Post-Game Talk: Suzuki is the Nature of Winning Things! Habs beasting the SO! 5-4 SO win!

[Rapala]

He's not a long term solution to their top C position, two of Domi, Kotkaniemi, Poehling and Suzuki are and nothing indicates them thinking otherwise. Wanting to see two kids play as a replacement for a guy who took on big minutes last year as a defensive center is just utterly nonsensical right now.

I think the argument is summed up by the "shiny new toy" syndrome and thank god nhl staff doesn't cater to it.

I don't see it happening now either but given the talent quotient Suzuki is demonstrating it's coming quickly. Domi was always my idea of the first move to make in creating a place at center. That hasn't changed. I've gone on record stating I hope it happens by January. As far as the Shiny New Toy Syndrome goes Suzuki is proving we finally have one are you going to debate that? I'm also curious as to your knowledge of the catering business with the "Staff". Is this based on the "dino burgers" Julien wolfs down?

 

[salbutera]

the Habs missing the PO 3 of the last 4 seasons... that's what you consider competing ??



when not finishing last is considered an achievement...

Danault is an elite 3C on a Cup winner but a very good 2C on a team fighting for playoffs which the Habs are. The hope is KK maybe with an outside chance of this season can cement that 1C role and in the next 1.5 yrs Suzuki develops into a 2C allowing Danault to slot down to his ideal 3C role

 

[Simarino]

I think Danault is a #1C on our team, but that is more a testament of our situation than him truly being a top center. IMO, you put 2018-2019 Tatar and Gallagher with Kotkaniemi, we may have had a possible Calder candidate last year.

You need a center like Danault on the team though not as a #1. We’ll have to see if other options emerge.

The problem is, because Danault is playing the 1st line role his numbers are inflated, in 2 years when he'll need a new contract he will ask between 5-6M per season and i dont want him at that price tag for 3rd line duty. Danault will never have higher value then right now

 

[Rapala]

Say what y'all wanna say about Danault, I'm just glad we got him for Weise

He reminds me a lot of Jordan Staal in his Pittsburgh days. Good #2 on an average team, incredible #3 on a Stanley Cup run. Let's hope he becomes a #3 on this team.

Real excited to see how Suzuki performs in a top 6 winger role. I'd like to start him there since it's a weak point of ours and move him to C gradually through an injury or moving Domi over at some point. It's great to finally have a lot of options at C though.

Staal plays a much heavier game than Danault so there is that. But having Danault at 3C would be ideal somewhere down the road.

 

[blarneylad]

Say what y'all wanna say about Danault, I'm just glad we got him for Weise

He reminds me a lot of Jordan Staal in his Pittsburgh days. Good #2 on an average team, incredible #3 on a Stanley Cup run. Let's hope he becomes a #3 on this team.

Real excited to see how Suzuki performs in a top 6 winger role. I'd like to start him there since it's a weak point of ours and move him to C gradually through an injury or moving Domi over at some point. It's great to finally have a lot of options at C though.

Habs are a bubble team right now.

If a prospect emerges that is good enough to displace a 70 point center to the wing we will be in great shape.

Not sure why everyone thinks moving Domi to wing is inevitable. He was more than good at center ice. Domi was the most productive centerman since Plekanec was in his prime and then Koivu. Danault is good but I prefer him as a defensive specialist centerman bumping between 2nd and 3rd line minutes.

Ideally center depth by end of this season is Domi-Kotkaniemi-Danault.

We really need Kotkaniemi to step up offensively. Far to early to guess where he is in his development curve but what I saw of him Wednesday against the Panthers looks like he is still easy to push off the puck. And still a stride slow for 2nd line production and minutes

 

[salbutera]

Domi’s undersized and loses front of the net defensive battles in his zone too often. Moving Domi to the wing, ideally next to KK should have a secondary effect of speeding up KKs game let alone lessen the wear & tear on Domi over the course of a season.

 

[Rapala]

Habs are a bubble team right now.

If a prospect emerges that is good enough to displace a 70 point center to the wing we will be in great shape.

Not sure why everyone thinks moving Domi to wing is inevitable. He was more than good at center ice. Domi was the most productive centerman since Plekanec was in his prime and then Koivu. Danault is good but I prefer him as a defensive specialist centerman bumping between 2nd and 3rd line minutes.

