Montreal Gazette

Ron in Ottawa - (Ron Stewart)

Member since December 6, 2007

Ottawa

Habs fan since: 1953
Favorite current player: Carey Price, PK, DD, MaxPac
All-time favorite player: Jean Beleveau

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Recent Comments

  • Comment on Update from morning skate: Budaj in for Price, Blunden for Prust
    I agree with you. The Cole/Ryder trade did not work out in the long run. Ryder is another "sniper" who is fantastic when he shows up- but he does not show up for every game. the trade completely screwed up the chemistry of the habs #1 line. I like what MB is trying to do, but I think this trade did not work.
  • Comment on About last night ...
    Shades of MT 1st time around with the Habs. Playing the Hurricanes, the habs get caught icing the puck. a bunch of tired players on the ice. their centre gets waived out of the faceoff. they lose the face off and Carolina scores. end of the series. End of the dream. I have really admired MT this time around, although I had my doubts when he was picked by MB. but I think he is getting out coached by the Walrus and some of his decisions last night did not make since: keeping Chucky on the bench in the third; having a very wounded Prust on the ice; and on we could go. I don't think the series ends tomorrow but to keep it alive the habs need to play their game for 60 minutes; not 45 minutes of the new plan and 15 minutes of Jacques Martin.
  • Comment on Liveblog: Game 4 – Canadiens blow 2-0 lead, lose in OT
    I think we can trace the disappearance of DD and MaxPac to when Cole was traded. I like Ryder but he has been inconsistent everywhere he's played-included the habs first time around. one night he is lights out, the next night he is last off the bench and the first back on. Statistically it may have been a good trade, but morale wise I'm not so sure.
  • Comment on About last night ...
    There seems to be a lot of talk about benching dd and max if they are not playing their A game. I agree that neither player is contributing much so far, but really there is no one else in the press box to take their places. I would add Ryder to the list of non-contributors. it is my impression that dd and max stopped producing after the trade that brought Ryder to Montreal. he has toms on potential but he has always struck me as a lazy player who really does not put out for his team. watch how he ends his shift most times. I think he is often the first guy off and the last guy on. I have thought the habs would win this in 6 and I still think that. what they need from Prust and White now is a controlled meanness like Neil has. go habs
  • Comment on Liveblog: Canadiens win 3-1, tie series
    I think there are 2 parts to what happens after a hit like that. the first involves the league. every year we hear and see a lot of hand wringing when a players gets hit in the head, but after the all the drama the league does nothing. if they really wanted to stop hits to the head the solution is obvious. two options: one suspend the player who did the hit the same amount of time it takes for the injured player to get back. if Eller is out six weeks, then Gyber is out six weeks. or the league could say "Eller is the sixth forward on the Canadiens depth chart; the sens lose their 6 th forward. I believe the gm's and the coaches and the rest of the players would stop the hits to the head immediately. imagine if Chara had been suspended until Patches got back? the other part of this belongs to the team. I know the days of brawling are over but the habs needs someone who is mean- like Chris Neal- who would go out and make one of their stars pay for the hit. in the good old days of the 50's, 60's and 70's no one messed with the habs. we don't need a goon but we do need a Brenson Prust with attitude. Go habs
  • Comment on Liveblog: Ouch! Another spanking: Canadiens lose 6-4 in Pittsburgh
    I think the habs started to slow down more than 3 games ago. Frist, I think the Patches DD line began to stumble after MB traded Cole for Ryder. I think it was a good trade and Ryder has produced well but I think the trade upset the chemistry on that line. Next, the loss of Emelin is big. Watching the game last night I noticed that there were no punishing hits handed out my the Montreal D. finally, the whole defense is playing terribly. Gorges has lost his game, Markov is making stupid mistakes, PK tries to make showy moves but is often out of position. looking forward to next year, I think that some of the old guard are going to be expendable: Gionta, Gorges and Bourque.
  • Comment on Price burns 2,336 calories in a game; Drewiske will face Flyers
    The real question in terms of trades is who on the habs is expendable now? Moen-maybe- Armstrong- he's injured so no way- White-he's injured-DD- not likely after the new contract- Gionta-perhaps. So anyone else on the team now? in terms of prospects, who would you give up from Hamilton? I really don't think MB has much room to manoeuver on this. He doesn't want to screw up the positive attitude in the room and he doesn't want to give away the future.