After being a healthy scratch for the past two games, forward Lars Eller will be back in the Canadiens line up on Sunday when they play the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre.
Coach Michel Therrien said he made the decision on Friday before he found out that Max Pacioretty has flu-like symptoms.
Pacioretty missed Saturday’s practice and Eller practised in his place on the line with Erik Cole and David Desharnais. Therrien said Pacioretty has a slight fever and would be re-evaluated on Sunday.
While they want internal competition on the team, Therrien said he doesn’t want it to become unhealthy.
“It’s got to be a healthy competition,” Therrien said. “I believe in team spirit. (Eller’s) part of the team. He’s a young man that we care (about) and want him to be better….It’s our job to make sure that he’s going to get better.”
Defenceman Tomas Kaberle left practice early on Saturday after being hit in the face with a puck. “We’ll see tomorrow,” was all Therrien said when asked about him by one reporter.
Sunday’s game will also feature two Giontas–Canadiens captain Brian Gionta and his younger brother Stephen who plays for the Devils.
Gionta said he watched the Devils’ 3-2 overtime victory over the Capitals on Friday. His brother scored in the first period.
“As long as he doesn’t score tomorrow night we’re all right,” he said.
They had one chance to play against each other a few years ago and it was “extremely fun,” Gionta said. “Tomorrow night will be his first game here so I’m sure he’ll have quite the experience.”
Their parents are in Montreal, Gionta said. “They don’t care what happens tomorrow night, I guess,” he laughed.
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Patches being sidelined is a great opportunity for Lars Eller ( who just needs ice time to become one of the best forwards on the team.)
Hopefully Theiren doesn’t keep him on the bench. The team is much better this year ( tougher and more skilled, faster as well). I would have preferred any coach other than Theiren though — he is just not Canadiens material. What does everyone think????
Sorry about that I am on the IPhone that LMAO was for that montrealtilldeath character.
LMAO
So is GallyA is destined to spend the season with the big club now that Pacioretty is out for 3-4 weeks?
5-2
Now, that’s just painful. I don’t like having too much of anything, no matter how good.
Del Zotto is making Subban look like he’s worth about 2.5 per year.
I hope you’re being sarcastic here. You do realize, MacDonagh and Girardi were the ones playing the big tough minutes right? DelZotto is a fourth defenseman on the Rangers line up, and therefore plays against weaker opponents then PK’s last year.
…and then he sees Komi making $4.5.
Komi only making 3.5 this year – though 4.5 cap hit
You really need to stop comparing Subban’s potential salary to that of any individual that got his after he became a UFA. RFA’s have no leverage; it is not about who is better or worth more, if that was the case Gomez would have made minimum wage last year. Subban will either play for what MB offers him, pitch a longer team deal that gets him a bit more up front but sells a year or two of his post-RFA career at a potential savings for MB, sit out the year or sign a tender and see what happens. It has literally nothing to do with whether Del Zotto is better or not. Del Zotto is just an example of what a good Dman that is also an RFA was able to wrangle out of a different club with different cap issues. Subban is likely to get something in that ballpark, maybe a tiny bit more or a tiny bit less. PK’s big payday comes when he hits UFA status. MB knows it and so does PK, he just is loathe to admit it.
At risk of repeating myself I will say again I am tired of the anti Subban BS BS. PLekanic, Del Zotto even Pacioretty. Put them all up on the block and the other teams would choose Subban over them hands down. This trade Subban nonsense is sheer idiocy. I blame Bergevin for letting this charade go on too long. Therrian has never liked Subban and you must also realize that our favourite coach Jacques Martin has never really left but remains as a sniper in the shadows. That is why Eller who was a dominant player against the Bruins is never going to fit in as Martin and Therrian are Buddies. Jacques has never left and he never liked Eller. Bergevin at close inspection is not man enough to stand up against consensus and be his own man. The change in the GM position was only a cosmetic one. We need Subban for the long term as right now Markov who is playing great has a glass knee. What is the back up plan if he goes down. Don’t start the Stanley cup parade after 2 wins like the leafs as we just watched that balloon burst. The Bruins and Rangers and the Sens are going to go right at Markov.
Well said!
Did Nuna move?
I’m enjoying this…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIiXE_TQ8w
***FREE PK!!!***
I’ve got a feeling ooh ooh!
Haha 3-2 Rangers!
NYRs are a 1 line team, it seems. Leafs need to win more otherwise they’re going in for the tank.
That’s a hell of a first line though
Rangers = One Line Team, with Lundqvist. They will be ok.
Leafs = No Line Team, with some AHL goalie. They will not be ok.
That Nash-Richards-Gaborik line is not to be taken lightly. They’re big, fast and talented. The Rangers have built an elite team with a combination of draft picks, trades, and signings. It’s no surprise that they’re favourites to win the Cup.
