Confirmed with Link: Patrik Laine and 2026 2nd round pick acquired from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jordan Harris

[Boss Man Hughes]

Then any player is too much of a risk. What nonsense. If Laine has a couple of good years and we can reach an agreement then they do it. No question.

It is NOT nonsense. A player like Norris that is never going to play more than 10 games without reinjring a shoulder. Players that get several different injuries (like Dach) especially on innocent plays are likely a hit away from injuring something else. Players that get concussed frequently. This must be a consideration when considering a long term deal. Now if Laine is relatively injury free in the next 2 years there is no reason not to give him a long term deal. Even if it goes bad it should be the only one the Habs have in 2 years.

 

[Rapala]

He's always been a powerplay one-time threat. They won't immediately kick him down to PP2 for a guy who may not be in their long term plans.

Like I said for me there were two problem areas on our PP last year both were on that left side.
Maybe they won't drop him immediately but if that trend continues...
I think Suzuki scored more goals than Caufield did from that spot using one timers.

 

[HuGort]

Man
Now I'm reeeeaaally hoping we lock him up 6 more years just to upset you lol

Piss me off? Not going to piss me off 1%. For Canadiens have handed out a dozen huge bad contracts over the years I didn't agree with. Which never pissed me off. Dating back to Gainey regime and Samansov contract, up to Petry, Gallagher or Price contracts. I wanted to trade Price because he would return the farm. Plus 8 years and 29 most his prime years were gone and he had bad knee. I 99% knew that he wouldn't finish the contract. Or he'll be shell of himself if he did.

The only times I got pissed off at Habs were handling of Guy Lafleur at end of his career. Because they disrespect a star once his skills started to erode.

Also the trade of Patrick Roy I was pissed. I agreed with trading Roy but was nothing in package we got back. Why I was pissed. There was a rumor circulating in Montreal media at time Owen Nolan was in the deal. I was for that because he was a star. To give up a star you want a star back back.

 

[bsl]

Injuries yes important, look at Dach. Throw mental illness in mix also no way can risk locking him up.

I think this is unfair. Mentally ill is a strong term. Not to be thrown around. I think Laine may not like bullying. His interview showed sensible thinking. Hope Habs treat him right.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Like I said for me there were two problem areas on our PP last year both were on that left side.
Maybe they won't drop him immediately but if that trend continues...
I think Suzuki scored more goals than Caufield did from that spot using one timers.

It started to come back later in the season, as his scoring came back from his shoulder.

 

[Rapala]

It started to come back later in the season, as his scoring came back from his shoulder.

His scoring came back at the end of the season when he started penetrating areas he wasn't comfortable in earlier in the year.
I noticed when Caufield started engaging as opposed to reacting but he never used the one timer.
I'm wondering if it gave him some discomfort early on because it was horrible and he eventually stopped trying it altogether.
The one thing that will get him more goals this season is if he gets his timing back and is comfortable using that one-timer.

 

[bsl]

As we all come down from the unbelievable high lol..

This kinda sorta IS a bit of a problem
Everybody's having a hard time fitting Dach back into PP1 now,

But I think the more glaring problem, as you said, is the Laine and CC both live in that same spot of a powerplay

Seeing as how CC been here first
I think it's fair to have CC stay PP1 to start
Something like:
CC - Suzuki - Slaf - Newhook - Matheson
And like WTK said
Have Laine and Dach PP2 which seems a little weird
But with Roy and Hutson helping round out the unit :
Laine - Dach - Roy - Hutson - lucky guy

It's definitely a far cry to having Gallagher Anderson Armia on the wasted PP2's
But i like that PP2 unit as a compromise to share the wealth

Amazingly
The real problem is when Demidov comes over

lol sorry I mixed up left and right half wall with my question. I think Laine as left d on pp with cc down low left half wall might work. They can rotate. I think pp first shift must score. More and more teams run pp1 unit for 2 minutes.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

They are going to start with Matheson on PP1 as well.

It's going to be Suzuki Caufield Slaf Newhook Matheson on PP1
Dach Laine Hutson Roy plus another on PP2.

They will switch looks up throughout the year as things work and don't work, but they are going to give the guys on PP1 to end the last year the chance to stay there and play themselves off/have others play their way on.

And who is going to be the main puck transporter on your proposed second power play unit? The first proposed unit has Matheson and Suzuki who both have the skating ability and skill to carry the puck and consistently gain possession in the offensive zone. The second proposed power play unit would see a lot of dump and chase.

 

[WeThreeKings]

And who is going to be the main puck transporter on your proposed second power play unit?

Hutson and Dach. Dach is the best zone entry player on the team.

 

[CHfan1]

They are going to start with Matheson on PP1 as well.

It's going to be Suzuki Caufield Slaf Newhook Matheson on PP1
Dach Laine Hutson Roy plus another on PP2.

They will switch looks up throughout the year as things work and don't work, but they are going to give the guys on PP1 to end the last year the chance to stay there and play themselves off/have others play their way on.

I wonder if they’ll just end up going with the top two lines for PP1 & PP2 (which should be pretty close to what you have anyways (with maybe Newhook on PP2 instead)). Then the lines wouldn’t be broken up due to the power play.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I wonder if they’ll just end up going with the top two lines for PP1 & PP2 (which should be pretty close to what you have anyways (with maybe Newhook on PP2 instead)). Then the lines wouldn’t be broken up due to the power play.

