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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 28, 2016 23:02:52 GMT -5
MT doesn't want to fiddle around with a winning lineup? ?? He has repeatedly messed around with Galchenyuk whenever he's had success.. he broke up the egg line... he took galchy off the top line when the line was doing well. Along with patches i also lay blame on pleky and dd... they have both been in the #1 centre position for longer than 2 games this season and done diddly. Saying that Galchy was doing well at center is just blindly looking at numbers, he wasn't strong in his own zone and still has multiple defensive issues. Condon had strong numbers at first but over time the same happened to him - his game got analyzed, and now his weakness for wraparounds and goal-stuffing from beneath the goal-line is being exploited by every team we face. Well dd is not strong defensively but that was never an issue for MT having him as #1 centre. Also how is galchy supposed to get better without the opportunity to be centre... by playing beside other centres and getting it through osmosis... I just don't understand how he is not being given every single opportunity to be centre when it is the biggest deficiency this team has had for 20 years.
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Post by PTH on Jan 28, 2016 23:24:09 GMT -5
Saying that Galchy was doing well at center is just blindly looking at numbers, he wasn't strong in his own zone and still has multiple defensive issues. Condon had strong numbers at first but over time the same happened to him - his game got analyzed, and now his weakness for wraparounds and goal-stuffing from beneath the goal-line is being exploited by every team we face. Well dd is not strong defensively but that was never an issue for MT having him as #1 centre. Also how is galchy supposed to get better without the opportunity to be centre... by playing beside other centres and getting it through osmosis... I just don't understand how he is not being given every single opportunity to be centre when it is the biggest deficiency this team has had for 20 years. DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them.
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Post by PTH on Jan 28, 2016 23:25:53 GMT -5
I'd add - if Tinordi couldn't beat cheap UFA signings like Gilbert or Barberio for a job, fact is he just didn't belong on the team, and probably not in the NHL.
We need to stop blaming the coach when a player doesn't become who we wish he'd become. I'm just the coach and GM would much rather have the guy develop, too.
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Post by seventeen on Jan 29, 2016 2:45:10 GMT -5
Well dd is not strong defensively but that was never an issue for MT having him as #1 centre. Also how is galchy supposed to get better without the opportunity to be centre... by playing beside other centres and getting it through osmosis... I just don't understand how he is not being given every single opportunity to be centre when it is the biggest deficiency this team has had for 20 years. DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them. PTH, have you watched DD in his zone? He's lost. He has little if any idea of where he should be. When he's out there in the defensive zone, we're playing shorthanded. Not only does he lose battle after battle, his teammates have no idea where he's going to be or which player he's going to take, so they try and compensate by cheating, which ends up with them running around. He's our worst defensive center. He was doing ok on the 3rd line to start the year, but as soon as he went from 13 minutes a game to 17 minutes a game, our 9-0 streak ended. Coincidence? Four points in 20 odd games tell me he's accomplishing nothing offensively either. If DD is scoring 60 points a year, you can tolerate his defensive deficiencies, but when he's scoring 40 (or 20 which is what the record has been the last 20 odd games) what's the point of playing him? I really wish we had some good Quebec players on the team, but I can't put DD in that classification. He's a gamer who's done really well for himself, but if he's playing on our team in the future, we have no future.
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Post by Skilly on Jan 29, 2016 11:07:11 GMT -5
I'd add - if Tinordi couldn't beat cheap UFA signings like Gilbert or Barberio for a job, fact is he just didn't belong on the team, and probably not in the NHL. We need to stop blaming the coach when a player doesn't become who we wish he'd become. I'm just the coach and GM would much rather have the guy develop, too. And Montreal made this determination based on less than 40 minutes of ice time ... imagine if they made the same determination on such little ice-time with Desharnais. But sadly they went the opposite route ... "Hey, we are doing great, we should bump DD up to the first or second line now, cause if we win with him leading the way ... "
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Post by Skilly on Jan 29, 2016 11:07:59 GMT -5
Well dd is not strong defensively but that was never an issue for MT having him as #1 centre. Also how is galchy supposed to get better without the opportunity to be centre... by playing beside other centres and getting it through osmosis... I just don't understand how he is not being given every single opportunity to be centre when it is the biggest deficiency this team has had for 20 years. DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them. Desharnais is so bad defensively, they try to avoid giving him a defensive zone start at all costs .... why do they do that??
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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 29, 2016 11:13:48 GMT -5
DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them. Desharnais is so bad defensively, they try to avoid giving him a defensive zone start at all costs .... why do they do that?? That is true... AntiChambre's whipping boy Eller has waaay more defensive starts at centre than their chosen one DD but they rip on eller all the time.
