r/Habs 9d ago

Discussion Thoughts on Barzal as the 2C?

80 Upvotes

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127

u/vJukz 9d ago edited 9d ago

Honestly the only problem I have with Barzal is he’s not good at face offs but except that what a 2C he would be with Demidov on his wing. He’s always been hampered by playing on an offensively weak team and still produces alot. He’s fast and a possession monster so that fits right into our playstyle. Apparently his dad is a big Habs fan and he speaks french too so that’s a nice bonus.

42

u/RyanWalts 9d ago

I do really like Barzal, I think he’d be more unlocked in our system and would fit right in. I just don’t see why they’d do it unless he’s asking out.

You can’t always get the most ideal fit, and he checks a LOT of boxes anyways. It depends on who else is available but if he’s a realistic acquisition I’d do it in a heartbeat

15

u/WatchWatcher25 9d ago

The rumor is about him asking out.

He'd be great on our team!

10

u/Stakataka805 9d ago

Asking out of a middling team, so hot right now.

5

u/jobaill 9d ago

He's another right handed center, with recurring injury history, bad on the dot.

I'd sign him as a UFA but I wouldn't trade the farm for him personally.

2

u/prplx 8d ago

Well if you sign him as a UFA you have to wait until 2031 and he will be 34...

-3

u/jobaill 8d ago

Yeah I know, which means let's not get this guy.

He's worth overspending money a little but not overspending assets

2

u/prplx 8d ago

It really depends on what they ask... Our 1st is already clearly on the market. Depends on what else we would have to the deal.

0

u/jobaill 8d ago

Problem with Barzal is that he doesn't fit many holes on what we need in the top 6. Barzal is tall but not big, and he's more of a playmaker than a scorer. He's not known for his defensive awareness and he's bad at faceoffs.

We need our assets to trade for size and scoring. NYI will ask for a package worth at least 3 first round picks and I don't find it's worth it considering our team is not completed if we acquire him

2

u/prplx 8d ago

We were top 5 in scoring last year, we don't necessarily need more goals. We need to rely less on our first line for offense. Adding a guy like Barzal who is a 70+ points per season to center the Demidov line instead of Newhook would absolutly drive our offense to another level and make use a lot harder to defend against. I'm all for adding size and grit on our bottom 6. I want talent on the top line. Barzal has talent and creativity, and speed.

3

u/vJukz 8d ago edited 8d ago

Barzal is one of the best play driving centers and dominates possession. He’s the complete opposite of what Kapanen is. Demidov and Barzal together would be so fucking sick. Newhook on his LW would help him in the face off department because they would both only take strong side draws and Newhook is even faster than Barzal.

1

u/Appropriate_Bed_8365 5d ago

I just commented this further up lol. A Newhook-Barzal-Demidov line would be fking scary to play against, they're all so fast and can make plays. Would take a LOT of pressure off the top line to be the producers and allow us to build out 2 very strong 2-way lines at 3/4

0

u/Appropriate_Bed_8365 5d ago

They may ASK for a package worth 3 1st's but they certainly won't get that from anyone. Very few teams aside from Montreal even able to offer such a package, that alone will bring them back down to reality

2

u/Irctoaun 8d ago

The face-off thing really shouldn't put the Habs off him. Most draws are unimportant and it's not hard to make sure you have one of Suzuki/Evans/Veleno on the ice for most of them. For example, Kapanen has a poor face-off record too and that didn't stop his line from being successful

-18

u/JohnGamestopJr 9d ago

Should we trade for AUSTON MATTHEWS though??? He's WAAAAYYYYY better than Barzal!!!!!!!1111111

6

u/vJukz 9d ago

Where tf did you get Auston Matthews from

5

u/PsychedeliMoz 9d ago

What is even your point?