all this talk about the defence

[Mike]

Is it just me or are most of the opinions on line (and articles) about
the defence just out to lunch? I've read several opinion pieces where
they have Alzner or Jerabek and even Benn as options to play on the #1
pairing with reasoning why it could work. Are these people nuts? This
team has a #1 D Man (Weber), a #2 pairing Dman (Petry) and 6 bottom
pairing guys. We can hope all we like that one of those bottom pairing
guys will be #1 pairing material but the long and short of it is simple
- they're not and they wont ever be. If they were it would have shown in
their play by now and they most assuredly would be playing elsewhere
making far more money than they are today.

Maybe its because I've come through the rose colored glasses phase of my
Habdom, having watched and hoped for every Hab team since the 70's with
great success until 2000 or so. Even then I couldn't take the glasses
off. The minute they hired Therrien I knew they were fucked though and I
tossed the glasses in the garbage. Lots of people knew it, Bargain Bin
Bergy did not and this is what we're left with in the wake of another
Therrien failure.

I sure hope they prove me wrong but I don't see this team as anything
more than a non-playoff team with the world's best goalie dragging them
into the playoffs. I sure do hope I'm wrong but like last year, I'm not
expecting much out of this lot. I don't care if they start 25-0-0. I
still will remain unconvinced until the playoffs roll around. As for
anyone in the current bottom 6 D Men being able to step up and play with
Weber? I'll eat my hat if any one them is capable of that.

[Gerry]

I figure that even if they do somehow manage to be modestly successful with this group, it won't be much fun to watch. The grab bag of journeymen isn't how most people would ideally choose to build a defense. Each on his own has some useful traits, but all together it seems like too many variables. This time, they do have a good coach, however. And while he may have to deploy a style that makes watching paint dry seem more interesting, good coaching could make things go a little further than otherwise.

Or not.

I guess we'll see. But the revisionism and rose-coloured glasses do seem to be surprisingly prevalent out there.

l8r,
Gerry

[Nyssa]

Ah, yes, we have the dreaded Julienball style of game to look
forward to this season. <sigh>

I'll forgive that *if* he can show that he actually can *coach*
and develop the players, especially the younger ones plus get
my pet off the cycle of centre-or-left-wing merry-go-round that
they've had him on since forever.

I look at how other teams have a coordinated development system
with their AHL affiliates and how seamlessly the call-ups fit
into the system and contribute.

I'm envious of that since the Habs can't seem to do squat with
even the most talented of kids, and even in many cases they
manage to make them worse by being too rigid and not allowing
creativity...you know that talent that caused them to be
drafted in the first place.

Until that's turned around and Julien actually spends the effort
on what's there (I'm not holding my breath for miracle trades
or acquisitions by BBB) we're going to be that bubble team rather
than a contender for the near future. And we should be better
than that given what we have AND what was frittered away in
mostly failed trades.

One month until camp. We'll see how that goes. It will determine
whether or not things can/will be turned around at all this
season.

Nyssa, who is not optimistic but thinks Julien can at least
shuffle the deck and get a bit more out of a few of 'em

[Mike]

Re your pet. If I was coach I'd be heading into this year with the
decided knowledge that Galchenyuk is a winger and Drouin, a center. They
say Drouin has great vision and makes great passes. Galchenyuk has a
great shot - great combination there IMO.

On line #2 I'd put Pacioretty with Danault and Gallagher and see how
that goes.

[Chuck]

Still not sold on Danault as a top line center. When Max Pac is scoring, he will carry Danault. When Max Pac isn`t scoring, Danault will not be scoring either

[Chuck]

I have faith Galchenyuk will score 25+ goals as either a center or a winger, or a combination of the two. I have little faith that Plecks and Danault will not struggle to top 10 goals each for the season