No, Gomez gets all the chances. No one else gets a chance.
Where's thesign Mr. Gomez hasn't the right to lace Plekanec's skates for him IMHO.Let alone be making the dollars he makes and seems uninterested in earning $500,000 a year by his play the last two years.Plekanec is the best center the Habs have until Galchenyuk or Eller are ready to step into a bigger role.
Plekanec is bigger than Crosby, size isn't the issue, the issue is that he has assy faced wingers, like Darche.
Plekanec is not bigger than Crosby...but agreed, size is not the issue with Plekanec.
I think the last 2 years, a big problem with Plekanec is that he's refused to commit himself in physical confrontations, something I always admired about him prior.
Not sure if he's been playing injured the last two years...but he hasn't looked like himself since the 2nd half of the year prior.
I think pleks is the better player , hands down, I'm not, however, convinced he's better offensively than dd. I think dd is a better Passer, has much better offensive instincts and is a borderline wizard creating plays. I can see him going on to having a career similar to ray whitney. Love him or hate him, he creates offense.
Cole/pacioretty have to be spread out, I don't think it's debatable. The overall team success is more important than one very good line, we need balance.
I think pleks is the better player , hands down, I'm not, however, convinced he's better offensively than dd. I think dd is a better Passer, has much better offensive instincts and is a borderline wizard creating plays. I can see him going on to having a career similar to ray whitney. Love him or hate him, he creates offense.
Cole/pacioretty have to be spread out, I don't think it's debatable. The overall team success is more important than one very good line, we need balance.
Until we get a bonafide top-6 winger (or Bourque turns into one), breaking them up will at best, still leave us with only 1 good line and at worst, none
Plekanec is not bigger than Crosby...but agreed, size is not the issue with Plekanec.
I think the last 2 years, a big problem with Plekanec is that he's refused to commit himself in physical confrontations, something I always admired about him prior.
Not sure if he's been playing injured the last two years...but he hasn't looked like himself since the 2nd half of the year prior.
I think the problem is that Plekanec has not only been carrying out the big assignments, but he's also had to drag some linemates along. He had to revive Gionta early in the year. He was given the cold wingers and guys like AK-Cammy were taken off his wing at times. Not to mention, every time one of them suffered an injury, Plekanec was given grinders.
So, I think fatigue, both physical and mental, has more to do with it than injury.
I know I'd be absolutely fed up of having to always deal with the problem wingers.
I think the problem is that Plekanec has not only been carrying out the big assignments, but he's also had to drag some linemates along. He had to revive Gionta early in the year. He was given the cold wingers and guys like AK-Cammy were taken off his wing at times. Not to mention, every time one of them suffered an injury, Plekanec was given grinders.
So, I think fatigue, both physical and mental, has more to do with it than injury.
I know I'd be absolutely fed up of having to always deal with the problem wingers.
I don't agree with that...Ak-Cammy were taken off Plekanec's wings because they weren't producing as a line, curiously, both Cammy & AK played better with Desharnais & Eller, then they did with Plekanec.
I agree that all those heavy minutes have probably caught up to Plekanec...but he's not without blame either.
The very notion of this thread, 'to give Plekanec a chance', is kind of silly considering no other forward saw as much time on the ice as Plekanec last year in all situations.
I mean... it's entirely possible that he slows down, as it's entirely possible that he'll produce to a slightly-below-PPG-pace...
It's like you want to see him fail, which is sad.
Never said I wanted him to fail. If he fails, likely means the team is not doing well also but people seem to have anointed him as the undisputed no1 center in Montreal when it could very well be Plekanec.
I don't agree with that...Ak-Cammy were taken off Plekanec's wings because they weren't producing as a line, curiously, both Cammy & AK played better with Desharnais & Eller, then they did with Plekanec.
I agree that all those heavy minutes have probably caught up to Plekanec...but he's not without blame either.
The very notion of this thread, 'to give Plekanec a chance', is kind of silly considering no other forward saw as much time on the ice as Plekanec last year in all situations.
Well, in the same curious manner, Plekanec had no problem producing himself. He didn't have a problem putting up points, as usual, next to Cammy and AK.
I'm not saying Plek is without fault. I'm saying the reason you think he seems to have shied away from physical play is more likely fatigue.
He started last year strong, as always, with 21pts in 25gp. He gathered 25pts in 32gp, and then RC was placed as coach. The flipflopping became quite ridiculous at that point, and Plekanec was slowly turned into a 3rd center. Being used as a shutdown center more than anything and given poor wingers.
I don't agree with that...Ak-Cammy were taken off Plekanec's wings because they weren't producing as a line, curiously, both Cammy & AK played better with Desharnais & Eller, then they did with Plekanec.
I agree that all those heavy minutes have probably caught up to Plekanec...but he's not without blame either.
