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Post by Willie Dog on Nov 4, 2014 10:15:00 GMT -5
MT up to his old tricks ... put a guy in his natural position for one game, and if it doesn't work, immediately split it up. This pales in comparison to his other trick of having a line that is clicking on all cylinders and then splitting them up to get a top six guy jump strarted. What a Maroon! Personally, I think the boat has sailed on developing Galchenyuk as a center. When is the last time he played there regularly? Probably Sarnia, over 3-4 years ago? Just as well to continue his development as a winger now. I really dont think it is that easy for him to adjust, especially getting use to the speed, and the longer zone coverages. I want him at center, but it does us no good unless he is left there to develop. AND the only way to do it is to shed a center ... and when I look at the players we have, the logical odd man out is Desharnais. Eller can play third line while Pleky is the second liner and make the jumpt o second line when PLeky has outlived his usefulness. Desharnais can not do third line duty and its a waste to dump Plekanec on the third line just to have Desharnais on the second line, who doesnt give you anymore there than Plekanec can provide you. The problem however, is that the lines make absolutely no sense if you NOW put Galchenyuk at center. Who replaces Galchenyuk on the wing? Desharnais, Plekanec, and Eller all virtually provide you nothing on the wing. So to develop Galchenyuk where we want him, we have to shed a center and add a top six winger ... thats tres dificile. So we will have to live with our faults at center for now. I agree DD is odd man out IMO and he will be even more so when McCarron makes the jump (few of years away). Unfortunately MT will never breakup DD and Patches even though I think Galchy and Patches would be a great forward pairing. Add a guy with Bournivals hustle and hockey IQ and that would be a very interesting line. I do not think we can win a cup without having a true #1 centre and that's what Galchy would be if used properly.
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Post by BadCompany on Nov 4, 2014 10:46:04 GMT -5
Personally I don't buy the "Galchenyuk needs to learn how to play center" argument, because I think he'll be great just about wherever you put him, whenever you decide to do that. I don't see him needing three seasons to learn how to play center in other words. Put him there tomorrow and I think he'd be just fine. Sure, there will be a bit of a learning curve, but not that much, in my opinion. He's already learning defensive responsibilities, and how defensive do you have to be when you're in the other team's zone? Is Tyler Seguin an elite defensive center? John Tavares? Eventually yes, you want him to be elite at both ends, but with his talent level and work ethic I don't think he'll be stymied by playing wing for now. I also think he's such a great talent that there is no reason NOT to leave him on the wing for now. Why move him when he's driving the Plekanec line? Plekanec, in contrast to Galchenyuk, is NOT a good winger. Of course you could dump Desharnais and go with a Gally/Pleky punch down the middle, but why take away the best winger Plekanec has had since Kovalev? Why kill Desharnais' trade value? It's working, they're thriving, and they will continue to thrive. I see no reason to break up these lines when as I said I think Galchenyuk is going to be fine regardless. If both Plekanec and Galchenyuk end up with 30 goals playing on the same line, is that going to be a bad thing? Especially if Pacioretty chips in another 30 from the first line with Desharnais as his center? If you move Galchenyuk to center you open up another hole on Plekanec's wing, so how much further ahead are you really? Besides that though, is he really the "big center" we need? Well, perhaps. But personally I don't think he's all that "big". Sure, he's got some size, but we're just so used to midgets here in Montreal that anybody over 6' is considered huge. I think his max playing weight will be in the 6'1, 210lbs range, and even that might be a little too heavy for him. So he's certainly not "big". Big enough of course, but not "big".
Given all that I don't think Bergevin is all that concerned about "making room for Galchenyuk to play center". He doesn't need to in my opinion. If something materializes that allows him to do that, then fine, and I think we can all agree that eventually Desharnais will be forced out, but there is no need to force it right away just to get Galchenyuk playing center.
Galchenyuk's play so far this season has me drinking the Kool-Aid. I think he's going to be a star, no matter what, no matter where he plays.
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Post by seventeen on Nov 4, 2014 13:41:20 GMT -5
That's a good assessment, BC. In the long run, it will probably be better to have Galchy at centre simply because centres get more touches with the puck and Galchy with the puck has you on the edge of your seat. But...he'll get the puck somehow, even if he's on the wing.
