Jump to content

what do we need for next year ?


MAK

Recommended Posts

I don't think that the core of the team needs to be blown out but if they add few pieces, this team could do wonders.

here's what I think:

1- faceoff specialist( sundin anyone ??)

2-puck moving D. with streit and brisebois being UfA, both could be gone. we could use help on pp unless the put sergei up there.

3-third line centre. let Lapierre on the right wing, could Chipchura be the man right away ??

4- A foward with a nose for the net like a smyth or a cole...

Dare I say it ?? maybe its time to part ways with melancon and bring somebody else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 119
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

A big centre that can win faceoffs, battle for position to set screens, and score dirty goals in tight to the net.

Another solid D-man, preferably one that can also make a good first pass out of the zone.

...don't want to beat a dead horse, but I REALLY think we need a veteran tender in the mix to hold the fort when Price stumbles...as he obviously will at times

Edited by sbhatt
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A big centre that can win faceoffs, battle for position to set screens, and score dirty goals in tight to the net.

Another solid D-man, preferably one that can also make a good first pass out of the zone.

...don't want to beat a dead horse, but I REALLY think we need a veteran tender in the mix to hold the fort when Price stumbles...as he obviously will at times

If only we had you as gm...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A team that can win battles.

We have all kinds of skill and finesse, but Boston & Philly showed us that we need more grit. Maybe Serge & Chipchura can lend a hand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

08/09 Team:

Streit- I'd like to see him gone. (not good enough at forward, poor D, not physical. But I would miss him on the PP.)

Breez- He better be gone. (He exceeded my expecations. Good year Breezer, but this team is for the future.)

Ryder- Please release him. (Fued with Carbo? Anyway, he will probably pot 30 next year with a different team.)

Smoke- Release him, but he'll probly retire. (Not good enough, but had a decent playoff run. Hope Chips fills his spot.)

Georges- Resign. (Totally surpassed expectations! Great potential for this blooming D man.)

Obyrne- Resign. (Didn't have a great year, but i still see a very bright future for our big man. Ressigh him BG.)

A. Kost- Resign. (Very high potential, will likely pot 30+ goals next year. Hope the Russia rumor ain't true...)

Grabs- Resign. (I wouldn't be too mad if they got rid off him though. But we need him for the dogpound next year)

Laps- Resign. (Love laps, he shows great hustle and effort and has the potential to be a real pain in the ass!)

Locke- Resign. (Keep the young guy. Don't think he's NHL ready yet, but he will grow in the AHL.)

Halak- Resign. (Resign unless we get a good offer for him. In that case, sign a old goalie to mentor Price. Joesph?)

08/09 Team:

Higgins Koivu S Kost.

Kovalev Plex A Kost.

Kosto Lapirre Begin

Dandy Chips Laps (Maybe get rid of Dandy and sign a free agent. And maybe not Chips)

Komi Markov

Hammer Obyrne

Georges Boulion (Maybe make Boo boo 7th D, and sign some other D)

Price

Halak

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another solid D-man, preferably one that can also make a good first pass out of the zone.

I'd be happy for 1 that could clear the puck on their 1st attempt. On their 2nd or 3rd attempt wouldnt be bad either. :P Botched clearing attempts slaughtered the Habs in so many games this year, and its not always D-man related.

More Canadians and less Euro's. The Habs just have too many. North American players always seem to step up their game more in the playoffs when it counts most.

Kovalev's play is contagious, however its a double edged sword when its his lack of play. Kovalev was way to care free and wasnt giving 100% and it definitely looked to me like it rubbed off on the younger players who look up to him. i.e. Kostitsyns, Pleks, Higgs. I had the impression that they had the idea to be saving themselves for the Cup finals and seemed to have forgotten that they need to actually make it there first for that plan to be successful. Has Kovalev ever had a good year? He's had good seasons, and good playoffs, but has he ever done both in the same year? Kovalev had a good year this year so his value should be up. I hope Gainey shops him around in the offseason.

Habs need somebody who can seriously fight (no more laughing stocks) and 2 players who can handle their own. I dont care if your against fighting or not. I'm against loosing and when you look at the stats the Habs lost the majority of games that they fought in. In all the games that the Habs won the fight(s) they won the game and in the majority of games where they lost/tied the fight(s) they lost the game. Fighting is still a big part of hockey and when you have 1 of the most coveted assets in the NHL (Price) you need to have a real deterrent for anybody thinking of trying something silly. Richards on several occasions accosted both Habs goalies and nobody really had a problem with it. :puke:

Edited by Sir_Boagalott
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next year i see this....

A. Kostitsyn - T. Plekanec - A. Kovalev

S. Kostitsyn - S. Koivu - C. Higgins

G. Latendresse - M. Lapierre - M. Pacioretty

S. Begin - K. Chipchura - T. Kostopoulos

Spares = G. Stewart, M. Grabovski

A. Markov / M. Komisarek

R. Hamrlik / J. Gorges

A. Emelin / R. O'Byrne

7th Dman = P. Brisebois

OR

A. Markov / M. Komisarek

R. Hamrlik / UFA or Trade puck moving Dman (Campbell would be nice but thats a dream).

J. Gorges / R. O'Byrne

C. Price

J. Halak

Maybe,... just MAYBE Bob will acquire a legit star somewhere but other than that I think we'll see something like the above.

:hlogo:

Edited by The-Habby2919
Link to comment
Share on other sites

right the fantasy lines hehehe congrats MMPL first of what I'm sure will be hundreds (before the draft even ^_^ )

On "what do we need for next year ?" my take, and this came to me after some serious benediction ~ is that we need to rethink the whole "finesse or grit" dilemma. We've got speedy & skilled players sure; so whenever we get beaten up there are calls that we need to add size & grit.

I think what we really need is one guy who has all those things, a power forward, a game-breaker. Add four inches and 20 pounds to Saku? Sign a UFA? Maybe it's Latendresse in a season or two? We shall see but that's what we need up front.

Komi is going to keep getting better and better, Gorges was a terrific addition we have youth and depth at D; and if Halak is happy with 20 starts our goaltending is good for years if not we trade Halak for a vet and maybe get something else in the deal no problem. So we are set for next season but for that one big piece. We have the assets to trade maybe Bob can make it happen.

I suppose today semi-officially starts the Habs' next season, Happy 100th! :hlogo:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well gainey will have some work to do. He has to figure out what to do with the free agents. I think he will only sign one or two of them and then he will go after a free agent. He also has to sign the other players whose contracts are coming to a close.

Should be an interesting Summer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The thing I really don't get is how high everyone is on Gorges. I was skeptical during the season, but the playoffs just showed him up badly. He is Brisebois-lite, a guy who concedes territory like he is playing paranoid, backing routinely all the way to the goal line (and subsequently the whole team), hoping to make plays with his stick and stick only. Admittedly, he is decent with the puck, solid with outlet passes. But Christ, how many of these back-in p**sies do we carry year after year?

My ideal scenario is sign Emelin. it is obvious that there is no-one that opponents fear on our team, maybe a healthy Komisarek but not in either series I watched. Who cares if Emelin is a head-case, maybe we need it.

But what we really need is a different approach to playing defense. Either stand them up at the line, smother them in the middle of the ice or squeeze and crowd them out at centre of the blue line, but for f's sakes don't concede blue line and corner every f***ing time. Paranoia central on d.

Up front, it is painfully obvious we need the big playmaking centre and the big winger with a touch (sorry Higgins, A+ on effort but a less natural hockey player is rarely found). I hope maybe Pacioretty can do the job, maybe White as well, on the wing, less faith in Latendresse; centre, a trade?

Anyway, we did not get in Flyers face nearly enough, if we had run them around their net and run Biron and rattled him , as well as press home our advantage, we would have won. And anyone who says Kovalev floated is nuts, he was carrying one or two wingers in nearly every game in the playoffs, he is defo not the problem.

How long can we keep carrying players who are constantly injured is another interesting question.

Edited by tokyohabs
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A tough defenseman who can make a quality breakout pass and control the opponent's forwards.

I believe that Obyrne will be that guy. Valentenko should see some NHL play !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got to agree, see O'Byrne, Valentenko, maybe even one more seeing NHL duty next year.

Breezer, Bouillion, Gorges, Smolinski goodbye.

BG better not get rid of Gorges. He has proved he can be a good young D man, and will only get better.

Edited by MMPL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frankly, I think many of our weaknesses will be addressed with experience. This was the first go-around for much of our team, and they'll be better next time around.

Let's also remember that we outplayed the Flyers by some distance for almost the entire series. We were simply outgoaltended. It happens, and we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that we were in fact the better team.

Still, it's a legit question.

What is especially clear is that the 'New NHL' ceases to exist in the playoffs. Tons of clutching and grabbing and stickwork suddenly are allowed. This means that teams that look fabulous in the regular season are going to be 'exposed' in the playoffs (if you can call it 'exposed'). So I think you guys are correct, the Habs' formula needs a slight adjustment to compensate.

Markov was hurt and that made our D look worse than it is. Nonetheless, it's clear that as good as Hamrlik is, he's not good enough to step into the breach if Markov's game drops. So I agree that an upgrade on the blueline would help. But I really think this is more likely to be a 2-3 year project, as guys like O'Byrne and other young D learn their trade at the NHL level.

It's also an open question whether coaching could improve our defensive zone coverage, which seemed fine during the season but not in the playoffs. I'm not saying that we should fire Guy, God no - just saying that the problems might be partially fixable through a simple combination of increased experience and tweaking the system defensively.

One puzzler was our inability to convert on chances. THAT raises worrisome questions to me. It could be a matter of experience - guys like Higgins and Kosty need to learn to take their time, or get that killer instinct, etc.. On the other hand, finish might be something that you either have, or don't. It's too soon to say with Kostytsin the Elder, but I'm very worried that Higgins will *never* live up to his offensive potential. His hard work and skill get him loads of chances, but his hands don't seem able to finish them. Not sure where this leaves us.

