gazer Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 We need players like him sure, but I believe we will not win any cups without at least one player who gives us 40 or even 50+ goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 We need players like him sure, but I believe we will not win any cups without at least one player who gives us 40 or even 50+ goals. 50+ goals players in the league, you can count them on 1 hand. We definitely could use a game breaker. Or at least a top 6 forwards that play like they want to score goals bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazer Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 We need to get our hands on one of those and give him a shot. It's not going to cut it that the only player in recent years that has come anywhere near the heights of the scoring charts is Kovy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habs rule Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Like heck it would. What's the worst that could happen....Saku pouts and doesn't play hard and doesn't produce as a result? He did that last night anyways...and on many other nights in the second half of the season. The hell with worrying about 'rocking the boat'....the boat is SINKING anyways....can't hurt to try something new. This team has had a lot of boat rocking this year. Do you really think that is the way to go with 10 games left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 This team has had a lot of boat rocking this year. Do you really think that is the way to go with 10 games left? This boat is sinking! I would love to be upgraded to rocking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habs rule Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 This boat is sinking! I would love to be upgraded to rocking! i think it actually flipped over from the rocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 When Lapierre first came up I was not impressed, thought he was out of position and made a lot of silly choices. But he has really won me over and although it is kind of depressing it is also impressive how much better his offensive game (instinct) is then a guy like Higgins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK1 Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I suspect Koivu on the third line will be a good thing for him, give him some reduced minutes, let him play PP and PK. A couple games ago Koivu had 2 goals. Let's be honest here, that magical 2-goal game was a total fluke in an otherwise invisible 2 months for Saks. The one bounced off his logo for christ's sake! On a side note, I'm personally starting to get a little tired of guys that only produce when they are on the PP (hi, Kovy/AK). Give me a guy that scores 20g even strength over one that pots 30g on the PP anyday. Don't get me wrong the extra goals are nice, but the PP is always a chance to get the skill guys out there and even terribad teams score somewhat consistently with the man advantage. Over 82 games you need guys that can consistently push the play even strength or you aren't going to be successful. There are alot of guys that can make a PP hum if they have the right chemistry, I just think that lauding a player for having 35g when 25g come on the PP is just stroking their ego a tad and overinflating their worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Koivu only played 15 minutes last game, his ice time is already reduced. He's still invisible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafikz Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 When Lapierre first came up I was not impressed, thought he was out of position and made a lot of silly choices. But he has really won me over and although it is kind of depressing it is also impressive how much better his offensive game (instinct) is then a guy like Higgins. When he first came up, I was impressed, even though he made mistakes. He impressed me because he worked hard; didn't hesitate to %$# on Crosby, even when Laraque had a word or 2 for him I knew he was a keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 desire = wins We have about 4 guys on this team that play with desire.. the rest play like they are contractually obligated to play 10 more games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habs rule Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 desire = wins We have about 4 guys on this team that play with desire.. the rest play like they are contractually obligated to play 10 more games. which of course is very close to being true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habsfan84 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Laps is our best player right now and that is pretty sad seeing all the skill that we have on this team. I thought this team would eventually get there heads out of their asses but thats not likely to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think Koivu is done. He no longer has the speed his game requires. I don't doubt his heart, and I'm sure that *if* we make the playoffs he'll find a way to deliver. But in my opinion he is no longer even a #2 C in this league. I've seen this before. It happened to Muller and Bellows in 1995. At first you think it's just a slump. But then you realize - no. It's over. We missed the playoffs in 1995 because those key top-line players simply lost a step. And one of the reasons the Habs are likely to miss the playoffs this season is that our top offensive pivot has finally crossed that threshold. Sadly, Lang is unable to replace him, and Plekanec has been a worthless piece of crap until the last 3 weeks. Maybe I'm just being dramatic. But if we re-sign Koivu, it should be as a third-line C and possible PP specialist. Other than that, let him walk and go full-bore after any top-6 UFA C available. That Gainey is cutting his minutes suggests that he, too, may be coming to this realization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sakiqc Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think Koivu could put 90+ pts with good scoring wingers. Tanguay is a playmaker and Higgins is not what we'd call a sniper. With all the depth this team has, I'm disappointed that our GM wasn't able to pull a trade or anything. We have waited years for a scoring star. What we got was Kovalev. He is good but needs to be surrounded. He's not the kind of player that makes his linemates better. This season is just collapsing. There has been a kind of domino effect starting with Laraque this Summer. And it's getting worse and worse. It's not Lapierre who will save the centennial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbhatt Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think Koivu is done. He no longer has the speed his game requires. I don't doubt his heart, and I'm sure that *if* we make the playoffs he'll find a way to deliver. But in my opinion he is no longer even a #2 C in this league. I've seen this before. It happened to Muller and Bellows in 1995. At first you think it's just a slump. But then you realize - no. It's over. We missed the playoffs in 1995 because those key top-line players simply lost a step. And one of the reasons the Habs are likely