I dont see Gomez at all in our lineup unless he gets moved to a wing, he has no place on the 3rd or 4th line, it's pretty ridiculous.
Especially when Bergevin told the press that Gallagher had a chance to crack the lineup. Unless he trades someone like Bourque and burries Gomez in the minors but I doubt it. I'd give Bourque a chance with Michel Therrien as the coach, he's a big body and if he wakes up we're in business.
I'd get rid of Gomez and try something like this
Pacioretty - Plekanec - Cole
Bourque - Plekanec - Gionta
Moen - Eller - Gallagher (if he has a strong camp)
Prust - White - Armstrong
Then readjust from there if Bourque is useless and Gallagher performs, he gets promoted to second line.
Not an all star lineup but the bottoms lines are gritty, even though Gallagher is small he plays like a bulldog.
I still think we need another top 6 winger, Bourque is more cut out for the third line. I could see Gomez having some success (ie. 30-40 points) in the role I have him pegged in.
So if Gomez is useless in today's NHL, what does that make Bourque???
BTW, it is Gomez' contract that is the problem. If he were making $2 mill & playing the third line, he wouldn't even close to being the most targeted Hab, by fans & media.
Maybe not, but he DOES have that contract, and he DIDN'T play well enough to usurp 3rd (or even 4th) centre duties from Eller (and Nokes), and in fact the Habs had to move him to the wing just to find some way to shoehorn him in there somewhere and get some labour for their investment - and that didn't work either. At least Bourque is a winger, who is also physically built for the role of gritty winger. Should prove easier to motivate an uninterested/unengaged Bourque than somehow make Gomez good enough to compete in the NHL these days.
I really, really didn't like the Bourque acquisition, but now that he IS here, I'm more inclined to include him in my lineup brainstorms than Gomez.
I still think we need another top 6 winger, Bourque is more cut out for the third line. I could see Gomez having some success (ie. 30-40 points) in the role I have him pegged in.
Armstrong will not be out of the lineup, I'm pretty confident he will bounce back from his injuries this season and will be pretty entertaining to watch.
Maybe not, but he DOES have that contract, and he DIDN'T play well enough to usurp 3rd (or even 4th) centre duties from Eller (and Nokes), and in fact the Habs had to move him to the wing just to find some way to shoehorn him in there somewhere and get some labour for their investment - and that didn't work either. At least Bourque is a winger, who is also physically built for the role of gritty winger. Should prove easier to motivate an uninterested/unengaged Bourque than somehow make Gomez good enough to compete in the NHL these days.
I really, really didn't like the Bourque acquisition, but now that he IS here, I'm more inclined to include him in my lineup brainstorms than Gomez.
Even though you agree that Gomez' effort is better than that of Bourque's, you would play Rene over Scott??? That is the wrong message to send to any dressing room.
BTW, if it were my choice, neither would ever wear a Habs jersey again.
People are being unfair with Bourque. He had a 21 goals season in 08/09 in 58 games, then two seasons of 27 goals. Last season he was pretty useless but there's a chance he bounces back unlike Gomez, he's done, he had his chance last season.
People are being unfair with Bourque. He had a 21 goals season in 08/09 in 58 games, then two seasons of 27 goals. Last season he was pretty useless but there's a chance he bounces back unlike Gomez, he's done, he had his chance last season.
Even though you agree that Gomez' effort is better than that of Bourque's, you would play Rene over Scott??? That is the wrong message to send to any dressing room.
BTW, if it were my choice, neither would ever wear a Habs jersey again.
First of all, it's not like I'm alluding to consistent effort from Gomez, because that didn't happen either. Sure, he had more hustle, but you could bring anyone up from the AHL and surely they'd hustle. All the hustle means nothing, though, if you don't really have any impact on the game (WOW look at him carry the puck up the ice... until he gets to the blueline... and dumps it off to the boards/corner... and peels off for a change... every time). Without offensive production (which Gomez doesn't seem capable of any more), Gomez is absolutely nothing. The same isn't exactly true of Bourque.
But ultimately the choice I'd make is the same as your own. I would, however, try harder to remove one guy (Gomez) from the equation before the other if forced to choose between them.
I like those lines. I just feel bad for Pleks having to play with Bourque and Gionta but it's not like we really have any other options right now.
