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Future Habs Lineup


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These are always interesting as nobody can ever completely agree. Explain who you left out/put where and why:

Perezhogin-Koivu-Kastitsyn

Zednik-Higgins-Urquart

Bulis-Lapperiere-Ward

Hossa-Plekanec-Ryder

Milroy

Stewart

Lambert

Ferland

Great first line with a great combination of speed/grit/skill. The second line puts two snipers with incredbile shots on the wings with a speedy skilled playmaker at center. Higgins great defensive play could help offset Urquart's weakness in his own zone. The third line has a great skating well-rounded winger across from a banging power forward. Lapperiere in the middle is another fast and physical center and he'll be our defensive specialist. Hossa's getting on my nerves with his lack of intensity. The proposed 4th line, although lack a fighter, has a great energy player (Ryder) and can contribute in the offensive zone.

Milroy/Stewart could be another great energy player who scores big goals. Lambert's a little too soft for my liking. Ferland has a lot of potential and might be on line2 instead of Uquart (if his inconsistency is a bigger problem than anticipated). A goon (Devaux, Dwyer, the guy drafted this year,...) could get some time on the 4th line instead of Hossa against dirty teams.

Komi-Markov

Archer-Hainsey

O'Byrne-Korneev

Beauchemin

Linhart

I don't think Linhart will ever live up to his round 2 status but should be nice depth as a physical crease clearer. Archer has surprised and looks like a top 6 D-man. O'Byrne and Korneev are together because they are both great potential players but both are young and have a lot to prove.

Theodore

Garon

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Not a bad lineup... but you mixed up which side some players play (LW/RW):

LW - C - RW

Kastitsyn - Koivu - Perezhogin

Urquhart - Higgins - Zednik

Bulis - Lapierre - Ward

1st line is simply our best skilled player at every position... lack of size is obvious, but all three are known for their willingness to get their nose dirty.

Will make for a very nice PP line btw... add Markov on the point and let the euro skill display begin, nice.

Defensive liabilty would be a concern for this line, unless it can keep the puck from the opponent might have a tough time matching up against other #1 lines.

2nd line one guy with higher offensive skill but no D or grit, while the other 2 are smaller but play with an edge.

I like this mix... it's either this or bump Higgins to center the 3rd line because Urquhart is stricly a top 2 line guy.

3rd line is solid defensively, decent skill level, Ward adds grit/size dimension.

I rather not waste time making up 4th lines with the likes of Hossa.. etc, if they don't make the top 3 lines they'll be traded.

Hossa, Ryder, Plekanec, Balej, Locke, Stewart, Milroy, Ferland, Lambert... whoever.

I still say the only way Hossa has a future here is if he returns to center, his natural position. In any case, if one of Urquhart/Lapierre don't pan out insert Hossa in that position.

The future 4th line will include tough guy Bonneau whom we drafted in the 8th round btw. And Gainey likes a few old time vets on the 4th line, we'll pick them up later.

On defense:

LD:

Markov

Souray

Hainsey

Beauchemin

Koprikari

Linhart

RD:

Komisarek

Rivet

O'Byrne

Archer

Korneev

Pool

I don't bother with pairings it'll depend who makes it.

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I dont see us re-signing Zednik at the end of his current contarct. He was really hard to sign last time, and Im guessing he'll want to play hard ball next time. With many of our youngsters soon ready to make the jump, I think we'll just trade him or let him sign with another team.

It's also really hard to predict who will make it, and how much of an impact these guys can have. For eample, Locke could become quite a player, but is a huge interrogation mark because of his size. Same for Korneev.

We could make 100 lineups, and it still wont be close to what our lineup will look like in 2-3 years from now.

So here's mine for now (assuming these guys will develop well)...

