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Good Sunday morning #habs fans! Winning is surely funner!! Here’s Call of the Wilde from @BWildeMTL and a few thoughts from me. Lori Answers the Call. https://twitter.com/bwildemtl/status/1350648452384960514
If game one was about the awe of the new guys, game two was absolutely about the comfort of the old guys. The Danault line was strong and looked like themselves after a bland opening game. Weber-Chiarot was also solid. And Jeff Petry was doing what Jeff Petry does. #Habs
I liked the balance of the forward lines last night, both in ice time and effectiveness. In game one the #habs pressure came from two lines. All contributed last night, and while that’s a lot to ask of every night, it’s when they’re best in Julien’s system.
As mentioned, the Danault line was strong and had a box score to match it. With less evidence to show for it, I thought the Suzuki line looked good. Suzuki was dangling, Drouin was sick passing and Anderson was power forwarding. I like that line a lot. #Habs
The Kotkaniemi line is off to a slow start. They’ve played 2 games folks. They’re developing chemistry. They’re getting chances. I’m not sure Armia is the best long term fit there, and they’re going to have to be more selfish on the shot, but it’s early. Chill. #Habs
Before I move on from the KK line, I do believe he and Toffoli can work together. They’re getting chances and like many scorers, TT is streaky. When he scores, we may see a bunch. But they have to take shots they’re passing away. It will come. #Habs
The 4th line looked much better last night. Evans was a machine all night on the PK. Byron is waking up, and Lehkonen looked good. I think this line is more important than most recognize because it has potential to be the strongest 4th in the Scotia division. #Habs
From the D group, I thought Weber and Chiarot had one of their good games. Very effective last night. The revelation will be on Monday night when Edmonton will surely ice a better version of themselves. #Habs
Edmundson had a much better outing in game 2. A worse game would have truly been troubling. And those underlying stats are still nothing to get excited about. But it’s early. And we’ll applaud improvement when we see it. #Habs
The coach was cautious with the other new addition. Romanov saw less ice in his second game, and that’s to be expected. That’s a veteran coach protecting the rookie player. Managing expectations. Giving him bite size pieces. But his underlying stats were noteworthy. #Habs
Now since @BWildeMTL has addressed the PLD discussion, I’ll give a thought or two. A Francophone who is a top flight hockey player wants to come home. You don’t need to know another detail to know the pressure for Bergevin to make that happen has to be enormous. #Habs
Dubois is not just any local kid... he’s a legit 1C that pretty much any NHL team would be happy to add to their roster. He will still be an RFA at the end of his current reasonable contract. Since he reportedly wants to be at home, re-signing should not be an issue. #Habs
Here is the kicker with Dubois. He’s top flight, but he’s not elite or generational or whatever word you’d apply to a McDavid or a McKinnon or a Crosby. He’s not a player that you throw caution to the wind for. Bergevin has to be careful to avoid the overpay. #Habs
For me, Romanov is off the table. But that’s probably not a sticking point. As @BWildeMTL notes, CBJ will need to bring a C back in the deal in they’re not strong enough down the middle to cut any corners in the deal. They’ll want the kids. #Habs
Like Romanov, Suzuki is completely off the table for me. You would have to convince me that Dubois is better. Suzuki has the trajectory and the personality that should be a priority for the #habs to keep for a very long time. It’s a non-starter for me, but CBJ has to ask.
The best option for the #habs would be to build a package around Danault in exchange for Dubois. But man, I don’t know what you’d add to that package to make it palatable for a wily GM or to compete with other offers. That’s the deal I hope for, but can’t believe is possible.
So that leaves Kotkaniemi. The #habs would be trading future for now and risking that KK may actually prove better than Dubois. Let me say I don’t think Bergevin feels rushed by any Price-Weber window. I think he’ll make the deal he feels sets the team up best for a decade.
I’ve seen some ridiculous KK for PLD proposals. If you have to add Caufield and Guhle and a 1st, wait for the UFA version of Dubois. A CBJ beat writer “reported” the #habs offer is KK and Mete. That’s enough in my view. The more you add to KK, the more you should step away.
I’m reluctant to trade KK at all, to be honest. But I get why Bergevin might entertain it. He loves Dubois and tried to get him before. He’s a known talent who may still improve. And he wants to come home. I could swallow it. #Habs
As for cap considerations, I agree with @BWildeMTL on that one. There’s more than one way to get there. But I would also see the merits in keeping it clean and offering CBJ a pick to take Byron in the deal. #Habs
Now bear with me. Suppose KK + Mete + Byron + 2nd could get you PLD (doubtful) consider these lines.
Tatar-Dubois-Gallagher
Drouin-Suzuki-Anderson
Lehkonen-Danault-Toffoli
Frolik-Evans-Armia
Solid lines. The #habs are immediately better. But consider one more thing.
Tatar-Dubois-Gallagher
Drouin-Suzuki-Anderson
Lehkonen-Danault-Toffoli
Frolik-Evans-Armia
Solid lines. The #habs are immediately better. But consider one more thing.
If the #habs are somehow able to convert KK to PLD - something they only want to do if they can avoid an overpay - there is an enormous impact for Danault. There is no doubt left that he is the 3C on this team. His bargaining power is gone. Two roads immediately diverge.
Dubois’ availability is a compelling story in the NHL right now. Bergevin needs to be very careful about how he and the #habs factor in to the plot.
