Fans are excited at that moment. You want to talk Habs, let’s go. I’m just lazing around watching college football. Gimme Habs thoughts. Ask questions. Read the COTW. Let’s go! - ThreadSky

bwildemtl.bsky.social • 57 days ago

Fans are excited at that moment. You want to talk Habs, let’s go.

I’m just lazing around watching college football.

Gimme Habs thoughts. Ask questions. Read the COTW.

Let’s go!

Reposted from Brian Wilde

Praise up down and everywhere, with a special nod to Suzuki, one hole remains in the goats, and to sign Evans or not sign him.

All in the Call Of The Wilde for Global Montreal.

globalnews.ca/news/1093783...

Comments

andrewzadarnowski.bsky.social•57 days ago

Will the Laval Rocket remain as successful in the box office as they have been these last few seasons once the Canadiens ‘arrive’? Or is the farm team’s success solely based on selling hope to a fanbase?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Tough one Andrew but I think they’re establishing a fan base. Feels to me when I go that fans are just enjoying being at the game.

therocket9girl.bsky.social•57 days ago

I for sure 100% do.

Have been there since 2017. Even when we werent good.

The experience all around is just fun.

If anything, is just that the fake and annoying fans will be there in smaller numbers when things start getting though

fiveholeshootr.bsky.social•57 days ago

I think you can have the big club turn a corner and still have a successful/winning AHL team. It comes down to good management (assets, picks and development) selling hope doesn’t have to be a part time thing. I never understood the idea of mortgaging the future like the Pens. Keep the cupboard full

mickchow.bsky.social•55 days ago

In an alternate universe, can Hutson be your 2C?

mickchow.bsky.social•55 days ago

First 4 game win streak of the season? Habs are only team in conference with 4 wins past 5 games.

mab30.bsky.social•57 days ago

No injuries right now and injured players came back on schedule. Drastic change from past 2+ years. How much do you think the new medical team regime deserve credit for this or is it luck (or both?)

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Not much. Injuries are like goalies. It’s all voodoo.

claude65.bsky.social•57 days ago

Lane hutson has just been named rookie of the month. Brian, I've been a canadiens fan since Guy Lafleur, who was my idol. I haven't been as excited about a player since the last 40 years. I bought my first canadiens Jersey ever with the hutson name and number on the back. Love everything about him

claude65.bsky.social•57 days ago

Btw Brian, a healthy and happy new year to you. You are a great human being with great values. We need more people like you in this world. I really enjoy reading you and listening to you. 😊

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Claude that is very kind. Thank you. Happy new year.

cookieman1985.bsky.social•57 days ago

Do you foresee Slaf finding his scoring touch soon? What kind of goal numbers do you think he could or should have the rest of this season or in the next couple?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Slafkovsky to me is one guy I am slightly down on at the moment. But I need to remember he is 20. Long leash remains.

Slafkovsky is most positively assessed at the moment by assessing the line that is extremely competitive against hockey’s best trios.

That says he belongs.

cookieman1985.bsky.social•57 days ago

If Savard is traded before the deadline, does Struble or Mailloux take his place?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

I don’t think they’re gonna sell anyone. I think they’re buying soon. Soon soon.

justinjjfoster.bsky.social•57 days ago

Re: Evans

What do Evans, Armia, Savard and Dvorak have in common? They are all UFAs, but also make up the core of the 8th best PK in the NHL.

I can't see a reality where they all leave and rookies (bad) or Suzuki (worse) fill the PK void. Surely this is justification enough to keep Evans, right?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Bet Beck is gonna be one of the best PK in hockey for years and years.

giovannipallotta.bsky.social•57 days ago

We’ve been lucky to avoid the injury bug for the most part. Do you see the Habs being buyers or sellers if they are a few points out of a wild card spot at trade deadline?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Buyers. I think they may buy sooner rather than later. I think they were waiting and watching how they could compete on this brutal road trip.

They got their answer.

So buyers and maybe inside 2 weeks.

