Line Combos: Pick your top 6 D's to start the season with

[rahad]

I'm surprise to see so many people have Kovacevic in the top 4. We got this guy free last year. Harris and Barron are way younger. I will wait one more year for those two. If Barron can't make join the team by the end of the season. Trade him in the summer.

 

[Deebs]

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Kovacevic
Harris - Xhekaj
Norlinder

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I'm surprise to see so many people have Kovacevic in the top 4. We got this guy free last year. Harris and Barron are way younger. I will wait one more year for those two. If Barron can't make join the team by the end of the season. Trade him in the summer.

I’m surprised so many can’t see that Kovasevic is a really solid dman.

 

[sansabri]

Matheson
Guhle
Savard
Harris
X

can't pick a 6th one. i guess Kov

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I want the Habs to keep Lindstrom for the year. Send Barron and Norlinder down. I prefer having 3 RSD at RD.

 

[rahad]

I’m surprised so many can’t see that Kovasevic is a really solid dman.

He progressed a lot with the Habs. From getting waiver to being a regular D with the Habs . He is kinda similar to Paul Biron.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I think the 6th will be Harris and I don't have any doubts about that. Norlinder had a great camp but it's not a bad thing to let him start in the A until injuries happen. He doesn't have to go through waivers either so it's a logical choice.
Lindstrom will get sent down and Barron will be kept around as the 7th.

Barron is younger and should play. Lindstrom would be my 7th in case of injuries. I also agree Norlinder is closer than before but still needs to work on defence, despite being flavour of the week. Truly he is worse than Barron in his own zone. We also are not desperate for a PP specialist with Matheson, Guhle and Xhekaj in the lineup.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

He progressed a lot with the Habs. From getting waiver to being a regular D with the Habs . He is kinda similar to Paul Biron.

Ya he’s nothing flashy, but big solid RDs who can take care of their own end are regulars in the NHL.

 

[MXD]

Guhle, Matheson, Savard, Kovacevic, Harris, Xhekaj. Norlinder starts season as 7th. Harris and Xhekaj with the short leash.

 

[yianik]

I'm not comfortable picking young D guys to move right now, too early is assessing them. So if we don't have to then don't. Harris seems a less physical Josh Gorges on upside so not exciting but who knows, and he is waiver eligible so he stays. Norlinder should stay. Barron and Mailleaux aren't waiver eligible so send them down, as simple as that.

Give as many as we can real chances. See who rises highest.

 

[Frankenheimer]

Hard to reconcile what we’ve seen with Norlinder’s progression and some of the overreactions in this thread. It’s right there in front you guys.

 

[expy]

Good to see almost everyone on the same page.

 

[TT1]

Harris/Kova/Guhle (even tho Harris struggled a bit last game) are our best defensive dmen imo, Savard played fine defensively last season too but he's not getting any younger.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Harris is good what are you guys on about.


Trade Savard at trade deadline , we tanking

His underlying numbers and advanced stats are terrific. Losing him would be a big loss

 

[Skip Bayless]

Matheson Savard
Guhle Kovy
Norlinder Xhekaj
Harris

 

[CanadienShark]

Personally i don't see much in Lindstrom and Barron hasn't impressed me for a while, not sure about Mailloux vs Norlinder tho. I kinda feel like Barron should get traded if they don't think he can crack the roster, not sure if sending him down to the AHL is gonna do much for him (or his trade value).

I think I'd start with Guhle/Kovacevic/Harris/Matheson/Xhekaj/Savard (Norlinder as 7th), wouldn't be surprised if we go with 7 D tho.

San Jose could use Barron.

 

[BJCOLLINS]

Barron is younger and should play. Lindstrom would be my 7th in case of injuries. I also agree Norlinder is closer than before but still needs to work on defence, despite being flavour of the week. Truly he is worse than Barron in his own zone. We also are not desperate for a PP specialist with Matheson, Guhle and Xhekaj in the lineup.

yeah I agree who ever it is …. they need to play. This exercise gets off topic when fans say “this guy sucks, so send him down or trade him”?
We are fortunate to have good young players forcing management to make difficult decisions.

