2024-25 Montreal Canadiens discussion thread

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

What is Newhook's problem

 

 

[DON]

2 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I'd wouldn’t mind giving Gallagher a shot either. 

Just great to see him playing well again this year.

Anderson also must be feeling much better about his game and working hard on the PK. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

If you add up the total of Dach's goals and Newhook's assists after 25 games you would have a total of 1.  ONE!!

 

No, that is not a misprint. Enough said. 

 

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

Another thing that makes this season quite disappointing so far this year is that they have been relatively healthy other than Laine.  Reinbacher was never going to be a regular this year. The last couple years injuries were a valid excuse. 

[tomh009]

2 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Yeah I pretty much agree with the grades and comments. 
 

I would very much like if someone else got a shot at Newhook’s spot on the first line. Heineman is my first choice but I'd wouldn’t mind giving Gallagher a shot either. 

I think some of the grades are really not relative to deployment/expectations.

 

For example, Heineman is only rated 6.2 for a fourth-line role, whereas he has support here for even playing in the top six. And Armia is getting team-high use on PK/PP, and is on pace for a career high in points, but gets a 5.7. Armia's contract aside, I should think that both of them are more than meeting expectations for their roles.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Still love me some Caufield but…

 

 

 

[DON]

Pez isnt playing, but is collecting good $$ for practicing and eating hot dogs.

Imagine are hundreds in the AHL who would prefer that to never get the call up and playing in minors year after year.

 

But, i dont even know who would be scratched to allow him to play?

And as noted, Roy/RHP or others likely still ahead of him in depthchart.

Habs forward has a positive attitude as he remains a healthy scratch | Montreal Gazette

[alfredoh2009]

29 minutes ago, DON said:

Pez isnt playing, but is collecting good $$ for practicing and eating hot dogs.

Imagine are hundreds in the AHL who would prefer that to never get the call up and playing in minors year after year.

 

But, i dont even know who would be scratched to allow him to play?

And as noted, Roy/RHP or others likely still ahead of him in depthchart.

Habs forward has a positive attitude as he remains a healthy scratch | Montreal Gazette

I would rotate a player out of the li rip to give Pezzetta a game every week (on busy weeks) or two.

To manage minor injuries and to keep all on their best behaviour 

 

That is what traditional coaching would do

[DON]

Just now, alfredoh2009 said:

I would rotate a player out of the li rip to give Pezzetta a game every week (on busy weeks) or two.

And who sits? Anderson-Gallagher-Armia-Heineman? None of those should.

Even Scotty Bowman wouldnt dress any different bottom six wingers, would he?

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Pez is, I'm sure, a great teammate, but he's completely incidental to this team's present and future. He's a depth FW, nothing more. 

[DON]

Xhekaj seemed to play solid again and Marty using him on the PK is great sign for his development.

Arber Xhekaj’s development is an example for other Canadiens to follow - The Athletic

 

"Back when Xhekaj was struggling with his confidence, with his reads, with just about everything, he spent a lot of time watching video with Canadiens director of hockey development Adam Nicholas. And the player they spent that time watching, largely, was New Jersey Devils defenceman Brenden Dillon."

 

"Xhekaj has been a developmental success story for the Canadiens this season, one that has been largely defined by some of the developmental speed bumps for important young players on the team. Kirby Dach got benched after taking a bad penalty at a bad time Thursday night. Juraj Slafkovský was similarly benched earlier this season for poor puck management. Justin Barron has had trouble maintaining his spot in the lineup, though he did well Thursday as a last-minute replacement for Guhle. Jayden Struble was a target of coach Martin St. Louis for the dips in his intensity and urgency on the ice, and he had an excellent game Thursday."

[dlbalr]

2 hours ago, DON said:

Pez isnt playing, but is collecting good $$ for practicing and eating hot dogs.

Imagine are hundreds in the AHL who would prefer that to never get the call up and playing in minors year after year.

 

But, i dont even know who would be scratched to allow him to play?

And as noted, Roy/RHP or others likely still ahead of him in depthchart.

Habs forward has a positive attitude as he remains a healthy scratch | Montreal Gazette

 

The interesting takeaway from there is that he has no interest in accepting a conditioning stint which probably isn't helping his cause to get back into the lineup.

