HF Habs: The official 2023-2024 tank thread

[The Gr8 Dane]

Call me crazy but I think Slaf is the best europ young player since Ovy//Malkin.

David Pastrnak
Leon Draisaitl
Kirill Kaprizov
Artemi Panarin
Miro Heiskanen
Nikita Kucherov
Aleksander Barkov
Elias Pettersson
Rasmus Dahlin

At least the wins are coming from the first line + ghule newhook monty and jackeye , struble is also getting reps

Its not all bad its not like Anderson Pearson and Gallagher are scoring hat tricks

 

[Tyson]

Unless the Habs win the lottery they will still draft a very good player. From what I understand the top 10 picks (after Celibrini) are pretty interchangeable. You always draft for BPA because you draft for 3-5 years down the road.
Folks need to understand that these guys are building a good culture which is based on swagger and winning, they will not tank from the GM on down.

 

[Lshap]

Drafting 5-8th this year after drafting #1 and #5 is most definitely a tanking success. Sure, we all want the best possible pick, but there was no logical reason to expect another year at the very bottom. Considering some of our young core is entering their early prime, we really shouldn't be that bad.

Besides, it's not like the Habs can simply decide to drop in the standings and everyone will get out of our way. Other teams are also aiming for a better draft position. Hoping to draft 5th, but picking 7th is still a win.

 

[Miller Time]

Call me crazy but I think Slaf is the best europ young player since Ovy//Malkin.

I can't quickly think of any who were performing at this level in the NHL before 20....

Rantanen had a similarly productive 19 year old season, but on a far better team and not playing at the end to end impact level Slaf has been at since January.

EP, Kuch, Pastrnak, Panarin, Kaprizoz... They all started being impact NHLers a bit later.

Maybe Drai & Kopitar are the closest, or better, at the same age, but at best marginally so.

But, he's got a long way to go to reach the heights these guys have hit. Getting to the level he's at this fast is impressive, but getting to the elite tier remains a big hurdle that is no given... Will be fun to see if the big guy can cross it

 

[WeThreeKings]

Colorado is basically us with a better first line.. they just buy time for Nate to get back out there. Thoroughly unimpressed with this team.

Things starting to go off the rails as we are now 2 wins above expected. Philly sucks shit so getting another point more than expected is a foregone conclusion.

Opponents	Expected Result	Actual Result
NSH; CAR; TOR	W; L; L	W; L; L
CBJ; BOS; CGY	W; L; OTL	W; OTL; L
EDM; VAN	L; L	OTL; L
SEA; COL; PHI; CAR	OTL; L; OTL; L	W; W;
FLA; TB; TOR	L; OTL; L
NYR; PHI; NYI; OTT	L; OTL; OTL; W
DET; DET	W; L
	Expected Points	Actual Points
	6 pts	10 pts

 

[Naslundforever]

David Pastrnak
Leon Draisaitl
Kirill Kaprizov
Artemi Panarin
Miro Heiskanen
Nikita Kucherov
Aleksander Barkov
Elias Pettersson
Rasmus Dahlin

At least the wins are coming from the first line + ghule newhook monty and jackeye , struble is also getting reps

Its not all bad its not like Anderson Pearson and Gallagher are scoring hat tricks

Ha I’m with Kev; Slaf makes these noobs look like they are in a lesser league.

Seriously though am I wrong or the odds habs draft 4th or better are practically dead and the difference between the 5-6-7 potential prospects is a mystery at best? I literally only know about that guy that plays the right half boards Hutson passes to on the pp… The hype is nowhere near the last few years?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Ha I’m with Kev; Slaf makes these noobs look like they are in a lesser league.

Seriously though am I wrong or the odds habs draft 4th or better are practically dead and the difference between the 5-6-7 potential prospects is a mystery at best?

Habs can't really pick 4th now, 6 points with 11 games left is too much to overcome, you'd basically need the Jackets to win 3 more games than us over that stretch, so if we went like 4-7-0, the Jackets need to go 7-4-0 and that's just not an attainable figure for either roster.

 

[Naslundforever]

Habs can't really pick 4th now, 6 points with 11 games left is too much to overcome, you'd basically need the Jackets to win 3 more games than us over that stretch, so if we went like 4-7-0, the Jackets need to go 7-4-0 and that's just not an attainable figure for either roster.

