Post-Game Talk: Habs defeat Tampa at the Bell Centre.

[Kudo Shinichi]

I think he would get paid for a bunch of things that he does whether his offensive statistics are sustainable or not. Make no mistake, he will have no shortage of offers if he hits the market. He will be coveted.

And if the habs do lose him, they need to find a replacement, regardless. There is nobody ready internally to step right into Jake's shoes for next year.

Whoever looks the best between Beck, Kapanen, and Newhook could be the 3C next season if Evans is not re-signed.

Kapanen looked great last camp, is ppg in the Swedish league and will be in his d+5 next season. He should be NHL ready.

We tried Newhook at center in the past, and he looked decent there. So he's an option.

Beck is having a great rookie year in the AHL, and could spend more time there, but he also plays a style of game that should allow him to play in the NHL at a younger age.

Both Beck and Kapanen are good on faceoffs and are two-way players, so they are similar types of forwards as Evans.

It's unlikely that any of them will be as good next season as Evans was this season, but then again, its unlikely that Evans will be as good next season as he was this year, especially when you consider that Armia won't be back and he was part of 60% of Evans offensive production.

Regarding the step-back argument that some people have mentioned, even if we replace Evans and Armia with rookies, the forward group should still be much better with the addition of Demidov.

 

[Walrus26]

It's not knowledge. It's imagination.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Savvy sitting on the puck was pure LULZ. I would have laughed harder had I not been stressed that the puck was gonna pop out for some greasy Doucherov goal

Savvy sitting on the puck like a bear who just had a pooo and wants to keep it under him like a newborn child, lol.

I want Beck to earn his spot on the team. He had an opportunity here and showed that he's still green. We've already seen what happens if you give too much to the kids too soon. Laine and Carrier stabilized everything massively.

Can't just let Evans walk out the door and have Beck and Kapanen be your bottom 6 centers unless you want to take a massive step back and clearly they don't want to do that.

Yeah, agree. Keep Evans (at a fair price) and trade or let walk Dvorak (the only passenger in the team).

 

[Habs10Habs]

Dichotomy of NHL team success = we can’t afford to develop prospects at NHL

I thought Beck more than held his own during this call up. This is the right decision IMO.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Should probably keep rotating kids. Call Davidson up he's older at 22 and has more AHL experience. Pezz should be done in Monteral he's awful. He's not any better than Barron was.

Go hang your head in shame for spelling "Montreal" wrong lol

I agree though. I liked Pezz when he first came up. He brought energy to the team. Finished his check, and stood up for his team mates. It's almost like he's forgotten what it took for him to be a bottom 6, NHL player.

 

[teamfirst]

Dvorak has good speed. Hey I sound like I like the player; I just feel he’s made out to be a worse player than he is. Someone better needs to step up, no more learning on the job, that’s over and done.

I find Gally is having a good season with short shifts and smart plays. He predictably moves the puck forward, and brings it deep. Good example for everyone. Again, grab his spot kids, force the org no more hand outs.

So much agree with this, the Dvorak line has been great most of the time this year, still think Dvo wont be back next year and if they replace him before the end of this season they will need someone with more experience than Beck if they're going for the playoffs.

 

[red devil]

 

[teamfirst]

Slaf, Newhook, and Evans with the goals

Great game by Slaf.

Laine with a few points, Hutson continues his point streak!

Not a word on Monty.......shame on you

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

So much agree with this, the Dvorak line has been great most of the time this year, still think Dvo wont be back next year and if they replace him before the end of this season they will need someone with more experience than Beck if they're going for the playoffs.

I'm all in for a trade to move Dvorak in one move and a trade to bring a solid 3rd center to replace Dvorak. I don't think Beck have the stuff to take the 3rd line center duty. At some point, Habs are not a developpment team, Habs have to be serious if they want to compete vs the top teams and hope to move on. An experienced center aged around 28 with good defensive and some offensive skills, that's impossible to find? That new center would bring what Dvorak was planned to be when he was acquired. And Evans is fine at his spot, Dach is becomming that big #2 center. Hage and Beck are coming later, we'll see where they will fit at the time. But the present time could be very interresting with a better center than Dvorak.

 

[LaP]

I'm all in for a trade to move Dvorak in one move and a trade to bring a solid 3rd center to replace Dvorak. I don't think Beck have the stuff to take the 3rd line center duty. At some point, Habs are not a developpment team, Habs have to be serious if they want to compete vs the top teams and hope to move on. An experienced center aged around 28 with good defensive and some offensive skills, that's impossible to find? That new center would bring what Dvorak was planned to be when he was acquired. And Evans is fine at his spot, Dach is becomming that big #2 center. Hage and Beck are coming later, we'll see where they will fit at the time. But the present time could be very interresting with a better center than Dvorak.

