Who's having a comeback season: Drouin, Armia, Hoffman, Gallagher, Byron

[holy]

All dem boyz.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

based on what? Not liking him? The kid lost sleep thinking hockey and would lose hours talking hockey with MSL.

His mental health is a whole other discussion. I just never saw any kind of real commitment to improve as a player. He's certainly not afraid to give less than his best on the ice as far as his work ethic goes.

For all the criticisms that Pacioretty got on here, the guy did work a lot to improve every off-season. He's a fitness freak, who worked on his shot, puck handling & skating every summer, and you could tell. Drouin never seems to improve any aspect of his game.

Just don't see the dedication on the ice that he purportedly has off the ice.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Considering the NHL average salary and the fact that none of these players are on entry level contracts, I don’t find this surprising at all.

The production value for those contracts is abysmal, in a cap world you can't have nearly 30% of your cap sunk in guys barely putting up 4th line points

 

[abo9]

Gallagher back to 20 goals
Hoffman to 25 goals

Armia's a 4th line player so idk how mich he can "bounce back."

Drouin was pacing for 48 pts which is normal for him

 

[kgboomer]

Probably Gallagher, he's a shooting on goal machine and goes to the dirty areas.

 

[Bacchus1]

I voted Gallagher and Hoffman.

- Drouin has had 3 incomplete seasons in a row for various reasons. So the trend the last few seasons doesn't have me confident.
- Same for Byron. Injuries have held him back. And he's already said his recovery is slow and he won't be ready for camp.
- Armia is who he is. If he plays higher in the line-up, he might produce. But even there, his best season was 30 pts. At this point, he's just a depth player.

Gallagher also has had injury issues the last few seasons. But even though he had incomplete seasons, he was still producing at a 50+ point pace. Last year was the the first time in 4 seasons where he wasn't producing at a 50+ point pace and at this point, I attribute his short off-season last summer and not being 100% healthy as a reason.

Hoffman is the other one I voted for a bounce back season because last year was the first time he didn't produce at a 20+ goal and 50+ point pace. Since 2015-16, he has had at least 20 goals and 50 points every season. Even his one year in St. Louis, he had 17 goals and 36 pts in 52 games, which was prorated to 26 goals and 57 pts.

In Hoffman's case, you can argue that in Florida, he had the luxury of playing with the likes of Barkov and Huberdeau. And in St. Louis, he had centers like ROR, Schenn, and even Bozak. And in Montreal, he doesn't have those level of centers to help him get those points. But I still think he'll have a bounce back season and put up at least 20 goals. That is if he isn't traded before. If anything though, a bounce back season for Hoffman could drive his value up.

This!

I’m hoping for Hoffman to have a great first 30-40 games and then a trade to a contender occurs where we get a D prospect and gain cap space. Best case scenario for us.


I’m sure someone will consider writing that I am dreaming, so let’s just get it out of the way that it is a hope rather than a premonition lol!

 

[Guess]

Gallagher most likely due to not having a regular training schedule.
Drouin if his wrists are good, under MSL and with more creative freedom, could easily see him doing well (watch his highlights from Tampa, he was really good with them and showed more combativeness in puck pursuit)

 

[Scriptor]

Drouin : he confirmed what I've been saying for a long time which is that his wrist is shot and will never heal. So not him.

Byron :marginal player. Who cares.
Armia: see above
Hoffman: sigh.that guy. The only good thing about him is that save for threads like this one I find it quite easy to forget he even exists. Not him

Gallagher wins by default.

Too funny.

This!

I’m hoping for Hoffman to have a great first 30-40 games and then a trade to a contender occurs where we get a D prospect and gain cap space. Best case scenario for us.


I’m sure someone will consider writing that I am dreaming, so let’s just get it out of the way that it is a hope rather than a premonition lol!

Best case? Wet dream scenario, you mean...

 

[jaffy27]

His mental health is a whole other discussion. I just never saw any kind of real commitment to improve as a player. He's certainly not afraid to give less than his best on the ice as far as his work ethic goes.

For all the criticisms that Pacioretty got on here, the guy did work a lot to improve every off-season. He's a fitness freak, who worked on his shot, puck handling & skating every summer, and you could tell. Drouin never seems to improve any aspect of his game.

Just don't see the dedication on the ice that he purportedly has off the ice.

Very accurate post, bullseye’s all
Around on all your topics

 

[ReHabs]

His mental health is a whole other discussion. I just never saw any kind of real commitment to improve as a player. He's certainly not afraid to give less than his best on the ice as far as his work ethic goes.

