What if the Habs are still in a playoff spot at the TDL ?
- Thread starter George Lebay
- Start date
Zorro
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2011
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I don't think so, well at least not anything that would jeopardize long term success.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
NO! Stay the course even if they are close to a playoff spot. Don't care if we trade 5th rounders or B- type prospects but we can't be trading anything more valuable than that.
If Monahan keeps this up, he should not be re-signed. Flip him to a contender for pick (1st or two 2nd's) and if he likes Montreal that much, we can see if he wants to sign in the off season.
I just hope we simply 'stay the course', team is actually way better than I expected so far, and they're fun to watch to boot (been a couple years I didn't sit in front of an entire game), but I still think he will try to shed useless players like Drouin and Dadonov for whatever, they won't be re-signed anyway.
Steve Shutt
Don't Poke the Bear
- May 31, 2007
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Jeff Gordon answered that question last night on Mariano - his response was that he's building a team that can consistently win in the long term and not a team that wins short term. Sounds to me like he'll stay the course
Dirby Kach
Registered User
- Sep 2, 2009
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I think they are sellers no matter what. Stick to the plan.
If I can get assets, I'm moving anybody not named Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky, Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj, Barron + prospects.
If I can get assets, I'm moving anybody not named Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky, Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj, Barron + prospects.
I assume you mean March for TDL (March 3rd), more than April.
That's actually intriguing. I have no idea. My biggest question mark is honestly about goaltenders.
First, the obvious - if team is doing fantastic/is on its way to qualifying for playoffs - well, ok. You can't "tank" anymore, even if fans here would have wanted to. Even selling off assets, you won't go from playoffs to bottom of standings in a month. Maybe you still trade 1 or 2 guys away for really good return, but it becomes less about maximizing draft position, that ship would have sailed.
So - looking towards a playoff run - do you go into playoffs with Allen/Montambault? Obviously you gotta factor in the fact that they'd probably be having a good season to even have the team close to playoffs - but to me it's still a duo you can't win with in playoffs. I wonder if Hughes does something for goalies. Obvious options are:
1. Carey Price returns. I think Carey Price can play hockey today - he just can't sustain it over a full season. If the Finals started tomorrow, he'd play. So - if team is doing really good, could he train and practice and prep for a return towards season end to support the team in playoffs? I can legitimately see that happening. I'd say 50% chance
2. If Price isn't possible, Hughes trades for a goalie. I know goalie market is always hit and miss, and good goalies in particular are few and far between - but I could see him making a play for someone better than Allen
3. We do nothing with goalies, and almost certainly lose round 1.
That's actually intriguing. I have no idea. My biggest question mark is honestly about goaltenders.
First, the obvious - if team is doing fantastic/is on its way to qualifying for playoffs - well, ok. You can't "tank" anymore, even if fans here would have wanted to. Even selling off assets, you won't go from playoffs to bottom of standings in a month. Maybe you still trade 1 or 2 guys away for really good return, but it becomes less about maximizing draft position, that ship would have sailed.
So - looking towards a playoff run - do you go into playoffs with Allen/Montambault? Obviously you gotta factor in the fact that they'd probably be having a good season to even have the team close to playoffs - but to me it's still a duo you can't win with in playoffs. I wonder if Hughes does something for goalies. Obvious options are:
1. Carey Price returns. I think Carey Price can play hockey today - he just can't sustain it over a full season. If the Finals started tomorrow, he'd play. So - if team is doing really good, could he train and practice and prep for a return towards season end to support the team in playoffs? I can legitimately see that happening. I'd say 50% chance
2. If Price isn't possible, Hughes trades for a goalie. I know goalie market is always hit and miss, and good goalies in particular are few and far between - but I could see him making a play for someone better than Allen
3. We do nothing with goalies, and almost certainly lose round 1.
It depends a little bit on context though.
Are they in ~9th or 10th spot in the east, 1 or 2 points out of WC2 with 1 game in hand? Or are they 2nd in division, 9 points above 9th place in conference and more "safely" in playoffs?
If it's closer to scenario 2 - you can still sell off 1 or 2 asset maybe, but you can't go all out selling a tons of players off. There comes a point where if the team is having a great season - well, you hold the course and look towards playoffs. Doesn't mean you have to sacrifice future and buy rentals or anything - but if you trade away a bunch of key contributors to season's success, and then the team falls from 2nd in division to....9th and just misses playoffs, that'd be pretty dumb.
But yes - if they're just a "bubble team", in the race for playoffs amongst many others - I would agree they still sell assets.
