Holes to Fill Next Season

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Caufield - Suzuki - Demidov
Slafkovsky - Dach - Laine

That's HOLE #1 filled in with Demidov, the top 6 is fine for next season.

Hutson - HOLE #2
Ghule - HOLE #3
Xhekaj - Mailloux

Trade Savard this season, and I also would try to trade Matheson this season or in the off-season.

 

[GordonGraham]

need so much

1st line winger
2nd line center
2nd line winger
#1D #3D
#1 goalie

 

[OldCraig71]

2nd line center is the biggest need, a short-term ufa signing would fit the bill.

 

[FerrisRox]

1. Top Goalie
2. 2C (Suzuki can't do it all alone)
3. Sniper for second line (top 6 winger/Laine's inconsistency is not worth the gamble)
4. effective bottom six players
5. 2 Top 4D (Hutson/Guhle not enough)

With the loss of Dvorak, Armia, Pezz, Savard and Evans next yr, the team will be worse. HuGo has lots of work cut out for him. I am sorry but having an ageing Gallagher and useless Anderson on the bottom six won't bring you anywhere. Time to admit that Barron, Dach and Newhook are nothing special. Package one or two in an attempt to bring a promising youngster.

Are you even watching the team this season?

Josh Anderson is far from useless in the bottom six.

 

[Scintillating10]

2nd line center is the biggest need, a short-term ufa signing would fit the bill.

Giroux type on one or two year deal will fit the bill. Until Hage is ready.

With Barron collapse and Reinbacher pushed back a year, Mailloux a question mark. Need to address right D also. Trade Matheson for second pairing right D. Sign another, Pionk?

 

[ExReHabs]

The biggest hole is 1D. It would instantly have a multiplier effect on our performances and results.

Why 1D? Because not solving the 1D problem is itself a compromise. We’ll never be solid if we don’t have an all-tools dman.

Matheson is a good player in a role where he’s over exposed. Hutson is closer than we figured but not there yet. Reinbacher is pushed back a year (so at least two seasons off from top-pairing min). Mailloux didn’t improve his decision making yet.

Guhle is a solid player but he’s not a 1D at this time.

So I’m not sure how they’ll approach fixing it, but it’s going to be great when it is resolved.

Imagine Noah Dobson… wow…

 

[therocket9]

Are you even watching the team this season?

Josh Anderson is far from useless in the bottom six.

5.5 million dollar players like Anderson should not be bottom 6 players....and only be good PK.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Are you even watching the team this season?

Josh Anderson is far from useless in the bottom six.

So in your mind having a player at 5.5 mil. on the third line is actually pretty good? I have no issues slanting him there, that's were he belongs.

 

[Lshap]

The biggest hole is 1D. It would instantly have a multiplier effect on our performances and results.

Why 1D? Because not solving the 1D problem is itself a compromise. We’ll never be solid if we don’t have an all-tools dman.

Matheson is a good player in a role where he’s over exposed. Hutson is closer than we figured but not there yet. Reinbacher is pushed back a year (so at least two seasons off from top-pairing min). Mailloux didn’t improve his decision making yet.

Guhle is a solid player but he’s not a 1D at this time.

So I’m not sure how they’ll approach fixing it, but it’s going to be great when it is resolved.

Imagine Noah Dobson… wow…

For sure, if I had to pick one problem it would be the team's defence. Watching them struggle in our zone looks like a combination of bad decision-making and bad team structure. Man... if we could spend less time flailing defensively we would spend more time generating offence.

If we're really lucky, the problem will fix itself with time. Guhle and Hutson mature. Reinbacher and Mailloux reach their ceilings. More realistically, Hughes will need to upgrade via trade.

 

[FerrisRox]

5.5 million dollar players like Anderson should not be bottom 6 players....and only be good PK.

What does this have to do with what I said? You're just moving the goalposts.

So in your mind having a player at 5.5 mil. on the third line is actually pretty good? I have no issues slanting him there, that's were he belongs.

You said he was useless in the bottom six, which was a completely misguided and uneducated take on how he's playing this year.

Now you're talking about how much money he makes, as if that has anything to do with how good he is. You're simply shifting the goalposts now.

Get back to what you actually said, which was that he was "useless" in the bottom six and now, strangely you are saying the bottom six is "where he belongs."

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

What does this have to do with what I said? You're just moving the goalposts.



You said he was useless in the bottom six, which was a completely misguided and uneducated take on how he's playing this year.

Now you're talking about how much money he makes, as if that has anything to do with how good he is. You're simply shifting the goalposts now.

Get back to what you actually said, which was that he was "useless" in the bottom six and now, strangely you are saying the bottom six is "where he belongs."

In my mind he's useless, always was and always will be. He's a poor man's René Bourque. BargainBin made one of his worst moves by granting him that 7 yr deal. I called it back then that this contract will not age well. Moving goalposts is fun, you should try it out.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

We need 2 top 4 d's that can play defense, like shut down guys.
Trade Matheson and Savard for picks or prospects and use them to acquire those guys we desperately need. No but we have Strubble, Reinbacher, Barron, Mailloux.... Those guy aren't proven and are a big question mark for now. Only Mailloux makes the lineup to replace the offensive punch of Matheson IMO

 

[therocket9]

What does this have to do with what I said? You're just moving the goalposts.



You said he was useless in the bottom six, which was a completely misguided and uneducated take on how he's playing this year.

Now you're talking about how much money he makes, as if that has anything to do with how good he is. You're simply shifting the goalposts now.

Get back to what you actually said, which was that he was "useless" in the bottom six and now, strangely you are saying the bottom six is "where he belongs."

I never used the word useless....no idea what u are talking about.

 

[Gustave]

1- RD1 and RD2 are the biggest problems.
« Solution »;
RD1; Throw the kitchen sink at CGY for Rasmus before July 1st and a shit ton of money to re-sign him a year before he gets to UFA. He’ll be good for another 7 years, which follows our window.

RD2; Brandon Carlo. Size, grit and PK. Man do we need a competent D in that slot. He’ll calm down the whole crew. We need a presence like that.

You might feel it’s getting older but there’s nothing coming that will cover these two aspects on the right side like these two, plus we need to improve before it’s too late.

2- Accepting that Dach and Newhook are sunk costs. So C2 is a necessity. I guess we could fill this up with the draft or Hage. So… hope for a top spot in the draft. If we have to wait than Dach again but next season will be rough again.

3- Big ass grit in the bottom 6. Olivier is a target. If not than Kent get on the phone and ding someone.

Also, trade Matheson. Get assets back. Don’t fall In love, it’s not what’s best for the club.

 

[Vachon23]

1- RD1 and RD2 are the biggest problems.
« Solution »;
RD1; Throw the kitchen sink at CGY for Rasmus before July 1st and a shit ton of money to re-sign him a year before he gets to UFA. He’ll be good for another 7 years, which follows our window.

RD2; Brandon Carlo. Size, grit and PK. Man do we need a competent D in that slot. He’ll calm down the whole crew. We need a presence like that.

You might feel it’s getting older but there’s nothing coming that will cover these two aspects on the right side like these two, plus we need to improve before it’s too late.

2- Accepting that Dach and Newhook are sunk costs. So C2 is a necessity. I guess we could fill this up with the draft or Hage. So… hope for a top spot in the draft. If we have to wait than Dach again but next season will be rough again.

3- Big ass grit in the bottom 6. Olivier is a target. If not than Kent get on the phone and ding someone.

Also, trade Matheson. Get assets back. Don’t fall In love, it’s not what’s best for the club.

Carlo would be a great target but he’s only UFA in 2027

 

[Gustave]

Carlo would be a great target but he’s only UFA in 2027

I’m thinking the trade route. Boston might want to push out some salary and players to get younger. Fingers crossed here.

 

[Vachon23]

I’m thinking the trade route. Boston might want to push out some salary and players to get younger. Fingers crossed here.

Don’t think they will want to trade him to MTL though. Could be wrong

 

[WeThreeKings]

Top pair RD and 2C.

 

[Benstheman]

1- RD1 and RD2 are the biggest problems.
« Solution »;
RD1; Throw the kitchen sink at CGY for Rasmus before July 1st and a shit ton of money to re-sign him a year before he gets to UFA. He’ll be good for another 7 years, which follows our window.

RD2; Brandon Carlo. Size, grit and PK. Man do we need a competent D in that slot. He’ll calm down the whole crew. We need a presence like that.

You might feel it’s getting older but there’s nothing coming that will cover these two aspects on the right side like these two, plus we need to improve before it’s too late.

