Official Tank Thread

Nedved

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Mar 30, 2008
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honestly, watching some games around the league, the only team that I think is worse than MTL right now is the sharks.

The biggest issue is Slaf not taking the next step, and Dach not being ready to play. That's 3 guys (Laine too) in our our top six not performing and it's hurting us. Anderson is a grinder and Dvorak is a bottom 6 center with no upside it seems. I thought Dvorak and Anderson would benefit from Dach being back but it's not the case. Newhook is a passenger player, but it's what I expected from him.

On D, I'm actually confused why we look so sloppy with Ghule in the lineup. Maybe Hutson needs more sheltered minutes and Guhle back with Savard. I'm not sure what they see in Struble. The D zone coverage and space looks like a hot mess.

I'm not sure, but we miss kovacevic and probably should've kept him. He would look nice next to Hutson.
 
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rahad

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Feb 3, 2016
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Not sure Savard stays. Or Matheson. Habs need to start aligning partners that are suitable to Hutson and Guhle. Because of this, I believe one of the two will go. A more fitting stop gap will be signed. Preferably Savard, to sign a different RD.
IF they trade Matheson, is going to be in the summer or in the next TDL. We only have young player at D. What can you get from Savard? A 3-4 round pick? I can see Savard staying to help develop the kid and leave the team in the summer.

We don't have any Sean Monahan type of player to trade this year. I don't see Kent super active this year TDL. We already have enough draft pick. I can see him being more active in the summer and draft day. With Dvorak and Armia gone. It open up more space in the caps for us.
 

Grate n Colorful Oz

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Jun 12, 2007
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IF they trade Matheson, is going to be in the summer or in the next TDL. We only have young player at D. What can you get from Savard? A 3-4 round pick? I can see Savard staying to help develop the kid and leave the team in the summer.

We don't have any Sean Monahan type of player to trade this year. I don't see Kent super active this year TDL. We already have enough draft pick. I can see him being more active in the summer and draft day. With Dvorak and Armia gone. It open up more space in the caps for us.

In this case, if he stands pat, there are chances we don't draft top 4, unless there's a major injury to a key player.
 

rahad

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Matheson, Barron, tons of picks and prospects. We’ve got boatloads to trade with.
If we are going to draft in the top 5. Why would Kent try to improve the team in the TDL? Why not do it in the summer of 2025? I don't see Kent trading draft picks to improve the team in the TDL. Do it in the summer. Our chance of making the playoff is good as gone.
 
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Rapala

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Mar 29, 2013
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I was really hoping we'd be there around February. Did the Laine injury really break all their backs this badly?

Anyway we clearly won't even be "in the mix" so let's go for another top 5.

My gf will be happy to get most game nights back to watching stupid tv series instead.
Not really we'd be losing games like last nights 4-2 instead of 4-1 I think we misinterpreted our pressing needs.
 

The Real Timo

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Jun 18, 2019
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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.
 

Lafleurs Guy

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IF they trade Matheson, is going to be in the summer or in the next TDL.
Why?
We only have young player at D. What can you get from Savard? A 3-4 round pick? I can see Savard staying to help develop the kid and leave the team in the summer.
Savard can stay.
We don't have any Sean Monahan type of player to trade this year. I don't see Kent super active this year TDL. We already have enough draft pick. I can see him being more active in the summer and draft day. With Dvorak and Armia gone. It open up more space in the caps for us.
Yeah, makes sense to be active in the summer but we’ve got a ton of talent coming in maybe as soon as next year. Beck, RB, Demidov, Roy…

Matheson can help teams now. A good second pairing offensive that would fit well on a vet team that can cover up his mistakes. Edmonton would love the guy and he’s not expensive.
 

rahad

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In this case, if he stands pat, there are chances we don't draft top 4, unless there's a major injury to a key player.
I'm not so sure about that. We had 29 more points than San Jose last year. We also had the most OT points (16). This year San Jose and Anaheim are much better. It could be a battle at the bottom 5 with San Jose , Chicago, Anaheim and Flyers.
 

Lafleurs Guy

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If we are going to draft in the top 5. Why would Kent try to improve the team in the TDL? Why not do it in the summer of 2025? I don't see Kent trading draft picks to improve the team in the TDL. Do it in the summer. Our chance of making the playoff is good as gone.
We shouldn’t be trying to draft top five.
 
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Grate n Colorful Oz

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I'm not so sure about that. We had 29 more points than San Jose last year. We also had the most OT points (16). This year San Jose and Anaheim are much better. It could be a battle at the bottom 5 with San Jose , Chicago, Anaheim and Flyers.

