The Canadiens play the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night at the Bell Centre – the last of five preseason games the team has played in front of its adoring public.
There’s a good chance we’ll see more genuine NHLers in the lineup – plus training camp phenom Brendan Gallagher (photo by Sandor Fizli, Reuters).
• Red Fisher’s Top 10: The great 1975-’76 team
• Rookie Gallagher feels ready
• Pat Hickey on fine-tuning the PP
• Mathieu Darche preaches importance of education
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My Favourite 3rd line trio would be:
AK – Eller – Gallagher
would love to see that for at least 10 games of the regular season ?
Habs, OLE !
What about Desharnais, he’s too good to be on the 4th line.
I thought the picture of the London banana tosser sent to the press was interesting. He looks like a choirboy in red shirt & tie standing in front of a Christmas tree. hummm
Spaceman watching from the Pressbox tonight, hopefully orbiting the Bell Centre ice like the ROSAT expected back to earth sometime in November.
Who brings a banana to an NHL game? I mean really. Gotta keep that potassium level up when you’re skulling Lakeports (or whatever they serve in the London Hockeydrome).
This quote from the article is AMAZING:
“One set of grandparents said their grandson isn’t a racist and wants to be a police officer.”
… It’s too easy, isn’t it? It just writes itself.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Damn, now I have to make another cup of coffee. This one just ended up sprayed all over my keyboard.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
amazing, never heard of a racist police officer
From failing hands…
Does he have aspirations to work in southern California?
He doesn’t have to go that far. The plateau will do fine.
HA! or NDG for that matter
From failing hands…
suffice into say, зкуешл, but that is not the truth of the mater. policemens many put racism actions on this places. insofaras these foregoing, what is your planet, NDGHabsfan, if you can make this words? i beg to differ, please.
–
PRETIKO! – Ed Ronan tchevadish ko smojep MONREALIKATSI!!!
HAHAHAHA! A mall cop, maybe.
I mean, if he’d said, “I’d just been watching 100 hours of three stooges routines and I suddenly got this impulse to see Simmonds slip on a banana”, at least it would have been original.
I had to bite my tongue LOL!
Still am!
How can the motto of this site be “absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens” when I have to go to RDS to get the starting lineup for tonight!! Time for HIO to step their game up!
Since it seems like the commentariate is providing more content then the staff, here is the lineup for tonight
Cole-Plekanec-Cammalleri
Pacioretty-Gomez-Gallagher
Kostitsyn-Desharnais-Gionta
Bournival-Engqvist-Blunden
Gorges-Campoli
Yemelin-Subban
Gill-Diaz
Budaj
start your own blog
Yeah, I’ll RUN, not walk, to read it.
(as long as it’s filled with self-important complaining, that is…)
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Now THAT’s sarcasm. very original.
Charge it to the Underhill’s.
Yay, something much closer to an actual lineup. Can anyone list the players that are still out with injuries?
I love Gallagher as much as anyone right now but seriously… we are talking about a guy who has 1 assist right?
I know he’s been energetic. I love that he’s second on the team in shots – but for once – can we please leave a young player alone long enough for him to develop to his full potential?
We always assume the best case scenario – that he’ll become Jeff Skinner or Crosby.. we forget about Pacioretty, Latendresse and the (what seams like) dozens of others that we’ve brought up before it was necessary.
There isn’t a spot for him and we have the LUXURY of not needing him to fill a hole in the lineup. Lets let the kid play his final two pre-season games and then head out to Van City where he can dominate, play in the WJC and be ready to make some noise next year.
I wouldn’t knock his one assist seeing how irrelevant and anemic we’ve been throughout most of this pre season. He and Cammy have been the only things to get psyched about.
From failing hands…
Regardless of statistics, his original point stands: we have the luxury of not needing him right now.
We need ANYONE who gets the puck to the net as often as he does.
From failing hands…
I think you might be getting worked up over nothing. It’s still exhibition games, I still believe he will play in the WHL this season, but why not give him this experience of playing against more talented opponents? I completely agree that if he were to play this season it would be rushed. Because as you have said, for how much he’s played one assist isn’t great in the preseason, and you know he’s probably one of the few guys on the team giving it 100% during these games.
1 assist and like 9 goalposts ?
Habs, OLE !
I just think if we’re the type to say (AND WE SHOULD BE) it doesn’t matter if the veterans suck during the pre-season because it is in NO WAY a measure of what actual NHL hockey is like, we ALSO must acknowledge that as fantastic as it has been to watch this teenage phenom stickhandle in a crowded phone-booth – he’s done it in the pre-season.
It won’t be the same when defenders are willing to actually hit instead of save themselves for games. It won’t be the same when coaches will go ballistic for blowing defensive coverage.
I fully believe he’ll be an exceptional pro. I just want him to have the benefit of being a man by the time he has to play against them.
Pants buzzed:
OH NOES, NOT T3H BUDAJ?
Better get used to it, well about 15-20 percent of the time!
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
whenever i read your sig, a horrible anthrax song crawls into my brain lol
I am the law?? It’s not that bad!
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
im a fan of the band, i just… i dunno theres somthing about that song that makes me cringe
Classic thrash song if you ask me, but Anthrax we’re always the geeks out of the Big 4.
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
no doubt
buddy of mine went to yankee stadium for it… he had a ticket for me but i had work obligations :’(
They should be touring solo pretty soon, with their new album coming out in the past month or so. Will catch them in MTL if they come.
