I'm not a firm believer of line changing until finding the rightful combination.
Personally, I'd put Cammy-Gomez-A.Kost and Gionta-Plek-Lats (until D'Ago comes back at least).
Those 6players are currently our most offensively talented players.
I'd keep those lines intact for 10ish games.
I'd keep the Metro-MaxPac-Moen line intact and put Lappy with Pyatt-White.
The 2bottom lines can be either 3rd or 4th depending on their play each game. The 4th line would see very limited ice time as I'd roll mostly 3 lines.
When we're trailing by 1 goal in the 3rd, then I'd put our top 3 together.
At some point, we'll have to let our players play. Switching them around isn't making things necessarily better. Finding short term solutions isn't what we need either.
Plek-Pyatt and White might work for a game or two, but will eventually crumble. So what's the point?..Better off sacrificing a few games in order to get some solid chemistry out of a top 6.
I'm not ready to criticize Martin though. In his fairness, not too many players are giving him any reasons to go with them.
I'm a firm A.Kost defender because of his undeniable skills, but even though he's been playing better, it's useless if he can't produce.
That being said, I don't think putting him along side Chipper and Laraque/Stewart will get him out of his funk.
I think the mistake was made earlier this year, before the season started, when they sent S.Kost down. Not because it affected A.Kost's play or focus, but simply due to the fact we wouldn't have to worry about them building chemistry.
Jacques Martin spoke about duos during camp. I think he complicated his life by sending S.Kost down.
Gomez-Gionta undeniable chemistry. Proven.
A.Kost-S.Kost undeniable chemistry. Proven.
Lats-Laps undeniable chemistry. Proven.
Plek-Cammy was the only unproven duo.
Sending S.Kost down meant A.Kost being a complement. That didn't work out. A Plek-A.Kost duo didn't work out. Lats and Laps were moved around and lost their touch in the process. They seem lost.
The duo theory of Martin turned into one solid trio.
I'm not saying we'd be necessarily better with S.Kost. But at this point, it's tough to argue we'd be worse.
Main reason I'm not ready to criticize Martin though, is because we'd be much better off if we had a healthy roster.
Agreed with most point, especially the bold one. Still I cant help but criticize Martin when you see lines mashed up like this. They make no sense, most of us here can see it. Yes we are not all NHL coaches but to put one of our most offensively talented players on the 4th line again makes absolutely no sense no matter how you look at it.
Cammy - Pleks - Gio
AK - Gomez - SK
Moen - Metro - Laps
Pyatt - Chips - White
Fatty in the stands.
Patches in Hamilton.
------------------------ -------------
Has coach JM ever tried to create balance for the first two lines? (with what we have now?).
_?_Camm/S.Kosts - Gomez-Gionta
Cammelleri/S.Kosts - Pleks - A.Kosts?
Where's Desharnais? (2 more weeks on the injured list or sooner?).
Desharnais is back and has played two games. His first game back, Boucher wanted to give him limited ice time but he worked so hard (during a bad team performance) he ended up being double shifted. His second game back, the big line was back together and clicking like they did last year. Glumac has suddenly started scoring and Trotter looks more alive and it all coincides with the little guy coming back. That line played great the other night and Desharnais was a huge part of that. If he keeps it up and the Habs were looking to call up the most deserving guy, it could easily be DD. He has woken his linemates up, hopefully his presence on the ice gives Maxwell a jolt too.
I think even friggin' Jan Bulis could help us at the moment
fixed.
on a more serious note... Metropolit gets a chance to play there for many reasons. I wish for habs fans to recognize that players like lats and a.kos are killing us instead of looking at the roster and go : ``WHHHHHHHAT metro on the 1rst line?'' ...
he is always one of our best forwards, so why not.
As far as the top two lines are concerned, Martin is simply rewarding guys for giving a consistent effort all game. Martin knows metro, pyatt and white aren't top line players--but at least he knows that they'll skate hard all game long. He might as well give top minutes to guys like that than guys who play half-assed.
As far as the top two lines are concerned, Martin is simply rewarding guys for giving a consistent effort all game. Martin knows metro, pyatt and white aren't top line players--but at least he knows that they'll skate hard all game long. He might as well give top minutes to guys like that than guys who play half-assed.
Andrei has played great, has been backchecking for the first time since he started to play, and what happens? He gets to go on the 4th line.
I almost hope for his own sake that he's going to be traded out of this talent-killer team.
We need to get O'byrne back in the line up for tomorrow. It would help a lot by putting Spacek back on the left side and get one of MAB or Leach in the stands.
Let's wait and see the line combos in tomorrow's practice. I think Martin just wants to try out something or sends some messages to some players (good or bad). I doubt that he'll keep that line combo in tomorrow's game.
David Desharnais is back and has played two games. His first game back, Boucher wanted to give him limited ice time but he worked so hard (during a bad team performance) he ended up being double shifted. His second game back, the big line was back together and clicking like they did last year. Glumac has suddenly started scoring and Trotter looks more alive and it all coincides with the little guy coming back. That line played great the other night and Desharnais was a huge part of that. If he keeps it up and the Habs were looking to call up the most deserving guy, it could easily be DD. He has woken his linemates up, hopefully his presence on the ice gives Maxwell a jolt too.
Thanks, Qui Gon Dave for your (as usual) very informative info on our Bulldogs' farm team.
DD sounds promising. And besides Trotter and Glumac, did you notice anything positive recently from Sergei's game? (I had to ask!).
Funny you call him this, but you have never seen him. I have, and if you think he is fat ? Well you are blind, because he s not fat. Though i would bet that you might be.
imma do what koreans do in these situations: T_T
ak got demoted so he can score a goal on his first shift with chips then be put on 2nd line right after during the game. he has 1 ****ing goal for **** sakes. all this mess better be fixed soon..
OH my Oh my! Pathetic.
