Speculation: What are the 3 core pieces of this team for the next 10 years?

[HabsCode]

With a young, promising roster, the Montreal Canadiens have several talented players who could become the foundation of the team (or already are) for the next decade. But who do you think are the true core pieces? I made a poll where you could select only 3, so feel free to share your top 3.

Say there was an expansion draft in 2025, and you could only protect 3 players (go from there).

Questions to consider:

1. Who are the three players the Habs should build around to ensure long-term success?
2. What specific qualities make these players stand out?
3. How do these core pieces impact the Canadiens’ future in terms of leadership, skill, and team culture?

Share your thoughts!

Click to read more...

 

[Habs]

Monty, Newhook and Mailloux on that list? Seriously? lol

 

[Benstheman]

Suzuki
Demidov
Reinbacher

I hesitated between Suzuki and Slaf but down the line, i think Suzuki will be 90-100 pts no.1 center and a guy that will perform as well during the playoffs. Prime piece.

Demidov easy one. Will probably be our gamebreaker. In that regard, like Hutson but 1 tier above.

I also have hard time chosing between Reinbacher and Hutson for the 3rd spot but i think Reinbacher will prove his value during the playoffs. More than Hutson. But not an easy one.

So :

1-Demidov
2-Suzuki
3-Reinbacher

4-Hutson
5-Slaf/Guhle

 

[HabsCode]

Monty, Newhook and Mailloux on that list? Seriously? lol

You never know lol. I was going to do the whole team, instead just tried to leave a chance for anyone that could possibly be chosen.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Demi Slaf Lane , I'd put Suzi over Slaf but I'm crossing my fingers Demi can maybe C , probably wishful thinking

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Hutson, Slafkovsky, Demidov

 

[HabsCode]

Suzuki
Demidov
Reinbacher

I hesitated between Suzuki and Slaf but down the line, i think Suzuki will be 90-100 pts no.1 center and a guy that will perform as well during the playoffs. Prime piece.

Demidov easy one. Will probably be our gamebreaker. In that regard, like Hutson but 1 tier above.

I also have hard time chosing between Reinbacher and Hutson for the 3rd spot but i think Reinbacher will prove his value during the playoffs. More than Hutson. But not an easy one.

So :

1-Demidov
2-Suzuki
3-Reinbacher

4-Hutson
5-Slaf/Guhle

Crazy depth when a 23 years old potential 50 goal scorer doesn't even make your top 6.

 

[26Mats]

With a young, promising roster, the Montreal Canadiens have several talented players who could become the foundation of the team (or already are) for the next decade. But who do you think are the true core pieces? I made a poll where you could select only 3, so feel free to share your top 3.

Say there was an expansion draft in 2025, and you could only protect 3 players (go from there).

Questions to consider:

1. Who are the three players the Habs should build around to ensure long-term success?
2. What specific qualities make these players stand out?
3. How do these core pieces impact the Canadiens’ future in terms of leadership, skill, and team culture?

Share your thoughts!

Very difficult question, because so far the core is deep without an elite piece. I went Demidov, Slaf, and Hutson because they have the highest ceilings to be elite at what they do.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Crazy depth when a 23 years old potential 50 goal scorer doesn't even make your top 6.

Probably because he’s a 28 goal scorer at present

 

[HabsCode]

Probably because he’s a 28 goal scorer at present

I said potential man, potential

Demidov is leading the poll right now and he hasn't scored a single point in the NHL yet, so obviously people are going on projection here.

 

[the]

Gallagher, Anderson and Dvorak

 

[badfish]

I voted Suzuki Slaf and Hutson but the neat thing about where the Habs are in their rebuild is there's a really good argument to be made about a few other players like Demidov, Guhle, Caufield and Reinbacher.

 

[26Mats]

Probably because he’s a 28 goal scorer at present

I'm really excited to see how many Cole scores this year, so we can sarcastically call him the best 40 goal scorer to never score 30 to other fan bases.

 

[malcb33]

For the rebuild (TM) to be successful, for me, it would have to be Demidov, Hutson and Fowler. Offensive dynamos in both F and D positions and a wall in net (hopefully)!

Obviously, it's way too early to tell if any of those 3 will hit their full potential.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Crazy depth when a 23 years old potential 50 goal scorer doesn't even make your top 6.

