Winning and Building
Mar 29, 2002 12:16:47 GMT -5
Post by Jacques_in_FL on Mar 29, 2002 12:16:47 GMT -5
Good win last night, temporarily takes playoff dream and MT off life-support. From the preseason, I have accepted the logic of Savard's dual mandate in 2001-02: make the playoffs and build a better future.
1. As for winning, results fair have been delivered by amazing Theo, improved home-ice play, better than expected special teams. Many veterans have made decent contributions. The question, though, is not whether vets have accorded themselves acceptably or not. Like in economics, the question is really whether someone else may have produced more given the same chance (i.e. opportunity cost). Here I have real doubts.
2. As for building, I'm a little disappointed with the staff's development of young talent -- Asham, Ribeiro, Bulis, Markov, Hossa. The explanations may be clear enough: puck possession players need not to apply in MT's brilliant system, cohesion depends on keeping veterans like Odjick, Van Allen, Quintal, Berezin etc happy, coaching afraid or whatever.
3. For remainder of year, I can accept lines from last night. But if building matters and we had shown confidence in above mentioned young players, what would be so bad with lines like:
Zed Gilmour Pretrov
Bulis Perreault Hossa
Landry Juneau Dackell
Lindsay Kilger Asham
4. Will April be a cruel month for the Habs? For me, I say we sneak in by 1 single point. And perhaps more importantly, can the organisation make the playoffs and still be clear-headed enough to concentrate on bringing younger, more talented players to the forefront next season, in the hands of a more capable coach? I say we cannot afford go on a "8th place reunion tour" with MT, Odjick, Van Allen, Berezin, etc. Soon the time will come for Savard to emphasize again the developing and building aspects of his mandate.
1. As for winning, results fair have been delivered by amazing Theo, improved home-ice play, better than expected special teams. Many veterans have made decent contributions. The question, though, is not whether vets have accorded themselves acceptably or not. Like in economics, the question is really whether someone else may have produced more given the same chance (i.e. opportunity cost). Here I have real doubts.
2. As for building, I'm a little disappointed with the staff's development of young talent -- Asham, Ribeiro, Bulis, Markov, Hossa. The explanations may be clear enough: puck possession players need not to apply in MT's brilliant system, cohesion depends on keeping veterans like Odjick, Van Allen, Quintal, Berezin etc happy, coaching afraid or whatever.
3. For remainder of year, I can accept lines from last night. But if building matters and we had shown confidence in above mentioned young players, what would be so bad with lines like:
Zed Gilmour Pretrov
Bulis Perreault Hossa
Landry Juneau Dackell
Lindsay Kilger Asham
4. Will April be a cruel month for the Habs? For me, I say we sneak in by 1 single point. And perhaps more importantly, can the organisation make the playoffs and still be clear-headed enough to concentrate on bringing younger, more talented players to the forefront next season, in the hands of a more capable coach? I say we cannot afford go on a "8th place reunion tour" with MT, Odjick, Van Allen, Berezin, etc. Soon the time will come for Savard to emphasize again the developing and building aspects of his mandate.