Da Hema

Member since November 11, 2007

Habs fan since: Time immemorial
Favorite current player: Brendan Gallagher
All-time favorite player: Larry Robinson

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Recent Comments

• Comment on Bergevin finalist for NHL's GM of the Year Award; Subban joins Team Canada
  Thanks punkster! I will enjoy seeing you and the HIO gang -- even Timo! -- next season. The Habs will be even better! That's a hippo guarantee!!
• Comment on Bergevin finalist for NHL's GM of the Year Award; Subban joins Team Canada
  Well folks, this hippo will be gone for the spring and summer shortly. I have a few final things to say before I head for fishing and sun. While the season ended badly for the Habs, I was satisfied with the way the Habs played through most of the season. The team still has a few too many passengers (e.g., Ryder, Moen, perhaps Desharnais), some underachievers (e.g., Price) and a few players whose best days are well behind them (e.g., Markov, Gionta), but there were so many leaders who emerged this year too. While the focus has been on the elite play of Subban, the abundant will of Prust, and the emergence of Gallagher, the one player who has earned this hippo's admiration is Emelin. When I first saw him two years ago show up at camp overweight, I thought to myself (with Kovalev in mind) "great, yet another indifferent Russian." To my immense surprise Emelin has impressed me with his skill, toughness, and willingness to play an aggressive and highly effective style of defence. There is little doubt in my mind now that it was Emelin who carried Markov this year -- not the other way around. I doubt I will ever forget when Emelin fought Chara. While we could all see it wasn't exactly voluntary, most NHL players would turtle against Chara. Emelin did not -- and even got a few solid shots in against the Genetic Anomaly. I truly hope Emelin will be healthy next year. Setting aside Subban and Emelin, this team still has a defence loaded with mediocre journeymen (Diaz, Gorges, Bouillon, Drewiske, Weber). I look forward to the near future when Tinordi, Beaulieu, Dietz, join Subban and Emelin. At that point, the Habs should finally have a group of defencemen capable of comprising the backbone of the team. I wish Boone, Stubbs, Cowan, and all the HIO posters here a wonderful and safe spring and summer!
• Comment on Therrien: 'You've got to give a lot of credit to the Senators' (Video)
  I was going to suggest he reduce his pharmacological intake....
• Comment on Liveblog: Game 4 – Canadiens blow 2-0 lead, lose in OT
  Are you insane????
• Comment on Gionta, White out with upper-body injuries (video)
  There ya go! That's the spirit!!
• Comment on Habs get some good news with Gallagher; Price will start Game 4
  The "holier-than-thou network?" :-) How about the "self-righteousnet?"
• Comment on Liveblog: Senators spank Canadiens 6-1, take series lead
  I love Booner, but I can't understand why he thinks Diaz is a good defenceman.