2- Accepting that Dach and Newhook are sunk costs. So C2 is a necessity. I guess we could fill this up with the draft or Hage. So… hope for a top spot in the draft. If we have to wait than Dach again but next season will be rough again.

3- Big ass grit in the bottom 6. Olivier is a target. If not than Kent get on the phone and ding someone.

Also, trade Matheson. Get assets back. Don’t fall In love, it’s not what’s best for the club.

I agree with most of your post. The only thing is we will still need spots to give minutes to those young players coming in :

2025-2026 season : Demidov and Mailloux

2026-2027 season : Reinbacher, Hage and 2025's 1st

So i wouldn't go for that RD2 et 2C right now as there is a good chance we fill that with young players.

But that RD1 is absolutely necessary to stabilize that D and ease Mailloux and Reinbacher transition into the NHL.

And i'm all for getting Olivier in that bottom 6 but not at all cost. You can't pay him 4M$ AAV. Too much of a risk mid/long term imho.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

If we aren't drafting top 4, I'd definitely be interested to know what non-old defenseman our 1st pick+ can get us. Top 6 C could also be interesting.

 

[Gustave]

I agree with most of your post. The only thing is we will still need spots to give minutes to those young players coming in :

2025-2026 season : Demidov and Mailloux

2026-2027 season : Reinbacher, Hage and 2025's 1st

So i wouldn't go for that RD2 et 2C right now as there is a good chance we fill that with young players.

But that RD1 is absolutely necessary to stabilize that D and ease Mailloux and Reinbacher transition into the NHL.

And i'm all for getting Olivier in that bottom 6 but not at all cost. You can't pay him 4M$ AAV. Too much of a risk mid/long term imho.

Good post; my « astute » way of playing the whole right side is this; if Rein and Mailloux can’t displace either / both Rasmus and Carlo, then they aren’t worth our time. They’ll battle it out for the 3RD spot and that will be that.

Hutson managed to push down every single LD in a couple of months. LD was crowded. If the aforementioned young RD’s can’t do some kind of push down in the next 4 years (I don’t put the onus of doing what Hutson is doing on them), then we’ll still be in a great position.

I prefer the safe route here, because our D is a total mess and we can’t really wait for them to become established if we are to get a shot at the wagon we want to be.

I’m willing to pay the price on the trade market to make it happen, it needs to be done. Our picks from 2026 and onward are all on the table.

 

[Goalfield22]

2nd line center is the biggest need, a short-term ufa signing would fit the bill.

There's not much out there for Cs next offseason UFA-wise.

 

[FerrisRox]

You are absolutely clueless.

Yes, I'm the one who's struggling to understand how multi-response posts work in the thread.

Let me give you a.... clue. The response that directly follows what *you* said is a response to *you.*

The response that directly follows what *somebody else* said is a response to *somebody else.*

Go back and give it a read again and see if you can't crack it this time.

Good luck!

 

[Benstheman]

Good post; my « astute » way of playing the whole right side is this; if Rein and Mailloux can’t displace either / both Rasmus and Carlo, then they aren’t worth our time. They’ll battle it out for the 3RD spot and that will be that.

Hutson managed to push down every single LD in a couple of months. LD was crowded. If the aforementioned young RD’s can’t do some kind of push down in the next 4 years (I don’t put the onus of doing what Hutson is doing on them), then we’ll still be in a great position.

I prefer the safe route here, because our D is a total mess and we can’t really wait for them to become established if we are to get a shot at the wagon we want to be.

I’m willing to pay the price on the trade market to make it happen, it needs to be done. Our picks from 2026 and onward are all on the table.

Yeah i could be ok with it. Though i wouldn't do it at all cost. I would pay what it costs to get a guy like Andersson or Dobson but not for a guy like Carlo. If it comes cheap on the trade market or we can get that through UFA, i'm in.

 

[ExReHabs]

For sure, if I had to pick one problem it would be the team's defence. Watching them struggle in our zone looks like a combination of bad decision-making and bad team structure. Man... if we could spend less time flailing defensively we would spend more time generating offence.

If we're really lucky, the problem will fix itself with time. Guhle and Hutson mature. Reinbacher and Mailloux reach their ceilings. More realistically, Hughes will need to upgrade via trade.

We could’ve had Michkov and Sam Dickinson.

Sigh. Hope Demidov is as good as we need him to be.