Ideally center depth by end of this season is Domi-Kotkaniemi-Danault.

We really need Kotkaniemi to step up offensively. Far to early to guess where he is in his development curve but what I saw of him Wednesday against the Panthers looks like he is still easy to push off the puck. And still a stride slow for 2nd line production and minutes

The idea of moving Domi is to have your cake and eat it too. I think he can be more productive as a winger his natural position. He's not horrible defensively but it is a taxing role. Given he goes through stretches where we see low energy either from the effects of diabetes or just plain fatigue I'd like to see him have more energy for the offensive side of the pond.

 

[Gally11]

Habs are a bubble team right now.

If a prospect emerges that is good enough to displace a 70 point center to the wing we will be in great shape.

Not sure why everyone thinks moving Domi to wing is inevitable. He was more than good at center ice. Domi was the most productive centerman since Plekanec was in his prime and then Koivu. Danault is good but I prefer him as a defensive specialist centerman bumping between 2nd and 3rd line minutes.

Ideally center depth by end of this season is Domi-Kotkaniemi-Danault.

We really need Kotkaniemi to step up offensively. Far to early to guess where he is in his development curve but what I saw of him Wednesday against the Panthers looks like he is still easy to push off the puck. And still a stride slow for 2nd line production and minutes

The reason I’d move Domi to wing is I think he can still be effective there and he shoots left and isn’t particularly good at winning face-offs.

I’d like a right handed guy to displace him who’s much more efficient in the face-off dot for critical game moments needing a goal.

 

[blarneylad]

The idea of moving Domi is to have your cake and eat it too. I think he can be more productive as a winger his natural position. He's not horrible defensively but it is a taxing role. Given he goes through stretches where we see low energy either from the effects of diabetes or just plain fatigue I'd like to see him have more energy for the offensive side of the pond.

He sees the ice so well. Best player on the team at passing, he finds the open guy so well. He isn’t a shooter so he needs the puck to make plays. Most elite wingers are shooters or just insanely skilled (think pat Kane).

I agree that he would still be a good player on the wing but I like the options he has as a distributor from the middle. He seemed to make whoever he played with better. So I agree he could help and compliment Kotkaniemi. Not something I’d be against seeing. Thornton and Pavelski played a hybrid winger/center role together in SAN Jose that worked well

 

[Rosso Scuderia]

I'd trade Drouin way before Danault to be honest. Danault's progression has been great in the last 2 years while Drouin hasn't really shown any kind of improvement in his game in those 2 years.

Danault is very effective at even strength.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I like Danault. But it doesn’t mean I don’t want to upgrade that position. As long as Danault is a top center on this team the habs aren’t winning the cup.

You look at teams that made the playoffs last year and players such as O’Reilly, Bergeron, Kreiji, Matthews, Tavares, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Crosby, Malkin, Barzal, Pavelski, Hertl, Scheifele, Stamkos, Point, Aho, Monahan, Lindholm, Mackinnon...closest guy that played 2nd center imo was Braden Schenn.

So until the Habs have a guy of the caliber in that group displacing Danault I am not sure they will win a cup. Make the playoffs? Yup, win a round? Yup. Same old news.

We need Kotkaniemi, Suzuki and Poehling to step in and bump Danault. Those youngsters make Danault an extra needed to trade for a dman or scorer. Two other categories we can really use an upgrade

I understand what you are saying but I don't agree with it. Danault's line badly outplayed the leagues top lines for the majority of the season and that is all that you need to do.

You mentioned Schenn as the closest guy that played 2nd line center but left out Backlund (Lindholm is a RW who took RH draws on the top line but did not play center), Nelson, Staal, Soderberg, Faksa, Sissons etc.

Danault is part of the solution to becoming a contender. The problem is that fans need understand that the game is about depth now and these titles such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd line players are more for the media and fans who don't understand the game. Coaches play matchups and as last season clearly demonstrated, Danault performed at an elite level by outscoring opposing top centers in head to head even strength situations.

