Player Discussion Christian Dvorak Part 2

[Habs Halifax]

Bergevin went public (leaked) with Danault's demands back in January last year. Danault was not pleased at all.

Bergevin mismanaged Danault and there is no way to spin it. Danault would have not left if we valued him the same as Petry and Gallagher or at least gave him the same respect level. All we had to do was offer him $5.5M for 8 years from the get go but this "He's only worth $4M max and is a 3C" narrative was BS.

When both the GM and fans throw you under the bus, you can't blame the player for wanting out. There are fans in our herd who would criticize Bergevin for this but ignore what they said towards Danault as well.

 

[blarneylad]

Bergevin mismanaged Danault and there is no way to spin it. Danault would have not left if we valued him the same as Petry and Gallagher or at least gave him the same respect level. All we had to do was offer him $5.5M for 8 years from the get go but this "He's only worth $4M max and is a 3C" narrative was BS.

When both the GM and fans throw you under the bus, you can't blame the player for wanting out. There are fans in our herd who would criticize Bergevin for this but ignore what they said towards Danault as well.

Ya that danault contract will not age well. Glad for his success this year though

 

[26Mats]

It's basically some people looking at dvorak's demeanour and body language, and coming up with their own conclusions. We've heard the same stuff about price since he got here.

It's funny because if price plays well, then the narraitive flips to him just "making things look too easy", or that he's "cool as a cucumber".

That's just the way dvorak's demeanour is whether he scores a big goal goal or is responsible for a game losing turnover.

I can't speak for others. I don't have a problem with Dvorak's demeanor. I have my concerns about his lack of footspeed, and how that affects him on the defensive end. Under DD he was often behind the play when other teams scored when he was on the ice. Is that because of DD or because Dvorsk isn't a quality shutdown C? Time will tell. The 12 games he's played under MSL aren't a big enough sample size.

He is good at aspects of the game that require little to no skating: faceoffs, net front presence, shooting from the slot, board battles, ... so those may be enough to find him a role. I still question whether he can be a truly good 3c because in addition to the lack of footspeed he doesn't drive play. So that's why I wonder if he won't be most useful for his strengths on the wing.

 

[JianYang]

I can't speak for others. I don't have a problem with Dvorak's demeanor. I have my concerns about his lack of footspeed, and how that affects him on the defensive end. Under DD he was often behind the play when other teams scored when he was on the ice. Is that because of DD or because Dvorsk isn't a quality shutdown C? Time will tell. The 12 games he's played under MSL aren't a big enough sample size.

He is good at aspects of the game that require little to no skating: faceoffs, net front presence, shooting from the slot, board battles, ... so those may be enough to find him a role. I still question whether he can be a truly good 3c because in addition to the lack of footspeed he doesn't drive play. So that's why I wonder if he won't be most useful for his strengths on the wing.

His attributes are a whole other can of worms. I'm just talking about the "he doesn't want to be here" sentiment trying be passed of as fact.

 

[26Mats]

His attributes are a whole other can of worms. I'm just talking about the "he doesn't want to be here" sentiment trying be passed of as fact.

Yes, I hear you. I've had that debate with people...

I hope we can find the right role for him 5 on 5. He's certainly good at draws and being a net front presence on the pp.

In all honesty, with these last 10 games, I'd like to see what Evan's and Poehling can do as top 9 centers - and what Dvo can do in this spot 5 on 5: Caufield-Suzuki-Dvorak.

 

[ReHabs]

It's basically some people looking at dvorak's demeanour and body language, and coming up with their own conclusions. We've heard the same stuff about price since he got here.

It's funny because if price plays well, then the narraitive flips to him just "making things look too easy", or that he's "cool as a cucumber".

That's just the way dvorak's demeanour is whether he scores a big goal goal or is responsible for a game losing turnover.

I can accept that if he plays well. If he plays not well, then no it’s hard to accept — sorry but that’s how it works. We are spectators, we can only react to what we see.

 

[ahmedou]

Totally irrelevant, I know, all that matters is production and execution on the ice, but man does this guy ever smile? looks like he's always carrying some dark cloud over his head

 

[Habby4Life]

As rough of a season he has had he will easily pass the MOLE for points total this year in less games.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Ya that danault contract will not age well. Glad for his success this year though

I think he will be fine with that contract. He does so much more than the points he is putting up this year and it will be interesting to see if he can shut down the Oilers. Problem is the Kings D and goaltending is not as good as what the Habs had last playoffs.

The only way I see Danault falling is if his skating slips. No signs yet and we have to stop thinking that all 30+ contracts are bad. It's just not the truth

 

[ReHabs]

I think he will be fine with that contract. He does so much more than the points he is putting up this year and it will be interesting to see if he can shut down the Oilers. Problem is the Kings D and goaltending is not as good as what the Habs had last playoffs.

The only way I see Danault falling is if his skating slips. No signs yet and we have to stop thinking that all 30+ contracts are bad. It's just not the truth

He had 1 goal and 5 points in the Habs’ Cup Final run. Total.

He does not much more than what we know he does. He’s not a Selke style centreman no matter how often Arpon Basu insisted saying it. He’s like Plekanec kinda.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He had 1 goal and 5 points in the Habs’ Cup Final run. Total.

He does not much more than what we know he does. He’s not a Selke style centreman no matter how often Arpon Basu insisted saying it. He’s like Plekanec kinda.

I'm a Danault fan and you win games with guys like this on your team. NHL teams need pieces in all areas and Danault was a keeper to me. I said over and over again that he bust his ass off each and every shift and works just as hard as Gallagher. Points come and go from players like this but what they do when they are not putting up points is something most fans don't understand.

