The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[morhilane]

I would like for them to make room for more young players though.

They are more likely to re-sign their UFAs at this point. Their plan was to make the playoffs bounds by 2025-2026, you don't do that with 3-4 new rookies on the line-up...

 

[themilosh]

It's true that many players need a large chunk of time to fully heal and move past the 'injury-prone' tag. We saw it with Monahan, as we did with Markov years ago, as we hopefully will with Dach.

Unfortunately, Laine just came back from a long recovery stretch. He missed almost all of last season and now looks like he'll miss all of this one. Not good.

I could see hugo offer him a 4 yr extension at $3.5m/ prior to next season..

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

If he can ever put it together it would be very welcomed.

He did much better in that win of 5-0. His level of play improved a bit. He deserve a chance. If he doesn't play enough, Rockets.

 

[Tyson]

He did much better in that win of 5-0. His level of play improved a bit. He deserve a chance. If he doesn't play enough, Rockets.

Agreed

 

[expy]

Been saying it since last year tho!

It's bad form to take my jokes without dropping a like ;p

GDT: - GAME 27: MTL @ BUF | Buffalo wings and a prayer | Sat., Dec. 9th, 2023, 7:00 PM ET -- CBC, TVAS, SN360, TSN690, 98.5FM

Heck of a play by Matheson without a stick

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Been saying it since last year tho!

GDT: - GAME 27: MTL @ BUF | Buffalo wings and a prayer | Sat., Dec. 9th, 2023, 7:00 PM ET -- CBC, TVAS, SN360, TSN690, 98.5FM

Heck of a play by Matheson without a stick

forums.hfboards.com

Sorry had never noticed

 

[Riggins]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

 

[McGees]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

Dach and Hutson don’t make a dent? Lol
This must be from that that Dom guy who had Suzuki as one of worst contracts in league.

 

[morhilane]

Dach and Hutson don’t make a dent? Lol
This must be from that that Dom guy who had Suzuki as one of worst contracts in league.

Only 4 more points than last season. Their model is ignoring a lot more than Dach/Hutson.

 

[Miller Time]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

I hope we're either in the WC hunt till the end, or out of it before the deadline and in full selling/tank mode that gets us top 3-5 lottery spot.

6-10 would be the worst, bad enough that we're out of WC chase early but too good to be in finish with high odds for top 3 pick

 

[HuGo Sham]

 

[overlords]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

their model projects half a season of Laine as being worth 1.6 points in the standings? Well okey dokey.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

I'll take those odds. I think we're going to surprise people.

 

[Habby4Life]

I hope we're either in the WC hunt till the end, or out of it before the deadline and in full selling/tank mode that gets us top 3-5 lottery spot.

6-10 would be the worst, bad enough that we're out of WC chase early but too good to be in finish with high odds for top 3 pick

Don’t see this team being in wild card hunt. Cutoff was 91pts last year, that would mean a 15 point jump in the standings.

I bet they are out of the hunt by the end of November. And if that’s the case all UFAs should be moved.

Next summer buyout gally and Andy. Spend some money, use some assets and fix the gross bottom six, and add a top 4 RD.

 

[Toene]

We didn't really get a chance at one at the draft , I prefer Slaf over Cooley so you can't blame them for that one , not sure why the fanbase thought 3 top picks was enough , teams usually need more than that at least a few top 10s sprinkled in there

While I may agree that we could use more top-end prospects, I'm not sure there are many examples of what you are describing. How many Stanley Cup winners in the last few decades had more than 3 top-5 picks?
Off the top of my head :


Pens : 87, 71, 29, 58, and Staal + Kessel at different times.

Colorado : Erik Johnson, Landeskog, MacKinnon, Makar. Rantanen top 10.

Florida : Ekblad, Barkov, Bennett, Reinhart, Tkachuk.

The Leafs have four, but they won f*** all. Tavares, Marner, Matthews, Rielly. Nylander top 10.


So among champions : not the Caps, not the Bruins, not the Blues, not the Knights, not the Hawks, not Tampa (Stammer and Hedman, that's it I believe, with Sergachev top 10). Not the Kings. And among finalists, you can add Sharks, Flyers, Rangers, and many others.

The Habs could ice 5 next year : Demidov, Reinbacher, Dach, Laine, Slafkovsky. It's good, but it's not insane either. Goes to show it's as important to find gems later in the draft + having luck with the draft classes when you pick high. Getting a Reinbacher is not the same as getting a Pettersson even if it's the exact same rank.

