Proposal: What are the Montreal Canadiens' priorities to make them a Stanley Cup contender?3 choices

[Nevins]

What are the Montreal Canadiens' priorities to make them a Stanley Cup contender? 3 choices

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[MasterD]

A bit of all of that, but we're really, really short on talent at forward.

Hutson/Reinbacher/Mailloux/Barron/Guhle/Struble/Xhekaj is all the talent we need at D to contend.

MSL isn't great but he's fine. We need a real PP coach though.

We're not great at G, but Fowler should be good. If Cam Ward and Anti Niemi can win cups, you don't need a superstar.

 

[HabzSauce]

Recruiting, development and coaches. That's the foundation right there - everything else on your list comes from those 3

 

[Gravity]

Recruiting, 2 star Fs (although just one would be nice and suffice), and a bonafide #1D.

 

[JianYang]

Whichever of these options that gives you the ability to find a top end center are the correct answers.

 

[Miller Time]

We have, or are on the way to having, all of the above... now it's just about being patient and hoping that the bad juju we've been navigating since leaving the forum can finally be put behind us.

 

[Habs13]

We are the worst team in the league for goals by forwards. I keep saying it. Because it needs to change.

 

[Hickflyer]

#1 Fire HUGO

 

[TesseractPrice]

I voted for taller and bigger forwards but what I what the team really needs IMO is having more physical two-way forwards who can cycle the puck

One big reason the Wings and the Habs lately are doing better than Ottawa and Buffalo despite having way less firepower offensively and star forwards is because their forwards are much better at preventing goals against (even though the Habs aren't even good in that department). Ottawa and Buffalo rely way too much on turnovers and odd-men-rush to generate offence and get snuffed when the play gets tighter. They haven't even made the playoffs but if they did, they'd do even worse than in reg season

A star forward would obviously do wonders but solid, two-way, tough-to play-against forwards are even more of a pressing need. A player in the mould of Ryan Leonard would be a perfect acquisition next draft

 

[BLONG7]

Scoring Forwards
Scoring Forwards
Scoring Forwards

 

[nhlfan9191]

A PPG forward, ideally a center, that drives the play and makes the players on his line better, a legitimate number 1D, and better overall depth at all positions. If we have 3 those things, we’re likely going to contend. Right now, I don’t think we have any of those things even in a potential scenario outside of possibly good depth at some point.

 

[Lshap]

Two star forwards are the most obvious need. Right now, they're nowhere to be found on the team or in our prospect pool.

Scouting would be next, but I wasn't sure if that was what was meant by "Recruiting team", so I left that one out. Seems obvious that picking the right players in the draft is crucial and a lot more than luck. There are scouting staffs who've found multiple top forwards while our staff hasn't hit a single one. Some scouts manage to see what we continue to miss.

Development is another obvious pick. So many promising prospects whose careers can be helped or hurt by their coaches.

I also voted for Coaching, since development and coaching are so closely linked. I'm not thrilled by the reports of Laval's coaching, and I'm concerned Marty might not be the guy to turn a good Habs roster into a contender. He's been terrific for young players during a rebuild, but do you see him out-coaching another team in the playoffs?

 

[Tyson]

The Oliers come to mind when thinking of two star forwards. This is important but everything starts with scouting and development.
The one thing that I also voted for was to be bigger as a team. Can't win 4 seven games series being too small.

 

[WinterLion]

The most important thing for a cup winner is a stud D who can tilt the ice and play big minutes.

 

[vokiel]

You will not make them a contender with these choices. Why did you leave out the right options? Center line, coaching, etc... Better assistant coaches? Might as well ask for bigger hot dogs.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

A true number one center would make a huge difference. Add that and we’d be in great shape going forward. Most of the pieces for a strong team are already there.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The most important thing for a cup winner is a stud D who can tilt the ice and play big minutes.

I think we’ll have that in spades.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

We are the worst team in the league for goals by forwards. I keep saying it. Because it needs to change.

I don’t think that would’ve been the case if we had Dach and Newhook. CC is having a strange year. Roy is also on the way. It’s not as dire as it looks.

But a number one C would be an incredible difference maker.

 

[Wayfarer13]

I would go the first as it would encompasses the rest for the most part.

 

[LaP]

Voted : Building an exceptionnel recruiting team, Have a better quality development system and Have better coaches( NHL,AHL,ECHL).

If you have that the rest will fall into place.

 

[Rapala]

I never knew a proposal could be made in the form of a question?

 

[Habs]

add 'a new style of play', because resorting back to the Dump and Chase every other year blows for everyone in hockey, especially the fans.

 

[OldCraig71]

We will need the holy trinity on the roster before we can contend.

Number one center
Number one defenseman
Number one goalie

All three are important parts of a contending team. We need more than just good players filling those roles but rather players whose talent level places them in those positions. If you have all three you can fill the roster with players that compliment them. So far we are 0-3.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

#1 C, #1 D, and a legit starter

 

[Kosseca]

Well... all the choices are good here, no bad options per say. T I would suspect that one's choice would be driven by two underling principle: timeline to cup and potential to repeat.

If you view is to win in the short term, you'll be more incline to pick option that speak to player personnel. Someone with long term vision would look at drafting and development.

I mean I pick the 2 skilled forward and the 1D as I see this being the key element missing. now whether they come through trade or development, I don't care, I'm just think that without these, you can't win with the current making of this roster