ShortHanded
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Posts posted by ShortHanded
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- After 41 games, Gainey thinks the team is in better position than the competition but he expects the 2nd half to be harder
- Gainey explains the successes of the team to some individuals who performed better than expected.
- Says the team has things to work on for the 2nd half.
- He's not surprised by Kovalev but he's happy for him. Says 6 months ago Kovalev was in a really negative frame of mind and it's Kovalev that changed his attitude.
- Gainey is happy about the team's balance compared to last year. He's happy about the team's global plus/minus balance. He's satisfied with the team's 5-on-5 and discipline improvement compared to last year. He would like the team to work on spending less time in the defensive zone. They need to play a better collective game defensively and improve the PK.
- About keeping Carey Price: keeping him with the team was a gamble based mostly on his play in the Calder Cup last year. Says Price has an impact on the team's spirit, that he's part of that core of young players who brings a certain character to the team.
So for the time being, Price stays? Phew!
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Gaaaaaaaaaaaah. That's stressful. As soon as I see the words Gainey and Press Conference, I assume big news is coming. Who knows? Maybe something is coming? Maybe Ryder's finally played well enough that we found a trading partner?? One can hope (or dream...)
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I agree, I was worried about how long Price was sitting. glad he's playing again tomorrow and I hope he has a really terrific outing. I really really really hope Huet didn't catch that flu from Koivu, or else it means it's travelling through the team ... Ugh.
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I didn't mention anything about disrespecting the vets or that the kids have not outplayed them .. they have ... The point I was making is that why screw with the depth of the team ? Also what will that do to the borderline vets still on the team ? they'll grip they're sticks tighter hoping not to screw up and get sent down too. instead of playing the way they play. Also I would not be suprised if guys like Begin , Smoky , Dandy , KT would get claimed in a heart beat .. those are the kind of guys teams look for when gearing up for playoff runs. especially if they had to get recalled on re-entry waivers.
just wanted to clarify that I wasn't saying you specifically said the disrespect thing. It's just something that's been mentioned frequently on the board and I wanted to address that I'd thought of it before it was pointed out to me.
The thing aobut "why mess with the depth of the team" is that the whole point of depth is that the best players get to play. otherwise what good is that depth. If you have depth but you play the mediocre guys and have the better players riding the pine, you've accomplished nothing.
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problem is though is say you get rid of those vets ... like begin , TK , Dandy etc .. then who do you call up if anyone else gets injured ? ... it's good to know that Lil K , Maxim and Rhino can play... but if they get sent down then that's ok .. hopefully they can continue to develop .. learn more aspects of the game and dominate the AHL.
you think anyone would pick up Beige or Smoke with their contracts in the salary cap era if they were waived? We could always call them back up if we have to. I know, I know, it's disrespectful to a vet, blah blah. But these aren't the stars, they're the pluggers, and they've been truly and legitimately outplayed by the kids so it's not malicious.
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Everyone's been so happy so we better start bitching about Huet again!
I'm really starting to buy into the idea of using Price in the shootout. Huet's confidence in those situations is at an all-time low, not that pulling him in OT is going to help that in any way. Maybe the best solution is to let Ryder take breakaways on him after every practice? He's the perfect guy for him - the one player Huet can stand perfectly still on and still make the save again and again.
Lol. but what would that do for Ryder's confidence??
Let's not get too excited. Higgins is on pace for about 60 points this year. If he can get 70 to 75 next year, I'll be happy. But to say that he'll be a 90 to 100 point guy next year is a little too optimistic if you ask me. Maybe when he'll be 28 or 29 years old, but i doubt it'll happen next year!I agree. I think we're all expecting too much from Higgins too soon and then we get disappointed when he's not over a point per game player. Remember, this is only his 3rd year. I also hope for about 70-75 points next year, and I think he can hover around the ppg ratio when he hits his prime, but I don't think he'll ever be more than that on the "points" side. Remember, he brings a lot of other stuff to the table. Intangibles, physical play, energy, leadership.
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Kosto and begin are your energy guys. You need them out there.
lappy's an energy guy too... he needs the time more than either of them.
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We got really fortunate with these injuries as it was arguably the four worst players on the team that got injured (though one of them was a call up who we'd like to get some NHL minutes) and that enabled us to call up guys like Lapierre and Kostitsyn which is the main reason why our team is hot right now and not on winter break like they usually are at this time of the year.
When Brisebois comes back, I will feel a bit bad for Gorges (or Streit, whichever one is scratched) but it will be nice to have him back.
When Begin returns, I will feel bad that a capable player (maybe Begin himself) will have to sit on the bench.
When Smolinski returns, I'll be a bit disappointed as we'll likely have to send one of Lapierre and Kostitsyn down which would suck since they both do more than Smolinski.
When O'Byrne returns, he'll be sent right down to the minors, if we're icing a healthy lineup.
Personally, I'm hoping for more minor injuries to guys like Begin, Kostopoulos, Smolinski, Brisebois, Streit, etc - not because I don't like these players, they work hard and help our the team - but I like the opportunities their injuries give to the many young players we have.
