I just wonder if Hoffman is going to be worth his 4.5m X 3 contract. Maybe Savard and 4.5m spend on a short term winger

Likely. We didn't need another shut down defender and we didn't need another winger. We did have an opportunity to use Weber's loss to add another puck moving defenseman.

Personally, I would have been okay with a Goligoski and Savard combo (or similar) while our prospects mature.
Hamilton at least filled a need, though expensive and with an NMC.

Can’t see Hoffman being worth 4.5M X 3
Even if he scores 25 goals, is defensive and without the puck play will determine everything. If he sucks and doesn’t score, he becomes a cap dump

I know your a leafs fan, but I've never seen a fan base **** and complain watching our team suck at scoring and suck on the power play for 3 decades now **** and complain about a player that does both. no Hoffman isn't anywhere near the perfect player but guess what, 4.5 million bucks won't get you 30 goals and good defence or even solid. try and keep the puck out of your net with Savard and get some ****ing goals out of Hoffman especially on the power play

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the Hoffman addition, but personnel hasn't usually been the issue with our PP.
We're simply too static and don't move players or puck quickly enough to create seams for dangerous chances.

A more dynamic power play (which the absence of Weber might actually help), would eliminate the need for Hoffman.

It’s both. You need to pass the puck quickly and firmly and move around but at the same time fire it in the back of the net with a one timer. Off the top of my head I can’t think of one team that doesn’t have at lest one if not two awesome shooters on the pp. again especially a one timer


And before you say caufield I love the kid but in the short time he was here he couldn’t blast that one timer.

You need a system but also the players to execute the plan

We've had good shooters during our PP struggles though. The two things in common throughout, are having Weber as the primary shooter, and the lack of movement. Even our forward shooters were in static positions, normally staying in a 10 foot area around the half wall.
Even if the shooters are playing a limited area, the rest of the unit should be creating movement. That's where we have the most room for improvement.

That’s certainly a problem. I’ve said for years that they don’t move and create, but at the same time how many times would they open up a lane and shoot it 16 feet wide or over the net. And how many times would they shoot it into the goalies chest. Having a legit one timer which we’ve never had, (again difference between a Hoffman one timer and a toffoli wrister, Hoffman’s is much more deadly and important to a power play) Opens up the ice. Him on one side and caufield on the other you’ll have no idea where the puck is going


Anyways I like the signing. He ain’t perfect but Goals and pp addition is huge for the Habs. Pricey stays healthy and has a good season this team has a playoff chance