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
its classic anthrax and belladona has NEVER sounded this good
Have not had a chance to sit down and give it a proper listen, but I am pumped that Joey is back. Bush has a great voice, and killed in Armored Saints, and singing the old Anthrax classics, but the voice of Anthrax will always be Joey.
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
yep
bush was a MILLION times more talented than joey… but talent isnt what made anthrax who they are lol
and I was hoping for a nice evening.
No problem with that call. Gives the team an opportunity to see how he performs with a considerably better D corps and some real lines up front.
Gee, what happens in here tonight if the Habs win and Backup Buddy Budaj (TripleB™) plays a good game? HI/O meltdown!
***Subbang Baby!!!***
only if gomez scores will it be a true meltdown
The horror…the horror…
***Subbang Baby!!!***
If Gomer scores it’s 3 goals in 3 games for him. 82 goal season?
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Price was rushed whatnow? Unless you forget, he rode the pine and only played in half for the team’s games just a couple of seasons ago.
As it is, he’s still one of the few goalies to have won 100 games by the age of 24 and one of even fewer to have won a playoff series by the age of 21.
I know conventional wisdom and BG PG pragmatism dictate that young Gallagher goes back down to the Juniors to ferment but can we really afford to lose that dynamic and effective a player right now? He would be killer on a 3rd line with Whitey and AK. It’s a matter of time before one of those posts he hit becomes a goal. I’ve followed this kid for a few years now (I won’t lie my Irish heritage predisposed me to wanting him to be wicked) and I can see no good reason why he doesn’t start with us in Toronto on October 6. We have a strong team but our offense isnt as deep as it could be and young Gallagher will only help that situation.
From failing hands…
1 assist is effective? I like the kid, too. Give him the time he needs to be ready for the grind that is the NHL. Next year is a definite possibility.
He had great speed and energy, but he needs to work on some small things.. and his scoring touch… which is a big thing actually. I’ll admit I think the AHL would be better suited for him, I can’t imagine the WHL is a big enough challenge for him for a whole season.
Oh man, I turned off the television when the Rays were losing to the NYY 6-0 or something like that.
A co-worker just leaned over and told me that TB came back and the Red Sox lost! Eliminating the Red Sox from playoff contention! Amazing!
Anytime the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots or Celtics are dealt a tough blow is simply awesome!
FU Boston!
I’d love to be walking around Boston today in a TB or NYY jersey and pissing of those saps!
Throw in the Braves losing in extra innings and Bazinga!
Rays were down 7-0, scored 6 in the bottom of the 8th, homered when down to their last strike in the bottom of the 9th to tie it up.
Red Sox had a 9-game lead in the wild-card race, and lost to the Orioles in the bottom of the 9th. I’m not a Rays fan, but man, that felt good!
Read the Stu Hackel article. Good stuff.
Got me thinking that if I am a GM/coach who is OK with concussed atheletes (and there must be a number of them for things to get to this state), do I urge marginal players to step over the line to draw suspensions in the short term. An increase in suspendable acts might force Shanahan to increase penalties, further alienate him from the neathrandrals and make it look like suspensions don’t work.
That is almost too much forward thinking for the neanderthal GM/Coach to figure out though isn’t it?
Living in the GTA I will be curious to watch how Colton Orr’s season goes. The guy was concussed bad last year, he has been very limited in preseason play. Yet you know Game 1 he plays reg. season Burke and Wilson will expect him to start fighting and fighting often. I worry he is going down a road that won’t end pleasantly.
Hackel refers to an “NHL executive” not being happy with Shanahan’s heavy suspensions.
Now, which NHL team has been dealt the toughest so far……..Philly maybe?
You can believe Ed Snider is not pleased and has sufficient influence within the NHL to get Shanahan dumped!
———————————————————————-
…..My empire is crumbling, my international sponsors are deserting me, my authority is questioned, I am held in contempt wherever I go.
Who am I: Mohamar Ghadaffi or Gary Bettman.
We all know the success in Ottawa, or lack there of, under the coaching of one Mr. J. Martin right? Who was with this man in Ottawa.?? Can these coaches really get our Canadiens to the promised land.?
Sure looks like same old, same old to me.
There is no excuses this year. We have more than enough talent to get the job done.
Check this out.
http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/columnists/Sens+past+present+Habs+staff/5458453/story.html
Now that JM has a little more servicable goaltending than the *Ahem* talents of Patrick Lalime, Damien Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt, Martin Prusek and Jani Hurme, the Canadiens are certainly in the running.
Notable for everyone: Randy Cunneyworth took a team weaker than what Guy Boucher had the previous season in Hamilton and got them to not only a 2nd straight Division Title but a Conference Final Game 7 that was only lost on shoddy officiating.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
We will see if years in the business has served them well Robert. They might just be the chemistry! We should know by January my friend. I hope so.
Ian, which chronic looser is next to coach in Montreal?
Maybe Ron Wilson is taking french as a second language!
Wouldn’t that be a bitter pill!
———————————————————————-
…..My empire is crumbling, my international sponsors are deserting me, my authority is questioned, I am held in contempt wherever I go.
Who am I: Mohamar Ghadaffi or Gary Bettman.
Great to see those lines for tonight. Love the opportunity to give our young talent a good showcase in the pre-season and ready to see something closer to the real team.
So those who freaked when we lost 7-3 to the Bruins earlier in the week… if we lose by the same score tonight, it should be a little safer to re-post your comments tomorrow.
No you mean we can’t still use “it’s only pre-season” anymore? Really…..
I said it would be a ‘little’ safer.
In trying to get support for cutting the CBC’s budget (and don’t get me wrong I do believe the CBC is absolutely dire, with a few exceptions, although I would prefer it to be improved rather than hobbled) the Tories (by the way thanks for that, Western Canada) have called on Mr Pierre Karl Peladeau to testify at a parliamentary committee.
Mr Peladeau’s shabby little Sun Media have a regular feature called “CBC Money Drain”. Mr P. believes that it is wrong for Canada’s tax dollars to be “wasted” on the CBC.
This is the same Karl Peladeau who is getting a $400M gift from Quebec taxpayers courtesy of Jean Charest.
By the way I went to school with PKP. For what it’s worth, I recall him always being at the bottom of the class. His rich daddy was always going to give him the family business anyway. Now he crusades against “handouts” – for others.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-summon-sun-journalists-to-testify-in-cbc-fight/article2182010/
Not surprising, CBC isn’t being a friendly little propaganda outpost for Harper so of course he wants to tear them down.
Chretien and the Liberals got shellacked more than once by CBC and the Royal Canadian Air Farce had most of their best skits ever credited to the government’s action. Thing is, Chretien actually took a couple of guest appearances on the show and let them have a few jokes at his expense. Can you imagine back when the RCAF was going during it’s prime years that Harper would go on and let them have their fun at his expense?
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Well, Rick Mercer has been ripping on Harper for years, but that didn’t stop him from appearing on the RMR.
Don’t know how I think about the CBC anymore. I am conflicted I guess.
Understand the ‘voice of the nation’ bit but don’t ever actually watch TV except for the odd HNIC and only listen to them on radio for the 20 minute ride to work so they are seldom speaking to me.
I can say that my impression of them is largely informed by the odd HNIC experience – which is too bad because based on that show I would not miss them if they were gone.
I like CBC radio… but TV, I never watch it. Even HNIC is off my list since I got RDS HD.
Hell, HNiC (in HD) is off my watch list and I’ve only got standard definition RDS. I can’t watch the Bruins homers call a game anymore.
@HF72, is PKP’s father the founder? If so will be interesting to watch the success or failure of that company when 3rd generation has to step in and run it. So many family businesses struggle when the 3rd generation has to step up to the plate. Too often that generation is so spoiled and lazy they have no concept of how to run the business.
You think they’re worth 1.1 billion a year. what do you watch that you think that they’re worth that kind of money.
I’d take the National over the rest of the country’s news programs put together.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
A crown company doesn’t need to be a cash cow. It’s a service that’s provided, and more often than not, better than its private competitors.
Privately owned news sensationalize, and distort everything to make it interesting. A crown corporation is (should be) exempt from such pressures, and is therefore free to present the news in the fairest sense. The CBC gives voice to the three major parties. Sun News gives voice to the Conservatives.
It’s easy to make a product for a target audience (Sun), it’s difficult to make a product for an entire country with a diverse population (CBC). With a tougher sell, the CBC still does the better job. The service they offer is invaluable to the population.
Perhaps if you can’t recognize the very obvious bias of CBC news, it may be because, unlike the new Sun News, you agree with it. Nah! could never happen, right? 1.1 billion dollars for a Liberal life support system. Lovely. If Harper was truly evil, he would use the P.M.’s office almost total power to make the CBC into an even more conservative Sun News. Would you prefer a state broadcaster that you DON’T agree with? Would that be better? You could feel like me. Das Pravda comrade.
cbc has been dead to me since they turfed the friendly giant and beachcombers
Hell yes to The Friendly Giant
Habs prospects wearing letters this season:
Michael Bournival: Captain of the Shawinigan Cataractes
Morgan Ellis: Captain of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Darren Dietz: Alternate Captain of the Saskatoon Blades
Greg Pateryn: Alternate Captain of the University of Michigan Wolverines
Brendan Gallagher: When he returns, at the least an Alternate (as he was last season), potentially Captain of the Vancouver Giants.
No word yet on the Alternates for the London Knights yet so Tinordi may still be in the mix there.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
No letter for Beaulieu in his 4th season with St. John?
Saint John
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Saint Jean Nouveau-Brunswick?
Parrtown?
So what have I missed? Price was rushed again now?
Hate to break it to people like LAL and ManApart, but rushed had nothing to do with it. The reality is that nearly every young goaltender that you look at suffered a decline in their second pro year. Many continued that decline in their third year. It’s a reality that teams just have to deal with: http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2010/10/6/1651098/five-good-reasons-carey-price-is-still-in-montreal
As for Latendresse, his problem wasn’t being rushed either. It’s a nice narrative to blame management or the Francophone media, but it doesn’t hold up. The problem was that Latendresse was entitled. He felt he deserved a spot in the top 6 without earning it. Several coaching staffs disagreed. He asked for a trade and then acted like a little b*tch when it happened. Yet he scored at a consistent rate in a bottom 6 role for the Habs until he stopped trying in 2009. His rapid scoring increase in Minnesota shows “rushing” him hardly impacted his development.
another point is about latendresse is the french media and a majority of the fans wanted him in the bigs after his FIRST pro camp
but hey revisionism ftw
Seems like historical revisionism is a common practice on this site.
