HF Habs: When will the Habs have an elite forward?

[Gravity]

Tarasenko still managed a 40 goal season. If that's fringe, what does that say about our forwards?

Yeah fair enough, Tarasenko can be considered elite but it's entirely besides the point.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Caufield and Suzuki are the best shots at being elite players. I do think there's an outside chance KK can be one.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

It is one of the oddest statistics in recent memory. The fact that the Montreal Canadiens have not had any player finish in the top 10 in scoring in the past 30 years or so.

I've been watching the Habs since 88-89 and I've never seen an elite forward. That's just beyond sad. And the odds are just so low of that happening. Kovalev in 07 was. Just that year though. But man was he fun that year.

 

[Paddyjack]

Yeah fair enough, Tarasenko can be considered elite but it's entirely besides the point.

Well, looking at his numbers they are not that far from Pacciorett... For me elite is top 5 in the league. Tarasenko is a star but not elite. But whatever, I think the definition is blurry

 

[Gravity]

Well, looking at his numbers they are not that far from Pacciorett... For me elite is top 5 in the league. Tarasenko is a star but not elite. But whatever, I think the definition is blurry

For clarity sakes I updated the OP with top 10 in the league per position. So it wouldn't that far-fetched to say Tarasenko was a top 10 RW but I could also understand the exclusion.

 

[Frank JT]

Maybe Primeau?
Not a forward. D%*&!

 

[Deebs]

Well, looking at his numbers they are not that far from Pacciorett... For me elite is top 5 in the league. Tarasenko is a star but not elite. But whatever, I think the definition is blurry

Absolutely. The word elite gets thrown around too easily at times.

 

[Treb]

Depends on your definition of elite.

Gallagher is the 28th best goal scorer league wide in the last 3 years.

If not, in our roster players, KK and Suzuki both have the potential to be it.

Farther way, I could see Caufield being one. Any other other prospects/player would be a surprise.

 

[Miller Time]

Assuming "elite" to mean top 3-5 at their position...

I'd say 5+.

JKO & Suzuki are the only chance we have (unless Anderson blows us all away & turns into a prime Lucic PF) currently in the organization that could get to elite in under 5 years and MB has shown zero ability to add elite talent.

Caufield

 

[Steve Shutt]

Who would you consider to be "elite" from the past 30 years?

• Pacioretty
• Radulov
• Plekanec
• Kovalev
• Koivu
• Ryder
• Ribeiro
• Rucinsky
• Savage
• Recchi
• Damphousse
• Corson
• Turgeon
• Bellows
• Muller
• Lebeau
• Leclair
• Savard
• Courtnall
• Richer

 

[holy]

2027. Fans cream themselves.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

They have never had one in my lifetime. I lost hope

I think Suzuki will become good enough to be the #1 center on a Stanley Cup winning team, but not elite.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

None in sight so anywhere from 5 years to 20+ years.

 

[nhlfan9191]

No idea. Suzuki maybe? We could be tripping over our own feet when it comes to elite offensive talent for quite some time unless we hit a home run that hasn’t happened yet.

 

[SakuKoivu11]

10 years ago the Habs brightest young upcoming core were Carey Price/PK Subban/Max Pacioretty/Ryan Mcdonagh.

now it’s Nick Suzuki/ Jesperi Kotkaniemi/ Alexander Romanov/ Cole Caufield/Cayden Primeau

 

[marvelousmotion]

Suzuki could become one, depending on your definition of elite. Kid is the real deal, as mentionned by many ex NHLers. He’s the most impressive Habs prospect I’ve seen in a long time. I might end up being wrong, but he’s just so sneaky smart and clutch that I can see him becoming a top player in the league. The way he lead his team to the OHL championship and how dominant he was in all those do-or-die elimination games that they faced was special. He’s got that ability to deliver when it counts the most (we saw another glimpse of it during the elimination game vs. the Flyers). The only other prospect that I can recall showing me that kind of promise at such a young age was when I followed a 19 years old Price winning the calder cup and being named playoffs MVP with Hamilton.

It’s easy to see why some don’t see Suzuki with "elite" potential because he's not your prototypical elite flashy offensive forward like McDavid. If he reaches his full potential though, I can see him belonging in the same class of players as past Selke winners, O'Reilly, Bergeron, Kopitar, Toews, Datsyuk etc. Not an art ross trophy candidate, but a PPG center you can count on in all types of important game situations, exceling in all three zones of the ice. Whether you consider that type of forward “elite” is debatable, but it’d certainly be a breed that Montreal hasn’t had in a long time.

 

[Scintillating10]

Suzuki playing with Caufield I expect be good duo.

How many years do you predict until the Habs have an elite gamebreaking forward?

Edit: Due to lack of clarity of the word elite, let's say top 10 in the league in that particular position.

 

[Scriptor]

Who would you consider to be "elite" from the past 30 years?

• Pacioretty
• Radulov
• 
  
• Kovalev
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Recchi
• Damphousse
• 
  
• Turgeon
• Bellows
• Muller
• 
  
• Leclair (not as a Hab)
• 
  
• 
  
• Richer

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Suzuki and Caufield have the potential to become elite. There is a slight chance KK can also be elite.

 

[Tyson]

The 93 Habs did not possess any elite forwards and did quite well.

Its about building a well balanced team

 

[sandviper]

You haters are gonna feel pretty dumb when Perry wins the Rocket, Hart, Ted Lindsey and Conn Smythe this season.

 

[waitin425]

I consider elite to be the top 3-5 players at a specific position.

We don't have anyone that will enter into that category.

Suzuki could get top 10 centres in the league and I see his ceiling as ~Bergeron.

KK's ceiling is also potentially a top 10, if his curve follows Barkov.

 

[Sterling Archer]

When Suzuki and KK hit their prime

 

[Sterling Archer]

I consider elite to be the top 3-5 players at a specific position.

We don't have anyone that will enter into that category.

Suzuki could get top 10 centres in the league and I see his ceiling as ~Bergeron.

KK's ceiling is also potentially a top 10, if his curve follows Barkov.

I actually think Suzuki has more offence than Bergeron

 

[Frank JT]

Who would you consider to be "elite" from the past 30 years?

• Pacioretty
• Radulov
• Plekanec
• Kovalev
• Koivu
• Ryder
• Ribeiro
• Rucinsky
• Savage
• Recchi
• Damphousse
• Corson
• Turgeon
• Bellows
• Muller
• Lebeau
• Leclair
• Savard
• Courtnall
• Richer

Good question.
Richer
Kovalev