Which one lol

 

[HabsCode]

Which one lol

The one who was a pure goal scorer everywhere he went, maintained a game streak where he scored 48 goals in 84 games under MSL, and is currently tied for 2nd for goal scored in the NHL with 9 in 10 games. Shit shouldn't be to hard to figure out.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The one who was a pure goal scorer everywhere he went, maintained a game streak where he scored 48 goals in 84 games under MSL, and is currently tied for 2nd for goal scored in the NHL with 9 in 10 games. Shit shouldn't be to hard to figure out.

Sorry I wasn’t being snarky. The opposite! I meant more so between CC and Laine. My joke didn’t work because of the ages but no I love our depth!

 

[HabsCode]

Sorry I wasn’t being snarky. The opposite! I meant more so between CC and Laine. My joke didn’t work because of the ages but no I love our depth!

Laine isn't 23 years old man

EDIT: Ah I get it, nvm. Yes we have good depth.

 

[PavelBrendl]

Suzuki, Demidov, Hutson for me.

Suzuki is a rock. Smart. Reliable. Captain. True #1 C.

Demidov is a game-breaking talent. Will be what Kaprizov is in Minnesota. Has the ability to win games just about on his own.

Hutson. Already one of the most offensively gifted D men in the NHL and smart enough to be effective in his own end. Creates something out of nothing when the puck is on his stick and I think he’s going to be a perennial all-star in his prime.

Reinbacher is a bit of a mystery box at this point. Haven’t seen enough at the NA pro level to really say what I think he’ll be but his stint in Laval last year showed great promise.

I also hesitated with Slaf. I think he’s more complete than Caufield and brings a crazy toolbox, but couldn’t place him above Suzuki and Demidov.

 

[G0bias]

Martone, Demidov, Hutson

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Suzuki, Demidov, Hutson for me.

Suzuki is a rock. Smart. Reliable. Captain. True #1 C.

Demidov is a game-breaking talent. Will be what Kaprizov is in Minnesota. Has the ability to win games just about on his own.

Hutson. Already one of the most offensively gifted D men in the NHL and smart enough to be effective in his own end. Creates something out of nothing when the puck is on his stick and I think he’s going to be a perennial all-star in his prime.

Reinbacher is a bit of a mystery box at this point. Haven’t seen enough at the NA pro level to really say what I think he’ll be but his stint in Laval last year showed great promise.

I also hesitated with Slaf. I think he’s more complete than Caufield and brings a crazy toolbox, but couldn’t place him above Suzuki and Demidov.

I’m not sure the question is “who will be the best 3 players”, more so which players need to pan out for us to be the most successful

That’s why I think Slaf has to be included, if he pans out he is a physical two way beast and the exact kind of player every team would kill to have in the playoffs. Moves the needle massively!

If Suzuki remains his current self he’s still a ROR type #1C that we can win with

 

[vokiel]

Cole getting the cold hand here is funny.

 

[BaseballCoach]

With a young, promising roster, the Montreal Canadiens have several talented players who could become the foundation of the team (or already are) for the next decade. But who do you think are the true core pieces? I made a poll where you could select only 3, so feel free to share your top 3.

Say there was an expansion draft in 2025, and you could only protect 3 players (go from there).

Questions to consider:

1. Who are the three players the Habs should build around to ensure long-term success?
2. What specific qualities make these players stand out?
3. How do these core pieces impact the Canadiens’ future in terms of leadership, skill, and team culture?

Share your thoughts!

My thoughts are that we will have more than three core players, and that is perfectly normal.

Winning teams need 11 core players, maybe 10 if they have a superstar.

Here is what I am hoping for by next season:
4 top line forwards - Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov, Slafkovsky
3 second line forwards - Laine, Hage, Dach
3 first pair D - Matheson, Guhle, Reinbacher or Hutson
#1 goalie - Fowler or Dobes

Good complementary players:
Newhook, Kapanen, Heineman, Beck or Evans, Gallagher (Anderson traded)
Hutson or Reinbacher, Struble, Mailloux or Xhekaj or Barron
Dobes or Fowler or Monty

 

[Kennerback]

Demidov, Slaf, Hutson

 

[HabsCode]

My thoughts are that we will have more than three core players, and that is perfectly normal.

Winning teams need 11 core players, maybe 10 if they have a superstar.

I like when people change the rules of a thread.