My greater theory about Kent Hughes & 'CULTURE'

[admiralcadillac]

Nobody knows when Michkov will come. He could be in NHL this autumn.
On the other hand, in 3 years we'll still be where we are now. Hoping to pick some top center in one of top 5 picks.

I highly doubt the team will get another top 5 pick unfortunately

 

[Beer and Chips]

if Reinbacher becomes as good as players like Pietrangelo, Doughty, Keith, McAvoy etc. that's better than an elite winger. If he becomes as good as Lindholm, Slavin, Parayko, McDonagh etc that's better than someone like Tarasenko, Pacioretty, Guentzel etc. At 5th overall as by far the best dman of the draft on draft day you expect the elite #1 and if he does become that then he's the 2nd best player of the draft so it's the pick with the most potential. Every time we picked top 5 since Price that draft's equivalent of Reinbacher ended up being BPA(Dobson(arguably Brady Tkachuk), both Jiricek and Nemec, Lindholm). I generally believe in picking the two-way dman every time with a top 5 pick because when the generational players(Crosby, McDavid, Ovechkin and Bedard) aren't winning, elite two way dmen are the ones who win every cup. Pietrangelo has 2, Doughty has 2, Keith has 3, Hedman has 2.

I don't know how people watched Weber, Danault and Edmundson shut down everyone in 2021 and carry the worst team in the NHL(look where we finished without them the next year) to the finals while the Leafs with their 5 PPG forwards just finally made it to round 2 for the first time and still believe offense > defense. In my opinion you don't even need offense. The Blues, Bruins and Kings didn't have much offense. The Golden Knights don't have any offensive superstar. Offensive stars just get shut down anyway by the other team's defense once the conference finals start. Caufield is enough offense to win the cup. We need a Selke caliber C and an elite #1D.

I like Caufield but come on, he and Suzuki struggle to score on the PP, they can't cycle and maintain pressure in the o zone.

 

[cphabs]

Yeah, leave culture to artists and petri dishes. Seems like their concern is to build a team filled with agreeable types that are nice to each other and ok with losing instead of players eager to win above all else. They're rebuilding like an HR department would. While Flyers fans drool over Michkov highlights people here drool over inconsequential shit like locker room "culture." It's sad.

What’s sad? Are posts like this.

 

[yianik]

By the way, how was Poehling a safe pick? What was safe about him? He's bouncing from team to team, did not get a QO, what's so safe about that? Danault, that was a safe pick for Chicago at 26OA, but Poehling?

Exactly. When I say safe puck I mean how he apparently is perceived. I'm sure he was described as a safe pick. But you have a disaster on your hands if all you do is draft safe picks because except for a lucky pick here and there, all you get is bottom 6 guys at the most.

 

[ReHabs]

Barron made nice progress last year. Harris and Xhekaj supassed expectations. Dach blossomed. Guhle looked good. Even if you fault the Habs for not developing Slaf better (which I for one do not), it's still 5/6.

Barron not an established NHLer, Harris is unlikely to be an impact player in the NHL, Xhekaj is a fan fav bottom3. Dach has upside to be an impact player, Guhle as well.

Having NHLers is one thing but the Habs under Timmins were great at drafting NHLers who were not impact players. In any case, there are plenty of NHLers out there -- we need impact players. Some of these guys have to be dealt to acquire a premium player. We evidently didn't have the assets to acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois, so it's a wonder what's the point of gunning at hyper-speed toward the sticky middle of the pack. We've been middle-of-the-pack pretty much all of my adult life. When will we have high-upside players? How else can we win anything...?

We don't have this luxury but building a solid foundation should always be the goal at the outset do it right and a player like Michkov can become an end game piece.

If Michkov is 3 years away then it would be perfect for this strategy, non?

By the way, how was Poehling a safe pick? What was safe about him? He's bouncing from team to team, did not get a QO, what's so safe about that? Danault, that was a safe pick for Chicago at 26OA, but Poehling?

Poehling was considered to be a prospect with a solid frame and middle6 upside. He hasn't managed to keep himself in the NHL.

Drafting for middle6 upside is what kills me. What's the point? If his ceiling is middle6 no wonder he is likelier than not to end up as a 5th liner.

