Bonk a bust

JohnM · Guru

Bonk a bust

Ando · Guru

Just hold y’er horses right there JohnM…Bonk has an important role to play on this team…and it goes waayyyyy beyond mid-November games…and early season success!

Sure he needs to put a few pucks in the net…and the thigh injury immediately following the pulled groin is too much…but Radek pretty much shuts down whoever CJ wants. Plus, he has accepted his “checking line” role without complaint. So, while Bonk’s contributions might be somewhat disappointing SO FAR, writing this guy off now is a HUGE mistake!!!

In fact, the weak link in the centre of the Habs line-up for at least a full season has been Mike Ribeiro! Sure Ribs tally’s points and makes the highlight reel…but you could easily pin the goat horns on Mike two or three times a game (on average) for lazy defensive lapses…and especially for shifts that don’t end when they should! Ever notice how many scoring chances the Habs give-up just as a Ribeiro shift ends???

Most importantly - - - don’t forget the way that the Habs were tossed out of the last Playoffs (in four straight) by the eventual Cup Champs! Two centremen by the name of LeCavalier and Richards TOTALLY had their way with both of our top guys!!! They were unstoppable!!! They really did “school” our beloved Habs!

Now…does it not seem logical to address that situation??? And, regardless of the “new rules”…NO WAY will Gainey and Julien lead the Habs into another Playoff season with that “honey dipped donut” look (as in, sweet on the perimeter with a gaping hole in the middle).

Bottom line…without Bonk (or a guy like him) it WILL happen again…with Bonk (or a guy like him) the Habs have a legitimate shot to shutdown at least one threat most nights!!! Bonk was NEVER my ideal selection for this role…but he will do!!!

…just give Bonk 10 more games played!!! And-o will be the first one here to rag all over his arse if he isn’t cutting it!

JohnM · Guru

Agreed, I will give Bonk half of the season, 41 games, whether he's in them or not to judge what he can do for the Habs.

I've never been a fan of the RIB, especially after the flopping episode last year. The new NHL seems to have past him by, except for a few games where he's showed some spark. He will not be in BG's long term plans unless he can show that he can do more than dipsy dudle while his linemates are busting their chops our there.

barry33 · Guru

I predict that pretty boy Ribs does not make it as a Hab past Xmas.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

barry33 wrote:

I predict that pretty boy Ribs does not make it as a Hab past Xmas.

He's been pretty all right - pretty damn awful!

plouf · Guru

Why give up on Bonk now?

Look at Kovalev's first dozen or so games for us.

Bonk is a key ingredient. Whether he has what it takes to provide 2nd-line offense is a good question. But he's perfectly fine as a 3rd-line "shutdown" guy with some added offensive tools if he doesn't work out as a 2nd line player.

He's been injured. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

Jonny G · Senior Member

barry33 wrote:

I predict that pretty boy Ribs does not make it as a Hab past Xmas.

That would teach that punk a lesson. He's got this undeserved sense of entitlement.

As for Bonk, the guy is gonna be a strong d-forward. No one is expecting him to play on the first two lines.