You remember Jim Pritchard, don’t you? Defenceman from the Winnipeg Jets of the Western Canada Hockey League? Five-foot-9, 175 pounds, never played a game in the NHL?
Well, since the NHL entry draft began in incredibly modest form in 1963, Pritchard is the Canadiens’ only No. 3 overall pick, coming in 1968.
From hockeydraftcentral.com, from whom we’ve borrowed the graphic at left:
The sixth NHL Amateur Draft was the first to feature drafting based on the reverse order of finish from the previous season. This became the standard for all successive drafts. A slight difference, however, saw picks alternate by division, rather than directly by order of finish in the overall league, and the West Division was given some advantages over the more established East Division. This was also the first draft to feature traded picks, as the Oakland Seals gave up their No. 1 selection in a deal with Montreal. It was also the only draft in NHL history in which one team (Montreal) made all of the first three picks.
The draft was held almost in private around other league business being conducted at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
The headline item in Montreal was Claude Provost being named the inaugural winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, for which Habs’ Max Pacioretty is a nominee this season.
“At last I’ve got something to congratulate the hockey writers about,” joked Canadiens coach Toe Blake when the media vote was announced, declaring Provost the winner. “This was a fine selection.”
Loading ...
I think Sedin’s injury may turn out to be a blessing in disgis for Vancouver… adding a dimension to their first line that may be more difficult to coach against than it was with the ‘Sedins’ . Least in the short run.
a pole from last night..will you visit the “red mile” 84% say no…it is so painful that this lame city and its fans are in the playoff’s and we are not..I hope the Rangers spank them 4 games straight..so its done quickly..
Saw this on twitter. What do you guys think of Forsberg?
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/04/11/nhl-draft-profile-6-filip-forsberg/
Go Habs Go!
I am not thinking in the 3 spot.
Seems my PR blizt for Mike Matheson is starting to take hold.
I don’t like him.
what is not to like 6’3 skates like Paul coffey , great shot from the point and plays physical in defensive zone coverage. Steal with the 33rd pick if he is still available.
Here is one of his games for Dubuque the Center setting up 2 of Matheson’s goal is Zemgus Girgensons, another big center that should go in the 1st round
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9so6qGZqhw
He’s afraid to play in the Q.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
it was either first overall to someplace like Baie Comeau or and education at Boston College, he was in Sports etudes so he is into getting an education, can not hold that against him. Boston College has great coaching and they are defending NCAA champions. and he is finishing up a year in the USHL which plays just as tough as the Q. Matheson has over 80 pim in the USHL this year so he is not shying away from the physicality.
Shawinigan had his rights until christmas. He would have been guaranteed a trip the Memorial Cup, which would have given him an opportunity to prove how good he is, but it also could have exposed him as something less than the newspapers make him out to be. He chose to hide out in the USHL a let people read about how awesome he is rather than play in the CHL and let more people form educated opinions.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
Shawinigan only got his rights after he told the Q of his intent to go to NCAA and signed letter of intent with Boston College. He was projected if he did not sign letter of intent to go first over all to Baie Comeau.
I watch games from the USHL and the CHL every week, also every year the USHL produces just as much talent if not more than the Q. IE Max Pacioretty, Louis Leblanc etc.. Actually it is not even close the USHL dominates the Q in prospects i stopped counting after the top 100 but it was like 15 for the USHL 6 1st rounders and the Q 9 with only 2 projected 1st rounders according to CSS services next argument
Timmins record is quite USHL friendly over the years
An NCAA letter of intent does not prevent a player from playing in the CHL. The Canadiens first round pick in 2010 had singed an NCAA letter of intent, but he plays in the OHL. Players walk right off NCAA rosters to play in the CHL. The number two scorer in the LHJMQ left BU in January to play for Saint John. The idea that the USHL is as good, or better than the LHJMQ is just ridiculous. One of your own examples (Louis Leblanc) didn’t jump from the USHL to the NCAA, then to the LHJMQ because he wanted to play against progressively weaker competition.
The only reason for a Canadian hockey player to choose the USHL of the CHL is to retain NCAA eligibility. There are valid, legitimate reasons for wanting to play hockey while studying at a university, but the cost of those benefits is the foregone opportunity of playing at a highest level of hockey for 16 and 17 year old players.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
CHL President David Branch is in discussions with Skip Prince, (Commissioner of the USHL) to try and have a North American Championship, that is the CHL Memorial cup Champions take on the
Clark Cup Champions of the USHL . So i would say it is not ridiculous to compare the QMJHL the weakest of the CHL 3 sisters to the USHL.
The time when Canada dominates the USA in hockey is long gone,
USA is producing and filling along with Canada and Europe the USHL with top caliber junior aged prospects, and sorry to say lately more top
prospects are coming out of the USHL than the QMJHL.
The CHL is filled with North Americans and Europeans as is the USHL there are many reasons to pick where to play Junior Hockey based on Education, Language, or just A different life experience etc… it is no longer justified to say Canadian Hockey is the only option. NCAA, USHL Europe Elite etc..
Well, if he is that good then Timmins and staff will be on it. But do you realize that everyone reads HIO and you have now alerted other teams! Are you the poster named Otto?
I am sure Timmins knows of him, i just dont want Boston to raid are Quebec talent, if he is around at #33 we have to pick him, but I am afraid he will go late in the first round to either Boston , Pittsburgh or St louis.
I remember Elliot Freidman writing something to the effect of “I don’t remember where I read it but somebody said blah blah blah about the Habs or some Hab player…” and that something was ripped directly from these pages.
The reason I don’t get booted is because Boone needs me for material.
And the reason we love you so much
And the story of Cammalleri during the Ottawa- San Jose trying to do the Heatley trade, that came from here and went world wide.
I’m not sure I’m readin’ this right. HabFab, did you just say you love yourself? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I suppose most people would, once they got to know you …
Actually, it generally works the other way once they get to know
JB. HabFab said all of him loves himself. Every one of his multiple personae that is.
Now that is the ultimate “kettle calling the pot black”.
Please dont start an anti-whatever series of responses and rants.
But would you consider it shortsighted and not a thorough approach if Pierre McGuire isnt even interviewed.
Not hired necessarily… but considered and therefore interviewed!
Of the lists I am hearing as confirmed interviewees I find Bergevin the most hockey-wise. Kevin Dineen puts him in the best 1% of hockey One drawback some have mentioned is his lack of a college education…compared to all the other top candidates.
It depends on your terms of reference. If your term of reference is to hire someone with recent managerial experience, then no it is not shortsighted to not interview someone who has not been involved in day-to-day hockey operations for more than 10 years. If your term of reference is to hire someone with extensive knowledge of hockey players, then yes excluding someone with that type of resume would not be a thorough approach.
Did you feel the same way about Pat Brisson?
If someone doesn’t fit the qualifications for the position you are hiring for, why interview him?
BTW, if you are inferring that my reply is a critique (sorry about the spelling, brain-fart moment) of McGuire, it’s not. My point was the headhunter establishes terms of reference based on what the client wants, then looks for candidates that meet that ToR. That’s the standard way executive level hiring is done. If the headhunter thinks that a particular candidate is so strong that he should be considered even though he doesn’t meet all the terms of reference then it’s up to the headhunter to bring the candidate to the clients attention.
I wouldn’t. Pierre talks a good game but for the same reason people are apprehensive about Savard, McGuire has not been with a team in any capacity for 20 years. From some of the information I have seen about his time as head coach in Hartford, Pierre was not thought of well at all by the players, he did not practice what he now preaches. It is true though, people do change. His connections may also be an advantage, but the other people we have read about are qualified and I don’t think if PM is not interviewed that it would be an issue.
Habfan17
Again, trinifan, not necessarily. In most recruiting processes where one candidate is hired out of many potential candidates, at some point you establish a short list of 4-6 candidates usually, and only these get interviewed, not everyone who filled in a job application.
I know the Canadiens’ GM search is a bit of a special case, and two potential candidates have already withdrawn, but there are still many qualified people to fill this short list, and Mr. McGuire may find himself on the outside looking in for this hire.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
If you are interviewing Pierre McGuire, then there are many, many more people who would be in his class, which means that if they expand their range that much, then they’ll be interviewing every man and his dog.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I’d go with the CHien. Seems so obvious a CHoice.
As long as his bite was better than our Bourque.
Let the Maple Laffs hire him.
I think that if he isn’t interviewed it would be a major oversight. If all avenues aren’t explored and a thorough search isn’t conducted (including English speaking candidates) it will be a huge mistake. McGuire may have been away from a management position for some time but he’s a very smart man and has a great knowledge of current NHLer’s and junior players.
I’m not sure if he would make a good GM but he would make a hell of a good pro scout an area where the Habs have been severely lacking.
McGuire will probably not be interviewed. He’s not been in the league since what, 1995?
And now he wants to be GM? He can go stand between the benches saying “Monster!” It’s where he belongs.
Here’s my rant-free response: no, it would not even be a little bit ov an oversight. He’s not a serious candidate. The other names being mentioned are currently employed in the NHL with major managerial experience. McGuire is a guy reading from notes on television.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Some thoughts before I read all the posts:
a) Heard some really good news today (pardon if it is old news to most)… Kirk Muller and Guy Boucher have both accepted assistant coaches roles with Team Canada at the Worlds. Dont know who is the head coach although someone has already declined.
As Ottawa starts the playoffs tonight habs fans may do well to look at Jason Spezza who many saw as a problem in Ottawa that should be moved. As many here clamour to trade away yet another young player.
Hope that HABS do draft Galrenchuk(??) and Matheson in 1st and 2nd rounds respectively… unless they do trade the pick for something amazing.
Heard Sergio Momesso comment about an impartial scout who had observed Roy’s practices etc. The scout was highly impressed. I am beginning to lose my own fears and doubts re Roy’s temperamnet being a total negative as a coach. I still am unsure re the Quebec allegiance but if professional scouts etc laud his coaching… then I am feeling more at ease if he ends up being the coach.
I believe that Habs need to spend mone/picks y in the forward positions.
I like Momesso’s ideas re filling outthe defense.
Add a big steady reliable stay-at-home inexpensive blueliner currently in the NHL… I suggest going after Sheldon Brookbank UFA this year. Made 750.00 last year with Anaheim. Look at his stats. His career. Look at his plus/minus. Look at his “resigned with team” record.
Bring up Tinordi, unless he is absolutely horrible in camp. Start him out with 8-10 mins per game and see how he develops. They have the entire pre-season and the 9-game regulation tryout bfore they have to ‘officially’ send him to AHL. If that works out HABS can spend huge money and assets to upgrade up front. Momesso’s ideas take into consideration that we have Kaberle and Markov under contract and Subban and Gorges… so you have 4 out of your six.
Diaz could be a 7th D.
Well off to read some posts.
Like your’s and Momesso’s take. I see you have not encluded Emmy in our assesment. Where do you see him ?
OOOPS. My mistake and I goofed re Momesso too. He did see Emelin ahead of Diaz but not ahead of the acquired d-man.
So is Subban Gorges; New guy-Emelin;Markov-Tinordi and Kaberle diaz subbing Tinordi as he develops.
So you have Subban, Markov, Kaberle for offense.
New guy, Emelin, Tinordi for size hitting
Gorges for all round stability.
Diaz develops a la Streit.
So on paper you have a complete defense. Of course Markov is the Markov of old.
If that line up started the reg season with a pre-season schedule together it might work. We do need a big tuff D-man added.
I add that big tuff in my pairings.. i called him ‘new-guy’ and from the research I have done so far I cited Sheldon Brookbank. Rememeber I am saying you dont pay over 3 fro any defense you add. you spend your money on forwards.
I’m still unconvinced about Roy, but for different reasons now.
I don’t think he’d be able to work under anyone.
Like, have a GM above him that he has to answer to.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Good point Matty. I keep flip flopping. GM will come first and then they will select the coach. The new GM will have to see if Roy will fit.
What if the GM was Pierre Lacroix? If he was available.
———————————————————————-
“I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside” – Lennon/McCartney
I’ve got a feeling
One of the Quebec games I went to this season, set second row behind Patrick. Could have reached him with a hockey stick except for the glass. Watched him closely and not anything like I had heard, he was in full control. But that was one game and his team was completely out classed in that one too.
Which in a way is a good thing that his team was outclassed and he didnt blow a fuse… so maybe he is different as a coach than what his perceived persona would lead us to believe.
