Little time to mope.
The reeling Canadiens play host to two Eastern Conference rivals – Washington and Winnipeg – in the traditional Super Bowl weekend afternoon back-to-backer.
And cheer up: The Canadiens are two points ahead of the team that has Sam Gagner.
Two Habs – Maurice Richard and Bert Olmstead – have had eight-point games.
No one lately – but Scott Gomez is WAY due.
• Pierre Ladouceur’s game report card
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What is everyone’s obsession with Pierre McGuire! He’s in such demand for TV!
Heres my fearless predidction… Gauthier will make solid trades up to the deadline.. much like he has in the past (bourque, wisniewski) he’s a good trader and will not be fired… he has a job to do and this team is not bad in principal.. I think he has a 10 month window left to keep his job.. if there is no turnaround by coming Jan. he will be gone.. no sooner no later… things get bad before they get better right? have some faith… Cliff Fletcher did not do a helluva job as interim salesman for MTL lets NOT follow that classless route
Go Habs Go
I cannot believe all the informed losers on this site wanting to trade Price, blah blah blah, 2 2 goal leads blown he is terrible should have kept Halak. Did you even watch the game last night 1 goal was prices fault, the team in front of him sucks. We have one of the lowest GF totals in the league. In most instances Price has been hung out to dry. I swear half of the posters on this site need to get a clue.
I know. All I can say is that I’m glad none of these “experts” have a job anywhere near the NHL – not only would the Habs suck even more, but the entire league suck.
I agree…Blaming the goalie? What idiots! They should all move to Toronto.
Habfan17
Hire anyone that can stop a puck!
Hire anyone that can stop letting in bad goals year after year game after game.
These deflating goals are become a random thing all the bloody time.
Richard R
The Blackhawks desperately need a goaltender. Who can we get in return?
Richard R
Who exactly would be trade to them? Budaj?
Hire Doug Flutie. He was a Hail Mary expert.
Richard R
Pleks and Price to the Hawks? Who do we get in return?
Richard R
A not-too-fearless prediction but unless they win both games this weekend, and in regulation, Mr. Gauthier will be gone by the beginning of the week and Pierre McGuire will be the new GM. And I’m warming up to the idea more and more every day.
Even if they win, I would like to see that happen
Habfan17
Today they are putting a paper bag over the Bell Center, it’s time to move the team out of town. Sudbury maybe?
How about Griffintown?
Richard R
I must find a new hobby or go back to work full time, anyone have a job for an old hockey fan?.
Football over as well shortly and I can’t drink much anymore. Its like the slow and long days of summer are here already. Maybe I’ll go and take flying lessons again.
Golf..way more frustrating but just as addictive
trade pleks?? are you guys for real.
he has been our own home grown product who has put 20+ goals for 5 years straight.
this guy has been forced to play with crap line mates, kill penalties and plays against the top lines. and still manages to pick up points albeit quietly
now we are talking about trading him in a year where the entire team blows chunks..caammon
——————
The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given
He is also the best tradeable asset and the Habs have Desharnais and Eller now and that makes this the best time to leverage his value. He is not a superstar and this is a business. Sure he is homegrown, but so is Desharnais since no one else drafted him and he is more talented offensiveley and Eller looks like a larger version of Plekanec. I like him to, but emotion has no place here.
Habfan17
Also, LeBlanc will probably be up for good next season and White, a natural centre is almost ready to return. I say they let LeBalnc stay up on the 3rd of 4th line, put White on either of those lines, and trade Plekanec and Nokelainen. Let the kids play and mature and if they canpackage for a big number 1 centre, great! If not, trade for wingers that add the dimension the Habs lack, grit size, and never ending determination. Then see what happens during free agency.
Habfan17
Our number 1 priority should be sending Gomez to the minors and using his 7.5 mil cap-hit on free agent talent!
Yes, Campoli and Gill could also be traded. But no trade is going to bring us the type of talent we could buy with Gomez’s money.
j.p. murray
If Gomez is sent down, do not expect Molson to pay twice. There are 2 seasons left at a hit of $7.357mil per season with an actual total payment of $10mil for both seasons.
There will not be a buyout or a replacement. Molson is already spending to the cap. He won’t pay more.
This makes no sense. If they bury Gomez in Hamilton, he comes off the cap. The Habs are under the cap by 5 Million approx right now. What has Molson said that makes you think he would not spend that money? Big assumption on your part! Even if he authorized spending 5 million on a top 6 or on two 3rd line players that bring a dimension that is lacking, that is better than the Habs have now
Habfan17
My assumption is based on the fact that he has leveraged his purchase of the team and Bell Centre. Why pay more in real dollars of his money? That’s what makes no sense. All you guys running around spending Molson’s money make me laugh. People get rich by not being that stupid, nor for paying twice.
If he didn’t want to spend money and do what it takes to be a real contender year in and out, then he should not have bought the team. Don’t kid yourself, he is making money hand over fist. Between the sell outs and other events held at the Bell Centre, Mr. Molson is doing just fine!
Habfan17
If they hadn’t been so stupid in the first place, they wouldn’t have to spend twice!!
Habfan17
Our salary cap is about $11M available FYI.
The other thing you are not looking at is that it takes money to make money and if the players that the team spends on players with the cap space made available to them and they go one or two extra rounds in the playoofs, that will more than cover the 9 million they will be payine Gomez to play in Hamilton. Right now they won’t make the playoffs with him. What is costing Mr. Molson more?
Habfan17
Down below, somebody mentioned Kostitsyn’t fair salary expectations as a UFA this summer.
Kostitsyn over his past two contracts:
2011-12: 1 year, $3.25 M (RFA):
41 GP, 12 G, 23 PTS, 65 Hits (thus far)
2010-11: Last year of 3 year, $9.75 M deal (RFA):
81 GP, 20 G, 45 PTS, 140 Hits
Compare this to another former Montreal Canadien forward who is probably comparable, Michael Ryder:
2007-08: 1 year, $2.95M deal (RFA):
70 GP, 14 G, 31 PTS, 122 Hits
2006-07: 1 year, $2.2 M deal (RFA):
82 GP, 30 G, 58 PTS, 130 Hits
Ryder had an absolutely terrible year in his final RFA year but was able to parley his 30 goal-man status in the two previous seasons into a 4 year, $16 M contract as an unrestricted free agent.
Kostitsyn has not been nearly as up-and-down as Ryder. His upper end was not as high as Ryder’s, but he’s been a pretty consistent contributor, when healthy: 20-25 goals, 40-50 points.
Kostitsyn is clearly a second tier UFA winger (first tier will be Parise, Hemsky and Semin). Brian Gionta was given $5 M per season by the Habs after coming off 3 seasons where he averaged 20-25 goals and 50-60 points while being a good two-way forward.
Kostitsyn is a not quite as good offensively, more physical and less of a leader than Gionta. But given salary inflation and his relative youth, it is not unreasonable to expect that he might get offered $4-4.5 M per season as Ryder was in 2008-09.
Kostitsyn may get offered 4 to 4.5 million, that doesn’t make it a good signing. I would rather have one or two players that bring it every night at 2 million/year, than a player that never reaches his potential at 3.25 million. Kostitsyn should be a beast out there every game this season knowing he is playing for a contract, and he is not! Time to trade him at the deadline to a GM that thinks he can get him over the hump
Habfan17
Scott Gomez PP watch:
Add another minute and 46 seconds to bring the season total of powerplay ice time up to 58 minutes and 36 seconds. We have now enjoyed watching Mr Gomez on the leagues worst powerplay for one minute and 24 shy of a full hour during which time the team has scored a grand total of ONE powerplay goal.
Imaging an NHL team playing an entire game, three full periods, of 5 on 4 hockey and scoring only one goal. Its incredible.
Whats worse is that there seems to be no one holding the coach accountable for continuing to put this guy on the powerplay.
If I was the GM of this team and the coach allowed Scott Gomez on the ice during the powerplay I would fire him instantly, in the middle of the game.
What he`s doing is “showing up” the GM. The coach is saying you traded for this guy, and took a huge chunk of cap space away that prevents me from having more offensive talent so I will stick it in your face and play him on every single powerplay.
IF I was the owner of the team and saw Gomez on the powerplay , I would wait to the end of the game. If the Coach was not fired I would fire both the GM and the coach.
Lets face it , everyone knows that the Gomez deal was a bad one. Bad deals happen in business. WHy not turn lemons into lemonade? or at leas try?
For what ever reason Gomez has lost his ability to contribute offensively in any meaningful way. He is still a good skater and is pretty adept at getting the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone. why not , at least try, to make into a defensive specialist, a real shut down guy, a shadow to stay close to the oppositions best scorer? Play him with defensive wingers like Darche, and Moen, and Blunden. combine that with some time on the penalty kill unit. In other words give him a role that he can excel at.
Most people are not aware (unbelievably even our coaches are not aware ) that last season Gomez did a greta job killing penalties! he played 74 minutes on the PK unit and only 5 PP goals were scored during that span. An average of one goal allowed every 15 minutes.
To put that into perspective Plekanec averaged one goal against for every 12 minutes of PK ice time. (18 PP goals against in 217 minutes).
It completely boggles my mind that Gomez has played only 4 seconds of short handed ice time all season long. The coach insists on playing Lars Eller, and Bourque on the second wave of the PK, when Gomez has proven that he is MUCH better than both of these guys in short handed situations.
He also insists on playing Gomez on the second wave of the PP unit when it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE that anyone, including the guy who drives the zamboni could be any less effective.
Its time to put an end to this nonsense. Yes it is easy to make an argument taht Gomez be sent to Hamilton and the team “eat” his contract, but that should be a last resort. Why not try and get at least some value from the guy while he is on the team?
It just makes no sense at all.
Someone please try and explain it to me.
regards,
Steve O.
S
I agree with your ideals but don’t we have the number 1 or 2 ranked PK in the league currently? Arguing that is like arguing that someone should be on the number 1 ranked PP….
Gomez should not be on the PP and I agree should be used in something he can excel at. Unfortunately, what he can excel at we have other players who can currently do the same thing.
This team needs goal scoring…and badly.
I think the reason he is on the PP is they are trying to get him going….why, so some team trying to make the cap floor can justify that move to their fans in the off season. Not even someone trying to get to the cap floor would waste their money on the current edition of Gomez. Yes, you get two mill bonus against the cap but you still have to pay him 5 mill.
Expect to see him get every opportunity from here to the end to get it going.
He won’t be a hab next year but I am sure Molson would rather trade him and get him off the books than have to eat 10 mill and send him to the bulldogs.
For all of you tankers getting stoked for next season: there won’t be one. Fehr and Bettman will see to it. Watch as much hockey as you can now, because it’s going to be a looooooooooong time before the NHL is back.
Oooh that smell. The smell of death surrounds you.
Wow! This actually cheared me up … and to keep it going:
Whiskey bottles and brand new cars;
oak tree you’re in my way.
There’s too much coke and too much smoke
Look what’s going on inside you.
To bring in a top forward for next year someone from the top 9 has to be replaced otherwise we only have 4th line openings on the team…i am not sure that the team will write off gomez contract…i just cannot see that we bring back the same group of core forwards next year…
So not many people responded to the Sudan village parable below, probably because many of you didn’t get it. Not all of you, many of you. If you got it, I’m not talking to you, so don’t get all offended.
In my version of the end of the story, the villagers trade their water for money to dig the deeper well, and all die of thirst before the well gets completed.
In an alternate version of the ending, the villagers keep the water they have to keep them going while they do works on their village to protect themselves from the drought, and by working together, build a stronger village.
In both versions of the story, the fountain in the neighbouring village collapses while the villagers are prematurely partying on it before the king arrives, and it kills their Chief and the Village Strongman.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Good one. I would have said the villagers could severely ration what little water they have and trade enough water for cash to dig a deeper well. Short term suffering for long term gains. That or they could convince their chief, Samir Glin Sather Suliman, to trade 7.3 million large water containers, most of which would be filled with sand, in exchange for the cash required. The other village wouldn’t find out until after the well had been dug.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
ATTN all Kaberle bashers (unfortunately including Boone now as well).
13 points and +2 in 21 games for us. That’s a pace for a 50 point (which would be tied for 9th among D last season) +7 season on a team ranked 14th in the East.
Please define “untradeable” for me.
Is he a Norris candidate? No. Is he one of the worst abominations since Jersey Shore? No.
Please stop the drastic exaggerations that run rampant when we lose.
Yeah one icing and the season is all his fault, farcical. Hysteria.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Jean-Beliveau
He ain’t no MAB.
He will never be replace.
I hate to say it but Randy C. is not helping make the team better. The power play has not improved nor are they better at maintaining leads. I like him, he knows the game well but knowing the game and motiviating 20+ professional athletes are two different things. He is struggling and you can see it in his face during interviews and on the bench. Watched last night when the Devils scored the winning goal after a no call from the ref, he had a stick in his hand but was clearly unsure of what to do with it. After the game he wanted to discuss the call with the ref again and he stood there and stared at him and then gave up. His confidence is not high and appears to be uncomfortable in his role which leads to players who look to him for leadership uncertain about where the team is going.
The team is going down the drain. Glug! Glug! Glug!
Richard R
Bit of a pick me up on this gloomy day.
Very cool superbowl hockey commercial that has been released early.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qZYqdsYAg&feature=player_embedded
That was a great ad! And it sure was a “pick me up”. Thanks for sharing.
“To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is simple; to have faith is harder”
~ Louis L’Amour
I’ve got the faith!
Trading Plekanec? Seriously, people still think this is a good idea?
Desharnais is having a good 2nd half to the season, that is all. And he is playing with our best Forwards – Cole and Pacioretty.
Desharnais has not scored 20+ goals for 5 years straight has he?
How do you know what he will be like next year? In fact, where was he at the start of this year? For crying out loud, he has two more points than Pleks (who has been trying to ignite a number of players almost every game), while playing with the Habs hottest forwards.
Yeah, trade Plekanec, unreal.
Trading Plekanec only makes sense if a capable center comes back to the Habs, if not they’ll definately struggle next season.
Now what team would trade an equivalent or better center, for Pleks and whatever else can be thrown in with him?
There’s also the matter of his no trade clause.
You unload Scott’s contract. Free up BIG cash
You decide who you want to keep from Eller, Desharnais and Leblanc.
Then via trade or UFA get a legit #1.
Legit #1
Pleks
Leblanc
Eller
not bad down the middle.
UFA centers are not really anything special, some good ones sure, but not that mythical 1a centers.
I’m all for unloading Gomez, and I don’t believe he will play for the Habs next season.
A capable BIG centre, minimum 6’3″.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/John-Ferguson
I agree we shouldn’t trade pleks but to call DD a flash in the pan is a bit much. He has been one of our most consistent forwards since the All star break last year. He was our top producing point man from the all star break last year playing on the third line.
This guy is good and he works his butt off every shift. I would have to lose DD. Him and pleks are very similar type players though. Not overly big and we really have all number 2 and 3 type centres. Eller still needs to develop as we see flashes of what he can do and mistakes that get corrected with experience.
We definetly have an issue at the centre ice position
Pleky is a failure. Folds in the playoffs or to put it in his own words “plays like a little girl.” Trade him for size and grit.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Guy-Lapointe
Before blaming the officiating for the loss, Cunneyworth should look at his bizarre line combinations and his totally inept powerplay. With those lines and that powerplay, we don’t need to tank.
I think the loss is on Price. That soft goal changed the momentum of the game. We could have been up 3-0 early in the second, which probably would have deflated the Devils enough for us to win. Or maybe not. We have now blown more leads (20) than we’ve won games. If you add in the games in which we’ve blown two leads…
But I’m starting to wonder about Price. Not his talent or even his desire to win, but his mental toughness. Brodeur got better as the game went on, and literally robbed us a couple of times. I don’t see Price doing that. The winning goal against us is usually a good one, but some would have been stoppable with a great save, which Price mostly does not make. Not to mention his shootout record this year.
It’s clear the team’s confidence is shot. They’ll go on talking about the playoffs, but they know they’re not making it. At some point they’ll just quit.
I honestly question why you would question Price’s mental toughness. He’s a young goalie, the guy under the most pressure to perform consistently in a rabid hockey city who are all too ready to jump on the goalie, AND he’s relied on to play, what, nearly 70 games in a season. I’d say he has a lot of mental toughness.
Price was perhaps deflated from playing rather well on Tuesday while his teammates were nowhere to be found. It just so happens his teammates did in fact show up yesterday while he obviously did not have that great of a game.
Price is 25 in a few months. He can’t even go a round up 2-0 on the road. He sank the team yet again with another terrible banana last night. Time and time again he serves up 1-2-3 pies and torpedoes the ship. You could see it with Huet, Aebischer and others in the CH net. Nobody plays with confidence in front of a shaky weak goalie who consistently gives up a bean to undo all your work. Price is Johnny Jellybean.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Ken-Dryden
The beauty of hockey is that it is a team game. Price didn’t lose that game, the Canadiens did. The Devils win and Brodeur is a hero. The Canadiens lose and Price gets the blame? Naw. Look at each play, see who was doing what, check the minutes and matchups, you’ll be surprised at which whipping boys actually did well and which little fan/press favorites sucked big time.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20122ALLGAGAll&sort=goalsAgainstAverage&viewName=goalsAgainstAverage
Pavel Kubina is a UFA at the end of this year…I would like to see him in a habs uni
Markov-Emelin
Jorges-PK
Kubina-Diaz
Kubina is experience, physical and if you could sign him to a 2 year deal it would be a nice bridge until some of our young guns are ready. Plus Kubina has a boomer from the point
checked out the boxscore as I didn’t see the game…Kovalchuk played nearly 28 minutes as a forward in regulation! that is nearly unheard of….
it is easy to do when you coast most of your shift
lol I did also notice he got 3 assists yet was still only even on the night too
That contract is killing New Jersey.
And he did it as a 6’2″, 230 pounder. That guy is a freaking beast.
Chris,
The idea of trading Cole is a huge Red Herring. It’s like saying trade everyone. I respect your posts but this was not even worth bringing up.
Here’s what we need to do (and NOT do):
————
Something you have to realize is when trading players it’s BEST if you can pick up a good player from a team that’s had a bad year. Because of this – other GM’s are looking at the Habs and salivating… which is exactly why it’s NOT a good time to trade a Plekanec or an Eller, etc. The good players will bounce back under better circumstances. So the POSITIVE of all of this is that they can resign some of these guys for less than if they had a good year. To trade away guys while their value is low would be DUMB.
So…….
DO NOT TALK OF:
- trading PK
- trading Price
- trading Plekanec
… all three of these have shown that under better circumstances they are special talents. All 3 have a drive to win and you could argue that none of the 3 have been well managed. (Pleks has had a revolving door of line-mates, all have had a revolving door of coaches, why PK isn’t playing with Gill this year I have NO idea since he’s still learning and Gill was doing a good job there, and why Price doesn’t have a veteran back-up to talk to… I don’t know that either. He doesn’t need the Budaj cheering section, he needs someone who’s been there and back to look up to.)
THEY NEED TO:
- Fire Gauthier and put in someone solid who can bring back confidence and stabilize the ship.
- Sign Price and PK to new contracts soon while the price is relatively low for two blue chip guys who have been under poor management this year
- Get real value for Moen and AK OR resign them
- Trade Gill for whatever you can get
- Trade Gio if any deal can be done. No, he hasn’t had the best circumstances but we have better leaders on this team now and that 5 million could be better spent.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
You know, there are few things more annoying than replying to a post with a verbatim re-post of something you said earlier. Please refrain…I read it the first time.
You forgot to end your post with a rolled up newspaper and a stern “Bad Dog!”
I assumed with so few comments that it was lost in the speed of the posts today.
And I think there are a lot things more annoying. You must lead a VERY sheltered life.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Beyond the DD line, this team has no stability, no chemistry.
Everyone is shuffled around and every shift can bring in some new formed trios.
RC said he’d reward those that produced and worked, how about AK last night scoring a goal, maybe give him some decent TOI and some PP? Nope 12 minutes TOI.
Who gets PP time? Gomez, who had the most PP time apart from the DD line.
Meh to RC, I wanted to like him, but it does not seem to be working for him.
On a more positive note, last night our centers were great on the dot, Pleks at 60%, Eller at 71%, Leblanc 50%, Gomez won all of his faceoffs, and DD the only one below 50% at 44%.
There is no stability in the organization from President on down, I think the team is a reflection of the whole Kit and Kaboodle.
Plekanec has been getting better in the FO circle as of late. I asked down below if anyone knew his stats from the past few games. Thanks for that. And I think Pleks is one of the top 5 in number of FO draws.
Indeed Plekanec is 3rd in the league for faceoffs taken, his last five games have looked like this :
60% last night
63.4 Buffalo
13.3% Detroit, thats a weird one for sure.
29.41 Toronto
37.5 Penguins.
I have pleks in a fantasy pool that allocates way too many points to face off wins. He is #3 overall in the pool. So he has been pretty solid with face offs this year.
I’m really torn on this one…It is my nature to go hard every play and never give up. Do not tank or throw the game, it is disrespectful to the past great players of the game and the game itself, not to mention it’s unprofessional. Having said that, and watching how these losing franchises have reinvigerated themselves by getting a top 3 pick, I hope we lose every game trying hard to win. Trade every veteren away that you can for whatever picks or bags of pucks you can get, play as hard as you can, and lose by not having any talent. Then rebuild…
That means Price is the only untouchable. You have to give to get
No tanking, you play to win, every game, every season, no matter the scoreboard or standings…
___________________________________
Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
Dude I laugh evertime I read your salutation…Edwards is a clam!
He’s such a douche, classless homer with a big chip on his shoulder towards the Habs and Canada…
F him!
___________________________________
Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
I don’t think you have to worry anymore. The team is trying and they are losing. Call it what you will but the results are bad for wins and good for drafting.
There is an easy way to do that…you just put together lines of Pleks-Gomez-Bourque, Eller-Darche-Blunden, Leblanc-AK-Weber , cole-Dd-Patches …..you can’t “play to win” and throw a game any better IMO….
That’s the spirit..now don’t you feel better..it’s like going to a shrink..Like I said before, PVR the 3rd period and FF after you know the game is over. It makes it way easier. Have to look forward to the future.
If it came down to a decision at trade deadline, who would you rather keep Andrei Kostitsyn or Tomas Plekanec?
___________________________________
Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
AK no question…at 3.75M per year for 4-5 yrs
Plekanec, it’s obvious.
He’s a much more versatile player, and he’s consistent.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Interesting. If we are to get bigger up the middle then Pleks seems to be the likley of the two to move.
Pleks no doubt. Pleks in a bad season gets more points than AK, kills penalties and is a good two-way player. He is really struggling this year but he isn’t the only one.
Interesting question, clearly Plex is having an off year. Is it just an off year, or is his body getting worn down. AK would be more affordable in the long term, but moving Plex does require the team finding another defensively responsible center. Eller would need to really step up next year.
If the return is good for Plex, I think I could lean that way. This is where you would hope the GM has a good feel on the situation and would know which decisions to make, hmmmm now I am a little worried.
But, I am not sure there is anyone currently available with a better pulse on the situation. We may have to trust PG to deal with this coming trade deadline.
