HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[The Gr8 Dane]

Can't win with Caufield or Suzi as your best player i agree. Verdict is still out on Slaf but yeah I don't agree that the first line is complete and we don't need another forward.

 

[Kosseca]

Pretty early to write off Guhle and Reinbacher.

As no1 D? Well, I dont think Guhle has the offensive flair that would give him that role

For Reinbacher, until he actually plays a game on a N-A, I prefer to have more modest expectation. This is not saying he cant do it, this is a question of expectation vs top ceiling.

 

[Kosseca]

There's no number 1 forward in our group either outside of maybe Slaf. I like Suzuki and Caufield but if they are your best forwards you wont win a cup unless guys like Marchesseault and Stephenson kill it for you one playoffs run. We need more help up front than on the back.

No1 forward or top line players? Suzuki is certainly a top line player. is he a super start? no, but he can play that role, no question about that. We all know that this group of forward is lacking top end talent. but there are just so many Mcdavid in the league.

 

[WeThreeKings]

As no1 D? Well, I dont think Guhle has the offensive flair that would give him that role

For Reinbacher, until he actually plays a game on a N-A, I prefer to have more modest expectation. This is not saying he cant do it, this is a question of expectation vs top ceiling.

Is Alex Pietrangelo not a no. 1 D?

His career high is 43 pts.

I don't agree that you have to put up a shit load of points to be a #1D.

 

[rik schau]

No1 forward or top line players? Suzuki is certainly a top line player. is he a super start? no, but he can play that role, no question about that. We all know that this group of forward is lacking top end talent. but there are just so many Mcdavid in the league.

I've watched Reinbacher this last week and there's another game in an hour but his team is so conservative with the defense,rarely do they pinch. He is sharp and aware and he can skate well and move the puck and knows what to do and when. Montreal defense have the green light to go anytime it looks like,not so with his club, That is why I'd like to see him freed to see how he does.

 

[Kosseca]

Is Alex Pietrangelo not a no. 1 D?

His career high is 43 pts.

I don't agree that you have to put up a shit load of points to be a #1D.

no1 d have more then 20pts per season too. I'm not saying that he need to get 60+pts, but a no1D should be call upon playing in all game situation. As of now, I dont see Guhle playing on the PP. I'm also concerns with his ability to play phisically. He get push around quite a bit. So for now, my expectation for him is to play on the top pair, but not being the top D of the team. He may be at some point the top D, but by default if nobody else step into that role. Dont get me wrong, I like the player and I think he's a key cog to the futur success of the team, i'm just a bit more conservative in my projection of his potential.

 

[Kosseca]

I've watched Reinbacher this last week and there's another game in an hour but his team is so conservative with the defense,rarely do they pinch. He is sharp and aware and he can skate well and move the puck and knows what to do and when. Montreal defense have the green light to go anytime it looks like,not so with his club, That is why I'd like to see him freed to see how he does.

I have not watch enough of his game to cast a definitive judgement on him, but there is still one key thing that make his evaluation very difficult, which is the transition to the smaller ice size. I'll be the first one to jump up and down if he does turn out to be a true no1 D, but until we see him play on this side, i prefer to not count my chicken yet

 

[WeThreeKings]

no1 d have more then 20pts per season too. I'm not saying that he need to get 60+pts, but a no1D should be call upon playing in all game situation. As of now, I dont see Guhle playing on the PP. I'm also concerns with his ability to play phisically. He get push around quite a bit. So for now, my expectation for him is to play on the top pair, but not being the top D of the team. He may be at some point the top D, but by default if nobody else step into that role. Dont get me wrong, I like the player and I think he's a key cog to the futur success of the team, i'm just a bit more conservative in my projection of his potential.

Guhle had what.. 32 pts in his first 82 games in the league?

And I could also mention Slavin in Carolina, he doesn't play the PP, but he's an elite defender who any team would love to have as their 1.

He's a top pairing defenseman and the PP will go to the Hutson and Mailloux of the world, and that's perfectly fine too.

We may not have a "1" but we should have enough players on the defense playing above their station where the lack of a true 1 (though Guhle and Reinbacher could become one still) is mitigated by the fact that Hutson, Mailloux, Xhekaj and Engstrom are a lot better than where they are actually playing due to the depth.

We can simply specialize who plays where and when..

 

[rik schau]

I have not watch enough of his game to cast a definitive judgement on him, but there is still one key thing that make his evaluation very difficult, which is the transition to the smaller ice size. I'll be the first one to jump up and down if he does turn out to be a true no1 D, but until we see him play on this side, i prefer to not count my chicken yet

That's why I want to see him play in Laval ASAP. He looks like he will be a reliable shut down type with some offensive ability,how much though? He's neutered with his club currently.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Is Alex Pietrangelo not a no. 1 D?

His career high is 43 pts.

I don't agree that you have to put up a shit load of points to be a #1D.

What?

