Player Discussion Nikita Scherbak - Stay In Yo Lane Edition

[Mrb1p]

Didn't Galchenyuk start playing better last year when he started playing with Scherbak? I made the same case for playing Drouin on Galchenyuk's wing. Now we have a bunch of play makers on the team with Sherbie, Domie, Drouin but no goal scorers.

Lekhonen and Weber are the only players that can take a one timer on this team now. Chuck and Scherb played beautifully together, as expected.

 

[417]

If you look at his past injuries, strength appears to be an issue. If he is going to play a 82 game schedule and gain development momentum, he needs to stay healthy. He has only one season where he has played almost a full season since turning Pro.. 3 seasons ago.

I also hope he gets the opportunity but I am skeptical with our management. They seem to think we have a legit shot at making the playoffs and they will run with mature players who are responsible. Hence, the reason why they brought back Pleky.

I am very interested to see how Drouin, Domi, Lehkonen, Scherbak, Hudon, Danault, DLR, Juulsen, Mete, Reilly play this year. We need them to keep growing.

There aren't many mature players" on this roster at forward...

I mean you have Plekanec, who I have no doubt they'll be using for 16 mins a game...but beyond that, maybe Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw?

I don't expect Max Pacioretty to be back at all.

So while I share your concerns about management/coaching staff as it relates to opportunities for younger players, I don't think they have a choice this year with the way the roster is set up.

The majority of forwards on this team heading into this year are 25 and under.

 

[Mrb1p]

It's a good point I have to say. I really did like the Scherbak and Galchenyuk combo. If Patch is back and we end up trading him at the deadline, maybe a Patch/Danault/Scherbak line would be a good one?

Hardly believe so, Paciorettt creates off the rush mostly, Scherback is good in that role too. Hed thrive with someone that cac one time it.

 

[De Montreal]

I'd play him with Lehkonen and Peca on the 3rd line. Lot of speed, and Peca and Lehkonen are okay in their own zone and can cover for Nikita. That leave Hudon with Plekanec, with whom they played all right in the past.

Drouin was a PPG at the end of the season playing with Gallagher and Byron so I'd let them together.

Byron - Drouin - Gallagher
Domi - Danault - Armia
Lehkonen - Peca - Scherbak
Hudon - Plekanec - DesLauRiers

 

[Stive Morgan]

Lekhonen and Weber are the only players that can take a one timer on this team now. Chuck and Scherb played beautifully together, as expected.

God I miss Cammalleri...

 

[Habs Halifax]

There aren't many mature players" on this roster at forward...

I mean you have Plekanec, who I have no doubt they'll be using for 16 mins a game...but beyond that, maybe Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw?

I don't expect Max Pacioretty to be back at all.

So while I share your concerns about management/coaching staff as it relates to opportunities for younger players, I don't think they have a choice this year with the way the roster is set up.

The majority of forwards on this team heading into this year are 25 and under.

Pleky, Byron, Shaw, Danault. Julien will put them in the top 6 more than we like. Those who think/want Pleky will be a 4th line center will be surprised. I agree our line-up is full of players age 25 and under but Julien is the coach. He will run with whatever players that show they can play a responsible game. So Scherbak might score a beautiful goal or set someone up but if he makes a mistake (Galchenyuk type risk move), he will be quickly on the 3rd or 4th line.

Don't matter to me honestly, I want another top 5 pick. This try for the playoffs is not working for me. Even if we make it, we lose in the 1st round.

 

[Pacciosoftie]

Maybe we can try Sherbie at Center? He’s a great playmaker and likes to enter the zone with speed.

 

[NHL]

I believe that what Scherbak need to do the most next season is to be involve and create offense every game, exactly what Hudon did last year. I don't really care about his numbers, as long as he plays to be held in the line-up constantly would be a huge gain for him and for the team. If that happens, his numbers will be there naturally, like 30-40 pts if he plays full year. Hopefully in the 50's one day!

 

[417]

Pleky, Byron, Shaw, Danault. Julien will put them in the top 6 more than we like. Those who think/want Pleky will be a 4th line center will be surprised.

Oh I won't be surprised, I fully expect it...i'm just providing my own opinion that it shouldn't be that way.

