IN THE HEARTS OF MEN

I'd also add that maybe Gorton and Hughes still rate our guys better than we do as fans a) Dach is still highly rated regardless of knee issue B) they consider Newhook more of a C than a W, as his history throughout his career in all leagues suggest (including the NHL) C) expecting Hage to jump straight into the NHL from NCAA D) Beck and Kapanan as quality depth centers

Who knows... but i do think that will be our 4C to start camp unless Kap or Beck can win a spot at C and force Newhook or Dach to wing

I dont believe a 2C is coming. I think Hughes and Gorton are giv8ng Dach another go. Suzuki Dach Newhook Evans Kapanan Beck With Hage signing at the end of his sophomore season. Unless a 2C falls into our lap or we trade a core piece for a core piece. That's my call

Gallagher didn't seem to miss a shift until he broke his thumb...and then broke it again... There's players who are always getting hurt and soft, and there's players who get injured with torn ligaments from freak accidents or broken wrists or shoulders from unfortunate accidents. You just got to hope that Dach has now had his fair share and is finally ready to turn the corner, move on and build some positive momentum this season. What a blessing it would be to have his potential come to fruition and he bounce back healthy blossom into a legit top 6 we had hope for

His name is Dach... hes getting a 2nd chance...

Playoff shenanigans stop year after next with cap in place for playoff game rosters?

I believe the Habs have symbolically said which players are currently untouchable and the building blocks of team... Look at the pre draft, pre Donson deal post on Instagram. All jerseys showed the front but only a handful of jerseys were shown with player backs Reinbacher Guhle Mailloux to the left Demidov Slav Hutson in the center Caufield Suzuki to the right. To me that's symbolic the day of trades and transactions https://www.instagram.com/p/DLYbSPhgEWd/?igsh=MTQ0dDZubnVqOWVxMA==

Kyrou to Mtl is the latest....

Hutson Reinbacher Guhle Dobson Matheson Carrier Xhekaj Mailloux Struble Engstrom Konyushov In NO particular order. Which left Dman gets moved with forward prospects and pics for a top 6 player next ? Or we going UFA ?

Wow

For both 1st rounders and Heinemen

As much as everyone fell out of love with Laine, as some already pointed out -he missed all but 8 games the year prior with a clavicle and mental Health - he had what two dr opinions said was season ending knee injury - he chose alternative therapy to come back - came back in Dec. when we were 2nd last. -yes he looked really, really slow. More so than ever before (was he wearing a brace?) -yes he was awful at 5on5 But... -he did score +20 goals -played all his games with essentially no center -had a broken finger ??I in the playoffs After all is said and done. We were NOT making the playoffs without him this year thats 100%. I also dont think we're offloading him and paying to do so. I also don't think we are re-signing him for more than 5/6 million and if he does goes off next season he likely prices himself out of Montreal anyway

Could this be a huge reason he's so sought after... what a crushing hit https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ4cGH8xGKn/?igsh=cGQydGljanpzaWRz

Hughes has literally said he's willing to over pay for the right player in a trade as we have the assets to do so and max contracts ate soon approaching. It's going to get a wild summer

at some point i do believe we need to move a left NHL Dman (not a Prospect) for a right NHL dman (not a prospect), for some balance. sure one of Mailloux or Reinbacher will replace Savard, but we will get a lot younger and less experienced. Is Matheson that left dman who gets moved with one year left on contract is a valid question. However, he logs serious minutes on this team, has elite skating and can move the puck. Also note, Guhle is yet to stay healthy in his young career.

