Another take

Habtastic · Guru

Another take

barry33 · Guru

Habtastic wrote:

I know many don't like Eklund, but this is his quick take: Montreal: My second favorite team in the NHL didn’t improve like I was hoping. They are still very young, and they are fast, but they lack a star. They lack an energy. They are hoping Huet can do it again. I am not sold. I hope so. Is Samsonov the answer? I don’t know. He could be. This is a really tough team to get a read on, and I continue to hear that upper management feels the same way. They are trying to pull off something big. Makes some good points. Let's hope something big happens. Habtastic

I totally agree with Ecklund. They ARE a team that is hard to get a read on. There are still alot of "what if's". But the good news is that most teams in the division have alot of what if's. Aside form Jersey and Ottawa, who I feel will be nearly as strong as they were last year, the rest of the teams can either win alot or lose alot. I think it will be exciting to watch.

Muller93 · Guru

scary thing is that the whole season hinges once again on that second line center. Last year manangement all hoped Ribeiro would do it...now this year they pin their hopes on Plekanec?????

Yikes, this will either be really messy or fun to watch...

Barry, no question about it, this team's 'up the middle' problems should have been addressed. I am shocked that it ws not. I love Koivu but we cannot rely on him this heavily...again

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

scary thing is that the whole season hinges once again on that second line center. Last year manangement all hoped Ribeiro would do it...now this year they pin their hopes on Plekanec?????

Yikes, this will either be really messy or fun to watch...

Barry, no question about it, this team's 'up the middle' problems should have been addressed. I am shocked that it ws not. I love Koivu but we cannot rely on him this heavily...again

Mulsey- I would be totally ecstatic if Bob had found a stud center and Koivu was relegated to second line and PP. Not because I do not feel Koivu deserves to play more. But I strongly feel that he would be twice the player in that role. But for now BG could not find us that guy as they are rare so we hope Saks stays healthy and Pleks can step it up. Gainey will continue to work on that position and I really feel that the trade last week was a set up deal. GO HABS!

doodie · Veteran Member

barry33 wrote:

Habtastic wrote:

I don't know to me the habs have improved quite a bit,and i must say look great to me,JERSEY---who did they get to make them a better team? ottawa----as far as i'm concerned they went backwards.
-- Edited by doodie at 19:31, 2006-10-04

-- Edited by doodie at 19:35, 2006-10-04

Johab · Guru

Jersey has brodeur...nuff said he alone makes them a contender. Dont believe me? Count the caps and conference finals with the teams he had had. When he decides its game on, he is easily the best player in the league.

ottawa, still a force, not the same force without chara hasek and havlat, but Vermette and fisher are WAAAAY under rated. Look for Eaves to be huge as well.

barry33 · Guru

doodie wrote:

barry33 wrote:

Habtastic wrote:

I don't know to me the habs have improved quite a bit,and i must say look great to me,JERSEY---who did they get to make them a better team? ottawa----as far as i'm concerned they went backwards.
-- Edited by doodie at 19:31, 2006-10-04

-- Edited by doodie at 19:35, 2006-10-04

- the same question can be asked of Montreal. What did THEY do to get better? Aside from another year passing so the kids can get older. They did not address key weaknesses. They traded away their second line center for a questionable dman. In the new NHL, a team improves by not allowing too many players to leave because of cap issues. Jersey has essentially retained everyone (Gomez may have to gobut they will get good young legs in return). Ottawa lost Chara but from what I saw last night against Toronto, they are more balanced.