Trizzak Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 If we assume the 'Two and a Half Men' line stays intact... Gionta has to slot into the top 6, but he and Pleks have about the worst on-ice chemistry I've ever seen from two talented Habs. Bourque is playing like he wants to be sat, and even at his best he hasn't shown he compliments Plek's play. Eller is better at centre than on the wing. White, god love him, should never play on the same line as Pleks ever again (not even by accident). Geoffrion is proving to be closer to a 4th liner than a 2nd liner. Leblanc is in just over his head with that much responsibility. UFA options are slim. No prospects are an immediate answer. So who the heck does Plekanec play with? Why is he getting the Koivu treatment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Gotta hope the chemistry with Gionta changes over the summer or else you will have no choice but to break up the DD line 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Two and a Half Men needs to be broken up anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patience is a virtue Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I agree with C. Gonna have to break up the 2.5 if Gio and Pleks can't find some magic. If I was PG, and I do hope it remains PG making such decisions, I would be going after PA Parenteau as the 6th top sixer, if he is available on July 1st. Perhaps Boyes comes at a discount but still has gas in the tank, or, if they do get to draft a probable top six forward like one of the two Gs or Forsberg, then an older vet UFA on a rich one year deal. If Selanne retires, they may even get Koivu back for a grand finale! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Two and a Half Men needs to be broken up anyway. Why ? they score like two goals per game... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Why ? they score like two goals per game... Eventually teams will start shutting the line down. It's like when Pittsburgh tried Malkin and Crosby on one line. You need to spread out your attack so if a line gets snakebit or shut down by a defensive line, your offence is not completely kaput. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Eventually teams will start shutting the line down. It's like when Pittsburgh tried Malkin and Crosby on one line. You need to spread out your attack so if a line gets snakebit or shut down by a defensive line, your offence is not completely kaput. I'm pretty sure that other teams are already trying to shut them down. It's not like it's been hidden that they are the only line that scores... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 1 great season doesn't mean their chemistry will continue next year See zednik - koivu - kovalev See kostitsyn - plekanec - higgins See kostitsyn - plekanec - kovalev Dagenais - Ribeiro - Ryder Cammy - pleks Higgins - Koivu - ryder These lines all had great chemistry to end one season that couldn't be recaptured the next year In other cities look at Ryan - getzlaf - carter Kulemin - grabovski - macarthur There are numerous others. I wouldn't assume that 2 and a half men picks up where they leave off. Now if they do, great for us, but I don't think you etch them in stone either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Why ? they score like two goals per game... Which is fine if we the opposing team scores 1... No other line is a threat to score. Why not experiment and look for other combinations that might work better? If it fails, you can go back to that line and try bringing in other players, but I'd rather they start looking at creating 2 or 3 lines that are a threat to score instead of just 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Ryder Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 First determine a role for him. He is lost, frustrated and is frustrating,i even called him names lately, sorry for that, undeserved he has been their band aid and never found a role and a line... Two-way hockey player, shut down center maybe, 1st offense line center no way Jose. Good linemates for him would be experienced defensive specialist. UFA that fits the bill Chris Kelly and aging Mikael Samuellson. Kelly is a center, he played wing before,4th line solution too. Both could find the net sometime and are very good in zone coverage Leaves Eller, Gionta and Gallager, 1 and two half men. Bourque, Geoffrion, White. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I'm betting Gallagher won't be ready until Gionta's contract with the Canadiens is over. He'll definitely spend some time in the AHL, even if he scores 30 in his first year there. I think a lot of people underestimate Leblanc and he still has potential to be a top six winger in the NHL. Compare his numbers in the AHL to Pacioretty's. Patches also played on a better Bulldogs team. Leblanc's are better. No idea how that will translate to the NHL but I can see him as a full time partner for Plekanec. Maybe that's what will glue Plek and Gio together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfredoh2009 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Pacioretty -Plekanec -Gionta Because you cannot play Gionta and Deharnais on the same line. That means: Bourque/UFA -Desharnais -Cole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I still say Desharnais - Plekanec - Cole Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gionta Bourque - Eller - Leblanc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbp Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I still say Desharnais - Plekanec - Cole Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gionta Bourque - Eller - Leblanc My thing is I believe the real chemistry on the 2 and a half men line is with DD and Pacs they have always worked really well together from what I remember from their days in Hamilton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My thing is I believe the real chemistry on the 2 and a half men line is with DD and Pacs they have always worked really well together from what I remember from their days in Hamilton. Only issue is I believe Cole is far better at RW than LW, as is Gionta so they dont work together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I still say Desharnais - Plekanec - Cole Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gionta Bourque - Eller - Leblanc I raise you: Patches - Plek - DD Leblanc - Galy - Cole Bourque - Eller - Gionta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 So who the heck does Plekanec play with? Why is he getting the Koivu treatment? Because he's a good 2nd line center, that has often been forced to be the #1 center during his career and like much of the last 20 years, they simply don't have the talent to field multiple dangerous lines with any consistency. So whenever they find a combination that works, if he's not part of it, he's not left with much to play with. Which is fine if we the opposing team scores 1... No other line is a threat to score. Why not experiment and look for other combinations that might work better? If it fails, you can go back to that line and try bringing in other players, but I'd rather they start looking at creating 2 or 3 lines that are a threat to score instead of just 1. Honestly, that's one of the biggest problems in the NHL today. Coaches don't stick to anything. Just because the other lines are struggling doesn't mean you should break up the thing that is working. Just like changing lines all the time makes