Habinator33

Honestly he was playing very good on that line a few weeks ago, then Bourque came back and Briere was back in the dog house. Maybe this time let him stay on the line for a bit.

I might be in the minority but I thought Briere with Pacioretty and Bourque were playing pretty good together. I would've put Prust with Galchenyuk and Eller, Briere centering Pacioretty and Bourque, and Bournival on Plekanec line. I probably would've just sat Gallagher or played him the 7-8 minutes on the 4th line that Bournival got tonight. Hindsight is... wait nvm I think most people complained that Therrien would use Desharnais this game too much after the shootout win and it wouldn't work.

Briere was invisible because he didn't play he got 8 minutes of ice time while Desharnais got 18. I honestly can't complain about Briere's play since returning from a concussion. He has constantly been creating chances and setting up players in the little ice time he has gotten. last game he had an assist and a few nice setups one that Desharnais completely fanned on that should've been a goal. Tonight he helped create our best chance in the 3rd period when he setup Moen and the Rangers were throwing their sticks around left and right. The fact that Briere got 8 minutes and Bournival got 7 while leading the team in hits is disturbing. Especially when watchin Bourque let up on so many chances to run a guy into the glass and get the puck. Then watch Desharnais turn the puck over or fumble it constantly.

He's been one of our best shooutout guys the last 2 years. It just so happened our last 2 shootouts were games he got benched

1- Price 2- Markov 3- Subban 4- Plekanec 5- Prust Goaltending is most important thing and while Budaj is a good backup he's not a starting goalie that can carry the load. I went with Markov over Subban just because of the history of Markov in the lineup vs out of lineup. Plus I took into account this whole weird coaching thing with Subban with markov out do they put more faith in him late game and pk or are we seeing more bouillon etc. Plekanec just because of the multiple tools he provides. Prust just bring an element that no one else on the roster can replace, I think we are a much better team when he's playing on our 3rd line and getting 12-15 minutes a game.

I would consider claiming Staubitz off waivers if Prust is going to be out a while. I would just let Bournival take the place of Briere for now and hope the veterans namely Plekanec, Bourque, Gionta, and Desharnais start chipping in more offensively.

It's going to be tough with this defense, has to be one of if not the softest in the league. That being said what happened to Gorges and why did we basically just use 4 defensemen the entire 3rd period?

Montreal leads league with most players over 20+ goals Travis Moen and Raphael Diaz are my 2 disapointments of the season and both get traded Alexei Emelin doesn't return until the 2014 side of the season and clearly looks like he's coming off knee surgery Jarred Tinordi is our best rookie of the season We finish for a close 4th in the division and lose in 4 games in 2nd round of playoffs

Max Pacioretty has 4 season ending injuries and ends up just missing 4 games.

The habs/flyers rumor circulating on free agency frenzy day was just a bad game of telephone played out on twitter and other forums by unreliable sources. It wasn't reported by Lebrun, Dreger, or Mckenzie and was even denied by Talbot and Philly radio. It just started out as a rumor that we were interested in Talbot because we needed gritty forwards and then ballooned from there that oh we need size so we must want Simmonds etc. I'm sure Plekanec could still be traded but when the Flyers added Lecavalier I think the fit there is gone. I'm sure we are intersted in Simmonds but as bergervin said in the past so are 29 other teams with guys like that.

When Jagr is 50 years old and retired there will still be rumors of him coming out of retirement to play for Habs.

Games aren't really won on draft day or free agency frenzy day. Just ask Minnesota who added Parise and Suter last offseason. Same can be said about the Rangers who added Nash and got worse. Penguins were winners of deadline day with Morrow, Iginla, and Murray and funny thing is the team that lost out to Iginla ends up winning. The way I view the habs is if we get the all-star Carey Price we can contend not only for playoffs but for cup. If we get the afraid to get his groceries Price we'll struggle for that last playoff spot and have another first round exit if we do get in. We don't have the team up front to make up for weak goaltending. I am counting on Price bouncing back however. That being said I don't mind going into the season with this exact team. Even though it's a small sample size Bergevin has already shown he is willing to give young players a chance, make a trade during the season, and play the waiver wire if he thinks it'll improve the team. I'm mainly banking on Eller breaking out this year and brining galchenyuk along for the ride and having a pissed off motivated wolverine!

