Bonavistaman11

The Perreault Ryder Audette line doenst seem to be clicking anymore. They do get some good chances and Ryder works hard all the time. Audette had one good game but to me he's just like he was last year, he hardly ever gets the puck out in the defensive zone and he never wins a battle along the boards. I think the line should be split up and while Ryder has his confidence up and is playing well put him with Koivu. Some top line possibilities? Zednik-Koivu-Ryder Bulis-Koivu-Ryder Koivu-Perreault-Ryder Ribs-Koivu-Ryder Koivu-Ribs Ryder or even Ryder-Koivu-Audette or a top line of Zednik-Koivu-Audette and 2nd line of Hossa-Ribeiro-Ryder. Another possibilty would be for Gainey to ship off two or three players and get a real top line player! :ghg:

Perreault should be gone soon. He's the only center on the team that i think we can get rid of at the moment. When Koivu returns to form he'll be the #1 guy followed by Ribs, juneau and Begin or Kilger. Unless Perreault plays on one of the top two lines he's no good to us, and for sure he wont be ahead of Koivu or Ribs on the depth chart. Even though i was highly against Juneau at the beginning of the year, him, Dackell and Bulis have been very strong defensively and theres no way that Perreault is capable of doing the job Juneau is doing. Perreault would also be a waste on the 4th line as well becasue we need energy players like begin on that line, and if the habs were to put Perreault in that position the team would struggle big time, it would also be a waste of money. For now the lines should be like this: Ryder-Koivu-Audette Hossa-Ribeiro-Zednik Bulis-Juneau-Dackell Sundstrom-Begin-Ward When kilger returns id put him in Sundstroms position (Sundstrom should be dealt as well), and use Langdon when he's needed, like against the Leafs and Flyers. But with Perreault still on the team whats gonna happen to the lineup when Koivu gets back into game shape and on the #1 line? :ghg:

Great battle guys!! :ghg:

I agree with Habsaku about Hossa.. i think most people think the habs have Marian and the expectations are too high. he wont be as good as his brother, but he's good alnog the boards and is capable of getting 25+ goals at least. He's gaining alot of experience on the line with Ribs and Zed. :ghg:

I've got a job to believe that Koivu has been a healthy scratch. With the crazy media in Montreal something would have been out in the public before now. Thats my opinion anyway. But if they do trade him they'd better get something better then Primeau or Comrie. :ghg:

Anyone hear that Ryder broke his nose when he collided with Audette?? :ghg:

The fourth period always seems to have rumours thatnever happen. Example, Primeau for Perreault. :ghg:

Bulis and Hossa out in favor of guys like Sundstrom, Audette and Ward? The teams objective is to try and get better, not go straight to the bottom of the league. Why are a lot of people giving up on Hossa, he's only young, he's big. he's fast and he's strong on the puck. He has a lot of potential. Especially on one of the top two lines. begin is making more and more of an impression on me every game, he gives the team and fourth line a ton of energy!! Something the team needs bad. :ghg:

Another great game (except 2nd period) The powerplay is looking real good, both lines are passing the puck great and seem to always set up perfect and create a chance for a goal. Ribeiro was awesome in the game, the kid has real great vision and offensive skills. I thought Begin was a good addition to the lineup, he added a lot of grit, good 4th liner. Ward also had a good game, his best by far this season. Now there's a big question, Koivu will most likely play against the leafs. What will be done with the lineup? Something will be done at center and it might not be good for the team at the moment. Both Ribs and perreault are playing good and juneau seems to have a lock on the checking center position. Hopefully whatever happens will benefit the team and the habs will come out with the win against the leafs. i remember a comment that someone wrote when koivu went down with the injury against Ottawa, saying that the Habs played better without koivu. hey, maybe it's true. but i still like our Captain and best player! :ghg:

untouchables: Koivu Bulis Zednik Ribeiro Hossa Ryder Ward i think if a good deal could come up for any of the others, gainey would make it. :ghg:

I wouldnt say Hossa will be goin down, his line are doing too good together. Hossa is a strong player on the puck and seems to have more speed this year. I'd say either Dackell or Sundstrom because of the money there being paid. We have a young rebuilding team so why send hossa down. Dackell is playing some good defensive hockey and him and Juneau are killing penalties awesome again. So maybe gainey should trade off Sundstrom or someone. Begin added some energy to the lineup against the pens! He likes to throw his weight around and be an effective 4th liner. :ghg:

i'd go with Higgins and Begin, or Higgins and dackell. 6-0 habs over pens tonight! Zednik 2 Bulis 1 Ryder 1 Ribs 2 :ghg: [Edited on 2003/10/16 by Bonavistaman11]

I like those lines Zowpeb. I highly agree that Ryder would be better with Koivu then Perreault. They played well together in training camp and julien had them together in the exhibition game against Ottawa when Koivu got hurt. It could be a dominant. The habs have to go with the 3 scoring lines and a checking 4th line simply because they have too may "offensive" players. :ghg:

