Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov in a happy moment during his session with the media.
Stubbs video capture
Late afternoon news: The Canadiens have called up defenceman Frédéric St. Denis from Hamilton
Markov speaks!
“Hello,” he said to the assembled media horde after the Canadiens’ morning practice. “I feel good and I’m happy to be back with the team.
Markov said Dr. James Andrews’ Florida clinic had done “a good job” on his twice injured right knee.
“I feel much stronger than before,” Markov said. “It’s step by step. I hope tomorrow will be better than today.”
Markov was coyly vague on possible return dates. The end of November?
“No idea. Next question.”
Christmas?
“Next question.”
AUDIO of Jacques Martin’s press conference
• • •
• Brossard facility is overflowing with schoolkids. Majoring in hockey, no doubt.
• Andrei Markov on the ice. Today’s no-hit jersey colour is teal. No Hal Gill. Rumour that Frederic St. Denis has been called up.
• Pressbox consensus: Best porn star Movember on the team: “Ooh, Mr. Diaz, are you here to unclog my drain?”
• Mike Cammalleri is on the ice.
• Rebound drill: Randy Cunneyworth has set up a three-foot 6×6 on the left side of the blue point. He’s shooting pucks off the board and shooters try to pop the rebound from about five feet out. Easy to do when no one’s checking them.
Now Scott Gomez is practicing turn-around tip-ins on shots off the rebound board.
Loading ...
How long are they going to keep blowing smoke up our as_ _ s regarding Markov. Everyone knows, or should know by now, that this guy is toast and the Habs threw $15M out the window. The Gomez and Markov money is the difference between being a bubble team and competing for the Cup.
L Train
This organization has perfected blowing, in several specific arts. But hey when you profit 100s millions of dollars every year, regardless of result, the important people are happy.
This whole looking over past drafts picks for mistakes is a mug’s game.
You can do it any franchise over the years and find tons of mistakes.
Just to use a high standard how about last year’s champs.
2007- Zach Hamill over Logan Couture, Brandon Sutter, Ryan McDonagh, Lars Eller, Kevin Shattenkirk, Max Pacioretty, David Perron, P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, Carl Gunnarsson
2005 Matt Lashoff ahead of J.T. Oshie, Steve Downie, James Neal, M.E. Vlasic, Pavelec, Paul Stasney, Mason Raymond, Kris Letang, Jamie Quick
That’s just going back a few years… you get my point.
There is no point. There are hundreds of picks per year. Everybody misses more than they hit. Every team passed on Subban. Every team passed on Datsyuk. Every team passed on Markov.
What counts are the ones that teams pick. Habs fans have a right to expect better from the team’s scouting department. This is a forum. Are you suggesting we shouldn’t lambaste the Habs because everybody’s doing it? Easy enough to say drafting isn’t an art or science because it is fraught with error.
Well guess what. For every two or three strikes there is a big hit and sometimes even a home run.
So this is my point. Drafting is fundamental to building a championship team or a contender. Would Boston have won if they didn’t draft Bergeron and Krecji? What about Kessel? Not fundamental in the Cup win but still a nice return in Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton if you ask me. What about Philly flipping Carter and Richards. Let me see. Chicago; Kane, Toews. Pittsburgh; Crosby, Malkin. Shall we list Washington’s picks. Because apparently a monkey could build a winner with those picks. Unless that monkey is in Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, Phoenix… You get my point.
So what you’re saying is every Cup winner has some great picks on it. Of course, how couldn’t they. Once they win a Cup you can go point to some players and say these are some great picks.
Kind of backwards logic, that’s at least mildly reductionist. Every team has picks, every Cup winner has key players. There’s nothing being said there.
Lots of crappy teams have great picks too, they’re still crappy.
The Habs have not done very well with their top picks, generally I agree.
But, looking at a particular pick and bemoaning who we could have had instead is the easiest thing to do, as you acknowledged yourself. It doesn’t really say anything more than, what if?
Oh, and last I looked Philly hasn’t one a Cup since ’75.
So are we agreeing?
Philly still contends. But ouch on their streak. All they need to do is make sure the other team is from Canada next time.
If I’m reading twocents, no he (or she) isn’t agreeing.
How do you feel about Price, Subban (picked 43) and Pacioretty (picked 22)? Or Desharnais, signed as a free agent because no one drafted him?
By the by: the teams that got Toews, Crosby, Malkin, & Ovetchkin all finished at the bottom of the standings. If the Habs have a fault, it is that they don’t seem to finish close to last, to get that glorious top 10 pick.
The one time recently they did have a top ten, they picked Price at #5. When they did that the TSN panel screached: “this is off the charts” because no one had Price rated that high.
AK stays, he is not easily replaceable, and some of the kids you like (and many of us like) are not ready next year. They are kids. We have a two or three year wait before all this pays off. And Gomez, Martin, Gionta… are gone.
That said, I agree that with a coach who can adjust his system to the players he has (as opposed to some imaginary players Martin has in his head) can unleash the speed and skill some of our players have.
Tomorrow morning would not be soon enough to relieve Martin of his note pads.
If its been questioned before, excuse me for the redundancy. But is the left knee in question with Camms, complications from the slash back in Winnipeg.
I have asked also, have not heard any confimation on it, sorry can’t help, but have my concerns also that the early return from that severe laceration could be a factor.
HH, wrote:
“I don’t get your point but it sounds like you are grasping at straws here.”
Well HH, I thought I was fairly clear. Several posters suggested I was way off a few weeks ago when I suggested that DD was on par with Grabovski, furthermore that I would take him over Graps, cause overall, when you consider his demeanor, he is a better all around teammate/player.
I stand by that. And if you compare where DD is at this stage of his career he is way ahead of where Crabs was at the same point.
As for your point about line mates, up until this year ‘Ole Grabby was the loafs #1 centre getting their best wingers and the most ice time.
Where you really lose me, is with your “grasping at straws” comment. What precisely am I apparently grasping for?
I don’t know what you’re grasping for. You seem to be making excuses for Habs errors by pointing out other teams’. Now it’s full on with the Grabovski hate.
I love DD. I touted him long before he made it to the NHL. I also recognize his weaknesses. He’s slow. If he skated like Gionta he’d be unstoppable. He also gets manhandled and physically knocked off of the puck. He doesn’t win many a pcuk battle along the boards. However, I also recognize his strengths. He is crafty with his play making. He can catch a pass like he has the puck on a string and is reeling it in. For all his lost battles he still perseveres, never flinches, always competes and generally does a good job of covering his own ass when somebody strips the puck off of him.
As for Grabovski. Whatever about his prima donna airplane experience. Did he pull that 100 times? That to me is just bad management. I was sorry to see him go because he and the two Kostitsyns made for a decent Belarussian combo. Not to mention we missed out on having the grabs two mammaries line.
So whatever point you’re trying to make I disagree because it amounts to gratuitously dumping on Grabovski, which IMO is unwarranted . DD might be awesome but Grabs is another wasted draft pick and/or prospect IMO.
Holy shite, it’s not rocket science.
I am saying if you gave me a choice between DD and Grabs, I’d choose DD. To this, several posters said I was nuts.
It’s that simple, nothing more.
My using goofing pseudonyms for Craps is just what I typically do when referring to anything loafy.
What you are doing, my friend, is grasping for something that’s not there… straws, pickles, plums… arguments… I don’t know.
Oh man, don’t let HH anywhere near your pickles and plums.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Thanks, Punkster.
I’ll make note of that.
What! No ice cream?
WOW! Even Mr . Boone sounds like he has had enough today. I have never seen him respond to so many posts as he has today… and you can tell he aint a happy camper.
Personally I love the outcry. Enuff is enuff! We want our franchise back!
Replace him with THE WHO, now that would be an improvement for sure!
