Does the Habs still need draft picks? | When will Slaf be given new responsibilities?

It's reassuring to know that the management of a team as closely scrutinized as the Canadiens is often ahead of the analysis of its most avid fans and observers.

But as we'll see in the second part of this article, some issues still remain unresolved!

How many draft picks will there be over the next five years?

Two weeks ago, we gave the example of the acquisition of Noah Dobson, who, in addition to adding a talented player in his mid-twenties to the core of the team, seemed to us to be largely a preventive measure in case Reinbacher did not become the player we expected him to be.

Based on the information available about the Austrian player, when the opportunity arose, HuGo didn't hesitate, quickly closing the deal with Mathieu Darche and agreeing to pay Dobson $76 million over eight years.

In a different context, this decision would probably have been very different.

If Reinbacher had arrived in Montreal mid-season last winter, had been successful alongside Lane Hutson in Guhle's absence, had racked up 18 points (+4) in 40 games, and had shown himself to be the strong, reliable, confident, and intelligent defenseman we thought we had drafted, does Hughes need to acquire Dobson at a high price and pay him $76 million?

Not sure… He might have turned his attention to a center or drafted two other young players, who knows…

Thus, picks #16 and #17 were not seen as future building blocks to join Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov, and company. They were seen as an opportunity to solidify the foundation in case Reinbacher did not become the top-2 or top-4 defenseman we hoped he would become within the prescribed time frame.

The same could probably be said for the decision to extend Mike Matheson's contract.

If, say, Kaiden Guhle had managed three or four full seasons of 30-plus points so far, while providing reliable and robust play for 23-24 minutes per game, I don't think Hughes and Gorton would necessarily have had to shell out $33 million to retain the services of the Québécois veteran for another five seasons.

Again, it's better to be safe than sorry.

The opening of the “window”

But let's get back to picks #16 and #17 from last June.

Hughes and Gorton also sent another message that day: the habs no longer absolutely need their first-round picks; that phase of the rebuild is already complete.

Let's remember that a majority of observers (say, 60-40?) believed that the habs would draft in the first round.

But for HuGo, the time had come to think in terms of a “window of opportunity,” to use the Anglicism.

The fact that Dobson's age falls between that of Suzuki and Caufield clearly appealed to management: his peak perfectly matched the time frame for the opening of the “window.”

So it should come as no surprise if another player in this age group is added to the lineup in the coming weeks, or by summer at the latest. At least, that's the door Kent Hughes left open during his interview with Basu and Godin.

In the same interview, Hughes himself admits that his club is not yet at the level of the “Colorados of this world” (despite Thursday night's game!), and that it is therefore not yet at the true beginning of its window of opportunity.

But that window will come soon enough. Perhaps as early as spring 2027, when the organization's 10 most talented and important players will all be in Montreal.

All of them are rising impact players, let's not forget …

A VERY young and VERY good core…

Next spring, at the dawn of the playoffs, Suzuki and Dobson will already be 27. Caufield will be 26.

At 23, at the beginning of his prime, Slafkovsky will already be in his^fifth season. He may be the most dominant player on the habs…

At 21 and 22 years old, capable of producing at a rate of one point per game, Demidov and Huston will be even more established among the young superstars of the NHL.

At 21, Michael Hage will have just completed his first full season in the ” show.” We expect a solid contribution from him, as he could prove to be this year's “big acquisition” with a view to the playoffs…

At 20, as Demidov did at 19, Alexander Zharovsky will arrive in town by the end of the season at the latest.

And we haven't even mentioned the indestructible Mike Matheson, who will be a young 33 years old.

Finally, Montembeault hasn't said his last word yet, but let's assume that Dobes (25) or Fowler (22) are likely to have permanently overtaken him as the number one.

What will be the average age of these individuals forming the core of the team in the spring of 2027, the “official start of the window of^{opportunityTM} “?

23.4 years old!  

If we are generous and optimistic and include Guhle (25) and Reinbacher (23) in the core, the average rises to 23.7!

With such an average age for the entire CORE in the spring of 2027, “when it really starts to count,” how many first- and second-round picks will the Canadiens absolutely need over the next five years?

I'm not saying they'll trade them all, far from it. But the answer is: not many.

I imagine that's exactly what Kent Hughes means when he says he's in an excellent position to “overpay” in a trade.

All that's left to imagine is the incredible depth the Canadiens could have during this window of opportunity that will last at least five years…

Slafkovsky at center, vol. 3

I've been talking about the possibility of moving Slafkovsky to center since before he was even drafted.

I caused quite a stir when I argued strongly in favor of this move in the fall of 2024, and I must admit that I'm a little surprised that it hasn't been tried yet.

The fact that the habs finally got into the playoff race last year may have had something to do with it.

Kapanen's overall performance at center on the second line this season is undoubtedly another factor.

Yet we still frequently read that the player himself would be open to the idea…

Now more than ever?

I admit that in the fall of 2024, or even last winter, it would probably have been premature to embark on such an adventure.

But now that Slaf has been allowed to spread his wings on the left wing of the second line, where he is effectively playing the role of playmaker, there are not many obstacles or constraints preventing the habs from giving it a try.

The Slaf we've seen since late November is very close to the finished product. He's no longer that young man in the midst of development and searching for his bearings.

That's why, before considering a trade to acquire a high-priced center (Kadri, O'Reilly, Schenn, etc.), it would still be a good idea to try the Slovakian in that position.

And, if he isn't traded before then, why not give Patrik Laine a try alongside him and Demidov?

And why not give him another responsibility?

And since we have a thoroughbred bursting with energy, why not consider giving him some practice and responsibility on the penalty kill? This isn't the first time I've mentioned thiseither …

Slaf is probably already the most willing and skilled forward on the team at blocking shots. He ranks second among forwards in that category, and he doesn't even play shorthanded!

At this point, we can call it wasted talent and unprofitable money!

And when it comes to shots blocked by forwards, it seems to me that this is a dimension that's missing in this phase of play, where the Habs rank^27th in the NHL at 77.1%, right?

I understand that we don't want to give him too much too soon and that we need to find responsibilities for players like Josh Anderson.

But Slaf on the penalty kill will surely come one day.

It has to!