We must be the only goddamn team in the league who would acquire a player like Vanek but consider playing him in a defensive role on the third line.

(frank).
- Scabeh

I think what everyone's point is is that Gionta has nothing to do on the Habs 2nd line. Not at this point in his career ,with the addition of Vanek and the fact that the Habs are getting healthy up front.

That is a fair assumption I'd say. The problem is though that the Habs don't have many RW that can do as good of a job as the captain in a shutdown role. Moen can certainly do it, maybe Bournival too, but outside of that it's pretty thin when it comes to permanent shutdown roles. I personally don't think Prust has the speed to do it as effectively. With all this in mind, you can somewhat understand why Therrien keeps Gionta with Plek.

But what's everyone wondering is why they're using Vanek in a shutdown role, when he's far from a stud defensively and he never played in such a role.

My guess is that he wants three lines to create offense, but will Vanek be able to hold up defensively with the other two backing him up? That's up in the air.
- Jean_Perron

Play Gally with PLek and VAnek.

This should result in poop loads of goals.

Briere is weak, slow and scared...I don't think the skills are coming back...

People look at him and he falls off the puck.
- TouenneTiiTree

Yet he scored 11 goals in 55 games icing 12 mins/game with virtually no PP time. He is there whatever we say, why not use him to score goals and generate offense since it's the reason why MB did get him this past summer.

Why do you hate Vanek?

Do you miss Collberg that much?
- Scabeh

I love Vanek's scoring ability, but I'm not comfortable with him in a shutdown role. Hey, Therrien could be right, maybe he's able to do it. But right now it's far from certain, especially considering that he's never done it and that in easier minutes during his career, he never proved to be stellar defensively. He floats around a lot, and is far from a speedster on skates, which is crucial in a checking role. Hopefully Gionta and Pleks will be able to do enough to cover him.

We'll know more tonight.

Play Gally with PLek and VAnek.

This should result in poop loads of goals.
- WaterBoy

Yeah, everyone has been saying for the last 5 years that Plekanec has upside, but was stuck with poopty wingers (Koivu's spiritual successor). Now they have one of the best snipers in the league and Plekanec is no more than a defensive center? The problem in this line is Gionta, not Plek.

I think what everyone's point is is that Gionta has nothing to do on the Habs 2nd line. Not at this point in his career ,with the addition of Vanek and the fact that the Habs are getting healthy up front.

That is a fair assumption I'd say. The problem is though that the Habs don't have many RW that can do as good of a job as the captain in a shutdown role. Moen can certainly do it, maybe Bournival too, but outside of that it's pretty thin when it comes to permanent shutdown roles. I personally don't think Prust has the speed to do it as effectively. With all this in mind, you can somewhat understand why Therrien keeps Gionta with Plek.

But what's everyone wondering is why they're using Vanek in a shutdown role, when he's far from a stud defensively and he never played in such a role.

My guess is that he wants three lines to create offense, but will Vanek be able to hold up defensively with the other two backing him up? That's up in the air.
- Jean_Perron

With a healthy Price, the main concern about this team this year was about scoring goals, hence the acquisition of Vanek at the deadline, which is by all mean a pure rental. And then you use him in a shutdown role to spread over the line-up your offensive weapons? I get your point but it's just wrong.

This is a sack of poop.

Plek with 2 good wingers would be lights out the best Center on this team point wise.
- WaterBoy

Probably, but would the team win as much?

Probably, but would the team win as much?
- Jean_Perron

Yes.

I love Vanek's scoring ability, but I'm not comfortable with him in a shutdown role. Hey, Therrien could be right, maybe he's able to do it. But right now it's far from certain, especially considering that he's never done it and that in easier minutes during his career, he never proved to be stellar defensively. He floats around a lot, and is far from a speedster on skates, which is crucial in a checking role. Hopefully Gionta and Pleks will be able to do enough to cover him.

We'll know more tonight.
- Jean_Perron

QP, you don't acquire a guy like Vanek and put him in a defensive role.

That's bad coaching, hopefully MT at some point will come to his senses.

But, I doubt it.

Probably, but would the team win as much?
- Jean_Perron

So you're asking if having two offensive lines instead of one can help this team?

I think what everyone's point is is that Gionta has nothing to do on the Habs 2nd line. Not at this point in his career ,with the addition of Vanek and the fact that the Habs are getting healthy up front.

