Chris

Just making the playoffs would be an improvement. Just making the playoffs would be an improvement.

You wouldn't need Streit as a forward. You wouldn't need to resign him at all. Save the cash and resign the core for longer terms. Supposedly Emelin has a cannon and is the best non NHL defenseman right now. Whatever that means.

Souray was the A on a team that didn't make the playoffs, Hamrlik the last 3-4 years played on winning teams. If your king of the losers, you still a loser. I only mean Souray was over rated and Hamrlik is under rated by people on the board. SOuray has way more holes in his game compared to Hamrlik. I'm not trying to pick fights with Souray lovers, i just think Hamrlik is way better.

Souray would be beaten numerous times in the corners, he lost alot of 1 on 1 battles. Hamrlik wins way more then he loses. Souray would punch someone after the whistle and take a roughing penalty. That isn't tough. Wining battles is. That's what i meant. Simple, Souray only stuck up for team mates a few times. Gorges does all the time. Hamrlik has never been that type of player. That's all i meant by tougher.

They will learnit time, they are still very young. Besides Hamrlik, Kovalev, Begin and sometimes Smoke, the 25 and over crowd is just taking up space until more youth takes there spot ovewr the next 2 years.

I'm a little confused as to what tangibles Souray brought exactly? A big shot, i agree. other then that he was worthless. Physical play: Hands down Hamrlik, way tougher Fighting: Souray got in a few but he didn't stick up that much, Gorges does more sticking up for his team mates. Hamrlik isn't a fighter Passing: Hamrlik way better Plus Minus: Hamrlik hands down. Souray worst in the league Winning battles: Hamrlik again Leadership: Hamrlik, the numbers don't lie, he leads by example. So I'll take Hamrlik any day of the week over Souray, he was so over rated.

Brobin, This team over the past years have never had leads to sit on. Therefore they vets have never learned the skill. teams like the devils and others are always a veteran club who have the experience to know how to play for 60 minutes. The habs youth are in the process of learning this skill. The few vets who are winners, Hamrlik know how to do it. This is a young team learning there way. Know matter where they finish for the playoff run that experience will help them in the future. Win or lose in the playoffs they will continue to get better, it's a process. Just imagine in a few years when the youth are young veterans how good they'll be.

Well the first 30 minutes was good. I disagree with GC assesment that they didn't stop skating or protecting a lead. getting outshot 18-4 says otherwise. About time the Koivu line was benched. That guy takes the dumbest penalties (always stick fouls) at the worst possible times. Higgins has been a no show for a while. Glad to see the SK didn't get benched with the other 2. Overall 2 points is 2 pooints. They still need to learn to finish the job, getting some other scoring besides the Pleks line. I would put SK back with Lats and Lapierre. Dandenault should be with Koivu and Higgins. I wouldn't say the Leafs are a lock, the Habs still need to show up and play 60 minutes. The Leafs still play the habs tough.

He has been right once or twice. He said Hamrlik was going to be a habs a week before it happened. Also i don't beleive anything he says, but it's a rumor thread.

Well that was a disappointing loss. It was the 4th game in 6 days. So one would expect them wearing out as the game went on. This team needs a tough guy to play in certain games, it's getting old watching players getting abused. Gorges is always ready to step in but he's really not a tough guy. I agree about koivu taking another weak penalty to change the momentum, he needs to smarten up. This will be a big week, 2 out of 3 wins is very acceptable, they need to keep going and learn from there mistakes. No offense to Huet but he shouldn't play back to back, he didn't even move for 3 goals. Gc needs to rest him here or there. Maybe Price gets the Toronto game.

Eklund has Hossa to Montreal E3. Said for porspects and picks, no roster players. Valentenko, Halak and a first i would do. Trade Ryder for a 2nd or third and throw that pick in as well. Back to reality, unfortunately i only see a 2nd teer player coming in to play with Koivu and Higginns. Stoll can play RW and centre. He has a great shot. someone like that is more feasable without giving up too much.

It was sarcasm

Obviously like the rest of you it was lucky they got a point. Especially playing about 5 good minutes of hockey. Good thing the KLL line came to play. I think it's safe to say the Koivu line is basically a 4th line right now. They played most of the night against Brasher's line and they got dominated, they need to give there head a shake. Why are people bashing GC, Smoke and Begin. Markov and Komi were out on the ice for 4 goals i beleive. The were completely dominated. They need to bounce back. I expect you'll see Halak Saturday, the team needs a good game and bounce back. How come Huet didn't get sent down after giving up 5 to the caps? Anyway, i fully expect GC to blast them for that effort and i beleive thye should be able to get 3 out 4 points out of the weekend. They seem to stink against the Rangers for whatever reason.

