3 guys I wish Montreal had back

Hkydude_77 · Member

3 guys I wish Montreal had back

24 Rings · Guru

You could go on forever about guys that we wish we could have back. The fact is Ward was garbage in a Habs uniform and he just couldn't cut it, although I don't know if they truly gave him a full chance to make the squad. Asham was bascially a glorified goon. They have done well with their new teams, but they did nothing in a Habs uni. It seems lots of players do nothing in a Habs uni!! People have been wishing we had Perrault back, but the guy sucked with the exception of his face-off percentage. We need to look forward at what we have. This team is still in transition and paying for a lot of bad moves in the past 6 or 7 years. For once we have a crop of good young players who can become legitamate players in this league.

Key Lime · Guru

I know that Rucinsky was not always consistent but the guy can really wheel. I would see him with Koivu and Ryder. That would increase that line's scoring potential.

Actually look at the diffence just one player makes. Look at the lines if we still had him:

• Kovy - Ribs - Perez

• Ryder - Koivu - Rucinsky

• Higgins - Plekanec - Bulis (Bye-Bye Suny)

• Begin - Bonk - Downey

AB Habman · Guru

Hkydude_77 wrote:

Scott Thornton: Can play on the wing on any line with any style of play, big, physical, can fight, character guy in the room. I can't believe Montreal basically said "here Dallas, take him". Jason Ward: Solid 3rd/4th liner, classic case of an organization that drafts a player in the 1st round and expects 1st round point production instead of accepting who that player has developed into (hopefully we don't do the same thing with Chipchura because he's not going to be a point producing NHLer, instead he brings intangibles that this organization needs). Aaron Asham: I could never figure out this move sending him to the Isles for Czerkawski. This guy was Mike Keane in the making (hard hitting, solid fighter, gritty, can pop a few in). Imagine we had a line of Ward/Thronton, Darcy Tucker and Asham - they'd drive other teams nuts, wear down there D with their forecheck, and bang a few home. This is the reason I think Montreal lacks identity and has chemistry problems, the role players who could be 6-7 year veterans of our team now are playing elsewhere. Begin has fit in nicely, hopefully he sticks around for a few years yet. These are the guys who step up and protect the 1st/2nd guys, and win you road games.

Good well thought out post!

Role players are very important! You don't win without the Begins, Keanes, Thorntons, Scrudlands etc.

24 Rings · Guru

Absolutely you need pluggers on a winning team. I would give my right nut to get someone like Thomas Holmstrom. So does anyone think Gainey is actually going to make a move, cause it sure as hell doesn't look like it. Chicago is looking to get rid of someone and anyone of those guys (Bell, Calder or Arnason) would fit our needs nicely.

Key Lime · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

Absolutely you need pluggers on a winning team. I would give my right nut to get someone like Thomas Holmstrom. So does anyone think Gainey is actually going to make a move, cause it sure as hell doesn't look like it. Chicago is looking to get rid of someone and anyone of those guys (Bell, Calder or Arnason) would fit our needs nicely.

Who would we trade to get one of the Hawks you mentionned? I've been thinking about it. It's tough to think of what player I would give to get a plugger.

24 Rings · Guru

Yeah that is the paradox isn't it. If you want quality, you have to give up quality, so that rules out Ribs or Bonk. As much as I love Zeddy, I would deal him for one of those 3 guys. He hasn't been the same lately.

Jay1982 · Guru

With the exception of Roy, my biggest head slapper would have been giving Mark Recchi back to Philly.

wright · Veteran Member

AB Habman wrote:

Hkydude_77 wrote: Scott Thornton: Can play on the wing on any line with any style of play, big, physical, can fight, character guy in the room. I can't believe Montreal basically said "here Dallas, take him". Jason Ward: Solid 3rd/4th liner, classic case of an organization that drafts a player in the 1st round and expects 1st round point production instead of accepting who that player has developed into (hopefully we don't do the same thing with Chipchura because he's not going to be a point producing NHLer, instead he brings intangibles that this organization needs). Aaron Asham: I could never figure out this move sending him to the Isles for Czerkawski. This guy was Mike Keane in the making (hard hitting, solid fighter, gritty, can pop a few in). Imagine we had a line of Ward/Thronton, Darcy Tucker and Asham - they'd drive other teams nuts, wear down there D with their forecheck, and bang a few home. This is the reason I think Montreal lacks identity and has chemistry problems, the role players who could be 6-7 year veterans of our team now are playing elsewhere. Begin has fit in nicely, hopefully he sticks around for a few years yet. These are the guys who step up and protect the 1st/2nd guys, and win you road games. Good well thought out post! Role players are very important! You don't win without the Begins, Keanes, Thorntons, Scrudlands etc.

