HabsWEST
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Posts posted by HabsWEST
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Many are talking about trading HALAK, and his " perceived value" by other teams:
Most likely return: 2nd round pick, or a 3rd line player.
Lets take another approach ( eventhaugh Gainey et AL, will not be doing this)
First question: HOW much better is PRICE over HALAK?
Second question: How Much more could we get from a trade with PRICE vs HALAK?
Third question: 5 years from now, who will be the better goalie ? ( total guess)....and impossible to answer
The perceived value for PRICE is substantially higher, and teams will offer a premium....
How much better would the HABS be with a " top 3 player" and HALAK in net, vs PRICE in net and a 3rd liner...
TOTAL SPECULATION: and assuming he could be signed first, ( NOWAY if he wouldnt be signed) KOVALYCHUK for PRICE, ? or a similiar trade?
Could the habs get this type of player this year for PRICE, or has his value started to come down..
IS PRICE another Felix Potvin, Jimmy Waite, Jim Carey....etc...huge potential and early results that soon went out of the league...
IS PRICE another Sean Burke, decent keeper, but just above average?
IS PRICE another Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Hasek?
now,
IS HALAK a more secure player to hold on to...does he become another Vokoun? weigh that against his downside vs PRICE, and potential for HABS to obtain a marquis player now?
Is HALAK another Howard, Fernandez, good career backups?
I always remember 4 years ago to this day BRENT SUTTER CUTTING CAREY PRICE and keeping JUSTIN POGGE and DEVON DUBYNK, ( after Montreal drafts Price 5th overall...and Brent Sutter being credited as saying PRICE needs to be more competitive. ( DECEMBER 2005 )
THE STORY goes: the day of the last cuts, there was an OPTIONAL MORNING PRACTICE, and CAREY PRICE WAS THE ONLY PLAYER THAT DIDNT SHOW UP, AND HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE PREFERS NOT TO PRACTICE DAY OF GAME, for a game later that evening.
Or the year after he was drafted PRICE was off to a slow start, and seen that he didnt have to work as hard for TRI CITY because he had been drafted....
There always has been the quotes, from other coaches, and scouts, PRICE biggest problem is his lack of intensity or focus, he has a very " laissez Faire " attitude and is seen at times and misinterpreted as " poor work ethic" and needs to be constantly motivated.
I dont know....but these have always persisted, ( the following year Price comes back and is motivated to prove he shouldnt have been cut) and rest is history..
Glimpses show constant lapses in his performances, A coach I once new always asked " Does a leopard ever change his spots" hmmmm....
AFTER HALAK is traded, What becomes of PRICE and his performance..
Clearly a HALAK trade and what the HABS get back will be of less value than retaining HALAK.
But more importantly:
A PRICE TRADE will substantially garner much greater returns NOW, and with HALAK in net, THAN:
the other way around, and the risk factor of PRICE in the future...given past results...
BUT AS THEY SAY " the HIGHER THE RISK, THE HIGHER the RETURN" you decide, THAUGHTS?
****Question is, RISK in TRADING or KEEPING PRICE? Probably the single most important factor in the success of this franchise for the NEXT DECADE, and people will look back on this....PRICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRADED while his value was HIGH, or BEST TRADE GAINEY EVER MADE was NOT TRADING PRICE....*****
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" Tongue in Cheek comment" Right???
Allan Walsh later takes it off his Twitter, But comment about his Client Halak, is indication of where his ( the agent ) is directing pending FA this coming year.
Habs can not lose Halak, What if Price doesnt come through? Gainey needs to sign him and stop this " no signing during season philosophy!!!"
Here is the story from TSN this morning: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=297689
On Allan Walsh twitter acount: " WALSHA" , he has taken the comments down...." Either he is setting the stage for his client" or just wants more followers for his twitter account, hehehe
Very irresponsible comment, rather purposely made and timing of waiting for Price to have a less than average performance to justify his clients position, whether setting up for FA bargaining, or stating his client should be given chance to run with being number 1...
IS this coming from AGENT or HALAK or both?...hmmmmm
Just what we need!, Great....
In any event, 10 and 32 for Price, speaks volumes for him and the Team...
We need more!!!
