Andy Marlin, NHLI via Getty Images
OK, I was kidding about that last part.
But with everybody and his uncle second-guessing the trade, Tomas Kaberle brought a struggling power-play to life.
And he matched the two assists Jaro Spacek had for Carolina Friday night.
Moreover, Kaberle formed a decent defence pairing with Alexei Emelin, the duo that RDS’s Chantal Machabée has nicknamed “Ka-boom!”
I’m listening to Gaston Therrien on L’Antichambre predicting that if Kaberle can elevate the PP from terrible to decent, the Canadiens will make the playoffs.
We’ll see.
And to Kaberle’s critics – and I’m one of ‘em – who says “hey, it’s only one game”, François Gagnon has this:
“Would you be saying that if he’d played a bad game?”
So for now, let’s suspend concerns about how well Kaberle will be playing in 2013-’14, the last year of hi contract.
The ex-Leaf./ex-Bruin/ex-Hurricane knows how to play the point on the power-play. Kaberle gains the zone, walks the blueline, makes smart passes, doesn’t panic, opens up P.K. Subban for shots on the other point …
What’s not to like?
And with Chris Campoli ready to play, the Canadiens have extra bodies on D as they await the return of Andrei Markov.
Barring injury, it could be a while until we see Yannick Weber back there again.
I’m an Emelin guy. His game against New Jersey was a microcosm of the Russian Bear’s season: Rough start, largely attributable to being moved to the right side to play with Kaberle, but he got better as the game progressed.
Will Emelin or Raphael Diaz – who took a late penalty in a one-goal game – sit for Campoli?
Will Gauthier make another deal … perhaps for someone who could add some sand to one of the softest fourth lines in the league?
The picture up front is clearer. Brian Gionta may be out a while, but there is some depth.
The Two and a Half Men line was superb in New Jersey. Jacques Martin must resist his inclination to tinker and leave Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty on the wings with the brilliant David Desharnais, who was a mind-blowing 14-4 on faceoffs against the Devils.
The Lars Eller line, with Travis Moen and Louis Leblanc today, is drawing defensive assignments: against Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk in New Jersey, against the Sedin twins and SAlex Burrows when Vancouver was at the Bell Centre.
Eller is also gaining penalty-kill experience (1:50 against NJ), and this will make him a complete player and an asset to the team for years to come.
Now we come to the headache.
With Gionta out, Andrei Kostitsyn was moved to the Tomas Plekanec line against the Devils.
Now, just to astonish members of the Commentariat who think I pick on AK46, I think he played a solid game.
Pleks was 8-11 on draws, great on the P.K. and tried to make plays for his revolving-door linemates.
But what the heck is going on with Mike Cammalleri?
He’s not scoring. He’s not helping the PP. He’s a liability in the defensive zone.
Is Cammalleri pouting because he’s been moved off the DD line?
Is his confidence wavering?
The picture will become clearer as the Canadiens play three home games against the Islanders, Flyers and Devils.
Gionta won’t play during the homestand, which means Louis Leblanc will stay around for a while.
And we’ll see the lines that played against New Jersey … at least until the Islanders open the scoring Tuesday night.
Safest prediction: Tomas Kaberle will be on the power play.
Pending Saturday night action, the Canadiens have scaled the dizzying heights of ninth place.
They have as many points – 31 – as eighth-place Washington, but the Caps have played fewer games.
Grab the Gravol: the roller-coaster ride continues.
• • •
The loss dropped Martin Brodeur’s record against the Canadiens to 40-18-5.
We’re stripping him of the coveted F.
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So what do you folks think?
Loius LeBlanc is staying up.
Seems to be getting pretty comfortable in the lineup?
I would rather see him play big minutes in Hamilton at this point. I don’t see him developing to his full potential if he’s playing 11 minutes a game (let alone the games where JM plays him 4-5 minutes).
don’t think so, don’t forget we have 3 starters out in Gionta, Gomez and White, and right now the only way they can keep Webber is if they play him 4th line right wing. There will be a lot of traffic in the upcomin weeks
Hey Kabi did the job. Props to him.
I still don’t rate our chances given our size and grit issues… But I think Kabi will probably work out like Eric Weinrich or Jeff Hackett or Wiz did, ie, a pleasant surprise who makes a solid contribution.
Just to revisit an earlier post…. if anyone would resist trading Subban for Shea Weber, they are nuts (cap challenge aside). PK will not be better than Shea. He scores, he’s physical, and he is BIG. I love PK, but you’re trading a a “could-be” superstar for a BONAFIDE superstar in that deal.
I LOVE PK, liked him before he ever played in the NHL. But if you don’t think this team is better with Shea than PK, I would have to respectfully disagree verrrry strongly. Even tho I said you would be nuts.
The issue with Weber is he’s UFA after next year and I wouldn’t be confident about retaining him … he’s definitely better than Subban, but in another way, six more years of Subban is better than two years of Weber.
Full Breezer 4 Life
True, I should qualify this idea by saying they should request permission to negotiate a contract extension first.
Edit: Also, to probably bolster your position, Weber is a RFA after THIS season. But I honestly think he makes this team a contender if we can add one more forward. Worse comes to worst tho, we can get something back if we cant sign him because if is an RFA. I dont see much of a downside unless Subban becomes another Serge Savard.
PK and take your pick for Shea Weber. Heck, we’ll even throw in Gone-mez.
I agree that Shea Weber for P.K. Subban would be a great trade for us, even with all the throw-ins we’d have to add on. As you state, we’d be getting an All-Star for a potential All-Star, a sure thing for someone who shows promise but has flaws and quirks in his game. Also, Shea Weber brings size and a mean streak, something which we don’t have in our current group and for the foreseeable future. Whereas Mr. Subban’s skillset is somewhat limited, Mr. Weber has all the tools, he’s plug and play, you put him on the ice in all situations and he will deliver.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I’m not crazy about Kaberle because of the 3 year commitment.
To those who say, “We didn’t give up anything to get him!” I’d say, yeah, we gave up cap space for 3 years. Why would a team with no reasonable chance to win the Cup throw away cap space for 3 years?
But whatever…It’s all just window dressing at this point. We’re a .500 team, and have been for the past few years. .500 teams can get into the playoffs, and steal a series or two, but to think that our mediocre, league average team can win the Cup is not realistic.
I like to watch the games, it’s an entertaining pastime. We will win some games, like tonight, Yay! But I don’t delude myself that we’re a contender for anything other than the 8th playoff spot.
Compared to us, Nashville has more points in fewer games, and is -3 GF/GA, same as us. Anyone think that Nashville is going to win the Cup this year? Of course not, that’s ridiculous. They are mediocre, middle of the pack, also-rans, cannon fodder for the top teams.
Nashville may make the playoffs, and we may make the playoffs. If you’re just happy watching the regular season, and hoping for a 8th seed playoff berth, then great. This is the team for you. Year after year, that’s what they offer.
You should talk to Andrew Berkshire, he thinks we’re a top 5 team because we have an awesome fenwick.
My GF has the nicest fenwick you could imagine. And her corsi’s worth a look too.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
pics?
lol
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
I like Andrew, although his recent turn to statistical analysis makes me fear he read Darrell Huff’s How to Lie with Statistics (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1954).
>Why would a team with no reasonable chance to win the Cup throw >away cap space for 3 years?
To gamble that we might make the playoffs and playoff revenues for Molson. That’s it, that’s all. And it’s the story of why we’re mediocre… for the last 7-8 years even when playoff chances were slim we’d make trades that weaken us long term to try to grab 8th seed. It’s not talked about enough that we do this. It’s patently obvious and a black mark on the franchise.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Forgot the poster’s name but he gave a good perspective on the Kaberle contract/term.