Is Pleks having an “off” year or is this what he really is?
I’ve always seen him as a 3rd line center with some offence, great defensively, not very good at faceoffs, tends to wear down easily and disappears in playoffs… and for this the Habs throw 5 years at $6 million or 6 years at $5 million, whatever… unbelievable.
His reputation as a top 6 center has everything to do with his time as Kovalev’s center…
Okay, fire away, Pleks lovers but I’d rather have AK46, believe or not.
If Plekanec can bring something of semi-value back, then deal him.
___________________________________
Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
You deal Desharnais instead…
Pleks played more often on the PK than PP. He’s worn out.
Richard R
I might be the only one that feels this way, but I think the Habs can be more competitive next season with a top 3 center of DD/Eller/Pleks.
I like AK and I think he helps the team, but his skillset is more easily replaceable than that of Plekanec.
Tomas. More valuable to this team than fans give him credit.
Anybody that is really serious about rebuilding via the draft should be including one name as tradeable, the only player on the team that would be guaranteed to net that 1st round pick that everybody so desperately covets; Erik Cole.
Cole did not sign with Montreal to see the team go into a prolonged tailspin. He is signed for another 3 seasons after this year and is clearly at the peak of his game as a power forward in the NHL, one of the rarest and most highly sought commodities out there.
Kostitsyn is the other that should net a 1st round pick (although the market for him might not be as hot as some think as he hasn’t exactly been a strong playoff performer in his career), but Cole would bring in much, much more due to his being a better player and signed through next season.
So for those of you espousing trading away veterans for picks (and I laugh at the delusions that Gill or Moen or any of the others are landing anything better than a 2nd round pick, and even that might be optimistic for pending UFA’s), start with Cole if you want to be taken seriously.
Please note that I am not espousing the tank. I merely wanted to point out that the only commodity on the team that could legitimately net the assets people want is the one guy I have yet to see thrown into those discussions.
I have no delusions of them netting anything other than possible second or 3rd round picks…but those are very valuable for next year ….I would ask for picks for the 2013 draft so they can be flipped for similar character guys when needed next year…they can also be on hand for the draft and the offseason should a surprising commodity become available throughout the league. That is my reason as I know the picks are not of any immediate value unless converted into established players sooner…..
yup…have to agree with you. would be sad to see him go as he has been our MVP this year.
people should know by now, and reading Boone’s ALN maybe I need to repeat it, that Leblanc is a natural center.
I thought he did a good job last night in limited action – and he did help to create the AK 46 goal.
There is no doubt in my mind that Leblanc will have a regular spot next season.
He is very responsible and dependable in all 3 zones, so he is exactly the type of youngster that can learn at the NHL level without hurting the team.
Therefore……….
The trade the Habs should be considering should center around Plekanec.
We have DD and a legitimate 1st line with Cole and Patches
We have Eller and Leblanc behind him.
I believe that AK46 should be signed for 4 years and about 4 or 4.5 million per season.
Then I would create a second line of Eller at center with AK 46 and Bourque on the wings.
My 3rd line would be centered by Leblanc.
Trading Plekanec should be considered very seriously.
You make a great point. Plekanec has been my favorite Hab to watch since he was a rookie, but business is business, and trading him would be the smarter move over trading Cole for the exact reasons you have stated.
I have to agree with you now…I was down on this kid and thought he was overrated like PK. He has proven me wrong and I am excited about his play. I hope I was right abbout Avtsin and Enqvist, I really thought they were our prize forwards coming and it’s taking longer than I thought it would.
I like Kristo too and I have read good things about our two dmen in Michigan.
I am really hoping Tinordi and Beulieou pan out to be top 4 dmen.
4.5 mill for AK…..that is just crazy.
3.5 to maximum of 4 mill would be good for AK nothing more. He wants more than for show him the door
he is making 3.2 now, and there are very few free agents competing against him.
when he signed for 3.2, the cap was about 54 million.
now the cap is 64 million.
His production has not gone up though so why should he get such a massive raise just because the cap went up? If you want to give someone top 6 cash they better be a top 6 player.
I like AK but 4 mill for him to me would be the top as he is on pace for under 40 points this season
One major problem with trading Cole though….you need to sell tickets in the Bell Centre as well. Carey Price and PK have to be resigned and a goalie like Price will have an increased value if we are a bottom team as he will be the one of the only stars and that will come into the negotiating of his new contract.
Cole is the type of player needed to show leadership in the locker room and lead by example on the ice. He is doing great with Max P and DD. They are playing great together.
IMO we pick up a couple decent D men next season and make some tweaks up front this team will be ok
I agree but I think we could actually have a good team next year so let’s keep Cole. Plus he’s a great mentor for Max.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I’m with you. I just don’t understand the “Trade all veterans and tank!” philosophy if Cole isn’t going to be included in the discussion.
Given the youth on defence and some of the injuries the team has suffered, I am optimistic for the Habs over the next couple of years. I don’t think the player they pick this summer will necessarily make an impact next season, but they should at least add one more legitimate top-9 forward to the mix as they develop.
Have to agree…hate to see him go when we finally got one like him after all these years…
There was a village in Sudan that was very badly hit by drought. They had a shallow well that gave them just enough water to get by. The villagers dreamed of digging a deeper well to provide them with a more constant supply of water, but they needed money to finance that endeavour.
A neighbouring village was not so badly hit by the drought, were rather wealthy, and were actually looking to build a fountain to impress the king on his next vist.
The people in the drought-struck village got together and said, in parched voices, “We need money for our well. What can we give the other village in exchange for cash?”
One particularly dry villager spoke up: “How about the thing that is valued most in these parts? Water!”
There was a papery rustling sound as the village elders turned their heads toward the one who had just spoken.
Okay, this is a story-starter. What happens next?
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Coke bottle falls from the sky and turns everything upside down?
Hmm, so that would be… Steven Stamkos appearing in Montreal, saying, “I’m playing with your team now”?
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I was just thinking Gods Must be Crazy the movie, i had no idea your analogy pertained to hockey!
I know you were!
I was trying to… never mind…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Good Morning Everyone!
Last night was disappointing. Just saying, it was disappointing. Didn’t play the 3rd period again, so everyone who had been saying that this was some kind of ‘plan’ of JM’s to protect a one-goal lead can rethink their original hypothesis.
Speaking of JM, word from Flames fans is that they would like to see the Count behind their bench. I had to LOL thinking of the look on Cammy’s face as Jackie M strides grinning through the door of the Flames dressing room. Man, that would be priceless…
Know what I’m looking forward to? Getting some cheap-ass tickets to go see some games in the near future. Haven’t been to one this season – apart from the summit – and as the fair-weather fans abandon ship like so many rodents, and the scalpers (*turns head and spits*) can sell me their whites for $20 apiece as I laugh in their faces.
Tons of work today, and still no sleep…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I only saw the 3rd and I actually thought we played OK. Brodeur stopped everything unfortunately.
The winning goal was scored off a non-call.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
We played better in the first two.
Brody was flapping all over the place.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I see many instances of “problem with the organization”. The only problem, IMO, is that the Montreal Canadiens will sell out every game for the rest of time. Season tickets still have a waiting list.
An interesting analogy is Microsoft Windows (personal OS, server is a completely different story). People keep funneling money into it and it begins to lose “self care”. Then you see versions like Windows ME and Vista. What forced Microsoft to, arguably I’ll admit, shift focus back to stability and performance (first priorities in programming)? Companies basically said, “to hell with this s–t, we’re staying with windows XP for the better part of a decade.” This forced MS to waste a ton of cash supporting an OS that was well past its technological prime, instead of cashing in on new sales.
I really hope I don’t have to point out the parallels, good day to all of you.
P.S. I’m calling Scott Gomez Windows moth#&%(*&#$ ME
I was at the game last night sitting 6 rows up on the Habs blue line. I noticed that Price looked shaky in the pre game warmup and I had a bad feeling that this would extend to the game. Budaj looked fine. I wonder whether the coaching staff took notice.
*Listen to my instrumental tribute entitled “Habs at War” at http://web.me.com/ptolias/Music/OtherOriginalMusic.html
Why so glum? It was a great night…Carolina won, Edmonton won….we now have only the second most wins in the league…we are getting closer to the pace we need to land that future impact guy, sell off some UFA’s and rebuild very quickly. I missed the game last night…went out to dinner when I left the restaurant the Habs were up 3-2 got home to see an empty netter…checked the other scoreboard and was not disappointed. I like to win don;t get me wrong but this really is for the best. There are 4 impact forwards in this draft and several of the other top rospects are D men….but any one of Yakupov (Columbus will get him though), grigorenko, Glachenyuk and Forsberg would be a huge addition to this club moving forward. The higher picks int he other rounds may or amy not help but that one top pick will be a good building block moving forward.
The ability to get rid of those UFA’s should provide us with about 3 picks ( I would guess 2 2nd or 3rd rounders) and those will be very valuable trading assets next year when we are in a playoff drive….as I believe we will be.
You take this team, add Markov, subtract Gomez, Add one tough stay at home dman, add Gio, isnert Leblanc next year, keep Ak, add White and subtract Moen (only because I view Moen as a trade for White, a million and a half cap space and a 2nd or 3rd pick), add a 7th dman with toughenss and another depth guy….we are looking pretty good. This is under the assumption we keep Kaberle…who despite the mysterious hate on here is back to teh form that netted a kings ransom for him….I think if PG wanted he could easily flip Kaberle and make a huge profit (better than buying into a new subdivision early) as many teams would appreciate a guy who is playing plus hockey on a terrible team and putting up a 50 point pace…in fact there are only a handful of those guys in the elague and many teams would have a vet stay at home dman to insulate him with. and his defensive shortcomings would be a non issue. I thinkt his is a golden opportunity and with the amount of injuries and the turmoil in Montreal we can finally get a real cornerstone piece this year for nothing, the kids get icetime, finally acquire some assets,etc
I know some are probably sick of me singing the same tune…..but really try singing it oo…it really does lead to a great deal of optimism for as early as next year IMO and especially moving forward. 2 years from now we will have top 9 guys fighting to make our 4th line…PG has done just fine and I actually trust him in the GM role…I knwo many disagree but I like pretty well every move he made…even Kaberle, Eller and others that some dislike.
Even though we’re losing, I just want to say I still like Cunny. A lot.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Do you like him because the team is more exciting to watch or because you think he’s improving it?
I ask because blown leads have been the undoing of this team and it isn’t a problem he’s even come close to fixing.
My opinion is that it’s personnel Emelin and Subban are the only players who can clear traffic away from Price on defense. And that’s been a huge issue.
HUUGE issue…we need a big tough dman…a scary one and a tougher guy on the fourth. I think back as early as last year when we added Sopel and Mara (both slow as molasses but wiling to put their face in front of a puck and Mara would drop em with anyone although he may not win), brought White on full time had Wiz and the team although not as big and fast/skilled as this one took on aa different mentality…they felt secure in each other and that little buit of toughness created a lot of room and confidence in the skilled guys, kept things clear around Price and allowed him to shine,etc.
We do need more fo that toughness…I don;t wat a true heavyweight…just a guy to go with White(maybe we keep Moen but I just don;t know if it is worth it a 2 million plus with a guy like White int he system and other guys like that availalb efor less money and term than Moen will want…tough call…he is a character guy and useful but it will come down to the cap, how White plays down the stretch and what he is worth on the rtrade market right now….which is probably quite a bit since he has a cup, character, and is useful….my prediction is he is traded.
“I still like Cunny. A lot. ”
Filth!
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
At least one other person has their mind in the gutter. Others are taking me seriously. As for Randy… OMG, I just realized Randy Cunny… wow. I mean… wow. ha ha ha .. okay what was I saying… yeah, about RC… he was put in a shitty position. End of story. I have no idea what kind of head coach he is.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Hasn’t done much for the power play though. My lord that’s about the worst looking power play I can remember seeing from a Habs team.
I was actually laughing at the powerplay last night as it was so predictable my men’s league team could defend it. I remember on one of the PP’s that Kabby with no one on him pass it over to PK who has this huge wind up (sounds like deja vu) and there is no one in front of the net to screen and shoots….I was like what was the point. You are not going to score from there with no screen. They don’t move the puck around well on the PP and that is a large part of the problem cause we don’t have any snipers like we did when our PP was hot. When you have a booming slap shot and a forward who can crank them you have a couple of options….right now our Boomer is PK and everyone in the building knows when he is going to shoot and we don’t have Cammy any more for the one -times (wasn’t working this year).
I would put money on it ( if, big if) that when Markov comes back the PP does get better. He is so smart with the puck
He won’t be back I don’t think. I don’t mind his style (saw him last year with the bulldogs) but this year this team really does find ways to lose the game and that is more on the players than the coach.
His record this season is bad so far but he was also tossed in before the teams toughest road trip of the season with no time to actually coach.
I don’t see the habs getting better this year and for a draft pick sake I hope they don’t. We have really no shot for the playoffs at this point so why finish 9th or 10 when you can get a decent draft pick
Yeah me too. He brings a certain tenacity to the team image and I hope he stays.
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Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
Have to say that’s the funniest thing I’ve read today. The double entendre always works, but if you need a coach, the old one was better.
Yah, I really only meant ONE meaning. And it’s not the one most people took. I really am surprised at how focused everyone is on hockey. Weird. I mean, we suck, our season’s over…
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
The tanking issue is no longer, do we tank this year, but what about next year?
It is hard to see us making a competitive squad next year (not impossible).
But I hear there is the next Sidney Crosby in next year’s draft.
How about it? Yakupov and this guy could be our Malkin/Crosby.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Habs just need to stay where they are at…currently in the bottom 5. That gives them the chance to win the lottery this year.
Be nice to have someone who can score 100+pts again….oh Mats, they never replaced you.
The young man’s name is Nathan MacKinnon and early indications are that he is the real deal. He has 57 points in 40 games in his first year as a junior player.
But I have a hard time getting on board with losing on purpose. If the team wants to avoid free agents and go with a young roster, I’m okay with that. But filling the roster with career AHL players isn’t okay in my opinion.
Have to make a trade for CBJ 1st rd pick in ’13 or whoever else might be last, ( if not the Habs). Then hope it pans out. Then you don’t have to tank, play as hard as you can and hope your picks work out. I’m sure teams are calling already for CBJ pick in ’13
Thanks for the info. I don’t think I could handle back to back tanks. We do have some help on the blueline coming soon.
Think of tanking as working out at the gym.
No pain. No gain.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Source?
I think we could be strong next year. See my note below for why (what we SHOULD and SHOULD NOT do) IMO.
The way the team is losing shows their confidence is shot. There’s a lot of good young talent on this team. Players that need better mentors (to me separating Gill from PK and letting Auld go were both mistakes that cost us bigtime in developing strength in our two strongest young players). Eller, DD, Patches, Emelin, Diaz – there’s a lot of good young talent here that can grow. If they get a Coach and a GM who understand how to guide and shape, not to gamble on old veterans and overpay like drunken sailors.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
I think one or two physical defensemen solves a lot of this team’s problems and probably puts it back into the playoffs with a realistic chance at home ice advantage in the first round.
After a little poking around; Sean Monahan of the 67′s has more points than MacKinnon, 3″ taller, 15 lbs heavier and plays C. I’ll have one of those, please.
The thng that drove me the most last night was watching Larry Robinson doing his thing during the time out near the end of the game.
To think that he even called the Habs organization wanting to be part of the coaching staff here and no one returned his call ?
Some one needs to be held accountable for that ! Honestly, someone needs to be fired. But obviously nothing will happen and I think that’s where some of the problems are at with this organization currently ?
Habs, OLE !
I agree.
And then you hear an interview with journeyman Randy Ladouceur …
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
It was Pierre Boivin and he resigned less than six months after. It may have been a gentle nudge from Geoff Molson.
It should have been a well placed, steel toed, heavily booted a$$ out the door.
Didn’t know it was Boivin who was responsible for that.
Too bad we couldn’t turn back time like Cher can.
I mean, we’re talking about Larry “effin” Robinson ?
That really hurts
Habs, OLE !
You gotta believe Robinson was psyched to stick it to us. And did. One more black mark on the Gainey-Goaty era.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Hahahaha!!!
I was WAITING for someone to post that!
Because Robinson was being animated during that timeout, people will think he’s AMAZING. I’m not saying he isn’t, but I knew people would use that as “evidence” of his great skills.
Just like Boucher. Oh, wait…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Price +1 for Miller.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Jaroslav-Halak
So you want to trade someone who is having an alright season in front of a rookie defensive squad for someone who is having an even worse year in front of all those big name defensemen.
I like your logic, I vote you for next GM.
Hey HochelagaTiny,
Price is exactly where Miller was when he was 22-23, don’t be so daft.
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Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
actually, wasn’t Miller still a callup/backup at 22-23?
and a Platoon Goalie with Martin Biron until he was 26 or 27?
So… me thinks Dorkval is even more daft that you suggest.
Gloomy Doomies. Playoffs are a lock.
Seriously though, Gomez is just playing around with us, no way he hits a whole year without a goal. Just wants that perfect one to go in, you know for style points.
6 point weekend for Scotty. The Habs start their 10 game winning streak tomorrow.
Come on, who’s with me?
EDIT: was I supposed to take the blue pill or red pill first thing in the morning, because I took both at the same time.
The sad thing is that Gomez is playing like a man with his hair on fire to keep himself from being sent down. He already has all the money he could want but riding the bus in Hamilton? Wow, that’s incentive to FINALLY play. And look what it’s produced – NOTHING. So we KNOW he’s playing his best… and this is all he has. Even when properly motivated (by concern for his own discomfort) he sucks.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Scott has great personality, but he is not being paid for his PR. He is being paid to produce.
Get rid of Scott, and use the money for someone who can produce. That alone will solve so many issues.
Sorry Gomez, but you gotta go.
If we win 10 games in a row, we will more than likely still be out of a playoff spot. That is how CRAPOLA this year has been.
Actually, Gomez is due for a 4-goal 6-assist game to catch up to his career pace…
People! Give your panicky heads a shake and read this.
Something you have to realize is when trading players it’s BEST if you can pick up a good player from a team that’s had a bad year. Because of this – other GM’s are looking at the Habs and salivating… which is exactly why it’s NOT a good time to trade a Plekanec or an Eller, etc. The good players will bounce back under better circumstances. So the POSITIVE of all of this is that they can resign some of these guys for less than if they had a good year. To trade away guys while their value is low would be DUMB.
So…….
DO NOT TALK OF:
- trading PK
- trading Price
- trading Plekanec
… all three of these have shown that under better circumstances they are special talents. All 3 have a drive to win and you could argue that none of the 3 have been well managed. (Pleks has had a revolving door of line-mates, all have had a revolving door of coaches, why PK isn’t playing with Gill this year I have NO idea since he’s still learning and Gill was doing a good job there, and why Price doesn’t have a veteran back-up to talk to… I don’t know that either. He doesn’t need the Budaj cheering section, he needs someone who’s been there and back to look up to.)
THEY NEED TO:
- Fire Gauthier and put in someone solid who can bring back confidence and stabilize the ship.
- Sign Price and PK to new contracts soon while the price is relatively low for two blue chip guys who have been under poor management this year
- Get real value for Moen and AK OR resign them
- Trade Gill for whatever you can get
- Trade Gio if any deal can be done. No, he hasn’t had the best circumstances but we have better leaders on this team now and that 5 million could be better spent.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Yup I am tired of the Plekanec trade talks, even Boone is on it now.
You trade players when their value is high, like Desharnais…
Anyone know the stats as of late for Tomas in the faceoff circle? I believe he has been quite good.
The trading Pleky talk isn’t completely inconceivable, I just laugh when so many people act like he’s an awful player.
And I also love that Boone was complaining about “long contracts” in ALN and then suggests trading Plekanec, AK, and Weber for Jeff Carter. A player who is signed for a decade and had one great season on a deep Flyers team where defense couldn’t focus solely on him. He’s a good player, but not a build around guy.
Good post. Boone is tilting at windmills.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
I don’t know if the Weekend will be busy for the Canadiens. What’s the point of playing for the weekend when they could calculate their chances of making the playoffs in a very minute probability.
I think the whole team is going to play just to complete the regular season games. I feel that they’ve gone to the point where they don’t see themselves going to the playoffs. Come Sunday, after the game, we might see them rushing to get out of the Bell Centre just to enjoy watching Super Bowl XLVI.
EDIT: by the way guys, do you think the Habs will place 30th in the League Standings? Maybe for me if they keep this “losing mentality” attitude for the next 30 somewhat games. I don’t see as well if they will ever get the 1st choice draft pick this June.
Please forgive my ignorance and my panicky state. Do you think Timmins could be a candidate to replace PG? I think he has a good reputation as an amateur scout but I think his experience is limited dealing with pro scouting and other aspects of the job. I got corrected in my opinion that perhaps Serge Sevard could be brought in on an interm basis. Guys, I want the Gainey regime removed today and I’m desperate for a non McGuire replacement. I need therapy.
You seem to want to have your cake and eat it too. If you want the Gainey regime gone understand that Timmins will be following closely behind in all likelihood. All of the scouts that work under Timmins’ management and the pro scouting department as well.
The scouts for this organization have been elite for quite some time as illustrated by this organization producing the most games played by draft picks since 2000.
The mandate since the lockout was speed and skill because the NHL promised and went to great lengths to deliver a league where skill would be rewarded and not punished. The NHL saw that violence sells and reversed course approximately three years following the lockout. This change in direction by the league caused this franchise and a few others to suffer a setback.
Now they’re focusing on size, speed and skill.
Be careful what you wish for.
I told you I needed therepy. : )
Never understood that saying about wanting to eat your cake.
Cake is only useful if you can eat it.
It’s like “the shoe is on the other foot”. Who has one shoe?
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
72, perhaps cake could be part of my therapy. I like cake.
You can’t permanently keep the cake and have eaten it. Some people don’t want to cut into a nice cake and ruin the work that went into making it. They’d prefer to keep it or have it.
But they can’t have it and stuff it in their bellies.
Sigh. The expression means to want a reward without paying for it. If you drink a bottle of rare wine you have drunk it’s value and can no longer sell it. Hopefully it was a great experience and worth the candle.
You have to make choices which eliminate or exclude other choices.
Of course if the cake is indulgence at lexpress than the choice is easy
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS!
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Sorry for yelling.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Um, at risk of further provocation, don’t say you don’t understand something when you do. You can say you think it’s a dumb expression, which is certainly arguable, but when people take time to explain something, it is customary to say “thank you”, that’s all, not chew them out.
I think scouts scout and managers manage. Managers bring in their own team. Often the scouts change with that. The team philosophy changes so what the scouts “scouted” for often changes as well. It is easier to promote from within I imagine. Timmins might have done a lot better if he had more high end picks. It is nice to trade off your picks and think “My scouts are smart, between 6 and 276 there are lots of players who can make it.” Unfortunately you have to figure that other organizations picking before you might just have smart or smarter guys. Leaving you with what you are left with.
As TomNickle points out, I agree Timmins is good. With all the guys this organization has squandered and the dumb trades we’ve survived in part because of Timmins. But he’s a scout not a GM. I’m not sure he has the experience… I could see him as assistant GM under someone on a short term (2 year?) deal with the idea that if the new GM isn’t a great fit he trains Timmins (Timmins as back-up plan) and if they make a great team they both stay.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Molson – Fire the Ghost and bring in Pierre Lacroix at any costs.
The same Pierre Lacroix who took on Theodore when his contract was almost $6 million annually and he couldn’t stop a beachball?
I wonder what the incentive will be for Carey Price wanting to stay in Montreal. I don’t think he’s anywhere near the pure skill level of Patrick Roy, but he should win the MVP for carrying this bunch of f—ing losers to any measly amount of wins this season.
Add to that the team will try to rebuild? You’re asking a top-tier goalie to wait (what could be) 3-4 years for his team to get competitive again? I’m all for loyalty, but if it was me, I’d be on the next bus to Chicago.
I guess we’re lucky he’s only a RFA. I’m sure he’ll go to arbitration though. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the league will strike again.
Is any one else starting to wonder if the price is right?
A 3-1 lead and we cough up a fur ball like that?
That’s not “money” goalie, fellas. In fact it was embarrassing.
Oh please, one of a few flubs. That goal isn’t why they lost.
You obviously have never played hockey at a competitive level because your “flub” can destroy a teams energy, especially if team is mentally fragile.
I like price but am starting to worry that he is the Joe thorton of goalies -for which I blame bob the builder.
I can’t reason any way to bash Price for this season or any recent game. The team playing in front of him is pathetic.
The only goalie I can think of in recent memory who the grapes to carry a terrible team was Dominic Hasek. Patrick Roy is up there in skill, but he always had great defenders in front of him; Sandis (Oeszeelynch?) Adam Foote, Ray Bourque, Eric Desjardins, etc.
Habs could have had Kopitar, the big scoring center that’s been missing since Damphousse was shipped out.
But, noooooooo, they pick a bleeping thoroughbred.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Maurice, Jean, Jacques, and all the Canadiens of old in the LOCKER ROOM, but you will be thrown out.
Absolutely disgusting the way this team has played, from management to the stickboy, absolutely disgusting!
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” Albert Einstein
The “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is already happening in the locker room. I don’t think there is going to be a “there will be” scenario.
Geoff,
“Mr.” Gauthier has purged this team of talent while gambling on bloated contracts. He should be gone NOW. Replace him with someone who doesn’t take bad gambles, who knows the players by their first names, and who likes a good roast beef now and then.
Scott Gomez has dragged this team down, and even though he now knows he’s playing to prevent riding the bus in Hamilton the next two years, his BEST EFFORT has produced ZERO goals (in a year). He needs to be permanently parked in Hamilton – and YOU need to eat that salary, or people should protest not just the Bell Center but Molson in general.
Sincerely,
Smart Dog
PS: You okay’d the Kaberle trade…? Really? Stop trusting yourself.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Besides Kaberle, what bad moves has Gauthier made?
Bourque for Cammalleri
Gorges signed to 6-year extension
Brought Emelin over
Hmm?
More then just moves onetimer, IMHO although one could add Markov’s contract to smarts list. Firing a coach hours before a game and trading a player between periods, to me, indicate a horrendous management style. Can’t imagine how other matters out of the limelight are being handled by this guy. I understand your opinion bit the record clearly speaks for itself.
Really? You really need to ask that question? Any one of the three following things is an offence worthy of being fired. That the same person has been allowed to do all three defies sensibility.
1. The Kaberle trade.
2. Signing a broken D-man to a three year contract for the same amount of money he was making previously despite not having played in almost two years.
3. The fact that Scott Gomez is still a Montreal Canadien.
4. Cutting off the interim coach at the knees and apologizing to the blowhard vocal minority.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez, a potential Hall of Fame player, has two Stanley Cup rings and a Calder Trophy that says ‘I’m a player whom any authentic NHL coach will rely on to fix a game problem.’” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
Right on. And very succinct.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Habsfan has some of this above… but to your points…
Yes, I like the Cami trade, and the Cole signing. But both are real gambles. Cole got more money (and a NTC) here than anyone else would give him. It was a gamble that he’d be okay without Staal. And so far it’s paid off. The Cami trade is still a gamble and in a way a big one. Cami’s an outstanding playoff performer – if we make it there in the next 2 years we may seriously miss him.
But the Markov situation is 100% on Gauthier (just as he gets credit for Cole, he’s tarnished by Markov – both big gambles). Sure he signed Gorges – for MUCH MORE than he could have six months earlier if he had the sense to see what EVERYONE ELSE saw in this guy. The Gorges signing is not to his credit. A kid could’ve signed Gorges to an extension – he wanted it – and at 3 mil…. Gauthier got a worse contract not a better one.
And Gomez is probably more on Gauthier than Gainey since he was the head of pro scouting at the time it would’ve been his recommendation. A GM listens to his people… Bob went with it so it’s his too… but it shows the MIND of this arrogant idiot. He THINKS he knows better than the rest of the league. He did it with Gomez and then he did it (again) with Kaberle.
As Habfan points out, he also fired two coaches this year, both in weird circumstances that went against team balance. The team must feel like they don’t know what’s going to happen next. The guy’s lost his mind, and he’s taking the Habs with him on a weird trip to salvage his job. And it’s time to ship him out and get the team back on solid ground.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Where do we start, firing Pearn, firing Martin right before a game, trading high draft picks for Wisniewski and Moore and letting them go for nothing. As much as I like Bourque, by jumping the gun and if true, not speaking with other teams, who knows what else he might have recieved, he signed Markov at a high salary and for too many years. If he had negotiatied with Gorges the first time instead of forcing him to take a one year contract, he still could have had him on a long term contract, but for less, and is 6 years smart? As for Emelin, big deal, he wasn’t responsible for drafting him and for all we know, Emelin would have come over anyway. I will give him Diaz, who has been a nice surprise. Gauthier has not dealt with the Gomez situation and he was Gainey’s right hand man when the trade was made for Gomez. As much as I think Cunneyworth may be a very good coach and deserves better, Gauthier painted a bulls eye on him when he promoted him and then pulled the rug out from under him, as did Molson. Fans may be patient if the Ghost would actually share a little information of his vision with the fans and media, like the other GM’s do. It might buy him some lattitude, but he does not and maybe that is why the players are playing the way they are, they are disenchanted and have no clue what is going on!
Habfan17
Dear Mr. Molson. I ditto everything Smartdog has written.
From PD on Sam Gagner:
Scored more points in one game than the following players have scored this season: Zenon Konopka, Matt Hendricks, Adrian Aucoin, Marty Reasoner, Mike Rupp, Mathieu Darche, Roman Hamrlik, Patrick Kaleta, Matt Stajan and, yes, Scott Gomez.
Sam Gagner had more points last night than Scott Gomez has all season. He makes $5M less than Gomez. But at least the plans for the anniversary party on Sunday are still all-systems-go.
I’ve been asking my Leafs fan friends what they do at this time of year since their team’s season is usually over by this point. Drink, they say. So it shall be.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez, a potential Hall of Fame player, has two Stanley Cup rings and a Calder Trophy that says ‘I’m a player whom any authentic NHL coach will rely on to fix a game problem.’” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
You went to the right place for advice. Suddenly we have comradeship with all the other sucky teams. Yay.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Hopefully this malaise is a strange one-off type thing like it was for Philly and their disastrous 2006-07 campaign. At least that yielded James van Riemsdyk for them.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez, a potential Hall of Fame player, has two Stanley Cup rings and a Calder Trophy that says ‘I’m a player whom any authentic NHL coach will rely on to fix a game problem.’” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
Yeah, I think it could be. If they get rid of Gauthier so he doesn’t f–k things up even more for the future.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
That’s the thing that has me so concerned right now. It’s obvious that this edition of the Habs is done and thus the right move is to re-tool and re-shape the club for the future. But do we really want the person that created this cluster to be the one in charge of the overhaul that must take place on or before February 27th? His days are numbered and we’ve seen the things he’ll do to save his own hide – imagine what the Hail Mary would look like!
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez, a potential Hall of Fame player, has two Stanley Cup rings and a Calder Trophy that says ‘I’m a player whom any authentic NHL coach will rely on to fix a game problem.’” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
I could ice a winner tomorrow that would beat our Hab’s and challenge for the cup, if I could have every player and goal tender that we let go the last 5 or 6 years. Unbelievable waste and unrecognized talent by our so called management.
Clean your house at the top Molson, and the bottom product will improve big time. Bring in the best management that money can buy.
Outside of Halak, take a look at where the goalies are that have been on this team in the past 5-6 years. I don’t think you’ll beat much of anybody with a corps that includes Jose Theodore, Yann Danis, David Aebischer, and Cristobal Huet.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez, a potential Hall of Fame player, has two Stanley Cup rings and a Calder Trophy that says ‘I’m a player whom any authentic NHL coach will rely on to fix a game problem.’” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
OK enough of this slick marketing and the organization telling fans to be patient because of injuries and development problems.
Management takes our money and tells us our product is on back order. Give me a break, we have had crappy management as long as the Leafs for crying out loud.
This New Owner better have the balls to find the very best talented hockey GM and coaches in the world for a once world class franchise. Never mind what language they speak, get a winner here or continue to be the laughing stock product of the world.
Someone has to recognize that we need far better management, if we are to rise again
Coach, Kirk Muller was the best for setting up a PP. And management let him get away, just like the years that we use to win face offs more often than not with Doug Jarvis coaching that skill for us , but alas! management saw no value in keeping him on. Who is he with now??????
Better management be gets a better team, we are now being sold on trades and next year to keep the money flowing into the league of empty seats. A quarter of the seats in Jersey were empty last night and they can afford better management.
Enough already!!!!!!!!
Ian, you kept telling us that “Cunny” (look that up on urbandictionary.com by the way
) had finally turned the team around when it was obvious from the get-go that he was incompetent.
Really incompetent. Scott Gomez as Plekanec’s winger incompetent. Play Price every night incompetent. Worst powerplay in the league incompetent. Put a big lug on every line incompetent.
He has all the faults JM had plus some extra just for him (Apologies to Philip Larkin).
Muller? Maybe. He has not done anything for Carolina, although their roster is fairly dire. But management did not “let him get away”. He wanted a chance to coach and he is the one who left. (He could have coached the Bulldogs after all.)
The problem isn’t the French language. The problem is that Gainey fucked up in 2009. That is why the team is where it’s at.
I don’t necessarily blame Gainey for everything, and he did turn around the franchise prior to 2008. But we are in bad shape not because of the language issue, but as a result of:
-not trading our UFAs for picks in January 2009
-hiring the wrong Jacques and dissing Larry Robinson
-the Gomez trade
-trying to rebuild with free agents that we overpay instead of developing youth
-getting rid of players who don’t behave according to Gainey’s old school ways (as you said earlier we could make a good team with all our “rejects”)
There are all of four francophones on the team. Desharnais is unimpeachable. Darche is a 13th player who does his job. Pierre Groulx is one of the best in the biz. And Gauthier.
This team is less French then it has ever been. It’s less French than just about every other team in the league.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Dumb Cunny! That’s not way to run a hockey team!
Are you actually defending Gauthier? You gotta be kidding.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
When did I do that?
I believe Gauthier had a hand in the Gainey blunders, and of course in filling our team with Ottawa Senators.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I too am dissappointed in Price. I thought by now he would be lights out. I still feel he is the real deal with patience, but you have a good argument. He has not been the Price I hoped he would be. I say he is untouchable since the organization decided to spend a 5th overall pick on him and then decided to trade Halak. I liked trading Halak and keeping Price, really am high on Eller, and I hope I still like it in 5 yrs
Everyone is disappointed in Price when he let’s in soft ones. Also in PK with his antics. These are young assets. You don’t let these guys go, no matter what, at this time. If the team gets better and they don’t turn it around, there is plenty of time to make changes. Make a few trades at the deadline. This isn’t going to be a fast turn around. There are always teams out there with players who aren’t living up to expectations, those are the ones we should be looking for not giving up on ours.
.
The thing is, I don’t think there is hardly any goaltender out there that can shoulder the Montreal goaltending role as Price can. Obviously, when he has a bad game, one can criticize him. But to expect him to essentially steal 50% of the games (or more this season) he’s in is unrealistic. Even if we had Lundqvist, the team in front of him needs to be better. And how many goalies could have Tim Thomas-like numbers on a struggling team AND playing nearly 70 games a year.
Price is lights out. He’s helping put the lights out early this season so he can go on to his first love: rodeo.
Even Gomez?
If Gainey is still with the Habs come summer that will speak volume about Molson. The good ol’ boys club lives on.
Savard (Andre) wanted out.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Gilles-Tremblay
He’s not an NHL coach. This is ridiculous. Failed experiment after failed experiment (with the exception of the Roy larcenies in ’86 and ’93). It’s worse than the Houle-Tremblay stumble. We deserve the best GM in hockey and the best coach in hockey. This is supposed to be the Montreal Canadiens. Molson’s lying naked on his floor rolling around in ten thousand dollar bills laughing. What a disgusting spectacle.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Yvan-Cournoyer
Two of those goalies are winners. Clutch players. Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup winners. Only two.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Patrick-Roy
Amen. I’d make Cole captain and dispatch Gionta.
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Guy-Lafleur
No one’s gonna take Gomez, even at 5.5 millions he is not gonna garner any interest from other GM’s.
Buying him out or demoting is more feasible.
For my money, I would trade Plekanec. I would not trade Cole at this point, he is doing great and could be for a few more years. Not every players skills go way down, Selanne, Lindstrom, St. Louis! Hw really takes care of him self. I would move Pleks, Kostitsyn, Weber, Gill, Campoli, Nokelainen, Kaberle for anything, and Gomez to Hamilton. I would only trade Moen if he does not want to sign in Mtl or a team offers something too good to refuse. They do need to rebuild. I would also trade Gauthier for a Zamboni mechanic.
Habfan17
You should really be GM.
It’s blatantly obvious to anyone who reads your post.
It’s genius.
1) Trade away (or whatever) 9 from our current roster and 2 from Hamilton and the pressbox.
2) Keep 13 current players (and one AHLer)
3) Sign 2 Free Agents
4) Promote some or all 8 AHLers.
How can this not work? This is obviously going to make the team better!
Thanks, Anti JM; PG had better watch out if you’re around!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
35 year old Shane Doan is a player to build around?
Why is Shane Doan moving from the franchise he’s played his entire career with?
Why is Shane Doan, if he does move, coming to a franchise that just held a fire-sale instead of a franchise with a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup?
Why is Shane Doan coming to Montreal given the crap he took over the controversy with the French-Canadian referee and the subsequent crap he took over it? You don’t think the muck-rakers surrounding the Canadiens would have a field day with THAT signing?
Riiiiiight.
I love comedy before noon. Sets the day up just right.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Not many good UFAs this year.
Two of those goalies played for very good to elite teams for most of their careers. Only two.
He’ll be a cheap RFA. Habs will save some money on term.
They traded the wrong goalie.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20122ALLGAGAll&sort=goalsAgainstAverage&viewName=goalsAgainstAverage
C’mon Shiloh, this is the tank now page. Not another Pricebots vs. the Halkites.
Halakians love these stat comparisons, baseless though, you have take into account the St.Louis Blues system vs. the Montreal Canadiens system and the fact that Halak can’t handle the workload Price can…
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Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
Yeah!
Richard R
Brodeur stole games on a regular basis. Still does on occasion. Like last night.
Richard R
Halak 27 GP vs 44 GP for Price. Halak is not coming back so give it up.
we should you trade you