fourtrax Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 Reading this, I had a flashback of Radek Bonk's thread. But Bonk was injured for most of the first half of 05-06. When he was healthy and had time to get back into a groove, he became the player we traded for. And in any case, I am still reserving judgment on Smolinski until the halfway mark of the season. I'll be as happy as anyone if he turns it around and starts playing like he's supposed to play. Don't forget, this is just a one-year contract. He keeps playing like this and he'll find himself in the Mike Johnson Memorial Unemployment Line next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 But Bonk was injured for most of the first half of 05-06. When he was healthy and had time to get back into a groove, he became the player we traded for. And in any case, I am still reserving judgment on Smolinski until the halfway mark of the season. I'll be as happy as anyone if he turns it around and starts playing like he's supposed to play. Don't forget, this is just a one-year contract. He keeps playing like this and he'll find himself in the Mike Johnson Memorial Unemployment Line next season. I guess what I'm saying is that if this team scored more often at 5 on 5 (our top 2 lines), the emphasis wouldn't be on Bryan Smolinski as the team would be doing much better. That's what I mean by us having much, much higher priorities to deal with well ahead of Smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 I guess what I'm saying is that if this team scored more often at 5 on 5 (our top 2 lines), the emphasis wouldn't be on Bryan Smolinski as the team would be doing much better. That's what I mean by us having much, much higher priorities to deal with well ahead of Smoke. JL, I fully agree that lack of scoring is our main problem. But it's very serious when the guy we signed to be our shutdown centre isn't doing his job. I don't feel confident when he's on the ice at all, I have no faith that he can win the key faceoff, make the right play, and get the puck out of harm's way in the clutch. He's just drifting around out there and doesn't look to be giving 100%. And that's worrisome, regardless of our scoring problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 JL, I fully agree that lack of scoring is our main problem. But it's very serious when the guy we signed to be our shutdown centre isn't doing his job. I don't feel confident when he's on the ice at all, I have no faith that he can win the key faceoff, make the right play, and get the puck out of harm's way in the clutch. He's just drifting around out there and doesn't look to be giving 100%. And that's worrisome, regardless of our scoring problems. I'm not saying that he's what we were expecting him to be here, but when I look at the one year contract, and seeing the progression of Kyle Chipchura, I don't see Smolinski as being a problem, or he's definitely way low on my "concerns list" if I can call it that. I'm more concerned about Ryder, Streit, Latendresse, Kostitsyn and Grabovski on an individual basis as we rely on them to produce offense. I'm more concerned about Higgins and Koivu, or Kovalev and Plekanec collectively with their lack of scoring at 5 on 5 as it's ultimately even strength offense that's killing our chances thus far. Smolinski is mentoring Chipchura and Chipper's progression is well ahead of even what I had imagined from him and that, even though I was hoping for good things from him. See Weep, the way I see it is like when we had Theodore and Huet as a tandem. You've budgeted so many dollars towards goaltending. Off course, you're expecting your goalie making the most money to perform like a number one, but if your backup outplays him, you're still spending the same amount of money and you're getting the goaltending. That's how I see it with Smoke and Chipper. Just not as high on my priority list, that's all. Plus his leadership, experience and great attitude is always welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Miltie01 Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 I would be willing to bet that if Koivu and Pleks and their lines were producing on a regular basis 5 on 5 there would not be many concerns about Smoke's play. Because we can't score, Smoke's role is put onder the microscope because we live and die by stopping the other team from scoring. So it seems to me ALL our centers need to make more of an effort to accomplish what roles they are asked to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 One on one with Kevin Mio: Smolinski Happy with habs Winter of smolinski's content Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habsrule_10 Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 I am sure he is happy with the Habs, I am not sure he is such an asset. When I have noticed his play he does not seem to be making much of a contribution. He is not strong with the puck, does not forecheck effectively and doesn't score. I would rather see someone there who is going to hustle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest St. B. Voyageur Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 How old is Smolinski? Perhaps age has caught up with the guy. He's certainly been anything but impressive so far this season. Here's to hoping he turns it around! He's 35, the age where the wheels slow. I think he was brought in here not only to replace Bonk, but because he is versatile. I think the team had him pencilled in for a lot of games on the 3rd line RW this year, but Dandenault and Kostopolus (save a couple of games) have been pleasant surprise since the beginning of the year. I wouldn't right him off, it takes a while to adapt to a new team sometimes (see Bonk), but I would like to see him on the RW (like Linden late in his career), with perhaps Chipchura and Latendresse, while taking a lot of faceoffs still. Lapierre can cover more ice and give us more intensity right now at centre. A little competition might help Smolinski and the team as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 I think that Smoke was brought in to buy one year to give Chipchura time to take over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franck5890 Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 I think that Smoke was brought in to buy one year to give Chipchura time to take over. That certainly seemed to be Bob Gainey's thinking. I only caught half of last night's game and neither of the other games this week, but is he still actually playing as our primary checking center? I somewhat recall Chipchura seeing a lot of icetime against top lines after the first few games of the season -- is this still the case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kindred Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 I think that Smoke was brought in to buy one year to give Chipchura time to take over. bingo. You never want to put too much pressure on a rookie so they bring in a guy like Smolinski to share some of the work load. If Chipchura stumbles at first you don't have to panic because you have a backup plan. If he doeswell, you are only stuck with a guy like Smolinski for one year. win win for everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rosalie52 Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Reading this, I had a flashback of Radek Bonk's thread. Reading this, I had flashbacks of Samsonov's thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Onzeee Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 How old is Smolinski? Perhaps age has caught up with the guy. He's certainly been anything but impressive so far this season. Here's to hoping he turns it around! he has a case of the montreal syndrome right now, solid veterans who when they come here fade away That certainly seemed to be Bob Gainey's thinking. I only caught half of last night's game and neither of the other games this week, but is he still actually playing as our primary checking center? I somewhat recall Chipchura seeing a lot of icetime against top lines after the first few games of the season -- is this still the case? still going back and fourth, chip will eventually win out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 bingo. You never want to put too much pressure on a rookie so they bring in a guy like Smolinski to share some of the work load. If Chipchura stumbles at first you don't have to panic because you have a backup plan. If he doeswell, you are only stuck with a guy like Smolinski for one year. win win for everyone I don't even think Chips was supposed to be here, but he had such a great camp he couldn't be sent down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jennifer_rocket Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 he has a case of the montreal syndrome right now, solid veterans who when they come here fade away It's like when a wild animal is fatally wounded, they wander off into obscurity to die alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Onzeee Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 best game as a hab tonight, played 14mins won some key draws and actually showed some passion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Handlanger Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 That certainly seemed to be Bob Gainey's thinking. I only caught half of last night's game and neither of the other games this week, but is he still actually playing as our primary checking center? I somewhat recall Chipchura seeing a lot of icetime against top lines after the first few games of the season -- is this still the case? It is... I recognized Chipchura a lot yesterday. The guy is as calm as Price is and very strong on the puck along the boards. Even makes some nifty moves sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Good game by Smoke last night. Nice pass to Kovalev on that PP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Good game for Smoke, but one good game does not a season make. I want to see 10-15 more good games like that from him, particularly with Chipchura breathing down his neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Good game for Smoke, but one good game does not a season make. I want to see 10-15 more good games like that from him, particularly with Chipchura breathing down his neck. Either way as I've explained earlier, I see them as a combination, the mentor and the protege, like Huet and Price. If the protege outplays the mentor, so be it. The mentor is a UFA at season's end regardless and the protege will be ready to take over. In Smolinski's case, he's not performing the way we've anticipated not doubt, but he's not hurting us out there, at least from what I've seen. I thought he'd be our third line center, he's performing like our 4th line center right now. No biggie since Chipper is performing like a 3rd liner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Either way as I've explained earlier, I see them as a combination, the mentor and the protege, like Huet and Price. If the protege outplays the mentor, so be it. The mentor is a UFA at season's end regardless and the protege will be ready to take over. In Smolinski's case, he's not performing the way we've anticipated not doubt, but he's not hurting us out there, at least from what I've seen. I thought he'd be our third line center, he's performing like our 4th line center right now. No biggie since Chipper is performing like a 3rd liner. But how much of a mentor can Smolinski be when he's not doing his job? You can only call someone your mentor if he's good at the job you're trying to learn! I am really not crazy about Smolinski's work ethic which this season has been spotty at best, and I certainly don't want him transmitting that to Chipchura. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1970 Habs Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 But how much of a mentor can Smolinski be when he's not doing his job? You can only call someone your mentor if he's good at the job you're trying to learn! I am really not crazy about Smolinski's work ethic which this season has been spotty at best, and I certainly don't want him transmitting that to Chipchura. No worry about that as Chipchura will continue just fine. Maybe Smolinski should look at Chipchura for mentoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 But how much of a mentor can Smolinski be when he's not doing his job? You can only call someone your mentor if he's good at the job you're trying to learn! I am really not crazy about Smolinski's work ethic which this season has been spotty at best, and I certainly don't want him transmitting that to Chipchura. Because a guy has lost a step, it doesn't mean that he can't teach a rookie. Otherwise, why would we have coaches? Smoke has plenty of experience and professionalism to share with Chipper, even if his on-ice performances may not be quite up to par yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Musketball Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Because a guy has lost a step, it doesn't mean that he can't teach a rookie. Otherwise, why would we have coaches? Smoke has plenty of experience and professionalism to share with Chipper, even if his on-ice performances may not be quite up to par yet. Smoke is one of this years whipping boys by the looks of it. This city is evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 No, no, Smoke is not a whipping boy, don't get me wrong. On this team, however subpar his performance, he is not the biggest problem by a long shot. But the fact remains: he was brought in here to be a shutdown centre and he isn't getting the job done. Furthermore, he's getting upstaged by a kid fresh out of Hamilton. It's not losing a step that bothers me. It's the general lack of interest Smolinski seems to display most of the time on the ice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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