BCHabnut Posted April 5 Posted April 5 31 minutes ago, HabsFan4eternity said: not to be pessimistic but I think we wont progress too much, not to say this year is a fluke, but I dont see us eclipsing tampa, florida or toronto next year. however stranger things have happened. It could happen. Injuries will probably play a large part. Sophomore slumps and other hard to control factors could hinder it, but Suzuki has improved every year since joining the league. Slaf is improving still, which should bring Suzuki's numbers up. The 1st line has carried the team for 2 years with no 2nd line. Its easy to match defense against a team with only one line that can score. A productive 2nd line makes them much harder to defend and likely increases 1st line production slightly. If Demidov can pull off a healthy .6 ppg season and a 2nd line centre is signed, this team could very well be top 10 next year. Its early and probably too optimistic, but depending on Demidov's transition to NHL, this team is a 2nd line centre and a top 4 RD away from perennial contention. Let's go! Quote
Commandant Posted April 5 Posted April 5 Xhekaj has had 3 years in the league to improve his defensive game and while hes made some improvements its not been enough to avoid getting passed by struble on the depth chart. If he wants back in the top 6 he likely has to pass Struble again. And xhekaj and struble have both been tried at RD but neither of them was very good there, so i dont think that playing them as a pair is the answer. Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 1 hour ago, Commandant said: Xhekaj has had 3 years in the league to improve his defensive game and while hes made some improvements its not been enough to avoid getting passed by struble on the depth chart. If he wants back in the top 6 he likely has to pass Struble again. And xhekaj and struble have both been tried at RD but neither of them was very good there, so i dont think that playing them as a pair is the answer. Yeah, at the end of the day this is a dispute of which young tough guy will earn a spot on our bottom pair, the only difference being Struble is more well rounded while Xhekaj is rougher. it ultimately will probably not make a huge difference and I have been making a big deal out of nothing (my bad). Although Xhekaj could be a great weapon in the arsenal for specific situations, I think personal bias on my part may have ballooned this debate up 10 fold. I apologize. Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, BCHabnut said: It could happen. Injuries will probably play a large part. Sophomore slumps and other hard to control factors could hinder it, but Suzuki has improved every year since joining the league. Slaf is improving still, which should bring Suzuki's numbers up. The 1st line has carried the team for 2 years with no 2nd line. Its easy to match defense against a team with only one line that can score. A productive 2nd line makes them much harder to defend and likely increases 1st line production slightly. If Demidov can pull off a healthy .6 ppg season and a 2nd line centre is signed, this team could very well be top 10 next year. Its early and probably too optimistic, but depending on Demidov's transition to NHL, this team is a 2nd line centre and a top 4 RD away from perennial contention. Let's go! Oh yeah, we are gonna be good, 90% to be a playoff team. but the Atlantic is real tough rn and unless we load up on current talent this summer. I dont think many rookies except Demi will make a huge difference. However progression from Caufield, if Slaf can step up in the first half, and Newy and Dach can shift into that gear we know they have on our 3rd line we very well could place 3rd or 4th in the Atlantic. Edited April 5 by HabsFan4eternity Quote
Commandant Posted April 5 Posted April 5 37 minutes ago, HabsFan4eternity said: Yeah, at the end of the day this is a dispute of which young tough guy will earn a spot on our bottom pair, the only difference being Struble is more well rounded while Xhekaj is rougher. it ultimately will probably not make a huge difference and I have been making a big deal out of nothing (my bad). Although Xhekaj could be a great weapon in the arsenal for specific situations, I think personal bias on my part may have ballooned this debate up 10 fold. I apologize. Dont apologize for having hockey debates; thats what the site is for. We can disagree And there is no one on the board who is always right. NHL players, GMs, coaches make mistakes. So i may have strong beliefs, but some of them are wrong too. Quote
tomh009 Posted April 5 Posted April 5 2 hours ago, HabsFan4eternity said: not to be pessimistic but I think we wont progress too much, not to say this year is a fluke, but I dont see us eclipsing tampa, florida or toronto next year. however stranger things have happened. The team has made steady progress for three seasons now: from 55 in 2021-22 to 68, then 76 and now 80-plus. We'll be adding Demidov and likely upgrading our D (Reinbacher or Mailloux instead of Savard). And the team now knows how to play the St-Louis system. If you look at the season from December on--eliminating the first two months when the team was flailing about and trying to learn how to play the way St-Louis wanted them to--they have scored 62 points in 52 games. Tampa is 67, Toronto 66, Ottawa 65 and Florida 61. "In the mix" for a top-three position, so to say, if we look at the last 3/4 of the season (Carrier and Laine also arrived in December, which certainly made a difference as well). It's no guarantee, to be sure, but it does not seem to be an unreasonable goal to aim for 95+ points. Of course, the answer to our 2C question will matter, too. Quote
xXx..CK..xXx Posted April 5 Posted April 5 On 2/8/2025 at 12:17 PM, xXx..CK..xXx said: …..*deleted for relevance* I’m not ready to prematurely anoint Reinbacher into the role because we need to see more of him but something like Hutson - Reinbacher Matheson - Carrier Guhle - Mailloux is also quite a solid defensive corps… I think a lot of the players could be interchanged as well so hopefully I don’t get crucified for having the specific lineup listed. If we need a veteran on the first pair then put Carrier there until one of Reinbacher or Mailloux step up. Either that or Matheson - Carrier are your top pair until the rookies prove themselves. I am also aware that Guhle is more than a 3rd pairing defenseman but as I said, place the pairings wherever you want, or even mix it up a little. Reinbacher can start the season as a third pair and then evolve from there, should he earn it. He doesn’t have to start in the top 4 even if he is expected to be in that position eventually. Perhaps he even does earn a top 4 spot. We have Hutson who made the team, as an example, so not everyone will be a Mete. We can make assumptions based on what we’ve seen and even very good ones, but no one knows where Reinbacher and Mailloux will be development wise in 7 months from now. Reinbacher was also a 5th overall pick versus Mete being 100th overall, and they’ve already waited longer with Reinbacher than they did with Mete by a year. Not exactly apples to apples. — @HabsFan4eternity Those were posts I made on February 8th and 9th and people were arguing against Reinbacher being ready to play next year. As you can see, I don’t have Xhekaj or Struble included. With that being said, more recently I argued that leaving Xhekaj out of the lineup was not necessarily an easy decision when we played with 7D because of the physical element he brings. (Could be part of the reason Pezzetta is in the lineup with Xhekaj out) So you’re not wrong in believing that there’s an element he brings to the table that fans love and teammates respect. The main thing is that there are perhaps better options, rather than it being a specific knock on him. The main reason I included both Mailloux and Reinbacher when I made that post in February was because they are both right handed. If Xhekaj were right handed, I would have him above Mailloux at the moment for instance. At the time we were struggling with players playing on their off side. If Hutson continues to excel, this may not be as important. Guhle - Hutson Matheson - Carrier Struble (Xhekjaj) - Reinbacher could be the lineup without the RD issue. I do believe Struble is currently higher on the depth chart than Xhekaj but hard work and say, an injury could have Xhekaj back as a regular in the lineup at any time. 1 hour ago, HabsFan4eternity said: Yeah, at the end of the day this is a dispute of which young tough guy will earn a spot on our bottom pair, the only difference being Struble is more well rounded while Xhekaj is rougher. it ultimately will probably not make a huge difference and I have been making a big deal out of nothing (my bad). Although Xhekaj could be a great weapon in the arsenal for specific situations, I think personal bias on my part may have ballooned this debate up 10 fold. I apologize. Quote
Reinbacher can start the season as a third pair and then evolve from there, should he earn it. He doesn’t have to start in the top 4 even if he is expected to be in that position eventually. Perhaps he even does earn a top 4 spot. We have Hutson who made the team, as an example, so not everyone will be a Mete. We can make assumptions based on what we’ve seen and even very good ones, but no one knows where Reinbacher and Mailloux will be development wise in 7 months from now. Reinbacher was also a 5th overall pick versus Mete being 100th overall, and they’ve already waited longer with Reinbacher than they did with Mete by a year. Not exactly apples to apples.
Commandant Posted April 5 Posted April 5 In both instances organizational depth is a big help. On defence. I think Reinbacher is ready and will prove it in camp and win the job. That said we also have Mailloux. There will be journeymen on waivers too if neither is ready. Thats how we got Kovacevic. Its gonna be the third pair spot at RD which is what Savard is. With the opportunity to move up if he plays well. Upfront. We need the #2 c. There is no one in the org for it. But on replacing Dvorak, it could be Kapanen, or it could be Beck, or we could have Dach or Newhook as #3c and have Roy on the wing. This is much different than the Mete situation. Where we had a top 4 spot and only one option to fill it and we had to put all our eggs in that basket. Right now we are in much better shape than trusting 19 year old Mete. Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 like @Commandantsaid, a 2nd line center is a must need if we wish to improve substantially for next season. Anyone considered some offer sheets this offseason? Yes, you may have to overpay a little bit but with hefty contracts going out like armia, Dvorak, savard presumably going out, that would leave us 10-11 million with a small amount going to heineman and struble, we have a good 8 million to work with for a decent 2c. Perhaps splash on a long term contract for someone like Gabe Vilardi with Winnipeg's money situation, and our excess picks. Maybe save some money and target Dmitri Voronkov for 5-6 he brings a good shot for demidov to pair his playmaking with, a good two way game, and some physical prowess. They both seem like good fits to me however I haven't worked out logistics. thoughts? Quote
Commandant Posted April 5 Posted April 5 Im not a fan of offer sheeting cause they usually lead to revenge sheets and thats not what we want with such a good young team 1 Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 3 minutes ago, Commandant said: Im not a fan of offer sheeting cause they usually lead to revenge sheets and thats not what we want with such a good young team good point but I'm thinking the money is a bigger issue, just went through some logistics as well, Hutson is ready to be resigned next season we may very well need this money to lock him down. using the picks in a trade could be the better route, for some contract retention, in the next few years money will be a problem especially with so many young players. Although with Kent Hughes's magic I'm sure it wont be too big of an issue. Quote
Commandant Posted April 5 Posted April 5 I do think trade is the way to go. Some team will lose early in the playoffs and decide to trade a player to shake things up Quote
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted April 6 Posted April 6 I’m with Commandant. We are already at risk of offer sheets because we have so much young talent. Pro-actively making offer sheets will be like issuing an invitation to other GMs to do it to us. No thanks. Go the old fashioned route. On Dvorak, I’ve said before I’d re-sign him at a reasonable rate. The counter-argument is that we need to leave space for young players, but my take on that is: whatever happens, we need a veteran C who can win draws, might as well be Dvorak. If a kid really does seem to be banging on the door, we can always move him out, provided the contract is reasonable. Since he’s not the type of player likely to get a massive overpay as a UFA, that should be possible. 🤷♂️ 1 Quote
Habs Fan in Edmonton Posted April 6 Posted April 6 18 hours ago, Commandant said: Dont apologize for having hockey debates; thats what the site is for. We can disagree And there is no one on the board who is always right. NHL players, GMs, coaches make mistakes. So i may have strong beliefs, but some of them are wrong too. Yup, no one is right all the time. I think I predicted Hutson would have something like 33 points this year, happy to say I was way off. And did anyone think Washington would end with the best (or maybe 2nd best) record in the NHL this year? I don't think anyone saw that coming. And there were many, MANY on this board who thought the Habs had no chance at a playoff spot this year. 1 Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 MY new lineup predictions adjusted after recent playoff exit. (Predictions based after 2025-2026 regular season) Caufield-Suzuki-Slaf Newhook/Dach-Signing/Trade-Demidov Roy-Evans-Dach/Newhook Anderson-Kapanen/Beck-Gally Guhle-Hutson Mailloux-Matheson Carrier-Struble Monty Dobes/Fowler* * If Monty or Doby get injured I think Fowler will get a chance and capitalize, but if both remain healthy, Fowler will take another year. If you have questions feel free to quote! Quote
Commandant Posted May 4 Posted May 4 18 minutes ago, HabsFan4eternity said: MY new lineup predictions adjusted after recent playoff exit. (Predictions based after 2025-2026 regular season) Caufield-Suzuki-Slaf Newhook/Dach-Signing/Trade-Demidov Roy-Evans-Dach/Newhook Anderson-Kapanen/Beck-Gally Guhle-Hutson Mailloux-Matheson Carrier-Struble Monty Dobes/Fowler* * If Monty or Doby get injured I think Fowler will get a chance and capitalize, but if both remain healthy, Fowler will take another year. If you have questions feel free to quote! So, Laine and Heineman just disappear? Roy beats out both of them???? Mailloux and Carrier play on the wrong side? 1 Quote
BCHabnut Posted May 4 Posted May 4 23 minutes ago, HabsFan4eternity said: MY new lineup predictions adjusted after recent playoff exit. (Predictions based after 2025-2026 regular season) Caufield-Suzuki-Slaf Newhook/Dach-Signing/Trade-Demidov Roy-Evans-Dach/Newhook Anderson-Kapanen/Beck-Gally Guhle-Hutson Mailloux-Matheson Carrier-Struble Monty Dobes/Fowler* * If Monty or Doby get injured I think Fowler will get a chance and capitalize, but if both remain healthy, Fowler will take another year. If you have questions feel free to quote! Unless they are lights out at training camp, I don't see room for both Kapanen and Beck. Neither has been great in the NHL. Just ok for me. Personally I sort of hope they try to resign dvorak if the price is right. Devo and armia both leaving at the same time could leave a defensive hole. My lines without devo would be Slaf Suzuki Caufield Laine new guy Demidov Anderson newhook dach Heineman Evans galley Kap or Beck or roy or tuch or rhp or F Xhekaj. whoever earns it Ghule Hutson Matheson Carrier Struble pray it's Reinbacher A Xhekaj Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 2 minutes ago, Commandant said: So, Laine and Heineman just disappear? Roy beats out both of them???? Mailloux and Carrier play on the wrong side? Shit, low-key forgot about laine, had Heinemen getting beaten out I don’t think he can replicate his success in December. As for handedness that’s my mistake up until recently researching I always thought defensemen should play with their forehand in the middle of the ice for One Ts But I now understand that’s incorrect and they play with their sticks to the boards. So all the pairings are reversed. I suppose Laine would take Roy’s spot until next year when Anderson likely leaves Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 1 minute ago, BCHabnut said: Unless they are lights out at training camp, I don't see room for both Kapanen and Beck. Neither has been great in the NHL. Just ok for me. Personally I sort of hope they try to resign dvorak if the price is right. Devo and armia both leaving at the same time could leave a defensive hole. My lines without devo would be Slaf Suzuki Caufield Laine new guy Demidov Anderson newhook dach Heineman Evans galley Kap or Beck or roy or tuch or rhp or F Xhekaj. whoever earns it Ghule Hutson Matheson Carrier Struble pray it's Reinbacher A Xhekaj Yeah I figured Kapanen and Beck would battle it out for that 4c Ideally Beck outperforms Kapanen for those defensive issues. Laine completely slipped my mind, so many players trying to make that jump sometimes current players aren’t really my priority lol. I suppose he could be a nice piece in a trade for that 2c but I doubt that will happen given his potential with that lethal One timer to pair with Demidov Quote
Commandant Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Heineman is much better defensively and much more physical than Roy. While Roy may find a spot on the team, I don't think he will beat out Heineman for a bottom six spot. Add in that Heineman has an extremely heavy shot and I think he can score 10-15 goals. I think he's going to grow into being the replacement for Armia. I also think a large part of why he didn't produce after February is the car accident. I think he'll be better after the summer off. Quote
Commandant Posted May 4 Posted May 4 My Lineup.... with explainations. Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf 2LW - 2C - Demidov 3LW - 3C - Gallagher Anderson - Evans - Heineman 2C = new player via trade or free agency The 2LW, 3C, and 3LW spots would get filled with Dach, Newhook, and Laine. How you line them up witll depend on who the #2C is and what chemistry there is with the line and who plays well in camp. I'm assuming now that we get Dach - 2C - Demidov Laine - Newhook - Gallagher Beck/Kapanen could take a spot if Dach isn't ready to start the season, or would be the first callup for injuries. Pezzetta or a veteran could be the 13th forward, I wouldn't put Beck/Kapanen in the press box. On D Guhle - Hutson Matheson - Carrier Struble/Xhekaj - Reinbacher/Mailloux The winner of Reinbacher/Mailloux takes the third pair RD spot. The loser goes to AHL. Struble and Xhekaj would rotate between 3rd pair and press box. Montembault Dobes Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 3 minutes ago, Commandant said: Heineman is much better defensively and much more physical than Roy. While Roy may find a spot on the team, I don't think he will beat out Heineman for a bottom six spot. Add in that Heineman has an extremely heavy shot and I think he can score 10-15 goals. I think he's going to grow into being the replacement for Armia. I also think a large part of why he didn't produce after February is the car accident. I think he'll be better after the summer off. yeah the car accident was likely the majority of the problem if not physically hurt, he missed quite a few games from it to throw off his mental. I prioritized Roy over Heineman given our need for depth scoring, Although I agree Emil has a rocket I think Roy has a higher offensive ceiling and I placed him with Evan’s to attempt to balance that defensive aspect. I thought of throwing Anderson with them for physicality but didn’t want to break up Gally and him. Quote
Commandant Posted May 4 Posted May 4 2 minutes ago, HabsFan4eternity said: yeah the car accident was likely the majority of the problem if not physically hurt, he missed quite a few games from it to throw off his mental. I prioritized Roy over Heineman given our need for depth scoring, Although I agree Emil has a rocket I think Roy has a higher offensive ceiling and I placed him with Evan’s to attempt to balance that defensive aspect. I thought of throwing Anderson with them for physicality but didn’t want to break up Gally and him. In my lineup I would strongly consider flipping Gallagher and Heineman to keep Anderson and Gally together too. Quote
Commandant Posted May 4 Posted May 4 One requirement for the 2C. They need to be left handed. Without Dvorak we will have no LH guy to take key faceoffs. Evans, Newhook, Suzuki, Dach, Kapanen and Beck are all righties. Quote
HabsFan4eternity Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 1 minute ago, Commandant said: My Lineup.... with explainations. Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf 2LW - 2C - Demidov 3LW - 3C - Gallagher Anderson - Evans - Heineman 2C = new player via trade or free agency The 2LW, 3C, and 3LW spots would get filled with Dach, Newhook, and Laine. How you line them up witll depend on who the #2C is and what chemistry there is with the line and who plays well in camp. I'm assuming now that we get Dach - 2C - Demidov Laine - Newhook - Gallagher Beck/Kapanen could take a spot if Dach isn't ready to start the season, or would be the first callup for injuries. Pezzetta or a veteran could be the 13th forward, I wouldn't put Beck/Kapanen in the press box. On D Guhle - Hutson Matheson - Carrier Struble/Xhekaj - Reinbacher/Mailloux The winner of Reinbacher/Mailloux takes the third pair RD spot. The loser goes to AHL. Struble and Xhekaj would rotate between 3rd pair and press box. Montembault Dobes clearly you know a lot more about hockey and the habs than I do and I don’t want to patronize. But could you walk me through the decision of Dach on the 2LW and Newhook on the C while Newhook is faster and can keep up with demidov more effectively, and has shown he should maybe take a step back from the face off dot and possibly pursue a permanent spot on the wing? Quote
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