DD is concerning me more than he did before. He seems to have fallen back to the 19 game stretch from last year, not winning battles, being knocked down, etc. When our centres are doing well, we're tough to beat, but when they're not, yikes.
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Post by franko on Nov 4, 2014 13:54:15 GMT -5
DD is concerning me more than he did before. He seems to have fallen back to the 19 game stretch from last year, not winning battles, being knocked down, etc. When our centres are doing well, we're tough to beat, but when they're not, yikes. the only good thing is that he's getting his 19-25 game cold streak over early in the season. I guess.
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Post by Willie Dog on Nov 4, 2014 14:06:26 GMT -5
DD is concerning me more than he did before. He seems to have fallen back to the 19 game stretch from last year, not winning battles, being knocked down, etc. When our centres are doing well, we're tough to beat, but when they're not, yikes. the only good thing is that he's getting his 19-25 game cold streak over early in the season. I guess. Can Denis Coderre please tweet something?
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Post by UberCranky on Nov 4, 2014 14:39:42 GMT -5
I'm also drinking the BigGal KoolAid. I forget he's 20 when he moves like a power forward sometimes.
DD is here to stay courtesy of his contract. You are not going to move an undersized expensive player for equal hockey value.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 4, 2014 15:12:38 GMT -5
DD is concerning me more than he did before. He seems to have fallen back to the 19 game stretch from last year, not winning battles, being knocked down, etc. When our centres are doing well, we're tough to beat, but when they're not, yikes. As much as I'd like to move DD, I have to consider what it is he brings to the team ... we saw how much he was respected last year when he scored that shootout goal to win the game ... it came right on the heels of that comment by the mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre ... the team rallied around him and I think that had a lot to do with breaking that slump ... so, what message would it send to the troops if Bergevin were to remove a guy like DD by trade? ... if we're talking freeing up cap space, then I'd be leery of signing any contract that pays between $3-$4 million ... that seems to be the range Bergevin likes targeting for some reason ... and if that is the pattern, then Eller can put himself on that list either late in the second year of his deal, or early following year when he stands to make more bucks (same cap hit, only more $) ... leaving all that aside, too, Bergevin has to look at replacing DD if he is to move him ... if DD does move then that leaves Galchenyuk, Plekanec, Eller and Malhotra ... the centres are intact; however, who's ready in the system to backfill Galchenyuk ... Sekac? Bournival? DLR? ... there's options there, I suppose, but it comes back to how would morale be affected if DD were to move ... Cheers.
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Post by seventeen on Nov 4, 2014 15:54:24 GMT -5
the only good thing is that he's getting his 19-25 game cold streak over early in the season. I guess. Can Denis Coderre please tweet something? Good one WD. He might have burnt out his magic phone trying to get Almost Bourque going.
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Post by seventeen on Nov 4, 2014 15:59:50 GMT -5
DD is concerning me more than he did before. He seems to have fallen back to the 19 game stretch from last year, not winning battles, being knocked down, etc. When our centres are doing well, we're tough to beat, but when they're not, yikes. As much as I'd like to move DD, I have to consider what it is he brings to the team ... we saw how much he was respected last year when he scored that shootout goal to win the game ... it came right on the heels of that comment by the mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre ... the team rallied around him and I think that had a lot to do with breaking that slump ... so, what message would it send to the troops if Bergevin were to remove a guy like DD by trade? ... if we're talking freeing up cap space, then I'd be leery of signing any contract that pays between $3-$4 million ... that seems to be the range Bergevin likes targeting for some reason ... and if that is the pattern, then Eller can put himself on that list either late in the second year of his deal, or early following year when he stands to make more bucks (same cap hit, only more $) ... leaving all that aside, too, Bergevin has to look at replacing DD if he is to move him ... if DD does move then that leaves Galchenyuk, Plekanec, Eller and Malhotra ... the centres are intact; however, who's ready in the system to backfill Galchenyuk ... Sekac? Bournival? DLR? ... there's options there, I suppose, but it comes back to how would morale be affected if DD were to move ... Cheers. I wasn't thinking he should be traded, Dis (though there's a lot of that in the ether lately). He'd still be hard to replace, but I also don't think he's a #1 centre. It's a quandary. And a quagmire (to keep using words that being with 'Qu').
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Post by CentreHice on Nov 4, 2014 16:06:49 GMT -5
In the last 4 games, against arguably weaker opponients, DD has 1 assist. Credited with 3 shots on net and 1 hit.