Oh, Ian, if we did that then everyone would be saying our drafting produced a Teenage Wasteland…
I Can’t Explain why I keep thinking that My Generation Won’t Get Fooled Again. It’s Not Enough watching this Substitute. I find myself asking Who Are You Happy Jack? The good news is You Better You Bet The Kids Are Alright.
How about that deaf, dumb and blind kid? Tommy?
JM just doesn’t think outside the box. Would it kill him to have a little more imagination?
For example, why not put Markov to good use while the knee is healing? I say stick him up in the catwalk and have him direct the powerplay with a laser pointer. Just follow the red dot to glory.
Or maybe have wee DD bend down a bit along the boards so he blends in with an advertisement. The defense loses sight of him, we get the puck, and Bang! – he’s wide open with a clear path to glory.
Great article in The Hockey News
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/42947-Campbell-Hall-of-Fame-Leafs-bias-will-benefit-Sundin.html
25 before 14
Poll Question:
What was a worst draft day blunder by the habs?
Andrei Kostisyn before Perry/Getzlaf/Carter/Richards/Kesler/Parise in 2003
OR
David Fischer before Claude Giroux in 2006
Personally, I think its a wash. At least Andrei is a useful player, where Fischer was a complete bust. But picking andrei is still pretty bad just considering how many excellent players were drafted after him.
AK46 can be a good 2nd/3rd line forward for MTL and can chip in 20 goals while throwing 100+ hits. Fischer gave us absolutely NOTHING. Easy decision which was worst.
Habs could have also not traded down in 2006 and picked Chris Stewart with the original 16th overall pick they had. Or they could have picked up Patrik Berglund with the 20th overall.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Tough question, have to lean to Fischer because he never panned out, but few saw Giroux being what he is today. However, given he grew up in teams backyard you would think the team would have the Quebec talent scouted extremely well.
While we obviously would rather have a Getzlaf, AK has been a useful player and was ranked higher.
Both hurt, but we have other drafts where we made the steal. Draft day is probably the GM’s/Scouts toughest day of the year.
Kopitar. The Habs would be completely different today.
You can’t be serious. It doesn’t matter who they were drafted before/after because hindsight isn’t exactly a fair way to measure draft choices.
I think a fair way to measure is that Kostitsyn is a productive member of our NHL team while David Fischer IS NOT. Only in your fantasy land is this a wash, friend!
How about Mark Napier instead of Mike Bossy? Or Doug Wickenheiser over Denis Savard? Then all those José Charbonneau/Lindsay Vallis/Terry Ryan years. No shortage of bad drafts for this franchise after Sam Pollock and Scotty Bowman left.
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
Could you imagine Bossy in a Habs uni? We might have won 10 Cups in a row…
The Rocket even went to management and told them they should take Bossy. Bossy is easily one of the top 25 players of all time. Mind you, Napier was a hell of a Marlie, but Bossy was right in Montreal’s backyard.
The Wickenheiser decision was the beginning of the end for the Habs dynasty. I seem to recall that we had maneuvered to get the first pick the year Savard became eligible. The plan was to draft him as the heir to Guy Lafleur. Everyone in Quebec had known for years that he was the next big thing. I think Sam Pollock might have been the one to set it up.
Then, at the last minute, Pollock’s incompetent replacement, Irving Grundman chose Wickenheiser instead because he was big and from the WHL.
Grundman was soon fired and later went on to be a corrupt Montreal City councilor.
Good points. Don´t forget Jason Ward, Matt Higgins and Eric Chouinard. So many completely wasted first round picks and people still go on about Kostitsyn. I just don´t get it.
I jumped for joy when they drafted Mark Pederson too. Remember him.
And when we sent John LeClair to Philly I was beside myself.
David Wilkie, Brent Bilodeau, Eric Chouinard. Oh christ, I neeeeeed a drink.
A wash? What a joke. Andrei Kostitsyn is a good player, the Fischer pick was a complete waste. Btw: There´s a big difference between the players you mentioned. With Getzlaf, Carter or Richards we wouldn´t have made the Gomez trade, with Parise instead of Kostitsyn on the other hand we wouldn´t be significantly better. When I look at Parise´s stats this season we wouldn´t be better at all.
I also wonder if the Rangers fans still talk about having picked Hugh Jessiman in 2003…
Which was the worse choice, a big 20-goal scoring winger who led our team in hits last year, or a defenceman who will never make the NHL?
Was that actually the question?
Full Breezer 4 Life
Wickenheiser over Denis Savard.
Fischer.
And while I like AK when he is in the mood, I see Getzlaf here fairly often (going to Habs/Ducks game here Nov 30) and he is a freaking stud.
Thanks CBC
What’s the picture accompanying the article on the GM’s talking about protecting goalies in the wake of Lucic’s hit on Miller?
Gionta and Reimer
Toronto trying to create the big bad Habs…
That is such bullshit. I hate the f-n CBC.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
I like the CBC but I agree, total bullspit
Geez…you guys sure are fickle…
1) When the GM makes a trade, you hate it because it is not the players “you” want;
2) When the team loses, JM needs to be fired and the team sucks;
3) When the team wins, the team sucks because it is not winning “the way” you want them to win.
So does that mean if the Habs went 0-82 playing entertaining firewagon hockey on a team full of All-Stars coached by Scotty Bowman then everything is A-OK?
“I am guilty of using elipses…”
Hey, at least we would have a shot at drafting a potential star player while being massively entertained.
I would rather lose now and see progress for the future over what we currently have which is a whole lot of mediocrity with no signs of improvement.
In my opinion, year in and year out, the organization carries itself as a “make the playoffs team” instead of a “lets try to win a stanley cup” team.
If we’re going to continue with very slim chances of winning a cup, and no signs of improving, than yes, I would rather be entertained.
Been coming on here for nearly 2 years and I’m convinced that if the team won the stanley Cup in 16 games in a season they went 82-0 but 10 games were won in OT or a Shootout, there are posters on here that would still bitch about that.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Thats beyond over the top lol
“So does that mean if the Habs went 0-82 playing entertaining firewagon hockey on a team full of All-Stars coached by Scotty Bowman then everything is A-OK?”
Silly Hyperbole scenario.
Your post is pretty much incomprehensible.
The results are there in hard cold numbers.
We are not very good. The coach is employing a system that does not suit the players he has.
If you are happy with the team go crazy, but most of the rest of us are pissed.
Question:
If you had the power to make 1 change to the Habs which would you choose:
1)Fire JM and replace with who
2)Fire PG and replace with who
3)Signed Rugged 4th line Forward instead of Nokia Trade
4)Signed Rugged DMan instead of Campoli
5)Signed Wiz instead of Markov
Edit:6) Done nothing, I love this team the way it is.
Who are you and where is Smartdog?
Randy for HC!
My Dog did get sprayed by a skunk last night in my backyard, do I qualify?
My dog tried to eat a porcupine once, it was quite the weird sight, all those needles in her jowls.
And I’d fire JM’ just for the hope of more entertaining hockey.
Randy for HC!
“…and replace with who” would be nice for #3 and #4.
For me, maybe #6, without the love.
Fire JM and replace with Who.
Ahahaha
Full Breezer 4 Life
“Fire JM and replace with who ” That’s the thing. Who?
I was tempted by keeping Wiz at the time, but we’ll see if Markov comes back and what he comes back as.
I don’t see a whole lot of point getting rugged players for JM.
Fire Pierre Gauthier. We need a organizational overhaul. PG is a gainey clone, and clearly what gainey did a few years back is not the way to run an organization.
Replace him with David Poile from Nashville. If the leafs can basically go out and get brian burke, who was employed, I dont see why we cant go out and lure a top candidate from another team.
I can see Poile wanting to step into a true hockey market, and have the ability to spend to the cap.
David Poile has not built a contender in Nashville. They’ve been a notch better than Atlanta.
Other small market teams have done much better – Tampa, Carolina, for a start.
And Poile got hosed by Brian Burke this summer.
1: No one out there better than JM, best of the bunch. Hate it but don’t forget the stupid language issue.
2: Not sure or anyone, maybe Jim Nill from Det, but he aint leaving there and don’t 4get language issue again. Plus PG has done a decent job as GM.
3: Signed Boyd Gordon but he signed for 3 years, a little too much for a 4th liner.
4: Hannan
5:HELLLLL NO!!!!!
I once got me a bloodhound and I called him The System©
Nice looking dog. He was scared of rabbits though.
Everyone would laugh and say “that dog won’t hunt.”
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I’d Fire Gauthier.
I don’t know the GM candidates well but I’d pick someone known for a) having a clear no-nonsense philosophy (if Gauthier has one I don’t know what it is), b) building with the draft and with trades where necessary c) a long term vision and d) understanding the need for toughness and e) standing up for his players. Let him fire Martin if Martin isn’t doing the job. And then I’d give myself a raise and go to Schwartz’s.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
1) Fire JM and replace with Youppi or Timo.
2) PG undecided, his moves have been ok. If guys are injured it is not his fault.
3) A rugged 4th line forward that plays what? 8 minutes? Not a significant move when we have far bigger problems.
4) Campoli is injured. It is not really fair to hang the guy when he hasn’t played for us.
5) Signed Wiz AND Markov, then traded Wiz in March if Markov was healthy.
6) Sent Gomez to Hamilton for the purpose of sending a message to our other players and future free agents. The golf club is closed for the winter.
7) I don’t have a problem with Gionta as a useful team guy, but as a captain of the Montreal Canadiens, following Saku, Muller, Carbo, Gainey… back into the holy pantheon… sorry. I don’t think so.
8) I would also have taken Laraque after we got him to a secret cave in the Himalayas and kept him from turning Vegan, Green and soft.
We would be a much better team today.
And you don’t need a raise to go to Schwartz’s, it’s very reasonable.
The trap is the safest recipe for winning. As long as the players buy in, the coach looks like a genius. Fanatical supporters who fancy themselves intelligent fans, will buy it as well. But it makes most of the season awful to watch and it is why people in NJ, for example, don’t go to games. It also risks making players feel unfulfilled or “alienated” like the highest paid factory workers in the world. Right Scott? The trap probably promotes more depression and drug use than the enforcer role or headshots.
I heard the Canadiens employed The Trap as far back as the 70′s.
And, go figure, there were fanatical supporters who fancied themselves as intelligent fans who bought it. You’re right about that!
Believe me. There is no resemblance between the 70s team and this one.
Well, the uniforms are pretty much the same. More helmets now, though.
Habs teams could adjust and play different styles depending on the opponent, also if they trapped (or the contemporaneous version thereof) they could counter punch with their speed and fire power.
Scotty kept a taxi squad of half a dozen guys he could plug in and out to beef up or add scoring or texture. Obviously in cap land we can’t do that now, but Scotty and most Habs coaches could adjust to different situations, unlike JM.
Ask Tampa and Jersey how the neutral zone trap is working. Pretty hard to trap “NJ devils style” when there’s no center line to stop the two line pass. Pretty hard to use the 1-3-1 when the other team refuses to walk into it lol
Re: the Lucic/Miller thing, I absolutely cannot stand Lucic, but I don’t see how what he did is suspension-worthy. It’s illegal, sure, and a bastard thing to do, probably deserving of four minutes instead of the two he got. But there’s no rule against checking the goalie — really hard, even — if he’s wandered out of his crease. I can’t believe I find myself defending that sack of garbage, but Lucic didn’t leave his feet or hit Miller in the head. Aside from the charging, it’s technically a clean hit.
There’s an unwritten rule in hockey that you just don’t run the goalie. But the thing with unwritten rules is that they can’t be enforced by the refs or the league — they’re enforced (or not) by the players. I hate to say it, but if the players neglect their responsibilities, and allow a goon to smirk his way to the penalty box for a two-minute break, they have no one to be angry at but themselves.
Mike Boone: “With Gainey at my side, I’d walk into any dark alley in the world.”
OK. but if the Bruins don’t follow “unwritten rules” they shouldn’t expect other teams to follow them either.
Tim Thomas should take note.
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Yes it’s a rule but is at the same level as hooking or tripping. A minor penalty.
There IS a rule about hitting the goalie outside of his crease. A player MUST make an effort to avoid contact with goaltenders wherever they are. Incidental contact is permitted. Lucic’s hit was not incidental…he lined him up and drilled him.
I can’t stand Lucic either. He was the last Bruin to touch the puck, knocking it down ice then chasing after it. Millar came out and cleared the puck off to the boards just as Lucic arrives. You can see Lucic reach towards the puck being cleared as Millar tilts his elbow towards Lucic, and Lucic hits him. Millar going down tries to slash Lucic with his stick. Later Millar leaves the game.
Look Millar has been playing like…well pretty bad. He is high strung. Lucic plays mean, and is meaner in the crease. This is all a soap. Lucic did what the league condones and Millar needs a break. Two minutes and Millar is lucky he didn’t get a couple for trying to injure.
JM : We did not back off on offence in the third.
Cole : We backed off on offence in the third.
Obvisouly they do not see eye to eye, or they were not watching the same game.
Randy for HC!
The coaches never tell the team to back off. It’s human nature to take less chances when leading. Practically the only time I see a team keeping the pedal to the metal is when I see a highschool game. And, usually, one side is so much better that it’s ridiculous.
To me it’s more about the disconnect between what a player saw, and what the coach saw.
Randy for HC!
Listen to JM’s follow-up remark about expecting to profit from chances because Buffalo will be attacking more and… what the heck I cant get into this anymore.
Cole is stating the obvious.
Jacques Martin is attempting to fool people with his revisionist analysis.
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Which jacques has stated over and over, to the point that he feels he is stating the obvious.
“Row well, and live.”
— Ben Hur
How is it that with Carbo the Habs were in the top half of scoring in the league (even leading the league one year) but when JM takes over with a more talented group we can’t crack the top 20?
I’m all about playing disciplined hockey but I’m just sick of JM. Somebody needs to take that notebook from him and write in it, “Take Pleks off the PP point” and “Darche has no business playing the PP”.
“I kind of feel sorry for players who never got a chance to be a Montreal Canadien” – Cammalleri
That one year was exciting. It seemed as though they were building a contender with old-fashioned exciting hockey. Then the team imploded, and I believe that [poor] coaching certainly had something to do with it.
If we accept the story that Martin is a great defensive coach, than why can’t we win a game in which we lead 2-0 with twenty minutes left against a demoralized team who have just lost their star goalie?
Exactly.
We know he can’t coach offense. And obviously he can’t coach defense either. (if we were 10 and 2 having won 10 games 1-0 and 2-1 a la Coco I don’t think we would be complaining too bitterly).
In summary, he can’t coach offense. He can’t coach defense… there ain’t much else besides telling the guys when it’s their turn to go on… oh crap, he’s not so good at that either…
Does he bring PG a vegan muffin every morning? What?
Fire his sorry ass or let him coach the Argos secondary. Like we’d care.
What is Martin coaching today? sit ups?
Sad to see Mr. Positivity become Mr. Bitch and Moan.
Ian’s come to a conclusion. It may not be yours, and he may not be right, but he didn’t come to it easily, and he deserves some respect.
+1
Don’t you understand that this season is pretty much toast due to our bad start? Do the math. New Jersey couldn’t catch up last year and it is highly unlikely we will unless other teams implode or have worse injuries than Habs.
Yes we have injuries. So does Pittsburgh. Blysma is out coaching Martin, Ruff out coached Martin last night, the list goes on.
A fish rots from the head.
We’re one point out of 8th place, dude. That is an insurmountable lead? Last year after 17 games NJ was 5-10-2 with 12 points not 7-7-3 with 17 points.
Following last nights loss, could not help but dream (again) that a Paul Gaustad will don a Habs jersey in my lifetime. He’s intense, wins faceoffs, is a strong skater and an even harder hitter. One can dream …
How big is he? If he’s over 5′ 9′ and 170 he hasn’t got a prayer with us.
6’5” 212
Dreaming of Babylon….
I know what you mean.
After the Preds game, I was thinking…..why do we overpay for guys like Gionta and Cammy (I realize timing plays a factor in all this). Why not overpay for a guy like Shea Weber ? Throw all the money you can at him. Make it the biggest contract in the league. If Bobo was gonna do it for Vinny L. why not a guy like Weber who you know is gonna own this league and the hockey world for the next while.
Just like to be wishful sometimes I guess ? I realize it won’t happen, but if there was a fire sale…………?
Habs, OLE !
he also allows his team’s franchise goalie to be run without so much as lifting a finger to protect him..
In Price we Trust
So you’re saying he would fit in well, I agree.
I especially like the way he responded to Lucic when he was on the ice in Boston. 6’5″ of Chicken.
My point is he is what our roster is missing, Gill’s bearhug on Lucic after he pushed Price on his back after the horn last season was hardly any better.
Question: Markov has less hair than 2 years ago. Will this be a factor on his return?
More aerodynamic?
#1 Hab killer GOMEZ/8 MIL. i rest my case
#1 Habs killer, the coach.
We win a game in OT and everyone talks about Max Pax and his sick shot. We lose a game in the shootout and we suck.
Well, here’s the truth, we are so-so, but the coach is hurting this team. Moen and Lars deserve ice time. #11 and Darche do not. Pleks on the PP sucks, how does he not see that.
Tre
There are some confusing things about Martin for sure when it comes to the PP.
Plekanec is not doing anything on the point at the PP. He’s our number one center and he should be used in his natural spot on the PP.
If he had a booming shot than maybe I see him there but that isn’t the case.
And yeah, Darche doesn’t seem to have as much jump as the past two seasons. When White returns, whenever that might be, I think Darche should be scratched.
And Plekanec will obviously be taken off the point when Markov returns…
I’m not a fan of JM, but one thing he’s good at is getting the most out of an injury riddled line-up.
I agree with everything you say about Moen/Eller/Darche/Pleks (who’s this #11 you speak of??). However, I think the 2 giveaways (PK, Cole) were more costly than any coaching decisions made in last night’s game.
If a coach gets 5 of 6 points with this line-up, he’s getting results. You might not like how he’s doing it, but the results are there.
agreed 100%
Markov hurt for 2 years and not replaced on the roster is a bigger killer to this team. He makes the team including Gomez better. No miracle worker, but his presence the past two years I miss more than a struggling Gomez.
Watching Andrei’s interview, this guy is sick and tired of when. I really hope the knee is right and this guy can show all of us once again how talented he is.
Not being replaced? What do you call Wisniewski?
And this summer they thought he would be able to play at the beginning of the season. But as is usually the case with injuries, there’s uncertainty. People seriously need to relax, this team has done quite well despite the adversity, wait til Markov comes back, everyone will be calling JM and PG geniuses.
Look at what he did the last 30 regular season games and playoffs. The Wiz is really more The Mizz.
Markov must have had a good work out, either that or the interview took place in a sauna. The guy is just dripping.
Some thoughts. Subban’s bad play cost us a game but I’ll forgive him. Hate the shootout but Price has got to practice stopping breakaways, if it’s going to be that important and PK should have been given a shot to make up for his mistake by having a go. The call against Cole in OT was awful but he should be smart enough not to skate through the crease and risk that call when the goalie leans out an elbow. Shanahan has caught the NHL front office disease and the Bruins’r'goons apparently can do no wrong. Pathetic.
Go Habs!
Playing in our own end cost us the game.
Strangely, hockey goes better when it’s played in the OTHER team’s end.
A goalie generally stops breakaways by being patient and out-waiting the attacker, who HAS to do something.
If Price is having problems in shoot-outs and breakaways it is a focus / concentration issue.
Is there a way to ship Emelin and Diaz back to Europe and get back our real D men (Hammer and Wiz)?
You don’t seem to understand how the salary cap works.
Randy for HC!
I understand it very well thank you…If we had a better GM we could have convinced both to stay for cheaper.
He didn’t say you didn’t understand the salary cap.
He said it seems like you don’t understand it, based on what you wrote. Typically, comments like yours are written by people who don’t understand how the salary cap works. Not in this case, though. Right?
Hamr and Wiz are making more than 10 millions this year, Emelin and Diaz are making under 2 millions, to compare both pair is futile.
Randy for HC!
I know and you get what you pay for.
Hamr, 15 games played, 1 g, -3.
Wiz , 8 games played, 5 assists, -9.
Not like they are shattering records.
Diaz, 17 games played, 1g, 1a, -4
Emelin, 9 games played. no points, -3
They are not far off, stats wise from the 2 you cited.
Randy for HC!
You really know nothing about hockey do you volcano62.
First of all, the NHL is a job. How many times have you decided to stay at the same job for much less pay, way more taxes…because the GM says “c’mon dude, please”. Had we paid market value for Wiz and Hammer (and yes, market value is what someone is willing to pay), we would not have been able to keep Markov, Big Tits, and certainly not both Price or PK next year. It was smart move to let them go – they wanted multiple year deals because of their age. This will be Hammer’s last contract…so of course he wanted multiple.
The Diaz, Emelin experiment was the right move – the longer term injury to Markov, Spacek and Campo have not worked out so far but it was still the right move.
Wiz at $5 mil = 8 games, -9.
Hammer = 1 pt. -3, played 9mins last game.
Thankfully, you don’t work as a GM for the Habs.
Tre
Chili is pretty much right, though I would have signed Wiz and then traded him in march to maximize his value and as insurance in case Markov’s comeback was not successful and until Emelin adjusted.
Which he will. Remember that playing on the small NHL ice is a huge adjustment for a D man.
The cap is the elephant in the room for every GM, look at Black Hawks, win the cup… KABOOM… which makes is highly unlikely that there will be even back to back cup winners much less dynasties.
Wow you really are outdoing yourself with each post you do today wow.
Hammer has the lowest +/- on Washington now at what 3 milllion a year and Wiz is TERRIBLE in Columbus with what a 5.5 mill contract?
So lets get this straight, you want to overpay 2 vets that are not earning there money to get rid of 2 young kids from overseas? Yet you have nothing bad to say about Gomez or the rest of the supporting crew.
Wow, go back into your closet
Any Dogs fans notice how very sad it’s getting in Hamilton. With the call ups of Palushaj and Enqvist, and now possibly St. Denis, where is Jodoin going to get players? I watched the very big, strong, well-organized Red Wings farm team pound the Dogs 8-0 last Friday night.
———————
When the tough gets going, the laughs start flowing. Like Price said, “Chill.”
Yah gonna be a long year in the Hammer if the injuries keep piling up like this.
Having said that if either Montreal doesn’t make the playoffs or we get completely healthy all of a sudden Hamilton has a really good blueline.
Can anyone help? How Jacques Martin on the one hand change a line combination after 12 seconds it it does not produce scoring chances while on the other hand he tolearates a bizarre “power play” #1 unit that has given up more goals than it has scored – for weeks!! Please don’t tell me that JM is really twins, that would be just too depressing.
Did anyone happen to see Cole’s comments about going into a “defensive shell” and how opposed he was to it?
I, for one, hope JM sees the frustration amongest ones of our better players, despite his short tenure wearing the CH, and realizes that his 3rd period agenda does NOT win games.
i cant watch the video cause i am at work but reading the quotes , it doesnt tell me theres too much confidence in Markov returning soon , kinda like they are waiting for the next setback , why cant he just say i am one or two months away if things go as planned , getting really fustrating being a hab fan the last couple weeks , hope the summit turns things around ,
thanks
I think it is obvious we need to have a reporter call Andrei’s mother or a family member and get the real poop. Worked in Toronto when they called James Reimer mother for information.
wheres that lady reporter , did they oust her already , or did someone tell her to be quiet if she wants to come back ,
So the pressbox wants Mr. Diaz to come and fix their drains. Suddenly my concern for the Habs seems like nothing compared to how that conversation must have gone.
Brendan Shanahan is just another puppet of the current NHL regime & simply does what he’s told to do by Buttman etc…
I have 4 words for Brendan: NO BALLS, NO GLORY.
When something happens to Luc(shit) & something will, the NHL has no one else to blame but themselves.
“Hate Bruins like a sickness”
He started out in a blaze of glory, but the candle is flickering weakly now. Clearly (to me) he values his paycheck over his credibility.
Shanny had an opportunity to bring credibilty back to the league after the debacle last season with colon campbell. He started out like he was going to set a new standand in discipline and player safety. But it looks like either the owners or g.m.’s were getting pissed at him for the hefty suspensions and have since retracted back to last season’s standards. Shanny’s lack of action on the lucic hit yesterday has set a standard that now makes it open season on goaltenders from the rest of the league’s scumbags.
2 phone calls from either Boston, Toronto, New York or Philly and Shanahan quickly finds out who is running the league offices through one Colon and another Buttman.
I can’t wait for that day.
Next years wish list….SHEA WEBER!!!! How bad do we need someone like him!! :’( bye bye campoli/spacek/gill unless with can get him for cheap
weber/suban
markov/gorges
weber/diaz
emelin/and who cares
you think this would work? expensive but solid!!!!!
Weber is a RFA making 7.5M a year. So – are you prepared to forfeit FOUR 1st round picks and pay him 8M a year?
I really wish people would stop bringing up Weber. It’s just dumb.
This, Don’t you hate when people bring up crazy stuff. He even paired Weber and Subban together, which is impossible since both only play RD.
But I’m not gonna lie, if he makes it to July 1st, I can see the Habs making a pitch for Suter.
Ryan Suter is the guy to try and get if he makes it to UFA.
For someone to play 25min + a game yes! Its way better than paying gomet 8 million. Dump Gomez somehow. Ahl n its doable Ifff he makes the market…
Everyone’s bitching about the PP not working but we had MAB (granted not good in the defensive role) and Wiz (good in both zones and Gritty) and declined not to sign them. Also concerning above mentioned, many posters were also not to fond of them but a chirping a different tune now that the PP sucks. Never trade or release a player unless you know who your getting can do a better job.
Mr. Biter
Wiz has 0 goals, 5 assists (only 1 PPA) and is -9 this year.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
oh the sanity you speak of. . . .
I notice you don’t mention MAB in your post. Is he doing well?
Mr. Biter
Well, he did miss eight of Columbus’s 16 game cuz of his suspension and five points in eight games is not a bad pace. I miss Wiz, even if he got too much from the BJs.
So Timo has a brother
I’ve come to a conclusion that one of the major problems with the Canadiens is the lack of heart and respect towards the organization’s history and legacy. Guys like Diaz and Emelin probably don’t even know the importance of Rocket and probably don’t even know who Toe Blake is and what he accomplished with the Habs. They don’t give a crap about the fans and the rich past of Les Glorieux (do they even understand that term?)they just want a pay check. To think we lost Wiz, Hamrlik and Sopel to these 2 clowns. Do they even know the organization has 24 stanley cups?
And Price? What the hell? Does he ever practice one on one shots with his teamates? He makes “Red Light” Racicot look like a god. Last night’s shoot out was f’ing embarrasing.
You mean “Red Light” was not a God? May the curse of the Pharoah be laid upon you and a jihad started upon you for this remark. May the revenge of Allah be brought upon you and your flock of unbelievers.
Mr. Biter
“Holy Keeper of the “Red Light” for Hall of Fame torch.”
Absolutely agree. No heart or class.
Halak, White and Muller for life!
You are right, the shoot out was f’ing embarrasing. Our “best” forwards, Pleks and Gio couldn’t score on the Sabres’ back up, ffs.
Was there a pop quiz in the 3rd period where the Habs rookies were supposed to know who the Rocket was? Is that why Buffalo scored twice. The one game I miss this year and they hold a history pop quiz in the 3rd period.
Yeah, they blocked out the names on the retired jersey banners and the defense had to fill in the correct names. Apparently two were missed so Buffalo got an uncontested shot on goal.
Next week, the forwards have to recite the years we won the Cup in reverse chronological order.
Where are your seats at the dogs game on friday night? Though if i new they were showing the game at hurley’s i probably would not have bought tickets,lol.
I haven’t bought it yet. I’m arriving Friday morning so I thought I would go to the box office then and pick up whatever is available. Where are you sitting?
103 BB
If they don’t know Rocket they don’t belong on the team.
what a load of bs.
Dumbest post of the month, wow you truly are just that dumb arnt you?
Not as dumb as those clowns Emelin and Diaz
I’ve read many, many posts on here over the past several years, and honestly don’t recall a more asinine statement than the one you just posted. Do you honestly think Wiz gives 2 s&#ts about the history of the Habs? The guy turned down the class of the league, Detroit, (sorry guys, you know it’s true, at least for the past 15 years) to play for Columbus because they wouldn’t pay him 5 mill (which he is nowhere near worth).
Also, have you not seen Diaz play this year? He’s turning into a very worthwhile puck moving defensemen. As for Emelin, he’s played all of 9 games on NHL sized ice, and he’s already making a physical impact. Something almost all of us here have said MTL has been lacking recently.
Don’t even get me started Soaps. Yes he would throw himself in front of pucks, but that’s because he wasn’t skilled enough to stop the play any other way. He gave Gill a run for his money for slowest foot speed on the team.
And if you can’t recognize Price as an all-star caliber goalie, then you know about as much about the position as my niece’s goldfish. He got deaked out of his pants last night. Get over it, it happens to EVERY goalie. How’s Halak doing this year?
In Price we Trust
Just for fun…
[Aboard JM's warship c. 1600s]
(JM’s ship is approached by another similar sized vessel, captained by PG. A shot flies across JM’s deck!)
JM: Holy crap, what was that!?
RC: I think that was a warning shot, sir.
JM: From an ally vessel? What could it mean?
RC: Not sure, sir. Unfortunately, we lost a man overboard during the commotion – Lieutenant Pearn.
JM: Sucks, I liked that fellow. Well, no point in changing course now. Too many injuries and damages from October and November’s altercations.
RC: It looks like the ship is coming around for another run at us, sir! What now?
JM: Uh, let’s see. Other captains often say things like “offense is the best defense”. How does that work now?
RC: The vessel is almost within range, sir. Should we fire the cannons??
JM: Not yet. Let’s let them have another pass at us and we’ll capitalize on their errors.
——
When the tough gets going, the laughs start flowing. Like Price said, “Chill.”
*A round of apple sauce*
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
lol
” Our best offence is to play not to lose”
- Captain Black Jack Martin
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I’m no hockey expert, but 2 forecheckers seemed to be working. Why’d that stop again..?
DePearning had worn off. It is a limited time offering the effects of a DePearn. Once worn off more DePearning must occur to get the same High!
LOL
If it’s a high from firing someone that gets the boys motivated, well, let’s fire someone then… anyone willl do! It looks like JM is immune for a while, so fire the waterboy.
