Is the optimism surrounding the Canadiens justified?

[@richardbonte8641]

I like Knuckles’ comments about having men on the team…preferably over 6 feet.

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Catton .... Demidov ... Not for the Habs

[@doom1354]

@@FooFahFoeFum Habs would be so stupid not to take Demidov if he slips to 5

[@FooFahFoeFum]

@@doom1354 we have too many small shrimp forwards already. watch the playoffs and pay attention to the number of larger players bodychecking .

[@doom1354]

@@FooFahFoeFum I do mostly agree with you on us being smaller but you don't pass up on a player with that much game breaking skill whose supposed to go top 3 in the draft simply because of size.. if he does fall to 5 you take him no matter what. Teams can always get size and grit in trades like we did with Dach you generally don't get game breaking skill in trades you get it from drafts.

[@stevestreet4402]

​​@@FooFahFoeFumthe average size of an NHL player this season was 6'0 210lbs. So it stands to reason that most NHL players are between 5'11 and 6'2 and 190 to 220lbs. The Habs have three forwards below that size, Caufield, Gallagher, and Harvey-Pinard. Two are regulars the other is Harvey-Pinard. They have 1 defenceman below that with Struble in the line up at 5'9 but he has shown to be good for his size in a small sample size. Armia, Anderson, Slafkovsky all 6'3 and well over 220lbs. Dach 6'4 and 217lbs is no slouch. Even Suzuki and Newhook are 5'11 and 200+ lbs. Go ahead and look at the playoffs, teams like Colorado or Tampa or Vancouver. Colorado has 3 players above or below the 5'11 to 6'2 200 to 220lbs range, they are basically a completely average team in size and weight. Tampa has 4 forwards below the average including a 5'8 Sheary. They have always had a team in and around the league averages. Larger teams like St Louis or Boston have not had sustained success just splashes of it. The Habs are not the Scott Gomez\Réjean Houle team anymore.

[@robertdufour5386]

Thanks for another great season! Hope you guys consider a bonus episode after the draft and free agency signing of July

[@chadcodner3309]

I love listening to these guys jab at each other. Please keep them both on.

[@okbeinglast]

That's amazing knuckles I just put that comment up there and you just brought the two of them together both mentioning both army and Josh amazing.

[@calvee123]

Hey crew of HIO, (Jessica too) thanks again for the insight, the analysis of our beloved Habs. I certainly will be looking forward to what the CDNS can bring in regards to being more defensive, and more scoring. Hoping for a good draft and some LUCK!! Thanks again...

[@markikooimcconnell7440]

Having big guys that play playoff hockey is essential. That’s why you never trade Xhekaj, especially for a guy like Zegras.

[@bradleypittman9370]

Should be optimistic considering its the first time a real rebuild since 93. They could of went out and got some mid age players. Remember the roster change in 2010 lol

[@petermelville5524]

36 one goal games...the goal differential is not good. They need defensive structure and bigger forwards who can play a fast physical game...play-off hockey.

[@viper29ca]

Actually 44 1 goal games, 27 of them they lost. 12 in regulation, 15 in OT/SO Win half of those games and they would have had the final wildcard spot by 4pts

[@pierrelalonde3705]

Great comments and cast

[@user-yu5ds6ox3k]

Let’s face it, the Habs need to trade for a goal scorer, been a long time since Lafleur. They have lots of defencemen to trade but can they coax a free agent scorer to come to Montreal. Between the high Quebec tax and the pressure of playing in Montreal, not too many good players are interested

[@centerhice7948]

Knuckles on the money . Its do or die for Anderson and yes he now needs to have the the soother removed . Good job panel.

[@fx1883.]

ASK BERSHIRE ABOUT HYMANS HATTRICK

[@gaqread]

The "men" Knuckles is talking about: Montreal has some of them already. Slafkovsky is the best example. He will grind opposing D into dust in the playoffs. The trouble is that two of the other big guys who can play a heavy game - Anderson and Armia - are both likely to be gone by the end of next season. Their ability to play a physically taxing style will need to be replaced for the Habs to have playoff success. The D is another matter. With Xhekaj, Guhle, Mailloux, and possibly Struble moving forward, there will be lots of physicality on the blue line.

[@dahabs123]

how do you become a guru? is there a test ? do i need a gi for it? just askin

[@MorganBurton]

Let face it, guys like Struble, Harris, Honda Civic and Barron are all third pairing D men at best.

