The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Tyson]

Is it the system or the players not executing a system that’s dependent on proper “reads”? I would say the latter, as did Aaron Ward, Mike Johnson, Biz, and a few other former players this past week

Interesting take. If the players can't execute what's the next step? Replace players or insert a system players can play? These are NHL level players, i find it difficult to believe that they can't figure out the concepts.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

That's a good quote, but I'm suspicious Mike Tyson ever said, "Nonetheless".

He said it, we just couldn't comprehend it

 

[salbutera]

Interesting take. If the players can't execute what's the next step? Replace players or insert a system players can play? These are NHL level players, i find it difficult to believe that they can't figure out the concepts.

I posted yesterday, all the above mentioned former players said NHL caliber players should have some familiarity with hybrid system being used and if not should have no issue adjusting after 1-2 games. Went on to state, a coach cannot be blamed for Xhekaj not reading the play on Laferrière driving to the high slot looking for a deflection for LAK 2nd goal and Dvorak cleanly losing two draws late in the 3rd period

Another example used was how hockey people almost unanimously believe Sens & Buf are far more talented individually than Bruins but team hockey IQ makes Bos sum of parts game superior

Next step is identifying and eventually replacing those not meeting team IQ needs. I’ve come to the belief Xhekaj is not suited for a system that requires quick reads - he’s a classic station to station player

 

[Tyson]

I posted yesterday, all the above mentioned former players said NHL caliber players should have some familiarity with hybrid system being used and if not should have no issue adjusting after 1-2 games. Went on to state, a coach cannot be blamed for Xhekaj not reading the play on Laferrière driving to the high slot looking for a deflection for LAK 2nd goal and Dvorak cleanly losing two draws late in the 3rd period

Another example used was how hockey people almost unanimously believe Sens & Buf are far more talented individually than Bruins but team hockey IQ makes Bos sum of parts game superior

Thanks
Go info

 

[Miller Time]

Interesting take. If the players can't execute what's the next step? Replace players or insert a system players can play? These are NHL level players, i find it difficult to believe that they can't figure out the concepts.

Be patient and work with them...

"Figuring it out" is the easy part, making the execution of it automatic is much tougher and takes a long time. The positive indicators along the way matter more than the mistakes and are far harder to recognize from the outside. Especially for fans without the benefit of experience with this kind of process.

When your core is U25, and the goal is to build a sustained contender, you can afford to invest the time and energy to be patient... Even if fans grumble.

 

[River Meadow]

Bruh. We are at the stage where the entire team has no clue what they are doing in any of the 3 zones on the ice. Especially own zone.

Season just started.

Let my boy MSL cook fam.

Patients and a short memory are crucial elements for a fan base during a rebuild.

There was a frenetic buzz coming into the season with Laine & perhaps Demidov……then the sugar crash. I’m sure our players experienced the same emotion. Sucks to watch our D struggle but they are very young. We are still a couple of year’s away.

Go Habs
Cheers.

Right.

We went out and got Laine, but Laine is 26yrs old, he isn't a WIN NOW move necessarily, he fits in with our rebuild window.

 

[Tyson]

Be patient and work with them...

"Figuring it out" is the easy part, making the execution of it automatic is much tougher and takes a long time. The positive indicators along the way matter more than the mistakes and are far harder to recognize from the outside. Especially for fans without the benefit of experience with this kind of process.

When your core is U25, and the goal is to build a sustained contender, you can afford to invest the time and energy to be patient... Even if fans grumble.

I think the grumbling is coming because of the lack of improvement in all 3 zones, the PP. The PK has been decent though.

 

[StCaufield]

Here you go. I don’t even believe in the tank. The GDT is just all about it right now and keep asking for a thread lol

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Brave but needed

 

[WinterLion]

What took so long?

 

[the]

About damn time! Long live the tank!!!

 

[SnapVirus]

Totally expected.

Second line is total shit. And then you have 100M$ on the bottom 6.

Add Laine and Demidov and you have a different team. But right now i expected us to finish between 5-10 this year. Thats what we will do.

 

[Miller Time]

I think the grumbling is coming because of the lack of improvement in all 3 zones, the PP. The PK has been decent though.

PP & PK & GA are all above the past 3 seasons...

I think the grumbling is coming because of impatience and unrealistic expectations

 

[Michelangelo]

It's gonna be exciting when we get to choose between Martone and Misa and other potential top picks

 

[HuGort]

I think we have the makings of a great team. But it’s going to take some time to get there.

