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GDT | Game 81 | @ Red Wings | Monday, April 15 | 7:00PM EST

If Mailloux is playing, throw Tuch and Reinbacher in there too. Let’s piss off someone fighting Detroit for a playoff spot.
 
Krustchev said:
I’m not happy or unhappy about how you phrase things. In fact, I don’t care at all. You thought he was a 60 point center, max. I don’t think so. And as his linemates get better, his output should too.
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And as the offensive support on lines 2 & 3 improve so will his output w less focus on his line

And oh yeah there’s that pending PP improvement w some QB named Hutson
 
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You have a #1 center, who I'd assume is going to play with one (if not both) of the best wingers on this team, and you think he's going to get less focus on his line...?
 
GGpX said:
I'd worry about everything, honestly.

The whole team's bad. It's not like our forwards are good & they're being sabotaged by the defense.

Worth repeating: This team doesn't have a legitimate #1 center, doesn't have a legitimate #1 d-man, doesn't have a legitimate #1 goalie. This is a problem.
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I don't worry about anything just yet. Definitely not worried about goalies, most teams don't have #1s anymore, and the last 2 Cup winners didn't. Primeau and Monty are fine in the short term, and we have Dobes, Fowler and the russian in the pipeline. Not worried in net. I'm never worried in net for Montreal.

We don't have a #1 D, that's a bit of a bigger issue, but looks like we'll have a pretty well rounded solid top 4 core, with depth.

No #1 C, yeah, although Suzuki is arguably a top 20 in the league, and if Dach, but if, can establish himself as a top 30, that's not a bad spot. Slaf is developing as a legit #1 W, Caufield is quality complimentary scorer. The rest of the forwards are a much bigger issue but that's fixable over time. Winning the lottery would completely change the equation, a bit of luck wouldn't hurt.

I expect them to make progress next year and actually try to compete for a change. I don't expect them to take shortcuts to do so. Both Molson and Hughes have been pretty clear in their comments that they are not looking for shortcuts, but establishing as sustainable quality team.

I can see us finishing 10th in the East next year, I wouldn't be upset about that.
 
CH1 said:
Maybe the guy who routinely calls out multiple posters for misunderstanding his posts should be the one brushing up on their communication skills.
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I'm going to back GGpX on this one, I completely understood what he meant. Having a career year has always meant best year of their career so far, which it definitely was.
 
GrandWazoo said:
I'm going to back GGpX on this one, I completely understood what he meant. Having a career year has always meant best year of their career so far, which it definitely was.
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Not to belabor the issue, but it means the best you’ll ever be or can expect to be . . . ever. You can Google the meaning of it if you don’t believe me. And if you think about it, that makes sense. The word “career” when used that way is to be applied retrospectively.
 
tldr: It’s messy, but headed in the right direction. Yuge summer ahead. Determinant.

———

We lost 193 man games to injuries/trade for Dach, Dvorak, Newhook and Monahan. Veteran and/or solid NHLers who’s absence unquestionably dragged down the record. I would note that Dach’s loss not only deprived the Habs directly, but also delayed Slafkovsky’s emergence until December.

The “top line” is firmly established as a top 6 calibre offence force. They play within themselves and look very solid. I think Suzuki and Caufield are converging to their cruising altitude which they will maintain or improve slightly), health notwithstanding, for the duration of their contracts. Slafkovsky is still very much on the ascent, and his ceiling looks very promising. This is good.

We will hope that Dach remains healthy. As it stands now, he’s they only other player who could belong on the top 6 of a good team. HuGo’s job #1 will be to add one, or maybe even two, youngish top 6 forwards. We have capital to trade and another high pick. So get at it, it is mission critical. (The UFA route is not useful for a young team. Maybe we add a veteran D to help the kiddos.)

The “tweeners” are decent/OKish, for now. Newhook is a keeper in this role. Armia is OK for one more year. Maybe Roy can play with them, maybe Gallagher. But these guys can’t be in the Top 6. Some of them will be gone after next year. We will need to turnover this group to play with Newhook.

The rest of bottom 6 is bad, and I include Anderson in this group. Not only were they overmatched when they were kicked up to replace the injured players, they weren’t even good as bottom 6 players. They are utterly punchless in attack, mediocre forecheckers and too soft in the D zone. This is a significant liability if the club expects to progress. Pezzetta, Ylonen and RHP can go now, Evans after next season. Good teams have good and effective 4th lines. Ours is terrible.

If anyone had a career year, it was Matheson. I expect regression next year and his minutes will likely be reduced as younger D are folded into roster. The rest of it… it’s a mad scramble, eh? At least one, maybe two will be traded. Savard will plod along, but that seems less than ideal. So this might be where you reach for a veteran UFA if it is decided the kiddos need more time in the AHL. But, there is a scenario where Reinbacher, Mailloux and Hutson are all with the big club next year. Assuming Guhle and two vets are there, that means Xhekaj, Harris, Struble and Barron are all SOL. I mean, that’s just a hypothetical. But still. Holy shit. So then the question is, will they be any good? I think so? Gotta roll the dice and find out.

(Very unlikely: in terms of trades, I might consider moving Matheson in addition to the usual suspects like Harris. Yah, kinda shitty to move a local guy after only two years, but he might fetch a lot and his replacements seems to banging at the door.)

The goaltending is adequate for now.

Edit: Apart from the roster (especially adding at least one top 6 forward), the other thing that needs addressed are special teams. They were comically bad in the first half of the season. There was improvement, but it stalled a bit on the PP. Hutson is a wildcard.
 
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GrandWazoo said:
I don't worry about anything just yet. Definitely not worried about goalies, most teams don't have #1s anymore, and the last 2 Cup winners didn't. Primeau and Monty are fine in the short term, and we have Dobes, Fowler and the russian in the pipeline. Not worried in net. I'm never worried in net for Montreal.

We don't have a #1 D, that's a bit of a bigger issue, but looks like we'll have a pretty well rounded solid top 4 core, with depth.

No #1 C, yeah, although Suzuki is arguably a top 20 in the league, and if Dach, but if, can establish himself as a top 30, that's not a bad spot. Slaf is developing as a legit #1 W, Caufield is quality complimentary scorer. The rest of the forwards are a much bigger issue but that's fixable over time. Winning the lottery would completely change the equation, a bit of luck wouldn't hurt.

I expect them to make progress next year and actually try to compete for a change. I don't expect them to take shortcuts to do so. Both Molson and Hughes have been pretty clear in their comments that they are not looking for shortcuts, but establishing as sustainable quality team.

I can see us finishing 10th in the East next year, I wouldn't be upset about that.
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I'm worried for one reason: A Buffalo-esque rush to get good soon. If they do that, then we're fucked. We're completely fucked. I don't believe this team is anywhere near close enough to even think about pushing for the playoffs, but what I believe as opposed to what the owner believes... Only one of us has any actual power to affect change.

This summer will tell us precisely if the ownership group think this team should make the playoffs next season. If one (or both) of Anderson & Gallagher are bought out? Uh oh. That's a screaming hint that they're looking for capspace to acquire a player. I fully expect them to trade the Winnipeg pick for a forward, regardless of them buying out Gallagher/Anderson.

But if they trade that Winnipeg pick (Alone or in a package) for a Newhook-esque trade, just do a small signing here, a depth player there, then the playoffs aren't the goal next year. Getting Dach back for a full season won't be the difference between making the playoffs & not.

I just don't want to end up like Detroit where a bunch of mediocre to average players were signed or traded for, and the team is stuck in perpetual mediocrity.

For Suzuki, I'd argue he's about the 20th best center in the league. I don't think it's unfair to call him that. The problem is, however, I don't think he's a real #1 center. I always use the example of Quarterbacks in the NFL: Sure, there are 32 teams and sure, there are 32 starting quarterbacks... But at least 20 of those teams would change their quarterback for an upgrade tomorrow if they could. So, are there really 32 caliber starting Quarterbacks, or just 32 positions that need to be filled in by default and there's barely enough candidates to competently do the job at an adequate level?
 