I also agree that we lost too many battles. The emergence of Latendresse as a top-6 forward, IF that ever happens, might go some distance to addressing this. Again, experience will also help, but it might be worth moving one of our hotshots. Honestly, I might look at moving Kovalev as part of a package deal to restructure the team in this direction. I know that seems radical, but his value now is as high as it's likely to get and he'll be a UFA at the end of next season...could be the time for a bold move to try to get this team to another level.

The issue remains unaddressed at C, and will only become a bigger problem as Koivu ages. Another reason to trade Kovy.

As for nets, I say go with Halak and Price. The latter has gone through the greatest learning experience of his life and will only get better. The former is perfectly good. At least give Halak time to establish himself as a Garon-style "#1 in waiting" and maybe we can get value back for him at some point.

What we do have is a GM who has his eye on the prize and will make the right moves to get it.

I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a push to sign Hossa and trades Kovalev. That might seem a lateral move, but it would youngify our star element considerably and, through the trading of Kovy, allow us to tweak the team's composition toward more grit. Just a thought.

Edited by The Chicoutimi Cucumber
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're going to need a big free agent signing. Kovalev had a marvelous year, but he's gonna be 1 year older next year. It would be unrealistic to expect him to have the same kind of year next year. And I shudder to think where this team would have been this year, without the way Kovalev played. So we need to try and replace that kind of performance, or this team will end up going a bit backwards.

I think the playoffs showed us that we may have a goaltending problem. Re-sign Huet?!! (Don't laugh - he's a UFA and a known entity.) Of course, Washington will make a huge bid for his services. (Or has Washington already re-signed him?) I think the playoffs showed us that we were a better team with Huet/Price than just Price. On the other hand, Halak is not being treated fairly. I'd like to see the goaltending job being handed out on the basis of MERIT, and not divine right or expectation.

- Jack

Link to comment
Share on other sites

tokyohabs, I think that Gorges was so-so in the playoffs but he had a great regular season. He is one of the few guys on our teams who consistently wins battles along the boards. He and Bouillon make a great team on the third pairing and I don't expect that to change next season. I do think that Emelin would be a great fit for us on Hamrlik's pairing and this is our last chance to sign him. I'm also frustrated that our D back up as opposing forwards skate over our blueline but what bothers me even more than that is that they back out into centre ice when we're controlling the puck in their zone. e.g. We're on the powerplay, the puck goes into a corner where a Habs and a Flyer go to fight for it - the D instantly smell a turnover and skate back to our zone - the Flyers manage to shoot the puck softly down the ice while our D-man is seen rushing back into his position just too late to save it. I notice that ahppening ATLEAST 5 times in every single game we play, and we've had these same two problems (which are slightly related) for as long as I can remember. Our D just has to be way more aggressive and Emelin looks like the guy that can get that done for us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Emelin, meh...I never, ever expect a totally unproven player to be the saviour. Or even, in most cases, to take a regular shift.

One thing that hasn't been discussed enough is whether the D was getting adequate support from the forwards. I don't have an opinion on this question (I'd have to watch the games again), but it could be one explanation for why rock-solid guys like Hamrlik suddenly had dodgy moments in the playoffs. That, and the under-discussed injury to Markov, who really is the key to this team as a whole, although it's easy to lose sight of that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agreed, we seem to play a kind of controlled fear-management system, and for a team with good-skating d men, they play separated from the forwards more than they should. The entire series looked like constant 2-on-1's for Flyers, everywhere around the ice.

I just think Gorges is average at best, eminently replaceable. Watching him and Bouillion getting run over every shift v. Boston was absurd. Any big or hard-working forward can push him around, establish position, control the play in the corner. A lot of times nothing comes of it, but it pins us back, slows us down without room for a fast breakout if they pinch from the point. You can bet that the teams in our division took notes. Best case is some d prospects coming around.

Size up front might help our cycling and possession game. But guys like Gorges have to be more attack-minded and aggressive / active in their own zone, he's not big enough to play like O'Byrne.

I don't think Emelin is a saviour by any means, but might give other teams something to think about.

Edited by tokyohabs
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got to agree, see O'Byrne, Valentenko, maybe even one more seeing NHL duty next year.

Breezer, Bouillion, Gorges, goodbye.

why would you get rid of Bouillon ??

the guy is physical, makes a good 1st pass, he calms younger players, can log much ice when needed. and doesnt cost you much.

if you want to groom kid properly, you need good vets, just ask gorges what he thinks of bouillon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do we need for next year? I'd like Bob to try and sign Antoine Vermette. There's got to be at least one Quebec born player that's willing to sign here, and take part in the centennial festivities. Sure, he's not the superstar we'd like, but it's a start. Hell, he can even have Smolinski's #20.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...