If Suzuki makes the team which young forward does not

[Captain Mountain]

It sounds like Byron will be ready for camp, so its really 3 spots. Lehkonen and Hudon are already better than Armia and have better ES impacts and scoring rates than Tatar, so they should be safe bets to make the team too.

Deslaurier definitely shouldn't be a lock for the roster, since he's bad, and Montreal wont risk Scherbak to waivers. DLR isn't very good either, but will probably make the team too.

Shaw (who absolutely will play again, lets not plan on a different plane of reality) may be an issue for later in October, but not for camp.

Likeliest forwards to make the team:

Tatar-Drouin-Gallagher
Dom-Danault-Lehkonen
Hudon-Plekanec-Scherbak
Byron-Peca-Armia
Bench: DLR, Deslauriers

IR-Shaw

If Suzuki makes it (and he'd have to be AMAZING, which isn't where he's at right now), then the spot probably comes at the expense of DLR, Peca or maybe even Scherbak depending on camp. That's probably what happens when Shaw returns anyways. Especially since Suzuki would get a shot to play any forward position.

 

[Brainiac]

We have way too much mediocre players, especially vets : Shaw, Plek, Tatar, Schlemko, Benn etc.

We have 25 roster players as of now. That's nonsense. We'd need to cut at least 3 guys before we bring in a rookie.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

I don't agree with Suzuki not making the Center this year.

If Mccaron and DLR can make it I don't see why Suzuki couldn't

Also, Drouin at center again sucks but we have no one else yet.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

It sounds like Byron will be ready for camp, so its really 3 spots. Lehkonen and Hudon are already better than Armia and have better ES impacts and scoring rates than Tatar, so they should be safe bets to make the team too.

Deslaurier definitely shouldn't be a lock for the roster, since he's bad, and Montreal wont risk Scherbak to waivers. DLR isn't very good either, but will probably make the team too.

Shaw (who absolutely will play again, lets not plan on a different plane of reality) may be an issue for later in October, but not for camp.

Likeliest forwards to make the team:

Tatar-Drouin-Gallagher
Dom-Danault-Lehkonen
Hudon-Plekanec-Scherbak
Byron-Peca-Armia
Bench: DLR, Deslauriers

IR-Shaw

If Suzuki makes it (and he'd have to be AMAZING, which isn't where he's at right now), then the spot probably comes at the expense of DLR, Peca or maybe even Scherbak depending on camp. That's probably what happens when Shaw returns anyways. Especially since Suzuki would get a shot to play any forward position.

I feel like we should trade Byron and Shaw, mostly Byron when his value is high.
I love Byron so much but he doesn't fit the Roaster with all the youngsters

 

[Tabarouette]

is lineup space really an issue

have you seen our lineup

you can launch like 8 of them into the sun for all I care

 

[Captain Mountain]

I feel like we should trade Byron and Shaw, mostly Byron when his value is high.
I love Byron so much but he doesn't fit the Roaster with all the youngsters

The problem is training camp is generally a really bad time to trade guys. Maybe not for top players (like Pacioretty or Karlsson), but is a team really going to pay what Montreal would want for Byron or Shaw when they've already got competition for spots?

Byron's value shouldn't drop much unless his injury really hampers him long term, he makes more sense as a rental. Shaw needs to show he can stay healthy if Montreal wants to move him.

And Byron still fits the team since he's a really good PKer. Montreal's got youth at forward, but most of them aren't great defensively. Byron's speed and two-way play isn't that replaceable.

 

[Laurentide]

If Suzuki makes it, and makes it as a center, the obvious candidate for demotion should be DLR. But knowing this team's long-standing love affair with talentless bottom six grinders, there's no way they break camp without DLR. This team over-values players who "play well without the puck" and DLR doesn't touch the puck very often so he'll be the teacher's pet. Then there's Hudon, who will make the team because he's one of a small contingent of "ti-gars de chez nous". That's why I chose Scherbak. He's Russian, so he already has one strike against him. He also likes to play with the puck, which is strike two.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

The problem is training camp is generally a really bad time to trade guys. Maybe not for top players (like Pacioretty or Karlsson), but is a team really going to pay what Montreal would want for Byron or Shaw when they've already got competition for spots?

