Habs Fan in Edmonton

I would do that for sure, don't think the Oilers are ready to give up on Bouchard yet but they will have a surplus of defenceman as they are really high on Bear, Caleb Jones and Bouchard of course.

That's true. You would need a replacement if you traded Petry, interesting to see what kind of return you could get for him. Oilers would probably see Bear as expendable next year as they expect Evan Bouchard to make it and he fills the same role as Bear. Not sure if they would be willing to give him up this year.

Shame to see the Leafs lose tonight and it would be a bigger shame if they didn't make the playoffs since they don't have their own 1st round pick. Would break my heart. Now let's see; Anaheim splits their next 2 games, losing in Montreal and winning in Toronto. Habs destroy the Leafs on Saturday and voila we are only 2 points behind the mighty Leafs. I can't believe the Leafs had to give up a 1st round pick to get rid of Marleau's contract although it is top 10 protected this year. They sure messed that up.

I guess I think of Fleury and Brook as future long term regulars, may not work out. Also it seems like Folin has discovered a scoring touch and may blossom now (ok that's overly optimistic). I see your point but still think the left side is a bigger priority although the Chicoutimi Cucumber may disagree with me.

That makes sense to me. Tatar has the skill to shine with McDavid. He would light it up playing a full year with McDavid and Kassian allowing Draisatl to continue to anchor the 2nd line. The guy I would want is Darnell Nurse but that is very unlikely to happen. Bear is a good puck mover but he is another RH defenceman which we seem to not have a shortage of.

That's a bit of a stretch, we would likely have to throw in maybe a 7th round pick in 2024 to get that one moving.

That pretty much sums up how I feel. Few things in life give me more joy than destroying the Leafs!!!!

Considering their record against teams like New Jersey and Detroit, I am not so sure. I am willing to bet that Thompson and Folin don't score in the same game again this year, willing to give good odds, any takers?

Maybe they are just kissin Cousins.

Is it a full moon tonight, Thompson, Folin. Maybe Lindgren will get an empty netter.

Interesting stat they quoted on Edmonton radio today as the Oilers play the Coyotes tonight. Since the Taylor Hall trade in which the Devils got no immediate help, the Devils have won 8 games and the Coyotes 7. I guess he hasn't been the saviour yet for the Coyotes.

I am guessing he was aiming for it and missed, it happens.

This is a must win game, have to beat teams like New Jersey to have any hope. Lose this one and they have to go 20-6-1 in their last 27 games to have as many points as last year and that still wouldn't guarantee a playoff spot.

I don't look at injuries as an excuse. It is simply one of the contributing factors for the Habs not being in a playoff spot. There are many other contributing factors. Those will be analyzed to death on this board I am sure if they haven't been already. Again, I always like to look forward and figure out next steps to get them to the level where we all want them to be.

Agree 100%, I haven't been disappointed at all this year or last year with the work effort or grit. Lack of finish, defensive lapses and Price has been inconsistent.

Chris you claim you didn't say Gallagher is soft. But you said "When i say the team is soft" and then used Brendan Gallagher's play as an example in exhibit A. You kind of implied it or maybe you think the team is soft but no players are soft. Anyway, not worth haggling over. That was a game they really needed to win as Columbus is one of the teams they could possibly catch.

Every player in the league is soft at times. Using Gallagher to make your point about the Habs being a soft team is a bad example.

You are totally tight. Gallagher is way too soft a player. We should get rid of Gallagher and find players with more grit.

It is. There is a rumour floating around that the Habs aren't good against big teams.

Like this year when they won 3 of 4 on their western trip? It was the trip to Florida that start their fall.

We have been over this so many times, for the first time in a while I am actually confident about the future because MB has finally realized he has to build through the draft and has many good young prospects. I can handle some losing with young guys who are going to get better. Can't undo what happened prior.

I don't think of the Habs as being soft either, they have trouble finishing, have some deficiencies on defense but in my opinion the work ethic and grit has not been a problem. They have lost a lot of one goal games. Do they have anybody in the top 50 scoring?

Domi soft??? ask Aaron Ekblad

We will go with that.

Does that mean it's "great minds think alike" or "fools seldom differ" I won't answer that. LOL