Habs defense what needs to be fixed?

[Ilyeu]

The defense has been a big problem. The 3 goal lead in less than 4 minutes and the complete lack of control, along with the 3 goals scored on break aways last game. Something seriously needs to be tweaked in the off season. If this team is going to be a cup contending team every year, the back needs to be addressed. Our defense has been our weakness for a very long time. We've addressed it with a few players and new youngsters, but we still have useless players and old players. Teams like Los Angeles and Chicago don't do what the Habs do on consistent basis.

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[Draft]

Mobility is the biggest concern.

 

[Andy]

Poise. A couple of defenders lack some.

Next is mobility. It's okay to have one defender in the d-core to be a little less mobile, but you can't have 4 d-man who struggle with mobility. Emelin is a fluid skate when skating forward, but doesn't have the same fluidity when defending. Weaver, Gorges, Emelin and Markov all struggle with it.

 

[Guess]

Poise. A couple of defenders lack some.

Gorges?

 

[Habs_Apostle]

Price. He just calms everyone down back there. Tokarski is erratic and it filters down to the d-core; they seem to panic around him.

 

[Andy]

Gorges?

Gorges, Emelin, Boullion. Weaver lacks poise occasionally, but I can live with it since he's a bottom pairing D-man.

 

[Markov4Captain]

Gorges needs to be taken for what he is- a #4 damn or a #5-6 dman on a contender. I do honestly believe that everything we need on D is in Beaulieu and Tinordi. We just need to be patient and see them develop. The potentials of prospects like Pateryn and Nygren will help. Habs will be solid when these youngsters pan out.

 

[LastRide]

Subban needs to quit flopping on the ice all the time trying to break up a pass. The D needs to stop deflecting shots into their own net. Quit being sloppy in their own end. The D is what will end up killing them in the end.

 

[Habs]

Some ****ing size for **** sakes.

 

[elsubz]

Gorges is pretty good at two things: getting totally wrecked by opposing players and shifting the momentum to the other team.

 

[MD thaivuN]

We need Murray

 

[Willis Jenks]

Some ****ing size for **** sakes.

Size?!? Really??? I thought we were over this stupid obsession. We need speed dammit, we need to take a page out of the Rangers books on this on. Need some mobility back there.

 

[Seb]

First of all : Get rid of Emelin

 

[Fazkovsky]

Jared Tinordi, Greg Pateryn, Magnus Nygren In

Gorges, Emelin out in the off season

What needs to be fixed? Our d lacks size and some consistent play. Markov, Subban arent exactly stellar defensively. Gorges can play d but brings zero offence. Emelin is bad and Weaver is a good 6th-7d nothing else. You can already see the importance of Beaulieu.

There is a hole to be filled that can be done by youngsters or a UFA signing this summer.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Price. He just calms everyone down back there. Tokarski is erratic and it filters down to the d-core; they seem to panic around him.

Give me a break. The D is weak with or without Price.

 

[WhiskeySeven*]

Gorges is pretty good at two things: getting totally wrecked by opposing players and shifting the momentum to the other team.

No credit for the fact that he can soak up ~20 minutes a night and is fantastic on the PK? You guys were on your knees for Hamrlik's terrible offense and lumbering play ("he's so savvy in his positioning") that clown had a gigantic contract in '08 numbers and everybody loved him. But Gorges, who actually sacrifices his body for the play is supposedly the worst d-man on this team.

If you guys don't know the tiniest thing about defensive positioning - lurk more and quit embarrassing yourselves. Every team would need and want Josh Gorges. He's a consistent top4 dman.

 

[Habs]

Size?!? Really??? I thought we were over this stupid obsession. We need speed dammit, we need to take a page out of the Rangers books on this on. Need some mobility back there.

Way too small and immobile, they are getting pounded back there.

 

[Lebowski]

Jared Tinordi, Greg Pateryn, Magnus Nygren In

Gorges, Emelin out in the off season

What needs to be fixed? Our d lacks size and some consistent play. Markov, Subban arent exactly stellar defensively. Gorges can play d but brings zero offence. Emelin is bad and Weaver is a good 6th-7d nothing else. You can already see the importance of Beaulieu.

There is a hole to be filled that can be done by youngsters or a UFA signing this summer.

So we're running FOUR rookies, including Beaulieu, next season?

You really want McDavid, don't you?

I'm all for swapping Emelin for Tinordi and hopefully find a top 6 / top 9 forward in return of Emelin, but I think Gorges and Weaver have to be back if we want to keep walking on a winning path. Winning isn't only good for fans' moods. It helps to develop players as well.

 

[Luigi Habs]

First of all : Get rid of Emelin

Emelin was playing injured. He was great against Boston. Emelin is a #4 defenseman, he's considered #3 with us. We really need a top pairing defenseman and everything would fall into place.

 

[raz123]

Price. He just calms everyone down back there. Tokarski is erratic and it filters down to the d-core; they seem to panic around him.

Nonsense. The Bruins' and the Rangers' puck control in our zone is phenomenal. Our D is falling back and blocking shots. This is a recipe for injuries and losses on the long term.

 

[paddy]

Gorges is pretty good at two things: getting totally wrecked by opposing players and shifting the momentum to the other team.

He's the champ for running into his goalie or pushing other players into his goalie. Offensively, can't find someone worse. Overrated player.

 

[Etienne]

Some of you guys are crazy to think Tinordi and Beaulieu will salvage this D next year. They're glorified rookies and both of them will have a learning curve that will have an impact. They'll make turnovers, they'll get caught out of position, etc... They will learn and improve -hopefully- but this won't happen overnight. To believe otherwise is just wishful thinking.

 

[Nedved]

there's no structure, or various strategies for different styles, when price plays the puck/doesn't; which guy is holding the puck, so where should forward be; tendencies; opposition on the ice, etc.

a lot of it is off ice stuff. they need to watch film of themselves and other teams.

with emelin out, thought we might see tinordi...but that would give therrien headaches because he's not really a structured guy. seems more gut, which is okay inside the structure of everyone being on the same page.

watching markov weaver makes me think the communication is poor between pairings, coaches, etc. and that's why therrien is scared to play rookies. it's his inability to communicate.

 

[Fazkovsky]

So we're running FOUR rookies, including Beaulieu, next season?

You really want McDavid, don't you?

I'm all for swapping Emelin for Tinordi and hopefully find a top 6 / top 9 forward in return of Emelin, but I think Gorges and Weaver have to be back if we want to keep walking on a winning path. Winning isn't only good for fans' moods. It helps to develop players as well.

Well, you have to develop them. I agree that 4 rookies may be extreme but teams all over the NHL are ready to play rookies every year. Its not like Subban was out of place during his rookie year. We keep locking guys like Gorges, Emelin for 4m while some young guys are way cheaper and ready. This is a type of mistake we keep doing.

 

[TT1]

we need a rock solid #4 RD