The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Just this once]

I *honestly* don't know what the right call is with Jake Evans, and i'm his #1 fan

he will never be anything more than a perfect 4th line center, he does bring some veteran vibes to the team (my man is 28 already), everyone seems to like him

I am surprised he is still here. When they brought him on, I was hoping the team would get better and he would be sent down.
Turns out he was able to make himself a niche by bringing some much needed speed, puck possession and being useful defensively.
At this point, he is pretty much needed and does not cost much.
He probably has only a few years left because speed usually drops when players reach 30.

 

[Rapala]

Glad people are waking up to the fact that Jake Evans does the job of a 4C incredibly well.. do we wish he had a bit more offense or was a big physical threat? Of course.. but if he had that, he'd be the perfect 3C and be more expensive.

I'd love to see him playing 4C before I start gushing.
Something he Hasn't Done in the past two seasons now.
My guess is he's played more 3C than 4C as a Hab.
He's currently playing 2C match ups as a shutdown guy and then previously as a 3C all the way back to Monahan's first injury.

The PK is holding up better than I thought it would but it also reminds me of a house of cards.
It's crazy we've gone from bottom of the barrel to the top of the league in the last 20 games or so is that sustainable?

I don't see Evans playing 4C at all with this team are we resigning and paying him as a three because someone else might.
His usage will be brought up by his agent without a doubt.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'd love to see him playing 4C before I start gushing.
Something he Hasn't Done in the past two seasons now.
My guess is he's played more 3C than 4C as a Hab.
He's currently playing 2C match ups as a shutdown guy and then previously as a 3C all the way back to Monahan's first injury.

The PK is holding up better than I thought it would but it also reminds me of a house of cards.
It's crazy we've gone from bottom of the barrel to the top of the league in the last 20 games or so is that sustainable?

I don't see Evans playing 4C at all with this team are we resigning and paying him as a three because someone else might.
His usage will be brought up by his agent without a doubt.

The only reason Evans wouldn't be here beyond this season is that he feels his role as a 3C will be gone and he feels he can be one elsewhere, that coupled with the fact that the Habs only have right shot centers in the pipeline, and they'll almost assuredly want a left shot center somewhere in the mix.. by the time you get beyond Suzuki/Dach/Hage you have Kapanen/Beck..

But the rumors of needing to upgrade on Evans because he isn't a good bottom 6 center were grossly exaggerated. Evans is a valuable player who does a lot of things teams need to succeed. He was never perfect but there is no perfect 4Cs, they become 3Cs.

 

[Saundies]

The only reason Evans wouldn't be here beyond this season is that he feels his role as a 3C will be gone and he feels he can be one elsewhere, that coupled with the fact that the Habs only have right shot centers in the pipeline, and they'll almost assuredly want a left shot center somewhere in the mix.. by the time you get beyond Suzuki/Dach/Hage you have Kapanen/Beck..

But the rumors of needing to upgrade on Evans because he isn't a good bottom 6 center were grossly exaggerated. Evans is a valuable player who does a lot of things teams need to succeed. He was never perfect but there is no perfect 4Cs, they become 3Cs.

I honestly didn't realize how good of a year he had last year. He's not always the most consistent but he does a lot of things well for his role. You know you can at least send him out for a faceoff and he's going to win it 50% of the time (which is rare for our C's it seems).

I'd take him on my team over Dvo any day.

 

[Rapala]

The only reason Evans wouldn't be here beyond this season is that he feels his role as a 3C will be gone and he feels he can be one elsewhere, that coupled with the fact that the Habs only have right shot centers in the pipeline, and they'll almost assuredly want a left shot center somewhere in the mix.. by the time you get beyond Suzuki/Dach/Hage you have Kapanen/Beck..

But the rumors of needing to upgrade on Evans because he isn't a good bottom 6 center were grossly exaggerated. Evans is a valuable player who does a lot of things teams need to succeed. He was never perfect but there is no perfect 4Cs, they become 3Cs.

