HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[Milhouse40]

No worries , our dsquad is a mess anyways , PK won't matter. Our goalies are playing above their skillsets lately.
Dont worry aabout the PP once Monahan CC and Suzu go dry , whole team with be vanilla. The major piece being Dach is where it hurts the lineup

Agree with all of that but a team in evolution is an unpredictable team, sometimes there's unexpected sparks, like on the PP...... it's about the first month we have our best offensive D and Caufield on the PP at the same time, last year they were injured and didn't played together
.
Our goalies are playing above their skillset was the excuse of last year.....maybe that's actually their skillset, especially in the case of Montembeault since he's younger.

We always do great in October, anybody following the Habs knows it. By December it will slow down and we won't be able to manage .500 hockey.

If anything, this situation bodes well for trading a goalie. By the TDL we can gain a decent asset for either Allen or Montembeault.

I mean injuries hurt us at the TDL last year as well and could haunt us down the line but should Monahan stay healthy (fingers crossed), we have Savard, a goalie, Josh Anderson and even maybe a young D player ,Matheson also being available down the line that can help a competing team and be worth something, we have a little cap space too.

All those could turn into juicy picks , which we will have an abundance of. We can use them or trade them for more Dach like players. If the Habs youth progress and we shed vets aka deadwood intelligently, we can actually start winning and have other teams give us our high draft picks.....we got very unlucky with the Panthers pick last year and the Calgary one looks mighty appealing in the next 2....

The tank is going well even if we don't get top 5 draft pick this year is my point. Demidov at 7th ?

????
We we're 5-4-0 in 2022 and 2-8-0 in 2021......not exactly the always do great

 

[Sorinth]

At 901 we finished in the bottom 5... at 890 you are bottom 2-3.

In October we'll score more goals than we should because everybody is healthy. As we progressively lose goal for, the goaltender at 910 isn't making you win games, suddenly it takes 925 (Price, and that's why he could transform a losing team in a playoff team)

Except that's just something you've made up, oddly enough we had the exact same SV% as a team in 21-22 and 22-23, 0.889. So we should have finished bottom-3 both years according to you but didn't.

We likely aren't going to hit .910 or 0.925 this year so we are no doubt going to regress from our current record. But it just goes to show that people will complain about goaltending stealing games no matter what.

 

[MtlSars]

????
We we're 5-4-0 in 2022 and 2-8-0 in 2021......not exactly the always do great

You've made me second guess myself, congratulations, turns out:

Oct 2016
11-0-2

Oct 2017
7-2-2

Oct 2018
6-3-2

Oct 2019
7-4-2

Oct 2020
COVID!!! Season starts in January 2021

I mean, the Habs were never a great team over that period of time and yet....great October hockey

 

[austin316]

Need to start piling up some L’s. Playing ourselves out of a lottery pick the first 20 games of the season if we keep this pace up.

Desperately need another top 5 pick.

 

[Gravity]

C'mon now.. Suzuki and Caufield aren't 2nd line players around the league.

Agree on CC. Suzuki on every team except for Arizona, SJ and Nashville is a 2C.

 

[SOLR]

Except that's just something you've made up, oddly enough we had the exact same SV% as a team in 21-22 and 22-23, 0.889. So we should have finished bottom-3 both years according to you but didn't.

We likely aren't going to hit .910 or 0.925 this year so we are no doubt going to regress from our current record. But it just goes to show that people will complain about goaltending stealing games no matter what.

You just made the opposite argument, thanks. We are complaining about 910-915 because we know it's not sustainable, thus producing points we don't need when we are supposed to tank. This is the difference between getting Bedard and Reinbacher.

Plus, I didn't make up anything I just used your numbers, you stated 901 for Montembault last season. I was just following logic and I predicted the 890...wow rocket science.

Plus you didn't debunk anything I said "At 901 we finished in the bottom 5... at 890 you are bottom 2-3." and then your reply, is "oddly enough we had the exact same SV% as a team in 21-22 and 22-23, 0.889" and you think that's an argument disproving what I said, I mean logic ain't your strength?