NOTE: he is also agent for Mathieu Carle, made a quick note of his first game, and also on Halak's starts and other clients
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He has to make his own breaks.. like that point shot...
The difference was goaltending.. Pavelec make several saves that should have gone in... he came up big.
Price needs to steal a game, or at least not make a single error. Same goes for Halak. This team defense sucks and unless we get an outstanding performance from the goaltenders, we are not going to win.
AGREED, PRICE needs to make timely saves..being average isnt good enough...thats barely good enough for a backup keeper...He keeps on "training" " gaining experience"
HALAK, is a FA this coming year, he needs to be signed this season before he goes elsewhere, Same with Plekanec!!
Hamrlik +2, 28 minutes....Bergeron 10 minutes -2...says it all ( refer my comments on the MA Bergeron thread)
But lack of depth, mainly AK, Lapierrer, Latendresse, Dagostini, are not contributing...
We havent replaced all the players we lost...Yes, all the FA we signed are doing way better than the ones left...
HALAK, play him, give Price time, and patience! HALAK : 5 and 2, Price 2 and 6
DONT PLAY MA Bergeron!!
Secondary scoring has to begin sooner or later!!
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When we see MA Bergeron up with the team, fans will quickly realize how bad he is, Biggest liability on Defence of any player in recent memory to suit for the habs, YES THATS correct!!!, why Oilers traded him, ( I live in Edmonton, and as Habs Fan) always thanked he wasnt in an Habs jersey.
he barely can skate backwards, turns the puck over all the time, gets beat to the outside....
Expensive pick up, just to play the PP...
So everyone, dont expect the positive, we are better off with the young players, or even Brisbois. In fact he will make Bribois look rock solid...
His nick name will soon be " Bye Bye Bergeron"
Seriously...It will take the team, time to go through this, after all these changes...Whether for better or worse will see...
Cheers
As mentioned, I saw this RERUN over and over again in Edmonton when Bergeron played with Oilers, and always was thankful he wasnt in an HABS jersey, He is a nightmare in the back, -2 today with only 10 minutes of ice time..
Where was our scouting in getting this information, Anyone in Edmonton could tell you, he is more of a liability..
thats 3 games with lost points where mistakes on defence kill us!!
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+1
Yes patience...
Do we have a team that just is competitive ( ? ) and barely make the playoffs each year, and maybe, just maybe win 1 round...
year after year..
Or do we want a top level team, to do that, " suck it up for a few years" out of playoffs and have top picks with players like the Crosby's, Getzlaff, Richards, Kopitar, etc......."
Look up the Flyers, not so long ago they finished with 55 points, and drafted James Van Rymsek, ( was it 2nd overall) and added carter , Richards etc...
Look at them now, a few trades to compliment their core...
BRUINS
Same, out of playoffs, received few good picks from draft, ( Kessel...and trade him for 2 High first rounders)...make a few Trades and or FA, ( Chara, Savard)...
BLACKHAWKS
Out of Playoffs, get Kane, Toews, now trade, get FA...
Same can be said for Capitals , Penguins...and up and coming teams like the Blues, LA...
Its matter of expectations and reality of the Salary cap world...
---- The young prospects havent stepped up
---- We lost depth, go down the list of players leaving and coming in...Why the prospects need to make more of impact ( Latendresse, Pacioretty, Kost...etc..)
MISMANAGED assets, we kept all of them, in hoping of winning 1 round???
Higgins, Komy, Kovalev or Koivu, Tanguay, ...all those could have been packed for 1st round picks...
I dont have a problem with the new additions...
But we are missing all the rest!!
By the way the Gomez trade, picking up his contract and all, FINE....but adding Ryan Mcdonagh to trade, was LUDRICOUS, Timmins was quoted as being very dissapointed...and may come back to haunt us!!!! WHY was he added, as we did RANGERS a favour by picking up contract..
MID season, everyone will be calling for gainey to be fired etc....
So here we go again!!!
MISS playoffs for a few years and get a TOP 5 pick.?.....or
build a team to just make the playoffs, hope to win one round, getting middle of pack draft picks, ?
Patience!!
Cheers
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When we see MA Bergeron up with the team, fans will quickly realize how bad he is, Biggest liability on Defence of any player in recent memory to suit for the habs, YES THATS correct!!!, why Oilers traded him, ( I live in Edmonton, and as Habs Fan) always thanked he wasnt in an Habs jersey.
he barely can skate backwards, turns the puck over all the time, gets beat to the outside....
