Log in & Sign up
You are not logged in.
A solid Plan B
posted by Mike Boone at 18h35 EST on Sep 12
Props to my man, Arpon Basu, for launching his blog, the Daily Hab-It, with a pitch suggesting Robert Lang on Aug. 27.
" ...the ideal candidate for Gainey to go after once Sundin
lets the world know he has no desire to play in Montreal. That would be
the Blackhawks' Robert Lang.
"He is the ideal Plan B in this situation, in that he provides nearly everything Sundin would.
"He won 53.1 per cent of his faceoffs last year - higher than any of
the centres on the Canadiens - and he's a right-handed shot, just like
Sundin and unlike Saku Koivu and Tomas Plekanec.
"Lang does turn 38 in December, making him a year older than the
Swedish one, but at $4 million for one season he is far more affordable
and would provide Gainey some wiggle room to make a move at the
deadline. Even in terms of size, Lang (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) is not as
far as you would think from Sundin (6-foot-5, 231).
"Lang's been extremely consistent since firmly establishing himself as
an NHL player in 1998-99. That season, with the Pittsburgh Penguins,
was the only one where Lang did not score at least 50 points, and last
season he had a more than respectable 54 points playing for a
non-playoff team. The '98-'99 and '99-'00 were the only ones in the
last 10 years where Lang has been a minus player.
"The question here is how much would it cost to get him to Montreal?
The 'Hawks are only $416,000 above the cap, but that's with just 10 NHL
forwards under contract, and even that's a stretch because one of them
is Ben Eager. Chicago is not exactly swimming in talent up front, and
losing Lang as a second-line centre would be a definite blow to the
team's depth up the middle because Patrick Sharp would have to play
centre full-time (he's listed as a winger, but he took the third most
face-offs on the team last year).
"Lang would, in all likelihood, require a roster player and a forward
prospect in return, which may be a price that Gainey is unwilling to
pay. But the alternative - having both Maxim Lapierre and Kyle
Chipchura among the top four centres - is not all that attractive
either.
• • •
And here's what the bible, McKeen's Yearbook, says about Lang:
Czech veteran took a backseat to the Kane-Toews show and failed to really distinguish himself despite reaching the 50-point mark for a eighth consecutive season ... uspectacular,but smart, sneaky and subtly-skiled ... can be a force when assertively using his excellent size and strength to clear space for an ever-underrated shooting arsenal ... however he stops moving his feet at times and isn't always willing to make the required physical commitment ... saw his duties shrink accordingly down the stretch and was further hampered by a nagging back ... the opportunity is there but not if he can't elevate the passion.
Tags:
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
Remember when we removed the center line and people said size wouldn't matter no more in the new NHL.
well they where wrong sure if your a huge player and can't skate then that's a different story. I beleive with the key addition's this year we now have strength in the corners and we'll see our defensemen on the ice and not taking on the other team's biggest player's all the time. We have big George to deal with these character's now an equalizer and for once we have entire team balance and if we encounter a bad injury we have some depth. My hats of to you Bob well done molding a young team to and surrounding the youth with key vet's very excited about this years run go habs go
Like everyone has been saying, this is an excellent plan B.
Lang fits the mold of what Gainey was looking for: a large, skilled center. He has offensive prowess and will give Montreal 3 strong scoring lines. It'll be interesting to see where Tanguay and Higgins end up, as both have traditionally been Left-Wings, but wherever they do this addition makes the Habs a stronger team.
Brisebois signing as our 7th D-man is the right move as well. At his age, Breezer will go into the season simply trying to earn playing time. With the loss of Streit, the addition of another d-man who is able to move the puck became a need, and Breezer will help fill that void. He is a solid depth acquisition who will not complain about his lack of ice time, also ensuring that the play of OB, Gorges and Cube does not fall off.
