Comments on: How Free Agent Acquisitions Improve Habs Offense

By: Habsterix

Habsterix — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment Don. I fully agree with you that Bergevin is working on something. Will he be able to pull the trigger on something? Time will tell. It’s an old cliché but it’s true: it takes two to tango.

On a side note, I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if Bergevin got his feet wet on the trade market by opting for familiarity, which means that he would deal with Stan Bowman and the Hawks. Let’s wait and see…

By: Habsterix

Habsterix — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:49:48 +0000

Unfortunately, the Habs have not had a great faceoffs center since… Yannick Perreault (if my memory serves me right). That’s something that Guy Carbonneau and Doug Jarvis were both trying to teach the centerman with mix success.

In the mean time, I am not suggesting removing Plekanec from all PK duties, but rather to cut his time killing penalties, since they now have other players able to do the job. What they’re loosing in Plekanec’s efficiency on the PK, they will more than regain on offense and energy. At least, that’s my theory. So if they have to put Pleks in for a faceoff because they don’t have anyone else to do it, by all means they can do that.

By: don

don — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:25:42 +0000

I had thought the same thing, when they said Prust is a good PK guy.
Which would give the Habs; Moan, Eller, Prust and White as good PK forwards and allow Tomas to have some extra rest.

With Bouillon signing, pushing Diaz/Weber to being 7th and 8th d-men; i assume Bergevin is not quite done and now will be going the trade route with “spare” d-men.
Nash/St Denis/Diaz or Weber might form part of some package deal?

But still very pleased to date with reshaping of team.

By: Yanne

Yanne — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:19:00 +0000

I agree with you in principal, the problem with your logic however is that in reality, there’s no one to take Plekanec’s ice time. Eller? Nokelainen? White?.. None of those guys match Plek’s defensive ability and apart from Nokia, which I’m hoping is destined for the pressbox, none win faceoffs.. So it might be good for Gionta and potentially a guy like Cole or even Bourque, but Pleky’s gonna keep killing penalties.

It’s a stretch, but maybe they should just make him the 3rd line center and give Eller more of an offensive role?

By: robert ethan

robert ethan — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 05:32:28 +0000

I’m glad they didn’t sign Parenteau as well, he seems one dimensional and overrated. Prust should be useful, but like you admitted, the contract was excessive. There were some signings that were reasonable, and players I think are superior to Armstrong and Bouillon. Particularly from an offensive perspective. That may be due to issues beyond the team’s control, such as taxes, politics, etc. but what has been accomplished so far in free agency seems like rearranging the chairs on the lower deck or something.

By: Habsterix

Habsterix — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:47:27 +0000

Tell us how you really feel, Robert. :)

I would have preferred Bryan Allan or Sheldon Brookbank on defense, but seeing the amount and mostly the length of the contracts they signed, I understand (and appreciate) why Bergevin didn’t go for it. The same goes for Parenteau.

The way I look at it, with the short term deals for Bouillon and Armstrong, it buys one year to the younger players in the organisation to play a regular shift in Hamilton and be ready when those contracts are up. I like that.

While overpaid, Prust is 28, so a four year deal is certainly not a stretch, especially with what he brings to the table. You may disagree and I can appreciate that, but in my opinion, taking into account what I’ve discussed in the article, I kind of like what Bergevin has done.

Cheers!

By: robert ethan

robert ethan — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:45:57 +0000

Come on, give us a break. Armstrong was a scrub when he was younger and healthier. Bouillon was a scrub three years ago when the Habs dumped him. Prust can probably be counted on to play about 40 games a season. Trying to make those signings seem inspired is ridiculous. They are what they are, and in a year or two they will be gone and best forgotten.