HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Catanddogguitarrr]

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

It's all on Dach. He have to stay healthy. When this year Evans was our #2 C, it was 100% sure we lose games. I like Monahan but he's a temporary player. We still need to have a true #3 C and I hope Beck can fill the role. We'll draft high picks but they will be around 6 to 10. If we rely on a future 7th pick to have our #1 center, good luck! I hope Hughes will make anoither trade ala Romanov/Dach. Suzuki as the solution for #1 C is not gonna work.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

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.

Slaf, Dach, Ghule, Mailloux and Reinbacher are ok. A bit too early with Mailloux and Reinbacher to celebrate but I have a good feeling about them. It's Suzuki I'm concern about. I can't see him being the best center on a winning team. He's so far to be a complete player like Bergeron or an offensive star like Crosby, McJesus, McKinnon and co.

 

[Runner77]

Slaf, Dach, Ghule, Mailloux and Reinvacher are ok. A bit too early with Mailloux and Reinbacher to celebrate but I have a good feeling about them. It's Suzuki I'm concern about. I can't see him being the best center on a winning team. He's so far to be a complete player like Bergeron or an offensive star like Crosby, McJesus, McKinnon and co.

We don’t know how much more Suzuki can improve — would you guess that he could be a Bergeron light?

 

[The Great Weal]

This year is different than last year in that after Celebrini, the rest of the top 10 is fairly interchangeable. Of course we want to tank for the best possible odds, but I don't see us desperately needing to be in a specific range like last year, at least not yet.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

We don’t know how much more Suzuki can improve — would you guess that he could be a Bergeron light?

Koivu was a Yserman or Sakic "light" and never won a Cup. I'm not crazy about poorman Yserman or "light" Bergeron. That means he have less in every field compare to the real player.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Koivu was a Yserman or Sakic "light" and never won a Cup. I'm not crazy about poorman Yserman or "light" Bergeron. That means he have less in every field compare to the real player.

Do you honestly think that Koivu was the reason we didn't win a cup during his tenure?

Look at the teams he was on. He was on an island for most of his career.

 

[Gravity]

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.

I doubt it.

 

[Runner77]

This year is different than last year in that after Celebrini, the rest of the top 10 is fairly interchangeable. Of course we want to tank for the best possible odds, but I don't see us desperately needing to be in a specific range like last year, at least not yet.

Will it not also depend on how many Ds go early? I’m hearing that there are several top D picks this year.

Koivu was a Yserman or Sakic "light" and never won a Cup. I'm not crazy about poorman Yserman or "light" Bergeron. That means he have less in every field compare to the real player.

In an ideal world, yes. However Suzuki is still developing so while he may never become Bergeron (who can, really), he may score well on several attributes. It needs to play out.

 

[The Great Weal]

Will it not also depend on how many Ds go early? I’m hearing that there are several top D picks this year.

I mean we could very well be drafting a dman, it's a very good draft to get one.

 

[Runner77]

I mean we could very well be drafting a dman, it's a very good draft to get one.

Yeah, that would be the Habs’ lot in life. Hopefully there will be a forward candidate that prevents it without sacrificing a clear BPA.

However, I was thinking more in terms of teams with earlier picks than the Habs, using them on Ds, possibly, and letting a high caliber C drop.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I mean we could very well be drafting a dman, it's a very good draft to get one.

It looks like Habs draft always better when they pick a D. Except for Slaf and Roy

Will it not also depend on how many Ds go early? I’m hearing that there are several top D picks this year.


In an ideal world, yes. However Suzuki is still developing so while he may never become Bergeron (who can, really), he may score well on several attributes. It needs to play out.

He lost something this year. Before in SO it was 99% sure he would score and this year he don't score in SO. Seems like he lost his confidence or he doesn't have another magic move/deke. There is no SO in PO so this is not really concerning. The best evolution for him is to improve in many aspects of the game. If he improve, it doesn't show that much, well for me. I'm awaiting antichambre to analyse his evolution some day. Maybe you can inform me what you think because I've been watching games while watching something else on my little tab.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Do you honestly think that Koivu was the reason we didn't win a cup during his tenure?

Look at the teams he was on. He was on an island for most of his career.

If he was regarded as a very good player, top ufa would have signed with us. I don't have the numbers but he never scored more than 30 goals in a season. Maybe his best season was 72 pts, like Plakanec. On the other side, he never had a top winger. They were not bad but not great either. A top team starts with the top. The rest follow the leader as a mentor.

Kovalev did have some positive influence for a year or two. I remember he was standing touching every players gloves before they leave the rink after wins. I had a feeling he was some kind of leader that would carry the rest of the team and then came the scandal with the Kost bro, the link with the mobs, etc. I stopped beleiving the sh*t about leadeship and greatness in that team. That was when I lost my innocence with hockey. All this happening when Koivu was the captain. He was a nice guy but he had little control about the sh*t that was going on.