———————
When the tough gets going, the laughs start flowing. Like Price said, “Chill.”
Could Charles Prevost-Linton and Youppi! be the next ones to collect pogey?
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I can’t believe that Lucic wasn’t suspended or fined. This is second time that Bruins got away with discipline. Last season it was Chara.
Maybe I don’t see things the way our disciplinarians sees it but when players use their hands or arms to hit someone I feel that there is some intent to injure. I really think Brendan Shanahan blew this one.
If you body check the goaltender it is a two minute penalty, it is not a suspension.
Lucic was well-described by Miller. Lucic will keep going head-hunting goalies and those smaller than him because he has just been given carte blanche. He concussed Miller, and should be out as long as Miller is out. But, in real life, Shanahan is just another effing joke the NHL has thrown out to pretend to discipline the players.
Part of me really wants to see Lucic take a 90 foot run at Brodeur tonight and knock his helmet into the seats before taking a bow and serving two minutes. Just so we’re all clear about the rule.
Just like the Chara hit, Lucic is bigger and stronger than the majority of players in the NHL.
If David Desharnais hit Miller and they both fell down, should Desharnais get a suspension?
It’s not the fault of Lucic that he’s so big and strong.
“If David Desharnais hit Miller and they both fell down, should Desharnais get a suspension?”
If he accelerated toward him from the blueline to throw his shoulder into him, absolutely. You should watch the Lucic hit again, as well as the Pacioretty hit.
I’m just saying there are some very gray areas in the rules.
And both hits came from very large players who shouldn’t be punished for making the same plays as 1000s of other players over the years for that reason.
And you can’t really prove that Lucic sped up to hit Miller. He was racing for the puck just like Miller.
Believe me, I hate Lucic and Chara, but they’re huge and very strong and if people are injured by them on borderline plays because of their size and strength, there’s nothing you can really do about it.
No but it is his fault that he is a pu$$y that picks his fights and goes after none fighters… Remember when Laracque was here? Why was’nt Lucy running around with a big mouth back then? He was hiding behind the refs everytime BGL went after him…
He had no intention of slowing down and reducing the impact on that hit, and if you have any knowledge about hockey you would know that running a goalie is cheap CHEAP shot in the unwritten rules…
At this point Lucic would fight anyone in the league. And let say of the 2 or 3 players in the league he’d rather not fight, Chara would do him a favor and destroy them.
And unfortunately, unwritten rules are not suspendable.
what exactly is wrong with Andrei?
read this
http://realsports.ca/blog/the-punk-test/
The Bruins have Thornton, Lucic, Chara, McQuaid, Campbell….that my friends is team toughness.
Remind me again which one of them took out Cooke? Or sought revenge for Horton?
Yeah that’s right, none of them.
That is one of the rare occasions the Bruins have not answered. At the time they were more concerned about their best players lying on the ice.
Thornton fought Cooke the next time the met.
And the Thornton hit took place in a crucial Stanley Cup Final game where there is no way you can take an instigator penalty.
Remove the instigator rule and guys like Cooke and Lapierre would not exist.
Thornton challenged Cooke the next game and lets wait till the Bruins play Van with nothing on the line before we pass judgement on the Horton incident….get a clue…Bruins consistently punk everyone – but prolly take the most pleasure in doing it to the Habs.
So there very little possible replacements for Martin when I asked the question below. I will say this: I don’t like his selection of players for certain situations and I certainly don’t like that he shits on our youth but one cannot overlook the job he has done keeping us in contention when you take all of the injuries and inconsistent play of some of our key players> like or not Gomez, Price, Gionta, Cammerleri, Subban have been very ordinary!
I was watching the NBC broadcast of the Canadiens game yesterday with everybody’s favourite analyst, Pierre McGuire.
McGuire stated that Subban may appear to be more ordinary but he’s settled down and is playing much better defense.
And once Markov is back, the back end on the PP will be 100% better because there will be two weapons to worry about and not just PK’s shot.
And i think Martin handles the young players well. they all seem to be making progress. look and Pacioretty last year. martin and Gauthier lit a fire under his ass and he responded very well. Look at Subban as well.
I dont think laying the blame on the young defenders after each lost is helping any. Martin is pointing the finger at everyone else but himself.
Some (finger) food for thought:
You know what they say about pointing a finger at someone…
When you point a finger at someone you also have three fingers pointing at yourself …
Consequently, you must have a look at yourself at least three times before judging someone else. …
That being said, if only the three fingers pointing back at Jacques Martin could be those of Geoff Molson, Pierre Gauthier and Bob Gainey.
Pointing in the direction of the EXIT to the Bell Centre
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
That’s not my finger.
/rimshot/
Oh. I see….
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
And Martin plays?
#1 Darche needs to be on the 3rd or fourth line.
#2 Plecks off the pp point
#3 dont give Gomer more than 10 min icetime per game till he gets a goal.
#4 do whatever it takes to get Kirk Muller back!!! please!!!
Came back from Calgary yesterday. The city is meh, but Banff and the badlands were awesome sights to see.
_____________________
Dooooooooooooooomed!™
You mean you did not enjoy the Calgary “tower” which is about 20 stories high and the hobos downtown?
And you didn’t take me out for beers. Not cool.
Actually, I didn’t make it downtown at all. I’m under the impression that I didn’t miss much……
Supposedly they’re building a new skyscraper?
Sorry about the lack of wobblypops Timo, bank them for the next time I’m out there.
_____________________
Dooooooooooooooomed!™
The last time i visited Montreal i didn’t see one single hobo downtown. not one. You know what the worst part about Calgary is? If your name is Jones you get treated with the same socio-economic respect as if your name was Jolicoeur. That’s the worst thing of all. The respect people have for eachother regardless of the language they speak or school district their kids attend or some plains of abraham bullshit battle from a couple hundred years ago. God, if you’re listening, make Calgary more like Quebec.
Charge it to the Underhill’s.
We all have different experiences. I remember checking out a map at a gas station in Calgary, and two different drivers came running over to see if they could help. One had me follow him to close to my destination. I call that pretty friendly. And it sure wouldn’t happen in Montreal — or most other places.
I’ll have to agree… Calgary is pretty friendly in general. Boring, but friendly. It just needs a bit of face lift… perhaps they need to host the Olympics again, look what it’s done to Van.
@Timo, the Olympics appears to have done wonders for Greece.
I thought we all agreed that Engqvist is nowhere near good enough to be playing in the NHL..who didn’t get the memo?
The Mighty Notepad didn’t get the memo
_________________________________
Open-mindedness is not a skull fracture
“we” ? we didn’t agree with anything. A guy can’t play JM’s system doesn’t stay on the team. Conform or get out is JM’s way. Engqvist has played slightly over 20 mins with the Canadiens. Who the F can judge a player with so little ice time? his longest stretch was 7 mins. Wooo! give me a break.
I can…maybe you should be more observant..for example, I know that Darche is not good enough to be on our 2nd PP Unit – see – that’s how its done.
Engqvist actually did pretty well until he went down. He had a couple of hardworking shifts along the boards to keep the puck in, on one of which he fed Darche coming in alone.
Somebody needs to tell that guy that he’s 6’4″.
Enqqvist’s only hope to ever become a fulltime nhler is to become a faceoff/PK specialist.
Afternoon all,
Just a couple of things because I can’t stay on here long today: I have to get back down in the mine or else my family will starve and die.
1) I agree with most of you that JM is not doing a fantastic job. I’m disappointed with his use of Pleks on the point (although isn’t Randy doing special teams? Is it his fault?) and his dependance on Darche. I don’t like that Emelin/Yemelin isn’t getting more ice-time, because he’s dishing out some pretty sweet hits, and I sometimes wish he’d lean over to Nokia or Blunden or whoever, and say, “See that guy? Go beat the snot outta him.”
