Pre-Game Talk: Edmonton vs Montreal, Monday 7pm

[salbutera]

I liked it better when Kotkaniemi had actual talent on his wings smh

He will once Caufield’s called up.

Forest from the trees...

 

[417]

They seem to be really proud of the collection of players they’ve acquired from the legendary 2003 draft, unfortunately for Bargain he’s picked them all up 10 years too late.

I'm a fan of the Staal pick up...but it appears the Habs think they're getting the Staal from 10yrs ago.

Maybe they know something I don't

 

[the]

Let's GOOO!!

The Eric Staal era has begun!!

He will be our #1 center by the end of the week.

 

[Kriss E]

This is the best explanation and I agree with him. They had a couple of good games together. Now I hope he’s smart enough to still give good minutes to KK.

That's a dumb ass reason. This team is not going to do anything focusing on Staal and Danault down the middle. This is silliness.

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

That "2nd" line screams defensively responsible... LOL

Good thing it's a home gave and Dom has last change otherwise EDM would put McDrai on the ice when they are on ans skate circles around them.

The Danault line will be busy tonight!

 

[WeThreeKings]

That's a dumb ass reason. This team is not going to do anything focusing on Staal and Danault down the middle. This is silliness.

Classic Habs mentality

I need 10$ now, instead of investing on something with the potential to yield $100.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I get this argument, but there's also the argument to be made that not every single player needs to be a Selke candidate. If Kotkaniemi can set up people in the offensive zone and give the team a chance to score, then playing him with wingers who can take advantage of that seems like a much smarter thing to do than playing him with guys who have a combined six goals this season. You don't have to give him defensive zone faceoffs or put him out there with a minute left to defend the lead if you think he may be a liability, but you should lean in on a player's strengths rather than try to hide their weaknesses, which also all but eliminates the reason the player has been good lately.

Yep, true.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I'm a fan of the Staal pick up...but it appears the Habs think they're getting the Staal from 10yrs ago.

Maybe they know something I don't

Oh, me too.

But yeah, I expected him to not displace KK who’s been playing pretty good.

 

[le_sean]

That's a dumb ass reason. This team is not going to do anything focusing on Staal and Danault down the middle. This is silliness.

I mean the Danault line has been the best line since the return and KK was a -3 and looked putrid in the last game against Ottawa. It’s not like these lines are set in stone until the end of the season.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Classic Habs mentality

I need 10$ now, instead of investing on something with the potential to yield $100.

This is literally the best analogy of Habs management I’ve ever seen. Spot on.

 

[angusyoung]

Let's GOOO!!

The Eric Staal era has begun!!

He will be our #1 center by the end of the week.

He already is!

 

[Vachon23]

Habs treatment of young players at the NHL level is a joke.

NHL is not a developing league it’s a result league. The development is for the AHL

 

[BLONG7]

I mean the Danault line has been the best line since the return and KK was a -3 and looked putrid in the last game against Ottawa. It’s not like these lines are set in stone until the end of the season.

Dano was -2 last game? The entire team was bad, not just KK. Petry was -5 I mean it was an awful effort by almost everyone....but you throw KK under the bus?

 

[Kriss E]

I mean the Danault line has been the best line since the return and KK was a -3 and looked putrid in the last game against Ottawa. It’s not like these lines are set in stone until the end of the season.

How surprising..a line with Byron and Lek isn't tearing shit up.
Our focus needs to be Suzuki and KK. Our success is highly dependent on them developing into better players.
We never learn..

 

[expy]

Welp. Either going to be a close higher scoring game, or a bloodbath (against Mtl).

 

[le_sean]

Dano was -2 last game? The entire team was bad, not just KK. Petry was -5 I mean it was an awful effort by almost everyone....but you throw KK under the bus?

I don’t like Danault but the line is the most effective right now. There’s no argument against it. 8 points in his last 6 games for him.

I’m not throwing KK under the bus but he was directly responsible for at least one goal against the last game. A play that a CHL player would have made. But he had a couple of really good games with speedy defensive wingers. So put them together again. Makes sense to me.

 

[OldCraig71]

Wow, who could have predicted this?

 

[Ozmodiar]

I'm a fan of the Staal pick up...but it appears the Habs think they're getting the Staal from 10yrs ago.

Maybe they know something I don't

it’s safe to say.

 

[417]

NHL is not a developing league it’s a result league. The development is for the AHL

People say this all the time...but it couldn't be further from the truth.

There are examples of players all over the NHL who are developing IN the NHL.

Including our very own Habs

 

[tazsub3]

contrary to popular talk on the board, i actually like the lines for tonight and can see it progressing to a trio of KK with CC and Armia
Not bad if you ask me.
It is a process, and we not in a must win mode. SO chill people

 

[lamp9post]

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

Well, you were right...they did find a way to bump KK to the 4th line after all.

 

[417]

it’s safe to say.

Hey if Eric Staal is the Eric Staal of 10yrs ago.

Kudos to the Habs.

I won't hold my breath though.

 

[CHfan1]

I mean the Danault line has been the best line since the return and KK was a -3 and looked putrid in the last game against Ottawa. It’s not like these lines are set in stone until the end of the season.

I don’t think KK looked putrid last game. He made a mistake chasing a player behind the net, which was made worse by Petry chasing the same player afterwards.

He did make numerous plays to set-up high danger scoring chances too though. Setting up Perry, Toffoli, and Anderson in particular.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I mean the Danault line has been the best line since the return and KK was a -3 and looked putrid in the last game against Ottawa. It’s not like these lines are set in stone until the end of the season.

How did he look putrid? He made a beautiful pass to Anderson for a goal and also set Toffoli up multiple times, including a breakaway. The PP presences weren't great, but they weren't great for anyone on the team.. and the defensive side was the unfortunate side effect of being on the ice while Petry self-destructed.

 

[le_sean]

Hey if Eric Staal is the Eric Staal of 10yrs ago.

Kudos to the Habs.

I won't hold my breath though.

Even if he’s the Eric Staal of last year it’s a huge acquisition.