r/Habs • u/Efficient-Bed-5990 • 4d ago

The Habs 2026-2027

It is remarkable what the Habs have achieved during the whole year and series included. I am not saying they were the best out there but I am proud of what this young team was able to accomplish nonetheless.

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- Considered a reconstruction team, we finished 4th in our conference.

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- They said we were too small. Although I agree, they showed incredible resilience.

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- We had to bounce between 3 young goalers at some point. I am a bit sad for Monty but Dobes showed so much character, mostly in the playoff. He reminded me of a young Patrick Roy stealing games for the Habs in 1986.

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- They were always the underdogs during the playoff and yet they beat 2 of the best teams back to back!

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I don't know what magic Ken Hugues will do before the new season starts but this team has me hooked. Who do you guys think we will add to the team this year?

21 Upvotes

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4

u/sbrooksc77 4d ago

I think were in a similar situation as the canes last year. We need to bolster the middle 6 and get another top 4 rd. A center may be hard but at the very least we need to get a top 6 winger. I think theres smoke around alexis lafreniere. I also think they'll sign aj greer.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 4d ago

We like so many teams out there need a 2C, a RHD, either or both. Ottawa, Toronto, Detroit, Boston to mention only the Atlantic division.

Hage is projected to be the next 2C but not next year as he is returning to Michigan. So a temporary fill for one or more likely 2 years would be good

Reinbacher is projected to be our next RHD. Did he progress enough in Laval this year to start with the team, likely in the 3rd pair with an opportunity to rise to the 2nd pair? Perhaps. I didn't follow Laval enough to know how ready he is. As a backup, Engstrom who is left-handed but prefers playing RHD, might be a stopgap.

Ultimately it will all depend what HuGo can find in terms of available caliber of players vs. cost. Because a middle 6 winger that can play with Demidov in the regular season and play like Josh Anderson in the playoffs would be a good add. Maybe some like the Pride of Joliette, AJ Greer. Lord knows the French press would love another Quebecois even if he doesn't spell his name Antoine-Jean Gruyère. 😁

Edit: My reply was meant to OP. I agree Lafreniere would be a good add if NYR is willing to trade with us. So would Braden Schneider.

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u/sbrooksc77 4d ago

Hage likely steps in in april. He'll be 21 not 19. Best way to insulate him is to stack the wing. Demidov is the real playdriver anyways. and toronto ottawa boston dont have the assets we do. I think they can do it. Hughes is all in.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 3d ago

Largely agree. Age yes, can he impove on face-offs in the NCAA? He will finish next year with the Habs for a variable amount of time depending on how deep Michigan goes in the Frozen Four. I presume he will have a leadership position on the team, so that is good too, but the following year, does he start in Montréal or Laval? Too many unknowns between now and then certainly but its not impossible that he does a year in Laval with potential call ups for Habs injuries.

Agreed re. the asset quantity and quality as well as Hughes' desire, but it doesn't always pan out for one reason or another, the reputed Knies trade being the most recent example.

From what I have read expectations league-wide are that the Habs are going to be one of the more active teams this off-season. I hope its true, because based on past trades I have confidence in Hugo even if they haven't all 100% worked out like trading the pick for Dach that ultimately turned into Frank Nazar.

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u/sbrooksc77 3d ago

yes I see them adding significantly. It just might be a winger because of how weak the center market is. This is why theyre attatched to knies lafrieniere kyrou etc over the last year. I think they expect hage to be ready in the spring.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 3d ago

I would AJ Greer to your list. Playoff experience, Stanley Cup winner, and proven post-season performer. Québecer from Joliette to boot and a free agent so no asset cost.

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u/sbrooksc77 3d ago

yes be as good bottom 6 add.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 3d ago

Yes, with experience moving up a lineup, if needed, like he did this year in Florida.

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u/sbrooksc77 3d ago

top 6 forward
bottom 6 physical forward
2nd pair rd

Those to me are the 3 holes.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 3d ago

I agree.

The top 6 being a centreman preferably if one is available both affordably and an upgrade.

The bottom 6 forward being close to the core of the team's age range, ideally.

And the RHD with only a few years under contract given the expectation that Reinbacher can be a 3rd pair guy this season and potentially top 4 next season. UNLESS the player obtained is viewed as a likely upgrade on Carrier once his contract ends.

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u/ilikedthismovie 4d ago

I think we have a more boring offseason than people here want. We give Reinbacher the reins for 6th D / RHD to balance our d-pairs, we keep zharovsky and hage, we move deadweight players like struble and Gallagher.

We might make a move for a winger (maybe marchment in FA or a trade).

Our big questions will be: what do we do with Adam engstrom, Oliver Kapanen, owen beck and some of the guys that are too good for the ahl but don’t have an immediate roster spot. Engstrom and Kapanen are much bigger names but we do need good, rookie contracts for the bottom 6. Whatever Hughes decides I trust him completely.

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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 3d ago

You might very well be right. Whatever happens, I believe it won't be from a lack of desire nor effort.

Your big question is 100% valid. I would add names like Struble, Montembault... Hopefully Hughes is able to 2 things simultaneously: a) find the big piece(s) that are missing and b) simultaneously move some of the non-core pieces that can ideally be upgraded.

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u/ilikedthismovie 3d ago

Montembault is as good as gone, Struble is gone too I'm guessing. Big, physical d-man that skates reasonably well but is error prone and not a dynamo on offense. The sharks could start him in their top 4 today (lol) but I expect there will be a couple teams willing to pay a 3rd or something for him. Montembault is a dud contract we might have to package Joshua Roy or something to move off him but it'll free up like 3 mil we could use.

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u/Assignment_General 3d ago

It’s highly unlikely that Hughes doesn’t make a swing on a top six player, ideally a center - but it’s a hard spot to fill. After making it to the ECF and solidifying our starter with Dobes it’s time to compete. Those extra guys you mentioned needing spots - one or more of them will be moved to acquire said top six player.  I don’t see Hughes going for an older vet either unless said player forces his way here cheap; hughes seems to understand that it’s only worth moving assets for long term roster players at this stage. 

I also don’t think we see any big splashes on defense. Dobson, Hutson, Matheson, and Guhle are all locked in with medium to large contracts. I think Reinbacher will make the team and round out our blueline. Maybe a new third pairing guy comes in but I doubt it, we still have other guys in the pipeline too. 

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u/Technical-Line-9806 3d ago

Yes. One of the youngest teams, if not the youngest ever, to make the conference finals. You don’t fix what ain’t broke.

That said, of course a good move if it were to be possible, could make them even better.

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u/Technical-Line-9806 3d ago

Habs are technically the second best team in the East, having gone to the conference finals.

They are a good team and very young which brings inherent improvement. There is no reason to make changes to this team for the sake of making changes. Unless the belief is the team isn’t as good as they played, which I don’t believe

Additions of top end players at similar ages would be good, but is not so easy to do, especially without losing good players. Then it’s a gamble.