Official Tank Thread

[Boss Man Hughes]

I think the Ducks might actually be the worst of all but they've had some good goaltending and are overachieving.

I hope we can finish below one of SJ and Chicago and have Nashville wake up and play competent hockey. We really really need one of the top 4 prospects.

Let's hope our stretch from after Christmas to the end of January is terrible. It's 17 tough games, hoping for 5 wins max.

Ducks are not overachieving. They should be better than their record and likely would be with a real coach.

Outside the "established" top 4. I believe there are 3 very close 2nd tier in = McQueen, Desnoyers (on forward as centers) and Radim Mrtka as a RHD, as I think he will find his groove in the WHL.

Reality is, we would be hugely smart to finish bottom 4, hope for some luck..

But to the posters clamoring for a playoff push.. insanity.. let it go..

If during this year certain players prove/show they are regressing (lije Dach/Newhook) then trade them.. who effing cares?? The only objective should be to start next year with a legit top6, top4.

I have 0 (zero) care for keeping anyone on our team if they are not a contributing member of the top6. No time, no patience.. they have no stress, nit expected to make playoffs, so if they are unable to perform under these circumstances, they are useless to us.

If at least one of Dach or Newhook don't pan out there is absolutely no way Habs will have a legit top 6 next year.

 

[Habby4Life]

Cc Suzuki-demi
Slaf-Misa- Laine
Newhook-Hage-heinemenn
Xhekaj-beck-Tuch

Please no more Newhook!

If they get Misa, that would be great. But I think Hage, Wifi Jr, and Tuch might be another year out.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Please no more Newhook!

If they get Misa, that would be great. But I think Hage, Wifi Jr, and Tuch might be another year out.

It's possible some of the 2025 top 4 are ready but would HuGo let them start the year in the NHL. If Slaf doesn't return to form they may be hesitant.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Ducks are not overachieving. They should be better than their record and likely would be with a real coach.


If at least one of Dach or Newhook don't pan out there is absolutely no way Habs will have a legit top 6 next year.

Newhook very likely moves to the third line with Beck. Demidov comes in on the 2nd with Laine.

As for Dach, I think they’re probably looking for alternatives.

 

[Habby4Life]

It's possible some of the 2025 top 4 are ready but would HuGo let them start the year in the NHL. If Slaf doesn't return to form they may be hesitant.

I get people are excited for Wifi jr, Tuck, etc. However, it’s pretty aggressive thinking they all will be ready next year.

Hugo is going to have to be busy this summer and bring in good NHL veterans to fill holes. They need a backup, they need a vet or 2 D, especially RD, and they need a 2c desperately. Bottom six well, they need size and toughness.

Knuckles said it right on his podcast, this team of boys needs more men.

 

[DAChampion]

People wrote that the Habs would improve simply due to Allen being replaced by Primeau.

 

[Riggins]

Ducks are not overachieving. They should be better than their record and likely would be with a real coach.

Their record is way better than it should be right now given how they've played. Expect them to fall like a rock.

Take it for what it's worth but on Moneypuck their Expected Goal % is worst in the league and their goalies have a combined 22.3 goals saved above expected.

 

[KevSkillz4]

The top 4 looks really really solid with Schaefer, Hagens, Martone and Misa.

Frondell and Desnoyers are both solid consolation prize, Frondell have top 3 talent in this draft and Desnoyers can be a hallejuah two-way guy in NHL level.

I'm Michael Misa train, but I would be very happy with one of 6.

 

[themilosh]

Ducks are not overachieving. They should be better than their record and likely would be with a real coach.


If at least one of Dach or Newhook don't pan out there is absolutely no way Habs will have a legit top 6 next year.

Then we are not ready to make a playoff push. Next year can be another top 5 pick..
My goal is simple: either you make playoffs, or you finish bottom 5. The biggest loser area, and any GM should be fired if they finish btw "#9-15". That is the kiss of death.. unacceptable.

