You Sir...... Are 1000% CORRECT!
I can't stand the TANK mentality .... That attitude is for losers! ( see the team that last won the cup in '67)
TSN: McKenzie's Take On The Habs
- Thread starter FloJack
- Start date
You Sir...... Are 1000% CORRECT!
I can't stand the TANK mentality .... That attitude is for losers! ( see the team that last won the cup in '67)
You Sir...... Are 1000% CORRECT!
I can't stand the TANK mentality .... That attitude is for losers! ( see the team that last won the cup in '67)
digmor crusher
Registered User
- Jul 11, 2009
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We won't be 15th but highly unlikely we make the playoffs.
Lets recap, which teams in the east are definitely better than us, Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston, Rangers, Jersey and Washington for sure. So thats 6 spots. Carolina will be much better with the other Staal. That leaves us, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida, Tampa all battling for 8th, I can't say with any conviction that we are any better than any of these teams. So basically we have a 20% chance of making playoffs, sounds about right to me.
Lets recap, which teams in the east are definitely better than us, Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston, Rangers, Jersey and Washington for sure. So thats 6 spots. Carolina will be much better with the other Staal. That leaves us, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida, Tampa all battling for 8th, I can't say with any conviction that we are any better than any of these teams. So basically we have a 20% chance of making playoffs, sounds about right to me.
According to this mindset, 16 months ago we were a lock to make the playoffs because we finished a strong 6th in 2011, while weak teams like NJ didn't have a hope in hell of making the playoffs. My point isn't that Montreal has fixed all its issues from last year, but that you shouldn't fall into the trap of predicting next season based on a repeat of last season. This season's standings will be a total surprise, just like they were last year. The Rangers and Penguins will probably stay consistent in the EC, but the other 13 teams are gigantic question-marks, including the Habs.
Washington - Different coach, different system, new goalie, healthy Backstrom. Could be their year if all the pieces fit, or the pieces could come apart and this could be the end of their regular season dominance.
Boston - New starting goalie, Chara's a year older. The league has caught up to their bullying style and adapted. Boston's jumped the shark and could start a decline.
Philly - Bryz could find his groove, Couturier could blossom, young defense could solidify. If so, they're a serious contender; if not, their leaky boat is up a creak without a Pronger.
Toronto - Reimer and a healthy JVR mature and rocket them into the playoffs. Or not...
NJ - Age catches up.
Carolina - Staal and Semin spark a dynamite offense and they squeak into the playoffs, or fall just short.
Whitesnake
If you rebuild, they will come.
- Jan 5, 2003
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Nobody can't ever predict a season, even less this year. A season that will need 2 things to be succesful:
- Less injuries than others
- And a great goalie
- And a great start of the year, first 10 games are a must, you will see teams mailing it if they trail too much
write-ups like that one, and others from Bob Mac, just further highlight that his myth is greatly overexaggerated.
right place, right time, now his opinions get revered. In reality many of his observations, especially in player/team evaluations, are way off (or worse, so conservative and vanilla that a 6th grader watching hockey night in canada could come up with).
nothing of interest in that breakdown imo (even while most of his points were fairly accurate).
right place, right time, now his opinions get revered. In reality many of his observations, especially in player/team evaluations, are way off (or worse, so conservative and vanilla that a 6th grader watching hockey night in canada could come up with).
nothing of interest in that breakdown imo (even while most of his points were fairly accurate).
DAChampion
Registered User
- May 28, 2011
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We are a very different team from the one that finished 6th.
That team had Hamrlik to anchor the defense and Halpern to anchor the bottom-6.
It also had Spacek, Gill, Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn.
And it had Jacques Martin and Kirk Muller.
Agnostic
11 Stanley Cups
- Jun 24, 2007
- 8,409
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This was a summary which I suspect he had to provide to get the TSN insider formula back into our veins, but I am curious. Who is better than McKenzie in this biz?
Dominator13
Registered User
Enough with the where does Eller play comments. He's the 3rd line center and that's it. If you say Eller didn't look good down the middle, I'm putting it out there that you just don't watch Habs hockey period. Eller at center was 20 times better than Eller at wing. The problem was playing with the right wingers to make him produce offensiveky, other than Andrei for a short period, that's why I badly hope for Bourque-Eller-Armstrong as the 3rd line, no Moen or Prust.
You can't saddle Eller with Bourque and Armstrong and still give that line tough matchups.
DAChampion
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- May 28, 2011
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Yea but he'll be injured every other week. Can't rely on him with responsibilities.
I know many around here hate him to extremmes, but P.Gauthier, if you actually listen to him and don't mind some of the histrionics, is one of the better sport analysts in any of the pro NA leagues...
