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2024-25 Montreal Canadiens discussion thread


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30 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

I’ve *been* a Wifi believer. Despite prospect experts who suggested his ceiling was as a Ulanov-type bottom-pairing guy, I used to say that he reminded me of Kevin Bieksa when the latter first came up. Huge shot, capable of making a play, hard to stop when he gets a head of steam, tough as a boot sandwich. However, Xhekaj spent a chunk of last season in the minors and has been quite terrible this season. I haven’t seen that shot of his put to good use in a long time. All that tends to dampen enthusiasm. 🤷‍♂️ He’s still only 23, though. 

 

What’s interesting about Wifi is the way his rocky development path is now causing expectations for him to align with initial projections. Maybe those prospect experts know what they’re doing, LOL.

 

I am still a big believer that Wifi is almost the perfect 3rd pairing defensemen who can play up on occasion. He has a lot of the qualities you want in a player; good skater, great size and toughness, booming shot and the 1st guy to stick up for teammates. He is still working on stuff from the neck up, needs to pick and choose his spots on when to be tough. The growth of a young defensemen is not a linear path. No chance I am giving up on him, too many good tools, just needs to work on the toolkit. 

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1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

I haven’t seen that shot of his put to good use in a long time. All that tends to dampen enthusiasm. 🤷‍♂️ He’s still only 23, though.

Only 23--and lost a bunch of development time to COVID, too. I do agree that he has tools to be better, but he needs to figure out how to make the best use of them. He definitely should be capable of playing better than he has in the first five games this season. (Mind you, he is not the only one on the team that this applies to ...)

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44 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

I am still a big believer that Wifi is almost the perfect 3rd pairing defensemen who can play up on occasion. He has a lot of the qualities you want in a player; good skater, great size and toughness, booming shot and the 1st guy to stick up for teammates. He is still working on stuff from the neck up, needs to pick and choose his spots on when to be tough. The growth of a young defensemen is not a linear path. No chance I am giving up on him, too many good tools, just needs to work on the toolkit. 

Agree it is too soon to give up on him ... but as yet I don't see him having the ability to "play up" except in emergencies (assuming we are talking about on a playoff contending team or better) ... but with his size and skating, in a year or two I could also see him on the PK if he solidifies his defensive game, which is a REAL benefit for a 3rd pairing defenceman.

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3 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I am still a big believer that Wifi is almost the perfect 3rd pairing defensemen who can play up on occasion. He has a lot of the qualities you want in a player; good skater, great size and toughness, booming shot and the 1st guy to stick up for teammates. He is still working on stuff from the neck up, needs to pick and choose his spots on when to be tough. The growth of a young defensemen is not a linear path. No chance I am giving up on him, too many good tools, just needs to work on the toolkit. 

Is his defending in his own zone that he needs to improve on, maybe is a slow starter, but obviously be great if he can just start playing better. 

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There have been many studies done.  There is absolutely zero correlation positive or negative between injuries and having fighters in your lineup.

 

Deterrence doesnt work.  Its merely revenge.

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2 hours ago, Commandant said:

There have been many studies done.  There is absolutely zero correlation positive or negative between injuries and having fighters in your lineup.

 

Deterrence doesnt work.  Its merely revenge.

 

Sure, and having Dave Semenko in the lineup had zero effect on guys taking runs at Gretzky. 

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1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Sure, and having Dave Semenko in the lineup had zero effect on guys taking runs at Gretzky. 

ONE example doth not a theory prove ... and, I-M-O that was NHL sanctioned, so it was slightly more effective.

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21 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

ONE example doth not a theory prove ... and, I-M-O that was NHL sanctioned, so it was slightly more effective.

I am sure I could find other examples.  It's one of those theories that's impossible to prove because it's not just injuries. How do you measure whether a player is intimidated or not ?  Were teams a little nervous going into Philly to play during their heyday?  

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Just now, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

I am sure I could find other examples.  It's one of those theories that's impossible to prove because it's not just injuries. How do you measure whether a player is intimidated or not ?  Were teams a little nervous going into Philly to play during their heyday?  

Flyer Flu, as it was known in the day, was the result of NUMEROUS outright thugs and cheap-shot artists on one team, with little or no enforcement from the NHL ... Xhekaj being a deterrent is a totally different concept.

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1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Sure, and having Dave Semenko in the lineup had zero effect on guys taking runs at Gretzky. 

It didn't stop Suter from cross checking him into the boards. 

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1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Sure, and having Dave Semenko in the lineup had zero effect on guys taking runs at Gretzky. 

How many pro team sport allows fighting?

Dont think many NBA/NFL owners are in search of a goon (even if trained by Big George) to protect their stars from being targeted.

 

 

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33 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

I can't think of a star player who got hit less than Gretzky. Sure he got hit once in a while.

That's because besides McSorley the refs also protected The Grate One... NHL knew "on which side its' bread was buttered".

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Gretzky saw the ice better than any player who has ever lived. I'm pretty sure he knew how to avoid getting hit.

 

Regarding deterrence, to be honest, I think the main value of enforcers these days is actually team morale. If you see your teammates getting pushed around, or cheap-shotted, it tends to be demoralizing. That's why guys talk about 'feeling two feet taller' when they have some teammates who can throw 'em.

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7 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Sure, and having Dave Semenko in the lineup had zero effect on guys taking runs at Gretzky. 

In 1983 when the money was way lower and there was no instigator, maybe. 

 

But today when guys are fighting for multi millions and someone else is willing to play on the edge and getting cut takes that away, i dont believe it stops cheap shot artists at all. Cause if you dont play hard you are in the minors making way less and thats way worse than a punch in the face.

 

Never mind the fact gretzky in his prime was the best at rolling away from hits and never taking the full shot.

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50 minutes ago, DON said:

Didnt hurt not playing Xhekaj yesterday, Struble seemed to play an OK 1st game.


My own opinion is that Xhekaj should be sent to Laval and possibly for the season. 
 

Struble is a better player and should play regular minutes. 
 

I think the forwards need a shake up

 

Slafkovsk - Suzuki - Caufield 

Heineman - Dach - Newhook

Armia - Dvorak - Kapanen 

Anderson - Evans - Gallagher 

 

Heineman adds offensive flair and mindfulness. Let Armia and Dvorak play defensive hockey together and they should be able to score a bit too. 
 

If that second line doesn’t work then I’d try Gallagher there. He is playing well and getting opportunities. 

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1 minute ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I think the forwards need a shake up

 

Slafkovsk - Suzuki - Caufield 

Heineman - Dach - Newhook

Armia - Dvorak - Kapanen 

Anderson - Evans - Gallagher 

 

Heineman adds offensive flair and mindfulness. Let Armia and Dvorak play defensive hockey together and they should be able to score a bit too. 
 

If that second line doesn’t work then I’d try Gallagher there. He is playing well and getting opportunities. 

If they try those lines and Heineman doesn't work I'd at least give Kapanen a try (with my previously suggested "order to shoot") before Gallagher.

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2 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:


Again, it’s only been two weeks but to be dead last in team defence AND team offence is really brutal. 

 

Last in both but still would have been a .500 team with an OT win last night, I am guessing the only thing saving us so far has been goaltending. 

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12 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Being last in team defence is a recipe for lottery pick again 

 

😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   
Then let's do it right this time and not let Montembeault ruin the shot at #1 ...
I'm sure SOMEBODY must need of a reasonably priced Vezina candidate    
😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   😉   

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Ah well, no where to go but up.:D

Wicked shot by Heineman in the shootout, said he worked on it over the summer.

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