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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 29, 2016 11:20:40 GMT -5
Well dd is not strong defensively but that was never an issue for MT having him as #1 centre. Also how is galchy supposed to get better without the opportunity to be centre... by playing beside other centres and getting it through osmosis... I just don't understand how he is not being given every single opportunity to be centre when it is the biggest deficiency this team has had for 20 years. DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them. Paul, this year, imo, DD was better as a third line winger than a 1st or 2nd line centre... it was better for him and better for the team. He produced valuable goals and assist for the team at the 3rd line winger position that he has not been able to produce at centre this year. Just because MT insists on putting him in at centre doesn't mean it's right or fair to DD. MT has put DD into a position to fail... DD is trying to do what is asked of him but he is unable to do it, he tries but can't.. he doesn't have the size or the strength.
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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 29, 2016 15:59:09 GMT -5
And HOPEFULLY, this guy returns to 100%....brings a tear to your eye to watch how good he is....and has had to be.....if only we had a brain trust to match.... This is also a great video I had never seen before.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Feb 1, 2016 2:29:48 GMT -5
We are all Ubercranky I am referring to Habs fans and not internet cab drivers. At this point we shed Plekanec, Markov and Eller for picks
We bring up MacMillan and Scott so the fans can watch the team punch out the leafs and Bruins when we play them (maybe the coach and GM too) and position ourselves for Mathews. If we can get Drouin and Anthony Mantha we add scoring long term. We can replace Timmins with an Ouiji board, Therrien with a mister Potato Head (more facial expressions and hockey knowledge) and Bergeron with Inspector Clouseau (more hockey knowledge to explain pas d'excuses to French press)! Molsons will learn what the leafs learned as the were dethroned from the wealthiest franchise by futility, you can't sell bricks and condos to pissed off fans. Will not be renewing my CENTER ICE subscription next year.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Feb 3, 2016 13:16:44 GMT -5
I have changed my position on the situation. We don't need Stamkos, Drouin or even Anthony Mantha. All this team is missing to make the playoffs is a healthy Lessio. We will turn things around on his back. What planet are MT and MB playing on?
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Post by CentreHice on Feb 5, 2016 9:33:53 GMT -5
Heard Bob McKenzie this morning rephrase the tank as "taking a knee". That's pretty close to an acronym....so I added Necessary to it. From all the great ideas we've proposed, I think that's an appropriate way to spin it. T.A.N.K. - Taking A Necessary Knee We're a lot closer to a GENERATIONAL player along the lines of Connor McDavid than we are to competing for a Cup at the moment. We're not going to get one of those types ANY other way. I'm all for making the best of a horrible situation. That's why the system is in place.
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Post by blny on Feb 5, 2016 9:37:53 GMT -5
It's so difficult to add goals through trade that maybe the message privately is to throw the season. That's hard for players to do. It would certainly go a long way to explaining Plekanec, who's played the worst hockey of his career this year.
The best thing you can do when you underachieve is to own it. There's no point finishing just out of the playoffs. Drop like a stone. Get the best draft position you can, helped further by a year that is deep with talent. Sell off a few pieces if you can for more picks and fill the cupboard even more.
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Post by franko on Feb 5, 2016 9:38:31 GMT -5
can Matthews speak French? is he from La Belle Province? would he be accepted here -- how many non-Francophone saviours are acceptable?
just wondering . . . honestly wondering.
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Post by CentreHice on Feb 5, 2016 9:45:47 GMT -5
can Matthews speak French? is he from La Belle Province? would he be accepted here -- how many non-Francophone saviours are acceptable? just wondering . . . honestly wondering. Doesn't involve the players.
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Post by franko on Feb 5, 2016 10:40:34 GMT -5
can Matthews speak French? is he from La Belle Province? would he be accepted here -- how many non-Francophone saviours are acceptable? just wondering . . . honestly wondering. Doesn't involve the players. maybe, maybe not . . . depends on the player, no? weren't there rumblings about Saku? but I wasn't referring to the language but the nationality -- are players from the home province given more weight (Esposito). but I know what you're saying.
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Post by Skilly on Feb 5, 2016 12:01:10 GMT -5
can Matthews speak French? is he from La Belle Province? would he be accepted here -- how many non-Francophone saviours are acceptable? just wondering . . . honestly wondering. My fear is he pulls a Lindros and says he doesn't want to play in Quebec. He is from a Spanish family, born and raised in Arizona. If the Coyotes slide to the top 3 picks ... it could play on the lad's mind. Even so, Bergevin better have the dry cleaners already steaming #34 ... In Skilly dreamworld, we fall to 30th, select Matthews, pick up a big strong winger July 1, and go into next year with Galchenyuk-Pacioretty on the top line and Matthews-Ladd?? (whoever we get) on the second line.
