Karine Hains: Poehling's Opportunity This is Ryan Poehling’s 3rd training camp with the Habs and if he plays his cards right, it may just finally be the right one.

There was never any doubt in my mind Poehling would be a NHL player.

It was always about "in what role" knowing he'd most likely never be a top 6 star player as well.

He's got all the tools to be a perfect fit on a third line, he's got size, decent speed, enough offensive abilities...

Anyone that saw him in Laval knows how much he progressed last year.

He's ready. It's happening.

#OptobusTrainingCamp

There was never any doubt in my mind Poehling would be a NHL player.

It was always about "in what role" knowing he'd most likely never be a top 6 star player as well.

He's got all the tools to be a perfect fit on a third line, he's got size, decent speed, enough offensive abilities...

Anyone that saw him in Laval knows how much he progressed last year.

He's ready. It's happening.

#OptobusTrainingCamp
- Scabeh

*narrator voice

"And the Habs have no NHL caliber players blocking him"

*narrator voice

"And the Habs have no NHL caliber players blocking him"
- Takemedrunkimhome

They had some.

They decided not to overpay them and trust him instead. Smart move if you ask me.

They had some.

They decided not to overpay them and trust him instead. Smart move if you ask me.

- Scabeh

Nothing about the Habs offseason should be viewed as smart if you ask me

Nothing about the Habs offseason should be viewed as smart if you ask me
- Takemedrunkimhome

I like the David Savard and Mathieu Perreault signings...Hoffman is also far from overpaid.

Was expecting more trades though. Think they overpaid for Dvorack but he's a good player on a good contract.

I like the David Savard and Mathieu Perreault signings...Hoffman is also far from overpaid.

Was expecting more trades though. Think they overpaid for Dvorack but he's a good player on a good contract.
- BashCH

As constructed today do you see the Habs as a playoff team? If the answer is no then those moves you listed don't bring them closer to an eventual Cup so in theory hurt rather than help in the long term

As constructed today do you see the Habs as a playoff team? If the answer is no then those moves you listed don't bring them closer to an eventual Cup so in theory hurt rather than help in the long term
- Takemedrunkimhome

Think they have a shot but I don't see a definite move that could've made them 100% playoff bound...

What did you expect?

As constructed today do you see the Habs as a playoff team? If the answer is no then those moves you listed don't bring them closer to an eventual Cup so in theory hurt rather than help in the long term
- Takemedrunkimhome

Habs are gonna be in the mix to be a playoffs team imo.

It's no guarantee, but they will definetely be competitive.

I'm counting on the young guys to take a step.

Habs are gonna be in the mix to be a playoffs team imo.

It's no guarantee, but they will definetely be competitive.
- Scabeh

I mean, even trading for Jack Eichel or Ryan Ellis wouldn't have made them a 100% sure shot playoff team.

Think they have a shot but I don't see a definite move that could've made them 100% playoff bound...

What did you expect?
- BashCH

My simple philosophy is the strategy should always be Cup or bust and any moves made should be made with the plan of getting as close to Cup contention as possible and quickly as possible and if moves to put you in that position don't exist, you trim fat, cut cap, play kids and regroup for your next opportunity. Every move the Habs made was to fill a hole with a player who is best suited for a slot below where they'll end up playing. That's a strategy for mediocrity and a hope to scratch and claw into the playoffs "where anything can happen" which while true is like counting on winning the lottery rather than having a sound investment and retirement strategy.

So long and short, if the answer to Weber is Savard, to Danault and Kotkaniemi is overpaying with futures for Dvorak who is at best a lateral move but in truth a step back, replacing Tatar with a CHaracter player like Hoffman, asking Evans to play a slot above normal - assuming he stays healthy, expecting Poehlong to take a roster spot, bringing in guys who have been out of the NHL for years to compete for a d pairing spot, all in a year where Price's health is again a question...if those are the answers they provide then I'd rather they just mailed it in and moved on to the next wave but what's done is done, so now I hope everything works out and cheer blindly but there are way too many questions about this roster even being ok for me to support the moves they made this offseason

The talent is there, he should get a very solid look. I think he sticks, but camp is funny....

