HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Twisted Sinister]

It is clear that your modus operandi is that everything/anything elsewhere is light years ahead of the Habs.

That, to me, is just a case of being to close to the forest to see it is a forest.

While I think that Buffalo is light years ahead of the Habs, I think lots of other teams have prospect pools that are as good as ours or better, with the addition of actual elite talent in their pipelines.

Not sure why having an opinion that I stick to is a "modus operandi," but ok.

You have to compete for a cup against 32 teams. If you don't have the best pipeline after a tank, you've failed.

 

[HuGort]

So you would have drafted Fantilli last year?

Ok.

If lost lottery yes. Why you don't like Fantilli? If won lottery Bedard. As Bedard is far better player. Lafleur caliber.

 

[Rapala]

No they won’t.

Molson said very clearly he knows it’s gonna take time.

A regression in play would spark some serious blowback but other than that I think most fans are realistic about our capabilities for next season. I also think most feel we are on a reasonable trajectory back to relevance.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I want to see Habs win this year with great progression by young players. But if we have another top 5 pick, that's going to be amazing, for sure !!

 

[montreal]

I want to see Habs win this year with great progression by young players. But if we have another top 5 pick, that's going to be amazing, for sure !!

if it ends up being a good draft year, but you hope with a likely top 10ish pick that they land a very good forward. But if the young players take a big step forward and we end up picking in the teens so be it, then you have to hope they can build off that the following year.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Habs are predicted to finish last in the Eastern Conference with 2nd worse record in hockey by oddsmakers:


The 2023-24 NHL standings as predicted by oddsmakers | Offside

 

[Weltschmerz]

Habs are predicted to finish last in the Eastern Conference with 2nd worse record in hockey by oddsmakers:


The 2023-24 NHL standings as predicted by oddsmakers | Offside

should be easy money

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't see us finishing below Philly.

But everything else, bets are off.

 

[Ezpz]

I don't see us finishing below Philly.

But everything else, bets are off.

It is hard to predict because we are the worst team in our division, but we would be the 5th best team in the Metro in my opinion. I think we could realistically finish ahead of Philly, Columbus, Washington, and the Islanders if Sorokin isn't in top form. I think we have the potential to leapfrog Detroit too, I am not impressed by their roster at all. Man has their rebuild been bad thus far, essentially only Seider and Raymond at the NHL level after 6-7 years of rebuilding.

Injuries for other teams could place us even higher or injuries to us could sink us the way they have the past two years.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It is hard to predict because we are the worst team in our division, but we would be the 5th best team in the Metro in my opinion. I think we could realistically finish ahead of Philly, Columbus, Washington, and the Islanders if Sorokin isn't in top form. I think we have the potential to leapfrog Detroit too, I am not impressed by their roster at all. Man has their rebuild been bad thus far, essentially only Seider and Raymond at the NHL level after 6-7 years of rebuilding.

Injuries for other teams could place us even higher or injuries to us could sink us the way they have the past two years.

Columbus was just as injured as us last year.. I don't really think if they are healthy they could finish below us. Fantilli being added to the roster makes it much deeper, too. Jiricek should graduate and amplify an already impressive defense group.

 

[Gustave]

So, all in for Macklin?

I have no idea if I can stomach a third season like that in a row, being I kinda like the roster now, albeit very young and inexperienced.

 

[WeThreeKings]

So, all in for Macklin?

I have no idea if I can stomach a third season like that in a row, being I kinda like the roster now, albeit very young and inexperienced.

We won't finish low enough to have really strong odds but neither did New Jersey when they got Nemec.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

So, all in for Macklin?

I have no idea if I can stomach a third season like that in a row, being I kinda like the roster now, albeit very young and inexperienced.

Get ready because we replaced Hoffman Dadonov for Pearson and Newhook.

Expect a bottom 10 without full injuries or bottom 6 with injuries.
Not much to expect from a same roster that sucked ass last year

 

[Skip Bayless]

Habs are predicted to finish last in the Eastern Conference with 2nd worse record in hockey by oddsmakers:


The 2023-24 NHL standings as predicted by oddsmakers | Offside

I think our standings from the past few seasons were skewed by our injury woes. By no means do I consider this team to be good, but it's going to be tough to make the bottom 5 again if everyone is healthy.

Only thing that can truly save us is if the goalies really stink it up. Otherwise, I see us doing what Detroit did last year.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

So, all in for Macklin?

I have no idea if I can stomach a third season like that in a row, being I kinda like the roster now, albeit very young and inexperienced.

Not a first overall selection, unless we win the lottery, but a bottom five finish is absolutely to be expected as the myriad factors that conspired to raise us up to 5th worst (rather than worst) will not be replicated.

