Canadiens coach Michel Therrien confirmed that Ryan White is still in the doghouse and will be a healthy scratch for Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio).
Therrien has juggled some lines with Max Pacioretty joining youngsters Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, who is celebrating his 19th birthday. In case you were wondering, this a promotion for the kids.
It’s a demotion for the struggling duo of Erik Cole and David Desharnais, who are now playing with Brandon Prust.
There’s a sense of desperation for both teams because the Lightning has lost four in a row, while the Canadiens are on a three-game skid.
(Photo by Allen McInnis/The Gazette)
Therrien shakes up Canadiens lines, by Brenda Branswell
Pacioretty more shocked than hurt, by Dave Stubbs
Hot start for Lightning rookie Conacher, by Pat Hickey
Lightning suffers odd scoring slump, by Tampa Bay Times
Bulked-up Stamkos gaining more confidence, by Stu Cowan
Old-timer Martin St. Louis still going strong, by Stu Cowan
Lightning tough-guy Crombeen drops gloves on diabetes, by Stu Cowan
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I really hope MTs “tinkering” lights a massive fire under these guys butts… the only way the habs are gonna win hockey games this year is to out work and out skate their opponents.
Either that or someone needs to grow a wicked mullet like Richer’s and score 50 goals… that guy had the best mullet ever.
=TP
* Also, sitting Ryan White hasn’t put us back on the Win Train. Kid’s on a short leash, knows he’s used up all his “Get out of the dog house free” cards. Tampa Bay is not known for thuggery, but Moen and Armstrong have been crappier than White, just in less bone headed and dramatic ways. White’s been on the PK and done well at it – he can actually kinda play. It’s time to bring him back.
DD was the #1 centre on a last place team. Enough said!!! He is not a NHL top 6 forward, unless that team is looking at another lottery pick.
Over to you Matty.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the #1 centre on a last place team. Enough said!! He is not a top 6 forward, unless that team is looking at another lottery pick.
—
No matter what your opinion of DD’s ability to play hockey is, this argument is dramatically flawed.
I’d do that trade.
RNH was also an incredibly highly touted prospect, who is, regardless of team position, a #1 centre on any team who doesn’t have Malkin as a centre, your counter argument is flawed
Go Habs Go
What counter argument? I’m just saying I’d trade DD for RNH.
ahh, but that’s not what HH said. He said it was simply based on a #1 centre and a last place team.
I was referring to luke, my bad
Go Habs Go
DD for RNH? In the blink of an eye.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Not sure what you guys were watching last year, but DD was the one going to the boards and coming out with the puck all season last year. Cole & Max definitely benefitted from his play.
That said, he may have found that it took its toll cause he’s not doing it as much.
I hope he gets it going but I hope that we keep the best players and make trades that will help the team at the same time.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
Honestly, I think not a lot of players really knew much about DD last year. It’s not uncommon for a new player in any sport to have success one year then have a much tougher time once players figure out how to play against them better. Subban is a good example of that.
As for the Eller vs. DD debate, I doubt you’d see this happen with Eller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoxjOpqNnZQ
How is Subban an example of that? He was twice as good in his second year.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Maybe I am not seeing what alot of guys are seeing this year regarding DD. Yeah he hasn’t had alot of sucess this year scoring but he has been getting chances.
In my opinion you should give DD a bit of slack for this reason alone… have you had a look at his linemates?
Max was out for a bit and I hear a few commenting that he has came back too early, but even before the surgery he looked utterly useless out there. Cole on the other hand spends more time coughing up the puck in our end or the netural zone then generating any offensive chances. No puck support and no help from his linemates. Now the faceoffs… well that is another story.
This line shuffle will be the best thing for DD.
Borque and Prust on the other hand has been a big suprises, they both deserve alot of credit.
You watch, DD is one of the hardest working players on this team, he will get going… hopefully starting tonight.
=TP
Attn – Stu Cowan
Thank you for the article on BJ Crombeen.
I have a son with Type-1 who plays high-level hockey and box lacrosse. Your taking time to do a piece like this can be immensely beneficial — awareness and understanding are so important. Much appreciated !
