xXx..CK..xXx

I'm not debating the home bias. It's there and it's been there for years. What none of this takes into account, however, is that some players may play differently at home than they do on the road. Teams may play more defensively, or passive on the road and more offensively at home. I'm not saying this should account for double the turnovers, but it's entirely possible that a player would commit more turnovers at home than on the road. The opposite is also very possible so I'm not arguing the point. What I will argue is that the turnover stat shouldn't be entirely dismissed. Every time it is brought up for a Habs player, the rink bias is a brought up. Okay, that's fair but there are other ways of evaluating how indicative they are of the player. The first topic is Subban and Weber, whether comparing or not. Clearly there's some rink bias when you take into account that Weber is now apparently amongst the top 20 in the league and Subban isn't as high as he was last year. The problem with this, is that it's used as an argument to dismiss Subban as being turnover prone. When you compare Subban to the rest of his respective teammates in Nashville, one can see that this is a wrong assumption. He has a few less turnovers than Eklholm but has played 16 games less as well. Sure, there was home bias when he was a Hab but he still has issues with turning the puck over with respect to the rest of his current team. I'll give him props for seemingly getting a little more efficient though. The second issue is the topic of Petry. I personally like Petry and if he can get hot, I think he can help offensively with a big goal or two in the playoffs. With that being said, the argument is once again that he doesn't turn over the puck as often as it seems, due to rink bias. Once again, this rink bias does not matter when you compare him to other players on the team. He may have more turnovers than he should league wide because of a faulty stat, but he also has more turnovers than he should because other Habs players of similar skill sets have less than him. Faulty stat or not, I think it's a fair argument to say both those players turn the puck over too much because this is evidenced when you look at their turnovers with respect to their teammates. So why is it important to bring rink bias up in this context?

You bring up an interesting point near the end of your post though because while they (Pittsburgh) certainly have more offensive upside than us, can they win the cup without Letang? I admit they're chances have taken a great hit, but if you ask me, they still have one of the better chances in the league to win the cup. Therein lies the point that a team can overcome such adversity, even though I'm only making a personal opinionated claim beforehand and it hasn't actually happened. I agree that it will take him time to develop and I thought about what you said when I posted but in all honesty, it's just as likely as any other outcome that Sergachev's well into his career by the time Weber's regression has an obvious impact. As for the Hedman comparison, it's one I haven't heard but I have heard extremely good things about Sergachev. This is all time will tell stuff but I'm on the other side of the fence when it comes to Weber. Supposedly, it's slick moving defensemen who have a long lifespan in the league but to me those are the players who you really notice lose a step as they age. Of course, their (Lidstrom, Markov) vision remains and so they can remain effective offensively seemingly forever but in other areas, you can really tell they've lost a step. As for Weber, I expect his shot to be just as effective on the power play for many years to come and as long as he keeps lifting the weights, he should be able to remain physical. He's already not the quickest player out there, so I'm not sure where a lack of foot speed would come into the equation when assessing his regression as he continues to get older. I agree with both of your comments but I guess my first point is that I see Weber as a legitimate top pairing defenseman for a long time coming whether he regresses or not. This isn't a biased assessment, I just can't see him falling off a cliff. He has too much good to offer because he can help in a variety of ways. As he gets older, he will still be at the very worst, a Hall Gill mentor type, with skills to boot. I shrug my shoulders because I feel like he'll always be helpful; But my second point was that even if he isn't at peak level, I don't think he necessarily needs to be the key guy during a cup run. We have Other players who could get hot at the right time. Say this year for example. If Weber were to suck in the playoffs, all of Petry, Markov and Beaulieu could become playoff heroes on the back end and help lead us to victory while Weber helps in other areas. Put their regular seasons aside because they are all player who legitimately could do it if Weber were to be off his game. Put it this way, Weber happens to play quite bad during the playoffs even this season but Markov plays like a true number 1 for most of the 21 games before he dies of old age. In such a case, the team didn't have to win without a number 1. Of course, we should just hope that Weber does play like a true #1 but the point is the same. In 3-4-5 years? Weber may regress to an obvious extent, but he may not. In 3-4-5 years? Maybe other players will be this season's Beaulieu/Petry/Markov. In 3-4-5 years? Other players (Sergachev) may progress to an extreme extent. They also may not.

