The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[Weltschmerz]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855635443858948241

Not sure ducks fans are happy right now.

 

[Tabarouette]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855635443858948241

Ducks fans are saying it's the coaches fault tho and everyone is wondering why they regressed too

typical twitter case of making a guy up and then getting angry at that made up guy

 

[Guy Larose]

Ducks fans are saying it's the coaches fault tho and everyone is wondering why they regressed too

typical twitter case of making a guy up and then getting angry at that made up guy

In MTL they are saying it's the coaches fault too....oh wait

 

[Theodore450]

Again, I want to know what realistically could have been done to make this team better now.

You reference Toffoli and Lekhonen, but I really don't see either of these players moving the needle right now. Toffoli is currently on the Sharks, one of our lottery rivals this season. Lekhonen is a nice piece, but I'm not convinced we get Colorado's version without having a MacKinnon on our team. We saw Lek on our club, he was your standard middle 6 player with the habs.

You also mention the Newhook trade. Okay, so we dont make the trade and keep the picks. Are the habs any better? What are those picks doing right now?

I just want to realistically know what could have been done? Okay, we don';t trade for Dach, Newhook, and keep Toffolli and Lekhonen?

So are the habs that much better with Romanov, Lekhonen, Toffolli, and the Newhook picks? I really really doubt it. If so, then there is an argument to be made that trading those players were crucial in collecting three back-to-back top 5 picks, which in the grand scheme of things is far more important than retaining those three players.

Short of trading for a top line centre and #1 D man, I don't see what other combo of available moves make the habs better today and future.

Not gonna comment on trades. But 1 thing they could have absolutely done better, was not the value of our vets.
MSL should have been mandated to get the best version out of every player. Each line should have its own identity.

MSL failed to do that while promoting loose hockey. Killed an entire culture that just had a glorious playoff run. Zero accountability, and favouritism of style of play. How is a guy like Matheson still on the PP?

I don’t really agree with that, a good culture has its players play to their strengths. We bet and wasted a lot of time developing players that will have zero impact on the habs.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Was hoping and expecting to see improvements, however the best thing at this point is to be patient and despite the NHL product being shit there is still lots to be positive about with the organization otherwise.

Laval - off to an excellent start and seeing progress from Roy, Mailloux, Dobes and Beck, along with other guys like Davidson, Tuch, Engstrom and Xhekaj playing well. Mesar was also looking very good before being hurt.

Prospects - Demidov is living up to the hype, Hage looks excellent and Fowler has been dominant. Even some lesser profile prospects are doing well, Rohrer has already matched his goal total from last year, Sam Harris has 9 goals in 9 games in NCAA, Volohkin has had a couple starts in the KHL and played well and Koivu/Sawyer have had decent starts so far to name a few.

Picks - At this point we are looking at another top 5 pick, whether it be a top 6 C in Hagens/Misa/Frondell or a huge winger in Martone. Add to that we'll get another first rounder from the Monahan trade and have 2 high seconds between our pick and Pittsburgh's.

Deadweight - Dvorak, Armia and Savard will be off the books soon freeing up over $10M in space this summer.

Trade deadline - Should they decide they don't want to extend Evans, he could get a good return at the deadline. We should also be able to get something for Savard/Armia as teams always want D depth and PK help for the playoffs.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855635443858948241

I'm not going to be a Sens fan and lower the team's expectations from a bar our own management purposefully set.

They said they wanted to be in the mix and instead they were never in it. It's a failure.

Doesn't mean that we're f***ed long-term or that anyone needs to be fired but it is a failure and should be called as such. I'm sure they would/will.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Last year when I said that rebuilding was more than just draft picks and that it was a combination of picks, trades, FA, etc I got nailed to the wall by the tankers, That's what it takes to build a team in real life, not HF fantasy of finishing last every year, like it or not.

You need ammo for trades, which we don't have and unless it's a reclamation project, you're only fixing one hole to create another one.

You need a power of attraction to bring in UFAs and you also need cap space. You also need to overpay, which squeezes you once you have to sign your young players.

Very few believe we'll rebuild only by drafting, but the reality is, a rebuild is done primarly through the draft.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Go look up the 2019 draft class...
9th & 10th leading scorers.

