Canadiens Training Camp & Preseason

[HabsRuleForever]

Camp opens on Sept 22! YAY!?

[HabsRuleForever]

So who’s cautiously optimistic? 

[kinot-2]

13 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

So who’s cautiously optimistic? 

<raises hand > 

[jennifer_rocket]

29 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

So who’s cautiously optimistic? 

Optimistic of what?  That we're on the path to Connor Bedard or that we might squeak into the post-season?

[HabsRuleForever]

27 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Optimistic of what?  That we're on the path to Connor Bedard or that we might squeak into the post-season?

Bedard of course. He’s on my Pats and then I want him on my Habs!

[habs1952]

11 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

Bedard of course. He’s on my Pats and then I want him on my Habs!

Just pay him $20 to say he won't play for anyone but the Habs otherwise he'll go to Europe. Problem solved!

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, HabsRuleForever said:

So who’s cautiously optimistic? 

 

1 hour ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Optimistic of what?  That we're on the path to Connor Bedard or that we might squeak into the post-season?

 

To me a perfect season:

1. Forwards have a good season:

- 70+ points for Suzuki, 35+g for CC, maybe a strong showing for Slaf if he is ready to play (second half of the season)

- Kirby Dach bounces back in a major way.  If i have ONE hope for this year, its this. Not sure it can happen but if he suddenly started looking like a 3rd overall pick, we'd be a different team. 

- Guys like Evans, Anderson and Dvorak continue taking steps forward under MSL

- Good trade returns on Drouin, Hoffman (I can dream) Dadanov, Monahan (I have a sneaking suspicion he might bounce back and maybe we keep him on a short deal) etc.

 

2. Dmen have a bad (but learning) season: 

- Matheson proves he can be a solid top 3 guy. 

- Savard is not the trainwreck he was under DD

- Barron, Harris, Guhle (?) have strong foundational years

- Norlinder bounces back in the AHL (not holding my breath but really hoping last year was just a short derailment) 

 

3. Goalies have a bad year.
I feel bad for Allen and Monty but really, bad year for goalies allows us to develop from the blueline out & still be in the running for one more high draft pick, which we desperately need. 

 

4. We end up with a top 3 pick
- AND I hope Florida's pick is top 10.  That, coupled with the moves last draft could be a franchise-altering 12 month period. 

 

So yeah, im hoping for a lot of 5-4 and 4-3 losses.  

 

 

 

[HARBORSPORT]

9 hours ago, HabsRuleForever said:

So who’s cautiously optimistic? 

me

[claremont]

8 hours ago, maas_art said:

To me a perfect season:

1. Forwards have a good season:

- 70+ points for Suzuki, 35+g for CC, maybe a strong showing for Slaf if he is ready to play (second half of the season)

- Kirby Dach bounces back in a major way.  If i have ONE hope for this year, its this. Not sure it can happen but if he suddenly started looking like a 3rd overall pick, we'd be a different team. 

- Guys like Evans, Anderson and Dvorak continue taking steps forward under MSL

- Good trade returns on Drouin, Hoffman (I can dream) Dadanov, Monahan (I have a sneaking suspicion he might bounce back and maybe we keep him on a short deal) etc.

2. Dmen have a bad (but learning) season: 

- Matheson proves he can be a solid top 3 guy. 

- Savard is not the trainwreck he was under DD

- Barron, Harris, Guhle (?) have strong foundational years

- Norlinder bounces back in the AHL (not holding my breath but really hoping last year was just a short derailment) 

3. Goalies have a bad year.
I feel bad for Allen and Monty but really, bad year for goalies allows us to develop from the blueline out & still be in the running for one more high draft pick, which we desperately need. 

4. We end up with a top 3 pick
- AND I hope Florida's pick is top 10.  That, coupled with the moves last draft could be a franchise-altering 12 month period. 

So yeah, im hoping for a lot of 5-4 and 4-3 losses.  

Yes that’s an excellent season of progress - the Cherry for me would be to see the leafs get bounced in the first round or simply regress.
I’m optimistic that Habs grow and have some degree of trajectory but still get a top 8 pick 

[maas_art]

According to a few sources, including the reliable Eric Engels:

- Kirby Dach has showed up to camp with another 12 lbs of muscle.  This forward group is getting bigger (and faster) all the time.

- It sounds like Edmundson's "lower body injury" may be the back injury that hurt him last year.  Back injuries have taken a lot of NHL careers early so lets hope its not that or Eddie may be very unlikely to play much.

- Brendan Gallagher already has a cut up face, one day in. lol

[electron58]

2 minutes ago, maas_art said:

According to a few sources, including the reliable Eric Engels:

- Kirby Dach has showed up to camp with another 12 lbs of muscle.  This forward group is getting bigger (and faster) all the time.

- It sounds like Edmundson's "lower body injury" may be the back injury that hurt him last year.  Back injuries have taken a lot of NHL careers early so lets hope its not that or Eddie may be very unlikely to play much.

- Brendan Gallagher already has a cut up face, one day in. lol

Good for Kirby Dach!

They say that Suzuki & Edmundson had a minor collision in a free skate? (something I read)

Gallagher's cut was from a bear hug attempt by Wideman that ended up being a right cross to the face! Just bad luck, I guess.

 

[jennifer_rocket]

Nice to hear that Dach showed up with some extra muscle. Hopefully he's taking this training camp very seriously.

[claremont]

55 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Nice to hear that Dach showed up with some extra muscle. Hopefully he's taking this training camp very seriously.

He just scored in a shootout for the red team vs white in today's scrimmage - he has a good snap shot release but these aren't top flight goalies he was facing. Ylonen and Roy were stoned by the red team goalie.

[maas_art]

3 hours ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Nice to hear that Dach showed up with some extra muscle. Hopefully he's taking this training camp very seriously.

I suspect he is. He has to know how crucial this season is. 

[claremont]

Jordan Harris was playing the right side in the red white scrimmage - 2nd game. I expect that he will get a good look for his versatility of being able to play RHD as well in future exhibition games, and hope I am not reading too much into that. 

[maas_art]

8 minutes ago, claremont said:

Jordan Harris was playing the right side in the red white scrimmage - 2nd game. I expect that he will get a good look for his versatility of being able to play RHD as well in future exhibition games, and hope I am not reading too much into that. 

I suspect they are just trying to see what their options are but its definitely a possibility.

Most coaches do prefer having a guy play on the side his stick is strongest but thats not always RHD at RD or LHD at LD. While rare, some defensemen do play the wrong side as well, or even better. TJ Brodie has always been better on his off side than his "natural" side. Did it in Calgary & I think still playing primarily there in TO. Guys like Daley, Karlsson & Pesce have all spent sizeable time on the "wrong" side with some (daley) actually preferring it.   i think a lot of it has to do with their skating & Harris is certainly great in that regard.  

[BigTed3]

15 hours ago, electron58 said:

Good for Kirby Dach!

They say that Suzuki & Edmundson had a minor collision in a free skate? (something I read)

Gallagher's cut was from a bear hug attempt by Wideman that ended up being a right cross to the face! Just bad luck, I guess.

 

Yeah, MSL confirmed that Suzuki and Edmundson both got hurt in the collision, that Suzuki is largely going to recover quickly, that Edmundson is doing better but with less known as to timeframe, and that Ed's injury is lower body and not his back...

[HabsRuleForever]

Red vs White scrimmage today.

[AH64]

https://www.rds.ca/hockey/canadiens/canadiens-un-match-rouges-contre-blancs-au-centre-bell-1.16300743

 

Live feed for the scrimmage.  

[Regis22]

https://montrealhockeynow.com/2022/09/26/montreal-canadiens-make-first-wave-of-cuts-at-camp/

Montreal Canadiens Make First Wave Of Cuts At Camp

The Canadiens announced the release of prospects Jared Davidson, Cédrick Guindon and Daniil Sobolev; while also releasing free-agent invite Antoine Coulombe as well. All four players are destined for major junior hockey this season, and the Canadiens likely felt it was best to have them join their respective clubs sooner than later, with the CHL season having already started over the last week.

[BigTed3]

After pre-season game 1, here's my take on which guys helped or hurt themselves:

- Mike Matheson: UP. looked really good, actually a fair amount like Petry. Skated well, used his size, moved the puck quickly. All good signs. Don't know that he has the offensive production to be a true top-pairing guy by himself, but he played well and there's hope there.

- Juraj Slafkovsky: DOWN. he did a few nice things, but nothing that stood out. As I've said, I think he needs to do more to avoid starting in Laval, and there's nothing wrong with his starting in Laval for me.

- Cole Caufield: UP. most exciting player on the ice for us tonight. He looks ready to have a big year.

- Owen Beck: UP. another strong outing from Beck. Plays a very complete game. He won't make the team this year, but he's putting out a notice to say he'll be in the mix soon.

- Jordan Harris: UP. IMO our best D man tonight after Matheson. Smooth with the puck. IMO, he deserves to be in the top 6.

- Kaiden Guhle: UP. Also played well next to Harris. Skated well. We'll see if he's got more offence as he goes forward.

- Justin Barron: DOWN. Played reasonably well but not as well as the others he's competing with, and Harris played better on the off-side right than Barron did on his natural right.

- Matthias Norlinder: DOWN. Like Barron, he was fine. He played with more confidence. But he's only making the team if he shines with the puck and he didn't.

- Cayden Primeau: DOWN. The GWG against was bad.

- RHP: DOWN. The commentators loved him, but while he had some moments, he didn't bring as much energy as I would have hoped for.

- Joshua Roy: DOWN. he looked like a 5th round pick.

