The Martin St Louis Thread

[le_sean]

Is it just coaching or is the players doing whatever they feel like doing as a group? We have seen quite a few lopsided blowout games league-wide this year.

That would also be a coaching problem. I’ve said it before that it’s starting to become a country club atmosphere in the organization.

 

[The Real Timo]

That would also be a coaching problem. I’ve said it before that it’s starting to become a country club atmosphere in the organization.

 

[Vachon23]

Who are the potential replacements for MSL?

Alain Vigneault
Joel Quenneville
Gerard Gallant
Benoit Groulx
Larry Robinson? Patrick Roy? These legends deserve more than being coaches - too valuable
Patrick Roy only if we have a winning/contending team

We missed out on Jim Montgomery.
I honestly like David Carle but he's American and doesn't speak french.
No candidates from Q or NCAA or AHL?

Probably Pascal Vincent

But men we should let the French thing away and hired David Carle

 

[salbutera]

That would also be a coaching problem. I’ve said it before that it’s starting to become a country club atmosphere in the organization.

So which rebuilding team has shown soo much progression exactly?

SJS? Chi? Ana?

How about Buf, Sens, Det? What happened to their perennial rebuilds?

 

[OldCraig71]

That would also be a coaching problem. I’ve said it before that it’s starting to become a country club atmosphere in the organization.

I meant throughout the league, there have been plenty of blowouts this year and it isn't exclusive to the bottom teams.

 

[le_sean]

So which rebuilding team has shown soo much progression exactly?

SJS? Chi? Ana?

How about Buf, Sens, Det? What happened to their perennial rebuilds?

Not sure of the argument you’re trying to make. You bring up organizations that have been dysfunctional for a decade. What is this supposed to prove?

Utah looks good. Heck San Jose, which you bring up, clearly look better. The Devils look great.

The Habs have the worst goal differential in the league. This is normal to you? You think they look well coached?

 

[salbutera]

Not sure of the argument you’re trying to make. You bring up organizations that have been dysfunctional for a decade. What is this supposed to prove?

Utah looks good. Heck San Jose, which you bring up, clearly look better. The Devils look great.

2pts more than Habs … which is my point exactly. Rebuilding teams cannot be micro level scrutinized after each game, need to step back & take a look at 10-15GP sequences to see if improvement trends are showing

Stats clearly show Habs over last 13GP have been significantly improved over first 13GP

 

[sampollock]

Can KH wait to make a change? Will he?

I think MSL finishes the season.
I feel KH will hold a team meeting and lay down the law

 

[le_sean]

2pts more than Habs … which is my point exactly. Rebuilding teams cannot be micro level scrutinized after each game, need to step back & take a look at 10-15GP sequences to see if improvement trends are showing

Stats clearly show Habs over last 13GP have been significantly improved over first 13GP

2 points more than the Habs while they were 29 points behind last year…thank you for proving my point

What stats? The stat of adding Laine? 1-9-1 now when not scoring a PP goal. This team went from decent 5v5 to absolute garbage and PP heavy.

 

[salbutera]

2 points more than the Habs while they were 29 points behind last year…thank you for proving my point

What stats? The stat of adding Laine? 1-9-1 now when not scoring a PP goal. This team went from decent 5v5 to absolute garbage and PP heavy.

The ones Adam Michaels has been posting: 11OA in the league since Nov 11 (14GP ago) …

Since their 7-5 win vs. Buffalo:

- Habs are 7-5-1 for a total of 15 pts out of a possible 26. They've been playing .577 hockey since then.
- They are the 11th best team in the league since then.
- They're even in goal differential (38GF & 38GA)
- They have the 13th best PP.
- They have the 6th best PK.

They have a bunch of teams they need to leapfrog, but despite them being last in the Eastern Conference, they are still very much in the mix being 4 pts out of a playoff spot. But If they continue to play .577 hockey, they give themselves a chance.



It's the old saying: You don't make the playoffs in October, but you could miss them.

 

[le_sean]

The ones Adam Michaels has been posting: 11OA in the league since Nov 11 (14GP ago) …

Again, relying on special teams. This is the special needs version of the 2007-08 Habs. It’s not sustainable as you see last night. Fact remains, a .100 winning percentage when not scoring a PP goal. Worst 5v5 goal differential in the league. Last year they were 20th. And that was with all of the injuries. Everyone is healthy now yet somehow the team is far worse.

 

[salbutera]

Again, relying on special teams. This is the special needs version of the 2007-08 Habs. It’s not sustainable as you see last night. Fact remains, a .100 winning percentage when not scoring a PP goal. Worst 5v5 goal differential in the league. Last year they were 20th. And that was with all of the injuries. Everyone is healthy now yet somehow the team is far worse.

Let’s wait and see what the next 15GP sequence has in store … your position assumes learning manifesting itself as improvement can’t happen with such a young team that’s in development phase.

The entire concept of development is one which isn’t linear in nature to begin with, with lots of growth spurts at different rates

Recall the goal coming into season put forth by ownership & management - “in da mix” into March / April

7pts from wildcard & 8pts from 3rd in division w games in hand qualifies as such IMO - despite last nights very disappointing performance

 

[le_sean]

Let’s wait and see what the next 15GP sequence has in store … your position assumes learning manifesting itself as improvement can’t happen with such a young team that’s in development phase.

