Official Tank Thread

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

We shouldn’t be trying to draft top five.

We shouldn't be trying to compete with 5 out 7 dmen being 23 or younger.

We shouldn't be trying to compete when we've added only two rebuild draftees so far and both are 20 years old.

When we speak to the strenghts or shortcomings of a rebuild that's done primaly through the draft, logically, it should be spoken in terms of how the picks are impacting the team, before anything else.

So far, there's very little impact from prospects from rebuild drafts. They are barely starting to enter the team, which means that all these hopes, all this eagerness to compete, is foisted on a collection of mediocre vets and a bunch of hopefuls who had a long shot of becoming key players, outside of the trio of CC, NS & KG. Guys like Monty, Jackeye, Struble, Barron, Roy, RHP, Newhook, Evans and Primeau. It's pure fantasy to expect so much out of such a big bunch of hopefuls.

The only one out of this mold is Dach, but way too much progression is asked of a player who missed around half the games (iirc) he should've played in the last 5 years.

The point is not to get back into the playoffs ASAP, but to rebuild our asset base ASAP. We already have a strong pool of prospects, but not high enough yet, IMO, and so few have arrived on the team, that asking for anything else is pure folly that will lead us on the same path as Buffalo and Ottawa.

 

[WeThreeKings]

On RDS they said Habs need to win like 41 out of next 67 games to hit 90 point to be "in da mix". Anyone sees that happening? Basically playing above .610. Lol. Where is that switch?

IMHO they best they can aspire at this point is go back to .500 and potentially restore what little semblence of confidence youngsters had last season and start next season with not f***ing up the training camp.

It was not happening in their wildest dreams.. which continues to show that media interpreted the 'in the mix' comment wrongly. 90 points isn't 'in the mix', it is a legitimate threat to make the playoffs.

They were trying to take a step where it wasn't obvious they'd be selling at the deadline a month before the deadline. That is not trending the right way, we would be an obvious seller if they don't get out of the basement before December 1st.

 

[bsl]

Go look at every other rebuilding team in NHL history, this is the norm not the exception.

The hockey guy on YouTube had an interesting take yesterday. Thinks there may be a systemic problem with bottom feeders and they may not be able to climb out. 6 or 7 teams are in this position. More than ever. Parity may not be working.

 

[le_sean]

I can see why they thought they’d be in the mix this year. Philly, the Caps and the Isles were all in the mix last year and were dogshit teams. You’d think a young and competitive team would continue progressing. They put too much faith in that, ignoring the fact their head coach is incapable of coaching D

 

[bsl]

How does every player look worse than last season (exception are the 1st year guys of course)?


I am still bewildered as to how massive the regression is.

I’m not. Slaf. Dach. I watched them play. Said nothing. They’re good players but not special. Suzuki is a great player but not a number 1 c man. Cc is actually fine as a sniper. He is part of a cup winner. Defense is young. Hutson is important. Guhle is very good but not great. No other young d are stepping up. Yeesh. It might be start over time.

 

[bsl]

Maybe the core of this team isn’t Suzuki/Caufield but Demidov/Martone/Hutson/Fowler/Slaf

That’s what I have been saying also. Nick and Cole are second line players on a contender. It may take 4 more years to build a real first line. With high drafting. One very good ufa. And some luck. Habs are looking at 5 years to truly contend I think.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Assuming we manage to get either Hagens/Misa this draft and we let Dvorak+Armia walk, how does everyone see our lineup looking to start next season?

I could see something along the lines of:

• Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
• Laine-Hagens/Misa-Demidov
• Newhook-Dach-Gallagher
• Heineman-Evans-Anderson

Our 2nd line would be moved to our 3rd line essentially, and we'd have an all new 2nd line that could have the potential to overtake our 1st line in terms of production.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

YES FINALLY! We can cheer for the team!!! Why were mods gatekeeping this thread.

Tank until you have 2 better forwards than Suzuki and Caufield please

 

[SlafySZN]

YES FINALLY! We can cheer for the team!!! Why were mods gatekeeping this thread.

Tank until you have 2 better forwards than Suzuki and Caufield please

Demidov, Slaf and possibly Hage.

I’d say we probably draft one this summer too.

 

[FrankMTL]

Let's turbo charge this tank to get Martone.

 

[Habs]

Gotta think Nashville gets things going at some point, right?

 

[le_sean]

View attachment 928893

Gotta think Nashville gets things going at some point, right?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855661994570846332

I’m at least happy Kent didn’t decide to cave and overpay for this guy

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Most of the major trade are done around the all-star break. Where are you going to find a team willing to trade in November? Have you seen any major trade done in October or November? We will see how the team play with the arrival of Laine in December or January.

Teams will trade anytime it makes sense. You think Nashville for example wouldn’t be open to a trade right now?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

We shouldn't be trying to compete with 5 out 7 dmen being 23 or younger.

We shouldn't be trying to compete when we've added only two rebuild draftees so far and both are 20 years old.

When we speak to the strenghts or shortcomings of a rebuild that's done primaly through the draft, logically, it should be spoken in terms of how the picks are impacting the team, before anything else.

