2024-25 Montreal Canadiens discussion thread

[Butterface]

Goaltending is also why I think we will take a little longer in oven to build this team. Goaltending needs seasoning. Or maybe Fowler will be a Roy, Dryden or Ward. 

 

I think I said in my giant awkward font post that we would get competitive in 2026-27 and be a real competitor in 2028-29.

 

No disrespect to Slafkovsky and Reinbacher, but I think the rebuild began with Demidov.

 

With Reinbacher being hurt and progression likely slowed, we kind of lost some time.

 

Demidov if he is good as he looks will move the needle.

 

Fowler might not be ready out of the gate.

 

So in 2028-29 we have a legit shot and then 2029-30 we have a second chance.After the second shot if we don’t have a cup, we have to renegotiate the Suzuki contract. If it’s too much we have to consider a Stamkos goodbye. We will want to save money for Demidov, Reinbacher, Hage, Fowler, Hutson etc who are younger and more core at that time. But if his demands are reasonable then great.

 

Pittsburgh should have blown up the Franchise. I was shocked when they traded for Swedish Jesus.

 

I won’t condemn Gallagher. He has played his heart out and still contributing to this franchise. But we paid him too much $$ and term. One or the other would have been okay, but not both.

 

Tavares is playing great, but not worth the $$. Money they could use elsewhere. But I do think Toronto has done well in offseason. Smart money. Still hate Reaves (rather Anderson but for less money), but liked Lorentz and Defensemen pick ups….Tanev especially. Back up (or starter) Stolarz too. They have grit, truculence and now defence and a goalie. They may give Florida and the Rangers a hard time. Treliving waited a year for the UFAs he wanted. I wondered why he didn’t do anything much his first year.

 

I think Habs management are doing great things. I hope the fan base can be patient a bit longer before we take the training wheels off and go for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Gallagher’s “blood and guts” made Bergevin cry when he announced that deal. 
 

 

 

[alfredoh2009]

2 minutes ago, Butterface said:

[...]

I think I said in my giant awkward font post that we would get competitive in 2026-27 and be a real competitor in 2028-29.

[...]

I think Habs management are doing great thing. I hope the fan base can be patient a bit longer before we take the training wheels off and go for it.

 

that timeline is also what I expect too. For the first two years of the rebuild I posted multiple time that I would refrain from passing judgement on HughGort's rebuild work until this season, year #3.

 

I would have been more patient this year, if the Habs hadn't produced, filmed and promoted that stupid "rebuild" documentary on crave and then come up at the golf tournament saying they would be in the mix this season. It was either very naive or very petulant.

 

Let's see if the team responds to MSL's punitive skating yesterday and shows that they are back on track

 

[alfredoh2009]

2 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Gallagher’s “blood and guts” made Bergevin cry when he announced that deal. 
 

 

 

 

honestly, I do not know why that coment from MB is relevant in 2024. It was MB just being open and making himself vulnerable by sharing his feelings. Nothing wrong with that, I also love Gallagher so I am biased

[DON]

2 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Haha. True. But I'd hate to have Beck come up when he's not ready. I suppose Heineman could centre a line and a winger could come up. How is Tuch playing? I'd like to see how he looks on 4th line duty.

Kapanen perhaps, Newhook?

 

Tuch is playing to his strength, size and being physical, i heard.

As dlbalr noted long ago, the pro game might fit him more than NCAA did, but did look like he had broken nose in his 1st fight.

I hope he and Beck stay in Laval for awhile yet, only 8 games into AHL/1st pro season.

[Butterface]

I only hearted your Gallagher photo.

 

Bergevin left us a couple of gems, but more problems then they were worth. They won’t let him have the purse strings of a franchise for a while.

 

[GHT120]

2 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

... But I'd hate to have Beck come up when he's not ready. I suppose Heineman could centre a line and a winger could come up. How is Tuch playing? I'd like to see how he looks on 4th line duty.

I don't want to see ANY of the youngsters come up (other than game-by-game injury replacements) until at least next calendar year, if then.

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, Butterface said:

I’d be a liar if I said I’m confident with either of our goaltenders. The team is inconsistent. The goalies are just as inconsistent.

I agree ... I don't see either as being even a moderate difference maker in goal ... Dobes might be better, Fowler hopefully the long-term solution ... but Fowler likely at least 3-4 years away

[GHT120]

28 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I would have been more patient this year, if the Habs hadn't produced, filmed and promoted that stupid "rebuild" documentary on crave and then come up at the golf tournament saying they would be in the mix this season.

Technically, I think they said they wanted to be in the mix this season ... not quite the same as your phrasing ... think they wanted to slightly increase expectations but not make it the predicted destination.

[BCHabnut]

1 hour ago, Commandant said:

 

With Suzuki, Dach, Newhook, Evans, and Kapanen all on the roster, it doesn't have to be a centre that gets called up. 

Ya. I forgot about Kapanen.  And then typed Heineman accidentally.  Ya Dvorak can piss off.

[GHT120]

33 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

honestly, I do not know why that coment from MB is relevant in 2024. It was MB just being open and making himself vulnerable by sharing his feelings. Nothing wrong with that, I also love Gallagher so I am biased

All (almost all?) GMs make mistakes, but the obvious affection MB displayed for Gallagher implies a lack of objectivity that goes beyond his, in retrospect, having made a mere mistake ... hence its' relevance when Gallagher's contract is discussed.

[Butterface]

42 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

that timeline is also what I expect too. For the first two years of the rebuild I posted multiple time that I would refrain from passing judgement on HughGort's rebuild work until this season, year #3.

