Gorges & Gionta

[Guess]

Hey guys,

Habs fan here, hoping your tank is successful

I'm wondering what you think of Gionta and Gorges this season.

Gionta lost a lot of his shot after his two bicep surgeries, and Gorges wasn't able to move the puck up well so it hurt our transition. Haven't watched them with you guys though.

Click to read more...

 

[tsujimoto74]

Love Gorges so far. Dude is a shot-blocking machine, a vocal leader, and a nice fit next to Myers. Gionta hasn't really done all that much .

 

[Paxon]

Gorges is as expected. He's a great fit (considering what we have to work with) with Myers but ideally he'd be a second-pairing guy. His puck skills are poor, whether it be passes that seem to never be cleanly handled or shoots that never find their way to the goalie, but that aside he makes pretty solid decisions with the puck. In his own zone he's a stay-at-home warrior. He should have been our captain, no question in my book. This team currently has three definite NHL defensemen and he's one of them.

Gionta is a bit of a disappointment but not one that's any sort of shock. Having seen quite a lot of Montreal over the years, I knew what to expect as to where his game is at, but what he has to offer on this team specifically just falls very flat. Girgensons is a quality linemate (our best forward in all likelihood) but he's still just a second-year player finding his offensive game, while the other linemate is Torrey Mitchell. He'd be better off if he were 'protected' by being the clear third-best player on his line I think, which isn't and almost couldn't be the case here so far. I think he's a bit of a lost soul as a player right now. I looked at him to replace Ott as the decent all-around third liner who can play second line and both special teams units. I think he's done that just fine replacing Ott, but I did think he was going to be something of an upgrade and I'm not sure that's been the case.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Gionta got us Gorges and Gorges refused Toronto, he's also a damn fine Dman. Totes a fan of the Gorges.

 

[jvirk]

Gorges = Awesome.
- He's been a great fit as Tyler Myers D-partner. I feel like this is what Myers has missed since his rookie season when he had a veteran like Tallinder with him.
- He's a TRUE leader. Dude should be wearing the "C" next season.
- I love his style of play....I don't even know how to elaborate on it.

Gionta = Piece of crap so far? I guess that's the nicest way to put it.
- Playing like he doesn't really care. He got a nice 3 year contract which he'll end his career with so he's probably happy about that.
- Does not deserve to have a letter, let alone a "C". I for one don't like the idea of giving the captaincy to a newcomer. I would of wanted to see Myers with it, or perhaps Girgensons. With the A's going to Gorges and Girgs/Myers (whoever doesn't get the C).
- He's at the end of his career. I don't see him being any better than a 4th line winger at this point in his career. I honestly hope he retires at the end of this season, that's how pitiful he is. He's absolutely invisible out there.


Anyways...tank on baby!! Woohooooooo!!

 

[jvirk]

I also wanna add that I think the same of Gionta as I do of Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick, and other "vets" on this team like Stafford and Stewart.

I honestly want all of them to be gone after this season. McCormick I guess would be fine as a 4th liner. I guess if he's on a 3 yr contract then might as well have him on the 4th line. I still like Kaleta ALOT more over him. Kaleta is an absolute beast of a penalty killer. He's also 100x better than Cody at fighting. He's a home-town favorite too. Would much rather see Kaleta out there as a PK specialist so that one of our main guys like Reinhart, Girgs, etc...don't have to play as much on the PK and burn their fuel (when we're competitive of course) or even risk getting injured.

 

[Bps21*]

Gorges has been terrific.

Who is this Gionta of which you speak?

 

[ZeroPT*]

Gorges should've been named captain IMO. I love him.

Gionta is meh

 

[mikemcburn]

Gorges = Awesome.
- He's been a great fit as Tyler Myers D-partner. I feel like this is what Myers has missed since his rookie season when he had a veteran like Tallinder with him.
- He's a TRUE leader. Dude should be wearing the "C" next season.
- I love his style of play....I don't even know how to elaborate on it.

Gionta = Piece of crap so far? I guess that's the nicest way to put it.
- Playing like he doesn't really care. He got a nice 3 year contract which he'll end his career with so he's probably happy about that.
- Does not deserve to have a letter, let alone a "C". I for one don't like the idea of giving the captaincy to a newcomer. I would of wanted to see Myers with it, or perhaps Girgensons. With the A's going to Gorges and Girgs/Myers (whoever doesn't get the C).
- He's at the end of his career. I don't see him being any better than a 4th line winger at this point in his career. I honestly hope he retires at the end of this season, that's how pitiful he is. He's absolutely invisible out there.


Anyways...tank on baby!! Woohooooooo!!

You're sayin' what I queried as being a concern when he was appointed captain.

I don't know Gionta, haven't followed him (or Montreal, lol) though note how he's considered quite the stand up guy. Still, just looking at his numbers the last 5 years, he's been clearly trending down and I couldn't (still don't) get why coaching staff would put the 'C' on a 35 year old career high 2nd liner who is already ground down to somewhere around the 3rd line...

My concern went to what has to give first -

- does Gionta get forced into early retirement or become another trade-away Sabres captain?

- does coaching staff end up having to choose between what's worse for morale: stripping the 'C', finding Gionta ice time over those who deserve it, or letting the other guys watch their so-called Captain rotated between the press box and sitting on the bench fighting for 4th liner minutes?

Since raising that concern though, you're right, he looks more like a 4th already. I'm guessing something gives and his tenure as 'C' ends before his 3 year contract is up.

 

[jvirk]

You're sayin' what I queried as being a concern when he was appointed captain.

I don't know Gionta, haven't followed him (or Montreal, lol) though note how he's considered quite the stand up guy. Still, just looking at his numbers the last 5 years, he's been clearly trending down and I couldn't (still don't) get why coaching staff would put the 'C' on a 35 year old career high 2nd liner who is already ground down to somewhere around the 3rd line...

My concern went to what has to give first -

- does Gionta get forced into early retirement or become another trade-away Sabres captain?

- does coaching staff end up having to choose between what's worse for morale: stripping the 'C', finding Gionta ice time over those who deserve it, or letting the other guys watch their so-called Captain rotated between the press box and sitting on the bench fighting for 4th liner minutes?

Since raising that concern though, you're right, he looks more like a 4th already. I'm guessing something gives and his tenure as 'C' ends before his 3 year contract is up.

Exactly, I think you made some great points.

I honestly don't know if he'll retire after this season or even next season, I can only say that I HOPE he does. If he's from around here originally, then maybe the organization gives him a job or something, idk. But I think the captaincy definitely goes to Josh Gorges OR one of the other guys in our organization such as Tyler Myers, Girgensons, etc...

I know this is away from the point but I don't like the idea of giving the "A" to Matt Moulson either. I never saw any leadership qualities in him. I think he's a decent player still, and if we had more skill on this roster I feel like he can still contribute scoring goals and be a good offensive player...heck, we don't have many wingers. But I don't see that true "leadership" role in him. I don't see it in his play this year nor did I EVER see it in his body language or play or any stories about him. I feel like he got it b/c Ted Nolan hates anyone under the age of 25 lol

Anyways, I'm just off on a tangent lol

 

[1972]

Gorges has been great. Gionta is a shell of his former self, I wouldn't be surprised if he is gone next season.

 

[mikemcburn]

Exactly, I think you made some great points.

I honestly don't know if he'll retire after this season or even next season, I can only say that I HOPE he does. If he's from around here originally, then maybe the organization gives him a job or something, idk. But I think the captaincy definitely goes to Josh Gorges OR one of the other guys in our organization such as Tyler Myers, Girgensons, etc...

I know this is away from the point but I don't like the idea of giving the "A" to Matt Moulson either. I never saw any leadership qualities in him. I think he's a decent player still, and if we had more skill on this roster I feel like he can still contribute scoring goals and be a good offensive player...heck, we don't have many wingers. But I don't see that true "leadership" role in him. I don't see it in his play this year nor did I EVER see it in his body language or play or any stories about him. I feel like he got it b/c Ted Nolan hates anyone under the age of 25 lol

Anyways, I'm just off on a tangent lol

My god! Are you my other self??? Where were you when I was nattering about Moulson's plastic chomping "leadership" skills? Arg, I entirely don't "get" Moulson or remotely understand how someone who seems to surf board around while linemates like Ennis at least *try*, ends up being considered a good leader/mentor???

Seriously, this guy Moulson, a leader? Huh?

