Post-Game Talk: Who are these guys? Habs stamp out Bolts 5-2!

[schwang26]

4-pts achieved…drive for 6pts and full throttle push for wildcard is ON

Im happy to eat crow but you have to admit, the odds of this happening were slim.

 

[HomaridII]

Im happy to eat crow but you have to admit, the odds of this happening were slim.

Nobody would have predicted the habs would play the best back to back games they have played in many many years.

It wasn’t even that they won but how they won. They dominated both games, seriously it was a strange feeling watching that lol, not being nervous or worried. They dominated the third period of both games.

Let’s see what happens in Vegas, another top top team.

 

[salbutera]

That would be the point. You trade Evans for a 1st because you have his replacements already. Then you have three 1sts, two 2nds and two 3rds this draft. That’s before trading Savard and Armia. The team would have the ammunition to get a big upgrade either at 2C or D

Trading Evans is the easiest decision ever. He’s shooting 30%. He’s never played like this at any point in his career. You have a couple players that can replace him in the system. Strike while the iron is hot.

Trading Evans and losing all momentum towards playing meaningful games in April is asinine at this phase of development when 53% of the present roster needs to experience it for future push but if Evans deal can net assets without impacting present + future that’s another matter…and that’s the “in da mix” path I expect HuGo will follow

Dvorak & Savard are the only assets I expect to be dealt at deadline

A mid-late 20s pick in a weak draft cuvée will not help present in anyway and Beck isn’t ready to step in & deliver as Evans is - now if Evans price point for a new deal is $5M+ longterm…. that can’t happen

 

[salbutera]

Im happy to eat crow but you have to admit, the odds of this happening were slim.

As I posted I expected 4pts out of final 3GP in Dec - there are no dominant teams in the NHL this season is the beginning of a transition phase

I said in preseason one of Bos /TBay won’t make the playoffs (see prediction thread) - the Atlantic isn’t this powerhouse many have been stuck to

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Trading Evans and losing all momentum towards playing meaningful games in April is asinine at this phase of development when 53% of the present roster needs to experience it for future push but if Evans deal can net assets without impacting present + future that’s another matter…and that’s the “in da mix” path I expect HuGo will follow

Dvorak & Savard are the only assets I expect to be dealt at deadline

A mid-late 20s pick in a weak draft cuvée will not help present in anyway and Beck isn’t ready to step in & deliver as Evans is - now if Evans price point for a new deal is $5M+ longterm…. that can’t happen

Yeah I see that happening too.

Do like STL did with Stastny/promote internally without missing a beat. Perfect way to audition Beck and see if him replacing Evans is even realistic.

 

[Rapala]

Not good. Moaning about martone. Missing on misa. No king for mcqueen. Aching about aitcheson. Frowning about frondell.

I thought I was in the WJHC thread for a second.

 

[le_sean]

Trading Evans and losing all momentum towards playing meaningful games in April is asinine at this phase of development when 53% of the present roster needs to experience it for future push but if Evans deal can net assets without impacting present + future that’s another matter…and that’s the “in da mix” path I expect HuGo will follow

Dvorak & Savard are the only assets I expect to be dealt at deadline

A mid-late 20s pick in a weak draft cuvée will not help present in anyway and Beck isn’t ready to step in & deliver as Evans is - now if Evans price point for a new deal is $5M+ longterm…. that can’t happen

So if we are playing meaningful games in April, why would we trade Savard and Dvorak? It’s either you trade all of them or none of them. We don’t have the depth currently to replace those two and still be slightly competitive. And by slightly competitive I mean maybe being within 10 points of the last wild card spot.

I mean we are basing this on the last weekend where our 4th line centre is shooting 30%, the 2nd line showed up for the first time in 35 games, and a rookie backup having a shutout in his first game. I’m not holding my breath that this continues.

 

[Vachon23]

Feels like a different team, particularly offensively. We now can roll 4 lines and the PP is a threat with Laine.

And on defence most are now on the right chair

 

[Victoire HuGo]

So if we are playing meaningful games in April, why would we trade Savard and Dvorak? It’s either you trade all of them or none of them. We don’t have the depth currently to replace those two and still be slightly competitive. And by slightly competitive I mean maybe being within 10 points of the last wild card spot.

I mean we are basing this on the last weekend where our 4th line centre is shooting 30%, the 2nd line showed up for the first time in 35 games, and a rookie backup having a shutout in his first game. I’m not holding my breath that this continues.

