There's a difference between not putting all your assets in play to make a mediocre team competitive and cheering for your team to lose. You can want them to win every game but it's easier to accept the losses when you're playing kids and see the path to the future vs middling vets and a loss is a loss is a loss
- Takemedrunkimhome

yup, and there's also the factor of developing the younger guys that are still on the team in a losing environment, which is far from ideal.

but yeah, it'll be interesting to see what direction this team will take in the post-Price era... maybe at that point watching football instead won't sound as bad

I think it is equally depressing, if not more, no matter my excitement and potential optimism at the start of a new year, knowing my team realistically has no shot at the cup and likely the playoffs.

Knowing the team is building towards something, rather than plugging holes and hoping it works out, would be a nice change.

That is why I got excited when MB said they needed to move forward with youth, and completely gave up on him (especially after the trade deadline last year) by playing old vets over the kids.
- Mashadar

I guess this kinda describes what they're trying to do, building towards something and plugging holes at the same time to try and stay afloat, which is pretty much the arguably unrealistic "have your cake and eat it too" approach lol

Agreed but the reason they do that is the fear of not being able to replace them. NFL teams know there's always somebody in FA or the draft. NHL players are restricted from free agency for way too long in my opinion
- Takemedrunkimhome

Add in teams need young players on ELCs because of the hard cap in order to fill a roster and it makes it much harder to be patient with player development putting even more pressure on cap decisions.

Some sort of cap flexibility for re-signing your own draft picks would help. IMO. The hard cap punishes teams that draft well. That doesn't seem to be in the spirit of a cap.

Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Sami Niku.

Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Sami Niku.
- stinger67

the nhl introduced a regular 4th day pairing for line ups?

Add in teams need young players on ELCs because of the hard cap in order to fill a roster and it makes it much harder to be patient with player development putting even more pressure on cap decisions.

Some sort of cap flexibility for re-signing your own draft picks would help. IMO. The hard cap punishes teams that draft well. That doesn't seem to be in the spirit of a cap.
- Gramps28

Sorta disagree.

If GMs were smart, and did not give out stupid contracts, there would be plenty of serviceable free agent players every year that to sign 1/2 year low cap hit contracts filling out 4th line (and maybe 3rd line) roles.

Slowly we are seeing this, I just expected it to happen a lot more frequently and sooner.

But it is what it is....

Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Sami Niku.
- stinger67

Laval-bound, most probably...

Laval-bound, most probably...
- Pat1993

Probably means Norlinder goes back to Sweden. Not against it to be honest. I would prefer AHL for him, but that's not an option.

Who knows...acquiring Niku is a zero risk move.

Probably means Norlinder goes back to Sweden. Not against it to be honest. I would prefer AHL for him, but that's not an option.

Who knows...acquiring Niku is a zero risk move.
- stinger67

if the Finnish team he's playing for solely cared about his development and not about the team's interests they would probably let him play in Laval, he needs to adapt to the North American rink size at some point

if the Finnish team he's playing for solely cared about his development and not about the team's interests they would probably let him play in Laval, he needs to adapt to the North American rink size at some point
- Pat1993

Finnish team also wants to win now and if they think they can do that with him then it's a smart business decision on their part

Edit: Finns don't use the iihf sized rinks they have a hybrid

Finnish team also wants to win now and if they think they can do that with him then it's a smart business decision on their part
- mr.peanut

oh I'm not necessarily blaming them, just stating what would be best for that particular player

Finnish team also wants to win now and if they think they can do that with him then it's a smart business decision on their part

Edit: Finns don't use the iihf sized rinks they have a hybrid
- mr.peanut

the play must be electric at times!

if the Finnish team he's playing for solely cared about his development and not about the team's interests they would probably let him play in Laval, he needs to adapt to the North American rink size at some point
- Pat1993

He's under contract for another year with Frolunda. They could terminate his contract, but why would they do that? I think he's back next year and plays a bit in the AHL.

oh I'm not necessarily blaming them, just stating what would be best for that particular player
- Pat1993

Yea

But they will never have him at his highest potential regardless

Yea

But they will never have him at his highest potential regardless
- mr.peanut

how so?

The problem with playing the youth and rebuilding that way leads to poor development, the kids need to be surrounded by some vets to teach them how to be pros.
Developing on a losing team just makes your skilled players want to jump ship the moment they can. Nobody likes losing especially the top talent and then you have to overpay to make them happy throwing your salary out of whack.
Surround the kids with vets and make them earn their ice.
Maybe we aren't contenders but there is hope every year which makes watching enjoyable. There needs to be more offer sheets as most players aren't available before 24 at the earliest and that is because they are holding out for $$$
Montreal isn't the greatest marketplace for rebuilding through losing.
We have to accept that most years we will be drafting 10-20 and hoping for the best.
We need more and better scouts

He's under contract for another year with Frolunda. They could terminate his contract, but why would they do that? I think he's back next year and plays a bit in the AHL.
- stinger67

agreed, another year with Frolunda then he will come over, most likely 10-20 games in the AHL to get used to NA ice and style of play. He is ready offensively but needs work on his end with angles and style of play.

how so?
- Pat1993

Folunda wants to win, they want him, he is one their top D, it's not about development for them, it's about winning.

agreed, another year with Frolunda then he will come over, most likely 10-20 games in the AHL to get used to NA ice and style of play. He is ready offensively but needs work on his end with angles and style of play.
- Symba007

No need to rush him, but will that piss him off and feel like MTL doesn't want him

No need to rush him, but will that piss him off and feel like MTL doesn't want him
- braidan

not if they put a plan in place with him with specific objectives to work on.

The problem with playing the youth and rebuilding that way leads to poor development, the kids need to be surrounded by some vets to teach them how to be pros.
Developing on a losing team just makes your skilled players want to jump ship the moment they can. Nobody likes losing especially the top talent and then you have to overpay to make them happy throwing your salary out of whack.
Surround the kids with vets and make them earn their ice.
Maybe we aren't contenders but there is hope every year which makes watching enjoyable. There needs to be more offer sheets as most players aren't available before 24 at the earliest and that is because they are holding out for $$$
Montreal isn't the greatest marketplace for rebuilding through losing.
We have to accept that most years we will be drafting 10-20 and hoping for the best.
We need more and better scouts
- braidan

*high fives*

*fires Timmins*

Folunda wants to win, they want him, he is one their top D, it's not about development for them, it's about winning.
- Symba007

I agree, but I thought the nut was saying they wouldn't have him at his highest potential no matter where he plays

not if they put a plan in place with him with specific objectives to work on.
- Symba007

But then you have players who feel that they are ready now and may pout.
Could Poehling feel disrespected if he gets sent back to Laval after they year he had?

Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Sami Niku.
- stinger67

Guy has had some good season in the AHL.

Not getting my hopes up though, despite an interesting skillset, there's a reason he didn't beat Nathan Beaulieu for a spot with the Jets.

But then you have players who feel that they are ready now and may pout.
Could Poehling feel disrespected if he gets sent back to Laval after they year he had?
- braidan

I feel like that's a risk for sure.