Dissapointed by Streit

[KoZed]

I'm getting increasingly worried about Streit's performances. Seems that since he got a regular spot on D this season he's been regressing. He constantly blows his cover, creates turnovers, has poor puck handling on the PP, etc. Granted, he's paired with another small D in Bouillon and both seems to have lot of trouble winning battles for the puck in the defensive zone. But something's gotta give someday.

Is it just a temporary lack of confidence or are we finally seeing Streit's limits?

I'm dissapointed.

[lazy26]

I'm getting increasingly worried about Streit's performances. Seems that since he got a regular spot on D this season he's been regressing. He constantly blows his cover, creates turnovers, has poor puck handling on the PP, etc. Granted, he's paired with another small D in Bouillon and both seems to have lot of trouble winning battles for the puck in the defensive zone. But something's gotta give someday.

Is it just a temporary lack of confidence or are we finally seeing Streit's limits?

I'm dissapointed.

I admit, I'm disappointed as well. He does seem to be in the middle of a slump, but I think a lot has to do with who he's paired with. I don't think he's peaked, and I'm sure he'll get his game back together soon enough.

[JMMR]

The first couple games of the season he was great and I was hoping Bob would lock him up long term but yes he has stepped back and lost a bit of his game. He is not as physical as he once was and he has also lost confidence in his shot.

Not sure what the problem is but I believe he will turn the corner again and be that solid #5 guy that can help out the pp.

Lets all hope tonight is game 1 of his turnaround.

[MFT77]

I too had high hopes for Streit coming into this year. I was hoping he would be a solid addition to the Habs D-corps. Thus far, i would say he has been ok. At times he has struggled on the PP in breaking out with the puck. However, he has made some nice passes in the zone, and has helped contribute to the #1 PP unit. On the defensive side I would agree that he has struggled. At times being overmatched by bigger forwards and losing some defensive assignments. Unfortunately being paired with Bouillon makes for a very undersized pairing. Carbo seems to be learning and limiting his 5 on 5 minutes. However after the big 3 of Marky, Hammy and Komi, there is a significant dropoff to Breezer, Streit, Bouillon and Gorges when he gets the chance. Not of the 4 seem to be a great fit for a top 4 d-man at this point in their careers.

I have stated before that i would like to see Bouillon gone and replaced if possible. At least Streit can play the PP and some 5 on 5 minutes. The Cube should not be on the PP and i hate seeing him PK.

I have no problem seeing how Streit progresses in the next 20 games or so.

[JMMR]

Yes that is one thing that has remained great is Streits passing especailly on the breakout he is way above average at that.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Streit is great at:

The break out pass

Shot from the point

Streit struggles when being pressured, on the point or in the defensive zone.

Remember that he is paired with Bouillon. He doesn't have that defensive specialist that the top two lines do. Pair him with Hamrlik and you will think he is great.

[MFT77]

I would definitely agree that being paired with Bouillon doesn't help matters and he is playing his offside.

[Dutch_Habs_Fan]

He's not a stay at home defender, never was. So now when he has less defending backup he needs to take care of that more. And that doesnt help his game...he still a great addition. And things will come around again. He just needs more backup

[Peter Puck]

One thing Streit is great at is keeping the puck in the offensive zone, especially on the PP. A number of our PP goals this year have been the result somehow blocking a clearing attempt that seemed sure to escape the zone.

[JoeLassister]

a little dissapointed before tonight's game, VERY dissapointed after tonight's game, he was from far the worst dman on ice tonight.

[JMMR]

a little dissapointed before tonight's game, VERY dissapointed after tonight's game, he was from far the worst dman on ice tonight.

I disagree Brisebois was worse his one handed poke checks are really starting to get to me.

[ShortHanded]

I agree that streit has been disappointing, but I also agree that it probably has a lot to do with who he's playing with. I think if Booboo can be moved, Streit would be good on the last pairing with a bigger guy, preferrably a defensive D.

He does help our transition game, and he does help our PP, he's just not better than a 5/6 D (but then neither is Breezer and he gets #4 minutes playing with Hamrlik, mind you, it seems anyone playing iwth hamrlik looks great)

[BTH]

Streit is great at:

The break out pass

Shot from the point

Streit struggles when being pressured, on the point or in the defensive zone.

Remember that he is paired with Bouillon. He doesn't have that defensive specialist that the top two lines do. Pair him with Hamrlik and you will think he is great.

This post really says everything. He is a useful player who panics when he is pressured by forecheckers.

[Chris]

Well BTH you are correct, Unfortunately for the Habs brisbois panics as well, Bouillon is poor in his own end as well. So after the top 3, who aren't playing well lately, the team is pretty weak defensively.

Why Gorges doesn't warrant more time is beyound me.

