Congrats! You just got JM's job

[BrenDittero]

There's been a lot of talk about bad coaching decisions this year.

Now it's your chance to turn that around.

Pierre Gauthier has read several of you're posts and decided to turf Jacques Martin and hire you based on your forward thinking approach to coaching.

Outline your plan to get the Canadiens as far into the playoffs as possible, maybe even win the Stanley Cup.

Please enlighten the class.

Feel free to modify your plan as the season / post season goes on.

Edited March 28, 2011 by BrenDittero

[habs rule]

all I can tell you is WE ARE SCREWED!

[skinnydog]

Wow 45 views and only 1 reply... Thats a tough question brother! It appears that with the way the team sits now it is hard to come up with a solution.

I would start by putting the Eller, Kos, Moen line back together, they were playing real good together.

Then I would tell my defense that letting the other team get to the dump ins first so that you don't get hit is good , except for they get possession.

Then i would say I need at least 1 fight from Moen , Mara or White every game and to play with an edge. Lets be honest ,Moen is way to nice out there.

Man this is hard! Oh lets see here... I would let Subban do his thing at least twice a game ( you know where he does a 360, then skates around the offensive zone twice and then scores) yeah that one .

Also I would tell him that if Horton ever grabs him by the collar with two hands, and calls him a P*ssy to his face and he doesn't do anything...then in away, he is .

Then I would threaten the team with Crushers ( Herb Brooks Style) if they ever acted intimidated by our rivals. I am still pissed!!!

And lastly, a statement game for first place against your bitter rival is not going to be played down on my watch, no sir. That game is going to be the game of games, and you better be willing to die on the ice tonight win it!!!!

Well thats all I have right now...saving more for after the Atlanta game:)

[Kiwihab]

I would be getting as much free stuff as possible. The players would all think it was wierd autographing jerseys for the coach.

I would try out the goalie equipment and take some shots from wiz, pouliot etc just to see what it was like.

Finally, the next time we played Boston, I would hijack the zamboni and drive it into Chara (and maybe Lucic) during warmups. Of course I would get off with this classic "hockey play"

Obviously the last bit is the only part that would help the habs.

[BlueKross]

I would be getting as much free stuff as possible. The players would all think it was wierd autographing jerseys for the coach.

I would try out the goalie equipment and take some shots from wiz, pouliot etc just to see what it was like.

Finally, the next time we played Boston, I would hijack the zamboni and drive it into Chara (and maybe Lucic) during warmups. Of course I would get off with this classic "hockey play"

Obviously the last bit is the only part that would help the habs.

Unfortunely, we have to start with a roster that needs a little tweaking and we can't. I would start with getting a big defensemen playing forward and standing in front of net on the power play. I would concentrate on playing the young guys (Eller)(Desharnais) with the goal of giving them valuable playoff experience going into next year.

[bar]

First off, I'd change the lines.

Cammy/Plek/Gionta

AK/Gomez/Deh

White/Eller/Moen

Pouliot/Halpern/Darche

The lines would be a work in progress, but right now we have no line that's really dangerous.

Hammer/Subban

Gill/Wiz

Sopel/Spacek

Mara

I would keep Gill and Subban together for the PK, but I feel like Gill gets too many offensive time and he doesn't do much with it. PK and Wiz would be the first PP unit, Hammer/Spacek would be 2nd, or if Spacek isn't back, give a forward a chance back there until he's back.

One thing I would change is, the habs dump the puck and line change a lot, pretty much just giving the puck to the other team, I'd have one player skate the puck in the opponents zone, and try to hold it while the line changes. I'd also stress that the team stop trying to make the long stretch passes, most of the time they are picked off. Do shot passes and use their speed to their full advantage.

I would also stress a heavy forecheck, if you see what teams have the most success against the habs, it's the fact they heavily forecheck against the habs aging, and not very mobile defence corps.

