Montreal Canadiens lose 2-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs in pre-season.
How concerning is Justin Barron right now and how stiff is the competition for him at training camp?
Yakuk Dobes strong performance, Adam Engstrom could make Habs.
#habs #montrealcanadiens #gohabsgo
30 Comments
Can we also talk about Arber Xhekaj? His positioning is very suspect and because Hutson is the other guy who shoots left, it really disrupts Struble's next shift.
I love Xhekaj, but his positioning has always been suspect.
I think Barron's problem is he's playing the wrong way for his skill set. A lot of people touted him as an offensive threat, but the only things going for him is a good shot and good skating edgework. But his hockey sense is poor and he gets in over his head, making mistake after mistake trying for the perfect play. But he can't process situations quickly enough.
So he's the type of player that really needs to simplify his game, hang back and concentrate much more on defense. He's got that great mobility and a large frame to get in the way of bodies. But he does not belong on a power play because his passing and vision is simply not very good and that's the main job of a defenseman offensively on the PP. He had almost an hour total PP time last year and he had exactly zero assists.
Arber struggled. Some guys did not get much ice time it seemed. Hutson has the puck most of the time he's on the ice. It's crazy ! He's all over the place. Dobes showed we could trade a goalie not named Fowler. Reinbacher was really solid. I have no idea what this roster will look like. Some tough, if not emotional, decisions have to be made
Dobes looked good. And for what was pretty much a Habs AHL team vs what is pretty much the opening night roster for the Leafs, and to keep them within a goal? The boys did all right.
I think they keep Struble over Engstrom. Give Engstrom a year in Laval. Barron….more and more like he may get put on waivers, and if they loose him for nothing, then oh well. Not going to get much for him in a trade, unless he is a piece as part of a bigger trade, ala Dvorak.
Dvorak has been useless since day 1.
I feel a lot of the negative comments towards Barron are a little harsh. He is after all only 22yrs of age. And I'd like to remind that it's pre-season, many if not most of the players, young&old are still rusty and need to get their positioning & timing back. Barron is such a smooth skater, demonstrating good offensive instincts and I think he has shown flashes of being a good NHL dman but his struggles has been his consistency. I personally wished he was partnered with his World Junior partner Guhle for a solid amount of games as I feel they would complement each others game but alas what do I know. IMO, I don't think Reinbacher is ready (but I see the huge potential in him…huge potential!)..he needs to gain more North American ice time in Laval and be their stud dman logging huge minutes and experience. Mailloux has not wowed me but I think if he is paired with Xhekaj (remember when Arber was sent down, he partnered w/Mailloux and Mailloux's game got stronger) his game will develop. Hutson definitely earned a spot…from day 1 he has outshone all the other rookies by far. You never want to lose a good prospect, esp a 1st Rnd pick in Barron, for nothing (also one of Hughes' first trades, losing Lekky) BUT, sometimes tough decisions have to be made and u move on. I see our starting D being, Matheson-Guhle, Hutson-Savard, Xhekaj-Mailloux, Struble extra…or if you do not want to waive Barron…Struble to Laval & Barron is the 7th Dman, Oh, and even tho Adam Engstrom has shown well…I think time in Laval will not hurt him. I personally think the Habs would like to upgrade their D. I realize they have a boat load of young D, and even tho I think the Habs brass have a lot of faith in Reinbacher eventually becoming their #1Dman (yes, even over Guhle)…with the eventual departures of Savard and possibly Matheson…I do not think we can compete with only 19-24yr old inexperienced NHL dmen…but then again, this is the new NHL so who knows.
adam engstrom is a big body?says hes 6 foot but he looks much smaller when he plays…hes a pp specialist so far thats all i see
To me, Engstrom is good on the transition and offensively, but has had very bad pinches and is shaky (or not very confident) defensively. I've noticed other D covering his mistakes. He'll be good but isn't ready yet for the NHL imo. He needs to improve his defensive skills for the NHL, otherwise, he'll end up being a PP quarterback one trick pony.
Engstrom going to Laval.
Only two players came to play… Does and Hutson
Trade barron to wpg. Ty drew
Well, right now we have Primeau and Monty who will fight for the starter role this season, and we have Dobes and Fowler in the pipelines. Unlike many teams in the league, goaltending is not a problem.
Lol, considering the amount of NHL players Toronto fielded, their performance was underwhelming.
Dobes could steal the number 1 spot next year, he was on fire near the end of the season in Laval last year and it looks like his play has carried over
**I meant to say Logan Mailloux over Barron making the team.
We cannot redo the past but to me it's a pity we could not let Justin keep growing his game in the AHL for 2 full unbothered years when he came in from Colorado. In retrospect, he needed such a time to grow his game on so many key little aspects.
Now he's trying to do too much, doesn't seem confident enough in his strengths and all those litte shortcomings that should now look evened out for the most part are still too apparent. Yet, he's still young, it's only preseason games and his contract kind of secures a spot for him in this make or break season.
If he does not show leapfrog improvement by next srping, there's Reinbacher and Konyushkov getting ready to show him the door, the latter who I envision might be brought in before the end of his current KHL contract (which would help for Guhle to go back to his favored side)
Also fully Agree with you Dekes on the Centers situation, Dvorak is finally healthy to start the season (crossing fingers no hinderance come up), already looking better in this one against true NHL defense than in the "dust the rust off" game against the Devils B team, which is very positive. That 3rd line with Roy and Anderson or Armia should already be an improvement from last seasons.
The team will then let Beck grow some more in the AHL on a top line without rushing things out and Kapanen will get to play first line & PP minutes with Timra in this very good SHL on a run for the SHL playoffs. It's all for the better long term.
Barron scored the same amount of points as Hutson….just saying. You can skate around all you want, unless you're putting up points, there is no difference.
More love for Tuch please! 😉
Engstrom isn’t ready
Engstrom i feel was his weakest performance, too many turn overs
I wouldnt be so dissappointed if he was not a 5th overall pick but reinbacher has frustrated me this preseason. He is gonna need alot of time in laval. On the brightside i was impressed with Kidneys skating although i see him as a top line career ahler. I actuay prefer Dobes over Primeau.
barron was better tonite,than the first pre season game.last night he was more physical.
What has Xhekaj done, nothing…I would send him to Laval….and Engstrom is the reason why the habs lost…pathetic
Granted , our D corp is overloaded, that's why they play preseason games, way way to soon to put a stamp on this team, this will carry thru for @ least the 10 game mark. More patience everyone!
We love u Drew
Your personality and energy
suggestion… i know its tough but you need to do your videos on a constant basis and 30 min the minimum
find a good partner to help u out
maybe the partner could just write you all the main things to say… the script
and u perform with flexibility
Engstrom doesn’t make the big club yet
At the end of the day this is still a rebuild season
Send who needs to be sent to the A
See y’all next season
Barron will start with the Habs (waivers) an only Hutson will crack the lineup to start the season. Logan will be the 1st call up
Who said ‘Everyone needs to chill’ re pre season games?
It was basically the Laval Rocket vs Maple Leafs…first time a lot of these young guys playing in true NHL setting…maybe the next time they have some more confidence and do better….as much as I want engstrom, kapanen, etc to make the team they aren't quite ready yet. Hutson and Dobes were the only guys who put on a show.