Is the Rebuild almost done? POLL

[Lafleurs Guy]

I disagree with everything you've said lol. He doesn't have to be special? At 5th overall and passing on Michkov/Leonard? Ok, wtf

Players are special in different ways. Leonard for example may not rack up points but he’ll play physical hockey.

Reianbacjer is supposed to be a good combination of defense, size and skill. He might not be special in any one area but a steadying physical presence who can accumulate points.

Kovacevic would be a top 4 on this piece of shit blueline

And yet we claimed him off waivers…

We don't need Romanov, but we need a floater like Dach? ok

You need to start watching the games more closely. Dach’s been playing good hockey for a while now.

 

[Habs]

And yet we claimed him off waivers…

You mean like Paul Byron , eternal hero of this team and Sam Montembault? Who cares how we got a player ?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You mean like Paul Byron , eternal hero of this team and Sam Montembault? Who cares how we got a player ?

He was spare parts that we picked up for free. He’s done well for NJ and good for him. But it’s not like his departure was even noticed when he left.

 

[expy]

You mean like Paul Byron , eternal hero of this team and Sam Montembault? Who cares how we got a player ?

One is not like the others.

 

[Habssince89]

Rebuild is not done, but its progressing well and on-time. No panic needed. Once we see what Reinbacher brings to the table, we'll be able to determine what the D is lacking. Demidov alone changes everything forwards-wise, and we have the capspace, trading assets, and prospect pool to expect a few more new forwards joining the team by next season. Very optimistic about the clear and steady progression under MSL, despite haters smashing the panic button because they're addicted to drama.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Rebuild is not done, but its progressing well and on-time. No panic needed. Once we see what Reinbacher brings to the table, we'll be able to determine what the D is lacking. Demidov alone changes everything forwards-wise, and we have the capspace, trading assets, and prospect pool to expect a few more new forwards joining the team by next season. Very optimistic about the clear and steady progression under MSL, despite haters smashing the panic button because they're addicted to drama.

Being tired of watching 4+ years of awful hockey = being addicted to drama

 

[Scriptor]

Being tired of watching 4+ years of awful hockey = being addicted to drama

Tired, okay (normal, actually). Not understanding/accepting the process having been undertaken, no.

 

[Scriptor]

Rebuild is not done, but its progressing well and on-time. No panic needed. Once we see what Reinbacher brings to the table, we'll be able to determine what the D is lacking. Demidov alone changes everything forwards-wise, and we have the capspace, trading assets, and prospect pool to expect a few more new forwards joining the team by next season. Very optimistic about the clear and steady progression under MSL, despite haters smashing the panic button because they're addicted to drama.

Building is almost done.

Just missing a confirmed 2C, two confirmed, top-4 RHDs, two confirmed, elite wingers and a confirmed, solid G-tandem.

Doubt that all shows up on this roster by next season.

IF Slafkovsky and Demidov both pan out, that takes care of the two elite wingers, but Dach would have to play at top-6 level as a winger to close out the top-6.

IF Reinbacher pans out, we still need another top-4 RHD, but we don't need a superstar for that role if the RHD partners up with Hutson.

IF Fowler pans out, we need to determine if Dobes is the Dobes of his first starts in the NHL or the Dobes of his last starts before the 4-Nations break, or go with Montembeault that isn't going to be relevant as an NHL G for the long haul at his age.

Still need a 2C in the short term.

A lot of IFs.

This rebuild could be close to finished if several prospects pan out and if Hughes can find a 2C from outside the organization without sacrificing from the core.

IMO, we really aren't out of the woods yet, although hope for a better future is not lacking.

The real question is whether all can fall into place together so we have an actual window at competing for a Cup, or do we go into a perpetual rebuild mode with the best years of certain players just missing to connect with the best years of other players?

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Rebuild is not done, but its progressing well and on-time. No panic needed. Once we see what Reinbacher brings to the table, we'll be able to determine what the D is lacking. Demidov alone changes everything forwards-wise, and we have the capspace, trading assets, and prospect pool to expect a few more new forwards joining the team by next season. Very optimistic about the clear and steady progression under MSL, despite haters smashing the panic button because they're addicted to drama.

The impatience will get even worst next season, but luckily in 26-27, most of the top draftees (23,24,25) will have joined the team.

 

[Scriptor]

The impatience will get even worst next season, but luckily in 26-27, most of the top draftees (23,24,25) will have joined the team.

I don't see that for 2026-2027, honestly.

2027-2028 at best, maybe the year after before those prospects start having a genuine impact on the lineup.

We tend to project prospects having an immediate impact once they set foot on Bell Centre ice. That's just not the case.

Hage, for example, might join the lineup in 2026-2027, but don't expect him to have an immediate impact then. If he's lucky, he won't have the sophomore slump usually associated with 2nd year youngsters and will start having an impact in 2027-2028.

Demidov might be an exception to the rule and start having an impact next year, only two years after getting drafted, but Reinbacher will still be wet behind the ears next season, if he can stay healthy, and it usually takes a little longer for a D prospect to have an impact in the first place.