Again I'm not verifying what you are saying, if you decide to be clever that's on you.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Don't worry gang. Our goalies will make us win just enough for Bobrov to reach by 10 spots for that enigmatic Norwegian power forward in this year's draft so that he can have another Magical Culture Unicorn for the hockey historians.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Don't worry gang. Our goalies will make us win just enough for Bobrov to reach by 10 spots for that enigmatic Norwegian power forward in this year's draft so that he can have another Magical Culture Unicorn for the hockey historians.

HF Habs: - 2024 NHL Draft Thread

I think it's safe to project us drafting top-8. Considering the amount of quality Ds, it's reasonable to assume that between 2 and 5 Ds should be picked in that group, with Celebrini, Eiserman and Demidov rounding it out. Mostly educated projection at this point though. Therefore, I hope we see...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[SOLR]

Agree on CC. Suzuki on every team except for Arizona, SJ and Nashville is a 2C.

That's correct, Suzuki is a Krejci style (in his prime) 2C who can play 1C if need be.

Suzuki has not shown 80+ pts potential yet. I think in his prime he'll be 1st line center for 2-3 years. That's why we need someone like Celebrini who might have the potential to be a first line center for 10-12 years, vs. a generational player for 15+ years (for comparison).

also me: I'm saying that and Suzuki will enter his prime this year lol and be there for 4 years. Possible. But you can see how speed will become an issue for Suzuki like it did for other players like him on the other side of his prime.

Thought experiment: if we had Celebrini, would Suzuki play RW (if our 2C is healthy)? yes, yes he would. Caufield - Celebrini - Suzuki would be instantly one of the best line in the NHL, and that would create the domino effect of our 2nd line having a lot more space.

 

[Gravity]

That's correct, Suzuki is a Krejci style (in his prime) 2C who can play 1C if need be.

Suzuki has not shown 80+ pts potential yet. I think in his prime he'll be 1st line center for 2-3 years. That's why we need someone like Celebrini who might have the potential to be a first line center for 10-12 years, vs. a generational player for 15+ years (for comparison).

also me: I'm saying that and Suzuki will enter his prime this year lol and be there for 4 years. Possible. But you can see how speed will become an issue for Suzuki like it did for other players like him on the other side of his prime.

Thought experiment: if we had Celebrini, would Suzuki play RW (if our 2C is healthy)? yes, yes he would. Caufield - Celebrini - Suzuki would be instantly one of the best line in the NHL, and that would create the domino effect of our 2nd line having a lot more space.

If Dach centers the 2nd line and really breaks out, that's a contending top 6 a la Vegas with a hopefully developed Slaf and Roy (example) on the 2nd line. We NEED Celebrini or an elite C prospect and I don't see us winning anything without one.

Could've been done with picking Fantilli/Carlsson/Bedard last year and ended up a high end D prospect this year but alas it wasn't meant to be.

 

[Hins77]

Only in Montreal where fans overevaluate their players, only in MTL Suzuki and Caufield are your best players. Prove me wrong please.

Look up the 1st line LW, C and RW of everyteam and which team could have a 60 pts player on the first line? This is why we're in trouble if this season mtl finishes close to playoffs, the rebuild will take for ever and we'll for ever be a loser team like Winnipeg

Suzuki and Caufield are entering into their prime. 24 and 22 years old. Sure you cannot compare them with 27/28 years old guy. Those are not elite, but they are first line material

 

[Sorinth]

You just made the opposite argument, thanks. We are complaining about 910-915 because we know it's not sustainable, thus producing points we don't need when we are supposed to tank. This is the difference between getting Bedard and Reinbacher.

Plus, I didn't make up anything I just used your numbers, you stated 901 for Montembault last season. I was just following logic and I predicted the 890...wow rocket science.

Plus you didn't debunk anything I said "At 901 we finished in the bottom 5... at 890 you are bottom 2-3." and then your reply, is "oddly enough we had the exact same SV% as a team in 21-22 and 22-23, 0.889" and you think that's an argument disproving what I said, I mean logic ain't your strength?

Again I'm not verifying what you are saying, if you decide to be clever that's on you.

You seem to be having trouble differentiating between one specific goalies number's and the teams. We didn't have a .901 last season, Montembeault had a .901, the team had a .889 and since your talking about where the team finishes with a given SV% you have to use the teams SV% and not the 2nd most used goalie. Talk about logic right?

