tomh009

I approve of the way Xhekaj handled yesteday's game. He and Savard pretty much shut down the Senators' top line, and he didn't allow Tkachuk to bait him into taking the instigator penalty. Now, if Tkachuk actually dares to drop his gloves (first) instead of just yapping, I'm happy to see Xhekaj pummel him.

Only three points back from Florida, yes, and two games in hand. That wild card race has eight teams in the thick of it!

A solid day at the office for Xhekaj (and Savard):

Should I note that RHP is on pace for about 59 goals in 82 games? 😂 😂😂

Long-term forwards in the lineup: Suzuki, Dach, maybe Anderson, maybe Ylonen D-corps a bit better: Barron, Harris, Xhekaj, maybe Kovacevic Most others will end up either being traded/going UFA over the next few years or returning to Laval. 11 players (plus Price) on IR is pretty grim.

Raty was likely the Islanders' top prospect, but that's not saying much (Wheeler ranked their prospect pool 27th in the league). I would guess that his ceiling is on the third line.

He projects Beck, Farrell, Mesar and Roy as top-nine material. He's not specific about the ceiling (or floor). I think we have three solid young top-six forwards (Suzuki, Caufield and Dach) and two possibles (Slafkovsky and Ylonen) right now, so four additional top-nine prospects and a solid draft should have us in pretty good shape. I don't think we necessarily have to have an additional elite winger for the top line (not that I would object): the Avalanche, for example, has MacKinnon and Rantanen playing with Lehkonen. What we would need is someone that can complement Caufield and Suzuki, and can create the chemistry for them to play as a cohesive unit. Could be a draft pick, could be a trade -- or could even be a UFA signing (I know PLD, for example, is a pretty popular option on these forums).

Does "getting treatment" necessarily mean that they are missing tomorrow's game? It could just be physio etc or a lesser issue that does not require going on the IR.

He's ranked third -- higher than Roy and Mesar, for example.

Basically Wheeler is saying that it's impossible to predict whether Dobes can become an NHL starter or backup. Goalies are voodoo, you know. Stapley and Ylonen have graduated from the prospect pool because they have turned 23, not because they are NHL regulars.

The Athletic has been publishing Scott Wheeler's annual prospect pool rankings for all 32 teams. The Habs are down in 11th from 8th last year, but this makes sense due to the "graduations". No longer eligible Graduated (NHL regulars): Cole Caufield (1st in 2022) Juraj Slafkovsky (NR) Kaiden Guhle (2nd) Arber Xhekaj (NR) Jordan Harris (4th) No longer eligible Graduated (23 or older): Jesse Ylonen (11th) Brett Stapley (18th) That's a significant chunk of our prospect pool now playing regularly in the Habs lineup! Now, his rankings: Lane Hutson (NR) Sean Farrell (3rd) Owen Beck (NR) Filip Mesar (NR) Joshua Roy (7th) Logan Mailloux (NR) Justin Barron (3rd for COL) Riley Kidney (9th) Adam Engstrom (NR) Jan Mysak (5th) Oliver Kapanen (13th) Vincenz Rohrer (NR) Cedric Guindon (NR) Jakub Dobes (NR) Xavier Simoneau (16th) I think Wheeler is basically projecting the top nine to become NHL regulars, with the later ones having a chance but less likely. Players considered but not in top 15: Mattias Norlinder (8th) William Trudeau Gianni Fairbrother Cayden Primeau (6th) Dmitri Kostenko Luke Tuch Rhett Pitlick Petteri Nurmi Jayden Struble (10th) Jared Davidson Miguel Tourigny Emil Heineman Even before the 2023 draft, the Habs already have a strong youth generation, with 11 forwards (Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky, Ylonen and six top-nine prospects) and eight D-men (Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj, Kovacevic and four top-nine prospects). (Goaltending is thinner with only Montembeault as likely.) Not all top-nines will make it, but then some additional ones will -- plus the 2023 draft class. And we will surely have some veterans playing as well. I am looking forward to the youthful Habs of the next few years! P.S. I do have some trial subscription codes for The Athletic in case anyone wants to read in more detail. Send me a PM if you would like one.

And not far from a top-five pick.

Agreed. And Forsberg had a solid game in the Ottawa net, too.

Nice choice of video. 🙂

The emergency isn't great, but I look forward to seeing Beck in NHL action.

What he's proposing is a double retention, Chicago keeps 50% (for example), Habs keep 25% and the final buyer only pays 25%.

An OT win for Washington is the perfect result. And it looks like two points to each of Buffalo and Detroit; Florida is fifth in the wild card race by points percentage, and the Islanders are only one point further behind.

Five weeks and a bit still left ... as long as it's not serious, as you said.

Any wins (or loser points) for Anaheim, Arizona or Chicago would also be most welcome.

I'm anticipating plenty of scoring in this one.

5’9.75”! 😂

Ullmark and Gustavsson are not, for example. And Lankinen, Francouz and Georgiev were not drafted at all.

Why is 6’1 t he e magical minimum height for an NHL goalie? Why is it not 6’0, 6’2 or 6’3? I should think this should be a continuum, height is an asset but so are other skills. Add up all the aspects of the goalie prospect and choose the best, but don’t rule him out for one inch of (lacking) height.

The Athletic actually mentioned this in mid-December:

And many a team has regretted signing a goalie to an expensive long-term contract based on a single season. The good thing is that Montembeault is signed for another season yet before they need to make a decision on a new contract.