The result left the Canadiens winless in their two games against Northeast Division rivals.
They’ll get a chance to improve to .500 on the weekend, when the Canadiens play back-to-back afternoon games against the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa.
Michel Therrien will give his players Thursday off. They’ll be back to the practice rink in Brossard Friday morning, by which time the kindly old coach and his staff will have studied video of the Wednesday loss (or as much of it as they can bear to watch) and devised some tweaks to prepare the team for the Sabres.
I’m not privy to Therrien’s brainstorming, but here are a few suggestions:
• Play Carey Price in both weekend games. Peter Budaj was not responsible for the loss in Ottawa, and the Canadiens would not have won 1-0 with Price in nets. But the number-one goaltender makes the kind of saves that lift a team when the game hangs in the balance. Beaten early by Tomas Plekanec on the first of six Canadiens power-plays, Craig Anderson was a wall thereafter.
Anderson is the league’s top rated goalie, with a GAA of 0.99 and a save percentage of .967. Brandon Prust will never be mistaken for Mike Bossy, but Anderson’s two saves on Prust were the best the Canadiens have seen in an opposing goaltender this season.
• Give Ryan White a couple days in the pressbox. White leads the NHL with 42 minutes in penalties. Prust is second with 41, but that total includes his three majors for fighting. White has two majors; and while I think fighting is stupid and should be a game misconduct, it has its role in the current NHL.
What Therrien correctly characterized as “inexcusable” was White’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after wily Chris Phillips had held his stick and suckered White into a roughing call.
Yes, the refs blew that … as they did the cream-puff roughing call on Colby Armstrong. But where does White – a fourth-round draft choice with fewer than 100 NHL games on his CV – get off chirping at the officials?
Brain-dead … and he should sit for Mike Blunden.
• Play P.K. Subban on Saturday. The defence corps, superb during the Canadiens’ four-game winning streak, was frequently outmuscled in front of the net and overwhelmed by the swarming Senators. Playing his third game in four nights, Andrei Markov was not the dominating presence we saw during the winning streak. He and Alexei Emelin were on for the two power-play goals scored during White’s penalties.
Francis Bouillon was a minus-2. Josh Gorges was the only Dman not on for any Ottawa goals.
Coming off a pretty thorough butt-kicking, the Canadiens need a spark. P.K. will provide one.
• Too bad Subban can’t play left wing. Max Pacioretty is sorely missed, and the Lars Eller experiment doesn’t seem to be working. Therrien dropped Eller to the fourth line and elevated Travis Moen to play with David Desharnais and Erik Cole.
Moen is an honest, hard-working hockey player. But as last season amply demonstrated, he’s not a Top Six forward.
Tomas Plekanec was the best of the Canadiens in Ottawa, and his line will remain intact. Prust will stay with Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, at least to start Saturday’s game. The fourth line will be Moen, Armstrong and probably Blunden, who’s big and can skate.
I don’t know what to do with the erstwhile number one line.
Pacioretty is out for another three weeks. Several members of the Commentariat think DD would be in the pressbox if his name were Dennis Drummond.
I don’t buy into that. Nor do I think Eller – at least at this stage of his career – is a better playmaker for Cole and whatever warm body they can find to play LW.
Eller has size. He can skate. There are flashes of scoring ability.
But he’s not physical – which hurts him in his coach’s estimation. Eller lacks vision. He does not have the hockey IQ of a Plekanec, Galchenyuk or, indeed, Desharnais.
Maybe Prust should play with DD and Cole. Eller could be tried on a wing with Galchenyuk and Gallagher … but then you sacrifice Prust’s role as their protector.
Anyway, the season is young. And P.K. is waiting in the wings.
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I agree Cole is off to a slow start, he’ll get better. Others sparks of Cole from last year..
Gionta is fine but he’s not being utilized as much as I think he can.
DD is useless and shouldn’t play. He has no physical presence. Its like being a man short when he is on. Eller needs to play. Eller has been no worse than others.
Budaj is a good goalie but he was thrown in front of a good team with good scoring odds. Therrien ruined their streak. Players can be affected confidence wise when they are not used to the goalie behind them. He should have saved Budaj for later. The guy hasn’t been in a game for nearly a year. End of story. Price would have resulted in a more confident team on the ice.
As for Subban. We need him now. We don’t need Kaberle. He sucks. Subban can easy get a fill in on the plays. Nobody said he had to play his regular time.
Anyhow.. That’s to follow my last post.
while i agree that fighting still has a purpose , i do feel that it should be a reaction situation rather than a staged or gladiator type of event. Neil went after Prust for no reason other than trying to shake things up for his team that was down 1-0 . He assaulted Prust who didn’t even get to take his gloves off. Prust should not have engaged him and it could’ve been a huge PP for the Habs. Prust has to learn to pick his fights and not let players like Neil , Thornton etc decide for him.
To say that playing PK without practicing with the team is pure bs. They should have had them in lineup last night. The last time I checked hockey is hockey, so the “new system” sounds funny to me. Sure I get every coach is different and runs their teams different ways but give me a break I’m sure he would have figured out the basics out there last night . I will close this comment off with bringing up a certain player Glen Metropolit who was put on waivers in the morning from Philly, picked up by Montreal in the afternoon played that night , without any practice or learning the teams so called “system”. Let the kid play ffs!! Oh and I heard the fee for MT’s system is quite a steep one, you have to give up your left nut, followed by a sing along song of kumbaya .
What an absolute mess of a post.
This is probably not even worth it, but here goes…
Metropolit’s case is completely different:
a) He had been playing regularly, he hadn’t had 9 months off hockey.
2) He came into an established system with players who were on board with what was expected of them, not with a new coach trying to instill a new system into previously demoralized players.
iii) If you honestly think that ‘hockey is hockey’ and coaches don’t have strategies that they need to impart to players in order for the team to function as a body, then this discussion (and future ones) is over.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Metropolit also played on the 4th line for 7 minutes a night where Subban plays 20 to 25 minutes a night on defense. Slight difference.
This is all brought to us from the old Halak vs Price debate and the boy crush that Price ‘s fan club used “a la N.R.A. style” to run Halak out of town and praise Bob Gainey for getting us equal value with an up and coming star and sure bet by the name of Lars”blind boy” Eller. Now St Louis has a rotation of 2 great goalies whom share the load for a power house team…both who make less combined than Carey Price! Nice Job……….
Facing 19 shots a night even I could play goalie for St. Louis.
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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”
“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien
Thoughts about Larry:
There is more to being effective than putting points up.
Hard work, winning battles, and playing good positional hockey, and backchecking are all elements which make up an effective player.
Eller hasn’t carved a niche for himself, and it’s not due to his wingers.
You should be able to sum up players in a couple of words that accurately describes their assets that they bring to each game.
Ryan White: feisty, energetic, reckless.
DD: Relentles, effective playmaker, opportunistic.
Cole: Strong, sniper, veteran leader.
Max: Tough, sniper, energetic, checker.
And so-on. Perhaps you don’t necessarily agree with those assessments (I don’t know if I do completely either) but my point is that I can’t think of what Eller offers that he shows consistently.
Sometimes he is energetic, sometimes he throws his body around, sometimes he gets into good positions… but he rarely does anything consistently, and that’s not because of his linemates.