Expensive pick up, just to play the PP...
So everyone, dont expect the positive, we are better off with the young players, or even Brisbois. In fact he will make Bribois look rock solid...
His nick name will soon be " Bye Bye Bergeron"
Seriously...It will take the team, time to go through this, after all these changes...Whether for better or worse will see...
Cheers
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Montreal and Timmons has done a good job of drafting, but think of how much better even if one or two of the additional players below..And the importance of the entry draft and finding young players to come in right away under the cap, allows and gives more flexibility...
SO IS IT THE RIGHT CALL TO ALWAYS DRAFT US HIGH SCHOOL KIDS?EURO ( RUSSIA) AND WAIT UPTO 4 years for them?
Lets take a look:
( all players taken in comparison to other players available in same round few picks later.)
( assuming, size, speed, Big Centre, Goaltending needs, and Defense)
( French/Quebec players)
( Not drafting all US/Europe)
( AND OF COURSE HINDSIGHT)
2003
KOSTITSYN : PARISE / Carter / Richards
Urquhart: Bergeron / Backes
2004
Chipchura : Zajac
Emelin : Edler / Franzen
2005
Price : Setuguchi / Kopitar
2006
Fischer : Giroux/Berglund
Maxwell: Lucic
White: Steve Mason
2007
Pacioretty : Perron
2008
Jason Missiaen : Mike Murphy ( Murpy OHL 2 time goalie of the year, taken 2 rounds later last year )
So for discussion sake: ( not including 2008 )
Andrei Kostitsyn, Corey Urquhart, Kyle Chipchura, Alexei Emelin, Carey Price, David Fischer, Ben Maxwell, Ryan White, Max Pacioretty
for:
Zach Parise, Todd Zajac, Johan Franzen, Patrice Begeron, Devan Setuguchi, Claude Giroux, Milan Lucic, Steve Mason, David Perron
( Or Alexander Edler, Backes, Carter/Richards)
How different the team would look, even one or two of the picks above..
But shows how important, and lucky, and right timing and the whole mix of team changes with one decision.
lets say, if Montreal, didnt luck out on the draw in 2005 with 5th pick, and PRICE was gone, who would have they taken..
Basis why Detroit has done well ( drafting, and being fortunate and lucky to pick who they have), and teams like Chicago making the most of their high picks, and even Boston who have combined some timely picks, free agent pick ups, and trades...
BOTTOM LINE: I havent been a big fan of Timmons always going for USA /EURO players most of the time, when above players are available and CAN HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT. In TODAYS NHL this is a must DRAFT FOR PLAYERS WHO CAN PLAY ASAP, and not wait for the :
EMELINS, FISCHERS, MCDONAUGH's and go after the BERGERONS, GIROUX's, PERRON ( notice french canadian) or the LUCIC, SETUGUCHI, RICHARDS, CARTERS...WHL, OHL etc...
And pick goalies later on rounds ala HALAK, MASON etc...
SO for this year draft, LETS see, big, fast skating players drafted from Canada or whomever, and not wait 4 years for them!!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
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if Habs go after Lecavalier, IMO it will be a further step back.. why?
1. Habs have all the FA's to sign, and at what cost does Lecavalier come, trade young prospects or young cheaper contracts that are signed?
2. Who would Lecavalier, end up playing with?
3. With the cap coming down, Lecavalier will be a big chunk of the cap in coming years, and inability to move him if he is a flop?
4. MTL wont have as much room to attract more players or sign existing players, or upcoming signings in next 3 years? and their prospect base or their < 3 year players, would be traded to Tampa
5. Look at Lecavalier stats, does he warrant such a contract, or even worse warrant giving up soo many players:
6. FOR A PLAYER THAT IS LESS THAN A POINT PER GAME PLAYER: 787 GAMES played 669 POINTS!!, and dont forget he had St LOUIS and Richards playing with him!!
7. MUCH rather see HABS go after a cheaper younger player like NATHAN HORTON, 357 games, 238 points as a big young centre option!!
