As a Habs fan, all I want for this season is as many players as possible finishing with 82 games. I trust this group to improve, but they need to stay healthy.
Yep, plus they are young, they need to build confidence and improve. If all can stay healthy, with the addition of Laine, a playoff spot can definitely be an option
Second that thought, 23-24 was an improvement, no more breaking our NHL record for most games missed due to injury which we established and surpassed (or downpassed 🤔) in 22-23. But I'd like it if Dach, HP, Newhook and obviously Laine can get at least 75 games, nobody getting injured for more than a week please 🙏
If the Leafs and Oilers can’t get it done in their current window, the Habs are my pick to end Canada’s cup drought. They’re going to be super good in 3-5 years
@@Le_Chapardeur I have a very, very good feeling about this Canucks team. They made it to the second round and put up a great fight against the Oilers this year, despite it only being their first playoffs and missing Demko. Another couple of years of experience and hopefully a healthy Demko and they have a great shot at it.
Hughes and Gorton have the fan base’s trust and infused a long awaited optimism for the future. St. Louis is safe regardless at this time in the team’s progression. 6th is attainable in tough diving. The crop of youth is exciting and the potential is there. 2 more years of struggling but the entertainment value is there. Good times ahead.
I agree, St. Louis seems to be the right coach for these young players. Even with a slow start to 2024/25 I think the management and fans will still have faith he’s the right guy. His track record with guys like slaf and xhekaj on top of his rapport with the vets that trust him, i see him being around for a while.
As a Habs fan I know this rebuild isn't quite done but it is close. My wish this season is to see guys like Dach and Laine play a full 82 games and be healthy. Maybe even a bounceback from Gallagher as a solid 3rd liner.. (One can hope) I do feel as if Montreal is missing a true starting goalie to complete their rebuild though. Maybe Fowler could be that in time, but it isn't smart to put all their eggs in that basket yet.
We tried with a shit team and a star goalie and it didn't really pay off. Top 6 with Laine, Demidov and healthy Dach might be pretty nasty and the blue line is projected to be top 5 in the league soon. If the 3rd line ends up being Newhook Hage Roy or a free agent i think that would mean contender team and Fowler should be enough
We're missing a true top pair defensive D-men too. I love Savard for a 2nd line role and Guhle isn't there yet, so we need someone better to plug the holes left by Matheson. Well, we're not getting that, so let's hope Guhle pans out.
@@michaelb4590 That wasn't the reason. The Sharks just offered more. We were in the mix until the end which was the right move. Fowler looks amazing but you never know with goalies and he is likely 3 full seasons away from the NHL.
To me (Habs fan) this is probably the most fun season in the rebuild. They hadn't gotten the type of talent/potential you need out of tanking seasons yet, but I think Demidov (+ others) means they can have a better season without handicapping their rebuild now. That means this year is just about enjoying the games and cheering on the young guys. It's a rare window where I'm not invested in winning or losing. They obviously aren't at a point to compete yet, and you no longer have to be worried about them ruining their draft position. If they still stink and draft high again, great. If they're better and closer to a playoff spot, great. It's all entertainment this year, zero stress.
Big Habs fan here I don’t really think Marty will get fired if they start off slow the players really love him and he seems to get the best out of his players and plus I think he’s done a phenomenal job he got Caufield and Slafkovsky out of the slump they were in and plus we have Jacob Fowler in the system who just broke the NCAA record for wins in a season but I will say the future is very bright for the Montreal Canadiens
@@bencarey5290 Habs need help with coaching the structure of how to compete and play playoff hockey this coaching staff does not have that set yet they are laxidasical of the defensive zone and coverage the demon angle tender left out to dry way too often
Injuries is the key. They're definitely stronger on paper than the last two seasons. Like way stronger. If Dach is back for close to the full season and with the addition of Laine, those are two huge elements. Add to that the continued development of Slafs and Caufield plus one year further maturation of that young goalie tandem and their entire blueline. Does that mean playoffs this year? Maybe but probably not. Still, there will be more entertaining games this year than we've seen in a few years from the Habs. GHG (and thank you, Shannon)
To be perfectly honest, I think Montreal has a very legitimate chance to do something similar to what the Devils did 2 seasons ago and make a big leap up the standings when no one expected it. The signs are all there, the compete, the locker room attitude, the player progression. Having watched most of their games last year, they were very very close to winning a good 10-15 more games than they actually did which would have put them right in the thick of the wildcard race.
We'll need a lot of stars to align to have that: fewest injuries in a decade, Slafkovsky+Anderson+Dvorak scoring like we think they should be, the D-corps improving a lot and Montembault or Primeau having the best season of their career.
Team is on the up. One of the best prospects and a possible boost from Laine. I see this team being able to reach .500. 7th in the Atlantic with 80-85 points.
We had 76 points with 27 games lost by one goal last year. I think with Dach and Laine in the line up, we potentially could've gotten half of those. So I'm aiming for the 90-95 pts mark.
Marty's the definition of a player's coach. Dude commands their respect, having taken the hard road himself to get to the top. Keeps his cool behind the Habs bench, corrects his players when needed, and sends them right back out there to get it done right.
The habs are two years away from their contention window to really open. This year the Habs will push for a wild card, next year will make it. Really excited about the season to start.
