GDT GAME #48 Montreal Canadiens @ Detroit Red Wings - 7PM - Thurs, January 23, 2025

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Hutson at 9 was my pick, with Suzuki a close second. 

 

Laine is an interesting dilemma. He is a scoring machine. But the guy we've seen so far is one-dimensional. Literally all he does is score on the PP. Caufield is not quite as unstoppable as Laine as a goal-scorer but he is a more well-rounded player.

 

What kind of salary should a player like that command? - a guy who is top-3 in the league in one specific skill, i.e., rifling it on the PP, but pretty indifferent at every other aspect of the sport? 

[Peter Puck]

I think it is much too early to evaluate Laine.  He missed a ton of time and may need a full season to recover his form.  But there is no rush. 

[tomh009]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Laine is an interesting dilemma. He is a scoring machine. But the guy we've seen so far is one-dimensional. Literally all he does is score on the PP.

I would say Laine is improving. Maybe thanks to St-Louis? But admittedly he has much work to do yet to improve his defensive game.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Laine had 2 assists last game and with the exception of this year which seems to be an outlier, the majority of his points have come at even strength every single year of his career. I’m not ready to call him one dimensional and personally would be willing to sign him for 10 million. If less, even better. It wouldn’t be abnormal for him to continue to be around a point per game player. All that being said, I chose Caufield in the poll.

 

In reference to tonight’s game, Kane is out which is a nice little bonus as he has been playing well as of late. Then again, Tavares being out for the Leafs didn’t seem to hurt them much against us in the end.

[TurdBurglar]

2 hours ago, Peter Puck said:

I think it is much too early to evaluate Laine.  He missed a ton of time and may need a full season to recover his form.  But there is no rush. 

I completely agree.  Dach has taken nearly half a season to get started again after missing a year.  Laine has been back for just over a month.

[Commandant]

Look, is Laine struggling at ES? Yes, 100%

 

Like Dach he was always going to need time to get to full speed. He basically didn't play for a full year.  He had two bad injuries and a stint with a mental health/player assistance issue in that time. 

 

The difference is Laine's shot and PP ability is at an elite level and he can contribute to wins even while he has to shake the rust off. 

 

The good news is expect Laine to be close to 100% sometime between the trade deadline and playoffs.  

 

Dach has already shown what its like to come around on this. 

 

 

[tomh009]

Laine's interview was enlightening with regard to his mental heath issues. I think quite similar to the challenges that Armia had in the past, when he got into a sump and couldn't get out of it.

[Meller93]

I chose Suzuki in the poll as well, but Caufield actually would have been my next choice.

 

He’s been dynamic, and a lot more than just a goal scorer. He’s a dual threat, and is starting to be pretty consistent. That kind of production at 7.9 is great value IMO

[Butterface]

The dark horse in the poll was meant to be an improving Dach at 5.5M.

 

If he is beginning to heat up as a second line centre and Demidov is switched in for Newhook.. Dach could suddenly become a point machine.

 

I picked Guhle because he comes in a full 2.5M below the others. He is very reliable since pairing with Carrier… 

[Butterface]

These guys need to work on spelling… or typos…

 

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/players/owen-beck-is-headed-back-to-laval

 

It seems like Martin St. Louis has trust issues so Beck got 8:13 in an overtime win over the New York Rangers. That wasn’t much. But the team won and that’s the most important thing.

In the second game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played just 6:57, seven shits. He registered a hit but he watched most of the game from the bench. They won that game too. Hey, it’s better than not being called up.

 

I think they mean shifts … otherwise i would say watch the game from the bench if IBS is an issue. 

[GHT120]

1 minute ago, Butterface said:

These guys need to work on spelling… or typos…

 

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/players/owen-beck-is-headed-back-to-laval

 

It seems like Martin St. Louis has trust issues so Beck got 8:13 in an overtime win over the New York Rangers. That wasn’t much. But the team won and that’s the most important thing.

In the second game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played just 6:57, seven shits. He registered a hit but he watched most of the game from the bench. They won that game too. Hey, it’s better than not being called up.

 

I think they mean shifts … otherwise i would say watch the game from the bench if IBS is an issue. 

If *** not *** a typo it might explain the reduced ice time.

[Butterface]

Just now, GHT120 said:

If *** not *** a typo it might explain the reduced ice time.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[tomh009]

1 hour ago, Butterface said:

These guys need to work on spelling… or typos…

 

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/players/owen-beck-is-headed-back-to-laval

 

It seems like Martin St. Louis has trust issues so Beck got 8:13 in an overtime win over the New York Rangers. That wasn’t much. But the team won and that’s the most important thing.

In the second game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played just 6:57, seven shits. He registered a hit but he watched most of the game from the bench. They won that game too. Hey, it’s better than not being called up.

 

I think they mean shifts … otherwise i would say watch the game from the bench if IBS is an issue. 

8:13 against the Rangers. Part of that may have been his confusion about when to jump on the ice. The Habs only had four players on when Lafreniere scored, as due to some confusion/miscommunication, Beck did not jump on when Armia did.

[GNick]

A win tonight we could jump Tampa for 3rd in Atlantic. Only 5 points behind Florida for 2nd place with game in hand.

[Butterface]

That hurts.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

WTF was Montembault doing there?

 

 

[sbhatt]

That period was pure crap.  You'd think someone just roused them from a nap and forced them onto the ice or something.

[Butterface]

5 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

WTF was Montembault doing there?

Trying not to be consistent… it’s his thing.

 

Terrible period. Spent mostly in our zone.

 

But we have the Wings right where we want them… complacent !

[Butterface]

Columbus winning again 🙄

Just want it not to be three point game Ottawa vs Boston.

 

We need to flip this game on its head in the second…

Need Hutson to take it over… release the Kraken !

 

 

[Butterface]

He cracked 

[sbhatt]

The team stinks tonight, but that's two weak goals Monty has given up already.

[Commandant]

2 minutes ago, sbhatt said:

The team stinks tonight, but that's two weak goals Monty has given up already.

 

The team has given up 28 sjots in less than half the game.  Its not the goalie.

 

Thats a 56 shot pace.

[Butterface]

31 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

The team has given up 28 sjots in less than half the game.  Its not the goalie.

 

Thats a 56 shot pace.

 

He’s made good stops and let some bad ones in… he’s good, but inconsistent.

 

 

[tomh009]

13 minutes ago, Butterface said:

He’s made good stops and let some bad ones in… he good, but inconsistent.

xGA about 3 at the moment so basically Montembeault has allowed one more than he should have. In the end, it doesn't matter which ones he saves and which ones he doesn't, only the total number counts.

 

32 shots in two periods, on pace for 48 ...

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Habs are giving up a lot of shots and quality chances. 
 

Habs played better as the period went on. Perhaps another comeback is coming