Post-Game Talk: Habs lose 2 of 2 in Alberta

[HabsMD97]

Absolutely not like Matheson.

He's been Calgary's worst defenseman defensively the past 3 years by a massive landslide

 

[sampollock]

Nah. I don't blame Hughes. The team actually does have a shot at a playoff spot. Your captain has come to you saying he wants help. Hughes split the difference and kept things as is. I don't have a problem with that.

I do
The players are not playing 60 minutes
So it is on them

 

[No More Subban]

Dach was exactly what we needed. But he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s done. Anything he gives us is a bonus.

We cannot go into next season without a solution at 2nd line. Hage isn’t ready so that means UFA or trade. We can’t rely on one line and we have young talented players developing. It’s a necessity to bring someone in.

Whatever Dach gives us is a bonus. I’m not counting on him for anything. He’s just trying to salvage his career at this point.

I don't disagree. But who is out there?

 

[Habs10Habs]

Sam Bennett.

He's the first player that came to mind for me.

 

[Miller Time]

7 shots on net by the midway point in the game amigo.

Yes, now do the other stat categories...

Or, watch the game buddy boy

How has Newhook been since we've gotten him? Why haven't we unloaded him while he still had value? How much did he cost us? Paul Byron was twice the player when we got him and he was a waiver wire pick up. Why was Struble not getting reps in the AHL?

Newhook has been inconsistent.
He's played both at a very good top 6 level, and at a mediocre bottom 6 level.

Not uncommon for a highly skilled, smallish player in their early 20's... Especially one that is very often finding himself to be the best player on his line.

Byron was a mid 20's, waiver exposed player who was in his D9 and yet to establish himself as an everyday player when arrived in Mtl at 26-27yrs old.

Newhook just turned 24 & already has a more productive season (.61ppg) than any Byron had with us, and is averaging greater usage (15:58 vs 14:39) than Byron did.

"Twice the player" is another nonsense take.

I'm not judging them as human beings but as hockey players.

Yes, and your doing so very poorly, apparently confusing ungrounded emotional takes for reasoned assessments.

Everyone said Dach was injury-prone which has been proven correct.

And?

Everyone said Newhook couldn't thread the needle which has also been proven true, guy can skate but can't score.

Nonsense.
8th leading scorer from his draft class and not yet close to his NHL peak.

What are you on about now? It's been multiple years since they took over. They could've unloaded Anderson but as we see he still has his uses. Gallagher no but he's still a great leader and example. Dvorak is our best face-off guy, Armia is a linchpin for our PK and Savard was a vet that was needed. Shiat remember when the Habs had FIVE rookies on our d-core?

So your mad that 23-24 year old players that are well ahead of where Gally/Anderson/Dvorak were relative to their draft peers at the same age because you think they aren't good enough...

But your content with 30 year old vets performing well below what they are compensated for...

And you think this roster is challenged more by the former than the latter...

This is about as bad a take as I've read around here... Bravo.

All these guys were kept for various reasons. They were choices made by H+G. Stop blaming Bergevin, take responsibility.

Stop complaining because the real world doesn't work the way your video game does

I said a taste, which would mean a very short stint. Wouldn't mind seeing Davidson either. Like that guy a lot.

As we saw last season, I'm sure that if the Habs get eliminated, they will consider giving some AHL players a taste of the NHL if it isn't disruptive to Laval's season... Though as of today, that seems unlikely.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Demidov shoots left right?

Yes, but I still wouldn't pencil him in as a 2nd line center right away.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Absolutely not like Matheson.

They're very similar in that they're both atrocious defensively. But Matheson still has great mobility whereas Andersson's legs are already giving out at this point.

 

[Whitesnake]

Hey, this tanker group had no.say in anything except complaining the last few years.

Just like the ones that whine about the whiners....What you seem to be missing is that I would bet you that most of the 'tankers'' could be frustrated because if you decide to not sell, you better help as much as you can? And since they don't, you wonder why that is?