I don't mind if they stay low this year, we have a lot of picks next draft again. But yeah, two years for contention is about where I estimated where it is.
Hey Shannon, I have noticed this in all of your videos. the exposure changes not stop in your videos. I think you have spot metering exposure on, so the video gets light each time you put your arm/hand in front of the whiteboard, and readjusts when you take it away. Love your videos btw :)
With how the team is built and with Demidov in our prospect pool, there's almost no chance we move Slafkovsky down instead of Caufield once Demidov makes the first line. Slafkovsky was drafted to become a possession monster that makes space for players like Demidov or Caufield. Dach can fill a similar role on the second line; even though they've played well together for a bit, having Dach and Slaf on the same line while having Demidov and Caufield on the same line is not properly spreading out skillsets along the top 6.
Still think the rebuild needs another top flight talent at 1C and D to push Barron to 7th D, and Suzuki & Caufield to the 2nd line. Hopefully, with the draft capital still available in 2025 & 2026; Kent Hughes can leverage it for such players or luck out in the drafting of such players. Love the team’s salary structure and the youthful promise. Got to be one of the best
@@user-jy3kd7ke6n Nick Suzuki is already a top 15 center in the NHL. He can absolutely be the 1C on a contending Habs team. On a good team this guy can easily reach 90+ points while staying defensively responsible, taking faceoffs, playing a surprisingly physical game for his profile and never getting injured. If Dach reaches his potential at 2C, Montreal is set.
Habs fan here... my hope for this season is to cut down on the injury man games lost and show progress in the rebuild. Playoffs are not expected by myself and would be a bonus.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Montreal will be in the hunt for a WC spot as late as April. I think the return of Dach, the addition of Laine, and the continued development of Caufield and Slafs will result in a big improvement on the powerplay this year - basically, they now have two lines that can score. And if Hutson makes the squad, that will further solidify their pp. Let's look at their OT record from last year: Montreal went 10-16 in 26 games that went beyond regulation. They were 6-8 in 3 on 3 and 4-8 in the SO. I see both of those stats improving this year resulting in perhaps as many as four or five more points in the standings. The biggest weakness last year was how Montreal fared against division rivals. Montreal went 5-13-8 (18 points) in that department. The next worst record went to Toronto at 10-12-3 (23 points). Montreal's record against the Metropolitan Division was 11-9-4 and it was an even 14-14-4 against Western clubs. But against clubs in the Atlantic, Montreal was woeful. In 26 games, they were outscored 111-73. Improvements here will be the determinant of just how late in the season Montreal fans can seriously talk about a WC spot.
I feel like St-louis is safe for is contract duration unless he looses the room. (That would be a suprise) If the habs can keep a healty line-up and a tiny bit of luck they could make it in the playoffs. But i think its the last year they don't for a long time if they don't.
a rebuild doesnt take 10 years. otherwise wtf were they doing (cough cough buffalo, edmonton cough cough) . it takes about 5 years and were on year 4 this season
Yup, until Price was injured and Budaj was also injured, that left us with Tokarsi and ended our chances of beating the Rangers, which were pretty good. Chris Kreider is still on my blacklist of players I hate the most, yes he was pushed but he made no attempt to miss Price or to make the contact not as hard as he was slipping towards him. Curse him!
It feels like covid is the best thing to happen to the Habs. Their playoffs drought should have been as long as the Senators', but they squeezed in the playoffs in 2020 because of covid (and stunned the Penguins) and again benefited from a weak, seven team division to make the playoffs in 2021 and somehow reached the finals. It's easy to think Habs fans are a lot more patient towards the rebuild with the Finals run memories still relatively fresh on their mind. But I don't know how long they will keep this positive attitude
It always come to health of the players. Been the plague of the Habs since 2021. Losing Dach for the season on 2nd game last year just killed the season. Also the problem of the Habs was lack of pure talent, they might have it in Demidov and who knows.. maybe Laine will wake up.
You don't think Caufield and Slaf are pure talent? Plus, Suzuki is improving every year, I expect him to be a point per game or more this season, he hasn't reached his peak years yet (in average, 27 years old is when players peak). We haven't seen much yet and those guys are still very solid. Cole's shoulder should be fully healed by now and he will regain some of his shot accuracy he kind of lost last season I think, he was okay to play but his shot wasn't like when he told management that he would get out after his 26th goal. The team confiscated all of his sticks, going as far as going to his home to take the sticks he might have there, so he couldn't practice even his accuracy at all when waiting for surgery. It sucked so bad when he left in 22-23, on his way to 45+ goals... Also, on defense, pure talent abounds.
If he bombs his next contract will be league min or he wont even get one. I dont view patty as the loui erickson type tho i think he'll have his best years with the habs
Good job analyzing the HABS ..!! I think they are 2 yrs. Away from contending...but boy they are going to be real good by then ..Those bad contracts will soon be gone ...and HUGHES will improve this roster big time ..!! Cups are coming SOON !!!😊
Great video as always ;) Hab fan here ;) For your question, i think Marty will stay no matter how the season will start ... As long as the players like him he'll be the man for Hugues i guess ... Caufield and all the others like his way to teach the game ... and he's loved by the fan ... Honestly, i'm not deep in the analytics ... Something i'll look forward for improvement this year will probably be the PK ... Last year, many times, the "man to man" tactic seems to failed us :( But with not so experienced players, maybe it's just a learning curve and this tactic was the good choice? ... Anyway ... Hope this will improved ... PP had his good moments ... and if they stay healty, guess they can be close ... For being in the playoff, everything need to be on top in this division ... that's a enormous task ... Guess we will be close to contention (but short) this year if i'm realist ... And the cup ... don't think it will be in 2026 ... but not so far ... many young players will reach their peak in the same time, they will be fun to watch "in each game" very soon ;)
I think Lane Hutson is going to come in and be a fan favourite for years to come. This young team is adding another year of experience to their belt and it's exciting to see them now, before they are world beaters
Curious to hear your take. Ooo Primeau is so not the guy. Im looking to see youngsters play a lot of games and win a spot or not. Hopefully they still finish near the bottom of the league.
