2021-22 State of the Habs

[CaptWelly]

28 minutes ago, claremont said:

I am in agreement with most of your thoughts but here is where I differ

1) You have Jordan Harris playing RHD his opposite side to Romanov - EVERY game tape I watch of Harris at NE, he plays his left. I don't think the transition to wrong side D is as easy as you think. If anything Romanov has far more game experience playing the right side, and for that matter so does Kaiden Guhle.

2) You state that Harris is the more pro ready prospect. I would say you are doing a disservice to Barron (who has pro experience with AHL Colorado). I also believe Kaiden Guhle is more pro ready than Harris in that he can play the right side, and has played extended seasons with more games than Harris. Kaiden has played 65, 64 and this year will play likely 50+ games. The most Harris has ever played is 38 -40 games. Guhle is used to a longer season and likely more mentally prepared for that rigor. 

3) Braden Scheider was drafted behind Guhle. Out of development choice or necessity, Schneider was less prolific than Guhle yet Braden has stepped into the NYR lineup fairly adequately. The habs felt that Guhle was better served continuing in junior. By Schneider comparison, Guhle should be pro ready. 

4) The NCAA defencemen that have been NHL Pro ready in recent years Miller, Makar, Hughes etc, these were all first round draft choices way ahead of Harris in the development curve. I have yet to see a 2nd or 3rd round NCAA player be pro ready immediately after their NCAA development , other than Adam Fox - Maybe Mario Ferraro, but not Ian Mitchell or Mattias Samuelsson. I am not at all anti-Jordan Harris, just you may expect too much of him vs. Guhle. If you look at the World Juniors Canada success - most of their roster is comprised of junior league D-men whereas the USA is mostly NCAA d-men - with the exception of 1 year, which team has dominated?

5) My D next year, the left side is crowded with Romanov, Edmundson, Guhle, Harris and even Norlinder, and the right side assuming Petry still here is Petry, Barron, Savard. If Petry is moved, one has to think Letang is a replacement target.  With Guhle's RHD flexibility, he should at least be the 7th d-man, as I doubt Romanov will be moved to the RHD side. Fairbrother does not make the grade, and Schueneman or Clague are insurance. I am uncertain that we need to resign Wideman. Still big ?'s on RHD Josh Brook who has not yet returned to the Laval lineup

6) How does Heineman get any time next year? Thought he's under Swedish contract for next 2 years - is that breakable?

7) I like your forward lines. Mysak has shown further progression this year, so maybe he gets a call-up trial. Joshua Roy is a big question mark as to return to junior, as he will only be 19 on Sept 15/22 and I understand post-COVID that you have to be 20 years old to play in the AHL.  RHP deserves a good look. Hoffman will be a very difficult to move contract. Dvorak - your comments are spot on. I hope Drouin rebounds so we get assets for him.  I am not convinced out 2022 top draft pick steps into this line-up. Lafraniere was hyped up and he was adequate in his first year - I see the HuGO / MSL taking a more patient development approach. 

8) Price's contract is difficult to move. Allen provides stability but I think he is moved at some point - either off season or pre-trade deadline. If there is any position where we want our "development rebuild / reset"  team to be stable, IMO it should be in net. Mgmt. faces a difficult choice in RFA Monty vs Primeau. Prospect G Joe Vrbetic turns pro - Does Jakub Dobes leave Ohio State after 1 year? 

My belief is that with all the horrible injuries this year, the terrible coaching of Ducharme, that this lineup is better than it has performed. Top 4 in the division will be very tough and I don't believe it is attainable but we will be much more competitive - I see this team 5th or 6th in the division finishing 18th - 24th in the league

If Price is fully healthy with a year off. If he comes back in "Price" form. I say keep him! Goalies can play late into their career. Teams were trying to get Fluery. 

[campabee82]

15 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

Oh I'm with you on this to some degree. The difference is that I wouldn't purposely try to suck. I would purposely try to re-build, with a plan to be good in 2-3 years. In other words, if you're not a player who is going to be helping us in 2023-24 and 2024-25, I'm not playing you just to be good now. I would rather give ice time and opportunity to younger players and see where we can get. If they're already good and ready to compete, so be it. If they're not, then you have given them a year of experience and you end up with your top 10 pick.

