No one at Habs Inside/Out could bring himself to watch the All-Star Draft.
But we are relieved that Carey Price was not the last player chosen. That would have damaged our boy’s self-esteem – and resulted in 1,500 Comments suggesting an anti-Habs Conspiracy.
As it was, Phil Kessel had the ignominious honour of being the final player selected, his shame eased by winning a car.
Price was picked 10th by Team Staal, just behind Team Lidtsrom’s choice of Marc-André Fleury and ahead of their pick of Jonas Hiller.
• Red Fisher takes a dim view of the ASG
• Wayne Scanlan’s take on the draft
• EEEEE-mail on playoff-making math
I was talking about FISTS. Sorry but Laps would kick the old man’s ass
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Nothing to do during this ‘all-star’ break except contemplate the rest of the year for my HABS. I spent 5 minutes watching silliness of all star draft and plan to spend even less on the game.
Accepting that PG needs to make a MOVE. A big forward or a big defender? Who would best help this team.
I say add a BIG forward. I mean BIG not only in size but in personality and intensity. Someone a little similar to Claude Lemieux who can make it hard to play against us if you were the opponent and harder to play for us if you were a teammate who didnt want to step out of your comfort zone.
I know Claude Lemieux is not a universal favourite. And if we could get a guaranteed big scorer I will of course jump at the chance. But I cant see that happening. So I will settle for a player who brings ‘life’ to our offense in a way that permeates the entire team and provides an upsurge in the enthusiam for ’pushback’, aggressive, forechecking that makes every player on our team needing to go hard and fast or be run over.
I dont think it will happen. Habs management is more into a ‘safe’ player than a ‘go at them’ kinda player. And so we will continue down the road of what people call inconsistent play but really is a consistently lacklustre and fearful style of play play by adding player swho fit that mold.
This weekend is a joke. What time is the Mecum Car auction on?
double
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Here’s your TV tip…
Tonight on CPAC In Committee From the Senate of Canada. Gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Canadian Senate Committee meetings. Action starts at 7:00 pm to 1:00 a.m.
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Price couldn’t have been picked last, anyway. all goalies and defencemen had to be taken by the 10th and 15th rounds, respectively. so a forward was going to be the last one. glad Pricey wasn’t picked as last goalie, though. looks like Team Staal picked Carey over Hiller. that’s at least that.
btw, PK was conservative last night, but did you catch him looking back up towards (i believe) Carey before the rookies sat down in front of the players’ seats?
cute.
Any suggestions on who that player should be? Keeping in mind of course that it has to be someone who is realistically available.
FIVE QUESTIONS:
1. What’s more pathetic – Darren Dreger hosting a panel, or watching fourty of the most skilled hockey players in the world take part in the lamest game show ever?
2. If we make the playoffs, which team would you most like to face in the first round?
3. A repeat question (but it’s a set-up to #3), what do Habs most need to make a playoff run (or a run for the playoffs)?
4. If PG makes a ‘big’ move like many suggest we need, what asset package would you be comfortable giving away? You have to give to get… so… what or who?
5. On a scale of 1-10 how much did the “draft” suck. If you didn’t see it, just say 10. Yeah, I’m biased, but I want that six hours of my life back.
—-
“It bothers me…there are old coaches in the league today that don’t know how to deal with these young personalities.” – Mike Peca on JM handling of PKS
Don’t get me wrong. I will most likely watch Price’s period in the ASG tomorrow and thats it. Who wins? Who cares…? Its beyond me why this is of any interest at all. HOWEVER,
What I cannot understand is all the HATE the ASG seems to be getting. Don’t like it. Honestly just don’t watch it. Why is it such a bad thing. The teams get together and play a charity like game in front of business men and women. No real huge NHL fans really. I mean some, yeah, but not much. Its a gimmick. But then again so are the 7000 Ovechkin and Boudreau commercials I see here in Washington DC. It seems like the two are pettling everything from carpet cleaners to photocopiers. Although I admit I liked the line from the Mercedes one that Boudreau asked for a BIG Cup holder… Sorry Brucey, Mercedes aren’t made in Montreal….
