The team returns to practice Tuesday morning.
It’s an easy week leading up to the All-Star break: Only one game.
But the game is against the Detroit Red Wings.
• Dave Stubbs on the Carey Price injury
Loading ...
Hockey Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative. © 2013 The Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement
Halak played well for us against the Caps and Pens in the playoffs, no doubt. But if he was so great, why didn’t we win the cup that year? Why couldn’t he stop all those shots by the Flyers? I remember the Habs scoring first in the 5th game of that series, do you guys even remember how the Flyers managed to make it 1-1? The problem isn’t in front of the net, the players just don’t score enough goals and how are you supposed to protect a lead with aging d-men like Gill and inexperienced ones like Weber?
The media is making players like Subban and Gorges look better than they actually are, I like Subban, but he’s a 3rd d-man in my book.
Is Thomas waiting until his team actually earns the honour rather than having it gifted to them from Greg’s Dad with all the B.S. that went on for the Bs, prior to B.S. taking over and doing more of the same B.S.?
On a completely different topic:
Am I right in thinking that our second rd pick from the Flames for Cammy will improve if the Flames spot in the overall standings improves?
Emotionally I want them to suck post trade, but logically, i am thinking I should root for them to do better.
I’m not following your logic. A lower finish by the Flames would yield a higher 2nd rd draft pick. Though it’s for next year’s draft
The Montreal Canadiens: sporting the best AND worst fans since 1909!
I think it used to be the case that draft order was reversed in the even numbered rounds, but no longer. Now it is the same order for every round.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
thanks!
Uh, does that mean Shanny is gonna suspend Obama for creating a controversy about the Boston Bruins? You just can’t do that, can’t hurt this team’s reputation, right?
So how many games does he get?
Actually, Thomas should be fined by his team AND the NHL. Despite political views, you show up for a photo op with the Pres. Same with Harper (Hmp-gluck. Geez, that was close. Almost got sick for a minute there).
I don’t know about the fine. I guess it would depend of how he explains himself. Probably will find a BS reason and he’ll get away with it.
It’s not about politics, there. No matter what are your political views. At least, it’s not about Habs organization vs politics, this time!
Yeah you should be proud of voting for Iggy or Joke.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Don’t you know this is all according to the communist plan, like that Angelina Jolie movie salt. Now Chara will infiltrate deep into the white house bunker and set off a world wide nuclear disaster. We’re doomed I tells ya, DOOMED!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
We have a Quebecois version called “Pepper” that…..ooops.
LMFHO!!!!! This coming from a pepper by the by.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
I like pepper on my steak.
———————–
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
Uh oh! That explains the end of the world in 2012!
RUN AND HIDE everyone!
so perhaps price’s papercut is just a good way to get out of the allstar game? he would have to sit wed to make it a legit excuse right?
Not sure Budaj will be enough to hold off the Wings…
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Tim Thomas snubbed President Obama’s invitation to visit the White House today. There is quite a controversy surrounding his decision and it is trending on Twitter right now.
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I wonder if he talks to any of the Bruins’ left wingers?
Good one!
That is an interesting stance for him to take. Isn’t Boston, Mass. usually a Democrat voting city/state?
Tim Thomas: All class. NOT!
Every time I read another reference to Wickenheiser (RIP) and Savard the irony jumps on my head. The Habs brass of the day took the big Anglo over the smurf Quebec kid!
Can you imagine the fallout in 2012? The pundits would tie themselves in knots arguing for and against!
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” (anon)
You know for all the great days in this Franchises history, we have had some dark ones as well haven’t we?
In 83 they picked Alfie Turcotte, a Franco-Yankee, in the 1st round, 17th over all…nothing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Either player would have been a good draft choice. Unfortunately Wick had 1 amazing junior year and that was it. That’s why I do not have any faith that tanking for younger players will work.
I have been told over and over at a Hockey website that the results are guranteed G, you need not fret. Long live the Tank!
LMAO!
Wickenheiser had a heck of a lot more than one good year of junior. He had seasons of 88pts, 94pts and 170 pts. He would have had a much better NHL career but for a very serious knee injury that occurred during an off ice rookie hazing night in St.Louis. He was ruined by the Habs for years, courtesy of the coaching staff that chose to sit him far more than play him. He was just getting to be a very solid two way player in St. Lou when he injured his knee, and then he got cancer and died. His life is actually quite tragic, and he had very young twin girls when he passed away. But yes if this happened now in regards to the draft, people would go nuts. Savard also was right for the era, dangling and generally taking advantage of things as they were. Not sure why he flamed out as badly as he did after nine years. Maybe he could not handle the pressure here. Who knows, maybe had the Habs drafted Savard he would have crumpled under the pressure.
Mario Tremblay signed off on it to, what more could you ask for?
On Wickenheiser?
Tremblay was not part of management in 1980, he was still playing….
Canadiens had been looking for a big centre man since they traded The Little M away (sounds familar looking for a big centre) which they did not get until Bob Smith joined the team. Centres they had at the time were Pierre Larouche-Pierre Mondou-Doug Jarvis & Doug Riseborough so Wick being a Doug would have fit right in……lol
Big Wick was a hero who was shabbily treated by us (honesty compells us to admit); worse by the Blues, who smashed his knees permanently in a hazing; and abysmally by fatal cancer.
Without the knees ruination he would have had at the least a career equivalent to Bertuzzi.
Doug Wickenheiser deserves to be honourably remembered by all Habs fans.
Cannot WAIT to hear Tim Thomas’s reasons for snubbing Obama and the White House visit by the Bruins. This is gonna be great.
Full Breezer 4 Life
I wonder what kind of excuse he’s going to find for that. And I can’t wait either!
He is a Tea Party guy, right?
Guess that splains it.
You can tell the Bruins are embarrassed about this:
“Whatever he will say is not reflective of our organization’s views or beliefs,” Chiarelli said.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I read a post here of someone that saw Tim Thomas snub a young fan at a restaurant when playing in Halifax(?) in this pre-season. He’s just an a-wipe.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
I guess he doesn’t need to pump Obama’s tires either.
his glove finger got stuck?
Nope. His body got stuck in his house. Therefore he can’t go. Equipment problem, of course.
Maybe Thomas is not a good fellow traveller like comrade Obama.
Yes, Obama, whose entire economic team comes from those leftwing bastions: Wall St. and the Univ. of Chicago economics department, is a communist.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Excellent post. Obama’s entire cabinet/ advisors are ex. professors,Union leaders and politicans. Not one person who has ever owned a business or run one.
Mr. Biter
They all worked at Goldman Sachs, THE MUSICAL!
Hahaha, wait, which is it you don’t understand, Obama’s policies or communist ideology? I can’t tell!
Full Breezer 4 Life
Maybe Thomas prefers to hang with heavyweights.
He has creases to water and a more important dinner to attend with Colon, Buttman and the boys.
Talk about celebrations reminds me of this.
Greatest goal celebration ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QieyCqOVb-M
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
That was funny! Did you read the second post?
“As a fish, I find this offensive.” LMAO.
That is an icelandic soccer team Bri they have about 4 different great ones like that. Spend some time googling, they are funny.
Not big on clicking links, but if that is a link to Price drilling Subban after the OT goal that put them in the playoffs last year, I agree.
Would be my avatar pic if I made one here. Also not big on signing up for foreign sites like gravatar or whatever it is that require email so they can spam me etc.
Out of curiosity what are you big on?
…and do you realize in the time it took you to write that, you could have clicked the link? You might enjoy it.
And you realize that if you clicked every link you saw posted on a message board, you’d wind up with countless viruses and spyware/spamware/adware on your computer? Not all of course, but enough that it’s not exactly a bad idea to opt not to and skip them. It’s got nothing to do with a time factor.
You want a solution to your spam problem? Buy a Mac!
This reminds me of the celebration of a United Emirates soccer player that got caught squeezing the buttocks of a teammate during a soccer match. He got banned for life. Ah those ultra conservative muslim nations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
read one of the comments so I checked out #5 in the video.
too funny!!
he is “shunned” by the goal scorer
then he is left out of the entire celebration.
check it out.
The other day someone posted a link to an awesome wingsuitclip on youtube, is there someone who got it? Thanks
Monthly Molson Cup Awards in 2011-2012 so far
Oct – Price
Nov – Price
Dec – Price
Monthly Molson Cup Awards in 2010-2011
Oct – Price
Nov – Price
Dec – Price
Jan – Pleks
Feb – Price
Mar – Price
Season Winner – Price
Can we please stop with all the bitching about how terrible Price is and stop blaming Price for the team’s results already? If you have a hard on for Halak, good, just leave Price and the Habs out of the nonsense already. This was stale 3 years ago when Halak was actually a part of this team, it’s no more enjoyable to read this garbage today than it was then. Get a new topic already, maybe something based upon reality for a change?
But that’s voted by the fans, who are idiots. Only the “true fans” that actually show up to post at Hockey Inside/Out night in and night out realize that Price is a second-rate AHL, no, ECHL, back-up that has been coddled by the Habs organization and isn’t a thoroughbred and if only we drafted Anze Kopitar the goaltending tandem could still be Yann Danis and Jaro Halak. That’s character guys, not silver-spooned overrated worshipped-by-Pricebots who-cares-if-he-flew-three-hours-a-day-in-a-plane-bought-by-his-own-father-just-to-take-him-to-practice – we don’t want a franchise goalie, goalies are a dime a dozen and we want a dozen of them for our dime, dammit!
———————–
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
why don’t you tell us how you truly feel
Price isn’t lighting it up this year, but to claim he is an ECHL goalie at best is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?
I agree, the Moslon Cup is a bit of joke. However, I would say that Price was our best player last year…. by far.
I am not sure where all this Price hate comes from (just like I don’t understand the Halak hate either).
and what the hell is a Price-bot?
LOL I guess the sarcasm wasn’t laid on thick enough there. Here’s a story from last year – I think you’ll get an idea where I fall on the Price/Halak debate: http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2011/4/10/2102872/carey-price-provides-a-birthday-surprise-for-halifax-habs-fan
———————–
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
For what it’s worth RGM, I got what you were going for there. Maybe I’m just good at picking up really subtle hints?
Thank you sir. I quite liked the dime a dozen part myself.. LOL
———————–
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
Quite a witty post. LOL
Mr. Biter
A Price-Bot is some one who blindly defends Price when he coughs up 2 fur balls on 4 shots.