You make a lot of interesting points, so I’m gonna be a troll and complain about just one: Dude, Tinordi is not joining the Habs straight out of junior. It’s a terrible idea anyway, but he will not be ready in any case.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Well if Tinordi cant give us, to start as he develops, 10 to 12 mins of tough conservative defense accompanied by someone like Markov, then we need to add TWO defensemen of the ilk stay-at-home, BIG, conservative, can handle the rough stuff. We cant go into the season with Subban/Gorges/Emelin/Markov as our defense… with the others being a bunch of 7th defense candidates.
Ron Hextall as GM.
Patrick Roy as coach.
You’d only need to find a job for Billy Smith.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Need to get Chelios on the staff somewhere so meetings would resemble those 1980′s play-off series.
I want Felix Potvin as goaltender coach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtZ8MS9TbjM
Security…
Or maybe
Lumberjack…
they may beat us up on the ice but we’ll sure beat the hell out of them of it… literally. Let’s see Laviolette try to yell at Roy like the other day.. A goalie stick will hit him in the back of the head from the GM’s box..
Just read on TSN Ron Hextal may become the GM ????
TSN are just throwing sh1t out there and hoping it sticks.
I hate french sports reporters. I really do.
I have just heard the most (insert any qualifying word ) thing i have ever heard and god knows we went through so many stupid comments.
While changing channels i end up on le 5 à 7 on RDS. The question is: who would you keep from the Habs for next years edition. Well basically they would hardly make any changes ! They spent the whole season saying they were good for nothing,worth nothing and now when it is time to make a statement they chicken out ? Is this the way they figure they will be able to complain about anything and everything next year ?
Of course they easilly got rid of Gomez wich is not a done deal but also they keep all the Ahl players as if they did the job ?
I`m pissed and should know better i guess…
It aint a language thing, I mean do you ever read Boone?
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Whats wrong with Boone ? cmon the guy is the best thing that has happen with the CH since the Gainey takover 9 years ago.
Just Me, your bias is showing.
Your reaction and statement is completely out of proportion to the offence you describe. Get over yourself.
Next time Don Cherry says something idiotic, I expect to see your post spewing your hatred for ‘english sports reporters’. I really do.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Don’t hold your breath. For every ‘nationalist impulse’ shown by the locals there’s a proportional ‘redneck impulse’ by the other solitude.
So I guess this clown hates Dany Dube and Martin McGuire too (arguably the best commentator-analyst duo in the league). Something tells me he can’t really speak/read franco. That’s usually the case with the strongly opinionated and biased. They latch on to some tabloid crap and label an entire group accordingly.
I am french ,bilingual and could not care less about the language war wich has nothing to do with sports .I do appreciate Dube and Mcguire but also Bartlett on TSN990, Pierre Houde also by the way but i think my point misled most of you guys and of course thought it was a language issue. My point is i`m sick and tired that french sports reporters only see what they want to see and do not have any middle or long time vision. One day they want everybody fired ,the day after they act as if nothing happened.
Consistancy is not their forte.
First of all JUST ME, are you ‘french’, or are you French-Canadian? You may think that’s a technicality, but it isn’t. I hate when someone demeans me or belittles me by saying: “Yeah, but you’re French…” I always respond, very clearly, that actually I’m Canadian, not French. I always insist that I not be robbed of my citizenship because of my mother tongue, that I not be marginalized. I’m not French, Don Cherry isn’t English, we’re both Canadians.
As far as your point, it’s still a whopper of a generalization. You take time to single out certain media people that you do like, and then go ahead and lump everyone of them in the same pile based on the language they speak. So your ‘point’ is invalid and prejudiced, despite your mother tongue and the languages you speak.
Also, when you’re making a ‘point’, on this forum or elsewhere, weigh your words carefully, and maybe give it a reread before you post it. Because the first ‘point’ you made was that you hate ‘french sports reporters’, because you didn’t agree with their analysis of the Canadiens forwards. Your subsequent post, in which you state we misunderstood you, explained that you meant that they are inconsistent. Big difference.
The francophone media, in large part because of the market they serve, will tend to focus on francophone hockey players and coaches and GM’s, etc. That’s part of the reality of trying to sell newspapers or attracting viewers in Québec. Get used to it.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Please.
Please wake up, it’s 2012, not 1982.
Leave your Francophone bashing in the last century.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Anyone have a link to the Quebec Halifax game?
Just go to the Q site and follow the Telus games direct link , but it is not free http://telus.pqm.net/login.php
I don’t believe nor have I heard of a superstar being in this draft so don’t expect any second coming with this pick.
Second question, who is the poster named Otto?
Otto is the driver of a school bus?
We will get a good player. Forsburg, murray and Dumba are peeking my curiousity. By the time June arrives I have a feeling I’ll be a regular draftnik. Is this Otto in trouble?
Check your mail.
Not sure if this has been discussed yet but would it make sense to trade our #1 + one or two of our multiple second round selections for edmonton’s #1 (Yakupov) or are we better off retaining our second round picks and re-stocking the proverbial cupboards?
Edmonton wants an established defenceman 3rd or 4th on your team and your 1st round pick.
So Zimmerman is going to be charged (pending, Washington Post). Whoopee Doo. Amazing that Fox News actually tried to stir up support for this killer. America, the world laughs at you but also weeps for you. Maybe that Florida pastor, Terry Jones can fundraise for Zimmerman’s defense by burnin’ stuff.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Let it lie. I am amazed at how much Canadians react to American events as if they are our own.
I don’t know if anyone else has this strange feeling, but two things are happening in the media regarding the GM search – candidates are withdrawing and the organization continues to spread the net wider – now we have Hextall and Robitaille in the mix. Word has it that the organization is in such a mess thanks to Gainey and Gauthier that likely GM’s don’t want it.
Luc Robitaille sounded really good and informed about a week ago on The Fan590 in Toronto. The radio host was somewhat amiss in not mentioning any of the Hall of Famers great achievements, instead just referred to the admin job Robitaille has with the Kings. Robitaille gave info re this season’s Kings. It’s true that great character does not assure competence, but I came away with a lot of respect for the former 9th rounder (drafts went deeper in the past probably because of fewer teams) who I think holds the record for most career goals by a NHL left-winger.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Who besides Damphousse has withdrawn?
Pat Brisson
I pulled out weeks before them.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I saw where you commented on Roy publicly yesterday.
I’m still on hold with Geoff Molson.
Thanks for not trashing me vs the media.
Mine is next week, perhaps we can conflab?
I haven’t seen a story on that but…
Whopdef#ckindo on both, I say.
Neither have any experience in management. Who gives a rat’s arse?
I would have been bummed if Vinny was hired and Brisson would be well down the list in my books.
When names like Loiselle, Bergevin, Giguere, Brisebois, or Nill start dropping out, I’ll care.
To be honest, I would be ecstatic with a report that McGuire has withdrawn.
I think you are over-reacting here a bit. Right now they are in the exploration phase, meaning Serge and his minions drew up an initial list of candidates that they think would do a reasonable job and are calling them to see if they are interested. If the candidate says yes, Serge says let’s move this along to the next step. If the candidate says no, then Serge asks the standard headhunter question “who do you think would be a good candidate that we should consider?” It’s the standard way to make sure you don’t overlook a promising candidate just because you don’t know them personally.
So guys like Robitaille and Hextall are most likely potential candidates that Serge and company didn’t think of immediately but that someone (like maybe Brisson) put them in touch with.
Can one of the handy posters give out the link for the Sportsnet.ca article that had Bill Daly comment on the illegal stuff Crosby has put up with in the Kid’s abbreviated season? Interesting that an admin guy would put his nose into the Pennsylvania Puckers Ball (brawl?).
“May you live in interesting times.”
This years Bruins for sure.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/04/11/bill_daly_sidney_crosby_nhl_dixon/
You’re cool, 10912!
“May you live in interesting times.”
Heard the Oilers say they might trade the 1st overall pick.What do you guys think would be a great trade from the habs to the oilers for that first pick!
What they would want from us are untouchables (Price, Subban).
“May you live in interesting times.”
I’d include Max Pacioretty in that list of untouchables they would want.
What? Gomez didn’t make the list?
I figured that choice was to obvious so I left him out, but I guess they can have him if they really want.
I don’t think Price is untouchable. Max-Pac and PK are.
Speechless!
“May you live in interesting times.”
Wow it is so hard to find a goalie to build a team , around Price may have body language issues, but he is pretty close to untouchable
Okay… I mean, technically no one is untouchable given the right deal, i.e., where the Habs emerge as clear winners (most of which would never, ever happen).
But I get the sense that that’s not what you meant.
I agree as well no one is untouchable if the right deal is there,
but certain players a very very close to untouchable.
couple of examples Gretzky and Roy showed anybody can be dealt.
Getting Yakupov and Galchenyuk very intriguing, would be awesome and they love playing together. maybe a package with Beaulieu, Weber, Bourque and one or 2 of our 3 second round picks in 2013 a very strong draft year, could be a doable package without including Subban in any deal for Edm 1st pick
Then Select Local Pointe Claire boy Mike Matheson with #33 pick overall to replace Beaulieu,
They would want a NHL ready defense man right away, they already have a few defensive prospect coming up in the next couple years.
I think they might go for a beaulieu package, but I am pretty sure they would insist on a 1st rounder and a second rounder next year , would be too dangerous to give up our first rounder next year, with no promises of big time improvements on our team , that could be a top five pick again.
I think we’re better off keeping our 1st round pick, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
I agree especially with next years draft being loaded with talent.
IE:Nathan Mckinnon and Seth Jones and Local boy Anthony Duclair
I dont think to many teams will be interested in giving up first round picks next year, because it is going to be a solid draft year.
How about Beaulieu and our 1st(3rd overall) + our 2nd rounder(via Nashville) for
Yakupov + Edmontons second round pick(31st overall)
So we get Yak, plus two second rounders back to back 31+32
Edmonton ‘might’ do it….in that they would receive Beaulieu(who is at least a year closer to the big show)….plus potential to draft Murray as well(who might be ready for NHL already next year)
Haha…just thinking crazy now
“Step off George”
Interesting option we lose the plan of trying to get both Galchenyuk and Yakupov together, I guess it depends on if we think Yakupov is the next coming of Pavel Bure.
See what happens when we miss the playoffs, Studying prospects watching draft lotteries damn i have never watched so much Junior Hockey of late
Heard Will Fraser, from the Team 1260 here in Edmonton, say that the only way the Oil would trade their first pick would be for P.K. Subban or possibly Tyler Myers.
That sounds about right
Trade Subban to get Yak and Yuk? Hmmm?
Richard R
Rangers sign Redden and Gomez to huge contracts..realize immediately that you cannot have that kind of cash tied up in zero effectiveness in a cap world so they fix it..trade Gomez to us and bury Redden….this year they finish first in the East, having about $13M to spend on talent prolly helped…time for Habs to man up – this is a big boy game, gotta make big boy decisions…Gomez must be buried and Kaberle must be traded – period..two most important moves in this turn around.
Not only that Adam, the Habs continued to give Gomez top 6 minutes which further emphasized the error. Me thinks thats why folks got fired. Let’s see how the new regime works to resolve this. Good point. Blood pressure raising again. Sigh
TSN reported last night that the cap will be going up again.
I can’t see how they can speculate that yet, given the CBA negotiations haven’t even started.
If that is the case however, that will mean that big-market teams, especially venues like ours, which always sell out, will be increasing their ticket prices yet again.
Did Bettman not say after the last CBA that ticket prices would be kept in check in order to attract more fans?
So the average fan gets to bend over again! While we finance the prima-donnas. Sounds a lot like politics.
I’m wondering when Subban will be putting in a requisition for a military copter for his fishing trip to Alaska.
That means Gomer will get a raise.
And a free flight home.
Damn!
“Step off George”
I’m sure he’s already at work getting in “the best shape of my career”. We’ll be reading this soon I’m afraid.
Dave Stubbs needs to write another feel good article.
Probably have accountants crunching numbers. NBA CBA had players’ share of gross revenues somewhere between 52 to 54%, which was a decrease from the old CBA rate of 56 to 57%. If early calculations of total revenues show an increase then an estimate of the following year’s salary cap can be made, but of course, there is going to be a different formula in all likelihood in the next CBA.
“May you live in interesting times.”
That same cabinet minister dude is also good at hiding jet fighter costs from parliament and the public. MacKay was upset with former girlfriend and Tie Domi Squeeze B. Stronach switching to Paul Martin’s Liberals accepting the bribe of a cabinet post. Forget which celebrity actress/singer Peter MacKay recently dated.
Guess Mackay got married to Miss World Canada 2003 back in January.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Condoliza Rice
Edit: She’s the former Secretary of State
Good memory!
“May you live in interesting times.”
No. My oldzimers is as bad as the next guy’s. But the announcement just struck me earlier this year when the US media on the hill jumped all over it.
I remember them describing McKay as “the most attractive man in Canadian politics”.
I guess they gauge physicality and not arrogance.
B.P., you have to admit that the Yanks have good looking dudes in politics like Gingrich and Herman Cain. Romney I don’t care for.
“May you live in interesting times.”
LOL!
Well, it’s going to be an interesting summer. Some thoughts (point form because I’m to lazy/busy to compose real sentences and paragraphs):
- My hunch is that the choice of GM will be a bit of a surprise. I don’t think it will be any of the current Asst GM’s that have been mentioned. My guess is a former player (perhaps Roy or D. Savard), backed by a solid management type (probably Carriere). Whoever they choose, the sooner they choose him, the better. There are a lot of decisions to be made between now and the draft and UFA Day.
- With the likelihood that the CBA will still be up in the air when the teams are making key moves in June/July, the whole business of what to do with the Gomez contract is going to be very interesting. Assuming that, for the sake of optics if nothing else, Molson is committed to making that dough available for upgrades, how do they do this without knowing whether there will be an contract amnesty in the deal? Yes, Hamilton is the other option, but they can’t afford to let Gomez twist in the wind. UFA’s are watching and many must be thinking “there, but for the grace of God….” I wouldn’t be shocked to hear some sort of pronouncement on Gomez long before July 1.
- Assuming that the Gomez contract is gone, but that we’re stuck with Kaberle, and that PK and Price are signed for between 9 and 11 milliion a year, the Habs will have quite a bit of dough to play with this summer. The consensus appears to be that the cap will head into the $67-69 million range next year (let’s ignore the CBA changes, since any change to the cap formula will be met with adjustments to current contracts) and based on my above assumptions, the Habs will have about $20 million to sign 8-9 skaters (2 Dmen and 6-7 forwards). Supposing they sign Emelin for $1.5MM, Moen for $1.5MM, Eller for $2MM, White for $850M and Blunden for $650M, that would leave something in the range of $13-14MM for a Dman and 4-5 forwards. At least three of those positions will be third/fourth liners or their first rounder, at an average of something less than $1MM, leaving over $10MM for a solid Dman and two forwards. Obviously, the math changes in the fairly likely event that a trade or two is involved (given the thin UFA market this summer), but the basics are pretty clear: the Habs are in decent position to upgrade this summer, regardless of the draft outcome.
- In view of the above, and given that the market for solid Dmen is very pricey right now, my preference in the draft would be for Murray, if he’s available. He would bolster the blueline’s future and be cheap, leaving lots of dough for a couple of impact forwards (or at least one top six guy and a rock solid 3rd line guy).
Here’s a question for those who follow the WJC……wasn’t it Murray who had just a terrible World Juniors this year?
I seem to recall one of the highly touted DMan prospects for Canada, who was just down right awful. Giveaway after giveaway.
Obviously it was just one tournament….but that’s the thoughts that come to mind when I hear his name.
Maybe I am mistaking on the player though…
“Step off George”
He had a great tournament, but a rough Gold Medal game.
Murray was that team’s worst defenceman. He was worse than Dougie Hamilton and he was really bad.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
You may be referring to one bad game or unlucky game where he dove to break up a 2 on 1 and the pass redirected off him into our own net and later on in the game he had two shots redirect off him. One unlucky game, just happened to be against Russia with the winner advancing to Gold medal game
Ryan Murray is a cant miss prospect , ready to play in the NHL right now, playing style reminiscent of scott niedermayer
That said i still would prefer Galchenyuk but we cant go wrong if we did end up with Murray.
Ah….yes, I definately remember that game specifically. Ok well thanks for the info…..
I too would rather Galchenyuk or Grigs
“Step off George”
no prob mark , i remember that game big time 6-5 we did almost have an amazing comeback as well. i love that tourny, one of the hockey highlights every year
It wasn’t one bad just goal. I spent the whole tournement wondering how that guy made the team. TSN .ca probably still has all the games VOD.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
Can’t agree. Remember that he was the youngest member of that squad and was assigned a role he was unaccustomed to (shut down), due to his position on the depth chart.
I will agree to disagree on this one sean, but do not be surprised if Edmonton does not trade their pick and just selects Ryan Murray #1 overall .
I also remember from that game that Brendan Gallagher had a great game 2 goals and an assist here is hoping he continues his incredible off ice strength regimen and comes to camp even stronger than last year.
Oops. That’s right, it was the semi. It just felt like the gold medal game.
Your right Gerry, Canada vs Russia always feels like a gold medal game
I think he was on the ice for four goals against that night, the first three deflected off of him and the fourth was on a penalty kill, I think.
It was just a over all bad night for him but from what I’ve read he’s going to turn out to be a really good defense man.
And the more I read about Galchenyuk, the more I’m liking him and think he would be a good pick.
I found it interesting that Brian Burke is saying that he will tranform his team by making trades…..to become more “TRUCULENT”
Wasn’t his team supposed to be truculent from the moment he took over.?? What the hell happened there.
Although, one thing I do admire about him, is he isn’t afraid to take risks, and go out there and make trades….to stir things up. That was one thing I did not care for under Gainey….was how patient and conservative he was.
With that being said…..Burke has been fleeced while trying to make the “big trade”….so who knows
“Step off George”
He looks done. Like he doesn’t even want to be there and just making it up as he goes along. Why do they even put up with him. Not to compare, but at least with the Habs fans demanding accountability we ran the Ghost out after a year. He wouldn’t have lasted 2 years doing what Burke has done, let alone 5 years, going on 10. Leafs get what they deserve.
Yea, one year without playoffs is hard enough…..hard to put myself in Leafs fans shoes…..being 7 years and counting.
“Step off George”
Wasted money on Colton Orr like Habs did on Laraque, and found out team toughness needs more than having an enforcer. Their toughest defenceman in the recent past was Francois Beauchemin. Luke Schenn is proving to be a Hal Gill type, big but not intimidating.
“May you live in interesting times.”
This guy looks burned. He does not admit his failures wich is the first rule to move forward and learn. He still wants bigger orange cones as if in complete denial.And now he plays the pissed and mad guy and we should be impressed ?
I loved watching Burkie mutter that the Leafs weren’t going to build through the draft, but through trading and FAs.
Hilarious.
How do they manage to land the same kind of short-sighted management decade after decade??
Plus, a #5 pick isn’t going to help you too much Burkie.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
funny…just thought about the same thing.
“Step off George”
Heh heh.
Something in the air.
A whiff of truculence, perhaps.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I was listening to Brian Wilde yesterday talking about Burke on TSN990, and I could hardly control the steering wheel the way he was trying to be polite while commenting on how Burke needs an iron, ” ’cause he looks so…wrinkled!”.
Ha!!
That’s his ‘down but not out’ look.
His “you think this season’s been hard on you? Look at me!” aspect.
In his pocket is a paper bag with a mickey of Seagram’s.
After the Lottery, he went down to the tracks to drink it, and threw the empty at a boxcar.
Toronto feels sorry for him now, right?
He gets the pity vote to carry on, right?
Poor guy.
Just look at him!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Hell, he probably jumped into that boxcar for a lift to the suburbs because he spent the last of the money that he busked for on the corner with his monkey on the Seagram’s.
And his monkey died from exhaustion. Poor Burkie. I feel for him. Just a little.
___________________________________________________
Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
First half of your post, agree. Second half, Carey Price was a 5th pick. 3 higher picks were Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, and Benoit Poiliot, none of whom are worth Price in a straight-up trade. 1st of course was the Kid in 2005. No. 10 was Luke Bourdon, killed in a motorcycle crash. No. 11 was Anze Kopitar. Ondrej Pavelec, James Neal, Guillaume Latendresse, Mike Blunden, Paul Stasny and Adam McQuaid went in the second round. Kris Letang and Jonathan Quick(how about that Cat, and Dorval?) went in the third round. Matt D’Agostini sixth rounder, Sergei Kostitisyn and Joe Vitale (Briere cruncher) seventh rounders. So, let’s get some good ones after Grigorenko, Timmins and recover some of your reputation.
“May you live in interesting times.”
We’ve got D prospects in the pipeline, and the number 3 pick should be spent on some offense (either G or G), which is sorely needed for a team that played as many one-goal games as the Habs did this past season. It could be expensive, but Semin would be awfully intriguing to add to the mix.
___________________________________________________
Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
He ain’t gritty. 31 hits.
Gio Pleks Semin = skilly, but small.
Do we have enough bang elsewhere to justify a ‘weaker’ line like that?
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Gio is small(5’7”), Pleks is average(5’11”), Semin is big (6’2”).
He’s not gritty, but he can score goals, grit can be added elswhere on the lineup more easily than goal scoring.
Yeah, by small I meant “not physical”.
It’s almost a shame that our two best power forwards play so well together. We can’t spread them out.
Usually you need a fat with two thins.
Burrows with the Semins, for instance.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
This team needs one less well-rounded player, and one more goal-scorer.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
Bury Gomez and you free up Semin money. Unless some moron gives him an 8 year contract. Then…..pass!!!
Alex Semin’s a good hockey player.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
I am a little confused with the comments made by Button last night. He stated that Grigs would be our guy at number 3 yet he was only a compliment center to DD and Pleks. YEt Toronto would take Galchenyuk at 5 and he was the first line center they desperately need.
Was Button suggesting Grigs is a compliment player right now or for his whole career? ANd why would you take a player at 3 that is not at least considered a star in the making? Can anyone share some light on this…….
They can’t be experts on every team and their roster intricacies. We spend a whole lot more time worrying on our centre situation than he ever could. For him, having another centre like Mikhail Grigorenko makes us stronger at centre, that’s what he meant.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I get the impression that Button is both not a fan of Grigorenko and a big fan of the Leafs. If you look at his latest ranking he has Grigorenko rated 7th overall (but he’s good enough for the Habs to pick him at 3rd??). The Leafs could draft anyone, and he’d approve. You’re looking at bias, plain and simple, and Galchenyuk is probably the biggest question mark out there with his knee injury. I’d still be just as happy of the habs went with Forsberg. Don’t know how Grigo will adapt to the quiet nightlife in Montreal.
I also think something irked Button awhile back on Grigs but I think Button is a habs fan/critic. You know one of those fans who compare everything to 1977.
” I remember the days when…….”
Agreed and besides, at this time of year everyone is an expert on assessing talent. Show me one pronosticator’s lists from 4-5 years ago versus where they are today and they’ll earn my respect if they got as many as 3 of the top 10 right. But TV would be awfully boring without them.
I also get the impression that he’s a habs fan. That and he doesn’t have the best eye for talent.
“I’m not opposed to trading Plekanec and/or Markov”
- Sean Bonjovi
It is a mock draft, not who Button thinks the habs should pick , but who he thinks they will pick, obviously he thinks we will have Patrick Roy in the equation and he would push for Grigorenko (center with size but questions on his compete level). I am sure Timmins realizes Galchenyuk is the better option at Center and now 6’2 with more comparisons to Malkin, than Grigorenko
If this tweet is correct, the Habs are certainly looking carefully, not like giving PG the job because he was a warm body in the room.
Dave Stubbs @habsinsideout1
RT @helenenothelen: #Habs interested in talking to Kings asst GM Ron Hextall in addition to Luc Robitaille, their prez of business ops
I would interpret having Ron Hextall as our GM as a sign of the pending Apocalypse.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
It was foretold by the Mayans
“Et le but!”
This summer is the most important transition for the habs since Toe Blake took over. IF it takes all summer to get the right guy then Im okay with that.
It came from the beat writer for the Kings so not someone to immediately dismiss, but having Hextall run the Habs would be like having Chelios run the Flyers. Just not going to happen. Robitaille would be intriguing though, but I suspect not as a GM. And why in the world would he want to leave LA?