So far, there's very little impact from prospects from rebuild drafts. They are barely starting to enter the team, which means that all these hopes, all this eagerness to compete, is foisted on a collection of mediocre vets and a bunch of hopefuls who had a long shot of becoming key players, outside of the trio of CC, NS & KG. Guys like Monty, Jackeye, Struble, Barron, Roy, RHP, Newhook, Evans and Primeau. It's pure fantasy to expect so much out of such a big bunch of hopefuls.

The only one out of this mold is Dach, but way too much progression is asked of a player who missed around half the games (iirc) he should've played in the last 5 years.

The point is not to get back into the playoffs ASAP, but to rebuild our asset base ASAP. We already have a strong pool of prospects, but not high enough yet, IMO, and so few have arrived on the team, that asking for anything else is pure folly that will lead us on the same path as Buffalo and Ottawa.

I’m not suggesting we try to get into the playoffs. I’m saying that this should be a development year. And to develop you need a couple of vets to help you along.

If we unintentionally tank, so be it. But we shouldn’t try to do that now. We should be trying to improve and be as competitive as possible with the young roster we have.

That doesn’t mean quick fixes or going for the playoffs… it means maybe changing the system we’re using and adding a vet in D.

 

[Tabarouette]

The hockey guy on YouTube had an interesting take yesterday. Thinks there may be a systemic problem with bottom feeders and they may not be able to climb out. 6 or 7 teams are in this position. More than ever. Parity may not be working.

Part of an explanation for this problem is that this league is very much a copycat league. Since tanking is a good option if not the best option, too many teams are tanking at the same time and they're diluting the picks.

Every year you end up with 3-4-5 dogshit teams who should technically be rewarded with a good pick missing out on a sure thing, instead having to use up an entire year of rebuild on a gamble pick

To be clear idk how to fix this

There has fun ideas out there, having a small tournament with all eliminated teams to determine the draft order, forcing teams to remain competitive.
Or the one where you start accumulating points the moment you're eliminated and whoever has the most points picks first, that way you have to turbo tank early in order to start stacking points fast and that's very funny to me

 

[Runner77]

Never gets old:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855585003339485507

Previous iteration of looking to be « in the mix » in the middle of a rebuild, was the Bergevin classic about striving to make the playoffs while building through the draft.

Both of these schemes have Geoff’s dirty paw prints all over them.

 

[TT1]

here we go again..

 

[ReHabs]

Part of an explanation for this problem is that this league is very much a copycat league. Since tanking is a good option if not the best option, too many teams are tanking at the same time and they're diluting the picks.

Every year you end up with 3-4-5 dogshit teams who should technically be rewarded with a good pick missing out on a sure thing, instead having to use up an entire year of rebuild on a gamble pick

To be clear idk how to fix this

There has fun ideas out there, having a small tournament with all eliminated teams to determine the draft order, forcing teams to remain competitive.
Or the one where you start accumulating points the moment you're eliminated and whoever has the most points picks first, that way you have to turbo tank early in order to start stacking points fast and that's very funny to me

Very interesting comment

Could it be the Habs decided to tank just as tanking lost its effectiveness? Would be classic.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Teams will trade anytime it makes sense. You think Nashville for example wouldn’t be open to a trade right now?

Of course but the odds of finding a trade partner is low.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

 

[teamfirst]

Very interesting comment

Could it be the Habs decided to tank just as tanking lost its effectiveness? Would be classic.

 

[HabsCode]

Part of an explanation for this problem is that this league is very much a copycat league. Since tanking is a good option if not the best option, too many teams are tanking at the same time and they're diluting the picks.

Every year you end up with 3-4-5 dogshit teams who should technically be rewarded with a good pick missing out on a sure thing, instead having to use up an entire year of rebuild on a gamble pick

To be clear idk how to fix this

There has fun ideas out there, having a small tournament with all eliminated teams to determine the draft order, forcing teams to remain competitive.
Or the one where you start accumulating points the moment you're eliminated and whoever has the most points picks first, that way you have to turbo tank early in order to start stacking points fast and that's very funny to me

There is still no better way to get young elite talent than through the draft (which is the entry level for any talent coming into the league). The difference a Demidov, Beniers, Makar, Edvinsson, Stutzle, Raymond, etc. you can get in the top 5 instead of first overall still has the potential to have a considerably bigger impact on a franchise than say what you generally get at #12 pick overall.

The lottery rule change for at most 2 drop in the order instead of 3 makes it more rewarding for bottom team too.

 

[Gravity]

Never gets old:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855585003339485507

Previous iteration of looking to be « in the mix » in the middle of a rebuild, was the Bergevin classic about striving to make the playoffs while building through the draft.

Both of these schemes have Geoff’s dirty paw prints all over them.

I laughed a lot harder than I should have at that audio clip lol. The exasperation in his voice really got me.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Never gets old:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855585003339485507

Previous iteration of looking to be « in the mix » in the middle of a rebuild, was the Bergevin classic about striving to make the playoffs while building through the draft.

Both of these schemes have Geoff’s dirty paw prints all over them.

The very definition of needing to touch grass. I mean, Molson's been a lousy owner for the hockey side of things, but when you're completely losing it on live radio like that, it means you care a little too much and your life must be empty for such an inconsequential sport to take so much space in it. Ouf.

 

[HabsCode]

Big night for Ze Tank tonight:

I expect all 3 of them to lose since they all f***ing suck at hockey like us.