The very notion of this thread, 'to give Plekanec a chance', is kind of silly considering no other forward saw as much time on the ice as Plekanec last year in all situations.
actually, A.K. was not producing more with Eller than he was with Plekanec... he may have looker better but that's it, looked better.
as for Cammy well, he played what, 3 or 4 games with DD ?
Pretty sure if you gave him the choice between Ice time and good wingers, he would have chosen the wingers...
be serious for a sec here, we did have a Geoffrion-Plekanec-White line at some point last season, and for more than one game...
He is #1, has #1 minutes, but doesn't have the wingers. Once Gio is back, you'll see his production go up and hopefully Bourque's production too
DD is now our number one center as he is much better offensively. Plekanec is on his way out. He is way too soft to be considered a number one center. Ideally, for a bad team, he can be a second line center.
actually, A.K. was not producing more with Eller than he was with Plekanec... he may have looker better but that's it, looked better.
Indeed he was not producing at the same pace. But he was playing his REAL role on the team instead of trying to play a role unfitting for him with Plekanec.
If AK and Eller would of been kept together, both of them would be getting 40-50 pts next season. The missing ingredient was a better winger on the other side, in the mold of Moen but with better offensive upside.
Offensively, a guy like gio would be the best shooter (great reflexes) we have for the "always be ready for a pass" kind of plays DD does.
BUT two 5'8 guys on the same line ?
OH and this year, with prust/armstrong/moen, Plekanec should hopefully get less TOI and better minutes (probably won't play the PK as much) and his production IMO will show it.
Indeed he was not producing at the same pace. But he was playing his REAL role on the team instead of trying to play a role unfitting for him with Plekanec.
If AK and Eller would of been kept together, both of them would be getting 40-50 pts next season. The missing ingredient was a better winger on the other side, in the mold of Moen but with better offensive upside.
so, you're saying he was producing LESS but it was fitting more for him ? really ?
that's the ingredient Plekanec was missing for most of last season...
We don't have a #1 center, we have to play strength-to-strength. So Pleks will have to continue going against #1's. His offensive numbers will continue to suffer until Eller is ready for the role. DD can't do it. Eller isn't ready yet. Galchenyuk might make the team, but doubt he'd be ready either, but you never know. He's the future #1 tho - FINALLY. When he and Eller are ready, Pleks will take off with easy second line minutes.
Last edited by tinyzombies: 07-13-2012 at 01:31 PM.
Offensively, a guy like gio would be the best shooter (great reflexes) we have for the "always be ready for a pass" kind of plays DD does.
BUT two 5'8 guys on the same line ?
OH and this year, with prust/armstrong/moen, Plekanec should hopefully get less TOI and better minutes (probably won't play the PK as much) and his production IMO will show it.
I'd try Patches - DD - Bourque. Bourque deserves another chance and he's a big guy, therefore it would make up for the loss of Cole on that line. I'd give Cole to Pleks, and maybe Gio with those two? However, we definitely need another top-6 guy. It's a definite need, 'cause we can't give Eller shi* for another season. He needs good guys beside him to develop properly, and we don't have a lot to offer to him right now if we settle the two top lines like I set them.
Unbelievable, Plekanec is too soft, shies away from contact, on his way out, not good enough offensively, DD is better? It's sad how fans in Montreal don't realize how much they have a gem of a player in Plekanec.
He's played very well with Gionta. However he doesn't score lots with Gionta because that pairing only got put together to play big defensive minutes as befits the team's best defensive center playing with its best defensive winger. Bigger than either normally play which is saying something.
Cammalleri-Plekanec-Gionta weren't lighting it up but they matched up against top units about equal while taking loads of defensive zone faceoffs. With that kind of set up your other lines should score enough to make up the difference.
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gionta was also one hell of a line when it played together in 2010-11.
As I keep saying, you have to track roles and not just scoring to understand line usage.
Why break up one of the only good things from last year??? Damn, people - a little common sense!
Wanna bet that they don't spend more than 25 games together?
I'm breaking them up because I want a balanced offensive squad. The Habs had 1 line that could put up points. You think that teams don't notice that kind of stuff and won't put their best shutdown line against them?
The reason why I put Bourque with DD instead of Plekanec is because Plekanec plays the tougher minutes and Bourque won't be able to produce against them. If he plays with DD, who faces softer minutes and has easier zone starts, Bourque will do just right hitting 25 goals and 50 points.
Never said I wanted him to fail. If he fails, likely means the team is not doing well also but people seem to have anointed him as the undisputed no1 center in Montreal when it could very well be Plekanec.
Plekanec is certainly not the undisputed no. 1 center in Montreal. I don't think DD is either, but he's closer to that status ATM.