Edited March 28, 2011 by bar

[dlbalr]

As the forward lines have been mentioned already, I'm going to go a different route here. To me, one of the biggest issues is the defence being overworked. Obviously, any new coach probably isn't going to change the system overnight this close to the postseason, so heading into the playoffs, it's looking as if a lot will fall on the defence. Since this little losing streak has eliminated a good chunk of the cushion in terms of getting a position secured before the final couple of games, the Habs may not be in a spot to start giving guys like Hamrlik and Gill a night off as a healthy scratch. So my first move, which clearly wouldn't be a popular one, would be to dress 7 d-men the rest of the way (provided no one else gets hurt of course).

How to make room for that extra D? Use a rotation of bottom forwards, White, Pyatt, Pouliot, and Darche, depending on the matchups and need for speed, grit, more scoring potential, etc, 2/4 play each night. At the very least, keep everyone in game shape. This would open the spot for Weber to draw back in primarily as a PP specialist.

Speaking of the powerplay, I'd abandon the Plekanec on the point strategy and move Subban back on the top unit. You can't overplay both point men so someone's bound to have a shooting opportunity though there are concerns having 2 RH shots at the point. Mara and Weber would comprise the 2nd unit.

On the PK is where PK will have his minutes reduced. With Hamrlik no longer on the PP, he'll be more refreshed for the penalty kill; he along with Gill and Sopel will comprise 3 of the primary 4 PK d-men. That 4th would be rotational, as Mara (if he can handle playing the wrong side for a shift), Subban, and Wisniewski have all seen minutes shorthanded lately, but this time only one would have to play instead of all 3 as we've seen lately. This is my approximate minute breakdown:

Subban: 22 minutes

Wisniewski: 22

Hamrik: 20

Gill: 16

Sopel: 16

Mara: 16

Weber: 8 (playing about 2-3 PP mins while spelling Subban/Wisniewski once a period 5-on-5)

(Total of 120)

This would allow for everyone to be scaled back a bit while Weber gets another shot to be evaluated. He has to clear waivers next year so the decision needs to be made, can he be a 6th D/PP specialist? Hard to tell when he's sitting.

[SOOPAVILLIN]

There's been a lot of talk about bad coaching decisions this year.

Now it's your chance to turn that around.

Pierre Gauthier has read several of you're posts and decided to turf Jacques Martin and hire you based on your forward thinking approach to coaching.

Outline your plan to get the Canadiens as far into the playoffs as possible, maybe even win the Stanley Cup.

Please enlighten the class.

Feel free to modify your plan as the season / post season goes on.

I think JM,s hands are kind of tied as far as personal goes, but definitely get Pleky off the point and replace with PK on the power play. Also someone here said dress 7 dmen I also agree.

If you dont mind I want to sort of expand on the thread BrenDittero. What would you do this off season if you were PG with our situation at D. We have a handful of competent D at our disposal.

Subban, Spacek, Hammer, Gill, Wiz, Markov, Mara, Sopel, Picard, Weber, Gorges. Who stays and who goes, assuming we mould next years roster from these guys.My choices would be

Gill-PK

Hammer-Wiz

Markov-Gorges

Sopel as 7th, and maybe Weber or Mara or Spacek to take Picards role. The rest walks or used traded for picks to free up some cap space.

Edited March 28, 2011 by SOOPAVILLIN

[BlueKross]

I think JM,s hands are kind of tied as far as personal goes, but definitely get Pleky off the point and replace with PK on the power play. Also someone here said dress 7 dmen I also agree.

If you dont mind I want to sort of expand on the thread BrenDittero. What would you do this off season if you were PG with our situation at D. We have a handful of competent D at our exposal.

Subban, Spacek, Hammer, Gill, Wiz, Markov, Mara, Sopel, Picard, Weber, Gorges. Who stays and who goes, assuming we mould next years roster from these guys.My choices would be

Gill-PK

Hammer-Wiz

Markov-Gorges

Sopel as 7th, and maybe Weber or Mara or Spacek to take Picards role. The rest walks or used traded for picks to free up some cap space.

All this is reasonable. I want to see Emelin. What is not going to fly is that Markov is hurt again, as an excuse for our fortunes. I site Crosby and Malkin to debunk that excuse. Get on with it.