I don't think Dvorak and to a certain extent Savard are crucial to the team's success. If return is a 3rd rounder, especially for Savard, maybe not worth it but it'll largely depend on how guys in Laval are playing. Those kind of games would be very beneficial for their development but also a solid test.

 

[morhilane]

Let’s see what happens in Vegas, another top top team.

Vegas is the top team. Best record of the season and they lost a single game in December.

 

[salbutera]

It’s not over.

I know some wants this period to go faster but no, they should still draft. Would be a mistake for the long term not to.

Yes of course they should draft, it’s a priority for any team that hopes to be successful, but selling veteran assets to stockpile picks phase is over with.

So if we are playing meaningful games in April, why would we trade Savard and Dvorak? It’s either you trade all of them or none of them. We don’t have the depth currently to replace those two and still be slightly competitive. And by slightly competitive I mean maybe being within 10 points of the last wild card spot.

I mean we are basing this on the last weekend where our 4th line centre is shooting 30%, the 2nd line showed up for the first time in 35 games, and a rookie backup having a shutout in his first game. I’m not holding my breath that this continues.

HuGo may not, they could simply decide UFAs to be namely Dvorak, Armia, Savard are to be viewed as deadline acquisitions and keep them to maintain team chemistry vs trading for mid round picks which they’ve got plenty of

 

[Victoire HuGo]

He's already gonna get a massive raise but I'd replace Gally with Evans on the 2nd unit. Gives us a better chance to win faceoff and brings more skill, speed and finesse to that unit.

 

[sampollock]

great win great game to watch
beers all around

 

[The Real Timo]

Every year even die hard tank fans enthusiastically claim the Habs should keep the latest “good for the room” vet. Last year (!) we read that Savard should probably be extended due to his veteran guile (!!).

Now it’s Armia and Evans.

It never makes sense. Evans is not a 50pt guy and if he is now, finally, the risk of him falling off is higher than the risk of him continuing on this elevated trajectory.

Easiest decision in the world: sell him at the deadline for the biggest possible package and circle back in the summer if necessary.


What’s the rush to replace him?

If Beck or Kapanen can’t do it, the Habs can trade for an overpaid 3C vet or PK specialist 4C at pretty much any time.

Have you seen the amount of time it takes Hughes to make trades? Why get rid of good vets? Evans is your perfect 4th line center and I see zero reason replacing him. Beck et Co. should earn their spots first and organically push the vets out. If that happens, then Kenny can pull a trade a get some more picks for Evans. Dvorak and Savard can go in TDL... provided Savard is replaced with someone like Carrier at least.

As I posted I expected 4pts out of final 3GP in Dec - there are no dominant teams in the NHL this season is the beginning of a transition phase

I said in preseason one of Bos /TBay won’t make the playoffs (see prediction thread) - the Atlantic isn’t this powerhouse many have been stuck to

But... but... the leafs!?

 

[TennisMenace]

We got lotta depp.

I’m glad our GM saw what we all were seeing…..Primeau cannot be trusted….plain and simple.,

 

[salbutera]

But... but... the leafs!?

Doesn’t matter if “Chief”’is behind the bench now, until they can prove they can actually carry over regular season performance into playoffs, they haven’t accomplished anything

 

[Goalfield13]

I find it hilarious that people are saying Slaf is slumping when he had 5 pts in 5 games before today and got a 2nd and 1st stars in two of those games. Slumping is not the word I would use.


It's also the best record for intra-Atlantic Division games in point percentage. Leafs have more pts, but played more games. Habs had 5 wins against those teams last season.

Slaf's been pretty good. He's 20 and still leaning, but his passing ability and usage of size is something to behold sometimes, especially the passing/vision. He's a winger Joe Thornton in the making, IMO.

 

[The Real Timo]

I’m glad our GM saw what we all were seeing…..Primeau cannot be trusted….plain and simple.,

Took them a looooong time to see that. They should really check this board more often. The wealth of observations and feedback they can rely on to make decisions is staggering. It's almost criminal they don't utilize all this intellectual capital that is available here free of charge.

 

[Habs Icing]

I don't think Dvorak and to a certain extent Savard are crucial to the team's success. If return is a 3rd rounder, especially for Savard, maybe not worth it but it'll largely depend on how guys in Laval are playing. Those kind of games would be very beneficial for their development but also a solid test.

BTW, I like your new nickname. Great pun.

