Playoffs Positivity Thread

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Had Montreal gotten their shit together in camp and not floated at the beginning of the season they would be in a much more enviable position with much better odds of making the playoffs in this diluted league.

Parity is not an expression of dilution, quite the opposite.

The more there is talent, the more likely there is parity, because the level of leaguewide talent offsets the truly elite players.

The only reason we aren't living in a super defensive league caused by a swell of talent is because the league changed some rules, like making goalie equipment smaller. Otherwise, the same trend that was rising between 2010 and 2019, would've continued, where we were living a second dead puck era-level defense because there's not much time or space on the ice. It's still like that, but the smaller goalie equipment will invariably bring more goals (it's just physics and probability). The reason there's not much time or space on the ice is because of the talent level.

Look back at the 70's and 80's and see the effects of dilution. Greater disparity of teams, greater disparity of stats. We're not talking about simply adding two teams to 30 other teams here, which is a very small dilution (less than 10%). It was from 6 to 23 teams in less than 25 years. That's dilution.

From 2003 onwards, there were no expansions until Vegas in 2017. That period saw an influx of talent with zero expansion, which led to 2015 scoring being almost as low as the DPE.

Continuously adding talent without expansions (barring rule changes and/or new tech) will invariably cause more parity, because all team overalls get generally upgraded, making the difference from one team to the other, be much less.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Since their 7-5 win vs. Buffalo:

- Habs are 7-5-1 for a total of 15 pts out of a possible 26. They've been playing .577 hockey since then.
- They are the 11th best team in the league since then.
- They're even in goal differential (38GF & 38GA)
- They have the 13th best PP.
- They have the 6th best PK.

They have a bunch of teams they need to leapfrog, but despite them being last in the Eastern Conference, they are still very much in the mix being 4 pts out of a playoff spot. But If they continue to play .577 hockey, they give themselves a chance.

Looking back on the schedule we had a brutal month that killed us. Oct 14th to Nov 14th. Four losses in a row followed by a couple of wins and then six straight losses. Absolutely awful stretch. We've improved by a lot since then, not just in the results but how we look on the ice.

It's the old saying: You don't make the playoffs in October, but you could miss them.

 

[therocket9]

Montreal has 4 back to backs in the next 4 weeks.....if they want to have any chance to win those games Primeau cannot be playing.

 

[Kennerback]

As much as I don't think we're making the playoffs, I don't think we're getting a top three pick either.

I always figured we'd be around 85-ish points. A nice improvement but not enough to make the playoffs. We had a terrible stretch where we lost six in a row. Outside of that though, we've been pretty good since. We might get a top ten pick but I'd be suprised if it's top five.

Top-3 is very nice but I’m in the « step forward » camp. Playoffs for me is 2025-26. Much easier to get there if we’re a part of the way there this season.

Montreal has 4 back to backs in the next 4 weeks.....if they want to have any chance to win those games Primeau cannot be playing.

100% agreed. Unless they’ve already written off the season, It’s reckless to put him in. They need someone else.

 

[Goalfield13]

The last playoff spot is ripe for the pickings with the NYR in shambles. Laine, Hutson and Monty are really pulling through right now. We need a proper backup NOW.

 

[BLONG7]

Since their 7-5 win vs. Buffalo:

- Habs are 7-5-1 for a total of 15 pts out of a possible 26. They've been playing .577 hockey since then.
- They are the 11th best team in the league since then.
- They're even in goal differential (38GF & 38GA)
- They have the 13th best PP.
- They have the 6th best PK.

They have a bunch of teams they need to leapfrog, but despite them being last in the Eastern Conference, they are still very much in the mix being 4 pts out of a playoff spot. But If they continue to play .577 hockey, they give themselves a chance.



It's the old saying: You don't make the playoffs in October, but you could miss them.

This.............is what HuGo talked about at the golf tournament..............interesting how poor their start was, but the recent upswing is good to see. I also think our level of competition has been softer recently than early in the season.
That said the team seems to be putting some gel on itself, and getting some confidence.
No coincident either, that they are getting a few saves from Monty when needed.


We all want the same thing, for things to show some improvement, and being in the mix for me, just means playing better and heading in the right direction.

