Don't you have better examples than MA Bergeron and Streit when you talk about PP specialists?
Kotka is my favourite player on the Habs by far. I bought his jersey. With that said, he sucked this year. Suzuki started on the fourth line playing RW, and finished playing top 6 C. Kotka started as our 3C and finished playing in the AHL. If Kotka comes back strong after a good summer, he could easily take Danault’s place. I want that to happen. However, if you just throw Kotka to play against the top centres in the league when he had a hard time playing against third line centres it’s not going to be good. The NHL is not for mistakes, that’s what the AHL is for. Kotka playing 1C in the AHL is good because it’s preparing him for his future role. Suzuki was an exponentially more effective player this season and played ahead because of it. Kotka has sky-high potential but he isn’t ready to play big minutes, mainly because his skating is very below average. He constantly falls and looks like Bambi on the ice. If he can work that out, he’ll be a 1C.
No he's not. He is used more than that because nobody is ready to fill the role. Blame the GM if there isn't anybody else, blame the head scout if he never drafted any good center in 17 years. But you can't blame a coach who won the SC in 2011 if he thinks there is nobody else to fill the role. Danault would be a depth player on a team filled with superstars, in what I consider a very unusual context, in fact, Danault would be very usefull in any team. Talk to Joel Quenneville how mad he was when Danault was traded and if he would have kept his job if Danault was still in his roster.
You wrote a nice post but I doubt it will convice anything with Mr1b. He is obsessed with Danault, he really hates him and can't see any good thing he does on the ice. It reminds me how some people said about the same thing about Guy Carbonneau or other top defensive centers. People diminuish Bob Gainey because he did not score as many goals like Guy Lafleur. I mean, there is a place and a role for defensive specilists and teams who wins the SC always have some of them. I don't call them depth players, it's unfair.
Thank you. The Danault obsession is kind of a bad look. It doesn’t make sense to me. Danault is not a 1C. Everyone knows that. He is the stop gap until Kotka and Suzuki are ready. Once Kotka and Suzuki are ready to play big minutes, Danault will slide down to the 3C slot. He will he super valuable on the third line because he’ll create mismatches and be a great PKer. His line will be a shutdown line. It would be a matchup nightmare for teams with Danault playing behind prime KK and Suzuki. They are 19 only and 20. They are so young. I think Suzuki is already a 2C and we’ll see what happens with Kotka after this summer. He’s good enough to play 3C but it would be better for him to play 1C in Laval. I hope he surprises and starts the year as our 1C. It could happen. Kotka is a special talent, we just can’t rush him.
The Habs organisation have to be carefull not rushing young players into roles they are not ready to take yet. I hope the same thing as you but I also know sometimes it's a little too soon. I would be agree Suzuki being our #2 C next year, I see Danault as our #1C again next year but the year after I really don't know. Suzuki could be the #1C, or Kotka, time will tell.
Danault is a core player. He is the only center available in this team playing the team system. He is a model to follow. Yeah he is a defensive selke like player ... the offensive side will bloom like Marchanf give him some time. We need to put him as second line center 1st pk, but he can fill 1st line duty until Suzuki Kotkaniemi or another one step up.
No hes not a core player
i remember prior to Cole and Pac mega year how people were on DD ... Danault is on the high pace ... and no it's not about the quebecois thing. You are looking to old hockey where new is going to be wayyy different. Anyway you are bashing Danault for a god damn year and more even if there is not other than suzuki around ... and that's lame !!
you will see late bloom on offensive crease is something you are going to see with few of our core player playing with a better team. If we gain 2 min in ice possession Danault will give you more than what you get, and we are building through such mold for 3 year ... usually guys should be at their top in a mini tournament and Danault will clic in the near future. We are closer to see a good team than ever before so be prepared.
Imagine bringing up Desharnais as an example lmao.
Danault is nowhere close to these guys at defending and I like Danault. He does produce relatively more though. Bretty gud 2c he is. Is he core though? Eh... Kinda, but your defintion of core is then very loose. Anyways, this team doesnt have a core. It's a bunch of ok-to-good players put together without a plan.
yeah and there was all those anti smurf calls or french one too but I won't be that harsh today .. cuz murica need to learn the other's side
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