Montreal lost 24ish games by 1 goal last year. If they win 12 of those they make the playoffs. They have essentially the same team but have added a potential 30-40 goal scorer in Laine, and Kirby Dach will be back too. And if the young guys can continue their upward trajectory? Lots need to go right but I’m betting a WC2 spot
Interesting you put Roy on the 2nd line instead Newhook ... But In general , I'm agree with you knowing that is to start the season and lines changes for sure during the season.
Habs prospect pool hasn't been this deep in many years. Are they a playoff team? I think they make great strides but it will come down to two things- Goaltending and staying healthy. They have more forward skill since the mid 90's. It will be fun to watch.
Also how the other teams who are also better on paper this year who all fight for the same spot not doing as good as the Habs, the Sens, Wings and Sabres, lacking injuries they have been plagued with too, especially Ottawa and Buffalo, it's going to be maddeningly tight below Boston, Toronto, Florida and Tampa. I expect the Bruins to lose some steam, no way they're keeping that steam they had as if Bergeron and Kreijci were still there this coming season, so they might be in the mix too.
This is the most excited I’ve been to start a season as a habs fan in a long long time! Not because I think the rebuild is over, but love everything about the direction of this team! To your question… There is not a single possible scenario (based on team performance) where Marty is not the head coach for the full season.
Trouba to Montreal makes a lot of sense. They have the space and need that leader back there. As the kids take bigger roles he wont need to eat as many minutes plus not too far from NYC.
Habs fan. Montreal showed last season that they're a tough beat, and they should be better than last year this season. As for playoffs? Probably still under 50/50, but I suspect that you wouldn't be as shocked if they make it than you would have been last season. I'm going to make a bold prediction that Montreal spends several weeks in the top half of your power rankings.
Habs fan here. Great progress, hopefully less injuries this year. Team is not playoff material yet because the division is simply better than us at the moment I think, too many games against better opponents. Hopefully i am wrong
Marty is a players coach. Reports are, the kids are good with that. Also, he's a Stanley Cup Champion. So, far, the transition from player to coach which is certainly not an easy one - taking into account the pressure that comes with the job - has been solid given the experience. From what we've seen so far, I think it's too early to imagine management is in any kind of a panic, when it comes to Coach Martin St-Louis. The development group is solid, the coaching group is growing, learning, and striving to bring success back to this Montreal franchise. I mean, we are just one away, after-all, from the very coveted and yet elusive, 25th Stanley Cup. Mr. Hughes, Mr. Gorton and everyone behind and around this management team, are working with a focus. You can feel it. ✌
As a habs fan I dont expect them to make the playoffs this year but looking at how they've gotten better over the past few years I won't be surprised if they place 4th in the division but I'm expecting a 5th place finish
Despite having the worst 2nd line and penalty kill their compete level was very good. They had 43 one goal games and finished with 76 points. If the improved line up stays healthy then expect much better results. They will score more this year. I don't believe St Louis would be replaced if they have a slow start. The players have bought in and they compete. The big question is how well the young defence plays and how many goals the team gives up.
I think the goal for this season or at least in my eyes to to have a healthy team its been a while since we've actually been able to see a full healthy team
I’m hoping a progress year, and secondary scoring from someone else besides the defence. Two goalie system should be a boost. Lastly, I think there will be a creativity and speed boost.
Forward Rookie to watch: Owen beck. I can see him starting in Laval and taking Evans or Dvorak slot by Christmas or trade deadline at latest. He will be a very solid 2nd or 3rd line center for the habs.
If Dach stays healthy and Laine can put up 30ish goals they will be in the playoff hunt for sure. I think they fall just short this year and will actually make it the following. That said, last season we had something like 20+ 1 point games lost, if healthy they could easily flip half those points and bein the playoffs. The ceiling is high but the floor is low with this team. They have the most question marks but if half those questions are answered with a Yes, they could be a scarier team than most think imo.
As long as the players can stay healthy I would say they'll be battling for a wild card spot. As long as this team stays healthy they are done finishing in the bottom 10. It is going to be very exciting next season with Demidov coming over.
I too have Roy with Dach and Laine, I think they're gonna do some dmage if they can get some chemestry, playoff spots depends on the goalies performance. I think St-Louis is good for this season,unless they're at the bottom.
Whatever happens this season, I'll be happy. We'll have a ton more draft picks next summer and the young players will get more experience this year. If we make the playoffs, it'll be great. If we end up in the bottom ten, we'll get another high-touted draftee!
we have 3 things going for us 1. good young players 2. marty st. louis 3. a great management team. we have 3 things against us 1. a tough division 2. inexperience 3. gary bettman.
