Recalled Rafael Harvey-Pinard recalled

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

1 hour ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

last year's recipe has been trashed by many on this forum and in the media.

 

 

Actually, in a certain sense, the recipe was great. It was a team built for playoff success, predicated on a recognition that the playoff game is significantly different from the regular season game. A grinding veteran d-corps, strong down the middle, depth up and down the lineup, and a superb goalie: the LA Kings model circa 2014. 

 

The problems were twofold. One is that it was the final, spectacular efflorescence of an aging core: not sustainable in that sense. The other is that you probably cannot make the playoffs on a regular basis with the Clydesdale defence corps. You can go far once you're in, but that model can't survive today's speed game over 82 games.

 

So it's not a sustainable model year in and year out. But it is a model that can lead to a major playoff run. Not a "miracle run" but a run that reflects how the team is built. And obviously, if you're rebuilding, you don't want to shoot for the Bergevin "let's make the playoffs and anything can happen" philosophy; you want a team that is a high-end contender annually, which rules out last year's model.

 

 

[alfredoh2009]

27 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

Actually, in a certain sense, the recipe was great. It was a team built for playoff success, predicated on a recognition that the playoff game is significantly different from the regular season game. A grinding veteran d-corps, strong down the middle, depth up and down the lineup, and a superb goalie: the LA Kings model circa 2014. 

 

The problems were twofold. One is that it was the final, spectacular efflorescence of an aging core: not sustainable in that sense. The other is that you probably cannot make the playoffs on a regular basis with the Clydesdale defence corps. You can go far once you're in, but that model can't survive today's speed game over 82 games.

 

So it's not a sustainable model year in and year out. But it is a model that can lead to a major playoff run. Not a "miracle run" but a run that reflects how the team is built. And obviously, if you're rebuilding, you don't want to shoot for the Bergevin "let's make the playoffs and anything can happen" philosophy; you want a team that is a high-end contender annually, which rules out last year's model.

 

 

 

I do not want the Habs to become the Leafs a perennial playoff team with high hopes for the cup every year 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

3 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

I do not want the Habs to become the Leafs a perennial playoff team with high hopes for the cup every year 

 

I want the Habs to be a perennial playoff team that is a serious contender for the cup every year.  That's all you can ask for.  To win it sometimes takes a little luck, no serious injuries and clutch goaltending. 

 

The Leafs could go on a deep run this year if Campbell finds his early season form. 

[GHT120]

42 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

... But it is a model that can lead to a major playoff run. Not a "miracle run" but a run that reflects how the team is built ...

I agree that PRICE, the Big 4 and timely scoring (primarily) earned the playoff run ... but the miracle was (IMO) making the playoffs ... in the last 15 years a .527 points percentage only came within one point of making the playoffs once, and otherwise it was usually not really close ... in a make-shift division where two 19/20 playoff teams absolutely CRASHED (Flames and 'Nucks dropped .075 and .119 in Pts% respectively) the Habs .527 snuck in ... it was legit in terms of the rules of the day, but miraculous in the context of history.

[alfredoh2009]

54 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I want the Habs to be a perennial playoff team that is a serious contender for the cup every year.  That's all you can ask for.  To win it sometimes takes a little luck, no serious injuries and clutch goaltending. 

 

The Leafs could go on a deep run this year if Campbell finds his early season form. 

 

if I wanted to sheer for a team like the Leafs... I would cheer for the Leafs

 

The Habs have a history of class and excellence, hard work ethic and success against any odds

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

7 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

 

if I wanted to sheer for a team like the Leafs... I would cheer for the Leafs

 

The Habs have a history of class and excellence, hard work ethic and success against any odds

 

 

I never talked about  cheering for the Leafs.  I don't think anyone on this thread wants the Leafs to win, certainly not me.  They are a serious contender though  if Campbell plays well, if he doesn't then likely out in the first round again. 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

The question is whether the current edition of the Leafs represents the kind of thing that we want to see coming out of the Habs' rebuild. 

 

I'd have to say "yes." Exciting team with high-end talent that is near the top of the standings year-in and year-out, and has to be rated a serious contender every year, even though their playoff track record is (fortunately) atrocious. I'll take that over a bubble team that scrapes to make the playoffs and then hopes for a miracle run. 

 

They're a bit like San Jose for all those years, another team that was a consistent contender, but somehow failed to put it together in the playoffs, although they did reach the Finals eventually. They were a perennial contender. That's all you can ask for as a fan. Being an elite team is not a guarantee of ever winning the Cup; it just tilts the odds in favour of it happening in any given year.

 

It's also way premature to say that TO is a failure. Remember the Detroit Red Wings of the 1990s, another elite, stacked team that kept bombing out in the playoffs, to the point where people were saying they should trade Yzerman, etc.. Detroit stayed the course and eventually broke through. Now I hope to God that Toronto lives out the San Jose scenario, not the Wings scenario; but I'd sure like to be cheering for a team where that's the debate we're having.

 

[DON]

3 hours ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I never talked about  cheering for the Leafs.  I don't think anyone on this thread wants the Leafs to win, certainly not me.  They are a serious contender though  if Campbell plays well, if he doesn't then likely out in the first round again. 

2012 Reilly (5)

2014 Nylander (8)

2015 Marner (4)

2016 Matthews(1)

 

pretty much the core of that team, crappy seasons and some good drafting, Mathews was a lock of course.

 

[alfredoh2009]

37 minutes ago, DON said:

2012 Reilly (5)

2014 Nylander (8)

2015 Marner (4)

2016 Matthews(1)

 

pretty much the core of that team, crappy seasons and some good drafting, Mathews was a lock of course.

 

 

... three more years, three more years and we will transform the organization into perennial playoff participants.

 

re-sign Montembeault, trade Allen at the deadline and tank, baby, tank!

[dlbalr]

And back down he goes:

 

 

He was the fourth and final regular recall so for the final few games, the only way a Laval player can come up is in an emergency situation.

[alfredoh2009]

1 minute ago, dlbalr said:

And back down he goes:

 

 

He was the fourth and final regular recall so for the final few games, the only way a Laval player can come up is in an emergency situation.

 

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