[@matrixisreal2023]

Fact

[@shanemckibbon2837]

I agree that is a fact

[@AshleyBidensBathTime]

For now. They are all young. When Boston traded Joe Thornton it was because of the fact that Joe wasn’t a #1 center

[@michelleblanc6377]

Right now what is missing 2-3 top 6 offence players. The 3rd is due to the fact that we don’t know if « glass » Dach can remain injury free for a full season instead of missing 20-30 games a year. I think there is plenty of defensive talent I do not say that they cannot continue to add in the upcoming years but the talent pool seems deep enough to produce what is needed to have a contender defence wise. The quality of the goaltending is a question mark especially if your goal is to get to winning a Stanley Cup. The upcoming season might answer a lot of those questions (meaning if Montambeault and Primeau continues to develop especially Primeau he has to be more consistent performance wise). These are the key elements that they needs to be addressed before you can think of being a potential contender.

[@cathybelanger3354]

They need another 30 goal scorer. With an additional 30 goal scorer they would have won more of those one goal loss games. They then will be knocking on the wild card door. Still a couple of years away from being in the mix. A couple of years also gets us Jacob Fowler in net.

[@rockinrodlittle]

Dach?

[@francoisbouvier7861]

Great comment, Knuckles. Now, does Anderson have the conscious and / or the mental hockey capacity. Big questions for what,$5 million a year.

[@georgecuster527]

The Montreal Rebuilders is their new name .

[@Taooflu]

I like this format, more efficient with just 4 people 😊

[@Galvaxatron]

They just need better microphones.

[@brunopaquette5920]

We need a real 4th line. Ylonen.......... Pezeatta is just too limited. We could find so much better.

[@viper29ca]

Have no issues with Pezz, but Ylonen I think has played his last game in a Habs uniform

[@Veopoz]

Nylan is a Boss Iwas 5 years old in 86 watched every game with my Pop

[@michaelb4590]

Dvorak one year left. Didn’t hear much discussion on that as that’s a big deal in terms of level of worry

[@Slafgoalskiy]

Habs are getting close. We just have to stay patient, and continue to build. A dynasty isn't built overnight.

[@garydutton3959]

With his improved game Armia, Anderson and Dach would be line full of good size players; not sure if Armia is ready for a top six forward but at least try to get Anderson and Dach together would be a good line.

[@francoisbouvier7861]

I'm not sure if the stars can aline for moving multiple middle defensemen. It will be some special accomplishment. Good luck Hughes.

[@jeansebastientlebreton]

If one watched all the games, the answer is YES, ABSOLUTELY

[@okbeinglast]

Concerning Josh Anderson I mentioned in a different podcast that he had to spend the summer with Joel Armea I think of the confidence that Army had displayed in his game if Josh Anderson can just get a little bit from him he'll be back to his usual self scoring goals and being offensive threat

[@viper29ca]

I wonder if it is the year to go after that 1st pick? And what would it take? Not that I want to trade Matheson, as Huston is obviously not even remotely ready to Matheson's spot, but..... Would Matheson, and both 2024 1st round picks get it done? Add in the Calgary 2025 first get it done? (assuming of course the Habs don't win the lottery outright) Would be a huge move, and be that top 6 forward they are looking for (hopefully). Maybe a slight step back, giving up Matheson on the blue line, but it would take a something like that to get it done. As far as Gallagher and Armia, I don't have an issue of those 2 with Newhook being the 3rd line next season. They were pretty productive the last 1/4 - 1/3 of the season

[@Galvaxatron]

Unless the Habs make a big splash signing a couple top 6 UFA forwards, the only way the Habs sniff the playoffs next year is if Suzuki, Slaf, Caulfield, Dach, Newhook, Guhle, Savard and Hutson stay healthy when it matters most and a mix of Matheson, Gally, Armia, Roy, Harris, Struble and Xhekaj do OK. In other words if the core stays healthy they are marginal playoff team.

[@Mario-qw2fo]

Knuckles is such an interesting and intelligent character….actually, the whole panel is great…..

[@user-yu5ds6ox3k]

Did Huberdeau just have an off season in Calgary ? He’s French Canadian isn’t he. Could he resurrect his his career in Montreal - Calgary certainly needs defencemen. It just think that Calgary is not where he wants to be

[@garydutton3959]

Can the Canadiens turn Josh Anderson into Chris Kreider?

[@royshroud9536]

Wasn't "the future is bright ", the buzzword of the MB era?

[@gaqread]

No that was something like, "if you can get into the playoffs, anything can happen," said with a shrug.

[@cecaju9516]

They had a huge turnaround after MB took over in the Galchenyuk/Gallagher rookie season. There was a lot to be optimistic about.

[@bolo5190]

To me Anderson is a 3rd line forward at best so I'm not suprised with the season he had but because of the salary a lot more is expected from him. The Canadiens need 3 more top 6 forwards behind Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkosky because Dach is still a question mark, Anderson even though he's getting paid like a top 6 forward he is not that and Gallagher is not a top 6 forward any more even though he's getting paid like a top 6, at best Gallagher is a third line winger with Anderson. I'm guessing going forward that the top 2 defenseman would be Matheson and Savard for short term and then Hudson and Kovacevic on the second pairing and then third pairing Arber and Maillioux and the seventh defenseman would be Struble. Starting goaltender Montambault and then the backup Primeau.