Don't think Marty is going anywhere unless all our young players drastically drop in terms of productivity. I still think he's Kent's best move. It's also not like we have much options other than recycling a coach that we already fired years ago or hire someone with 0 experience, since we're restricting our self with this language thing. Everyone on the team love him, the young players are actually developing for once, the vibes are off the charts and he's honestly doing good with the team he has. The only way he leaves the team any time soon is if he decides that he doesn't want to do coaching anymore or some very unlikely thing happen. If we weren't restricting our self to a bilingual coach, it would be another story, but I still think his chances would be very good.
And they say you can't do rebuilds in Canadian markets. Unless a bunch of teams completely implode, I don't see them making the playoffs for a couple more seasons. The arms race among teams that didn't make the playoffs isn't going to make that any easier, but they might finish ahead of Buffalo if things go well. It will be interesting to see how the Laine acquisition works out for them.
The team they have assembled makes me wish the season starts tomorrow. I'm not expecting huge things this season, but it feels like the rebuild should be complete next season.
I was cautiously optimistic about the season. Excited to see Slafkovsky explode, Hutson and Roy make the NHL, Dach be healthy, Anderson possibly bouncing back a little....but I didn't expect that much as far as team results go. But now with the addition of Laine, I really do like that forward group. We have a lot of weapons offensively. If the team stays healthy I could see them challenging for a playoff spot. Should be a lot of fun to watch unfold.
MSL will be with the Habs for the forseeable future. He is a key component of the culture they have developed in Montreal. The rebuilt has been sped up this offseason. Fringe playoff team this coming year. 2026 will be much better, and 2027 a solid playoff run!
Kirby Dach staying healthy is key here otherwise it’ll be the “Nick Suzuki does everything again” season. Dach being injured after 4 periods of hockey last season was soul crushing
As a Habs fan, all I want for this season is as many players as possible finishing with 82 games. I trust this group to improve, but they need to stay healthy.
Yep, plus they are young, they need to build confidence and improve. If all can stay healthy, with the addition of Laine, a playoff spot can definitely be an option
Second that thought, 23-24 was an improvement, no more breaking our NHL record for most games missed due to injury which we established and surpassed (or downpassed 🤔) in 22-23. But I'd like it if Dach, HP, Newhook and obviously Laine can get at least 75 games, nobody getting injured for more than a week please 🙏
@@LaPauseMontre Would be nice but with such a green defence, I'd be very surprised they get more than 90pts.
Hear hear. It would be nice to see what certain people are capable of with a full 82 games. Looking at you Dach
As Habs fan all I want is the cup
Just hoping that the hockey gods give us good injury luck this year
You mean, the ref's ?
Canadiens future is so bright Im going blind
I think you're driving in the opposite lane and you're watching the bright lights of an suv
@@mat3714haha hope not
@@_SE77 coping ? I don't think you understand the word...or context....or hockey
@@_SE77 Stop what ? Are you ok ? Is there someone next to you that can give you a hug? Or a reality check?
Need some more talent up front and a surefire future goaltender, but yea it is looking good if they stay the course.
To quote Jacques Demers, addressing the Habs at training camp in '93, "This team is going to surprise a *lot* of people this year!"
If the Leafs and Oilers can’t get it done in their current window, the Habs are my pick to end Canada’s cup drought. They’re going to be super good in 3-5 years
I think Vancouver still as a shot in the next few years.
Lmao leafs aren't winning a cup wtf, oilers or canucks are Canada's best hope right now.
@@Le_Chapardeur I have a very, very good feeling about this Canucks team. They made it to the second round and put up a great fight against the Oilers this year, despite it only being their first playoffs and missing Demko. Another couple of years of experience and hopefully a healthy Demko and they have a great shot at it.
I wish it for them
On an indefinite timeline, the Leafs will remain cupless.😂
Hughes and Gorton have the fan base’s trust and infused a long awaited optimism for the future. St. Louis is safe regardless at this time in the team’s progression. 6th is attainable in tough diving. The crop of youth is exciting and the potential is there. 2 more years of struggling but the entertainment value is there. Good times ahead.
I agree, St. Louis seems to be the right coach for these young players. Even with a slow start to 2024/25 I think the management and fans will still have faith he’s the right guy. His track record with guys like slaf and xhekaj on top of his rapport with the vets that trust him, i see him being around for a while.
Kent Hughes is a wizard! The future looks very bright
As a Habs fan I know this rebuild isn't quite done but it is close. My wish this season is to see guys like Dach and Laine play a full 82 games and be healthy. Maybe even a bounceback from Gallagher as a solid 3rd liner.. (One can hope)
I do feel as if Montreal is missing a true starting goalie to complete their rebuild though. Maybe Fowler could be that in time, but it isn't smart to put all their eggs in that basket yet.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Perfectly said
We tried with a shit team and a star goalie and it didn't really pay off. Top 6 with Laine, Demidov and healthy Dach might be pretty nasty and the blue line is projected to be top 5 in the league soon. If the 3rd line ends up being Newhook Hage Roy or a free agent i think that would mean contender team and Fowler should be enough
I believe it’s a true 1C they are missing
We're missing a true top pair defensive D-men too. I love Savard for a 2nd line role and Guhle isn't there yet, so we need someone better to plug the holes left by Matheson.
