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That's a good point. They could have had Fabbro without giving up anything and let it pass. It seems like Hughes is in no panic to add a RD.

The joy in Caufield’s face as he celebrates with his new buddy is so genuine. This is another winnable game Go Habs Go Will update with rosters tomorrow.

I'm not so sure Montreal would of wanted Kovacevic back. They let Fabbro slip past them in waivers.

Strange. They didn't produce much in the way of scoring chances, but they played in the o zone a lot, and we're cycling the puck well. They looked better than i expected.

For sure. I didn't word my response correctly. That's what I was thinking. If he knew he was trading Harris, he may not have been so quick to trade kovacevic.

Almost zero chance he gets through waivers, but I agree not much value in a trade right now because he is not playing. This was his year to prove it and he hasn't stepped up defensively, a shame because he has the offensive tools.

Barron has only dressed for 1/2 the games, on one of worst teams in NHL. I could see him making through waivers maybe and i dont expect anyone would trade anything of value for him?

I always forget how big Laine is. He's one of those Lecavalier types who doesn't seem to be a blazing skater but just sort of magisterially gathers pace with minimal apparent effort. With that package...major size, wicked shot, strong stride, good puck protection skills...Winnipeg Fans must have felt like the Chosen One had arrived when he first showed up. And then you look at how his career dissolved thereafter - a shame. If he cannot get his game together heading into his late 20s it will be a terrible waste of formidable gifts. Not necessarily his fault, given mental health issues, but still. Thousands of players would give anything to have that kind of natural talent.

I think Barron has til the end of the season to prove he's an NHL player, or else you have to move him. There just isn't room to keep holding him and then give him a qualifying offer in 2026 if he's not part of your team. Might as well trade him and get something for him if he's not part of the future. With Hutson and Mailloux (and Mattheson) who could be back, that could be enough puck movers on one roster and he just doesn't fit if his defence doesn't improve. As for Heineman, while I'd like him to be tried with Suzuki and Caufield now, with our current roster and with Newhook and Slaf struggling, I really don't think he's a long term core piece or top 6 player. I think if he becomes that, it is a good problem to have at that point, but I'm not setting aside huge cap space for his next contract. Reinbacher, as I said in the other thread, I think we know more in summer after he's had a bunch of AHL games and a playoff run. The money is gonna need to be put aside for a top pair RHD though either way. Whether it goes to him or someone else via trade or Free Agency will be the question.

H Barrons got one more year after this next one under contract. He's a restricted free agent then still. I don’t see moving him unless they know they have something (better) to replace him. We’re already weak (few options) on the right side so unless we re-sign Savard, make a trade, find a free agent, or Reinbacher is really ready to go and Mailloux has improved his defensive side… he continues to wait in the wings. If he improves a bit we can sign him on a cheap, short term deal. If not, trade him. I almost think we have to keep him until at least the right side picture is more clear (a year from now ?) We have so much young talent coming. Hutson will start the 2026-27 season on a 9-10 million per year contract. We’ll be lucky to sign him at a Suzuki/Caufield/Slaf price. Heineman starts the 2025-26 season with a big raise too. That one will be hard to predict. Bridge 2 ? 5 year ? 8 year ? I think you have to be correct on your Core assessments and give 8 years to your Core 5 guys.. You have a Secondary Core and give them 3-5 years. Then there are guys coming off injuries like Reinbacher you give bridge “show me” contracts to (2-3 years) … Similar to Xhekaj who was not injured but we need to see what we have first at his young age. Then you got “Plugger” contracts and team friendly contracts of 1-3 years. These are the guys who get the last 25% of the Cap after the Core at 45-50% and the Secondary at 25%. They fill in all the holes in your line up at a cost efficiency to stay under the Cap. If you start looking at the talent we have, the talent that is coming, and as those ELCs expire… we are going to be saying good bye to some very good players in the next 4-10 years as we try to keep under the cap. These are my personal opinions ^^^^ I would love to spitball ideas on any of this #$@& above. I welcome it. Please feel free to pick it apart. I want to wrap my head around how we sift through the next 7 years.

I think Barron will continue to rotate with Struble until a better player comes along.

Poor Barron. What is in his future? Will St Louis dress him and give him the icetime to see how he does or will injuries open up a spot for him to play a string of games.

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-nyi/2024/12/03/2024020398 Dach turned it over with weak clearing attempt. Not sure, what goal you are referring to? 48-21 simply forgot about Lee. I guess Guhle seemed more at fault (seemed his man outworked him on rebound).

Happy for Bergqvist getting the nod although there's a very good chance it's as the #7. Montreal is going to have minimal participation at the WJC this year; it's not going to be as fun to follow from that perspective as it has been in recent years.

i dont give Hutson a free pass for turning it over first, so softly right down the middle of the ice and than never regains inside front coverage

I agree, I think he would compliment them better, would win more puck battles than Newhook and has a better shot. I am just not sure where Newhook fits in. Great skater but the whole is less than the sum of the parts.

I'd rather have Heineman playing with Suzuki and Caufield.

It would be a big blow to the organization if Newhook, Dach, Barron bust. Dach is going to figure it out

I agree, but the lines are very balanced now and sort of have different identities. Dach and Newhook… If they don’t improve, expect short-term deals… if they do improve then certainly we are looking longer term for Dach. Newhook less so. Their futures really depend on them improving to what Hughes was expecting….. The emergence of Demidov, Hage, Fowler and the 2025 first round pick could push Dach and Newhook to reduced roles out of the core and one or both could be traded for future assets. For me these two are a couple of the biggest question marks going forward. Laine was like watching something we haven’t had on our team for a while. Smooth. Very smooth. That power play with Hutson and Laine and Caufield will hopefully propel Hutson up the rookie scoring chart. Our power play looks so much scarier (in a good way) with the options we have with Laine as a second threat to Caufield. Fun to watch. Give it up for Xhekaj’s game too. Steadier last night.

I'll bet he's a good skater.

HockeyDB now has him listed at 5' 6", 128 lbs ... hardly any better

With the amount of cap space he takes up, hes gotta be more than a 4th liner or hes a liability

I agree that Heineman should be higher up the lineup

Im not too worried about Laine's 5v5 right now. We all knew he'd have to ease himself in. Add in the fact he was playing with Dach who had another poor game and Slaf who was also bot great and that stat isnt surprising

Are we talking the same goal? Dach made the giveaway and Hutson/Guhle were caught at the blue line with Lee in behind them