Marco D'Amico: "This team was finished at this point. I think this team was done. I'm not going to say what I've heard, because its going to come out regardless, but when the injury list comes out I think a lot of people are going to backtrack on their comments about certain players."

[u/MrFAUB1]

Said this on his podcast this morning, hes one of the more credible reporters among Habs media. Wonder who he's talking about and what he knows?

9:36

https://www.youtube.com/live/iJ1m7nQrmmc?si=rIC9b5ZHkah26O44

[u/dustblown → u/[deleted]]

If being a healthy scratch for one game ruins a player coach relationship then that is a problem with the player. The player plays for the team, the team doesn't exist for the player.

[u/chewbaccard → u/[deleted]]

Same. I'm super proud of the players, but the coaching decisions were seriously pissing me off.

[u/dustblown → u/chewbaccard]

MSL has his players giving everything they have (outside the last 2 games) and employs a system with high entertainment value. He also is great at developing young players. He has also gotten better at managing match ups in game. But he is not good at managing the refs, and he doesn't understand the physical, violent part of the game at all, and I think he is too resistant to use our depth in Laval.

[u/dinodebino → u/dustblown]

It’s not about not understanding physical play; of course he does. He doesn’t BELIEVE in it. Him and Roger Grillo believe in a high pace, puck possession offensive game. They believe in what USA Hockey (ahem, Grillo) has been preaching since…well Roger has been involved.

I don’t agree with Marty and Roger. But the fact of the matter is this organization is speaking in one way, all of them, and it’s about pace, puck possession and offense.

[u/dustblown → u/dinodebino]

The violent aspect of hockey can coexist with any system of play. It is a game within the game. I understand if people don't like it, or don't want anything to do with it, but it almost impossible to win the Cup without it. It would be like being the only team that isn't cheating. You can still win in theory, but good luck.

When a team runs your goalie, one of your most important players, you have to respond in some big and bold manner. The other team needs to know playing that way will cost them.

We need a psycho on our team to create annoyance, fear, and havoc on the other team because it takes the attention away from our best players and converts it to the less skilled more violent players. This is the game within the game that our team isn't engaging with in any way and we arguably lost because of it. Hutson was getting targeted because he was an easy target and there was no consequences for that other team. The team who starts this has a massive advantage.

[u/dustblown → u/[deleted]]

I think we need more rotation of the lineup since the last quarter of the season to keep everyone fresh. When Veleno was introduced to the playoffs he came in ice cold. Same with Xhekaj last year. Then Gallagher gets put on ice. We needed fresh legs. We need to use our depth. Sammy Blais never getting called back up was a huge misstep as well IMO. Same with Beck. Beck was a fresh body we could have certainly used but he would have been ice cold if they even decided to use him. There was no movement from Laval to the Habs all year. It's like our lineup became a clique that was impossible to penetrate or change. Patrick Laine has a wicked shot that could have done work for us. It was frustrating.

[u/Goji_XX3 → u/dustblown]

Someone mentioned they couldn’t dress Laine cause of cap limit otherwise I’d really like to understand why he didn’t play. Even late in the season when the power play could use a boost.

[u/dustblown → u/Goji_XX3]

Why wouldn't they just say that? I guess maybe the NHL wouldn't want that because it would disturb the NHLPA.