GHT120

Adding someone to this role is a good step forward ... hopefully he may include some specialists as well into a skills development program ... somewhat distinct from player development ... the former being more "micro" and the latter more "macro"

He has just come off minor surgery that he has been rehabbing for multiple times longer than it should have taken to be playing again ... and he is nowhere close to playing a game ... even if he makes it back to being able to play there must now always be fear about how long that will last ... also, he is coming off four regular seasons in which he was decent once and poor to bad three times ... even if he eventually makes it back to being able to play there has to be a serious doubt about how well he will be able to perform ... it is unrealistic to look back at those seven brilliant weeks and assume that is what to expect in the future.

But he would still use up a contract slot this season ... if, for example, the return was Morin and Konecny the Habs would be left only with a slot to sign Harris, leaving no ability to exploit possible opportunities to take on a pending UFA contract (along with "payment") to facilitate a trade for another team, or to sign NCAA/European free agents before the 22/23 NHL "year".

Two hockey sticks and a case of Gatorade

Including this here because JD is out with an injury ... doesn't fit perfectly anywhere else ... congrats to Jonathan and Marie-Laurence

There is the oft (less than reliable) rumours of the Habs signing Letang this summer ... almost the same age (Letang tuns 35 in April versus next December) ... KL has been slightly more productive in recent years ... I am open to him replacing a traded Petry (in any trade, not just to Philly) ... but it depends entirely on the contract, especially as any deal he signs this summer will be a 35+ contract.

Guess THIS is the update ... same old, same old ...

Jean-François Houle has certainly done a great job having the Rocket in 3rd/4th place (% vs Pts) in their division ... whether he provides good player development will take a couple of years to assess.

It is true nobody can predict with certainty whether a team will or will not win in any particular season ... IMO MB re-tooled the team from the goaltender out to "try to make the playoffs and then see what happens" ... I want a team that is a legit contender for MANY years (i.e., the team is generally EXPECTED to be in the playoffs), not usually chasing a wild card and then being a "Cinderella playoff team" every few decades ... IMO significant changes are needed to the roster, and thereby the cap, to build a foundation for long-term, sustainable success.

In fairness to both Bobrov and Lapointe ... their advice is not only their own opinion but the distillation of input from their scouts

I would suggest that Pacs and Gallagher are the only true first line quality players ... my standard for legit first line/top 6 player is being capable to fill that role on many/most legit playoff teams (i.e., not chasing the chance at a wild card) and/or Cup contenders ... Pleks was a good 2C and Higgins was a great 3rd liner but (IMO) marginal 2nd liner) from that perspective ... Galchenyuk's ONE top 6 level season (when it mattered little) and being the second best forward of this draft does not (IMO) make him a legit top 6 forward ... Desharnais was a 1C for a couple of seasons but was never (IMO) a legit top 6 forward.

Or they plan on effectively having European and NA directors

Of course that would create a 20+ TOI hole on the blueline of a team chasing a wild card spot ... Petry might then fit there ... I expect Klinberg would only be moved if the Stars plummet and/or if they are certain they cannot re-sign him and need a longer-term replacement

I fear that hoping/trying too be competitive in a couple of years will be another "re-tool" that might put them back on the "try to make the playoffs and anything can happen" roller-coaster that we have been on almost full-time since 1993 ... IMO they need to a couple of high drafts to build a solid foundation of higher-end talent and THEN some good trades can make them a legit Cup challenger.

Perhaps ... but if gets his head straight I don't really want him playing the Habs in blue&white

I see your logic, but don't know that Toronto would want three more years of Petry ... per CapFriendly, they only (currently) have $8.7M in cap space for next season with only 13 players on the NHL roster ... Petry would drop that to $4.45M. AND Given Petry's very recent improved play (admittedly not difficult) I don't know that (a) a better return might not be available soon and (b) I want to see him with the LAFFS for three seasons.

They've said that Lapointe is filling the role ... at this point their only choices would be folks that are unemployed. No team is going to allow someone to leave now with knowledge of that team's draft prep and plans once the draft is complete the prospect field opens up (Martin Madden Jr. ? 🤞 ? 🤞 ? perhaps).

Don't think he was referencing the losses but rather the quality of Montembeault's play, this year and in the past.

Great news ... but doesn't preclude a stay in IR ... even perhaps lengthy if there are broken bones.

That too