He has 2 more years in his contract

Key Lime wrote:

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Since I got back from Germany I've been going over the Habs line up over and over. How has the line up improved, simply concerning the player changes? I'm not speaking of rookies coming up etc....Let's simply argue the 3 players we don't have anymore vs. the 2 players that were picked up. We don't have Zednik, Bulis, and Sundstrom but we added Johnson and Samsanov. Someone please tell me where the improvement lies. I have faith that the team may be better than last season due to team chemistry and stable goaltending BUT last season there was so much talk about the Habs making a run for the cup in 2 seasons that I question if that is even realistic anymore. Was it ever realistic? Aren't we more like 3-4 years away? Even 3-4 years from now, I don't see Kovalev, Koivu, or even Huet being of any value or even in Habs uni anymore. So this means that we need players to start showing major signs of replacing such players... I may have just rambled on and on in this post but bare with me, I was hockey-starved for 6 weeks.  

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I am just happy that someone else on this board is not punch drunk with feelings that we are so much improved we are going to be contending for a cup this year.

Key Lime wrote:

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We don't have Zednik, Bulis, and Sundstrom but we added Johnson and Samsanov. Someone please tell me where the improvement lies.

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Johnson is as good as or better than Bulis, losing Sundstrom, who is a negative, is a plus, and Samsonov is much better than Zednik.  So isn't that good, if not great, improvement?

 

I'm expecting big improvements with our defense and overall team mentality, which clearly made progress from two years ago.

But I agree, I'm still not sold on our "improvements" at forward (Samsonov has yet to prove himself as a consistent top-line guy in my opinion). The key is that guys like Perezhogin should be ready to make it or bust, let's hope for a big year. And it's true that we are looking like a more stable team with an identity than two years ago. But .... I'm still not sold. And I haven't liked our drafting for two seasons in a row.

One good thing - our playoff performance showed potential. We really only had one bad game, (hey in 93 we had a few) and we had a lot of games where we fought tooth and nail for every inch of ice against the eventual cup winners. There's hope and a positive mentality.

Key Lime wrote:

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Since I got back from Germany I've been going over the Habs line up over and over. How has the line up improved, simply concerning the player changes? I'm not speaking of rookies coming up etc....Let's simply argue the 3 players we don't have anymore vs. the 2 players that were picked up. We don't have Zednik, Bulis, and Sundstrom but we added Johnson and Samsanov. Someone please tell me where the improvement lies. I have faith that the team may be better than last season due to team chemistry and stable goaltending BUT last season there was so much talk about the Habs making a run for the cup in 2 seasons that I question if that is even realistic anymore. Was it ever realistic? Aren't we more like 3-4 years away? Even 3-4 years from now, I don't see Kovalev, Koivu, or even Huet being of any value or even in Habs uni anymore. So this means that we need players to start showing major signs of replacing such players... I may have just rambled on and on in this post but bare with me, I was hockey-starved for 6 weeks.  

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Key Lime....we're a better regular season team than last season because of the Theo crap but without another significant move at deadline, we're not going deep in the playoffs. Sammy will not forecheck hard like a Zed type player did against Canes. Our skill players need to get dirty and dig the pucks out or Kovy and Sammy will have no puck possession. At this point I don't like that line even if Saks is in the middle. We need a big hard nosed centerman in between them or split them up. With this lineup Carb will have to get lucky with line combos in the playoffs.

See Key Lime....I'm being positive...we'll make the playoffs!

i heard that too barry , it was either a slip of the toungue or a well place jab to get him motivated . you never know with b.g. there is no doubt we could improve in those areas but given that we couldn't/ didnt , we will have to press on with what we have and maybe pickup someone later through a trade.

wish we could , and if ribs cant cut it with those linemates he goes elsewhere and we give pleks or brabovski a shot , if we cant trade for a better option.


what do you think of switching ribs and saks , he has more speed than ribs , better defensivly , and ribs could work with ryder and higgs because they are slower , and more grinding scorers .

Hey, I believe.

But at the same time I know we didn't get it done at the centre position. ALL FOUR of our centres are gambles, not just Ribs. I really can't Iin a million years) see us winning the cup without some changes. Sorry. But Edmonton nearly pulled it off last year with a couple of changes so you never know....

The best thing we have going for us (I think) is that the team mentality will be better. We will be more focused and deep at the goaltender position.

I'm still saying 07-08, just like I said last year, and just like Muller has been saying all along.

Jay1982 wrote:

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well, what gets me is that why do so many people here hate on the habs (and don't give me any 'being realistic' crap). If you don't like the way things are going, cheer for a favorite then.

