Top story is an extensive interview with defenceman Josh Gorges.
Here are the other stories we’ve got for you this week in the HIO special section.
Gorges tries to pay it forward with prospect.
Fans frustrated, players make alternate plans.
Healthy Gionta finds wait tough to take.
No. 1 pick Audette feels pressure, pride.
Future looks bright for Habs defence.
Lockout could be boon to first-round draft pick.
TV looks to fill no-game nights.
Hockey Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative. © 2013 The Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement
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So Max scored in his first game. 2-2 after 40 minutes.
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
Especially these younger top players are going to have a great time in Europe. It’s not like they need the money, and while they’d rather be playing in the NHL it can be an awesome life experience.
I feel worse for the tens of thousands of businesses that are RELATED to hockey, and for the journeyman and older players who are either near the end of their career or even who are past 30 and counting their remaining seasons. But that’s what Buttman is counting on – that the older guys will cave. And they better not, or I’ll kick their asses!
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
And the Exodus continues………E.Kane to the Dynamo and Tavares to Switzerland
Frustration song no. 3
Cue the music!
Gee gee, why why the ho-ho-hum?
Look at the TV now, no games to run.
Wearin’ my lucky jersey, for the game to watch
I’ve got the recliner warmed up, and the Guinness to match
The lights are glowing strong up over the rink
And the lines are all painted and everything
He’s the devil in disguise, disguise, disguise
Devil who banks 8 mil
Devil in disguise, disguise, disguise,
And a lock-out gives him a thrill
Wearing that smirk, the one we all want to smack
Doesn’t care for our game, or for the fans
He thinks he’s cool, catching everybody’s wrath
He’s got such bad vibes that they don’t turn their backs
Not too bright, even if he thinks he is
He’s a real party pooper and we can’t stand that
He’s the devil in disguise, disguise, disguise
Devil who banks 8 mil
Devil in disguise, disguise, disguise,
I see his face and I need a pill
Shit Gary, get going!
You sure like to pause.
Stop being a haemorrhoid!
You sure are the cause.
While your lying and posturing
We fans hate this pause.
From the European league to the newer KHL
All the players are shipping out and saying “go to hell”
Shit Gary, get going!
You sure are the cause.
While you’re dodging and spewing
We’re dying for a hockey brawl.
He’s the devil in disguise, disguise, disguise
Devil who banks 8 mil
Devil in disguise, disguise, disguise,
And a lock-out gives him a thrill
********************************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
LMAO! Well done, Bripro. (I must say your songs are getting angrier, though. Prescription: MORE GUINESS!)
LOL. That’s OK Cal. It’s friday night poker night. Guinness is part of the inebriation of choice!
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
Not sure if serious (squints):
DansLesCoulisses @DLCoulisses
Scott Gomez a signé un try-out avec les Aces de l’Alaska, dans la ECHL!
Retweeted by Dan Kramer
EDIT: I guess it is:
Renaud P Lavoie @RenLavoieRDS
Scott Gomez will play in the ECHL in Alaska with the Aces, along with Joey Crabb (Was) and Nate Thompson (TB)
I hope they put him on the 4th line. On the wing.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Ha. Nice.
A question for someone who knows the farm leagues.
How good is this Audette kid. He was picked 1st overall in what… an expansion draft? Obviously he’s good… but I’m just wondering if he’s a kid to watch or if he’s more of an “Canadiens family” story.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
He was picked first in the Q’s midget draft which means the team that drafted him feels he was the best 15 year old available in Quebec. Believe both Hab prospects Hudon and Archambault were either the first or second picks when they were the same age.
Cool. So a bit more than just a “Canadiens family” story – he may be a real future NHLer.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
NHL? Screw it! I just picked up more Frontenac AND ZZ Top tickets! Ha Ha! Tube Steak Boogie Amigos!!!
ZZ Top? Where?
Kingston K-Rock Centre. Sat Nov 3.
They’re coming here (Montreal) as well. November 7th.
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
Funny column in MacLeans about the hockey strike.
(don’t know if it’s been posted…)
————–
Less hockey, but look – more Bettman!
” When the NHL commissioner attends hockey games, he’s always shown on TV jawing with some rich dude or staring glumly at his phone. He seems bored. But engaging in labour negotiations—that makes Gary’s eyes twinkle, like Scrooge denying Cratchit a shilling or Jenny Craig denying Kirstie Alley a Frito. And now a lockout! He’s in the spotlight. He’s getting all the attention. I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/28/less-hockey-but-look-more-bettman/
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
That’s the best article I’ve read about Butthead since, well since he became Butthead!
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.” I think I’ll use that!
Been watching abit of the game of Plexs team from Czech league online. Not very impressive hockey.
I like the points that the Bleacher Report had to say about not signing Subban. To a point. What you lose though in not showing confidence in a young player like Subban is the on ice ability to win, in much the same way Price lost confidence, but I think it was fans who took it away or a combination of Price buckling and making it worse by not improving the year Halak was here. But hey, if you are a pro athlete you have to be pro. If you get good money to be an athlete don’t lose it like Price did.
There is still time for Price to fix his mental issues with Montreal. Fuggedaboutit Price, your big head needs to instead stop pucks, win games and when you are humble like Dryden, then the awards flow, not the ones Molson buys for you.
Do you even follow hockey?
He’s just throwing lines into the water. Don’t take one.
I am just surprised this person figured out how to turn on the computer!
Random Comment Bot doesn’t have to follow hockey.
He’s programmed to select lines from forums and patch them together.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
nunasense
I love Nuna”s comments. Keep “em coming amigo. Let”er Rip!
Wish I could go hiking or just enjoy the outdoors today… and we’ve got rain for the week-end. Bah I say. And this place is dead too.
Anyone have a best hot-dog place in Montreal?
After watching this I stopped eating hot dogs.
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
How about European hot-dogs, with real sausage in a baguette? Those are awesome.
‘Slovenia’ on the Main is where I usually go.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I do love and eat Italian sausages.
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
If you want food process to sway your eating habits, try visiting a Martin Brower factory which makes the “hamburger” patties for McPukes.
There’s another “meat” I don’t eat. Rotten Ronnie’s is not food!
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
McDonald’s. Salt with food in it.
There may be storm clouds on the horizon. The Replacement (un)Official Summit that HiB has worked diligently to get off the ground may have hard to get tickets for Friday, October 26th, because it’s the Leafie wannabe’s coming to town, and I suspect that a hockey-crazed town like TO may swarm Copp’s Colisseum, especially on a Friday night. The best strategy may be to get a block of tickets before TO fans sniff out this game’s existence.
Otherwise, the Abbotsford Heat, without Lebron James, will be coming to Copp’s, 5PM, Sunday, October 28th.
“May you live in interesting times.”
The only way the owners start to feel enough pressure to settle this lockout is if WE the consumer not only boycott spending money on NHL goods, but stop spending money on their other businesses ie. Bell, Rogers, Molson, All MLSE products and even NBC to a point with snider.
I have already cancled my NHL centre ice package, cancled my Bell cell phone plan, stopped drinking Coors (labbatt instead).
Join me…
So the Leafs latest acquisition Leo Komarov will be donning the number 87 as a Toronto Marlie this season. When asked about picking the number he says:
“I don’t really care,” he said Thursday after the Marlies opened training camp. “It’s my choice and it’s my number. I wouldn’t take 99, but it doesn’t really matter if you’ve got 87 or 10 or something like that. It’s like whatever, dude.”
Interesting he uses the #10 in his analogy of numbers that don’t matter. This guy wouldn’t qualify to carry Guy’s jockstrap to games.
http://www.thespec.com/sports/bulldogs/article/808213–sid-who-new-marlies-forward-to-wear-no-87
Sounds like someone needs to have a little respect slapped into him.