Whomever we pick in this year's draft won't have an impact for another three or four years, unless we luck out and win the draft lottery. Even then, I don't see any of this year's draft picks having an impact as 18-yr-olds. It will take at least a couple pf years for those, under the best of circumstance, so not before 2027-2028, if we are extremely lucky, and most likely not before 2028-2029 or 2029-2030, in the final year of Suzuki's current contract.

The NHL, contrary to many fans' beliefs, is not a plug & play league where kids all become stars as soon as they are inserted into the lineup.

The words generational and elite are thrown around much too easily on these forums and production levels in Junior hockey or the NCAA are deemed automatically transferable to the NHL.

In fact, it's rather unpredictable, with players not that good in the AHL even scoring 30+ goals in the NHL once they have fully matured, while early birds in the maturity department score massively in the AHL, but never even have a legitimate NHL career afterwards.

It's okay to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel is a bit longer than some assume it is, IMO.

That's why Hughes needs to add talent beyond the drafted prospects to come to a perfect storm and create a true contender in the medium term.

 

[Habs]

One is not like the others.

So you are denying you can't get a quality player off of waivers when I just pointed out 2?

 

[expy]

So you are denying you can't get a quality player off of waivers when I just pointed out 2?

I'm saying one isn't quality and shouldn't have been in your sentence.

 

[sampollock]

nope 2 more years

 

[Habs]

I'm saying one isn't quality and shouldn't have been in your sentence.

Byron didn't provide value for this team?

 

[austin316]

We need at least 5 pieces, maybe more. In addition to the prospects in the pipeline, we need 2-3 forwards, 2 defenseman, and a #1 goalie.

Long, long way to go.

 

[Farmboy Patty]

I’m down with that as long as the 2C is a good one that can win face offs

Dvorak? /s

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Dvorak? /s

 

[Farmboy Patty]

Funny to think we may be further along with the rebuild if we kept Kovacevic, Allen, Romanov , drafted Leonard/Michkov and saved the Laine contract for the FA market. I didn't mind the Laine trade at the time, risk/reward was worth what we gave up, so I can't fault mgmnt on that one.

Well not funny in a 'haha' way, but a sad 'ironic' way. 1 step forward, 2 back?

More like 5 steps forward, 4 steps back IMO.

 

[Scriptor]

We need another guy on the right side. Matheson will be traded, Struble (who I really like) will be traded. We have others that will be traded. And we can leverage that for more help on the right.

To be honest though, Carriere looks great with Guhle. I'm happy with an upgrade but he's fine for now.

I'm not opposed to getting a big RD. But they're not easy to find. We'd probably have to include a Maillioux going back. I wouldn't want to give up RB.

Go for a rookie on a team already heavy on RD.

Posters suggesting we trade from the core for Dobson or Nemec is ridiculous.

Rumours are that New Jersey is really hot for teachers when it comes to Evans.

Forget Nemec -- he is their big name with a draft pedigree that would make it hard to trade him, or make the asking process prohibitive, neither good.

Go after what should be easier to get -- Mikael Diotte, Canadian RHD from Quebec.

Kid is 21, 6'3" and 205 lbs.

He was on his 1st year of his ELC this season and has two years left under 1M per season.

Kid went undrafted -- much easier to move on from an undrafted player (even if Hab fans love the undrafted Arber Xhekaj)

Even if he went undrafted, in 2023-2024, Diotte won the best defensive D award in the Q, all while tallying up 12 goals and 30 assists for his largest offensive production to date.

Described as a two-way D that plays a physical brand of hockey and can defend like few can, he can get a crack at fighting for a 3rd pairing role and, afterwards, perhaps for playing alongside Lane Hutson?

Evans + Armia at half price + 2025 3rd round pick for Diotte + 2nd round pick?

Replenishing the cupboards with near NHL-ready RHD candidates is the only way to hedge our bets against either Reinbacher or Mailloux not panning out as expected.

Carrier was holding his own playing alongside Guhle, but I'd rather see another option than Reinbacher manifest itself on the Habs' roster and leave Reinbacher to form a defensive, shutdown pair with Guhle.

Ideally, Carrier would be a 3rd pairing D right now and provide depth to play up the lineup in case of injuries.

On a new contract after this one, he could be the veteran 7th D.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Go for a rookie on a team already heavy on RD.

Posters suggesting we trade from the core for Dobson or Nemec is ridiculous.

Rumours are that New Jersey is really hot for teachers when it comes to Evans.

Forget Nemec -- he is their big name with a draft pedigree that would make it hard to trade him, or make the asking process prohibitive, neither good.

Go after what should be easier to get -- Mikael Diotte, Canadian RHD from Quebec.

Kid is 21, 6'3" and 205 lbs.

He was on his 1st year of his ELC this season and has two years left under 1M per season.

Kid went undrafted -- much easier to move on from an undrafted player (even if Hab fans love the undrafted Arber Xhekaj)

Even if he went undrafted, in 2023-2024, Diotte won the best defensive D award in the Q, all while tallying up 12 goals and 30 assists for his largest offensive production to date.

Described as a two-way D that plays a physical brand of hockey and can defend like few can, he can get a crack at fighting for a 3rd pairing role and, afterwards, perhaps for playing alongside Lane Hutson?

