Post-Game Talk: Habs lose, eliminated from playoffs.

[BehindTheTimes]

I don’t think guys like Kape

You wanted Mailloux out there? He would have been burned left and right! Beck I could see, but Mailloux had a tough time even playing in the regular seas

You wanted Mailloux out there? He would have been burned left and right! Beck I could see, but Mailloux had a tough time even playing in the regular season.

So did Beck imo. I thought he looked completely overwhelmed.

 

[Big Lurk]

You wanted Mailloux out there? He would have been burned left and right! Beck I could see, but Mailloux had a tough time even playing in the regular season.

I cant see Beck either. Not ready

 

[A55P2]

I cant see Beck either. Not ready

Fair enough. I'm not the one that was making the argument. I think that Beck or Kapanen would have been a tossup, not much to gain. Kapenen is probably better atm even.

 

[Unclewhalebone]

Tons of respect for the coach.... listen to this...

It is nice that Wilson and Carbery are talking us up, but basking in that reminds me of the TML “respect in the handshake line”.
It is pleasantries, and meaningless. All that matters is that we improve and put ourselves in the position to talk in fluffy pleasantry language about the team we just sent to the golf course.
We can’t be satisfied with respect in the handshake line. It is hockey. That is the bare minimum.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Or maybe... just maybe, it is still ok to have a player that can play dirty and give out questionable hits and yes, take a penalty for it, but to have other teams think twice going across the blue line or being near the goalie. Will it deter every time? No... But maybe, just maybe, some time it will... and the only reason he isn't playng well because he is afraid as hell to make a mistake and get benched.

So maybe, just maybe, St Louis can put a plug out of his ass and cut Xhekaj some slack.

This whole ‘Marty is holding him back’ stuff is dumb. He’s a 3rd pairing blueliner.

The club just had an amazing overachieving year. All our key players took a big step forward. Against all expectations we made the playoffs after a terrible start.

But yeah, let’s bitch about the coach because’my guy’ suppedly wasn’t allowed to fight… it’s just nonsense.

What is up with the obsession around this player? He’s a good energy guy. I like him and I’d have him on my 3rd pairing. But he’s not a key player. Whether he stays or goes with us is largely inconsequential.

I also find it hilarious that people ripped MSL for being stubborn and then he makes adjustments and then the same posters start complaining that he should’ve done things that way all along…

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Unless the Habs get a really, really good 2C, the Habs will remain a Suzuki injury away from being a lottery team.
They're still fragile, if Suzuki misses 20-30 games the Habs would be in a tailspin.

This is true. And I think we’ll address it in the offseason. Having only one scoring center is a big problem

Let's not forget the Habs made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth despite being remarkably healthy

I wouldn’t say we were remarkably healthy at all.

 

[StCaufield]

Not a playoff team

Reality says otherwise

 

[StCaufield]

This whole ‘Marty is holding him back’ stuff is dumb. He’s a 3rd pairing blueliner.

The club just had an amazing overachieving year. All our key players took a big step forward. Against all expectations we made the playoffs after a terrible start.

But yeah, let’s bitch about the coach because’my guy’ suppedly wasn’t allowed to fight… it’s just nonsense.

What is up with the obsession around this player? He’s a good energy guy. I like him and I’d have him on my 3rd pairing. But he’s not a key player. Whether he stays or goes with us is largely inconsequential.

I also find it hilarious that people ripped MSL for being stubborn and then he makes adjustments and then the same posters start complaining that he should’ve done things that way all along…

He’s an AHL D man. 7th at best. Maybe he can learn

 

[slybel]

Yes, i'ts sad, but think of December... they were fkn 31st!!

A few changes and the habs will make it back next season. Glad they wont be sellers! Interesting times, finally!

 

[Lshap]

How many playoff teams played five rookies?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He’s an AHL D man. 7th at best. Maybe he can learn

I like him and think he’s got good potential. I agree with everyone that we need what he brings in the lineup.

But people like to make stuff up. It’s not enough that he played above Stuble for most of the year… it’s not enough that we went back to him in the playoffs. It has to be that MSL ‘hates’ this guy… it’s just so dumb.

 

[StCaufield]

I like him and think he’s got good potential. I agree with everyone that we need what he brings in the lineup.

But people like to make stuff up. It’s not enough that he played above Stuble for most of the year… it’s not enough that we went back to him in the playoffs. It has to be that MSL ‘hates’ this guy… it’s just so dumb.

Struble is far superior defensively. I really wish Arbor could use his slap shot more. It’s Weber heavy. I think he needs to look at a gis like prime Savard and try to take after him though. Seemed like every time I saw him he was hitting someone and falling down at the same time while getting himself out of position. I think trying to live up to his expectations of hitting and fighting is really destroying him. Just play hockey and not try to meet quotas with hits and shit talk. Simplify

 

[BLONG7]

This series was closer than a 4-1 loss boys.
Kudos to our young team!!

Caps hadn't won a playoff series since 2018 when they won the Cup. Last year they were WC2 with 91 pts and made 7 player changes last off season....
Habs are heading for 3-4 player changes this off season, much brighter times ahead boys.