Sounds like a perfect fit for a Bruin.
Morning Gerald.
———————————–
Morning Jim, beautiful day in Southern Ont. today, too bad no hockey to talk about, have a good one.
MVP! MVP!
———————————–
In the spirit of joking around, were you thinking of Pavel Bure, Gerald?
“May you live in interesting times.”
And here I was thinking this kid had found the perfect solution for Gomez… hypnotize him, give him #87 and tell him his name is Crosby
Leafs should step up and talk to the punk…how dare he take Donald Brashear’s number!
Didn’t they do the same during Antropov’s laughable rookie training camp fifteen years ago when he moronically wore number 66?
—————————-
THE KINGS ARE KINGS!! 2012
Lockout – Day 13
NHL owners are adamant about cost containment in the next CBA but they’re much too obsessed with player salaries. You don’t sweat the big stuff. You pay attention to the little things, and the bottom line will sort itself out.
For instance:
– wash the players’ jerseys once a fortnight (I just love the lingo the owners use! Fortnight – who else still talks that way?)
– have players carpool on road trips under 500 miles. If I have to commute to work, so can they. For longer trips insist they use one of those last minute booking services that promise great savings on flights
– every team has fans in other cities who would be more than happy to billet the players. Bye-bye hotel bills, hello free room and board, for 41 – count ‘em, 41 – games in the season
Then there’s the revenue side that could do with a little tweaking:
– put a timer on the showers
– rent souvenirs
[Leave a message at the beep and I will return your call. 'Beep']
If A is worth 1, B is worth 2, C is worth 3 … etc, Bettman would still add up to zero.
[Please, no graffiti]
Got a tattoo. Took some effort to resist having a logo of the Habs put on. No more NHL merchandise for me. Went with the Ticats’ snarling Tabbie. Won’t ever have to worry about lockouts and strikes in the CFL. League folding … yeah, that’s always a worry.
Hey, maybe I’ll put the Hamilton Bulldog on the other buttock!
Before the Replacement Summit. As if there wasn’t enough already to look forward to.
Summits are great. The website’s a good way to exchange views and get acquainted with people but we hide behind our avatars and don’t really get to know each other. That’s what makes seeing posters in person so nice, especially the ones you’ve argued with for three years and never met, to finally find out what they look like and be able to attach a fist to a face.
[Time check: 8:01]
Got out the old tabletop hockey game last night. My nostalgia was acting up. Played for an hour. Thoroughly exhausted. Sixty minutes of back and forth, back and forth, one end of the table to the other. Next time I’ll call up the nephew.
I am exhausted just reading what you are going through John. Great ideas as usual, question, what is the range allowable for billeting the Habs players when playing road games. Curious if I qualify for either Maple Leaf or Sabres games. Once again as usual I am willing to put up with Gomez at my place. Still fine tuning my fajita’s seasoning and hoping he can help with that.
Thanks John, I do worry what happens to you on Lockout Day 47, I just have a bad feeling about something.
Burl’, it’s guys like you like that make the Hab universe such a great place to live in. Selflessly offering up your home to Canadien players for BOTH Maple Leaf and Sabre games, and Red Wing games, if it’s not too much trouble.
Lockout Day 47? I’m worried about Lockout Day 470!
Okay, but I am not driving him all the way to Detroit, he can use my truck but I want $5 per km in mileage and he has to make sure his hockey bag doesn’t leave a stink in my truck. Wait, Scotty hasn’t sweated at a hockey game in years, so no worries there.
If I get any good stories out of him you will be the first hear them. Of course what I really want to learn from him is how to hit a hole in one, I have never done that. Gonna try again today though!
Best of luck!
Wouldn’t that be somethin’. Slo pitch championship AND a hole in one in the same week.
If that happens, head to the nearest convenience store and buy a lottery ticket.
I have to say these lockout updates are fast becoming the high point of my day.
Hmmm, you might want to lay off the decaffeinated coffee for a while.
Love the old table top sets!
This ditty is all about the meetings today (and whenever, for that matter).
It’s all Petty
Won’t Back Down
FEHR:
Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
You could stand me up against Bettman of the NHL
But I won’t back down
BETTMAN:
Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this Fehr from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down
BOTH TOGETHER:
Hey hockey fans, there ain’t no CBA out
We will stand our ground
And we won’t back down
FANS:
Well we know what’s right, we got just one team
When the NHL and the PA keep on pushin’ us around
But we’ll stand our ground and we won’t back down
EVERYONE:
Hey fans, there ain’t no easy way out
We will stand our ground
And we won’t back down
Tremendous Cal. Big fan of that song and will think differently of it every time I hear it now. You should find a recording studio.
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Great work as usual JB. I remember you were in the hunt for the then vacant GM roll but I’m beginning to think you might serve the game better as the commissioner.
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Today I look at the WHL’s East division, where the Memorial Cup hosts from Saskatoon play. In the article I take a look at Habs prospect Dalton Thrower. The team also has Darren Dietz.
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/28/top-shelf-prospects-2012-13-whl-preview-east-division/
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
I wonder what the standing record is for the biggest gap in time between new posts on HIO?
“May you live in interesting times.”
LOL. Thought the same thing this morning Guy. Even refreshed my browser thinking it didn”t refresh. CHeers my friend.
———————————–
CNN; ’3 things we learned on the 3d day of the U.N. General Assembly’ ; http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/us/un-3-things/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
…in the midst of the Iranians, the Palestinians and the Israelis at each others throats, the darkening cloud of al-Qaeda in the Mahgreb and Libya, and the world going to Hell in a hand-basket, Our Quebec pranksters do their thing to Ban Ki-Moon
;
’3. U.N.’s top diplomat gets a prank call
As he was involved in a series of meetings with presidents and prime ministers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was told Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on the phone.
Ban took the call and listened as the caller discussed fetuses and the abortion issue. Ban heard the French speaker apologize for not attending the meeting and having instead sent his foreign minister, whom he referred to as his “pet dog.”
When the caller said he needed help combing his hair with Crazy Glue, Ban asked whether the caller was really the prime minister.
The caller eventually handed the phone to a collaborator, who appealed to Ban to press NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to return the Avalanche hockey team to Quebec from Colorado. At that, the call ended; it’s not clear who hung up first.
A U.N. spokesman, who confirmed the prank call, said Ban took it in the spirit in which it was intended.
The callers are believed to be part of the “Masked Avengers,” a group that specializes in such hijinks, once fooling Sarah Palin.’
Looks like Price needs to bulk up a bit. Eller however is stacking on the muscle.
http://tinyurl.com/9nkmv4o
EDIT: I see this has been posted already.
Actually, being bigger would be detrimental to being a goaltender. The more muscular you are, the slower your reflexes can get.
_____________________________
“Access Forbidden” gettin’ ya down?
Hold down Shift while clicking refresh.
You’re bang on. After Ken Dryden’s one year protest over his contract, after re-signing with the team, he worked out madly over the summer and reported to camp at 193 lbs. (Todd Denault’s book), which is around half of what he weighs these days!
“May you live in interesting times.”
I love how we have all justified looking at a picture of sweaty men in underwear as a means to look at how “big” they’ve gotten for the new season. I think if we brought this photo up to some of our buddies we would be heckled into oblivion!
That is why I refuse to open the link.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=406261
Why isn’t Dan Blackburn playing? I’m deeply disappointed.
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THE KINGS ARE KINGS!! 2012
So the Rangers didn’t assign Redden to AHL this season, so now Redden after spending two years in the AHL is locked out like other NHL players.
I understand the Rangers were allowed to do this, but seems wrong to me from a respect perspective.
They chose to pick up that contract and Redden obeyed and played two years in the AHL while they buried his contract. I don’t know weird scenario.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/19469/wade-redden-dragged-into-lockout
This was a “this is business” move by the Rangers. Cant find fault for the team trying to save five million plus dollars. They were fortunate to have had the cap room to play this game.
