State of the Habs

[MALMACIAN_CRUNCH]

On 8/26/2017 at 2:17 PM, jeff33 said:

welcome to the forum by the way friend

all friendly debate. Im actually having fun talking with you , since as you can see all our regulars are fed up to the gills at the moment so its a bit of an echo chamber.

so let me press you a bit here on the prospects.

1. every teams cupboard is full, in that every team has a farm team, and the farm team will have its top 10 guys. even if they all stink, you can rank them from best to worst of the bunch. so again, to my original point up there, yes we have players who's names can be listed. now to move on

2. I would actually propose that its a little more quantifiable than opinion. Hudon has been putting up pretty high point totals in I think now 3 years in the AHL. Reway has had health problems, but has absolutely lit it up on the international stage at the highest level in which that goes. Thats why I named those 2....they have something to show.

as far as I have observed, big Mac eventually turned into one of the top players in Hamilton, and has been so far completely underwhelming in his time in the NHL. the stats back that up as he has barely any points in the show. Scherbak is a similar story, although he hasnt had a chance at all to play on the big team. Juulsen is an all star in junior, made the WJC team which is nice, but was the number 4 Dman. to be fair he played well, but he also didn't do anything to make me say , oh wait until we get that guy!!!  to contrast, I saw subban at the WJC, he was clearly the best dman, and I said that guys a stud, WOW. 

soooo....I dont know who else you are excited for, those are our highest profile prospects. or specifically which of those guys you think is going to breakout, and why?

Thanks, it's nice to feel welcomed

Ok so, where to start... With Hudon and Reway i suppose. I agree that they are probably our biggest/most notable prospects. Having been in our system for a while now, and especially with Hudon pushing the results that he has. Then there's MacCarron, De La Rose, Carr and Scherbak. This is going to probably be a make or break year for the bunch of them. Mac has been slowly, but steadily improving, but how much more does he have left in him to grow. Similar could be said about Carr and De La Rose. I see all three as bottom six-type players. Scherbak is a little bit different. He picked it up a bit last season, and has a nice package of skills. It's a big year for him I believe to show us what he can do with it in the minors. If he can put it all together that would be great, lord knows we could use an injection of skill on our Right Wing. But unfortunately, unlike with the previously mentioned three, I don't see him being a whole lot of use in a bottom six role (then again, I feel the same could be said for Hemsky). So basically I think we are on the same page for the most part with that bunch. Not a whole lot of excitement there besides Hudon and Reway, but still some intrigue non the less.

Then there is the next bunch, the likes of Juulsen, Bitten, Audette, Mete, Bourque and Lernout. None of them are ready for the show. Of the group, Juulsen and Lernout are probably the closest to being NHL ready, but not quite yet. Neither of them are flashy by design, But Juulsen looks like he has the potential to be a very good 3/4 guy once he get's there, Lernout has a little more to prove. To me, Mete is probably the most exciting of the defensmen. That kid can really play! I'm hoping we'll get a better look at the WJC's this year. In that draft there were 4 defensmen beyond the first round that I thought looked as good as the ones taken earlier, Mete was one of them. Audette has some skills. He's a little dude, but little dude can play. My expectations for him aren't the moon, but he still has my attention.

I believe I read that Bitten has a shot at the WJC also, that too carries some excitement. Any time your prospects can showcase at the WJC's, it's exciting. Another two names I'm hoping to see at the WJC's are Poehling and Ikonen. Super young, but both had really good showings at the WJSS. I wouldn't be surprised if by this time next year, them two plus Mete are top of our prospect list.

I get that there aren't any obvious home runs on that list, but the potential for a surprise one or two is there. Where opinion might get involved is that it might be your opinion that nothing I have mentioned is worth getting excited over, where as for me, it might be (lol I hope I'm making sense, and not just babbling on).

 

[Regis22]

Claude Julien said he would try Jonathan Drouin at Center which means forget AG at C

[CaptWelly]

4 hours ago, Regis22 said:

Claude Julien said he would try Jonathan Drouin at Center which means forget AG at C

I saw it as reported they would compete for the position. Which I think is good to have healthy competition. They could potentially end up both as centers. Either way if either of them end up as a center it only bodes well for the team. AG or JD 1C Danault 2C then down the line gives the team a nice set up. With CJ he will though want whomever to be a 200' complete Center. If we can develop either into a #1C, then we are automatically a better team.

[jwlk]

i don't know montreal has a habit of playing 4th line pluggers over much more talented players, could be possible JD could be 1st line center but so could danault, I could see AG on the 3rd or 4th line since they are shopping him and think that's the best way to raise his value, with any luck i'm wrong i really hope i am but i also don't wanna get my hopes up, they really miss managed AG last year, and i some how don't see that changing.