Heh, yeah, I didn’t intend to make it sound like their 1st line wasn’t extremely dangerous.
I was just commenting on what seems to be a lack of offensive depth.
And again!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIiXE_TQ8w
***FREE PK!!!***
Conspiracy theory for today:
MB is smart, oh so smart. He knows that it’s a shorened, condensed season. So he holds firm with PK because he knows PK can’t do anything but sit out. Thus keeping his best young defenceman healthy and ready to go. Around mid-season, MB caves to PK’s demands just in time for the playoff push.
Genius!
Laffs blow another 2 goal lead. I’d hate them like I do the Bruins if they weren’t just so pitiful.
Nice, now if the Leafs would just allow one more in regulation, that would be a great night (without the Habs playing)
Good…good… Rags tie it up.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIiXE_TQ8w
***FREE PK!!!***
SOB… wasn’t expecting that!
Not from you anyhow.
Pacioretty is out, tough luck for the guy.
Bourque likely goes to the LW
Bourque-DD-Cole
Galchenyuk-Plek-Gionta
Prust-Eller-Gallagher
Curious to see if Desharnais can perform without Pacioretty. I think this is Ellers moment.
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Lars, PK, Galchenyuk, Pac, Emelin – @J_Perez22
You may be right but it has been reported that Eller will slip into Max’s spot and the other lines will remain unchanged.
I hope so Eller should get some ice time to earn his spot back.
The Subban contract thing is all P.R. He and Bergevin have a deal worked out, but it requires Subban descending from the Bell Centre rafters as the team plays the high-pressure game that will decide if they can make the playoffs or not. He rides down, bathed in the flames of a burning torch and skates to his position, still glowing. He then proceeds to score on his first shift and ignite the populace of the arena. Habs marketing team then shakes hands and nods as the crowd goes wild and throws money at the ticket office and sweater store.
Or as luck would have it, he receives 3rd degree burns and is sidelined for the rest of the season…
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Propwash, funny stuff, if it wasn’t the truth. lol
Damn Max is tough apparently he performed an auto-appendectomy
I’m gonna be hated for this but c’est la vie a Montreal. Time to trade the ungrateful Subban who is not willing to pay his dues like Price and Patches did for a true winger for the Plecks line. To Edmonton or something like that. I’m not saying Subban is not a great player, but we have plenty of D coming up and plenty of players who don’t favor him. Pull the trigger and send him to the west.
Plenty of D yes but none even close to bringing to the table what PK does.
As I said below, if MB can swing a trade of Kaberle for picks or prospect(s) and free up some space, that will be an ideal solution imo.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Hey folks,
Just wanted to say Hola from somewhere in the middle of Caribbean. At the rate of $1/minute I can’t afford browsing much.
Hope Habs win tomorrow while I am soaking up some Caribbean sun on the Lido deck. If they don’t, it is so hard to care.
I miss you all (but not really)
Mike…wear sunscreen.
***FREE PK!!!***
Enjoy! *koff* ya bastige….
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It’s still minus a billion here. I hate you.
Enjoy it dude.
You gotta hand it to Gomer! That freakin’ dude knows how to get himself paid for doing dick. Habs have to pay him prorated in full this year; he signed for an extra $700K with the Sharks; Habs have to pay him what 2/3 of what’s due him next years. Screw Warren Buffet! Scott Gomez is the man!!!
Buffet likely takes about a minute to make 7 million though – I’ll still take the Buffet hoard over Gomez’s
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☞ The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. ~ Richard Feynman ☜
Patches out 3 to 4 weeks emergency appendectomy
Closer to 6 weeks out.
Another rumour: HNIC panel mentioned that several GMs have expressed interest in trading for PK, but MB has responded he’s not interested in trade talks.
Both Healy and Weekes confirmed that. While I think Healy is a total asshat, I don’t think this is a rumour only because it would be “juicier” to say the Habs are exploring trade options for PK.
I highly doubt MB would consider a trade for Subban unless he was getting more than fair value.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Yeah I saw that. What Healy was saying actually makes sense, about how this is the only real chance the Habs will have to negotiate while holding all the leverage. MB being unwilling to even talk about a trade fits with that thinking. It’s not like Subban has many options if MB won’t move him. It’s take what you can get from Montreal or don’t play. Or sign an offer sheet, but no GM is going to tender one against the Habs.
I’m still of the mind that signing PK long term now saves you money later, but I get the point from a strict negotiation standpoint.
I hope Bourque gets a shot at 1st line if maxpac is out
Plex-Gio-Bourque IS the 1st line now.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
@jols101 Thanks!
I guess another workaround capwise could be to deal one Kaberle if/when PK signs and gain a couple of mil in the cap, but that’s wishful thinking on my part.