Byron's value shouldn't drop much unless his injury really hampers him long term, he makes more sense as a rental. Shaw needs to show he can stay healthy if Montreal wants to move him.

And Byron still fits the team since he's a really good PKer. Montreal's got youth at forward, but most of them aren't great defensively. Byron's speed and two-way play isn't that replaceable.

completely agree with you, but if I had to chose I would pick Deslauriers before Byron, ( and Deslauriers way before Shaw) I feel like benching him doesn't make any sense. Him and Gallagher are the heart of this team. And we need some harder guys to defend the smaller ones

 

[Habs]

I don't think Hudon is guaranteed anything at this point. Captain Concussion, Andrew Shaw, should never play again with that history of his. Pleks should only play if it means a lottery pick.

 

[Captain Mountain]

completely agree with you, but if I had to chose I would pick Deslauriers before Byron, ( and Deslauriers way before Shaw) I feel like benching him doesn't make any sense. Him and Gallagher are the heart of this team. And we need some harder guys to defend the smaller ones

a 4th liner with sub-replacement level impacts who has played 58 games in a Canadiens uniform and had one insane hot streak is in no way, shape or form the heart of this team. Byron's more of a "heart of this team" type than Deslauriers.

If Montreal is looking more to the future than the present then they have two objectives this season:

1) Play the young guys so they learn and develop; and
2) Play vets that can be traded for futures.

Playing Deslaurier does neither. And Habs should be smart enough to choose Byron over Deslaurier, considering the reason they got Byron in the 1st place is that Calgary decided they needed Bollig more than Byron. Where's Bollig now?

 

[Laurentide]

The Habs should be smart enough to choose Byron over Deslaurier, considering the reason they got Byron in the 1st place is that Calgary decided they needed Bollig more than Byron. Where's Bollig now?

Bollig: 6'2", 223 lbs
Byron: 5'9", 160 lbs

There's your answer right there.

This is why I said in the McCarron thread that if he's placed on waivers he will never clear. Some team is going to take him simply because he's 6'6", 230 lbs. NHL front offices are still full of people who continue to believe that size is more important than having actual talent.

Thankfully our GM is more enlightened and knows that it's all about attitude, not size or talent.

 

[S Bah]

If Suzuki takes the 1st or 2nd line center role, who cares whose job gets taken, Drouin will play on the LW his natural slot. The others will vie for the 2nd, 3rd & 4th line LW roles or switch to RW, quite simple the best players will slot into the next role.

 

[Tyson]

I think it's a good bet he takes Scherbak's spot unless Scherbak kills it in training camp. I've seen it all now with MB. Don't agree with it. Just calling it.

Scherbak will make the team. He is finally ready. Suzuki will have to have one hell of a camp to make this team in the top 6/9

 

[Habs 4 Life]

I don't think Hudon is guaranteed anything at this point. Captain Concussion, Andrew Shaw, should never play again with that history of his. Pleks should only play if it means a lottery pick.

I have no problem with Pleks. 1 year and he can easily be flipped again at the deadline. Give him ice time and boost his stats!!!
As for Shaw I agree, he is crazy with that history to keep playing.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

God I hope he’s not on the team

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

is there a way to watch the camp ?

 

[Chr1s97]

Wt* the guy is a Skillful High IQ 2Way RH Center. Its been a while since we had a C with skills, its been a while since we had a good RH center,its been a while since we had a defensive reliable C that put up points... but no lets play him at wing and lock DLR,PECA at C.

 

[Habs]

I have no problem with Pleks. 1 year and he can easily be flipped again at the deadline. Give him ice time and boost his stats!!!
As for Shaw I agree, he is crazy with that history to keep playing.