8. There are cheaper options from a trade and contract perspective that Lecavalier, that wouldnt handcuff the HABS for years to come!!
Hoping the speculation arising that TSN alluded to with the OWNERr, GAINEY, CARBONNEAU in regards to not signing players to cap space open for Lecavalier TRADE , ALL IS NOT TRUE, because if it is it will damage this club for a very long time!!
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After watching the clip, cant help but see how the pressure is getting to this 21 year old.
He looks like " a deer in front of headlights speedying towards it"....
Note his comment of being thrown in at times...
WOW, will be curious if he has " the thick skin!!' ( as Komisarek mentions in the other clip, to play and handle the pressures of professional hockey player in a " big town"
Cant help but have sympathy for him...
In the meantime, Halak is waiting in the wings patiently, doing all that is asked, and watching and learning all the off ice pressures Carey Price is facing..
Can it be that HALAK will be the one learning the most from all this, and become the STAR GOALIE everyone expected PRICE to be? hmmmmm
If you all have a chance , go to www.tsn.ca and go to: clip on : "The Loneliest Man In Sports"
(http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip164779#clip164779)
A telling sign.....
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is this the last game, or last home game in a habs jersey for some veterans? Gainey?
I believe either Kovalev or Koivu , one will stay, one will go..
Is this price's last game to start that he has been given? come next fall he will have to earn the right over Halak?
Will this be Gainey's last duty with the habs organization?
other coaches, Melanson ? Muller?
Trading some players who dont fit into the future?
( Higgins, latentresse, Kostitsyns...)
Today, is the start of what either will be a strong year next year or a non playoff year in 2010
WHo signs? Who stays?
New players:
Boumeester
Gaborik
Hossa
HABS NEED TO SIGN ONE OF THE 3 above!!
best of luck to all!!
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First, yes the whole 100 year thing, and after last years season and this years signings, all the possibilities existed..
Second, things didnt got as expected and turned for the worse, when Lang got hurt, and Price didnt play up to "expectations". Followed by coaching change.
fact remains:
--- Team was 1 point from missing the playoffs ( point that they gained on loss to Boston
--- in the last week heading to playoffs, no one gave the habs a chance..
--- CONFIDENCE, this team lost its confidence and are playing " tight" hockey, they started in not believing in themselves and started believing everyone else.
--- EFFORT is there!!, but not the RESULTS...
--- Reallys whats difference between Boston and Montreal, CONFIDENCE, RESULTS, are the personnel that different!!
--- Are the players using other excuses?
DONT WANT to HEAR, Halak over Price , blah, blah...
Obvious team chemistry/personnel has to change.....
WOULD MARKOV, LANG, SCHNEIDER, TANGUAY make a difference , possibly?
This off season will be crucial:
--- GAINEY stays or leaves as GM?
--- LEVER becomes Coach?
--- FA's to sign?
--- existing team FA's? I am sure some will just leave....or not be signed...
Is this start of a long rebuilding period? Turnover? Management, player changes?
NEW DIRECTION? Years of Futility?
My biggest concern is if GAINEY leaves, we are in for a long rebuilding and few management shifts ( ALA MAPLEleafs)....
Another season next year, and New faces should be welcomed, and old ones thanked but must move on..
FINALLY PRICE, shouldnt be looked at as 5th pick overall, and justified position as a starter..
HALAK, and PRICE should be treated equal, and may the best performances result in the starter next year, HALAK has done everything asked of...
or else, Montreal will lose him next year, along with other young players... and the 90's futility streak will be back..
If the right moves are made...than future is bright!!
refer comments from last years playoffs, as soon as PP went, so did the team, for couple years HABS had best PP ( Souray, Streit, Markov etc..) and their evenplay was mediocre at best....
Now PP cant score, we have what we have, dont expect much more...
As a long time HABS fan this is indeed frustrating, but clearly being down 3 to 0 , is indication of this team competitiveness, struggling to make playoffs...dont expect more than 2 or 3 games at home!!
All the best!! :hlogo:
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Price, right now is struggling with his confidence, he waits for the puck to hit him... he second goal, even the 3rd goal, he isnt moving in his net, and b competitive and fight and compete to prevent the puck from going in..
