Is the Rebuild almost done? POLL

[LaP]

Internal solutions like Dobes are pretty much the only solution. Askarov just got traded. Anaheim isn't moving Dostal. Oettinger is with Dallas long term. Vasi is with Tampa long term. Shesterkin signed long term with the Rangers.

Sorokin is probably the only guy that might end up available.

Sorokin has not been that great the last two seasons though. He's gonna be 30 next year. I'd pass signing a huge contract with him looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[TCIH]

I voted that we need two pieces. A top pairing right-handed defenseman, and a middle-six center. Any other deficiencies can/will be solved from within the organization.

 

[Milhouse40]

The rebuild is over, it was over this summer as I said many times here even if the final product is not yet on the ice.

Now all there's left to do is build the team, and to many posters : The perfect team doesn't exist.
There will be always tweak, always improvement that we need to do......there's a reason many top teams are trading for players at TDL.

Habs have all the tools to complete their team : Tons of picks, Tons of prospect at every position, Tons of cap space.

We could literally trade a 2025 1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th round pick + Mailloux + Engstrom + Roy for ONE very good player without breaking a sweat.

 

[expy]

Internal solutions like Dobes are pretty much the only solution. Askarov just got traded. Anaheim isn't moving Dostal. Oettinger is with Dallas long term. Vasi is with Tampa long term. Shesterkin signed long term with the Rangers.

Sorokin is probably the only guy that might end up available.

Technically like I said, Fowler is the solution long-term, but when he's ready we'll have but a small window again, since our core's prime will be then and there.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The rebuild is over in my views, the top 6 will be sexy, we should be more than fine with Dobes/Fowler, all we need is a Cernak/Tanev/Pesce type of D but younger and sooner than later, we will aim for more than playoff

Cernak is my ultimate dream. He is such a rock defensively.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Cernak is my ultimate dream. He is such a rock defensively.

Tought he was in his 30's , 28 at season end, i wonder if TB would look to get a lil bit younger, and if by chance they would trade him intra division

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

As I said a while ago, the hard part’s over. We’ve acquired some great young talent. Are we there yet? No. And there will always be posters who will complain we aren’t going fast enough. That’s fine, I’m glad they’re being ignored.

Hughes has done exactly what so many of us have advocated for. Draft high, trade for picks/prospects, weaponize cap space, deal away vets…. He’s done a wonderful job so far.

Before this season started most of us expected us to be on the bubble. I remember comparing this club to the 2013 team and saying sometimes young talent can suprise you. I was really hopeful for a strong year.

To see us get off to that awful start just sucked so bad. I expected Roy to be with us, I expected Dach to be better…. Just so bad to start the year. But we’ve bounced back and indeed young talent has surprised us.

Still an evaluation year. Still looking to see who will be here and who won’t. Sucks that Roy missed his chance with this recent injury but at least we get to see Beck.

I feel very positive about our future. Demidov will cement the top six and then we’ll have good young offensive talent that can start filling in the bottom two lines.

So no, we’re no there yet but the signs for Walleyworld are starting to appear. We’re getting closer.

 

[Stoneburg]

We are missing, or have serious questions about elements of our top 6, our bottom 6, and our D.
So yeah, we are missing a few pieces. I think in the next two years we will have many answers. The truth is that all organizations are in a constant state of flux.

 

[JianYang]

No, it's not. But it's nice to have a sneak peak right now.

Let's not be Pierre Dorion.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I voted that we need two pieces. A top pairing right-handed defenseman, and a middle-six center. Any other deficiencies can/will be solved from within the organization.

RB and Hage can fill those spots.

There will also be variables. Injuries being a big one. Good chance that RB would have already been with us had he not gotten hurt. Other injuries will happen as well unfortunately.

We’ve got good talent coming. Two more firsts. Lots of assets… we’re in really good shape.