He has been effective on the PK, which is why he will probably fit in on the 3rd line just fine. Problem there is that he has to create an identity for himself so that he can be properly paired up with complimentary wingers.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
just for fun matty, last season, I would call eller: calming, smooth and fancy. last year he was doing everything gomez tried to do but waaay better. this year, i dunno, maybe he’s not finding his place in the system yet.
@steeltown dont get me wrong, I like the kid, but it’s obvious he’s having a tough go at it this year. I think he’ll learn from his mistakes (highstick) and I think he’ll catch on and be a big part of this teams depth.
Has anyone suggested dd on wing with eller at center and cole on the other wing?
@Loonie
So Eller hasn’t been given a proper chance by the Organization to showcase himself. And It’s the coaches’ fault (JM and MT).
Maybe it’s his fault. At some point when a guy has hung around for a while and not stepped up consistently to earn PP and top 6 mins, you have to consider the remote possibility that coaches who see him in training every day know something you don’t.
Stating that he’s ‘probably’ going to become MT’s whipping boy without stating ‘why’ implies MT is incompetent. So far MT 2.0 is doing OK. Eller not so much. Benefit of the doubt should go to the guy who is doing well, no?
Anyhow, this is fun. I look forward to another short two word response.
Offensive player playing with a rotating door of 4th line / AHL linemates still scoring 16 goals and being an effective PK guy because the team needed it is pretty impressive to me.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
The only argument so far for Eller is that he once played great for a stretch with Andrei Kostitsyn.
Next, please!
“thoroughbred”
Ya, only decent winger he got to play with, what’s wrong with that argument. What’s your excuse for DD being terrible through 6 just curious?
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
For DD? Easy: He’s hugely overrated and not a top centre.
And now i’m gonna take exception to you thinking this is a zero-sum game, i.e., if I say something uncomplimentary about Eller, I “must” be really high on Desharnais, right? Because frankly that’s lazy and dumb.
So buddy, get it right, since I’ve said it three bloody times today and there’s a big fat sign in the dressing room: There are NO EXCUSES, and neither of those centres is worth taking a piss over at this point.
The “I’ve only had one decent winger to play with” excuse is tired, tired BS. One CAN STILL PLAY WELL, with poor linemates, and even if there’s shite for results, a player can demonstrate his best qualities. DD has more fire in him than 3 Ellers, and Desharnais is not exactly a fiery guy. When Lars Eller plays bigger than Desharnais (which he isn’t right now), he’ll win the spot and hopefully get his progression back on track.
And that, friends, is exactly what Mike Therrien is trying to do.
“thoroughbred”
It’s not an excuse it’s a fact. If Eller and DD swapped linemates over the last 2 years with MTL no center could’ve “won” the spot in Ellers position. That’s my point.
Assuming your high on DD on the other-hand I can see the frustration.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
I don’t think one is better than the other, I hope that’s been made clear.
An 18-year-old kid just showed up and is outplaying both the other guys, on a line with another raw recruit and a pugilist. So there’s seriously something wrong with any ‘facts’ that have to do with linemates. It’s an excuse.
“thoroughbred”
For ex. would Gionta have to win his spot at wing over Gallagher by playing Center better? it makes no sense.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
and what was with eller’s highstick goal? have some patience next time, let the puck at least drop below your head, sure sign he’s gripping his stick a little too tight.
What’s with Eller going 5 – 1 in the faceoff circle.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
thats probably part of the overeagerness that led to the highstick goal. it’s good to have someone win some faceoffs, kyle turris was killing pleks clean on the draws, but that’s a whole new issue.
Dude your just nitpicking with that. Like ya the highstick on the disallowed goal we wouldve never got otherwise cost us the game.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
maybe i am nitpicking, but if it had counted it would have been very timely. as a professional hockey player, he clearly doesnt have the killer instinct. 9 out of 10 highstick reviews are at best questionable, that was… well not questionable.
We need to keep our “first line” a first line. Put Galchenyuk in with DD & Cole, it’s a no brainer. Eller has failed at wing every time it’s been tried where Chucky has been more adept (in juniors). Eller should centre Gallagher and Prust. This way we’ve got two top lines, one chemistry experiment and one 4th line. When Patches is back move a more experienced Gallchenyuk back down and Gallagher will benefit from his confidence.
White (good Winnipeg boy) just needs to take one less penalty a game, then everyone loves him.
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of the women.
Eller would play well on that line but I don’t know about taking Galchenyuk off for that.
3 games with DD-Eller-Cole all you need to put everything in perspective.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Agreed that Gally and Gally have great chemistry, but the problem is they will only get ice-time at home with the last change. Cole and DD can cover up for rookie mistakes a lot more then Prust, and imagine what Gallchenyuk could do with the ice time. He is really the only replacement for Paccioretty.
Who’s going to cover up Cole and DD mistakes?
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
If by ‘no-brainer’ you mean it’s a brainless move, I’m with ya. Watching the games it’s obvious to me that #27 is a centre and needs to stay there. I’d avoid putting him on the wing. And it’s doubly foolish to do that in this case; the guy whose job he’s taking is just going to have to compete harder.
We’ll have 2 top lines when MaxPac comes back to take Prust’s spot on the wing, and then a line of Prust-Eller/Desharnais-Cole as a credible #3.
“thoroughbred”
I think Pac-Gally-Gally is the line of the future but we still need to shelter there minutes a bit. Pac needs 1st line mins.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Not sure that DD or Cole are up for those minutes, though. Nor Eller. If Pacioretty is going to play with our 3rd-best options at centre, then there’s some serious “EXCUSES” swirling around the team.
“thoroughbred”
thats very good thinking
Re-Posting this reply for those who think Eller’s had an opportunity to prove himself as an offensive producer.
Keep in mind he was a fourth line centreman in his first season.
The top 9 when Plekanec moved from 3rd liner to the top six…..
Koivu, Ryder, Plekanec, Kovalev, Higgins, Latendresse, Samsonov, Kostitsyn and Bonk.
The top 9 when Desharnais moved from 3rd liner to top six…….
Plekanec, Cammalleri, Gionta, Kostitsyn, Gomez, Pacioretty, Pouliot, Desharnais and Halpern(who played with Plekanec)
Top 9 forwards last season during Eller’s time on the third line…..
Plekanec, Cammalleri/Bourque, Gionta, Pacioretty, Cole, Desharnais, Eller, Kostitsyn and then a combination of Gomez, Darche, Blunden, Moen and Leblanc.
When Eller had Kostitsyn and Moen and Kostitsyn and Leblanc, he was very successful offensively. When he had Blunden and Darche with him it was a mess offensively.
Eller’s opportunities have been limited to 3rd line and 4th line duty when he’s been at centre. And when he’s had two skilled players paired with him he’s been successful, when he’s been put with AHLers or fourth liners he hasn’t produced offensively.
That’s no accident or coincidence and his opportunity differs greatly from the two centremen ahead of him on the depth chart.
There is a depth chart. Guys play well and move up the chart. That is how it works in sports. It really doesn’t matter who are his linemates, if he plays well, he will move up the depth chart. Granted the organization made a plethora of poor roster decisions under prior management. But, Eller has to produce from where he is in order to move higher. If other guys are ahead of him then Eller needs to outplay those guys.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
So Eller not producing well with Blunden and Darche reflects poorly on him and not the organizational depth that would allow him to continue producing offensively in the event of an injury?