That’s what I figured (have not looked it up for a few days). I’ll start reading prospect lists and watching vids then, assuming odds are teams also don’t move much in the lottery either. Lazy prospect hobbyist lol.


edit - craps, this dude on Sportsnet has a bunch of D up there in those spots… I’ll find lists where a giant right winger that looks like Slaf’s mirrored image is available at 6 and use my confirmation bias to validate it before being obstinate on here so I feel I belong.

Scout's Analysis: Ranking the top 40 prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft

Back with his second rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, scout Jason Bukala expands his list to 40 names, with one very familiar still at the top.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Miller Time]

Unless the Habs win the lottery they will still draft a very good player. From what I understand the top 10 picks (after Celibrini) are pretty interchangeable. You always draft for BPA because you draft for 3-5 years down the road.
Folks need to understand that these guys are building a good culture which is based on swagger and winning, they will not tank from the GM on down.

 

[Naslundforever]

No comment.

Glad I'm not even bothering to watch the games anymore as it would be too frustrating.

Can't compete and can't tank properly at all, middle of the pack in our last big chance for a tanking year.

Sigh.

Well there are more than a dozen teams which makes them bottom 20% about… Pretty sucky if you ask me.

Not digging the Colin White era? Ohhhh the anticipation when they send Gallagher and Anderson and you know the Whitester is about to jump on with RHP…

 

[GrandmaCookie]

David Pastrnak
Leon Draisaitl
Kirill Kaprizov
Artemi Panarin
Miro Heiskanen
Nikita Kucherov
Aleksander Barkov
Elias Pettersson
Rasmus Dahlin

At least the wins are coming from the first line + ghule newhook monty and jackeye , struble is also getting reps

Its not all bad its not like Anderson Pearson and Gallagher are scoring hat tricks

Lmao yes that was a wild take. It is great that Slafkovsky is producing like he is but take like these makes us Habs supporter look delusional.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Montreal went .500 on that very tough road trip: 2-2-1. I figured they would. They're actually stronger on the road this year than at home. The road is where we've picked up the vast majority of our loser points.

4th place is no longer achievable. I would say 5th is highly unlikely too. Arizona's schedule is really hard to the end of the season now.

They have: Nashville, NYR, Vancouver x 2, Vegas, SJS, Seattle, Edmonton x 2 & Calgary. They'll beat SJS maybe Seattle. At most 2 wins.

Montreal has more winnable games: Philadelphia x 2, Detroit x 2, NYI & Ottawa. We also tend to play NYR's well. I wouldn't be surprised if we go .500 rest of way.

We won't catch Seattle (now only 5 pts up). They have a ridiculously easy schedule: 2 more games against Anaheim, as well as one against SJS should keep them ahead of us.

Calgary (now only 5 pts up) also has 2 more games against Anaheim, one against SJS and one against Arizona. They should stay ahead too.

Basically, it's down to only Ottawa catching us. They have a tough schedule too with only one easy game: Chicago. It's likely going to come down to the Ottawa vs Montreal game.

#6 or #7 pre-lottery is the most likely outcome.

 

[Miller Time]

Lmao yes that was a wild take. It is great that Slafkovsky is producing like he is but take like these makes us Habs supporter look delusional.

Might want to double check that list and where those players were at in their 19yr old season...

It's delusional to compare the current state of veteran NHL performers to that of a 19 year old

 

[salbutera]

 

[26Mats]

For sure one of Beck or Mesar should be replace by the end of the lottery picks in this year's draft. Maybe both will be.

 

[Ezpz]

The only good thing is the only game remaining against a shitter piece of crap team is the Sens. We're facing a bunch of contenders and all of the teams competing for the East wildcard spot except Washington. Detroit in particular could have their season in their hands the final two games and really need it bad.

 

[Ezpz]

I don't think Mesar or Beck are in that top 5-6 list tbh. I'd have Engstrom, Konyshkov, that Russian goalie, and possibly more in front of them. I hate to say it but I think I even like Xhekaj's upside better.

In particular for Mesar a lot of people keep saying he's still one of the best but his team fell off, but none of the other big guns numbers fell off at all.

 

[Miller Time]

I don't think Mesar or Beck are in that top 5-6 list tbh. I'd have Engstrom, Konyshkov, that Russian goalie, and possibly more in front of them. I hate to say it but I think I even like Xhekaj's upside better.

In particular for Mesar a lot of people keep saying he's still one of the best but his team fell off, but none of the other big guns numbers fell off at all.

It was by position... Not top 5 overall

 

[26Mats]

No comment.

Glad I'm not even bothering to watch the games anymore as it would be too frustrating.