 

[Revansky]

At least three pieces away (a top 6 C and a top pair two way RD and 1 G). Maybe Reinbacher can be the top pair D but a big question mark at the moment. Don't think he will bust so a top 4 of Guhle, Rein and Hutson will be interesting if they can all stay healthy. I feel like we'll have a lot of interesting prospect to fill out the bottom pair with Engstrom, Xhekaj, Konyushkov and Mailloux. Our D it's just lacking one big piece and all should fall into place.

Offensively, If we keep Laine we need a really good 2 two way C as he's an amazing goalscorer but flawed player. It remains to be seen if Dach can continue on his streak and stay healthy. Hage is at least 2-3 years away for making an impact in the NHL. We should have a least for key pieces with Slaf, Demidov, Suzuki and Caufield. Depending on Dach and Laine, we may need one or two other pieces.

Our bottom 6 is good at the moment but will need revamp and is overprice. Heineman should be able to replace Armia (unless he takes a two to max three year contract at a low number). Kapanen and Beck seems promising but would keep Evans as he's playing a key role in a lot of situations. Would like a better offensive third center and a big winger (maybe Tuch ) too as Evans, Kapanen, Beck and Heineman is a bit light on physicality and offense.

On G, maybe Fowler, Dobes or Volohkin can become that missing piece. Ideally, Montembeault would be a great backup/ 1 B option not our number one.

We have enough pieces, draft capital and some game changers in some key positions. But we'll enter the most difficult phase of a retooling/rebuilding, we'll need to choose which players to hold on and which to sacrifice to get the missing pieces. Getting over the hump is something some teams rebuilding aren't able to do even with good roster.

 

[Guess]

Need a 1RD, a top 6 C (if Dach doesn't pan out in C), possibly more physical bottom 6 guys with scoring ability who can fight well (we have a bunch of guys who might pan out there in the AHL now but who knows if they do).

1G not set yet but we probably don't need to do anything.

Right now the only big priority is finding a true stabilizing 1RD, I don't think Matheson will be resigned after next season, and doubtful Reinbacher is ready for the kind of minutes Hutson is playing by 2026-27.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I think the Habs have now to stay alert and opportunistic. Last off season, they got Laine on a discount, which was a master stroke by Hughes. Keeping cap space available could offer us a similar situation next off-season. While many seem to consider the rebuild almost over, to me the next steps are the most important. Do not overpay free agents on long term deal, keep cap space available, continue to add young assets (picks/prospects) and be ready to act if a star/great player is available. For instance, Florida were opportunistic with Reinhart, Tkachuk, Bennett. Vegas was also opportunistic with Stone, Eichel.

I have no doubt that some players who are deemed untouchable at this moment might become available a year from now, and sometime from unexpected teams.

Do not overpay for 3rd/4th line players or 6th/7th defenseman. This is the trap you need to avoid. Historically, when you core is pretty much complete you can always trade picks for players to fill that role on a good cap hit or on ending contract at the trade deadline. Role player are important but they are the final touch. We already have used a lot of cap hit on similar players like Armia, Dvorak, Gallagher, Anderson. Do not repeat this please and yes it also includes Evans (who I really love but his next contract unless a super discount will not be worth it)

 

[KevSkillz4]

The tank is over. The rebuild isn't over, but we are in very very good shape so far.

Lane Hutson is much better than expecting, yess, we knew about his great offensive talent, but product like that, amazing compete level, that's just unreal.

We have already a lot of great pieces who already play with Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Dach, Laine, Heineman, Hutson, Guhle and Dobes.

We have Demidov, Hage, Reinbacher and Fowler who will coming.

We have 2 1st picks this year and and lot of B prospects, management have assets to do great deals.

Soo... not over, but in very good shape!

 

[No More Subban]

The rebuild is done, imo. Not because of our current winning streaks but I knew we were done the moment we drafted Demidov and Hage. Even more now after seeing what Hutson, Dobes, Heineman can do. We don't need another high draft pick, just gotta get the young guys get some NHL experience. There'll be some growing pains for sure but it's all part of the process.