HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Justin11]

What if we end up picking 5th and the Sens and Yotes end up picking better players at 6th and 7th?

Honestly, I don't stress about it. What if we finish 7th last at the end of the season and then we end up winning the lotto... Whatever happens, happens.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Honestly, I don't stress about it. What if we finish 7th last at the end of the season and then we end up winning the lotto... Whatever happens, happens.

I don't either - we shouldn't pass Calgary and that keeps us kinda where we've been all year. I would prefer the highest pick possible and the best odds we can secure

 

[Sorinth]

If I'm in the Habs organization, I want to have the luxury of the choice though. Of course, sometimes, it's convenient when the teams in front of you make the wrong choices and the right players fall on your lap. However, if I'm Hughes or Gorton, I want my staff to have the bigger pool to choose from, for better or worse.

Sure but given how all over the place the rankings are for this years draft it's not worth stressing over. And there's a strong argument that the team doing better is worth more development wise then that little luxury of extra choice.

 

[Leto]

Honestly, I think that was a lot of posturing by Hughes. There may had been interest, but I doubt THAT much was being offered like he hinted, unless there was salary retention which I could understand why he said no.

To me it was definitely was posturing. Lebrun was the one who made the report about Anderson. Since the beginning of Hughes's tenure, Lebrun seems to be his go-to insider (Hughes has appeared on Lebrun's podcast multiple times). It makes sense, Lebrun can communicate the messaging to both francophone and anglophone media.

Anderson wasn't getting traded for good value without retention in a cap-crunched world and that is a non-starter.​

 

[Rockomax]

Sure but given how all over the place the rankings are for this years draft it's not worth stressing over. And there's a strong argument that the team doing better is worth more development wise then that little luxury of extra choice.

The rankings might be all over the place. However, the second player on their list might be available at 5 and not at 7. I'm skeptical of what little development the next 5 games will mean in the grand scheme of things.

However, what happens happens. We have no control over what transpires. I'm just here for the ride.

 

[Sorinth]

The rankings might be all over the place. However, the second player on their list might be available at 5 and not at 7. I'm skeptical of what little development the next 5 games will mean in the grand scheme of things.

However, what happens happens. We have no control over what transpires. I'm just here for the ride.

But there's also likely very little difference between the 2nd and 3rd player on the Habs list, or even 4th player on their list for that matter.

In terms of development outside of Slaf who might very well develop over 5 games it's less about becoming better during those 5 games but the attitude you carry into the offseason. A person's state of mind can have a big impact on the offseason training which in turn does have an impact in the grand scheme of things.

 

[BLONG7]

Hey guys
Down in the Caribbean
Lost touch with the real world
I see we are 5th now
Another top 5 is a good thing
Have faith guys
Remember when everyone said Slaf was a bust! The guys know what they are doing

 

[Justin11]

I don't either - we shouldn't pass Calgary and that keeps us kinda where we've been all year. I would prefer the highest pick possible and the best odds we can secure

I monitor the Flames, but looking at their remaining schedule, they "should" be finishing above the Habs. Stranger things have happened, but betting on that.

The only way Habs finish at 5th last, is if they lose their last 5 remaining games and no one here will really care about the other results....but highly unlikely. We have mighty Flyers in town next.

 

[Rapala]

But there's also likely very little difference between the 2nd and 3rd player on the Habs list, or even 4th player on their list for that matter.

In terms of development outside of Slaf who might very well develop over 5 games it's less about becoming better during those 5 games but the attitude you carry into the offseason. A person's state of mind can have a big impact on the offseason training which in turn does have an impact in the grand scheme of things.

I think we are fortunate with Slaf in that regard. I doubt he is one to rest on his laurels.
Went into the off season last year driven by failure.
Going into this off season driven by success.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I monitor the Flames, but looking at their remaining schedule, they "should" be finishing above the Habs. Stranger things have happened, but betting on that.

The only way Habs finish at 5th last, is if they lose their last 5 remaining games and no one here will really care about the other results....but highly unlikely. We have mighty Flyers in town next.

We just can't out point the Coyotes by 2 and we just can't out point the Senators by 3.

So if the Coyotes go 3-3-0 we just can't go 4-2-0. If we went 3-2-1, they'd tie break us.

Same with the Sens if they go 3-3-0, we just can't go 4-1-1.

 

[Justin11]

We just can't out point the Coyotes by 2 and we just can't out point the Senators by 3.