In this regard, I'd be keeping Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson as three of my top 6 forwards. Ylonen would also be in my top 9. Poehling, Pitlick, and Evans would still be on the team here in the bottom 6. I'd also likely keep Byron around as a veteran. He doesn't take a ton of ice time away from the younger guys and he could be dealt at the deadline next year if need be. I'd also potentially keep Armia if we can get rid of some other contracts, as he's a big body to help to shelter the kids too. If we end up with Wright, Cooley, or Slafkovsky in the the draft, I think all three of those guys might be ready to step in right away next season on the 2nd line. And I'd be leaving room for a player like RHP or Pezzetta to make the squad in the bottom 6 too as an energy guy. Where I think we need to move is dispatching some of the veterans who aren't really on-ice leaders. The jury is still out on whether Dvorak can have success here, but regardless of his level of play, he doesn't really have the attitude I'd want around a younger core. Hoffman likewise isn't a model citizen of how to play defence. And Drouin is a guy who I don't see re-signing after 2022-23, so he'd also be out the door. Gallagher is a player who could remain here as a leader, but he's also making a pretty penny to not score 30 goals. We might be forced to eat that contract, so we'll see.

On D is where I'd be more drastic. Romanov is clearly a guy we're grooming to be a top 4 defenceman next season. I think Edmundson probably stays as a veteran anchor back there too. But I think there's at least two rookies who need to be in your line-up next year. We can debate who that will be and I think you need to leave room for someone to win a job, but Harris by all accounts is the most pro-ready of our prospects if he signs. And Barron being a righty will have an easier path to a job opening. We may also well be stuck with Savard if we don't buy out his contract or bury him and again, for one more non-competitive year, we deal with it. If enough rookies pass him on the depth chart, he slides down. Schueneman may be a player who fills out your bottom pairing and gives you time to develop others, and if one of the above doesn't happen as planned, you have options like Guhle, Struble, Norlinder, Mailloux, Xhekaj, Fairbrother, and Brook to try. It should be a year for giving guys opportunity so you can figure out who is where in their development and what they can do.

In net, you have to trade at least one of Price or Allen. Again, ideally if Price is healthy, he's out. It's just hard to support that salary as well as the risk of him getting re-injured again. I think we're going into next year with Allen and Monty or Allen and Primeau or Price and Monty, or we're trading out everyone and bringing in someone like Samsonov or Georgiev or so on to start afresh.

All that to say that I think we should go into 2022-23 with a line-up along the lines of

Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson

XXX-XXX-Ylonen (where one spot could be filled by your top 3 pick)

Pitlick-Poehling-Armia

Byron-Evans-RHP

Pezzetta

 

Romanov-Harris

Edmundson-Barron

Schueneman-Savard

Fairbrother

 

Price or Allen

Montembeault or Primeau

 

Suzuki would be my captain. Byron, Anderson, and Edmundson would rotate the A's. Ultimately, it's not a team I see making the playoffs but it's a team that gives guys roles they should be groomed in, doesn't wipe out all the veterans, but largely gives the younger guys a chance to play and develop. Over the season, I think you likely try to get Guhle and Norlinder some games. I think you maybe try to get Mysak and Heineman some games. And if as I said, at the end of the day, you do better than you think, then your re-build is faster. If you're a developmental year, you have a lottery pick to show for it. And along the way, I think we can try to get assets for the likes of Petry, Gallagher, Dvorak, and Drouin among others. If we need to keep 1-2 along the way, not the end of the world. I have confidence MSL will still find a way to get the younger skilled guys reps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think you are moving out too many contracts to be cap compliant (cap floor wise) but I don't mind giving the young guys a shot.

 

43 minutes ago, claremont said:

I am in agreement with most of your thoughts but here is where I differ

1) You have Jordan Harris playing RHD his opposite side to Romanov - EVERY game tape I watch of Harris at NE, he plays his left. I don't think the transition to wrong side D is as easy as you think. If anything Romanov has far more game experience playing the right side, and for that matter so does Kaiden Guhle.

2) You state that Harris is the more pro ready prospect. I would say you are doing a disservice to Barron (who has pro experience with AHL Colorado). I also believe Kaiden Guhle is more pro ready than Harris in that he can play the right side, and has played extended seasons with more games than Harris. Kaiden has played 65, 64 and this year will play likely 50+ games. The most Harris has ever played is 38 -40 games. Guhle is used to a longer season and likely more mentally prepared for that rigor. 

