The Rebuild Thread

[Ozmodiar]

This roster will finish last for a decade like the Oilers,Laffs and Sabres just god awful.

The roster would finish no worse than this season's, and has players with upside.

Shanahan took over in 2014 with a plan to get rid of non-core pieces and build the prospect pool. They were back in the playoffs in 2016-17, with a true #1 center and plenty of young talent. They're there to stay.

Buffalo and Edmonton have made some bad decisions and have had bad goaltending (Myers, Hall, Lucic, etc). Even so, they have a #1 center and good prospect pools. The future still looks bright.

You might be content with a middling team fighting for a playoff spot, while keeping fingers crossed during free agency, which is fine. I'd rather see the team do what the GM said they'd do 6 years ago - build through the draft, be a perennial contender. This starts by taking matters into their own hands instead of pinning hopes on trades and signings that aren't likely to happen.

 

[Habs Icing]

Not sure MB can get 2 top6 centers, let alone a top3 and a borderline top6 one. With a top5 pick we can probably get a top2D ready in 3-4 years. Only way to be in the mix next year is the combo Dahlin/Tavares. Hopefully, if we don't get either one, they will go with a full rebuild, not signing Statsny to a 7 years deal.

We might not need 2 top6 centers, if AG27 can play 2nd line C role. Can't be worst than Drouin and we have to many wingers anyway.

There are UFAs this year, we have a top draft pick, we got Pacioretty to trade (he should have been traded after last year's playoffs) and lots of cap space. Please stop giving The Idiot excuses. A half decent GM in The Idiot's place could get the job done.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Alzner has played the most minutes of any Habs defenceman this season by almost 300 minutes. Average wise he'd be #3 behind Weber and Petry but the idea he doesn't play big minutes is incorrect. Shaw isn't a "pillar" or anything but he was signed for six years and plays #6 forward minutes despite having the skill of a third line winger who is often better suited for the fourth line.

Uh, Petry has played 1880:40, Alzner has played 1606:58. At least according to NHL.com (not the best database). I'm also not sure that means Alzner is a core player. Weber healthy makes Alzner the #3 D-man. Which is telling for how bad the Habs D core is even when healthy, but doesn't really make Alzner a "core" player (at least to me).

And Shaw is 9th in TOI/GP this year among forwards, which seems about right to me.

 

[Ozmodiar]

They can fill those three holes by signing a UFA, trading Pacioretty and using their top pick this year.

If that UFA is Tavares, then yes. Otherwise, they have to use Max to acquire center prospect(s).
Consolation prizes like Stastny or Bozak won't cut it.

 

[admiralcadillac]

If that UFA is Tavares, then yes. Otherwise, they have to use Max to acquire center prospect(s).
Consolation prizes like Stastny or Bozak won't cut it.

Honestly I wouldn't mind having Stastny if the price was right. He is definitely a stop gap and won't make the team competitive but he could potentially take the place of whatever no. 1 C we et so that the young guys can move into their proper positions.

 

[Price is Wright]

Uh, Petry has played 1880:40, Alzner has played 1606:58. At least according to NHL.com (not the best database). I'm also not sure that means Alzner is a core player. Weber healthy makes Alzner the #3 D-man. Which is telling for how bad the Habs D core is even when healthy, but doesn't really make Alzner a "core" player (at least to me).

And Shaw is 9th in TOI/GP this year among forwards, which seems about right to me.

My bad, you are correct, flipped the two. Shaw is 9th in TOI/GP because he doesn't play SH. EV TOI/GP and PP TOI/GP he's 6th.

 

[Captain Mountain]

My bad, you are correct, flipped the two. Shaw is 9th in TOI/GP because he doesn't play SH. EV TOI/GP and PP TOI/GP he's 6th.

If we're using TOI/GP, I'm going to use all of it. PKing is important. And I'm not sure why a guy who is 6th at ES or the PP would be a core piece if they aren't a young guy the team is developing.

 

[Price is Wright]

If we're using TOI/GP, I'm going to use all of it. PKing is important. And I'm not sure why a guy who is 6th at ES or the PP would be a core piece if they aren't a young guy the team is developing.

I agreed, he isn't core or a pillar, but it's pretty strange to sign a guy who isn't a core/pillar guy for more than half a decade.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Honestly I wouldn't mind having Stastny if the price was right. He is definitely a stop gap and won't make the team competitive but he could potentially take the place of whatever no. 1 C we et so that the young guys can move into their proper positions.

As long as MB sees him as a stop-gap and still makes moves to get center prospects, along with moves that set the team up to compete 2 years down the line.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

As opposed to those stupid proposals to unload all our "older" players for a bunch of maybes, hopefuls and wannabes?

This team is closer to the top than it is to the bottom despite what the standings say.

Elite starting goalie. (Price)
Excellent back up (if they sign Niemi).
Elite top pairing defenceman. (Weber)
Excellent 4 top 6 wingers (Drouin, Gallagher, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk)
Top 6 pick at worst or at best top pick in this year's draft.
A very good second pairing vet d-man (Petry)
A very good 3rd line centreman (Danualt)
Excellent 3rd line wingers (Hudon, Scherbak, Byron, Shaw)
Two excellent young d-men breaking in (Juulsen, Mete).

What's missing from that lineup to make the Habs a competitive team? Two legit top six centers and a top pair PMD. Seeing as Alzner's game has improved head and shoulders playing next to Juulsen we can slot him as the fifth d-man. Depending on the UFA signings, trades and draft pickups this team could be anything from a strong playoff performer next year to even a contender

Now you can tell me that The Idiot & his band of bumbling morons are incapable of discerning the holes in this team let alone filling them but I can counter with what makes you think they can handle a rebuild?