Evans is the 3rd line center.

At one point you have to give young players games. Having Beck or Kapenen centering Gallagher and Anderson on a 4th line next year is actually ideal. Make no mistake Gallagher will be 33 next year and Anderson 31. Those two guys are not going to make a good 3rd line moving forward they will be the 4th line until their contract runs out. Evans, Heineman and Newhook (who will be pushed down by Demidov) will be the 3rd line.

Bringing in a kid in the NHL on a 4th line with two vets is an ideal situation imo. If Both Beck and Kapanen doesn't work you can make a rental move later in the season for a vet 4th line center. It's not like a struggling 4th line center for half a year will push us out of the playoffs. If it does then the team ain't good.

If you look at the dominating teams they are constantly bringing in kids. Either because of a lack of cap space to extend vets or because vets are getting too old. And the teams who fail to do that (Pens, Avs lately) will eventually falter. Why did the Bruins stays relevant for so long. Because of Carlo, MacAvoy, Pasternak, Sawyman, ... why are they struglling right now? Because they have nobody to replace Bergeron, Krejci and soon Marchand. Why Caps are still relevant? Because of Protas, McMicheal, Sandin.

 

[BLONG7]

I thought Beck more than held his own during this call up. This is the right decision IMO.

Thinking they bring up one of the guys like Tuch, or Davidson to take that spot on the line with Evan and Army

 

[Trabdy2]

Huge win for us, and big game from Monty last night. We found a way to win getting scoring from different lines and we held up well enough defensively against a very good Tampa team.

Gotta keep rolling, the WC battle is going to be intense.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Thinking they bring up one of the guys like Tuch, or Davidson to take that spot on the line with Evan and Army

I'd definitely be cool with bringing up either one.

 

[Rapala]

Is it me or is TSN broadcast immeasurably better with Kenzie?


Tuch. I want some bang.

Either you get the bang with Tuch or the Dog with Davidson. Davidson is far more likely to help with production while Tuch is probably closer to Heineman on the fore check.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

This morning, I woke up to the Habs holding a playoff spot with the second-youngest team in the league, Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage in their prospect pool and four picks in the first two rounds of the next draft.

Not bad!

 

[Rapala]

Beck got some games and was probably shocked by the difference in the level of the NHL over the AHL which is fine. He didn't stand out in a good or a bad way.

Now that the Habs are truly "in the mix" we need a better option as a 13th forward, I don't know if ABB is the guy but I would like to see one of the bigger physical guys get the call.

The thirteenth forward isn't in Laval they probably have to make a trade for one. I expect we see both Tuch and Davidson in the next little while as a replacement for Heineman unless HuGo decide to act sooner than later on the trade front. I'd be surprised if they aren't already kicking a bunch of tires to find a serviceable replacement for Pezz who should be waived. Laval can use the warm body if no one else wants him.

Personally I think Pezz's number was up the second he decided he would run John Tavares in the preseason.
Something a veteran 13th forward/4th liner does no do EVER. I'm one of the few to even mention this at the time. I can see Marty looking at that as an incident that ruined our camp given the aftermath.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Go hang your head in shame for spelling "Montreal" wrong lol

I agree though. I liked Pezz when he first came up. He brought energy to the team. Finished his check, and stood up for his team mates. It's almost like he's forgotten what it took for him to be a bottom 6, NHL player.

Pezz has to play more to provide that stable type of play he brings. You can clearly see him struggle with our system and bad penalities (even more) when we had to play him after he missed so many games.

At some point, we will need better options for guys sitting and watching games. It's not easy to stay in game shape and play within the system for a guy like Pezz.

 

[OldCraig71]

The thirteenth forward isn't in Laval they probably have to make a trade for one. I expect we see both Tuch and Davidson in the next little while as a replacement for Heineman unless HuGo decide to act sooner than later on the trade front. I'd be surprised if they aren't already kicking a bunch of tires to find a serviceable replacement for Pezz who should be waived. Laval can use the warm body if no one else wants him.

Personally I think Pezz's number was up the second he decided he would run John Tavares in the preseason.
Something a veteran 13th forward/4th liner does no do EVER. I'm one of the few to even mention this at the time. I can see Marty looking at that as an incident that ruined our camp given the aftermath.