Then go look at 2018, 2017, 2016.

That's why patience is a necessary part of the rebuild process.

If you don't agree with, or have the patience for a rebuild focused on building via the draft and strategic bets on top end first round talent, thats fine...

If you can't understand what the Habs are doing, perhaps remove the blinders

Which SC winner was bottom 5 team when their 1C was in his D+8, their goal scorer in his D+6, and two additional top 6 players in their D+6 as well, oh and one of the Dman presented as being top 2 in his D+5 ?

If you don t understand the Habs are supposed to be much more advanced than the likes of SJS, CHI, CBJ, please remove the blinders…

 

[ReHabs]

Again, I want to know what realistically could have been done to make this team better now.

You reference Toffoli and Lekhonen, but I really don't see either of these players moving the needle right now. Toffoli is currently on the Sharks, one of our lottery rivals this season. Lekhonen is a nice piece, but I'm not convinced we get Colorado's version without having a MacKinnon on our team. We saw Lek on our club, he was your standard middle 6 player with the habs.

You also mention the Newhook trade. Okay, so we dont make the trade and keep the picks. Are the habs any better? What are those picks doing right now?

I just want to realistically know what could have been done? Okay, we don';t trade for Dach, Newhook, and keep Toffolli and Lekhonen?

So are the habs that much better with Romanov, Lekhonen, Toffolli, and the Newhook picks? I really really doubt it. If so, then there is an argument to be made that trading those players were crucial in collecting three back-to-back top 5 picks, which in the grand scheme of things is far more important than retaining those three players.

Short of trading for a top line centre and #1 D man, I don't see what other combo of available moves make the habs better today and future.

I’ll write it again because you didn’t catch it:

What if you’re plenty patient and willing to rebuild but you don’t agree with the shortcuts (Dach, Newhook) and non-trades (Anderson, Matheson)?

 

[Andy]

I’ll write it again because you didn’t catch it:

What if you’re plenty patient and willing to rebuild but you don’t agree with the shortcuts (Dach, Newhook) and non-trades (Anderson, Matheson)?

I don't see those at shortcuts though. The team didn't trade for 30 year old players. They traded for two 21 year olds with a lot of runway in terms of development. I don't see how acquiring two prospects that need work a shortcut.

How is retaining Matheson a shortcut? It's a shortcut to what exactly?

Anderson is the most unconsequential player.

 

[ReHabs]

I don't see those at shortcuts though. The team didn't trade for 30 year old players. They traded for two 21 year olds with a lot of runway in terms of development. I don't see how acquiring two prospects that need work a shortcut.

How is retaining Matheson a shortcut? It's a shortcut to what exactly?

Anderson is the most unconsequential player.

Shortcuts to relevancy and competitiveness. Trading future for present. Why else would you trade a 18year old (draftee) for a 21 year old who’s getting cut loose by his team?

Retaining Matheson instead of cashing in is the same thing: getting older instead of younger.

If one is a believer in tanking and rebuilding, why shouldn’t they criticise how these decisions turned out?

Your paradigm makes it such that there is not one thing related to the rebuild that you allow to be criticised. I’m not sure this is a reasonable discussion.

 

[HuGort]

Next step ?: Having a NHL level coaching staff.

I didn't expect team to fall off like this. Major oversight on my part. Marty struggled more than I expected. I am surprised but looking back I can see how it happened.

In camp I was expecting to draft 12-15th. Draft a Spence, trade up from Florida pick pick up Fiddler type. Fills two needs. Use caproom coming off to sign a Rantanen, or trade for big offensive contract. This throws all that out.

 

[Habssince89]

Right now at this moment I think you pull the chord on Primeau, knowing you're deep at G. Bring up Dobes, or claim the avs goalie, whatever. Move forward and start adjusting plans.

Then you acquire a C and/or a D to buoy the team and support hutson and the top line so they don't have to face all the top opposition. See the season out with some better insulation that can last as the team grows.

 

[expy]

Need to find the two new goalies that will be with this team for the actual "in the mix" roster.
Both the current ones are temporary plugs that won't be in the league for long.