 

[the]

Once you make Da Playoff anything can happen!!!

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Looking back on the schedule we had a brutal month that killed us. Oct 14th to Nov 14th. Four losses in a row followed by a couple of wins and then six straight losses. Absolutely awful stretch. We've improved by a lot since then, not just in the results but how we look on the ice.

January won't be easier

From boxing day onwards till Jan 31st:

Tough games:
Panthers ×1
Lightning x2
Stars ×2
Knights ×1
Wild x1
Devils x1
Canucks x1
Rangers x1
Avs x1
Jets x1
Leafs x1
Caps x1

Easier games:
Hawks x1
Yotes x1
Wings x1

We've lossed games already against practically almost everyone on the tough teams list. That includes WITH Laine, against the caps, who should be the easiest prey compared to that list of teams.

It's great to stay positive but I fear a lot of people are setting themselves up for disappointment and this place will be hard to endure because people weren't able to temper their expectations.

 

[Archijerej]

No.

But they still can make this season a success if they take a step in the right direction. There's still lots of hockey left.

 

[Goalfield13]

You know who would be a good 2C right now? Monahan
You know who would be a good backup right now? Jake Allen
You know who would help on RD right now? Kovacevic

 

[morhilane]

January won't be easier

From boxing day onwards till Jan 31st:

Tough games:
Panthers ×1
Lightning x2
Stars ×2
Knights ×1
Wild x1
Devils x1
Canucks x1
Rangers x1
Avs x1
Jets x1
Leafs x1
Caps x1

Easier games:
Hawks x1
Yotes x1
Wings x1

We've lossed games already against practically almost everyone on the tough teams list. That includes WITH Laine, against the caps, who should be the easiest prey compared to that list of teams.

It's great to stay positive but I fear a lot of people are setting themselves up for disappointment and this place will be hard to endure because people weren't able to temper their expectations.

Caps are the league best team on the road (11-2-0 record), they were not an easy prey. Very well coached team this year.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

January won't be easier

From boxing day onwards till Jan 31st:

Tough games:
Panthers ×1
Lightning x2
Stars ×2
Knights ×1
Wild x1
Devils x1
Canucks x1
Rangers x1
Avs x1
Jets x1
Leafs x1
Caps x1

Easier games:
Hawks x1
Yotes x1
Wings x1

We've lossed games already against practically almost everyone on the tough teams list. That includes WITH Laine, against the caps, who should be the easiest prey compared to that list of teams.

It's great to stay positive but I fear a lot of people are setting themselves up for disappointment and this place will be hard to endure because people weren't able to temper their expectations.

Yep end of this month starts a hard stretch of games.

 

[Kennerback]

The last playoff spot is ripe for the pickings with the NYR in shambles. Laine, Hutson and Monty are really pulling through right now. We need a proper backup NOW.

We need a real backup or we’re dead. Primeau is great if the point is a top-3 pick.

 

[Goalfield13]

We need a real backup or we’re dead. Primeau is great if the point is a top-3 pick.

Having a quality backup goalie is so underrated.

 

[Kennerback]

You know who would be a good backup right now? Jake Allen

He’d be much better than Primeau, that’s for sure, but that ship has sailed. Thinking proactively, there needs to be an affordable solution on the market or in house.

 

[CHwest]

Parity is not an expression of dilution, quite the opposite.

The more there is talent, the more likely there is parity, because the level of leaguewide talent offsets the truly elite players.

The only reason we aren't living in a super defensive league caused by a swell of talent is because the league changed some rules, like making goalie equipment smaller. Otherwise, the same trend that was rising between 2010 and 2019, would've continued, where we were living a second dead puck era-level defense because there's not much time or space on the ice. It's still like that, but the smaller goalie equipment will invariably bring more goals (it's just physics and probability). The reason there's not much time or space on the ice is because of the talent level.

Look back at the 70's and 80's and see the effects of dilution. Greater disparity of teams, greater disparity of stats. We're not talking about simply adding two teams to 30 other teams here, which is a very small dilution (less than 10%). It was from 6 to 23 teams in less than 25 years. That's dilution.

From 2003 onwards, there were no expansions until Vegas in 2017. That period saw an influx of talent with zero expansion, which led to 2015 scoring being almost as low as the DPE.

Continuously adding talent without expansions (barring rule changes and/or new tech) will invariably cause more parity, because all team overalls get generally upgraded, making the difference from one team to the other, be much less.

Rinks 6' wider, 3' each side.

 

[salbutera]

Much more parity in the East, gap between last and playoffs is much more narrow than West. Another year we’d already be out.

NYR, Boston & TBay age factor is starting to show

 

[Kennerback]

NYR, Boston & TBay age factor is starting to show

There’s 4 points from last place to playoffs in the East, while in the West it’s 12. Some of those big Eastern teams seem to be on the tail end of their competitive cycle.

 

[ReHabs]

January won't be easier

From boxing day onwards till Jan 31st:

Tough games:
Panthers ×1
Lightning x2
Stars ×2
Knights ×1
Wild x1
Devils x1
Canucks x1
Rangers x1
Avs x1
Jets x1
Leafs x1
Caps x1

Easier games:
Hawks x1
Yotes x1
Wings x1

We've lossed games already against practically almost everyone on the tough teams list. That includes WITH Laine, against the caps, who should be the easiest prey compared to that list of teams.

It's great to stay positive but I fear a lot of people are setting themselves up for disappointment and this place will be hard to endure because people weren't able to temper their expectations.

All I want is for them to play well and put up good efforts in these games. Results come secondary (we actually don't really want "empty calorie points) but the big thing burning my ass all season was the players and the team overall being below-par. If they hit the next month playing serious hockey and the three amigos (Newhook, Dach, and Slafkovsky) step up to the level we know they can, we're in for a treat.

 

[StCaufield]

I love it when newer posters come here and are positive but are slowly groomed into becoming bitter hopeless fans lol

 

[JoelWarlord]

We need an "In Da Mix" poll to split the difference between this one and the tank thread.

 

[BLONG7]

You know who would be a good 2C right now? Monahan
You know who would be a good backup right now? Jake Allen
You know who would help on RD right now? Kovacevic

You know what kind of results we had with those players also though................the only one I would change is keeping Allen and letting Primeau go...............but that's reactionary, because Allen was not worth 3.4M while here, so he had to go............
Monahan at 5.5M is a no go either, so................the only way to that one, is Gally or Andy would have had to go...............Monahan was not staying for 1.95M
Nothing is ever as simple as it looks.

 

[sampollock]

need top 3 pick not a 4 straight exit form the playoffs

 

[OldCraig71]

You know who would be a good 2C right now? Monahan
You know who would be a good backup right now? Jake Allen
You know who would help on RD right now? Kovacevic

I was thinking the same thing before reading your post. The positive impact of those three would mean another 6-8 points and we would be in a playoff position right now.

Monahan might have accepted a 3 year deal to stay here, I don't know if we even made an offer. Kovacevic was a minimum wage NHL player who was much better than many here gave credit. Personally, I was a fan of a big RD that was a good team guy that did what was asked of him. The drop-off in talent between Allen and Primeau is large and I dont think the powers that be really understood it but they do now.

The playoffs aren't the goal this year but it would be cool to have our young players experiencing the thrill of being in the hunt, it would pay dividends for the future.

 

[Adam Michaels]

You know who would be a good 2C right now? Monahan
You know who would be a good backup right now? Jake Allen
You know who would help on RD right now? Kovacevic

True those players would serve their purpose now.

However, if you think about it., particularly with Monahan, if they kept him, the Habs would have done better and probably not finish Bottom-5 (meaning no Demidov). Furthermore, if they kept him, they wouldn't have that second 1st round pick, which they used to move up 5 spots to take Hage. So in the long run, moving Monahan was the right move.

In Allen's case, the guy was the worst of the 3 goalies last year. So it made sense him being the one traded. He's looking better this year, but he's the back up of one of the best teams in the league. He's a reason why, but it's easier to be the back up of those teams. And what makes it even more glaring is that Primeau is not playing the way he did when he was last year when he would get the net.

Kovacevic would help steady things, but the reason some might miss him is because Barron hasn't stepped up enough. And that was clearly the reason he was moved. If Barron did claim that spot, some wouldn't be thinking of Kovacevic.