this year folks, lord stanley, come on. We are the same team as last year
Let`s get one thing straight, you can`t turn 10 years of poor drafting, atrocious player development, some questionable timely
deals, and most of all NO IDENTITY AND NUCLEUS IN PLACE, and expect this ship to turn around overnight. This is not the NBA where one DUNCAN ping pong ball , or NFL where free agency and good drafts( where most picks play right away, and stars can be found in later rounds). In this league you must develop the core, usually through drafting( except Vancouver where their core was acquired in deals involving young players who weren`t used poperly elsewhere) , then you make those tinker deals to get you over the top. But without the core
you go nowhere. YOU CAN`T SPIN YOUR WHEELS FOR 10 YEARS AND
THEN SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND BECOME A CONTENDER OVERNIGHT.
We are not ready to take on the stronger teams in our conference.
We have too many small finesse players who must produce offensively
or they do NOTHING FOR US. Most of our players do not play well without the puck , too many turnovers, we need 110% to beat the better teams in this league.We are forcing people to play above thier heads. QUINTAL, RIVET( way overpaid) are not top 4 Dmen. Audette, Perrault, Ribs, are not ideal top 6 forwards . We have to be patient folks
Gainey will do the job in time , but we need to establish a core first.
I think when a healthy Koivu is in the line up we have a decent core. If the early season play of Ribiero, Souray & Ryder is consistant with what is to come our core, imo looks good for the future.
I agree with Geeman. Bob Gainey, even with all the trust we put in him, cannot can’t turn things around overnight. It will take time, but for now (2003-2004), the Habs will have to play over their heads and work harder than the other teams just in order to make the playoffs. It showed last night against Philly. They’re in the top tier of the league and they are faster, stronger and bigger (how about just plain better) than us. Saku’s return will make us an improved team, but
a) don’t expect him to be at full speed for at least 8 – 10 games after his return
b) he cannot carry the entire team on his shoulders. Even if some players are carrying their weight, others aren’t.
That’s why our “Stanley Cup” this year is to make the playoffs – anything more would be gravy. Beating Boston tonight would be a step in the right direction. (At least a split vs Boston, and I'll be happy).
Only thing I'm looking for this year is an honest effort each night and playing the players that deserve it. So far guys like Audette, Sundstrom and Perreault are doing nothing to earn their ice time. Heck I'd be ready to bet that Higgins would improve our team over Audette. Get that weak useless player out of here Bob.
ok. I don't think we're as bad as everyone was making us out to be, by the media. Right now, losing 2 games in a row most of them will be like "the habs are coming back to earth now" or whatever. It's usually the media that has people believing we aren't as good as we are, and they overrate alot of other teams and underrate ours, which isn't good.
But we are 5-4 after 9 games. Most people probaly had us at 4-5 or 3-6 after 9. With Koivu, Kilger and Langdon yet to play. When they get back in the lineup, then i think we'll be a much better team. I honestly think we can get to the playoffs with the way the team played early in the year and I still think we are capable of playing the trap very effectively like that.
It's still early and no need to panic. I know with our fast start people were saying "its still early" but losing 2 games in a row now, I still say its way too early to tell, and this team is better then how they played in the last 2 games.
However negative your post may seem, I agree. Anyone who expects be the cream of the crop within such a short time is setting themselves up for disappointment and frustration. We are supposed to be knowledgeable fans here in MTL, but with the amount of hype that surrounds each win, you'd never know it.
Like the players say in their boring interviews, "try not to make your highs too high and your low too low."
I never felt that the core of players that S. Savard and Houle left A.S. was a proper winning Eastern Conference team. A.S. did a good job patching up the holes for the first year, but was caught admiring his work and left the team too much as is.
Drafting has been spotty at best, but we did get some good players (I will not bother to mention names). As for the future, without some groundbreaking trades, it will be a good while before we get the line up that would have continued success in our conference.
The hirings and moves that Gainey has made are a foundation to better hockey. Pro scouting by real scouts. Development from coaches that are shaping talent into a system.
These are good things, so I think that if the media types at 110% and elsewhere don't get to upset and turn the fans against the Habs, we will see better days.
Only thing I'm looking for this year is an honest effort each night and playing the players that deserve it. So far guys like Audette, Sundstrom and Perreault are doing nothing to earn their ice time. Heck I'd be ready to bet that Higgins would improve our team over Audette. Get that weak useless player out of here Bob.
Here here!!! I agree on all except Perreault, as much as he floats against tough teams, he still has a use for the Habs. Plus he doesn't ***** to the media about his ice time.
About Audette, like Peca said "if Chow was french....."
In my opinion, Audette is the one withe the "visage de Porc Frais" a la Michel Bergeron!!
Only thing I'm looking for this year is an honest effort each night and playing the players that deserve it. So far guys like Audette, Sundstrom and Perreault are doing nothing to earn their ice time. Heck I'd be ready to bet that Higgins would improve our team over Audette. Get that weak useless player out of here Bob.
Once again this year we have the same problem. Bob knows that guys like Audette, Sundstrom and Perreault aren't bringing much to the table. Other gms knows that too.
Audette was offered free via waivers last year and there was no takers. Why should his value raise now? Because Ryder made him look good for a few nights?