3) Braden Scheider was drafted behind Guhle. Out of development choice or necessity, Schneider was less prolific than Guhle yet Braden has stepped into the NYR lineup fairly adequately. The habs felt that Guhle was better served continuing in junior. By Schneider comparison, Guhle should be pro ready. 

4) The NCAA defencemen that have been NHL Pro ready in recent years Miller, Makar, Hughes etc, these were all first round draft choices way ahead of Harris in the development curve. I have yet to see a 2nd or 3rd round NCAA player be pro ready immediately after their NCAA development , other than Adam Fox - Maybe Mario Ferraro, but not Ian Mitchell or Mattias Samuelsson. I am not at all anti-Jordan Harris, just you may expect too much of him vs. Guhle. If you look at the World Juniors Canada success - most of their roster is comprised of junior league D-men whereas the USA is mostly NCAA d-men - with the exception of 1 year, which team has dominated?

5) My D next year, the left side is crowded with Romanov, Edmundson, Guhle, Harris and even Norlinder, and the right side assuming Petry still here is Petry, Barron, Savard. If Petry is moved, one has to think Letang is a replacement target.  With Guhle's RHD flexibility, he should at least be the 7th d-man, as I doubt Romanov will be moved to the RHD side. Fairbrother does not make the grade, and Schueneman or Clague are insurance. I am uncertain that we need to resign Wideman. Still big ?'s on RHD Josh Brook who has not yet returned to the Laval lineup

6) How does Heineman get any time next year? Thought he's under Swedish contract for next 2 years - is that breakable?

7) I like your forward lines. Mysak has shown further progression this year, so maybe he gets a call-up trial. Joshua Roy is a big question mark as to return to junior, as he will only be 19 on Sept 15/22 and I understand post-COVID that you have to be 20 years old to play in the AHL.  RHP deserves a good look. Hoffman will be a very difficult to move contract. Dvorak - your comments are spot on. I hope Drouin rebounds so we get assets for him.  I am not convinced out 2022 top draft pick steps into this line-up. Lafraniere was hyped up and he was adequate in his first year - I see the HuGO / MSL taking a more patient development approach. 

8) Price's contract is difficult to move. Allen provides stability but I think he is moved at some point - either off season or pre-trade deadline. If there is any position where we want our "development rebuild / reset"  team to be stable, IMO it should be in net. Mgmt. faces a difficult choice in RFA Monty vs Primeau. Prospect G Joe Vrbetic turns pro - Does Jakub Dobes leave Ohio State after 1 year? 

My belief is that with all the horrible injuries this year, the terrible coaching of Ducharme, that this lineup is better than it has performed. Top 4 in the division will be very tough and I don't believe it is attainable but we will be much more competitive - I see this team 5th or 6th in the division finishing 18th - 24th in the league

I agree with you on Harris but he will likely not sign if he thinks he has not got a shot at a roster spot.

[maas_art]

15 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

Oh I'm with you on this to some degree. The difference is that I wouldn't purposely try to suck. I would purposely try to re-build, with a plan to be good in 2-3 years. In other words, if you're not a player who is going to be helping us in 2023-24 and 2024-25, I'm not playing you just to be good now. I would rather give ice time and opportunity to younger players and see where we can get. If they're already good and ready to compete, so be it. If they're not, then you have given them a year of experience and you end up with your top 10 pick.

In this regard, I'd be keeping Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson as three of my top 6 forwards. Ylonen would also be in my top 9. Poehling, Pitlick, and Evans would still be on the team here in the bottom 6. I'd also likely keep Byron around as a veteran. He doesn't take a ton of ice time away from the younger guys and he could be dealt at the deadline next year if need be. I'd also potentially keep Armia if we can get rid of some other contracts, as he's a big body to help to shelter the kids too. If we end up with Wright, Cooley, or Slafkovsky in the the draft, I think all three of those guys might be ready to step in right away next season on the 2nd line. And I'd be leaving room for a player like RHP or Pezzetta to make the squad in the bottom 6 too as an energy guy. Where I think we need to move is dispatching some of the veterans who aren't really on-ice leaders. The jury is still out on whether Dvorak can have success here, but regardless of his level of play, he doesn't really have the attitude I'd want around a younger core. Hoffman likewise isn't a model citizen of how to play defence. And Drouin is a guy who I don't see re-signing after 2022-23, so he'd also be out the door. Gallagher is a player who could remain here as a leader, but he's also making a pretty penny to not score 30 goals. We might be forced to eat that contract, so we'll see.