It would be nice if the Habs had a few more gritty players along the lines of a Tucker or Begin. However what this team needs a lot more desperately are at least one if not two highly skilled forwards!! When was the last time this team had a top ten scorer. Montreal again this season ranks in the bottom third in the league in terms of goal scoring. We need a consistent game braker. A team cannot go deep in the playoffs without one or two of those guys. Unless the mood strikes Kovalev (which is far too infrequently) we do not have a gunner that strikes fear in the opposition. Every night the team has to grind out a 2-1, or 3-2 score to win. Huet allows only 5 goals in 6 games and the Canadiens pick up 8 out of a possible 12 points, with that sort of quality goaltending they should have picked up at least 10 out of 12 points.

It is a lot easier to acquire a grinder, as evidenced by picking up Begin of waivers than it is to acquire a quality goal scorer. This team can barely cobble together one line that can create consistent offense, let alone two lines that can score. That is why the team is in a life and death struggle to make the playoffs, evenif Huet keeps providing great goaltending. Get me a goal scorer!!!!

Nil d · Guru

I can't say I miss Ward, Asham, or Thornton. Nor Rucinsky for that matter (not much anyway). A player's success in other cities does not make me wistful for the way they were in Montreal. Here are players I do miss, however:

Eric Desjardins

John Leclair

Mathieu Schneider

Eric Weinrich

Oleg Petrov

Stephane Quintal

Mathieu Garon

Lye Odelein (lots of defensemen, for some reason)

Brian Savage in October

Johab · Guru

I know the player i would take back SOOOOO fast. Mark Rechhi. This guy has been one of my favorite players my whole life. He is just a great player, a leader and a character guy. Played great with koivu and he scores consistantly on any team. I REALLY miss having this guy on the team. Id also take Garon back and brisebois from last year.

One thing i am EXTREMELY happy about is getting Bouillon back after losing him to NAshville. I LOVE the little guy, and when i heard we re-claimed him, i was one happy guy!!

Nil d · Guru

Johab wrote:

I know the player i would take back SOOOOO fast. Mark Rechhi. This guy has been one of my favorite players my whole life. He is just a great player, a leader and a character guy. Played great with koivu and he scores consistantly on any team. I REALLY miss having this guy on the team. Id also take Garon back and brisebois from last year. One thing i am EXTREMELY happy about is getting Bouillon back after losing him to NAshville. I LOVE the little guy, and when i heard we re-claimed him, i was one happy guy!!

I love the Cube as well. And speaking of Nashville, did you know, Johab, that Thomas Vokoun used to belong to the Habs? I think he played one period or something, but he was theirs a few years ago. It took a while, but he turned out pretty good.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Hkydude_77 wrote:

Scott Thornton: Can play on the wing on any line with any style of play, big, physical, can fight, character guy in the room. I can't believe Montreal basically said "here Dallas, take him". Jason Ward: Solid 3rd/4th liner, classic case of an organization that drafts a player in the 1st round and expects 1st round point production instead of accepting who that player has developed into (hopefully we don't do the same thing with Chipchura because he's not going to be a point producing NHLer, instead he brings intangibles that this organization needs). Aaron Asham: I could never figure out this move sending him to the Isles for Czerkawski. This guy was Mike Keane in the making (hard hitting, solid fighter, gritty, can pop a few in). Imagine we had a line of Ward/Thronton, Darcy Tucker and Asham - they'd drive other teams nuts, wear down there D with their forecheck, and bang a few home. This is the reason I think Montreal lacks identity and has chemistry problems, the role players who could be 6-7 year veterans of our team now are playing elsewhere. Begin has fit in nicely, hopefully he sticks around for a few years yet. These are the guys who step up and protect the 1st/2nd guys, and win you road games.

Nice picks. Good reasons for sure.

Cleghorn · Veteran Member

Hkydude_77 wrote:

Aaron Asham: I could never figure out this move sending him to the Isles for Czerkawski. This guy was Mike Keane in the making (hard hitting, solid fighter, gritty, can pop a few in).

One poster in this chain referred to Asham as a goon - way way off - the guy was a premier scrapper a la a young Mario Tremblay - and I have to believe his Hab goal scoring assessed on his ice time while with the Habs (not games dressed but rather the 0 to 2 shifts he might get) would put him in LaFleur territory in goals/minutes played.

Thornton - Ward - Asham could have been Risebrough - Lambert - Tremblay (one of the great grit lines of the century).