What the heck was brisbois doing last night, letting players skate by him several times to win icings, outworked and outhit by someone 165 ounds, absolutely redicolous.

[JoeLassister]

Well BTH you are correct, Unfortunately for the Habs brisbois panics as well, Bouillon is poor in his own end as well. So after the top 3, who aren't playing well lately, the team is pretty weak defensively.

Why Gorges doesn't warrant more time is beyound me.

What the heck was brisbois doing last night, letting players skate by him several times to win icings, outworked and outhit by someone 165 ounds, absolutely redicolous.

Because he's as weak as anyone you listed up there. He still own us a win.

2 times, it was by Afinogenov aka the fastest skater of the league...

Recently, Brisebois is better offesively than Streit and they both suck defensively.

[simonus]

by the end of the season I think the D corps will looks somewhat different than it does now. Some combination of Gorges and/or O'Byrne will change the face (I doubt we trade for a new D-man). I would not be surprised to see:

Hamrlik-Gorges

Brisebois-O'Byrne

Hamrlik-Brisebois

Gorges-Streit (which I guess we do see sometimes)

Hamrlik-Gorges

Streit-O'Byrne

etc..

I doubt O'Byrne plays with Hamrlik, just because Carbo seems to like to have at least one offensively minded guy on a pairing... although for a defensive defenseman, Hamrlik sure gets a lot of points.

Long story short, I think Streit will end up having a smaller role on this team by the end of the year and/or become ever more comfortable with the NHL game. We have seen a transformation in Streit from his first days in the NHL. He had to make his game much smaller when he came over in order to be competent NHLer. For the most part he was very successful at simplifying his game and making himself useful. Now I think he feels ready to try to do more and is learning, through trial and error, what he can and cannot do here. The PP has been, IMO, his prime laboratory and has recently led to some ugly pinches/holdins as he has trying to move into slapshot position. I do think he will improve, but I also think he is at best a third pairing guy for now.

I still think that we have one of the better third pairings in the NHL - also as Markov/Komisarek and Hamr/whomever merit more and more icetime, the third pairing will matter less.

Edited November 24, 2007 by simonus

[Dirty Harry]

I really wish these dmen would stop rushing, especially on the power play. Even Markov is terrible, they are stopped so easily at the blue line by dmen who have to deal with all-star forwards, they've got no trouble at all with a ham fisted dman with awkward moves. If you're not Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey dont even try, just get the bloody puck to higgins or kovalev and let them do their thing. Matt Campbell does impress me as a rushing dman tho, he has some moves.

[Uwey]

Streit's game excelled last season a winger 5on5 & I was sure that that would be where he would play this season, but as is the case with many things on this team, Carbonneau just seems to go against logic.

Why Carbo ever swapped Dandenault out to be a winger & sent Streit back to the D is beyond me??? Streit could have played the point on the PP & IMO would have been a great linemate for Chipper & Tommy Kop.

IMO, Gorges should be paired with Hamrlik, while Dandenault & Cube could be paired up again. Thus leaving Brisebois, who is still as much of a liabilty in his own zone as was the first time on this roster, should be relegated back to being the 7th D-man where he belongs!!!

I truly & honestly believe that if Gorges is given 20 gms to build his confidence, especially along side of Hammer, he would make great stides in becoming a very safe D-man for the Habs.

[johnnyhasbeen]

Streit's game excelled last season a winger 5on5 & I was sure that that would be where he would play this season, but as is the case with many things on this team, Carbonneau just seems to go against logic.

Why Carbo ever swapped Dandenault out to be a winger & sent Streit back to the D is beyond me??? Streit could have played the point on the PP & IMO would have been a great linemate for Chipper & Tommy Kop.

IMO, Gorges should be paired with Hamrlik, while Dandenault & Cube could be paired up again. Thus leaving Brisebois, who is still as much of a liabilty in his own zone as was the first time on this roster, should be relegated back to being the 7th D-man where he belongs!!!

I truly & honestly believe that if Gorges is given 20 gms to build his confidence, especially along side of Hammer, he would make great stides in becoming a very safe D-man for the Habs.

What?

Dandenault is a better winger than Streit, Streit is a better defenceman than Dandenault. That answers the first part. ( If I see that Carbo easily sees it.)

Gorges is nowhere near a top 4 defenceman, ( at least not yet) Brisebois is a plus 1 which puts him up there in our current squad.

As for Dandy and Cube, that was the worst pairing I remember in the history of the organization.

You must be a fan of another team to suggest such outlandish pairings, or just a little bit stoned?

Markov, Hammer, Komo, Breezer, Streit, Cube , Gorges, O'Byrne. That is the way our defence ranks. IMO

You would replace Begin with Streit as a forward? No thank you!

Oh wait, you want Dnandy back on D, -8 last year,. Great!