Finally, Gainey made the right move in finalizing our roster NOW. There are no more questions surrounding the team, this is the roster that will skate in our centennial season. All that remains to be seen is which 22-23 guys will be here when the puck drops for real.
tanguay,kovalev,koivu,lang,plek,a & s koz's,looks like some scoring punch there. breezer has experience,is only 750 k,at one year and could be moved by trade deadline if it comes to that.bobs head is going on all cylinders!! drop the puck baby can't wait!!
I'm happy... Sundin would have been my choice of course, but better this than nothing - that's for sure.
Forget the checking line, this team is built to run 3 O. lines (with a nasty, grinding, checking, pounding, in your face, defensive 4th line to boot). And neither Laps or Chip have enough O. upside in my opinion to play that role, at least not yet. Higgy and S. Kost where also doubtful at center for me. Plus this way Pleks and Koivu won't feel too threatened, so it just might work out better for the locker room too.
As a bonus we get 1 more Czech to hang out with Pleks and Hammer... Counter balance the russian connection a bit ;-). But more importantly, it gives us 3 solid NHL 2nd line centers which can alternate depending on injury or performance.
Yes, I too think I have it all figured out. Here are my lines:
A. Kost - Pleks - Kovy
Tanguay - Koivu - Tender
Higgins - Lang - S. Kost
Bégin - Laps - Laracque
(Kosto, Dandy)
Marky- Komy
Hammer - Gorgeous
Cube - Rhino
(Breezer)
Price
Halak
Some people will of course disagree with Tender on the 2nd line but I feel that a big body with finishing ability is needed with Tanguay and Koivu's playmaking style and small stature.. think Franzen. Hope Gui watched the playoffs and gets inspired by him and Holmstrom. Anyways, last chance to dance for him... Pac waiting in the fold and all. This way we have at least one big body on every line.
As for D, I think Georges is most skilled and prepared for #4D minutes... Plus, personnaly, I like a balance for D pairings of size/strength and speed/transition ability.
So overall. Tanguay > Ryder, Lang > Smolinski, Laraque > nothing... héhé and well, Streit should be replaced on the PP point by S. Kost, Tanguay, Lang...etc. So better team then last year's in my humble opinion.
One thing I'm also very happy about is the depth of the organization as a whole. The dogs should win their share of games this year and callups in case of injuries should fit right in, at any position, for any role:
Pac - Maxwell - D'Agostini
Russel - Lehoux - Wyman
White - Chipchura - Glumac
Flinn - Trotter - Stewart
Belle - Carle
Valentenko - Webber
Henry - Anderson
Denis
Desjardins
Plus a few other notables such as: Desharnais, Aubin, Beauregard and Latendresse from Cincinati. Engelhardt, Côté, Archer and Martin also still under contract if I'm not mistaken...
In conclusion, this team is not perfect, but I believe Mr. Gainey made the best moves he could in the circumstances. He sure has transformed the face of this franchise from top to bottom in the past few years, and for that I will be eternally grateful to him.
Have a great season everybody!
BeeGee - Thanks for taking the time to write such a comprehensive post - lots of good points and ideas. I noticed that you had Chipchura down in Hamilton for another year. It will be interesting to see how he does this year and which player (if any) from the present roster gets moved.
Your conclusion says it all for many of us here on HIO.
The Original 24 Cups
I think Lang will be an excellent addition. He has the experience and apparently the hands to go with it. He's not the power forward we so covet but makes up for it with a nose for the net and the talent to score.
We'll now be able to roll 3 scoring lines although this may spell the end for Chipper unless he wants to wait another year.
A. Kost Pleks Kovy
Lats Koivu Tanguay
Higgy Lang S. Kost
Kosto Max BGL
Not a bad off-season, acquiring two front line players for picks. Nice work Bob.
Good signing. Depth at center, right hand shot. 3rd line for sure (he's as quick on his feet as Smolinsky with more offensive upside).
Didn't want to see Brisebois signed, despite his better than expected last season. Room HAS to be made for the young D coming up or there's no point
to inviting them to camp. I'd like to see Fischer given a proper shot to make the team and O'Byrne given more responsibility (#4).
