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2024-25 NHL discussion thread


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24 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

So, the contract will go to age 37. The big questions are how much of a downslope he will have and whether he can still play 60+ games as he approaches 35, regardless of cap percentage.

 

Its Vegas.  He'll be on Robidas Island if he can't play. 

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Goon for sale!

 

"Rempe, 6-foot-8 and 255 pounds of pugnacity and hatred, has just been sent back to the American Hockey League. He had played in only two of the Rangers' first seven games, in which he played 3:40 and 7:37."

 

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1 hour ago, DON said:

Goon for sale!

 

"Rempe, 6-foot-8 and 255 pounds of pugnacity and hatred, has just been sent back to the American Hockey League. He had played in only two of the Rangers' first seven games, in which he played 3:40 and 7:37."

 

Expect it is similar to Xhekaj going to Laval last season

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4 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Except Arber has some talent. Rempe has none.

Wasn't equating the players, just the purpose ... NYRs hoping Rempe can get himself/his-game together enough to earn a 4th line role; and if he can't, he fades to obscurity outside the NY media bubble ... NOT predicting he will, or even can, manage to do it ... just discussing the purpose

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Watched the end of the Leaf-Bruin game. Mathews ties it up in the last minute, the Leafs completely controlled the play in overtime and then Mathews with a brutal giveaway leads to the Bruin OT winner. Making blind passes in OT is usually not recommended. 

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12 hours ago, GHT120 said:

Wasn't equating the players, just the purpose ... NYRs hoping Rempe can get himself/his-game together enough to earn a 4th line role; and if he can't, he fades to obscurity outside the NY media bubble ... NOT predicting he will, or even can, manage to do it ... just discussing the purpose

He is as much of a legit NHL player as former all star John Scott. Unfortunately, guys like him will keep getting chances. 

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Islanders were leading 3-0; lose 6-3 to Panthers.

Mitchkov 4g 9pts in 8 games.

Flames lose, hot start ending?

 

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4 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I think this race is going to continue. 
 

Could Boston miss the playoffs this year?


Edmonton, Boston and Toronto are 4-4-1 

I don’t see these teams missing the playoffs.

 

Calgary I hope stays in our goldilocks band of being not in playoffs and not in bottom 10 of league. At moment I want them to lose… but by November 5th, I might want them to beat us… we’ll see how it goes. I pray for mediocrity in Calgary.
 

Regardless of advanced stats, linear equations, Schrödinger equations, laws of thermodynamics and Pythagorean theorems….. I want Xhekaj in the line up. He just provides a warm weighted blanket of comfort throughout the team. I’m sure it gives the Caufields, the Hutsons, the Newhooks, the Evans (and maybe the Gallaghers) a bit more breathing room and provides the Dachs, the Slafkovskys, the Savards, the Mathesons leeway to stay in the game instead of being the Protector.

 

I do understand why Montreal might be looking for someone (if rumours were true) to do this type of work playing at a forward position (because losing a defenceman for 10 minutes or a game puts too much pressure on D core ) …. But god damn Xhekaj is good at it.

 

I do think the Habs should pressure the league and its officials to get a better explanation of the call vs the Flyers. If it was a mistake… I’d like to know how it wasn’t instantly rectified by adding a two minute roughing or unsportsmanlike to a Flyer. If it was a purposeful call, what was the reasoning. If it was a reputation call, where is that in the rule book.

 

Why can’t Anderson fight ? He’s not doing much else on the ice ..

Edited by Butterface
I need to proof read more
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1 hour ago, Butterface said:

Why can’t Anderson fight ? He’s not doing much else on the ice ..

Size does not always equate to ability, or willingness, to fight ... Anderson is also second pairing forward on the 3rd best PK in the NHL (a total surprise to me, but he is)

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8 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Size does not always equate to ability, or willingness, to fight ... Anderson is also second pairing forward on the 3rd best PK in the NHL (a total surprise to me, but he is)

Yep. He's not earning his salary, but he's finding a way to add value to his game. His 5 on 5 defensive game has improved as well. Ignoring his salary, I've been happy with Andersons game so far this season.

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Anderson has also forechecked hard this year and he is involving his line mates. 
 

He is a totally different player from last season and perhaps the new PK duties are part of that transformation. 
 

I consider Anderson and his whole line (Evans, Gallagher) to be playing very well. 

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9 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Size does not always equate to ability, or willingness, to fight ... Anderson is also second pairing forward on the 3rd best PK in the NHL (a total surprise to me, but he is)

His new role is ultimately much simpler and a better fit for the style of hockey he plays. St-Louis asked him to consider this kind of role and Anderson claims to be happy with it.

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Just now, tomh009 said:

His new role is ultimately much simpler and a better fit for the style of hockey he plays. St-Louis asked him to consider this kind of role and Anderson claims to be happy with it.

I was thinking this as well. Much of what he's doing well defensively, involves individual plays. Ones where he doesn't have to think about what to do with the puck once he has it. 

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15 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Size does not always equate to ability, or willingness, to fight ... Anderson is also second pairing forward on the 3rd best PK in the NHL (a total surprise to me, but he is)

I think he might be behind Xhekaj and Pezzetta for fighting majors in his career. Xhekaj has like maybe 15-16, Pezetta 10-12, Anderson about 10, Gally 6-8… Armia is a guy that has size and no inclination to fight, but Anderson is not a stranger to fighting and is quite intimidating…. So I just don’t see why the Canadiens are looking for someone outside the team when we got a 5.5 million dollar playing great on penalty kill and doing nothing else.

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Who the #### cares. 

 

Teams with more fighting majors don't win more games.  There is zero correlation between the two 

 

They don't suffer fewer injuries.  Again Zero correlation between the two. 

 

So who the #### cares.  If I wanted to watch fights, i'd turn on the UFC. 

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46 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Size does not always equate to ability, or willingness, to fight ...

Doubt anyone questions Anderson ability to goon it up (handled his own vs Chara long ago), but i think he has smartened or grown up and not a big yapper after whistle goes. 

I would prefer he just stay healthy, not fight often and keep playing exactly same as he is.

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1 hour ago, DON said:

Doubt anyone questions Anderson ability to goon it up (handled his own vs Chara long ago), but i think he has smartened or grown up and not a big yapper after whistle goes. 

I would prefer he just stay healthy, not fight often and keep playing exactly same as he is.

But if rumours are true and we are looking for a player to take on a role like this… It means giving up assets and taking on a contract … would it not be better to have Anderson continue his role on PK, skate back and forth really fast to impress people how fast he skates for someone that size, and also help the Sheriff restore law and order ? Could he not drop the gloves too ?  What does 5.5 AAV buy you ? Just a forecheck and a penalty kill ?

 

People talking about Evans next contract. He will want term. We have Suzuki, Newhook, Dach, Kapanen with the team…. (Dvorak gone soon)

 

What term do those that want to keep Evans, give him ? 
 

We have Beck, F. Xhekaj and Hage coming…. 
 

I think other teams will want Evans. I’m happy selling high. 
 

If I’m Evans with my concussion history, I want a long contract… as long as possible. If I’m the Canadiens, I want 2 years at most… then trade him… or trade him at trade deadline 2025 at a high point in his career.

 

Next year could look:

 

Slaf Suzuki Caufield

Demidov Dach Laine

Heineman Kapanen Newhook

Anderson Beck Gallagher

Roy (here is where it would be nice to have Anderson to drop gloves to protect Demi)

 

If you want Beck to cook another year in the AHL, sign Evans one or two more years… but with the year Evans is having he will want to cash in (term and money). He likely won’t sign with us if left to Free Agent Frenzy day. He’ll get term elsewhere. Someone will give him 4-5 years.

 

So sell him on trade deadline. Along with Dvorak. And Armia. And Savard. Whatever part of the mix we’re in.

 

Edited by Butterface
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12 minutes ago, Butterface said:

But if rumours are true and we are looking for a player to take on a role like this… It means giving up assets and taking on a contract … would it not be better to have Anderson continue his role on PK, skate back and forth really fast to impress people how fast he skates for someone that size, and also help the Sheriff restore law and order ? Could he not drop the gloves too ?  What does 5.5 AAV buy you ? Just a forecheck and a penalty kill ?

 

People talking about Evans next contract. He will want term. We have Suzuki, Newhook, Dach, Kapanen with the team…. (Dvorak gone soon)

 

What term do those that want to keep Evans, give him ? 
 

We have Beck, F. Xhekaj and Hage coming…. 
 

I think other teams will want Evans. I’m happy selling high. 
 

If I’m Evans with my concussion history, I want a long contract… as long as possible. If I’m the Canadiens, I want 2 years at most… then trade him… or trade him at trade deadline 2025 at a high point in his career.

 

Next year could look:

 

Slaf Suzuki Caufield

Demidov Dach Laine

Heineman Kapanen Newhook

Anderson Beck Gallagher

Roy (here is where it would be nice to have Anderson to drop gloves to protect Demi)

 

If you want Beck to cook another year in the AHL, sign Evans one or two more years… but with the year Evans is having he will want to cash in (term and money). He likely won’t sign with us if left to Free Agent Frenzy day. He’ll get term elsewhere. Someone will give him 4-5 years.

 

So sell him on trade deadline. Along with Dvorak. And Armia. And Savard. Whatever part of the mix we’re in.

 

Getting rid of all of your vets every year is a sure way of becoming the buffalo Sabres. Armia, Savard, Evans are helping the team more than hurting it right now. I'm not interested in bringing on 3 or 4 rookies a year and hoping for the best every year. Maybe Owen Beck will force his way onto the line up one day, but today, Evans is the reliable veteran forward of the group. If Armia takes a team friendly deal, I would extend him. When healthy, he is a perfect 4th, 3rd liner if his contract is good. I imagine Savard will be traded because they can get assets for him  but it's going to leave a hole and hurt them. As far as fighting goes, I enjoy hockey fights. They entertain me, but I agree with others who say it has nothing really to do with hockey success. 

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18 minutes ago, Butterface said:

People talking about Evans next contract. He will want term. We have Suzuki, Newhook, Dach, Kapanen with the team…. (Dvorak gone soon)

 

That's a fair point. Evans is 28 and in his prime. This will be his best chance to make decent money and I am sure that will be a major consideration for him given his concussion history. I forgot about Kapanen in my previous post. It could be crowded in the middle which would be quite a change from recent Hab teams especially when you had a guy like Deharnais as the #1 center. If Evans really wants to stay and the Habs really want him back then they could work things out. Not sure what his value would be around the league. 

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2 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

That's a fair point. Evans is 28 and in his prime. This will be his best chance to make decent money and I am sure that will be a major consideration for him given his concussion history. I forgot about Kapanen in my previous post. It could be crowded in the middle which would be quite a change from recent Hab teams especially when you had a guy like Deharnais as the #1 center. If Evans really wants to stay and the Habs really want him back then they could work things out. Not sure what his value would be around the league. 

It's a good point: much depends on how much Evans wants to get. His career earnings are relatively low at about $6M so he may want more/longer than the Habs are willing to pay--although 3x$2.67M would already more than double his career earnings.

 

Armia, on the other hand, has already earned $20M so maybe he would be willing to sign a team-friendly deal with the Habs. He doesn't seem to have an extravagant lifestyle ...

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5 minutes ago, BCHabnut said:

Getting rid of all of your vets every year is a sure way of becoming the buffalo Sabres. Armia, Savard, Evans are helping the team more than hurting it right now. I'm not interested in bringing on 3 or 4 rookies a year and hoping for the best every year. Maybe Owen Beck will force his way onto the line up one day, but today, Evans is the reliable veteran forward of the group. If Armia takes a team friendly deal, I would extend him. When healthy, he is a perfect 4th, 3rd liner if his contract is good. I imagine Savard will be traded because they can get assets for him  but it's going to leave a hole and hurt them. As far as fighting goes, I enjoy hockey fights. They entertain me, but I agree with others who say it has nothing really to do with hockey success. 


I agree you need vets, but good ones. We only started drafting low a few years back. Some of our better picks are a year or two away from being on the team. We can now start the process of figuring out the core and adding players around them for multiple years of competitiveness. We don’t have any clout yet for free agents to want to sign with us for a run at the cup. I wouldn’t bother picking your spot on Ste Catherines for the parade yet.

 

By the time we need to worry about veterans, Suzuki and Guhle will be the veterans.

 

The only way Savard, Armia and Evans would help us now would be to play well and we get something for them at trade deadline to use to get lower in the draft or use to acquire vets that will help us for a cup run in 4 years. Those guys are not around for a cup run. 
 

Anderson doesn’t have to fight much. Just enough for teams to realize there are consequences for taking liberties on players who wear Canadiens jerseys.

 

The Sheriff can’t do this alone.

 

When Anderson and Gallagher contracts are up, the picture will be clearer and the vets will be brought in.

 

 

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