Tanking for Alexis Lafreniere

[Michoulicious]

If NJ and Buffalo keep winning and Montreal keeps losing, #6 is a possibility, would put the odds at a top 8 pick at 98%, 100% top 9.

It would be ideal... Would guarantee an excellent prospect. Only problem is even if the top 10 this year is strong on talent, it lacks RHDs/forwards with size/grit, which are two of the biggest needs in the organization.

Here is my current top 10, just talent wise:

1. Lafrenière
2. Stützle
3. Byfield
4. Rossi
5. Drysdale
6. Raymond
7. Holtz
8. Askarov
9. Sanderson
10. Jarvis

I'm higher than most on Sanderson, because while not really offensively gifted, I see a D with excellent skating, size and defensive abilities... Reminds me of a Petry that is stronger defensively, or a young Bouwmeester. Excellent, if not exciting/spectacular player, and a big/reliable minutes eater in a situations.

Same for Jarvis; what he lacks in size, he compensates in compete and agility. Big riser. Can't ignore what he's been doing in the WHL since January. I like him more than Zary.

I'm lower than most on Perfetti because while extremely gifted, I don't see much tenacity/involvement when he does not have the puck. Big red flag for me.

I feel however that if Montreal don't win the lottery, they'll go with a guy like Holloway that fits the bill on what the team lacks in the top 6. Those Josh Anderson-like player are very rare nowadays, and I see a team reaching and taking him in the top 10.

 

[Habs]

Every year, under this regime , I look forward to losing games and moving up the draft. We are worse than an expansion club.

 

[1909]

Every year, under this regime , I look forward to losing games and moving up the draft. We are worse than an expansion club.

KK third OV spot was won in a lottery !

It's not the rank that counts but WHO you pick.

 

[admiralcadillac]

If NJ and Buffalo keep winning and Montreal keeps losing, #6 is a possibility, would put the odds at a top 8 pick at 98%, 100% top 9.

It would be ideal... Would guarantee an excellent prospect. Only problem is even if the top 10 this year is strong on talent, it lacks RHDs/forwards with size/grit, which are two of the biggest needs in the organization.

Here is my current top 10, just talent wise:

1. Lafrenière
2. Stützle
3. Byfield
4. Rossi
5. Drysdale
6. Raymond
7. Holtz
8. Askarov
9. Sanderson
10. Jarvis

I'm higher than most on Sanderson, because while not really offensively gifted, I see a D with excellent skating, size and defensive abilities... Reminds me of a Petry that is stronger defensively, or a young Bouwmeester. Excellent, if not exciting/spectacular player, and a big/reliable minutes eater in a situations.

Same for Jarvis; what he lacks in size, he compensates in compete and agility. Big riser. Can't ignore what he's been doing in the WHL since January. I like him more than Zary.

I'm lower than most on Perfetti because while extremely gifted, I don't see much tenacity/involvement when he does not have the puck. Big red flag for me.

I feel however that if Montreal don't win the lottery, they'll go with a guy like Holloway that fits the bill on what the team lacks in the top 6. Those Josh Anderson-like player are very rare nowadays, and I see a team reaching and taking him in the top 10.

I get what you mean but the team just needs talent at this point. If it comes in any form it will be a bonus. At the very worst it allows a trade chip to form.

 

[1909]

If Habs cannot draft top-five, they will trade their pick for a later first rounder + an established young player, D or Forward.

 

[calder candidate]

If Habs cannot draft top-five, they will trade their pick for a later first rounder + an established young player, D or Forward.

How good of a establish young player are you able to get by trading down...

 

[G0bias]

If Habs cannot draft top-five, they will trade their pick for a later first rounder + an established young player, D or Forward.

Would be a Habs thing to do.

If anything, they should add to their pick with whatever they can to move UP. Or to target an elite prospect/young player. They don't need more, they need better.

 

[sandviper]

Tank watch for tonight. Desired outcome in bold.

NSH at MTL

TBL at TOR - but I suppose it'd be ok for Tampa to win. That said, we want to be sure to not catch the Laffs.
PIT at NJD
CAR at DET - OT preferred to give DET a point.
NYR at DAL
NYI at VAN - OT preferred to give NYI a point.
OTT at ANA - OT preferred to give OTT a point.

Notes if Montreal loses tonight in regulation
- A NJD win puts them one point behind us with a game in hand.
- CAR and TOR wins puts both 10 points up on us with TOR having a game in hand and CAR with 3 games in hand.
- NYR and VAN wins puts them 7 points up on us with 2 games in hand.
- ANA win puts them 4 points back with a game in hand. If OTT wins, not horrible but they are going to be 7 points back with a game in hand. IMO, ANA has a better chance to catch us.