Evans + Armia at half price + 2025 3rd round pick for Diotte + 2nd round pick?

Replenishing the cupboards with near NHL-ready RHD candidates is the only way to hedge our bets against either Reinbacher or Mailloux not panning out as expected.

Carrier was holding his own playing alongside Guhle, but I'd rather see another option than Reinbacher manifest itself on the Habs' roster and leave Reinbacher to form a defensive, shutdown pair with Guhle.

Ideally, Carrier would be a 3rd pairing D right now and provide depth to play up the lineup in case of injuries.

On a new contract after this one, he could be the veteran 7th D.

To me, Carriere is fine as a bridge until RB finds his game.

It really comes down to what they want to do with Mailloux. Having him and RB in the lineup along with Hutson is a really, really young group. It won't suprise me if Matheson, Mailloux and Struble are all gone by the end of next year. I'd have no problem with adding a solid vet back there to go with Carrier and RB. But I'd also be okay if they want to hang with Mailloux.

 

[Scriptor]

To me, Carriere is fine as a bridge until RB finds his game.

It really comes down to what they want to do with Mailloux. Having him and RB in the lineup along with Hutson is a really, really young group. It won't suprise me if Matheson, Mailloux and Struble are all gone by the end of next year. I'd have no problem with adding a solid vet back there to go with Carrier and RB. But I'd also be okay if they want to hang with Mailloux.

To me RB finding his game isn't the end game. RB finding his game and having a better D than Carrier would be better.

Carrier, at 5'11", 174 lbs is not physical enough and he isn't strong enough offensively to justify that.

He's okay as a placeholder, but I see RB with Guhle (rather than Carrier) once he has found his game and someone else than Carrier or Mailloux with Hutson.

I just think that being okay with Carrier alongside Guhle is just settling and I'd like something better than just settling.

 

[slybel]

nope 2 more years

I've been saying this as well...

 

[ChesterNimitz]

To me RB finding his game isn't the end game. RB finding his game and having a better D than Carrier would be better.

Carrier, at 5'11", 174 lbs is not physical enough and he isn't strong enough offensively to justify that.

He's okay as a placeholder, but I see RB with Guhle (rather than Carrier) once he has found his game and someone else than Carrier or Mailloux with Hutson.

I just think that being okay with Carrier alongside Guhle is just settling and I'd like something better than just settling.

If both Reinbacher and Guhle cannot return to their full form after their significant injuries, this team’s heralded re-build will take at least two years longer. All the discussions about possible combinations and usages of our current defensive assets is akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

With the injuries to Guhle and Reinbacher, the trading of Harris and Barron, the obvious limitations of Mailloux, the over usage of Matheson, the decline of Savard and opposing teams’ growing ability to limit Hutson’s mobility and effectiveness through strong targeted physical play Montreal has been caught slow on defence.

All the Demidovs, Hages, Becks, Kapanens, etc. won’t address this problem. As I said at the start of the season, the team’s supposed depth on defense was largely illusory.

Reality is sometimes a bitch.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If both Reinbacher and Guhle cannot return to their full form after their significant injuries, this team’s heralded re-build will take at least two years longer. All the discussions about possible combinations and usages of our current defensive assets is akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

With the injuries to Guhle and Reinbacher, the trading of Harris and Barron, the obvious limitations of Mailloux, the over usage of Matheson, the decline of Savard and opposing teams’ growing ability to limit Hutson’s mobility and effectiveness through strong targeted physical play Montreal has been caught slow on defence.

All the Demidovs, Hages, Becks, Kapanens, etc. won’t address this problem. As I said at the start of the season, the team’s supposed depth on defense was largely illusory.

Reality is sometimes a bitch.

It’s insane that we keep getting these flukey catastrophic injuries. It’s f***ing ridiculous. I’ve never seen a team so cursed.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

To me RB finding his game isn't the end game. RB finding his game and having a better D than Carrier would be better.

Carrier, at 5'11", 174 lbs is not physical enough and he isn't strong enough offensively to justify that.

He's okay as a placeholder, but I see RB with Guhle (rather than Carrier) once he has found his game and someone else than Carrier or Mailloux with Hutson.

I just think that being okay with Carrier alongside Guhle is just settling and I'd like something better than just settling.

If both Reinbacher and Guhle cannot return to their full form after their significant injuries, this team’s heralded re-build will take at least two years longer. All the discussions about possible combinations and usages of our current defensive assets is akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

With the injuries to Guhle and Reinbacher, the trading of Harris and Barron, the obvious limitations of Mailloux, the over usage of Matheson, the decline of Savard and opposing teams’ growing ability to limit Hutson’s mobility and effectiveness through strong targeted physical play Montreal has been caught slow on defence.

All the Demidovs, Hages, Becks, Kapanens, etc. won’t address this problem. As I said at the start of the season, the team’s supposed depth on defense was largely illusory.

Reality is sometimes a real bitch.

It’s insane that we keep getting these flukey catastrophic injuries. It’s f***ing ridiculous. I’ve never seen a team so cursed.

Try being a New York Football Giants fan.