GDT: Habs at Leafs (Now, Monday)

[BLNY]

I'm usually OK with it because I mainly watch the hockey. However, what you said is not the 1st time I have heard it. Even some Leafs fans here in Halifax has told me the same thing

Sportsnet has even sucked the life out of Chris Cuthbert and reduced him to Hughson 2.0 - a mindless shill for the Leafs brand.

I get that it's pre-season for them too, but he and Simmer were really bad last night and Simpson's bar is already pretty low.

 

[Rapala]

It will be interesting what transpires with this Habs roster over the next few days?
Does a goalie get waived or traded?
Has Ylonen and Heineman done enough to warrant a spot? If Ylonen gets waived, does he clear?
What about Lindstrom, Mailloux and Norlinder?
Where does Slaf play?
Alot of questions

Now is the time for HuGo to pull some Rabbits from their Hats.

 

[Tyson]

Sportsnet has even sucked the life out of Chris Cuthbert and reduced him to Hughson 2.0 - a mindless shill for the Leafs brand.

I get that it's pre-season for them too, but he and Simmer were really bad last night and Simpson's bar is already pretty low.

We won't see greats like Danny Gallivan ever again.

 

[BLNY]

I got crucified on here a few months ago for saying that that Habs future D core will be the best since the 1970s dynasty

Rightfully so.

As of right now, while there is plenty of room and capacity for growth, there's no one better than Desjardins or Schneider.

We won't see greats like Danny Gallivan ever again.

Heck, I'll take Cuthbert from his CBC days. He was always solid and balanced. Sportsnet's homerism is transparent.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

If Habs get any goal tending at all they be a decent team this year

You mean the tank is off again?

 

[morhilane]

Now is the time for HuGo to pull some Rabbits from their Hats.

I don't see how they manage without trading away players with not player returning. Some kids beat vets this camp (on the bottom 6), but they will be send down/waived because management wants to give extra chances to the done vets.

Gallagher should be the 13th forwards, by default that he can't be moved anywhere because of his contract.

Evans, Pezz, Armia aren't any better than Heineman and Ylonen.

And if they keep 3 goalies, than it means keeping 12 forwards instead of 13, a vets (or at least someone who was a NHLer last season) will have to be waived.

Dmen is more a question of which kids get the last spot on the roster and who is the 7th D to replace Wideman.

 

[Andy]

The only thing Gallagher has going for him is that despite his game cratering, he’s still difficult to play against downlow in the offensive zone and in front of the net. He’s also still fairly good on the defensive side of the game.

Combine that with his immovable contract, he will be in the lineup.

 

[HuGort]

You mean the tank is off again?

I don't think it ever was on

 

[le_sean]

Yeah I don't get why so many hate Harris he's pretty good defensively

He’s redundant. Solid player, but he doesn’t bring as much as Guhle, he doesn’t fill a specific important niche like Xhekaj, he’s nowhere near the level of Matheson.

Now we have Struble, Norlinder knocking at the door. Trudeau has improved immensely. Engstrom likely comes over next season.

Harris is essentially filling a gap until someone else comes along. The good thing is he has value, it’s not like they will lose him on waivers. But nothing about him stands out. He’s not going to contribute on the PP, he’s nothing special on the PK. He’s just a solid 5v5 player.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I don’t think Gallagher has looked that bad at all. His top 6 days are behind him, and he’s certainly overpaid on a terrible contract, but he can still be pretty useful in the bottom 6. I thought both he and Pearson looked real solid last night. Monahan is an absolute stud too, so that looks like a very good 3rd line even if it’s a little slow and long in the tooth.

I think Anderson secured that top line wing spot, and I’m hopeful Newhook gets a shot at replacing RHP with Slaf/Dach. Hopefully Newhook can get them going again.

Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson
Slafkovsky-Dach-Newhook
Pearson-Monahan-Gallagher
RHP-Evans-Armia/Pezz

Heineman probably should be there but having him cook again in the AHL is probably best and we have the bodies up front to allow him to do that.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Fun game to watch … especially the 3rd period / OT. The captain spoils the Leaf party again. lol

Mailloux is close. Has to keep learning the little things that forwards do to have success. Like Matthews knows “first off the wall wins” - and took advantage of LM’s hesitation. Little things like that. I think he’ll surpass Barron on the depth chart soon enough.

Reinbacher
Mailloux
Kovy / Barron (trade chip?)

Xhekaj continues to develop his game. Not content to settle into a goon role.

 

[BLONG7]

Fun game to watch … especially the 3rd period / OT. The captain spoils the Leaf party again. lol

Mailloux is close. Has to keep learning the little things that forwards do to have success. Like Matthews knows “first off the wall wins” - and took advantage of LM’s hesitation. Little things like that. I think he’ll surpass Barron on the depth chart soon enough.

Reinbacher
Mailloux
Kovy / Barron (trade chip?)

Xhekaj continues to develop his game. Not content to settle into a goon role.

The Sherriff and his development here, reminds me of Souray.
Our D is going to be real good, in the next season or two......

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He’s redundant. Solid player, but he doesn’t bring as much as Guhle, he doesn’t fill a specific important niche like Xhekaj, he’s nowhere near the level of Matheson.

Now we have Struble, Norlinder knocking at the door. Trudeau has improved immensely. Engstrom likely comes over next season.

Harris is essentially filling a gap until someone else comes along. The good thing is he has value, it’s not like they will lose him on waivers. But nothing about him stands out. He’s not going to contribute on the PP, he’s nothing special on the PK. He’s just a solid 5v5 player.