Mike Johnson isn't yet smooth/polished infront of the camera, but I've liked his work thus far.
One of the SI writers, can't remember his name, seems to have quite solid takes/perspectives pretty consistently.
No one is perfect, to be sure, and Bob Mac isn't terrible... I just don't agree with a lot of the praise/recognition. His best attribute is that he doesn't present many strong/controversial opinions, but I see that more as a strategic attempt to come accross as the reasoned one (and keep his sources reliable/on board/happy) than actually expressing his opinions (he's had a few articles, usually non-nhl related, that show he does have strong opinions in him... but with his NHL stuff he seems to always come out with bland takes that don't even attempt to dig beneath the superficial or obvious).
strikes me as to much "reporter" and not enough "analyst/commentator". and ironically, his delivery on camera, as a "reporter" is pretty average...
yeah, he's about average I'd say. Someone like talks with goalposts could probably give you a better breakdown. Bourque is a negative, however. I really wouldn't want him against tough opposition and I think the only way to really get our money's worth for bourque would be to play him with DD since that line tends to get softer minutes.
Eller will be going from having Moen (real good even strength player) and kostitsyn (good even strength player, believe it or not) to having two 'meh' quality linemates. I wouldn't be enthused, if I were him.
I figure Gionta will be playing with Pleks, but Moen- Eller - Gionta could be a pretty beast 5v5 forward line, imo.
Pierre Mcguire?
Historically he's Pretty decent middle 6 guy when healthy on even strength. Then last season he completely imploded with injuries. His coaches didn't feel the need to shelter him defensively but largely didn't have him play shutdown either.
Average shot producer with high conversion rate (probably a rebound guy). Not astrong assist rate but he didn't drag his linemates scoring down either. Pre injury he scores like a top 6 on ES for the most part but keep in mind that's likely boosted somewhat from the run and gun teams he's been on (atl, tor). 2 of his 3 per injury seasons he approached .5 PPG on 5on5, which is Desharnais/Plekanec territory.
I'd say think a less flashy version of AKostitsyn due to worse goalscoring on evens is his profile prior to last year but he's got virtual no special teams value beyond being another body. Which is why his global point totals are weak, no PP scoring.
If he's back to what he once was, should be no problem on Eller's wing. Moen and Prust have more defensive value but he's been a decent two-way winger. Essentially, he's a 5 on 5 specialist.
Unfortunate that returning to form, injury or otherwise, is such a common theme with this squad. Although it does mean they have pretty good potential if things break right and/or the coaching staff does a good job.
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Perhaps its merely my perception but didn't Gomez have more avg TOI?
That was my point, thanks for making it clearer.
Estimated_Prophet
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- Mar 28, 2003
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Mackenzie is one of the better hockey people in the media. You are bang on with your analysis of him however. He really isn't an analyst as his strength is his unparralled connections in the NHL. Unfortunately he is being asked at times to do more than he is capable of. I liked him alot more when he didn't offer much of an opinion but just delivered the facts.
As far as McGuire is concerned......I can't stand him. He is a pathetic fanboy who does have an encyclopedic knowledge of the players but his attempts to break down the game are laughable. I think some of the less experienced fans are impressed by this but he is just flat out wrong more often than not.
If you ever get a chance to hear Bowman talk about strategies and tactics it is like porn for hockey fans who take an interest in the technical aspects of the game. Another guy who I miss hearing from is John Davidson who was hands down the best analyst going before he left for St.Louis.
Estimated_Prophet
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- Mar 28, 2003
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Every team has old players, free agent signings etc., should we disregard those things as well.
I wasn't aware that every teams young players are exactly the same and will improve at exactly the same rate
Dominator13
Registered User
We'll just agree to disagree for now. I think Bourque is comparable to Andrei, more grit but less talent, while Armstrong is a better player than Travis Moen with the puck. Key for both is to stay healthy.
I find Carolina gets overrated because they added Jordan Staal.
They added J.Staal and Semin but lost Sutter and Ruutu is out for the year.
They have a solid top 6 but weak bottom 6.
Their defense is nothing special, Goaltending is solid.
I see them as a team that just barely misses out...9-10-11. Better than Toronto but not better than Montreal NJ Wash Buf.
They added J.Staal and Semin but lost Sutter and Ruutu is out for the year.
They have a solid top 6 but weak bottom 6.
Their defense is nothing special, Goaltending is solid.
I see them as a team that just barely misses out...9-10-11. Better than Toronto but not better than Montreal NJ Wash Buf.
Estimated_Prophet
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No offense but it's pretty obvious. He's a gamble because of injury history. But if somehow he does stay healthy he can be a beast. That's why it's called a gamble.