to miss the playoffs this season is that our top offensive pivot has finally crossed that threshold. Sadly, Lang is unable to replace him, and Plekanec has been a worthless piece of crap until the last 3 weeks. Maybe I'm just being dramatic. But if we re-sign Koivu, it should be as a third-line C and possible PP specialist. Other than that, let him walk and go full-bore after any top-6 UFA C available. That Gainey is cutting his minutes suggests that he, too, may be coming to this realization. You hit the nail on the head....he's lost a gear, so now when he tries his shifty little moves, the defenders are able to stick with him and cut him off from going to where he wants to go more often than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 You hit the nail on the head....he's lost a gear, so now when he tries his shifty little moves, the defenders are able to stick with him and cut him off from going to where he wants to go more often than not. Yep. All his game was based on his skating agility to give himself more time to create a play. Take that away and he's got nothing left. I used to think he had vision and was a good passer, but I think now his ordinary level in both areas is being exposed. When he's pressured, he just doesnt know what to do. Blind passes, dump ins or getting forced to caugh up the puck is usually the end result. You dont even see him try to set plays up on the PP. He's in front of the net trying to be Pat Verbeek. He's never played like that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Yep. All his game was based on his skating agility to give himself more time to create a play. Take that away and he's got nothing left. I used to think he had vision and was a good passer, but I think now his ordinary level in both areas is being exposed. When he's pressured, he just doesnt know what to do. Blind passes, dump ins or getting forced to caugh up the puck is usually the end result. You dont even see him try to set plays up on the PP. He's in front of the net trying to be Pat Verbeek. He's never played like that before. Glad to see I'm not the only one who's noticed this. I've always liked and respected Koivu, so it pains me to watch him suddenly being a low-grade Gary Roberts. But it's a fact that has to be accepted. Koivu is washed up. The worst mistake of Gainey's tenure as GM would be to re-sign Koivu as a top-6 forward, especially for any length of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 Glad to see I'm not the only one who's noticed this. I've always liked and respected Koivu, so it pains me to watch him suddenly being a low-grade Gary Roberts. But it's a fact that has to be accepted. Koivu is washed up. The worst mistake of Gainey's tenure as GM would be to re-sign Koivu as a top-6 forward, especially for any length of time. I started saying so last season but most fans loved Koivu so much I was labeled an heretic and an infidel. Koivu's down to his worse PPG average in career, playing in the most offensive era with the best linemates of his career. The real mistake was the NTC. We could have traded Saku for something. Now we might lose him for nothing. A pick, a filler, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think Koivu could put 90+ pts with good scoring wingers. Tanguay is a playmaker and Higgins is not what we'd call a sniper. With all the depth this team has, I'm disappointed that our GM wasn't able to pull a trade or anything. We have waited years for a scoring star. What we got was Kovalev. He is good but needs to be surrounded. He's not the kind of player that makes his linemates better. This season is just collapsing. There has been a kind of domino effect starting with Laraque this Summer. And it's getting worse and worse. It's not Lapierre who will save the centennial. I have been hearing that Saku could put up those points for 15 years.. if only this or that.' Face it, Saku will never do it. He couldn't do it in his prime, he can't do it now. By the way, Sundin managed to put up points with crap wingers for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have been hearing that Saku could put up those points for 15 years.. if only this or that.' Face it, Saku will never do it. He couldn't do it in his prime, he can't do it now. By the way, Sundin managed to put up points with crap wingers for years. The issue is not whether you've always loved Koivu or whether you've always been skeptical of him. That's an old, tired argument. The issue, as I see it, is whether Father Time has caught up to Koivu, in which case he's not the same player he was. I myself don't deny that Koivu in his prime could have been a PPG player with star-quality wingers. But he's NOT that player any more, if he ever was. Kozed, I hear ya - I was arguing that we should trade Koivu for Marleau last season, in anticipation of Saku losing a step. But unlike you, I wasn't convinced until this season that he has indeed lost that step. Thank him for his years of service and unless he is willing to accept a vastly reduced role, at vastly reduced pay, let him go play with his brother and do anything possible to acquire a legitimate top-2 centreman. And so will - or should, if Bob has any sense - end Saku Koivu's sadly wasted career on the Montreal Canadiens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have been hearing that Saku could put up those points for 15 years.. if only this or that.' Face it, Saku will never do it. He couldn't do it in his prime, he can't do it now. By the way, Sundin managed to put up points with crap wingers for years. +1 Saku just dont have the hockey sense or hands, it's obvious now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 +1 Saku just dont have the hockey sense or hands, it's obvious now. He doesn't have the knees... when he broke into this league he was list St. Louis is now, but he has never skated the same since he hurt his knee. I always liked him and he did have years where he was a very respectable number one centre, but those years ended a few years ago. People need to move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Glad to see I'm not the only one who's noticed this. I've always liked and respected Koivu, so it pains me to watch him suddenly being a low-grade Gary Roberts. But it's a fact that has to be accepted. Koivu is washed up. The worst mistake of Gainey's tenure as GM would be to re-sign Koivu as a top-6 forward, especially for any length of time. But... but you've been saying all year that we definitely do want to re-sign him! I'd make Saku an offer of 3M or less with the expectation, or even hope, that he rejects it. Then Gainey becomes forced to make the move that he keeps on backing out of because he doesn't like the price (Lecavalier, Jokinen). If we've got just Plekanec, Lapierre, Chipchura and Metropolit at C, Gainey won't mind throwing in that extra asset to overpay and get the deal done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HABBER-oooooKNOWS Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 *Sobbing* "Shut up guys" Look.........now you've made Saks cry. Way to go guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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