Did he magically learn how to put the puck in the net, or is he just there to skate around really fast for no particular reason?
- ehabs9

His girlfirend learned how to cook a mean macaroni.

Yeah, I'm sure Bourque is still with Montreal because Bergevin is patient.


I think he's still there because nobody wants him.
- Pecafan Fan

His girlfirend learned how to cook a mean macaroni.
- WaterBoy

He said she never comes to visit. Explains why he always looks so bummed all the time.

Yeah, I'm sure Bourque is still with Montreal because Bergevin is patient.


I think he's still there because nobody wants him.
- Pecafan Fan

Facon de parler... I'd have gotten rid of him...same return as DD's worth...NOTHING!!!

LOL.

Yeah, I'm sure Bourque is still with Montreal because Bergevin is patient.


I think he's still there because nobody wants him.
- Pecafan Fan

it's his last chance in MTL

Yet the kid was a regular last season and will now start as the 13th forward ?


Not so sure about that.
- WaterBoy

your fourth line is likely Malhotra/Weise/Prust. so where does Bournival play when everyone is healthy? you're not playing him 14-15 minutes on the third line. i have no doubt he'll play a lot of games this year but assuming everyone is healthy on October 8, i don't see him in the lineup.

it's his last chance in MTL
- Symba.007

Last year of his contract???

EDIT: nope...one more after this year.

your fourth line is likely Malhotra/Weise/Prust. so where does Bournival play when everyone is healthy? you're not playing him 14-15 minutes on the third line. i have no doubt he'll play a lot of games this year but assuming everyone is healthy on October 8, i don't see him in the lineup.
- DoubleDown

1st guys to jump in (bournival) when someone goes down....which will happen most of the year, there is always someone injured.

i don't think so. you have to hope Bourque builds off the playoffs and can be a 15-18 goal guy. Bournival doesn't have much upside. great wheels and nonstop motor but not a whole lot else.
- DoubleDown

I like how you write off a 22 year old rookie.

He's fast, intense. He's alot, alot, alot better than Bourque in his own zone. He can play on the PK.

Rene Bourque's last 4 seasons. 18 goals. 7 goals. 9 goals. He's washed up, nothing is going to come out of Bourque. Just having him in the lineup will drag his linemates down.

Last year of his contract???
- number_23

they finally have depth to replace him, they didn't last year

How many times will we sing that song?

if this...if that...if...if...if...

Bourque will sleepwalk most of the year. I don't know why some are still expecting anything from him. Bergevin is a patient man... Bourque would not be on my team.
- number_23

most likely, yes. but how many of us expected him to wake up and score 8 goals in 17 PO games?

I like how you write off a 22 year old rookie.

He's fast, intense. He's alot, alot, alot better than Bourque in his own zone. He can play on the PK.

Rene Bourque's last 4 seasons. 18 goals. 7 goals. 9 goals. He's washed up, nothing is going to come out of Bourque. Just having him in the lineup will drag his linemates down.
- Fredobface

again, we all said this going into the Tampa series last year.
if Bourque is the same player he was during last reg season, i agree. but you have to give him the chance to start the season. he has more upside than Bournival. and also, what are you doing with Bourque? trading him to that long list of suitors?
as for Bournival, sorry, i just don't see him as anything more than a depth guy.

I like how you write off a 22 year old rookie.

He's fast, intense. He's alot, alot, alot better than Bourque in his own zone. He can play on the PK.

Rene Bourque's last 4 seasons. 18 goals. 7 goals. 9 goals. He's washed up, nothing is going to come out of Bourque. Just having him in the lineup will drag his linemates down.
- Fredobface

No one is writing him off. It's not like we're saying toss him in the sink and turn on the garbage disposal. But he can't finish, it's not there. He's got a lot going for him, in a lot of areas, but offensively he's got a lot of work to do. With that said, he's a 4th liner, but our 4th line is full of grit and experience, and they take precedence over Bournival if you ask me.

Expectation that they clinch one of the top 3 spots in the division is reasonably high, but I didn't say the expectation is that they go to the Cup.

Do you not believe they have a chance to win their division?
Do you not believe they have a chance to finish first in the East?

I'm not saying that it's the most likely scenario they do both. They have very tough competition in Boston and Tampa, but do you not see them right up there with those two teams?

I'm asking... I want to know what everyone thinks on this.
- EricEngels

If Bishop plays like last year then the Tampa, Pittsburgh and Boston look like the top 3.

Montreal and the Rangers would be the next goup, pretty safely in the playoffs, playing for home ice i the first round.

There are about 8 teams with shots at the last 3 playoff spots.

most likely, yes. but how many of us expected him to wake up and score 8 goals in 17 PO games?
- DoubleDown

No one. How likely is that to repeat itself? So should we keep playing him in the hopes this happens again? So far we are just gambling that he comes to play...