[Chris]

No offense but Hamrlik and Gill better days are behind them. No reason to re sign them. Thye are both slow, take penalties. i like them just not there ages to resign them.

plus you still have Spacek on the books unless his injury causes him to retire.

Wisneiski will cost you 5 mill 4 years probably. (Hamrlik current salary)

markov could get an incentive contact max out 4 mill. I don't think anyone will offer him that. 2 kneee surgeries, not likely.

Gorges gets a raise 2-3 mill per year.

So in that scenario you spend the current amount of all the current D.

Which leaves you

Markov Gorges

Wis Spacek

Subban partner

I would move Weber (plus) to get a Brian Allen type player.

My opinion they still need to get a big forward to play with Pleks and Cammi. They'll need cash for that.

[SOOPAVILLIN]

No offense but Hamrlik and Gill better days are behind them. No reason to re sign them. Thye are both slow, take penalties. i like them just not there ages to resign them.

plus you still have Spacek on the books unless his injury causes him to retire.

Wisneiski will cost you 5 mill 4 years probably. (Hamrlik current salary)

markov could get an incentive contact max out 4 mill. I don't think anyone will offer him that. 2 kneee surgeries, not likely.

Gorges gets a raise 2-3 mill per year.

So in that scenario you spend the current amount of all the current D.

Which leaves you

Markov Gorges

Wis Spacek

Subban partner

I would move Weber (plus) to get a Brian Allen type player.

My opinion they still need to get a big forward to play with Pleks and Cammi. They'll need cash for that.

The big forward= Patches

[bar]

No offense but Hamrlik and Gill better days are behind them. No reason to re sign them. Thye are both slow, take penalties. i like them just not there ages to resign them.

plus you still have Spacek on the books unless his injury causes him to retire.

Wisneiski will cost you 5 mill 4 years probably. (Hamrlik current salary)

markov could get an incentive contact max out 4 mill. I don't think anyone will offer him that. 2 kneee surgeries, not likely.

Gorges gets a raise 2-3 mill per year.

So in that scenario you spend the current amount of all the current D.

Which leaves you

Markov Gorges

Wis Spacek

Subban partner

I would move Weber (plus) to get a Brian Allen type player.

My opinion they still need to get a big forward to play with Pleks and Cammi. They'll need cash for that.

I assume Wiz is gonna want big cash but I wouldn't want to give him more than 3.5 - 4, his defensive play is not the greatest.

[Chris]

Yea, but those guys don't grow on trees. I would give Wis 5 mill no prolblem. There is no guarantee on Markov's health. Just my opinion.

Pacioretty will join the Giomez line again.

Leaving another spot for a big foreward in my opinion for Pleks and Cammi.

Ak46 Eller and Moen will be a line.

I think it's safe to say White, Decharnais will make the squad. I like Pyatt as a number 13 foreward. You could resign Pouliot, who has been good at times alos bad at times.

I only see 1 or 2 forward spots available, i don't knwo anyone from Hamilton to step right in.

They need to get bigger smarter up front.

More mobile on the back end. I'm not opposed to Sopel as #7 fill in guy to give people rest either. I like him.

[SOOPAVILLIN]

I guess the main reasons shy I figured Gill and Hammer is that we don't have too much cash, and their new deals definitely should stay in the 1.5 million range so at that price it's not much more then a rookie, but I believe they would have much more of an impact on and off the ice which would be valuable to PK.

Unless it's Markov or Wiz then it's a whole different story, but to keep both, with our remaining cap space the 2 older guys would give you the most value for your dollar IMO.

[BCHabnut]

No offense but Hamrlik and Gill better days are behind them. No reason to re sign them. Thye are both slow, take penalties. i like them just not there ages to resign them.

plus you still have Spacek on the books unless his injury causes him to retire.

Wisneiski will cost you 5 mill 4 years probably. (Hamrlik current salary)

markov could get an incentive contact max out 4 mill. I don't think anyone will offer him that. 2 kneee surgeries, not likely.

Gorges gets a raise 2-3 mill per year.