My favorite role for Evans is exactly what he is doing right now I think he could be even more effective if we could upgrade on Gallagher.
I don't pretend to know what HuGo sees as an end product but If I'm signing Evans it would be to play him as a 3C.
This team will always need a shutdown capability and a 3rd line you can trust against top lines.
I've pointed out more than once I didn't like Evans game or his attitude when he actually played as a four.
I have no doubt he'll get 3C money and a 3C role somewhere. particularly if he keeps up this level of defensive shutdown play.

 

[WeThreeKings]

My favorite role for Evans is exactly what he is doing right now I think he could be even more effective if we could upgrade on Gallagher.
I don't pretend to know what HuGo sees as an end product but If I'm signing Evans it would be to play him as a 3C.
This team will always need a shutdown capability and a 3rd line you can trust against top lines.
I've pointed out more than once I didn't like Evans game or his attitude when he actually played as a four.
I have no doubt he'll get 3C money and a 3C role somewhere. particularly if he keeps up this level of defensive shutdown play.

All comes down to role and money for him. We probably can't afford to go too high in the salary department and there's internal solutions coming from every direction.

 

[Habs Halifax]

After 9 games... Who still thinks the Habs are the worse in the Atlantic? I said a few times heading into this season that we will be neck/neck with the Wings, Sens, and Sabres and it's tracking that way.

Be prepared for two picks from 10-15. Flames and Habs.

 

[expy]

Rebuild the rebuild.

We're still heavily handicapped by Bergevin's moves, so I'll give it another 2-3 years before this team competes in any capacity.

Still weak on defence, missing proper offensive talent (nobody can keep up with Hutson, which is sad), and need to finf a #1 goalie and a good backup as well (we don't need any of our existing goaltenders).

 

[sampollock]

Fire MSL
Get this team tougher to play against

 

[DAChampion]

Did something's happen to Primeau?

 

[Habby4Life]

Next step: fire MSL and hire a real coach.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Fire MSL
Get this team tougher to play against

With who? Soon to be fired Jim Montgomery? Who just got lit up 8-2 by the Canes? He doesn't have the excuse of a uber young roster with a ton of holes. It'll be a disaster for him, as much as it is for MSL.

 

[Jaynki]

First time in the Hughes/Gorton era i feel the team need a spark.

Waive a vet like Dvorak and call-up Luke Tuch?

A minor bottom six trade/acquisition?

 

[WeThreeKings]

First time in the Hughes/Gorton era i feel the team need a spark.

Waive a vet like Dvorak and call-up Luke Tuch?

A minor bottom six trade/acquisition?

They have to waive Dvorak.

His play all season has been unacceptable at best and last night it was atrocious. The big issue was that somehow Dvorak didn't get benched for the pizza to the other team for goal 3.. and he made the SAME play early in the third, only to keep getting played and somehow get on the 5 on 3.

Send a huge message, especially to the veterans, be all the way in, or get the f*** out.

 

[Rapala]

They have to waive Dvorak.

His play all season has been unacceptable at best and last night it was atrocious. The big issue was that somehow Dvorak didn't get benched for the pizza to the other team for goal 3.. and he made the SAME play early in the third, only to keep getting played and somehow get on the 5 on 3.

Send a huge message, especially to the veterans, be all the way in, or get the f*** out.

Marty's constant refrain "I have to watch the tape"
I guess he just doesn't see that shit in real time.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Meanwhile; struggles happen even for the generational.

 

[417]

It's pretty obvious why this organization has never gone full rebuild...their fans can't handle it.

They say it's what they want, but they don't really want it lol.

 

[Benstheman]

It's pretty obvious why this organization has never gone full rebuild...their fans can't handle it.

They say it's what they want, but they don't really want it lol.

Thay have to handle it. Whether they like it or not.

 

[417]

Thay have to handle it. Whether they like it or not.

Oh agreed 100%, it just funny to see the very thing they wanted manifesting itself and the incredulous responses i'm seeing online everywhere.

All offseason, I kept reading at how ridiculous it was for the Habs players/coaches/management to say they wanted to be "in the mix"...they're aren't "in the mix" right now, and it's shock and awe.

It's just weird.

 

[Benstheman]

Yeah as always.

But Habs nation is a very heteroclyte bunch and the negative ones are always the more vocal.

 

[Jaynki]

They have to waive Dvorak.

