IN THE HEARTS OF MEN

I don’t know, to me the chances to score have been there... going all the way back to the playoffs. We just can’t bury our chances. It seems to me more and more as a “talent issue” rather then an adjustment to the system. On the defence Petry and Benn look weak and mistake prone thus far. Davidson played a decent game and Alzner Weber and mete were just fine! mete is looking more and more like an absolute 4th rd steal the more he plays. His composure and iQ are off the charts for a 19yr old. He’s daring on the pinch and is willing to hold the line more so with the belief he has the speed to recover as well as the confidence Weber will cover for him... I like him thus far. He’s got a great first pass and his stride is definitely better then most on the team. I think this guy ends up sticking all year unless he has an epic collapse in the next 6 games.

Is he gonna let the kid play a starring role? Or put Benn in a position to fail?

BBenns outlet and even clearances are absolutely brutal... Wow this has been his worst game as a Hab... Petry’s been bad as well. The funny thing is mete in his short TOI had been one if not our best D

On a bright note Don Cherry said victor mete was the best junior midget skater he’s ever seen... even better then McDavid! Lol

I’d say first mistake of the season this year was Julian’s decision to start Benn on the top pair with Weber... no reason to make that change before the game even starts!

I’d have to think the only reason mete was not a 1st rounder and highly thought of his directly related to his small stature. Also, most will agree that he was a beast in last years OHL playoffs and actually out played sergachev in a head to head playoff battle. And im not saying sergachev isn’t a beast... I’m just saying Mete’s size is the reason he’s gone under the radar only until the spotlight of la belle province has shined on him...

My biggest issue is the decision when Drouin can't go that they insert Mitchell into the top C spot. I'm sorry but Mitchell does not need an audition. I would of given McCarron or DeLaRose that start last night and said here you go... Show me what you got playing with one of the best goal scorers in the NHL (patch) and our relentless workhorse who never takes a shift off (Gallagher)!! worst case scenario he flops... best case is he has a multi point night and his confidence gets boosted... wasted opportunity to develop our players in my opinion!

I don't think it's speed either. I do think his stop/ start acceleration is a huge problem though. Most likely his biggest at this point. He's constantly doing fly by's to maintain speed. the only defence I have for him is that as a #1 pick and years of training camp under his belt this yeAr maybe just maybe he should of been given some reps in the top 6 with top 6 talent. Not because he belongs there but to at least say "hey the kid got to play with our best wingers and it just didn't work. A) we are looking for a top 6 C B) as a confidence boost... sometimes it's all you need. C) give him an oppurtunity to succeed or fail... but at least give him an opportunity. It's preseason! 19 minutes in a preseason game between 2 legit wingers would be ideal to see what he really has to offer rather then 10 minutes with AHL wingers. Maybe that's the jolt he needs to take his game to another level! we just watch OTT do it with there 6'6' rookie C between stone and Ryan as an example

There's reports lou and Babcock are in Moscow talking to Russian defender Igor Ozhiganov. Don't know anything about him!

I quoted your follow up quote but here you go

What does any of this have to do with mailing it in? The guy loves hockey. You see it in his game, his attitude, his face. Absolutley zero reason to think he's not a force next year!

Radulov has performed in each year of his career Montreal/khl/ Nashville... he comes to play even when he's getting paid!

Pretty sure with all of Matthews marner and nylander expecting huge raises starting a early as next season, most likely Tavares is priced out of TO unless at least one or both wingers going the other way... Agree that better chance of JT a ranger but, habs are probably up there on his list...

What do i care about what philly wants? I said that I AM willing/ or i would take giroux for plex and a 2nd. That's what i would be willing yo give up for 5 years and 8.25million of giroux. I didn't say philly would take it and I didn't say it was fair...

Slavin is a good hockey player

I'd take giroux for plex and a 2nd

Why not? Absoluty nothing points to Chicago having a better D core then us. They just lost there glue guy and are pretty much 2 deep in seabrook and Keith.... Washington? Winnipeg? Dont get me wrong as historically the habs have had an atrocious record the last 10 years with marky out of the line up. But the sky has not fallen quite yet. Still think dumping ping plex and shaw gives us the cap space needed. To sign. Its Markov and a Centre!

theres more then one way to move the puck up the ice... and most times skating it out isn't always the best option! for example weber makes quick decisions with the puck and pushes the puck forward through simple high percentage passing not necessarily the home run breakaway pass, alzner and benn are very similar, they all seem to move the puck quickly forward through passing rather skating. this is an effective way to get the puck out as long as the forwards are responsible and not releasing on there defensive responsibilities to early. markov for example was an extremely good passer, but this late in his career moving the puck by way of skating was hardly his forte. petry is our best skater, but he's hardly the only guy able to efficiently move the puck forward and transition to offence. the habs have a ways to go and i'm intrigued to see how this team finally takes shape... friedman recently reported his belief that MB is dreaming big at the moment bigger then most of us suspect!

MAybe all 150LBS of Victor f'n Mete is the answer? No offense to victor but I love the general! Always have with that said, i'd much rather have an 8 million dollar forward signed right now , and shaw and plex traded to gave the space to sign Markov, if that's what it to took!

Also doesn't jerabek have a euro clause? It's NHL or back to Europe.

keep in mind that Danault started the season at 3rd line Wing and moved to C the top line in december? after Galchenyuks knee issue

At the end of the day a team assembled starting the season of pacioretty galchenyuk radulov drouin Danault lehkonan byron plex Gallagher Hudon McCarron Shaw mitchell Markov weber alzner petry schlemko benn jerabek davidson Price montoya This Is not a team that needs to rebuild in 5 years. radulov choosing the $$ money is just the way it goes... but imagine we don't trade for Drouin and Rads still goes to Dallas and we are left with just sergachev... things don't seem as good either... remember Rads was free and he's a UFA. i think signing Markov 1 year and finding a big C upgrade that will include moving plex, one of shaw or Gallagher a prospect and draft picks to get it done will put us in serious contention..

Ya and if anything Drouin is worth way more then duschene currently

wasting away meaning not taking the chance, the plunge but we could always -sign a significant C on the free agent market not named manny MalHoltra (no offence manny) -deal plex away and try a new look at C? - trade significant draft picks to secure any other player.... - wait for a Micheal McCarron or Kyle Chipcura or Louie LeBlanc to emerge -fast track a kid just recently drafted... the point is 5 years of DD later with plex now on the outside looking in at top 6 duties and danault and galchenyuk are still question marks. we have a stalled current prospect pool but drouin and Lehkonan just bought us some time to develop more over the coming seasons. the key remains this 9 million to be spent

id like to see them invest all or close to all of their remaining cap on another top end forward talent preferably C. id also like to see them concentrate on McKinnon and not Dush or tavares. also maybe seeing who can be had a little cheaper because of teams cap strapped like Wash etc.