I don't expect Kent Hughes to do big changes this offseason a part from the obvious - shedding cap and bottom 6 luxury players and trading Petry.
I don't expect big signings, nor do I expect any players wanting to sign in MTL.
BUT, I don't expect the habs to be competing for last place next season. I expect a bounce back from Gally, Drouin (last contract year) and Dvorak.
I want to bring back Tatar to kickstart Gally - he need his old linemate.
THE LINES:
Drouin, Jonathan - Suzuki, Nick - Caufield, Cole
I am expecting a big season from Drouin in his last contract year... all player play better then. He will be put on Suzuki's line to feed Caufield the puck.
It will be the best linemates he ever got while playing in MTL. He never played with better players.
That line will be terrible defensivly but will be spectacular. If we are going to lose, we are gonna have a show on the ice.
CC revenge tour had already begun... he 100% getting 30 this year.
Tatar, Tomas - Wright, Shane - Gallagher, Brendan
I want to bring back Tatar to kickstart Gally - he need his old linemate.
I want to recreate one of the best 5v5 line in the last few year... but with Shane Wright instead of Danault.
The two veterans can show him how its done. It a good position for SW to learn.
Team will take a lot of defensive mission, but will ended up often in the O-zone.
Ylönen, Jesse - Dvorak, Christian - Anderson, Josh
I want Ylonen in the line-up this year. He's got great potential and deserves a shot.
This is Anderson default line as he is too inconsistent. Will move up and down the line-up with Drouin.
Harvey-Pinard, Rafaël - Evans, Jake - Byron, Paul
Same for RHP.
This line will be a good forcheck line with a lot of defensive responsibility
THE D CORE:
This D core will be a most violent one. They won't be good. but they will block shot and chose violence every night.
Teams will hate to play against the habs (the will win... but will be bruised like hell)
Edmundson, Joel - Savard, David
Most mobile Duo in the league ahahah.
The corner and net front will be a hostile place.
I expect a bounce back from Savard in term of speed... expecting him to shed 15lbs this offseason.
Romanov, Alexander - Subban, P.K.
I know PK is probably not coming back to MTL... but lets be honest that it would be unbelievably cute to have Romy be mentored by PK... like Markov did for the latter. Come on.... you can't write it better than
that.
This reminds me of Emelin and Subban, very mobile and A LOT of TUNDEROUS hits... (and a few slewfoots)
Guhle, Kaiden - Xhekaj, Arber
Guhle and Xhekaj are known to be pretty violent and physical. They will get an opportunity to crush some ribs on a daily.
They will somehow become the best MTL pair by the end of the season, but will get exposed at the start of the season.
Therefore, i expect a rotation with Harris and Schunerman
I also expect them to be split up with Savard and Eddy.
Jacket decline. I wouldn’t trade a 2nd for Petry, so I definitely wouldn’t add a player. Maybe if it was Petry and a 2nd for Nyquist, but I still would probably pass, as I don’t think Petry is a good fit for the Jackets with his age and that contract.
Dont sign PK and dont even try to compare him to Markov please. Play Romy with Savard, they were good together last year. Play Edmunson with Barron or Harris. Evaluate Guhle and Xhekaj at the training camp. Play one of them in Laval and the other with Shueneman/Wideman/Harris/Barron.
Jacket decline. I wouldn’t trade a 2nd for Petry, so I definitely wouldn’t add a player. Maybe if it was Petry and a 2nd for Nyquist, but I still would probably pass, as I don’t think Petry is a good fit for the Jackets with his age and that contract.
Petry is worth more than a 2nd imo. He was on a 34 point pace if it wasnt for missed games. He had something like 8 points in 40 games under Ducharme, but when he came back under St-Louis he started playing like he did the previous years. Everyone on the habs was awfull under Ducharme.
This is a guy who was in conversation for the Norris last year at one point, and he has 4 season in a row with at least 40 points (before this season).
RHD are very valuable these days and team are willing to pay a premium for them, like we saw with the Ristolainen and Seth Jones trades.
For a team like Pittsburg, to replace Letang or Dallas to replace Klingberg, he could be a good fit.
Petry is worth more than a 2nd imo. He was on a 34 point pace if it wasnt for missed games. He had something like 8 points in 40 games under Ducharme, but when he came back under St-Louis he started playing like he did the previous years. Everyone on the habs was awfull under Ducharme.
This is a guy who was in conversation for the Norris last year at one point, and he has 4 season in a row with at least 40 points (before this season).
RHD are very valuable these days and team are willing to pay a premium for them, like we saw with the Ristolainen and Seth Jones trades.
For a team like Pittsburg, to replace Letang or Dallas to replace Klingberg, he could be a good fit.
You could be right, we’ll see what he gets. He isn’t worth that to the Jackets is my main point. And to the Risto and Jones comparisons, he is 7 years older then they are. I think if a team was willing to give a 2nd for him, we would have seen him moved to a contender at the TDL. But again you could be right, and he might get a 2nd+ return in the offseason, I just really hope it’s not us that does that.
Petry is worth more than a 2nd imo. He was on a 34 point pace if it wasnt for missed games. He had something like 8 points in 40 games under Ducharme, but when he came back under St-Louis he started playing like he did the previous years. Everyone on the habs was awfull under Ducharme.
This is a guy who was in conversation for the Norris last year at one point, and he has 4 season in a row with at least 40 points (before this season).
RHD are very valuable these days and team are willing to pay a premium for them, like we saw with the Ristolainen and Seth Jones trades.
For a team like Pittsburg, to replace Letang or Dallas to replace Klingberg, he could be a good fit.
Yeah he was worth that 2 years ago, not anymore. Making 6.25 till he's 37 that is extremely risky deal to take on and lowers his value. If he picks it up again though as other MTL guys did after the coaching change, maybe part with that 2nd and a mid prospect, not nyquist. But I would want his contract retained, which for that many years left doesn't make sense for MTL to do either. You may just be stuck with him unless you contract dump him to a rebuilder, not a team trying to step up to a wild card spot.
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