brobin
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Posts posted by brobin
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I hope so as I am on record as seeing Pleks as a number 3 center. I do suspect he will get some time to either show he can do the number 2 job, or that he can't.
On the other hand, if we are talking with NJ, time is running out for them and they might be making a deal this week.
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Well you guys might be right, Pleks might surprise and be a great number two center.
All I am saying is that you are really "hoping" he will, since he never has been before. Ryder becoming a great scorer was a surprise too, but that doesn't mean Pleks will surprise. If you recall, Ryder was awesome from the moment he got on the team. Pleks played last year and looked like a number 3 center, not a number 2.
Don't confuse "hope" with "expectations". There has never been evidence that Pleks is a top offensive center, nor has there been expectation for that.
I fully expect a trade at some point to get us a top two center. If Pleks really breaks out this year as you hope, I will be very surprised. Very happy too.
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I am not convinced. I do think it is Pleks job to lose, but mainly because we have no one else (unless Bonk suddenly reverts to form, which I doubt).
The fact remains that Pleks has never been a high point guy at any point in his career. He has alwasy been slotted as a two way center for the third line from what I can see. Sure, he might break out this year, and having Kovy and Sammy is going to help. But, he is also going to learn that the performance by Kovy last night is a once a week thing at best.
As for Ribs not keeping up with Kovy, I think that is bunk. When is the last time Kovy "raced up ice"? Even when he skates fast, he does so much east-west, I could keep up with him.
I really never saw that as a problem I think the only problem with Ribs and Kovy is that they both have the tendency to try to make too many plays. Both needed to shoot more last year in my opinion. It especially was annoying to see Kovy not shoot since he has such an amazing shot.Like I said, I don't see anyone else on the team taking the number two spot from Pleks (unless Pleks tanks), but I do think the team still needs to trade for another top two center.
Oh yeah, interesting quote from Samy last night.. he said ribs being traded was a huge wakeup call for the team, that clearly they were not doing well in the preseason.
Surprise surprise, Kovy and Sammy show up for the first time in the preseason.....
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For everyone who hated Ribs, I guess you got what you wished for. Hope it doesn't come back to bite you.
As for Niinimaa, I think this says more about what Gainey and Carbo think of our defensive prospects then what they think about Ribs. If Niinimaa improves our defense, it shows how weak we were (unless Gainey is hoping for a miracle)
I also wonder about the timing. They sign Lats (french canadian hero) and then get rid or Ribs (previous French Canadian hero). I never thought Gainey really cared about that stuff, but I now suspect that even Gainey is not up for a fight with the French media. Imagine if he sent Lats down and traded Ribs... yikes.
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He sure did...
interestingly, I'm already hearing some people say that he isn't really 2nd line material...
I wonder who'd be on the Canadiens team?
:king: :hlogo: :king:
For the record, I have been saying that for two years. I still don't know what evidence people have that Pleks is a 2nd line center. He didn't have that kind of production in any level of hockey. He is a good two way center with potential to be great (it doesn't hurt to have Carbo as a coach) in that role.
Yes, he might get a decent number of points on a line with Kovy and Sammy, but that depends more on how they play this season then what he brings to the line. People were pretty pumped about Ribs between them too. Ribs and Kovy played well together last year and Samsonov was finally going to add the sniper to the mix that they were missing.
I still think this team will be more of a cup contender when we get a much better center to go with Koivu and Pleks goes back to be our number 3 center, where he will be prosper
We had a ton of depth at wing, but we were weak at center. This does not make us better at center, imo. I would not be surprised if Perez was the guy Gainey was offering at the start, that would make more sense. It would free up a spot for Lats and get a depth player at D. Better deal too, since Perez was essentially "depth on the wing", a fair trade for a declining depth defenseman.
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He might not be as offensively gifted, but he brings a lot to the second line that ribs did not. Most importantly he is a hard worker and he is defensibly responsible (important when on a line with samsonov and kovalev).
As to Plekanec's defensive capabilities, during his second season in the AHL he scored 64pts in 80 games and more importantly in montreal, he got 32pts in 67 games (with a +4) playing a checking role on lower lines. He has speed, grit, and an as-yet-undetermined amount of offense.
Anyways, if he can't cut it, you still have Grabovski
People were upset that Ribs was only a .75 man last year (and he played some time on 4th line as well). Pleks was a .3 guy and had several shots at the first and second lines due to injuries and did nothing. Higgins really stepped up, but all I saw from Pleks was a guy who could be a solid 3rd line center.
Its not that I don't like Pleks, but I see him replacing Bonk, not Ribs. IMO, we will be shopping for a number 2 center at some point.
Grabovski might have the potential to replace Ribs, but he probably needs a year or two of seasoning first.
I'm not sure anyone thinks pleks will be offensive then Ribiero. he skates better then Ribiero, better defensively all around probably a better fit on that line. This move adds Murray into the mix and makes the habs bigger and faster.I also smell another move by BG coming soon.
I saw a couple of Stars pre season games against the Avs and Niinimaa was a right D in all those games. I'm assuming he can play both sides.
Pleks is a better fit on the third line, imo.
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Why does everyone think Pleks is going to be a more offensive center then Ribs?
There is nothing in Pleks past hockey history that indicates that he is anything more then a strong two way center. He has never put up big numbers in the past and I see no reason why he would now. Playing with kovy and Sammy he might get 50 to 60 points, but I figured Ribs would do better then that if Sammy and Kovy actually show up for all the games and don't get injured.
In the end, I believe the team is going to need to get a more offensively gifted center to replace Ribs.
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I sure hope Huet show some decent play soon.. I am starting to get worried. It might be only preseason, but he has looked awful.
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Kind of dissappointed for Ribs, I felt he was going to have a good year. I don't think we really got much for him. I would have hoped we got at least a better defenseman.
I sure hope Pleks or Bonk can fill in. For all the hoopla over Pleks, he is going to need to pick up the point totals this year. If he doesn't get over 60 points, we are in trouble.
As for Niinimaa, we don't need 6 defenseman that can be a 5/6 defense. We need someone at Markov's level at least to really get better. Perhaps another trade is in the works...
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Perezhogen is working his way off the team with all the lazy penalties he is taking. Very dissappointed in him so far this camp.
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Okay, I am on the bandwagon.. lets put lats on a line with ribs and kovy. Ribs and Lats are clicking like Higgins and Koivu last year.
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This is better, and not because they are winning, but because they are skating hard and scoring. The young guns (and Higgins!) are showing their stuff tonight and working hard. Glad to see it!
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okay, where is the faster feed.
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This is why I was annoyed with Samy and Kovy.. them not showing up brought the team down (IMO). With them out and the vets who are playing working hard, the whole team is flying and the young guys are getting to show their stuff.
Preseason or not, this is a team game and you have to take it seriously.
Damn Sens... 4 -3
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Sounds like Ribs and Lats play well together.
Nice goal (it sounds like
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Good points PB...
I am not saying guys should be playing over the top, diving in front of pucks, etc, but hard skating would not hurt some of them. If they are in so much danger of getting hurt just by playing normally, then I question their durability.
I was thinking about the old adage of why working hard in practice is so important. I forget which coach said it, but basically, you play the way you practice. Practice hard if you want success. I view preseason as practice.
Is it just a coincidence that the players floating out there in preseason are the same ones who typically get accused of floating during the season? I think their attitude needs adjusting and fast before it becomes habit forming.
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There is enough parity now in the league that success or failure will by and large depend on how the players individually do. For example, if Huet sucks, we are in trouble. If some of our top players get injured, or have off years, we are in trouble.
This team has potential to be a 2nd round team, but the odds of going much farther are low (not impossible mind you). Will the team live up to its potential... hard to say.
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Don't know if he will eventually be a captain or not, but I am glad he said what we all know, the effort so far has sucked.
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Id rather have it this way than the way it was a few years ago when we dominated the preseason and missed the playoffs in the real season.
I don't want to pick on you since many here have expressed that thought, but I find it illogical. Just because we had a good preseason and then did poorly one year does not imply that having a bad preseason is okay.
The preseason win/loss stats don't matter as much as how the team comes together, how the prospects play, and how the team improves. So far, the Habs look terrible, few prospects are doing very well, and our main goalies have not found their comfort zone yet. Some players just don't seem to care.
Contrast us with the leafs.. they played their big guns, and they showed they were coming into form for the season well. The next game they played their young guns against our vets, and showed speed, skill, and a desire to win. Raycroft showed his team he is ready to go and started building confidence in him. I would say the Leafs are having a good camp, and bodes well for them. It doesn't quarantee them a great season, but there are starting off on the right foot.
The habs are not gettting off to a great start and like most games they play, need to try and come back from behind.
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P.S. Maybe some of our Habbies realize that after a couple of years in the league that the idea of preseason is for the young guys to bust their guts while the older guys try to take it easy and avoid injury.
That is partially true, but where is the sense of team work. Locke was a young guy trying to show his stuff last night, but had two anchors hanging from him by the name of Samsonov and Kovalev. I am sure Locke is not impressed that his "teammates" didn't do a damn thing to help him.
