The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Sorinth]

I actually expect Savard to re-sign in Montreal whether he's traded or not. It sounds like being in a French speaking environment is important to his family, and the only other team that could come close to offering that is Ottawa.

The RD UFA market is really bad though,

I expect Savard will want to re-sign, but it's less clear that's what we will want to do. A lot depends on Barron, if by TDL we've more or less given up on him being a consistent NHLer then there's a case to re-sign Savard, if Barron establishes himself as an NHL regular even just as a bottom pairing guy then there's not going to be much room for Savard.

I'm still so confused why people think Buffalo has been focusing on drafting for a decade, they've made massive swings in free agency and tried to accelerate through trades as well.

In Buffalo's case a lot of their trades were likely forced by the player getting close to being UFA and not wanting to re-sign. They are a prime example of what happens if a losing culture sets in. They are also a good example of how it can be hard to break the cycle of losing once that culture has set in.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Unless Savard is open to being a #7, I'd be ultra careful in re-signing him. He is getting up there in age and skating will only get worse from here.

 

[BLONG7]

Unless Savard is open to being a #7, I'd be ultra careful in re-signing him. He is getting up there in age and skating will only get worse from here.

Can't imagine they will resign Savard......................all the talk is he is going out this summer, or this upcoming trade deadline.
But agree, if he is to stay for 1M next year or two he would be a #7 guy.

 

[Lshap]

Of course it's going to make a difference that players develop but you are ignoring the very simple fact that everyone else also does get better. It's not exclusive to the Habs, the division has four teams that are in a rebuild, the other one has 2, they should all get better.

All young players don't develop the same across the league. Habs have had three years of top picks - that should produce a crop of young players who are better than the other guy's young players. That's the whole point of a rebuild, no?

Of course, in three/four years Montreal won't be the only team with a strong young core, but they'll be moving up while most current playoff teams are moving down. There's still work to be done to turn this developing roster into a contender, but it looks like we have a key pillar in place: A superior core of young players.

 

[morhilane]

Can't imagine they will resign Savard......................all the talk is he is going out this summer, or this upcoming trade deadline.
But agree, if he is to stay for 1M next year or two he would be a #7 guy.

All the trade talk about him is because he is UFA and has value.

Savard signed in Montréal because his family wanted to come back to the province.

 

[BLONG7]

We have Anderson or Gallagher in our top 6, Im not sure we can act like our top 6 is good.

No these two are not in our top 6..................they will be on the 3rd or fourth lines.

 

[yianik]

Yeah, as the cap and salaries rise it's inevitable. But thanks to Hughes there's now a culture in place that promotes thinking like a team, even in salary negotiations. Our next wave of stars will get paid fairly, but the hope is they'll be factoring in their teammates as well as themselves.

By implementing this team-focused attitude, Montreal has hopefully Leaf-proofed their salary cap.

I think I heard Hughes speaking when Slaf said that he's happy it's done, he's a Hab for 9 more years, and he can just focus on hockey.

Now we are happy with the deals thinking it's good for the team, and I agree. But the Habs have shown the players they believe in them. Nothing Slaf and Caufield have done to date justify those contracts. And those guys have ensured their futures financially. They get injured or their play never advances, taken care of , even if bought out.

So team and player have committed to one another. And it's refreshing to have a GM whom I am sure is transparent with the players. I have no doubt he told them that they could do a bridge deal and if they perform like he thinks they will, they will get more, and that he will happily pay more. But that right now he is prepared to pay them as it will give them security and the team a more beneficial AAV long term. Mutual respect going on.

Whats cool is Slaf and Caufield agreed to take less than their captain, and his contract isn't bloated ( like Tavares). That's telling you alot.Those Core 4 gave no discount and also most had shorter deals so they can come back for even bigger amounts.

 

[Milhouse40]

I think I heard Hughes speaking when Slaf said that he's happy it's done, he's a Hab for 9 more years, and he can just focus on hockey.

Now we are happy with the deals thinking it's good for the team, and I agree. But the Habs have shown the players they believe in them. Nothing Slaf and Caufield have done to date justify those contracts. And those guys have ensured their futures financially. They get injured or their play never advances, taken care of , even if bought out.

So team and player have committed to one another. And it's refreshing to have a GM whom I am sure is transparent with the players. I have no doubt he told them that they could do a bridge deal and if they perform like he thinks they will, they will get more, and that he will happily pay more. But that right now he is prepared to pay them as it will give them security and the team a more beneficial AAV long term. Mutual respect going on.

