HF Habs: Out of Town Thread: Off-Season Edition

[Belial]

I don't think it is. The game's too fast. Check out the PIMs for Reaves and Lucic last year. They're barely 0.5 per game.

Refs started getting instructed to call more instigator penalties mid-way through this past season.

Obviously it's important to have toughness but not at the expense of wasting a roster spot on a policeman who can't play. Just ignore the meatheads and then they have no value.

Reaves is a damn liability when he's on the ice at this point...

Minnesota fans are pretty happy to get rid of him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Let just say that in the end, Avs wanted a true 3rd liner. Still not convinced Newhook could do the job at that spot when they needed him or ever. While here, we hope he could be a 2nd liner.

I don’t think this is accurate. I think they felt he could be a 2nd liner but didn’t have room for him to develop there and traded his value for picks. They’re a deep team and this makes sense. Why waste a good asset?

 

[Frank Drebin]

The "Truculence" plan is back on the menu. Let's see if it works better this time.

Reaves vs Xhekaj should be interesting.

I'm not sure arber is a full on heavyweight to take on Reaves. I guess e. Kane fought him so

 

[That Habs Fan]

Habs are fine in the goonery department, Xhekaj and Pezzetta can handle it when needed.

 

[ReHabs]

Probably our of respect to the player. Allows him to go to an organization that actually wants him/has time.for him.

Habs should’ve bought out Armia and Hoffman in the same way, out of respect.

The alternative is to waive them down to the AHL, which kinda sucks.

Otherwise they’ll be on the roster which is a big L for Hughes and the Habs organization.

 

[Whitesnake]

I don’t think this is accurate. I think they felt he could be a 2nd liner but didn’t have room for him to develop there and traded his value for picks. They’re a deep team and this makes sense. Why waste a good asset?

If they felt he'd be a 2nd liner, and since he won't be able to ask for much money....why were they able to make room for Jo Drouin and not him? So they feel that a 31st and Ross Colton and Jo Drouin was better than developing Newhook?

Habs are fine in the goonery department, Xhekaj and Pezzetta can handle it when needed.

Xhejaj finished his season when he tried to handle it. And the only thing Pezzetta can handle is being smashed in the face.

 

[Mrb1p]

Habs should’ve bought out Armia and Hoffman in the same way, out of respect.

The alternative is to waive them down to the AHL, which kinda sucks.

Otherwise they’ll be on the roster which is a big L for Hughes and the Habs organization.

Meh, i see it differently with vets like that. They got all the chances they couldve had and theyre making money.

 

[the]

I would have been willing to give Zadina a shot but it will be hard to make him space when we are stuck with players like Gallagher.

 

[donghabs98]

Core 4 won't be together much longer now...

Considering Bertuzzi and Domi signed 1 year deals and Matthews and Nylander have 1 year left, gotta think the 2024-25 Leafs may look drastically different.

 

[Chili]

The timing of Zadina going on waivers is curious. He can't have any trade value and he's fallen down their depth chart. They must be hoping that someone claims him.

 

[HabsCode]

I would have been willing to give Zadina a shot but it will be hard to make him space when we are stuck with players like Gallagher.

Have a feeling he won't be available at Montreal turn. I could see Chicago picking him up.

 

[Paddyjack]

If they felt he'd be a 2nd liner, and since he won't be able to ask for much money....why were they able to make room for Jo Drouin and not him? So they feel that a 31st and Ross Colton and Jo Drouin was better than developing Newhook?

Because Drouin won't play on the first two lines, if at all. He will start on the 4th.

 

[The Great Weal]

Well there is no reason for the Hawks not to pick up Zadina.

 

[LaP]

I don’t think this is accurate. I think they felt he could be a 2nd liner but didn’t have room for him to develop there and traded his value for picks. They’re a deep team and this makes sense. Why waste a good asset?

This is not accurate either. Look at the AVs lineup they have room for a 2nd liner. In fact they need a 2nd liner. Landeskog is out of all of next season. Atm Drouin is their option in the top 6. I'm sorry but Drouin is a hope for the best prepare for the worst option.

Avs top 6 atm :

Drouin-Mac-NIchuskin
Lehkonen-Johansen-Rantanen

This is not winning anything in playoffs unless Landeskog is back and it's far from certain he will.

 

[HabsCode]

Because Drouin won't play on the first two lines, if at all. He will start on the 4th.

Doubtful. There is no point for Colorado to sign Drouin and make him play on the 4th without giving him a chance on the first two lines. On Avs board, lots of people see a spot in the top 6 for him, even possibility with Mackinnon for what it's worth. They probably have a better idea of Colorado projected top 6 for 2023-2024 than us.

They seems surprisingly optimistic about Jo there.

 

[Rapala]

I’m thinking a Nylander trade is imminent ..

I'm with you or maybe even a Marner blockbuster.

 

[HabsCode]

Well there is no reason for the Hawks not to pick up Zadina.

Yes no doubt.

Slafkovsky - Newhook - Zadina would have made an interesting 3rd line tho.

 

[Rapala]

Ive been saying this too. It won't take long for fans to clamor for someone like this. Might as well do it now.

I don't think goonery went anywhere per se. Teams have always tried to intimidate the opposition with size and physical force but the loading up of teams with unidimensional goons is past. The trick now is to find those gems that can do more than just enforce. The higher they can play in the lineup the better.

 

[Whitesnake]

Because Drouin won't play on the first two lines, if at all. He will start on the 4th.

Great. So tell me who are the 6 forwards up front without Drouin. Here are the first 5...MacKinnon, Rantanen, Nichuskin, Johansen, Lehkonen and?

 

[Rapala]

Habs are fine in the goonery department, Xhekaj and Pezzetta can handle it when needed.

Pinky Finger Pezz is not a goon.
Neither is WiFi.

 

[HabsCode]

Great. So tell me who are the 6 forwards up front without Drouin. Here are the first 5...MacKinnon, Rantanen, Nichuskin, Johansen and?

Lekhonen is def on their top 6, didn't he play with Mack last season?

 

[LaP]

Because Drouin won't play on the first two lines, if at all. He will start on the 4th.

Who will play there then. Miles Wood? Logan Connor? Ross Colton? Sakic did not sign Drouin to play in the bottom 6. He'll get his chance. If it doesn't work i guess he'll try to address the situation at the deadline.

 

[Whitesnake]

Lekhonen is def on their top 6, didn't he play with Mack last season?

True. I added him. Still 1 spot left. And that's also with the mindset that Johansen will be better than Newhook.

 

[LaP]

It's not 2022 anymore. Avs lost Landeskog, Kadri and Burakovski. That's 3 top 6 player to replace. Quality top 6 players. Only replacement is Ryan Johansen ...

 

[HabsCode]

It's not 2022 anymore. Avs lost Landeskog, Kadri and Burakovski. That's 3 top 6 player to replace. Quality top 6 players. Only replacement is Ryan Johansen ...

What are you trying to argue about exactly?

If it is that Drouin deserves a spot in the top 6 due to lack of options in Colorado at wing, I precisely said that a couple of post earlier.