[@MorganBurton]

JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT is a UFA, 2-3 year deal

[@williamarmour1656]

UFA's don't sign 2 or 3 yet deals. At least not good ones. Ask Hoffman

[@Nate77701]

We don’t need another small guy

[@MorganBurton]

@@williamarmour1656 he's 33 already

[@viper29ca]

too old. He is going to be looking for a payday to round out his career. Ditto for Stamkos

[@francoisbouvier7861]

Anderson admitted that he "sucked." As he marches off to the bank. Thank you, Bergevin. The kid has all the tools. It's the software that is flawed.

[@williamlinegar695]

Chris Nilan and Rick Green should take over the first period intermission show on Hockey Night in Canada!

[@morganhynes3796]

This show would be a lot better if Andrew Berkshire wasn't on it.

[@paulouellette6934]

I believe that the habs will make the playoffs next season guarantee

[@essenegnostic8711]

Trade Justin Barron .

[@francoisbouvier7861]

The elephant in the room, is the first line as presently constituted good enough. On a SC team ,sorry, I don't think so. At least one guy and likely two will move down the lineup.

[@Bet-vx3fg]

It was boring. They spoke very carefully about the management of MTL so as not to offend anyone.

[@galkanftw]

From finals to last place in one year that is a real mess of an organization but I stated that was a big time fluke and that the team was not very good and it showed the next year. This year idk if I am seeing fanbois nonsense or KZbinrs are just saying what the fans want to hear patronizing them to get likes and subscribes which would be very sad FAKE people. The guy that runs "talking habs" made me laugh he said I don't know anything about hockey then reeled off his season predictions.Well adding up the goals he had predicted the Habs would set a RECORD for goals scored so I have to ask who doesn't know anything about hockey.These type of fans are the rose colored glasses fans they refuse to see anything in a realistic manner but then again I wonder are they just patronizing their viewers? On the topic of "optimism" it depends what angle you are looking at.The teams defensive core has been noted by pretty much everyone as being quite good with lots of depth.The forward group on the other hand has no clue how to play responsible two way hockey an d all people see is goals and assists.All year long St,,Louis did VERY little experimentation which he SHOULD be doing in a rebuild and he over played Matheson which tells me he was try hard all season trying to prove he has made the team better but we ended up right back where we were last year near the bottom. St.Louis threw Xhekhaj under the bus to the press for taking a penalty in a rebuild season and did not give Gignac any chance at all when called up again in a rebuild season.Instead gifted Slafkovsky first line ice time and PP time and stuck with that all year...WHY?This has been a shambles from a coaching perspective and management SHOULD have been trying several players all year from Laval giving EVERYONE a fair chance the TEAM is more valuable than just babying Slafkovsky all year.

[@viper29ca]

Finals to last place. Lets see, who did we loose after those finals? #1 goalie(Price), #1 D(Weber), #1 Center(Danault), #1 Winger (Patches). That will do it. Gignac didn't get a chance? 7GP, 1 goal, -3. Not sure how you compare a 3rd round player to a player taken 1st over all. Of course they are going to put Slaf in the best possible spot to succeed and he proved his worth. What would you have liked to see them do with Gignac? Move him to the 1C position instead of Suzuki? He didn't do anything to deserve more than what they gave him. He didn't outplay Evans, Newhook or Suzuki, why would he deserve a shot at their spot? I agree maybe they shouldn't have brought in White, and let Gignac play the rest of the season as 4C, but then they also wanted to give Laval the best chance of getting to the playoffs as well, and the Habs were going no where near the playoffs. So that move made sense.

[@satyr69]

No. always the same with that team: low results and high satisfaction. problem is owner: incompetent and easy going. anyway hés making money..so !

[@johnconnolly4972]

This team stinks.

[@paulalkenbrack6084]

I know habs fans are not big on PLD, but I think he would be good in Montreal. It is where he wants to play. If we could send Anderson to LA Plus a pick for PLD, I think we win that deal. Especially if we can get them to retain a million or so. It could work.

[@ryananderson5202]

He was okay in Winnipeg, but apparently he is not a good dressing room guy in LA if you believe what you read. I am not sure if he is a fit for Montreal.

[@deanromanado5850]

More like LA send us their 1st. Like PLD+1st for Harris. They should have to pay us to take that albatross of a contract.

[@viper29ca]

Nope. PLD is a cancer. Habs only have one retention slot for next season.