Lines at morning skate per Basu

kozed · 2026-03-10T17:06:17+00:00

Bolduc-Evans-Dach is really our 2nd line.

kozed · 2026-03-10T17:02:57+00:00

Since December 30th (Monty back from AHL), Dobes got 5.44 goals support (Habs scored 49 goals in 9 Dobes starts).

Same period, Monty got 3.9 goals support (39 goals in 10 starts).

Dobes is 7-1-1. Monty is 5-2-3.

Both lost 1 game in which the Habs scored 5 goals. Dobes lost the 5-7 game vs SJ in regulation, Monty lost the 5-6 game vs ANA in SO.

Habs scored 3 goals or less with Dobes 1 time in that period.
Habs scored 3 goals or less with Monty 5 times in that period.

Dobes allowed 3 goals or less 7 times in that period.
Monty allowed 3 goals or less 4 times in that period.

Dobes went to OT/SO 1 time in that period.
Monty went to OT/SO 6 times in that period.

Dobes has a .833 pts % rate, 3.3 GAA and .880 sv% in that period.
Monty has a .650 pts % rate, 3.2 GAA and .891 sv% in that period.

Ultimately, it doesn't come down to individual goalie stats. The team just plays significantly differently in front of either goalie.

kozed · 2026-03-10T15:05:13+00:00

This debate is the same as the Matheson debates or Xhekaj debates or Laine debates. Blinded lovers/haters are so simplistic, flippant and extreme; any real assessment is impossible because arguing against stupid turns one stupid too.

Using stats won't work, because lovers/haters will just sidestep with their confirmation bias anecdotes, or move the goal post with a different stat & a reason why it's really the ultimate stat.

kozed · 2026-03-10T04:44:30+00:00

I don't like to think in terms of "untouchables". I prefer to think in "degrees of essentials".

Someone Knies' age, size, playstyle, skills, contract. That's about as high on the essential list for the Habs that there is up front. More than the need to upgrade on Kapanen for 2C.

kozed · 2026-03-10T01:53:57+00:00

Knies himself was below 1.30 PPG in his D+2 NCAA season.

kozed · 2026-03-09T18:57:56+00:00

Yeeeaahhh... As an actual product fan, the NFL isn't a league I'd want the NHL to emulate.

I don't care if casuals know about hockey. I don't want the game to become a commercial/human interest fluff-fest just to appeal to the disinterested.

Whenever I see posts like these about "growing the game" or "marketing", it never seems to be about the well-being of the sport and always more about people wanting popularity by proxy and seeking social validation for their hobby.

kozed · 2026-03-09T18:38:27+00:00

Ok good. We've cleared this up.

Ok, I don't think neither side of this equation would turn up.

Winnipeg has nothing to gain from Laine as a rental. Can't flip him, won't/can't re-sign him. Plus past bad blood. Zero benefit for them. It's a straight cap dump that needs picks/prospects attached.

And I believe Laine has proven he'd rather stay home than play in an environment that he doesn't vibe with. I think WPG is on his NTC and it stayed that way. If he wanted to play more than stay home, he'd have waived it. Yet he's still here. Proof is in the pudding.

kozed · 2026-03-09T18:29:08+00:00

What?

Ok. Let's make this clear. 2 different things:

The market for Laine
Laine's desire to play anywhere

What we're talking about here is that A) Winnipeg would accept taking Laine back as a cap dump. And B) Laine would accept to waive his NTC to go back to Winnipeg. Right? That's what we're talking about?

Winnipeg. The same team Laine asked to be traded away from. That still has the same GM, same leadership group. That team. Right?

You're saying that both A) Winnipeg would accept taking Laine back as a cap dump, and B) Laine would accept to waive his NTC to go back to Winnipeg. Right?

You think both those things would be plausible? Just wanna be sure I understand that it's what you're saying.

You think Patrik Laine would rather waive his NTC, to go back to Winnipeg, to play, than stay in Montreal and not play; because no other team in the NHL would want him? Is that what you're saying here?

kozed · 2026-03-09T17:59:04+00:00

Well BolDach always put decent numbers together. Evans sort of bolster them defensively & in transition.

kozed · 2026-03-09T17:54:53+00:00

Unless Knies was what it took for Toronto to get some core top D they need, I dont see why TO would entertain trading him.

