alfredoh2009

If they win their spots on the 3rd pairing, sure. For me Tinordi is almost there. But they need to win their spots

yeah! he he he I really hope he stays.

Despite all the negativity on this board, I think the Habs are doing a good job preparing for this. 1) they have been bringing AHL'ers with expiring contract up to the NHL on a regular basis 2) they have tweaked the NHL club by adding UFAs without ging up too much 3) they have not rushed their prospects up I think the following UFAs walk: Weaver, Murray, Bouillon, Parros, Gionta I think they will resign all their RFAs, and they will give a decent chance to make the NHL roster to those that cannot be sent down. This should free roster spots for Tinordi, Beaulieu, Pateryn; and it should free enough cap space for Suban, Markov, Vanek; but I have not checked that. Now, if only we could move Briere and Moen this summer

MT sits Rene Bourque and the reaction is about Bouillon !!! I am looking forward to see a PP with Vanek instead of Gionta, a really good 4th line, and what seems like a more balanced 5 on 5. GO HABS GO

I also agree with Stogey's. We need three lines that can score, but it is time to give Galcheynuk a chance at center and we need to make room for Prust. I know it won't happen, but I wish we saw this: Pacioretty-Desharnais-Vanek Eller-Plekanec-Gionta Prust-Galcheynuk-Gallagher Moen-White-Weise (Bourque, Briere, Parros,Bournival) --> with these player rotating on the 4th line === Emelin-Subban Markov-Patryn --> the last few games of the season may be a good time to try this, Murray-Tinordi (Bouillon,Weaver)

LOL

seems they are playing like when Parros first started, expecting "him" to do all of the policing and stopping being aggressive. With Vanek. it seems like the time is expecting Vanek to carry the scoring on his shoulders for the team... Wednesday's game should give a better idea of what to expect.

Against the sharks, Weise may have been better than half the club... they looked flat. But once everyone is healthy I see one obvious scratch (Parros), and two that should play if they are going full tilt: Weise, Bournival. That should make Bourque, Eller, Moen and Briere sit if they continue to coast/float out there

great news on Prust. I can't wait to see how they manage the lineup: will they play Weiss over Moen/Bournival? Will White sit for Briere/Eller? will they drop Gionta to 3rd/4th line?t

My best wishes for the Bozon family, and my thoughts and prayers for Tim.

exactly my thinking. And with Drewiske being sent down, this is a right D depth replacement for Diaz. I think this settles this years changes on defense. With Bouillon and Weaver not returning,.. don't know why it reminds me of Sopel and Mara ?! Now if only we could get a physical top 9 RW with some scoring for Moen and/or Bourque. That would do it for me this year.

I will be surprised if much changes. But based on how they have been bringing up D-men from Hamilton and the waiver of Drewiske, I would not be surprised if they move Bouillon or a Bulldog D to either make room for Pateryn or to bring a right shooting D prospect to Hamilton. Up front, with Weise's acquisition and the reliable play of Bournival, Moen becomes expendable over Bourque. Bourque is inconsistent but can generate more offense, an OK player for the third line. I do not think they will shop Briere nor Gionta, but will move them if the return makes the team better in the mid/long term. I do not think they'll move them for picks. Which means that I believe they will let Gionta's contract expire.

Of course it will affect the Olympians. But I think if will be mostly beneficial to most of the team, specially our smaller forwards who will get some rest: Briere, Gionta, Desharnais, Gallagher. It will also help those bruised or injured: Prust, Bournival, Moen, Galcheynuk, Drewiske, and maybe Georges. Weise will have some time to settle in and, with the rest of the team, he will have some extra practices to work on the team's system. I think he makes Moen redundant. === I liked how MB was bringing up Thomas, Leblanc, Nattinen before the trade; checking the right-handed forwards in Hamilton before making a move. If there is room, I think we will see some of the same after the Olympics and before the trade deadline, to assess what can be done to get this team closer to a contender without giving away key assets.

I don't think that there is a point to dismantle this year's team because some players are not of caliber on a "Cup contender"; as far as my expectations for this year go, DD is just fine as a placeholder until Galchenyuk earns that position alongside Patches. Next year is when I expect to see a center line of Pleks, DD/Chucky, Eller, White, and at some point a decision to keep Eller at center or to move him to LW, for example to the left of Pleks... But this year's DD is just fine, and his production during the playoffs this year will show what he is really worth.

For some reason I think Therrien and White have changed Price's cadence of starts since the announcement he was goin gto the Olympics; I think they are preparing for that and henc the series of back-to-back games he has played. Go Habs Go

LOL, love the Phaneuf pictorial I hope the line changes will send the message and help team come out strong.

He does not have a good shot, and would wear from battling along the boards.

Good points. After reading the article on Eller (edit: added link), I started thinking that maybe it is time to do the unpopular (even unthinkable) and bump Desharnais down two notches by moving Eller and Pleks up? like this Pacioretty -Plekanec -Cole Bourque -Eller -Gionta Moen -Desharnais -Armstrong Prust -Nokelainen. -White With Gomez filling in for injuried players. I think this team will make the playoffs as is, if healthy; but it will fizzle during the first/second round without a top 6 power forward and a 2nd pairing gritty defensive D.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Does anyone have an opinion if Markov could play on the right side? Would it help protect his knee? Would it be easier on the knee because of how he would pivot if playing on the other side? Because this is my favourite D line-up: Georges. -Subban Bouillon/Emelin -Markov Emelin/Bouillon - Diaz (Kaberle, Weber) With Bouilon sliding down if/when Emelin's game improves to 2nd level pairing.

if Markov and Bouillon play a smart economical style and Emelin/Diaz continue progressing, we should be ok. By mid-season, we would know who is ready enough in Hamilton to force the trade of Kaberle and Weber. Georges. -Subban Markov -Bouillon Emelin. -Diaz Kaberle. -Weber ============== Nash -Tinordi St-Denis -Beaulieu Fitzgerald -Ellis

good to hear

Commandant, Gionta was on the third line, because he has no chemistry with Plekanec; and I remember hearing that he and Gomez had their best year when they played with a big rugged winger. And IMHO Eller's days are numbered at center now that Galchenyuk was drafted, might as well play him with Pleks to build the chemistry and maybe to later swap with Pleks if he shows he can handle the load. I wasn't sure about Trotter. Thanks!

If I remember correctly, Bourque is a RW that shoort left like Cole and Armstrong. So, if I follow that lead and fill the lineup, here is what it shows: Pacioretty -Desharnais -Cole Eller -Plekanec -Armstrong Prust -Gomez -Gionta Moen -White/Nokelainen -Bourque --- With Bourque and Armstrong changing depending who is hot, and Gomez using Galchenyuk's spot. Sending AHL elegible players to Hamilton could mean a lineup like this, which has good development potential: Geoffrion -Leblanc -Paluja Bournival -Holland -Gallagher Berger -Nattinen -Avtsin Quailer -Dumont -Schultz + Lefebvre,DeSimone EDIT: deleted Trotter (Thans dlbalr)

Pacioretty -Plekanec -Gionta Because you cannot play Gionta and Deharnais on the same line. That means: Bourque/UFA -Desharnais -Cole

I also believe that we will not make the payoffs, but wouldn't it be nice to make it just to knock out the Bruins