Brandon Smillie: The Definitive List of Canadiens UFA Targets 2018

Who the (frank) is Cale Fleury?

Who the (frank) is Cale Fleury?
- deadpoulet

87th overall last year, RD... Decent prospect

I would pass on Neal. You may be on to something with the other two but I won't be suprised if they only sign a guy like Duclair or Ouellet. Otherwise, they will have to overpay.

I would pass on Neal. You may be on to something with the other two but I won't be suprised if they only sign a guy like Duclair or Ouellet. Otherwise, they will have to overpay.
- deadpoulet

I hear ya, but Neal is likely better at 31 than these two.... Duclair can't make anything stick, I just don't see how the Habs help him reach his former potential. To me, he's a PTO/league minimum type deal.

I would pass on Neal. You may be on to something with the other two but I won't be suprised if they only sign a guy like Duclair or Ouellet. Otherwise, they will have to overpay.
- deadpoulet

I would pass on Neal for sure, unless he wants to sign for 1 year, so no...

I'd be ok with Reider, Duclair and Ouellet! If it's all he comes up with it's a sign that he finally clued in

I hear ya, but Neal is likely better at 31 than these two.... Duclair can't make anything stick, I just don't see how the Habs help him reach his former potential. To me, he's a PTO/league minimum type deal.
- Brandon Smillie

It's at the point where next years roster doesn't really matter though, I don't care if they don't score a goal all year

It's at the point where next years roster doesn't really matter though, I don't care if they don't score a goal all year
- obie

Tank time?

Tank time?
- HonkyTonkMan

Clearly

Clearly
- obie

You don’t want to do that. It sucks.

You don’t want to do that. It sucks.
- HonkyTonkMan

There's a purpose, an end game... Beats chasing your own tail forever

There's a purpose, an end game... Beats chasing your own tail forever
- obie

Ask Oilers fans and Sabres fans how easy it is. Don’t bother with Toronto fans, they have no memory of the 10 years before Auston and now they think they’re an elite team.

Ask Oilers fans and Sabres fans how easy it is. Don’t bother with Toronto fans, they have no memory of the 10 years before Auston and now they think they’re an elite team.
- HonkyTonkMan

Edmonton build their team wrong, Toronto never truly committed to an actual rebuild until recently and you're seeing the results, same could be said about Buffalo... You build a team through the draft, there's just no arguing that

Edmonton build their team wrong, Toronto never truly committed to an actual rebuild until recently and you're seeing the results, same could be said about Buffalo... You build a team through the draft, there's just no arguing that
- obie

How did Edmonton build wrong?
MCDavid, Draisaitl, Klefbom, Nugent Hopkins, Nurse, Khaira, were all drafted ,tapped into college free agents like Caggiula and Benning, signed free agents late in the build to give them a boost...tell me, what are the Habs gonna do to make this process quicker than 5 years? Keep in mind no other team that did the scorched earth thing has managed to go from one of the worst to contender in a shorter time.

How did Edmonton build wrong?
MCDavid, Draisaitl, Klefbom, Nugent Hopkins, Nurse, Khaira, were all drafted ,tapped into college free agents like Caggiula and Benning, signed free agents late in the build to give them a boost...tell me, what are the Habs gonna do to make this process quicker than 5 years? Keep in mind no other team that did the scorched earth thing has managed to go from one of the worst to contender in a shorter time.
- HonkyTonkMan

Both are not ideal situations but at least edmonton has a young core, two elite centers and some direction. Too bad the old boys club is still there.

How did Edmonton build wrong?
MCDavid, Draisaitl, Klefbom, Nugent Hopkins, Nurse, Khaira, were all drafted ,tapped into college free agents like Caggiula and Benning, signed free agents late in the build to give them a boost...tell me, what are the Habs gonna do to make this process quicker than 5 years? Keep in mind no other team that did the scorched earth thing has managed to go from one of the worst to contender in a shorter time.
- HonkyTonkMan

I guess saying they we're wrong is inaccurate, they selected 1st overall in 2 bad drafts... They did build a team that relied mostly on offense but they took the players that were slotted at those positions, can't really argue with that but some of the moves that came after we're horrible!

And the Leafs turned it around pretty quickly when they actually committed to a rebuild, when they decided to move on from Phaneuf and Kessel to now, thats a pretty quick transition... Philadelphia has build quite the prospect core through the draft the last 3 years, Colorado, Vancouver is quickly putting pieces together as is Detroit... Not asking for a Stanley Cup next year, asking for respectability in 2 years with hopes of a championship team on the horizon, there's no guarantees but your best bet is the draft, any argument against that is completely wrong

I guess saying they we're wrong is inaccurate, they selected 1st overall in 2 bad drafts... They did build a team that relied mostly on offense but they took the players that were slotted at those positions, can't really argue with that but some of the moves that came after we're horrible!

And the Leafs turned it around pretty quickly when they actually committed to a rebuild, when they decided to move on from Phaneuf and Kessel to now, thats a pretty quick transition... Philadelphia has build quick the prospect core through the draft the last 3 years, Colorado, Vancouver is quickly putting pieces together as is Detroit... Not asking for a Stanley Cup next year, asking for respectability in 2 years with hopes of a championship team on the horizon, there's no guarantees but your best bet is the draft, any argument against that is completely wrong
- obie

Colorado has been dog poop for the better part of a decade.
Vancouver about 5 years already
Detroit is not anywhere near returning to the playoffs.
You’ve missed how many years in a row? You look like you’re about 5 years away from now.
Have fun.

Colorado has been dog poop for the better part of a decade.
Vancouver about 5 years already
Detroit is not anywhere near returning to the playoffs.
You’ve missed how many years in a row? You look like you’re about 5 years away from now.
Have fun.
- HonkyTonkMan

Vancouver sat on assets like the Sedins forever, a rebuild would suggest against that.. they could of sped it up... Detroit has a very nice pool of young players, not sure what you're talking about there

Brandon Smillie: The Definitive List of Canadiens UFA Targets 2018
- Brandon Smillie

the beauty of free agency this year is that the canadiens will do absolutely nothing and we all know it. it is so relaxing. nobody wants to come here and it will force bergeidiot to rebuild after 7 years. finally!!

the beauty of free agency this year is that the canadiens will do absolutely nothing and we all know it. it is so relaxing. nobody wants to come here and it will force bergeidiot to rebuild after 7 years. finally!!
- rob121

You say that, but there will be a "Karl Alzner" contract signed this year. Bet on it.

You say that, but there will be a "Karl Alzner" contract signed this year. Bet on it.
- Mashadar

Possibly, but the good news is he's running out of options... Not many names left to overspend on

im in the minority here but i don't think picking kotkaniemi was a stretch at all

im in the minority here but i don't think picking kotkaniemi was a stretch at all
- MikeBabcock

Only time will tell, anything beyond that is based strickly on opinion

die obie

die obie
- Pie

I'm working on it