hab29RETIRED

Especially for a franchise that has been clamouring for elite top end talent that has the potential of being a regular top 10 guy since Lafleur. No 50 goal scorer since Richer, no 40 goal scorer since Damphousse. last time they passed on a dynamic player for the safer all round big centre (this time big safe dman), they ended up with Wickeheiser and than traded Chelios for that same dynamic centre after he was washed up.

I just don't think there will be room for him next year. Even dropping Dvorak and Armia, I don't think there is room for him. We have Demidov, Roy, Beck, Kapanan all knocking on the door next year.

Not sure what we waste a contract spot on pezatta next year?? Have guy that are knocking on the door. Have Demidov coming in. Evans Id sign for up to 4 years at $2.75m to $3m. You always need centres and he is a guy who has talent and never takes night off. I'd have him as the number 3 centre, unless Beck or Kapanan show they can punch him down the lineup. Otherwise a rising cap, I don't see any issues in being able to move him if he gets passed by other players. not sure why everyone is comparing giving him 4 years at under $3m to giving Gallagher $6m for 6 years when the cap was lower and flat.

How is that revisionist? A lot of the pre-draft reviews had him listed as 2nd pairing guy; with a first pairing ceiling in g he continued to improve.

So was mine. I was cursing the pick and then realized my son had walked in🙄

I hated the trade at the time, thinking why didn't we just draft Nazer. But seeing Dach in the second half of his first year and the start of last year - when he played with confidence - he looked amazing. So, I'm good with the Dach trade. Newhook looked good last night, but I still think he was an overpay. I wish we took the same approach with that we did last year, where instead of trading for Newhook, we used picks to move up. Newhook looks like a third line guy to me, but who knows, his game yesterday may get him going. That was the first game I saw him being assertive (in carrying the puck, passing, and shooting). He also was driving to the net which he hasn't been doing and that may have been a factor on the Caufield goal. So there is still hip that he even if it was an overpay he could be part of the future. But we need more games like last night, not the crap we've seen all year.

I hope we keep Evans, and I don't know if anyone will take Dvorak without retention.

I think Price fxcked his name because he himself was in disbelief😆 I just don't understand passing on a guy who was seen as the second best talent after Bedard and prior to the Russia factor had been considered as a guy who could go #1 in the two years prior to the draft. He may still turn out to be the best player from that draft. Even if we passed on him, I just don't get passing on Leonard. You had a choice between sublime skill, and grit and skill. Either way could have set us as forward for the next decade with Suzuki, Caufield, Leonard/Michkov, Slafkovsky, and then adding Demidov the following year. to pass on that type of talent we had to be drafting a bonafide first pairing Dman, and everything I've read suggests that he is most likely a 2nd pairing guy - something we need, but not the type of guy I'd want to pick in the top 5.

Doesn't make it any better.3 teams passed on Makar - doesn't mean those were good decisions. 6 teams passed on Hughes - including us - doesn't make the KK pick any better. the stupidity of others isn't an excuse for our own stupidity.

The only time I read he reportedly didn't want to play for was Phoenix - because he refused to meet with them. If he didn't want to play for Montreal, I doubt if they'd have the discussion that was broadcast of Gordon asking if they are avoiding the riskier high corking player (paraphrasing- don't remember the exact quote).I hated the Reimbacher pick. W e should have taken Michkov and if there was legit concern (I yr timeline shouldn't have been one - players take time - slaf in yr time is not as productive as Michkov), they should have taken Leonard. That pick is my only real disagreement, wnd the one decision I'm upset about. Don't agree with everything the new mgmt tram has done, but that pick is the only one that pissed me off from the moment it was made.

It makes zero sense to test your core guys for a grunt. I'd be fine sitting Newhook to being in Roy for another look if he continues to produce at a high level. But Pezetta??? Seriously??? He has no future with the Habs. Last year Pezetta deserved to be in over Armia. At aome point we will just waive Pezetta.

I'd rather have Heineman playing with Suzuki and Caufield.

I don't get it either - I think he was preferring Struble over others - but read some speculation that he isn't happy with him . I can't remember if it was on a forum post, an article or a Mariano podcast.

Trouba's hits are barely on the line. I'd rather have our D like Struble or Wifi try and smoke a guy like Panarin with a hard clean hit, or Anderson smoke Fox and they should tell Panarin and Fox that they are going to see a lot more of those if Trouba continues to head hunt.

Frankly, I'd rather see Hutson with struble on the RHD side, or have Hutaonon the RHD side with Guhle. but from what I've read MSL, may not be too big of a struble fan - which doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Savard does not play enough minutes - nor should he, and I think Hutson is better defensively than Matheson, so it doesn't make sense to play the two of them together if the idea is to provide Hutson with a defensive anchor.