saskhab

Sami Pahlsson, though, was very good. He was an shutdown force in the tradition of Carbonneau and Gainey at that point in his career. Of course, Anaheim also had both Niedermeyer and Progner to help out in that shutdown capacity. lol To be honest, I think Plekanec is every bit as good, and probably better than Ryan Kesler. Kesler and the Sedin lines do make each other more effective, so I can see how it can be concluded the Habs are missing a centre. I don't know if that kind of player is available, but we'll see come the trade deadline. I do like the team that we have, I don't know if we can go four rounds for the Cup but I think we're closer than the consensus opinion to doing that. I think we're even with the Bostons and Phillys of the conference but a step behind the Pens and Caps, and conversely a step behind the Blackhawks, Sharks, Canucks and Red Wings out west. That puts us at around 7-12 in the entire NHL, a step below the elite. It's easier for us to make the Finals than similar western teams because there are fewer elite teams in the East, so at least we have that going for us.

Kessel seems to have no issue getting the puck to or from Joffrey Lupul.

Rookie contracts are so cheap when you don't have to include performance bonuses anyways. Obviously its nice to have super cheap options, but if a guy is good enough to play in the NHL on his first contract and it's less than $1m total, there will always be room for him.

Against Buffalo his first shift was brutal and I was a bit worried. Then on his second shift, he completely thwarted what was at the time the game's first scoring chance with a great block in the slot. His shot blocking ability is incredible, no doubt about it. He's a lot like Volchenkov.

Well, every team had trouble against the Bruins last year. The Bruins had near perfect health for the two month playoff run (Savard's career was over and they had moved on, Horton didn't get hurt until the Final, only Kampfer was hurt for the first three rounds, and no one even had major offseason surgery to suggest they were playing through a severe injury), had elite goaltending, and won despite a complete lack of a PP. They went seven games three times, and the Habs were the closest team to beating them, losing three games in OT (the oddity is by regular season standards, Montreal won that series 9 points to 8). And I think we've improved from then while Boston has pretty much stayed the same (Seguin's improvement offsetting the losses of Recchi and Ryder, Corvo for Kaberle is a wash). The key for me is not so much Boston (who I think if we play the same way as last year, we'll win 6 out of 10 times), but Pittsburgh and Washington, who frankly are better when healthy. Pittsburgh has the potential to be nearly unbeatable this year if Crosby comes back as what he can be. They're tough enough without their two best players. Obviously Price has to be great for us to win the Cup. We don't have players of the Crosby/Ovechkin/Toews/Lidstrom level. Boston needed Thomas to be amazing and they had a top talent in Chara. Unless a top talent becomes available (the Weber suggestions are about the most likely scenario, maybe an Iginla trade), I think we're as good as we can be provided we get healthy. There isn't a lot of room for improvement because frankly there isn't really a hole in the lineup that isn't already adequately or more than adequately filled.

Both proposed lineups look good to me. Really, the Canadiens have a lot of options and that's a fantastic thing. If one of the centres is struggling, Martin can move Gomez around to shake things up. Win win situation if you ask me. I really, really like this team and things are starting to make a lot more sense in the standings the further we move along in the season. This team is a +8 at even strength, regularly outshoots teams, and is arguably an elite PK team. It's just the PP production that needs to improve and there are good signs on that front (and obviously Markov's return should help).

Emelin is already a top level physical player and top level shot blocker in this league. His weaknesses are defensive reads, particularly from the side boards/behind the net, as well as his tendency to panic a bit and ice the puck. I think a lot of this is adjustment to the smaller rink/complex system of the Canadiens. In the KHL, there was more dead/safe space for him to put a loose puck to than in the NHL, and plays on the side boards weren't as potentially dangerous as they are here. He definitely looked good, but he definitely still has a lot of room to grow. I actually think Martin recognizes his potential, but he's in a tough situation with the need to get points right now after that rough start. And I think Diaz looks a lot better the past couple of weeks than he did the previous few, too. Our D is a lot like Vancouver's last year: a ton of bodies that can play, and Martin will need to manage them better if the team gets healthier.

Westin is interesting, as he is playing pro hockey in Sweden (probably 3rd best league in world) right now after an injury filled 18 year old season. Don't know if he'll make Sweden's WJC team, but he's an option for them. Kishel I figured was a no go, but he's having a pretty darn good senior year so far. Still doubt he gets a deal, but he's at least meriting a consideration if he keeps it up. Maybe the Bulldogs will give him an ATO at the end of the year for a closer look. I assume Pateryn will be a regular for Hamilton at season's end. Gallagher was the WHL's captain and played quite well. He's a lock for the WJC team. Same with Bournival if healthy, really. Beaulieu will be in tough but is a definite possibility.

I like that Dreger said the Leafs were offered a player and a 2nd rounder for Cody Franson. He didn't say which player. I mean, to the naked eye it looks like a good deal for the Leafs, but it could be that they offered a bad contract and the 2nd rounder. So... Gomez and a 2nd rounder for Franson. lol

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20012NJDSASALL&sort=totalFaceOffs&viewName=faceOffPercentageAll Looks like he was pretty much a centre. Playoff stats show he took 3rd most draws on that team. But they had a lot of options, so maybe it was just Gomez taking draws before moving to wing. Arnott, Holik, Madden, Nemchinov, Corkum all played some C as well. But looks like Madden was more a winger back then and Gomez was the #3 C. That Devils team was incredible. The classic Devils D (Stevens, Niedermeyer, Rafalski, Daneyko), Brodeur in his prime, 3 point per game forwards (Elias, Mogilny, Sykora), 8 players with 50 points or better, Gomez a Calder finalist, Holik a Selke type centre.... EVERY PLAYER was an even or better on that team (Corkum was -12 when traded from LA, was +4 in 12 games with Devils). And then the season ended as a failure because they lost their last two games to the Avalanche. They were one win away from winning the Cup 3 times in 4 years.

