|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 14, 2024 11:04:33 GMT -5
We know Cole-Suze-Slaf are the 1st line... I am hoping Roy can continue his progression and force Marty to put him on a line with Dach and Newhook... I think Roy can play the right side... we cannot have Armia, Anderson or Gallagher on the 2nd line...
Cole-suze-slaf
Newhook-dach-Roy
Gallagher-dvorak-armia
Pezzetta-evans-anderson
|
|
|
|
Post by drkcloud on Jul 14, 2024 12:41:36 GMT -5
If Roy plays on that line I could see Roy-Newhook-Dach
This is still a lottery lineup
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 14, 2024 13:03:43 GMT -5
If Roy plays on that line I could see Roy-Newhook-Dach This is still a lottery lineup That's because the bottom 6 needs to be completely revamped. That will happen. Demidov will push someone down. Kapanen, Beck and Hage will either push people down or replace players currently in the bottom 6. That still leaves the potential for Florian, Filip Eriksson or someone we draft this coming year, to join the group and improve it. I may have forgotten someone (Heineman) who could supplant the current bottom 6. The top 6 are fine. The Suzuki line will be able to compete with any #1 line in the league. If Dach is healthy, the second line will be dangerous and a possession beast. The rest is what it is for now. Next year (or this season) when Demidov joins, things will really get interesting. If he pushes Newhook (for example) to the 3rd line and we have Newhook and Beck together, that gets interesting. Ideally, if we find a second line RW and both Newhook and Roy get pushed to the 3rd line, the team starts to become dangerous. I wouldn't be afraid to give that line a good chunk of ice time. |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 14, 2024 13:51:03 GMT -5
If Roy plays on that line I could see Roy-Newhook-Dach This is still a lottery lineup That's because the bottom 6 needs to be completely revamped. That will happen. Demidov will push someone down. Kapanen, Beck and Hage will either push people down or replace players currently in the bottom 6. That still leaves the potential for Florian, Filip Eriksson or someone we draft this coming year, to join the group and improve it. I may have forgotten someone (Heineman) who could supplant the current bottom 6. The top 6 are fine. The Suzuki line will be able to compete with any #1 line in the league. If Dach is healthy, the second line will be dangerous and a possession beast. The rest is what it is for now. Next year (or this season) when Demidov joins, things will really get interesting. If he pushes Newhook (for example) to the 3rd line and we have Newhook and Beck together, that gets interesting. Ideally, if we find a second line RW and both Newhook and Roy get pushed to the 3rd line, the team starts to become dangerous. I wouldn't be afraid to give that line a good chunk of ice time. I've thought a Newhook Beck combo on the 3rd line would give other teams fits... Each line needs at least 1 very high IQ player, Suze on the 1st, Roy on the 2nd and Beck on the 3rd Hage won't be here for a few years imo Bottom 9 in 25/26 Roy- dach- demidov Newhook-beck-  Xhekaj- Evans-pezzetta |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Jul 14, 2024 14:35:58 GMT -5
I don’t see what others see in Beck. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him traded.
If we do not add a forward before the start of the season Anderson will start on the second line. If Demidov starts the season on the Habs the second line will be Demidov - Dach - Anderson
|
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 14, 2024 14:49:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by folatre on Jul 14, 2024 17:19:28 GMT -5
Assuming Demidov is not in the picture for 2024-25, then I would like to see Newhook and Roy with Dach. However, circumstances will likely keep the second line in a state of flux.
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 14, 2024 18:21:46 GMT -5
I don’t see what others see in Beck. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him traded. If we do not add a forward before the start of the season Anderson will start on the second line. If Demidov starts the season on the Habs the second line will be Demidov - Dach - Anderson Anderson probably will start there. Marty is going to give him every opportunity to show that he's not the guy he was last year. I doubt that's possible on a team playing a system that requires players to process the play quickly. But I hope he looks good for a while, until he can be traded. Unfortunately, I think he's just going to sink that line. He has an innate ability to do that. |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 14, 2024 20:58:25 GMT -5
I hope Josh's marriage made him a bit more aware of his surroundings, I like him because he'll stick up for his teammates but so does Pezzetta. I hope Marty doesn't sink the 2nd line trying to get him going, if he does it'll be another bottom 5 finish... because I think the only way we get anywhere near a playoff spot is with newhook-dach-roy 2nd line
|
|
|
|
Post by folatre on Jul 14, 2024 21:28:36 GMT -5
I do not think a playoff spot will be realistically within reach until Demidov is on the second line.
Anderson, well who knows? In his full NHL seasons, his shooting percentage was always between 10-14 percent. So the 6.4 percent last season could certainly be viewed by St. Louis and management as an outlier. But even if he levitates back up to the mean, I do not think he is a second liner on a good team. But I suppose he could be a place holder for another season in Montreal if Roy struggles or if Newhook has to move over to center in the event of injuries.
|
|
|
|
Post by habsorbed on Jul 15, 2024 1:18:55 GMT -5
I don’t see what others see in Beck. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him traded. If we do not add a forward before the start of the season Anderson will start on the second line. If Demidov starts the season on the Habs the second line will be Demidov - Dach - Anderson I'm with you on Beck. Doesn't really impress me skill-wise. He will be at best a good 3rd line centre as i think he has a good defensive understanding of the game. But that takes a few years to mature in the NHL. As for 2nd line wingers; Gally and Josh will be given every opportunity to show they can contribute offensively. I'd be surprised to see Roy on the second line unless he gets out of the gate fast. And that would lilely have to be on the 2nd PP unit as he won't have decent line-mates on the 3rd or 4th line. |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 15, 2024 1:38:13 GMT -5
I shudder to think of Anderson on any line. I'm usually pretty objective, but when you see a line with Caufield and Suzuki sink when Anderson is on it and bloom when Slaf is on it, you have to draw certain conclusions. It's been said before on this board, that Anderson's style is suited to a team who plays a north south game with a simple structure. That's an outdated system to me. I'm fully on board with Marty and his less structured game where players (at least in the offensive zone) are free to improvise. I don't think Josh has an improvisational bone in his body. He knows to race at a guy and hit him into the boards. With some teams that works, but with the Habs it doesn't and playing that way negates the efforts of the other guys on the ice. This team will be markedly better when Demidov joins them, but I think they can compete for a playoff spot this coming season, providing there is reasonable health on the top 2 lines and the goaltending holds up. Not carrying 3 goalies is going to help a lot and the maturation of the young defensemen is also going to bump the team up a notch. What I'd like to see to start the season is this: Caufield - Susuki - Slaf Newhook - Dach- Roy Heineman - Dvorak - Gallagher Pezzetta - Evans - Armia (yes, I've omitted Anderson because I just like the other guys more) Matheson - Guhle Hutson - Reinbacher Xhekaj - Savard Harris, Struble to rotate in on the 2nd and 3rd pairs. If Mailloux has a great camp, he can displace Reinbacher, but Reinbacher is safer defensively right now, so that's why I've got him there. The 2nd pair needs experience, of course, and they'll be outmatched some nights, so swapping them with Xhekaj and Savard is fine for now. Neither pair is ideal for a 2nd pairing, but if Hutson/Reinbacher get through this season, they won't be outmatched in the next. Ideally, Hughes makes a trade between now and training camp to reduce the LHD surplus. Besides Mailloux, Engstrom is also missing from this group and he's basically the odd man out, available to play in Laval to get accustomed to the smaller ice, the speed, etc. but he may join that group of 6 in the future. Who knows? If McGroarty is acquired, he could fit in nicely on the second line, adding some more heft and Newhook could move to the 3rd line to give them extra speed and scoring. And if Demidov makes his way here for this coming season, the lineup really becomes fun. If we had both, Demidov can go to the 2nd line, Newhook could move to centre the 3rd line with McGroarty and Gallagher and I probably wouldn't give a damn who was on the 4th line as they'd only be getting 5 minutes a game.
Woohoo! Fun times are ahead!
