What a fine mess

What a fine mess the habs are in.

This playoff series versus the Rangers exposed the Habs. They had one good game the whole series. In fact at home they played poorly all three games and just pulled out a win in game 2 when scoring in the last few seconds. Does anyone really expect the habs to be competitive in the next few years? There was the excuse last year that Carey Price was injured. The supposed distraction in the dressing room that was PK Subban had been traded for all Canadian defenseman Shea Weber. Well at least we did have a decent  regular season finishing first even though the annual dog day swoon led to Therrien's firing.

The first round of the playoffs exposed the habs' weaknesses. And god there are many.

First off the myth that is Carey Price. He is an above average goaltender but please he is not the greatest goalie of all time as some Montreal pundits were extolling. He has not been the difference maker in most playoff years. He has not led an average team to the Cup like Patrick Roy did twice, or Ken Dryden did in 1971, or Martin Brodeur did several times, or even Bernie Parent did with the flyers. The myth had been created with his Team Canada stints when he had a talent laden team in front of him. He has been outplayed in the playoffs by Lundquist, Bishop, Anderson, and even Tim Thomas.

Second, who exactly do the habs have at center? What is clear is that Plekanec is a shot player, his mobility has slowed down to a turtleneck pace this year. He had a couple of good games in the first round but the last two games exposed him again as he could not keep pace. Phil Danault had a good year but the first round exposed him as well. He is not offensively talented and he should be a third line center. In fact the habs have a great future third line  with Danault, Shaw and Byron.

Third, the habs have been poor in developing their youth. The not ready for prime time players Galchenyuk and Beaulieu have shown no progress after five years. Galchenyuk was the missing link, the number one center that would resolve this issue once and for all. He simply has shown no willingness or cajones to take the lead. He is disasterously inconsistent and watching him in the first round he seems duty-bound to make one poor decision after another. So now what, his bridge contract is up. When Subban had a bridge contract he won the Norris. Galchenyuk has shown nothing to allow the habs to sign him long term for big bucks. However, what options do the habs have at center? How can anyone blame Pacioretty for not scoring when he has never played with a number one center? How many goals would he get with a Crosby or Tavares setting him up?

The brain farting Nathan Beaulieu is another major disappointment who is as inconsistent as Galchenyuk and is just as bad in his decision making. Mike McCarron has not progressed either. They have shown that the coaching staff in the Habs organization have no idea how to develop young players. The two young players that have shown promise this past year, Lehkonen and Danault were not developed in the Habs organization.

The habs are now stuck with a plethora of aging slow veterans. Markov had a superb regular season but once again in the playoffs as most players shift to a higher gear, he showed he did not have a second gear. What to do with Benn, Mitchell, King, Ott, and the highly paid Plekanec? The Rangers proved that the habs veterans did not have the legs to keep up. So then why not bring up the young guys? Other than  Hudon or  Scherbak, the habs have little in the ahl. Sergachev could prove to be a diamond in the rough but he was less than impressive in the World Juniors.

Yes the future is bleak.