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

[CanadienShark]

Voted Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Hutson. I wanted to add Demidov, but he's never played a game here yet.

 

[FrankMTL]

Very Tough to pick 3 as I feel there are 5 very strong candidates in Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Demidov, Hutson and Guhle.

If i don't have a choice to pick only 3, it's Demidov, Slafkovsky and Hutson....but it's very close.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

As of now, I see the main core being:

Hutson, Cc, Slaf, Nick, Demidov, Guhle, RB. I don’t see any reason to boil this down to three players.

 

[Benstheman]

In general, i think Habs fans are overvalue Slaf a bit and definitely sleep on Reinbacher.

That being said, Snake Boisvert always talk about a core of 10 players to build around a competitive team.

Right now i see :

Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf, Demidov, Guhle, Hutson, Reinbacher.

With possibly :

Dach, Hage, Laine, Fowler, 2025 Habs 1st

That would make 12.

So i guess the chances are good we get to 10, more so if we are drafting top 5 again this summer.

 

[Andrei79]

Why did you choose 3 ? Im curious because it seems an arbitrary number. Cup winners usually have more than that.

 

[Kiss Under the Guy]

I'm surprised there aren't more people voting for Xhekaj bros and Clutterbuck with what I've been reading on these boards since the start of the season

 

[BergevinBurner]

To me the core/untradables are Suzuki, Slaf, Cole, Demidov, Guhle, Hutson and Fowler. If I can only pick 3 it'd be Demidov, Suzuki and Caufield.

We have a glaring hole at 2C and RHD still. I'm hesitant to consider Reinbacher core since he's missing a massive chunk of development time and we've seen him sidelined with knee injuries time after time.

 

[OldCraig71]

Look no further than the 3 guys they gave close to 8 million a year for the next 8 years.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

Why did you choose 3 ? Im curious because it seems an arbitrary number. Cup winners usually have more than that.

I already explained it 3 times on page 2, so instead of going for a 4th time, I am just going to quote myself.

No fun if the polls went with 5 pieces.

Everybody would say: Demidov, Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Huston.

and

Because to narrow it down to 3 is a much more difficult exercise than going for a free-for-all poll.

I was curious about the consensus of this board about the few most valuable pieces for the next 10 year; reducing it to three made the poll more interesting IMO and left more place for debate.

and

Yeah obviously a team is 20+ players, it was just to give the board a little challenge to identify our 3 main pieces. I know Demidov and Suzuki would be the obvious ones, but after that it gets challenging.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Suz, Cauf and Slaf were all signed to long terms deals. So, it's a no brainer. Hutson and Demidov will probably join the ranks too.

 

[SlafySZN]

Demidov, Slaf + Hutson

And i’d put probably Hage for the 4th guy.

 

[SlafySZN]

Why did you choose 3 ? Im curious because it seems an arbitrary number. Cup winners usually have more than that.

3 players that you usually keep together most of their careers. The guys around can be changed.

Mackinnon, Rantanen, Makar

Kucherov, Point, Stamkos/Hedman

 

[Andrei79]

3 players that you usually keep together most of their careers. The guys around can be changed.

Mackinnon, Rantanen, Makar

Kucherov, Point, Stamkos/Hedman

They're two pretty good examples because they both have 5 or more. Add Toews and Landeskog for Colorado and Vasi, McDonagh and Sergachev for TB, maybe even Cirelli. During their cup runs, teams usually have even more, who they end up losing for cap reasons. The three number just doesn't make sense to me.

I already explained it 3 times on page 2, so instead of going for a 4th time, I am just going to quote myself.

and

and

I understand that, but I didn't read any actual hockey or roster related reason why you chose three.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

They're two pretty good examples because they both have 5 or more. Add Toews and Landeskog for Colorado and Vasi, McDonagh and Sergachev for TB, maybe even Cirelli. During their cup runs, teams usually have even more, who they end up losing for cap reasons. The three number just doesn't make sense to me.



I understand that, but I didn't read any actual hockey or roster related reason why you chose three.

There is no hockey related reason. It was to give a challenge to limit it to the 3 most important pieces. Naming 5+ players makes no sense discussion wise, since we are all pretty much going to agree on the same players. If you want to make a different thread asking for the top 5, you are free to do so and ignore this thread.

 

[The Great Weal]

Demidov, Slaf + Hutson

And i’d put probably Hage for the 4th guy.

Considering that Suzuki's 25th in points since last season with 90 in 94, do you think Hage will be a 90+ point guy every single season?

 

[GrandmaCookie]

Considering that Suzuki's 25th in points since last season with 90 in 94, do you think Hage will be a 90+ point guy every single season?

Yeah kind of surprised Suzuki ranks 4th in the poll, considering Slaf is still to date a young 20 years old who had a single good 50 points season; Huston while being spectacular offensively has only played 14 games in the NHL and his defensive game is somewhat still of a question mark IMO, and Demidov hasn't played a single game in NA.

I know those are all considered elite young players/prospects, but Suzuki is already that+ he has SCF experience and is and most likely will continue to be our most complete forward in the medium/long-term.

 

[SlafySZN]

Considering that Suzuki's 25th in points since last season with 90 in 94, do you think Hage will be a 90+ point guy every single season?

I’m going several years in the future when they’re in their real window, Suzuki might be a little in the background then and less important having the guys I named.

Depends how it develops. Not saying he won’t be here just not a top 3 core guy.

 

[Andrei79]

There is no hockey related reason. It was to give a challenge to limit it to the 3 most important pieces. Naming 5+ players makes no sense discussion wise, since we are all pretty much going to agree on the same players. If you want to make a different thread asking for the top 5, you are free to do so and ignore this thread.

Yes, but that would take much more effort from myself than criticizing your thread though.

 

[calder candidate]

Voted Suzuki, Hutson and Demidov because they are the one driving the bus.

Guhle, Reinbacher, Slaf, CC, Dach, Matheson and one of the goalie will all have very important role to play but it a supporting role

 

[Beaker]

Suzuki, Demidov, and Hutson. 3 game changers that are a force on their own.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

Demidov, Hutson and Caufield will entertain us for some time.

But Suzuki, Guhle and Slafkovsky , I feel, are the building blocks of a team that will have success in the playoffs.