A Closer Look

[BTH]

I'd like to do something special with my 300th post. With all the informative topics recently made in this section I think this one should sum it up. Pretty much I'm grading the Habs' report card in each subject (/area).

Let's take a closer look at each aspect of our game.

<b>OFFENSE</b>

With the Canadiens' top two point-scorers both play-makers, the Habs badly need a snipers on the top two lines. Kovalev will do just that. We can assume his 45 point season in 03-04 will be significantly topped. Zednik is a hard-worker who is hard to clutch. He led MOntreal in goals with 26 last season and should be in for his first 30-goal scorer. Captain Saku Koivu should also be in for a 30 goal season (50 or so assists) thanks to the arrival of Kovalev. The top line has adequate size and strength and can easily find the back of the net.

The second line includes 3 young players with bright careers ahead of them. Mike Ribeiro had 1 less point than Vincent Lecavalier last season with 65. He's is also a playmaker who only potted 21 goals in his successful season. Michael Ryder was a late bloomer. At 26, he was quite old to be running for the Calder Trophy but his determination paid off as he played great in combination with Ribeiro. He was runner-up for the award and the finished the season with 63 points. He should be in for a big season this along with his linemate. The third youngster on the line was formerly Pierre Dagenais, the Habs's most proficient goal scorer with 17 goals in 50 games. He also added 10 assists. Had he played the entire season he may have received for renown. He is not fantastic and can easily be replaced. It seems that youngster ALexander Perezhogin will have his spot for the start of the season. This guy was one of the top players in the AHL until his 1-year suspension on a stick swinging penalty. His suspension makes him no less a player and he should have an impact to reckon with on the NHL in the years to come.

The third line has newcomer Radek Bonk who is exceptional for a third-liner and should go beautifully with workhorse Jan Bulis and defensive specialist Niklas Sunstrom. Bulis is said to be having his breakout year after coming off of a season with Pardubice (Czech Republic) with 49 points in 45 games. The Habs have a third-line that can really impress.

The fourth line brings in some much needed size and grit. Bégin will center two prospects on the average night. Most likely Higgins and Plekanec. Bégin does not score much but he contributes when needed, is tough as nails, and dishes out the pain and the rest of the team falls asleep. A classic fourth-liner. Higgins brings a strong two-way game to the table and Plekanec seems to be ready to play at NHL level after 3 successful seasons with the Bulldogs.

My final grade for the Habs's offense is <b>A-</b>.

<b>DEFENCE</b>

All-round the Habs's defence has gone from the worst in the league to an average to above average unit in just a couple of years. With Rivet and Markov working greatly together, Sheldon Souray breaking out last season and Komisarek showing he is ready for the NHL the Habs should be ready for action.

Komisarek has been on and off for a while but after his performance in the 2004 playoffs he is now a guaranteed starter on defence. He is one of the bigger defenseman on the team and is a proven body-checker. A possible candidate for captain in the future.

Rivet brings leadership and sportsmanship to our defence corps. He will rarely score but he sets Markov up quite a bit. The Russian is coming off a good year and may turn out to be a #2 defenceman if his improvement keeps up.

Sheldon Souray magically scored more goals in his first 10 games last year then he did in his whole career prior to his injury that sidelined him for all of 2002. He was actually on pace to become the league's top scoring defenceman and a possible Norris Trophy candidate/winner before his injury mid-way through the season. He even set a couple of franchise records with a goal and 5 assists in a game against Pittsburgh.

With Patrice Brisebois and Stéphane Quintal gone the Habs need some new blood on the ice. That was the point of signing Mark Streit. He scored 43 points in 44 games in the Swedish Elite League and turned some heads with a goal and 6 assists in 7 World Championship games. He was captain of the Swiss national team. Mathieu Dandenault was also added to the line-up. His ability to switch from defenceman to forward can really help the Habs. He has been overshadowed by defenceman like Chris Chelios, Niklas Lidstrom and Derian Hatcher while in Detroit but his future looks brighter in Montreal.