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
WHen used properly historical revisionism can provide the writer with the appearance of great intelligance. Thus its popularity.
It’s also particularly effective in reinforcing biases.
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
+1
AB were you at the practice yesterday. Didn’t they practice the top-6 as intended?
I.E. Gio, Gomez, Max
Pleks, Cammi and Cole?
No I wasn’t there. I rarely make it out to Brossard.
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
Agree with your assessment AB.
Price was challenged, not rushed. And the tough challenge he was given has contributed to the player he is/will be.
+1
Exactly, V. Spot on.
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
A lot of guys can battle their way out of the pressure and issues that hang over them from entering the NHL a bit too early. Guimauve did not want to put the work in to show he deserved his position with the Canadiens. If his name had been Geoff Larmer he’d have been considering a lazy punk and good riddance to bad rubbish the second he was traded.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
No doubt said with apologies to all the guys in the world named Geoff Larmer.
I know I’ve said it a thousand times, but I’ll continue to say that Price had a good rookie campaign and was lights out to start his sophomore season too, until he suffered the high ankle sprain. He had a horrible 2nd half to that season which I attribute to the injury, not at all to him being rushed. His 09-10 season wasn’t as horrible as people seem to think either. He had a good start, then slumped, followed by a good middle and another slump leading to Jaro having an opportunity to take his job because of the way Jaro was playing. I know Leafs fans at that time that told me ” I wish we had either 1 of your goaltenders”.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
great article Stu!!!
——————
The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given
Was their not a certain condition last year that allowed Brayden Schenn to play on the kings for a 1 game contract?
He may still play despite not getting a contract by this Saturday.
Complete Lineup from Practice courtesy of the finest writer at La Presse, Marc-Antoine Godin who you can follow at @MAGodin on Twitter.
Cammalleri-Plekanec-Cole
Pacioretty-Gomez-Gallagher
Kostitsyn-Desharnais-Gionta
Blunden-Engqvist-Bournival
Yemelin-Subban
Gill-Diaz
Campoli-Gorges
Extra skaters: Woywitka, Darche, Eller, Weber, Palushaj
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Weird that Gallagher drew Gionta’s normal spot.
I think it’s a good idea—see how Brendan does given serious top-6 linemates (a big body who can score and a, um, playmaker). They know Gionta belongs in that slot. The question is, does Gallagher?
Well looking at those lines, it’s even debatable which line is 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The Pleks line is likely still number one, but frankly, either of the other two could out-perform them on any given night. I don’t think it’s so much a demotion or promotion for either Gallagher or Gionta, so much as it is just a trial of a different combo.
Oh thank jebus, some NHL lines
Really looking forward to watching PK and Yemelin. Gives us a chance to watch him with a real Dman partner.
Love that Spacek is getting a well deserved rest, maybe a few weeks/months would do him good.
They’ve got to tell Yemelin he’s allowed to be mean against other teams.
Agreed.
Nah, if he’s gonna lay someone out and risk a suspension, make it count in the regular season.
Ken Dryden For NHL Commissioner
I think Deary just meant bring more of a physical element to the games. It appeared after Day 2 of camp opening he was laying off the hits.
But when he does decide to make a hit like in the World CHampionships that should be saved for the Bruins and when Moen/White are in the lineup.
Glad we can all agree s’passecheck is old, slow, and soft.
Yemelin-Subban, I like that a lot.
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
I’d change cole with Gallagher. Id like to see those lines personally.
I imagine in crunch times, Cole and Patches will fly out together to provide crease-crashing duties.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
I like these lines, tonight’s game should be a bit more exciting.
Looks like they may be going ftw!
Very glad to see PK back in a game. Obviously him sitting was just precautionary, which I assumed but was still a little afraid ya know. Looking at those lines, I can see what the 1st line is, but I’m having a hard time deciding between 2a and 2b.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
I hope in the next CBA, they somehow make it possible for guys 18-19 to be able to play in the AHL, guys like Gallagher, and Seguin (last year), should be playing in the AHL, its weird, what if you have nothing to prove in juniors, but aren’t ready for the NHL.
CHL will fight it with all they have. The owners want the top-ranked prospects playing in their league as long as possible for gate revenue and playoffs.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
THat would rob the CHL of many of its best players. THe rule is in place to give the CHL some continuity and provide the teams/fans of the league to watch some good hockey.
Ya, too bad about the under 20 rule. It’s possible Gallagher may stick around if some of the injured forwards are not healthy by opening day. He won’t be spending the season here though.
I understand what you guys are saying with the CHL fighting it, but I really think that without it we would see a lot of players properly developed, instead of being pushed in some cases.
The CHL is the biggest and best development league in hockey. To protect this league from being trained of its best developing talent at a young age, a player has to make the roster in the NHL or be sent back to junior if he is of junior age.
Your suggestion also makes it likely we wouldn’t have a consistently competitive team at the World Juniors every year. That wouldn’t look too good for the CHL
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
The reality is only every few years does a team have a player in this dilemna. FOr the most part the player quite obviously needs to go back to CHL. End of day changes to this rule, do far more damage to the CHL versus the benefit to the NHL, IMO.
If the next CBA factors in the players health and well-being don’t be surprised if the rule for 18-19 year olds is that they can’t play in either the AHL or NHL.
I might even perfer that rule better, it would eliminate the fear of pushing young players into the league sooner than they’re ready.
Great article by Stu.
Although pretty much every puzzle he mentions leads to the same conclusion – that hockey is not the most intelligent of sports.
+20
Whats the line-up Tonight?
balanced lines??
Cammy – Pleks – Gallagher
Pach – Gomez – Gionta
Cole – DD- AK
Gally takes Cole’s place, and you got what will most likely be the lineup tonight.
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
Best looking top 9 I’ve seen in well over a decade.
Marc-Antoine Godin tweets we have Patches-Gomez-Gallagher at practice, AK-DD-Gionta, Cammy-Pleks-Cole and Blunden-Engqvist-Bournival for forwards.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
UGH!! JM give us the regular season top lines already!!
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
I like those, will be nice to watch. Too many injuries to give us the Reg. Season lines Shiram. Plus JM always has to leave you wanting more…..
I guess it’s close enough…
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
Interesting, I personally like Gallagher with Cammy, They had the best chemisrty. I havnt see that with cole on that line yet.
Bob Mackenzie TSN tweeted that because Gallagher was drafted 4th round or later, deadline is this Sat. at 5pm for Montreal to offer him a contract, whereas 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounders deadline is Tuesday 5pm.
That’s interesting. You’d think you’d have longer with guys drafted lower, no?
I never knew there was a difference at all, maybe Serious can chime in on this or someone who is familiar with these rules.
1.The start of the NHL season.
A junior-aged player who is not signed to an NHL contract by this time must return to his junior team (the official deadline is usually a day or two before the opening games). That player is essentially gone for the year. He is not eligible to return to the NHL until his junior team’s season is over.
2. The 10-game mark.
A junior-aged player with a contract can play up to nine NHL games as a trial period. If he is returned to junior before the tenth game, his contract is effectively put on hold: when he goes to training camp the following season, he will be in the first year of his contract.
Once the player appears in his tenth NHL game, his contract kicks in. He can still be returned to his junior club after that. But at season’s end, a full contract year will expire.
3.The 40-game mark.
This is when the clock starts ticking on a player’s free agent status. Under the 2005 collective agreement, a player are eligible for unrestricted free agency after seven years in the NHL. But if he returns to junior hockey before playing 40 NHL games, the season does not count as an “accrued season,” which means it doesn’t count towards free agency eligibility.
So an 18-year-old rookie who plays at least 40 NHL games can become an unrestricted free agent at the age of 25. An 18-year-old who is returned to junior hockey before game 40 will not be eligible for free agency until he’s 26. (Assuming both go on to become NHL regulars every season after that.)
Note also that a junior-aged player with an NHL contract cannot be sent to a minor pro league like the AHL unless he has already played four seasons of junior hockey. He must either stay on the NHL roster or return to junior.
Thanks Bripro, I had the 10 game and 40 game marks a little confused. I thought with the contract kicking in after game 9 that it also affected the free agent status. Appreciate the clarification.
To be honest, I wasn’t 100% certain either. I just cut and pasted.
But I appreciate the appreciation!
Okay, NHLers, you say, fine, lets just put one in the W side of a sad 1-5-0 preseason. If these games truly are meaningless lets build up
the team’s confidence, determination, skill set, and celebrate some GOALS in the opposition’s pipes and not ours.
Go Habs GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I won’t comment on whether or not Gallagher should be signed immediately. Truth is, I can find both positives and negatives on both sides of that coin. But here’s the thing (regardless of which way anyone is thinking on Gallagher and when the Habs should sign him), it won’t happen anytime soon. With the maximum number of signed players nearly reached, I can’t imagine the Habs rushing on Gallagher. The only way, would be to cut someone loose to make room for another signing. Fans can argue all they want about if that should happen, and with who, but it really isn’t the trend in Montreal.
I’m not thrilled with the idea of trying to convert yet another defenceman to forward, because he can’t make the team as a defenceman. An argument could be made on the merits of keeping a guy around in that way for injury insurance on D, but isn’t that what your farm club is for? The signing of Campoli didn’t appear to be one of those insurance type moves. I get the feeling he is pencilled in as a starter. Why keep guys hanging around like that? I guess it all comes down to money, and the number of contracts held by the club. This is why we will not have any chance of Gallagher being signed. He can be returned to junior, without burning one of the last one or two contracts available. No matter how good he looks, or how ready he may be, he’s still junior age, therefore costing the club no money and no combined roster space between the NHL club and the farm team.
I would think Gallagher is here for one reason only, injuries. If Moen, White, Eller, Leblanc are injury free these guys are filling are forward spots. I only mention Leblanc as he has the opportunity to go back and forth from AHL to NHL, I don’t believe he is ready by any means.
Unfortunately Palushaj and Trotter have not shown they are capable of the NHL. It is starting to look they may be career AHL’ers or perhaps get a shot elsewhere.
Hopefully Gallagher makes the most of the situation can help the team and learn some lessons from 9 games or less and then continue to improve back in the WHL.
@ManApart we can’t send him to Ham because he has a year left with the Giants. Either he’s in NHL or WHL. I do hope that he plays that limit of 9 games before he’s sent back just to give him a taste.
Duelling Habs calendars at the Calendar Club kiosk this year. Only egregious errors? One has Hamrlik, the other has Pouliot.
———————–
GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is our year!
the lesson is you don’t want your picture on the calendar? Or if so sell your house?
Try that once again in full sentence form, please?