To me it gives most of the league almost a full week off and showcases some talent and hype on a ASG weekend. Like a vacation for me. I don’t watch the NFL All star game, and I cannot fathom how anyone does. But every year, it’s there (i think).
I mean, Sedin vs Sedin. GENIUS…. NO useless, but still. No reason to say its a waste. It’s sold out. People will watch, and Bettman will count his money. Then we are back to regular hockey.
In the end for me its a well deserved break for the players who are not involved, and for the ones who are…I hope they have patience. So why all the hate for a gimmick. To me ignore it and watch Pricey or simply put in a movie, and pretend we have a longer layover…..
THAT BEING SAID, I AM DYING FOR MY GAME VS THE CAPS TUESDAY WHERE I HAVE TIX RIGHT BEHIND THE HABS BENCH ON THE GLASS. SO ALL OF YOU WATCHING, CHECK OUT THE HANDSOME GUY IN THE HABS HOME JERSEY, SITTING NEXT TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE IN THE 1944 HABS HOME SWEATER (I say sweater cause its the jersey made of thick wool) SEATS ARE 3rd AND 4th OVER FROM THE RIGHT.
Can’t figure out who I am, I will be the one sticking my lips through the glass panes trying to convince Muller to stay in Montreal. My wife will be the one hoping Auld gets the start so she can give Price her phone number….
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
1. Saw 3 minutes of it. Couldn’t care less. Pass.
2. Philly. Let’s face them when we’re fresh and put the bull**** to rest. Win or lose it’ll be a fair fight with no excuses on either side.
3. For a run, another young, responsible D with NHL experience.
4. No “big”moves where we lose valuable futures, PLEASE!
5. Pass
***Subbang!!!***
You know what might actually make the all-star game a little bit more interesting? Something as simple as every player on the winning teams gets like $20K from corporate sponsors of the event to donate to a charity of their choice.
It should definitely amp up the intensity of the game.
Re: “Saw 3 minutes of it. Couldn’t care less. Pass.” – That’s 3 more minutes than I watched.
I think it was 2 hours but the hour I watched seemed like 6.
—
“It bothers me…there are old coaches in the league today that don’t know how to deal with these young personalities.” – Mike Peca on JM handling of PKS
You say “don’t watch it’ – THEY WON’T! The ratings especially in the USA will be a joke. Poker games, outdoor life, bowling, porn well porn always has huge ratings so forget that one, cooking shows, msnbc, etc. will all out rate them.
Better still $10,000 donation to a charity must be paid out of each player’s own pocket on the losing team
5- It was NOT adraft. Bettman called it a draft so all the media swallowed it. It was a schoolyard/playground pickup game that you used when you were 12 years old. Did you call it a DRAFT then when 2 guys picked teams?
1. tie.
2. Washington. Beating them twice will VASTLY improve my quality of life.
3. Another top 2 line forward like Iginla. Someone with some size and who can score by himself if need be. I would like Gagne from Tampa.
4. If the move is indeed BIG. Like Iginla, or Spezza… Something along these lines. Then I would be comfortable giving away any of our young fringe players… Pyatt, White, Weber, Picard. Anyone from Hamilton right now. AK, and any picks for next year, and maybe even a 2nd or 3rd round for next season. But there are two things here. It would have to be someone BIG and KEY. I think Iggy has 5 years of quality hockey left, and he will fit nicely in here giving us what we need right away. But I wouldn’t accept anything less than average 80 points a season and max age is Iggy’s.
5. 10. Wait, it was 6 hours? wow, what a collosal waste of time.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
That’s a great call! Exactly the type of player the habs could use.
