I'm still not sold on...

[WakeUpNHL]

i wouldnt replace those 2

just add them to the list plus markov

At least Markov can still run a powerplay... just a shame what those two knee surgeries did to his mobility.

 

[Playoff Beard]

Louis Leblanc

 

[BubbleGumPlant]

Collberg

 

[Saundies]

Forward: DD (obvious reasons). Not that I've completely given up on him but when a guy has only played 2 years in the league and one has been great and the other horrible, it's kinda hard to be "sold" on him.

Defense: Diaz. I still don't really understand what the guy brings to the table. Offense? Besides feeding Markov last year, not really. Defense? Not at all. What still baffles me is how Therrien played him ahead of Subban in the line-up last year before he got injured...

...which is probably why I'm not sold on the coach yet either. Better style of play to watch than Count Jacques, but after last year's shortened year with questionable ice time distribution, Therrien's gonna have to make some adjustments this year.

 

[Tyrus]

Our entire top 9 is a mess, all of our pieces are either replaceable or question marks.

- DD/Brière, the former plays a weak game, can't assume the defensive responsibilities of a centerman and has to play sheltered minutes to even come close of being remotely productive. Brière is just Brière, except now he's getting old and we can't even be sure he actually wants to play the game anymore.

- Plekanec and MaxPac, while being more than decent players, don't strike me as necessarily 1st line material. Plek is a shutdown center who barely produces offence on his own, and while he is indeed more than valuable, he seems more suited as a 2nd line centerman. Pacioretty reached 30 goals once as of now and we don't seem to be able to provide him with any decent playmaker down the middle. Will he keeps performing or simply hit a ceiling at a 30 goals/year, streaky forward? Once again, 2nd line material on a lot of clubs.

- Bourque, he's just a worst version of Pacioretty except I doubt he can get back to 30 goals per season. He was barely 2nd line material before, what will he be now?

- Eller, Gallagher and Galchenyuk, yes they all showed great things, but they're barely starting to develop their game, except Eller, none of them showed that they could play more than sheltered minutes. I'll let that slip, they're still really damn young, but they're already part of our pseudo-top 9/12ish forwards.

 

[couris]

Scary Price.

 

[optimus2861]

- DD/Brière, the former plays a weak game, can't assume the defensive responsibilities of a centerman and has to play sheltered minutes to even come close of being remotely productive. Brière is just Brière, except now he's getting old and we can't even be sure he actually wants to play the game anymore.

- Bourque, he's just a worst version of Pacioretty except I doubt he can get back to 30 goals per season. He was barely 2nd line material before, what will he be now?

Not much to add here. A successful team can tolerate having one smurf amongst its top six forwards, maybe two. We're supposed to have three in DD, Briere, and Gionta? And back them up with an inconsistent guy like Bourque, plus another smurf in Gallagher?

I have a very bad feeling about our forward corps this year. We're set up to be the absolute physical pushovers of our division.

 

[WhiskeySeven*]

Judge Dreger for what he says not who you think he is shakehead) , in his 690 interview he was 100 percent bang on.

I only judge Dreger for what he says. I don't know him in person. But what he says is 100% crap.

I totally think that the Habs overachieved last year and have my doubts and everything but I'd still disagree with Dreger because he's wrong much more often than he's right. Even if he's right this one time.

And yes, Price needs to have a good year (but don't all goalies?). If you've been tracking my posts you'd know I'm far from being a Price fanboy at this point.

 

[Agnostic]

I only judge Dreger for what he says. I don't know him in person. But what he says is 100% crap.

I totally think that the Habs overachieved last year and have my doubts and everything but I'd still disagree with Dreger because he's wrong much more often than he's right. Even if he's right this one time.

And yes, Price needs to have a good year (but don't all goalies?). If you've been tracking my posts you'd know I'm far from being a Price fanboy at this point.

Dreger has the same questions as every fan on this board. Which team and which goalie will show up this year, the team that played the first 35 games or the other one. He echoed the doubts of Duthy-oneill-mckenzie that's fair. He feels the Habs can make the playoffs but will be challenged in that area, forget it if Late season Price shows up. That's fair too.

 

[Jigger77]

Eller and Emelin's names are in this thread really?

Bourque plays a half season while injured then next season is one of our best forwards and he's still a whipping boy?

No wonder some posters just stick to prospect threads.

If anything it will be fun to watch later in the year when this thread is bumped and people eat crow.