 

[Habs10Habs]

I have followed Beck’s progression closely since we drafted him. I have always thought that his characterization as a bottom 6, defensive orientated forward, was off the mark. This kid can skate, he sees the ice well, he has excellent hand skills and possesses a very underrated shot particularly off the rush.

You are starting to see Beck's top level skills slowly emerge each and every game. The one play that really caught my eye last night was a rush Beck made with the puck where he looked like he was shot out of canon. I remember asking myself: who the heck was that? On watching a replay of the game (I do that sort of thing) I saw that it was Beck and quickly realized that Beck has now arrived. After a somewhat tentative start, Beck now realizes that he can skate with (and even outskate) NHL players. That increased growing confidence has gone right to Beck's feet. That confidence was recognized by the coaching staff who allowed Beck to play a regular shift in the third period, and more significantly, including playing with less than 5 minutes remaining when Montreal desperately needed offence. That confidence in Beck shows that Montreal's coaching staff agrees with this writer: Beck has arrived.

He will only get better. Much better.

I'll have to admit, I had originally pigeon holed Beck as a solid 3rd line center. With maybe a slight chance of filling in the top 6 when needed. After reading some of the evaluations made by yourself and a few others. I decided to watch him more closely.

As you've mentioned, I've also seen some of his top level skills as well. (Love his skating and his shot actually surprised me). To the point that not long ago, I had asked a question here if Beck could be our answer to fill the much needed 2C position. So as I mentioned, I'm definitely pro-Beck. I'm just on the fence about keeping him up due to the amount of ice time he's currently receiving. It has nothing to do with the way he's been playing. Hopefully MSL and the coaching staff continue to bump up his ice time.

 

[26Mats]

Mailloux will be traded this summer and Reinbacher makes the team next October.

We just need to replace Matheson with a RHD with mobility who provides more defensive stability.

Did you guys watched the game?? I couldn't. How was R.Andersson defensively?

It will be interesting to see what happens when Reinbacher makes it. We should be quite strong defensively with one of Reinbacher and Guhle on each of the top pairs, plus Carrier. And Struble is coming along

Guhle Carrier
Hutson Reinbacher
Xhekaj Matheson/Mailloux/Struble

Or

Matheson Reinbacher
Guhle Carrier
Xhekaj/Struble Hutson

 

[malcb33]

I don't disagree. But who is out there?

Acquisition cost is always an issue when acquiring a pivotal piece like a 2C. Here are a few I suspect could be options, but personally I don't see any as the ideal fit (skill, age, cost and contract commitment)

UFA- Sam Bennett, Matt Duchene, Pius Suter
Hockey trade (maybe available)- Dawson Mercer, Alex Wennberg, Matt Barzal, Trevor Zegras, Nick Schmaltz (?)
Buy Low- Chandler Stephenson, Lawson Crouse (?)

 

[Guy Larose]

Just like the ones that whine about the whiners....What you seem to be missing is that I would bet you that most of the 'tankers'' could be frustrated because if you decide to not sell, you better help as much as you can? And since they don't, you wonder why that is?

And that's the whiner's go-to when they have nothing else to retort, always.

 

[sampollock]

Dumb trip to EDM
Lose again

 

[Runner77]

Hughes ain't trading Newhook or Struble for that matter. They were some of his clients back when he was still an agent. A Dubas Soo-type situation.

That would be a serious problem.

You can’t have personal relationships be the ultimate deciding factor.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don't disagree. But who is out there?

Honestly man... I don't know.

 

[Runner77]

if he remains in the AHL longer he'll lose his value anyway. Good players rarely spend 3 years in the AHL. For Mailloux it's either they believe in him or trade him next summer. If they keep him another season in the AHL he'll be worthless.

In Mailloux’s case, his development was stunted due to extraneous factors. He’s making up for lost development time. Look at his games played rather than elapsed calendar months.

 

[Runner77]

Yes, but I still wouldn't pencil him in as a 2nd line center right away.

Did Demidov not play some center in the MHL? Don’t think he’s played any center in the KHL, so they’d have to bring him along slowly.