Playoffs Positivity Thread .......... Re-Poll, option to change your vote is open as of Jan 7

[nhlfan9191]

If the Habs are in the mix I think they sell no one and maybe make a small trade to improve the team. Hughes isn't deviating.

The focus this year was always suppose to be take a step forward. It’s a shame they got off to an awful start because we would be in a playoff spot if they didn’t. We’ve been sellers the last three trade deadlines. I don’t care if we push for the playoffs and miss, I’m not going into this trade deadline as a seller if I’m Hughes.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

%...help them build a winning culture

The team is already great and we have these players coming:

Demidov
Hage
Beck
Reinbacher
Engström
Mailloux

We do not need any more picks or prospects, we are set. They are already the youngest team in the league. We have a big window ahead of us because of the age of our Captain and 2 top snipers. The franchise has been built, we don't need anything beyond what we have and what is currently coming.

Cup #25 is on the way in this decade.

 

[vokiel]

Sorry but you need a solid mix of good veterans and Hughes actually said that in mid season press conference. Davidson or Tuch are exactly where they belong...not in the NHL. A rebuild includes surrounding your young players and attempting to build a winning culture, how is this not obvious?

I disagree, you don't rebuild anything by sheltering everyone. You don't do Dobes any favors by sending him back in the AHL do you? I expect other call ups to measure up what the farm can offer before the TDL for sure, specially with the pending UFAs we have.

After all they are the cheapest buys we can do.

 

[Kennerback]

They should sell anyone planning to test free agency. That's GMing 101 when not a contender, or the lack of is dumbass GMing 101, when being a bubble team hurts for several seasons in a row. I'd rather have the greenie GM take the difficult decisions, than avoiding them, like trading Barron.

If we’re in a Wild Card spot, I expect to do hockey trades. No selling or buying expensive pieces. Pending UFAs will be sold for picks if we have an in-house replacement that won’t make us worse.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Do you believe yet?

I believe in Lane

 

[vokiel]

If we’re in a Wild Card spot, I expect to do hockey trades. No selling or buying expensive pieces. Pending UFAs will be sold for picks if we have an in-house replacement that won’t make us worse.

They can still sell high and buy low, improving draft capital, as I mentioned above. Armia, Dovrak, Savard aren't critical pieces at all anyhow.

I'm all for doing hockey trades, but those are, like Berg once said, "Hard".

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

We do not need any more picks or prospects, we are set.

I think you're overwhelmed by recency bias. There's still a risk we'll be short on ammo to acquire missing pieces, especially when trying to add the final ones tp be a contender, by climbing too quickly like Detroit did.

You're also dismissing Hughes's plan. He's repeated he wants to build long term sustainability. For that to happen, we'll always need picks and prospects.

We absolutely need to draft our own pick.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I voted no and said we'd get close. That's where I think we'll end up. But holy smokes what a roundabout way to get there. Better start next season please!

I would absolutely love to see the playoffs. I'd love to beat the B's out of a spot and then beat TO in the first round again. How fun would that be?

 

[Milhouse40]

I think you're overwhelmed by recency bias. There's still a risk we'll be short on ammo to acquire missing pieces, especially when trying to add the final ones tp be a contender, by climbing too quickly like Detroit did.

You're also dismissing Hughes's plan. He's repeated he wants to build long term sustainability. For that to happen, we'll always need picks and prospects.

We absolutely need to draft our own pick.

Hugues mentioned sticking to the plan......but as he also mentioned at the start of the season, the asset accumulation part of the plan is over.

He still won't trade future pieces for rentals, that's the actual plan he was talking about during the press conference.

We already 2x1st, 2x2nd, 3x3rd and 2x4th for the next draft and we also have more picks added for 2026. Of course, another 1st round pick would be nice but not necessary and as for the other round, we really don't need anymore.

You already have tons of ammo....more that's actually needed.

 

[Andy]

The only trades we will make are for guys like Rasmus Anderson or Pettersson. Management will not be trading for rentals id they are in a playoff spot.

We have serious assets to upgrade key positions. That’s the only buying this team will do.

I could see a scenario where if Evans is too expensive that they move him and then spend a little extra assets to get a younger, but nhl ready version of him

 

[Tyson]

Hugues mentioned sticking to the plan......but as he also mentioned at the start of the season, the asset accumulation part of the plan is over.

