Chris

That line (Higgins, Pleks, Kosty) once put together was on a tear. If healthy, i would expect them by the end of the year to be the Habs top line. What i mean by that is that line is also very responsible in there own end. Koivu Ryder and whoever the winger is have got to play better 5 on 5 and in there own end.

Yep, i am a fan. It's not my fault the team over the past ten years has been mediocre at best. I just them like i see them. I like plenty of players on this team, I also dislike several players and the work ethic of the team. Sorry, call them like i see them.

Right, Just check the standings at the end of the year, then you can tell me how laughable my predictions are.

Yes, i hear you Kovalev (my computer doesn't make those strange symbols, i assume they are russian). Anyway, It is really hard to find an 18 goal a year player and pay him 4 mill. What makes this guy so valuable?

The Sabres and Devils will be better then the Habs, regardless of there off season. The reason is simple, they want to win and they play hard every night. The Leafs are also better then the habs, in case you forgot they knocked the Habs out last year. They have improved. Can the habs make the playoffs? Possibly, i have said it for years but until the work ethic, physical play and all the "locker room" behind the scenes problems stop, the will continue to be mediocre. I definitely like BG has done and is doing, I like Carbo, i do think they need to add a real D coach. Unfortunately i see another year or 2 before they are a solid playoff team.

Plus they are both hard workers.

I agree, i was referring to the core over the past 5 years. Bouillon, Dandy, Ryder, Koivu and Kovalev i beleive are all players here for 3 years. The change and turnover is finally throughout the line up.

I don't think it was the PP that scewed the + - stats. It was the pathgetic 5 on 5 effort given by almost everyone all year. The inability to score 5 on 5 was the other major issue. The PP has nothing to do with + -. Especially for the Habs. As for Ryder, sure he doesn't play D Neither does everyone's hero Koivu who rarely takes heat. Ryder scores goals on a team that can't score. Put him on a wing with Thornton and he will score 40. There are certainly other players more deserving of criticism that always get a pass. Kovalev for starters. I know, this is his year. Right, he hasn't had a year in a long time. 1 good one in the last 7. That's not going to cut it.

The problem in Montreal is not the system. When in the last 10 years have the Habs been a good to great team? The answer is never. The have been mediocre at best continually striving for an 8 seed. They have had numerous coaches and all have failed. To blame carbo is just ridiculous. The same core has done nothing for years.

The bottom line is winning. If Price or any other rookie improves the team or beats out a vet they should play. It's as simple as that. Competition is what BG wants, if rookies win jobs they should stay. It would be nice to see a team that actually cares about winning for a change.

The pro's would be: Better quality people and players signed with good work ethic. Improved mobility on the back end. May help, may not, only time will tell. Better locker room potentially, with Kovalev in there you never know. Carbo is instilling a harder working team, will the vets buy in? Cons: Will Ryder, Koivu and Kovalev figure out there are 2 ends of the rink? Are Hamrlik and Brisbois upgrades to Rivet and Souray? Time will tell No work wthic for the last 5-10 years. Will that change? The youth is the real queastion on this team, will they improve enough to make this team better? I don't know/ I'll watch the games to see. I'll predict some vets will not buy in and be benched, traded, etc. Then by the end of the year the transformation to a younger team will be much more complete. Realistically i see them in the hunt for an 8 spot at best.

Any "gameplan" for the habs should start with working hard. Until that changes, they will always be mediocre.

Tough schedule? They play the exact same schedule as everyone in there division.

Man, what a bargain. Too bad Kovalev wasn't up for for arbitration. THe Habs could have saved 3 mill.

There is no chance of dumping Kovalev either.

Zowped, i agree about letting the prodpects play and being over rated. However, my point is we have already how bad the D is. The vets are simply put, pathetic. So you might as well see what the youth can do. If they fail, it's no different then watching the D this team has thrown out there the last 5 years.

Yes, i think the writing is on the wall for a few vet Dmen. I also think BG and Carbo saw last year a team that couldn't move the puck if there life depended on it. Brisbois at a minimum salary for 1 year as a 5 6 spare Dman may be an upgrade over Bouillon and Dandy, Only time will tell. Markov Komi Hamrlk O'byrne Streit Dandy Brisby Bouillon out to pasture. Doesn't leave any room for Gorges either.

I was, they were a 1 trick pony. Theodore

Yea, if Ryder is mediocre what do you think about the rest of roster? Atleats Ryder shows up when it counts. Very few others can say that.

Well Carbo is coaching one of the laziest teams in the NHL. So you should cut him some slack. In case fans haven't noticed the new signings are all hard working character guys. Beleive me, Carbo has his work cut out for him working with a core that has NEVER had to work hard, always has excuses for bad play. Hard work is what Carbo is installing. Until that changes, they will continue to be fighting for an 8 spot.

I am merly pointing out the facts. I didn't bash anyone, i only state the facts. If you think Kovalev is great, more power to you, however his play on the ice differs from your opinion. There are plenty of players and coaches i don't bash.

Ok, one more time, Kovy and Ryder are both RW's. They did play together 2 years ago and it was a miserable failure. Stop trying to find people for Kovy to play with, he needs to give his head a shake and start earning his money. An appreciaition thread for a guy with 16 or 18 goals and a minus 18 or something? Cmon, for that price he should be putting up 30. How about and Dandy appreciation thread.

The cube is not the best 5th D man in the league. He is lucky to even have a job. Only Habs fans think he is the best thing since sliced bread. i'm obviously not as smart as everyone on this board, but i am as smart as 29 other GM's who passed on him TWICE for free. There is a reason for that. If he is the best 5 man, everyone thinks Streit is a great top 4 guy, souray was the next Bobby Orr, Markov and Komi are awesomw, why was this team in the bottom 5 in all defensive stats last year? Answer: You guys severly over rate these guys. Then you wonder why they never make the playoffs? Totally overated. I will give credit to Bouillon about hitting players into the boards, he does that well, otherwise he's worthless. lazy 26, he did that once, get over it. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Markov Komi Hamrlik O'Byrne Streit / Gorges Dandenault They don't even need the cube.

I don't thik Price should start next year, i think Huet was average at best last year. He is very streaky and hasn't shown any ability to play alot of hockey. I say let the best Goalie start. Just like with the players. You perform and earn your ice time.

He'll be playing with better players this year. I actually expect more ice time. No way he goes down. His game wasn't that bad. There are plenty of players before him who need to go to Hamilton for some"work".