Sundstrom is making too much money for what he gives. Hard to trade. Or he can be shipped to another team if Gillette pays 1/4 of his salary, like S-J did with Montreal.
Perreault is the only on the 3 you mentioned that have some value. We can get a player in return or a 3rd pick at best. But who can we get for him? Another Sundstrom? Or another Witehall, Juha Lind or Jim Montgomery? No, thanks.
I guess it's better to have no players in return if they are not useful to the team now. Better have picks and give ice time to Higgins, Langdon, Kilger and Plekanek.
In my opinion, Audette is the one withe the "visage de Porc Frais" a la Michel Bergeron!!
When Audette scores, he have his smiling face kind of “checkez-moé chu bon, assez frais chié”. But now he have (more than ever) his sad "visage de Porc Frais" to quote Michel Bergeron. Audette knows pretty much he his in a slump, he have no security gap, his trading value is close to none, nada, niet. And his GM is the same that shipped him away 2 years ago. Except for his salary, I wouldn'd want to be in his shoes.
Here here!!! I agree on all except Perreault, as much as he floats against tough teams, he still has a use for the Habs. Plus he doesn't ***** to the media about his ice time.
About Audette, like Peca said "if Chow was french....."
In my opinion, Audette is the one withe the "visage de Porc Frais" a la Michel Bergeron!!
I would agree that Audette and Sundstrom are a more pressing problem than Perreault for the Habs and would also add that the only REAL problem is with Audette. I beleive he's finnished as a player and don't think I'll have to take that back later in the year. Problem is, 6M sitting in Hamilton for 2 years is kinda extreme...
this year folks, lord stanley, come on. We are the same team as last year
Let`s get one thing straight, you can`t turn 10 years of poor drafting, atrocious player development, some questionable timely
deals, and most of all NO IDENTITY AND NUCLEUS IN PLACE, and expect this ship to turn around overnight. This is not the NBA where one DUNCAN ping pong ball , or NFL where free agency and good drafts( where most picks play right away, and stars can be found in later rounds). In this league you must develop the core, usually through drafting( except Vancouver where their core was acquired in deals involving young players who weren`t used poperly elsewhere) , then you make those tinker deals to get you over the top. But without the core
you go nowhere. YOU CAN`T SPIN YOUR WHEELS FOR 10 YEARS AND
THEN SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND BECOME A CONTENDER OVERNIGHT.
We are not ready to take on the stronger teams in our conference.
We have too many small finesse players who must produce offensively
or they do NOTHING FOR US. Most of our players do not play well without the puck , too many turnovers, we need 110% to beat the better teams in this league.We are forcing people to play above thier heads. QUINTAL, RIVET( way overpaid) are not top 4 Dmen. Audette, Perrault, Ribs, are not ideal top 6 forwards . We have to be patient folks
Gainey will do the job in time , but we need to establish a core first.
As usual, the flavor of the day comes out.. and today's flavor is: Bringing expectations down to Earth.
Why make these observations the minute we lose "2" games in a row? I mean, weren't these observations worth making while we were winning or do they get buried in the flavor of that day: Theo is God.
I actually agree with most of what you say. The problem is, I'm just tired of people continuously coming out the minute a streak happens to put forth their comments.
Anyways, to sum it up: My expectations of the Habs this year isn't a "horrible last place finish" or a "miraculous playoff run" but just something in between. We're getting some rookies in the lineup and building a system that revolves around the players we have available which is more than I can say about many teams (talk about wasted talent in Washington and Philly). I am always hoping to see a W at the end of the day but I'll be happy if we reach 80+ points.
And as many others have echoed, "Come back soon Koivu!"
I would agree that Audette and Sundstrom are a more pressing problem than Perreault for the Habs and would also add that the only REAL problem is with Audette. I beleive he's finnished as a player and don't think I'll have to take that back later in the year. Problem is, 6M sitting in Hamilton for 2 years is kinda extreme...
Who cares how much money is wasting away in Hamilton. It's always better that it wastes away in Hamilton than in Montreal, which is exactly what is happening right now.
I still can't believe guys like Komisarek and Higgins are back down.
What I expect from this team - as I would from any other professional sports team - is a fair return for my investment. Over the past five years, I haven't even broken even in that regard. I'm not talking necessarily just about money. I'm talking about rooting for a team - that takes time, effort and committment. I'm not naive enough to think they'll win every night or any such thing but I always expect them to put in the effort, each and every game - all game long! So I cannot help but feel short-changed after season's like last year - also embarrassed, humiliated and frustrated. Because these guys, who are making tons of money and playing for the Montreal Canadiens hockey club, sometimes just do not seem to give a d*amn! It makes me mad and sad, in equal degrees.
What I expect is a team with players who WANT to play; who WANT to win! If I wanted to waste my time supporting a bunch of keystone bumblefarts, I'd be a Rangers fan.
All I ask is they play like pro hockey players and never give up!
I'm disappointed in their current play but I hope that it's just a blip on the radar and they'll revert to their earlier form. However, in the meantime, it's sometimes not going to be pretty - like tonight probably!
I agree on all except Perreault, as much as he floats against tough teams, he still has a use for the Habs. Plus he doesn't ***** to the media about his ice time.
