HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[montreal]

At the begining of the year we had posters saying they'd be disappointed if Caulfield didn't score 40 goals.

I don't know if he'll ever score 40 goals. I think I'll be happy if he averages 30 goals in his prime.

people look at things in a blanket when we know reality is much different. Can Caufield score 40+ goals, of course he can because he has the shot. But how does he do that? It's a team sport so he will need help. He will need someone feeding him pucks, a 100% healthy shoulder, he will likely need to be on a good to very good PP, someone that can QB things and execute long passes crisply/accurately/consistently.

In the right setting Caufield should be able to score 40+ goals but if he doesn't have the help and there isn't much on the roster to key in on other then him and Suzuki and say 1 or 2 others, then he's going to have a lot of problems as he will likely wear down physically since he's the main target to stop every night along with Suzuki.

 

[Ezpz]

Not sure playing NHL hockey is the best way to let your shoulder heal. Perhaps they should put him on LTIR and save another 8M in cap space.

From what I've read using the shoulder is the only way to get it back to normal. I just mean it should only be concerning if he's still shooting at 7% next season.

 

[Anardil]

I can't help but shake my head at all the posters who keep mentioning signing Nylander (or any other "impact" UFA) as a possibility.

Have you been paying attention to every July 1 since FA Frenzy has become a thing?

Please name one UFA of relevance that the Habs have been able to sign. I'll wait....
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There are three components to building a successful franchise:

1- Drafting and development.
2- Trades.
3- Free agency signings.

The Habs are handicapped because they have only two components available to them. Therefore, it is extremely important to not crap the bed with the only two options available to them.

As a fanbase we are still waiting on 40 years of inabilities to obtain marquee players (outside of the crease).

 

[JianYang]

I can't help but shake my head at all the posters who keep mentioning signing Nylander (or any other "impact" UFA) as a possibility.

Have you been paying attention to every July 1 since FA Frenzy has become a thing?

Please name one UFA of relevance that the Habs have been able to sign. I'll wait....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There are three components to building a successful franchise:

1- Drafting and development.
2- Trades.
3- Free agency signings.

The Habs are handicapped because they have only two components available to them. Therefore, it is extremely important to not crap the bed with the only two options available to them.

As a fanbase we are still waiting on 40 years of inabilities to obtain marquee players (outside of the crease).

Very few markets have the luxury of being able to attract marquee free agents on a consistent basis. New York is the one that has had that advantage consistently over time but it hasn't done much for them as a franchise.

For montreal, the best chance at attracting marquee players is with the "if you build it, they will come" approach. That means, build your roster from within and through sound management of assets to the point of cup contention. Then the Habs can focus on their best chance of big game hunting.

Under this UFA system, the Habs have not really been a consistent contender at any point. Only a few brief pockets here and there but no sustained success that would have opened the eyes of marquee free agents.

As for Nylander, I don't see the lure of coming here, nor do I see the fit for montreal. I'm generally adverse to spending alot on wingers unless the other key positions have been established to be solid enough to contend. The Habs are not there yet.

 

[vokiel]

Happy to see we fell to #7. I doubt we get lower than that, so I had to try that simulator.

Got Celibrini on the second try... Is nice!

 

[Gustave]

I can't help but shake my head at all the posters who keep mentioning signing Nylander (or any other "impact" UFA) as a possibility.

Have you been paying attention to every July 1 since FA Frenzy has become a thing?

Please name one UFA of relevance that the Habs have been able to sign. I'll wait....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There are three components to building a successful franchise:

1- Drafting and development.
2- Trades.
3- Free agency signings.

The Habs are handicapped because they have only two components available to them. Therefore, it is extremely important to not crap the bed with the only two options available to them.

As a fanbase we are still waiting on 40 years of inabilities to obtain marquee players (outside of the crease).

I mean, send him an offer at least just in case. He helps further the purpose of the rebuild; to become potent and hope for a championship team.

Draft picks we have, trades are always tricky…. So if you get a « free » asset like Nylander… you take it.

 

[rahad]

Very few markets have the luxury of being able to attract marquee free agents on a consistent basis. New York is the one that has had that advantage consistently over time but it hasn't done much for them as a franchise.

For montreal, the best chance at attracting marquee players is with the "if you build it, they will come" approach. That means, build your roster from within and through sound management of assets to the point of cup contention. Then the Habs can focus on their best chance of big game hunting.

Under this UFA system, the Habs have not really been a consistent contender at any point. Only a few brief pockets here and there but no sustained success that would have opened the eyes of marquee free agents.

As for Nylander, I don't see the lure of coming here, nor do I see the fit for montreal. I'm generally adverse to spending alot on wingers unless the other key positions have been established to be solid enough to contend. The Habs are not there yet.

NY also failed big time with high prospect. Can you imagine the rangers with a elite Laf and Kakko? If they both performed in the NHL? If they did not burst.

Pretty sure no one saw both of them having a average NHL career. They would have probably won the stanley cup with a elite Laf and Kakko.

 

[Sorinth]

I can't help but shake my head at all the posters who keep mentioning signing Nylander (or any other "impact" UFA) as a possibility.

Have you been paying attention to every July 1 since FA Frenzy has become a thing?

Please name one UFA of relevance that the Habs have been able to sign. I'll wait....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There are three components to building a successful franchise:

1- Drafting and development.
2- Trades.
3- Free agency signings.

The Habs are handicapped because they have only two components available to them. Therefore, it is extremely important to not crap the bed with the only two options available to them.

As a fanbase we are still waiting on 40 years of inabilities to obtain marquee players (outside of the crease).

Cammalleri was coming off a 39 goal 82 point season which had him 13th OA in league scoring, is that not a UFA of relevance? Hamrlik would probably also qualify as he was a top UFA candidate at the time and an established top-pairing guy.

