Bonk

JohnM · Guru

Bonk

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

I don't see his name coming up on this board very often. When he was acquired some thought he could be the big center the Habs have been looking for. He is the 7th highest paid Hab, above the likes of Ribs, Ryder, Higgins, etc.

What are GOHABS expectations of him? Can he be our 4th line center? Or is he just a stop gap until his contract expires?

BG stated recently that he felt Bonk started to show promise in the second half last year. Hopefully that carries on. Like Ribs, I think alot of members here have just resolved themselves to the fact that we are stuck with Bonk and Ribs, so lets stay positive and cheer 'em on and hope for the best. Not alot of choice.,

plouf · Guru

No doubt Bonk was a much better player in the second half, and he has a history of slow readjustments. But for the money he's making he should be better than a fourth-liner... and worth at least 50 points a season.

Oh well.

JohnM · Guru

Ok, so for now we are giving Ribs and Bonk a free pass. Anyone else we are giving a free pass to?

wright · Veteran Member

It was not that long ago that Bonk was the number two center for the Senators. It is amazing how much his play has declined in the past three seasons, to a point where he is barely a fourth line center. The reality is that he is too slow for the new NHL, does not play a physical game despite his size, and has lost all confidence in his offensive game. He showed signs of being a competent checking center and a useful penalty killer, but at a contract of over 2.5 million a year way too expensive for the role he plays. He is an untradeable commodity. Lapeirre will be able to fill Bonk's role next season at a quarter of the price. Unfortuanetly that is next year's solution.

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Ok, so for now we are giving Ribs and Bonk a free pass. Anyone else we are giving a free pass to?

I am not saying give him a free pass Johnny. There is NO one..and I mean NO one on that team that I give a free pass to. I cried all summer for Gainey to get us help at center. He has not. I am sure people on this board were tired of me stating we needed help at center ice. So if you can tell me what choice we have I am all ears. He has Bonk signeed to a huge contract and there is no other team in the league who will even give him a sniff. Ribs needs to prove himself. At least BG only signed him to a one year deal.

Carbo even goes so far as to essentially state that Bonk will be his center on the 3rd line this year. I guess I am just getting to the point where I am saying why bother whining? We are stuck with these guys. Gainey signed him, not me.

JohnM · Guru

Barry, I understand that you put the responsibilty on Gainey. Personally, I hold BG accountable for the moves he makes. Once those moves are made we need to put some accountability on the players themselves.

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Barry, I understand that you put the responsibilty on Gainey. Personally, I hold BG accountable for the moves he makes. Once those moves are made we need to put some accountability on the players themselves.

There are 3 players on the Canadiens that I expect much more out of..and I mean much more out of...Bonk, Ribiero and Kovalev. Kovalev is a world class hockey player who shows up when the mood strikes him. In my opinion, if he does not step it up with Samsonov at his side this year, I say trade him for someone who cares on a nightly basis.

Bonk. I was never a fan of and could not understand that trade to begin with. I was not one who felt that Bonk was the answer to our small center problems. He had underachieved everywhere he went. Ribs..well Ribs is Ribs. There will be a very short leash on Both those players John, not only from people on this board, but from the team itself. The problem is that with the cap, and lack of centers in the system, we are stuck with these two for the short term. Ribs will be the number one center in fact. Scary but true.

JohnM · Guru

You make a good point, it's much easier to see mistakes with the cap system. A GM can't hide by signing another big $ player to cover up his past error.

It will be interesting to see how other teams defend against the Habs, will they put their #1 defensive unit out against Kovy, Ribs and Sammy or against Higgs, Koivu, Ryder?

plouf · Guru

Agreed from over here:

Ribeiro and Bonk don't get a free pass in my books. Actually it's the opposite. They have to prove themselves. But we are stuck with them until Gainey figures out a centre. I'm glad Ribeiro did not get a long-term contract.

Players who don't get a free pass: well all of them, but there are a few who we will be more patient with. Samsonov I'll be patient with since he might not gel instantly. Begin has had some injuries and I KNOW he will be a force when he's in tip-top shape. Koivu for about 2-3 games but then I expect him to be full-speed. Higgins because I feel like he's due for some bad luck...he was scoring at will late in the season but I don't think he's really as good a goalscorer as he seemed to be. He does a lot of things I like.

JohnM · Guru

JohnM wrote:

It will be interesting to see how other teams defend against the Habs, will they put their #1 defensive unit out against Kovy, Ribs and Sammy or against Higgs, Koivu, Ryder?

Just a note, here are the point totals from last year for the two lines mentioned above:

1) Kovy/Ribs/Sammy -> 169

2) Higgs/Koivu/Ryder -> 155

Fatherhab · Senior Member

This link is just a reminder of the expectations management held of Bonk when he first came to the Habs. Also a reminder that during his good years in Ottawa when he was scoring over 20 goals, he was playing with Marian Hossa as a winger. If he stays as the fouth centre, then expect him to provide little more or equal production to last season. Fingers crossed that he is going to surprise us all with an excellent year.

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=3842

Ando · Guru

Radek Bonk was the best available centre at the time...and at the right price!

Radek gives the Habs a big body to shadow another big body without totally sacrificing offensive aspirations.

How on Earth can ANYONE knock the deal???

Bonk and Huet for Garon...was the STEAL of the season!!!

Now of course And-o thinks Bonk was/is overpaid...but that deal was negotiated in the 'old NHL'...and Montreal had to take on some salary in order to bolster a need - simple as that!!!

Bonk was coming on under Carbo/Gainey at the end of last season. And-o fully expects this to continue. In fact, Radek could easily tally 50 to 60 points with the right approach!!!

(P.S. JohnM...expect virtually all opponents with an established top line to look endlessly at matching it up versus Saku's line (and that is not bashing)! Others view Saku as a high mileage used car...Ryder has been historically brutal defensively...and Higgins is still a puppy! On the other hand, Kovy/Sammy/Riblet should draw the other teams number one defensive unit (just look at Kovy with the puck for my rationale)!!!

JohnM · Guru

Personally I agree with you Andy, in regards to the other team putting their best defensive unit against the Kovy line. A friend at work thought the opposite, he said that they would pair the defensive specialists against the Koivu line. His thinking is (btw he loves Kovy), Kovy is spectacular but doesn't show up every night, Riblet is weak and Sammy is a solid player. On the other hand you have three solid point getters on the Koivu line. It will be interesting to watch.

Oh yeah And-o, BG is the man and all but he could've had Bonk for nothing, so the price was too much IMO. Can't give him too much credit for Huet since he didn't expect anything from him at the time.

-- Edited by JohnM at 19:16, 2006-09-18

Nil d · Guru

Ando wrote:

Bonk and Huet for Garon...was the STEAL of the season!!!

Absolutely - and it would have been so even without Bonk in the mix. It was Huet who made that a deal a steal, not Bonk.

I concede that Bonk showed some spark in the last few weeks of the year (especially defensively), but he was a colossal bust for the first 65 games. He's on the bubble this year, with Ribeiro and a few others, as far as I'm concerned.

plouf · Guru

It's been mentioned many times before, but I'll say it again. Bonk has, throughout his career, been a notoriously slow starter. He doesn't mesh quickly with linemates and struggles with confidence on offense. But the more settled he is, the better he performs. He is slow, but he might surprise. In fact, he's just like the other 3 centres on the team. Anything could happen. This is why it's so impossible to predict Montreal this year.

MC Girl · Guru

Whether he's slow or not..... I like 'im...

Ando · Guru

Everyone (including And-o) always seems to totally discount one of the Habs most talented centers...if not the most talented center - Tomas Plekanec!

This kid has loads of potential that might get overlooked as a result of our seemingly never ending quest for a big time centre with size.

In fact, Tomas is speedy...creative...hardworking...and very responsible!

And-o thinks that Gainey has plans for Tomas when the time is right!!!

...the Habs do have loads of depth at centre...just not much heavy-weight talent!

Interesting stuff though...as Plouffy stated!

MC Girl · Guru

Slightly off topic.....

How do/would you pronounce his name????? .... "Plec-a-neck"??? or "Pla-can-nick"???

I like Plec-a-neck better .... it's fun to say but I'm not sure that's how you say it.

heet_150 · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

Slightly off topic.....

How do/would you pronounce his name????? .... "Plec-a-neck"??? or "Pla-can-nick"???

I like Plec-a-neck better .... it's fun to say but I'm not sure that's how you say it.

I am pretty sure it is "Ple-ca-nits". Yes, I have a "t" at the end.

MC Girl · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

I am pretty sure it is "Ple-ca-nits". Yes, I have a "t" at the end.

Odd.... but O.k.

Thanks

Nil d · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

Slightly off topic.....

How do/would you pronounce his name????? .... "Plec-a-neck"??? or "Pla-can-nick"???

I like Plec-a-neck better .... it's fun to say but I'm not sure that's how you say it.

You actually pronouce it as if there was an "s" at the end: Pluh-CAN- necks (accent on the CAN).

salted_one · Veteran Member

accent on the can? so would it be kahn pluh kahn necks?

MC Girl · Guru

LOL... I guess everyone says it different. Maybe we'll run into him @ the reunion & I can ask him myself

LOL

heet_150 · Guru

I have admitted here before that I was a Bonk fan. Even when he held out for more money and played in Las Vegas. I was thrilled when he was brought over to the Habs. Of course, I wasn't so thrilled with his play until the second half of last season. He was out killing penalties, grinding with his fourth line counterparts, and doing a pretty good job. He looked so completely out of place on the first line when Koivu went down, however. I think fourth line is where he'll stay. When his contract runs out, unless he takes a substantial pay cut, he'll leave the Habs.

I am still a fan of his, and I hope he can realize some of his potential.

P.S. - How did everyone miss JohnM "Personally I agree with you Andy"??? I nearly choked on my coffee.

JohnM · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

P.S. - How did everyone miss JohnM "Personally I agree with you Andy"??? I nearly choked on my coffee.

AB Habman · Guru

I think with Bonk it's a lack of commitment to fitness.

Nil d · Guru

salted_one wrote:

accent on the can? so would it be kahn pluh kahn necks?

I still think it's "can". The RDS guys always make a point to ask the players themselves how to pronounce it, when it's a new name for them.

barry33 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

Ando wrote:

Bonk and Huet for Garon...was the STEAL of the season!!!

Absolutely - and it would have been so even without Bonk in the mix. It was Huet who made that a deal a steal, not Bonk.

I concede that Bonk showed some spark in the last few weeks of the year (especially defensively), but he was a colossal bust for the first 65 games. He's on the bubble this year, with Ribeiro and a few others, as far as I'm concerned.

Nilsey- I said it before and will reiterate it..Huet saved Gaineys ass on that trade. Gainey wanted BONK.Huet was a throw in by LA. I would bet my next paycheck that Gainey did not even know who Huet was when he made that trade, let alone think that he could be his next number one goalie. The trade was a Garon for Bonk deal..and LA said.."Oh, by the way Bob, do you want this goalie we have...just let me check who he is..oh Ya..Huet"