Another typical Habs season coming up!

AB Habman · Guru

Another typical Habs season coming up!

Thrice · Member

Come on man! A little optimism maybe? I think the addition of Samsonov and Johnson will help significantly... And the fact that Huet is in nets from the get go. I think we'll be alright. I'm not saying that we're a stanley cup contender but i don't think we're going to do any worse than last season... even though considering all the Habs went through last season, they did pretty well in my view.

Habtastic · Guru

Ab, this is starting to get pathetic.

Habtastic

Key Lime · Guru

I don't think AB is being pathetic...he's just giving his opinion. He's being realistic. Take a look...

No depth at defense = True

A few smurfs and fourth liners at center = True

Counting on Ribs again to carry the load = Very True

This team is so limited in big league depth that a few more injuries to start the season could leave us scratching and clawing to make the playoffs = Can't disagree

Remember when Kovy and Markov went down last season...did Habs win without them? = Good point.

Yes, we all want to start the season being very optimistic but those are all realistic points. I am also guilty of sometimes living in denial when it comes to the Habs but this year our expectations have become much greater and they need to show a substantial improvement. We should not accept another mediocre season. This is the Habs we're talking about and not the Blues.

Habtastic · Guru

It is always the same thing from Ab, that is why I wrote what I wrote. But also, you have both made statements and like usual, no facts. Here goes:

No depth at defense: We have one injury, Bouillon, and we have Streit (who is fine) and Cote... both NHL D and the rest of our cast although unspectaculr over-all, get the job done and they are young.

A few smurfs and 4th liners at center: Size doesn't much matter nearly as much in an NHL built around skill and speed. Our team is average size. Plekanec, Bonk, Ribs, and especially Koivu are all better than 4th-liners. Plekanec is projected as a strong number 2 and he was a solid #3 last year. Ribs is on his last chance and has the talent to be a strong #2. Koivu is an excellent #2 and a functional #1 and we will know next week how he is. Bonk showed a lot of improvement in the second-half, let us see what he does.

Ribs: Counting on him to carry the load? Have you seen his wingers? C'mon...

And as for a few more injuries making it much harder to make the playoffs, that could be said for ANY team in a cap era! Actually, with the amount of teams that have to scratch and claw to make the playoffs WITHOUT injuries, I would say we were doing very well!

Look, Training Camp hasn't even started yet and we don't know who from the minors will step up. There are also many qualities free-agents still left and we have 2.5 mil... more than some other teams. We have many prospects and picks we can deal if we have no other choice and yet you are singing the doomsday blues? WHY?!

I couldn't follow a team if I spent all my time thinking about how and why they will fail.

Habtastic

NEWFIEHABSFAN · Senior Member

jez, just as well skip this season altogether and watch paint dry! come on! at least give the habs a chance to see what they can do!

JohnM · Guru

I hope it is a typical Habs season since we have won 24 Stanley Cups. Let's hope we get #25

doodie · Veteran Member

WHAT A NICE READ . THAT'S TELLING IT ALL IN A NUT SHELL.

HABTASTIC

-- Edited by doodie at 12:26, 2006-08-05

MC Girl · Guru

Hey... the Habs would have rocked it hard last year if Threeorfour had not been in our net for most of our season. Once he left... our game picked up..... mainly because we weren't down 4-0 five mins into the first anymore. lol The whole team's attitude / season was grim due to Theo's floppin' around in the net.

Hell, with the addition a Sammy... it'll push Kovy to excel, with Huet instead of Theo... our net is protected.... Carbo's coachin' now, I'm sure we'll see passion from our bench again (no offense Bobby ).... I'm sure Ribs knows what he needs to do.... blah blah blah......

GIVE THE HABS A CHANCE BEFORE POOING ON A SEASON THAT HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET.... I see only improvements, not steps backwards.

GO HABS GO!!!!!!

-- Edited by MC Girl at 14:39, 2006-08-05

AB Habman · Guru

Sorry guys but AB just isn't feeling it right now but I appreciate your inthusiastic boost.

If they get out of the gates OK, I'll feel much better.

I'm very worried about the lack of depth if we run into injuries. We were relatively lucky last season.

I'm positive about the kids strutting their stuff. That will help!

Johab · Guru

Well figure we have improved in the points section for the past 2 seaons and made it to the second round ( by upsets no less ) 2 of our past 3 post season appearances. Cant complain. We have a team that CAN compete with ANY team in the league and can bring good teams far into series ( Remember 2 of those 3 years we were eliminated by the stanley up winners ) Let the habs play out the season. The playoffs SHOULD be a gimme this year...positioning is what will be hard and in a VERY close eastern division positioning will be important. I dont see the Sens, Sabres, Habs and LEafs being divided by more than 10-15 points at the end of the season so games against divisional oppenents will be HUGE. And games that should be won better be won. Huet better not be a fluke and the offense BETTER pick up. Consistancy along with SOMEONE IN THE DAMN TOP 20 IN SCORING would be nice too. Montreal WILL have a good season.

