Outside of Pancioretty, the rest of the habs forwards are horrible.
Galchenyuk and Gallagher are not top line players. Gallagher is awesome. I would love him playing for the leafs, but on the third line.
Then it comes down to Drouin and what you believe Drouin is. He is not the superstar some people think he is but the real question is, is he the guy who sat pouting at home after being demoted to the AHL, or is he a true 60 point guy in the NHL.

Defense have more holes than Toronto, and Toronto's defense is considered bad at best.

I don;t see any other team in the NHL so reliant on a single guy. Price probably swings the habs by 30 points at least. I don;t think McDavid, Mathews or Karlsen do the same.
- B-Wforever

Yeah, Montreal's defense is really bad. Probably why they allowed the 3rd fewest goals in the league last year...

Replacing Radulov/Markov with Drouin/Alzner will have long-term benefit, but it's hard to consider that any kind of upgrade in the immediate term... particularly given the fact that both Radulov and Markov were lost for nothing (assuming Markov signs elsewhere). Beyond that, I'd suggest that until they address their centre ice situation (i.e. Galchenyuk should be a winger, Plekanec is in serious decline, and Danault is average at best), Montreal is going to be winning a lot of regular season games because of Price, and losing a lot of playoff games because they're far too easy to match up against defensively.

Yeah, Montreal's defense is really bad. Probably why they allowed the 3rd fewest goals in the league last year...
- BashCH

ya... but... but... They lost Emelin and Beaulieu... and maybe Markov!
You know Emelin and Beualieu... the two guys that were least reliable on the back end?

Trollonto 1967!
- systemtool

So much fail over there.

Have they even made one solid point, that wasn't easily shown to be stupid, or just wrong.

ya... but... but... They lost Emelin and Beaulieu... and maybe Markov!
You know Emelin and Beualieu... the two guys that were least reliable on the back end?
- mlindsay

I mean, Price is good but if the defense was that bad not even he could bail them out every night.

Replacing Radulov/Markov with Drouin/Alzner will have long-term benefit, but it's hard to consider that any kind of upgrade in the immediate term... particularly given the fact that both Radulov and Markov were lost for nothing (assuming Markov signs elsewhere). Beyond that, I'd suggest that until they address their centre ice situation (i.e. Galchenyuk should be a winger, Plekanec is in serious decline, and Danault is average at best), Montreal is going to be winning a lot of regular season games because of Price, and losing a lot of playoff games because they're far too easy to match up against defensively.
- khawk

Markov has been with the team forever... really if he signs elsewhere they got their money/times worth out of him and can afford to lose him for nothing.
They lost Radulov "for nothing", but also signed him last year as a UFA "for nothing". They come out even there.
you also fail to realize that they signed Alzner 'for nothing'; and landed Drouin for a prospect.

I mean, Price is good but if the defense was that bad not even he could bail them out every night.
- BashCH

Montreal scored so few goals because they focused heavily on team defense. I don't think it is because you guys had a stellar defense group. Adding Drouin doesn't mean you can play the same defensive style but will suddenly score more, especially when you lost Radulov.

I expect that nothing much changes this year. The Habs compete for the division title but are hit and miss in the playoffs.

Montreal scored so few goals because they focused heavily on team defense. I don't think it is because you guys had a stellar defense group. Adding Drouin doesn't mean you can play the same defensive style but will suddenly score more, especially when you lost Radulov.

I expect that nothing much changes this year. The Habs compete for the division title but are hit and miss in the playoffs.
- Aetherial

Can't disagree with that...I just don't think their D core is as bad as the Leafs'.

Markov has been with the team forever... really if he signs elsewhere they got their money/times worth out of him and can afford to lose him for nothing.
They lost Radulov "for nothing", but also signed him last year as a UFA "for nothing". They come out even there.
you also fail to realize that they signed Alzner 'for nothing'; and landed Drouin for a prospect.
- mlindsay

Funny when Radulov was with them it was big deal 18 goals and 36 assists, now hes gone its you didnt replace that. Void will be filled, younger faster kid with somethint to prove.

Losing Markov will make the team better, now just have to get rid of Plekanec and things will start to get better for the forwards. been here far to long.

cant score but only three teams in the Atlantic were better, 2 had a hole 8 more goals for but had over 12 more against, and the other sure scored 25 more but allowed 42 more.

Can't disagree with that...I just don't think their D core is as bad as the Leafs'.
- BashCH

I think Weber is the best of the bunch obviously, but Rielly and Gardiner are probably the next best.

I am not so sure your Dmen are better as a group.

... but I guess we will find that out

Funny when Radulov was with them it was big deal 18 goals and 36 assists, now hes gone its you didnt replace that. Void will be filled, younger faster kid with somethint to prove.