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Ya, it would be great if Bergevin found another GM to take Kaberle off our hands. But, like you said, that is wishful thinking. lol
Well..some teams are hurting on d… it isn’t unfeasable
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Wow. Patches out for 3 weeks after appendix surgery.
An opportunity for someone! And for Therrein to play with his lines now that last year’s “number one” line is gone.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
There are rumours about Bergevin’s last offer. I wonder what Meehan’s last offer was? I heard suggestions the 2 sides are still several million apart on annual salary. For all we know, Bergevin may indeed be sitting at 2 years 5 point something million while Meehan may still sitting at 6 million or more per. If that’s the situation then perhaps they may eventually (hopefully sooner than later) find a way to split the difference? It could be that neither side wants to blink first towards meeting in the middle. Despite the latest rumours (educated guesses, fabricated BS or strategic leaks?) we really don’t know the actual figures being offered by the two sides.
–Go Habs Go!–
Apparently Bergevin’s offer hasn’t changed from original one.
But an excellent job at covering all your bases there
Has Meehan’s offer changed?
Inquiring minds want to know.
–Go Habs Go!–
sure max pac is out, I don’t think this is nearly as bad as his last injury that left the team limping into the playoffs!
Fate: Nothing serious has happened to the Habs team yet? Well, we’ll see about that, now won’t we?
Craps gonna hit the fan after the first pay checks clear!
It says he’ll be out 3 to 4 weeks. But guaranteed he’ll be back in less than 2. Remember his concussion recovery? He’ll be fine. He’s a real trooper.
He just had an organ surgically removed from his body. That’s a big deal. He could be the toughest guy in the world, but he still won’t be playing hockey in 2 weeks.
You’ll see.
We can’t even play a half season without a star forward getting injured! Amazing!
It’s a medical issue, nobody can control that.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Disagree! The Habs should have removed everyone’s appendixes or appendices or whatever it’s called before the lockout, as a precaution. Any smart GM would have done this. MB sucks, everyone should be fired.
In reality though, just horrible timing.
Remember Patrick Roy in the playoffs?
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
A burst appendix can happen to anyone.
Well, if he was really dedicated to the Habs he would have had his appendix out as a kid. This is unacceptable.
They should have just let it burst then cauterized it with the freakin’ torch!
Yeah, and the Spartan was apparently available to assist.
Yeah- just inject some freezing between periods like the old days.
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
It’s in Beliveau’s and Richard’s contracts as “ambassadors” that they assist in torch-related medical procedures.
I don’t know about the prudence of that Bone. Henri looked like he might end up flaming the hairs on one’s ass.
So if they keep Chucky in the squad, does that affect cap space and the Subban negotiations?
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Had a discussion on that earlier. I don’t think so, with Galchenyuk’s bonuses included there is still 4 million in cap space. If you take away his bonuses it is close to 6.4 million.
Plus that includes 15 forwards and when Subban signs it will be 8 dmen. So we can get extra space when we trim the roster to 13 forwards and 7 D.
Either way, we are fine for this year but next year it gets really tight even with a Kaberle amnesty buyout.
Nah. He stays, but the coaches set him up for failure so he doesn’t hit his bonuses. It’s simple. Martin would have perceived the situation and responded accordingly without needing an explanation.
I have always thought that the magic to that line was the chemistry that DD and Max have. Removing Max from it due to illness will be interesting to observe for sure. I’m assuming it will eventually wind up with Galchy up on that line while Eller is at 3rd, but wouldn’t be surprised if most lines are re-tooled to figure this one out.
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Newfoundland’s biggest Habs fan. Hands down.
The Bourque-Plecks-Gio line is clicking right now so I imagine that will stay intact as long as they remain effective.
To this point Eller has not shown he can be as effective as a winger and if that stays the same, imagine Galchy will move to the DD line in place of Max and Eller will go back to centering the 3rd line.
I’d like to see a line with Eller centering DD on the left and Cole on the right though. Just to give that a try.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
I am so happy that we are finally done with the Gomer, I will definitely have a fifth Rochefort Trappistes 10. I know that I will pay for it tomorrow morning, but I am soooooooooooooooo happy!
Still haven’t found one of your Belgians to try..but having fun looking! There are so many great beers out there!
Wade Redden (yes, that Wade Redden) scores for the Blues tonight. Have one more in thanks you’re not a Ranger fan tonight.
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The good thing about drinking Trappist Ales on Saturday night is that they count for Mass on Sunday. (In my way of thinking, at least.) We all support God’s work in our own ways!
The monks use holy water??
Stuff is great, but it’s high octane. This stuff is 11.5% APV. Well, the worst thing in the world would be to get to the pearly gates and find out tout could have had one more beer!
