Can't believe the patience some show towards Lars Eller.
- Pecafan Fan

He had a strong playoffs last year, he finally decided to go to the net and stopped hogging the puck along the boards. Can he do that for a full season...I am not sure

Imagine if his name was Louis Allaire
- stinger67

Give him the "C"

I think they'll hold up just fine. I have one x-factor bringing them down, and that's expectations. They're considerably high, and they should be. We'll see how they deal with that.
- EricEngels

the expectations are that they finish ahead of Toronto, Detroit, Ottawa, Florida and Buffalo. i wouldn't exactly refer to that as a high expectation.

They can get deeper on the wing, but they have much more depth up front in general than they had last year.

On D, they have a rock solid top six, and they're going to leave two NHL dmen out of the lineup on a nightly basis. That's a recipe for success.
- EricEngels

I would not go as far as rock solid.

Still missing some true elite scorers on the top lines.

Playoff team but not powerhouse. Still some deadwood like Bourque and Moen

I would not go as far as rock solid.

Still missing some true elite scorers on the top lines.

Playoff team but not powerhouse. Still some deadwood like Bourque and Moen
- Fredobface

i think it's good, with the potential to be rock solid.

Yeah but Denver just tied the game and the Seahawks defence looked rattled. Why not take that opportunity?

Anyway, it was weird and stupid to me.
- Pecafan Fan

ummm, Denver lost the coin toss...Seattle elected to receive...

Eric Engels: Habs Can be a Powerhouse in the East
- EricEngels

4 centers good enough to play in the top 6...as 2nd line centers...

Eric i have to take issue with the whole "4 top-2 centres" thing. first, Galchenyuk has never even played the position in the NHL, nor has he played top-6 minutes as a winger. it's a non-started. he cannot be considered a top-2 centre right now. as for Eller, again, guy just had 26-point season. we can make all the excuses we want for him, but his regular season was appalling outside of those first 10 games. and further to the Eller point, i find it ridiculous that he could be blocking AG's migration to centre. if Galchenyuk proves to be capable of playing centre, it's quite simple for Eller. he can move to the wing, or centre Dale Weise and Brandon Prust for 9 minutes per night.
- DoubleDown

I think you're re-framing what I wrote. I didn't say they had 4 top-2 centres. I said they have 4 guys who can play on the top 2 lines. They have 2 guys that will, and 2 guys that make injuries a less scary burden.

As for Galchenyuk, the blog says all the way through that he needs to be brought along.

As for Eller, he can't just move to the wing. It's not "quite simple" at all. Galchenyuk isn't going to be a better third line centre than Eller is.

the expectations are that they finish ahead of Toronto, Detroit, Ottawa, Florida and Buffalo. i wouldn't exactly refer to that as a high expectation.
- DoubleDown

You have an amazing penchant for negativity. The expectation is, and should be that they compete for the division, and the conference.

i think it's good, with the potential to be rock solid.
- DoubleDown

Ive got question marks on aging Markov, inconsistent Emelin and can't say I know alot about Gilbert

No Qatar world cup in 2022



http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...p-fifa-official-1.2773943

ummm, Denver lost the coin toss...Seattle elected to receive...
- number_23

oh

I think you're re-framing what I wrote. I didn't say they had 4 top-2 centres. I said they have 4 guys who can play on the top 2 lines. They have 2 guys that will, and 2 guys that make injuries a less scary burden.

As for Galchenyuk, the blog says all the way through that he needs to be brought along.

As for Eller, he can't just move to the wing. It's not "quite simple" at all. Galchenyuk isn't going to be a better third line centre than Eller is.
- EricEngels

why can't he move to the wing? i really don't see how his presence blocks Galchenyuk from playing centre. and what do you mean by not being able to play the 3rd line centre role? if Plekanec is the one taking the top assignment, that leaves soft minutes for the other line, assuming DD's line is drawing the opposition's top defensive line.

Can't believe the patience some show towards Lars Eller.
- Pecafan Fan

Some people are starting to acknowledge that his ice vision isn't top notch.

ummm, Denver lost the coin toss...Seattle elected to receive...
- number_23

abouia abouia tshort

I think you're re-framing what I wrote. I didn't say they had 4 top-2 centres. I said they have 4 guys who can play on the top 2 lines. They have 2 guys that will, and 2 guys that make injuries a less scary burden.

As for Galchenyuk, the blog says all the way through that he needs to be brought along.

As for Eller, he can't just move to the wing. It's not "quite simple" at all. Galchenyuk isn't going to be a better third line centre than Eller is.
- EricEngels

If he wanted a guaranteed top 6 spot at center, all he had to do was prove that he could play that role over the years.

He proved to be inconsistent, streaky, with a ceiling of 30pts over 80 games.

abouia abouia tshort
- AGalchenyuk27

did you go vote?

No Qatar world cup in 2022



http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...p-fifa-official-1.2773943
- Symba.007

Theo Zwanziger claims region's summer climate simply too hot for soccer tournament'

They're realizing this now AFTER giving it to them?

If he wanted a guaranteed top 6 spot at center, all he had to do was prove that he could play that role over the years.

He proved to be inconsistent, streaky, with a ceiling of 30pts over 80 games.
- Pecafan Fan

He has a lot to prove. It's well noted. If he can be the guy they signed, then he'll keep his spot. If he can't be that guy, than he's going to get pushed aside.

You have an amazing penchant for negativity. The expectation is, and should be that they compete for the division, and the conference.
- EricEngels

i'm negative because i don't automatically expect them to contend for a Stanley Cup berth? yikes... i expect them to make the playoffs in a top-3 slot. that's where my expectations end at this point of the preseason. i don't expect them to battle for the #1 seed in the playoffs. i think it's a possibility, but an expectation?

why can't he move to the wing? i really don't see how his presence blocks Galchenyuk from playing centre. and what do you mean by not being able to play the 3rd line centre role? if Plekanec is the one taking the top assignment, that leaves soft minutes for the other line, assuming DD's line is drawing the opposition's top defensive line.
- DoubleDown

He's useless at the wing. He's not comfortable there, and it's painfully obvious--though I can admit, that doesn't exactly check a box in the positive column for him.

Eller's under the gun. It's very clear. Galchenyuk might push him out, but I don't see that happening before he's even given the chance to show he can be a consistent threat and perform his role well. We'll see what shakes out...

Theo Zwanziger claims region's summer climate simply too hot for soccer tournament'

They're realizing this now AFTER giving it to them?
- RogerRoeper

hard to say no to so much money (bribes), took time to cash it all in

oh
- Pecafan Fan

He's useless at the wing. He's not comfortable there, and it's painfully obvious--though I can admit, that doesn't exactly check a box in the positive column for him.

Eller's under the gun. It's very clear. Galchenyuk might push him out, but I don't see that happening before he's even given the chance to show he can be a consistent threat and perform his role well. We'll see what shakes out...
- EricEngels

i understand that point, but if he's useless at centre, which was the case most of last year, doesn't that hurt the club even more?

could be a good year to tank...