Habs: The ROAD to the PLAYOFFS!

15 comments

1. No, too early for Montreal to get in the playoffs. Montreal was 26th in goal scoring last year and 26th in goals against. They were outshot on average last year by over six shots a game. These are not the numbers of a team on the cusp of suddenly leaping into the playoffs. That defense as built is way too leaky. We gave up the third most shots against last year better than only than Columbus and San Jose. We were worse than Chicago and the Islanders.
   Some of that potential starts to evolve Montreal has a chance to take a huge step forward. They are still looking at getting rid of some old veteran contracts in Savard, Armia, Anderson, Dvorak, and Gallagher. Some of those fall off the books this year if they aren't moved out.
   The goaltending is a little below average.
   Id like to see some young players carve themselves out a niche on the big club this year. Maybe the team takes a step forward the year after they do that. Lets see what a healthy year of dach or slavkovsky or hutson or mailloux looks like. Harris and barron and guhle are probably as good as they look right now. Kovacevic was one of the steadier and cost effective defensemen Montreal had on the roster. Im looking for the guys we kept to at least be better than him.
   Two years from now maybe a step forward.

   Washington was a terrible team last year. They gave up 40 more goals than they scored. They can't be your comparative metric. Montreal needs to be way better than that when they make the playoffs.

2. I believe Dach coming back will help a lot, as will having the top line together all season. Seeing the D a year older also helps, but I believe one of the overlooked areas of improvement is going to be not having 3 goalies. Giving all 3 goalies reps made it difficult for any one of them to find a rhythm.

3. Personally I'm not at all concerned if the HABS don't reach the playoffs in the upcoming season and I certainly wouldn't expect it.

   The rebuild should not be rushed, and I fully trust and respect how the HABS management are sticking to their plan.

4. Habs will be a. Playoff team soon but have to get a lot bigger and harder to play against and to me Caulfield and Suzuki will be on the 2nd line in the future with a big hard to play against forward Slav and Kirby dach and the new Russian will be top line lets find out this season on the defensive side who is in the future plans for D men and start trading away assets and bad Contracts to get money of the books and we have to get a lot bigger and tougher to become a playoff hockey team and go on some deep runs and I am not saying the top line is much better then 2nd it's just putting a big line out there to match up every night and gives Suzuki and Caulfield better match ups moving forward

5. The Habs will fight for a playoff spot if they stay healthy the big key players will Armia and Anderson and Kirby dach if these 3 players have great years like they can and Roy steps in as well as Newhook they will contend that said they will not compete on the defensive side of the game with the way this coaching staff wants them to play so top two things have to happen stay healthy and coaching for the Habs to fight for a playoff spot that said one more year bottom team is fine as well this year should be all about letting the Young players play to see what they have and getting bad contracts off the books and plan for getting bigger and harder to play against

6. Very good analysis and discussion. keep it coming

7. Don’t forget in your thinking other teams are improving as well! With this being year 3 of the rebuild Habs are one to two years away from making the playoffs which is ok patients is key here to building a long lasting winning team!

8. Let us know in the comments whether you think the Habs can hit any of these benchmarks. We're not necessarily saying that they can hit these numbers but they are not far off in some areas…Stay tuned next week- we'll break down individual player predictions to see if it all adds up to a team that can maybe contend for a wildcard spot…

9. Thanks Coach, Enortap and Marko…good show last night and this captured the theme of the podcast👍

10. This is a cool video. How did last year's Habs compare with the team that made it into the Stanley Cup finals a few years ago. What statistic is the best for measuring clutch goals?

11. Good stuff Coach!

12. Habs need one more foward for nezt yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar.

13. WOW guys, this was a home run for me, it's so clear that if a few things click that went astray last season, like Anderson bouncing back, we could watch a lot of good hockey. Brilliant analysis Coach & comments from the 'brain trust' lol.

14. Montreal has something like $5.5 million cap space, not including Price's ltir.

    Makes no sense to leave so much salary cap on the table.
    At least acquire assets for February trade deadline.
    A player other teams may want but don't have money right now.

    I have a feeling Hughes is shopping and if he brings in 1-2 roster players, a winger and center, with experience crucial to successful PK and PP

    Habs may be in wildcard contention hitting 90+ points.

    The biggest difference this season will be goalies.
    They've settled in, they're not playing musical chairs with goalie coaches anymore.
    All the prospects talent and potential still can't stop that puck.

    It boils down to goalies – the key to this season

    Not a Hab but been following rebuild closely the last couple of years. Interesting with an original 6.

    Keep your friends close and your long time hockey rivals closer!
    It's all for fun.

    ✌️

15. Second line is still the big question mark for me even with Dach coming back. There's still a pretty big hole on the wing. I think one of Roy or Newhook can get us there but not both.