Well if you're comparing him to ghule or matheson sure but im not slotting harris as a top 4 dman . I guess if you're expectations are that than yeah he's chopped liver , I think he can be a solid 5 or 6

 

[26Mats]

Fun game to watch … especially the 3rd period / OT. The captain spoils the Leaf party again. lol

Mailloux is close. Has to keep learning the little things that forwards do to have success. Like Matthews knows “first off the wall wins” - and took advantage of LM’s hesitation. Little things like that. I think he’ll surpass Barron on the depth chart soon enough.

Reinbacher
Mailloux
Kovy / Barron (trade chip?)

Xhekaj continues to develop his game. Not content to settle into a goon role.

That 3rd RD spot could also go to a left shot D that can play the rights side. Because the left side is looking mighty crowded for the next 6 to 8 years, depending on how long Matheson can stay good.

Before any trades, assuming Guhle, Matheson, and Hutson are our top 3 LD's, the following 7 D can compete with Barron and Kovacevic for the 3rd pair RD spot:

Xhekaj
Engstrom
Bogdan (an RD)
Trudeau
Harris
Struble
Norlinder

So 9 candidates for 1 spot. That means 8 Dmen need to be traded over the next few years, if all these players keep trending toward being NHLers. Plus Savard will be traded.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I would just waive Allen nobody should touch that contract for a backup

Exactly. Why not just waive him?

 

[morhilane]

Exactly. Why not just waive him?

"intangibles"

 

[Habsawce]

Not going to be this year, but this team is going to be pretty good. Definitely like the direction, just need to find a superstar forward and I'll be pretty happy.

 

[1909]

He’s redundant. Solid player, but he doesn’t bring as much as Guhle, he doesn’t fill a specific important niche like Xhekaj, he’s nowhere near the level of Matheson.

Now we have Struble, Norlinder knocking at the door. Trudeau has improved immensely. Engstrom likely comes over next season.

Harris is essentially filling a gap until someone else comes along. The good thing is he has value, it’s not like they will lose him on waivers. But nothing about him stands out. He’s not going to contribute on the PP, he’s nothing special on the PK. He’s just a solid 5v5 player.

Harris is just a slightly better-safer Mete.

 

[BarracudaMtl]

To be honest with you I am really surprised with Mailloux and Norlinder. I knew Mailloux was something special, the organization had to hold on to him. I think he is already over Barron on the depth chart. I think he could be on the team like they are doing with SLAF, but in both cases they should be in the AHL learning.
The Norlinder case is a real headache at this point...with the amount of defensemen we have.

 

[The Great Weal]

I don’t think Gallagher has looked that bad at all. His top 6 days are behind him, and he’s certainly overpaid on a terrible contract, but he can still be pretty useful in the bottom 6. I thought both he and Pearson looked real solid last night. Monahan is an absolute stud too, so that looks like a very good 3rd line even if it’s a little slow and long in the tooth.

A little slow? Gallagher was roughly 10 seconds behind every play, can't make a pass, has no shot, and consistently kills plays. He's not a total defensive liability (at least not yet) and is still somewhat hard to contain down low, but the rest of his game is not NHL caliber. Monahan is fine, but Pearson and Gallagher are not going to form a solid 3rd line by any means.

 

[1909]

That 3rd RD spot could also go to a left shot D that can play the rights side. Because the left side is looking mighty crowded for the next 6 to 8 years, depending on how long Matheson can stay good.

Before any trades, assuming Guhle, Matheson, and Hutson are our top 3 LD's, the following 7 D can compete with Barron and Kovacevic for the 3rd pair RD spot:

Xhekaj
Engstrom
Bogdan (an RD)
Trudeau
Harris
Struble
Norlinder

So 9 candidates for 1 spot. That means 8 Dmen need to be traded over the next few years, if all these players keep trending toward being NHLers. Plus Savard will be traded.

I would play Xhekaj on a 4th line LW.

 

[selteeck]

I would play Xhekaj on a 4th line LW.

which one?

 

[1909]

To be honest with you I am really surprised with Mailloux and Norlinder. I knew Mailloux was something special, the organization had to hold on to him. I think he is already over Barron on the depth chart. I think he could be on the team like they are doing with SLAF, but in both cases they should be in the AHL learning.
The Norlinder case is a real headache at this point...with the amount of defensemen we have.

To start the season, they will send Mailloux down for sure to Laval, and they could do so with Barron and even Harris if needed. Norlinder deserves to stay. Lindstrom is injured and could be waived as soon as he is healthy.

which one?

Arber. He is not that good on D anyway, and we have better prospcts to play there.

Lots of big D-goons have been transformed as wingers. He's got decent skating and a good shot.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Well if you're comparing him to ghule or matheson sure but im not slotting harris as a top 4 dman . I guess if you're expectations are that than yeah he's chopped liver , I think he can be a solid 5 or 6

Timing was bad for Harris. Just a year late to compete against Xhekaj and Kovy.

Xhekaj brings a lot to the table and they love Kovy. JK seems to have locked down that 3rd RD for now.

If you look down the road a couple of years (Savard gone, Kovy seeks more money elsewhere?), his next round of competition is guys with higher ceilings - Reinbacher, Mailloux, Barron, Hutson … maybe even Bogdan. Tough sledding.

For now, 7th D and make the most of opportunities.

 

[Wats]

That Dach and Monahan goal was so nice to watch.