This year the complaint is .910-.915 is ruining the tank, last year it was the same complaint even though the teams save percentage was much lower. So no my argument has been consistent, it doesn't matter what the goalies do if they are even passably NHL level for any stretch of time people complain about them ruining the tank by stealing games/points and playing over their heads.

 

[Milhouse40]

You've made me second guess myself, congratulations, turns out:

Oct 2016
11-0-2

Oct 2017
7-2-2

Oct 2018
6-3-2
Oct 2019
7-4-2

Oct 2020
COVID!!! Season starts in January 2021

I mean, the Habs were never a great team over that period of time and yet....great October hockey

The Habs are not an entity, especially when you break the core and management as we did....and the last 2 years is a lot more relevant to this new era.

We have a great start cause we play 6 home games versus 3 on the road and it's just 9 games in.....I'm sure last year there might have been a stretch where the Habs were having a great record too.

But then again, last year's team is not this year's team either.

 

[BLONG7]

You've made me second guess myself, congratulations, turns out:

Oct 2016
11-0-2

Oct 2017
7-2-2

Oct 2018
6-3-2

Oct 2019
7-4-2

Oct 2020
COVID!!! Season starts in January 2021

I mean, the Habs were never a great team over that period of time and yet....great October hockey

Brian Savage Syndrome.....

 

[WeThreeKings]

I then fully expect you to wake up in a drunken stupor on New Years day, stumble to your nightstand to check the standings on your phone, then sign on here and proclaim whether youre still on team tank or switched to the fun side.

I'm on the fun side regardless.

I cheer for both teams to score this year.

 

[HuGort]

If Dach centers the 2nd line and really breaks out, that's a contending top 6 a la Vegas with a hopefully developed Slaf and Roy (example) on the 2nd line. We NEED Celebrini or an elite C prospect and I don't see us winning anything without one.

Could've been done with picking Fantilli/Carlsson/Bedard last year and ended up a high end D prospect this year but alas it wasn't meant to be.

We maybe able to trade for another Dach

 

[jaffy27]

Need to start piling up some L’s. Playing ourselves out of a lottery pick the first 20 games of the season if we keep this pace up.

Desperately need another top 5 pick.

Team is way too good to finish bottom 5 lol

Unless we are riddled with injuries (like last year), your dreams of finishing bottom 5 are technicolour dreaming at best!!

Expect us to be picking 10th overall, this would be an enormous win for our trek to a cup!

 

[montreal]

Team is way too good to finish bottom 5 lol

Unless we are riddled with injuries (like last year), your dreams of finishing bottom 5 are technicolour dreaming at best!!

Expect us to be picking 10th overall, this would be an enormous win for our trek to a cup!

too early to say, last year they also did this in Oct but we saw by Jan/Feb a very different team.

Right now you have 2 guys scoring 1/3rd of the goals (9 out of 27) and 5 guys have scored 18 of our total 27 goals. That will be a problem if they can't figure out a way to spread the scoring around a bit more.

The goaltending, imo I don't believe in this group. I know last year Monty did better then expected but I need to see more as I'm just not sold on any of the lot. Plus someone has to get traded or they just put Primeau on waivers and see what happens.

 

[Hannibal]

We need to start loosing..! I don’t want us to miss our chance to get Lindstrom. Just watched what EP had to say about him. They are VERY high on him.

 

[jaffy27]

too early to say, last year they also did this in Oct but we saw by Jan/Feb a very different team.

Right now you have 2 guys scoring 1/3rd of the goals (9 out of 27) and 5 guys have scored 18 of our total 27 goals. That will be a problem if they can't figure out a way to spread the scoring around a bit more.

The goaltending, imo I don't believe in this group. I know last year Monty did better then expected but I need to see more as I'm just not sold on any of the lot. Plus someone has to get traded or they just put Primeau on waivers and see what happens.

Imagine when it starts spreading out how much more we’ll be winning!!

Thing is we were fighting to finish 5th overall last year with essentially all our important forwards on the IR….we had what….5 rookie D in the starting lineup?

I remember one game we had ZERO forwards making over 1m$ in the lineup…or maybe it was 1

I don’t believe in the goaltender tandem either, especially for the long term.