Markov, Komi and Hamrlik are A+. Having Bouillon, Brisebois and Gorges the bottom 3 isn't that good an option. Size and strength are needed in a league of 220lb + forwards.
P.S. I didn't know k.d.'s brother could play hockey. :)
Gilbert
2008/09 is the season of the Habs
I'm not sure what you mean by "given a proper shot to make the team." I expect everyone gets a proper shot to make the team. Management must consider one way/two way contracts of course. If Gorges, for example, has a bad year, you can't just decide to send him to Hamilton without passing waivers. In other words, use him or lose him (or trade him).
But I'm not sure why you are so hot on Fischer. He has no pro experience, much less NHL experience. He's well down the Habs depth chart, according to Hockey's Future. And although he has height, he is under 200 pounds and has had trouble putting on weight. On the other hand, what Brisebois brings is ability on the pp, can move the puck up the ice, lots of experience, a positive influence in the dressing room, and is willing to sit in the press box as a spare part. Plus, he's not too much of a cap hit to be sitting a few games. I hope Fischer can join the team at some point, although with McDonagh, PK Subban, Carle, Weber, and Valentenko all improving and competing, its clear not all will be playing for us and likely some will be traded.
With O'Byrne playing on the second or third defense pair, Brisebois should do fine as a seventh d man. Fischer needs ice time to develop and will get that in Hamilton. For Fischer to make the team, he must beat out Bouillon, O'Byrne or Gorges, not Brisebois, IMHO.
Really like the move, Lang averaged 20 goals and 36 assists per season in his last three years ... with him in the line-up the capacity of our team to generate offence is now officially extended all the way to the third line ... bravo Bob you made my day.
Having true scoring depth not only garantied exciting hochey, it is an insurance policy for when injuries occur to our best players ... it also take away the pressure to score on the selected few thus improving the working climate and performances throught a long season... motivation is not a problem when the 4 top forward veterans will be playing their last contractual season.
His points ratio of 20-36 shows near ideal set of skills for a center,.... good scoring habilities and good playmaking skills to matched.... he is not getting any younger but should bring extra value to our team for this year nonetheless..... he is good at the draw also ( as good as Saku at 54% ).
Huet is not with us anymore but he is still helping us... Chicago wanted him so bad that they went over the cap to get him... now we are getting Robert Lang as a consequense of it.... and just for a second round pick... perfect.
Asute observation about Huet. I hadn't thought of it that way until now. An unintended consequence.
Everyone, hold your excitement:
Tanguay - Lang - Kovy
AKost - Pleks - SKost
Higgins - Koivu - Kosto/Dandy/BGL
Begin - Laps/Chips - Kosto/Dandy/BGL
Markov - Komi
Hammer - Breezer (35 GP) / OB (47 GP)
Cube - Gorgeous Gorges
Price (58 GP)
Halak (24 GP)
I am psyched, probably not the lines, but who cares!
PP lines (?):
Kovy - Koivu - Lang - Markov - Tanguay
Kostitsyns - Pleks - Higgins - Hammer
I like those lines. Pretty much what I was thinking except you forgot latendresse who i think will play with koivu and higgins. I don't know what's going to happen with Dandy but there's no room for him on the habs. I wish his hands were as quick as his feet.
Hey guys, let's cut the B.S. here. Lang couldn't tie up Sundin's skates and everybody on this site knows it. At least Arpon Basu has the smarts to realize that Lang is a 3rd line centre at this point is his career. I agree with Mike that it is the best we could do under the circumstance, but let's not go overboard here. I'm certainly not abandoning ship but you have to feel somewhat deflated by this afternoon's turn of events. You could see it coming a mile away, but still.... Lang instead of Sundin, sleep won't come easy tonight.
Deep Sigh. Plan B it is - let's turn the page and see what happens.
