and, this is more of an eye test metric, but they seem to love playing up to better opposition. i always find that teams on the up tend to exhibit this trait, just need to learn to be consistent against lesser or equal opposition
@@martinlatour9311 yea but you don't go through a rebuild just to make the playoffs. We're still a whole line away from being contenders and I don't want people to get riled up and ask for trades to win now. Exciting hockey will be in 2-3 years. Not before
😂 I really hope he stays. We need more rugged players like him. It’s not only size and dishing hits, he has that dog in him. Never back down attitude. That’s what you need to win
soon we could have two of them. his brother florian took big strides in junior this year. he could be an effective bottom 6 forward for us in a few years.
I'm not a Montreal fan by any means, but even I will admit that Kent Hughes put out an absolute master class regarding Sean Monahan. Received a 1st round pick to take him from Calgary, then trades him a couple years later for another first round pick?!? Sheeeesh...
Also, there is a small possibility Monahan could sign back in Montreal because he really liked it here and we didn’t give up on him. I hope he signs wherever pays him the most because his injuries cost him a few years of prime contract and that the team in question also has cup aspirations, really loved the player he’s a fit on any NHL team.
What a home run that turned out to be. Credit to everyone involved from Hughes to Monahan to St.Louis and the coaching staff. The Monahan In/Out trades + Dach and Newhook trades are looking like great so far. Hughes is a Think outside the box type GM. I like it
He also Traded Petry twice. He got Matheson, Légaré, and a 2nd for him, then dumped Hoffman to get him back, then traded him to Detroit for Lidstrom and a 4th....2 picks and 2 prospects for Petry and Hoffman.
I'm 64 years old and was lucky enough to see some of the best years of the Habs, but I am excited to get in on the ground floor of watching this team grow into a contending team and following some of the young players here now and coming up. We went through some bad management in the past, but I have great faith in Mr. Gorton, Mr. Hughes and MSL and more importantly Habs hockey is FUN again !
I'm not the biggest follower of les canadiens, but here's the thing: Martin was a great player, especially with the fact that he was undrafted. If he can have as a coach ahlf of the career he had playing, Montreal might be a serious team soon
I'm 59 years old, so like you I remember the Habs in their hayday. I like what I see lately, and know that with some patience this team could a great team again. I look forward to that day.
Another point to add is how prominent that Armia-Newhook-Gallagher line was towards the end of the season. If that’s your 3rd line for next season with Dach coming back on a 2nd line with Roy that could be very interesting.
@@pixelj4877 Ideally Dvorak's moved soon, but if he isn't, then competition throughout a lineup is never a bad thing. Plus injuries are bound to happen so you never have too many centres.
The y are still missing 2-3 players on their Top 6. Roy is not currently someone that would be considered yet top 6 on a contender. Dach is a question mark health wise year after year. Also the depth of their offence pool is nowhere near comparable as what they have on defence. They need to add more talent on offence and they need to bulk up player wise if they want to have the possibility to eventually win a Stanley Cup. I have nothing against Newhook and Caufield but the new additions will have to be more in the Dach and Slafkovsky size than the two aforementioned players to be able to compete and have the necessary size and muscle mass that a deep playoff run requires.
16 OT losses and many more tight game loses. With all these kids getting better and better, the balance will begin to tip in their favor very soon. I expect them in the 85 to 90 points next year. Not quite playoff strong but it's coming.
I think they can hit the 95-100 point mark if everything pans out right. But thats unlikely. I think 90 points is still pretty high expectations. I just look. We won't have Monahan for 82 games and we would have to need Suzuki to still be shooting at like 18% and putting up that many shots. I think that we will progress but small like 80-85 points. This part of the rebuild is the biggest hump. But we will know WHEN we will be over it. I think they need a 2nd line. RIght now it's at best Dach Newhook Roy. And that's saying Dach is healthy.
Hoping Slafkovsky takes another step next year, but all in all expectations remain low to make the playoffs. Martin St-Louis is doing exceptional work in developing the Habs’ young players, that’s what matters most right now
My expectations are also low for making the playoffs.. I'd just like them to be in the hunt a little more this year. Keep it competitive in the standings past Christmas.
I doubt we'll make the playoffs for the next 5 years, it all comes down to drafting and finding a goaltender (we truly were blessed to have Carey Price on this team). So far I'm already not confident in Kent Hughes' drafting record but we'll see what happens.
I dont think its crazy to say we will make the playoffs. We could have made the playoffs this year, I mean when you think about the close games we lost.. Think about the injuries, it was all there. But rather thankfuly, we werent winning and got a chance to draft another stud. If this team is healthy and brings up the young talent, playoffs as soon as next year is very possible. Another question is, how well can this team do in the playoffs...
@@angryassyrian5627 Well, he drafted Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, Owen Beck, Mesard and Fowler in the same draft year. Those 5, it would be difficult to argue that they won't be solid NHL players. What else would you really want? :)
@@jacksonbarry5407Newhook had 15 goals and 34 points in 55 games while only clicking with wingers towards the end when he got separated from Anderson. He also did not play all his games at Center. Kirby Dach had 14 goals and 38 points in 58 games (last season so a year younger than Newhook was this season since they are the same age) but got to play with Suzuki and Caufield. They both ended their seasons with 15 points in 20 games (9g/6a for Dach and 6G/9a for Newhook). Dach is a two way big mobile body and Newhook is a fast skater that takes shots. We are all high on Dach but I’m also very high on Newhook.
at the start of the season the line of Slaf, Dach and Newhook looked awesome. Both games. Unfortunately it went sideways when Dach got hurt. I'd like to see that line team up again next year
After Bergevin it's an absolute breath of fresh air to have a competent management willing to embrace the tank. No other way to build in a cap league, especially for a Canadian market that has trouble attracting UFAs.
I agree, although, even if I'm not a fan of Bergevin, they had their hands tied a bit since on a lot of years, even a pretty weak habs team was able to sneak into the playoffs only because of Carey Price. I feel like on most years, because of Price, even if they wanted to rebuild, they would most probably get middling picks in between the 10-20 range, since he probably would've stolen a good amount of games
Love to see you here firstly but yeah I 100% agree I have a lot of confidence in our teams future. I feel like this current roster this season was good enough! And Caufield had a down year. Dach didn't play. Hutson Reinbacher Mailloix didn't play. Roy played only 20 games. Beck Mesar and more are also still not here. Fowler isn't here. AND we have a top hopefully 5 pick this year.
even being a Bruins fan, I agree with the last sentence. Montreal is synonimous with the game. Even after they stopped winning the Cup the fans never lost a step. As said by Dick Irvin Jr in 2014, the people keep coming.
@@otaviofrnazario I am a habs fan since 2013. Mostly because how much I loved the city when I visited. I used to live in Alberta as non-canadian, so didn't get much love up there for being a habs fan lol
Very excited about a core of Suzuki,Caufield,Hutson,Slafkovsky and Reinbacher, with Roy, Guhle and potentially Cayden Lindstrom to support! This team might be dynamite in a few years.
that would be awesome if we could grab lindstrom, he's the kind of player we need. although i'd still take celebrini if given the chance. demidov would be nice too.