I think you have your snipers. In Caufield and Demidov. I wouldn't acquire no more. Don't want to be Leafs of last 5 years. You want some players with snarl instead. Guys who can score 25 goals and 50 points also. Team too small and soft. You want veteran D on right side also. Somebody who can log a ton of minutes. Too much youth on Blueline. Hage and Kapanen could be good #2 and 3 centers. Pretty good chance anyway. Evans or Beck make good 4th centers. Trade one of your goalies for what you need. Doubt makes much difference what one, neither is long term piece. Call up Dobes.

 

[Miller Time]

I think you have your snipers. In Caufield and Demidov. I wouldn't acquire no more. Don't want to be Leafs of last 5 years. You want some players with snarl instead. Guys who can score 25 goals and 50 points also. Team too small and soft. You want veteran D on right side also. Somebody who can log a ton of minutes. Too much youth on Blueline. Hage and Kapanen could be good #2 and 3 centers. Pretty good chance anyway. Evans or Beck make good 4th centers. Trade one of your goalies for what you need. Doubt makes much difference what one, neither is long term piece. Call up Dobes.

Sam Bennett would be a great fit to our core... I bet we are in the running if he becomes a UFA, but ultimately, if he's healthy this year and puts up .8-1ppg, I think some team will go nuts and offer him 10M+ given the cap increase. Doubt Hughes goes there...

But If he stays in the <8M range, I bet we'll be in the running.

Cuylle from NY & Roy from Vegas are 2 other targets I could see us make apush for to add a bit of skilled grit to our top 9

 

[HuGort]

Sam Bennett would be a great fit to our core... I bet we are in the running if he becomes a UFA, but ultimately, if he's healthy this year and puts up .8-1ppg, I think some team will go nuts and offer him 10M+ given the cap increase. Doubt Hughes goes there...

But If he stays in the <8M range, I bet we'll be in the running.

Cuylle from NY & Roy from Vegas are 2 other targets I could see us make apush for to add a bit of skilled grit to our top 9

Doubt it. Pretty hard for Montreal to sign high end guys like Bennett. Taxes, climate and media pressure

 

[Egresch]

MSL as a coach is the same as our young players. You clearly see the potential, but some stupid mistakes and growing pains are just frustrating to watch.
Just like playing Matheson 25 mins every night. If Xhekaj/Struble cannot play PK and you dont give him the chance,what is his future with the team?
Same with Anderson/Gally having so much ice- time last season even if they deserved to be benched few times.

 

[austin316]

Team is too small and too soft. We seem to have regressed defensively. Not able to sustain any consistent pressure in the offensive zone.

We have a long way to go but hopefully this year we can add another top 5 pick and with all the draft pick capital we hold, add some more veteran pieces (mid 20s to fit our core) to improve our team.

 

[OldCraig71]

Friedman mentioned that Hughes and Gorton are headed to Russia to see Demidov. That might be nothing other than what teams do with a top prospect playing in another country, I just wondered why he mentioned it and if he was leaving something out.

 

[morhilane]

Friedman mentioned that Hughes and Gorton are headed to Russia to see Demidov. That might be nothing other than what teams do with a top prospect playing in another country, I just wondered why he mentioned it and if he was leaving something out.

Friedman is just repeating something Gorton said in a recent interview. Also, the Habs already mentioned during the off-season that they wanted to go see Demidov play this year.

Nothing special about it.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Is it the system or the players not executing a system that’s dependent on proper “reads”? I would say the latter, as did Aaron Ward, Mike Johnson, Biz, and a few other former players this past week

It's an incredibly inexperienced team. I don't think it's an appropriate system for a team with a ton of players still learning how to play in NHL.

Our lack of defensive neutral zone play also means our young D are constantly faced with rushing forwards who gain speed in the neutral zone. They're under a ton of pressure all the time.

 

[OldCraig71]

It's an incredibly inexperienced team. I don't think it's an appropriate system for a team with a ton of players still learning how to play in NHL.

Our lack of defensive neutral zone play also means our young D are constantly faced with rushing forwards who gain speed in the neutral zone. They're under a ton of pressure all the time.

For some reason these guys seem the most lost. Last night when we were hemmed in there wasn't much pressure from the forwards to clear the zone. Barzal skated 5 kms with the puck on his stick and for someone unused to watching us play the assumption would be that we were shorthanded.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Kent boys down bad

Dach Newhook Laine = 1g 1a

Gallagher Armia Anderson = 3g 3a

Bergevin masterclass?

 

[puckeater]

As if learning is linear.