I think that Pezz fell out of favor when he opened his mouth about the whole tax situation crap. A fringe NHL player is telling the media that players won't choose Montreal because of it lol.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The thirteenth forward isn't in Laval they probably have to make a trade for one. I expect we see both Tuch and Davidson in the next little while as a replacement for Heineman unless HuGo decide to act sooner than later on the trade front. I'd be surprised if they aren't already kicking a bunch of tires to find a serviceable replacement for Pezz who should be waived. Laval can use the warm body if no one else wants him.

Personally I think Pezz's number was up the second he decided he would run John Tavares in the preseason.
Something a veteran 13th forward/4th liner does no do EVER. I'm one of the few to even mention this at the time. I can see Marty looking at that as an incident that ruined our camp given the aftermath.

Isn't that why we signed ABB? Depth?

Whoever looks the best between Beck, Kapanen, and Newhook could be the 3C next season if Evans is not re-signed.

Kapanen looked great last camp, is ppg in the Swedish league and will be in his d+5 next season. He should be NHL ready.

We tried Newhook at center in the past, and he looked decent there. So he's an option.

Beck is having a great rookie year in the AHL, and could spend more time there, but he also plays a style of game that should allow him to play in the NHL at a younger age.

Both Beck and Kapanen are good on faceoffs and are two-way players, so they are similar types of forwards as Evans.

It's unlikely that any of them will be as good next season as Evans was this season, but then again, its unlikely that Evans will be as good next season as he was this year, especially when you consider that Armia won't be back and he was part of 60% of Evans offensive production.

Regarding the step-back argument that some people have mentioned, even if we replace Evans and Armia with rookies, the forward group should still be much better with the addition of Demidov.

If Evans walks, it will be a mini setback next year. Beck and Kapanen may be ready for 4C but not 3C. Newhook might be the stop gap.

 

[Rapala]

I think that Pezz fell out of favor when he opened his mouth about the whole tax situation crap. A fringe NHL player is telling the media that players won't choose Montreal because of it lol.

Yeah but Marty wasn't playing him before then. Either way he wasn't going out of his way to endear himself to the bosses.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Pezz has to play more to provide that stable type of play he brings. You can clearly see him struggle with our system and bad penalities (even more) when we had to play him after he missed so many games.

At some point, we will need better options for guys sitting and watching games. It's not easy to stay in game shape and play within the system for a guy like Pezz.

Sadly for Pezz, he's caught up in what I would call a "catch 22". For him to get that extra playing time, to provide the stable type of play he brings. He had to continue to show improvement, with the limited minutes he was getting. Some players can play and not be noticed. With it still being considered a good thing. A player like Pezz can't do that. If he's not bringing energy, or causing some kind of havoc on the ice. Since he can't be counted on for offense, or strong defensive skills. He really doesn't bring a lot to the table.

 

[Rapala]

Isn't that why we signed ABB? Depth?

Yeah but I always assumed it was for Laval.
ABB just hasn't been good enough in Laval to merit the call up.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Sadly for Pezz, he's caught up in what I would call a "catch 22". For him to get that extra playing time, to provide the stable type of play he brings. He had to continue to show improvement, with the limited minutes he was getting. Some players can play and not be noticed. With it still being considered a good thing. A player like Pezz can't do that. If he's not bringing energy, or causing some kind of havoc on the ice. Since he can't be counted on for offense, or strong defensive skills. He really doesn't bring a lot to the table.

He was one of our leaders in hits and I think that is his best value. But lets face it, he was only playing because we were rebuilding and had holes to fill. Injuries was also a big factor

 

[Rapala]

He was one of our leaders in hits and I think that is his best value. But lets face it, he was only playing because we were rebuilding and had holes to fill. Injuries was also a big factor

It's become a big problem now that we need an experienced player to step into a void and help the team stay in a playoff race. That he doesn't have Marty's trust is a killer.

 

[Rapala]

Bottom end vets should always be looked at as replaceable with younger cheaper options, that is how you make top end players affordable. I would start looking at moving assets, both vets and picks into further in the future picks, 26, 27, 28 etc. We will be moving down the draft list and will need players that can slot in to play the cheaper bottom end role (young cheap contracts). The only thing I would be looking for now is high end RD's. This all has to be affordable when we become contenders.

I agree while we aren't as bad as those first 20 game we aren't as good as these last 20 games either.
I'm guessing if everything goes well and we don't lose any key players we are about 92 point team. That is still a good 5 or 6 wins away from being legit. Let's wait until we get our goal differential into the green before we start handing out contracts like candy shall we.