How could i forget Bulis, he's one of the best on the team! Ryder and Perreault are having some good chemsitry but im thinking Koivu and Ryder could have better Chemsitry. Ryder gets in the corners and opens up room for players, if he could give koivu the room that he has been given Perreault it could be a dangerous line! Not that i have remembered Bulis id go with Zednik-Koivu-Ryder Bulis-Perreault-Audette Hossa-Ribeiro-Ward Kilger-Juneau-Sundstrom That still leaves out Dackell and Langdon. Gainey needs to get rid of someone! Penguins better look out tonight, habs are gonna roll all over em! :ghg:

What's gonna happen to the lineup when both Koivu and Kilger are ready to go????? My opinion: First of all they have to send some bodies down to Hamilton. I'd go with, Begin, Higgins, Dwyer, and either Hainsey or Komi. Right now it seems like Komi will be the one. Then the tough part, figure out the lines. How can you break up the top two lines when they are both playing so well? Where will Julien put Koivu? Well obviously he'll put his #1 center on the top line but who with? i would go with 3 scoring lines and a checking line. Zednik-Koivu-Ryder Hossa-Ribeiro-Ward Kilger-Perreault-Audette Sundstrom-Juneau-Dackell Rotate Langdon, Dackell, and Sundstrom depending on who the team is playing. Its gonna be a very tough decision. I cant wait for Saku to come back, but i hope the line juggling doesn't hurt the teams chemistry. if we lose to the Lowly Pens on Thursday night, maybe the team is better off without Koivu (not a chance). I guarantee a win thursday night! :ghg: Edited title [Edited on 2003-10-23 by sakiqc]

Well guys the habs are rolling now! Ryder is playin awesome, he seems to be a lock on the pp and one of the top lines. Nice hit on Sutherby eh! The line of Ryder Audette and Perreault are clicking very well. Ryder and Perreault seem to have some real good chemistry together and hopefully they can keep it up! The game against the Capitals was a perfect one for the habs, Everyone played good! Hey maybe Audette can be an impact player for us this year!

I agree, keep the same lineup.. They played a heck of a game against the leafs. Lets hope the habs come out flying to start off the season at home! :ghg:

Montreal is horrible, so much for the new defensive system. Theo has gotta pick up his game big time, untill that happens the team is going nowhere, everytime they got some life he'd let in a bad goal. Something has to be done about Juneau Dackell and Audette, these guys are making a bad team look even worse. The team would be much better off playing Higgins, Perezhogin and Plekanec. Some positives: I thought Hainsey played pretty good Ribeiro had a nice goal and made some other nice plays. Ward and Ryder both played good games and got a whole lot better when Julien put Bulis on with them. Ryder played pretty good on the pp as well. Hopefully next game against the Leafs Langger will be ready to go and takeover Dwyers spot. Look for a Domi and Langger Scrap! My lines for next game would be: Hossa-Ribeiro-Zednik Bulis-Perreault-Ryder Sundstrom-Higgins-Ward Langdon-Juneau-Audette Same D, unless Komi goes in and Hainsey comes out. But ya gotta give the kid some reward for scoring his first goal. :ghg:

Theo has gotta smarten up, another bad start isn't goin to help his confidence. Maybe he cant handle the pressure anymore either. i know Three of the goals last night deflections but, the old theo would have been posistioned well enough that at least two of them would have hit him and stayed out. And what about the Alfredsson goal, he made theo look real bad!. He had better soon start playing or he'll be gone. :ghg:

i was always nervous with T-bo in net as well... He did make some big saves, but every shot was a possible goal!. :ghg:

Did the Habs give up on Thibault too quick?? He has played very good with the Hawks. We all thought we had the next Roy when Theo had the Outstanding season two years ago, but last season was a poor one for him and the Habs. Right now who would you rather have between the pipes?? Theo hoping he'll bounce back, or Thibault? [Edited on 2003/10/9 by Bonavistaman11]

juneau should no longer be with the habs. If the habs could dump juneau, dackell and Audette they would save some much needed cash!..By spending it on those guys its just a waste. Come on Gainey, give us some hope! :hlogo: :ghg:

Who cares what we get back for him.....Just dump the bum. The habs could use the 6 million they'd save on a much better player. :ghg:

Bad prediction..... a true habs fan never predicts against his team, no matter how bad they are. 3-1 Habs. Goals:Zednik, Perreault, and Rivet Assists: Breezer 2, Ribeiro 1, Hossa 1, Bulis 1, Sundstrom 1. Habs all the way! :ghg:

i cant see personal preferance having anything to do with it. If this was the case Ryder would be on the top line, top powerplay, and Pk all season. Ryder and Julien have been together in Hull, at the World Juniors, in Hamilton last season and now with the Habs. I think Julien will go with the best he has at the time. but if he has Audette on the top line, maybe he wont play his best. :ghg: