The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Scriptor]

So this is my take on the rebuild. At 60, I don’t have the time or patience to be going through 5 year rebuilds, even though this is the Habs first true rebuild. I want the team to suck during this 5 year period. I don’t care about making the playoffs, just getting the highest draft picks possible and letting the players develop. And for me that’s the key. No rushing players along, if they’re not ready for the NHL, they stay in the minors and develop properly. Let’s not bring in high priced talent if the talent doesn’t have the same age as the core pieces already on the team.

As for the rebuild grade, I would give it an A for now. If Kent starts making moves to speed up the rebuild, my grade would likely change if the moves are just made to get the team into the playoffs to appease some fans. Do this rebuild properly, no matter how mad fans are at missing the playoffs. We aren’t cup contenders, to me making the playoffs before the rebuild is completed properly will only set the rebuild back. We don’t want to be the Buffalo Sabres who seem to be in a continuous rebuild.

Did I mention I was 60?

No rushing players along, if they’re not ready for the NHL, they stay in the minors and develop properly.

That worked well for the Red Wings in the past. NEVER rush your prospects if they aren't ready for the NHL, although, sometimes, being hands on for their development is more beneficial than going through the regular channels.

As an example, Guhle and Hutson being developed at the NHL level and immediately showing they can handle the rigours of the highest league lead to an easy decision to keep them as mainstays with the Habs.

Xhekaj, on the other hand -- although the serious injury suffered in his rookie season surely contributed to this -- was sent back down to Laval and called back up as warranted.

Same with Mailloux, who is still being reared in Laval, despite the obvious lack of talented RHDs in Montreal. That serves as proof that Hughes is not rushing prospects just in the hopes of filling glaring needs on the NHL roster.

Slafkovsky was a different story as a 1st OA pick because Hughes privileged a hands on approach to developing the crown jewel. An injury in Juraj's rookie season slowed down his progress and, despite initial criticism for keeping him up at the NHL level for his sophomore season, his progress -- especially in the 2nd half of the season -- showed that the approach paid off.

Will Demidov start and stay in the NHL next season?

I'm pretty confident that his performances will dictate the road undertaken with Demidov. Besides, his KHL experience this year will harden him and prepare him for an eventual development path through the AHL, should that end up being the avenue undertaken by Hughes.

Having a quality coach like Pascal Vincent in Laval will also reassure everyone regarding his development if he starts his professional tenure in North America there.

 

[Benstheman]

Still need that top 4 RHD young veteran cause we have only 1 in the pipeline and there isn't one we will realistically draft in the 1st round this year.

 

[Scriptor]

Still need that top 4 RHD young veteran cause we have only 1 in the pipeline and there isn't one we will realistically draft in the 1st round this year.

I think we actually have two top-4 RHDs in the system, although neither of them in a vacuum, might actually be a top pairing RHD?

In time, think that Mailloux will become a better version of Petry, with less mental lapses defensively. Ideal for a 2nd pairing tandem with Guhle on the left side.

Reinbacher could concentrate on the defensive side of things and play more shutdown D alongside a more offensive D like Hutson. The question will be whether Reinbacher can shake the reputaion he is developping as a fragile D and get back into game shape sooner rather than later as he is losing precious development time on the sidelines.

With a top-4 of:

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux

Both Reinbacher and Guhle will sacrifice some offense to better shield/support their pairing partners, but I think it would still be worthwhile a situation.

Guhle - Reinbacher would also be a quality shutdown pairing to consider depending on the gamen situation and how the team needs to exploit the clock with a lead?

 

[Vachon23]

Still need that top 4 RHD young veteran cause we have only 1 in the pipeline and there isn't one we will realistically draft in the 1st round this year.

We can fil that position with a veteran when we will be ready to compete. It will be important to add experience on our blue line

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The Sharks only started their rebuild under Grier. The fact they got top 10 overall was not due to them selling assets but them having subpar/older core player which made them have poor results.

Same with KH and the habs, the Habs never did a proper rebuild even after 2012 or 2018 draft, even though they had top 3 picks both time. Bergevin philosophy was always to patch after a down season.

A true rebuild is shifting current players for more draft capital and accept to play younger players for couple seasons while drafting high to fill in and not look for simple quick patch. That's what KH did with Toffoli, Chiarot, Monahan, Lehkonen, Petry, Kulak, Allen, Edmundson, etc.

When people say we started the rebuild in 2018 is simply wrong. In fact, Bergevin even traded away his top prospect to acquire Drouin the year prior. The reality is that they sucked hard that year but Bergevin still kept all his core players (Price, Weber, Petry, Gallagher, etc.) He only shifted Pacioretty because he requested to be traded out, not for rebuilding purposes.

We are barely seeing the results of the rebuild. The only true pieces we currently have on the roster from it are Dach, Barron, Newhook, Hutson, Slafkovsky, Heineman.

I exclude Matheson, Laine, Montembault. They might be part of the rebuild (at least Laine) but I view them as filler.

 

[Rapala]

After 25 games last year they were

25 GP - 11 W (5 RW) - 11 L - 3 OTL - 25 points - 70 GF 87 GA

This year after 25

25 GP - 9 W (7 RW) - 13 L - 3 OTL - 21 points - 70 GF 94 GA

I understand people were expecting progression but like it has been said many times progression is not linear. Honestly they have scored the same amount of goals. They have 2 more RW than last year. The difference is mostly that they have allowed 7 more goals which can be explained by Primeau sucking this year and finally they have less OTW which could be a fluke OTW and L vary a lot from year to year.

The record wasn't what was eating at me.
The on ice product was pure shite for a good portion of that 20 game stretch.

I'm seeing the team emerging from that funk now not to mention progression on a number of fronts.
We've had four of five watchable games in the last little bit only the Boston game was horrible.

 

[Benstheman]

I think we actually have two top-4 RHDs in the system, although neither of them in a vacuum, might actually be a top pairing RHD?

In time, think that Mailloux will become a better version of Petry, with less mental lapses defensively. Ideal for a 2nd pairing tandem with Guhle on the left side.

Reinbacher could concentrate on the defensive side of things and play more shutdown D alongside a more offensive D like Hutson. The question will be whether Reinbacher can shake the reputaion he is developping as a fragile D and get back into game shape sooner rather than later as he is losing precious development time on the sidelines.

With a top-4 of:

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux

Both Reinbacher and Guhle will sacrifice some offense to better shield/support their pairing partners, but I think it would still be worthwhile a situation.

Guhle - Reinbacher would also be a quality shutdown pairing to consider depending on the gamen situation and how the team needs to exploit the clock with a lead?

I think Reinbacher is a sure thing top 4, possibly top pair.

As for Mailloux, i'm not as optimistic as you are but he has still an outside chance as playing top 4.

But i still think Mailloux is bound to be a 14-15 minutes bottom pair D with time on PP2.

 

[Scriptor]

I think Reinbacher is a sure thing top 4, possibly top pair.

As for Mailloux, i'm not as optimistic as you are but he has still an outside chance as playing top 4.

But i still think Mailloux is bound to be a 14-15 minutes bottom pair D with time on PP2.

Could well be that for Mailloux -- And I'd be happy with a heavy 3rd pairing of Xhekaj - Mailloux that could play physical hockey and still bring offensive upside for 14-15 minutes a game.

Mailloux could be less exposed against top opponents and be less of a defensive risk, for sure, but Ireally think he is less of a defensive sieve than some have made him out to be. I also think that the right pairing partner (Guhle, in this case) can further mitigate his defensive weaknesses.

Beyond that, we could also see a top pairing be a shutdown paring with some offensive upside and Xhekaj-Mailloux end up forming a 3rd pairing.

In that case, we could look for a RHD to play with Hutson on a second pairing, either through the trade market or on the UFA front.

 

[Benstheman]

We can fil that position with a veteran when we will be ready to compete. It will be important to add experience on our blue line

I still think we need an actual top 4 RHD guy signed long term, as soon as next summer.

The thing is we are actually putting all our eggs on Reinbacher being a top pair and Mailloux a 2nd pair. I personnaly think the odds of that happening is about 10% and if it is happening, it will take at least 3-4 years for that to happen. And i would go a notch further saying if we get that kind of player, it will ease Reinbacher's and Mailloux's transition into the NHl and insulate those odds.

In a world where Matheson is gone next summer or at worst 2026 summer, Guhle is part of the top 4 on the left side with Hutson and won't play right side anymore.

Could well be that for Mailloux -- And I'd be happy with a heavy 3rd pairing of Xhekaj - Mailloux that could play physical hockey and still bring offensive upside for 14-15 minutes a game.

Mailloux could be less exposed against top opponents and be less of a defensive risk, for sure, but Ireally think he is less of a defensive sieve than some have made him out to be. I also think that the right pairing partner (Guhle, in this case) can further mitigate his defensive weaknesses.

Beyond that, we could also see a top pairing be a shutdown paring with some offensive upside and Xhekaj-Mailloux end up forming a 3rd pairing.

In that case, we could look for a RHD to play with Hutson on a second pairing, either through the trade market or on the UFA front.

That's exactly how i see it.

 

[rahad]

In 2008 when Kovalev/Koivu where on their final year of there contract and we had young players like Kostitsyn/Plekanec/Latendresse/Price as young players but because of the 100 years anniversary, we couldn’t do that

2003 would also been the perfect year for a rebuild. one of the all time best draft year and we end up with Andrei K.....
Multiple high picks in 2003 ,2004 and 2005 (lock out season)

We could have end up with a very good team in 2008.

 

[Vachon23]

2003 would also been the perfect year for a rebuild. one of the all time best draft year and we end up with Andrei K.....
Multiple high picks in 2003 ,2004 and 2005 (lock out season)

We could have end up with a very good team in 2008.

Just take Ryan Getzlaf and not AK and that would have change everything

I still think we need an actual top 4 RHD guy signed long term, as soon as next summer.

The thing is we are actually putting all our eggs on Reinbacher being a top pair and Mailloux a 2nd pair. I personnaly think the odds of that happening is about 10% and if it is happening, it will take at least 3-4 years for that to happen. And i would go a notch further saying if we get that kind of player, it will ease Reinbacher's and Mailloux's transition into the NHl and insulate those odds.

In a world where Matheson is gone next summer or at worst 2026 summer, Guhle is part of the top 4 on the left side with Hutson and won't play right side anymore.

Obviously, if you can get Rasmus Andersson this summer, go get him. But I have no problem waiting for the 2027 summer

I don’t see Mailloux as a top 4 either

 

[rahad]

I expect at least .500 for the rest of season. That would lead them to 78 points which is 2 points above last year. Next season, no more excuses, they have to reach for playoff spot.

the big difference between last season and this one is the goalie. Both of our goalies are average. Primeau is a AHL goalie. MSL lack of experience is also showing more and more this season. Dach taking a step back from last season. Newhook and Roy(still early for him) busting.

I has surprise to see so many people in Hf or facebook believing this team will compete for a playoff spot this year. We have way to many ?.

Need Elite #1 center or a very good #2. Need # top 4 RHD and a #2 goalie.

 

[Kosseca]

Rebuild is doing ok. While the team may not be in the mix, you can clearly draw conclusion from seeing the way the team play and can identify are of need. Odds are that MTL will start next season with the following pieces on hand

CC - Suzuki - Demidov
Laine - [XXX/Dach] - Slaf
Newhook - Evans - Heineman
Gally - xxx - Anderson
Roy - RHP


Guhle - XXX
Hutson - Rienbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Struble
Matheson

Monty
xxx

Dvora and Armia are gone, Evans resigned hopefully. I dont see Savard staying as he slowed down too much.

So, questions mark are few if you push aside player progression. You need a 2c (if Dach can't turn into a 2C), a 4c, a top 4RD and a 2G. The good think is that we got assets to get some of these pieces in a trade: Roy, Matheson, Barron, or they can come from our pool of prospect, including our next 1st pick.

MSL remains to me the biggest question mark.

 

[ReHabs]

I expect at least .500 for the rest of season. That would lead them to 78 points which is 2 points above last year. Next season, no more excuses, they have to reach for playoff spot.

There will be plenty excuses and it’s very unlikely a team that doesn’t know how to play serious hockey suddenly becomes a team that knows how to play serious hockey.

Our issue is culture, tactics, roster makeup, and talent.

