Weekly Hab-its

A Word on the Habs' Inactivity Today

2007-02-27T19:33:00.000-05:00

When talking about the Habs' deadline day strategy most people, fans and hockey experts alike, dichotomize it into two opposite directions: 'buyer' and 'seller'. If the Canadiens are buyers, the pundits say, they should make a splash for a big-name impact player such as Bill Guerin or Todd Bertuzzi. If they are sellers, however, then the Canadiens should trade away their assets, most notably Sheldon Souray, for a large return. Today, Bob Gainey decided not to go either way.

I tend to disagree with the notion that a trade is necessary on deadline day. It has to fit the team's needs at the time of the deal, and making a trade for the sake of it is not necessarily the best thing to do. If you look at Bob Gainey's moves, you see that he always thinks them out very carefully, and never pulls the trigger on a deal that is doubtful to help the team in some way. Trading for a Bill Guerin would have cost the Canadiens a roster player, a prospect, and a draft pick, which they could have afforded but are probably better off not having done. Trading Souray would have done more bad to the team short-term than the good it would have done long-term. In fact, the only player I think the Canadiens should have traded for was Peter Forsberg, but the return for him was phenomenal, his health is questionable, and there's a good chance he'll re-sign with Philadelphia in the summer.

That being said, I think the one area that Gainey has been consistently lacking is in looking out for the surrounding teams that matter. The Canadiens are in a fight for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Islanders and Maple Leafs, and both made significant trades today that make them better teams. The Canadiens' Northeast division rival Sabres made a big move today in acquiring former Hab Dainus Zubrus; the Senators and Bruins also made trades, albeit minor ones. The point here, though, is that Gainey ought to be extremely confident that his team is still on the right track compared to the Isles and Leafs if he decides not to pull a move in reaction to theirs.

I know I'm going to sound contradictory here, but Gainey is an incredibly intelligent hockey man and if he thinks that the offers being made to him would not improve his club, then there was no sense in him making a move. With Craig Rivet gone, Sheldon Souray is more a backbone of this team than ever, and we all know how fans react when you trade a pivotal player for picks and prospects (are you listening, Kevin Lowe?). And while the Leafs and Isles are certainly better teams than they were yesterday, the Canadiens are gaining momentum again and another trade might have thrown them off course. Sometimes, no news is good news after all.

Shameful conduct

2007-02-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

Sorry that this is a bit of a late post, but I wanted to take a moment to comment on the atrocious conduct by the referees in Sunday's Pittsburgh-Canadiens rematch. After the Thursday game, Guy Carbonneau and his players complained about the one-sided call which saw Sheldon Souray get a 2-minute instigator penalty, a 5-minute fighting major, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct for jumping Colby Armstrong after his questionable hit on captain Saku Koivu. Despite dropping his gloves and throwing punches, Armstrong received no penalties, and Souray's penalties resulted in a 7-minute Penguins power play, during which they scored two goals.

In the Sunday game, the referees awarded the Penguins six power plays in the first two periods, many of which were questionable calls against the Habs. The Penguins, meanwhile, were not assessed any penalties, and it was clear from the way the game was being called that this was in direct retaliation for the way the Canadiens organization reacted to the reffing last Thursday. Even the CBC commentators, not usually known for their allegiance to the Habs, were hinting that the six power plays were not a coincidence and were not all fair calls. This was a less subtle example of the refs not being on the Canadiens' side, and most of those who scoff at the notion of a conspiracy against the Habs were in agreement that the one-sided bombardment of penalties was deliberate.

Conduct such as this by the NHL's referees is absolutely unacceptable. It is a disgrace that clubs should not be allowed to comment when they feel they were treated unfairly in a game, and that the NHL should allow its officials to retaliate in such an unscrupulous manner. Pete Rose was banned from baseball because gambling is seen as motivation to fix the outcome of a game, and I believe that retaliation by referees such as that which took place on Sunday is no different. It is immature, unprofessional, and borderline illegal. The NHL would be smart to denounce its officials' actions and to establish a proper system for making complaints about calls, but, unfortunately, 'intelligence' is not an adjective that has been associated with the league's head offices very much in recent years.

