Bouillon over Beaulieu: Why?

[Alexdaman]

Because Beaulieu is getting more TOI in Hamilton.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Not a good time to have two inexperienced defence playing in our lineup, its annoying when Bouillon and Murray are both in the lineup over Tinordi but I'm fine rotating Murray/Bouillon on the 3rd pairing until Gorges is healthy.

 

[JLP]

Because Beaulieu is getting more TOI in Hamilton.

We often hear this argument. Let me play devil's advocate and say it's better applied to forwards, eg why have an offensive forward play 8min on the 4th line in the NHL when he could be getting top line minutes and PP in the AHL. But for defencemen I'm not sure the difference is so clear. Of course AHL means higher quantity of TOI, but by quality not at all.

Not a good time to have two inexperienced defence playing in our lineup, its annoying when Bouillon and Murray are both in the lineup over Tinordi but I'm fine rotating Murray/Bouillon on the 3rd pairing until Gorges is healthy.

This is another common argument and I see the point. But the Habs have basically clinched a playoff position so why is this not a good time? Also isn't this argument premised on experienced players playing better and making fewer mistakes? As I noted in the OP Bouillon is last on the team in +/- over a span where we've been winning. I can't see how we gain by playing him over Beaulieu/Tinordi/Pateryn.

 

[Cole Caulifield]

Pairings should be

Markov-Weaver
Emelin-Subban
Who cares

But Therrien's in love with Bouillon.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Our transition game is so much better when he's out there.

I appreciate Bouillon hustle and years of service to the team but it's painful do watch him get burned left and right.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Who's said that in this thread? No one. But you like attention. If you stopped trying so hard to appear smart--you would be.

Your anger is misplaced.

 

[Zephyr666]

Because Bouillon is obviously the player who will score the OT stanley cup winning goal in game 7 against the Blues this year, book it.

 

[Kimota]

It's time.

 

[pine*]

Because bouillon is a better pp player

 

[TennisMenace]

I'm hoping Beaulieu gets called up for playoffs and cube is released at that time.

 

[DAChampion]

They're not going to "release" Cube.

 

[Habs Icing]

To answer your question.

The Red Wings is a team most people on this site wish we would emulate. Until this year one of the things the Wings did was keep their prospects in the AHL until they were fully mature to come up. Some analysts claimed sometimes the Wings kept them in the A past their mature date.

Now I'm gonna go on a limb here. Maybe that's what MB & company are doing here.

 

[Wats]

I think this offseason we'll see that the Habs are the only team in the NHL that will play Boullion in NHL. Same thing we saw for Amstrong.

 

[DAChampion]

I think this offseason we'll see that the Habs are the only team in the NHL that will play Boullion in NHL. Same thing we saw for Amstrong.

Just FYI there are probably 50-100 players not getting a contract every UFA season.

 

[JLP]

I think this offseason we'll see that the Habs are the only team in the NHL that will play Boullion in NHL. Same thing we saw for Amstrong.

What scares me is he gets extended. But if not I agree it is unlikely any other team would sign Bouillon for any role. Yet MT has him playing top minutes paired with the Norris winner ¯\(°_o)/¯

When the season started I thought Bouillon would be our perfect #7 defenceman. His playing style is not great but he could slot into different roles. And he would not mind sitting in the pressbox, doing interviews, mentoring youngsters, signing programs, snacking, being the affable gars de chez nous that he is. Didn't think he'd play so much while our young defencemen remained in Hamilton. Never dreamed we'd be leaning on him down the stretch. MT's perspective on this seems both narrow and warped.