Three games to go … and then a long off-season.
The Canadiens return to the practice rink in Brossard Monday morning, preparing for a Wednesday visit by Tampa Bay.
Good news for the Tanque Corps: Edmonton won in Anaheim Sunday night, dropping the Canadiens down a notch into 29th place in the overall standings.
• Dave Stubbs assesses the season
• Red Fisher on the looming playoffs
• Jack Todd: Good riddance to Gauthier
• Eller line impresses against Caps
• Photo Gallery: Canadiens at Caps
• Pierre Ladouceur’s weekly report card
• Yvon Pedneault: No rush on a new GM
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LMAO ONE COOKIE RULE!!! Lol love it ! And I forgot about that Molson cup when Halak was in town ! I bet even Price was embarassed. Among other things, glad he’s gone. One cookie hahahah. Hope he’s enjoying his vegan cookies in Vermont.
I heard there was another airline crash in Siberia.
You have to think the Russian players drafted will think twice about playing in the KHL with the safety issues in Russian regional air travel.
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
We would think so, but its not far enough from old Soviet times and the culture of questioning “official dogma” is not engrained.
If some high KHL official says they won’t be using old Tupelovs and Iluyshin aircraft for travel then that is the real deal at contract time.
Despite the fact that these old junkers are still the mainstay of domestic travel in Russia today.
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The cerebral insight of PJ Stock:
“Le problem est Markov n’a pas jouer un seul game cette annee”
“Louis Leblanc est un kid locale”
Completely off topic, TSN did a neat little special on Hunter Mahan last night during Sportsdesk. Turns out virtually his entire entourage of handlers are Canadian. His swing coach is Foley (same coach as Tiger, and is from right here in Burlington, ON), his agent is Canadian, his strength and conditioning coach and his new Mental (golfers seem to need these coaches, maybe Habs should try it) Coach are Canadian as well.
It is probably on the loop this morning, was kind of funny watching Mahan roll up the rim on a coffee cup as he was trying to be Canadian.
Edit: Hunter Mahan is currently the highest ranked American golfer heading into the Masters, fyi.
Hunter Mahan is also the perfect example of a parent pushing their child too hard.
As of a couple of years ago he rarely had contact with his father because the amount of training and practicing he was forced into as a child resulted on his childhood being lost.
I was not aware of that, but a buddy of mine here went to high school with Foley and they are still good buds. Foley says he has never heard Mahan say 1 discouraging word about anyone. Said he is just an absolute wonderful human being.
I did know that Sean O’Hair had the same thing happen with his father though.
Great side topics, HiB and TN. I became a Mahan fan this morning, and props to the TSN producer and reporter. Wow, a curling book available as a prop for the story. (“Burlington’s Sean Foley….Yah, Baby!)
Poignant observation about Mahan’s father-talented son/daughter difficult early times. Reminiscent of Sean O’Hair, Jennifer Capriatti, that pretty young Australian tennis player a few years back (Dokic I think). Oh yeah, and hockey’s Mike Danton, nee Jefferson. Think about how many talented youngsters who did not make it but still lost their bond with their father.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I did some looking after Tom mentioned that, and it turns out Sean and Hunter have been best friends since they starting golfing together at age 12. Pretty interesting.
Five Things I Would Do As GM This Summer
1. Find a taker for Tomas Kaberle
– This won’t be easy but it won’t be nearly as difficult as some here make it out to be. He’s still a great puck mover and has the creativity and hands to create space when he has the puck. Teams needing a jolt to their powerplay who already have a deep group of defensemen and a lot of cap space would probably move a prospect or a middle round pick for him.
2. Trade My 2012 Second Round Pick If
- If my second round pick were the #32 pick I would trade it. This year’s draft is not deep. Next year’s is incredibly deep and like other deep drafts there will be great talent found in every round. The second pick of the second round holds significant value because that round starts on Saturday. 29 other general managers will have been up for the majority of the night talking about who they could get by moving up to get one of the top five picks to be taken on Saturday. It isn’t inconceivable that I would be able to add a late second rounder in 2012 and a second round pick in 2013 on top of that. I would jump at it.
3. Go Bargain Hunting
- Players who haven’t performed to expectations elsewhere but have excellent talents and will be available via the trade market include Magnus Paajarvi, Zach Bogosian, Kyle Okposo, Darren Helm and Derick Brassard with an outside chance of Dustin Brown being available. These players can all have a significant impact on a franchise and each one can address a significant organizational need both short and long term.
4. Implement The Change Of Direction If One Is Coming
- If I were to decide that I’m going to tear this thing down. Markov, Gorges, Plekanec, Gionta and Bourque would all be heading out of town. It’s no indictment on these guys themselves, but they’re all leaders on a team needing a bit of a culture change. I would use Plekanec and Markov in efforts to hit a homerun. I would be targeting the Islanders, Blues, Panthers, Wild, Oilers, Capitals and Flyers in my pursuit. Teams that are prospect rich and are willing to make big deals. Specific targets would be Nino Niederreiter, Karril Kabanov, Vladmir Tarasenko, Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad, Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, John Carlson and Sean Couturier.
5. Let Certain Kids Play
- Provided they have good camps, Brendan Gallagher, Louis Leblanc, Jared Tinordi and my first round pick at this year’s draft would all be in the opening night lineup.
iam assuming Gomez will be parked in the AHL or CBA bought out.
He’s already gone.
“Dead Man Skating?”
“May you live in interesting times.”
1. Yes, of course
2. I heard this draft is deep towards the end of the 1st round. The 2013 has the better high end talent, however. Either way, i doubt we get 2 2nds for the price of 1.
3. Yes, of course
4. A change in culture is needed, so move Pleks and Gorges? Head scratcher.
5. Let’s learn from our mistakes and not rush the youngin’s, shall we? Leblanc will make the team.
Jared Tinordi in the lineup along with Gallager?
These kids are still a work in progress. Very few make it in the NHL (everybody remember Danny Kristo for example?)
Just cuz we drafted Tinordi in the first round does not make him a prospect.
The consensus on him is that he still has a long way to go before if he makes the leap in the NHL, that is a big “if”
For all we know, he could be a bust as well with other 1st round DMan we have selected over the years like Komisarek, Fischer, to name a few.
So let’s not get excited over our draft picks.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Saw the hoghlights of the Flyers/Penguins game last night and it seems the “BROAD STREET” bullies are back. With Shenn cross checking Crosby after the whistle with his back turned (coward) ,
Iwould love to see some supplementary action on the leagues part.
Like the DODGERS “Wait till next year”
Crosby took a late shot at Schenn just prior to that as an fyi.
Yeah he did. They were targeting Malkin and Crosby all game though. That will be a great series. I dislike both teams. I think the Pens will put philly out though
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
Crosby committed several flagrant fouls right in front of the refs yesterday and was not penalized. Discrimination.
Richard R
Actually, between these two Pennsylvania Puckers, Pittsburgh appears to be the dirtier team which is all right by me!
“May you live in interesting times.”
The cross-check on Crosby was a “love-tap” that happens all the time. Crosby embellished it. Ref’s weren’t falling for it.
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
Haven’t read any new perspective on how to achieve an “Ottawa Turnaround,” or how to avoid a “Toronto What’s a Playoff Game?,” situation. Last in-depth post was Chris’ summation that there were four first rounders from last June’s draft playing on NHL teams. The first overall will not be playing in this year’s playoffs. No. 2 Gabriel Landeskog may have his team squeak in but unlikely. Numbers 3,4, and 5 are in the minors or with their junior team (Huberdeau, Larsson, Strome).
The teams that did not make last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs but have this year are Florida, New Jersey, and Ottawa. Last draft, Ottawa chose Mike Zibinejad 6th, New Jersey took Adam Larsson 4th, and Florida, Jonathan Huberdeau 3rd. These teams are better one season later WITHOUT any contribution from these young prospects! I’ll bring up once again that St. Louis went from 11th and out of the playoffs last year to their current 2nd place in the Western Conference WITHOUT a 1st round pick last year. The Blues chose Ty Rattie as their first selection with the 32nd pick of the draft, and this prospect is also not contributing to that team’s success.
A one year turnaround is possible. Absolutely, a strong prospect should be selected June 22nd. The major moves however will be in trades (get Getzlaf….) and free agent signings.
“May you live in interesting times.”
All the good posters are busy, I am just providing some fill until they have time
You, sir, are risking getting banned, but I’ve got your back, Homie! By “good posters,” HiB means everybody Mr. Boone!
“May you live in interesting times.”
I was more trying to make fun of my posting, not the others. Thanks for having my back though!
I always admire your diplomacy and was just pokin’ fun!
“May you live in interesting times.”
the new managers need to start at the beginning..what is the teams identity moving forward..will the team be a dump and chase, will it be a defensive team, a puck possession team. seems to me once this is established then the right players can be added either thru draft or FA signings.
of course the gomez situation and a few other bad contracts have to be resolved one way or another.
this will not be easy and will take some patience…this is not a quick fix for me.