5 of the top 6 seem to be in place with 1 question mark being can dach stay healthy , i could see a free agent winger being added to go in the top 6 or a trade . A trade is going to have to happen eventually with how many good young d prospects in the system we currently have . I dont mibd the zegras trade rumors, but only if the price is right . The last 2 seasons hughes has made major trades invloving 1st round draft pics, so i won't be surprised when he does it again . Newhooks strong play after returning from injury seemed to fly under the radar but he answered alot of questions about if hes part of the future of the team . The goalies are completely fine , let them tandem it up , and let them decide there future with there play . I couldn't be more excited for the Montreal canadiens , its the first rebuild for the team in my lifetime .
@@michelricher5549 possibly, but I see owen beck there long term. if newhook isn’t good enough for L2, we should probably trade him for someone who is.
A very good analysis. It’s my first time on your channel. I think I caught somewhere in that video that you were a Bruins fan. The Bruins had a solid team for years now. It will be nice to see our relationship as rival heat up again. I wish you luck I think the Bruins will remain competitive if they can continue to bring up young and upcoming talented players as they did for so many years. It will be nice to see both teams compete against one another as they did for so many years.
If not for Bedard's injury, his 70 points would've been infinitely more difficult to obtain. Don't see a lot of Canadians games but presuming he's played with Caufield and Slafkovsky for most/all of the year (that's the depth chart I'm seeing online), those guys are infinitely better than what Bedard had to work with; their roster was historically bad even before losing Hall for the whole year and he was a massive % of the actual NHL talent they had.
However, Bedard is hailed as a generational talent. Not the likes of McDavid. But he's up there. Suzuki was never mentioned as a generational talent. He's "just" talented. They are 2 different types of players too. Bedards point total was definitely impressive though. Have to give him that. Just can't discredit slick Nick @@brianhum8765
Totally agree, great video. I'm a DIE HARD Habs fan from Montreal and I love your way of seeing the positive 🤙 would be amazing to be in the playoff run next year
Great video. I’ve been a Habs fan since I can remember, I was only 5 when they hoisted their last cup, so seeing them make a cup final a few years ago was special, even though we all knew we didn’t stand a chance. That being said, I’m glad that Molson has decided to finally pull the trigger on an actual rebuild and is showing some patience in the process. Watching them patch together a roster to make the playoffs season after season, with no real long term goals was getting frustrating.
First time I see Montreal Canadiens actually rebuilding with smart and experienced GM great Job so far I can finally see some light in the near future .
You should have mentioned Newhook, who was out most of the season. He did very well with Gallagher and Armia when they were matched together very late in the season. Heck Newhook and Armia had Gallagher looking like peak Gallagher during the last 10 or so games. The potential for Newhook + Dach + 1 next season is tantalizing. If they click the Habs will upgrade from a 1 line team to a 2 line team.
Can't help but think another year on all those young guys is gonna have a real impact, a full season of Hutson is going to be exciting. That kid has crazy wheels.
i have that jersey . ill try and keep it brief . im excited for this years draft . there are some blue chip picks that would move the d core down a notch . im hopeful that the first rounder from last year can make the team out of camp . as well as the ahl team being strong developing their players into something special . im also patient in the rebuild . i would expect no rfas ,or help top 6 . its a time for evaluation of talent .not a time for trying to decide who to sacrifice for short term gains .rhp and roy should be playing with the habs .they have nothing to prove in the ahl atm imo . being involved in a three way deal picking up cap is possible , gorton/hughes seem to like that type of thing . imo they have one spot on d and one on o to fill. i dont expect ylonen back . 82 points . gohabsgo
I think Montreal will take a nice step forward next year. I don't know if they will make the playoffs but, I feel they will be close enough to play meaningful games down the stretch.
The defensive depth is amazing and stacked...Ghule, Mailloux, Hutson, Reinbacher, Struble, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Kohnyushkov....It's crazy ! A forward or 2 will be next picks this year and if they get the 1st it's gonna be Celebrini just because he played with Hutson. If it's 2-3 it's gonna be Demidov or Lidstrom, 4-5 is gonna be Catton or Eiserman and if it's 7, it's gonna be Tij Igninla. They would fit perfectly !
yeah Montreal rarely does a retool or rebuild the last time they missed 4 years in a row with out a playoffs was 1910 -1913 you know in the NHA, in the NHL the most they missed was 3 in a row 3 times and 2 in a row once.
it's all about the process now. 2 more years of rebuild and we're off. and rebuild strong too. the D-core is the big problem now : who to trade, who do they keep? Mailloux will fit right in as Lane Hudson. second, third and fourth lines need to be redone also. i think we're heading the right way. too bad Dach wasn't part of it this year because he was looking dominant.
@@ubasic trade harris and barron. long term top four is guhle with mailloux and hutson with reinbacher. so we'll have to eventually trade matheson as well. i'd do it next offseason. don't wait too long until the asset is untradeable like josh anderson. matheson has to be dealt at the peak of his value.
The rebuild is going just fine. I am a LONG time Habs fan, and we are often impatient (something the Leafs fans know well). However, the fan base generally accepts the current rebuild. Full marks to the management, coaching & development groups. Will changes be necessary as the team moves from playoff hopeful to contender? Maybe, but not for a couple of years yet. We are generally hopeful with the goalie and defense development. We know there is work to be done at forward, but the Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovski trio form a good base for the future. The playoffs show that strength, grit and power are critical for deep runs ... oh, and can we have a dollop of the Edmonton power play please? They're incredible. I don't expect playoffs in 24-25, but a low seed in 25-26 is possible, followed by contending in 26-27 and continuing to improve thereafter.
Ofc THG actually gives Slaf credit....People saying his PEAK is 15 more points then his 19 year old season is WILD. Not saying he 100% will be but he has the best chance to a 100 point player.
I think that when you're a team out of the playoffs at the trade deadline, you can definitely overdo selling off veterans; especially when you're a young team and some of those veterans are key as mentors to the younger stars coming up in the system. You're also resetting to zero all the time in the offseason and risk slipping into a forever rebuild. It'll be tough to make up ground in their division, with so many other teams also wanting to make the next step to the playoffs and a lot of long time powerhouse teams in the top four still hanging in there.
7 месяцев назад
Agreed. Sean Monahan will be without a contract after these playoffs; maybe the Habs bring him back next year...
As a Habs fan, I've recently come to find myself liking Utah Coyotes' sniper Clayton Keller probably because of my own team's current situation. Like the Coyotes, the Habs have some pieces in place to build with. It is a matter of acquiring the depth to go places.
Great video . I expect them to not be a playoff team but they ll rise to around 22 nd place . They be a threat for playoff wildcard the year after next season
Forgot to mention Newhook, very good hockey player. Battled a high ankle sprain but when he got his rhythm back, he thrived. Speedy, versatile, and smart forward.