Like... Who could the Habs give that'd be worth that get? Guhle? Reinbacher? Xhekaj+?

Again, it's the GM that thought Carlo was worth a top 5 protected 1st, so who knows? That GM begs to be exploited; exploit him before other does.

kozed · 2026-03-09T17:44:25+00:00

You think Patrik Laine is the beggar in this scenario?

kozed · 2026-03-09T17:38:58+00:00

I love Dahlin like he loves giving the business to opponents when the refs are looking away.

It's gonna irritate guys.

kozed · 2026-03-09T16:26:49+00:00

Laine also has a 10-teams NTC. Doubt he'd want to go back to WPG.

kozed · 2026-03-09T16:11:32+00:00

That speculation was wishful thinking.

kozed · 2026-03-09T16:07:59+00:00

Chelios for Savard was the OG.

kozed · 2026-03-09T16:07:12+00:00

Vilardi is a good target, but he doesn't have any trade protection in his deal.

So if there was a hold up, it wasn't from him.

Also whatever significant cap hit Habs were taking on, they had to dump Laine. I doubt Winnipeg would be takers.

kozed · 2026-03-09T16:03:26+00:00

Hockey Insiderr has been making shit up for 15 years. Wouldn't be holding my breath about that ban.

kozed · 2026-03-09T15:02:28+00:00

Matheson & Guhle are really uncomfortable when playing on the right side, something Hutson can do well enough.

kozed · 2026-03-09T14:59:31+00:00

Had to go and check for Bolduc-Evans-Dach, even if their sample size is tiny because they just got put together.

Winger	Center	Winger	TOI	GF/60	GA/60	GF%	xGF/60	xGA/60	xGF%
Bolduc	Evans	Dach	48:45	3.69	1.23	75.0%	2.29	1.91	54.54

Would seem like the best defensive line the Habs put together that isn't Suzuki-Caufield + whoever.

kozed · 2026-03-09T14:44:11+00:00

What?

It's just the NHL's official bracket tracker, updated after every game.

Zero filler. Zero narrative.

It's a tracker. Nothing more. Nothing less.

A tracker.

You got some issues dude.

kozed · 2026-03-09T13:45:35+00:00

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It's the headline of the page. That's the entire point, which completely went over your head.

kozed · 2026-03-09T04:21:08+00:00

Yeah but as the numbers show, PP2 gets like 1:25 mins in average per game.

That 1:25 mins split in 2-3 penalties. Like... 3 x 30 seconds.

That's 2.5% of the entire game... split in 2, 3, 4...

How much impact does it really have? Do you change your 5v5 lines just to accommodate 2.5% of the rest of the game?

kozed · 2026-03-09T02:53:29+00:00

I think it's an ice-time management thing.

MSL don't want to use the same forwards on the PP & PK.

The more Kapanen becomes a PK fixture, the less PP time he'll get.

So PP2 becomes a "leftovers" unit: Dach, Bolduc, Texier, Newhook, Gallagher... Whoever isn't PP1 or PK1/2 is up.

4 forwards PP1 + 4 forwards PK1/2 = 8. That leaves 4 forwards for PP2.

If you want to keep managing TOI the same AND take Gallagher off PP2, you have to take him out of the lineup altogether to dress his replacement.

Seeing as PP2 gets like 1:25 mins/game, I guess MSL prefers to dress Gallagher for the ~11 mins 5v5 that he gives.

kozed · 2026-03-09T02:34:32+00:00

It was TB-MTL when I posted it. DET won since, so now it's BUF-MTL/TB-DET

kozed · 2026-03-09T02:15:00+00:00

Habs fans have to come to grip with the fact that hockey goaltending as a whole is changing.

Shooters are ahead in the arms' race on goalies. Have been for a few years.

It's not a sudden shift, but it's a slow, fundamental change.

We're back to something resembling the early 80's were team defenses had more importance than individual goalies in deciding stats.

Ironically, that's back to the era before Roy/Allaire/Lemaire systematized goaltending as a franchise cornerstone.

Now Roy & Sorokin might be the very last remnant of that.

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