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 15, 2024 1:47:18 GMT -5
I'm with you on Beck. Doesn't really impress me skill-wise. He will be at best a good 3rd line centre as i think he has a good defensive understanding of the game. But that takes a few years to mature in the NHL. As for 2nd line wingers; Gally and Josh will be given every opportunity to show they can contribute offensively. I'd be surprised to see Roy on the second line unless he gets out of the gate fast. And that would lilely have to be on the 2nd PP unit as he won't have decent line-mates on the 3rd or 4th line. When he was drafted, I doubt HuGo expected Beck to be a top line centre. He is excellent on faceoffs, kills penalties and understands the defensive responsibilities of a centre. He is ideally suited to be a 3C on a contending team. Do not, however, underestimate his point production abilities. He has an NHL shot. A really good NHL shot with a quick release. That alone ensures he likely ends up as a 20 goal, 20 assist guy and for a 3C that's good enough. He'll win key face-offs and be one of our steady Penalty Killers. Guy Carbonneau redux. If you're looking for a high ceiling centre prospect, keep following Michael Hage. He'll be attending Michigan, so be playing against older players who are more mature than CHL'rs or USHL'rs. It was a good decision for him. Hage has at least 2C potential. We'll figure out where to play him when the time comes. |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Jul 15, 2024 7:56:11 GMT -5
I'm with you on Beck. Doesn't really impress me skill-wise. He will be at best a good 3rd line centre as i think he has a good defensive understanding of the game. But that takes a few years to mature in the NHL. As for 2nd line wingers; Gally and Josh will be given every opportunity to show they can contribute offensively. I'd be surprised to see Roy on the second line unless he gets out of the gate fast. And that would lilely have to be on the 2nd PP unit as he won't have decent line-mates on the 3rd or 4th line. When he was drafted, I doubt HuGo expected Beck to be a top line centre. He is excellent on faceoffs, kills penalties and understands the defensive responsibilities of a centre. He is ideally suited to be a 3C on a contending team. Do not, however, underestimate his point production abilities. He has an NHL shot. A really good NHL shot with a quick release. That alone ensures he likely ends up as a 20 goal, 20 assist guy and for a 3C that's good enough. He'll win key face-offs and be one of our steady Penalty Killers. Guy Carbonneau redux. If you're looking for a high ceiling centre prospect, keep following Michael Hage. He'll be attending Michigan, so be playing against older players who are more mature than CHL'rs or USHL'rs. It was a good decision for him. Hage has at least 2C potential. We'll figure out where to play him when the time comes. A 3rd liner on Montreal with 40 points. Man we have got to stop with these pie-in-the sky expectations |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Jul 15, 2024 7:59:19 GMT -5
A few weeks ago, posters were saying this year is not the year to acquire anyone. Stay the course, get another top 10 pick
This week we are suddenly challenging for a playoff spot or making them.
Which is it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 15, 2024 9:21:22 GMT -5
A few weeks ago, posters were saying this year is not the year to acquire anyone. Stay the course, get another top 10 pick This week we are suddenly challenging for a playoff spot or making them. Which is it? This team is not static... if demidov cones over things change, if they pick up a McG things change... it's the if and buts that change things, if Anderson, dvorak or armia are traded things change |
|
|
|
Post by IamCanadiens on Jul 15, 2024 10:48:08 GMT -5
I have zero desire to put Anderson on the second line. However, with the right linemates he does have value. If he is paired up with a fast skating North South player he can be effective. Can we sign Patches for 1 year and trade both of them at the deadline? We don't have an abundance of left wingers and we lack scoring.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tankdriver on Jul 15, 2024 11:04:49 GMT -5
I think that's the big issue. We don't have a second line yet that makes us compete for a playoff spot. Dach is still a question mark (health wise) and we don't know for sure who would play as his line mates. Great teams, there is never a doubt who the top 6 are. We're still a few years away from getting to that point. So this year in my head is more a lottery bound team than a playoff making team. If that is the case, I'd rather draft top 5 than 15th.
Also, a lot of people have us finishing last in the Eastern Conference. Taking the rose coloured glasses off, they have a good point. Who are we really better than? Columbus has a lot of talent, and spotty goaltending. Flyers were in the playoff race and has Michkov coming over. NJ got stupid good this offseason, Ottawa traded for a trophy winning goalie (TBD as I have my doubts), Buffalo with Ruff is going to be better.
As for the West, Utah is getting better, Chicago is actually putting in a little effort, Anaheim has the talent, but hasn't put it together and San Jose is still rebuilding.
So I can definitely see another bottom 5 finish for Montreal.
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 15, 2024 14:01:28 GMT -5
I don't think there's any stomach any more for losing as much as we have the past 3 years, so I expect HuGo to work to improve the team, but to do so only if it's a long term improvement or a very short term fix that disappears in 1 or 2 years. There's nothing wrong with a diversity of opinions and being off on your prediction doesn't mean your reasoning was skewed (though it might  ). I had a chuckle at a thread from September 2023, during preseason and predictions were flying. Some of them were off a bit and others were surprisingly bang on. One section critiqued Dom Luszczyszyn's model which had the Habs finishing 2nd last. I thought the Habs would finish 5th to 7th last and Skilly stated Slaf had to put up 50 points, pronto.  .. We all now know Skilly really does have a crystal ball. The thread was "training camp" from Sept 21 to October 4th, 2023. Check it out and get some chuckles. We should do this every year. "What did we actually think before the season started?" No memory required. |
|
|
|
Post by Tankdriver on Jul 15, 2024 15:12:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the reminder 17. It was a fun read. I was pretty accurate in my predictions as were a few others. Not sure why I kept Columbus out of it. Seems like every year I think they'll do better than they actually do.
|
|
|
|
Post by folatre on Jul 15, 2024 18:35:58 GMT -5
If the cut line for the second wild card is a low outlier the way it was this season when the Capitals got it with 91 than perhaps Montreal can stay in the hunt until the final month.
In the dog days of the summer, assuming Demidov is not playing for the Habs this season, I basically see the Habs growing into the 84-86 point range.
|
|
|
|
Post by Polarice on Jul 16, 2024 5:30:53 GMT -5
I have demidov playing this year....from what I've been hearing there is a pretty good chance he plays.
Caufield - Susuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Demidov
Gallagher - Dvorak - Anderson
Roy - Evans - Armia
Pezzetta - Beck
Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Savard
Mailloux, Harris, Struble
Pretty strong line up top to bottom, they just need experience/ice time to perfect their craft.
Of course this line up depends on who gets moved. I'm sure the Habs are going to move some bodies, what they get in return is the question. Will they move players to strengthen the team now, or move players to strengthen the team in the next year or two?
|
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 16, 2024 8:07:45 GMT -5
I have demidov playing this year....from what I've been hearing there is a pretty good chance he plays. Caufield - Susuki - Slaf Newhook - Dach - Demidov Gallagher - Dvorak - Anderson Roy - Evans - Armia Pezzetta - Beck Matheson - Guhle Hutson - Reinbacher Xhekaj - Savard Mailloux, Harris, Struble Pretty strong line up top to bottom, they just need experience/ice time to perfect their craft. Of course this line up depends on who gets moved. I'm sure the Habs are going to move some bodies, what they get in return is the question. Will they move players to strengthen the team now, or move players to strengthen the team in the next year or two? Not a fan of Roy on the 4th line, talk about stunting development... also I can see Reinbacher starting in Laval and Mailloux paired with Arber and Savard with Hutson. Could we move one of Anderson, Dvorak or Armia with some other pieces for Kaliyev? thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-montreal-canadiens-trade-partners-rfa-forwardEDIT: LA has no cap space so moving one of the 3 above can't happen, would have to be a 3 way trade where we take on Salary to get Kaliev |
|
|
|
Post by Polarice on Jul 16, 2024 8:35:36 GMT -5
I have demidov playing this year....from what I've been hearing there is a pretty good chance he plays. Caufield - Susuki - Slaf Newhook - Dach - Demidov Gallagher - Dvorak - Anderson Roy - Evans - Armia Pezzetta - Beck Matheson - Guhle Hutson - Reinbacher Xhekaj - Savard Mailloux, Harris, Struble Pretty strong line up top to bottom, they just need experience/ice time to perfect their craft. Of course this line up depends on who gets moved. I'm sure the Habs are going to move some bodies, what they get in return is the question. Will they move players to strengthen the team now, or move players to strengthen the team in the next year or two? Not a fan of Roy on the 4th line, talk about stunting development... also I can see Reinbacher starting in Laval and Mailloux paired with Arber and Savard with Hutson. Could we move one of Anderson, Dvorak or Armia with some other pieces for Kaliyev? thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-montreal-canadiens-trade-partners-rfa-forwardEDIT: LA has no cap space so moving one of the 3 above can't happen, would have to be a 3 way trade where we take on Salary to get Kaliev The 3rd and 4th lines will probably be reversed with Roy - Evans - Armia getting more minutes. Plus there will likely be injuries which will allow players to move up and down in the line up. As far as adding Kaliyev, I can't see it happening. He's was to valuable to LA to loose or trade. From texting back and forth with my friend, he doesn't see the Habs adding anyone else to the line up. They've made their offers to players and teams and are not moving on any of it. I guess for a period of time it was getting ridiculous with the back and forth and they kinda got pissed off and drew a line in the sand. If things settle down and people get back from vacations maybe they will listen but he doesn't see it happening. |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 16, 2024 9:08:24 GMT -5
The 3rd and 4th lines will probably be reversed with Roy - Evans - Armia getting more minutes. Plus there will likely be injuries which will allow players to move up and down in the line up. As far as adding Kaliyev, I can't see it happening. He's was to valuable to LA to loose or trade. From texting back and forth with my friend, he doesn't see the Habs adding anyone else to the line up. They've made their offers to players and teams and are not moving on any of it. I guess for a period of time it was getting ridiculous with the back and forth and they kinda got pissed off and drew a line in the sand. If things settle down and people get back from vacations maybe they will listen but he doesn't see it happening. Good to know, thanks forvtge info... I'm goid with the status quote, we're stuck with the 3 until the TDL... |
|
|
|
Post by habsorbed on Jul 16, 2024 10:12:10 GMT -5
No way Hutson and Reinbacher are paired together - two rookies as 2nd pairing ain't going to happen. And as have been said, i would have Mailman in the lineup way before Reinbacher.
|
|
|
|
Post by Polarice on Jul 16, 2024 10:46:27 GMT -5
No way Hutson and Reinbacher are paired together - two rookies as 2nd pairing ain't going to happen. And as have been said, i would have Mailman in the lineup way before Reinbacher. I would thing the D-core will be constantly rotating players in and out much like last year. |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jul 16, 2024 10:49:24 GMT -5
No way Hutson and Reinbacher are paired together - two rookies as 2nd pairing ain't going to happen. And as have been said, i would have Mailman in the lineup way before Reinbacher. I would thing the D-core will be constantly rotating players in and out much like last year. We can be confident that Matheson, savard and guhle will be constants on D, the other 3 spots will be rotated in and out... although I think Arber has earned a constant position |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 16, 2024 11:31:36 GMT -5
If we want to prevent opponents from taking liberties, yes, Arber has a standing reservation. He might get a rest vs teams that are obviously not roaches. There must be 3 or 4 of them in the NHL. We'll need to call up Florian when we play Florida.
|
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jul 16, 2024 11:33:05 GMT -5
I would thing the D-core will be constantly rotating players in and out much like last year. We can be confident that Matheson, savard and guhle will be constants on D, the other 3 spots will be rotated in and out... although I think Arber has earned a constant position this is still not a 'win at all costs' season, so giving the inexperienced D more ice time is critical. The following season, the climb to the top starts. |
|
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/6F6VF25GCFF2HFJCOITRJSGNPE.jpg)
).
.. We all now know Skilly really does have a crystal ball. The thread was "training camp" from Sept 21 to October 4th, 2023. Check it out and get some chuckles. 