I use Locker number 8 at the gym. After a loss i switch the number to another habs player. Obviously hoping to change there luck.

Agreed. No reason to give up alot. I will bet the only move is a replacement for ryder. it won't be a top line player either, more like a Dumont who is ufa or only one year left on the deal. No reason to give up top picks or top prospects for a rental.

Yes at Michigan. I have a dish so the FSN channels show alot of college hockey. I aslo get the big ten network with the dish. So the FSN channels in Detroit, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado show alot of college hockey. Every friday and Saturday night. College sports Tv shows a Friday night game as well, normally a north east school.

Yea, a few other posters said they read that comparison too. He is big and fast like cole but I could be wrong. He is a great Pker as well.

He's not like Cole, Cole handles the puck and drives to the net creating his own opportunities. pacioretty doesn't have the puck on his stick long, he passes when he should pass, shoots when he should shoot, big, tough, fast. He drives to the net for rebounds and and screens. I have see him play about 6 games this year. i put some info on him under prospects. He is a bigger, faster more physical Higgins. He plays like a young Ryan Smythe. He'll get 20-30 per year. Very solid player, may only be a year or 2 away.

No, having Barry Melrose pick you is NOT a good thing. It's like the sports illistrated cover curse. This is not good news. :lool:

A+ for work ethic. It normally takes 5 years to get 40 games of hard work out of this team. I can only recall 3 or 4 games this year where they didn't show up. Forwards: A- Defense B+ (still getting better) Goaltending A- Coaching A They have totally impressed me this year. The season is not over so they need to make the playoffs to fully convince me, finish the job they started. There is still time for a meltdown.

College prospect update. If anyone's interested I had the opportunity to watch Minnesota vs Wisconsin and Michigan vs Michigan state. McDonagh: He had a goal and an assist over the weekend. The goal was a bullet going 3 ft wide and hit a Minnesota dman's leg and went in. He had a great pass on the assist, PP i think. He threw 3 huge hits, 2 open ice hits where the forward was knocked off his feet. The other was a pinch and drilled someone against the boards. Overall he did pretty good, great skater and good first pass. Played very physical. He fell down 1x trying to switch from forward to backward skating and the forward went by him. Fisher: Defensive zone he was very good,always in place, moves the puck quickly, on the top PK. Not overly physical but didn't shy away either. He wins alot of batles. He is very calm with the puck, makes a good first pass. Offensive zone didn't show a whole lot, i think he had an assisit on a goal but not sure. He plays on the second PP. Pacioretty: Michigan was shut out Friday, he had a few hits, played well on the pk. Nothing going on offensively for entire Michigan team. State realll just shut them down. He had a nice goal in Saturdays, game, he was much more noticable on the forecheck and creating chances. He is a great skater, played very physical. He threw alot of big hits. He did get drilled 1x on a huge open ice hit, i didn't think he would get up, he did and proceeded to throw 2 big hits on that shift.

I disagree about the bench penalty being stupid no matter who got it, coaches or whoever. The team was getting blasted by that point of the game, they were playing scared, soft and not skating. What that penalty did was wake up the bench and the team, the penalties were questionable, so someone bitching about those was fine. The habs were down 3-1 at that point so the message was it's the devils and the refs against the habs. In the players eyes. I suspect GC wen't in and gave them it's us against the world so go out and take it. To there credit the players showed up for a dominating third and got them 2 points. When the hbas skate, play hard and physical, they are pretty tough to beat. I thought they were sleep walking the first half of the game waiting for soemthing bad to happen. The current lineup up is pretty solidd being able to role 4 lines. Ryder just needs to get moved, he is struggling mightily and i see no end to it. So the habs need to figure out who should play in the Ryder spot. A trade or from the farm. D'Agastini maybe. I don't know anything about him. So overall great win, they need to keep it rolling after the break.

Well that was a great effort. 2 fights, solid defense most of the night, forechecking. Generally all the lines contributed. I said yesterday they needed to toughen up, go to the net, get some garbage goals and what do you know they did it. Anyone know about Begin's injury? Players like him are invaluable to a team with little grit. If he is out long term BG needs to move Ryder for a player like Begin. Cooke is out there. A few things to nit pick on: The Koivu line had a few chances and did score a goal but they were dominated in the d zone with numerous turnovers. They got a little sloppy in the third which leads to bad habits, hopefully this won't carry over. The team in general looks way better then the last 10 years. Maybe they can exorcise those demons and actually beat the devils.

They aren't that far behind the habs. The Kings and others will still have a better chance at getting the top pick. Tavares won't be in the draft.

Plus they can do less damage if they play together. Also does anyone know how they pick the young guns for the all star games? Lats has more goals then alot of those guys and he's 20?