Four fourth lines?

[BaseballCoach]

I know this is oversimplifying, but since I'm talking to Guy Lafleur, simple might be better.

The NHL's Top 90 scoring forwards can be said to first-liners, numbers 91-180 second-liners, 181-270 third-liners and 271-360 fourth-liners.

We have FOUR first line players, and a fifth who almost made it

35th Alexei Kovalev (20th in goals)
48th Tomas Plekanec
69th Saku Koivu (still 1st liner despite slowing a bit, 32nd in assists)
84th Chris Higgins (who said he is OVER-rated here?)

Some more 2nd-3rd line players

98th Andrei Kostitsyn (imagine if he had started well!)
200th Bryan Smolinski (but at 48 games on same pace would be 145th)
200th Michael Ryder
200th Guillaume Latendresse (but 98th in goals scored)

We also have FOUR defencemen in the top 60 (double the "norm")

6th Andrei Markov
11th Mark Streit
39th Roman Hamrlik
56th Mike Komisarek

Thanks Guy for providing the guys with some extra motivation, from what I've heard.

[Namso]

You are looking at points I imagine. So ranking the Dman is not valid.

Same for third and fourth liners who's main roles are not points.

But otherwise, good post.

[BaseballCoach]

Originally Posted by Namso

You are looking at points I imagine. So ranking the Dman is not valid.

Same for third and fourth liners who's main roles are not points.

But otherwise, good post.

I said it was oversimplifying.

It still is impressive that we have four of the top 60 OFFENSIVE defencemen, especially when three of the four are ALSO very good defensively.

But I guess you do agree that we do not have a club of only fourth liners?

[Namso]

Originally Posted by BaseballCoach

But I guess you do agree that we do not have a club of only fourth liners?

Of course.

[Stephen Locke*]

As much as I respect Lafleur,his comments were clearly out of base and ridiculously
insulting and inaccurate.

[TornACL]

The other possible interpretation is that nowadays, the fourth liners are better overall. I mean, a team with only fourth liners is at the 4th rank of the conference, that's STRONGER fourth lines.

[RC51]

I think this whole thing is a bad translation thing.
Lafleur ment to say the Habs have 4 1st lines

[Chazz]

Lafleur was probably drunk when he made those comments

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Chazz

Lafleur was probably drunk when he made those comments

Never mix alcohol with viagra, Guy

[_DrMario_]

Let it go?

[dutchy29]

Guy was just trying to get a reaction out of the players, a strategy used in coaching numerous times thruout the year. Kind of like prove me wrong.

[Evil Ted]

Even still playing aswell as they have there are still people in Montreal who would rather watch this team fail because of the makeup of roster.

Montreal boasts a balanced team who when playing up to there potetial as of late can be great, as long as we avoid any serious slumps we will make the playoffs and possibly do some noise, with young players riding shotgun.