Official Tank Thread

[Sorinth]

I think we need Martone. The team is just soft as a baby's ass, and we need a little sandpaper both up-front and on the back-end.

We are missing those types of players. We have reasonable skill-guys in our system, but we're missing the size and toughness to carry us through the playoffs.

Yes, that's right, I've gone full MOAR BIGGER.

Mwahahahahaha.

I'm all for adding another guy with size and skill, but I don't think it's a must with the top pick. It takes time for big skilled guys to really impose themselves at the NHL level, so even though we are too soft right now, Slaf will become more and more imposing, Dach has shown flashes, Beck, Xhekaj will surely bring that element as well. Hage and Demidov won't bring the sandpaper, but they have good enough size and don't seem particularly soft.

 

[WeThreeKings]

So you believe that they publicly announced to the world that they expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot without believing it?

So they made the announcement for 's*its and giggles' and see the chaos it would cause if the season went down the tubes?

In the mix meant not being obvious sellers ahead of the deadline. It didn't mean competing for a playoff spot, which is what they would have said if that was their goal.

They havent made even that smaller incremental step (yet) but a lot of fans misinterpreted that comment as being ready to compete for a playoff spot which is not what was meant. They just wanted to play meaningful games deeper into the year.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Is that what they'll learn if no changes are made and there is little accountability between the players and between hockey ops and the roster?

I'm genuinely wondering...

Adversity builds character as well, time will tell which consequence plays out.

Either way hockey ops isn't going to rush this. (this season) The 2nd youngest team in the league needs time.

They're rightfully imo sticking to the plan.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

As he should, no point in paying anything valuable for short term fixes, this year is all about transition and growth.


I disagree I don't think what he said has anything to do with tanking. If it happens so be it, he'll gladly take the high draft pick, but I think he fully expects more from his team as constructed.. Season is long, this team has a lot of runway to get better.

And they will.

You can all enjoy your tank thread and hope they bottom out, but don't be surprised when they turn it around and kill those dreams of another top 5 pick.

This team is not about tanking, who knows, maybe it's possible they struggle all year and end up there, (I doubt it) but it's certainly not their intention.

I think you missed the most obvious outcome: one more major injury and we're almost guaranteed a top 5 pick.

 

[Lshap]

In the mix meant not being obvious sellers ahead of the deadline. It didn't mean competing for a playoff spot, which is what they would have said if that was their goal.

They havent made even that smaller incremental step (yet) but a lot of fans misinterpreted that comment as being ready to compete for a playoff spot which is not what was meant. They just wanted to play meaningful games deeper into the year.

100% this. "In the mix" is deliberately vague and a totally different message than "We're aiming for the playoffs".

I get why we overlaid our own expectations onto the phrase – hell, I certainly did! – but it's simply saying the team should be trending up. Hopefully, it still can.

 

[Paddyjack]

In the mix meant not being obvious sellers ahead of the deadline. It didn't mean competing for a playoff spot, which is what they would have said if that was their goal.

They havent made even that smaller incremental step (yet) but a lot of fans misinterpreted that comment as being ready to compete for a playoff spot which is not what was meant. They just wanted to play meaningful games deeper into the year.

For me it meant being in the bubble, which means "if we are lucky and everything goes our way and other teams suck, we may be in the last spot for the POs".

Problem I see this year is that people did understand this concept, but the abysmal way the team is playing so far especially on defence makes it look like the rebuild is going all wrong. And thus, fans are panicking, not because we are not making the POs.

To me, the blame for this is coaching.

 

[WeThreeKings]

100% this. "In the mix" is deliberately vague and a totally different message than "We're aiming for the playoffs".

I get why we overlaid our own expectations onto the phrase – hell, I certainly did! – but it's simply saying the team should be trending up. Hopefully, it still can.

See where we are when Laine is back and Dach is bringing his B and A games consistently rather than just flashing a shift or two.