 

[cave troll]

I highly doubt the team will get another top 5 pick unfortunately

I'd like to share your optimism, but we're by far the weakest team in the east and it will stay like that.
Simply cause we're not adding quality but unproved talenets through trades and we didn't draft 2 generational talents in last 2 drafts. With this kind of rebuild we won't be competitive for years. It's the Sabres path we're taking.

 

[Rapala]

We're trying to build a bottom feeder!

And we are messing it up FFS. That is why a portion of this board have lost their collective minds.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Barron not an established NHLer, Harris is unlikely to be an impact player in the NHL, Xhekaj is a fan fav bottom3. Dach has upside to be an impact player, Guhle as well.

Having NHLers is one thing but the Habs under Timmins were great at drafting NHLers who were not impact players. In any case, there are plenty of NHLers out there -- we need impact players. Some of these guys have to be dealt to acquire a premium player. We evidently didn't have the assets to acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois, so it's a wonder what's the point of gunning at hyper-speed toward the sticky middle of the pack. We've been middle-of-the-pack pretty much all of my adult life. When will we have high-upside players? How else can we win anything...?

Barron has potential to be prime Petry. Well on his way, IMO.

Agreed about Harris which is why he is available to trade IMO. But he was a fine 3rd round pick. First rounders require more upside.

We were right not to ship Dach or Guhle to Winnipeg.

Poehling was considered to be a prospect with a solid frame and middle6 upside. He hasn't managed to keep himself in the NHL.

Drafting for middle6 upside is what kills me. What's the point? If his ceiling is middle6 no wonder he is likelier than not to end up as a 5th liner.

Agreed, in the first round. Danault was a good try for Chicago at 26-OA because his upside was minute-eating 2nd liner.

 

[Rapala]

If Michkov is 3 years away then it would be perfect for this strategy, non?

Not without a solid top pairing RD
non it wouldn't be.
For me and end game piece will already have good solid NHL experience.

 

[salbutera]

I like Caufield but come on, he and Suzuki struggle to score on the PP, they can't cycle and maintain pressure in the o zone.

That’s because Habs have lacked a PP QB since Markov. That’s the role Hutson’s being expected to fill in the next couple of years..

 

[Mackiaveli]

Reminds me of the last GM.

Last GM couldn't trade for a top 6 center if his life depended on it, though.

This one got Dach, Newhook, Monahan.

Last GM signed a lot of very questionable contracts: Alzner, Edmundson, Gallagher, Murray, Savard, Hoffman the list goes on

This GM: has not signed a single bad contract

Outside of the drafting choices, Hughes has not missed - even though I am a bit 'meh' on the Newhook trade after seeing who was available with those picks, I still have a lot of faith in him to be a legit contributor as early as next season (50p)

His trades, and his contracts, are all stellar. I think we just have to be patient

 

[BLONG7]

I like Caufield but come on, he and Suzuki struggle to score on the PP, they can't cycle and maintain pressure in the o zone.

No PP QB has been our problem.............not CC and Suzuki.

And of course a coach who can have them implement a real PP system.
Hopefully MSL will vow to make the PP better. This is the key to any good offense.

 

[jrom]

Personally, if I build a hockey team culture, I'd rather aggressive working class types. They will the eat the well-spoken alive, but in reality those aggressive working class types are often well-spoken and extremely intelligent behind the facade.

But these guys don't play hockey anymore.

you’re describing the Xhekaj brothers

 

[BenchBrawl]

you’re describing the Xhekaj brothers

Yeah. Exceptions to the rule nowadays.

 

[cave troll]

Last GM couldn't trade for a top 6 center if his life depended on it, though.

This one got Dach, Newhook, Monahan.

Who of those was a Top 6 C?
Monahan years ago before he ended up in 4th line duties in Calgary. Dach was behind Toews and Strome when he wes not put on wing. Newhook was a 3rd line winger in Avs.

I think that by Top6 C we must think of an established and proved Top 6 C, not unproven prospects who failed at C position and ended up as wingers.

 

[NORiculous]

My theory is that HuGo wants to copy the Bruins culture, heavy on D and a good top 9 while not necessarily have a superstar « pre Pastrnak era » and guys that wants to win and not only think about themselves

Having a multiple (4) Selke guy before getting Pastrnak isn’t something easy to replicate! But then finding a Pastrnak isn’t easy either on top of that.