Eventhaugh its Brodeur, how many hilites have we seen this week of him moving with the play, even all out, and swings his arm/glove over to give himself a chance at the puck ( Tim Thomas does the same), Just watched Roloson do it tonight!!
Halak, is now moving in the net, and stopping puck at all costs!!
Price isnt doing that, all about CHALLENGING the player... Goal 2, GOAL 3 ( good goal) --- but watch hilites he is on his knees and tries to use his body, in meantime leaving the whole net open around him ( play like a statue) ( is MELANSON telling him to play this way?)
SHOOTOUT: exemplified his problem, didnt show anything that he would stop any, HE has no lateral movement!!
STill remember that USA/CANADA shootout, he sure faught back then!! ( COnfidence, being rushed, goaltending coaching style, what has changed?)
Right now HALAK should play....
( DID everyone hear the comment tonight on SPORTSCENTRE/TSN, that with CARBO starting HALAK 5 straight games, may have contributed to his firing as PRICE regardless is the goalie to go with!!)...hmmmm interesting...
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Yeah, it said in the Gazette that there was a rumour that AK Bars Kazan offered him 4 million a year (more than double what he'll make in the NHL) but Andrei reportedly laughed out loud at that one.
He probably wishes it were true though.
That wish is about to become true, AS MARTIN ERAT due to become RFA, just signs with his team, Predators, 4.5 million a year for 7 years!!
and compare the stats:
Here we go,
Erat signs a 30 plus million 7 year contract as he is about to become a RFA:
2007-08 76 23 34 57 -3 40 163 14.11 HE is 26 years old, and picked 191 in his draft year
Andrei Kostitsyn:
2007-08 78 26 27 53 +15 29 156 16.67 , 23 years old and picked 10th overall
Other players like Penner with 23 goals this year, is making 4 million plus on a 5 year contract.
Look at Mike Richards contract etc...
Andrei will be looking for this type of contract
Refer my comments in habs section, so will HIGGINS, PLEKANEC, KOMISAREK, ..
and what happens next year, with KOIVU, KOVALEV,
who stays,? who goes? ( does one of the younger guys sign elsewhere? get traded at deadline for a Rental??, Does Koivu join his younger brother in Minnesota to end his career? hmmm)
Why maybe Streit gets offered less, why Huet gets traded, etc... and maybe why HOSSA maybe to expensive, first priority take care of your own back yard first!!
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Here we go,
Erat signs a 30 plus million 7 year contract as he is about to become a RFA:
2007-08 76 23 34 57 -3 40 163 14.11 HE is 26 years old, and picked 191 in his draft year
Andrei Kostitsyn:
2007-08 78 26 27 53 +15 29 156 16.67 , 23 years old and picked 10th overall
Other players like Penner with 23 goals this year, is making 4 million plus on a 5 year contract.
Look at Mike Richards contract etc...
Andrei will be looking for this type of contract,
What about, HIGGINS next year ( 3 20 plus goal seasons)
KOMISAREK as well, Plekanec, etc...
with KOIVU and KOVALEV next year, who stays who leaves, rumuors of Saku joining wild and his brother Mikku( how true are these??
Gainey will have to navigate through these negotiations very carefully, and more young players have to come up to replace some of these departed players.
Maybe at trade deadline, someone like a Higgins will have to go for a rental, maybe his thaughts this year ( would hate to see this happen), but
realty of todays NHL.
PRICE contract will be up in a couple years...and so on...
lets hope this " wait until next year mentality and the 2009 celebrations" not come crashing down with disappointment, and especially if one of these upcoming RFA's, FA's, are gone, and the young core starts breaking away..
WHY ANDREI, CHRIS, and Mike have to all be signed now.... for 4.5 million ( what market warrants) or we lose one of them...
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2 years in a row, Kovalev rejected by team Russia for the World Championships?? after this years performance, this is surprising..look at their roster ( by the way Perezhogin not on team or EMELIN or Valentenko...)
Good for Koivu, and the Kostitsyn brothers with Grabvosky, as well as Markov..
well something to cheer about..
How will Kovalev react, further motivation?? ( if report true), will be interesting for next year, but he is getting older..
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one thing your missing that makes the rest of the league in the east tremble a bit. Habs are the youngest team in the NHL and the Habs already have goalie they've been missing since Roy left town.
