Player Discussion Jayden Struble Part 3 the Greek God Strouble Edition

Even if we trade Matheson I don't see where Struble fits.

Left side has Guhle, Hutson and X. Right side has Carriere and (hopefully) RB. That leaves one more spot on the right and I think we'll go get somebody for that. I think both Matheson and Struble are trade bait.

I like Struble a lot. I'd love to keep him and wish he was on the right side. But X provides a dimension that's sorely needed and I'd keep him instead.
He's the 7th D this year and has still played 60% of the games. You can't just assume everyone will be healthy and therefore there's no room, there will be room for Struble because injuries are common.
 
Even if we trade Matheson I don't see where Struble fits.

Left side has Guhle, Hutson and X. Right side has Carriere and (hopefully) RB. That leaves one more spot on the right and I think we'll go get somebody for that. I think both Matheson and Struble are trade bait.

I like Struble a lot. I'd love to keep him and wish he was on the right side. But X provides a dimension that's sorely needed and I'd keep him instead.

He's been Montreal's #4 D for the last while and he has been the best fit with Hutson this season (albeit with Hutson more sheltered than with other D partners).

I get hoping for a better fit, but this sounds like the Kovacevic view, except with a player who is 23 and not close to free agency. And I think X has to show more to be automatically assumed to be the LD piece to keep over Struble.
 
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He's been Montreal's #4 D for the last while and he has been the best fit with Hutson this season (albeit with Hutson more sheltered than with other D partners).

I get hoping for a better fit, but this sounds like the Kovacevic view, except with a player who is 23 and not close to free agency. And I think X has to show more to be automatically assumed to be the LD piece to keep over Struble.

With all the good D we have, I'm wondering if HuGo won't use one of Reinbacher or Guhle to get another Suzuki level C. Centers of that level rarely become available. But if they do it will take a big piece going the other way to land them.
 
He's been Montreal's #4 D for the last while and he has been the best fit with Hutson this season (albeit with Hutson more sheltered than with other D partners).

I get hoping for a better fit, but this sounds like the Kovacevic view, except with a player who is 23 and not close to free agency. And I think X has to show more to be automatically assumed to be the LD piece to keep over Struble.
That’s fair. But Hutson shouldn’t be on his off side going forward. X is with Savard and looks like crap. Struble’s with Hutson and suddenly looks great. That’s not coincidence.

I think X has the inside track because of the dimension he provides. He also has a great shot and some potential. I think he’s the one who stays but I really like Struble.
 
Since the break in 11 games:

4 assist and + 7

He's playing solid with Lane, dont change that pairing even if Guhle is back.
 
That’s fair. But Hutson shouldn’t be on his off side going forward. X is with Savard and looks like crap. Struble’s with Hutson and suddenly looks great. That’s not coincidence.

I think X has the inside track because of the dimension he provides. He also has a great shot and some potential. I think he’s the one who stays but I really like Struble.

I agree that its not a coincidence, but that because I think Struble has looked better with Hutson, Matheson and even Savard relative to Xhekaj this year.

Management has wanted guys to earn roles, and I don't see that Xhekaj has earned one over Struble. Thats not a reason to move Xhekaj, but I think Struble has the lead on merit right now.
 
I agree that its not a coincidence, but that because I think Struble has looked better with Hutson, Matheson and even Savard relative to Xhekaj this year.

Management has wanted guys to earn roles, and I don't see that Xhekaj has earned one over Struble. Thats not a reason to move Xhekaj, but I think Struble has the lead on merit right now.
I just wish one of them was a RHD
 
I agree that its not a coincidence, but that because I think Struble has looked better with Hutson, Matheson and even Savard relative to Xhekaj this year.

Management has wanted guys to earn roles, and I don't see that Xhekaj has earned one over Struble. Thats not a reason to move Xhekaj, but I think Struble has the lead on merit right now.
Ottawa was awfully tame last night and I promise you Xhekaj was the reason.
 
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Ottawa was awfully tame last night and I promise you Xhekaj was the reason.
Struble had his part in that as well. It took him 3 seconds after the opening faceoff to throw a big hit on Cozens, but I agree that X is the intimidating guy and we should keep him. People were talking about Brady Tkachuk before the game, but he had zero impact. He is injured, but he also knew that any stupid move would be punished by X or even Anderson.
 
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I agree that its not a coincidence, but that because I think Struble has looked better with Hutson, Matheson and even Savard relative to Xhekaj this year.

Management has wanted guys to earn roles, and I don't see that Xhekaj has earned one over Struble. Thats not a reason to move Xhekaj, but I think Struble has the lead on merit right now.
TBH Struble had the lead as early as training camp too.
 
Struble is proving he is capable of playing on the right side and shows good abilities. Pair him with Xhekaj when Guhle comes back.

Struble is playing the left, Hutson is on the right for that pairing. Struble is an adventure on the right, I much prefer him on his natural side, he doesn't have good enough puck skills to handle pucks on his backhand cleanly and consistently. If we're looking to contend down the stretch that is not something I would hope they're gonna try to improve on the fly.

I think X and Struble would be a not ideal pairing. Hutson's mobility and hockey IQ allows Struble to use his physical tools and high hockey IQ, its a good pairing I'd want them to keep it.
 
Struble is playing the left, Hutson is on the right for that pairing. Struble is an adventure on the right, I much prefer him on his natural side, he doesn't have good enough puck skills to handle pucks on his backhand cleanly and consistently. If we're looking to contend down the stretch that is not something I would hope they're gonna try to improve on the fly.

I think X and Struble would be a not ideal pairing. Hutson's mobility and hockey IQ allows Struble to use his physical tools and high hockey IQ, its a good pairing I'd want them to keep it.
Also nothing prevents the team from using 7Ds. If TB does it, why can't we long term?
 
If he can establish himself as a reliable defender, and with Hutson playing well on the right, it opens up some interesting possibilities both for the coach and the management.

It's not necessarily only about Struble vs Xhekaj.
 
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Xhekaj looking like crap is a pretty good summary of a large chunk of his NHL career.

In fact, he only started to resemble an NHL-level defenseman once he was paired with Savard.
I see.

So we’re on the Xehjak sucks train now. It’s so hard to keep up around here.
 
I see.

So we’re on the Xehjak sucks train now. It’s so hard to keep up around here.
I don't know anything about the train, but my opinion of Xhekaj has been consistent.

Excellent enforcer, perhaps the best in the league, but a replacement level hockey player on too many nights.

I don't mind him most of the time since was paired with Savard and hope he can develop into an acceptable defender on a playoff team. That said, the widespread opinion of him is ridiculously tainted by the love story between Arber and our fanbase.

The idea that it's Savard who's dragging him down is silly.
 
I don't know anything about the train, but my opinion of Xhekaj has been consistent.

Excellent enforcer, perhaps the best in the league, but a replacement level hockey player on too many nights.

I don't mind him most of the time since was paired with Savard and hope he can develop into an acceptable defender on a playoff team. That said, the widespread opinion of him is ridiculously tainted by the love story between Arber and our fanbase.

The idea that it's Savard who's dragging him down is silly.
Savard has some of the worst numbers in the league. He’s in the bottom 20 players in the league for puck possession. He’s dragging down every player he’s teamed with.
 
Savard has some of the worst numbers in the league. He’s in the bottom 20 players in the league for puck possession. He’s dragging down every player he’s teamed with.
You have to be more specific than that.

I have seen the most ridiculous of claims supported by "according to the numbers".
 
Struble-Hutson
Guhle-Carrier
Xhekaj-Reinbacher

could be interesting pairings next season, but I feel like the Habs could really use another RD
 
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