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2024-25 Montreal Canadiens discussion thread


tomh009

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1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Suzuki is a genuine #1 centre that is going to push 90 points this season (mid to high 80s). 
 

RESPECT

 

 

IMG_1114.jpeg

 

I listened with interest to discussion about Suzuki on Vancouver media in the build up to the Canucks game. 

 

He is very well respected, but is not regarded as an elite top-end C. Many people are still not convinced that he is a 'true' #1C on a Cup champion, though everyone understands that he is a very good player.

 

I think the domination by his line on Tuesday may have shifted the narrative slightly in his favour in this particular market. And short of a playoff run, that may be the only way to move the needle - one impressive game at a time. That said, most people seem to think Caufield is the closest thing to a bona fide 'star' on the Habs. I love Caufield, but anyone who doesn't understand that Slick Nick is the straw that stirs the drink on the Habs' offence, simply has not watched closely enough.

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1 minute ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

I listened with interest to discussion about Suzuki on Vancouver media in the build up to the Canucks game. 

 

He is very well respected, but is not regarded as an elite top-end C. Many people are still not convinced that he is a 'true' #1C on a Cup champion, though everyone understands that he is a very good player.

 

I think the domination by his line on Tuesday may have shifted the narrative slightly in his favour in this particular market. And short of a playoff run, that may be the only way to move the needle - one impressive game at a time. That said, most people seem to think Caufield is the closest thing to a bona fide 'star' on the Habs. I love Caufield, but anyone who doesn't understand that Slick Nick is the straw that stirs the drink on the Habs' offence, simply has not watched closely enough.


Suzuki is not an elite centre in the same category as MacKinnon or Crosby 

 

But what does Suzuki have to do to get that #1 C respect? That stat card is excellent and Suzuki is top 10 for centre production and top 20 for forward production in the league. Not to mention that Suzuki puts up more points every season, he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. 
 

Just like Montembault, Suzuki is better than given credit for and the stats back that up. 

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4 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Suzuki is 10th among C in points and 19th overall among all players.https://www.espn.com/nhl/stats/player

 

Now I’m no advanced stats guy, but at face value that would make him a top-10 NHL centreman.

 

Suzuki's advanced stats have always shown a player who brings more value than his pure point totals, not less. 

Suzuki's defensive game would be in the Selke conversation if he played on a better team.  Its hard to win that award without making the playoffs at minimum. 

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9 hours ago, Commandant said:

Suzuki's defensive game would be in the Selke conversation if he played on a better team.  Its hard to win that award without making the playoffs at minimum. 

He could possibly be "in the mix" this year ... 😊

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Is Flames & Wolf make playoffs while Hutson & Habs dont, could be big factor in voting for Calder seems safe to say.

May need to hope Demidov will end the Habs 47 year rookie of year drought.:mellow:

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5 minutes ago, DON said:

Is Flames & Wolf make playoffs while Hutson & Habs dont, could be big factor in voting for Calder seems safe to say.

May need to hope Demidov will end the Habs 47 year rookie of year drought.:mellow:

 

If Calgary makes the playoffs with that roster, Dustin Wolf might get down-ballot Hart Trophy votes which will probably also make him the heavy favourite for the Calder.

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8 minutes ago, DON said:

Is Flames & Wolf make playoffs while Hutson & Habs dont, could be big factor in voting for Calder seems safe to say.

May need to hope Demidov will end the Habs 47 year rookie of year drought.:mellow:


The same could be said in reverse. It’s not like Calgary’s playoff odds are much higher than Montreal’s.

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The calder also seems to be the one trophy where making the playoffs doesnt seem as important as all the others 

 

Long history of winners who didnt make it over those who did, including last year.

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When asked if the Habs chasing a wildcard spot impacted how Joshua Roy is used/treated, MSL said (from https://www.tvasports.ca/2025/03/15/nous-nallons-pas-le-tenir-par-la-main-martin-st-louis-au-sujet-de-joshua-roy) :

 

 

"It doesn't change anything. I think Josh understands that we're at a different stage. We are not going to hold him by the hand. But we're still taking the time to help him become the best version of himself," St. Louis said hours before the game against the Florida Panthers.

 

 

"We won't stop supporting the individual, but we've gone a lot further in terms of our collective game," he added. "The guys have to develop in their own way. Nevertheless, the emphasis is clearly on the overall game, much more than on each player. This does not mean that we ignore the individual aspect. We talk to a guy like Josh to support him."

 

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Slafkovsky certainly does benefit from playing with Suzuki and Caufield, not to mention Hutson. 
 

However every player benefits from their linemates. Necas benefited greatly from MacKinnon and Makar. 
 

Slafkovsky is only frigging 20 
 

Imagine a season where Slafkovsky plays an entire season at the level that he is playing now. 
 

 

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2 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:


Slafkovsky certainly does benefit from playing with Suzuki and Caufield, not to mention Hutson. 
 

However every player benefits from their linemates. Necas benefited greatly from MacKinnon and Makar. 
 

Slafkovsky is only frigging 20 
 

Imagine a season where Slafkovsky plays an entire season at the level that he is playing now. 
 

 

Cross your fingers for a breakout next season. A Rick Nash type 60 to 80 point big man who can protect the puck, win every puck battles almost, and has soft hands. Unicorn player

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3 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:


Slafkovsky certainly does benefit from playing with Suzuki and Caufield, not to mention Hutson. 
 

However every player benefits from their linemates. Necas benefited greatly from MacKinnon and Makar. 
 

Slafkovsky is only frigging 20 
 

Imagine a season where Slafkovsky plays an entire season at the level that he is playing now. 
 

 

He’s been great and only 20. But I can’t wait until he drops the “second half-Slaf” moniker!

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3 hours ago, hab29RETIRED said:

He’s been great and only 20. But I can’t wait until he drops the “second half-Slaf” moniker!

I prefer "second half slaf" over Brian "mr october" Savage. 😁

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Not sure how moneypuck calculates their playoffs odds. The Habs are 1 point behind the Rangers with 2 games in hand and have an easier schedule remaining but somehow the Rangers have a 53.6% chance of making the playoffs and the Habs are at 21.8%  ???  They must factor last years performance into this somehow. 

 

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

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Just 1 point out of wildcard, how will they finish off the end of season?

19th in goals for this year, 25 or 26th last year, so bit of improvement.

Habs Weekly: Creeping a Little Closer – HabsWorld.net

 

"...For the Habs to realistically have a shot at making the playoffs, they’re going to need more than Suzuki’s line contributing offensively.  Unfortunately, right now, I’m not sure there’s another group that can be relied on in the offensive zone."

 

 

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1 hour ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Not sure how moneypuck calculates their playoffs odds. The Habs are 1 point behind the Rangers with 2 games in hand and have an easier schedule remaining but somehow the Rangers have a 53.6% chance of making the playoffs and the Habs are at 21.8%  ???  They must factor last years performance into this somehow. 

 

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

 

I dunno, but rationally, you have to pick the Rags with JT Miller firing on all cylinders over the Habs. I think, though, the Habs might just be capturing lightning in a bottle; and also, as I've been saying for a while, the Habs are quietly a better team than people realize, especially with Heineman back and Struble's strong play shoring up the bottom-end of the D. Right now, everyone is rightly dazzled by the Suzuki line, but they're getting the push from the depth players that was missing prior to the Four Nations, and the results mirror that run we went on in December. 

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5 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

Not sure how moneypuck calculates their playoffs odds. The Habs are 1 point behind the Rangers with 2 games in hand and have an easier schedule remaining but somehow the Rangers have a 53.6% chance of making the playoffs and the Habs are at 21.8%  ???  They must factor last years performance into this somehow. 

 

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

I think they also factor in on paper, who SHOULD be the better team.

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4 hours ago, hab29RETIRED said:

I think they also factor in on paper, who SHOULD be the better team.

 

That's what I think, talent level, previous performance must be a factor. Ranger had the best record during the regular season last year, that must have something to do with it.  

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Rangers also have the tiebreaker with more regulations wins than every other team they are battling with for a playoff spot.

 

That being said, there are two other sites I look at for playoff probability and both of them have the Habs with higher odds than the Rangers.

 

One of them:

Habs 37%
Rangers 31%
 

Other:

Habs: 31.9%
Rangers 29.2%

 

They’re based on a simulations of the remaining games over 1000 times.

 

Moneypuck’s takes other things into consideration like expected goals, etc.

 

 

 

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