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2012-13 Habs Lineup: the Forwards


hankhab

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I've got zero issue with Galchenyuk playing in Montreal this year if he's ready, just saying if he's not ready enough to crack our not-so stacked centre ice position why move him to the wing just because he's our best option there when we are not expecting to compete and he's touted as the centremen we've been waiting nearly 2 decades to get.

Different story if he hadn't missed last year, by all means have him up and play wherever if he's out grown junior to get him exposed to the NHL, I've never seen him play outside of highlights so no clue where he's at in development.

As for the Edmonton comparison their best fwd played an extra year junior and it didn't hurt Eberle while Nuge & Hall have both missed considerable time, Gagner has never fulfilled potential and Paajarrvi will probably end up back in Sweden after being rushed.

Different for all players

Our center position is not that bad. We have depth there, we have 2 and possibly 3, 2nd line centres. What we lack is the true elite first liner. Hopefully Galchenyuk is that guy in the future.

But he's not a 1st liner at 18. We know that.

I personally think "if he's ready" that he would be improved by playing in the NHL and would be groomed to be that #1 faster by playing in the bigger, stronger faster league. Even if it means we start him at wing, have him focus on offence this year, and move him to the tougher defensive position, ie centre, in the future.

Of course the "if he's ready" is the big thing that hangs over this. It may all be a moot point. But if he's a top 6 forward, I keep him up, even if he starts learning at wing, and is given the responsibilities of a centre later on.

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Gotta put butts in the seats, right? Showcasing lots of young talent was pretty much their only option save hiring competent management.

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

Are people seriously suggesting that only teams who are either A) Trying to make the playoffs or B) Trying to get people to the arena play 18 year old rookies?

Does this make logic?

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Our center position is not that bad. We have depth there, we have 2 and possibly 3, 2nd line centres. What we lack is the true elite first liner. Hopefully Galchenyuk is that guy in the future.

But he's not a 1st liner at 18. We know that.

I personally think "if he's ready" that he would be improved by playing in the NHL and would be groomed to be that #1 faster by playing in the bigger, stronger faster league. Even if it means we start him at wing, have him focus on offence this year, and move him to the tougher defensive position, ie centre, in the future.

Of course the "if he's ready" is the big thing that hangs over this. It may all be a moot point. But if he's a top 6 forward, I keep him up, even if he starts learning at wing, and is given the responsibilities of a centre later on.

Hope you are sitting down cause I agree with that

As for Gagner and Paajaarvi tough to know, Sam stuck cause he was the SO specialist and Paajarvi probably got lost in the numbers last year and regressed, maybe a change of scenery would help both

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Our center position is not that bad. We have depth there, we have 2 and possibly 3, 2nd line centres. What we lack is the true elite first liner. Hopefully Galchenyuk is that guy in the future.

But he's not a 1st liner at 18. We know that.

I personally think "if he's ready" that he would be improved by playing in the NHL and would be groomed to be that #1 faster by playing in the bigger, stronger faster league. Even if it means we start him at wing, have him focus on offence this year, and move him to the tougher defensive position, ie centre, in the future.

Of course the "if he's ready" is the big thing that hangs over this. It may all be a moot point. But if he's a top 6 forward, I keep him up, even if he starts learning at wing, and is given the responsibilities of a centre later on.

I still would stick him with the likes of Zibenijad/Schiefele and an extra year just seems the prudent thing, even if he looks good in a 9 game trial. He is just not in same catagory as Nugent-Hopkins and Landeskogg, Where one is just an extreme skilled player and the other was called before the draft "NHL ready" (as Ryan Murray is) and he surely was.

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I still would stick him with the likes of Zibenijad/Schiefele and an extra year just seems the prudent thing, even if he looks good in a 9 game trial. He is just not in same catagory as Nugent-Hopkins and Landeskogg, Where one is just an extreme skilled player and the other was called before the draft "NHL ready" (as Ryan Murray is) and he surely was.

I think its far too early to make such a determination..... lets see how he looks in camp, and potentially 9 games first.

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One thing I should mention is that the selfish person in me wants Galchenyuk to stay in Sarnia for the year (so I can watch him in a lot of games) and avoid having to try to beat Jonny Huberdeau for the Calder trophy. I think he has a better chance against an 18 year old Mackinnon than a 19 year old Huberdeau.

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Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

Are people seriously suggesting that only teams who are either A) Trying to make the playoffs or B) Trying to get people to the arena play 18 year old rookies?

Does this make logic?

That's not really what I was saying at all. In the case of Edmonton (which was the only team I was talking about), I got the impression that they were set on playing their top draft picks to give their fanbase something to get excited about. Instead of finding stopgaps to give their prospects more development time, they iced these prospects, and it's unknown if that was the best course of action. If memory serves, EDM stated their intention to have RNH in the NHL even before training camp, and I think most would agree that he was undersized to start the year. Granted, he had a great year stat-wise, but he did miss 20 games to injury; this might not have occurred had he had a year in junior to bulk up and mature some more.

Many teams to play 18-year old rookies for many reasons, but with the forward depth in EDM, one must examine if the pressure to market the "new, young and exciting" team might have outweighed any developmental concerns. In retrospect, RNH's talent was sufficient, but I'm not sure if that's a decision I would have made under those circumstances. I might have been inclined to shelter my future superstar for another year to a) let him develop and mature physically, b) dominate at a junior level, and c) not waste a year off his entry level contract for a team that is already loaded with young talent.

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I think its far too early to make such a determination..... lets see how he looks in camp, and potentially 9 games first.

But it is August and cant simply agree. Sure it is way too early, but in general sending him back to junior, especially missing last year, seems the smart move in long run and i thought the same about Gallagher last year.

I know Habs could really use the skill on LW for sure, but i think patience would pay off more.

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Most I've looked forward to a season to start to answer all these questions in a very long time but dumb & dumber are looking to screw that up with a lockout

At least you guys got junior and minor league, without NHL Game Centre all I've got down under is rugby and cricket

Managed to stream the Memorial Cup this year, anyone know of a site that carries CHL regular season?

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Managed to stream the Memorial Cup this year, anyone know of a site that carries CHL regular season?

I know the OHL is broadcast cable-only, I've never come across streaming sites for them. I've often listened to the radio broadcasts though, almost every team has one. I can't say for certain whether there is or isn't any sort of online option for the other two. The AHL, however, has a season pass; you'd have to pay like one would for NHL Centre Ice but that is an option as well...no streaming options either for them, there haven't been for a few years.

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OHL has livestreaming... so do the QMJHL and WHL, but you have to pay for them

http://ohl.neulion.com/ohl/

http://whl.neulion.com/whl/

http://qmjhl.mytelus.com/

They dont do preseason though, only regular season, so they haven't launched anything yet from this year.

Sweet thanks for that!

Money well spent if there's no NHL and still probably if there is and Galchenyuk is back in Sarnia

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