Centre position would be the guess. Maybe goalie if Dobes falters next starts.

bartdudemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Perhaps it’s recency bias but who on earth would/could they get that could crack this lineup. I wouldn’t mess with the chemistry on any line. I’ve said it before. Stages of team dev is Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing. You don’t mess with the mix when you are Performing like they are.

giovannipallotta.bsky.social•57 days ago

There’s a lot to agree with here but this team is building with a young core and the tricky part is letting go of the right vets for the future of the club. I can see Dvorak and Armia gone, Evans and Savard staying.

lakeontariosth.bsky.social•57 days ago

Buyer for a center is something that could help. Unless they consider Newhook for 3C. With Demidov coming over next season, they will have their top 6 wingers filled out. Unless Demidov becomes a center. It's awesome being a #GoHabsGo fan right now.

habslaws.bsky.social•57 days ago

Do you have any Center that is I your wish list or that is someone you would target?

canadjen.bsky.social•57 days ago

Do you that the Habs could go on a streak similar to Jets did at the start of the season? I know teams play tighter this time on year but they’re on a roll right now.

canadjen.bsky.social•57 days ago

Loved your COTW but I find you were too kind toward Slaf saying he won his puck battle to start the play on Caulfield’s goal. He lost his battle, again, and the guy threw it right back on his stick.I wish he WOULD win more battles

amarcordnew.bsky.social•57 days ago

Hey .... live the COTW! My feeling is Dach/Laine/Newhook are clicking and will be killers in last part of season. What do you think?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

They have stabilized for sure. After moving to minus 21 in the first 7 weeks, in the last 5 weeks Dach has stabilized to even.

Even is fine for that line. Keep that up.

Considering the carnage that the 2nd line has seen since Danault left, MTL will more than take that.

scotian.bsky.social•57 days ago

is there any sense of which way Hughes/Gorton will go if the team is still on the playoff bubble at the trade deadline? would they still want to sell what they could (e.g., Evans) with longer-term ambitions in mind, or keep the roster together and see if they can make a push this year?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

I think this organization wants to move out of this now and believes in the value of culture growing and team building.

If they’re playing at all respectable, I can not see a fire sale. I see a desire to stabilize this upswing.

scotian.bsky.social•57 days ago

Thanks! It's difficult to read the tea leaves from the outside without being closer to the team, so I appreciate the insight.

robhing.bsky.social•57 days ago

I feel like Habs management understands the dilemma better than most Habs media seem to. They often paint it as a “sell vs retain” dilemma when the reality is trades are never basic binary. They’re always contingent on “price”. The only thing that’ll change is the cost for Habs players will go up

northernck.bsky.social•56 days ago

Very much so.
Or the sell-high comment made by Hughes early on in his tenure. Habs fans now dream up sales of every single player who they suggest is at peak form.
The same fans which can’t admit we misread Lehkonen’s “high” as a third liner.

scotian.bsky.social•57 days ago

I think the fulcrum here is Evans and by the sounds of it, nobody outside him and possibly management has a sense of what he wants — only that he'd be foolish not to cash in on a career year, and that it seems unwise/unlikely to be a good fit cap-wise for the Habs if that's the case.

scotian.bsky.social•57 days ago

that said, even trading Evans for assets wouldn't necessarily be a sell-off, but it does preclude the notion of going all in, which is probably fine unless Hughes thinks the Habs are a Cup contender this year (safe to assume he doesn't)

robhing.bsky.social•57 days ago

Evans is the most complicated case whose return may cause the Habs to HAVE to sell. But it depends on the market. Last year, 1st round picks were hard to come by. And I’m not sure if a late 1st is worth what keeping Evans could mean to the messaging sent to this young core.

But a 1st plus ?…

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Be shocked if Evans fetched a first. Last year no one wanted to give up a first. Monahan was the outlier. Evans ain’t no Monahan.

nvrtds.bsky.social•57 days ago

If you can sign Evans reasonably (say $3.5x3 years), given dependability on special teams & age & fit with team culture, wouldn't that be better than an (at way best) low 1st round pick that won't be playing on your team for at least 2 years? Only a Dach/Newhook type makes sense at all, but for a C.

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Depends on the number. It’s not what you get for Evans. You’re thinking of it on those terms.