Matheson - Savard
Ghule - Xhekaj
Kova

then we have 3 D with games that need work. Harris would be my pick if not for his propensity to get pushed around by big forwards in our zone along the boards. Norlinder has looked good most recently but gets panicky in his own zone, Barron has struggled in his zone as well however at 21 his corrections are more positional than mental.

Id send Barron to the #1 pairing in Laval.

 

[SlafCaufield]

the D is going to look much better in 2-3 years

Reinbacher - Hutson
Guhle - Maillou
Xhekaj


cant wait until i dont have to see named like Harris, Kovacevic Lindstrom anywhere near this team

 

[Trabdy2]

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Kovacevic
Xhekaj - Harris
Norlinder rotating in to get regularish ice time

Barron in Laval. I'm not sure what to make of him, but he still needs to pull his game together defensively to be ready to handle more regular NHL ice time.

 

[montreal]

I don't think Norlinder is ready for 2nd pairing duty in the NHL, I have been hoping they would trade him since I don't think Houle is the biggest fan and I still don't get how any coach looks at his game and thinks let's take him off the PP and put him on the PK (unlss the plan was to get him to work on his defensive game)

I would only want to keep Norlinder if it's on the Habs since MSL could use him as the 7th D PP/specialist and it would be a lot more entertaining then having Wideman as the 7th D once he's healthy.

 

[rahad]

I don't think Norlinder is ready for 2nd pairing duty in the NHL, I have been hoping they would trade him since I don't think Houle is the biggest fan and I still don't get how any coach looks at his game and thinks let's take him off the PP and put him on the PK (unlss the plan was to get him to work on his defensive game)

I would only want to keep Norlinder if it's on the Habs since MSL could use him as the 7th D PP/specialist and it would be a lot more entertaining then having Wideman as the 7th D once he's healthy.

Keep forgetting about Wideman lol. He is going to stay as a #7-8 or going down to AHL.

 

[26Mats]

I don't think Norlinder is ready for 2nd pairing duty in the NHL, I have been hoping they would trade him since I don't think Houle is the biggest fan and I still don't get how any coach looks at his game and thinks let's take him off the PP and put him on the PK (unlss the plan was to get him to work on his defensive game)

I would only want to keep Norlinder if it's on the Habs since MSL could use him as the 7th D PP/specialist and it would be a lot more entertaining then having Wideman as the 7th D once he's healthy.

You know Norlinder better than I, but I would think given how much time he's missed over the last few years that it would be better for him to play in Laval, even under Houle, than be a #7 and see limited action in the NHL.

 

[Loner]

Matheson - our only legit top or second pairing D with experience
Savard - Starting to be old and slow, but we need his veteran presence for now
Guhle - He keeps showing more and more potential
Kovacevic - We need him because we lack depth in RD, ideally in the third pairing
Xhekaj - Bring something unique to the team, still have a lot of potential to unlock
Norlinder - A good puck mover and can play in PP, he bring something we need
Harris - Doesn't bring much, we sometimes see skilled play but they are very rare, will rarely hurt you defensively but is a low offensive events D, the definition of a 6D

 

[Saku K]

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Kovacevic
Xhekaj - Harris
Norlinder

Barron to the ahl.

You know Norlinder better than I, but I would think given how much time he's missed over the last few years that it would be better for him to play in Laval, even under Houle, than be a #7 and see limited action in the NHL.

Before camp, I thought this would be Norlinder's last year in the organization, in Laval, and then he would go back to Sweden. I have no problem with him starting him as a depth defenseman than hopefully show something that would make him a better nhl asset than he is right now.

He had a good camp and is only a year younger than lindstrom and he is much better than him. Starting Norlinder at #7 spot in the NHL would be a big win for the habs and Norlinder himself who will get his chance to show if he can stick. We have more time with Barron in front of us and he will get his shot somewhere down the road.

We should alternate Norlinder with Harris, both have similar upside as bottom pairing defenseman. Norlinder's a bit bigger than Harris while Harris is more mobile. I don't expect much from either offensively. I'd rather have Xhekaj or Guhle or both on the second wave of the powerplay than Norlinder.

 

[HabzSauce]

Harris is good what are you guys on about.


Trade Savard at trade deadline , we tanking

I wonder if VAN would be interested in Savard to play with Hughes