It is like people forget that Domi had over 70 points and KK was and 18 year old 3rd overall pick, and Poehling and Suzuki are banging the doors down. Who cares what ranking people who are not affiliated with the team want to arbitrarily assign to certain lines and/or players. All that matters is that this team looks like it is well on the way to icing a full stable of lines that will be capable of outplaying every matchup on a nightly basis.

Getting caught up in these silly debates is a waste of time as we are debating something that isn't even discussed at the NHL level.

 

[admiralcadillac]

I don't see it happening now either but given the talent quotient Suzuki is demonstrating it's coming quickly. Domi was always my idea of the first move to make in creating a place at center. That hasn't changed. I've gone on record stating I hope it happens by January. As far as the Shiny New Toy Syndrome goes Suzuki is proving we finally have one are you going to debate that? I'm also curious as to your knowledge of the catering business with the "Staff". Is this based on the "dino burgers" Julien wolfs down?

100% agree and I’m certain Danault gets more third line treatment down the road, but not this year.

Suzuki can play wing or big center minutes in the AHL, but he’s not playing 17-18 hard defensive minutes as a center in the nhl this hear.

 

[Walrus26]

Just thought I'd nominate Brett Kulak as the guy who wins any hypothetical "best value for money" player this season.

Absolute steal of a trade.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Just thought I'd nominate Brett Kulak as the guy who wins any hypothetical "best value for money" player this season.

Absolute steal of a trade.

I dunno man Domi is making 3m, if he gets 70pts again it’ll pretty hard to be better value than that

 

[blarneylad]

I'd trade Drouin way before Danault to be honest. Danault's progression has been great in the last 2 years while Drouin hasn't really shown any kind of improvement in his game in those 2 years.

Danault is very effective at even strength.

It took Danault the last two years of his life to progress. Drouin hasn’t even hit that age yet. What if he comes out and continues to improve.

Can’t be quick to give up on youth. Drouin is still young and his talent surpasses Danault. If he puts it together he can be a top line winger.

 

[blarneylad]

I understand what you are saying but I don't agree with it. Danault's line badly outplayed the leagues top lines for the majority of the season and that is all that you need to do.

You mentioned Schenn as the closest guy that played 2nd line center but left out Backlund (Lindholm is a RW who took RH draws on the top line but did not play center), Nelson, Staal, Soderberg, Faksa, Sissons etc.

Danault is part of the solution to becoming a contender. The problem is that fans need understand that the game is about depth now and these titles such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd line players are more for the media and fans who don't understand the game. Coaches play matchups and as last season clearly demonstrated, Danault performed at an elite level by outscoring opposing top centers in head to head even strength situations.

It is like people forget that Domi had over 70 points and KK was and 18 year old 3rd overall pick, and Poehling and Suzuki are banging the doors down. Who cares what ranking people who are not affiliated with the team want to arbitrarily assign to certain lines and/or players. All that matters is that this team looks like it is well on the way to icing a full stable of lines that will be capable of outplaying every matchup on a nightly basis.

Getting caught up in these silly debates is a waste of time as we are debating something that isn't even discussed at the NHL level.

Wonderful post!

 

[ECWHSWI]

I understand what you are saying but I don't agree with it. Danault's line badly outplayed the leagues top lines for the majority of the season and that is all that you need to do.

You mentioned Schenn as the closest guy that played 2nd line center but left out Backlund (Lindholm is a RW who took RH draws on the top line but did not play center), Nelson, Staal, Soderberg, Faksa, Sissons etc.

Danault is part of the solution to becoming a contender. The problem is that fans need understand that the game is about depth now and these titles such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd line players are more for the media and fans who don't understand the game. Coaches play matchups and as last season clearly demonstrated, Danault performed at an elite level by outscoring opposing top centers in head to head even strength situations.

It is like people forget that Domi had over 70 points and KK was and 18 year old 3rd overall pick, and Poehling and Suzuki are banging the doors down. Who cares what ranking people who are not affiliated with the team want to arbitrarily assign to certain lines and/or players. All that matters is that this team looks like it is well on the way to icing a full stable of lines that will be capable of outplaying every matchup on a nightly basis.

Getting caught up in these silly debates is a waste of time as we are debating something that isn't even discussed at the NHL level.

