2024-25 Montreal Canadiens discussion thread

[Butterface]

27 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I think Laine likes it here and fits in very well. If he continues to produce and when he gets his 5 on 5 game up to pace, Laine could be a 10 year gift to the Habs

 

 

 

Let’s hope he becomes Joey Chestnut !

[alfredoh2009]

not in the mix yet, but going in the right direction:

[DON]

2 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

not in the mix yet, but going in the right direction:

 

Yes, cant count on them climbing over so many teams, but f' it, just stay healthy, keep playing entertaining games and a 4 game winning streak seems a doable x-mas present for the fans, with a win over another crappy Columbus team, that is 2-8 in its last 10.

Nervousness and a first win for Carrier | JDM

"There was a little bit of nervousness for me at the beginning, even throughout the game, but I kept it simple," he explained. And 'Ghuls' [Kaiden Guhle], I was really impressed with his acting, he made my life easy."

"For 22 years, honestly, it's impressive," he said of Guhle. He's calm, good positioning, he knows what he has to do, he executes. It's just one game, obviously, but I was really impressed with his game."

Guhle also enjoyed this first game alongside the 28-year-old right-handed defenseman, whom he discovered was "a very good skater."

"It was good, it was really fun," he said. He keeps it simple, he plays hard, he's a veteran who's been in this league for a while now. He knows how to play, what to do. The system is new for him, obviously, he still has to figure things out, but he did a great job, he was very good tonight."

 

Canadiens conditions for success are largely met. All they need now is the success - The Athletic

"St. Louis said before the game that the big reason why Carrier is playing with Kaiden Guhle is because they wanted to ensure Guhle would stay on the left side."

 

"They are not all there — the Kirby Dach thing remains glaringly unresolved — but having Laine be as impactful as he’s been, having Slafkovský look the way he’s looked, and adding Carrier all appears to place the Canadiens in a situation where the majority of those conditions are being met."

 

A win tomorrow and will climb over CBJ.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

2 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

not in the mix yet, but going in the right direction:

Yeah problem is every team ahead of us in our division has been on a winning streak as well as of late. Toronto just lost last game but were on a streak prior to the Matthews injury. Florida 3W Boston 1W but 4 wins in their last 5 and the loss was OT. Pertinent to this, Tampa is at 4W and Ottawa is at 6W. Habs are at 3W.

[BCHabnut]

1 hour ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

Yeah problem is every team ahead of us in our division has been on a winning streak as well as of late. Toronto just lost last game but were on a streak prior to the Matthews injury. Florida 3W Boston 1W but 4 wins in their last 5 and the loss was OT. Pertinent to this, Tampa is at 4W and Ottawa is at 6W. Habs are at 3W.

From the beginning of the season, my thought that a realistic goal was  placing in the top of the worst 8, bottom of the worst 16. So 20th to 25th in the league. That's a success for me. In the mix is a big ask from this group.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

5 on 5 expected team scoring

 

Habs are simply terrible here. 
 

 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

22 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

5 on 5 expected team scoring

 

Habs are simply terrible here. 
 

 

 

Let’s just enjoy our newly-discovered powers on special teams for now. But yeah, at some point, we need to start moving this needle as well. Not to keep flogging dead horses, but production from Dach and Newhook would go a long way there.

[tomh009]

2 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Let’s just enjoy our newly-discovered powers on special teams for now. But yeah, at some point, we need to start moving this needle as well. Not to keep flogging dead horses, but production from Dach and Newhook would go a long way there.

We were significantly better five-on-five last year. It's not obvious to me why we are struggling now, as compared to last season.

[DON]

Go Rookie!

Emil Heineman ranks third among NHL rookies behind Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini | JDM

And so far, it's the right recipe.

 

Average per 20 minutes, all situations, rank among Canadiens forwards

Goals 0.46 3^e (behind Laine and Caufield)

Expected goals 0.18 12^e

One-timers 0.97 3^e (behind Laine and Caufield)

Shots attempted 4.0 4^e

Defensive plays in the neutral zone 1.15 1^er

Rank among the 12 forwards with a minimum of 140 minutes played

Source: Sportlogiq

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

I have advocated for top 6 minutes for Heineman for a while. 
 

