Eight minutes into overtime, Anze Kopitar scores a spectacular breakaway goal to give Los Angeles a hard-earned win.
The Kings are a mind-boggling 9-0 on the road in the playoffs.
Colin Fraser and Anton Volchenkov had scored during regulation time.
The game was not a classic.
Each team went through long periods of not being able to generate a shot on goal.
Kopitar’s winner – a brilliant individual effort – was the consequence of errors by defencemen Marek Zidlicky and Bruce Salvador, both of whom were caught up ice by the Jason Williams pass that sprung Kopitar.
L.A. outshot the home team 25-18.
Hits outnumbered shots and were 44-35 in favour of New Jersey.
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is Patrick Roy officially out of the running? does anyone know?
Au contraire, he’s now the leading candidate.
Know what? I told you so that Eklund is a fraudster!!!!
He put e4 on Hartley to Montreal rumor!!!!
See? That is just BS that he made up!
“I can speak Italian, Russian and English obviously,” Galchenyuk, who considers himself American, said at Tuesday’s NHL Draft Combine. “I used to speak French, but I forgot it.”
- Alex Galchenyuk, from the article posted by Boone
DRAFT THAT MAN, He (somewhat) knows french!!
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“How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” -Jacques Plante
When you speak 3 languages picking up a 4th is easy.
Alex Galchenyuk is American born and has lived in several European countries,I understand.
NorthTOHab
If he knew who to speak it once it won’t be to hard to pick it up again, especially when you can already speak 3 other languages.
He’s my pick!
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397255
Apparently if you play on the right team you can call the refs whatever you want and get away with it
Way to go NHL…
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“How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” -Jacques Plante
Especially if you’re multilingual, as Galchenyuk appears to be.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Bob Hartley to Calagry!
YEA!
HIO upset me for nothing.
NorthTOHab
PLEASE NOT THERRIEN !!!!!!!! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Agreed. Talk about retreads. Arrrrrgggghhhhh! It could also mean Mario T slipping back into the picture as well. Double aaaarrrggghh!
It would be like flippin’ the bird at Saint Patrick. Not cool.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
@TSNBobMcKenzie
Now that Bob Hartley is new head coach in CGY – official release momentarily – MTL job is down to Michel Therrien or Marc Crawford.
I have to hope there are some other secret candidates no one is aware of…
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
But, but, but Hartley was our guy! How could the Flames do that!! All those unilingual coaches out there and they took OUR GUY!
Oh, Patrick …
Is Suter really that good?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
in a word…yes
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
By which I mean as good as Lidstrom?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Not a chance.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Listrom = future hall of famer
Suter = not even close to there yet
Kind of hard to compare the two, no?
1st Ballot
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“It just goes to show how difficult predictions are, especially ones made about the future.”
RGM
***Habs Forever***
Lidstrum is the like the Crosby of Defense
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
I think he and Weber make each other better. Alone they’ll still be great, but not as great as together. I hope he stays in Nashville.
Hartley to the Flames. Thank God.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
TSN has confirmed it. Now if Michelle T gets the job I think I will be sick to my stomach. I am not a fan of his
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
Well from the way the idiots on L’Antichmabre were frothing at the mouth, it MUST be Crawford.
Maudit tete carre!!
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
who knows my man. Time will tell. I don’t think they are in any rush
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
hartley to the flames
Seems so, yeah.
http://www.985sports.ca/hockey/nouvelles/bob-hartley-a-choisi-les-flames-de-calgary-147447.html
http://tvasports.ca/tvasports/hockey/archives/2012/05/20120531-111629.html
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397296
to add to your links
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
Suter would make sense in Detroit, but its not a replacement.
Lidstrom is the best defenceman since Bobby Orr.
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
It seems odd that Lidstrom never won the Hart trophy.
Since Orr won 3 Harts in a row at the start of the 70s, only once has a Dman won the Hart (Pronger in 2000). Also, Orr was the first Dman since 1944 to win the Hart. I guess they don’t like to give the Hart to Dmen.
What? Lidstrom retired? Quick trade’m Kaberle!
Happy Birthday John “Bonzo” Bonham.
He would have been 64 today. sigh
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
I saw his sons band “Bonham” open up for the Cult at the Forum years ago.
I saw some of it on youtube. I love that he does When the Levee Breaks.
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
It was a cool show, he had a habs jersey on and the crowd went nuts.
I just wish Zep could do one tour with Jason. If not, at least release the O2 concert on DVD or Blu-ray.
Give me my Zeppelin fix!!
Btw, I mixed up concerts. The one I saw on Youtube is Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience at Metropolis.
This one : Bonham
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
My cousin has been and still is known to all his friends as Bonzo. You may be the only person I know who has exceeded his passion for Led Zeppelin
I’m a Zeppelin fan. I’m not one of those that can spout off every members info. The only b-day that I know easily is Plant’s. That’s because his is two days after mine.
Your cousin sounds like a devout Zep fan. I like him without even knowing him.
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
Who?
(Just kidding!!!)
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☞ “Wow, that’s a nice lookin’ pair of Crocs!” Said no one ever.☜
I can’t resist, so money:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEG0buzCceQ
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Bring on zee Fembaahhts!!
Love it!
I like the fact we see Jason playing the skins when he was younger. Bonzo looks sooo young there. sigh
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
The awesomeness of the performance aside, my two favourite moments are:
The manic look on his face when he’s playing pool.
Those skinny jeans and the boots on his (wife?), when they’re walking down the country lane. I’m easily amused….. .
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Bring on zee Fembaahhts!!
Also, him doing construction work and when he’s trying to move the cow, the look on his face.
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
So sad. So much talent, gone way too soon.
Just imagine all the songs and amazing drum solos we ve missed out on the last 30 years. double sigh….
That’s also how I feel about Hendrix. Imagine the stuff he would have put out. Then there’s Morrison…
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“Bring it on home, Bring it on home to you…” – Plant/Page
Bring it on Home
Happy birthday, one of my favorite drummers of all time.
“not a classic” was exceedingly generous. That may have been the dullest hockey game ever played.
A good read on Grigorenko, especially for all the “haters”
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Mikhail+Grigorenko+tries+fight+back/6704375/story.html
Seems like a good kid to me.
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
I’m not sure who to take in the draft. I trust Timmons and Bergevin will make the best choice possible for our team. Unfortunately, I fear with us picking so high there will be plenty of “we could’ve had ‘player x’ but we took ‘player y’ instead.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
That’s what you get for coming to this place. Even if Habs don’t pick Grigorenko, it was a nice read, and the kid seems smart and shows the kind of determination you wanna see in a highly ranked prospect.
I wish I could read more interviews like this one with the top prospects.
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
He seems a bit irritated by the blather. This might make him more motivated, whether motivation is a problem or not.
I want Galchenyuk, but I’d still be happy with Grigorenko or Forsberg.
While it’s true that you can never have enough great D prospects, it’s also true that at some point you need an elite offensive guy. And this might be our best chance to get him. So I say go with the risk and pick a forward.
Problem is not Grigorenko or Galchenyuk both are prospects.Could be 4 or 5 years before they develop.
The problem is the press and the fans who demand immediate
salvation.
He is 18 years old. Given time he may be a major contributor.
NorthTOHab
So, twitter is a flutter with rumors that Luongo will be a laff before draft day. Not sure how I feel about that, but I digress. I come to ask ye olde HIO experts what should Van expect in return for Lu? Personally, I hope Tor overpays out the whazoo.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
Not sure Toronto will treat Bobby Lou any better, the expectations would be quite high for him there too.
He’s a great player, and he should command a great return, but his contract could be a negative.
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
I’ve read that Burke is gonna try and sign Vokoun.
I don’t know how Burke sells Vokoun to the Toronto fans and media as any upgrade. He was terrible in Washington.
I can see Luongo coming to Toronto for Schenn and something. Burke will do everything he can to include Komisarek, but don’t see Vancouver biting on that.
Don’t forget the high draft pick TO has – it may be in play here as well. Stupid as a long term move, but Burkie needs results NOW or he will be looking for a new job shortly.
__________________________
☞ “Wow, that’s a nice lookin’ pair of Crocs!” Said no one ever.☜
Toronto fans are sheep, they can be sold anything Burke tells them. Every year they sign a new goalie or some college kid and Leaf fans bray on about how he is gonna be the second coming.
Believe it or not Habso, they are nearing their breaking point. Maybe not the ones who get tix through corp. season tickets, but the vocal ones on the airwaves are fed up, and wouldn’t buy Vokoun as anything but a Pig with Lipstick.
I don’t know why, I’d rather have Vokoun for a one year contract than sign Lou and his horrendous long term albatross contract. But as a long time Leaf hating Habs fan, I hope they do sign Bobby Lou.
Toronto is one decent goalie away from making the playoffs. Luongo, a consistent .920 keeper, could be that guy.
Unfortunately for them, the Nucks have done everything possible to reduce his trade value.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I kinda wish Schneider bombs after they trade away Luongo, that would have to be worse than Price/Halak.
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
I would like to weigh in on the Detroit subject below.
Excellent input from Burlington and Tom, but here’s my 2cents.
Detroit understood for some time now that Lindstrom would eventually retire.
This is not hitting them suddenly.
In that environment, they also understood that “communication” wins the day.
This is where Gauthier and Martin get failing marks, but the Detroit gang sets the standard.
It would go something like this:
“Hey Pavel , we see you as our next Captain going forward, but we need to replace Lindstrom and we are pitching hard for Suter.
So here’s how we see things working out, and we would like your input.
If we sign Suter at a yearly salary that exceeds yours, it will be with the understanding that your next deal with us will set the “new” standard for the team.
You’re at 6.7 per, 2 seasons left, and we will be getting Suter for about 7.5 or 7.75
After 2 seasons, we will re-sign you at slightly higher than the 7.5, say 7.75 per or 8, and you will have effectively taken Lindstrom’s place.
Again, think about this, and get back to us with your thoughts”
Datsyuk has become one of the very best players of his generation, offensively, defensively, the whole package.
I think Detroit understands how to handle the transition and they will do it successfully.
I hope you’re right Ed. It will be a shame when that team blows up. I do feel that they’re too old to make a realistic Cup run at this point though.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
they may not make a Cup run any time soon, but I am quite sure they won’t blow up.
its what good managers work at avoiding, and why Detroit transitions so well.
Agree with you Ed, now they just have to make that happen. They also have to convince Suter to accept 7.5 when perhaps a desperate GM in say New York like Sather offers him 8.5 or 9 or higher in a massive front loaded deal like they did for Richards.
Then you throw in a Gillis in Vancouver whom if he does unload Luongo suddenly has capspace and could throw a pile of dough at Suter.
The hardest part in your scenario is not the Datsyuk, it is the signing of Suter. (in my limited opinion)
you’re right Burly, and detroit may not even get Suter.
but that doesn’t change the fact that they will have spoken openly to their next captain about it, and planned properly for it.
its the communication that to me convinces a Lindstrom and a Datsyuk to accept detroit’s salary philosophy
I have my doubts that Detroit would make a promise like that 2 years in advance, to a player who will be 36 at that time.
I’m sure Datsyuk understands inflation, and knows that someone making more than him next year bodes well for his next contract.
Highest cap hit in the NHL. You’ll never in a million years guess who it is.
http://capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=2221
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Makes Gomez seem like a deal
Any chance this # is incorrect – by $10M – ?
ALWAYS Habs -
D Mex
No.
http://www.capgeek.com/faq/is-jeremy-welsh-s-cap-hit-a-typo.php
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
Can’t open the link at work – is it DiPietro?
I know that the contracts are basically in place for the next couple of years, but honestly, if there was a huge philosophical change in the ownership of the Habs, it doesn’t show.
Bergevin is basically a puppet, and he’ll squander any chance he has for respect as he tries to manage this sad ship called the Habs, with its rag tag collection of motley crew, it’s big and tall and short and small shop of washed up veterans and easily hurt rookies…..
Any prestige Bergevin has will be wasted as Carey Price gives games away again for another season while we keep the Halak debate afloat.
I disagree with prejudice.
Molson went from a GM who doesn’t speak unless it’s one on one in private to a GM who plays pranks, speaks openly and from the heart and has a sense of humour.
He went from an organizational philosophy that from a hockey operations perspective was a braintrust of two people to a braintrust of a minimum of four.
He’s righting wrongs that were committed all too frequently.
This whole thing may just be to save face(doubtful) but the actions when good don’t discriminate based on the motivation behind them.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
nunasense shouldn’t be answered most days.
Agree Cal, his hatred for ownership is beyond understanding.
I like reading your posts, Nuna. It’s kind of like taking a vicarious drug trip.
watch King and Nolan on the forecheck and tell me that Habs do not need to get bigger and that Darche should be on our 4th line – do all that with a straight face.
We had guys like that Adam. Blunden, Moen and White. Problem is that under Martin and others like him that getting caught with two or three forwards deep in the offensive zone is punishable by death.
We have guys that can fill that role. It just needs to be a role that fits the system that the coach implements. If the coach has no use for guys like that, they won’t be effective.