Current Montreal lottery odds are at 6%

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

If NJ and Buffalo keep winning and Montreal keeps losing, #6 is a possibility, would put the odds at a top 8 pick at 98%, 100% top 9.

It would be ideal... Would guarantee an excellent prospect. Only problem is even if the top 10 this year is strong on talent, it lacks RHDs/forwards with size/grit, which are two of the biggest needs in the organization.

Here is my current top 10, just talent wise:

1. Lafrenière
2. Stützle
3. Byfield
4. Rossi
5. Drysdale
6. Raymond
7. Holtz
8. Askarov
9. Sanderson
10. Jarvis

I'm higher than most on Sanderson, because while not really offensively gifted, I see a D with excellent skating, size and defensive abilities... Reminds me of a Petry that is stronger defensively, or a young Bouwmeester. Excellent, if not exciting/spectacular player, and a big/reliable minutes eater in a situations.

Same for Jarvis; what he lacks in size, he compensates in compete and agility. Big riser. Can't ignore what he's been doing in the WHL since January. I like him more than Zary.

I'm lower than most on Perfetti because while extremely gifted, I don't see much tenacity/involvement when he does not have the puck. Big red flag for me.

I feel however that if Montreal don't win the lottery, they'll go with a guy like Holloway that fits the bill on what the team lacks in the top 6. Those Josh Anderson-like player are very rare nowadays, and I see a team reaching and taking him in the top 10.

I have never seen Holloway play, but Josh Anderson has to be one of the most laughably overrated players in recent memory. I sure hope a top 10 pick doesn't result in a tweener-at-best.

 

[Michoulicious]

I have never seen Holloway play, but Josh Anderson has to be one of the most laughably overrated players in recent memory. I sure hope a top 10 pick doesn't result in a tweener-at-best.

Unfair to say a guy is a tweener after his season was derailed by major injuries. Anderson was a solid top 6 winger for Colombus before he was injured.

They are similar in the sense they are big body wingers that skate really well, have good offensive capabilities and some sandpaper.

Holloway is surely more highly touted as a prospect given his pedigree (40 goals in 53 games in the Alberta junior league). He's however one of the oldest player in that draft.

Tom Wilson is another players with those attributes that ended up drafted in the mid 1st. He was however bigger, grittier and less offensively gifted than Holloway is IMO.

 

[sandviper]

If NJ and Buffalo keep winning and Montreal keeps losing, #6 is a possibility, would put the odds at a top 8 pick at 98%, 100% top 9.

It would be ideal... Would guarantee an excellent prospect. Only problem is even if the top 10 this year is strong on talent, it lacks RHDs/forwards with size/grit, which are two of the biggest needs in the organization.

Here is my current top 10, just talent wise:

1. Lafrenière
2. Stützle
3. Byfield
4. Rossi
5. Drysdale
6. Raymond
7. Holtz
8. Askarov
9. Sanderson
10. Jarvis

I'm higher than most on Sanderson, because while not really offensively gifted, I see a D with excellent skating, size and defensive abilities... Reminds me of a Petry that is stronger defensively, or a young Bouwmeester. Excellent, if not exciting/spectacular player, and a big/reliable minutes eater in a situations.

Same for Jarvis; what he lacks in size, he compensates in compete and agility. Big riser. Can't ignore what he's been doing in the WHL since January. I like him more than Zary.

I'm lower than most on Perfetti because while extremely gifted, I don't see much tenacity/involvement when he does not have the puck. Big red flag for me.

I feel however that if Montreal don't win the lottery, they'll go with a guy like Holloway that fits the bill on what the team lacks in the top 6. Those Josh Anderson-like player are very rare nowadays, and I see a team reaching and taking him in the top 10.

I agree the top-10 lacks size and grit and we’re a team that needs that.

We also need elite skill.

IMO, you find that complete package, of course you grab that player. However, it is a mistake to draft a payer because they are “big and have grit” over potentially better players. I think doing so is worse than drafting by need (position) which I think is stupid also.

Always draft BPA.

Only time I am ok with not going BPA is in later rounds. Go by needs there. In this case, just scout as many hulks as you can who can skate.

On a side note, I always had a soft spot for McCarron. A shame he couldn’t skate and never developed. He could have filled a need in our bottom six at least, which could also use some grit and size.

 

[HuGo Sham]

i know we all grumble when habs lose, but really, we should all hope habs do not win another game this year

 

[sandviper]

i know we all grumble when habs lose, but really, we should all hope habs do not win another game this year

I agree, it would be comical to break our two 8-game losing streaks.

And of course, we’ll continue our bad luck and drop in the draft with other teams leap frogging past us.

 

[hardcorehabs]

A piece of me finds it actually difficult to enjoy the tank knowing our GM believes this to be a playoff team. Mind blowing how somebody can be paid millions of dollars with that kind of vision.

Further, would winning the lottery 1 OV save Bergevin? I feel like Molson keeps him if that’s the case. Again, mind blowing stuff.

 

[26Mats]

So glad we're losing right now! I'm not being sarcastic or mean spirited at all. I'm dead serious.

If we lose our remaining 11 games, we have pretty much as good a shot at Lafreniere as anyone. We can do this!

 

[26Mats]

very important loss! keep them coming!

Teams like Buffalo and Jersey that are sick of losing are trying really hard now. Let them pass us!

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

If Anaheim wins their game in hand, and we lose against them on Sunday, we drop below them in the standings.
5th last is starting to look like a possibility

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

I really doubt we get top 3 even with lottery.

That said, if we pick 5 or 6 I would like Marco Rossi. Sure he's small, but he is 184lbs. He can bulk up some more and add more strength.
Height doesn't mean everything.

This guy at center with Caufield on his right would look good in 2-3 years time in my opinion.

Reminds me of Keller or Barzal.

 

[26Mats]

I really doubt we get top 3 even with lottery.

That said, if we pick 5 or 6 I would like Marco Rossi. Sure he's small, but he is 184lbs. He can bulk up some more and add more strength.
Height doesn't mean everything.

This guy at center with Caufield on his right would look good in 2-3 years time in my opinion.

Reminds me of Keller or Barzal.

It will be hard to catch all 3 of Ottawa, San Jose, and L.A. in tank wars. But if we really tank hard, we should catch at least one of them. That would give us 4th best lottery odds at Lafreniere. Not bad.

Man did Dorion ever do well with the Karlsson trade: a likely 2nd or 3rd lottery slot, two 2nds, Josh Norris, Dylan Demelo, and Chris Tierney... Ottawa could have 1st and 2nd pick in an amazing draft, and almost surely 2 of the top 6. All for Erik injury prone, past his prime, soon to be albatross contract Karlsson.

 

[Habs Halifax]

very important loss! keep them coming!

Teams like Buffalo and Jersey that are sick of losing are trying really hard now. Let them pass us!

We do have an outside chance at the 6th spot IMO. Teams behind us have games in hand and the Habs probably end up in the 75-80 pts range. Hoping it's closer to 75 than 80 but probably going to be close to 80. 80 pts last year was the 8th pick I believe. 6th spot was 78 pts.

 

[sandviper]

We do have an outside chance at the 6th spot IMO. Teams behind us have games in hand and the Habs probably end up in the 75-80 pts range. Hoping it's closer to 75 than 80 but probably going to be close to 80. 80 pts last year was the 8th pick I believe. 6th spot was 78 pts.

Yeah. Chicago, Buffalo and Jersey can definitely pass us. I think even Anaheim has a shot.

LAK, SJS and ANA are going to be four point games when we head west.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yeah. Chicago, Buffalo and Jersey can definitely pass us. I think even Anaheim has a shot.

LAK, SJS and ANA are going to be four point games when we head west.

Agreed. Habs have like what? 11 games left? We have 10 pts in our last 11. I'm hoping we only get 6-8 pts in our next 11 however. Rest Price, it's an obvious move that we should be making

 

[26Mats]

We do have an outside chance at the 6th spot IMO. Teams behind us have games in hand and the Habs probably end up in the 75-80 pts range. Hoping it's closer to 75 than 80 but probably going to be close to 80. 80 pts last year was the 8th pick I believe. 6th spot was 78 pts.

Could you explain to me why Lindgren isn't playing every game, Weber and Gallagher aren't resting for precautionary reasons/to give the young guys a look for next year, and the priority isn't ice time for Laval players that we need to evaluate for next year?

I.e. could you explain to me why we're not trying to go 0-11-0? This is the Lafreniere draft! It's no joke! The 2nd worst record behind Detroit is definitely attainable.

 

[danyhabsfan]

Serious question

will Bergevin get booed at the draft when he steps on the stage?

 

[Goldenhands]

Serious question

will Bergevin get booed at the draft when he steps on the stage?

Not likely, I think most fans acknowledge that he did a great job since the retool... We are a very young growing team with quality kids coming up, Suzuki and KK will be better, Romanov will bring alot of energy and freshness on the back end, kids like Fleury, Ylonen, Poehling, Brook, could jump in at some point in the season... I think the team will be much more competitive next year and we dont know what Bergevin will do this summer either, could have another good one...