Savard
Matheson - Barron
Xhekaj - Kovy
Harris

Slaf to start in the AHL is my bold prediction.

————-
Future shaping up:

(Lots of potential with 10 1st round picks, the oldest who is currently 23 years old.)

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Newhook - Dach - Mesar
RHP - Beck - Roy
Heineman - Kapanen - Ylonen
Evans/Farrell

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Barron
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Harris/Engstrom

Need: top 6 scoring winger.

 

[calder candidate]

Caufield Suzuki Anderson
Newhook Dach Monahan
Slafkovsky Dvorak Gallagher
RHP Evans Armia
13th Ylonnen or Pezzetta
Waive Hoffman

Matheson Barron
Guhle Savard
Xhekaj Harris
Edmondson Kovacevic

Montembeault
Allen

 

[Habricot]

Dach-Suzuki-Caufield
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Newhook-Dvorak-Gallagher
Hoffman-Evans-Armia

my best guess for this season.

Dach can take over for Monahan when he gets injured

Need to clear a body for RHP, ideally 2 or 3 get moved actually

Wait a month into the season when half the team is injurred.

 

[Lockin17]

I would not be suprise if Reinbacher makes the team this year, a bit like Ghule last year
He could take Kovacevic place easy

Matheson-Barron
Ghule- Savard
Wifi-Reinbacher
Harris-Kovacevic

 

[Seb]

I would not be suprise if Reinbacher makes the team this year, a bit like Ghule last year
He could take Kovacevic place easy

Matheson-Barron
Ghule- Savard
Wifi-Reinbacher
Harris-Kovacevic

He's one of the most NHL ready prospect this year and I am pretty sure he could step in right away as well.

But it would be a mistake. Let him play at least one year in the AHL or in Switzerland where he can develop offensively. Bringing him in the NHL this year would hinder his development and would probably kill his potential to become a top pairing dman.

 

[Nevins]

Newhook - Suzuki - Caufield
Monahan - Dach - Anderson
Hoffman - Dvorak - Gallagher
RHP - Evans - Ylonen
Pezz/Armia

Guhle - Savard
Matheson - Barron
Xhekaj - Kovy
Harris

Slaf to start in the AHL is my bold prediction.

————-
Future shaping up:

(Lots of potential with 10 1st round picks, the oldest who is currently 23 years old.)

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Newhook - Dach - Mesar
RHP - Beck - Roy
Heineman - Kapanen - Ylonen
Evans/Farrell

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Barron
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Harris/Engstrom

Need: top 6 scoring winger.

Need Elite top winger.at least 2

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Monahan Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Gallagher
Slafkovsky Dvorak Hoffman
RHP Evans Ylonen

Guhle Savard
Matheson Barron
Xhekaj Harris
Kovacevic

Montambeault
Allen
Primeau

I know Gallagher doesn't really belong on a top 6 anymore, but I think they will want to stay him off in an offensive position and he still has the incredible work ethic that can be good for kids to have around. If he can do a little bit of dirt work for them, I could *maybe* see it. Monahan and Gallagher are super injury prone, so there will be movement. RHP would fit well in both their spots, I think it's only a question of time.

The defense is starting to shape up nicely. If injuries are not insane again like last year, I think they could be a middle of the pack defensive unit.

The goalies are nothing special, but par for where this team is at the moment.

 

[Habricot]

I like doing these combo. It changes your mind.

I hope we dont have too much injurry this year so we can really evaluate the progression of our team.

RHP, Suzuki, Anderson. I think Suzuki is there and can produce with anyone. Its the year where we need Dach to get to a different level.

Newhook, Dach, Caufield
Newhook and Dach must increase there throughput this year. So I would give them our best winger in Caufield.

Slakowski, Monahan, Galagher. Two good vets to help Slaf progress.

Heinemen, Dvorak, Evans..with Armia, Pezzetta and Hoffman available. Last year of Dvorak and Beck will take that role next year.

Matheson, Kovacevic
Ghule, Savard
Xekhaj, Barron
Harris, Wideman

 

[Frank JT]

RHP Suzuki Caufield
Slaf Dach Newhook
Monahan Dvorak Gallagher
Hoffman/Pezzeta Evans Ylonen/Armia

Matheson Savard
Guhle Barron/Harris
Xhekaj Kovacevic
Wideman

Montambeault
Allen
Primeau

There will be more trades...