Imo finishing in the 9-15 range is the most counter-productive placement in all of sports.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I get people are excited for Wifi jr, Tuck, etc. However, it’s pretty aggressive thinking they all will be ready next year.

Hugo is going to have to be busy this summer and bring in good NHL veterans to fill holes. They need a backup, they need a vet or 2 D, especially RD, and they need a 2c desperately. Bottom six well, they need size and toughness.

Knuckles said it right on his podcast, this team of boys needs more men.

I doubt Tuch and Xhekaj will be ready. Beck and Davidson should be. Roy would be if he gave 100% every shift.

 

[Habby4Life]

I doubt Tuch and Xhekaj will be ready. Beck and Davidson should be. Roy would be if he gave 100% every shift.

Out of all those guys, the only one I see sticking is Beck. Some may come in time but in the meantime (imo) Hugo has to trade and $$ FA and fix some of the holes.

I don’t like Roy, just too soft, don’t like his lack of speed and I don’t want any more guys on the team that don’t go all out. I’m done watching guys go half ass.

I have seen 6 Stanley cups in my lifetime, I sure would like to see one more before I go out.

I was there in the corner of the saddledome with my dad in 86 when Skrudland put in the ot winner, that was the best. We were loud that night leaving the dome.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Out of all those guys, the only one I see sticking is Beck. Some may come in time but in the meantime (imo) Hugo has to trade and $$ FA and fix some of the holes.

I don’t like Roy, just too soft, don’t like his lack of speed and I don’t want any more guys on the team that don’t go all out. I’m done watching guys go half ass.

I have seen 6 Stanley cups in my lifetime, I sure would like to see one more before I go out.

I was there in the corner of the saddledome with my dad in 86 when Skrudland put in the ot winner, that was the best. We were loud that night leaving the dome.

Davidson will likely be ready. He could take a 4th line spot - at least to start.

 

[Habby4Life]

Davidson will likely be ready. He could take a 4th line spot - at least to start.

I don’t know, we will see. I’d be more than ok with signing Evans.

As I see it know, they have NS 1c, no 2c, maybe Beck as 3c, and I like Evans at 4. If Beck falters or gets hurt whatever, Evans can move up.

I’m high on evans. He works really hard, never takes a night off, and since he has come into the league he has progressed. He in my opinion is a great depth bottom 6 guy. Good on PK too.

I’m hoping they snag a legit C at the draft. I would love it if somehow they got Misa

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I don’t know, we will see. I’d be more than ok with signing Evans.

As I see it know, they have NS 1c, no 2c, maybe Beck as 3c, and I like Evans at 4. If Beck falters or gets hurt whatever, Evans can move up.

I’m high on evans. He works really hard, never takes a night off, and since he has come into the league he has progressed. He in my opinion is a great depth bottom 6 guy. Good on PK too.

I’m hoping they snag a legit C at the draft. I would love it if somehow they got Misa

I think Davidson can play wing and centre. I would try him on Evans line. Kapanen is another centre that might need a spot,

 

[Habby4Life]

I think Davidson can play wing and centre. I would try him on Evans line. Kapanen is another centre that might need a spot,

Are you saying you would sign Evans if his contract demands are reasonable?

 

[themilosh]

Are you saying you would sign Evans if his contract demands are reasonable?

I think it's reasonable to assume so yes.

 

[Scriptor]

The top 4 looks really really solid with Schaefer, Hagens, Martone and Misa.

Frondell and Desnoyers are both solid consolation prize, Frondell have top 3 talent in this draft and Desnoyers can be a hallejuah two-way guy in NHL level.

I'm Michael Misa train, but I would be very happy with one of 6.

I'd be disappointed if we didn't at least get Misa at the 2025 draft, even if there are other excellent players beyond Misa, Martone, Hagens and Schaefer. I'd hope to get a Desnoyers with the CAL pick, even if it meant moving up a bit by adding a 2nd round pick at that point.

