Pre-Game Talk: Habs @ Leafs - tonight at 7

[dinodebino]

Evans and Belzile played together last year. Throwing it out there.

 

[OldCraig71]

Yeah he sucks but he's not sitting tonight to allow for Yannick Veilleix to play a hockey game to pander to a select group of fans.

If I was quebecois id frankly be insulted to think the organization thinks so little of the cultural identity that Alex Belzile should give me pride

This is how I feel as well. We are seeing the same with the GM and coching position, talent doesn't seem to matter as long as there is representation.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm Québecois and, in this debate, my pride stems mostly to be on the side who's not mad about, ultimately, Michael Frolik being a healthy scratch.

I gave a list of other names, too. I'm not mad about Frolik or actually at any of it. It's just sad that they can't even stand up to the potential backlash of this.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I see no reason for outrage here.

I was annoyed when I thought Poehling was overstepped but he's not an option so it doesn't really matter. Frolik, Weal... I mean, these aren't guys to get upset over.

If they can't even have the backbone to allow better options than Belzile to play tonight then it does not bode well that this organization will ever change philosophies that have been to our detriment. And this extends to other areas beyond needing to have a francophone player on the team.

 

[WeThreeKings]

This is how I feel as well. We are seeing the same with the GM and coching position, talent doesn't seem to matter as long as there is representation.

And it seems that some people can't see the difference here when no one cared that Belzile played last year even in the playoffs when it was deserved.

This is so hollow and empty its really insulting at its core.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If they can't even have the backbone to allow better options than Belzile to play tonight then it does not bode well that this organization will ever change philosophies that have been to our detriment. And this extends to other areas beyond needing to have a francophone player on the team.

If they put him in over Poehling... I'd be upset. But I don't see the need for outrage here man. It's inconsequential and I get the club wanting to maintain some history. They're not really doing it at the expense of anyone that matters a whole lot so...

Let's move on.

 

[Bomatane]

Nostrils will suck our air again ...

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Well we both know that if I were coach I'd be putting you on the ice

Agree that it's an empty gesture. You know more than most where I stand on identity politics. This is just an optics move so that Bergevin doesn't have be 'that guy'. From my perspective, if this little move keeps the summer conversation centered on how objectively terrible Bergevin's reign has been, rather than allowing the dishonest journos out there to spin the conversation into a language thing, well I'll take that silver lining.

I would bet dollars to donuts that most of those angered by the move support identity politics when it aligns with their own biases or opinions, though.

Well, I'm definitely offended by Staal in the lineup.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If they put him in over Poehling... I'd be upset. But I don't see the need for outrage here man. It's inconsequential and I get the club wanting to maintain some history. They're not really doing it at the expense of anyone that matters a whole lot so...

Let's move on.

Well there's a tenured NHLer who has endured the entire covid protocol and shit for the season who doesn't draw back in for the stunt.

There's a leader in Laval who is their best player down there and is a tenured NHLer who is not playing because of the stunt.

There's multiple prospects who have played better and could warrant the salary bump and recognition who don't get to play because of the stunt.

I get your point. Its laughable why they are doing it but even more laughable is that people are gonna try to explain it away as anything more than what it is. He doesn't deserve to play this season. He's not playing for a legitimate hockey reason.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Why is Caufield with the Grandparents instead of on a scoring line??...ffs, at least put him with Evans, they seemed to have some chemistry...

 

[A55P2]

Well there's a tenured NHLer who has endured the entire covid protocol and shit for the season who doesn't draw back in for the stunt.

There's a leader in Laval who is their best player down there and is a tenured NHLer who is not playing because of the stunt.

There's multiple prospects who have played better and could warrant the salary bump and recognition who don't get to play because of the stunt.

I get your point. Its laughable why they are doing it but even more laughable is that people are gonna try to explain it away as anything more than what it is. He doesn't deserve to play this season. He's not playing for a legitimate hockey reason.

How about that's your opinion?

No seriously. I mean it. You seem to take it for granted that everything you said is obviously true. You don't know that. Belzile is far better than Weal first of all. Secondly, Frolik hasn't brought the same type of energy in the past few games and we got buried by the Leafs the previous game. A change in the roster isn't too far fetched.

 

[McGees]

This organization is hilarious and stuck in the 19th century.

 

[webersshot]

I'm a quebecker and french and it's f***ing absurd the uproar about having no quebec player in our lineup.

Jesus f***ing christ imagine if people from Anaheim would bitch about not having a Floridian player in their team .. so f***ing dumb

Anaheim is in California . But yes. I agree. Play the best players. That's it.

 

[salbutera]

KK should get lots of TOI, hope he takes advantage of the situation and gets his game going

 

[A55P2]

By the way, the streak might end sooner than later anyway. If Belzile isn't so great tonight, we might try someone else or put Frolik back in. Knowing that Drouin is out and Danault's got a concussion, there's a chance it will end anyway.

Also, and that's something people seem to be missing, we had called up Belzile before Danault's concussion. Him and Poehling were our extra players. They had made their decision before this whole thing. Can't tell me they planned that in advance... It's common sense really.

 

[dinodebino]

Stéphane Laberge, the stat man who came out with this franco story, is a good man. But I doubt very much that MB and DD know his work, TBH.

 

[salbutera]

This organization is hilarious and stuck in the 19th century.

Mtl was awarded Expo67 because it was an up & coming dominant global economic superpower metropolis.....

 

[dinodebino]

And, judging from this concussion injury, this streak I didn't know about TBH will come to an end come playoffs. Unless Belzile plays over KK. Imagine the uproar?

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

And, judging from this concussion injury, this streak I didn't know about TBH will come to an end come playoffs. Unless Belzile plays over KK. Imagine the uproar?

Would anyone truly be shocked??...

 

[dinodebino]

Would anyone truly be shocked??...

That's why I put it out there lol.

Kids have pressure tonight. Won't be easy for KK, who looks tired af.

 

[nhlfan9191]

If they can't even have the backbone to allow better options than Belzile to play tonight then it does not bode well that this organization will ever change philosophies that have been to our detriment. And this extends to other areas beyond needing to have a francophone player on the team.

I cannot believe this is even a conversation in 2021. Who the f*** cares? The people who’re actually making a stink about a francophone not being in the lineup, especially when it’s due to injuries, are putting things that have nothing to do with hockey above winning. If we run our team like this, there will people talking about the ‘93 cup win in 2093 because that will be this franchises last cup win a century from now.

 

[SpeedyPotato]

No offense to Alex Belzile, but him playing tonight is enough for me not to watch this game, just reminds me too much of last year, no way there weren't better options out there than this guy, with all due respect to him and his career

 

[Ozmodiar]

I’d shuffle the RW’s besides Armia.

JE - JA
KK - CC

let Evans as Suzuki deal with matthews and Tavares and free up KK and CC.

alternatively, swap CC and AB ... to let Evans and CC play together again.