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So jay are you saying that all posts on this site should be positive, blind to the obvious and RA RA Habs?!?? How boring would THAT BE? I am the first to admit that at times I can get on a negative run on posts on here and I try to correct that. But I am not going tgo come onto this site and pretend that the habs have addressed all their issues and will be suddenly contending for a cup this year. Why is it that it needs to be black and white with some people on here? YOu say something semi-negaitive about the Captain and all of a sudden you hate Koivu and have a personaly agenda. YOu point out defficiencies in the team and you are a "habs hater" and should go cheer for your favorite team.

I do not agree with everyones opinions here but I respect their right to express it in a sensible manner, Plouf simply pointed out that he feels it will be at least 07-08 before everything gels but that he sees definite improvement now. What is wrong with THAT?!???

I'm not attacking anyone because they make a few gray-area posts. I respect a person's right to post what they want (which is what I'm doing right now). What rattles me is all the negativity, some people post positive things. And its not like you sometimes post a negative comment. Its the people who ONLY post negative comments, or very little positive. I agree, the habs do have problems to address. But who doesn't?!!. Name me one team that has one the cup in the last 25 years that hasn't had some problem or weak area!

You mentioned that if someone makes a comment towards saku, they are automatically a hater. What about people who stand up for koivu who then get called various names as well?? Even in a few cases suggesting that a particular person has a homoerotic facination with our #11????

I'm not blind Barry. I know where the habs are weak in a few areas, but that doesn't automatically make the habs a flop. If you have already written off the habs till 2009 or whatever year everyone thinks the habs will win the cup, why are you guys following the team this upcoming season? Why waste your time?

Anything can happen in sports, and to constantly make negative posts (not just you Barry) is gettinga bit OLD!!

Not blind...but a believer to the end!

Jay1982 wrote:

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I'm not attacking anyone because they make a few gray-area posts. I respect a person's right to post what they want (which is what I'm doing right now). What rattles me is all the negativity, some people post positive things. And its not like you sometimes post a negative comment. Its the people who ONLY post negative comments, or very little positive. I agree, the habs do have problems to address. But who doesn't?!!. Name me one team that has one the cup in the last 25 years that hasn't had some problem or weak area! You mentioned that if someone makes a comment towards saku, they are automatically a hater. What about people who stand up for koivu who then get called various names as well?? Even in a few cases suggesting that a particular person has a homoerotic facination with our #11???? I'm not blind Barry. I know where the habs are weak in a few areas, but that doesn't automatically make the habs a flop. If you have already written off the habs till 2009 or whatever year everyone thinks the habs will win the cup, why are you guys following the team this upcoming season? Why waste your time? Anything can happen in sports, and to constantly make negative posts (not just you Barry) is gettinga bit OLD!! Not blind...but a believer to the end!

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Great post Jay. Now there's a true Habs fan.

Scarey thought. Saku on the same line as Samsonov. Probably could call it the todler line Especially if Bouillon is on defense while they are on! I SURE hope there is enough SPEED  to put up with the muscle those guys are going to have to endure!

working at dirty donalds will do that to a man

All right, realism or optimism or whatever aside. We have this roster, at least for now. So what would be your system for a team like this?
Clearly we have some skilled players, and a good amount of speed up front. We also have a fairly physical defense corps if Komisarek keeps improving, and probably better team unity than in the past.

I'm hoping hoping hoping that we go with a 2-man forecheck, in almost all situations. I like the way Julien had the guys cycling the puck early last year, and I think we have the players to make it happen.

On our power play we can't have our little centres going to the net. It was ridiculous last year with Koivu trying to get in there, and Ribeiro being the guy looking for passes from Kovalev in the crease. I really think we need to use some of our bigger forwards up front on the power play. What about Bonk? I know the guy seems cursed, but he has always shown himself to be a real pest in front of the net, on offense and defense. Why not try him on the power play and let Koivu play from the half-boards where he belongs, with Kovalev looking to get behind the net or in the slot as needed?

Biggest worry is at the point. But I think Souray should be on the #1 unit no matter what, even with his slow release, because we need to have that threat, with Markov looking to set people up or take wrist shots.

I'd like to see us roll four lines, with Kovalev seeing some extra shifts on other lines. As everyone has pointed out, Koivu is best when he doesn't have to play all the time, and we have a lot of young guys who aren't quite top-2 liners but need the playing time to get in synch (PErezhogin, Plekanec, Kostsitsyn, etc...)...

And so Koivu shouldn't be on the PK at all, except in key situations (no matter what anyone says about Bonk, Koivu was easily our best faceoff guy last year, for example). Let's use Plekanec, Higgins, Begin, Bonk as the PK guys. Put Bonk on the 4th line and give him lots of special teams time (that's where he's best by far), but give the 4th line more than 5 minutes a game.

More ideas? Love to hear 'em.