GHT120

Perhaps ... but the challenge is that neither is any longer as useful as is their impact on the cap ... now that the Habs have become "cap aggressive" in building their roster that is a problem

It is ... I've always been a fan of Weber ... but the proverbial chickens seem to be coming home to roost ... his on-ice performance is declining (as many feared) just at the time his cap-hit is becoming the most problematic.

It doesn't to me ... I only care about the Habs ... and I don't know the last time I thought the Habs really had a real shot at a Cup, even when they reached the semis.

Looks like ribs/back to head

When discussing replacing Bergevin I have advocated for the Team President over the GM model ... not because it worked for the Leafs or any other team (no structure is an guarantee of success) but because I don't see the habs backing away from the need for at least bilingualism ... hiring a Francophone Team President (for example purposes only, Vincent Damphousse) could allow them to simply hire the best available GM, with the President being the "face" for management

He is amazing. Even managing to trade for Eichel this summer wouldn't provide "our McDavid" ... more like our Backstrom (tied for PPG with Eichel since Jack entered the league) ... who would be the Habs best centre for a loonnngggg time So realistically ... our McDavid comes when the Habs next "unexpectedly" have a terrible season, win the lottery and that year's draft happens to have an elite centre ... not certain when the next "McDavid-ish" player is projected to be available, from what I've read not in the next couple of drafts ... but apparently there is a 12 year-old in Belgium who is tearing it up.

Well ... what does a GM do in the playoffs (kidding) ... the playoffs will tell the tale ... the issue will be what Molson and individual fans will deem sufficient to justify Bergevin's firing/return

No, not chopped liver ... and I am actually a great fan of his talent; as I have been with many former Habs that never consistently lived up to their potential (e.g., Malakhov ... loved him) ... but in this difficult stretch where the team NEEDS its most talented players to step up he has 2 assists in the last 12 games ... 10 of his 21 assists came in the first 13 games, when the team was hot ... at -7 he is tied as the worst +/- on the Habs despite his 16 assists 5-on-5 (sadly, he is tied with Eric Staal ... who has done it in roughly one fifth the number of games) ... despite his skills, especially passing, I am not certain he has made any line-mate better for any extended period since joining the Habs; chemistry just doesn't seem to be his subject ... he is a perimeter player and frequently disinterested on the habs defensive side of centre ... rolling him out shift after shift, PP after PP, game after game could well be one of the issues with he Habs current malaise; he seemingly doesn't have to earn his icetime

Even if I sometimes disagree, almost envy your eternal optimism ... but this is one of the worst years ever to try to leverage draft picks in trades (I assume that is what you meant as no 2020 draft pick will help for a couple of years at least) ... it is a weak draft year ... teams have had minimal opportunity to even scout the previously expected top/lottery picks, let alone anyone else to be picked later ... sadly, likely not tremendous value

For all the talk about the habs having a great locker room and veteran leadership, if the veterans were "in charge" the effort would still be there on a more regular basis ... IMO the team is fragile ... an early goal often gives them a boost that they can sometimes ride to taking control of the game ... but in a game like last night, despite a 1-0 lead, when the Oilers tie the game the tide shifts ... teams with great character and veteran leadership should not be so fragile ... I have not lost hope ... if they get on a roll confidence can inflate and the fragility can recede ... but I fear it would still be just below the "emotional surface"

If they still had the call-ups (i.e., Bergevin hadn't somehow had to use THREE call-ups on the first day that call-ups applied) that and the slide were to go much further then it might be worth a try ... but in fairness to Evans ... his AHL totals are 27 in 118 games or 14 per 61 games ... which is Poehling's AHL total ... despite his miracle first NHL game Ryan is not a natural goal scorer.

How often will we ever see McDavid muff a chance like that? Allen's aura is powerful.

That shot by Draisaitl high on Price, on his left side (neck/collarbone/shoulder) looked nasty ... ***IF*** he is injured and has to miss time the only good thing would be I think they could use an emergency call-up to bring back Primeau rather than using the final call-up ... unless there is a game limit on those (i.e., after "X" games it becomes a regular call-up)

The Jordan Rules ..... Weber still gets away with some stuff but used to get away with even more when was a bit more nimble and didn't have to be so blatant in attempting to "correct" his errors/issues

I will always be more impressed by Howe because of the style he played ... but Marleau is certainly due his respect

No ... but could he really offer that much less than Staal or Drouin on many nights ... and I did say "could try" not "should regularly" ... if they don't right the ship something needs to change, if only to shake things up for a night

Although with how little some forwards are contributing, or to give guys a night off, they could try going (early) Mark Streit with him and use him as the 12th forward and on the PP

I agree this is not the time for Poehling ... maybe the last game of the season against the Leafs if they still haven't used their last call-up (LOL) ... and while it isn't awe inspiring, he is tied for The Rocket lead with 9 goals (tied for 20th in the AHL).

It is safer psychologically ... minimizes dangerous behaviour post-game

I agree ... Weber is just a matter of will (to do it) as they have the extra defencemen ... Perry will likely depend when/whether the Habs add a 13th forward (Caufield or otherwise), or they could go go 7D (which either adds minutes to the other forwards or plays a D out of position ... although the anti-Gustafson-ites would question whether D is in fact his position)

Definitely better than Ott et al ... but was a team with a 35 goal scorer and one other 20 goal scorer (Byron: 22) contending ... or were 103 points just Therrien's magic ... only Bergie knows for sure

I believe that "carry-over" is only for ELC bonuses if any part or all of those bonuses can't be paid within the salary cap. With the Habs in LTIR the ELC bonuses will reduce the cap available for player contracts next season

Great write-up ... and the Final Thought was tight, accurate, thoughtful ... but it lacked the venom for a rant ... which, after last night, is to your credit ... it would have been so easy to slip into a true rant.

dlbair clarified for me that with Primeau returned to Laval the Habs have the cap space for Caufield (or a similar contract) but it will their last call-up of the season ... so its a strategic decision for MB et al, not just that they want to see what CC can do

As I understand it ... if they add him to the roster so he can play, that would be their last call-up until the end of the season ... if it doesn't work out he could be sent back to the AHL but the Habs could not call-up a replacement forward from Laval or the taxi-squad ... they would have to play a defenceman as the 12th forward