Okay.
Or maybe, just maybe, his numbers when paired with skilled players should be taken into account more so than his lack of production with players who don’t have skill to produce offensively at the NHL level. You know, since he isn’t going to be paired with Blunden and Darche or others like them while in a top line role.
By YOUR standard, Plekanec and Galchenyuk should be this team’s top two centremen then. Because Desharnais hasn’t proven that he can produce offense at the NHL level without good talent on both sides of him. Plekanec has with guys like Halpern and Galchenyuk is proving it with a guy like Prust.
Eller and AKost had some good nights playing together.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Galchenyuk is the #2 in my book on performance to date. That’s the “NO EXCUSES” approach. Eller & DD need to win back their spots, or wait it out and hope the kid gets tired. Neither of those players is what I’d personally want in a #3 centre, from a role perspective either.
Once again, when Plekanec was put in the same position as Eller on the third line, he grabbed the opportunity and took it – however the only other “offensive” centre was Koivu. Eller has to beat DD & Galchenyuk if he wants to break out of the third line. You can’t say “I blame the lack of organizational depth on Eller’s inability to succeed” without at least a passing nod to the fact that Eller IS organizational depth.
Essentially the guy has talent, but he needs to nut up and put himself in harm’s way to make plays. Not be a Bourque, but stop with the cowardly lion act, win a few draws once in a while, and dictate the play. I’m starting to wonder if AK47 wasn’t the reason for the 3rd line’s success last year after all.
“thoroughbred”
Can youshow me the stats for games when Eller played with Kostitsyn and Leblanc?
I am curious to see that.
Also, Kostitsyn talent-wise is good enough to be a top six, so no surprise that Eller´s stats would improve playing with him. I remember the four goal game where AK skated in a U from one end of the offensive zone to the other, made an unreal no-look pass back towards the goal and found Eller on the doorstep. It was amazing
Bring back AK47!
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Geeze the habs are all over the chart, so how can we compare Eller to anyone? I mean we had Gomez at the bottom and Gionta somewhere in the middle of the pack, and Cole somehwere depending on how you compile the stats somewhere in the top 100. So if Eller stays average then we’d get another losing season if we try and apply the depth chart. Problem is we need to be better all around. We need more players up there. Not to crap on the impressive points of Patche DD and of course Gionta. But you can’t be giving the puck away most games and losing 2-3. I mean ok so Gionta and Patches and DD can score in losing games. We need forwards who can score the winning goals. We need point makers, not point takers.
Even Plekanec didnt play well with rotating linemates of poor quality last season..
I’d like to see Desharnais removed from the top line and Eller inserted between Pacioretty (when healthy) and Cole. Or maybe Bourque and Cole until Pacioretty is back.
Before doing so, I’d like to see Therrien smack Eller around in practice and tell him to add a bit more physicality, emotion and jump to his game.
Emotion to his game? Hope he does the same thing with Desharnais, Moen, Markov, Diaz and Kaberle.
Other players who don’t play “emotionally”.
Agreed! Maybe not Markov and Diaz, i don’t expect them to hit and be overly physical, I do from Eller, but Moen as been a bit off, Desharnais was a fluke last year and who cares about Kaberle.
Not every player has to be ‘emotional’. I think that’s part of the whole problem: trying to force Eller to become a player he isn’t.
Eller is a big, skilled player, but it seems that Therrien wants him to play like a powerforward/a grinder.
Eller isn’t a winger, but Therrien will not move him off the wing.
Eller has worked over the past two years on his defensive game as a 3rd line center, but now he isn’t even being given that.
I want to see management help him develop his offense as a center, something that Martin was never going to do, instead of seemingly punishing him for being a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.
Therrien wants the big guys to contribute in Therrien’s style of defense which is beat the living crap outta the other team. Sadly Gionta tried just that and he ended up on his back, so did DD. The crushing force of the habs mighty offense! Gionta and DD.
Poor Eller. He’s an ’82 Bordeaux paired with a bowl of honey nut cheerios when what he needs is a leg of lamb.
You’ve provided a good reason for why Eller looks bad: he is playing with bad players.
Now do you have any empirical evidence to support your view that he would be good if he played with better players?
Galchenyuk is playing with a grinder and a rookie. He still manages to look good.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I think all we have to do is look at what he was like with Andrei Kostitsyn and Travis Moen/Louis Leblanc.
Fair enough. They did click at one point.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Eller is currently in the top 6. He isn’t at his natural position of Centre but wing should be easier to play than centre but that isn’t always the case. Look at Galchenyuk playing centre as opposed to wing. I am sure Eller will play centre at some point this season as the injury bug becomes more prevalent in 48 game season.
He will get his looks this season. New management and new systems and it looks like MT isn’t afraid to make changes. The old regime would never had allowed the Gally’s and Prust to play together
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
In his 1st season, Eller was 3rd among Habs centres in ES TOI (ahead of Halpern, Pyatt, Desharnais, White… – only behind Plekanec and Gomez). Eller did not get much special teams TOI in his rookie year. Overally, not bad for a rookie and certainly not less than expected or warranted.
Last season, Eller was again 3rd among Habs centres in ES TOI. He passed Gomez, but was in turn passed by Desharnais. Eller gained almost 2 minutes per game at even strength and also picked up some decent time on the PK (1:41 per game) and some time on the PP (0:39 per game). Pretty decent progression for his sophomore season.
I don’t really see the argument that he has been ripped off in his opportunities or TOI. He has been given increasing TOI, but has yet to surpass the available centers for a spot centering one of the top 2 lines. After only a handful of games into his 3rd season, is his situation really such a disappointment?
–Go Habs Go!–
Who said anything about time on ice?
You posted about Eller being a 4th line center his first season. To me, the TOI shows he was a 3rd line center as a rookie and that while still a 3rd line center last season, he was given increased opportunities.
–Go Habs Go!–
Has anyone heard any news on Nokelainen? I know he was on injured reserve. Just wondering what his staus is and if he is close to being ready to return.
It is too bad Naatinen got hurt. He was doing welll in Hamilton and is great on face offs! He could have filled in if they decided to sit White for a game or two!
Habfan17
I haven’t skimmed through all the posts but I am quite suprised I have seen no mention so far of the blown chance at a 5-3 by Cole.
I get it, your pissed he broke a stick on your back, but slashing on PP where you are setting up in there zone and the official caught the cross check. Stupid play.
If they get that 5-3, they could have been up 2-0 and things may have turned out different. They might not have felt the need to take as many stupid penalties later on.
Or maybe the final score would have be 5-2 Ott instead, who knows.
All I know is, it was a stupid impulsive reaction that let Ottawa off the hook.
Man I missed a really weird game yesterday I saw half the 1st period yesterday but that was it. How bad were these penalties?
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
The ref took one of them pretty personally, I’d say.
The refs were not going to allow much nonsense. There were a bunch of off-setting minors given for some very minor things
However, the broken stick cross check and the resulting slash were good calls against both teams.
White’s penalty was not a penalty, IMO… wish i heard what he said to the ref to get the additional 2
I wasn’t one-sided though. The refs were meticulus against both teams. That Neil interference was kind of weak, considering Armstrong was tangled up with another Senator and already kind of off balance and falling.
Max Pacioretty’s real name is James Howlett
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Well last nights game just goes to show how a few lucky bounces can unravel a team. Weekend games are huge being that we are 0-2 against North east.Very big weekend.
I think Chris Stewart would be a more intriguing trade option then Kassian. MB would know him from last year being in CHicago while Stewart does not quite fit in Hitchcock’s system and is on a one year deal right now.
I think a deal could be worked around Eller and Stewart considering St Louis never really wanted to give up Eller in the first place.
I like the idea of Stewart, but would prefer to move DD. I think Eller has way more upside and if Galchenyuk ends up as the 1st line centre next season and Pleks is still the second line, then Eller would end up on the 3rd and his two way play would be better to the Habs than having DD there.
Habfan17
I would agree with the Eller/DD view. But I think St Louis would be more interested in Lars.
They could throw in Weber to try to make it work!
Habfan17
I agree 1000%.
Eller has potential I think and contrary to many posts my opinion is that he ” has not been given the chance to succeed” as MT likes to say.
If he is not successful as a top 2 center he can be a 3rd line center.
I do not think that DD will prove to be a top 2 center ( on a good team) and no way he can be a shut down guy.
Maybe Ottawa would be interested since Spezza out a couple of months.
Chris Stewart is a pending RFA on a one year bridge contract following a disappointing 2011-12 season. St. Louis is in a tricky position. They are possible contenders and will not trade on ice talent for non roster players. But if they think Stewart will not regain his prior form, they might explore alternatives. I could see many teams wanting Stewart, but the most likely scenario is he returns to form and signs a multi year deal with the Blues. Keep in mind, Stewart was benched in the playoffs.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Always have liked Stewart. At 6’2″, 232 lbs, he is a legitimate heavyweight, unlike, say, Brandon Prust. Stewart would provide a nuclear deterrent to a Milan Lucic or Nathan Horton.
Someone was asking about poutine in Montreal. For me it begins and ends with Smoke Meat Petes. Not only is the Smoke meat sandwhich amazing, the ribs are incredible, and the Poutine is the best I ever had. Do no order it if you have cholesterol problems you will be dead before you finish your plate.
Smoke meat petes right down the street from me.
I freaking LOVE Smoked Meat Petes.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
la banquise, or le betise
Go Habs Go
FOR THE RECORD.
I didn’t say that we should trade Eller.
What I said, and think, is that he gets a number of mulligans for a (so far) sub-par career with the Habs.
Personally, I don’t think he’s better than a 3rd line centre, and don’t ever see him growing beyond that.
If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it….. I do it at home all the time.
But he’s been given ample opportunity to prove himself.
When has he (don’t bother bringing up the 4-goal game)?
And why dump on DD? So many think he has nothing to offer.
Personally, I believe if he had Eller’s size, he’d be the no. 1 we’ve been looking for.
Yes, he’s struggled so far, but so have more than a few others.
Look over at Washington… talk about under-performing.
All players go through slumps. It’s a given.
But a 3 year slump is not a slump.
He’s an average player.
Sorry to disappoint.
The lack of a defensive game is why I feel DD is not a solution for a #1 center, it would not change even if he had Eller’s size.
I would not mind having Eller as a 3rd line C down the line, he’s shown he can do good there, and do good PK work as well, and if he improves enough to warrant top 6 well that’s just bonus.
Your definition of an opportunity to succeed is lacking in my opinion.
The top 9 when Plekanec moved from 3rd liner to the top six…..
Koivu, Ryder, Plekanec, Kovalev, Higgins, Latendresse, Samsonov, Kostitsyn and Bonk.
The top 9 when Desharnais moved from 3rd liner to top six…….
Plekanec, Cammalleri, Gionta, Kostitsyn, Gomez, Pacioretty, Pouliot, Desharnais and Halpern(who played with Plekanec)
Top 9 forwards last season during Eller’s time on the third line…..
Plekanec, Cammalleri/Bourque, Gionta, Pacioretty, Cole, Desharnais, Eller, Kostitsyn and then a combination of Gomez, Darche, Blunden, Moen and Leblanc.
When Eller had Kostitsyn and Moen and Kostitsyn and Leblanc, he was very successful offensively. When he had Blunden and Darche with him it was a mess offensively.
Eller’s opportunities have been limited to 3rd line and 4th line duty when he’s been at centre. And when he’s had two skilled players paired with him he’s been successful, when he’s been put with AHLers or fourth liners he hasn’t produced offensively.
That’s no accident or coincidence and his opportunity differs greatly from the two centremen ahead of him on the depth chart.
DD had 60 as the proclaimed no. 1 centre, stable most of the year between Max and Cole.
Plekanec had 52 points as a no. 2 centre, on 21 different line combinations.
Eller 28 points, including 4 in one game.
Is that any indication of his abilities? I still don’t see it.
I’m not saying either of the other two are no. 1s.
But Eller, IMO, certainly isn’t
WIth regards to Pacioretty, dont be surprised if he makes a quick recovery. Patty Roy returned just 2 days after having his removed. Although his ego was probably the driving force behind that.
Patrick Roy did not have his appendix removed…he played while suffering from appendicitis. He had it removed after the Canadiens were eliminated in the playoffs.
You can’t rush back for risk of suffering a hernia or other complications. Because of the forces exerted on the abdomen in the course of a hockey game, any incisions in abdominal muscle can lead to VERY prolonged absences for hockey players. Abdominal tears were one of the more nasty injuries back in the late 1980′s (Mik McPhee missed most of a season because of that). The Montreal Canadiens will be ultra-cautious with Pacioretty on this front.
Thanks for the info……….Im sure his ego helped him through the discomfort.
I forget who said this but they said rushing Pacioretty with the short season could be a bad idea even if he does heal quickly he should still take some time, but knowing him he’ll probably try his best to be out there soon.
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
According to Renaud Lavoie, Pacioretty is skating today? WTF? I had my appendix out and I missed a whole year of gym class. This guy is an animal.
Innnnnndestructibllllle……
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Desharnais needs him badly.
The procedure is much less intrusive now, maybe more so than when you had yours out. Still, patches is a gamer for sure. I have heard that the normal down time now for an apendix is about a week. That is to be up and about not, being slammed around the boards!
Habfan17
Max was able to undergo laparoscopic appendectomy, according to Dave Stubbs. This involves only a couple of tiny incisions, and means he will be out much less than he would have been with a standard appendectomy.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
If I like Eller, it doesn’t mean I dislike DD. I hope they are both put in positions to succeed. It benefits our team, after all.
The tough love being used on Eller presently, seems to not be working. He seems to be lacking in confidence, or is confused. Not everyone who is benched, demoted and juggled around can say, FU coach, I’m gonna show you. Maybe there is a method to MT’s madness? We’ll see.
What happened to Budaj last night, could’ve happened to Price, Lundqvist, Quick or Halak, OK, scratch that…Halak never.
But what makes Price special, besides stopping pucks, is his calming effect on the backend, his puck handling which give his D a break, as well as clutch saves that give energy to his team. And Price is a Sens Killer. But he can’t or shouldn’t play every game either. But he needs to play divisional rivals, even if that means Budaj plays at home. Marketing be d*mned.
Eller doesnt know what hes doing out there (his role), and hes given roles that arent complimentary to his skills (filling gaps it seems), it could be Latendresse all over again… I dont know if they can do it but maybe an AHL stint could be good.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Has to clear waivers, no?
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
No clue.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Yes, more than 100 games in the Show means waivers. There is an exception I believe for conditioning stint upon returning from injury but that would not apply.
“man, I love winnin’; you know, it’s like better than losin’?”-
Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh
Eller has pretty much only played under Jacques Martin as the 3rd line C, a position that is now occupied by Galchenyuk. Like you, I hope he’s put in a position to succeed sometime this season.
So far that doesn’t appear to be the case. It’s almost as if Therrien expects Eller on the wing to be the spark that gets DD going (which would be ridiculous), and then demotes Eller when things aren’t working.
Eller has only played 1 game – 1 game! – as a center under Therrien… and then he was scratched for two games, only to emerge as a winger! That’s a really small sample size as a center, and when people remark that Eller isn’t playing with confidence, well, I wonder why (benched+playing as a wing)…
Eller was put on the wing with DD and EC due to MP’s injury (not to “spark” EC or DD). After it seemed to be not working out so well last night, MT tried someone else there instead. With 2 other lines seeming to click well so far, there was only really only one other line to try Eller out on last night. This hardly seems an irrational sequence of events.
–Go Habs Go!–
Yupp and who’d he get a really sloppy Moen and Bourque. Top line didn’t play any better but Eller is the odd man out.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Giving up on Eller and trading him for a bag of pucks (which will inevitably be the case as the trade would be because people are down on him) will be like giving away a Cody Hodgson for free, which would be a monumental error on the Habs’ part.
Edit: I should have written “WOULD be like”. Hypothetical.
He needs to find some confidence. Scoring a few goals will make a world of difference
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Thankfully Vancouver didn’t give up Hodgson for free as they got Kassian, who looks to be arriving.
I think the only people talking trade of Eller are here, have not heard any rumours related to MB talking trade.
Agreed. I think were gonna make a huge mistake with this kid. Give him a fair shot to succeed, more preferably at CENTRE.
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
Who is giving up on Eller? Therrien is playing the best players who bought into his systsem. Eller needs to play better and play how the coach wants him to play. Given his low salary and decent talent, management wants Eller to succeed.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
The coach needs to give him a real chance at his natural position. Funny, the position of weakness for the Habs is now too full to give him a real chance !
Habfan17
As others have mentioned, management keeps putting him on the wing, expecting him to prove that he can produce despite history indicating he plays much better as a centre, and can’t produce as a winger.
He’s also on the wing of DD who is struggling at the moment. Hard to expect Eller to be the spark that gets DD going. I advocate DD playing on the wing with Eller at centre.
Folks on this board and certain analysts criticize Eller for his play. He’s only played 1 game at centre under Therrien before being relegated to the pressbox. Other than that, he’s been pingponged around the lineup as a winger.
He’s being put in a position to fail if anything.
exactly, do people remember back in the boston series when DD was on wing and looked good before he got hurt? the guy should be put back there and eller to the middle. dd does not have the speed to be a top centre on this team going forward.
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
I’m sure DD will unblock at some point, but I highly doubt he can replicate last season’s success without Pacioretty and certainly not without a true Top 6 winger at his side.
His size is working against him as he loses possession of the puck very often, and he can’t create space for himself (but he can take advantage of space created for him).
Exactly!
Habfan17
I like Eller. If Eller proves himself as a second line center, Montreal gets huge flexibility because Plekanec then becomes tradeable. Though nothing is fair, good players get themselves in positions to succeed. All Eller has to do is out play the guy whose position he wants. Now Eller got out of the press box because of Pacioretty’s unfortunate ailment. And he got to take Pax’s spot. That is pretty lucky for a guy who did not impress the coach in his first game. This is a great second chance for Eller to showcase himself.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Eller getting out of the pressbox only to be put as a winger on a struggling line with a struggling center is out of the fry pan and into the fire.
If being expected to produce as a winger on a struggling line is his chance, then he should probably just stay in the pressbox until a center position opens up.
I hope Price will play both games on the weekend.
I think that was the idea of sitting him out vs Ottawa as opposed to Winnipeg, so yes i expect he does start both games.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I hope Ottawa plays Ben Bishop on Sunday
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Funny, when Ottawa acquired him last year, he was all the buzz about being an up and comer and now there is little talk about him. I realize Ottawa has depth with Lehner and Anderson, but funny how fickle the media etc… are about goalies.
Lehner is probably better than Bishop but Bishop can’t clear waivers so Lehner goes to the AHL. The only team in Montreal’s division with a decent back-up is probably Buffalo.
As for Spezza, that’s a huge loss. Might even cost Ottawa a playoff spot. The only good news is that they still have Turris, Smith, Zibanejad and O’Brien. Zibanejad has tons of potential. He was rated as the 8th best forward prospect by Mckeens (Galchenyuk was 6th).
Spezza..herniated disc..out for regular season
Its a problem at centre. Eller, DD and Plekanec, all 3 are pretty boys. When I see those names, I think Lady Bing finalists. Its alright to have one but not so many.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I think Plekanec’s stick precludes home from being a Lady Byng finalist…
Chicago didn’t exactly have a nasty C when they won the cup, team will be big enough going forward all around. Eller and Galchenyuk are big and use there body well enough to hold their own. Plek is a top 20 PK guy in the league and doesn’t get bullied around per say.
but Desharnais has PROVEN HIMSELF….
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
price should have been in net. hindsight is 20 20 i know. maclean made the right goaltender call on back to back games. therien did not. probaly would have been an ot game if not for the lopsided goaltending last night. goofy refs and all.
deanepaul
Pacioretty skating today?
No, but his appendix is and it’s looking good out there.
Renaud Lavoie @RenLavoieRDS
Max Pacioretty is skating in Brossard with PK Subban. Pacioretty not pushing hard. #canadiens #RDS
He is wolverine, wouldn’t be surprised if he is back in the next 10-12 days.
Well,hopefully,Patches doesn’t come back too early a la Markov after his 1st surgery.
The guy is a superhero. What the bleep is his blood made of?
I head Max was only skating because the team didn’t want PK to have the media spotlight to himself.
5 QUESTIONS:
1. Which is more accurately the story of last nights’ game:
a – Habs laid an egg
b – unlucky bounces and a few lapses in judgement put the game out of reach
2. We’ve seen players go through a bit of a slump before and bounce back, why is it different with DD? Or is it?
3. Should Eller get a shot at CENTER with 2 decent wingers for at least a handful of games? Is this important for the Habs to do?
4. Can we win be a serious contender with either DD or Plekanec as our #1 center?
5. Who’s going to spend more nights in the press box – Kaberle or the Cube?
SD
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
2- Its different with DD I think because he and Eller are competing for the same spot. Because of DD, Eller has no defined role. But Eller hasnt been forcing the coach’s hand either.
4- As long as theres refs willing to have half of the game being special teams, every team has a chance.
5-kaberle I would hope.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
1. A terrible 5 minutes in the 2nd period.
2. HIO posters think that players should never have slumps or, heaven forbid, a bad game or three,
3. Eller should play better, period.
4. Yes, if we have 3 lines that score and a crashing 4th.
5. Kabs, but he may get moved before all is said and done.
1 – They had a hot goalie and we did not.
2 – He misses Pacioretty. See what happens when they are reuinited
3 – It’s worth a try
4 – Maybe
5 – It should be Kaberle
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
1. a
2. With DD, people get the sense that opposing players are targeting him and that he might not be able to overcome this. And then there’s Eller who’s stuck on his wing even though he plays much better as a center (1 game as a center this year).
3. Yes, Eller is sort of like Cody Hodgson the way I see things.
4. Probably not. That’s why Galchenyuk should help things in the future.
5. Kaberle.
Morning quiz.
Who was Erik Cole’s centre when he had his best season (in points)?
1. Eric Staal.
2. David Desharnais.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Cole has had a slow start in virtually every NHL season he’s played. Give him and DD time, and they will come around.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Sure but the answer is #2 – Cole’s best points total was last year. He scored more with DD than he ever did with Staal.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
He had the same amount of points one year and in 11 less games too , not sure who his centre was back then though, but it was probably Staal.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
That was the season he broke his neck… well, HE didn’t breakl his neck, Orpik broke it for him.
Erik Cole first 10 games:
2011-2012 4 pts
2010-2011 6 pts
2009-2010 2 pts
2008-2009 2 pts
2007-2008 6 pts
2006-2007 4 pts
Morning Quiz reply Quiz:
Who was Brian Gionta’s center when he had his best season?
1. _________________
Eller yad yada yada -so far he’s a 3rd line centre without wings.
Try him on the 3rd line with The kids.
Or let’s discuss a bigger problem- our top line from last year is decimated.
Is there not a top 6 winger from the Bulldogs that can fill in?
Or how about Chucky on the first line (I mean the DD line)
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
Yeah, Eller centering the third, with some Pk and maybe some PP time once in a while would do good I think, Eller needs to get back to a zone of comfort and build from there.
The best Bulldog is already playing on the Habs, the second best is injured and might not play again and afterwards it’s a severe drop to Gabriel Dumont who would not fit in very well in our top 6.
Give eller an actual, honest shot and we will see why he deserves to stick in MTL.
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
Look at his 30 seconds on the PP last night, and you’ll see chances were actually being created for once in the game. He’s strong on the PP because he has better possession skills than most of the team.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
The 3rd line is working pretty good so far, why tinker with it?
–Go Habs Go!–
I think we’re too used to line juggling and roster swaps from the old regime expecting immediate results which rarely happen. So they had a bad game, its up to them collectively suck it up and do better the next one instead of throwing it all in a blender. How long has it been since there was some stability on the team? Maybe now is a good time to have it.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
How happy can the Senators be about Spezza having played in Europe during lockout. Now a few games into NHL season and he needs surgery. Big loss for the Sens.
Just ask the Flyers how they felt about the Briere situation as well.
I’m giggling over it. I suspect Ottawa isn’t.
No worries- he’ll be back indefinitely.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
I don’t think playing in Europe caused Spezza’s injury. Tough break for Ottawa though, losing their #1 center. Imagine how folks here would react if that happened to the Habs?
–Go Habs Go!–
Re: all the DD non-sense this morning. Yeah, he’s having a really tough start. But he’s not the only one, and I think even with the shortened season and all, there is still a very good reason to be patient with him.
I haven’t read every comment, but from what I did read, I think no one mentioned this important point. DD plays with Cole, of course. Look at Erik Cole and DD’s stats for October 2011. Especially the first 8 games (2 points for Cole, 3 for DD). That’s it. ‘nuf said! Give it a few games before going crazy over their slow start
Still, I would like Therrien to try Cole with the 2 Gally’s, and maybe DD can play on the wing a few times on another line, just to see if that can help him get going. But please stop it with the “he should be benched and would be already if his name wasn’t Desharnais”. That song is getting really old!
It’s a 48 game season & I understand that Price needs a break every now & then. When it comes to a division rival, I believe he should be the starter. As for last night’s game, it happens. I think it was good we lost the way we did because it kind of wakes everybody up & make them realize that hard work & sticking to the system is the only way to succeed. OR so I think. Looking forward to this weekend.
But with that criteria, then you also play him Sat (BUF) & Sun (OTT) & Wed (BOS) & Thurs (BUF)…
I didn’t look at the schedule any further, but I think that makes the point. You have to pick spots. This one let Prioce get 3 full days rest for the back to back.
in response to HH.
dunno why people are even discussing Eller V.S. DD while we’re ignoring the real problem.
we already made one bonehead move at centre this year.
Buying out Scott Gomez.
Eller and DD would both be in the pressbox if we still had Scott Gomez.
Lol, errr what?
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
I happen to agree even though I hated Gomez & his contract. I thought for sure that Bergevin would buy Kaberle.
I know. Why we got rid of Gomez when he has so much experience to bring, not to mention how good he is int he room.
Funny stuff today, HH. Keep ‘er goin’!
He’s always at his best after a loss.
you expect Eller and DD to fill that void left by Gomez.
It’s funny but with Gomez on the team, it shielded people from realizing how mediocre the rest of the team was… now that he’s gone people actually see it.
They lost one freaking game, and suddenly they’re “mediocre.”
I’m going to go stand with the sane people who can wait until they’ve played a reasonable sample size before they pass judgment.
you just got trolled
how does it feel?
They lost against a typical NHL team. Bigger, better d-men, and most of all one good hitter that knows who to hit the right guys, sure we have Emelin but Emelin was hitting the janitors in the aisles, heck when he should have been taking out their key players like the Sens took out Markov, Gionta and heck the whole habs offense and defense, in fact I think even Therrien got hit too! Anyone remember the game where Therrien or was it Therrien got hit with a puck? Well last night even Therrien got hit. And who do we have to protect the habs? White in the box, and Prust on his back. Ok.
It shows the lack of depth at centre, would’ve preferred to see Kaberle bought out.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Gotta give this site credit, there is always a good battle going on. We now have DD vs. Eller, which has now received enough posts to officially categorize it as an HI/O level 2 Sh*tstorm. Halak vs. Price was a level 5, so we have some work to do on this one still.
Give it another hour.
Eller is bigger, stronger, better hands and can play defensively (theres a reason why he has been used previously on the PK). DD does not have the speed to be a long-term centre on the Habs, either move him to wing at some point or move him out completely. Down the middle in the future with galchenyuk, plek and eller looks a lot better than DD in there instead.
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
I see the merits in both players, and would also like to see DD tried out on wing. I am just willing to watch our coach make these decisions for now.
I agree, I think it may become essential for his longterm survival with the habs anyway.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
100% this.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Just logged on, talk about overreaction. We won 4, lost 2 and got PK Subban back in the fold. I hope Therrien doesn’t panic and switch everything around like many of you suggest. I would like to see some consistency in the lines this year. Just insert PK in the lineup and rest Price very infrequently and we should be alright.
Already some crapping on Galchenyuk. Grow up. The kid is 18. Has 5 points in 6 games. There is still a lot to learn and we will see some growing pains. When he displays flashes of brilliance – enjoy it. When he struggles and has an off night – shut up.
I think theres more posts about overreaction than there is actual overreaction.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Here’s the question…. If DD doesn’t play a top 9 role on this team… name the 9 healthy forwards who do.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
He can be in the top 9 but rather see him on the wing.