So in that scenario you spend the current amount of all the current D.

Which leaves you

Markov Gorges

Wis Spacek

Subban partner

I would move Weber (plus) to get a Brian Allen type player.

My opinion they still need to get a big forward to play with Pleks and Cammi. They'll need cash for that.

Wiz or Markov will be signed. Not both. Gill or Hammer will be signed. Not both. Gorges is priority.

What I would like to see

Markov Gorges

Subban Hammer

Spacek Weber

Whoever... Maybe Sopel.

Edited March 30, 2011 by BCHabnut

[hab29RETIRED]

Wiz or Markov will be signed. Not both. Gill or Hammer will be signed. Not both. Gorges is priority.

What I would like to see

Markov Gorges

Subban Hammer

Spacek Weber

Whoever... Maybe Sopel.

I'm sure glad I"m on a photography/hiking tour of Arizona and Utah - having to watch games like a 6-2 beating would be too difficult to bear!! I only heard parts of the last couple of games on XM radio and for last night's game, since it was a road game, had to listen to the Canes announcers.

It sounds like after finally scoring two goals and winning against the thrashers (who suck anyways), the habs had another poor effort, despite outshooting the canes.

The big changes I would make from a coaching perspective are the following:

-Subban should be on the PP - the full 2 minutes if possible. All accross the league, top dman play the whole PP, hell Ovie as a forward usually plays the full PP. I never got why Markov wasn't on the PP longer and I certainly don't understand the rationale for Subban not even being on the #1 unit.

-Cut Hamrlik and Gill's time. These guys are old horses and with too much time they play like donkeys. The need to keep Hamrlik under 20 min and Gill under 15 - I'd give him mainly PK duty and with the habs penchant for penalties that could be 10 minutes a night easily, but I wouldn't give him much more then PK duty.

-Why isn't Weber playing??? Are the mistakes by Sopel, Mara, Picard much worse then the mistakes by Weber??? At least Weber WILL get better those guys will not and all three will probably be gone next year anyways. Sad thing is that Weber will probably make less mistakes and be more productive on another team, the same way SK74, Dags, Grabs were. He'll forever be called be too small to play the D the same way Streit was, only to become a solid defender somewhere else.

-Subban is a horse and should be able to play over 25 minutes a game. Wiz close to 25 minutes.

-The D should always have one of Subban, Wiz, Hamrlik and Weber on the ice - guys that can actually make an outlet pass!!!

-Get Pleks off the damn point - How stupid is JM, for going as long with that experiment as he did!!

-Get Price some rest. The alternative is the Michlelin man who can cover a lot of net, but usually can't stop much. he's PG's mistake and should never have been signed, but Price needs to get a mental break down the stretch, especially the way the D is playing in front of him. Without Price, we'd probably be behind the leafs right now.

-Get Gomez the FXCK of the top three lines. Sounded like FINALLY played a decent game against the thrashers, but he has sucked to long and rarely follows up a good game with another solid effort. He should also be on the wing, as he is lousy on the draw anyways!!

-Use guys that are skilled on the PP. That means Pleks, Gionta, Cammy, AK46, Desharnais, Eller and Pouliot. It means that when the habs are on the PP, Moen, Halpern, Darche have their asses nailed to the bench.

-The PP on D would revolve around Subban. Should be out there for at least 1 1/2 minutes. Have Subban and Wiz, Subban and Hamrlik and then Hamrlik/Weber.

-PLAY A MORE AGGRESSIVE FORECHECK!!!! This is a fast team, use the damn speed!!!

Lines and pairings I'd like to see are the following:

Gionta-Pleks-Cammy

AK46-Eller-White

Pouliot-Desharnais-Darche

Moen-Halpern-Gomez

-Subban/Gill - trying to limit Gil's ice time means that have Wiz/Subban or Subban with someone else as well.

-Hamrlik/Weber

-Wiz/Sopel or Wiz Mara

More importantly though if I was PG, for next year, the habs have to find a way to get rid of Spacek. Maybe trade SPacek and a 3rd rounder for someone's 4th rounder. But the only way I want one of Hamrlik or Gill back next year (for no more then $1.5M on a one year deal), is if they get rid of SPacek. You can't have all three or even 2 of those three back next year and be a better team.