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That is indeed an interesting case HIB. I understand that guys like Redden and Gomez just signed the contracts they were offered but I still don’t like it when players don’t play up to their contract. Redden should consider himself lucky that he was able to collect 6 million by playing in the stress free environment of the AHL. Redden is a d-man who probably could have played 15-20 solid years in the NHL if he wasn’t such a Coke Head in Ottawa.
True Dat! I heard he got sent down to the East Coast League for awhile too.
Boy oh Boy, what a fall eh?
I’m with you, crappy thing to do. Any word if Glen Sather and his fat Cigar are working for free?
If we did do Hamilton on the 26th.
Would people be interested in seeing Galchenyuk in Brampton on the 28th?
I’ll be going for sure (but I’m a junior hockey nut), just want to know what others think.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Hi Ben. I think since a lot of us will be traveling we thought we”d catch the Dog game on the 28th and return home on the 29th so folks who do work would only need to take one day off from work. That being said I think this is a real informal summit so to each their own I suppose. That’s my two cents which is worth, well, two cents.
CHeers
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I will echo Jim’s feelings, I am happy to help people with tickets, but essentially about 5 or 6 of us planned on going to this game and figured we should say the More the Merrier.
I may go to Brampton to watch that though Ben.
Fair enough, I figure if anyone is coming in from Montreal they won’t want to stay, but I’m not sure how many Ontario based posters we have.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Another review of the players invited to the Bulldogs Camp;
http://www.allhabs.net/feature/huge-dogs-camp-shows-commitment-to-depth/
These new guys are really showing us what a sad-sack group we were given the last oh… 20 years?
Management-wise anyways.
I agree Jay but I think more of the organizations issues in the past have been more in developing these young players. Time will prove us wrong or right but I think we’re headed in the right direction.
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I’d say: Development, Retention and Recruitment.
Thank the Almighty (your pick) for Timmins or what would the team look like today?
Claude Giroux, Anze Kopitar, Zach Parise….. I picked the wrong Almighty…
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THE KINGS ARE KINGS!! 2012
An article on the players invited to a try out at the Bulldogs Camp;
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2908
It looks like Erik Karlsson has shaved his head!
________________________________________________________
…… and on the seventh day, the Lord rested, and while he rested, satan created the Bruins
Aright here’s what I think’s happening:
There’s definitely going to be a lock-out, and I can’t remember where I heard it, but it was one NHL Scout or agent (cant remember which) that thinks a 5-month 70 game schedule is what they’re gunning for and it’ll probably be a one-year agreement.
Much like what happened in the NBA, with their shortened schedule, perhaps the players union may be asking for a reduction in regular season games (or preseason anyways) to help with the concussion/serious injuries issue (because that’s got to be an issue!)…like in the NFL.
Upon returning from the lock-out, new rules may come into play regarding buy-outs and/or an amnesty clause, similar to what’s happening in the NBA, or, in contrast to that, a franchise-tag for that player…like in the NFL.
Similar to what happened in the NBA…with the Heat, Ovie may be the NHL’s version to Lebron, and the Caps will win the Cup. They’ll go toe-to-toe with some up-and-coming team from the West…maybe St.Louis, and our beloved Habs will get knocked out in the first round against the Penguins, who’ll finish first in the Conference.
So,…whatta-ya think?
…this is first time in My relatively long life when I have heard Hamilton, Ontario, Canada referred in any way as ‘a destination of choice’
…first time for everything, I suppose
If the Habs want to be strong in Scouting Swedish kids, they might want to try and pry Nicklas Lidstrom away from the Red Wings organization.
Otherwise, given his pedigree, the Red Wings will gain some traction in Sweden, guaranteed.
Thanks Shiram.
Your link does not link.
Should be OK now.
I am surprised more players don’t want to play in toronto……you get the summers off
BREAKING NEWS
NHL Cancelled entire pre season schedule!!! Official
Ian
I think you are jumping the gun Ian, they cancelled all of PRE-season.
I forgot the word preseason! sorry!
Damb this reading correctly stuff!!
They will probably cancel regular season games in blocks starting soon. Hamilton here we come!
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No problem Ian
entire *pre season
think you might have misread that one :p
——————
The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given
So apparently the two sides will talk all through the weekend, over non-hockey-related issues.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/rangers/2012/09/nhl-and-nhlpa-have-cba-meetings-scheduled-through-entire-weekend-in-new-york-on-non-
I sure hope they get that friggin dental plan negotiated. Sigh
———————————–
There’s gotta be a gaping hole in that clause, Jim.
They have to get it right before growing long in the tooth.
That should take a bite out of this long delay!
Funny! Sure hope you find your way to Hamilton, bud.
———————————–
Still hoping….
Holy crap. Lars looks big and ripped.
http://tinyurl.com/9nkmv4o
That picture might get you some weird looks if you open it up at work.
Just saying.
We don’t judge.
My colleagues do.
Not if you work in Montreal. How do you define weird?
Who is the munchkin in the middle? Looks like he could play #1 center for the Habs.
That’s Gomez no? if Lars keeps working as hard as he did last year, he will be the Canadian captain one day. He’s smart, physical and great scoring hands.
Thanks for brightening my afternoon
LMAO!!!
LMAO!!!
Youppi looks funny out of costume!
Post of the day right there. Good one.
I have to say it’s the picture you posted.
I’m still on the floor.
I think Armstrong has been skipping Leg Day
Man…Eller definately looks huge. Bigger then even Moen….way bigger then Prust.
“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza
Disagree with the posters who say the strike will be a year or more
There is a clear lack of animosity between the 2 sides, not like the last strike when the leaders hated each other. Thats a good thing.
Wait for pressure points to start coming up like no pay stubs in October , Winter Classic and that HBO series to be scheduled. I would guess that the 3rd and 4th liners who make less than 1M will feel the pinch alot earlier than the players making huge coin. Bills have to be paid, car payments and mortgages deal with…iam looking for a resolution in October to start playing in November with a mini camp in the middle somewhere. Its about pressure points and timing for me.
Lockout-shmokout… How do you folks in Quebec feel about retroactive tax hike for 2012?
Timo…..
(heavy sigh)
I called in sick today, and thought I’d sit back and enjoy some easy reading/writing with my fellow hockey bloggers.
Not too stressed out ’cause we’re already conditioned for a long lock-out, then ….. you post this.
I used to enjoy your short quips….
Sorry? Did I say tax hike? I meant retroactive tax reduction and subsequent check in your mailbox.
Ahhh … that’s better.
Brian, put the blood pressure medication away.
I guess that’ll happen for certain when Justin Trudeau is elected Prime Minister.
No question about it.
Don’t you mean crowned emperor?
Pretty good feelgood story is about to happen in Baseball.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8430448/7-years-later-miami-marlins-give-adam-greenberg-another-bat
That story was posted a few weeks ago, but then he was only hoping for that at bat, I am very glad he got that opportunity.
The Marlins?
Doesn’t that team belong to two other egotistical billionaires?
As a matter of fact, weren’t they front and centre un unfounded promises that led to the Expos’ demise?
The kid should jump ship to another more honourable team, like the
…Yankees!!!
That’s great! I signed that petition a couple of weeks ago, good to know someone was paying attention. Brickbats to the Cubs, though, for not stepping up.
I just read the previous thread on Max, and then I scanned previous mentions of him and I have a question:
Does anyone know if he owns a razor?
Razors are overrated.
So says the.. bearded one?
Guilty.
Beards are in these days. I am growing out my two season full-beard now. Trimmed down to a goatee through Spring and Summer. Canada is a rugged country weather and terrain wise. We need to look like the Lumber Jacks we all wish we were.
I’ve had a goatee for over 20 years now, but it’s starting to grow so much grey, that my neighbour of 12 years looked at me the other day and asked “How long have you had a beard, Bri?”
Haha that is never what you want to hear! The good thing is that as men once you feel that you’re looking too old you can always shave and look a little younger.
I’m in my early twenties and often get mistaken for someone in his late twenties. I know that if I shaved people would think I was fifteen.
Anyone looking for good Christmas ideas:
Theo Fluery’s best selling book ‘Playing With Fire’ can b personally autographed & sent directly 2 u 4 $25, contact at dawn@theofleury14.com
I have read the book and it is definetly worth the read. The abuse part is tough to get through but when he starts talking hockey it is awesome! My Fav part of the entire book is when he called Roman Hamrlik a Puke LOL
Looks like this year in our family it’s nothing but electronics for xmas. Need new camera, new laptop, new ipad… It’s going to be an expensive one.
Sounds expensive. I thought the IPAD had some new great camera on it? Kill two birds with one stone!
Don’t waste your money.
The difference between the i4s and the i5 is exactly that. An enhanced photo app.
But you can download “Instagram”. It’s the best. Period. And better still, it’s free.
And you won’t have to fork over the extra money.
I am old school Bipro….I am still rocking a blackberry! My phone is mainly used for work and i prefer having a keyboard to type on and the security on the blackberry is great. Rim is crapped the bed in development cause their business guy was chasing dreams of a hockey team instead of investing in the future.
The new operating system Rim is coming out with in early 2013 looks interesting. You can switch between personal and business profiles which would be a great feature for someone like me. It may be too little too late though
http://www.youtube.com/user/blackberry?v=mmND2-fkUD0&feature=pyv&ad=27664005223&kw=blackberry%2010&CPID=KNC-kw826798_p7&HBX_PK=rim
I do have an Ipod tough that I enjoy for fun and think the IPADS are also great but think they need to lower the price point on it as Laptops still have more functionality than a tablet
I’m also old school Kooch.
But my daughter sold me on the virtues of Apple 6-7 years ago.
My last cell was the Blackberry Pearl, but texting on it was like playing the piano with two baseball bats.
In my business, I went through 5 PCs in 6 years, and I’m now on my second Apple desk top in 7 years, so the cost is justified.
I (or rather, my wife) also has an Apple laptop and iPad and we all have iPhones. And seriously, RIM doesn’t even come close.
And switching profiles is a breeze. Apple are indeed a little more expensive, although I find their pricing more in line now, and the difference in performance is more than worth the difference. But to each, his own.
I love my IPOD touch (same functionality minus the Phone) and was trained on Mac’s back in school (long time ago now
) . They do last longer. The only thing I don’t like about the IPOD is I now have IPOD docks on each floor of my house and after my last one died I realize I have no choice but to buy another one. I am stuck. I love the Cloud that they have come up with for music as well. Smart marketing and usefullness.
Rim sat back thinking that Iphone would phase out…Good job Jimmy Balls. That didn’t pan out so well. Technically though they only really compete on the phones.
I use a blackberry playbook instead of an IPAD mainly cause I can get on remote desktop to log into our works server and access my computer from anywhere. If you could do that on a n IPAD i would have got one.
I do still like my blackberry phone but I really only use it for phone calls and e-mail. I don’t use apps on it really and stay off the internet .
A great app that works across all platforms (android, apple, blackberry) is called Evernote. You can save whatever you want on there, pictures, files, music, clip web pages and you can access it from your laptop, tablet or phone. I use it to put my notes, hotel confirmation etc and they are there at the touch of a finger. I recommend checking in out
If you’re looking for another touch, or docking station, I would suggest either Kijiji or the local pawn shop. Guaranteed to find something.
I use my iPad to access our office servers. As easy as a laptop except for the on-screen keyboard.
Just saw an article which says Clark Gillies is in the hall of fame. Good player, but HOF? The totals don´t warrant this plus he was on a line with possibly the greatest right winger of all time and fed off a HOF centre.
John Davidson leaving the St. Louis Blues.
http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2012/09/davidson-leaving-blues.html
Elliotte Friedman on the damaging potential of Jim Devellano’s remarks:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/09/potential-lockout-leverage-in-devellano-comments.html
Hey HabinBurlington
Friday October 26, 2012… Toronto Marlies @ Hamilton Bulldogs 7:30PM
Sunday October 28th, 2012…. Sarnia Sting @ Brampton Battalion (Alex Galchenyuk’s only visit to Brampton this season). About a 45 minute drive from Hamilton to Brampton (less from Burlington). Plus its a 2pm start.
I see you already have the Bulldogs on Board.
See if you can get in touch with the Battalion and make it happen.
I’d be in for sure.
Epic Sports weekend as I have the final game at Ivor Wynne Stadium on the 27th.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Generally the Battalion have very little attendance. Buddy of mine goes to all their games, I will have him chat with someone from the Battalion and get information for those that want to go to it.
Unfortunately, public transport to Brampton from Hamilton area is not so good as I recall.
Public transport is a pain. You basically have to go to downtown toronto and then transfer onto a train/bus going to brampton. Its not pretty and can take long.
But for anyone planning to drive, going to both games shouldn’t be too difficult.
I’m sure I can find us a bar in Brampton too for a Sunday afternoon.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Frustration song no. 2:
Cue the music.
Welcome to the Grand Confusion
Share your thoughts on disillusion
Pay the price for the game, sell your soul.
The rink is set, as they start skating
Suddenly you see them standing
Wishing away this loss of control.
Don’t be fooled by the NHL
The players or their teams
They tweet and speak of how the game should be
But playing is just the fans’ fantasy
So if you think this game is complete confusion
Because we won’t be seeing a game
Just remember the NHL’s a Grand Illusion
And deep inside they’re all the same
All the same….
So if you think this game is complete confusion
Because the players have it made
Just remember Bettman’s about confusion
And behind closed doors they’re all the same
All the same….
The NHL spells competition, join us in our disappointment
Get to watch another parting star
Someday they’ll return from yonder and as fans we’ll stop to ponder
Neither side is worth our wonder, leaving us with scars
*clap clap clap*
Well done, Bripro!
Right back at you for your Bohemian Capsody.
And I tried to add extra verse to impress you and John, but it kept coming up blank.
Good work Shiram.
I dont now why I dont get published in the Gazat becaus i alwayes right alot.
Maby nex time eh
LOLZ
JJ its all cool
—Hope Springs Eternal—
R u insultink mai 1337 Taiping skillzorz?
No its the only thing i cann thinke of that esplains wy i dont get publisht in the Gaset.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
JB,
How could you forget Gilles “the fish” Poisson.
Poor fish, always the forgotten one.
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
Maurice Mad Dog Vachon!
Yup, can’t forget “Mad Dog”.
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
NHLPA vs The NHL: “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right” – Stealers Wheel
Stuck in the Middle
For HabinBurlington;
Can you tell me which “Go Station” in Hamilton is nearest to Copps ?
Just found out that Via Rail does not go to Hamilton. One has to take Via to Union Station in TO and the use Go Transit train from there.
Thanks.
Looks like you’d take the Lakeshore West line from Union to Hamilton station; from Google Maps, it looks like it’s about 5kms from the station to Copps.
http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/schedules/lstser.aspx?new=&ps=
Thanks !
Anyone planning on picking up tickets for the Hamilton game Nov. 9 at the Bell Centre? Don’t know too many people who are interested in AHL but I think that I’m going to pick up a couple of tickets. Might be one of my only chances to sit in the low reds with the tickets so cheap.
Anyone else thinking of going? Would be cool to meet some of you there!
I should be there with 2 friends and I too am hoping for some of the lower seats, if possible.