I am Very hopeful for the future and I cannot wait for Hutson & Fowler (and whoever we draft this year) to be in the NHL and the rest of the core to be in their prime. It should be quite a team in a couple years.
The young D core will be solid in a year or two and so is the top 9 forwards, only a player or two away. If Monty and/or Primeau can raise their game just a notch, which can come with the D core having more experience, Mtl is set up for a bright future for many years.
When \MTL brought Mr. Gorton after Rangers rebuild. I think Modern Montreal knew at least 3-Years of missing play-offs. Kinda worth it, the assests are amazing!! Even if Miss Play-off's another year!. MTL bought in! to be a Dynasty again, rather than patching... R.
One prospect that's been very impressive everywhere he's played is Owen Beck. And that includes his one game in the show. He impressed every shift. Another player that might be a dark horse is Bogdan Konyushkov.
Seems they're focusing on goaltending and defense first. I like the combo of Montembeault and Primeau and they're stacked on defense. They need to get bigger up front with their forwards so would love to see them take Lindstrom if he's available. Playoffs are about goaltending and defense. I like the direction and identity they're building!
Crucial detail concerning Caufield: He was still recovering from his off season surgery throughout most of the season. His shot selection was totally different than in the past where he had a wicked snapshot. The snapshot eventually came back this season but only with like 10-12 games left. If he stays healthy next year Caufield will probably have 35ish goals.
They will definitely be a better team, Dach has to play more then 2 games so that should help. I think they will be fighting for a playoff spot maybe not make it but close. It was a much better year to watch the games, they didn't get crushed as bad as the 2 previous years.
If the Habs can improve on the back end and in goal, they should have the makings of a very good team. Suzuki needs to work on his face-offs, but he could be a Bergeron type of player with maybe a bit more offence and if Dach can figure his game out, they have a good, young 1-2 punch down the middle. I don't know that they make the playoffs next year necessarily, but I like the direction they're going in. We saw with the Canucks, who admittedly had a lot of talent to begin with, that all it can take is a few really smart moves and the right coach and you can improve quickly. I wouldn't go trading 1st round picks like the Canucks did, though. Stay the course, draft and develop good, young talent and know when to make your moves in free agency and trades.
Not necessarily, goalies are really difficult to project and typically bloom late. Having Fowler in the system is excellent depth and gives them some flexibility if Monty/Primeau can't get it done, however I genuinely think Monty and Primeau could be one of the best tandems in the league as early as next season@@doaftheloaf
If they can get Lindstrom or Iginla at the draft this team will be at the top 5 nhl team in 2 years they already have some good young forwards and defencemans they just need a better goaltender
I'm surprised that you didn't talk about Newhook. He got a pretty decent season for his first year in MTL and he could really be part of the future of this team.
This summer and next has to be HUGE for the Habs, they should get a great player with their 5OA pick but I they they have to make big trade to bring in a Top 6 player, I don’t think that they will take a big signing in this years FA market. I think next year’s summer will be even bigger and determine where they are in the rebuild and how much more they have to go with it
Dont sleep on Fowler. Future looks bright for Montreal. Colorados 2nd pick could end up by high 2nd round, maybe leverage to trade up in the draft if packaged right, maybe with one of those big contracts and their first. Anyway, we know Hughes is always working, and he's already done nore positives in his tenure so far than Bergevin did in all those years.
The key is to have healthy people, a full season of Dach and Dvorak pretty much killed it. Lines 2-3-4 have less goal than Auston Matthews, secondary scoring needs a major boost.
Realistically i expect montreal to challenge for a wildcard spot next year. If the team can avoid major injuries and the young players continue to develop. They are in a division/conference with alot of really good teams
Imagine the end of season lineup with dach, roy, reinbacher, whoever we select this season, beck, mesar, fowler and whoever we trade for in the upcoming years. OMG WERE GONNA BE GOOD
Montreal is on the cusp of being a dangerous team-- still a bit of chaff around the 3rd and 4th lines, but when their D matures and the goalies are more rested during the game, they will be a frustrating shut down team to play against.
How do the odds for there pick make any sense, how do they have a higher percent chance of drafting 6th when they finished 5th, and how can not draft 4th but could draft 1st, im not very smart but this seems like really stupid
They should keep the same formula ..Move out vets whenever they can draft and trade for picks and youth ...Keep playing the long game to become a long term contender ..
I am betting Habs will make the playoffs next season. If Dach and Newhook are both healthy for a full season, the Habs could potentially have 5 20-goal scorers on the team. Excited for next season for sure.
The team is 100% going to be stronger with more skilled dmen on our team like Hutson and Mailloux, although we shouldn't expect too much in the first season. It's all going to come down to who we pick up in the offseason and if it's some actual decent player instead of a plumber and Dach plays the full season, I don't think we make playoffs but we could be close to pushing a wild card spot. I think Montreal becomes a playoff team in 2-3 seasons.
i hope we don't. we're picking too early to do that. only way i consider it at 5 is if celebrini, demidov, lindstrom, and catton are all gone by the time we pick. and i don't think that happens, because someone will take levshunov, buium , and/or silayev by then. maybe if we fall to 7. don't pick a player expecting him to be his father. tij will be a good player, but he won't be a superstar.
They need a lot of leadership and 3 full lines of forwards, including a top line still. Slafkovsky might be enough for a top line eventually, but for me, Suzuki and Caufield would be best as #2. Suzuki might be able to first line of he can become a + player. The year they went to the cup final they technically didn't make the playoffs.
The biggest short term issue for Montreal is deciding which defensemen you keep mid/long term … because they simply got way way too many ready at the same time and there is vets you dont wanna get rid of as well, because being nhl ready doesn’t mean ready to replace veterans. 2nd biggest short term problem is having one of the costliest bottom 6 in the NHL, Anderson (5.5), Gallagher (6.5), Dvorak (4.45), Armia (3.4), Newhook (2.9), luckily Pearson is a UFA otherwise it would have been an additional 3.25.
Anderson is likely getting traded alongside a defensemen prospect (Kovacevic, Struble or Norlinder) to sweeten the deal. Dvorak too, but only if Jake Evans can become good enough to replace him at face-offs.
On a playoff or cup contending team, i do not see Newhook being top6, if he could be the 3rd line center instead of Dvorak it would be the perfect spot for him. Except for Roy, maybe this year’s first pick and maybe Beck … i do not see the forward group improving from the bottom (rookies, AHL, prospects) for a while. Gotta add to the top which pushes down talent on the other lines.
I don't think MTL has to decide on D-men now, they're not ready yet and odds are there will be busts. If you don't have a good idea who the bust(s) will be, you don't move anyone... And you have 2 D-men that are gone in 2 years, there's plenty of space to take in those that are actually ready and not replacement-level then.
