Proposal: What are the Montreal Canadiens' priorities to make them a Stanley Cup contender?3 choices
- Thread starter Nevins
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MasterD
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
- Jul 1, 2004
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A bit of all of that, but we're really, really short on talent at forward.
Hutson/Reinbacher/Mailloux/Barron/Guhle/Struble/Xhekaj is all the talent we need at D to contend.
MSL isn't great but he's fine. We need a real PP coach though.
We're not great at G, but Fowler should be good. If Cam Ward and Anti Niemi can win cups, you don't need a superstar.
Hutson/Reinbacher/Mailloux/Barron/Guhle/Struble/Xhekaj is all the talent we need at D to contend.
MSL isn't great but he's fine. We need a real PP coach though.
We're not great at G, but Fowler should be good. If Cam Ward and Anti Niemi can win cups, you don't need a superstar.
HabzSauce
Registered User
- Jun 10, 2022
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Recruiting, development and coaches. That's the foundation right there - everything else on your list comes from those 3
Gravity
Generational Poster
Recruiting, 2 star Fs (although just one would be nice and suffice), and a bonafide #1D.
JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
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Whichever of these options that gives you the ability to find a top end center are the correct answers.
We are the worst team in the league for goals by forwards. I keep saying it. Because it needs to change.
Hickflyer
Registered User
I voted for taller and bigger forwards but what I what the team really needs IMO is having more physical two-way forwards who can cycle the puck
One big reason the Wings and the Habs lately are doing better than Ottawa and Buffalo despite having way less firepower offensively and star forwards is because their forwards are much better at preventing goals against (even though the Habs aren't even good in that department). Ottawa and Buffalo rely way too much on turnovers and odd-men-rush to generate offence and get snuffed when the play gets tighter. They haven't even made the playoffs but if they did, they'd do even worse than in reg season
A star forward would obviously do wonders but solid, two-way, tough-to play-against forwards are even more of a pressing need. A player in the mould of Ryan Leonard would be a perfect acquisition next draft
One big reason the Wings and the Habs lately are doing better than Ottawa and Buffalo despite having way less firepower offensively and star forwards is because their forwards are much better at preventing goals against (even though the Habs aren't even good in that department). Ottawa and Buffalo rely way too much on turnovers and odd-men-rush to generate offence and get snuffed when the play gets tighter. They haven't even made the playoffs but if they did, they'd do even worse than in reg season
A star forward would obviously do wonders but solid, two-way, tough-to play-against forwards are even more of a pressing need. A player in the mould of Ryan Leonard would be a perfect acquisition next draft
BLONG7
Registered User
nhlfan9191
Registered User
- Aug 4, 2010
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A PPG forward, ideally a center, that drives the play and makes the players on his line better, a legitimate number 1D, and better overall depth at all positions. If we have 3 those things, we’re likely going to contend. Right now, I don’t think we have any of those things even in a potential scenario outside of possibly good depth at some point.
Two star forwards are the most obvious need. Right now, they're nowhere to be found on the team or in our prospect pool.
Scouting would be next, but I wasn't sure if that was what was meant by "Recruiting team", so I left that one out. Seems obvious that picking the right players in the draft is crucial and a lot more than luck. There are scouting staffs who've found multiple top forwards while our staff hasn't hit a single one. Some scouts manage to see what we continue to miss.
Development is another obvious pick. So many promising prospects whose careers can be helped or hurt by their coaches.
I also voted for Coaching, since development and coaching are so closely linked. I'm not thrilled by the reports of Laval's coaching, and I'm concerned Marty might not be the guy to turn a good Habs roster into a contender. He's been terrific for young players during a rebuild, but do you see him out-coaching another team in the playoffs?
Scouting would be next, but I wasn't sure if that was what was meant by "Recruiting team", so I left that one out. Seems obvious that picking the right players in the draft is crucial and a lot more than luck. There are scouting staffs who've found multiple top forwards while our staff hasn't hit a single one. Some scouts manage to see what we continue to miss.
Development is another obvious pick. So many promising prospects whose careers can be helped or hurt by their coaches.
I also voted for Coaching, since development and coaching are so closely linked. I'm not thrilled by the reports of Laval's coaching, and I'm concerned Marty might not be the guy to turn a good Habs roster into a contender. He's been terrific for young players during a rebuild, but do you see him out-coaching another team in the playoffs?
The Oliers come to mind when thinking of two star forwards. This is important but everything starts with scouting and development.
The one thing that I also voted for was to be bigger as a team. Can't win 4 seven games series being too small.
The one thing that I also voted for was to be bigger as a team. Can't win 4 seven games series being too small.
WinterLion
Registered User
- Oct 1, 2017
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The most important thing for a cup winner is a stud D who can tilt the ice and play big minutes.
Lafleurs Guy
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- Jul 20, 2007
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A true number one center would make a huge difference. Add that and we’d be in great shape going forward. Most of the pieces for a strong team are already there.
Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
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Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
- 78,625
- 50,029
I don’t think that would’ve been the case if we had Dach and Newhook. CC is having a strange year. Roy is also on the way. It’s not as dire as it looks.
But a number one C would be an incredible difference maker.
LaP
Registered User
Voted : Building an exceptionnel recruiting team, Have a better quality development system and Have better coaches( NHL,AHL,ECHL).
If you have that the rest will fall into place.
If you have that the rest will fall into place.
OldCraig71
Juice Arse
We will need the holy trinity on the roster before we can contend.
Number one center
Number one defenseman
Number one goalie
All three are important parts of a contending team. We need more than just good players filling those roles but rather players whose talent level places them in those positions. If you have all three you can fill the roster with players that compliment them. So far we are 0-3.
Number one center
Number one defenseman
Number one goalie
All three are important parts of a contending team. We need more than just good players filling those roles but rather players whose talent level places them in those positions. If you have all three you can fill the roster with players that compliment them. So far we are 0-3.
- Jun 22, 2018
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Kosseca
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- Feb 23, 2020
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Well... all the choices are good here, no bad options per say. T I would suspect that one's choice would be driven by two underling principle: timeline to cup and potential to repeat.
If you view is to win in the short term, you'll be more incline to pick option that speak to player personnel. Someone with long term vision would look at drafting and development.
I mean I pick the 2 skilled forward and the 1D as I see this being the key element missing. now whether they come through trade or development, I don't care, I'm just think that without these, you can't win with the current making of this roster
If you view is to win in the short term, you'll be more incline to pick option that speak to player personnel. Someone with long term vision would look at drafting and development.
I mean I pick the 2 skilled forward and the 1D as I see this being the key element missing. now whether they come through trade or development, I don't care, I'm just think that without these, you can't win with the current making of this roster