I agree our line-up is full of players age 25 and under but Julien is the coach. He will run with whatever players that show they can play a responsible game. So Scherbak might score a beautiful goal or set someone up but if he makes a mistake (Galchenyuk type risk move), he will be quickly on the 3rd or 4th line.

Or rather...he'll run with whatever players have attained the magical 'veteran' status which enables them to play horribly and make the same repeated mistakes without consequences.

Yes

Don't matter to me honestly, I want another top 5 pick. This try for the playoffs is not working for me. Even if we make it, we lose in the 1st round.

Matters to me because next year, of all years, is the year we should be turning our roster over...not playing more retread veterans into the ground.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Oh I won't be surprised, I fully expect it...i'm just providing my own opinion that it shouldn't be that way.

Or rather...he'll run with whatever players have attained the magical 'veteran' status which enables them to play horribly and make the same repeated mistakes without consequences.

Yes

Matters to me because next year, of all years, is the year we should be turning our roster over...not playing more retread veterans into the ground.

Something tells me our management is due for another humbling season. They focused on pour attitude this off season as reasons for our bad season and I really do think they are trying to make the playoffs where "anything can happen". They should of took the more conservative approach this off season with there communication to the fan base and said we are going to go with a youth movement with a small mix of veteran presence. I just wonder how much Bergevin and Julien are on same page today and how this changes as time moves forward. Both have 4 years left in their contracts I believe. It's stupid with setting too much expectations on this next season. A lot of their communication to fans should be a youth movement and testing them with opportunity. Opportunity being a long span of games, not one game and then demoted.

Not expecting much and my personal focus as a Habs fan is how the kids perform. This is what matters at this stage of our team make-up. I also would like to see Price limit the soft goals allowed. This drives me nuts!

 

[417]

Something tells me our management is due for another humbling season. They focused on pour attitude this off season as reasons for our bad season and I really do think they are trying to make the playoffs where "anything can happen". They should of took the more conservative approach this off season with there communication to the fan base and said we are going to go with a youth movement with a small mix of veteran presence. I just wonder how much Bergevin and Julien are on same page today and how this changes as time moves forward. Both have 4 years left in their contracts I believe. It's stupid with setting too much expectations on this next season. A lot of their communication to fans should be a youth movement and testing them with opportunity.

Well look at how the roster is composed heading into this year...sure seems like they're going with a youth movement & a small mix of veteran presence.

I don't need them to verbalize it, I can read the tea leaves. I actually think they've done a good job of setting realistic expectations heading into this year, I mean, saying the playoffs is a goal isn't wrong, you do want to set a standard for your organization, even if the talent on paper, states otherwise. You don't create the optics that losing is acceptable, I don't think you ever do that, regardless of expectations.

Then again, were likely to see Plekanec be our most used C again this year...so....who the F knows.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Well look at how the roster is composed heading into this year...sure seems like they're going with a youth movement & a small mix of veteran presence.

I don't need them to verbalize it, I can read the tea leaves. I actually think they've done a good job of setting realistic expectations heading into this year, I mean, saying the playoffs is a goal isn't wrong, you do want to set a standard for your organization, even if the talent on paper, states otherwise. You don't create the optics that losing is acceptable, I don't think you ever do that, regardless of expectations.

Then again, were likely to see Plekanec be our most used C again this year...so....who the F knows.

I understand that you don't advertise a losing season and you keep this to yourself. However, I just wonder what Julien wants to do vs Bergevin/Molson. I really do think they are not as much focused on the future as much as we try to justify they are behind the scenes. Not trying Galchenyuk at center and only giving opportunity to DLR after Pleky was traded are two big examples. Heck, I would of even played Fucale a few games to give him some NHL games before we moved on from him. Might of meant a few more loses and we get Dahlin and we get to see what Fucale can do with a NHL roster vs a depleted AHL roster. What did we have to lose with experimentation?

Not sure Julien is the right coach for us moving forward. This next season will be interesting. Will there be a bit of rebound or will it be another bottom 5 finish? I think Julien is going to play vets whenever he can. Weber, Byron, Shaw not ready to start the season is a good thing as it forces his hand.

 

[417]

I understand that you don't advertise a losing season and you keep this to yourself. However, I just wonder what Julien wants to do vs Bergevin/Molson. I really do think they are not as much focused on the future as much as we try to justify they are behind the scenes. Not trying Galchenyuk at center and only giving opportunity to DLR after Pleky was traded are two big examples. Heck, I would of even played Fucale a few games to give him some NHL games before we moved on from him. Might of meant a few more loses and we get Dahlin and we get to see what Fucale can do with a NHL roster vs a depleted AHL roster. What did we have to lose with experimentation?

Not sure Julien is the right coach for us moving forward. This next season will be interesting. Will there be a bit of rebound or will it be another bottom 5 finish? I think Julien is going to play vets whenever he can. Weber, Byron, Shaw not ready to start the season is a good thing as it forces his hand.

Oh I fully expect this team to shoot for a 10th place Eastern Conference finish

 

[yianik]

I understand that you don't advertise a losing season and you keep this to yourself. However, I just wonder what Julien wants to do vs Bergevin/Molson. I really do think they are not as much focused on the future as much as we try to justify they are behind the scenes. Not trying Galchenyuk at center and only giving opportunity to DLR after Pleky was traded are two big examples. Heck, I would of even played Fucale a few games to give him some NHL games before we moved on from him. Might of meant a few more loses and we get Dahlin and we get to see what Fucale can do with a NHL roster vs a depleted AHL roster. What did we have to lose with experimentation?

Not sure Julien is the right coach for us moving forward. This next season will be interesting. Will there be a bit of rebound or will it be another bottom 5 finish? I think Julien is going to play vets whenever he can. Weber, Byron, Shaw not ready to start the season is a good thing as it forces his hand.

Yeah, CJ could draw the hate real fast next season.

If you assume Price gets back to form, Patches gets traded, even with some young guys putting up better numbers ( outside of someone showing they are top line ), we are going to have an anemic offense. Can you imagine if we are unable to score ( expect the expected ) and CJ has a guy like Scherbak on the 4th line or Young Skill Forward X with Plekanec ? People will lose what is left of their minds. Especially if Chucky shows he is even a just passable 2C. Then it will be open season on CJ decision making.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yeah, CJ could draw the hate real fast next season.

If you assume Price gets back to form, Patches gets traded, even with some young guys putting up better numbers ( outside of someone showing they are top line ), we are going to have an anemic offense. Can you imagine if we are unable to score ( expect the expected ) and CJ has a guy like Scherbak on the 4th line or Young Skill Forward X with Plekanec ? People will lose what is left of their minds. Especially if Chucky shows he is even a just passable 2C. Then it will be open season on CJ decision making.

I'm prepared for anything but my patience level is higher than others. Our last two coaches were former Habs brought back. It's time for a new young coach with fresh ideas. Lets just hope we don't lose Ducharme cause we hold onto Julien for too long.

 

[WinterLion]

Do you think Scherbak is more comfortable as a LW or RW?

Many coaches prefer wingers to be on their strong side, but we will likely have at least one guy play on their off wing.

 

[417]

Do you think Scherbak is more comfortable as a LW or RW?

Many coaches prefer wingers to be on their strong side, but we will likely have at least one guy play on their off wing.

He's a RW imo...that where he should play.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He's a RW imo...that where he should play.

He can play both but clearly wants to play RW. I agree.

 

[WinterLion]

He can play both but clearly wants to play RW. I agree.

Has he come out and said that? Just curious. I see him as a RW also, just wondering what the options are. I watched quite a bit in the AHL, but can't remember if he also played LW... I do remember watching him play a bit of C.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Has he come out and said that? Just curious. I see him as a RW also, just wondering what the options are. I watched quite a bit in the AHL, but can't remember if he also played LW... I do remember watching him play a bit of C.

Not that I know of. I think at this stage he will play either wing cause he wants ice time. I just think he played RW most of his career so I'm guessing if he had the choice, he would play RW.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Good article with Scherbak on Habs' website. He stuck around Montreal this year instead of heading back to Russia. He says he's working on his skating and his lower body strength to help him with board battles and in front of the net.

 

[montreal]

he badly needs to work on his lower body strength so glad to hear he's doing it. If we didn't have Julien I'd be very stoked to see what he can do this year.

 

[Garnet76]

I believe he has the raw talent and high upside to be a top 6 winger and play driver. I hope Julian will understand this and give him an opportunity and let him grow. AHL numbers are fantastic.