1. We finished first
2. How many fights in the playoffs?
(What part of Laraques' game stood out to you the most in the playoffs?)
Strange post.... 1) ignores the playoffs as unimportant 2) ignores the regular season as unimportant. What's left?
It's true that we finished 1st in the regular season. It's also true however that our top players were routinely physically abused by other teams goons, who knew we could not protect them.
It's true that the playoff does not see many fights, but it's ALSO true that the playoffs sees an increased emphasis on physical play. We were eliminated in the second round by a much stronger physical team this past season you will recall. Laracque is big and mean and he can play.
I'm not suggesting we can't win without him. What I >AM< suggesting is that we'd be an even better team with him.
I've always thought that the higher end, your top players are, the better fit you are for a premium tough guy. Good teams, team effort teams whose best players aren't truly elite, need contribution from all 12 forwards so it's harder to fit them in.
Still, if it's Laracque, I'd be really tempted. I think he has the demeanour that the team may need. He seems to be a bit extroverted and what I think is an introvert dominated team. [though I have no access to team physch reports]
I don't buy into teams not hitting Kovalev/Koivu anymore. It just doesn't worh that way despite common perception. Pests love nothing more than getting a Big Georges chasing them around.
What I do see is less strain on a Komisarek, even a Markov with after the whistle stupidity. Lucic will run around and hit anything that moves, that's fair play. If you don't want guys to deal with him after the whistle, whoever you send out has to win the fight. If you think winning the fight is important, sign him, but you'd have to have a more dependable shutdown guy then. Maybe a Holik would play ahead of Chipchura or Lapierre.
I wouldn't consider this anywhere close to the top of the priority list, but I can see many potential positives.
Alternate Laraque and Laps depending on when the heavyweights are in town. I'm caught between a fart and a poo when it comes to the Kosto/Begin thing. Both deserve to play more than half the time, which isn't possible I guess, but:
Kosto/Begin - Chips - Laps/Laraque
or
Begin/(insert your guy here) - Chips - Kosto/Laraque
or
Begin/Kosto - Chips - Laraque (full time... heck, he can kinda play)
That's a lot of pretty cheap yet effective pieces to play with on the 4th line.
I wouldn't consider this anywhere close to the top of the priority list, but I can see many potential positives.
Alternate Laraque and Laps depending on when the heavyweights are in town. I'm caught between a fart and a poo when it comes to the Kosto/Begin thing. Both deserve to play more than half the time, which isn't possible I guess, but:
Kosto/Begin - Chips - Laps/Laraque
or
Begin/(insert your guy here) - Chips - Kosto/Laraque
or
Begin/Kosto - Chips - Laraque (full time... heck, he can kinda play)
That's a lot of pretty cheap yet effective pieces to play with on the 4th line.
We'll have to trim our 4th liners... Chipchura needs to play, we have Begin/Kostopoulos who have contracts (although IMO Kosto is most deserving), I want to see Stewart and D'Agostini this year have some playing time, and I don't know why but I think that Lapierre and Laraque would be fit to play together... Lapierre could make his antics more, Laraque would be there if there's too much trouble, and for hockey play well Lapierre IMO is underrated around the net, he's a real pest to contain, and Laraque would just have to park his huge frame in front of the net...
Strange post.... 1) ignores the playoffs as unimportant 2) ignores the regular season as unimportant. What's left?
It's true that we finished 1st in the regular season. It's also true however that our top players were routinely physically abused by other teams goons, who knew we could not protect them.
It's true that the playoff does not see many fights, but it's ALSO true that the playoffs sees an increased emphasis on physical play. We were eliminated in the second round by a much stronger physical team this past season you will recall. Laracque is big and mean and he can play.
I'm not suggesting we can't win without him. What I >AM< suggesting is that we'd be an even better team with him.
Laraque could be useful. For instance vs the Bruins and Lucic. He'd be a 13th forward with very limited icetime when he does play...but he'd have a far better impact than Dandenault on the boys. McCarthy had a great impact on the wings.
Laraque could be useful. For instance vs the Bruins and Lucic. He'd be a 13th forward with very limited icetime when he does play...but he'd have a far better impact than Dandenault on the boys. McCarthy had a great impact on the wings.
Indeed, Kovalev was virtually invisible against the Bruins because of the physical way they played him. Stick Laraque with him and suddenly he has a lot more elbow room.
We'll have to trim our 4th liners... Chipchura needs to play, we have Begin/Kostopoulos who have contracts (although IMO Kosto is most deserving), I want to see Stewart and D'Agostini this year have some playing time, and I don't know why but I think that Lapierre and Laraque would be fit to play together... Lapierre could make his antics more, Laraque would be there if there's too much trouble, and for hockey play well Lapierre IMO is underrated around the net, he's a real pest to contain, and Laraque would just have to park his huge frame in front of the net...
Well, when you consider that Begin probably can't play 82 games, we don't need Laraque for 82 games (although not the worst thing to try), Laps/Kosto's roles are in limbo (Kosto even moreso if Laraque DID come), and that all have contracts, something like what I described is entirely possible.
Yeah, I know. I think a bunch have this (valid) concern. But IF you are shopping for a guy to fit the enforcer role AND you want someone that can possibly contribute and play all year, you'd be hard-pressed to find much better than Laraque out there. Not super rare, but not a bad option either... for the right price.
11:13 a.m. Laraque in talks with Nashville on a three year deal worth close to 1.5 million. Montreal has also made a offer. It's believed Laraque has offers from two others teams. More details as they come.
11:13 a.m. Laraque in talks with Nashville on a three year deal worth close to 1.5 million. Montreal has also made a offer. It's believed Laraque has offers from two others teams. More details as they come.
