GDT: "The H-Team" | Carolina Hurricanes @ Montreal Canadiens | Bell Centre | 7:30 PM

[Identity404]

Was anyone actually expecting us to beat the Habs tonight? I know I wasn't...

 

[Wolfpuck]

One would think a team desperate for points would play, you know, desperate

 

[Anton Babchuk]

Here's the way I see it.

He's by no means a stalwart defender.

This is acceptable if you are either tough to play against or putting numbers on the stat sheet. McBain is doing neither. Basically a good defenseman does is at least 2/3 for Defense/Physicality/Scoring. McBain is 0/3 right now, has been for the most part all year.

Defensemen get a significant percentage of their points on the powerplay and McBain for some reason isn't allowed there because Tim Brent is so awesome

 

[Swag Surf Aho]

It's scary that we're waiting for Dan "the rebound machine" Ellis to come back and win games for us.

Not sure if serious...

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm responding to the general board sentiment that, because we got 5 games from a defenseman who actually hits people, McBain is expendable.

Yeah, just to be clear, I'm not on board with that sentiment either.

Bellemore is a replacement level player, maybe slightly better in some aspects. That's more than I was expecting and more than we have been playing with on our bottom pair this season, so I'm happy with him.

But no, he does not make McBain expendable. Sangs... yeah...

 

[vwg*]

McBain is expendable not because of Bellemore, but because he's a puckmoving d-man who isn't particularly good at puckmoving, and his shot is below average for an offensive minded d-man. It's more to salvage what we can get for him now and to clear a roster spot for someone like Murphy next year. Murphy basically can do everything McBain can do.

 

[vwg*]

Price made a save on that one. Maybe it's your hate that is beyond pathetic?

Like I said my feed was crappy. My mistake. I know you never make any. Jussi is a good player then.

 

[NorthStar4Canes]

I've also noticed him turn the puck over multiple times today. He's certainly not slow, but the quickness of the Montreal Canadiens was a problem.

I'm responding to the general board sentiment that, because we got 5 games from a defenseman who actually hits people, McBain is expendable.

Actually he hasn't turned the puck over multiple times, not in any game he's played. He's been making the clean, simple plays let alone the dangerous ones. Who the hell have you been watching? Confused with Corvo's number?

My guess is you think if a guy can hit, that automatically means he's deficient elsewhere.

 

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

Defensemen get a significant percentage of their points on the powerplay and McBain for some reason isn't allowed there because Tim Brent is so awesome

There is obviously something expected of him that's he's not delivering, or he'd have that PP time.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

McBain is expendable not because of Bellemore, but because he's a puckmoving d-man who isn't particularly good at puckmoving, and his shot is below average for an offensive minded d-man. It's more to salvage what we can get for him now and to clear a roster spot for someone like Murphy next year. Murphy basically can do everything McBain can do.

I disagree, but we've (the board) gone through this song and dance before.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Murphy basically can do everything McBain can do.

As demonstrated in his brief NHL tryout.

Now, where have I heard that before?

 

[smi]

Not sure if serious...

Yes, I'm serious, I think Ellis' rebound control isn't good.

 

[vwg*]

As demonstrated in his brief NHL tryout.

Now, where have I heard that before?

Obviously Murphy is going to go through his growing pains, but I think we've seen what we have with McBain, and it's not much more than a bottom pairing guy who can occasionally add some offense. Nothing wrong with that, but this team needs more.

 

[bb99]

SS.DD.

Keep 'Merica in your thoughts and prayers.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Actually he hasn't turned the puck over multiple times, not in any game he's played. He's been making the clean, simple plays let alone the dangerous ones. Who the hell have you been watching? Confused with Corvo's number?

My guess is you think if a guy can hit, that automatically means he's deficient elsewhere.

He has turned it over multiple times. In fact he had 2 giveaways tonight.

Like I said, I'm responding to the sentiment that McBain is now replaceable because we have a defenseman who will actually hit people. Bellemore isn't at McBain's level yet.

 

[Swag Surf Aho]

Murphy doesn't make McBain completely expendable IMO. McBain was a forward in high school, therefore he's offensively minded. But when he's not put on the powerplay to showcase his skill, even in light of an injured Faulk, there's not much room to criticize his style of play.

 

[vwg*]

Murphy doesn't make McBain completely expendable IMO. McBain was a forward in high school, therefore he's offensively minded. But when he's not put on the powerplay to showcase his skill, even in light of an injured Faulk, there's not much room to criticize his style of play.

It's not that any single player makes McBain expendable. But a combination of having Sanguinetti, Bellemore, and Murphy in the pipeline. Obviously we shouldn't just give him away, but if we moved on I wouldn't be against it.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

There is obviously something expected of him that's he's not delivering, or he'd have that PP time.

What has Tim Brent done at any point in this season to deserve powerplay time? Or LaRose, for that matter? Jeff Skinner has been in a horrible slump for a month and is still on the first unit. Sanguinetti was getting powerplay time early in the season when he was playing at best ECHL level hockey.

There's not some meritocracy going on here, it's just Kirk Muller being an idiot.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Obviously Murphy is going to go through his growing pains, but I think we've seen what we have with McBain, and it's not much more than a bottom pairing guy who can occasionally add some offense. Nothing wrong with that, but this team needs more.

And what if Murphy turns out to be worse than we expect, exactly the same way McBain did?

Trading a 25-year-old defenseman on the basis that a junior-league prospect will take his place is a dangerous, dangerous practice. Especially when you have almost nothing else of note in the system.

 

[rocky7]

John MacLean needs to be fired yesterday

Our special teams are a special kind of bad

Absolutely! But it's only the players that are accountable and who are blamed. The players are .................................... Coaching staff apparently. That said, the best friggen PK is not to take a friggen penalty. Soon as this team got figured out which wasn't hard to do, they started losing. Period. It's a friggen joke really. Just watch Muller's post game again tonight.

I never liked Therrien but he has sure been a good bench boss with the Habs. 4-1 loss. Good job coaching staff! Some mistakes but no effort issues tonight which was mostly an excuse anyway. Muller's new but that doesn't mean he's a poor coach! Christ, Karmanos should be able to see this. Easier to blame the players. Most fans can understand that explaination.

 

[Identity404]

I think McBain is definitely underrated here a bit. I think he gets a extra bit of hate because of all of his bonehead pinches, but for the most part he doesn't look out of place in the top 4. Can't say the same for other bottom pairing guys like Harrison and Sangs.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Like I said my feed was crappy. My mistake. I know you never make any. Jussi is a good player then.

No, just...calm down.

 

[vwg*]

No, just...calm down.

Naw, man, you totally convinced me Jussi is so great.

And I'm so mad! I'm glad you could infer that from my posts.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Yea, I'm gonna refrain from posting until cooler heads prevail.

See ya'll in a couple hours.

 

[NorthStar4Canes]

He has turned it over multiple times. In fact he had 2 giveaways tonight.

Like I said, I'm responding to the sentiment that McBain is now replaceable because we have a defenseman who will actually hit people. Bellemore isn't at McBain's level yet.

McBain's replacability has existed for a lot longer than 5 games. It's you who's trying to link it with a supposed and superficial "Bellemore hits therefore he's awesome" sentiment.