You have a few other options where you KNOW they will come to play...maybe a lower upside... but a likelier probability that they'll reach it...

again, we all said this going into the Tampa series last year.
if Bourque is the same player he was during last reg season, i agree. but you have to give him the chance to start the season. he has more upside than Bournival. and also, what are you doing with Bourque? trading him to that long list of suitors?
as for Bournival, sorry, i just don't see him as anything more than a depth guy.
- DoubleDown

Same was said about Plekanec back in the day... hell he was never a point producer in the AHL... but he got better in the NHL.

Bournvial doesn't have quite the same hands, but he's got very similar wheels...(maybe even better than Plek when he was at his fastest) and he's got more fight. I think Bournival's contribution to this team in the same role as Bourque would actually surpass what we'd get from Bourque...

Same was said about Plekanec back in the day... hell he was never a point producer in the AHL... but he got better in the NHL.

Bournvial doesn't have quite the same hands, but he's got very similar wheels...(maybe even better than Plek when he was at his fastest) and he's got more fight. I think Bournival's contribution to this team in the same role as Bourque would actually surpass what we'd get from Bourque...
- number_23

Bourque can score 20+ goals. He's done it before. Will he do it again? Nobody knows. We'll know by xmas I guess. Bournival, playing full time, will never score more than 10.
If the kid could score, I agree with you, Bourque would probably be gone.

Same was said about Plekanec back in the day... hell he was never a point producer in the AHL... but he got better in the NHL.

Bournvial doesn't have quite the same hands, but he's got very similar wheels...(maybe even better than Plek when he was at his fastest) and he's got more fight. I think Bournival's contribution to this team in the same role as Bourque would actually surpass what we'd get from Bourque...
- number_23

Plekanec played one season in the A and put up solid totals. then he scored 30 points as a rookie playing centre. like i said, i like Bournival as a depth guy right now but i don't think he belongs on a second or third line. i think we have better options.

Same was said about Plekanec back in the day... hell he was never a point producer in the AHL... but he got better in the NHL.

Bournvial doesn't have quite the same hands, but he's got very similar wheels...(maybe even better than Plek when he was at his fastest) and he's got more fight. I think Bournival's contribution to this team in the same role as Bourque would actually surpass what we'd get from Bourque...
- number_23

If Bourque falters out of the gate (he won't have a long leash) I doubt it will be long before he is rotating in the press box with the likes of bournival and moen

Same was said about Plekanec back in the day... hell he was never a point producer in the AHL... but he got better in the NHL.

Bournvial doesn't have quite the same hands, but he's got very similar wheels...(maybe even better than Plek when he was at his fastest) and he's got more fight. I think Bournival's contribution to this team in the same role as Bourque would actually surpass what we'd get from Bourque...
- number_23

Yeeeeees.

I'll take a guy that works everynight and fights for his 10-15 goals over a underachiever like Bourque with bad work ethics. It's not just his individual production, it's the team philosophy you try to establish.

It's ok to suck and be lazy for 60 games and get 80% of your production in two weeks.

Bourque can score 20+ goals. He's done it before. Will he do it again? Nobody knows. We'll know by xmas I guess. Bournival, playing full time, will never score more than 10.
If the kid could score, I agree with you, Bourque would probably be gone.
- fidopro

right, it doesn't kill you to give Bourque 25-30 games. he was terrible last year and we still finished with 100 points.

Here's the wildcard: P.A. Parenteau looks great on a line with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty. Not good, great. This too should have a dramatic effect on 5-on-5 scoring.





Well I'm sold. #powerhouse.

again, we all said this going into the Tampa series last year.
if Bourque is the same player he was during last reg season, i agree. but you have to give him the chance to start the season. he has more upside than Bournival. and also, what are you doing with Bourque? trading him to that long list of suitors?
as for Bournival, sorry, i just don't see him as anything more than a depth guy.
- DoubleDown

Same.



That said, let's look at Eller's first season in Montreal in terms of production... and you'll see it's about the same as Bournival.

Yeeeeees.

I'll take a guy that works everynight and fights for his 10-15 goals over a underachiever like Bourque with bad work ethics. It's not just his individual production, it's the team philosophy you try to establish.

It's ok to suck and be lazy for 60 games and get 80% of your production in two weeks.
- Fredobface

Like Eller?

Bourque can score 20+ goals. He's done it before. Will he do it again? Nobody knows. We'll know by xmas I guess. Bournival, playing full time, will never score more than 10.
If the kid could score, I agree with you, Bourque would probably be gone.
- fidopro

Make him play with Plekanec with 14-15 minutes a game he'll score 15 and they will shut down the top lines of other teams.