I'm assuming D pairings will be: Emelin - Subban Gorges - Diaz St. Denis - Weber Gorges-Diaz played a lot together last game. Although we also saw Weber-Subban at some points. The 5 d-man system was pretty screwy.

Getting Markov back could push us back to the top tier of this conference on its own. It'll allow everyone to play to their strengths... Plex no longer the PP QB, Gill playing 3rd pair at even strength, and Subban is freed up to play a bit more offensively again. Offensively we're really missing Kostitsyn right now. He and Eller on the 3rd line really gave other teams fits. If Gomez is being converted to a LW, will they still try and pair him with Gionta?

This is just unfortunately the situation we're in. The Campoli injury has proven larger than one could've thought, to be honest. As far as "another AHL dman", to be honest he's the first one in my books that is clearly at that level. Emelin and Diaz may be rookies, but they're season pros who have played at high levels in the past. Ideally they wouldn't be playing as much as they'll be forced to tomorrow, but that's just the situation we're in. I still think we can win with that D and Carey Price in goal behind them. Especially with Cammalleri looking like he'll be back in the lineup. We've played quite well defensively in spite of all the previous injuries. Anyways, he's basically the same size as Spacek, whom he's replacing from the last game.

New ISS Rankings comes out.... Grigorenko is the new #1 ahead of Yakupov. First scouting service to break from the pack. This will be an interesting debate.

Good post, Commandant. If Martin has a healthy White at his disposal, and isn't using him much (or scratching him), then I think there's real question to be asked why. Blunden is just not on White or Moen's level. Just as Engqvist was not on Nokelainen's level. I'm actually quite satisfied with the grit level amongst our forwards. We have two bonafide power forwards (Cole and Pacioretty), a strong man in Kostitsyn who can hit hard, fiesty little guys that are fearless in Plekanec and Gionta, and when healthy we should have some great depth options in Nokelainen and White. There's no one guy that scares opponents physically but its a better group than a lot of teams. On D, I think we're a little soft, though.

I shouldn't say way more. Palushaj was burdened a bit by Engqvist who couldn't play at this level, either. I trust Palushaj more in a road game where the other team can get better players on the ice against him than either Engqvist or Blunden, though. Blunden is also putting up zeroes across the board, though. And he's a -2 in 40 minutes while barely touching the puck (he doesn't have a recorded giveaway or takeaway). Palushaj generates more offence and is an even in 46 minutes so far. Small samples, and I apologize for exaggerating the difference, but there is a difference and Palushaj comes out a bit better. I think Palushaj is legitimately our 14th forward, a guy that has the potential to stick with the regular lineup within a year. Blunden is simply a placeholder.

Do they even teach defense in the OHL anymore? I still think Grigorenko is in Yakupov's class. What a game he had in Game 2 of the Q series.

The problem is if players offer nothing but physical play they really aren't earning a spot, even on an 8-10 minute 4th line. Blunden really doesn't do anything other than hit, it's why he hasn't stuck in Chicago or Columbus previously. White is missed for sure. It's important to have that physical element, but it's not so important as to blatantly put players who can't play at this level in the lineup. I don't know if we'll ever have the issue of who to sit with a fully healthy team anyways, but I'd like to see White in the lineup even if that situation unfolds. Palushaj has done way more in his limited time than Blunden has. I felt in the first round of callups that Engqvist was holding him back a bit, nice to see him get another chance now that we have that 4th line C spot filled.

Hemsky is in for the Oilers, MPS is out: Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky Hall - RNH - Eberle Jones - Belanger - Gagner Eager - Lander - Petrell Right now Edmonton is staying alive due to their goaltending (which was so bad before and the reason they were that much worse than the other bottom feeders), their D is awful and can be exposed quite easily. Renney is also doing a great job managing the ice time because that kid line is so young they haven't even learned to pronounce the term 'defensive zone faceoff'. RNH has particular trouble with the last part of that word.

He sucked at the beginning of last year too. He scores in bunches. But he works hard enough when the goals aren't there that I don't really care. Goal scoring can be a frustrating pursuit.

The only tactic Martin changed was shortening his bench in the 3rd. Didn't see the 4th line once for an even strength shift from what I saw. Ottawa has been dominant in the third periods all through this year. They're making their living playing desperate.

There are great shooting centres, and there are great playmaking wingers. Playmaking ability isn't a positional trait. Tanguay was one of our best players in 2008-09 and he was a playmaking winger. And Vinny Damphousse scored 40 for us from the C position.

Last year the Habs had Subban, Wisniewski and Weber as RH options and did play all 3 in January. Eventually they added Sopel for depth, but I don't believe it was because the team needed 'balance' on the right side. Martin wants a puck mover on each D pair, I don't see an issue with needing a RH D that can't pass or skate. That doesn't mean they won't make a move, but I don't see an issue with having one pair that has two great puck moving talents on it (since Markov would be their partner). Especially since I see Subban making strides in his own zone play... I really think he can be an elite two-way force. Gorges - Subban Markov - Diaz Emelin - Weber In a year, that might look like a great top 6. Our current configuration is better for this year, but for next that might be a pretty good looking D. Still, there will be a 7th guy involved somehow. And we know Gorges can play either side without any issue.

I heard Gallagher was next, they had hoped to sign him this week. I assume Bournival isn't far behind, either.

The KHL is a better league than the AHL. He's already been a star in the KHL, so I fully understand his position, even not considering the money involved. Mark Streit had the same clause and people on these boards were mad at him for that, yet it didn't hinder him to practice everyday with the NHL team and wait for his chance.