Ron Hainsey and Francis Bouillon are two youngsters who will be fighting for the 6th spot. One can only hope that one pushes the other.

Speaking of blood on the ice, the signings of Jeff Paul and Jonathan Aitken should get the blood on the ice faster than ever. If they ever play a game in the NHL.

The Habs's final grade on defence is <b>B</b> due to the lack of an elite defenceman and someone who can clear the net much better than Rivet.

<b>GOALTENDING</b>

Jose Theodore is the third best goalie in the league. He will guarantee success between the pipes for years to come. He is the golaie that takes the quickest time to get from his feet to his butterfly and has the quickest legs in the game. He has already won a Hart and Vezina Trophy and has single-handedly carried the Habs to the second round of the play-offs in 2002-03.

Behind him Cristobal Huet is a good, cheap back-up. While, he is out with an injury Yann Danis should be a legite goaltender while picking up experience with the big boys.

While Theodore's career gets older and older. Danis and Heino-Lindberg will get a chance to prove themselves.

Until Carey Price is ready. This kid looks to be the saviour of the Montreal Canadiens. Chosen 5th overall he is the top golatender of his year and possibly the few surrounding him as well. He should start playing in the NHL in 3 or 4 years.

The final grade for goaltending is <b>A+</b>.

<b>SIZE</b>

Steve Bégin has been with the Habs for a full season. The arrival of Raitis Ivanans, Jonathan Aitken, Jeff Paul, Radek Bonk, Peter Vandermeer and Maxime Bonneau assure size when needed. Komisarek is a big guy who can hit.

Saku Koivu is a little guy but plays like he's 6"5. I'd trust him to win a fight against Zdeno Chara. Zednik can also outmuscle players when he has the puck and isn't scared ot throw in a bodycheck.

Rivet is a solid defenceman. So is Souray and both are regular starters. Alongside Komisarek, that's half our defnce with size.

On offence, Bégin is the main hitter with the third-line doing their job as well. Peter Vandermeer was a big acquisition and will greatly help on hard-hitting when needed. Kovalev is 6"1 and is an upgrade in size compared to the 5"9 guys in the past.

All in all, the Habs should do fine. They aren't too soft. Their problem is they don't have a forward who is big but can still score. Like Thornton, Lecavalier, Iginla, and that type.

I give the Habs a <b>B-</b> on their size.

<b>DEPTH</b>

These guys have 5 goalies.

Defence is geenrally said to be where they need defence despite their 12 defenceman lining up for the NHL. The list includes:

Craig Rivet

Sheldon Souray

Andrei Markov

Mike Komisarek

Mark Streit

Mathieu Dandenault

Ron Hainsey

Francis Bouillon

Johnathan Aitken

Jeff Paul

It's make or break for Hainsey and Bouillon might have to perform this season as well.

On offence Raitis Ivanans was signed for size as well as Peter Vandermeer who should have a more recurrent spot on the roster. Young guns fightintg for a spot on the roster include

Pierre Dagenais

Alexander Perezhogin

Marcel Hossa

Chris Higgins

Tomas Plekanec

Then there's Guillaume Latendresse and Kyle Chipchura who will lead a strong fight next year.

In nets there is Jose Theodore backed up by Cristobal Huet (sometimes called "the Wall".) Yann Danis will follow him and then we have Mr. Heino-Lindberg who may or may not ever make the NHL. Carey Price is surefire great NHLer but may take a few years before moving up to the big boys.

In general, the Habs have quite good depth. I award them an <b>A</b>.

REPORT CARD:

Offence: A-

Defence: B

Goaltending: A+

Size: B-

Depth: A

Total: A

"A" means a good, play-off team is on our hands. I'm anxious to see what they can do.

[Trizzak]

I think your ratings are too high.