He still won't trade future pieces for rentals, that's the actual plan he was talking about during the press conference.

We already 2x1st, 2x2nd, 3x3rd and 2x4th for the next draft and we also have more picks added for 2026. Of course, another 1st round pick would be nice but not necessary and as for the other round, we really don't need anymore.

You already have tons of ammo....more that's actually needed.

A logical post! Pass it on

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Hugues mentioned sticking to the plan......but as he also mentioned at the start of the season, the asset accumulation part of the plan is over.

He still won't trade future pieces for rentals, that's the actual plan he was talking about during the press conference.

We already 2x1st, 2x2nd, 3x3rd and 2x4th for the next draft and we also have more picks added for 2026. Of course, another 1st round pick would be nice but not necessary and as for the other round, we really don't need anymore.

You already have tons of ammo....more that's actually needed.

I think you missed my conclusion.

 

[Leto]

Hugues mentioned sticking to the plan......but as he also mentioned at the start of the season, the asset accumulation part of the plan is over.

He still won't trade future pieces for rentals, that's the actual plan he was talking about during the press conference.

We already 2x1st, 2x2nd, 3x3rd and 2x4th for the next draft and we also have more picks added for 2026. Of course, another 1st round pick would be nice but not necessary and as for the other round, we really don't need anymore.

You already have tons of ammo....more that's actually needed.

From an asset management standpoint, there is only so many players you can draft,sign and develop over a certain period of time, because of the 50-contract limit and the waiver eligibility. Hughes has already alluded to it. So I guess we're entering a phase of asset curation, rather than throwing a volume of darts.​

 

[CHfan1]

The team is already great and we have these players coming:

Demidov
Hage
Beck
Reinbacher
Engström
Mailloux

We do not need any more picks or prospects, we are set. They are already the youngest team in the league. We have a big window ahead of us because of the age of our Captain and 2 top snipers. The franchise has been built, we don't need anything beyond what we have and what is currently coming.

Cup #25 is on the way in this decade.

I disagree Montreal is set. They still need to improve their centre depth (especially if they don’t resign Evans (which I hope they do resign)) and their right shot defence, with Carrier, most likely, being the only vet on the right side after this season (and trading for top 4 right shot defenceman isn’t easy to do). I, also, wouldn’t assume all those prospects pan out. I think Demidov does but after that we’ll see.

 

[morhilane]

From an asset management standpoint, there is only so many players you can draft,sign and develop over a certain period of time, because of the 50-contract limit and the waiver eligibility. Hughes has already alluded to it. So I guess we're entering a phase of asset curation, rather than throwing a volume of darts.​

That started last off-season.

And now they also know you can't gut the team of its vets and replace them with kids with less than 100 games played without some problems, so next off-season will be very interesting in how they will replace Evans, Dvorak, Armia, Savard...and Pezz (the 13th forward).

 

[Miller Time]

The only trades we will make are for guys like Rasmus Anderson or Pettersson. Management will not be trading for rentals id they are in a playoff spot.

We have serious assets to upgrade key positions. That’s the only buying this team will do.

I could see a scenario where if Evans is too expensive that they move him and then spend a little extra assets to get a younger, but nhl ready version of him

I think it's too early to state that...

While I agree that it's unlikely we'd see an elite rental (top line fwd/top pair D), I could definitely see them take on a depth/role player rental if we are dealing with any injuries while still being firmly in the playoff picture.

If we are mostly healthy, thanks almost view them keeping the likes of Dvo, Armia, Savard, Evans as our "rentals" in that they be forgoing the deadline return to keep them for the playoff push (unlike moving Monahan last year) even if they have decided they aren't extending them. I do think that both Armia & Evans will get extension offers, and perhaps Savard if he's content in a team friendly short term depth contract vs one last market deal.

 

[Kennerback]

Hugues mentioned sticking to the plan......but as he also mentioned at the start of the season, the asset accumulation part of the plan is over.

He still won't trade future pieces for rentals, that's the actual plan he was talking about during the press conference.

We already 2x1st, 2x2nd, 3x3rd and 2x4th for the next draft and we also have more picks added for 2026. Of course, another 1st round pick would be nice but not necessary and as for the other round, we really don't need anymore.

You already have tons of ammo....more that's actually needed.

It would be a mistake to get rentals. It makes sense for the Caps and the Panthers who have a real shot at winning the Cup,