 

I would have been more patient this year, if the Habs hadn't produced, filmed and promoted that stupid "rebuild" documentary on crave and then come up at the golf tournament saying they would be in the mix this season. It was either very naive or very petulant.

 

Let's see if the team responds to MSL's punitive skating yesterday and shows that they are back on track

 

I haven’t watched any of that documentary. Maybe I should.

[GHT120]

13 minutes ago, BCHabnut said:

Ya. I forgot about Kapanen.  And then typed Heineman accidentally.  Ya Dvorak can piss off.

I am even tempted by the suggestion of giving Slafkovsky a look-see at centre.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 minute ago, GHT120 said:

I am even tempted by the suggestion of giving Slafkovsky a look-see at centre.

 

I have always wondered about that. Slaf has very good passing skills. He could be a beast up the middle. It would be an interesting experiment. 

[GHT120]

6 minutes ago, Butterface said:

I haven’t watched any of that documentary. Maybe I should.

Personally, I avoid such team-produced/controlled productions for all franchises (i.e., not just the Habs) ... they are even less "reality TV" than Survivor et al ... teams only allow negativity to be seen that for some reason they want to be seen.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

5 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

All (almost all?) GMs make mistakes, but the obvious affection MB displayed for Gallagher implies a lack of objectivity that goes beyond his, in retrospect, having made a mere mistake ... hence its' relevance when Gallagher's contract is discussed.

 

I know everyone remembers the loyalty comment MB made and I think he was joking when he made it. He was overly loyal to Gallagher. I think many here questioned whether that contract would age well and it obviously hasn't. Maybe GM's (or some anyway) don't worry about a contract ageing well because they won't be around when it comes back to bite them. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

honestly, I do not know why that coment from MB is relevant in 2024. It was MB just being open and making himself vulnerable by sharing his feelings. Nothing wrong with that, I also love Gallagher so I am biased

 

1 hour ago, Butterface said:

 

I won’t condemn Gallagher. He has played his heart out and still contributing to this franchise. But we paid him too much $$ and term. One or the other would have been okay, but not both.

 

 

I was responding to Butter’s post. 
 

It was blood and guts that caused Bergevin to overpay for Gallagher. Bergevin let his emotional connection to “WARRIOR” types cloud his judgement. 
 

Everyone here has praised Gallagher’s game this season and I think he should get a shot at the second line. 

[hab29RETIRED]

3 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Haha. True. But I'd hate to have Beck come up when he's not ready. I suppose Heineman could centre a line and a winger could come up. How is Tuch playing? I'd like to see how he looks on 4th line duty.

I don't think we need to bring Beck up. I'd let him continue to gain and experience and give him more of a chance to dominate in the AHL more.  We can bring up Roy if we are looking for someone on the 2nd line, or Tuch if  it's for the third/4th line shakeup. Move Newhook into Dvoraks spot.

[hab29RETIRED]

1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Gallagher’s “blood and guts” made Bergevin cry when he announced that deal. 
 

 

 

I'm still crying about the deal now, and will continue to do so for the next few years!

[hab29RETIRED]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

that timeline is also what I expect too. For the first two years of the rebuild I posted multiple time that I would refrain from passing judgement on HughGort's rebuild work until this season, year #3.

 

I would have been more patient this year, if the Habs hadn't produced, filmed and promoted that stupid "rebuild" documentary on crave and then come up at the golf tournament saying they would be in the mix this season. It was either very naive or very petulant.

 

Let's see if the team responds to MSL's punitive skating yesterday and shows that they are back on track

 

What does in the mix mean??? To me it's you aren't mathematically eliminated until the last three weeks of the years we aren't there yet. Having said that they need to get rid of some of the dead weight left by the previous regime that are eating away at the cap but producing shit. Need to be bold waive some veterans. I'd send xhejac down as well before he is waiver eligible. Let him learn the hybrid system against lower level of competition in Laval.

[hab29RETIRED]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

honestly, I do not know why that coment from MB is relevant in 2024. It was MB just being open and making himself vulnerable by sharing his feelings. Nothing wrong with that, I also love Gallagher so I am biased

Vulnerability from Mr. if YOu want Loyalt get a dog???🙄. That was about as real as Therrien saying his captain was crying in his arms when he was injured (with Gionta basically said was bunk).

[GHT120]

28 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:

What does in the mix mean??? To me it's you aren't mathematically eliminated until the last three weeks of the years we aren't there yet. Having said that they need to get rid of some of the dead weight left by the previous regime that are eating away at the cap but producing shit. Need to be bold waive some veterans. I'd send xhejac down as well before he is waiver eligible. Let him learn the hybrid system against lower level of competition in Laval.

At this point of a rebuild I took it to mean not realistically eliminated (if not mathematically) going into the trade deadline ... to me, final three weeks would mean they are all-but a playoff contender.

[hab29RETIRED]

45 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

At this point of a rebuild I took it to mean not realistically eliminated (if not mathematically) going into the trade deadline ... to me, final three weeks would mean they are all-but a playoff contender.

To me in the mix,  means that until the last 3 weeks out you aren't eliminated - but still have a pretty low probability of actually getting in as a wildcard team. But yeah, the deadline can be a better indicator - that is the usually when the final buyer/seller decision is made. 
 

Having said that, if we are not mathematically out, but 10 points out of a playoff position at the deadline, I can't see us hanging onto to Savard, or any other potential trading chips.

[tomh009]

4 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Both Dobes and Fowler have the potential to be better than Montembault and Primeau. 

And in the short term, if things go from bad to worse, Hughes is playing very well in Laval.

[Dalhabs]

Can Xhekaj be sent down without waivers?