News Article: Lafleur says Vanek, Patches should GTFO

[George Lebay]

You guys are being trolled hard by a 62 years old guy who probably doesn't even know how to use a computer...

I take everything Lafleur says with a truckload of salt.

Good one

 

[Surge101]

Guys, I just bought a Patches jersey 2 weeks ago. He's not going anywhere.

 

[Habs Icing]

Typical Flower:

Link

Money quote:



Rough translation: "Guys like Max and TV, you can't keep them on your team if they're not willing to pay the price. Your team will never win with guys who disappear when they face adversity."

Wow.

Discuss.

Wow! Someone finally tells Patches the truth.

 

[beowulf]

Lafleur has been a moron in the last few years with regards to many of his comments about the team. I take everything he says with a grain of salt.

 

[Habs Icing]

Max is NOT the issue with the team. He's one of the best complementary players in the league - like Hossa, Sharp, Krejci, Carter, etc. who can be one of the top contributors in terms of production, but don't necessarily drive a team to a cup (inb4Krejcicomments). Sure some games they look dominant, but the next game they may or may not be. These aren't guys who can be relied on to be your top forward, but are awesome in a role where they're your #2 or #3 best forward. Ideally we'll have Galchenyuk develop into that driving force of a #1 centre, then Patches will be the ultimate complement, especially at his current cap hit. Vanek wasn't great, but people are being too hard on him. He's like Max, but with a little less drive, in certain respects. I'd love to have Vanek back at anything under $7m per. At the absolute worst, he draws top defensive matchups, which enables our exploitation lines to dominate.

I agree with you 100%. The problem is he's used and seen by management (and by many fans) as a top line offensive player.

 

[Agnostic]

Hey everyone, keep attacking the messenger, it keeps you from having to deal with the message.

I hope this is a message to Pacioretty, people are noticing, legends of the past are noticing, coaches are noticing, and everyone things you can step up your game. It's a backhanded compliment when someone tells you that you are capable of doing more, but it's an opportunity.

Vanek is a lost cause, he's someone elses problem now. Like Lafleur I would just like to forget that he sullied the jersey.

 

[Habs Icing]

I'd trade Max for the right price. Absolutely. But no point trading him just to trade him. Would have to be for significant pieces. I don't like his game, though and would love to package him and DD in a deal for a top winger who is physical and a top 4 dman. Something like Kane and Bogosian..would add a pick.

Hey 2K11, we finally agree on something!

 

[Habs Icing]

I know, I forgot the . That was the point of my post that Lafleur his first 3 times in the PO wasn't any better than Patch. (Maybe even worse)

Except when those three playoff years were over Lafleur was 22. patches is 25.

 

[Habs Icing]

Of course, if Patches continuously look bad in the playoffs after dominating the regular seasons, then yes, something needs to be done. But obviously way too soon right now.

How many more playoffs you think we got before we can still get someone worthwhile?

Anyway, I'll leave this in Bergevin's hands. He has shown he has some talent evaluating a player's character.

 

[Agnostic]

So him being naturally gifted enough to become a superstar suddenly means he's allowed to say any dumb thing he feels like saying? So he gets a pass on stupidity?

Nothing Lafleur said is dumb. He's correct. It should be amplified. The messenger is credible. Vanek can GTFO and Pacioretty needs to step up.

 

[sharks9]

I agree with you 100%. The problem is he's used and seen by management (and by many fans) as a top line offensive player.

Because he is a top line offensive player. I don't know how you can argue that he's not.

Hey everyone, keep attacking the messenger, it keeps you from having to deal with the message.

I hope this is a message to Pacioretty, people are noticing, legends of the past are noticing, coaches are noticing, and everyone things you can step up your game. It's a backhanded compliment when someone tells you that you are capable of doing more, but it's an opportunity.

Vanek is a lost cause, he's someone elses problem now. Like Lafleur I would just like to forget that he sullied the jersey.

Yep, the coaches are noticing that Pacioretty plays well even when we doesn't score. It's the fans who can't look past the stat sheet and call him "soft" or a "perimeter player" every time he goes cold for a bit.

“But I think my best hockey was probably the middle of the Tampa series,” he added of that four-game quarter-final sweep. “I had a lot of meetings with coaches at that point. People look at the end result and the goals column and that’s how they base my game. But coaches felt otherwise and that’s what makes this [fan and media criticism], in the end, almost laughable. I worry about how I’m contributing to the team and how my coaches and teammates feel I’m playing.

“One of my best stretches of hockey this season was when I was probably getting carved the most in the media. That’s what makes all of this enjoyable and part of the business.”

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014...st-win-game-at-rangers-madison-square-garden/

 

[radicalcenter]

Oh sure , but everytime he makes one of those comments a pack of "habs fans" on this board makes it personal with Lafleur instead of just criticizing his comments at face value.

I prefer a guy like Lafleur than Beliveau personally , at least he's saying what he thinks.Who the hell ever knew what Beliveau REALLY thought about this or that? Nobody or his close circle.

But the real question is, who cares about what they think?

Honestly I couldn't care less about what they have to say

 

[Habs Icing]

Maybe because the two shrimps on Pacioretty's lines were the ones getting the pucks in the corners against big Chara, while he was standing there doing f-all. Just maybe.