Kastitsyn - Koivu - Milroy

Perezhogin - Higgins - Balej

Hossa/Bulis - Plekanec - Buturlin

Ryder - Lapierre - Ferland

First line: Young superstar + established superstar + great clutch player = amazing first line

Second line: great hard working decently skilled center + 2 great snipers = very productive second line

Third line: Both Burtrulin and Bulis are confortable defensively, and can also score. Add to this the great playmaking skills of Plekanec and we have a great third line. I know, Plekanec probably isn't the best defensive forward of our prodpects, but who cares? Our top 2 lines will play against the top lines of other teams. Plus, Havlat plays on the 3rd in Ottawa, and he doesn't have a clue of what he's doing in his own zone.

Forth line: Bah. Like Habs77 said, there ain't much of a point in doing it, but all three guys have decent size (though Ryder aint no Bertuzzi), work hard, and have some skills.

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Thanks Habs77, I always mix up the sides. I do agree with most of what you said. I agree that it is most likely that the 4th line will be made up of vets and grinders-although I do think Ryder will be there.

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Younguns Roster (ranked by height):

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" border="0"><tr class="smalltxt" align="top"><td align="top">LW<br>Michael Lambert, 6-2, 180 (Quebec)<br>Andrei Kostitsyn, 6-0, 190 (Belarus)<br>Michael Ryder, 6-0, 185 (Newfoundland)<br>Alexander Perezhogin, 5-11, 185 (Kazakstan)<br>Benoit Gratton, 5-11 195 (Quebec)<br></td><td align="top">C<br>Marcel Hossa, 6-2, 210 (Slovakia)<br>Corey Urquhart, 6-2, 195 (Nova Scotia)<br>Maxim Lapierre, 6-0, 175 (Quebec)<br>Chris Higgins, 5-11, 190 (New York)<br>Tomas Plekanec, 5-10, 200 (Czeck)<br>Corey Locke, 5-9, 175 (Ontario)</td><td align="top">RW<br>Jason Ward, 6-3, 200 (Ontario)<br>Jonathan Ferland, 6-2, 210 (Quebec)<br>Duncan Milroy, 6-0, 200 (Edmonton)<br>Jozef Balej, 6-0, 190 (Slovakia)<br>Alexander Buturlin, 6-0, 185 (Russia)<br>Marc-Andre Thinel, 5-11, 175 (Quebec)</td></tr></table>

Hossa can play Center or LW

-------------------------------------------------------

Players that could still be with Montreal in 3 years:

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" border="0">

<tr class="smalltxt" align="top"><td align="top">LW<br>29age, Chad Kilger, 6-4, 255 (Ontario)<br>28, Jan Bulis, 6-2, 200 (Czech)</td><td align="top">C<br>31, Saku Koivu, 5-10, 180 (Finland)<br>35, Yanic Perreault, 5-11, 185 (Quebec)<br>26, Mike Ribeiro, 6-1, 175 (Quebec)</td><td align="top">RW<br>30, Richard Zednik, 6-0, 200 (Czech)<br>31, Niklas Sundstrom, 6-0, 200 (Sweden)<br></td></tr></table>

-------------------------------------------------------

Possible Offensive Lines in 3 years:

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" border="0">

<tr class="smalltxt" align="top"><td align="top">LW<br>Perezhogin<br>Kostitsyn<br>Ryder<br>Lambert</td><td align="top">C<br>Higgins<br>Koivu<br>Perreault<br>Lapierre</td><td align="top">RW<br><i>Heatley</i><br>Milroy<br>Ward<br>Ferland<br></td></tr></table>

-------------------------------------------------------

Since it's impossible that there's no trade in 3 years, here are some trades that would fit well:

Heatley for a package (1-3 players) from the fellowing players: Zednik, Buturlin, Ribeiro, Plekanec

Chara for a package (1-3 players) from the following players: Hossa, Locke, Archer, Kilger, Gratton, Balej, Garon, Bulis

-------------------------------------------

[Edité le 2003-6-23 par sakiqc] Added a comment on Plekanec:

Humm.. i'm very sad, cause i like Plekanec. If he could play RW, i would see him with koivu

[Edité le 2003-6-23 par sakiqc]

Thx. I Added Bulis on the chart

[Edité le 2003-6-23 par sakiqc]

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The only way Ribeiro will be with the team in the future is if he really emerges this year, and becomes a star player. Then, the Habs might choose to let Koivu go, and replace him with Ribeiro.