Sorry Shannon, you can't have Xhekaj. He's OURS, dammit! And he is a unicorn, so don't expect Hughes to trade him anytime soon. We know how rare he is, a guy who hits hard, fights well (when necessary - I think Xhekaj has started to learn how to pick his battles, which is good because the last thing we need is more injuries), and who actually has decent hockey skills (including a deadly-accurate wrist shot) and an unimpeachable character (including downright legendary self-discipline and work ethic, both of which took him from stocking shelves at Costco to dishing sweet saucer passes in the NHL). I'd go so far as to call him part of Montréal's young core. Guhle, Reinbacher and Hutson are all going to be amazing, but I'd put Xhekaj down as their #4 guy on defense (long-term...once Savard and Matheson are gone*), narrowly edging out Harris. It's possible he'll PLAY on the 3rd-pairing with Mailloux over the long-term (given how well they worked together in Laval), but that would be ideal actually (given how rare strong 3rd-pairings are - a lot of teams exploit their opponents' 3rd pairings, and I don't see that happening with Xhekaj and Mailloux). *I have complicated feelings about Matheson's future with this team, but overall, I think it would probably be wise to sell high on him, maybe as soon as next trade deadline...he's not going to get better, and teams will pay well to acquire his services, believing he can sustain this kind of pace. The older he gets, the less valuable he is as a tradable asset, so the Habs need to carefully consider if or when they pull the trigger on a Matheson trade. That said, if Montréal is in a playoff position in February next year, Matheson strikes me as the kind of player they'd want to keep (Savard too, maybe), considering his experience and leadership, and the fact that injuries happen and it's better to be over-prepared (plus, there is no salary cap in the post-season, and you can have an unlimited roster size from which you're able to choose your 18 skaters on any given night).
agree on matheson. if he's still on the roster on 7/1/2025, we've waited too long. 62 points is good, but he's not a great defender. deal him in the next year, and we can get a 1st, and perhaps something else. don't wait too long like we did with anderson. harris and barron are likely trade bait. arby's likely #5 long term; guhle-mailloux and hutson-reinbacher are the first two pairings. he'll be capable of top four in case of injury, though. we'll keep both our xhekajs, thank you. florian improved greatly last season, and will be a huge asset on L3/L4 in a few years. best case is probably a lawson crouse type.
I believe it all depends on who they get this summer. The draft is big, and they are supposed to make a move for a goal scorer as well. As long as they dont get someone like PLD, we should be battling for a wild card spot this year, and if we get a top 3 pick, we might not even have to fight for a wild card spot!! I know im tired of knowing in the first game of the preseason that we have no chance of making the playoffs, it's depressing. My team has fallen SOOOOOOO far! From 1940-1993 Habs missed the playoffs TWICE! They haven't made the playoffs in the last 3 years! So we missed the playoffs more in the last 3 years then we did in 53 years! From 1940-1993. Molson needs to held more accountable for destroying our team. It's the first time forever that i felt an ounce of excitement, but they could do something stupid, like use a draft pick in a draft full of offensive studs, to pick a defenseman who scored 3 goals in the last 2 years! Especially when we already had THIRTEEN dmen! lol. I digress, i know everyone loves reinbacher, and your all gonna say give him a chance, how do u know what he's gonna do? He just got here. Im going off his past, It's rare that someone sucks in the Swiss league, and then comes to north America and just lights it up, and turns into a 1st round defenseman, but Habs fans seem to think we have the gem! lol, we'll see. i hope im wrong, but i doubt it. GO HABS GO!!!
I think Montreal led the league in one goal losses. Winning half of those alone puts them in the playoff hunt.
and, this is more of an eye test metric, but they seem to love playing up to better opposition. i always find that teams on the up tend to exhibit this trait, just need to learn to be consistent against lesser or equal opposition
But at the same time, we're also one of the team whose win are mostly ot or shootout. Seems like we can't win in regulation
@@philtess3126 Put a full season Dach in there and it wouldnt be the case
@@martinlatour9311 yea but you don't go through a rebuild just to make the playoffs. We're still a whole line away from being contenders and I don't want people to get riled up and ask for trades to win now. Exciting hockey will be in 2-3 years. Not before
A brutal OT record in 2024 did this.
I threw up a little bit at the thought of Xhekaj in Boston.
😂 I really hope he stays. We need more rugged players like him. It’s not only size and dishing hits, he has that dog in him. Never back down attitude. That’s what you need to win
soon we could have two of them. his brother florian took big strides in junior this year. he could be an effective bottom 6 forward for us in a few years.
@@doaftheloaf i hope he pans out
@@ubasiche's currently booking tee times so he won't be checking any Bruins players any time soon LoL
@@ShaunAnderson_Sauce He just got out of surgery anyways. We'll have to wait until next season haha
I'm not a Montreal fan by any means, but even I will admit that Kent Hughes put out an absolute master class regarding Sean Monahan. Received a 1st round pick to take him from Calgary, then trades him a couple years later for another first round pick?!? Sheeeesh...
The ultimate risk/reward payout.
Also, there is a small possibility Monahan could sign back in Montreal because he really liked it here and we didn’t give up on him.
I hope he signs wherever pays him the most because his injuries cost him a few years of prime contract and that the team in question also has cup aspirations, really loved the player he’s a fit on any NHL team.
It should also be noted that he had to resign Monahan after he only played 35 games. Then he was flipped for another 1st.
What a home run that turned out to be. Credit to everyone involved from Hughes to Monahan to St.Louis and the coaching staff.
The Monahan In/Out trades + Dach and Newhook trades are looking like great so far. Hughes is a Think outside the box type GM. I like it
He also Traded Petry twice. He got Matheson, Légaré, and a 2nd for him, then dumped Hoffman to get him back, then traded him to Detroit for Lidstrom and a 4th....2 picks and 2 prospects for Petry and Hoffman.
I'm 64 years old and was lucky enough to see some of the best years of the Habs, but I am excited to get in on the ground floor of watching this team grow into a contending team and following some of the young players here now and coming up. We went through some bad management in the past, but I have great faith in Mr. Gorton, Mr. Hughes and MSL and more importantly Habs hockey is FUN again !
I'm not the biggest follower of les canadiens, but here's the thing: Martin was a great player, especially with the fact that he was undrafted. If he can have as a coach ahlf of the career he had playing, Montreal might be a serious team soon
Yeah, some people will laugh at us but even if we finish 28th, Habs games was awesome to watch this year. The kids will be so good.
I'm 59 years old, so like you I remember the Habs in their hayday. I like what I see lately, and know that with some patience this team could a great team again. I look forward to that day.
i have chills thinking about it
No wonder you got over 300k subs. Great analysis Sir. MTL has an optimistic future indeed and next 2 summers will define MTL for years to come.
Another point to add is how prominent that Armia-Newhook-Gallagher line was towards the end of the season. If that’s your 3rd line for next season with Dach coming back on a 2nd line with Roy that could be very interesting.
If it`s Suzuki, Dach, Newhook and Evans down the middle, what happens to Dvorak?
@@pixelj4877 Ideally Dvorak's moved soon, but if he isn't, then competition throughout a lineup is never a bad thing. Plus injuries are bound to happen so you never have too many centres.