It seems as though the guy may really have been a casualty of his own contract. If he had been making 3,4 mil a year instead of 6.5, he probably never would have left the NHL. Crazy.
It is just a matter of time before we feel the chagrin when Scotty Gomez pots one for the Sharks.
The saving grace is that we know from experience how long it will take before he gets another: One Calendar Year.
“Et le but!”
Time yes. Like 374 days.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
We are all glad Gomer is gone into the sun, my child. -God
Don’t you have a “city” column to write?
No. I’m retired. I only hang out to post obvious observations on games now. It keeps the peons happy.
BALLS!
The good old days…love it
You peon pleaser you!
Max is out 3-4 weeks…. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=652639
#blamesubban
I guess that means Chucky is going to be staying
I would give eller at shot w/ cole and move DD to the wing to protect him and try to get his game going. Then keep the rest the same to give them a chance to keep building chemistry. They’ve been playing well, and if it ain’t broke….
Hmm, Eller has never really been good at wing before.
You could have Gally with DD and Cole and Eller on as 3rd line center. Maybe that’s not a good idea.
No, I guess i didn’t make it clear
DD/Eller/Cole
gio/plek/bourque
gally/chucky/prust
moen/white/armstrong
They talk about wanting people to step up, well let’s give Eller a real shot at least for a game and see what he can do. If it doesn’t go well, then you can flip chucky and Eller and see how that goes
That would be interesting. I misread your post. Too bad they’re never going to move DD, not with all the politics. Though now would be the time to do it since the premise of him being an effective center is being with Pacs and Cole (with Pacs being the more important guy).
We just lost Max Pac for 3-4 weeks due to emergency appendicectomy (…and it starts). Eller will have some time to prove his worth to the team with DD and Cole and hopefully he can deliver.
Habs snake-bitten again! I hope Max Pac recovers well.
http://calshabsongparodies.weebly.com
Brad Richards’ last 3 contracts are worth $111,351,000.00
Unbelieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevable!
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
Pax emergency appendectomy. Out 3-4 weeks
Ouch! (for the team)
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“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
Nice juicy rebound by Reimer, even Darche could have banged that one home
Speaking of Darche, last I heard he had a tryout with the Devils, what happened with that? Is he playing somewhere?
If not, he should take an AHL contract with the Bulldogs. He would be a great mentor for the kids and it could lead to a coaching position down the road…
I know the Devils brought him to camp, as far as i know they did not offer him a contract, from what i hear he is like on hold with the Devils, or i guess any team which runs into some depth or injury problems. I agree though would be a great mentor for young players, he has a great work ethic and is very intelligent..
Right from the Habs official Twitter:
`Canadiens Montréal @CanadiensMTL
Max Pacioretty underwent an emergency appendicectomy tonight in Montreal – Out 3 to 4 weeks.`
FUUUUUU”/$%?&*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
…….CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahaha. Nice touch, Frank!
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Darn, no real injuries yet so appendicitis strikes?!
Hope he recovers quickly!
The choke commences…
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Yes, there is hockey gods. Rangers goal!!
Pacioretty out after an apendectomy, as per the Official Habs Twitter. Out 3-4 weeks. Eller’s gonna be in for a while.
Well that sucks…
Bummer.
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Dang. I hope Patches is OK and he has a quick recovery. Eller’s time to step up.
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Wow, talk about a cruddy time to get appendicitis! 3-4 weeks is a third of the season. That blows.
Boy is it ever quiet in MSG. Sounds like the game is being played in Toronto.
Jols, that goal will help but Ranger fans are upset with their team.
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Sure will. If they get another and tie it up, the place will be rockin’ again.
Anyone caught Don Cherry in one breath glorifying non-fighters who step in & fight for their teammates … and ripping Nail Yakupov for embarrassing opponents by celebrating too much?
One gets praised for doing something stupid where he might break his hand or get a concussion… And the other gets shredded for showing joy and emotions after scoring a late goal to send a game into overtime.
Some people seem to love sports for the wrong reasons. But hey to each their own.
It’s because Cherry knows The Code.
Cherry is The Code.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
All the stuff going on in the NHL this week and Don Cherry spends most of his segment talking about the Orr-Engelland fight.
Thanks, Don. (eyeroll)
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
That was a hell of a scrap though.
It was, but spending over half of Coach’s Corner discussing it and knocking the officials for not stepping in earlier was a total waste of time.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Agreed, but that is Cherry for you. Guys like 79 years old and like the saying goes- you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. He has been doing this shtick for years.
I know right? Trying to convince everyone that the Leafs are up 2-0 because they’re tougher now… Sure thing, Don.
Maybe it’s time for the CBC to hire someone who has coached hockey in this millenium. Just saying.