hab29RETIRED

What?? Subban is not paired with Murray anymore??? That brilliant pairing isn't going to get a 3rd look?

I'd say that Pleks is the best all round player on this team. Win or lose, he plays well. That being said, when maxpac is scoring this team is winning more. When his line is dry so is the habs offence and with a team that struggles to score, I think you have to give the nod to MaxPac. i think his contract may be the best in hockey. How many guys on pace for 35+ goals are locked up for $4.5M for another 5 years? In another year or two, we may be discussing if Galchenyuk is the best player on this team, but i wouldn't put him in the top 3 right now.

Almost entirely agree with your points. THis is a very badly coached team. The Murray-Subban pairing alone reeks is so obviously stupid, its mind-boggling it was used. Two Gamees in a row!! On the tsn radio post game show, one of the guys (might have been Momesso - but not sure), made the point that on the 24CH episode, even Gallant was rolling his eyes during one of MT's locker room speeches to prepare for the Toronto game. MT seems to make very stupid/forced motivational comments. His "our captain was crying in my arms" speech even had Gionta uncomfortable as he denied it. I haven't been too impressed with MT either. I've been pretty vocal for the last two years, of my feelings to sign SUbban long term. While most here liked the bridge contract, I hated, but can at least understand the viewpoint for the shorter term deal. But signing Briere over Jagr and passing on Jagr two years in a row seems stupid - to those that say, Jagr may not have wanted to come, Jagr said he wanted to over the last two years, and this year even said that he's been turned down by the habs twice. As far as Eller, I think he is struggling like he has in the past when he is put at centre. With the exception of the start of the year, when he is at centre, he rarely plays with anyone with talent or finish.

I can't even believe this question was asked. Gorges is a guy we NEED to move, MaxPac is a guy it doesn't make sense to move, since he has one of the best contracts in the NHL for his production. Any trade for Gorges would be a win, from cap space alone, any upgrade for Maxpac, would probably be a lateral move from a production standpoint and a bad move from a cap management perspective.

As much as I make fun of some the TSN crew and guys like Pierre McGuire who work for them, its going to be pretty hard watching jokers like Maclean, watters and the other clowns on Sportsnet. They'll probably also sign the one guy on TSN that I hated (McGuire) and turkeys like Stock and Heally from the CBC.

Any GM who says they are 4 to 5 years away from being a contender should be fired. 5 year plans are a crock and clutch to use as an excuse for job security. Unless you inherit this year's Buffalo Sabres, most GM's should be aiming to turn the team around in 2 to 3 years, or should be fired before even being hired. A team with the resources as the Montreal Canadian, Toronto Maple Leafs and NYRs should be able to put a contending team together, as long as they don't make political moves like signing Briere over Jagr or throwing stupid money on average players like Clarkson, or signing the pretty UFA's to stupid deals like Gomez, Drury, Redden, Gaborik.

Ummm, who are the guys we REALLY need to dump from our team for either being useless, washed up, top small and soft or grossly over paid for what the bring: -Bourque -DD -Briere -Giona -Bouillon -Gorges -Diaz Guess what, 4 out of the 7 are Canadians and from what I understand Bouillon pretty much grow and played his junior hockey in Canada. Who is the biggest floater on this team - yeah Bourque. Canadian. And I won't apologize for calling him human garbage - which is my opinion of anyone who doesn't try to EARN the money he is being paid. So your saying you would rather have Bergeron over Datysuk? Any Canadian Dman from 2000 onwards over Lidstrom??? A young Rick Nash (captain canada who hasn't won anything in the NHL), over a young Jagr? Vinny Lecavalier in his prime over Malkin?? When the Pens won the cup, who won the Conn Smythe. Oh yeah, it wasn't Crosby, it was that lazy, uninterested Russian, Malkin. For some perspective, how many cups did the great canadian, Yzerman lead the wings to before he got his lazy/soft/no desire russian and swedish teammates? Who won the conn smythe last year, oh yeah, it was the lazy Kane. The Canadian over Euro/AMerican/russian argument is as much nonsense as the cheering for Gerbe and trashing Hertl for the friggin move to score a goal! The whole Canadians WANT to win more than euros is the most ignorant trite that there is, so I don't think there is even any point on commenting on seeing a lack of education as an unfair criticism.

So you don't have an issue about the idiotic CANADIAN Refs who didn't call a penalty on Marchand??

No one is going to replace Markov for the next two years. Bealieau will have his growing pains even if he is full time next year. Also keep in mind that while I can't see MB trading Markov within the division or conference, you can bet if he is available as a UFA, Detroit, Philly, Boston and Ottawa will all be interested.

