2016-17 Habs Lines

[CaptWelly]

15 minutes ago, tony5775 said:

Pacioretty - Danault - Radulov
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk - Byron
Andrighetto - Plekanec - Shaw
Mitchell - Desharnais - Flynn

The line-up for tonight, just may do the job.

 

I like Gally with Lehkonen and Byron has been a pleasant surprise. Gallager in place when healthy?

[Habs=stanleycup]

44 minutes ago, tony5775 said:

Pacioretty - Danault - Radulov
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk - Byron
Andrighetto - Plekanec - Shaw
Mitchell - Desharnais - Flynn

The line-up for tonight, just may do the job.

 

Why McCarron instead of DD in ANY of the lineups just baffles the mind. But hey it's the MT philosophy.

[habs1952]

1 hour ago, tony5775 said:

Pacioretty - Danault - Radulov
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk - Byron
Andrighetto - Plekanec - Shaw
Mitchell - Desharnais - Flynn

The line-up for tonight, just may do the job.

 

Well, there's your problem right there.

[Regis22]

Against Colorado last night

 

http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/about-last-night-canadiens-lose-4-0-to-colorado

 

I am indebted to the irate Commentariat for pointing out that David Desharnais, who began the game on the fourth line, had more ice than either Tomas Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuk or Phillip Danault

[ChiLla]

1 hour ago, Regis22 said:

Against Colorado last night

 

http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/about-last-night-canadiens-lose-4-0-to-colorado

 

I am indebted to the irate Commentariat for pointing out that David Desharnais, who began the game on the fourth line, had more ice than either Tomas Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuk or Phillip Danault

There are people who would do things a little differently:

McKenzie: I'd play the hell out of Galchenyuk

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/mckenzie-i-d-play-the-hell-out-of-galchenyuk-1.666901

[maas_art]

3 hours ago, Regis22 said:

David Desharnais, who began the game on the fourth line, had more ice than either Tomas Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuk or Phillip Danault

Yeah, that seems reasonable.   Gah. 

[tony5775]

In his defense DD had less shifts then most of those players. Blaming DD is the easy out. The entire team was terrible from the puck drop last night. No one deserved any ice time. They floated around all night, the effort was shameful. First time this season I shut the TV off and went to bed, after the second period.

[BigTed3]

^^ I don't think anyone is blaming Desharnais, I think people are blaming the coaches for playing DD so liberally and for giving him plentiful amounts of PP time, when he has failed in that role so many times before. The issue here is not DD's play, it's Therrien's employment of him. MT has made a point of saying that he cannot overuse Galchenyuk because he was out for a long period of time with a significant injury and needs to be worked back into the line-up slowly. And yet Desharnais, who was out with a similar injury for just as long is the most-used center. MT stated that Galchenyuk would be moved on and off the center position because he had flaws with taking face-offs and with his defensive game. Yet Galchenyuk had posted one of the better Corsi's on the team before this statement was made, and DD is no defensive stalwart himself.

I think the concern - and I believe it to be a legitimate one - is that a player like Galchenyuk is not allowed to have a bad game or a bad week. If he does, the coaches immediately throw him under the bus, criticize him, reduce his ice time, bump him off the first line, or throw him back onto the wing. Similar treatment was offered to Subban and to Eller and to Briere and to Sekac and to PAP, and those players were all run out of town by the head coach. Yet on the other hand, a player like Desharnais can have one of the lowest PP production rates on the team and go 30+ games without a goal and be out long-term with an injury and still somehow manage to be treated like a first-line player. What has DD done that McCarron hasn't or that Galchenyuk hasn't or that Lehkonen or Byron or Plekanec haven't? Therrien has done a much better job coaching this year than in the past three seasons, but whenever DD is in the line-up, he seems to be the crutch that the coach leans on in hard times. There are no other adjustments being made other than line grinding and throwing guys like DD and Shaw and Markov and Weber out as often as possible. That is what is disconcerting.

[maas_art]

8 minutes ago, BigTed3 said:

^^ I don't think anyone is blaming Desharnais, I think people are blaming the coaches for playing DD so liberally and for giving him plentiful amounts of PP time, when he has failed in that role so many times before. The issue here is not DD's play, it's Therrien's employment of him. MT has made a point of saying that he cannot overuse Galchenyuk because he was out for a long period of time with a significant injury and needs to be worked back into the line-up slowly. And yet Desharnais, who was out with a similar injury for just as long is the most-used center. MT stated that Galchenyuk would be moved on and off the center position because he had flaws with taking face-offs and with his defensive game. Yet Galchenyuk had posted one of the better Corsi's on the team before this statement was made, and DD is no defensive stalwart himself.

I think the concern - and I believe it to be a legitimate one - is that a player like Galchenyuk is not allowed to have a bad game or a bad week. If he does, the coaches immediately throw him under the bus, criticize him, reduce his ice time, bump him off the first line, or throw him back onto the wing. Similar treatment was offered to Subban and to Eller and to Briere and to Sekac and to PAP, and those players were all run out of town by the head coach. Yet on the other hand, a player like Desharnais can have one of the lowest PP production rates on the team and go 30+ games without a goal and be out long-term with an injury and still somehow manage to be treated like a first-line player. What has DD done that McCarron hasn't or that Galchenyuk hasn't or that Lehkonen or Byron or Plekanec haven't? Therrien has done a much better job coaching this year than in the past three seasons, but whenever DD is in the line-up, he seems to be the crutch that the coach leans on in hard times. There are no other adjustments being made other than line grinding and throwing guys like DD and Shaw and Markov and Weber out as often as possible. That is what is disconcerting.

This.

I still think we're a heck of a team if we can manage to make one trade:  Emelin + Prospect for RNH.   

Our lineup looks like this:

Patches - Galchenyuk/RNH - Radulov
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk/RNH - Gallagher         Thats actually a top line and actually a 2nd line.  The best top 6 we've had since Damphouse/Koivu/Turgeon
Danault - Plekanec - Shaw        You could  swap pleks/danault - either way you get rid of pleks this summer & give Danault the reigns of the 3rd line.
Byron - Mitchell - Carr - Flynn - McCarron etc  - Not at all worried about this line. We could easily put together a solid 4th line with the group we have. 

The big question would be: who takes that first pairing spot with Emelin gone but honestly i think beau is a better fit there than emelin anyway. 

[BigTed3]

I'd go

Lehkonen-Galchenyuk-Radulov

Pacioretty-Danault-McCarron

Byron-Plekanec-Shaw

Ghetto-Mitchell-Carr

[Regis22]

7 hours ago, maas_art said:

This.

I still think we're a heck of a team if we can manage to make one trade:  Emelin + Prospect for RNH.   

 

We've been a .500 team after the great start

At this point in the season it is what it is , I don't think things aren't going to get better , unless CP regains his mojo but then we cant seem to score now

[BigTed3]

With Gallagher set to return:

Pacioretty-Danault-Radulov

Lehkonen-Galchenyuk-Gallagher

Byron-Plekanec-Shaw

Andrighetto-Mitchell-McCarron

(although personally, I'd rather see Mac on the 3rd and Shaw on the 4th, or better yet the pressbox next to Desharnais)

[CaptWelly]

17 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

With Gallagher set to return:

Pacioretty-Danault-Radulov

Lehkonen-Galchenyuk-Gallagher

Byron-Plekanec-Shaw

Andrighetto-Mitchell-McCarron

(although personally, I'd rather see Mac on the 3rd and Shaw on the 4th, or better yet the pressbox next to Desharnais)

I like these lines and it should give Chucky some help with Gallagher. I would rather have Mac at center on the 4 th line though. If he improves then maybe switch Mac & Pleks.

[Habs_Hockey_Nutz]

What were the lines to start the season?

