Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
October 23, 2017
By Brian Wilde
The Montreal Canadiens changed their lines and their defensive pairings on Monday in preparation for the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Brian Wilde attended practice for Recrutes and gives his take on whether all of these changes can work and why were they made.
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Great and insightful commentary as always Brian. This BC boy certainly appreciates you and Grant being the eyes and ears for Habs fans across the country.
One thing I was curious about (and figured this was a better place to ask than to invite more of yesterday’s Twitter behavior), was what your thoughts were on Bergevin declining the media’s request to speak after practice today. I saw that Eric Engels had reported that and I believe wrote an article on why silence from the GM right now is not helping matters. I’m interested to hear your takeaways from the decline and perhaps some insight into your experiences with this sort of thing. Thanks again!
I am indifferent to it really. Marc could have spoken sure. I also know that that doesn’t change anything. To be honest with you, if I were a player or management I would never talk to the media if I didn’t have to. I would know no one is ever strengthened talking to the media. If I were a player I would talk to the media like Shea Weber does — - have this look that says this better be good or I am going to make you feel it. This is kind of a funny answer for someone in the media to actually say I know but for the most part I don’t think there’s any upside to talking to the media. Just do the work well. That’s the way to talk in this business— with the work.
Thanks Brian. Makes a lot of sense and I imagine a lot of interviews/press conferences are more about placating the fanbase and the marketplace. It’s really nice to hear from someone who’s actually in the room rather than the 140 character GM’s.
Keep up the great work all around!
Thank you Kurtus.
Fourth line changes are not a factor right now.
MTL are now in a playoff and losing 3-0 and they must win the next 4 games or they are out of the playoffs. This is the situation.
That means shrinking the bench. That means playing 3 lines and 2 pairs. And Price in the net at all times.
If it happens, if the Habs win those 4 games. Then, as soon as the 4th game is over, Bergevin must decides if the Habs have a shot or not. If they do, the team will need help and a Alzner + an asset (Ikonen or whatever needed) for Theodore trade MUST be completed.
And MB must send a package including Lindgren Juulsen Poehling to BUF for ROR.
Would i do that? No. Even if the Habs win the next 4 games, getting Theodore and ROR won’t help the Habs win the cup. But that’s not what Bergevin thinks. He believes that everything can happened with a playoff spot.
As everyone says, it is not the time for a band-aid. Not the time for losing long term assets for short term help.
Keep up the good work Brian!
Yeah you smartly mentioned to me that they have to be 44 and 30 to get 91 to finish. That’s a daunting task already isn’t it. They say if you’re not in the mix at American Thanksgiving you’re gone already almost every single time. And thank you
Davidson and Petry could work…lets hope!
Fingers crossed for success with the fourth line.