I would keep Markov and move Gorges Markov would be a great 2nd pairing dman. Gorges is a 3rd pairing. I think the return on both would be good, but Markov would be draft picks and a mid range prospect from a contender, whereas, we could probably get a good young player for gorges from teams like the Oilers, isles, panthers, Stars, sabres, or blue jackets

I doubt it, it think he makes up most of his 'rumours', although he was right about Cammy - which you didn't have to be a rocket science to figure out he was going to be moved. I just didn't figure it would be for garbage like Bourque.

We could easily get a first + for Markov, but like I've said before, I'd keep him. His problem is how's he's being used. Keep him under 20 minutes and he will provide the puck moving ability and help develop Tinordi and Bealieau. MT is really the reason markov is looking so bad. There is no way he should be playing the minutes he is, just like there is no way Murray should be paired with Subban - I can't see any other coach in the whole bloddy world that would put together that pairing. I'd take a 3rd for Gionta, the fifth for Bouillon. I think if packaged with another player (i.e. Gorges), Diaz could bring back a good young player.

I still want to keep Markov. We just have to realize he shouldn't be playing 20+ minutes and shouldn't be the top pairing dman anymore. I think he will e invaluable in Bealieau and Tinrodi's development

If Lefebvre who doesn't look like he deserves to coach Hamilton is brought in, I for one would support a vancouver like riot! Hell Lefebvre should be fired along with MT!!!!

I don't see why MB can't go to someone like Guy Boucher or Crawford and say, do you want the job until the end of this year - same approach the Winnipeg is taking and its working out quite well for them. What i said about Price last night - only so long you can keep bailing these bums out before you thow up your arms and say screw it. I can see that happening after the olympics, unless MB starts doing his friggin job.

I have no issues with Murrey playing. Playing with subban is idiotic. Like i said at the start of the game, they should have played 7 D and start limiting Markov's ice time. The only dman on this team that should be playing over 20 minutes is Subban. I still say Markov needs to be there to mentor Bealieau and Tinordi. But he can't be playing the minutes MT is giving him.

well, with at least one point, we are now behind the leafs. So much for the unsurmountable 8 point lead

5-0

Sorry, I can't see much positives.

Really good penalty by the hero of the quebec nation. Exactly what you expect from a veteran leader.

I take my question from last night back. I don't think I was over-reacting. This team needs changes. to get embarrassed like this AT HOME. Saterday night on CBC, after getting killed the last couple of games. Unacceptable. Major structural changes are needed - including a coaching change. I think the team has finally quit on MT and tuned him out. But a coaching change on its own is just a temporary boast and won't address the structural weaknesses with the defense, the lack of offence, the number of washed up has beens (even if they do put in the solid professional effort like Gionta) and the amount of useless garbage passengers (bourque). There are just too many guys playing like crap for us to hold on to a playoff spot - which a lot of guys here were saying was pretty much sewn up a couple of weeks ago. We need IMMEDIATE change. MT time is up, but that is not enough. At the very least get rid of a passenger like Bourque as as a starting point. Diaz is not playing, play him to showcase him a bit, or trade him. You can't just sit on him until the trade deadline and hope to improve. At this stage, Bouillon is just taking a spot and holding up development opportunities. He should ONLY be playing IF we have a bunch of injuries, otherwise rotate the kids. MB needs to look at a market for Gorges and Gionta who are clearly declining assets. Gorges could probably in a package get a pretty good young player out of Edmonton. DD MUST be moved before he is goes on another prolonged slump and has no value. For friggin sake, we are playing a CRAPPY capitals team and getting EMBARRASSED!!!

not at $4M

Bourque played more then eller last night

I'd rather sit Bourque and play Diaz. play 7 D, keep Murrey under 15 minutes, Markov under 22 minutes and gorges at around 18 minutes Use Bourque's wasted ice time by giving more time to kids like Bournival and Bourque who deserve a look and may actually learn and contribute. Another guy who should play more is Eller. It's ridiculous that a bum like Bourque gets more ice time then Eller. I could hope for some of this, if I didn't know MT is an idiot.

it doesn't make sense to take on more expensive mistakes that are just as long. With Bourque's actual decline in salary, he may be movable to a floor team. Erat and Ruuto would be more expensive mistakes. Hell, to get that bum of the team, we could try waiving him first. I'd rather see if we can get out of his contract for nothing, before taking on more cap space and a roster spot on another bum.