 

[ML16]

Caufield - Suzuki - Monahan* (Roy)
Newhook - Dach - Slafkovski
RHP - Dvorak* (Beck) - Anderson
Ylonen - Evans - Gallagher
Armia, Pezzetta

Hoffman: If he can’t be traded - even with retention and for future considerations - I’m warming up to the idea of simply buying him out to make room for the upcoming ELCs/RFAs. This year’s savings are likely enough to put Price on regular IR at the beginning of the season, and the extra cap for 2024-2025 will easily be compensated by an overall steep cap increase.

Dvorak: Will miss training camp and the beginning of the season, providing a window for a Beck >10 games NHL audition. Likely not tradable at fair value until he comes back to play and demonstrate he’s fully recovered; so likelier he’s shopped before TDL 2024 or next summer.

Monahan: Unless Dvorak’s traded, Monahan is the prime TDL 2024 trade asset. Should open up a top-6 spot for whichever Rocket rises up next season; Joshua Roy being the front runner in that regard.

Matheson - Guhle (1-year stint on RD)
Xhekaj - Barron
Harris* - Savard*
Kovacevic*

Harris/Savard/Kovacevic: With Hutson-Reinbacher and Engstrom-Mailloux coming up in the next few years, showcasing the aforementioned trio to raise their exposure/value league-wide is crucial - and trading Edmundson seems to have done in that spirit. Actually, I think that if the Habs are indeed able to start seriously competing around 2025-2026, one of the reasons why - besides basically every U25s progressing - will be the assets fetched in return for Harris (1.4M, RFA 2025); Savard (3.5M, UFA 2025) and Kovacevic (700K, UFA 2025).

Montembault*
Allen

Montembault: Seems eager to renew his contract with the Habs; if he’s willing to take a Jake Allen-style of contract, >4M AAV for 3-4 years, I’d annoint him Montreal’s official transition goalie.

 

[Scriptor]

Caufield - Suzuki - Monahan* (Roy)
Newhook - Dach - Slafkovski
RHP - Dvorak* (Beck) - Anderson
Ylonen - Evans - Gallagher
Armia, Pezzetta

Hoffman: If he can’t be traded - even with retention and for future considerations - I’m warming up to the idea of simply buying him out to make room for the upcoming ELCs/RFAs. This year’s savings are likely enough to put Price on regular IR at the beginning of the season, and the extra cap for 2024-2025 will easily be compensated by an overall steep cap increase.

Dvorak: Will miss training camp and the beginning of the season, providing a window for a Beck >10 games NHL audition. Likely not tradable at fair value until he comes back to play and demonstrate he’s fully recovered; so likelier he’s shopped before TDL 2024 or next summer.

Monahan: Unless Dvorak’s traded, Monahan is the prime TDL 2024 trade asset. Should open up a top-6 spot for whichever Rocket rises up next season; Joshua Roy being the front runner in that regard.

Matheson - Guhle (1-year stint on RD)
Xhekaj - Barron
Harris* - Savard*
Kovacevic*

Harris/Savard/Kovacevic: With Hutson-Reinbacher and Engstrom-Mailloux coming up in the next few years, showcasing the aforementioned trio to raise their exposure/value league-wide is crucial - and trading Edmundson seems to have done in that spirit. Actually, I think that if the Habs are indeed able to start seriously competing around 2025-2026, one of the reasons why - besides basically every U25s progressing - will be the assets fetched in return for Harris (1.4M, RFA 2025); Savard (3.5M, UFA 2025) and Kovacevic (700K, UFA 2025).

Montembault*
Allen

Montembault: Seems eager to renew his contract with the Habs; if he’s willing to take a Jake Allen-style of contract, >4M AAV for 3-4 years, I’d annoint him Montreal’s official transition goalie.

How much do you think these players will fetch as assets?

If that's what takes Montreal over the top and gets them to seriously compete, the world is screwed up.

 

[dcyhabs]

I would not be suprise if Reinbacher makes the team this year, a bit like Ghule last year
He could take Kovacevic place easy

Matheson-Barron
Ghule- Savard
Wifi-Reinbacher
Harris-Kovacevic

I wouldn’t be surprised but I wouldn’t be happy, either. Let them mature physically.

 

[Lucky Luke]

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Newhook-Dvorak-Gallagher
Hoffman/RHP-Evans-Armia/Ylonen
Pezzetta

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris
Wideman-Kovacevic

Allen-Montembeault

 

[ML16]

How much do you think these players will fetch as assets?

If that's what takes Montreal over the top and gets them to seriously compete, the world is screwed up.

What I meant is that besides Monahan/Dvorak (and maybe Anderson), most of the Habs’ significant trade chips within the 2-3 years will be defensemen; the the Habs’ emerging core success will thus greatly depend on how these chips are played to bolster other organizational weaknesses.