I agree and I think that this is an area that's been overlooked. The argument should not be whether or not Weber will age like fine wine but more along the lines of if he does show signs of extreme regression in a few years, does this completely handicap our team from winning the cup? I think that's where the flaw lies in the logic. I don't personally agree that this will be our best shot as a group, if it's simply because of Weber's "3 year window". I think Weber is a great player to have on your team but he is a team player and I feel as though Price and Pacioretty and (Radulov) are just as important to the team. We also have (Markov) right now which helps a lot. 3 years down the road, we have a Hedman type of defenseman in Sergachev on the team and who knows what other pieces have been added? As long as Price is on the team and no further injuries occur to him, we have a window.

Got me too. I was excited to get home and watch

I agree that both Columbus and Washington are huge question marks deep in the playoffs. If either team makes the final, I'd predict they would lose to a Western team likely to be there outside of maybe Minnesota. A San Jose cup win would still surprise me as well but not as much as those two. I mention those teams because they are teams being brought up as having a great shot this year, and rightly so. We should just be focusing on the Rangers. They are a team that has just as much of a chance as us to do damage in the playoffs. They've also often made it tough or defeated much of the same core that Washington still has in recent playoffs. They are are a good road team but I'm going to go with my extra early prediction of Habs in 7 if it does end up being the round 1 matchup.

Already feeling a game 7. Glad it's in Montreal.

Radulov is having a great game. All that needs to be said after that period. #post777

Thanks for clarifying. I thought it was something more along the lines of: "Oh my god. My first ever breakaway. Backhand?? Too tough. Deke?? Too difficult. Forehand!! Left!!"

I see him as being pretty much the same player as he was in LA. King is what he is, not the greatest player in the world. Where he can be effective though is in the offensive zone when his line has possession going for extended periods of time. This is why I can see how he would be a decent player to move up in the lineup like Brian alluded to, if someone in our top 6 gets injured. With more skilled linemates, comes more offensive zone time. With players like Martinsen, Ott and Mitchell, it's pretty much a quick dump and chase or a quick chance and out of the offensive zone. I imagine him to be kind of a bigger and slower Smith-Pelley so the expectations aren't very high. I think he'll be relatively effective come playoff time when the grind becomes a little tougher. Here's to hoping. Edit: He really did love playing in LA though so hopefully he's not playing "homesick". I'd hope he'd be more of a professional than that though.

I think that's a great point and I do understand the hockey IQ part of it. It's not only their general intelligence being discussed. I did however say intellectually inferior in *any* way. That being said, there have been times where people have criticized players such as AK46 as being slow both on and off the ice, just as an example. In any case, it still implies a lack of knowledge of the game and also an inability to ever be able to improve in the area. Judging by what I've actually heard from Beaulieu himself, he seems to understand the game and how to be a team member; in fact sticking up for his teammates is demonstrating exactly that. That it hasn't come fully to fruition yet, doesn't mean it cannot and won't. I believe the dots will connect for him.

For me, there's no doubt in my mind that Beaulieu will develop into at the very worst, a top 4 defenseman in the league. I've probably stated that more times than I realize. I expected him to pair well this season with Weber and while that didn't happen, I actually think it's obvious that he has top 4 caliber potential written all over him. He made the team quicker than other defensemen of the same age who will still find a home as 3rd pairing defensemen in the league. Even most who are against him state that he has the skill but nothing between the ears. First of all, if you've ever heard him during an interview, he generally tends to say all the right things. He doesn't actually strike me as someone who is missing anything upstairs. I think it's unfair to label people like Eller, Beaulieu, Emelin, etc. who don make boneheaded plays from time to time as intellectually inferior in any way. Secondly and tied in with that, those who don't believe he will grow into his potential argue that he will be the same at 30 mentally as he is now. If that's not anything other than a simple hypothetical hypothesis, then I don't know what is. I can just as easily say that he will mature in those areas and may even find himself as a top 2. My current expectation of Beaukieu and where he might fit on even a contending team? A top second pairing defenseman, or #3.