MC Girl · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Sorry guys but AB just isn't feeling it right now but I appreciate your inthusiastic boost.

If they get out of the gates OK, I'll feel much better.

I'm very worried about the lack of depth if we run into injuries. We were relatively lucky last season.

I'm positive about the kids strutting their stuff. That will help!

I don't think we were lucky last season. Kovy got hurt & was out until Christmas, Markov got hurt, Begin got hurt, Koivu got hurt badly (although, not till the very end).... along with a few others during the season.....

Had we had a healthier team, we might of done more damage. (I'm a glass is half full kinda girl ) If our health remains good (not including our first/recent injury of the 2006-2007 season lol) we have a pretty good team. Kovy can put 'em in the net.... with Sammy on the same line... LOOK OUT!!!! With Huet in net, nothing gets in.... (can't lose if nothing can get by ).....

I'm positive our season will be a great one.

AB Habman · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

AB Habman wrote:

Sorry guys but AB just isn't feeling it right now but I appreciate your inthusiastic boost.

If they get out of the gates OK, I'll feel much better.

I'm very worried about the lack of depth if we run into injuries. We were relatively lucky last season.

I'm positive about the kids strutting their stuff. That will help!

I don't think we were lucky last season. Kovy got hurt & was out until Christmas, Markov got hurt, Begin got hurt, Koivu got hurt badly (although, not till the very end).... along with a few others during the season.....

Had we had a healthier team, we might of done more damage. (I'm a glass is half full kinda girl ) If our health remains good (not including our first/recent injury of the 2006-2007 season lol) we have a pretty good team. Kovy can put 'em in the net.... with Sammy on the same line... LOOK OUT!!!! With Huet in net, nothing gets in.... (can't lose if nothing can get by ).....

I'm positive our season will be a great one.

I guess I don't count Saks because he never plays a full season.

Anyone know exactly how many man games were lost due to injury? I think it was below league average.

rwp2le · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

I guess I don't count Saks because he never plays a full season.

Anyone know exactly how many man games were lost due to injury? I think it was below league average.

I don't think the amount of man games lost is the factor, the fact is that we were winning until Kovalev went down with his knee injury. The fact about our man games lost is that they were all valuable players, we didn't lose Ribs and Bonk for 35 games, we lost Kovalev and Markov. Only time will tell about this season.

AB Habman · Guru

rwp2le wrote:

AB Habman wrote:

I guess I don't count Saks because he never plays a full season.

Anyone know exactly how many man games were lost due to injury? I think it was below league average.

I don't think the amount of man games lost is the factor, the fact is that we were winning until Kovalev went down with his knee injury. The fact about our man games lost is that they were all valuable players, we didn't lose Ribs and Bonk for 35 games, we lost Kovalev and Markov. Only time will tell about this season.

Isn't that what happens to teams with no depth? Any player lost is a key loss.

MC Girl · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Isn't that what happens to teams with no depth? Any player lost is a key loss.

What he was saying is... it wasn't just ANY player that went down (i.e. Rib's & Bonk) it was Kovy & Markov..... 2 of our best players.

betcha the seasons outcome woulda been a lot different had it been Rib's & Bonk out instead.

-- Edited by MC Girl at 18:52, 2006-08-05

rwp2le · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Isn't that what happens to teams with no depth? Any player lost is a key loss.

You do make a good point. And I guess it does make what I said make no sense. But my point was that if we don't lose one of our top 4 (Kovalev, Markov, Koviu, and Samsonov) our depth isn't that bad. Most teams in the new NHL can't afford to have 3 lines of top 6 players. The key to depth in my opinion is to have a good young players who can fill the spot that has opened up. I don't think we look so bad at any position. We have a good core group of players in Hamilton, and it looks as if it is getting better. Our depth is not my concern. Our lack of a legitimate superstar at center and on defense is.

Habtastic · Guru

C'mon Ab, refute what I wrote, don't just ignore it! :)

Habtastic

Key Lime · Guru

Ok let me ask THE question....and everyone be brutally honest with your answers. Did anyone think that the team would improve SO LITTLE in the off-season?

The majority of us expected much better than: Bulis, Zednik, Sunny = out / Johnson, Sammy = in.

I think the lack of improvement through trades and free agency could be the base of AB's concern. We are banking on the young players to have very solid seasons. When you count on the young players to perform at that level, it's a large gamble.

IT'S "OK" TO BE CONCERNED...

-- Edited by Key Lime at 10:03, 2006-08-06

MC Girl · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

Ok let me ask THE question....and everyone be brutally honest with your answers. Did anyone think that the team would improve SO LITTLE in the off-season?

The majority of us expected much better than: Bulis, Zednik, Sunny = out / Johnson, Sammy = in.

I think the lack of improvement through trades and free agency could be the base of AB's concern. We are banking on the young players to have very solid seasons. When you count on the young players to perform at that level, it's a large gamble.

IT'S "OK" TO BE CONCERNED...

