I doubt it, I'd say equal at best. You need to watch Sbisa play more

Sbisa was one of the worst players in the league last year both defensively and offensively and he earned himself a raise due to his stellar performance.
- Nucker101

The Sbisa-Bartkowski pairing is going to be magical this season!!

Thats what Buffalo and Vancouver thought too
- dothedougie

And I'm sure they still do think that. I'm not sure what your point is. Are fourth liners normally 20 goal scorers?

The Sbisa-Bartkowski pairing is going to be magical this season!!
- dothedougie

Could be the key to Matthews. Basically paying 5 mil for a lottery pick.


We just need someone to take Henrik's knees out and the tank will be unstoppable.

And I'm sure they still do think that. I'm not sure what your point is. Are fourth liners normally 20 goal scorers?
- billcanuck

Wait a minute.....when has Kassian EVER scored 20 goals. Just because they are on pace, doesnt meant they will score that many.

Kessel is on pace for 40+ almost every year, but that never happens.


He is much better off as a bottom 6 plug than a top 6 scoring forward. Semin is a better player than he is, and that is saying something.

If you don't think the the Habs picked up Kassian to score goals, then I'm not sure what I think of your ability to evaluate what's happen in the Western conference. First off, he was on pace to score 20 goals during a very strange season; secondly, if he can pull it together and get the right opportunity the guy could be an exceptional player. He's not a fourth line banger and crasher.
- billcanuck

on pace... but only made it to 10, .. couldn't handle the grind.

and when is 20 goals a major accomplishment anyway? He's a lesser skilled lucic.

Yep. Improbable but plausible im saying its pretty much impossible. If that makes me a joke what does you being wrong again make you? You're just upset because I posted the truth. When you get older stuff like this won't bother you.
- Cptmjl

and when you get older; you won't post on hockeybuzz 100+ times a day. You talk a lot about the sabres for being an islanders fan

Could be the key to Matthews. Basically paying 5 mil for a lottery pick.


We just need someone to take Henrik's knees out and the tank will be unstoppable.
- Nucker101

I think you guys need Chris Kelly

Wait a minute.....when has Kassian EVER scored 20 goals. Just because they are on pace, doesnt meant they will score that many.

Kessel is on pace for 40+ almost every year, but that never happens.


He is much better off as a bottom 6 plug than a top 6 scoring forward. Semin is a better player than he is, and that is saying something.
- dothedougie

Not really saying much, the guy has had one bad season his entire career. He's a lazy bum, but "bad player" he definitely is not.

Not really saying much, the guy has had one bad season his entire career. He's a lazy bum, but "bad player" he definitely is not.
- ehabs9

The skill is there, the effort.......meh makes him look bad. But you are right, poor example.

I think you guys need Chris Kelly
- dothedougie

Hands off... He's all ours!!!!!

Could be the key to Matthews. Basically paying 5 mil for a lottery pick.


We just need someone to take Henrik's knees out and the tank will be unstoppable.
- Nucker101

Dont get your hopes up bud. We all know EDM will win the lottery with a 1% chance this year and end up getting Matthews.

Hands off... He's all ours!!!!!
- 77emac77

I'm shocked... the Bruins writer thinks the Habs will tank... shocker.
Will Price play to the levels that he did last year. Maybe, maybe not. Look at his numbers from the previous season when he wasn't "out of this world". The team still managed to make a 100 points and knock the B's from the second season, with much of the same team in terms of scorers.
I also like a quote from Therien I read recently. It was along the lines of all the writers and bloggers going on about the lack of scoring from the Habs... but they scored 8 less than Chicago... CHICAGO! So... I think it's tough to say that they will plummet down the standings.

I'm shocked... the Bruins writer thinks the Habs will tank... shocker.
Will Price play to the levels that he did last year. Maybe, maybe not. Look at his numbers from the previous season when he wasn't "out of this world". The team still managed to make a 100 points and knock the B's from the second season, with much of the same team in terms of scorers.
I also like a quote from Therien I read recently. It was along the lines of all the writers and bloggers going on about the lack of scoring from the Habs... but they scored 8 less than Chicago... CHICAGO! So... I think it's tough to say that they will plummet down the standings.
- mlindsay

Would I be going out on a limb, if I said you were in a state of shock?

I'm shocked... the Bruins writer thinks the Habs will tank... shocker.
Will Price play to the levels that he did last year. Maybe, maybe not. Look at his numbers from the previous season when he wasn't "out of this world". The team still managed to make a 100 points and knock the B's from the second season, with much of the same team in terms of scorers.
I also like a quote from Therien I read recently. It was along the lines of all the writers and bloggers going on about the lack of scoring from the Habs... but they scored 8 less than Chicago... CHICAGO! So... I think it's tough to say that they will plummet down the standings.
- mlindsay

I'm confused. I don't seem to see anything in Ty's blog about the Habs tanking or even missing the playoffs. Might want to re read it before coming in here to cry. It's like you can't dare criticize the sacred Habs without the entire fan base acting like you shot their dog.

Chicago was in a dogfight with Minny to finish out of the wildcard near the end of the season and their own fans were livid with how they were playing so I'm confused as to why a poor regular season from the Hawks should be some sort of a measuring stick for success

Also Beleskey spent hardly any time playing with Getzlaf and Perry last year. He played most of his minutes with Kesler if I'm not mistaken. Are Krejci and Bergy really a downgrade on that guy?

And... lastly an Oilers fan is in here trying to talk smack about our front office. An. OILERS fan. Have fun with our sloppy seconds I guess.

Sabres will be the most improved team and still finish 20 points out of a playoff spot.

The finished literally 44 points behind the Pens for the last wild card spot! The only way Buffalo get the playoffs in 2016 is if they have NBC Sports. Adding O'Reilly, Kane and Eichel is nice but they were about 4 players away from being AHL team last year. Now they are about 7 players away from being in AHL team. Also, their goaltending is arguably worse than it was before the trade deadline.

Still they probably will be the most improved team in the East mainly because there is nowhere to go but up.

The Stars should be good, but they weren't too far off last year. I'd go with the Oilers, who have more ground to make up to respectability. Plus, it's easier to get from 60ish points to 80 than it is to get from 80ish to 100, IMO.

The Nucks seem like an obvious choice to tumble out west.

In the East, it's a little tougher. I get the logic behind picking the Habs to fade a bit. However, I might go with your Bruins, who had a dog of an offseason, OR the Leafs who really could plunge into 2014-15 Sabres territory this season with that roster only a mother could love.

I'm confused. I don't seem to see anything in Ty's blog about the Habs tanking or even missing the playoffs. Might want to re read it before coming in here to cry. It's like you can't dare criticize the sacred Habs without the entire fan base acting like you shot their dog.

Chicago was in a dogfight with Minny to finish out of the wildcard near the end of the season and their own fans were livid with how they were playing so I'm confused as to why a poor regular season from the Hawks should be some sort of a measuring stick for success

Also Beleskey spent hardly any time playing with Getzlaf and Perry last year. He played most of his minutes with Kesler if I'm not mistaken. Are Krejci and Bergy really a downgrade on that guy?

And... lastly an Oilers fan is in here trying to talk smack about our front office. An. OILERS fan. Have fun with our sloppy seconds I guess.
- PoketheBear

No you didn't see it... maybe you should go back and read it... or you know what:

If there’s one team I think could plummet -- and I know that’s a harsh way to put it -- this upcoming season, I’d pick the Montreal Canadiens.

As for the Chicago reference. We are talking about a team that had a poor regular season and then turned it on in the playoffs. No reason a team like the Habs can't do the same. They do have capable scorers who UNDERPERFORMED last year.
Clear enough for ya?

Not sure why you're bringing up Beleskey though... seeing as I never mentioned him.
But since you bring it up. I believe HE DID play a lot of time with Getz and Perry. I would say that Bergeron is on par with them but Krejci is not. Good player... but both those guys are superior in many ways.

Would I be going out on a limb, if I said you were in a state of shock?
- ehabs9

nah... not really...

Does anyone actually READ the articles anymore? About 1/2 of the comments on here are completely asinine and hold no relevancy to what Ty wrote. "Bahhh! Ty said the Habs will have a tough time replicating their point output from last year!! Death to Boston!!!"

Get a grip. The article never even mentioned the Bruins, so how he is "flying his bias bruin pride flag", is beyond me. It sucks that for every intelligent Hab fan comment on here, there comes 2 or 3 tards to ruin it.

on pace... but only made it to 10, .. couldn't handle the grind.

and when is 20 goals a major accomplishment anyway? He's a lesser skilled lucic.
- 77emac77

You concluded that from all the games you watched him play?

No you didn't see it... maybe you should go back and read it... or you know what:

As for the Chicago reference. We are talking about a team that had a poor regular season and then turned it on in the playoffs. No reason a team like the Habs can't do the same. They do have capable scorers who UNDERPERFORMED last year.
Clear enough for ya?

Not sure why you're bringing up Beleskey though... seeing as I never mentioned him.
But since you bring it up. I believe HE DID play a lot of time with Getz and Perry. I would say that Bergeron is on par with them but Krejci is not. Good player... but both those guys are superior in many ways.
- mlindsay

Not the same as tanking. If Price gets hurt or has a mediocre seaaon theyre done, not even a debate.

The Hawks can turn it on in the playoffs they've shown it a few times the last few years but unless it's the Bruins the Habs haven't shown they can and with that group I doubt they will. My team ain't competing anytime soon. I've accepted it. I'm not delusional, so trying the nuh uh your team sucks angle is pointless. The Bruins are a mediocre team with a good goalie that struggles to score goals. The Bs also have a bunch of forwards that underperformed.

Just like the Canadiens.

I wasn't talking to you about Beleskey. I guess you're an Oilers fan now too? Regardless he played much more with Kesler than Getzlaf. Like a lot more.

No you didn't see it... maybe you should go back and read it... or you know what:

As for the Chicago reference. We are talking about a team that had a poor regular season and then turned it on in the playoffs. No reason a team like the Habs can't do the same. They do have capable scorers who UNDERPERFORMED last year.
Clear enough for ya?

Not sure why you're bringing up Beleskey though... seeing as I never mentioned him.
But since you bring it up. I believe HE DID play a lot of time with Getz and Perry. I would say that Bergeron is on par with them but Krejci is not. Good player... but both those guys are superior in many ways.
- mlindsay

Beleskey played 171 of his 5-on-5 minutes with Ryan Getzlaf. He spent 466 5-on-5 minutes with Ryan Kesler.

Beleskey played 171 of his 5-on-5 minutes with Ryan Getzlaf. He spent 466 5-on-5 minutes with Ryan Kesler.
- tyanderson

By the way, guys. For the sake of clarity: Nowhere in this blog do I say that the Montreal Canadiens are bad or that they will not make the playoffs. I just do not think they will once again finish three points away from the Presidents' Trophy like they did last year. Their goaltender played lights out -- they had accrued almost 20 points in games in which Price had to stop 34 shots or more -- and it's fair to expect some sort of regression if that workload continues (especially as the division/conference continues to make offensive upgrades). Nothing in their system or style or offseason tells you that there's a philosophical change to make life easier for Price, either.

If this -- an opinion -- offends you, I truly have no idea what to tell you.