Essentially he reminded us that most of our defensemen are not signed beyond this year and would be cut loose… like Gill and Campoli.
He gave better details than I can right now.
About the cap space. Thing is, it’s gonna get filled, one way or another. So what are they gonna spend it on? Players. Would you concur that a mobile, puck-moving D-man who can run a powerplay is the kind of player the team should pay for? And would you concede that 4.25 million per is a reasonable cap hit for said player? And would you further allow that two more years after this one is not brutal term, considering the player is only 33 right now?
Or, whom would you get instead? And don’t say Shea Weber … that’s just dreaming. Be realistic.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Well, he had a three-year commitment with Carolina, and now he is with Montreal. If he doesn’t provide what Montreal expects, he can be moved.
If he’s here for the full three years, I would expect that he is providing just what the team needs.
Think we could get one decent young, physical forward back for Gomez, Gionta, and Weber?
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Once Calgary bottoms out again, I think we could get René Bourque, but might have to keep Gomez… ick. And yeah, hes not that young, but hes in his early prime.
Not since Mike Milbury got fired…
Haha, not sure how many teams have, what, 13 million in cap space they want to fill. If they’ve got the cap space, they’re probably unable to spend more. Hypothetically, though, you just unloaded Gomez, which is awesome. If I had to throw in Gionta and Weber to do it, I would.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Still undefeated in regulation in December…
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“To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high!”
Still undefeated with Kaberle – period.
I’d love to see JM just stick with somethings that actually work, and keep the players happy. I say the line-up should be this…
Cammalleri-Pleks-Leblanc
Cole-DD-Patch
AK46-Eller-Moen
Darche-Noks-Weber
This give Cammy the best chance at success, while giving Leblanc some great linemates. Leblanc is a great fwd and is being wasted in the 4th line role IMO. Lines 2 & 3 have clicked well together as I have them…and Line 4 is just the rest of the clan. With the guys injured we dont have much choice. I actually think Weber could be a decent FWD, he works hard and is fairly speedy. I would love to see him fly down the wing and let a howitzer go and bulge the twine.
AS for the D….
PK-Gorges
Emelin-Kaberle
Campoli-Gill
I think Emelin has to stay and Diaz could be destined for Hamilton. Markov when he returns throws another wrinkle in. I see a possible trade in the works once everyone is healthy. Weber would be expendable once Gio and Gomez come back to fill a spot taken by Weber. With no room for him on the backend once all hands are on deck it would not surprise me to see him go the way of Chipchura and Maxwell.
I am gonna tell you I told you so when Kaberle shows what he can do, the same way that enigma Frank Maholovitch did when the Leafs gave up on him..
The secret reason for my optimism?
He has a really short stick. What other Hab played with a short stick?
Ask Carbo.
see my blog at http://noroomatthedump.blogspot.com/
B-Brian Gionta!
DD ?, Gomez? Oleg Petrov?
Carbo himself used a short stick, but I think you are referencing a natural goal scorer who Carbo played with: Guy Lafleur.
Gordie Howe also used a short stick.
Personally I find the reverse more interesting: Short guys using ling sticks and still being good. I have no idea how Martin St Louis manages to do what he does with that long a stick (proportionately)
“Et le but!”
The long stick champ of the world relative to his size? JC Tremblay and his famous poke check. A real pool player of a puck handler.
see my blog at http://noroomatthedump.blogspot.com/
Chara hurt his knee in tonight’s game against Columbus
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Badly?
That’s good, hope it hurts like heck.!
I consider myself to be a fairly compassionate guy and I don’t generally wish ill will on people, but when I read this I couldn’t help but hope for the worst…
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Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Give him a ten game suspension and arthroscopic surgery wherever it will do the most good.
see my blog at http://noroomatthedump.blogspot.com/
It took ten minutes for the pain to reach his brain.
Hehe, oh made me chuckle.
Nice outcome this evening for the other games…
Winnipeg, Ottawa, Tampa, Buffalo all lose in regulation.
Good to see Kaberle have a good game, he gives the PP a much needed boost, if the habs can get their PP% up they will have a much more favorable 2nd half of the season. I love the sound of the Ka-Boom pairing, here’s hoping that the name is justified!
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Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.
Vancouver just put on a clinic on how to play with a lead in the 3rd period…Man I wish the Habs played that way…
Sane
I know their coach from somewhere don’t I??
I think some of us need to cut Cammalleri a break, he’s not doing that bad. The man is probably getting 4 hours of sleep a night at home from his newborn. I’m sure soon enough he’ll get to sleep through the night. In light of this, take Bryzgalov’s advice:
You only need to watch the first 10 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ns14hRqwY8
Cammy’s bouncing back anyways.
Any HI/Oers frequent http://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/
Boone!! No way in hell do we strip Brodeur of the “F” that stays forever!
I keep seeing this. What’s up with the F?
What does F usually stand for… hint hint?
ie; Martin F Brodeur
Francis? Lol I gotcha!
The F is Boone’s special nickname for players on other teams who always bring their very best game against the Habs and as such consistently provide the dagger to the heart of Montreal’s chances: Martin F Brodeur, Daniel F Alfredsson…
Awesome, thanks!
As always, thanks Mr. Boone for providing this forum so fans like myself can share their 0.02 $ – But yes it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that you always pick on AK 46. And after all this time in Montreal, he still doesn’t get the ‘spect which he deserves IMO.
Kaberle ran the PP quite well. The Goat is looking good 1 game in.
Cole is becoming my favourite Hab right now.
I really like Pleks, AK, Patches, DD, Louie, PK, Price, Emelin (just off the top of my head) cause they are our homegrown/picked players. I would never want to see them leave to become successful in other organizations (i.e. Streit, SK etc.).
That’s why I wouldn’t be bothered if guys like Cammy, Gio and Gomez (the latter will probably never happen) were traded because they are Devils or Kings to me and are hired guns. I realize every team needs a couple of them, but I would prefer something else if available options exist. Even if it means not winning the Cup this year (kidding, but I won’t complain if we do) and having to wait another year or two.
And that’s why I would never trade PK straight up for Weber (even though I think Weber is better IMO, and I read it below somewhere) cause we drafted him. I don’t have a problem sayin’ I’ can be a blind loyalist in this regard.
Habs, OLE !
Jadester! Long time since our call centre days buddy
Agree with you on many points. Cole has an amazing acceleration and the ability to maintain top speed from his own blue line all the way to the other end. Gets my attention everytime he picks up the puck. Would also like to see AK46 in the next shootout.
Peace!
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“To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high!”
But there’s the key point. “Everytime he picks up the puck”.
He gets so excited and pumped that he often over-skates it.
You think his injury makes him a little more afraid to look down for it?
No. Not at all. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of much. He’s a beast!
All I’m saying is sometimes the puck is coming, and I don’t know if he miss judges the speed of it or what, but he takes off and often has to reach back to preserve it, or loses it altogether.
Not all the time, but watch for it. You’ll see him do it.
I think we need to accept that Erik, with all the skills he has and as hard as he plays, is not a sniper or a skills guy. He’s a bull in a china shop who’ll skate all game and bowl people over, has a decent shot, but is not a 35-40 goals a season winger. He’s been a 30 and 29 goal scorer, that should be our top-end expectation for him. That’s still not bad at all.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Well, they certainly did everything in their power to blow that game, but eked it out in the end. Nice to see Kaberle have a good first game – here’s to many more.
To those of you who think Kaberle on the books causes cap problems for the team, I say great! This might just be the catalyst that forces their hand on Gomez, and sees him playing in Hamilton
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“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau.
