• AUDIO: Max Pacioretty conference call
Busy day for Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier, who signed forward Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais to two-year contracts. Pacioretty’s is for $1.5 million this coming season and $1.75 million in 2012-13; Desharnais signs for $750,000 and $950,000, according to an RDS report this evening.
Pacioretty spoke on a conference call with Montreal media at 4:30 this afternoon. Full audio is linked above.
A few highlights:
• Pacioretty has put on 10 pounds of muscle and says he’s faster than ever. After having suffered extreme fatigue for a few weeks after being concussed, he said he’s been in full training, 100 per cent, for the past two months.
• He says he continues to get “nasty stuff” through Twitter from some Bruins fans, who maintain his injuries were embellished as a member of the Bruins suggested. “It’s sad that people can feel that way,” he said, pointing out that Boston’s Nathan Horton was also concussed in the playoffs. “I would never say that (Horton) embellished his injury at all, I know exactly what he’s going through.”
• Pacioretty never feared that he’d not be offered a new contract, given his injury.
The team’s release:
MONTREAL (June 20, 2011) – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced today the signing of forward Max Pacioretty to a two-year contract (2011-12 and 2012-13). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Max Pacioretty who is one of the most promising young players in our organization. A power forward with skills, Max showed that he can help our team and make a name for himself in the NHL. We are confident that he will have recovered fully from the injury that kept him out of the line-up for the last month of the regular season and the playoffs,” said Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier.
Pacioretty, 22, completed in 2010-11 his third season with the Canadiens in the NHL. The left winger registered 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 37 games. He tallied two winning goals and seven of his goals were scored on the powerplay. He served 39 penalty minutes and obtained 112 shots on goal, while averaging 15:53 seconds of ice time per game. Pacioretty suffered a season-ending neck injury and a concussion on March 8 against Boston.
Pacioretty had registered 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 27 regular-season games with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs when he was recalled on December 12. He was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for November, collecting 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists) in 13 games.
Since 2008-09, Pacioretty has registered 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 123 NHL regular-season games. The 6’2’’, 208 lbs forward has recorded 86 penalty minutes and collected 243 shots on goal. Pacioretty has scored eight of his goals on the powerplay.
A native of New Canaan, Connecticut, Pacioretty was the Canadiens’ second pick (first round, 22nd overall) at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He was part of the United States team in the 2007 World Junior Championship, in Czech Republic.
—
And the Desharnais release from the Canadiens:
MONTREAL (June 20, 2011) – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced tonight the signing of forward David Desharnais to a two-year contract (2011-12 and 2012-13). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are pleased to have reached a two-year agreement with David. Since joining our club midway through last season, David has shown that he has the potential to play at the NHL level and contribute offensively to the success of our team,” said Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier.
Desharnais, 24, completed in 2010-11 his first season in the NHL. The centre recorded 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) in 43 games. Four of his goals were tallied on the powerplay. He served 12 penalty minutes and registered 55 shots on goals, while averaging 12:52 seconds of ice time per game. Desharnais added an assist in five playoff contests.
Desharnais had registered 45 points (10 goals, 35 assists) in 35 regular-season games with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs when he was recalled on December 31. The 5’7’’, 170 lbs forward was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for December, collecting 20 points (3 goals, 17 assists) in 14 games.
Native of Laurier-Station, Quebec, Desharnais first signed with the Canadiens as a free agent on November 5, 2008.
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Good signing both, especially because Eller will miss Sept and Oct. Things may be in the works to move someone else. Going to be a fun few days heading into the Draft.
I like Desharnais, good kid with a big heart, but I can’t say I’m really enthusiastic about his 1 way deal… I mean, can you win a cup if your bottom six looks like this: desharnais, eller, darche, moen, white (pyatt/palushaj)…?
Still a certain amount of mis-understanding out there about saving some money to sign Subban and Price so lets go over the numbers so we can see how it really isn’t the problem some make it out to be.Lets add up how much Spacek,Subban and Price will be making this year.
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” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Great signs both ! Next move to acquire Jaromir Jagr and resign Markov + Wiz + Jorges ! Cant wait to see that group Healthy playing together !
Ps.we better trade Gomez !8m less than 30 points is unacceptable.
GO HABS GO
Marc de Foy reports it appears if Jaromir Jagr returns to the NHL next season, it won’t be with the Montreal Canadiens. Petr Svoboda, Jagr’s agent, said Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier has demonstrate limited interest in his client. Svoboda also represents Canadiens defenseman Roman Hamrlik, and Gauthier will apparently speak with Svoboda about the impending free agent defenseman later this week. The agent also suggested a dozen teams, including Detroit and Pittsburgh, are interested in Jagr. Yvon Pedneault also reported on this story, noting Gauthier has other priorities than Jagr.
