Series Discussion Thread - Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers

[durangatang]

If only the Habs had a young offensively creative defensemen to help the PP and create some 5v5 offense. Even a few goals could have changed that series. Oh well, Weber is gonna be the next captain if Patches doesn't make the cut next year and think how good he will be in 2025-26.

[geschrocks33]

My favorite thing is seeing some people blame Carey Price for this series loss. Really? You're gonna blame the goalie who had a 1.86 GAA and .933 SV% ? Some people that attempt to "know" hockey need to get a grip. LOL

[10-4 collector]

If only the Habs had a young offensively creative defensemen to help the PP and create some 5v5 offense. Even a few goals could have changed that series. Oh well, Weber is gonna be the next captain if Patches doesn't make the cut next year and think how good he will be in 2025-26.

we had one, his name was P.K. Subban, he was great with us in the playoffs too.

[30ranfordfan]

@notoriousrob101 Thanks!

@RGM81 With a salary cap, you simply cannot mortgage the future to bring in top players anymore. Unless the general manager (whoever it will be next year) learns how to draft well, I don't see Montreal competing as they once did. This has been another issue. Here are the selections since Bergevin became the GM in 2012:

2012
Alex Galchenyuk
Sebastian Collberg (gone back to Sweden)
Dalton Thrower (ECHL)
Tim Bozon (ECHL)
Brady Vail (ECHL)
Charles Hudon (back and forth between AHL/NHL, fringe player at best)
Erik Nystrom (Sweden)

2013
Michael McCarron (7 points in 51 NHL games - underwhelming for a top pick)
Jacob De La Rose (7 points in 64 NHL games)
Zachary Fucale (ECHL)
Artturi Lehkonen (This guy has a future. A+ for that pick)
Connor Crisp (ECHL)
Sven Andrighetto (traded to Colorado, for whatever reason. I thought he was decent)
Martin Reway (talented, but has a career-threatening heart problem)
Jeremy Gregoire (AHL)

2014
Nikita Scherbak (1 goal in 3 NHL games, played well in the AHL. Could do well, given a chance)
Brett Lernout (nothing in 3 NHL games)
Nikolas Koberstein (US college)
Daniel Audette (AHL)
Hayden Hawkey (US college)
Jake Evans (US college)

2015
Noah Juulsen (WHL)
Lukas Vejdemo (Sweden)
Matt Bradley (WHL)
Simon Bourque (QMJHL, 3 AHL games in between)
Jeremiah Addison (OHL, 4 AHL games with 1 assist in between)

2016
Mikhail Sergachev (OHL, 4 NHL games with no points in between, bright future if he works out)
William Bitten (OHL)
Victor Mete (OHL)
Casey Staum (USHL)
Michael Pezzetta (OHL)
Arvid Henrikson (Sweden)

Had they drafted well, I think Montreal would have been fine with losing the likes of Plekanec, Emelin, and possibly Price. Unfortunately, there is not much in the prospect pipeline in the way of affordable, top-end talent, as you can see.

Toronto was terrible for decades and was guilty of missing out on drafting amazing players like Scott Niedermayer and Roberto Luongo because they continuously tried to make a playoff push at the last minute and mortgaged the future for veteran help to do it, and it never got them a cup. During the last year or two, I sense a bright future for the Maple Leafs, because they finally figured out what to do - bring in quality people with knowledgeable hockey minds, tear it down and build through the draft. Couple that with solid signings, and I am, at long last, a happy Leafs fan.

I think Montreal needs new management because Bergevin's idea of a winning team just doesn't cut it.

Appreciate the insights from my Leafs fan friends as to how an organization should be run.

The problem we have with the draft is that the picks have almost always been late first-round, where it's often a crap shoot. Since our team doesn't tank, we don't get the luxury of drafting the highest-end talent and accordingly not all of the picks work out to become star players. We also don't trade our top prospects to the Bruins (we prefer the Rangers, thank you very much).

Timmons has one of the better draft records out there as far as scouting--he's not perfect and make no mistake about Louis Leblanc, that was a politically-motivated choice. If the draft wasn't in Montreal that year, there's no way they take him. You can take a look at a lot of teams that regularly draft in the 15-20 spots and say, oh this guy will never make it, should have taken so-and-so, never will make it, etc. Hindsight is always 20-20 and selecting 18-year old kids to play in the top hockey league in the world is hard work. But because it's Montreal, there's always a spotlight on them, and even armchair GM's of other teams will always throw their two cents in. That's fine if that's how you want to spend your time, I guess.

If only the Habs had a young offensively creative defensemen to help the PP and create some 5v5 offense. Even a few goals could have changed that series. Oh well, Weber is gonna be the next captain if Patches doesn't make the cut next year and think how good he will be in 2025-26.

Drafting, no doubt, is the key to building a good team (along with good trades). Free Agency only works to add missing (secondary) pieces, IMO. Look at the last bunch of Cup winners.... most of the Key pieces on those teams did not come from free agency:

Hawks: Kane, Toews, Keither, Seabrook, Crawford (all picks)
Penguins: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Murray / Fleury, Kessel (picks, Kessel via trade)
Kings: Kopitar, Doughty, Quick (picks), Carter (trade)

For the Habs - or anyone - it's still too early to write off anyone drafted from 2014 an onward.... just not enough time has lapsed to call anyone a bust (yet). Certainly you can look at how those players project though, and I'd agree that it doesn't look great.

I still think Montreal was crazy to deal Subban. I don't think I can name 5 defenceman I would take over him. There was rumors (for what's they're worth) that he didn't get along well with some of the other players.... unless one of those players was Carey Price (and I don't believe that was allegedly the case, Price gets along well with everyone) I would have traded them.

That deal is done though, and they have to move forward.... they've still got a good team, just not a great one. Offseason has to happen still - but I'd still bank on them finishing 1st in the Atlantic.

[durangatang]

we had one, his name was P.K. Subban, he was great with us in the playoffs too.

I know... haha