Speculation: Shaping the core 18 to 23

Goal Caufield50

Registered User
Jul 13, 2007
935
327
Having a ful fledged rebuild the core is now

the build blocks
Suzuki 22
Caufield 21
Dach 21
Slafkovsky 18
Ghule 18
2023 draft 17
the Core main components

mid tier blocks
Xhekaj 21
Mesar 18
they could blossom

the soon departed
Drouin
Byron
Dadenov
Allen
The sooner the better

the deeper tank blocks
edmunson
savard
anderson
hoffman
armia
dvorak
I expect Dvorak and non mobile defence to exit
 

BigDaddyLurch

Have some PRIDE, Eric...
Mar 1, 2013
21,800
18,274
Principle's Office
...selling our kids short, amigo...we have a very deep prospect pool, many of whom could shape up real quick into mid-tier or higher pieces...our D prospects are plentiful and varied, we have some very nice pieces at forward and, if Dach can do what I think he can do and take that next big step in his progression, we look to finally have two centre pieces that just need complimenting in the proper areas...I'll take a couple years of growing pains to let this young team blossom and bring the Habs back to contention, where we belong...:thumbu:
 

Estimated_Prophet

Registered User
Mar 28, 2003
11,128
12,304
Having a ful fledged rebuild the core is now

the build blocks
Suzuki 22
Caufield 21
Dach 21
Slafkovsky 18
Ghule 18
2023 draft 17
the Core main components

mid tier blocks
Xhekaj 21
Mesar 18
they could blossom

the soon departed
Drouin
Byron
Dadenov
Allen
The sooner the better

the deeper tank blocks
edmunson
savard
anderson
hoffman
armia
dvorak
I expect Dvorak and non mobile defence to exit

Barron is certainly part of the core and Guhle is 20 while Suzuki turns 23 in one week.
 

HabzSauce

Registered User
Jun 10, 2022
1,735
2,380
Farrell? Roy? I have them above Jackeye and Mesar for now, but Mesar is INTRIGUING to say the least.

Maybe our version of Blake Coleman I'm hoping. Different skill sets but I love their motors and versitality. Mesar on a fast, skilled and scrappy future 3rd line would be amazing
 

HABitual Fan

Registered User
May 22, 2007
1,764
1,041
Until we actually see how the prospects do at the NHL level, the only building blocks are Suzuki and Caufield currently. That is why having as much depth as the team has is important. Nothing is guaranteed, so the more shots you get at finding the right players, the better.
 

Sherwoo9

Registered User
Jul 17, 2018
82
55
Yeah Farrel, Roy, and Barronneeds to be there. While I love Xhekaj and want him to succeed, I see him as a 3rd pairing D. If he is included in those Tier.. lots of our young players and prospects needs to be also (Starting by Harris)
 
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Zilo44

Registered User
Jul 4, 2012
1,488
2,095
I think we have 4 top 6 forwards

Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky and 2023 1st round pick.

We then have several guys who have a legit shot at top 6 duties : Dach, Farrell, Roy, Kidney, Mesar and Beck.

And maybe Dubois.

We are set after next year.
 

ML16

Registered User
Aug 28, 2020
455
416
Montreal
The OP righly underlines that we should bear in mind that the Habs’ current rebuild essentially started in 2018, at least the « draft assets gathering » aspect of it. The prospect pool at every position - besides RHD and G - is rather deep at the moment and should provide a steady influx of quality ELC contracts players in the next few years :

2022-2023 : Barron, Harris; Guhle?; Slafkovski (post-TDL?); Ylonen?; RHP?

2023-2024 : 2023 1st; Farrell; Primeau; Roy?; Heineman?; Xhekaj?

2024-2025 : Mesar? ; Beck? ; Kidney?; Tuch?; Struble?; Mailloux?

2025-2026 : Rorher? ; Hutson?

If the Habs can gradually replace Bergevin’s last burdens (Drouin, Hoffman, Armia, etc.) by such ELC contract players - thus providing ample cap space to target 1-2 impactful UFA (Top-6 forward + Top-2 RHD) in the 2024 offseason - I humbly think the Habs’ next core could legitimately start aiming to acquire playoffs experience as soon as 2024-2025.

