I've been noticing that most of the oppsosing players have been going from the outside, Especially when its spacek, and gill. The coaches on the other team must be telling the players to go from the outside and beat them with speed and rush to the net. This seems to be a common strategy since its been happening a lot lately. Has anyone noticed that or I'm I wrong?
Gill is a pylon and has been forever. He is great on the PK because he doesn't need to move much and his reach and size are a huge advantage, but in any other situation he is prone to getting beat.
I've seen it happen to Picard a few times too. It was from bad positioning in his case.
Gill, Hamrlik and Spacek should alternate taking a game off. This would allow the Habs to play Weber and give some much needed rest for the aging D-men. I'm surprised JM hasn't opted for this solution yet since its clear they're already tired and it's not even mid-way thru the season. They'll be dead come playoff time.
Gill, Spacek and Picard have been getting walked around all year long. This team gives up more breakaways, partial breaks, and odd man rushes than the majority of teams. They have the good fortune that Price played superhuman for the first 30 games of the year and it masked a lot of problems. Basically if Price plays anything less than exceptional, the team generally will lose because they give up probably 5 GREAT scoring chances a game meanwhile rarely getting similar quality ones.
To be honest I liked the way both Gill and Subban played on a line together. Gill was able to stay back deeper while Subban took the risks defensively. Usually since Gill was back already and Subban would be rushing back the person wouldn't have much room to make a nice play.
I think right now the lines defensively just aren't working. Even Gorges hasn't seemed that great this year with Gill. It's time to split them up. Keep the special teams together but something has got to give.
Maybe something like this:
Hammer-Weber
Gill-Subban
Gorges-Picard
(Bench Spacek a couple games and put Picard with a solid guy like Gorges a mentor of some kind)
It's not even that I think Spacek has been as bad as people say he is, he's just the most inconsistent defenseman we currently have.
I know Weber as a top 2 sounds nuts but I find he's better defensively than Subban and would compliment Hammer well. Also if Gill indeed does remain a pylon and keeps getting exploited you could always put Spacek on his natural side Spacek-Subban and Gorges-Gill as the 3rd paring with limited ice time. Then Picard is benched and Hammer-Weber stay the top 2. I know it doesn't sound ideal but something needs to be shaken up.
Benching Subban or sending him to the AHL would destroy his development at this point. If anything I'd say Picard/Spacek should be the #7 rotating into the line up as a #6 and Weber and Subban should have almost a guaranteed spot.
Subban loses us games now, 3 years from now he wins you Stanley Cups. You don't bench a player with that kind of upside.
Nothing new. Been saying this for a year - usually getting flamed.
People have been saying how great it would be to get a solid 2way puck-moving d-man all year. Problem is people have a "right now" mentality and I've been saying this all year, as a huge habs optimist that I am, this isn't our year. Next year and the following years are. It's this upcoming UFA period which will really determine if we're a contender or not.
I believe we will pull a Pittsburgh and sign 2 solid d-men and the rest will be history. Offensively if we had better puck movers and more mobility on the back end we'd have more offensive output from our top 6. We don't need to acquire a top 6 forward because even if Pouliot/Pacioretty at this point max out as top 9 forwards (I doubt it tbh) they can still fill the void in the top 6 for cheap if necessary.
Habs will be going after a Kaberle/Ehrhoff/etc and maybe even another top 4 d to go with. Gauthier isn't an idiot we have tremendous potential going forward this just isn't our year and people on HF expect us to give up quality assets in order to make it our year. That isn't how dynasty's or real contenders are built. It will only make us barely a contender to do that when in reality we can keep quality assets and in the off season make ourselves contenders for years to come rather than just this post season.
So I don't believe anyone is saying you're wrong really, just that some people want things to happen now and that just isn't viable. Be happy we have a GM who hasn't given up quality assets for a UFA plug.
What do I think of the proposed pairings? Not much different from the present ones. I'd ask the dealerto hit me with three new cardss. I'm tired of shuffling deuces and treys and pretending they're face cards.
Gainey didn't give him a lot of wiggle room. He had to try and build a million dollar defence with a 10 cent budget. The one guy who may have helped the team a bit this year was traded because Martin wouldn't play him.
