Out of Town Thread - New Year's Edition!

[ReHabs]

I think we have a bias in our collective patience cause it's very unusual to have 4 rookie defensemen in the lineup and we can compare them to each other every night. When you think of it, all of them had an impressive season and were not sheltered behind Hedman and McD.

I've seen some criticism of Harris (or rather: some people willing to trade Harris away), it was mostly stated in terms of the Habs' logjam of defencemen and need to trade quantity for quality (ie. for PLD). I think that's fair enough, don't you? We were bound to have to trade some young players away if only to make more room. If a player doesn't differentiate himself as a skilled or productive contributor, what is the reason in keeping him if we have other options?

Recently, I saw @Jaynki muse about trading Guhle away due to injury-proneness concerns. But otherwise it hasn't been much impatience here or elsewhere -- I think most Habs fans are just thrilled to see some homegrown NHLers come through for once. They're very big on Xhekaj for instance and he's already a fan favourite.

I genuinely feel this isn't impatience but rather enthusiasm to get our team to the next level. Montreal has not had an exciting team in a long, long time nor has it had a surplus of valuable trade pieces which the organization could afford to move. In fact, it's been a very long time since the Habs have had multiple trade-worthy assets which could be moved in a non-rebuild/competitive context. Moving Romanov was a clear indication that Hughes respected his defencemen prospects enough to trade the sure-thing for the unknown with greater upside.

Should we be more patient with young players? Of course, especially defencemen. But the vibe here isn't impatience, the vibe is roster optimization -- you only have 50 contract spots, 23 NHL roster spots, and 20 dressed spots. If there are a lot of prospects beating down on the door there will be some churn or turnover.

 

[RabbleMasterBlaster]

Sergachev's development is a lesson for our young D men: it takes time for D-men to develop their game and reach their potential. we need to be patient with Harris, Barron, Guhle, and Xhekaj for a few years.

It's very exceptional for Ds to reach their potential within 2-3 years from joining the pros.

Everyone knew Serge was going to be good though; those still arguing about that are just bitter. I don't recall anyone being happy with the trade.

 

[Zam Boni]

The last week of the season is underrated in terms of entertainment. FLA/PIT/NYI with long shot BUF in East and WPG/CGY/NSH in West will be interesting to watch.

Big game in Florida tonight vs Buffalo. Right now Buffalo is four pts back with two games in hand vs Florida.
If Florida wins this one, the Sabres are done, and Florida ties Islanders for the first WC spot with Pittsburgh one point back with one game in hand.

GO Sabres!!

 

[Wats]

Big game in Florida tonight vs Buffalo. Right now Buffalo is four pts back with two games in hand vs Florida.
If Florida wins this one, the Sabres are done, and Florida ties Islanders for the first WC spot with Pittsburgh one point back with one game in hand.

GO Sabres!!

Would be something if Levi leads the Sabres past his old team Panthers and helps them make the playoffs.

 

[Wats]

Everyone knew Serge was going to be good though; those still arguing about that are just bitter. I don't recall anyone being happy with the trade.

Sergachev put up 40 points as a 19 year old D and 2 years later was the #3 D playing 20+min/game on a cup winning team. People can diminish his performance by saying it's his teammates but fact remains he was one of the key pieces in that organization playing lot of minutes. Unfortunately, don't think anyone on the Habs will be as good but hopefully Guhle can come close.

 

[Rapala]

Everyone knew Serge was going to be good though; those still arguing about that are just bitter. I don't recall anyone being happy with the trade.

The only way it made any sense at all was if Radulov was signed and he wasn't. We all know now that was doomed to fail but we couldn't have said that then.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Everyone knew Serge was going to be good though; those still arguing about that are just bitter. I don't recall anyone being happy with the trade.

Tons of people were happy with that trade at the time. When you read that thread some of the most outspoken posters about it today were completely on board at the time.

Sergachev had come off a disappointing wjc or something and his stock had dropped.

 

[Adriatic]

Sergachev was blue chip from his first game. He was never a tweener. He was instantly top4 on the best team in the NHL and never looked back. He’s just simply gotten better as time has gone by.

Blossom or bloom is a term better suited to players who’ve had a sharper growth trajectory.