I know this is my first post so I don't want to sound like a know it all type, but, I have to ask: do some people on this board watch the games or only the highlights? Or just look at the stats? Or watch l'anti-chambre and get their opinions there? I mean no disrespect but based on some of the comments, I have to ask.
Deharnais: -played with the 2 best wingers most of the season.
-played on PP.
-in fact, was used strictly (almost) as an offensive player.
He had 60 points
Pleks : - played with..........mostly a bunch of nobodys (offensively speaking)
- played against the best most nights
- had a defensive role every night
- always on penalty kill, last wave of PP. (Please don't talk about his time on the blue line. That was a joke and everybody knew it except for the coaches.)
He had 52 points.
He had 8 lousy points less than our supposed first center.
If the Canadians get rid of this guy because of 1 good year by Desharnais, it will come back and haunt them.
I like Desharnais, but he's not as good as some people think, not yet anyway. It's just 1 season.
And all this for only 8 pts gap?
Hopefully Therrien will use him wisely and not defensively.
Pleks is the No.1. He's just so solid at both ends of the ice. It'd be nice to see him play with some talented linemates though.
I think with Gionta back maybe stick Cole with Pleky and Gionta for awhile and see how it works and stick that frigging Bourque with DD and Patches. I hate to break up that trio but we need to get more production up and down the lineup. I swear that little dangler could turn me into a 10 goal scorer.
Could you just imagine the unrelenting hustle you'd see out of a Cole, Gio Pleks line!?!?!
I'd even give Eller a chance in lieu of Bourque on the wing. At least on the PP. He hasn't looked awesome on the wing so far but another couple games wouldn't hurt. He's got more drive and talent in one finger than Bourque has in his whole body.
Line up Gomez as our third line center if he's not disposed of by the start of the season.
I know this is my first post so I don't want to sound like a know it all type, but, I have to ask: do some people on this board watch the games or only the highlights? Or just look at the stats? Or watch l'anti-chambre and get their opinions there? I mean no disrespect but based on some of the comments, I have to ask.
Deharnais: -played with the 2 best wingers most of the season.
-played on PP.
-in fact, was used strictly (almost) as an offensive player.
He had 60 points
Pleks : - played with..........mostly a bunch of nobodys (offensively speaking)
- played against the best most nights
- had a defensive role every night
- always on penalty kill, last wave of PP. (Please don't talk about his time on the blue line. That was a joke and everybody knew it except for the coaches.)
He had 52 points.
He had 8 lousy points less than our supposed first center.
If the Canadians get rid of this guy because of 1 good year by Desharnais, it will come back and haunt them.
I like Desharnais, but he's not as good as some people think, not yet anyway. It's just 1 season.
And all this for only 8 pts gap?
Hopefully Therrien will use him wisely and not defensively.
Great first post. It says what needs to be said.
Only thing one would need to add is Desharnais' poor numbers on the road.
I really hate the Plekanec vs Desharnais talk because they both are very different kinds of players and both have their uses but from every underlying stat I've seen it's clear Plekanec is still the best overall C on the team and it's not that close.
Really the only numbers that favour DD are points and +/-, and when you take into account context the latter is useless and the former is surprisingly close when you consider their respective roles on the team last year. And Desharnais was really not good at all when it comes to possession.
It still makes sense to use DD in an offensive role and Plekanec in a two way one, because the latter is a near-elite two way player and Desharnais isn't, but he has plenty of potential as an offensive player. But on a team with little offensive depth, to monopolize most offensive talent on one line is a bad idea unless we are talking multiple PPG players, which isn't the case.
It seems like a lot of people have forgotten all that Pleks has done for this team in the past 5+ years. He was given a defensive mission and he accomplished it. He has been a scorer when given the chance, he's a phenomenal passer and tbh he has pretty decent finishing. He is a valid candidate to be the captain (if Gio wasn't already) and has stood by this organization being a leader. We are lucky to have him, to have drafted and developed him and it will be a sad sad day if he leaves. For those who don't think he's produced offensively, delve a little deeper past last season and also consider the role of a two-way forward (and a damn good backchecker at that). He is not the problem. Bourque not being what he's supposed to be IS the problem. Fix that and watch that line's production be dangerous (with a healthy Gio).
I shudder at the thought of our PK without him at the top of the diamond or whatever formation we're using. Everyone knows he was frustrated by all the bs surrounding the team last year. He's a serious guy and wants to win. He's not just playing for a contract. He's playing for us to win.
sign Mr. Gomez hasn't the right to lace Plekanec's skates for him IMHO.Let alone be making the dollars he makes and seems uninterested in earning $500,000 a year by his play the last two years.Plekanec is the best center the Habs have until Galchenyuk or Eller are ready to step into a bigger role.
It's sad how fans in Montreal don't realize how much they have a gem of a player in Plekanec.
