Here are a couple of stats which makes me think we might not be much better next year.
I know this is not a popular opinion on this sub, but I actually think we might do worse next year even when healthy and especially if we make more room for younger guys.
Basically we’ve over achieved into 5th last this season.
KILLALLSNAKES
It’s a rebuild not a pop up
KingMonaco
I agree. This years team was fueled with players trying to prove they had a place in the lineup. This adrenaline and sense of urgency won’t be as effective next year.
I see another year in the top 5-10 of the draft and then we start trending upwards season 24-25.
SellingMakesNoSense
Your stats show me two main things.
1) We had 5 rookie dmen playing many nights and gave up a lot of shots.
2) Our forwards werent good and nearly every team had better forwards, something that happens when injuries mean you have to put guys like Belzile and Pez on your second line and guys like Armia on the top line.
Stats don’t show too much when your team leads the league in missed games to injuries.
lacoupe25
I agree 100%. Bottom 5 next season. Maybe Guhle improves a bit defensively, but Savard and Edmundson on downward slide spell major troubles in defensive zone. Since Primeau will be subject to waivers and Dobes needs lots of AHL starts , they won’t risk losing Primeau and will have to waive or trade Allen. Monty-Primeau duo likely to be bottom of the league. Among forwards, even if Gally and Hoffman are bought out nothing much will change, unless PLD is brought in–but this is more likely for the following season, when a lot will change. Even with everyone healthy, still too many who are no good defensively. Predict bottom 5 next season again.
unKappa
Shoutout to Monty who not only stole games but stole away Bedard from us (most likely) 🙁
PofolkTheMagniferous
I don’t think it’s as simple as being able to say, “our underlying stats were really bad this season, so there’s no reason to think they’ll be any better next season.”
Our young guys next year will all have the benefit of experience and another offseason to train and improve. The offseason will also likely involve some roster tweaks via trade and free agency. One or two players added could very well be what the team needs to take a step up to being a bubble team. There’s also the possibility we get a player who is NHL ready in the draft lottery.
We could be worse next year, players sometimes take a step back in development. I think it’s more likely we take a step forward though.
Studly_Wonderballs
At the beginning of this year I predicted we would finish between 20th and 25th because there was no way we would have as many injuries as last year.
Now I don’t want to make predictions anymore
FatStupidOldMan
Until this franchise gets a hold on its injuries, we’re always going to struggle.
Montreal is the 3rd wealthiest team in the league. How is it, Toronto, keeps its roster as healthy as they do and Montreal’s team keeps crumbling to pieces… at a literal historical pace…
pichenet14
I’m ok with this. Unless we win the lottery (1 or 2), I want another shot at top 5 next year. If we do win the lottery I want a shot at top 10. I want the highest probability possible for us to go on a 10-15 year tear – even if it takes a little longer to get there.
Things I don’t want: 10-15 years of mediocracy because we tried to come out of the rebuild too soon or goals of making the playoffs and see what happens. I want us to confidently be able to say our goal is the stanly cup for multiple years.
skradmore
They’re not even the same team if they’re healthy tho
xero1986
I’ve been saying this here for weeks and people get so upset.
Yes, hopefully everyone takes a step forward. First of all, they won’t. RHP will stop shooting 24% at some point. Monty won’t be a top-5 goalie (likely). There’s a ton of reasons why they might be better, but will also likely be worse.
I still expect this team to be bottom-10, closer to bottom 5.
Longshanks123
Assuming fewer injuries (big assumption I guess) there’s no way we’re bottom five. But we’re not good either. I would say we finish like 22nd-25th
georgin_95
Rookies make rookie mistakes, more at 5
bigchongus-_-
That blocking shot stats is pretty good!
Snoopy_021
Scoring more on lower shots tells me that the players are taking more calculated shots on goal. That could, in some ways, translate as smart play by not wasting shots that would most likely not go in.
16 Comments
Basically we’ve over achieved into 5th last this season.
It’s a rebuild not a pop up
I agree. This years team was fueled with players trying to prove they had a place in the lineup. This adrenaline and sense of urgency won’t be as effective next year.
I see another year in the top 5-10 of the draft and then we start trending upwards season 24-25.
Your stats show me two main things.
1) We had 5 rookie dmen playing many nights and gave up a lot of shots.
2) Our forwards werent good and nearly every team had better forwards, something that happens when injuries mean you have to put guys like Belzile and Pez on your second line and guys like Armia on the top line.
Stats don’t show too much when your team leads the league in missed games to injuries.
I agree 100%. Bottom 5 next season. Maybe Guhle improves a bit defensively, but Savard and Edmundson on downward slide spell major troubles in defensive zone. Since Primeau will be subject to waivers and Dobes needs lots of AHL starts , they won’t risk losing Primeau and will have to waive or trade Allen. Monty-Primeau duo likely to be bottom of the league. Among forwards, even if Gally and Hoffman are bought out nothing much will change, unless PLD is brought in–but this is more likely for the following season, when a lot will change. Even with everyone healthy, still too many who are no good defensively. Predict bottom 5 next season again.
Shoutout to Monty who not only stole games but stole away Bedard from us (most likely) 🙁
I don’t think it’s as simple as being able to say, “our underlying stats were really bad this season, so there’s no reason to think they’ll be any better next season.”
Our young guys next year will all have the benefit of experience and another offseason to train and improve. The offseason will also likely involve some roster tweaks via trade and free agency. One or two players added could very well be what the team needs to take a step up to being a bubble team. There’s also the possibility we get a player who is NHL ready in the draft lottery.
We could be worse next year, players sometimes take a step back in development. I think it’s more likely we take a step forward though.
At the beginning of this year I predicted we would finish between 20th and 25th because there was no way we would have as many injuries as last year.
Now I don’t want to make predictions anymore
Until this franchise gets a hold on its injuries, we’re always going to struggle.
Montreal is the 3rd wealthiest team in the league. How is it, Toronto, keeps its roster as healthy as they do and Montreal’s team keeps crumbling to pieces… at a literal historical pace…
I’m ok with this. Unless we win the lottery (1 or 2), I want another shot at top 5 next year. If we do win the lottery I want a shot at top 10. I want the highest probability possible for us to go on a 10-15 year tear – even if it takes a little longer to get there.
Things I don’t want:
10-15 years of mediocracy because we tried to come out of the rebuild too soon or goals of making the playoffs and see what happens. I want us to confidently be able to say our goal is the stanly cup for multiple years.
They’re not even the same team if they’re healthy tho
I’ve been saying this here for weeks and people get so upset.
Yes, hopefully everyone takes a step forward. First of all, they won’t. RHP will stop shooting 24% at some point. Monty won’t be a top-5 goalie (likely). There’s a ton of reasons why they might be better, but will also likely be worse.
I still expect this team to be bottom-10, closer to bottom 5.
Assuming fewer injuries (big assumption I guess) there’s no way we’re bottom five. But we’re not good either. I would say we finish like 22nd-25th
Rookies make rookie mistakes, more at 5
That blocking shot stats is pretty good!
Scoring more on lower shots tells me that the players are taking more calculated shots on goal. That could, in some ways, translate as smart play by not wasting shots that would most likely not go in.