Priciest tickets are 70$ so I probably won’t be getting those…
That sounds like a plan. How much are the tickets?
Like Shiram said the most expensive are around 70$ I think the cheapest are 14$. Good deal overall.
I was ready to spend about 300 bucks for a night at a Habs game so I am thinking that I’ll be able to go for the more expensive seats since they fit in my sports budget :p
I wonder if they will have the Desjardins seats up and running for this even..
I think tickets go on sale for this game on Saturday.
From 15.50 to 70$, but the seating plan is not out yet, AFAIK.
tickets go on sale saturday at 9am, at the Bell Center ticket booth, or on evenko.ca
On the subject of tasteless sports memorabilia, here’s one that ranks right up there!
Does this mean that the Bs will erect a statue in Chara’s name?
Been watching the ’72 Summit series that aired on TSN; some really great memories (and lots of stuff I’d forgotten as well). Try as I might, I can’t accept the fact that Bobby Clarke was part of that squad; what a moron. Some of the comments he made last night just made me spitting mad – doesn’t at all regret the slash on Kharlamov and that Ken Dryden wasn’t that great a goalie? Excuse me? Does he consider the Flyers standard of goalkeeping to be top end? To make myself feel better, I just ordered my copy of Todd Denault’s latest, A Season in Time. Can’t wait!
Yep, that Clarke slash really ruined that series for me. I know there were lots of other incidents (the kicking, Cashman’s tongue), but those were borne out of scrums/half fights, etc. It’s not like one of their players skated across the ice to hunt down one of our star players and deliberately took him out.
Ferguson even admitted to telling Clarke that Kharlamov was killing them (hint, hint). The tragedy is that I think we still would’ve beat them, even if Kharlamov was playing in game 7 and fully healthy in game 8….but we’ll never know.
What an amazing player he was though…helluva lot better than Clarke.
Clark should never have been there; he was asked to be a replacement for a player who was either hurt or had other commitments. Clark mentioned it on TSN between periods but I missed the name of the player and the reason.
Agreed. And in his opinion, Tretiak was an average goalie.
At least Peter Mahovolich rebuttled by reminding everyone that Tretiak stood on his head during the New Years’ Eve game.
Clarke always was and still is a pompous ……
Yeah, pretty sad. I thought after all those years he would have at least shown a little class. What am I thinking? Its Bobby Clarke. Philistine!
Bell Center just called me to say that in the event our Summit game is cancelled, they will keep our funds in their account and not refund to me. We will talk about how we proceed after the league call is official.
I will keep you all posted on the SUMMIT site posted below.
Summit game tickets, News, Pictures and comments
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montreal-Canadiens-We-Are-Fans-Summit/197390760316125
Perhaps they could apply the credit to all of us in Hamilton. We get every box in the barn, unlimited food and beverage and that is just from applying the 2 tickets I purchased!
Okay, looking more and more like we will need to put together a Hamilton Hoe-Down at Copps Coliseum. There is a few of us already planning on going to the game on the Weekend of October 26th-29th.
How much interest is there in going to a Bulldogs game from the Commentariat? I have spoken a few times with Greg Diamond a sales rep. for the Dogs. Here is the options we have on group tickets. If we have decent interest I will work as a liason between Greg and us. I will be honest and say I am not sure about putting on an actual raffle and dinner as Ian has this down pat and I really don’t do tasks very well at the best of times.
Anyways, have a read here and let me know if there is interest.
Hi again Gerry,
I could provide you with some great group pricing no problem.
Gold: $20
Red: $16
Blue: $12
I could for sure arrange a meeting with players for your group as well.
The management have definitely made some great moves during the off-season and I think the addition of Sylvain Lefebrve as the coach will be great as well. He seems very happy and motivated to be here this season.
Let me know if you have any questions for the group process and for your season tickets as well.
Thanks Gerry!
Best Regards,
Greg Diamond
Account Executive
Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club
101 York Boulevard
Hamilton, ON L8R 3L4
905-546-8177
Greg.Diamond@hamiltonbulldogs.com
Road trip!
Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.
That’s awesome and I wish could join the lot of you. I’ll have to settle with seeing the Bulldogs at the Bell in November.
Sounds great Gerald my friend. Pick a Saturday night game if possible and a watering hole for people that travel and stay over.
Maybe check out a group rate for a hotel as well.
Summit game tickets, News, Pictures and comments
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montreal-Canadiens-We-Are-Fans-Summit/197390760316125
Wow, that’s awesome news. You can count hubby and I in. Are you going to ask for a specific section or do we just go ahead and order our tickets and hope we all end up seated relatively close? I wouldn’t worry about organizing a dinner, I’m sure we can figure out a local watering hole where we can gather pre- or post-game.
Given the usual low attendance for Dogs games, I suspect we have pretty good mobility to move around where we see fit. Depending on how many people show interest that will determine how we go about ordering tickets. After I get a rough idea of the numbers I will contact Greg and see what he can work out for us. I am wondering if he will let people pay him direct or if I need to front the money for the tix and collect. The other thing is that the reduction in price is only about 6 bucks, so worst case people just buy at the window and we start finding each other, technology helps for that.
But it would be cool for us to meet Tinordi, Gallagher, etc… of course Stortini could be the most entertaining in the bunch.
Sounds great… count me in! There’s a couple of places to get drinks and dinner attached to Copps, including The Honest Lawyer, where some of the players and management a know to visit after games. There’s also the Hamilton Sharaton in the same complex.
___________________________________________________
Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
Thats a great suggestion Chuck, I had forgotten about the Sheraton being basically attached to Copps. Plus you have the entertainment of Main st. right there as well!
My Summit smile
has now been replaced by the Substitute Summit smile. 
———————————–
Umm…it’s a Replacement Summit…. and thanks for the e-mail info good buddy.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Hey, although I don’t post that often, I’m an avid reader.
My wife and I would love to go to a Bulldogs summit. Of course a saturday night game is preferable.
Gerry,
I would be down for it for sure. Prefer Saturday. At those prices might as well get the good seats.
Great if we can meet and greet the dogs. Maybe I can get a Gallagher game worn jersey for my six year old!
“Et le but!”
Now I have to get my GPS fixed….
I am in for sure and I am sure my Dad would love to come as well.
Even if the Summit doesn’t happen we will head down that weekend Burly!
Are you getting seasons tickets for yourself?
sounds like fun! count me in, i second the saturday game idea by ian. works a bummer like that
http://945thesmooth.tumblr.com/
i understand there are alot of Hoes in Hamilton.
I don’t think there is that much Gardening done in an urban downtown
Ah it’s my time to have my comments posted on The Gazette and they post one of my goofy posts, I’ll have to keep serious at all times from now on.
Well at least you made it.
I racked my brain the other day to write an amazing song, in tribute to this fiasco, and it was barely noticed. Stubbs likes you best!
So stop complaining!
Well I did thank Stubbs for posting such a nice video interview, maybe that helped grease the wheels!
Suck up!
…. just kidding!
Congrats Shiram, too bad you weren’t still rocking the Poutine Avatar, Stubbs could have included it and by now Poutine restaurants all over Montreal would be paying you to come to their establishments and provide a critique!
Well I did plug “La Belle Province” in there, that’s gotta count for something, maybe a free poutine?
Geez, they displayed my replies. Our names are in print!!!
Oh, the glory and the honor. I am beside myself!
How was it looking beside you and seeing you? I hope you at least got to see your good side Cal!
Yuck! It ended up being my back side.
The players are in a no win situation now. The owners will not move very much if any. And although I always side with the little guy in most disputes, there is not a little guy in this dispute.
The players are treated like royalty, by most owners and certainly by their fans. They make a lot of money for a short career and a players pension to boot. So I am not siding with the players completely.