If we buried Gomez and his 7M+ in Hamilton, which premier FA would you go for? Semin hurt his value this year, I think, and there’s Parise, that’s about it for the prize players. If the Habs wanted to sign either to 3-4 years at Gomez money, I’d be cool with that.
Parise seems doubtful, either he stays in NJ, or he goes to a cup contender.
Semin could be an interesting gamble.
I agree it’s likely Parise will stay in NJ, but Washington has pretty much no interest in signing Semin with so much locked up in Ovie, Backstrom and Green. Could make for an intriguing second line with Gio and Pleks, freeing up Eller to play on a shutdown line. But I trust there will some moronic GM who will give him 8 years at 75M. Just hope it’s not ours.
That’s Crosby money over 8 years.
Ouch.
Someone will give it to him. Someone always does.
Parise has too many similarities to the Cammalleri of 2009. Although I beleive Parise is better then Cammy I just dont want us dishing out 30 plus million to a smaller player who’s success depends on his scoring ability. If we are going to throw out a boat load of cash at someone it should be a superstar dman or a monster sized forward and some should be available soon. AKA Shea W
I drool at even the remote prospect of having PK, SHea Weber and Markov on defense. Throw in a beast like Emelin and look at the depth on the way up and you could mail the Vezina trophy to Price right now. There’d be a lot of 2-1 games, though. BTW – dream on dude, he’s only going into his RFA year, Suter is going into his UFA year. Weber would cost a fortune in players and picks.
Dude Parise is nothing like Cammy. They’re both scorers, but Parise comes along with a much more well-rounded two-way game. He’s got jets, and he plays on the PK. I mean, he’s a product of the NJ system. Would look great here. For us to acquire him is my dream, more than Ryan Suter even. Won’t happen though :p
What would be wrong with letting the young kids play and waiting a year to figure out which of them is talented before paying $70 million to replace one of them.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
Sounds like a good idea. See what happens in the next training camp. There are always surprises. Good and bad.
Richard R
I can’t wait see Beaulieu play for the Habs, the kid can skate, score, hit, good puck mover and he can drop gloves once and a while.
I think our D will be looking pretty good in the next couple years, Subban will have a lot more experience by then.
The back end will be looking good, we have Pacs and just need a couple more pieces and we should be back in playoff form.
This year draft should be a tough decision, a few guys look pretty good to me but no sure bet as far as I can tell. A toss up between Grigorenko, Galchenyuk and Forsberg.
I agree, it will be fun to see Beaulieu play!
Habfan17
With the 3 rd pick we will get a good player. So unless someone makes us an offer that we cannot refuse ,meaning it`s in our favor, I would not move one finger.
Again just change all the replacements players and we will be o.k. Blunden,White,Campoli,Dumont,Palushaj,Weber,Moen.
They did not make the difference and are interchangeable players like 80 % of the players in the league. So let`s interchange ! Maybe then the results will be different.
I think that the difference maker will come from the trade market. Will not make my expert and say trade this guy against this guy cause this leads nowhere,nowhere else than frustrated fans that did not get what they thought they would get.
Of those you listed, I would keep Moen for his size, muscle, veteran leadership, Cup win, and reasonable cap hit
______________________________________________________
“It’s just an opinion – I could be wrong”
Some discussion about the poor quality of the players picked in the 1968 NHL draft.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1968a.html
What we need to remember is these guys were the leftovers after most of the talented teens in Canada were already signed to contracts by NHL teams and playing in their farm system. For example, the Bruins signed Bobby Orr at the age of fourteen, winning out against the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens, among others.
The universal draft came later, at which point players played until they were twenty years old in junior before being drafted, with the oddball U.S. college guy or European player thrown in. This practice was a great advantage to owners, who with the advent of player agents, were having to pay ever higher signing bonuses to players and their parents to reserve their rights. With the draft, a player’s rights were owned by one team only, there no longer were any bidding wars.
Until the WHA came along, but that’s another story.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I found a great site that has scouting reports on all the top prospects including Grigorenko, Galchenyuk and Forsberg.
http://lastwordonsports.com/category/lastwordblog/nhldraft/
Some really good reads there. I especially like the write up on Galchenyuk. They say his knee looked great in the playoffs.
Go Habs Go!
Yeah I’m really liking Galchenyuk, from all the recent reports I read about him his knee is looking fine.
I’m fully aboard the Galchenyuk train. love everything I’ve read/seen of him.
His highlight videos on Youtube are beauties.
I don’t really like youtube scouting though, cause everyone looks good there.
Either way though, in Timmins I trust.
Go Habs Go!
Agreed. In Timmins we trust.
I would like to see RC retained. Maybe in charge of Player Development?
Director of communication, with assistant Jacques Martin.
No no… director of communication has been claimed by Carbo long time ago
So Carbo needs 2 new assistants…
“Chief Bowling Strategist”
The team could always use more equipment staff. I’m sure there’s a spot for Cunneyworth washing socks.
Any coach who preaches a chip and chase system and then disciplines or grows upset with his players for bounces not going there way while playing the kind of game he’s telling them to isn’t going to be successful at the NHL level. Hopefully he learns from his mistakes and makes a nice career for himself somewhere.
He’s a nice guy, but we’re headed for a sweep of the old régime. Trevor Timmins will probably get to stay, but a new GM will want to install his own people with his philosophy. Mr. Cunneyworth will land on his feet somewhere else.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
RC should join Muller and Boucher at the World Championships. Now that would be weird.
I hate to add to the insensitive card, but the guys are right.
He’s a nice guy and all, and I really think the organization threw him under the bus at the beginning of his short tenure as HC, but he blew too many situations to be considered for head coaching duties. Yes, there were many injuries, but that has happened in previous years, and they managed to stay afloat.
His lack of ability to out-coach the opposition was painfully obvious during their last game against the Rangers.
Hello folks,
I’ve been reading HI/O for a very long time, but I’ve never felt compelled to register to leave a comment. This thread has finally prompted my to break my silence.
1- Re: Jordan Eberle. If you think Montréal would be able to trade for this kid without giving up Price, you are mistaken. Eberle is Edmonton’s best forward, ahead of Hall and Hopkins. I live in Edmonton, and I probably watch more Oilers games than the average HIO reader. Eberle was tied for 15th in league scoring this year. He had the second best shooting percentage of anyone in the top 25 (after Stamkos). Out of the top 25 scorers, Eberle had the lowest TOI. Eberle played 17:35/gm. The next lowest is Ray Whitney (18:38/gm) and the 3rd lowest is Henrik Sedin at 19:05. Eberle was also a +4. He was one of only two Oilers forwards to be even or better last season. Never mid that Eberle might be the most popular Oiler.
In conclusion, Eberle is not moving.
2- Re: The 3rd pick. Why is it that everyone assumes that just because Forsberg is regarded as the “safe” pick, he doesn’t have a high ceiling?
3- Re: The Oilers at 1. They are picking Yakupov. Did you see Tambellini’s face last night? He could barely keep the grin off his face. It wasn’t “Oh YES! But I’m still picking Ryan Murray.” It was “Haha! We get Yakupov!.”
4- Re: Next year’s forward lines.
Cole-DD-Max
Gionta-Pleks-Bourque
Moen-Eller-LL
Plug-White-Plug
Like it or not, this is likely what we have. And I’m on the “like” side. We all konw that line 1 is good. Line 2 has 3 consistent 20 goal scorers, and line 3 will be responsible, with plenty of offensive upside.
Anyhow, that about covers it.
I disagree in the lineup. Add up the cap space for that lineup….and see how much we will still have left over.
With a new GM coming in, he will want to put his stamp on this team….and with all the space created with the “au revoir” de Gomez……I can’t see us not landing at least a couple of decent free agents. We will have the money to play with/
Also, some might say that players won’t want to come to MTL after the circus of this season…..but i really don’t believe that will be the case.
They have done a good job lately in bringing in key free agent signing the last couple of years…….
-Cole being one last year
-Cammi(was at first) and Gionta a couple years before
“Step off George”
Decent free agent are quite rare and likely to get ridiculous contracts this summer.
Would you not say Cole last season was one of the top 3 free agent signings?? We are the ones who got him.
Why should it be any different this year? Not to say we will definately land the big dogs…but I don’t understand why there is so much doom and gloom talk about landing one or two guys who can have an impact and bring leadership
“Step off George”
Check for yourself, this year’s free agent pool is weak
http://www.capgeek.com/free_agents.php
Absolutely, this is by far from being one of the best free agency periods……but there are still at least 6 or 7 guys that I would consider bringing in, so the can fill a spot on our 2nd or 3rd lines. No way should Bourque be playing on the 2nd line
“Step off George”
Think you mean to say worst? And yea sure some guys could help out, but there is very little top 6 talent available, apart from Parise, Semin and Parenteau.
Sorry I meant to say this is far from being the best……
Doan…..unless he has already been resigned. Also I think Knuble could be an interesting signing…at least for the 3rd line
“Step off George”
Here’s the cap numbers. That forward group is about 25 million (using Eller, Moen, and White’s contracts from last year). Add in 2 plugs a million each, you’ve got 27. I’m not including Gomez, but if you choose to, you can go to 34.
On D, there’s about 14 million locked up. Add new deals for PK, Emelin and the two swiss. Call that 7.5, and now you have 21.5 for the D.
Including Gomez, you’ve got 55.5 million, which allows you almost 9 million with which to sign Price. If you bury Gomez, well now you can sign Price and take a run at a star UFA.
If Gomez contract is still on the salary cap next year…..well then there is a huge problem with this owners philosophy.
“Step off George”
I think it is entirely possible that Gomez, Kaberle and even Bourque could be the nucleus of a very over priced Bull Dogs team next year. The Canadiens have, what I hope will be, a unique opportunity to sweep the detritus out this summer and start over. Might make for a long year next year, but give us players who play with passion, find a coach who can teach skills, and a GM that can fill a hole or 2, and it would at least be fun to watch.
Welcome, and great first post.
#1. There’s lots of lunatics on HI/O. You’ll see lots of crazy ideas for trades that don’t make any sense for the other team.
#2. So true. I think we can and should go for Galchenyuk. He’s just what we need, a big scoring centre. His return was shortened by elimination from playoffs, but he did great considering he was out for the entire season.
#3. Very good point. Now that you mention it, I completely agree. I certainly noticed the big smile, but I didn’t make the connection.
Is anyone else going insane reading all these make up “dream” trades fans want to see on twitter and on HIO? What’s wrong with keeping what we have now (minus Gomex, Kaberle + shut down D-man through FA) and just draft the best available player and let them develop? All I’m saying is NO MORE TRADING ASSESTS for patching!
completely agree
You should also see what fans want to give up for Yakupov.
its crazy isnt it
If we had made the payoffs, everyone would now be talking about how we were going to sweep the Rangers in 4. A Habs fan will always dream, even if it borders on fantasy.
also, I think the nhl needs to look into this draft bs, edmonton 1st, 3 years running, that should also affect your lottery chances imho
anyone suggesting we give up anything more than a body and a 4th round pick for edmonton’s 1st round pick is out to lunch.
(1) I wish I were out to lunch
(2) Some of those people are suggesting acquiring the pick in addition to the #3 pick. Others are suggesting moving up. You don’t specify. Surely a body and a 4th is too little an offer for the Habs to acquire their pick outright. That’s an insulting offer unless the body involved is PK or Price. You mean these plus the #3 pick, don’t you? If so, then those suggesting that Habs acquire the #1 pick in addition to #3 are not necessarily out to lunch and certainly not by your standards. Actually, no one is suggesting what you’re talking about, unless you implicitly mean #3, a body, and a 4th rounder.
If I was Tambellini, here’s what I’d do. Trade his #1 to Habs for D-man prospect and their #1. Trade the Habs #1 to the Leafs for Schenn (or another propsect) and their #1. habs would get Nail, Leafs would be guaranteed either Grigorenko or Forsberg and the Oliers would have 2 more defensemen and could take a defensive prospect at 5th overall. Oilers needs 3 defenseman way more than another stud forward. Works for everyone, and nobody loses a ton either.
Let’s just keep our third pick, we still could draft Galchenyuk.
Don’t need to give our pick and a d prospect for just Yakupov.
agree completely ^^^
I think I’d rather keep the #3, but that’s still a very good idea you suggest. Kudos! You may be a better GM than Tambellini.
