HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[HabsCowboysOwn]

It's incredible how dogshit half the league is this year and yet Bettman in all his "genius" thinks we need to dilute talent further and add more expansion teams when Arizona exists

Can't wait for the Honolulu Blobfish to become the league's 40th team in 2040, best mascot by far the kids will love it.

 

[26Mats]

ugh... Flames are shit!

it's tough rooting for shit teams.

 

[Rozz]

it's tough rooting for shit teams.

omg is it ever! oh well only 7 more games... hopefully next year were cheering for wins

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

omg is it ever! oh well only 7 more games... hopefully next year were cheering for wins

Definitely.

I don’t think we’ll make the playoffs but we might get close. And who knows? Slaf will be better, Dach should be back, CC will hopefully rediscover his scoring… we might even sneak in.

 

[Rozz]

Definitely.

I don’t think we’ll make the playoffs but we might get close. And who knows? Slaf will be better, Dach should be back, CC will hopefully rediscover his scoring… we might even sneak in.

yeah that's exactly what I see happening... somewhere in that 12 - 16 range. and I'm good with that.

personally, I am not worried about Caulfield scoring. I expected him to have a slight down year after the injury, then surgery, not getting to train much, then a rough year for the whole team... it was kinda bound to happen... at least in my opinion.

as for dach, I'm really hoping for a full healthy year from him... I think he will be a beast if he gets past all the injuries... I know they were all kinda fluke injuries that aren't really connected.... but you can't help but get a lil bit concerned ... not overly... but his health status has piqued my interest I'll say lol

As I am more of a optimist, I believe we'll see healthy years from dach and cc where they put up some great numbers. And now, I am expecting a driven Slafkovsky to take a large jump after the crazy turn around year he's shown.. kids is legit as it gets.

So, while I don't think we will be contending for the play offs as soon as next year... I am certainly not writing it off either.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He's a huge guy (like Byfield).. kids that size always look goofy/awkward when they hit their early teens. I wouldnt put much credence in his bantam draft position.

Reality is after Cellibrini, it'll come down to need and draft interview as to who goes where from 2-12.

Im not opposed to hugo picking Iggy or Eiserman so long as we don't go smaller..

Yeah, I think we need to target the right BPA/Team Need. If not Celebrini, I would like one of Eiserman or Iginla. Not sure I know enough about Lindstrom

 

[First Line]

Definitely.

I don’t think we’ll make the playoffs but we might get close. And who knows? Slaf will be better, Dach should be back, CC will hopefully rediscover his scoring… we might even sneak in.

I love the optimism but I bet you said the same thing last year too.
Our D-men are still young and most of our forwards can’t play defence so it looks like next year is another top 10 pick but that’s a debate for the 24-25 tank thread.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I love the optimism but I bet you said the same thing last year too.
Our D-men are still young and most of our forwards can’t play defence so it looks like next year is another top 10 pick but that’s a debate for the 24-25 tank thread.

And it was true for this season. If Newhook and Dach had played the full season Habs would have been a playoff contender.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I love the optimism but I bet you said the same thing last year too.

Nope. Last year I said we’d probably tank this year and miss the playoffs next year. I said we’ll probably be a bubble team in 25-26. Still feel that way.

Our D-men are still young and most of our forwards can’t play defence so it looks like next year is another top 10 pick but that’s a debate for the 24-25 tank thread.

I think we’ll miss next year. A lot would have to go right for us to make the playoffs. But unlike this season, there’s a slight chance of us making it. The team finally looks like it might be able to score. But, CC would have to recover, Slaf would have to improve, Dach has to be healthy…

 

[Rapala]

If we are looking at a supposed difficulty of schedule scenario we are f***ed when it comes to tanking against the Ottawa Senators.

"D-O-N-E f***ed"

 

[McGees]

I said 8-12 this year and technically we can still get 8 if CGY keeps sucking.

 

[BergevinBurner]

If we are looking at supposed difficulty of schedule we are f***ed when it comes to tanking against the Ottawa Senators.

"D-O-N-E f***ed"

Ottawa's such an anomaly. They have a wealth of solid young players, they had insanely impressive offseasons, yet they still play like a team that's intentionally tanking.

 

[Nicko999]

Thats the last tank, with a healthy Dach and the way Slaf and Newhook are developing, we will fight for a playoffs spot next year.

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

 

[habsfan891]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

I could be way off but I think 90%+ of our games have been backups it's absolutely ridiculous

 

[rik schau]

it's tough rooting for shit teams.

Yup! being a fan of Montreal is rough.

 

[Nicko999]

I could be way off but I think 90%+ of our games have been backups it's absolutely ridiculous

Maybe not 90% but I read somewhere on here that the last time we played a #1 goalie was March 16th.

Once teams start taking us seriously, there will be a regression.

 

[26Mats]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

It depends on Dach. If Dach is healthy it changes the dynamic of the offense. It gives us two good lines. Then if we bring Moneyhamds back or sign a similar level vet, that also changes the picture.

But yes, if neither of those two things happen I could see a regression.

 

[Leto]

If we are looking at supposed difficulty of schedule we are f***ed when it comes to tanking against the Ottawa Senators.

"D-O-N-E f***ed"

What was Eugene Melnyk's prediction? A 5 years run of ''unparalleled success'' from 2021 to 2025.

Yeah...

 

[Wats]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

If Hughes stands pat, agreed. If he can add a significant piece to the core and Dach levels up, maybe not.

 

[EveryDay]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

To be fair MTL is also playing their backups Primeau/Allen over 50% of the time.

Montembeault should be starting at least 55 games next year.

 

[Treal]

Ottawa's such an anomaly. They have a wealth of solid young players, they had insanely impressive offseasons, yet they still play like a team that's intentionally tanking.

Doesn't help that they only team Ottawa can consistently beat is Montreal. No wonder their fans are so giddy with excitement everytime they beat them

 

[Gustave]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

I have trouble seeing it for next year as well. I like what I see in terms of competitiveness from the boys but I feel like teams are taking it easy on us, I don’t see where the offence will come from.

Plus, our D is still very young, and I guess it will be even younger next season (Mailloux, maybe Hutson).

 

[Sorinth]

I have trouble seeing it for next year as well. I like what I see in terms of competitiveness from the boys but I feel like teams are taking it easy on us, I don’t see where the offence will come from.

Plus, our D is still very young, and I guess it will be even younger next season (Mailloux, maybe Hutson).

There's a lot of ways for the offence to improve, Dach being healthy, Caufield getting his scoring touch back, Slafkovsky producing for a full season at his current level instead of half a season, a better PP probably being the main ones.

It's really the D that probably holds us back, I actually doubt Mailloux or Hutson make the team outside of injuries. But even so, it's a young group that doesn't have a ton of NHL experience so I would expect another year of ups and downs for them. But with more offensive support that might help them settle down and be more consistent.

It's also unlikely that Hughes does nothing this offseason so it's too early to say one way or another.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

People are in a for rude awakening. With the amount of 1 goal games Habs have been in and the amount of backups we've played, I would not be surprised to see a regression next year. Also goalies cannot realistically play much better than this year.

I think it comes down to how healthy we are. If Dach were to go down again for example then I don’t see us progressing very much.

But with a healthy Dach, we’ll improve immediately. Not good enough for the playoffs but I don’t think we’ll be drafting top ten either. Several players have room for improvement up front and I think that will happen.

Our issue with be the inexperienced blue line.

 

[Rockomax]

Doesn't help that they only team Ottawa can consistently beat is Montreal. No wonder their fans are so giddy with excitement everytime they beat them

This will obviously go out the window for the Apr. 13th game between the two teams though.