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If we had a 100% chance of getting Lafreniere, maybe I’d think the best long term plan is to fail vs Pittsburgh. But the minute Lafreniere isn’t guaranteed, what just happened is the best thing for the Habs and their development. This is good for KK, for Suzuki any young player. To feel like a winner. This has to encourage Price. Even CJ ends up getting a boost since he clearly out coached Sullivan. I’d even add that the players that didn’t play like Romanov, Fleury and Primeau gain through all this. Maybe not Poehling who might not see where he fits. Possibly not helping Domi any (tho - remember, as a 4th loner, his line mates may be Swiss Leaguers (hello Weise), but he also should be getting the softer opposition avoiding the Pens top lines. As the regular season wound down, I was fine with getting a top 10 pick. When the first round of draft order was set, I was thrilled with the shot at Lafreniere. But I’m convinced that the best case long term scenario has just played out. I’ll take the success over Crosby, Malkin et al over a winger that will only hit prime after Price and Weber are backups.

My Weber jersey was still on for his goal.

Team Tank as you call it doesn't want to tank every season, it wants strategic planning to tank in seasons with 2-3 elite players available ... like 2016 (Matthews, Laine, Dubois), 2015 (McDavid, Eichel, Marner), 2010 (Hall, Seguin), 2009 (Tavares, Hedman) ... no reason to suck if the reward is Yakupov/Murray/Galchenyuk ... this season is reputed to be another "good" draft ... as is the 2021 draft. Sure, there is no guarantee that you get the top players, but it isn't like the last 26 seasons been a rousing success with the "hope to make the playoffs and see" approach ... with an occasional glimpse at a chance for the Cup Finals (twice) ... I was good with that for a long time but finally lost faith ... even with a decent collection of prospects for the first time in many, many years I don't see the Habs becoming any more than "a playoff favourite and see" team ... I can advocate for a rebuild while cheering for the players/team if management is happy with the hamster wheel they are on.

Winning the cup is more valuable. I'll take a 3% chance at the cup over a 12.5% Chance at first overall. Even if you get first overall it still don't guarantee a cup.

If only. He was a fantastic contributor! A loss would have meant a 12.5% chance of the #1 overall pick. I don't favour losing a series in exchange for those odds, personally.

That is totally possible that the KHL is more defensive minded; and they likely dont showcase top prospects that will soon leave. It is a shame he didnt win top dman in WJ in the 2nd year. I've definitely seen numerous clips of him in situations where they're boxing out, and he's constantly looking around and then adjusting and moving slightly into the correct places to be able to shut down passing lanes. It seems like he always mindful and puts a lot of forethought into where he should be and what he should be doing in any given situation. It sort of reminds me of Nicklas Lidström who was incredible at knocking the puck out of the air when people tried to go around him near the blue line. It seems like Romanov has the same sort of stick skills with passing lanes and being able to interrupt saucer and flip passes.

🤣 It's been along time. How have you been? It was funny I checked some of my last posts and they were from 2011, and 1 of them was a discussion about Webers new contract with Nash, and what Subban would get. I chuckled about the irony of that now.

Sir_Boagalott, now there's a name out of the past!

Kulak is back to what I expected after 18/19, entering 19/20 ... smart, underrated, solid defensively and capable of an occasional offensive contribution ... if he keeps this up he makes it easy to break Romanov into the NHL gently, on the 3rd pairing ... and, perhaps best of all, Brett is signed for two more years at a reasonable AAV (1.85) for a 2nd pairing defenceman

And nobody likes a smug, insulting "winner"/gloater ... ***IF*** the Habs get swept in the FIRST ROUND one thing I will promise is not to take the same swipes at you and "yours" ... what's done is done ... hope CJ sticks with his confidence in KK and Suzuki ... wouldn't mind Fleury and Poehling getting into the lineup as well ... IMO Juulsen has just missed to much time the last two seasons to expect him to step into "playoff speed" hockey

Oh I spoke too soon. a couple posters couldn’t help but use their “I’m happy, but...” oh no, we get a chance to play playoff hockey and not a top 9 pick. cry me a river ya sad sacks. nobody likes a crybaby.

Go Habs Go! The icing on the cake of this play-in win is noticing the lack of comments from the negative nellies who believe a high draft pick is the only path to success. The foolish posts that Weber is on the decline, Price is past his prime and this team can’t compete even in a league of extreme parity. Draft pick primos don’t mean squat in a team sport when games get tight. McDavid hasn’t won a team achievement even though he’s a stud who lays it all on the line, Eichel is wasting away no matter how hard he tries to do it all and round out his game, and we’re seeing a pattern in TO of talent meaning nothing without buy-in (see Islanders, Columbus) and heart (see Habs). They’re playing like a bunch of Gallagher’s because of the bar set by him, Carey and Weber to do whatever it takes, be humble, carry a big stick.

And Now we know why teams are scared of Carey Price.