2015 /2016 Habs thread. GO HABS GO !

[talkinghead]

I won't pretend that I know this team well, but I'm curious about any thoughts you guys (maybe Doc?) have about Max Pacioretty. I understand the criticism of Subban; I remember reading a profile of him in the New Yorker and thinking that he sounds like a piece of work. And, as Doc says, Galchenyuk is playing very well now. But I don't know hockey well enough to get a read on Pacioretty. Is he a brilliant player working on a mediocre team? is he a team captain who leads by example? He seems like a strong player and a solid guy (???!!), but he also seems to be having a somewhat quiet year. Any thoughts?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Max Pacioretty is a very good player. He's the habs only proven true sniper. He's a quiet leader and the fact so much of the team's success depends on him scoring is exactly the reason why he should not be captain. The weight of being the captain of the Montreal Canadiens is a lot to put up with. He should be concentrating on scoring goals, not on having to address the media every single day and be criticized for the team's performance when the team isn't playing well. A lot of the blame is unfairly put onto his shoulders simply because he's the team's #1 proven sniper who also has the burden of being the captain.

However, the Montreal Canadiens let the players chose their captain. And the players chose Max Pacioretty. What was he supposed to say? Say no? Not a chance!

One of the reasons why the team let the players name their own captain is because the past practice of management picking their own captain didn't bode well with many players and wasn't fair to the player chosen. Bob Gainey was named captain by management and many of his teammates at the time weren't exactly happy about the choice. Had the players been allowed to chose their own captain at the time, they would have chosen Guy Lapointe, who was an extremely popular teammate at the time.

Now that i think about it, maybe that's why the team traded Brandon Prust at the end of last season. Many believe that he would have been the players' choice for captain had the players been allowed to chose their captain, and it's no secret that management would not have wanted Prust to be the team captain. Which also explains why they spent last season without a captain.

 

[talkinghead]

That's really interesting, Doc. Thanks for the insights.

 

[smuler]

maybe that's why the team traded Brandon Prust at the end of last season. Many believe that he would have been the players' choice for captain had the players been allowed to chose their captain, and it's no secret that management would not have wanted Prust to be the team captain

Brandon was a great NY Ranger..loved by his teammates

He left NY for a long term deal in Montreal via free agency

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[Doc Holliday]

Brandon was a great NY Ranger..loved by his teammates

He left NY for a long term deal in Montreal via free agency

What's ironic is that the Canucks put him on waivers this season & no one picked him up. He was then sent down to the minors. Recently, he was granted permission to go back home for the rest of the season. He's had a bad ankle since injuring it earlier this season. He'll be a free agent at the end of the season and i wouldn't be surprised if he's forced to retire since i can't see any team willing to sign him. I could be wrong.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The end of an era: Ben Scrivens' days with the habs have come to an end

They left him at home and put him on waivers today. They signed some young goalie from St-Cloud State who'll accompany the team on their current road trip to Florida.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Habs are brutal! They were leading 3-0 at one point and wound up losing 4-3 to Florida in regulation time. How can you lose a 3-0 lead late in the second period? Unreal!!!!

The Barkov-Huberdeau-Jagr line did what they wanted with them for the most part of the game. How could the habs turn down Jagr's wish to play for them just a few years ago? Unbelievable!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Prediction time

-habs fans will give John Scott a standing ovation

-Carey Price will play the last game

-habs fans will give Carey Price a standing ovation

 

[lgna69xxx]

What about your prediction for where the habs pick in the lottery? Watch them win the first overall pick

Prediction time

-habs fans will give John Scott a standing ovation

-Carey Price will play the last game

-habs fans will give Carey Price a standing ovation

 

[Doc Holliday]

What about your prediction for where the habs pick in the lottery? Watch them win the first overall pick

My guess is that they'll pick 9th.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The habs just announced that Carey Price and PK Subban won't return this season.

They also announced the players nominated Max Pacioretty for the King Clancy award. Considering PK donated $10 million earlier this season, it's kind of telling that the majority love Patch and that PK isn't too popular around the team.

I'll say it again: do not be too surprised if he's traded during the off-season. The window for the team to trade him is closing since his no-trade/no movement clause kicks in next season.

 

[lgna69xxx]

pk for taylor hall straight up? or eberle and yakupov for pk and mtls first rounder?

 

[Doc Holliday]

pk for taylor hall straight up? or eberle and yakupov for pk and mtls first rounder?

I wouldn't touch Eberle with a ten-foot pole. As for Yakupov, maybe a 2nd-round pick. Taylor Hall would be a good choice for Subban or a mid first-rounder.

Today on a local radio talk show, fans and members of the panel wondered if the Leafs would trade their pick for Subban. In my mind, i was saying 'no fuckin' way!'

I don't want no $72 million overated cancer on my team!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Ewwwwwwwwwww the thought of that makes me cringe! No way would Babcock approve that trade in a million years, afterall he never wanted him on the last Olympic Team in the first place and pk has not gotten any better since then so no dice.

Today on a local radio talk show, fans and members of the panel wondered if the Leafs would trade their pick for Subban. In my mind, i was saying 'no fuckin' way!'

I don't want no $72 million overated cancer on my team!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Ewwwwwwwwwww the thought of that makes me cringe! No way would Babcock approve that trade in a million years, afterall he never wanted him on the last Olympic Team in the first place and pk has not gotten any better since then so no dice.

True, but the defencemen on Babcock's Team Canada are among the best defencemen in the world. No one the Leafs currently have come close by a mile to the top 6 defencemen on that team. Would the Leafs be interested in adding one of the top 15 defencemen in the world? I'm sure they would, but only if the price was right. It won't happen if the Leafs win the lottery. But if i were the Leafs i could be tempted in making such a deal if i wind up with the #2-#4 pick instead.