That would be a coup for Edmonton. The problem though is I believe what the Oilers are looking for is NHL-ready defencemen, not prospects, of which they have many. They want guys who are plug and play. So Luke Schenn might fill the bill, a change of scenery might do him a world of good, but the Canadiens would have to give up a roster player, so one of Josh Gorges or Alexei Emelin. The others wouldn’t qualify as an upgrade for Edmonton. So that wouldn’t work the Canadiens. The price to swap up two ranks in the pick ladder needs to be reasonable, especially this year, with no undisputed superstar in the making at #1.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Giving up either Emelin or Gorges would be an unthinkably high price to pay just to trade up 2 places. Although I’m leaning a little towards Forsberg because of the pedigree right now.
I hope HIO intends to leave that scoreboard of the Leafs-Habs final game up all off season.
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /wp-content/cache/supercache/www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/a-win-that-slipped-away/index.html on this server.
with all those ridicolous trade-scenarios, thats by far the best idea by a poster here!
How about Bealieu (he doesn’t speak french anyway) and Gallagher and the 3rd pick for Edmonton’s #1 pick……plus gomez and kaberle.
Kissing abilities should not be a factor.
However, giving good rimjobs could be a factor.
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /wp-content/cache/supercache/www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/a-win-that-slipped-away/index.html on this server.
LOL!
@ Marcusman, the #1 pick to get a shot at Yakupov?
I’m more in favor of trading the #3 for a proven top 3 forward. All draft picks are a crap shoot to some degree. But a Bobby Ryan (for example) is a near lock. Fast, big, scores. A right handed version of Cole or Pacioretty — and he was being shopped earlier in the year.
You seriously overestimate the value of a #1 pick, bro. He was on the block, but not for long, and Getzlaf and Perry are both UFA’s next year. They’d want 2 propects and the #1. Thank Mr. Burke in Toronto for showing what the value of a 35 goal scorer is.
Nope, that is too much to give up. The 3rd overall player will still be a very quality pick……..to give them Beaulieu and Gallagher on top of it would be too much to give up for Yak………now maybe if it was a 3rd round pick…then we can talk
“Step off George”
Bro are you serious or are you joking?
Cause Are best D prospect, are best forward prospect for edms number 1? That’s retarded.
And what’s rong if he can’t talk french? We should trade him away that’s why?
Is it cause nothings going on that’s why we’re coming up with stupid deals like this?
Oh yeah I forgot we also have to throw in our third pick.
And all that for yakupov!
Yep, that’s the reason why. It’s Wheeler Dealer Time and anything goes.
Richard R
The Habs should pick Galchenyuk, but if he’s not there at third then I’d give serious thought to Dumba.
Dumba is a dmen that could do everything, he could score, hit, fight, and play shut down. If we get him, we could trade some of our other d prospects for forwards. Waw, think how we’d be with P.K. Subban, and a better P.K. Subban (Dumba) on d.
Subban Dumba Yemilen Gorges Tenordi Beaulieu could be our top 6.
I know the Habs really need a forward, but what the scouts are saying about Dumba, can we really pass on him?
What do you guys think.
Definitely building from the net out.
We would also definitely not be worrying about our D being small then!
I saw Darche on L’Antichambre last night and I did not hear him say much, (a lot like his pruduction this year). other tat to say who ever the first pick is he will have a lot to deal with like free meals in restaurants, free drinks at bars , the media and lots of girls .
He was / is a hard worker but so what so was Metropolit and he scored 12 goals not 12 points.
When he was talking about the distractions all I could think of was the Coyotes now there is a team with distractions and they made the playoffs.
Like the DODGERS “Wait till next year”
Maybe late to this, but 64% of people on here wanna keep RC as coach next year?
I guess assistant coach, or maybe in Hamilton…
RC has said all the right things . but if he where smart he would get out of this zoo and FAST. Maybe Edmonton
Like the DODGERS “Wait till next year”
“On their coaching staff.”
Maybe not as Head Coach.
I’d probably be cool with that.
Especially if he was the reason for our PK.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I thought he ran the PP?
And yeah assistant or Hamilton would be fine for him.
I wouldn’t mind him returning as assistant coach, he seems like a good guy and all the players seem to like him. I wouldn’t have him back as head coach though.
Some interesting discussion that Forsberg is the “safe” option picking third. While I don’t know that he should go higher than fifth, Forsberg sort of reminds me of the “safe pick” of last year’s draft, Landeskog, who went second overall and then had arguably the best rookie season this year.
Still tempting to see Galchenyuk or Grigerenko in a Habs jersey. We don’t need two-way forwards, this club desparately lacks dominant, skilled natural scorers.
I agree, the habs have defensemen, they have a goalie they have 2nd and 3rd liners, 4th liners can be had via free agency, its time to get some pure offense. I’m hoping we get the best purely offensive guy in the draft. We finished 15th in the east but had the 5th best goals against, while having the 13th place for goals for…its time we score some goals!
We need another Guy Lafleur. A player that will spur the crowd to jump up out of their seats every time he rushes up the ice. Like PK does when he’s really on his game.
Richard R
Landeskog had been playing North American hockey for two years.
Oh I know, he was arguably the most NHL-ready player in that whole draft. But he was also billed as a “sure thing”, not necessarily a superstar. I just don’t want us ending up with a Stanislav Chistov or another Alex Volchkov.
Don’t forget that Chistov, Zherdev and Filatov all played their junior hockey in Russia, they came over here and then realized oh crap this hockey is different. Guys like Grigorenko and Yakupov at least got the cobb webbs out in junior and they’ve proven they can play north american hockey so i wouldn’t liken them to those other busts. And yes Radulov played his junior hockey here and then left for the KHL, but while it is always a risk, that was just ONE player.
Alex Volchhov (’96, fourth overall) played his draft year with Barrie I believe. Never panned out for Washington.
There are plenty of arguments for Russians playing their junior career on either side of the pond, and for first round busts who played on either side. For every Yakupov there’s a Volchkov or Denis Shvidki, and for every Kovalchuk/Malkin/Ovechkin, there’s a Zherdev/Svitov/Chistov etc.
Personally I would love to see Pierre McGuire as the next GM although if you believe the buzz he doesn’t seem to be a candidate at the moment. He’s a true hockey man, something the Habs need in my opinion. Plus he could keep Carriere on staff for “capology”. Does anyone know if he was even contacted? In any case I do hope that the new GM keeps Timmins. Other than one blip with the David Fischer pick I think Timmins has been excellent to date.
The notion that McGuire is a “true hockey man” is absurd.
Not sure about that one ..however I wonder if anyone is wondering like I am if Gerald Gallant who coaches the Sea dogs will be given consideration as our next coach . He’s a ex NHL’er, speaks French has that Detroit pedigree and has been very successful in the Q …
Horton is out for the playoffs, apparently. Anyone is upset? Not me.
not me either, should I feel bad about myself?
Did you hear from Who? (These and other Dr. Seuss jokes are free for the asking)
Shawn Thornton must be devastated
I feel no sympathy towards any of the Bruins. Maybe Savard, but that’s it. That team is a f***ing joke.
nah… not him either.
What about:
Lars Eller, Raphael Diaz, and #3 pick
for
Yakupov and a future 2nd round pick
no
Why not?
Why would Edmonton want either Eller or Diaz. They want Tinordi or Beaulieu. So would you trade one of them and our 3rd.
It’s not that much of a drop from #1 pick to #3 pick.
They will get the defenceman they need, and some good sugar in a shutdown guy like Eller, and a good young defenceman body in Diaz. I think it’s workable. They don’t want to be stuck with Yakupov, but they want a big time NHL ready defenceman they can get with 3rd pick.
I would consider Tinordi, because big guys are more apt to bust. I would not do it for Beaulieu, too expensive.
No. IMO that weakens the team in the future rather than strengthens it. Look at the teams with a strong defensive core (Boston, Nashville, St Louis, Detroit) vs a weak one (Edm, Wash, TB). Beaulieu appears to be the natural replacement for Markov while Tinordi appears to be the physical dimension that we are clamouring for in our d. Why are we so quick to ditch that?
I wouldn’t do it, but if you are making a trade with the Oilers it’s going to take a good defensive prospect and your 1st. Someone like the Leafs or Minnesota might bite.
I don’t know if this has been discused or not already, but did anyone else happen to watch Darche on L’Antichambre last night? He gave some pretty interesting insights into the state of lockeroom and such.
Do you have more details?
A quick summary would be awesome.
I didn’t have a chance to watch all of it but basicly he talked about how while Pk does get on some people’s nerves sometimes, they understand and embrace the things that make him who he is for the most part.
He dismissed the rumors that Markov has some grudge against him and attributed it to Markov just being a quiet guy(the excat oposite of PK).
He also dismissed the notion that the dressing room is divided and admited that while there definetly are cliques it’s nothign as drastic as the koivu/Kovalev era.
(Warning: my french isn’t perfect so I’m hoping I didn’t misinterperate anything)
thanks!
Cool thanx for that, makes alot more sense than everyone hating PK…
Also another thing I forgot to mention is that he admitted that all the crap that happened this year with the firings and such, definitely was a distraction and had a negative impact on the room.
Even if there were ‘grudges’ being held, no one would be stupid enough to admit it, especially on l’antichambre…
These guys are pro athletes, they are bound to have misuderstandings like any other group of people working together, its the media and fans that blow things out of proportion.
If I’m not mistaken Darche will be working as commentator for RDS for the upcoming playoff series, and I have a feeling we’ve seen the last of him in a hockey uniform.
The notion that Julien Brisebois has ever been a favourite for the GM job with the Habs is beyond far fetched.
In reality, Geoff Molson was adamant that a culture change is needed. So bringing back a guy who was part of the culture you don’t want around your organization probably doesn’t satisfy that desire. Second, Serge Savard(ya know, the guy whose help Molson enlisted) was adamant that his ideal candidate would be a “hockey guy”. Savard knows better than most the difference between bright business men and hockey men. I don’t think he would offer a chairman of the board with Mariott a GM job.
Former players are the guys who will get real interest. And in addition, it will be former players who played in big markets and have a history of leadership that will get the strongest consideration.
I have a hunch it will be Denis Savard.
My money is on Bergevin.
I don’t think it will be Bergevin. I’m not sure that they’ll be satisfied with him. I think with him it all comes down to how they feel he will handle the pressure of being in Montreal and communicating the good and the bad publicly.
I think that of the people named publicly for the candidacy, only Loiselle, Roy and Giguere are getting serious interest.
And I believe that there are some secrets out there as well. It wouldn’t surprise me to see names like Denis Savard or Stephan Lebeau pop up.
How about another dark horse: Bobby Smith
- owner/coach of a team in the Q
- stanley cup winner with the Habs
- speaks French
- former GM
sheesh…some of those credentials sound familiar.
Yeeaahhh!!
That would be cool.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I could definitely get on board with Bobby Smith as GM.
And, best of all, he’s Nova Scotian. A true prerequisite for greatness in my books.
______________________________________________________
Lost a bottle of Kraken during this debacle of a season. Better gettem next year.
I’d say Gino Odjick but he’d be better suited to coaching.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
NHL Central Scouting was started in 1975 by Jack Button.
NorthTOHab
…who happens to be Craig Button’s late father…
Let’s add those fans who want to trade PK into the crazy category with the Price bashers. The fans Melnick so appropriately torched in his blog yesterday.
Come on now, people.
I’m starting to get how the Price bashers feel. I mean people say Subban is a superstar in the making, I just don’t see it. Then again I thought Kovalev was extremely overrated. Both are really flashy, but superstars, I think not. I would trade PK for a proven young scorer like Ryan or Eberle, but I wouldn’t even consider trading him for older, overpaid vets like Stall, Getzlaf or Nash. I always felt like McDonagh was the better of the 2 and like Beaulieu’s potential more than PK. One thing I’ve learned about Habs fans is flash wins out over substance every time.
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
The kid played 24:18 a night, was a plus 9 on a bad team, throws vicious hits, moves the puck with the best of them, had 36 pts, and is only 22 …. he played all of our most vital roles … yikes what the heck are you not seeing?
I never said he’s not going to be top pairing D for the next decade, but IMO, there is a difference between untradable superstar and top pairing D. You did notice I said I would only trade him for a young goal scorer. I didn’t say he sucks, he’s just not a superstar, IMO.
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
I think he has plenty of substance to go with his flash. Business wise they would be silly to trade him because he sells merchandise and puts fannies in seats. So I doubt they would.
I just see him as much more of a player. Agree to disagree I guess.
The Oilers are not offering Eberle as for Ryan,I doubt the Ducks want to trade him either.The ducks can pick up Dumba at the draft,he is big and can skate,plus I can still see him shutting down Grigorenko at the World juniors.
NorthTOHab
I think Mitch was torching one guy.
Dave Stubbs
Hockey Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
• Email: dstubbs@montrealgazette.com
Kypreos says Habs reaching out to Luc Robitaille to discuss GM position.
Kypreos is the least reliable, least intelligent and least informed member of Canadian hockey media.
He said “Tomas Plekanec will get $7.5 million annually on the open market and will not re-sign with the Montreal Canadiens”.
Among other strikeouts that contained as much common sense as a George W. Bush speech.
Geez, even Bushy has more smarts than what’s been knocked out of Kypreos.
I dunno, Bruce Garrioch would give him a real run for his money. And he has broken a few trades/contracts. But he’s too much bluster for me.
Indeed.
And ‘least intelligent and least informed member of Canadian hockey media’ is like ‘best soccer player’ in Brazil. It’s a real feat.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Player A – 14 g – 112 shots – 12.5 s%
Player B – 17g – 220 shots – 7.7 s%
Player C – 16g – 129 shots – 12.4 s%
Can you guess the 3 players?
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
A – Kostitsyn
B – Plekanec(Bourque?)
C – Eller
Almost Tom, you got 2 out of 3.
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
I’m assuming it’s the first one that’s wrong. And I’m willing to take a stab and say it’s Mike Cammalleri. But I’m not certain at all obviously.
Cammy got 20 goals this season, 9 with the Habs, 11 with the Flames.
I thought it was Kostitsyn too.
A is probably DD, too lazy to look it up. Word.
______________________________________________________
Lost a bottle of Kraken during this debacle of a season. Better gettem next year.
Desharnais 16 goals on 98 shots.
Player A – Pac’s last season
Player B – Plek’s this season
Player C – Eller this season
I was just trying to make a point with the Eller is an AHL’er crowd, or the we didn’t get enough for Halak crowd.
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
Last season? That’s cheating.
Pac’s was 22 last year, Eller is 22 this year. I added Plek’s because I feel Eller’s potential is a bigger Plekanec. By the way the last 6 seasons Plek’s has averaged 22g and 33a, IMO, a very realistic goal for Lars.
Proud Pricebot since 2006/2007
A- ?? nobody scored 14g according to Canadiens site
B- Pleks
c- Lars
Like the DODGERS “Wait till next year”
I will agree with most here that overall Timmins has done pretty well. One terrible mistake , I think has impacted and will continue to impact the habs for years to come.
Ben Maxwell picked ahead of Milan Lucic. OUCH!
Maxwell picked in the 2nd round, 49th overall in the 2006 entry draft has a total of 2 goals and 6 assists in 47 NHL games, and is currently playing for the St Johns Icecaps in the AHL. Lucic has 90 goals and 122 assists in 359 NHL regular season games.
It shows how fine the line is between winning a cup and squeaking into the playoffs, or failing to make the playoffs.
Imagine last years playoffs with Lucic on our side. I think had the Habs taken Lucic instead of Maxwell, and signed Aaron Asham as aa free agent in 2008 (like the Flyers did) for $700K instead of Laraque for $2million (Gainey?), we would have one at least one cup, and probably would have gone into later rounds every single year. since then.
In my opinion those two mistakes, Lucic/Maxwell and Laraque/Asham
are most responsible for the mess we are in. We could have survived everything else including the Gomez and the Halak trades.
regards,
Steve O.
You’re calling it a mistake. Fine, Ben Maxwell isn’t the player that Milan Lucic is. But a mistake? Lucic was taken 50th overall, meaning most teams had two opportunities to get him and passed.
He was passed on because he was(and still is) slow and he also had a medical condition that would make you think twice about the athletic growth of a player.
Lucic can be called a great selection today, but in his circumstance, it was much more luck than anything else.
I was not claiming that Lucic should have been the number one pick. Most teams also had two chances to pick Maxwell and none of them did.
My point was that the team that picked Lucic, has won the cup, and Kucic has been a regular, impact player almost immediately after being drafted. Maxwell, after three years of AHL seasoning could not crack the lineup in either Montreal, Atlanta/Winnipeg, or Anaheim.
I don`t know what else that can be called, other than a mistake.
I also don`t understand the logic, when Timmins drafts a player that goes on to play in the NHL, he gets credit for making a good selection, and when he drafts someone that turns out to be a bust, he is not responsible, because the central scout bureau rated the kid highly.
If that’s the case why do we need a director of scouting, lets save the money and draft according to the CSB rankings?
I am not a hockey scout, but I would only have needed to see photos of Maxwell and Lucic and I would have selected Lucic in a heartbeat.
http://www.habsworld.net/isource/albums/pics/10002/normal_Ben%20Maxwell%20Habs~0.jpg Maxwell Photo
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XEFyqG4Vffk/S_h-w8C_5DI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Nmi36Jh7gKg/s1600/IMG_0467_2.JPG Lucic Photo.
If I was looking for a boyfriend for my teenage daughter, or a choir boy I may have selected Maxwell, but to play in the NHL?
I dare anyone to look at those the two pictures above and tell me that they would have drafted Maxwell ahead of Lucic.
Regards,
SteveO
Fortunately selections aren’t made by photos. If they were the Flyers never would have selected Claude Giroux.
Lucic in his fourth and final year of junior hockey was scoring less than a point per game. He had and continues to have underwhelming talent and athletic ability. The Bruins got lucky and I maintain that. He is the exact opposite of what good to elite NHL players today are. He isn’t fast, he doesn’t have above average puck handling skills, his passing leaves a lot to be desired and he isn’t even above average in the hockey intelligence department.
He is a very big, very strong man who protects the puck exceptionally well and has a very good release on his shot which happens to be very accurate.
You can call it a mistake as I said, but in reality he is so strong and good at protecting the puck that it’s allowed him to enjoy a great deal of NHL success. You can’t measure how strong a player is at the age of eighteen, look at an underwhelming skill set and then determine that he’ll develop enough strength to thrive.
Skill is the primary target and his was average when he was drafted. Had Ben Maxwell developed the strength that Milan Lucic has you would be talking about how great a pick Maxwell was.
And you can’t measure how strong a player will become.
I guess taking Ryan White in the third round # 66 ahead of Brad Marchand (#71) was not a mistake either? we also could have had Cal Clutterbuck (picked # 72) .
Its no wonder the Bruins won the cup last year. In the 2006 draft PICKING BEHIND Montreal, Boston drafted Kessel (we got David Fisher) in the 1st round. Lucic in the second round (we got Maxwell)
and Marchand in the third round (we got Ryan White).
I guess Timmins had an off year.
Steve O.
Kessel was not picked ahead of David Fischer.
That team you seem to love so much. The Bruins. Well in 2007 they drafted Zach Hamill #8 overall ahead of Logan Couture, Brandon Sutter, Ryan McDonagh, Lars Eller, Kevin Shattenkirk and Max Pacioretty.
In the second round they took Tommy Cross ahead of Michal Repik, Eric Tangradi, PK Subban, Oscar Moller, TJ Galiardi and Wayne Simmonds.
In 2008 they selected Joe Colborne in the first round ahead of Jake Gardiner, Michael Del Zotto, Jordan Eberle, Tyler Ennis and John Carlson.
In the second round they selected Maxime Sauve ahead of Derek Stepan, Travis Hamonic, Patrice Cormier and Marco Scandella.
Having fun picking your spots? It’s a two way street slugger.
I stand corrected. Kessel was picked ahead of Fisher.
For the record, I hate the Bruins and I am happy that we don’t have Lucic, or Marchand or our team. I really don;t like those guys, but if they were on the Habs, maybe I would think differently. They are certainly better hockey players than Maxwell and White.
I am not trying to “slug” or pick spots. Every draft has some surprises, some high ranking players that don’t make it and lower ranked players that become stars . To be fair some of the Bruins picks you mention (especially in the 2008 draft) may still become effective NHL players. Colborne now a Leaf performed well in a 10 game call up this season, Tommy Cross is in University playing defense for BostonCollege zach Hamil played 16 games for the bruins this year, and is probably 5th or 6th center on their depth chart.
Anyway, I was simply pointing out that Timmins is not infallible and there is no guarantee that this years 1st round draft pick whether its Galenchyuk Grigorenko or Foster, will have any significant impact on the fortunes of the Habs in the coming season, if ever.
The choice of GM, and coach will have a significantly larger effect on the fortunes of our team for the next 5 to 10 years.
regards,
Steve O.
Bobby Fisher in the 1st round of 2006 was way worse than Maxwell in the 2nd round.
Some scouts thought Fisher wouldn’t even be drafted at all, let alone be a 1st rounder…
Bobby Fisher in 2006 …
Sure, the paranoia was florid by then.
But in 1972 he was untouchable.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
To be fair I don’t think anyone thought Milan was going to be this good.
Reposted from August 2011:
A while back I did some research on Ben Maxwell and Milan Lucic to see how they were ranked coming into the draft. Doing so I stumbled across a Ryan White writeup, wherein he was described as a high-energy player whose coach trusted him to play center in pressure situations and always seemed to be around the puck. It was an eye-opener for me, but what really surprised me was the fact that he was ranked the #7 prospect in the WHL, higher than both Mr Maxwell (#12) and Mr. Lucic (#14).
The writeup did state that despite winning most battles, Ryan was not an ideal physical specimen, and needed to dedicate himself to his conditioning. So it’s refreshing that apparently he’s one of the kids who gets it, as opposed to Benoit Pouliot, and it shows that there is hope for someone like Ian Schultz, who apparently is not well-conditioned. Mr. White’s success story is also refreshing in light of the torrent of negative comments from posters who castigate Canadiens’ management for poor asset management and development.
This is a clear steal for our club. Here is a player who showed character and produced in junior, but who ‘fell’ in the draft, maybe after a poor showing at the combine. Having to parade shirtless before scouts may not have helped his stock, but we were lucky to scoop him in the third round. Good work by our scouting staff on that one, it kind of reduces the sting of David Fischer and Ben Maxwell being drafted in the first and second rounds.
One thing which worries me is that a lot of posters here in the HIO community, who may reflect the average Montreal fan to some degree, seem to stress the importance of Ryan’s pugilistic prowess above all else. In light of his performance in Calgary and Hamilton, I think we should consider him to be more of a Mario Tremblay type of player, one who will hit and go into the corners and show character and passion and pot a timely goal, instead of reducing the expectations to him being a cruiserweight.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/ryan_white
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
OK so I was curious, if Pritchard was the #3 pick who did Montreal pick ahead of him?? If we think this is a weak year WHOW!!! see how bad 1968 was.
http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1968/68main.htm
Only 10 of the 24 players drafted made the NHL.
Like the DODGERS “Wait till next year”
There was no Central Scouting Dept.at that time.
NorthTOHab
Just for the sake of looking ahead. Some recent players taken in the 31-33 range of the NHL draft in the last ten years have included…..
Loui Eriksson
Dave Bolland
James Neal
Vyacheslav Voynov
Jakob Markstrom
Ryan O’Reilly
Jared Knight(looking good)
Ty Rattie(looking good)
Tomas Jurco was a 35th overall selection last year and looks great too.
This draft, in my opinion isn’t very promising right now beyond the second round. There are a handful of European players and American High School players who are very intriguing who should be available in the middle rounds but beyond that there isn’t much elite skill beyond the early part of the second round, expect the Habs to go almost exclusively with defensemen or goaltending after the second round.
Go Habs!!!
NorthTOHab
Rebuilding requires giving ice time to the young skilled players at the epense of veterans. The top six fowards are DD, Cole, Pax, LL Eller and the 2012 draft pick. The third line becomes Plekanec, Gionta and Bourque. Perhaps, Plekanec should get to play first line center, but DD cannot play third line center and would not get much in return in trade relative to his potential upside.
Maybe LL and Eller are not skilled enough to play on the second line. But Montreal finished last in the conference with other guys getting all the minutes.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
im with you on that. give the young guys a shot. id love to see what eller and louis could do if they had time and the coaches had patience.