 

[Demigod]

Difference between this year and last years :

Replacing Monahan by Dach = Gamble

Replacing Harris and Kovacevik by Hutson, Barron, Struble and Xhekaj = Gamble

Giving Montambault and Primeau the goaltending = Gamble

Keeping the same coaching staff and not hiring an experience assistant coach = Gamble

They really expect that everyone on the team will step up and didnt think they were relying only on hypothesis to enter this season. At the end of the day they were really blindly optimistic that everything will turn out perfect and they didnt prepare for the opposite.

 

[Lshap]

For me it meant being in the bubble, which means "if we are lucky and everything goes our way and other teams suck, we may be in the last spot for the POs".

Luck was what the previous administration relied on. This administration is focusing on talent and development. The more we have, the more we'll improve. The strategy is sound. But, like a long-term stock investment, the upward climb comes with occasional dips.

Problem I see this year is that people did understand this concept, but the abysmal way the team is playing so far especially on defence makes it look like the rebuild is going all wrong. And thus, fans are panicking, not because we are not making the POs.

To me, the blame for this is coaching.

No question, the team took a step backwards. Some people had the Habs at the bottom this season, but I don't remember anyone predicting so many players would regress at the same time. There's no logical reason these young players should be worse than they were last year, so I'm still hopeful they'll have a market correction and get back on track. As for who/what to blame for the lousy start, it might be the wrong coach, the wrong system, the wrong mindset, or just bad luck. A lot can change between now and the next five months.

 

[417]

In the mix meant not being obvious sellers ahead of the deadline. It didn't mean competing for a playoff spot, which is what they would have said if that was their goal.

They havent made even that smaller incremental step (yet) but a lot of fans misinterpreted that comment as being ready to compete for a playoff spot which is not what was meant. They just wanted to play meaningful games deeper into the year.

Seemed clear to me...anyone misinterpreting it to mean competing for a playoff spot created a pretext for complaining.

 

[morhilane]

Luck was what the previous administration relied on. This administration is focusing on talent and development. The more we have, the more we'll improve. The strategy is sound. But, like a long-term stock investment, the upward climb comes with occasional dips.

Right now, the current management seems to be counting on Luck for their RHD issues. Not sure how they expect Barron to develop if he doesn't play.

 

[junyab]

After the Laine signing and Dach coming back everyone here was singing the praises for a competent top 6. And most had our goalie tandem as "above average". Well Laine got hurt, Dach couldn't center the 2nd line, and our backstops are actually well below average.

Why is anyone surprised we are where we are, or by Hughes' "in the mix" comment when he said it?

 

[calder candidate]

Is that what they'll learn if no changes are made and there is little accountability between the players and between hockey ops and the roster?

I'm genuinely wondering...

Maybe they won’t learn anything and just keep the party going, fizzle out… somethings you are able to control or influence as a team but ultimately the player are the one that need to do what they need to do.

 

[ReHabs]

Maybe they won’t learn anything and just keep the party going, fizzle out… somethings you are able to control or influence as a team but ultimately the player are the one that need to do what they need to do.

I think this is why the blame lies at the feet of the coaches. It can't be that everybody on the team under performs, the coach doesn't get them prepared to perform.

Hughes has to do something to help the coach now -- and that includes making a roster trade and breaking up the country club vibes.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Luck was what the previous administration relied on. This administration is focusing on talent and development. The more we have, the more we'll improve. The strategy is sound. But, like a long-term stock investment, the upward climb comes with occasional dips.


No question, the team took a step backwards. Some people had the Habs at the bottom this season, but I don't remember anyone predicting so many players would regress at the same time. There's no logical reason these young players should be worse than they were last year, so I'm still hopeful they'll have a market correction and get back on track. As for who/what to blame for the lousy start, it might be the wrong coach, the wrong system, the wrong mindset, or just bad luck. A lot can change between now and the next five months.

The last few games have been better. Not great but better. I thought we did okay defensively vs the Leafs but the offense was non-existant. Vs Buffalo we were the better team. I only saw the 3rd of the Devils game but we played well there vs a good team.

Hopefully it's a sign that the team is coming out of it's funk. We are a better team than we've shown.

 

[rahad]

I really like our pieces but there’s a lot of question marks.

