O'Byrne Options

[bar]

I'd rather Hamrlik play with Subban on the 2nd pairing and put Spacek with Gill on the third.

[saskhab]

The funny thing is O'Byrne will be the #7 Dman next year if no trades of defensemen are made.

Gorges will be paired with Markov

Subban Gill

Spacek Hamrlik

Not to mention Carle who will likely stick with the team as an extra at the very least (waiver situation, plus he earned it with his improvements). That's why there will likely be at least one trade.

[ForumGhost]

Asking Subban to clean up after Gill might be a little too much pressure.

[saskhab]

Asking Subban to clean up after Gill might be a little too much pressure.

Yeah, having him play with a 12 year NHL veteran is bad. That's way too much responsibility, what do those guys know about playing in the NHL?

If Sean O'Donnell is good enough for Drew Doughty, than Hal Gill is good enough for P.K. Subban.

[Habiman]

If Gill beats O'Byrne on the depth chart than Martin NUTS!

[JoeLassister]

Yeah, having him play with a 12 year NHL veteran is bad. That's way too much responsibility, what do those guys know about playing in the NHL?

If Sean O'Donnell is good enough for Drew Doughty, than Hal Gill is good enough for P.K. Subban.

Yes, but Doughty is WAAAAYY superior to Subban iMO.

[lazy26]

Yes, but Doughty is WAAAAYY superior to Subban iMO.

I have to think that that's everyone's opinion, no offense to PK.

[saskhab]

Yes, but Doughty is WAAAAYY superior to Subban iMO.

Not implying that he was. Just sticking up for Gill. And saying that young guys can develop even when paired with non-All-Star veterans.

[ForumGhost]

Gill is good in certain situations but aweful in others. No matter how long he has been in the league, he is very slow and usually has to rely on his partner to patch up his errors.

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I have to think that that's everyone's opinion, no offense to PK.

I dunno Subban is on pace to have a 82 pt season hahahaha.

[JoeLassister]

Gill is good in certain situations but aweful in others. No matter how long he has been in the league, he is very slow and usually has to rely on his partner to patch up his errors.

Bingo. He's at most a 6th dman. And a 6th dman at 2.250M$ is totally unnecessary.

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He is a large part why the habs PK is top ten in the league. If you want to look at peeps overpaid look at Spacey...his salary is grossly larger than Gill for what each brings to the table.

[saskhab]

He is a large part why the habs PK is top ten in the league. If you want to look at peeps overpaid look at Spacey...his salary is grossly larger than Gill for what each brings to the table.

Spacek (who just took a tripping penalty, mind you) plays 20-22 minutes of plus level hockey. He makes the going rate for those kinds of minutes. His offensive game isn't where it was in Buffalo, but again he's playing his off-side.

Gill at $2.2m is WAY better than Mara at $1.6m. Gill is a bit of a luxury player: his PK skills make him better than the prototypical 3rd pair D.

[Wamsley01]

Spacek (who just took a tripping penalty, mind you) plays 20-22 minutes of plus level hockey. He makes the going rate for those kinds of minutes. His offensive game isn't where it was in Buffalo, but again he's playing his off-side.

Gill at $2.2m is WAY better than Mara at $1.6m. Gill is a bit of a luxury player: his PK skills make him better than the prototypical 3rd pair D.

On Gill, I think he is a very steady defenseman if used properly.

On Toronto he was just thrown out there, in Pittsburgh he was used in situations that emphasized his strengths.

The only problem IN HINDSIGHT I have with Spacek is that the Canadiens blocked the ascension of Subban, Weber and Carle
with him. They surely didn't estimate Subban adapting so quickly.

With Hamrlik expiring next season they should be ok.

[The Chicoutimi C...]

On Gill, I think he is a very steady defenseman if used properly.

On Toronto he was just thrown out there, in Pittsburgh he was used in situations that emphasized his strengths.

The only problem IN HINDSIGHT I have with Spacek is that the Canadiens blocked the ascension of Subban, Weber and Carle
with him. They surely didn't estimate Subban adapting so quickly.

With Hamrlik expiring next season they should be ok.

Once Hammer goes (something I'm not looking forward to, but which is inevitable), look for Spacek to revert back to his proper side and probably bring a bit more than he has thus far brought. Meanwhile, PK will have to step in and eat a fair number of minutes. Huge cap savings, conceivably without losing *too* much on D.

I like Gill. I do tire of fans always focusing on what a player can't do and ignoring what he can. Gill is a massive PK presence, some much-needed size on D, a veteran leader, and decently effective at keeping the slot clean. Teams need guys like that.

[JacksonJ]

Once Hammer goes (something I'm not looking forward to, but which is inevitable), look for Spacek to revert back to his proper side and probably bring a bit more than he has thus far brought. Meanwhile, PK will have to step in and eat a fair number of minutes. Huge cap savings, conceivably without losing *too* much on D.

I like Gill. I do tire of fans always focusing on what a player can't do and ignoring what he can. Gill is a massive PK presence, some much-needed size on D, a veteran leader, and decently effective at keeping the slot clean. Teams need guys like that.

Anyone wearing last year's Stanley Cup ring is fine in my books.

[Toronthab]

Once Hammer goes (something I'm not looking forward to, but which is inevitable), look for Spacek to revert back to his proper side and probably bring a bit more than he has thus far brought. Meanwhile, PK will have to step in and eat a fair number of minutes. Huge cap savings, conceivably without losing *too* much on D.

I like Gill. I do tire of fans always focusing on what a player can't do and ignoring what he can. Gill is a massive PK presence, some much-needed size on D, a veteran leader, and decently effective at keeping the slot clean. Teams need guys like that.

There ya go again...taking the words right out of my head! I like what he is and has. What he doesn't have isn't there!

[KEEP26]

do any one think we should lock O'Byrne up to a long term deal?????

[dlbalr]

do any one think we should lock O'Byrne up to a long term deal?????

Sure, at the right price. With arguably the team's top 3 young d-men (Subban, Weber, Carle) all being RH shots, the organization doesn't have to rush to do so though. He's got one more year left (talks on an extension couldn't even start until July 1), lots could change between now and then.

[KEEP26]

Sure, at the right price. With arguably the team's top 3 young d-men (Subban, Weber, Carle) all being RH shots, the organization doesn't have to rush to do so though. He's got one more year left (talks on an extension couldn't even start until July 1), lots could change between now and then.

but ob is 6,5 and a right hand shot and he keeps getting better and better..i dont think he ever be a allstar but with his size he could be a really good long term player for us if we sign him to a 5 year deal now at a cheap rate...i just hope he dont become a another komi..a good but over rate player that some other gm over pays for..his 25 now so in 2 year he become ufa..so i think if we could sign him soon to even a 3 year deal at a cheap rate it might be in our fav..