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Habs Season Thread: Offseason 2025

I'm now convinced Wehave wants us to miss so he can rant and rave for weeks.
I'm not ranting nor raving. If we get in, great. If not, meh. We were never winning the Cup this season either way so if we miss we will have lost nothing of great importance. I would simply prefer that we get in on merit rather than luck. I would feel better about possibly upsetting the Caps if our berth was earned rather than gifted to us.
 
it was earned with our first 89 points,
Except that it might take 90 points to achieve. I realize that equivocation, rationalization and playing in gray areas is your stock in trade but pro sports doesn't work that way. It's zero-sum. If they qualify, every player in the Habs dressing room is going to know in their bones whether they earned it or whether it was gifted to them. Given their druthers I'm certain that they would prefer to beat Carolina than to back in with a Columbus loss (not that they'll decline it if it happens tonight)
 
who took over your computer last night then?
I wasn't ranting about making or missing the playoffs as much as I was ranting and raving about MSL, who, in the typical Habs uber-conservative coaching fashion, refused to unleash the full power of "The Demidov".

By the beginning of the 3rd period, Demidov should have been on the top line with Nick and Cole and on the #1 powerplay unit. He should not have been stuck with Newhook and Armia. And in the shootout (assuming that Demidov, Suzuki and Caufield hadn't already assured victory in regulation) Demidov should have been among the first 3 shooters.

MSL screwed himself by being too concerned with managing Demidov's minutes. After his first couple of shifts it was clear that he needs none of that. He's ready to be "the guy" and, quite frankly, the Habs don't have the luxury of time. They needed to win last night and letting Demidov off the chain was the way to make that happen.

That's what pissed me off.
 
Except that it might take 90 points to achieve. I realize that equivocation, rationalization and playing in gray areas is your stock in trade but pro sports doesn't work that way. It's zero-sum. If they qualify, every player in the Habs dressing room is going to know in their bones whether they earned it or whether it was gifted to them. Given their druthers I'm certain that they would prefer to beat Carolina than to back in with a Columbus loss (not that they'll decline it if it happens tonight)
if 89 gets you in, you earned it by getting 89. Actually, 89 will be enough for one of the two teams, it just isn't decided which one it will be
 
MSL is not a great coach. He's not awful but he's not a great coach. He has so much to learn. He really needs a voice in the room giving him options that he is clearly not thinking about himself.
 
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