Edit:Spelling
 

Zilo44

Registered User
Jul 4, 2012
1,488
2,095
The OP righly underlines that we should bear in mind that the Habs’ current rebuild essentially started in 2018, at least the « draft assets gathering » aspect of it. The prospect pool at every position - besides RHD and G - is rather deep at the moment and should provide a steady influx of quality ELC contracts players in the next few years :

2022-2023 : Barron, Harris; Guhle?; Slafkovski (post-TDL?); Ylonen?; RHP?

2023-2024 : 2023 1st; Farrell; Primeau; Roy?; Heineman?; Xhekaj?

2024-2025 : Mesar? ; Beck? ; Kidney?; Tuch?; Struble?; Mailloux?

2025-2026 : Rorher? ; Hutson?

If the Habs can gradually replace Bergevin’s last burdens (Drouin, Hoffman, Armia, etc.) by such ELC contract players - thus providing ample cap space to target 1-2 impactful UFA (Top-6 forward + Top-2 RHD) in the 2024 offseason - I humbly think the Habs’ next core could legitimately start aiming to acquire playoffs experience as soon as 2024-2025.

Edit:Spelling

That’s my take too. We are bottom feeders in 2022-2023. Then I would like to see a desire to improve like Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo without necessarily making it to the playoffs. But in 2024-2025, I think aiming for the playoffs is reasonable (I don’t think Gorton and Hughes feel they have the luxury to miss the playoffs 4 years in a row either)
 

Habs Icing

Formerly Onice
Jan 17, 2004
20,003
11,868
Montreal
I think we have 4 top 6 forwards

Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky and 2023 1st round pick.

We then have several guys who have a legit shot at top 6 duties : Dach, Farrell, Roy, Kidney, Mesar and Beck.

And maybe Dubois.

We are set after next year.
The grammar in your post reveals the flaw in your logic. You already counted that 23 1st rd pick as a viable NHLer.

What if Slaf makes the team and plays to expectations and what if Hugo trades for Dubois and what if St Louis works some magic and what if Guhle and Barron exceed everyone's wildest dreams. That 1st round pick will look like it's closer to Florida's than it does to the top 5.

Something tells me Hugo doesn't want to finish in the bottom 5 or even the bottom 10.
 

Zilo44

Registered User
Jul 4, 2012
1,488
2,095
The grammar in your post reveals the flaw in your logic. You already counted that 23 1st rd pick as a viable NHLer.

What if Slaf makes the team and plays to expectations and what if Hugo trades for Dubois and what if St Louis works some magic and what if Guhle and Barron exceed everyone's wildest dreams. That 1st round pick will look like it's closer to Florida's than it does to the top 5.

Something tells me Hugo doesn't want to finish in the bottom 5 or even the bottom 10.

Fine. It means that everything turned out perfectly.

But with that defense and the division we play in, I don’t think it’s realistic to expect drafting out of the top 10, probably not realistic to expect drafting out pf the top 5.

But sure, if Slaf looks like a sure 1st liner, Caufield and Suzuki are PPG players, Guhle, Barron and Harris are studs and we get Dubois for cheap, I won’t complain
 

Tetragrammaton

Registered User
Mar 17, 2022
2,305
2,923
Should be tier1
Tier2 would be expected
No rank is straight up disrespect :damnpc:



He’s a goalie. Maybe good maybe shit. We’ll see.

2C9F5FE1-4B76-4F40-BEB9-1F22D613F807.gif
 
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schwang26

Registered User
Mar 15, 2022
4,502
4,362
...selling our kids short, amigo...we have a very deep prospect pool, many of whom could shape up real quick into mid-tier or higher pieces...our D prospects are plentiful and varied, we have some very nice pieces at forward and, if Dach can do what I think he can do and take that next big step in his progression, we look to finally have two centre pieces that just need complimenting in the proper areas...I'll take a couple years of growing pains to let this young team blossom and bring the Habs back to contention, where we belong...:thumbu:
I like the prospects but I think they still need to see what, if any, they have in key positions. Do they have a true, superstar forward? Do they have a future number 1 defenceman (or even a number 2)? Do they have a future starting goalie? Do they have an elite penalty killer? I know its too early to say, but I don't think any of their current prospects are pegged as filling those spots. They may have some "star" forwards, but I don't think I'd class them as super, or generational. (Hoping for Bedard!). Guhle MAY end up as a number 2, but he may fall in with the others as potential 3rd, 4th d-men. Primeau still worries me. I love Evans but I wouldn't classify him in with the top PK guys in the NHL.
Bottom line is, they'll compete by having a deep pool, but they aren't contending unless they fill the above mentioned positions. There is no Mackinnon and no Makar coming up for this team.
 

