Yeah, this DD/Gallagher/Pacioretty combo is just a disaster:
http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_stat...f2=5v5&f5=MTL&f7=20-&c=0+1+3+5+17+18+19+20+24
3 of the 4 best points per 60 minutes of ES hockey on the team.
Hell, don't bench him. Send DD to Hamilton post haste
The line was at it's best earlier in the season. I don't get why it's so taboo to consider leveling up the lines. This season's success is based on depth not one line. Making the top 3 lines more even and dangerous suits the team better.Mostly from the beginning of the year's problems. Save percentage has been abysmal when this line has been on as well.
DD is 63 worst, so he's a wash in any case.
The line was at it's best earlier in the season. I don't get why it's so taboo to consider leveling up the lines. This season's success is based on depth not one line. Making the top 3 lines more even and dangerous suits the team better.
The line also has the highest shooting%.
Trade DD+ to Colorado for Stastny in the off season. Yes, big 6.6 mill for 1 year but Pac looked good with Stastny for the US team.
Stastny needs a change of venue and would fit well with the Habs. Might take abit more from us but we would be taking back that contract and they are in rebuild mode.
What it would take to get him? DD + prospect + 2nd round pick? After what Giguère said I'm not sure if I want him with this team.[
Patches is a pretty 1 dimensional north-south kinda player (kinda like Kessel-lite). When he's not driving the net hard, getting involved physically, or going to the slot to get good chances, he's not going to score. That's probably why he's been struggling, because he hasn't really been doing that really the last month or so.
Could be a factor as well, but as for that we probably won't know until after the season if he's been playing hurt. If he has, that explains things (kinda like Bourque last year).What about all the small injuries he suffered so far this year ?
What did he say?
Nothing wrong with shaking the lines up. Hell, bench DD for a game or two.
My only point is that the "sky is falling/kill the midget" crowd (of which you're not a part), is missing the fact that this line is generating more than their fair share of points. In fact, in MP and Gallagher's cases, about their maximum amount-or very close to it. The notion that DD is killing them is, well, stupid.
Also, MP is #136 in the worst ga category and Gallaggher is #101. DD is #63. Offensively they rank #12/#14/#72, so overall their "defensive liabilities" are more than offset by their offensive prowess and they create more goals than are scored than what are scored against them.
Yes! I've been campaigning for this line for a month. Galchenyuk is significantly better at centre and he had some great chemistry with Gallagher. Pacioretty is reduced to little more than a glorified grinder thanks to the horrid play of Desharnais this season. It's about time Therrien makes some adjustments.
The entire league knows DD-MaxPac's little secret: one can't shot, the other can't pass -> easier to counter.
Seems to be playing ok tonight.