I’m okay with that. While the possibility of Jagr was intriguing, I’m less than optimistic about the impact he’ll be able to have. He is one of the all-time greats the game of hockey has ever seen, but 39 years old and 3 years removed from the NHL has me doubtful he’ll be able to be significant, and I’m kinda glad PG has a set plan.
On the other hand, Jagr could come back and score 30+ goals and that wouldn’t really surprise me either.
- Honestly yours
Problem is, the everyday joe general manager of the Habs will chime in and constantly claim they were right and shoulda sign Jager.
Personally, Im on the wait and see platform.
Still a certain amount of mis-understanding out there about saving some money to sign Subban and Price so lets go over the numbers so we can see how it really isn’t the problem some make it out to be.Lets add up how much Spacek,Subban and Price will be making this year.
Spacek 3.8m
Price 2.75m
Subban .875m
Total 7.425m
The following year Spacek’s money will be available. Lets assume for the sake of argument that Subban will get 3m per and Price gets 6m per. That adds up to 9m. This means to sign both of them the Habs only have to scrape up an additional 1.575m.Assuming the cap goes up another 1m next year then they only really need to have .575m available to get it done. It isn’t an issue.
Einstein’s definition of insanity – “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
Look at the full picture, please. Take Subban’s 0.875mil and add Spacek’s 3.833mil and PG has a maximum of 4.75 for Subban. Take Gill’s 2.25mil and add it to Price’s current 2.75 and now you have a max of 5.0mil for Price. In addition, the cap is calculated on 57% of the previous year’s revenue and the new Versus deal starts this year, therefore that revenue will only affect the 2012-13 cap (assuming that part stays the same in the new CBA) which means there should be a $2.28 million increase in the cap (200m-80m*0.57/30) on that basis alone. Now add the fact that Atl had per game revenue of $500,000 (2008 figure, reported by National Post) while Winnipeg has already got commitments for 13000 season tickets at an average of $82 for total ticket revenue of $1,066,000 per game or $566,000 increase. If Winnipeg sells out that will add $30 million to the league’s gross revenues, or roughly another $570k to the cap. And all this assumes that the new CBA doesn’t have any kind of player exemptions like the NFL or NBA CBAs do.
Do you have anything worthwhile to add to the conversation ?
Einstein’s definition of insanity – “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
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I was already ecstatic about Max-Pac, but now I’m over the top with the DD announcement. I love that kid’s fire. The only curious thing is that it’s a one-way deal. I thought PG might have opted for more flexibility, bu I do think DD has the goods so hopefully it all works out.
- Honestly yours
Gomez better have a bounce-back season. Because that 22 year old Ryan McDonagh is looking real good. He might not be a top 2 dman, but a top 4 dman for sure.
Great news! Very happy both are signed.
Completely agree with everything Max said:
- Good core group
- Young talent emerging
- Want to see the League apply more consistency to its rulings on headshots
- Hope Bruins fans clue in to the fact people respond to concussions differently (and no you f**wits… he wasn’t embellishing!)
- 4th line muscle might help (he was being nice to management… it would help…)
On ya Max. Can’t wait to pick you in my pool and to see you and DD back on the ice soon.
“To be irreplaceable, you have to be different”.
Andy Warhol
Go PK Go!
‘Policeman’ situation is hopeless. GaineyGauthier (two headed monster) is pacifist and resolutely so. Even if B’s take out Pacioretty again GG won’t do anything. It was Molson who made a representation to Buttman, he had to. If the situation is not addressed I have no doubt ownership with deal harshly with management. Eventually. In the mean time we suffer more Smurf beat-downs.
“Rebuilding since 1979.”
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS:
Mike Cammalleri ($6.000m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.250m)
Brian Gionta ($5.000m) / Scott Gomez ($7.357m) / Max Pacioretty ($1.625m)
David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Lars Eller ($1.270m) / Aaron Palushaj ($0.883m)
Travis Moen ($1.500m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.250m) / Mathieu Darche ($0.700m)
Ryan White ($0.600m)
DEFENSEMEN:
P.K. Subban ($0.875m) / Hal Gill ($2.250m)
Alexei Yemelin ($0.984m) / Andrei Markov ($5.750m)
Josh Gorges ($2.750m) / James Wisniewski ($4.750m)
Yannick Weber ($0.875m)
GOALTENDERS:
Carey Price ($2.750m) / Alex Auld ($1.000m)
BUYOUTS: Georges Laraque ($0.500m)
CAP SPACE: $6,229,491
–> Somehow need to figure out how to get rid of Spacek’s contract.
There is an obvious whole in the Top 9 forwards group. A suggestion would be to award it to a player that has an impactful camp. I believe Palushaj can do it. He has already played 2 years in the AHL, and I remember reading that his goal was to add bulk to his frame for the summer. If not him, reward it to someone else who has a good camp like White did last year.