Talent Analyst

Registered User
Dec 24, 2005
7,197
10
100th years
Here's the dept chart I have. I try to be realistic and not too much optimistic. As we see, we have no reasons to pay top 9 and top 12 players more than 1-1.5m$. We have dept coming. That way, we'll be able to pay to sign elite talent and a top pairing RD.

LWCRW
Top 3SlafkovskySuzukiCaufield
Top 6Farrell
Roy
Dach
Top 9Pitlick
Heineman
Mysak
Evans
Kidney
Beck
Ylonen
Mesar
Top 12RHP
Pezzetta
Tuch
Hillis
Kapanen
Biondi
Rohrer
LDRD
Top 2Guhle
Top 4Harris
Hutson
Barron
Mailloux
Top 6Struble
Xhekaj
Norlinder
Fairbrother
Trudeau
Brooks
Tourigny
 
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BLONG7

Registered User
Oct 30, 2002
36,859
23,533
Nova Scotia
Visit site
The grammar in your post reveals the flaw in your logic. You already counted that 23 1st rd pick as a viable NHLer.

What if Slaf makes the team and plays to expectations and what if Hugo trades for Dubois and what if St Louis works some magic and what if Guhle and Barron exceed everyone's wildest dreams. That 1st round pick will look like it's closer to Florida's than it does to the top 5.

Something tells me Hugo doesn't want to finish in the bottom 5 or even the bottom 10.
Agreed..............both of the big boys seem like they are not going for a top 5 pick next year.
We have ours, and FLA's so be it.
There seems to be too much temptation to come out of this quicker..................my take is we need to be a top 10 pick again, and have one more tough year.
 

schwang26

Registered User
Mar 15, 2022
4,502
4,362
The grammar in your post reveals the flaw in your logic. You already counted that 23 1st rd pick as a viable NHLer.

What if Slaf makes the team and plays to expectations and what if Hugo trades for Dubois and what if St Louis works some magic and what if Guhle and Barron exceed everyone's wildest dreams. That 1st round pick will look like it's closer to Florida's than it does to the top 5.

Something tells me Hugo doesn't want to finish in the bottom 5 or even the bottom 10.
I disagree with where he wants to finish. I mean, to a certain degree it's out of his control and he will say all the right things to the public. Im sure he wants a competitive team but competing and winning arent the same thing. I'm sure he sees the glaring holes and inexperience this team has (not to mention the cap issues) and understands that they aren't in a position to rush a rebuild, nor should they. I think new management are people who make a plan and actually stick to it. There's no benefit to them finishing out of the top 5. All they'd do is worsen their draft pick. They aren't making the playoffs let alone competing for the cup.
 

Benstheman

Registered User
Nov 20, 2014
7,295
3,532
Farrell is without a doubt a building blocks.

Our top 6 next april after the ncaa season :

Anderson - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Farrell

Very nice
You forgot Bedard

I think we have 4 top 6 forwards

Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky and 2023 1st round pick.

We then have several guys who have a legit shot at top 6 duties : Dach, Farrell, Roy, Kidney, Mesar and Beck.

And maybe Dubois.

We are set after next year.
Then fix the D.
 

1909

Registered User
Jul 6, 2016
21,247
11,781
Farrell is without a doubt a building blocks.

Our top 6 next april after the ncaa season :

Anderson - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Farrell

Very nice
Farrell is a LW and Anderson a RW

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Farrell-Dach-Anderson

But this top six have many, many questions marks still.
 
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SlafySZN

Registered User
May 21, 2022
7,513
16,266
Farrell is without a doubt a building blocks.

Our top 6 next april after the ncaa season :

Anderson - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Farrell

Very nice
Switch Anderson & Slafkovsky, then it’s perfect!
 

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