On D is where I'd be more drastic. Romanov is clearly a guy we're grooming to be a top 4 defenceman next season. I think Edmundson probably stays as a veteran anchor back there too. But I think there's at least two rookies who need to be in your line-up next year. We can debate who that will be and I think you need to leave room for someone to win a job, but Harris by all accounts is the most pro-ready of our prospects if he signs. And Barron being a righty will have an easier path to a job opening. We may also well be stuck with Savard if we don't buy out his contract or bury him and again, for one more non-competitive year, we deal with it. If enough rookies pass him on the depth chart, he slides down. Schueneman may be a player who fills out your bottom pairing and gives you time to develop others, and if one of the above doesn't happen as planned, you have options like Guhle, Struble, Norlinder, Mailloux, Xhekaj, Fairbrother, and Brook to try. It should be a year for giving guys opportunity so you can figure out who is where in their development and what they can do.

In net, you have to trade at least one of Price or Allen. Again, ideally if Price is healthy, he's out. It's just hard to support that salary as well as the risk of him getting re-injured again. I think we're going into next year with Allen and Monty or Allen and Primeau or Price and Monty, or we're trading out everyone and bringing in someone like Samsonov or Georgiev or so on to start afresh.

All that to say that I think we should go into 2022-23 with a line-up along the lines of

Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson

XXX-XXX-Ylonen (where one spot could be filled by your top 3 pick)

Pitlick-Poehling-Armia

Byron-Evans-RHP

Pezzetta

 

Romanov-Harris

Edmundson-Barron

Schueneman-Savard

Fairbrother

 

Price or Allen

Montembeault or Primeau

 

Suzuki would be my captain. Byron, Anderson, and Edmundson would rotate the A's. Ultimately, it's not a team I see making the playoffs but it's a team that gives guys roles they should be groomed in, doesn't wipe out all the veterans, but largely gives the younger guys a chance to play and develop. Over the season, I think you likely try to get Guhle and Norlinder some games. I think you maybe try to get Mysak and Heineman some games. And if as I said, at the end of the day, you do better than you think, then your re-build is faster. If you're a developmental year, you have a lottery pick to show for it. And along the way, I think we can try to get assets for the likes of Petry, Gallagher, Dvorak, and Drouin among others. If we need to keep 1-2 along the way, not the end of the world. I have confidence MSL will still find a way to get the younger skilled guys reps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well said. 

i think the real balance comes between trying to get development for the kids and being bad enough to get another top pick.  LIke you, i dont think you just "be bad to be bad." If CC-Suzuki-Anderson carries this team on its back, thats not a bad thing.  I think that with the forwards we have (and the ones we add in the draft) we actually might be pretty decent up front. I dont think we will be great on the back-end but its possible that our forwards + our goalies will cover up enough deficiencies of our defense.

I also think our defense is going to be a lot better than what we think, with the possible addition of Letang, and even if we trade Petry I still think the return would possibly include another dman as good or better than Barron etc. 

Its certainly possible we could be challenging for another lottery pick next year but i think its more likely we will be fighting for a playoff spot. 

 

[BigTed3]

2 hours ago, claremont said:

I am in agreement with most of your thoughts but here is where I differ

1) You have Jordan Harris playing RHD his opposite side to Romanov - EVERY game tape I watch of Harris at NE, he plays his left. I don't think the transition to wrong side D is as easy as you think. If anything Romanov has far more game experience playing the right side, and for that matter so does Kaiden Guhle.

2) You state that Harris is the more pro ready prospect. I would say you are doing a disservice to Barron (who has pro experience with AHL Colorado). I also believe Kaiden Guhle is more pro ready than Harris in that he can play the right side, and has played extended seasons with more games than Harris. Kaiden has played 65, 64 and this year will play likely 50+ games. The most Harris has ever played is 38 -40 games. Guhle is used to a longer season and likely more mentally prepared for that rigor. 

3) Braden Scheider was drafted behind Guhle. Out of development choice or necessity, Schneider was less prolific than Guhle yet Braden has stepped into the NYR lineup fairly adequately. The habs felt that Guhle was better served continuing in junior. By Schneider comparison, Guhle should be pro ready. 

