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Highest scoring D core

Created by: jonh514
Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens
Initial Creation Date: Jan. 4, 2024
Published: Jan. 4, 2024
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
At 30 goals, the Canadiens lead the league in scoring by defensemen. It's great to lead the league in any category, it's been a long time since the Habs lead the league in any category other than goaltending.

Building a team from the blue line out does not necessarily mean low scoring games. It really just means that the strategy of how to create offence starts from an exceptional group of defensemen.

The Habs are gonna have to decide who stays and who goes though.

3 defensemen will have to leave this crowded blue line before the 2024-25 season. My money is on Kovacevic, Lidstrom & Savard
3 defensemen will have to leave this crowded blue line before the 2025-26 season. My money is on Matheson, Harris, & Struble

6 of the defensemen currently excelling for the Habs in 2023-24 won't be on this team in 2026. How crazy is that?

2025-26 defense will be a rotating group of the following 8:

Guhle Barron
Hutson Reinbacher
Xhekaj Mailloux
Engstrom Konyushkov

The depth is unreal. Konyushkov might be the least talked about and yet best of the bunch. Even better than Hutson.

Here's my take on the trades:
Free Agent Signings
RESERVE LISTYEARSCAP HIT
3$975,000
3$975,000
3$975,000
Trades
1.
MTL
  1. 2025 1st round pick (WSH)
  2. 2025 2nd round pick (COL)
Additional Details:
2024-25 trade deadline
2.
MTL
  1. 2025 2nd round pick (VAN)
Additional Details:
2023-24 trade deadline
3.
MTL
ANA
  1. Lindström, Gustav
Additional Details:
Free Agency or 2-way deal
4.
MTL
    Return depends on if they keep up the play for the last month through to next year

    2024-25 Draft
    BOS
    1. Harris, Jordan
    2. Struble, Jayden
    Additional Details:
    Somehow I see the beantown boys going home
    5.
    MTL
    1. 2024 2nd round pick (MTL)
    Additional Details:
    2023-24 trade deadline
    Buyouts
    Retained Salary Transactions
    DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
    2024
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the COL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MIN
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the SJS
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the EDM
    Logo of the WSH
    2025
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the CGY
    Logo of the WSH
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the PIT
    Logo of the COL
    Logo of the VAN
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the VAN
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the DET
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    2026
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    Logo of the MTL
    ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
    23$83,500,000$71,226,249$1,170,000$4,292,500$12,273,751
    Left WingCentreRight Wing
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $7,850,000$7,850,000
    LW, RW
    UFA - 8
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $7,875,000$7,875,000
    C
    UFA - 7
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $950,000$950,000 (Performance Bonus$3,500,000$4M)
    RW, LW
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $1,985,000$1,985,000 (Performance Bonus$15,000$15K)
    C, LW, RW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $1,700,000$1,700,000
    C
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $5,500,000$5,500,000
    RW, LW
    M-NTC
    UFA - 4
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $3,400,000$3,400,000
    RW, LW
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $4,450,000$4,450,000
    C
    M-NTC
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $6,500,000$6,500,000
    RW, LW
    M-NTC, NMC
    UFA - 4
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $812,500$812,500
    LW, RW
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $775,000$775,000
    C
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $775,000$775,000
    RW, LW
    RFA - 1
    Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$420,000$420K)
    LD/RD
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$275,000$275K)
    RD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $1,925,000$1,925,000
    G
    M-NTC
    UFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $975,000$975,000
    LD
    RFA - 3
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $950,000$950,000
    RD
    RFA - 4
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $828,333$828,333
    LD/RD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $875,000$875,000 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
    RD
    RFA - 3
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $890,000$890,000
    G
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $975,000$975,000
    LD
    RFA
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $975,000$975,000
    RD
    RFA
    ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $3,362,500$3,362,500
    C, RW
    RFA - 3
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $10,500,000$10,500,000
    G
    NMC
    UFA - 3
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $3,250,000$3,250,000
    LW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $2,900,000$2,900,000
    C, LW
    RFA - 4
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $1,100,000$1,100,000
    LW, RW
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the Montreal Canadiens
    $762,500$762,500
    RD
    UFA - 1

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    Jan. 4 at 11:09 a.m.
    #26
    Rip
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    Quoting: jonh514
    I didn't... I anointed them the highest scoring... Which they are.

    They have to clean up the defense for sure, but that's a team issue. Goaltending, forwards not back checking, experience.

    You can teach defense. It's harder to teach offence.


    You also didn't look into those numbers at all. 5 of the top 10 best shooting percentages on the Habs are defenceman. I'd wager no other team has that many D shooting that well. Meaning this is purely luck and will even out. For example Savard has a career shooting percentage of 4.8% and is shooting 17% on the season.

    While I am not trying to troll or chirp, I am just pointing out the importance of looking into things first before blowing small sample sizes way out of proportion
    Jan. 4 at 11:10 a.m.
    #27
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    Quoting: jonh514
    Why does it amaze you, you have plenty of data to back up the fact that it's the case. Are you bad at analyzing data or something?


    You don't have any data apart from goals scored.
    Jan. 4 at 11:10 a.m.
    #28
    PDG over PDO
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    Quoting: jonh514
    Teams do at the TDL every single year.