[jennifer_rocket]

Max Pacioretty - Phillip Danault - Alexander Radulov

Artturi Lehkonen - Alex Galchenyuk - Brendan Gallagher

Charles Hudon - Tomas Plekanec - Sven Andrighetto

Paul Byron - Torrey Mitchell - Andrew Shaw

[Regis22]

17 hours ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Max Pacioretty - Phillip Danault - Alexander Radulov

Artturi Lehkonen - Alex Galchenyuk - Brendan Gallagher

Charles Hudon - Tomas Plekanec - Sven Andrighetto

Paul Byron - Torrey Mitchell - Andrew Shaw

No offence but A 4th liner on the Hawks last yr is the Habs 1st line C  this year .

And we wonder why the team is struggling

[HabsRuleForever]

Can't wait to see them on Saturday.

[maas_art]

33 minutes ago, HabsRuleForever said:

Can't wait to see them on Saturday.

This.

And Julien has a full, healthy roster to play with - it will be very interesting to see what he does.  I wouldnt be surprised to see a lot of the lines remain intact (the rest of the coaching staff hasnt changed after all, and CJ may want to see what he has to work with) but i suspect Galchenyuk (unless he's playing hurt) for example, will be back to a true #1 role. 

 

 

[eldag]

DD will come out as #1 centre and play first unit power play ............

 

[BigTed3]

2 hours ago, maas_art said:

This.

And Julien has a full, healthy roster to play with - it will be very interesting to see what he does.  I wouldnt be surprised to see a lot of the lines remain intact (the rest of the coaching staff hasnt changed after all, and CJ may want to see what he has to work with) but i suspect Galchenyuk (unless he's playing hurt) for example, will be back to a true #1 role.

Well we should find out at first practice Friday, but I have more questions than anything right now:

- Will Galchenyuk be given the chance to be a 1C?

- Will CJ stack the top line or spread scoring out over 2-3 lines?

- Who is the odd man out at center? Is it still DD or does CJ see Danault as a winger or see Shaw as a center or so on?

-Will a young guy like McCarron or Hudon or Scherbak or Lehkonen get a shot in the top 6?

- Will he make any changes with the defence?

 

 

[vegasrick]

19 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

Well we should find out at first practice Friday, but I have more questions than anything right now:

- Will Galchenyuk be given the chance to be a 1C?

- Will CJ stack the top line or spread scoring out over 2-3 lines?

- Who is the odd man out at center? Is it still DD or does CJ see Danault as a winger or see Shaw as a center or so on?

-Will a young guy like McCarron or Hudon or Scherbak or Lehkonen get a shot in the top 6?

- Will he make any changes with the defence?

Only my opinion right now, but.....

1.  Yes, I think CJ will put Chucky at #1 Center and keep him there....eventually.  That's where he belongs.

2.  I think he will try to get the most scoring he can, but it may look like he's spreading it out in the way he deploys our players.  I doubt we'll see grinders on skill lines. 

3.  DD may even be used better under Julien, but I think Danault needs to be given the opportunity to produce.  I would classify him as the Habs' "secret weapon."  Shaw can go anywhere, as long as it's not the top 6.  

4.  I have a feeling Julien is going to use McCarron a LOT.  He seems to be the type of physical & skilled player that CJ just loves to have in key roles, similar to the way he used Lucic in Boston.  

5.  I have confidence that Julien will find the best way to pair our Defensive guys with his system of play.  Even if we just keep all the same players, they may take on a totally different look under the new coach. 

And you forgot to ask any questions about the power play, but I would venture that we all expect it to improve almost immediately.  

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, vegasrick said:

4.  I have a feeling Julien is going to use McCarron a LOT.  He seems to be the type of physical & skilled player that CJ just loves to have in key roles, similar to the way he used Lucic in Boston.  

Wouldnt it be wonderful if he went back to playing wing where is, imho, more comfortable and more competent?

I have confidence that Julien will find the best way to pair our Defensive guys with his system of play.  Even if we just keep all the same players, they may take on a totally different look under the new coach.

Agreed. I have a suspicion Emelin wont be on the top pairing for long.  Remember Julien exploited him badly a few post seasons ago...

[Regis22]

3 hours ago, vegasrick said:

Only my opinion right now, but.....

And you forgot to ask any questions about the power play, but I would venture that we all expect it to improve almost immediately.  

The PP is fine , it's the PK that is terrible

Muller supposedly runs the PP and it is improved over last year .

I m not sure who handles the PK, I suspect it's one of the other 2 guys , and it's bad , it was better last year. During the summer CJ will bring in his own guys

 

[BigTed3]

Personally, I think we'll see

- Galchenyuk used as the 1C

- McCarron possibly moved back to RW and given expanded role to see if he can be the "next Lucic"

- Plekanec given more ice time (I suspect Julien will still see him as being a veteran two-way guy like Bergeron or a top 6 vert like Krejci). I actually feel like we might see a bit of a resurgence of Plekanec under Julien to be honest

- Markov paired with Weber... remember CJ had both Pleks and Markov with him the first time around in Mtl, so I really wonder if he'll lean on them again. Markov has done really well this year, perhaps his best season in the last 5 years, but a lot of it has to do with his playing with Petry and having his ice limited so he's not worn out. That said, I wonder if CJ feels the need to give Weber a better puck-mover as a partner.

In any case, this is my guess for how Julien lines up the players:

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Radulov

Lehkonen-Plekanec-Gallagher

Shaw-Danault-McCarron (or possibly swapping Shaw with Lehkonen)

Byron-Mitchell-Flynn/Carr

I'm not sure I see CJ finding much of a role for DD or Ghetto.

On D, I think he might use

Markov-Weber

Emelin-Petry

Beaulieu-Pateryn

 

[RicochetII]

18 minutes ago, BigTed3 said:

Personally, I think we'll see

- Galchenyuk used as the 1C

- McCarron possibly moved back to RW and given expanded role to see if he can be the "next Lucic"

- Plekanec given more ice time (I suspect Julien will still see him as being a veteran two-way guy like Bergeron or a top 6 vert like Krejci). I actually feel like we might see a bit of a resurgence of Plekanec under Julien to be honest

- Markov paired with Weber... remember CJ had both Pleks and Markov with him the first time around in Mtl, so I really wonder if he'll lean on them again. Markov has done really well this year, perhaps his best season in the last 5 years, but a lot of it has to do with his playing with Petry and having his ice limited so he's not worn out. That said, I wonder if CJ feels the need to give Weber a better puck-mover as a partner.

In any case, this is my guess for how Julien lines up the players:

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Radulov

Lehkonen-Plekanec-Gallagher

Shaw-Danault-McCarron (or possibly swapping Shaw with Lehkonen)

Byron-Mitchell-Flynn/Carr

I'm not sure I see CJ finding much of a role for DD or Ghetto.

On D, I think he might use

Markov-Weber

Emelin-Petry

Beaulieu-Pateryn

 

I have similar thoughts ...

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Radulov: would be nice as a high offense 1st line.
Gallagher - Plekanec - Shaw/McCarron: "Lite" version of Marchand - Bergeron - Lucic (pest - 2-way C - gorilla).
Lehkonen - Danault - Shaw/McCarron: 2-way 3rd line that can chip in.
Byron - Mitchell - Flynn - Grind line that can surprise attack.

I'd like to find a place for Hudon in the lineup as well. Perhaps if Shaw works out on one of those lines we can split time between McCarron/Hudon/Flynn.
I'd also like to move Desharnais, maybe we can finally take care of that now.

I still don't want Markov playing top pairing minutes any more. Not that he's performing badly, but I worry what will happen in the playoffs. If we don't have someone else prepared for the top pairing to play with Weber, we might not have a big minute option prepared to take his place with Weber in the postseason if he falters again. Julien is used to relying on at least Chara for a lot of minutes, so I can see Weber finally playing as advertised.