I would'nt mind having him at all. 1.5 would be my limit though.
If we do get him, we would have a log jam on the 4th line.
Lapierre, Chipchura, Laraque, Kostopoulos, Begin and Dandenault.
Waste of money/cap space. A guy who'll play 8 minutes a game and be scratched half the time, just so we can play pointless games of "my goon is bigger than your goon"?
Seriously, does that really improve the Habs?
At least he's strong on his skates and good at protecting the puck, so he won't be completely useless on the fourth line.
I started this in the Sundin thread, but thought it was legit enough for it's own....
Hearing a lot of Georges Laraque's name today around Habs radio discussions, inculding some saying don't be surprised if he's a Hab tomorrow. Anyone else hear anything? If we can get him for 1.5, I'd say go for it.
SIGN!! HIM!!! NOW!!! for the love of the bleeding chara.
no thanks! we dont need to toughen up or anything. we are fine they way we are grit wise and besides, like Laraque could keep up with his linemates. The Habs are to fast for him.
no thanks! we dont need to toughen up or anything. we are fine they way we are grit wise and besides, like Laraque could keep up with his linemates. The Habs are to fast for him.
no thanks! we dont need to toughen up or anything. we are fine they way we are grit wise and besides, like Laraque could keep up with his linemates. The Habs are to fast for him.
Nope, sorry we aren't fine in those categories, and it does hurt our game. We will never win the cup without attaining more toughness.
You saw it in the playoffs last season...guys allowing the opposition to get to the corners first due to not wanting to be checked hard...losing battles in the corners, mostly due to that.
The wear and tear from the first series was bad enough, we then played another tough team in the Flyers and it became too much. The small guys take too much poundings and it has an effect.
Guys like Laraque can always help in that regard, and it saves Komi and certain other guys from having to possibly get hurt while fighting.
Next, having a guy like Laraque makes the others on the team play with less restraint. They'll be more willing to stand up for each other and play that much tougher, simply because they have less to deal with and worry about.
The Habs have always won with toughness on their teams.....the young guys of today, you new fans and all, always talking about team speed etc etc.....we have loads of that already...you have to have a healthy mix and blend of everything to succeed. Until we arrive at that point, we can finish first all we want to, but when you get into 7 game series', you realize we're missing ingredients.
Nope, sorry we aren't fine in those categories, and it does hurt our game. We will never win the cup without attaining more toughness.
You saw it in the playoffs last season...guys allowing the opposition to get to the corners first due to not wanting to be checked hard...losing battles in the corners, mostly due to that.
The wear and tear from the first series was bad enough, we then played another tough team in the Flyers and it became too much. The small guys take too much poundings and it has an effect.
Guys like Laraque can always help in that regard, and it saves Komi and certain other guys from having to possibly get hurt while fighting.
Next, having a guy like Laraque makes the others on the team play with less restraint. They'll be more willing to stand up for each other and play that much tougher, simply because they have less to deal with and worry about.
The Habs have always won with toughness on their teams.....the young guys of today, you new fans and all, always talking about team speed etc etc.....we have loads of that already...you have to have a healthy mix and blend of everything to succeed. Until we arrive at that point, we can finish first all we want to, but when you get into 7 game series', you realize we're missing ingredients.
Amen to that. I couldn't agree more...I believe you are right on. I mean, look at Detroit: speed, toughness, skill, defense....they have it all, including the cup.
Nope, sorry we aren't fine in those categories, and it does hurt our game. We will never win the cup without attaining more toughness.
You saw it in the playoffs last season...guys allowing the opposition to get to the corners first due to not wanting to be checked hard...losing battles in the corners, mostly due to that.
The wear and tear from the first series was bad enough, we then played another tough team in the Flyers and it became too much. The small guys take too much poundings and it has an effect.
Guys like Laraque can always help in that regard, and it saves Komi and certain other guys from having to possibly get hurt while fighting.
Next, having a guy like Laraque makes the others on the team play with less restraint. They'll be more willing to stand up for each other and play that much tougher, simply because they have less to deal with and worry about.
The Habs have always won with toughness on their teams.....the young guys of today, you new fans and all, always talking about team speed etc etc.....we have loads of that already...you have to have a healthy mix and blend of everything to succeed. Until we arrive at that point, we can finish first all we want to, but when you get into 7 game series', you realize we're missing ingredients.
Agree as well. Any team that can have Dandenault in their lineup in the playoffs (playing forward) can afford to have a guy like Laraque.
Nope, sorry we aren't fine in those categories, and it does hurt our game. We will never win the cup without attaining more toughness.
You saw it in the playoffs last season...guys allowing the opposition to get to the corners first due to not wanting to be checked hard...losing battles in the corners, mostly due to that.
The wear and tear from the first series was bad enough, we then played another tough team in the Flyers and it became too much. The small guys take too much poundings and it has an effect.
Guys like Laraque can always help in that regard, and it saves Komi and certain other guys from having to possibly get hurt while fighting.
Next, having a guy like Laraque makes the others on the team play with less restraint. They'll be more willing to stand up for each other and play that much tougher, simply because they have less to deal with and worry about.
The Habs have always won with toughness on their teams.....the young guys of today, you new fans and all, always talking about team speed etc etc.....we have loads of that already...you have to have a healthy mix and blend of everything to succeed. Until we arrive at that point, we can finish first all we want to, but when you get into 7 game series', you realize we're missing ingredients.
Exactly.
This team has missed a legit, resident enforcer for way too freaking long. There are other benefits as well, which I've outlined a thousand times throughout the years, so I won't repeat it here since people keep on missing the point.
he has been to the Stanley cup finals .
