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Lineups for Sunday
posted by Kevin Mio at 9h23 EST on Sep 21
Team B is made up of Carey Price, Cédrick Desjardains and Loïc Lacasse in goal, with Andrei Markov,
Mike Komisarek, Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Carle, Alex Henry, Shawn Belle and P.K. Subban.
Up front,
you'll see:
Christopher Higgins, Saku Koivu, Matt D'agostini
Guillaume Latendresse, Robert Lang,
Alex Kovalev
Gregory Stewart, Kyle Chipchura, Tom Kostopoulos
James T. Wyman, Brock Trotter, Thomas Beauregard
Olivier Latendresse, Ryan Russell, Mike Glumac
Ryan White
The two groups practice at 11 a.m., before a scrimmage at 12:30.
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Any one see the drills this morning?
Is it just me, or did Kovy-Lang-Lats show some obvious chemistry in the 3 on 2 drills?
They also had loads of chemistry in game!
However, the line combination shake down come opening night, and the possibilities are endless, I really want Koivu to have at least one of the Kostitsyns and/or Tanguay, preferably 2 of these 3 players on his line. The only combo I have seen suggested that I don't like the sounds of is Koivu with Latts and Higgy. Saku should have one other really creative/gifted forward to work with. I have no problems with one of Higgy or Latts but not both. And to be honest I think it's time to separate Koivu and Higgins. I think if the team really wants to see what Higgins can do, he should play with a new center and be forced to reassess his habits.
My preference would be to see: A. Kostitsyn-Koivu-Tanguay... it would be devastating.
Confidence A Key For Higgins
Translated from Marc de Foy's article in today's Journal de Montreal
http://wwwrealitycheckeyesontheprize.blogspot.com/2008/09/confidence-key...
2 cents - I'm with you and i've seen enough of the Saku and Higgy act as they play like individuals together.
Me too... people talk off chemistry with them but, I don't really see it. Koivu has had a long line off players who are somewhat one dimensional offensively through the years but very few players who can match his playmaking and create magic with him. Savage, even Rechi, Zednik, Ryder, Higgins... Rucinsky is the only one that had some of that, that I can think of.(or when he's played with a motivated Kovy) Koivu's play on the power play has shown what can happen when he is paired with someone who can create too. I think having a Tanguay or S. Kost. opens all sort of options in Koivu's game. A. Kost. would be a more than a happy recipient of all the setups. As for Higgins, it would mean that he would really have to show what he is made of, which is what is needed in a contract year.
tc - Higgy and Pleks played well together in Hamilton and Tanguay would make a nice line and let Saku play with the Tit's brothers who have chemistry and let Lang and Kovy carry Lats. There are many options for Carbo but he has a tendency to always go back to his thoughts even if they didn't work in the past. Give Saku a break.
Your right, I forgot about Pleks and Higgins playing well together in Hamilton. Another solid reason to try something like this out. I would be real happy with that setup too. In fact it might be the one that better balances things. It could be really rejuvenating for Saku, playing a full season with the enthusiastic S. Kost. and the super talented A. Kost. It would be just the type of fun that Koivu was talking about having the other day. The fun he said he stuck around for and it would help us get closer to his other motivation for staying put.
tc - Good for a try for at least two periods, lol.
nm_49, I know what you are saying but, the players' performances could force his hand... to not play it, that is. :)
tc - I hope so but with any injury or suspension etc. he'll go back to it , at least last year he did.
To be fair, suspensions and injuries can justify the tinkering. It is important to maintain some scoring balance during those periods. Also, despite the number of goals put up by the team, it was only the A.Kost.-Pleks-Kovy line that scored consistently all year long and he kept them together for the most part during the season. Of course, that can be looked at both ways. The tinkering could have contributed to the lack of consistency for those on the other three lines. What I hope is that he shows a better balance with it this year and is more deliberate and precise when he mixes things up. Also, as I said before I am hoping the players offer less reasons to experiment ie: there is more chemistry and consistency across the lines.
What i was talking about was his love affair with the Higgy and Saku duo , he'd split them and Saku's new mates played well and were gelling but an injury would cause him to shuffle and every time that happened Higgy ended back with Saku again. he uses any excuse to get his way.
Right, I get what you are saying now and you might be right.
a.kost-koivu-tanguay sounds good...didn't even think of that one.
To round out my previous thought...
A.Kost.-Koivu-Tanguay
Latts-Lang-Kovalev
Higgins-Pleks-S.Kost.
...I really like the looks of this but, it's not very likely.
As Carbonneau mentioned, the real battle will be for a position will take place on the 4th line.
As much as a Begin-Lapierre-Laraque line could cause sparks, certain variables need consideration including other players in the lineup having much to offer. IMO its more a case of using the appropriate player at the appropriate time. I think we will see Guy doing this seeing as he likes to play around with his trios on the fly.
Begin is a warrior and gives 110% but for the physical role he plays, he's been showing signs of wear noteably due to injuries. I love what a guy like Gregory Stewart brought. This kid came out of nowhere last season and was excellent in all 3 or so games. He had 3 scoring chances in a single game, was a quick and fluid skater not to mention was hitting as well. He plays left wing so an obvious replacement when Begin gets tired down the stretch.
Pacioretty would be nice but 1. 4th line duty isnt his role and 2. making him play such a role with very limited ice time will only hinder his development. I say Patches needs a year with Hamilton.
Lapierre, now I love this kids speed and his drive for the net, he's a real instigator but what about Chipchura ? Chips is a 1st rounder & Gainey said this was his spot to lose so. Less quick than Lapierre, he is a solid 2 way guy, perfect for this kind of line. This is a shutdown line.
Laraques' use i think will be more situational. That is, although he does have the skill to play, his role is essentially as an enforcer. If there isnt any enforcing to do then ? ... because if there's one guy I have always had praise for, its Tom Kostopoulos. The man did fantastic at his job last season and what a surprise in the playoffs. I think he earned a spot on the right wing.
Personally I think Dandenault is out. I dont understand why Gainey didnt let him go other than keeping him as backup for injuries. Same goes for Brisebois. Keeping a guy like him warming the bench "just in case" is better than dettering the development of a kid like Valentenko. Surely he will be called up but he is better off logging in big minutes with the Bulldogs.
So ideally I say Begin-Chipchura-Kostopoulos, same as last year minus Smolinski. Stewart as backup on the LW. Kosto on the RW replaced by Laraque when the going gets tough.
What to do with Lapierre ?! Maybe some kind of alternating system of centers. When you need speed go with him, when you need sound defensive play use Chips ... I'll gladly leave that dilema to coach Carbo.
Go Habs Go
In Bob We Trust !
perc - Very nice post and i agree with most of your ideas and i am in Stewart's corner but one meaningless game proves little but he did shine. My idea of Big Georges is entirely different than yours as i think he's our justice and will see ice time on many lines. Any line that starts playing soft or all the lines start being perimeter boys will see George lining up with them , as he did with the Pens , and he doesn't look out of place at all and gets a lot of space. Georges will also be around when teams take advantage of our small centers and elite players but that's a given. We will see a lot of Big George this season.
love your 4th line but i would love them to suit up Laraque as much as possible.
other than that, can't argue with these 3 guys playing together.
While it's still training camp, I'd like to see Andrei Kost. paired with Koivu, just to see if that would produce...then you can REALLY screw around with the lines if it did.
So since Begin-Lapierre-Laraque are lined up together does that mean Chipchura and Kostopolous are on the outside looking in? It's interesting that Lang & Kovalev are lining up together right off the bat too. I really like the idea of Latendresse on the wing with them too. I'm sure they'll change the lines a lot before the season starts, but if this is what they have in mind:
Latendresse-Lang-Kovalev
Higgins-Koivu-Tanguay
AK46-Plekanec-SK74
Begin-Lapierre-Laraque
WHAT A DEADLY LINEUP!!!!!!!!
... me likey.
Nothing means anything on the first days of camp, but I'd guess that a Lapierre, Begin, and Laraque line would have a certain symetry. Think about it, would you want to play against a line like that! Opposing team's players would be timid as hell.
Chips, Tom the Bomb, and Dandy would be injury fill ins, as it should be.
Robert L,don't count out young Stewart, Valentinko "spelling?"or some else coming out and blowing the doors open for a spot.I would love to see it happen and it sure would make things very interesting....
Interesting to note that Begin-Lapierre-LaROCK have a natural connection in that they are all French as well.
Precisely the lineup I would ice were I in control.
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You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger!
Herb...check your email.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
Don't see anything from you in there J.T., checked both addresses you know of as well as junk mail folder. Try replying to the email thread on gmail where you were telling me about going to see Bob Gainey speak.
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You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger!
X - Actually those lines look pretty attractive.
Latendresse Continues To Impress, Joins Kovalev Lang Line
http://wwwrealitycheckeyesontheprize.blogspot.com/2008/09/latendresse-co...
Article transcribed from François Lemenu column in today's La Presse
Carbo tips his hat , Tanguay on RW means SK74 on the 3rd line , Marky and Komo paired together again , Lapierre playing with Begin and Laraque and of course Saku with Higgy and his boy Lats taken care of. I certainly hope that he experiments with different 'D' pairings during the exibition games to familiarize our 'D' with different partners. It's couldn't be earlier but it shows how Carbo thinks and we know how stubborn he is on his own thoughts.