[alfredoh2009]

2 hours ago, DON said:

And who sits? Anderson-Gallagher-Armia-Heineman? None of those should.

Even Scotty Bowman wouldnt dress any different bottom six wingers, would he?

Of the top of my head: Newhook, Dach, Armia, Slafkovsky and the following to rest them on back to back games: Laine, Gallagher, Evans 

[Commandant]

41 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

Of the top of my head: Newhook, Dach, Armia, Slafkovsky and the following to rest them on back to back games: Laine, Gallagher, Evans 

 

What teams are resting top 6 players who are 21 years old like Slafkovsky, or guys the age of Newhook, Dach, etc in back to back games.  And doing it to bring in a grinder like Pezzetta? Heck even a guy like Laine wouldn't be rested unless he needed it due to coming back from injury, but once he's 100%, its out of the question.

 

You claim traditional coaches do this, but not one of the 32 NHL teams is resting their top 6 guys in back to back games unless there is an age or injury concern, or some kind of coach benching. There is no thing in the NHL where teams give one of their core pieces REST.  This just does not happen anywhere in the NHL, and never has.... so I'm not sure what TRADITIONAL COACHING you are talking about.

 

This isn't a thing.

 

Its just (AGAIN) you attacking MSL and management, but there is no reality to it. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

3 hours ago, DON said:

Xhekaj seemed to play solid again and Marty using him on the PK is great sign for his development.

Arber Xhekaj’s development is an example for other Canadiens to follow - The Athletic

 

"Back when Xhekaj was struggling with his confidence, with his reads, with just about everything, he spent a lot of time watching video with Canadiens director of hockey development Adam Nicholas. And the player they spent that time watching, largely, was New Jersey Devils defenceman Brenden Dillon."

 

"Xhekaj has been a developmental success story for the Canadiens this season, one that has been largely defined by some of the developmental speed bumps for important young players on the team. Kirby Dach got benched after taking a bad penalty at a bad time Thursday night. Juraj Slafkovský was similarly benched earlier this season for poor puck management. Justin Barron has had trouble maintaining his spot in the lineup, though he did well Thursday as a last-minute replacement for Guhle. Jayden Struble was a target of coach Martin St. Louis for the dips in his intensity and urgency on the ice, and he had an excellent game Thursday."

 

Good to see Arber making progress and hopefully all this work with the young defensemen is starting to pay off. It takes time for defensemen in the NHL to develop. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

HUGE

[Helmethead]

8 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

HUGE

 

Great.

 

Another name I have to learn how to spell...

[Commandant]

Just now, Helmethead said:

 

Great.

 

Another name I have to learn how to spell...

 

Dont worry.  His chances at the NHL are slim (so are Perreaults though)

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

4 minutes ago, Helmethead said:

 

Great.

 

Another name I have to learn how to spell...

 

I'll be honest. I did not see that trade coming, caught me completely by surprise. 

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Does Laval need a defenceman>

[DON]

7 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Does Laval need a defenceman>

 I am not sure.

[GHT120]

5 minutes ago, DON said:

 I am not sure.

Another trade pending (Savard ?   Matheson?   Barron?    Xhekaj?) ... need for a defenceman in Montreal?

[hab29RETIRED]

5 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

Of the top of my head: Newhook, Dach, Armia, Slafkovsky and the following to rest them on back to back games: Laine, Gallagher, Evans 

It makes zero sense to test your core guys for a grunt. I'd be fine sitting Newhook to being in Roy for another look if he continues to produce at a high level. But Pezetta??? Seriously??? He has no future with the Habs. Last year Pezetta deserved to be in over Armia. At aome point we will just waive Pezetta. 

[GHT120]

Didn't hear Dredger, but heard the TSN690 announcers reference it ...

 

 

Hockey Canada has every right to pick whoever they want for the "best team possible" ... but if they are excluding players simply because they didn't go the world championships they are not doing that ... GoC needs to cut off funding and de-certify them as the national body.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

55 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Didn't hear Dredger, but heard the TSN690 announcers reference it ...

 

 

Hockey Canada has every right to pick whoever they want for the "best team possible" ... but if they are excluding players simply because they didn't go the world championships they are not doing that ... GoC needs to cut off funding and de-certify them as the national body.

Petty politics and kiss the ring crap

 

Screw them