Line Combos: What are the MTL Canadiens' greatest needs to become a Stanley Cup-winning team? by Priority.
- Thread starter Nevins
- Start date
I think a better question to ask is what are the current needs to make us a playoff team. I think only then once we've started trying to win 16 games in May/June can we pinpoint the greatest need(s) to put us over the top. I'm trying to think of teams who got back into the post season after missing out for a number of years and went on to win it all.
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Kairi Zaide
Unforgiven
BigHabs
#11
- Aug 3, 2009
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I think with the right goalie this team is going to see a shift sooner rather than later.
They are soon going to be ridding themselves of veteran guys for youth. They did this year and will over the next two years. I get excited not about the offense but imagine a true star goalie behind this in the near future.
Hutson Reinbacher
Guhle Mailloux
Xhekaj Barron
Harris Kovacevic
I know they have to all pan out but my god that defense has pretty much everything. Grit, scoring, mobility, shooting, defense, hitting, fight here and there.
Like the offense we know what we have and we will continue to add, but the defense the pieces are literally already there they just need the development. Which is why I believe the right goalie this team is taking off in the next 1-2 years.
They are soon going to be ridding themselves of veteran guys for youth. They did this year and will over the next two years. I get excited not about the offense but imagine a true star goalie behind this in the near future.
Hutson Reinbacher
Guhle Mailloux
Xhekaj Barron
Harris Kovacevic
I know they have to all pan out but my god that defense has pretty much everything. Grit, scoring, mobility, shooting, defense, hitting, fight here and there.
Like the offense we know what we have and we will continue to add, but the defense the pieces are literally already there they just need the development. Which is why I believe the right goalie this team is taking off in the next 1-2 years.
Andrei79
Registered User
- Jan 25, 2013
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I think they have needs everywhere, with a lot of potential on defense, some potential at center already in the NHL, some potential at wings in the NHL, a lack of developed high end talent and a lack of goaltending.
Nevins
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- Jul 12, 2014
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I agree with you the defense is very solid. They lacks elite offensive talent (at least 2) and a true #1 goaltender.
Bingo
salbutera
Registered User
- Sep 10, 2019
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Forward skill, size and depth.
Health- so many injuries in previous years
Development- Slaf, Guhle, Barron, etc need to be on the ice. Not hurt or on the bench.
Health- so many injuries in previous years
Development- Slaf, Guhle, Barron, etc need to be on the ice. Not hurt or on the bench.
#1 Center but I'm hopeful that perhaps Kirby can take over.
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Add an E and a B and an F only then we can start making music.
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HabzSauce
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- Jun 10, 2022
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Fowler hopefully. He looks good. Time will tell.
If not maybe Dustin wolf? He's RFA in 2024. I really like Levi too but I doubt BUF would trade him now
SOLR
Registered User
CristianoRonaldo
Registered User
calder candidate
Registered User
I don’t think it is a specific role but we need more elite offensive talent and a goalie
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
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Two more strong drafts and ridding us of the 3 to 4 overpaid and underperforming veterans that are swallowing up so much of our cap space.
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Twisted Sinister
Living in Your Head Rent Free
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DailyKaizen
Registered User
Voted Goalie thinking I would be in the massive minority, surprised with the voting results, Suzuki is our number centre and more than competent at that…I guess the question can be misunderstood because it could be interpreted as being framed as…
What is needed from what we have to obtain a SC?
Versus
What is needed from what we don’t have to obtain a SC?
What is needed from what we have to obtain a SC?
Versus
What is needed from what we don’t have to obtain a SC?
Scintillating10
Registered User
Duh! Only thing we been needing for last 30 years. Habs can't svore. Need An offensive star. Already costs us 4 or 5 cups. They won't come here. Because of taxes, climate and intense media pressure.
Habs building defense, it's going to be good enough. If Vegas can win Cup with Admin Hill, Monty and Allen good enough.. need big star
Habs building defense, it's going to be good enough. If Vegas can win Cup with Admin Hill, Monty and Allen good enough.. need big star
HabsWhiteKnightLOL
Registered User
a superstar player like any teams that won the cup in the last 50 years
Perhaps we will draft one with a top 5 pick
Oh. better chance next draft
Perhaps we will draft one with a top 5 pick
Oh. better chance next draft
1) Said it before, I love Suzuki but I'd love it more if he was our #2 C. A lot of people are saying star talent, but anyone who can make Suzuki the #2 C is a star. Two needs, one player.
2) Goalie. I've heard good things about Fowler, haven't seen much of him. I know Vegas just won with Hill, but the idea is to increase the likelihood of winning every year, and a superior talent in net does just that. Doesn't need to be a 10mil guy, but an above average, steady and consistent one is great.
3) Goal Scorer. Caufield 40-50, Suzuki ~30+ after those two it's a bit up in the air what our potential top 6 can do. Dach seems like he can score around 20+ but does he have it in him to get 30? Ditto for Newhook. Slafkovsky is up in the air, is he ~20, 25+, 30+? (Yes I know, he's a bust). Anderson is good for 20-25. Those seem like our future top 6 with the current NHLers (Yes I know, Slaf belongs in the AHL) and unless two of the three become 30 goal scorers, Montreal could certainly use a scorer.
4) Power forward. Anderson is one, hoping Slafkovsky becomes one (Yes I know, he's a bust) and I feel Heineman will provide that element for sure. Hoping Slafkovsky can sort it out, as it's a more talented power forward than Anderson that we need.
5) RD. Reinbacher and Mailloux are my projected top 2 RD, not a difficult projection. Maybe Kovacevic is the long-term answer, but Montreal could use a rock-steady 3rd pairing RD to play PK and thus decent minutes, because Hutson and Mailloux likely won't feature on the PK.
6) QB. Between Hutson and Mailloux I'd say this easily ranks lowest on the priority list.
2) Goalie. I've heard good things about Fowler, haven't seen much of him. I know Vegas just won with Hill, but the idea is to increase the likelihood of winning every year, and a superior talent in net does just that. Doesn't need to be a 10mil guy, but an above average, steady and consistent one is great.
3) Goal Scorer. Caufield 40-50, Suzuki ~30+ after those two it's a bit up in the air what our potential top 6 can do. Dach seems like he can score around 20+ but does he have it in him to get 30? Ditto for Newhook. Slafkovsky is up in the air, is he ~20, 25+, 30+? (Yes I know, he's a bust). Anderson is good for 20-25. Those seem like our future top 6 with the current NHLers (Yes I know, Slaf belongs in the AHL) and unless two of the three become 30 goal scorers, Montreal could certainly use a scorer.
4) Power forward. Anderson is one, hoping Slafkovsky becomes one (Yes I know, he's a bust) and I feel Heineman will provide that element for sure. Hoping Slafkovsky can sort it out, as it's a more talented power forward than Anderson that we need.
5) RD. Reinbacher and Mailloux are my projected top 2 RD, not a difficult projection. Maybe Kovacevic is the long-term answer, but Montreal could use a rock-steady 3rd pairing RD to play PK and thus decent minutes, because Hutson and Mailloux likely won't feature on the PK.
6) QB. Between Hutson and Mailloux I'd say this easily ranks lowest on the priority list.