As for the D trade baits I mentioned, I could see:

- Kovacevic fetching a Edmundson or Kulak-like return (3rd or 2nd round pick+) as a cheap 2024 or 2025 TDL rental.

- Savard fetching a late 1st round pick+ from a contender as a 2025 TDL rental.

- Harris, traded in a package for a middle-6 forward. (Or kept as LD/RD depth if a more ambitious deal for a top-6 forward eventually involves Matheson/Engstrom/Mailloux/Barron.)

The summer of 2025 would then be pivotal: with potentially three 1st and as many 2nd round picks at the draft; sustainable cap management insofar as no bad contracts besides Gallagher should remain and, hopefully , a near-complete core hitting their collective prime, the Habs should then be in a enviable position to agressively pursue players/prospects who can fill the remaining pieces of the puzzle by trading up from their highest pick and/or a blockbuster.

 

[rahad]

Newhook - Suzuki - Caufield
Monahan - Dach - Anderson
Hoffman - Dvorak - Gallagher
RHP - Evans - Ylonen
Pezz/Armia

Guhle - Savard
Matheson - Barron
Xhekaj - Kovy
Harris

Slaf to start in the AHL is my bold prediction.

————-
Future shaping up:

(Lots of potential with 10 1st round picks, the oldest who is currently 23 years old.)

Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Newhook - Dach - Mesar
RHP - Beck - Roy
Heineman - Kapanen - Ylonen
Evans/Farrell

Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Barron
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Harris/Engstrom

Need: top 6 scoring winger.

We need help with the forward group. Hope, we draft a elite forward next draft. Our defence is good.

 

[Sorinth]

Caufield - Suzuki - Newhook
RHP - Dach - Anderson
Slafkovsky - Monahan - Gallagher
Evans - Dvorak - Ylonen
Pezzetta, Armia
Hoffman, Pitlick (AHL)

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Barron
Harris - Xhekaj
Kovacevik
Wideman (AHL)

Montembeault
Allen

I feel the team will want Caufield - Suzuki as one pair, Slafkovksy - Monahan as another, and Dach at center. Everybody else gets shuffled around trying to get the right fit. For Ylonen I think I like him more then MSL does so I wouldn't actually bet on him being in the opening lineup.

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Caufield - Suzuki - Newhook
RHP - Dach - Anderson
Slafkovsky - Monahan - Gallagher
Evans - Dvorak - Ylonen
Pezzetta, Armia
Hoffman, Pitlick (AHL)

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Barron
Harris - Xhekaj
Kovacevik
Wideman (AHL)

Montembeault
Allen

I feel the team will want Caufield - Suzuki as one pair, Slafkovksy - Monahan as another, and Dach at center. Everybody else gets shuffled around trying to get the right fit. For Ylonen I think I like him more then MSL does so I wouldn't actually bet on him being in the opening lineup.

I agree with this kind of scenario. This is a more potent team to me if we emphasize a balanced top-9, with at least one of the top three lines causing a match-up problem. I like the idea of pedestrian players on the fourth line with far less time 5-5 and with lion's share of PK. Not sure if I'd put Gallagher on line 3 however, unless he is fitter than he's shown lately; hopefully a rookie impresses and relegates him to line 4.

 

[No More Subban]

we have so many deadweights.. sigh

one thing i know for sure is slaf will struggle to get points playing with gallagher. they can't be on the same line. gally can't keep up with him.

also, i feel like someone will surprise in preseason and we will be talking about how he has to make the opening lineup. hoping for joshua roy. it's time.

pezzetta will definitely make it too especially against a tougher leafs team.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Dach-Suzuki-Caufield
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Newhook-Dvorak-Gallagher
Hoffman-Evans-Armia

my best guess for this season.

Dach can take over for Monahan when he gets injured

Need to clear a body for RHP, ideally 2 or 3 get moved actually

If they can't move Hoffman, I expect them to sit him or send him to Laval. He hasn't been able to build any value over the last two seasons and I don't see that changing. RHP, Ylonen and Heineman need spots sooner than later.

 

[HuGort]

RHP-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Anderson
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Gallagher
Pezzeta-Dvorak-Armia

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Extras: Hoffman,Evans, Kovacevic

Monty
Allen

Hope RHP not playing first line minutes.

 

[Archijerej]

If they can't move Hoffman, I expect them to sit him or send him to Laval. He hasn't been able to build any value over the last two seasons and I don't see that changing. RHP, Ylonen and Heineman need spots sooner than later.

Yeah. If he turns out to be untradable at 50% retention and on the last year of his contract, then he's pretty much done as an NHL player. No reason to press him into the lineup over our young forwards.