The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Habssince89]

But is that what Buffalo actually did?
That was scares me at times....too many young guys, bad vets.....

Suzuki is showing himself to be an excellent leader, and even guys like Anderson and Gallagher are good off-ice. Not the same at all IMO

 

[badfish]

I have a B but am optimistic a year or two for now id give an A. I have a lot of faith in this management team. My reasoning for giving a B is the "easy part" of the rebuild is over. The Habs are about to navigate the part of the rebuild where other teams like Buffalo, Ottawa and maybe Detroit have failed in recent years. As the thing I care about most is ultimately results, I'll be a lot more happy to give an A once HuGo has navigated that stage, and I am optimistic that they'll be successful in doing so

 

[BLONG7]

If I’m to take Gorton at his end of season words “this is an extremely important offseason for our plan to take the step to the next level” and if the roster makeup stands as it is today I give HuGo a C.

However, I expect a move or moves prior to season opening roster

Absolutely agree............the season starts in 3 months so they get that time from me.
There will be moves.....thinking one big move, to aquire a forward, and a smaller move to help the bottom 6 also.

Too early for me to vote guys..............but I am liking this offseason because of such a good first round at the draft.

 

[Kosseca]

I concur. Management has a definite plan, and all their moves so far fit well within that plan. They have demonstrated patience instead of rushing things that do not fit in their vision. All the moves will not work (they never do), but so far things make sense.

I'm reading this tread and I see people flagging that the team still miss some key pieces. My reaction to this is... where did they miss the chance to acquire those missing pieces? This year they could have drafter that true #1D... but that would have been at the expense of Demidov. would that be a better decision? not at all! So all decision have to be asset in light of the context, you can get what is not available.

So I agree with you, they have a plan and are acting in line of that plan. I also think that they have position the team well to address holes moving forward. the lack of trade since the end of the season isn't a sign of management being done or satisfied with they work.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

love what they've done , i give them a B


edit : Fine B+ boys

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

love what they've done , i give them a B

sheesh, tough grader.

"they won the cup in Year 4, A-"

 

[Le Barron de HF]

love what they've done , i give them a B

What's an A then, butterflies and first love type of feeling? Matching tattoos?

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

What's an A then, butterflies and first love type of feeling? Matching tattoos?

Bedard Celibrini , yes I'm a tough customer hehe , i know its not in their control

 

[Zilo44]

Votes B, but if Dach or Reinbacher prove to be stars, this is an A.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

C because naming drafted players with 0 pro games played is not enough to say it's a good rebuild

 

[Le Barron de HF]

C because naming drafted players with 0 pro games played is not enough to say it's a good rebuild

What's a rebuild otherwise lol?

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

What's a rebuild otherwise lol?

I mean is it going forward who knows , we have to see the prospect play before , that's my point. It's not bad nor good we just gotta wait and see

 

[tazsub3]

If I’m to take Gorton at his end of season words “this is an extremely important offseason for our plan to take the step to the next level” and if the roster makeup stands as it is today I give HuGo a C.

However, I expect a move or moves prior to season opening roster

You give them a c cause they overpaid for free agents ?
What about drafting demidov and hage ? To me that was more what gorton was insinuating the key improvement comes from instead a sign or a trade

 

[Lshap]

Can't give a A if the top 2 guys are from Bergevin.

Next step is finding someone better than Suzuki and Guhle to complement them. Maybe they are already here. Time will tell.

You're right that some of our most important players were drafted under Bergevin. But it was Hughes who established a salary standard and locked them up on team-friendly contracts.

 

[Captain Mountain]

B for me. He's tried to accelerate it somewhat, but its not clear that Dach and Newhook bets will work out. I've generally liked his drafting, but its been more good than great in aggregate (we'll see how it improves).

 

[Banjo Cat]

I don't think anyone knows right now. It's too early to grade them. So far I think they have done a decent job, but I still think there are huge question marks around Dach. And while I really like some things we have done, I don't think they were necessarily genius moves or anything. Like, when Demidov drops to fifth, at that point you have to take him.

