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A lot of ink being used right now about Norlinder, Romanov and the Habs D pipeline. @mathiasbrunet wrote a good article today, wondering if people/fans are getting too upbeat on the pipeline. Here is my take.
I looked at the past Cup winners. Top 6 D and best pt getter.
2020: 2.2 pt/gm, best at 55 pts
2019: 1.75 pt/gm, best at 41 pts
2018: 2 pts/gm, best at 68 pts
2017: 1.89 pt/gm, best at 51 pts
2016: 1.78 pt/gm, best at 67 pts
2015: 1.6 pt/gm, best at 45 pts
2020: 2.2 pt/gm, best at 55 pts
2019: 1.75 pt/gm, best at 41 pts
2018: 2 pts/gm, best at 68 pts
2017: 1.89 pt/gm, best at 51 pts
2016: 1.78 pt/gm, best at 67 pts
2015: 1.6 pt/gm, best at 45 pts
2011: 1.6 pt/gm, best at 44 pts.
What this says to me is that you don't need the production of a Makar or Hughes to win a cup but you need enough production to get into the 1.7 to 2 pt/gm from your group.
You also need one Dman to get 40+ pts.
What this says to me is that you don't need the production of a Makar or Hughes to win a cup but you need enough production to get into the 1.7 to 2 pt/gm from your group.
You also need one Dman to get 40+ pts.
@JhanHky just wrote a fantastic article today about Erik Karlsson. He explains how his game is falling because he's lost some skating. He also wrote how PK Subban's game has fallen off a cliff because he lost his skating.
Skating is the bread and butter of all of Mete, Romanov, Norlinder, Harris, Struble, Guhle, Brook, Juulsen (to a lesser degree but it is still very good).
While none of those kids are seen as being offensive powerhouse, they all have the ability to bring "some" production.
While none of those kids are seen as being offensive powerhouse, they all have the ability to bring "some" production.
All of Romanov, Norlinder, Harris, Guhle and Juulsen are also described as players who can play tough minutes and lots of them. If you have Dmen who can skate, can play tough minutes and can produce, you have a very strong D corps.
If all 6 dmen put up 20 pts/year, your team is putting up 1.46 pt/gm
If 3 are @ 20 pts and 3 are at 30 pts, your team is @ 1.82 pt/gm
If 3 are @ 20 pts, 2 are @ 30 pts and one is @ 50 pts, your team is at 2.07pts/gm.
If 3 are @ 20 pts and 3 are at 30 pts, your team is @ 1.82 pt/gm
If 3 are @ 20 pts, 2 are @ 30 pts and one is @ 50 pts, your team is at 2.07pts/gm.
Maybe, just maybe, there is one of these kids who will become a 50 pt Dman. That is about all the Habs need.
Is it Norlinder? Struble? Harris? Brook? Romanov? Who knows?
Duncan Keith's most producitve season in the AHL was 26 pts....
Is it Norlinder? Struble? Harris? Brook? Romanov? Who knows?
Duncan Keith's most producitve season in the AHL was 26 pts....
Juulsen, in 2018/19, on a team that was about to not qualify for the playoffs, was on pace for 20 pts, on a third pair.
While there may not be a Makar in there, all of Norlinder, Romanov, Harris, Struble, Mete (we know), Guhle are described as good on breakouts.
While there may not be a Makar in there, all of Norlinder, Romanov, Harris, Struble, Mete (we know), Guhle are described as good on breakouts.
These kids are going to be breaking out plays to Suzuki, Kotkaniemi and Danault, centers who are strong two-way players. They will all play for what looks like a much better Habs team than what has been assembled in a long time.
That should help their offensive production.
That should help their offensive production.
You have to go back a long time to see the Habs having such a strong group of prospects coming out of the 2nd/3rd rds. In fact, you need to go back to the 1980s when the Habs had lots of 2nd/3rd picks.
That period saw the Habs draft in the 2nd and 3rd round players like:
Nattress, Ludwig, Delorme, Chelios, Desjardins, Schneider, Lumme, Brisebois.
One real superstar, Chelios and one D #, Desjardins. But overall, a very strong group.
Nattress, Ludwig, Delorme, Chelios, Desjardins, Schneider, Lumme, Brisebois.
One real superstar, Chelios and one D #, Desjardins. But overall, a very strong group.
As always, time will tell.
But as a group of prospects, this is the strongest group I've seen since the 1980's......by far!!
But as a group of prospects, this is the strongest group I've seen since the 1980's......by far!!
