What would you prefer - finishing top 5 or bottom 5 in NHL standings this season?

[Milhouse40]

If they aren't contenders, what's the point of finishing high? I love to see the Habs win, but I also know that what they need is superstar/generational talent. To get that, they have to draft it. Otherwise, they're just "good". They aren't beating the contenders with a "good" team.
One more year of tanking. Especially this year.

How NYR got so good and got franchise players?
They did drafted 1st and 2nd overall but they are not it.
They traded for Zibanejad, Fox and sign UFA Panarin.
They did draft Shesterkin but in the 3rd round..........

But nevermind this....

Every single years, there's great players in the draft. Never, EVER, the top 10 players you guys all want become the top 10 players that year, not once. Not even the top 3 are the ending up the top 3 players.

Now let's look at players leading their draft in points for 2017, 2019, 2020.

this is 2017

This is 2019

This is 2020

I picked those years because you can also see that, Habs have a lot of players in those draft and some of them would are equal from drafting top 5 for many years.......and we could add Slafkovsky to the mix.

As MSL said.....winning is not above development, but tanking ain't either.
Developping what we already have should be paramount.
We already have 2 first round pick next year and if we play our cards right we should be able to get another one but for that, our players must not completely sucks.

 

[Zorro]

Hedman/Stamkos/Kucherov, Lidstrom/Datsyuk/Zetterberg, Cal Makar/MacKinnon, Ovy, Crosby/Malkin, Kane are also supertsars and they won 11 of the last 15 cups.

So your points?

My point is that if we finish top 5 than we may already have our stars in the making and more importantly a balanced team. I understand that it's nice to have high draft picks because the chances of the player becoming a star/NHLer are much higher, however, it's never a guarantee. Kucherov, Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Z were all 2nd round +. At this point, with what we have (rookies/vets/prospects) i'd rather the team develop and progress rather stagnate and hope for another high pick.

Our future #1D may end up being a guy we drafted 16th overall, not top 5. We still have 2 first rounders next year, where we can pick 2 solid players.

The question of this thread was, would you prefer to be top 5 or bottom 5? My answer (and most fans' should be) - top 5, because that would mean, based on current play, the habs have progressed AS A TEAM, and are not carried by one player. After 5 games, 7 different players have scored goals...that's what i like to see.

 

[TT1]

permanently tanking could be a trap if you don't end up with a McDavid level player, many of the perennial tankers are still bad teams, it's a bad sign in general (starts eating into team culture too etc.)

 

[V13]

What i do know is what i DON'T want to be. And that's a bubble team that constantly finish 9th-12th or barely make the playoffs as a 8th seed and get destroyed in the 1st or sometimes maybe in the 2nd round year in and year out for a decade or more. That's being not good enough to win anything and not bad enough to have a chance to draft a franchise/generational talent unless you get lucky with a 15th+ 1st round pick

I'm fine with being a bubble team if it's part of the path and progression of the team which means maybe 1-3 years max as a bubble before transcending into a legit and steady contending team for whatever window is open with that current core in place.

 

[Saxon]

The progression a top 5 finish would signify for our young team is greater than a top 5 pick......besides Florida is going to tank and win a lottery spot.... so we're covered both ways......

 

[Kents polished head]

I say neither are likely, but if given the choice, I'm definitely leaning towards a bottom-5 finish. A top-5 pick along with another first rounder in next year's draft would all but close out the rebuilding phase.

 

[John B]

I'd rather finish top 5 and win the Cup and have Florida finish bottom 5 and get the first overall pick.

Best of both worlds.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

At least someone is thinking out of the box. Top 5 finish would be extremely significant for a young team, 1000 times more significant for a rebuild than another pick.

Top 5 is not necessarily an indication. It could be a fluke season where everything goes right. There are probably teams in the top 5 every year that are not likely to win the Cup. I would only be happy with a top 5 finish if it looks like they really have a chance to win it all.

 

[Canadienna]

Now do a poll like this

Would you rather Caufield scores 40, Suzuki hits 80 points and Guhle plays top pair minutes with 40-50 points?

Or would you rather Caufield scores 25, Suzuki ~60 points and Guhle to hit a wall.

 

[Colezuki]

Now do a poll like this

Would you rather Caufield scores 40, Suzuki hits 80 points and Guhle plays top pair minutes with 40-50 points?

Or would you rather Caufield scores 25, Suzuki ~60 points and Guhle to hit a wall.

This is my take if we finish top 5 it means someone drastically over achieved from our younger players and elevated us.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Top 5 *if* they still sell at the deadline.
If they aren’t going to get quality, get quantity.

A top 5 team with an abundance of picks and prospects? I’ll take that.

 

[Maitz]

We need so bad a top 5 pick this year, then we could start signing good veteran to help the young core. A Bedard/Fantilli/Carlsson would def bring the team to another level. You don’t get those players on trade block or FA, you draft them! If we finish 15th in the league, in 2 years we will be like « omg we should have finish bottom 5 and grab one of those young studs ».

 

[McGees]

Bottom 5.
This is about becoming consistently good team.
We don't have all the pieces yet.
We NEED a goalie and a top pair QB- D and ideally 1 more star forward.
Don't rush the process with some unsustainable victoriess....

