Player Discussion Chris Neil

[KnuckChuckinTkachuk]

I thought MTL had way more intensity with their hits and finished their checks more aggressively then we did. I give them props for putting the little team syndrome behind them..

 

[officeglen]

Healthy enough to play, sure. But is the hand healthy enough to punch PK in the face? Cause if it's not I don't see the point of playing him.

Neil's job in the playoffs is not to fight, which is pointless. It is to take out other players, such as 2007 hit on Drury. Neil has been healthy for a while now

 

[JohnLennon]

Really? As a Sens fan I feel like you are wrong. Montreal seemed to have no problem and even had advantage with hits last night. They played hard. Do i think they are tougher than Ottawa...nope. Does it matter? Probably not. Montreal is tougher than people give them credit for. They added some grit at the deadline which is what they needed. Did they have loads of stickwork last night? Sure. So did we.

I definitely don't think the Habs are tougher than Ottawa. The Sens beat the Habs with toughness two years ago, and their defense can really suffocate a team with physical play.

Playoff hockey is very chippy. The teams both took liberties and both played a physical game. If Subban didn't make a bonehead play, the physicality would've probably been more appreciated.

 

[h2]

The game was clearly even in terms of physcial play if you watched it. The hits statistics simply matched that. Ottawa was credited with 44 hits, so clearly whatever the stat-taker constituted as a hit was counted both ways... Your complaint is just silly.

Regardless, the Habs have some big boys who throw their body around as I mentioned earlier, which you ignored, so I guess you can't really refute that. Can you name the soft players on the Habs roster that you seem to think they are filled with? I can only think of Desharnais and Parenteau, and chances are that PAP isn't even playing next game anyways...

Again - A resident from Montreal is tabulating hits for the Montreal Canadians against the Ottawa Senators. Similarly, an Ottawa resident will do the same for us in game 3. I would NEVER use that statistic in any argument. It's a completely useless stat. It's been well known to be flawed in all the years I've been discussing hockey. Colin Greening had amazing hit statistics last year or the year before, is he a physical player? Anyone that watches Ottawa games regularly would know the answer to that is, hell no.

As for Montreal's roster, outside of Subban/Weise/Gallagher/DSP/Prust. I think their all soft. I still think Subban is a weasel, I believe he's the only guy on that list that would never back up their actions. Maybe Gallagher included, but I respect Gallagher for playing a power game in a small frame.

Those select players I mention have the ability to play tough, but the stickwork from the rest of the roster outside of that list is absolutely ridiculous. I don't consider that tough hockey. A neutral poster on the main boards nailed it on the head:

The Habs have a history of pulling stunts like this. They piss teams off with their stick work and their antics. It's been really effective for them since it throws the other teams off their game. I don't blame them for playing like that, it's been effective. I've seen it firsthand a billion times against the Bruins. It works.

Until someone important on the Habs gets hurt as a result of retaliation (see the Max Pacioretty/Zdeno Chara incident). Then it doesn't work so well anymore.

Wouldn't be shocked to see someone finally snap on Subban this series. Don't want him to get hurt or anything, but you kinda reap what you sow

 

[h2]

Really? As a Sens fan I feel like you are wrong. Montreal seemed to have no problem and even had advantage with hits last night. They played hard. Do i think they are tougher than Ottawa...nope. Does it matter? Probably not. Montreal is tougher than people give them credit for. They added some grit at the deadline which is what they needed. Did they have loads of stickwork last night? Sure. So did we.

I'll give you props for keeping level headed and attempting to be impartial. You're doing something most Habs fans can't.

 

[JohnLennon]

Again - A resident from Montreal is tabulating hits for the Montreal Canadians against the Ottawa Senators. Similarly, an Ottawa resident will do the same for us in game 3. I would NEVER use that statistic in any argument. It's a completely useless stat. It's been well known to be flawed in all the years I've been discussing hockey. Colin Greening had amazing hit statistics last year or the year before, is he a physical player? Anyone that watches Ottawa games regularly would know the answer to that is, hell no.