Pietrangelo career high is 54 pts and he did it more than once.

 

[WeThreeKings]

What?

Pietrangelo career high is 54 pts and he did it more than once.

My B - was looking at the assist column.

 

[Kosseca]

Guhle had what.. 32 pts in his first 82 games in the league?

And I could also mention Slavin in Carolina, he doesn't play the PP, but he's an elite defender who any team would love to have as their 1.

He's a top pairing defenseman and the PP will go to the Hutson and Mailloux of the world, and that's perfectly fine too.

We may not have a "1" but we should have enough players on the defense playing above their station where the lack of a true 1 (though Guhle and Reinbacher could become one still) is mitigated by the fact that Hutson, Mailloux, Xhekaj and Engstrom are a lot better than where they are actually playing due to the depth.

We can simply specialize who plays where and when..

We are saying the same thing, we just have a different definition of a no1 D. Mine would tend to identify a Hedman, Josi, Makar type of player. And your, if I understand you correctly, is a Dman that has elite defensive skilled and not inept offensively. I agree that guhle meet your definition, now and even in the future.

I also agree that the success of this Dman group will be "by committee". Like I said in my previous post, this is fine too. It however, require a careful construction as this is now a puzzle where each players need to complement the others. MSL can just send a "Hedman" in all situation and think, "yeah, we are good here!".

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

There's also the chance that they do something like package Mailloux and Winnipeg's 1st for a "star" forward which then opens up the possibility of drafting a D.

Yeah that's possible too I guess. Not specifically this player but getting zegras and a Dickinson/Levshunov. The problem with that is the Habs really need game breaking skill so if they're only options are Helenius/Iginla, ya maybe if you can simultaneously excite what's above at the draft like at 2022 with Slaf and Dach, go for it but it should only be viewed as a Plan B

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Nothing - Habs beat writers have made it pretty clear that the interest in Dvorak around the league is basically nothing.

I think we have no choice but to try to squeeze a good season out of him, let Beck simmer in the AHL, and go from there.

f***ing Bergevin man, it is truly amazing how many turds he left.

Nothing will equal the absolute turdiness of the Gallagher signing. Nothing.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Buffalo @ CBJ tonight. A 3 pt game with a CBJ win would be perfect.

 

[Nicko999]

Tonight is the perfect night for Connor Bedard's first hat trick.

 

[Lshap]

Buffalo @ CBJ tonight. A 3 pt game with a CBJ win would be perfect.

Tough choice... I'm tempted to give up chasing Columbus in favour of putting more distance between us and Buffalo.

Still think we can catch Arizona and Ottawa, two teams who should be trying to win. But I think the bottom four are out of reach.

 

[The Real Timo]

So looks like that great Brandon Gignac cleared and still ours. Woo!!!

Any news on Struble? None of the sites d'chez nous have any updates.

 

[Andrei79]

Nothing will equal the absolute turdiness of the Gallagher signing. Nothing.

I can't see a way out of that contract. LITR, that's it. It's the only possible salvation.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Tough choice... I'm tempted to give up chasing Columbus in favour of putting more distance between us and Buffalo.

Still think we can catch Arizona and Ottawa, two teams who should be trying to win. But I think the bottom four are out of reach.

If CBJ get 2 pts tonight, they're 4 pts back of Montreal with a game in a hand, and a game still to be played against Montreal.

They're not quite out of reach yet.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I can't see a way out of that contract. LITR, that's it. It's the only possible salvation.

It's the gift that keeps on taking. And taking.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

1-1 after 1 between Buffalo and Columbus.

 

[Scriptor]

We have two retention spots left for next year. I could see Hughes using one or both of them on trading one or two of Armia, Dvo, and Allen in the summer. They're taking away development time from the youth. May be better to just cut the losses in the summer, instead of keeping them on the roster all year, taking away ice time from the youth. But it's what we've chosen to do with Drouin, Hoffman, Dadonov, Pearson, Armia, Gallagher, and And Allen. It's a lot of deadweight to watch game in and game out. I would have liked to have seen the buried in Laval. Although the vet may not like it, I prioritize youth development. And after having to watch so much of their washed up play, I would enjoy the fact that they don't like it.

Taking away development time from the youth? Which youth this year? You need to make your case to see ice time in the NHL, not have it handed toy. That's not development.

St-Louis has not been handing prime TOI to veterans over kids. There is no taking away anything from kids ready for more ice time.

Next yearmighgt be different, with more kids vying for arole in the NHL (Roy, Beck, Maillou, etc. ) but Idoubt St-Louis won't give those kids ice time just to play older, over-the-hill players.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

People have to remember that graph has Montreal as having one of the hardest schedules left.

They should be able to drop and hopefully by the end of the weekend Ottawa is ahead of them

 

[sampollock]

People have to remember that graph has Montreal as having one of the hardest schedules left.

They should be able to drop and hopefully by the end of the weekend Ottawa is ahead of them

Awesome
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