arpem-can Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 others : "stick to the game plan" "play good "d" first" "we've got to keep the game simple" "communicate out on the ice better" "we can't let them take the crowd out of it" "we've got to shoot the puck more and not try to be fancy" "got to take care of our own end" "if we can shut down their big line" "we have to finish our checks" "can't take stupid penalties" "we've got to play our game" "we must clear pucks out from the front of the net" " if we ....we can play with any team" "we can't let them intimidate us" "our first goal is to make the play-offs" "we've got to take advantage of our 'Home Games" 'we can't always rely on the same 2 or 3 players" "we need a few pucks to bounce our way" "we're working really hard to get out of this losing streak" (this years repeating Leaf theme) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puckoff1 Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 others : "stick to the game plan" "play good "d" first" "we've got to keep the game simple" "communicate out on the ice better" "we can't let them take the crowd out of it" "we've got to shoot the puck more and not try to be fancy" "got to take care of our own end" "if we can shut down their big line" "we have to finish our checks" "can't take stupid penalties" "we've got to play our game" "we must clear pucks out from the front of the net" " if we ....we can play with any team" "we can't let them intimidate us" "our first goal is to make the play-offs" "we've got to take advantage of our 'Home Games" 'we can't always rely on the same 2 or 3 players" "we need a few pucks to bounce our way" "we're working really hard to get out of this losing streak" (this years repeating Leaf theme) "we've gotta get some bodies in front of the net" "you know...focus on the little things and uh.." "we've got a great bunch of guys here and uh.." "we just gotta work hard and uh hopefully get back in it in the 3rd" "id just like to say hi to everyone back in grand bend...." ....arpem you seriously got them all every time i thought of a good one it was already on your list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsFanInCalgary Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 others : "stick to the game plan" "play good "d" first" "we've got to keep the game simple" "communicate out on the ice better" "we can't let them take the crowd out of it" "we've got to shoot the puck more and not try to be fancy" "got to take care of our own end" "if we can shut down their big line" "we have to finish our checks" "can't take stupid penalties" "we've got to play our game" "we must clear pucks out from the front of the net" " if we ....we can play with any team" "we can't let them intimidate us" "our first goal is to make the play-offs" "we've got to take advantage of our 'Home Games" 'we can't always rely on the same 2 or 3 players" "we need a few pucks to bounce our way" "we're working really hard to get out of this losing streak" (this years repeating Leaf theme) Let me guess.... Things any sports player will say when being interviewed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FanofLafleur Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Personally, I think Lang is a steal. Count on 50 points no matter what line he plays on. I'll predict right here 60+ points on a team that'll score a lot of goals. Can't wait for the season to start to see what this team is going to do this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koreysecord1992 Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 I expect Lang to have a big impact on the team this year. Whether it shows up on the scoresheet or just the win column (clearly the most important), it should be there. Given that the top 3 centers are Plekanec, Koivu, Lang...we are in better shape, on paper, than this point last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne-1 Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 last year, Montreal had the top PP at 24.1% and scored 35.0% of their goals (90 of 257) on the PP, also a league-high... clearly, the PP is a bigger part of the Habs offense than for most teams... e.g. Ottawa, which led the league with 258 goals, actually was ahead of only Colorado in percentage of goals scored on the PP... also some strange face-off numbers: Koivu was at 52.3% overall, but he actually lost more times than he won on the PP... Plekanec was at 49.4% overall, but he was a much better 54.2% on the PP... in Chicago, they had the 24th best PP at 15.9% and scored 24.8% of their goals (58 of 234) on the PP, 26th in the league... Lang was 53.1% on faceoffs overall, and a sparkling 57.4% on the PP... considering a change to Rule 76.2 on faceoffs, placing the first faceoff of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul, is Lang the go-to center on the PP?... Lang probably should hit 50 points easily this coming season... if it turns out he's the designated faceoff man on the PP tack on maybe another 15-20 points depending on how much Tanguay bounces back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Interesting point, Wayne, but as long as Plekanec is taking draws on the first-unit PP, I'd keep him there if his success rate is that high with the man advantage. On the second unit, though, Lang could be very useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teststory Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Hmm I'm not sure why Lang would be on the second unit when Koivu is there to take draws and he is the Habs best faceoff man. On the flip side he would likely fit in better with guys like Kovalev (who hes played with before) and Pleks ( who is a fellow countryman). If the first practice was any indication I believe these two should be together. They seem to get along really well still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
concreteveins Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 As Wayne just mentioned, while Saku is our best faceoff man, he is less effective winning draws on the power play, which is where Lang comes in. Meaning Lang would play on Koivu's wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Hmm I'm not sure why Lang would be on the second unit when Koivu is there to take draws and he is the Habs best faceoff man. On the flip side he would likely fit in better with guys like Kovalev (who hes played with before) and Pleks ( who is a fellow countryman). If the first practice was any indication I believe these two should be together. They seem to get along really well still. As Wayne just mentioned, while Saku is our best faceoff man, he is less effective winning draws on the power play, which is where Lang comes in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teststory Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 As Wayne just mentioned, while Saku is our best faceoff man, he is less effective winning draws on the power play, which is where Lang comes in. Well it doesn't make much sense to me. I guess if thats what they want then so be it. I believe Saku can handle the draws on the powerplay regardless of what stats he may have posted there last season. I'd rather move Andrei Kostitsyn down to play with Tanguay and Koivu and move Lang to play with Kovalev and Pleks on the PP. That way they would have a sniper on the PP for the Saku line and the chemistry of Lang/Kovalev on the first PP unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony1234 Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 like I said, some strange faceoff numbers for the Habs last year... go back three seasons and you get pretty consistent numbers for Lang: PP Won / Lost / Pct and overall Pct 07-08 128 95 57.4 53.1 with CHI 06-07 99 75 56.9 49.4 with DET 05-06 93 69 57.4 50.3 with DET but something really happened to Koivu on the PP last year... 07-08 137 139 49.6 52.3 06-07 225 150 60.0 54.9 05-06 241 152 61.3 53.8 and maybe Plekanec's PP FO numbers last year were a bit of a fluke?... his overall numbers and the PP number from the year before indicate he isn't as strong in the faceoff circle as Koivu normally is... 07-08 154 130 54.2 49.4 06-07 74 75 49.7 48.3 05-06 37 21 63.8 50.3 I like the idea of having Lang on the first PP unit because he has better FO numbers than Plekanec and he's a big body who you can stick in front of the goalie... and as a right-handed shot, would normally be facing Kovalev along the right half-boards if he's in the slot... It is odd little facts like this that makes me believe Lang will be a bigger part of our success than I originally thought !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne-1 Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 like I said, some strange faceoff numbers for the Habs last year... go back three seasons and you get pretty consistent numbers for Lang: PP Won / Lost / Pct and overall Pct 07-08 128 95 57.4 53.1 with CHI 06-07 99 75 56.9 49.4 with DET 05-06 93 69 57.4 50.3 with DET but something really happened to Koivu on the PP last year... 07-08 137 139 49.6 52.3 06-07 225 150 60.0 54.9 05-06 241 152 61.3 53.8 and maybe Plekanec's PP FO numbers last year were a bit of a fluke?... his overall numbers and the PP number from the year before indicate he isn't as strong in the faceoff circle as Koivu normally is... 07-08 154 130 54.2 49.4 06-07 74 75 49.7 48.3 05-06 37 21 63.8 50.3 I like the idea of having Lang on the first PP unit because he has better FO numbers than Plekanec and he's a big body who you can stick in front of the goalie... and maybe as a right-handed shot, would be in a better shooting position in the slot while facing Kovalev... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sach Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 we are a puck possession team with all the skill and speed we have, lang is a 50% man in the circle its gonna give us alot more opportunity's off the drop than last year when we only had saku winning draws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromedome_mtl Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Hmm I'm not sure why Lang would be on the second unit when Koivu is there to take draws and he is the Habs best faceoff man. On the flip side he would likely fit in better with guys like Kovalev (who hes played with before) and Pleks ( who is a fellow countryman). If the first practice was any indication I believe these two should be together. They seem to get along really well still. I find it extremely wierd to read from so many that they would like to see Lang with Kovy and Pleks!? And,at the same time,we have all of the references to the fact that we have strength at center with Koivu,Plekanec and Lang.Where is this strength at center if you use two of them on the same line by playing one as a winger?The argument from some will be that this opens up opportunities for some of the young centers to get some experience.Then why did we spend the whole summer talking about how we needed to get help at center?Makes no sense to me to even think of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animerules1x3 Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I find it extremely wierd to read from so many that they would like to see Lang with Kovy and Pleks!? And,at the same time,we have all of the references to the fact that we have strength at center with Koivu,Plekanec and Lang.Where is this strength at center if you use two of them on the same line by playing one as a winger?The argument from some will be that this opens up opportunities for some of the young centers to get some experience.Then why did we spend the whole summer talking about how we needed to get help at center?Makes no sense to me to even think of this! Very well said. I've seen such ideas expressed in order to take away from Latendresse one of the 6 top 3 wingers spots so to justify his demotion. Poor judgment. Lang was brought in as a centre, and both Pleks and Saku will play centre as well. Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teststory Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 It seems likely that Lang will play center at this point, but it doesn't mean that he or Pleks might move to wing down the road if they need Lang on one of the top two lines. I already stated why I thought the Pleks/Lang/Kovalev combo would work really well. Kovy has good chemistry with both players so it woud likely work out well. As for needing another center I guess thats true though I still believe that Chips can do the job if needed. It may be more important the bolster the top lines with vertern experience/scoring at some point during the season then to have three scoring centers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I find it extremely wierd to read from so many that they would like to see Lang with Kovy and Pleks!? And,at the same time,we have all of the references to the fact that we have strength at center with Koivu,Plekanec and Lang.Where is this strength at center if you use two of them on the same line by playing one as a winger?The argument from some will be that this opens up opportunities for some of the young centers to get some experience.Then why did we spend the whole summer talking about how we needed to get help at center?Makes no sense to me to even think of this! Agreed. We didn't get Lang to play the wing; we got him to give us depth, experience, and scoring punch down the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teststory Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I've posted my reasons for putting this line together many times and I believe they are very good reasons. If you think Lang will only play center thats fine with me, but don't try to make it like you know what Gainey/Carbs are thinking. Also don't pretend to predict the future like you know a certain few players will never play together. Perhaps it doesn't make sense to you, but that doesn't mean it wont work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animerules1x3 Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I've posted my reasons for putting this line together many times and I believe they are very good reasons. If you think Lang will only play center thats fine with me, but don't try to make it like you know what Gainey/Carbs are thinking. Also don't pretend to predict the future like you know a certain few players will never play together. Perhaps it doesn't make sense to you, but that doesn't mean it wont work well. We certainly don't know what Carbo and Gainey are thinking, but we sure as Hell got some pretty good hints when Gainey went after Sundin, and then Lang (both centres). The main reason was and it is hardly a secret : we needed a third, preferably bigger centre for some time now. Gainey said it, Carbonneau praised the new centre the team acquired, and his experience, his faceoff skill, etc. And why would we play him wing now ? We would get right back in our initial, uncomfortable position, with 4 millions down. The real fact is that we now have 3 offensive centres and 6 offensive wingers. I believe that is no coincidence. It just happens to create 3 offensive lines. It doesn't make it so that Lang and Plekanec won't play with Kovalev this year, though, they probably both will, just not at the same time (unless they are used on the PP). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innis_Mor Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Yes, Lang is a centreman, and will play centre. Amongst many other reasons, Sundin's prowess on face-offs was one thing BG was interested in. Didn't come to pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I've posted my reasons for putting this line together many times and I believe they are very good reasons. If you think Lang will only play center thats fine with me, but don't try to make it like you know what Gainey/Carbs are thinking. Also don't pretend to predict the future like you know a certain few players will never play together. Perhaps it doesn't make sense to you, but that doesn't mean it wont work well. You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, but we aren't exactly reading the minds of Gainey and Carbonneau by asserting that Lang will, in all likelihood, play center, given that the team need for a center has been reiterated by both men numerous times over the past few months. It is not myth, hearsay, or conjecture that Bob Gainey wanted, this summer, to acquire a veteran center with scoring upside who was also good in the faceoff circle. Until the beginning of September, that center was Sundin, but once Gainey closed the door on waiting for Sundin, Lang was the next best available choice. Sorry, but I don't feel unjustified in predicting that Lang will play center all other things being equal. It's his natural position, it's what we acquired him for, so the burden of proof for your argument is on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Kos-yn-31Price Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, but we aren't exactly reading the minds of Gainey and Carbonneau by asserting that Lang will, in all likelihood, play center, given that the team need for a center has been reiterated by both men numerous times over the past few months. It is not myth, hearsay, or conjecture that Bob Gainey wanted, this summer, to acquire a veteran center with scoring upside who was also good in the faceoff circle. Until the beginning of September, that center was Sundin, but once Gainey closed the door on waiting for Sundin, Lang was the next best available choice. Sorry, but I don't feel unjustified in predicting that Lang will play center all other things being equal. It's his natural position, it's what we acquired him for, so the burden of proof for your argument is on you. Completely agree with you, if we wanted another winger we would have traded for one, not try to convert a center into a wing. Besides, until Chipchura starts winning some faceoffs he is not ready for the third line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teststory Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, but we aren't exactly reading the minds of Gainey and Carbonneau by asserting that Lang will, in all likelihood, play center, given that the team need for a center has been reiterated by both men numerous times over the past few months. It is not myth, hearsay, or conjecture that Bob Gainey wanted, this summer, to acquire a veteran center with scoring upside who was also good in the faceoff circle. Until the beginning of September, that center was Sundin, but once Gainey closed the door on waiting for Sundin, Lang was the next best available choice. Sorry, but I don't feel unjustified in predicting that Lang will play center all other things being equal. It's his natural position, it's what we acquired him for, so the burden of proof for your argument is on you. Thats OK as I said. It seems that he will start at center. That doesn't mean that Pleks - Lang - Kovalev wouldn't be a good line though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Thats OK as I said. It seems that he will start at center. That doesn't mean that Pleks - Lang - Kovalev wouldn't be a good line though. Oh yes, I agree, that line could be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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