Bennett will only get a 7 year deal taking him to age 35, which isn't that far fetched compared to other players signed. If you compared that to Kadri and his 7M cap that he gets until 39 years old. Whats the difference? Kadri might be more offensively savvy but Bennett is heavier and younger and more built for playoff hockey as already mentioned. End of the day, i don't think anyone is giving him 7M for 7yrs. i would bet he ends up closer to 8, but am unwilling to put my own money on it.

i think the missing point here is how Toronto has been knocked out over the years, and their inability to address those issues over a decade ultimately leading to the essential firing of Shanny. Consistently laying eggs throughout the years from the Montreal series collapse and blowing a 3-1 lead to not showing up in Boston for game 6, getting beat up vs TB, and most recently two straight games at home where they failed to even show up to start game 7 or even play in game 5. I think in Montreal we would be ok losing to the better team, as a recent example this playoffs in Washington, if the team laid it all out on the line with heart, passion and fight but fell short.Thats just not the case in Toronto But to be out shot 25-0 and fail to even enter the zone for almost 10 minutes to start a game 7 for the 6th time in a row? or 9th time in last 11 (whatever the stat is). That is what I would think is most disheartening as a Leaf fan. Now they will ultimately lose one of their biggest stars if not two (Marner, Tavares) and recoup nothing. Their assets continue to dwindle away and with only 3 picks in the first 3 rounds of the next 3 seasons and only really holding two real chips in cowen and Knies, things are really starting to look bleek. Sure they can overpay in this years free agency market, but that will likely make them older, with future cap issues. Man o Man is it a nice time to be a Habs fan if Hughes and Gorton get these next 12- 14 months right

Although i disagree with the notion that the pressure in Toronto is "nothing compared to" all the teams listed above including Montreal. I 100% agree that putting the blame on the fans or media pressure is pure deflection to what truly ails this team. The Toronto Maple Leaf team have been poorly assembled and frankly poorly run for a quarter century. The difference in the shambles of Man U today vs the ManU of yesteryear, is team structure and personel not team pressure. Its all internal!

Listening to Marchand talking post game... i see no way he signs in TO unless they throw ridiculous money and term at him. Basically, he threw the Leaf fans under the bus. Bennett I feel would be no different! -Marchand walks -Bennett re ups in FLA -Knies signs a Slav deal -Tavares settles for 6M in TO -Marner to LA or CHI

i don't see why we are all so quick to dismiss Newhook at C. Am I missing something or did he not win rookie of the year at Boston College playing C and played at C as a sophomore b4 Covid ended the season early? Did he not play for Canada at WJC and win silver at C? He was drafted as a C and was he not a regular 3C as a rookie for Stanley Cup winning Colorado. He looked pretty good in that role down the stretch and playoffs to end season this year, and last year to although it was meaningless hockey. He does need to get better in the dot for sure though and finish more of his chances. I can totally see him starting next season at 3C and Evans at 4C

Matthews and Nylander aren't going anywhere neither... i was just adding to the list of players id take from Toronto. The funny thing is, all these players will have great playoff success once they get out of Toronto, and that includes Mitch, Matthews and all

+ Knies + Tanev

I think you all get the point... rossi and Zegras are much of the same that we already have... its not the profile we should be targeting and Gorton pretty much said the same thing. The point wasn't to get Ek but that profile we should be targeting, at C or wing.... talented sandpaper for the top 6... Kadri although not a large man, plays a very greasy big boys game and has offense as well. He was part of a stanley cup winner in Colorodo with Newhook... a boyhood Habs fan, along with his Habs fan family. He would be most ideal. Horvat is bit bigger, and younger , but not a dirty. I think I'd lean Kadri personally if given the choice. His heart would be in it, for the Habs...

I have to believe the hype around Montreal is real. This team is definitely in high demand around the league with players. I cant see attraction from UFAs being an issue (even with Americans). Maybe I'm bias but the "aura" is real. -No to Giroux -No to zegras (not a fit anymore) -Rossi is a great kid but to small. I don't think he's a good fit. I'd rather see a big Eriksoon Ek instead out of Minny. -Kadri I think would be a great fit while we wait for Hage. - Bo would be good as well * we need skilled sandpaper in the top 6 I read that Hughes said he's willing to overpay with assets to get the "right player" in a trade but not over pay a UFA and I would have to agree here. I also wouldn't mind if we gave Dach Newhook Beck and Kap another shot down the middle rather than forcing a move just to make a move if it's not there

hughes will not overpay in free agency. If he overpays, its with assets in a trade, not cap space in a UFA signing.