But my thoughts are we are not finishing in bottom 5 with most hands on deck, not unless we are riddled with injuries.

We’ll see

 

[montreal]

Imagine when it starts spreading out how much more we’ll be winning!!

Thing is we were fighting to finish 5th overall last year with essentially all our important forwards on the IR….we had what….5 rookie D in the starting lineup?

I remember one game we had ZERO forwards making over 1m$ in the lineup…or maybe it was 1

I don’t believe in the goaltender tandem either, especially for the long term.

But my thoughts are we are not finishing in bottom 5 with most hands on deck, not unless we are riddled with injuries.

We’ll see

bottom 5 at this time of year is very hard to predict outside of SJ looking like the worst hockey team ever. Things are often so close in the standings that a few points here or there and it throws off the standings.

This team could be much better, it's always hard to try and predict how a young coach with no experience is going to adapt and when things might just click or not. Same for young players, If Caufield is one of the best snipers in the NHL this year then I don't see us in the bottom 5.

Injuries will happen as we have seen this year already and trades are likely to happen at some point so we'll see. If they get better then so be it and if they end up with a top 5 pick again I hope they swing for the fences.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

lol theres plenty of 20-21-22 years old that are MILES in front of these 2. Caufield is unidimensional, only good to score on the PP and in 3v3 situations. What does he do for the team on 5v5? What does he do in the corners, setup plays, protect puck? Nada. He's a 60 points player as for now

[MOD]

Even strenght (5vs5) goals scored per 60 from February 10th 2022 to today (70 gp minimum):

Caufield is one of the best 5vs5 goalscorers and he does a lot more than just scoring.

 

[Hins77]

Dude, you should quit this forum, because you clearly don't watch the games.

Even strenght (5vs5) goals scored per 60 from February 10th 2022 to today (70 gp minimum):

Caufield is one of the best 5vs5 goalscorers and he does a lot more than just scoring.

Caufield was on a pace to score 40 goals and + last year at 21 years old and he is considered by this guy as a second line winger lol. I don’t know what he is considering as a first line. I don’t know what he is expecring as a first line? Boston has Matthew poitras and Zacha with Pastrnak. Are they considered as first line material? Islander is playing horvat with barzal and lee. Are they first line material? Grass is greener elsewherer?

Saying Caufield and Suzuki arent first line material isnt true at all.
Caufield will maybe become the best scorer in MTL from 2000 to 2050 and he will be considered as a 2nd line winger lol

 

[NORiculous]

Caufield was on a pace to score 40 goals and + last year at 21 years old and he is considered by this guy as a second line winger lol. I don’t know what he is considering as a first line. I don’t know what he is expecring as a first line? Boston has Matthew poitras and Zacha with Pastrnak. Are they considered as first line material? Islander is playing horvat with barzal and lee. Are they first line material? Grass is greener elsewherer?

Saying Caufield and Suzuki arent first line material isnt true at all.
Caufield will maybe become the best scorer in MTL from 2000 to 2050 and he will be considered as a 2nd line winger lol

There are multiple reasons why you can consider Caufield to be a 2nd liner at this point.

Pacing doesn’t mean anything. Size plays a role. His best season is 40ish points. Will he get injured regularly? Etc. He definitely has the potential to be a 1st liner though.

Suzuki is solid but he technically had one good run… where he could/might have played over his head.

I dont believe that Suzuki is in the same category as the McDavids, Crosby, etc. So at best he would be a 2nd tier 1st C. But if he doesn’t do it regularly, he can easily slip to be a top notch 2nd liner.

I think right now he is closer to Saku 2.0 than McDavid, Matthews, MacKinnon, Crosby, Barkov, Pettersson, Hughes, Thompson, Eichel, etc.

So there can be a debate. 10 games doesn’t make a career. Let’s wait and see, he still has time.

In my book, to continuously be a top team, you need a C that is better the Suzuki as your #1. But we will see. He can prove me wrong.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Team is way too good to finish bottom 5 lol

Unless we are riddled with injuries (like last year), your dreams of finishing bottom 5 are technicolour dreaming at best!!

Expect us to be picking 10th overall, this would be an enormous win for our trek to a cup!

We're not even 10 games in, Jaffy. Haven't you learned your lesson from previous years? They could still very much end-up bottom 5.