2021-22 State of the Habs

[H_T_L]

1 hour ago, BigTed3 said:

I mean Savard is only 6'1". Gallagher and Byron were on the bench as lettered players. So not too many guy all that close to Caufield in height.

True. He made the guys around him look like seven footers 

[habs1952]

2 hours ago, H_T_L said:

Didn't help him any that they planted him between two twin towers to boot.

Makes it easy to pick him out!

[electron58]

8 hours ago, Regis22 said:

 Andrew Molson will be photoshopped between St-Louis and Price.

Drouin will be photoshopped in (likely beside Anderson in the second row).

Weber was not in the season-opening team photo and will not be added to this one.

 

 

Shea Weber certainly not exhibiting any captain-like atitude towards the team. 

[HabsAlways]

9 hours ago, electron58 said:

Shea Weber certainly not exhibiting any captain-like atitude towards the team. 

The fact the Weber has been absent from the team this entire season speaks volumes to me.    Never see him in the press box, never see him at practices, doesn't show up for team picture day ... the vaunted "leadership" trait definitely not being displayed.      

[jennifer_rocket]

What's up with Weber? Why wouldn't he be in the team photo?

[habsisme]

Guys, he's retired, what do you want from him? The team needs to move on and he needs to move on. I also notice Saku Koivu wasn't in the team photo either. Bergevin said outright that he was unlikely to play again if I remember correctly. I know he's still part of the team because technically he's on LTIR but that's just a technicality because of how the CBA works. In the past players just retired

[jennifer_rocket]

21 minutes ago, habsisme said:

Guys, he's retired, what do you want from him? The team needs to move on and he needs to move on. I also notice Saku Koivu wasn't in the team photo either. Bergevin said outright that he was unlikely to play again if I remember correctly. I know he's still part of the team because technically he's on LTIR but that's just a technicality because of how the CBA works. In the past players just retired

I mean... I was just asking why he hasn't been around. He technically isn't retired and he's still getting paid $6 million from the organization this season.

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, jennifer_rocket said:

I mean... I was just asking why he hasn't been around. He technically isn't retired and he's still getting paid $6 million from the organization this season.

These sense I get, reading between the lines, is that Shea is having a hard time coming to terms with what the doctors are telling him. He still wants to play. 

I think there's a legit chance MB told him not to hang around the team while he recovers although I do think HuGO would have told him he was free to come hang out but its been so long now (and presumably the prognosis is not where Weber wants it to be) that he just doesnt want to be around the group anymore.

 

Without knowing all the facts I think its completely stupid and foolish to lay blame with Weber or call him a bad leader (as Brendan Kelly did in an article this week).  It sounds like its a given we'll be moving his contract before next season so it is what it is at this point. 

[campabee82]

2 hours ago, habsisme said:

Guys, he's retired, what do you want from him? The team needs to move on and he needs to move on. I also notice Saku Koivu wasn't in the team photo either. Bergevin said outright that he was unlikely to play again if I remember correctly. I know he's still part of the team because technically he's on LTIR but that's just a technicality because of how the CBA works. In the past players just retired

I think the point is that, while he may be retired in everyone's eyes, the team still has not taken the captaincy away yet and said outright that it is out of respect for Weber that he remains the captain. He is still even listed as the captain on the team site and registered as such with the NHL. 

[jennifer_rocket]

1 hour ago, maas_art said:

These sense I get, reading between the lines, is that Shea is having a hard time coming to terms with what the doctors are telling him. He still wants to play. 

I think there's a legit chance MB told him not to hang around the team while he recovers although I do think HuGO would have told him he was free to come hang out but its been so long now (and presumably the prognosis is not where Weber wants it to be) that he just doesnt want to be around the group anymore.

 

Without knowing all the facts I think its completely stupid and foolish to lay blame with Weber or call him a bad leader (as Brendan Kelly did in an article this week).  It sounds like its a given we'll be moving his contract before next season so it is what it is at this point. 

Yeah, I don't think Weber's not being around the team exemplifies bad leadership. I, too, remember reading that Kelly article and thinking, "Whoa, might be too much of a hot take here." I'm just curious as to what's happening there. It does strike me as sort of odd that he hasn't been around. Does he perhaps have a home somewhere else where he might be living/rehabbing full time?

[maas_art]

29 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Yeah, I don't think Weber's not being around the team exemplifies bad leadership. I, too, remember reading that Kelly article and thinking, "Whoa, might be too much of a hot take here." I'm just curious as to what's happening there. It does strike me as sort of odd that he hasn't been around. Does he perhaps have a home somewhere else where he might be living/rehabbing full time?

Yes, to my knowledge he's rehabbing out here (interior BC).  

If i had to guess, he probably was fed the line by Marc Bergevin "get better & there will always be a place for you" and then when Gorton took over he apparently met with Weber in the first couple of weeks & was probably told "Shea, we love what you've done but this is a business & we're likely going to look at moving on from your contract"

I also think there's a good chance he is worried he will say something that will affect his LTIR status.  Stay away from the media, don't risk saying something that would have the NHL come down on the team/force a retire etc... 

To my knowledge, when guys like Pronger, Boychuk, Savard, Kessler, etc went on the LTIR they were pretty silent/invisible for the duration. But in Montreal it becomes some big deal because of idiots like Kelly writing dumb articles.

[CaptWelly]

43 minutes ago, maas_art said:

Yes, to my knowledge he's rehabbing out here (interior BC).  

If i had to guess, he probably was fed the line by Marc Bergevin "get better & there will always be a place for you" and then when Gorton took over he apparently met with Weber in the first couple of weeks & was probably told "Shea, we love what you've done but this is a business & we're likely going to look at moving on from your contract"

I also think there's a good chance he is worried he will say something that will affect his LTIR status.  Stay away from the media, don't risk saying something that would have the NHL come down on the team/force a retire etc... 

To my knowledge, when guys like Pronger, Boychuk, Savard, Kessler, etc went on the LTIR they were pretty silent/invisible for the duration. But in Montreal it becomes some big deal because of idiots like Kelly writing dumb articles.

Agrred , it was just announced that 

[CaptWelly]

44 minutes ago, maas_art said:

Yes, to my knowledge he's rehabbing out here (interior BC).  

If i had to guess, he probably was fed the line by Marc Bergevin "get better & there will always be a place for you" and then when Gorton took over he apparently met with Weber in the first couple of weeks & was probably told "Shea, we love what you've done but this is a business & we're likely going to look at moving on from your contract"

I also think there's a good chance he is worried he will say something that will affect his LTIR status.  Stay away from the media, don't risk saying something that would have the NHL come down on the team/force a retire etc... 

To my knowledge, when guys like Pronger, Boychuk, Savard, Kessler, etc went on the LTIR they were pretty silent/invisible for the duration. But in Montreal it becomes some big deal because of idiots like Kelly writing dumb articles.

Agreed it was just announced that Hossa was going to sign a one day contract with Chicago so he could retire a Hawk. During his LTIR time he wasn't around Chicago and the Hawks and no said anything about it. 

[habsisme]

50 minutes ago, maas_art said:

Yes, to my knowledge he's rehabbing out here (interior BC).  

If i had to guess, he probably was fed the line by Marc Bergevin "get better & there will always be a place for you" and then when Gorton took over he apparently met with Weber in the first couple of weeks & was probably told "Shea, we love what you've done but this is a business & we're likely going to look at moving on from your contract"

I also think there's a good chance he is worried he will say something that will affect his LTIR status.  Stay away from the media, don't risk saying something that would have the NHL come down on the team/force a retire etc... 

To my knowledge, when guys like Pronger, Boychuk, Savard, Kessler, etc went on the LTIR they were pretty silent/invisible for the duration. But in Montreal it becomes some big deal because of idiots like Kelly writing dumb articles.

And there's good reason to be quiet when his injury at the end of the day is about pain tolerance.

Not naming another captain didn't have anything to do with Weber's status and I think that's what's confusing people

[Manatee-X]

I mean, what are we really hoping that Weber would accomplish if he's not playing, or planning to play?  I don't see any reason for him to follow the team around just for the fun of it.

I'm willing to bet that the author of that article would be the first to criticize Weber if he spoke to reporters and ended up saying something that brought his LTIR status into doubt somehow.  Best just let things be as they are, I say.

[electron58]

9 hours ago, campabee82 said:

I think the point is that, while he may be retired in everyone's eyes, the team still has not taken the captaincy away yet and said outright that it is out of respect for Weber that he remains the captain. He is still even listed as the captain on the team site and registered as such with the NHL. 

Exactly!  So why the disappearing act? No surprise to me, that he is not being photo chopped into the team photo. Maybe, he's not happy that he's being shopped. Doesn't matter, he wasn't around for the beginning so he may as well not be around at all. They will have a captain next year.

[kinot-2]

1 hour ago, electron58 said:

Exactly!  So why the disappearing act? No surprise to me, that he is not being photo chopped into the team photo. Maybe, he's not happy that he's being shopped. Doesn't matter, he wasn't around for the beginning so he may as well not be around at all. They will have a captain next year.

IMO, should be Suz. Det. did it with Yzerman, Pitts did it with Cros. 

[electron58]

25 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

IMO, should be Suz. Det. did it with Yzerman, Pitts did it with Cros. 

Agreed!  Nick Suzuki should be the next captain. 100%

[ramcharger440]

Yep Zuke is the choice for me too he is logical choice.

[jennifer_rocket]

I wonder.

Will Suzuki get it though? Will Gallagher be a candidate? Does Gallagher want it? Are there any other candidates?

[habsisme]

8 hours ago, kinot-2 said:

IMO, should be Suz. Det. did it with Yzerman, Pitts did it with Cros. 

Suzuki is the obvious choice but Detroit and Pittsburg aren't Montreal (and he's not Crosby, MAYBE his ceiling is close to Yzerman, we can hope). It's a tough decision, hopefully MSL has a feel for what the team needs and who is ready for what. From a distance, I think it's hard to really know what the right move is. 

 

Just now, jennifer_rocket said:

I wonder.