We probably wouldn’t have to give up a lot to get him, and he’s only got 1 year left at 3.75 million after this season.
The three or four “chuckling” moments in the draft didn’t make up for the overall lameness of it. So much lack of wit or nuance or any sense of surprise gets REALLY, really boring after awhile.
The last host I saw in acton was Ricky Gervais so lemme just say that whatsisface from TSN was decidedly underwhelming; stammering his “bon mots” all night long and vainly trying to get players to cooperate with him, it was slightly embarrassing and not funny, yay.
And the car, oh my gosh, I thought it was gonna be or Beetle or something, a Kia, something HE would never drive himself, a little joke at his expense even though he coulda still passed it on to a friend or family member, EVEN THOUGH, the donations in his name were good enough, imo. But a 2011 friggin Honda?! C’mon.
So TERRIFIED is the League to ruffle any egos, I mean…oh my gosh, that was pathetic, a gorgeous friggin car. Paul Stastny is goin “Uhh, hold on…if he gets a…shouldn’t I get…?” What about Cam Ward? He was picked FIRST; what does HE get?
“Oh, you see, it’s because the leafer was last and we don’t wanna hurt anybody’s feelings even though, it was obvious to us there could be no other culminating result and a new car is gonna make everything alright for that millionaire and avoid him resigning from the NHL or worse, committing suicide.”
Hey, next year? Chuck the sticks in the middle. No one’s picked last.
And get Ricky Gervais, ferpetessakes, cuz…DAMN, that was awful.
What i was saying is that I liked your idea of the losing team having to make the donation to the winning teams players charities, but the NHL can’t force the losing team players to make a donation. That’s why i said the corporate sponsors should give every player on the winning team like $20K to donate to a charity of their choice.
The NFL gives the winning and losing teams players money? That’s just dumb. At least if the players are forced to give that money to charity they would look like real Douche’s if they didnt show up for a charity hockey game, and would be more likely to show up.
I’ll be watching SAG. That’s not a mistake – the Screen Actors Guild awards are on. For some people it’s ASG, for others, it’s SAG.
you cant always go by the stats. He is a playing in an absymal situation with a team that’s going nowhere. A trade could be just what the doctor ordered for him. He can probably be had for cheap on top of it.
Typical Toronto production, grade 6 students could make a much better show. I only wish Toronto would stop embarressing the rest of the country with such substandard productions.
Both CBC Toronto and TSN should take media courses and lessons from Montreal, Vancouver or even Point O Pik. Very poor Mickey Mouse show last night.!
Sorry, but there’s not a chance in hell that Columbus would trade Umberger. He’s 28, is their best LW and has a decent cap hit. He’ll probably get an extension once he becomes eligible next year.
sorry i dont agree, i really dont see umberger signing on for anymore years in columbus. i think if any team makes the right offer they will let him go.
When was Halak picked last night.?
Could use Sugar Sammy?
OHL News Flash.-
Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls 16 year old hot goal tender, is becoming quite a celebrity. Thousands of fans turned out to get an autograph at the Ontario Sears Warehouse facilities.
Not only is he going to be an NHL prospect, he has even more of an magnetic personality than his famous big brother.
Bahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…
———————————————————————— “Young people have seen that a team can play electrifying, fascinating hockey while still behaving like gentlemen.” ~Serge Savard~
Wish I owned NHL 11. Wish I owned any video games. Wish Gretzky would come back, we could get him for practically nothing.
***Subbang!!!***
Ian my friend ….what’s with the Halak slag? It was Halak that helped show Price how too play the game and look at Carey now,he’s a much better goalie ! Sit ….watch ….learn………….
Something about hockey familes whose last names start with S. Statsnys, Sutters, Sedins, Staals… could be the Subbans are the next hockey family to make their mark on the game.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
while bettman is not perfect he has grown the value of NHL franchises over the last 10 years in an excellent economy for the most part and the game is growing in most places. last time i looked the Canadiens were sold for almost 600m that is an astounding amount of money. fact of the matter is there is only 1-2 cities left in canada who may be able to support a team. iam not convinced winnipeg is one of them.
