We, habs fan, have a tendency to complain about every aspect of the game. That okay, it is because we are truly passionate by the game and we have deep love for our team.
but sometimes, love makes you blind.
First talking point... The defense
we say it is horrible.. BUT WAIT a goddamn second. lets take a look.
- in
Alzner
Schlemko
Gelina
Steit
- out
Markov
Emelin
Beaulieu
FIrst pair : we get SHEA- GODDAMN- HORSERACING- WEBER... Emelin looked like an all-stars playing beside him ( because weber was there to cover when Emelin would put himself out of the play to make a big hit). Now put someone who has a good first pass, and doesn't put himself out of the play for a big hit... you get something pretty decent. The line is as good as last year in term of defense. As for Markov... we only lost him one year early. His departure will be absorbed by the rest of the D-lines being better this year.
second pair: ALZNER - PETRY.
That's pretty damn good -> shutdown D + puck moving D. This year, Petry will be able to take more chance and be more offensive has he will play with someone else than Beaulieu or Davidson. The second line is already better than last year. They can take more minutes off Weber's hands, and still generate offense while being responsible defensively.
Third pair - ____insert name here___ - BENN
Benn will be great as always, put him with anyobody other than Beaulieu or Davidson and you get a really good 3rd pairing!.
Benn is a great shutdown D, with nice puck blocking habilities. put him with an offensive guy like Streit or Gelina, who are both experience players. And you get one of the best 3rd pair in the league.
LAST OF ALL -> WE GOT CAREY!!
we had a lot of shittier D-Lines before and we managed to end up #1 in the east.
NOW, lets talk offense!
a part from a #1 center, what really missed for the habs was someone able to carry the puck in the zone. We had plenty of Snipers, grinders, but never a guy who could skate more than 2 lines with the puck (we had subban... but yeah) NOW we got DROUIN.
Now weighting 203LB, the kid will be playing center, Drouin has a lot of hockey IQ, So I really think he will adapt perfectly. He his perfect for the role as he like to use all of the space on the ice.
HE will be playing with Pac, and I see great things happening! Pac was able to score 30 and 35 with Desharnais... and we saw how good he was with Radulov. now with Drouin and Hemsky, I see PAc getting a lot of pucks on his blade.
second line:
you get Chucky on the wings, where he belongs, With Danault ( great #2 center) and Gallagher. I see this line bringing a lot of energy and goals. You get danault and Gallagher to get the pucks in the corners, and to cycle it. That way, Chucky can pull an ovechkin and wait at the H-mark for a one timer. This line will drain the energy of any team. Put Weber on the ice and the other team will have to deal with to line of dangerous fire, while dealing with danault and gallagher.
Third line : HUDON - PLECK - LEKHONEN
I want Hudon to get a shot this year, and there is no better place to learn to play in the show, than with Plekanec! He did wonders with Lekhonen. no matter what, Pleck will be there to pick up after the kids when they mess up - You learn with your mistake, but the mistake won't cost the team as much. In terms of offense, I can see Hudon and Lekhonen making a good duo like Chucky and gallagher when they first started playing with Prust.
Fourth line: plenty of options.
Physical fourth line Martisen -- Mccarron -- Shaw
- If you play against a big team, this line can bring some energy... thats a heavy fkn line. I you have a trip in the west, and you want to give your guys a break, send the MMS line.
fast fourth line: [insert name of a younster] ---- Mitchelll ----- Byron.
- you actually get a line that can score goals !
agree or disagree, this team is a lot better than the last 7 years. If everthing goes well, no major injuries, Coach Julien keeping a cooled head... I predict a 2nd place or first place in our division.
and probably a speedy exit in the 2nd round of the playoff.
Props really like the explanation and line up the only thing is that shaw is for sure playing haahha he cant be out of the line up and making 3,9m/per.... Byron-mitchell-shaw as a fourth line would be great
Love the enthusiasm and optimism. I like what I see this year too. I think drouin is going to thrive and habs are going to finally have a #1C (locked up for 6 years at $5.5 nonetheless!)
Agree with the other poster shaw and byron are I the lineup haha.
As for the 1st powerplay I agree they should go with 4 forwards unless mete makes it. However I wouldn't use danault.. he can win a faceoff but that's all he would bring to the powerplay, hemsky is a much better option also has a right handed shot.
Love the enthusiasm and optimism. I like what I see this year too. I think drouin is going to thrive and habs are going to finally have a #1C (locked up for 6 years at $5.5 nonetheless!)
Agree with the other poster shaw and byron are I the lineup haha.
As for the 1st powerplay I agree they should go with 4 forwards unless mete makes it. However I wouldn't use danault.. he can win a faceoff but that's all he would bring to the powerplay, hemsky is a much better option also has a right handed shot.
The fourth line, like I said will be tweaked, but about Danault, we need someone to get the puck in the corners and to battle in front. There is enough guys that can move the puck already. I would actually even put Big Mac in front of the net to create some distraction for the opposition's Defense.
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