How about not trading anyone away until we know who the GM is? ……………………..Never mind.
Be happy with #3. Edmonton should not trade their #1 unless Nashville offers them Suter or even Radulov. Both are RFA, and this playoff will be their only kick at the can before losing a good chunk of the roster.
Radulov is scheduled to be a restricted free agent. Suter will be unrestricted.
My bad.
Marc Bergevin for GM?
NorthTOHab
if they trade PK , i am sueing for 250 bucks , and will get anyone else who bought a sweater with his name on it , while at the game saturday , there were by far more 76 sweaters than anyone else
You just hit the nail on the head by the way! PK sells too many sweaters to even think about trading.
At least its not the $1,250 Cammy was charged for his own sweater.
Edit:
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
was this on the habs , too funny if it was
Apparently, but who knows if its true or not. I just thought Id poke fun at it.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
Yeah, I wonder how that “story” “got out.”
It’s such a fabricated pile of nonsense.
Why would Cammy ask permission to take his jersey?
Please.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Egg zachary. I guess the PG-demonization machine is still winding down.
I heard he kicked a puppy.
Oh, and that he only recycles half of his vegan supplement boxes.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
It was tongue in cheek…sometimes i forget I need to end everything with a
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
But it’s true that that story came out.
Which is what I’m railing against.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Why the great Pat Hickey reported it. It must be true.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
I wouldn’t be trading Cole, DD, Max-pac, Pleks, Gionta, PK Or Eller take the best I could get on trade day and work on a deal to get Huberdeau and Bobby Ryan…. and see who makes it out of training camp. get rid of our deadwood and stay away from other teams garbage.
Agreed. But the problem with deadwood is nobody else wants it or they may take your deadwood for their deadwood. The best deadwood was the series Deadwood a few years back.
Great show. Love the Swearengen character… whenever I see him in other roles now I just mentally insert a ridiculous amount of foul language into the new characters dialogue.
Ever been to Deadwood? They go all out to capitalize on the tourism potential of their history. Fascinating stuff everywhere you turn in Deadwood and that part of South Dakota.
Sorry double post.
yeah, lets get Huberdeau and Bobby Ryan without trading ANY of our good players! Why didn’t PG think of that!?!?!
We seem to have a lot of BG & PG type GM’s here. Why are we giving up PK for a pick? We have a great player that is 22 and helping out now with sure value. Lets be happy to have access to a top three. And no I wouldn’t trade for Nash. I once suggested Getzlaf but a cooler headed HIO GM pointed out the cap factor. I say develop the picks and if it takes a couple of more years to be really competitive so be it. Maybe we can get 1-2 Cole type players over the next two years. As long as the team is entertaining it at least compensates somewhat for a team that has missing elements.
Let’s re-do the 2007 draft. Here are my rankings and the actual place picked in parentheses.
1. Kane (1)
2. Subban (43)
3. McDonagh (12)
4. Perron (26)
5. Pacioretty (22)
6. Logan Couture (9)
7. Wayne Simmonds (61)
8. Van Riemsdyk (2)
Timmins did good.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
We have drafted so well of late. Not Savard’s strong suit, so let’s hope Timmons stays around!
You forgot Angelo Esposito.
Everyone forgets Angela Esposito.
If club can repeat that for the next two draft the tankers may be able to retire.
1 lousy season is enough, tanks so much.
Agree Timmins did good but I’d rearrange the rankings as:
Kane
Couture
Pacioretty
Subban
McDonagh
Perron
Simmonds
JVR
Great point, Timmons did fantastic. His two first round picks are NHL starters.
But just to nitpick, why is Subban 160 games 21 goals 76 points #2 and Shattenkirk 153 games 18 goals 86 points not top 10? This season, Jamie Benn had pretty much the same stats as Pax and Benn played in the 2012 All-Star game and wears an A.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
my biggest hope:
edmonton moves down to the 4-7 range and yakupov get’s taken first by whoever, and then colombus drafts grigorenko, leaving murray for us.
yeah, we continue to miss out on a big impact forward, but imagine a defence that in 2-3 years is comprised of pk, murray, gorges, tinordi, beaulieu, and emelin. that could potentially be the best defence in the league by that time in front of price, who would then definitely put up brodeuresque numbers. we’d be beasts at the back end.
you win more games 2-1 and 3-2 then you do 5-4 and 6-5. i think we’d be well served by that d corps.
Unfortunately this current hockey team struggles to score 1. I do like your idea, but we would have to add some O at some point to contend I think.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
I no longer imagine that stuff. Once I was told the defense of the future was Komisarek, Souray, Hainsey, Markov and Bouillon.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
How about dangling PK for that first pick? Oilers need dedencemen badly, The Habs seem to have enough. Talent for talent. Draft both Sarnia Sting players (Galenchyuk) and see how they perform together in the NHL. Likely fiction, but something to dream about.
No, PK is already a top pairing D at 22, if we ship him out we got no top pair on D. Habs are not stacked on NHL D’s, they got a good numbers of prospects D, but untill they play NHL steadily, I would not bet the farm on them.
That idea is really tempting but PK will be our star d man for years to come. Would they take Beaulieu and our 2nd rounder?
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
I think this is better. If the Habs can send Beaulieu and something (it’ll take more than a 2nd: maybe the 33rd pick, Ellis/Pateyrn, and…) and so acquire another top 3 pick, I’d love to seem them get Murray and one of the top 3 forwards. Murray should be better than Beaulieu. Subban, Tinordi, and Murray form an awesome D-core.
Ok. So Beaulieu + 33rd pick (which could get Malcolm Subban) + Ellis for the 1st pick. Seems like we’re still robbing EDM but man that would be sweet.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
the “and…” might be significant. I think you go for it (pile on more picks or something) as long as you don’t give up Patches, Price, Tinordi, or Subban. Then the core is Price, Subban, Murray, Tinordi, Patches, [top-3 Forward].
I don’t think Tinordi is better than Beaulieu but Murray is Beaulieu’s type but likely better. Tinordi will complement Murray or Subban.
I don’t think it makes sense unless we pick two forwards. Ellis seems to get downplayed here but he’s close to Beaulieu. Giving up both of them and our 2nd is a lot, but might be worth it to get Yakupov + Galchenyuk as they already have chemistry, but it becomes riskier to do so if we go with get Yakupov + Murray, simply because we’ll be banking on Murray becoming considerably better than both Ellis and Beaulieu.
Better but look folks we are not one player away from contending. We have very little depth in the organization and the draft picks plus some of the young dman are needed to build the future. Lets draft a nice player with pick 3 and use the older picks to build the depth.
Agree we need depth. Thats why I want 2 stars out of this draft.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
Wow. How about jumping off a cliff? Ffs, the Habs have a stud D man and we want to throw him away?
No, PK’s ours and he’s staying right here.
———————————————————————-
“I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside” – Lennon/McCartney
I’ve got a feeling
Agree Zep. Unless blown away he stays.
It would have to be a major league offer for me to accept PK leaving.
———————————————————————-
“I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside” – Lennon/McCartney
I’ve got a feeling
We know PK is a superstar in the making. We can guess at draft picks, but nothing is certain. Seems foolhearted to give up known goods, for hope of what could be. Not sure why we would want to disturb a solid D corps anyhow.
I don’t know why so many fans are ready to part with Beaulieu. The Habs have currently at centre, DD, Pleks, Eller, LeBlanc,Gomez, White and Nokelainen. They have in the system, Engqvist, Nattinen, Bournival, and Priby. Sure, you can convert some into wingers, but some of them should stay at their natural position. Nattinen is big and has a career face off winning percentage in the 64% area. He will probably end up as a 3rd or 4th centre. White is the 4th line centre and DD is the first line centre. Sure he may be a one year wonder, but who knows. Eller needs to play on the 2nd line to know if he is good enough and on the 2nd power play.
That leaves Gomez who should be banished to Hamilton for refusing the trade to the Islanders. I don’t think the Habs should buy him out. That leaves Pleks! If the Habs do draft either of Grigorenko, Galchenyuk or Gaunce ( rated at # 7 by ISS), then how many players do you convert and can they make the transition? Montreal is woefully thin on the left side. They need a true 2nd line power left winger. If anything, I say they should trade Pleks and the lower 2nd round pick and Weber to the Islanders and take Forsberg. leave the young defence alone!
Habfan17
Edmonton’s potential trading partner would have to have depth at the no.1 or 2 defence slots and that leaves Montreal out. It became clear how Brian Murray in Ottawa could trade David Rundblad for Kyle Turris, when it was revealed how Erik Karlsson, and Jared Cowan were ready for full time minutes in the NHL.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Yakupov – will be gone when the Habs pick @ 3.
Grigorenko – questions raised about work ethic, compete level.
Galchenyuk – knee injury is a bit scary, risky.
Forsberg might be the safest pick.
- He plays center and wing.
- He’s almost a year younger than Yakupov. If he was a month younger he’d be in next year’s draft.
- He’s got good size – 6.2, 180.
- Ranked ahead of Galchenyuk on TSN’s rankings, if that matters.
- Compared to Perry in nhl.com’s scouting report.
- Can play in Hamilton next year.
“Grigorenko – questions raised about work ethic, compete level.”
Not really. More like rumour of hearsay of questions.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I don’t see how Forsberg can be compared to Perry.
This is according to Goran Stubb (NHL Director of European Scouting), for what it’s worth.
I’m not sure that Forsberg is really a centre, he would by slotted in as a LW which isn’t a problem for Montreal as that is our weakest position.
He can’t play in Hamilton next year, in fact no players we choose thsi June can do that. He would stay in Sweden and play in the Elite league which is great.
The question really is quite simple – do the Habs want to roll the dice a bit on a breakthrough player or take a solid guy like Forsberg who will be a fixture on one of the top two lines for years to come? That’s the real tough call.
I think that agreement is between the CHL and the NHL. Being drafted out of Europe should make him eligible, no?
In any event, staying in Sweden might be the better option.
This is not the time to pick safe. It’s time to swing for the fences. There will be lots of safe picks for us in the later rounds.
Kempie for GM!!!!
I am feeling you man lol
Galchenyuk played in the first round of the OHL playoffs this year. This is what he said about his knee surgery:
“If you look at the top players, Evgeni Malkin, he had the same surgery and I don’t think it bothered him at all [since he's leading the NHL in scoring]. A lot of players, like [Marian] Hossa and [Pavel] Datsyuk, have had the same surgery.”
Richard R
Let’s assume the Oilers want to draft Murray. It makes no sense to pick him first since no one else would pick him first.
Their first move ought to be to offer Columbus to switch picks for a 2nd round pick (but accept a 3rd). Columbus gets the Yak and Edmonton get their man plus a pick.
Now, let’s say Columbus says no thanks, we would be next in line.
What would we have to offer the Oilers to switch positions?
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
A promising D-Man who isn’t a sure bet: Ellis.
Maybe a low pick on top.
Of course, since the D-man pool is deep, they might get a much better offer from a team in the 5th-10th range that they’re willing to accept.
Their other option is trading someone like Eberle for a good, young D-man. Then they can pick up Yak. This was suggested below.
Eberle was a 24th pick overall, and looks to be better than Nugent-Hopkins, and maybe better than Hall. Edmonton’s posters are offering the Habs Gagner for Subban and our 1st pick.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Edmonton posters aside (I doubt anyone in Edmonton management is scouring HIO…well maybe Lowe does that), if you’re right about Eberle, this only increases the quality of the young D-man they’ll get in return. You can never know for sure, but I bet Yak will have a better career than Eberle.
Last, it’s too early to say RNH isn’t as good as Eberle. I suspect RNH will surpass him within a couple of years.
Subban and a first pick for Gagner? Surely you jest?
Richard R
I wondered about that myself. Our 2nd round pick (33rd) is really a 1st rounder so I’m not keen on that move. I wonder about Nashville’s 2nd rounder and one of our lesser prospects like Kristo.
I know that deals were made to flip guys like Horton at the draft table but I can’t remember the asking price.
Funny that one of our lesser prospects, in Kristo, is one of our best forward prospects. Says a lot about what we’ve got in the forward cupboard.
Some people say Edmonton should pick a d-man. Others that it’s too risky because you never know how they will develop.
So, when a d-man or goalie is #1, who could the team have had if they had gone for the highest rated forward that year?
Here are the non-forward #1 picks of the last 20 years and the first forward picked:
1992 Roman Hamrlik / Alexei Yashin
1994 Ed Jovanovski / Radek Bonk
1995 Bryan Berard / Chad Kilger
1996 Chris Philips / JP Dumont
2000 Rik DiPietro / Dany Heatley
2003 MA Fleury / Eric Staal
2006 Erik Johnson / Jonathan Toews
OK so that doesn’t help.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Edmonton has their eyes on a lower ranked player and trade their pick down to get some help on D or in goal right now.
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
I thought that last night went well for Montreal. First of all, we would have been picking 8th if we grabbed one more win at the end of the season. As it turned out, the Habs held onto 3rd. Best of all, Toronto didn’t get to move past us and take 1st overall.
For the first time in four years, you truly get the feeling that Brian Burke is on the clock down here in laff land. His demise is an important lesson for Geoff Molson, the eventual new management team and Hab fans in general. There is no such thing as a quick turnaround. The Flyers might be the exception, but that’s about it. “I don’t respect five year plans. My view is I was hopeful to do it quicker. We haven’t. But I haven’t changed the plan” (Brian Burke)
Trying to quickly turn the Habs around for next season will be a huge blunder. The notion that all the team needs is one or two new pieces is turning a blind eye to reality. Let’s do it right for once. The fact the Habs haven’t won the Cup in twenty years is really starting to tarnish the legacy.
Speaking of reality, check this out from today’s Toronto Star. “If the Oilers keep their pick, it’s believed they would take a stud defenseman like Murray. Columbus has been burned twice by selecting Russians so Forsberg presents an intriguing pick. Montreal is believed to be very interested in Grigorenko, so that means Toronto could still have a shot at either of Sarnia’s top scorers” (Bob Mitchell) Yikes! There’s not a chance in hell that Yakupov goes 4th or 5th.
You can shuffle the cards any way you want but Yakupov is the number one pick. End of story. If someone picks Murray second, then the Habs get to choose between Grigorenko and Galchenyuk. If that team does select a centre, then there’s no choice, we get the player who is left. Any talk of trading down is nuts.
There’s always lots of chatter on the site about all the Hab kids that got traded away. The Ribeiro giveaway is obviously the worst example but I’m still ticked that we let Lapierre go for peanuts. Yes he was a pain in the ass but that was also part of what he brought to the ice. The fact that he’s having a second great year in Vancouver is proof that we should have kept him here.
Could you imagine if our 4th line had of been Moen/Halpern/Laps this season? Sure beats all the wannabees and AHLers we used throughout the year.
The Pens are favoured to win the Cup and rightly so. However, I’ve always had a soft spot for Nashville so here’s hoping that something magical happens. It would be great for the game and the NHL.
I’d prefer Halpern over Lapps, but both would have helped the Habs this past season.
Hopefully with JM and PG gone those young players being thrownaway will cease.
Halpern finished 5th in the face-off circle this year. Laps can play centre and RW and is a pesty pain in the ass. Moen can play both wings, dole out some hits and kill penalties. Not one of the guys we utilized this season is as good as any of the three I just mentioned. And then there’s next year. Right now we’re basically in the same position with the possible exception of White on RW.
That’s why I’m bothered about the people wanting Staubitz back, apart from fighting he is not very good.
Halpern is 10 years older than Laps so it isn’t either/or.
Trading Laps was emblematic of po-faced old men Gainey/ Gauthier/ Martin’s tight assed approach to the team.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Halpern filled out a more needed position, unless Lapierre is as good on the dot as him, but yea keeping them both would have been better than what the Habs have now for the 4th.
We should have kept Lapierre, or got something better for him yes. We have had GM’s who are much too quick to let players go. Shouldn’t a good manager take a deep breath, and talk players out of bad feelings. That’s what a good manager would do at any job. Instead we keep giving away players, and losing little trades that add up. So we have to struggle to fill a position where we should have one of the best 4th liners in the game to play. Little things matter yes.
Steve – I couldn’t agree more. Every time I post, I end up saying pretty much the same thing. This mess is going to take time to fix. The Habs need to give it the time it takes. One of the reasons I was so relieved to see Gauthier go is that he was spouting a version of the quick fix theory at the trade deadline. He talked about making a couple of trades and adding a couple of pieces to make the playoffs next year. Nothing could be more short-sighted. I can’t see us making the playoffs next year (I’d actually be happy to finish at the bottom and grab MacKinnon, but obviously we can’t try and engineer that); but I’ll be hopeful if I see that the organization is going about the rebuild the right way.
As the dust settled from a miserable season, lots of poor decisions from the past 6 years or so are clear. As an example the playoff year we were stomped 4-0 by the Bruins was equally frustrating as far as the realization of the team being non-competitive for the cup. Hence, 10 free agents turned loose, and huge financial stake put into Gomez, Gionta, Camalleri, and Spacek. Hamrlik was an expensive signing the year earlier. It’s only a feeling, but when names like Gallagher, Beaulieu, Grigorenko are bandied about in discussions about the future, knowing we already have a core that has a solid keeper and more 30 goal scorers since the era when Stephan Lebeau joine Vinnie Damphousse, Pierre Turgeona, and Kirk Muller as 30 goal scorers, the future is going to be better.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I’d like to say something on this new thread.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Nicely done.
Amen!
They Call Me Shane
“They never asked to be Canadiens, they were Chosen.”
Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
Hey Matty. Just wondering if you got kindness and consideration yesterday? Cheers.
Heya James, I had a lovely breakfast/morning with my lady and little lady, then worked like a madman and held the fort while my g/f worked til’ 11pm.
But I got lots of wishes and had a good day!
Thanks!!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
The Flower has said that Roy is better suited for GM, not coach. What do u think? I kind of agree with him.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=392765
the reasons he gives for him to be GM are the reasons I’d say why he should not be GM.
So would Columbus take…our pick plus Kaberle and Weber for Nash?
You’d have to throw Plekanec in there and minus Kaberle plus maybe add more.
I wouldn’t take Nash for just Weber
Ugh…
Will you armchair GMs pull your heads out your arses and remember that Nash has a NTC. He will not accept going from one bottom feeder to another… period!
Stick to your Xbox and fantasy drafts.
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
I’d have to disagree with that. Montreal has plenty more pieces to the puzzle than Columbus and With Nash they’d be in a playoff spot. I’d see Nash at least having his interest peak if Montreal were putting forth a big offer for him.
Like Plekanec, the #3 pick and possibly a Beaulieu, Tinordi or a Gallagher.
Even if he’d ok the trade, you do realize that a lot of those puzzle pieces would be going the other way (i.e. a decent center, elite defenseman, Price, etc.)
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
seriously?
“May you live in interesting times.”
No, not in a million years would they take two piles of crap for a superstar.
Why is it that every proposed Hab trade starts with us trying to get rid of our garbage? There may be a few gullible GMs out there but most wouldn’t even return a call on deals involving our mistakes and wannabees.
+1
“There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t.”
- Jerry Maguire
True, but what if we throw in Blunden + the negotiating rights to Darche & Campoli?
Some nifty facts and trivia. Appears Toe Blake had a guarded feeling and probably tenuous relationship with journalists in 1968 (don’t think they were “media reporters” back then). Some things….
Scanning Jim Pritchard’s list of teams, he did make it to the WHA which was just below the NHL. Kind of neat that people would pay money to watch professional hockey in Amarillo, Houston, Kansas City, Johnstown, Jacksonville, Clinton and even Long Island, in the 1970′s! Does Long Island have a minor professional hockey team now (seriously)?
“May you live in interesting times.”
A little disappointing to hear Bob McKenzie say on the Team 990 earlier this morning that outside Yakupov there isn’t a slam dunk superstar in the draft. Some players have the possible potential but they’re not there yet. He even said Yakupov took a small step back with his poor playoff for Sarnia.
So maybe we don’t have a Crosby, Ovechkin or Stamkos coming our way but hopefully we have lets say a Bobby Ryan? Ryan scored a total of 57 points this year and I think we’d all be drooling at the prospect of adding a player like him to the Habs.
It was always clear that outside of Yakupov, there were no sure bets. Maybe one of those guys will exceed expectations.
i’m just glad there are enough good forwards that one will land in the Habs org.
Huberdeau, Gudbranson, Duchene, Bogosian are the last 4 #3 picks, and all are developing and not “superstars,” and only one of them is on one of the 16 teams playing in the playoffs.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Well if that’s the case then trade up or down. I’ve heard so many conflicting reports about the top 5 players I don’t know what to think anymore. I’m glad I’m not in a position to make these decisions, but you can bet I’ll complain if management makes the wrong decision.
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
The road was paved to lead to the current team’s difficulties by decisions made between 2003 to present. In hindsight trading draft picks for players who only played on the team briefly was disabling to the present team. Wisniewski, Lang, TANGUAY!, Moore. Losing assets for absolutely nothing was the other major destructive decision, Higgins, McDonagh, Valotenko, Lapierre, Grabovski (I know, “Pateryn”), O’Byrne (Bounival), Sergei Kostitsyn, Pouliot/Latendresse.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Pritchard actually played for close to a decade, managed to keep playing hockey for quite a while:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/hockey/player.php?player=113591
Never heard of him but then I was not around in 1980. Let us hope that is not repeated.
Go HAbs Go!
And how do revenues go up?
Sponsorship and fan base.
I’m not familiar in how their sponsorship contracts work (I’m sure it’s different from team to team), but I do know that in order to increase your revenue, when you’re already selling out, you have to increase your ticket prices.
And it’s already such a cheap venue. Good beer to boot (sludge).
But the NHL jumps all over the small merchants downtown who put either the Habs or NHL logos in their window.
Let us hope that sense rules and keeps people safe. The way of the mob is insanity.
Keep safe, Habsolutely.
“May you live in interesting times.”
@habsolutely. Please be safe.
Lol. He does!
Hahahaha
He habsolutely does lol
True!
You might need that dog buddy! Hope he bites!
I do that too.
Edit. My wife that is. I suppose if I knew yours I’d try to steal her food as well.
And the Flyers have a very good team. Unreal though how much scoring talent the Pens have.
Its the speed their rushing at that is giving Philly problems. If they keep this up through the series it going to be a dandy.
They’re playing so hard is the thing. Came out absolutely flying at them, hitting everything, driving the net. Bylsma has them ready and playing like their asses are on fire.
And yeah, they’re stacked as hell. Their 3rd centre could be a first centre on a lot of teams.
Full Breezer 4 Life
no.. no they are not…
Dunno, is Tambellini a guy who can fill the team with depth players like Shero? They could very well have a great number of offensive talents, but very little in the way of a defense. I keep reading on the TSN boards how the Oilers have a number of prospects coming up who should be more than good enough (as if good D men are easy to draft and find).
It was.
https://twitter.com/#!/fecorbinRDS/status/190239312875495425/photo/1
What a joke.
Well, they had to start the rebuild somewhere. They are potentially going to have a first line made up entirely of 1st overall picks. Has that ever happened before? Insanity.
I have also heard that apparently the Oilers have some decent D prospects in their system. I honestly haven’t read up on them, but if they develop and are ready to join the club once the crown jewels mature, look out.
I think keeping Ryan Smith around would be a good idea. Throw in a couple more leadership and grit players and they will be set.
1881 – HD
———————————————————————-
“I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside” – Lennon/McCartney
I’ve got a feeling
Thanks Zep, I’d have no idea.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Might be an interesting series, but I don’t like the fact that the outcome of a game might be decided by a bad call (or non call).
But that would only land his rights. I’m not sure the Oilers could convince Suter to sign with them long-term without testing the open market, where he’d easily be the most-sought D.
Spoke too soon eh there guys you think maybe?
Agreed but stand up for yourself and your team mates. Not asking them to drop them. They take so much crap at one point you gotta snap on someone, just wished it was Marchand last year. But alas….
Hey, remember when Guy Lafleur fought all the time?
LOL, if he played for the Habs today half of HIO would want him traded for Getzlaf. Or Konopka, let’s get real.
Lotta Habs fans around here sound suspiciously like the guy who drafted the Sedins.
Full Breezer 4 Life
… and no.
But until then, if LA goes down a couple and Vigneault puts him out with a minute or so left to play, someone will try to smack him you can be sure of that.