The Original 24 Cups
How about Lang instead of nobody? Seem better yet?
Sundin was not coming. To take your phrase from you, everyone on this site knows it.
Steve - Gainey will sign Sumdin in December and that will be our Xmas present for the Centenial and Lang will shift to RW. You know the cap and a little tinkering and it's a go. 2/3 of Sundin's salary plus a little trimming (Dandy).
I don't know- Gainey's been pretty straighforward throughout this retardedly long process, and if he says Sundin's off the radar, I'm willing to take him at his word. I don't want a guy coming in halfway... and at any rate I doubt Lang would be shifted from his natural position.
I'm happy with the team we have- a balanced, deep team that can roll 3-4 lines.
Sundin will never come to Montreal. How many times do I have to tell people this? He does not want to play for us. His heart is in Toronto!
Let's close the book on this!
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Bryan - What a positive note to end the night on after a very interesting day. A wish to dream on. To be continued....
The Original 24 Cups
I agree, thumbs-up.
Yes, this is the best move. Why have our 100th anniversary Stanley Cup year tainted by having the Laffs captain on the team?
Go Habs Go!
Yeah, I'm happy with this. Let's take what's guaranteed and go kick some butt with it. I was worried, if we went for youth, about the 3rd line centre. But now, whether you call Lang OR Koivu the third line, either way, we'll end up with three scary offensive lines, however they get shuffled. When you add that to LaRoque/Begin/Kostop/Lapierre/Chipchura (pick 3 any given night) as our crash-bang grind line, up front we're looking great.
Defense looks solid - Komi-Markov are as good a 1-2 pair as you'll find, Hamrlik-O'Byrne should be fantastic as O'Byrne enters his sophomore year and Cube and Gorges make a great 5-6. Brisebois as 7th d-man I have no problem with either.
We ought to be set in goal, too, obviously.
So, yeah. Happy. Sundin would have been perfect, but Lang fills a need.
Hmmm... Lang may be only a year older, but at 38 that is a BIG year.
Still a couple of things that are in his favour:
1) He has not had a negative plus/minus season since 1999-2000.
2) He averaged around 26 minutes time on ice over the last couple of seasons. With a more balanced team and a lower work load, his age may well be less of a factor.
3) Last few seasons, he has accrued less than 35% of his points on the power play (important, since he may not see a lot of power play time, though we may want to have him park his big carcass in front of the goalie).
4) Lang is cheaper than Sundin would have been, as Boone already mentioned.
5) Lang's contract expires after this season. As odd as it may sound given his "will I or won't I?" routine, Sundin might have wanted a two-year deal if he elected to return, complicating issues for next season with all of our young guys coming up for new contracts.
We were counting on Sundin for 70+ points, something which would have opened the debate about which center would get "demoted" to the checking line (I know, I know, we don't have a checking line, but you know what I mean). There is no doubt that Lang will be the #3 offensive center on this team.
I see Lang for 40 to 45 points. Of course, I also thought Smolinski would net 35 last season.
Gainey: Genius
Sundin: Swedish for "I'm an idiot"
Mr. Boone,
It's obvious now, following Bob's meeting w Sundin, that Sundin was NEVER going to come to Montreal. Bob waited this one out as long as he could.
My personal view is that Sundin is more of a whimp than a bonafide leader. This may appear harsh but I have tainted it with as much realism as I possibly can. Sundin couldn't overcome what Favre demonstrated when he signed with the Jets: he stated clearly that he was not being a traitor of sorts in going to NY Jets and that he would always remain a Packer in his heart.
Mats' problem is that there is nobody to give him good counsel. Barry spent more time lobbying the ante than counselling Mats. It's one thing to have character and another to be obstinate and closed to a wonderful chance with the Habs.
Bob has turned the page on Sundin. Good for him!