I'd like the D for next year to have a core of Markov, Subban, Wiz, Gorges and two BIG, PHYSICAL Dmen. Failing to trade/sign two new dman, have one of Gill/Hamrlik. Although, I'd prefer to have Gill/Hamrlik as a 7th dman.

I'd get rid of JM, otherwise, I can't see us keeping AK46 - I know most people here want to get rid of him, but He is a solid 20 goal scorer and in today's NHL, they don't grow on trees. He is also physical presence and has consistently been our most physical player. I also can't see Pouliot progressing any further under Martin.

Gomez has to go. Send him to the minors next year and if the following year, someone wants him at $4M, move him. Moen gone. Halpern maybe sticks around if its for the same contract. Darche gone.

Hopefully MaxPac will not only be back, but be back a force like he was this year. We need to pick up one physical center who can score or at be a setup guy and one big bruising winger - a big, bruising, scoring winger would be ideal, but i'd focus more on getting a big offensive center first.

Lastly, a backup that you actually can rely on to play 20-25 games.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

habs29retired, I agree with most of your points, although obviously I wouldn't fire JM.

In truth, what I'd be really interested in is a 'what do we do next year' thread. But of course this would be premature.

Edited March 31, 2011 by The Chicoutimi Cucumber

[hab29RETIRED]

habs29retired, I agree with most of your points, although obviously I wouldn't fire JM.

In truth, what I'd be really interested in is a 'what do we do next year' thread. But of course this would be premature.

We'll have to agree to disagree about Martin. I really don't think the Habs will be anything but a mediocore team under Martin. Under Martin, if your goalie doesn't stand on his head you lose. I also think the number of injuries to our Dman are a result of of his over-taxing style of play. I also don't like how he doesn't seem to hold veterans accountable for crappy play. IMO his stubbornness in keeping Subban on the second PP unit, in itself not only warrants firing, but a check up at the psychiatric ward!

[dlbalr]

IMO his stubbornness in keeping Subban on the second PP unit, in itself not only warrants firing, but a check up at the psychiatric ward!

At least for last night, Subban was on the primary unit with Wisniewski, leading to a 2/3 effort on the PP. (8/15 vs Carolina on the season too, quite impressive.)

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

We'll have to agree to disagree about Martin. I really don't think the Habs will be anything but a mediocore team under Martin. Under Martin, if your goalie doesn't stand on his head you lose. I also think the number of injuries to our Dman are a result of of his over-taxing style of play. I also don't like how he doesn't seem to hold veterans accountable for crappy play. IMO his stubbornness in keeping Subban on the second PP unit, in itself not only warrants firing, but a check up at the psychiatric ward!

I understand that JM is trying to teach PK the finer points. He has a very firm hand with young players and this has served those players well over the years. Having said that, I agree with you on the specific case of Subban. Unlike Weber, Pouliot, Eller or the others, this kid is a genuine thoroughbred and we're only hurting the team by NOT unleashing him for 30 minutes a night with tons and tons of powerplay time. He is possibly the best position player on the entire club, night in and night out. Now is not the time to be imparting lessons. Give him the ball.

Our injuries to D have nothing to do with Martin or his system. Spacek is injury-prone and so is Markov. Gorges carried his injury for years before it got to him.

I actually agree that he doesn't hold veterans accountable. (The case of Gomez alone proves that). However, I think there's a defensible rationale to this. In today's NHL the veteran core of any team has to be self-policing; a coach who goes to war with it will simply get himself fired, or else watch as cranky vets demand trades and get shipped out of town, usually to the team's detriment. This ain't the old days where you could just brutalize their asses and rule by fear. Also, JM knows that at the end of the day - and especially in the playoffs - this team will sink or swim on the basis of its veterans. He is giving the veterans all the rope they could possibly ask for, within a system that has been proven to work. If they fail, he will not be to blame. They will.