Can't compete and can't tank properly at all, middle of the pack in our last big chance for a tanking year.

Sigh.

I'm a huge tanker, but you missed a really good hockey game last night. This was one of those really good 2-1 games. Not sure if you remember the 2-1 win we had over the Leafs where Kovalchuk scored the OT winner off of a rebound of a Suzuki breakaway, but it was sort of like that.

One of the things that made this game so exciting was how skilled and good the Avs were. They probably had more chances than us on the night. But there were many points when they'd dominate and pass the puck around like the Harlem Globtrotters and generate so many chances, only to be stoned by Montembault. But then we'd come back and have like 4 or 5 shifts in a row where each line was either keeping the puck deep and cycling to get chances or getting grade A chances on the counter attack. It was incredible hockey and our players had incredible fight, mixed with nice plays to create scoring chances, all while watching Makar, McKinnon, Rantenen and their crew was like watching the Globetrotters. It would have been nice if there were playoff implications on the line like the Toronto game I referenced. But from a pure hockey standpoint, it was a good one, imo.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

Might want to double check that list and where those players were at in their 19yr old season...

It's delusional to compare the current state of veteran NHL performers to that of a 19 year old

Dalhin, Pettersson top of my head has better D+2. Kopitar too

 

[Miller Time]

For sure one of Beck or Mesar should be replace by the end of the lottery picks in this year's draft. Maybe both will be.

Watch the Habs go way off the board and take a goalie with our first pick ... The collective emotional breakdown around here would almost be worth it lol

 

[tnq]

Man. Ive been wanting for a real rebuild for 30years.

Happy me : 4 first round picks in 2 years….
But no.

After all this pain, we ended with the worst first overall pick since Yakupov. Then we pick a bust with our 2nd first round pick.

The year after? We reach for a 30-40pts defenceman in one of the best draft for offensive players. And we traded our 2nd first rounder for an undersized 3rd line player in Newhook.

Ohhh yeah fefans will say : « Newhook is full of potential. 70pts player incoming » and « Reinbacher is Josi #2 » and « Slafkovsky is Rantanen » and « Mesar is Suzuki lite ». f*** that.

Can we just draft offensive players? We need a PPG forward. Alex Kovalev is the last one. Its been what? 15

Man. Ive been wanting for a real rebuild for 30years.

Happy me : 4 first round picks in 2 years….
But no.

After all this pain, we ended with the worst first overall pick since Yakupov. Then we pick a bust with our 2nd first round pick.

The year after? We reach for a 30-40pts defenceman in one of the best draft for offensive players. And we traded our 2nd first rounder for an undersized 3rd line player in Newhook.

Ohhh yeah fefans will say : « Newhook is full of potential. 70pts player incoming » and « Reinbacher is Josi #2 » and « Slafkovsky is Rantanen » and « Mesar is Suzuki lite ». f*** that.

Can we just draft offensive players? We need a PPG forward. Alex Kovalev is the last one. Its been what? 15 years?

Have a good meal

 

[26Mats]

I don't think Mesar or Beck are in that top 5-6 list tbh. I'd have Engstrom, Konyshkov, that Russian goalie, and possibly more in front of them. I hate to say it but I think I even like Xhekaj's upside better.

In particular for Mesar a lot of people keep saying he's still one of the best but his team fell off, but none of the other big guns numbers fell off at all.

Note that list is by position. We should get at least 1 forward prospect that will replace eithe Beck or Mesar in the lottery of this year's draft. Hughes might also trade for a young forward with the Jets 1st.


....

Jets lose again!

I'm getting cautiously excited about that pick. Could be low 20's.

Watch the Habs go way off the board and take a goalie with our first pick ... The collective emotional breakdown around here would almost be worth it lol

Well after the Price pick, and how well Slaf is doing, I think we'd be more open minded...

But, one thing's for sure, if we take a dman it's because the scouts believe that dman will be damn good. Martin Lapointe is already on record saying they're optimistic this is the type of draft a good forward will fall to them. So we know they want a forward (unless he's using the media to misdirect the other teams).

 

[Miller Time]

Dalhin, Pettersson top of my head has better D+2. Kopitar too

Dahlin / EP meh in my mind...

Either way, point that Slaf is in the conversation is fair rather than outlandish

 

[GrandmaCookie]

Dahlin / EP meh in my mind...

Either way, point that Slaf is in the conversation is fair rather than outlandish

Take the time to read the comment you are trying to defend lol. The best != in the conversation