Recalled/Assigned: Oliver Kapanen Will Be Assigned to Laval

[LaP]

There's not really a sure bet there.. Dach because of health, Kapanen and Beck because they are very young. I think the Newhook at center experiment is over. Both Dach and Newhook will likely be slotted in at wing and only used at center when injuries occur.

There's definitely room for the Habs to go out and target a hard-nosed, left shot center who is good at killing penalties and face-offs.

There doesn't have to be a sure bet. Demidov will be 20 and HUtson 21. We are not winning a cup next year.

I'd rather give one last chance to Dach to be 100% sure.

Priority should be a 2nd line center.

 

[DAChampion]

I wonder if Toews could work as a stopgap 3C?

 

[DAChampion]

There doesn't have to be a sure bet. Demidov will be 20 and HUtson 21. We are not winning a cup next year.

Think of when the Miami Heat won with a young Dwayne Wade and a bunch of old farts like Shaq.

 

[Tyson]

He has significantly more puck skills than Evans had at his age imo. In fact, Evans didn't even play in the AHL at that age.

It's strange to me that people seem disappointed in Beck. He was called up out of necessity and was not ready for the NHL. Tomas Plekanec would look out of place if we called him up in his first season.

I am not disappointed, just being realistic from my perspective. He isn't anything special.

 

[LaP]

Think of when the Miami Heat won with a young Dwayne Wade and a bunch of old farts like Shaq.

Good for them. I would not bet on this personally. Also we don't have vet like Shaq. Our vets are Anderson, Gallagher, Matheson, Carrier, ...

I firmly think giving one last chance to Dach is the way to go. You want to be 100% and we can afford to be 100% sure. Focus should be on a 2nd line center to play with Demidov. KH wont acquire 10 payers this summer people are being unrealistic. It will be already hard enough to grab a 2nd line center and a top 4 RHD.

 

[Jared Dunn]

There's legit concern on Reinbacher's health and endurance but every game i've watched him play in the AHL he was dominant and that includes his games last year as a 19 years old. Defenseman that age very rarely look that good in the AHL. He's not going to be a guy going 70+ points but if he can remain healthy he'll be a very solid all around dman with good size. I think a comparable fot him is Slavin with a tiny bit more offense (tiny bit more goals).

I'm not bold enough to go into Slavin territory because I think he's a top 15 D but I do think his floor is basically more mobile Adam Larsson. Doubt he's getting more than 30 points in the NHL

 

[schwang26]

Hopefully in for RHP, but I could see them rotating players. They have a lot of spares.

 

[Jared Dunn]

There's not really a sure bet there.. Dach because of health, Kapanen and Beck because they are very young. I think the Newhook at center experiment is over. Both Dach and Newhook will likely be slotted in at wing and only used at center when injuries occur.

There's definitely room for the Habs to go out and target a hard-nosed, left shot center who is good at killing penalties and face-offs.

So basically Sam Bennett, but are we really prepared to give him 7x9 or whatever it's going to take on the open market?

 

[Archijerej]

I am not disappointed, just being realistic from my perspective. He isn't anything special.

Well, no, he isn't. He is a hard-working, middle six two-way center that does well the things a player in his role is expected to do. What did you expect?

 

[Jared Dunn]

I am not disappointed, just being realistic from my perspective. He isn't anything special.

I mean sure, I don't think anyone expects him to be the future 2C or ever really has but he still looks like he was 3D printed to be a good 3rd line center

 

[Scriptor]

There doesn't have to be a sure bet. Demidov will be 20 and HUtson 21. We are not winning a cup next year.

I'd rather give one last chance to Dach to be 100% sure.

Priority should be a 2nd line center.

So you mean a last chance at wing for Dach?

If I knew that Dach would resume where he had once left off as a RW on a line with Caufield and Suzuki, I'd consider trying this if we can land a genuine 2C:

Caufield - Suzuki - Dach
Slafkovsky - 2C - Demidov

-OR-

Caufield - Suzuki - Demidov
Slafkovsky - 2C - Dach

 

[Naslundforever]

There doesn't have to be a sure bet. Demidov will be 20 and HUtson 21. We are not winning a cup next year.

I'd rather give one last chance to Dach to be 100% sure.

Priority should be a 2nd line center.

Do you enjoy watching the games and rooting for them also, or is it all Vulcan-like for you? Icing the best possible team and competing does not seem like a consideration?

Having fun torching teams and watching the kids play with top nhl talent would be awesome.

Mostly - no more hand outs (chances), let’s hope he wins the spot over a real acquired 2C, that would be amazing news for the habs. It’s no longer “what can the habs do for this or that guy” but the exact way around.

 

[Sam I Am]

Laval is really stacked in all positions. It's a good experience for Kapanen, but like everyone else I just don't see who they'll sit.

I wouldn't be against Kapanen slotting in at wing for RHP or Simoneau, or at center for Gignac. Tuch is a big boy, built for the playoffs, but he could presumably rotate in and out of the lineup as needed.

