Are the Habs an Average Team?

NorthwindNS · Veteran Member

Are the Habs an Average Team?

Nil d · Guru

NorthwindNS wrote:

I have only been a hockey fan since the 2002 season. My dad (davidb) has been a Hab fan since the early 70's, or late 60's? Anyways, it seems that this year the Habs are a force (maybe when they want to be?). I have read other posters saying the Habs are an average team. Has it been luck that we have been winning so many games? Do we truly have depth? It seems that some games we play great offensive while our goaltending is not as solid. Other games its the opposite, great goaltending with slow offense. I think our team needs to find a midpoint - we need to play like we were at the beginning of the season. I know that we are going to loose some. But how many have we lost in a row? I think part of this is that I was getting so use to winning that when we lost it really sucked. I guess the question is: Are the 2005-2006 Habs a truly great team or are we average?

Good question, Windy. I think this year's version of the Habs is better than average - my guess would be they'll end up 12-15 games above .500. But truly great? Not even close. Too bad you're too young to have seen the mid-70's Habs teams. Whatever the level above "truly great" might be, that's what they were. If the Habs never win another Cup in my lifetime, I will at least have witnessed those days.

JohnM · Guru

The Habs are an average team. They will end the year no higher than 5th in their conference and they should definetly make the playoffs.

For this team to become one of the elite teams in the league would require the following in my opinion:

1) Theodore to play consistent throughout the season and the playoffs

2) We need to get a #1 defenceman, Markov and Rivet are currently playing out of their roles. Markov should not be considered better than a #2 defenceman at this point

3) When Kovy is healthy we have a better than average first line. We need a better 2nd line, which means a better 2nd line center and I would say another top 6 winger.

I think if we could have the above 3 points met, we would be a force to be reckoned with every night.

davidb · Guru

great posts I remember the year they went 52-10-16 what a season. I want them do do good this year, but we are falling fast. We won some one goal games we should have lost. My concern is when Kovy and Souray get back they are not going to solve our problems. In fact with Souray out our D looks beter.

NorthwindNS · Veteran Member

We are an average team in terms of statistics and standings. But we are not an average team in the aspect of determination and emotion. When these Habs are "on" - they are a total force. Playing for a team such as Montreal provides for pressure. These players have a lot of strenght.