I knew I was a big Price fan, and given I don’t have those symptoms, i am relieved to discover I am not a Price-Bot, but rather just a big Price fan.
*sniff* *sniff* I smell sarcasm…
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
What does the Molson Cup have to do with how good Price is? Wayne Thomas, Steve Penney, Jeff Hackett, Theodore, Huet and Halak are past winners. Goalies have won the Molson Cup over 80% of the time since 1998.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
In an effort to guarantee that the Hab Fans who pay good money for a hockey game have a “good night” should the team consider doing a promotion with Viagara and hand out free samples to the patrons upon entering the arena?
It would give me a place to hang my jersey if it was warm in the arena.
I have some creative responses to that but I think better refrain! CHeers Showey! LOL.
I think we’d all have some creative answers to your question, Gerry.
Just thought I would lighten the mood a bit. Seems people are a bit angry these days is all.
Hey, you’re welcome at our dinner table anytime.
We always end up discussing three topics of conversation to lighten the mood.
Food, faeces and masturbation! (thanks to my 18 year old).
Holy cow, I am not sure I should be honoured to be thought of based on those 3 topics, but I am LMFAO!
Hey buddy, ours is an open-door policy.
And trust me, there’s no privilege there!
But the sh*t does fly!
May get more ladies to let their husbands go to the games, unlessssss the stop off for a “happy Ending” before they get home.
Mr. Biter
Some of us don’t need it, but good luck with that..!!
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Hand out?
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” (anon)
I don’t even want to go there.
Mr. Biter
I just figured out what the new marekting slogan for this season should be.
Are you ready. It’s a doozy.
Writhe Together
Lame.
Thst was my 2nd choice.
First they notice you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. – Mohardass Gandhabits
The wit, it’s too much…
It as to work in French, too. Or at least in quebecois.
Vive l’anne du tanque ™
PK could start with a cease and desist on that ridiculous Paddy-Cake routine he does with Price.
I’m sure Price is embarassed as I am for him for perpetuating this ritual.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
Based on what, exactly, are you just so sure? Because I have it on first-hand authority that he gets a kick out of it.
———————–
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
Hell, it worked with Butch and Sundance. Is it too retro for PK and Price?
could be worse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezM089eHYrY
You are right…it could be worse….this one was…..
That strangely resembles the whooping crane mating dance.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Those two boys are hanging out in the wrong clubs together.
“No, I see. The monkey’s out of the bottle now!”
In fairness I did not see you or others post this when the team was winning games last year. I am not in favour by the way of most of today’s pro athletes celebrations. I am a huge of fan of how Bear Bryant used to put it to his athletes when they got in the endzone, “Act like you have been there before”.
Disagree. The celebrations get the fans going even more, and that is key to success (IMO), so it’s a circle where one feeds off the other. I would by far rather see a player celebrate and be just as happy to score as we get when the score rather than it coming across as “oh-hum”.. Again, IMO.
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
That’s fine, I know I am old fashioned about some things is all. Trust me hockey’s celebrations pale in comparison to some of the NFL and NBA celebrations that really irk me.
I don’t really have a problem with the specific triple low five which PK and Carey do, the original gist of my comment was the timing of now complaining versus when it first started happening.
Yeah, I am with you on that one! It’s all good as I still think NHL players respect their sport WAY more than most other players.
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
I really liked that celebration by that ’49er in yesterday’s Conference Championship game. Got my Giants angry, it did. And that receiver didn’t like seeing my Giants angry. Heh-heh.
@Gman, I don’t understand some of today’s pro athletes. Vernon Davis makes a great play, scores a big touchdown, then decides his celebration is worthy of a penalty. Then on his 2nd touchdown his teammates try to celebrate with him him, and he pushes them out of the way in order that he can do his dance. I mean WTF, what is more important to these guys helping the team win or bringing attention to themselves. I don’t think I am that old, but I am feeling much older when I watch this crap.
There was a receiver for the Montreal Alouettes- Ben Cahoon- who was the master of “ain’t no big thing.”
Check this out if you like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPh07uN9L78
I literally hate the chest-pounding me-me-me “team” sports players. These guys never acknowledge anybody else’s input on the play. In football, spike the thing and go back to the sidelines to celebrate. The juvenile taunting and trashtalking done by players with no history in the game is sickening.
Excellent.
The Tragically Hip borrowed that quote in “Heaven is a Better Place Today”:
“If and when you get into the endzone, act like you have been there a thousand times before… don’t blame, don’t say people lose people all the time anymore.”
—Hope Springs Eternal—
It’s getting tiresome. Besides it’s over the top considering the embarassing results of this year’s team and PK’s play and antics this season.
As Price would say “Chill” PK. Be a little bit humble and start the matuaration process that is needed.
A lot of good young players were run out of town for lack of maturity- Chelios, Svboda, Ribeiro, Grabovski and there’s a lesson to be learned from that.
I’m also old school in terms of celebrations. I was glad to see the 49′s player penalized after his TD display yesterday.
I was also unhappy the way Team Canada players were jumping into the glass after scoring on hapless opponents like Denmark at the WJC’s
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
hilarious!
what is this “lesson to be learned ” that you speak of?
Chelios went on to have a remarkable, Hall of Fame career
Svoboda played 10 more NHL seasons AFTER he left the Habs
Ribeiro signed a 25 million, 5 year contract in Dallas
Grabovski is finally getting the ice he felt he deserved and is one of the Leafs best players
What is the lesson associated with “getting run out of town”??
I’ll tell you the “lesson”.
That talented NHL players can have terrific careers outside of Montreal,
and ALL of the players you mentioned actually had MORE SUCCESS once they left Montreal and played elsewhere.
Same thing will happen with PK.
I have no doubt. None.
The lesson as I see it is don’t let relations with your immature players deteriotate to the point where you have to move them out and then they end showing you upwhen they are successful on other teams.
Solve the problems don’t ship them out.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
http://27.media.tumblr.com/MqWahqdB8jd24insPy6IYJSmo1_400.jpg
Superstitions baby, superstitions….
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Hey, Ron Mclean hates it, so I love it.
Ron’s got to be right once in a thousand times.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
Didn’t the clash do paddy-cakes for encores?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
paddy-cakes over the heads with guitars – oh sorry that was with the audience. We played some rough venues.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
LOL.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Observation: that’s not Price with Subban in the picture above.
Details…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Oh my God — there is no ‘lowest’ in Hades…
Jack Todd:
– “Critics of P.K. Subban whom I dislike because they fail to agree with my social and political opinions? Racists.”
– “Critics of P.K. Subban whom I like because they agree with my social and political opinions? Goodthinkers…like me.”
Sigh.
Today, I actually read the Jack Todd piece (my rule of thumb is to give anything he writes a pass). I concur with others’ assessment that this particular column is mostly unobjectionable and obvious.
The impression of Mr. Todd that I receive from his writing is that of a wild-eyed Left Coaster who nonetheless tries to occupy the same moral high ground as Rex Murphy (that wild-eyebrowed Other Coaster), but who has little of the latter’s credibility and none of his gravitas.
The “&&&&” just makes him seem extremely eccentric–which I expect he doesn’t mind, one bit.
—
If Eller were pronounced “Ell-ay”, Larry would be #2 with a bullet!
One eyebrow is raised for emphasis. (Rex is very funny)
LA Loyalist:
Can you stop quoting Orwell when referencing Jack Todd. Orwell was a literary genius that wrote about how he thought political movements were shaping the future world, while drawing from his perspective and writing about them in a fictional way.
Todd pretends he knows something about hockey, when really he just wants to complain and point fingers.
Why does Todd write about hockey? I don’t even think he likes it given the way he writes about it.
Not sure why everyone’s feathers are ruffled by Jack Todd’s article. nothing wrong with anything he pointed out.
It’s because we suck right now so any little thing will set us off..:)
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
…’Q: Which goalie would you rather have in nets for a must-win game?’
) be surprised I selected Jaro Halak as the goalie I would select TODAY for a must-win game
…Myself, being as much a Carey Price Fan as a PK Subban Fan, You might (as if You cared
…deciding which of the 2 I would keep for the longterm good of the Montreal Canadiens ? …easy, Carey Price
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
“The goalie of the future” myth again. Just when does this future start?
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
When the GM ice’s a legit team in front of him…
started last year…did you miss his Carey’s performance?
Stop pickin’ on PK, Mmkaay?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_tOiLB_Ko&feature=related
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
…mea culpa: okay, I admit I animously dislike Jack Todd beyond emotional reason, and I react to His name ad hominem to virtually anything He writes …even before I read it
…I made the snarky below BEFORE I read today’s column, followed by the actual read
…I gotta say I actually think Todd is in the ballpark, for once, almost tangential to being ‘reasonable’ in His opinion on PK and Carey
…Gauthier ? …I’m a bit less supportive of His view on Gauthier …there are positives and negatives to The Goat, and there is some remaining to this season to see what He will be doing rebuilding Our Team (I feel the onus must be strengthening Our position for the summer draft, not a stand-still trade to make the playoffs where We have a snowballs chance in Hell)
…anyhow Todd, You get a temporary reprieve from Me for a ‘vacation’ at Hotel Guantanamo Bay
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
When you constantly are in 17th position drafting,you are not getting top prospects … and even if you do … Hell look at Crosby … How do you feel when the best player in the world … could be lost to you … there are no guarantees
NorthTOHab
Agreed! We have ended up in the “middle of the pack” for 10+ years now so are going to get our “middle of the pack” draft picks, but on top of that our scouting is not the most robust as there are MANY key players out there playing for other teams who went in the 3rd, 4th, 5th+ rounds… Take Detroit for example, they ended up top-dogs all through the 90′s and 00′s and are still competing today due to killer drafting…
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Nice avatar, 70.
Habs in Space!
Plekanec (3rd rd 01) , Markov (6th rd 98), Halak (9th rd 03), Sergei Kostitsyn (7th rd), Streit (9th round 05) , Gallagher (5th rd) Grabovski (5th rd), D’Agostini (6th rd 05), Ryder(8th rd).
Where were Roy and Richer drafted? Richer was 29th and Patrick was 51st. Wickenheiser was #1. I’d say Richer and Roy were better picks, non? If Timmins et cie. do their homework no reason you can’t get good picks anywhere in the draft. And DD was undrafted btw. If you dig and work hard you’ll find the talent. Not all of the junior prima donnas work out. Price continues to struggle in his fourth year despite a good regular season last year.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
You’re right on there!