Just because Bergevin was an incompetent GM doesn't mean that Montreal itself is inherently bad. Gainey was capable of getting top UFAs, even Gauthier who was a bad GM did ok. Don't conflate Montreal being an undesirable location with the incompetence that was Bergevin.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

NY also failed big time with high prospect. Can you imagine the rangers with a elite Laf and Kakko? If they both performed in the NHL? If they did not burst.

Pretty sure no one saw both of them having a average NHL career. They would have probably won the stanley cup with a elite Laf and Kakko.

They did not all bust. The GM accelerated the rebuild too fast and they added FA's like Panarin. There was no chance to develop prospects. And Gallant couldn't develop a cold. Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Andersson etc. When you fail with all your prospects it's the teams fault.

 

[Runner77]

If the Habs draft 8th and the BPA is a defenseman, then yes they should draft one.

Only if it’s a clear BPA otherwise try to trade up.

 

[HuGort]

Agreed to a point. Armia was demoted to the AHL but recalled after playing well and the need for more bodies up front. Better to keep the promising youngsters with Laval this year facing pros than in NHL. Might be time to send him back down and promote other AHL vets.

What pisses me off about Armia is he can play well. Then just no effort. DD all over again

 

[Sorinth]

They did not all bust. The GM accelerated the rebuild too fast and they added FA's like Panarin. There was no chance to develop prospects. And Gallant couldn't develop a cold. Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Andersson etc. When you fail with all your prospects it's the teams fault.

Plenty of players develop even when their teams are in win now mode. I don't think we can put their lack of success down to the GM deciding to sign FAs like Panarin. But yes there likely is/was something wrong with the team in regards to development to get so many disappointments.

 

[salbutera]

NY also failed big time with high prospect. Can you imagine the rangers with a elite Laf and Kakko? If they both performed in the NHL? If they did not burst.

Pretty sure no one saw both of them having an average NHL career. They would have probably won the stanley cup with an elite Laf and Kakko.

That’s why the draft is a crapshoot unless it’s a Crosby, Ovy, McDavid types being picked.

Imagine Bruins had even picked one legit top end talent from their 3 1st rounders in 2015?

 

[Zilo44]

Right now we’re in position to lock one of Demidov, Eiserman, Lindstrom, Helenius or Catton.

This would settle the basement part of the rebuild IMO

 

[salbutera]

Right now we’re in position to lock one of Demidov, Eiserman, Lindstrom, Helenius or Catton.

This would settle the basement part of the rebuild IMO

Not unless Habs win the lottery - Celebrini & Eiserman are going top-2

 

[Zilo44]

Not unless Habs win the lottery - Celebrini & Eiserman are going top-2

I would not rule out Demidov or Lindstrom at 2.

Like Carlsson last year

 

[Sorinth]

Not unless Habs win the lottery - Celebrini & Eiserman are going top-2

There was a recent draft list released that had Eiserman at something like 6th. Last year pretty much every list had Fantilli going 2nd and Carlson 3rd but didn't happen like that. I expect Eiserman to go 2 but it wouldn't be a complete shock if he slipped a bit either. A couple teams really love the D, one team can't pass up the size of Lindstrom and suddenly Eiserman has slid to 5th.

But I think the OPs point was more that there are 7 high end forwards, so at least one will be available for us.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Cammalleri was coming off a 39 goal 82 point season which had him 13th OA in league scoring, is that not a UFA of relevance? Hamrlik would probably also qualify as he was a top UFA candidate at the time and an established top-pairing guy.

Just because Bergevin was an incompetent GM doesn't mean that Montreal itself is inherently bad. Gainey was capable of getting top UFAs, even Gauthier who was a bad GM did ok. Don't conflate Montreal being an undesirable location with the incompetence that was Bergevin.

Yeah I fully agree, this is something I've been harping on for a while. I think it's just recency bias in terms of there being a decent number of marquee free agents that have moved in the past 5-6 seasons while the Habs struggled with UFAs in the 2nd half of the Bergevin era. It's true that the Habs have never signed a Tavares/Panarin/Gaudreau/Pietrangelo in free agency before, but neither have most teams. Those four guys plus Chara and Hossa are basically the entire list of franchise talents that have moved in free agency since the salary cap began.

Beyond that tier of player, Montreal stacks up well with anyone else outside the 2nd half of the Bergevin era. Kovalev, Hamrlik, Cammalleri, Cole, Gionta, Lang etc. were all good additions and pretty much as good as you can realistically expect from UFAs as the top guys are just so rarely available in free agency.

 

[Nedved]

Here we go red! here we go!!

Some big games coming up and I hope we lull into a losing streak.

I see 2 wins, maybe 3, in the next 10. something like 3-5-2.

A top 10 pick is in sight. We just need to stumble here and move some guys at the Trade deadline for a couple picks. It's a great draft and we need one of the top 8 guys. Whether we go forward or defenseman it looks like there's some serious talent.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Double shift Dvorak

 

[Guy Larose]

Double shift Dvorak

Dvorak will be double shifting hot dogs as he's injured.

 

[LaP]

Dvorak will be double shifting hot dogs as he's injured.

Then triple shift him when he's back.

 

[habsfan891]

3 goals on 11 shots man I love ahl goalies keeping us out of the top 5

 

[Gravity]

3 goals on 11 shots man I love ahl goalies keeping us out of the top 5

At least it was Slaf and Suzuki getting points. If it were Stephens, Armia, Matheson then.....

 

[Sorinth]

3 goals on 11 shots man I love ahl goalies keeping us out of the top 5

You think teams are playing their backup against us but their starter against the tank teams?