HF Habs: Montreal Canadiens End of Season Press Conference

[LaP]

We have many Quartexx adjacent players, probably the most in the league, and Hughes and Gorton both don’t cast very wide nets in their staff hiring.

It shouldn’t be so controversial to express concern that a non-legend (laughable to compare him to Gainey etc) is pretty much guaranteed a role after retirement.

It’s literally how country clubs are defined in a pro sports sense.

It’s not a big deal, it’s a throwaway observation anyway. I don’t think this uhh “response” is appropriate, but that’s just my opinion.

Unless i'm mistaken most of our Quartexx players were drafted by us (Hutson) or were altready there when KH was named (Anderson).

Who do we have has quartexx players acquired by KH? Newhook, Carrier, Matheson and Dach that's about it i think.

Matheson was a "cap dump" in the Petry trade KH had no choice to get him if he wanted to get rid of Petry. Pens had to get rid of a contract for the trade to work. Carrier made total sense. I mean Hutson being a quartexx client should not matter a bit.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Unless i'm mistaken most of our Quartexx players were drafted by us (Hutson) or were altready there when KH was named (Anderson).

Who do we have has quartexx players acquired by KH? Newhook, Carrier, Matheson and Dach that's about it i think.

Matheson was a "cap dump" in the Petry trade KH had no choice to get him if he wanted to get rid of Petry. Pens had to get rid of a contract for the trade to work. Carrier made total sense. I mean Hutson being a quartexx client should not matter a bit.

I would be curious how many ex clients there are in FLA with Zito.

 

[LaP]

I would be curious how many ex clients there are in FLA with Zito.

Dunno. But most GMs even the good ones tend to go with their guys. The main difference between good GMs and lesser GMs is good GMs guys tend to be also good while bad GMs guys tend to be also bad

There's been hits and misses with KH so far but i think it's a bit soon to do a final evaluation. Matheson and Carrier are certainly serviceable vets. I feel like Dach is too young to paint him as a total flop could still be a decent winger with size, Next year will be important for him. Hutson is certainly a hit.

 

[le_sean]

Oh look more idiots at Hockey Canada who asked Matheson to go...the haters are going to be mad

You mean the same group that thought Anthony Cirelli is a better hockey player than Robert Thomas and Nick Suzuki?

Yeah he’s going, because a lot of actual good players say no and it’s slim pickings right now.

 

[Redux91]

How are you turning this into a negative?

Because that's his thing.
That's what he does.

 

[Canadienna]

Just realized we didn't get a Gallagher interview.

Was hoping to hear his Canadianisms.

"Ohhhh yah knowww"

 

[Archijerej]

You mean the same group that thought Anthony Cirelli is a better hockey player than Robert Thomas and Nick Suzuki?

Yeah he’s going, because a lot of actual good players say no and it’s slim pickings right now.

The didn't think Cirelli was a better player than those two.

They were trying to assemble a hockey team, not participate in a fantasy league.

 

[Skip Bayless]

No shit, Slaf.

 

[le_sean]

The didn't think Cirelli was a better player than those two.

They were trying to assemble a hockey team, not participate in a fantasy league.

Yeah and they picked a player that is far worse and lo and behold, he was easily the worst player on the team and contributed nothing.

Hmm a 45 point centre that kills penalties or a 90 point centre that kills penalties? Tough one…

 

[Prettyisland]

Like it or not they are going to give Laine another dice roll. I expect him to be better next year honestly

 

[Habnot]

Matheson is a good D. He isn't what the Habs need though.

Of course, we don't need a fluid skating, elite PK, elite athlete, minute eating great vet in the room, underpaid, local boy....

So you have a known commodity that does have some minor flaws but otherwise many great strengths and you want to go down a risky trade path where nothing is guaranteed just because you cannot see further than your nose....

And as we have spoken about relentlessly, you cannot win in the NHL with a D corps under 25.

 

[le_sean]

Of course, we don't need a fluid skating, elite PK, elite athlete, minute eating great vet in the room, underpaid, local boy....

So you have a known commodity that does have some minor flaws but otherwise many great strengths and you want to go down a risky trade path where nothing is guaranteed just because you cannot see further than your nose....

And as we have spoken about relentlessly, you cannot win in the NHL with a D corps under 25.

Minor flaws? Please

 

[Captain97]

Like it or not they are going to give Laine another dice roll. I expect him to be better next year honestly

I agree, he should be better. Full camp on a line with better players.