 

[Tyson]

I mean sure, I don't think anyone expects him to be the future 2C or ever really has but he still looks like he was 3D printed to be a good 3rd line center

Sadly there aren't any forward prospects in Laval with top 6 upside. Guys like Xhekaj have a role on a good 4th line, maybe Tuch as well.
On D you have 3 prospects that could make it. Reinbacher is a top 4 potential D, maybe top pairing but Mailloux and Engstrom probably top out as bottom pairing D. There are some good pieces but nothing that exciting

 

[Tyson]

Well, no, he isn't. He is a hard-working, middle six two-way center that does well the things a player in his role is expected to do. What did you expect?

I am hoping for top 9. Let's see if he gets there.

 

[Schooner Goon]

I'm really puzzled about the discussion for the center position.

Centers nexts eason should be and by should be i mean that should 100% be the plan :

Suzuki
2nd line center aquired via trade or UFA market either an older cheap stop gap or a prime legit player we paid to get
Dach/Newhook/Kapanen/Beck
Evans

There really is not need to get a 3rd line center in the off season or extend Dvorak. Dach deserves one last chance. If it doesn'T work then we can try Newhook for one last chance at the center position or any of the other guys if they torch the AHL and then if all of this doesn't work move during the season to get the Carrier version of center.

Assets and money should be used to get a 2nd line center and top 4 RHD. If we can'T get that the erst doesn't matter at all.

If we trade for a top 6 center, I can see at least one of Dach, Newhook or Beck as pieces going the other way as part of the deal.

I would also like to see Dach try to play a full season on the wing. I think he can be a productive winger. He has the skill and size and he has shown before that he can play well in the playoffs. We need both size and secondary scoring and I think he could produce if we give him a role on a wing for a full season.

 

[Scotianhab]

So 4th line it is? He hasn't shown much more than that, tbh. And not sure how I feel about another Evans. I'd like another Anderson.

It’s his first year as a pro. My god there is a reason why they sign a 3 year elc for development. Not everyone will be ready for the NHL at 20 years old.

 

[Team_Spirit]

He can take one of RHP or Simoneau's spots. Kapanen is the better player already and with how well he played in the playoffs in Europe he shouldn't be sitting for both those guys.

They don't publish ice time in the AHL? Logic IS the F with the least TOI.

TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League

theahl.com

 

[Jared Dunn]

Sadly there aren't any forward prospects in Laval with top 6 upside. Guys like Xhekaj have a role on a good 4th line, maybe Tuch as well.
On D you have 3 prospects that could make it. Reinbacher is a top 4 potential D, maybe top pairing but Mailloux and Engstrom probably top out as bottom pairing D. There are some good pieces but nothing that exciting

Yeah but they also have 4 under 25 players under team control who are surefire top six forwards (some would argue against Slaf but I disagree) so it's not like they're barren, and Hage has top six potential. To be honest I don't know if there's any young player in the AHL who has can't miss top six potential, or you can count them on one hand. Those players just generally don't play in the AHL. Even if you remove the crown jewel of Demidov from the prospect pool, I think Habs are still in or around the top 10 prospect pools.

 

[Tyson]

Yeah but they also have 4 under 25 players under team control who are surefire top six forwards (some would argue against Slaf but I disagree) so it's not like they're barren, and Hage has top six potential. To be honest I don't know if there's any young player in the AHL who has can't miss top six potential, or you can count them on one hand. Those players just generally don't play in the AHL. Even if you remove the crown jewel of Demidov from the prospect pool, I think Habs are still in or around the top 10 prospect pools.

Habs have decent prospects with the young D, Fowler, Demidov and Hage. I also think they have a great chance to build an all important big, bruising 4th line. Heck if Beck becomes a 3rd line center I will be ecstatic. I hope he proves me wrong and has a great playoff, he already has a goal!

 

[Jared Dunn]

Habs have decent prospects with the young D, Fowler, Demidov and Hage. I also think they have a great chance to build an all important big, bruising 4th line. Heck if Beck becomes a 3rd line center I will be ecstatic. I hope he proves me wrong and has a great playoff, he already has a goal!

I think decent is a massive understatement if you're including Demidov, that's a top 5 prospect pool. I'm just saying I don't think you need to be doing cartwheels by any means but having a bunch of players in the pipeline (like Beck) who look pretty much tailor made for specific roles on the team is something to be excited about. Some of the most important holes have been filled already, slotting those types of players more deliberately with the main seats filled already is huge. Gone are the signing Mike Hoffman days I think lol

 

[Ezpz]

I wonder if Toews could work as a stopgap 3C?

I prefer people with morals personally.

 

[Habs4Life]

I hope he crushes it!

 

[DAChampion]

I prefer people with morals personally.

??

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

There actually isn't legit concern on his health and endurance. It's pretty much just induced panic by the fans.

Just like you said with Dach, right?