The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step

[WeThreeKings]

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.

They wanted progression, not pushing for the playoffs. So in the middle of the two things you've outlined.

 

[HuGort]

They might not win a ton more but they would compete. And answered that many times - don't know who as I am not paid 5M+ to keep taps on who's available that parler francais. My hope is that even since last season Hughes would have built a list of St Louis potential replacements and have them on speed dial for when needed. Now is needed.

With young team I always favoured a veteran coach.

 

[CoopersFalls]

It's not fun, but we just have to wait. All of the below not on the team yet. Of Hughes' draftees, I believe only 2 on the roster currently. The rebuild is just getting underway still. Stage 2 of 5.

Demidov
Fowler
Hage
Beck
Kapanen
Roy
Reinbacher
Mailloux

+ 2 more first rounders enroute.

Patience!

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

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

Sounds exactly like the dumbassas on the main board

 

[Andy]

Also, something to consider about the rebuild so far is that I think the habs right now have the two best players from that draft (Slaf and Hutson). Cooley is up there too. I think Beck will be in the mix as well at some point. I am bullish on him.

Hopefully Reinbacher, Hage, Demidov all hit too.

 

[rahad]

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

Kucherov, Nathan Mackinnon and Makar are players you rarely see in the NHL. Kucherov having 100 assists last season. Makar is probably the best defenseman in the last 10 years. Nathan is producung absurd numbers in the last 5 years....

Makar can be considered as a generational defenseman.

 

[Mrb1p]

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

Wtf is this are people completely f***ing insane

 

[Tyson]

Laine is picking up his skating and is looking good. I can see him playing by the 1st of December

 

[BLONG7]

Laine is picking up his skating and is looking good. I can see him playing by the 1st of December

They did say, 2-3 months, so closer to 2 months is fine by me....

 

[Tyson]

They did say, 2-3 months, so closer to 2 months is fine by me....

 

[Rapala]

Acquiring our #1 RD has become mission critical IMO.
Even if we have to overpay some we have to nab this player before he hits the open market.
I think it's more pressing than a #2 center at this point though we do need both that and another top six winger with snarl.
The Reinbacher solution is dead for me.
If he ever reaches that status it's probably in 4 or even 5 seasons.

 

[BLONG7]

Acquiring our #1 RD has become mission critical IMO.
Even if we have to overpay some we have to nab this player before he hits the open market.
I think it's more pressing than a #2 center at this point though we do need both that and another top six winger with snarl.
The Reinbacher solution is dead for me.
If he ever reaches that status it's probably in 4 or even 5 seasons.

Took Hedman, 5-6 years to become a 1-2 guy in TB.
I would be ok with that.....hard to be patient, I totally get it.....

 

[Benstheman]

Acquiring our #1 RD has become mission critical IMO.
Even if we have to overpay some we have to nab this player before he hits the open market.
I think it's more pressing than a #2 center at this point though we do need both that and another top six winger with snarl.
The Reinbacher solution is dead for me.
If he ever reaches that status it's probably in 4 or even 5 seasons.

I totally agree with you.

Getting a top pair RHD would be ideal right now as it would ease Reinbacher development. He could start as a 2nd pair in two years and replace the top pair guy in 4-5 years, if he ever reach that ceiling.

 

[CoopersFalls]

I totally agree with you.

Getting a top pair RHD would be ideal right now as it would ease Reinbacher development. He could start as a 2nd pair in two years and replace the top pair guy in 4-5 years, if he ever reach that ceiling.

Well the only decent UFA options coming up currently are Ekblad, Burns, Andersson and Pionk.

Ekblad will cost a fortune (if he even makes it to market, likely not to pick us unless massive overpay)
Burns is not the greatest defensively especially now at 39
Andersson is best target but debatable if "top pair"
Pionk is also a poor man's "top pair"

 

[morhilane]

Acquiring our #1 RD has become mission critical IMO.
Even if we have to overpay some we have to nab this player before he hits the open market.
I think it's more pressing than a #2 center at this point though we do need both that and another top six winger with snarl.
The Reinbacher solution is dead for me.
If he ever reaches that status it's probably in 4 or even 5 seasons.

Nobody is trading their #1 RD. Note sure any will reach UFA and sign here either.

Habs will have to wait for Reinbacher.

I always said you should start a rebuild once you have the #1D and #1G already advanced in your pipeline. Both take the longest to develop.

 

[Ozmodiar]

The 2 biggest question marks are a result of knee injuries.
#1 RD
#2 C

I don’t think they can wait for DR. He can still be an important player for them, but I don’t think they can wait.

As for Dach, I assume he’ll get a shot back as a 2C this season, but the longer it goes, the more doubt creeps in. They could always bridge Newhook there for a full season until Hage is ready.