In the ECF vs. the Rangers last year.
Game 1. 1 shot, 2 hits. 0 pts. L Game 2. 2 shots. 3 hits. 0 pts. L Game 3. 2 shots. 0 hits. 0 pts. W Game 4. 1 shot. 0 hits. 2 assists. OTL Game 5. 2 shots. 1 hits. 1 goal. W Game 6. 0 shots. 0 hits. 0 pts. L
6 very meaningful games. 8 shots. 6 hits. 1G 2A.
Now….are those #1 C numbers? That is pathetic. He was basically neutralized…and the first line with it. Now, I'm not saying he's solely responsible for losing that series…but your #1 C should be able to do better than that IF you want to be considered a contender.
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Let's see what happens tonight vs. Chicago. If Keith, Seabrook & Co. are on their games, DD will be completely neutralized. It'll be up to Weise to make things happen on that line, because Max will be hovering in the faceoff circles looking for a DD pass that won't come.
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Post by franko on Nov 4, 2014 16:25:46 GMT -5
It's a quandary. And a quagmire (to keep using words that being with 'Qu'). let's leave Jian Ghomeshi out of it, shall we? it ain't that big of a mess!
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Post by UberCranky on Nov 4, 2014 19:30:42 GMT -5
CBC snuff channel....oh wait......wrong forum.....
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Post by Skilly on Nov 4, 2014 23:24:31 GMT -5
Personally I don't buy the "Galchenyuk needs to learn how to play center" argument, because I think he'll be great just about wherever you put him, whenever you decide to do that. I don't see him needing three seasons to learn how to play center in other words. Put him there tomorrow and I think he'd be just fine. Sure, there will be a bit of a learning curve, but not that much, in my opinion. He's already learning defensive responsibilities, and how defensive do you have to be when you're in the other team's zone? Is Tyler Seguin an elite defensive center? John Tavares? Eventually yes, you want him to be elite at both ends, but with his talent level and work ethic I don't think he'll be stymied by playing wing for now. I also think he's such a great talent that there is no reason NOT to leave him on the wing for now. Why move him when he's driving the Plekanec line? Plekanec, in contrast to Galchenyuk, is NOT a good winger. Of course you could dump Desharnais and go with a Gally/Pleky punch down the middle, but why take away the best winger Plekanec has had since Kovalev? Why kill Desharnais' trade value? It's working, they're thriving, and they will continue to thrive. I see no reason to break up these lines when as I said I think Galchenyuk is going to be fine regardless. If both Plekanec and Galchenyuk end up with 30 goals playing on the same line, is that going to be a bad thing? Especially if Pacioretty chips in another 30 from the first line with Desharnais as his center? If you move Galchenyuk to center you open up another hole on Plekanec's wing, so how much further ahead are you really? Besides that though, is he really the "big center" we need? Well, perhaps. But personally I don't think he's all that "big". Sure, he's got some size, but we're just so used to midgets here in Montreal that anybody over 6' is considered huge. I think his max playing weight will be in the 6'1, 210lbs range, and even that might be a little too heavy for him. So he's certainly not "big". Big enough of course, but not "big". Given all that I don't think Bergevin is all that concerned about "making room for Galchenyuk to play center". He doesn't need to in my opinion. If something materializes that allows him to do that, then fine, and I think we can all agree that eventually Desharnais will be forced out, but there is no need to force it right away just to get Galchenyuk playing center. Galchenyuk's play so far this season has me drinking the Kool-Aid. I think he's going to be a star, no matter what, no matter where he plays. You'll have to forgive me for not just highlighting the part I am responding to ... They're thriving??? Our number one Center has 6 points in 13 games. Our offense has scored 5 goals in the last 5 games. Who exactly is thriving? It's time, IMO, to decide exactly what we want our line-up yo look like. The constant changing is not working. Desharnais is not working, but yes, he will get every chance to play with the best players. Plekanec has disappeared since game #3 .... I'm not sure we are getting our money's worth with Subban, I certainly expect more from 9 million dollar Norris winners. He certainly isn't playing like a lettered leader on this team. I don't see anyone thriving. We have struggled since the first game of the season, squeaking out comeback wins and our goalie is certainly not in any Vezina talk ... Something's got to give BC
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