That is a fair assumption I'd say. The problem is though that the Habs don't have many RW that can do as good of a job as the captain in a shutdown role. Moen can certainly do it, maybe Bournival too, but outside of that it's pretty thin when it comes to permanent shutdown roles. I personally don't think Prust has the speed to do it as effectively. With all this in mind, you can somewhat understand why Therrien keeps Gionta with Plek.

But what's everyone wondering is why they're using Vanek in a shutdown role, when he's far from a stud defensively and he never played in such a role.

My guess is that he wants three lines to create offense, but will Vanek be able to hold up defensively with the other two backing him up? That's up in the air.
- Jean_Perron

zzzzz

Probably, but would the team win as much?
- Jean_Perron

Obviously, yes.

So you're asking if having two offensive lines instead of one can help this team?
- _nay_

Belle question rhétorique.

So you're asking if having two offensive lines instead of one can help this team?
- _nay_

I'm wondering who will do the heavy lifting defensively if it isn't Plek.

QP, you don't acquire a guy like Vanek and put him in a defensive role.

That's bad coaching, hopefully MT at some point will come to his senses.

But, I doubt it.
- pete26

Delusional guy in delusion.

I get that, it's just that i don't see Plekanec, offensively speaking, as a top player. He is great playing against the opponent's top line and it should remains his main role.
- Habsody

he doesn't have to be. it's not like Vanek was putting points up next to Anze Kopitar in Buffalo for the last 5 years. but then if you're gonna keep Plekanec's line the checking line and not touch the DD line, acquiring Vanek was a waste.

I wonder what effect EKlund's open letter will have on the GM meetings.

QP, you don't acquire a guy like Vanek and put him in a defensive role.

That's bad coaching, hopefully MT at some point will come to his senses.

But, I doubt it.
- pete26

Vanek isn't put in a D role.

This team had one freakin offensive line. It's the DD line.

You can't put Vanek on that line.

So it just makes sense that Vanek will be on another line.

With Eller ? God no
With White ?

Can you play him with Chucky ? Doubt it....
It comes down to Briere or Plek.

With a player like Vanek.. whatever line you put him on.. that line should automatically become a offensive line.

If Gionta can't cut it, move Gio...

I wonder what effect EKlund's open letter will have on the GM meetings.
- dt99999

Same, you can't acquire a guy like Vanek and stick him in a defensive role.
- pete26

Yep.

I'm wondering who will do the heavy lifting defensively if it isn't Plek.
- Jean_Perron

Well Eller is being praised as a shut down...
White
And all the oother freaking bottom 6 guys.

And why should the Habs rely on a checking line ?

With not go head to head with your 2 offensive lines against the top other lines ?

Vanek isn't put in a D role.

This team had one freakin offensive line. It's the DD line.

You can't put Vanek on that line.

So it just makes sense that Vanek will be on another line.

With Eller ? God no
With White ?

Can you play him with Chucky ? Doubt it....
It comes down to Briere or Plek.

With a player like Vanek.. whatever line you put him on.. that line should automatically become a offensive line.

If Gionta can't cut it, move Gio...
- WaterBoy

no one is complaining about him being put with Plekanec. it's complaining about him being put in a defensive role. you'd be better off with Pacioretty at RW and Vanek on LW, re-unite the Eller line and leave Plekanec as the checking centre. if you're going to refuse to build a second scoring line, fine, but load up that one scoring line.

Vanek isn't put in a D role.

This team had one freakin offensive line. It's the DD line.

You can't put Vanek on that line.

So it just makes sense that Vanek will be on another line.

With Eller ? God no
With White ?

Can you play him with Chucky ? Doubt it....
It comes down to Briere or Plek.

With a player like Vanek.. whatever line you put him on.. that line should automatically become a offensive line.

If Gionta can't cut it, move Gio...
- WaterBoy

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Vanek isn't put in a D role.

This team had one freakin offensive line. It's the DD line.

You can't put Vanek on that line.

So it just makes sense that Vanek will be on another line.

With Eller ? God no
With White ?

Can you play him with Chucky ? Doubt it....
It comes down to Briere or Plek.

With a player like Vanek.. whatever line you put him on.. that line should automatically become a offensive line.

If Gionta can't cut it, move Gio...
- WaterBoy

Voila.

no one is complaining about him being put with Plekanec. it's complaining about him being put in a defensive role. you'd be better off with Pacioretty at RW and Vanek on LW, re-unite the Eller line and leave Plekanec as the checking centre. if you're going to refuse to build a second scoring line, fine, but load up that one scoring line.
- DoubleDown

Makes too much sense.