I really don’t see a UFA on the market that can fill the void in the top 9 at a reasonable price, so promoting from within is the ideal choice here.
** I addition, some of these contracts are a bit exaggerate. I think 2.75 for Gorges is pushing it. Something like 2.1/year for 4 years would be perfect. Also, I see Markov at or close to 5 million. I think 4.75 for Wiz is good value for what he brings to the table.
-GK-
This would sound really good and better if we get someone to protect our skill players as the Broons have no problem putting our skill players to the press box and no respect to other players in the league. We still need someone who also has no respect towards other players who injure our players and will show regret doing the same. They’re the cup champs now and that’s how they did it.
Mr. Biter
IT IS GREAT NEWS .WAY TO GO FRONT OFFICE.
RClavel
The fact that, in TSN’s final draft rankings, Tyler Biggs is rated ahead of Sven Bartchi and Mark McNeill is a joke. Who did they have scouting for them? Kevin Lowe? Mike Milbury?
I forgot that Buffalo has a spot ahead of us in draft position, can you imagine if they draft Oleksiak. I mean Oleksiak and Myers as their top dmen? Yikes…
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
Those Bruin “fans” should be ‘outed’ the way Vancouver rioters are. No more internet anonymity, put their names the hate messages and email addresses up on the web. There should be consequences to their actions. Ridicule. Shame.
“Rebuilding since 1979.”
Hi, Tony McLean
I think your post is equally ridiculous. Though, I wouldn’t call the bruins’ fans’ posts , or your posts shameful. They get to you so easy.
Bye!:}
Go back to Boston sister.
“Rebuilding since 1979.”
this is all good. although news of the Hammer perhaps resigning sends shivers.. Keep the rebuilding moves coming…the Gorges and Markov signings would give life to my birthday week near the end of the month.
Whoever thinks Hammer will be resigning is crazy. He’s a great guy but there’s no way that’s happening.
25 before 14
We don’t want his resignation; we want space on the cap.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
err, birthweek?
Ultimate Team Rankings for the major sports.
Habs are ranked 19th in the NHL which is FAR too low in my opinion, but hey, at least we’re ahead of Boston and Toronto!
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings
25 before 14
Nice article by a Bruins Blogger.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ty-Anderson/Merci-Montreal/141/36504
Cheers
Areed, I’m not used to anyone associated with the B’s giving us any praise at all.
“That beautiful bastard scored semi-conscious.” On the Rocket’s Game 7 game winning goal against the Bruin’s April, 1952
That was awesome article, but he forgot to mention Kelly speared Hamrlik in the face that lead to Boston goal.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
That was a great article, well written and objective.
Hey Stubbs, any updates on what’s happening in the Muller camp?
Just occurred to me – think Palushaj might be ready to make the team out of camp?
Wouldn’t this be a nice bottom 6?
Desharnais-Eller-Palushaj
Talbot-White-Moen
(Darche)
Not sure, but I think he’ll at least be ready sometime during the season. I’m on the Palushaj bandwagon hardcore. Love his jump in stats this past season, RH shot, and age.
MaxPac audio from earlier today incase anyone is interested in listening…its short only 3mins
http://video.thescore.com/watch/pacioretty-dislikes-bruins
“I savour it every day, sometimes before practice I’m skating around and I’ll look at the logo on my jersey – I’m playing for the Canadiens!”
- Mathieu Darche
The entire Max conference call is linked in this post.
Dave Stubbs
Hockey Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
• Email: dstubbs@montrealgazette.com
Sorry i missed that when i posted it just saw that now
“I savour it every day, sometimes before practice I’m skating around and I’ll look at the logo on my jersey – I’m playing for the Canadiens!”
- Mathieu Darche
Bummer about Pouliot. When we traded for him I was genuinely excited and thought we landed a steal. Too bad it didn’t work out.
Hopefully they atleast trade his rights for a draft pick..
I still don’t think he’s a lost cause, it is still his 1st full season as a Hab. He’s still young too.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
DD was one of the top points per game producers in the AHL the last two seasons and has shown a nose for the net in the NHL as well.
Because of the size issue I have written him off my hypothetical line-ups but still see the logic in this move. The salary cap is all too much a factor in today’s NHL and teams cannot allow assets to be lost.
Good on DD for accomplishing this. 2 years. 1 way. He earned and deserves it.
With this signing though, I am getting the feeling that there wont be any big splash moves this summer. It’ll be steady as she goes. Stay the course. Incremental moves. Standing pat. 96 points. 54%. Pouliot and Pyatt signed. Hammer for cheap. Markov two years. 6 million per. Spacek for one more season. Ciao-ski to Wis-ka-ching-ski. Adieu 2nd round pick. No Jagr-meister either. No UFA signings. Na-da.
But through it all, next season the Habs still finish with 100-104 points. Good, but not good enough for home ice advantage in round 1 of the play-offs.
I know. It’s gonna be a long Summer.
Hamrlik is out HH, Yemelin signing, Weber improving all means no room for an aging D who gets burnt out earlier and earlier in the season. Pouliot finished himself in MTL with his play as well I’m betting as well.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
I was being sarcastic about Hamrlik.
As for the rest. Who knows what will happen?
The RFA signings are a gimme. Apart from that the Habs have lots of options.
Desharnais for all my size and grit bemoaning is still a potential 50 point producer in the NHL.
50 points I’m not sure about, that’s similar to the range of Gionta who moves a lot quicker than he does and suggests DD plays a top-6 role, I’m more to the thought he’s a good 3rd-line forward and hitting 50 points on that line doesn’t really happen.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Potential. Potential.
Come on, he got himself 24 or so points in 40 or so games(Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m actually unsure).
Over a full season, that’s around 48 points, give or take a few depending on how many games DD played. And that’s playing on a 3rd line with Hibernation Pouliot and a mix of guys on the other side. You can’t say he wouldn’t have AT THE VERY LEAST 50 with Max on one side and Gio on the other.
He might not be as fast as Gionta, but he seems to either be able to pick up guys anywhere on the ice for goals, or he finds the right place to be on the ice to score.
Robert, you have too good an eye for hockey to make comments like that. Hammer shouldered way more ice time than was planned due to the injury situation, and he did it well. Without the proviso “under the circumstances”. Yes, younger D may take him out of the picture but a move to youth is different than throwing him under the bus.
Please do not stray into the dark side of HIO.
I agree Habitual. Hamrlik was forced into big minutes for this club, not by design.
I’m glad to hear you say that RC, not because I need affirmation, but because I think Hammer deserves some appreciation
He deserves far more appreciation than what he gets from fans.
Personal opinions aside, whatever the Club decides to do, I am all for it. I love the direction this club has taken over the past few years.
Definitely in great hands. Great things to come for this team.
I’ve spoken in praise of Hamrlik this year, I have nothing against him but in my view, the team needs to move forward and that means some younger bodies who if forced into bigger roles, will not be physically exhausted 60 or so games into the season. We keep saying Hamrlik will have his minutes scaled back but if injuries on the back end strike again, I’d rather be letting younger bodies get experience than see the predictable curve of Hamrlik getting worn out before the playoffs have even started.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Ok, good comments. But, let’s think about how that might play out. My experience with Martin is that he favours experience over youth. PK only got to play big minutes because of injuries.
If we as you speculate we run into injuries, do you see Martin going with youth, or going with what he has done in the past, leaning on veterans? I shudder at the thought, but I would place Marky on my list of most likely to be injured. That leaves Spatch (who was injured last year, and showed more than Hammer the effects of age), Gill, and PK sucking up big minutes. I would not want to place the burden of big minutes on Georges, coming off a big knee injury.
So, not so easy, and within that, a place for Hammer if he will sign a discounted contract.
My thoughts, anyway.
Cheers!
lol at the idea that “trade 2nd round draft pick” is on PGs to-do list. I can picture him calling around & just taking the best offer without even a thought of keeping it.
* Ville Leino would make Sergei Samsonov look like Alex Kovalev *
I agree. No thinking out of the box with this management.
Bob McKenzie states that Ryan Smyth wants to go back to Edmonton, even though Smyth denies it.
$6.2M is a steep cap hit for a guy 35.
One year left on his contract, Oilers free of him soon enough. Kings do a victory lap as they get their contract offers ready for Richards.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
More from Bruce Dowbiggin:
DOUBLE STANDARD
One final thought on rookie Marchand: How come when he abuses a superstar he’s applauded by Hockey Night in Canada and the media as a savvy kid who gets under the skin to win. But when Montreal Canadiens rookie P.K. Subban did the same, we were told by the same voices that he was a punk with no respect who needed to be taken down a notch? Is it because Marchand is a Bruin, a sacred squad on Hockey Night, because Sedin is a European or because Marchand is white while Subban is black, or all of the above. Take all the time you need to answer.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
When Cherry endorses someone, it’s very powerful, carries far.
But listen, you have the rest of the summer to do what I do: just keep watching the PK hit on Marchand! Try it! You’ll feel better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_BStkVC_zQ&feature=related
My 14 year old son who geoes to school with little diversity believes Subban is a target because he is black. I think he is on to something as much as I do not want to believe it.
Your kid may well be right, but like you I hope not and don’t want to believe it. Hockey players are professional athletes and therefore belong to a wider fraternity involving the other major sports where, whatever may happen or be said among the suits in the backroom, the players themselves appear generally to be colour-blind.
If hockey is somehow different, and if skin-colour is an issue, then that would say something enormous about us as Canadians, something much worse than what the Vancouver riots said.
Until there’s evidence, I will cling to the idea that ANYONE with that precocious amount of talent with a mouth to match AND an appetite for the role of agent provacateur is bound to attract hostility.
Cheers
One thing I want PK to do next year is play hard and not worry if the ref is about to call a penalty, whether on him or the opponent he’s tangling with. I saw him a lot last year lifting his arms, looking at the ref, either claiming innocence, or asking for one to be called. It seemed to make him lose his concentration.
The fact that he’s yappy is also something he needs to control. It’s not Canadiens hockey, and more importantly, there isn’t a Nilan or Ferguson around to save his bacon. He will be targeted and have to fight all his battles, which is a waste of his time and talent. I know some guys will always talk, but he could try to remake his game like Kesler and Burrows did this year, stop being antagonists and focus on being hockey players. Both of them improved their game greatly this year.
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“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
The text below is from Bruce Dowbiggin’s column in the Globe and Mail today. He’s one of the few who didn’t expiate the Bruins’ win with comments such as ‘they wanted it more’, or ‘they had the deeper team’, or ‘they knew how to play playoff hockey’. Thumbs up Bruce.
NEGATIVE IMAGES
As the NHL hands out its awards in Las Vegas Tuesday, it’ll be looking to expunge the media images from one of the nastiest Stanley Cup finals in recent memory. Most depressing was the image of thousands of young men in Vancouver who seem to have mistaken a riot for a South Park episode. The other was the sight of Boston Bruins rookie Brad Marchand using the head of Hart Trophy finalist Daniel Sedin as a speed bag – to the approval of hockey’s blood culture.
The league can’t do much for the street rioting but it could do something about the latter. Imagine an NBA rookie speed-bagging Dirk Nowitzki’s head going into a timeout or a first-year NFL player hitting Tom Brady in the head repeatedly after the play. What do you think the response would be from those leagues? They’d hammer the kid.
But the NHL stands by as useless as a Vancouver city cop watching his cruiser burn. Better yet, media types – some of whom piously decry fighting – blame Sedin for bruising Marchand’s knuckles and tell Vancouver to wise up and get some tough guys. Hope all the parents with kids in hockey are following this.
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“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
Great quote.
And much as I consider Marchand, however brilliant, to be a detestable little bollox, I join with Dowbiggin and say the bulk of the blame has to go with the league which remains so embarrassingly ambivalent on the issue of violence.
What the hell, let’s take a run at Nikita Filatov. Columbus may sell him off cheap and he would be another good prospect to add to our stable. Could be top six gold in a year or two, or maybe a total bust.
What do we have to lose?
That man has burned me a few too many times in my fantasy pool for me to ever like him
That’s why he would come cheap!
It’s the same gamble as Pouliot.
True, I’d reckon he’d be available for a mid-round pick and mid-range prospect…
(although he comes with a $2.1m cap hit – that’s a pretty steep price on a gamble.)
OK: fair is fair. I just read a column from today by Jack Todd with which I agree on the whole, in the particulars (Canucks will never win a Stanley Cup with Luongo in goal), and in the restraint (as I read it I mused when the first abusive inclusion of Don Cherry would appear — none did.)
Well done, sir.
http://www.canada.com/news/Hockey+apologists+telling/4973796/story.html
Desharnais will prove he’s as good or better than Eller that’s why I’m glad they kept him. Eller has to play 18:00 minutes a game than we’ll see how good he is 11:00 – 12:00 minutes don’t cut it
my opinion, Desharnais is better, played half as many games had more points and only played 12:00 minutes a game.
Too small to be a # 1 or 2 center. Doesn’t mean he can’t be effective as a third liner or on the PP …
Neutral, David is three years older than Lars, so it’s hard to compare them right now. Lars isn’t fully matured as a player, still has a lot of developing to do, which I wish he would have done in the AHL last year, spending more time on the first or second line, time on PP, PK, important draws, etc.
Let’s hope that both of them compete against each other and keep improving and fighting to get on the #1 line.
habitual, I watched today on TSN the 10 greatest plays of the season. Martin St-Louis was featured on three of the Top 10, more than any other player. At the age of 35. At the same size as David.
I’m not saying he will be as good as St-Louis, but he has the same background as him. Smart, talented, great attitude and hockey sense, makes the players around him better. Knocked as he came up the ranks for being too small and too slow. Had to earn his way up the minors proving himself. Let’s not throw away a guy with talent for a bigger one with none.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
Was watching TSN analysis of Canadian NHL team prospects. Craig Button (wasn’t a great GM but was a very good scout) claims teams will bemoan passing up on Jarred Tinordi. He believes that the Habs got a steal.
The Max signing is great news. And dreaming of maybe the next Martin St Louis, I’m also very happy about DD. Getting some tingles, pieces falling together. Semifinals last year, eliminated in OT game 7 this year by the eventual champions. Even with injuries etc, we have been contending. Tingles.
But I’m really posting so as to paste the following from nhl.com on the Max signing:
“On March 8, when Boston captain Zdeno Chara inadvertently drove him face-first into the padded partition by the team benches at Bell Centre. Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae and was forced to spend two nights in the hospital.”
Sorry if I’m not the first to mention this. “Inadvertently”? Who wrote this, Chara’s mother? I believe I’m more generous than many on this site, in that I would give Chara some benefit of the doubt: that while he wanted to lay on the big hit, teach a lesson/ send a message/get some payback, I can’t believe he hoped to snap Max’s neck. I also suspect he afterwards genuinely regretted the injury, and the loss of self-control which occasioned it, and felt badly for Max.
But “inadvertent” is not a word you can use with reference to this incident. If you deconstruct the passage further, there is another attempt to minimise the injury by making reference to Max’s two-night hospital stay, as though its brevity somehow reassures that a broken neck is not so bad.
I appreciate that nhl.com is the league organ and must cheerlead for its champion’s captain. But the lack of subtlety in that little bit of revisionism adds to the ever-increasing impression that the NHL believes it can say and do whatever it wants without fear of any adverse consequences for itself.
I guess they’re probably right.
You always have to consider the source. This was written by a nhl.com hack, who knows where he’s getting his paycheque, so he’s not going to rock the boat too much. He has to protect the NHL Stanley Cup winning captain, and his job.
I used to watch NFL Network religiously, but their coverage of the lockout has been shameful, so I don’t anymore. Same for nfl.com. They keep saying the players have to compromise to get a deal done, as if it’s not the owners who pulled the trigger and are endangering the season.
Always consider the source.
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“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
For those that want Talbot a Hab, no thanks.. another Moen.. 5-8 goals and had one good playoff performance… He is small too.
As for Eller, I agree that thinking he will be a 70+ point player is a stretch. He has never produced offensively at any level. I’m with Bugs on him being a shut down center.
How many goals do you want the 4th line to score, 15 each? That’s your 4th line, 5-10 goal scorers on their best years. Talbot’s got fire, he can play the penalty kill and he wins faceoffs. Between White and Moen that’s a 4th line that can crash and bang while being defensively responsible.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
I’d take talbot any day over pyatt. Talbot is good enough for a 3rd liner
Thumbs up for Talbot, especially since he wants to come here. Lots of Quebec boys are afraid of the heat and prefer to be in Arizona. Or Philadelphia, right Daniel?
Talbot can show some leadership and won’t bump anyone off the roster we need to keep. I’d take him over Halpern or Pyatt any day.
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“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
……or Tampa, right Vinny?
- Honestly yours
Eller vs. DD is an intriguing debate. But lemme just throw this bit of mischief out there: with all these good young centremen in the tent, could our boy PG possibly, just possibly, be carving himself the option of burying Gomez at some point down the road?
Let’s say for argument sake Gomez was doing no better at New Year’s ’12 than he was at the beginning of ’11. And let’s say PG picked up Zenon Konopka on July 1 to play on the fourth line, beat people up and take key face-offs. He would then have the option of slotting Eller or DD higher in the lineup while trying to deal Gomer by taking on dead salary from someone else. Failing that, he could drop poor Scott down the black hole of the AHL, from which he’d never return, because the Habs wouldn’t want to pay him $3.5M to play for a competitor.
Terrible thing to do to a man, but greater good, and all that.
This site is ok for fantasizing, but I really fantasize we can get past people fantasizing about demoting, trading, or buying out Gomez this coming year.
You’re one sick Inception addled puppy.
TSN’s final entry draft list for 2011.
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=44969
Wow, Puempel and Saad as 20s and Biggs at 15th? I’d take the guys who have natural finish over the guy who just happens to be more physically developed at this point.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
The Habs will pick Biggs over my dead body.
What’s the deal with the “member of the Bruins” quote? We all know it was that POS Recchi.
Not sure if it’s been reported here but the following is an excerpt from homer j-whore-nalist Kevin Paul Dupont’s article in yesterday’s paper.
“OK, he’s the game’s No. 1 suit, so Bettman isn’t likely ever to be greeted with open arms and sweet kisses at any of the Original 30 arenas. But that boo-ridden beatdown he took Wednesday night in Vancouver was outrageous, even vulgar. Many, if not most, Canadians believe Bettman has been unfriendly to Canadian hockey at large, pointing to the loss of the Winnipeg and Quebec franchises under his watch. The Vancouver crowd was further incensed, of course, over Aaron Rome getting heaved out of the series for his predatory, concussion-inducing hit on Nathan Horton. Bound to happen, I suppose, even if the Canucks had won the Cup. Asked about it in a radio interview the next day, Bettman said, “To answer that question would require me to engage in some degree of whining, which I will not do. The fact of the matter is, people sometimes have perceptions as to why things do and don’t happen. People who understand what exactly we have tried to accomplish and the fact that most of the Canadian franchises wouldn’t be in Canada anymore if not for the things we’ve done over the last two decades . . . they get it.’’”
