tomh009

It does not look good for playoffs, to be sure!

Multiple sources claim that Kevin Hayes, who has been something of a role model for Gauthier, had something to do with it.

I don't see Hughes trading Barron at this point. Maybe once there is more certainty about Reinbacher and Mailloux, but not likely now. Unless, of course, someone offers a king's ransom for him, but I don't think that's likely right now.

I wouldn't want to cherry-pick the hot streak, either, but neither would I specifically choose a less productive period. Using the full season is a more objective measure--and a bigger sample, too. Anyway, it appears that Hughes has some interest in Monahan, so let's see whether they are close enough to agree on terms. If they are not, Monahan will be gone for whatever price is offered.

Only one year of point/game (or did you mean power play goals?), though, in 2018-19. For most of his Calgary career, he was in the range of 0.7-0.8 points/game. With the Habs, 0.68 last year and 0.59 this year--mostly not with top-notch linemates. He's down a bit from his earlier production, but still very credible. I do agree that a first-rounder is unlikely, all things consider, though. I think a big question is whether he likes playing for the Habs enough to sign (a reasonable contract) without exploring free agency.

Some players, especially D-men, do mature later (Kovacevic is a good example of that) so I don't know that Norlinder is quite a write-off. But given the Habs' LD depth, probably not on this team.

We are all guessing as Monahan has not given us any indication. But being longer-term part of a rebuild into a contender could also be appealing to him. We just don’t know.

Struble is making me a believer. The decisions for future D corps keep getting harder.

They are a very good team indeed. That PP is potent, kudos to the Habs for making it through another kill.

I think, by definition, the seventh-best defenceman (as judged by St-Louis) would be in the doghouse. On PK, he has been arguably been the best of the D corps, but that appears not to be enough.

I wonder how Kovacevic ended up in the doghouse. He's been more reliable defensively than most of our D corps, and has even done some scoring this year.

Yes, 9 points in 13 games. But Xhekaj has recorded 9 in 10 games, and Armia 9 in 8. So, productive, yes, spectacular, no. And a small sample size still.

Yes, those are big ifs. But so is "if Andersson plays well when he returns" ... 😊

No points but 27 minutes on the ice, highest on the team again. He definitely played a different role on this team than in college hockey.

Once both Pearson and Newhook are back, they'll be up to 13 forwards (assuming Heineman is back in Laval by then). So, to bring Andersson up, they would need to send someone back down--Pezzetta, Stephens, Armia? Armia is the popular whipping boy but losing him will make our sad PK even sadder. That's 5.67 net GA/60 on PK, only Kovacevic is even close.

Dvorak and Armia are moderate overpays with reasonable term. Price would not be a bad contract had he been able stay healthy. Gallagher was a bigger mistake, yes. Actual problem contracts, given that Price is on LTIR, we only have a few.

Matheson was to the right of the net on both plays, I think, but in neither case close enough to cut off the pass.

Right, it's closer to the high-mobility formation that the Habs are trying to make work.

By that time, he did have to do something. Maybe there were better options, but doing nothing wasn't one of them. Anyway, that's in the distant past. We have Dvorak now, and we have his contract, which we can't change now. And I do agree that he's fine as a 3C. A bit expensive, but we have a contract, so can't change that part.

On the other hand ... it's an opportunity for our F prospects to get the same kind of NHL experience that our D prospects got last season. Separate the wheat from the chaff and all that ...

Is Wideman confirmed as full season, too?

I don't think we are short of cap space as it is ...

Out for the season?

Dvorak still not skating. RHP skating, but not together with the rest of the team yet. https://x.com/MAGodin/status/1742931546984890486?s=20