Pleks is done though, nobody is taking him at the deadline again.. no way. I honestly believe you couldn't trade shaw away for a single asset right now with his head injuries, and stats.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Pleks is done though, nobody is taking him at the deadline again.. no way. I honestly believe you couldn't trade shaw away for a single asset right now with his head injuries, and stats.

Plekanec will get a return. Don't exagerate too much, especially with the playoffs he had.

As for Shaw, he doesn't need to be traded as he's on LTIR and will stay there for quite some time, if not until he decides to call it quits.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Pleks is done though, nobody is taking him at the deadline again.. no way. I honestly believe you couldn't trade shaw away for a single asset right now with his head injuries, and stats.

Wait and see, I'm pretty sure we will be able to fetch at least a 3rd for Pleks assuming he stays healthy

 

[David Suzuki]

Wait and see, I'm pretty sure we will be able to fetch at least a 3rd for Pleks assuming he stays healthy

100 percent.

 

[26Mats]

Here are the locks:

Center: Drouin (Yeah that's what going to happen with Clode and MB.) Danault, Pleks. Yes. Pleks. (LMAO)
RW: Gally, Armia.
LW: Domi, Tatar

That leaves one center spot open. Leaves four wing spots open.

Suzuki will not play center this year. Nor should he. Meaning DLR will likely take the no. 4 spot. Or Peca, but he's likely a no 13 F or AHL.

But: Suzuki plays both L and R wing. And there are four spots left.

Disregarding Shaw for the moment who likely will never play again, and Byron, who will. (And that's a problem later.) :

That leaves:

Hudon
Lehkonen
Scherbak
And Suzuki

All fighting for 4 wing spots. Two of which are on the 4th line. (Unless they put Armia there and with Clode I highly doubt that. He's a win now sorta guy.) But there's Deslauriers and his two year contract. So one spot on the fourth line.

None of the 4 young wingers above should play wing on the 4th line. All have offensive potential. Suzuki by far the most. Hudon Lehkonen and Scherbak all must pass waivers. None would.

I think you see where this is going. I think Habs are going to trade one of Hudon, Lehkonen, or Scherbak, to make room for Suzuki. Or possibly trade DLR. Who started to come on last year and is a big smart young center. As effective or more than Pleks would be this year anyway. And if not who the **** cares?

And here's the thing: The thing that's bugging me. I think the best choice would be ****ing Plekanec. Suzuki could not possibly be worse than him, and even if he was this year, who the **** cares? He gets third line C experience and Habs tank.

W.T.F. is Pleks still doing here? Why? How? When?

I think It will be Scherbak, or Lehkonen. Gone. Maybe DLR. Because Pleks. And Clode.

Who do you want out this year to make room for Suzuki: Hudon, Scherbak, Lehkonen or DLR? Because I think it's going to happen. And it's not going to be Pleks. FFS.

This is too big of an if to worry about now. Let's see him play in a preseason game before we start thinking he's ready. George McPhee, who's not the be all end all, but has been watching him closely, thinks he's a year or two away.

 

[Habs]

Plekanec will get a return. Don't exagerate too much, especially with the playoffs he had.

As for Shaw, he doesn't need to be traded as he's on LTIR and will stay there for quite some time, if not until he decides to call it quits.

Nope, I don't think anyone touches Pleks after his wonderful contributions in Toronto last year...

 

[Skip Bayless]

The correct answer.

If we had to sacrifice one young player, my choice would be de la Rose, who we could sell high as a big, young, smart center. The catch with him is his lack of offensive tools, which I doubt will ever develop. That said, I'm open to being proven wrong and seeing what he could do in a full season.

He looked good playing with skilled players last season. I think the current set of wingers fits him better than the plugs we had in the past. He wont be an offensive juggernaut obvs., but I think he can still make plays here and there while being a shut down force.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Nope, I don't think anyone touches Pleks after his wonderful contributions in Toronto last year...

You mean when he got 4 pts in the last 5 games when the rest of the team was chocking in the playoffs?