Yes, on my game thread post I did comment on this, Habs youngest team in playoffs, and mentioned continued development of players ...and others coming up..
Gainey and scouts, as mentioned in game thread, have identified some areas of concern:
---DEFENCE, why soo many drafted in recent years, MCDONAUGH, FISCHER, Weber, SUBBAN, CARLE.....O'Byrne
( SIZE, and good skaters and mobility) not all will make it, but some will, a numbers game
--- STRONG FWDS: PACIORETTY, speed and skill, and defence: FORTIER ( more defence sound), CHIPCHURA ( does need to improve skating..
I believe this year, they maybe focussing and big, strong fast CENTRE???
---And maybe why Gainey is seriously looking at Brunnstrom...
Does Gainey go after SUNDIN for a year, hmm doubt it, ?? Hossa? would he really help??? FA defence signing??? hmm will be interesting to see...
But yes the improvement is there, and realistically who really thaught, HABS would win the CUP this year???
but in next year or 2 look out...
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After posting on the game thread and providing my point of view and opinion on my observations on the Habs run,
I woke up this morning feeling abit should have, could have , would have? Can you imagine what the team is feeling this morning, ?? This may prove to be a valuable experience in driving toward next year, and up to GAINEY to add to the puzzle, and also CARBONNEAU to continue his learning curve as a coach..
So what happened,??
---I have lived and died a HABS fan since I was 5 years old,
---I remember as a little guy, Montreal Trailing game 7 vs BOSTON 3 to 1 heading to 3rd period, I was soo disappointed I locked myself in my bedroom until my father called me in when it was 3 to 2, and the 3 to 3 tie, and win in OT, and rest is history..
---The following year lose to the North Stars, and an end of an era for the HABS
---Living in Edmonton, the sweep by upstart Oilers in 1981 and a young goalie named Moog, remember our goalie in series ( eerie similiarity to this series), Habs outchanced Oilers, well I was so ticked, and living in Edmonton, I refused to cheer for the Oilers ever after that series and for years refused to join in the celebrations of Cup wins!
---1986 win was a surprise, ROY, LEMIEUX and his heroics, timely goals by Skrudland, and scoring from all areas
---1993, and players that came up Big...
---Through the years the ups and downs, but one thing in common to go deep in playoffs:
1--- TIMELY GOALS
2--- PLAYER COMES OUT OF NOWHERE ( AKA UMBERGER) and lights up the net
3--- SCORING FROM ALL THOSE YOU EXPECT
4--- DEFENCE , and LIMITING OTHER TEAM CHANCES
5--- GOALTENDING and TIMELY SAVES
6--- KILLER INSTINCT
7--- CONSISTENCY
8--- SPECIALITY TEAMS
9--- MINIMIZING errors
10-- GRIT
( and if 11: COACHING)
INSTEAD of just blaming PRICE , lets all ask ourselves, of the 10 points above, through the 12 games, how many games did the HABS have the 10 points covered?
LAST night:
--- FIRST goal, BRISBOIS mistake
( DEFENCE pairing, with HAMRLIK)
--- SECOND GOAL, ( yes unfortunate break for PHILLY), but why is RICHARDS left alone in front of net?? ( look at the flyers, how many times did their defence allow one of the HABS to sit alone by the net for more than a moment??), WHO WAS ON DEFENCE: GORGES and BOUILLON
--- THIRD GOAL, yes PRICE should have had it, but why was PHILLY ALLOWED TO SKATE IN FRONT of net for the chance:
( did flyers allow our players to do this) OR BETTER YET, HOW COME HABS DIDNT CONSISTENTLY CRASH THE NET???
DEFENCE: GORGES and HAMRLIK
--- FOURTH GOAL, PRICE simply should of saved, but off post and in, , GAME OF INCHES...IF LATS scored late when 4 to 4, if off post and in, we would be cheering on today!!
( KOMI and HAMRLIK)
--- FIFTH GOAL, why is UPSHALL OPEN??? refer comments on SECOND GOAL, and GIVEAWAY BY BOUILLON...left alone to deflect shot, PHILLY defense were nailin our fwds the whole series in that situation??
(DEFENCE: GORGES and BOUILLON) again!!
