Pre-Game Talk: Habs @ Pens Jan 27 7PM ET

[McGees]

Habs will win and we will enter no mans land in the standings.

 

[26Mats]

Lines I would roll:

Caufield Suzuki Slaf
RHP Monahan Anderson
Pearson Evans Ylonen
Pez Condotta Armia

Matheson Guhle
Struble Savard
Harris Kovacevic


We have to reunite RHP and Anderson.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I like how Marty scratches Xhekaj because of his awful penalties last game and replaces him with Harris who also takes awful penalties.

And the reason might be that he sees an important player in Xhekaj and is trying to get him to work hard and smart.

 

[Hannibal]

f*** you St-Louis.

 

[Habs13]

Relax…Pens play pond hockey no physicality

Don't care. Not watching.

 

[Andrei79]

Yep Xhekaj out...I know he needs time but why the hell did you call him up? He was in a groove in Laval.

It made no sense at all. Why bring him up only to bench him so soon ? Sounds like consequences for his penalties, but it feels like he has a lot less room for mistakes than other players. He's a honey badger, you can't tame a guy like him. You have to let him loose or lose him to another team.

 

[teamfirst]

Yep Xhekaj out...I know he needs time but why the hell did you call him up? He was in a groove in Laval.

Maybe Marty didnt like that he was doing so well under Houle

''What the f*** are they doing down there, they need to play the same way we play up-here, bring me back that Sheriff Kent.... i'll show him who the f*** where the big pants in this organisation''

 

[Runner77]

It made no sense at all. Why bring him up only to bench him so soon ? Sounds like consequences for his penalties, but it feels like he has a lot less room for mistakes than other players. He's a honey badger, you can't tame a guy like him. You have to let him loose or lose him to another team.

Xhekaj is going to bide his time and when the time comes, he’ll ask to be traded — that’s where we’re headed with all the jerking around, public admonitions and petty punishment tactics that MSL is implementing.

I thought MSL was all about development and raising the confidence level of young players as they learn how to win. This is not cutting it.

 

[The Great Weal]

It made no sense at all. Why bring him up only to bench him so soon ? Sounds like consequences for his penalties, but it feels like he has a lot less room for mistakes than other players. He's a honey badger, you can't tame a guy like him. You have to let him loose or lose him to another team.

You just know they told him not to do anything to the Sens. MSL's treatment is very unfavorable to younger guys. Gallagher and Anderson take stupid penalties yet suffer no consequences and are out there on the 2nd unit PP for a minute. Pezz takes a penalty and he's benched for the rest of the game, Xhekaj takes penalties and he's scratched, Roy's last game was a struggle defensively so he had to sit on the bench to watch Anderson on the 6 on 5...etc

 

[The Real Timo]

Xhekaj is going to bide his time and when the time comes, he’ll ask to be traded — that’s where we’re headed with all the jerking around, public admonitions and petty punishment tactics that MSL is implementing.

I thought MSL was all about development and raising the confidence level of young players as they learn how to win. This is not cutting it.

Can we all agree that it is long overdue to end this ridiculous clown show and fire the entire coaching stuff? But of course Hughes wouldn't admit his mistake and ride this shit show into the sunset. which, by my count has anouther 7 years or so. Good times.

 

[The Real Timo]

You just know they told him not to do anything to the Sens. MSL's treatment is very unfavorable to younger guys. Gallagher and Anderson take stupid penalties yet suffer no consequences and are out there on the 2nd unit PP for a minute. Pezz takes a penalty and he's benched for the rest of the game, Xhekaj takes penalties and he's scratched, Roy's last game was a struggle defensively so he had to sit on the bench to watch Anderson on the 6 on 5...etc

Yep. THere pretty much goes the "he is good for development" narrative.

 

[Runner77]

Can we all agree that it is long overdue to end this ridiculous clown show and fire the entire coaching stuff? But of course Hughes wouldn't admit his mistake and ride this shit show into the sunset. which, by my count has anouther 7 years or so. Good times.

Cracks in MSL’s plastic armour have been showing.

His stock in trade is supposedly knowing how to bring along young players since he’s no expert tactician and doesn’t respond to changing game situations in real time.

If he chooses to take pages out of Therrien’s playbook in his arcane ways of dealing with players, then he shouldn’t be surprised that he’ll get the same treatment that Therrien received and have an ever more vocal fan base on his back.

Hughes doesn’t have to do anything, MSL will do it to himself if he keeps this up.

