huzer

Looking at SOS, Wings and Isles are 1 and 3, in terms of hardest remaining schedule. Rangers and CBJ also in the top 10. The Bs and Sens both have weaker remaining schedules. The Habs also have 2 games remaining against the Sens, and sport a 2-0 record against them this season, outscoring them 9-3. Losing 8 of 9 before the 4 Nations break was really a killer, and is keeping my optimism in check for the remainder of this season.

To be moderately fair, from a different angle you can see the low ref is actually watching the play with the puck, and not in front of the net. He glances over when he notices Caufield down, but he wasn't watching when it occurred. He did see the second softer one, but that's something players get away with 99% of the time. Button kind of lost his marbles over it during the game.

Deadline is what I expected from the Habs. First time in a while that there hasn't been a trade of some sort, it seems, though.

Pretty awesome to see a 7th rounder push through and succeed. Glad Evans is resigned, and at a reasonable term. I know plenty of folks wanted to purge and go full youth, but the team needs vets to help get them through.

To me, this is what the game was about last night. A bunch of kids coming off the practice ice to watch OT. As beer league guys came in, they also filtered into the lobby to watch the game. Two Canadians in the mix (including the coach). He went nutso when McDavid scored. A couple of the kids in the picture (including my son) made it to the USA Hockey Nationals for 14u AA last year (they lost to the ultimate winner in the quarterfinals). With three Avs players on the team, it stung a little less for the local kids when Canada won.

This feels like Rocky IV, except now, the US is USSR and Canada is the US. The game broadcast should play Burning Heart before the game.

Funny, they commented on this during the ARCA Daytona race. The radio is actually from Andy Jankowiak at Daytona in 2024.

With 12 picks in the 2025 draft already, and 7 in the first three rounds, I don't see '25 draft capital being a priority. There isn't a burning need to add a handful of mid-round picks to the cupboard. I guess assets for something you'd lose for free is good, I don't have much for predictions, but I am curious to see how it plays out.

Don't look now, but Wright is quietly having a decent season, and has woken up after an abysmal Oct/Nov. 29pts in his last 36 games. Slaf didn't really produce a ton even during the Habs hot streak.

I'd expect similar to Erik Johnson last year, maybe a 4th rounder.

Ok. Sorry I ruffled your feathers. I didn't realize my initial post was that inflammatory. (and since tone can't be inferred in text, I don't mean it sarcastically.) When you said: That doesn't read as terribly flattering.

I mean, if that's what you're going to take away from my post, probably not the best word choice, but the implication was that Monty's glove just happened to be where Celebrini shot. That the shooter hit a presented target, and not that Monty read the play and positioned himself/glove accordingly. Again, I'm not saying he's next in line for the Vezina, but that was a great save, you can see him read the entire play and his reaction time was impressive. There are definitely other times when a supposed "big/huge/great/awesome save" is definitely just dumb luck, but to me, this isn't one of those times.

Wow, that's pretty harsh. It's not like Monty was there waiting for the shot. He made the initial save on the wide open back door pass. Then, he had to read the rebound, track the puck, follow Celebrini's toe drag, move his body to follow that, and get his glove in position. It definitely isn't what I'd call a stagnant save. Really, roles reversed, I'd say great save. For the 1st goal, he got fooled by the shot-pass in the slot, left his edges, and was swimming from that point on. (Xhekaj looked bad in that sequence, too.) Anyway, Monty is doing fine. Nobody is pretending he's in the Vezina conversation. We're so spoiled by having our franchise player be a goalie for so many years, that anyone that follows will have a difficult time living up to that standard. Monty ain't Price, or Helleybuyck, nor is he paid like them. And for those clamoring for Dobes to get more starts, it seems a 12 games (for Monty) to 7 games (for Dobes) is a pretty good split. Tonight's start will make it an even 60/40 split, which is what I would consider right on target. A few quick hits from last night. Oof, they were lucky to be playing the Sharks. I thought Beck looked solid and not out of place (huge step up from Pez and RHP). The speed of Newhook and Anderson together is interesting. It's gonna be a tough road without Guhle. Laine has a great shot, and that's literally it. It's almost comical that if he isn't somewhere in the left face-off circle waiting for a pass, he's pretty much useless. He's somehow an even more one-dimensional version of Souray. Team needs training on how to bury empty net goals. I wonder what the deal is with Toffoli? He's a good player, seems quite likable, and yet he gets traded out of everyplace. Celebrini looks like the real deal. Will Smith looked pretty good too. Sharks appear to be building a decent foundation. One thing I like about these west coast games (from a mountain time zone person) is my family is early to bed. I can pay a little more attention to games. I usually have the early games on more as background noise while heading to practice, making dinner, and all of the other normal household activities.

What an odd question. Ideally, nobody goes on LTIR. Ever. I wish for health for the players, so my brain can't even contemplate which player I hope is injured enough to be out for at least a season.

I feel the same way. For so long, it was a feeling of watching the team, hoping they could compete, but the outcome basically was meaningless, win or lose. Now there's this burgeoning expectation of competing and winning. Whoa, that feels weird indeed! There's still a lot of season to go, but it has been a fun stretch.

