fnveenie Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Well. Hopefully the situation is addressed this off-season and Alex can be given a full-season role at center with decent wingers next year. I think a huge problem with this team has been the "WE'RE CUP CONTENDERS, YAY!" mentality. It feels like the team is afraid to use younger players in more prominent roles as if it's going to hurt our chances at winning the Cup this year... Well. Bad news team! We're not winning anything this season. I just don't understand the logic though. The sky is falling and we have vets like Pleks and DD and Markov playing the worst hockey I've ever seen them play. We have tried literally every possible solution besides the ones that make the most sense. Eller is playing well, Galchenyuk was until he was moved to the wing. Eller has looked good with Patch for small amounts of time and is currently our best center over the last few games. Why do neither of them get a shot in the top line C position? This is after we've resorted to ridiculous ideas like Flynn playing with our perennial 35 goal scorer. I just don't get it. It makes zero sense and I don't see how supposedly knowledgeable hockey people can't pick that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Regis2 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Friedman was reporting that someone high in the Habs organization thinks Galchenyuk is "inconsistent". The irony is dumbfounding. It's like they are active trying to make him fail. If I was him, I'd be considering wanting out. Please tell me which players are consistent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Please tell me which players are consistent Plekanec, Pacioretty, Desharnais, Markov, Weise, and some of the other players the Habs brass love have been pretty consistently inefficient over the past two months. I'll give them that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Nice backhand goal last night. A taste of what may be if we get a new coaching staff and allocate ice time and player deployment correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcharnish Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 I was at the game in Buffalo tonight and I thought he looked good getting those two goals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I1IscottieI1I Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Not sure why they wont try him on first line as center Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Not sure why they wont try him on first line as center You do know who is coaching this team I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Regis2 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 They did , but because he didn't score on his first shift ob the # 1 line the coach put DD back with Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Mt's post game presser last night: 1st in English: ""As a coach, I felt he could have had a better decision at the blue line," said Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "He moved the puck behind, and he put himself in a tough position." In French: In his native French tongue, Therrien's words cut sharper against his top defenseman, as translated by longtime hockey writer Richard Labbe of La Presse: "A selfish play that cost us the game tonight." Clearly harsher words in French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Not sure why they wont try him on first line as center Or, just with Pacioretty in general. The best line I saw this season - although they didn't score - was Alex, Max, and Tomas against LA. They were together for 1 period and created tons of opportunities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I1IscottieI1I Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 You would think DDs injury would be the perfect opportunity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiLla Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 You would think DDs injury would be the perfect opportunity Don't try to be rational, logic doesn't work with this head coach. Remember, it's the same guy who said he's more comfortable with Desharnais at centre due to his superior defensive game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiLla Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I'm curious though, is there a precedent for this? Using the 3rd overall pick to draft a guy who has played centre all his life, only to fundamentally question his general ability to play centre once he's on your team? And doing so in public, I might add. Mind you, we're talking about the Habs, this team has been looking for a true No1 centre for what.. 10 years now? I'd understand using him on the wing if we were the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin but come on, we're notoriously weak down the middle it's not even funny, and Chucky still doesn't get a fair shake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_133 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I'm curious though, is there a precedent for this? Using the 3rd overall pick to draft a guy who has played centre all his life, only to fundamentally question his general ability to play centre once he's on your team? And doing so in public, I might add. Mind you, we're talking about the Habs, this team has been looking for a true No1 centre for what.. 10 years now? I'd understand using him on the wing if we were the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin but come on, we're notoriously weak down the middle it's not even funny, and Chucky still doesn't get a fair shake. He had missed basically the entirety of his draft season, came back the next year and played wing full time in Sarnia before eventually making the Habs after the lockout ended. So by the time we called him up he hadn't played C in a year and a half, which doesn't prohibit us from playing him at C at all but to me it meant that we had to make a dedicated decision to stick with him at C ASAP and work through it with him. He started at C (with Prust and Gallagher) until we actually looked like a pretty good team and they started changing things around to compete ASAP. I kept saying at the time that at some point if we keep playing him on the wing, he'll become a winger full time especially given the lack of actual C time he got in the year and a half prior to joining us and we're pretty much there. At this point with how bad we are, we've wasted probably the last chance to actually put him at C and stick with it, I suppose now the only honest chance is a new coach next year sticking him at C but this regime is done with it. If they can't even stomach it while we're losing night in, night out and going no where, it's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noob616 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 You would think DDs injury would be the perfect opportunity You and I both know it's going to be Plekanec-Eller-De La Rose down the middle. I suppose now the only honest chance is a new coach next year sticking him at C but this regime is done with it. If they can't even stomach it while we're losing night in, night out and going no where, it's done. I'm just waiting for the Habs to get Auston Matthews and put him on Desharnais' wing. Or Laine/Puljujarvi on the 4th line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 You and I both know it's going to be Plekanec-Eller-De La Rose down the middle. I'm just waiting for the Habs to get Auston Matthews and put him on Desharnais' wing. Or Laine/Puljujarvi on the 4th line. Has Therrien brainwashed you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madpanda Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 This coach has almost single handedly ruined this kid , if he had a more youth friendly coach since he came into the league i have no doubt he would be in the 80 pt 30 plus goal area , instead we have to waste another year or two undoing what Therrien has done to the kid , why in the world do you try to turn an offensively gifted kid who plays center which we need , into a checking winger? Never shouldve hired this coach , Pat Roy was who i wanted at the time , need a coach whos good with kids not one who ruins them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 He had missed basically the entirety of his draft season, came back the next year and played wing full time in Sarnia before eventually making the Habs after the lockout ended. So by the time we called him up he hadn't played C in a year and a half, which doesn't prohibit us from playing him at C at all but to me it meant that we had to make a dedicated decision to stick with him at C ASAP and work through it with him. He started at C (with Prust and Gallagher) until we actually looked like a pretty good team and they started changing things around to compete ASAP. I kept saying at the time that at some point if we keep playing him on the wing, he'll become a winger full time especially given the lack of actual C time he got in the year and a half prior to joining us and we're pretty much there. At this point with how bad we are, we've wasted probably the last chance to actually put him at C and stick with it, I suppose now the only honest chance is a new coach next year sticking him at C but this regime is done with it. If they can't even stomach it while we're losing night in, night out and going no where, it's done. Therrien was so resistant to putting Galchenyuk at center. Then he finally caved this year and it worked, just as it worked the few games Galchenyuk got in the past. Then it stopped. Therrien comes up with his usual list of excuses as to why, none of which are factual and none of which make any sense. At the end of the day, the current season is done with. We are not making the playoffs. So whether you believe Galchenyuk is currently a good center or whether you believe he isn't but has the chance to develop into one, he should probably be at center. There's nothing to be gained by playing him at wing at this point. It's farcical and short-sighted, but that's where we are with this coaching staff. I've advocated strongly for firing Therrien as soon as possible, not waiting for season's end, because he is actively hurting the team with his decisions and biases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaas Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 Therrien was so resistant to putting Galchenyuk at center. Then he finally caved this year and it worked, just as it worked the few games Galchenyuk got in the past. Then it stopped. Therrien comes up with his usual list of excuses as to why, none of which are factual and none of which make any sense. At the end of the day, the current season is done with. We are not making the playoffs. So whether you believe Galchenyuk is currently a good center or whether you believe he isn't but has the chance to develop into one, he should probably be at center. There's nothing to be gained by playing him at wing at this point. It's farcical and short-sighted, but that's where we are with this coaching staff. I've advocated strongly for firing Therrien as soon as possible, not waiting for season's end, because he is actively hurting the team with his decisions and biases. This. I mean look you dont force players to play in positions that arent suited for them (we desperately need a top right wing and PK shoots right but it would be silly to move him to the wing) but the reality is we have one of the top left wings in the game already, so no matter how good Galchenyuk is at LW he'll always be a second liner on this roster. Whereas, if you play him at the position he played most of his life (centre) maybe he's that 1st liner we so desperately need? As you said, now is the time to really find out. Especially with Therrien's favourite overused centre out for a few weeks. Galchenyuk - Plekanec - Eller those are your top 3 centres, thats the order they should be used and it should stay that way moving forward. I love that Lars gets some time playing with Max but for the good of the team Galchenyuk and Max should be allowed to play out the season & see if they can make some things happen together. If you cant try things now, when can you try them? The season is pretty much over but that doesnt mean you cant still learn something - play players together, let your youth play, try some combinations. but we wont. We'll play pluggers on top lines, try nothing new with the PP and pretend like nothing is wrong, we just need price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth505 Posted February 22, 2016 Report Share Posted February 22, 2016 This coach has almost single handedly ruined this kid , if he had a more youth friendly coach since he came into the league i have no doubt he would be in the 80 pt 30 plus goal area , instead we have to waste another year or two undoing what Therrien has done to the kid , why in the world do you try to turn an offensively gifted kid who plays center which we need , into a checking winger? Never shouldve hired this coach , Pat Roy was who i wanted at the time , need a coach whos good with kids not one who ruins them. I agree, I watch him play and sometimes i find myself thinking "damn, I thought he'd be making more of an impact by now" but then I see his flashes of brilliance in certain scenarios and it gets easy to see he's just not being utilized correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysideofthemirror Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 So, any doubts left about Alex being a beast? Great game once again last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsRuleForever Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 I don't think anyone has ever expressed any doubts about his skill level just our coach's inability to utilize him properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreekHockeyCoach Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 I don't think anyone has ever expressed any doubts about his skill level just our coach's inability to utilize him properly. Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fnveenie Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Anybody else think he could hit 35 to 40 goals in a couple years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corazu Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 I may be in the minority here now, but after watching him tear it up on RW, I'm starting to think that he may end up being good there if we find the 1st line center we need. Basically, if we somehow manage to sign Stamkos, or get lucky and win the lottery to draft Matthews, or McCarron excels enough (all fairly long shots). But all I'm saying is, if we get someone to fill the 1st line center gap, I think Galchenyuk could work on his off-wing on the RW, and that solves a big gap we have on that side. It's only optimal if we fill the 1st line Center gap too though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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