On the ice he became more and more tired. His stamina went down a lot in his last years with us.

 

[waitin425]

Tankathon | 2025 NHL Draft Order & Lottery Simulator

2025 NHL Draft order tracker updated after every game. NHL lottery simulator to determine the top overall pick. View traded picks and playoff matchups.

www.tankathon.com

NHL Remaining Schedule Strength | Tankathon

Shows the remaining strength of schedule for NHL teams based on the points per game of the opponents left on their schedule.

www.tankathon.com

Every team below us has an easier schedule.

I believe Buffalo will pass us, no problem. Ottawa has the horses to catch us as well. C-bus only 8 points back with a game in hand.

We have an outside chance of finishing 4th. I think it is a slam dunk we finish no worse than 6th.

 

[MeanMugging91]

Tankathon | 2025 NHL Draft Order & Lottery Simulator

2025 NHL Draft order tracker updated after every game. NHL lottery simulator to determine the top overall pick. View traded picks and playoff matchups.

www.tankathon.com

NHL Remaining Schedule Strength | Tankathon

Shows the remaining strength of schedule for NHL teams based on the points per game of the opponents left on their schedule.

www.tankathon.com

Every team below us has an easier schedule.

I believe Buffalo will pass us, no problem. Ottawa has the horses to catch us as well. C-bus only 8 points back with a game in hand.

We have an outside chance of finishing 4th. I think it is a slam dunk we finish no worse than 6th.

We're also only 8 points from a wild card spot. lots of hockey left but I do think we finish in that 6-9 spot when it's all said it done

 

[SwiftyHab]

i have a bad feeling about this
I think Xhekaj is the tank buster!

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

We're also only 8 points from a wild card spot. lots of hockey left but I do think we finish in that 6-9 spot when it's all said it done

And that's why this is a must lose game. And a losing streak of 2-3 more games would cement that there is no chance of the playoffs. Then HuGo can trade Monahan et al with no qualms or hard feeling from the players.

 

[The Great Weal]

Unless Pinto really helps the Sens, I'd say we are finishing 6th last at best. Can't really see us going on a heater especially when we trade Monahan, but the bottom 5 teams are just on a whole new level of bad.

 

[MeanMugging91]

Unless Pinto really helps the Sens, I'd say we are finishing 6th last at best. Can't really see us going on a heater especially when we trade Monahan, but the bottom 5 teams are just on a whole new level of bad.

Yea I think 6th is the best we can hope for. I'm hoping no later then 8th after the lottery so we can get that skilled forward were lacking

 

[McGees]

If he was regarded as a very good player, top ufa would have signed with us. I don't have the numbers but he never scored more than 30 goals in a season. Maybe his best season was 72 pts, like Plakanec. On the other side, he never had a top winger. They were not bad but not great either. A top team starts with the top. The rest follow the leader as a mentor.

Kovalev did have some positive influence for a year or two. I remember he was standing touching every players gloves before they leave the rink after wins. I had a feeling he was some kind of leader that would carry the rest of the team and then came the scandal with the Kost bro, the link with the mobs, etc. I stopped beleiving the sh*t about leadeship and greatness in that team. That was when I lost my innocence with hockey. All this happening when Koivu was the captain. He was a nice guy but he had little control about the sh*t that was going on.

On the ice he became more and more tired. His stamina went down a lot in his last years with us.

Kovalev was a talented flashy player but no leader.

 

[waitin425]

Who had the ongoing daily updates last year for the tank? @MarkovsKnee @Adam Michaels @Runner77 ? I don't remember.

Let's get that fire up again. This is now hopeless.

Ottawa will be 8 pts back with 4 games in hand after tonight
Wild are currently winning and will pull 2 points ahead
We need Buffalo to win
San Jose to win

Let's go!!

 

[Runner77]

Who had the ongoing daily updates last year for the tank? @MarkovsKnee @Adam Michaels @Runner77 ? I don't remember.

Let's get that fire up again. This is now hopeless.

Ottawa will be 8 pts back with 4 games in hand after tonight
Wild are currently winning and will pull 2 points ahead
We need Buffalo to win
San Jose to win

Let's go!!

It was @Adam Michaels and he did an amazing job.

 

[waitin425]

It was @Adam Michaels and he did an amazing job.

Do your thing @Adam Michaels you beautiful human!

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Kovalev was a talented flashy player but no leader.

I know but for a while he acted like the leader of the team.

 

[Riggins]

5th overall spot, we're coming!

 

[Nicko999]

View attachment 808944

5th overall spot, we're coming!

Should be 3rd overall.

Ottawa, Buffalo and Anaheim are much better teams than us.
Columbus is also a bit better.