I could make Gary whine. Like Jack Bauer with a terrorist, only less friendly.
Yikes! That’s some serious sh!t !!!!!
- Honestly yours
Kevin Paul Douchebag.
Bettman: “most of the Canadian franchises wouldn’t be in Canada anymore if not for the things we’ve done over the last two decades”.
What does he mean?
He’s talking about the NHL’s revenue-sharing plan, which helped the Canadian teams out quite a bit when the dollar was worth $.79 US. Ironically, now the Canucks and Canadiens and Leafs are paying to keep the Southern teams afloat.
Bettman is a snide little turd and deserves every boo he gets twice over. His quote when Winnipeg and Quebec were in trouble and about to be moved was: “This isn’t an NHL problem, this is a WHA problem”, washing his hands of it by saying the WHA had picked out lousy locations. He didn’t pull the two-year long anti-Balsillie tantrum he’s thrown for the Coyotes.
Whoever this guy is who wrote this article is an idiotic or corrupt embarrassment. More probably the latter, in the age of Twitter, it’s hard to get a scoop, so now Gary owes him one. Bettman gets booed everywhere he appears, not just Vancouver or Canada, because of the entirety of his oeuvre. It happened at the Winter Classic and All-Star game and will keep happening.
Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, tried hard to be the people’s commissioner, rubbing elbows with fans and holding Town Hall meetings, and was reasonably successful, until he tried to polish the turd of the lockout by saying it had to be done to save franchises. The lusty, unanimous booing he received during the NFL Draft was a complete 180 in his relationship with the fans, and he can expect this to last the rest of his term if he causes games to be lost.
Wonder what Kevin Paul Douchebag will have to say about that. My money’s on another public fellation of the Commish.
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“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
Update on Nathan Horton.
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nhl/news/story?id=6680354&campaign=rss&source=NHLHeadlines
I’m beginning to think that this year will be a bit of a holding pattern for Montreal. After this year Gomez’ and Spacek’s salary will come off the books*. That’s $11m right there. And even if Price’s salary doubles and Subban’s quadruples, that’ll still only account for $6m or so of the Gomez/Spacek savings.
Until Montreal can get that kind of payroll flexibility, then we might see solidifying around the edges (like we are with the RFA signings) but nothing earth shattering – unless Gauthier decides to ignore the need up front for a top 6 winger and signs Wisniewski instead.
(the only problem is that the 2012 UFA class looks to be atrocious – after Semin, Sharp, Hemsky, and Penner it’s slim pickin’s)
*unless the PA and the owners don’t, for some insane reason, write in a penalty-free buyout window into the new CBA
And Gomez comes off the books how?
Ah, just saw your *…that’s interesting.
Is that a topic of discussion?
CBA ends in September 2012. I think it’s extremely likely that the new deal will include a penalty-free buyout window like they had the last time a new CBA was signed.
The reason why I think so? Because it’s in both parties’ best interests – nobody benefits by having players like Redden earning $6m to play in AHL.
So Montreal will be able to buy out Gomez. Not an ideal solution, not by a long shot (that’s a lot of wasted money…whether it affects the cap or not). But frankly it seems unavoidable at this point.
You’re onto something sir. Good job.
If he were to have a repeat of last season I could see it happen but he’ll probably put together a 50-55 point season and make it interesting.
Worth every penny (of course it’s not my money) but I think the most important message to send to the young players we have here and coming that we care about winning the cup, not just muddling into the playoffs every year, and if you don’t buy in, it’s sandwich and a roadmap.
Toronto is a 5 hour drive.
I think it will be a topic of discussion – because I really can’t see either side not wanting one.
There’s been a lot of regrettable contracts signed that the owners would like a mulligan on (and the players who are bought out can still sign elsewhere, so they’re getting paid by two teams to play for one…no way they won’t agree to that!).
Man I’m not liking this Desharnais signing. I appreciate what he did for us this year, but we do not have room for him. We need a 3rd line with size and scoring ability, so I wanted to see an AK – Eller – Darche line but I guess that’s not happening.
♪ And we’re livin’ here in Allentown… ♪
Edit: Deleted comment.
I whined all year that we were too soft and too small. And of course I was right
That said, I’m good with Desharnais signing because the guy has f**king stones, goes to the net and fights for the puck and has skill. We need to do him right and put some decent wingers with him.
Send Gomer over to wash his car for him or something. Make himself useful.