I think Laine is fine as a complimentary piece on your second line. If they can get a 2C Laine will perform much better.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Minor flaws? Please

In the same way the space shuttle challenger had minor flaws, yeah

 

[MasterD]

"Lane Hutson espère que son contrat sera prolongé plus tôt que tard"

Such buffoons. What's he to say, "Yeah no, I'd rather wait and see if I can get a career ending injury before I sign an 80 million$ contract"?

 

[MasterD]

Of course, we don't need a fluid skating, elite PK, elite athlete, minute eating great vet in the room, underpaid, local boy....

So you have a known commodity that does have some minor flaws but otherwise many great strengths and you want to go down a risky trade path where nothing is guaranteed just because you cannot see further than your nose....

And as we have spoken about relentlessly, you cannot win in the NHL with a D corps under 25.

He's "minute eating" because he's overplayed. He should be a PP specialist. And even then, he constantly fumbles the puck at the blue line.

"Minor flaws"? He's almost as flawed as MAB or Pierre Dagenais, just skates that much better.

 

[OldCraig71]

@Habs, I guess Pezzetta is finally free.

 

[Scriptor]

Of course, we don't need a fluid skating, elite PK, elite athlete, minute eating great vet in the room, underpaid, local boy....

So you have a known commodity that does have some minor flaws but otherwise many great strengths and you want to go down a risky trade path where nothing is guaranteed just because you cannot see further than your nose....

And as we have spoken about relentlessly, you cannot win in the NHL with a D corps under 25.

Matheson brings either a lot of good, or a lot of bad, depending on the game. As much as I consider he is more useful than not, considering all the minutes he plays against the opponents' best players, I have to admit that I found his play extremely frustrating against Washington in these playoffs.

Saw more of the bad decisions Matheson than the good decisions Matheson with the puck. Sometimes, it was just not being assertive enough when getting rid of the puck. Other times, it was just bonehead plays.

That said, I think that Matheson still has plenty of value at the NHL level. Playing less minutes in a lesser role than the minutes of a #1D that were thrust upon him will go a long ways to limiting his exposure defensively.

Matheson having accepted a role as a PKer and more of a shutdown D this season, to let Hutson take the reins as the offensive motor of this D-Squad, will increase his value across the league. It's the difference between being a Gostisbehere, or a more complete D with offensive upside.

Matheson isn't perfect, but I still think he has value as trade fodder with only one year remaining on his contract and the ability to be moved at only a 2.4375M Cap hit, whether that is this offseason, or at next year's trade deadline.

Hughes ability, or inability to trade for a veteran shutdown RHD with term (5 to 6 years remaining) will determine whether matheson gets moved this offseason, IMO.

If it's not a trade for a veteran shutdown RHD, a UFA signature would accomplish the same thing. There are many candidates available with other teams potentially turning towards a rebuild moving forward.

Acquiring a shutdown D like Ryan Pulock, for example -- 6'2", 215 lbs, 31 in October next season, with 6 years remaining at 6.15M -- would make losing Matheson much easier for the Habs.

In the short term next season, Guhle could pair with Carrier while Reinbacher gets his footing on a 3rd pairing with Xhekaj. As the season wears on, Reinbacher can step up with Guhle as a shutdown pairing and Carrier can slide down to the third pairing:

 

[JianYang]

Well then he can leave to another team if his knee was fine the entire time

I bet you he is doing this to get in the good books of hockey canada who will be selecting the roster soon.

Monty did it before. Suzuki has not.

 

[sampollock]

No one as long as they don't acquire someone hell bent on giving the other team the puck every time they touch it.

haha
that is Math sometimes too, maybe cut his ice time next year that will stop

 

[JianYang]

haha
that is Math sometimes too, maybe cut his ice time next year that will stop

Cutting ice time is usually results in not playing against the other team's top player consistently. Naturally, he will look better when that happens.

The habs need upgrades on D before they can afford to do that, though.

 

[sampollock]

Tout le monde idolâtre Martin dans cette chambre.»-Arber Xhekaj

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

No one as long as they don't acquire someone hell bent on giving the other team the puck every time they touch it.

There will always be a whipping boy even if they win 75 games

 

[bobholly39]

Thanks to all for posting updates and snippets. Makes it a lot easier to capture who said what.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Worked great for the Edmonton Oilers

Worked great for the Habs too, Marc Bergevin had 1000 games under his belt. Look at that experience and respect.

God forbid anyone make any comment against the grain.

What is this?. Savard is not being hired to be a GM. That requires a lot more than just knowing how to play defense.