It’s the 4 million you’re spending when a one million guy can do the same job. Use the 3 million toward the hole you desperately need to fill.

nvrtds.bsky.social•57 days ago

But wouldn't the $1 million guy likely end up costing the team an extra 10 SH goals over a season? That's likely 3-4 fewer wins right there. I've just been so impressed with his SH play which has been one of the team's biggest improvements YOY. Beck and Kapanen can replace Dvorak and Armia in lineup

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Beck is gonna be one of the best PK men in hockey.

lakeontariosth.bsky.social•57 days ago

Exactly. 4th line players can not make that kind of money if you want to be competitive. Is Evans a 3rd line C? He's going to be an outstanding trade chip.

nvrtds.bsky.social•57 days ago

I think a 4th line C can if they can really excel at SH. Saves players like Suzuki from having to do it. The 4 line wings obviously need to be cheap and can't have Armia and Anderson type contracts. Decent money is about to come off the books.

samihaque.bsky.social•57 days ago

This is a hypothetical but do you see a cup contender that has a weak PK target Armia and Evans together as a duo?

habsnut.bsky.social•57 days ago

Even with Dach improving lately, still think he's the 2C this rebuild needs? Because for me the 2C is THE issue they need to solve moving on.

bartdudemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Perhaps Hage is the answer but that likely 3yrs away.

habsnut.bsky.social•57 days ago

Considering the way they are trending, assuming it continues, can they afford to wait? Perhaps they can if Demidov dominates quickly.

puckspo.bsky.social•57 days ago

Is the defensive pipeline stocked up enough to get to contender status as is? Do you foresee needing to go back to the well in the next few drafts or having to make a move or two to get there?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

Great question. Cup champs generally have a real amazing top D. Not always but a pair that goes out and shuts down the game.

Guys like Makar Heiskanen Hedman.

I’m not sure if they got that guy yet but they got a lot of great pieces.

simon-richard.bsky.social•57 days ago

You are right. Since 1970, those Norris winners were par of many of the Stanley Cup champions: Orr, Robinson, Potvin, Coffey, Chelios, Bourque, Leetch, Pronger,Lidstrom, Niedermayer, Chara, Keith, Doughty, Hedman, Makar. Not many teams won the without having at least a D from an All Star Team.

ryleemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

So I’m of the belief that the Habs will have to pick either Evans or Armia for a contract extension because I don’t think they will fit both plus a big ticket asset through FA or a big trade that the management team will want to pick up.

habsnut.bsky.social•57 days ago

Big ticket asset would mean top 6 forward or top pair RD. With Dvorak and perhaps Savard gone I don't think keeping Evans and Armia would be an issue money wise if that's the plan. The issue is finding spots for everyone if that's the case unless other players are also leaving by trade.

habsnut.bsky.social•57 days ago

Actually now that I think of it, a big ticket asset up front can only mean a 2C.

doncattani.bsky.social•57 days ago

Don't mind either or both.

hockeygod.bsky.social•57 days ago

Is Mailloux tradable? I see him as someone with upside, but likely to get passed by others. Trade now while he’s still see as a developing asset?

bwildemtl.bsky.social•57 days ago

For sure he is tradable. Great prospect. Dipping a bit at the moment but can’t lose sight of age and experience.

A 21 year old D making mistakes can’t be a give-up or 95% of 21 year old D would be traded too quickly.

Patience. Let him slow down the action in his head - that comes with repetition.

mcuggy.bsky.social•57 days ago

I’m curious , he and Reinbacher are their 2 top Rd prospects and R is out with a serious injury . Who do you see passing him ?

hockeygod.bsky.social•57 days ago

Well right now they have Carrier. Reinbacher will hopefully be the top RD in the future and Engstrom is playing RD and seems to have passed Mailloux. I think the skill set he brings doesn’t seem to match the slots available.

mcuggy.bsky.social•57 days ago

Ok, I think Rd are like C’s, if you think a guy will become a good one, you stick to the process.

hockeygod.bsky.social•57 days ago

Fair enough!

mcuggy.bsky.social•57 days ago

We could arm wrestle but I’m very tired.

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