ALWAYS Habs -
D Mex
Players around the league who over the last three years have benefited tremendously from their linemates and produced an abnormal 60 point or more season……
Chris Kunitz, Radim Vrbata, Blake Wheeler, Joffrey Lupul, Clarke MaCarthur, Ryan Clowe, Jamie Langenbrunner, Dustin Penner, Chris Stewart and Antoine Vermette.
This isn’t meant to be an indictment of David Desharnais but an explanation that players do have career seasons at times and believe it or not, teams figure out what made those players successful and adjust how they play against them.
The players who sustain longevity in terms of offensive production either have an elite skill set(Desharnais does not) or they adapt their game from season to season because they understand that teams are going to eliminate what they did previously to make them successful.
In Desharnais’ case, he was afforded a tremendous amount of time and space last season while Pacioretty and Cole scored at will from areas that players don’t typically score from, like just inside the blueline. This season it’s become obvious that opposing teams are focused on denying Desharnais time when he has the puck. He doesn’t have the speed to get away from tight checking and his only adjustment is to do a better job of finding open areas on the ice and moving the puck quicker when he does get possession. If he fails to make those adjustments he’ll continue to produce offense at a mediocre pace.
Some people laugh off the suggestion that Pacioretty and Cole make things easier on Desharnais. Simply put they do. Big forwards with excellent speed and range definitely make life easier for a centreman. A pass that Desharnais sends a couple of feet out of range for a guy like Gionta winds up on the stick of a guy like Pacioretty. A pass into traffic to a guy like Gallagher winds up in a change of possession when the same to Cole often ends up a scoring chance due to Cole’s ability to fight off checkers with his big frame.
I think Desharnais can recapture what he had last season, but it won’t happen if the adjustments aren’t made.
Galchenyuk making the team this year meant that a top two center position is his next season. This means that either DD or Plekanec will go as they are not 3rd and 4th line centermen. The debate with Eller vs DD is moot. The only issue between the two is accountability and opportunity not position as Eller should be the 3rd line center next year. Your analysis of DD is correct as teams have obviously adjusted. Will he come around? Who knows but his future here seem dim with Pleks and Chucky playing well.
Chucky will not be given the pressure of being a top 6 for a year or so yet. The one thing MT has stressed is to not put pressure on either Gally or Chucky to carry the team. That’s the job of veterans or rare and exceptional talents, like a Crosby or a Malkin. Chucky is a great young player. Does he have the same skill set of a same-aged Crosby or Malkin? No, but he is close.
DD has reached a long way considering he was never drafted and played in the ECHL. He is not a one season wonder. He will adapt, but he better do it quickly. There’s not much room at center in Montreal any more.
http://calshabsongparodies.weebly.com
100% agree.
I think DD could be a regular 50 point producer in the NHL and I think he will make the right adjustments. He has done it at every level and I think is smart enough to make the right changes. he does suck at face offs though and this team needs help in that area.
I am interested to see how Max does with the kids and their speed.
I have a strange feeling that the line combo’s tonight won’t last long and there will be more juggling. I think you will see Cole Max and DD back together in the near future
I wouldn’t mind seeing what Eller could do between them but right now I think breaking that line up totally is the right thing to do. with both wingers struggling you need to mix them up to try and create some chemistry
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
In all fairness, Cole and Pax both had career years. Cole scored 35 goals, having averaged less than 20 per season for the prior five years. So I think it is fair to say that DD contributed something to the mix. Cole did better with DD than he did with Staal and Staal is an All-Star. I give Desharnais some credit. But I agree that the opposition made adjustments and now DD needs to find new ways to score.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
You weren’t going to point out that one of those seasons of Cole’s was cut short by 42 games?
Interesting spinning of a statistic.
I could counter by saying that Cole’s career low goal mark during full seasons of play is 18.
We can spin it all the way we want. Last year the three of them played well together.
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Great post.
I think Cole was flying last year and both DD and Pacs benefited.
I don’t think DD has the skill set to succeed. He was given and has continued to be given elite minutes including PP and 5 on 3 time.
And his play in our zone has been awful.
@Dorval – from the last thread.