I call him a passive chomping surfer around the house here. No matter what one thinks of Ennis, I just go fruity watching him do all the heavy work while Moulson surfs and chomps, then seeing how it's Ennis who gets dissed on by fans. Where is Moulson stepping up to make their duet work? Where is Moulson on the bench being seen talking to Ennis, giving pointers, teaching Ennis not to try doing it all himself? Moulson is nowhere.

Ennis/Hodgson get the heat, while Moulson is no better offensively, a floater defensively, and practices chomping talents while surfing around. A "leader"??? ARGG!

Okay, gotta go breathe now, lol

EDIT: Heck, even this thread should have Moulson's name in the subject header - he's a "leader" after all too, right? Moulson isn't off limits for getting some heat is he? At least Ennis/Hodgson have scored this year, lol

 

[yahhockey]

Having friends that are big Habs fans I had an idea of what type of players Gorges and Gionta could be for us. Gorges is playing as expected and even though I had the Gionta bar set low to begin with he and his current pace of 8.2, well okay we'll round up and give him 9 points has somehow managed to disappoint me. In the big picture most of his salary was going to be earned from his leadership and I can only hope that he has had a positive impact on the team in that regard. In a way his poor on-ice production is only pro-tank so I could care less if he tallies another point the rest of the season as long as he plays hard and mentors the youngsters.

 

[Beerz]

Gorges should be captain

 

[KingTux]

Well your reactions are what a lot of habs fan were expecting. Sucks to see Gionta being such a disapointment

 

[Fly Boy]

I can't for the life of me figure out why they gave Gionta a 3 year deal. It confused me then and it's even more perplexing now. Whatever though, it happened so we gotta deal with it.

 

[Jim Bob]

We are getting what I expected out of both Gorges and Gionta.

Brian had declining offensive numbers with better supporting casts in Montreal. I don't know why people expected him to drive the offense here or are that surprised that dropping him on this roster has caused his offense to dry up.

He's a winger version of Regehr.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I can't for the life of me figure out why they gave Gionta a 3 year deal. It confused me then and it's even more perplexing now. Whatever though, it happened so we gotta deal with it.

Because he's our transition leader until someone else is ready for a letter. The team should be turning the corner into a contender in 3 or 4 years. Right when Gionta's contract ends. Coincidence? I think not. He's here for the rebuild, and the he'll be gone. It's that simple.

 

[couture23]

Gorges should easily be captain, agreed with everything here.

 

[Myllz]

I can't for the life of me figure out why they gave Gionta a 3 year deal. It confused me then and it's even more perplexing now. Whatever though, it happened so we gotta deal with it.

Because this team won't be competitive for 3 years, which makes his deal largely irrelevant.

 

[Zman5778]

Well your reactions are what a lot of habs fan were expecting. Sucks to see Gionta being such a disapointment

He's only a disappointment to anyone that expected him to provide offense.

He's been a defensive stalwart and from all indications great in the room.

 

[mikemcburn]

He's only a disappointment to anyone that expected him to provide offense.

He's been a defensive stalwart and from all indications great in the room.

Defensive stalwart? On the Sabres? The active roster?

Does Gionta know?

 

[Djp]

I can't for the life of me figure out why they gave Gionta a 3 year deal. It confused me then and it's even more perplexing now. Whatever though, it happened so we gotta deal with it.

A safe player to get to the Cap floor......signing Moulson, gorges, and Gionta got buffalo yo the cap floor.

He is on the downside of his career for a local kids. I wasn't expecting much from him.

In 15/16 and 16/17 I see him as a 4th liner or sitting in the press box half the season and be a spot sub on the top 3 lines.

 

[Fly Boy]

I don't mind the actual Gionta signing, we all knew it was coming. My issue was giving him that 3rd year. I'm sure they could have landed him on a 2 year deal and I think people are going to be absolutely sick of him in that last year.

 

[jvirk]

We can always buy him out on that 3rd year I think?

I think it'll be inevitable by then anyways. Either way I was never a fan of giving the captaincy to Gionta, but that's hindsight. Only thing we can do is just look forward. I'm sure a new coach will be in here after 2 years since Nolan seems so "anti-youth no matter what", I'm sure the new coach will pick his captains, etc...