 

[schwang26]

Because he’s the best player in the draft
The reasons you started are arguments for not taking him 1st OA but that’s about it

I'm not sure you get what I'm saying. I WANT them to tank and draft Bedard

 

[schwang26]

Because he’s the best player in the draft
The reasons you started are arguments for not taking him 1st OA but that’s about it

Oh sorry. I didn't realize my other comment about Michkov. To that comment though, why take him even second? There's every indication he won't be available for a few years because of his contract and if the crap with Putin keeps up, who knows What will happen with Russians? How does him being the bpa help them in those circumstances?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Oh sorry. I didn't realize my other comment about Michkov. To that comment though, why take him even second? There's every indication he won't be available for a few years because of his contract and if the crap with Putin keeps up, who knows What will happen with Russians? How does him being the bpa help them in those circumstances?

I think he will be available immediately and the risks are minimal
I think he’s a generational talent and worth taking the shot at

Though I agree I’d take Bedard at 1st OA because there’s basically no risk even if I think Michkov is a better player

 

[schwang26]

How NYR got so good and got franchise players?
They did drafted 1st and 2nd overall but they are not it.
They traded for Zibanejad, Fox and sign UFA Panarin.
They did draft Shesterkin but in the 3rd round..........

But nevermind this....

Every single years, there's great players in the draft. Never, EVER, the top 10 players you guys all want become the top 10 players that year, not once. Not even the top 3 are the ending up the top 3 players.

Now let's look at players leading their draft in points for 2017, 2019, 2020.

this is 2017
View attachment 597173

This is 2019
View attachment 597178

This is 2020
View attachment 597179

I picked those years because you can also see that, Habs have a lot of players in those draft and some of them would are equal from drafting top 5 for many years.......and we could add Slafkovsky to the mix.

As MSL said.....winning is not above development, but tanking ain't either.
Developping what we already have should be paramount.
We already have 2 first round pick next year and if we play our cards right we should be able to get another one but for that, our players must not completely sucks.

How many teams are contenders and or winning cups without high end talent? You talk about trades as well. How often has Montreal been a destination for high end talent when they've been available? Toronto, NYR, LA, Tampa, are always destinations. Not Montreal. Of course you'll get talent anywhere in the draft, but you aren't getting a Bedard at number 15.
There's a big difference between a good team, a competitive team and a contender.

I think he will be available immediately and the risks are minimal
I think he’s a generational talent and worth taking the shot at

Though I agree I’d take Bedard at 1st OA because there’s basically no risk even if I think Michkov is a better player

I thought he was under contract

I think he will be available immediately and the risks are minimal
I think he’s a generational talent and worth taking the shot at

Though I agree I’d take Bedard at 1st OA because there’s basically no risk even if I think Michkov is a bett

I think he will be available immediately and the risks are minimal
I think he’s a generational talent and worth taking the shot at

Though I agree I’d take Bedard at 1st OA because there’s basically no risk even if I think Michkov is a better player

Under contract until 2026

 

[tazsub3]

Easy top. 5 if this is led by the young .
And seeing how bad the vets are , they ain’t getting us there

 

[Sasha Orlov]

How many teams are contenders and or winning cups without high end talent? You talk about trades as well. How often has Montreal been a destination for high end talent when they've been available? Toronto, NYR, LA, Tampa, are always destinations. Not Montreal. Of course you'll get talent anywhere in the draft, but you aren't getting a Bedard at number 15.
There's a big difference between a good team, a competitive team and a contender.


I thought he was under contract



Under contract until 2026

He’s under contract but it’s in the KHL and as you said, who knows what happens with Russia

I can totally see his contract being disregarded entirely

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Bottom 5.

I want to have an elite team for the first time in my lifetime

 

[Nevins]

We need a superstar to add to this core.

An elite center,many good RHD and an elite goalie prospect

 

[Sherwoo9]

It’s crazy how a 3-2 start can change opinions. Caufield can score 45, Suzuki 80 points, ghule 25 top pairing minutes and 40 points, Slaf and Dach 40+ (so everything goes perfect in a perfect world) and I still don’t think this lineup clinch playoff in the Atlantic over an 82 games season, let alone ending top 5.

My most perfect scenario is still great development and mediocre results this year caused by dead wood we carry… but I don’t believe in top 3 pick much anymore but a top 7-8, a mid 10s AND a mid 20s would still be great for the future of the franchise considering the pieces already there..

then we start pushing for playoffs starting next year but still managing tight over vet contracts to be sure we have spots for rising young guns

 

[bobholly39]

Top 5 *if* they still sell at the deadline.
If they aren’t going to get quality, get quantity.

A top 5 team with an abundance of picks and prospects? I’ll take that.

That would never happen...

I suppose if at deadline they're a ~bubble team and then win 20 straight to finish top 5 maybe - but if they're close to top 5 at deadline, they won't be sellers.

 

[GordonGraham]

top 5 is great, bottom 5 is great, what sucks is that 15-25 no mans land.

 

[salbutera]

Well in the last 20 years:

Montreal: 4 x top 5 picks and counting
Oilers: 6 x top 5 picks

Montreal: 1 x Finals Loss
Oilers: 1 x Finals Loss

Yet Oilers have 2 of the best players in the world now and Montreal is championing a win against Arizona.

Forgot to add since cap was introduced Habs have most playoff wins of any CDN team.