Or if Higgins, Plekanec, Hossa, Urquhart, and Locke all die in a plane crash this year... then Ribs has a chance...

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Originally posted by CerebusClones

I dont see us re-signing Zednik at the end of his current contarct. He was really hard to sign last time, and Im guessing he'll want to play hard ball next time. With many of our youngsters soon ready to make the jump, I think we'll just trade him or let him sign with another team.

- Gainey taking care of signing players from now on will help

- Zednik's performance in his only playoff appearance with us was incredible, I doubt we'll let him go unless it's in a trade to land a true star player.

- He's also one of the few Habs with actual grit on the top lines, again I can't see us dealing him

- And despite those youngsters who will soon be ready, he'll still be among our top 4 wingers and hence the kids who don't make the cut should be traded instead

- We can't have too many youngsters in the lineup, I think he's one of the young vets we need to hang on to

Kastitsyn - Koivu - Milroy

Perezhogin - Higgins - Balej

Hossa/Bulis - Plekanec - Buturlin

Ryder - Lapierre - Ferland

- I've seen a lot of proposed future lineups, and most don't even include Milroy on the team let alone the 1st line.

I doubt he'll make it, but it's an interesting twist.

- I also don't understand how you can completely disregard Ward, yet have Buturlin in there...

- By including Balej, Plekanec and omitting Ward you've made a small to average sized team become even smaller... I'm not sure I'd go that way, actually I'm sure I wouldn't :)

- In this lineup Zednik, Ward and one of Bulis/Hossa are gone... I'm sure you'd agree we wouldn't have them go for nothing, the player(s) we'd get back for them in a trade would probably bump 1 or 2 of Milroy/Balej/Plekanec/Buturlin out of the lineup.

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- In this lineup Zednik, Ward and one of Bulis/Hossa are gone... I'm sure you'd agree we wouldn't have them go for nothing, the player(s) we'd get back for them in a trade would probably bump 1 or 2 of Milroy/Balej/Plekanec/Buturlin out of the lineup.

Yeah.. it's what make almost impossible to make lines now. It is sure some of our prospects will be BIG disapointments, others (hopefully) will blossum like we know they are able. Some of them might be traded with a veteran on a package for a better player. Gainey could sign a UFA.. a lot can happen. What is sure, trades happen each years

The lineup i would like to see :

you'll see it later.. i'll submit it to dlbalr GM challenge :P

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If we can keep Zednik, then great. He'll bring grit to the second or third line... maybe first depending on player chemistry. With that said, Zednik isn't all that good. I believe we overrate him alot. He got alot of ice time playing with a great playmaker (Koivu) all year and he still only has 50 points. He also got major PP time, and he still couldn't get more than 10 points. Zednik has above average skills, but works very hard. I love this from a player, but if he gets the big head, and asks for too much, Id kick him out.

I like Milroy because he scores when it counts. As I said before, I believe his highest upside is Steve Thomas... not very impressive stats, but the guy shows up when it counts. Brian Savage in Montreal had ok stats, but the guy wasn't there when we needed him most. But when we had a 4-1 lead, he was amazing and he'd get 2, 3, 4 points. Besides, if Katsistyn is nearly as good as we hope, then anyone would produce with him and Koivu.

Now, I understand that Milroy might not make it, and if he doesn't then just replace him witrh Zednik.

As of Ward and Buturlin, I just believe Buturlin has the highest upside as I think he could be a good sleeper. I like Ward, and I really hope he gets a chance this year (ex. playing with Koivu), but his futue with the team strongly depends on how he'll do this year.