Well, we're not getting that, so let's hope Guhle pans out.
Jacob Fowler is the goalie of the future
And the reason for no trade
@@michaelb4590 they were in the mix still. It could of happened but it's not a need.
@@michaelb4590 That wasn't the reason. The Sharks just offered more. We were in the mix until the end which was the right move. Fowler looks amazing but you never know with goalies and he is likely 3 full seasons away from the NHL.
Dont curse him with that term :D
To me (Habs fan) this is probably the most fun season in the rebuild. They hadn't gotten the type of talent/potential you need out of tanking seasons yet, but I think Demidov (+ others) means they can have a better season without handicapping their rebuild now. That means this year is just about enjoying the games and cheering on the young guys. It's a rare window where I'm not invested in winning or losing. They obviously aren't at a point to compete yet, and you no longer have to be worried about them ruining their draft position.
If they still stink and draft high again, great. If they're better and closer to a playoff spot, great. It's all entertainment this year, zero stress.
Big Habs fan here I don’t really think Marty will get fired if they start off slow the players really love him and he seems to get the best out of his players and plus I think he’s done a phenomenal job he got Caufield and Slafkovsky out of the slump they were in and plus we have Jacob Fowler in the system who just broke the NCAA record for wins in a season but I will say the future is very bright for the Montreal Canadiens
@@bencarey5290 Habs need help with coaching the structure of how to compete and play playoff hockey this coaching staff does not have that set yet they are laxidasical of the defensive zone and coverage the demon angle tender left out to dry way too often
Injuries is the key. They're definitely stronger on paper than the last two seasons. Like way stronger. If Dach is back for close to the full season and with the addition of Laine, those are two huge elements. Add to that the continued development of Slafs and Caufield plus one year further maturation of that young goalie tandem and their entire blueline. Does that mean playoffs this year? Maybe but probably not. Still, there will be more entertaining games this year than we've seen in a few years from the Habs.
GHG
(and thank you, Shannon)
I have 100$ on them making the playoffs lol. I really think this team wants it bad and they have everything to be competitive every game.
To be perfectly honest, I think Montreal has a very legitimate chance to do something similar to what the Devils did 2 seasons ago and make a big leap up the standings when no one expected it. The signs are all there, the compete, the locker room attitude, the player progression. Having watched most of their games last year, they were very very close to winning a good 10-15 more games than they actually did which would have put them right in the thick of the wildcard race.
We'll need a lot of stars to align to have that: fewest injuries in a decade, Slafkovsky+Anderson+Dvorak scoring like we think they should be, the D-corps improving a lot and Montembault or Primeau having the best season of their career.
@@alexschannel8636 totally true, so many losses in 1 goal games last year
Team is on the up. One of the best prospects and a possible boost from Laine. I see this team being able to reach .500. 7th in the Atlantic with 80-85 points.
if they weren't in such a brutal division i could see them being a playoff team
@@arseface2k934 Indeed the competition between Montreal, Buffalo, Ottawa and Detroit will be ferocious if not furious.
80pts would mean stagnation. I'm hopeful it's 85-90.
We had 76 points with 27 games lost by one goal last year. I think with Dach and Laine in the line up, we potentially could've gotten half of those. So I'm aiming for the 90-95 pts mark.
@@francisvoyerGood point
Marty's the definition of a player's coach. Dude commands their respect, having taken the hard road himself to get to the top. Keeps his cool behind the Habs bench, corrects his players when needed, and sends them right back out there to get it done right.
The habs are two years away from their contention window to really open. This year the Habs will push for a wild card, next year will make it. Really excited about the season to start.
Apparently, that's the lockout year.
I don't mind if they stay low this year, we have a lot of picks next draft again. But yeah, two years for contention is about where I estimated where it is.
I have been waiting for this baby...thx..
Yzerman's waiting till you finish Detroit to announce the signings.
Stay the course! Them boys love Marty
Hey Shannon, I have noticed this in all of your videos. the exposure changes not stop in your videos. I think you have spot metering exposure on, so the video gets light each time you put your arm/hand in front of the whiteboard, and readjusts when you take it away. Love your videos btw :)
Nice presentation.....look forward to more. You a Boston fan....I'm taking back my compliment....😅😅😅😅
Keep Marty.
MTL has a team of
With how the team is built and with Demidov in our prospect pool, there's almost no chance we move Slafkovsky down instead of Caufield once Demidov makes the first line. Slafkovsky was drafted to become a possession monster that makes space for players like Demidov or Caufield. Dach can fill a similar role on the second line; even though they've played well together for a bit, having Dach and Slaf on the same line while having Demidov and Caufield on the same line is not properly spreading out skillsets along the top 6.
Still think the rebuild needs another top flight talent at 1C and D to push Barron to 7th D, and Suzuki & Caufield to the 2nd line. Hopefully, with the draft capital still available in 2025 & 2026; Kent Hughes can leverage it for such players or luck out in the drafting of such players. Love the team’s salary structure and the youthful promise. Got to be one of the best
@@user-jy3kd7ke6n Nick Suzuki is already a top 15 center in the NHL. He can absolutely be the 1C on a contending Habs team. On a good team this guy can easily reach 90+ points while staying defensively responsible, taking faceoffs, playing a surprisingly physical game for his profile and never getting injured. If Dach reaches his potential at 2C, Montreal is set.
