Speculation: Habs heavily scouting Flyers

[FrozenSherbet]

I'm not sure there's a NHL fanbase that irrationally hates players on the team they cheer for more than the Habs fanbase.

As much as it pains me to say it, there's a pretty vocal segment of the Flyers fan base that's exactly the same way. It wouldn't be so painful if it didn't include so much of their media. It isn't as bad as the Habs as Philadelphia is a smaller hockey market, but I definitely get where you're coming from.

 

[Lebowski]

I'm not sure there's a NHL fanbase that irrationally hates players on the team they cheer for more than the Habs fanbase.

In general, I haven't seen any irrational hate for any Habs player.

Some people take it to the extreme, but Pacioretty gets criticized for good reasons, and certainly doesn't take enough flak from the media.

The reason he gets criticized is because everyone knows he can give a lot more to this team. The annoying part is that it really comes down to his effort level and willingness to do what's required of him to be successful. It's not that he doesn't have the talent. And he'll say those nice things in front of the camera, while sporting the C on his jersey. But he can't walk the walk.

 

[Frank Drebin]

In general, I haven't seen any irrational hate for any Habs player.

Some people take it to the extreme, but Pacioretty gets criticized for good reasons, and certainly doesn't take enough flak from the media.

The reason he gets criticized is because everyone knows he can give a lot more to this team. The annoying part is that it really comes down to his effort level and willingness to do what's required of him to be successful. It's not that he doesn't have the talent. And he'll say those nice things in front of the camera, while sporting the C on his jersey. But he can't walk the walk.

I'd like to see how he plays without the weight of the c weighing him down before trading him as what he "can" bring is difficult to replace, but you're right, the criticism is him is deserved.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

In general, I haven't seen any irrational hate for any Habs player.

Some people take it to the extreme, but Pacioretty gets criticized for good reasons, and certainly doesn't take enough flak from the media.

The reason he gets criticized is because everyone knows he can give a lot more to this team. The annoying part is that it really comes down to his effort level and willingness to do what's required of him to be successful. It's not that he doesn't have the talent. And he'll say those nice things in front of the camera, while sporting the C on his jersey. But he can't walk the walk.

Every single fanbase has segments that hate some of their own players irrationally. It's certainly not exclusive to a Montreal, but that doesn't make it logical. You're talking about a sampling of millions of people and NO ONE is irrational? Seriously? That's even more irrational than the Pacioretty dislike.

 

[Lebowski]

In general, I haven't seen any irrational hate for any Habs player.

Some people take it to the extreme, but Pacioretty gets criticized for good reasons, and certainly doesn't take enough flak from the media.

The reason he gets criticized is because everyone knows he can give a lot more to this team. The annoying part is that it really comes down to his effort level and willingness to do what's required of him to be successful. It's not that he doesn't have the talent. And he'll say those nice things in front of the camera, while sporting the C on his jersey. But he can't walk the walk.

Every single fanbase has segments that hate some of their own players irrationally. It's certainly not exclusive to a Montreal, but that doesn't make it logical. You're talking about a sampling of millions of people and NO ONE is irrational? Seriously?

The bolded part covers your point.

In any case, the rare people that become irrational towards a given player generally represent a vocal minority, not a fan base. Therefore, defining an entire group based on a vocal minority is a fallacy to begin with.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

The bolded part covers your point.

In any case, the rare people that become irrational towards a given player generally represent a vocal minority, not a fan base. Therefore, defining an entire group based on a vocal minority is a fallacy to begin with.

No, it really doesn't. Pacioretty has been downright tremendous and he's treated as if he's the major problem with the team. There's a segment of the Flyers fanbase that feels the same with Giroux. These people are lunatics.

 

[Lebowski]

No, it really doesn't. Pacioretty has been downright tremendous and he's treated as if he's the major problem with the team. There's a segment of the Flyers fanbase that feels the same with Giroux. These people are lunatics.

Neither of these statements are true, I'm sorry to say.

Pacioretty had a tough season by his standards last season, and it's been getting worse this season.

He definitely isn't perceived as a "major problem". More like a lazyish player that needs to get going and lead by example, or else there's some other guy on that team that'd be far more deserving of the C.

In any case, the "fanbase" doesn't have an irrational hate for him, or any other player.

 

[Captain Mountain]

In general, I haven't seen any irrational hate for any Habs player.

Some people take it to the extreme, but Pacioretty gets criticized for good reasons, and certainly doesn't take enough flak from the media.

The reason he gets criticized is because everyone knows he can give a lot more to this team. The annoying part is that it really comes down to his effort level and willingness to do what's required of him to be successful. It's not that he doesn't have the talent. And he'll say those nice things in front of the camera, while sporting the C on his jersey. But he can't walk the walk.

Hey, I'm not saying that there isn't cause to criticize Pacioretty. But, when people post or say that they want to trade him because they can't stand his face or get pissed because he doesn't play like a power forward, they are definitely being more than critical. Especially when they start throwing him in trade proposals for clearly inferior players. Many fans seem to get a "grass is greener on the other side" mindset when it comes to certain players, but it generally isn't justified.

 

[Captain Mountain]

The bolded part covers your point.

In any case, the rare people that become irrational towards a given player generally represent a vocal minority, not a fan base. Therefore, defining an entire group based on a vocal minority is a fallacy to begin with.

When people take criticisms to an extreme, it becomes irrational hate.

 

[Tripod]

No word of a lie, we have someone on the Flyers board who believes Giroux, Couturier and Schenn need to be traded due to their lack of effect and compete level.

I am serious.

Some people are very irrational.

 

[Lebowski]

When people take criticisms to an extreme, it becomes irrational hate.

I know that. I've acknowledged that.

But as I said, that's a minority. Far from sufficient to label an entire fanbase as "irrational".

At the end of the day, whether Pacioretty gets irrationally hated or not, it all stems from a very rational argument; he's lazy. He doesn't use his speed anymore. He doesn't use his frame. He plays strictly a perimeter game. Afraid of contact, almost. That's just the reality of his game over the past two seasons.

I'm certainly not opposed to trading him, but it would in a one for one type of trade, and that's most certainly not the kind of trade you'd do during the season. Another issue with him is that I don't think anyone takes him seriously as a leader, both based on his own performance and the fact there's guys like Price and Weber in the locker room that command far more respect than he ever will. You might have to make that leadership transition at some point. Whether it can be done the gentle way à la Sharks with Thornton or whether he needs to be shipped out of town eventually, that remains to be seen.