I don't know if it's because we're roughly from the same era but that's exactly how i saw it! And to be honest I was disgusted.

 

[Habs Icing]

Because he is a top line offensive player. I don't know how you can argue that he's not.

Yeah and he has surely shown it in the playoffs.

 

[MontrealFans]

Just saddens me that DD competed a lot harder than Patches. A guy with DD's size gave it his all every time and got no support from his large winger. DD will lose those battles down low because... well hes tiny but at least some times he comes out with the puck, not patches tho.

 

[optimus2861]

Yep, the coaches are noticing that Pacioretty plays well even when we doesn't score. It's the fans who can't look past the stat sheet and call him "soft" or a "perimeter player" every time he goes cold for a bit.

Because Max is, or is turning into, a perimeter player. Watch the board battles all during the playoffs. Where's #67? Nowhere to be seen. He's floating outside the fray, waiting for someone else to do the dirty work and get him the puck so he can shoot & get the glory. If he thinks that's what constitutes "playing well", when he's not scoring, then he's in dire need of an attitude adjustment. He needs to be a better hockey player than that. Otherwise in five years time he's going to be cursed in the same tones that Vanek is cursed today, because he'll be exactly the same kind of player.

He needs to be separated from DD, for an extended period of time if not permanently, for his own good.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Love that every time Pacioretty goes through a cold streak people want him to be Holmstrom instead of being an elite possession driving two way scoring winger. The reason he isn't a power forward is because he's more skilled than that. I would hope that seeing Vanek here made people appreciate Pacioretty's game, most goal scorers are very one dimensional in the Vanek/Cammalleri mold. Pacioretty has become an excellent two way forward, and drives possession in a way which is very rare for a winger.

Vanek will be gone on July 1st, but you don't come out ahead getting rid of 25 year old 39 goal scorers on very team friendly deals. The guy has played in one NHL playoff year while healthy (played vs. Ottawa with a separated shoulder), not ready to call him a playoff no show yet. Remember last summer when Price was clearly just not going to be a playoff goalie?

 

[JuicyHam]

Max played like a ***** in the playoffs just because he had the most shots on the team doesnt mean he played well, of the shots were terrible and he never went to the net. I do agree with no pacioretty no playoffs but that doesnt mean he has to stop playing after the regular season.

 

[Habs Icing]

.... an elite possession driving two way scoring winger. The reason he isn't a power forward is because he's more skilled than that. I would hope that seeing Vanek here made people appreciate Pacioretty's game, most goal scorers are very one dimensional in the Vanek/Cammalleri mold. Pacioretty has become an excellent two way forward, and drives possession in a way which is very rare for a winger.

This post is proof positive that you are a dimension traveler and came to our world only after the end of the New York series. Maybe once you get back to your dimension you take our Pacioretty with you and send us the one that plays in your world.

 

[Et le But]

Sports stars don't deserve to be deified to the point where spouting stupidities doesn't earn them some scorn.

Especially when they have a track record of it.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Love that every time Pacioretty goes through a cold streak people want him to be Holmstrom instead of being an elite possession driving two way scoring winger. The reason he isn't a power forward is because he's more skilled than that. I would hope that seeing Vanek here made people appreciate Pacioretty's game, most goal scorers are very one dimensional in the Vanek/Cammalleri mold. Pacioretty has become an excellent two way forward, and drives possession in a way which is very rare for a winger.

Vanek will be gone on July 1st, but you don't come out ahead getting rid of 25 year old 39 goal scorers on very team friendly deals. The guy has played in one NHL playoff year while healthy (played vs. Ottawa with a separated shoulder), not ready to call him a playoff no show yet. Remember last summer when Price was clearly just not going to be a playoff goalie?

Well, if the team thinks Max is going to be a legit 40 goal scorer year in, year out...then fine. Keep him. If they think he'll be a streaky 25-30 goal scorer who needs to play with his boy then I'd trade him at the drop of a hat. If teams think he's a 40 goal cornerstone player and willing to pay top dollar, then I'd trade him. Absolutely.

 

[Devourers]

Lets be honest here, it's Guy Lafleur, not to be taken seriously. Great player, but that's about the only great thing you can say about the guy. Shame because he was so good.

 

[thom]

Yea the same 62 year old who is a helicoptor pilot and owns a 60 fr yact

 

[Et le But]

Well, if the team thinks Max is going to be a legit 40 goal scorer year in, year out...then fine. Keep him. If they think he'll be a streaky 25-30 goal scorer who needs to play with his boy then I'd trade him at the drop of a hat. If teams think he's a 40 goal cornerstone player and willing to pay top dollar, then I'd trade him. Absolutely.

If Pacioretty is "only" a 30 goal a season scorer, he's still less streaky than an overwhelming majority of NHLers.

 

[Kents polished head]

Why should we get rid of Pacioretty anyway? So he has one reason to come back and whine about how we got 4 4th lines?

Lafleur was a ****ing prima-donna his entire career, smoking in the locker room between periods, retiring when he wasn't pleased with his icetime and whatnot... The fact he's being an ambassador for the team is a God damn shame. He's a terrible individual... on almost any single aspect. His viagra must've got to his head.