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The next great Montréal writer finalist#1 “Habs 2025-2026 Plan By Ryan” |
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Ek’s Note> Ryan is one of our finalist for the Montreal Canadiens Positiion here at hockeybuzz… we currently have two finalist from submissions sent, but we’re still keeping it open for anyone else right now if you can blow us away with something send it to Eklund at hockeybuzz.com. Send your idea of what should happened net season for Montreal and put Montreal in the subject.
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Habs 2025-2026 Plan
By Ryan
The 2024-2025 season was an absolute thrill to watch. The Habs took a lot of steps forward to become a competitive team and made the playoffs, surprising everyone. While this was a great achievement, the expectations for next year will be a playoff spot, anything less will be deemed a failure. No longer can the habs rest on the rebuilding or underdog tag. They are now expected to compete, but how?
I love how the Habs are built, but their weakness is size and that was exploited in their series vs the Caps. None of the Habs players shy away from physicality, but they can't throw devastating hits like Ovechkin and Wilson did to them all series long. The following are moves I think the habs could logically take in order to improve and have more success in the playoffs.
1-Nikolaj Ehlers: I love this player. Plays hard, fast and would fit well into St-Louis forchek heavy system. With 63 points last season, he can produce and can play on any line and have an impact. Also, he’s the type of guy you want in the playoffs as he plays a big man's game.Would probably cost between 6-7 million.
2-Ryan O’Reilly: Another player I love. He’s great on the draw, can play sound defensively and is a good point producer averaging 55-65 points a season. He would be a good replacement for Dvorak at 4.5 million. Acquiring him would need a trade. I suggest something involving Mailloux, Kirby Dach and whatever else.
3-Mitch Marner (pipe dream): This would be amazing and give the Habs a potent top six offensively and an even more potent PP. I saw the rumor today by Ek and I hope it's true but I have a hard time seeing him leave Toronto unless the Leafs brass are completely nuts. I don’t get why he gets so much heat, he’s a 100 point guy consistently and is one of the best passers in the game. Obviously, if the Habs get him, forget the other two but wow, this would put the Habs on the map for years to come. Pay him anything.
Complications: Now the one player that complicates things is Patrick Laine. I love his shot and skill and he has revitalized the pp, but he is slow where the team plays fast. Also, at times he makes really bad giveaways at the defensive blue line and when entering the offensive zone. I do really like him, but at times he seems to go against the style the habs wants to play 5-5. With the emergence of Demidov, things are getting crowded for time on the first pp unit.
Trades: Whichever player the Habs target, they should trade Mailloux and Dach. One area the Habs are strong is on D where they have Hutson, Matheson, Guhle, Carrier, Reinbacher , Xhekaj and Struble. Mailloux is expendable.
Also I’m not huge on Kirby Dach for the system the Habs want to play. He’s not the fastest and does not always engage physically despite being a big guy. Also, once he was injured the Habs played….better? That’s because everyone was on the same page. To play the Habs system each player needs to forchek, backcheck, be a fast skater and limit lazy and risky giveaways which Dach is at times guilty of. I think he would thrive on another team with a different system but I just don't see it with Montreal. That being said he has great skill and vision and a lot of teams would be lucky to have him.
If it was me I would try to have the following opening night roster:
Cole-Suzuki-Slav
Laine-Newhook-Demidov
Ehlers-O’Reilly-Anderson
Heinemen-Evans-Gally
D
Hutson-Ghule
Matheson-Carrier
Xekaj-Reinbacher
Struble
I think this gives the Habs three good scoring lines and a very good fourth line which will help them go deeper in the playoffs. Whatever they do, I’m eager for the start of the 20250-2026 season! And hopefully the Oilers can pull this off!
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