Edited March 31, 2011 by The Chicoutimi Cucumber

[saskhab]

I have no trouble with Martin reigning in P.K. There are valuable lessons that he needs to learn, and if he doesn't learn them now, they could really hamper his career long-term. You don't want to be having him learn these lessons when he's already making $5m a year. He takes an autrocious amount of penalties, and for all his ability to talk seems to have difficulty in communicating with his partner on the ice. I agree we're in a tough spot now, it's almost damned if you do, damned if you don't with him at this point in the year. But let's not sacrifice Subban's future for this year's team.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

I have no trouble with Martin reigning in P.K. There are valuable lessons that he needs to learn, and if he doesn't learn them now, they could really hamper his career long-term. You don't want to be having him learn these lessons when he's already making $5m a year. He takes an autrocious amount of penalties, and for all his ability to talk seems to have difficulty in communicating with his partner on the ice. I agree we're in a tough spot now, it's almost damned if you do, damned if you don't with him at this point in the year. But let's not sacrifice Subban's future for this year's team.

No, I agree with your approach in general terms. It's just that with a handful of games remaining, and the team desperate for a spark, I feel that I'd quietly loosen the reins on PK, under the circumstances. However, you might be right - making exceptions might teach PK that he will ultimately be rewarded for not listening to the coach.

[hab29RETIRED]

At least for last night, Subban was on the primary unit with Wisniewski, leading to a 2/3 effort on the PP. (8/15 vs Carolina on the season too, quite impressive.)

I wasn't able to start listening to the game until it was 4-2, so didn't realize Subban was the regular pairing with Wiz. I just can't believe how long it took to put them together on the #1 unit.

[dlbalr]

I wasn't able to start listening to the game until it was 4-2, so didn't realize Subban was the regular pairing with Wiz. I just can't believe how long it took to put them together on the #1 unit.

There is some risk pairing them up, but also a better chance of success as evidenced by yesterday. 2 right hand shots on the point can be iffy, while Subban takes a lot of risks and Wisniewski can get burned sometimes leading to odd-man rushes going the other way. On the other hand, you can't overplay both guys for the shot, one of them is bound to be open. If you were able to overplay both, there'd be a couple of players open in the slot. My only other worry pairing them up is that the PP would become too reliant on the point shot. Although McGuire hounded them about just going "hammer time" from the point, if it's too predictable, it's easier to cover. (I also enjoyed the fact that mere seconds after he said it...for about the 4th time...on the same PP, Cammalleri scored down low.)

[Toronthab]

I understand that JM is trying to teach PK the finer points. He has a very firm hand with young players and this has served those players well over the years. Having said that, I agree with you on the specific case of Subban. Unlike Weber, Pouliot, Eller or the others, this kid is a genuine thoroughbred and we're only hurting the team by NOT unleashing him for 30 minutes a night with tons and tons of powerplay time. He is possibly the best position player on the entire club, night in and night out. Now is not the time to be imparting lessons. Give him the ball.

Our injuries to D have nothing to do with Martin or his system. Spacek is injury-prone and so is Markov. Gorges carried his injury for years before it got to him.

I actually agree that he doesn't hold veterans accountable. (The case of Gomez alone proves that). However, I think there's a defensible rationale to this. In today's NHL the veteran core of any team has to be self-policing; a coach who goes to war with it will simply get himself fired, or else watch as cranky vets demand trades and get shipped out of town, usually to the team's detriment. This ain't the old days where you could just brutalize their asses and rule by fear. Also, JM knows that at the end of the day - and especially in the playoffs - this team will sink or swim on the basis of its veterans. He is giving the veterans all the rope they could possibly ask for, within a system that has been proven to work. If they fail, he will not be to blame. They will.

I think you make good points here CC. I have often been surprised at how very well this team has performed and outperformed for stretches in the season. I attribute this to JM and the gang. I haven't a clue what to do or not do with the players and don't have a platform from which I can criticize.

Go Hans Go!

This season ain't over at all. A few games ago we were heading for the top of our group. Despair is too easy.

P.S. ... great additions to the emoticons.... thanks