The players have come a million miles from the day of the Rocket making peanuts to play. And the owners have marketed this game into the billions of dollars, so they are certainly not hurting as well. This is not a game any more, it is most definitely a industry that should be on the Dow Jones index.
It is a pure greed play on both sides, and it will only end when the players start to cave in, not before. I think it will take the whole year to resolve if it is not settled in the next 10 days.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montreal-Canadiens-We-Are-Fans-Summit/197390760316125
I agree 100% with you. This is a terrible situation that reeks of greed on both sides. With so much money on both sides it paints a very dark picure of both the owners and players.
And if I hear one more owner or player say how sorry they feel for the fans I will lose it. If they cared one iota about the fan they would figure this out pronto.
But they don’t, and they never will…
All PR and BS my friend. They sure treat us as fools and tell us we are the best!
Summit game tickets, News, Pictures and comments
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montreal-Canadiens-We-Are-Fans-Summit/197390760316125
100% Ian.
I don’t see an early finality to this situation either. And I don’t think the players expect it to finish early either. If they had, they wouldn’t be jumping to the KHL or European leagues.
It’s so frustrating as a fan, to feel so helpless, just sitting back and watching all of this hockey news, of which none is an announcement that training camp starts in X days.
Kiss our Summit goodby Brian. People will just have to hang onto their tickets tell next year I guess. I am waiting for another call from the Bell Center to let me know how they are going to exchange them.
If we hang onto them (for me, thanks to Burly), I wonder if they’ll offer a 3-10% rate of return as they’re doing in Minnesota.
Either way, you can be sure that I would love to be there, and it’s unfortunate that we might have to wait another year to put a face to the names of all these great bloggers.
That’s right Ian. They have the market cornered. You and I pay to watch games where players jostle about, someone scores, and the team then tries to hold the lead for the next 56 minutes. Yet in the juniors a team can be down 4-1 going in to the third and come out flying with a five goal third. The AHL is more controlled but you do get to see some flashes, especially from players who for one reason or another, just never make it to the NHL. With players held back from the NHL it can be even better. The KHL is expanding their rosters for NHL players, meaning no one gets cut. The big ice and a little bit of hype would make their games marketable here, especially with the time difference. How about watching HNIC featuring the KHL and the Swiss leagues at 11 AM and finishing by supper on Saturday leaving you the evening for whatever.
There is so much opportunity here. Gate is such a small part of the market now why not scoop the rest while the scooping is good?
NEW- Some group just make a move to start a Canadian League, USA league and a European League. The 3 winning teams play off for the CUP!
I agree the players need to cave to resolve the lockout. My hope is that Fehr’s mandate is to get the best deal possible without losing a full year of paychecks.
Stock in Madison Square Garden, MSG, appreciated 40% this year, netting the Dolan family an incremental $180million. The Canadiens are partly owned by Woodbridge, the investment vehicle for the wealthiest familty in Canada. For the most part, the well run teams have incredibly deep pockets. The upper echelon of NHL owners have time and money on their side.
Blue, blanc et rouge. Red and White for Canada. Blue for Smurfs.
With the current state of our team, and the NFL in full swing, take as long as you want to divy up your millions. The NBA will be starting soon, and while I’m not a big NBA fan, between all the coverege they have and my kids, I’ll be fine without Hockey.
I never in my dreams ever thought I would say that when I was winning Stanley Cups in my back yard against the Nordiques, but hey, times change and people can turn me off now that I am older, wiser, and more mature. I’m moving on, like I said, take your time, I and many others no longer care.
Reading the article about our Dmen, really gets a Hab fan drooling at the idea of one day Beaulieu and Tinordi being a nice 2nd pairing of dmen for the Habs.
Woohoo!!! Links open in a separate tab. Way to go getting with the times HIO coders.
+1
Whoa…my head is spinning! Next they’ll put in an ignore button and everyone will write “Hello…hello…why are there never any posts but mine…”
I am beginning to think Ian was right when he posted a couple of weeks ago to not expect any NHL this season..it is starting to look pretty bleak.”Hopes rise and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday..Life is beautiful but living is pain”
Oh well, Erie Otters are in town tomorrow night. Life is still good. Saludos Amigos
There is plenty of great hockey out there besides the NHL. The problem is that the NHL dominated the market and usually we can’t get the other games unless we drive to the barn. Once someone tumbles to that…
First of all, I actually have a lot of respect for many rich people. Despite having unlimited financial means, most of them work very hard to maintain their empires and to support their charities, many of which are essential to our society (even beer, well…especially beer. Thank you Mr. Molson). I think if I suddenly had unlimited financial means, you would find me dead in a puddle of my own puke in a Thailand brothel within a year. So please don’t interpret as being anti-rich. But…
Do we really need the NHL owners? As Bettman said himself, hockey fans are the best in the world. A hockey league with the best players in the world is a license to print money in Canada and in the top US markets.
So if the lockout results in a lost season, why not start a new league following the Green Bay Packer model for team ownership, and the PGA Tour model for a league? Each team would raise enough money to run the team through the sale of ownership shares. Like Green Bay, the shares do not pay a dividend, nor come with any benefits. No one can own more than 200 hundred shares to prevent someone gaining control. I think a publically owned Montreal team would sell out on all shares in a few days.
The league would follow the PGA Tour model which is also non-profit, but purses are guaranteed. So the NHL model would make the players salary guaranteed, say 50-55% of revenue, just like the NHL with a salary cap.
It would need a commissioner to run affairs (Ken Dryden?), and any excess profit would be directed to grassroots development of the sport, charity and to reinvesting into the league. The PGA has raised almost $1B for charities.
The only way this would work is if you could attract at least 80% of the top players, so if each team raised enough money through the sale of shares, the new teams should be able to offer each player close to their current salary. This would take the golden handcuffs off the players.
Imagine the quality of the hockey if you could attract at least 80% of the league’s stars in a 12 team league? It would be like the Olympics or World Juniors all the time. I would think selling out tickets and TV deals would be easy to get.
Green Bay just raised $25M a few years ago for stadium improvements. According to the Forbes numbers, each NHL team needs about $100M a year to fund activities. So if each team sold $100M worth of shares, contingent upon attracting 80% of the top players, and securing a TV deal, and selling a certain number of season tickets, each team would have enough float to operate for a full year without any revenue, which should be enough to get it off the ground.
The NHL does not even own the Stanley Cup, they are just custodians as long as they are the best league in the world. If 80% of the stars came to the new league, they would have to give up the Cup.
Then we would not need owners or the NHL. And beer would be cheap at the games, just like in Green Bay. It’s fun to dream.
Sounds like a dream to me. Having one team in an entire league run that may work, but I don’t see how you could have an entire league run that way. End of the day, the players will still play where the money is, they will have zero loyalty to a league and thus the bidding wars begin for players and deep pocketed owners are required.
Chris and I were firing back and forth yesterday about an all-Canadian league. I suggested we include all of the original six, and call it the Northern Hockey League, where strong fan support exists, even in states such as Il, NY, MI and MIN.
Yes, it’s a dream but to go back to a time where playing took precedence over the almighty dollar, that would be so sweet.
Ian posts about how things have changed since the Rocket played for peanuts, and he’s right.
“Money makes the world go around….”
No Gravity does. All that money does is make everyone’s head spin.
Most crap is financed and it takes a year for the suits to milk the “setting up the financing” business and dot the “t’s”. Who wants to pay lawyers for a year when you’re not sure when the rug is pulled out. At the first sign of competition the rug will be pulled out.
Is there any rule, written or unwritten, which would prevent the Montreal Canadiens squad from playing unofficial games against the Hamilton Bulldogs squad during the lockout? As a means to stay sharp, and great mentoring opportunity for the ‘Dogs players?
