Every season, 29 teams do not win the Stanley Cup.
Does that make them all losers?
If St Louis loses in the finals, does that make them the same as the Oilers?
Its not just that we're losing... it's how we're losing that is of concern.
The Habs are not a top 5 team in the league, but they are pretty good. They do not get blown out and often are pretty entertaining. They are not stocked with 6'5" 230lb'ers, but they do pretty good.
Only reason we've not been blown out in some of these games is Price. Without the goaltending we've had we'd be far out of a playoff spot and we're barely clinging to one as it is.
As much as you would like it to be, not every person on earth is a perfect snow flake. Not every team you root for is going to be beyond reproach.
Nobody's asking for beyond reproach but we had a real opportunity to take the next step this year. Instead we made moves that didn't make sense. And that's frustrating.
They are a good team, they are headed in a good direction. Enjoy.
Overall, I'd agree. Heading in the right direction.
But... we're wasting prime seasons by Subban and Price. They're in their prime now, playing very well and we're barely in the playoffs at the quarter mark.
So we have to start asking ourselves if/when we should start to make moves to go for it. We had an opportunity this offseason to do something about it and we made mistakes that have hurt us. We could've been a lot better.
I think we could surprise in the playoff if the team acquires some help at the deadline. Not necessarily superstars, but 1 or 2 players that can fit in.
We should've done this in the offseason. Instead we ****ed the dog.
Unlike previous years I think we at least have some star power now, with Subban, Price and Galchenyuk supported by a bunch of more than decent core players like Eller, Plekanec, Pacioretty, Markov, Prust, ect. We need to build around that and that group could contend. Its much easier to enhance a core than to build it (which imho is when you need to acquire rarities like top2 defensemen, top centermen and franchise goalies, these are things we fortunately have).
I agree. The hard part is over because we have at least two elite players with a third projected to be one. We've got some good young players to build around as well.
But our vets are mostly useless, we're too small and there are huge holes on the D. We could've addressed this but we made things worse instead of better.
We're not that far off but we can't afford any more unforced mistakes like we've been making. No more stupid signings and for the love of God play Subban more in critical situations.
i agree we are pitiful to watch against teams like st.l col and sj we should trade vets like markov, gionta, plekanec,while their value is higher than dd, remember every year at trade deadline a player has a no trade clause but lifts it when he knows he's not wanted anymore
I would trade Markov now. His value is high and he's older. Send him to a contender and get a young blueliner who can play now. Somebody who might not be as good but can grow into the role.
Problem is, that's easier said than done. Should've traded him years ago for picks and prospects and now those prospects would be in our lineup...
A Hockey News writer apparently said on the NHL network recently that we almost had a deal where we were sending Beaulieu and Plekanec for Bobby Ryan, but Ottawa trumped us when they agreed to add a first rounder to Silfverberg.
The idea of trading Beaulieu is not far-fetched but I don't think we need to give up a first round pick -- we could probably use an existing complementary asset.
Other reason a 1st round pick is not a good idea ... as the thread title suggests, we may just have an average team this year, so that 1st round pick could be a lot more valuable than last year in terms of drafting slot.
Beaulieu and Pleks? Wow... expensive. Ryan would have been awesome though.
There is a high probability we have a top ten pick this year. One good winger coming in may not change that. The risk is too high
This draft isn't supposed to be all that great is it?
First of all, we're NOT a bottom-10 team. Habs may not be elite, but they're a solid bubble team at worst, a top-10 team at best. They're NOT going to be drafting a top-10 prospect next year, which means there are NO future messiahs coming to save the day from the minors.
This blind faith in future picks has become our Waiting For Godot. We've been stockpiling picks; now it's time to run with what we have. We've got a strong core currently on the roster and a strong group of prospects. No superstars, unfortunately, but solid 2nd and 3rd line forwards with some strong defence prospects.
We have a star goalie and blueliner. No superstar forwards (yet) but we have elite talent in this lineup now for the first time in a long time.
Question is, do we go for it or continue to be patient? I understand the patience but we're wasting prime seasons from great players... exactly what I worried about five years ago. We should've rebuilt back then.
What's missing on the team and in our prospect pool is a sniper. The difference between last year's success and this year's problems is scoring. Yes, defence has been erratic, but if a couple of our prospects reach their potential we should be very solid on our blueline. We need a strong forward, and if none are coming from Hamilton we'll have to trade for one. So yeah, expect to give something back that's equally valuable, like our 1st-round pick, plus one or two roster players.
What are the chances Bergevin's been talking with Philly or New York? I'd say pretty good.
Its more than just a sniper.
- Too small
- Big holes on the D
- Overall way too soft
Yes, we need a bonafied sniper. Pacman could've been the guy but he got hurt. But I think our D needs to be fixed before the forwards do.
Assuming Max returns to form over the next few weeks, that would give us two good lines who can score. Should be good enough. But that D is so soft and Murray and Bouillion really shouldn't be in the lineup.
MT also needs to smarten up. Bouillion and Murray together? Really? Anyone surprised that we got scored on there? Enough playing favourites already... play those who've earned it. I can understand playing Max a little more to get back into the game but enough of the Bouillion/DD experiments. Its life and death for the playoffs now. Our coach needs to be better.
I don't think management has the balls to do anything worth wild.
