ch_nl

It would have to be a trade that makes sense to both, meaning giving up something to get something. Just saying that they are stacked at C and both should be interested in adressering their future needs.

Couldn’t let go of the thought… So looked at potential trade partners. Columbus and Anaheim are still rebuilding and should be interested in picks and prospects. Both are well-stacked at Center. So here’s two names; Kent Johnsson and Mason McTavish. But then again, even if Dach and Newsy didn’t progress as hoped, I still have hope for both of them.

I’m thinking that Toronto are swept in the first round, and do some kind of re-tooling and the opportunity somehow emerges. What if Andersson just have a great playoff, assuming we get there. With two first rounders, a deep pool and a new kid in town that can be built around, I just hope that the player HuGo target is a lot more potent than anyone obviously available.

If we assume Armia and Dvorak are gone in offseason and we target a UFA, that UFA should be an obvious upgrade on Dvorak. I’m not convinced Mikael Granlund is an upgrade. Bennet, yes, but will it be enough? With all the picks and prospects, shouldn’t the bar be higher than the likes of Ehlers, Bennet and Granlund? Will Toronto afford Marner, Matthews and Nylander? Can we somehow get Nylander?

So excited for tonight game and to see Demidov in a Habs jersey. A lot of talk about who should center the second line in the future and if that player should be found in the free agency market this offseason. From the clips and very limited sample I’ve yet seen of Demidov, it looks like he, just like Pastrnak or Kaprizov kan ”drive” a line from the wing. That makes me think that a pure goal scorer and a two-way player with some physicality is the right linemates for Demidov. Like Laine and Dach… Maybe we already have the pieces?

Unreal!

Missing Brodin and Kaprizov is a big blow for Minny, but missing Guhle might be even more hard on us. in my opinion, the Wild had been one of the most impressive teams so far and their capability to be competitive while having the cap hit issue they have.

… Just that he played last century. Time flies!

Just looked at some Quarter Century line-ups at NHL.com and started to thinking about how the Habs will turn out. … And then having the discussion with myself, I couldn’t come to terms if Plekanec is ahead of Kovalev. Thoughts? Max Pac-Koivu-Kovalev Markov-PK Price Plex-Suzuki-Ryder Sourray-Weber Theodore

Agree on Slafkovsky. His skating still need some work to give him an extra split second for decisions. But whit his size, it shouldn’t bee to hard to overcome. Just a one more gear on his feet and when he fully understands how to use his size, he can still be that difference maker.

Surprised tonight, again! Jake Evans. Really happy for him. That line is working so well. Emil Heineman is proving himself, and thats also very pleasing. Lane Hutson looks like he could use a day or two off. Hopefully there’s some mechanism that allows him to rest some. 82 games and logging the kind of minutes he does must sure take its toll.

A really good team effort. Florida is shooting in Dobes chest a lot, but the Habs doesn’t give them much room. Talking about assests to dangle at the deadline, I’d like both Armia and Evans to stay. Dvorak and Andersson are the expendables.

Worst game in years. Bad luck and poor effort. Bad combo. Only positive is that it’s a part of the learning process. Kraken clearly shows that you get blown out of the water and punished badly when you’re not ready. However, I don’t think it really change anything in the long run.

Agree about the term, but obviously Tampa had the cap if they really wanted to keep him. And I really thought he wanted to end his career as an “franchise icon”.

Yeah, but should that be a concern for Tampa? The risk of loosing morale with the core seems like risk to me.

Big surprises thus far; Chychryn. I had other thought about his value. I guess the same goes for Jeannot. On the other hand, both Tampa and Capitals are in similar situations, so it makes some sense I guess. But Guentzel over Stamkos and parting with Sergachev? I have never been a fan of Alexander Holtz, and it looks like New Jersey have come to the same conclusion as I. But I find it surprising, as many holds him higher. And finally, with the pick of Demidov, I like that Montreal is staying quiet. Who knows what the likes of the underachievers can do with an established Slafkovsky and a healthy Dach in the linup.

Xhekaj getting pucks to the net. Love it!