 

[Team_Spirit]

How do you do fellow kids

Buy this cool merch

-supa Mario

 

[Tyson]

Can we all agree that it is long overdue to end this ridiculous clown show and fire the entire coaching stuff? But of course Hughes wouldn't admit his mistake and ride this shit show into the sunset. which, by my count has anouther 7 years or so. Good times.

This is why this organization is caught in a circle of mediocrity. They just can't seem to find the right managers.

 

[red devil]

Congratulations to Lars Eller who will play his 1,000 career game tonight. Anytime a player hits a 1,000 games shows a long consistency and being able to stay fairly healthy.

PS With Eller playing his 1,000 game makes me feel old

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

As opposed to someone like Barron or Matheson that is in the bad? Seem to be more than willing to live with that.

Dude, go to bed.

 

[overlords]

How do you do fellow kids

Buy this cool merch

-supa Mario

View attachment 811636

What's with the owl imagery? Has super mario been chilling at Bohemian Grove these days or what?

 

[JianYang]

How do you do fellow kids

Buy this cool merch

-supa Mario

View attachment 811636

This picture makes me feel old as my first few memories are of Mario holding the cup.

It's kind of surreal seeing guys from that era today and how they look now. It hits home how much time has passed by. He sort of looks like Ray Liotta now.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

This is why this organization is caught in a circle of mediocrity. They just can't seem to find the right managers.

He was sent to the AHL for not playing disciplined hockey. He played great in the AHL. They call him back up. He immediately takes three dumb penalties.

Of course they’re going to bench him.

It’d be one thing if he made a defensive mistake and they had him riding the pine. Mistakes will happen. But those three penalties were completely unnecessary unforced errors. What did you think was going to happen?

And btw, we’re not talking about the next Chris Chelios. I love the guy and what he brings but if we did actually trade hj. I’d be fine with it. RB, Struble, Mailloux, Ghule… it’s gonna be a big strong back end with or without him.

 

[Tyson]

He was sent to the AHL for not playing disciplined hockey. He played great in the AHL. They call him back up. He immediately takes three dumb penalties.

Of course they’re going to bench him.

It’d be one thing if he made a defensive mistake and they had him riding the pine. Mistakes will happen. But those three penalties were completely unnecessary unforced errors. What did you think was going to happen?

And btw, we’re not talking about the next Chris Chelios. I love the guy and what he brings but if we did actually trade hj. I’d be fine with it. RB, Struble, Mailloux, Ghule… it’s gonna be a big strong back end with or without him.

You and I are in agreement almost always. You are not wrong but my opinion is that this coach is neglecting his primary responsibilities during this rebuild to let the young players play and develop.
Why is Ylonen so poorly used?
Xhekaj deserves accountability for his unnecessary penalties...yes. The optics don't look good when it comes to MSL and his tactics with certain young players. I am not sold on MSL. After 2 years imo we are seeing a not so good head coach.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You and I are in agreement almost always. You are not wrong but my opinion is that this coach is neglecting his primary responsibilities during this rebuild to let the young players play and develop.

Have you seen the latest interview with Dach? I encourage you to read it. He’d disagree with you on this.

Why is Ylonen so poorly used?

My guess is that we don’t see him as part of our future.

Xhekaj deserves accountability for his unnecessary penalties...yes. The optics don't look good when it comes to MSL and his tactics with certain young players. I am not sold on MSL. After 2 years imo we are seeing a not so good head coach.

I think Ylonen is a fair point. I don’t get that either.

But by and large, MSL has done a pretty good job developing our guys. I know people love Wifi and are upset with his handling but he’s not doing himself any favours.

 

[Beaker]

If Xhekaj was drafted 1st overall he’d be playing today.

 

[Hannibal]

Can’t wait to have real coach with real structure and who’s fair with everybody. No cheerleader.

 

[Tyson]

Have you seen the latest interview with Dach? I encourage you to read it. He’d disagree with you on this.

My guess is that we don’t see him as part of our future.

I think Ylonen is a fair point. I don’t get that either.

But by and large, MSL has done a pretty good job developing our guys. I know people love Wifi and are upset with his handling but he’s not doing himself any favours.

Xhekaj needs to learn for sure and of course I am simply an armchair fan with no real knowledge of what's really going on.
Based on watching 90% of the games, watching most press conferences I am simply done with MSL. The days of true good coaches don't seem to exist with this organization anymore.

 

[JianYang]

I didn't watch Thursday's game so I missed the xhekaj penalties, but in general, I feel like arber already has a reputation with the officials. Some of the calls that have gone against him, I think to myself "really"?

Some of this indiscipline might just take care of itself as he gains senority and a certain standing in the league, or it may never get better.

I hate talking this way, but the world of officiating isn't exactly a non biased operation.