@@pixelj4877 Dach can play on the left too
@@TheRickRoller1think he plays right wing.
The y are still missing 2-3 players on their Top 6. Roy is not currently someone that would be considered yet top 6 on a contender. Dach is a question mark health wise year after year. Also the depth of their offence pool is nowhere near comparable as what they have on defence. They need to add more talent on offence and they need to bulk up player wise if they want to have the possibility to eventually win a Stanley Cup. I have nothing against Newhook and Caufield but the new additions will have to be more in the Dach and Slafkovsky size than the two aforementioned players to be able to compete and have the necessary size and muscle mass that a deep playoff run requires.
16 OT losses and many more tight game loses. With all these kids getting better and better, the balance will begin to tip in their favor very soon. I expect them in the 85 to 90 points next year. Not quite playoff strong but it's coming.
I think they can hit the 95-100 point mark if everything pans out right. But thats unlikely. I think 90 points is still pretty high expectations. I just look. We won't have Monahan for 82 games and we would have to need Suzuki to still be shooting at like 18% and putting up that many shots. I think that we will progress but small like 80-85 points. This part of the rebuild is the biggest hump. But we will know WHEN we will be over it. I think they need a 2nd line. RIght now it's at best Dach Newhook Roy. And that's saying Dach is healthy.
Hoping Slafkovsky takes another step next year, but all in all expectations remain low to make the playoffs. Martin St-Louis is doing exceptional work in developing the Habs’ young players, that’s what matters most right now
My expectations are also low for making the playoffs.. I'd just like them to be in the hunt a little more this year. Keep it competitive in the standings past Christmas.
I doubt we'll make the playoffs for the next 5 years, it all comes down to drafting and finding a goaltender (we truly were blessed to have Carey Price on this team). So far I'm already not confident in Kent Hughes' drafting record but we'll see what happens.
@@angryassyrian5627 a team doesn't just stumble upon a guy like Price every year. But here's hope
I dont think its crazy to say we will make the playoffs. We could have made the playoffs this year, I mean when you think about the close games we lost.. Think about the injuries, it was all there. But rather thankfuly, we werent winning and got a chance to draft another stud.
If this team is healthy and brings up the young talent, playoffs as soon as next year is very possible. Another question is, how well can this team do in the playoffs...
@@angryassyrian5627 Well, he drafted Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, Owen Beck, Mesard and Fowler in the same draft year. Those 5, it would be difficult to argue that they won't be solid NHL players. What else would you really want? :)
Newhook should be mentioned as he looks like a key middle six player
I’m so excited to see if he works out for us and proves all the nay sayers wrong regarding KH trading those picks.
@@jacksonbarry5407Newhook had 15 goals and 34 points in 55 games while only clicking with wingers towards the end when he got separated from Anderson. He also did not play all his games at Center. Kirby Dach had 14 goals and 38 points in 58 games (last season so a year younger than Newhook was this season since they are the same age) but got to play with Suzuki and Caufield. They both ended their seasons with 15 points in 20 games (9g/6a for Dach and 6G/9a for Newhook). Dach is a two way big mobile body and Newhook is a fast skater that takes shots. We are all high on Dach but I’m also very high on Newhook.
at the start of the season the line of Slaf, Dach and Newhook looked awesome. Both games. Unfortunately it went sideways when Dach got hurt. I'd like to see that line team up again next year
@@tchevrier Newhook will Center the third line with All Heart and One Man Armia while Dach and Roy complete the Celebrini line inshallah.
@@Image1Nation no way. Beck will be the future 3rd line center
Lane Hutson is the most exciting player to watch on this team since the golden days of Subban, can't wait to see him progress !
After Bergevin it's an absolute breath of fresh air to have a competent management willing to embrace the tank. No other way to build in a cap league, especially for a Canadian market that has trouble attracting UFAs.
I agree, although, even if I'm not a fan of Bergevin, they had their hands tied a bit since on a lot of years, even a pretty weak habs team was able to sneak into the playoffs only because of Carey Price. I feel like on most years, because of Price, even if they wanted to rebuild, they would most probably get middling picks in between the 10-20 range, since he probably would've stolen a good amount of games
Love the analysis as always. Really excited for the next few seasons. It's a privilege to be able to say i have full confidence in my team's future.
Love to see you here firstly but yeah I 100% agree I have a lot of confidence in our teams future. I feel like this current roster this season was good enough! And Caufield had a down year. Dach didn't play. Hutson Reinbacher Mailloix didn't play. Roy played only 20 games. Beck Mesar and more are also still not here. Fowler isn't here. AND we have a top hopefully 5 pick this year.
@@4u2nvHock3ypeople need to stop forgetting about Volohkin too. Kids a machine.
Thank you sir, Slaf is coming along nicely
Habs are definitely on the come up and it's exciting. Imo it's good for hockey that the Habs are good
even being a Bruins fan, I agree with the last sentence.
Montreal is synonimous with the game. Even after they stopped winning the Cup the fans never lost a step. As said by Dick Irvin Jr in 2014, the people keep coming.
@@otaviofrnazario I am a habs fan since 2013. Mostly because how much I loved the city when I visited. I used to live in Alberta as non-canadian, so didn't get much love up there for being a habs fan lol
Very excited about a core of Suzuki,Caufield,Hutson,Slafkovsky and Reinbacher, with Roy, Guhle and potentially Cayden Lindstrom to support! This team might be dynamite in a few years.
My gosh these names together just pump me up
Logan Mailloux also
Don't forget the amazing Mario Armia! Best 18 year old to play in the nhl since Mcdavid.
that would be awesome if we could grab lindstrom, he's the kind of player we need. although i'd still take celebrini if given the chance. demidov would be nice too.
Shannon was right - easy to forget about Kirby. He is very much part of the core. Think you just forgot about him here...haha
The habs will barely miss the playoffs next year.
5 of the top 6 seem to be in place with 1 question mark being can dach stay healthy , i could see a free agent winger being added to go in the top 6 or a trade . A trade is going to have to happen eventually with how many good young d prospects in the system we currently have . I dont mibd the zegras trade rumors, but only if the price is right . The last 2 seasons hughes has made major trades invloving 1st round draft pics, so i won't be surprised when he does it again .
Newhooks strong play after returning from injury seemed to fly under the radar but he answered alot of questions about if hes part of the future of the team . The goalies are completely fine , let them tandem it up , and let them decide there future with there play . I couldn't be more excited for the Montreal canadiens , its the first rebuild for the team in my lifetime .
long term, the 6th will be our 1st pick this year. maybe short term if it's celebrini.
Newhook could also end up being a very good 3rd line center
@@michelricher5549 possibly, but I see owen beck there long term. if newhook isn’t good enough for L2, we should probably trade him for someone who is.
@doaftheloaf beck looks like a high end 3rd liner but the kind of player that doesn't look out of place when he moves up the line up
@@THEGDB I agree. I see roy much the same way.
