It was a great year for the Habs. I for one did not foresee Habs reaching the conference final this year with this team. The odds were always against us in every round. Confronting the Flyers, a team with depth at every skill position (forwards, dmen and goalie) and sandpaper grit was always going to be an insurmountable task for this current version of Habs. This series exposed the real problem facing the Habs on the ice: lack of leadership. We are the only team in the NHL that doesn't have a designated captain-instead we have three alternates. The lack of a star centreman was glaringly obvious. Goaltending and Camalleri won the Habs couple of series but the coaching stuff and players could not break the Flyers left wing lock for most of the series. Leighton was there the few times Habs could generate shots from the slot. The find of the playoffs for the Habs has been the play of P. K. Subban. No doubt in my mind, he will start with the Habs next year.
Habs have lot of UFAs and RFAs to be signed. The rumours are that Pierre Gauthier will sign Plekanec to a multi year deal. Halak will most certainly be signed after a Roy-esque showing during the playoffs. To sign both Plekanec and Halak, each will have to be paid at least 5 millions which will leave very little money to sign the rest of the UFAs as 44.5 millions are already committed to 14-15 players. This all translates to over-dependence on the rapid growth and maturation of young talents in the organization and that plan has the recipe for potential disaster. I don't like the way the management's painting this rosey image of the team. Habs got lucky with the goaltending, faced two teams who were stubborn (because they had great players) and refused to get down and dirty, when confronted by a physically intimating team who were equally as prepared to sacrifice their bodies, all the skaters capitulated.
I am a realist and I know damn well that if Scott Gomez and Plekanec are the centres Habs have to rely upon to bring them to the promised land, the dream of winning 24th SC will live for years to come. I am a fan of Carey Price but Habs have to trade him to get some offensive help.
The SC finals this year as a result of the Flyers advancing won't be contested by two original six teams. It will feature the speed of Chicago vs. the grit of the Flyers. My prediction: Chicago wins 4-2. Chicago has greater depth, faster forwards and the best 1,2 defense pairing in the league in Seabrook and Duncan Keith. If Niamey plays to his potential, Chicago will hoist the cup with relative ease.
Last edited by Ishtylish cricketer; May 26, 2010 at 08:55 AM..
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