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A dead chicken say what?
The number #2 centre would be my main focus this summer, thats for sure. They may want to move away from Laine and add another top 6 winger as well, but I think at least one of Dach, Laine or Newhook is on mtl top 6 next season.
There are really no good long-term #2 center fits out there, as of right now.
That is why I think they find a mid-level temp player til something better comes along, nail down their top 4 D with a trade for a RHD (some out there on the market), and then leverage their surplus of D prospects down the road for help on the second line.
Build a surplus of strength from which you can deal for something you really want down the road, when available.
They are not winning the cup next year, but should be improved regardless.
That is how I see it, at least.
Symba, with an air of shock and revulsion, replied:
Mash is a blogger now? wtf
No, I am not a blogger.
Just started a new thread, given Hugo is away for a bit and wanted to see what people thought the Habs will do in the next few weeks.
Threw down my thoughts / ideas to start off the convo, which surprisingly lasted 3 pages (granted, shorter then HB pages, but still…)
Pat’s deep thoughts included:
Colorado is gonna have to dump some salary if they want to make such a move…
That Nichushkin contract looks like an anchor ($6.5M til 2029/30)… the guy produces, when he is not injured or out for long periods dues to other reasons (which seems like every season).
They also just signed Nelson to a 3 x $7.5M contract to be their #2C.
And if Landeskog is really back, that is another $7M they did not have to worry about the last few years.
I just do not see how they make it work, plus fill in other holes in their lineup.
Never say never, but this seems unlikely.
Fido rightly stated:
Pens are in trouble. no prospects, old vets with huge contracts, a GM not sure anyone should trust….
They had a good run there for a long time, and passing the torch from Lemieux to Crosby (and Malkin) just gave them even more success.
But that is going to be a very long re-build.
And you are right, they do not have the right GM for that (or, if he should even be a GM). That being said, I am pretty sure ownership forced the Karlsson trade (And a few other decisions).
With the wisdom of Gandalf, Pat said:
it’s all Erik Karlsson’s fault loll
Wonder how much more minus he could go with Laine and Demidov on his wings.
Pat proselytizes:
yeah, I don’t understand why the “reply” option is there but not functioning at all, it seems like it’s just a matter of activating it or something… I still prefer HB for the technical aspect and wouldn’t care if we continued posting there, but oh well.
It is OK.
You can just admit you miss EK.
(and maybe even Pete.)
Pat professed:
I like how Mash says people “exclaim” and “wonder” about things lol
Yeah, I have trouble keeping track of who said what around here.
Frustrating.
Kick wondered aloud:
devils fans claim his rebound control was real bad and he was giving up a softie or giving up two quick goals too many times. but who knows, they’re devils fans comments i was reading. those people up there are all effed up in the head from all the smog, chemicals, and general north jerseyness (which is a documented clinical medical condition).
I think when Markstrom missing about a dozen games to injury forced Allen to play too much last year in a short span, which did not help. Plus, the Devils were suppose to be contenders, so fans had high expectations, so many injuries derailed that train.
He is not a #1 (far from it), but he is in the pack of decent available back-up goalies, and only costs cap space and no additional assets.
If you limit his games to back0to-back nights and the occasional rest of Monty, he is not terrible.
There are worse, but likely better options out there.
Pat exclaimed:
he could play just one game in a habs uniform and he’ll get a statue in front of the Bell centre loll
Rip down the Maurice Richard statue and replace it.
LOL.
Fido stated:
tks Mash! good job.
Malkin is done, passI think he is still a 60-65 point player, assuming he plays 70 games per year.
For a year or two, that might not be a terrible option.
I mention him specifically because of the Russian connection with Demidov, but I could see them looking for a similar-type of stop gap player for the 2nd line center, as there is quite frankly not much out there right now… but with Hughes and Gorton, you just never know…
Pat astutely mentioned:
I don’t know about that, of course there’s a dumb portion of the fanbase who might complain that Crosby is “past his prime” but I feel the majority of fans would understand where he’s at in his career… there would most likely be an endless honeymoon between Crosby and the fanbase if he ever wears a habs jersey.
Habs would make their money back on jersey sales alone.
LOL.
Pat exclaimed:
I don’t know a whole lot about Carter Bear, but Simon the snake Boisvert (who now works for the Olympiques de Gatineau :)) seems to like him quite a bit, and I like the name, so I hope the habs do get to pick him loll.
I think at the position they’re drafting they’re in a good spot to take a gamble on a player that has size and a certain skillset that could be developed further, as opposed to picking in the top 5 where the margin for error is usually almost non-existent.
Yeah.
The pressure of a top 5 pick is huge, and with 2 picks in a row in the middle of the 1st, they can take a swing with one of them.
I really like Bear, but I honestly do not think he will be there at #16.
Kick said:
i like the alex lyon idea.
if jake goes back to montreal and still doesn’t go with cool gear like he did in st. louis, i’m gonna be real unhappy with him.
I am not sold on Lyon, very inconsistent.
I still think Allen would like to finish in a Habs uniform, and given there is a plethora of same-quality back-ups available, why not go with the (former) devil you know?
Habs will likely force him to put “get cool gear” in the contract.
Pat said:
apparently the penguins have confirmed they wouldn’t be re-signing Malkin, so who knows if he could join the habs, but I enjoy considering the Crosby pipe dream a whole lot… can you imagine how insane that would be? holy. 😁
I think it would be cool for Habs fans, but the expectations on him would be ridiculous. They would want Sid to be the Sid from his prime and accept no less.
Regardless, he would still be an amazing 2nd line center and make the Habs depth in the middle 6 really strong.
But I am also a sucker for players who play their whole career for 1 team, especially a player that has meant so much to an organization.
I was sort of sad to see Ray Bourque go to the Avs, but he wanted a cup, so I get that.
Sid has nothing left to prove.
Malkin has also meant a lot to the Pens, but not as much. I think he would be really good for Demidov, too. But Malkin does have 1 more year left, so who knows how the Pens play that out (or if they wait til the deadline).
Will be interesting to see what they do with that second line.
Looks like Pronman thinks the Habs will go big too.
He projects the Habs to get LW Carter Bear (#16), LW Lynden Lakovik (#17), C William More (#41) and D Carter Klippenstien (#49) in the first 2 rounds.
While this all seems unlikely to land as predicted (even if the Habs keep their picks), it does point to the thought (among many) the Habs will pick bigger / tougher players