@@mikeamber2528 agreed. People forget he's already played #1 centre role on a cup finalist.
Looks pretty awesome young core. Also Laine is only 26 years old.
Habs fan here... my hope for this season is to cut down on the injury man games lost and show progress in the rebuild. Playoffs are not expected by myself and would be a bonus.
This offseason has been a friggin rocket-ride baby
KH the Bald-King 👑
Harvey-Pinard is injury for at least 75% of the season, Farrell is a Laval guy
@@Jean_Maurice .RHPis a fringe NHL player at best. Send him to Laval to make room for better prospects to play.
@@mikebishop4430 Id sent Pez instead. He's way more useful than you think.
@@mikebishop4430he's injured...
Really like the potential of Laine-Dach-Roy.Wouldn't be too surprised if Beck and Mailloux end this season in Montreal.
Sleeper team of the 24/25 season.
Martin St-Louis isn't going anywhere. He is a big part of the Hughes/Gorton plan!
lol, that list of scorers, no wonder we havent had a 40 goal guy since the 90's......
Yeah and people wonder wjmhy Price could never lead them to a Cup, that's why
10:45 without injuries les Canadiens will be close to a playoffs spot for sure
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Montreal will be in the hunt for a WC spot as late as April.
I think the return of Dach, the addition of Laine, and the continued development of Caufield and Slafs will result in a big improvement on the powerplay this year - basically, they now have two lines that can score. And if Hutson makes the squad, that will further solidify their pp.
Let's look at their OT record from last year: Montreal went 10-16 in 26 games that went beyond regulation. They were 6-8 in 3 on 3 and 4-8 in the SO. I see both of those stats improving this year resulting in perhaps as many as four or five more points in the standings.
The biggest weakness last year was how Montreal fared against division rivals. Montreal went 5-13-8 (18 points) in that department. The next worst record went to Toronto at 10-12-3 (23 points). Montreal's record against the Metropolitan Division was 11-9-4 and it was an even 14-14-4 against Western clubs. But against clubs in the Atlantic, Montreal was woeful. In 26 games, they were outscored 111-73. Improvements here will be the determinant of just how late in the season Montreal fans can seriously talk about a WC spot.
Thanks for the great content Shannon!
I think the Canadiens are coming to the tail end of this rebuild - time will tell but there's a lot of promise on this team.
HABS NATIONS 🔵⚪️🔴
Healthy, not a bad team. Exciting young team. Hope to see them take a step
Great video , love their young players
I feel like St-louis is safe for is contract duration unless he looses the room. (That would be a suprise) If the habs can keep a healty line-up and a tiny bit of luck they could make it in the playoffs. But i think its the last year they don't for a long time if they don't.
Agree. Deep Cup run in '29 or '30, or both. Marty stays regardless because he connects well with the kids.
a rebuild doesnt take 10 years. otherwise wtf were they doing (cough cough buffalo, edmonton cough cough) . it takes about 5 years and were on year 4 this season
That 2015 playoffs was pretty good too... they don't JUST have 2021...
Yup, until Price was injured and Budaj was also injured, that left us with Tokarsi and ended our chances of beating the Rangers, which were pretty good. Chris Kreider is still on my blacklist of players I hate the most, yes he was pushed but he made no attempt to miss Price or to make the contact not as hard as he was slipping towards him. Curse him!
@@severed111 that was 2014
People sleeping on the habs. Gonna surprise people this year
YAY Thank you shannon!
Love the series
As a Bruin fan, I can honestly say I am in zero rush to see the Habs improve anytime soon. I'm not a masochist.
@@buckminsterfullerene11 maybe we'll finally beat ur team it's been brutal against the Bruins
@@cedricemard156 Brother, I grew up in the 1980's(born '72). The Canadians ruined my childhood lol. You know, it's all cyclical.
@@buckminsterfullerene11 That's rough, I hope you've been enjoying the last decade and a half of the Bruins completely manhandling the Habs.
The 90's Bruins owned the Habs, and since 2000, it's been pretty back and forth as far as playoff series goes.
@@Dr.JHamilton That figures, I spent the 90's in the Army active duty. I missed a lot of good stuff in ALL sports 😔
Thanks bud!
You left out Owen Beck. I think he could make an appearance on the big club this year.
I agree, don't count out Beck. He could be sneaky good!
It feels like covid is the best thing to happen to the Habs. Their playoffs drought should have been as long as the Senators', but they squeezed in the playoffs in 2020 because of covid (and stunned the Penguins) and again benefited from a weak, seven team division to make the playoffs in 2021 and somehow reached the finals.
It's easy to think Habs fans are a lot more patient towards the rebuild with the Finals run memories still relatively fresh on their mind. But I don't know how long they will keep this positive attitude
It always come to health of the players. Been the plague of the Habs since 2021. Losing Dach for the season on 2nd game last year just killed the season. Also the problem of the Habs was lack of pure talent, they might have it in Demidov and who knows.. maybe Laine will wake up.
You don't think Caufield and Slaf are pure talent? Plus, Suzuki is improving every year, I expect him to be a point per game or more this season, he hasn't reached his peak years yet (in average, 27 years old is when players peak). We haven't seen much yet and those guys are still very solid. Cole's shoulder should be fully healed by now and he will regain some of his shot accuracy he kind of lost last season I think, he was okay to play but his shot wasn't like when he told management that he would get out after his 26th goal. The team confiscated all of his sticks, going as far as going to his home to take the sticks he might have there, so he couldn't practice even his accuracy at all when waiting for surgery. It sucked so bad when he left in 22-23, on his way to 45+ goals...
Also, on defense, pure talent abounds.
Laine is the wild card. He can either make or break the Habs. He has the potential to score 30-40 goals. If he bombs, it really hurts their chances.
If he bombs his next contract will be league min or he wont even get one. I dont view patty as the loui erickson type tho i think he'll have his best years with the habs
Laine could potentially ‘make’ the Habs, but could never ‘break’ them. The Habs are Unbreakable.
He won't 'break' them they didn't give up much to get him.
Laine needs to belong somewhere! Needs a home! Maybe MSL can spoon with him?
On what are you possibly basing your take?
Good job analyzing the HABS ..!! I think they are 2 yrs. Away from contending...but boy they are going to be real good by then ..Those bad contracts will soon be gone ...and HUGHES will improve this roster big time ..!! Cups are coming SOON !!!😊
Go Habs go 🙏🙏
Great video as always ;) Hab fan here ;) For your question, i think Marty will stay no matter how the season will start ... As long as the players like him he'll be the man for Hugues i guess ... Caufield and all the others like his way to teach the game ... and he's loved by the fan ... Honestly, i'm not deep in the analytics ... Something i'll look forward for improvement this year will probably be the PK ... Last year, many times, the "man to man" tactic seems to failed us :( But with not so experienced players, maybe it's just a learning curve and this tactic was the good choice? ... Anyway ... Hope this will improved ... PP had his good moments ... and if they stay healty, guess they can be close ... For being in the playoff, everything need to be on top in this division ... that's a enormous task ... Guess we will be close to contention (but short) this year if i'm realist ... And the cup ... don't think it will be in 2026 ... but not so far ... many young players will reach their peak in the same time, they will be fun to watch "in each game" very soon ;)
I think Lane Hutson is going to come in and be a fan favourite for years to come. This young team is adding another year of experience to their belt and it's exciting to see them now, before they are world beaters
Great video! I totally agree with you on Roy getting a chance on the 2nd line.
Curious to hear your take.
Ooo Primeau is so not the guy.
Im looking to see youngsters play a lot of games and win a spot or not.
Hopefully they still finish near the bottom of the league.
I live in Montreal, you would be surprise how many people "smell the cup" when a big trade gets done (ie. read Laine)
Montembeault was way better and regular than Primeau. Again, stats are not revealing everything
I can't wait to see Demidov play .... future looks bright in Montreal
Montreal lost 24ish games by 1 goal last year. If they win 12 of those they make the playoffs. They have essentially the same team but have added a potential 30-40 goal scorer in Laine, and Kirby Dach will be back too. And if the young guys can continue their upward trajectory? Lots need to go right but I’m betting a WC2 spot
Interesting you put Roy on the 2nd line instead Newhook ... But In general , I'm agree with you knowing that is to start the season and lines changes for sure during the season.
Habs prospect pool hasn't been this deep in many years. Are they a playoff team? I think they make great strides but it will come down to two things-
Goaltending and staying healthy. They have more forward skill since the mid 90's. It will be fun to watch.
Also how the other teams who are also better on paper this year who all fight for the same spot not doing as good as the Habs, the Sens, Wings and Sabres, lacking injuries they have been plagued with too, especially Ottawa and Buffalo, it's going to be maddeningly tight below Boston, Toronto, Florida and Tampa. I expect the Bruins to lose some steam, no way they're keeping that steam they had as if Bergeron and Kreijci were still there this coming season, so they might be in the mix too.
This is the most excited I’ve been to start a season as a habs fan in a long long time! Not because I think the rebuild is over, but love everything about the direction of this team!
To your question… There is not a single possible scenario (based on team performance) where Marty is not the head coach for the full season.
It's all about health and special teams. If they can make strides there, they could at least be competitive and get close to that final playoff spot.
Trouba to Montreal makes a lot of sense. They have the space and need that leader back there. As the kids take bigger roles he wont need to eat as many minutes plus not too far from NYC.
Habs fan. Montreal showed last season that they're a tough beat, and they should be better than last year this season. As for playoffs? Probably still under 50/50, but I suspect that you wouldn't be as shocked if they make it than you would have been last season. I'm going to make a bold prediction that Montreal spends several weeks in the top half of your power rankings.
As a hockey fan in general Habs look like the most interesting team to watch this year
Habs fan here. Great progress, hopefully less injuries this year. Team is not playoff material yet because the division is simply better than us at the moment I think, too many games against better opponents. Hopefully i am wrong
Marty is a players coach. Reports are, the kids are good with that. Also, he's a Stanley Cup Champion.
So, far, the transition from player to coach which is certainly not an easy one - taking into account the pressure that comes with the job - has been solid given the experience.
From what we've seen so far, I think it's too early to imagine management is in any kind of a panic, when it comes to Coach Martin St-Louis.
The development group is solid, the coaching group is growing, learning, and striving to bring success back to this Montreal franchise.
I mean, we are just one away, after-all, from the very coveted and yet elusive, 25th Stanley Cup.
Mr. Hughes, Mr. Gorton and everyone behind and around this management team, are working with a focus. You can feel it.
✌
Go Habs Go!!
As a habs fan I dont expect them to make the playoffs this year but looking at how they've gotten better over the past few years I won't be surprised if they place 4th in the division but I'm expecting a 5th place finish
2029 stanley cup champs ive alrdy circled my calendar
I hope Montreal can play competitive hockey this season. December 1st Marks the 100th year anniversary of Montreal Boston rivalry
Despite having the worst 2nd line and penalty kill their compete level was very good. They had 43 one goal games and finished with 76 points. If the improved line up stays healthy then expect much better results. They will score more this year. I don't believe St Louis would be replaced if they have a slow start. The players have bought in and they compete. The big question is how well the young defence plays and how many goals the team gives up.
You actually nailed the pronunciation of Dobes
Marty ain't going anywhere!! LOL
I think the goal for this season or at least in my eyes to to have a healthy team its been a while since we've actually been able to see a full healthy team
the upcoming season will be like last year....in the toilet. good.
No playoffs this year. Marty is safe. Still a mystery what a healthy Dach can bring to the team. It would be great to find out this year!
Like your 3rd and 4th lines.
I’m hoping a progress year, and secondary scoring from someone else besides the defence. Two goalie system should be a boost. Lastly, I think there will be a creativity and speed boost.
Good video hockey guy I definitely see we are on the way up playoffs probably not but 10-12 point improvement Go Habs Go
My Atlantic Picks
1. Toronto
2. Florida
3. Boston
4. Tampa
5. Ottawa
6. Montreal
7. Detroit
8. Buffalo
Forward Rookie to watch: Owen beck. I can see him starting in Laval and taking Evans or Dvorak slot by Christmas or trade deadline at latest. He will be a very solid 2nd or 3rd line center for the habs.
Go habs go
St Louis's job is safe at least part way into the 2025/ 26 season. For this coming season though, he's not going anywhere.
If Dach stays healthy and Laine can put up 30ish goals they will be in the playoff hunt for sure. I think they fall just short this year and will actually make it the following. That said, last season we had something like 20+ 1 point games lost, if healthy they could easily flip half those points and bein the playoffs.
The ceiling is high but the floor is low with this team. They have the most question marks but if half those questions are answered with a Yes, they could be a scarier team than most think imo.
As long as the players can stay healthy I would say they'll be battling for a wild card spot. As long as this team stays healthy they are done finishing in the bottom 10. It is going to be very exciting next season with Demidov coming over.
Looking good looking good
I too have Roy with Dach and Laine, I think they're gonna do some dmage if they can get some chemestry, playoff spots depends on the goalies performance. I think St-Louis is good for this season,unless they're at the bottom.
Whatever happens this season, I'll be happy.
We'll have a ton more draft picks next summer and the young players will get more experience this year. If we make the playoffs, it'll be great. If we end up in the bottom ten, we'll get another high-touted draftee!
Forgot about Beck whi can also be an extra and sneak in this lineup.
Surprisingly Slafkovsky, while being a negative in plusminus, does have quite fantastic 54%++ GF/GA ratios in moneypuck lines.
we have 3 things going for us 1. good young players 2. marty st. louis 3. a great management team. we have 3 things against us 1. a tough division 2. inexperience 3. gary bettman.
Marty is not going anywhere...
Don't think Marty is going anywhere unless all our young players drastically drop in terms of productivity. I still think he's Kent's best move. It's also not like we have much options other than recycling a coach that we already fired years ago or hire someone with 0 experience, since we're restricting our self with this language thing. Everyone on the team love him, the young players are actually developing for once, the vibes are off the charts and he's honestly doing good with the team he has.
The only way he leaves the team any time soon is if he decides that he doesn't want to do coaching anymore or some very unlikely thing happen. If we weren't restricting our self to a bilingual coach, it would be another story, but I still think his chances would be very good.
Woohoo!! Canadiens!
And they say you can't do rebuilds in Canadian markets. Unless a bunch of teams completely implode, I don't see them making the playoffs for a couple more seasons. The arms race among teams that didn't make the playoffs isn't going to make that any easier, but they might finish ahead of Buffalo if things go well. It will be interesting to see how the Laine acquisition works out for them.
When the Habs are solid contenders the Bruins will be going down as their window is closing fast
The team they have assembled makes me wish the season starts tomorrow. I'm not expecting huge things this season, but it feels like the rebuild should be complete next season.
I was cautiously optimistic about the season. Excited to see Slafkovsky explode, Hutson and Roy make the NHL, Dach be healthy, Anderson possibly bouncing back a little....but I didn't expect that much as far as team results go.
But now with the addition of Laine, I really do like that forward group. We have a lot of weapons offensively. If the team stays healthy I could see them challenging for a playoff spot. Should be a lot of fun to watch unfold.
MSL will be with the Habs for the forseeable future. He is a key component of the culture they have developed in Montreal. The rebuilt has been sped up this offseason. Fringe playoff team this coming year. 2026 will be much better, and 2027 a solid playoff run!
Kirby Dach staying healthy is key here otherwise it’ll be the “Nick Suzuki does everything again” season. Dach being injured after 4 periods of hockey last season was soul crushing
i wont bet the farm on dach as #2 centre