HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[McGees]

 

[Skip Bayless]

I really hope this is the Habs finally breaking.

The only thing keeping them alive both on the ice and spiritually is the semblance of a second line with Monahan carrying it. Take that away from them and it's done.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

It doesnt always pan out like you want. Some teams made it impossible to out tank in 2023. Im still very happy with Reinbacher personally and the gap between Dach and Fantilli might not be that huge. Not a huge fan of Fantilli's IQ personally. If Dach can stay healthy we should be fine. There is also the Calgary pick, we have ton of assets and cap space, I trust Hughes to complete the puzzle.

We are likely ahead of Ottawa in our rebuild and unlike them, we still have some valuable vets to sell.

Dach needs to stay healthy though. It's the 2nd consecutive year where we're saying things like, "well, next year when Dach's healthy....". It's a growing concern, and makes it hard to plan.

I agree we still have a wealth of assets. Hopefully, Hughes does something with them.

It's going to be a tough sell taking another defenseman this year, but a D might very well be the BPA at where we pick in top 10.

 

[Goldenhands]

Dach needs to stay healthy though. It's the 2nd consecutive year where we're saying things like, "well, next year when Dach's healthy....". It's a growing concern, and makes it hard to plan.

I agree we still have a wealth of assets. Hopefully, Hughes does something with them.

It's going to be a tough sell taking another defenseman this year, but a D might very well be the BPA at where we pick in top 10.

Yep Dach will need to stay healthy no doubt. I think getting another D wouldnt be the end of the world since I think we have another shot at a top 10 pick next year, losing Monahan will be a hard loss to fill and Im fully expecting one of Savard, Matheson to get moved. Our blueline will be very young and not quite ready to take the next step.

Ideally we end up bottom 6 and get lucky at the lottery. There is also the possibility we trade that early pick for a young promising foward. Alot can happen.

Sens are getting Pinto back, hopefully thats enough to pass us in the standing, I wish we shop Monahan as soon as possible.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Yeah, we're going to end up like Nashville. Great D, average offense. I really hope the biggest failure of this organization is not getting a top 3 pick in 2023. Ideally, we wanted Slafkovsky in 2022. One of the top 3 centers in 2023, then we select our #1 D in 2024. Core built.

They could get a top2 player of the draft with their pick, though...

 

[skidcells]

They could get a top2 player of the draft with their pick, though...

We’ll need some luck to get that. SJ and Chicago are historically bad. Anaheim looks to have top 3 wrapped up too. CBJ is pretty terrible too

 

[MarkovsKnee]

They could get a top2 player of the draft with their pick, though...

We'd have to win the lottery, which I'm definitely not expecting.

 

[rahad]

They could get a top2 player of the draft with their pick, though...

We could get lucky.... But the 2023 top 3 has special. Generational talent (Bedard). Skill, speed and size (6ft3 Center) With Carlsson and Fantilli.

 

[rahad]

Suzuki is better than anything the Preds had during their window. Slaf is tracking to be about Forsberg, IMO. Caufield is gravy, Roy might be similar to Arvidsson.

I dont think theres a case we end up like the Preds.

At the same time, We don't have any D with the team as good as Weber or Josi. Same could be said about the goalie position with Pekka Rinne.

 

[Rozz]

well been a good tank night... and a night off so they boys can't win back any points! hello #7!
..
all in all great night. Oh, and as a ravens fan living in Niagara falls surrounded by many billls fans ... bills losing was pretty sweet too! lmao

 

[McGees]

A Kraken win would be nice - but that may be too much to ask.

 

[Rozz]

A Kraken win would be nice - but that may be too much to ask.

it would be beautiful! I'm still hoping for ducks and kraken to pull out a couple big W's tonight!

 

[The Great Weal]

Yeah, we're going to end up like Nashville. Great D, average offense. I really hope the biggest failure of this organization is not getting a top 3 pick in 2023. Ideally, we wanted Slafkovsky in 2022. One of the top 3 centers in 2023, then we select our #1 D in 2024. Core built.

Thing is though Nashville had two high end #1 dmen in Weber/Subban and Suter/Josi that I don't think we will have. Ekholm/Ellis I'm sure we will have a comparable. Also Rinne was one of the best goalies in the league during his career. I do believe that our offense will be much better than theirs though.

 

[HuGort]

We could get lucky.... But the 2023 top 3 has special. Generational talent (Bedard). Skill, speed and size (6ft3 Center) With Carlsson and Fantilli.

Future would look nice with Slaf, Fantilli and Celebrini here. Going full tear down has its benefits.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Winning the 2nd spot wouldn't be super fruitful this year but it would secure them Lindstrom who would obviously be their pick there.

Currently in 7, that's Demidov/Catton range with ease.

 

[LaP]

We’re likely going to find a way to stay within top 10 for draft picks but I don’t see this season as being a tank.

Tank is a very subjective word. For some it means you must finish in the last 5 teams and trade the whole lineup Hawks style in the hope to land the first overall pick.

For me a tank is just not trying to win when you're not ready and trading expiring contracts instead of losing the players for nothing or extending them for too long into their 30ies.

If we trade Monahan in my book we are tanking. But our kids are playing well so we wont finish bottom 5.

View attachment 807772

If we finish 6th i'll be happy. There will be good forwards at that rank this year.

 

[tazsub3]

Tank is a very subjective word. For some it means you must finish in the last 5 teams and trade the whole lineup Hawks style in the hope to land the first overall pick.

For me a tank is just not trying to win when you're not ready and trading expiring contracts instead of losing the players for nothing of extending them for too long.

