I agree, but I don't think he's "in your face" enough to be an A. That's what Hal Gill has that he doesn't. Like I can't see Plek confront refs, or try to break up a scrum.
Knowing Plekanec, an A on his sweater would mean a ton more pressure on his shoulders.
Everything's fine now, we don't need change in regards of the captaincy. (except maybe that A on Gill's sweater, since he should be bench from time to time.)
I agree, but I don't think he's "in your face" enough to be an A. That's what Hal Gill has that he doesn't. Like I can't see Plek confront refs, or try to break up a scrum.
Confronting a ref is the last thing any player should do.
He has been playing well,but he is one of those players that when everything goes his way he should have an A and just wait for his first five game pointless streak and most people will want to trade him.I do agree with yoy when you say a contract
should be in place.I never could figure that out.Why dont we talk contracts during the hockey year????Are there any other teams that do this???
Even last year when Plex was not that good, he was always trying as hard as he could. He cares about the team and is a tireless worker. But he is too shy to be ans assistant captain IMO... I see him more like a Markov-type player...quiet but effective. There are better options than Plex for this task. He will also be cheaper to re-sign if he does not get a letter
and lets not forget, even when he sucked in a non-contract year he played his heart out every game... not to mention the year before...
Exactly, he always works hard. He is very talented and works hard every shift. He is a GREAT 2 way 2nd line center. I think can even become a PPG player pretty soon. Give him wingers and he can do it right now. Andrei will soon get out of his annual slow start ( not too worried...Damphousse was also known for this...)If he gets injured, people will see how important Plex is for the club.
To replace him via free agency will cost us a lot more than keeping him. We gotta find a way to cut some fat to keep him if needed. Imagine the cost of a center with Plex's skills, speed, work ethic, hockey sense and 2 way play!
I love Plekanec, he's possibly my favorite player on the Habs now (although that's tough to say with Cammalleri and Gionta in the mix), but I agree that he doesn't need the pressure right now, it's unnecessary. That said, I can certainly see him growing into a leadership role if/when he sticks around after awhile and "matures", so to speak. As they say, you don't have to be the most vocal or in your face to be an effective leader.
and lets not forget, even when he sucked in a non-contract year he played his heart out every game... not to mention the year before...
Maybe we have a difference of opinion on what "played his heart out every game" means....he was terrific 2 years ago...but IMO, he played like a p***y throughout the playoffs that year and all of last year. Wasn't skating hard enough and looked shy along the boards, rarely drove to the net, and treated the slot like it was full of land mines.
To be honest I never expected him to recover after last season. I don't know what games you guys were watching, but Pleks looked like **** out there last year, and maybe you think he was trying hard, but imo that was more hype then anything. He made the same mistakes over and over again, bringing the puck in, going behind the net only to lose it. Bone headed passes, and on top of that I don't believe he was working hard as I've seen Pleks when he works hard, he looks a lot better when he works hard then he did last year. Ultimately his mental game effects his ability to work hard imo. I'm very impressed with the turn around he's having and the confidence he is currently gaining, but he seems like the type of guy who will never be 100% consistent. I could be wrong and maybe it was just a bad year, but he gave me that impression last season.
It is too early to tell, as I said, loved what I saw of him so far this season and 2 seasons ago he was epic, also this year you can't really say he's elevated his game because of his linemates like Kovy 2 years ago, because his linemates have either sucked or been rotated all over the place. (or both)
To be honest I never expected him to recover after last season. I don't know what games you guys were watching, but Pleks looked like **** out there last year, and maybe you think he was trying hard, but imo that was more hype then anything. He made the same mistakes over and over again, bringing the puck in, going behind the net only to lose it. Bone headed passes, and on top of that I don't believe he was working hard as I've seen Pleks when he works hard, he looks a lot better when he works hard then he did last year. Ultimately his mental game effects his ability to work hard imo. I'm very impressed with the turn around he's having and the confidence he is currently gaining, but he seems like the type of guy who will never be 100% consistent. I could be wrong and maybe it was just a bad year, but he gave me that impression last season.
It is too early to tell, as I said, loved what I saw of him so far this season and 2 seasons ago he was epic, also this year you can't really say he's elevated his game because of his linemates like Kovy 2 years ago, because his linemates have either sucked or been rotated all over the place. (or both)
He was one of the hardest workers on the team last year. It may not have lasted for the whole season, but it's hard when you're on a team full of other guys who aren't working hard and is losing, and his effort was a lot more consistent than most of the other players on the team. The team culture last year was basically to mail it in after encountering adversity (ie: when Lang went down, or Markov). I honestly think Pleks' problem was a combination lack of luck for Plekanec, and a lack of desire/finish from his linemates. Don't forget who he played with for most of last year.
Edit: After writing all this, I forget that Plekanec had 20 goals last year. The points are coming this year and it's amazing to see, but it's not like his effort wasn't getting him anywhere last year. On a terrible team full of underachievers, he still managed to make his effort relevant somehow. Sure he had a bad season, but I think his continued effort and the success coming with it is proof that last year's bad season was more a reflection of the team than the player.
