Written by Habsterix, AllHabs.net
After the long wait to finally see Jacques Martin fired, Habs’ General Manager Pierre Gauthier has now put the season in his players’ hands.
Penticton, BC – No more excuses will be tolerated from fans and management as it is now time for the likes of Michael Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Scott Gomez, P.K. Subban and Brian Gionta to start producing at the pace that should be expected from them.
One of the biggest culprits so far has been Cammalleri whose six goals and minus-4 rating just won’t cut it anymore, not when commanding $6 million per season. Playing on a line with the team’s number one center for the most part, he has looked frustrated and disinterested at times and this is not expected from a guy known for his feistiness.
It would be easy to look at Tomas Plekanec’s points total and feel happy with his production. I’d like to know however where is the Plekanec of 2009-10? I recently wrote an article about the way Jacques Martin used him, trying to perhaps help justify his lower than anticipated offensive output and from the first game under Cunneyworth, playing over five minutes short-handed, it looks like he will remain in that role. But Plekanec is the number one center on this team and it is now time for him to really turn it on by racking up the points.
One thing has been very obvious by watching Brian Gionta play this year: he doesn’t have the acceleration he normally has. For a small forward using speed as his main component in his game, this groin injury has a huge impact on him. In spite of that, he still managed eight goals so far this season and here’s hoping that he can heal that injury and come back with a strong second half of the season.
Second year jinx? I don’t buy it when it comes to P.K. Subban’s play so far this season. He looks mentally tired and he’s not performing at the level we could expect from him after an excellent first season. He shoots when he should be passing, he passes when there is no play to be made. Yes he takes some chances but that’s his style and he was doing it last year. One thing that was noticeable in the first game under Randy Cunneyworth though is that he didn’t play as much short-handed. I like this approach as he is saving his energies for the power-play and for even strength. Perhaps he’s one who will benefit from the coaching change.
Scotty, Scotty, Scotty. What to do with you? All the good words after the teams elimination last year, taking part of the blame, then more good words at camp saying that you’ve trained harder than ever this past summer… it’s resulted in little effort and production. His current injury has just shown management that Desharnais has now passed him on the depth chart (I can believe I just wrote that) and that Gomez has become expendable. But who in their right mind would take him, even to get to the cap floor next year? There are better alternatives out there. AHL? That’s a lot of money for Mr. Molson to fork out. Buy out? It’s out of the question. Now what? Pray and hope Gomez returns to shape and a team bites on a trade.
Josh Gorges faced the media and said that the players now have to be better. Time to put up or face the music.
En français: Canadiens: Temps de passer de la parole aux actes
Good write up.
Plekanec – He has never been a goal scorer. He’s been constant in goal production over the last five years. He’s now in a similar situation as he was a few years ago when Kovalev and his others wingers weren’t producing, it’s hard to rack up points when the guys you set up don’t pot one in.
Cammalleri – I have no clue what’s going on with him.
Subban – Management has managed to suck the life right out of him. When was the last time you saw him smile out there? He’s not having any fun right now. He needs structure, yes. But he needs to be able to express myself and be creative, even if it means making a mistake every now and then.
Gionta – Given this injury, that he’s been dealing with for months now, I’ll wait.
Gomez – Maybe he trained a little too hard this summer? Like it or not, especially now given that Habs finances will take a hit with Martin’s contract still on the books, he’s here to stay. Hope he makes the best of it.
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