———————–
GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is our year!
If Gallagher were to sick around, I think he has a decent shot at playing the 9 games or whatever before being sent down, but if he stays the entire season, That creates even more of a logjam on that 3rd line.
Even before Gallagher arrived on the scene the Habs were left with the tough decision of deciding if Eller or Desharnais would move from center to the wing on the 3rd line.
So if Gallagher sticks around and Eller and Desharnais are both healthy, what do they do?
I’m guessing White is still not 100% and there will be a little line shuffling until he returns and when that happens, Gallagher will be sent back to junior before the 9-game-mark.
Good morning:
1. Wouldn’t it be prudent to save Gallagher’s 9 games for an injury emergency? (Eller I don’t classify as an emergency, partly as he’s already out and it’s a known situation).
2. I started reading the TSN profile on Habs for the new season, which I had been anticipating, then when I thought I was going to puke, I stopped. Just cut and past drivel, no insight. But it’s there today if anyone wants to check it out.
thats not the way the 9 games work, you cant call up from junior
Do you really expect LAL to know anything about hockey?
http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
Do you really expect LAL to know anything about _________? <—– insert whatever ya like
First post in and you firing eh Andrew!
I’m waiting for the proverbial watermelon to explode, sign gallagher already!
Nice.
As much as I love seeing Gallagher play, I would rather have him play more significant minutes in juniors and continue his development there. We have too many small players in this team and we have no room for him. The only way I see him play with the CH is if canadiens trade AK46 since I’m sure they won’t be able to afford him next season. Might as well get something in return, giving BG a spot on the third line.
I was going to make the exact same comment rated_R. The team is small enough and Gallagher should have another year of seasoning before making the big club. Why not sign him and put him in Hamilton instead of back to the Giants? He seems he can compete physically with men. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to throw him to the wolves here, without ever playing pro before. It’s not like the kid has score 5-6 goals this camp. Don’t see a pressing reason to keep him. We don’t want another rushed too fast Latendresse or Price situation.
lord forbid another price situation
I’m gonna agree with Crosseyed_mofo: you should probably take Price off your “rushed too fast” list.
i question the mentoring, but i dont think for a second he was rushed into the league
Price was ABSOLUTELY RUSHED and we all went through HELL with it – including him – and we are damned lucky he came through it strong, no thanks to Habs management. And so was The Tender One, for the record.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Write that on the chalkboard 50 times.
i was at game 7 when he got a shutout against the bruins, as a rookie, not bad for a kid that was rushed
again with the “we”
So 3 years in the AHL would have been better for him? The guy had to mature, he has come through it, he is now mentally strong.
His skill level was there all along.
Hey Crosseyed, were you there for the epic goaltending collapse vs the Flyers the following series?
no just the OT win in game 1
ManApart, I do remember Montreal giving Martin Biron’s chest protector the biggest workout of it’s life and a private entry lane to their zone for RJ Umberger.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
What’s important is the end result and the end result is that Price is one of the best goalies in the league and he’s not even 25. The difficulties he had after his rookie year are part of the learning process he had to go through. He’s great because he had them, not despite having them.
Too young to play in the AHL…
He can’t play the AHL yet, rules stipulate he must play another year of junior hockey first as he is currently ineligible. Albeit he could sign at the end of his junior season and suit up with Hamilton if they are still in the playoffs.
NHL is a bit over his head for a complete season though, I suspect he’s back to juniors in time to try out with Team Canada.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Let him play in the World Juniors, it will be one of the great experiences of this life.
he can´t play in the ahl but he could play for the habs? So what is the rule if he is signed by the habs, at some point, after a certain amount of games, the habs should be able to send him to Hamilton just like any other player who wasn´t performing. Would he have to clear waivers, is that the reason that cannot be done?
If it´s just because they lose a year before free agent eligibility i think it is worth it in a case like this. Gallagher has absoluetly nothing left to prove playing another year for the Giants.
Rhino, check out Bripro’s post up the page a bit. Full explanation of the contract status etc. Because of Gallagher’s age he is either NHL or CHL, no AHL option.
You make far too much sense, ManParts. Be careful out there.
yes, when a tea party supporter talks sense, your in GOOD company
Tea Party is a bit liberal for me, but it’s all we’ve got.
cool, just remember to burn your passport for “us”
I wouldn’t trade AK this year, except maybe at the trade deadline. First, he did play better last year so let’s give him that. Two, it’s a contract year so he could be even better this year. Three, having him on the 3rd line gives us a big winger on each line, which we should try at least for one year to see if it makes any difference.
i just made a profile on this site the other day. can someone tell me how to upload a picture? thanks.
ill be in the slot
Check out this guide : http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/gravatar-instructions
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
Shiram, you are a helpful person. Would be nice if there was a clear link on everypage of this website with gravatar instructions and how to clear cookies from one’s browser. I do recognize Gazette essentially owns this site, so they won’t want that, but you get my idea.
I was tempted to post today a request for how to read Gazette articles but thought better of it.
The main page should definately have a link to this guide, I had to use the search function to find it.
If you don’t grok it, drokk it!
About the article on Toronto sports. Ouch! That’s gotta leave a mark. What he forgets to mention, and it greatly affects our Habs too, is how hard it is, even for really good players, to play under a microscope. Not much room to make the inevitable mistakes for which they get crucified. It’s already started on Campoli over his screw up in the playoffs with the Hawks. No wonder some … er … most players would rather play elsewhere and stars like Patrick Roy run or are run out of town.