Sergachev was a gamer from day 1. If the Habs’ rookies were as good as Sergachev as a rookie there wouldn’t be any need to cry for patience, Habs fans would be writing them in their wills before their rookie seasons were over. This is the same fanbase that genuinely thought Kotkaniemi was on the verge of breakout. Religious optimism is our thing.

Your memory must be broken.

 

[Shred]

This Athletic article just made me notice… Thomas, Rask, Swayman, Ullmark. All worked with Bob Essensa in Boston. Game’s best goalie coach?

Lots of teams like Toronto, Pittsburgh and Edmonton always seem to struggle with terrible goaltending. Some rely on a superstar goalie like Tampa. But Boston, no matter who they put in net, always get stellar performance from their goalies.

 

[River Meadow]

Tons of people were happy with that trade at the time. When you read that thread some of the most outspoken posters about it today were completely on board at the time.

Sergachev had come off a disappointing wjc or something and his stock had dropped.

Absolutely not what I remember...

Sergachev had just come off of winning OHL dman of the year, just after he came to NA, as a 17 year old! only few had done that.

I and quite a few were not happy.

 

[morhilane]

This Athletic article just made me notice… Thomas, Rask, Swayman, Ullmark. All worked with Bob Essensa in Boston. Game’s best goalie coach?

Lots of teams like Toronto, Pittsburgh and Edmonton always seem to struggle with terrible goaltending. Some rely on a superstar goalie like Tampa. But Boston, no matter who they put in net, always get stellar performance from their goalies.

Earlier this season, I read an interview with the Habs goalie coach and he talked about what they worked on with Monty. One things he said was pretty much "the Panthers coach told Monty to place himself wrong in net, so we had to fix that".

So I think you can add them to the list...

 

[ReHabs]

Your memory must be broken.

What the hell are you talking about? Do some searching before spouting off.

4th in TOI
4th in EVTOI
2nd in PPTOI

He was top4 instantly, he is absolutely not an example of delayed development. Just hater Habs fans wanted his failure as if they wouldn’t have been worshiping the ground he walked on had he been a Hab.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[OldCraig71]

This Athletic article just made me notice… Thomas, Rask, Swayman, Ullmark. All worked with Bob Essensa in Boston. Game’s best goalie coach?

Lots of teams like Toronto, Pittsburgh and Edmonton always seem to struggle with terrible goaltending. Some rely on a superstar goalie like Tampa. But Boston, no matter who they put in net, always get stellar performance from their goalies.

Having a solid defense core helps the goaltenders as well and Boston has been solid on D for a very long time, no discredit to the work of Essensa either but it is a very big factor.

 

[RabbleMasterBlaster]

The only way it made any sense at all was if Radulov was signed and he wasn't. We all know now that was doomed to fail but we couldn't have said that then.

Not signing Radulov was, sadly the right move. Dude wanted 5 years. I can't imagine the anchor he'd be right now. He was awesome here. And if accepted a shorter deal, would have been great. I hate to admit it, but MB made the right choice there. Drouin was always super duper dumb. Every GM gets fleeced sooner or later.

Tons of people were happy with that trade at the time. When you read that thread some of the most outspoken posters about it today were completely on board at the time.

Sergachev had come off a disappointing wjc or something and his stock had dropped.

I don't want to read that thread, it'll make my brain hurt. Good defense is always better than good offense imo (unless your name is Crosby/McJesus). Drouin did nothing to solve our problems at the time. Everyone who was reasonable knew Serge was a blue chip prospect. But alas, it is what it is.

We fleeced some GMs (Chariot) and we got fleeced (Drouin). Happens to everyone.

 

[Adriatic]

What the hell are you talking about? Do some searching before spouting off.

4th in TOI
4th in EVTOI
2nd in PPTOI

He was top4 instantly, he is absolutely not an example of delayed development. Just hater Habs fans wanted his failure as if they wouldn’t have been worshiping the ground he walked on had he been a Hab.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

He wasn't even close to being top 4 his first year with Tampa. Only by the the end of his second season.

 

[DAChampion]

Absolutely not what I remember...

Sergachev had just come off of winning OHL dman of the year, just after he came to NA, as a 17 year old! only few had done that.

I and quite a few were not happy.

