Predictions - still on or not?

JohnM · Guru

Predictions - still on or not?

Jonny G · Senior Member

I think that I'm gonna have to vote against you on all of them.

1) this one is the closest, but the way the first line is playing, have to give the edge to Koivu.

2) Bonk will stay put. I can't imagine Ribs being played on a checking line.

3) I think that the Habs will address their need for a power-center in the off-season. Even if they don't, Plecs will prob still play on 2nd/3rd line. Can't see Koivu being displaced for Plecs.

Zednik gone, probably Bulis too. Too many young guys that have defensive skills and offensive upside, and who are hungrier.

JohnM · Guru

It wasn't me who made those predictions, I just wanted to see if anyone thought they would still come true.

heet_150 · Guru

Although I'm not one of the one's that this was directed at, here goes:

1) Ribs will take the scoring lead by centers on the team by seasons end. Only 11 points behind. He is playing better as of late, but still not, IMHO, not a first line player.

2) Bonk will be at least 2nd line center on this team by years end. For the last few weeks, he has been second best center on the team (some nights - arguably the best).

3) Plekanecs will be 1st line center on this team by next year. Still don't know what to think about this guy. Shows some speed, some good decision making, then of course, he's terrible defensively.

Ando · Guru

JohnM wrote:

...Bonk will be at least 2nd line center on this team by years end.

This one is And-o's...and yes, Radek will prove me right! Truthfully...I said Radek would be the #2 guy by November 15th...but And-o will take what he has been given us since Gainey relieved Julien (which is looking like a stroke of genius itself).

Note that the latest 'gift' that Radek is giving us now includes giving the odd bodycheck! Skating with Begin and Downey has renewed Bonk's spirits...and opened up a whole new dimension...and space!

...And-o still gets pi$$ed at Gainey for not giving Radek some PP time...especially when he often misplays Koivu on the PP by placing him in front of the net to get hacked and wacked!!! And-o asks...how logical is that???

Anyway...here is And-o's next 'Radekal' prediction...

Radek Bonk is gonna bag some BIG goals for this franchise...And-o is talk'in benchmark type markers!

Radek was the right guy...at the time...at that price! But And-o still wants/expects a new #1 centreman this summer!!!

Habtastic · Guru

Bonk will remain a checker; Pleks will center a young 3/4 line; Ribs and Zed will be gone; Bulis is really on the edge, but I think it will depend on whether management feels Latendresse and Kostitsyn are ready to come up next year. Habs will get a new top-two center and D-man this Summer.

Habtastic

plouf · Guru

1) Ribeiro, Ribeiro. Many more good games from him since Olympic break, but I can't see him taking the lead in scoring.
2) Bonk won't be the 2nd line centre (why break up the chemistry he's got going with Begin?), but he is probably our 2nd best centre right now. He's looking like the Bonk of old, which just adds to the confusion of the position, because maybe Bonk should be a top 2 centre next year. One thing's for sure, I really hope he's on the team next year. I think he will get better.
3) Plekanec has stumbled a bit. He's young, so who knows? One thing's for sure, he's got more upside than Ribeiro. But right now he only sometimes puts it all together.

One of those three will have to go. My guess is Ribeiro, but that's the easy prediction. Maybe Gainey will try to get something for Plekanec, since a lot of teams would be interested, and then hunt for a top-2 centre and leave Ribeiro on the 4th line with power-play spot duty.

As for Bulis and Zednik, I'd kind of hate to see either of them go, even Zednik, and you don't want to get rid of ALL of your veterans at once. My guess is that one of them goes, to make room for Kostitsyn, Perezhogin, Latendresse, or whoever....not both.
I think Zednik, not Bulis, will be gone.

So I see next year's top lines being:
C-Koivu and a newcomer
W-Kovalev, Ryder, Perezhogin OR Kostitsyn, Higgins

3rd/4th lines:
C-Bonk and Plekanec OR Ribeiro
W-Murray, Bulis, Begin, a young guy (maybe Latendresse, maybe Perez or Kostitsyn)

Downey and Sundstrom will be gone.

plouf · Guru

Ando wrote:

.
...And-o still gets pi$$ed at Gainey for not giving Radek some PP time...especially when he often misplays Koivu on the PP by placing him in front of the net to get hacked and wacked!!! And-o asks...how logical is that???

Good point. Bonk used to sit in front of (or at least in the vicinity of) the net in Ottawa, with great success. He's not a fast skater, but good in tight, with good hand-eye (or was before he came to Montreal anyway, he's obviously streaky with that), and fairly strong. Why put Koivu there when he's obviously the guy to be on the half-boards.

I guess the problem is that Bonk's getting so much PK time these days Gainey doesn't want to burn him out.

Muller93 · Guru

Here it is...

1. Ribs will be gone

2. Zed will be gone

3. Bulis stays

4. We WILL land a legit number one or two center in the off season. And he will be young( under 30).

5. Bonk will continue as Gainey intended...a decent big shut down center with potential offensive skills.

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Here it is... 1. Ribs will be gone 2. Zed will be gone 3. Bulis stays 4. We WILL land a legit number one or two center in the off season. And he will be young( under 30). 5. Bonk will continue as Gainey intended...a decent big shut down center with potential offensive skills.

Actually I am predicting that Ribs stays and that we FINALLY get a number one Center so that we can have 2 good lines going. Saks plays on the second line and PP and PK, but gets less ice time 5 on 5 which, IMHO, is going to be better for him and the Habs.