With a number of our players in Europe (6 now?), this isn’t much of a factor. Mix the players all up, half and half, and it would make for some fun hockey.
“Only a goalie can appreciate what a goalie goes through.” – Jacques Plante
I heard on the radio that Jason Spezza has to pay $50K/month for insurance for his NHL contract to play in Europe, which means he is playing for free. I can see the fear of injuries and how it would affect their NHL contracts being a concern.
Yeah. One team is part of a professional hockey league and the other team is locked out by their employer. If Fedex was locked out they wouldn’t be riding along with the UPS drivers and tossing boxes.
Interesting interview with Josh Gorges. I especially loved what he said about mentoring Brendan Gallagher, going out of his way to get to know the kid and offer him help and encouragement. Shows great leadership.
But I find his views on the lockout naive. Of course he has to spout the official line in an interview, but it is discouraging to hear the players talk about a “fair” deal. It’s not “fair” that they should have to make all the concessions, the owners should also have to make some, and so on. Compromise is necessary, but labour disputes are not settled by ideas of what is “fair”. Each side tries to get the best deal they can; and the league’s initial offer plus the fact they promptly locked the players out on 15 September shows they are determined to get something pretty close to what they demanded, “fair” or not. I would love to know what Gorges and others (especially those who do not find work elsewhere) really think – how long they are prepared to sacrifice salary and playing time, why they think it is worth it, what they think the long term effects of the lockout will be on the league and on their own careers.
JF– The players are in a no win situation now. The owners will not move very much if any. And although I always side with the little guy in most disputes, there is not a little guy in this dispute.
Ian – I completely agree, and I don’t understand how the players can’t see it. I sympathize with their determination not to let the owners get away with clawing back some of the ridiculous amounts of money they’ve handed out in the last few years; but the price they will pay is far more than any slight concessions they might win are worth. But the monumental stupidity on both sides of this dispute is mind-boggling – and we might see the NHL carry this stupidity to the point of sacrificing the Winter Classic, the hugely profitable television show that goes with it, and the gigantic publicity window that these events afford. Common sense says the League won’t allow this to happen, but I haven’t yet seen much common sense in this mess.
A look at the QMJHL’s West division featuring the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, and a look at Habs prospect Olivier Archambault in Drummondville.
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/27/top-shelf-qmjhl-west-preview/
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Hey Ben. I read your review on the Armada and I agree 100%. They’re a really effective team. My problem is, although they’re the closest to where I live, they’re still over an hour away, without traffic.
Our closest competitive is AAA with the Kahnawake Condors.
When the Armada were the Montreal Juniors, it was an easy travel at 25-30 minutes, but it’s going to be a long winter with little hockey if there’s none on the tube!
I think that Laval will be best off putting a QMJHL team in the new arena, if that helps you at all.
I think the Q team would do better than the AHL would. A lot easier to market rivalries with Quebec City, Chicoutimi, Drummondville, and of course the B-B Armada, than it is to get something going with Albany, Rochester, and Hershey.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Dregger: ‘I expect the remainder of the NHL preseason will be officially cancelled by the end of the week.’
McKenzie:“I’m not at all optimistic that there’s going to be hockey this year.”
The greatest Canadiens and NHL news-site: http://teliopost.com/
Twitter: @teliopost
Not sure if it was mentioned elsewhere, but there will be 2 Bulldog games at the Bell Centre this season:
Nov.9 vs. Syracuse
Feb.22 vs. Rochester
A special shout out this morning to our very own Habimburlington who was the winning pitcher in the Burlington slow pitch championship game last night. Way to go Burly!
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We have an ATHLETE in our ranks??? Wow!
Congrats, Burl’. I’ll have to watch Sports Centre at 8 to catch a clip of the action.
No-hitter? 18 strikeouts? 4-for-4 at the plate? C’mon, give us some details, HiB.
Edit: No need to hurry. You’re probably sleeping off your victory celebration.
Just how slo are your pitches, anyways? 10 km/h? 8 km/h?
6 km/h! No way!
Hey hey! He’s not alone!!! I’m in game-2 of the Ile Bizard softball final tonight, we are up 1-0 in the best of 3 series….
I’ve played eight out of ten positions this season (all except CF and SS). One day they will find a position I can play!!!
Way to go Psycho. Give us an update in the morning. Go get em!
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Go get ‘em, Psycho!
With a moniker like that, do you give the batters a Goose Gossage glare when you’re on the mound?
More like Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky…
Petition the league to add a DH
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
No thanks! At my age too many positions is out of the question!
Go get ‘em Psycho, may your victory provide a celebration with as much of a headache as I have this morning!
Congrats Burly!
Tough being the Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens of our leagues!!
No steroids or drugs for us….Just natural hops and barley!!!
Hey HabinBurlington, where about in Burlington are you? I’m at Walkers and New St.
Go to a lot of Bulldogs games I take it?
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“Obviously it would be great, but they don’t really hang conference titles in this rink. They raise Stanley Cup banners.” – Carey Price
Just up the street from you Von, in the Palmer community area off Guelph Line. Hope to take in alot more Dogs games this year.
Love this! Congrats to Gerald! Incredible that I can get local sports news from Hockey Insideout! You have the expertise of an ace reporter Jim!
“May you live in interesting times.”
By the way, was Gerald pitching only because Strasburg was shut down?
“May you live in interesting times.”
Thanks Jim, was a great finish to our teams season. We won the best of 3 final 2 games to 1 after losing the first one. Mr. Bellyfull, they are very slo, the league I play in has an unlimited arc, so the key is very high and very slo. My team decided it would be best to get me off 3rd base and place the largest object on our team dead in the middle of the infield in order to bounce hits off of. Has worked out well aside from the various contusions.
Cheers.
Contusions, eh? That’s taking a dozen or so for the team
No concussions? That’s good, although they do say “the end justifies the beans.”
LOL, actually Monday night I tooka line drive off my head, missed my square corner so the ball was fine, I seem to be okay…..
This pre-season, if it really is a pre-season, gives us Habituated the freshest feel of optimism since 2008 when Tanguay, Lang, and Gill were signed, and Streit was in his final Habs season. Pat Hickey’s article about the encouraging group of young defencemen is a big part of my optimism.
I have to nominate Todd Denault’s book, “The Greatest Game,” as the second best hockey book written. The fascinating in-depth details amazes. Among the many topics highlighted in Denault’s work is the mention of many of the second tier of defencemen who were essential to the last dynasty’s success: Rick Green, Bill Nyrop, Don Awrey, Brian Engblom, John Van Boxmeer, Rod Langway. The current stable of D-men prospects hopefully will emulate the success of that proud era.
Other fascinating facts recounted in this fascinating Habs book: Doug Jarvis was obtained from the Leafs, stood 5’9″, made the team at age 19 and played against the Central Red Army on that New Year’s Eve. Doug Risebrough was 5’11″ and is why us old-timers love the signing of Brandon Prust – we saw how important a feisty middelweight was to the team in the era of the Broad Street Bullies and Big Bad Bruins (Terry O’Reilly, John Wensink, Stan Jonathan, Jay Miller). Mario Tremblay is the youngest Hab to win a Cup. There was a draft where the Habs had 13 of the first 28 picks. Ken Dryden was drafted by the Boston Bruins and obtained in a trade made by Sam Pollock (no surprise).
With the strong possibility that there will be no NHL hockey this winter, I just might have the time to finish Denault’s other two books.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Good morning Guy. Can you send me an email?
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Lockout – Day 12
Lots of abuse heaped on a poster recently for referring to Lucic as an ape.
Imagine how Moose Vasko must have felt in the day. Or Jake the Snake. Camille the Eel.
Sportswriters and fans can be so cruel.
(You young whipper-snappers can look up those names yourself!)