ABOVE IS just a sample opinion and observation of game 5, and can be repeated in similiar pattern in the other games in this series and going back to the BOSTON series, SIMPLY:
--- Too many defence breakdowns, not enough GRIT and crashing net, too many little battles on ice lost, and timely giveaways, and not enough timely goals, and PP went south, and goaltending after the breakdowns didnt CONSISTENTLY come up ( PRICE makes timely save on 3rd period breakaway, but not followed by TIMELY GOAL on PP) with the big save, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE BY TIME game 5 started....
GAME 5 was a good representation of the MONTREAL playoff run, GREAT at TIMES, below average at others, and simply lost the little battles, and inconsistent goaltending and poor giveaways on defence!!
ALL EQUALS ELIMINATION.
FORWARDS,
BEGIN and KOSTOPOLOUS where -2 and -3 respectively..
FOR NEXT year:
--- Shore up our defence with O'BYRNE stepping in, ( replace Brisbois)
--- The 3rd and fourth line needs to be improved ( Smolinski, Dandenault, Ryder, Streit, Kosto, Begin...) who stays, who goes? which of young players steps up ? ( Chipchura, Grabs...??)
--- Strong C ( who in system, or FA signing???)
--- Remember, werent we the worst team last year on even strength, this year we were middle of pack, but the PP made the difference, well that PP was worst in playoffs, HABS NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR 5 on 5 play
--- CARBONNEAU as a coach needs to learn as well, PP was totally disorganized, DID the coach adapt well to playoffs and align appropriate strategy changes?? ( in his PA how would he rate??)
At end of day, Philly was bigger, cleared their net, and crashed the net and were opportunistic..Habs need to be in position to go deeper in playoffs and simply didnt have the depth to advance this year...
But all experience and continued development of the young players, the team is on right course and needs to continue its course under GAINEY's guidance...
BUT could have should have, What if the PP scored? What if some of those posts went in? What if Price made some more big saves, What if above mistakes werent made? well you get the picture...
Simply not good enough to go 2 wins and 6 losses in last 8 playoff games??? and 5 wins and 7 losses for the series, SEASON OVER...
Cheers!! but still hoped there was a game tonight!!....What if??
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First and foremost:
---YOUNGEST team in playoffs,
---FIRST in conference in EAST
---TOP offensive team
---VALUABLE experience gained for all concerned ( although would have been better to reach another series)
SECOND, the playoffs:
---LAST 8 GAMES: 2 WINS 6 LOSSES: Not good enough
---TOO many giveaways, and goals allowed at crucial times, ( whether it be goaltending, or giveaways, or not gritty enough)
---BOSTON series foreshadowed this series!!!
- PP at crucial points didnt deliver!!! 5 ON 3 EARLY in GAME 3, GAME 4 , and again today when tied with 7 minutes left, barely a shot, and breakaway given up
---TEAM EXPOSED, as we know, small centres, against CARTER, RICHARDS ( late PHILLY picks recently)
---DEFENSE: really is BRISBOIS, BOUILLON, good enough?
--- SMOLINSKI
above 3 players can be replaced..
---EXAMPLE: UMBERGER steps up, where was our secondary scoring: HIGGINS, KOST, KOvalev in this series, UMBERGER SCORED MORE THAN ALL OF THEM COMBINED!!
---BIRON MADE BIG SAVES, PRICE didnt make routine saves
---PP!!!! where was the PP????????????????
Hey now we know the big picture and why the team is drafting certain areas: DEFENSE, BIG FAST FWD: 2007 draft:
--MCDONAUGH, and PACIORETTY
Gainey knows , and a UFA to bring over top.....
HABS HAD A GREAT YEAR, and FANS SHOWED THEIR CLASS TONIGHT IN CHEERING IN END< and backing up PRICE:
CONGRATS FOR THAT!!!
All not lost, unlucky series, PHILLY WON THE LITTLE BATTLES, and hung on, and played with drive...
See KOVALEV AT END try to do it all on his own, give him credit, shows his heart, you can see time is running out on KOIVU and KOVALEV,
2009:
---UFA, BIG NAME who is out there haent checked lately ( HOSSA, SUNDIN....)
--- who of the this group steps up to next level?
---Who is ready to replace SMOLINSKI, BRISEBOIS??? ( Chipchura, Pacioretty, Mcdonaugh, O'byrne...)??
