Colin

Suzuki. As much for his leadership as his play. He went to coaches and management. He told them what he wanted, then proceeded to lift his game and the team. Kid is high quality captain material. Hutson should get some love, but few votes. Unbelievable first season, but not at Suzy’s level - though I love his quiet leadership. Montembeault must be considered a little as well. I haven’t read the site much, but I gather there are many people down on him from occasional posts I’ve seen. Why? Goals saved above expected on a team with huge defensive issues. Just that stat alone is enough - he’s 4th in the league. Put him at break even with that stat and we’ve long been eliminated. Monty’s big issue, I’m convinced, is his focus. Pretty normal for a goalie his age. That will only get better. I don’t think it’s wrong to consider Gally for MVP either. Every shift is played like it’s the last and his on- and off-ice leadership is incredible. He truly is the heart and soul.

Laine is what he is; he’s always been that. But even here I’d encourage people to pull back and see the bigger picture before running him out of town. Remember Anderson last year? Remember Caufield early on? MSL has always praised patience for people learning a system. It took Anderson over a year to adapt and now he’s integral to the lineup and has been starting games pretty consistently for the Habs to set the tone. Laine is learning - look at his play when he first got here to now. His first games were painful to watch. Yeah, the shot is outstanding, but back then he made pretty much zero effort in any other aspect. I challenge everyone to watch his early games and then recent ones. He *is* better defensively. His core issue, which he’s always had, is competitiveness in tight areas. But even that is better - despite him looking like a perimeter junior hockey player last night. There will be incessant ups and downs for a guy who’s only rediscovering his love for the game. Side note: if Ovie retires after this year (I’d give that a 50/50 right now) they need a big shot winger. And Laine is far more active than Ovie while still being an effective shooter. Laine (50%) retained, Mailloux (whose defence is proportionally worse than Laine’s when taking position into consideration) and a first for Ryan Leonard and whatever contract they need to dump. Washington shouldn’t do it, but I think they’d have to have a serious look.

1. If you’re going to disregard the rule book for an admittedly egregious error, then you have to find some fairness. Laine should have been able to shoot again. I would expect there to be significant discussion, if Montreal misses the playoffs, about compensation for how this went down. I could see an extra pick sent our way. 2. I’m stunned by all the bitching by fans about MSL and the players and what we should have done, could have done etc etc. Go back to late November and ask yourself how you would have felt seeing this team fighting for the playoffs in the last games of the season. The *only* reason we’re here is MSL and his coaching and enabling of the players both on and off the ice. This team is, what, the second youngest in the league? We’ve done, by far, the best rebuild of any team I’ve seen recently. Three years from garbage to a team that’s on the cusp of great things. Stop whining and enjoy the ride!

Was Komi ever really that great? Or was he a product of the perpetually underrated Markov…

Time to start a Go Fund Me for Demidov so he can buy out his contract and come over?

Corey Pronman very clearly doesn’t watch the Habs, rather he makes his decisions based on what he hears from other people who don’t watch the Habs.

Come on guys, Dans Les coulisses? Dans la poubelle. That site is tripe.

There are those out there that project Reinbacher to be the second best player in the draft. If you have doubts, or if you think they drafted positionally instead of BPA, consider that info.

His play, other than offensive, is highly questionable; so bad that apparently he blows the zone before his team even has possession. There’s anticipation, and then there’s…leaving. He also is about as defensive capable as a Maple Leaf defender. Finally, a so-far unsubstantiated rumour admittedly, he’s potentially got some deficiencies in his, um, attitude. 😉 Personally, that type of player doesn’t really interest me. I appreciate sublime skill, but not at the potential risk of the ‘team’ game. And I’ve no interest in seeing an attitude issue wreck chemistry (good riddance to even the thought of Mike Ribeiro). As for the “Russian” aspect, please remember there’s a war going on which is likely to affect many athletes in various deleterious ways. Who knows how long that, and the political ramifications will last. I believe his father passed under mysterious circumstances, and the undertone behind that reporting is that it could have been linked to hockey. Not saying I know anything, because I don’t, but all that has to be measured when making the choice to draft him. Defence and accountability can be taught, yes, but attitude is tougher and politics is well beyond the control of a hockey team.

Regarding Michkov: are the Habs really in a place where taking a huge swing for what must be considered a somewhat risky proposition make sense in the early days of a rebuild? Wouldn’t it be better asset management to pick a slightly lesser skilled player who is going to assist the rebuild more immediately? Don’t get me wrong, high-end skill is great. I’m just not sure that Michkov is the best use of this pick in particular. Not that I’d be disappointed, I’m just not sure it’s the best use of this pick.

From a team perspective this is virtually a no-risk contract. Reliable piece that has earned the one-way, and you don’t mind paying it if he ends up in the AHL. I probably would have offered $50k more to cut his hair, but my hockey-playing son insists his yearly mullet is divine.

Romanov and Kulak. We get pinned with Mete because he gets pushed around more than a Leaf fan in the nosebleeds at the Bell Centre. Face-offs. Until these two can hit 50%, then we need at least one excellent taker of draws. Cumbersome sentence. Embarrassing. Not that I want to do anything other than let him go at the price he seems to think he's worth. Much better sentence. If his demands fall, fantabulous. Otherwise, he's just not in the budget.

Tatar-Danault-Gallywagger Drouin-Suzuki-Anderson Toffoli-KK-Armia Lekky-Evans-PoPo-Weal-etc Three lines that can actually score! And a solid, if not flashy, defence corps. And a real back-up for Price that can take over for periods of time when necessary. Call me optimistic.

Would you re-sign Galchenyuk over the summer for a small contract?

I'm reading more and more how Bergy really did screw this one up. Offerred the same as Dallas too late, some reports saying his offer didn't have full detail in it, like when bonuses etc would be paid. I'm not sure about the sources, but I'm a firm believer of the smoke-fire theory.