As for Montreal's roster, outside of Subban/Weise/Gallagher/DSP/Prust. I think their all soft. I still think Subban is a weasel, I believe he's the only guy on that list that would never back up their actions. Maybe Gallagher included, but I respect Gallagher for playing a power game in a small frame.

Those select players I mention have the ability to play tough, but the stickwork from the rest of the roster outside of that list is absolutely ridiculous. I don't consider that tough hockey. A neutral poster on the main boards nailed it on the head:

I love how you call a Bruins fan a "neutral fan" after the Habs beat them last year because the Bruins were overly emotional. Also, you basically just said players like Pacioretty, Emelin, Petry, Beaulieu, Gilbert, Flynn, and Mitchell are soft? Your opinion once again has no value if that's how you think.

In the end, there are numerous Sens fans in here saying the Habs matched the Sens physically, and even outperformed them physically last night. If you watched the game last night, apart from Subban's play there was an equal amount of stickwork from both sides and the physical game was pretty evenly matched, with the Habs probably having a slight advantage. I don't know how you desperately cling to your opinion after all this, but once again: You're wrong.

 

[Boud]

I don't know why people think Montreal has a smaller team than us or not as tough. They have tons of solid checkers like Smith-Pelly, Prust, Weise, Mitchell, Flynn and on defense they have Subban, Petry, Emelin and Beaulieu that can deliver some solid hits. The only player that is softer on their team is Desharnais and also Parenteau but other than that a guy like Plekanec can hold his own, same with Gallagher who's not the biggest guy but can handle himself against bigger guys (like Pageau), De La Rose is also a big kid. Habs are much more physical than they we're in 2013 and they wont have any problem playing a physical game with us anymore, not at all and even in a 7 game serie.

 

[HSF]

stated this before the game but ottawa needs more physicality it is how we beat them last time around and goaltending

Ottawa isnt as tough a team as last time

 

[h2]

I love how you call a Bruins fan a "neutral fan" after the Habs beat them last year because the Bruins were overly emotional. Also, you basically just said players like Pacioretty, Emelin, Petry, Beaulieu, Gilbert, Flynn, and Mitchell are soft? Your opinion once again has no value if that's how you think.

In the end, there are numerous Sens fans in here saying the Habs matched the Sens physically, and even outperformed them physically last night. If you watched the game last night, apart from Subban's play there was an equal amount of stickwork from both sides and the physical game was pretty evenly matched, with the Habs probably having a slight advantage. I don't know how you desperately cling to your opinion after all this, but once again: You're wrong.

I missed Emelin, I can admit. However, I don't view the rest as tough. If that's the criteria for being tough, then there isn't a single soft player in the league. Erik Condra is a heavy-weight with that criteria.

Assuming I concede the whole physical argument (Which I don't), where is this even stickwork on both sides you claim? I honestly would like to be pointed out instances when the Sens equaled the Habs with the stick work. If you can provide this I will admit I was wrong.

 

[DaveMatthew]

There's a few benefits of putting Neil in.

One, experience. He's played 91 playoff games, in every environment and atmosphere, significantly more than any other player currently on the roster. Having a guy like him on the bench and in the room can have a positive impact on young guys like Lazar, Hoffman, Ceci, etc, especially when things get hectic and rough.

Two, he can get other players off their game. That 4th line of Montreal played really well against us. They were able to focus on just playing hockey. Having Neil out there against guys like Prust can get them off their game pretty quickly. They won't be focused on just playing anymore, they're out there with Neil always at the back of their minds. Who's he hitting? Is he getting into scrums? etc. If he is, they have to respond. There's no way they'll let Neil run around out there. The more scrums and facewashes Neil can get them involved in, the better.

 

[h2]

There's a few benefits of putting Neil in.

