GlitchMarner
Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
I'm a bit perplexed by how good the Canadiens are when it comes to stats like SAT% and SAT% close. I believe they had very good possession stats last season as well.
Yet the team seems to be middling overall (going back three seasons, not just this year) and has no real game-breaking talent (in the aftermath of Subban and Pacioretty). Don't get me wrong: The roster certainly has some talent, but it lacks anyone I would call a star forward.
In particular, I don't really understand how Danault and Gallagher are consistently highly dominant possession players. Danault is a good checker and has some talent, but he's not in the tier of guys like prime Kopitar when it comes to offensive talent (he's a poor man's ROR at best). Gallagher is a legit first line forward and elite net-front presence, but he doesn't seem too creative and isn't the most dynamic forward. Does their top line play a particular system that emphasizes getting the puck on net at every opportunity or something? What gives?
Yet the team seems to be middling overall (going back three seasons, not just this year) and has no real game-breaking talent (in the aftermath of Subban and Pacioretty). Don't get me wrong: The roster certainly has some talent, but it lacks anyone I would call a star forward.
In particular, I don't really understand how Danault and Gallagher are consistently highly dominant possession players. Danault is a good checker and has some talent, but he's not in the tier of guys like prime Kopitar when it comes to offensive talent (he's a poor man's ROR at best). Gallagher is a legit first line forward and elite net-front presence, but he doesn't seem too creative and isn't the most dynamic forward. Does their top line play a particular system that emphasizes getting the puck on net at every opportunity or something? What gives?