2) Darche on a breakaway = not a breakaway.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Did Eller screw up or something last night and get benched (if so I missed it). He didn’t seem to be playing much at all…
Another player Martin has no confidence in.
I think he got a penalty in each of the previous two games, so maybe he’s being punished. Or maybe it’s that he has crappy linemates right now.
I’ll go with the crappy linemates, it’s like he’s being constantly put in a position that he can only fail.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
savethepuck and Old Bald Bird,
I think you are both right.
Glad that poll disappeared. I’m a HAB fan, I don’t have an alternate team but there was no option for that. I don’t know who does those polls but holy cow.
Gill, Spacek, Engqvist and AK46 are not at practice.
Not good for tomorrow.
Randy for HC!
St. Denis? Oh F**k nooo… a 5’11″ career AHLer – oh this team is in trouble… Where the hell is Paul Mara?
Mara seems to be unemployed by any pro hockey team.
Randy for HC!
And this guy could probably be had for Blunden’s salary.
Not sure he is the solution to the Habs problems, but at least he is experienced, gritty and big.
Randy for HC!
And St Denis is?
I don’t know I have not seen him play really.
What I know is that the Habs are near their contracts limits, and they have a plethora of dmen already…
Randy for HC!
St. Denis looked good in training camp. Not big, but positionally sound.
In Martin’s favour (please, I’m working hard on this) is that the team is playing much better most of the time than in his first year. They spend a lot more time in the O-zone and much less in the D-zone. Most of the time, or at least a lot more than once upon a time, they are getting out of their zone more efficiently than previously. They are getting more shots and allowing fewer. This is the way that I am seeing it, but I don’t pretend to see the ins and outs of the game, so feel free to correct me.
i don’t remember all the games but when the season first started we were out shooting teams hence we were in the other teams zone more than not, i think your right. recently we adopted a 2 man forecheck useing our speed..this worked and we seemed to be better.
now we seem to be useing the trap more than the forechek system. iam assuming JM makes these changes based on who the team plays and who is playing (injuries). it makes it hard to form some type of identity. i do get the sense that the overall team play has been better than previous years but with all the injuries its hard to put all the right pieces together and get a consistent effort.
The team still is missing lots of parts not even sure the return of full and healthy roster will make for a great season.
Agree. We see a lot less dump-and-chase than we used to, and zone clearances are less laborious. I think we’re also getting more quality chances. The powerplay isn’t working, and I’d like to see JM use Spacek or Gorges on the point rather than Plekanec. But penalty killing is excellent, the defence is much more solid than it was the first year or at the beginning of this, and I think the team is playing a slightly more offensive style. Actually quite a lot of things in JM’s favour. Oh yes, we’ve started winning games. That too. Before last night’s game, I didn’t expect us to get a point with all the injuries, so I can’t be too dissatisfied.
Okay I’ve been trying to stay out of it this morning but I can’t. My head will explode if I have to keep watching:
The absurd misuse of our #1 centre. It’s the coach’s job to get the most from this player. That doesn’t mean watching him fumble on the point making awkward passes & taking weak shots. The PP sucks not because Plex is on the point but because he isn’t down low where you need him. Plus the guy is gassed from PP/PK duty & drawing the tough assignments. JM’s probably got him sharpening skates & washing his car too.
The insistence on playing Diaz way too much while Emelin sits. I know there’s a language issue and it will help once Markov & AK are back in the lineup. But he brings what we need & don’t have. We already have Diaz. Weber is that small, Swiss, quick, right-handed, young defenceman with a good shot. Once Markov & Campo are back I want to see Diaz in Hamilton.
What HH refers to as the 0-1-4 defence. Immediately after “The Pearning™” we saw a persistent 2 man forecheck and it worked really well. Why did they stop?
Any more TMMOTI penalties
Darche on the PP
Eller benched
Cammy killing penalties
I could really get on a roll here but I have to do at least some work today. At least I’m alone and I can still mumble under my breath.
Yup, frustrating decision behind the bench.
How about Pleks one the shootout, why not try Cole or Subban?
Randy for HC!
Nobody else springs to mind as a replacement, tho.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
On the shootout, or behind the bench?
I think they can try anyone on the shootout, throw some guy the other team probably has not scouted, DD, Eller, Subban, Cole…
As for behind the bench, I’d still try Randy, and look for a permanent solution during the rest of the year.
Randy for HC!
It wouldn’t bother me to watch the two Randys take the wheel while we figure something out. I think you have to give him until Markov comes back for a while. That should be late into December at least and by then we’ll have that killer road trip. That should string together a few ugly Ls and that should be about enough rope.
Seems like the players are discontent with the coaching. Wouldn’t be something if Cole got fed up of being dogged and beat the crap out of le JACQUES!!! lol
I’d pay to see that.
I’d pay good money for that.
“If you’re not the TOP DAWG, the view never changes”
Call up Leblanc!! we need goals, not more defense.
Leave Leblanc where he is, we don’t need JM destroying another player.
It’s a good thing Habs sold those “prime” game tickets before this season started. I mean… if the organization knows one thing it’s marketing. Hockey? Not so much.
I know most of us don’t like martin – the question we should be asking our selves – could we do better – some people may think so – personnaly myself no – and when you have a team that picks up an injury almost every game – how can you move up in the standings – if this team can ever get all the regulars back – they’ll surprise a lot of people – I find we’re to easy to knock them all the time – gotta wait til we have our regular team – than and only than will we see the real Habs – could be good enough to win it all.
So Ton raised the question and the point that the list of candidates to coach currently available is very short.
First of all settling for a coach because options are not readily available is not the mark of a championship team or a team striving to be a championship team.
Could this not be the year for the current Owner to have justification for hiring the best coach available, language aside in order to help the team?
Guy Boucher may indeed have been the best option but that is past and nothing can change the past.
I just think this year if the team fails to make playoffs or experiences another 1st round loss it is justification for change, and perhaps justification for the best coach period.
the rumour was or is ..if martin is sacked the habs owe him 1m in severance. not sure molson will want to foot the bill.
One of the wealthiest teams in the league with one of the highest revenues in the league. If the buyout of a coach is holding up change, there are far bigger problems than I first feared.
if martin goes..where back to the same old revolving door..blah, blah.
what is the revenue from one playoff home game?
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Nine times the Habs have been tied or held a lead going into the third and here is what happened:
-Winnipeg – up 2-0 going into the third. Habs get outshot 14-6 in the third.
- Florida – tied 1-1 going into the third. Habs get outshot 13-11 in the third
-Philly – up 3-1 going into the third. Habs outshoot Philly 12-4 in the third
- Boston – 1-1 going into the third. Shots are tied at 11-11 in the third
- Boston – up 3-1 going into the third. Habs get outshot 11-2 in the third.
- Ottawa – up 2-0 going into the third. Habs get outshot 16-4 in the third
-Phoenix – up 2-1 going into the third. Habs get outshot 10-7 in the third
Nashville – tied 1-1 going into the third. Habs outshoot Nash 9-8 in -the third
-Buffalo – up 2-0 going into the third. Habs get outshot 10-4 in the third.
My point: We never put the gas pedal down in the third period. It’s almost as if Montreal is playing not to lose, rather than to win the game. When Montreal is tied or leading going into the third period, they are outshot a combined 66-97.
Without taking away from our desperate opponents who are trying to make a comeback in the third, Montreal needs to have more of a killer instinct. I’m quite fed up with watching us come out on the defensive in every game where we hold a lead. These on-the-edge-of-your-seat one goal squeakers are not cutting it.
I’m pretty sure 75% of the teams in the league take the same approach as Montreal when leading going into the 3rd.
Going on offense and trying to pot another goal exposes the defense.
Defense is the way to go. Martin knows what he is doing.
