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?