It would be nice if the Habs had the same success with their late draft picks like ….Detroit.
Franzen (97th), Fleischman (63rd), Zetterberg (ready for this?…210th)
and the best, Datsyuk (171st).
Perhaps we need to look at enhancing the scouting program.
Zetterberg – 210th overall
Tim Thomas – 217th overall
Alfie – 133rd overall
Datsyuk – 171
Montreal ruined Wickenheiser. Perhaps it also says something about the player, but I remember watching him play and seeing him as having all the tools (size,speed, shot). He was rushed and the environment was incredibly hostile. Savard got to hang around the red line in Chicago while Wickenheiser was ripped for not being as good as lafleur or Beliveau.
Much of Todd’s disdain of the Goat stems from his relationship with the Gainey regime – but make no mistake about it, Gauthier has given us many things to dislike about him on his own.
I find more times than not that I completely agree with Todd. He was the number one cheerleader for PK when the Richards saga was ongoing, and has been in his corner many times since. It’s why this column is much more pointed, and credible.
“Of course I’m crazy, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
- Robert Anton Wilson
Here’s a question – why are we judging individual players, be they price, subban, eller or hell – Gomez, when the season is a disaster? There is no “team” here, just a bunch of players wearing the same shirts. It could be a few bad apples, could be coaching, could just be the losing attitude.
However to throw one player or two under the bus for the WHOLE team’s screwups is a bit much. Everyone on the ice is responsible for a goal against. That includes our usually lazy centres, the wingers who don’t backcheck and, occasionally assuming they have scored, the goalie who’s left out to dry.
“Subban was on the ice for a few goals” they say – well you know what? So was Plekanec, Cole, Eller, DD, AK46, Emelin, Diaz et al. So what’s the deal here?
It’s not a bit much when you have to admit that PK is responsible for at least 4 lost games, on his own, so far this year.
Others have been on the ice, granted. There are usually 4 (while short-handed) or 5 players on the ice when the opposing player scores, but not all of them are experts at coughing up the puck.
Don’t get me wrong, I love PK’s talent, but the frustration of watching him make blunder after blunder and not face the music is disheartening.
have you calculated how many WINS PK is responsible for?
try it.
use the following facts:
for virtually EVERY WIN the Habs have this season, Subban has been the shut down d-man, playing more time, against tougher opponents than any of the other Habs d-men.
I think you might find that he has had a direct hand in defending our 18 wins which far exceed those 4 losses.
But you keep adding up those losses Bripro.
Whatever works for you.
…correct Ed …without PK, We would have already caught Columbus for Nail …or, whomever
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Ed, you’re misreading my intention.
I love the kid. He’s an exceptional talent and I’m one of those who believes he’s a no-trader.
What irks me is his lack of maturity.
When you do something wrong, if you’re honest with yourself, you fess up, learn from it and move on.
And yes he has definitely being instrumental in wins (or attempts – like the tying goal of game 7 last year).
But isn’t that what he’s supposed to do?
On his own? Perhaps the games I watched were different, but this team has been lifeless and inept. He is hardly *the* reason they are losing. If that were true – play him less? Surely Hal Gill, Campoli, Emelin and Diaz would have stopped those chances?
Funny but he continues to get top ice time. How can you play a guy constantly and then complain when he happens to be out there on bad goals? Of *course* he’s out there, it’s like a 80% chance it’s his shift when the other team is in their end.
I supposed Chara and Pronger get the same grief when their team loses, given how overplayed they are?
OK, so he’s not the only reason, but you have to admit he struggles versus the kid we saw last year and the playoffs of two years ago.
I’m just looking forward to when he grows up and comes into his own.
Then…he’ll be the best.
The *team* sucks this year. I don’t get why people can’t accept this. It isn’t PK, it isn’t Price – the *team* blows.
Not even a star centre can fix it
Here is another thought,Montreal Media,”We need a bilingual coach
Since 1993 Le Senator Demers … all Hab coaches have been bilingual and we haven’t won a cup.
NorthTOHab
So we should go Russian, if he can speak English!
Who cares what they speak, we need a proven GM winner first!
I get the feeling Serge Savard may be waiting in the wings. No matter all the trades, he did win 2 Cups. Is he too out of touch with “today’s” game (man, do I wince when people post that)? The game’s the same; it’s the salary cap ceiling people over worry about.
Savard has already publically said he wasn’t interested in the job. If the job does come available you can fully expect pierre mcguire to throw his clown hat in the ring. I also think you will see julien brisebois and claude loiselle and candidates.
Gomez hasn’t scored in a year and makes $8,000,000 US. Markov hasn’t played in 2 years and makes $7,000,000 US. $15,000,000 for nothing.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Markov makes $5.75 mil until 2014. Gomez is making 7.5 mil with a cap hit of 7.357 mil (capgeek).
If you’re going to bother to post, why not check your facts first. Then you can bitch all you want.
Facts are not necessary to a good DorvalTony argument.
———————–
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 must respond with John Wing’s guide to replying.
1. Oh?
2. Yeah.
3. Right!
4. Sorry. (Must be contrite for this last stratagem to work)
I love Jon Wing! He’s too funny!
It has been a long time since I posted but I think a comment is long overdue considering the reaction by many on the board. I am not sure if these are young habs fans who, in the age of smartphones, tablets and many numerous technologies are all about “now”. If we really want to make the habs the place for all players to want to play hockey, then really we have to exercise some patience. To give an example, Erik Cole can go on a 10 game slump coughing up goals and this board will go nut crazy to get rid of him, horrible signing, etc. Sometimes, ppl get injured, sometimes they are hurting. Many people on this board dont even get up for work if their head is aching…
I really urge “true” habs fans not to hit the panic button after every loss and not to hit the ceiling after any win….that is what is suppose to make us different from the same leafs fans we criticize…a bit oxymoronic if you ask me.
Only in Montreal do people even remember Halak…heck prob most St. Louis blues fans dont know his name…no really. this is not about who will be better, this is not about who is better…put all your opinions aside…the entire hockey world has acknowledged Price is better (in that case we kept the right goalie). By the way, Halak was amazing in his playoff run…but so was Theodore and he won the HART…so what?. If you are a true hockey fan (not just habs fan) you will really understand the probability of Price being a superstar (right now he is all-star calibre) is greater and his hockey upbringing shows that. I am sure I am going to get heck from the Halak fans, but really if you like him so much than cheer for him in St. Louis, no one is stopping you but dont rag on Price because you wanted Halak to stay. He is our goalie, let’s support him and actually boo the opposing goalie.
As for PK Subban, I can’t really understand who in their right mind would want to get rid of him. Here we have folks wanting to tank…tank for what, a dream to get a player like Subban…no really…great def dont grow on trees. If Subban is so crap, then why does every opposing player strive to play against him. Why does he get the top lines on him? Why does everyone who hate him want him on their team? The same media (whether RDS or CBC or whatever) that we all agree is stupid and we hate, yet we buy in to what they are saying about PK…ofcourse they want to do anything to get him out of Montreal.
Is he immature, yes…werent (arent) you at this age? He will learn, like Crosby did. Honestly he is in his second year, playing more minutes than you can imagine, great attitude, gives it everything on every shift…what else do you want? No one is perfect…take a look in your mirror and tell me where you were (are) at his age. If Price and Subban are gone, then we can credit media for winning to have a team full of Darches and Pouliouts and Moens. So much for Les Glorieux!
http://thefanhub.com/posts/detail/271630/Maturation-of-Vernon-Davis-a-credit-to-Singletary
If VD can turn it around, so can PK…just need to find him the right mentor
pipes
Yes, and funny you mention VD as I am a 49ers fan since the Montana Rice days.
I still dont think Subban is at the same selfish level as VD admitted to be, if that was the case, he would still be carrying the puck up the ice everytime and not passing.
I think he has a basketball mentality where trash talking is more encouraged and the hockey world doesnt accept that.
Price continues to disappoint despite his hype and the drivel his cultists spew. Four years and counting. No more excuses, when does the future start? Jaro’s smoking him in every statistic.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
I know I shouldn’t take the bait, but I will.
I like Halak. Really, I do. I really appreciate what he did for us when he was here. But, I also believe that Price is the better goalie and will be the one with the better career.
Halak is playing better right now, but so is his team. Price had a hot stretch earlier in the year and was voted first star of the week in the NHL. Price had a dominant year last year, and Halak had a mediocre season.
Cam Ward is probably a better goalie than Halak, and his numbers are garbage this year because his team stinks.
Halak started the year poorly when he was asked to carry the load. When Elliott stepped in and proved to be a capable goalie, they started sharing the load and bot benefitted from it.
I see Halak as a Roloson or a Manny Fernandez. A good goalie who can look great for stretches. Just don’t expect him to ever play 55+ games on the year. Halak has played 26 games so far. Price has played over 40.
There is no problem with Price. We need to build a better team around him.
…is there a cell in Guantanamo Bay We can book for Todd ?
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
No kidding, what an assbag Jack Todd is, knows nothing about hockey, comparing Price and Halak what a tool, if he really compared the numbers Price with the less talented team in front of him is doing pretty good. Put Price in St. Louis his numbers would be tops in the league……
Typical Pricecult garbage. Four years and counting. Still waiting. Excuses excuses excuses.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Troll
I know that I should not take the bait, but tell me what has Halak won in his career…….typical HalakCult garbage from you DorvalTony, are you even a Montreal fan.
Has anyone told Todd,The NHL expanded in 67-68 season.Montreal no longer had first dibbs on Quebec players.
Does this mean Toronto should have Stamcos,Subban,Taveres Matt Molson et al.
NorthTOHab
You need to do your research. Liam McGuire and many others have exposed this as a myth.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
@LALoyalist
“Big Bird didn’t just fall from the sky, either, he was nurtured, in Cornwall, in Nova Scotia… and then with Habs. It took time and patience and wisdom.”
Take a look at the defense we had when we drafted Robinson. No wonder we were able to “nurture” him. The Habs today don’t have that luxury.
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
Thanks was wanting to type similar, same thing to the Lafleur comments of how long it took him to settle in, we had a great team with great leaders doing the mentoring.
If we had the guys we had then on D, PK would still be in Hamilton.
I remember Markov letting PK have it. Maybe he’s the guy we need to mentor PK?
