Montreal Line-Combos?

**BrianSTC** · September 13, 2008, 2:59 PM

How will the Lang trade affect Montreal\'s lines?

**ericdaoust** · September 13, 2008, 3:02 PM

My opinion:

Tanguay - Lang - Kovalev (big time potential)
AK - Plekanec - SK (playoff chemistry)
Higgins - Koivu - Laraque
Begin - Lapierre - Latendresse

**Bass56** · September 13, 2008, 4:04 PM

I see the lines being more:

A.K - Plek - Kovalev
Tanguay - Koivu - S.K
Higgins - Lang - Latendresse
Kostopoulos (Begin) - Lapierre - Laraque

**Shao** · September 13, 2008, 4:59 PM

I mostly agree with Bass56.

They won\'t break up the first line yet.

SK will go to third probably with Lang shifting over. Check the homepage for Dobber\'s view.

**Ari** · September 13, 2008, 5:08 PM

Bass56 wrote:

I see the lines being more:

A.K - Plek - Kovalev
Tanguay - Koivu - S.K
Higgins - Lang - Latendresse
Kostopoulos (Begin) - Lapierre - Laraque

I think this is how it will end up, but I think they will first try out

Tanguay - Lang- Kovalev
AK - Plek - SK
Higgins - Koivu - Latendress
Kostopolos/Begin - Lapierre - Laraque

Man Lapierre and Laraque on the 4th line is going to be so sick, Lapierre is a very underrated pest imo and now he won\'t have to hold back

**ridinryan44** · September 13, 2008, 5:23 PM

No way Lang becomes a first line center.

AK/Tanguay - Plekanec - Kovalev
Ak/Tnaguay - Koivu - Higgins
S.Kost - Lang - Latendresse/Lapierre

Those are the one\'s that matter!

**ericdaoust** · September 13, 2008, 5:41 PM

Realistically, Carbonneau likes to change lines often when the team is slacking or when a player doesn\'t have his head in the game. Things will change lots over the course of the year.

I wouldn\'t say the Lang trade affects players a lot individually, but collectively the team got better.

**natgeo** · September 13, 2008, 7:01 PM

Personally, I see the Lang trade creating a 2a and 2b line. Here\'s how I see it looking to start, but I also think Carbs will change things up throughout the year:

1. AK - Plekanec - Kovalev
2a. SK - Koivu - Tanguay
2b. Latendresse - Lang - Higgins

I agree with Dobber in that this trade will benefit either SK or Higgins, because Lang is a viable third centre who will mean the third line (or 2b line) gets more ice time.

**Qube** · September 14, 2008, 12:33 AM

I\'m really looking forward to the start of the season.
Habs are looking good...yeah baby!
More skills & size.. woohoo!

\"I\'m so excited and I just can\'t hide it
I\'m about to lose control and I think I like it
I\'m so excited and I just can\'t hide it\"

**mister_mcgoo** · September 14, 2008, 1:08 AM

you people saying Lang will be the first line center either own him or need your heads examined, when you have koivu and plekanec why would you want to do that? Montreal is good for getting the most out of their guys so I expect them to exploit Lang all season but his time spent on the top 2 lines and PP will be due to casual line juggling, not the norm.

**Atomic Wedgy** · September 14, 2008, 2:56 AM

Qube wrote:

\"I\'m so excited and I just can\'t hide it
I\'m about to lose control and I think I like it
I\'m so excited and I just can\'t hide it\"

You can\'t go quoting the Pointer Sisters on a fantasy hockey website forum. You just can\'t...

**Stephane Richer** · September 14, 2008, 8:20 AM

I agree with the Bass perspective on the lineup as well as Wedgy\'s observation.
Latendresse claims he worked really hard this summer. He figures he could lose his place in the lineup to Max Pacioretti. According to La Presse, the Habs should have a long look at this guy who they convinced to sign a contract after a single season in the University ranks.
See link (in French):
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20.../1002/CPSPORTS

**Bass56** · September 14, 2008, 10:03 AM

In the Pacioretti case, I see him challenging for a spot this year, but unless of some major slacking by a couple of current habs, I just don\'t see him bumping anyone. Injuries early on during training camp might help his chances, but I\'m pretty sure his time to crack the roster is next year. I can see him bumping Begin/Kostopoulos or even Latendresse (baring a bad 2008-09 season) in 2009/10.

Hmmm gets me thinking just how far Montreal has come from... Less than 10 years ago, the names Brian Savage, Andreas Dackell, Mariusz Czerkawski and Chad Kilger were all associated with their top lines... Wow, what a huge difference a change in GM can make (i.e. Bob Gainey)!

**mister_mcgoo** · September 14, 2008, 10:07 AM

i like Guilluame but I own Pacioretty in 2 leagues so I\'d definitely like to see him playing soon. I think Latendresse is fairly safe this year though, the Habs need his size and checking ability.

**ericdaoust** · September 14, 2008, 11:10 AM

My opinion about having Lang on the top line isn\'t about me saying he\'s better than Koivu and Plekanec, but rather my opinion that I think Carbonneau will try to balance the lines to maximize production from 3 different lines.

If my lineup projections end up being wrong, I\'m fine with it, they\'re my team and if they win I don\'t care if Youppi is the 1st line C.

As a side note, the way Carbo juggles lines, we\'ll probably see everyone\'s lineup projections at some point during the season. Maybe we could keep a count (just for fun) to see how many games happen with each proposed lineup.

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