That would require putting a 3rd liner on PP1 and PP2 or using two defenseman on one or both units. I don't think that will happen, personally.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Hutson and Dach. Dach is the best zone entry player on the team.

Dach, who was not a great skater to start with, is coming off major knee surgery. Hutson, a rookie, doesn’t have the necessary end to end speed that will drive defenders off the blueline. Well at least not yet. That second power play unit needs a speed upgrade like Newhook or Guhle. But like most NHL teams, the drop off in efficiency between the proposed first and second power play units will be substantial.

 

[Redux91]

And who is going to be the main puck transporter on your proposed second power play unit? The first proposed unit has Matheson and Suzuki who both have the skating ability and skill to carry the puck and consistently gain possession in the offensive zone. The second proposed power play unit would see a lot of dump and chase.

Have you just completely forgot who Kirby Dach is and what he looks like on the ice and what he brings and what his strengths are..?

You have absolutely NO recollection of his tremendous Zone entries.. none?

 

[Redux91]

I wonder if they’ll just end up going with the top two lines for PP1 & PP2 (which should be pretty close to what you have anyways (with maybe Newhook on PP2 instead)). Then the lines wouldn’t be broken up due to the power play.

Yeah only reason Newhook would be PP1 is if they are in fact going with Laine-Dach as a PP2 foundation
Which has 0 confirmation right now, purely speculation

In a perfect world I have Dach-Laine on PP1 but right now things are interesting and in the air

But people snooze on just how effective Newhook was at Bumper for that PP1 when he eventually replaced Monahan there
Obviously was keeping the seat warm for Dach
But like I just said
Things have gotten awfully interesting PP units wise

 

[jrom]

And those who said never would KH do it

some posters were sending the CGY 1st and and a decent prospect for Laine, at this price it wasn’t worth it

 

[Rapala]

some posters were sending the CGY 1st and and a decent prospect for Laine, at this price it wasn’t worth it

Some 30% didn't want him at all and I was among them.
The thing is it wasn't evident early on that this would be a Monahan type acquisition.
I was one who put up the comparisons to that deal a day or two before we bit.
This after someone else mentioned Waddell would have to pay to move him.
I also never expected we'd get that level of transparency before hand.

 

[FLHabs]

I know the first line is pretty much set already, but I wonder if a line of Laine - Suzuki - Slaf could recreate the Laine - Aho - Puljujarvi 2016 magic.

 

[The Great Weal]

I know the first line is pretty much set already, but I wonder if a line of Laine - Suzuki - Slaf could recreate the Laine - Aho - Puljujarvi 2016 magic.

I think you keep the CC-Suzuki-Slaf line. Caufield started to look more like himself towards the end. I think Laine/Dach/Newhook is a really interesting mix. You have the big playmaker and the two guys with a lethal shot, the speed from Dach/Newhook will generate lots of chances too.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Dach, who was not a great skater to start with, is coming off major knee surgery. Hutson, a rookie, doesn’t have the necessary end to end speed that will drive defenders off the blueline. Well at least not yet. That second power play unit needs a speed upgrade like Newhook or Guhle. But like most NHL teams, the drop off in efficiency between the proposed first and second power play units will be substantial.

Dach not a great skater?

 

[KevSkillz4]

Dach, who was not a great skater to start with, is coming off major knee surgery. Hutson, a rookie, doesn’t have the necessary end to end speed that will drive defenders off the blueline. Well at least not yet. That second power play unit needs a speed upgrade like Newhook or Guhle. But like most NHL teams, the drop off in efficiency between the proposed first and second power play units will be substantial.

Dach is a very good skater lol...

 

[FLHabs]

I think you keep the CC-Suzuki-Slaf line. Caufield started to look more like himself towards the end. I think Laine/Dach/Newhook is a really interesting mix. You have the big playmaker and the two guys with a lethal shot, the speed from Dach/Newhook will generate lots of chances too.

Yea, a Laine and Dach duo on the second line sounds very good for sure and is/was my first option too. So many combinations possible.

I just got done watching some highlights from that 2016 WJC and was thinking to myself that Suzuki and Aho play a somewhat similar game although Aho might be a bit more dynamic. Slaf and Puljujarvi also have similar tools. Slaf uses them better and will continue to grow. I was just wondering if putting all 3 together could have a similar type of impact.

Once Demidov gets here, and if they sign Laine, the mix matching that will be able to be done in the top 6 will be very flexible. Even more so if Demidov can also play center at the NHL level. Just imagine a line of Laine - Demidov - Slaf hehe

 

[Tyson]

Struble is the kind of guy that will study the game and shore up his defence to at least acceptable levels. He has the athletic ability and competitive spirit to become a solid bottom pairing guy

Hard not to like his upside.

 

[SOLR]

They all have very good hockey sense. But they have to employ it to avoid unnecessary contact. Lindros never learned that.

That's my point: don't think either of them will become good at this, outside of maybe Slafkovksi who has shown quite a curb of progress last year on this.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

That's my point: don't think either of them will become good at this, outside of maybe Slafkovksi who has shown quite a curb of progress last year on this.

Yes. Slaf seems to have learned. Dach and Laine have offensive smarts. They probably both still need to protect themselves better.

 

[sampollock]

some posters were sending the CGY 1st and and a decent prospect for Laine, at this price it wasn’t worth it

Many send he was damaged and thus pls not get him
Washed up...

KH made a decent trade