Chris

I would prefer a different D man. McDonagh is a LD. I would give either Subban, Weber or Fisher. They are all RD. I don't know what side Emelin is.

Ek has Higgins McDonagh and conditional #1 for Gaborik? Please don't shoot the messanger.

It's not really a statement game. It's game 3 in the regular season. If the Habs wanted to show them something they should have done it last year. This year's team is different and with no Laraque in the line up they are still very soft. So far 1 fight, 1 habs on his back again. They need to play much better in the D zone then they did the first 2 games, the team should thank the goalies for only 1 goal against each game. The flyers are not the leafs. Acouple of points from the weekends games i'm not really going to point out individuals, too early in the season. Goaltending; A Defense: D Offense: C PP: B looked good against the leafs not do good against Buffalo PK: B+ Effort: C (D in Buffalo, B+ in Toronto)

Well i have some thoughts on this years season and what the Habs need to do become a playoff team and do some damage in the playoffs. 1. Don't beleive the hype. The Habs need to continue to work hard every night and be very consistent like they were last year. I think GC will be able to maintain this area. If not, i'm sure he'll be benching soem people. 2. Injuries: The habs have quality depth in alot of positions, I doubt they will remain as healthy as last year. Hopefully they will but you never know. 3. Defensive zone coverage: probably the weakest spot on the Habs. This are was much improved last year, they will need to tighten up some more this year to be a legitimate contender. 4. 5 on 5 hockey. This area simply needs to improve. They can't rely on the PP all year and expect that to carry them into the playoffs and as seen in the playoffs last year, the PP dries up in the playoffs. 5. Work hard, work hard and work hard, every night every shift. This is what the great teams do. They don't take periods of time off during games. The Habs have a tendancy to do this from time to time. They are bigger and tougher, will they be tough enough for a long playoff run? My prediction: 1st in the division. Lose in the second round again. I am still not convinced the vets have what it takes to make it all the way. This will directly lead to who is and who isn't resigned. Remember last year i picked them out of the playoffs around 10th. So obviously didn't see that season coming.

Some of you guys are going a little crazy here, Sk sent down? He is a top 6 forward, gritty, tough, excellent passer, sticks up for team mates, great speed. He would have 2 assists last night if players could finish his passes. The difference between Lats and Pacioretty is a few things, weaker team for Lats, like it or not being french canadien changes people's outlook good or bad. Pacioretty is already a much more comlete player then lats, great speed, knows all 3 zones, Plays the PK, uses his body well. I don't know if he will stay or go down but all this competition should be making some players nervous, Lats included. Trading someone is a possibiliy but playong Pacioretty on the 4th line doesn't make much sense. Trading Lats for the same age prospect centre wouldn't be a bad idea (Shremo) example O'Byrne was brutal last night, as were most of the other D, Gorges was the only solid player back there. Alot of dumb penalties and turnovers, those need to start shrinking before the season starts, you can't be short handed all night, Good effort, good hockey for a pre season game. Has Higgins, Koivu, Laraque even played a game yet?

1. it's a tie, 1 point each team. 2. I know it's a dream but it's really only one row of seats. 3. That would solve alot. 4. Just a bit, i was looking into chest protecter area, some of those guys look like the Michelin man.

They could make it better without these stupid rules they have. 4 simple ways to fix it 1. 3 point wins, no overtime no stupid shootouts. 2. Split the difference on rink size between nhl and olympic size, The players are too big and fast for the smaller rink, this will still allow physical play, corner work, speed and transitions. 3. Get rid of the instigator rule. 4. Shrink the goalie equipment a bit.

Subban has alot of work to do before he is NHL ready. I like his skating and work ethic but he makes alot of mistakes and took several penalties. He has alot of work to do. Weber actually surprised me in the 2 games i saw and what others are saying about him. I didn't think much of him but other players are impressed with me so that is good enough for me. Valentenko has been poor at best, he was pretty much outmatched by NHLers, sorry Cerebus, i don't see how he'll be an NHler on this team, too many good prospects on the left D. Pacioretty will make the team next year, what role he has i have no idea. I guess it depends on who is resigned. As you may have seen, he has the size, speed and the defensive game to play quickily. Offensively he needs to play with play makers, in college he played with a shooter and a playmaker and he did all the little things. Goes to the cormners, forechecks, goes to the front of the net. Stewart will take the 4th line LW spot next year and should be good with Laraque Lapierre Chipchura impressed me the games i saw him play so far. They need to give him a shut down role, he doesn't have the speed to be a top 2 centre. Some people are don on him and others aare very high on him, i think he's good enough to be a solid 3 or 4 centre depending on his wingers. He has gotten better on faceoffs. I'm looking forward to this season, I think next year's team will look signifacantly different and younger.

I read on another sitre that fox sports Detroit is showing the game if you have a dish or the nhl package it should be on. Also the wings have very good lineup in. So it may get ugly,

Tanguay was playing the wrong wing, give him some slack, he has never played the point either. Remember on Tanguay, he plays better with a good centre, he will be fine during the season. O'Byrne was playing the wrong side most of the night as well. I forgot how bad pre season games really are. The vets on both sides were going 3/4 speed. Both teams played back to back. No offesnsive cohesion at all. Gorges was quiet and calm which is good. He looked good. I noticed Maxwell several times and Pacioretty as well. Weber was noticed good and bad.

Mils, you are correct, it was alleged from a news paper article. I think i read it on the DU website somewhere. No charges were brought, i would speculate the charges were dropped if he left campus or something to that effect.

I'm sure the reason why Brisby was added is that BG and GC didn't think anyone was ready to make the jump.

He played for DU, had good offensive numbers. He has good skill, good in open ice, decent speed. He is a little soft and has some character issues. he was dismissed from the team, the local papers here didn't say much about it but it was suggested he stole some crdet / debt cards from team mates. I guess the question is character and does he have enough to make it in the NHl.

Really? I had no idea there were other fighters, i wonder why they didn't jump in?

His timing isn't any worse then Kovalev and Koivu. They take dumb penalties all the time. They should definitely dress Stewart if Laracque isn't in during the preseason. You can't have people taking runs at your good young players. Fighting Scale 1. Laracque 2. Stewart 3. Begin, Georges and SK. I don't ever see anyone else step up. You don't want Komi doing it during the pre season.

Apparantly the line up tonight will be very similar to last nights with as couple of local additions. Hamrlik injured his groin and Dandy will move back and take his spot on D, NHL.com i got the info from.

It was only a pre season game, but you can't go out there and get bombed. I always wonder how people say this guy looks great, but the score was 8-3. regardless of the rosters a team should not get blown out and give up 8 goals. The first 3 games should look pretty similar, i think The team is broken into 3 different squads.

Yes, it's happening again. I also saw a Perezhogen posting. I also think it's funny people are posting about Grabovski being the number 1 centre, how can the Habs let him go. I don't think hge is nearly that good, he has incredible speed but that's about all i've seen from him. Time will tell on him. I beleive BG, GC and Timmins know what there doing.

I read somewhere the NHL network is televising alot of pre season games. Buffalo and Montreal are on it tomorrow night. The other good thing as posters have said IF Tanguay can play the RW, that will make 3 really good lines that can be interchanged. I read the Pleks Kosty brothers line was fyling during the scrimmiges. Kovalev when he is on can carry almost any line mates, It'll be interesting to see how it shakes out.

I think your looking at it wrong, there are 4 centers, Lang, Koivu, Pleks and Lapierre. He could outplay Lapierre, or he can rotate in with the others to give them a rest. He isn't going to the wing. The extra's now are Brisby, Kosto and Dandy. That completes the roster. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Dandy out, either waived or traded. But do expect you'll see Chipchura in atleast 25-35 games.

I actually think the first time it didn't go away so he had to go on a second set of anti-biotics and was sick for a long time. He looked much better last year. He was very good in his own, moving the puck and skating. College is obviously different but he is pretty physical. I don't see him putting up big offensive numbers but can be a very solid 5 or 6 Dman.

Trotter was pretty good at DU. Whether that means anything or not time will tell. The habs only have 4 centers, with injuries and being under the cap with a full 23 man roster i expect to see Chipchura alot. He was sent down last year for faceoffs, defensive work and he turned the puck over alot. Things Lapierre does better. Lapierre is a better fit for the 4th line currently, i assume it will start with Begin Lapierre Laracque. As i mentioned on another post with 3 games in 4 nights and back to back games all the players can get some time and there will be injuries for players to step up. Ice time must be earned, it's called competition, that's what BG and GC want, If Chipchura earns the time he'll play. GC has been fair about that while benching numerous guys who weren't cutting it.

I once saw a couple of baseball players (san Diego i think) come in through the club house door while the game was going with a couple of beers. That was pretty funny.

Begin will be, i don't know about Brisby. You also have to remember they start the season 3 in 4 nights if i'm not mistaken. You'll see some subs right off the bat. There is nothing wrong with having depth and good solid players. It gives players a chance to rest and give there best every night they play. There will be games where they don't need Laraque and can give him a rest also. Competition is what has brought the team to a better level the last 2 years, if you can't cut it, your spot isn't safe anymore. I like that alot. So as long as Begin, Kostopolous play the way they did last year, i have no problem with them getting ice time.

Begin will be in most nights, don't fool yourselves. Whether you guys like Begin or not he brings toughness, speed, Pk, blocks shots and is generally a pest. He was part of the habs best line in the playoffs. Guys ike him aren't easy to find. He With the current depth, he does get injured alot and the team can afford to rest him him when they play back to back. Chipchura and Lapierre won't play together on the same line.