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I just watched the interview with Chantal Machabee and I was pleased. Unless someone suffers from depression or anxiety, it's very difficult to wrap your head around what goes on in someone's mind. And even then, not two individuals are the same. I cannot imagine spending 2-3 nights without sleep and go play a hockey game, even less so at that level... sometimes 3 games in 4 nights! You know that whole BellLetsTalk day, the so-called progress this society is making about mental health and the importance of acknowledging it and being kind and understanding? We'll see who takes it to heart and who is just giving lip service to "look good" on that day. I, for one, will be 100% behind Drouin this season, hoping he lives up to his great talent but mostly, that he stays healthy both mentally and physically. And I know that a vast majority of Habs' fans are with me on that and those are the people that matter.

good post and welcome to the board.

First post here. I feel like it started when Sylvain Lefebvre was fired to be replaced by Joel Bouchard. It was a step in the right direction. You need a communicator to develop young players and Lefebvre was as far as it gets from there (I spoke to a couple of players who played for him). Guys were sat and didn't know why, rarely given "things to work on" to improve. It goes much deeper than this but the one thing that I would suggest doing is to be more patient with players' development. Rare are the players who can have an impact in the NHL at 18-19 years old and in Montreal, it's even worse. If a rookie has a good camp, don't keep him unless you have a plan to play him regularly and not sit him every time he makes a mistake. And if he's 18-19, unless he's an exceptional like McDavid, send him down for a year of maturing, like they did with Suzuki. Give them a list of things to work on and follow up with them. I like the way the Habs handled Suzuki and Poehling. More of that and less of Latendresse, Galchenyuk and Kotkaniemi type of rushing.

Agreed ... the "its up to the player to show us" approach has to be tempered by what is best to ensure that the player optimizes his potential ... so that ... the team gets the greatest benefit from that player ... both on-ice and under the cap (i.e., don't waste ELC years).

He's left handed too, but can play the right side as well (and often did in the AHL). I think the deal has to be a 2-way one if no one wants his current 1-way deal that is still really cheap. Start him in the AHL and call him up? I'd rather him than Goloubef.

Explains his similar leave of absence in Halifax. Imagine if he finally explodes? He is the guy I hope feeds Cole 50 goals as a rookie. One can hope. Just so glad he took the time to get it in order. He was dishing out some beautiful feeds last season for a stretch. He is the playmaker we need. Hope he can keep it together. Mental illness is real I have many people in my life dealing with different forms. Can't say I am totally sane myself lol.

Its hard to say for sure, but I think they are in a much better place to make the playoffs then not, especially when you consider their issues over the last few seasons. Numerous of their issues that were previously making them a bubble team per se seem to have been fixed. The acquisition of Dvorak should be big. ex: he will improve their PP, PK, he's way more offensive than Danault, and he's likely good in OT, and be a shooter in any SO too. i.e. for several years the Habs were losing points stupidly, they had a bunch of games where they should have won but they ended up with 0 or 1 point. With Dvorak, they should win more of those games, so they should be able to finish several points higher than the previous years where they barely missed the playoffs. That itself should put them in the playoffs. Similarly, the same idea with Allen too. Another big part of their bubble team issue was a lack of a decent backup G, and thats been fixed. i.e. they've had Allen for 1 season, and made the playoffs. If and when Price cant play they have a much better chance at wining those game with Allen then without him. The Habs have had a crap ton of 1 goal games, that they've lost; along with tied games that they lose in extra time. A lot of those 1 goal loses should now be ties, and most of their tie games should now be games they win. Its not like every time they dont make the playoffs that they have been way off the mark. Usually, when they fail to make the playoffs, its only by 2-3 games. Dvorak and Allen should help them win numerous of those really close games where in previous years they lost those games and missed the payoffs by 4-6 pts. Then there is the Caufield co-factor as well. He should be at a minimum a 30 goals scorer, if not close to 40 or more. Having him play for an entire season should also be a huge help to make the playoffs.