 

[Sorinth]

Which SC winner was bottom 5 team when their 1C was in his D+8, their goal scorer in his D+6, and two additional top 6 players in their D+6 as well, oh and one of the Dman presented as being top 2 in his D+5 ?

If you don t understand the Habs are supposed to be much more advanced than the likes of SJS, CHI, CBJ, please remove the blinders…

Stamkos's D+6 year Tampa ended up with 3rd OA, Drouin.
Landeskog's D+7 year Colorado ended up with 4th OA, Makar.

And let's not pretend like we are years into our rebuild, our rebuild started with Slaf, and it's D+3.

 

[Deebs]

O-Dog on Hutson: ‘I would put him in Laval right now’ - Video - TSN

Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan are joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to discuss the defensive struggles for the Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson’s role on the team and should he be playing games in the AHL rather than the NHL.

www.tsn.ca

 

[therocket9]

O-Dog on Hutson: ‘I would put him in Laval right now’ - Video - TSN

Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan are joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to discuss the defensive struggles for the Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson’s role on the team and should he be playing games in the AHL rather than the NHL.

www.tsn.ca

Jeff O'Neill along with all other Toronto broadcasters and reporters no nothing about Montreal ....they do not watch the games.

 

[WeThreeKings]

O-Dog on Hutson: ‘I would put him in Laval right now’ - Video - TSN

Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan are joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to discuss the defensive struggles for the Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson’s role on the team and should he be playing games in the AHL rather than the NHL.

www.tsn.ca

Guy is firmly in the top 3 conversation for the Calder and might be the most impactful player on the entire team right now. Stupid take. O'Dog sucks.

 

[salbutera]

Stamkos's D+6 year Tampa ended up with 3rd OA, Drouin.
Landeskog's D+7 year Colorado ended up with 4th OA, Makar.

And let's not pretend like we are years into our rebuild, our rebuild started with Slaf, and it's D+3.

MacKinnon after D+4 season was being talked about as a “1OA bust”

 

[rahad]

Stamkos's D+6 year Tampa ended up with 3rd OA, Drouin.
Landeskog's D+7 year Colorado ended up with 4th OA, Makar.

And let's not pretend like we are years into our rebuild, our rebuild started with Slaf, and it's D+3.

It does help a lot if you end you drafting one or two semi generational players.

 

[salbutera]

It does help a lot if you end you drafting one or two semi generational players.

Semi generational would imply that caliber player is available once in 10-15 years

 

[Deebs]

Guy is firmly in the top 3 conversation for the Calder and might be the most impactful player on the entire team right now. Stupid take. O'Dog sucks.

Not sure about that. Impactful offensively absoluely, defensively he's terrible and that's ok at this point. The whole team is terrible lol.

I believe the point O'Dog was trying to make is if we keep sliding and everything goes completely south, do you get him away from the chaos and go win in Laval to save his brain. My take on Hutson, given his makeup, is losing won't factor in his compete and/or effort level and won't set him back.

 

[ReHabs]

Not sure about that. Impactful offensively absoluely, defensively he's terrible and that's ok at this point. The whole team is terrible lol.

I believe the point O'Dog was trying to make is if we keep sliding and everything goes completely south, do you get him away from the chaos and go win in Laval to save his brain. My take on Hutson, given his makeup, is losing won't factor in his compete and/or effort level and won't set him back.

Yeah... that's a dumb take from O'Neil.

The chaos won't break Hutson, he's doing fine.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Not sure about that. Impactful offensively absoluely, defensively he's terrible and that's ok at this point. The whole team is terrible lol.

I believe the point O'Dog was trying to make is if we keep sliding and everything goes completely south, do you get him away from the chaos and go win in Laval to save his brain. My take on Hutson, given his makeup, is losing won't factor in his compete and/or effort level and won't set him back.

Defensively he is not terrible. Defensively the team is terrible and they've had some things go in their net when he's tried to see what plays he can and can't make. But there has not been that many situations where you can say that he was overpowered, out matched or just completely lost. Worst was what, the Nylander PP goal and that was 4 guys doing nothing?

 

[junyab]

I'm very curious as to what HuGo's next 3 moves will be, it should easily tell us if they've accepted a tank year or if they want to spend to get as close to a playoff spot as possible.