Suzuki will crater, as he did last year, due to his unsustainable shooting percentage.

Our goaltending (some of the best in the league last year - "Montembeault cost us Bedard") will go back to its typical levels with Monty crashing.

Expect regression from the majority of our defensemen, many of whom are overrated at this phase of their career because of the media narratives that developed around them.

So, when we consider the minor roster improvements, everything will pretty much balance out.

 

[LaP]

We won't finish low enough to have really strong odds but neither did New Jersey when they got Nemec.

It would honestly be the perfect year to be lucky at the lottery. In 2025 we will likely have lot of pick so drafting lower wont hurt as much. But winning the lottery this year and drafting either 1st our 2nd would be awesome for the rebuild.

 

[Paddyjack]

Expect regression from the majority of our defensemen, many of whom are overrated at this phase of their career because of the media narratives that developed around them.

Bullocks. B**s**t.

And btw, I think this team will surprise you all.

 

[salbutera]

Bullocks. B**s**t.

And btw, I think this team will surprise you all.

I agree - they’ll challenge for a wild card spot …don’t expect them to make it in but they’ll be in the running is my hunch

 

[HuGort]

With Newhook and Anderson looking good in camp, Montreal may have 5 legit top 6 forwards. With Monahan the best third line center in league. That is a deep team. Dvorak also an excellent 4th line center this team should improve.

Combine with maturing young defense, a new medical staff I think the tank season talk is done.

 

[Paddyjack]

I agree - they’ll challenge for a wild card spot …don’t expect them to make it in but they’ll be in the running is my hunch

Exactly. I see them in the bubble, then fail when things gets tough in February-March

 

[ReimanSum1908]

Bullocks. B**s**t.

And btw, I think this team will surprise you all.

Not at all. Guhle underlying numbers were indicative of his being outmatched in the difficult role that he was asked to play, rather than shouldering the burden admirably and "playing like a seasoned veteran" as the media kept on insisting without warrant. A vastly overrated player as he stands now, even if he is our second best defensive prospect after Hutson.

Xhekaj's physicality also has many thinking that he's defensively sound, when in reality his offensive game is more advanced that his defensive one.

Oddly enough, the most underrated of the young defense core, Harris, is actually the one who played the most effective, quiet game and had the most positive impact on the ice. That comes with the additional growth and development time, and his age, of course.

We can only hope that the team is as absolutely atrocious as I posit, and should be when Detroit, Buffalo, and Ottawa will run roughshod over them, nevermind Toronto, Florida, and Tampa, and they have nowhere near the high end talent of Boston.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I think our standings from the past few seasons were skewed by our injury woes. By no means do I consider this team to be good, but it's going to be tough to make the bottom 5 again if everyone is healthy.

Only thing that can truly save us is if the goalies really stink it up. Otherwise, I see us doing what Detroit did last year.

I hear a lot of people thinking the Habs will be better. I think they'll be worse. I think they are a pretty bad team.

I think most of the injuries were the result of being a terrible team with no hope of competing, so no reason not to shut people down, which will happen again this season.

I struggle to see a scenario where the Habs finish ahead of any team in the Atlantic. Finishing last in the Atlantic should guarantee a pretty high pick.

I also think the goaltending was for the most part stellar last year, very unexpectedly, and the young d-corps also outperformed expectations. A slight downtick on both of those fronts and the Habs will struggle.

The Habs also had a very good start last year, after being the worst team in the NHL the year before. They played loose and had no expectations. If they have a worse start to the season and if the goaltending downgrades a bit, I think the Habs could be hopelessly out of a playoff spot by November.

Obviously the oddsmakers agree with me. I think it'll be another long season waiting for the draft lottery. Still, I agree with @WeThreeKings that Philly also looks pretty terrible in the East.

 

[DAChampion]

Xhekaj's physicality also has many thinking that he's defensively sound, when in reality his offensive game is more advanced that his defensive one.

Is that a problem?

The best defense is a good offense.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Is that a problem?

The best defense is a good offense.

Xhekaj definitely needs to improve his defensive zone coverages.

It'll be interesting to see who makes the team out of the dmen.

 

[DAChampion]

I think the Habs draft pick comes down to injury and lottery "luck", or bad luck, as it is.

There is the underlying fundamental that the Habs might be the weakest team in the Atlantic division.

I'm also curious if Hughes will be able to extract loot at the deadline. The issue is that if guys like Dvorak, Pearson, and Monahan are playing well enough to return multiple top-64 picks between them, then the Habs are probably not a bottom-5 team.

Xhekaj definitely needs to improve his defensive zone coverages.

It'll be interesting to see who makes the team out of the dmen.

Xhekaj definitely does, but he's a 22 year old sophomore. It strikes me as ludicrous to dismiss his d zone play at this time.