Not enough proven scorers to warrant an A- for offense, B or B-.

Our Defense is adequate, C+.

Theodore hasn't played two good seasons in a row yet, and no one knows how Danis will play at NHL level, B-.

Size? (I'm guessing you mean physical players.) Dude, 5 of the 8 guys listed in your first paragraph are minor leaguers. Only one of them will make the Habs this year. Yes, the team is bigger than last year, (Bonk, Kovalev, new goon) but not by much. However, your rating is almost spot on (in my opinion,) B- for the optimist, C+ for the pessimist.

Depth we mostly agree on. D depth is practically nonexistent, and this years draft didn't help that. Offensively and...Goaltendingly...I agree with you. But I'm going with a B+

Total: B-. We aren't an A team. An A team finishes top 4 in their conference, and I don't see that happening for the Habs. Now take your same ratings and apply them to the team a year or two from now and I'm betting they'll be more accurate.

[Dutch_Habs_Fan]

I agree with Trizzak. I think we have quite a good team. But BtH you are too optimistic. (thats what i always am before a soccer/Hockey season).

We sure have improved, but the way you look at it we are a contender for the cup straight away (i have to see it first) But yes im optimistic, but not like you. I think Trizzak is more realistic (allthough i think our defense is better than C+)

[dahabs111]

I definitely agree that your ratings were written by the biased fan that you are....not that there is anything wrong with that

your scores are only adequate if they are to be compared to habs teams of the recent past....if you mean to compare with rest of the NHL, we are definitely not an "A" team....if we were, how would you rate the better teams???....you'd have to invent new letters stronger than "A" to rate the Flyers!!!

interesting read.....but not much more than fluff

[johnnyhasbeen]

a little note on your 3rd line predictions. Yes Perezhogin will probably be in there, but remember what we have Dags for in the first place. He is and always has been Ribs finisher. It is probable that you will see him in and out of the line if need be. Therefore I predict a spot for him on the fourth line. Just a guess

[BTH]

Ya I knew there was a problen when I got an A overall. It's probably on offense. Because I counted defensive lines as offence. The Habs have a great 3 and possibly fourth lines. They aren't amazing at finding the back of the net but they have enough offensive power to do well.

No they aren't a contender.

When you think about it, the only surefire great team is Philly. All the other teams in the Conference can easily come in 6, 7th or 8th place. Tampa Bay should have a much harder time winning their division this time but they should place 3rd overall. And Boston should be up there even though some people don't think they'll make the playoffs. Everyone else can be anywhere.

[Dalhabs]

A correction... Mark Streit did NOT play in the swedish elite league... he played in the swiss league. Dont know whats the matter with u North americans and mixing up Sweden and switserland.

[johnnyhasbeen]

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

When you think about it, the only surefire great team is Philly. .

...and even then, how about their goaltending? Esche is still not a proven starter in my eyes. Also there is always the probabibility factor of ever goalie in their organization going insane under Clark. Wouldn't be the 1st, or 3rd time that happened.

[Komisarek the Cruncher]

Originally posted by johnnyhasbeen

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

When you think about it, the only surefire great team is Philly. .

...and even then, how about their goaltending? Esche is still not a proven starter in my eyes. Also there is always the probabibility factor of ever goalie in their organization going insane under Clark. Wouldn't be the 1st, or 3rd time that happened.

I agree, see my last posting on Eastern Conference predictions to see why I think they are over rated.

[hankhab]

Dagenais is a sniper, and thats it. No d to speak of, no grit, but quick hands and a great shot. You either play a guy like that on one of the top lines and on power play, or don't play him at all. I don't see him even dressing as a fourth liner, but don't be surprised to see him start the season alongside Ribero and Ryder. Unless, that is, Perizoigin has a great camp...in which case I'd bet you'll see him alongside Koivu and Kovalov, with Zednik moving alongside the 2 r's.....in which case, Mr. Dagenais could be riding the bench.