The entire concept of development is one which isn’t linear in nature to begin with, with lots of growth spurts at different rates

Recall the goal coming into season put forth by ownership & management - “in da mix” into March / April

I realize development is not linear. But other than Caufield, who simply might have needed to get his timing back from his injured shoulder, I cannot point to any other single young player as having improved from last year.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Again, relying on special teams. This is the special needs version of the 2007-08 Habs. It’s not sustainable as you see last night. Fact remains, a .100 winning percentage when not scoring a PP goal. Worst 5v5 goal differential in the league. Last year they were 20th. And that was with all of the injuries. Everyone is healthy now yet somehow the team is far worse.

We've improved over the year and it's not just special teams. The club was brutal until the end of it's six game losing streak. A 45 CF percentage. Since then it's gone to 48. Not great, but certainly an improvement. Some of that is the schedule but he deserves some credit for this.

I don't think anyone expected this team to blow anyone away. Just that we'd be around .500 and see some improvements. That's been a mixed bag so far this season. Some of it you can lay on the coach but not all of it. We're still a team in transition.

 

[Paddy17]

I supported MSL for a long time because he's been a breath of fresh air and good with our young players like Caufield and Suzuki. It was also great that we played offense-first after 30+ years of boring defensive hockey centered around our goalie.

It was fun again to watch the team even when we lost. It was particularly fun to watch them 2 years ago, when Monahan arrived... but he got injured. Then, it waa fun for different parts of the season last year, but we were wildly inconsistent in our performance as a team.

But this year, not only are we losing, but we generate no offense and we can't score. It's boring as hell most games. I can't get behind that anymore. I'm old and just want to be entertained, win or lose (I prefer winning of course). It's not very entertaining to watch this team this year.

 

[salbutera]

I realize development is not linear. But other than Caufield, who simply might have needed to get his timing back from his injured shoulder, I cannot point to any other single young player as having improved from last year.

So if Caufield gets a one year stay of execution, why doesn’t Dach for his major knee surgery?

 

[WeThreeKings]

So if Caufield gets a one year stay of execution, why doesn’t Dach for his major knee surgery?

Because Dach is bad right now and Caufield was bad last year and that doesn't make people mad right now.

 

[le_sean]

So if Caufield gets a one year stay of execution, why doesn’t Dach for his major knee surgery?

Caufield was fine last year. He had 65 points. He just looks different shooting the puck this year. But there was never a lack of effort or production.

Again, no young player has taken a clear step forward from last year. That’s bad development. The best ones are the young players with other coaches, like in Laval.

 

[salbutera]

Caufield was fine last year. He had 65 points. He just looks different shooting the puck this year. But there was never a lack of effort or production.

Again, no young player has taken a clear step forward from last year. That’s bad development. The best ones are the young players with other coaches, like in Laval.

So after 30% of the season a conclusion can be drawn in stone?

 

[le_sean]

So after 30% of the season a conclusion can be drawn in stone?

When is the same size enough for you? Because being last in the East after 30 games makes it pretty obvious this team isn’t getting better.

But apparently you want to point to the last 11 games, while ignoring the other 18

 

[salbutera]

When is the same size enough for you? Because being last in the East after 30 games makes it pretty obvious this team isn’t getting better.

But apparently you want to point to the last 11 games, while ignoring the other 18

I only point to 7pts from wildcard & 8pts from 3rd in division w games in hand - despite last nights very disappointing performance

They’re not 20 pts out as I’d be led to believe based on the hysteria I read

 

[le_sean]

I only point to 7pts from wildcard & 8pts from 3rd in division w games in hand - despite last nights very disappointing performance

They’re not 20 pts out as I’d be led to believe based on the hysteria I read

They are last in the East. Every team in front of them play each other and will all gain points on them. It’s not simply looking at how far out they are, they cannot leapfrog that many teams.

Do you know how many points the Habs had at this point last year? Because it was 28, not 25. But sure, things are looking up

 

[ReHabs]

Which kids are getting worst?

Barron, Dach, Newhook, Slaf, Primeau

Oh and how many nhl teams have you coached?

I don’t need to have coached the NHL game to know what’s happening

 

[salbutera]

They are last in the East. Every team in front of them play each other and will all gain points on them. It’s not simply looking at how far out they are, they cannot leapfrog that many teams.

Habs have also had one of the toughest schedules (Oct) thus far compared to other Atlantic division teams. After next 5GP should have a clearer idea of this teams mettle given 4 of those games are vs competition they have had lots of success with this season bottom tier.

I expect Habs to be 3-5pts out of wildcard by Xmas break.

 

[le_sean]

Habs have also had one of the toughest schedules (Oct) thus far compared to other Atlantic division teams. After next 5GP should have a clearer idea of this teams mettle given 4 of those games are vs competition they have had lots of soccers with this season bottom tier.

I expect Habs to be 3-5pts out of wildcard by Xmas break.

The problem is, every game is tough for this team because they stink. The Penguins stink and are 3-0 against the Habs this season, outscoring them 18-6. Barely beat the Ducks and they are awful.

They have one convincing win this year against a decent team and it was against the Oilers.