In this first episode of Habs Summer Targets, Coach, Enortap, and Marko dive into the Montreal Canadiens’ roster, discussing who’s in and who’s out for the upcoming season. 🏒 They analyze defensemen and forwards to determine which players may or may not return.
As they navigate this evaluation, it becomes clear that General Manager Kent Hughes faces tough decisions leading up to the 2025 trade deadline. 💼
Stay tuned until the end of the video to discover which roster spots are open for the Canadiens next season. Don’t miss out on the new series Habs Summer Targets for the Habs Nation Podcast.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts on who should stay or go for the Habs next season! #HabsSummerTargets #MontrealCanadiens #NHL #HockeyTalk #RosterAnalysis #HabsNation
19 Comments
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I don't see any huge stars on defense except Matheson. Management can replace anyone if it is beneficial for the team.
Good morning Coach, Marko and Enortap…so glad you are doing this HABS SUMMER TARGETS…I suspect a Gorten told us who are untouchable ..for me, the core must remain or the development team work could be lost…team synergy critical to keep.
Good Day Gents, I think RHP will be in Laval next year. Too small and the Habs cannot afford to keep a 2 goal player who does not add much else. I know he was injured and only played 45 games but honestly Pezzrtta adds a lot more for a 13th forward. I think they trade Dvorak and bring in Beck. On defense, I think they may trade Barron and Mailloux will see playing time. I also think they will trade Harris.
Something the vast majority never do is disassociate how a player plays and his numbers/production.
Typically almost always it is about the numbers and much less abotu wining or playing like a good TEAM player that plays to win for the team and does not play selfishly.
Karlsson destroyed the league last year from a defenseman;s production point of view but did nothing to help his team as a winner.Pens managmeent were obviously fooled going in big to get him and he did NOTHING to help the pens become a winner.
The reason is SIMPLE hockey is a TEAM game NOT an individual game but yet again I constantly hear people talk about what this FUTURE player or goalie might do as an INDIVIDUAL.
The best way I can sum it up is that MOST people do not fully understand the TEAM game that is hockey and yes that extends to even players I have played with many over the years who think about themselves not the team.
dont give up on monahan yet lets see what he wants.
Great stuff Enortap and Coach !!!!! 👏🏻
Hello guys. I was thinking of a very controversial move but definitely one i think Kent should consider. And thats Kaiden Guhle. A very good player. Yes. But i say we trade him this off season with a 7×6.5 extension to Buffalo for Dylan Cozens. Win win. We get an actual top 6 of
Caufield-Suzuki-Slaf
Newhook-Cozens-Dach
While the Sabres get a great complete top 4 D that rounds it out.
Power-Dahlin
Guhle-Samuelsson.
I also wanna add i think Montreal will make 1 big free agent signing this off season. Maybe nothing crazy big like Stamkos if hes even there but a guy like Marchassault or Toffoli. I think we will target a 5th man on the PP to play with Slaf Caufield Suzuki Matheson and a second line winger. Monahan was thrown out there but we just just traded him and i think hes more a 3rd line center. Even if we arent there to compete i think Kent Hughes its worth to try and see how close we are. If we make it keep them. If we miss it trade them. Win win to me.
where is my comment?
ill make another one .
as much as fans and i want to win .
its a process imo .
there are three perhaps franchise d in the draft this year .if the habs can come away with one .that would make players like guhlie or hutson expendable for trade .next year .
making a run or getting a top 6 so the team can get in the playoffs .would be counter productive imo .
next season the habs have 2 first to draft a top 6 . going on a run would lead to expectations.
pezzetta is a hab until someone can fill his chair . rhp is a hab until someone can fill his chair . neither can be filled with a skilled forward . due to cost certainty .
thats why i want beauvillier .he fills both chairs .but is 3rd line toi .making both players expendable imo .
there is no reason in the rebuild process to fast track anything .at this point in the rebuild .
and um cant be first if nobody sees it 😛
gohabsgo
I really enjoyed this! Thank you guys
Just what the doctor ordered, Great SHOW! I agree with everything you guys said, we're all waiting for this stage to happen. I think Harris and Kovy will be traded, with Mr. Hughes making sure to get them to a good team out of respect. On defence, our biggest need is a partner for Matheson and that player is Mailloux. Barron tried but fell short, I really believe his game will be very strong, it HAS to be, he's around for now. One player off the radar is WILLIAM TRUDEAU, he had a season on a par with last year, so he can help orient the new guys. Xjekai is out until October at least so Struble is in. Hutson is in MSL's close watch camping in MSL's backyard, when he played with the 1st line, they were on FIRE!!!!
Part 2, forwards; we have about 6 players on expiring contracts, I think they will all be gone by next season, maybe Evans is a keeper, but he could get a great return at the deadline. Training camp will help to sort it all out, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Beck, Heineman, or others coming in and out to test their readiness. We need a couple of NHL players within the age of the team, problem is, if you get a 'good player' who is young, they won't want a 2 or 3 year deal, so a 5-8 year deal at good money could be a nightmare and we have a couple of those already, HUGO won't make that mistake. GO HABS GO
By the way Coach, Thailand's hockey team beat Kuwait in IIHF U18's in Qatar, 57 to ZERO, outshooting them 122 to 1!!! Maybe they should watch the show? Or better, hire you to help shape the team? I've never heard of a score like that….Cheers mon ami!
With the top 5 pick + next year's first round we'll be stacked in capital & assets. I don't want Hughes to make a huge signing this year but in 2025. However, imagine a lineup looking like this
Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Newhook – Dach – (konecny/Marchand/Boeser/Marner?)
Roy – (Dvorak/Evans) – (Gallagher/RHP)
Armia – (Evans/Lindstrom/Iginla) – (Anderson/Anyone)
Hughes/Gorton says physicality up front is an issue…remove Pezzetta then its more of an issue.
Nice show 💯
my take on things is this: I see the young Defensemen getting looks but everyone of them will or likely should do a season in Laval.. the exception I think is Mailloux who has shown a lot of Chemistry with Wifi in Laval and I could see that translate to the NHL level. Struble, Barron, and Harris should START in Laval while Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux get their looks in, if they don't DEMAND a spot on the Montreal Roster then bring up Struble and Harris. Kovi at times was better than Savard last season and he's better than Harris and Barron at this point in time, I'd keep him around for stability. if Barron is waiver eligible and doesn't crack the lineup out of Training camp and preseason I'd stick him in Laval and trade him when I can but keep in mind that Savard is on his contract year so there will be a hole come trade deadline, injuries happen, nothing worng with having Harris and Barron locking down the AHL blueline. but those two are likely expendable. Struble is NHL ready now but there's a bit of a log jam on his side.. he will likely be the 7th guy over Kovi if Hutson cracks the lineup but I REALLY think it's best for Hutson and Rinbacher to be top pairing line mates in the AHL as they are our future top pairing NHL line IMO.
Forward wise, I'm not apposed to seeing Anderson waived to be honest… if he can't start the season strong I think an AHL stint could help him find his game. he's supposed to be a top 6 power forward and every line he's played on he's dragged the line down. it's not worth keeping a guy like that on the roster. harsh reality but it's like his hockey sense just vanished. Armia, Pezzeta, Gally, Evans, Roy, Devorak all pretty solid bottom six players. Roy could be a top 6 real soon to be fair. Devorak if he can stay healthy for more than a week could be a top 6 I think.. RHP im not big on.. someone made a comparison to Hudon and I have to agreee. I don't think he's worth investing too much time into once other players like Wifi 2.0, Mezzar, or Beck start to crack the 3rd line. I like Pezzeta more than Ralph but both are servicable 13th man. if we aquire a top 6 forward I'd probably start RHP in the minors and have Pezzetta keep his 13th role.
Patrick Laine. If the Blue Jackets put Laine on the trade block, I would jump at offering our Winnipeg pick and one young Dman to Columbus retaining half Laine's salary? Laine is a game changer with size-speed-scoring. Cheers