BCHabnut

I'm at work and I'm just grouchy! I shouldn't let this bother me, but man he is an important guy. Dare I say that Plekanec is taking over as best player on the team? Marky is too much of a bandaid now. This is going to be a long three months. Good oportunity for Carle or Weber.

Wow. A 7-2 trouncing and I feel sick over Markov. I should be on cloud nine

I understand what you are saying Habs, but why would the team want to keep a player that has really done nothing. He may in the future, but there was no future here. Shawn Belle is huge. The guy is freakin ripped. He won't make the team better. Hard workers. That's who make teams better. When those hard workers are very smart, talented and make good choices when there are more than one available it is even better. That was OB's weakness. He never made good decisions with the puck. You may end up being right, but let's not get too crazy over O'Byrne. He's really done nothing.

He has shown he has the tools to do it. He just needs the confidence and decision making ability

I don't see how Satan would fit into the plans. He doesn't work hard. Bob and Gauthier built a hardwork team.

Kovalchuck makes me LOL. I am so glad he is having a tough time. After all the media hype.

Looked like he was nailing him in the ear. One of them made Randall's knees buckle.

hahaha. I almost fell off my chair when I saw that you found this.Here we are telling you what a good contributer you arem then you pull this out in 20 minutes after I post. LOL. Good job.

I wish their was a stat for drawing penalties. A lot of people bash Moen on here (I was one of them till i learned his salary), but I have seen him draw so many penalties this year. I am certain he would be our top guy for drawing them, and it all comes from using his size and speed in teh offensive zone.

I am reading these conversations and thinking to not very long ago. Remember Breezer and BooBoo as the third pairing? Man what an upgrade to Subaan and Gill. I think that's the thing that Bob , Guy, and Trevor should be most proud of. They have really built a deep squad. Yes, the team is lacking a few things, but the depth is so much better than it has been in the past. As for Spacek, it's just too bad that he can't play the left side. I think that now that OB is gone, there is a big oportunity for Carle and Weber. There is only one right handed D on the team. I don't see Hammer being re signed next year. Gorges and Markov will be the priority. Then Spatch can move to his natural side. I would not be against a deadline trade of Hammer to a contending team. Although I am aware that he has been a rock for the Habs overall. #2 Defense for 4 years. Markov Gorges Gill Subaan Spacek Weber or Carle Picard

I tend to think confidence was a big issue with OB. Oh well, there was no room for him on the team and this should help him. It is one less right handed defenseman in the roster though.

Jaro is only facing minimal shots. He is awesome at making the first save, and it was his bad rebounds that ususally went in here. The Blues Defense is clearing the rebounds. It is obvious with his SA number. Price has made nearly 100 more saves than him. We as Habs fans are so used to our goalie having to save the team's butt, that we expect the goalie to be magical, and we put them on a pedestal. Put Price or Halak in Atlanta and see how they do. It's a team sport. Wamsley is so right. My thinking is that is Halak and Price could have both been had for the same cost, then the smart move would have been to keep Halak. I do believe he is the real deal. But as so many have said. Plekanec is a pretty good player! He makes the team better, and he helps make it so we don't have to rely on the goalie bailing out the team. It was pretty simple for Gauthier. "I can't afford Plek and Halak. I have a very good goalie waiting in the wings. I don't have a centre even close to as good as Plek."

I got it. I thought it was pretty funny 4-2 for the Nucks tonight. blech

Any time this team is faced with a choaking defense, they are done. Their size combined with their style make it nearly impossible to win. The only way for them to beat these teams, is to play a constricting defense, not try to break through their defense and just stay defensive, until given an oportunity. As soon as this team goes down by a goal against teams that keep our little forwards to the outside, the team is done. Somebody said it right. The MO is simple. Beat the crap out of our small non hitting team. Keep the players to the outside and let them struggle. That said, this team is very fun to watch when they are clicking. I actually hope White gets called up soon. I really think his energy is needed. We will have to be patient with his bad penalties though.

How did PK Subaan's open ice hip check not make highlights? that was awesome

Ya, I forgot about Boyd. I would sit him for sure. I sort of wonder if Martin isn't partially protecting him. He came to the team with a great deal of hype and expectation. If he were placed on the 2nd line and put on the number 2 PP, we would automatically expect him to perform. "We are watching Halak play lights out hockey in St. Louis, and Eller is getting big time minutes and doing nothing! What kind of deal was that?" That would be the new rant on the boards. I've said before, I like what I see from him. He can drive the net, and hes not scared to bang around in the corners. He has very good hands, and it should just be a matter of time before he is putting up numbers.