People liked the idea of adding Drouin to the 2017 Habs team that had just lost to the Rangers because they couldn't score. Adding Drouin was seen as a "win now" move, and was semi reasonable given that context.

But then Bergevin proceeded to replace Markov and Radulov with loyal dogs Streit and Hemsky. Drouin was made out to be a 1st line center and got a sweetheart contract instead of a bridge deal.

And Bergevin fans said that Alzner would be Petry's best d partner ever.

 

[Team_Spirit]

How is that even possible with revenue sharing??

 

[LaP]

How is that even possible with revenue sharing??

Technically should not be but bad management can do wonders.

 

[LaP]

People liked the idea of adding Drouin to the 2017 Habs team that had just lost to the Rangers because they couldn't score. Adding Drouin was seen as a "win now" move, and was semi reasonable given that context.

But then Bergevin proceeded to replace Markov and Radulov with loyal dogs Streit and Hemsky. Drouin was made out to be a 1st line center and got a sweetheart contract instead of a bridge deal.

And Bergevin fans said that Alzner would be Petry's best d partner ever.

People liked the idea thinking Markov and Radulov would sign after the expansion draft. A win now move while Weber and Price were still able to play at a dominant level. With Markov and Emelin gone the defense was so bad that there was no point acquiring Drouin. The left side of the defense was Benn, Alzner and Schlemko. Two 7th dmen and a guy who was an healthy scratch during the previous playoffs.

At the point of the trade Sergachev ceiling was higher than Drouin. Drouin had clear out of ice issues and most of his point in his 53 points season were on the PP which was one of the best PP in the league if I remember correctly. I think not even 30 of his point were obtained at 5v5. It was crystal clear Drouin would not reach his potential but as a win now move it was not terrible as it looked like he was a PP specialist and we needed to add offense. But in a long term rebuild situation you keep Sergachev imo there's no question about it.

 

[habdynasty]

Oilers kings should be good tonight.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Everyone knew Serge was going to be good though; those still arguing about that are just bitter. I don't recall anyone being happy with the trade.

When the trade was announced, the majority of people here were happy with the trade and signing him for 6 years.

Confirmed with Link: - [MTL/TB] Sergachev/Drouin II

Habs sign Jonathan Drouin for 6 years (5.5M) Habs sign Jonathan Drouin for 6 years per rds.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Andy]

When the trade was announced, the majority of people here were happy with the trade and signing him for 6 years.

Confirmed with Link: - [MTL/TB] Sergachev/Drouin II

Habs sign Jonathan Drouin for 6 years (5.5M) Habs sign Jonathan Drouin for 6 years per rds.

forums.hfboards.com

I was one person that thought the move was good at time. If I recall, I was basing my assumption that we'd bring back Radulov and Markov, and that the time was in win now mode. Then that quickly fell apart.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Oilers kings should be good tonight.

The Oil Kings went 10-54-4 and missed the playoffs. They miss Kaiden Guhle big time.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

I was one person that thought the move was good at time. If I recall, I was basing my assumption that we'd bring back Radulov and Markov, and that the time was in win now mode. Then that quickly fell apart.

Same here, I expected a lot of PP points from him with the expectations he'd be on a powerplay with guys like Markov, Radulov, Weber and Pacioretty/Galchenyuk.

I also assumed he'd be used as a winger and not as a centre his first year here

 

[LaP]

Same here, I expected a lot of PP points from him with the expectations he'd be on a powerplay with guys like Markov, Radulov, Weber and Pacioretty/Galchenyuk.

I also assumed he'd be used as a winger and not as a centre his first year here

Let's just say lot of mitakes happened after that trade. The trade itself was not that bad. The cond 2nd round pick we added was too mucuh imo but since Sergachev did not play in the AHL we did not have to give it to TB. It's a trade that looks a lot like the Moreno for Varsho trade made by the blue jays. A trade with potential to be great in a win now situation but one that could end up being quite bad in a few years.

But what followed the Drouin for Sergachev trade was so bad that it made the trade bad because of the age difference between Sergachev and Drouin. Even if Drouin would be a 50 to 60 points for us it would still be a bad trade because Drouin is slowly getting close to 30 and his value would not be too great considering his out of ice problem. I mean Drouin has 48 points in his last 87 games and he was not even worth a 4th round pick ... it speaks a lot about what GMs think of the guy.