They're the only team to have intimidated the habs so far this year.
- God_then_kovy

They would have had to actually been trying in order to be intimidated.

I keep hearing this and I just don't get it.

Plekanec is just about the most prototypical second line center you could ask for, no? Some successful PP time, kills penalties, good offensively and defensively, and at a decent pay rate.
O'Reilly has done this for one-two seasons and wants a Plekanec-type pay for a Plekanec type player. (ok, maybe a bit more physical but...)
Eller is the projected player to take over for Plekanec down the road. He's not there yet, but even though some of you will groan at my suggestion here, admit that he seems to be getting much better every game under Therrien.

SO why would we trade Eller (projected 2nd line center eventually, above average 3rd/4th now) for O'Reilly (projected 2nd line center now), hope it works out and pay him the same as Plekanec who we already know works out?? To trade Plekanec for a draft pick? (probably the same one we'll have to cough up to get O'Reilly?)

Doesn't make much sense to me. What we need is a depth centerman who can win faceoffs by the boat-load right now and that doesn't make much money. Other than that, I think all we really need is one more physical stay-at-home D. Not O'reilly.
- kev1586

Eller will never be as good as O'Reilly.

1. Time in Penguins organization.
2. Time being surrounded by people who know how to develop young players.
3. Surrounding himself with competent people for his second tour in Montreal.
4. Age and patience. He wasn't necessarily a BAD coach the first time around, he lacked patience and it wore thin on the players. As he's gained experience, his shelf life has seemingly gotten longer, who knows how long it'll be this time around. For now, it's working.
- kev1586

Or...the reason the Habs have improved is the play of the two young kids, Markov being healthy, Bourgue not sucking, Pleks playing like a couple of years ago and a favorable home schedule.

Those are all a lot more tangible reasons than a great new system.

Just sayin'.

Toronto isn't an intimidating place to play.
- mr.peanut

Just another meaningless game on the schedule

When they outhit, outshot, outchanced and outscored us in game 1 and beat us 6-0 in the next game.
- God_then_kovy

You say intimidated, I say Montreal forgot to play.

Or...the reason the Habs have improved is the play of the two young kids, Markov being healthy, Bourgue not sucking, Pleks playing like a couple of years ago and a favorable home schedule.

Those are all a lot more tangible reasons than a great new system.

Just sayin'.
- stormey

this is all Therrien's doing you assface!!!!!!!!!!

Just another meaningless game on the schedule
- weirdoh

When they outhit, outshot, outchanced and outscored us in game 1 and beat us 6-0 in the next game.
- God_then_kovy

So they outplayed them. I would be suprised if any one of them were scared to go back out on the ice.

Every team sits back, it's just a matter of how long they do it, and if it works or not.

The habs are not good at sitting back.
- Oilhab

No team plans on sitting back. But when a team is behind they get aggressive, which causes the other team to look like they are sitting back. The Habs have sucked last year and in parts this season under this situation because they have so many young defensemen on the roster. Diaz and Emelin have to figure out to NOT get lost in coverage just because one teammate gets beat in a battle. Subban often times tries to do too much. Same with some of the forwards. Learning process of knowing how to protect a lead, it will come with time to bodies will be moved to make place for other players that don't panic in these same situations.

I beleive now is not the time to go after (and overpay for) an aging ex-glory who seems to have lost his touch.

If anything, the Habs should consider selling a bit, if they can...
- slashtrash

Depends on the price. I'm not sure Iginla will cost that much since he had been on the downside for a few years now. I think that if you're in a good position near the deadline with all your players in shape, you need to think about it seriously.

Just another meaningless game on the schedule
- weirdoh

Eller will never be as good as O'Reilly.
- DrRecchi

omg you irish HOMER!

No team plans on sitting back. But when a team is behind they get aggressive, which causes the other team to look like they are sitting back. The Habs have sucked last year and in parts this season under this situation because they have so many young defensemen on the roster. Diaz and Emelin have to figure out to NOT get lost in coverage just because one teammate gets beat in a battle. Subban often times tries to do too much. Same with some of the forwards. Learning process of knowing how to protect a lead, it will come with time to bodies will be moved to make place for other players that don't panic in these same situations.
- kev1586

JM planned to have his team sit back, Tampa planned to sitback against Philly during the infamous game last year

Teams do plan to sit back.

Depends on the price. I'm not sure Iginla will cost that much since he had been on the downside for a few years now. I think that if you're in a good position near the deadline with all your players in shape, you need to think about it seriously.
- sEb_666

Oh please, you are sounding like a leaf fan

JM planned to have his team sit back, Tampa planned to sitback against Philly during the infamous game last year

Teams do plan to sit back.
- Oilhab

I wouldn't say "sit back". I'd say "control the pace of the game".




(and fail at it miserably)

Eller will never be as good as O'Reilly.
- DrRecchi

That's not my point. My point is why make a lateral move?

Plekanec is doing the job now, Eller is supposed to do it later. Plekanec is still only 32. If Eller doesn't develop into this player, they have time to draft someone (or 2 or 3 even) else for the role. Getting O'Reilly seems like a lateral move that brings little to our franchise now and costs us draft picks so doesn't help us out that much in the future either. Pointless.

And for Eller never getting there, how the hell do we know? He's 23 and he's played a month and a half under Therrien and has shown progression so far in this scenario. Not saying he will, just think it might be a bit pre-mature to say he won't.

You say intimidated, I say Montreal forgot to play.
- mcmanmat

That's because Toronto is the only team this year that has come out the gates hitting hard and playing with as much speed as us (if not more). I'm not judging how good the leafs are...simply saying that i look forward to when the habs play a physical team again. Being 7-0 vs the south east is great but none of those teams play a style that bothers the habs.

I wouldn't say "sit back". I'd say "control the pace of the game".




(and fail at it miserably)
- Pecafan Fan

fair enough,

every team tries to control the pace of the game and when they faill miserably at it, it will be called sitting back

Oh please, you are sounding like a leaf fan
- Oilhab

Do I said that Phaneuf will win the Norris in 2013?

Depends on the price. I'm not sure Iginla will cost that much since he had been on the downside for a few years now. I think that if you're in a good position near the deadline with all your players in shape, you need to think about it seriously.
- sEb_666

no.

fair enough,

every team tries to control the pace of the game and when they faill miserably at it, it will be called sitting back
- Oilhab

But they don't do it thinking "let's take it easy", that's what I mean

this is all Therrien's doing you assface!!!!!!!!!!
- dt99999

(frank)ing right!

But they don't do it thinking "let's take it easy", that's what I mean
- Pecafan Fan

most of the time, correct

fair enough,

every team tries to control the pace of the game and when they faill miserably at it, it will be called sitting back
- Oilhab

Yeah, sorry, When I here sitting back, it means having the other team come at you and holding on for dear life for some minutes. Montreal did this terrifically under JM when it was filled with vet players (and Halak playing out of his mind).

The "system" that sits back and waits to counter attack is not at all what I had in mind when I said what I said earlier. Good point on your part, we're just talking about very different aspects of the game in this case.

That's not my point. My point is why make a lateral move?

Plekanec is doing the job now, Eller is supposed to do it later. Plekanec is still only 32. If Eller doesn't develop into this player, they have time to draft someone (or 2 or 3 even) else for the role. Getting O'Reilly seems like a lateral move that brings little to our franchise now and costs us draft picks so doesn't help us out that much in the future either. Pointless.

And for Eller never getting there, how the hell do we know? He's 23 and he's played a month and a half under Therrien and has shown progression so far in this scenario. Not saying he will, just think it might be a bit pre-mature to say he won't.
- kev1586

I second that!