The blueline has been slow. The blueline is still slow. Transition game is alright, but I don't see Petry and Weber joining a rush anytime soon.

This team still misses. Marginally better at best.

In the west maybe, but who in the east are they so much better than?
In their own division, TOR, BOS, and TBL are all clearly better. FLA, assuming they don't have to make cost cuts, is better too. And then the sabres have a better core as well, and if they can put a few more good players around eichel and dahlin they are definitely better as well.
For the wildcard: WSH, PIT, Canes, CBJ, Flyers, Rangers, Islanders would all beat this team out.

Assuming the roster is healthy, Romanov will lead rushes and the defence scores a lot of goals. Kovalchuk is a high impact play that can score 20 goals and Suzuki is only getting better, if Kotkaniemi is a good player its fair to assume this team should make the playoffs. Keep in mind, Weber, Petry, Chariot, Romanov, Mete, Kulak is better than Rielly, Muzzin, Sandin, Dermott, Holl, Marincin

leafs will probably add another D in the offseason though. they'll move one of their top 9 forwards and bring in a good RHD

exactly. the east is too strong. habs are stuck in mediocrity. they aren't bad enough to get a top 3 pick (unless they get lucky and win the lottery of course), but they aren't good enough to make the playoffs. Petry, Tatar, Danault, Gallagher, Armia are all UFA's next season. if Bergevin was smart he would tank, finish bottom 5, land a top prospect, and gain a bunch of futures for their pending UFA's who all carry value.

They are a top end #1 center and a top 4 LHD away from being lethal- which isn't easy to come by

a) leafs will be adding D
b) those D cores aren't THAT far off. Weber>Rielly (for now), Muzzin>Petry, Dermott=Chiarot (for now), Sandin>Romanov (ever so slightly), Mete>Holl (ever so slightly)
c) Even if MTL's D core is slightly better, TOR's offense is much much better

Lmao! That is the funniest thing I have read in a while.

Niether blueline is better than the other. One is too mobile, the other not mobile enough.

Lol. I will be laughing until bedtime! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I wouldn't even say "Lethal". teams like Tampa, boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, are lethal. Even if habs add a 1C and a top 4 LHD they still aren't better than any team I listed and probably not even as good as the leafs still. they'd be a playoff team forsure and they could be a dark horse, but they wouldn't be the favourite

I don't think you understand the kind of game Petry plays...

I fully understand the game he plays. Would love him to be a Leaf, but 1) Bergevin isn't moving him because no one is even ckose to replacing him and 2) any deal starts wilthLiligren.... and us Leafs fans have faith in his growing game.

Dude. I know my puck. But you will bever ever sell the Habs blueline being better than the Leafs right now. That's delusional. Very much on par. Both need help in differnent ways.

The reason Jo habs says you don't understand the kind of game Petry plays is because you said you don't see Petry joining a rush anytime soon. If you knew your puck as you claimed, you would know that Petry is very much an offensive defenseman and joins the rush all the time.

By who's standards? Montreal's?

Beregivin was bang on trying to land Gardiner last year. He joins rushes. Hughes does. Reilly does (albeit ill advised without a real partner).... Subban did has a Hab - and I do believe that is the last time they made the playoffs.

Petry not as much as you think.

He is one of the best two way D in the league right now. But he doesn't have the wheels of the back end to compliment the talent this team has up front. Not many people I know see Petry as an offensive D. But everyone of them would want the guy on their team.

You dont see Petry joining the rush? Have you ever watched him play?

I have lol. Seem everyone thinks I have a hate on for Petry. Not the case. His game is best suited as a two way D - not an offensive catalyst. He is warm, fuzzy and safe; and damn good at it. Is he the guy I would rely on to be that catalyst.... nope. Not at all. He is just that well rounded and balanced, landing a Gardiner type pair with him would make and insanely good pairing.

The point being made here is holistically this is not a very mobile blueline at all, as it sits. To make the playoffs, you need a mix. There is serious offensive takent up front that could explode in adding more mobility (Brooks looks like he may fit that bill, and Mete's game is still growing). A point exemplified by the collective love of the Drouin for Sergachev deal.... most Habs fans I know still curse it. Says a lot.

Maybe gamble in Schultz playing his offside...... a guy like that with a Petry would be a fantastic pairing.

Yeah.... they need a Petry to play with Reilly. Picture that love fest!!!

See how this can work Habs fans?

Swinny, the more you post, the less credibility you have. Petry and Reilly would not be a good match up. There would be no love fest, just a lot of frustrated fans because of odd man rushes and defensive breakdowns resulting in too many goals against. Weber would be the perfect partner for Reilly, if you ignore the cap hit and just focus on the one ice ability each brings to the table. No one thinks you have a hate on for Petry, everyone knows you have inaccurately assessed Petry's strengths and weaknesses and that is why you are getting this feedback, especially since you have proclaimed yourself as knowing your hockey, to paraphrase. Yet your comments on this thread suggest the exact opposite.