You’re on fire tonight bro! LOL
- Honestly yours
22 points in 43 games with 3rd and 4th line minutes, not to mention a heart as big as anyone’s in this league. He was undrafted and had to work hard to get where he is today, I believe he’s underrated and we’ll be glad we kept him in the coming years.
25 before 14
Great interview with Maxpac. So glad to have him back. One way contract with DD is interesting..
Good signings. Nice price over two years.
Habs are protecting their assets which makes a lot of sense. I’m not too sure where DD will ever fit in, but the worst case scenario is that we may eventually trade him off for a decent return.
It’s awesome how DD worked hard all his hockey career just to make it in the NHL and to his dream team, Les Habs. It’s awesome for him to get a 2 year contract.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
Everybody keep in mind that Eller has a separated shoulder that was operated on in May. He likely wont start the season due to rehab, so DD can take over the 3rd line.
“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.” – Charlie Sheen.
Gomie doesn’t get crackin, Dezzy’ll have taken over 2nd line duties after a month.
And won’t lose them.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Bugs’ dream team starting line-up:
Pouliot-DD-Kovalev
MAB-Weber
Desjardins
that’s pretty funny, actually. even though I like some of those players a lot.
My personal fantasy was destroyed this year though when MAB didn’t score to knock Boston out of the playoffs.
Would that have been great or what?
I’m hoping that Florida takes Gomez since they are about 30M below the cap floor. We’ll even throw his his moms good cooking.
“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.” – Charlie Sheen.
As much as I tried to convince myself that we should let Desharnais walk because he and we are simply too small; I knew he was pretty talented player and it could come back to bite us.
Gauthier is not going to change the entire look of our team in one offseason to get bigger and let talented players go. Although I wanted him gone because we’re already set/stuck down the middle with Plek-Gomez-Eller; Gauthier held onto a good player
If there’s an injury or Eller doesn’t blow Martin’s socks off, Desharnais can step right in. He could probably get 60pts if he were given the chance.
60 points is pushing it there and I mean a lot pushing it. About 50-60 NHL players hit that mark each season so he’d have to put himself in the top 7% of NHL players to reach that mark.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
If he had our better wingers on the ice with him for 82 games he could hit 60pts. But he’ll be our 4th line center or on the wing on the 3rd so more like 40pts, if that.
You could say that for a lot of players ‘if they played the top lines’ but a lot of players don’t play the top lines because they aren’t able to play well against the top competition.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Like I said I wanted him gone.
But if he were ever to play for a big team with a couple of big talented wingers he’d be fine.
On our team that isn’t truly an option.
camm,gion,gomez,ak46,darche,plecks.eller,maxpac,dd….9 forwards on the team and only 3 starting spots for moen,pyatt,white,pouliot,halpern…if an ufa is signed than 2 spots left…does not look like there is any chance for any minor league player to make the team from camp now no matter how great a camp he has…
Desharnais is a good 3rd line center if you’re not concerned with size and he’s worth every dollar he signed for. give him two good wingers and the Habs would have a solid 3rd line. Laich and Leino Boston’s time with the cup would be short lived.
More likely DD is shifted to wing and Lars Eller plays at C. He’s the more important long-term piece and he was best this season when playing at his natural position. Laich and Leino are two of the highest-price forwards going into free agency and MTL can’t afford them without hurting themselves for trying to extend Eller, Price and Subban in the next offseason.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
I am liking Gauthier’s work so far in the off-season.
Yemelin (0.984 M), Kostitsyn (3.25 M), Gill (2.25 M), Darche (0.7 M), Pacioretty (1.625 M) and now Desharnais (0.85 M).
Solid signings. All 1 year/ 2 year contracts.
Bold move by PG, signing David to a one-way contract.
DD signed for 2 years, one way, cap hit 825k
Wow, neither Craig Ramsay and Craig MacTavish will be selected as the head coach for the Winnipeg team.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=369529
Has Kirk interviewed yet?
He was by Dallas, I think. But eventually Dallas promoted their minor-league coach Gulutzan. I feel bad for Kirk, but hey he’s back with Les Boys
(hopefully)
Didn’t see Mac getting back in the coaching pool anyway. I think Ramsay, much like his former boss Dudley kind of got hosed in the team’s move but the new owners wanted to put their own stamp on things even though Dudley pretty much built the 2004 TBL Cup squad and was part of a lot of the CHI effort to build their 2010 team.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Dudley did not build the Tampa Bay Cup champions.
He was only with Tampa for one year: 1999-2000.
Lecavalier and Richards were already there when he arrived, St.Louis and Boyle were signed after he left.
Rick Dudley, GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 1999 to 2002. He acquired St. Louis, Dave Andreychuk, Frederik Modin, Dan Boyle in that time. 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th leading scorers on the team in their playoff run.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter