Montreal doesn't have an answer that they can put together in the next 2-5 games. They don't have the forward corps to go beyond the first round and that's not changing with anything coming down the pipe so the off-season will need to look at moves to start making them a contender.

Price has carried this Habs team to where they are. Without Price, it's a Wildcard team at best and it shows. Their offense cannot get it done, so when they face a competent goalie and a team who can score they lose (barring Price stealing a game, but he can't steal 4 per series).

I feel for Habs fans. I knew in the Sens-Habs series that the winner was just going to be winning a chance to lose 4 more games. Both teams are missing crucial pieces to compete beyond the first round.

And Prust needs a good slap in the head from his teammates. Even if he escapes without a fine or suspension, there will be no benefit of a doubt on those marginal calls from any Ref now. Which means more PP time for Tampa and more pucks behind Price.

Montreal doesn't have an answer that they can put together in the next 2-5 games. They don't have the forward corps to go beyond the first round and that's not changing with anything coming down the pipe so the off-season will need to look at moves to start making them a contender.

Price has carried this Habs team to where they are. Without Price, it's a Wildcard team at best and it shows. Their offense cannot get it done, so when they face a competent goalie and a team who can score they lose (barring Price stealing a game, but he can't steal 4 per series).

I feel for Habs fans. I knew in the Sens-Habs series that the winner was just going to be winning a chance to lose 4 more games. Both teams are missing crucial pieces to compete beyond the first round.

And Prust needs a good slap in the head from his teammates. Even if he escapes without a fine or suspension, there will be no benefit of a doubt on those marginal calls from any Ref now. Which means more PP time for Tampa and more pucks behind Price.
- SnipAndTip

thx tips

Thank god all the Sens fans are here to point out to you guys the Habs downfalls.

EE IS ON THE CASE!!!!
- stormey

I'm impressed he could write an article so quickly. Because the flow of tears he must have shed last night was probably the size of a tsunami.

I feel for Habs fans. I knew in the Sens-Habs series that the winner was just going to be winning a chance to lose 4 more games. Both teams are missing crucial pieces to compete beyond the first round.


- SnipAndTip

Yes.

McCarron vs McDavid in the OHL

I don't necessarily like the way he behaved.

But I'll take more guys on the habs with that kind of emotion instead of the way Plekanecs plays out there.

Hating to lose isn't a bad thing. And I'd much rather see that than a team that rolls over and dies but does it with 'Class'. (frank) that.
- blarneylad

Yup.

100%

@RDSca
David Desharnais n'accompagnera pas ses coéquipiers à Tampa Bay.

@RDSca
David Desharnais n'accompagnera pas ses coéquipiers à Tampa Bay.
- TypLeafsFan fan

WTF ?

@RDSca
David Desharnais n'accompagnera pas ses coéquipiers à Tampa Bay.
- TypLeafsFan fan

@RDSca
David Desharnais n'accompagnera pas ses coéquipiers à Tampa Bay.
- TypLeafsFan fan

Big flu

MB keeps saying there are guys that get you in the playoffs, and guys that get you through the playoffs. Maybe we could get some guys that do both so we don't have so many passengers.

MB keeps saying there are guys that get you in the playoffs, and guys that get you through the playoffs. Maybe we could get some guys that do both so we don't have so many passengers.
- Tim_George

There were no impact wingers/centers available at the deadline.
The solutions, long term, will have to come from inside the organization. Which means, draft well and develop your own players.

Big flu
- Fredo

They should have sat him next to Prust

MB keeps saying there are guys that get you in the playoffs, and guys that get you through the playoffs. Maybe we could get some guys that do both so we don't have so many passengers.
- Tim_George

Or maybe 21 regular season guys and 21 playoffs guys. Not sure how you fit that under the salary cap.

MB keeps saying there are guys that get you in the playoffs, and guys that get you through the playoffs. Maybe we could get some guys that do both so we don't have so many passengers.
- Tim_George

Where are the guys who get you through the playoffs? Funny we don't hear about them too much recently...

[quote=Tim_George]MB keeps saying there are guys that get you in the playoffs, and guys that get you through the playoffs. Maybe we could get some guys that do both so we don't have so many passengers.