Why sorry for him playing with gio? Gio is a good winger bourque can be good when he wants to ... gallagher put some weight on this year I can see him cracking the lineup out of camp this year
Why sorry for him playing with gio? Gio is a good winger bourque can be good when he wants to ... gallagher put some weight on this year I can see him cracking the lineup out of camp this year
You're right. Forget what I wrote. Gionta ain't bad.
I'm not sure if Therrien is the type to experiment with vets, but Gomez should be tried on the wing simply because there is a logjam of centers who deserve to play at center more than he does. Although I do not believe that experiment will go too well, since top 6 wingers do usually have to score goals to earn their keep...and we all know Gomez has a lousy shot AND is a pass-first guy.
After the Eller signing, here is the current lineup. $7.5M remain for Subban, Palushaj and Diaz. If Gomez is buried, the available cap increases to $14.9M.
FORWARDS
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Scott Gomez ($7.357m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Rene Bourque ($3.333m) / Lars Eller ($1.325m) / Travis Moen ($1.850m)
Colby Armstrong ($1.000m) / Ryan White ($0.688m) / Brandon Prust ($2.500m)
Louis Leblanc ($1.170m) / Petteri Nokelainen ($0.575m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Andrei Markov ($5.750m) / Josh Gorges ($3.900m)
Tomas Kaberle ($4.250m) / Alexei Emelin ($2.000m)
Francis Bouillon ($1.500m) / Yannick Weber ($0.850m)
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($6.500m)
Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,672,976; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $7,527,024
Patches-DD-Gionta-spreads out the scoring and this line worked with Gomez at center.
Bourque-Pleks-Cole-if Bourque puts in the effort could be a second scoring line
Moe-Larry-Curly -three stooges checking line
Prusty-Nookie-Whitey-fun!
Gomez? He's not here.
Who replaces Gomez's salary? If I am Molson, there is no way that I send Gomez to the minors if there are no suitable replacements for his cap. I am convinced that Bergevin is not interested in signing an average 2nd liner for more than 2 years, and it is why he passed on Parenteau and why he will pass on Semin.
Gomez is a major problem, but it is a problem with an end in sight. Much like Spacek was, but in that case the decision was to fix the problem by greating an even bigger one. Let's please stop doing that, ok?
A few things come to mind before trying to post a lineup for next season
1) we have 6 natural right wingers, but only 2 natural left..Pacioretty and Moen
2) on the right wing, only Cole is a top 2 scoring line forward, maybe Gionta could bounce back, but i'd rather see a bigger, more creative guy on the 2nd line.
3) I can't see Gomez making the team....he would have to outshine Desharnais and Plekanec in training camp and pre-season ( if he's still around ? ), to bump either of these 2 out of their spots, and I can't see it happening. + factor in Therrien's opinion of Gomez before even being named coach and you have a lose-lose situation.
4) with Gomez out of the picture, not being bought out + Subban's and Diaz's contracts which will be combined for what ? Maybe 5 mil$ next season ?, we could potentially have close to 10 mil$ cap space.....
5) with that much cap space, I can imagine Bergevin working real hard to move players to get a legit top 6 left winger, maybe a right winger also.
6) if there is no way he can get his hands on a top 6 winger ( that's a high probability at the beginning of the season), i would like Therrien to give a legitimate shot to Bourque and play him with Cole, see how that works....I think Cole played an enermous part in Pacioretty's come-back this season....not just because of his offensive contribution, but just by his leadership role, his way of handling himself, ......I think that when you see the old beat-up ,bruised guy keep on banging, driving the net, taking a beating..getting up and starting all over again with a grin, that's got to have some kind of positive influence on you. Maybe that's what Bourque needs...at least, it's worth giving it a shot.
7) Now that Bergevin has brought character players known to be effective on the p.k, I expect Plekanec to get some relief from these duties and therefore be more effective on his offensive minutes. So I hope that he gets his spot back as the 1st center and plays with Pacioretty on a regular basis, can/could/should have a great productive season if he stops being given different linemates every other game
8) Don't know what to expect from Eller ????......I love his guts and energy, but he has these brain farts when passing the puck that make me question if he should stay as a center or if he should be converted somehow to a winger, because the guy clearly can shoot the puck. At the beginning of the season should be with Prust and Armstrong on the 3rd line ( again 2 right wingers ???).....should be a fast skating bruising fun line to watch.
So , like I said at the beginning, too many variables right now I think to make a mock lineup, can't wait till training camp
