Speculation: How far are we from winning the cup?

[LePoche69]

The day McCarron becomes a 30 GOAL second line power winger is the same year we win the cup (4-5yrs)

I have a hard time imagining McCarron scoring 30 goals since he won't do it in Junior. I'm not saying he won't, but it is highly improbable. Heck, even Max Pac has difficulties scoring 30 goals.

 

[Kimota]

We'll be a contender when everybody has its proper "chair" (role) and when Bergevin would have gotten rid of the old wood and the streaky guys.

We need size, edge, and speed at every level.

 

[11Goat11]

We need 2 top 4 D... we need a couple more top 6 wingers with size.. we need a decent 4th line..

And all of that will be impossible to acquire with our cap hell from overpaid depth players that suck.

So, 10 years

No way we need 2 top 4 D when Emelin gets back, we need Therrien to play PK like a true number 1(whick looks like he might be now), and 2 bottom pairing D and we might already have them in the system.

I personally don't think we are that far. We do need a top line winger with size and a centre to push Pleks down to third line centre, not sure if we have that yet but we might with Eller and Galch. A faceoff specialist that can play 3/4 line would be good as well and we would be set. Moen and Prust are great 4th liners built for the playoffs that can shift through the lineup.

 

[LePoche69]

A long way away unless a few of the forwards start producing. Our top forward is nowhere in top what, 70?
We need to get lucky like say Dallas who all of a sudden have 2 in the top 10.
Absolutely no scoring on the horizon from our farm system.
Andriggehto maybe?

Part of the forwards' inability to score is because of the mediocre talent of most d-men to give them the puck in the rush, beside Markov and Subban.

Murray and Gorges can't do anything beside throwing the puck on the boards where the other teams' forwards don't allow habs forward to gain speed in transition. Diaz is average at best, and his passes are often dangerous. Bouillon can do it sometimes, but he's below average in general.

People underestimated the importance of d-men for offensive production, and I'm not necessarily talking about getting points. I'm talking about transition game, and giving a chance to the forwards to enter the offensive zone in control.

Beaulieu was atrocious in his zone, but the transition game was better when he was playing. If he could become just average in his zone, he would be un upgrade overall.

 

[dutchy29]

yeah i'm not even sure we are on the right track. with the addition of Briere I really start to question Bergevin. If it wasn't for some great surprise seasons out of Gallagher and Chucky we would have been sunk last year. But with some key moves, like above posters mentioned bigger D, more consistent scoring. I think we will contend in the playoffs, but a cup run is really tough to imagine just yet. Others mentioned 4th line. I think what we are really missing is a great shut down line. Like the old Guy Charboneau line of the 80s.....that could win face offs, check tight, and score timely goals, and allow nothing.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

yeah i'm not even sure we are on the right track. with the addition of Briere I really start to question Bergevin. If it wasn't for some great surprise seasons out of Gallagher and Chucky we would have been sunk last year. But with some key moves, like above posters mentioned bigger D, more consistent scoring. I think we will contend in the playoffs, but a cup run is really tough to imagine just yet. Others mentioned 4th line. I think what we are really missing is a great shut down line. Like the old Guy Charboneau line of the 80s.....that could win face offs, check tight, and score timely goals, and allow nothing.

Gallagher and Galchenyuk were surprises last year and so was Eller. I expected us to finish very low last season. In a way its too bad we didn't because last year's draft was sick. Imagine this team going forward with what we have now plus Seth Jones... would've been sick.

That's the thing about young talent though, it can surprise you and be better then expected early. Let's hope that's also the case for the prospects in our system.

 

[S Bah]

Gallagher and Galchenyuk were surprises last year and so was Eller. I expected us to finish very low last season. In a way its too bad we didn't because last year's draft was sick. Imagine this team going forward with what we have now plus Seth Jones... would've been sick.

That's the thing about young talent though, it can surprise you and be better then expected early. Let's hope that's also the case for the prospects in our system.

It's all good the Habs have a GM that knows how to build a team and is approaching the job with patience and surefooted moves that can only end with success. No more of the win yesterday moves of previous regimes, that left the Habs hobbled with a depleted system and lack of draft choices.

It's not Bergevin's fault that Gomez replaced a veritable steal in Ryan McDonagh, a player that would have given the Habs arguably the best defence in the NHL. With the 25th choice OV last season the Habs have a true PWF in the making along with Connor Crisp and De la Rose, the Gastric Gainey Era will finally be behind our glorious franchise. No longer being the brunt of other teams snickering at the size of our team's players or lack of size more appropriately put.

While no person can guarantee a Stanley Cup, at least our team is on the right path to becoming Champions once again. There is work to be done, but with Bergevin, Dudley and Timmins holding reign over the Hab kingdom, the corner has been turned and the Stanley Cup is within sight once more. Just my opinion and I have seen a lot of Stanley Cup Champions in my 59 yrs. of being a Hab fan.

 

[LePoche69]

It's all good the Habs have a GM that knows how to build a team and is approaching the job with patience and surefooted moves that can only end with success. No more of the win yesterday moves of previous regimes, that left the Habs hobbled with a depleted system and lack of draft choices.

It's not Bergevin's fault that Gomez replaced a veritable steal in Ryan McDonagh, a player that would have given the Habs arguably the best defence in the NHL. With the 25th choice OV last season the Habs have a true PWF in the making along with Connor Crisp and De la Rose, the Gastric Gainey Era will finally be behind our glorious franchise. No longer being the brunt of other teams snickering at the size of our team's players or lack of size more appropriately put.

While no person can guarantee a Stanley Cup, at least our team is on the right path to becoming Champions once again. There is work to be done, but with Bergevin, Dudley and Timmins holding reign over the Hab kingdom, the corner has been turned and the Stanley Cup is within sight once more. Just my opinion and I have seen a lot of Stanley Cup Champions in my 59 yrs. of being a Hab fan.

While a agree to a certain point with some of the points you're making, McCarron has only 1 goal IN JUNIOR, the year after his draft year... That pick was an amazing guess by Timmins. I'm not against such guess, and I'm not downplaying Timmins' talent, but right now, McCarron is closer to be the next Fisher than being a NHL power forward.

 

[groovejuice]

Can I put this in my signature?

Hehe Seriously? Feel free.

 

[SB164]

Stanley Cup-winning teams have future Hall of Famers in their lineups. LA is the only recent team that might not have a future HOFer, although Doughty likely has a good chance if he keeps up his play (especially in the playoffs).

Basically, do we have any potential Hall of Famers on this team?

 

[LePoche69]

Stanley Cup-winning teams have future Hall of Famers in their lineups. LA is the only recent team that might not have a future HOFer, although Doughty likely has a good chance if he keeps up his play (especially in the playoffs).

Basically, do we have any potential Hall of Famers on this team?

I agree Habs don't have the making of a Stanley Cup contender.

...but some players may become Hall of famers.

• Depending on the next 4-5 years, Markov could be elected, moreover by the veteran comitee 10 years later. Many consider him as the best Russian defense since Fetisov. That alone may give him some votes.
  
• Subban has a great start to his career. Clearly HOF potential.
  
• Price has plenty of years ahead to turn a nice career into a great career.
  
• Galchenyuk. Who knows. Talent's there.