Where has the offense gone?

[Spearmint Rhino]

Way too much line Tetris going on to fit in all the little people...

We rank 29th in 5/5 goals scored

If we don't score off the rush we are one and done, no net presence and can't cycle the puck or win board battles and half our D have negative offensive skills and are lucky to keep the puck in at the blueline and do anything more than shoot wide of the net

Gallys/Eller are good but they're not ready to face other teams top shutdown lines, keep hearing how Plekanec is a #1C then we should surround him with #1Ws

Pacs-Pleks-Trade for big RW
Gally-Eller-Gally
Bourque-Briere-Bournival
Moen-White-Prust
Parros

Subban Markov
Diaz Emelin
Gorges Beaulieu
Murray

Bye-Bye Cube, Gio, DD

 

[WakeUpNHL]

Offense is gone because the team is playing scared, defensive minded, passive hockey.. a reflection of the panic already starting to set in on Therrien and Bergevin.

Bergevin's miscalculations (ie Briere , Desharnais, Parros, Murray, trading Cole) have put Therrien in a difficult position of having very little margin of victory. Therrien is now forced to play tight defensive games with little offensive flair. The constant berating of PK's risker offensive instinct is the perfect example of this playing scared.

This teams identity is supposed to be smaller speedy attacking team. With players like Desharnais, Briere, Parros and Murruy we can longer call this a 'speedy' team. That fact is now starting to sink in for MT and MB.

 

[Smokey Thompson]

Way too much line Tetris going on to fit in all the little people...

We rank 29th in 5/5 goals scored

If we don't score off the rush we are one and done, no net presence and can't cycle the puck or win board battles and half our D have negative offensive skills and are lucky to keep the puck in at the blueline and do anything more than shoot wide of the net

Gallys/Eller are good but they're not ready to face other teams top shutdown lines, keep hearing how Plekanec is a #1C then we should surround him with #1Ws

Pacs-Pleks-Trade for big RW
Gally-Eller-Gally
Bourque-Briere-Bournival
Moen-White-Prust
Parros

Subban Markov
Diaz Emelin
Gorges Beaulieu
Murray

Bye-Bye Cube, Gio, DD

Well we actually have enough capspace to trade for a < 4m RW. Your lines look good.

Unfortunately, at least one of the 3 in bold is here for another 3 years.

 

[Fazkovsky]

I dont see why we shouldnt make a trade if we know that we arent going to get anny offence from Briere, Gionta, Bourque and DD who are big parts of our top 6. Is someone sleeping?

 

[JayKing]

No one can finish. Too many playmakers on this team.

 

[KoZed]

Two offensive lines:
Galchenyuk-Eller-Gallagher
Pacioretty-Briere/DD-Bourque

Two defensive or two-way lines:
Bournival-Plekanec-Gionta
Moen-Prust-White

Solid "fourth" line whose members can kill penalties and take pressure off Pleks and Eller. White can take defensive zone faceoffs on right side, but otherwise I prefer a RH shot on RW on a defensive line. Easier to get out of your zone.

"Third" line centre position up for grabs: it belongs to whoever performs; otherwise, Leblanc is waiting.

Problem is that the Plekanec-Gionta duo can be bottled up in the D zone when facing big physical teams. If we're going for defensive/2-way lines, I'd break split them up on two lines.

Something like:

Bournival-Plekanec-Prust
Moen-White-Gionta

 

[KoZed]

**** this man, time to put Gionta in the press box. He has cooled of and Plekanec can't carry him any more.

Gio is like Briere. Damaged goods from repetitive injuries at an age where you don't heal as well.

Gionta got *both* biceps injured within ~1 yr (which is very weird), and in the process he has no shot anymore. He was never a good passer to begin with, he's small and short. So basically all he as left is speed, consistency and some defensive IQ.

That makes him a 5M, 5'7" checking line winger. Nobody needs that, least of all the Habs.

Looks like the Habs are going to let him walk this summer. Hope they trade him at the deadline for something valuable. So I'm OK with giving him a regular spot until then, just to keep his value high enough.

 

[Wats]

No one can finish. Too many playmakers on this team.

i disagree, I'd say more like no creativity/too predictable. The Habs odd man rushes are comical. It's like they don't practice it and have no idea what to do in those situations.

 

[HarlemsFinest]

Frankly, I find this on-ice display offensive.

 

[Runner77]

No offense, but ... no offense.

We're short on scoring talent and with defensive systems and goalies as good as they are, the value of someone who can needle a puck is exponential. We don't have anyone on the horizon who can fill the role in the Hammer.

We have some trading pieces that could help us nab a sniper -- not sure if Bergevin is willing to pay the price.

 

[Montreal Impact FC]

What offense? Like MB didnt have enough signs last year that we have a bunch of under achiving players are going downhill yet we insist on keeping them... our kids will produce but in sequences.... and its totally understandable.

Now its not gonna be better patche will get his bi annual hot streak and plekanec will have his steady average production (cant blame him he get chit wingers)...

Bergevin as to act but probably wont. Im getting scared he might ne a great team guy and leader but overated hockey smarts.

 

[Fire Everyone]

Offense is gone because the team is playing scared, defensive minded, passive hockey.. a reflection of the panic already starting to set in on Therrien and Bergevin.

Bergevin's miscalculations (ie Briere , Desharnais, Parros, Murray, trading Cole) have put Therrien in a difficult position of having very little margin of victory. Therrien is now forced to play tight defensive games with little offensive flair. The constant berating of PK's risker offensive instinct is the perfect example of this playing scared.

This teams identity is supposed to be smaller speedy attacking team. With players like Desharnais, Briere, Parros and Murruy we can longer call this a 'speedy' team. That fact is now starting to sink in for MT and MB.

Though you are correct about the rest being bad moves (I'll add Bouillon to the list), trading Cole was a great move. He's a terrible player.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think I saw it behind the couch cushion...