-- Edited by Key Lime at 10:03, 2006-08-06

Good news is....young players usually always play like they have something to prove. (mainly because they do

) These players will be playing with their whole heart & soul while using everyone of their skills to the extreme. I think some of you will be surprised with the performance of our team. (hope I'm not one of 'em

)

Nil d · Guru

Someone remind me - where did Sundstrom go?

macneil · Guru

he signed back home in sweden ,not that there's anything wrong with that .

MC Girl · Guru

I don't think he plays in the NHL right now. This is what I found.....

06-Jun-06:
Sunny signed with the MoDo Hockey of the Elitserein (Sweden).

Nil d · Guru

macneil wrote:

he signed back home in sweden ,not that there's anything wrong with that .

Might as well be a big fish in a small pond than a nobody in the NHL................

Nil d · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

I don't think he plays in the NHL right now. This is what I found.....

06-Jun-06: Sunny signed with the MoDo Hockey of the Elitserein (Sweden).

Thanks, MC. I hope he does well over there - so well, in fact, that he decides not to ever come back.

AB Habman · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

Ok let me ask THE question....and everyone be brutally honest with your answers. Did anyone think that the team would improve SO LITTLE in the off-season?

The majority of us expected much better than: Bulis, Zednik, Sunny = out / Johnson, Sammy = in.

I think the lack of improvement through trades and free agency could be the base of AB's concern. We are banking on the young players to have very solid seasons. When you count on the young players to perform at that level, it's a large gamble.

IT'S "OK" TO BE CONCERNED...

-- Edited by Key Lime at 10:03, 2006-08-06

Thank-you Key Lime...couldn't of said it better!

barry33 · Guru

rwp2le wrote:

AB Habman wrote:

I guess I don't count Saks because he never plays a full season.

Anyone know exactly how many man games were lost due to injury? I think it was below league average.

I don't think the amount of man games lost is the factor, the fact is that we were winning until Kovalev went down with his knee injury. The fact about our man games lost is that they were all valuable players, we didn't lose Ribs and Bonk for 35 games, we lost Kovalev and Markov. Only time will tell about this season.

Rips..although I think that Ab is being overly negative I need to agree with alot of things..we are turning into "IF ONLY FANS".

If only Kovalev had not gotten hurt we would have finished much better

If only Theodore had not stunk up the place we would have been better

If only Williams did not high stick Koivu we would have beaten carolina and then who knows how high we would have finished.

So let me add my own "If only: If only Teflon Bob had done his job and addressed the weaknesses we have at center and on D we would not be saying if only.

macneil · Guru

but barry i wont say anything about the if about getting hurt cause they are part of the game but who'd of thunk theo would be that bad , if(there that word again) julein would have been aloud to play huet more we would not have squeekd into the playoffs .

MC Girl · Guru

Just to point out barry.... every single team / fans in the NHL has a list of "IF ONLY'S"..... It is a valid form of debating / venting. Every point that was made (not just by you & AB) is not only valid.... but was hugely important to our team last season.

If we can't "IF ONLY" our pervious season..... let's not debate it at all. History is history... & apparently, we are not allow to bring up our past issues.

So barry, let's not hear about Bob's historic moves anymore (or lack there of) because really.... isn't that another "IF ONLY"?.... or about CJ..... 'cause isn't that an "IF ONLY"????? or about...................

-- Edited by MC Girl at 08:47, 2006-08-07

barry33 · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

Just to point out barry.... every single team / fans in the NHL has a list of "IF ONLY'S"..... It is a valid form of debating / venting. Every point that was made (not just by you & AB) is not only valid.... but was hugely important to our team last season.

If we can't "IF ONLY" our pervious season..... let's not debate it at all. History is history... & apparently, we are not allow to bring up our past issues.

So barry, let's not hear about Bob's historic moves anymore (or lack there of) because really.... isn't that another "IF ONLY"?.... or about CJ..... 'cause isn't that an "IF ONLY"????? or about...................

-- Edited by MC Girl at 08:47, 2006-08-07

MC you are totally missing my point. If this team was positioned to make a big move in the league as many on this board attest, we would not need what ifs. Look at the teams that succeeded last year. THEY all had key injuries at one point or another. Carolina is a fine example. Eric Cole was a HUGE part of that lineup. HUGE. He goes down. The team does not sit around and twiddle their thimbs and use it as an excuse. Nope. Rutherford goes out and gets Recchi and Doug Weight to fill the spot. Gerber, who had been their go to guy all year stinks up the joint in the first 2 games against Montreal. Carolina did not sit there and say "Hmm..if noly Martin could stop a beachball we could beat Montreal". No. They had a great backup in Ward and put him in, turned the series and the playoffs around.

There are countless examples of teams that succeed in this league in spit of injuries. Look at Edmonton. They lose Roloson. They did not fold. They took the Canes to 7 games. GReat teams with C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R do that! You do what it takes to win. You adjust. But you do not fold because your captain goes down or your number one goalie is out chasing women. Your GM needs to put the team and depth in place to overcome that.

If Koivu is unable to go this year are we going to have a whole season of "If only we had Saks"? When do the what if's stop and when do we get to the point of overcoming adversity and getting the job done???