Post-Game Talk: A little Tuna to rid the taste of Campbell soup. Habs beat the Leaf.

[Deebs]

Petry and Edmundson play more at ES than Weber, they're basically the #1 pairing.

And they have been all season

 

[Habs Icing]

I wanted to give Staal a few games before commenting on his play. Here are the two thoughts I have. We wasted two picks getting this player. Right now, Staal is not a better centerman than Evans. Having said that, I think Evans is better suited on the wing. I like what he brought to the Suzuki line. I don't think Toffoli and Suzuki mesh very well. Despite my dislike for Drouin, I think he has played his best hockey (weak as it is) with Suzuki.

Danault continues to show he is an elite 3rd line center. Please don't play Ouellet again. He is a fish out of water in the NHL.

I might catch some heat for what I'm gonna say next. I look at our center corps and this is what I see:
Suzuki (a 2nd line center)
Danault (an elite 3rd line C)
KK (Danault's replacement)
Staal, his best days behind him with his worst days overpassing him. Evans and maybe Vedjemo as probable 4th Cs.

 

[Archijerej]

By the way, at this point in 2019/20 Montreal was two games into their second 8-game winless skid. They'd go 0-5-1 in their next 6 games. They currently have the same amount of points after 39 games as they did two years ago, in 2018/19.

That's certainly putting things into perspective.

BUT.

Even though I liked the 2018/19 edition of the Habs, the off-season moves that we made should raise the bar a bit higher.

I did not like what I've seen in the game against the Jets. Even during our skids in recent years I've never had the impression that the team is broken. I thought they broke down on Saturday.

Yesterdays' game might indicate that's not the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if they went below 0.500 from now on and barely squeeze in or miss it altogether. They still look gassed. I need to see more consistency to start believing in this team.

My wife and I were watching in the bedroom and when I saw Romanov's battle with the pornstache I yelled, "Yes! YES!!".

I'm pretty sure I creeped out my kids.

 

[jaffy27]

My wife and I were watching in the bedroom and when I saw Romanov's battle with the pornstache I yelled, "Yes! YES!!".

I'm pretty sure I creeped out my kids.

As long as your wife didn’t start screaming “Put it in the 5 Hole”!!!!

Your kids would’ve ran out the house

 

[FrankMTL]

As long as your wife didn’t start screaming “Put it in the 5 Hole”!!!!

Your kids would’ve ran out the house

Or "two minutes in the box for high-sticking" lol

The possibilities are endless...

 

[angusyoung]

Hopefully Caufield pushes Drouin out of the lineup....or at the very least down in the lineup.
This was a good win, Anderson was a beast!!

Was hoping Habs moved JD and brought CC in. Oh well,maybe in the off-season

 

[Habs Halifax]

I wanted to give Staal a few games before commenting on his play. Here are the two thoughts I have. We wasted two picks getting this player. Right now, Staal is not a better centerman than Evans. Having said that, I think Evans is better suited on the wing. I like what he brought to the Suzuki line. I don't think Toffoli and Suzuki mesh very well. Despite my dislike for Drouin, I think he has played his best hockey (weak as it is) with Suzuki.

Danault continues to show he is an elite 3rd line center. Please don't play Ouellet again. He is a fish out of water in the NHL.

I might catch some heat for what I'm gonna say next. I look at our center corps and this is what I see:
Suzuki (a 2nd line center)
Danault (an elite 3rd line C)
KK (Danault's replacement)
Staal, his best days behind him with his worst days overpassing him. Evans and maybe Vedjemo as probable 4th Cs.

Fair comments!