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
I don’t want to be a dick but if Andrei “I haven’t played in 2 years” Markov tells me how to play when he gets back I’d shrug him off. I like Markov but he’s currently hurting the team more than any active roster player.
If Andrei “I haven’t played in 2 years” Markov comes back and is basically the Markov from before, I’d think twice about shrugging him off. Unless I was a complete punk. I don’t think PK’s that.
Also, how is Markov hurting the team? Please elaborate.
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
So you’d ignore the best D man on the team? All because he’s injured? Gimme a break, 58.
You blame the guy because he is hurt? What about long term injury reserve?
Also, Markov’s experience and knowledge is nothing to sneer at.
PK does need to adjust his attitude, as great and skilled as he is, he has to remember he works on a team and show some more maturity.
I really enjoy Pk, and wish him the best, he’s put in a tough spot this year, hopefully he will come out of it a better player.
Markov isn’t exactly on “comp” with a mysterious back injury. I think I might listen if he talked
People take issue with what I said? Here I’ll make it worse – when he came back last time I was *not* impressed. He made several rookie mistakes and then turned around and blame Price. Have we forgotten?
I want to be proven wrong – I want him to come back and be Jesus Markov. However the more likely scenario is that he comes back, plays ok and gets injured again sealing Gauthier’s fate.
You’re right we don’t have that luxury. And why not?
Ask Bob “the builder”. Management is responsible, just the way management in Boston screwed up Joe Thornton by rushing him. He is a great player in the season, but he can’t handle pressure. Just like Price was rushed and has yet to prove he is a playoff goalie.
You can’t have it both ways, is my point. If we are going to burn through these kids like Russian Infantry, then we can’t complain when they step on land mines.
That’s all.
“A fish rots from le tete.”
— moi
“Ask Bob “the builder”. ”
I think it goes farther back than Bob Gainey. If it makes you feel better to blame Gainey and only Gainey, have at it. I, myself, believe it all started with the trading of St. Patrick.
Like others have posted. How many years did Detroit suck before they started winning…again?
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
People are getting a little crazy with the criticism of Bob Gainey. Some of his trades and signings were amazing, some were crap. The same as every other GM we or others have ever had, including the ones that revisionist history would make you think were great. Serge Savard: traded (with good reason since Corey ordered him to do so) Chris Chelios and a second round pick for Denis Savard, and traded Leclair, Desjardins and Dionne for Dr. Mark Recchi. But then again he made some trades that really helped achieve a Stanley Cup in ’86, i.e. getting Bobby Smith, the big centre we need now too. At the moment we would give our right arms for a bilingual g.m. that won five cups as a player, as a first year coach took his team to the finals, won a cup previously as a GM, and was acknowledged the world over as great hockey player even though his offence was limited. Listen to guys that played with him, they speak in glowing terms of the guy that now gets slagged.
His trade for Gomez was like a deadline deal, but in the summer. It was overpaying and taking on a terrible contract, just like on deadline day, but it enabled other good things to happen, and if Gomez played to historical form of 70 pts or so, it would look ok to me. Remember at the time McDonagh was another struggling “USA defenceman” that some on here rag about drafting. And as for letting players go “for nothing”, that is the flip side of signing guys like Cami, Hammer, Spatch, Gionta, etc. for nothing. You can’t trade Souray when in a playoff run, that is a cost of being competitive. Look at Gainey’s career results and give him some respect. He knows more about hockey and team building than all of us hack posters combined. It is actually pretty weird how some people treat him on this site. He is one of the top players and more importantly people in the history of the greatest franchise ever. Start treating him more like we would Beliveau or Richard.
Glorious!
Why let Wiz, Hamrlik O’Byrne Spatch Bouillon Robidas and others go then?
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Something to think about, hell someone should send the link over to PK..
http://thefanhub.com/posts/detail/271630/Maturation-of-Vernon-Davis-a-credit-to-Singletary
pipes
Pk will get better with age ….or will he? Age and experience didn’t help Jack Todd….
Age and experience didn’t help Todd because he never had the talent. PK has loads of that, so he’ll be just fine.
Go Habs Go
Todd is a journalist who has apparently done his job. As for the rest, there is nothing very outrageous or interesting in this piece. Todd has spent much of his career trying to find the gentleman standard amongst athletes and has found hockey players lacking before. As for the Habs and PK, I think they will need to get another big man who can slap him around when necessary. Gill seems ineffective in every sense right now. Maybe when Emelin learns to talk a little more trash in english he can tell PK to shut up and play. Someone like Souray would have made more sense than Campoli or Kaberle in this respect at least.
Thank goodness he doesn’t cover Basketball. Somebody looking for gentleman among hockey players speaking with a verocity that screams of an insecure morally bankrupt know it all should look in the mirror every once in a while.
Todd is NOT a journalist. He is a commentater. Big Difference. A journalist has to start with facts and have them corroborated. A commentater can write whatever the editor finds acceptable.
Ya ’cause slappin’ kids around really sends the right message. Makes a man bigger.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Thought Du Jour:
PK is 22, and on a steep learning curve. He’s just discovering that pouring the hot fudge sauce of enthusiasm over everything isn’t going to make it taste good. He needs a slap in the face now and then (among other things) and my guess is he got one after talking back on the bench (and a better game followed). Let the coaches shape him – it’s what he needs. Foolish to think of trading this guy. He’s just rough-edged, but he has raw energy and talent that 90% of players don’t.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
It was painfully obvious by his antics on the bench when he gave the puck away that he lacks maturity.
An argument can be made that RC isn’t able to command the respect he deserves since PG threw him under the bus with his interim coach comments.
But PK needs a time-out!
You don’t fall into a fetal position when you’re challenging an opposing player, and you don’t talk back to the boss, especially in public.
And since he’s drawing so much flak, you would think he would notice by now that he’s doing something wrong.
re: Jack Todd
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
— George Orwell
…and to do it with ignorance, arrogance, and irony.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
That would have a bit more credibility if you posted it in response to something you didn’t want to hear.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
And -BOOM- goes the dynamite!
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Sorry, I am still basking in my 9-7 Giants victories over Green Bay and San Fran. Woot-woot!
Jack Todd writes junk to get people stirred up enough to talk about it and/or argue around the water cooler. In the end, he is like the typical HIO poster. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Nothing can ruin your day today, huh Gman?
Just living the dream, but my “day after” head still hurts a bit.
You and Chris must be pretty pumped Jim? Was your drive home good, no weather issues?
Trip hone was much better. No weather and light traffic. Got home in time to enjoy the games. Chris and I are just like Gman, living the good life. Regards to all my friend.
Heh heh.
I don’t like it, and I don’t read it, but it bothers me that it gets published in the first place. The Gazette shouldn’t be like an online forum; there should be some kind of standards…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
And now comes New England, G.
Let’s see if they drop the ball on an OT punt return.
I can’t keep my fingers crossed for two weeks, but we’ll see on the day if Cinderella fits into her slippers.
The Giants D and O get all the accolades, but the special teams yesterday made HUGE plays.
No question. I found the game a little sloppy at times.
It seemed that neither QB wanted to reach the end zone.
But it made for a pretty exciting ending, that’s for sure.
I apologize for this being off topic. Returned from a great weekend in Hamilton. The citizens of the City treated chrisadiens and I like family wherever we went. The setting for the outdoor game was perfect with some snow flurries falling Friday night adding to the ambiance. Louie L scored a nice goal but other then that the Dogs didn’t show much.
I am glad Chrisadiens talked me into the 8 hour trek. Was a great experience plus I got to meet Burl and his lovely wife.
Glad you had fun in the Hammer (hamilton). I watched the game on TV and it started out with a bang and it was a lot more physical than any outdoor game I have seen.
I think the dogs should have started Mayer in goal though. With lawson just missing 7 games or so with a concussion to toss him in an outdoor game must have been rough.
Either way, glad you had fun
CHeers man, pleasure was ours as well. See u next year at Summit.
Is Price’s injury serious? If not I hope the team’s doctor can “make” it serious enough for him to miss the All Star Game.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Apparently, he is day to day, with a cut on the foot.
Will most likely face the wings.
I am kind of hoping he is out until the first game after the All Star break. Price shouldn’t be there this season and he needs the break.
My only fear is these ridiculous Staph infections that hockey players tend to get. Some simple cut can become brutal. Perhaps Budaj can go to the all star game in place.
Is there enough time to do a Rory Fitzpatrick-campaign to get Budaj in?
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Jack Todd agrees with Mike Milbury.
That says it all, doesn’t it?
It does for me Bripro.
What it says is that even an asshat like Milbury can be correct once in a while, because the Todd article was fair, and dead on, IMO.
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
Even a blind squirrel will find the occasional nut.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
Now it’s the Leafs’ turn for a good old practice fight: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/tensions-flare-at-leafs-practice/article2311043/
I guess we are partly responsible for this.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Notice how ours was front page of TSN whereas the Leafs one is nowhere to be found…
25 before 14
It was on the front page several hours ago. I saw it with my own eyes…not everyone is out to get the Habs…
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
I noticed yesterday in the bruin game that Tim Thomas, just before the shoot out took his water bottle and sprayed water all in front of his crease. This is the second time I’ve seen this. Is this a smart move, or a rule violation? Water can effect the puck and one of the Flyers lost control of the puck on the shoot out.
_____________
Hockey is a game played with a clock, the more time you play in the offensive side of center ice the less pressure you put on the defense. Control the clock, win the game.
Smart move.
Should all goalies do this?
Hockey is a game played with a clock, the more time you play in the offensive side of center ice the less pressure you put on the defense.
That’s provably ok but his pads look too big to me. Probably got a Jacobs exemption.
“Jacobs exemption”….love it
If the ice is messed up in the crease it is a smart move to try and flatten it with water so you don’t get a bad bounce.
When I was a goalie I did it more filling the spot with snow and compressing it with my stick, but I played in a lot of crappy rinks.
In fact the linesman did it yesterday in my kid’s game, and the ice was actually good.
As for legality, perhaps another poster can answer that.
One would hope NHL ice is perfect and pristine, like Gary Bettman’s hair… but maybe not always.
Why do people react to what Jack Todd writes? Even more mind boggling is that a word of it gets published.
It’s because he is being published. He sucks and we want to let him know that the fans don’t want the gazette to continue printing his words.
He sounds like someone who doesn’t even like sports but is forced to write about it.
He loves boreball. You know, that sport where only 2 or 3 teams can actually compete every year?
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. — George Orwell
Jack Todd has zero background in hockey. None. He isn’t qualified to provide analysis on the game, teams or players. He is entitled to share his opinion sure, but his voice only carries so far without being published, and whoever deems his opinions to be acceptable for print should be fired immediately.
PK is destined to be a polarizing player in the NHL. His combination of talent, chutzpah, creativity and in-your-face attitude guarantees it. At first, I was a bit puzzled by the harsh reaction he got from some of his NHL colleagues. But over time, it’s become pretty clear that a big part of his game is, and probably always will be, about getting under opponents’ skin. He chirps, but won’t drop ‘em. He goes for the big, spectacular hits, but isn’t afraid to take a little plongeon. And the whole slew-footing thing IS getting tired. PK is going to get noticed. PK plays to get noticed. That’s who he is.
To observe those things does not make one a PK-basher. To limit your assessment of him to those things, though, would be missing the point by a country mile. His skating skills, though a bit quirky, are off the charts when it comes to mobility. His creative puck handling is a wonder to behold. His shot is a cannon. He is a minute-eating battle tank of endurance.
The upside on this guy is sky-high. That cannon of his will become deadly if he can quicken his realease and improve his accuracy. That mobility could be coupled with fantastic speed if he can learn to lengthen and smooth out his straighaway stride. The creative puck handling will be twice as valuable if it is coupled with better vision and decision-making. All of these things should happen as he matures into an adult professional in the NHL.
Hearing the “PK!” chants as a relatively unaccomplished rookie probably hasn’t helped. It’s probably contributed to his penchant for embellishing what should be the simple little plays that are the hallmark of Norris-worthy defensive play. Throw in the public criticism from the likes of Richards and Marchand and it’s hardly any wonder that PK sometime seems to play as though he trying to make a point, rather than simply help the team.
I think Holik had it absolutely right. PK needs careful nurturing and mentoring to reach his potential and the Habs cannot afford to miss the opportunity he represents. His pairing with Josh has the right feel to it. Each is everything the other is not. Gorges’ pedestrian skills and thoroughbred heart are a perfect complement to PK’s outlandish ability and inward focus. If PK can’t get the team concept from Josh, it just isn’t in him. One’s already locked up long-term and, as I see it, an equal commitment should be made to the other. They contribute very different things to the mix, but for the next while, each supplies equal value to a whole that could wind up being worth much more than the sum of its parts.
What a great read. Thanks Gerry!
agreed, great read!
Right on.
If he can learn to be more reliable by limiting the number of his skill moves, it would only make them more spectacular because of their rarity.
The obstacles he’s going through now can only help him become a much more seasoned player, and we should be glad it happens early in his career.
One thing is certain: if his is traded he will blossom into a superstar elsewhere. Don’t let that happen.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Good post. More effort should be spent in helping PK mature and grow from a coaching perspective than picking him apart while offering no solution as if what we see now is the final product so to speak.
Merci, les gars. The cutting and polishing of this awesome gem in the rough has to be one the team’s biggest priorities in the next few years. One can always dream and I have this picture of a top 4 consisting of Josh/PK and Markov/Emelin that could be, within a season or two, the envy of the NHL
…excellent Gerry
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
With a young Bealieu and Tinordi coming up as well, would be great.
completely agree Gerry, I certainly hope he gets the stabilizing mentorship he deserves. It was so refreshing, breathtaking watching him when he broke out two years ago, and then gut-wrenching watching him struggle within the #systemRIP . Recently, there have been some promising signs, so I hope he gets the support he needs, because he could be the first major black superstar in the NHL (or maybe the second after Grant Fuhr), and there are a lot of people on and off the ice who never want to see that.
Only Gomez knows what being Gomez feels like.
Or maybe third after Jerome Iginla.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
If we screw up the development of PK we don’t deserve him.
Big Bird didn’t just fall from the sky, either, he was nurtured, in Cornwall, in Nova Scotia… and then with Habs. It took time and patience and wisdom.
Maybe that’s what we should draft in June. Wisdom.
I’m surprised at how many people say that these weekend games were a success. Yes we got 3/4 points, but really we should have had 4/4 points.
Yet another blown 3rd period lead. That is the difference between a playoff team and a non-playoff team.
It really hurts me to say this but we are not a playoff team this year for the following reasons:
1. Too many blown 3rd period leads
2. Inability to score in shootout
3. Average goaltending by price (he needs to be like last year)
4. Sophomore slump by Subban – cant believe people are talking about trading this stud…
5. Lack of secondary/tertiary scoring
We`re approach the 1 year anniversary of Gomez`s last Goal.
Two months ago we passed the 1 year anniversary of Markov`s last game played.
This team lacks direction. All the moves made by Gauthier have been panic moves. He does not respect his peers or the players. He is doing this to save his own arse, which im afraid should be gone by the end of the season.
*end of rant*
For me, just beating the Leafs makes it a successful weekend. You are probably right that we needed 4 out of 4 to move closet to a play-off position but the Habs haven’t had to many 3 out of 4 on the road weekends this season.
The lost point wouldn’t have been as damaging had it been against a west-coast team.
Considering they’re trying to catch the Pens (among others), that single point wasn’t enough.
Agreed. And Ducks have just won 6 in a row – - that’s the kind of stuff we need to do, but I’m not holding my breath.
“L’Anne du Tanque ™ “
They are not saying much on Markov…is he skating yet? I was just curious if he is going to be back at all this season. I am assuming that White will be in the line up right after the all-star game.
So what do people think of Blunden? he has good wheels and drives the net. Could be useful down the road
Blunden could be a solid 3rd/4th liner for a while. He’s young, big and gets his nose dirty.
I agree. I like his speed. I think he is suited better for fourth line duty and I would move White to the third line. White has offensive talent which he has shown in the AHL and other levels but it will be interesting to see how he is used the NHL.
Cunneyworth is familiar with him as he coached him in Hamilton last year.
Will be interesting
Yeah, I would like to see White playing center on the 4th with Blunden and Moen on either side, that would be an awesome 4th.
question is….who is out when White is back?
the 7th D, take your pick. I would say Campoli.
if White centers Moen and Blunden
yes a d sits, as well as Nokaleinen
but that also means Gomez would be playing left wing with Eller and AK and we would be missing a right winger to play with Plekanec and Bourque
Who the hell is Jack Todd? Right, nobody of importance!
Apparently a US army deserter from Nebraska.
quick someone call immigration!
HAHAHA…..agreed.
I usually read every article but I am choosing not to read the Jack Todd article today. I am guessing that it is negative. The always are! I know things are bad but I just can’t read the one sided opinionated BS that he writes.
Is there a way for everyone to agree to stop reading his crap so they will stop posting his articles?
maybe a petition would work?
Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
– George Orwell
How can you critique an article without reading it?
Read it!
It makes sense. It’s nothing new, just a lot of things that have been said on this site before. maybe that’s where he got the idea for this story.
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
-Dennis Miller
Jack Todd is nothing but a failed frustrated novelist who is angry at the world…besides he is a closet Bruins fan all the way. Funny, none of the Bruins ever make his zeros of the week regardless of their actions. Jack Todd as a sports journalist is worthless…Todd knows next to nothing about hockey but yet every week writes his garbage of dumping on everything Habs. He’s a Bruins fans and thus hates everything Habs. To heck with Jack Todd. Here’s someone who in the last 10 years has given up on his career and no longer cares and just cares about his paycheck from the Gazette…He should go out to pasture and take Red Fisher with him. They can spend their days watching tapes of the 70s Habs while sipping prune juice . Make way for journalists who understand today’s hockey!
C’est le but!
PK is our best D-man. what’s all the fuss about. 22-years old and people are concerned about his attitude. those people should grow up themselves. if the Habs are not happy with him. let him go to another team like they did with other D-men and they’re playing great. I think our stats show that.
Just read Jack Todd article. Probably going to order the t-shirt.
As for PK, as usual, I blame management. And I’m going to mention it again: read Robinson’s memoir, read Dryden, learn what he takes to groom and develop a price race-horse D for the NHL. Guess what – we ain’t doing it.
Todd makes some good points, do I agree with all of it? No. But you have to be able to read any analysis and use your own brain and judgement. Yeah, I know that’s crazy talking here on HIO.
Ducks have now won 6 in a row and are still 11 back of Avs – they won a 4 pointer last night against Avs.
Does anyone honestly think this Habs team can win 6 in a row? Seriously.
L’Anne du Tanque ™
Yeah man, inter-squad games over the All Star break. As far as 6 league games…… not so much.
____________________________________________________
Dear Mtl Canadiens,
Please beat Boston to tie the season series. You are about to cost me three bottles of rum in a little over a year.
Love,
Michael
Why are we supposed to care about the Ducks again?
In case Bobby Ryan becomes available, and PG offers to straight trade him, seven of our guys for one of him.
You’re not supposed to care.
The point is basic math – what Ducks are setting out to do and what New Jersey tried last year – LONG WINNING STREAKS – is what we HAVE to do to make the playoffs.
I’m not suggesting you use your fingers and toes or brain, but get a calculator and figure out the winning % we need to have to get a safe 95 points or so to make the playoffs.
As much as I love beating the Leafs, our rhythm of lose, lose, win, choke, lose, win, choke… isn’t going to do it.
Do the math.
What if I knew the math but also didn’t give a care about the Ducks?
P.K is not our best D-man or should not be considered as. This is exactly the essence of the problem here. We give our players godly status too soon.
We yelled at Martin for benching him last year !
P.k has tons of talent. It comes naturally and will be the best if we give him time (a lot to ask for MTL`s fan) .
Management has nothing to do with his main problem if it can be called a problem. He is not mature enough yet and as any youngster has problems with making decisions. Give him time, let him mature ,do not overplay him and destroy his confidence and do not let him think that he is what he is not…yet
Just want to make a point on the whole Subban thing. A lot of people are saying he is too young and the “experts” want him traded because he is having somewhat of an off year, sophomore slump, etc.
I don’t think it is his stats that are the problem…. I think the main issue with him is his attitude and the fact that a lot of people close to the locker room, including JM say he is somewhat of a cancer…
Just to be clear, I think trading him, unless it is for a player of the same caliber or better, would be a HUGE mistake… I think the organization should instead work with him in order to teach him a thing or two if the only issue is his attitude
A rule of thumb is to apply the WWMMD(*) rule. Decide WWMMD and do the opposite. In this case WWMMD is ‘trade PK’. So we shouldn’t trade him.