Let's hope so, because with the state of the team, we absolutely need to be high in this draft.
 
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CharleyHorse

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Sep 28, 2022
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I'm letting it go. Team is tied for last place & it isn't due to bad luck. They're a bad, bad team.
Is it really a bad team (within the context of year 2.75 of a rebuild, of course), or is it just a bad fit for the system(s) they’re being asked to play? Maybe the disinterest we’re seeing from Suzuki and others isn’t just about effort- it could be that they’re just not buying into a system that doesn’t play to their strengths. Could it be that the approach is holding them back more than the talent?
 

Ozmodiar

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Oct 18, 2017
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They were supposed to be mediocre but fun to watch. Instead, it’s just ugly and boring.

Was supposed to be Hutson and next level Slaf in the spotlight. Instead, it’s Gallagher.

Not a lot of lead indicators, “the future is bright”, to be seen on the ice.
 

Lafleurs Guy

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Is it really a bad team (within the context of year 2.75 of a rebuild, of course), or is it just a bad fit for the system(s) they’re being asked to play? Maybe the disinterest we’re seeing from Suzuki and others isn’t just about effort- it could be that they’re just not buying into a system that doesn’t play to their strengths. Could it be that the approach is holding them back more than the talent?
Agreed. We should be better than we are.
 
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rahad

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We shouldn’t be trying to draft top five.
We should not. I agreed with you on that. But, we are at the bottom. What do you gain now by trading prospect and leaving the bottom 5? If you are not going to make the playoff. Is not better to draft high?

For Matheson, I'm not so sure Hutson is ready to being our PP1 Yet? Reinbacher is going to miss the whole season. What make you so sure he is NHL ready next year?

Would it not be more easier for Kent to trade Matheson in the summer or in draft day? Maybe use our draft pick and trade for a RHD ? Like Matheson + draft pick for a RHD? Free agency could also be used to sign a RHD and trade him after?
 
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Lafleurs Guy

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We should not. I agreed with you on that. But, we are at the bottom. What do you gain now by trading prospect and leaving the bottom 5? If you are not going to make the playoff. Is not better to draft high?
We are at game 15, not game 65. If it was game 65 I’d be all in to tank. That’s not the case.

Never expected to make the playoffs but still expected a good development year. We can still salvage this. Getting a vet RD would be a good start.
For Matheson, I'm not so sure Hutson is ready to being our PP1 Yet? Reinbacher is going to miss the whole season. What make you so sure he is NHL ready next year?
Guhle becomes our number one LD. Hutson is 1B. Then we have X and Struble…
Would it not be more easier for Kent to trade Matheson in the summer or in draft day? Maybe use our draft pick and trade for a RHD ? Like Matheson + draft pick for a RHD? Free agency could also be used to sign a RHD and trade him after?
Easier? I guess. But we need help now.
 

Heffyhoof

So happy to be glad to be pleased to meet you.
Jan 17, 2016
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I can't wait to read the next series of TSN articles and the boring copycats so I know which player to be angry at this coming week. Xhekaj was enemy #1 for awhile but that's calmed down since the articles stopped flowing, thankfully Slaf is taking the flak for him.

The problems on this team start at the top, with lazy disinterested play from Suzuki and total non-play from Caufield apart from shooting. Moving both down to the second line if we can draft a centre would be the dream.
 
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Habs

It's going to be a long year
Feb 28, 2002
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is Reinbacher broken for the entire year, or will this huge disappointment be back at some point this season to show us if he is an NHL player we can rebuild around?
 
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rahad

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We are at game 15, not game 65. If it was game 65 I’d be all in to tank. That’s not the case.

Never expected to make the playoffs but still expected a good development year. We can still salvage this. Getting a vet RD would be a good start.

Guhle becomes our number one LD. Hutson is 1B. Then we have X and Struble…

Easier? I guess. But we need help now.
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.
 

bsl

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Oct 9, 2009
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I'm with you, if we're picking top 5 I'm hoping for a forward.
We have a lot of good pieces on the backend and getting a few defensively minded vets this offseason will hopefully help ease some of the defensive woes next season.

I don't think we're winning anything with Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield as our first line though. Ideally we'll see at least 2 of those guys demoted to our 2nd line before we're a competitive team.
I agree. Slaf Suzuki and Cole are really good but not a cup core. Demi Hutson are potential cup core. Habs need to add 1 more top c.
 

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