I don't disagree that Pouliot has been very good, and yes he did put some points up last night. My question is, can we renew him as a top 6 forward in the 2 to 3 mill category? If he earns it, then I will be very happy. The season is long. It is pretty funny, that I say at this rate, he won't be renewed, then he gets first star and wins a game for us. I love being wrong about that sort of thing.

Ya. He should sit Darche right? I'm sorry but Eller has not put the points on the board. He is learning the game at this level and winning is important. I don't know what else to say. He has one point. He has been getting descent ice time for a rookie, and while he hasn't been put on the first line, he isn't Taveres or Hall. He is no better and should get no better treatment that other talented rookies we have seen that can't perform. The reason Pyatt stays is that he is so strong defensively. I like what I see from Eller, but I don't disagree with the scratch

The great thing is that I think Carey is doing exactly what he needs to do. He's winning games, making the save to keep the team in the game. Gauthier had a tough choice in dealing Halak. I am getting ribbed by everyone about how great Halak is. My response has not changed. I am still not convinced that Eller was the best return we could have got, but considering Halak was a few weeks away from free agency and arbitration. I understand the move. The bottom line is that in order to ice a competitive team with depth and a bit of breathing room, Halak had to be dealt. Many of us have said it. What would you rather have? Plek and Price, or Halak and whatever 4 million dollar centre you can trade for or pick up in free agency. Plekanec is the second best player on the team. Next to Markov. Last year, he WAS the best player. Only because Markov was hurt for so much of the season. The whole story is yet to play out. Who knows, in 2 years Eller could be magic. With the information Gauthier had at the time, the reasoning behind his decision was very sound.

I read a different clip which omitted the naming of Martin and Carbo. I think it's reasonable for him to know what is importanat for his own developement. I hope to see his confidence return. I really don't think he should have mentioned the coaches names or compared them. That is a mistake. Hopefully the kid works hard and earns his top 6 spot. God knows Pouliot won't be renewed at this rate.

It's nice to see the Dogs doing well under 3 different coaches in as many years. This tells me it's the team and it's players. Not just teh coaching staff.

I haven't really seen the extreme opitimism or neagativity like I have in previous years. There is no question that last night was the Habs worst performance of the year, and I said that. I really think that most of the posters here see that this team needs improvement, and the only way they can be compeitive is for everything to click at the right time. Any team can do this. Really when you think about it, this is a game of momentum and emotion. That high emotion can cause a team or players within a team to play well above their everyday ability. Anyone who has ever played sports knows the feeling. When you feel good and everything is working, it is very easy to win. But when things arent working, you simplify. When you simplify you become predictable. The problem with this team is that when they simplify, they dont have the tools to do the dirty work. they cant just pound through the d or forecheck aggressively. When our forwards get manhandled, its all over. I've seen it a million times.

It's not a question of perspective. Normally emotion plays it's part as well. I am fully aware of how fickle we can be. I normally don't get too high, or too low, but during the highs and lows of the team, your emotions toward the game and toward the players can tend to change. Do I think Gomez is going to have a 20 point year and Gionta will have a 15 goal year? No. But past experience has also shown that every year, it's a different player, or players showing their mettle and helping the team. The only consistent player is Markov. Plek, Kovy, Kosty all had career years followed by a horrible year. I don't think it's a case of "us fans" running around like ants on a banana peel with no direction. It's more a case of allowing emotion to enter a conversation. The biggest thing I have found for the last ten years, is that this team is screwed if they aren't clicking passes perfectly and using their speed. They are just too small. It's a fact. Yesterday our forwards were manhandled all night by the BJ defense. This has been a consistent theme for many years. They can't penetrate a strong defense unless passes and skating and chemistry are perfect.

Ya, if Gomez doesn't start putting up some points it could be a long season for all of us. He should really renegotiate his contract to 5 mill, to take some pressure off of himself

Ya, I'm not disapointed in one game he's had yet this year. I am more saying that on clear 2 on 1 he has been getting beat a lot this year. I don't know if it's defensive or him. I do see that most of our D try to stop the pass, but they certainly dont take away the person without the puck. I understand what you're saying, but I would still like to not call teh goal before it happens. 2 on 1s this year = goal way too much. It's our slow D more than anything I suppose.