3rd and 4th lines get blurred as roster talent goes up.

My simple philosophy is the strategy should always be Cup or bust and any moves made should be made with the plan of getting as close to Cup contention as possible and quickly as possible and if moves to put you in that position don't exist, you trim fat, cut cap, play kids and regroup for your next opportunity. Every move the Habs made was to fill a hole with a player who is best suited for a slot below where they'll end up playing. That's a strategy for mediocrity and a hope to scratch and claw into the playoffs "where anything can happen" which while true is like counting on winning the lottery rather than having a sound investment and retirement strategy.

So long and short, if the answer to Weber is Savard, to Danault and Kotkaniemi is overpaying with futures for Dvorak who is at best a lateral move but in truth a step back, replacing Tatar with a CHaracter player like Hoffman, asking Evans to play a slot above normal - assuming he stays healthy, expecting Poehlong to take a roster spot, bringing in guys who have been out of the NHL for years to compete for a d pairing spot, all in a year where Price's health is again a question...if those are the answers they provide then I'd rather they just mailed it in and moved on to the next wave but what's done is done, so now I hope everything works out and cheer blindly but there are way too many questions about this roster even being ok for me to support the moves they made this offseason
- Takemedrunkimhome

recent Cup winners are showing that there's a slow-burn approach to contention, and whether you get there or not has less to do with where you draft and everything to do with how you A) draft & develop in general and B) manage to find huge value in your support players.

i don't disagree with you about where this team is, but i think busting out would just turn them into Toronto or Edmonton or Buffalo.

recent Cup winners are showing that there's a slow-burn approach to contention, and whether you get there or not has less to do with where you draft and everything to do with how you A) draft & develop in general and B) manage to find huge value in your support players.

i don't disagree with you about where this team is, but i think busting out would just turn them into Toronto or Edmonton or Buffalo.
- DoubleDown

While I agree completely on high picks having less impact if they aren't the right choices or if you don't surround them with the right auxiliary pieces, historically there is a clear statistical relationship with the higher a pick the better the player ends up. That's no guarantee but it's playing the odds. I've said many times if people say Timmins and MB will just (frank) up the high picks again that should be the obvious sign to get new people not to avoid making high draft choices. Also trading a 1st and 2nd for Dvorak takes some of those high value bullets away and replaces them with a known quantity that doesn't move the needle or truly fill the hole

mr.peanut lied to me.

While I agree completely on high picks having less impact if they aren't the right choices or if you don't surround them with the right auxiliary pieces, historically there is a clear statistical relationship with the higher a pick the better the player ends up. That's no guarantee but it's playing the odds. I've said many times if people say Timmins and MB will just (frank) up the high picks again that should be the obvious sign to get new people not to avoid making high draft choices. Also trading a 1st and 2nd for Dvorak takes some of those high value bullets away and replaces them with a known quantity that doesn't move the needle or truly fill the hole
- Takemedrunkimhome

not disagreeing here, since it's completely logical, but why is a team like Edmonton still struggling today, despite having all these "better players"? also if you do have a link regarding players' stats vs their draft rank I'd be interested to look that up, not sure where to find this

mr.peanut lied to me.
- kicksave856

awww

mr.peanut lied to me.
- kicksave856

no no

mr.peanut lied to me.
- kicksave856

shocking

not disagreeing here, since it's completely logical, but why is a team like Edmonton still struggling today, despite having all these "better players"? also if you do have a link regarding players' stats vs their draft rank I'd be interested to look that up, not sure where to find this
- Pat1993

Edmonton is where that auxiliary players part comes in. As far as studies and articles I've seen a few both on point production and NHL games played and shows a clear link but I don't have them at my finger tips

no no
- mr.peanut

omg hi! i have a cappuccino.

awww
- Pat1993

i get so lonely

shocking
- Gramps28

it turned out he was just watching us.

i get so lonely
- kicksave856

I'm here, but I'll pretend this isn't insulting at all.

I'm here, but I'll pretend this isn't insulting at all.
- Pat1993

you weren't here yet either!

i sat and waited.