GDT: Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers 10/8/17 7:00pm EST SN1, RDS (HD), TSN 690

[OldCraig71]

Man...what a crappy roster we have. Holy crap it's bad.

Where are the defenders now?

 

[NotProkofievian]

He's better than Emelin, unless you think Emelin was more solid than I don't know what to tell you. There is an unnatural hate for this guy, I don't get it. But to each, their own and I respect a lot of peoples opinions but I won't argue with people who have already made up their minds as there isn't really a point.

But honestly, Alzner's not the problem, the holes in 2 and 5 are the problems and everyone is playing ahead of themselves and the results speak for themselves.

Every defenseman is playing a slot above where they should be playing, and then some. Beaulieu is miles better than Streit, Davidson and I'll even concede Benn at this point. Lot of teams made side deals with Vegas to keep the guys they needed as there were no better alternatives, we did not. Markov played so many important minutes. and we just let him walk. He wasn't going to play for any other NHL team, and we let him walk. If Mete doesn't surprise everybody but some very astute HF posters and Dale Hunter and make this club, Brandon Davidson is playing in the top 6 right now, and a lot of these guys you hate are all moved up another spot. Think about that over coffee, this was planned.

That's the problem.

I don't disagree with anything you said in the bolded.

However, Alzner is still a very limited player. People just haven't gotten sick of him yet, but they will. A lot of it has to do with what you go on to say in the bolded, but part of it will also be Alzner's lack of ability (which is sort of subsumed here). If Alzner is better than Emelin the difference doesn't amount to much: we still have top 4 defencemen who doesn't cut the mustard.

 

[blarneylad]

i would start montoya in this one,

price rarely ever beats goalies that are better then him......just like last night

if price starts its another loss

Shouldn't be an issue than seeing as there isn't a goalie in the world better than him.

 

[Rosso Scuderia]

i would start montoya in this one,

price rarely ever beats goalies that are better then him......just like last night

if price starts its another loss

You should do your homework before posting stuff like this.

Price is 15-5-1 against the Rangers in his career. With A GAA of 1.82 and SV% of .940 and 7 shutouts. Rangers are the team that Price has the most success against so far in his career.

 

[habsgirl5000]

Shouldn't be an issue than seeing as there isn't a goalie in the world better than him.

and thats why Price won the vezina last year right?....oh wait

how can you be the best goalie in the world, if your not even the best in the nhl?

 

[habergeon]

I don't disagree with anything you said in the bolded.

However, Alzner is still a very limited player. People just haven't gotten sick of him yet, but they will. A lot of it has to do with what you go on to say in the bolded, but part of it will also be Alzner's lack of ability (which is sort of subsumed here). If Alzner is better than Emelin the difference doesn't amount to much: we still have top 4 defencemen who doesn't cut the mustard.

I'll give it some time on Alzner before I throw in the towel on him, but your point is more than fair.

The one I worry about the most is Mete, because sticking him with Streit is going to burn this guy quick. It is scary to see how much Streit has regressed in the last two year.

 

[blarneylad]

and thats why Price won the vezina last year right?....oh wait

how can you be the best goalie in the world, if your not even the best in the nhl?

Oh right, he didn't win the vezina and hart trophy a few seasons ago. What have you done for me lately argument?

 

[habsgirl5000]

Oh right, he didn't win the vezina and hart trophy a few seasons ago. What have you done for me lately argument?

stop living in the past....Price WAS the best....today he is far from it....his best days are behind him

 

[NotProkofievian]

I'll give it some time on Alzner before I throw in the towel on him, but your point is more than fair.

The one I worry about the most is Mete, because sticking him with Streit is going to burn this guy quick. It is scary to see how much Streit has regressed in the last two year.

Streit is just god awful. Kind of unbelievable that we signed him. Mete is a really nice surprise. I was aware of his progress in London but I'd be overselling myself if I said I expected him to make the team.

 

[habsgirl5000]

Streit is just god awful. Kind of unbelievable that we signed him

MB does a lot of unbelieveable things.....and not in a good way

 

[Kriss E]

He's better than Emelin, unless you think Emelin was more solid than I don't know what to tell you. There is an unnatural hate for this guy, I don't get it. But to each, their own and I respect a lot of peoples opinions but I won't argue with people who have already made up their minds as there isn't really a point.

But honestly, Alzner's not the problem, the holes in 2 and 5 are the problems and everyone is playing ahead of themselves and the results speak for themselves.

