GDT Game #31 Habs vs Sabres 7pm Dec 17 2025

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

51 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Expecting that they would have a contending team after 3 years, when only 2 of their draft picks (Slaf and Lane Hutson) are even on the team is unrealistic.  They have to be given at least 5 years. 

 

Agreed, 3 years isn't long enough if you are doing a rebuild properly. They need at least 5. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

3 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Agreed, 3 years isn't long enough if you are doing a rebuild properly. They need at least 5. 

5 years is appropriate and it takes time to rid the team of bad contracts from the last GM. 
 

There are several impact players about to hit our roster within the next two years and I can’t frigging wait to see what we got. 
 

[BCHabnut]

1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

5 years is appropriate and it takes time to rid the team of bad contracts from the last GM. 
 

There are several impact players about to hit our roster within the next two years and I can’t frigging wait to see what we got. 
 

Agreed. You have to think that 1 of Reinbacher, Demidov,  Hage, Fowler can be a high impact player i 3 years. One high impact goalie, top 6, or top pair player can change the entire outlook of a team. Now if 2 or 3 work out that's a dream scenario.  

[hab29RETIRED]

On 12/18/2024 at 5:05 AM, Commandant said:

 

Pegula has spent money on the Sabres.  He just cant seem to hire a good GM or coach.

He's paying for his stupidity to side against Lafontaine - who was screwed over twice by the Sabres. As a player by Muckler, and the owner who sided with the GM when Lafontaine was team president.

[Commandant]

2 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:

He's paying for his stupidity to side against Lafontaine - who was screwed over twice by the Sabres. As a player by Muckler, and the owner who sided with the GM when Lafontaine was team president.

 

What proof is there that Lafontaine would be a good executive in hockey though.  Its not like he's building other NHL teams. 

I don't like the way they treated him, but there is no proof he was the solution either. 

[hab29RETIRED]

4 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

I follow your logic, you've been very consistent.

 

I still believe what I am told, the the rebuild window is now with a first step this year to become competitive. Without Laine, their season start was disastrous; but with him back and carrier in, I will look for their own assessment on how much they are "in the mix" by the trade deadline.

 

Why would HughGort get an extra 3 years to deliver what he was hired to do three years ago?

When was a mandate to deliver in thee years ever announced??? NEVER.

For me 2025-26 was alseay the year to make a serious run at the playoffs as a BUBBLE team, and than be a a true contender after that IF things pan out.

 

bow long did it take for the penguins to become a contender after a compete tear down where they had multiple #1 and top 5 picks to draft Fleury, Malkin, Crosby and Stall. 
 

Same things with the blackhawks who also did a complete tear down. Ditto for the Avs and Florida.

[hab29RETIRED]

2 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

5 years is appropriate and it takes time to rid the team of bad contracts from the last GM. 
 

There are several impact players about to hit our roster within the next two years and I can’t frigging wait to see what we got. 
 

Yep. When you are stuck paying around $20m to Armia, Dvorak, Gallagher, and Anderson, and Price on LTIR your options for changing things are limited. Thankfully, two of the contracts come of the books this year.

[hab29RETIRED]

8 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

What proof is there that Lafontaine would be a good executive in hockey though.  Its not like he's building other NHL teams. 

I don't like the way they treated him, but there is no proof he was the solution either. 

No, but he wanted a patient approach to building a team. Instead they tried the fast track, and than tore it down for Eichel, and than moved Eichal, Reinhardt, O'Reilly - who all went on to be key pieces on cup winning teams (among others). They never had any stability or a long term plan. He actually did have a plan. Who know if he would have succeeded, but I doubt the chaos they've had since he left would be there. Given how he was handled during his concussion injuries, I can't see him taking the same stance with Eichal if he was in charge of the team.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

44 minutes ago, BCHabnut said:

Agreed. You have to think that 1 of Reinbacher, Demidov,  Hage, Fowler can be a high impact player i 3 years. One high impact goalie, top 6, or top pair player can change the entire outlook of a team. Now if 2 or 3 work out that's a dream scenario.  

 

Yes, I think after 3 years in a rebuild you should be able to see light at the end of the tunnel, ie. a number of good young players/prospects on the verge of making an impact with a few more 1-2 years away. I think we are at that point. Year 5, we should be seeing some tangible results. 

[alfredoh2009]

14 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

Yes, I think after 3 years in a rebuild you should be able to see light at the end of the tunnel, ie. a number of good young players/prospects on the verge of making an impact with a few more 1-2 years away. I think we are at that point. Year 5, we should be seeing some tangible results. 

 

I think you understand my point. I didn't say that this year we should be done the rebuild (come on!), I said that this year we should start seeing progress and that one year before the GM and VP contract expiration they should be evaluated to see if they are still the persons to continue the process.

The point that I was trying to make is that I do not agree with the view that the contending window is when Demidov will be ripping it in the NHL but in Suzuki's window which is the next 5-6 years: which means that HughGort's contract will need to be renewed before Suzuki's core needs to be resigned.

 

Said otherwise: the 8 year contracts will outlast HughGort's contract and in that sense their work will need to be reassessed based on results.

 

Here is what I said:

19 hours ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

I am saying that he was given a mandate to rebuild the team with the current core, and this year (#3) is when the initial results should start happening.

On the fourth year (2025-2026) Molson shall evaluate results to see if he renews HughGort. I have not checked HughGort's contract length, but 4 years is what I seem to remember.

 

Molson and the investor's board are not married to HughGort, it all depends on results.

Edited December 20, 2024 by alfredoh2009
added quote of what I said

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

I think you understand my point. I didn't say that this year we should be done the rebuild (come on!), I said that this year we should start seeing progress and that one year before the GM and VP contract expiration they should be evaluated to see if they are still the persons to continue the process.

The point that I was trying to make is that I do not agree with the view that the contending window is when Demidov will be ripping it in the NHL but in Suzuki's window which is the next 5-6 years: which means that HughGort's contract will need to be renewed before Suzuki's core needs to be resigned.

 

Said otherwise: the 8 year contracts will outlast HughGort's contract and in that sense their work will need to be reassessed based on results.

 

Here is what I said:

 

I hear what you are saying. I was one of those on this board that really wanted a rebuild to be done rather than just being mediocre for a number of years. MB teased me a bit into thinking he was doing a rebuild (ie. the Suzuki trade which was awesome) but I don't think he was willing or had the mandate to go far enough to do a true rebuild. 

 

Because I really wanted a rebuild I will be very patient with Hughes. I believe he is heading in the right direction so I think 5 years will give us a good indication if he is going to be successful. 

[alfredoh2009]

3 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I hear what you are saying. I was one of those on this board that really wanted a rebuild to be done rather than just being mediocre for a number of years. MB teased me a bit into thinking he was doing a rebuild (ie. the Suzuki trade which was awesome) but I don't think he was willing or had the mandate to go far enough to do a true rebuild. 

 

Because I really wanted a rebuild I will be very patient with Hughes. I believe he is heading in the right direction so I think 5 years will give us a good indication if he is going to be successful. 

I agree that the teams seems to be headed in the right direction . But I want to see them focus on the ultimate goal of winning a cup. Be it 3, 5, or 7 years from now. I want the 25th

[Commandant]

21 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I agree that the teams seems to be headed in the right direction . But I want to see them focus on the ultimate goal of winning a cup. Be it 3, 5, or 7 years from now. I want the 25th

 

Do you think they aren't focused on this?

 

Every NHL team is focused on this.  Doing it isn't easy and its a 32 team competition. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

43 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I agree that the teams seems to be headed in the right direction . But I want to see them focus on the ultimate goal of winning a cup. Be it 3, 5, or 7 years from now. I want the 25th

 

We all want the cup, Hughes, Molson, you, me and every other fan on this forum. Winning the cup is hard as 32 teams have the same goal. The best chance you have is to field a very competitive team year after year and maybe one of those years things line up for you. I want Hughes to build something sustainable so we can compete for a number of years. Teams like Chicago, LA, New Jersey, Boston, Tampa were able to build teams that competed seriously for the cup for a number of years. That's what I want.

[alfredoh2009]

46 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

We all want the cup, Hughes, Molson, you, me and every other fan on this forum. Winning the cup is hard as 32 teams have the same goal. The best chance you have is to field a very competitive team year after year and maybe one of those years things line up for you. I want Hughes to build something sustainable so we can compete for a number of years. Teams like Chicago, LA, New Jersey, Boston, Tampa were able to build teams that competed seriously for the cup for a number of years. That's what I want.

I am more impatient , if the Habs finally nuked the team to do a rebuild then I expect them to aim for the cup. They may or may not win it, but for my fandom time I want them to aim for the top prize.

enough with the ducking around 

[DON]

32 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I am more impatient , if the Habs finally nuked the team to do a rebuild then I expect them to aim for the cup. They may or may not win it, but for my fandom time I want them to aim for the top prize.

enough with the ducking around 

I dont understand this or your previous post about same, other than another lame shot about crappy mgmt i guess?

[Commandant]

37 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I am more impatient , if the Habs finally nuked the team to do a rebuild then I expect them to aim for the cup. They may or may not win it, but for my fandom time I want them to aim for the top prize.

enough with the ducking around 

 

You being impatient doesnt mean this management group has a goal that is different than "aiming for the top prize."

 

What do you think this management is trying to do?

[alfredoh2009]

41 minutes ago, DON said:

I dont understand this or your previous post about same, other than another lame shot about crappy mgmt i guess?

 

It was a message to @Butterface who has been posting on his belief that the window is for later after Suzuki is past his prime.

We've been going back and forth on different threads on this.

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I am more impatient , if the Habs finally nuked the team to do a rebuild then I expect them to aim for the cup. They may or may not win it, but for my fandom time I want them to aim for the top prize.

enough with the ducking around 

 

I would like to win the cup this year but I am a realist. It takes a little time to build something to be proud of. 

[Butterface]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

It was a message to @Butterface who has been posting on his belief that the window is for later after Suzuki is past his prime.

We've been going back and forth on different threads on this.

I said the window opens 2027-28 with throwing the kitchen sink at winning in 2028-29 and 2029-30… just before we have to begin renegotiating with the original core 4.

 

Then I think we still have a window continuing past 2029-30, but we will be pressed against the cap or over the cap and keeping all the talent will be next to impossible. 
 

Suzuki and Caufield we have to renegotiate in 2030-31 and 2031-32.

 

i have not wavered in what I said since joining this place in September…

 

 

[tomh009]

2 minutes ago, Butterface said:

Then I think we still have a window continuing past 2029-30, but we will be pressed against the cap or over the cap and keeping all the talent will be next to impossible.

That's life in the cap world. Need to maintain a solid prospect pipeline (partly by trading veterans for picks or young players) so that you can have a significant chunk of your roster on ELCs.

[Butterface]

4 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

That's life in the cap world. Need to maintain a solid prospect pipeline (partly by trading veterans for picks or young players) so that you can have a significant chunk of your roster on ELCs.

Yes for sure… it will be interesting who stays and who goes 2030-2034.

 

Lots of our talent will be slowly distilled down to a fine aged scotch. We will lose some beauties.

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, tomh009 said:

That's life in the cap world. Need to maintain a solid prospect pipeline (partly by trading veterans for picks or young players) so that you can have a significant chunk of your roster on ELCs.

 

Absolutely!