Patrick

[Patrick @PatrickET]

huge for the narrative

[B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce]

NIK EHLERS, THE CANES SCORE 25 SECONDS INTO GAME 1 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL 🚨

[Patrick @PatrickET]

@mndamico @MurphysLaw74 That’s my point.

Matheson’s issue isn’t his skating or athleticism. It’s the mistakes and defensive lapses that happen regularly.

If those mistakes are happening at 32, why should I expect them to disappear at 37?

Cap growth doesn’t turn bad deals into good ones.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

@MurphysLaw74 Leadership is great. You don’t hand out 5-year contracts because someone gives good interviews.

Every bad contract looks fine the year it’s signed. That’s kind of the point.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

chris paul cuts the lead to 42

[Gino Hard @GinoHard_]

Cole Caufield FINALLY breaks the shutout and cuts the deficit to 4 for the Habs 🚨

[Patrick @PatrickET]

@demidovslafsuz They were tactically outmatched. They also are extremely soft and got bullied.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

The Canadiens proved they’re legit.

They also exposed their biggest flaws.

🧵Thread:

[Alex Moretto @alexjmoretto]

Recency bias will fuel some awful takes about how the Habs “didn’t deserve” to be in the Conference Finals.

The reality is they’re the youngest team in the NHL and shattered preseason expectations on their way to 106 points. They went toe-to-toe with the best team in the East in Round 1 and won, then did it again in Round 2.

Their reward for coming out of the Atlantic Division gauntlet in 14 gruelling games (+5 OTs) was a Canes team that needed just 8 games to beat two borderline playoff teams on their way to the ECF. The Habs were still two overtime losses away from leading the series through three games before eventually hitting a wall. They completely ran out of gas and the Canes stepped on their throats.

They got steamrolled in the end, but anyone saying they didn’t deserve to be there is lying to you and themselves. Tough end to a fun run, but a great experience for a young group that’s arrived ahead of schedule and showed us why the future should be incredibly exciting.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

@Tiekv1004 Were we saying that in 2021 or 2025?

[Patrick @PatrickET]

As mad as everyone is, this was a great season for Montreal. The future is bright, but the work isn’t done.

Improve the defensive structure by moving on from Robidas, add defensive help on the blue line, and find a legitimate 2C.

Kent Hughes has work to do.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

I don’t blame Hughes for standing pat at the deadline, but he has work to do:

Get a 2C.

Get a shutdown defenceman.

Get tougher.

[Patrick @PatrickET]

I think MSL is an excellent communicator, motivator and culture-builder.

What concerns me is the lack of in-game adjustments.

The question isn’t whether he’s a good coach.

It’s whether he’s the coach that eventually brings the Cup back.