I wholeheartedly agree with the bolded section, but to me a true cup contender needs another top flight C. I think Plekanec is a perfect 3rd line C on a cup contending team, capable of centering a line that not only shutdown the opposition but take the game to them. With smaller players like Gallagher and Gionta on the wings, I just don't see a future for DD at center on this team, as much as I like him.
A 1-2-3 punch of Galchenyuk, Stastny, Plekanec would be as good as any in the league. I think Stastny has better offensive game than Plekanec, and I think his decrease in point production has more to do with the wingers he's been getting then drop-off in his play (see Plekanec, Tomas - 2011/2012 season). If not Stastny, I still think we need a top flight offensive C to go with Galchenyuk.
Just have a look at Statsny $$$ on CapGeek. No way we have the cap space for him. He's making 6,6 milion.
And he is not that great anymore. The guy has less than 60 points per year the last two seasons. Plekky's number.
They are going to have to buy out Kaberle anyways at some point. He is dead weight on the team, there just isnt any room for him. I understand wanting to have some depth for insurance in case Markov gets injured again, but having someone taking up so much cap space like Kaberle is, doesnt make any sense.
The Boston-Montreal game will definitely be looked upon by Habs fans as Huge in the overall picture(Contender/Pretender).No matter what the outcome the team is playing way better than I expected and the hope here is they win playing Hab hockey. Regardless the Sabres will be looking for revenge after Saturday's game on Thursday, following the Bruins game Wednesday night.Boston hasn't played since Sat.they play the Habs on Wed.then they play Sat. against Tampa in Boston that's a pretty nice schedule for them when Tampa plays on the road against Phil./Tues.,NJ/Thurs. and Boston/Sat.So whatever happens Wed. I just want our team intact,no injuries or suspensions and focused on the real prize (Winning Hockey as a team)
Boston's light workload this week will catch up to them at some point in this season's compressed schedule. Unless the Habs incur an injury in Boston the Habs will have a full roster against Buffalo. They survived back-to-back games this past weekend, so the Sabres shouldn't count on an easy win.
I agree to an extent, but if the opportunity arises to get a true #1 centre, I'm willing to go all-in. If DD, Beaulieu, and a 1st (or something similar) can get me a Backstrom or a Stastny, I think the Habs become true contenders.
IMO that's too big an if. Why would those teams make such a trade?
I wholeheartedly agree with the bolded section, but to me a true cup contender needs another top flight C. I think Plekanec is a perfect 3rd line C on a cup contending team, capable of centering a line that not only shutdown the opposition but take the game to them. With smaller players like Gallagher and Gionta on the wings, I just don't see a future for DD at center on this team, as much as I like him.
A 1-2-3 punch of Galchenyuk, Stastny, Plekanec would be as good as any in the league. I think Stastny has better offensive game than Plekanec, and I think his decrease in point production has more to do with the wingers he's been getting then drop-off in his play (see Plekanec, Tomas - 2011/2012 season). If not Stastny, I still think we need a top flight offensive C to go with Galchenyuk.
Stastny would not find high scoring wingers to complement him on the Habs, assuming that the best are assigned to Galchenyuk.
Regardelss of the toughness quotient White deserves to be in the line-up more then Armstrong.
Other then springing Gally on a breakaway last game Colby has contributed absolutely nothing in all the games he's played so far, at least White generates some chances.
And also for the opponents with his penalties, sad to say.
I hope the Habs gonna catch them in the standing and also send them a strong message about what the team is made of and willing to make to win.
In the last few years (not last, of course), every time the Habs were at very close range of the Bruins in the standings, they were losing that 4-point game, and wre going downhill afterwards (series of losses).
Well you have to admit Corson,McPhee,Robinson,Nilan could play on any team today with the skill level they had. Kordic is a waste of roster spot in today's league.
Corson was better than Lucic will ever be
McPhee is a more talented Prust.
Robinson Hall of Fame top 10 D-man all time.
Nilan is today's Chris Neil.
It's going to be a hard game. Boston is very good on faceoffs. Best in the league if I'm not mistaken. Bergeron is one of the best. Very well rounded player and very underrated around the league.
They're a deep team, too. It's never easy against Boston and I don't expect this game to be any easier.
It's going to be a hard game. Boston is very good on faceoffs. Best in the league if I'm not mistaken. Bergeron is one of the best. Very well rounded player and very underrated around the league.
They're a deep team, too. It's never easy against Boston and I don't expect this game to be any easier.
Would have agreed on that a couple years ago. Now? This guy is getting so overrated it's not even funny. Very good 2nd line center that's doing a very good job defensively and good for 55-65 points a season. But there are other guys of this level in this league. He benefits from the guys around him as much as the opposite IMO. Also saw this ridiculous poll about whether your team would take Bergeron or a 1st overall pick earlier this year. Laughed my butt off at this one.
Laraque's best days were far behind him when he donned the CH. He'd been on a steady decline and had openly spoken about not enjoying his role. He went through the motions... Look at a Colton Orr and what he does for the Leafs. I'm not suggesting use the guy (I said MacIntyre) on a regular basis, but against the Bruins, why not? Ask the Sabres if they think Scott is useless.
And yes sometimes there are situations in every player's career where they have to drop the gloves. Even Nick Lidstrom did it...
Bruins have pushed the Habs around for a long time - Chara jumping Latendresse, Chara on Pacioretty, guys running at Subban, beating up non fighters in Spacek, Hamrlik, and Pyatt...
When the Habs were respectable they had Kordic, Corson, Robinson, Nilan, McPhee, and others to neutralize the Boston teams. No reason we couldn't have a heavyweight to help Prust.
Orr plays something like 7 minutes a game and his line spends most of the time hemmed in their own zone being scored on. We don't need that for 10-15 fights a year.
: 
, just hope for a great win!