[Column pause. Check out the ads on the right]
I’m beginning to think this NHL patch stuff is a scam. The brochure promised it would wean me off hockey but my interest in the game hasn’t wavered one bit. In fact, it seems to be getting stronger. And now I’ve got 12 patches on my left arm.
I’ve a sneaking suspicion the stuff is no different from aspartame in diet cola. Replaces the sugar but increases your craving for food. I can now name every $&%t^^# team in the Kontinental Hockey League – and every &^$@%!! one of their players! (It just boggles my mind that Spartak’s captain is Branko Radivojevic! Nikita Shchitov should have got the C. Or our old pal, Oleg Petrov.)
[Reminder: HIO dues must be paid by the end of the month. No cheques please.]
Hope the NHL is taking note of what happened in the NFL: You want to get a deal done, use replacements.
That’s the word on the street. Rumour has it the NFL and the referees’ union are close to signing an agreement. All because of replacements.
The NHL should follow suit: replace the Fehrs and the Bettmans, the Fehrs and the Dalys, and bring in the amateurs. You’d have a CBA in no time …
NHL replacement negotiators: We don’t like the way this revenue sharing is working out for us. Either we get 42 per cent or these talks end.
NHLPA replacement negotiators: Nice try, buddy. We know you’re bluffin’. Our guys won’t settle for anything more than 47 per cent. 46 per cent tops. You give us a penny more than 45 per cent, we’re outta here! AND we let you decide what’s hockey-related revenue.
NHL replacement negotiators: Oh yeah, well then try this on for size: Entry level players won’t be allowed to sign for more than two years. Yeah, that’s right, TWO years. And then they’re on their own. Take it or leave it.
NHLPA replacement negotiators: There’s no way we’re ever going to agree to that unless you make the same offer to ALL our members: No contract over two years.
NHL replacement negotiators: Now you’re starting to tick us off! You want to play rock ‘em, sock ‘em, talk ‘em, fine, have it your way. That escrow stuff? Out the window. The league will give players an advance on NEXT season’s revenue. Your guys can have the headache of what to do with all that money. How do ya like them apples?
NHLPA replacement negotiators: Okay, that does it, if you dirt bags don’t want to compromise, we will. Salary cap drops 10 per cent each year!
NHL replacement negotiators: Salary floor goes up 15 per cent per year!
NHLPA replacement negotiators: No guaranteed contracts!
NHL replacement negotiators: Guaranteed $500,000 lifetime annual annuities for any player who suits up for more than four games!
NHLPA replacement negotiators: Is that so! Well, we pay our own insurance anNEWS FLASH – The National Hockey League and the players’ association have just announced they’ve agreed to a 10-year deal.
No terms were disclosed or explanation given for the sudden about-face by the owners and players but an informed source said the league and union each “dodged a bullet.”
The replacement negotiators were not so lucky.
[One-minute bathroom break.]
.
.
[Best six lines of blank verse I’ve ever written. Let’s see Cal top those!
And if he says he’s written seven lines, don’t believe him.]
Calling Lucic an ape is an insult to apes!
The SPCA is investigating, calling it “an outrage.”
Actually the agency called it “a Hockey Inside/Outrage.”
Great job JB.
(This post was made by a replacement for habfan10912).
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Thanks, Jim’s replacement
(You’ve hid the pod, right, where the cleaning lady can’t find it?)
Blank verse? Lovin’ it! Thanks for the laugh, JB!
Sorry, Freddie, it’s becoming a compulsion
Bohemian Lockout Capsody
Is this my real life?
or tis my NHL pool of fantasy?
Caught in a lockout
No escape from that mentality
Open your eyes
Look down at the ice and see
They’re just all poor boys, they need our sympathy
Because they’re easy come, easy go
A little rich, some less so
Any way the talks go, doesn’t really matter to me, to me
Mama, just killed Buttman
Put my watergun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he’s turned red
Mama, the lockout has just begun
But now I’ve got to run so far away
Mama, o-o-o-ooh
Didn’t mean to make you sigh
If I’m not back at work this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on; nothing really matters
Too late, Beavis’ time has come
I’ve sent shivers down his spine
It’s the ice cubes and wine
Goodbye everybody – I’ve got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and hit the head
Mama, o-o-o-ooh
I am just a fan
I sometimes wish there was no NHL at all
I see a little silhouetto of a scam
Scaramouche, scaramouche will you drop the puck?
Habs versus Lightning – very very frightening-eek!
Tortarella, Tortarella,
Tortarella, Tortarella,
Tortarella Ribiero
I’m just a poor fan, nobody loves me
He’s just a poor fan of an NHL dynasty
Spare him a game from this monstrosity
CBA, CB-NO! Will you let me go?
Bismillah! No – we will not let you go – let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go – let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go – let me go
Will not let you go – let me go (never)
Never let you go – let me go
Never let me go – ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a CBA deal put aside for me
for me
for me
(heavy guitar solo)
So you think you can ignore me then spit in my eye?
So you think I can love you come rain or shine?
Oh Butthead – can’t do this to me Beavis
You just gotta get out – just gotta get right outta here
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
The NHL doesn’t really matter
Any fan can see
The season doesn’t really matter
The Stanley Cup doesn’t really matter… to me
Any way the talks go…
I hope the lock-out wont last too long, but I think it will last. Jim Hughson said in the article that in Canada many conversations are started by talking about the weather or hockey. I dont know where he lives but I can say in my neck of the woods here in the eastern townships that ever since the Nordiques left; its been a pretty steady decline and kids arent taking up playing either (used to have 2 local teams for every level here before, now we got to team up with another city just to make one team. I know people arent having kids like before but still…). I only talk hockey with my father in law, and at work only one guy I know follows it. NHL owners dont care about alienating canadian fans as long as the lure of new american fans is present. If ever theres a new league, Ill be right on board.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Good morning Cat. The league is chasing the almighty dollars and sadly the good of the game is sacrificed at times.
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So it sounds like the NFL ref lockout is over. All it took was a huge embarrassment with all of America watching on Monday.
So about hockey…..
How do we get all of America to pay attention? Probably gonna have to invade Monday Night Football.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Bettman doesn’t get embarrassed.
He gets EVEN. (for everyone being taller and athletic and more handsomer than he is)
According to TSN, the deal was made with the help of two Federal mediators. Having the union accept a Defined Contribution pension instead of a Defined Beneift plan is a huge concession for the union, although the got a nice pay raise. But I suspect the mediators helped a lot.
With so much at stake, I don’t understand why the NHL does not consider this route given how much is at stake. As long as its non-binding, I see no downside. Unless, of course, the goal is to crush the NHLPA again, not to make a deal.
The goal isn’t to make a deal… its about winning and losing. I even wrote this a few weeks ago.
There have been multiple offers, but none of the concessions are in any way meaningful right now.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Sad, but true.
First!
(But was there ever any doubt?)
…You’re ‘first’ even when You are last JB
Who could ever doubt JB? Well, perhaps I could but never online. Happy for Max, but also respect Armstongs position. He is coming off serious injury and let’s not forget he is the forgotten 3rd/4thliner forgotten by the NHLPA. As long as their stars have options the PA is happy, why care about the guys who wear the workboots in the league.
Reminds me of a game I play with my wife…
Wonderful
Do you pay HIO for the referrals by hits or just a blanket fee for the advertizing?
With apologies for sounding rude…
I don’t promote my business on this site, and unless you come up as a paying advertiser, I don’t agree with promoting on a blog site.
This is about our Habs, not your product, or anyone else’s.
Wonder if they take Canadian Tire money ? Wonder how long before the staff see this crap and dump it.
Any form of payment? How about a slap to the head and a knee to the groin? What can we buy with that?
Hahahaha
As soon as it is noticed it will be blocked Brian. I reported it to the Gazette.