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Habs Season Thread: Offseason 2025

AH$$$ said:
I don’t know where else to put this stat.

Dallas lost their last 7 regular season games giving up 34 goals in the process. I hate Pete Deboer ever since his lack of hand shaking post 2021 conference finals. So hopefully they get shit canned by Mac and Makar
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With Robertson and Hiesk out , I think they are done
 
Habsy said:
Fatigue?
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I dunno. He looked more artsy and less fartsy at times, and that needs to stop. His ability to be a playmaker is contingent on physical domination and puck possession/retrieval, I’m sure he was told this a million times.

If it’s fatigue, then hit the damn gym.
 
GrandWazoo said:
Maybe we're too forgiving, and maybe you're too harsh. There is a lot of aspects of coaching; game planning, strategies, preparation, execution, player development, team culture, conflict management, handling the media, etc.

There is a reason why we're the youngest team in history to make the playoffs, or why teams normally load up with veterans for a Cup run. It takes a lot of experience to be able to execute well at this level. The coaches will help you get there but there is experience that you only get from game reps, and seeing different reads and situations.

We shouldn't even be in the playoffs this year, yet we had the 9th best record in the league since December 15th. And I know you'll agree that it's not because we rode a hot goaltender.

Many players had career high seasons, or others completely rejuvenated in a new role. Team spirit is the best I can recall, there is like zero drama which is amazing. Team found new gears at key moments, seems to thrive under pressure.

There is a lot to like, and I think coaching deserve a lot of credit. It's a young staff too, they make mistakes, lots of them, but they also do a lot of good things, and the players seems to respect them. I think we're pretty lucky to have MSL, another team would grab him the second he's available.
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Well Said Wazoo
 
Habsy said:
With more leeway in the playoffs he needs to go into beast mode. Especially with Wilson.
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If people want truculence from Slaf that will never happen… simply not in his DNA.

John LeClair & Tim Kerr had zero truculence to their game, but were dominant NHLers for a long stretch … that’s who Slaf is, albeit a better skating version w better vision - when he decides to move his feet that is!

Use big body for puck protection / possession, and drive the net for rebounds (LeClair) / setup properly in low slot / bumper for SOG (Kerr)

Slaf is not a predatory carnivore like TRex, he’s a behemoth vegetarian like a brontosaurus… as were LeClair & Kerr
 
Sal_Butera said:
If people want truculence from Slaf that will never happen… simply not in his DNA.

John LeClair & Tim Kerr had zero truculence to their game, but were dominant NHLers for a long stretch … that’s who Slaf is, albeit a better skating version w better vision - when he decides to move his feet that is!

Use big body for puck protection / possession, and drive the net for rebounds (LeClair) / setup properly in low slot / bumper for SOG (Kerr)

Slaf is not a predatory carnivore like TRex, he’s a behemoth vegetarian like a brontosaurus… as were LeClair & Kerr
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Slaf has some dog in him, but he doesn't know how to channel it, and probably will never know how. Opponents are smart enough to avoid triggering him in most games.

I'll never expect some gritty NA play from him, but he has a unique ability to separate players from puck that he needs to take advantage of.
 
GrandWazoo said:
Slaf has some dog in him, but he doesn't know how to channel it, and probably will never know how. Opponents are smart enough to avoid triggering him in most games.

I'll never expect some gritty NA play from him, but he has a unique ability to separate players from puck that he needs to take advantage of.
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He’s 21, not 31. Dylan Strome was a bust until last year . . . at 27.
 
I think that, like pretty much every player on the roster, Slaf is simply bagged right now. Getting into the playoffs was a hard slog, mentally and physically. They all need some rest, which they are getting now.
 
Krustchev said:
He’s 21, not 31. Dylan Strome was a bust until last year . . . at 27.
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I'm just saying he'll never be a Tkachuk type, that's just not in his DNA. But he seems to elevate his game when aggravated, curious to see how he does in the playoffs. He might very well thrive in that environment.
 
GEEMAN said:
If he can play bottom 6 and chip in 15 a year like Armia thats great
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That's what they thought about Wilson way back when. It's unlikely he gets better than what you said but these habs are unexpected.

Also a buddy of mine goes to a lot of Laval games and has scouting experience and was surprised by Xhekaj's development from what he was game 1 to what he is now. Seems to think he still hasn't hit his ceiling but needs at least another 3-4 years to reach potential.
 
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