Yeah, and when he is out, there is no one. Don't need enforcers but they need bigger guys who play physical. With Laine and Demi coming, I like the top 6 but lines 3 and 4 are really bad.
Two camps running we've been saying this.
Slaf is not tough, Pezz is borderline NHL, Struble and Andy don’t play tough.
He might leave after next year, who knows.
Trading Mailloux would have been a big mistake Reinbacher or not. The log jam is on LD not on the right side.
Unless Mailloux is the center piece of a package to get a 20 something top 2 RHD like Andersson. Then you're still fine as you're getting a long term established RHD, adding Reinbacher whenever he's ready and still have Barron, Savard and Guhle in a pinch.
This was more about trading him for a top 4 RHD.
I still think that's a very difficult thing to do because until Reinbacher is ready, you only have Andersson. Savard/Barron should not be top 4 dmen for us in the future and Guhle needs to get to his natural side which will happen once Matheson leaves.
Yes, we are at a point now that drafting a possible 2C may be out of our target window as it will take a few years to develop, so the trade route may be the better option along with signing a UFA.. A trade wouldn't be easy but we do have assets.
Agree but it’s not like Reinbacher showed he was ready to step in anyways. He and Mailloux still need seasoning in AHL before they can be ready for the NHL. Adding an established 40 point, all purpose RD now ensures they’re not rushed and affords the Habs a player now who you hope your prospects can eventually become. It’s a no brainer for me.
He did need time for sure, but now he needs minimum another year.
The toughest teams in the league have players going to war for each other even if they aren't goons. Outside of Xhekaj, nobody on the Habs will do anything meaningful to stand up for their teammates. When he got hired, Hughes made it a point that he was upset by the lack of response when Monty got runover by Kassian, yet nothing has changed besides Xhekaj becoming a regular. It's moreso about the team identity than filling up the team with bruisers.
More of a reason to add a guy like Andersson (or similar) as the gap in time has increased significantly for a team who was already lacking a top 2 RD.
Tough does not mean fighting in today’s game. It’s one component, it’s about being hard to play against, finishing checks, having an edge, and IF you have to fight than one can. These guys tire the opponent done. Size and phyiscality increases in importance in the playoffs.
Dach, Matheson, Slaf, Anderson, Struble, Arber, Gallagher, Pezz all fit this description.
it’s about being hard to play against, finishing checks,
Don't disagree, but using Mailloux as the main piece kind of defeats the purpose. Of course there are many factors that play here as well such as our 2 1sts where we can draft a stud defenseman.