You can also do the same thing the other way. Just look at what the teams in the division lost! Boston minus Seguin, Horton, Peverley, Khudobin, Ference, prospect Ottawa minus Alfredsson, Silverberg, Benoit, Regin, 1st round pick, prospect Toronto minus MacArthur, Matt Frattin, Leo Komarov(KHL), 2x 2nd round picks Detroit minus Filppula The following players can also be lost by those teams. There are others as well: Boston - Jagr Ottawa - Latendresse Toronto - Grabovski Detroit - Brunner, Cleary

I would love to add a player like Ryan or Stewart or any other top 6 forward that's in his 20s that provides both size and skill. Problem is right now neither of those players are locked up long term and there is no guarentee Ryan will want to play long term in Canada. I rather sign a stop gap like Briere as opposed to long term deals to Clarkson or Clowe and then not be cash strapped when an actual good UFA like Ryan hits the market. This years market is terrible and the players that fill our needs are being insanely overpaid.

George Parros

The question is do you want to offer something like Eller, Collberg, and a 1st for Ryan who is under contract for 2 seasons? When you look at this team realistically Bergevin is just trying add stop gaps and he figures this team will make a push in 2 years. Thats when Galchenyuk should start to break out, some of our defensive prospects will be ready, and our other core Price, Pacioretty, Subban, and Eller will be in their prime.

I think for most part he is done with free agency we have pretty much a full roster so might see a depth player and thats it. I see him getting more involved in the trade market once the dust settles and a few teams looking to fill holes via free agency still have those holes after losing out.

Not a huge fan of this move individually but have to see the whole picture first before fully judging it. Honestly was hoping for some 3rd/4th liners possibly a defensemen and putting faith in Eller, Gallagher, and Galchenyuk to make up for the lost offense of Ryder.

I agree Gallagher isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Bergevin is trying to juggle building a team that can compete now but be even better in the future. So in that situation you don't trade away 21 year old potential 25+ goal scorers in a cap league when he's got a cap hit of 870k for 2 more years. I expect Subban, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk, Eller and Gallagher to be part of the teams main core going forward. I'd put Price in there but I'm looking at 2+ years down the road and you never know with goalies in Montreal. As for Hedman keep in mind his best games this year were against the Habs.

I agree I think all of the UFAs are gone and you can toss in Kaberle to the mix. As for Desharnais I think he will get the Cole treatment next year. They will ignore what he did this year and see how he performs early on next year. If his performance continues like this year and Eller breaks out I can see him moved during the year. Again I agree I think Clowe (if healthy) will be a target but overall you can expect them to sign someone similar to Prust. They will probably give up some offense on Ryder to get tougher physically to play. Have to assume they are counting on increased offensive production from Eller/Galchenyuk/Gallagher and for Pacioretty to go a week without an injury/illness. I also believe they will sign a physical defensemen which would allow Tinordi to play 20+ minutes a game in the AHL. This would also allow them to use bouillon as a 7d when Emelin is back. Lastly I wouldn’t be shocked to see them already begin talking to Subban about an extension. Might not sign in off season but at least set up the framework where they can get it done during the year.

Ever since the Jim Joyce blown perfect game call it seems that officiating all around sports has gone on the decline. Now you blow a game or blow a call you just admit to it and all is fine.

Aside from the refs. We lose games like this because we shorten the bench in the 3rd period and the guys that sit on the bench are guys that normally provide energy. Our stick checking defense needs to be changed too we have lost too many games over the last few years with 2 minutes remaining with teams scoring dirty goals. Personally I'd be on the lookout this offseason for two defenseman. One to replace Diaz and one to fill in for Emelin and then the weakest link sits on the bench when he returns though injuries always happen.

My main concern right now is who if anyone gets suspended for game 4. Bourque could definitly get called for his elbow.

I guess on the bright side Bergevin gets a first hand view of this team in the playoffs in his first year as GM. Now hopefully he sees the flaws and fixes them in the offseason. I just wish he didn't jump the gun on Desharnai and Bouillion I think there was no rush needed to sign either and we could've signed both for similiar value after the season. At least now he knows not to spend that cap space on Ryder.

Difference in the series is Anderson makes the big saves and Price does not.