Pittsburgh: A great hockey town

2007-02-02T14:16:00.000-05:00

At first, all the talk about the Penguins' potential move out of Pittsburgh didn't really phase me at all. Being Canadian, I really didn't care about the prospect of an American team moving from one city to another, especially since, earlier on, it seemed like the Pens moving to Hamilton was a distinct possibility. However, that was before I realized what a great fan base the Penguins have, and what a shame it would be for Pittsburgh to be without a hockey team next fall.

It's one thing for a team like the Florida Panthers to move, or even fold. Their attendance numbers are mediocre, and hockey in the Miami region almost always takes a backseat to football, baseball, basketball, and football again. On the other hand, the Penguins average a 93.2% operating capacity at Mellon Arena, an impressive number considering that the Pens haven't made the playoffs since 2001 and that Mellon is the NHL's oldest arena.

Evidently, the reasons for the Penguins' successes at the gate this year have a lot to do with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two of the league's youngest and most explosive stars. Another factor is the Pittsburgh faithful's attachment to former superstar Mario Lemieux, who is part-owner of the team. In general, though, Pittsburgh is just a strong hockey market, and it would be a huge mistake to allow the Penguins to leave for Kansas City or wherever else the dollar signs may lead them.

Last night's Habs-Pens game was one of the most entertaining I've seen in awhile. The best aspects of the game were in full display in Pennsylvania: passion, speed, and skill. As Pierre McGuire mentioned on TSN, the NHL should "bottle this game up and show it to people around the world." The Penguins put on quite a show last night, and for that, they are my new second-favourite team. And the best part of it all is that they did it in front of a screaming, raucous, sell-out crowd of 17,132.

The atmosphere was unreal, and you could feel it emanating from the TV. If only all American NHL teams were the same way.

Unspecial teams

2007-01-12T14:22:00.001-05:00

In a follow-up to a post i made last year, I made a comment on the Gazette's Habs Inside/Out blog (link on the right of this page) regarding officiating against the Canadiens:

In March of last year, I got so fed up with the refs during Habs-Leafs games that I did a statistical analysis to determine if there was indeed a bias against the Canadiens. I compared games that were officiated by referees from Ontario to games refereed by American refs or by Canadian refs coming from outside Ontario. What I found was that when the Habs played the Leafs with the other refs, they got slightly fewer power plays and slightly more penalties than their average against the 28 other NHL teams. This means that the Habs do get into penalty trouble against Toronto. But the numbers became a lot more significant when the refs were from Ontario: the Habs received 7 more penalty minutes than the Leafs per game, and were awarded 2.5 less power plays than Toronto. The analysis may have been simplistic and not exhaustive in its methods, but it still provides some numbers to back up the claim that certain refs have it out for the Canadiens (unfortunately for us, Chris Lee is from NB and not Ontario, however).

Some people have speculated that the past successes of the Canadiens have bred a generation of Habs-haters that are now in control of the decision-making at various levels of the game, most notably as referees. My Toronto friends think I'm ridiculous when I tell them I believe there is a bias out there, but the stats don't lie. A fast team like the Habs should not be penalized significantly more often than the sluggish Maple Leafs or Flyers.

I was listening to CJAD a while back and someone called in to suggest that the NHL implement a call review similar to the one the NFL uses, where coaches could request a review of one call per game with the cost of a penalty being imposed if the coach's opinion is overruled. While this may not help with the penalty-calling problem, it certainly would give the Canadiens hope when they are robbed of goals, as they were, quite blatantly I might add, twice last week in Washington and at home against the New York Rangers. Overall, it's shameful that the NHL would treat some of its most loyal and passionate fans the way it does.

