Jennifer B Cutler: The Canadiens & Leadership: Weber is Here but This is Pacioretty's Team The question of leadership on the Montreal Canadiens has been addressed, on and off the ice.

Maybe I'm overlooking someone, but I can't remember a worse captain in team history. They'd probably be better off just making Weber captain off the get go

What a classy way to welcome a new player in!

Weber will make a great captain and can handle the role regardless of being with a new team. That being said, you don't want to upset the apple cart either. I think I'd keep Max as your captain for a season and see how it goes. Max's job to lose if he can't handle it..

I don't hate the Subban trade as much as others and this still feels like it was perhaps overly optimistic. Pacioretty did not do a good job in his first season as he further alienated a teammate to the point where he had to be traded. The team did not show up more often than not. Plekanec, Markov in particular looked liked they had mailed it in for the better parts of March and April. Desharnais is still on the team which scares me because Therrien will find a way to place Galchenyuk back at wing. I think fans will appreciate Weber and Shaw but the locker room even more so as wusses like Patch and Plek can play without being too afraid of the physical stuff or relying on Gallagher to handle it for them. People can talk positives about Radulov until they are blue in the face but really, they needed 2 scorers, and he's not a sure thing as their one scorer so...

Maybe I'm overlooking someone, but I can't remember a worse captain in team history. They'd probably be better off just making Weber captain off the get go
- ehabs9

Jesus man, you make me look like an optimist. Granted we all dislike the guy's attitude during his captaincy, but we can't say a season filled with awful luck makes him a bad captain. He certainly wasn't my choice either at the start of the season for captain but we can't make such a judgement yet with only a one season sample size. To be honest I'm more disgusted by the way Plekanec and Markov floated after Price went down.

I don't hate the Subban trade as much as others and this still feels like it was perhaps overly optimistic. Pacioretty did not do a good job in his first season as he further alienated a teammate to the point where he had to be traded. The team did not show up more often than not. Plekanec, Markov in particular looked liked they had mailed it in for the better parts of March and April. Desharnais is still on the team which scares me because Therrien will find a way to place Galchenyuk back at wing. I think fans will appreciate Weber and Shaw but the locker room even more so as wusses like Patch and Plek can play without being too afraid of the physical stuff or relying on Gallagher to handle it for them. People can talk positives about Radulov until they are blue in the face but really, they needed 2 scorers, and he's not a sure thing as their one scorer so...
- kev1586

Agree with this. Bergevin is in all in mode so he's probably going to trade for somebody eventually.

Jesus man, you make me look like an optimist. Granted we all dislike the guy's attitude during his captaincy, but we can't say a season filled with awful luck makes him a bad captain. He certainly wasn't my choice either at the start of the season for captain but we can't make such a judgement yet with only a one season sample size. To be honest I'm more disgusted by the way Plekanec and Markov floated after Price went down.
- apex123

Agree, this past year was one to forget. They started off decently and when things started to go bad it came in storms. We all saw what was happening on the ice, but none of us were in the dressing room. I will give Patch the benefit of doubt for his first year with the C. I'm ok with all of MB moves so far, definitely another top six forward would help, but I think we may pleasantly surprised by what we see next year. This will be one interesting year to come!

Weber should be the captain, from day one.

It is the true test of Pacioretty's leadership whether he offers up the C right away.

Weber should be the captain, from day one.

It is the true test of Pacioretty's leadership whether he offers up the C right away.
- JLO961

ya more drama...great

Great blog.

With or without the "C".....Weber will be the true leader of this team. I like the improvement of their leadership with Weber and Shaw. But the lose of skill level with Subban gone will also be a BIG minus....

ya more drama...great
- Pie

It's just a stupid letter anyway.

You take the "C" away from Paccioretty, you have to trade him. Patches is a moody player who often get down and pouts. As a captain he could not do that last year. He should never of been named captain. This should of been Subban's team. What is done is done! Trade Paccioretty and Plekanec, fire Therrien and Bergevin and maybe they could come back on the right track. Oh! Let us pray Price stays healthy and chooses to re-sign with the Habs. Otherwise, Habs are in 10 year rebuild.

I don't hate the Subban trade as much as others and this still feels like it was perhaps overly optimistic. Pacioretty did not do a good job in his first season as he further alienated a teammate to the point where he had to be traded. The team did not show up more often than not. Plekanec, Markov in particular looked liked they had mailed it in for the better parts of March and April. Desharnais is still on the team which scares me because Therrien will find a way to place Galchenyuk back at wing. I think fans will appreciate Weber and Shaw but the locker room even more so as wusses like Patch and Plek can play without being too afraid of the physical stuff or relying on Gallagher to handle it for them. People can talk positives about Radulov until they are blue in the face but really, they needed 2 scorers, and he's not a sure thing as their one scorer so...
- kev1586

I think the whole team bailed when they saw about a month of this

As it stands right now Subban and I guess Ellar must have been the PROBLEM in the room ? I don't think so it was a leader ship problem . So trade Pacioretty , Fire THERRIEN , make Webber captain , and move on . I will be able to live with that . Right now you are blaming the whole disastrous year on Subban . Mr Molson clean up Bergevin boys club now .

As it stands right now Subban and I guess Ellar must have been the PROBLEM in the room ? I don't think so it was a leader ship problem . So trade Pacioretty , Fire THERRIEN , make Webber captain , and move on . I will be able to live with that . Right now you are blaming the whole disastrous year on Subban . Mr Molson clean up Bergevin boys club now .
- HABS-76

Molson is part of the problem. He needs to go as well. This team has become the former Maple Leafs

Molson is part of the problem. He needs to go as well. This team has become the former Maple Leafs
- Champ

Molson is part of the problem. He needs to go as well. This team has become the former Maple Leafs
- Champ

You are a little too emotional with this whole thing, time to step back, this is not healthy.

Jesus man, you make me look like an optimist. Granted we all dislike the guy's attitude during his captaincy, but we can't say a season filled with awful luck makes him a bad captain. He certainly wasn't my choice either at the start of the season for captain but we can't make such a judgement yet with only a one season sample size. To be honest I'm more disgusted by the way Plekanec and Markov floated after Price went down.
- apex123

As it stands right now Subban and I guess Ellar must have been the PROBLEM in the room ? I don't think so it was a leader ship problem . So trade Pacioretty , Fire THERRIEN , make Webber captain , and move on . I will be able to live with that . Right now you are blaming the whole disastrous year on Subban . Mr Molson clean up Bergevin boys club now .
- HABS-76

I believe it's spelled "leader chip"

Weber will make a great captain and can handle the role regardless of being with a new team. That being said, you don't want to upset the apple cart either. I think I'd keep Max as your captain for a season and see how it goes. Max's job to lose if he can't handle it..
- Polecat

Agree. Pacioretty should turn it over himself at the end of the year if he doesn't lead Mtl to the conference finals at a minimum.

i'm glad Subban is gone... he was too much of a hot dog for the Canadiens.

people underestimate Weber... although i've heard from my B.C. contacts that Webers knees aren't what they once were...

Maybe I'm overlooking someone, but I can't remember a worse captain in team history. They'd probably be better off just making Weber captain off the get go
- ehabs9

wow are you saying that because montreal was not in playoffs with a year with full of injuries that Pacioretty is not a good captain ? all is fault right ? he's learning like every other captain in the league, can't be all Crosby out there ... it took some time, Pach is a great leader, on and off the ice, everyone in the room vote for him to be captain....i think hockey player know that better then anyone else... there is not many team that have rookie as goaltender that will make playoff ... every team who lost #1 goaltender for 90 % of a season will struggle... not just goaltender, player in defence was injured a lot too... the two most difficult and important position in hockey is Goaltender and D men... tone of injury at these position and your out !

Pacioretty is not a good leader because of that ? do you think weber was good right away when he's been name captain in nashville ? what did they win ? when you dont know what you are talking about you dont talk !

With or without the "C".....Weber will be the true leader of this team. I like the improvement of their leadership with Weber and Shaw. But the lose of skill level with Subban gone will also be a BIG minus....
- hawk35

Price is and Will continue to be the true leader of this team. Weber and Shaw still depend on his health, otherwise they will look as bad as last year.