HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Gravity]

What's the point of tanking when you pass on BPA in the draft? Looking forward to adding another middle 6er or 2nd pair D.

 

[Mrb1p]

Lol he wouldn't say that in 2023.

Because its awfully rude to call someone a gypsie, hopefully.

 

[HabzSauce]

Habs won't make the Playoffs this year (95% chances they are not), but they will finish between 10th and 12th in their Conference, and give a good show.

Who in the east finishes below the Habs?

Hockey is weird but Philly is the only logical answer I see on paper. So based off that alone we should expect to finish 2nd last in conference

Habs have a better roster than Boston

Discuss

On paper I don't think so. Their D/G is a lot better than ours. And they still have some good forwards like Pasta/Marchand/debrusk.

 

[1909]

Who in the east finishes below the Habs?

Hockey is weird but Philly is the only logical answer I see on paper. So based off that alone we should expect to finish 2nd last in conference


On paper I don't think so. Their D/G is a lot better than ours. And they still have some good forwards like Pasta/Marchand/debrusk.

Is Detroit that much stronger than the Habs ? They don't have good goaltending and a questionable D.

Is Columbus really stronger than the Habs overall ?

Outside Thatchuk, how can Florida repeat their last year run ? Their D is so-so. And Bobrovsky won't repeat.

Isles have to play uber D to win any game. Same old bunch.

Buffalo has lots to work on their D and goaltending.

Philly, of course, are lightyears away from Playoffs.

Washington also as a delining cast of players....

Can other teams got as many injuries to key players than the Habs had over the last few seasons ?

 

[Sorinth]

Who in the east finishes below the Habs?

Hockey is weird but Philly is the only logical answer I see on paper. So based off that alone we should expect to finish 2nd last in conference


On paper I don't think so. Their D/G is a lot better than ours. And they still have some good forwards like Pasta/Marchand/debrusk.

Columbus would be another that we could easily surpass besides Philly, they've made improvements but those are sketchy ones outside of Fantilli who probably needs time. For Boston it's possible but unlikely, there's a good chance that they fall out of the playoff race and become sellers at the deadline. In that case they might really drop significantly but they likely will have built up enough of a cushion to not drop past us. I also wouldn't count out Washington as a stealth tank candidate

 

[BLONG7]

Habs have a better roster than Boston

Discuss

The Bruins are going to fall hard this season.........................and I think we will surprise a little, but they wont be down with us, but I say they miss da playoff!

 

[1909]

Habs have a better roster than Boston

Discuss

Boston still have a couple of superstars + a great D-Corp + 2 great goalies.+ lots of size and grit.

 

[DAChampion]

Who in the east finishes below the Habs?

Hockey is weird but Philly is the only logical answer I see on paper. So based off that alone we should expect to finish 2nd last in conference

You don't actually know all of the teams that well and really, nobody does. You can't predict who's going to be an injured, have a meltdown, etc.

 

[Naslundforever]

I think maybe a few missed the tank, it’s gone baby, gone. It’s rebuild time now. A few high draft picks and a few vets removed, it’s time to get good and get more good players for picks and prospects over the next couple.

F*** tanking, I hope it never happens again in my lifetime, I hated every second of it.

 

[HabzSauce]

Is Detroit that much stronger than the Habs ? They don't have good golatending and a questionable D.

Is Columbus really stronger than the Habs overall ?

Outside Thatchuk, how can Florida repeat their last year run ? Their D is so-so. And Bobrovsky won't repeat.

Isles have to play uber D to win any game. Same old bunch.

Buffalo has lots to work on their D and goaltending.

Philly, of course, are lightyears away from Playoffs.

Washington also as a delining cast of players....

Can other teams got as many injuries to key players than the habs had over the last few seasons ?

Detroit is filled with middle 6 players. Maybe/maybe not good enough for WC but they'll be in the mix

Florida underperformed last year and still made playoffs. Tkachuk , barkov, Montour, Ekblad and a good offence..... and Knight is better than any G we have

Isles are better than us. Good D and top 5 G.

Buffalo is better. I think they make playoffs this year

Washington and Columbus are debatable. Caps will still want to compete for playoffs before tearing it down, and Columbus beefed up their D and have some nice pieces up front. Still say both are better than Habs

 

[Tyson]

Habs have a better roster than Boston

Discuss

An argument can be made for sure. Habs need to stay healthy, have the young D continue to improve and for the goaltending to be decent.

Detroit is filled with middle 6 players. Maybe/maybe not good enough for WC but they'll be in the mix

Florida underperformed last year and still made playoffs. Tkachuk , barkov, Montour, Ekblad and a good offence..... and Knight is better than any G we have

Isles are better than us. Good D and top 5 G.

Buffalo is better. I think they make playoffs this year

Washington and Columbus are debatable. Caps will still want to compete for playoffs before tearing it down, and Columbus beefed up their D and have some nice pieces up front. Still say both are better than Habs

Sorry but Knight hasn't proved squat.

 

[HabzSauce]

You don't actually know all of the teams that well and really, nobody does. You can't predict who's going to be an injured, have a meltdown, etc.

