Round 2: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

[Joe S.]

Did the fans break out into a USA chant? Or was I hearing things?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Nah. I think he'll recognize the talent issue in Montreal and the fact that management doesn't seem to.

They have a pretty good core over there. Price & Subban obviously, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk. Guys like Gallagher, Plekanec, and Eller are good for the roles that they are in. Coaching has been their biggest problem there, both in terms of systems and usage (with guys like Desharnais, Prust, and Weise generally playing more than they should be).

Get Babcock, move Galchenyuk to centre and trust him with big minutes, re-sign Petry, drop Markov to a lower role. That would be my plan for the Habs this summer, and that should put them back in a spot where they could be a big player in the East.

 

[bustaheims]

They have a pretty good core over there. Price & Subban obviously, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk. Guys like Gallagher, Plekanec, and Eller are good for the roles that they are in. Coaching has been their biggest problem there, both in terms of systems and usage (with guys like Desharnais, Prust, and Weise generally playing more than they should be).

Get Babcock, move Galchenyuk to centre and trust him with big minutes, re-sign Petry, drop Markov to a lower role. That would be my plan for the Habs this summer, and that should put them back in a spot where they could be a big player in the East.

They have some pretty significant depth issues. With Galchenyuk on the top line, they really become a one line team, and they don't have a lot of cap room to play with. Replace Price with an average goalie and they're a below average team with a couple nice pieces. Really, the biggest differences between them and the Leafs is the performance of their goaltending and marginally better possession numbers.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

They have some pretty significant depth issues. With Galchenyuk on the top line, they really become a one line team, and they don't have a lot of cap room to play with. Replace Price with an average goalie and they're a below average team with a couple nice pieces. Really, the biggest differences between them and the Leafs is the performance of their goaltending and marginally better possession numbers.

Well for sure but you can probably say that about most teams and their best player. I totally agree that Price is a massive part of their team and completely carried them on his back this year, but a lot of their problems stemmed from coaching issues. They have arguably the best goalie and best defenceman in the league (Subban isn't #1 for me, but he's definitely in the conversation), plus one of the best goal scorers in the league (Pacioretty's 5th in goals in the past 4 seasons). That's a very good trio of guys to build around.

They have depth issues, but the Leafs showed that good management can fix those in the summer. They have about $12mil in cap space with Galchenyuk and Petry being their only major pieces that need re-signing, and Galchenyuk will likely get a cheap bridge deal. A guy like Desharnais could probably be moved somewhat easily if even more cap space is needed.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Good job by the Lightning on playing it well. 

Too bad for Montreal.  Trailing a series as they had didn't serve them in good stead.

Congrats to both teams on providing some fast-paced, exciting hockey throughout.

 

[Zee]

Fore!

 

[Al14]

Congratulations Lightning!

Hopefully, Stamkos will be fully awake next series!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Man, I just read that the Lightning only have 2 players left from the team that was a goal away from reaching the Finals in 2011. That's a crazy turnover rate. This was their line-up in those playoffs:

Malone-Stamkos-St.Louis
Gagne-Lecavalier-Purcell
Downie-Moore-Bergenheim
Hall-Thompson-Tyrell

Brewer-Ohlund
Clark-Hedman
Bergeron-Lundin

Roloson

4 years ago and 9 of those guys aren't even in the NHL anymore, 10 if you count Brewer's impending exit.