Quote:
Originally Posted by PricePkPatch
I said it yesterday, I'll say it again..
I miss Lapierre  he perfected the art of psychological warfare |
Every time Im considering a 4th line center... I kind of miss the guy... He's essentially been a better fit than most who came after him.
I know many dont miss O-bi Wan... But I miss him too whenever I am considering a physical defenceman.
Desi
Pleks
Eller
Lapierre
would have been nice IMO.
Gorges - Subban
Kaberle - O'Byrne
Emelin - Diaz
Weber
IMO looks a lot better as well.
I know they dont seem like significant moves, but that was the part of the Gauthier regime I honestly didnt like very much...
In retrospect, Bournival is a good prospect to date, and the 5th eventually turned in to Mara for the run last year (another guy I didnt mind, because of his ability to play with size)...
But the problem was a failure to find roles on this team at times... Many professional players walk in to Montreal in the Gainey era, and essentially took a dump here. IMO the team had a problem overcoming the hurdles it takes to 'rise above' and be successful. Czerkawski, Samsonov, Perezhoghin, Lapierre, Higgins, Ryder, et al... the list is literally huge.
Something WAS wrong with the schematic design of our system here. I think the crux was truly last summer... The way our preperation was handled.
This year, a blank slate means a new chance. For all the crap slung at Molson this year, he did EVERYTHING IMO I would possibly want out of him... Things had to be done, and he's doing the right thing.
#1 -- The hidden agenda crap that at times got painfully obvious at times, like not respecting Koivu's tenure enough to even speak to him upon his leaving (an example of this is his quote immediately after the trade involving Gomez, when he said he is excited about possibly returning to the Habs and playing with Scott on the team).
The Kirk Muller saga... We lost the advantage of a good fresh coach there... I never did understand WHY he couldnt of gone to Hamilton and become coach... But the mindset was all there. Lots of snubbery going around (to be brutally honest), which in Gauthier's regime was beginning to look more irrational than ever.
I'll put it one way... If Im Geoff Molson... I dont want a guy who is attempting to come in with the aura of 'understanding' the Montreal market... I want a guy who is attempting to come in the door & win some Lord Stanleys.
That's gotta be the new agenda of the entire grouping... Im willing to let the entire thing grow if that's what it takes... But really, the negative energies that essentially gets thrown out by the front office over the Gainey regime, far outweighed the positives, which were more prominent in the beginning 1/2 of the Gainey regime.
I want a guy who is going to come in, and will put the 110% effort on the team, and NOT worry so much what the media does and does not catch.
I want a guy who is 'in on the action' meaning, able to capitilize on the odd surprising good deal from time to time (there usually are a few a year).
I want a guy who can be much more open to the team... Not be so secretive, and rebuild the trust the team is supposed to share in eachother. It starts from the top on down...
Patrick Roy for example, IMO is not going to be so secretive over the team... I believe it may just get a bit more open.
It may have been under a microscope at times in Montreal with the media... but if anyone can take one thing away from Guy Lafleur and his quotes... when asked about the whole Cunneyworth thing at the height of the embarrassing protest over his hiring... Lafleur was asked what should Cunneyworth do... "Win."
Winning transcends the BS that comes with mediocrity.
Sometimes, I expect my GM/Coaches to be accountable, or speak of a situation that has happened, and not a thing comes out of Montreal. That veil has got to go.
Gainey/Gauthier... many feel have done good or bad... Either way, to me it's just there. The ONE GIANT positive I take out of their era, is that they have left a pretty darn good opportunity for the next GM to take the reigns and turn the corner to success once again.
There already is a significant amount of nice pieces here,
I truly DONT think it will take that much to get us back on top again... We're in a true situation where we were affected by the glaring holes around the line up...
IMO for example, the lack of faith in the 4th line C, gave too many responsibilities to Plekanec, and IMO resulted in his slippage on 5/5 play. (compounding the revolving door on his wingers situation).
We have seemingly a gap in the 4th line talent on this team...
Plekanec, Desharnais & Eller all put up respectable numbers from a top 3 line situation... (points wise).
Desi was a much better player by the end of the year than he was in the beginning even... He has significant offensive talent, however I dont think he's ever going to merge in to a defensive guy handling PK minutes as well.. Cole and Patches, not only feed off of DD's playmaking abilities, they also definately offset the size DD gives away to the opposition's center.
Eller I think he did a very good job covering the 3rd line c role this year. 16 G 12 A off of a relative 3rd line role, while playing significant portion of defensive minutes, is pretty darn good on the young guy... Furthermore, he's that much closer to breaking out to the player he will be. The big plus is he gives us the size back, esp. when he adds the muscle and weight in the next coming years.
Pleks bleeds bleu/blanc/rouge. It is entirely apparent that he is a for the good of the team type. and can play any minutes you give him, But probably is in a scenario where he needs a less is more role on the team. Less minutes (i.e. NOT LEADING ALL FORWARDS in EVERY TOI category) will improve his game.
TBH, I liked Nokelainen's game as # 4 C... & we have Engqvist, Dumont,Nattinen, Fortier, as prospects who may be ready next year.... I would not be surprised if one of these guys would be ready to fulfill a 4th line PK specialist role as soon as next year.
I dont remember very many definable roles being given to guys outside the top 6 however for a while... That was a huge problem IMO to the chances this team had of going anywhere.
Gomez IMO, was a settled issue here. We at least had guys in place that will cover the performance.
