dlbalr

Small difference in faceoff success. Malhotra was elite at nearly 60%. Evans' career success rate is 51%, slightly better than a coin flip. Granted, the Habs aren't great on the draw now with Monahan traded and Dvorak done for the year but 51% isn't a faceoff specialist like a Malhotra was. Don't get me wrong, he's serviceable as a 4C, but that's about all he is.

Not sure I'd agree with that. To me, the marketability of a higher-priced backup is probably lower than a higher-priced 3C, all else being equal (and their contracts are close enough to be equal). I think Johansen at 50% next year brings back more than Allen at 50% next year. Johansen would give Montreal some more flexibility with some of their other expiring C's that year (Dvorak and Evans) which could help on the trade front. I'd do that straight up if the opportunity presented itself but Colorado obviously would need to solve their C situation first or build it into the trade as a 3-way deal with Montreal using their last retention slot on someone like Henrique and then flip him as part of the swap too.

But what if Columbus offers up the President spot (with Davidson going to an advisory role)? Then it's an upgrade (in title, at least) which might force Montreal's hand to say yes to an interview as generally, teams don't block people from getting promotions. (Of course, the easy way around this is Molson gives up the President title but that'll never happen.)

He's 27 and aside from 2021-22, hasn't been able to score much at all. I don't think the Habs consider him a core piece of their future plans. The 4C spot is one they'd probably like to get cheaper at.

Boy, there's a blast from the past. Yeah, something along those lines would probably allow Ylonen to have more success than he has had so far.

I think his case is like Dvorak's where the surgeon wouldn't do the procedure unless they promised to not rush him back. In Dach's case, that would have him sitting the full season and most of the playoffs (which clearly isn't happening for Montreal anyway).

It's just not that good of a roster. Maybe now Lamoriello will come to that realization, one that just about everyone else has had for a while.

That would make the most sense. That said, if they happen to have a bunch of defensive injuries when his club team is ousted, they could recall him direct to the NHL and bypass the recall limit. Not ideal but it's an option if circumstances dictate giving him an early look.

With Ylonen, I've always thought he's the type of player who has to have skilled linemates to succeed. Stick him on the fourth line with a centre who scores 5 goals a year and Pezzetta and it's not going to end well; he doesn't have the skill-set to elevate a group. He's a complementary player who can shoot and skate, and not a whole lot else. But put him with a pure playmaker and he should have some success as a player that just gets to the open spots and is ready to fire. Accordingly, he might fit on a third line with a team with better depth with linemates that are more skilled offensively that will make the most of his shooting ability. In Montreal, they're trying to make him more of a two-way guy since they're putting him with players who most nights have no hopes of scoring. That's a role he has never had before and the end result has been a lot of mediocrity.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't. The NHLPA has been more aggressively lately in their appeals (three already this year) so why wouldn't they try it here?

The power play looked half decent in that period. Primeau looks like a goalie who hasn't played in nearly a month which isn't all that surprising.

Rielly gets 5 games which is notable since it can't be appealed to an independent arbitrator at that level, just Bettman.

I'm encouraged by how enthusiastic you are about the possibility of Luke Tuch turning pro and being with the Habs in the fall... (That's the realistic option, at least.)

Seems like a too good to be true type of offer for Montreal. I don't think Dallas parts with Bourque in a deal for Savard. Someone younger with more team control, perhaps, but not for 100 games (and two playoff runs) of Savard, a 2nd D piece.

Mittelstadt had 59 points last season and has 42 in 51 games this year. I think it has been established that he's not another Armia, a player who has cracked 30 points once in his career. Not to mention that they don't play the same position or the same style of play (Mittelstadt isn't great in his own end while Armia is a checker). They're about as opposite of players as there can be.

Postgame injury updates: 4-6 weeks for Harvey-Pinard, DTD for Harris (I think that one will change), TBD on Guhle.

I was wondering that myself as to why St. Louis really wanted the review on that one. But with it being Ylonen who would have scored, that would have snapped a now 32-game drought so maybe he was just trying to help end that streak. Today's postgame: https://www.habsworld.net/2024/02/10-thoughts-a-super-bowl-smack-down-by-st-louis/

It's hard to healthy scratch a forward right now; with three goalies, the most forwards they can have up at any time is 13. (And with Gallagher being suspended, they only are at 12.) Can't see the Habs going the waiver route with him though.

If Logan Stankoven doesn't win Rookie of the Year down there, there will need to be an investigation. He's leading the league in scoring, not just leading rookie scoring. Mailloux is tied for 5th in rookie points, 3 out of a tie for 2nd so a good second half could get him in the mix but it's Stankoven's award by a mile as things stand.

He's on an AHL contract so if there's an NHL team who wants him, they don't have to trade for him, they can just sign him. His stock has fallen that low that the best he could do to start this season was an AHL PTO that was converted to a full deal about a month ago.

But who is actually comparing Lindstrom to Lindros? I haven't seen anyone credible say that. Someone having a similar playing style as Lindros doesn't mean they're the next Lindros. Same with Silayev. That his playing style is similar to Pronger/Chara doesn't mean he's openly being called the next Pronger/Chara.

There's enough news on Harvey-Pinard for them to pull Roy up as they need a roster spot to do so. That means they know enough about Harvey-Pinard's injury to put him on IR (unless they're doing something with the defence to stay roster-compliant).

Tsyplakov is capped at a one-year ELC wherever he signs so the price point is what it is. It'll be max salary, max bonuses (most of which won't be achieved).

Condotta didn't play yesterday so it wouldn't be 3-in-3 for him; if they're bringing someone up for tomorrow, it's probably him and then they re-assess for Tuesday. I think they'd just go 7D and get Harris back in there.

You might be the only one wondering if Celebrini is the consensus top pick. It's pretty much a lock that he's the number one pick and I don't think it's all that close.