 

[StCaufield]

This series was closer than a 4-1 loss boys.
Kudos to our young team!!

Caps hadn't won a playoff series since 2018 when they won the Cup. Last year they were WC2 with 91 pts and made 7 player changes last off season....
Habs are heading for 3-4 player changes this off season, much brighter times ahead boys.

The boys needs to figure out a way to assert themselves at the start of games. It’s been a problem for 3 years now or more. If they can just be average at that and finish games they way they have been then they’ll be even more dangerous. Really hope Newhook is packaged for an all defensive D man. We need a rock back there

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Struble is far superior defensively. I really wish Arbor could use his slap shot more. It’s Weber heavy. I think he needs to look at a gis like prime Savard and try to take after him though. Seemed like every time I saw him he was hitting someone and falling down at the same time while getting himself out of position. I think trying to live up to his expectations of hitting and fighting is really destroying him. Just play hockey and not try to meet quotas with hits and shit talk. Simplify

I think X has more upside. I like Struble a lot but I’d go with X.

 

[Naslund]

I think X has more upside. I like Struble a lot but I’d go with X.

I don't think Xhekaj will be on the team long term.

 

[CHwest]

Happy for the boys, hoping they learn lots. I hope the we need to trade for Marner/Zegras dies with this series, size is an issue. Oh and I am pumped for next year!!!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don't think Xhekaj will be on the team long term.

We’ll see. It’s extremely competitive because we’ve got so much young talent. For now, I like him on our third.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Struble is far superior defensively. I really wish Arbor could use his slap shot more. It’s Weber heavy. I think he needs to look at a gis like prime Savard and try to take after him though. Seemed like every time I saw him he was hitting someone and falling down at the same time while getting himself out of position. I think trying to live up to his expectations of hitting and fighting is really destroying him. Just play hockey and not try to meet quotas with hits and shit talk. Simplify

Both Xhekaj and Struble will both be solid D men for us. Sometimes, it takes a while for those D to mature and some players mature faster than others.

Wait until they are both age 25+ and you will see the real potential. That applies to so many young players who are secondary parts after the core.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think X has more upside. I like Struble a lot but I’d go with X.

Xhekaj does have more upside but it's very close between these two. It's good to have both because both are physical and have grit. Keep adding more because this Habs roster has a solid amount of skill/skating types to run a PP. We need our 5/5 area to improve and increase our ability to get the puck out of our zone and keep it more in the offensive zone. You need warriors for that.

Big boys that skate well!

 

[StCaufield]

Both Xhekaj and Struble will both be solid D men for us. Sometimes, it takes a while for those D to mature and some players mature faster than others.

Wait until they are both age 25+ and you will see the real potential. That applies to so many young players who are secondary parts after the core.

Yeah large D men tend to take a lot longer

 

[Zalos]

Good season! Time to go hard in Free Agency. Cap going up. We need a 2C and possibly a second line winger and a 4D.

They need to set up Demidov comfortably on that second line for next year. He should have two teammates that can produce alongside him. Newhook should be on the third line. Laine I have no idea. Dach... you can't depend on him, as he's injury prone and/or just not good enough.

Imo, with a productive second line, this team will be dangerous next year.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Happy for the boys, hoping they learn lots. I hope the we need to trade for Marner/Zegras dies with this series, size is an issue. Oh and I am pumped for next year!!!

I wanted to add Zegras's skill but only at a fair cost. However, I pass on him now that we drafted Demidov and Hage.

Marner is not leaving the Leafs to sign with the Habs. It's just not happening!

100% agree. We need to add some warriors to this roster. Big boys that play hard and can skate.... Not just big boys either! They need to be good skaters.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yeah large D men tend to take a lot longer

The points evaluation with these types is the wrong approach. Yeah, it's nice for them to chip in points but the main job of a Dman is to play sound D! No blunders in the D zone and thy have to clear the front of the next and punish forwards along the boards.

We will see how both Struble and Xhekaj improve more. Neither of them are in their prime yet. Their primes are shorter than Hutson/Guhle types.

With Xhekaj, next season is massive. I find this was his season where he realized that he does not have a full time spot and he needs to focus on improving his foot speed and situation awareness (puck management). If he is hungry to improve, he comes into camp next season on a mission. The fighting and protecting teammates is something he can do but don't let that take his time/focus away from improving as a D man.

I'm happy to have both Struble and Xhekaj. We don't have to pick between the two. You always need D depth if you want to be a contender.

 

[StCaufield]

The points evaluation with these types is the wrong approach. Yeah, it's nice for them to chip in points but the main job of a Dman is to play sound D! No blunders in the D zone and thy have to clear the front of the next and punish forwards along the boards.

We will see how both Struble and Xhekaj improve more. Neither of them are in their prime yet. Their primes are shorter than Hutson/Guhle types.

With Xhekaj, next season is massive. I find this was his season where he realized that he does not have a full time spot and he needs to focus on improving his foot speed and situation awareness (puck management). If he is hungry to improve, he comes into camp next season on a mission.

Well we shall see what happens. It’s a good day for us Haligonians to get out and mend the pain of no more habs hockey