Willey101

Where does that leave DD.....is he your 3rd line center or 3rd line LWer?

It was for one shift true however take a look at the bigger picture here for a second. The PP only started to climb the ladder from 27-28th to 20th overall when Darche was relegated back to the bench for the man advantage and Cole was put in, in his place. So why go back to a failing recipe even if it is for one shift knowing you have a kid like Eller who is just as big, goes to the front of the net and is alot better distributor of the puck. Eller deserves a break offensively instead of being placed with left over linemates.

Campoli played extremely well as a depth guy for Chicago last year and he is better with the puck then Spacek or even Diaz or Weber. I would definitely be playing him if everyone is healthy.

Will Martin dress Emelin ahead of Weber or Diaz though? Gorges, Subban, Spacek, Gill, Markov, and who is the 6th guy? Is it Emelin, Campoli, Weber or Diaz? For me it is: Markov-Emelin Gorges-Subban Gill-Campoli

Yet he plays a regular shift and gets bonus PP time......why is he chosen ahead of Cole or Eller? It just does not make sense. Even when Whie returns I am willing to bet the farm that Darche sees more ice than White. I just don't get it.

That only works if he has a coach beside him teaching him and instructing him as the game develops.

Darche earning a 1 way contract was a horrible idea. He seems to have lost that edge and willingness. Of course that's what we see yet Martin still chose him on the PP last night ahead of Cole.

Sergio Momesso said it best.....Larry Murphy racked up alot of points in this league and had one of the softest shots in the game. Forget the blast, place the puck with less velocity or with a wrist shot and let the forwards deflect shots or dig out rebounds.

I thought Max looked somewhat disinterested last night. I see an apparent chemistry between DD and Cole more so than with Patches in the past 2-3 games. I know the line is clicking but perhaps it is time to try something new? I hope Martin unites Gomez and Gionta because Gomez had another strong game. I would throw Patches on that line and place Eller up with DD and Cole. Hate to use Moen on the 1st but since Pleks is used in a defensive role perhaps a line of Cammalleri-Pleks-Moen wouldn't be so bad.

It's also natural for these guys to regress in year 2. I mean look at the ads, commercials and notability that PK got last year and in the off season. He is a kid with Swagger who likely had his head swell a little bit. He is still often trying to make the cute plays instead of simple plays and it often hurts us. None the less he is just a kid learning what is arguably the hardest position to learn out of junior. I am glad he is struggling because this will ultimately make him better.

Komisarek was still a much bigger man so when he laid the body I think it hurt a hell of alot more but you are right. I have been impressed with his development. He has learned to move the puck much quicker, to make the simple plays and to take the hit when there but otherwise stand his ground positionally. I truly hope the team sees what he can bring and ultimately decides to keep him in the line-up with the return of our veterans.

I thought Emelin looked good out there again. Did not shy back from anyone which was a very positive sign. With Gill coming back and Campoli truly not that far away I am guessing however that his role on the team will once again be in the press box?

Since the firing the Habs have been on a tear. Only 1 PP goal against and now the 3rd best PK in the league and the PP has climbed back to 20th. Some were shaking their heads but you cannot argue against the results.

Why not, back to back stars and shutouts without really doing much. The team had the same amount of blocked shots as Price had saves.

Makes sense to me. Wonder if the NHLPA will think logically though

Funny thing. A little off topic though. You don't see many Pacioretty jerseys at the bell Center yet. All Price, Subban and surprisingly alot of Cole.

So Gill is back in 2 days, Markov looks like he'll be back in 10-14 days, Campoli and Kostityn I am guessing both back before that. Decisions decisions, decisions on the horizon.

Confirmed that Gill won;t be back tonight but will be in the line-up Wednesday

Can't throw in Gill. His speed is not game shape ready !!!!!!!

RDS is reporting that Gill was at practice this morning and is "seriously close" to coming back. Not sure if tonight is the night but likely by the next game. I know we normally play the Bruins well but I don;t see this looking good tonight.

Who cares about a top center. Gomez has put up very little point production. Would we have been better off with Antropov, Koivu, Jokinen, Fleischman, I mean there are plenty of options for a 2nd line center. As for the future, don;t worry. There is still plenty of money to go around for these guys with current players coming off the books.

Excellent breakdown. The past is the past however you can't help but wonder where we would be if we had kept McDonaugh and Higgins. We would not have had to trade for D-men. Could have acquired something else for Higgins (assuming dealt) and we would have $7.4 million in space. The past is the past but for me at least it doesn't hide the fact that this was an extremely brutal trade.

I don't think it is 100% but they have not practiced so the likelyhood is quite high. Nobody is talking about AK46 though. Any word on him or even Campoli?

I think you nailed this right on. if the league survives with the current teams then the floor has to drop ultimately meaning the ceiling has to rise.There is just no way many teams can survive given this floor and the amount of money they are losing. I wonder if we will see a tweak to the buy out however or a tweak in sending salary to the minors to avoid cap hits.

I think the label was merited however because he has never been a goal scorer. I mean his Michigan team was stacked sure but he finished well behind guys like Porter on the scoring sheet. Even his first year of pro hockey he scored a total of 9 goals. I'm glad he is doing better than what most thought because max had it right all along when he said he'd rather stay in Hamilton then play 8 minutes a game on he 4th line. Good for him.