We need a top 4 defenseman

[WestIslander]

We need a top 4 defenseman and NO Gilbert, Tinordi and Beaulieu are not the answer, in Tinordi and Beaulieu's case, not yet at least.

We have...

Emelin - Subban
Markov - XXXXX

* The above are 3 of the top 4, we need another top 4 defenseman and at this point it is not someone in our organization, so where do we get one from?

Click to read more...

 

[Price is Wright]

Gilbert is there until Beaulieu is ready.
Weaver is there until Tinordi is ready.

 

[LaP]

The best thing to do right now is to be patient. There's no urgency at all. If we press the panic button we will do a Ribeiro/Niiiiiniiimaaaaa mistake again.

There's a lot of time left before the trade deadline and we are 4-1 right now.

 

[DailyKaizen]

Cost/Benefit

We need a top 4 defenseman and NO Gilbert, Tinordi and Beaulieu are not the answer, in Tinordi and Beaulieu's case, not yet at least.

We have...

Emelin - Subban
Markov - XXXXX

* The above are 3 of the top 4, we need another top 4 defenseman and at this point it is not someone in our organization, so where do we get one from?

Sure...but at what cost my friend? It is all well to add reinforcements but there many factors to consider when one ventures in these waters...

Perhaps you are being too hasty to discredit the development of NB and JD?

Moreover I am comfortable giving MW a more expanded role and more minutes...Gilbert for all his flaws and positive points is still adjusting to our system and chemistry...

 

[Kachino]

OMG, are people already panicking?

 

[CH25]

I'd love Big Buff

 

[DenverHabsFan]

It seems management is willing to live with the growing pains and hoping that Beaulieu and Tinordi will fill prominent roles hopefully as the season progresses.

And PK will get out of his funk eventually.

Team is 4-1.

Stay calm.

 

[Power Man]

I'd love Big Buff

Say it in French:

Byfuglien

 

[ClasslessGuy]

Gilbert is far from a problem. We need our defense to play like a defense

 

[the]

I'm not worried about Gilbert, he will only get better with time and should help us tremendously going forward.

 

[Rapala]

Yeah Buff is so good his organization wants him on the wing desperately.

We need to let these guys work out their communication issues. (including the goaltenders)
I would make that a priority on this homestand.
We really have to hope one of Tinner or Bolo can take some RD work.
I want to see Tinner in against smaller quicker teams so he can improve.
Just like I want to see Bolo in against the physical teams.
Sheltering is one of the stupidest things you can do to arrest development.

 

[Adriatic]

Boychuk would have been soooo sweet.

 

[Alexdaman]

I'm not worried about Gilbert, he will only get better with time and should help us tremendously going forward.

I don't think he's going to get better. He could be gone by the end of the season, like Murray. But he brings some experience which we can rely until Beaulieu takes a full time role. We can't function with only 6 NHL caliber Dmen, we only have Pateryn and Drewiskie to come in and help if someone gets injured, so Gilbert is going to be needed in the immediate future regardless.

 

[That Habs Fan]

I would love Zbynek Michalek.

 

[hototogisu]

Didn't we just send one to Buffalo for nothing?

 

[Runner77]

We have a lot of D prospects in the Hammer. If we could parlay one or two in a package (by adding reasonable assets accordingly) for a 4th D who is at or very near age 30, would certainly help. Someone mentioned Coburn yesterday.

However, as others have suggested, why not give Beaulieu and Tinordi a chance -- it's not as if they are a huge liability at this point.

 

[Stjonnypopo]

Didn't we just send one to Buffalo for nothing?

Gorges is a borderline top-4 defenceman, in my opinion.

I always loved his work ethic, and I think he's the type of player that teams need to win, but not in the top-4. If he's a 5th defenceman and PK specialist the team has enough depth to be a winning team.

 

[CH25]

Didn't we just send one to Buffalo for nothing?

We will thank Bergevin in 1-2 years

 

[Natey]

Gilbert is fine. If you want to look at our defensive unit playing poorly, look no further than Mike Weaver and PK Subban.

However, we both know they are more capable than what they're showing now.

 

[Whitesnake]

Gilbert is far from a problem. We need our defense to play like a defense

Which is right now Gilbert biggest problem isn't it? Plays afraid, can't sustain a small amount of pressure...does make a good pass when there are no players around and has 5 minutes to take a decision. I guess we will need to be patient 'cause I've never seen him be that awful.....but at one point, we still might have the team to go far, but it won't be with that defense. Righty tough stay-at-home d-man. Gilbert should be a bottom pairing d-man. Weaver in the stands.

 

[DJ Breadman]

Gilbert is a 6 or 7 he is insanely bad, handles the puck like a grenade and is afraid to get hit, total turnover machine

 

[TheGoalJudge]

Our forwards have had a bad start defensively. They look lost a lot of the time. Pacioretty is not even in the zone half the time.

 

[That Habs Fan]

Gilbert is a 6 or 7 he is insanely bad, handles the puck like a grenade and is afraid to get hit, total turnover machine

Gilbert is not great but this is vastly overstating it. He makes good first passes and decent plays in the offensive zone. Just a bit soft for my liking, especially considering he has decent size.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Say it in French:

Byfuglien

Bi-fu-glienne

 

[CH25]

Gilbert panics so much with the puck it's ridiculous. He keeps throwing the puck on the opposition's stick instead of making the smart and simple play. I often like him in the Ozone though. Way better than Gorges in that area. He seriously needs to cut down on the turnovers.