One, experience. He's played 91 playoff games, in every environment and atmosphere, significantly more than any other player currently on the roster. Having a guy like him on the bench and in the room can have a positive impact on young guys like Lazar, Hoffman, Ceci, etc, especially when things get hectic and rough.

Two, he can get other players off their game. That 4th line of Montreal played really well against us. They were able to focus on just playing hockey. Having Neil out there against guys like Prust can get them off their game pretty quickly. They won't be focused on just playing anymore, they're out there with Neil always at the back of their minds. Who's he hitting? Is he getting into scrums? etc. If he is, they have to respond. There's no way they'll let Neil run around out there. The more scrums and facewashes Neil can get them involved in, the better.

My main concern with Neil is that he hasn't been in a game situation for a long time. He was already getting noticeably slower this year even in game shape. Maybe he'll be fine going off playoff adrenaline? However, I agree with what you say. Neil probably has a role to play in this series IMO.

 

[KnuckChuckinTkachuk]

My main concern with Neil is that he hasn't been in a game situation for a long time. He was already getting noticeably slower this year even in game shape. Maybe he'll be fine going off playoff adrenaline? However, I agree with what you say. Neil probably has a role to play in this series IMO.

Hes been healthy for a while now, and with his hand injury the guy has had plenty of time to work on his skating. Its probably the thing he did the most, and hopefully with it being Round 1 Neiler finds another gear. Unleash the beast!

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

I want him to send a message not do something stupid. Chris is almost done in the NHL and has made his money. I hope he doesnt take the opportunity to do some crazy last hurrah on some hab player

 

[Sensinitis]

Would be a dumb move not to dress him

 

[h2]

I want him to send a message not do something stupid. Chris is almost done in the NHL and has made his money. I hope he doesnt take the opportunity to do some crazy last hurrah on some hab player

Chris is tough, but he's never crossed that line in his career (0 Suspensions). Depending on what side of the fence you're on, that could be a criticism or not. He's a different animal, he's not Matt Carkner. I don't expect Neil to do anything stupid if he plays, if anything happens, it'll be clean.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Chris is tough, but he's never crossed that line in his career (0 Suspensions). Depending on what side of the fence you're on, that could be a criticism or not. He's a different animal, he's not Matt Carkner. I don't expect Neil to do anything stupid if he plays, if anything happens, it'll be clean.

Like i said though. Outside possible off ice legal implications he has nothing to lose.

Money made career nearly done

Gurantee he knows hes being put in to send a message or get back at subban for the slash

 

[Super Cake]

I hope Neil does this to Subban.

 

[dpw]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2cHW0Ai2Ns

Now that I think more of it, Prust will probably want to fight Neiler early on with him fresh from the fridge.

 

[Silvercup Returns]

I hope Neil does this to Subban.

LOL this is amazing

 

[Shanny]

Expect Neiler to do what he does best tomorrow, and that's hit everything, and provide a spark that this team needs right now.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

Game 2 against the Rangers was epic for Neil. Carkner goons Boyle for speed bagging Karlsson the game before. Neil then goes after Boyle again.

Then to top it off, he scores the OT winner.

 

[Xamar*]

Game 2 against the Rangers was epic for Neil. Carkner goons Boyle for speed bagging Karlsson the game before. Neil then goes after Boyle again.

Then to top it off, he scores the OT winner.

For a series we lost there are so many fond moments ... Boyle beatdown- Neil OT- Turris OT- Neil open ice hit on Boyle- Game 5 shutout .......................

 

[source]

Colour me surprised if Chris Neil makes a positive impact tomorrow. I hope he can be effective, but he is not the same player as before.

 

[Silvercup Returns]

 

[Senscore]

Colour me surprised if Chris Neil makes a positive impact tomorrow. I hope he can be effective, but he is not the same player as before.

I'm not the guy's biggest fan but this is usually the only time of year he makes positive contributions.