So you disapprove of trading Halak for Eller and re-signing Plekanec. You wouldn't have done those things. What would you have done? Perhaps ypu've forgotten that Markov's salary was on the books, so there was virtually no cap room for FA signings. By the time Markov was injured the FA and trade markets were closed. In light of reality your post is emotional but embarrassingly devoid of content.
So you disapprove of trading Halak for Eller and re-signing Plekanec. You wouldn't have done those things. What would you have done? Perhaps ypu've forgotten that Markov's salary was on the books, so there was virtually no cap room for FA signings. By the time Markov was injured the FA and trade markets were closed. In light of reality your post is emotional but embarrassingly devoid of content.
No. I'm not saying all his moves are bad, just knowing him living in Ottawa and following that team closely I know what he's about.
I agreed with trading Halak over Price, but the return was just not enough. Re-signing Pleks was a no brainer, IMO.
No. I'm not saying all his moves are bad, just knowing him living in Ottawa and following that team closely I know what he's about.
I agreed with trading Halak over Price, but the return was just not enough. Re-signing Pleks was a no brainer, IMO.
He can't hold a gun to the other GM, if nobody will trade a young star forward/d-man for Halak, you can't force them to do so.
I would have loved E.Johnson and Oshie ahead of Eller and Schultz, but I'm sure there was no chance in hell St.Louis was doing that. There were a ton of UFA goalies and a few others possibly available by trade(Quick/Bernier, Schneider?) for the right price.
I'd rather have a young guy that will be here 5-6 years than flip Halak to TB for a Malone or San Jose for a guy like Murray with little upside.
He can't hold a gun to the other GM, if nobody will trade a young star forward/d-man for Halak, you can't force them to do so.
I would have loved E.Johnson and Oshie ahead of Eller and Schultz, but I'm sure there was no chance in hell St.Louis was doing that. There were a ton of UFA goalies and a few others possibly available by trade(Quick/Bernier, Schneider?) for the right price.
I'd rather have a young guy that will be here 5-6 years than flip Halak to TB for a Malone or San Jose for a guy like Murray with little upside.
Is it possible to NOT defend everything he does?
Atlanta traded a prospect and a 1st round pick for Byfuglien - you're saying we could not have gotten more for a #1 goaltender?
Not surprised the D is in shambles ATM. I don't blame management for not having the foresight to prepare for a string of Markov injuries that have only allowed him to participate in a measily 50 - 60 games over the last 2 1/3 years. Hey, but he got to play in the Olympics.
Hamrlik / Spacek / Gorges have had to carry the workload. They've had to do it while grooming inexperienced or atrociously challenged d-men. I don't include Gill because he was injured too last year for a lengthy period of time and isn't much help 5 on 5. That workload plus an extended playoff run is catching up to a few guys.
Maybe Martin could make some adjustments that would benefit everyone but he's in a tough spot to do so. I'm sure PG is watching closely but Markov's injuries certainly have made it hard to plan for the present and the future.
Having said all that the slow pokes only allowed 17 shots to the now conference leading Dallas Stars. And the offense is another story. Seems like something is going to have to give after the trade freeze but I refuse to ridicule some d-men who have worked their arses off the last few years and probably while dealing with their own injuries.
Atlanta traded a prospect and a 1st round pick for Byfuglien - you're saying we could not have gotten more for a #1 goaltender?
I think this is a disingenuous argument.
Halak was coming off a terrific playoff performance, but the league has seen plenty of temporary sensational netminders. Halak wasn't a proven #1. Average #1 netminders are not hard to find. Consequently, the market for unproven starters or for average netminders is limited.
Byfuglien, on the other hand, combined versatility, Cup-winning experience, massive size, solid skating, and a proven track record at both wing and defense to be--at worst--a physical presence capable of putting up secondary offense. He's a unique player, with an interesting skill/physical attribute mix.
Obviously, Byfuglien's value wasn't what it necessarily ought to have been given Chicago's circumstances, but I find him to be a far more desirable commodity and known commodity than Halak at the end of last season.
...
