tomh009

The reality is that an AHL team is never in full control of its roster, the parent club manages it to (1) develop prospects and (2) provide depth in case of injuries. Further, as much as the Rocket had some good prospects in its lineup this year, the most successful AHL teams tend to be stronger on veteran players and lighter in promising teenagers. So, I doubt that the Habs’ management team had any expectations of a long Rocket playoff run this year.

Maybe the Rocket would have made it into the playoffs?

I think PMK's point is that he was underappreciated when he played for the Habs. Sixth in TOI with Ducharme.

I also like Hughes' drafting logic: not drafting the best player today, but the one that will be the best in five years' time. So far, this looks to be working out with Slafkovsky.

Another statistical tidbit: only five Habs regulars with a positive +/- rating: Savard/Evans were next at -1. Matheson and Gallagher ended the year tied at -24.

Also there is Engstrom on the left. And Harris can play left or right--maybe Guhle in the future as well. That flexibility is very helpful when the inevitable injuries hit.

Technically he would be able to return for one more season, but I do expect that this is rather unlikely.

I'm thinking that Beck might be a better fit for an Armia-type role, although he might ende up playing centre. I expect we'll know much more for both Beck and Tuch a year from now.

I think you have it right. Flyers have a 5.1% chance of winning (and drafting second); if that happens, Habs have an 8.6% chance of winning the second draw, and that would result in a roughly 0.3% probability of drafting third, behind the Flyers.

A-game Anderson has value, but his game is effectively a solo effort, so the linemates need to play accordingly. I give you the Armia-Newhook-Gallagher line (with two of the most maligne forwards we have) as the counterexample: the three players play with each other, look for each other and work together to create scoring chances.

$250K.

Definitely cheaper. Some of the broadcasts are a bit dodgy, though, at least on my friend’s unit. At $200 I’m willing to pay it to get a decent broadcast. Your mileage may vary! 🙂

The trouble is that not many don't want to give up quality if all they get is quantity.

Sportsnet top package has no blackouts (outside the Habs region) and you can likely get it for $200 for the season.

Maybe not outright stinko, but definitely not as good as Reimer.

Teams learned to play against Caufield, to prevent or at least expect passes to him. Caufield has now learned to be more versatile, though. Learning what Hutson can do, though, doesn't necessarily help as much in playing against him.

They have clinched sixth. Fifth if the Coyotes secure at least a point tomorrow.

I want to see Hutson in the shootout.

I couldn't watch last night's game so this is my first time watching him (in the NHL). It's damned impressive what he's able to do. He's quick, he has moves and he looks like his vision is superb. Watching him on PP, or taking the shot for Slafkovsky's goal was really impressive for a kid in his second NHL game--and yet Detroit knew what he could do, from yesterday's game, and had no answer. I'm feeling super optimistic about Hutson at the moment. Maybe too optimistic. But these are not just Poehling-lucky goals, this is a display of skill.

... weakness on D, made worse by the absence of Guhle and Xhekaj. But at least on D, I think we can expect steady improvement over the next handful of years as our prospects mature into NHL players, and then grow their skills in their first few years in the league. Forwards are more challenging. Top line (Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky) looks good. Dach, Newhook and Roy could potentially be a second line, or else give us a strong 3C (if we have another top-six winger from somewhere). Bottom-six, though, we have the three you identified (Armia, Evans and Gallagher), plus Dvorak and Anderson. RHP? Heineman? Probably none of Pezzetta or Ylonen, unless as a 13th forward. I expect Beck and Mesar will need time in the AHL, as will likely any 2024 draft pick. That's not a super-encouraging bottom six, no matter how you arrange it, so we would need to hope that Hughes can trade picks and/or D prospects for some credible forward strength. Or sign Monahan to a reasonable UFA contract.

Usually yes, but not if we are using LTIR ...

Guhle has another year. Barron and Xhekaj are the only ones that I'm 100% confident will get new contracts next season. But Pearson, White and Wideman will drop off the roster, as will Edmundson's retaind salary and Alzner's buyout. Probably Ylonen, too, although he might be traded so salary coming back from that. But from the other five, it's over $7M freed up, plus the cap goes up by $4M. Montembeault's extension kicks in, though, and that will eat a little over $2M of the $11M or so above.

If his ELC would have started this season, how much would he have actually received? Maybe 1/82 or 1/41 of the salary, plus the signing bonus?

Only one point. The first point for Hutson on a lovely pass. And two unusually pretty goals for Gallagher!

And he can still block shots, too.