HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[SnapVirus]

Do you guys think we could land bottom 5 again next year's draft?

Our team isn't as dogsh*t as some here may think. But at the same time the east especially is only getting better.

The only team I see rivaling the Habs out East are Philly. They'll finish dead last in east I'm sure of it.

The west I haven't really dissected yet. SJS, CHI are still bottom feeders to me. I can see NSH being ass next year too. ARI probably ass again and CGY could drop alot in standings as well

So let's just say:
#5 - MTL
#4 - CHI
#3 - SJS
#2 - NSH
#1 - PHI

Always depends. We start the year against good teams but we are ending it against bottom feeder. So lets hope that we are sucking before christmas intensively so they start selling before we start getting points in the rankings.

Ideally, we finish bottom 5 for a last time. But I believe we will be between 5-10.

 

[cave troll]

Imagine Cooley+ Michkov on one line Dach+ Suzuki +CC on the other. Now that's scary.

HuGo got us way better forwards than Cooley and Michkov. Their names are Slaf and Mesar ! ,)

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

At this point i just wish we have a winning ticket and have Eiserman or Celebrini, thats our last chance at elite talent

 

[Canadiens98]

Am I the only one who thinks drafting these projects while we still deal with Bergevin's contracts is a good idea?

Gallagher still on 6.5mil for another 4 years
Anderson on 5.5mil for another 4 years (although imo this isn't a bad contract)
Armia on 3.4mil for the next 2 years
Dvorak on 4.5mil for the next 2 years


Individually, they aren't the worst contracts in the league but collectively .. We're paying 20 MIL on Dvorak, Gallagher, Anderson, and Armia for the next 2 seasons. That's roughly 1/4 of our cap space.


Anyways, here's to hoping we're able to move some of these guys on without retaining anything this season.

 

[CHfan1]

I might live my entire life and never see a ppg forward that we drafted.

It’s been a very long time. I believe the last forward the Habs drafted that had a 80+ point season in a Montreal Canadiens uniform was Stephane Richer 39 years ago in 1984. The last one to have multiple 80+ point seasons (in a Habs uniform) was Mats Naslund in 1979. Leclair did it but only after he was with Philadelphia.

In the last 20 years they haven’t even drafted anyone who put up 70 points in a season. Only 4 Canadiens players have accomplished that in the last 2 decades.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I hope we're decent this year but back to tanking in 2024-25

Yeah, 2025 is the next big draft. We'll see about 2024. There's two exciting prospects at the top after that a lot of unknowns.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

It’s been a very long time. I believe the last forward the Habs drafted that had a 80+ point season in a Montreal Canadiens uniform was Stephane Richer 39 years ago in 1984. The last one to have multiple 80+ point seasons (in a Habs uniform) was Mats Naslund in 1979. Leclair did it but only after he was with Philadelphia.

In the last 20 years they haven’t even drafted anyone who put up 70 points in a season. Only 4 Canadiens players have accomplished that in the last 2 decades.

That is... Sad.. just sad

 

[gusfring]

We aren't tanking this season and if we weren't hampered with injuries last season indications are we weren't tanking then.

Which team in our division can we finish ahead of?

 

[Habs]

So who is Top 1 pick next year?

Another D man, we will draft 5 just to be safe

 

[Rapala]

Which team in our division can we finish ahead of?

Who knows but if we stay healthy I think we can keep very close to Ottawa. I've always thought around .500 would be decent growth next season.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

So who is Top 1 pick next year?

It's currently tied.

Macklin Celebrini is a Canadian center, who just finished a better D-1 draft year than Fantilli in USHL. He's playing with Lane Hutson at Boston University next season in his draft year. He had a fantastic u18 tournament for Canada. Canada's best player, and it wasn't close. He's a Jonathan Toews type player although smaller.

Cole Eiserman is an American goal scoring winger. He's a shooter with an elite release and incredible force on his shots already. He's an excellent skater, and can be a bit wild, reckless in driving the net.