God have mercy on mere humans.
Go Habs!
Do the Habs practice in Brossard today? If so, what time?
I do think there is a somewhat different ideology behind the microscope that is Leaf Nation and that of playing in Montreal.
I find that here in Toronto the fans tend to believe in the players and rather aim most of their venom towards ownership or GM or Coach. Whereas in Montreal I think the fans start with ragging on players and then move upwards to coach and GM and ownership. In Toronto there seems to be this belief that anyone who puts on the Blue and White sweater is immediately an impact player. Whereas in Montreal the player has to first earn that respect.
Obviously I don’t live in Montreal, just my take on it from an Ontario perspective. Would welcome others thoughts on it.
I believe you’re right but in the end we get similar results from many young players and most free agents.
Prospect Update:
In the QMJHL Last Night,
Wasting no time, Morgan Ellis scored two goals (including the GWG) and one assist in his first game back with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to lead his team over PEI Rocket 5-2, he was named 1st Star of the game.
Nathan Beaulieu kicked in a goal and assist in his first game back with the Saint John Sea Dogs in a 3-1 win over the Blainville-Boisbrand Armada.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Turns out Shanahan’s videos are nothing new. Down Goes Brown dug up a video of Colin Campbell explaining the Cooke/Savard hit.
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2011/09/colin-campbells-video-explanation-of.html
+1
Colon was ahead of his time…
That was pretty sweet with the NHL logo + sound effect. Nice…
It’s all so clear.
That’s how I felt after viewing. Actually, I was hoping for a little funnier stuff from it, but still makes the point of what a bumbling idiot C.Campbell is, was and will continue to be.
Best I’ve ever seen from Down Goes Brown
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Hey we’re stuck with Spatch… Besides old guys like him and Skillsie don’t really get going until the Christmas break.
If Markov hadn’t suffered a setback in his rehab we might have been able to get away with 10 mins of Yemelin-Diaz-Spacek-Weber. That’s not the case so they’ve thrown Campoli in the mix. Good on em.
I don’ t want PK logging massive minutes pre-Christmas carrying the whole team on his back. I want my guy primed for the post season so he can put the boot in Boston and take us to the promised land.
I think we’ll get there… and I think the new fitter Spacek will give us decent D from about game 20 onwards. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s come in shape. Let’s see what he can do in his (last) contract year.
“To be irreplaceable, you have to be different”.
Andy Warhol
Were stuck with him, that’s it that’s all. He is very useless whether its the start of the season or the end. That was one bad signing and I am a Bob Gainey fan! I watched him live in Montreal in game 4 last year of the bruins series and he clearly cost us the game on two of the 4 goals. He cannot play his position, he cannot shoot anymore, he cannot clear the net, he’s finished and management knows it but cannot find a way to dump him.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/nhl-to-counterfeiters-knock-it-off-with-the-knock-offs/article2183894/
League attempting crackdown on illegal jerseys, presser in Montreal.
“the new effort will stress the negative financial impact that counterfeiting is having on teams, sports retailers, and also on the manufacturing industry. ”
Negative financial impact to whom? The league?
At $300/jersey for an official version, I’d rather pay $50 for a knock off, if it means putting extra groceries on the table.
Sorry to disappoint all GMs who award $7.3MM/year contracts to underachievers.
I am not 100% sure, but the Team Canada jersey I bought with Toews on the back only cost me 50bucks, is it fake? Oh yah bought it in a parking lot at my buddies sports bar, looked legit.
Lower the pricetag, problem solved.
Good Morning ALL!
I am so pumped for this game. It feels like the first ‘real’ game after which there can be no excuses by fans and management and players re ‘this is pre-season’. All indications are a reasonably ‘full lineup’ on the ice.
One reason I am pumped is Gallagher. At the risk of sounding vain and ‘tooting my own horn’ I dont recall ANYONE being as high on this player as EARLY as I have been. From the day he was DRAFTED and I read up on his character and pedigree.
And dont worry about his size. The men in his gene pool seem to be stocky, barrel-chested and resilient physically. The body type that brings taller men down to the floor where they have the advantage.
His body should develop accordingly. In a year or two you wont be able to push him off the puck.
I am glad JM addressed the need for better 5 on 5 offense in his remarks.
I still feel that they could have done more to develop acumen in this area by ALL players on the team during the PRESEASON. It is true you can’t teach true offense but you can teach players schemes and positioning and lanes etc etc and thus improve their ‘thinking on their feet’ and ‘reliance on linemates’ to develop the ‘telling pass’ to the line-mate who then must ‘pull the trigger’. If you have ever been in a team-game like hockey and soccer (for me) and been exposed to the wondruous and eye-opening skill of a great offensive coach, you will marvel at how being introduced to good offensive techniques open the eyes of even the best-skilled forwards.
I remember the colloquial and funny phrase used by this amazing Brazilian coach whom I was exposed to. He used to say ‘make the goalie caca-hole shake’ trying to follow your plays. That’s what our team needs to do.
I have been paying particular attention to this element during the pre-season telecasts. One instance sticks in my mind. Between the 3 and 4 minute mark of the first period against Boston in the last game, Gionta comes down the wing and the goalie is obviously well positioned and Gionta fires a puck at the net while his teammate on the other wing is doing the ‘go to the net’ rush. He shoots the puck and the attack is snuffed as the puck is caught up in the goalie’s pads and the defenders then protect him and it.
JM is always preaching ‘go to the net’ And of course you want that element in hockey. You want players who are NOT afraid to go to the net. But……
But in a preseason game it would have been nice to see Gionta gain the zone at full speed, then adjust his speed and approach to force the goalie to start to think and react position wise and also force the defenders to think of more danger than just rushing to protect a rebound. Would have been nice to see Gionta make body-language communication with his linemate and make some sort of ‘combination’ play which would have brought options into the attack and questions into the defense.
It stood out because soon after Lucic had a similar sojourn into our zone and he and his linemate adjusted as described and had a much much better scoring chance.
This is a bugaboo of mine. And I know I will get scorn heaped on me from the HIO community. But the evidence is there. The requirement is there. We are woeful 5 on 5. We are woeful offensively.
Either we have had the ‘worst’ body of forwards in the league for the past two years or we just dont employ the ‘patterns of play’ to improve the productivity of those forwards.
Had a great time at the Seadogs vs Armada game last night. Nathan Beaulieu looked impressive in a 3-1 victory for Saint John.
Very smooth skater; smart hockey player.
Probably most impressive last night was the first star, Seadog goalie Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault…..30 saves, many of them were very difficult ones. The kid is huge….6-6, 197.
He is property of the Blue Jackets.
Great spot to see a game, the arena is easy to get to. The ride from Boisbriand to St.Lazare after the game took under 40 minutes.
Supplicant No. 3785: Highly Intelligent One, I have slogged through jungles, crossed searing deserts, climbed snow-clad mountains to seek your counsel. It is said you possess the collective wisdom of thousands accumulated over the ages. Please grant me an audience that I might benefit from your infinite knowledge.
HIO: Seeker of truth, ask your question quickly. The line grows impatient.
Supplicant No. 3785: I am confused. What good is the pre-season if you use players you know aren’t going to make the roster more than the regulars who could use the time to get into game shape?
HIO: How the hell should I know! … Just kidding. The Highly Intelligent One likes to show he has a sense of humour every now and then.
The preseason, if you must know, is designed to replace a fan’s irrational expectations with mounting trepidation – and vice versa – in preparation for the regular season, when irrepressible optimism alternates with unrelenting despair with every win and loss. Enjoy. Next.
Supplicant 3786: Highly Intelligent One, I have slashed my way through thick forests, hiked across barren lands
HIO: Why doesn’t anyone take the GO bus, it drops you off at the front door!? Continue.
Supplicant 3786: I have been a fan of the Leafs since 1970. Is this the year they win the Cup?
HIO: Imposter! A Leaf fan and you don’t ask what’s the best route for the Stanley Cup parade!? Remove yourself at once!
Supplicant 3787: Highly Intelligent One, I have journeyed many miles … on the GO bus. Here are my line combinations for the Canadiens, what do you think?
HIO: NEXT!
– “A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.” –
I lol’d.
–| Brad Marchand | Starley Cup Chanpiar 2011 |–
Nice morning read John, did I gather correctly from a post awhile ago that you had pneumonia ? If so, hope you are doing well, enjoy your regular soliliquay’s.
Yeah, I go in for another X-ray today. Hope it finds my lapsed energy. And thanks for your kind comments.
Best of luck John, hopefully you don’t have to go to that Hospital that completely screwed up the fractured wrist on Andrea Horvath’s son as she put it during the debate. Oh wait, she isn’t blaming the hospital afterall now, nevermind.
At long last, I have a bellyful. Thanks!
If you’re a sports fans for the action and drama who plays and watches because a season, a series, a game can change in a moment and missed last nights baseball drama then you owe it to yourself to tune into TSN this AM and watch what happened to the Bosox and the Rays. If it was a movie script it would have been corny. It was live. It was real and fans of both teams probably can’t believe it today. Talk about “it ain’ over until it’s over” because it was as close to over as over. Unreal drama……you couldn’t script it.
Last night, almost makes me want to like baseball. I wish we could see more boston fans crying. It should be on a constant loop on Sportscentre.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
Great comeback for the Rays.. I had a $50 bet with a coworker that the Rays would make the wildcard(this was when Tampa was 7 games out)
Can’t wait to collect!
Every team I wanted to get in did. Not often with all that drama, you can have the added benefit of enjoying who wins and loses.
Great night for baseball. I still indeed hope they can add 1 more wildcard to each League. Helps keep things competitive for season end. Had there been no wild cards, last night would not have existed, drama wise.
Baseball? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…etc
zzzzzzzzzzzz, etc? LOL
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzippitty do da. that is what you were trying to say isn’t it?
Charge it to the Underhill’s.
looks like that Martin has finally realized that you cannot have Gorges on the second unit pp point when we have injured players who usually play the point…the problem i see is that the forwards he is trying will not have enough practice on the point before they have to do it in real games…Plecks last year made many wrong decisions on the point and i am not sure if Ak46 would not be the same or Gomez..
try and swing a deal that invloves weber and spacek and figure out what to do with the DD and gomez situation. this kid would look good on the third line with eller and whoever else JM decides to put on the other wing…
ill be in the slot
I can’t see any teams at this juncture wanting Spacek. He will only become attractive IMO when a team is in specific need of a journeyman dman in 2nd half of season. He will also need to show that he can play better than he appeared in the latter stages of last year.