[CaptWelly]

18 hours ago, jwlk said:

i don't know montreal has a habit of playing 4th line pluggers over much more talented players, could be possible JD could be 1st line center but so could danault, I could see AG on the 3rd or 4th line since they are shopping him and think that's the best way to raise his value, with any luck i'm wrong i really hope i am but i also don't wanna get my hopes up, they really miss managed AG last year, and i some how don't see that changing.

I think this could be better for AG. If he ends up playing with JD that would defeinetly take pressure off him and open up more ice for both. As much as everyone wants him to be Center if JD is instead , I don't have a problem with that. I also think that it's completely up to AG at this time. He's not 18 he has been told where the team thinks his weaknesses are, so he has known for a while what to work on. If JD can play the complete game the CJ wants it takes pressure off of AG so he becomes a dangerous player on the wing....Hmmm Jagr, Kovalev , Kain . Some highly talented players have exceled on the wing. He has been given chances because of his skill set everyone wants to see at Center I'm fine either way. JD/Danault/Pleks ect. is already starting to look better. If we started this way then with the Cap $ we may be able to add someone even if it's at the trade deadline.

[habs_93]

1 hour ago, CaptWelly said:

JD/Danault/Pleks ect. is already starting to look better.

Before training camp?

[Regis22]

4 hours ago, CaptWelly said:

. JD/Danault/Pleks ect. is already starting to look better. 

If those are Montreal's top 3 C's Im not impressed

[Regis22]

5 Reasons for Habs Fans to Stay Positive in 2017

http://thehockeywriters.com/reasons-habs-fans-to-stay-positive-in-2017-18/

I found this funny

On paper, the Habs today are older, slower, and worse overall on defense, no better down the middle, and have fewer blue chip prospects. More than that, it is not clear to anyone what exactly the plan is. Nathan Beaulieu for nothing? Ales freaking Hemsky? For a growing number of fans, it is hard to see the method in the madness of King Marc. Now that Julien has replaced Therrien, it may be now or never for Marc Bergevin

[Habs=stanleycup]

1 hour ago, Regis22 said:

5 Reasons for Habs Fans to Stay Positive in 2017

http://thehockeywriters.com/reasons-habs-fans-to-stay-positive-in-2017-18/

I found this funny

On paper, the Habs today are older, slower, and worse overall on defense, no better down the middle, and have fewer blue chip prospects. More than that, it is not clear to anyone what exactly the plan is. Nathan Beaulieu for nothing? Ales freaking Hemsky? For a growing number of fans, it is hard to see the method in the madness of King Marc. Now that Julien has replaced Therrien, it may be now or never for Marc Bergevin

Funny, sad, pathetic. No matter which way you slice it, our Cup dreams have once again been dashed for yet another season.

[habs1952]

5 hours ago, Habs=stanleycup said:

Funny, sad, pathetic. No matter which way you slice it, our Cup dreams have once again been dashed for yet another season.

We have become the new version of the old Maple Leafs. In 20 years we still won't have won a cup.

[ChiLla]

10 hours ago, habs1952 said:

We have become the new version of the old Maple Leafs. In 20 years we still won't have won a cup.

The Leafs are still the Leafs, they still haven't won anything after years of sucking and missing the playoffs. All they've 'accomplished' is drafting a No1 center in Matthews after winning a freaking draft lottery. They had a No1 center in Sundin for a long time and still didn't win. Maybe they're going to win a Cup before we do, maybe not. It's still 50 years and counting though

[eldag]

16 hours ago, habs1952 said:

We have become the new version of the old Maple Leafs. In 20 years we still won't have won a cup.

Sadly .... quite true.

[jwlk]

i think the only game plan MB has ever had was and is Price, i don't think beyond that he has much more hockey sense, he stands firmly by his belief you cant win without him, so maybe it may be time to send MB packing, i cant see to many teams knocking on our door for to many players, and may take a few years for another GM to fix this team, i aint gonna knock prices contract, just think you need more than him to win, and fans should not be satified with a price 1st team, dont worry about anything else

[habs1952]

12 hours ago, ChiLla said:

The Leafs are still the Leafs, they still haven't won anything after years of sucking and missing the playoffs. All they've 'accomplished' is drafting a No1 center in Matthews after winning a freaking draft lottery. They had a No1 center in Sundin for a long time and still didn't win. Maybe they're going to win a Cup before we do, maybe not. It's still 50 years and counting though

True, but they appear to be headed in the right direction. We're not.

[ChiLla]

4 hours ago, habs1952 said:

True, but they appear to be headed in the right direction. We're not.

No doubt, but I think we'd be headed in the right direction as well with like 4-5 top 10 draft picks in 6 years, including a first overall pick (don't nail me on the numbers, I don't really care about the Leafs and I'm too lazy to look it up ). Same for the Oilers, even though they should've been competitive way earlier I feel.

Our own rebuild will come soon enough, MB has made sure of that.

 

[Habs=stanleycup]

On 9/3/2017 at 10:28 PM, habs1952 said:

We have become the new version of the old Maple Leafs. In 20 years we still won't have won a cup.

We do mirror the old version of the Laffs unfortunately IMO, due to management intransigence and an owner who`s ultimate goal seems to be beer sales rather than bringing our Stanley Cup back home.

Until there is a true, real, tangible goal and commitment given to the fans, they are simply going through the motions, season after season. Pass the torch, yeah right. That ceremony has lost its meaning and significance to a once truly proud team who understood the commitment and what it meant to wear the CH.

[eldag]

4 hours ago, Habs=stanleycup said:

We do mirror the old version of the Laffs unfortunately IMO, due to management intransigence and an owner who`s ultimate goal seems to be beer sales rather than bringing our Stanley Cup back home.

Until there is a true, real, tangible goal and commitment given to the fans, they are simply going through the motions, season after season. Pass the torch, yeah right. That ceremony has lost its meaning and significance to a once truly proud team who understood the commitment and what it meant to wear the CH.

[jwlk]

7 hours ago, Habs=stanleycup said:

We do mirror the old version of the Laffs unfortunately IMO, due to management intransigence and an owner who`s ultimate goal seems to be beer sales rather than bringing our Stanley Cup back home.

Until there is a true, real, tangible goal and commitment given to the fans, they are simply going through the motions, season after season. Pass the torch, yeah right. That ceremony has lost its meaning and significance to a once truly proud team who understood the commitment and what it meant to wear the CH.

think there more interested in the french fans the rest of us, if they would lose that french 1st barrier this team could be great again, until then its a political game, and less about beer

[habs1952]

7 hours ago, Habs=stanleycup said:

We do mirror the old version of the Laffs unfortunately IMO, due to management intransigence and an owner who`s ultimate goal seems to be beer sales rather than bringing our Stanley Cup back home.

Until there is a true, real, tangible goal and commitment given to the fans, they are simply going through the motions, season after season. Pass the torch, yeah right. That ceremony has lost its meaning and significance to a once truly proud team who understood the commitment and what it meant to wear the CH.

And to think we seemed to be on the right path for a little while. SAD!!!

[H_T_L]

6 hours ago, jwlk said:

think there more interested in the french fans the rest of us, if they would lose that french 1st barrier this team could be great again, until then its a political game, and less about beer

Not sure I agree. French media for sure, but honestly,,,, I think the Habs have just as many Anglo fans, if not more. I don't think they're naïve enough not to realize this.

[maas_art]

As disappointing as this offseason was, I am going into this season cautiously optimistic for a single reason:  Claude Julien.

Claude has built a career on getting more out of a team than most people expected.  He may share a similar approach to hockey as his predecessor but his competence in building systems is infinitely better.   I know that at the end of last year some of his personnel choices were very questionable but he was put in a very unenviable position taking over a team in free-fall.

I look at our roster & see a few big holes (#1LD is the only one that really worries me, I think either AG or JD will turn into a #1C) but I wonder if CJ has a plan.  As one of the best system coaches in the NHL will he be able to put together a game-plan that utilizes our strengths and works around our weaknesses?  Time will tell. 

And then there's that $8.5m in free cap space we have.  You have to think that before October MB will add at least one more impact player, using up some of that extra cash.  I guess the big question is: at what cost. 

I sure hope CJ has a big rabbit in his hat. 

 

[Regis22]

Quote

 

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/farber-habs-dumping-russian-players-on-purpose-1.848185

 

Michael Farber suggests the Canadiens have cleaned house when it comes to Russian-born players, and their coach has a lot to do with it

[habs1952]

2 hours ago, Regis22 said:

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/farber-habs-dumping-russian-players-on-purpose-1.848185

 

Michael Farber suggests the Canadiens have cleaned house when it comes to Russian-born players, and their coach has a lot to do with it

Why have talent when you can have grit? 

[Regis22]

Remember when Burke was GM of the Leafs and he wanted " Truculence " - welcome to your Montreal Canadiens - the D men are truculant

[ChiLla]

http://www.tsn.ca/therrien-to-scout-for-habs-this-season-1.850934

While speaking on Friday, Therrien reflected on multiple moments during his tenure with the Canadiens. He said he regrets calling out P.K. Subban for an "individualistic mistake" after a loss to the Colorado Avalanche in 2015-16 and said he was always trying to challenge Subban to be one of the league's best defencemen, which he believes Subban now is.

 

Right, where would Subban be these days without MT's amazing player development skills