Koivu needs to step it up now.

AB Habman · Guru

Koivu needs to step it up now.

Habs and Avs Fan · Veteran Member

AB Habman wrote:

No use waiting for the playoffs. Our next game may be do or die. I was one that posted that Koivu would redeem himself in the playoffs for his suspect play this season just like he did against Boston in the last playoffs.
We need our Captain and big money player now. No excusses please. Our playoffs start Tuesday.

Ya for sure man........ I'm looking for Koivu especially to pick it up. He's been kind of a ghost recently.

Ando · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

We need our Captain and big money player now. No excusses please. Our playoffs start Tuesday.

Exactly...And-o expects Saku to be the best Hab Tuesday night!!! Why would anyone expect anything less??? I think that is very fair to state!!!

Carolina...San Jose...Tampa...Atlanta...Philly...Ottawa...NJ...etc...etc...etc...are all getting big results from their respective Captains/Leaders!!!

No more 'Hokey Pokey'!

Muller93 · Guru

He has been steppin up all year if you care to look. Is he a big point producer? No, but he never has been. He will do all the little things exceptionally well once again. If he gets no points the "hockey challanged" will be out in full force.

Next year when Bob grabs a legit second/first line center...we will all be much more comfortable on the 82nd game of the season...

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

He has been steppin up all year if you care to look. Is he a big point producer? No, but he never has been. He will do all the little things exceptionally well once again. If he gets no points the "hockey challanged" will be out in full force. Next year when Bob grabs a legit second/first line center...we will all be much more comfortable on the 82nd game of the season...

FIRST line center preferably. Saks is no longer a first line center in this league, but rather an effective set up guy on the second line and on the PP. What bugs me is that Gainey did not get this first line center THIS year. Then again, it is pretty conceivable that none were available.

Ando · Guru

And-o's main beef with Saku's play versus Buffalo is simple...except for his contributions in the face-off circle (and his gobs of PP time), Tomas Plekanec could have replaced Saku on the top unit and NOBODY would have even noticed!!!

...think about that for a minute!!!

I'm not bashing the guy...but And-o stands by that comment as 100% true!

In fact, Plekanec has been making loads of pretty set-ups...swirling off into the corner...then heading off to the bench! The two could have been twin brothers this past week!!!

And-o feels justified in demanding more from the Captain in these types of games!

Muller93 · Guru

Ando wrote:

And-o's main beef with Saku's play versus Buffalo is simple...except for his contributions in the face-off circle (and his gobs of PP time), Tomas Plekanec could have replaced Saku on the top unit and NOBODY would have even noticed!!! ...think about that for a minute!!! I'm not bashing the guy...but And-o stands by that comment as 100% true! In fact, Plekanec has been making loads of pretty set-ups...swirling off into the corner...then heading off to the bench! The two could have been twin brothers this past week!!! And-o feels justified in demanding more from the Captain in these types of games!

Just the fact that you feel Plek and Koivu were interchangable against Buffalo confirms my suspicions...you are no "spock" but rather Buck Rogers...

It all good however...next year when koivu is getting 70 points and 25-30 goals while our top center gets 90 points with Kovalev...And ribby is playing for the "johnsonville Thunder" in the ECHL...we will all have a good laugh...at yours and AB's expense.

AB Habman · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Ando wrote: And-o's main beef with Saku's play versus Buffalo is simple...except for his contributions in the face-off circle (and his gobs of PP time), Tomas Plekanec could have replaced Saku on the top unit and NOBODY would have even noticed!!! ...think about that for a minute!!! I'm not bashing the guy...but And-o stands by that comment as 100% true! In fact, Plekanec has been making loads of pretty set-ups...swirling off into the corner...then heading off to the bench! The two could have been twin brothers this past week!!! And-o feels justified in demanding more from the Captain in these types of games! Just the fact that you feel Plek and Koivu were interchangable against Buffalo confirms my suspicions...you are no "spock" but rather Buck Rogers... It all good however...next year when koivu is getting 70 points and 25-30 goals while our top center gets 90 points with Kovalev...And ribby is playing for the "johnsonville Thunder" in the ECHL...we will all have a good laugh...at yours and AB's expense.

Wow, 70 points from our 5 million dollar man...are you sure you're not asking too much?

Ando · Guru

Again...not sure how And-o and Ribs are linked!

...and Mulsy...Koivu and Pleks have been as interchangable as Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi lately - get over it!!!

The bottomline though is that Koivu had damn well show-up tomorrow night (and in the 'offs) or this team is sunk!

...just look at what guys like Holik, Brind-Amour, LeCavalier, Sundin (yes John I know that TO isn't a playoff team this year), and Weight are giving to their teams!!! Why do you accept less from our guy???

davidb · Guru

I would love to see Kovy finnaly break out with a hattrick

Figaro · Guru

What do this thread, Ben Johnson on 'roids and 100 pts by Crosby have in common? They're all broken records.

plouf · Guru

Yep. Pretty old.

Koivu has 22 points in 25 games since the break, has been the only guy on the team who can win faceoffs, and skates constantly, zipping in and out of holes, creating space for his linemates (who, funny enough, have been hot since break), and doing terrific defensive work in most games.

His passing has been really great, even in his latest "invisible" spell, where the first time all season I have to blame his linemates for not finishing. Higgins is still playing well, but his finishing has suddenly been erratic. And Ryder, for all that I love the guy and his 30 goals, still fails to finish way too many gimmies.

I think the thing is that people take Koivu for granted. I'd hate to see this team without his all-around game and fire. But then we hear about how good Souray is? Ribeiro? Even Plekanec? THESE guys are the truly inconsistent ones, not Koivu. Saku11 recently said Koivu had a couple good games then about 6 bad ones. Not true. It's the other way around actually. Look at his stats if you want. That'll tell the story pretty effectively. But I'd say watching the games might help too. Look what Koivu does off the puck as well as with the puck. He's crucial to the play of what has been the hottest line for the Habs since the break.

I admit Koivu cannot handle the load of top centre without help. He's physically not up to the task of defending against certain players. This is not really his fault. We just need to pick up a player who complements him in the offseason.

The "what have you done for me lately?" approach is one thing. Saying nothing in favour of Koivu while he's kicking butt for a month and then barraging this board with anti-Koivu posts as soon as he has a couple of bad games is another.

NEWFIEHABSFAN · Senior Member

Muller93 wrote:

He has been steppin up all year if you care to look. Is he a big point producer? No, but he never has been. He will do all the little things exceptionally well once again. If he gets no points the "hockey challanged" will be out in full force. Next year when Bob grabs a legit second/first line center...we will all be much more comfortable on the 82nd game of the season...

i agree, he has more than one job besides getting points, he has to bring the best out of his young teammates and he has done a excellent job all year!! that's why he wears the C and seserves it!!!

Nil d · Guru

plouf wrote:

Yep. Pretty old. Koivu has 22 points in 25 games since the break, has been the only guy on the team who can win faceoffs, and skates constantly, zipping in and out of holes, creating space for his linemates (who, funny enough, have been hot since break), and doing terrific defensive work in most games. His passing has been really great, even in his latest "invisible" spell, where the first time all season I have to blame his linemates for not finishing. Higgins is still playing well, but his finishing has suddenly been erratic. And Ryder, for all that I love the guy and his 30 goals, still fails to finish way too many gimmies. I

Great analysis, plouf! I'm tired of this constant Saku bashing. He has been our best forward this year, bar none. And most consistent by a country mile. And at his best (i.e. the last 20 games of the year) when we needed it the most. What more can we ask of our captain?