Whats cool is Slaf and Caufield agreed to take less than their captain, and his contract isn't bloated ( like Tavares). That's telling you alot.Those Core 4 gave no discount and also most had shorter deals so they can come back for even bigger amounts.

I think it's more the new appraoch in general in the NHL. They pay them top money for their prime years instead of paying them after their prime years.

A good example is Gallagher, we had him at a sweet deal for all his prime years but had to pay him after and now, we're stuck with him. That's also why Florida traded Huberdeau, they didn't wanted to pay him top money cause his prime was past.

The league is getting younger, that's also why you don't see much UFA getting the 6-7 years with top money anymore. So players better take the 7-8 years deals while they are young cause they won't get it anymore once they are UFA

 

[Lshap]

I think I heard Hughes speaking when Slaf said that he's happy it's done, he's a Hab for 9 more years, and he can just focus on hockey.

Now we are happy with the deals thinking it's good for the team, and I agree. But the Habs have shown the players they believe in them. Nothing Slaf and Caufield have done to date justify those contracts. And those guys have ensured their futures financially. They get injured or their play never advances, taken care of , even if bought out.

So team and player have committed to one another. And it's refreshing to have a GM whom I am sure is transparent with the players. I have no doubt he told them that they could do a bridge deal and if they perform like he thinks they will, they will get more, and that he will happily pay more. But that right now he is prepared to pay them as it will give them security and the team a more beneficial AAV long term. Mutual respect going on.

Whats cool is Slaf and Caufield agreed to take less than their captain, and his contract isn't bloated ( like Tavares). That's telling you alot.Those Core 4 gave no discount and also most had shorter deals so they can come back for even bigger amounts.

Yeah, it looks like Hughes has prioritized culture almost as much as talent. He's giving these kids a home base and sense of belonging, which motivates them to think as a unit.

As fans, we forget how young these players are. Yeah, they're making big money, but they're still away from their parents, siblings and friends, in a new city with no one to bond with except each other. That's one of the reasons so many millionaire athletes marry so young – the need to create a family in place of the one they left behind. The organization has a responsibility to act as a proxy parent, but taking on that role can also be an opportunity to cement loyalty. Hughes is a parent and a longtime agent; he understands how young adults think. As you said, by showing the kids he's committed to them, they're happy to commit to the team.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Unless Savard is open to being a #7, I'd be ultra careful in re-signing him. He is getting up there in age and skating will only get worse from here.

We will most likely monetize him at the TDL, but this roster needs some experience and hairy balls injected into it.

 

[ML16]

Voted A; Hughes was dealt a horrible hand from the outset and he has since put everything in place - in less than 3 season! - to start competing in 2025-2026.

And provided offseason 2025 goes according to plan - Demidov, Hutson, Reinbacher graduating; another high draftee and an impactful UFA signing - the Habs could even open a perennial contending window around 2027!

 

[yianik]

I think it's more the new appraoch in general in the NHL. They pay them top money for their prime years instead of paying them after their prime years.

A good example is Gallagher, we had him at a sweet deal for all his prime years but had to pay him after and now, we're stuck with him. That's also why Florida traded Huberdeau, they didn't wanted to pay him top money cause his prime was past.

The league is getting younger, that's also why you don't see much UFA getting the 6-7 years with top money anymore. So players better take the 7-8 years deals while they are young cause they won't get it anymore once they are UFA

I think with Gallagher it was more that neither Bergevin or Gallagher thought he would be the player he turned out to be. Now MB didn't HAVE to pay him on his extension but I'm guessing he did feel obligated and he loved the guy. MB was loyal ti whom he viewed as loyal to him. Stamkos was loyal to TB and he knowingly took less previously, and that got him butkus from the Bolts this contract.

Yeah, it looks like Hughes has prioritized culture almost as much as talent. He's giving these kids a home base and sense of belonging, which motivates them to think as a unit.

As fans, we forget how young these players are. Yeah, they're making big money, but they're still away from their parents, siblings and friends, in a new city with no one to bond with except each other. That's one of the reasons so many millionaire athletes marry so young – the need to create a family in place of the one they left behind. The organization has a responsibility to act as a proxy parent, but taking on that role can also be an opportunity to cement loyalty. Hughes is a parent and a longtime agent; he understands how young adults think. As you said, by showing the kids he's committed to them, they're happy to commit to the team.

