Post-Game Talk: KK's $20 signing bonus wins again. Ducharme's team loses once again.

[ChesterNimitz]

This team was crap since training camp. But seeing how many guys out with an injury or on covid protocol is ridiculous. It really is insane to not only see how many guys are out of the line-up, but pretty much 95% of the regulars are out.

The season was over the moment Bergevin failed to upgrade the mobility of our defence this past off season. Not to be too pessimistic, but the nadir we are suffering will last at least 2 more years. So get use to the frustration of supporting a team in full re-build mode. There is no other choice as there is no quick fix. None at all. And if we miss hit on our draft choices over the next two years we are looking towards the end of decade before we are competitive again.

 

[hvac412]

This is the danger of allowing another tank next year.

Just another example of the damage being done to this team by keeping this coach around, just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Corson27]

I can’t handle another season like this. This is brutal.

You are more resilient than you give yourself credit for

 

[Tyson]

One of the biggest issues that has led to the demise of this team has been drafting and developing of our prospects.
We fail at drafting the best players and suck even more at properly developing them.
It has gone on way too long.

 

[SwiftyHab]

The Habs never went into the season intending to tank, they’re just terrible and injuries haven’t helped. Bergevin left a mess, including a pile of bad contracts signed in the last 16 months. It’ll take a while to turn this team around.

I don’t think it’ll take a while to turn this around. There are a lot of good pieces still here and we can get some good prospects through vet trades.what’s needed before next season is a new coach that the players respect and listen to amd a change of this losing mentality

 

[Corson27]

Tampa losing 9-3 to panthers with still over 2 min left

Did Corey score?

 

[SwiftyHab]

Just another example of the damage being done to this team by keeping this coach around, just doesn't make any sense.

Couldn’t agree more. Gorton said he’s going to stay for this year so that’s not changing till the end. On the bright side, he’s earning us that high pick

 

[expy]

I don’t think it’ll take a while to turn this around. There are a lot of good pieces still here and we can get some good prospects through vet trades.what’s needed before next season is a new coach that the players respect and listen to amd a change of this losing mentality

We have some absolutely terrible contracts, and Price is still on the cap and won't be on LTIR forever. Gallagher contract, Drouin, among the worst. Lots of 3 or 4 year contracts to players who shouldn't be in the league as well. And the coaching contracts... My goodness.

This team is broken beyond repair. It's not a repair we need, it's a complete rebuild and reset.

 

[LaP]

Over 50 years of following this team I can honestly say this is the most insane season I have ever witnessed on so many levels.

Same…and I watched this team religiously through the late 90s and early 2000s

I've been watching this team since 84 and it's hands down the worst season i've seen. Nothing will ever beat that i think.

 

[Tyson]

Price had what I thought was routine surgery last July. Is he going to play this year? Is he done as a Hab?

 

[417]

Price had what I thought was routine surgery last July. Is he going to play this year? Is he done as a Hab?

Said this weeks ago…but we won’t see him until February at the earliest, if at all

 

[CHfan1]

I don’t think it’ll take a while to turn this around. There are a lot of good pieces still here and we can get some good prospects through vet trades.what’s needed before next season is a new coach that the players respect and listen to amd a change of this losing mentality

I agree Ducharme’s horrible and has to go. But I’m not sure how much some of the vets return. I think the Habs will get some decent picks (a 1st for Chiarot) but I’m not sure teams will give up blue chip prospects for them.

If they do trade for draft picks it’ll take years before those players make an actual impact.

Who do you think are the good pieces that will turn this team around? I can see Suzuki, Romanov, Anderson, maybe Caufield if he gets it together. I don’t think any of the prospects can step in and make an instant impact. Honestly right now I don’t think the Habs have a top line forward or top pairing defenceman on a contender.

 

[SwiftyHab]

We have some absolutely terrible contracts, and Price is still on the cap and won't be on LTIR forever. Gallagher contract, Drouin, among the worst. Lots of 3 or 4 year contracts to players who shouldn't be in the league as well. And the coaching contracts... My goodness.

This team is broken beyond repair. It's not a repair we need, it's a complete rebuild and reset.

For sure. You need to cut some bad contracts but we also have good ones too. The problem is, it’s impossible to evaluate any player in this losing environment. So right now we’re going to get fleeced because the value of our assets is artificially low cause the whole team, coaching structure and coaches suck

 

[RandomTask26]

They can just play Ouellet on the 4th line. In the grand scheme of thing it doesn't change anything, we are so far past the point where doing something like that would dilute the quality of the team.

I think Ouellet is injured. The only players on the taxi squad are Hillis, Belpedio and Fairbrother. And I thought the latter two were in COVID protocol?

 

[OnTheRun]

Price had what I thought was routine surgery last July. Is he going to play this year? Is he done as a Hab?

Mid-January was his return date a month ago, afiak nothing changed since then, so that should still be true now.

 

[expy]

For sure. You need to cut some bad contracts but we also have good ones too. The problem is, it’s impossible to evaluate any player in this losing environment. So right now we’re going to get fleeced because the value of our assets is artificially low cause the whole team, coaching structure and coaches suck

I would argue it's easier to evaluate when the team sucks than when things are going well.

 

[Tyson]

Hey Bergie, how have those "resets" worked out for this team?
I still say he was worse than Houle and his legacy is playing out right before our eyes.

 

[Tyson]

Mid-January was his return date a month ago, afiak nothing changed since then, so that should still be true now.

I predict he doesn't play this year

 

[rickthegoon]

It's obviously a coaching issue. It just can't be that every single player sucks at everything on our team.

Yeah, blame the coaching staff…… our 11 million $ complete roster should be contenders every night, right ?

 

[Tyson]

Did Corey score?

Had an assist

 

[SwiftyHab]

I agree Ducharme’s horrible and has to go. But I’m not sure how much some of the vets return. I think the Habs will get some decent picks (a 1st for Chiarot) but I’m not sure teams will give up blue chip prospects for them.

If they do trade for draft picks it’ll take years before those players make an actual impact.

Who do you think are the good pieces that will turn this team around? I can see Suzuki, Romanov, Anderson, maybe Caufield if he gets it together. I don’t think any of the prospects can step in and make an instant impact. Honestly right now I don’t think the Habs have a top line forward or top pairing defenceman on a contender.

I think Anderson is a unique and skilled power forward. Dvorak is not this bad. Even on Arizona he was better. He needs to be given a chance to see what he could do ok a functioning team. I don’t think Gally is this bad but is probably nursing an injury and is also demoralized. I think Poehling is playing well. I’m intrigued by Niku. Jake Allen is good.

 

[Tyson]

Drouin not playing tonight was odd. Did he quit again?

 

[OnTheRun]

I think Ouellet is injured. The only players on the taxi squad are Hillis, Belpedio and Fairbrother. And I thought the latter two were in COVID protocol?

Oh that possible that Ouellet is injured, I didn't check his status. If push come to shove they will get someone from the CHL, probably Mysak.

 

[Runner77]

Jeff get GM and start things moving

When asked at tonight's presser, who would be called up to replace the newly absent players, Mumbles mentioned that he was going to meet Gorton about it after the presser. He also said that he met with Gorton prior to tonight's game for the personnel moves that applied tonight.

There may not be any major moves happening yet but Gorton is definitely active behind the scenes, even if he's just communicating with a concierge.

 

[OnTheRun]

I predict he doesn't play this year

Well that would be correct, Mid-January IS next year.