- Kirby Dach: UP. Looked good with the puck for most of the night. Still playing on the perimeter a bit too much, but some nice elements there.

- Jan Mysak: NEUTRAL. He skated better than I thought he would, but he didn't do anything to stand out either.

- Pitlick: DOWN. Played well on the PP, but also made some boneheaded no-look passes to kill pressure.

- Pezzetta: UP. He played a Pezzetta-style game, so doing what he needs to do to stick around.

 

- Filip Mesar: NEUTRAL. A few good moments offensively, but he clearly needs to go and work on things with his overall game.

[electron58]

7 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

 Juraj Slafkovsky: DOWN. he did a few nice things, but nothing that stood out. As I've said, I think he needs to do more to avoid starting in Laval, and there's nothing wrong with his starting in Laval for me.

Agreed. I definitely think we will have to temper our expectations on Juraj Slafkovsky. Starting him in Laval would be best for his development. It'll take him some getting used to the smaller ice surface. Of course, if he keeps playing like he does,  It'll be easy to send him to Laval. Definitely not a bad thing.

[claremont]

10 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

After pre-season game 1, here's my take on which guys helped or hurt themselves:

- Mike Matheson: UP. looked really good, actually a fair amount like Petry. Skated well, used his size, moved the puck quickly. All good signs. Don't know that he has the offensive production to be a true top-pairing guy by himself, but he played well and there's hope there.

- Juraj Slafkovsky: DOWN. he did a few nice things, but nothing that stood out. As I've said, I think he needs to do more to avoid starting in Laval, and there's nothing wrong with his starting in Laval for me.

- Cole Caufield: UP. most exciting player on the ice for us tonight. He looks ready to have a big year.

- Owen Beck: UP. another strong outing from Beck. Plays a very complete game. He won't make the team this year, but he's putting out a notice to say he'll be in the mix soon.

- Jordan Harris: UP. IMO our best D man tonight after Matheson. Smooth with the puck. IMO, he deserves to be in the top 6.

- Kaiden Guhle: UP. Also played well next to Harris. Skated well. We'll see if he's got more offence as he goes forward.

- Justin Barron: DOWN. Played reasonably well but not as well as the others he's competing with, and Harris played better on the off-side right than Barron did on his natural right.

- Matthias Norlinder: DOWN. Like Barron, he was fine. He played with more confidence. But he's only making the team if he shines with the puck and he didn't.

- Cayden Primeau: DOWN. The GWG against was bad.

- RHP: DOWN. The commentators loved him, but while he had some moments, he didn't bring as much energy as I would have hoped for.

- Joshua Roy: DOWN. he looked like a 5th round pick.

- Kirby Dach: UP. Looked good with the puck for most of the night. Still playing on the perimeter a bit too much, but some nice elements there.

- Jan Mysak: NEUTRAL. He skated better than I thought he would, but he didn't do anything to stand out either.

- Pitlick: DOWN. Played well on the PP, but also made some boneheaded no-look passes to kill pressure.

- Pezzetta: UP. He played a Pezzetta-style game, so doing what he needs to do to stick around.

- Filip Mesar: NEUTRAL. A few good moments offensively, but he clearly needs to go and work on things with his overall game.

Pretty much aligns with my thoughts except I thought Guhle had two top notch end to end rushes, was confident with the puck, had a couple of great tape to tape outlet passes - I really liked what I saw from him. Barron - I was disappointed with his skating and looks a bit clumsy. Harris was simply ok for me but our overall defense in our own zone was not strong. 

They gave Roy opportunities on the PP - nothing there, and the coasting element you had referred to in earlier assessments is still there. Needs to engage more as he is just peripheral at the moment. 

Beck - he is good on face-offs even at this level. We could have a solid player in the future if he keeps ascending. 

Antoine / Anthony Richard #90 - won't make the roster so maybe who cares but he could add some ahl leadership in Laval - he skates well. 

Juraj - I am not worried - he's only 18 and at the 50th percentile for his age in his draft year. 

[ramcharger440]

Overall not bad for a lot of players, like most years there are a couple of standouts and a couple of guys that need to get going! I remember KK looked lost at first the first year then got going pretty good once he had a couple of games. I really like what Beck brings to the table! he is going to be in the NHL for sure one day CC looks great he seems to have a chip on his shoulder from the bad start last season, that should be good news! Guhle has been on my radar for a couple of years I think he is a can't miss Dman for us and he seems to be playing well too. I always wait a bit in the preseason to judge what young players are like some have nerves some are getting used to nhl rinks and they all have to get used to the team and concepts they are being asked to play.

[seth505]

Pretty much agree with BigTed on the Devils game. I do feel sort of bad for Primeau. The goal where he made a save and then it went off a skate perfectly to go into the net.  That said, if he had better positioning on the post then it wouldn't have happened.  Dach was a minor stand out to me, acted like a good physical presence for the most part.