Staal: I think it was a decent trade and we have a surplus of picks. It will not affect our ability to target assets on our draft board so I don't consider this a negative. There was one play last night that Staal did not cover Tavares well (2nd goal I believe). He just was not physical enough on him. I think there are several guys on our roster that not physical enough when they should be. I think this changes in the playoffs where the refs don't call as much. I would wait to make a final assessment on Staal... still need more sample size. Honestly, I would use him for faceoffs and he shifts to wing after the faceoff. His big frame can help us along the walls but had to tell if he is comfortable with that or not

Danault: Middle 2C who plays a great 200' game or elite 3C. Same thing with me. We agree on that. Hopefully we can lock him up for a value contract and he's not after $5M+ anymore. If he is, he is going to have to explore the market and circle back to the Habs once he gets humbled again. I honestly don't think he wants to leave the Habs and I don't believe any other team is going to pay him more than 3 years at $5M. He has to be careful of his high demands IMO.

Suzuki: I agree. He's a 2nd line center or fringe 1C once he reaches his prime. Hockey IQ and skill is very high but skating will hold him back IMO. His skating is not bad but it's not well above average for what a center needs to drive possession.

Kotkaniemi: I think he is our best shot at a puck possession #1C. When Suzuki and KK are 22/23 or 23/24 and the other kids below them are NHL ready, our team is going to be different. Vets will be either gone or on expiring contracts and I can see another re-set. Hopefully at that time, we can get a good pick from an off year and get that star we need to push us to another level.

Evans and Poehling: Great pieces to have. They will be in our forward mix either at center or on wing.

 

[jaffy27]

Was hoping Habs moved JD and brought CC in. Oh well,maybe in the off-season

That’s probably when it would happen.....too much term and too much money to deal at TDL

Let’s hope he has a good playoff to boost his value, 30pts a year for a 5m$ player just doesn’t cut it.

Fresh start in a low stress environment would probably do him some good

 

[sandviper]

I have been hot and cold on JD all season. Well, really ever since he came here, but the guy isn't completely worthless. I think some people are just overly angry at him. He has been underperforming and inconsistent, that won't spur any debate from me. I just think there's no need to consider buyouts, sending him to the AHL, etc.

His trade value is still there. Sure, it's at an all time low, but he can still be a piece of this team. That said, if he's moved, I'm ok with that. Honestly, between him and Danault, I'd rather keep the center, money being close/equal.

 

[azcanuck]

Danault warrants Selke consideration this year.

The truth is he's really come on in the second half and become a very valuable forward. He's like a swiss army knife, he can do it all.

 

[azcanuck]

I have been hot and cold on JD all season. Well, really ever since he came here, but the guy isn't completely worthless. I think some people are just overly angry at him. He has been underperforming and inconsistent, that won't spur any debate from me. I just think there's no need to consider buyouts, sending him to the AHL, etc.

His trade value is still there. Sure, it's at an all time low, but he can still be a piece of this team. That said, if he's moved, I'm ok with that. Honestly, between him and Danault, I'd rather keep the center, money being close/equal.

I would take Danault any day over Drouin.

 

[Deebs]

The truth is he's really come on in the second half and become a very valuable forward. He's like a swiss army knife, he can do it all.

He's been outstanding over the past 2-3 weeks

 

[MasterDecoy]

Torn here...HATE the Laffs...HATE Bargain Bin...so if we beat the Laffs, Bargain Bin stays...The Fates hate me...

Seriously?

 

[1909]

Fair comments!

Staal: I think it was a decent trade and we have a surplus of picks. It will not affect our ability to target assets on our draft board so I don't consider this a negative. There was one play last night that Staal did not cover Tavares well (2nd goal I believe). He just was not physical enough on him. I think there are several guys on our roster that not physical enough when they should be. I think this changes in the playoffs where the refs don't call as much. I would wait to make a final assessment on Staal... still need more sample size. Honestly, I would use him for faceoffs and he shifts to wing after the faceoff. His big frame can help us along the walls but had to tell if he is comfortable with that or not

Danault: Middle 2C who plays a great 200' game or elite 3C. Same thing with me. We agree on that. Hopefully we can lock him up for a value contract and he's not after $5M+ anymore. If he is, he is going to have to explore the market and circle back to the Habs once he gets humbled again. I honestly don't think he wants to leave the Habs and I don't believe any other team is going to pay him more than 3 years at $5M. He has to be careful of his high demands IMO.

Suzuki: I agree. He's a 2nd line center or fringe 1C once he reaches his prime. Hockey IQ and skill is very high but skating will hold him back IMO. His skating is not bad but it's not well above average for what a center needs to drive possession.

Kotkaniemi: I think he is our best shot at a puck possession #1C. When Suzuki and KK are 22/23 or 23/24 and the other kids below them are NHL ready, our team is going to be different. Vets will be either gone or on expiring contracts and I can see another re-set. Hopefully at that time, we can get a good pick from an off year and get that start we need to push us to another level.

Evans and Poehling: Great pieces to have. They will be in our forward mix either at center or on wing.

Staal won't be around next season.

 

[Hullois]

Drouin is having a typical season for him. He did the same thing last year. Great start, then disappeared. He still makes some nice plays once in a while but ask Tampa if they would trade Sergachev for Drouin right now....

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Good game for the Habs

 

[WatchfulElm]

Suzuki/Toffoli need some speed on that wing Armia is not a good fit IMO.

Caufield would be the best fit!

 

[Lshap]

As long as your wife didn’t start screaming “Put it in the 5 Hole”!!!!

Your kids would’ve ran out the house

I usually score from the dirty areas. Just sayin...

 

[jaffy27]

I usually score from the dirty areas. Just sayin...

Touché lol

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Danault warrants Selke consideration this year.

...if the Selke truly went to the best defensive forward in the NHL, Danault would be at least a finalist every year (except this year, his first 20-odd games were not at his usual level defensively)...the Selke always goes to the best "200ft player" and Danault doesn't provide enough offense to win it, imo...that's what's stopping him, not his defensive game; he honestly may be the best defensive C in hockey...

Staal

...ah, yes, I stand corrected...Drou Drou was only the second worse player on the ice last night...Staal was pure garbage...

 

[Habs Icing]

I usually score from the dirty areas. Just sayin...

For your sake, I hope the wife doesn't read this.

 

[Habano]

Why bring him up and play him for 8 minutes??? This is the type of time management that we criticize from our own coaches. Kid works hard, and his team sucked bad in the first.

Which brings me to the Foligno arrival...he's a valuable asset for sure. But on a team of stars, which ice time is he going to fill? Guy was the captsin of the BJ. He won't endure playing on a 4th line you know.

This is the type of tactic Julien would use with our youngsters. It really is unfair to the players.

I agree with you, he works hard and he will be a decent bottom 6 player however, I've had enough of the Fig fans saying how he's been better than Caufield post draft. I know they come and read our PGTs and then scurry back to their board like cockroaches and cry about what we're saying. I just wanted to give them something else to go crazy about

As far as Foligno goes, I'm sure they'll try to slot him in on their 1st or 2nd line. Most of this season they've really had a hard time trying to find the proper wingers for their top 4 players. They're so low on depth that they tried the likes of Mikheyev, Thornton and Simmonds on the top 2 lines. Right now they're using Galchenyuk and I believe Hyman. Foligno can easily replace one of those 2.

 

[Habs Icing]

Kotkaniemi: our best shot at a puck possession #1C.

Those are two qualities.

#1 C and puck possession.

For me, #1C implies an extremely offensive game.

Can you point out to me when he has displayed either quality. His offense is third-line level at best. Puck possession. Let's not go there. I think you and many posters are projecting your hopes onto this player.

 

[Archijerej]

I usually score from the dirty areas. Just sayin...

For your sake, I hope the wife doesn't read this.

To quote the great Tony Soprano: "Vito's a good earner. He's a come from behind kind of guy."

 

[MarkovsKnee]

How does a buyout of Drouin look? He's heading down that path.

He has 2 years left on his contract, so $1,833,333m over 4 years.