His play all season has been unacceptable at best and last night it was atrocious. The big issue was that somehow Dvorak didn't get benched for the pizza to the other team for goal 3.. and he made the SAME play early in the third, only to keep getting played and somehow get on the 5 on 3.

Send a huge message, especially to the veterans, be all the way in, or get the f*** out.

100% agree.

Especially since he is gone s00n.

It's pretty obvious why this organization has never gone full rebuild...their fans can't handle it.

They say it's what they want, but they don't really want it lol.

Many thing can be true at once.

We can be in a rebuild and accept defeat or bump along the road.

But what we witness right now is borderline Ducharme-Habs level.

Its unacceptable at the stage of this rebuild. It is a normal expectations to take a step forward and its just not that right now.

Plenty of times ahead and major catalyst upcoming (Laine return) but some things have to be corrected. There is a systematic problem right now.

 

[417]

Many thing can be true at once.

We can be in a rebuild and accept defeat or bump along the road.

But what we witness right now is borderline Ducharme-Habs level.

Its unacceptable at the stage of this rebuild. It is a normal expectations to take a step forward and its just not that right now.

Plenty of times ahead and major catalyst upcoming (Laine return) but some things have to be corrected. There is a systematic problem right now.

I don't entirely disagree but this is what a rebuild looks like. I know some people think you just snap your fingers and everyone collectively starts playing better, but this team isn't at that point yet.

They're still stuck between young promising players and washed up veterans. It's still very much a work in progress and everyone knew this coming into this year and it became even more true after losing Laine in the preseason. This is essentially the same team that finished 5th worst last year + Hutson - Jake Allen (who brought stability in goaltending that we're just not getting right now from either goalie).

We don't know how things will unfold...they might look this bad for the next 50 games and some time in February, will start to turn the corner. That's just how it goes.

This is the path we all wanted, can't just get off the ride cause it gets bumpy.

 

[Benstheman]

100% agree.

Especially since he is gone s00n.



Many thing can be true at once.

We can be in a rebuild and accept defeat or bump along the road.

But what we witness right now is borderline Ducharme-Habs level.

Its unacceptable at the stage of this rebuild. It is a normal expectations to take a step forward and its just not that right now.

Plenty of times ahead and major catalyst upcoming (Laine return) but some things have to be corrected. There is a systematic problem right now.

Agreed. IMO, in a rebuild, you still have to put in place a great mix of veterans with your young players. We may have a problem with guys like Armia and Dvorak as proper mentors. They don't need to be great leaders. They just have to show up and give their all. And we know they almost never do.

It's also not normal that only Guhle is solid defensively. I mean Hutson is pretty ok, way better than i thought he would be, but he is not a defensive force out there. Savard sucks, Matheson sucks, Struble sucks. Barron and Xhekaj are horrible. And we don't have that elite goalie to mask it all. We have a big problem defensively and for me it starts with Matheson and Savard. They need to be better, if they can. If they can't, they have to be traded eventually.

 

[Tabarouette]

It's pretty obvious why this organization has never gone full rebuild...their fans can't handle it.

They say it's what they want, but they don't really want it lol.

honestly, agreed, we are collectively a little too eager to compete and i'd rather not end up in the Sens or Red Wings situation by rushing it

BUT, as a partial defense, I do think they shot themselves in the foot by spending the entire camp saying everyone was sleeping on them and they'd be in the mix. They riled up the dog at 11pm and now wonder why the dog won't go to bed

 

[Tyson]

Agreed. IMO, in a rebuild, you still have to put in place a great mix of veterans with your young players. We may have a problem with guys like Armia and Dvorak as proper mentors. They don't need to be great leaders. They just have to show up and give their all. And we know they almost never do.

It's also not normal that only Guhle is solid defensively. I mean Hutson is pretty ok, way better than i thought he would be, but he is not a defensive force out there. Savard sucks, Matheson sucks, Struble sucks. Barron and Xhekaj are horrible. And we don't have that elite goalie to mask it all. We have a big problem defensively and for me it starts with Matheson and Savard. They need to be better, if they can. If they can't, they have to be traded eventually.

The same strategy is used in the AHL. You have to surround your young players with solid AHL veteran leadership.