I like that we have committed to the rebuild process and that we are being patient.

 

[salbutera]

You give them a c cause they overpaid for free agents ?
What about drafting demidov and hage ? To me that was more what gorton was insinuating the key improvement comes from instead a sign or a trade

Read what I said carefully: Gorton said pretty matter of factly, the need to take the next step this upcoming season, and this offseason is the “most critical of their plan, we have assets and picks to help achieve that aspiration”.

Hughes responded a few days later, we don’t expect to be picking top-5 again and expect to be competing towards a playoff spot.

If those words are to be taken seriously and the roster remains as is then… yes they get a C grade.

But like I said, I expect a move or multiple moves upcoming especially since no F of any value has been moved on the trade market

 

[Le Tricolore]

So far I'm very happy with it. I'm not sure if we have that franchise player that a lot of Cup winners have, but we have a lot of young players with a ton of upside. I'm looking forward to the team taking the next step in the coming seasons.

 

[ottawa]

B (but really it's a B+)

Suzuki and Guhle are budget 1C/1D but if we can land actual ones then we're flying high. Also need to improve on goaltending big time.

Aside from that...great contracts, drafting and we're headed in the right direction.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

B (but really it's a B+)

Suzuki and Guhle are budget 1C/1D but if we can land actual ones then we're flying high. Also need to improve on goaltending big time.

Aside from that...great contracts, drafting and we're headed in the right direction.

Guhle might be the #3 D by the time everyone arrives. Chicago won 3 cups with Toews and no one else at C. If Habs can assemble a deep C, I'm good with Suzuki at 1C

 

[ottawa]

Guhle might be the #3 D by the time everyone arrives. Chicago won 3 cups with Toews and no one else at C. If Habs can assemble a deep C, I'm good with Suzuki at 1C

Good point about Toews, although he was one of the best defensive centers of his generation. I don't think the same can be said about Suzuki but hopefully he'll makes up for it with better offense.

 

[Skip Bayless]

My main concern is the defensive side of the puck. We have some solid building pieces at forward, but things need to truly start taking shape defensively. In terms of the roster and also the tactical maturity of the squad in general. The 2010s blackhawks were fun to watch offensively speaking, but the puck rarely stayed on their end more than 4-5 seconds. It was out immediately. They were really underrated defensively.

I'm not sold on the Montembro and Primeau tandem either.

I think the following 2 years are critical for Hughes, he needs to start identifying his core 4 at D. And start adding experience and proven talent through trades.

He'll have the cap space and assets to mold this squad into a contender for the next decade.

 

[Milhouse40]

C because naming drafted players with 0 pro games played is not enough to say it's a good rebuild

Well, I didn't expected to be just about what they have done....but more about what they should be doing at this point.

Having said that, the rebuild goes throught tons of players I listed that are on the roster as we speak.

 

[Zilo44]

My main concern is the defensive side of the puck. We have some solid building pieces at forward, but things need to truly start taking shape defensively. In terms of the roster and also the tactical maturity of the squad in general. The 2010s blackhawks were fun to watch offensively speaking, but the puck rarely stayed on their end more than 4-5 seconds. It was out immediately. They were really underrated defensively.

I'm not sold on the Montembro and Primeau tandem either.

I think the following 2 years are critical for Hughes, he needs to start identifying his core 4 at D. And start adding experience and proven talent through trades.

He'll have the cap space and assets to mold this squad into a contender for the next decade.

It’s incredible how drafting Demidov and Hage changed the dynamic. 3 months ago, people identified offense as the weakness moving forward

 

[The Great Weal]

There's really no way of properly evaluating Hughes since MB left a mess behind. Top picks + Hutson look like promising pieces on a contender, he's done a great job recouping future assets for Chiarot/Monahan, turning Petry into Matheson, and MSL seems like the perfect coach for this team at its state. The only real issues for our rebuild are that even though Dach seems like a player, if he's always injured it's still a hole that needs to be addressed, and none of the dmen seem like #1 dmen on a cup contender to me.

Next offseason is when we can actually evaluate him in my opinion.