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Post by madhabber on Feb 5, 2016 12:16:06 GMT -5
can Matthews speak French? is he from La Belle Province? would he be accepted here -- how many non-Francophone saviours are acceptable? just wondering . . . honestly wondering. My fear is he pulls a Lindros and says he doesn't want to play in Quebec. He is from a Spanish family, born and raised in Arizona. If the Coyotes slide to the top 3 picks ... it could play on the lad's mind. Even so, Bergevin better have the dry cleaners already steaming #34 ... In Skilly dreamworld, we fall to 30th, select Matthews, pick up a big strong winger July 1, and go into next year with Galchenyuk-Pacioretty on the top line and Matthews-Ladd?? (whoever we get) on the second line. If Matthews pulls a Lindros, than fine. MB can pull a Lacroix and sell to the highest bidder. Get us a Forsberg and other pieces and draft picks. Patches Matthews Gally is fine too. That leaves Chuckie on the second line with absolutely no one. Whatever we can get for Pleks in a trade I guess. Poor Chuckie still doesn't get linemates.
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Post by Marvin on Feb 7, 2016 12:58:31 GMT -5
The Habs CANNOT blow this! There is TOO much at stake. They are SO close to getting a good draft pick, they CANNOT blow this by winning games – especially to teams lower in the standings! #Lotterypick
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Post by seventeen on Feb 7, 2016 13:53:14 GMT -5
We can either finish low and get a sniper, or we can make a race for the playoffs and remain mediocre for another 10 years. When the going gets tough, we should go for a coffee.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Feb 9, 2016 8:34:07 GMT -5
DD isn't bad defensively - he isn't very good, but he backchecks hard and battles in the corners. He doesn't win enough battles, but he's there. Galchy has missed many assignments and causes far too many turnovers at inopportune moments. As to giving Galch more chances at center - I think part of the problem is that we have too few wingers and too many centers, so playing him on wing gives us a few more options for our top 2 lines. Otherwise, he winds up being essentially a #3 center with scrub wingers (which has happened often enough this year). While people blame MT, I blame Galchy for not being the center we wish he would be. A coach will always play the safe option, but when a kid comes along and does a clearly better job than a vet, the coach has no choice, the safer option becomes the kid. Galchy hasn't done that by any means. I don't want kids to have jobs just handed to them. Desharnais is so bad defensively, they try to avoid giving him a defensive zone start at all costs .... why do they do that?? TSN690 would agree with you, Skilly ... I'm going to watch for it but I remember hearing that Therrien avoids having Desharnais taking defensive zone faceoffs ... Cheers.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Feb 9, 2016 8:46:47 GMT -5
We can either finish low and get a sniper, or we can make a race for the playoffs and remain mediocre for another 10 years. When the going gets tough, we should go for a coffee. Honestly, Mur, what good would it do the organization if they draft a proven impact scorer when they develop him as a grinding forward ... a few have already questioned the development of Jared Tinordi ... now I'm hearing (TSN690) that Michel Therrien thinks Nathan Beaulieu resembles Mark Barberio ... so, is Beau now behind Barberio on the roster ... so, what does Noah Juulsen have to look forward to ... are they going to turn him into a grinding defenseman ... Connor McKenna also noted how Therrien treats his younger players as opposed to his veterans ... if a youngster makes a mistake he'll be stapled to the bench or put in the press box, while veterans pull off the same mistakes and Therrien lets it all go ... sounds like a HabsRus broken record ... Cheers.