A very good analysis. It’s my first time on your channel. I think I caught somewhere in that video that you were a Bruins fan. The Bruins had a solid team for years now. It will be nice to see our relationship as rival heat up again. I wish you luck I think the Bruins will remain competitive if they can continue to bring up young and upcoming talented players as they did for so many years. It will be nice to see both teams compete against one another as they did for so many years.
Future is looking bright in Montréal. Rebuild process definitely moving forward quicker than we would’ve thought.
I’m convinced Suzuki’s 70ish points were the hardest earned 70ish points in the league.
I mean, these guys were tough to watch.
If not for Bedard's injury, his 70 points would've been infinitely more difficult to obtain. Don't see a lot of Canadians games but presuming he's played with Caufield and Slafkovsky for most/all of the year (that's the depth chart I'm seeing online), those guys are infinitely better than what Bedard had to work with; their roster was historically bad even before losing Hall for the whole year and he was a massive % of the actual NHL talent they had.
@@brianhum8765 yeah, gotta give that one to Bedard.
@@brianhum8765 how many minutes did Bedard played on the PK !?
However, Bedard is hailed as a generational talent. Not the likes of McDavid. But he's up there. Suzuki was never mentioned as a generational talent. He's "just" talented. They are 2 different types of players too. Bedards point total was definitely impressive though. Have to give him that. Just can't discredit slick Nick @@brianhum8765
Totally agree, great video. I'm a DIE HARD Habs fan from Montreal and I love your way of seeing the positive 🤙 would be amazing to be in the playoff run next year
NOOO!!! Do NOT cross everything for Kirby Dach! That's how he got hurt in the first place! Seriously hope he stays healthy, I like him.
Just noticed the NHL shield in French on the jersey. I didn't know this was a thing on it.
Gotta rep home
it became a thing some 5 or so years ago.
@@otaviofrnazario Dawg I have a collectible from like 2000 with LNH on it, it's been like that
Thank you for this presentation
With adding more size up front & a fifth pick in this year's draft perhaps Cayden lindstrom 6'4" forward would definitely help the rebuild
Great video. I’ve been a Habs fan since I can remember, I was only 5 when they hoisted their last cup, so seeing them make a cup final a few years ago was special, even though we all knew we didn’t stand a chance. That being said, I’m glad that Molson has decided to finally pull the trigger on an actual rebuild and is showing some patience in the process. Watching them patch together a roster to make the playoffs season after season, with no real long term goals was getting frustrating.
really good content ,no non sense click bait , you got yourself a subscriber bud :)
The reason you can’t remember the last time the Habs have rebuilt is because this is the first full rebuild in their 100+ year history ❤
the young defensemen pool is stacked in montreal
thanks for a great Habs video!
Suzuki took Slaf under its wing. As the Slaf situation improved, so did the hope of the whole team
First time I see Montreal Canadiens actually rebuilding with smart and experienced GM great Job so far I can finally see some light in the near future .
You should have mentioned Newhook, who was out most of the season. He did very well with Gallagher and Armia when they were matched together very late in the season. Heck Newhook and Armia had Gallagher looking like peak Gallagher during the last 10 or so games. The potential for Newhook + Dach + 1 next season is tantalizing. If they click the Habs will upgrade from a 1 line team to a 2 line team.
Can't help but think another year on all those young guys is gonna have a real impact, a full season of Hutson is going to be exciting. That kid has crazy wheels.
To be fair, Nic Roy was the only VGK member producing points in that MTL series.
i have that jersey . ill try and keep it brief .
im excited for this years draft . there are some blue chip picks that would move the d core down a notch .
im hopeful that the first rounder from last year can make the team out of camp .
as well as the ahl team being strong developing their players into something special .
im also patient in the rebuild .
i would expect no rfas ,or help top 6 . its a time for evaluation of talent .not a time for trying to decide who to sacrifice for short term gains .rhp and roy should be playing with the habs .they have nothing to prove in the ahl atm imo .
being involved in a three way deal picking up cap is possible , gorton/hughes seem to like that type of thing .
imo they have one spot on d and one on o to fill.
i dont expect ylonen back .
82 points .
gohabsgo
I think Montreal will take a nice step forward next year. I don't know if they will make the playoffs but, I feel they will be close enough to play meaningful games down the stretch.
I do believe the habs will contend for a playoff spot next season. If they make it cool if not well in 2026 they should be a playoff team.
Happy we started to go in the right direction we can see the core that will help this team win bring on next season
Very interesting channel, good stuff in here!
Been waiting for this one.
The defensive depth is amazing and stacked...Ghule, Mailloux, Hutson, Reinbacher, Struble, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Kohnyushkov....It's crazy ! A forward or 2 will be next picks this year and if they get the 1st it's gonna be Celebrini just because he played with Hutson. If it's 2-3 it's gonna be Demidov or Lidstrom, 4-5 is gonna be Catton or Eiserman and if it's 7, it's gonna be Tij Igninla. They would fit perfectly !
yeah Montreal rarely does a retool or rebuild the last time they missed 4 years in a row with out a playoffs was 1910 -1913 you know in the NHA, in the NHL the most they missed was 3 in a row 3 times and 2 in a row once.
it's all about the process now. 2 more years of rebuild and we're off. and rebuild strong too. the D-core is the big problem now : who to trade, who do they keep? Mailloux will fit right in as Lane Hudson. second, third and fourth lines need to be redone also. i think we're heading the right way.
too bad Dach wasn't part of it this year because he was looking dominant.
@@ubasic trade harris and barron. long term top four is guhle with mailloux and hutson with reinbacher. so we'll have to eventually trade matheson as well. i'd do it next offseason. don't wait too long until the asset is untradeable like josh anderson. matheson has to be dealt at the peak of his value.
@@doaftheloaf I'm not trading Matheson. He was born in Montréal, and he skates like the wind. You use draft picks hoping to get players like that.
@@elomellow1623 he’s 30 and at his peak. he’s weak defensively. best to deal him at the peak of his value.
Rebuild looks solid so far
The rebuild is going just fine. I am a LONG time Habs fan, and we are often impatient (something the Leafs fans know well). However, the fan base generally accepts the current rebuild. Full marks to the management, coaching & development groups. Will changes be necessary as the team moves from playoff hopeful to contender? Maybe, but not for a couple of years yet. We are generally hopeful with the goalie and defense development. We know there is work to be done at forward, but the Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovski trio form a good base for the future. The playoffs show that strength, grit and power are critical for deep runs ... oh, and can we have a dollop of the Edmonton power play please? They're incredible. I don't expect playoffs in 24-25, but a low seed in 25-26 is possible, followed by contending in 26-27 and continuing to improve thereafter.
Think they fight for a wildcard spot next season depending how they do things this summer
Ofc THG actually gives Slaf credit....People saying his PEAK is 15 more points then his 19 year old season is WILD. Not saying he 100% will be but he has the best chance to a 100 point player.
They will be in the mix for a playoff spot next season I think. But so will a lot of teams. The east is crazy.
