|
Rebuild Is A Go According To Friedman + Habs Vs Caps in DC |
|
|
|
|
|
Well folks, the wheels officially fell off last game against the Bruins. In Claude Julien’s return to the place where he coached for 10 years, and won a Stanley Cup, the Habs could barely muster anything that looked like a solid effort. Sure, the Bruins are arguably the hottest team in the league right now, but those things typically don’t matter when its these two franchises.
That effort told me the team had given up.
I think it told Marc Bergevin that as well as it’s been reported by E Friedman that Marc Bergevin is the most active of all GM’s at the moment and it would appear the only untouchable players are C Price and V Mete. Friedman also hinted that the rebuild is on.
That’s so big in Hab land that I’m going to type it again.
THE. REBUILD. IS. ON.
That may be words of encouragement for some as they want everyone dealt, but there is still a good portion of the fanbase that thinks Bergevin should be removed from his post before these moves are made.
Look, I’m going to going to help you rip this band aid off right now folks.
BERGEVIN WILL NOT BE FIRED. DEAL WITH IT.
This is his team to run and Molson is leaving it in his hands.
That said, I really hope Mete isn’t the only untouchable on the roster that plays outside the crease. I would like to see the team retain: Danault, Gallagher, Weber, Drouin, Hudon, Lehkonen, Jerabek, and Byron.
But the growing sentiment behind dealing Pacioretty is one I can strongly get behind. Max has been a fantastic, underpaid player for the Canadiens. BUT…. He should never have been made Captain. It was too much for him to handle. If he could have been allowed to just play his game without the added responsibility he may have been even better, but he clearly is affected by the brutal showing this season (due in part to injuries too) and instead of gutting these games out and playing like they matter he has wilted.
That won’t affect his trade value much, in my opinion. Other GM’s will try to use this season to bargain MB down in price, but at the end of the day, when the deadline clock is ticking and you have a chance to add a fast, 35+ goal scorer to your team for two playoff runs at 4.5 mill cap hit the offers will get better.
I can see Shaw being dealt too, unfortunately. In a perfect world I would like for MTL to keep Gallager, Shaw, and Deslauriers in the top 9 for some dirty work, but with Friedman hinting that the team is due for some big turnover I can see him dealt. Not that possibly adding B Tkachuk in the draft for top 6 wing duty wouldn’t be a likely upgrade, it definitely would. But, there is some really good picks in the top 6 this year and the decision will be a tough one.
So, with the writing apparently on the wall and word on the street is that the Habs are going for a rebuild I expect management to begin resting certain players and playing some prospects that might be involved in trades, or ones they want to trade. All that said, if one or two seasons fall apart we would still have around 4-6 more good years out of Carey Price so all is good for a quick turnaround.
I also wouldn’t complain if the Habs somehow managed to land R Dahlen and J Hughes in two straight drafts, but that’s some wild future trippin’ right there.
Let’s get ready to tumblllllllllllllllllllle!
HABS IN DC TO FACE OV AND THE CAPS
Montreal left Boston, rear ends certainly red, and headed out for tonights tilt against the Washington Capitals, set for a 7:30pm start.
Niemi will get the start tonight meaning Price will be back in net for Saturday’s game against the red hot Bruins.
Montreal will likely see Washington’s back up P Grubauer who is putting in a quality season with a 4-5-4 record, .916SP% and 2.60 GAA. This is likely Grubauer’s last season in Washington as the 26 year old contract is finished after this year and while he is still an RFA, he will be seeking a quality raise and a chance to be a starter in the NHL. He has earned his chance too, and with Holtby thoroughly planted in the #1 spot I would expect to see Grubauer dealt before the start of next season.
The Caps come into the game in 1st place in the Metro Div. with 60 points and played last night in a 4-3 OT loss to the upstart NJ Devils.
They are lead by the usual suspects: Ovechkin (49 Pt/46 Games), Kuznetsov (42 Pt/46 Games), and Backstrom (37 Pt/45 games). Their shooting percentage (10.6) is good enough for 4th in the NHL and more than makes up for their last place ranking in SOG (28.7). Containing OV, Oshie, Kuznetsov, and Connolly will prove difficult for the bipolar Canadiens squad and at this point, I’m just hoping for no injuries so the Habs can make the appropriate deadline deals and start moving past this disappointment of a season.
CANADIENS LINES AT PRACTICE
Pacioretty - Byron - Hudon
Lehkonen - Plekanec - Gallagher
Galchenyuk - Drouin - Deslauriers
de la Rose/Carr - Froese - L. Shaw
Hemsky (no-contact jersey)
Alzner- Petry
Benn - Jerabek
Mete - Schlemko
Morrow
Price
Niemi
It’s been reported that Niemi is the starter and that the newest Shaw (Logan) will play while the elder Shaw (Andrew) will miss the contest with an injury.
The lines have pretty much been like rearranging chairs on the Titanic, but Gallagher and Plekanec seem to remain consistently trusted by the staff and Drouin and Galchenyuk are building chemistry together, which should only be encouraging to Canadiens fans.
I’ll reiterate again that I don’t want Galchenyuk traded, but if he is then the return better be incredible as he has been the Canadiens best forward for the last month and then some.
Looking at the defense I actually don’t think it looks terrible. The Weber hole is massive, and I think Benn and/or Petry are dealt this year, but if given time Mete and Jerabek could prove to be capable puck moving D. Especially when it comes to Mete.
Could you imagine adding Dahlen to a group of Weber, Mete, and Alzner? Young speedsters with good, dependable vets (yes I called Alzner dependable. Guy is a warrior.). Then you can have possibly Petry, Schlemko, Jerabek, Juulsen in roles that suit them better. Could be a massive D overhaul in one no good, bad luck, off the rails season by adding one player at the draft. Wild.
Or we could trade for or sign Karlsson. Sure, let’s do that too. Why not.
Enjoy the game tonight folks. I’ll try to get a preview up for tomorrow too possibly with a look at some of the potential picks the Habs could draft in the first round.
Go Habs Go!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»