If we trade Monahan in my book we are tanking. But our kids are playing well so we wont finish bottom 5.


If we finish 6th i'll be happy. There will be good forwards at that rank this year.

I agree with that and I think this exactly where we are .
This team growing . Learning to win , vs some tough opponents , yet with injuries is still a very bad team that can be within the top level of the tanking .

 

[rahad]

Winning the 2nd spot wouldn't be super fruitful this year but it would secure them Lindstrom who would obviously be their pick there.

Currently in 7, that's Demidov/Catton range with ease.

Lindstrom is around 6ft3 or 6ft4. Lindstrom and Dach playing on the same line would be insane. Skill and Size!

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I don't beleive in that rebuilt anymore. The problem starts with the first line. Suzuki is a deception. It reminds me the Koivu years. Suzuki equals Koivu, except the quality of the league is better today. Habs wins somne games but they never donminate. How many shots on Allen/Primeau/Monty? Every game. Where is the leadership except Monahan? The real leader is behind the bench. My only hope is Dach, who could become our #1 center.

 

[LaP]

I don't beleive in that rebuilt anymore. The problem starts with the first line. Suzuki is a deception. It reminds me the Koivu years. Suzuki equals Koivu, except the quality of the league is better today. Habs wins somne games but they never donminate. How many shots on Allen/Primeau/Monty? Every game. Where is the leadership except Monahan? The real leader is behind the bench. My only hope is Dach, who could become our #1 center.

So you don't believe in a rebuild because one of the drafted player is not good enough? What's your solution? Stop the rebuild and sing a bunch of over the hill vets on the UFA market to contract like Gallagher? Sell the team and move it to Houston? Trades all our prospects and picks for other guys not good enough but older so we at least get to be a bubble team.

I'm kind of lost here. It's normal in a rebuild that not all young players will become legit elite talents. We'll draft another guy this year. We'll wait to see what Reinbacher can become right now it's impossible le to evaluate him he plays for what is likely the worst pro lineup in all Europe. Slaf is a big guy we wont be sure before at least another 2 years. Guhle looks like a legit number 2. Hutson definitely has the potential to become a legit offensive number 1. Suzuki is at worst a high quality 2nd line center. Slaf has the potential to become special. Dach too if he remains healthy.

We need that add that top line elite center and this is why we must trade Monahan. It will help us finish lower and give us another pick. We should have 4 first round picks in the next two seasons. The assets are there to go get that first line elite center.

 

[Gravity]

So you don't believe in a rebuild because one of the drafted player is not good enough? What's your solution? Stop the rebuild and sing a bunch of over the hill vets on the UFA market to contract like Gallagher? Sell the team and move it to Houston? Trades all our prospects and picks for other guys not good enough but older so we at least get to be a bubble team.

I'm kind of lost here. It's normal in a rebuild that not all young players will become legit elite talents. We'll draft another guy this year. We'll wait to see what Reinbacher can become right now it's impossible le to evaluate him he plays for what is likely the worst pro lineup in all Europe. Slaf is a big guy we wont be sure before at least another 2 years. Guhle looks like a legit number 2. Hutson definitely has the potential to become a legit offensive number 1. Suzuki is at worst a high quality 2nd line center. Slaf has the potential to become special. Dach too if he remains healthy.

We need that add that top line elite center and this is why we must trade Monahan. It will help us finish lower and give us another pick. We should have 4 first round picks in the next two seasons. The assets are there to go get that first line elite center.

He's skeptical of it because he feels ( I'm guessing) the team did not acquire the necessary assets to contend yet (a blue-chip 1C prospect) are now getting to good to acquire them.

Edit: I missed your last paragraph. Let's see what the next two years yield.

 

[LaP]

He's skeptical of it because he feels ( I'm guessing) the team did not acquire the necessary assets to contend yet (a blue-chip 1C prospect) are now getting to good to acquire them.

Edit: I missed your last paragraph. Let's see what the next two years yield.

I think we'll draft 6th or 7th this year. It's definitely good enough to go grab a legit 1st line center. Wont be a McJesus but you don't need a McJesus to win a cup. It's a D heavy draft and many teams will be looking for D because of last year forwards heavy draft. Good forwards will slip.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think we'll draft 6th or 7th this year. It's definitely good enough to go grab a legit 1st line center. Wont be a McJesus but you don't need a McJesus to win a cup. It's a D heavy draft and many teams will be looking for D because of last year forwards heavy draft. Good forwards will slip.

Most of the guys at the top end of this draft likely become wingers.

Celebrini is a center.
Eiserman isn't.
Lindstrom is a C/W hybrid, not sure where he will stick.. same with Catton.
Demidov is a W.
Helenius same with Lindstrom/Catton.

 

[tazsub3]

I don't beleive in that rebuilt anymore. The problem starts with the first line. Suzuki is a deception. It reminds me the Koivu years. Suzuki equals Koivu, except the quality of the league is better today. Habs wins somne games but they never donminate. How many shots on Allen/Primeau/Monty? Every game. Where is the leadership except Monahan? The real leader is behind the bench. My only hope is Dach, who could become our #1 center.

i for one think dach is the future number one c however how can we judge Suzuki , when. He does not have a number 2 playing behind him all year ? Hell he don’t have a real second line playing behind him most of the year

 

[Nicko999]

Lindstrom is around 6ft3 or 6ft4. Lindstrom and Dach playing on the same line would be insane. Skill and Size!

Why should we draft a player who is injured right noe when we have better options?
And then we wonder why we are the most injury prone team. Drafting players with injury history leads to an injury prone team. The only place Dach and Lindstrom might be together is the IR.