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GGpX said:
Sure, but frankly who cares? Their formula can't be replicated year over year. Philly's going to end up in the league basement next year because their team sucks as it's currently constructed. Same for the Habs. Suzuki & Matheson had career years, Caufield had a good statistical year but a down year overall, Slaf's come out of his shell, and yet, we're going to end up at the same spot as a year ago.
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but 10% more points
 
Krustchev said:
Not to belabor the issue, but it means the best you’ll ever be or can expect to be . . . ever. You can Google the meaning of it if you don’t believe me. And if you think about it, that makes sense. The word “career” when used that way is to be applied retrospectively.
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So what term would you use for best year of his career so far? Sounds like career year to me. Sounds ridiculous to try to predict the future.

And for the record, even though it's not the argument, I think Suzuki will have better years than this one in his career.
 
GGpX said:
I'm worried for one reason: A Buffalo-esque rush to get good soon. If they do that, then we're fucked. We're completely fucked. I don't believe this team is anywhere near close enough to even think about pushing for the playoffs, but what I believe as opposed to what the owner believes... Only one of us has any actual power to affect change.

This summer will tell us precisely if the ownership group think this team should make the playoffs next season. If one (or both) of Anderson & Gallagher are bought out? Uh oh. That's a screaming hint that they're looking for capspace to acquire a player. I fully expect them to trade the Winnipeg pick for a forward, regardless of them buying out Gallagher/Anderson.

But if they trade that Winnipeg pick (Alone or in a package) for a Newhook-esque trade, just do a small signing here, a depth player there, then the playoffs aren't the goal next year. Getting Dach back for a full season won't be the difference between making the playoffs & not.

I just don't want to end up like Detroit where a bunch of mediocre to average players were signed or traded for, and the team is stuck in perpetual mediocrity.

For Suzuki, I'd argue he's about the 20th best center in the league. I don't think it's unfair to call him that. The problem is, however, I don't think he's a real #1 center. I always use the example of Quarterbacks in the NFL: Sure, there are 32 teams and sure, there are 32 starting quarterbacks... But at least 20 of those teams would change their quarterback for an upgrade tomorrow if they could. So, are there really 32 caliber starting Quarterbacks, or just 32 positions that need to be filled in by default and there's barely enough candidates to competently do the job at an adequate level?
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I hear you, the only reasons I'm not worried yet is that I haven't seen the new management doing those moves, nor have they been hinting that they are looking to do those, quite the opposite. I personally don't think management will do a desperate move to get rid of Gallagher or Anderson this summer. They're bad contract, they have negative value, but they're still NHL players on a team that have almost no forwards. And they're not a problem that needs to be amputated just yet. We can easily afford to go another year, or 2, carrying their contract before we start feeling the squeeze. It's also the last year of Armia (who's been so much better) and Dvorak, so there is additional relief coming up after next year.

I absolutely think that they will make a move for another top 6 forward via trade, and probably sign a UFA for bottom 6 help. I don't see those moves as short cuts, unless the forward we trade for is older.

#1 center is such a bad term for what people are trying to express (yes English is hard). Let's just say what we really mean, elite centers. Yeah Suzuki is not that, yet, and probably never. But he's a guy that can take the top line minutes, and the top matchups, and often wins them. I'm ok with a team of 2 Suzukis as my top 2 centers, depending on the rest of my lineup.
 
Using your QB argument, I'm pretty sure every team (besides KC) would trade their QB for Mahones. Does that mean that Mahones is the only starting QB in the league? Of course not. There will always be tiers. Some are elite, some are good enough, and others are just placeholders.
 
GGpX said:
In my world, I agree.

In the real world of, "this team should be competing for a playoff spot starting next year", though? Fucking hell, does that worry me. They're nowhere near close enough to start thinking about that.
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They need to keep tanking for another year.

Fuck the fans.
 
GGpX said:
Listen to French media. You'd be very surprised at the amount of people who think they need to make the playoff next year.
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Thankfully the French media no longer runs this team by proxy thanks to competent anglophone management and their "fuck the fans" philosophy.
 
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