Winning a look at Misa with a lottery win (not dreaming the dream of 1st OA and Hagens), getting Desnoyers with the CAL pick and, somehow, landing another 1st round pick (trading Matheson at the deadline) that nets us Carbonneau to boot would be a dream draft:

C-line in four years: Misa - Suzuki - Desnoyers - Beck (wow potential!)
Scoring wingers for the top-6: Caufield, Laine, Demidov, Slafkovsky
Potential Mid-6 wingers: Hage, Carbonneau, Roy
Bottom-6 wingers: Davidson, Xhekaj

Demidov - Misa - Laine
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Roy/Hage - Desnoyers - Carbonneau
Davidson - Beck - F.Xjekaj/Roy

I really like the idea of a Quebec line of Roy - Desnoyers - Carbonneau as a two-way line with legitimate offensive upside beyond the top-6.

Even if we don't land Desnoyers, we should do our utmost to draft Carbonneau. With Misa as a gift, we would still have huge depth at C and could ice:

Demidov - Misa - Laine
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Roy - Hage - Carbonneau
Davidson - Beck - F.Xjekaj

 

[Scriptor]

I think Davidson, as he has done at every level so far, could surprise many after sone time playing at the NHL level. He's needed a bit of time -- everywhere he played - before adjusting to the higher tempo and then taking off.

I like Davidson as a 4th line player that can sub in as a 3rd line player in case of injury. He might get pushed out by better talent, though, depending on how Hughes drafts in 2025 with so many quality picks already and the potential to move some veterans at this year's deadline to acquire even more quality picks Matheson, Dvorak, Armia, Savard, even Evans).

I think that keeping Evans will be mandatory, personally, because the C-line would be a huge question mark next season and that could be detrimental to the team's progression as a whole.

Dach remains a question mark, Hage won't be ready for a role at the NHL level, IMO, Beck will just be getting his beak wet and will need time to adjust to the NHL tempo. Evans would be a calming presence until somebody else stakes a claim to a spot down the middle.

 

[ReHabs]

Tank stats update

0.417 pt% is 29th/32 in the league, bottom4, ahead of SJS, CHI and NSH. BUF and ANA are ahead of us to round out the bottom6.

-31 goal difference is 32nd/32, worst in the league.
81 GF is 27th/32 in the league, bottom6.
112 GA is 30th/32 in the league, bottom3.

2.7 GF/gp is 24th in the league.
3.73 GA/gp is 32nd in the league.

80.2% PK is 14th in the league.
20.2% PP is 18th in the league.

24.3 shots for/gp is 32nd in the league, worst in the league.
29.9 shots against/gp is 25th in the league.

0.833 Win% when leading after the 1st period is 10th in the league (good!)
0.889 Win% when leading after the 2nd is 16th in the league (not awful!)
0.00 Win% when trailing after the 1st period is 32nd in the league (very bad!)
0.00 Win% when trailing after 2nd period is T-32nd in the league (very bad!)

A quick glance at two pairs of advanced stats:
48.0% Shot Attempts when Behind is 31st in the league, bottom2.
46.1% Shot Attempts in General is 29th in the league, bottom4.
46.2% Unblocked Shot Attempts when Behind is 31st in the league, bottom2.
45.5% Unblocked Shot Attempts in General is 29th in the league, bottom 4.

Quick impressions:

• We need to shoot more;
• While goaltending seems to be underperforming (25th in shots against/gp vs 32nd in goals against/gp), it seems like the offense is really incapable of implicating themselves into the game and (un)tilting the ice;
• Special teams are better than expected (I think it's a sign of talent rather than coaching)
• Motivation, leadership, coaching, whatever you want to call it: the hopeless comeback stat is damning of our intangibles. In my opinion this is the biggest indicator of a Losing Culture. I would want to see more SA/gp in general and especially more when Behind, the fact they can't claw back is really damning. It can't just be Kirby Dach's under performance it is the transition game + forecheck that is failing to generate shooting opportunities;
• Seems like our Coaching is problematic.

 

[Scriptor]

With so many golden opportunities to score (breakaways) that aren't converted in recent games, it's hard to believe that superior goaltending is the root cause.

Game-breaking skill is obviously missing on this team. Demidov, if he pans out as advertised, won't be enough, IMO.

Hopefully, Hage, or someone from the 2025 crop that we draft moves up quickly and brings some game-breaking skill with them...

 

[sandviper]

If at least one of Dach or Newhook don't pan out there is absolutely no way Habs will have a legit top 6 next year.

I don’t see Newhook becoming much more than a 3rd liner. Dach has the talent, but he just needs to take that step. Not sure if it’s a maturity thing, injury-worry or he just doesn’t have that next gear.

Our top-6 for next year will be the same 20-14-13.

Maybe Demidov will make an immediate impact, but I do think Demidov and Hage will be top-6 quality players… just not next year.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Are you saying you would sign Evans if his contract demands are reasonable?

I would , but why would they be reasonable? If I'm Evans I'm milking the club dry or moving on somewhere I can win in the bottom 6 , No idea why he would resign here on a sweet deal , makes no sense

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don’t see Newhook becoming much more than a 3rd liner. Dach has the talent, but he just needs to take that step. Not sure if it’s a maturity thing, injury-worry or he just doesn’t have that next gear.

Our top-6 for next year will be the same 20-14-13.

Maybe Demidov will make an immediate impact, but I do think Demidov and Hage will be top-6 quality players… just not next year.

Demidov absolutely will make an immediate impact.

We are talking about the best drafted prospect not in the NHL. Look at what Michkov is doing in the NHL this year, that's a reasonable barometer for what he should be able to do in the NHL next year for us.

 

[Habby4Life]

I would , but why would they be reasonable? If I'm Evans I'm milking the club dry or moving on somewhere I can win in the bottom 6 , No idea why he would resign here on a sweet deal , makes no sense

I agree, he is going to get paid.

 

[Habby4Life]

Tank stats update

0.417 pt% is 29th/32 in the league, bottom4, ahead of SJS, CHI and NSH. BUF and ANA are ahead of us to round out the bottom6.

-31 goal difference is 32nd/32, worst in the league.
81 GF is 27th/32 in the league, bottom6.
112 GA is 30th/32 in the league, bottom3.

2.7 GF/gp is 24th in the league.
3.73 GA/gp is 32nd in the league.

80.2% PK is 14th in the league.
20.2% PP is 18th in the league.

24.3 shots for/gp is 32nd in the league, worst in the league.
29.9 shots against/gp is 25th in the league.

0.833 Win% when leading after the 1st period is 10th in the league (good!)
0.889 Win% when leading after the 2nd is 16th in the league (not awful!)
0.00 Win% when trailing after the 1st period is 32nd in the league (very bad!)
0.00 Win% when trailing after 2nd period is T-32nd in the league (very bad!)

A quick glance at two pairs of advanced stats:
48.0% Shot Attempts when Behind is 31st in the league, bottom2.
46.1% Shot Attempts in General is 29th in the league, bottom4.
46.2% Unblocked Shot Attempts when Behind is 31st in the league, bottom2.
45.5% Unblocked Shot Attempts in General is 29th in the league, bottom 4.

Quick impressions:

• We need to shoot more;
• While goaltending seems to be underperforming (25th in shots against/gp vs 32nd in goals against/gp), it seems like the offense is really incapable of implicating themselves into the game and (un)tilting the ice;
• Special teams are better than expected (I think it's a sign of talent rather than coaching)
• Motivation, leadership, coaching, whatever you want to call it: the hopeless comeback stat is damning of our intangibles. In my opinion this is the biggest indicator of a Losing Culture. I would want to see more SA/gp in general and especially more when Behind, the fact they can't claw back is really damning. It can't just be Kirby Dach's under performance it is the transition game + forecheck that is failing to generate shooting opportunities;
• Seems like our Coaching is problematic.

Last year they worked hard almost every night. Even if they were down a goal or two it didn’t necessarily feel like the game is over. This year different story. Seems like there is less fight in them.

Losing 1/4 of the games by being stomped, yeah that isn’t good either.

So many problems with this roster.