Losing Markov will make the team better, now just have to get rid of Plekanec and things will start to get better for the forwards. been here far to long.

cant score but only three teams in the Atlantic were better, 2 had a hole 8 more goals for but had over 12 more against, and the other sure scored 25 more but allowed 42 more.
- dav12389

Which brings us back to what everyone already knows is true and was proven pretty clearly a couple years ago. Montreal is Carey Price and a bunch of other guys. There is probably no better example of 1 guy being more valuable to a team than him.

Hey, a goalie is part of the team also, so I don't complain about that, but let's be honest about it.

Yikes....this MTL team is garrrrrrbage

Swap Carey Price with a league-average goalie, and this team is 27th in the NHL standings. As it stands, I think they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. Carey is awfully good though...

The defense is significantly weaker this year, and now they won't have Sergachev to plug a top-four hole. Drouin should replace Radulov's offensive production, and Patches seems to be a lock for 30 goals. Mostly because he's been the only reliable weapon up front, but whatever. Gallagher is useful, albeit in more of a 3rd line type role. Gally is a disappointment, but should still be half-decent. Outside of that, things look bleak

Not only that, but the prospect pool is bottom five in the league. Dark days ahead for the Habs, I'm afraid

Yikes....this MTL team is garrrrrrbage

Swap Carey Price with a league-average goalie, and this team is 27th in the NHL standings. As it stands, I think they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. Carey is awfully good though...

The defense is significantly weaker this year, and now they won't have Sergachev to plug a top-four hole. Drouin should replace Radulov's offensive production, and Patches seems to be a lock for 30 goals. Mostly because he's been the only reliable weapon up front, but whatever. Gallagher is useful, albeit in more of a 3rd line type role. Gally is a disappointment, but should still be half-decent. Outside of that, things look bleak

Not only that, but the prospect pool is bottom five in the league. Dark days ahead for the Habs, I'm afraid
- AxlRose91

Lehkonen is pretty promising, Danault is a good 2nd-3rd line centre option, Weber is still a pretty good defenseman. Byron overachieved last year...we'll see if he can keep this up, his contract is very good.

As for the prospects, before this year's draft I would've agreed but I'm still happy they decided to keep all their picks and hope a couple of them will become NHL players (Poehling, Ikonen, Brooks...).

Great goaltending?: Absolutely
Great coaching?: A proven winner
Enough offense?: Not so sure. Can Drouin carry the load? Will Galchenyuk take his game to the next level? Will Pacioretty start to decline? Miss Markov's points?

You may be right but I see this team trending downwards. We will see
- rang

The third line?

The habs won't be an offensive powerhouse but Druin should be a little better than Radulov. Our forwards are young such as Danault, Galchenyk, Lehkonen, Druin, Gallagher. Should none of them progress? Gallagher was trending toward a 25-30 goal scorer. Galchenyk had 30 the season before. We are weak at center but the players are there if things go right to score a decent amount of goals.

Outside of Pancioretty, the rest of the habs forwards are horrible.
Galchenyuk and Gallagher are not top line players. Gallagher is awesome. I would love him playing for the leafs, but on the third line.
Then it comes down to Drouin and what you believe Drouin is. He is not the superstar some people think he is but the real question is, is he the guy who sat pouting at home after being demoted to the AHL, or is he a true 60 point guy in the NHL.

Defense have more holes than Toronto, and Toronto's defense is considered bad at best.

I don;t see any other team in the NHL so reliant on a single guy. Price probably swings the habs by 30 points at least. I don;t think McDavid, Mathews or Karlsen do the same.
- B-Wforever

aw, do you want a hug, sweetheart?

Markov has been with the team forever... really if he signs elsewhere they got their money/times worth out of him and can afford to lose him for nothing.
They lost Radulov "for nothing", but also signed him last year as a UFA "for nothing". They come out even there.
you also fail to realize that they signed Alzner 'for nothing'; and landed Drouin for a prospect.
- mlindsay

How they acquired Radulov and Markov is almost as irrelevant as how long either of them have been with the team. The point is that they lost a pair of quality assets for nothing, which isn't what any GM wants to make a habit of doing. I'd also note that Alzner is not exactly a home-run signing, and Drouin cost them a whole lot more than just some random prospect. It was a fair trade in terms of value for both teams, but at the end of the day the Habs gave up the only blue chip prospect in their system plus a 2nd round pick for a player that doesn't address their most significant positional need.

How they acquired Radulov and Markov is almost as irrelevant as how long either of them have been with the team. The point is that they lost a pair of quality assets for nothing, which isn't what any GM wants to make a habit of doing. I'd also note that Alzner is not exactly a home-run signing, and Drouin cost them a whole lot more than just some random prospect. It was a fair trade in terms of value for both teams, but at the end of the day the Habs gave up the only blue chip prospect in their system plus a 2nd round pick for a player that doesn't address their most significant positional need.
- khawk

In fairness to the Habs they were a playoff team. Trading away two key pieces like that would have made less sense. They arent rebuilding. You dont see many teams sitting first in the division that trade away one of their best scorers and dmen before the playoffs.

In fairness to the Habs they were a playoff team. Trading away two key pieces like that would have made less sense. They arent rebuilding. You dont see many teams sitting first in the division that trade away one of their best scorers and dmen before the playoffs.
- systemtool

Exactly.
add to that the fact that it appeared as though Radulov was going to resign with the team... and Markov may still.

Exactly.
add to that the fact that it appeared as though Radulov was going to resign with the team... and Markov may still.
- mlindsay

I THINK the point may be, regardless of where the assets came from, in relation to last year, the organization has lost some assets, and that, either now, or 6 months, or a year down the line, hurts the team. i.e. they are weaker than they were last year at this time.

Same as when they picked up Radulov for free, they were a stronger team in relation to 2 years ago..

They certainly got their value out of both players, but, as of now, they're a weaker team than they were last year (looking at these two in isolation). The question remains, what fills the void left by those two (if it is filled at all).

Good to see "fist" has caught on, here, hahahahahaha

In fairness to the Habs they were a playoff team. Trading away two key pieces like that would have made less sense. They arent rebuilding. You dont see many teams sitting first in the division that trade away one of their best scorers and dmen before the playoffs.
- systemtool

When did I ever say that they should have traded Radulov and Markov? My point was that by letting them both walk for nothing, they effectively manufactured the need to replace their scoring contribution. You said it yourself... they aren't rebuilding. So how does it make them more competitive to let that kind of talent walk out the door, and then use two of their most valuable trade assets to only partly replace them... all without addressing the elephant in the room, which is how weak they are down the middle?

Seriously, the off-season scorecard right now reads:
OUT: Radulov, Markov, Emelin, Beaulieu, Sergachev, 2nd Round Pick
IN: Drouin, Alzner, Hemsky, Schlemko, Holland

Obviously, there could yet be a Galchenyuk trade that helps address the centre situation, but until that happens I don't see how the Canadiens are even as good as they were last year... where the only things keeping them in their first round series were Radulov and Price.

When did I ever say that they should have traded Radulov and Markov? My point was that by letting them both walk for nothing, they effectively manufactured the need to replace their scoring contribution. You said it yourself... they aren't rebuilding. So how does it make them more competitive to let that kind of talent walk out the door, and then use two of their most valuable trade assets to only partly replace them... all without addressing the elephant in the room, which is how weak they are down the middle?

Seriously, the off-season scorecard right now reads:
OUT: Radulov, Markov, Emelin, Beaulieu, Sergachev, 2nd Round Pick
IN: Drouin, Alzner, Hemsky, Schlemko, Holland

Obviously, there could yet be a Galchenyuk trade that helps address the centre situation, but until that happens I don't see how the Canadiens are even as good as they were last year... where the only things keeping them in their first round series were Radulov and Price.
- khawk

Drouin and Radulov had similar point totals so Drouin being a lot younger leaves room for improvement. Also our top 6 is filled with young guys so could they not be better?

When did I ever say that they should have traded Radulov and Markov? My point was that by letting them both walk for nothing, they effectively manufactured the need to replace their scoring contribution. You said it yourself... they aren't rebuilding. So how does it make them more competitive to let that kind of talent walk out the door, and then use two of their most valuable trade assets to only partly replace them... all without addressing the elephant in the room, which is how weak they are down the middle?

Seriously, the off-season scorecard right now reads:
OUT: Radulov, Markov, Emelin, Beaulieu, Sergachev, 2nd Round Pick
IN: Drouin, Alzner, Hemsky, Schlemko, Holland

Obviously, there could yet be a Galchenyuk trade that helps address the centre situation, but until that happens I don't see how the Canadiens are even as good as they were last year... where the only things keeping them in their first round series were Radulov and Price.
- khawk

Can you explain to me just how exactly you don't "let them walk for nothing" if you don't trade them? The only way they would get something for them was to trade them at the deadline to a contender... which MTL management believed they were! There was going to be no trades made for rights to UFA's this year as the expansion draft muddied the waters.
Radulov = Drouin (IMHO)
Alzner> Markov (even though he still may return)

Beaulieu and Emelin are replaceable assets, Schlemko and hopefully Jerabek do just that. Sergachev did not play a role in last years team. A 2nd round pick... seriously... do I have to defend sending a 2nd round pick when they held other 2nds in the draft? Hemsky is a nothing signing and Holland will be in the AHL.

Can you explain to me just how exactly you don't "let them walk for nothing" if you don't trade them? The only way they would get something for them was to trade them at the deadline to a contender... which MTL management believed they were! There was going to be no trades made for rights to UFA's this year as the expansion draft muddied the waters.
Radulov = Drouin (IMHO)
Alzner> Markov (even though he still may return)

Beaulieu and Emelin are replaceable assets, Schlemko and hopefully Jerabek do just that. Sergachev did not play a role in last years team. A 2nd round pick... seriously... do I have to defend sending a 2nd round pick when they held other 2nds in the draft? Hemsky is a nothing signing and Holland will be in the AHL.
- mlindsay

I think the alternative being you don't let them walk at all, and retain them.