Gallagher not putting up points this year looks much worse than Danault not putting up points. Think about that!

Danault was our modern day version of Guy Carbonneau. Good luck finding a piece like that again. Might take another 20 years.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'm a Danault fan and you win games with guys like this on your team. NHL teams need pieces in all areas and Danault was a keeper to me. I said over and over again that he bust his ass off each and every shift and works just as hard as Gallagher. Points come and go from players like this but what they do when they are not putting up points is something most fans don't understand.

Gallagher not putting up points this year looks much worse than Danault not putting up points. Think about that!

Danault was our modern day version of Guy Carbonneau. Good luck finding a piece like that again. Might take another 20 years.

ok relax *might take another 20 years* , without the fluke playoff run last year nobody misses danault anyways.
Danault is not a once in a 20 year player, pleki was much better and we just had him before danault. Honnestly moving on from him was the right move.

 

[Lshap]

I'm a Danault fan and you win games with guys like this on your team. NHL teams need pieces in all areas and Danault was a keeper to me. I said over and over again that he bust his ass off each and every shift and works just as hard as Gallagher. Points come and go from players like this but what they do when they are not putting up points is something most fans don't understand.

Gallagher not putting up points this year looks much worse than Danault not putting up points. Think about that!

Danault was our modern day version of Guy Carbonneau. Good luck finding a piece like that again. Might take another 20 years.

Danault drove me nuts, but it was usually not his fault. No matter how elite his defensive game was, Danault's average offence was a reminder that the Habs couldn't score goals. Danault was like having high-end winter tires on a car that desperately needed an engine.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Danault drove me nuts, but it was usually not his fault. No matter how elite his defensive game was, Danault's average offence was a reminder that the Habs couldn't score goals. Danault was like having high-end winter tires on a car that desperately needed an engine.

He was being asked to play a massive defensive role with the Habs. 60-80% of D zone starts and against the other teams best line over and over again. With the Kings, he is getting closer to 50/50 zone starts and he has a 21 goal season while still being played against the other teams best lines.

Go figure eh? He's not an offensive power type center but he had more offensive skills than our fan base gave him credit for. Reality. Anyways, we are in rebuild/youth movement mode now so I can stomach this loss.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Danault drove me nuts, but it was usually not his fault. No matter how elite his defensive game was, Danault's average offence was a reminder that the Habs couldn't score goals. Danault was like having high-end winter tires on a car that desperately needed an engine.

If LA can contend with Phil Danault as 2C, he would not have held us back.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

DVO showing some zest, a little pulse from the walking dead man he was at the start of the season ! Not gonna lie I've been liking his game

 

[ReHabs]

If LA can contend with Phil Danault as 2C, he would not have held us back.

It helps Danault a lot that LA has Kopitar who is himself a great all-situation player. Suzuki isn’t as good as Kopitar today. So Danault would’ve had a harder go at it here.

“Would not have held us back” is a vague thing to say. Held us back from what Bergevin saw last summer (ie another playoff run) or from rebuilding?

I think for a rebuilding team, Danault isn’t the kind of player you invest in or build around. He’s the kind of acquisition that can push the core over the edge (like Boston with Taylor Hall) but he’s not productive enough to rely on game-in, game-out. Nice guy, hard worker, doesn’t cheat… that’s fine but you don’t break your cap planning for him. (Neither should you break your cap structure for Gallagher or Armia but I digress).

As for contention, as is what Bergevin planned around last summer, the Habs could’ve certainly kept Danault. He made a mistake investing cap space in Gallagher and with the monster Price contract, he boxed himself in and rendered Danault’s position untenable. If you want me to agree that Bergevin made a mistake with regard to Danault, I’d agree. But given the above, I won’t lament his departure.

Anyway, there is nothing more typical, dour, conservative Habs as having a mediocre and underproductive #1 C and having to squeeze production out of him. Aren’t we tired of that?

 

[Tyson]

Dvo is starting to look like a good player. 8 points in his last 9 games.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

If Dvorak was in Carolina instead of Kotkaniemi he’d be the 4th line centre there. I can’t see him being ahead of Aho, Trocheck, and Staal at centre there.

It wouldn't need to be instead of Kotkaniemi. Kotkaniemi could be there in the press box watching Dvorak play.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

It was hilarious watching folks think they knew what we had in Dvorak. I fully admitted to not knowing and was willing to give him (and others) a mulligan under Ducharme. He looks really good.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

It was hilarious watching folks think they knew what we had in Dvorak. I fully admitted to not knowing and was willing to give him (and others) a mulligan under Ducharme. He looks really good.

Dvorak is a solid NHL centre. Not a first liner but can play in the middle six just fine. His contract would be attractive to teams if the Habs wanted to trade him.

 

[HuGort]

Dvorak is a solid NHL centre. Not a first liner but can play in the middle six just fine. His contract would be attractive to teams if the Habs wanted to trade him.

I thought Dvorak was our best player last night

 

[KevSkillz4]

It's not a bad trade after all. But thanks god that the pick is a top 10 protected.

 

[Apfel Struble]

Scoring is wayy up in the NHL this year; the highest since 1995 I think. There might be 40 players over 80 points this season and at least 50 ppg players with a good number of games

With this in mind, I can totally see Dvorak get 50 points next year if he gets some nice wingers or if the PP gets going, he's a good player

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

It was hilarious watching folks think they knew what we had in Dvorak. I fully admitted to not knowing and was willing to give him (and others) a mulligan under Ducharme. He looks really good.

Insane how people were completely discarding what Dvorak had done in the previous years, and just looked at the 20-30 games he played under Ducharme to judge the kind of player he is.