Edited November 24, 2007 by johnnyhasbeen

[Uwey]

What?

Dandenault is a better winger than Streit, Streit is a better defenceman than Dandenault. That answers the first part. ( If I see that Carbo easily sees it.)

Gorges is nowhere near a top 4 defenceman, ( at least not yet) Brisebois is a plus 1 which puts him up there in our current squad.

As for Dandy and Cube, that was the worst pairing I remember in the history of the organization.

You must be a fan of another team to suggest such outlandish pairings, or just a little bit stoned?

Markov, Hammer, Komo, Breezer, Streit, Cube , Gorges, O'Byrne. That is the way our defence ranks. IMO

You would replace Begin with Streit as a forward? No thank you!

Oh wait, you want Dnandy back on D, -8 last year,. Great!

Do you watch all the Habs games or just the odd few??

& BTW, the +/- is rarely something you can build an arguement on. It is watching a player play the game every night that gives a true read of how that player plays.

& yes, Streit is by far a better wing than a D-man. Both he & Brisebois fumble & bumble the puck in their own zone far too much. They are both soft on the opponent & Brisebois especially is far to soft on his clearing attempts.

As for Gorges, had you read what I posted, you would have realized I said IMO that Gorges' play would elevate in my estimate of 20gms, especially if he were paired with Hamrlik.

Actually I'm not sure which team you follow, but it apparently isn't the Habs!!!

Edited November 26, 2007 by JeanLucPilon

[KoZed]

Matt Campbell does impress me as a rushing dman tho, he has some moves.

I'm guessing its Brian Campbell from Buffalo? If so you're completely right, he's one heck of a rushing D. Gotta have the wheels and puck-control to play like that though. We don't have anyone close to that, and few in the NHL are. Markov is better all-around but not as shifty as puck-carrier.

[johnnyhasbeen]

Do you watch all the Habs games or just the odd few??

& BTW, the +/- is rarely something you can build an arguement on. It is watching a player play the game every night that gives a true read of how that player plays.

& yes, Streit is by far a better wing than a D-man. Both he & Brisebois fumble & bumble the puck in their own zone far too much. They are both soft on the opponent & Brisebois especially is far to soft on his clearing attempts.

As for Gorges, had you read what I posted, you would have realized I said IMO that Gorges' play would elevate in my estimate of 20gms, especially if he were paired with Hamrlik.

Actually I'm not sure which team you follow, but it apparently isn't the Habs!!!

UMMM< I have missed 2 games this year, I believe 6 all of last, have been a Habs fan since Jean Belliveau was our captain. Remember him? Yes that was along time ago and I am that old. In your "Estimate" ? Are you an NHL scout. Minor league coach? Just a natural talent analyst? What are you credentials. Did you watch last season? Do you not see a difference in our transitional game? That would be Breezer to a large part. What has Gorges done to deserve 20+ minutes of ice time let alone a place on the bench? If he was of much use he would get to play more. I think Gainey and Carbo get to see him more up close, daily than you and know what he can and can't do. Oh, wait maybe they missed it! You should call Gillette and tell him to replace these guys with yourself. I am sure he will like that. If you really want to be a GM though, call the Leafs. They are waiting for an idiot willing to take that job so they can fire JFJr. By the way, plus/minus is why we missed the playoffs last year and it is a very useful stat. Robinson plus 120 means nothing I guess? Souray's carreer -30 was why I was so glad to see him go. Gorges is a negitive at the moment. What does this stat mean? Simple, when you are on the ice your team scores or gets scored on. Heck, that doesn't matter does it? You a SMU student by any chance? "Duh, that doesn't matter, he turns the puck over alot" Yeah, and Big Bird scored on his own net more than once as a habs. We should have benched him, Man Scotty was an idiot. He could have called Small up from the Vees. Sorry you probably have no idea who I am talking about.....

So what, plus minus means a hell of alot, especially if you are a defenceman. I believe if Gorges played more he would be deeper in the minus department.

Pronger is a plus 154 for his time in the NHL, Chelios plus 341. Means nothing? COME ON!!!

Edited November 26, 2007 by JeanLucPilon

[BTH]

When Gorges plays, he seems to do a bit better than Bouillon. He's also young and has the potential to round out his game a bit. I wouldn't use him on the second pairing though but it's not like Brisebois' that much better of an option up there. I just wish we could get O'Byrne up already. He might be a bit raw at first but he'll learn very quickly once he's playing NHL games.

[MAK]

I agree with what you say about gorges. unfortunately for him, he's small and we dont need that kind of Dmen. he did play an ok game yesterday and he did look better than the bouillon of late.

I too want o'byrne in as our 7th. its only a matter of time though. sometime after xmas he'll be here.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

I could easily see:

Markov - Komisarek

Gorges - Hamrlik

Brisebois - O'Byrne