Consuming Pre-season media like a madman and excited for the upcoming season. For us, I really like the direction the team is taking, especially with the gathering of draft picks and "second chances" like Dach and Newhook, And then it occurred, that there might be other such "projects" out there that could be exploited. And as a non-native Qubecoiose, this doesn't come from some kind of hometown-hero-dream, but depending on how things turn out for Alexis Lafreniere, the Rags just might lose patience with both Kakko and Lafreniere as they are in a win-now mode. I'm actually reluctant to add youngsters from Montreal to the Habs, as the pressure just seems to be too much. But from what I read from the pre-season, it seems like the whole success for the Rangers is depending on getting the "Kid-Line" back on par. However, if the Rangers are in a playoff-spot come the trade deadline and it didn't work out for them, Sean Monahan or Tanner Pearson might be interesting if they have some success this year and a prospect sweetener might be enough to get Lafreniere? I'm thinking along the lines of Monahan, Ylönen, and Harris. And if they blow it before, I think we have enough high-end prospects to make it a "hockey-deal" that could work for both teams. Thoughts?

A few seasons ago I really felt that the Habs were only missing a few key pieces to be a legit contender. At that point Gallagher was in his prime and Price was the best goaltender in the leauge. Mac Pac was healthy and scoring a lot. Markov, Weber and Petry was next-to-Norris. Then came the Kotkaniemi and later Hoffman. And the pool of prospects looked shallow. Today and after the draft, my hopes are high again. There are still some dead weight on the roster, but I haven’t been this hopefull on the prospects since I started to follow the Habs in 1992. Also some of the players that is core has not yet entered their prime. And Montembeault that came in from the side is looking more like a legit no. 1 keeper. I don’t expect anything from next season but progress on most prospects. Whit that said, I think the future looks bright!

Regarding Dalibor Dvorsky. I’ve followed hin for some time as he’s playing for ”my” team in Sweden, AIK. There are some profilic player that have taken the route via the second tier leauge in Sweden and Junior Hockey. There’s a tendency for overlooking those players. They include Elias Pettersson, Henrik Zetterberg, Anze Kopitar, Jesper Bratt and David Pastrnak to name a few. If you look at production in both leauges, it’s clear that Pettersson’s production didn’t dip when playing with men, otherwise all of the players above are somewhat similar in stats. Dalibor Dvorsky is showing similar stats. Also being the youngest. Dvorsky might be this years steal.

I really want the Habs to pick Mitchkov. Lets assume that Bedard, Fantili and Carlsson are taken top 3 and that we pick 4th. That would give the Habs some time to “sort out”. A lot of player has taken steps this season to earn spot on the line-up. The Dach-experiment worked in our favor, Harvey-Pinard is scoring goals, the all-rookie-defence is also a lot better than expected, and Lane Hutson could be a Norris defender in the making… Selecting Mitchkov could mean the the Habs could have the following top-6 in a couple of years; Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield Harvey-Pinard - Dach - Mitchkov

I thougt the Leafs PAID the first rounder to get Gustafsson?

Don’t understand some of the recent trades… Ghost-bear for third rounder. Chychrun for to the Sens for less ”litte” when comparing what the Oilers gave for Ekholm. Eller for a second rounder… … And the Leafs paid WHAT for Gustafsson?!

Not really suitable for any thread, but I’m currently in Boston, sitting in a bar and just asked the bartender about which franchise is the most popular in beantown. His personal preference is the Celtics, but all of them are quite frankly respectable. However, this lead me to “google” the Bruins. ”Only” six Stanley Cups. It feels like they’ve been a powerhouse for decades and years. Nice to be reminded that they’ve not. But also questionable how Bourque ended up being a Bruin… I was also reminded that the rivalry has faded on a personal level. My disliking for the Leafs have surpassed the Bruins in recent years. I would even go as far and admit that they deserve the cup… //

I love it! Gurianov was in my opinion one of the best players in Dallas in the playoffs when they lost the finals to Tampa. 2020? His decline since then, to me is one of the most surprising developments in the leauge. His speed, puckhandling and release should be perfect for what the modern NHL is heading. And remember, this guy is only 25. From the same draft class as McDavid. The potential is huge and the cost was low!