    Maybe so but it won't be Vancouver
    mv21227 liked this.
    Jan. 4 at 11:13 a.m.
    #29
    Bandwagon fairweathe
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    Jets need to reach a little higher than there old moose, if they stay in current trend, and hungry at deadline, they swing larger and hope for something a lot shinier than that. Possibly a fellow or two that have seen the cup final and a run. Possibly an upgrade at 2c and a rhd dman that would push top 4 minutes. Don’t want to mess too much with chemistry though.
    Jan. 4 at 12:05 p.m.
    #30
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    I think Struble is here to stay. Not only because of his performance, but how he plays. He keeps it simple with smart puck movement out of pressure, he plays physical, reads the play well, and doesn't take penalties.
    He could very well end up anchoring the 2nd pairing before too long.

    Hutson will likely be better used as a 3rd pairing PP specialist. I'm hoping we get at least that from him. If he ends up being more, great.

    Some people are down on Barron but there's no reason to be. He's 22 with less than 100 NHL games. By 200 games he should have worked the noticeable errors from his game and be able to contribute more offensively. He's still showing progression and no need to panic until that progression halts.

    Guhle is obviously a lock for #1. He's in a good place the team just needs to catch up around him.

    That leaves Xhekaj, Engstrom, Mailloux, and Reinbacher.
    I think the final decision comes between Mailloux and Engstrom.

    Harris, Kovacevic, and Konyushkov, are likely pushed out and traded if everything else goes as expected. Perhaps one of Mailloux or Engstrom as well.
    Only because we don't have room for everyone and we should get value for those we can't keep.

    I also think we should keep Savard until next year's TDL (and beyond if we are in a playoff position).
    Matheson is our main offensive defenseman right now, but moving him will give the others opportunity to contribute more and grow that side of their game.
    Our defense is doing well enough with offensive contributions by committee and we should be getting more looks at them with tough decisions coming up.

    My depth chart (L/R) would be:
    Guhle - Struble - Hutson - Xhekaj - Engstrom
    Barron - Reinbacher - Savard - Mailloux

    (Savard sticks around until Mailloux or another is ready)
    jonh514 liked this.
    Jan. 4 at 2:54 p.m.
    #31
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    Quoting: ClockReads2113
    This team has a whole lot of other issues, scoring from defensive isn't an important one. If they are spending their first it's on a young top 6 forward.


    Fair enough!
    ClockReads2113 liked this.
    Jan. 4 at 2:54 p.m.
    #32
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    Quoting: ricochetii
    I think Struble is here to stay. Not only because of his performance, but how he plays. He keeps it simple with smart puck movement out of pressure, he plays physical, reads the play well, and doesn't take penalties.
    He could very well end up anchoring the 2nd pairing before too long.

    Hutson will likely be better used as a 3rd pairing PP specialist. I'm hoping we get at least that from him. If he ends up being more, great.

    Some people are down on Barron but there's no reason to be. He's 22 with less than 100 NHL games. By 200 games he should have worked the noticeable errors from his game and be able to contribute more offensively. He's still showing progression and no need to panic until that progression halts.

    Guhle is obviously a lock for #1. He's in a good place the team just needs to catch up around him.

    That leaves Xhekaj, Engstrom, Mailloux, and Reinbacher.
    I think the final decision comes between Mailloux and Engstrom.

    Harris, Kovacevic, and Konyushkov, are likely pushed out and traded if everything else goes as expected. Perhaps one of Mailloux or Engstrom as well.
    Only because we don't have room for everyone and we should get value for those we can't keep.

    I also think we should keep Savard until next year's TDL (and beyond if we are in a playoff position).
    Matheson is our main offensive defenseman right now, but moving him will give the others opportunity to contribute more and grow that side of their game.
    Our defense is doing well enough with offensive contributions by committee and we should be getting more looks at them with tough decisions coming up.

    My depth chart (L/R) would be:
    Guhle - Struble - Hutson - Xhekaj - Engstrom
    Barron - Reinbacher - Savard - Mailloux

    (Savard sticks around until Mailloux or another is ready)


    Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing!
    ricochetii liked this.
    Jan. 4 at 2:57 p.m.
    #33
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    Quoting: RipNasty
    You don't have any data apart from goals scored.


    It amazes me how often responses from commenters like you ignore the context of your original comment when you cannot find any way to make yourself look good!
    Jan. 4 at 3:04 p.m.
    #34
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    Quoting: RipNasty
    You also didn't look into those numbers at all. 5 of the top 10 best shooting percentages on the Habs are defenceman. I'd wager no other team has that many D shooting that well. Meaning this is purely luck and will even out. For example Savard has a career shooting percentage of 4.8% and is shooting 17% on the season.

    While I am not trying to troll or chirp, I am just pointing out the importance of looking into things first before blowing small sample sizes way out of proportion


    Barron, Savard, Kovacevic, Struble percentages should come down. Matheson, Guhle, Harris shooting percentages are fine.

    But the Habs ARE playing a style of game that favours activating the D and it is working for them. The Bruins used to play like that back in Chara's prime. Anyway, thanks for sharing a response that was well thought out and not just tearing into my post. I much prefer this sort of discussion to the chirping from earlier.
    RipNasty liked this.
    Jan. 4 at 3:16 p.m.
    #35
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    Quoting: jonh514
    Barron, Savard, Kovacevic, Struble percentages should come down. Matheson, Guhle, Harris shooting percentages are fine.

    But the Habs ARE playing a style of game that favours activating the D and it is working for them. The Bruins used to play like that back in Chara's prime. Anyway, thanks for sharing a response that was well thought out and not just tearing into my post. I much prefer this sort of discussion to the chirping from earlier.


    That does mean 10 of the goals scored make sense and a large proportion of the remaining 20 goals have been extremely lucky and aren't sustainable. The average defenceman shoots around 4-6%
     
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