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Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 13, 2002 20:22:04 GMT -5
There has been lots of interesting talk here about what style should the HABS play and a lot of talk about how disgruntled most fans are at Therrien.
Quite simply there is IMO a mismatch between our GM and our coach that creates a situation where Therrien ends up looking disorganized and tentative with his lineup while Savard always seem to take interesting decision when he meddles into his coach's business.
A good coach/GM match finds it's roots into a common vision of where the team is heading. Savard is a finesse kinda guy, built in the Sens organization, Andre drafts and trades for the purest hockey skills: skating, puck handling, shooting, playmaking. Michel Therrien on the other hand has always been a goonish/grinders coach, which is kind of expected from a guy coming out of a Morissette's organization in the QMJHL.
You hear Therrien preaching his defense-first trap-playing-two-way players oriented kinda game while trap players like Brunet, Rucinsky, Poulin and Darby disappear from the system and you see guys like Audette, Berezin, Perreault, Ribeiro, Zednik and Bulis joining Petrov. These guys have the skill to handle some defensive duties but frankly, in less then a year, Savard's imprint is quite evident and our lineup has the "run and gun" style written all over them.
Though I honestly don't think Therrien is bad coach, I fully expect our GM, once he feels comfy with HIS version of the HABS, will seek for the right coach to get the max out of his team and I fully expect that guy to be, as many have suggested, Jacques Martin.
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Post by Ryan on Feb 13, 2002 21:56:54 GMT -5
I think the whole key to what you just said is when Savard is comfortable with the team.
Savard's not a dumb man, and he doesn't want a hand-picked coach to fail and smudge his image. In the NHL today, and more specifically in Montreal you're not given much time to prove you're a winner as a coach. Savard will build the team he feels can win playing the style he envisions, then he'll grab his man. Like you said Doc, that could be Martin.
Therrien will stick around for the transition and eventually be the fall guy. Don't look for this to happen anytime soon, maybe the offseason at the earliest.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 13, 2002 22:36:27 GMT -5
Hey Ryan, Knowing you for quite some time, I always feel that you'd be one of the first guy to get quickly disgruntled with the type of team Savard is building (obviously missing the "physical element" ). How about puting together a totally "psycho" defense to offset our softish offense... Something like a Kasparytis, Marchment, Matvichuck, Gauthier, Komisarek, Hainsey.... Cross our BlueLine and be ready to suffer!  |
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Post by Ryan on Feb 14, 2002 19:29:51 GMT -5
Now don't get my wrong Doc, I still love good old fashioned tough hockey, but the pure skill and speed is what makes hockey tick.
If the Habs continue to build this fire wagon style hockey team that can run and gun with any team while being backed up by one of the best goaltenders in the league I'll be happy. But in order for a team like that to be successfull you better have a bruising 4th line and at least two monsters on D that even wake up on Christmas day pissed off. I think Komi will be one for sure, and I can't wait for him to develop. The forward enforcer is another issue though, we simply don't have one. We need a Laraque, Worrell, or Parker type to flash his badge whenever need be.
A fast, skilled, high scoring team with a rock of a goalie, mean as hell D, and fearless enforcer...now this would be a team. Colorado is pretty close to that and they don't seem to do too badly.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 14, 2002 19:37:15 GMT -5
Couldn't agree with you more. Lay the foundation then sharpen the saw.
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Post by Ryan on Feb 14, 2002 22:37:28 GMT -5
Alright then we agree.
I'll call AS to schedule our meeting.
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Post by Cranky on Feb 15, 2002 9:18:57 GMT -5
Doc,
You said that Savard is building a finesse type of team. True enough but I don't think he is oblivious to what he has to do to build a well balanced team. He simply built a "skill" team because that is the type of players that are relativly easy to find and sign.
Therrien style is based on a "simple" system and hard work. The first post I every wrote in a hockey forum was that Therrien was building a team and he used "internal competition" to set higher standards for his players. That was in HF. Therrien may not have the smarts to take the Hab's into a perenial cup winner, but, neither did Demers. ANd look what happen with him.
I think the Savard/Therrien pairing is doing okay. Unless Scotty wants to come over! ;D
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Post by MPLABBE on Feb 15, 2002 16:44:38 GMT -5
Now don't get my wrong Doc, I still love good old fashioned tough hockey, but the pure skill and speed is what makes hockey tick. If the Habs continue to build this fire wagon style hockey team that can run and gun with any team while being backed up by one of the best goaltenders in the league I'll be happy. But in order for a team like that to be successfull you better have a bruising 4th line and at least two monsters on D that even wake up on Christmas day pissed off. I think Komi will be one for sure, and I can't wait for him to develop. The forward enforcer is another issue though, we simply don't have one. We need a Laraque, Worrell, or Parker type to flash his badge whenever need be. A fast, skilled, high scoring team with a rock of a goalie, mean as hell D, and fearless enforcer...now this would be a team. Colorado is pretty close to that and they don't seem to do too badly. Totally agree.Parker hasn't been playing in Colorado.Ace should try to get a guy like him or Worrell.I hate Odjick,has he even dropped the gloves once since coming back up form Quebec? he thinks he is a scorer and forgets his role.You need a young guys to fight,because the veteran enforcers get tired of it and want to score goals. How about a Worrell-Kilger-Asham 4th line? ;D |
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