[buddahsmoka1]

Originally Posted by Whitesnake

Strange though. Our defense is fine as it is but Campoli, a guy NOBODY had signed on September 25th, would have make a BIG difference?

Big difference in relative to the Habs' defense situation, yes I believe so. For the reason, in your own words, "He'd be sending a couple of guys 1 spot down and THAT'S somehow a difference maker."

Starts with the lack of transition game that either experience or lack of talent is all about.

This is actually the number 1 thing that was addressed this season, with the additions of Campoli, Emelin, and Diaz.

Starts also with the lack of physicality of most guys back there.

Hammer really doesn't make much a difference in this context.

Would Hamrlik solutioned everything? Of course not. But he'd be sending a couple of guys 1 spot down and THAT's somehow a difference maker. We HAD to sign him. And if we would have done it, I can ASSURE you that most people who are defending the Habs not signing him, would have been defending the Habs for doing it.

I wanted to sign him, read any of my posts from the offseason regarding the defense, and Wiz and Gill should have been let go for different reasons, while Hammer should have be resigned.

But the last sentence just doesn't make much sense. Hammer was massively ridiculed last season, for reasons I have no idea why, he was a typical scapegoat. Besides Spacek, he was the most bashed defensemen on the team, by a long shot. So to make any claim that people would have done this, or done that, is unfounded, because bottom line, is most people have a thing against Hamrlik, not the other way around.

Again, if your point is to say that there's not a lot of difference between Hamrlik and a lottery pick, I can tell you that there's not a lot, this year, a difference between everybody in that D squad, except Subban, and a lottery pick either.

Simply put, Montreal is not a lottery team. Sorry, not a chance, they will never finish in the bottom 5 of this league with the talent they have, and the coach they have. Not a chance. And any claim that they are only X away from being a lottery pick is completely exaggerated and melodramatic.

But sometimes it's just a matter of improving, 'cause that's your goal, and playing it safe when needed. If you want to improve this year, the org. went for the question marks year as far as the D is concerned.

I would consider the two sentences here contradictions. Hamrlik is a stop gap, that would be the definition of playing it safe, not improving.

Do I think they need to acquire a bonafide top 4 defensemen that is young, and has upside? YES, definitely. But Hamrlik is not that player, and the team by and large can do what they need to do without him.