Further, I find the premise of this criticism difficult to reconcile in and of itself. I think Eller, as a bluechip prospect, is indeed better than the prospect/first rounder that Atlanta dealt for Byfuglien. So your question in and of itself could be answered: well, yes, Halak was worth more, which is why Gauthier got more.
Atlanta traded a prospect and a 1st round pick for Byfuglien - you're saying we could not have gotten more for a #1 goaltender?
I don't defend everything he does, but we got great return on Halak considering the goalie market last summer. Saying he should have gotten player X or player Y doesn't magically make it a possibility.
Atlanta overpaid big time, so far it's worked out, but let's see how it plays out. NHL GM's always overpay for guys with size and skill, just look at the Malone contract and what Edmonton gave up to get Penner(as RFA).
Not surprised the D is in shambles ATM. I don't blame management for not having the foresight to prepare for a string of Markov injuries that have only allowed him to participate in a measily 50 - 60 games over the last 2 1/3 years. Hey, but he got to play in the Olympics.
Hamrlik / Spacek / Gorges have had to carry the workload. They've had to do it while grooming inexperienced or atrociously challenged d-men. I don't include Gill because he was injured too last year for a lengthy period of time and isn't much help 5 on 5. That workload plus an extended playoff run is catching up to a few guys.
Maybe Martin could make some adjustments that would benefit everyone but he's in a tough spot to do so. I'm sure PG is watching closely but Markov's injuries certainly have made it hard to plan for the present and the future.
Having said all that the slow pokes only allowed 17 shots to the now conference leading Dallas Stars. And the offense is another story. Seems like something is going to have to give after the trade freeze but I refuse to ridicule some d-men who have worked their arses off the last few years and probably while dealing with their own injuries.
I don't think they should be ridiculed, but we need to add a top 4 d-man as soon as possible to take some heat off Gorges, Spacek and Hamrlik. Gill is fine as #5 and Subban should be #6. Picard is ok in stretches but he's cost us a lot of goals lately. Even yesterday on Benn's breakaway, he was not there to cover Gorges.
Last edited by Monctonscout: 12-22-2010 at 10:37 AM.
Gill, Spacek and Picard have been getting walked around all year long. This team gives up more breakaways, partial breaks, and odd man rushes than the majority of teams. They have the good fortune that Price played superhuman for the first 30 games of the year and it masked a lot of problems. Basically if Price plays anything less than exceptional, the team generally will lose because they give up probably 5 GREAT scoring chances a game meanwhile rarely getting similar quality ones.
Don't quite agree with that. Yes Price was phenomenal for the first 30 games and true he's cooled down a bit, but the defense was also much better, not giving up odd-man rushes every other shift like now, or giving up the crease so easily. Forwards were supporting the puck carrier much better as well. There's a generalized mini-crisis in this team that affects everybody, domino style, with guys trying to cover for others while others cheat. It's up to the players to figure it out, start trusting each other on the ice again, get back to basics and regain focus.
Gill is the most obvious culprit, but both Spacek and Hamrlik struggle at times as well.
All three are able to hide it pretty well most of the time (experience and positioning being huge factors), but at least a few times again you see how hard it is for them to keep up with younger quicker guys.
For the way we play, you'd think that improving mobility on the back-end would be priority #1, and makes the O'Byrne trade even more puzzling... Martin loves his vets.
Interesting to see how it plays out in the summer, I think we can keep 1 of Gill/Hamrlik (assuming Spacek isn't tradeable), but I wouldn't keep either unless they take a considerable pay cut.
Gill is the most obvious culprit, but both Spacek and Hamrlik struggle at times as well.
All three are able to hide it pretty well most of the time (experience and positioning being huge factors), but at least a few times again you see how hard it is for them to keep up with younger quicker guys.
For the way we play, you'd think that improving mobility on the back-end would be priority #1, and makes the O'Byrne trade even more puzzling... Martin loves his vets.
Interesting to see how it plays out in the summer, I think we can keep 1 of Gill/Hamrlik (assuming Spacek isn't tradeable), but I wouldn't keep either unless they take a considerable pay cut.
Nothing against Gill, but at this point I'd pay 3.5 mil for Hamrlik before re signing Gill even at 1 mil.