You said in reply to me:
“Luke, it’s just… I don’t remember Ottawa winning the cup with spezza alfredsson and heatley… but i do remember teams winning the cup with all lines, classifying players as “don’t stand out on day one” is a mistake, as their play throughout the season sets their value to any team.. Bourque was useless on the habs last season, so day one this season ppl thought he was a shmuck.. he has proved plenty of us wrong with strong play and desire/”
This is part i’m having trouble describing. The point I was trying to convey is that the Habs have only a few pieces that every team in the league, no matter how good, would immediately snap up:
Plekanec, Max, Price, PK & Galchenyuk.
You would remove players from your roster to find places for these guys. These are guys you try and keep.
Then you get the next tier which are players that can contribute, but aren’t make-it or break-it types on a roster. This is where I think Bourque and Gionta fit. If you have them fine, but you wouldn’t go to far out of your way to fit them in. They are also guys that become expendable if you aren’t in a position to compete for a cup.
If you are offered a 1st rounder for Bourque or Gionta do you take it? Yes.
If you are offered a 1st rounder for Max or PK do you take it? No.
(Age is a bit of a factor in that… Plekanec is an: “i’d think about it”).
I think Kris Versteeg is this type of player. Would you add him to the Habs? If you did, who would you get rid of? Probably a Bourque or a Gionta…
They are that 2nd tier of NHL player that move around the league, fill out the roster, but aren’t the true core.
They aren’t the Datsyuk or Zetterberg, they are the Filpula and Franzen.
Is any of this making sense? I can’t think of a better way to descibe it.
And the way i look at it is:
would i trade a 1st rounder for bourque? no
BUT
would i trade a 1st for bourque if he’s on pace for a 35-40 goal season? yes..
would i trade a 1st for PLek? no he’s too old like you said
but
would i trade a 1st for plek if im contending hard for a plong playoff run? yes i would
iot’s not all black and white..
would we trade a solid prospect package for luongo? not as a habs GM
but as a T.O GM i would
Go Habs Go
I think we are agreeing.
Then I *Think* i want to give you a high 5
Go Habs Go
Over $10 million of salary is sitting or playing for another team and another $4.5 million moves to a checking line.
Montreal is the most penalized team in the league, up from 11 most last season. White and Prust are leading the team in PIM. Neither is feared or has imposed their will on opponents. The fighting is accomplishing nothing. The team is taking stupid penalties, resulting in on ice embarrassments. Losing more fights and giving up more power play goals is not a winning strategy.
This is an OK even strength team with a goalie who should be able to bail them out in case of the odd mistake on the ice. They have to play to their strength, pushing the pace, skating hard and keeping the play moving. They remain without a faceoff specialist, so the best move is to avoid whistles, especially in their own zone.
They can grind out a playoff spot through smart play. But they can’t take the most penalties, lose the most faceoffs, leave $10million of salary in the stands, not play to their skill level, goon it up and expect to coast into the post season.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Colby Armstrong has been useless…..and Moen is a shadow of what he used to be when he was with the Ducks.
Clearly White has more upside than these 2 so why not throw him in there?
White, with his penalties, has more downside. White played himself off the team. Hopefully, Leblanc makes the team later this season and Armstrong, White, Nokelainen and Moen fight for one spot between them.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Because he has to learn to think before he starts randomly punching people.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
and spewing off!
Habfan17
Yes sir. Grab their jersey, shake them around a bit, then fight. Even if the opposing player decides to dance, White would still get an instigator because he starts throwing the haymakers instantly. Pretty important thing to learn if you want to be an effective enforcer.
He sat for three games last time and came back and did the same. He will probably have to sit for at least another three…
Question to the HIO experts?
I think the majority of people believe that Eller is more valuable to the team than Desharnais. Not sure if the Habs believe that or if we’re all correct in preferring Eller but here it goes anyway.
Why not trade Desharnais somewhere for a solid stay-at-home defenseman. I know Desharnais had 60pts last year but I think we need that defenseman more that Desharnias becasue Eller can easily take his place.
Calgary is one team you look at that has nothing down the middle…
Agree! I’ll sign that petition. Desharnais just simply is not strong enough, and is not skillfull enough to compensate for that. There are few who can.
