Post by MontrealGM on Nov 13, 2023 13:06:46 GMT -5
Montreal, PQ - AP
The Montreal Canadiens are poised to start the Pre-season with their roster set. GM Goetzinger made many changes with some hits and some misses to bolster the Canadiens roster for the 2023-24 season. Will it be better than last year or more the same old same old. The GM is sitting down answering questions.
Tony Marino - Mr GM. The word is that you were very active in the UFA market. You picked up a few players and needs in positions. How do you think the UFA season went for you.
GM - It's a strange process where you bid and hope with no indication as to whether you can negotiate or play poker ... to say ... for a player. We got slightly outbid on a number of players we targeted. Sometimes you win the player sometimes you don't. I like the players we got. DeSmith and Stolarz make a great tandem in net. Mike Hoffman can provide additional offensive support. All in all I feel we filled some holes as well as seeing players develop and move up in the Roster.
Stu Cowan - With the additions and player development, where do you see the team being this year.
GM - This is a very competative league with smart GM's. We always have a goal of making the playoffs. We don't like to say we are just a rebuilding team or a retooling team that is not ready for the playoff run. We feel we are a competative team.
Eric Engels - Who did you target that you didn't get in UFA
GM - We were in on a few players. Evander Kane, Patty Kane, Charlie Coyle, Arber Xhekaj. To get all or a few of these would have helped for sure. Some Agents did inform us that we were very close but missed out and I appreciate the information from them. At this point there is nothing we can do about those players. We are focused on who we have. KK is making steps forward. Jake Evans has taken a leadership and scoring role. Owen Tippett has taken a big step forward and we hope for a great season from him. We acquired other players last year we expect to make strides. Sharangovich, Veleno. We also acquired Dzingel to add experience. We are super happy to add Kaiden Guhle who we feel will be top defender on this team and league. Samuel Bolduc also is poised to make the team. So, as we see the turnover in players always happens from year to year. Some retire or move on from contracts. Some are traded for other players we feel that would fit and make us better today or moving forward.
Jack Todd : What is the teams stregths and weaknesses this coming year ?
GM : We have a great D core. Our goaltending is very solid. Our depth has gotten better up front. One thing we didn't have was depth at scoring or a scoring leader. We were looking for that but we feel as a team we can score better then last year. So, with the defense we have and goaltending we can be among the best in GA this year as we were last year. We need to put the puck in the net more often. Another area we look to improve we PIM. Penalties can kill momentum and give up goals. So, we feel we have improved in discipline. Thanks guys.
All in all we see that the Canadiens are slowly going the course. No major Scoring additions via UFA. But the depth is better then last year. A few players to watch in Development. Brock Faber. KK is having a break out year in NHL. Kovacevich and others who could be advancing in next years re-rate season. But this year is a question. Can this team compete ? Its going to be tough for sure.
Hero's : Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Connor Bedard, Pierre Pollievre, Donald Trump, Joe Rogan, Patrick Bet-David
Zero's : Ken Holland, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisatl, Justin (Black Face-Castro) Trudeau. Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Jill Biden, Gavin Newsom
The Montreal Canadiens are poised to start the Pre-season with their roster set. GM Goetzinger made many changes with some hits and some misses to bolster the Canadiens roster for the 2023-24 season. Will it be better than last year or more the same old same old. The GM is sitting down answering questions.
Tony Marino - Mr GM. The word is that you were very active in the UFA market. You picked up a few players and needs in positions. How do you think the UFA season went for you.
GM - It's a strange process where you bid and hope with no indication as to whether you can negotiate or play poker ... to say ... for a player. We got slightly outbid on a number of players we targeted. Sometimes you win the player sometimes you don't. I like the players we got. DeSmith and Stolarz make a great tandem in net. Mike Hoffman can provide additional offensive support. All in all I feel we filled some holes as well as seeing players develop and move up in the Roster.
Stu Cowan - With the additions and player development, where do you see the team being this year.
GM - This is a very competative league with smart GM's. We always have a goal of making the playoffs. We don't like to say we are just a rebuilding team or a retooling team that is not ready for the playoff run. We feel we are a competative team.
Eric Engels - Who did you target that you didn't get in UFA
GM - We were in on a few players. Evander Kane, Patty Kane, Charlie Coyle, Arber Xhekaj. To get all or a few of these would have helped for sure. Some Agents did inform us that we were very close but missed out and I appreciate the information from them. At this point there is nothing we can do about those players. We are focused on who we have. KK is making steps forward. Jake Evans has taken a leadership and scoring role. Owen Tippett has taken a big step forward and we hope for a great season from him. We acquired other players last year we expect to make strides. Sharangovich, Veleno. We also acquired Dzingel to add experience. We are super happy to add Kaiden Guhle who we feel will be top defender on this team and league. Samuel Bolduc also is poised to make the team. So, as we see the turnover in players always happens from year to year. Some retire or move on from contracts. Some are traded for other players we feel that would fit and make us better today or moving forward.
Jack Todd : What is the teams stregths and weaknesses this coming year ?
GM : We have a great D core. Our goaltending is very solid. Our depth has gotten better up front. One thing we didn't have was depth at scoring or a scoring leader. We were looking for that but we feel as a team we can score better then last year. So, with the defense we have and goaltending we can be among the best in GA this year as we were last year. We need to put the puck in the net more often. Another area we look to improve we PIM. Penalties can kill momentum and give up goals. So, we feel we have improved in discipline. Thanks guys.
All in all we see that the Canadiens are slowly going the course. No major Scoring additions via UFA. But the depth is better then last year. A few players to watch in Development. Brock Faber. KK is having a break out year in NHL. Kovacevich and others who could be advancing in next years re-rate season. But this year is a question. Can this team compete ? Its going to be tough for sure.
Hero's : Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Connor Bedard, Pierre Pollievre, Donald Trump, Joe Rogan, Patrick Bet-David
Zero's : Ken Holland, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisatl, Justin (Black Face-Castro) Trudeau. Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Jill Biden, Gavin Newsom