I think that when you're a team out of the playoffs at the trade deadline, you can definitely overdo selling off veterans; especially when you're a young team and some of those veterans are key as mentors to the younger stars coming up in the system. You're also resetting to zero all the time in the offseason and risk slipping into a forever rebuild. It'll be tough to make up ground in their division, with so many other teams also wanting to make the next step to the playoffs and a lot of long time powerhouse teams in the top four still hanging in there.
Agreed. Sean Monahan will be without a contract after these playoffs; maybe the Habs bring him back next year...
Thanks for the video! Go Habs Go
As a Habs fan, I've recently come to find myself liking Utah Coyotes' sniper Clayton Keller probably because of my own team's current situation. Like the Coyotes, the Habs have some pieces in place to build with. It is a matter of acquiring the depth to go places.
Great video . I expect them to not be a playoff team but they ll rise to around 22 nd place . They be a threat for playoff wildcard the year after next season
Forgot to mention Newhook, very good hockey player. Battled a high ankle sprain but when he got his rhythm back, he thrived. Speedy, versatile, and smart forward.
I think Engstrom and Konyushkov are likely to be good rookies as well ! Fun times ahead, great analysis
I am Very hopeful for the future and I cannot wait for Hutson & Fowler (and whoever we draft this year) to be in the NHL and the rest of the core to be in their prime. It should be quite a team in a couple years.
The young D core will be solid in a year or two and so is the top 9 forwards, only a player or two away. If Monty and/or Primeau can raise their game just a notch, which can come with the D core having more experience, Mtl is set up for a bright future for many years.
Don't forget that in two years, the best goalie in the NCAA right now will gonna come to MTL (Jacob Fowler).
When \MTL brought Mr. Gorton after Rangers rebuild. I think Modern Montreal knew at least 3-Years of missing play-offs. Kinda worth it, the assests are amazing!! Even if Miss Play-off's another year!. MTL bought in! to be a Dynasty again, rather than patching... R.
I think we're still underestimating Dach. He's a first liner up there with Caufield and Suzuki.
I think Slafkovsky's considerably better. He will be the center of the second line if he's healthy. Will play with Roy and Newhook.
@@elomellow1623certainly you don’t mean slaf will play at the center position?
@@MrDmitch88 No I meant that Slafkvosky is a better player overall than Dach, and that Dach will be the center of the second line.
One prospect that's been very impressive everywhere he's played is Owen Beck. And that includes his one game in the show. He impressed every shift.
Another player that might be a dark horse is Bogdan Konyushkov.
The team would never ask Carey to retire. They want him to finish the contract he earned.
Seems they're focusing on goaltending and defense first. I like the combo of Montembeault and Primeau and they're stacked on defense. They need to get bigger up front with their forwards so would love to see them take Lindstrom if he's available. Playoffs are about goaltending and defense. I like the direction and identity they're building!
Don’t swear at us with that Xhekaj/Bruin talk Shannon 🤨 haha
Crucial detail concerning Caufield: He was still recovering from his off season surgery throughout most of the season.
His shot selection was totally different than in the past where he had a wicked snapshot. The snapshot eventually came back this season but only with like 10-12 games left. If he stays healthy next year Caufield will probably have 35ish goals.
Hoping we get a good pick this year.
They will definitely be a better team, Dach has to play more then 2 games so that should help. I think they will be fighting for a playoff spot maybe not make it but close. It was a much better year to watch the games, they didn't get crushed as bad as the 2 previous years.
If the Habs can improve on the back end and in goal, they should have the makings of a very good team. Suzuki needs to work on his face-offs, but he could be a Bergeron type of player with maybe a bit more offence and if Dach can figure his game out, they have a good, young 1-2 punch down the middle. I don't know that they make the playoffs next year necessarily, but I like the direction they're going in. We saw with the Canucks, who admittedly had a lot of talent to begin with, that all it can take is a few really smart moves and the right coach and you can improve quickly. I wouldn't go trading 1st round picks like the Canucks did, though. Stay the course, draft and develop good, young talent and know when to make your moves in free agency and trades.
They are good enough in goal imo. Both Monty and Primeau over .900 on a 77 point team is impressive. They will get better as the team gets better.
Suzuki ended up at 53% at faceoff against the best every night. I think he did good
@@jacobneron1444 he has worked on his faceoffs then. a few years ago he was under 40% i think.
@@alexschannel8636 perhaps, but they're still stopgaps until fowler is ready.
Not necessarily, goalies are really difficult to project and typically bloom late. Having Fowler in the system is excellent depth and gives them some flexibility if Monty/Primeau can't get it done, however I genuinely think Monty and Primeau could be one of the best tandems in the league as early as next season@@doaftheloaf
What about Joel Armia ?
If they can get Lindstrom or Iginla at the draft this team will be at the top 5 nhl team in 2 years they already have some good young forwards and defencemans they just need a better goaltender
i hope xhekaj signs long term, love what he brings to the team
I'm surprised that you didn't talk about Newhook. He got a pretty decent season for his first year in MTL and he could really be part of the future of this team.
The thing I'd watch more closely is Sam Montembeault hasn't been nearly as good since Jake Allen was traded.
Primeau seems to have improved though
This summer and next has to be HUGE for the Habs, they should get a great player with their 5OA pick but I they they have to make big trade to bring in a Top 6 player, I don’t think that they will take a big signing in this years FA market. I think next year’s summer will be even bigger and determine where they are in the rebuild and how much more they have to go with it
Ils sont dans la bonne direction.. 👌
Slaf and Hutson will be so fun to watch next year. I think they should trade to get an earlier 2nd round pick to grab Lane's brother.
Dont sleep on Fowler. Future looks bright for Montreal.
Colorados 2nd pick could end up by high 2nd round, maybe leverage to trade up in the draft if packaged right, maybe with one of those big contracts and their first.
Anyway, we know Hughes is always working, and he's already done nore positives in his tenure so far than Bergevin did in all those years.
Thanks for the habs content. You post and we will click.
Can someone explain why the Habs can’t land the 4th pick?
When is Montreal getting that first from Calgary? I know it can slip but when do they have to absolutely cough it up?
I was slightly worried that you made Kraken video 😁
yesterday i remembered that we have Dach...for the 3rd time this season...which means i had forgottent also 3 times
The key is to have healthy people, a full season of Dach and Dvorak pretty much killed it. Lines 2-3-4 have less goal than Auston Matthews, secondary scoring needs a major boost.
Realistically i expect montreal to challenge for a wildcard spot next year. If the team can avoid major injuries and the young players continue to develop. They are in a division/conference with alot of really good teams
Imagine the end of season lineup with dach, roy, reinbacher, whoever we select this season, beck, mesar, fowler and whoever we trade for in the upcoming years. OMG WERE GONNA BE GOOD
* If everyone develops like we hope they will. Pro tip: that never happens.
Why does Price's contract count against the cap?
Because he's an active NHL player. The habs will get cap relief when they put him on LTIR once the season starts.
Montreal is on the cusp of being a dangerous team-- still a bit of chaff around the 3rd and 4th lines, but when their D matures and the goalies are more rested during the game, they will be a frustrating shut down team to play against.
How do the odds for there pick make any sense, how do they have a higher percent chance of drafting 6th when they finished 5th, and how can not draft 4th but could draft 1st, im not very smart but this seems like really stupid
I think we are pushing for a playoff spot next year.
They should keep the same formula ..Move out vets whenever they can draft and trade for picks and youth ...Keep playing the long game to become a long term contender ..
I am betting Habs will make the playoffs next season. If Dach and Newhook are both healthy for a full season, the Habs could potentially have 5 20-goal scorers on the team. Excited for next season for sure.
The team is 100% going to be stronger with more skilled dmen on our team like Hutson and Mailloux, although we shouldn't expect too much in the first season. It's all going to come down to who we pick up in the offseason and if it's some actual decent player instead of a plumber and Dach plays the full season, I don't think we make playoffs but we could be close to pushing a wild card spot.
I think Montreal becomes a playoff team in 2-3 seasons.
SLAFSQUATCH🦍🦍🦍
Ta yeule !! Avec tes tit nickname à la journaliste comme si cetait ton grand chum !!
@@jdavidblais bro ça va? Ya qqun qui a chié dans tes céréales? Mange une snicker ou qqchose
I think the Habs take Iginla.
i hope we don't. we're picking too early to do that. only way i consider it at 5 is if celebrini, demidov, lindstrom, and catton are all gone by the time we pick. and i don't think that happens, because someone will take levshunov, buium , and/or silayev by then. maybe if we fall to 7.
don't pick a player expecting him to be his father. tij will be a good player, but he won't be a superstar.
They need a lot of leadership and 3 full lines of forwards, including a top line still. Slafkovsky might be enough for a top line eventually, but for me, Suzuki and Caufield would be best as #2. Suzuki might be able to first line of he can become a + player.
The year they went to the cup final they technically didn't make the playoffs.
Think of this season WITH ...KIRBY DACH ..!! ADD IN ..NEW SCORING ...and next year should be a BIG improvement..!!😊
The biggest short term issue for Montreal is deciding which defensemen you keep mid/long term … because they simply got way way too many ready at the same time and there is vets you dont wanna get rid of as well, because being nhl ready doesn’t mean ready to replace veterans.
2nd biggest short term problem is having one of the costliest bottom 6 in the NHL, Anderson (5.5), Gallagher (6.5), Dvorak (4.45), Armia (3.4), Newhook (2.9), luckily Pearson is a UFA otherwise it would have been an additional 3.25.
Anderson is likely getting traded alongside a defensemen prospect (Kovacevic, Struble or Norlinder) to sweeten the deal. Dvorak too, but only if Jake Evans can become good enough to replace him at face-offs.
On a playoff or cup contending team, i do not see Newhook being top6, if he could be the 3rd line center instead of Dvorak it would be the perfect spot for him.
Except for Roy, maybe this year’s first pick and maybe Beck … i do not see the forward group improving from the bottom (rookies, AHL, prospects) for a while. Gotta add to the top which pushes down talent on the other lines.
I don't think MTL has to decide on D-men now, they're not ready yet and odds are there will be busts. If you don't have a good idea who the bust(s) will be, you don't move anyone... And you have 2 D-men that are gone in 2 years, there's plenty of space to take in those that are actually ready and not replacement-level then.
Sorry Shannon, you can't have Xhekaj. He's OURS, dammit! And he is a unicorn, so don't expect Hughes to trade him anytime soon. We know how rare he is, a guy who hits hard, fights well (when necessary - I think Xhekaj has started to learn how to pick his battles, which is good because the last thing we need is more injuries), and who actually has decent hockey skills (including a deadly-accurate wrist shot) and an unimpeachable character (including downright legendary self-discipline and work ethic, both of which took him from stocking shelves at Costco to dishing sweet saucer passes in the NHL). I'd go so far as to call him part of Montréal's young core. Guhle, Reinbacher and Hutson are all going to be amazing, but I'd put Xhekaj down as their #4 guy on defense (long-term...once Savard and Matheson are gone*), narrowly edging out Harris. It's possible he'll PLAY on the 3rd-pairing with Mailloux over the long-term (given how well they worked together in Laval), but that would be ideal actually (given how rare strong 3rd-pairings are - a lot of teams exploit their opponents' 3rd pairings, and I don't see that happening with Xhekaj and Mailloux).
*I have complicated feelings about Matheson's future with this team, but overall, I think it would probably be wise to sell high on him, maybe as soon as next trade deadline...he's not going to get better, and teams will pay well to acquire his services, believing he can sustain this kind of pace. The older he gets, the less valuable he is as a tradable asset, so the Habs need to carefully consider if or when they pull the trigger on a Matheson trade. That said, if Montréal is in a playoff position in February next year, Matheson strikes me as the kind of player they'd want to keep (Savard too, maybe), considering his experience and leadership, and the fact that injuries happen and it's better to be over-prepared (plus, there is no salary cap in the post-season, and you can have an unlimited roster size from which you're able to choose your 18 skaters on any given night).
agree on matheson. if he's still on the roster on 7/1/2025, we've waited too long. 62 points is good, but he's not a great defender. deal him in the next year, and we can get a 1st, and perhaps something else. don't wait too long like we did with anderson.
harris and barron are likely trade bait. arby's likely #5 long term; guhle-mailloux and hutson-reinbacher are the first two pairings. he'll be capable of top four in case of injury, though. we'll keep both our xhekajs, thank you. florian improved greatly last season, and will be a huge asset on L3/L4 in a few years. best case is probably a lawson crouse type.
calling it now, habs will be the wild card spot in the playoffs next year.....calling it....
Montreal has hockey heritage
I believe it all depends on who they get this summer. The draft is big, and they are supposed to make a move for a goal scorer as well. As long as they dont get someone like PLD, we should be battling for a wild card spot this year, and if we get a top 3 pick, we might not even have to fight for a wild card spot!! I know im tired of knowing in the first game of the preseason that we have no chance of making the playoffs, it's depressing. My team has fallen SOOOOOOO far! From 1940-1993 Habs missed the playoffs TWICE! They haven't made the playoffs in the last 3 years! So we missed the playoffs more in the last 3 years then we did in 53 years! From 1940-1993. Molson needs to held more accountable for destroying our team. It's the first time forever that i felt an ounce of excitement, but they could do something stupid, like use a draft pick in a draft full of offensive studs, to pick a defenseman who scored 3 goals in the last 2 years! Especially when we already had THIRTEEN dmen! lol. I digress, i know everyone loves reinbacher, and your all gonna say give him a chance, how do u know what he's gonna do? He just got here. Im going off his past, It's rare that someone sucks in the Swiss league, and then comes to north America and just lights it up, and turns into a 1st round defenseman, but Habs fans seem to think we have the gem! lol, we'll see. i hope im wrong, but i doubt it. GO HABS GO!!!