Jennifer B Cutler: Does Beaulieu Have The Inside Track To Play With Weber? The debate is on for who will play alongside Shea Weber on the Montreal Canadiens 1st pairing. Nathan Beaulieu appears to have the inside track.

Great blog!

I'd expect Markov there for the first handful of games, but if Beaulieu shows he's even remotely up to the task I think he would get moved up to the first line just to keep Markov's minutes down.

Good blog!

Don't think Markov and Weber would make a good pairing. Not enough speed. Beaulieu is the obvious choice but Therrien would have to learn to forgive his occasional mistakes for that to work.

I'll wait for Bruiniak to weigh in on this

I'll wait for Bruiniak to weigh in on this

I don't understand how Andrighetto will have a breakout season as a RW... On the right side we Gallagher and Radulov pretty much locked in on the top 6, with Shaw probably being the 3rd RW. Unless Shaw moves to C or LW, that still puts Ghetto on the 3rd pair at best. Don't think he has much of a chance to "break-out" if the line-up stays healthy. There's also a ton of competition for that 2nd LW spot and he's a natural RW (don't recall him playing much on the left side, or at least having any success over there).

I'm hopeful for Beaulieu working on the top pairing with Weber as there aren't many other options available, but, tbh, I'm very skeptical that's gunna work out. I'd rather give him another year to develop, but yea, he'd for sure be keeping that seat warm for Sergachev. If my memory serves me right, didn't Markov and Petry make a terrible pairing? They just had no chemistry last season, right? Whereas Beaulieu and Petry were a solid #2 pairing, kind of forces Markov in that top pairing which makes me nervous... call me crazy, and this is admittedly my bat $%!# crazy prediction for the year, but I think Barberio is going to surprise everybody and play on that top pairing with Weber until Sergachev is ready.

They'll try Beaulieu and Markov, but it'll end up being:

Barberio-Weber
Beaulieu-Petry
Markov-Emelin
Pateryn

I think it would be:

Beaulieu-Weber
Emelin-Petry
Markov-Pateryn
Barbeirio

By the time Sergashev will crack the roster, realistically in 2 years, then needing another year or 2 to establishing himself as a stud D in the league, Weber will already be in full decline therefore not a suitable partner for him....

I think it would be:

Beaulieu-Weber
Emelin-Petry
Markov-Pateryn
Barbeirio

By the time Sergashev will crack the roster, realistically in 2 years, then needing another year or 2 to establishing himself as a stud D in the league, Weber will already be in full decline therefore not a suitable partner for him....
- phillyb514

Markov has been on the decline for a couple of years and was still a good partner for Subban.

I think it would be:

Beaulieu-Weber
Emelin-Petry
Markov-Pateryn
Barbeirio

By the time Sergashev will crack the roster, realistically in 2 years, then needing another year or 2 to establishing himself as a stud D in the league, Weber will already be in full decline therefore not a suitable partner for him....
- phillyb514

As much as I'd like Markov having limited minutes, I can't imagine Therrien putting him on the 3rd pairing.

Jennifer B Cutler: Does Beaulieu Have The Inside Track To Play With Weber?
The debate is on for who will play alongside Shea Weber on the Montreal Canadiens 1st pairing. Nathan Beaulieu appears to have the inside track.
- Jennifer B Cutler

My concern is who is going to get the puck out of the zone, make the breakout pass, push the offense. If Beaulieu is not ready, this team will be in a lot of trouble. Because that will mean Markov will need to start playing 25+ minutes a game...

Not a good scenario.

Markov has been on the decline for a couple of years and was still a good partner for Subban.
- BashCH

This.

He's more than able to play with Petry on the 2nd pairing.

This.

He's more than able to play with Petry on the 2nd pairing.
- Scabeh

Small sample size, but found this article talking about Markov-Petry not being a very good pairing (which is what I recall):

http://www.habseyesonthep...ubban-trade-andrei-markov

Kinda says to me that Markov is either 1st pair or 3rd... unless Petry is pushed to 3rd, I guess... or if the pairing improves their chemistry I guess...

Small sample size, but found this article talking about Markov-Petry not being a very good pairing (which is what I recall):

http://www.habseyesonthep...ubban-trade-andrei-markov

Kinda says to me that Markov is either 1st pair or 3rd... unless Petry is pushed to 3rd, I guess... or if the pairing improves their chemistry I guess...
- GstrangWondah

I thought Emelin / Petry were a decent pair, most of the time. Seems Emelin played his best hockey of the season when they were paired. I think The Weber / ? top pair will see most of the time, with the the other 2 pairs having similar ice time.

Markov should get extra minutes on the PP to compensate, but the Habs should use someone else on the penalty kill.

Weber plays a very physcial style that wears on him thus declining earlier than players like Markov that use their positioning and stick to strip the puck away from opponents.

This.

He's more than able to play with Petry on the 2nd pairing.
- Scabeh

I doubt it, yea we can all agree he lost a step but he was making a lot of mental mistakes, and his decision-making wasn't sharp last season, hence why we should decrease his 5v5 minutes but still use him on the PP.

I thought Emelin / Petry were a decent pair, most of the time. Seems Emelin played his best hockey of the season when they were paired. I think The Weber / ? top pair will see most of the time, with the the other 2 pairs having similar ice time.

Markov should get extra minutes on the PP to compensate, but the Habs should use someone else on the penalty kill.
- Mashadar

Petry seems to be good with everybody BUT Markov

Jennifer B Cutler: Does Beaulieu Have The Inside Track To Play With Weber?
The debate is on for who will play alongside Shea Weber on the Montreal Canadiens 1st pairing. Nathan Beaulieu appears to have the inside track.
- Jennifer B Cutler

I think montreal will be in over their heads with defense. Beaulieu is nowhere ready to be a top 4 D.

I think montreal will be in over their heads with defense. Beaulieu is nowhere ready to be a top 4 D.
- PtotheY

I agree that top pairing is a bit of a stretch, but he's good on the 2nd pairing. I'd put him about par with Ceci.

I think montreal will be in over their heads with defense. Beaulieu is nowhere ready to be a top 4 D.
- PtotheY

Completely false. If anyone's the weak link it's Markov.

My concern is who is going to get the puck out of the zone, make the breakout pass, push the offense. If Beaulieu is not ready, this team will be in a lot of trouble. Because that will mean Markov will need to start playing 25+ minutes a game...

Not a good scenario.
- Mashadar

Maybe Weber ,one of the leagues best dmen for nearly a decade, knows how to make a good first or second pass?
What has he been doing all this time? Does he just stand at the point waiting to take a slap shot?

Weber used to be probably the best dman in the NHL. That was 2011. In 2016, you can't win with him as your #1. He was #4 in Nashville and it still wasn't enough to get them a cup. I'm not gonna bother with mentioning the Subban deal (starting now), but you'll need Markov to rediscover his youth or Baulieau (can't spell it) to suddenly become Roman Josi 2.0 if you want any sort of first pass ability or defensive support on the rush with Weber out there.