Sam Bennett would be such a great fit if only we can find a way to get him signed without it being at a stupidly inflated cap #
The state of the Habs Rebuild - The Next step
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Goalfield13
In Bilbo We Trust
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Gaylord Q Tinkledink
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Tough call given his age, play style & injury history...
Doubt he'll take less than 6-7year term and I'd be hesitant to commit to him for that long at UFA premium cost.
But on a 3-4year deal, I'd be more comfortable paying a bigger $ premium (4@8M$... Not sure if that gets it done
)
Lafleurs Guy
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Lafleurs Guy
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Newhook is an interesting player. I think he’s been better than his points indicate but it won’t be surprising if we move on from him. We’ll see how the 3nd half goes. Love the speed but it doesn’t mean much if you have zero finish. What’s happened with him this year is so remenicient of Higgins. I just couldn’t figure out how a guy with so many chances never got a point or scored…
Sorry meant he’ll turn pro in two years, but I don’t think he’ll be ready to step into a 2C role
LaP
Registered User
Do people realize there's only 6 spots in a bottom 6?
Newhook should be pushed down the lineup by Demidov next season.
So we currently have
Anderson
Gallagher
Heineman
Newhook
Signed for next season as bottom 6 player. But people want to sign Evans, Armia, Bennett, Youppie, Capitaine Bonhomme probably too ...
Since all those contracts will be at least 2 years but realistically more like 3 then it means Beck will spend 4 years in the AHL. I think he'll have to go thru waiver before that ...
Newhook should be pushed down the lineup by Demidov next season.
So we currently have
Anderson
Gallagher
Heineman
Newhook
Signed for next season as bottom 6 player. But people want to sign Evans, Armia, Bennett, Youppie, Capitaine Bonhomme probably too ...
Since all those contracts will be at least 2 years but realistically more like 3 then it means Beck will spend 4 years in the AHL. I think he'll have to go thru waiver before that ...
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Sorinth
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Well there's 8 spots when you include the 13th and 14th forward who still tend to get 50ish games in do to injuries. Same goes for the 7th D, they will end up playing a bunch of games, so you will want someone who can play a regular shift.
The top-6, at least to start the year, looks like it will be:
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Demidov - Dach - Laine
Not too shabby if everyone stays healthy and Dach plays a more consistent game.
PP1 looks like:
Caufield - Suzuki - Laine
Hutson - Demidov
PP2 might look like:
Slafkovsky - Dach - Heineman
Matheson - Newhook
Bottom-6, we're not able to move Gallagher or Anderson, IMO, so they play together on one line, maybe with an extended Evans as the C. Beck likely centers Heineman and Newhook.
Under this likely scenario, Hughes need to move Armia and Dvorak, even if I'd prefer to keep Armia over Gallagher, personally.
InsideLaine
Registered User
Even just on paper this is a HUGE upgrade to the start of this season. Add the fact that these guys are all still improving and most likely finding more and more chemistry and its an even bigger update compared to start of this year. Demidawg is the only new piece and we are all thinking he can step in and adapt quickly.
Maybe comparing to the start of this season is not really optimal, as our game was apparently awful. But comparing even to the current lineup gives a definite Upgrade-feeling when looking at the lines and PPs you posted.
montreal
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they will pick where the pick and there's nothing we can do about it.
ahmedou
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Sorinth
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So I said at the start of this thread/season that the next step is to wait and see what we actually have with our players and although we haven't answered all of our questions I do think our play has pushed us into the next phase of the rebuild which is to augment and upgrade.
That said I'm still not sure where the attention should be placed. The 2nd line has started to show signs of life so even though we certainly can upgrade there, I'm not sure the price will make sense. The next 20ish games leading up to the TDL should provide some insight since it will help tell us whether the past 10 games are an actual turnaround or not. But to me Laine looks likes he's running at 75% of what he's capable of, Dach skating has improved tremendously but it's also still not 100%, and Newhook well we have Demidov coming next season so I doubt whatever upgrade will be worth the cost. The Dach+ package for a true star center like Crosby sounds too much like a pipe dream and not something that has any real chance of happening.
Same goes for D, like for sure we can upgrade on some of our D, but it's it will cost a lot for even marginal upgrades so unless it's a long term answer I can't see the price as being worth it.
I kind of expect Evans to be re-signed, and after that we probably make some small depth moves. Like maybe get a 13th forward that MSL will be comfortable playing 10min a game instead of relying on Pezzetta. Maybe another 6-7th D as an injury insurance. But it kind of feel like it will be a very Bergevin type of TDL where nothing much happens, which is probably the right thing to do at this stage unless we can actually get a true star, but I actually wouldn't be opposed to a more normal rental type of trade happening.
That said I'm still not sure where the attention should be placed. The 2nd line has started to show signs of life so even though we certainly can upgrade there, I'm not sure the price will make sense. The next 20ish games leading up to the TDL should provide some insight since it will help tell us whether the past 10 games are an actual turnaround or not. But to me Laine looks likes he's running at 75% of what he's capable of, Dach skating has improved tremendously but it's also still not 100%, and Newhook well we have Demidov coming next season so I doubt whatever upgrade will be worth the cost. The Dach+ package for a true star center like Crosby sounds too much like a pipe dream and not something that has any real chance of happening.
Same goes for D, like for sure we can upgrade on some of our D, but it's it will cost a lot for even marginal upgrades so unless it's a long term answer I can't see the price as being worth it.
I kind of expect Evans to be re-signed, and after that we probably make some small depth moves. Like maybe get a 13th forward that MSL will be comfortable playing 10min a game instead of relying on Pezzetta. Maybe another 6-7th D as an injury insurance. But it kind of feel like it will be a very Bergevin type of TDL where nothing much happens, which is probably the right thing to do at this stage unless we can actually get a true star, but I actually wouldn't be opposed to a more normal rental type of trade happening.
LaP
Registered User
I think it's too soon for the next step. We are still missing a top 4 RHD. We need to know if Reinbacher or Engstrom can be that. We are still missing a 2nd line center. I'd say we should wait next year to see what Dach does when 100% healthy for a full year and see what hage does in his 2nd season and also hopefully the u20 this time around. We'll have a better idea about Beck/Kapanen next season too. We should wait another year before being too agressive. I'd say starting next summer no more tanking but no buying high yet.
Andrei79
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- Jan 25, 2013
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Yeah, they've acquired, developed and drafted a lot of top 3-5-15 talent. It's what you need to do to build a cup winner.
They've accumulated what looks like enough skill, now they'll need to continue developing some players (Slafkovsky, Dach and Demidov) and evaluate what tweaks will be needed in the bottom 6, at G.
If they can make the playoffs this year, it will be a big step forward.
Sorinth
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Matheson might not be right-handed but he is doing a great job as a top-4 RD. Our top-4 D might not be ideal, but it's showing itself to be very effective, if that lasts until the TDL then I don't see why we would need to wait on Reinbacher and Engstrom, who is also left-handed by the way.
We shouldn't mortgage the future, but we should absolutely be looking for upgrades even at the cost of potential. Barron for Carrier is a perfect example of it. It's not overly aggressive but it's still very much present over future. We should continue with that, while also being open to the pipe dream type of moves.