For all the criticisms that Pacioretty got on here, the guy did work a lot to improve every off-season. He's a fitness freak, who worked on his shot, puck handling & skating every summer, and you could tell. Drouin never seems to improve any aspect of his game.

Just don't see the dedication on the ice that he purportedly has off the ice.

Hold on a minute -- it's nearly the end of August and we're bound to get the Drouin PR Blitz where the media re-iterates Drouin's dedication to his and his team's success.

 

[BLONG7]

Drouin already came back. He just needs to be healthy but he really cleaned up at both ends of the ice last season. I know half of you wanna shoot him so I expect a mild freak out

In what, year 8-9 of his pro career, where he has just been a disappointment, I am thinkng he will only play 25=30 games this year for the habs.....
Say this everytime, loads of talent, and zero heart, or hustle.......and almost no brain. Just doesn't bring what is needed in todays NHL. Can't shoot, and wont go to the net.
Said this last year, would love to be wrong, and have him play well and fetch us a 2nd rounder.

 

[beowulf]

Hope they all do but I think Gallagher has the best chance with maybe Drouin and Hoffman. All of them having strong seasons up to the deadline might make trading some for more picks/prospects more likely.

 

[StCaufield]

People still voting Drouin eh

God I cant believe I used to be that naive lol

And the answer is neither of em lol

Sorry but at least he has a chance unlike the others on the list. Sorry if he hurt your feelings

Well, he only had 6 goals and averaged less than 2 shots a game. So, if he stays healthy than he should be good for 14 goals! Drouin is BACK baby

Yeah because most of the team was far worse than him before he got injured so your condescending comment makes you look foolish

 

[MarioLeMoose]

Yeah because most of the team was far worse than him before he got injured so your condescending comment makes you look foolish

Oh okay. So it's the rest of the teams fault Drouin only had 6 goals last year. Gotcha

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

What a shitty ass comment.

...truth hurts, I know...but please, continue to make any & every excuse possible for poor Floaty...we know he will continue to do it...

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Drouin has a David Perron breakout season.

How is that possible? Drouin is a weak perimeter player

Probably Gallagher, he's a shooting on goal machine and goes to the dirty areas.

He’s a shooting in the goalie’s chest machine. He’s got no shot.

 

[Lshap]

Sorry but at least he has a chance unlike the others on the list. Sorry if he hurt your feelings

Yeah because most of the team was far worse than him before he got injured so your condescending comment makes you look foolish

If 2022/23 is the season Drouin remains healthy and productive, we'll all cheer for him. But after consecutive seasons of 20, 23, and 15 points, the onus is on him to change our perception, not on us to give him more benefit of the doubt.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

...truth hurts, I know...but please, continue to make any & every excuse possible for poor Floaty...we know he will continue to do it...

Point out to me where I made a single excuse for him.

Or are you just going to respond with some cringy gif? I truly hope no one ever has the misfortune of needing you.

 

[junyab]

I don't think Gally's body will allow him to a have productive year. I'll vote Drouin.

 

[MXD]

...truth hurts, I know...but please, continue to make any & every excuse possible for poor Floaty...we know he will continue to do it...

Please continue to make excuses for bad posts.

 

[Kents polished head]

I can see Hoffman somehow bouncing back to 25 goals and 25 assists if he plays all season.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Drouin is so freaking awful and im not even gonna lie when i say i love watching him be ass. The amount of told you so that goes thru my veins watching this scrub play is incredible. what a bum good riddance

 

[HomeAndHome]

I think Drouin is what he is, given good health he'll be back to his usual self. Byron's injuries are just too much imo, so he could be done.

Hoffman is a shooter, he can make a comeback pretty easily. Gallagher is a better player than he showed last year, injuries and short offseason didn't set him up for a good year last year. Armia will be a decent 3rd liner again.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Point out to me where I made a single excuse for him.

Or are you just going to respond with some cringy gif? I truly hope no one ever has the misfortune of needing you.

...post #61 in this thread, for example, the exact post you chirped me for bringing up Floaty bailing on his team, just like he did with Tampa, just like he tried with the Mooseheads...as for the "misfortune" comment; I'm a grandfather and a Disabled Veteran, sorry if I have zero pity for an entitled floater who has a history of bailing on his teams...

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Wouldn't it just be a breakout season for Drouin if he was unexpectedly good? What would he be coming back from? He was about as productive last year as he's been every year with the Habs.

For starters, playing close to 82 games would be a breakthrough. If healthy, hitting 60 points would also be a breakthrough. Being more consistent all-around would also be.

Let's see if MSL can work his magic. Drouin has played a grand total of 2 games under him. If we ever grt a sorta Drouin 2.0, we'll truly have to start considering MSL as a miracle man.