I think it's difficult to fire the coach during or immediately after a season where Price was nonexistent. Bergevin's response was acquiring Ben Scrivens as a backup. I do not have a detailed analysis outlined either, but it's entirely possible and even natural that Bergevin felt just as responsible as Therrien for the outcome of the season. I just keep seeing this statement that Therrien should have been fired at that precise moment and while he did have his haters who wanted him gone for awhile, I think it's easy to say in hindsight that he should have been the scapegoat for the season, especially rather than someone else. Not to mention even the best coach would feel the impact of Price being lost. As for the difference between Therrien and Julien so far, I did not expect much of a change. It's a very short sample size but from what I've gathered, Julien seems to be a much more positive and encouraging catch versus Therrien's rather authoritarian style. I think it's had a mental effect on some and clearly player's like Shaw and Price have excelled. On the other hand, come to think of it, Emelin's confidence seemed to get shaken up a bit by his press box time but Julien still had positive remarks to make about him and mentioned that Emelin generally is a permanent fixture on the back end.

Patrick Traverse Brett Clarke Brad Brown Scott Lachance Christian Laflamme Paul Mara Janne Niniima Ryan O'byrne Peter Popovich Barry Richter Stephane Robidas Jarred Tinordi Mike Weaver Igor Ulanov David Wilkie Murray Baron Victor Bartley Jassen Cullimore A few defenseman currently in the press box and in the minors.

If I were owner of the Habs, The Montreal Canadiens would be my priority. I would make sure I was really wealthy, fun to be around and accessible to all my players and staff. I'd do everything in my power to develop a culture of winning as well as provide a family-like culture within the team outside of the rink. The hope would be to attract players from all over the league and other leagues through positive word of mouth. I would provide team vacations and get togethers for the players as well as family members of the team. Much more than the annual golf tournament and anything else that already takes place. I would offer a 1 or 2 week all paid family vacation to a warm destination during the off season for any team members who didn't already have other plans and wished to join and go together with their families as a team. Any family related events such as "Father's weekend" where father's attend a back to back over the weekend would continue and be improved upon should they already exist. The language issue during the coaching hiring process would be addressed. There are good french coaches but if the best coach available were to be unilingually English, there are only 29 teams who would be able to hire him. If the best coach were french speaking, 30 teams have a shot at him. This disparity would have to be addressed although I understand that there would be hardships and repercussions to face. Some of the more likely outcomes would be to either have a permanent translator for all interviews and post game conferences or to have a bilingual assistant coach who will translate what the coach has to say himself. The Montreal Canadiens are a historic team with a lot of tradition so keeping the status quo would be best when it comes to a lot of things. As an owner, I'd always like to attract more fans but on the other side of the coin, it's not like the Canadiens are lacking in that area. I'd continue to add to the apparel line and have more created for any Montreal Canadiens' fan store. I'd even contemplate creating a Montreal Canadiens' clothing line if it doesn't already exist. My own selfish desire would probably be to create a new "3rd jersey" that would be very, very similar. I would just personally consider it a little trademark from my time as owner of the Habs. Improvements would continue to be made to overall fan experience. At home games, 3rd star would sign a puck, 2nd star would sign a stick and 1st star would sign a jersey to be given away to three lucky attendees (or less) in the audience based on a number on their ticket. I'd have a look around the rink to see if there were any more kid friendly games that could be added to the venue for pregame and intermission fun but the little peewee games on the ice during intermission would continue as well. Finally, I'd have an end of year awards ceremony for the team where players would be acknowledged for milestones and perhaps even a player bonus here and there would be handed out. Definitely something for the rookies who played a certain amount of games as well as to the most valuable player in each position. I'd be the owner, but I'd want the best for my players and for them to remain hungry and these types of things might add to the incentive of playing one's best on a regular basis, especially for the younger players.

Enjoy. Looks like he will be. Oh, and I have Price as well in the only fantasy league that matters, and I'm currently fighting for 9th spot.

On Saturday, it certainly is! Although, I'm really good at jinxing...

It's hard to imagine a no show against the Sens at home. I'm not sure about the result but I'm predicting a decent effort from the boys. This is the type of game where our depth acquisitions are important but I'm predicting at least 2 of Pacioretty, Gallagher, Radulov and Galchenyuk to light the lamp tonight ??

I still have to believe that Beaulieu will eventually become a top 4 defenseman in his career. He has a higher skill set when compared to a lot of prospects we've had who will make it as bottom pairing players out there (Tinordi, Pateryn etc.) The argument may be more about what he has between the ears but as stated he's only 24 and it would only be an assumption to conclude he couldn't progress mentally. In my opinion he'll be a top 4 at worst but whether or not it's while he's with the Habs is another question.