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Post by BadCompany on Feb 9, 2016 9:20:23 GMT -5
We can either finish low and get a sniper, or we can make a race for the playoffs and remain mediocre for another 10 years. When the going gets tough, we should go for a coffee. Honestly, Mur, what good would it do the organization if they draft a proven impact scorer when they develop him as a grinding forward ... a few have already questioned the development of Jared Tinordi ... now I'm hearing (TSN690) that Michel Therrien thinks Nathan Beaulieu resembles Mark Barberio ... so, is Beau now behind Barberio on the roster ... so, what does Noah Juulsen have to look forward to ... are they going to turn him into a grinding defenseman ... Connor McKenna also noted how Therrien treats his younger players as opposed to his veterans ... if a youngster makes a mistake he'll be stapled to the bench or put in the press box, while veterans pull off the same mistakes and Therrien lets it all go ... sounds like a HabsRus broken record ... Cheers. I kind of think Beaulieu looks like Barberio too, to be honest with you. Which isn't to say that I think Barberio is ahead of Beaulieu on the depth chart, or that Beaulieu can't and won't be a much better player. Only that they play a similar style. I've said this before, but I really don't see Beaulieu as a Markov clone. He doesn't have that offensive vision, in my opinion. Which isn't a slight - few players ever had Markov's offensive vision. They guy was so good in that regards. While I would love to be wrong, I don't see Beaulieu as a 50-60 point defenseman. Instead, I see as a 30 point guy, in the Jeff Petry, or Ron Hainsey mold. A smooth, puck moving defenseman, solid in his own zone, capable of playing 20+ minutes in all situations... but not the guy you are going to depend on to lead your team offensively. Again, nothing wrong with this, he's a solid, #3, maybe #2 defenseman. You need those guys too. As for being mediocre for the next 10 years, I don't believe that. I still think this team has Cup potential... <waits for howls of laughter to subside>... It has an elite goalie, an elite defenseman, a proven and consistent 30 goal scorer, and a couple more guys quite capable of scoring 25 or more. Perhaps much more. It has solid defensive depth, and 3rd and 4th lines that are perfectly suited for the new NHL. Now the next two weeks will determine which path Bergevin takes on deadline day, and of course where Price really is in his healing. Only they really know. If he's not coming back, or if the team loses the next six in a row or something, then I would be in favor of trading a couple of pieces, like Plekanec, or perhaps even the aforementioned Beaulieu. Let nature take its course and hope for Matthews. But I don't think we are going to be in the race for a lottery pick. I see us more in the 8-12 range, in which case I would try to use that pick for a top six forward that can step in next year, and for the next few years. I've mentioned Nugent-Hopkins before, but it can be the player of your choice. Somebody that can come in and provide another 50-70 points sort of thing. But if Price is coming back, and the team is still within say 6 points of a playoff spot, then I say go for it. For one thing if they do make the playoffs then I would not want to be the coach of whoever we are up against. No team wants to face Price in the playoffs. We may not win, but I don't think anybody will be taking us lightly. But what about the "worst case scenario?" That is either Price doesn't come back, or he does come back, but too late and we finish 2-3 points out? No playoffs, mediocre draft pick? That would be horrible, right? Well, not necessarily. If we tank, or end up in that 8th draft spot, forget about free agents and players waiving their no-trade clauses to come here. We would be as attractive as Ottawa, which is to say not overly so. But if we just the miss playoffs Bergevin can always spin it this way; "Hey Stephen... we missed the playoffs by 2 points, with Mike Condon and Ben Scrivens as our goalies... next year we're going to have Price back, and you know how good Price is. You've played with him, against him, and you've seen him be clutch in big games. We missed the playoffs by 2 points, and if you join us we'll be adding two elite players for next year. How far do you think we will go?" It's a much easier selling job. Either for a free agent, or a player you're trying to acquire via a trade (and a lot of the players we would want will have NTCs). This team with Condon and Scrivens as goalies, not very good... but with Price and perhaps the addition of Stamkos? Very good. I'm not saying we should sell the farm for a rental and a run for the playoffs... but I wouldn't dismiss the good that can come from making such a run. Let's not pull a Gainey and throw the baby out with the bath water, which is what Gainey did after our last epic collapse. And that led to a slow ride to ruin, which I don't want to repeat. I don't think we have to.
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Post by blny on Feb 9, 2016 9:43:47 GMT -5
I'd agree on Beau. Call him a 'poor man's Bouwmeester'. Smooth skating puck mover. Can skate the puck out of trouble, etc.
I understand the frustration about drafting a skilled player and leaving him to Mthead, but part of the point of the retool is to retool behind the bench as well. Clean house. Clean house in the AHL too.
Bring in a coach who's won a Cup in the NHL as a head coach. Work to fill out his staff, and then use them in the interview process to bring in a staff for the AHL that will develop kids that are sent there.
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Post by Skilly on Feb 9, 2016 12:35:10 GMT -5
Since expansion, only one head coach has won the Stanley Cup with more than one franchise. Now, he did it twice, and his name was Bowman.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Feb 9, 2016 12:54:58 GMT -5
I still think this team has Cup potential. I'm with you, BC. Sort of. The depth of the losing has been quite troubling, and should be a real eye-opener for Bergevin, but there are enough good pieces at key positions for us to competitive in the East. I also agree that a full on tankapalooza is probably ill advised just so we can have a 20% chance at the #1 pick. That said, I don't know how aggressive Bergevin should be, even if there is a chance that Price comes back this year. I'd still rather see him be a seller at the deadline, and maybe get out from under the Plekanec or Emelin contracts, if nothing else to clear cap space for a full run at Stamkos. He could still re-sign in Tampa, but if he doesn't then I want the Habs front and center in the push to sign him. Problem is we need $10 million in cap space which we don't have, thanks to some bad contracts. Even if we can't sign Stamkos, I'd still like to see Berg create more flexibility for next year. Bad years happen, even to good teams. But I do think the Habs and Therrien have been exposed, and I'm quite disappointed in the fragile nature of the team psyche and lack of production from some key players (see Galchenyuk, Alex). I'm certainly not ready to hit the reset button, but Berg can't just ignore what has happened this year either. Outside a panic move, my biggest worry is we just bump along for the rest of the year, with our without Price, maybe make the playoffs and bow out early.... and then nothing happens. Berg just rolls out the same team next year, with the same coach, and pretends like it was just a fluky thing, no problems here, and we just need a healthy Carey Price. Despite what he says in public, I think (hope) Berg is too smart to believe that.
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Post by blny on Feb 9, 2016 12:57:32 GMT -5
I think Price, Subban, Patches, Gallagher and Galchenyuk have cup potential. It's about removing the pieces that won't get them over the hump and/or are making too much.
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Post by seventeen on Feb 9, 2016 15:02:55 GMT -5
My 10 year comment was an exaggeration, of course. I too think the team with a healthy Price can be a contender. Emphasis on 'can' as they're still a few pieces short. Bob McKenzie ranked Pierre-Luc Dubois at #8 on his mid season rankings. If we finish near # 5 we should have a good shot at him. Natural scorer, 6'3" 202 lbs. Centre. Signing Stamkos would be HUGE. Move Pleks, Desharnais and Gilbert at the deadline and you free up Cap space and force MT to play kids until end of season. Even move Emelin if possible. Defense would not lose anything playing Beau, Barberio and Pateryn. It would cause MT to lose more hair, but that's his problem. Start next season with that lineup and Boucher and it looks really good. I rest my case.
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Post by The Habitual Fan on Feb 9, 2016 16:30:33 GMT -5
I think that BC is dead on with his assessment and this team is not far off being a contender, they are also only 3 points out of the playoffs with 30 games left so the deciding factor is how confident MB can be that the team can stay close and will Price be back with 20 games left. If he feels that is the case then you don't tank. I would give up the 2016 1st round pick and parts for Drouin because we have seen that pick may never work out (LeBlanc, Komoserek)where Drouin is a 20 year old that would be ready to play next season.
MT is here for the rest of the year but I don't know who may be better to replace him. There has to be more then we know why Boucher has not been given another coaching opportunity and he has not done any more than MT at the NHL level. Many guys here praised Cooper in Tampa for being the modern type coach the Habs need but he has alienated its top star and top prospect. Do you recycle a Carbonneau, Muller who haven't gotten another coaching job even as an assistant or hope Julien gets fired? Do you bring in a junior coach with no NHL experience and give him a team that you expect to win the cup in a year? Only Marc Crawford or trying to get AV out of the Rangers would be a possible fit. Its not a French or English thing but the Habs need a seasoned NHL coach to deal with the pressure and press and there are none of those around so it may be MT again next year by default.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Feb 9, 2016 16:48:15 GMT -5
My 10 year comment was an exaggeration, of course. I too think the team with a healthy Price can be a contender. Emphasis on 'can' as they're still a few pieces short. Bob McKenzie ranked Pierre-Luc Dubois at #8 on his mid season rankings. If we finish near # 5 we should have a good shot at him. Natural scorer, 6'3" 202 lbs. Centre. Signing Stamkos would be HUGE. Move Pleks, Desharnais and Gilbert at the deadline and you free up Cap space and force MT to play kids until end of season. Even move Emelin if possible. Defense would not lose anything playing Beau, Barberio and Pateryn. It would cause MT to lose more hair, but that's his problem. Start next season with that lineup and Boucher and it looks really good. I rest my case. I second that in a big way. No panic moves, be smart at the deadline about clearing contracts and cap space, don't be afraid of a lost season if it comes with a top 5 pick, be AGGRESSIVE in the pursuit of Stamkos, and hire the obvious choice in Guy Boucher to bring a new perspective to the team.
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