4) The NCAA defencemen that have been NHL Pro ready in recent years Miller, Makar, Hughes etc, these were all first round draft choices way ahead of Harris in the development curve. I have yet to see a 2nd or 3rd round NCAA player be pro ready immediately after their NCAA development , other than Adam Fox - Maybe Mario Ferraro, but not Ian Mitchell or Mattias Samuelsson. I am not at all anti-Jordan Harris, just you may expect too much of him vs. Guhle. If you look at the World Juniors Canada success - most of their roster is comprised of junior league D-men whereas the USA is mostly NCAA d-men - with the exception of 1 year, which team has dominated?

5) My D next year, the left side is crowded with Romanov, Edmundson, Guhle, Harris and even Norlinder, and the right side assuming Petry still here is Petry, Barron, Savard. If Petry is moved, one has to think Letang is a replacement target.  With Guhle's RHD flexibility, he should at least be the 7th d-man, as I doubt Romanov will be moved to the RHD side. Fairbrother does not make the grade, and Schueneman or Clague are insurance. I am uncertain that we need to resign Wideman. Still big ?'s on RHD Josh Brook who has not yet returned to the Laval lineup

6) How does Heineman get any time next year? Thought he's under Swedish contract for next 2 years - is that breakable?

7) I like your forward lines. Mysak has shown further progression this year, so maybe he gets a call-up trial. Joshua Roy is a big question mark as to return to junior, as he will only be 19 on Sept 15/22 and I understand post-COVID that you have to be 20 years old to play in the AHL.  RHP deserves a good look. Hoffman will be a very difficult to move contract. Dvorak - your comments are spot on. I hope Drouin rebounds so we get assets for him.  I am not convinced out 2022 top draft pick steps into this line-up. Lafraniere was hyped up and he was adequate in his first year - I see the HuGO / MSL taking a more patient development approach. 

8) Price's contract is difficult to move. Allen provides stability but I think he is moved at some point - either off season or pre-trade deadline. If there is any position where we want our "development rebuild / reset"  team to be stable, IMO it should be in net. Mgmt. faces a difficult choice in RFA Monty vs Primeau. Prospect G Joe Vrbetic turns pro - Does Jakub Dobes leave Ohio State after 1 year? 

My belief is that with all the horrible injuries this year, the terrible coaching of Ducharme, that this lineup is better than it has performed. Top 4 in the division will be very tough and I don't believe it is attainable but we will be much more competitive - I see this team 5th or 6th in the division finishing 18th - 24th in the league

1. I haven't seen a lot of Jordan Harris play, but I've seen several accounts from reporters that he actually is comfortable playing the right, hence why I slotted him in there. I'd personally still prefer him on the left, but in the absence of enough righties, he's a guy who could move over. It was one of the comments that MA Godin specifically made in his Habs report this week in The Athletic, that it was interesting to him that despite Harris being left-handed, he actually played more on the right in college than he did on the left. It's a reliable source to me, so I'll take it as written.

2. Agreed with you that Barron is more ready to step into the Habs line-up than Harris. I realize reading back what I wrote that I didn't spell that out very well. I meant that Harris was the most pro-ready of the players who were not professionals yet (ie Harris vs. Guhle vs. Xhekaj vs. Struble etc.). I wasn't meaning to include the likes of Barron, Norlinder, or Brook in that group when they've all already been in the professional/NHL ranks before. Again, this is not based on a lot of seeing these players play full games myself, but I've seen some of each and I've also read a lot about how they're doing and about how scouts/media are viewing them, and it seems to me that Harris' game translates better to the NHL game. He seems to be a faster decision-maker, smarter positionally, and good passer. Some have compared his game to a player like Torey Krug. There will be a learning curve for everyone, but I think he's ahead of Guhle on the development curve right now. It's not a comment on where these players end up, just on where I think they sit now and how likely they are to provide immediate help next year. Guhle could well win a spot next year too, and he's Harris' primary competition, but I think Harris has an edge, and if he signs, he's going to get a few games as a look this season to get a head start on Guhle too.

3. I'll add to what I wrote that the backbone of the line-up doesn't preclude keeping 1-2 veterans or adding other players via trade or free agency. But I think the focus should be on developing your younger guys, not signing a Douglass Murray to take away playing time from Beaulieu and Tinordi or trading for a Dwight King to keep Galchenyuk on the bench. If you can add a great player on a reasonable contract and you think that player will be valuable when you get back into your Cup window, by all means. I'd rather not see them sign scrubs to take ice time though and I'd rather not see give a 5-year deal to a player like Letang. Don't handicap yourself when you do get back into a window to win.

[campabee82]

29 minutes ago, BigTed3 said:

1. I haven't seen a lot of Jordan Harris play, but I've seen several accounts from reporters that he actually is comfortable playing the right, hence why I slotted him in there. I'd personally still prefer him on the left, but in the absence of enough righties, he's a guy who could move over. It was one of the comments that MA Godin specifically made in his Habs report this week in The Athletic, that it was interesting to him that despite Harris being left-handed, he actually played more on the right in college than he did on the left. It's a reliable source to me, so I'll take it as written.

2. Agreed with you that Barron is more ready to step into the Habs line-up than Harris. I realize reading back what I wrote that I didn't spell that out very well. I meant that Harris was the most pro-ready of the players who were not professionals yet (ie Harris vs. Guhle vs. Xhekaj vs. Struble etc.). I wasn't meaning to include the likes of Barron, Norlinder, or Brook in that group when they've all already been in the professional/NHL ranks before. Again, this is not based on a lot of seeing these players play full games myself, but I've seen some of each and I've also read a lot about how they're doing and about how scouts/media are viewing them, and it seems to me that Harris' game translates better to the NHL game. He seems to be a faster decision-maker, smarter positionally, and good passer. Some have compared his game to a player like Torey Krug. There will be a learning curve for everyone, but I think he's ahead of Guhle on the development curve right now. It's not a comment on where these players end up, just on where I think they sit now and how likely they are to provide immediate help next year. Guhle could well win a spot next year too, and he's Harris' primary competition, but I think Harris has an edge, and if he signs, he's going to get a few games as a look this season to get a head start on Guhle too.

3. I'll add to what I wrote that the backbone of the line-up doesn't preclude keeping 1-2 veterans or adding other players via trade or free agency. But I think the focus should be on developing your younger guys, not signing a Douglass Murray to take away playing time from Beaulieu and Tinordi or trading for a Dwight King to keep Galchenyuk on the bench. If you can add a great player on a reasonable contract and you think that player will be valuable when you get back into your Cup window, by all means. I'd rather not see them sign scrubs to take ice time though and I'd rather not see give a 5-year deal to a player like Letang. Don't handicap yourself when you do get back into a window to win.

Here is a highlight package where you can see Harris actually plays both sides very well. 3 or 4 of the highlights have him on the right side.

 

[ramcharger440]

32 minutes ago, campabee82 said:

Here is a highlight package where you can see Harris actually plays both sides very well. 3 or 4 of the highlights have him on the right side.

 

All I see here is him shooting at the net! sure he scores in these highlights but there is a lot more to the job than that!

[kinot-2]

33 minutes ago, campabee82 said:

Here is a highlight package where you can see Harris actually plays both sides very well. 3 or 4 of the highlights have him on the right side.

 

Love his one-timers. 

[ramcharger440]

Love everything about this player! he can skate pass score and hit.

[campabee82]

36 minutes ago, ramcharger440 said:

All I see here is him shooting at the net! sure he scores in these highlights but there is a lot more to the job than that!

It shows him on the right both at 5 vs 5 and on the PP

[claremont]

1 hour ago, ramcharger440 said:

Love everything about this player! he can skate pass score and hit.

Yes - Guhle is 6-2 200lbs , Harris is 5-11, 185 

Bigger isn’t always better but Guhle brings some nastiness in his game. If he’s paired with Romanov, we will be calling them the Bash brothers. I hope both of them make the club sooner rather than later  

[campabee82]

10 minutes ago, claremont said:

Yes - Guhle is 6-2 200lbs , Harris is 5-11, 185 

Bigger isn’t always better but Guhle brings some nastiness in his game. If he’s paired with Romanov, we will be calling them the Bash brothers. I hope both of them make the club sooner rather than later  

Barron also plays a similar style and has size as well. Plus as an added bonus he was paired with Guhle on Team Canada's WJC team.

[ramcharger440]

10 minutes ago, claremont said:

Yes - Guhle is 6-2 200lbs , Harris is 5-11, 185 

Bigger isn’t always better but Guhle brings some nastiness in his game. If he’s paired with Romanov, we will be calling them the Bash brothers. I hope both of them make the club sooner rather than later  

I think Harris has enough size and he has good offensive stats too what I really like is that they play a different game Guhle is not as big as Webber but he plays the game the same way in fact I think he can be better than Webber. I see Harris as a really good option as an Offensive Dman. I think we have a good future D in the making.

[ramcharger440]

2 minutes ago, campabee82 said:

Barron also plays a similar style and has size as well. Plus as an added bonus he was paired with Guhle on Team Canada's WJC team.

Imagine in 2-3 years with these guys and Romanov out there that is 4 spots that should perform add Mailloux who looks like he is going to be good as well and we will have a good modern D.

[campabee82]

2 minutes ago, ramcharger440 said:

Imagine in 2-3 years with these guys and Romanov out there that is 4 spots that should perform add Mailloux who looks like he is going to be good as well and we will have a good modern D.

Yes, our D is finally looking to get more balanced in the future. Problem will be trying to keep everyone lol.

[ramcharger440]

Just now, campabee82 said:

Yes, our D is finally looking to get more balanced in the future. Problem will be trying to keep everyone lol.

These guys seem to have a good grasp on things so far let's hope they are good cap doctors!

[H_T_L]

Defenceman William Lagesson skated in his first practice with the Habs Wednesday after being acquired along with a pair of conditional draft picks in a deal for Brett Kulak. 

Defenceman Justin Barron also participated in his first skate with the Habs Thursday. St. Louis said he isn’t certain of when Barron might play for the big club, but the intention is to give him an opportunity to get in some games down the stretch of the season

[Graeme-1]

6 hours ago, campabee82 said:

Yes, our D is finally looking to get more balanced in the future. Problem will be trying to keep everyone lol.

Lol I see we've entered the phase of the rebuild where we assume all our prospects reach their ceiling.

[Regis22]

1 hour ago, Graeme-1 said:

Lol I see we've entered the phase of the rebuild where we assume all our prospects reach their ceiling.

😂🤣

[jennifer_rocket]

8 hours ago, Graeme-1 said:

Lol I see we've entered the phase of the rebuild where we assume all our prospects reach their ceiling.

Did you know, that at Nick Suzuki's current pace of development, he'll be scoring 250 points per year by the time he's 26?

[maas_art]

17 hours ago, ramcharger440 said:

Imagine in 2-3 years with these guys and Romanov out there that is 4 spots that should perform add Mailloux who looks like he is going to be good as well and we will have a good modern D.

In Romanov, Guhle, Barron, Harris, Mailloux, Norlinder, Brook, Fairbrother, Xhekaj we have quite a list of quality d prospects.  I am sure we have a solid #3-6 out of that list.  Hopefully at least a couple end up being top pairing guys.  

I also think we'll be trading for prospects/ picks with a few more of our veterans so that list may look even better to start next season. 

[habs1952]

19 hours ago, campabee82 said:

Yes, our D is finally looking to get more balanced in the future. Problem will be trying to keep everyone lol.

You can never have enough trade bait.

[campabee82]

1 minute ago, habs1952 said:

You can never have enough trade bait.

Definitely not, provided you use them as bait and not say "you can never have enough defensemen"!

[ramcharger440]

2 hours ago, maas_art said:

In Romanov, Guhle, Barron, Harris, Mailloux, Norlinder, Brook, Fairbrother, Xhekaj we have quite a list of quality d prospects.  I am sure we have a solid #3-6 out of that list.  Hopefully at least a couple end up being top pairing guys.  

I also think we'll be trading for prospects/ picks with a few more of our veterans so that list may look even better to start next season. 

I feel we will have at least a #2 in that group as for a #1 who knows? often I find we either oversell or undersell our players here often the real potential and value lies somewhere in the middle.

[maas_art]

18 minutes ago, ramcharger440 said:

I feel we will have at least a #2 in that group as for a #1 who knows? often I find we either oversell or undersell our players here often the real potential and value lies somewhere in the middle.

Right now i think there's possibilities.  Barron, Guhle, Harris, Mailloux and Norlinder - even Romanov - all still have the potential to be 1st pairing guys. Will any of them? Who knows, but with that many possibilities you have to hope at least one or 2 will work out.

 

[jennifer_rocket]

Sure do hope we get Harris signed once the NCAA stuff is done.