Subban is a proven player. An offensively-gifted defenceman with tons of charisma which would be perfect for the Toronto market. But he would be a much different player playing for Mike Babcock, whom Subban respects. The problem with Subban in Mtl is that i don't believe he respects Mike Therrien, which is why he's been perceived as being somewhat 'uncoachable'.

Playing for a coach like Mike Babcock would no doubt turn him into a bonafide Norris trophy-type of defenceman.

 

[TigerWould]

PK is the only true clutch player the Habs have. When the games matter, at home or on the road, PK performs. Much more than we can say about a lot of stars in the league. It's one thing performing during the 82 game schedule but it's another doing it in the playoffs. PK thrives on pressure...he took down Boston almost single handed. That's gotta be worth something!

 

[Doc Holliday]

PK is the only true clutch player the Habs have. When the games matter, at home or on the road, PK performs. Much more than we can say about a lot of stars in the league. It's one thing performing during the 82 game schedule but it's another doing it in the playoffs. PK thrives on pressure...he took down Boston almost single handed. That's gotta be worth something!

I cannot disagree with you. But for the past two seasons, he's been the league's givaways king. The numbers would have been worse had he not missed those last 7-8 games. He also plays the entire powerplay and for the past two seasons, the team has only been the 25th best powerplay unit in the league. Both seasons!!! Indeed, he's an offensive talent and in that department one of the best offensively-gifted defencemen in the league. But what does he bring to the team when his team has so much trouble scoring and is consistently one of the league's worst powerplay units?? In other words, his assets are useless to the current team!

The problem with PK isn't what he does or doesn't do on the ice. It's all the off-ice distractions and the fact he's taking way too much space inside the dressing room and the fact more than half the team can't stand him and would rather have him playing elsewhere. The simple fact the players nominated Max Pacioretty instead of Subban for the King Clancy award simply proves what i just said, especially considering the fact Subban donated $10 million to the children's hospital prior to the season.

The main reason why he could (and should) be traded this summer is that it's the team's last window of opportunity to get something of great value for him before his no-trade/no-movement clause kicks in on July 1st. After this, the team will be at his mercy and Subban will be able to dictate if he stays or not and where he'll go if the divorce is imminent.

Subban's value will never be higher to the team than it is right now.

 

[Doc Holliday]

It's one thing performing during the 82 game schedule but it's another doing it in the playoffs. PK thrives on pressure...he took down Boston almost single handed. That's gotta be worth something!

Well, Subban won't be playing in the playoffs this season, and from what i gathered during yesterday's press conference, the habs may not make the playoffs next season either if Carey Price goes down again, and chances are that he will. A goalie with bad knees (just look at Mike Palmateer) isn't a good thing and the chances that his career may end prematurely are a very good possibility.

Price has two years left on his current contract and signing him to a considerably longer term will be a very risky venture for any team. Thirty year-old goalies with chronic knee problems usually don't have very long careers.

 

[TigerWould]

I cannot disagree with you. But for the past two seasons, he's been the league's givaways king. The numbers would have been worse had he not missed those last 7-8 games. He also plays the entire powerplay and for the past two seasons, the team has only been the 25th best powerplay unit in the league. Both seasons!!! Indeed, he's an offensive talent and in that department one of the best offensively-gifted defencemen in the league. But what does he bring to the team when his team has so much trouble scoring and is consistently one of the league's worst powerplay units?? In other words, his assets are useless to the current team!

The problem with PK isn't what he does or doesn't do on the ice. It's all the off-ice distractions and the fact he's taking way too much space inside the dressing room and the fact more than half the team can't stand him and would rather have him playing elsewhere. The simple fact the players nominated Max Pacioretty instead of Subban for the King Clancy award simply proves what i just said, especially considering the fact Subban donated $10 million to the children's hospital prior to the season.

The main reason why he could (and should) be traded this summer is that it's the team's last window of opportunity to get something of great value for him before his no-trade/no-movement clause kicks in on July 1st. After this, the team will be at his mercy and Subban will be able to dictate if he stays or not and where he'll go if the divorce is imminent.

Subban's value will never be higher to the team than it is right now.

Let's be careful with these give away stats...take a look at the top 10 on these stats, you'd take EVERY player on this list (Chara, Seabrook, Daughty, Jamie Benn). You need the puck on your stick all the time to make this list...yes, there are give-aways but there is also offence generated.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Let's be careful with these give away stats...take a look at the top 10 on these stats, you'd take EVERY player on this list (Chara, Seabrook, Daughty, Jamie Benn). You need the puck on your stick all the time to make this list...yes, there are give-aways but there is also offence generated.

I wouldn't take Chara. Too old and too expensive.

But like i said earlier, the problem with Subban isn't what he does on the ice. Sure, even if his team sucks offensively in all aspects which makes you wonder what exactly does he bring to the team.

His problem is his presence. Too much of a distraction around the team. More than half the players on the team hate his guts. He acts like he's way bigger than the team and the coach has lost control over him. He also doesn't respect Max Pacioretty as a captain. He feels he should be the captain or someone else other than Pacioretty.

As i also mentioned, only a coach (like Babcock, among a few others) that Subban respects will make him play better and be less of a distraction around the team.

And as i mentioned also, his value will never be higher than it is now. The time to trade is now and the habs should definitely trade him before Subban gains total control of his destiny and will be holding all the cards. Would i want him on the Leafs? Not for $9 million per year. That number's a cap-killer!