Things to watch out for during the Habs 2024 campaign / aka All Encompassing Bored Off-season Thread

[DAChampion]

What are some of the things we should look out for next season, in order to consider it a success?

Here is my suggested list:

- Evaluating how strong the current roster is when healthy? Is it at the level of a bubble team as suggested by that brief experiment last year?
- Can Suzuki, Cauldield, Dach, Barron, and Guhle be consistent over a full season?
- Can Slafkovsky rise to the level of effective middle-six forward?
- How will Roy, Kidney, Mailloux, Trudeau, Mysak, Heineken, Farrel, Mesar, etc do in Laval?
- How will Reinbacher, Engstrom, Huston, Beck do in their respective leagues?
- Can Hughes extract some top-64 picks at the deadline?
- How will the Habs do in the lottery?
- Can MSL fix the power play?

This thread is not intended to ask if the Habs are on the right path, but rather what would be the indicators demonstrating that they are on the right path?

Click to read more...

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Let's tank again

 

[the]

All depends on if Money Hands Monahan can stay healthy.

Also if Kirby keeps improving.

 

[Seb]

Kids improving is literally the only thing we should be looking for.

Tanking is great but not at the expense of the kids development.

I want every single one of them to improve next season.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

This is the new core, get used to it.

 

[Mrb1p]

Im actually curious to see if Dach can show his real potential. There's a very real chance he develops into a unicorn 1C but I think this is probably the last year where he can take a serious leap.

Im also curious to see if HuGo can put their ego in the trash can and admit they were wrong with Slaf and start him in the AHL.

Guhles progression? When does he stop?
Barrons progression too.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Newhook, let's see what he can do on the wing compared to center and see if he can produce more like some experts might believe

 

[Sorinth]

I would add Montembeault's continued progression. He took a big step last year got some recoginition with the WCs, if he can build on that he might be a legitimate starter.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Im actually curious to see if Dach can show his real potential. There's a very real chance he develops into a unicorn 1C but I think this is probably the last year where he can take a serious leap.

Im also curious to see if HuGo can put their ego in the trash can and admit they were wrong with Slaf and start him in the AHL.

Guhles progression? When does he stop?
Barrons progression too.

Why do you feel it'd be the last year for him to do so? Guys of his size usually hit true breakout at around 400 NHL games; still a long way to go

 

[EveryDay]

I wanna see if Xhekaj can develop into a top 4 D. I believe he will.

 

[Mrb1p]

Why do you feel it'd be the last year for him to do so? Guys of his size usually hit true breakout at around 400 NHL games; still a long way to go

The last year to show a significant leap in output. This year hes shown he can be a good top 6 player, in the next year he needs to show he can be a gamebreaker over a decent period (20ish games).

Thats a myth, big guys take a moment but they show sign of dominance early. Draisaitl did so at 20, Rantanen at 21, Hintz at 23, etc.

Thompson and Benn are the absolute outlier and not a rule to anyone development wise.

 

[Scriptor]

Im actually curious to see if Dach can show his real potential. There's a very real chance he develops into a unicorn 1C but I think this is probably the last year where he can take a serious leap.

Im also curious to see if HuGo can put their ego in the trash can and admit they were wrong with Slaf and start him in the AHL.

Guhles progression? When does he stop?
Barrons progression too.

You do realize he is still only 22, right? Caufield, also 22, can still improve in leaps and bounds as well.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

All these answers. But yes, we can be bored. ... or boars. We are the HFBoars after all.

 

[Mrb1p]

You do realize he is still only 22, right? Caufield, also 22, can still improve in leaps and bounds as well.

No Caufield wont improve leaps and bounds, he was on a 50 goals pace last year.

I also said unicorn 1C, I didnt say he couldnt show small improvements.

You do realize the number of truly elite 1Cs is low, and that the large majority become elite before 24?

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

You do realize he is still only 22, right? Caufield, also 22, can still improve in leaps and bounds as well.