I also notice that Koivu is not floating out there, nor Ryder, nor Higgens, nor Pleks....
No one is expecting the guys to play like it is game 7 of the finals, but they need to put in some effort to help get ready for the season.
Let's hope that some of these guys pick it up, at least to the point of pond hockey.
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Saku has played great. Thank god. Hope that eye holds together. Its quite clear the Ribeiro experiment has failed. What a waste of $1.9 Million!!!! Corey Locke looked better. If I were Gainey I'd waive Ribeiro and hope someone picked him up.
Maybe the team needs to try Plekanec at center with Samsonov and Kovalev?
So far I'm not too impressed with Carbonneau....but I'm sure things will get better.....start by getting rid of Ribeiro
LOL, the Riberio experiment has falled. Talk about having an agenda. Does every post you make have to blame Ribs. He was not even playing last night and Kovy and Samsonov looked terrible.
It doesn't matter who plays with Kovalev and Samsonov right now because they are not putting in even the most minimal effort. That is not Ribs fault, that is the fault of Kovalev and Samsonov.
I will wait until those guys show up and see how Ribs does this year. By the way, Ribs is a bargain at that price. Look around the league at 2nd line centers with his average point totals who were eligible for arbitration.. they got much more then that!
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Latendresse played alright but in no way should he make this team. He would not make it better in anyway. The only position Montreal is deep at is the winger position. If Latendresse had been a centre I would agree to keep him and see how he worked out.
But thats what this team needs is a centre. After Koivu the team is hurting for a centre. Ribeiro blows goats and is too slow for Kovalev and Samsonov, not that they looked all that great either. Plekanec is not ready for the #2 job yet and is perfectly suited to the #3 roll. Although I'm sure next game Plekanec will probably get his shot at the #2 job.
Unfortunatley things don't look to well with Kostitsyn. This guys star is burning out fast. He needed to make some waves this camp and has failed miserably. This could really hurt the farm system if this guy doesn't start producing
The last few games, it looked like Kovy and Samsonov that can't keep up with Ribs...
In my opinion, we won't know how that line will do with Ribs as the center until the Russians decide to get out of bed and start playing. I felt bad for Locke, poor kid should have had some talented wingers to help him show his stuff. He would have been better off playing with downey and murray.
I am not sure why everyone on this board is willing to give Kovy such a free ride. Yes, it is preseason, but there are players trying hard to make the team and the vets should be helping, not hurting them. Kovy needs to get used to playing with Samsonov, as does Ribs. The only way to do that is to actually put some effort in now during the exhibition games.
I swear, if Ribs was mailing it in like that this board would be flaming the crap out of him. Porr attitude, blah, blah blah...
From what I have seen, Ribs was the only guy on that line trying the last few games. People felt he was sent a message by not playing last night, but think it was the other guys. They were told, "you want a night off, put some effort in". I wonder if Carbo gave Ribs the night off because he earned it, whereas Kovy and Samsonov did not.
Kudos to Koivu, he has played every game like he wants to win, like he wants to score, and like he can't wait to be back playing hockey. If Kovalev had that attitude, he would be in the top 5 in the league every year. Must make players like Koivu sick watching him waste his talent....
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I think we can official stop blaming Ribs for the 2nd line woes. The Russians are the real problem right now. Zero shots on goal. Zero effort.
Koivu's line looked good, it shows that they "click" and they were well rested. They had a lot of jump and looked good out there. Ryder's hands look to be in mid-season form.
The young guns are not impressing me right now. Lats is not bad, he at least looks interested. Price was good as well. Send the rest home.
Huet.. I sure hope its rust, but the opposition goalies don't look rusty. Price doesn't look rusty... hope Huet snaps out of it soon!
As for the leafs.. well, Raycroft is playing well and Steen, Stajin, etc looked fast and skilled. They might do better then we think.
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And we know that Samsonov and Kovalev work well together. So, what does that leaaaavvvvveeee...........
Hmmmm......
S-U-P-E-R-S-T-A-R-!-!-!
Actually, we know nothing of the sort. In fact, some commentators have said that ribs was looking okay, Kovalev was floating, and Samsonov was missing a lot of nice passes.
I suspect they need time to gel, and in the case of Kovalev, the season to start before we will see what this line is made of.
Plekanec As The 2nd Line Centre
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted
Thats a good point, but I think the jury is still out on Higgins as a center too. He has really found his mojo playing with Koivu, but I am not sure he can be the pivot man. I would prefer they leave him be and let him keep going on the wing with Koivu.
That said, I think that if Pleks stuggles, Higgins will probably get a shot at it. Bonk might as well, if he is playing hard.