 

[NORiculous]

Who of those was a Top 6 C?
Monahan years ago before he ended up in 4th line duties in Calgary. Dach was behind Toews and Strome when he wes not put on wing. Newhook was a 3rd line winger in Avs.

I think that by Top6 C we must think of an established and proved Top 6 C, not unproven prospects who failed at C position and ended up as wingers.

Newhook can still become a top 6.

He averaged 12 minutes per game and faced very decent opposition while getting 49-50% OZ starts. Decent enough advanced stats.

He probably needs at least another season before finding his zone. Maybe MSL can accelerate things though, but I‘d plan for next season.

 

[cave troll]

Newhook can still become a top 6.

He averaged 12 minutes per game and faced very decent opposition while getting 49-50% OZ starts. Decent enough advanced stats.

He probably needs at least another season before finding his zone. Maybe MSL can accelerate things though, but I‘d plan for next season.

Newhook a Top6 center? Let's not indulge into fantasies here. He might become a Top 6 winger.
Guy was given a second chance to prove he can be an established NHL-er. That's all.
Stories like Bednar was blind not to realize his true potential and he was unjustly put on wing in lower lines are most likely not the truth.
Same can be said about Dach. His surge in points was made when he was put in line with Cole and Suzuki as a winger.
That's why I wrote that we when we talk about Top 6 center, we must tale about an established and proven NHL center.
HuGo made a progress into that category since they are actually trying to find it while Bergy did nothing except drafting one instead of a BPA and we know how that ended.
IMO, we don't need a Top 6 C, we need a 1 C. Need it badly.

 

[NORiculous]

Newhook a Top6 center? Let's not indulge into fantasies here. He might become a Top 6 winger.
Guy was given a second chance to prove he can be an established NHL-er. That's all.
Stories like Bednar was blind not to realize his true potential and he was unjustly put on wing in lower lines are most likely not the truth.
Same can be said about Dach. His surge in points was made when he was put in line with Cole and Suzuki as a winger.
That's why I wrote that we when we talk about Top 6 center, we must tale about an established and proven NHL center.
HuGo made a progress into that category since they are actually trying to find it while Bergy did nothing except drafting one instead of a BPA and we know how that ended.
IMO, we don't need a Top 6 C, we need a 1 C. Need it badly.

I don’t see Newhook as a C, even if he can play the position. So yeah.

Unless Dach becomes a top C, I don’t think the Habs will have one… for a while anyway.

 

[rik schau]

Seems like they are in a penny-pinching miser mode,trying to squeeze and salvage every dime. Visions of the tortoise and the hare,gonna get there,eventually! Not giving vibes of wanting to compete anytime soon,no matter,it's always packed house.

 

[HuGort]

I would build with big physical defense that can move the puck combined with with speedy forwards up front, that can score. Leads to quick zone exits and transition game. Find good netminding how I would build. Bring veteran captains from other teams in to help lead.

 

[Miller Time]

Who of those was a Top 6 C?
Monahan years ago before he ended up in 4th line duties in Calgary. Dach was behind Toews and Strome when he wes not put on wing. Newhook was a 3rd line winger in Avs.

I think that by Top6 C we must think of an established and proved Top 6 C, not unproven prospects who failed at C position and ended up as wingers.

What top 6 C's that fit your description have changed teams in the past 2 years?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I would build with big physical defense that can move the puck combined with with speedy forwards up front, that can score. Leads to quick zone exits and transition game. Find good netminding how I would build. Bring veteran captains from other teams in to help lead.

So exactly what HuGo are doing,

 

[Picaroon]

if you have confidence in your culture than you should be able to take risks on players who you think won’t fit into it inherently, otherwise what’s the point of culture?

Exactly. I respect the "culture" plan but they did pass on elite talent. Now they need to find another way to get it or this team will never win. Look at Tampa. Is Kucherov radiating good "culture?" Hell no. But they don't win 2 cups without him.

 

[NORiculous]

I think that the belief here might be that one well-oiled core is much more important than a single superstar cog.

I get what they are trying to achieve but I still don’t know why not have a well-oiled core WITH some superstar talents?