This can not be argued, but it is HFboards where reason and logic come to get flogged lol.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

The last year to show a significant leap in output. This year hes shown he can be a good top 6 player, in the next year he needs to show he can be a gamebreaker over a decent period (20ish games).

Thats a myth, big guys take a moment but they show sign of dominance early. Draisaitl did so at 20, Rantanen at 21, Hintz at 23, etc.

Thompson and Benn are the absolute outlier and not a rule to anyone development wise.

I think season more than age is more accurate to compare players given birth dates and all.

Necas set career highs or reached new level in play in his D+6.
Batherson D+5.
M. Tkachuk D+6.
PLD D+8.
Thompson D+6.
Hagel D+8.
Zacha D+8.
D. Strome D+8.
Hintz D+6.
Burakovsky D+8.
Nuke D+9.
Hertl D+7.
Wilson D+9.
Scheifele D+5.
Couturier D+8.

Dach will be entering his D+5 this season so still time to remain patient if he doesn't blow up next year. If he paces for 60-65 pts this year I'll be happy.

 

[HomeAndHome]

Some good health luck would be nice, see what we truely have at the moment with a somewhat healthy roster.

My biggest question is: What can Matheson bring in 70+ games as our 1D?
He looked pretty dang good in the 48 games last year, I'm curious if he can keep that level up again and for longer.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

I want to see elite potential somewhere. Suzuki and Caufield, we pretty much know what they're about. Now, I want to see someone (hopefully 2-3 guys) take the bull by the horns and show they can be an elite player in this league. It could be Slaf, Dach or Guhle in the NHL, as well as Hutson or Reinbacher in their respective league.

We'll have most, if not all, of our top prospects in the lineup at some point in 2024. This season is a premise to that, and I want to be excited. I want them to show us that we belong in the conversation with Buffalo, New Jersey and Anaheim.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Kids improving is literally the only thing we should be looking for.

Tanking is great but not at the expense of the kids development.

I want every single one of them to improve next season.

If we’re healthy I don’t think we’ll finish bottom 10.

Lots of youth to be excited about. Laval will be really fun to follow.

We can potentially be a bit of a surprise depending on how much the kids can get better. The parity seems pretty crazy right now in the middle of the league.

I think it’s only up from here.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Good thread idea OP, was thinking of a similar premise for a thread. The development of some of the younger guys in Laval is another interesting storyline.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

No Caufield wont improve leaps and bounds, he was on a 50 goals pace last year.

I also said unicorn 1C, I didnt say he couldnt show small improvements.

You do realize the number of truly elite 1Cs is low, and that the large majority become elite before 24?

We’ll see if that playmaking of his starts to surface.

 

[Redux91]

I can't even believe these 3 guys played this many GP for us last year :
Hoffman 67 Gp, I cant believe it was this much, felt like 40, a bad 40.
Drouin 58 Gp, enough said with him, no wait, 2 goals. A 6 year stretch to forget.
Dadonov 50 Gp, I can't even believe he played 50 games for us, felt like 30, you could say it felt like 0 too lol

They will not be missed. Not even a little.
Plenty of room for Newhook, Slaf and RHP now
Thanks Kent

D will most likely be
Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Barron (better be)
Xhekaj - Kovacevic
Harris

 

[Rapala]

The first intriguing thing for me besides much of what has been listed already wil be who do we end up breaking camp with? I have to believe their could be as many as two or three more players moved beforehand.

 

[Rapala]

Why do you feel it'd be the last year for him to do so? Guys of his size usually hit true breakout at around 400 NHL games; still a long way to go

He has to show he can mentally and physically prepare for an 82 game season. He will never become a top center in this league until he demonstrates some durability. He also has to own the position much like Suzuki did moving up the ranks otherwise he may end up having more value as a first line winger. The good news is he should have better talent to work with this season.

 

[HuGort]

I just can't wait to see the Bruins choke again this year. Least season was highlight of my year. It was epic!