I usually keep it positive on here but I have concerns for sure: Guhle’s injuries and slight frame that he seems determined to not build on. Reinbacher’s injuries. Mailloux’s D. Caufield’s all around game 5 on 5 especially. Laine’s injuries. Dach’s injuries (people need to give him more time). Xhekaj maturing and settling in.

Team speed could be an issue even if everything goes right.

But with that I still think we have a ton of tradeable assets. Demidov and Hutson are unproven sure but both are as talented as it gets and you couldn’t ask more from their early returns. And it’s not like the ‘outer core’ that immediately surrounds them are a bunch of bums.

We have plenty of raw material and we can still attain more.

The biggest question mark this season and the next one are Dach, Reinbacher and Laine. If Dach don't come at 100% next season and stay a 50pts player. It could make our rebuild longer. We also have a big whole at center. Same could be said for Laine. Will we see the old Laine or is his career almost over?

Do we sign Laine or let him go next season? Can Dach play center or do we need to draft/trade for a center. Is Reinbacher going to be a injury prone player or is just bad luck for him? Those 3 players are the biggest question mark right with us.

 

[Habs]

Penguins are coming for our top pick, already moved eller .... God we need Hagens/Portone so bad somehow

 

[Kosseca]

Difference between this year and last years :

Replacing Monahan by Dach = Gamble

Replacing Harris and Kovacevik by Hutson, Barron, Struble and Xhekaj = Gamble

Giving Montambault and Primeau the goaltending = Gamble

Keeping the same coaching staff and not hiring an experience assistant coach = Gamble

They really expect that everyone on the team will step up and didnt think they were relying only on hypothesis to enter this season. At the end of the day they were really blindly optimistic that everything will turn out perfect and they didnt prepare for the opposite.

I'm impressed. every single thing in this post is.... wrong. Quite an accomplishment!

 

[Maitz]

It might be a bold take but Schaefer will be the best player of this crop

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'm impressed. every single thing in this post is.... wrong. Quite an accomplishment!

Sounds like the poster had his own expectations that weren't fufilled so he's pinning it on management.

Hughes doubled down on the timeline recently. I respect it.

 

[Demigod]

I'm impressed. every single thing in this post is.... wrong. Quite an accomplishment!

Could you elaborate a little bit?

 

[417]

So you believe that they publicly announced to the world that they expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot without believing it?

So they made the announcement for 's*its and giggles' and see the chaos it would cause if the season went down the tubes?

What is this "announcement' reference you're making?

They didn't hold a press conference to "announce" anything.

It was at the golf tournament and ownership/management WAS ASKED about their season's goals. Here are some important quotes

“I want us to be in the race, more long-term,” Hughes said Monday before the Canadiens’ annual season-opening golf tournament at Club Laval-sur-le-Lac. “I can’t predict whether that means until the last game, I can’t predict whether we’ll make the playoffs.

“At the end of the day, for us to progress, to move forward, the players need to gain experience as a team in games that matter.

Why do people insist on taking things way out of context?

 

[JianYang]

Difference between this year and last years :

Replacing Monahan by Dach = Gamble

Replacing Harris and Kovacevik by Hutson, Barron, Struble and Xhekaj = Gamble

Giving Montambault and Primeau the goaltending = Gamble

Keeping the same coaching staff and not hiring an experience assistant coach = Gamble

They really expect that everyone on the team will step up and didnt think they were relying only on hypothesis to enter this season. At the end of the day they were really blindly optimistic that everything will turn out perfect and they didnt prepare for the

The general theme of all the transactions you listed is going with youth and inexperience.

It is not a coincidence, and they aren't gambles either. The players they gave up are not lost peices that would be preventing them from being a cup contender. The vision is to build something greater.

Jury is out on the rebuild but the theme is consistent so far.

 

[Demigod]

Sadly their evaluation was not right for some players and they went to fast the transition. That's why the team play way worst than last year.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Hagens or Mortone, who do we want, HFbros?


Also, I still can't get over the fact that after all this years, we're still looking for a goddamn centerman. Both Dach and Newhook are disappointing