---Continued progress for PRICE and HALAK....
Been FUN, here is to a GREAT regular season, UP and down PLAYOFF ( gosh darn, soo disheartening, after all that, feels like with left a little empty hey...)
HERE IS TO A GREAT 2009!
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Notice no one on Team waited for Price...Looks like a defeated team after the last 2 goals, all the energy sucked out of them, could be an ugly 3rd period to end season..
The expectations have been high on the Team and price...Lets not forget this is the youngest team in the playoffs..
They will wake out of this nightmare and hopefully learn from this, it has been a nightmare series..
But they are 5 and 6 in the playoffs, soon to be 5 and &..below .500 team, not good enough
---They need to step up to the level
---PP has been horrible
---traffic in front of net, and be more hungry, things happen, you make own breaks..
First time up by 2 goals, team looks best they have so far in series, Killerinstinct, 4th goal to make it 4 to 1, game over, BUT CAREY has to step up and make the routne saves!!
I think the team has lost confidence in him, but HALAK wont give them much more confidence..
Montreal needs to get better on Defence ( brisbois mistake on first goal),
Bribois, Smolinski need to be replaced, and a big time player added,
Well lets hope for the best
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Gritty goals, by crashing net, and screening BIRON, more is needed, although still needs to be sharper,
LETS NOT FORGET THE BIG SAVE AT KEY TIME from HALAK, or else its 4 to 0!!!
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If this powerplay can pump in two....we may have a game again.
2 goals are needed!!!, PP is letting them down, where has the top PP in last 2 games gone to???
One of reasons why Bruins series went 7 games!!!
ANOTHER GOAL:
MARKOV, needs a goal/point
Kovalev needs to pick up game
Koivu
Higgins
Kost. brothers
Plekanec
GOAL, need to crash net and be hungry, Latrendesse needs to prove himself!!!
ONE DOWN, 2 to go...
HALAK keeps them in with BIG SAVE!!!
NOW ANOTHER QUICK GOAL!!
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Price has been weak, but they are not rose coloured glasses. He is 20 years old and
the team has over relied on him for 10 games now and the second he falters the wolves
come out. The same ones who wanted to deal him after Game 6.
The same ones who were sucking his dick after game 7. So spare me, I did not say he was not
weak, this game will hang on his neck. But the only reason they are here was because he stole
2 games in round 1.
And the blame on Price far outweighs any criticism of Kovalev, Plekanec, Higgins, etc
AGREED, you win as a team, where was that goal with 2 man advantage..
But when you have another young goalie like HALAK, you can go to him, lets face it HALAK is not a below average keeper, and sometimes a rest here and there is healthy, ( FUHR, MOOG)
but some of the comments here have been out of line, PRICE will be one of the top goalies, and alreay is up there...he is only 20!!! so lets not get carried away in his criticism or over the board compliments either,
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KEY SAVE at KEY points, what is needed to win games in playoffs and lift your team!!!
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I do agree that's their view ... and yet Halak isn't exactly chopped liver, either. In the longer term (ie beyond this series and the rest of the playoffs) it may be a challenge to keep both Price and Halak, but having two strong young goalies is a fabulous asset. And as long as the starting role is not an automatic gift, they can motivate and drive each other to stronger performances, too.
But what should they do now ... not so sure about that.
AGREED, having 2 strong goalis is an asset!!!
REMEMBER GLEN SATHER with FUHR and MOOG!!!
What happens now PRICE starts 3rd, he lets another goal he couls save, then what???
Well, this will indicate the philosphy of do or die with PRICE, or create a situation that also gives HALAK confidence and a competitive environment for both to prosper in long term!!!
COMMENT:
the team does need to pick it up, ( but an early goal and those missed opportunities is coming back to haunt the team when your goalie is not outstanding)
HALAK in, the right decision!!
Trading PRICE vs Trading HALAK
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted
WOW, relax people....Read my POST: DIDNT I SAY this would never happen....and what did I post in BOLD...just another point of reference..
I even went back and clarified the analogy, wow....
I am a big PRICE fan....even when he was drafted....so people take it for what its worth, a balanced opinion to the TRADE HALAK and return discussion...
Cheers