I am absolutely opposed to sending Lil Kosty or Lapierre down no matter who comes back. They've proven that they can play, and play well, in the nhl and they deserve to be here. I would rather waive one of the under acheiving vets or make a trade where we get back a low draft pick than send one of them back down. We have the youth we've been going on and on about for years and it's finally coming to fruition, so why should we throw it away...
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Kosto or Begin should sit most nights from what I've seen to this point in the season.
works for me. I love the way the kids are playing, and you know they're still improvig, so I want them getting as much time as possible.
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Carbo owned Torterella.
Since they had to overuse Lecavalier line, it totally went against them in
the third.
The Montreal players were agressive on the puck and dedicated to not let
Tampa players shoot on net. It was way too risky, they had to go on and
score some goals.
It's nice to see that we don't have to always rely on goalies to win.
Hey a couple of games like this and Ryder value is gonna go way up.
and then we trade him!
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My guess is that is exactly what will happen. On this road trip Gorges and Cube played very well. (Considering they are the 5 and 6 D pairing.) With Breezy on his way back, and Streit able to play wing or D, O'byrne will probably go back to the dogs. The good news is that BG and Carbo know that he is ready for the NHL.
see, watching o'byrne play regularly with Breezer injured makes want him to keep playing in place of breezer. Hamr's GREAT at bringing up kids and teaching them the game. I'd rather o'byrne keeps playing and breezer sits when they're both back, but I know it won't happen.
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you trade when the value is up !! I wouldn't but surprised if kovy was traded at the deadline. yet I wouldn't be surprised if we kept him.
I know, I know, but I was just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO mad at him. I felt like we just needed to get rid of him no matter what, sort of like Samsonov. Glad he's here this year and I'm not Bob Gainey.
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I feel SOOOOOOOOOOO bad for him. What looks like his one chance, and his equipment doesn't arrive??? Unbelievable. I'd like to see what he can do too.
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Kovalev, by a mile. He went from being an exasperating goat who came to play about 10 times all of last year to our best player on the ice night after night. He's winning back my heart, he was so careless with it...
yup. Same for me. I was ready to trade him for a bag of pucks this summer to anyone who would take him, and now he's playing great.
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did Kostopo make it out for another shift after getting hit with the puck??
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Ribs was a punk when he was with us, he seems to have become a man.
With us, he would still be a punk, more power to him.
I'myexcited by our youth...........
2-0 in Florida.
Damn, we're going to have to wait another month for that melt-
down.
Bruce
exactly. As good as he is in Dallas, at the time of the trade, he was a smart-alecky, problem and controversy causing player who only made things MORE insane in montreal then they already were.
Good for him that he's improved and I think the trade shook him up. If he was still here, I DOUBT he would be putting up anywhere near these numbers.
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Maybe Ryder has woken up. Cross 'em fingers fellow Habs fans
and toes!
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is chips playing? who's sitting?
never mind, looks like chips is benched again.
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is chips playing? who's sitting?
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I would sit Streit. He brings nothing to the table. Add him onto a trade with Ryder. I agree he hustles and works hard but i would much rather have real 4th liner on that line.
Dandy lapierre Kosto Begin on the left when he isn't hurt.
Gorges can miss the net 5 times a game on the PP just like Streit can.
This team needs more size and toughness
I have a bit of a soft spot for Streit, but realistically speaking, you're right, he'd be one of our more "expendable" pieces and could be sat without too much damage.
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Damn, was looking forward to another 2-point night from him, hoping to see more chemistry with Lats and Sergei.. oh well.
Get well Saku! :hlogo:
Yeah, get well Saku AND DON'T INFECT ANYONE.I HATE the flu!!!!! Who's playing in his spot JMMR??
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I think Gorges has played great so far. He deserves a spot more than Bouillon, Streit or Brisebois. He is decent under pressure, he can skate well, he has excellent passing skills and the guy is willing to fight a monster for his team - A huge plus on a team full of pussies.
I thought those line combos were the best of the season. All lines had chances and skated hard. Latendresse looked really good with Koivu and Kosty jr. Higgins made our third line a real threat but I agree with Chris that Chips instead of Lapierre would be even better.
I'm curious to see what they do against Florida tonight.
totally agreed. Lats is great on the first, and Higgy's great on the third. As long as we go for offense and pressure instead of backing off with a one-goal lead, then we spread out the offense in a way that makes sense, not just break it up and have it not working anywhere.
So if the third line is with Chips instead of Lappy up the middle, move Lappy down to centre the fourth and sit Kosto?
Or does Ryder sit and Lappy just move to his spot on the wing on the third line?
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God I hate when the Habs play Florida. Has a lesser team ever given the habs more trouble than them?
that's how I feel about them too. It's always miserable, and boring to watch. I'm hoping cataclaw's right and it's not too tight defensively because they're a bit tired.
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Well that was a great game to go to lost of habs fans and a few cheap beers before the game.
Nice going in shorts as well.
On to Sunrise tomorrow
Do you travel with the team, or what??
All things HALAK
in Habs & Hockey Talk
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is it because they'll be over the limit with others coming off the IR (Breezer?) and since he's sick, or is this actually a conditioning stint. I wouldn't mind him getting a few games down there, but if he's sick with the flu, what's the point of sending him down??