And Balej isn't that small. He's 6 foot tall, but he does need to fill up his frame, without affecting his speed. Kinda like Milroy, he could be very useful to us, or not at all. Im still very impressed with the camp he had 2 years ago.

And I agree about the trades.Of course, if we lose Zednik, Bulis, Hossa, ... we'll get something in return. Plus other trades might happen (probably to get some bigger players in the lineup). But like I said, we canmake up 100 lineups, we'll still be pretty far from what will really happen. For all we know, Locke will could be centering our first line with Ferland and Ryder while Kotsityn never makes it to the NHL...

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Future lineup? okay what the hell , I'll go for it... lets say this is 4/5 years down the line....

Kastitsyn - Koivu - Ward

Zednik - Higgins - Perezhogin

Bulis - Plekanec - Ryder

Bonneau - ???? - ????? (anyone)

The first line does not have to be all skill , sure it would be great to have 3 skilled guys on one line , but it doesnt anyways work .... sometimes you need to grit/edge of a guy like Ward to make the line work. I prefer to spread around the skill/grit through the top 2 lines... The first line would be able to handle itself defensively imo ... Same for the 2nd.

The 3rd has Plekanec at centre and Bulis on LW , those 2 can be interchangable though (since they can both play either position) , Ryder adds grit/muscle (he's thick) on the line ... very good defensive line (plekanec can hold his own defensively) ...

4th line? Like habs77 said , who cares! Could be anyone ... btw : Hossa isnt on my lineup , he could be , but I'm guessing we'll trade him by then.

Hainsey - Komisarek

Markov - Korneev

Souray - Archer

That first pairing is destined to be put together (we all know that) ... The 2nd has a couple of Russians , Markov handles the offense while Korneev stays back ... The 3rd is a hardrock unit that creates havoc :D ...

Theodore

???????

Duh...

BTW : Thrashers will NEVER trade Heatley , they'll trade Kovalchuk before Heatley imo ... Though I'd love to have him...

[Edited on 2003-6-23 by puck7x]

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hehe... I see you guys aren't too impressed with our draft this year.

Urquhart, Lapierre, Stewart, Locke, O'Byrne, Pool, Korpikari barely get a mention in most of your lineups... only Bonneau makes the team consistently, is he really our best pick after Kastsitsyn? ;)

I'll chalk it up to you being familiar with our older prospect... you've formed an attachment in some cases. Maybe once some guys from the new class of '03 start playing in Hamilton some opinions will change.

What is clear is that we're starting to have so real depth prospect-wise... giving us some ammo for future trades to upgrade the team.

Say what we will about Savard's tenure as GM, I've certainly felt the organization's future look rosier and rosier with every passing day since he's been in charge.

Remember Landry, Delisle, Bashkirov, Lind, Darby, Poulin?... ugh

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I loved this years draft, We got a future superstar gamebreaker, we got quebecers with skill, we added size in the middle, we might have gotten a hidden gem in O'byrne and we took a chance on Locke.

I really like the chance on Urquhart, hes big and when he wants he can dominate. Lapierre is very intense and has the size, just needs to fill up.

O'Byrne is my favorite, huge and a lot of people are saying he might be a hidden gem, management is very high on him but they consider him a project(kinda like Perezhogin used to be). I trust theyll make him a terrific defensemen cause hes got a mean streak to boot.

BTW: Kastsitsyn: RW who can play both sides

Perezhogin: RW who can play both sides, very capable defensively.

SO:

Perezhogin-Koivu-Kastsitsyn

Hossa-Higgins-Zednik

Bulis-Lapierre-Ward

Dwyer-Kilger-Ryder

Hainsey-Komisarek

Markov-Beauchemin(both RD and LD)

Souray-O'Byrne

Theodore

Garon

Size, grit, intensity, talent, french players, love it.

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