With a fully healthy lineup I’d rather see
Bourque-Plek-Gio
Pac – Eller- Cole
Prust-Galch – Gallagher.
That simple. DD can sit 2 games like eller did, his play hasn’t showed he belongs anymore than anyone else this year.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
What has Eller ever shown to prove he deserves such a role?
Pretty much nothing.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
What has DD proven this year to say he should keep the role he keeps receiving?
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
He’s still been as good or better than Eller this season.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Go Ben, Go!
Finally, a rational mind.
(although I’m not certain that he’s been “better”)
OMFG your lost bud. He needs a shot, everyone talks about the “flashes” look who he’s played with. It’s clear he’s not a winger, so lets see DD prove himself as a winger and see what he’s shown to deserve to play C.
You need to develop players, and see what you have. Eller is a hardworking player, doesn’t get knocked off the puck as easily as DD and aside from Boones comment does have a high hockey IQ, why are you so afraid to give a guy a shot. Not like DD has done anything this year to warrant that line staying as is.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Great comment!!
Habfan17
I would love to know how many pts you think DD would’ve put up playing with Blunden and Darche majority of last year.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
so give him some ice centering the two kids, i think he’d do well. “svengally” has tried every other freaking line… leave him there for 5 games. how do you lose doing that!
ex nihilo nihil fit
I guess you didn’t watch him play last season. He did very well even though he was never given a fixed set of wingers for a season or even allowed to play at his natural position. Let’s see how DD does under the same circumstances as Eller had to. Also with Finland during the lockout, 15 points in 15 games, was plus and 18 Pims. He also played PP and PK. He deserves a chance like DD has received.
The kid probably wonders what he has to do to get that chance. He never complains and he does what is asked. Demers screwed Lecrlair now the same thing is happening with Eller. I say play him at centre with the same wingers for at least 10 games, or trdae him if he will not be given a chance.
Habfan17
He’s already playing top 9 with Therrien’s meritocracy thing.
Then why is DD still on the first line. Bsed on meritocracy, he should be sitting out
Habfan17
Doesn’t Therrien’s comment about everyone having a clean slate work both ways… what you did last year doesn’t matter… bad as well as good?
You have to earn your time this year…. granted some of the “core” have a much longer leash.
Just thinking out loud…
some of you people don’t get it. the best team last night won the game. they only made one mistake on the scoreboard. the Habs made five. you can comment on what ever you want the Habs loss to the better team last night. maybe the next time they meet it’ll be reversed …..
You think DD is sheltered? Guy Lafleur – now there was a sheltered Franchie.
Only played against guys who weren’t as good as him.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
If it wasn’t for Lemaire and Shutt, Lafleur doesn’t even play in the NHL.
Having gifted offensive players playing a sheltered role is what you want, if you can send your top scoring line against the opposing weakest line, that’s good, no? DD did good with that assignment last year.
Bazinga!
DD getting a cushy assignment ’cause he’s French is nothing new.
You think Jacques Lemaire gets to the Hall of Fame without Lafleur and Shutt? Take Murray WIlson for example – he’d have scored tons more goals on the first line.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Agreed. it is pretty rattling because Therrien doesn’t even go with what he said because of it. have to earn ice time? if that was the true case, dd would be on 4th line.
http://allaboutthehabs.ca/
twitter: @Mike_Habs
Are you kidding me?! Over half of Lafleurs goals were delivered to him on a silver platter courtesy of Lemaire. Lemaire was the epitome of the quintessential two-way forward. Not to mention one the best coaches (although I loathe the trap) the NHL has ever seen.
Exactly – and why is Lafleur getting all those passes instead of Dougie Risebrough?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Mario Tremblay always looked jealous. I suspect he was.
I don’t think DD is as good as he looked last year, but following his 60-odd points on a terrible team last year, it makes sense to give him 10 or so games to see if he can regain his former form. Not to mention — even if he sometimes looks lost out there, nobody can question his work ethic. Coaches love that kind of player.
Mike Boone: “With Gainey at my side, I’d walk into any dark alley in the world.”
While I agree that Price will need the necessary breaks, I think it would be more prudent to play Price against our division rivals. A little longer-term planning on goalie rotation with scheduling of Budaj against teams considered the weak sisters in the conference would make more sense than playing him against one of the strongest teams in the conference.
Makes sense, Carolina. Now why can’t Michel Therrien come to us for advice?
I liked it better when PK wasn’t signed. At least then there was an excuse for people acting like alarmist retards. Glossing over the posts today and a large proportion of you need to up your medication or slit your wrists.
Most of you haven’t a clue and the ones who do are getting drowned out by the cacaphony.
Hmmm…let’s see….one loss, followed by 4 wins, and then another loss. Yep. Sounds like we should gut the team. Pick your guy, chew him up, and spit him out. Habs fans [shrugs], go figure.
I was fully expecting to see Tanks being advertised here today.
It’s a rebuilding team. We should be gushing that they put together a 4 game win streak. Instead people are climbing all over each to see who can post the most idiotic comment.
I Y O..
IMHHO
For whatever reason, it seems the nurses let the pysch ward patients use the internet only after Hab losses.
Lots of people here like Eller,I get it,heck even I like the kid and wish he would friggin do something out there.Anything really. But man he he frustrating to watch out there when he just zones out into his own little world. IMO,he has been given ample opportunity playing over 150 games over the last two years to prove that he should be a Hab,but Jeeze,his juices aren”t flowing! Changing players and lines doesn”t seem to help.What the heck can be done? Red Meat? Steroids?Bath Salts?
A team bowling day should do the trick.
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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”
“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien
LOL Comment du jour!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Eller sucks. Another Latendresse. The only positive thing anyone can say about him is that he has “potential”.
Don’t forget Benoit Pouliot.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
The Habs have got to rid themselves of Contracts. Kraperly, Moen,Cole and Gionta could and should be used to get us a couple of ‘Kassian”type players
Id keep Cole and Moen, and Id make Cole captain.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Cole’s little retirement comments and lack of preparation for the NHL season this yr (my assessment, could be wrong), took away his shot at the C IMO.
Next captain is essentially a stop gap until Galchenyuk gets the C. Maybe it’s Gorges.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
I don’t think there is any problem with the guy wearing the “C” right now.
But if I was to look down the road to the future, I don’t think Galchenyuk is the automatic choice. Gallagher would be a fine choice as well. But both choices are based on what we have seen of them for five games into their NHL careers. These guys are still wet behind the ears and need time to grow into their roles. Way too early to mention the “C” and their names in the same sentence. Just my opinion.
I don’t get the love for Blunden….had his chance, did nothing. No hands, no fighting skills, why would he be a good fit.
I would rather see Dumont, Avtsin or Bournival get a shot vs Blunden.
Eller will come around. Kaberle and Armstrong bu bye. Keep White on 4th line at least he can play and skate hard, just has to watch his penalties…but in saying that, the kind of hockey MT wants them to play, its gonna happen. Get ready for some calls against you.
Play price every game.
PK, oh PK we miss you! Come back and do what you do best.
Prust needs to cut back on the scraps and fight only when forced to.
DD, you re smaller so you better find a way to sharpen your scoring skills.
Bourque, where di you come from, keep it up.
Gionta, you re not gonna score by skating over the blue line and taking a 60mph slap shot.
Pleks your doing well.
G&G – keep hustling it will come. Galchenyuk needs another 15 pounds.
Liking what I see so far this year… a few tweaks in the roster and we are in good shape.
Avtsin? I’m guessing you’ve never seen a Bulldogs game.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Agreed …Blunden is a Career AHLer,that’s it that’s all !
Blunden for White would not be a disruptive nor unadvisable change. While White may be quicker to fight, Blunden did play well enough last year and in the AHL to be given chances at earning a regular spot.
Avtsin has some potential, but he’ll get eaten alive on an NHL 4th line, would need the DD treatment (2 high end Power forwards) on his line to look anywhere where he belongs in the NHL right now.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Blundin is a checking forward with pretty good wheels and gives it all every shift. He”s not a good fighter but is not afraid to drop his mitts. He also can pot one here and there with those Sweet Hands amigo.
Annnnd, this just in …….
http://deadspin.com/5980480/coyotes-sale-falls-apart-as-prosp ective-owner-cant-come-up-with-the-money
… Quebec ? Markham ? perhaps ….
plekenec isnt NUMBER ONE CENTER. neither is DD.
He’s the Habs #1 Center. If you feel like defining #1 center as something else, that’s entirely up to you.
By most people’s qualifications, there’s only about 12-15 #1 centers in the league. The major mathematical fallacies of said position is usually ignored.
I get that, I know of the mythical center with size, grit scores at least 25 goals and about 75points +.
As you say there are not 30 of those guys in the league, yet there are 30 center playing first line minute…
Galchenyuk will be in two years
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
So, if what Mike Boone says about Lars Eller is correct, (“Eller has size. He can skate. There are flashes of scoring ability. But he’s not physical – which hurts him in his coach’s estimation. Eller lacks vision. He does not have the hockey IQ of a Plekanec, Galchenyuk or, indeed, Desharnais”) — All this can mean only one thing: Eller is a 3rd or 4th line Center. And that is not such a bad thing is it? Unless Gabriel Dumont comes along and dislodges him, Lars can continue to contribute to the team in that role. The emergence of Galchenyuk and possibly Dumont also means that one or both of Eller and Ryan White can be traded for an asset, perhaps another draft pick. (The acquisition of Brandon Prust leaves less of a need for an average skater and fighter like White.) I think both Eller and White have good trade value. They are young enough that another team will be willing to bet they flourish in a different city.
Louis Leblanc in Hamilton and Ryan White in Montreal.
You know if Louis Leblanc was called Louis White and Ryan White was called Rene Leblanc, things would be different.
You just know it.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
And if my uncle had tits he’d be my aunt.
: )
Mike Boone: “With Gainey at my side, I’d walk into any dark alley in the world.”
My uncle does have ‘em, but he’s (supposedly) still my uncle.
Where did this idea that DD didn’t produce in the minors without Patches originate? Because its 100% blatantly false.
In 2007-08 Desharnais scored 106 points in 68 games, plus 33 points in 22 playoff games in the ECHL. He was league scoring leader, MVP, Playoff MVP and forced his way up to the AHL.
In 2008-09 Desharnais scored 58 points in 77 games for the Bulldogs. Extremely good numbers for an AHL rookie.
In 2009-10 Desharnais scored 78 points in 60 games for the Bulldogs, a pace that would have put him among the AHL scoring leaders. He played most of the season with Brock Trotter. Max Pacioretty only played 18 games for that Bulldogs team, scoring just 2 goals and 11 points. He rarely played on Desharnais line.
In 2010-11 Desharnais and Pacioretty were put together and became a lethal combination. However Patches was called up to Montreal a full 6 weeks before Desharnais. During that 6 weeks, DD continued to score at a very high rate, and was the AHL scoring leader when recalled.
So yeah, its pretty much a myth that Desharnais didn’t produce in the minors without Patches.
Also as an NHL rookie, Desharnais rarely played with Patches and had 22 points in 43 games (again good for a rookie).
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Hear! Hear!
Bully! Bully! And taffoo!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
dd got his chance cause patches wanted to play with him
Proof?
Who really cares how he produced in the minors? He’s looked like an infant in a league of men through 6 games, you can’t deny that.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
And looked like a man in a league of men during 81games last season.
What’s your point?
Great point and he was great in the AHL, but that does not make him a 1st line NHL centre or an NHL player at all. many players put up spectacular numbers in the AHL but could not cut it in the NHL. Corey Locke earned many awards incluing CHL player of the year and couldn’t translate that to success in the NHL and so far it seems neither can Boychuk!
Habfan17
Corey Locke didn’t put up 60 points in an NHL season.
I got no problem with DD as a part of this team, but shoving him down our throat as a top 6 center and leaving important players development in the dirt over it I got a problem with. His turn to play wing for a few games.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Have you considered cheering for the Leafs instead?
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Were you upset when he was crammed down our throats last season? Probably not.
DD produced in the AHL, that’s granted, the numbers posted don’t lie, he’s PPG in the AHL.
That said having a bunch of successful AHL seasons is no guarantee of becoming a successful NHL player.
DD has had one good season on the Habs playing a sheltered role, he played a decent half season for the Habs before that, but now he is struggling.
It’s only been 6 games, and he can likely bounce back. But I think he won’t be back to his old ways untill Cole wakes up completely and Patches is back and healthy, DD is very dependant on his wingers, not just because of his size but because he does not shoot alot.
DD was good in the minors, and the price of carrots yesterday was $0.99 / pound.
In either case who cares. I hear Gomez was great at some point in the passt also…
And in 2011/12, Pierre Dagenais had 145 pts in 45 games (81g/62a) in the FHL….
What’s your point?
“Of course I’m crazy, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
- Robert Anton Wilson
…aaaaannndddd…TSN continues with their daily dose of “PK’s a problem in the room” reports.
What they need is a cleansing of their reporting staff with good dose of Pico Salax.
***SUBBANG BABY!!!***
Are there ‘new revelations’? Link?
It was on sportscentre this morning, after 11am, they just recycled the same tired crap from their between periods shows last night.
***SUBBANG BABY!!!***
The morning sportscentres are replays of the last evenings news with a new hi-lite package made after the late games are complete.
Not too much investigative journalism happening at 3am.
It’s called redirection. It takes the focus of the fact that the Leafs suck and will suck next year too. With all their sucking they still wont draft well or sign anybody of note. They are stuck in the same trap the Habs were in a few years back which we broke by finally Tanking™.
Cant win them all, plain and simple. Its hockey, somtimes you win and sometimes you lose. Let’s see if the team rebounds, much like they did against the lowly leafs.
Go Habs Go!
Brain dead is right. Boone.
Groundhog Day.
Off Habs topic.
Does anyone know what happened to Jason Spezza?
He played night before last, and suddenly he’s undergoing back surgery on friday in Toronto.
No clue, but he has had back problems before. Could be it has just acted up again.
Habfan17
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/senators-say-spezza-out-indefinitely-with-herniated-disc/article8033025/
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
We’re 4 – 2 -0, and P.K.’s back … Alzwell
Also, here’s a good read : http://allaboutthehabs.ca/?p=66
If people had offered up that we’d be 4-2 at this point in the season we’d all have taken it. PK will certainly help and Patches return will as well.
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