I would prefer a bottom six similar to Detroit’s that can bang if they need to but can also chip in offensively. That’s why I’d like the team to hang onto Moen if they aren’t going to rebuild.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
Getting caught 3 deep without the skating ability to catch up to the play is a recipe for being scored on repeatedly, especially when 1/2 your D is made up of rookies and sophomores.
I don’t disagree.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
I like the “full court press” style, too. Just need the players, especially the Dmen, to be able to handle it. Maybe 1 shutdown UFA Dman while we await the youngsters.
I see your point but not sure I agree that Blunden, Moen and White are the same. Blunden is “big” but not aggressive, I know he statistically has a lot of “hits” but does not play with any mean streak. White is aggressive but not big and I guess Moen fits the bill but too expensive at this stage. I’d like to see the Habs 4th line instigating trouble for opponents D men – not just reacting if need be. I think we need to forget about Detroit as a model – clearly the exception rather than the rule.
Bottom 6 (well, really there’s 7 here):
Moen/Eller/Leblanc
Prust/Gaustad/White
extra: Staubitz
Overly optimistic, perhaps.
You want Leblanc in a bottom six role instead of Hamilton?
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Hamilton, but if they don’t acquire someone via trade or free agency I’m guessing that he’ll make the team.
Also, Leblanc in the bottom 6 isn’t a bad thing, a-la Pacioretty. The 3rd line might be where he belongs long-term anyway, at least on a deep team.
I am expecting good things from LL after a summer in the gym instead of his last summer of rehabbing shoulder surgery. If he’s putting on any muscle at all, he’ll be greatly improved.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
From what Holland has been saying on the news the last few days, he will spend what it willtake for those 2 guys. He understands it’s a bidding war and he isn’t going to lose because of money.The way he talks, it’s all about selling location.
I had typed this in response to 24Cups as it relates to Detroit, then realized a new page opened, excuse the double post.
Lidstrom bought into the Detroit mentality and took less than market value money on his last contract and this contract was then held up as a benchmark to other players on team that they don’t earn more than him.
Will Suter Parise sign for less than Market to be a part of Detroit? Does Detroit have to pay big bucks to get them, thus changing the contract model they have been using the past number of years?
Lidstrom helped that team on the ice and in all contract negotiations. He may be irreplaceable as a result.
And if they do establish a new pay scale with Suter at the top, how will that rub the veterans on that team?
I would be shocked if their window of opportunity isn’t closing today. I said yesterday that they need three very quick series’ in the playoffs to have another shot at a Cup and I stand by it. If I were Holland I’d be ushering in a new era.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
Exactly Tom, Zetterburg and Datsyuk signed contracts after Lidstrom for long term with lower numbers as part of the buy-in. While I think these two guys are classy and care about the franchise, their agents will be saying otherwise.
Perhaps I am bias in that I am hoping that Detroit no longer dominates in an effort to help the landscape for the Habs, but I agree with your point.
Having said that, until that team starts to flounder, you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Their transitions from the days of Bowman now to Holland and Babcock have been rather seamless until now.
There certainly isn’t any room to dispute their ability to develop players. Having said that, Tatar and Nyquist look like they’ll develop into good but not great players. Brendan Smith is excellent and would love to have him but can we bank on him becoming elite? Don’t think so. Kronwall is the best shot they have at replacing Lidstrom but even in that event Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen aren’t getting any younger. I would do terrible things to get Darren Helm on my team but how long will he accept a checking role as a guy who has the skills to become top six forward?
Lots of questions in Detroit and their youth may not catch up to their veterans quick enough.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
Detroit paid over 100 Million dollars in salary for Lidstrom over his career. So while he could have signed elsewhere at some point and likely made even more money, he was very well compensated by the Wings.
http://www.hockeyzoneplus.com/search/salaries-search.cgi?template=nhl-salaries-search-detail.htm&dbname=NHL-Salaries-test.txt&key2=2226&action=searchdbdisplay
Some potential 4th rounders.
Matej Beran(C) – PEI
Scored 61 points in 68 games for PEI in his first North American season after scoring 20 points in 41 games for Lulea of the SuperElit. This season he started out with a bang and faded down the stretch which isn’t unusual for a player in their first North American season. He has great hands and can keep the puck in tight spaces. Poor man’s Alex Galchenyuk.
Samuel Fejes(LW) Shattuck St. Mary’s HS
After a slow first season with limited icetime Fejes broke out this season scoring 78 points in 55 games in a depth role. From what I’ve read he has an excellent shot and can play a variety of roles. Knock on him is that he was born in Alaska.