I wish we saw more consistency and effort this year, I don’t mind the losing as much as I mind the awful performances.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It's crazy how f***ed we are at C if Evans walks this summer and Dach/Beck can't handle it

 

[Egresch]

the big difference between last season and this one is the goalie. Both of our goalies are average. Primeau is a AHL goalie. MSL lack of experience is also showing more and more this season. Dach taking a step back from last season. Newhook and Roy(still early for him) busting.

Monty is OK, it is not easy for him to have such bad backup. Replacing Primeau is super easy fix, management lacks accountability in this case. They made mistake keeping him, but we need to move on. Learn from your mistakes and fix them. How do they want to win the cup?

 

[salbutera]

If Habs can win 4-of next-6, which is very doable l, they’ll be back in da mix and likely stay there barring major injuries IMO

 

[Miller Time]

Culture.
Tactics.
Roster & Cap structure.
Talent.

Habs haven't had the foundations of all these elements in place the way they do right now in decades.

KH & Co. are building something special!

Future is bright

 

[WeThreeKings]

Monty is OK, it is not easy for him to have such bad backup. Replacing Primeau is super easy fix, management lacks accountability in this case. They made mistake keeping him, but we need to move on. Learn from your mistakes and fix them. How do they want to win the cup?

Ideally when the rebuild is over.

 

[BJCOLLINS]

well it seems pretty obvious….

finish last get a generational talent #1OA-swing & a miss.
Dach-swing & a miss.
Newhook-swing & a miss.
Barron-swing & a miss.
Reinbacher-swing & a miss.
Mesar-swing & a miss.

Look injuries have played a large part in our slow ascension back to relevancy. However we haven’t hit on our trades or draft picks like Dallas or say the Wild with K Kaprizov.

Fortunately, for now, we have time for our injured players to find their game but we can’t have poor work ethic’s from management, coaches & players. We don’t want to be in a forever rebuild!

tick tock, tick tock

 

[Sorinth]

That worked well for the Red Wings in the past. NEVER rush your prospects if they aren't ready for the NHL, although, sometimes, being hands on for their development is more beneficial than going through the regular channels.

Honestly the whole Red Wings not rushing players and holding them in the AHL is kind of a myth, for example Datsyuk and Zetterberg never played a game in the AHL. Kronwall bounced around between AHL and NHL like many others prospects that get accused of being rushed.

 

[Scriptor]

I still think we need an actual top 4 RHD guy signed long term, as soon as next summer.

The thing is we are actually putting all our eggs on Reinbacher being a top pair and Mailloux a 2nd pair. I personnaly think the odds of that happening is about 10% and if it is happening, it will take at least 3-4 years for that to happen. And i would go a notch further saying if we get that kind of player, it will ease Reinbacher's and Mailloux's transition into the NHl and insulate those odds.

In a world where Matheson is gone next summer or at worst 2026 summer, Guhle is part of the top 4 on the left side with Hutson and won't play right side anymore.



That's exactly how i see it.

There are a few avenues that Hughes can take, but there is no rush to put all the pieces in place right away since this team won't start to be mature enough for another three to four years before they can make an impact in the standings anyhow.

It's not happening before all of Dvorak, Armia, Gallagher, Anderson, Savard and Matheson have all been replaced with other talent in the lineup, and likely not before we get a bead on how Fowler will turn out.

Hughes has some time (a couple of years) to gauge how the youngsters will develop before pulling the trigger for missing pieces outside of the draft additions.

Still need to see how Reinbacher will recover from his injury and progress from there.

Need to see how Mailloux has evolved as an all-around D once he gets another cricket playing in Montreal. IMO, unless he's to be a career AHLer, he won't be playing in Laval beyond this season -- and likely not past the trade deadline if Savard is moved.

Need to see if Hutson can keep applying the teachings he is getting and can continue to handle the rigours of playing against the opponents' best players as a 1st pairing LHD at even strength?

Need to see if Dach can turn the corner and consistently become the dominant top-6 Center he gave us glimpses of being before his latest injury?

Need to see how Demidov and Hage adapt to the NHL and determine what role they can grow into playing at that level on this team?

Need to see if Montreal can land another C with top-6 potential at this year's draft, to add options should Dach and Hage not pan out in that role?

