whos the Donkey ?
- Xizord

Eddie Murphy

Not sure if anyone really is surprised by this abysmal start. I’m certainly not. When you don’t have Price, Weber and to a lesser extent edmundson & Hoffman how competent and competitive can you really be?

Add in the fact that special teams(especially the PP) continue to be poor for many many years now it’s not exactly a recipe for success. I still think Ducharme is a terrible coach too. One Cinderella playoff run doesn’t change that.
- Habsolute009

Not even sure where Hoffman fits in this team, other than getting Perrault off the Power Play. He does not fit with RS/CC, don't think they are breaking up the Dvorak line any time soon, and Tiffoli is a better fit with Evenas / Gallagher.

Hopefully, Edmundson limits Wideman playing time, but I expect Kulak to be the odd-man out. I would not be surprised of Romanov sits games so Wideman gets to play more.

Lots of parts, some of them good, not all of them fit.

Bergy going to LA...
- WaterBoy

They started stockpiling C's knowing it's MB's fatal flaw

Ok, backreading done, just a couple of things...

Slimvine, I don't like the use of the term rehab assistance program... It's now just the Player Assistance Program. I have a feeling it was mentioned as such, as between Lehner, and more recently, Drouin, the NHL wants it out there that this program isn't JUST for drugs and alcohol abuse, but all facets of mental illness. Oh, and don't be surprised if we never find out what the issue is with Carey... He's always been a quiet, reserved guy... May decide that getting healthy doesn't necessarily involve opening your life up to the media.

In regards to Weber, for one, we have no idea where he is in terms of surgeries and rehab for his broken body. Hell, the NHL didn't even confirm they wouldn't argue with his LTIR status until mid game Saturday. So maybe the organization didn't want to stroll him out until that was completely settled. I'm sure we'll have a Weber appreciation night at some point, probably in a game against Nashville. But for now, because we knew he wasn't coming back, it may have been best to keep him out of the limelight.

Not even sure where Hoffman fits in this team, other than getting Perrault off the Power Play. He does not fit with RS/CC, don't think they are breaking up the Dvorak line any time soon, and Tiffoli is a better fit with Evenas / Gallagher.

Hopefully, Edmundson limits Wideman playing time, but I expect Kulak to be the odd-man out. I would not be surprised of Romanov sits games so Wideman gets to play more.

Lots of parts, some of them good, not all of them fit.
- Mashadar

Niku bound to replace him next game.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

And for god's sake, I hope they don't remove Romanov from the lineup.

Niku bound to replace him next game.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

And for god's sake, I hope they don't remove Romanov from the lineup.
- Scabeh

I think next game we see Romanov with Petry and Niku at 3 RD

Ok, backreading done, just a couple of things...

Slimvine, I don't like the use of the term rehab assistance program... It's now just the Player Assistance Program. I have a feeling it was mentioned as such, as between Lehner, and more recently, Drouin, the NHL wants it out there that this program isn't JUST for drugs and alcohol abuse, but all facets of mental illness. Oh, and don't be surprised if we never find out what the issue is with Carey... He's always been a quiet, reserved guy... May decide that getting healthy doesn't necessarily involve opening your life up to the media.

In regards to Weber, for one, we have no idea where he is in terms of surgeries and rehab for his broken body. Hell, the NHL didn't even confirm they wouldn't argue with his LTIR status until mid game Saturday. So maybe the organization didn't want to stroll him out until that was completely settled. I'm sure we'll have a Weber appreciation night at some point, probably in a game against Nashville. But for now, because we knew he wasn't coming back, it may have been best to keep him out of the limelight.
- Darksyde

The league does love to make it "look like" they enforce every rule

I think next game we see Romanov with Petry and Niku at 3 RD
- Takemedrunkimhome

We'll likely see Brooks play too. Which is an upgrade on Paquette.

People keep saying Hoffman isn't what we need but we scored 3 goals in 3 games and this guy's main quality is that he scores goals.

I think next game we see Romanov with Petry and Niku at 3 RD
- Takemedrunkimhome

I'd rather see Chiarot-Savard broken up, and have one with Petry, one with Romanov... Keep some mobility on all lines.

I'd rather see Chiarot-Savard broken up, and have one with Petry, one with Romanov... Keep some mobility on all lines.
- Darksyde

Agreed.

Chiarot-Petry
Romanov-Savard
Kulak-Niku

Would be my choice.

We'll likely see Brooks play too. Which is an upgrade on Paquette.

People keep saying Hoffman isn't what we need but we scored 3 goals in 3 games and this guy's main quality is that he scores goals.



- Scabeh

So I get the Hoffman thing from both sides. On the not wanting him side is knowing his game he doesn't fit what MB typically looks for in terms of work ethic, two way responsibility and all that. On the other side the guy scores goals and the Habs don't so adding a guy who brings what you lack makes sense. It's a weird fit but the Habs need goals and powerplay assistance so, not ideal but sometimes you need to make a square peg fit into a round hole

Agreed.

Chiarot-Petry
Romanov-Savard
Kulak-Niku

Would be my choice.
- Scabeh

Yup... Wideman had his shot, hasn't done squat to fix anything... At least with Kulak we know EXACTLY what we're getting. Replace Wideman with Romanov on the PP.

I'd rather see Chiarot-Savard broken up, and have one with Petry, one with Romanov... Keep some mobility on all lines.
- Darksyde

I actually like the idea of Savard with Romanov. I also like the idea of some team overpaying for Chiarot at the TDL

So I get the Hoffman thing from both sides. On the not wanting him side is knowing his game he doesn't fit what MB typically looks for in terms of work ethic, two way responsibility and all that. On the other side the guy scores goals and the Habs don't so adding a guy who brings what you lack makes sense. It's a weird fit but the Habs need goals and powerplay assistance so, not ideal but sometimes you need to make a square peg fit into a round hole
- Takemedrunkimhome

Don't disagree, but where does he play?

The answer is probably with breaking up RS/CC in creating new lines.

We'll likely see Brooks play too. Which is an upgrade on Paquette.

People keep saying Hoffman isn't what we need but we scored 3 goals in 3 games and this guy's main quality is that he scores goals.



- Scabeh

When last years Senators think you can't play a a shift every game..

Don't disagree, but where does he play?

The answer is probably with breaking up RS/CC in creating new lines.
- Mashadar

Hoffman to me slots in on 3rd LW and 1st PP

Niku bound to replace him next game.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

And for god's sake, I hope they don't remove Romanov from the lineup.
- Scabeh

was trying to remember the last time Montreal drafted and developed a legit top-4 dman. believe it was PK Subban. he was drafted 14 years ago.

So I get the Hoffman thing from both sides. On the not wanting him side is knowing his game he doesn't fit what MB typically looks for in terms of work ethic, two way responsibility and all that. On the other side the guy scores goals and the Habs don't so adding a guy who brings what you lack makes sense. It's a weird fit but the Habs need goals and powerplay assistance so, not ideal but sometimes you need to make a square peg fit into a round hole
- Takemedrunkimhome

i think the playoff run really clarified the whole "players who get you to/through dichotomy" and MB recognized that he was short on the former.

was trying to remember the last time Montreal drafted and developed a legit top-4 dman. believe it was PK Subban. he was drafted 14 years ago.
- DoubleDown

Caufield
Gallagher
Lehkonen
Evans
Romanov

Price

Those are the only drafted players on the NHL roster...and Price is out indefinitely

was trying to remember the last time Montreal drafted and developed a legit top-4 dman. believe it was PK Subban. he was drafted 14 years ago.
- DoubleDown

You're probably right.

I'm feeling confident that will change as there is bound to be at least one top 4 guys between Romanov, Guhle, Harris, Struble, Norlinder and Mailloux.

But the lack of good players that's been developed by the team, both on offense and defense, is laughable.

i think the playoff run really clarified the whole "players who get you to/through dichotomy" and MB recognized that he was short on the former.
- DoubleDown

*sees Tatar crying in the corner

Hoffman to me slots in on 3rd LW and 1st PP
- Takemedrunkimhome

Then where does Tiffoli fit?

Not with RS/CC.

Not even sure where Hoffman fits in this team, other than getting Perrault off the Power Play. He does not fit with RS/CC, don't think they are breaking up the Dvorak line any time soon, and Tiffoli is a better fit with Evenas / Gallagher.

Hopefully, Edmundson limits Wideman playing time, but I expect Kulak to be the odd-man out. I would not be surprised of Romanov sits games so Wideman gets to play more.

Lots of parts, some of them good, not all of them fit.
- Mashadar

Hoffman has to fit, one way or another when he returns. We can’t score goals to save our life and his main role is to….score goals. You have to find a way to make it work. He should help the power play as well. A bonus to remove Perrault imo.

I would love nothing more then the Wideman experiment to come to an end. But even with Edmundson coming back I think Ducharme and the staff will make the wrong choice. No faith in him behind the bench imo.

i don't even know if that's good or not.
- DoubleDown

average for the rest of the league is 42% so it's very bad, he gets absolutely no goal support

We'll likely see Brooks play too. Which is an upgrade on Paquette.

People keep saying Hoffman isn't what we need but we scored 3 goals in 3 games and this guy's main quality is that he scores goals.



- Scabeh

Hoffman is what we need because it should take Armia out of the powerplay