After a number of bad starts, I will give credit where it is due and say that Niemi played his best game of the season.
Was at the game last night in Dallas. A few observations:
1. Dallas arena is beautiful and they have awesome fans
2. Phil Danault is a different player than earlier in the season. He has jump and was a threat every time he was on the ice.
3. Victor Mete was our best dman last night (defensively). He is fast and makes really good decisions when the puck is on his stick.
4. Weber is really slow but smart. Weber needs Mete for the reasons specified in 3).
5. Mike Reilly drives me nuts. Makes really dumb decisions but has talent and skating ability. He should just simplify his game and do the first thing that comes to his head. Don't second guess and delay.
6. I was anti-Niemi but i have to admit he was great last night and should have been 1st star.
7. Offsides.... that had to be the most offsides in a game.
8. The 15 second OT was amazing. Petry's speed was something to behold. Blew right by Seguin.
9. I hate Jason Spezza
10. Happy New Year Y'all!
I usually tune them out except on the odd occasion when I lose my temper with them and get an infraction. I always liked Danault from the first day I saw him in a Habs jersey.I don't disagree. Legit Cup contenders often have a third line center who could handle second line duties, a fifth defenceman who can handle top 4 duties, three first pairing defencemen and 6 wingers who can score.
But some of the people who suggest Danault should be a 3rd or 4th line center say that he has no offensive talent and that he is a black hole into which offence disappears, etc.
Their statements seem not to be in sync with reality.
You forget to mention the game beforeTampa Bay. After a shaky1st period he played very well the last twoAfter 15 pages of Niemi’s bashing after the loss to TB, only 6 pages so far after an incredible road game win... Go figure.
Can't stop watching this, Petry always was a very good skater, everyone knows that, but that's taking it up a notch or 2... damn !
Re-posted for emphasis!What a lot of people have to deal with is that every team is built differently based on the parts available to it. The Habs aren't built around a top line, but a top-9 which Danault fits perfectly into and plays an important role.
The advantage of a top-9 build is that different lines get hot at different times. You can't judge who a player really is based on any 10-game stretch but you can forecast patterns and trajectories. The Phil Danault who scored 2 goals in his first 30 games is the same Phil Danault we're seeing now. The only difference is he got a couple good bounces, that boosted his confidence which led to more goals. It all comes down to Danault being a highly reliable and consistently good player.
That's why he gets the ES minutes he gets.
I guess you sent your sarcasm meter to the shop for repairs.Would’ve? Really ? You think so ? Or was that a typo ?
What a lot of people have to deal with is that every team is built differently based on the parts available to it. The Habs aren't built around a top line, but a top-9 which Danault fits perfectly into and plays an important role.
The advantage of a top-9 build is that different lines get hot at different times. You can't judge who a player really is based on any 10-game stretch but you can forecast patterns and trajectories. The Phil Danault who scored 2 goals in his first 30 games is the same Phil Danault we're seeing now. The only difference is he got a couple good bounces, that boosted his confidence which led to more goals. It all comes down to Danault being a highly reliable and consistently good player.
That's why he gets the ES minutes he gets.
Agostino has earned himself a spot here full time. Hudon will be on waivers or traded.
So I’m just here sitting on the toilet after NYE and occurred to me... could it be the emergence of max domi and KK that has allowed Danault more freedom in matchups? Think about it, past few years, he’s been paired up with MaxPac and Radulov. So basically he was playing against the Bergeron and Chara of the worlds.
There's no real advantage top a top 9 build. The only top 9 build to win a cup since i watch hockey is the Bruins.
All other cup winners were built around stars (either forwards or defensemen) like Sakic/Forberg/Roy, Yzerman/Fedorov, Modano/Hull/Nieuwnedyk, Messier/Zubov/Leetch, Stevens/Niedermayer/Brodeur, St-Louis/Lecavalier/Richards, Pronger/Niedermayer/Selanne, Crosby/Malkin, Ovy/Backstrom, Kane/Keith/Toews, Doughty/Quick/Kopitar.
Depth doesn't win a cup. One exception doesn't confirm a rule.
Jeeze I didn't realize Petry was that far behind Seguin.
I guess you sent your sarcasm meter to the shop for repairs.
Is this one of those “micro aggressions” I keep reading about?Woah Woah Woah.... Relax tough guy.
Anybody who spends a good amount of time on these boards knows that Danault has pooped on around here too. Less than actually searching posts for you, I can't add more than that.
Happy new year to you too.
Is this one of those “micro aggressions” I keep reading about?
So I’m just here sitting on the toilet after NYE and occurred to me... could it be the emergence of max domi and KK that has allowed Danault more freedom in matchups? Think about it, past few years, he’s been paired up with MaxPac and Radulov. So basically he was playing against the Bergeron and Chara of the worlds.
Petry is such an effortless skater. He never really looks as fast as he's actually going when he accelerates.
That Danault trade was arguably Bergevin's best move ever. Danault is becoming a decent top 6 C before our eyes, but he might end up being our 3rd line C. How sick is that?
well, gotta look at what Detroit got for Tatar... Danault is younger, a C, and on pace for more than Tatar was lasts season.All this talk of selling high..... selling high would be trading Danault this year for a 27 yo or younger LD that can play with Shea Weber
That means what, the "window" opens up when Weber's 35, Petry and Price 33... then just a few years later we'll need to find a new #1D, #2D and #1G ?I never said this year's Habs are a cup contender. Probably not next year either.
But depth DOES win cups. I was talking about forward lines specifically. In nearly all your examples those star forwards played on separate lines and the team rolled their lines. The Penguins being a prime example.
I don't think that Seguin has the greatest defensive awareness on that play, he is focused on the puck carrier until it is too late, nice wheels from Petry though.