alfredoh2009

I also like Ylonen, the few time I watched a Laval game he was easy to spot doing good plays remembering how Danault grew in maturity to become the Habs 1C , I am confident Kotkaniemi and Suzuki can get there

I think that the Habs expiring contracts at the NHL and AHL level and the salary structure provide an opportunity to whoever the Habs GM may be to re-model the team. The expansion draft and the regular draft provide added opportunities this summer. The team improved from the previous season, KK, Romanov and Suzuki showed they are NHL caliber and Evans was a good surprise I think the future is promising through my half-full glass

I should have checked the season statistics before posting, that is a fair point. My grades are based on my expectation for each player and how well they've done according to those expectations. As expected = B Exceeding expectations = A below expectations but still NHL-level = C liablity on ice = D Anderson was coming off a major injury and based on some posting on the forum, I was not expecting him to do well. I had him on the third line with Kotkaniemi. That is why he gets an A+, because he has far exceeded my expectations Tatar and Danault have disappointed me, I expected them to do much better on a contract year. Specially Danault after his comments at the begining of the year. But they did turn around their season and were doing well just before Gallagher's injury. I think they will do well in the playoffs.

semi-watched the game, felt they were going to loose before the game and that feeling grew 10x after the first Leafs goal. Some positive observations: Caufield can follow the play and is not a total black hole, but he is keeping to the periphery and I do not think he should be a top-6 option at this point in his career. Better luck to the Habs next game... which doesn't diminish my belief the Habs can beat the Leafs in the playoffs if they have a healthy lineup

I like the fact that they have taken two of the smallish players (Tatar and Byron) to heal and rest instead of playing them hurt I also line that they put together a « scoring » line with Toffoli, Suzuki and Caufield if the Habs loose the game, at least they will try giving CC a chance with more dynamic players

I hope he will sort things out, he has put a brave face and probably was being bothered by a situation outside of hockey (my speculation)

Revisiting this old thread, and revising grades with 9 games to go in the season: Tatar(C+) - Danault(C-) - Gallagher(B)/Caufield(*) Drouin(D) - Suzuki(B) - Anderson(A-) Toffoli(A+) - Kotkaniemi(B-) - Perry(B+)/Armia(C-) Byron(C) - Evans(B-) - Lehkonen(C) Frolik(D) - Staal(D) Edmundson(B+) - Petry(A) Chiarot(C-) - Weber(B-) Kulak(B) - Romanov(B) Merril(N?A) - Gustafsson(N/A) Price(C) Allen(B) The team is underperforming but it does not stink. The forward group has stayed together with injuries and long droughts affecting the line combinations. The Danault line was slow to start but was perfromaing well just before Gallagher's injury. Suzuli's cannot sahke the sophomore slump, but Kotkaniemi seems to be steadily improving. On D, Weber has not fared well under the compressed schedule and he looks tired, slow and powerless except for a game here and there. Romanov has been the revelation of the season, but the team cannot expect him to carry the load yet. Price has been very inconsistent, and Allen has not had goal support when he has played well. Overall, the team is still a bubble team but improved from the last two seasons. The only way this teams becomes a contender is if Kotkaniemi and Suzuki improve another notch and become consistent top 6 centers and if the top-4 D improves significantly.

You caught me there in my shallow logic

we were not winning with Romanov, but we won with Gustafsson.... your point?

The game appeared to me slower, seemed to me Habs players were skating a notch less fast, not pushing the pace. if I am right, then that seemed to help Caufield by not having to match the speed of faster skaters he definitely seemed to have a dangerous shot and to recognize the open areas of the ice to make passes and to position himself

Like Kaberle, kit vers and other late additions MB made before playoffs. Guvtafson will be out of Montreal in a blink of the eye

With the cap/recall situation, the Habs do not have the flexibility to rest players or play some of the depth players. What do you think the lineups should be down the stretch as they prepare for the playoffs?

It is fairly safe to say that the Habs will make the playoffs. Congratulations to the "glass half-full" 🥛 fans Should we start planning the parade ? 🏆 🏆 🏆

he played well, tripped his own D and that created a rush into the Habs zone but they did not score He shot from tight angles like Gallagher does but didn’t score he had a good chance early in the game. overall, a 7.0 on 10.0 performance

How about Bobby Smith?

26 @TurdBurglar, 26

Andrew Shaw announces his retirement from Hockey

Uh? wh..t?! ah?

.500 hockey

It is very hard to argue your point given how bad the team is playing. the Stall signing was to have options for when Evans was outmatched as a 4C and for short stints replacing Kotkaniemi or Suzuki when needed. Stall was never thought as able to take on the role Danault plays. He has been over used because of running out of options under the cap and because the young ce tees have struggled I definitely would not bring him back. But next season may be a full rebuild if the team continues its downward spiral If MB survives the season (if the Habs play at least two rounds) I would sign a top 4 LD and keep the 26-30 forward core including Danault and Tatar for one more season. Be it like the teams « last dance » season or do or die cup run béton next year , Price/Weber/Perry’s window will be closed

well, I've been optimistic on the Habs this season. Just posting here to show that I am not hiding with the unicorns behind a bleu blanc rouge rainbow Calgary's trap smothers the life out of the Habs, and missing Gallagher really hurts the team. Also, adding Stall has painted the team into a corner with the cap situation. The two new Ds are good role players for the playoffs The team seems to be playing just good enough to slide into the playoffs under the catcher's' tag...

He is better than Lehkonen, who had one good first season and has lost any scoring touch since. But Drouin is more of a #6 than Lehks or Byron

that is the way I listen to games when not on RDS sometime I do the same with PVR/ recorded games since the tsn broadcasts are online after the game

we will know for sure after the Calgary games, but it looks more and more like fourth place is a lock

well, this time you are stop, it !