In an ideal world -- which we can never count on -- Montreal would wins a lottery pick with their own pick, good enough to draft either Hagens or Misa, to strengthen the C position at the 2025 draft, the CAL 1st rounder would be good enough to select a Desnoyers as further center depth, only local depth this time, and a third 1st round pick, likely acquired in exchange for Matheson, would be good enough to select Carbonneau, a local power forward profile that also boasts good all-around skills.

A basin of young veterans, youngsters and pure prospects boasting (in no particular order):

Laine, Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Dach, Demidov, Hage, Misa (more likely than Hagens), Desnoyers, Carbonneau, Roy, Heineman, Guhle, Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux, Xhekaj and Fowler...

...would be adirth of riches for the future top-9 of the Habs' roster up front, aswell as the top-4 on D.

More talented depth on the right side of D should be acquired whenever the opportunity arises. That appears to be the real need for the Habs going forward and should not block any prospects from progressing at theNHL level.

Thankfully, with a dynamic D like Hutson on the left side, Hughes could settle on a complementary, shutdown RHD, something easier to acquire than an offensive, play-driving RHD for the top-4.

 

[Scriptor]

It's crazy how f***ed we are at C if Evans walks this summer and Dach/Beck can't handle it

Not too concerned about that. If the fortunes of Montreal really rest on the shoulders of Evans, we are beyond fukced to begin with!

Without Evans, from Suzuki, Dach, Hage, Beck, Kapanen and whomever we end up picking in 2025's first round, we should be all set at C.

If not, Laine and Demidov could likely both play at C. I believe Laine played some in the past and Demidov has the style to play at that position. For me, that would still only be a last resort to push down other talented options into a role where they could dominate rather than just occupy further up the pecking order.

 

[WeThreeKings]

well it seems pretty obvious….

finish last get a generational talent #1OA-swing & a miss.
Dach-swing & a miss.
Newhook-swing & a miss.
Barron-swing & a miss.
Reinbacher-swing & a miss.
Mesar-swing & a miss.

Look injuries have played a large part in our slow ascension back to relevancy. However we haven’t hit on our trades or draft picks like Dallas or say the Wild with K Kaprizov.

Fortunately, for now, we have time for our injured players to find their game but we can’t have poor work ethic’s from management, coaches & players. We don’t want to be in a forever rebuild!

tick tock, tick tock

this post.. a swing and a miss.

 

[Scriptor]

Rebuild is doing ok. While the team may not be in the mix, you can clearly draw conclusion from seeing the way the team play and can identify are of need. Odds are that MTL will start next season with the following pieces on hand

CC - Suzuki - Demidov
Laine - [XXX/Dach] - Slaf
Newhook - Evans - Heineman
Gally - xxx - Anderson
Roy - RHP


Guhle - XXX
Hutson - Rienbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Struble
Matheson

Monty
xxx

Dvora and Armia are gone, Evans resigned hopefully. I dont see Savard staying as he slowed down too much.

So, questions mark are few if you push aside player progression. You need a 2c (if Dach can't turn into a 2C), a 4c, a top 4RD and a 2G. The good think is that we got assets to get some of these pieces in a trade: Roy, Matheson, Barron, or they can come from our pool of prospect, including our next 1st pick.

MSL remains to me the biggest question mark.

Once the talent level increases (which should be shortly with the prospects about to rise through the ranks and natural player progression for the youngsters),I think that MSL will be less of a question mark, personally.

With a bit of luck, Beck gets the nod next year and, not unlike Suzuki's start with the Habs, he starts on the 4th line and earns TOI on special teams and further up the lineup with his play on the ice.

I have no problem seeing Beck become a capable replacement for Evans, if not superior to Evans as a role player because of his speed, F/O skills, and two-way play.

The question marks truly Dach as a top-6 Center. Not because he doesn't have the skill, but rather whether he can come back from his latest injury and avoid further injury?

Can Hage become impact top-6 Center?
Will the Habs draft one in 2025?

Two of Beck, Evans, Hage, Dach and Kapanen can surely fill the bottom-6 pivot positions more than adequately.

Honestly the whole Red Wings not rushing players and holding them in the AHL is kind of a myth, for example Datsyuk and Zetterberg never played a game in the AHL. Kronwall bounced around between AHL and NHL like many others prospects that get accused of being rushed.

If that's the case, it is a myth, then.