I love this quote

Yes, this was the worry going into the playoffs. The little scoring they were doing in the reg season has dropped off a cliff now to embarrassing levels. 5 vs 5 scoring was actually decent all year. Looks like the PP is killing them and right now, that's on the coaching. They have the tools to have a competitive power play. They have changed nothing. The big change was Petry with Subban on first wave but they still pass around the perimeter.

My guess, the price was too high for Bergevin to get someone that can score this year. I'm fine with that, I didn't think Montreal had what it takes to win the cup this year. Bergevin has to address the lack of offense in the off season and especially the situation at center. Galchenyuk will never be an NHL center if you play him on the wing. Start him at center, let him make mistakes. I'd like to see Eller, Galchenyuk, one of Plekanec/DD as the 3 centres and someone else as a 4th line center. Pleks or DD has to go next year.
- browntrout

At this rate, the problem is that they will remain average, and never a contender. Draft late, stay in the middle kind of team. Montreal isn't a coveted place to go for a UFA (crazy fans, high taxes, bad weather, yada yada yada). Habs always need to overpay for UFAs. The only solution is to acquire talent via trade. That's Bergevin's job, and so far he's been really staying put with his mentality to build through the draft.

What bugs me is that this isn't the Chicago Blackhawks situation, where you can go get guys like Kane and Toews through the draft and build up around them.

The only thing the Habs are having right now are potential 3rd liners...or guys like Scherbak that are "make it or bust". Don't really know what the solution is here.

There were no impact wingers/centers available at the deadline.
The solutions, long term, will have to come from inside the organization. Which means, draft well and develop your own players.
- TypLeafsFan fan

There were, but the prices were just silly

Rightly so - more and more the only way to build your team is through the draft. Just look at the quality of UFAs in the upcoming free agency.

Slim pickins.

30 teams will be looking to add and there are 15 non-elite players. Not a single standout first line player or defensive stud. Mostly 2nd liners / 3rd liners at best and 3-4 defensemen.

Those guys will once again command HUGE salaries due to competition and demand.

There were, but the prices were just silly

Rightly so - more and more the only way to build your team is through the draft. Just look at the quality of UFAs in the upcoming free agency.

Slim pickins.

30 teams will be looking to add and there are 15 non-elite players. Not a single standout first line player or defensive stud. Mostly 2nd liners / 3rd liners at best and 3-4 defensemen.

Those guys will once again command HUGE salaries due to competition and demand.
- twiztedmike

Exactly.

So, draft well, develop, be patient.







Or tank.

At this rate, the problem is that they will remain average, and never a contender. Draft late, stay in the middle kind of team. Montreal isn't a coveted place to go for a UFA (crazy fans, high taxes, bad weather, yada yada yada). Habs always need to overpay for UFAs. The only solution is to acquire talent via trade. That's Bergevin's job, and so far he's been really staying put with his mentality to build through the draft.

What bugs me is that this isn't the Chicago Blackhawks situation, where you can go get guys like Kane and Toews through the draft and build up around them.

The only thing the Habs are having right now are potential 3rd liners...or guys like Scherbak that are "make it or bust". Don't really know what the solution is here.
- stinger67

Don't forget Midgets, we have midgets like Reway

DD, at least the Fins had a good draft.

Don't forget Midgets, we have midgets like Reway
- Fredo

...and Jakob DeLarsEllerose

At this rate, the problem is that they will remain average, and never a contender. Draft late, stay in the middle kind of team. Montreal isn't a coveted place to go for a UFA (crazy fans, high taxes, bad weather, yada yada yada). Habs always need to overpay for UFAs. The only solution is to acquire talent via trade. That's Bergevin's job, and so far he's been really staying put with his mentality to build through the draft.

What bugs me is that this isn't the Chicago Blackhawks situation, where you can go get guys like Kane and Toews through the draft and build up around them.

The only thing the Habs are having right now are potential 3rd liners...or guys like Scherbak that are "make it or bust". Don't really know what the solution is here.
- stinger67

I think one advantage of being an annual competitor or a strong competitive team is that it even though it hurts your draft position and chances to build through the draft, it DOES make the team more enticing to play for, for UFAs looking to sign somewhere new for a chance to win.

Unfortunately, most of those UFAs have sucked recently & you can rarely count on getting 1st line talent that way.

DD, at least the Fins had a good draft.
- golfingsince

unfortunately the also still have Joe Philbin