Aside from the trades and draft pickups the team also needs to make changes in the coaching and management staffs. If I were MB or Geoff two individuals I would hire immediately are Ducharme and Bouchard. Those two were mainly responsible for building two great junior Canadian teams that won gold and silver at the past two Championships at a point in the talent cycle when Canada has been on a downswing. I would put those two in charge of the Rocket. Also, Julien needs to bring in his own assistants and the pro scouting needs a revamp.

The big problem is you dont seem to understand that we wont be getting those three (2c's, 1 elite pmd) pieces outside of drafting, and by the time we do get them and they're ready to play, Weber and Price will be middle-age and Pacioretty will make too much $ for what he brings.

It's time for Tabula rasa

 

[WickedPegJets]

As long as MB sees him as a stop-gap and still makes moves to get center prospects, along with moves that set the team up to compete 2 years down the line.

Paul Stastny will end up like his fellow Czech countryman Pleks, no more pop to his offence while earning big bucks.

 

[jackeymoon]

So long as Molson owns this team don't expect any positive direction. The man is at the heart, nay IS the problem, not MB not Clod not even Therrible are as bad as the little beta dough boy himself. Said it once, I'll say it again: Worst owner in the NHL.

 

[jackeymoon]

Paul Stastny will end up like his fellow Czech countryman Pleks, no more pop to his offence while earning big bucks.

Expect he's not Czech, he's American.

 

[Vachon23]

Paul Stastny will end up like his fellow Czech countryman Pleks, no more pop to his offence while earning big bucks.

Statsny has way more toules in his skill set

 

[Habs Icing]

The big problem is you dont seem to understand that we wont be getting those three (2c's, 1 elite pmd) pieces outside of drafting, and by the time we do get them and they're ready to play, Weber and Price will be middle-age and Pacioretty will make too much $ for what he brings.

It's time for Tabula rasa

And what you don't seem to understand is that we CAN get those three pieces. There are3 ways of getting them: UFA, draft and trade. UFA's there will be two centers maybe three with JT. JT is the only top line center though but thank god we only need one top 3 center. Montreal is one of the few with the cap space to go after JT IF he leaves the Islanders. We can package Pacioretty for another and seeing we are drafting in the top 5 it won't take all that much time for that piece to develop.

That's what I think we can do. What will The Idiot do? That's another matter. I wouldn't put it past him to get JT. If Tavares leaves I can see MB signing him but the problem would be that's where he'll stop. He'll probably keep Drouin at center on the second line and trade Pacioretty without filling the 2nd center spot or the top left PMD.

 

[jackeymoon]

If that UFA is Tavares, then yes. Otherwise, they have to use Max to acquire center prospect(s).
Consolation prizes like Stastny or Bozak won't cut it.

Heard this on a podcast (The Box Score) but it bears repeating: Why on god's green earth would JT choose to sign here?

Lots of fans act like it's a fait accompli but why wouldn't he sign in one of; Vegas, Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit or NYR or even the Devils instead? If we assume he wants to win, Montreal is the worst place if we assume he likes money once again Montreal is the worst option....

 

[Per Sjoblom]

Paul Stastny will end up like his fellow Czech countryman Pleks, no more pop to his offence while earning big bucks.

His dad's fellow countryman perhaps, I believe he's born in Canada but a US citizen.

 

[Habs Icing]

His dad's fellow countryman perhaps, I believe he's born in Canada but a US citizen.

Paul was born in Quebec City but you're right he's a Yankee Doodle Dandy. His dad and his uncle were Slovakian not Czech.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

And what you don't seem to understand is that we CAN get those three pieces. There are3 ways of getting them: UFA, draft and trade. UFA's there will be two centers maybe three with JT. JT is the only top line center though but thank god we only need one top 3 center. Montreal is one of the few with the cap space to go after JT IF he leaves the Islanders. We can package Pacioretty for another and seeing we are drafting in the top 5 it won't take all that much time for that piece to develop.

That's what I think we can do. What will The Idiot do? That's another matter. I wouldn't put it past him to get JT. If Tavares leaves I can see MB signing him but the problem would be that's where he'll stop. He'll probably keep Drouin at center on the second line and trade Pacioretty without filling the 2nd center spot or the top left PMD.

Wanna bet sportsbook$ on JT's signing?

 

[Habs Icing]

Wanna bet sportsbook$ on JT's signing?

What do you want to bet?

 

[Laurentide]

Expect he's not Czech, he's American.

Technically he's a dual Canadian/American citizen having been born in Quebec City while his dad was playing for the Nordiques. But internationally I believe he suits up for Team USA since he'd never make Team Canada.

 

[LyricalLyricist]

We need 2-3 good drafts to restock. We need Dahlin to avoid a restock.

 

[Per Sjoblom]

Paul was born in Quebec City but you're right he's a Yankee Doodle Dandy. His dad and his uncle were Slovakian not Czech.

I seem to remember the Stastny Bros from the world cups playing Sweden, I believe they played for Czechoslovakia, Peter, Anton and Marian. I feared them because they were so good.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

What do you want to bet?

I give you 5 to 1 that he doesnt sign here. If you dont like the odds, we can do an avatar bet.

Yours would be "I dream of Jaytee" with JT's head on to Jeannie's body.

 

[Habaneros]

Heard this on a podcast (The Box Score) but it bears repeating: Why on god's green earth would JT choose to sign here?

Lots of fans act like it's a fait accompli but why wouldn't he sign in one of; Vegas, Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit or NYR or even the Devils instead? If we assume he wants to win, Montreal is the worst place if we assume he likes money once again Montreal is the worst option....

From what has been said, Tavares loves the HISTORY of hockey,and original 6 (Canadian teams).......seeing there is only 2 teams in Canada original 6....hmmmmm