Episode 135 of the Hockey Free All Podcast 12-08-2024

Hockey Free For All

Hello Hockey fans, take a listen to Episode 135 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics include_

#1. Patik Laine came back at the perfect time and has had tremendous impact.

#2. Why is it that any player injury seems to effect the Montreal Canadiens more than another team?

#3. Why do the Montreal Canadiens players not seem to know or have the depth of knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of their own home rink like other teams seem to, such as the Minnesota Wild, The Dallas Stars, The N.Y. Rangers or all the most resent additions like the Las Vegas Golden Knight, Seattle Kraken or the Utah Hockey Club, that already does?

#4. The time has arrived for determinations to be made. The Montreal Canadiens are three to three and a half years into a rebuild.

#5. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have solidified themselves as core key pieces, there than these 3, much work remains.

#6. Many people will say that Kaiden Guhle should be and has also established himself as a key core member, but his injury history and consistency is concerning and raises questions about his durability and longevity to me.

#7. Major key core players are on their way. For Skill Winger Ivan Demindov, 2nd line center Michael Hage, Future Staring Goaltender Jacob Fowler, Finally a consistent power forward with the frame and expected consistency and nightly game in Tyler Thorp, Right Handed Defenseman Logn Mailloux, L/R Defenseman Adam Engstrom, A complete 200 foot/2-way center that can play it any way you want to in Owen Beck, Nightly toughness and skill in C/LW Florian Xhekaj and Left Wing Like Tuch. Plus a host of others.

#8. Arber Xhekaj’s shoulder injuries finally look to be behind him, which is fantastic news.

#9. Michael Pezzetta looks disillusioned, disconnected or detached from the team this year.

#10. Defensively, the time has arrived to move on from Justin Barron, Mike Matheson and David Savard have been inconsistent, along with Justin Barron, he can’t seem to figure out his game or put it together.

#11. Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom should both be members of the starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens as of January 1st 2025 and for the remainder of the season.

#12. Martin St. Louis remains the perfect head coach for the Montreal Canadiens and Roger Grillo has been an excellent addition as a consultant. The concern sits with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond.