Such valuable information, thanks for that.

I guess there's hope?
- Hawkjet

There's always hope lol.

Last year's team was a good team, they just met up with a better team in the playoffs who executed the best strategy. It was embarassing but it didn't negate they were good. I still firmly believe they would have gotten to the 2nd round against anyone from the West last year (though Edmonton would have given them fits).

I like the potential of the forward core of this current team but Schmaltz going down shows there's still some center depth issue if any of the main 3 are injured. Defense has been fine, mostly, but there will be growing pains with the younger guys, Forsling especially. Rutta may not be this calm and collected the whole season. I'd still rather pick up another d-man than forward (for the left) if there are trades but I also don't mind seeing where the defense goes. Again, potential is there - just got to see if it'll be realized.

Impressive win because of the back to back. But I still haven't gotten over the sting of how badly Toronto dominated us, and I'm gonna wait a few more games to hopefully see our possession numbers improve. Still LOTS to like about our team right now though, mainly the 20-19-14 trio
- SimpleJack

Again, if you're looking at shot metric possession numbers, you need to wait until at least the 20 games mark to begin seeing trends, not just a few more games.

The response was to somebody who said Price isn't a money goaltender which is ridiculous.

But 2 different issues when you bring up money. He's still a great goaltender, playing behind a team which can't score. But locking him into that contract is probably not the wisest decision unless the Habs can find the players to ice a real contender. The Rangers did the same thing with Lundqvist a few years ago and the Panthers are stuck with Luongo's deal long term.

And BTW, notice how all of a sudden the squawkers about Crawford's contract have either disappeared or just decided to shut up.
- RickJ

I'll be the first to admit that I thought (and still think) Crawford was the guy to trade IF you could have (which we are pretty sure Bowman could not due to NMC). The drop-off from Crawford to Darling vs Hammer to Murphy exemplifies that logic. Has Nik Hjallmarsson ever been a healthy scratch since becoming an NHL regular? Crawford's contract has always been fair, and I'm not really trying to rehash the debate that went on for years here regarding who should be traded for cap relief. Crow has always been a damn good goalie and he showed that again tn. But, Fluery and Murray in Pittsburgh is an example of it working out cutting ties with a more pricey and experienced winning goalie for a young guy. Bowman couldnt trade Crawford, so he got a big young 1st round Dman with 200+ games of NHL experience who has high upside and cost-control for 4 more years. I think Murphy can improve and the Hawks need him to. Looks like Stan found another keeper in Forsberg.

Price can show you his gold medals from the Olympics and World Cup. He just happens to be backstopping a very poor Montreal team this season.
- RickJ

Habs have had their problems for several seasons with or without him. Yes he carries them during the regular season as scoring woes are nothing new.

His playoff stats are very MEH: 25-31, 2.53 GA and .914 SV with 5 shutouts.....

10.5 mildo cap hit for the next 8 yrs beginning next year...

Stellar: Sheldon Brookbank, Kyle Cumiskey
- Hawkjet

Sounds like a law firm
Hockey. Really
Oh, you mean they represent hockey players
Now that sounds plausible

Habs have had their problems for several seasons with or without him. Yes he carries them during the regular season as scoring woes are nothing new.

His playoff stats are very MEH: 25-31, 2.53 GA and .914 SV with 5 shutouts.....

10.5 mildo cap hit for the next 8 yrs beginning next year...





- bogiedoc

What the heck are these GM's thinking? I like Seabrook, but his contract is crap considering his age. Price is even worse. Add in his injuries and it's gotta be one of, if not the, riskiest contracts in hockey.

I'm all for keeping contracts to 5 years max. I know it gets harder to spread out the money, but you wouldn't be saddled with a guy who plays like Fanson for the last 3 years of his contract.

There's always hope lol.

Last year's team was a good team, they just met up with a better team in the playoffs who executed the best strategy. It was embarassing but it didn't negate they were good. I still firmly believe they would have gotten to the 2nd round against anyone from the West last year (though Edmonton would have given them fits).

I like the potential of the forward core of this current team but Schmaltz going down shows there's still some center depth issue if any of the main 3 are injured. Defense has been fine, mostly, but there will be growing pains with the younger guys, Forsling especially. Rutta may not be this calm and collected the whole season. I'd still rather pick up another d-man than forward (for the left) if there are trades but I a:lso don't mind seeing where the defense goes. Again, potential is there - just got to see if it'll be realized.
- L_B_R

Ruuta is experienced 27 yr old. But "calm" is like hash tag and see also: "exhausted" and :"turnover:" c Murphy, Kempny, Forsling.

Yes. We know "3 leg shopping cart" is hash tag
How about "n-yt." That is "not yet" said really fast. Is it Russian for Blackhawks Russian prospects. Or just ask wiz

Who am I?

I aim to beat your Blackhawks. I already have four goals.

I am not mafiosa and I play for that other team in town, not the Buckeyes. I might try to outscore the breadman.

Oh btw I was a first round selection.

Not a text book win ,but they don't ask how just how many . Nice to see the Cat get on the score sheet ,with a bullet shot . Crow was the show again . Need to cut those shots down a bit . Still not thrilled by some of Q personnel decisions ,but hey he will be in the HOF with 3 or more Cup rings so I digress ..GO HAWKS !!

Someone earlier talked about Saad as an MVP candidate. If Crow keeps this up for the rest of the season, he will win the Vezina and MVP (yes, I know, small sample size)!

As a side note, I was calling for him to be traded, but not because I thought he was overrated, just because I thought Darling was ready to be #1, and would save $2M against the cap. I had absolutely no problem with Crow being here, or his contract.

Ugly game..... ugly

Don’t understand why Price singed to jump on Hockey’s Titanic
- Colbyboy

I'll give you 10.5 million reasons why

I'd still rather pick up another d-man than forward (for the left) if there are trades but I also don't mind seeing where the defense goes. Again, potential is there - just got to see if it'll be realized.
- L_B_R

Left? Keith/Kempny/Forsling. What about RD with Murphy sucking out of the gate?

I'll give you 10.5 million reasons why
- tvetter

make that 84 million over 8 years until he is 39...

yeah he will win a couple more vezinas...blah...blah...but the habs are not even sniffing a conf final any time soon..

Pfffft....Crawford is average at best, he can only hope to be Osgood 2.0. Crawford had been the product of stellar defensemen who’ve played in front of him. $6 million is a MASSIVE overpayment, Crawford is worth $2.5-$3 million at most.

Also, I like sarcasm.
- DarthKane

where are the REAL crawford haters when you need him...

Left? Keith/Kempny/Forsling. What about RD with Murphy sucking out of the gate?
- Assman22

What about Murphy, indeed. Murphy's law for the Blackhawks this year is that by the end of the season he has to be counted upon to be reliable. Not an all star, not maybe realizing his once described potential....Just steady with limited amount of mistakes. Good enough to be on most any team's third pair.

It is a waiting game worth playing out maybe beyond the Xmas holidays if you see incremental improvement. Samuelson and Q need to communicate their thoughts to Stan regarding the development

To compete in playoffs we will need to become more than top three defensemen played each night 28 -30 TOI.

While I like adding a close to ready Sikula (Who conceivably blends in as another skill guy), it may be expecting too much that Murphy Kempny and Forsling all make huge strides forward. Acquiring an upgrade on defense would be costly.

Left? Keith/Kempny/Forsling. What about RD with Murphy sucking out of the gate?
- Assman22

I don't think Mur has played to badly ,that is one of the personnel decisions I don't understand .
I also was thinking Crow would be moved last summer or before that just for cap reasons .His contract is more then fair for a two time cup winning goalie 7 thirty plus win season would have been 8 without the strike . I am sure glad Crow is still here ,and love the way he rubs Habs fans nose in the fact he owns Price and the Canadians every time he comes to town .

Because some white people are troubled by the lack of equal protection under the law experienced by people of color.
- matt_ahrens

I am with you....it is difficult to understand _____ lives matter, when your experience is tied to so few origin stories that start with your family in shackles as the "machines" to fuel the Southern economy and no matter if you actually have wiped the prejudice out of your mind, it is surprising how much underlying things are there you (and me) have missed on the way up to growing up, getting a job, and in interactions...

At this point the goofy kneel / Armed forces requirement / targeting persons in traffic stops has become a skewed mess.
Everyone here already said they were not interested in partaking in discussions.

I am going to suggest the DVD I am not your Negro...

at 67, it pointed out stuff that I never allowed myself to be aware of....and as a inner city kid, growng up 8 blocks from the Chicago stadium I never considered when developing my opinions of things....

Back to hockey:

There is little chance Murphy is going to Colorado because they are not sending Anisimov away, as he is still a good fit as the big center every team needs....

the very good...

3-0-1
21 G vs 6 GA in regulation
Saad with 5 goals from a total of 15 feet from the crease
Goaltending = outstanding
Towes looking alot better

the not so good.

hard to believe this team is going to be dependent on a 2 year player like smaltz
blueline is one lit match short of a dumpster fire
ADB can not be 3rd line player...what a waste
Anisimov has lost a step he could not afford to lose...

I am with you....it is difficult to understand _____ lives matter, when your experience is tied to so few origin stories that start with your family in shackles as the "machines" to fuel the Southern economy and no matter if you actually have wiped the prejudice out of your mind, it is surprising how much underlying things are there you (and me) have missed on the way up to growing up, getting a job, and in interactions...

At this point the goofy kneel / Armed forces requirement / targeting persons in traffic stops has become a skewed mess.
Everyone here already said they were not interested in partaking in discussions.

I am going to suggest the DVD I am not your Negro...

at 67, it pointed out stuff that I never allowed myself to be aware of....and as a inner city kid, growng up 8 blocks from the Chicago stadium I never considered when developing my opinions of things....
- wiz1901

Thanks for the suggestion I'll check it out. I read one of his essays before. Powerful writing.

Habs have had their problems for several seasons with or without him. Yes he carries them during the regular season as scoring woes are nothing new.

His playoff stats are very MEH: 25-31, 2.53 GA and .914 SV with 5 shutouts.....

10.5 mildo cap hit for the next 8 yrs beginning next year...





- bogiedoc

Meh...They can always bury salary on LTIR at some point. That's what teams do these days, right?

Again, if you're looking at shot metric possession numbers, you need to wait until at least the 20 games mark to begin seeing trends, not just a few more games.
- L_B_R

I know I've asked you this before, but where do you get your stats? I'm interested in the Keith and Seabrook pairing advanced stats.

Meh...They can always bury salary on LTIR at some point. That's what teams do these days, right?
- stinger67

Well correct, if the player is injured (or if you are Lupul) and can't reasonably play.

Back to hockey:

There is little chance Murphy is going to Colorado because they are not sending Anisimov away, as he is still a good fit as the big center every team needs....
- wiz1901

AND
To get something you have to give up something. I do not and I believe Stan does not want to trade away top prospects or a #1. Salary cap issues mean you try to bring in your prospects.

Our top prospects outside of Fortin are some defenceman who can really skate. Each show offensively gifted; I do not know how many of them carry the mail but Kryz does for sure. That is what all teams really want to secure nowadays.

So far as trading our prospects goes, I wish those who suggest trades would first realize we do not have tremendous prospects whom are better than any other team. We cannot pretend if only Forsling was only a tad better and shucks, give them AA and even a draft choice all for Duchene. Most any team could match such an offer.

Sakic will eventually get a defenseman in return. Perhap s not the advanced young stud, but likely a descent young defender. Sakic just hopes Duchene does not stink the joint up with poor play.

Now please understand I myself when younger would spend time imaging how to acquire a Duchene. I'm telling you 99 out of 100 times we are not close to figuring it out. I said "we."

As far as Anisinov goes, even if he lost a stride he represents our big center. Toews this year is more a cross between big center and point proucer,. All teams need one.

Our strength, offensively, might become not only a two line team, since we do have descent skill and some scoring from bottom lines. Hayden, maybe Fortin if he can find a spot, same with Sikula. Roll 4 lines. Remember, too, being hard to play against is our new mantra. Bouma and Wingels fill that beautifully despite some less than capable skill in other areas.

Well correct, if the player is injured (or if you are Lupul) and can't reasonably play.
- breadbag

Don't get me wrong, I don't like Price's contract. I don't think you should give that much money to a goalie, and for that long.

...but if he didn't got it from Montreal, he would have from another team. Maybe him leaving would have been the best thing, as they could really start a full rebuild. That's not going to fly in Montreal though, and I really doubt management and owners want to go through that, even if it's what they need in my opinion.