Every defenseman is playing a slot above where they should be playing, and then some. Beaulieu is miles better than Streit, Davidson and I'll even concede Benn at this point. Lot of teams made side deals with Vegas to keep the guys they needed as there were no better alternatives, we did not. Markov played so many important minutes. and we just let him walk. He wasn't going to play for any other NHL team, and we let him walk. If Mete doesn't surprise everybody but some very astute HF posters and Dale Hunter and make this club, Brandon Davidson is playing in the top 6 right now, and a lot of these guys you hate are all moved up another spot. Think about that over coffee, this was planned.

That's the problem.

The improvement over Emelin isn't worth the 5 year commitment to. Personally, I do not like the stay at home Dman. There was a time when they were quite important, but with the league being a lot more about skills, puck movement and agility, those guys are becoming way less important.
You will benefit way more from having 6 guys who can contribute offensively or at the very least, move the puck up well. I mean, did you see how Nashville can move the puck up? Man, it's another level.

Our defense group is putrid. I do not understand how this GM is content going into a season with this group.

It is unbelievable how some posters here defend this moronic clown of a GM when we have such a terrible roster and so much cap space. Truly unbelievable he still has a lot of support.

 

[Tuggy]

Hopefully we see a better effort tonight.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If that happens I'm turning on football, Mete has done nothing to get bumped down, and I haven't thought Galchenyuk has been bad either. Byron should move up, but my opinion is Lekhonen should drop down (although from what I saw in limited viewing he was better last game)

Mete played all last game on the 3rd pairing and late in the game, we saw Galchenyuk off the PP for Lehkonen. So, it's already written on the wall.

As far as the post about the Alzner hate. Well, when you sign a guy who's been as bad as he has been in his own end.. and offers nothing in terms of skating, puck movement, or shooting.. long term.. for 2nd-1st pairing money.. and lose Radulov/Markov in the process because you cap strapped your budget by rushing to sign this guy.. who by the way, publicly admits he is damaged goods.. well, then you're going to get bashed for it.

Alzner has been responsible for 3 goals against already this season.

Him and Petry combine for almost 10 million dollars, as a pairing, they have been pure unadulterated crap. On top of this, they don't have anyone to play with Weber that they trust.. so they trust Benn, who's a 7th defenseman and has been EASILY the worst player on the ice in both games.

 

[habsgirl5000]

The improvement over Emelin isn't worth the 5 year commitment to. Personally, I do not like the stay at home Dman. There was a time when they were quite important, but with the league being a lot more about skills, puck movement and agility, those guys are becoming way less important.

thats the problem, MB is not up with the times, he is trying to build a team with the mindset that it is still the 1980's or 90's....times have changed

 

[WeThreeKings]

The improvement over Emelin isn't worth the 5 year commitment to. Personally, I do not like the stay at home Dman. There was a time when they were quite important, but with the league being a lot more about skills, puck movement and agility, those guys are becoming way less important.
You will benefit way more from having 6 guys who can contribute offensively or at the very least, move the puck up well. I mean, did you see how Nashville can move the puck up? Man, it's another level.

Our defense group is putrid. I do not understand how this GM is content going into a season with this group.

It is unbelievable how some posters here defend this moronic clown of a GM when we have such a terrible roster and so much cap space. Truly unbelievable he still has a lot of support.

As much as TSN is a bunch of Leaf loving blow-hards, they had this same point. Bergevin will be scrutinized, rightly, because of how he constructed his defense. When the rest of the league is trending to speed, transition, puck movement, and offense from the defense. Bergevin moved all of those guys away and focused on defense first guys with limited puck skills and offensive ability.

Outside of Weber's shot, where's the threat from the point? There isn't one. Mete is young but he doesn't have a very good shot, so he's mostly puck movement.

Subban, Hedman, Karlsson, Doughty, Burns, Byfuglien, Keith.. these guys are dangerous because they can beat you with a heavy shot or a quick, nice pass.

We don't have that, from anyone, which makes us super easy to defend.

If I get in Weber's shot lane, his imagination is limited so I know I've neutralized the threat. If I choke up on Mete's passing lanes, I know I've neutralized the threat. if Alzner or Benn have the puck at the point, I pressure them because it will be a turn-over or a dump in.

 

[Odelein24]

Hopefully we see Mete back with Weber and Benn back down on the 3rd pairing.