(*) What Would Mike Milbury Do.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
THAT was funny. tank you.
I need to use that in everyday life, when someone makes me mad in the grocery store or on the street and I think” I should go and beat that guy over the head with his own shoe” I will, instead, not.
I think we have all learned a lesson here today. Thank-you HFS72!
“Great Canadian” Don Cherry on medical science:
“… [we] “shouldn’t pay any attention to scientists or people like that. [I am] not interested in scientists [and the evidence provided by clinical trials and independent biomedical researchers is] garbage.”
Given the laughable amount of govt. funding of research in this country, Cherry is probably in tune with most Canadians.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
The kicker on that whole ColdFX special, was now that they aren’t paying him for his shtick he was willing to talk. If they still pay him, he probably doesn’t do interview. He seemed kind of miffed that they didn’t rehire him when the company was sold.
Why should the government be funding science?
Are they scientists? How do they know what to fund? How do they know whether to bet on VHS or beta?
It’s as idiotic as suggesting the Government come in and manage the Habs instead of a hockey man.
Uh huh…
Hey everyone!
G’morning!
So, opening HI/O today, I saw a little red link called “Jack Todd on P.K. Subban” and I laughed. It may as well have said “The Pope on Birth Control” or, from a different perspective, “A 6-Year-Old on Quantum Mechanics”.
It’s been a long, long time since I read one of Jack “This Moral High Ground Ain’t Big Enough For Anyone But Me” Todd’s articles, but, given enough cocaine, I could probably bash out something pretty close to what he calls an ‘article’, in a tone approaching his own massively self-aggrandizing, holier-than-thou rhetoric.
But I won’t, you see. I won’t. Because I would actually like people to take me seriously.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
This reminds me of a lecture in 2nd year med school by a gastroenterologist. He was lecturing us on the appearance of stool as a diagnostic symptom, and how to ask patients about it.
He said the world was divided into two groups: those who look and those who don’t.
I believe the same applies to Jack Todd’s columns.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Heh heh.
I agree, although I assumed that that anecdote would illustrate that by analysing the piece of &hit that Todd produced, anybody could deduce that he was a fool.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Todd’s column is inflammatory garbage, and there’s plenty of that on HIO already.
(or Todd’s)
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Oops, changed it, thanks Matty.
if you want to be taken seriously, write something with an original analysis or perspective, not just the contrary position a la high school debating club.
Absolutely!
Couldn’t agree more, Todd really should attempt that.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Funny.
Do you guys ever miss the “thumbs up” “thumbs down” and “Guiotine” Buttons?
Hey Todd let me give you a hint, so maybe you can do some real journalism. Why don’t you get off your fat ass and out of the local pub and do a little investigating. Start with why, now that he rich and famous the big O doesn’t seem to perform any more. Maybe because he doesn’t bring that personal trainer over as offen . Why don’t you go ask some questions about the real problems with the head injuries. It is call , now listen carefully HGH! The NHL has a drug problem and thats a real issue you would never tackle because your to afraid of Gary the crook Bettman. Istead of taking shots at a kid giving all he has, get off your ass and do some real work.
Could not agree with you more. He could probably stay in the pub though. All he needs to do is watch a game from 10+ years and see how the players have gotten “bigger , stronger and faster.”
On what basis do you make that that statement about drugs? do you customarily make accusations with no back up? I’m not even disagreeing with you – but bring it, man. Back it up.
I have no issues saying out loud that I think there is HGH use in the NHL. Until testing proves otherwise, I don’t see how the NHL is different from every other pro sport where athletes use every advanatage possible in order to exceed at it. THus bigger and longer contracts.
Do other sports test for it? I don’t follow anything else, not even F1 any more, so I don’t know. I’m seriously curious.
Baseball believe it or not, is probably now at the forefront of the Big 4 pro sports. NFL does test for Steroids, but who knows how corrupt that test process is. BBall I could care less about.
Hockey does virtually nothing for testing. Only Olympic years do specific athletes get tested.
WTF difference does it make who has the better stats – Price or Halak. It’s a team game and the one playing on the better team will have better stats. It’s not like either are bad goalies and letting their teams team. Neither are, for the most part, winning games for their teams. Both are doing their jobs and that is all that is needed. Price gets the nod from most NHL people because of his size, positioning, calmness, and pedigree. He is a prototypical goalie who will only get better. If Halak fans don’t like it then too bad…….you’re not NHL hockey people. The comparison of the 2 is not really an argument of who is the better goalie, but either a dislike for Price “the annointed one”, or a dislike for Gainey, or just the disappointment of the teams record these past years in which Halak was spectacular and hyped for the best most recent streak. Today, the Habs positioning would not be better no matter who was our goalie as their problems are not in the crease. So stop this non-sense of Price v. Halak……and be glad the Leafs still suck!!
You are assuming he will get better (and personally, I agree) but he ain’t there yet. There is no guarantee, especially if we don’t fix the macro issues of getting this team a solid identity and the right players, coach and manager.
The day he steals us a playoff game we don’t deserve to win, that will prove he has matured.
Oh yeah, we’re not in the playoffs.
Great “D” never are in there prime until they are over 26years old at least.
Where as great forwards mature at approximately 3 years earlier.
It takes 3 to 4 years longer to develop Goal Tenders and Defense men than forwards.
PK just 22years old.
PK will turn 23 on May 13. And yes, Todd’s out to lunch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._K._Subban
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Very true Ian but I am a bit worried about his attitude of late (slew foot + turtling). I know he’s still developing but let’s hope he remains coachable and a good teamate.
Good point Ian. Nicklas Lindstrom, who is probably the best modern-day defenseman, was 21 years old when he began his NHL career. It took him another 5 years to become an all-star and another 5 years after that before he won his first Norris.
I’m not saying Subban is going to turn out like Lindstrom, but it’s a good example on how patient Detroit was with his development.
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
Did Nick Lidstrom behave like a jackass on and off the ice when he was 22?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Pardon – but when has he been a jackass off the ice?
Who cares?
The Montreal Canadiens put this kid in this position. I don’t think he should be in Hamilton, but he shouldn’t be playing 25 minutes a night against the best the opposition can throw at him. He’s coming along fine from where I sit.
____________________________________________________
Dear Mtl Canadiens,
Please beat Boston to tie the season series. You are about to cost me three bottles of rum in a little over a year.
Love,
Michael
thanks for being the voice of reason, Ian. I am tired of asking everyone to read (or re-read) “Robinson for the Defence” and “The Game” on how Big Bird et le gang was developed – - but I’m going to keep doing it. It will be the shame of our generation if we screw up with PK and Price.
I had hoped that Habs fans would be the most hockey literate and thoughtful in sport… as for Todd, even a broken clock is right twice a day
Time for the Habs to ” Chelios” PK out of town. What a joke.
Great plan. That worked out great for us before.
____________________________________________________
Dear Mtl Canadiens,
Please beat Boston to tie the season series. You are about to cost me three bottles of rum in a little over a year.
Love,
Michael
Hey Todd! Since “once season does not a career make” I guess we’ll have to see if Halak can actually play a 60-70 game season b4 we can conclude that he’ll ever have a career! HE’S YET TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A LEGIT STARTING GOALIE!
j.p. murray
PK Subban is just a kid, playing veteran minutes, under veteran situations. He is a sophomore, and he plays D!!! Do we analyze Desharnais, Eller, and Pacioretty this much???? Subban is still developing and has more potential than 90% of young blueliners. STOP ACTING LIKE LEAF FANS! trading this guy 2 seasons into his career, before he commands free-agent money, in a cap system would be insane!!!
j.p. murray
Well said
Todd into shock journalism’s anything to get reactions and attentions
Exactly – for all of his “struggles” he is a +/- 0. Even. He’s got 19 points. He is not even close to a problem.
Kaberle has played the 4th most minutes for defenders in the entire league on the powerplay and has 8 points to show for it. The guy we traded to “save” the powerplay, and will pay for 2 more seasons is FAR more concerning.
Very good analogy 3rdGen.
Agreed.
I like Todd mentioning Maclean’s arrogance…talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Speaking of black, him mentioning PK’s skin colour as being a factor is consistent with him writing the stupidest crap possible to insight emotions.
I’m not a PK fan at all, mainly because of his tude but I feel like I have to defend him against Todd, Todd’s attitude as a write is worse than PK’s as a hockey player.
With the right offer, I would let him go but I almost feel that his stock has dropped enough from it’s high that it would be best to hold and enjoy the dividend rather than risk selling for something that could fly but doesn’t come with the stability that he provides into a D corp that needs it.
Heroes Cole
Zeros Todd (and PK for his slewfoot though Kunitz is an ass)
pipes
Wouldn’t expect any less from an American draft dodger.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Subban is my favourite hab, but my support isnt as solid as it once was. I dont know Subban but the picture that is painted to me reminds me of a kid I once coached. There was this mega talented kid with an even worse attitude, the problem was out of the 65 or so goals we scored that year, 45 came from this kid who had skills and speed beyond anybody else. The kid shouldve been in AAA but since the parents were divorced -and both had big enough issues, as well as being impossible to deal with- they wanted no part of the extra travel AAA entailed. Form the bleachers the player was adulated, and without that player we simply werent competitive. Being the best went to the head, snarky comments to other players, general backtalk and sass. The problem with sending the kid home is that massive ego only came from hockey, and if you take that away, you change the personality, yet that personality/chip on the shoulder is what makes certain players special. We coaches tried to contain as best we could, but you could tell by the look in the eyes that it just didnt connect. The kid subconsciously wouldnt let it happen, such was the ego.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
For me the most offensive portion of Todd’s article is this:
“Of course, if Gauthier was smart, the Habs wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.”
How can you write something like that? How can you insult someone so gratuitously? How does an editor allow this?
