HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Spring in Fialta]

A massive problem for Montreal is the hellish division they're stuck in.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

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.

I'm a big believer in Arber Xhekaj's upside, so I'm definitely not dismissing him. Still in regards to this season I could see some growing pains and I could also see some Laval time. I mean, I'm not dismissing those possibilities.

But in general I'm very excited about Xhekaj's offensive potential. If he can solidify his defensive game (which he should be able to do over time, I think), he could become a very valuable dman.

 

[salbutera]

A massive problem for Montreal is the hellish division they're stuck in.

Two ways of looking at it, either via a divisional prism or a conference lense.

I expect 5-teams to come out of Atlantic division

 

[RationalExpectations]

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.

So Anderson has waited to be 29 to be a useful top 6 player ? Unlikely since he is lacking hockey IQ allowing him to delevop chemistry with other players…

 

[DAChampion]

Two ways of looking at it, either via a divisional prism or a conference lense.

I expect 5-teams to come out of Atlantic division

On the bright side, the fact that the Atlantic division is so strong now means it will be weaker through a lot of the Habs contention window.

 

[RationalExpectations]

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.

I agree on the premise that last year indicates that the Habs should finish bottom 5 in the league. That being said, every year younger player develop and older players regress. If several Habs players manage to take a step in their development (e.g. caufield dach Guhle …) they could surprise some teams.

In my opinion they still finish bottom 5-9 this year (I said 3-5 last year) because SJS PHI CHI are tanking, CBJ (forward group at least) ANA ARI are not better than the Habs, WSH are showing signs of ageing (a lot), I also have my doubts about DET given the number of average players and SEA could experience regression towards the mean.

 

[Habricot]

Please rename this thread as the "Looser" thread. This team is not competing for 1st OA next year, we wont make the playoff either but I am expecting an very big step forward.

 

[DAChampion]

Please rename this thread as the "Looser" thread.

That's not how it's spelled.

 

[calder candidate]

We aren’t tanking this year, but every move decision still need to to be gear toward the long term this year getting a extra win should be the last thing considered.

 

[salbutera]

We aren’t tanking this year, but every move decision still need to to be gear toward the long term this year getting an extra win should be the last thing considered.

Will be interesting to see if Habs are in the hunt for a wildcard spot at trade deadline what will happen with likes of Monahan & Savard. I think Dvorak is going to be dealt regardless

 

[WinterLion]

I predict a decent start then a long slow decline and a top 10 pick after a decent haul at the TDL. Hopefully we can get something decent in trades and a top 5-7 pick!!

 

[Nedved]

That's not how it's spelled.

that's because this is the wiener thread.

I predict a decent start then a long slow decline and a top 10 pick after a decent haul at the TDL. Hopefully we can get something decent in trades and a top 5-7 pick!!

I'm curious how our goaltending goes this year. I thought Montembault played above average and won us a handful of games. I think we're in the picks 8-12, but could be low as 5 if goaltending isn't there for us and Bedard/Fantilli change the culture.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

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.

Be lousy for cellebrini

 

[hockeyguy2022]

Hughes needs to start working his magic now. We need to finish bottom five, or else this year is a failure. We still need that dynamic offensive forward. Gotta keep bottoming out until we get him.

 

[Ezpz]

Hughes needs to start working his magic now. We need to finish bottom five, or else this year is a failure. We still need that dynamic offensive forward. Gotta keep bottoming out until we get him.

There's no way. We are too deep this year. Even when we hit injuries we have a plethora of callup options at all positions. Winning the lottery is the only way we're getting into the bottom 5.

 

[hockeyguy2022]

There's no way. We are too deep this year. Even when we hit injuries we have a plethora of callup options at all positions. Winning the lottery is the only way we're getting into the bottom 5.

That's my fear too. They screwed up last year with those unnecessary wins

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

There's no way. We are too deep this year. Even when we hit injuries we have a plethora of callup options at all positions. Winning the lottery is the only way we're getting into the bottom 5.

I wouldn't bet my house on that. They might stagnate, point-wise, compared to last season.

 

[First Line]

Please rename this thread as the "Looser" thread. This team is not competing for 1st OA next year, we wont make the playoff either but I am expecting an very big step forward.

I do feel the team will play “looser” this year. And going from picking 5th to 10th is a big step, it’s like double !

 

[jrom]

Well after seeing our PP in action it seems that this thread needed to be bumped to page 1 because intentional or not we’re heading for another bottom 10 pick.

 

[LaP]

 

[LaP]

Two ways of looking at it, either via a divisional prism or a conference lense.

I expect 5-teams to come out of Atlantic division

I dunno about that. NJ is a lock for a playoffs spot. So is Carolina and NYR. Unless EK hits a wall at 180km/h Pens will be hard to beat.

I expect 4 teams in each division

NJ
Carolina
NYR
Pens

Toronto
Florida
TB
Buffalo

Ottawa might sneak in instead of Buffalo or Pens. Boston still have a good defense and goalie so you never know. But i think EK, Letang Crosby and Malkin even at their age will still be hard to beat for at least another year.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

that's because this is the wiener thread.


I'm curious how our goaltending goes this year. I thought Montembault played above average and won us a handful of games. I think we're in the picks 8-12, but could be low as 5 if goaltending isn't there for us and Bedard/Fantilli change the culture.

Montembault literally had some of the best underlying numbers in the league last year; without him, or another goaltender from outside our existing system, we would have drafted first or second overall.

He's not repeating that, so we should be around 4-6th overall this year.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

We are not tanking this year

Uses the same lineup as last season

Lol

 

[morhilane]

We are not tanking this year

Uses the same lineup as last season

Lol

They technically didn't tank last year. The team even had a very good season start until December which match with Monahan going down. Over the season every players got injured except Suzuki and Kovacevic too...and the Habs don't want a 3rd season in a row of that.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

They technically didn't tank last year. The team even had a very good season start until December which match with Monahan going down. Over the season every players got injured except Suzuki and Kovacevic too...and the Habs don't want a 3rd season in a row of that.

Oh c'mon man , that roster is so ass. Clearly they were not losing on purpose but that roster was bottom 5 .