“I don’t wanna see Maurice tonight, I want the rocket!”
despite what everyone here seems to believe, i doubt eller will have a 60 pt season for a few more years, if ever, desharnais is simply being underrated by many posters on this board. Everything was fine when he had 3 goals in 2 games, then the next day it was back on the demote DD train.
I was never off the train. He’s hugely overrated all based on 1 season.
———————————
Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Not demote necessarily, just not at C over Eller.
———————————
Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
he’s better than eller, maybe not in the long run, but right now. and by a fair margin.
By a fair margin? That’s a crock. He has 2 more points in 2 more games than Eller, and he’s been playing with Cole and Max. Let’s not forget the times Eller has set up his linemates only for them to choke. Like when Armstrong had a wide open cage and shot it wide.
Only if given time and space, which isn’t the case right now. He is looking very ordinary.
You struggle on how to evaluate hockey players
———————————
Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Have you watched any of the last 3 games? Eller leads in hits, take aways is beating DD on faceoffs, doesn’t get out muscled and plays on the PK. How is DD better, forget way better?
Habfan17
That is the problem with some Habs fans, they over rate players. DD benefitted when Cole overachieved and Patches had a break out season.
Here is the way to tell if he is as good as you think. See what other teams will trade you for a small, average skater, who is out muscled and does not win face offs. I love his hustle, but he is not what the Habs need.
If the Habs made both Eller and DD available, I would tend to think that Bergevin would have way more interest in Eller and better offers for him too!
Habfan17
Exactly, i think we would all be surprised how low DD value really is
Unless it were Giordano, I wouldn’t take any defenseman from Calgary.
I don’t know if people are really saying that Eller is more valuable than DD, but I think what they are getting at is that he’s not getting a legitimate shot at showing the value he can bring. I think I agree. As it is now, give Eller a shot with Cole or Max for a couple of games. Let DD see if he can give any jump to the 4th line.
I feel DD was a one and done kinda guy, he took teams by surprise but teams realized play the body on him good, and he’s ineffective.. Eller is a little different, he still has enough potential to be a good 2nd line centre, but he needs to be brought up properly, with the proper linemates (in order to make his responsibilites more offensive).. i feel neither will be season changing players too often, but Eller has more upside long term
Go Habs Go
Very well said, kudos!
Habfan17
Habs have to stop selling low and buying high. Right now, DD’s value is pretty much nada.
http://calshabsongparodies.weebly.com
Package DD and Eller together for a more physical center, with a left handed shot who wins faceoffs.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
No, make that Pleks and DD, we also need the size and Pleks has mor value and has reached his potential.
Habfan17
It is harder to do it by sending salary but i woudl trade eller, dd, bourque, gionta or plekanec for the center i described. plekanec, cole, gionta, moen have no trade clauses. bourque does too, but i think he lost it when he accepted a trade to Montreal.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
If Beregevin could get a net cearing stay at home defenceman for DD, I would do it in a heartbeat. That would be great for an undrafted free agent and would fill a role that is much more important. I am one of the ones that think Eller is better.
Habfan17
This team is offensively challenged…..we can’t exactly start shipping 60 point guys off as we don’t have people to replace them. Eller will get his shots this year.
I hope Eller does get his shot for a 5 or 6 game stint. What will people say if he doesn’t produce?
In Fairness to DD, cole and Max have not exactly being playing very well. Heck max doesn’t have a flipping goal yet but everyone keeps crapping on DD? Why not crap on all three
Why crap on just Eller then?
Go Habs Go
I am not crapping on Eller. I am just saying everyone is riding DD but Max is paid to score goals and he currently has 0 and Cole has a whopping 2. Certain players are always targets and DD is because of his size.
I am more than sure Eller will get his shot this year. Question is will he run with it. Time will tell.
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
The debate is not really about DD vs Eller. It should be whether you think DD has a place on this team going forward. I think we can all agree he is not a 3rd and 4th line center. Therefore, where will he play? I just can’t see him surpassing Pleky or Chucky. He will likely be moved in the off season unless he explodes offensively this season which is starting to look unlikely.
