I actually think he could be an upgrade on Dvorak at center on the bottom 6.
But that depends what kind of Dvorak we have next season...if he's still around..
Prospect Info: Oliver Kapanen, RHC, KalPa U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 64th Overall
- Thread starter LastWordArmy
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
But that depends what kind of Dvorak we have next season...if he's still around..
- Jun 24, 2012
- 86,530
- 161,424
I purposely stayed away from posting that as I expected the usual “what else is his coach going to say” whenever someone too close to any player, provides an assessment. But hey, hoping his coach is right!
26Mats
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2018
- 33,790
- 26,196
It would seem to me Dvo, Ylo, RHP, and Pez are 4 players in danger of losing their spot in the top 14 , depending on who we bring in. If we need to shed salary to sign a ufa top 6, Dvo would be the one to sacrifice, assuming Andersona nd Gallagher are unmovable.
Kudo Shinichi
Registered User
- Apr 20, 2012
- 21,496
- 28,910
Dvo and Evans both have 1 year left on their contract.
I expect Beck and Kapanen to be our 3C and 4C for the 25-26 season.
I expect Beck and Kapanen to be our 3C and 4C for the 25-26 season.
You don't really want to start with rookies at the same time as your 3rd and 4th centers.
Kudo Shinichi
Registered User
- Apr 20, 2012
- 21,496
- 28,910
It's not an issue, especially considering Kapanen will have had 4 years of pro experience.
Two seasons ago, we were icing 4-5 rookie dmen each game. This is nothing compared to that.
It’s not “The” jackpot…….it's “Le” Jackpot lol
Demidov, Lindstrom or dare I say Celebrini will shrink this number to 1
26Mats
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2018
- 33,790
- 26,196
Yes, I'm anticipating we draft a forward with our first.
Then it will be interesting to see if HuGo trade the Jets 1st, and/or they sign a stop gap UFA top six forward...
Their first offseason (2022) they started off with a real bang, bringing in: Dach, Monahan, Matheson, Slaf, Hutson, plus Beck, Engstrom, and Mesar.
Then 2023 was more quiet: Newhook, Reinbacher, Fowler, plus Bogdan, plus a 2nd, 3rd, 4th in the Petry trade.
So we'll see what 2024 has in store...
GrandBison
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2019
- 2,162
- 2,590
That's a good sign when marginal players actually need to battle to get in the lineup
BLONG7
Registered User
We need a lot more internal competition than we have had, in the last 10-12 years that's for sure.
Especially at forward......we have almost Zero depth there, and outside of 4 players ( Suzuki, CC, Dach, and Slaf ) we have no real high end talent in the organization......
We could include Newhook as a lock in the top 6 and Roy in the top 9.
But we all just saw what happens when one of them ( Dach ) goes down.......no depth.
Nice to hear we have a forward or two who can come in and make a difference soon.......
Does Kapenen have a chance of making the team next year, or is he bound for the Rocket?
I don't know what we have in Kapanen to know whether he can make the team as early as this upcoming season. Very promising prospect though.
Beer and Chips
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2018
- 1,487
- 1,133
Roy, Newhook, Kapanen, Beck are all possible third line players, we need second line players, imho.
BLONG7
Registered User
He is trading a Dman this summer..........for a young forward ala Dach/Newhook......Therein lies the competition between the guy we get, and more than likely Newhook to be in the top 6..........
Roy I think is in the top 9 to start the season
26Mats
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2018
- 33,790
- 26,196
And really, we shou lo d be able to get one with our 1st, as well as in the trade and free agent markets this summer.
Estimated_Prophet
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2003
- 11,320
- 12,842
Roy and Newhook absolutely have legitimate 2nd line upside, while Beck and Kapanen should not be ruled out and certainly have elite 3rd line upside.
malcb33
Registered User
Don't you think it might be a little early to cap these players? Roy only played a handful of games and looked decent, while obviously still working things out at the NHL level. Newhook was injured a good chunk of the year, his first year on the team, and the other two haven't even played in the NHL yet.
I can understand people wanting to project a future line-up, but chemistry also plays a massive part of where players slot into the line-up. I do definitely agree, the Habs need to inject more talent into the top half of the line-up, but Demidov, Lindstrom, Iginla, and Catton could certainly help with that.
Last edited:
Estimated_Prophet
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2003
- 11,320
- 12,842
He is greatly overrating the offensive standard that defines a 2nd liner. They are generally 50-60 point players on contending teams with one of their second liners being closer to 70 points. Four forwards who can be close to or surpass a PPG is more than enough offence at the top of the lineup and we clearly have that foundation in Suzuki, Dach, Slaf and Caufield. There is every reason to believe that we have a handful of young forwards on the way who can be 50 point complimentary 2nd liners with both Roy and Newhook looking every bit the part. We will almost certainly be taking a high end forward with our first pick so we are in great position at all 3 positions with ridiculous talent/depth at D and a very solid group of young NHL/AHL goalies as well as some extremely promising goaltending prospects.
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 12,305
- 8,332
If Dach is reasonably healthy going forward and a top 7 pick likely going to a forward, I honestly think we’re in terrific shape.
Gaylord Q Tinkledink
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2018
- 35,627
- 39,552
The only problem is a game breaker.
Unless the Habs can get lucky and get a bunch of fairly good players in which case that many good players might work out to be a game breaker, if that makes sense.
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 12,305
- 8,332
Slaf has game breaker upside without a doubt. Hutson does as well.
I’d say Caufield is on the fence in terms of upside but for argument sake, let say he doesn’t but he’s not that far off. Same with Suzuki really. He can definitely keep getting better. Maybe he gets as close as you can get without being one. Dach has comparable upside as the last 2 mentioned but is less proven and more of a question mark.
We have a very good chance of getting a forward with similar upside as the last 3 mentioned.
I don’t see the problem. Slaf and Hutson are very realistic options at gamebreaker status with 4 others hovering around that mark. I’m really only worried about them staying healthy
malcb33
Registered User
I agree, unless the Habs get lucky and someone exceeds their projections and turns into a game-breaker, I think they'll end up more towards the construction of a team like the Hurricanes.
Hutson and Slaf seem to be the closest thing the team has right now. Caulfield has shown his ability to influence the scoresheet, which obviously can win you games, but IMO he doesn't create/ change the momentum in the game for me to be considered a true game-breaker.
Maybe that's the difference between a game-breaker and an elite play driver?
Sam de Mtl
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2021
- 1,421
- 2,587
Nothing wrong with the Hurricanes blueprint.
Hate those jerks, but they are doing it right.
Ive never understood why the Habs cant (couldn't?) pay their AHL players "equivalent" to SHL salaries? Wouldn't it be to our advantage to have the best "available" in the world on our farm team than to be in some euro league? Giving them state of the art equivalent training etc.. as the Habs themselves. Like why wouldn't Laval players have the same luxuries as Habs players?
I just think in a Cap system, a team like mtl should build positives in areas we can influence..
I mean to go as far as paying Vets $1M/ year to litterally develop their linemate, mentor on/off ice, etc... like the Vets are actually Employees of the team, highest paid in the organization, bc they are player coaches..
NHL ELC have a capped minor-league (AHL) salary. It was $70k a few years ago. I think it's now $95k, but I can't find the reference right now.
The players on AHL contracts and post-ELC two-way contracts can have the AHL salary negotiated.
Latest posts
-
-
Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | Part Deux- Latest: Freaky Styley
-