Tis a lot of ink spilled on Jake Evans. The same folks complaining about Armia's and Dvo's salary today will be doing the same thing in 3 years when Evans is 32, wondering why we're paying 3.5-4M for a 4th liner (not saying he's 4th line today, but probably where he would be in 3-4 years based on how the team would hope their prospects pan out). Ultimately though, if he re-signs, cool. If not, ok. Most of the overpays have been on contract extensions, not on free agents. Gally, Anderson, Price, Subban, Petry, etc were all self inflicted wounds. Prob the worst "recent" singing would be Alzner, but that was what, 7-8 years ago?

The Habs are already the 2nd youngest team in the league. They don't need to get younger after the trade deadline. If the team continues to play well, ride with what you've got, unless they get their socks knocked off with an unbelievable offer. I won't be disappointed if the Habs keep all of their UFAs and miss out on future 3rd and 4th rounders. They've made 30 draft picks in the last three years, have 12 picks in the 2025 draft, and 9 in the 2026. 11 of those picks are 3rd round or better. Hughes commented about the plethora of picks that they already have stockpiled. The Habs wouldn't be selling high value UFAs, and at some point, the experience of battling with the team you played with all season is worth the cost of not acquiring a handful of 3rd round 2027 picks. And yes, I know the point of accumulating draft picks is also for trade flexibility, and not always for selecting a player with a pick. The team also has to balance how many prospects they have, and how many contract slots they have available, too. As far as AHLers getting NHL experience, let them make the team out of camp next year when roster spots are available. I don't believe any current Rocket players are necessarily over performing in the AHL that they require a call up now (or in March). I'm not against any recalls from Laval, I don't think the team needs to make any trades to make room for anyone in Laval.

Talk about clickbait, not even going to the article. "Important Press Conference." When has a mid season press conference ever been important? The shocking reasons Kent Hughes is holding a press conference, you won't BELIEVE #3!

Went to the game last night. Pretty sleepy first two periods, even the crowd was pretty muted. Fun third and OT though! Back to back 2-1 wins in Colorado. After years of futility, it's been nice to leave the rink with a win!

Dach piece by Engels. Canadiens' Dach facing hard truths, working to grow through adversity https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canadiens-dach-facing-hard-truths-working-to-grow-through-adversity/

Truculent guy wants more truculence. It's so cyclical. When skill isn't working, we need more grit. When we have too many grinders, we need more skill. Rinse/repeat. Now we're back on the "guys who get you to the playoffs, then the guys that get you through the playoffs" mantra we heard so often from Bergevin. You need depth, balance, and a goalie that can stop a beach ball more often than not. Who was intimidating when the Avs won the Cup in '22? Or Tampa in their (almost) three-peat years?

Fowler had a stronger draft year than Primeau, which obviously is accounted for in their draft position. 40 games for Youngstown backstopping them to a Clark Cup championship. USHL goalie of the year, Clark Cup most outstanding player. Fowler is also benefiting playing on a strong BC team. I remember the excitement around Primeau once he started putting up good numbers in the NCAA (and winning the Richter award) about potentially finding a steal. Interesting parallel with a couple of Northeastern goalies, Primeau and Devon Levi. Both Richter winners, both 7th rounders, both (although Levi is 3 years younger) haven't quite but it together at the pro level yet. Curious to watch Levi some more. Primeau really did have an outstanding career at Northeastern, so just to compare them based on college wouldn't really accomplish much, as both are/have succeeded. Back to Primeau/Fowler. Very different goalies stylistically though, Primeau appears to rely on his athleticism/aggressiveness which can get him in trouble and out of position. He needs to work harder mentally to be "on", as that isn't his strongest attribute as a goalie. Fowler appears to be better at reading the play which helps him overcome some of his less than stellar footwork. Just my very amateur opinions. And of course, Primeau observations have been at the NHL level, can't say I went back and watched any vintage college footage. Can Primeau flip that mental switch to match his athletic ability? Can Fowler continue to improve his lower body mechanics? Time will tell!

Call me crazy, I'd move Slafkovsky back up with Caufield and Suzuki, I'd move Dach to wing, and have Newhook center a Laine-Newhook-Dach line. I wouldn't mind seeing how Newhook-Heineman could do, either. Heineman has good speed/shot. I think Newhook needs to be the retriever/playmaker on a line and have a capable shooter with him. I find it slightly odd that Newhook finished last season decently as a center, and he has been used minimally as a pivot this year. When he returned from injury last year, he was exclusively a center. Holy moly, I didn't realize Dach was a -21.

Being fairly involved in youth hockey in the US, I can tell you the development plan for goalies is very similar. Much goalie development is dependent on how much the parent wants to pay for private ice time (whether in an individual or group setting) as goalies are seen as an individual position and not necessarily a team role. The prevailing thought that "goalies are voodoo" permeates even to the youngest of ages, where it can still be the Mighty Ducks syndrome of take the biggest kid/weakest skater, throw them in net, and see what happens.

Man, I hope in 26-27, which would be the first year of a new Matheson deal, that the team is (maybe not yet a full flight contender) a solid playoff team.