How about Whitney in Edmonton, he is having a tough season, but he has what the Habs could use. If the Oilers would take DD for Whitney, would you do it?
bit.ly/159JHmU
Habfan17
I don’t think I would. Putting Whitney on this team still doesn’t make us that much better not to mention Edmonton wouldn’t want to lose a vet on back end whey they are struggling defensively
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Check out the rumour roundup at the Hockey news! After reading it, I thought it might be worth a shot. Edmonton has 3 injured centres and aren’t happy with Whitney.
Habfan17
I don’t put much stock in those rumours. I think a lot of it is guys just sitting around spinning BS and putting it out there
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
If we trade Desharnais he’ll bounce around a bit and end up with a similar career to Nigel Dawes (AHL). If we trade Eller my fear would be him coming back to haunt us in the manner of John Leclair. I know Eller isn’t as tough as Leclair but we gave up on J.L. too early cuz he wasn’t scoring enough. He blossomed when he found some decent linemates, consistency and supportive coaching. Eller is only 23.
All this pessimism is driving me nuts… And I’m normally a pessimist!
The playoff hope for the Habs aren’t done. If you thought they’d be in the top 4 then you were only kidding yourself. 5-8 is more likely, though I am a pessimist so I thought the Habs were a bubble team before the season started. You guys need to lighten up cause all my thoughts are already written when I come onto the website.
Listen, this is still the team that beat Buffalo 6-1, beat Ottawa and was able to beat Florida, a team we should be beating anyways. We lost to the Bruins by a goal and then the sabres in OT the night after when Budaj was in net. Then we lost to Toronto. Tor is a team who will be in the playoff mix, we’ll win some against them but we’ll lose some. The Bruins are a first place team, we will always struggle against them. Buffallo is a bit of a wild card because on paper they’re a good team but just can’t keep it together. We still haven’t had a chance to play most of the teams sitting below 8th place… Basically what I’m saying is this sample size is still small, we’ve played what 8 teams? We beat the ones below us with the exception of an OT loss to Buf. Yall need to be the realists you used to claim to be, and quit feeling sorry for the Habs.
Well said, we all go though more extreme highs and lows than necessary..we are bubble team and will have good, bad and indifferent games..but I am on the anti DD bandwagon until proven wrong. I like the player, but he is on the ice for way too many GA
Simple Lineup Solution:
Bourque – Plek – Gionta
Pacioretty – Galchenyuk – Gallagher
Desharnais – Eller – Cole
Prust – White – Moen/Armstrong
You take away the defensive responsibility and faceoff duty from DD by putting him on the W where he is still insulted with 2 big players on his line in Cole and Eller, they had some chemistry vs Buffalo, and you dictate ice time based on how they play that night between the 2nd n 3rd unit.
———————————
Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Desharnais battling along the boards and in the corner, no thanks.
Not to be mean, but it is more like struggling along the boards! he tries hard, I will give him that
Habfan17
I may have even posted those previously, it’s exactly how I’d stack ‘em for the time being.
“thoroughbred”
We need Brian Boyle, so line one can look like
Bourque Plek Boyle
or line 2
Pacioretty Galchenyuk Boyle
Bourque Glach Boyle
I mean c’mon lets get this dude!
Go Habs Go
oh please mother of mary and all that is decent and holy please oh baby jebus please let carey get a shutout tonight pretty pretty please oh lord oh man he deserves it and oh please lordy ladies let his defence help him just a little goodness gracious he doesn’t even need much help just a little oh please!
Roooooooooooyness
Post of the year? Yup.
It’s a real shame the team brain trust just does not see Eller and his potential. When he has been on accidentally with players like DD there were a few goals. Guys like Moen are not going to score no matter how well they are set up. Eller should be playing with Pacs and Cole or on the kid line. The kids with Pacs are not going to work out. Just examine their individual skill sets and it becomes obvious.
There just isn’t enough room. I might like to see Eller where Desharnais is but it’s very close. Something has to give, someone has to be moved. Neither Eller or Desharnias belong on the 4th line.
Eller deserves a bone to be thrown his way pretty frigging soon. He’s looked great since his early season benching, playing with a feistiness that I haven’t seen from him consistantly before.
I don’t see how you think the kids with Pacs won’t work out however. When I look at their skill sets, it looks like a match to me.
Hope you are right and I am wrong. Just watching this show in terms of all the BS surrounding the Habs management makes me think this is a horror version of “the Never Ending Story” and rhe Habs are turning into the ughh Leafs. I want my team back!!!!!!!
Thanks to my son’s hockey and the Wheat Kings I’ve missed th elast three games.
After last season, the lockout, and now this losing streak, nothing surprises me. I find mysellf sitting back and observing rather than losing my head over something none of us can control.
Good to see Therrien talking my advice on moving Max. Therrien will learn who’s boss around here yet
Off topic for the hockey parents- does Quebec have a no hit house league system? A number of other provinces do (we don’t) and I am working on stats for a presentation to get a no hit league going in Brandon, and the rest of frozen Manitoba.
LET’S PACK THE HOUSE
Be A Pro Fundraiser Feb 24th (see web site for details)
Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
Habs 4 Bolts 2 Gally with 2
Kudos to Ralph Krueger.
He is expected to make “captain canada” Ryan Smyth a healthy scratch tonight. Tough decisions like this usually lead to actual accountability in the room, on the bench and on the ice.
Smyth is obviously a fan favourite but that didn’t stop Krueger from making the right choice and benching a player who hasn’t been executing.
You paying attention Michel?
Sadly he (MT) is probably scared to sit certain players as this roster isn’t exactly riddled with talent. His record is quickly going south and coaches in Montreal usually have a pretty short leash so he doesn’t want to handicap himself further.
Not saying this is the situation but everyone is human and likes to look out for their own butt
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Oilers brass talked with Smyth this summer when he signed. He knew he wouldn’t play every night. Also better for him health wise.
Didn’t know that, thanks Hobie.
Hey I made a goodie!
Bench who, DD? It’s quite funny to think MT doesn’t have the cojones to bench DD because he is french (which is the dumbest and most misconceived reason) or because he is a fan favourite.
Benching Cole, Pacioretty, Markov? Who else? The veterans? I think MT will make tough decisions throughout the season, but we’ve had a good run so far, that has been over-shadowed by a bad week – it happens to every team, and the coaches and management have the long-term view in mind, unlike us fans who plan the parade one win and sack everyone next loss.
No one has stunk it up so badly that they deserve to be benched. White made the same mistakes that cost us games, and that’s that. DD is being given chances to succeed, as are Cole et al., because they had success last year and had chemistry that is worth trying to re-establish. Benching these players sends the message that it’s unacceptable to not perform. This is different from not putting the work and effort in. They have been trying but have come up short, so MT is mixing things up. I’m sure if that doesn’t work we will see further changes. But it is very premature to come out and say MT does not hold people accountable, taking the example of one team who had some other agreement with Smyth than the Habs probably do with their players.
And did I mention that DD playing has nothing to do with him being French? That is some Don Cherry logic.
Interesting piece on what happens during player only meetings. The link is for mobile so I don’t know how it’ll open on a desktop.
http://m.thn.com/?content=57d7fcddb71be1ba70b319c8d702a1f4§ion=features-special_features
____________________
DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Does anyone know which hab shot the best score on the golf course over the past 2 days? Assuming they brought their clubs with them.
Are any of the current Habs renowned golfers? Either way, if any of them did bring their clubs i am exceedingly jealous.
Or this is sarcasm and i just whiffed on it completely lol.
If one of them dared to bring his clubs I would be shocked. That said, I too would be jealous if they were golfing.
I am still reeling from Saturday. I can’t stop thinking about the early impressions that the Habs were a lot tougher than last year and would be much harder to play against. We still had Moen and White and added Prust, Armstrong and Boullion. Emelin and PK would be crunching bodies! Cole and Pacman were big strong wingers who could not be pushed off the puck…etc. etc…
What the hell happened?
We looked okay against Boston and should have beaten Buffalo!
Perhaps TO is just a lot better than we gave them credit for. And there were times during that game when we had great chances while TO took advantage of every mistake.
Like most of you I am hoping that we can rebound in the next couple of games! If not, the weaknesses are apparent. Lack of current talent is a prospects issue; I like our chances here. But if it is about toughness and Gallager and Gorges are the ones getting bitch slapped some changes have to be made right away.
Or my faith in the new brain trust will certainly be tarnished.
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” (anon)
The Habs’ toughness upgrade was exaggerated. For better or for worse, they still don’t have a heavyweight. Prust is very willing, but he’s not a particularly big guy. Prust has lots of fights because he is willing, but also because other guys are not scared of him! And he’s a good enough player to get decent ice time. Some of the really big guys like John Scott don’t get many dance partners!
Boullion has a huge heart and is tough for his size, but that’s not saying much. Armstrong is not tough and certainly not a scrapper. And from what we’ve seen this year (and with the Leafs last year), he shouldn’t be an everyday player.
Any team with DD, Gionta, Gally and Pleckanec up front is undersized. Bourque, Cole and Pacioretty have size but aren’t bangers. Personally I think the Habs need White in the line up and they need Moen to wake-up (and to get ice-time).
Emelin can really hit but not fight, Subban can throw his weight around, but can’t and shouldn’t fight. Gorges, like Boullion, is big-hearted but undersized. We all cringe every time Markov goes in the corner. Diaz is undersized and not tough. All in all, that means it is a soft group of D.
The habs don’t have a classic heavyweight, a prototypical power forward or the typical big rugged D who can also drop them. In the short-term, they better get their powerplay working again or they’re toast!
After what we witnessed Saturday night I must admit I am surprised White didn’t get the call tonight. He might be in MT’s doghouse for a long time.
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maybe MT just felt that there wasn’t need for White against the Lightning or maybe even the Panthers watch out for him against Philly
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Whites a better overall player than Moen and Armstrong, not just there to fight. A simple case of over commitment to Armstrong.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
Clearly MT gave Whitey a very big dog bone to chew on, if its taken this long to get out.
He did cost the team 2 games already this season and didn’t show he learned from the first benching…that usually means a longer second sit down.
He shouldn’t be the only player sitting though
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
I agree, there are a couple of other players that should watch from the press box
Habfan17
The Skid Bowl.
And I thought we had made changes. Positive changes.
Anyway, I am not giving up, I am just not looking forward to another debacle, I hope they put a good effort out there tonight.
Looking at capgeek and had a random thought: signing Datsyuk in 2014 to play with Chucky. He could still have gas left in the tank at that point.
I don’t think Detroit would like that very much. I would expect they lock him up again before that expires
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Datsyuk is the best.
Nice review of the BB10:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFET9AHKuYg&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
I will be picking one of these up
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
I am waiting for mine to be shipped >:(
all marketing BS. I hate when companies do that. Mine won’t ship until next week.
Watch the above review. it will help you wait LOL
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Wouldn’t it be funny if Cole and DD had a multi point game tonight playing with Prust?
It would be great if the two Gally’s do also with Patches
Habfan17
I would be happy if anyone got a multipoint game tonight this team is starting to struggle to score
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Let’s see if Cole can back up his words to his teammates! Could this be the start of Gomez Part 2.
He had a slow start last year as I recall and many were ready to throw him under the bus. Having said that, I don’t think he was playing this bad. He looks like a 65 year old out there at times. In the spirit of optimism, I think he will come around.
This certainly isn’t Gomez Part 2… Cole doesn’t make enough money to qualify for that distinction.
Well I’m not surprised White is still sitting although with the crap Malone pulled last year maybe it wouldn’t have hurt o have him out here
New Hockey Related blog check it out
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
I don’t think Malone is playing
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Well that changes my tune
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
-you are correct -He is on the IR
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I’m going to be interested in seeing Pacioretty with Galchenyuk and Gallagher.
Yeah I hope they get immediate success that way the kids would get more ice time too
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
It is a promotion for the Gallys, I’m sure they’ll see more ice.
Thurston, didn’t you mean to say that:
The FIRST thing you’re interested in seeing is Pacioretty with Galchenyuk and Gallagher.
Or
I’m going to be interested in seeing Pacioretty with Galchenyuk and Gallagher for their FIRST game.
Streak-Killer.
They better win tonight, or it’s all on you.
However, If they DO win… well then… we know what the problem was.