Leaderboard

It is highly unlikely that Poehling will just step into a top-6 NHL C slot. And it is even more unlikely that he will outperform Domi's impressive 72 points. We have seen over and over and over that, apart from rare outliers like Price, Subban, and Gallagher - prospects hardly ever come in and make a big impact. (And hell, even Price and Gally crashed a couple of years in, before recovering; and Subban was benched for five games). And yet wave after wave of prospect comes up with all tbese unrealistic assumptions about what they might be able to do.We never learn. This post also illustrates what I mean about Domi being overlooked as a C. If I told you tomorrow that Poehling would become a 60-point C, folks would be clicking their heels. Meanwhile we have a 23-year-old 72-point C and quite a few people overlook this, or else talk about moving him to W for some reason. Domi's production is that of a legit #1C in the NHL. Let's internalize that, finally.

i will almost guarantee if Markov is signed he will end up in the top 4... and then Claude Julien will use him with Weber down the stretch for sure as He just wont be able to help himself with this temptation (especially since #79 will continue to defy the odds haha). Also, we don't need Pominville but a PTO to help push the pace at training camp wouldn't hurt. Weise doesn't stand a chance of making the team i believe and is Laval bound. Our biggest hope/dream is -that Mete earns his #2 spot through merit rather necessity and we have a legit top pair -Chariot turns out to be another sly steal ala Petry -Kotkaniemi comes into camp big, fast and about 10/15 pounds heavier. -Poehling impresses so much that we are able to move Domi back to wing to replace Shaw. -Lehkonan finally remembers how to score and Armia learns to do more then just dominate possesion! Tatar Danault Gallagher-----> proven commodity last year Drouin Poehling**** Domi -----> could you imagine if Poehling or Suzuki could merit this spot?? Lehkonan KK Armia-----> the flying finns!! haha Cousins Thompson Suzuki****-----> could be one of the best 4th lines in the NHL Byron, Weal (Evans)(Hudon) Mete Weber Chariot Petry Kulak Fleury**** Reilly- Follin Juulsen** Price Kincaid ( )dark horse to make team with opposite player waived or traded) ** monitor injury to eye and not waived **** merit only players waived or better yet traded almost guaranteed Peca 1.3 million Weise 2.3 million Alzner 4.6 million Mason's contract 1.4 million 9.6 million in CAP space if moved sorry cant help myself... love speculating line ups in august!

I think Markov can help the power play and play limited minutes on the third pair, plus he will be a great mentor to someone like Juulsen.

Ok, but - who is 4th on our depth chart at RW?

The AHLer Weise? How would he factor in to the Habs roster? He wasnt added to actually play, was just a contract they had to eat and bury in minors. If the french guy wants to play in Laval and battle Weise for a spot there, that would be fine.

It's hard to see what harm a PTO would do. Excluding the kids, he is competing with Dale Weise and probably represents an upgrade on him.

Weal. The battle for 13th forward is pretty much between Hudon, Peca, and Weise, with an outside shot to guys like Varone or Barber.

I do want Markov for the season - maybe ala Plekanec deal last year, where he gets his 1000th game, plays only if he earns a spot in the lineup, and retires a Hab

PTOs are literally no risk The fact is that if these guys are as old and washed up as Don claims then the kids will easily beat them in camp. If the kids don't beat them out, then the kids aren't ready and they have something more to give.

I did say poehling impressing so much and meriting that spot (not just giving it to him...) That would be ideal! I think if Aho was in fact signed... Domi would be moved to wing. And that's MB ultimate plan I believe.

Poehling will get ice time on the wing and center this year. Drouin will fall out of favor in less than 2 months and be moved down the lineup, Suzuki will get ice time at center and wing as well

Its a little different with Aho, a proven number one centre. And Poehling, who is unproven... and who likely is a 2nd or 3rd line centre at max. I could be wrong, but I don't see Poehling ever scoring 70 points in a season. His potential has never been to be a true franchise centre, but rather a nice #2 who can play in both ends. And one game where he everything went in for him doesn't change that.

Dumont bit shows Poehling closest to Drew Stafford in similar NCAA production. But also comparable to Coyle, Wheeler, or Tuch and 1 busted prospect as well (which is always a possibility with almost any prospect).

Poehling might grow into a top-6 C. It's possible given the lift-off that his offensive game displayed in the minors, after he was drafted as more of a two-way guy. What I'm skeptical about is that he will step in and be a #2C next season, his rookie year. And even in the highly unlikely event that he plays like a top-6 FW consistently, it is probably more realistic that *he* would be the guy placed on the wing next to Domi, rather than the other way around. Here's another way to put it: Poehling is 99% guaranteed NOT to be a better player, or better C, than Max Domi next season. My general attitude can be summed up as follows. Rookies rarely step in and make a consistent impact. That's just reality. And that's why I generally don't get too excited about what they will add to the roster, in that first season. Call me a pessimist all you want, but the list of Habs rookies/prospects that people got all excited about is practically endless - and of all of them, only a small handful actually bucked the odds and had an immediate impact. (Indeed, most of them amounted to nothing or relatively little as NHL players in general, never mind as rookies).