• Pat Hickey on Gorges and a few other subjects
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Teacher givin class one day. “Three flies on the table, I smack one with the swatter, how many are left? … Rodrigo?”
Little Rodrigo says “No flies, Miss.”
“Ah-ah” says Teacher “Pay attention, Rodrigo. If there are three flies and I swat one, two flies remain.”
“No, Miss” says Little Rodrigo “If you swat one, other two fly away; no flies remain.”
Teacher ponders this. “Hmm, yes, I suppose you are right, Rodrigo. I like the way you think.”
Little Rodrigo says “In that case, Miss, I have one for you: three ladies are eating an ice-cream cone. One is licking it, one is biting it, and one is sucking it. Which one is married?”
Teacher says “Umm, the one sucking it?”
“No, Miss” says Little Rodrigo “It’s the one with a ring on her finger. But I like the way you think!”
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Always a good one.
A Russian, a Frenchman, and a Canadian walk into a bar.
The Russian asks the bartender for vodka, so he gives him an entire bottle. The Russian pours out a shot, drinks it, and throws the rest of the bottle into the air and shoots it. The bartender asks, “What did you do that for?” and the Russian replies, “In my country, we have too much vodka.”
The bartender shakes his head and turns to the Frenchman, who orders wine. The Frenchman pours a glass, drinks it, then throws the rest of the bottle in the air and shoots it to smithereens. “In my country,” he says, “we have too much wine.”
The bartender shakes his head again, and turns hesitantly to the Canadian to ask him what he would like. The Canadian orders a beer, drinks the whole bottle in one go, then pulls out his gun and shoots the Frenchman. “In my country,” he says, “we have too many Frenchmen.”
JC man!, we just got him down off his high horse!!
Summertime at HIO, madness at another level!
Guy walks into a saloon and saddles up to the bar. Orders his drink, starts chit-chattin with the barkeep.
The saloon doors bust in and in strides a duck. Moseys over to the bar. “Whiskey”, it grunts.
The patron and barkeep are wide-eyed in shock. Barely able to fumble the drink together, the barkeep slides it over, and the duck POUNDS it back in one shot, then slams a fiver on the bar.
“Much obliged” it says, then squawks and flies out the window.
The patron and barkeep stare back at each other utterly dumbfounded.
Patron says “That’s the most amazingest effin thing I’ve ever seen in my entire effin life!”
Barkeep says “Tell me about it; he always takes vodka!”
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
A man walked into the produce section of his local supermarket and asked to buy half a head of lettuce. The boy working in that department told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce. The man was insistent that the boy ask his manager about the matter.
Walking into the back room, the boy said to his manager, “Some a#@hole wants to buy a half a head of lettuce.” As he finished his sentence, he turned to find the man standing right behind him, so he added, “and this gentleman kindly offered to buy the other half.” The manager approved the deal and the man went on his way.
Later the manager found the boy and said “I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier. We like people who think on their feet here. Where are you from, son?”
“Canada, sir,” the boy replied.
“Well, why did you leave Canada?” the manager asked.
The boy said, “Sir, there’s nothing but whores and hockey players up there.”
“Really!” said the manager. “My wife is from Canada!”
The boy replied, “No shit??? Who did she play for?”
I’m sorry but that just comes off as…half cut!!!
An arctic seal walks into a bar. “What can I get you?” asks the bartender. “anything but a Canadian Club” said the seal.
And for the follow up…
So….a baby seal walked into a club….
Like that one River, one atta boy from me.
Nothing wrong with a Canadian Club… unless it is on “ice”
Oh no! Tell me it wasn’t a “strip club”.
3 blondes walk into the bar. You’d figure one of them would have seen it!
Oh!
Niiiiiice.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Bugs, I knew you would like that one…
A psychiatrist, a duck and Britney Speers walk into a bar.
The bartender looks puzzled and remarks ” I thought the quack convention was next week”
I was just reading an Eric Engels article from a week back or so… he explains why (he thinks) PG didn’t go for Konpka (too many penalties mostly)…
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=36945&blogger_id=82
He also puts forward some names the Habs might sign:
FORWARDS:
Todd White
John Madden
Chris Clark
Ethan Moreau
Kris Draper
Jarkko Ruutu
Brendan Morrison
Mike Grier
Cam Janssen.
DEFENSE
Brent Sopel
Paul Mara
Scott Hannan
Nick Boynton
How many of these guys still around? Thoughts?
Mara or O’brien on the D. would be good.
On behalf of HIO I am submitting Brent Sopela and Paul Mara and using a string randomizer algorithm with a recursive to forecast 59 points for Sopel and 43 for Mara.
They are all still available…maybe nothing more needs saying.
SmartDog, forwards, they’re all to old except janssen and we’d be getting another pyatt. he’s young but not very productive…
They said Recchi was too old and I was pissed when the Bruins extended his hockey life. Recchi’s doctor-fantasies aside, look how that turned out. Some of these old guys still have it. The trick is to know which ones.
In keeping with the joke theme……
A GM walks into a bar. The bartender is watching the UFA tracker on TSN.
As each name goes by the bartender keeps saying ‘Wow.. woulda love to have him”. He says to the GM “What you having tonight sir?”
I’ll have a ‘deja vu” the GM says.
What’s in a deja vu the bartender says?
A Metropolit or Kovalev the GM says… or both.
The bar patrons applaud their approval except for one guy.
The bartender says to the GM, “You must be that veggie flake from Montreal” .
He says to the patrons who applauded “You must be the koolaid drinking HIO summit group.”
The lone patron who didnt lapplaud laughs as he drops a coupla sawbuck on the bar counter and walks out “Thanks for the tip Julien”, the bartender shouts.
And the beat goes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What’s with this site? I haven’t seen a single badda-bing, badda-boom
Given the humour theme tonight. The latest from Down goes Brown.
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/
Edit: Especially liked the Tim Connolly worth noting comment.
For the full article.
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2011/07/biggest-free-agent-signings-of-2011.html#more
A rabbi, a blonde and a duck walk into a bar and the bartender says “what is this, a joke?”
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
A sandwich, a bowl of soup and a salad walk into a bar. The bartender takes one look at this group and says “Sorry, fellas, but we don’t serve lunch here…”
A frog is sitting at a shipboard bar while on a cruise. He’s feeling a little seasick when the bartender says to him, “Man, you look a little green.”
Hey, I tried.
A piece of rope walks into a bar, sits down and orders a beer. The bartender walks over and says, “Sorry, we don’t serve pieces of rope in this bar.”
The rope, saddened, leaves the bar and walks down the road a bit, but then perks up, slides into a side alley, twists himself around and messes up his hair. He then turns around and walks right back into the same bar, sits down in the same seat and orders a beer.
The Bartender looks him over and says, ” Hey, aren’t you that piece of rope that was just in here a few moments ago??”
and the rope relies:
“Nope, I am a frayed knot!”
Best groaner so far!!
Yep, the payoff was worth it.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
A gorilla walks into a pub, pulls up a stool, and orders beer. The bartender gives him a mug and says, “that’ll be five bucks.”
As the gorilla reaches for his pocket, the bartender adds, “you know, we don’t usually get many gorilla customers in here.”
The gorilla shrugged and replies, “at five bucks a beer, it’s no wonder . . .”
Haaaaaw!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Head’s up to anyone thinking of downloading the application form for the assistant head coach job: Don’t. I pulled it off the Canadiens website and spent four hours answering questions (multiple, essay, rhetorical), solving problems (like I’m going to tell them what to do with Gomez before getting hired!), interpreting ink stains (until I realized it was another lousy print job by my printer) and a bunch of other stuff that got a little TOO personal for my taste (Boxer or Jockey — I don’t even swing that way). Then I get to the last page, page 72, and the final question was: What would your line combinations be with the following players.
It’s a big scam. The team just wants some free advice.
And a stool sample but that’s where I draw the line.
I’m even thinking about not going to the interview on Friday.
Thanks for the heads up, you should go to the interview, just to see who else is in the waiting room with you.
You know who I would like to see there with me: a woman. If I can’t get the job then I think it should go to a member of the opposite sex. Behind every successful team there’s a woman, isn’t that how it goes? You have a woman behind the bench, the whole team dynamic would change. What player is going to want to come to the bench after a lousy shift, knowing there will be hell to pay. “Where were you? In case you didn’t know it, the puck was in OUR end! Now go sit at the end of the bench with Peter.”
You don’t think guys wouldn’t be giving their all just to escape a scolding or boxed ears in front of thousands of fans and millions more on TV?
And if some opponent were to dare say something nasty about Madame AC, you could bet he’d be eating supper through a straw for the next few months after Mamma’s Boys got done with him.
A strong-willed woman would do wonders for the team. The players would play to their potential and the Habs would make history. First club to win the Cup with a female assistant coach.
And we’d see the last of players spitting.
John how many games into the season before JM would realize he had hired a woman asst. coach though?
Wouldn’t ever happen. He’d never notice. Martin’s more worried about the X’es and O’s than XX’es and XY’s.
Someone should tell him Muller isn’t back this year to run the PowerPlay, the Pk, and all the other important strategy stuff. Again things you can do in the interview process.
I would love that job, “Yes Ma’am coach”…that sounds about right.
I’d make them do at least 500 push-ups a day. (Please no comments from the dirty minds)
Go for it, girl.
Here’s a tip: Question 137. The answer’s C. Not ham on rye. They tripped me up on that one.
Thanks John, I’m going to need an assistant. I’ll remember your “help”.
As a matter of fact, all of HIO can help me. Line combos, D pairings, should I curse at the refs or give them a “Talk to the hand”, Price or Budaj? You know, the basics.
It’s an interesting rumour about Mr. Kovalev being willing to accept a one year $1.5 M contract to play for the Canadiens. That’s roughly the same amount of money that Mr. Gauthier and the management team decided to save by letting Benoit Pouliot walk.
If they decided that the best way to benefit the team was to save that paltry amount and remove Mr. Pouliot from the dressing room, what are they likely to do in Mr. Kovalev’s case? I suspect that they will do the same, they will figure that having a temperamental diva on the roster is not worth the potential 20 goals he brings.
Adding Mr. Kovalev would be a great illustration of the triumph of hope over experience.
———————————
Let’s do something like this again: 1) Mike Cammalleri 2) Brian Gionta 3) Hall Gill
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Oops
Never apologize on HI/O. It’s in the registration form.
“…and no statements will ever be considered as requiring an apology, retraction or back pedalling at any time, unless they involve the taking in vain the names of Stubbs, Mio or Hackel…Boone being the exception…”
***Subbang Baby!!!***
As if that makes it better.
P-ster and John, both of you got me. Pwned as the “hipsters” say.
Metropolit played for Zug in the Swiss League last year, led the team in points and played with a certain Raphael Diaz last season also. Interesting, would be a good buddy for Raphael if he spends any time with the big boys next year.
Edit:Anyone remember how Glen did in the Faceoff circle. I seem to recall he was pretty good, but don’t remember the stats.
We have plenty of cap space after Gorges and a couple others sign, surely we can do better than a player who can’t find a job in the NHL?
16 goals on last time in Mtl. that isn’t bad on the 4th line. Only saying I wouldn’t object to him being back. If PG finds us something better, even better.
I say screw the Halpern’s and Metropolit’s of the world and go out and find a real 4th liner who’s 6’3″ tall and the word “fight” exists in their vocabulary.
This is hockey right. where you only get two minutes for elbowing and five minutes for punching someone in the face? And you actually get nothing if the other guy fights back most of the time?
So I think it’s very smart to have people that can punch other people in the face very hard?
We already have guys who can score so there’s no worry there…
Okay, but you know your dangerously close to reopening the “shoulda signed Konopka talk”
Well that is a plain and simple fact, everybody knows that. As a fan you can only hope your team makes the right choice and the sure messed up there!
I was in the sign Z camp Hobie. Unfortunately, through my buddy who knows the Konopka family sounds like PG never even sniffed on that tree.
I was just ranting….
I actually live in Ottawa (Konopka’s stomping grounds) and the entire city is pumped about having Neil, Konopka, Smith and Carkner to ride shot gun for all their young talent.
Very smart move picking him up.
A serving of Brad Winchester, perhaps?
Lady walks into a pet store asking for a parrot.
Guy behind the counter says, “We have one left but you don’t want him.”
“Does he talk?”
“Yes ma’am, but you don’t want him – he was raised in a brothel.”
“I’ll take him.”
Lady gets him home and pulls the cover off the cage.
Parrot says, “New madam”
Bout then her daughters walk in and the parrot says, “and some new girls…”
Her husband hears the commotion and walks into the room and the parrot says, “Hi Steve”
ftw lol
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
This place is a joke!
Sorry, it’s 32 and counting…
Due for a nice long story/theory/masterplan from you John. Always a good read.
HiB, I can’t handle the pressure.
How about a snide aside?
A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and is told, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you.”
The frog says, “This is great! Will I meet her at a party, or what?”
“No,” says the psychic. “Next semester in her biology class.”
There’s an entire Bugs response rant I’m envisioning on this one that…oh, never mind
***Subbang Baby!!!***
But who is going to rant about the rappers and ho’s?
I nominate JohnBellyfull. The guys is an expert rapper and a real hit with the ladies.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Hey, I beat that rap, I’ve never hit a lady in my life.
Oh, oh, I see what you mean. I dunno, Pun’. Rap, that came after the ’60s, right? Well after my time … but I’ll put it on my to-do list. It’s right after ‘See doctor about toe growing out of the back of my right knee.’
I’m worried, It’s bigger than the toe behind my left knee.
Poor froggy. ” Ain’t love grand?” hahaha
Bertrand Raymond reporting that alex kovalev’s agent has been in contact with pg and wants to come back to montreal for at least 1 year at about 1.5mill per…….interesting, very interesting I say. And as well he’s saying that PG has been inquiring about Glen Metropolits services too. What do you chaps think?
Shaker
$1.5? Hell yeah. Put him on the PP and sit Gomez.
Of course I’d put my pug on the PP and sit Gomez, but that’s just me.
Your pug could never top my Lhasa. This little bugger’s got attitude. Freakin’ small dog syndrome gonna drive me to drink. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
And PG would be handed his pink slip five minutes later…
By who?
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
By the Molson boys.
“Thanks Gauthier for your services but we don’t need to bring back some gutless and washed up Russian to put asses in the seats cuz we already sell out each night. Have a nice life.”
-Geoff Molson
Molson will fire PG for bringing back a sure-fire merchandise-mover?
Really?
Hmm, I dunno, Hobie; kinda goes against the simplest of business models, no?
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
i wouldn’t be surprised if kovalev if came back–nothing makes sense in montreal me anymore—montreal doesn’t fire anybody anymore–they don’t need to–as long as they make the playoffs or even come close, 80 percent of hab fans are happy
Make those playoffs I always say. We can discuss the follow-through once we’re there.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Metro yes- Kovy no.
I say either/or, yes or no is ok with me.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
I’d rather DD get ice time on the 3rd line than Kovy. I see very little value in adding Kovy unless he can turn back the clock, at least two years.
Kovy did state he wanted to finish his career in Mtl. He loves winnin’ over the fans with an occassional timely goal.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I’d take Metro back on the team, not Kovy though.
Always liked what Metropolit brought the ice every night. Decent hands, hard worker, skates pretty well, and not expensive. No issues here with Metro.
I think it’s a good idea to sign Kovy for $1.5 cause I believe it to be an off year for the Habs and cleansing of big contractual dead weight for the team as it replaces the old with the new.
Hi Dude, I know what you mean but to me it seems like we removed a cancer and now we to put the cancer back in the montreal lineup. But I completely agree with you in getting a new direction and a new roster.
For me the biggest joke wss the videio on youtube where they compared the 2011 team to the 93 team. What compariosn, that is an insult to the 93 stanley cup champs
I remember one of the very first moments of momentous history for me as a wee lad was the Challenger exploding in the sky, tragically awesome.
Hey, they weren’t the first to ride the fireball and they won’t be the last, and they’re still pushin’em back with a broom through the fence so many still wanna sign up. They know the risks and they LOVE’em. No need to go delicate-doily on these cats’ behalf. …too bad about the teacher though…
That bein said, I was nevertheless shocked and amazed and how quickly I heard the black humor jokes in the schoolyard after that. In the SCHOOLYARD! KIDS, ferpetessakes!!!
I remember thinking that it was soooo wrong to make jokes about that, but damn, there were some good ones…
-What does NASA stand for? Need Another Seven Astronauts
-How many astronauts can you fit in a Datsun? Twelve. Two in the front, three in the back, seven in the ashtray.
See what I mean??? Those are so wroooong!
But DAMN!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
NASA – Never A Straight Answer
Nice Air Show A-h@les
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Damn… I can’t un-read that!
The last question asked on the Challenger liftoff?
“What’s this button for?”
Oh my gosh, I forgot that one!
That was one of’em too!!!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
that should read awesomely tragic
“I figure PG has one or 2 moves left to bring the Habs that extra step closer to perhaps being the best in the league.” – Einstein
Remember during the 09-10 playoff, Michael Leighton, drafted by the Canadiens, who made it to the final was kinda suggesting he was over looked, leading some to question the Habs’ decision to not keep him in the first place? Where is he now?
Ya he helped make a lot of idiots think that goaltending was overrated in the playoffs.
One year later…Tim Thomas shows up in the finals. Oops.
Michael Leighton was drafted by Chicago.
He was a waiver-wire pick up when Huet was injured.
About the only thing notable about his Habs career was Gainey let him go home to Windsor to see his wife and child before reporting to Montreal.
You’re right. Thanks for the fact checking.
Still waiting for Gorges eh?
Can it be, Can I really post again
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
Thanks Sebastien. I really appreciate your time and effort. I’m happy to be able to Post again.
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
You have not been posting?
If you really care, No, My comments were getting caught in the spam filter,
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
Why don’t rappers listen to country music? Cos everytime there’s a hoedown they think a sista got shot.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Funny in a bad sort of way.
Tasteless maybe?
Kids today, Frank. Kids today.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Yo Pee, lighten up. No, not all rappers are murderous thugs, and not all sistas are hos, aiight?
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Ah, the righteousness continues.
Find a star. Wish upon it. It may be your ansestral home.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
What does that even mean? Are you coherent?
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Oh, you know. You know;)
***Subbang Baby!!!***
So this bat goes into a bar and orders 2 bloody marys. The barkeep brings them over. A regular tells him to get lost or he’ll hit him. So, the bat asks, “You wouldn’t hit a bat with glasses, would you?”
That one, I really don’t get…
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
He should have said “the bartender brings him over two glasses”
Shucks!!
He brings bloody marys over in bottles?
Richard R
I guess you’ve never seen the Looney Tune when Bugs Bunny looks for a place to stay the night up at Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania.
Sorry off topic but on the road. Read the previous post about Cammi and PK, and then listened to the video. Can someone point out to me where it said that PK cheered for the Bruins to win the Cup?
Thanks and much obliged!!
So this giraffe walks into a bar and asks for a little neck.
HAAAW!-Haw!-ha…uh, waitaminnit, that one only works in French…
Sorry.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Nice.
So this giraffe walks into a bar and says ” Gimme a tall one”
Nowhere close.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Bugs, got any good recipe/cooking stories?
Only one comes to mind is the poutine story. But that will inevitably force some folks to respond with “the best poutine comes from so’n'so” feedback and it’ll be a sh*te place they’re extollin, and that will exasperate me.
So I ain’t tellin the poutine story.
And none other I feel to relate at the present however grateful I am for your interest in such matters.
Right now, we’re talkin about giraffes drinkin kool-aid and we will by god come to a consensus on the matter!
Or my name ain’t Nathan Arizona!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Restoroute in Joliette.
So this skeleton walks into a bar and says, “Gimme a beer and a mop.”
Huh? I don’t get it.
…
Ooohh, now, I get it!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Termite walks into a bar and asks, “Is the bartender here?”
And for this I delayed my chocolate cake dessert?
***Subbang Baby!!!***
CHocolate cake…mmmmmm
Well played, LL.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Is it true that there’s a limit as to how many times one can read the Gazette online? I’m still using the login that’s associated with my parents paper (they don’t go online hehe).
But, I have noticed that the Times Colonist (in Victoria, also canada.com) has a popup now advising that I’ve reached the max number of articles read (20) and blocks the article with a popup.
Funny thing though. The page loads before the “ad” that blocks the screen asking for a subscription (probably javascript). If you hit the Esc button (before the rest of the page lods) you can read the entire article without a susbscription. I’m just curious if it’s the same thing for the Gazette (for your guys’ sake)?
Thanks for the Escape trick.
Someone else suggested rebooting my router and erasing my history, that has been working as well.
I find that most Gazette articles are reposted online as Yahoo news, so I just search for the exact headline and usually find the article the popup is trying to block.
———————————
Let’s do something like this again: 1) Mike Cammalleri 2) Brian Gionta 3) Hall Gill
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Funny how such a major chain can still allow things like this… its so 1998. It shouldn’t take long to fix this but it’s worked for me for the last couple of months.. sorry it took so long to share
Just looking at some posts below that are trying to predict player stats for the upcoming year got me wondering what the team itself sets as it’s objective for the regular season.
I don’t get the sense that this group worries about anything other than making the playoffs in a position to go for a good run – so may want home ice advantage. I don’t get the sense they worry about finishing in first or any other particular position or get to worried about wins/stats, etc. – they seem much more focused on the process rather than the results as long as they hit the playoffs in good shape.
So an HIO Poster walks into the Goalie Bar “The 5 Hole” and sits at the bar.
The waiter, a Puck, says “Whatcha drinkin’?”
The HIO Poster says he wants a Molson’s beer.
Puck says, “Sorry, we only serve shots”.
The HIO Poster says, “Then make ‘em cheap, that’s how I like ‘em.”
Does Cole play the Power Play? I could see him in front of hte net in place of Gio.
Would like to think max PAC and Cole will be the 2forwards with that task assigned to them. Of course the system would have to allow such behavior.
Alright, so using a string randomizer I created a lineup 2 ways (with the 12 forwards that will probably be regulars this year):
First, seperating by the position they’ll probably play, then with the 12 in one batch and grouping 1-3, 4-6 etc. I moved guys within those groups of 3 to put them at more logical positions.
1. Cammalleri White Gionta
Kostitsyn Plekanec Cole
Pacioretty Gomez Darche
Moen Eller Desharnais
2. Kostitsyn Eller Gionta
Cammalleri Gomez Cole
Darche Plekanec White
Pacioretty Desharnais Moen
So that’s how JM does it!! A string randomizer, eh?
I wish the HIO would bring back Thumbs Up/Down. Even if only for the summer.
Yup. Thumbs up or down. Quick and easy. Stops name-calling. Increases hitchhiking.
You could always post your approval/disapproval of a post too, you know.
I approve of this post.
The system works!!!!!!
-1
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
+1
25 in 2012
I’m ok with that one either way, yay or nay.
But, someone’s gotta do something to show a new post!! It doesn’t even have to be red or in the same place, I’ll get used to it I promise. It’s like reading a book without a bookmark.
So just for fun, let’s speculate on how well we think some of the players will do this season in terms of goals, points and maybe +/- . This is purely because I’m bored and I’m interested in seeing what the popular opinion is!
SO what are the predictions for:
Cole
Ak
MaxPac
Gomez
Subban
Cammi
Gionta
…Gill?
Cole :56 points
AK : 59 points
MaxPac : 62 points
Gomez : 41
Subban: 34
Cammi : 81
Gio : 69
Gill : 23
I generated 8 random numbers from 1 to 82, and assigned them to the players I thought might be closest to them.
http://www.random.org/
Ahaha nice. If Gill can get 23 points this year I think we will win the cup :p Do you think Martin uses a generator like that to spit out his line combinations?
Hehe could be!
23 points would be a carreer high for Gill as well!
I just don’t hold much faith in my prediction skills, so this seemed like a fun way to got about it.
The numbers really aren’t that unrealistic though. I’d love if Cammi could crack 80 points lol. The only player I am really gunning for is Subban to hit 50 points. I think he can easily hit that number and maybe more when playing on a healthy D-corps
Gio would have his second best season. Same for Cammy, but he had a 82 and a 80 points season before.
Ak would have his best year.
Erik Cole his third best.
Etc… not too far off, but a bit optimistic!
Cole 55
AK 50
MaxPac 52
Gomez 64
Subban 49
Cammi 68
Gionta 65
Gill 10
Solid numbers. All of the players can hit those numbers if they played to their potential. Will be a pretty nice season if they can!
No one but Plex even cracked 50 last year and you have Gomez at 64?! Bold prediction, sir. It’s a small team and thus prone to injury. If Gomez has a return to form & AK46 shows some consistency that could make these numbers more realistic.
AK46 got 45 points last season playing his “inconsistent” brand of hockey. How is an extra 5 points added to that total not realistic. Gomez has generally hovered around 60+ points his entire career so I think its entirely reasonable. I get what you’re saying about the team being fragile but you never know, last season saw a dip in everyones production and I think many of those players are looking to bounce back.
If Pleks can go from 39 to 75, Gomez can do it, too. Besides, it’s summer. Be cheery and optimistic.
39 to 70 actually.
But still it’s awesome and woot!
Gill 4 goals and 8 assists
gomer 18 goals and 45 assists
pleks 25 goals and 60 assists
gionta 33 goals 30 assists
cole 35 goals and 30 assits
patch 23 goals 25 assists
marky 50pts
subban 60 pts
and the most important stat for the hockey club carey price only playing in 62 games, compiling a 35 win season with budaj getting the other 20 games and pulling out about 12 -14 wins.
Shaker
Awesome lol very optimistic but I’ll take it!!
With a healthy lineup and just one more piece to the puzzle from PG I think the sky is the limit for this team. I really feel that gomez is going to make us all chew on some humble pie this coming year by putting up some very decent stats. He can’t be any worse ( i hope), but I think all the criticism, the media and all the haters are going to be surprised at what he brings to the ice this year.
Shaker
if you were PG
would u have traded our 2nd for cogliano?
No.
No
yes
The fact that he has played in four straight 82 game seasons intrigues me. Thing is he’s an RFA.
Nah, but if that’s the going rate for difficult to sing RFAs, then I’d gladly give up a 2nd for Frolik!
No. The team has traded too many seconds in recent seasons. Organizational depth becomes an issue.
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
Thumbs up Boone! Now please give us back the red new tags and those darn thumbs! Make it so.
I’d settle for the red new tags.
Ask for it all then settle for some. I hear you.
So we are going to arbitration?
and in other news
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/07/12/today-show-montreal.html
pardon me while i go run into oncoming traffic…
Guess it’s a cool thing that I don’t know any of the hosts, or the show.
I guess it’s kinda like the view?? or something…
dude kathy lee gifford is the anti christ
Gathered that from South Park, but no clue beyond that! ;p
Then you are truly living a charmed life.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
With all the construction, running into actual traffic might be difficult.
fiiiiine pardon me while i go stand under the champlain
“The hosts are also expected to sample some poutine.”
FML…
Oh, they’re experiencing the culture. How quaint. “And what do you call this? Pootin?”
maybe shell write a song about it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MwuJy07lQY
although making poutine cry isnt as difficult as a kid with frigging autism
Wow. Okay. So…that happened. Sure glad Zach could allow the young autistic boy a reprieve from his HORRIBLY DEPRESSING LIFE. HEY, LET’S RIGHT A SONG ABOUT HOW HORRIBLY DEPRESSING IT REALLY IS!
i like the part when they group laugh as he points it out
Barring any late off-season signings (like Halpern last year), and assuming that White is a lock to start the season in Montreal, who are the AHLers with the best chance of making it and rounding out our 13 forwards?
I’ve gotta feel like Palushaj and Engqvist have the inside tracks – both had their proverbial cup of coffee with the big team last years. Palushaj seems to have more of an offensive game (I remember him being extremely quick) while Engqvist looks more defensive (I remember him acquitting himself quite well in the Koivu game).
If I had a say, I’d go with Palushaj over Engqvist – if he works out, he could play a more offensive role on the 3rd line if Desharnais struggles in his sophomore season.
Are there any darkhorse candidates that I’m missing?
I think Enqvist would have the edge because he would fill need better. A defensive Center for the 4th line. Common consensus seems to be DD will play wing on the 3rd line leaving us with that 4th line center being needed. Palushaj is probably the first call up if one of the top 3 wingers get injured.
“That beautiful bastard scored semi-conscious.” On the Rocket’s Game 7 game winning goal against the Bruin’s April, 1952
palushaj, engqvist, and blunden should be first in line for a call of duty on the montreal squad.
I think there is a good chance that Louis Leblanc will force the issue later in the year and see some NHL time after the All-Star break. I realize that no one wants to push him along too much but the guy has excelled at every new level over the past few years. I think by end of Feb or so he will be showing that he is ahead of Enqvist on the centre depth chart.
Palushaj played very well in the AHL play-offs this year and if he has a good camp, may find himself starrting the year in MTL. If not I’d say he is definitely first call-up at forward.
Leblanc will get to the Habs, but not this season. Why bring him up to ride the pine? Let him have his minutes in Hamilton and prepare to become an important future cog.
I am hoping Palushaj or Engvist make it, just because the wait has been long.
I’m shocked Georgy boy had to go to arbitration, he is our best stay at home D!!!! This team is starting to make me mad. I guess PG is still taking advice from BG. Just fill the seats, i guess.
“The ghosts are gone. The Canadiens have two choices, try and win the cup or be French Canadian” – Ken Dryden
He has only filed for arbitration. The date is over 2 weeks from now. I’d be surprised if he isn’t signed before that. It’s just both sides doing their jobs to get the best offer that makes everyone happy.
“That beautiful bastard scored semi-conscious.” On the Rocket’s Game 7 game winning goal against the Bruin’s April, 1952
Why would you be mad?? This happens to almost EVERY RFA in Gorges position… every year. Its not distressing at all, unless you think that somehow that Shea Weber or Zack Parise are also in danger.
Wouldn’t be so sure about Weber. He may resign, but probably short term contract. He can’t be happy watching the team getting partially dismantled after their first bit of playoff success.
Just taking my new signature for a test drive.
* Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty *
LOL, sure to cause a stir. Well done Sean.
* Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty *
Seems to hold the road for now!
Question, is AK a better hockey player than Erik Cole? Seeing as Mister Cole is taking Ak’s spot on the top 6…
I think Cole is a more complete player. AK has the better talent, and can hit like a truck as we have seen. But Cole plays a complete game consistently from what i have seen. He certainly did so against us on a regular basis.
It got me thinking seeing the contract Cole got, and what AK got, and to me they don’t seem so far apart in terms of what they contribute to a team.
Cole might come out ahead, but Ak is close to his level I’d say.
Really hope AK sticks with the bleu blanc rouge come 2012-2013.
Really hope he gives the Habs reasons to keep him. Like 20-25 goals and assists and 140 more solid hits.
Afaik, G-man, thats what he brings most season!
Sean Bonjovi may be sadly mistaken. Let’s compare after this season.
I’m pretty sure AK46 is going to score his usual 42 points this year, so if Max Pac does better than that, I’ll be wrong, but I’ll be super happy about it. I would be quite happily mistaken.
* Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty *
Gentlemen’s bet it is. I don’t argue that AK has more raw talent Sean. Last year I was thinking he was going to have a break out year but I think he is where he is at the under 42 to 45 points which isn’t too bad.
It is just my opinion and I don’t have a full season to go back on but I think Max P with his speed can produce more. When they put him on the PP he was on fire. He goes to the front of the net and takes abuse. I see Max P as a 60 point guy potential. Key word being potential.
I will have no problem in eating crow if AK breaks out next season
Interesting thoughts re. line combinations but get back to the loony arguments about ridonculous trades will ya? The serious talk makes me want hockey to start NOW.
Still a chance for Vinny L in a Habs jersey? Think they would un-retire Beliveau’s #4 for him?
Now yer talkin!
Trade for Vinny! Plan the parade!
Eventually he will be traded. The guys contract is becoming an albatross to the team. If Vinny wasn’t there with contract, Stamkos would be signed already. Have to believe the asking price is nowhere close to 3 years ago and the “almost deal” with Bob Gainey.
That $8 million cap hit for the rest of the decade is horrible. Given his bad shoulder and bum wrist, it will be hard to unload him on anyone, let alone us.
Vinny’s body is just toast from all the abuse. His contract is way worse than Gomez’s as it is quite a bit longer
Plekanec should play with the two best wingers on the team, Gionta and Cammalleri.
If all three stand on each others heads they will be tall enough to tap Hal Gill on the top of his helmet after goals.
HW Poll: How much should Josh Gorges receive in his next contract?
$2,000,000 or under: 2%
$2,000,001 – $2,500,000: 31%
$2,500,001 – $3,000,000: 53%
$3,000,001 – $3,500,000: 14%
$3,500,001 or over: 1%
source: http://habsworld.net/?
im a bit out of the loop with whats been going on in this garden of giggles and sunshine, but what do most people here expect him to get?
I expect they are working on a 4- or 5-year deal that will see him earn something like $3.25-3.75 M per season. If they only sign him for one year (he is a UFA next summer), then I suspect it will be $2.25-2.75 M for that one year deal.
this is what i was thinking more or less as well
There is no way that Gorges is going to get 3.75M. Cole is making 4.5 million and that is considered high. Gorges will get between 2.25 and 2.75 million for 3-4 years and that is what he is worth.
I’d give him $18,000,000. over six years. I think that’s equal risk for both sides. He might suck and be over-paid, but he’ll never make Komisarek money either.
* Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty *
Am I the only one concerned about the obvious cut (boo boo) on Gorges nose. Will it be healed by season start?
If you’re being serious, I think you’re thinking too much into it.
Poor attempt at humour is all it was. Very poor i might add.
I must have a warped sense of humour because it made me laugh. hahaha
Thanks LL, cheers! Just everytime i reopened the page, kept seeing the honking bandaid.
You never know sometimes on this site haha
I admit it was the first thing I saw
Who’s on the Power Play?
If they plan is to put Cole in the crease for PP1 and Max Pac for PP2, then one of Gionta and Andrei won’t be on the PP. AK46 doesn’t kill penalties and if he’s not a regular on the power play, he needs to play 2nd line minutes 5-on-5 doesn’t he. That’s why I see Pacioretty on Eller’s line; because he’ll pick up extra minutes on special teams.
Patches, Gomez, and Gionta were going on a really good clip before Max got hurt. Why change it up?
Max P is showed way more consistency last year than AK ever has. He deserves top 6 minutes if he continues to play at the clip he was last year. AK will be in the top 6 when their are injuries or shake ups in the lines which we know JM does quite often. I personally think AK plays better on the third line with less responsibility and give him a little PP time.
“Max P is showed way more consistency last year than AK ever has”
Really? Really? Pacioretty played in 37 NHL games last year and scored 24 points. In his best 16 games he recorded 24 points and had a combined +10 rating. In his worst 21 games he had 0 points and a -11 rating. That’s not consistency.
It is called and adjustment to the NHL from the AHL. As soon as he was comfortable he started producing. Even when he wasn’t scoring you noticed him on the Ice. AK when he is on is awesome, when he is not you don’t even know he played.
If you are a stats guys Max P was at a .64 points per game and AK was .55 points per game.
If I knew you I would make you a bet for a case of beer that Max P has way more points than AK next season.
Kooch, I think we all expect MaxPac to become the more consistent performer, but that sample size is far too small to be able to say outright that Max Pac is the more consistent player currently.
When Pacioretty was good he was really good, but he was bad more often than he was good. He might always be a streaky player. My opinion is that Max Pac will have a great career. He’s got Erik Cole’s size, similar skating, and way better hands, so I’d say Pacioretty should eventually put up Erik Cole numbers plus 10 or 20 %. Those are predictions for the future though. I still need to see it over 82 games to be convinced.
* Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty *
Max Pac has more potential for growth. AK has plateaud. I don’t see AK in Montreal at the end of next season. Barring injuries my guess is he is gone mid-season when PG realizes that he is short a few pieces.
Good point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see A Kost with Cammy and Pleck on the PP. I love the Cole singing but he is horrible on the PP, out of his 26 goals last year, I think about only 4 came on the PP. Maybe its the Canes PP but he scores his goals 5on5 which fits our needs perfectly.
Joe Corvo was the best offensive Dman last year. I would easily take Markov and PK over Corvo for running a pp. I would also say the Wiz is a better offensive dman than Corvo was. Carolina had little for dman offensive help. (Pitkanen is a nice player, but not the offensive player PK or Markov are)
Cole has to earn his way on the PP in my opinion. AK has a good shot. See how it goes in training camp
Next season will be a classic rivalry. On one hand a team that is hard-ass, obnoxious, and plays by their own rules and on the other a team that is soft, gets easily injured and uses dirty and chippy tactics.
Bruins versus Canadiens? No, no, no.
The HIO Realists versus the HIO Pacifists.
Should be a good debate, or whatever you wanna call it!!
The HIO Realists babby! Cna my jersey number be an exclamation mark like Youppi?
Ahhhh… a hot sunny day, a 6-pack of cold ones, an old Mitchell rod and reel.
Fishing in July. Nothing finer.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Enjoy!!!
Haha…I was referencing your attempts at fishing, or some would say trolling, for comments
Not me of course. I would never accuse you of trolling. Nope. Tanking, yes. Trolling? Naaa.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
HardHabits–we are going to get bullied again, its the same story with this team, there is no change in direction under Gauthier(maybe just a little)–oh well,lets keep playing this nice pretty boy hockey and than people can post more excuses on why we can’t be a threat in the playoffs
Everyone assumes Cole will be playing with Plekanec and Cammalleri, but it’s just as likely that he’ll be playing with Gomez and Gionta…
Either way, at least the Habs seem to have the option to dump the puck in the corner and either Cole or Pacioretty will have a decent shot of coming up with it…
They’ve now got some size that can be spread across all four lines.
Still missing a true fighter but they seem to be moving forward…
I have wondered that myself, if Max will end up with Cammy and Pleks, and Cole with Gomer & Gio.
I think JM will start with Cole with Cammy and Plek because Max was starting to look so good with Gomer & Gio. No doubt over the course of the season we will see both combinations attempted. Hopefully they’ll be able to get the chemistry part figured out as soon as possible.
AK & Eller showed some real nice chemistry last year, and look like they have the makings of an an excellent third line for this season, bringing both size and some scoring touch.
I’m willing to bet you will see at least these two combinations tried over the course of the second period of the first game if we are down by one or more.
agreed… but hopefully we won’t be down by one or more in that season opener
LOL! So true.
Your not saying JM is going to do some line juggling are you Hal? lol
Its assumed because Cole is a RW, while he could play LW, he has been most effective as a RW. Also both Patches and Cammy can’t play RW so them on the same line is very unlikely. Cole and A.kost are the only wings that can play both LW or RW.
I thought Cammy plays RW often? He’s always scoring from the right circle (generally from one knee).
He’s always played LW every since moving from center. most guys go on their off wing in the offensive zone to get lined up for the one-timers.
With Eller out at the start of the year. we could even see something like this:
AK/Pleky/Cammi
Cole/Gomer/Gio
Max/DD/Darche
Or really any combo of these guys at some point as JM hits the line blender button.
25 in 2012
Does it really matter? Martin doesn’t keep lines together.
When automaticaly penciling AK46 into the 3rd line just because he had chemistry with eller in 5 games , i hope people dont mean he will only play 3rd line minutes.
Can see a good competition between Max, Cole and AK for the 2 spots . Imo AK has an edge in passing skill.
To add: cant see those perfect line combinations from the offseason last very long anyway … injuries, certain game situations…
earlier today someone was saying Cammy is an underrated passer, last season I noticed it was AK who’s an underrated passer.
yeah, towards the end of the year he was making some great passes setting people up. AK will be on the top 2 lines. I think maxpac will start on the 3rd.
AK will make up some minutes in PP time… and depending on who’s hurting, and who’s playing, AK could still conceivably spend loads if time in the top 6.
The point is, if we can get AK going on a 3rd line with Eller, or DD(or both), with any kind of consistency…. oh man, 3 dangerous lines goes a long long way in this league.
It’s all dreams at this point in time though. Bring on the season.
Suffice it to say, I think we know who the Top 7 are.
And even if there were no injuries to any of those players (knock on wood), you know JM will be juggling those lines all the time, even in the middle of the game.
I’m sure you’ll see Moen play some top 6 minutes, Darche too. Eller too. Heck, maybe even Ryan White.
“cant see those perfect line combinations from the offseason last very long anyway … injuries, certain game situations…”
Agreed. We can speculate all we want, but the line combinations will be determined after summer camp and exhibition games. We know who our top 7 is, but by adding a new component we can’t say for sure who will be demoted to the third line. And by the time we know what our lines look like, we’ll take on injuries or player slumps
I’m starting to think that PG making an offer to Hamr was all part of the Gorges negotiation.
Probably with Weber too.
I always find it strange when a player pretty much does what he does and gets the points he normally gets and he’s deemed a disappointment. Cole has scored at a pace of slightly better than a half a point per game thoughout his career while playing beside Eric Staal and then slightly less than that while briefly trying to fit in with the Oilers sans Staal. I hope people have realistic expectations. If Cole puts up 50-60 points during the regular season, that will be doing fantastic.
It reminds me of Pierre Turgeon scoring 80 some odd points, in a league in which all scoring was down, and being booed and turfed out of town. Tough crowd.
I really don’t think Cole was signed to put up points. I think he’s just here to chip in some offensive where he can but that his primary goal is to give Cammalleri and Plekanec time and space to work in the offensive zone without having to work themselves to death in the corners.
Both, I think. 25G + 25A would be great.
Cole is here for his size and the fact he won`t disappear vs. teams like Boston or Flyers etc. He will score 20-25 times and be a 50+ point guy.
Uh, at $4.5M/yr he was definitely signed to put up points…Habs needed a scorer and that’s what he’s supposed to do.
Oilers stand shouldn’t be held against Cole, he played 3/4 of a year on a squad whose #1 C was Shawn Horcoff.
Cole will plenty of room to play, his presscence with Cammy and Pleks creates a very strong and balanced attack that prevents the opposition from double-teaming any particular player w/o leaving things wide open for one of the other guys to finish a chance. I don’t see him putting up big numbers but if he add 25G to the top line with a physical prescence to make more room for his linemates that’s all we need him to do.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
It’s also possible cole will ignite a huge flame on the plek line and score 50 goals. Honestly I don’t know people are so obsessed with stats – let’s wait and see. He’s never played with Gomez, Plekanec, Cammalleri or Gionta. Hell maybe he clicks with Pacioretty or AK46. Let’s wait and see.
He has played with Gomez and Gionta. But I agree with you. I personally think that his value lies in what he’ll do for Plekanec and Cammalleri, not what he does alone.
The thing about Cole is he will not score 40+ goals but he will score between 20 and 30 and he will consistently play better than AK46, Pouliot, D’Agostini, Latendresse and ever other winger besides Cammy and Gionta have in past couple of seasons.
Also, he bring “true grit”…
Cogliano to the Ducks for a 2nd and Steve Tambellini continues his era of incompetence.
He got a 2nd-round pick for a guy who’s scored 20G in the last 2 seasons. That’s not bad really, Cogliano doesn’t have much beyond the fact that he can motor past anyone in the league, his hands can’t keep up with his feet.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
He had 36 goals in his first two season when they weren’t the worst team in the league and he’s only 23 years old.
He’s been working with the bottom of the barrel.
Yeah, fair trade. He certainly isn’t worth a 1st round pick.
Sorry for posting up here guys, but I can not reply down below.
To Halifax: re Mooseheads acquire Nathan Mackinnon.
I am so glad to read that you support Junior hockey. I love to watch it.
You have not yet seen the EDGE Ciampini will bring, once he gets comfortable – or maybe you have – I only saw him play a few times on TV last season.
Very nice young man – first class family – and we are very happy for him.
He looks like he will develop into a pure scorer – he has a nose for the net, and he will rack up the points when he gets a chance to play with Frk or Mackinnon.
very exciting!!
Frk will go first round 2012 – maybe top 15 – or even top 10.
Great size, skill, skating, shot – whole package.
Ciampini might be a little later depending on how his skating develops.
He is not a naturally great skater.
Drouin is likely to put up a ton of points in Junior before he leaves, but he is quite small still – frk is about 195 and Im sure so is Ciampini by now.
Mackinnon??
Who can tell me FIRSTHAND what they see and like about Mackinnon??
I know he has been compared to Crosby already, but has anyone seen him play extensively, and willing to give me his strengths and weaknesses.
Halifax, enjoy the Mooseheads!!
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
From Future Considerations:
“The big name for 2013…has many pro-like aspects already…a heavy accurate shot, smooth skating and pro-work ethic… has quick feet and keeps them moving…outstanding vision and ability
with the puck…has great hockey sense and understands the game better than most his age…handles the puck well and is a natural scorer…aggressive and physically willing…still maturing physically…often compared to Sidney Crosby for obvious reasons but is not overly similar on the ice…has the ability to make his
teammates better.”
The Crosby comparisons mostly go to the fact that he’s the top prospect to come out of Nova Scotia Hockey since Crosby more than actual similarities, much like Grigorenko and Yakupov are talked up as the best Russian prospects since Alex O, but they don’t share his game.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Thanks Serious.
N/P, even though I’m reporting on yet another player MTL can’t land in the draft because someone like the NYI or Oilers will tank for him.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
How could you have possibly left Colorado off of that list? LOL
Because Colorado seems content to do the Burke thing with their high 1sts
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
What’s your evaluation of Vladimir Tarasenko? Or is he off topic?
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Tarasenko could be a very good NHL player, a great show at the WJC, good numbers in the KHL and he has a great physical frame for the NHL. The only issue is, does he come over after his next year in the KHL or sooner, otherwise it might start them worrying in St. Louis if he’s committed to the NHL.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Latest I heard is he’ll get the word from his agent today, whether he stays in Siberia for another or jumps the pond.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I’m still in shock at the moves the Mooseheads have pulled off last year, and this year especially Ed.
During the season, I’ll keep you posted and anyone else who is interested in prospects/CHL, on the big names on the Mooseheads, and how it’s going for them in case the Habs ever get in a position to draft one of them.
I havent been able to attend a moosehead game in a long while. But they have had quite a number of very talented, now NHL players over the years.
“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.” – Charlie Sheen.
TSN reporting Jets may move to Western Central Next Year, leaving door open for Detroit to Eastern Conference!
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=371566
Works for me. I think the Wings are two or three years removed from being a lottery pick team.
I like the idea of another “skill” team coming to the East.
You are kidding right? Ya, sure Rafalski is gone, Lidstrom seems to have his best years behind him and Datsyuk and Zetterberg are not getting any younger… but this is an organization that is well ran and drafts very VERY well, and from what I hear are still plenty deep in terms of prospects… If Detroit moves to the Eastern Conference you can be sure as hell they will finnish in the top 3 almost every year…
I’m not kidding at all actually. It’s not just Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Rafalski and Lidstrom. Although that is the core of their team.
They have some nice prospects but they aren’t overwhelmingly ahead of the pack in terms of finding these players like they were a decade ago.
Still a lot of talk that they are completely re-doing the division structure next season. Lots of teams are complaining…why does Detroit get to move, and not Columbus, which has just as much geographic claim to live in the Eastern Conference?
Last I heard, there was talk of returning to a four division league and a more balanced schedule to try to even out the advantage Eastern teams have in terms of paltry travel costs and time.
If they DO go back to four divisions, can Brendan Shanahan PLEASE slap Bettman aside and rename them Smythe, Norris, Adams and Patrick once again?
And while we’re at it, move Phoenix to Hartford.
Nope. Sources say under Bettman’s proposal, the league will have four divisions: Pacific, Midwest, East and South.
No North division. That sounds too much like Canada.
“why does Detroit get to move, and not Columbus, which has just as much geographic claim to live in the Eastern Conference?”
probably because one team is the detroit red wings and the other is the columbus blue jackets
well put mofo
LOL!
- Honestly yours
Because Detroit’s owner has clout and influence I would imagine and that team has been lobbying to get into the East before Columbus even existed.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Columbus should go the way of the dodo – among others. A 24 team league would be ideal.
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“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I agree 100%, 24 teams would be ideal. With a dispersal draft that would make all the other teams that much stronger and the competitiveness of the league would skyrocket. Ahh, we can dream.
The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck.
The talent pool in this league is too watered down. Need to bring some respectability/integrity back to the sport and become less business oriented. But that ain’t gonna happen.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I don’t understand why they can’t do it now. Seems pointless to have a new team in a new location…..but hey let’s wait before building the ‘correct’ schedule and rivalries.
Honestly how long does it take? Swap a few teams and run your random schedule generator and let’s go. It’s not like the NHL schedule is planned carefully – because that would be admitting all those asinine long road trips and back to back to back to back games are done on purpose. Right? So shutup and run your generator already.
The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck.
In favor of that..and as it should be.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I would love to have the Wings move to the East, always like watching games against them.
1) Detroit would get to move East because in the realignment where they ended up in the West, they took one for the League and agreed to give up some natural rivalries and to much more difficult travel schedules. This was done with the understanding that as soon as feasible they would move back to the East. Ever since there hasn’t been an easy way for them to do that, a lot of teams were created in the East, so they’ve been patient. Now with one team going from Atlanta to Winnipeg, they get their opportunity.
Columbus and Nashville both want to go East as well, and they may get their wish with an unbalanced conferences system, but Detroit gets first dibs.
2) We should NOT return to calling Divisions Adams, Smythe, Norris, …. These gentlemen were monopolistic criminals who never had the best interests of hockey in mind when they ran their businesses.
The book “Net Worth” by Allison Griffiths is very informative on this subject, or you may have seen the movie the CBC did on it.
http://www.amazon.ca/Net-Worth-Cruise-David/dp/014025191X
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Let’s do something like this again: 1) Mike Cammalleri 2) Brian Gionta 3) Hall Gill
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Regarding Blunden post below… not sure what his role will be or whether he will even make the team, but he projects to be about 2 hits per game based on recent NHL experience (small sample) which would put him around top 35th in the league (for 82 games) and the highest on the Canadiens by quite a bit (he would project just behind Lapierre and O’Byrne). Unless Cole hits for us like he did for Carolina – he was over 85 hits better than our top hitter last year.
That plus decent +/- for 4th liner, low salary, size and youth might explain whey they had interest in him over some others.
Alexei Yemelin, Yannick Weber, PK Subban, Morgan Ellis, Jarred Tinordi, Greg Pateryn, Mac Bennett, Nathan Beaulieu, Darren Dietz, Brendon Nash and Rafael Diaz.
If I were Pierre Gauthier I would be calling Steve Tambellini, Joe Nieuwendyk, Chuck Fletcher, Garth Snow and Doug Wilson. Those General Managers have a significant lack of prospects on defense but have young forwards the could create a win win deal for both sides in the future.
Good idea, but wouldn’t waiting a year or two to make those calls make sense.
Wouldn’t young defencemen need more time to firmly establish their value/upside – give some of these young fellows some time to raise their value before dealing them off?
I would lean towards making a move in the near future as opposed to in a couple of years. Only because Tinordi and Beaulieu are about as safe as it gets in terms of whether or not they’ll make it and be effective. Subban and Gorges are going to be with the team for the long haul. You’ve got your top four defensemen for the next 5-7 years right there in all likelihood.
I understand that you want to maximize the return for guys like Pateryn, Ellis, Bennett, Dietz, Yemelin and Weber but if it’s an impact forward you’re seeking, you don’t want to wait for them to maximize their value at the other end of the spectrum because it will cost much more to land a good to elite forward than it will to land a good to elite defenseman in my opinion.
I’m not sure I agree with Tinordi being as safe as it gets.
The biggest thing that stands out about NHL players is their skating. They are just so much faster than your average CHL player.
Beaulieu is, by all accounts, an excellent skater. In the few games I have seen Jarred Tinordi, his skating looks absolutely pedestrian by OHL standards, and that gives me some serious misgivings about his blue-chip nature at the NHL level.
I was FAR more impressed with Taylor Doherty (San Jose 2nd round choice in 2009 that played with the Kingston Frontenacs). That kid was an excellent skater, all the more impressive given his listed 6’8″ frame (although I’ve been told that he’s probably closer to 6’5″.
I have to disagree about the skating pre-requisite. If it were true, Ryan Clowe, Shane Doan, Adrian Aucoin, Sheldon Souray and many, many similar players wouldn’t have made the NHL at all.
I’ve read his skating in fact to be very good for a big player from Hockey’s Future and various other sources. It was that talent that put him into the 1st round of the 2010 Draft.
I’m aware you saw him earlier in the year when he was struggling but from all reports his final quarter of the season was excellent.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Serious: I think Tinordi was drafted in the first round because he was big, scored ridiculously well on the physical tests at the NHL’s prospect combine and has a desirable pedigree. Throw in toughness and leadership and you’ve got a good late-round pick.
But just about every assessment of him has carried the phrase “long-term project”, and I think much of that is due to the skating. I watched Tinordi in three games, albeit not in the final month or two of the season, and his skating was what I was studying. He was, quite simply, unimpressive. I hope that I am wrong on that front.
Tom: Souray was for all intents and purposes a pylon at the defensive end, and Aucoin wasn’t much better. Their NHL careers were based on offensive ability and toughness. From all accounts, Tinordi is absolutely useless offensively. Even Josh Gorges was a point-per-game defencemen in the WHL at the same age as Tinordi.
Tinordi is a good prospect. But even Hockey’s Future have him at a 7.5D rating, indicating that they have significant concerns that he won’t reach his potential. To be fair, they don’t cite his skating as the big issue, just his puck skills.
I’m aware of the “Project player” tag but that also has to do with the fact that Tinordi is not yet physically mature as compared to 1st-round selection this year Jamie Oleksiak, who weighs 240 already compared to Tinordi’s 210. He’s got to fill out while adjusting his game to new levels because he hadn’t outplayed outside of the NTDP program. The Combine is a good tool but you can’t really secure your draft position there from what I’ve read, much like the Memorial Cup can’t do that, you can kind of solidify where you are but you can’t raise yourself.
I agree Tinordi is likely a pick that will take longer than say Beaulieu to develop, but I have to say you are the only person I have ever read who has questioned the skating ability of Tinordi.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
There are others: here is a scouting report from the website “The Scouting Report” (Jan. 30, 2010) that was filed after watching Tinordi in a game between Ohio State and the USNTDP U-18 team.
“Tinordi has all the intangibles that would excite any scout. He’s huge and has great leadership abilities as he is wearing the “C”. Tinordi also seemed aware on the ice and has good hockey sense….defensively. Offensively, Tinordi struggled on the point as well. In addition to the blocked shots, Tinordi clearly does not have the agility that his fellow defenseman have. Tinordi is an awkward skater without good balance and footwork. He will need to improve upon his skating and puck skills when he’s at Notre Dame. He’s clearly a project that if he works out, will be a force on an NHL blueline. There is just a lot of work to be done.”
Who knows…there were rumours he was playing with a sore knee for much of the first half. But the guy was an extremely big disappointment in his first OHL season by most metrics. When you are that size with a good shot in a league playing against 16-18 year olds, you should be able to dominate. He did not dominate.
Out of curiousity, how did he do in the games that you saw him in? It is entirely possible that I just caught him in bad games. The Guelph-London games are pretty hyped up in general (they are probably our biggest rival of late), so that can sometimes make some guys look very good or very bad, depending on how revved up they get for the games. As an OHL outsider in his first season, maybe he just didn’t “get up” for the Guelph games.
Tinordi struggled in the first half of the year, but from my own perspective he was London’s best defenseman in the 2nd half. His numbers were not great, but he was playing for a young team that was mediocre for most of the season. By the end of the season he was London’s go-to defender for key situations. One of the things you will not hear mentioned in the scouting reports was that he was almost NEVER a target from other team’s fighters. They simply didn’t want to mess with him – and that was huge in protecting some of the Knight’s skilled guys.
These things are never a guarantee, but I would not be surprised to see a very different Tinordi this season. Its far too early to be talking about him in the NHL or as a bust – either way. I can say that once he got comfortable with the OHL game he really started to assert himself physically. Knowing that he’s training with Beaulieu in London this offseason is very encouraging.
Yes, that second group were those I was thinking of in my post when I referred to waiting to increase value. Also agree with your point about relative value of good to elite forwards versus defenceman. That’s why we should wait with those folks – by waiting we reduce risk for the other party which gives us a shot at a higher value young forward… higher value in quality or potential upside.
Never has so much ink been spilled on a #4 defenceman.
Who’s going to break Chara’s nose???
I don’t know I have read a pisspot full of stuff on #4 Bobby Orr.
You clearly were not around in the days of Patrice Brisebois. You want ink spillage over a relatively inconsequential piece of the roster, Brisebois is your man.
Chris – you must have been away during the great konopka debate of the summer of 11.
Ugh.
Too friggin’ funny. the great konopka debate of the summer of 11
haha, yes those were good days!
LOL, way back in that great summer of 2011
That wasn’t much of a debate, the Pro forces suffered a first-round knockout.
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Let’s do something like this again: 1) Mike Cammalleri 2) Brian Gionta 3) Hall Gill
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I was at the Medigas Charity Golf Tournament in Belleville on the weekend. I ran into PK Subban grabbing a cookie from the desert table. I said to him”Brad Marchand is not eating cookies now”. to which he replied “Brad Marchand… he’s still drinking”. PK is not only quick on the ice, he’s also quick on his feet.
Seriously? How inappropriate of you. He should have spit out the cookie on you.
This crap really irks me. You’re the type of fan that we don’t need. You think that’s the kind of shit they like to hear from their fans? Can’t blame people like Briere for avoiding playing here when you hear this sort of bull
Why would you feel entitled to approach a complete stranger and challenge him like that? Just because you yell at your TV screen doesn’t mean you and he are friends, and you can take a friendly jab at him.
Multiply your ignorant remark by about 1000 over a year, and you can see why some players choose to sign in Philadelphia instead of Montreal. You’re the tool who constitutes the microscope some players don’t want to be under.
PK knows way more about what he needs to do during the off-season to get ready for the next than you do.
———————————
Let’s do something like this again: 1) Mike Cammalleri 2) Brian Gionta 3) Hall Gill
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
This post will probably get over looked but I have to try and make it anyway. Can we lay off the abundance of kool-aid comments it’s just sickening that a reference that comes from a massacre is seen here multiple times each day, it’s just not right…
You know, I never made the connection before…but you’re absolutely right – it is treating a pretty horrific event in an overly glib fashion.
Thanks for pointing out the etymology of that phrase!
The term has gone completely mainstream however, Toronto you should know as well as anyone that is Bobcat’s favourite term when talking on the fan 590.
I understand where you are coming from zaq, but it is used so widely now and yet most people have no recollection of where it is from. I am not justifying it, but for whatever reason this slogan never was considered in bad taste by the media at large.
massacre? yeah only because it’s a neat word in the headline.. i’m sorry but if you’re really going to tell us that we can’t use an expression because of it’s loose connotation to a bunch of idiots in jonestown drinking some cult leader’s kool aid then you need to get real..
Loose connotation? I thought it was coined EXACTLY because of that terrible incident. And for your information, some of those idiots (that you call them), were forced to drink at gunpoint.
How do you know they were forced to drink at gunpoint?
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Go read about it…here is one link (even look at wikipedia)
http://articles.cnn.com/2003-11-17/us/jonestown.anniversary_1_jonestown-jynona-norwood-peoples-temple?_s=PM:US
There was a special on TV a few months back on the Jonestown situation. It had completely spiralled out of control. Jim Jones was using his henchmen to stop people from trying to leave. People at gunpoint was a reality by the end of this whole disgusting event. Were the people stupid to start following this quack? Absolutely, but even after some of his “top aides” lost faith (or whatever you want to call it) in what he was preaching they had virtually no options left for themselves. Anyone thinking this was all willingly done in the end is quite mistaken. I am sure some still did it, but certainly not all from the report I watched.
What, River, because an article-writer speculates on it, it’s the truth?
Hard;y any survivors. Few of them there were were hiding. One in the jungle, one in a ditch, another under a house.
I ask again: how do you KNOW some were forced to drink at gunpoint? How do you train a gun on 900 people who don’t wanna drink and have only a few survivors?
Furthermore, apart Jones, was there anyone else dead by GSW? Are you telling me that, being held at gunpoint, those that were CHOSE to die by cyanide agony instead of a quick death by bullet to the cranium?
Please.
Survivors saw nothing. All speculation. For all we know, they sang showtunes and danced the polka while chuggin it down. Those poor, poor cultists…right.
I’ve no sympathy for those rat-losers; only contempt that they brought children into their psychosis…children they CHOSE to kill because they were held at gunpoint, I suppose?
C’mon…
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
I have no REAL proof as I was not there, just from the reports I have read/seen on it. There were survivors (i am sure that is proven), so why don’t you just call one and ask ‘em what REALLY happened.
I posted in response to someone calling them idiots, I was just stating that not ALL willingly took it. I am not going to argue this with you.
Go read on it. Believe what you want. That is entirely up to you.
No, what you DID, River was to state “for your information”-wise, as if you KNEW the truth, that some were forced to drink at gunpoint, to counter the calling-those-cultists-idiots statement stated beforehand.
Now, it just so happens that I ALSO believe those cultists to be idiots, and hell-bound idiots at that for draggin kids into their madness.
Hearing you state that some of them were forced at gunpoint would naturally put things in a different light but alas, you now say you have no proof of this.
Indeed, we should ask the guy hiding in the jungle or the guy hiding in a ditch or the guy hiding under a house what they saw while they were prayin to whatever god they had left that they could pass for dead. The perfect eyewitnesses, yes?
Ok then. So until we get this proof, they were all friggin idiots, River. Hell-bound idiots. No sympathy for them. None.
Sorry.
…900 folks ‘forced at gunpoint’ to poison their kids, uh-huh…right.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Bugs.
I know everything, if you disagree, your loss not mine.
Oh.
Shoulda said that in the first place, River.
Cuz actually arguin the fact that (after verification) only TWO people died of GSW at Jonestown (includin Jones), it woulda been hard to defend the 900 – 2 people who you woulda had sayin “ok, ok, I’ll drink the poison and die in agony; don’t shoot, don’t shoot!”
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
They were all willing participants, and knew what they were doing..taking their lives to catch that passing comet in the sky to never-neverland.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Syringes being used for children…people shot who refused, yeah that sounds like they were ALL willing.
I’m not so sure I’d call the 200+ children who were fed poison “willing participants”
I think you’re mixing up Jonestown with the Heaven’s Gate Cult (who all wore the same Nikes and hoped to catch a space ship behind the Hale Bopp comet).
What?
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Oh, it was Jim Jones, right.
——————————————————————-
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Nobody said you can’t, free speech and all and but show some class that phrase comes DIRECTLY from that and what happened there isn’t something that should be joked about, just saying
You say massacre I say Darwin…
On the idea of Blunden on our 4th…
He is willing but his fight card shows overwhelming losses to Stortini, Clowe and Zonopka. (back as far as 2009)..heavyweight opponents for sure but unless he has gained some muscle and savvy he may not be the answer for 4th line duty. His +/- is actually good.
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” (anon)
I had a dream that PG went out and got the BEST GUY AVAILABLE instead of trying to make a minor-league swaps to bolster our 4th line. I guess dreaming is all we have.
Unless PG has a big move up his sleeve, I think we’ll compete but we stand to have a similar profile to last year.
As much as I am optimistic about the potential for a healthy team to challenge the league’s best, Gorges, Markov, and MaxPac are all coming off major injuries and rehab and some concern is reasonable. (And god knows where the team would be if PK or Pleks goes down for any length of time.) Same goes for Cole, who may be capable but we can’t know how he’ll fit with new line-mates and JM’s defense-first system.
All-in-all, I see this year as the same last: if all the stars line up for us, we’ve got a very strong team. But most of several risks need to work out in our favor for the team to compete over 82 games and hold a high position (not to mention be ready for April).
Many teams make minor-league swaps to rebalance their farm team depth. It doesn’t mean the GM isn’t looking to do other things.
Only in Montreal is it that such moves are in fact counterproductive to what a GM should be doing…
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Question for our resident experts:
Do players signed and playing in the ECHL (or Europe I guess) count against a team’s 50 player contract maximum?
To the best of my knowledge, there are very few European players that are signed by an NHL team and playing in Europe. The team holds their rights, but they are not actually signed (see Alexei Yemelin as a prime example).
As for ECHL, I suspect (but do not know 100%) that any player signed by the team counts towards that cap, whether they are actually playing in the NHL, AHL or ECHL.
I suspect you’re correct. I was just thinking that an enterprising team could load up their ECHL team with undrafted talent on 1 yr contracts and see what sticks, only signing those players who showed enough promise to move up to the AHL.
Follow up question – how long does a team hold a European player’s rights? I *think* it’s 3 years, but I could be completely off.
cheers!
Some beautiful Zizou if you like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvYlvkWpPy4
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Little top 10 here too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7jkHXt2lqw&feature=fvwrel
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Oh, come now, here’s the Best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns
(warning – the following contains hyperbole)
Zizou was By far the most overrated player of the last decade. Yes – very good ball tricks, most of which are inconsequential. But he was not fit to tie Ronaldo’s boots. (the original Ronaldo not the Portuguese crybaby)
And a lowlife thug to boot, even by the deplorable standards of the French national side. The way he allowed everyone to think Materazzi had made a racist comment to deserve that head butt was especially cowardly.
What the hell are you talkin about?
Every time he played against Ronaldo, he DOMINATED over him. Every time. One against one, Ronaldo no match against Zizou. No match.
And while not excusing his headbutt, to think that it came straight out of the blue is absolutely preposterous.
Materrazzi said SOMETHING. You can SEE him sayin it before Zizou turns around to face him.
So, to suppose YOU know what was said over what Zizou said was said is even more ludicrous.
I don’t know WHAT was said. But I know YOU don’t know what was said either and forgive me, but I’ll take Zizou’s word over yours, whatever he said was said because HE has in-depth detail, and you and I have none.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
We now know what was said, as confirmed by all parties. You can google it.
Ok, so the Ronaldo angle is checkmated? Good, onward, the headbutt:
Materazzi said something about his sister; what’s this about “we now know” all of a sudden? It’s the same as it always was.
“Il a dit des mots durs, des mots très durs. Ça touche ma maman, ma soeur.”
We don’t know JACK about what was exactly said, except apparently, what you want to believe you know that paints Zidane as a…(wow!) a coward???
Ok, man…
..led everyone to believe…”everyone” being YOU, that is.
Hate the guy if you want, Sincey, but don’t make stuff up to do it.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
How about the “galloping major” Puskas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU7LzHoCspU
So what ridiculous “debate”, as some of you like to call it, will the Genius’s and Kool-aid Drinker’s get into today?
Thanks to Pat Hickey for a morsel of some hockey “news”.
Moxie vs. Dr Pepper (or Tahiti Treat – don’t want to offend anyone). I’m a Moxie man.
I’m going to go with Dr. Pepper.
Offended you couldn’t include Tahiti Treat!
Edit: Meant for Rugger.
PrimeTime is just trying to stir sh*t again. He doesn’t post for a month and the first thing he does is attack everybody at HIO. The next thing will be his Real Fans™ diatribe.
For the record, I am on team A&W Root Beer.
Hey Halifax,
how do you like the Mooseheads picking up Nathan Mackinnon?
already have Frk and Ciampini;
I know Ciampini since he was about 10 years old – played with my son as a 10 year old and again at 13.
I saw Frk play last year on TV – he looks like a cant miss NHL star to me.
any insight from Halifax?
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Ed, I am so over the moon about that deal, I’m barely ready to write about it.
When you look at the all the talent they added last year(Frk and Ciampini being the most notable)… and then look at what they did this year, got the top goalie in the draft and the number 1 and 2 picks (Mackinnon & Drouin)… it’s unbelievable. I’ve been a Moosehead seaon ticket holder for 15 years now, and these last 2 years they have made the best personnel moves they ever have, by a long shot. Next time I see our GM around town(Cam Russell) I’m shaking his hand.
Bottom line, the next 2-4 years of Mooseheads hockey is going to be amazing. I can’t f’n wait. Now keep in mind all their best talents are still 16 & 17 yrd old, so it will take a year or two to reach the top, but the sky is the limit right now.
Now if only PG could pull off a coup like Russell has.
This genius drinks Canada Dry.
Born a Mr. Pibb man, will die a Mr. Pibb man.
.
Mr. Pibb rulz.
Apostrophes not needed to make it plural. Thus, geniuses and drinkers.
Unless he was referring to something belonging to the geniuses and kool-aid drinkers getting into a debate, of course.
During the long summer, we all get to be pretend GM.
Ranking NHL Broadcasters
He talks about Steigerwald’s horrible joke about Hobey Baker. If you watch the video, one commentator says how hard the Hobey Baker winner went to the ice after a check, & this guy Steigerwald says he did not go down as hard as Hobey Baker did. He then tells how Hobey Baker went down in a plane crash, & starts to laugh, & can not stop.
To me, that is just unimaginable, that somebody could joke about that.
I find it surprising that anybody would joke about that on air.
But let’s be honest…I’d be willing to bet a fair amount of money that we’ve ALL made wise-cracks about things we shouldn’t have when in the company of friends and family, jokes on a par with that one on the scale of inappropriate humour.
And most of us have slipped and done it in public once or twice. Very few people can legitimately claim that they’ve never suffered from a little foot in mouth.
At least this Willsie guy that was signed probably for a bag of pucks, at his best, equals the best that Gomez put out. I wonder if Willsie is our tough guy enforcer type. At 6 feet tall I don’t see him pushing Charra around. Another year of watching the habs fall to the tougher goon hockey that Bettman’s refs are into. You would think the Molsons would at least bribe Bettman into allowing some games to be won against American teams without the lopsided reffing we saw in the Boston series. You just know this is the year that Boston bribed the refs!
I think he’s meant to take Russell’s spot in Hamilton seeing as though Russell being traded and signing Wilsie happened within a couple hours of each other. Blunden is Most likely going to skate with White and Moen if he makes the cut.
“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”, Hunter S. Thompson.
willsie waste of money at best a weak 4th liner
In other news, Christian Hanson signed a minor league deal with the Capitals. If anything, I think this puts the final nail in the coffin of Burke’s first attempt to rebuild on the fly. Trading away draft picks for one dimensional players and trying to supplant those picks with overage, undrafted NCAA/European players has been an abysmal failure – Hanson has left the team (he was an AHLer anyhow), Gustavsson is a backup (and only because he’s still owed another year on his contract and playing him in the AHL would impede the development of other goalies), and Bozak is, at best, a 3rd line Centre.
Add to that, most of his UFA signings have been busts as well (Beauchemin, Komisarek, Orr, Armstrong, Hollweg etc etc)
Granted, he seems to have recognized the errors of his ways and parlayed two aging defencemen into some pretty good prospects (Colbourne and Gardiner).
But I think even he himself would have to agree – The Mighty Brian Burke Was Wrong.
Yah I seem to recall the interviews with him at the time of all these college free agents. Just after the Kessel trade he basically was telling anyone and everyone that these signings would replace the missed draft picks. Ahhhhh yah, I guess based on historical first round draft messes by the Leafs, then yes he certainly did replace those draft picks perfectly.
But as you say, His last few trades have been very good. The Franson steal, trading Versteeg for good picks, trading Kaberle as you mentioned.
No doubt he has improved this team from last year, but if Reimer falters at all this team is right back where they started 2 years ago.
Oh the team’s hopes rest all on the shoulders of a sophomore goalie who looked mighty vulnerable once the league realized that he’s very weak up high.
That being said, if everything goes right for them, I expect them to be in the mix for the last couple of playoff spots and ending up somewhere between 7th-11th.
(FWIW I either see us taking the division and finishing 3rd, or else we end up somewhere in the 4-6 slot)
Draft eligible in 2004, Christian Hanson hasn’t done all that much worse than Kyle Chipchura, the guy the Habs drafted that same year.
And Burke has done some good along the way. He acquired Mikhail Grabovski from Montreal for peanuts, and Grabovski had an excellent year…he would have finished first on the Habs in goals, points and +/- with his numbers from last season.
He signed Clarke MacArthur as a UFA last summer and saw him go on to post a career high 62 points. The much maligned Phil Kessel still picked up 32 goals and 64 points last season while playing for a coach that he’s not on the same page with.
He drafted Luke Schenn, who has all the makings of an exceptional NHL defenceman.
There’s a lot of question marks around Toronto’s roster. Can Tim Connolly stay healthy? Can Joffrey Lupul return to his 30 goal form that he seemed to re-discover late last season upon his addition to the Leafs?
With Lupul and Connolly playing with Kessel on the top line, Grabovski, Kulemin and MacArthur form a fairly solid second line.
Nazem Kadri and Joe Colborne give the Leafs two solid offensive prospects that can be eased into the lineup now that their top-two lines have a bit more depth. Luca Caputi is a wild-card prospect: he could still pan out into a decent offensive forward as he adjusts his power-game to play in the NHL. And like you said, Jake Gardiner is a very highly regarded prospect on defence, and Keith Aulie could be a good third-pairing shut-down defenceman as early as this season.
Adding John-Michael Liles and Cody Franson to a defence that already has Dion Phaneuf (who I detest, but seems to bring the Leafs up a bit when he’s in the lineup), Carl Gunnarsson and Luke Schenn (all under 25 years old as of right now) gives them a solid core to build on.
I can’t stand the Leafs or Brian Burke. But I think he has got that franchise pointed in the right direction. Goal-scoring is hard to come by in this league, and he’s got five guys (Kessel, Kadri, Kulemin, Grabovski and Lupul) who have the potential to bag 30 goals. They obvisouly will not all do it in the same season, but the potential is there.
If (and this is a huge if) James Reimer is the real deal, something nobody knows at this point, the Leafs suddenly become a much, much tougher team to beat. If they get a coach that the players can actually stand, I would actually be a little fearful of the Leafs.
Oh I agree, he’s made up for many of his early blunders. MacArthur was a wonderful bargain, and I do think Kadri has the hands to be a very special player (if he can fill out a bit).
He seems of late to have been able to correct the mistakes he makes (Beauchemin and Versteeg for example).
One minor correction – Grabovski was traded to Toronto while Fletcher was still GM.
cheers!
Thanks for the correction…I never keep straight when these guys move around.
I detest Burke and all his talk of truculence. But that team is very promising in some respects. The onus is on the players to keep it going.
Yep, I agree – if everything works out for them, I don’t think a playoff spot is out of the question.
Blustery Burke (or “Cartoon Burke” as one blogger recently put it) is by far the most annoying act this side of Don Cherry. But I’ll give credit where it’s due – he’s made some very good moves (and has been able to neutralize the bad ones).
Then again, I’m one of those weirdos who doesn’t actually hate the Leafs – I much prefer this city when they Leafs are actually good, rather than when they’re awful and everyone keeps trying to convince the public that they aren’t.
Incorrect, Mikhail Grabovski was acquired from Montreal by interim GM Chuck Fletcher and yes, Greg Pateryn was not much of a return but a 2nd-round pick was also in that deal. Luke Schenn was also drafted by Fletcher. Even if Burke had selected Schenn all that would prove is his career trend, he has a terrible sense of drafting talent if it’s not a lottery pick.
Lupul has never scored 30G in a season, Kadri is a considerable stretch ATM for such an optimistic projection and Kulemin has to prove last season was not a fluke, his shooting percentage had a massive leap by 6.3% over last year. That is hard to repeat. The issue with Kessel is yes he can score 30G, but unlike say Cammalleri or Gionta he doesn’t have the instinct to score on the clutch plays. MacArthur has to prove last year isn’t a fluke as well, with his 3 goals in the last quarter of the season he started very strong than faded.
They need Schenn and Aulie badly because Phaneuf, Liles and Franson are poor defensively as well. The Leafs are not my concern, they may get better but they’re not a team I worry about.
It remains the Flyers, Penguins, Capitals, Bruins who are Montreal’s problems down the road, the road goes through them for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Yes I left out Tampa because their D is simply not good enough right now, nor does it currently project to reach true Contender status, Hedman is not enough for a youth core.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
SF09 on Twitter
Kessel’s an interesting player – you can pretty much tell what kind of game he’s going to have after his first two shifts. If he’s skating hard looking interested he’ll be almost impossible to stop. However if he’s coasting and appears aloof he’ll be invisible.
He’s even more mercurial than L’Artiste.
One thing I’m consistently surprised by is how good a passer he is. It’s weird how he seems to zero in on only the one aspect of his game (sniping), when he could be a much more complete player. One thing’s for sure – if Toronto every gets a coach that he enjoys playing for…watch out.
I said 30-goal form. If you really want to nit-pick, Mikhail Grabovski has also never scored 30. But I felt that 28 goals was close enough for Lupul, and 29 goals for Grabovski.
Kadri was a mistake…I had originally typed something else and forgot to remove him. So good catch on that one.
As for the teams you mention, of course they are the bigger issue. Nobody with a brain stem would argue otherwise. But if you’re focussing only on the teams ahead of you, you are vulnerable to being surprised by the teams that pass you from behind.
Last season, Tampa Bay leapt past Montreal. This year, I would be keeping an eye on the NY Rangers, who have an excellent defence corps and one of the top goalies in the game…with more scoring from the addition of Brad Richards (and the potential to re-ignite Gaborik), they could be dangerous. I think they will get bigger contributions from Ansimov and particularly from Evgeny Grachev this season, giving them a bit more offensive depth, which they have been sorely lacking.
And Buffalo, who tied Montreal in the standings, added Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff and Robyn Regehr and will get Derek Roy, one of the most underrated players in the NHL, back from injury, while losing only Tim Connolly. They should be better next year, especially if Zack Kassian can make the jump directly to the NHL.
Who knew the Toronto Maple Leafs had such hollywood following. Brooke Mueller (Charlie Sheen’s Ex) seen here wearing Leafs T-shirt, of course not confirmed if the reported crack pipe in her hand was purchased at the Leafs Gift Shop where she purchased the T shirt.
http://www.tmz.com/2011/07/11/brooke-mueller-rehab-paraphernalia-crack-pipe-lighter-drugs-charlie-sheen-child-custody/
You don’t need to be on crack to support the Leafs.
But it helps.
Interesting (per Darren Dreger): The NHL and Molson expect a ruling today to determine the status of Molson’s huge exclusive agreement with the NHL.
A bit more leverage on the league maybe?
In classic Bettman style, Gary seemed to forget he already had a contract in place with Labatts for $75million as it pertained to rightsholder I think for NHL in Canada, then signs a bigger deal with Molsons for NHL North America rights. Original ruling was in favour of Labatt’s against the NHL. Just what does Gary do well besides curry favour from the Jacobs family in Boston.
I can only hope the next CBA has a clause in it forcing little wee-man to step down.
The guy is a master at making sure each move he makes helps another club in the league thus securing their support. His complete blindness to allow Balsillie to purchase team and move to Hamilton, cemented the undying support of Leafs and Sabres to Bettman. It is obvious the support he receives and gives to Jacobs. It just goes on and on, for every move he makes, while often to the detriment of the League as a whole, each move is calculated and designed to further his position as Commish.
Surprise!!
Molson and the NHL win appeal. Sponsorship agreement with the NHL stands.
WTF, Dominic?
http://twitpic.com/5ouhtq
Okay that looks twisted. Have to believe there is a story behind that.
I’ll bet the old woman in the way off in the left backgroung, was just expecting a normal and relaxing summer at the cottage by the lake.
“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”, Hunter S. Thompson.
So your Ilya Bryzgalov, your not cutting it with Anaheim the GM puts you on waivers in order to help you find work elsewhere. Elsewhere arrives in the form of Phoenix. You have played 4 season as #1, only 1 year were stats maybe below average. You have had no playoff success, and now you get to hold out for big bucks from Philly. After finally agreeing to a contract large enough they have to move important pieces out, now you say you really want to win the cup in Philly.
I don’t doubt he wants to win the cup, but I think getting a large contract was far more important to him than winning a cup. And that is fine, just don’t come out after the fact talking like winning is all that matters to you. I don’t know, hot day middle of summer, something to gripe about rather than analyzing whether or not Gorges will sign at 2pm or 4pm on whatever day he signs.
Something with Philly and goalies…
I’m betting they will bitterly regret this NINE year contract…
Well they didn’t pick up a 38 year old veteran this time. But while he has had 4 good seasons as a starter, he has not done anything of significance in the playoffs. We’ll see, but far more pressure on him in Philly than those seniors in glendale that went to the arena hoping for a good game of parcheesi only to find out they were tricked into going to an NHL game.
How long before Bobby Clobber says he stinks?
The 9-year contract makes me think January 2012.
After his first loss. …LOL
NorthTOHab
hahahaha!! No kidding.
I’m not sure I’d give a 9 year contract to any goaltender. There are a few exceptions of course, but most of them only stay on top for a few seasons before finally settling into mediocrity…
Okay..HB, Before Bettman finished playing his shell game,this is the same person who said”No I will not go to Winnipeg, no Russians live in Winnipeg” at the time when everyone was proclaiming Winnipeg as the new home for the Coyote’s. LOL
NorthTOHab
I wish that I had recorded, or they would broadcast last season’s habs games. I miss it so much that I would watch last season over again.
RDS could probably re-broadcast the habs season and still have more ratings than anything they’re showing now.
Next season I’m going to digitally record the entire season in preparation for next summer.
Is it me or Gorges’s head and neck look twice as big as when he first joined the team…?
Given he was out for so long and for awhile was limited to upper body workouts, have to believe he has put some weight on.
yeah.. I’m curious about that actually. He’s listed at 6’1” 200 lbs right now. Going up to 210 would really make a big difference and help him stand his ground.
I’ve met Gorges before and 6’1 is a stretch for sure. I’m 6’0 and he was a little shorter than me. Not that this has any effect on his game or anything, Josh is great
As average players go.
Who’s going to break Chara’s nose???
Well, we haven’t quite plumed the depths of last year’s Price versus Halak idiocy though the silliness of the past few days comes close.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Guys i’m seriously going thru massive NHL withdrawal…..I need to watch the habs play!!!!Aye yaye yaye…..
………….when’s training camp again???…..
…..You’ll never get to heaven if you’re scared of getting high…..
In exactly 10 weeks, the Habs play their first exhibition game. That’s 70 days. I think we’re just over halfway through the long Habs drought that began with their elimination in the first round. The acrimonious debates on this site about insubstantial rumours in the last few days show that everyone is suffering withdrawal symptoms.
70 days never sounded so long haha
It’s summer! Would you prefer a February day looking forward to an evening Habs – Carolina game?
Let’s take a page from Leaf fans. Summer is their favourite time of year.
Love all the charity work P.K is doing but I’m hoping that through it all he is finding time to keep training hard. He had a monster offseason last year where he put on mass and got himself NHL ready. I wouldn’t want him to lose that focus that he has had. I also don’t want to jump to conclusions which I know it sounds like I am doing lol
I don’t think you can question this guy’s dedication to training… wish all habs would train like he does…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxY4IO9Ts2M&feature=youtu.be
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. P.K is my favourite player on the team and I’ve been following his development since he was drafted I just don’t want him to have a sophomore slump this season since we need him to be elite. I know he’s the real deal I just don’t want Laraque tainting my boy! :p (Tongue firmly placed in cheek)
hehe… you never know I guess, but it’s looking good so far.
The video was posted by ClutchNGrab in the previous thread, so thanks to him for that!
This video is really great.Thanks for sharing
As far as the Cole article goes, this was my retort yesterday, and I’ll stick with it:
I think that’s a pretty shallow interpretation. Cole also went to a bad Oilers team, and he was supposed to be a star there. Now he’s coming to a team that already has deep playoff aspirations and a good core of youth and veterans where he rounds out the lineup, as opposed to being a 1A type player.
The role will be similar to what he played in Carolina.
What I’m worried about is how Martin will reign Cole in. Cole was at his best when he could pressure opposing defencemen into making mistakes. JM has a tendency to reign in his players on the forecheck, and in pressuring the points (two areas Cole excels in).
If Martin uses him properly, talent and drive won’t be an issue. If Martin stifles him (as he does with many players) we could be in for some frustration.
Exactly, will he still produce under dumbo’s dumb game strategy. That too is what I am waiting to see.
I agree that Cole won’t be asked to carry the entire offensive load. I think if he is used with Gomez, who is a better passer and set-up man than he is a shooter, it will be beneficial for both players. While Gomez is no Erik Staal (not even close!), he could use winger with a big body and good hands. Cole fits the bill.
The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck.
I would be shocked if the starting top two lines weren’t this:
Cammalleri – Plekanec – Cole
Pacioretty – Gomez – Gionta
JT makes a valid point by saying that some guys bleed for their teammates and not for the paycheck (Cole won’t be playing for his next contract anymore either).
I do think there is a MAJOR difference with being traded and choosing your destination though and I agree with you that the expectations and situation as a whole are very different and should be much easier for him coming in.
Ranking NHL broadcasters:
The rankings below are entirely subjective, but I’ve used the same criteria to rank each crew — criteria that are flushed out as we go. I didn’t rank Montreal’s crew because I don’t speak French and therefore do not watch Canadiens broadcasts on RDS
Uh… ok.
With idiots like Jack Edwards, Joe (“crying every playoffs”) Binanati, Jim Jackson on the air it shows how little QC the NHL applies to its product.
Also unfortunately Bob Cole, Gary Galley, Milbury and PJ Stock escaped evaluation!
The guy claims to be an Oilers fan but somehow has never seen a HNIC effort on NHL.com or Center Ice?
Strange
… the fans of the Boston Bruins now have lost forever any right to complain that “the league” is out to get their team, and that the Montreal Canadiens have some kind of pull inside the NHL home office.
Charles P. Pierce – Boston Globe
I vote the late Danny Gallivan and Dirk Irvin as #1. All others are pale imitations. Often, I turn off the sound as I cannot stand Brunet’s ayois. (Thank heaven they nuked him!)
Okay well that article didn’t settle much…
You going to trade for him? Pretty sure he is signed with Nashville. Two way contract.
the habs apparently want nothing to do with solid and dependable players from thunder bay.
g
b