Swap Heineman and Newhook today please 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Laine has said many times that he was happy when he found out it was Montreal that he was dealt to…

 

Laine believes in HuGo’s rebuild plan and trajectory?

[Dalhabs]

13 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Laine has said many times that he was happy when he found out it was Montreal that he was dealt to…

 

Laine believes in HuGo’s rebuild plan and trajectory?

I think it would have been better not to throw his old team under the bus. Im sure it cost us a win AND they played him hard so he got injured.

[DON]

26 minutes ago, Dalhabs said:

I think it would have been better not to throw his old team under the bus. 

Yes, didnt like it at all when heard stupid comment.

Was mentioned CBJ had a video tribute for Laine that they cancelled.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Laine’s comments certainly backfired and he shouldn’t have said them. 
 

However, those comments were accurate. Columbus, like Buffalo, have been a shitshow for a long time. 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

I know it’s a naive outlook but one could take it as a literal honest answer rather than a shot at his old team. It’s literally the reason he requested a trade. Anyone who requests a trade is unhappy with their current situation/team. 
 

The other day Marty has an earnest answer for the reporter and (some) people liked his candidness. Now in this situation with Laine it’s a fault.

 

I don’t believe it’s the reason we lost (we came close to winning) or that he got injured (the team would have played him hard anyway).

 

With that being said, M. Tkachuk was chirping Tampa with a smile on his face at the end of their first game of their home & away back to back and then found his team on the losing end the night after, along with a knee on knee hit from Kucherov. So, there’s a possibility it leads to a target on your back. Though, like I said it would have been there anyway for Laine.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

16 minutes ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

I know it’s a naive outlook but one could take it as a literal honest answer rather than a shot at his old team. It’s literally the reason he requested a trade. Anyone who requests a trade is unhappy with their current situation/team. 
 

The other day Marty has an earnest answer for the reporter and (some) people liked his candidness. Now in this situation with Laine it’s a fault.

 

I don’t believe it’s the reason we lost (we came close to winning) or that he got injured (the team would have played him hard anyway).

 

With that being said, M. Tkachuk was chirping Tampa with a smile on his face at the end of their first game of their home & away back to back and then found his team on the losing end the night after, along with a knee on knee hit from Kucherov. So, there’s a possibility it leads to a target on your back. Though, like I said it would have been there anyway for Laine.

I don’t think Laine meant to single out Columbus. He played for a rebuilding Jets team then he goes to Columbus, a team that is perpetually rebuilding. 
 

The guy wants some playoffs and that’s what he meant IMO

 

Still, some wisdom and “cooth” needs to be weighed against candidness in life. 
 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

When one takes the entire quote in context, to me it’s really not a bad quote. I get that he’s attacking the culture of the club but I am sure he is simply speaking his truth. He was going through mental health issues at the time and wasn’t happy with his situation. It seems to me that he was trying his best (or wanted to) and felt that the entire team was not giving that same effort. That would be frustrating for sure and *IF* true, Columbus has no one to blame but themselves. Sure, he could have been political and in my mind, the Habs have been through similar trials and tribulations as of late as well, so it is what it is. 

 

“Obviously, things happened, and that was kind of it for me," Laine said. “I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and just giving up when it’s December to start focusing on next year. I’m not going to do that. That’s frustrating as a player when you’re trying to win and some people are, you know, not like that.

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

When one takes the entire quote in context, to me it’s really not a bad quote. I get that he’s attacking the culture of the club but I am sure he is simply speaking his truth. He was going through mental health issues at the time and wasn’t happy with his situation. It seems to me that he was trying his best (or wanted to) and felt that the entire team was not giving that same effort. That would be frustrating for sure and *IF* true, Columbus has no one to blame but themselves. Sure, he could have been political and in my mind, the Habs have been through similar trials and tribulations as of late as well, so it is what it is. 

 

“Obviously, things happened, and that was kind of it for me," Laine said. “I feel like we were just doing the same thing year after year. I was tired of losing and just giving up when it’s December to start focusing on next year. I’m not going to do that. That’s frustrating as a player when you’re trying to win and some people are, you know, not like that.

 

I actually took it as a shot at management , maybe even fans, more than the players

[xXx..CK..xXx]

1 hour ago, GHT120 said:

 

I actually took it as a shot at management , maybe even fans, more than the players

That may very well be the case and likely was a part of it but in the modern NHL, any team, including the Habs, will have a management team that will look to the future during seasons where things aren’t going well. With that being said, in general, the players are always fighting and wanting to win which is why I roll my eyes when fans say things like “we aren’t trying to make the playoffs anyway” in reference to the players. If that changes within a locker room and the players are actually mailing it in, that’s a real problem. As can be seen, we all have our different interpretation of his quote, but if it was indeed some of the players, then I’ll side with Laine on this one. If it was the management he was discussing, well that’s going to happen anywhere that a team isn’t performing. Granted, there are worse organizations than others out there.

[Commandant]

3 hours ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

I know it’s a naive outlook but one could take it as a literal honest answer rather than a shot at his old team. It’s literally the reason he requested a trade. Anyone who requests a trade is unhappy with their current situation/team. 
 

The other day Marty has an earnest answer for the reporter and (some) people liked his candidness. Now in this situation with Laine it’s a fault.

 

I don’t believe it’s the reason we lost (we came close to winning) or that he got injured (the team would have played him hard anyway).

 

With that being said, M. Tkachuk was chirping Tampa with a smile on his face at the end of their first game of their home & away back to back and then found his team on the losing end the night after, along with a knee on knee hit from Kucherov. So, there’s a possibility it leads to a target on your back. Though, like I said it would have been there anyway for Laine.

 

I agree with Elliotte Freidman

 

If we want players to be honest and to say controversial things and not just the canned PR answer we always get, we can't jump down their throats when they speak the truth. 

 

[Butterface]

There are times for honest answers. There are times to skirt the issue. There are times to refuse to answer. There are times to outright lie. There are times to say cliches and there are times to philosophize. There are times to give emotional responses and there are times to give strategic responses.  But at no time should you make a statement that can be put on the opposing team’s bulletin board to give them motivation.

 

I too hate the boring cliches the players give. But do I trust a member of the media enough to give them something more ? HELL NO… the media is there to sell stories. They take things out of context and use it to incite controversy. The media is not your friend anymore than an opposing legal team is.

 

Give short replies that they can’t use against you. Give them statements they can’t exaggerate into conflict. Feed them nothing that isn’t in your best interest to. Keep them in the dark and feed them @#@&$.

 

Just like anywhere else in life some media members are good… but they all have to sell advert revenue and to do that they need viewers, listeners and readers. To get viewers, listeners and readers they need to sensationalize the mundane with distortion, exaggeration and conflict.

 

Always be careful what you say. Because the media will Chubby Checker it for their narrative. 

 

[Commandant]

I think the idea that statements in the media motivate players who are playing for multi million dollar contracts is a bit of a myth.  If you need that to be motivated you probably arent the type to spend the number of hours on the ice and in the gym to become a pro hockey player in the first place.

 

Where you are right is that the media takes these statements and makes them into narratives.  But im not sure its actually real on the ice.

[Butterface]

10 hours ago, Commandant said:

I think the idea that statements in the media motivate players who are playing for multi million dollar contracts is a bit of a myth.  If you need that to be motivated you probably arent the type to spend the number of hours on the ice and in the gym to become a pro hockey player in the first place.

 

Where you are right is that the media takes these statements and makes them into narratives.  But im not sure its actually real on the ice.

IDK.. You wouldn’t think extra motivation is needed at that level…  I’ve played sports and certainly I’ve gotten myself into some physical altercations to get myself “into the game”. Sometimes you’ve played a sport so long you are just going through the motions and you need to add more adrenaline to boost your compete level.

 

Maybe I’m psychotic, but I’ve played some of my best games when I have a grudge with an opposing player or team.

 

Sometimes hockey players fight to give their team an emotional boost.

 

In this case it seems Werenski took offence to Laine’s comments. The Blue Jackets came out and stepped it up physically against Laine. Certainly sounds like bulletin board stuff. These players also make millions of dollars playing hockey… why would players need to pin even more money up to win versus a former team if not for extra motivation.

 

One of the three articles listed below said, “It's clear that Laine's comments did not sit well in the Blue Jackets' locker room and that a message was sent (physically).”

 

Then Aaron Portzline wrote:

 

“CBJ Zach Werenski said he and others in Blue Jackets’ dressing room took exception to #GoHabsGo Patrik Laine’s comments after morning skate. Called it “bullshit” and said he and others were “nothing but good teammates to him.”
 

It provided motivation tonight?
 

"Yeah, 100 percent. What's he thinking saying that? It's just incredible. I've got no more time for that. I don't wanna talk about Patty anymore. I hope he's all right. I just thought that was pretty ridiculous, to be honest."

 

Clearly stuff like this provides extra motivation. Pregame talks hype players up like this…it’s the way the world is.

 

Laine maybe should have let bygones be bygones. He could have said…. I needed a change…. and left it at that.

 

Now we are left wondering if his shoulder is okay over Christmas.

 

https://www.habsfanatics.com/nhl-team/montreal-canadiens/zach-werenski-blasts-patrik-laine-for-his-comments-after-heated-canadiens-blue-jackets-game

 

  https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/the_real_reason_patrik_laine_was_pulled_by_the_canadiens_on_monday_night_has_just_been_revealed/s1_17452_41462267
 

https://montrealhockeynow.com/2024/12/24/montreal-canadiens-patrik-laine-bluejackets-werenski-habs-trade/

[Habulator]

6 hours ago, Butterface said:

IDK.. You wouldn’t think extra motivation is needed at that level…  I’ve played sports and certainly I’ve gotten myself into some physical altercations to get myself “into the game”. Sometimes you’ve played a sport so long you are just going through the motions and you need to add more adrenaline to boost your compete level.

 

Maybe I’m psychotic, but I’ve played some of my best games when I have a grudge with an opposing player or team.

 

Sometimes hockey players fight to give their team an emotional boost.

 

In this case it seems Werenski took offence to Laine’s comments. The Blue Jackets came out and stepped it up physically against Laine. Certainly sounds like bulletin board stuff. These players also make millions of dollars playing hockey… why would players need to pin even more money up to win versus a former team if not for extra motivation.

 

One of the three articles listed below said, “

It's clear that Laine's comments did not sit well in the Blue Jackets' locker room and that a message was sent (physically).”

 

Then Aaron Portzline wrote:

 

“

CBJ Zach Werenski said he and others in Blue Jackets’ dressing room took exception to #GoHabsGo Patrik Laine’s comments after morning skate. Called it “bullshit” and said he and others were “nothing but good teammates to him.”
 

It provided motivation tonight?
 

"Yeah, 100 percent. What's he thinking saying that? It's just incredible. I've got no more time for that. I don't wanna talk about Patty anymore. I hope he's all right. I just thought that was pretty ridiculous, to be honest."

 

Clearly stuff like this provides extra motivation. Pregame talks hype players up like this…it’s the way the world is.

 

Laine maybe should have let bygones be bygones. He could have said…. I needed a change…. and left it at that.

 

Now we are left wondering if his shoulder is okay over Christmas.

 

https://www.habsfanatics.com/nhl-team/montreal-canadiens/zach-werenski-blasts-patrik-laine-for-his-comments-after-heated-canadiens-blue-jackets-game

 

  https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/the_real_reason_patrik_laine_was_pulled_by_the_canadiens_on_monday_night_has_just_been_revealed/s1_17452_41462267
 

https://montrealhockeynow.com/2024/12/24/montreal-canadiens-patrik-laine-bluejackets-werenski-habs-trade/

I agree - I think that Laine's comments served no good purpose at all. If he felt that way that's fine - but he should have kept those thoughts to himself. Between his pumping up the tires of the B Jackets, and a poor clear from Matheson it went a long way to keeping us from a 4 game win streak.

 

[dlbalr]

8 hours ago, Butterface said:

Now we are left wondering if his shoulder is okay over Christmas.

 

Considering the Habs used questionable to return (which they never do) and some of the reports yesterday suggesting that Laine coming out was more precautionary, I think he's going to be ready to go for Saturday.