Putting Benn with Weber makes no sense whatsoever. Benn is WAY over his head vs that kind of opposition and he in no way compliments Weber.

The same could go for Streit and Mete, they don't compliment each other at all. It was head scratching to say the least, and I like CJ.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hopefully we see Mete back with Weber and Benn back down on the 3rd pairing.

Putting Benn with Weber makes no sense whatsoever. Benn is WAY over his head vs that kind of opposition and he in no way compliments Weber.

The same could go for Streit and Mete, they don't compliment each other at all. It was head scratching to say the least, and I like CJ.

I didn't like CJ the first time around.
Didn't like him with Boston.
I don't like him this time around, either.

It was nice to get rid of Therrien but I'm seeing the same idiotic decisions from Julien that made me want him gone in the first place.

It will be nice if we ever see a forward thinking coach in this organization. Boucher was the last one, at the AHL level.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Price is the best goalie in the world.
Unfortunately for him, he is not on that great of a team while many other teams with solid goalies have better rosters in front of them.
That said, I expect we lose tonight again

 

[Scriptor]

i would start montoya in this one,

price rarely ever beats goalies that are better then him......just like last night

if price starts its another loss

This is too funny. If your #1G needs to be sheltered, why is the team even stepping out onto the ice to play. This assessment is so out in left field it makes a mixed metaphor appropriate.

 

[yianik]

I don't disagree with anything you said in the bolded.

However, Alzner is still a very limited player. People just haven't gotten sick of him yet, but they will. A lot of it has to do with what you go on to say in the bolded, but part of it will also be Alzner's lack of ability (which is sort of subsumed here). If Alzner is better than Emelin the difference doesn't amount to much: we still have top 4 defencemen who doesn't cut the mustard.

He is a bigger Josh Gorges. He is a no.4 D man.

Alzner may be fine and solid, but that was a lot of money and the parade over this signing was a bit too long , for a no. 4 D man.

 

[Odelein24]

I didn't like CJ the first time around.
Didn't like him with Boston.
I don't like him this time around, either.

It was nice to get rid of Therrien but I'm seeing the same idiotic decisions from Julien that made me want him gone in the first place.

It will be nice if we ever see a forward thinking coach in this organization. Boucher was the last one, at the AHL level.

At least Julien can communicate properly in both languages instead of the Neanderthal-like babble we heard from the baboon.

 

[habsgirl5000]

He is a bigger Josh Gorges. He is a no.4 D man.

Alzner may be fine and solid, but that was a lot of money and the parade over this signing was a bit too long , for a no. 4 D man.

after last night, im sure caps fans are laughing at that signing

 

[PhysicX]

i would start montoya in this one,

price rarely ever beats goalies that are better then him......just like last night

if price starts its another loss

What the f*** does that even mean...

 

[WeThreeKings]

What the **** does that even mean...

Because Holtby and Bobrovsky have been surrounded by significantly better defenses and offenses in their tenures, Price loses games to them.

So instead of starting a top 3 goalie in the league, we should start a bottom back up, to ensure we lose.

 

[yianik]

The improvement over Emelin isn't worth the 5 year commitment to. Personally, I do not like the stay at home Dman. There was a time when they were quite important, but with the league being a lot more about skills, puck movement and agility, those guys are becoming way less important.
You will benefit way more from having 6 guys who can contribute offensively or at the very least, move the puck up well. I mean, did you see how Nashville can move the puck up? Man, it's another level.

Our defense group is putrid. I do not understand how this GM is content going into a season with this group.

It is unbelievable how some posters here defend this moronic clown of a GM when we have such a terrible roster and so much cap space. Truly unbelievable he still has a lot of support.

I don't think you even need to say in today's NHL. Historically , in every era, there were always puck moving D. They were always needed for the reasons you say, being able to bring the puck up ice and add to the offence.

Stay at home D were also fine historically when partnered with a puck moving D.

I will agree though that with the relatively limited scoring in today's NHL, having D that can bring up the puck and be right up with the play on a rush is more important than in past decades.

Witness how Mete, a rookie could be on the 1st pairing. He has acquitted himself well, but most importantly his puck moving skills are unfortunately unique on our team now, so his style of play has forced CJ to use him top pairing. CJ I am sure would have preferred more puck moving D in the line up.

Ideally Mete would be bottom pairing with another PMD at 1st LD.