It’s not that I’m saying protecting the lead is a bad thing, I’m saying the degree to which we do at the expense of sustaining pressure in the opponents zone is flawed.
The Flyers seem to be doing it nicely.
I’m so sick of seing Darche on the top 2 lines and on the PP!!! What has he done? Is Martin seing something im not??? His breakaway last night was just pathetic! And mr 8 million dollar man starting to find excuses for his non productivness. How bout u start fighting for the puck not chip it in and try to avoid a hit! He’s so scared!!! arghh!!!! WE NEED A COACH CHANGE ASAP!!!!
Darche couldn’t make the NHL but he’s on our PP when we’re down a goal, you don’t have to be a expert to see how that doesn’t make sense. lol
I wonder if jm looked over his research on Coles pp production lately lol. MARTIN NEEDS TO GO!
Is there a record for most injured players on a team for a season and have we beat it?
It’s crazy it seems every game we lose a player.
Name one coach that would have done a better job than JM this year. They need to fit the criteria for doing the job and not be under contract to another team (or would have been available this past off season) The list is very short!
Hartley? Speaks French non?
Patty Roy!
GHOD – Go Habs Or Die
Randy Cunneyworth.
Over the past few season Martin has gotten the best results possible from this lineup. So NOBODY!
If Gauthier did a better job rounding out the roster than Martin could do even better.
Coaching is not the issue with this team at all.
Oh yeah – bring back Therrien?
Is it possible to bag-skate the coach?
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
You didn’t read the criteria.
Please read.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I think you mean to say “The best defence is a good defence” – Jacques Martin.
Ya I heard that on the radio the other day to! I has to do a double-check to make sure i wasn’t dreaming or something.
I think he was joking btw.
I think he meant his best DEFENCE to reporters’ questions is to be OFFENSIVE
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I think you are right!
Why? You’d never get to hear it.
Did you see him miss the Penalty Shots yesterday, and then he let 2 penalty shot goals in, and he forgot to get JM a fresh new notepad before the game as well. Effin Gomez!
Are Martin’s notepads the “post-it ™ ” style or regular style?
Just wondering, it’s a slow news day since Markov is not cleared for contact, Gomez showed up and we learned that Price will leave for Vancouver as soon as he is UFA due to lack of a commitment to winning here in Habstown.
Boring.
Ya I hear ya. I don’t know what the do’s or don’ts are like when dealing with issues like this.
But I was reading further down and someone said be prepared to give up four 1st round picks to get a guy like Weber. I’d do it. When are you gonna draft a guy like this again ? For Stamkos……no IMO, but Weber is simply a beast.
Imagine him sporting the CH against the ape and the Broonz ?
I gotta stop doing this to myself. No more dreaming.
Habs, OLE !
If Weber makes it to UFA status, buy out Gomez, ask Price and Subban to accept slightly lower than their market value and sign Weber to a contract worth whatever he heart desires. It’s about time we sign a ‘sure thing’ as opposed to the question marks we’ve been signing for the last few years.
C’mon LA, you gonna miss the thoroughbred’s amazing performances in the playoffs?
Hey, you and Chris are right — shows what I know.
The NHL site says:
So the ref could have gone up to a 5-minute penalty, and elected for 2 minutes instead. Is there any kind of precedent for a suspension for this sort of thing?
Mike Boone: “With Gainey at my side, I’d walk into any dark alley in the world.”
Halak goaled pretty good in Montreal.
Halak aint doing as good out of Montreal.
Budaj couldnt stop anything in Colorado.
Budaj so far looks good in Montreal.
So why do people assume Price is so much better than the other goaltenders in the league?
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Better question is: without a defenseman in front of them, why can’t our shooters hit the broad side of a barn?
Sabres scored with a very good shot and an excellent deke, though I’m sure that Carey would tell you that he shouldn’t have committed so early.
Pacioretty hit his mark, but our other two attempts looked like something from the local rink.
The first goal was just a laser. Absolute missile aimed exactly the right place. No chance.
The second goal, he may have over-committed to the shooter’s fake, but give credit, that was a beautiful deke and I give credit to the shooter for being to control the puck that well. Slim chance.
By contrast, Pacioretty aimed a nice shot, Plekanec, fumbled, and Gionta just did absolutely nothing useful.
I have been called a Price-basher in my day – unfairly I believe – but I refuse to blame the goalie for last night’s debacle … or almost any shoot-out loss at all.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Pleks is not a SO guy, career stats 3 for 20. Irresponsible by JM and one of his notable weaknesses as a coach is SO selection.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
I can’t tell you why on a family website, but Chelios HAD to go. Management had no choice.
That said, yes, choosing Wicken “Who?” ser over Savard (who would have been (and was) thrilled to play for Habs was an utter disaster, bookending nicely with the Patrick Roy disaster.
All I can say is that the common element in both situations: Ronald Corey.
G*d help us.
Haha, we have enough to complain about right now without worrying about the ill-fated Wickenheiser pick.
People forget that Wickenheiser was pretty hard not to draft that year: 89 goals and 170 points in 71 games in a tougher Junior league than Savard played in. He was the top-rated prospect that year. Plus at 6’1, 200lbs he was a good-sized player for 1980.
Savard wasn’t even drafted second. Dave Babych was. Go figure.
Wickenheiser should have worked out, hard to fault anyone for drafting him at the time.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Wickenheiser was the proper pick. Big centre best junior player. The draft is a crapshoot. You are picking young athletes. It would be nice to have a crystal ball. Lafleur took off in his 4th yr, till then Sam pollock was critiqued for not picking Dionne or Rick Martin. That time, patience prevailed. It is so easy and very uncool to be Monday Morning Quarterbacks.
Stay Thirsty My Friends!
Could you imagine if this site existed that long ago and the habs picked a 5’10″ 170lb savard over a much bigger center who put up the numbers wickenhiser did? Its like critcizing ottawa for picking daigle. He was the best junior player in hockey by a mile and probably would have been taken by any other g.m. who was in that very position.
My goodness, why do you always go on about the Chelios/Corey stuff, it’s not like it’s some big secret.
Irving Grundman was the GM who drafted Wick LA
ability is what you’re capable of doing.
attitude determines how you do it
Well I wouldn’t, but Shiloh obviously didn’t know.
Next time you can enlighten someone in whatever manner you please and I’ll be more gracious about it than you are.
You are now officially in charge.
The great irony is that if we had just been Quebec-centric we would have drafted Savard as a good Quebec boy and it would have worked out pretty well.
Irony can be, um, ironic. Cruel and ironic.
That is a fair and good post Bill.
We don’t blame Price, but today Price said he was frustrated for not making the save. He says his timing is on, but he needs to work on his patience, and he will.
He’s still a kid, people forget that.
And Ruff is so happy “We were able to get 2 past Price”
As I’m writing this, I’m asking myself why there even is a need to defend him? Has HIO become the antiPrice?
I hate the skills competition. It sickens me to see a game decided by a shoot out. I never liked it in Olympics hockey either but at least there I can tolerate it, barely.
I’d rather they make the OT 10 minutes of 4 on 4 and if nothing is settled, make it 10 minutes of 3 on 3. For the love of hockey remove the shoot out as a deciding factor. It’s as bad as the blue streak.
SO selection shouldn’t be used as a reward for a player having a good game. I don’t care if he just dumped your daughter, if the guy has the best chance of putting the puck in the net, he should be out there.
I wouldn’t have put Plex out there. My choices were Pacioretty, Desharnais, and Cole.
How did you deduce that he “obviously didn’t know”? He never questioned why Chelios was dealt, he only bemoaned the fact that he was traded away. Not asking for the why behind it.
This (an inability to read properly) is why you certainly won’t be in charge. Now go back to telling us about how your son can almost skate and pass like Gomez.