I’m sure that hurt his feelings.
” Not everyone can afford a brilliant stock advisor like storm”. TripleX 01/25/2011.20:16
Iginla! If I were PG I would be doing all sorts of scenarios to get this guy. I think he is available and I think a team can land him with the right prospects. Calgary needs prospects.
I would give up a first round readily along with prospects.
I really disagree with you re Iginla. If we were lucky to get Iginla I think it would be a rejuvenation of Cam, a reduction in the status of Gomez/Gionta and a wow factor for all the young prospects. I have said before Iginla will love Montreal and Montreal will love Iginla. Get Iginla and the HABS will return to RESPECT. But please if we get Iginla.. someone sit down and have a chat with JM and open up his mind. No use getting Iginla and JM treating him as the Sutters have.
1. Equal level of lameness.
2. Philadelphia.. scale the highest mountain first and we win the cup. It’s a no lose situation. LOSE and we get rid of many many… do i have to spell it out. Win and it would mean PG/JM added something or changed something… HOPE will be high.
3. Add a big high intensity forward and bring up someone who can ‘fight’ and play him.
4. AK46/Weber or Picard/White/Pouliot in that order.
5 10.
thanks mr.stubbs!
I’m not dissing Price… I like the kid. I knew they would trade Halak (though I’m not too happy with the return, they kept the right goaltender). It’s just alot of people seem to be unaware of the goalie rule. The all star draft is just for fun anyways… I’d take most of these guys on my team any day.
Bettman has allowed con men and paupers to buy NHL teams in the past to make sure they stay in failing markets so he doesn’t have to admit some parts of Canada might offer greater support. To hell with him.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
1. I don’t know and don’t care as I have a life.
2.Washington
3. Sandpaper
4. RJ for AK46 and a pick. ( It is unreal some on here still think Iginla is coming here… lol you need to say no to your dealer).
5.Yawn… The steak I had at the chophouse lastnight was a 9.5
.
” Not everyone can afford a brilliant stock advisor like storm”. TripleX 01/25/2011.20:16
Start here, then click on “Next Season” to advance.
Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
do any of my fellow habs fan know of a site that show’s the league standings since the lockout? please help as i’m trying to find out can’t find anything!
He was picked second to last in the draft order, but technically was picked last on Team Staal, just saying…
1) Dreger
2) Islanders
3) Not to play the Flyers
4) AK, Pac-Man, Weber, 1st round pick – Iginla
5) 9.4
Ricky PREPARES his material. I dare say he woulda done a better job with a “fortnight” to prepare than whatsisface did on the fly.
That’s how I saw it – he wasn’t chosen last, he was chosen before Hiller was (and Hiller’s no slouch!)
Ricky would be AWESOME but Brits know squat about hockey…still, it would be entertaining!
Maybe they should have put the last 2 names in a hat and left it to chance.
what does the winning team get? and what does losing team get? nfl pro bowl tomorrow – winning team gets double what losing team player gets. last year winning player’s got $45,000 losing $22,500 and many players still dont want to go there as they would be playing for less tan they usually make per game. — — http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10540742
Not to start a 1500 comment controversy, but you do realize that each team had to pick it’s 3 goalies before the end of the 10th round? http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=550271
So effectively, Price was picked second to last… Ahead of Jonas Hiller though, so that’s a positive, right?
You make a good point. But its a tall order, and I can think of many many places to start. For instance…. ASG will be 10 times better than 90% of the reality TV out there right now. And reality TV pretty much covers about 50% of whats on…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Even better idea, but the NHL can’t force that.
Chris Philips is awful. Dead last in the league in +/- amond D-men. In the last Habs-Sens game he was just atrocious.
1. What would you rather have done to you: your hair set on fire and you only have a brick to put it out, or have one of those Nile river parasites swim up your todger?
2. I want to face the Isles. In the draft lottery.
3. A puck moving defenceman.
4. Anyone but Price, PK and MaxPac.
5. I saw 7 seconds of it and I give it an 11.
1. The panel was actually really stupid, and Pierre Mcguire was just plain creepy in the way he was analyzing the all-star teams. The most disappointing thing from last night’s fantasy draft was the realization that hockey players actually are really dry. There was barely any joking around.
2. Philly. Lets just get it over with right away. If we can beat them, it should be smooth sailing from there on out.
3. Defensive defensemen (chris phillips, Roby Regher type)
4. Zero. I dont see what big impact player would be available at the deadline that we could manage under our cap, and that would beneficial for the organization moving forward, without sending a cammy, gionta or gomez back the other way. Getting, let’ say, Jerome Iginla would be crippling to this franchise considering his $7 million cap hit for another two years after this one.
5. I did watch pretty much the entire thing (mostly because i wanted to see kessel go last), and there were a couple of funny moments, so 10 is a bit of a stretch. I’ll go with 7.
What I cannot understand is all the HATE the ASG seems to be getting. Don’t like it. Honestly just don’t watch it. Why is it such a bad thing.
Hate is a strong word, but there is nothing wrong with wanting the world to be a little less lame.
ive said it before (just lastnight) but ill say it again…..RJ UMBERGER IS THE ANSWER. If we were to face the flyers there would be no better player to have on this team. He terrorized montreal last time he played against in the playoffs. Im sure he would be even more motivated to terrorize the Flyers.
PG….. make it happen, i promise you will thank me.
i accept cash.
1. 40 players sitting around, completely un-interested, was pathetic to watch. I like Shanahan’s format, I just think it needed to be shown the way it was.
2. Gotta be the Bruins.
3. A reliable, shut-down d-man. Help on defense would free-up the scorers to do their thing and the offense will take care of itself. Chris Philips possibly, or Brent Burns if Minn falters.
4. Picard is expendable IMO. Moen is not doing much and White can fill his skates quite easily. Depending on the quality on the return, I would move Spatch as well, though he was good in last year’s play-off. He has another year on his contract that could be an anchor next year.
5. 10. Borrrr-ing. Some trades by the no-personality captains could have provided a little more interest. It was only 6 hrs? it seemed longer.
Bettman after deciding that new fans will be attracted to his schoolyard/playground pickup game style game was thinking about having as the uniforms - shirts vs. skins. But quickly reminded himself in that case the NHL would have only half the new uniforms to sell at NHL shop so he discarded that part of his great new format Lidstrom vs. Stahl.
I find it hilarious that Price and PK end up on the same team (sort of). Can’t get rid of each other! Hope one of them has a flip-cam or something.
exactly! and in the usa where bettman wants viewers this game is only on versus that few people have and those people like here have a couple hundred channels they can look at.
It is bad enough these all-star games like Fisher says are basically useless but I think it goes back to farther than 1972. I went to the very first one of the East vs. West format back in 1969 at the Forum here – ended in a 3-3 tie. But at least as boring and meaningless the game was fans there or at home on TV could possibly cheer for the conference their favorite team was in and if I recall there were reps of every team of the 12 in the league. But now, which fan or even viewer will give a hoot about whether Team Lidstrom or Team Stahl wins and even watch? This is just another extremely stupid move by Bettman – hockey would be a far better sport had he never arrived.
All-Star games are not for the fansd – they are for the players to make more money for themselves for a holiday. The only All-Star game that still has any meaning is the MLB All-Star game. The Pro Bowl tomorrow no less is a joke as well but not as dumb as Lidstrom vs. Stahl in a pickup game. The Canadian Football League used to have All-Star games, either East vs. West or the previous year’s Grey Cup champion against the All-Stars and like the NHL played before the season started. Alouettes in the early 70s after their Grey Cup win played the All-Stars at the Autostade the next season. But in football, they can’t blitz or will not hit the QB so like hockey where they won’t bodycheck – it is not a real game.
In baseball, the only one that there still is interest though that interest waned over the years, they remedied it somewhat by giving the winning league the homefield advantage for the World Series. But in the baseball All-Star game, the pitchers will throw as hard and fast as always, the hitters hit as hard, the runners run as fast as always.
I really hope Bettman gets the worst TV ratings ever foir any All-Star game – it will look oh so good on him.
Read some comments from last nights draft and we have to remember it is for the kids that love to see the stars.
Let the kids enjoy it.
In this draw in curling I told my skip it was about time he chose me, he said he tried getting before, but he never had last pick !!!!
I just really don’t understand why they wouldn’t make it better for the fans and give one of them the car….. doesn’t Kessel get paid by the bucket load already??
- Yves -
Come to think of it I never got a bike either……great point!
At least they picked you. I used to get sent to the wrong street.
How come when I was picked last in road hockey, I was never given a bike?
Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
On the one hand it made me cringe because I can’t believe that there’s still GM’s who would give in to those kind of demands, but on the other hand it was nice to see New Jersey finally make a bad move that will cripple their organization moving forward.
Of in this case…
…pretend you have the sugar and water you need to make real yummy lemonade and then pretend to drink it and pretend it was REALLY good.
—
“It bothers me…there are old coaches in the league today that don’t know how to deal with these young personalities.” – Mike Peca on JM handling of PKS
Screw the Lemonade I usually grab some salt and a bottle of tequila andhave a party!!!!!!!!
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade:
Maybe I’m out on a limb here, but Phil Kessel being selected last in the All-Star Game Fantasy Draft is actually a good thing.
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2011/1/29/1962561/kessel-mania
They’re good at finding silver linings those Leaf fans. Silver trophies, not so much.
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Did they tell you to go play on the highway?
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Mike you are one funny guy.Sent to the wrong street.LOL! LOL!
Habs Fan 4 Ever & Ever Amen.
Hilarious!
Did they tell you that sending you there was just to get you into open areas?
That whole Kovalchuck deal made me cringe when the deal happened…. and I’m a Habs fan.
Nightmare-ish for NJ.
- Yves -
I note that Patrik Elias was chosen for the Devils ahead of Kovalchuk. Looking at the stats Elias leads NJ in points. But that isn’t the interesting stat. Kovalchuk is -29, worse in the entire NHL, by far.
Here are the worst +/- among attackers:
Simon Gagne -19
Phil Kessel -19
David Clarkson -19
Patrick Marleau -19
John Tavares -21
Ilya Kovalchuk -29
Read the article about Claude Lemieux. My memory may be somewhat inaccurate but I wont go checking ‘facts’ to correct it because, as I recall, it was one of the best times as a Montreal fan after the 72-79 dynasty.
That memory is of the year Lemieux and Richer and Momesso etc joined the Canadiens. And especially Lemieux and Richer were so BIG in the playoffs runs. Life was so exciting then watching these young guys on the team .. it seemed that HABS glory would go ON AND ON seamlessly.
And then the troubles with Burns started. And they were gone. All three.
As I said my memory may be all muddled.. and I could go and check dates and figures and revisit what really happened. But sometimes it is better to recall with the indefiniteness of a fan and the emotion of a fanatic… which is what I choose to do. Even though they went elsewhere, some successfully and some not, I shall always recall the excitement those guys brought to my team.
I long for the same again.
LAFFS Kessel being last man just made a dull weekend hilarious!
Et Tu Burke!
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
Sure, Kessel got the car, but it’s Boston that took Toronto for a ride.
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Nhl way reward the looser ,watch Edmonton they in process of building the next dynasty specially if they get first pick again,should they be a rule for teams who finish last to often?