quote:

Originally posted by Bertuzz Detroit had Lidstrom and Rafalski. Tampa had Boyle. Carolina had....errrr....Frantisek Kaberle and Aaron Ward...lol

they also had Kronwall and Brad Stuart too and Tampa had an overachieving Kabina. Best teams play a five man unit, which is why Detroit with top scorers Zetterberg and Datsyuk back-checking, had success.

Kronwall is SICK

either way....the key to the playoffs is goaltending.

I think O'byrne and Georges are gonna have a great season. With breezer as insurance, our D squad is not too bad at all! Komi is the next Captain, he's gonna have a sick season again this year. With Laraque on the bench Komisarek can be brutal without having to worry about fighting. I love this already.

About Lang. I've been thinking about putting him between Higgins and Kovy. I really like the Kostystin-Plekanec-Kovalev line but wouldn't it be cool to see the Kostystin bros to play together with Plekanec. I'm sure Carbo will try this during pre-season. Regardless I'm sure we'll see Lang will play with Kovy on the PP. Third line with Latendresse, Tanguay and Koivu (where he belongs).

That leaves us with Laraque, Dandenault, Lapierre, Kostopoulos and Begin to make a fourth line.

Not too bad. A lot of options for Carbo! can't wait!

quote:

Originally posted by Passskal Not too bad. A lot of options for Carbo! can't wait!

make the season start NOW!!

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with that many assets, im not even sure if Carbo will be able to keep "permanent" lines, i really expect him to make lines depending on what team he faces, type of play, talent,etc. With the addition of Lang (which i read somewhere,3rd liner,hmmmmm...if i had Lang, even at 37, not sure i'd put that guy automatically on a 3rd line...except in montreal, we have enough talented wingers to put him on a 3rd line, i dont think we realize the depth the canadiens have now,with Koivu and plekanec,aaahhh yeeeeeh, and Lang isnt a small guy, he's a good support player.)

Didnt have the chance to watch Lang play a lot,he was in my pool 2 years ago,often off on the IR, but suceeded in putting up very decent numbers, judging by his +/-, the guy's getting used to be on the"semi offensive" trios/2nd lines , then again,he was with Detroit...he should have been at +120 (yes im exagerating). last year 50pts in 76 without havlat and Handzus (2 centers on powerplay) in chicago, the guy will definitely bring something, especially in case top lines centers go off on the IR, the guy can take the spot and do the job temporarily.

Defence wise, Gorges is getting serious,picking up great experience last season, major difference between the beginning and the end,less hesitant, less dumb choices/playing with the puck in his own zone . If the guy could get a bit more physical,awesome. Hamrlik, what is there to say except lets hope he's fit for this year, very good defence man, a bit lazy at times. Markov i feel towards the end of the season the guy needed a breather, he was getting worked against the flyers. Other then that, all around,i think he's our best defence man (accent on "all around"). Komi, do i need to say more?thank god we have him. Pure defence. I think there's not enough love for Bouillon. The guy's quick, wont pussy out of a scrap, can hit with his small but big body (5"8 but near 200lbs) , just doesnt really have a great offensive touch, but i would play him as much as i could. Just left to see what O'Byrne can come up with beside wallets (yeah free shot,hehehe) the guy's promising indeed if he can focus.

if the goalies do the job, which i strongly believe they will,i dont see any possible opposition to the canadiens in the east except for the flyers,lets not forget those guys had to deal without Simon Gagné...

Last edited by Johnny Jon on Sep-16-2008 at 08:28

^^ very good, thorough post. Keys to me are goaltending, a committment to team defence (ie forwards playing both ends), and players who won't wilt offensively when going gets tough (and goals are hard to come by).

Some Habs players became perimeter players (Plekanic?) against Boston and Philly. This can happen to even the most talented teams during the typically physical, tight-checking playoffs (see Ottawa, San Jose, Pittsburgh until 07-08, even Detroit from 2003-2007). Which is why some critics say the Habs may be lacking one or two players that can thrive under those conditions offensively. Having a Georges Laraque certainly allows those players to play "bigger".

In any case, you can expect Montreal to beat most teams rather easily during the regular season. This team is stacked offensively.

paskal, i have a feeling lalentesse is in hamilton this year. He has to work on his skating because il patine comme une vache espagnol.

let the countdown to the drive for 25 commence.

lang, tanguay, laraque

replace

smolinsky, ryder, dandenault/begin

any gm would do that trade.


fap fap

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quote:

Originally posted by elFreak paskal, i have a feeling lalentesse is in hamilton this year. He has to work on his skating because il patine comme une vache espagnol.

Come on man give the kid a break. Even the janitor from bell center called CKAC 730 to say how good Latender looked on the ice yesterday.

kyle chipchura will make the team this year.

just wait.

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latendresse is 6"2 freaking 222lbs...he doesnt play like he is, the guy as to become waaaaaay more present,both defensively and offensively. Proof of what im saying,when he's using his body, the guy is a monster at protecting the puck,probably could take 3 guys in their zone to make latendresse lose the puck, when he uses his sizes and strenght. Now that i read he might have gain some weight (which in hockey isnt always good = slows you down), he'S has to lose the extra or learn to skate really fast (haha ribeiro) because most of the top forwards right now will leave him in the dust in a transition attack. More speed = bigger hits = OH SHIT LATENDRESSE IS ON THE ICE, make other players fear ur ass, that i know of, yeah the "victim" was old,but he did end a player's career (god bless him,didnt want that exactly to happen)...DURING PRE SEASON!That + better decisions (shooting the puck when he needs and not passing it,vice versa, be more "selfish" at times). The guy as the body and hands to deliver considerable damage on both ends, he has to work on it

one more thing...anybody interested in a hockey pool

http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.c...ue/puck_bitches

we're 4 guys now, NO CHOKERS PLEASE (meaning no guys not making line ups in december).