Respect to Montreal

[The Gr8 Dane]

Oxymoron much?

Championships are given not earned

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Oxymoron much?

I mean on paper, this isn't a team that deserves to be there over a lot of others. But they earned it with their play.

It's late and I'm tired.

 

[HuGo Sham]

I will always hate the Habs, but they gained my respect. A hell of a run and people can try and dismiss it all they want. They have nothing to be ashamed about.

With that said, losing game 2 was really the turning point when they were the better team all game but a couple of crucial errors and Vasi being amazing costed them.

absolutely spot on. Most of us knew we were f***ed with letting that goal in at .3. They dominated game 2 and couldn't close it. If they had stolen that game who knows. if if if

 

[HarrisonFord]

Deservedly so.

For sure. Any GM who makes a cup finals should get a few year grace period

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Congrats to Montreal on the incredible run. As the series went on they got better at shutting down Tampa's stars and the games got a lot tighter. Not all teams are built for playoff hockey but Montreal proved this year that they have it.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Absolutely not. Waiting on riots in Montreal and thank you Tampa for justice served

imagine having this much of a bitter, confused take to think sports or the team you hate have anything to do with justice

 

[Smokey McCanucks]

Tough way to end it, but they battled every step of the way. Huge character on this team, they always believed in themselves. They put out way more effort and accomplished more than anyone could have reasonably expected heading into the season, or the playoffs. They didn't win but this is a team and a performance people are gonna remember years down the road. They certainly did crush the Canucks pretty much every time they played us so I can't say I didn't see something like this coming, but even so the run they went on is so far above and beyond what anyone thought they could do, you gotta respect that so much. Hope to see some of these guys win it one day, Gallagher especially.

 

[HuGo Sham]

This is the major concern every Montreal fan should have.

This run should be applauded and remembered fondly. But this also could have consequences in management and ownership believing this was anything more than a fluke.

a team doesn't get to round 4 as a fluke. Yes, they shouldn't double down on the ageing vets, but they have the pieces in place at the right positions, that if bergevin builds it right, they could be very legit in 2-3 years

 

[razor ray]

Time for Montreal to go all in. You were 3 wins away from winning it all. Use up some of the pile of draft picks to pick up a playoff warrior and some offensive depth. You need more than one good line.

 

[CanadienShark]

They made it to the finals on merit. The better team won. Congratulations to the Lightning, and props to the Habs.

 

[holy]

Thanks for all the well wishes guys. I wish the feeling that victory brings about on all my fellow fans, because as fans we can have that respect for each other if we so choose. We all go through highs and lows with our teams and those posting here shows me what really connects us.

Love y’all and stay safe.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Fun run!

Hope we can do something like this next year too!

 

[Lolonegoal]

The best part about this Habs team is that they can turn around next year with essentially an improved version of the same roster.

Drouin is a likely candidate for Seattle to pickup, Tatar is most likely gone. That's 10.8 million off the roster.

Only UFAs on the roster are Danault, Armia, and Perry. Armia was making 2.6, Danault 3. You can sign those guys and still have about 8 million to play with.

Suzuki, Caufield, and Kotkaneimi are all 21 and under. They'll no doubt improve. That should offset Weber's decline next year.

Habs have a deep prospect pool. That'll add a few bottom six/ bottom pair players or at least the assets to improve.

No reason to think that the Habs next year wont be a better team.

I agree with this except rumour was Danault already turned down a 6 x 5 contract. It could get ugly, but its such a hard contract to guage because statistically this was one of his worst seasons. But he also shut down major lines, and we've heard statement from people like Mackinnons that he's the hardest player to play against.

 

[SenzZen]

Ole, y’all!

 

[HabsAddict]

Time for Montreal to go all in. You were 3 wins away from winning it all. Use up some of the pile of draft picks to pick up a playoff warrior and some offensive depth. You need more than one good line.

If Perry can entice Getzlaf to join him, sure, get that puck moving LHD and maybe another Toffoli. Then add a more seasoned Kk, CC , Romanov and Suzuki plus Guhle....I hope.

Emptying the farm for a run is never a good move.

 

[HabsAddict]

I agree with this except rumour was Danault already turned down a 6 x 5 contract. It could get ugly, but its such a hard contract to guage because statistically this was one of his worst seasons. But he also shut down major lines, and we've heard statement from people like Mackinnons that he's the hardest player to play against.

Danault is not worth what he is dreaming. Evans can do the same job and there is Poehling right behind him.

 

[LuGBuG]

Hard working group there. They didn't deserve to be in the finals, but they earned it.

If you win enough games you automatically deserve it. Foolish.

 

[koyvoo]

Respect to Carey Price.

Of their 13 playoff wins, he probably outright stole (as in games they absolutely shouldn’t have won) maybe 2-3 of them. And it was mostly vs Toronto in the 1st round.

More than anything, he didn’t lose them games by allowing goals at backbreaking, crucial times, u rule the first 3 games of the final.

Price wasn’t even needed vs Winnipeg, he saved them in a game early in the Vegas series, but by the last 3 games of that series, Montreal was outplaying them.

Don’t get me wrong, he was their best player, but this was not a 2003 Giguere, stone cold, otherworldly performance by a long shot.

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

Tampa was winning no matter what this season. They would have beaten all 30 teams. No shame losing to them. Habs showed heart. Fun run.
Kings in the North!

 

[Random Comment]

Congrats to Montreal. Unfortunately will not be making playoffs next year. Touch division.

 

[93gilmour93]

It was one hell of a run for the Habs. The team and it’s fans should be proud of what they accomplished in the playoffs.

 

[Reality Check]

a team doesn't get to round 4 as a fluke. Yes, they shouldn't double down on the ageing vets, but they have the pieces in place at the right positions, that if bergevin builds it right, they could be very legit in 2-3 years

Sorry but I have '06 Edmonton vibes.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

This run is huge for Hockey in Canada. This brought families, friends, strangers all together either cheering or jeering or just awaiting the next result of what this team was going to do. The support and anticipation for Hockey was such a joy to see. At every street corner , store, restaurant, Hockey was talk of the town. Support from across Canada was immense and the viewing numbers spectacular.

In a business that only cares about Americans, this helped the game in Canada so much. People fell in love with Hockey. Some people never saw a game in their lives until now, some people stopped for years. This will inspire a generation for Hockey in Quebec I hope and the results hopefully to be seen in 10-15 years from now.

It's completely different when a Canadian team makes it, the entire atmosphere and vibe across the country changes. Here's hoping next year another Canadian team can do the same.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

What does it make Toronto, Winnipeg, and Las Vegas?

Sad sack chokers? But we already knew that.

a team doesn't get to round 4 as a fluke.

The Ottawa Senators were one lucky bounce away from proving that theory wrong in 2017.

GG to the Habs' try-hard players, but their ultimate crime was being an absolute chore to watch.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

They went further than our largest homers would admit they thought possible. Even our legendary S Bah wouldn't have been this optimistic.

For SBah