Ohashi_Jouzu*
Registered User
Sounds like his point is that anyone who thinks they KNOW at this point, is probably getting ahead of themselves for no reason.
Are the Habs contenders?
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Sounds like his point is that anyone who thinks they KNOW at this point, is probably getting ahead of themselves for no reason.
I added a PS to that post you quoted.
I'll copy it for simplicity sake.
LastWordArmy
Registered User
There was a third significant injury. Jeff Petry who is the team's #2 defenceman (in terms of importance, he surpassed Markov).
Add those three back, plus Radulov, plus add Shaw and Weber, remove Eller and Subban, and yes I think they are contenders.
Remember that in 2014 they were in the conference finals, in 2015 they got 110 points and lost a close series to tampa.
The aberration here is December - April last season, not everything else.
LastWordArmy
Registered User
The Habs goaltending from November 27th (the day after Price's injury) to the end of last season was a .901 save percentage.
Over the full season, this would have been the 29th ranked team save percentage in the league (Calgary was the only team worse).
NHL average goaltending in 2015-16 was .917.
That's a difference of 28 goals against between the goaltending the Habs had and league average.
Let's remember that even without Carey Price, if they got league average goaltending... they would have been a playoff team. (28 goals difference... were 11 points out of playoffs).
Over the full season, this would have been the 29th ranked team save percentage in the league (Calgary was the only team worse).
NHL average goaltending in 2015-16 was .917.
That's a difference of 28 goals against between the goaltending the Habs had and league average.
Let's remember that even without Carey Price, if they got league average goaltending... they would have been a playoff team. (28 goals difference... were 11 points out of playoffs).
Grate n Colorful Oz
Hutson Hawk
Excuses. Price finished with a ,905 save% in 12-13 and despite this, habs finished top 5 in the league.
Most likely candidate to come back down to Earth...and then some. Remind me of last year's Rangers.
LastWordArmy
Registered User
Wasn't an excuse, just an illustration of exactly how bad the goaltending the Habs got last year was in comparison to league average.
Fact is the failure to have an adequate backup is something that Habs management must bear the responsibility for. It doesn't excuse them at all.
Of course this is another area the roster is improved this year. Montoya is much better than Condon/Scrivens.
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I'm not sure if Montoya is better than Condon or not. Condon has only played one season in the NHL, but was terrible in doing so. Maybe he can be better than what we saw last year? Need to see more from him.
As of now, Montoya is better. Montoya is the type of backup that's play seems to be inconsistent from year to year. He was horrific in the 14-15 season for the Panthers, yet was pretty good last year. There's quite a few backups like this around the league that fluctuate from year to year. Enroth, Johnson, Greiss, Reimer, probably forgetting a few others.
No they are not, when price goes down the team gets exposed for what it really is, a bottom feeder.
MXD
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Hey Sherlock, any team with the worst goaltending in the league (in terms of results) will be a bottom feeder...
Plekaturtlenec
Registered User
Galchenyuk is a legit #1C, that's not their problem. Their problem is the #2C.
HabsQC
Registered User
This is what bothers me. The team plays a poor game against the Leafs - which seems to be about the only time anyone from HFBoards bothers to watch them - and draw conclusions.
Every team has games where they don't look great. Overall, the team is very solid. And the "they're all Price" narrative is one of the biggest loads of drivel ever perpetrated on these boards.
DaNaultinus
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Having played 9 games the habs are currently first in the NHL. You cannot state that they are not dominating the league and then go on to try to justify that using other teams stats for the same amount of games. If you believe 9 games is not enough to draw a conclusion for Montreal's strength then the same must be said for the records of all other teams as well. You can't just pick and choose what you feel makes your strongest argument when it's logically invalid.
optimus2861
Registered User
They have one. The trouble is, the coach probably still doesn't really believe in him as #1C and would much rather put his beloved midget pet back there instead.
We saw this movie last year. "Hot start, OMG, Habs are legit!" Fell to pieces when they hit adversity, and it doesn't take long when things start to go south for Therrien to start actively making things worse with his pointless line blending and throwing players under his bus.
They'll make the playoffs & win a round, and unless Price steals a second one, that's as far as Therrien can take them.
MXD
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Finding ways to win games that should've been losses is usually the mark of a great team, I'll give you that.
Finding ways to win games that should've been losses against non-playoffs or fringe playoffs team is an issue, however.
I've seen every Habs games this season (at least, partially seen). I don't think it was your argument, but I figured I'd adress it instead.
Sometimes, teams will lose when playing a great game, and sometimes, they'll win while playing a great game, regardless of goaltending. The first never happened this season so far (the loss against the Sens was far from from a "good" game, or even an "average" game), and the second happened at least twice. I'm not saying the Leafs deserved a win on Saturday : goaltending is not an extraneous variable, and Price vs. Andersen is a terrible mismatch (Andersen wasn't even bad), but Montreal didn't play like a winning team either.
As a Habs fan, I understand the skepticism behind the team's performance. Last season the team went 18-4-3 with Condon starting 13 games and them leading in almost every category. They may very well make the playoffs (not really a feat with Price) but until they have some legitimate playoff success, it's hard to take them seriously. Looking at the Tampas and the Rangers, they have guys who've proven to be playoff performers. Habs have no one.
They are all Price. Even management concedes this as fact, he is the face of the franchise.
They are all Price. Even management concedes this as fact, he is the face of the franchise.
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No doubt (though I disagree with them being all Price). There's also the fact that half of Montreals D corps and goalie was in the World Cup. I'm pretty sure that helped them fly out of the gate quicker. Other teams are going to adjust to the Habs too and it will get very tough. I do think they have the team to make the playoffs though. I also like the forwards a lot more this year. Scoring seems to be more balanced throughout the forwards. Good start, we'll see how it goes from here.
But yes, ridiculously early to talk about contenders right now.
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Bobby Orr's Knees
Registered User
If Price (who's the best and most valuable player in the NHL in my opinion) stays healthy - yes. They are a much better team overall with a legit emergence of Galchenyak, and additions of Radulov and Webber. I love PK, but Weber brings something different to the team - and I like the quality that he adds.
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