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

All of this BS is coming from the little tongue and cheek from yesterday where Vanek says he was brought in to play in a defensive role...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- hscesq

Ya yeule.

All of this BS is coming from the little tongue and cheek from yesterday where Vanek says he was brought in to play in a defensive role...
- WaterBoy

No. It's coming from what Pete said. Bring in a guy like this, and you play him with Gionta in a defensive setting, with two guys that at present, are playing defensive roles up front?

No. It's coming from what Pete said. Bring in a guy like this, and you play him with Gionta in a defensive setting, with two guys that at present, are playing defensive roles up front?
- hscesq

Guess what, they are doing that because nobody else can play top minutes against top lines.

Im quite sure MT is not asking Vanek to play like Moen...
]

While I don't like Gio.. he's the only natural RW ( unless you force Vanek to switch sides) on this team. Gotta play him somewhere.

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 ?
- WaterBoy

Well, while you want it or not, some players will have to play against the other team's top players. You can see them as offensive lines, but they're also checking the other team's top lines.

Logically it could work, if the players are good at keeping the puck and controlling it, ie; being good at cycling it. Considering the fact that the Habs have a lot of small players among their top forwards, I'm not sure that would be smart. Cycling is not a strong aspect in the current habs roster, at least for their top offensive forwards.

- stinger67

Classic.

Guess what, they are doing that because nobody else can play top minutes against top lines.

Im quite sure MT is not asking Vanek to play like Moen...
]

While I don't like Gio.. he's the only natural RW ( unless you force Vanek to switch sides) on this team. Gotta play him somewhere.
- WaterBoy

This. Vanek is there to score goals and he sould be able to do that with Pleck.

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.
- Habsody

I know it doesn't sound right, I'm not defending Therrien's idea, I'm just trying to explain his logic.

He's trying out Vanek in that role to see if it could work, it doesn't point towards being successful though.

Guess what, they are doing that because nobody else can play top minutes against top lines.

Im quite sure MT is not asking Vanek to play like Moen...
]

While I don't like Gio.. he's the only natural RW ( unless you force Vanek to switch sides) on this team. Gotta play him somewhere.
- WaterBoy

Put Prust with Plek and Gionta if that's their job now. Put Vanek with DD and Patch. Vanek can play the right wing, or put Patch there. Then put Eller back with Gallagher and Galchenyuk. No reason not to try for a few games and even MT thought it could be something when he tried it.

I know it doesn't sound right, I'm not defending Therrien's idea, I'm just trying to explain his logic.

He's trying out Vanek in that role to see if it could work, it doesn't point towards being successful though.
- Jean_Perron

He is not trying Vanek out in that role. He still expects him to score with those two.

He is not trying Vanek out in that role. He still expects him to score with those two.
- hscesq

stifling his production so they can re-sign him for cheaper when everyone thinks he's finished.



genius.

He is not trying Vanek out in that role. He still expects him to score with those two.
- hscesq

And he will use that line against the best offensive line on the other team.

stifling his production so they can re-sign him for cheaper when everyone thinks he's finished.

genius.
- dt99999

I'm sure he's excited at the idea of playing with Plekanec and Gionta for many more years !

Guess what, they are doing that because nobody else can play top minutes against top lines.

Im quite sure MT is not asking Vanek to play like Moen...
]

While I don't like Gio.. he's the only natural RW ( unless you force Vanek to switch sides) on this team. Gotta play him somewhere.
- WaterBoy

i would like to see Vanek and Galchenyuk on opposite wings. though there's no one to centre them outside of Eller and that line would be severely attacked by opposing coaches.

And he will use that line against the best offensive line on the other team.
- Jean_Perron

to say nothing of the fact that Vanek potentially weakens a defensive line

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

They have like 10 bottom-6 players (including Gionta). I'm pretty sure they can form two decent checking lines with them.

And he will use that line against the best offensive line on the other team.
- Jean_Perron

Right. So Vanek who is not known for his defensive prowess will be in that position and still be expected to score. I like it.

to say nothing of the fact that Vanek potentially weakens a defensive line
- DoubleDown

Indeed. Therrien is hoping the extra offense brought by Vanek will outscore the defense they lose by putting him on that line.

There's no other way to know if it can work or not than by trying it.

Indeed. Therrien is hoping the extra offense brought by Vanek will outscore the defense they lose by putting him on that line.

There's no other way to know that than by trying it.
- Jean_Perron

I got an idea, why not put the guy on a scoring line like he's played all his career?

Put Prust with Plek and Gionta if that's their job now. Put Vanek with DD and Patch. Vanek can play the right wing, or put Patch there. Then put Eller back with Gallagher and Galchenyuk. No reason not to try for a few games and even MT thought it could be something when he tried it.
- hscesq

This makes way too much sense.

I got an idea, why not put the guy on a scoring line like he's played all his career?
- BashCH

Build scoring line around a natural goal scorer?

Are you out of your mind?

I got an idea, why not put the guy on a scoring line like he's played all his career?
- BashCH

Indeed. Therrien is hoping the extra offense brought by Vanek will outscore the defense they lose by putting him on that line.

There's no other way to know if it can work or not than by trying it.
- Jean_Perron

i understand the line of thinking. i also think it's wishful thinking and not very realistic. and i think it's especially stupid on home ice, where you can get Vanek into favourable matchups.

Build scoring line around a natural goal scorer?

Are you out of your mind?
- pete26

I got an idea, why not put the guy on a scoring line like he's played all his career?
- BashCH

Because having three lines that can score could be beneficial to the team making it harder for the opposition to keep the offense in check?

I'm not saying it's doable, that remains to be proved, but having three lines that could produce would force the opposition to choose who they'll cover. Not many teams can ice good enough lines to play against three lines that produce.

A big reason of the success last year, in my opinion, was that the Habs had three lines that could score. That was before Eller got dummied by Gryba.