Good point. They have to move some bad contract now…
Michigan just took the lead on the Spartans 3-2 6 mins left in 3rd. Have to admit I haven’t watched alot of US College Hockey, but there is some real skill playing. There is a Chelios playing for Mich. St. have to check out if that is son of Chris Chelios. No points for Pateryn or Bennett.
http://www.ccha.com/michigan_state/player.aspx?p=776 Or this one…
http://www.ccha.com/michigan_state/player.aspx?p=790
Your quick HAB FAN. Dean ah! Nick was his nephew that played here.
Jake Chelios is indeed Chris’ son.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Nick Chelios is Chris’s nephew. Not sure that he is one in the same.
Nick is a big lad who played for the Belleville Bulls quite a few years ago. He may be back in University.?
Nick was his nephew and is now playing in the AHL. These are Chris’s two sons Dean and Jake.
That Cammalleri that’s struggling so badly, is that the same Cammelleri that came within inches of having 2 goals today as he drilled 2 pucks off the posts?
On a side note, I’m an english speaking Ontarian Hab fan, but I had to turn to RDS to watch the game after Biased Bob Cole called the first shot drilled off the post an unsuccessful pass from Cammy.
The refs name was Dean Martin, so I guess the other ref was Jerry Lewis!
I just thought that one up all by myself I swear
I believe you!
@JohnBellyfull, I was going to respond but I am using the IPad tonight and my Apple Education is not high enough to include asteriks, or emoticons, and it takes too long to type to include my resume, so I guess I am done now.
what ever works – I’d like to see!
max-pac and ak with pleks
cammy and cole with DD
moen and Gionta with Leblanc
Darche and Nokelainen with Eller
Nice cop out, Gerry! You don’t have to add your signature or any of your previous qualifications.
I’m just not bothering. Too long. Too lazy. Too tired. Sorry John!
how about a 4th line of gomez, gionta, and white?
This is my first posting and I have to say that there are some knowledgable people commenting here. There are also a lot of comments made based on what happened today.
Kaberle was acquired for Spacek. Forgetting the money, if this had been a deadline deal, everyone would be creaming there shorts. This guy was obtained last year for a first round draft pick. He has a bad start with Carolina so he cannot be judged by that. Give hime some time before making a judgement on what he can do as a Hab. If he performs at 75% of his past he is certainly a major upgrade on Spacek. This trade has the potential to be and even greater steal than the Wis deal. This edition of the Habs is not far off a playoff spot playing with 4 D men that are basiscally rookies. An improvement in the powerplay moves them to the middle of the pack. They know how to play defense so anything can happen.
I was one of those that blasted this trade…not that spatches was so great…but if Kaberle keeps shutting us doom Sayers up, good for him..
Two things, first of all not everyone was wrong when you say we were all complaining about the trade. There was a few of us that saw how good this trade really is.
Secondly, for all of you that our concerned about how we are going to sign Price, Subban, and Gorges, I crunched the numbers and all we have to do is lose the Gomez contract. If we sign a 4th line guy for 1m, and bring up 1 or 2 entry level contracts for our third and fourth line, we’ll be able to resign Kostitsyn too and have money to spare.
My work: http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w36/nightryder_2007/Habs.jpg
So relax guys. It’s a pretty easy situation to fix.
Stev.R, did you get my answer the other day concerning Nathan Beaulieu turning pro next season?
No, I don’t think so. Do you think he will? AHL or NHL? Can’t he play one more season in Jr. if he wanted to?
His birthday is in a gray zone and he can opt to go pro next season. And as this is his 4th season in the Q, I expect him to turn pro.
Also, we don’t know what the salary cap will be like next year or if we’ll have a buyout period in the new CBA.
25 before 14
I think the commentary on this site could improve and the discourse wouldn’t be as discordant if a few ground rules were laid out:
1. – All assertions presented as fact must be accompanied by footnotes (represented by an *)
2. – All statements presented as analysis must include at the end in brackets the ‘expert’s’ level of education, coaching or managerial awards, acquired wisdom in matters related to the subject, and testimonials from bar mates
3. – Anything said with humourous intent must be so identified by the appropriate emoticon in numbers that indicate the amount of laughter you believe the witticism deserves. If the remark is sarcastic, please insert ✂ to indicate it’s meant to be a cutting remark.
Okay, there you have it. Feel free to add a few more. I’ll run them by the groundsruleskeeper.
What’s that, what would a post look like with these rules? Well, something like this …
Okay, so JM has coached more than a 1,000 games, Big deal. Has he ever won the Cup? NO!! *
Montreal should fire JM cuz he’s such a jerk (BA liberal arts, 13 years road hockey, six years pond hockey, three years industrial league hockey (no bodychecking), 21-year subscriber to The Hockey News, “He knows his stuff.” – Bob, Jack down at the Lonely Moose).
JM is so crappy we should call him BM!
*www.nhl.com
http://www.tsn.ca
http://www.hockeydb.com
As you can see, a cogent argument has been strengthened by the judicious use of supporting evidence and contextual enhancement, making it difficult if not impossible to rebut what the poster has posted.
With these rules in place, HIO will turn into one heckuva swell place to visit.
✂
Too many rules!
I do not see appropriate accreditation for your analysis*
It’s in brackets at the end of the sentence that provides the analysis. Sheesh!
(I was going to suggest using footnotes but I couldn’t figure out the formatting for it.*)
* Said fact is supported by consensus of colleagues: “He’s an idiot.”
I was not replying to your post JohnBellyful, bit the one suggesting too many rules*
My humble apologies. Failed to take note of placement of your response. I should be shot.
Rugger, you have been posting here long enough to know the “self evidence” of my truth*
Edit…what the? This was my response to JBs earlier comment. Don’t be alarmed folks, just a small technical glitch, should have this worked out in a ji……..
Not to worry JB. There are twits and there are Prime Grade “A” twits and you definitely fit the “A” classification.
Free TTs for all!
Oh wait, did I just…
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Prime Grade ‘A’. Sigh.
Momma would be proud. Thanks, Punks’.
For those confused by your ‘Free TTs’ reference, it means free tables for all.
OK, that’s better.
Frank, JBs rules are going to have to be negotiated in the next CBA for HIO members. They’re far too complicated and labour intensive for posters on this site to follow without fair and equitable compensation.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Free TTs for all?
Dave, had some further wise ass comment for JB but lost control of my computer to some 7 year old who was killing zombies of all things! What the he!! do I know?
7 year olds and Zombies. Sort of like this place.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Exactly, should let him loose on this crowd with his 8 year old cousin. They scare the crap out of me!!
Get a life
Now don’t take this the wrong way but half way through that, I wanted to drop the gloves, pull your shirt over your head and wail on you.
Yeah they win. But it’s same old same JM.
If your goalie isn’t superb you’re not winning the game. Relying on Carey every single night is going to tire him out.
JM has got to go.
Ken Dryden needs to teach Carey how to lean on his stick and rest, this way he won’t tire out.
Good game, good win and a good debut by Kaberle.
“Hate Bruins like a sickness”
Team MVP this year will be Carey Price once again…hope he asks for the world when his contract comes up…the kid deserves lots of coin.
ka-BEAR-la is a top 4 d-man.
When Markov returns we have 3 offensive d-men in Kaberle, Markov and PK.
Additionally we have 3 stay at home dmen in Gorges, Emilin and Gill.
Thats our top 6.
Pairing them up may take a little fine-tuning.
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“I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out”
~Rodney Dangerfield
dont forget about campoli.
…..You’ll never get to heaven if you’re scared of getting high…..
Campoli is obsolete. He was only signed because of the injuries in September and then ironically he gets injured.
I’d keep him til Markov is back then deal him at the deadline.
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“I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out”
~Rodney Dangerfield
Put Gorges and as the main shutdown pairing. PK and Kabs can light it up offensively, and Markov Emelin will be good at everything.
Habs were lucky to win this one. Great game by Price, even if the goal was a little weak.
Nice start for Kaberle, who had the outrage of HIO Nation to deal with. All you guys will have to wait at least another game to release your prepared statements about how crappy he is.
Full Breezer 4 Life
We have three possible outcomes with kaberle:
1. He sucks and we’re saddled with his contract for two more years, with a lottery pick as consolation
2. He improves our PP and offensive production enough to make the playoffs. We have the contract and no lottery pick
3. He plays like Wiz or his former all star self and vaults us into elite class. No lottery pick but happy results.
1 or 2 are clearly the most likely outcomes. Neither of which begin the rebuild. On the other hand, spacek may have fetched a prospect or a pick from a cup contender at the deadline and the future begins sooner.
Unquestionably, kaberle is a talent (or has been, prior to Boston). He’s easily better than spacek.
Doesn’t mean it’s a good trade.
I don’t think spacek would have fetched us anything more then a mid to late round pick. Gill or gorges on the other hand would land us something much better. This is the kind of trade that works for both teams. Rutherford knows his season is pretty much done so he dumps a contract who was struggling for a vet dman in the last year in his contract who he will probably flip at the deadline.
We get an offensive dman who should help our PP,taking some of the burden off Subban. Who can play top 4 minutes and has been pretty durable over his career.
Not sure if any of you folks get the BigTen Network, but they are televising Michigan vs. Michigan St. hockey. 2-1 MSU right now after 1 period. Or just keep watching the Sens….
Thanks for the heads up, caught up to it at with 13 minutes to go in the second. What did I miss?
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
anyone see how ugly kaberle’s suit was tonight on tsn?
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
Looks like I missed a classic. Damn. Oh well… next time.
Emelin with Kaberle makes sense. Similar how everyone anticipated a Markov Emelin pairing (and not only because of the language).
Looks like just like Gomer, Gionta is not missed either. Next Cammi and it will be time to deal the three biggest money wasters.
who in their right mind would take on those contracts?
we’re stuck these 3 till the end of their deals.
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“I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out”
~Rodney Dangerfield
All right! Any of you guys that disses Boonie is going to have to deal with me! And I mean it!!!
“It’s a moo point. Like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter. It’s moo.”
Well now I just want to diss Boone!
Leave Britney alooooonnnneeee!!!!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Kelly Bundy?
has someone noticed the habs-guy with the Claude Giroux sign in the stands? what the hell..
yes!@!!
I really get a kick at reading some of you twits on this site. And Mike Boone, you totally lost me yesterday with your comments on Kaberle. His season of “misery” last year had the same number of points as Cammalleri and 13 more than Subban…. and we just got him for Spacek. I have many friends in the NHL. My college roommate plays for the Sabres. I am in business with a Dallas Star. I socialize regularly with NHL-ers, and player agents. Having sat down with PG and talked hockey (my favorite subject), I would say he is one of the most knowledgeable hockey guys I have ever spoken to.
He knows far more than any of you twist who were slamming Kaberle before seeing him play. As I said yesterday, we just got our best defenseman…. for Spacek.
Tre
bob gainey is that you???
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
Toot, toot, toot.
Taberwitt
I’m insulted by this post. As a card carrying member of the HI/O Twitchy Twits Society ™ I must protest your slandering of what we believe is our god (of-your-choice) given right to make rash and irrational decisions, jump to unfounded conclusions and act like utter buffoons over any and all things Habs related.
Twits Untie!…er…UNITE!
***Subbang Baby!!!***
No, it’s the Twitchy Twist Society. Can’t you read?
Do you guys still sell the Twitchy Twits Twists? The strawberry ones were great!
To be honest, that was the only reason I joined, for the discounted TTT’s.
Sorry to say, I let my society membership expire. The meetings were jam-packed but I quit going because nobody could remember Robert’s Rules of Order. Not even Robert! Now he was a twit.
Hear! Hear! We pride ourselves on unfounded bias and opinions completely devoid of rational. If you actually know somebody, you can’t play our game. However, if you have to tell everyone how smart you are, well you know the rest.
Oh, I once got in a shoving match with Lyle Odlein at Cheers, can I be cool too?
Go Dave!!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
You and Nahlsy claiming bragging rights after just one game? LeafNation Unite!
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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Kab was caught napping twice early on in the game..could have easily been -2, but Price bailed him out.
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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Thankfully we had price to make those saves.If we had any other goalie we probably would not have been so lucky. Its almost like he used the electricity of the hab fans in attendance to elevate his game,it was pyramidic like.
Chilli
I’m sure PG is extraordinarily bright and as a career hockey man, i have no doubt he can spot talent better than me (and 99.9999% of fans).
Doesn’t make this a good trade.
We have three possible outcomes with kaberle:
1. He sucks and we’re saddled with his contract for two more years, with a lottery pick as consolation
2. He improves our PP and offensive production enough to make the playoffs. We have the contract and no lottery pick
3. He plays like Wiz or his former all star self and vaults us into elite class. No lottery pick but happy results.
1 or 2 are clearly the most likely outcomes. Neither of which begin the rebuild. On the other hand, spacek may have fetched a prospect or a pick from a cup contender at the deadline and the future begins sooner.
Unquestionably, kaberle is a talent (or has been, prior to Boston). He’s easily better than spacek.
Would appreciate your insights on this.
Thanks.
I sooo hope Mike’s speculation about moving a d-man to obtain help on the 4th line turns out to be true. That has been a problem area since the days of Smolinski and Kostopoulos.
As for the lines, YES, Max Pac and Cole MUST stay with DD. That was madness splitting them up. They are one of the most dominant lines we’ve had in 3 years.
And by the way, Gionta or no Gionta, I would keep AK with Eller. In fact, I would move Cammy there also, and have Pleks play with Moen and LL. Oh, I know, critics would start braying that Pleks has been demoted, etc., etc. But this whole notion of 1st, 2nd, 3rd lines is nonsense. Pleks, Moen, and LL could create an extremely defensively reliable line. And Pleks’ creativity might allow Louis to use his offensive skills. And then you have Moen there to get dirty in the crowded areas.
Meanwhile, Gomez awaits in the wings to throw this whole discussion into a muddle.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
Moore was the best 4 liner we had
Yeah, I liked him a lot. Never understood why they let him go. But then, I don’t understand a lot of BG/PG’s decisions.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
he played on the 3rd line
maxime lapierre was the 4th line centre that year.
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
Please. PLEASE! Don’t put the camshaft on Eller’s line. It’s, it’s,it’s,,, like 4 on 5 whenever he’s on the ice.
moi
Taberwitt
He played his best game in LA playing alongside DD sometimes, and Eller at other times.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
I am guessing that White is still a ways away from returning?
After Christmas, most probably.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
He looked good and happy while visiting the Children’s Hospital though, wearing his bleu blanc rouge. Godspeed.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
This trade Cammy stuff is beyond hilarious. By that logic, we should trade PK too.
And we should have traded Price instead of Halak too.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
Cammy is streaky and his confidence is low. He will turn it around. Remember his terrible finish to the 09-10 regular season after coming back from injury, only to be red hot in the playoffs. I think the power play funk really impacted him
Waddya wanna do? Play him on the fourth line? He’s a liability to the team, not an asset. Cluck, cluck, cluck,,,
Taberwitt
Strictly to be accurate, it’s tabarouette.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Puleeze. I’m a priest.
Taberwitt
why do you make assumptions and causal inferences like that?? It’s like you don’t want to prove a point but just piss people off
I think Cammalleri should be traded because aside from a couple of good playoffs.. he’s not making his 6m/yr… he’s soft and it seems like he lacks heart or desire to play night in and night out.
He hasn’t been great since the first 3-4 months of his Habs career and a couple of playoffs so in my opinion, he should be given a chance to get his career back on track somewhere else, and we could use some grittier players that will show up every night.
wouldn’t mind dealing cammalleri to Calgary for Moss + Bourque. Both are big guys.. bourque and moss could give us more size, make up for cammalleri’s offense, while also providing the 4th line with more grit.
maybe even a hemsky for cammalleri deal straight up.. now that’s just because I like Hemsky.. could be fun to have hemsky and plekanec on the same line.. two czechs on the same line!
though in regards of subban and price.. the difference is subban is 22 and price was 21-22 as well in slumps.. but Cammalleri is 29, he should be in his prime.. there’s not much time to wait for cammalleri and there’s not much that he’s going to change. What you see is what you get with cammalleri and I’m not liking what we’re getting.
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taberwitt
U forgetting the intangible Cammy is a PLAYOFF WARRIOR and don’t u forget
I referred to that in my post and I said it doesn’t do enough
the final product does not always equal the sum of its parts
although the playoff warrior is a fantastic part, it doesn’t make the final product fantastic.
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
The only players i went traded right now is Gomez and eventually Gionta and the only smurf i want is DD young and hungry
I think Shero may part with MacIntyre for Weber. They don’t use him much anyway since they have England in the lineup. We could sure use scrapper of his stature, especially against the bruins. PG should make the call.
There is no way Weber would/should be traded for MacIntyre. Weber has 100 times more value.
i don’t imagine they’ll give him to us for anything less
Based on what? When was the last time a fringe NHL, no skill, goon was traded for a 23 year old offensive D?
Weber has more points than MacIntyre has career shots, in fewer games.
MacIntyre might be worth a 7th round pick, but not Yannick Weber.
My thoughts on Weber differ from yours so we’ll agree to dissagree. But I sure do miss the days of Chartraw, Kordic and Ewen.
MacIntyre ??? because he is big and heavy ?
they called this guy up to protect crosby on his retourn, that was basiclly his only job this year. he has even a shot on goal once in his 6 games.
hell no!!
Wasn’t MacIntyre waived or go into the late summer as an unsigned FA or something?
I wouldn’t trade a young offensive RH Dman with a cannon and small cap hit for a plug like MacIntyre. If we want tough guy in the line-up, we can call up Blunden anytime we want.
Weber has been brutal lately and he may not have a long future with this club, but it would be best to avoid trading him at a low. Plus I still think he has potential. Remember, he’s only 22 or 23 so still lots of time to develop.
- Honestly yours
trouble is, Blundens not tough.
Other problem with both MacIntyre and Blundedn is JM doesn’t play those kinds of players.
Look, I like Subban, maybe even love him (as much as you can love an athlete in a completely hetero way), but I think he should be traded if you can somehow swing Shea Weber back in return. Probably would have to send a pick as well, and clear up some cap space…. wonder where that can come from.
Okay Body get real PK second year second guessing him self ,Martin
got him so scare to rush u can see the second guessing ,PK got the wheel to be a rushing D but Martin got him Screw up he will find is way ,remember PK and Price coming up together throughout the system create teams chemistry add Pac, DD ,PLack,Georges and u got guys who want to win togethers
but shea weber is amazing
will subban ever be better than weber!?
that’s the question
- If the NHL was the Wizard of Oz, Cammalleri would be the Cowardly Lion.
No way I would do that trade. I doubt PG would either. PK is in his 2nd year and he will be a superstar in this league…better than Shea Weber.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
PK can rush end to end like Coffey and guess what Orr it sad me to see him slow down and look for a pass
Ryan White, man..
I dont need to read your posts…i wasnt talking to you, i didint reply to you or reference you in my post…so stop being such a smart ass and at the same time why dont you keep your homophobic comments to yourself.
if you are calling me homophobic then you clearly arent reading my posts
You should change your screen name to Crosseyed_homophobe.
Temporarily of course, and just to make light of a situation that was taken for too seriously by some.
- Honestly yours
get out of my head charles
test
Looks like we’re going to have to divert some funds away from Bellyful’s ponzi scheme to get some new shocks for the bandwagon. Or do we wait until after Tuesday’s game before investing in the suspension?
Okay, but the seats in the bandwagon can’t have armrests this time, it is really hard for everyone to jump on and off with those fricking armrests.
I’m staying on, so I’d like my seat to have a 5-point harness.
I’ve had a brass nameplate bolted to my seat for years. Says “Punkster’s Perch – Sit At Your Own Risk”.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
I’ve always been on as well Chuck, but I am trying to think of our Medicare and the costs incurred for the others.
Burl’, don’t forget, all those who jump forfeit their $1,000 investment. But if they want to buy their way back on, that’s okay with me … oh yes, and Mr. Riboff, of course.
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, don’t spoil my cover!!!I mean misconstrue my role in this laudable enterprise (No, it’s not a laudable loney!!!)
I am just the fund handler for Bernie “Boom Boom” Riboff. It’s HIS ponzi scheme. And I’d prefer you refer to it by its rightful name, the Montreal Canadiens Riboff Fund.
Just a reminder, Habs fans: For a modest investment of $1,000, you can help the fan bandwagon — yes, the whole famn ban danwagon!!! — be refurbished to support more team supporters. For $1,500 you can reserve a berth for long road trips!
Send your cheques to John Bellyful, Poppa’s Gonna Get Baby New Shoes, PO Box 2346, My Town, ON YOW ZAH
Hey, that’s Charlese Theron’s summer cottage postal code!
So you’re the secret Canadian Squeeze! Lucky bugger.
She’s oh-so-gonna kill me …
I’m really tired to see all the negativity around DD here. The guy is playing excellent hockey. I’m I the only one who remember seeing him carry Jumbo Joe on his back?
——
Canadien en 5!
Never go Full Retard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svwGRJA28lY&feature=related
I am not sure if you direct this at me, but I would like to respond. I am not being negative to DD, but rather stating while he is a very skilled player, a top center should/needs to be able to make his own space and be strong on the puck is all.
He is excellent with MaxPac and Cole, but players like Cammy, Gio it would help them tremendously to have a big power forward on their line. Have 3 skilled small players on one line does not work in today’s NHL on a game in game out basis.
Desharnais’ job is to get his trees the puck and let them work. Very little of what he does should be considered ‘brilliant’. It’s pretty easy to look good when you’ve got the team’s two leading goal scorers on your wing.
Desy still gets knocked off the puck alarmingly easy. In the third period it was glaringly obvious that he doesn’t have the willpower to go to the net, when on a 3 on 1 he curled back to the top of the circle to try to thread a pass between what had become a 3 on 3 because of his unwillingness to go to the net.
Hell, put me on the ice, I’ll pass it to Cole and Pacioretty, will I be considered a genius too?
No, because you will be 200 feet behind the play on your ass.
Lol
I agree, IF we had a big # 1 I would probably be able to tolerate him as a 2, but we can’t have him and Pleks as our 1 – 2 combo, just to small. So unless we Use Pleks as bait to get the big # 1 DD has no real place. Eller would have just as many points if he had the same 2 wingers and get the same PP time
Haha, one of the dumbest posts I’ve ever read on HI/O. That’s saying a lot, isn’t it?
“It’s pretty easy to look good when you’ve got the team’s two leading goal scorers on your wing.”
Why are they scoring?
I actually agree with you on DD having an easier time because of the ‘trees’…Eller there and you’d get similar results. BUT 13 and 72 did work well flanking 51 in california and 13′s small so….
But I do agree, DD has it made there.
He does really, top face off guy on the teams,.incredible reading of what going on like making interference on Kovalchuk for Cole goal and he only getting better ,the guy’s got my vote just like St-Louis sure we need a Parise but give credit to the man
DD could notch 70 points this season, and you’d still be singing this song. You don’t like the guy. After three months, that’s clear.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
For him to be where he is say it all
LMFAO @ the coveted F
Cammy has a girlfiend and a child with her. Delving into his personall life is disgusting and show’s the lowbrow level of posters here. Same goes for the “I told you so” crowd.
*sigh*
I wasn’t talking about you dude.
but i was the one who did delve, but only as an example of how ones thoughts does not reflect reality
I was talking about the nimrod who was calling him gay.
that
was
me
lol
I thought it was someone else, I thought your posts were defending him.
No, hes doing both at the same time so save face
they were both, someone brought up perception so i retorted that my perception was that i thought he was gay, nothing wrong with that, but i thought he was, wasnt accusing, just my own thoughts
i didnt come to HIO screaming about it because I didnt care enough about the subject to even think it was an issue
as it ends up i was wrong, but my point to it all was, perception means nothing without the facts is all
edit: and sane hockey fan, its got nothing to do with saving face, im shameless and dont care about “saving face”
Familiarity breeds HIO members.
Okay since DD has now been elevated to “brilliant” status, then lets take one of his power forwards away and put Cammy there. For now Cammy is on this team and should be our best sniper, therefore we need to get him going.
I worry that the current tinkering has damaged more lines than helped one. AK/Eller should be together still.
Love the win, love that we may suddenly have depth at the backend.
For the record, I think DD is very nifty, highly skilled/talented. I just don’t think he gets the room he needs if he doesn’t have 2 power forwards on his line. Problem is we don’t have that many to go around.
By the way, when is Gomez back we need some forwards.
Have said it before (and attracted great derision) and will say again. I am really looking forward to Gomez (and now Gionta) getting back. I think they are both important parts on our team and we miss them. Team is much better with them both.
I totally agree.
Yup, and Gomez when healthy can make space for forwards. Needs to be healthy and more importantly needs his confidence back.
100%
Sorry Gerry, but I can’t agree with you on that one.
Cammie’s not scoring granted, but you can’t mess up the DD line.
They’re our most productive line, and it’s because the 3 of them open up so much ice for each other.
Pleks and AK played well today, but #13 is seriously stalled. I’ll give you that.
I am being kind of serious in my comment and kind of sarcastic. While I like what DD brings and we need that, when the team has to give him our 2 best power forwards to succeed it hurts the rest of the forward lines. That is my issue.
DD the one making the forward better not the others way around
When Cammalleri was with DD and Cole last week in California and early this week he was playing great, then Patches went back onto the line, and there went his play.
Gionta also hasn’t been great with Pleky this year, which is weird, cause usually Pleky’s stellar.
AK I felt was quite weak today, but played well the other few games this week.
The chemistry this team builds and loses based on juggling is ridiculous.
Personally I would try
13/51/72
67/14/21 (32? 71?)
46/81/71 (32?)
52/15/NOT WEBER.
Well, there’s no 21 for a while. They’re talking potential fracture wrist or forearm.
So 71 will probably stay up for a while.
But juggling the lines around could back fire, and they’d all be struggling.
I say work around the DD line.
i’d use the DD line to our advantage try 13 one game 67 the other etc. they both had success on it, and see if one of them can help spark pleky. but that’s just me. even though again, i hate the line juggling.
Worry about AK as well ,but he is smiling a lot more
The only problem with your experiment is it wouldn’t be Mr. Desharnais that you’d hurt, but rather Mr. Cole or Mr. Pacioretty.
The proof is in the pudding, you can see how his linemates enjoy playing with him. That’s huge, right there.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I’m sure Mr. Cole and Mr. Pacioretty would be willing to try it for a game or two. When Mr Pacioretty was suspended that’s what the Habs did, and 13/51/72 were the most dangerous line on the ice all 3 games.
Try it again, with Mr. Pacioretty trying to spark Mr. Plekanec. Just my 2 cents.
Ms. HabsForTheCup
Cammy played with DD when MaxPac was suspended, and that line remained very dangerous. Cole is doing better with DD than he was doing with Plex.
exactly.
it’s the opposite of last year when everyone was shining with pleks, now they kinda suck with him.
why is the question.
You right about the lack of power forward ,but DD got them because he is the one who make them better and Martin know it + he win face off
Trade Cammy, trade PK. You guys would just keep trading and trading and trading every time someone goes through a bad stretch. Remember when ya s wanted to trade Price too? Patience
x2
Devils players are morons. Why was that idiot New Jersey player celebrating like they scored when they were awarded a penalty shot?? What a retard. I think JM should be fired for that
mods: you have got to be kidding me
lol cheers Mofo!
girlfriend, also read all my comments for context
You guys realize other teams get loser points too right? The SO is a gimmick that could go either way. Enough with the loser point BS. We are in every game missing key players in most. You guys just love to hate. Meditate a little
What ails Cammy? That’s easy. Dirty diapers and little sleep. He’s a new father and he’s probably taking some time to enjoy his new role as a dad. Right or wrong my career took it on the chin when my first born joined the household. I took a few weeks and months to adjust to my new life and duties. Pretty surreal as am sure quite of few of you know. New dad, couple of injuries, that will show up in your game. I’m sure he’ll get his bearings and return to form….unfortunately that will be about the time that Plakanec’s new arrival starts keeping him up nights.
i honestly thought the same thing. He’s probably exhausted and playing with some kind of injury. He needs time. Patience people, patience. He will become mr snipe again, just give him time.
Judging by what’s been said the last two days on other threads, it’s getting so we might need to add a loyalty oath to the Rules of posting here. Dare to be critical or sound a note of optimism and you’re attacked from all quarters. Even rational, non-controversial opinions come under fire (someone challenged me on my saying the sale of MLSE to Rogers and Bell was the abomination of the 21st century. Can you believe it?).
Still, I think it’s safe to say we’re united in our belief that we wish the Canadiens well, we just don’t always agree with the path that they’ve chosen.
I suggest a third request be made of every HIO member desiring to make comment. In addition to providing a user name and password to enter the Commentarium, the poster should also affirm his or her unshakeable fealty to the Club de hockey Canadien, however mawkish or shrill the opinion expressed.
Something like this:
“I am a dyed-in-the-wool Montreal Canadiens fan who would take a bullet – a BB pellet preferably – if it guaranteed my favouritest team would reach the pinnacle of success. Accept my views for what they are: my views.”
Are we clear? We all love the Habs.
Okay, now handshakes all around.
I said handshakes, not headshakes.
Awww, you guys are incorrigible.
I am trying to find something I can find offensive in your post. I can’t. Damn you.
Have not told you before (lots of others have) that I enjoy your posts here. Very well written. Thanks.
Great post as usual JB.
If I wasn’t living in Montreal I would have a hard time justifying my fealty to this organization. As it stands, I am a dyed in the wool Montrealer. However I feel like I am in a broken relationship, that I am stuck with this club for better or worse even though I tend to look at other clubs with envy and bit of covetousness.
It’s going to take much more than one good game from Kaberle to convince me this hockey team is moving in the right direction.
I know how you feel, HH. There are times I wish I hadn’t got the Habs logo tattooed on my forehead. The worst part is, the guy put the C backwards. (At half-price, can I really complain?)
But hang in there, buddy. Keep the faith. I think we’re being tested, that’s all.
Well, I didn’t weigh in yesterday, so take this for what you will.
I don’t hate the trade for this year. In fact, short term I think this is a great trade. We can’t score but we have good D (with Spacek not playing and JM only playing 5 D regularly). Kaberle is a bit of softy, but that is why we have Price. I am concerned for next year and how much wiggle room we have with the cap… but since I am not on the payroll I guess I shouldn’t be concerned.
I also told my wife I would reserve judgement until after I see him in the “System”… it seemed to help the Wiz.
Overall impression after game 1: Kind of drooling at what the PP is going to be once Markov gets back (if the CBC report was not a complete lie).
As for kaberle himself – I hope he grows back the Uni-brow for the Playoffs
The reality of the Cammaleri “situation” is that the guy has at least 20 posts hit this year. If even half of those go in he’s got 16 goals and is leading the team by 5. Those who are expecting him to back check as effectively as Plekanec or fore check as effectively as Cole are expecting too much. The guy is a sniper, and the only thing that I can see reasonably wrong with his game is that he isn’t getting bounces. Maybe you could say his shot is off by five inches, but at the end of the day I still think he gets to 20 goals this year. Ultimately, I think probably too much was paid for him, but that off season a lot of guys got overpaid – it comes with the territory in a down free agent year. If we didn’t pay him that much, someone else was going to.
Agree. Cammi will break out as the the rest of the team does. Patience. A few wins will get everyone rolling.
and if you watch his games these past few weeks, his passing is tape to tape , he’s actually going for puck battles, he breaks up a lot of passes w/ his stick,and he’s playing very defensively… which is a whole other concern, but his scoring will come.
I’m so tired of the cammalleri bashers on here.
Watch the other things he’s been doing well, that you all ignore cause it’s not lightning the lamp red.
He’s assisting a lot as well.
4 pts in 4 games like 3 times this season.
Interesting point about the posts, I’ve been thinking about the same thing. What’s the percentage of posts hit per shot on net or per goal for snipers? Guys who pick the corner as opposed to just putting it on the goalie’s pads or chest must hit more posts. I wonder if there’s stats out there? I’m sure a goal-scorer hits posts more often and with greater frequency than a checker.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Nice win. Great to see Kaberle get the two points. Good for him. Gets the worst fans off his back for a few games.
I see below some people complaining about Boone. Honestly, this is his house and guests should know better than to insult their host. If you don’t like him, no one is forcing you to be here.
I am sure if the Gazette has a problem with Boone, he hears about it. I don’t see a problem with him expressing his opinions one way or the other. Sometimes I don’t agree. I write something and move on.
I have even enjoyed his alleged shots at Christians, but that was a topic on a thread that got yanked, so not going there again.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Stubbs and him did have a chat about it actually. There were some pretty pissed off posters yesterday.
It’s just not worth getting into here really. It would be like being pro- or anti-segregation in the U.S. during the civil rights movement in the 1960s and saying African Americans should or shouldn’t be allowed to ride at the front of the bus like white folks.
Sure, everyone is entitled to an opinion about a highly controversial and politically charged topic (where lives are at stake), but a hockey blogger’s/professional hockey journalist’s job isn’t to make wise cracks on one side of the issue.
Haven’t they told you? Anything goes on the Internet.
No, it really doesn’t.
For the most part, Cammalleri has stunk since he joined the Habs. He has had excellent playoffs (for some odd reason), but generally he stinks. Soft passes, can’t win a battle on the boards, and now he isn’t even scoring at a goal every 3 games. I think it is time to trade him while some teams still think he has some value.
.
whats wrong with being gay?
and i wasnt accusing him, i said my perception led me to think he was, without any pitchforks in hand i might add
I read it differently. My apologies. Nothing wrong with being gay.
But we’ve all read that as an insult on this site a time or two.
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http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Apostrophes
no worries
and i mean, you never saw him with women, the guys a snappy dresser with a big like for van morrison, ends up hes just INCREDIBLY metro
Would you tell us you thought Price was heterosexual?
Not trying to bust your non-gay balls, but that’s why it’s something people are surprised to see raised. Probably not worth bringing up one way or the other.
i dunno, im not hung up on sexuality so i see nothing wrong with discussing it
as for price, i dunno, those boots are a bit fruity
Bob Cole doing Hab games is comparable to Don Cherry endorsing IKEA !!!
always nice to get a W vs. NJD and Brodeur.
Good comments, Boone.
I think Kaberle was alright, contributing offensively and helping a limping PP. He was a little weak on his man when Devils scored, but we’ll forgive and forget since we won!
PK’s game was less flamboyant today, a good thing. He’s still a liability defensively, coughing up the puck several times a game on most nights. But, he’s young and still gaining valuable experience for future success.
I agree with Cammi observation, but I think Pleks is also confused out there. I think Pleks reasons would include not having permanent wingmen. Something needs to be done there. Personally, I’d trade Cammi in a heartbeat if we could get someone stronger on the puck with an eye for the net along with some D skills – don’t ask me who cuz I haven’t thought much about it.
And, do we not have some big burly forwards on the farm who would love to stir the pot on the Habs 4th line? Weber in there just doesn’t jive…
I don’t like saying this, but the 3 game home stand will be a big test for this team. They need to regain form in Montreal.
Not much is said about coaching after a win vs. Robinson’s crew, but I’m still in the “can Martin” squad.
Happy for the 2 points, but this team is hard to watch on most nights… especially in the 3rd period!
Cammalleri for Hartnell. Yes, no? Decent trade I think.
In a second.
Decent for both sides no? Hartnell’s cap hit is 4.5 I think.
I actually think Weber plays with more purpose as a fourth-liner. I also thought Blunden was a good fit when he played. He, Darche and Ryan White would make a decent trio in my opinion.
Cammalleri is in Dany Heatley cap territory and I’m not sure if he has a full, no-movement clause.
The habs of the last 2 years are back…at least for this game…how many games looked like this game the last 2 years…score on the pp,,play great pk..price makes the saves and hang on in the last 2 minutes while losing key draws in your zone…
I would trade Cammaleri ASAP for someone larger, grittier and more willing to fight for pucks. If he doesn’t score, how is that worse than squid? Don’t know what’s going on with him but he’s not the player he was and I have to think opposing coaches have him figured out.
In terms of Cammy; I ahve been a big supporter for a long time but he seems to have lost his way here. I think if the Flames’ brass were contacted they may be interested because of the success he had with Iginla. I think the Habs could get Glencross or Bourgue plus a 2nd for him. That has to be a could deal for the Habs
Cammalleri has been pouting since early last season when he was taken off Plekanec’s line in favour of Gionta to jump start the captain’s slow start and, at the same time, Subban was stealing his thunder in media coverage and fan love. He’s a sniper who isn’t producing, arguably a more one-dimensional player than Gomez. Come next season he will be the highest-paid Hab (in actual dollars) on the team, so if he isn’t feeling the heat now, than it’s just waiting for him around the corner.
“Cammalleri has been pouting since early last season when he was taken off Plekanec’s line in favour of Gionta to jump start the captain’s slow start and, at the same time, Subban was stealing his thunder in media coverage and fan love.”
its called hockey, not 90210
Cammalleri does kind of look like a diva. Of course, this is just my perception.
Fair enough, but jealousy does exist in life. Boone offers the suggestion that Cammalleri may be pouting. I agree.
Thanks again for the post Mike. Always enjoy the column.
I’m hoping this game helps their confidence. With a man in the box and Parise about to take a penalty shot, the Montreal Canadiens were
oh-so-close to blowing another one in the third.
Who didn’t expect this game to go into OT?
But Price makes a rare save on a Parise shootout attempt and Les Canadiens fight the puck out of their zone to preserve the win.
Could this game be a turning point in the season?
E.
COBERLAY is the correct way to pronounce his name according to his father today.
Everybody? LOL
No, not everybody…There were a few that actually liked this trade and didn’t jump off the clifff..I was one of them..That is exactly what Kaberle is known for…An elite player WITH the puck and average without it…If he can spark this PP like he did today, his shortcomings on D will be a wash…He is paired with the right partner, in Emelin…
Price out dueled Brodeur…Loved seeing that…But Martin pulled the reigns again and he almost gave away the W..Can he take a long hike and get lost, please
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Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
The comedy that is H I/O second-guessing reaches another low today with several people asking why Mike Boone was “hired” to run the site, and wouldn’t it be better with someone else.
(Correct me if I’m wrong) but H I/O is essentially his baby. There are dozens of Hab sites and this is the one with the most action.
i began to search for where these comments were said, then i stopped myself…
I didn’t read those posts, but yesterday some deluded posters were accusing Mike Boone of being guilty of biased journalism. I think they need to be reminded that Mr. Boone is a columnist (and sometimes hilarious calumnist) and is paid handsomely I’m sure to offer his opinions.
Think of Mr. Boone as one of the cranks sitting a couple of bar stools away who gets in so many good wisecracks during the game that by the third period he’s joined your group and is backslapping everyone and cheering the goals and hits and is helping himself to glasses from your pitcher. We all know that guy, and we all love him.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
its boone’s site, he can post his thoughts on unicorn sperm and monkey farts if he so desires
some people are pro-israel and there is nothing wrong with that
I remember the criticism regarding the political reference, but that’s not what I’m commenting on. I’m specifically referring to those who thought the Kaberle trade was a good deal, and that he was too negative and should be more even-handed. That’s what I’m talking about, and think it’s important people realize the difference between journalism and opinion pieces.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I get the difference, but contrary to what the righteous would like to say, there are indeed BAD opinions, those of which are exaggerated, reactionary, and based on little to no facts, or in this case, outright in SPITE of the facts. No evidence to preclude Kaberle is washed up except for a bad start to the season, and thats not evidence at all.
I could also bring up how he praised Weber numerous times earlier in the season, no bashes him routinely without acknowledging the change in attitude or giving him the benefit of the doubt someone like Subban gets. WHO, by the way, is barely better than Weber this year, if at all.
What do you mean “sometimes”?
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
I mean you’re like Mike Bossy, you only hit the mark like sixty times a season.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Double post.
I thought you were going to say “what do you mean paid handsomely”?
I thought he was going to object to being characterized as the classic tavern moocher, but he probably didn’t glean that far.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I most certainly do not love him
At least he went from miserable to disappointing in one paragraph. What a joke – 2nd on the PK, 7th on 5-5 … one point out of a playoff spot … with the leader at the helm, negativity reigns supreme on HIO
Membership since 1970
Fire Jacques Martin!!
But keep JM
Ka-Boom started the game pretty badly but they found their stride.
http://www.puckbandits.com
An early game for the Canadiens today, and it seemed like both teams were asleep as the game began. The Devils really started waking up after the break in the third when rink glass had to be replaced. And wake up they did, coming very close to tying the game late.
There’s not really a theme or an angle or overriding subject I can think of to focus on in this recap. The guys on l’Antichambre are riffing on Mike Cammalleri’s poor performance, and that is a bit of a concern with me as well. I’ve been trying to defend him, telling others to be patient and that he’s probably hiding an injury. Today, he hit a post on a two-on-one with Andrei Kostitsyn, and missed on a golden chance on a wide open net with Martin Brodeur out of position. The worrisome aspect is that Chantal, who has access to the dressing room and practice sessions, mentioned that he seems perturbed, and not as upbeat as he was last season. I’m still hoping that he has a couple of dings that will get better, and he’ll regain the form and confidence we need from him if we’re going to be successful.
Carey Price was his usual calm self, and showed some emotion when he stopped Zach Parisé on the penalty shot late in the game. It’s good for him and good for us that he was successful in such a situation, he’s been struggling in shootouts, and it would be great if he regained his stone-cold bravado. He certainly looked more prepared and technically sound on this attempt, as he came out to cut down the shooting angles, and retreated under control and with good balance, so that he made the save look easy, and Mr. Parisé relatively pedestrian. I’m not sure if he’s been working with Mr. Groulx, but he certainly looked more like the World Junior tournament-version of Carey Price, instead of the more recent version.
Brian Gionta was announced to be injured severely enough that he will miss all of next week. This is going to complicate matters, in that while he has not shown up on the scoresheet regularly, he works hard every game, and we don’t have a valid replacement option. It means more games for Louis Leblanc with the Grand Club, and not that I think he looks out of place, but I was really hoping that he’d get a lot of icetime in Hamilton instead of 7 minutes a game up here. This also points out how unrealistic it is to expect the Canadiens to at some point have a full, injury-free roster. Those who fret about the glut of defencemen on the team right now need only wait a game or two before someone’s hamstring goes pop or someone blocks a shot with their wrist.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Gauthier is a brilliant man.
I knew the trade would work all along. One more great trade and the cup is ours
Boy you sad whiners must feel pretty foolish on this fine day
Yeah, cuz one game determines how good or bad a trade is, genius.
Is that you, PG, with that proclamation of brilliance? Seems a bit over-the-top, and this is coming from a guy who wrote a rather long post two days ago about the many pros of PG.
I’ll be the first to say that Kabs played well for us today, and I will be more than happy to eat my crow if the deal ends up working to our advantage…..long-term. The issue wasn’t about who is better between Spatcho and Kabs, it was about Spatch’s contract being up at the end of the year and us having an extra 3.8mil of cap room to work with. Pretty important considering the many key pieces we need to re-sign this summer. Kabs’ 4.25mil/year for 2 more seasons after this one, and the implications of said contract, is the concern.
- Honestly yours
Good comments, Boone. I liked the PP today, save for the third one, I think. Whichever one was a mess.
Cammalleri does look a bit lost right now…maybe its time for a one on one with Gainey, a la Alex Kovalev. I don’t know, but they need his 6 million dollar hands to start burying those chances.
All in all a decent game against a comparable team. Next weeks match against the Flyers will be more interesting, let alone the other two games.
One more stat: the Habs have grabbed 7/10 possible points so far in December.
Yes, it could have been more. Yes, the loser point counts, and is in fact fair compensation for a truncated OT and the ridiculousness that is the shootout. Yes, Kabs is a good PP QB (no, we are not necessarily stuck with his contract until 2014). Yes, PG is a very good GM, if not quite a genius. Yes, the Habs are going to make the playoffs, and not just in 8th place.
Undefeated in regulation in December. Pretty good I think.
25 before 14
“If your Montreal Canadiens manage to turn around their miserable-to-date season”
How has it been miserable-to-date?
It is not good enough, and has been frustrating at times, but it has been far from miserable and could have been a lot worse considering certain factors. We have such thin skin these days.
You’re right!
I changed it.
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
Thank you Mike
By the way, I am an Argo fan, so I know what miserable looks like : )
You think they are bad. I cheered for the Riders again this year. That was miserable!
Ha, I actually agree with the use of “miserable to date”. They played so far below expectations, so the expression is valid, in my opinion.
Curious – what were your expectations for the pre-Markov season?
I was hoping for a bit better than .500 hockey, and a much earlier return for The General. So, we have to wait longer, and PG made the necessary move in acquiring Kabs.
Expectations? 2nd in the division. Not last.
Pre-Markov’s return? Dreaming in technicolour. The last two seasons PG has moved to acquire a replacement for Markov. He hadn’t done so yet this season, until yesterday.
What are you saying? Markov IS the team?? Habs did fine without him last 2 seasons. It was time to move on and it is now more than ever.
No, I’m saying that Markov is the #1 Dman and the PP QB. If he isn’t playing for an extended period he needs to be replaced (just as 1G Price, or 1C Pleks or any key player on any team would).
Last year it was the Wiz.
The year before MAB.
The year before Schneider.
This year Kabs.
I don’t expect the Habs to shine without Markov are a replacement. Some teams can soar without their star, but usually it doesn’t work out that way.
The only reason it does not appear as miserable as it actually is is because we were awarded many loser points which kept us at .500 and hovering around 9th place in the conference standings
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
he did hit a post though
cool story Cannabians