George Lebay
Registered User
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
If Hughes and Gorton want fans and media to turn on them in a heartbeat... one way to do that is to be buyers cause the Habs are better this season.
Habs 4 Life
No Excuses
Absolutely not. Get rid of the players that are going to be UFA if any offers are made and if the young kids make the playoffs well great experience for them. If they miss out, it was expected. You can't change the process here, lots of teams have done it and have regretted it even more.
Steve Shutt
Don't Poke the Bear
- May 31, 2007
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You 'stay the course' and move expiring contracts for assets that help win long term. Grab picks and prospects for Drouin, Dadonov, Byron, Monahan and give their ice time to Pezzetta, Ylonen, Slaf, Pitlick, and Pinard.
BLONG7
Registered User
Couldn't agree more.....................
I also think we will slip a little as the season wears on....
We will not be picking top 5 next season though, more like top 10 unless we have some crazy lottery luck.
It would seem the development of some of these kids, and we have to give MSL alot of credit, has pushed this rebuild/reset along quicker.
But we should stay the course, and if we are a bubble team no way do we make a splash and add something.....and jepordize the near future.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
The way I see it is we likely are not trading any valuable futures. Hughes has worked too hard to accumulate more picks up to this point.
The issue here is not selling on guys like Monahan and others cause they want to remain a playoff team. Not like we will jeopardize the future but we will not take advantage of more higher draft power.
The more darts to throw at the board, the better!
Drouin, Dadanov, Byron might stay cause they might be no takers.
Hoffman may return a 2nd or 3rd rounder if he has a good season.
Monahan as a center and having a good season might return a 1st or two 2nd's.
Hard to say on Anderson and Dvorak.
Habs 4 Life
No Excuses
I'm ok with the Habs keeping Monahan if the plan is to keep him around going forward and plan to trade Dvorak instead since he has more value. But it's got to be a cheap contract with Monahan, nothing more than 4 years and this is assuming he remains healthy all season.
BLONG7
Registered User
Love to hear this..............They have said this ALL along.................using words like sustainable.
This Gorton guy, is a beauty. ( To steal a quote from Grapes )
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I'd be content with that but hard to know as fans in terms of what will be offered for both Monahan and Dvorak at the deadline.
It comes down to what is offered. If the offers are the same for both Monahan and Dvorak and Monahan wanted to sign a team friendly deal, it would be a good move to trade Dvorak and keep Monahan yes. I'd go with 2 years for Monahan. 4 is too much for me. 3 would be OK.
Gorton and Hughes know very well what mistakes Bergevin made. I think they steer clear of making the same long term flaws type moves.
GrandBison
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2019
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I think they would stick with the kids if that's the case... And that would be a great experience for them. But if a guy like Monahan is a great contributor to the success, they won't send him away at the tdl.
Yep and not only that but I can even see him growing into a mentorship role for the young guns, he's got a good attitude you want around your team. The question is really is he going to be good enough to contribute tangibly to a contender in the future and I think so.
Habs 4 Life
No Excuses
I doubt if Monahan stays healthy he would sign anything under 4 years, maybe 3 but I think 2 we could forget about it. If nothing good is offered for Monahan, we have the option of keeping him until the off season, negotiate and see what else is out there to move Dvorak. No rush or stress to trade Dvorak at the deadline unless a team comes with an offer that can't be refused. I feel for a change the Habs are in power here even though we would be sellers
the valiant effort
settle down, bud
- Apr 17, 2017
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The thread title is an especially funny question considering the Habs are not actually in a playoff spot at the moment.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
That would be Monahan's decision to make. No way I fall into the 4 year term trap. 3 maybe but 2 would be ideal. I'd go 2 and pay him what he wants (within reason). We have a lot of cap space in the next two seasons but then it gets tricky with others who exit the ELC's.
Their winning % is tied 12th in the NHL at the moment. Are you really going to nit pick the 5 way tie at 17 points? That would be funny
xX SEYF Xx
Registered User
You see, in this world there's 5 kinds of people my friend :
1- Sell if you can, whatever the ranking: Monahan, Drouin, Dadonov, Hoffman, Armia, Gallagher, Byron, Price
2- Sell if you have a good offer and we out of the playoffs: Anderson, Dvorak
3- Keep for now unless an offer you cant refuse: Edmundson, Savard, Matheson, Evans, Allen, Montembeault
4- Whatever: Wideman, Kovacevic, Pezzetta
5- Keep even if an asteroid hits the earth: Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky, Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj
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