Pacioretty has honestly had about 5 breakaways in the past 10 games. We can complain that it's not 10 but it's still plenty of breakaways and to say that there's no other defender who could set Pacioretty free is laughable and even an insult to our players. Markov is arguably better at that type of outlet pass with vision than most players in the league. As for those who won't "get into it" anymore, Subban is the one who is constantly brought up. I haven't seen any posts here claiming how much better Weber is than Subban coming from out of the blue. Karlsson can also be compared to Subban all day long but they are two different players. Karlsson is not as much of an East-West mover, he's more of a North-South rusher. He's also even more dangerous offensively (Karlsson 0.82 points per game vs Subban 0.64 points per game) and I admit I wouldn't have said that while Subban was still on the team. It's a comparison made between two offensively gifted defensemen who happened to play in the same division.

Not on their side but half of them don't play every game. Wait, I guess that furthers the point.

For better or for worse I think the team plays a more structured game with less individual play; kind of like a soccer team. The trade had hockey reasons to them as well and whether or not they've benefited us and will continue to benefit us is the only debate. I hated the trade the very moment I heard it but to say the team isn't different as a result of the trade isn't being honest. Furthermore, to say that the trade has weakened us in areas while not improving us in any other area is simply not an accurate assessment considering Subban and Weber are completely different types of players. You've stated before that Weber is a good player so Subban would have to be superior in every aspect of Weber's strengths for the move to have not made any positive impact. Weber has 16 goals and that has had a positive impact because he is a better goal scorer than Subban. There are other areas as well but it's all really besides the point. I for one enjoyed Subban's play for most of his career. I'm also all for entertainment. I couldn't keep my head up for much of the Carolina game tonight as it was a snoozefest. With that being said, defense is one area of the team where I don't need excitement to fully enjoy a game. I'm fine with having a steady, stay at home defensemen who is a "presence"(you know why? Because he's actually present in his position) than be excited in the manner they help create offense. It's an element I can see why people miss, but it's not the most important element of a defensive core and so I've grown to adjust and don't mind the difference. Our offense on the other hand, could use some help.

If that's his worst trade, he's done a pretty good job when you think about it. The Subban trade is the most controversial since (probably) Cammalleri for Bourque and that trade was done right at the end of Gauthier's temporary reign. I still think the former was a much worse trade but it's still too early to fully judge the more recent one.

Yeah, Emelin's been off lately but people are being too hard on him. If he's the weakest link out of my 6, I'm not complaining. Ottawa is the type of team he needs to play against if he really isn't as useless as the haters are portraying him. Glad Price is playing today. I didn't contribute to the other thread in time but I would have wanted Price to play today. I'm fine with Montoya but I personally would have had one of those "guaranteed loss" feelings if Price wasn't in net today. I think we'll pull out the win.

I agree there's no answer on this team because the best (for him) would be Weber and I've already said my part on how that shouldn't be the first pairing. Limited minutes with Benn might not be terrible though. Benn actually seems to be able to keep the puck on his stick for a little bit of possession. Markov-Weber Beaulieu-Petry Emelin-Benn Davidson That's my lineup come playoffs assuming healthy. As for King, huzer, we got the King's second worst to worst player from their cup runs. He can be effective in the offensive zone out of a cycle and score goals around the net but other than that he's pretty much there to lay the body out and forecheck strong. Hopefully he'll be a direct contributor to one or two victories In the playoffs this season. I'm skeptical as well but can also see his size helping us out in a close, grind it out type of game.

People keep acting like they forget that Emelin was just a healthy scratch less than five games ago. If veteran related bias is the reason that Emelin played yesterday while Beaulieu sat, then what is the reason that Beaulieu played the other day when Emelin was scratched? Julien said he wanted to keep a rotation going with some of the healthy bottom pairing guys so this was just a natural progression of that. The timing of Emelin's performance is a little odd because it really does seem like he lost confidence after being scratched. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me though because knowing Julien, he would have most likely said that his benching was rest related and not performance related. A lot of people have been hard on him for some time but clearly yesterday was worse than ever. I still want Emelin in our lineup come playoff time and I'm actually confident he'll pick his game up. He needs to be with the right partner though and I'm not sure Petry is the answer.