Because the center position was more important than defense (Lang produced good numbers last year 20+ goals and 50+ points) Brisebois is a very good move at 750K. He comes much cheaper than Schneider at 4Mill+. And Bob has a little cap room to spare just in case. The rest is up to Carbo to manage the defensive core much as he did last year. Aside from Komisarek, Markov, Jorges and Hamrlick, the defensive core has a lot to prove this. This means that if O'Byrn, Bouillon et all want to stick around they have to show it on the ice.
As far as your comment on Chipchura and Lapierre fighting it out for 4th line center, not so sure. Chipchura doesn't have an NHL contract while Lapierre has a 3 year. I basically think that Chipchura just may not cut it with the Habs. He was given a good shot last year and basically didn't deliver what was expected of him. Whereas Lapierre showed a lot of spunk and grit, very good speed and this year has bigger size vs last year: +15 lbs I believe.
I believe it's time more objectivity is shown about Chipchura: probably too slow, not so strong at face-offs and needs to show a lot more grit to convince Carbo that he can stick it out. It appears to me that Lapierre won the position last year around December.
Also, we have to keep in mind the level of competition at most positions will multiply exponentially this year and next what with all the youngsters kicking the door down. Players who miss their chances will get shipped out quickly. Current players who don't deliver this, especially the ones with contracts expiring this or next year, have a lot to prove. So many young, talented and inexpensive players coming up at all levels: Junior, USA, Hamilton and Cincinnati. Kind of reminds me of the '86 Habs with the Roys, Lemieux, Richers. Today, its the Kostitsyn bros, Price, Pacioretti (I hope) etc.
A case in point: David Desharnais came out of nowhere last year at the rookie camp and was MVP at the ECHL with the Champion Cincinnati team. He'll be in Hamilton this year. He's 3" shorter than Martin St-Louis and at about the same weight. A lot of talent, desire and spunk. He should be watched closely this year. Reminds me a bit about Bouillon: working his way up one step at a time ready to leap-frog within a year or two.
Now that Lang is signed, for about the same price as Smolinski,we have an experienced, reasonably inexpensive centerman with size and face-off skills that were lacking.
My take on the Habs: first in the NE div, first in the Conference and in the Stanley Cup finals next spring. Players to watch: Price, Komisarek, Kovalev, A. Kostitsyn, Tanguay, Hamerlick, O'Byrn among a few others. Notice we're bigger, faster than last year with no limit, barring injuries.
Attitude, character, talent, speed, good mix and balance, with more room to express all the creativity imaginable and with the 'best' management in the NHL bar none. Remember we also have Pagé, Timmins, the coaching staff in the minors (2 championships in 2 years: AHL and ECHL) in addition to Carbo, Jarvis, Muller and Melanson not to forget the saint trinity of Gillett, Boivin and Gainey. You can't ask for better.
Georges Drouin.
I like the size, I like the strength, I like the faceoff percentage and the righthanded shot. I like the potential 50-60 points. I don't like the softness, age, probability of missing time with nagging injury and somtime lack of commitment. This team needs speed, strength and commitment to winning it all this year. We'll see how this pans out. Whatever happens, I like that it's Lang and Pateryn for Grabs. And, in the big picture, Lang is better than Smolinski.
Oh, and as for brooding good looks, I think Hammer fills the role admirably. Lang kind of looks like he's been drinking cheap wine out of a paper bag and begging for change.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
Agreed for everything, except for the brooding looks. I defer to the wisdom of others on that. ;) But where did he come by his rep for softness? I don't recall seeing that anywhere?
Oh c'mon Chorske, there's no denying that Lang is a handsome man!
I asked Jessica. She still prefers Carbonneau. Must be the ties.
Well Michelle is all over Mad Max Lapierre and his flowing Guy Lafleur-esque locks...
Well... what better place to elevate the passion than in Montreal for the centennial! No, he's not Mats Sundin, but the Habs are better now than they were this morning, and that's what makes Bob one of the best GMs in the NHL.
GOD i can't wait for this season to start... i feel like it's taking forever!