But you have to also develop them in a winning culture. You dont want to be Buffalo.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I expect a pretty terrible season honestly, but I'm cheering for the playoffs and if this team is able to stay in the hunt it will be a great sign for our rebuild. The sooner we can get this team to compete the better because we have plenty of good prospects and draft picks that aren't in the NHL we can keep bringing guys in on ELCs to stay competitive.

Demidov, Hutson, Slaf, and Suzuki will be the core of this team IMO. I see them as a tier above Caufield, Guhle, Dach, Reinbacher etc. Just need these guys and a few others to stay healthy and improve and we should be in good shape.

At goalie, we can't just wait for Fowler though. If Monty and Primeau show they aren't legit #1s this year we will need to address the situation.

 

[rahad]

Kent is our best GM in the last 20 years. He is also the most unluckiest GM. I have never seen this much season ending injury with Habs for a long time.

The ''next step'' of the rebuild is having a healthy team.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I expect a pretty terrible season honestly, but I'm cheering for the playoffs and if this team is able to stay in the hunt it will be a great sign for our rebuild. The sooner we can get this team to compete the better because we have plenty of good prospects and draft picks that aren't in the NHL we can keep bringing guys in on ELCs to stay competitive.

Demidov, Hutson, Slaf, and Suzuki will be the core of this team IMO. I see them as a tier above Caufield, Guhle, Dach, Reinbacher etc. Just need these guys and a few others to stay healthy and improve and we should be in good shape.

At goalie, we can't just wait for Fowler though. If Monty and Primeau show they aren't legit #1s this year we will need to address the situation.

They don't need goaltenders. Monty will be fine. If Primeau falters Dobes is good enough to be a 1a/1b with Monty.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

They don't need goaltenders. Monty will be fine. If Primeau falters Dobes is good enough to be a 1a/1b with Monty.

Ideally Monty is a backup

 

[dinodebino]

The Athletic's model is projecting the bottom of the league as:

1. San Jose 64.7 points
2. Columbus 68.6 points
3. Anaheim 70.1 points
4. Chicago 77.1 points
5. Calgary 78.9 points
6. Montreal 80.6 points

This projection is with Laine missing 41 games. Missing the whole season drops the projection to 79 points.

I maintain my 82 points.

 

[Gravity]

Dach needs to show he's not made of glass and is capable of genuinely carrying a 2nd line for this team to rise up. A one line team isn't going to get us far.

 

[Gravity]

We really need a 1C and 1RD talent in the pipeline. Hopefully we can address the C issue this draft.

 

[the valiant effort]

Dach needs to show he's not made of glass and is capable of genuinely carrying a 2nd line for this team to rise up. A one line team isn't going to get us far.

Many of us are rightfully numbed by doom and gloom but there is still plenty to look forward to this season. A potentially healthy Dach, Hutson, the continuing adventures of The Slaf*, an even more mature Suzuki*, a potentially healthier shouldered Caufield, Guhle, Monty/Primeau. I am still fully invested despite the frustration.

*Seriously, this could be an incredible year for Slaf/Suzuki

 

[Habby4Life]

Many of us are rightfully numbed by doom and gloom but there is still plenty to look forward to this season. A potentially healthy Dach, Hutson, the continuing adventures of The Slaf*, an even more mature Suzuki*, a potentially healthier shouldered Caufield, Guhle, Monty/Primeau. I am still fully invested despite the frustration.

*Seriously, this could be an incredible year for Slaf/Suzuki

I’ll watch just to see the adventures of Hutson.

I’m resigned to what this season now is but I fully expect Hugo to improve this team next offseason.

Ideally Monty is a backup

I don’t know about that. He has come a long way since he arrived. I’m very comfortable with Monty as the starter. Think he will look a lot better when this team tightens up in its own end.

Primeau, not so much.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I’ll watch just to see the adventures of Hutson.

I’m resigned to what this season now is but I fully expect Hugo to improve this team next offseason.


I don’t know about that. He has come a long way since he arrived. I’m very comfortable with Monty as the starter. Think he will look a lot better when this team tightens up in its own end.

Primeau, not so much.

They did a really good job with Montembault. He couldn’t stop a beach ball the first year he was here and there were holes all over in his game. He became what I think they were originally hoping Allen could be which is a good platoon goalie until one of the younger guys are ready. He’s capable of being a good goalie if you don’t over work him which is what you would expect from a $3 million dollar guy.