 

[Benstheman]

Well the only decent UFA options coming up currently are Ekblad, Burns, Andersson and Pionk.

Ekblad will cost a fortune (if he even makes it to market, likely not to pick us unless massive overpay)
Burns is not the greatest defensively especially now at 39
Andersson is best target but debatable if "top pair"
Pionk is also a poor man's "top pair"

Andersson is easily the best out of those 4 and the only guy playing for a team that will start a rebuild/retool. And will be UFA only in 2026. If he refuses to sign an extension with Calgary, which i think is very likely, he should be our target in 2025.

 

[Benstheman]

Nobody is trading their #1 RD. Note sure any will reach UFA and sign here either.

Habs will have to wait for Reinbacher.

I always said you should start a rebuild once you have the #1D and #1G already advanced in your pipeline. Both take the longest to develop.

The only possibility that make sense is Andersson this summer. Other than that, i agree we are behind in our plan as far as RHD is concerned. They need to assess that.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

The only possibility that make sense is Andersson this summer. Other than that, i agree we are behind in our plan as far as RHD is concerned. They need to assess that.

When can Andersson be extended if he is traded?

 

[Benstheman]

When can Andersson be extended if he is traded?

July 1st

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

July 1st

Thanks. Then acquiring him after July 1 would be a solid move if it comes with an extension.
I keep thinking it's Jan 1 but I believe that only applies to 1 year contracts.

 

[Demigod]

Hi guys,

Been reading you for few months now. Decide to jump onboard because I like having good talk about my favorite team. Sorry if my english is not perfect.

So far what im seeing from the Habs with the rebuild is that we rush the young guys in the show. There a lack of good veterans to leads the way to the youngs guns. The results is that there is to much players that play in the show that would benefit time in Laval. Sadly we dont have enough depth in our roster to do so. For example, a guy like Xhekaj, Barron or even Struble should play in the AHL to develop and be called up if he really prove that he is ready. Now to much players are playing because we dont have the choice. When MSL was saying you have to take the chair that fits you and you have to prove that you can have a better chair it doesnt work right now because we lack on depth so the results a lot of players are playing by default and not because they deserve it.

 

[Rapala]

Took Hedman, 5-6 years to become a 1-2 guy in TB.
I would be ok with that.....hard to be patient, I totally get it.....

I don't remember Hedman losing a year or two of development.
Last year wasn't ideal and this season is a complete bust.
I also don't think we are talking about Hedman level talent here.

 

[Sorinth]

Hi guys,

Been reading you for few months now. Decide to jump onboard because I like having good talk about my favorite team. Sorry if my english is not perfect.

So far what im seeing from the Habs with the rebuild is that we rush the young guys in the show. There a lack of good veterans to leads the way to the youngs guns. The results is that there is to much players that play in the show that would benefit time in Laval. Sadly we dont have enough depth in our roster to do so. For example, a guy like Xhekaj, Barron or even Struble should play in the AHL to develop and be called up if he really prove that he is ready. Now to much players are playing because we dont have the choice. When MSL was saying you have to take the chair that fits you and you have to prove that you can have a better chair it doesnt work right now because we lack on depth so the results a lot of players are playing by default and not because they deserve it.

Sure but keep in mind if we had a bunch of good veterans to lead the way for the young guys we wouldn't have ended up with 3 top-5 pick plus whatever we get this year. It's always a tradeoff, to get the higher quality elite players you can only get with top picks means you can't have a roster with lots of good veterans.

 

[Lshap]

Hi guys,

Been reading you for few months now. Decide to jump onboard because I like having good talk about my favorite team. Sorry if my english is not perfect.

So far what im seeing from the Habs with the rebuild is that we rush the young guys in the show. There a lack of good veterans to leads the way to the youngs guns. The results is that there is to much players that play in the show that would benefit time in Laval. Sadly we dont have enough depth in our roster to do so. For example, a guy like Xhekaj, Barron or even Struble should play in the AHL to develop and be called up if he really prove that he is ready. Now to much players are playing because we dont have the choice. When MSL was saying you have to take the chair that fits you and you have to prove that you can have a better chair it doesnt work right now because we lack on depth so the results a lot of players are playing by default and not because they deserve it.

Bienvenue and nice to meet you!

It's true the Habs have a lot of young players all developing at once. It's obviously not a formula for team success. The plan seems to be to give them time and space to improve as individuals, which is what Marty St Louis appears to be good at. I don't think the problem is they belong in Laval; the problem is a few players have regressed somewhat, plus the team looks lost without a cohesive system. No reason these same kids should be playing worse than they did last year. Give them a new system, a new coach, or a new mindset, and I still believe this is a better roster than we're seeing.