Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
February 28, 2018
By Brian Wilde
The glass is either half full or half empty. The Habs have only one win in three games on the home stand or they have points in all three. A difficult final test as the Islanders were in town.
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Thank you for mentioning Alzner putting Juulsen in a bad spot. Noah was hung out to dry there, a veteran D needs to make better decisions than that pinch and protect his rookie partner. Juulsen is a keeper, gonna be rock solid for many years. Benn….nice guy, nice beard but done. Like Alzner, bad pinch to expose his young partner Reilly who broke up a 2 on 1 on his first shift. Looking forward to seeing more Scherbak.
Benn.. nice guy nice beard but done…. made me laugh.
Completely agree on Galchenyuk & Drouin. I do think Pacioretty gets moved for a 1C/2C but IMO JD or Chucky can fill the other C role until Poehling is ready, which I think is 1 more season at most. Weber, Mete, Petry, Reilly, Alzner, Juulsen, Valiev will be the 7 D opening night and will be good enough to compete with Price & Lindgren in nets. If Habs stay healthy, I think they will be right back near the top of the standings next season.
Brian I don’t question your optimism – in fact I really enjoy it. But, do you and Grant think that Poehling can be an NHL-er as early as next season? He’s still quite young.
Also, this LD that we draft top 5 overall, would he be able to contribute right off the jump? I mean how NHL ready are the rookies in the top 5?
Thanks!
Hopefully Grant answers too because he is the guy who sees these guys more than me and I basically just listen to him. I have watched Poehling at Saint Cloud a bit now and he does look like a very smart player. I think he will be an NHLer for sure, but not next season, no. He may go one more year at college. And the first pick if it is a top five will be an NHLer next season I think. Anyone in that top 5 can make it, but outside of the top 5, not likely.
If you could only get one, would you prefer the LD or the C?
15 million!
Tavares, or use it for Doughty, Karlsson? (sign and trade)
Plus the Alzner buyout is a must
As bad as things have been this season this team, much to Parcell’s chagrin, is not what their record says they are. Injuries to major pieces has made it seem much worse than it is. Plug a top 6 center and a top 4 left D man into the mix and things would start looking pretty decent again.
At home the habs are trying to save faith showing all hey looky here we are trying,we havent tanked. On the road its purposely turn off your brain,play who gives a F hockey,lose lose lose,as well they need to.want to make a few bux..go bet on the habs to lose all the road games comming up.
I had to listen on radio,i cheaped out and only got tsn pkg,wasnt on tsn tonight..dohhh