 

[Bacchus1]

I'm not sold on Louis Leblanc. I think he may be moved on. Unless he shows something amazing in the next 20 games, and even if he does, he may be moved for another need.

 

[ronaldojaime]

Not sold on

David Desharnais
Travis Moen
Rafael Diaz
Davis Drewiske

Probably hard to rid of
Brian Gionta

2013-14 lineup

FORWARDS
Max Pacioretty / Alex Galchenyuk / Danny Briere
Rene Bourque / Tomas Plekanec / Brian Gionta
(Trade/FA) / Lars Eller / Brendan Gallagher
Brandon Prust / Michael Bournival / Ryan White
Gabriel Dumont / George Parros
DEFENSEMEN
P.K. Subban / Josh Gorges
Andrei Markov / Alexei Emelin
Rafael Diaz / Jarred Tinordi
Francis Bouillon / Douglas Murray
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price
Peter Budaj

 

[Monctonscout]

Desharnais - Still baffled how he got more years and dollars than Subban

Very simple, UFA years vs RFA years.

 

[Monctonscout]

I'm not even sure where to aim my anxiousness, but I have a feeling last year was the best we'll see for a long time to come

Darren Dregger - interviewed on 690 this AM - said most people thing the team played over their heads last year. He also remarked that our season will rise or fall based on Carey's performance. And though he said it was only pre-season, he was surprised that Carey Price looked like **** last night. God help us.

...and if the team plays worse but Price gets back to normal and we stay a top 5 team?

 

[JoelWarlord]

Not much to add here. A successful team can tolerate having one smurf amongst its top six forwards, maybe two. We're supposed to have three in DD, Briere, and Gionta? And back them up with an inconsistent guy like Bourque, plus another smurf in Gallagher?

I have a very bad feeling about our forward corps this year. We're set up to be the absolute physical pushovers of our division.

We switched Ryder for Briere. That's not going to change the team's physicality.

 

[Belso]

Price
Moen
Plekanec
Gionta

I'm not sold on Price being the top goalie he's paid to be. But the performance of goalies are often affected by their defense and coaching system. I hope Price proves me wrong. But I want to see the guy steal a few games this season.

I'm done with Moen. He gets worse with every game he plays. I have nothing against the guy but I just don't think he has anything left to offer with Prust and Parros in the line-up.

I really like Plekanec. He has done good things for the Habs and is a talented center. But he just disappears in the play-offs. Is it overuse? Is he always injured? Is it the pressure? I don't know but it's the same every season. He's had his chances to prove himself and fails to do anything after 82 games every season. Even with last short season he didn't do anything in the post season.

I have the utmost respect for Gionta. You can't ask for a more serious and hard working captain. But he's had his chance in Montreal to prove his worth and he's just not getting the job done. His injuries hasn't helped but I think the Habs would be better off replacing him.

You can't continue to lean on such players who are supposed to be the core of your team with such results. I'm not bashing any of the above players. They have all had their chances and they have not had it easy in Montreal. They were given a few chances and didn't perform. I understand why Gainey did a complete overall a few seasons back. I don't agree with all his moves but I agreed with the philosophy. If something doesn't work, don't keep trying to patch it up and hope for the best.

The Habs are growing a new core of young players which need to be supported and you need to make adjustments to the vets who didn't make a difference. I'm not found of Briere, but at least they are trying something new. His Playoff stats are decent and at $4M for two seasons it's anywhere far from a rip-off.

 

[dunner]

Our fan base - Too many haters. We will compete for the division though our D needs some solidification. Love our forward depth

 

[crazyd]

Anyone outside of this roster within the next two years:
Alex Galchenyuk / Lars Eller / Brendan Gallagher
Max Pacioretty / David Desharnais / Louis Leblanc
Charles Hudon / Tomas Plekanec / Rene Bourque
Brandon Prust / Michael Bournival / Ryan White
George Parros

McCarron is to replace Bourque as we will not re-sign him. My question marks are LL & DD. Althought I like what I saw from LL.

But I feel of no one else that could step in from within our organization.

 

[Shaby23]

1.Price
2.Desharnais
3.Gionta
4.Boullion
5.Gomez

I lost it at Gomez. No but seriously he needs to go.

 

[Shaby23]

Our fan base - Too many haters. We will compete for the division though our D needs some solidification. Love our forward depth

If you read other boards, you'd be surprised that we are not the only on who have a quick love/hate relation with out team.