Or maybe not...

unless you want to dispute the idea that Crosby/Malkin are the Pens 1-2 punch at C ? or Kuznetzov/Backstrom in WSH ? or maybe Schenn/RoR in St-Louis ? or McDavid/Draisatl in EDM ? or Duchene/Johansen in NSH they wont be 1st/2nd line C ?

and maybe Eichel is not Buff' 1st line C ? Monahan in CAL either ? Toews in CHI ? McKinnon in COL not being a 1st line C either I guess ??



it's cool though, thinking 1st/2nd/3rd line is something of the past makes you feel better about the Habs not being very good, not having starpower either... but hey! you're talking about the Habs matching other teams lines, not the other way around.

 

[ECWHSWI]

Wonderful post!

are you too suggesting Sidney Crosby is NOT a 1st line C ???

 

[Rapala]

are you too suggesting Sidney Crosby is NOT a 1st line C ???

I'm pretty sure he said Danault's line outplayed him.

Danault's line badly outplayed the leagues top lines for the majority of the season

Farce.. They badly out played the lesser lines. And it was the wrong majority.

 

[bsl]

Every single team in the NHL would love to have Danault playing center in their top 9. He is already an elite shut down center and will continue to be extremely valuable as long as he doesn't ask for too much money. If you think even for a split second that Habs management thinks that he needs to step up his offensive production in order to save his job then you are grossly delusional.

What a laugh. The guy can’t score goals. It’s a huge weakness. For comparison see carbonneau. And that was then. Even a 3 line c in today’s nhl should be a goal scorer. Danault is useless.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

What a laugh. The guy can’t score goals. It’s a huge weakness. For comparison see carbonneau. And that was then. Even a 3 line c in today’s nhl should be a goal scorer. Danault is useless.

What is this? Get out of here. Danault is nothing useless. I mean Joe Thornton or Niklas Backstrom cannot score what useless players. Please, scoring is important of course but there are millions of other factor than scoring to make you win a game. Also Danault can score goals but it is not his main attribute.

 

[bsl]

Every single team in the NHL would love to have Danault playing center in their top 9. He is already an elite shut down center and will continue to be extremely valuable as long as he doesn't ask for too much money. If you think even for a split second that Habs management thinks that he needs to step up his offensive production in order to save his job then you are grossly delusional.

It’s

Every single team in the NHL would love to have Danault playing center in their top 9. He is already an elite shut down center and will continue to be extremely valuable as long as he doesn't ask for too much money. If you think even for a split second that Habs management thinks that he needs to step up his offensive production in order to save his job then you are grossly delusional.

Good teams don’t play prevent. Hockey is about scoring goals. That is the fundamental nature of the game. A c man that cannot score goals is useless. I’ve been saying this here for ten years. You need to be a scoring threat while up against your opposing center. Or you are useless.

 

[bsl]

It's not about Danault….it's about what we MIGHT have.
Plekanec was a Elite shutdown center, that could still put up 20-25 goals, 60-70 points season.

IF yout think he's got a future here, then tell me who we are trading between Kotkaniemi, Suzuki and Poehling…..all 3 of them are praise for having good 2-way games so far. Danault is going to ask for more than 5,5M...

Exactly. Good post

 

[DAChampion]

Plekanec put up 20+ goals 69+ points TWICE in his career.

He did that with a lot of power play time back when the Habs had puck-moving dmen, and when he had wingers such as Kovalev, Kostitsyn, Cammalleri, and Gionta. He was really an effective second line center, paid like one, which is fine.

Danault is one level lower than Plekanec. He'll great on the third line.

 

[bsl]

Its funny because they asked Drouin about seeing a psychologist, after Mackinnon said it helped him deal with the high and lows of being an NHLer. Drouin replied he didn't need to, since he felt good in his skin. Mind you, he said this the same summer he got a nose job. But, the most interesting part for me is how this is a player who overthinks, tries the same failed plays over and over, gets huge ups (4 point games) followed by prolonged lows and consistently has had problems meshing with his linemates and with taking his on ice responsibilities in the NHL. A guy can't change without insight. I'm hoping the concrete work hes done with Ducharme overcomes what I think is the wrong mindset.

It is not a mind set problem. He just panics. He’s too nervous. I saw the same with galchenyuk right away. Worried me from the start with him. Drou is not confident. He panics. Too bad because he has amazing skill.