Habs Defeat Isles in OT in Laines Debut

[LaP]

That's next season he doesn't have the paycheck yet,

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

That's next season he doesn't have the paycheck yet,

Yeah, but he already signed the contract. He knows it's coming.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Sat out a couple games 2 different times likely means he’s fighting something nagging. Still roughly producing what he did last year. Not worried but man if you’re hurt, f***ing sit a few so you can possibly heal and not compromise a season no?

 

[Habano]

Xhekaj with likely a career high 21:11 TOI tonight with 5 shots and a few hits. Nice.

Thank you Laine for triggering a fun game

Just wondering, is there a more accurate site than NHL.com to look up TOI. I even heard someone on antichambre (I think) mention he played over 21 minutes. I look at nhl.com and he's listed as having played 18:50. Thx.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

See nichuskin. Val. Took till 25 to break out.

I get the impression Slaf has too many people in his ears. The same thing seemed to happen with Josh Anderson when they tried to “improve his IQ.”

Second half of last yr, he looked like he was playing with instincts

With that said, maybe its just a non linear progression like most have. I go back to a guy like Bedard, what many called a generational player, is having an adjustment period

 

[LV426]

This is a significant concern as Slafkovsky has really regressed from his excellent season last year. To me, Slafkovosky has stopped moving his feet and is trying to play a more cerebral game. He isn't driving the play this year. Someone should sit down with this kid and watch tapes of his play last year and advise him that it was because of his elevated play last year that he was offered that gaudy/rich contract.

Both he and Dach have been the real disappointments this year. Dach has an excuse coming off major knee surgery. Some players never do fully recover. What's Slafkovsky's excuse?

Slaf seems like a different player from last year. Just coasting around with no intensity, not finishing his hits and hardly shows any emotion. He looks like his dog died or something. To me he looks like a clone from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

 

[TennisMenace]

Finally a good win!

Dach and Newhook has been still damn awful!

Newhook did hit the goalpost….almost bagged one.

Slaf seems like a different player from last year. Just coasting around with no intensity, not finishing his hits and hardly shows any emotion. He looks like his dog died or something. To me he looks like a clone from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

He did have a team leading of 6 hits though.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Slaf seems like a different player from last year. Just coasting around with no intensity, not finishing his hits and hardly shows any emotion. He looks like his dog died or something. To me he looks like a clone from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

 

[Heffyhoof]

Why would you get rid of Matheson? Isn’t it too early to get rid of Dach and Newhook?

Or shall we purge every 20 games?

Wow, Dach, Newhook and Matheson have only played 20 games for us? Coulda sworn it was longer.

 

[Runner77]

 

[Guess]

I think Slaf played ok. Arbs, other than that poorly judge play at the blue line that led to his penalty was ok too. I wish Slaf didn't slow down before throwing a hit and just barreled through the player he is intending to hit.

Dach... man, I don't know. I am so sick of him. Every single regime Habs have, there is a small group of players that just can't leave soon enough. Dach, Newhook, Matheson, Dvo, ... Something needs to be done. Hughes needs to be more active. Da playoffs are still possible.

So you're giving up on Dach because of an injury? He was incredible before his injury, the guy is the solution to our 2C. Why so impatient, it's not like we're even close to competing yet. So many posters here with short term memory.

 

[Guess]

I understand the frustration with his play, but I do not see the point of benching him, he needs to play. Similar to Mailloux in Laval, he needs to make up for lost time.

Im not sure about keeping him on that second line, probably best to limit his ice time so he doesn't hurt the team too much until his first step improves.

 

[The Real Timo]

So you're giving up on Dach because of an injury? He was incredible before his injury, the guy is the solution to our 2C. Why so impatient, it's not like we're even close to competing yet. So many posters here with short term memory.

I have a 30 year memory and it's mostly not a good one. And we could be competing if Kenny got off his keister and provided the team with #2 center when Dach went down.

 

[SuzukiSZN]

I have a 30 year memory and it's mostly not a good one. And we could be competing if Kenny got off his keister and provided the team with #2 center when Dach went down.

They’re not competing and aren’t in a hurry to do something drastic for the short term because they are in a… rebuild.

 

[The Real Timo]

They’re not competing and aren’t in a hurry to do something drastic for the short term because they are in a… rebuild.

Meh... what would so drastic about getting a #2 center? Trading Matheson and a pick or overpaying a FA? Where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[Trabdy2]

Really nice to see Laine out there doing his thing. He has a pile of skill and is SUCH a welcome addition to the top 6.

We still need more from Newhook and Dach. Maybe they should be switched.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Meh... what would so drastic about getting a #2 center? Trading Matheson and a pick or overpaying a FA? Where there is a will, there is a way.

Yeah, teams will be lining up to trade us a #2 center. Where there is availability, there's a way.

 

[Heffyhoof]

This is a significant concern as Slafkovsky has really regressed from his excellent season last year. To me, Slafkovosky has stopped moving his feet and is trying to play a more cerebral game. He isn't driving the play this year. Someone should sit down with this kid and watch tapes of his play last year and advise him that it was because of his elevated play last year that he was offered that gaudy/rich contract.

Both he and Dach have been the real disappointments this year. Dach has an excuse coming off major knee surgery. Some players never do fully recover. What's Slafkovsky's excuse?

You really don't watch the same game.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Yeah, teams will be lining up to trade us a #2 center. Where there is availability, there's a way.

It's not like it's one of the most sought out wants from all teams after RHD.

A large amount of teams are looking for a 2C.

 

[morhilane]

He did have a team leading of 6 hits though.

Slaf was leading the team in hits in October, he's currently 3rd. He slowed down at the start of November (right after coming back his injury and losing his spot to a very trash Dach on the 1st line), was back up against Vegas/Utah and then back down again until Tuesday game.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Wow, Dach, Newhook and Matheson have only played 20 games for us? Coulda sworn it was longer.

Sorry are you suggesting you would’ve gotten rid of them last year and that they didn’t play well? Couldn’t be what you’re saying.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

You really don't watch the same game.

Beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[behemolari]

common Laine, its well known finnish men use it as a erectile medication. welcome to teh club

 

[1909]

Good to try anything and everything. Newhook does not impress.
Teams do not give up on first round talent without examining the player first.
As has been posted by others, Dach, Barron, Newhook were "let go" by an astute management team in Colorado and one that was rebuilding with young players in Chicago

Newhook was pretty good when he came back from his injury last season. A guy cannot forget how to play over a Summer. He is more at ease at centre. And Laine and Dach need his speed. Call them 2nd line or 3rd line, I don’t care.

 

[Guiness time]

Im not sure about keeping him on that second line, probably best to limit his ice time so he doesn't hurt the team too much until his first step improves.

I thought Slaf and Dach looked a bit better last night, maybe a bit more engaged. I would like to see them remain on the same line for a few games. Perhaps having Laine be the line driver might take some pressure off of both Dach and Slaf, which might help their confidence. I am really looking forward to tomorrow's game.