Travis Brown(D) – Moose Jaw
Big bodied fella. He doesn’t really throw his weight around but he’s excellent positionally and moves the puck very well. Gets pucks through to the net from everywhere.
Habs could also take a shot on Andrey Makarov(G) with a fourth rounder. If he’s there.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
Kind of a boring game last night, both teams played well, but the overall defence aspect was overwhelming. The players played with intensity, but they were stiffled by the opposite defence.
Hopefully it opens up a little bit as it goes on.
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
I saw an early interview with Therien being one of the interviewers of Bergevin, and he had this goofy buddy buddy grin on his face. I think he thinks he has the job, and I have a feeling he will end up being the one chosen.
I have no idea how on earth you guys have the time to know all about all of these prospects and such. I appreciate all of the info. I have to say the saving grace of the Gainey/Gauthier regimes like them or hate them, is that Trevor Timmins has been kicking butt. We have been hitting much more than we have been missing, and hitting big time on 2nd round and much lower prospects. That guy deserves every penny he makes and more!
Here we sign one of our future superstars, and it’s announced in a press release and not by the GM. Not a good sign. Shows that Geoff Molson and his culture of fear still reigns in Montreal.
Nathan Beaulieu is one of the shining stars, much thanks to Trevor Timmins!
Isn’t a bit early to tag Beaulieu as a superstar?
Need a new Head Coach? Why not Bykov?
At the moment, Morgan Ellis looks like a more stable prospect than Beaulieu. So far Beaulieu looks like another PK. Properly coached he could turn out very well.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Larry Robinson.
ALWAYS Habs -
D Mex
The following are some players that the Habs could steal in the third round of the draft. I may post a few more by round that I think are worth a strong look.
- Henrik Samuelsson – Edmonton Oil Kings
His young career has been all about development. Last year he played with the US National Development team and this season decided to play for Modo. He worked his way up through each Modo program this season and wound up playing in 15 Swedish Elite League Games before joining the Edmonton Oil Kings. His start in the WHL was slightly better than average for a good prospect and did very well in the playoffs. He’s a big player who uses his size well. He has very soft hands and protects the puck very well with his body.
Esa Lindell(D) – Jokerit Jr.
- Lindell’s an offensive defenseman who has excelled against like aged competition. This year in the Jr. SM-Liga he scored 51 points in 48 games and lead his league in goals and assists for defensemen and was awarded as the best player of the regular season in that league. At the Under 18 tournament he had six assists in seven games. He’s big and in the one game I saw him play he controlled the puck very well, was calm and made the smart play more often than not while displaying the skills necessary to make more difficult plays.
Joonas Korpisalo(G) – Jokerit Jr.
In his second season with the Jokerit organization in Finland he more than doubled his action on the ice by going from 15 games with the Under 18 club to 38 games with the junior club. He maintained a save percentage of .920 and earned four shutouts. He’s been borderline dominant among players his age with the exception of this year’s under 18 tourney where he posted a save percentage of .902 and a goals against of 3.02.
Lindell and Korpisalo are coming from the same organization as Teuvo Teravainen. Managed by Jarmo Kekalainen who for all intents and purposes built the St. Louis Blues in the way that Trevor Timmins has built the Habs. The man knows talent and knows how to develop it. Two products of his organization are available with a modest investment that pose a stronger than normal likelihood of yielding tremendous results.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
I love Samuelsson, and I think its 50/50 he’s available at 32, never mind the third round.
If you look at his ranks from places like McKeen’s, Future Considerations, Hockeyprospect.com, ISS etc… .what you see is that he started the season as a late first/early second rounder. Dropped during the start of the year when he was in Sweden, and then rose when he went to Edmonton.
A strong WHL playoffs, and a Strong Memorial Cup (individually) and he’s risen again. I see him anywhere from 25-35
Go Habs Go!
Visit Your NHL Draft Headquarters
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
If nothing else he’s among the players who could go anywhere from the top of the second round to the middle of the third. I think it’s unlikely he’s available at #62 but it wouldn’t shock anyone I don’t believe.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
Apart from the obvious comparisons with his Dad, especially as far as the ‘not so legal’ competitor tricks etc, I didnt see much from Samuelson in the Memorial Cup to make his stock rise. He certainly is worth watching because of size and pedigree but maybe his name is the most eye-catching property right now. Just way I saw it anyways. Now players like Domi ( I know it’s next yr draft) certainly elevated their status by leaps and bounds.
I agree I think he’s gone late first round. excellent exposure at memorial cup, he looks like an nhl player out there.
The calendar is finally moving! Just a few weeks until the draft! Maybe that’s the day that Bergevin pulls off a blockbuster trade as well? Regardless, i can’t wait to research the players Montreals picks when it is over…
I think you’re on to something there, Tom, great work.
Kekalainen has magic in his blood. The man is at the top of his field.
Bettman has stated that the new cap could be as high as $73M this summer. The real question will be how much that gets scaled back after September.
I say that Montreal doesn’t sign any high end UFAs and waits for the new CBA to unfold. It’s not like there is any real top end free agents that the Habs would want to realistically pursue.
I want both Suter and Parise.
Detroit gets to rebuild from the 2003 draft with two new guys in their prime years. We’re left holding the AK46 bag that now only contains a 2nd rounder.
Detroit could do a complete turnaround in the next two years with the addition of Suter, Parise, Brendan Smith, Calle Jarnkrok, Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar.
Depends how much money Ilitch will allow to go in the hole every season.
I think it’s quite doable.
The Wings have some saved cap space and will be able to move the Lidstrom money over to Suter. If they sign Parise, I’d let Hudler and Stuart walk. Smith is ready to step in for Stuart and and Hudler is overrated in my eyes. Nyquist should be ready to take his spot which makes Parise the icing on the cake.
Calle Jarnkrok is a name to tuck away for future reference.
Lidstrom bought into the Detroit mentality and took less than market value money on his last contract and this contract was then held up as a benchmark to other players on team that they don’t earn more than him.
Will Suter Parise sign for less than Market to be a part of Detroit? Does Detroit have to pay big bucks to get them, thus changing the contract model they have been using the past number of years?
Lidstrom helped that team on the ice and in all contract negotiations. He may be irreplaceable as a result.
Good morning Steve,
The reality for Bettman is that he can’t scale his salary cap back once it’s out of the bag so to speak. If revenues continue to increase he can’t justify lowering the player salary increases that are sure to come with it. Simplest math you can do. Fehr – “If your revenues continue to go up as a league, our players’ chunk of the pie needs to increase with it”(just my belief about what he’d say).
The cap floor can be dropped and that’s the way I see this going.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
It’s hard to say what Bettman is thinking. The NHL has the highest revenue sharing percentage in all of pro sports. Other leagues have moved to the 50% mark.
On the other hand, the league is making major gains in terms of revenue and television exposure. Why rock the boat?
A perfect compromise would be to lower the cap floor to help out the bottom tier of the league. Bettman would also ask to have the provisions for RFAs tightened up in order to help get away from high cap hits after just three years. The third point would be a restriction of five years on length of contracts. In return, the players get to keep their 57% share of revenues as well as the end of the escrow process.
Everybody wins and is able to claim “victory”.
I would like to see both sides really tackle the concussion issue in a serious way but I doubt that will happen. The league doesn’t truly care and the players can’t seem to move forward from the dark ages.
I think you’re hitting the nail on the head as to where things will conclude Steve. The cap ceiling may be established and frozen during the period of the next CBA but I don’t see them lowering it at any point. The floor being decreased makes the most sense and the contract lengths being controlled is something they will definitely fix. It would be nice to see Bergevin lock up Subban, Price and Pacioretty to some cap friendly long term deals prior to this CBA being finalized.
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Our GM doesn’t need to leave his tie undone to create the impression that he’s working hard!
If any franchise can’t field a team at the base of the cap, maybe they shouldn’t be in the NHL any longer.
If the idiots on Anti-Chambre are upset, Bergevin must be doing something right.
Haha, Cal you may be onto something there!
Unfortunately they were also upset at Gauthier/Gainey.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
What are those idiots upset about? Scott Mellanby?
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
I still think that Edmonton trades out of 1st spot and whoever gets their pick takes Yakupov. Then Columbus will take Galchenyuk. Then we’ll be left with a very solid d-man or question marks on O. Tough pick.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Didn’t Couturier have Mono last year as well and he fell in the draft, but because he was Canadian they said he was slower developing? But when Grigorenko gets Mono and tries to play through it he is accused of being lazy?
While I want the Habs to get Galchenyuk because I think he has higher upside, Grigs could be a great player for the Habs as well.
Edmonton could have their cake and eat it, too.
They draft Yakupov and then sign young UFA Dman, Justin Schultz from Anaheim.
Montreal’s decision is quite simple, do they want Galchenyuk or Grigorenko. Surely that decision has already been made by Dudley and Timmins.
If for some reason they don’t want one of these two guys, then Forsberg becomes Plan B if Columbus takes the centre that Montreal really wanted.
Steve, any chance the Habs pursue Schultz? I know we have a near plethora of young dmen on the way up, but can you really ever have too many? I realize he is a Kelowna kid and the appeal may be to play in the west, but perhaps Price and Gorges do some marketing work?
As you said , the Habs have a lot of young D coming up. A guy like Schulz is most likely going to want a minimum 3 or 4 year deal as a UFA. If the team needs to sign a DMan as a free agent, I think they are better off taking an older vet who is willing to sign a 1 or 2 year deal.
“they don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Since most defencemen hit their stride at the age of 25-26, it could be argued that we’re still very thin on D for the foreseeable future.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
It would appear that this kid really wants to navigate himself into a perfect situation. He’ll want to play top four minutes and get to be the go to guy. Edmonton is a perfect fit in that regard.
Boo! I want Galchenyuk. Nail Yak as well.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Canadiens sign defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a three-year entry level contract.
http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=633263&navid=DL|MTL|home
This L.A. squad continues to empress. They are playing as a team should, for each other and together!
I am pulling for Peter DeBour’s squad who I have watched grow as a coach in the OHL. We have sat together a few times watching games and I love the way he thinks about the game. Sure hope we can land a great young coach in Mtl. as well.
This is going to be a very close series, with only a miscue or two separating both teams.
And is it ever a pleasure to watch hockey without the crap of a Boston or a Philly type being in the final. I would like to see a little more offensive style though, but that will come as the series goes on I’m sure.
Good morning Ian. I also hope we can land a great young coach as well. Trouble is, how many great young french-speaking coaches are out there?
Anyway, as it is right now, I really like the way things are coming together management-wise in Montreal. Three major roles have been filled by guys who have no ties to the Habs past glories (Bergevin, Dudley, and Mellanby). I tend to think the same trend will follow when a coach is finally named. Because of this, I see Patrick Roy on the outside. It appears that the two front-runners are Crawford and Hartley, with Hartley also being mentioned as a candidate for the Calgary job. That might just leave us with Crawford. Not a name that excites me, but at least the guy has substantial experience as an NHL coach. We could do a lot worse, I suppose.
The important thing here, in my opinion, is that the team seems to be putting it’s glorious past where it belongs….in the past. Those glory years will never be forgotten, but those years are now far behind us. It’s time to move ahead and create something fresh. I like what I’m seeing so far.
Just one more thing Ian. If there is a lockout/strike next season, there should be some very entertaining hockey in Hamilton. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other in Steeltown (Smogtown?).
Tommy – I was around for most of the glory years and I’m sick hearing about them. That notion has held back the team for the past twenty years.
The Habs haven’t won a Cup in two decades. They just finished dead last. Everybody dumps on Reggie Houle but the Gainey/Mr. Gauthier regime only really had two successful seasons (out of nine) where there was any hope of coming close to a Cup run.
To quote a very intelligent man, “It’s time to move ahead and create something fresh.”
Very well put Tommy! These constant comparisons to the glory years are ridiculous in my opinion. This does not mean we don’t strive to be the best, but the entire league has changed. There are no more dynasties. Teams must build through the draft, be patient with their prospects, manage the cap then add pieces when the time is right. Then try to avoid having to start all over, by managing veteran assets and be willing to trade them. These aren’t our fathers Habs anymore in an original 6 league with an owner in Chicago who didn’t care about winning and a team in New York far more concerned with partying than playing leaving 4 teams to fight for the CUp.
Good post!
Hmmm… the ‘shopping at Walmart’ cracks are below the belt. Who the hell do you think sports fans are anyway…golfers fer chrissake? If we still had the old forum I’d suggest that Mike go sit in the blues and see who he’s surrounded by. As it is , the Walmart shopping Habs fans can’t afford to get in the buildiing while he gets his tickets for free…
I think yesterday`s game illustrates very well the difference between the two Stanley cup finalists.We talk about the Kowalchucks ,Brodeur,Quick,Doughty,Parise,Elias,but we never quite put Kopitar in the top names involved . Kopitar should be feared,he is a danger and can hurt you in so many ways every day. Never takes a day off and does the little things as well as he is a constant threath in the crease.
How quickly things change ! Some said that the Devils would be the favorites to win game 1 cause the Kings were out of the action for too long but now….If the Kings win game number 2 then…Turn out the lights the party`s over …
If there is a slim chance that Faksa isn’t drafted by the time we choose our 2nd, could be interesting to see who we pick in that round.
If Faksa is available at 32, you take him and then you buy lots of lottery tickets to celebrate this turn of luck.
Go Habs Go!
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I think if Faksa is there at 7 or 8 the Habs should trade Holland and Weber and then draft him. The Habs have many right wing prospects in the system, Gallagher, Kristo, Quailer, Avtsin.
Habfan17
Either Faksa or Gaunce
Habfan17
Holland and Weber would not get you a top 10 pick.
Not even close.
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Thanks, agree wholeheartedly, might get a 2nd rounder but even that would be a stretch this close to draft day.
Trevor Carrick of Mississauga in the OHL
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/05/31/nhl-draft-prospect-profile-53-trevor-carrick/
Go Habs Go!
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The suspense of the first two picks is going to be something
Sign PK forever, I love the kid.
Same here. My fave current Hab.
Carey would have to be my favorite, I just watched Pk and his brother Jordon on the George Stroumboulopoulos show and he’s a great kid, plus he’s fun to watch.
Part of me is hoping that Lidstrom will assemble the rabid reports and just say ‘I just saved tons of money by switching to Geico’
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“How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” -Jacques Plante
lol
Dee
PK on Strombo right now
Put it on CBC
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Watching it. Gotta love him.
Just tuned in, loving it!
L’antichambre – avec des commentaires, ce soir, sur les anglophones (récemment) engagés par le Canadiens, raison pour laquelle on se pose des questions sur la candidature de Marc Crawford, un autre ‘ anglas ‘.
Not that Crawford is my first choice but, is this really the best these guys can do ?
ALWAYS Habs -
D Mex
L’antichambre also known as the collection of bitter ex Habs coaches, players and stupid French media.
There were some reports earlier today that the Habs will use the number 3 pick to select Teuvo Teravainen. If the Habs use the pick on this very small player, I will never cheer for them again.
If Galchenyuk is available and we select Grigorenko I don’t know how i’ll react… Saw Grig’s play 4 times live… 2 times he didn’t show up. One game he showed up in the third and the other game he played Amazing hockey. that one game he really looked like a great prospect but the other three games turned me off completely. My old man and I looked at eachother half way through one of the games and said (at the same time) “Kostitsyn”. I got nothing against Teuvo, Good prospect, but Galchenyuk is gonna be a star. I hope Columbus doesn’t pick him.
100% agree, Galchenyuk is a much safer bet with a lot of upside to his game…
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“How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” -Jacques Plante
Especially if he does well this Friday at the Combine (knee). No doubt he’s fine and in shape (he’s a Gym rat), I can’t wait till draft day!
I know this sounds crazy but I think he’s gonna surpass Yakupov down the line… Its a bold prediction I know but I’m gonna go out on a limb and call it.
my guess is that he would’ve surpassed yakupov this season already if he didnt get injured.
Since PK is on George’s show tonight i thought i’d share a funny video i found of PK training with comedian Gerry Dee, the trash talking is pretty good,
cheers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOdImCJfpOk&feature=player_embedded
Reports is just that, same as rumors. No one knows who the Habs will be picking except for management and they themselves don’t have it finialized yet. we have three weeks before the draft and the Habs wouldn’t have finalized their pick just yet. not say they haven’t narrowed the field.
Let’s wait until draft day, I put my faith in Timmins. He has a very good track record of drafting us some really good players and now with the likes of MB and Dudley along with Mellanby, the intelligence there is even way better to get us the best possible player at that pick whether it be a need now or for the future.
The pick we used in the upcoming draft may not necessarily be a instant need but rather something down the road. That’s where a good trade can come in to offset the short term for long term gain. Let’s just set back and enjoy what our new management team as in store for our team and in what direction thay plan on going.
To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.
With this victory, the Kings equalled the number of playoff wins (13) they achieved during the 1992-93 post season.
Something tells me they’re going to surpass that total this playoff year.
Beauty Goal.
Go Habs Go!
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Sick goal by Kopitar. Gonna be a fun series.
Both these teams are relentless on the forecheck.
That’s how I want to see my Habs play.
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Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
Hope the overtime goes at least one period so it will cut into The Tonight Show & see what NBC will do…….
Enjoying this final much more than a year ago :
- no Bruins and no Canucks
ALWAYS Habs -
D Mex