There's a handful of players that can come in behind them at #3.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Guys, stop talking about next year's draft. Even if we have first pick, we'll go with the guy ranked 5th.

 

[Nedved]

Our division is the toughest. I think we're the worst team in it. That said, we're a .500 team if we're healthy most of the year. A top 5 pick would shock me, I expect 8-12, closer to 12.

 

[Habitant#1]

Our division is the toughest. I think we're the worst team in it. That said, we're a .500 team if we're healthy most of the year. A top 5 pick would shock me, I expect 8-12, closer to 12.

That’s a good point about our division that I hadn’t considered.

Hopefully Buffalo and the Senators take big strides this season and next before Tampa or the Bruins start to fall. I think Toronto and Florida should remain competitive regular season teams.

All that might keep the Habs down for another good pick!

 

[BLONG7]

None of this matters, as we are headed by buffoons. We can tank all we want, but we are going to be Buffalo 2.0 . Good luck to all of us.

LOL
The buffoons are out in LA!! LOL

Chill..........Just chill!! LOL

Two tanking seasons have produced Slafkovsky and Reinbacher.

Looks like the Habs are still looking for an elite gamebreaking talent!

Time to start "tankin' for Macklin" (Celebrini)?

Maybe the mods could put this one in with the doom and gloom!! LOL

Crack me up....we are still rebuilding guys, but please no one jump off the bridge...

 

[Habitant#1]

Am I the only one who thinks drafting these projects while we still deal with Bergevin's contracts is a good idea?

Gallagher still on 6.5mil for another 4 years
Anderson on 5.5mil for another 4 years (although imo this isn't a bad contract)
Armia on 3.4mil for the next 2 years
Dvorak on 4.5mil for the next 2 years


Individually, they aren't the worst contracts in the league but collectively .. We're paying 20 MIL on Dvorak, Gallagher, Anderson, and Armia for the next 2 seasons. That's roughly 1/4 of our cap space.


Anyways, here's to hoping we're able to move some of these guys on without retaining anything this season.

It is a lot of money, but the Habs should be be trying to be competitive this season and next.

So with that in mind, I’d say the Armia and Dvorak can just be ridden out. Obviously if you can find a taker you’d jettison them, even with retention. I think buyouts would just prolong the pain.

Anderson should be moved ASAP while he still has value. I think this shouldn’t be hard.

Gallagher is the only truly problem contract long term. It’s simple te unmovable and a buyout is a disaster. Although at the rate he’s going I do suspect he might end up LTIRetiring after a couple more season.


I don’t think there’s so much urgency to act on the Habs cap situation. Definitely if an opportunity to unload presents itself they should take it.

However, if there’s any great trade or UFA opportunities that present themselves in the meantime, all this needs to be revisited obviously.

 

[salbutera]

That is... Sad.. just sad

Want to know whats even more sad, should take a look at how many Cs the Habs have drafted in their 100+ year history who had PPG seasons…

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Want to know whats even more sad, should take a look at how many Cs the Habs have drafted who has PPG seasons…

I... f*** don't make me remember

 

[MadMslm]

Even if I believe there will be progression this year in term of standings, sometimes thing aren’t as linear.

An other year in the bottom 10 could add an other big piece to this team’s future. And who knows, maybe they get lucky and win the lottery.

Im expecting them around 10th position. Even if they would have went .500 against the Atlantic, they would still have finished last in the division which is pretty scary.

 

[salbutera]

I... f*** don't make me remember

In their 100+ year history…

 

[Seb]

Suckin for Macklin

 

[ReHabs]

I think we will see another tank this year, for better or worse I don't see the Habs any higher than 6th in the division. The Atlantic is not an easy one.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

This is going to be another long year. We will easily be last in our division again, and it won't be close.

Yup. Totally agree.

People saying we cant tank again. Theres two more tanking coming. 2025-2026 we will be in PO. Not before

Agreed. 2025-26 might be the just miss the playoffs year.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Suckin for Macklin

Tanking for Macklin

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Its time to lose like man for Heiserman