Hughes: Welcome to the Montréal Canadiens son

Draftee: Thank you Mr. Hughes, it's an honour to be drafted by the Habs.

Hughes: Thank you son, and you can call me Dad

I agree with you. And the Habs are giving them all the tools ( specialist coaches , player development guys ) to succeed. Seems like an awesome environment.

 

[vokiel]

Average, there are no indications pointing to an amelioration in the standings. They've gambled on players who know the IR very well, and I believe they still have few seasons to go before we can claim the rebuild is a success. It must be the reasoning behind their allergic reaction to the Free Agency market. They are still doing player development in the NHL, they need veterans yes, but not at the expense of ice time to evaluate their prospects. Prospects who may very well fail. The odds are against them anyhow.

 

[Number 57]

Well someone like Atkinson or Perron should have been signed for 1 year stop gap in the top-6. As it stands we're going with the same faces in our top-9 (Anderson, Gallagher, Dvorak, Armia) who suck. We will once again be one of the worst teams in the league.

2024-25 is supposed to be a year where we take a big step, try and compete for the playoffs. Yes of course, we would very likely fall short, but we have to try to give experience to the kids at least. We can't be a perennial bottom-5 team.

Going for a top-5 pick again is stupid, you're just begging to be stuck in the basement forever ala BUF.

We have a tremendous base of young players now, the rebuild is basically done with the selection of Demidov. We need to compete.

I am not saying we should be trading picks/prospects, of course not, but I am saying HuGo needs to at least try to improve the team this summer, which they have not. We will suck and it's not good for morale long term.

The good news is a lot of ''dead wood'' should be gone at the next deadline or next summer, so by 2025-26, we should really be competitive and we should have a ton of talented young players on the main roster (Reinbacher, Hutson, Roy, Demidov, etc.)

 

[Lshap]

Hughes: Welcome to the Montréal Canadiens son

Draftee: Thank you Mr. Hughes, it's an honour to be drafted by the Habs.

Hughes: Thank you son, and you can call me Dad

I agree with you. And the Habs are giving them all the tools ( specialist coaches , player development guys ) to succeed. Seems like an awesome environment.

Lol... yeah.

I have two sons in their early-mid 20s. They're adults, but in so many ways they're much closer to kids. Same with their friends - a bunch of nice, overgrown, untrained puppies. They still need parenting/mentoring and, to their credit, most seem to acknowledge it. I don't know the specifics, but players have a large branch of social resources provided by their org. Let's hope Montreal is one of the leaders.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

B+
He will hit A when he makes a trade for a top 6 guy

He’s already traded for two.

And honestly, I’d rather give any remaining top six slot to Roy.

 

[CHwest]

I expect Savard will want to re-sign, but it's less clear that's what we will want to do. A lot depends on Barron, if by TDL we've more or less given up on him being a consistent NHLer then there's a case to re-sign Savard, if Barron establishes himself as an NHL regular even just as a bottom pairing guy then there's not going to be much room for Savard.

In Buffalo's case a lot of their trades were likely forced by the player getting close to being UFA and not wanting to re-sign. They are a prime example of what happens if a losing culture sets in. They are also a good example of how it can be hard to break the cycle of losing once that culture has set in.

I don't buy the losing culture thing, professional athletes are competitive, they have to be to get to where they are at. To me it is much more a coaching thing, coaches can bring complacency and players can be effected as well, but I don't think it would take much to break a large majority out of it. Those that won't you just get rid of. To many times we have seen examples of teams transformed by coaching changes.

 

[yianik]

Lol... yeah.

I have two sons in their early-mid 20s. They're adults, but in so many ways they're much closer to kids. Same with their friends - a bunch of nice, overgrown, untrained puppies. They still need parenting/mentoring and, to their credit, most seem to acknowledge it. I don't know the specifics, but players have a large branch of social resources provided by their org. Let's hope Montreal is one of the leaders.

You are fortunate. I have 3 teens and one Lab. The teens apparently know everything and whatever I say is obvious or wrong, and only becomes valid when someone else says the same thing I did some time later.

My Lab on the other hand always wants to see me and listen to whatever I am saying.

Moving on

MB had this cream will rise to the top, throw the kid in the water and it's sink or swim mentality.

Galchenyuk missed almost a year of development and wasn't good defensively. So naturally, instead of sending our precious C prospect back to junior to work on his two way game, he is left on the NHL roster with a coach who publicly declared player development was not his job. So Galchenyuk was left to "figure it out ". As far as I could tell the only guidance he got from the brain trust is that he sucked.

Thank God for Hughes.

 

[vokiel]

Unless Savard is open to being a #7, I'd be ultra careful in re-signing him. He is getting up there in age and skating will only get worse from here.

Having consulted the UFA list for 2025, there won't be any cheaper or shorter contract alternatives, so I certainly hope so myself as well.

 

[Miller Time]

Yeah, it looks like Hughes has prioritized culture almost as much as talent. He's giving these kids a home base and sense of belonging, which motivates them to think as a unit.

As fans, we forget how young these players are. Yeah, they're making big money, but they're still away from their parents, siblings and friends, in a new city with no one to bond with except each other. That's one of the reasons so many millionaire athletes marry so young – the need to create a family in place of the one they left behind. The organization has a responsibility to act as a proxy parent, but taking on that role can also be an opportunity to cement loyalty. Hughes is a parent and a longtime agent; he understands how young adults think.

Very well said.

As you said, by showing the kids he's committed to them, they're happy to commit to the team.

This part applies to both the "kids" & vets alike.

As much as vets are more likely to understand the business side of things better than a new pro, the desire of feeling valued & respected doesn't go away.

Building a culture of excellence starts with how you treat your people.

KH gets it.

Future is bright

 

[rahad]

B+ for now.

Next draft will be very important for us. I know everyone expect us to battle for a playoff spot. I still believe we will finish around 7-11.

We will probably need to draft a elite center in the next draft, if Dach don't stay healthy or don't play well in the center position.

 

[ismelofhockey]

Going for a top-5 pick again is stupid, you're just begging to be stuck in the basement forever ala BUF.

We have a tremendous base of young players now, the rebuild is basically done with the selection of Demidov. We need to compete.

The team still needs one more year of high draft picks. It'd be nice to have more security at center in case Dach can't stay healthy, or it'd be nice to have another defenceman with top pairing potential in case Reinbacher doesn't pan out.

One more bluechip prospect, a few more contracts off the books, and the team will be ready to compete.

 

[Rapala]

Having consulted the UFA list for 2025, there won't be any cheaper or shorter contract alternatives, so I certainly hope so myself as well.

UFA is not HuGo's go to move but term will not be an issue for the right player.
Gorton said something prior to July 1st that was a tip off for this years crop.
He said there are offers out there but much depended on the players thinking the way they do.
Hughes views overly mercenary players as ones who aren't putting the team first.
It's not just some catch phrase that is how they are operating from top down to ice level.
We all have Patrice Bergeron to thank for that.

 

[yianik]

Bergeron left money on the table.
Crosby left money on the table.
Stamkos left money on the table.
At this point it's looking like Suzuki left money on the table.

Tavares, Matthews, Marner and Nylander grabbed everything they could get, and the latter 3 signed for shorter deals so they could be UFAs faster.

I get wanting the money. And I think money is able to buy a lot of happiness. But if that Core 4 bunch each left a million or so on the table, then instead of moving on from some good 2nd line players they have had, they could have kept say a Hyman. While I think the Leafs have made mistakes putting a team together so I don't know if they were $4M llĺòoôof a player away, wouldn't have hurt. Personally , I would have taken less if11 it helped mean not failing in the playoffs for like 8 freakin years in a row and the misery that comes along with it. I mean you are young, make huge money, rack up points, and get looked at as a bum who can't come through in the playoffs and you and your buds ( see what I did there ?). Are failing heartless losers. That's not happiness for me.

 

[Rapala]

People have a hard time grasping non linear change. Montreal lead the league in one goal games last year. That's very encouraging.

A small increase in average level of play could result in a disproportionately large increase in wins.

Still, that doesn't mean playoffs, or even out of the bottom 5 if the gap between the bubble and basement teams closes.

Edited to add: the flip side of this coin is that a small decrease in average level of play could result in a disproportionately large decrease in wins.

Don't forget the EN goals against were were down only one in a number of them as well.
But you are right we are still on a tightrope trying to find the proper balance.
Looking back from further out we were always going to be a bubble team at best this season based on our roster contracts etc.
What I do like is our management have not been shy about identifying our weaknesses and then coming up with a plan to combat them.