So if the Coyotes go 3-3-0 we just can't go 4-2-0. If we went 3-2-1, they'd tie break us.

Same with the Sens if they go 3-3-0, we just can't go 4-1-1.

If memory serves me right, both the Coyotes and Senators have the tougher schedules.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If memory serves me right, both the Coyotes and Senators have the tougher schedules.

They do - we just face teams who have to win to get in, so we may face more desperate teams even if less talented.

 

[windycity]

Just go off the phone with HUGO and just convinced them that the forward order has to be:

Macklin
Demidov
Iginla
Lindstrom
Catton


At least I think it was them, I'm now getting texts from their phones of half-naked women wanting to be my friend

 

[McGees]

I think 4 forwards going top 6.
We need to land no later than 6 please.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think 4 forwards going top 6.
We need to land no later than 6 please.

4 defenseman *

 

[Habs4Life]

would love to snag Ignila

 

[Tyson]

would love to snag Ignila

He will in all likelihood be available.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Just go off the phone with HUGO and just convinced them that the forward order has to be:

Macklin
Demidov
Iginla
Lindstrom
Catton


At least I think it was them, I'm now getting texts from their phones of half-naked women wanting to be my friend

Could be worse man, could be half naked dudes sending you pics of their unicorns.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I don't know what it's going to be like at the end, but Habs play against 4 teams in a battle for a playoff spot (PHI, NYI and 2x DET).

The only team who are in the bottom with Habs, OTT in Ottawa.

No more than 2 W and ARI with 2 W and OTT with 1 W (because with 2 W of Habs and 1 W of OTT, OTT will be ahead of us even with same total of points), CGY with 1 W, that's secure a bottom 5.

 

[Runner77]

Sure but this assumes that whoever you're picking is destined to be a Montreal Canadiens.

Draft picks are assets, maybe whoever they end up drafting gets traded in a package for an established player in 2 years...maybe Caufield or Hutson get traded.

We don't really know.

I haven't really followed the draft prospects this season, but Lindstrom seems to fit the profile of what we need and in the range of where we might draft. So I agree with you in theory, I just try not to look too deep into how things look now, because they rarely end up playing out that way.

Look at how excited we were to pick ahead of the Sens in 2018, we end up with KK they pick up Brady Tkachuk...stuff like that happens all the time, it's an inexact science, all you can hope is that the teams scouts are doing their jobs and picking the best player when it comes their turn to speak at the mic and that 5-10 years from that point, you look back and say they selected the best player at that slot.

Even if Hutson or Caufield should get traded, there are several smallish players in the pipeline that could graduate. We are not the Kings or Vegas who mostly do not draft undersized players.

Hence, given how size is an organizational weakness and if there is a possibility to secure it from a similarly rated talent tier, then getting that earlier pick allows you to better cater to it. Further, you can even get a big sized player who is a center, which fills yet another organizational need. That player is more likely available with the earlier pick.

 

[WinterLion]

The C's and RHD usually go a bit higher than expected.

 

[HabzSauce]

Karmic justice would be blowing the doors off the Sens, finishing 1 spot behind them but end up winning the lottery and getting Celebrini.

Thats the kind of world I want to live in.

And let another team pass them too just because.

and also whoever picks right before Ottawa, hope they pick the exact player Ottawa wanted to get.

One big shit storm all at once

 

[MarkovsKnee]

The remaining schedules for the Canadiens, Coyotes, Senators and Flames are as follows

Canadiens - Flyers, Islanders, Senators, Red Wings x2

Coyotes - Kraken, Canucks, Oilers, Flames, Oilers

Senators - Panthers, Lightning, Canadiens, Rangers, Bruins

Flames - Sharks, Kings, Ducks, Coyotes, Canucks, Sharks

That's a tough schedule for Ottawa. The only team I see them beating is Montreal. Lol

 

[HuGort]

We have Philly left with Islanders and 2 games against Wings. All them in playoff hunt. Our defense not playing well since Guhle out. We up against it.

Habs only have 29 regulation wins. Calgary has 34. So even if they go 0-6 rest of way. We need two wins for them to draft before us. Odds are pretty good we draft before Calgary.

Both Arizona and Ottawa have more wins than us. So a tie in points we still draft ahead of them.

 

[Rapala]

I'm not looking anymore.
Just going into this game by game.
I'm more invested in watching our own players add to their totals.

Oh and f*** Ottawa.