NO! No more adding personnel to suit coaches. Time to hire management and coaches who can adjust to their personnel.
i think thats what i was trying to say but came out the wrong way.
On a brighter note:
Shamus won the Title in record time last night @ Wrestlemaina ….
I guess you didn’t get the memo – wrestling is scripted.
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☞ Wow, that’s a nice lookin’ pair of Crocs!” Said no one ever.☜
I am waiting for the updates on The Young and Restless, assuming they will be following shortly.
Do people really still feel the need to tell this to others in that same condescending tone, as if they don’t know this to be the case?
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez is an elite NHL player” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
Yes.
Get OUT!
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
The habs matches are scripted aren’t they? There’s basically only been 3 story lines all year:
1) Habs go up by 2 goals and then lose by one.
2) Habs completely mess the bed.
3) Carey Price and Erik Cole steal a game.
and just like a random ally coming up and whacking an opponent with a chair… Gauthier has introduced coaches and players alike to all manor of guillotines and planks.
“Let’s be clear on the facts…”
so if we do pick Grigorenko or however u spell it, i guess it doesn’;t mean he plays with us next year correct? we will have to wait a couple of years before he plays with us? so in mean time were stuck with 2 small centerman unless we can trade pleks for Eric Stall who i’d love to reunite with Eric Cole on a line together again
By trading to get Staal, so you are saying that the team can win now, this means trading probably the top pick we get, since our team is not good enough to win it now with the supporting cast they have.
I will pass on the blockbuster trade and hopefully see this team build over the next 2-3 years.
nah u don’t have to trade ur top pick away, Muller knows pleks and would love to have this great 2 way player and may be throw in another one of our players to get stall. Don;t forget stall has “stalled” this year ever since the departure of cole he hasn’t been himself
haha, yah plex and a throw in will get us Staal. Not sure about that, no matter what the man crush Muller may have on Plex. Unless we are throwing in PK.
Pretty sure that Muller would prefer to have Pleks play on a line with Staal, not swap the two.
Richard R
I agree…they need to focus on rebuilding with youth and a couple of strategic UFAs, not trade assets for vets to just make next year’s playoffs.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Don’t see why so many people want to trade Pleks. You won’t get a 1 for 1 trade for Stall.
I wouldn’t mind having another big center but I would prefer that we draft for one and in the meantime, give Pleks some wingers that can score. You can’t have the guy play defense the whole year and hang him with boat anchors that can’t shoot and then complain because his goal output is too low.
Anyway, our PK would be way worse without Pleks. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team and one of the smartest hockey players.
because 2 small centers isn’t going to get it done
Let’s say we finish 28th or 29th, who could we potentially get with our first 2nd round pick? It’ll be a borderline first and although I realize you then get into players who are far from sure things, I wonder if there might be some diamonds in the rough left over.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Martin Frk should be a late 1st/early 2nd rounder. He has loads of skill and a bit of grit (for a skilled player), but consistency issues.
I thought he was solidly 1st round now. I was looking at guys like big LWs Andrew Ryan and Emil Lundberg.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Excuse me, I’ve watched Martin Frk for two years now. I don’t like him as an NHL prospect. He loafs. He doesn’t skate unless he has the puck. Plays very little defense. He reminds me of a less physical AK46. I think his game will struggle in the big leagues if doesn’t play any defense because I don’t think he has the skill, as this point in his young career, to be a first or second liner.
But I could be wrong. #22 On the Moosheads…now that is another story.
Also, I’ve never been in the same building as Saint Patrick but I am about to be for the first time when his team plays in Halifax Next Week!
It’s going to be a ton of fun at the Metro Centre. I’m looking forward to it, as well as to wishing Patrick the best of luck in Montreal.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is probably not our year!
“Scott Gomez is an elite NHL player” – VancouverHab
Chat with me on Twitter @TheRealRGM81
Less physical AK46…well there’s a ringing endorsement. ;-D
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
I’ve watched him as well and I agree with everything you’ve said, except I think he’s more skilled than you give him credit for. Plus, he is pretty gritty for a skilled player and is always mixing it up in the scrums.
I’m looking forward to watching future Hab Grigorenko.
I find it quite funny when I read many comments on this site from fans who were so optimistic into believing this very weak team we have assembled were going to make the playoffs.
Besides myself and others, most now believing tanking is a good this season but many still believe we can turn it around next season.
I hope most of you fans are right but I really see our team struggling in the next 3 years with the mess first and foremost when Gainey was our GM, along with front office personnel Pierre Boivin as President of our club.
The mess will be cleaned up with our club once we have the proper front office and management in place for our club.
We need a solid scouting staff, not an overrated hyped scouting staff that the club is advertising to us.
Many you believe that Randy Cunneyworth should not be coach but I believe he is one of the the best coaching prospects in hockey today (the hell with hiring a French speaking coach and GM!).
So lets enjoy the work “tank”, we’ll use it next year as well if we don;t make major trades in the summer to get bigger.
We need only 1 smurf at CMan position and that’s DD not Pleks.
Trade for a physical DMan and if we can trade an older injury prone Markov to some club, let’s do it!
TO build a winner, you need to trade some of your so called star players in Markov and Pleks to build a contender and not hold onto them for dear life.
Let the summer b**chfest begin!
But as I have always said from the getgo…..
Tank I say! Tank!
It’s a great feeling!
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Too be honest, if Markov was healthy, Gionta was healthy and Cammy showed up to play this team would have made the playoffs….
They would have just sneaked in around 7th or 8th. If you look at the teams in those spots currently…they are not very good.
This year will actually be a good thing as this team hasn’t had a draft pick this high since Carey Price.
This team really needs to get another top 6 forward and believing that the new draft pick can be our hero next year is a little crazy. I think next year may be a tough season as well but this team won’t be dead last in the East
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
I think you are right Kooch, if things had gone well for team injury wise we are probably scratching to get in. I hate the idea of a team tanking, but this team in a round about way, did just that. Decimated by injuries, decimated by a front office that didn’t know how to turn the lights on or off, it has resulted in hopefully an excellent pick.
Hopefully we can look back in a few years and see that this one horrible season will be paying dividends for years. As you say it could turn out that this season was a blessing in disguise. Of course, I am assuming a competent GM will be hired who can take advantage of these circumstances.
Next years will be good how good as good as Ottawa we lost it at the gate that,s all
U are a Troll that does not proof read what you type. It’s word NOT work …
And don’t use “our Club”
poor sport, you can’t handle the truth!
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
On a brighter note:
The “Rock” laid the Smackdown on “U can’t see me” John Cena last night @ Wrestlemaina ….
Wrestling is still relevant?
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Aarrrggggg Captain and the Undertaker goes 20-0 in Wrestlemania matches even though He will probably be bed ridden for a month and call it a career. Kids watch it but I won’t buy the pay for views.
Mr. Biter
No Guts No Glory
90% of it is fake but last night those chair smacks that the Taker got was not fake. The marks on his back were real nasty …
It’s “were not fake” not “was not fake”. If you’re going to make a big thing of someone making typos, it is a tip that you might want to check your own spelling first.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Still???
So Ronald Corey wants to see Patrick behind the bench and Vinny as the GM…. hmmmm sounds eerily similar to when he wanted and did hire Houle and Tremblay.
By the way Ronald, you are the moron that oversaw Patrick leave the team. Maybe Ron could just keep his piehole shut.
I don’t get Damphousse…if a unilingual anglo GM prospect was a suspected wife-beater, I wonder if the French media would be touting him as a great choice. Somehow, I think he would be depicted as the last thing the Habs need if they want to bring back class.
Personally, I would MUCH rather McGuire than Damphousse and I hate McGuire.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
don’t forget Roy too was a suspected wife-beater in fact there were reports to police for domestic violence at his home years back
I think the important part there is “years back”. Damphousse’s issues are pretty recent I think.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Roy’s domestic violence charges were dismissed.
They are always guilty until proven innocent in these cases.
It’s a no-win situation if they are charged.
You get all the “DO you still beat your wife?” comments.
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
At least Corey was a passionate President, more than Boivin will ever be.
Easy to call someone a moron but he did bring us 2 Cups in 1986 and 1993.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Wrong! The goalie he ran out of town brought them 2 Cups.
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
ahh…beep! Who drafted Roy in 1984?
It was a team of Savard as GM and Corey as President!
Give credit where its due.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
yup
Well thanks to Jack Todd I finally have a reason to hate Pierre Gauthier, I was never a fan of PG, but was willing to be patient and see what he did for the team in Montreal. I pretty much ran out of patience towards the end of the last offseason when some small critical moves were not made.
But now I found out he told reporters to only eat 1 free cookie while in Ottawa. Well that does it, who does PG think he is the Cookie Monster, this isn’t Sesame Street here were talking about.
Jack Todd and his crack research staff bringing to light the real evils of society. Thanks Jack!
LOL. Poor Jack could only have 1 cookie. I feel terrible. I hope the new GM will have an endless supply of Chips A Hoy for ya Jack.
If only we had known sooner maybe the Habs could have avoided crumbling so.
Well played sir.
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Also, Todd failed to note that Scanlan’s article about PG was mostly positive and that, in retrospect, the press corp really did need to eat fewer cookies.
I’ve organised press conferences for much much smaller organisations than theOttawa Snorators and I would have never thought of telling media to ration muffins…it is totally stupid. For a rich organisation to do it is all kinds of ridiculous. But then, they also spawned the idea of the card-reading gladiator doing a pre-game speech so we should not be surprised…..
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
My point is not the stupidity of PG for doing this, it is the fact that Todd basically made that the focal point of his story and reasoning. Come on Jack, spend a bit of time and provide some other reasons.
I saw this as icing on the cake as we already pretty much know the other stuff.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
Gerald – the cookie story was simply a metaphor for the Goat’s being a control freak…we already know enough reasons to dislike the Goat.
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☞ Wow, that’s a nice lookin’ pair of Crocs!” Said no one ever.☜
I normally don’t read Todd’s work, but when I saw the headline I thought okay I will read. The only thing he did was rehash a couple obvious points and then rewrite a story written by someone else. Perhaps my disdain for Todd is my issue, and will know better next time. When I don’t read his “stuff” I then don’t comment. I have learned my lesson well.
P.S. Your signature is sooo true. Very funny Clay.
Thanks Gerald – I thought it was so true as well = and we can all use a laugh after this season.
As for Todd…I’m more indifferent to him than most. The only people who seem to piss me off like he seems to do to many here are right-wing ideologues
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☞ Wow, that’s a nice lookin’ pair of Crocs!” Said no one ever.☜
3 Games to go. If we win the remaining 3 games, the worst we can do is 8th pick. We are currently in the 2 spot for the draft, but the Oilers have a tougher schedule than us. So I see us finishing 3rd last, worst case picking 4th. Forsberg, Grigorenko, or Galchenyuk. should all be available, or at least 2 of the 3. I haven’t seen any of these guys play, I have only read articles about them online. By the sounds of it, all 3 seem to have very bright futures. I would be happy with either one of these guys. I would still love to win the lottery and grab Yakupov, but I think we will still do good. Maybe this crap season is a blessing in disguise, and we will have another young stud to build this team around. Go Habs Go.
Edmonton plays tougher opponents but the Habs are playing 3 in 4 nights….it’ll be close.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
lets hope for zero wins. The number 2 slot has a higher chance at number 1!
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
Timmins has to know he has to hit a homerun now career-wise. If he drafts Doug Wickenheiser part deux, he’ll be looking for a job soon. He’s been pretty good but he would not live this down IMHO. I want Galchenyuk myself. I doubt he’ll draft Grigorenko if he looks like he might be a loafer.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
I agree. The only thing with these drafts, is that we will have to wait 3-5 years to see if we hit the homerun.
If Roy is going to be coach you can bet your bottom dollar they are going to select Grigorenko if available when they select their pick.
Personally, of the lot of high pick candidates, I think Grigorenko has the highest Wickenheiser Bust potential. Add that at the first sign of trouble, he could head to the KHL to make huge bucks and I want them to steer clear.
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Me skull and crossbones arn’t the only thing I plan on raisin’ tonight.
I personally like Galchenyuk myself as well. Time will tell where we end up. As long as the Leafs don’t pick before us I am good
“Like Canadian Hip hop..check us out http://www.groovecontrolmusic.com“
Mikhail Grigorenko would be a great addition for the Habs.
He is THE big Centreman which we needed since years.
I hope we get a chance to pick him.
Greetings from good old Germany.
Monty
http://www.canadiens.de
GO HABS GO
Yep. It’s going to get interesting… especially if we find a way to land #1!
Newbie alert! If you have modesty, I’ll do the intro for you. “Long-time reader, first time expert.”
“May you live in interesting times.”
Willkommen!
I guess if that does happen there will definitely need to be a realignment!
You know the Nordiques are coming… Maybe they’ll bring out the jersey when the Yotes draft!
We best get all our s*** together before that happens… That’s a decent team right there. Instant rivalry.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
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Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.
PUKE IS STARTING TO LOOK BETTER EACH MINUTE………..BEATS OUT DILUSHINOID
Gohabs
What does that even mean???
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Jack Edwards is a clam, Bruins are pukes.