Of course I'm not a hockey expert - it's called a prediction for a reason

Plus it's not like we don't know what the rosters look like. Anyone here can easily make a calculated guestimate based off how the rosters look on paper. And outside of a couple surprises, it's normally a lot easier to predict who will finish bottom 3-5.

Last year for ex I predicted Habs finish bottom 5. I was worried about CHI, SJS, PHI, ARI and ANA. Columbus was the only surprise. I'm no prophet but that's what I mean by the bottom 5 being easier to predict

 

[HabzSauce]

Sorry but Knight hasn't proved squat.

Yup and I'd still take him over any of our guys. He looks good so far.

Knight/Bob > Montembault/Allen

 

[SlafySZN]

What's the point of tanking when you pass on BPA in the draft? Looking forward to adding another middle 6er or 2nd pair D.

We drafted neither of those, other than in the 2nd and later rounds.

 

[The Real Timo]

I think it is pointless to expect Habs to be any better this season. I mean, they haven't really improved all that much. What did they get that's different from last year? Newhook? A big whoop. Moneyhand will likely get injured again, so will half of the team. Team is still very soff, so likely lots of guys will be really banged up before xmas. Bottom five again this season.

Unfortunately, the management will likely pick another defenseman and we'll be back at it in 2024-2025. Good times.

 

[Gravity]

We drafted neither of those, other than in the 2nd and later rounds.

To be seen.

 

[Mrb1p]

Boston still have a couple of superstars + a great D-Corp + 2 great goalies.+ lots of size and grit.

If the Bruins have two great goalies, the Habs have 3. Dont mistake team defensive stats for greatness.

They have two superstars that are better than our two star forwards but the Habs have way more depth. Dach is better than their third best forward.

On defense, I think Guhle is criminally underrated because hes young. He had nothing to envy to any of the Ds on the Bruins squad when he was at his top last year.

 

[HabzSauce]

I think it is pointless to expect Habs to be any better this season. I mean, they haven't really improved all that much. What did they get that's different from last year? Newhook? A big whoop. Moneyhand will likely get injured again, so will half of the team. Team is still very soff, so likely lots of guys will be really banged up before xmas. Bottom five again this season.

Unfortunately, the management will likely pick another defenseman and we'll be back at it in 2024-2025. Good times.

All we need to do to be better is to stay relatively healthy. And then you factor in all the rookies taking another step forward.

So as long as we're not riddled with injuries again, we're going to be better than last year I'm almost certain of it.

Only problem is the rest of the league will be better too. So likely we stay in the #5-7 range me thinks, even with the improvements

 

[Sorinth]

If the Bruins have two great goalies, the Habs have 3. Dont mistake team defensive stats for greatness.

They have two superstars that are better than our two star forwards but the Habs have way more depth. Dach is better than their third best forward.

On defense, I think Guhle is criminally underrated because hes young. He had nothing to envy to any of the Ds on the Bruins squad when he was at his top last year.

And one of those superstar forwards is 35 and with no longer being centered by a HOF the risk of the bottom falling out from under him isn't nothing. But on the flip side they could also just as easily still make the playoffs, they are a real wild card this year.

 

[Scriptor]

He did but he neglected to mention it would take a worldwide epidemic to make that possible.

That's what he meant by ANYTHING can happen. What wasn't clearing that phrasing?

Habs have a better roster than Boston

Discuss

Better center depth?

 

[Tyson]

Yup and I'd still take him over any of our guys. He looks good so far.

Knight/Bob > Montembault/Allen

Knight may break out but until he actually breaks out and proves he was worthy of being a 13th overall pick I will hold off saying he is currently better than Montembeault.

 

[HabzSauce]

Knight may break out but until he actually breaks out and proves he was worthy of being a 13th overall pick I will hold off saying he is currently better than Montembeault.

Yes I know and I'm saying based on what we've seen from him so far, he is still better than Montembault....who also still needs to prove himself

 

[HabzSauce]

And one of those superstar forwards is 35 and with no longer being centered by a HOF the risk of the bottom falling out from under him isn't nothing. But on the flip side they could also just as easily still make the playoffs, they are a real wild card this year.

I think Bs get a center before season starts.

Lindholm was a possibility but idk if it still is. I can see them going after Scheifele

 

[Sorinth]

Quite a few optimists in this thread. Looks like they see the rebuild pretty much completed and already slotting the Habs as a potential wildcard contender 1,5 years must be a new record. I just hope they don’t turn on the team when the reality kicks in in a few months

In 2012 we went from from 3rd last to 4th best in the league and the only thing that happened was young guys taking the next step in their development and generally everyone becoming healthy.

Playoffs are unlikely but I feel so is a top pick, so the rebuild via tanking portion is probably over unless we get very lucky with the lottery and move up a bunch of spots.

 

[DAChampion]

In 2012 we went from from 3rd last to 4th best in the league and the only thing that happened was young guys taking the next step in their development and becoming healthy.

What about Markov being healthier and the division being weak?