it impossible for guys to grow any chemistry with each other. Nobody has any patience, so they constantly try to juggle things, play guys out of position, put guys in roles they aren't suited for, etc. I'm all for balance, but only if you've got the depth to create balance. Montreal doesn't. And think of it this way - our two best players this year are obviously Cole and Pacioretty. Part of their success is that they create space for each other, as teams can't focus on one or the other. You split them up, then on each of their lines, the opposition only really has to focus on one guy. I think that's easier to gameplan against than having them playing together. Both are fine players, and Pacioretty may become a "game changer," but neither is good enough to really carry a line by themselves the way Crosby and Malkin can, as somebody brought up about why it was bad to play them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXx..CK..xXx Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'm going to throw a curve ball at this thread. Gionta has largely been successful throughout his career with a pure passer as his center... Gomez. I don't think it can be argued that Gomez and Gionta could potentially have the best chemistry of any two players on this team. With that being said, I'm obviously part of the majority who don't think Gomez should be back next year. What I would suggest though is to pair Gionta with a pure passer in Desharnais. I don't think their size would be an issue with a large winger on the other side. I also think Plekanec and Cole could do some damage together. 1a) Yakupov/UFA(Parise)-Plekanec-Cole 1b) Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gionta 3) Bourque-Eller-Leblanc Of course Yakupov is hypothetical but so is Galchenyuk or Grigorenko, albeit more likely. I think signing a UFA would be a lot better for the first line though (a la Parise) because Yakupov is a right wing after all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patience is a virtue Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'm going to throw a curve ball at this thread. Gionta has largely been successful throughout his career with a pure passer as his center... Gomez. I don't think it can be argued that Gomez and Gionta could potentially have the best chemistry of any two players on this team. With that being said, I'm obviously part of the majority who don't think Gomez should be back next year. What I would suggest though is to pair Gionta with a pure passer in Desharnais. I don't think their size would be an issue with a large winger on the other side. I also think Plekanec and Cole could do some damage together. 1a) Yakupov/UFA(Parise)-Plekanec-Cole 1b) Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gionta 3) Bourque-Eller-Leblanc Of course Yakupov is hypothetical but so is Galchenyuk or Grigorenko, albeit more likely. I think signing a UFA would be a lot better for the first line though (a la Parise) because Yakupov is a right wing after all... I'm with you on this, except I have no dillusions we're getting the Yak nor Parise - but either would be a bloody coup! I also don't think we should be slotting one of the Gs in to start the season, even if we are so lucky as to get one, which I doubt very much now that Markov is back... I like the idea of: UFA (Parenteau or Boyes)-Pleks-Cole Patches-DD-Gio Bourque-Eller-Leblanc Moen-UFA-White Darche Geoffrion Gallagher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habsfan Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Honestly, that's one of the biggest problems in the NHL today. Coaches don't stick to anything. Just because the other lines are struggling doesn't mean you should break up the thing that is working. Just like changing lines all the time makes it impossible for guys to grow any chemistry with each other. Nobody has any patience, so they constantly try to juggle things, play guys out of position, put guys in roles they aren't suited for, etc. I'm all for balance, but only if you've got the depth to create balance. Montreal doesn't. And think of it this way - our two best players this year are obviously Cole and Pacioretty. Part of their success is that they create space for each other, as teams can't focus on one or the other. You split them up, then on each of their lines, the opposition only really has to focus on one guy. I think that's easier to gameplan against than having them playing together. Both are fine players, and Pacioretty may become a "game changer," but neither is good enough to really carry a line by themselves the way Crosby and Malkin can, as somebody brought up about why it was bad to play them together Well said. I agree with every point Fanpuck33 made. I wouldn't split up the Cole-dd-Maxpac line. Find someone for Plex, he deserves it, but there's no need to split up the best line on the team. Don't mess with a good thing. As far as putting DD and Gionta on the same line, i think that would be disastrous. Even if you give them a big winger on the other side, these two are 5'6" and 5'5"...not what I'd call big players. Even if you give them a 7 foot tall player on the other side, they'd constantly lose battle along the boards and get knocked off the puck too easily. I don't mind have small players, as long as the other TWO players on their line are big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well, if PG wasn't a reactive moron, Plek could play with Sven Baertchi (spelling?) bourque is junk and he got Holland instead of Sven. We will see I guess. I am still annoyed at the return on Cammie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbp Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well, if PG wasn't a reactive moron, Plek could play with Sven Baertchi (spelling?) bourque is junk and he got Holland instead of Sven. We will see I guess. I am still annoyed at the return on Cammie. Bourque over the past two years scored on par with cammy. both players were at odds with their teams. I don't see how Cammy could have got a TOP prospect and Bourque... I don't think PG made that terrible of a move IMO. I know Bourque hasn't been good, but Cammy wasn't doing much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well, if PG wasn't a reactive moron, Plek could play with Sven Baertchi (spelling?) bourque is junk and he got Holland instead of Sven. We will see I guess. I am still annoyed at the return on Cammie. Im annoyed by Bourque but Flames wouldnt have given up their top prospect IMO. Baertschi is literally the only prospect they have; UNTOUCHABLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well, if PG wasn't a reactive moron, Plek could play with Sven Baertchi (spelling?) bourque is junk and he got Holland instead of Sven. We will see I guess. I am still annoyed at the return on Cammie. The Cammalleri-Bourque trade took 3 months complete. That doesn't seem very reactive to me. As far as I am aware, there has been no reputable suggestion that Gauthier had a shot at Baertschi. This is like saying we could have had Nashville's 1st round pick for Gill instead of a 2nd and Blake Geoffrion. Just because you are unhappy with the return doesn't mean a better return was available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Gill has elite first line pedrigry and a 40 goal season as well as clutch playoff performane as a goal scorer? If so, then it should not be unreasonable to get a top prospect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.