Will Suzuki get it though? Will Gallagher be a candidate? Does Gallagher want it? Are there any other candidates?

I think Gallagher might be a better option (if he wants it) but then that also depends if they have a deal in place to move him already too. I've also heard Edmundson, is a really great guy in the room and I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon, but I think Gallagher would be better choice unless you really felt Suzuki was ready. 

Hey he might be ready. One of the things that makes me feel very confident in Suzuki and Caufield is I feel like like they're immensely mature. Way more than Chucky ever was and even more than KK I think. I just worry about adding to thier burden

[jennifer_rocket]

6 minutes ago, habsisme said:

Suzuki is the obvious choice but Detroit and Pittsburg aren't Montreal (and he's not Crosby, MAYBE his ceiling is close to Yzerman, we can hope). It's a tough decision, hopefully MSL has a feel for what the team needs and who is ready for what. From a distance, I think it's hard to really know what the right move is. 

I think Gallagher might be a better option (if he wants it) but then that also depends if they have a deal in place to move him already too. I've also heard Edmundson, is a really great guy in the room and I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon, but I think Gallagher would be better choice unless you really felt Suzuki was ready. 

Hey he might be ready. One of the things that makes me feel very confident in Suzuki and Caufield is I feel like like they're immensely mature. Way more than Chucky ever was and even more than KK I think. I just worry about adding to thier burden

It's sort of sad, but yeah... we actually don't have many options. If we include Edmundson... That's three choices, I guess. Suzuki, Gallagher, or Edmundson. Edmundson I don't really envision being a long-term member of the team. Gallagher might get moved... Is Suzuki really the only option? Seems so.

[campabee82]

4 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

It's sort of sad, but yeah... we actually don't have many options. If we include Edmundson... That's three choices, I guess. Suzuki, Gallagher, or Edmundson. Edmundson I don't really envision being a long-term member of the team. Gallagher might get moved... Is Suzuki really the only option? Seems so.

I think there is another option (I don't know if the rules still allow for it anymore though). For me I think of a captain as a guy who leads the team on and off the ice, is cool under pressure, drags the team into the fight no matter what and puts the team first above all else. Now, who best exemplifies these qualities? IMO it is Carey Price, I know he has been away from the team and has been dealing with his own personal issues this year but through the years, who else has done more for the team without asking for more in return? Who has lead us into battle and forced us to win games we had no business winning in the first place? Who else dragged us tooth and nail to the SCF all the while being injured? He is always in the fight and does not accept losing as an option. Like I said in the beginning IDK if the rules still allow for a goalie to be the captain but IF they do, he gets my vote.

[maas_art]

49 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

It's sort of sad, but yeah... we actually don't have many options. If we include Edmundson... That's three choices, I guess. Suzuki, Gallagher, or Edmundson. Edmundson I don't really envision being a long-term member of the team. Gallagher might get moved... Is Suzuki really the only option? Seems so.

I think its tough to know who is real "Captain Material" without being in the room. Its entirely possible a guy like Harris or Evans or Barron are leaders, we just dont know.  Suzuki is clearly the "visible" choice.  The only other options I can see as an outsider would be Byron, Edmundson or Anderson.

I wouldnt pick Gallagher - even though he is a leader - because one of the (only) real "jobs" of a captain is to talk to the refs and we all know how much they love Gally.  Likewise Price. I wouldnt pick a goaltender, ever, no matter who he is, because he only dresses for a percentage of your games and he's not skating down the ice to talk to the refs. 

 Many argue it doesnt really matter because a leader will lead with or without a C on their chest and i think there's some truth to it. 

My guess is that either we name an interim like Byron or Edmundson or, more likely, we just make it Suzuki. 
 

[campabee82]

54 minutes ago, maas_art said:

I think its tough to know who is real "Captain Material" without being in the room. Its entirely possible a guy like Harris or Evans or Barron are leaders, we just dont know.  Suzuki is clearly the "visible" choice.  The only other options I can see as an outsider would be Byron, Edmundson or Anderson.

I wouldnt pick Gallagher - even though he is a leader - because one of the (only) real "jobs" of a captain is to talk to the refs and we all know how much they love Gally.  Likewise Price. I wouldnt pick a goaltender, ever, no matter who he is, because he only dresses for a percentage of your games and he's not skating down the ice to talk to the refs. 

 Many argue it doesnt really matter because a leader will lead with or without a C on their chest and i think there's some truth to it. 

My guess is that either we name an interim like Byron or Edmundson or, more likely, we just make it Suzuki. 
 

I understand and agree with you that typically goalies don't get named captain and that they only dress in a percentage of the games so it might not make sense. I also understand that not all leaders need to have a C or an A (which makes sense cause there are only so many letters to go around lol). The only counter point I have is one you made regarding Gally. The captain need to have the respect of the refs and who on our team is more respected throughout the league than Price? We have seen many outside the box ideas from HuGo, I feel like this would be right up their ally. With regards to goalies only playing a certain percentage of games, Price plays like 75-80% and that wouldn't be much different than a roster player being out for an extended injury, where you just have 3 A's in the lineup instead.