We wonder why the Habs are a circus? Look no further than the Fire Gauthier t-shirts (2 years into his tenure!), which Mr Todd thinks are clever.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Agreed, nobody looks at PG draft picks which are pretty good so far (Gallagher, Tinordi, Beaulieau) Media runs the Canadiens and its ridiculous. If Markov wasn’t made out of glass we wouldn’t be in this mess
Thats the way the cookie crumbles
Gauthier’s never made a draft pick in his life. That’s Trevor Timmins’ work.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
I could of sworn I saw PG at the MikeStand at the last draft actually make the draft. I also am quite sure PG has to bless the draft choices which Timmins brings forward. No doubt Timmins is chief scout and does most of the legwork. However, a GM puts his name on the draft choice and they become his responsiblity. In your perspective no GM who has a chief scout has ever made a draft choice.
IMHO pg’s biggest mistake was not firing martin when he fired pearn and when he finally did it should have been right after the flyers game on the thursday instead of hours before the devils game on the saturday. I also think pg deserves more time to see what he can do to turn things if not for this season then for the next one. If you look around the league i don’t think there has been a g.m. canned in the last 2 years other then rick dudley but that have more to do with the team moving to winnipeg then anything else.
I kind of get a kick out of reading on how gainey still apparently “pulls the strings”. Does anything that gauthier has done over his 2 years even suggest that? Gauthier is much more aggresive when it comes to trades and when was the last time we saw one of our own ufa’s signed mid-season? This is the total opposite of what gainey used to do.
Showey, I find myself agreeing with all your posts. +1
as a big Subban supporter, I don’t have a problem with Todd’s approach.
I agree that Subban needs to mature.
What I don’t agree with is the people who write that they are:
“embarrassed that Subban wears the Bleu Blanc Rouge”
not every one matures at the same rate.
there are plenty of young reporters, all over the world, who are much more mature, and much more successful than Todd, for example.
100% agree! We are a team who expects perfect play from every player right from the start rather than giving them some time to mature, which in-turn we trade them…. With this being the case, there are a LOT of talented ex-players on other teams lighting the lamps and/or top 6 D which we let go WAY to early… I can’t count how many games I watch of the other 29 teams and say “he used to be ours, he used to be ours…”
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Robinson only joined the team when he hit 23 years old. Let’s all ignore Jack “I know SFA about hockey” Todd. PK will be a good to great one, warts and all. Wish he would stopp the slew footing, but that’s it. Everything else he’ll gain with experience.
Great Jim Collins reference !!
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
If Price is unsure about that cut play Budaj instead. No sense risking further injury
On a totally different subject, can someone point me in to the right direction on how to update my avatar with an actual picture? I have looked under my profile and do not see a place to change it out.
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
http://www.gravatar.com
——————————————————————–
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
Thanks Zep!
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Jack Fraud is like the TV infomercial pitchman ‘Vince’ now……..he’s trying to sell T-Shirts in his columns…..
It must pain Boone every time he has to link to a Todd story.
Glad to see Jack Todd reads “The Cat”. Ive been saying for a while now that the media is shoving Price’s ‘excellence without proof’ down our throats.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Really?
As of last year:
-Price was fifth in Vezina voting and seventh in Hart voting (among goalies, only Rinne and Thomas finished ahead of him in Hart voting).
-Second-best SV% in last year’s playoffs- behind Thomas, who had the year of his life last year and went on to win the Cup. Price did everything he could to win the Boston series, we just couldn’t score in any of the three OT games.
As for pedigree:
-Top goaltender and MVP of 2006-07 WJC (his GAA in that tourney was like 1.14 or something ridiculous like that)
-MVP of 2007 Calder Cup playoffs
-highest ever drafted goalie out of the WHL
Price is top dog, best in show, a real purebread……
Shaker
Pedigree=hype, cult-like following. Last year he was up 2-0 in Boston and choked. He hasn’t won a playoff round in four years and has stumbled this year, his stats dropping to approx. 20th in the league in GAA and Sv PCT. Fine effort in Toronto but he’s served up so many pies this year he’s really let his team down. He is completely clueless in the shootouts and on breakaways. “Voting” by sports journalists or fans does not equate to excellence or wins. What place are Canadiens in? He’s no Patrick Roy. Saint Patrick stole games. And cups. Price had a three year losing streak at home in the playoffs. Now that’s pedigree.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Well, the G-Men made me proud last night with ferocious defence and timely offense. If only a certain team in Montreal could do the same…
Cheers Gman, however, I am assuming you received permission from the Giants for that Avatar? The Mara family will be after you.
Well, this isn’t G-Men I/O, so I might get away with it.
“If only a certain team in Montreal could do the same…”
Don’t worry G-man, the Alouettes will bounce back next year.
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
4 of the original 6 teams are in the top 5 over-all. Rangers, Wings, Hawks and Bruins.
Whither the Habs? Still trying to make that final play-off berth. Sad really what this once proud franchise has become. Even some of their fans are willing to settle for 16th place every year if it means they make the play-offs.
In an original 6 team league the Habs would be tanking.
They aren’t that far in a 30 team league either!! From tanking that is.
Do you ever grow tired of posting similar speeches over and over. Not being antagonistic, honestly wonder.
Tired? I am just getting warmed up!!
Somebody has to bring a little realism to this land of make believe.
Remember when the Wings and Chicago were pathetic.The Rangers have been lousy for how long now? 17 yrs. and have the chance for every free agent every year.
The Sabres have money now, a good owner, free agents and are in the same mess with supposedly good management.Toronto. is no better off than any other year. Cycles. Who knows who’s going to have the golden touch when it comes to drafting,picking mangement,free agents. Trade Subban or Price, then you’ll be sorry. Philly hasn’t won in 40 yrs.
Passive aggressive?
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
“Sad really what this once proud franchise has become.”
We’re just having a bad year because of injuries and underperformaing veterans.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Maybe our avatars should be encoded with an H or P chip
This way everybody knows what goalie we’re pulling for, and avoid each other, and the hundreds of pointless pissing contests.
Oh, I forget, that’s the whole object, my bad.
Speaking of an avatar, can someone point me in to the direction on how to update mine with an actual picture?
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Go to gravatar.com and follow directions.
Well we have one thing going for us:
We are not the Maple Leafs!
BooYah.
Yeah, those Leafs are so bad they’re only 6 points ahead of the Habs.
http://www.puckbandits.com
Yeah but there an english team.
Fitting post. LOL
———————–
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
“they’re”
If they miss the playoffs this year it will be huge in Leaf land. 7 years is a long long time to not make the playoffs. I would love to see it happen
Add yourself to the zero list todd. Very comical adding tebow to the zero list…..what a little puke you are!
Shaker
Anyone who voted for Halak to be their team’s goalie in any kind of game is living in the past and obviously pulling for the wrong team. He plays for the Blues in case the 219 people who voted for him haven’t noticed. It’s Carey Price’s job now. Welcome to the future folks. Let’s hope his foot gets better soon. Jack Todd needs to throw up elsewhere. Go Habs!
Halak is 6th in the NHL, 10-0-3 in his last 13 and has not lost in regulation since Nov. 22, 2011. How’s Price doing? That’s the present. Price’s foot is not the problem. It’s his head. When does the future start?
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
Lol Jack Todd.. You’re right – its about time that someone… SOMEBODY call out PK Subban. Because nobody but you has the internal fortitude to call a guy out in print whose been piled on like he’s an orange cone at a highway construction site. Thank you for doing the necessary – which no one else seems to be willing to do.
S DOG yesterday had link to two much better writing article about PK and the Habs room that make Todd look well juvinile
Hmm, today should be a strange day, I actually agreed with most of Jack Todd’s article this morning…
RE: Price GAA and Save Percentage, I think these numbers are given too much weight. In baseball a pitchers ERA is a very relevant stat. Outside ofdefense, which is mostly factored in anyway, the stat reflects how the pitcher is doing pretty fairly. But GAA and Save Percentagehave so much to do with the team as well as the goalie that yuo can’t just compare 2 goalies GAA and say, ‘well this guy is better ebcause his GAA is better.’
http://www.puckbandits.com
Let’s compare wins, win percentage, how’s he doing there? Breakaways? In the shootout? Oh.
——————————————————————
”First of all, you have to have continuity if you are to have success,” Pollock told the New York Times. ”I think it gets the manager and the players to become more attached to each other.” – Sam Pollock
So the Monster of the laff got in a fight with Crabb at practice, trade coming
The Central division is the strongest in hockey. If it wasn’t for the Jackets they’d be another league unto themselves. 4 teams from the Central are in the play-offs and 3 Central teams are in the top 5 in the league over-all. 3 teams from one division in the top 5!!!
As for Boston, they are 11-2-0 in the Northeast. I am sure they are just trembling at the thought of meeting a division rival in the play-offs.
It’s hilarious reading some of the fantastical whimsical wishing that tries to pass itself off as intelligent insight here. Keep the jokes coming. I haven’t such a good morning laugh in quite a while.
Edit: Another measuring stick week for the Habs as the Red Wings face the Blues tonight at home before playing in Montreal on Wednesday.
Should be an interesting few days if the Blues win and the Habs lose.
Let’s just say I’ll be here whatever the turn out. No need to mention who’ll show their faces and who’ll hide depending on the outcome.
Do you really think people hide from a web site? That’s my biggest laugh of the morning.
Come on G, last time Halak had a shut out I looked at my notebook computer at home and cowered in fear. I had nightmares all night with websites chasing me!
Those damned htmls! Run for it, Burli!
C’mon G-Man. Do I really need to name names? You truly are naive sometimes. Well. Most of the time.
Just testing out my new signature. Looks good yeah?
———————–
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
Oh R, go test it on an older thread. Don’t be one of those guys
You Crazy Price Fan!
Shane Oliver
http://www.Sholi2000.com Inc.
Custom Sports Figures
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
I prefer “Price-Bot in Charge of Central Communications.” LOL
———————–
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
Good, except the subquote should be
‘
instead of
“.
Other than that, good job.
You are correct. Thanks for the heads up on that.
———————–
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
To the Summit Fan G
lol, (Halak vs Price)
Well the people want to know what most of us already do. How could that cause a PNH War?
The Blues are playing amazing right now. (yeah right) The last 20 games they played some of the worst teams in the NHL. Mind you in that time frame they also bet SJ once, and Det once, so I won’t slam them too hard. It’s a good thing they aren’t in the Southeast, they wouldn’t lose a game all year there. Will be interesting to see how they do in the playoffs when teams like Montreal, Edmonton, Buffalo, Dallas, and Phoenix aren’t there to make them look more superior than what they really are. Based on today’s standings they get a first round exit to the Blackhawks. The Blues need first in their division to get a good team int he first round.
Unlike the Bruins, the last team they want to see in the first round in the Habs. One of the worst bottom feeders in the conference but because of history, the Bruins vs Habs are always high stress games where you never know the outcome until the horn blows. Freakin Bruins. I hate them, but they built a nice big strong team there. ARGGGGGG SCREAM WITH ME PEOPLE THE BRUINS SUCK but not on the ice.
Crazy Talk
I hope the Canadiens make the playoffs, upset the first round and go on to Win the Stanley Cup against St Louis.
But I would also settle for just a good show for the remainder of the season. I really want to come to Montreal for the last game and have it mean something.
Shane Oliver
http://www.Sholi2000.com Inc.
Custom Sports Figures
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
Nice to see Jack Todd back on the fence of the Halak-Price debate… Didn’t see that coming.
Hey Jack… If Price had the Blues D in front of him (never mind the rest of the team from Backes on down), do you really think he’d be struggling right now?
So we’re playing the Wings next… I’d imagine they’ll shut us out because Jimmy Howard is sooooooo awesome!
I’M WITH YA BROTHA, HALLELUJAH
RAISE GLORY AND FIGHT UNTIL THE FIGHT AINT THERE
Talk to me people.
DO YOU BELIEVE?
Praise Glory and RELEASE THE HOUNDS OF HELL
Win boys win!
OK, time to lay off the coffee.
Back to work people, nothing to see here.
Shane Oliver
http://www.Sholi2000.com Inc.
Custom Sports Figures
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
Man, imagine if Price was playing on the canucks, rangers or wings! Just imagine what would happen!
Shaker
Remember that wacky rumour from a couple seasons ago that would have sent Price to the Canucks for Luongo straight up? Habs get their Montreal-born goalie-for-life while the BC boy gets to go home. If there was one thing that would finally have made a Canucks fan out of me….
———————–
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
what would happen is they would lose more games just like he did for us this year.
Todd mentions the stat but doesn’t understand it:
Games played – Price: 42, Halak 21.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
But not so soon that they do it with PG at the helm, right?
http://www.puckbandits.com
Easier said than done. Most teams that will be “buyers” want to wait until the last minute so they have the most time possible to evaluate what they need.
If Todd were posting here. He’d be the troll.
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
I see some tremendous Irony in this post…. Just can’t put my finger on it.
Edit, the last line is what i am referencing HH
I have never seen the two of them together at the same place at the same time. Think about THAT one….
———————–
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
Hey I agree with you HH! Great post Matty.
We all need to take more irony supplements as we get older. Not to mention a B12 shot in the butt.
From far it..I am in my early 30′s and male…So, the accusations don’t fit.
I am not imposing anything, just throwing my two cents from what I have seen to be succesful franchises. Throwing players under the bus makes no sense.
If you have something better, please enlighten us on the HH values that we should all instill?
You hate it when the poster uses “true” and Hab fans all together, eh?
Using the words pompous and pontificating will lead readers to believe you are Victorian, HaHa.
well judging by the quality of your comments, i think most of the people on this forum would appreciate if you’d stop posting for a while. you’d probably even find a reason to complain if we won the stanley cup!
Wow, you may not like his post, but to immediately call him an old lady and pompous and ponitificating interesting.
99..we like to crucify the management first, then the players and then ourselves..we also like to live in the past
APPLAUSE
Shane Oliver
http://www.Sholi2000.com Inc.
Custom Sports Figures
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, right?
You may not like his new slogan, but his tenacity is kinda cute. Especially when you look at his avatar.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Cute is not the word I would employ.
Ok, puke…
Edit; not you, or he for that matter, I was referring to the tenacity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
“the little ball of hate”
And all this time I thought it was, “little ball of shite”.
The things you learn everyday.
———————————————————————-
Welcome to the newer NHL: The National Headshot League.
Good for Timmy Tee !
I admire that in him.
Way to stick to his beliefs !
I wonder if he attended any OWS protests on his off time from Hockey ?
He still makes me wanna throw up my supper every time I see him playing with that filthy team of his though !
Habs, OLE !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=251___mEwZA
What more needs saying!
Woops, Timmy Tee (the individual) just lost me on that one.
And as a hockey player, he still stinks.
Price shoulda fed him a couple when he had the chance.
Habs, OLE !
this explains why he didn’t shake Subban’s hand in the playoffs, he’s a racist!
But why would he? Just seems like a dickish move that served no real purpose.
I understand your point, but I see it differently.
Being there wouldn’t have made him less of a Republican (if he is, as reported). It wouldn’t have proved he agreed or disagreed with Obama’s politics. Do you really think the 23 other players on this team are ALL for the Democratic Party?
The tradition is about visiting the White house, as in the monument. And refusing to shake Obama’s hand would have been really stupid to me. Just because you don’t agree with someone, doesn’t mean you have to snub him, especially when it’s about a traditional event.
I heard his nickname was “Little balls on skates” but at some point there were some typos and the new name stuck. It happens.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
just ’cause you shake someone’s hand to greet or meet them for the first time doesn’t make you a “yes man”……dumb post
http://tinyurl.com/77m63ep
“Max Pacioretty could be our Phil Kessel”
- Sean Bonjovi
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01/23/408974/tennessee-tea-party-demands-that-references-to-slavery-be-removed-from-history-textbooks/?mobile=nc
Well people on this site are not invited to a traditional event that takes place every year.
And I stand by my point that shaking Obama’s hand wouldn’t have made him look like a fan of his politics.
Let’s take another example. IF, and I mean if, a Quebecois player was to play for the Habs, and that said player is all for the separatist movement. Would you imagine him sitting down on the bench, snubbing the national anthem? My guess would be no, because it’s not about political view here, it’s not about politics, it’s about a traditional “event”.
Just like the visit at the Whitehouse. It’s not about showing your agreement or disagreement about the government.
Sports and politics… Not a good mix.
Tim Thomas also stated that he and many of his teammates have been tea-baggers from way back….
Hey, I wonder how many of Thomas’s defenders appreciate the NBA’s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s refusal to stand for the American anthem?
Also, aren’t we always complaining about the classless fans who boo the American anthem? I know for a fact that several of the Thomas defenders here have expressed distaste for that particular form of protest (as have I).
Full Breezer 4 Life
In 1993, after winning the Cup, did the Habs meet Mulroney, Kim Campbell or Jean Chretien? (who were all once Prime Minister in different parts of 1993)
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Earlier post from MB:
“mb JANUARY 23, 2012 AT 8:44 PM
I don’t agree at all about what Thomas did (or didn’t do) today, but I’m pretty sure he did shake PK’s hand after the series ended, didn’t he?
EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQIL7HbsNF8
watch at 23:45″
I don’t like Thomas, but let’s be fair. He did shake PK’s hand, as I posted below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQIL7HbsNF8
watch at 23:45
EDIT: I guess I type too slow
Les Canayens beat me to it.
Photo-shop job if ever I saw one…don’t believe it
I only had to copy & paste your post that’s why it’s faster
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
☞ I can’t really hear what Jeremy says, because I’ve got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears.☜
Ah yes, the lazy typing. Good old copy/paste
Please don’t mention Kim Campbell, one of the most humiliating times in Canadian history (and I am very conservative).
I would think Chrétien, could be Cambell….but she was probably busy with some more important issues at hand for her during her time.
Oh, I disliked the traversty comment as well. As you said, he IS playing with NHL clowns himself.
I just pointed out the handshake thing because I always check for myself. Seems like there’s one reason less not to like him, but that’s okay, I’ll find plenty other reasons to bash the Bruins!
Plus it wasn’t only your bad, there have been a lot of posts about this today.
The ground zero mosque was actually an Islamic community center, similar to a JEA or YMCA. It was replacing a previously closed Mosque that was in fact closer to Ground Zero. And it had been in the works for years.
Your entitled to your opinion on Obama and his presidency, but I’m growing quite tired of that story being so grossly misreported.
wow you got a lot in one post
Anti Everything, I noticed how we seldom agreed on anything. It is no longer a mystery.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Interesting thing I learned from the comments there, and a story that will have me say for the only time in my life that an NBA player went about the subject a better way:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1980674 (read ending about Mr. Wallace)
Great piece about Wallace. I think it pretty much sums it up.
I bet Price will lose 6-0…
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha there was too many comments with no hab bashing…
Almost everyone loses to Detroit though – especially at home, where this win made it 17 in a row. Impressive.
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
It was going to be a community center, it was replacing a previous mosque, and it had been in the works for years before everybody went crazy with it. All of this has come out of city documents and permits.
What a shock! A Montreal Canadiens fan site suggesting their goalie is better than another team’s!!! Will wonders never cease?
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
Im not surprised. Price won the Molson 3 stars cup despite average to below average play, when it CLEARLY shouldve been Cole. Hab fans see the world of hockey like a John Wayne movie: the habs are the good guys, and the others are the bad guys. Then they pray that the movie has the same happy ending they have in their nonobjective minds.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I did not vote on this one , the results would be quite obvious. I think the real % should be closer to 50%-50%. Results are more about fanatisicm than science…We will never get out of this one. Two good guys ,good goalies ,above average wich will make this debate go for a while…
Being a fan of a team means you’re not objective. Geez.
Great analogy Cat!
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
Thomas has the Stanley Cup and probably will get one more.
Price has the Molson beer Cup and probably will get many more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is Choibolsan.
My comment (below) is also a fact.
Deal with it.
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
No, it means you are not – I am objective, yet (despite all odds) I somehow manage to remain a fan.
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
Being a fan means you have picked a favourite. That is not being objective.
Being objective means I can still think for myself and make rational observations based on empirical evidence. Being a fan did not eliminate my abilities to do so.
However, it seems to have had this effect on a lot of fans…so I do get your point.
__________________________
☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜
http://www.celebrations-gomez.com/en/
G-Man has a hard time with objectivity as he is immersed in subjectivity. He still thinks the Habs need to work at limiting the goals against rather than increasing the goals for.
I’m waiting until there is a “who cares” option on the poll, as that is my usual answer in my head when I see the question posted.
____________________________________________________
Dear Mtl Canadiens,
Please beat Boston to tie the season series. You are about to cost me three bottles of rum in a little over a year.
Love,
Michael
I’d rather have a better team in front of either Halak or Price for that must win game.
+1.0
I think Price will be OK but the last comment still justifies a …nyuk nyuk nyuk