 

[Naslund]

If the Habs are in the playoffs or within reach on March 7, none of the vets/UFAs-to-be will be traded. This would brake the trust between players and management, and you don't do that (see exhibit #1, the New York Rangers). If they are not, then all of Evans, Armia, Savard, Dvorak will be gone for the highest price.

The only player I would bring back this summer is Armia on a two-year deal (I could even do 3 years if force to it). I don't think he can easily be replaced internally or externally. We need his PK time, and he can insulate Beck for a year or two while he adjusts to the NHL.

Demidov replaces Newhook, Newhook replaces Dvorak, Beck replaces Evans.
Armia is re-signed. Then, if the rumors of Ehlers of being interested in signing in Montreal are true, you go for it.

Your lines next year then become:
Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Ehlers-Dach-Laine
Demidov-Newhook-Anderson
Heineman-Beck-Armia
Gallagher

- Demidov can move to the first line and replace Slafkovsky when ready or if needed.
- Hage eventually replaces Anderson, but he can also replace Dach or Newhook at center if needed.
- Unfortunately, no space for Roy or Mesar, so they are traded unless we have major player injuries, a guy's game faltered, or salary demands (e.g., Laine) are outrageous.

 

[Milhouse40]

Since Laine's return:

Habs are 8-4-0, 8th in the NHL
Out of those 8 wins, 6 were RW, good for 6th in the NHL

Scoring 3.42 goals per game, 8th in the NHL
Allowing 2.67 goals per game, 12th in the NHL

22.9% on the PP, 12th in the NHL
83.7% on the PK, 12th in the NHL

Since Carrier's acquisition (small sample):

Habs are 4-1-0, 1st in the NHL
Those 4 wins are RW, 1st in the NHL

Scoring 4.40 goals per game, 3rd in the NHL
Allowing 2.20 goals per game, 6th in the NHL

PP is not good at 16.7%, 22nd in the NHL
But the PK at 93.3% is 5th best in the NHL

30 shot on goals per game, 8th in the NHL

Kent Hugues gave up Justin Barron and Jordan Harris for them.

If we stay healthy in the last 46 games remaining, we might have a shot!!!

 

[ReHabs]

Have you seen the amount of time it takes Hughes to make trades? Why get rid of good vets? Evans is your perfect 4th line center and I see zero reason replacing him. Beck et Co. should earn their spots first and organically push the vets out. If that happens, then Kenny can pull a trade a get some more picks for Evans. Dvorak and Savard can go in TDL... provided Savard is replaced with someone like Carrier at least.

I don’t think it really matters. Evans can be signed as a FA. The bounty he’s capable of bringing back is more than worth the transfer with respect to this season.

 

[rickthegoon]

It is unbelievable how the Barron Vs Carrier trade has had an impact on the team.
How can a 5’11 \ 180 lbs guy can be 10x more physical than a 6’2 200 lbs guy, how a guy being known as a defensive specialist can move the puck 10x better than an offensive specialist, how cutting a few minutes off Matheson’s time has cut down on turnovers etc etc…Hugo got this one right.

 

[BLONG7]

Beck and Kapanen are both much more suited to play 3C than him. And you’re not going to pay a 4C $4m+ per year for multiple years, that would be asinine.

I’m not saying we wouldn’t miss him for a year as the two young kids will need to adapt, but the 3-4 more years after, we will want that cap space.

Kings paid a 3C 5.5M for what, 6 years? Haven't been out of the 1st round with him.....and the cap was much lower at that time..........
Still not convinced that Beck or Kap can do what Evans has morphed into......
4M for Evans seems like a good deal to me.....he is the devil we know. He could get us a 1st yes, but then what? Draft another Mesar?
Options.............nice to have

 

[le_sean]

Kings paid a 3C 5.5M for what, 6 years? Haven't been out of the 1st round with him.....and the cap was much lower at that time..........
Still not convinced that Beck or Kap can do what Evans has morphed into......
4M for Evans seems like a good deal to me.....he is the devil we know. He could get us a 1st yes, but then what? Draft another Mesar?
Options.............nice to have

He’s not a 3C. I don’t get why people are falling for the insane shooting percentage. He’s not a good enough playmaker to be a 3C unless we were the 2008 Penguins with Crosby and Malkin as our top two centres. But our centres are Suzuki (barely PPG) and Dach (30 points). You don’t pay a guy playing way over his head when he’s shown nothing remotely close to this for his first 5 seasons. He’s not Sean Couturier.