hockeyrealist

Me no likey. As broken down earlier in another post, I wouldn’t do CC for Zegras. We have a known commodity in CC, who has excellent chemistry with our captain and future stud Slaf. He is an excellent team player who has shown to rise to big occasions, he has the desire to improve his all around game and the ability/work ethic to do it, so I believe he has the same high end offensive potential as Zegras but will be a better 200 foot player, better teammate, better playoff performer. I take the known commodity all day long, Zegras made some news and highlights, is obv talented but is now tainted by losses after losses, has zero playoff history and a lot of unknowns about his professionalism, personality, work ethic, and “clutch” performance. We know CC has all of these is spades. You don’t trade a known performer for potential performer. I’m not shitting on Zegras here, just stating there is a lot of unknowns and his NHL career doesn’t scream difference maker, I hate that he’s been on a loser for so long already as well. The Ducks have had zero internal competition, minimal media exposure, zero expectations. I see him as below CC, Suzuki and I see Dach and or Newhook becoming a more valuable player than Zegras over course of their careers. I see Zegras as a lot of sizzle and little steak. Moving to rest of proposal. Mailloux is a god damn stud. He finished tops in AHL d scoring and tied for 7th overall in scoring in his first season. Someone he was tied with: Shane Wright. Shane the touted prospect and high pick who could very well represent what you’d get with a top 5 pick. Mailloux will be an NHL all star at some point, he will be a 50-60 point dman and if properly paired with someone defensively minded (like Guhle) he will not be a liability. He is that good and getting better. His defensive game improved this season and given the limited action he had over prior two seasons, I believe there are strong signs that he has the tools and desire to improve all around. While he has a flawed past, since he’s been a Hab he has done nothing but prove he has grown and improved, and can play wicked good hockey. Big. Mobile. Aggressive. Yessir. And again, why trade a known, high-value commodity with huge potential for a gamble on an even bigger unknown in draft picks? And throw in another pick from our side to boot? Sorry, but I can shenanigans on this proposal. Why are people saying this is a fair trade? It’s a foolish move by Habs. CC and Mailloux are huge parts of the extended playoff/championship push that begins in 25/26 imo.

Slaf was also an “ass hat” (since you like that term) for the first two months of the season, he wasn’t playing like he belonged in league at start of year. He turned into a viable top 6 option and obv we are all happy for that. point being, Things change, banking on them staying the same is futile.

I’d go so far as to say the management and coaching staff had too much belief in Drouin, not the opposite as was stated in previous post. He was brought in with high expectations, traded for a big piece to get him here, moved to C, playing PP1 and top 6. The extra pressure from this belief is likely what led to his mental health issues (could have contributed to physical well being also) and exit from Mtl. He wa definitely no victim in Mtl and anyone trying to paint it that way either has an agenda or doesn’t know squat.

Terrible idea. Baron is no good and will be even less room for him than there is now.

“Evans - a guy who creates offense” surely you jest. He scores once every three months and chips in a second assist once every two months. Sick of people acting like this guy has more to offer, we’ve seen him enough to know he is what he is. And he definitely is not an offer I’ve created, jebus that is just making stuff up to pile onto other players, what a complete load of BS

Mattheson is not who you want showing young D how to play in the NHL. He is not a sound defensive player, nor is he good positionally. Given the team has no business trying to win games I do not see the value in him on the roster, holding up a spot, demonstrating that offense allows mistakes to be accepted and generally showing how not to be in position. Due to his skating he makes up for most of these mental issues, but again that is not who you want demonstrating the way to young D. I don’t believe it is coincidence that Guhle has plateaued while partnered with him. I believe Guhle’s game is going to suffer long term because of it. I already notice him playing worse defensively, his gap control has gotten worse but that may be because he is worried Mattheson is gonna decide to play rover (even on d assignments) and Guhle has to accommodate.

Montembeault blew this one. Worst rebound control I’ve seen in a long time, not a great sign for a goalie we are pinning hopes on.

Not impressed when looking at when he was signed, for how much and how long, to now moving him with retention for a nothing pick. Feels like this type of trade could have been done a month or two ago, if not more. Tells me Habs mgmt caved, took whatever they could and did not stick to their guns as is often reported. Allen was brought in to play 20 games/season behind CP. He may not be playing behind CP, but it wasn’t stopping Monty from playing 40. Primeau has proven he can’t handle the other 40 so having him play 20, Allen play 20 was a way to potentially bring Primeau along. That hasn’t lasted a season, Primeau has shown no more reason to believe and now we are stuck with him possibly playing 30 games next season? Ugh. This team can’t be rebuilding much longer, next season shouldn’t be about watching Primeau suck and being afraid to play him.

Score was closer than than the game felt, Habs were never really a threat in this one. Tough night for Slaf, whole first line looked out of sorts and not in sync. Slaf looked lazy tonight. Was not really any Hab going well besides Roy. Were players focused on trade deadline, not prepared? Did coaches not make necessary adjustments? Habs looked out matched overall, was hard to watch.

https://montrealhockeynow.com/2024/03/06/montreal-canadiens-how-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-xhekaj-habs-analysis-savard/ seems the numbers are getting attention.

Interesting numbers for sure. He kind of has been second pair with Savard lately and hasn’t looked out of place for most part, they actually make a decent combo from the eye test, have not looked at advanced metrics. I’ve personally always seen him ending up as a solid 4/5 guy with second unit PP potential and possibly PK potential should he learn some finer points on positioning, disrupting, reading NHL PP’s. Playing PP time may actually help him see the angles when on PK. I do believe he is best served by having continued, sustained success in a lower role for a longer period of time before I’d throw him out against top 6’s every shift, every night (not that you’re saying that is the case either). Again, he is playing on what is the second pair now and ice time creeping up to the higher teens and into the twenties now. I think you may have called it, and they are thrusting him into more responsibility/trust. Given his trajectory and season so far, I’d like him to end on a strong note rather than pushing him too hard. Post season exit meeting, you tell him he needs to elevate his play once again and will have a shot at top 4 next year type thing. Knowing what we know of him, he’ll come back faster, stronger, more aware hopefully. He needs to stop chasing players so far out of position in d zone, start recognizing when they are no longer a threat and just pulling him away from the important areas.

Hit the nail on the head here

Yeah, if “doing right by the player” includes signing Gally to his deal along with Armia, Anderson, etc. And then also being a douche to Markov, Subban and more then sign me up for the opposite. Just like in the locker room of a successful team, team comes first individual second.

Edmundson to TO. could prove to be smart add come playoff time, recall him being a defensive warrior if nothing else.

Regarding hotel: Sofitel. Have stayed there in the past when Flyers weee in town and they were staying there. This was pre Covid tho but teams tend to be chain loyal. https://all.accor.com/hotel/3646/index.en.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps