well, the team is already fun to watch imho, so if you add a Reinbacher, Demidov and Hage to the mix, it has the potential to become something epic.
- Pat1993

Can't wait for even more excitement for next season. This season has been a great surprise........after the first 2 months of poop.

Can't wait for even more excitement for next season. This season has been a great surprise........after the first 2 months of poop.
- Snots33_77

I expect some fans to quickly jump on the "this rebuild is a complete disaster" bandwagon if the team doesn't immediately meet expectations next year, but hey, it's MTL lol.

What's great is that he's signed for one more season after this one.

Which will likely be the perfect moment to decide what his future on this team will be.
- Scabeh

Indeed

what I like so far about this management team is that they've shown they're willing to take risks to improve the team, but they also avoid making any dumb decisions that would negatively impact their long term plan.

so if Hughes doesn't pull the trigger on a deal for a high quality player, it's most likely because he felt it wasn't the right move to be made at that moment.
- Pat1993

And they're not afraid to admit when they've made a mistake or miscalculation (Barron) and not hold onto them out of pride or falling love with your own moves (MB). Everything is looking positive for sure

And there's nothing in the system at this point. Hage is the only that might but it's a super longshot.

So again trade of FA market
- Fredo

Kapanen looks like he's got a great season in the SHL and has a good FO%, we never know.

I expect some fans to quickly jump on the "this rebuild is a complete disaster" bandwagon if the team doesn't immediately meet expectations next year, but hey, it's MTL lol.
- Pat1993

depends what you mean by expectations.
imo next year will not be different than this one. objective, to be in the mix as long as possible.
the year after though, watch out.

Kapanen looks like he's got a great season in the SHL and has a good FO%, we never know.
- BashCH

I think they have a lot of middle 6 guys (which is a change from having only 4th line guys), a few of them can become legit top 6.

That is the gamble that is being played right now.

Just gotta let it play out, hope for the best, and believe they can change things as needed on the fly.

depends what you mean by expectations.
imo next year will not be different than this one. objective, to be in the mix as long as possible.
the year after though, watch out.
- fidopro

oh, well they obviously vary among fans, but I can imagine there will be people who will consider it a complete failure if they don't make the playoffs next year, it is what it is. the management team will surely continue following their plan anyway, which is all that matters in the end.

oh, well they obviously vary among fans, but I can imagine there will be people who will consider it a complete failure if they don't make the playoffs next year, it is what it is. the management team will surely continue following their plan anyway, which is all that matters in the end.
- Pat1993

Considering they wanted everyone traded / fired in late November, it is gonna be a poopstorm, regardless, just getting to the end of the season. Forget next year...

Some people are just determined to never be satisfied - that includes some of the media as well.

Considering they wanted everyone traded / fired in late November, it is gonna be a poopstorm, regardless, just getting to the end of the season. Forget next year...

Some people are just determined to never be satisfied - that includes some of the media as well.
- Mashadar

Considering they wanted everyone traded / fired in late November, it is gonna be a poopstorm, regardless, just getting to the end of the season. Forget next year...

Some people are just determined to never be satisfied - that includes some of the media as well.
- Mashadar

yup, and that sadly applies to life in general.

Considering they wanted everyone traded / fired in late November, it is gonna be a poopstorm, regardless, just getting to the end of the season. Forget next year...

Some people are just determined to never be satisfied - that includes some of the media as well.
- Mashadar

So true

I think they have a lot of middle 6 guys (which is a change from having only 4th line guys), a few of them can become legit top 6.

That is the gamble that is being played right now.

Just gotta let it play out, hope for the best, and believe they can change things as needed on the fly.
- Mashadar

If one of them can become "Pleky-lite" it would be alright for a 2nd line.

Can you believe both LaPresse and RDS.ca published an article today called "À la défense de Mike Matheson".

It's almost the same picture for the articles too.
- Scabeh

See?

See?
- pete26

the articles are defending Matheson, not criticizing him lol.

the articles are defending Matheson, not criticizing him lol.
- Pat1993

Well, someone must be criticizing him if they’re defending him..

Well, someone must be criticizing him if they’re defending him..
- pete26

see.. ?

So true
- mr.peanut

some things never change!

see.. ?
- Pat1993

100%..

some things never change!
- kicksave856

Sup?

100%..
- pete26

I'm sure glad this is all clear for everyone then.

Well, someone must be criticizing him if they’re defending him..
- pete26

You mean other than you?

If so, I guess you have a point.

This is all shades of Petry 2.0

You mean other than you?

If so, I guess you have a point.

This is all shades of Petry 2.0
- Mashadar

Where he's low key underrated but really good until he's traded then he was never that good and the new defensive tire fire you got for him was a steal?

Sup?
- mr.peanut

the usual. the habsolute usual.


you?

the usual. the habsolute usual.


you?
- kicksave856

They keep throwing in more animals into the spec ed class I teach.


I almost called it the Hugo thread in front of my colleagues