Congratulations, Saku Koivu

2006-12-14T23:24:00.000-05:00

For the longest time, I have been frustratingly indecisive about which player deserved the honour of having their number stitched on the back of my white Vintage Canadiens jersey. At one point, it was José Theodore's #60 that was going to win the contest. We all know how he lost his spot in this race. Then, I thought about Alex Kovalev, but the distinction should be bestowed upon a player who shows up for all games, not just the odd one here and there. Michael Ryder? Too streaky. Sheldon Souray? Those defensive lapses are killer, and who knows if he'll be a member of Les Canadiens next September. Andrei Markov? Solid defenseman, but he lacks the charisma. Cristobal Huet? I'm not a bandwagon-jumper. How about Chris Higgins or Mike Komisarek, you say? They would definitely be great choices, but they need to establish that they are indeed career Habs before they get to be worn on my back. Thanks a lot, Pierre Turgeon.

It turns out that I've had the answer glaring at me in the face this whole time. After all, these players are all good NHL hockey players. It's no wonder the Canadiens are near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and that they've been there all season long. But what is it about this team that makes it great, that makes it special? The answer, of course, is Saku Koivu.

Loyal readers of this blog might remember that I have been critical of the Habs' captain before. Last year, I didn't feel like he was pulling his weight when the Canadiens were running on empty. I never felt like he was the standout player Canadiens captains are all expected to be.

That all changed last year, when Koivu got carelessly eliminated from the playoffs by a free-flying Justin Williams high stick. Before the incident, the Habs were flying high, on pace to upset the Hurricanes and tear apart any other team in the Eastern conference that would dare stand in their way. But as soon as the blade of Williams' stick penetrated the skin right above Koivu's eye, the team collapsed. Sometimes, you just don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Fast-forward to September of this year, when the hockey "experts" were still doubting whether Koivu would be able to rough it out in the NHL. No one, not even Bob Gainey or Guy Carbonneau, knew what to expect. But Koivu, the team's fifth-longest-serving captain - putting him in the jaw-dropping company of Bob Gainey, Jean Béliveau, Maurice Richard, and Toe Blake - has roared out of the gates this year to lead his team in scoring. He beat back cancer, and donated a PET/CT scanner to the city. He beat back this devastating eye injury. He has beaten back countless injuries to become one of the best playmakers and leaders the team has ever known.

And tonight, when the captain was marking the occasion of his 600th NHL game - all with Montreal - he scored two goals to help his team overcome a lazy effort. Last Saturday, in a game I was lucky enough to attend, Koivu again single-handedly won it for his team in spite of lacklustre play, scoring two goals and adding one in the shoot-out for a 4-3 decision over the Maple Leafs. To borrow a line from Chris Martin of Coldplay fame, Koivu simply ignited my bones in their seats, far away from Koivu's in the Bell Centre's nosebleeds.

I may have doubted the guy, but those days are no more. I can still remember when Koivu first joined the team; I was but a toddler mimicking the reports that Koivu was projected to be a star in this league to my friends. And while he may not have the stats or the Stanley Cups to back it up, we all know that Saku Koivu is one of the true Canadiens greats, the stuff legends are made of. Congratulations on #600, Saku, and look out for me in my Habs jersey around town. There will be a familiar number 11 sewn on its back very soon.

The city is with you, Bob

2006-12-12T16:15:00.000-05:00

I usually don't like like to pay special tribute when tragedy strikes a celebrity - it bothers me how they get more attention for their troubles than the average person. However, to me, Bob Gainey is a different kind of a celebrity. He has never taken fame or glory to his head, and he tries as hard as anyone to lead a normal, low-key life.

As well, I can relate to the difficulties he has been through, and it saddened me to find out that he was dealt another serious blow when he found out that it was his daughter, Laura, that had been swept off the Picton Castle and into the Atlantic Ocean. So while I think it is wrong that people wouldn't be as concerned with this tragedy if it didn't involve someone of Bob Gainey's fame, I feel touched that it has happened to a man who seems to have led his life with only the best intentions.

Bob Gainey is widely admired in Montreal for his dedication to the city and to the Canadiens. It is no coincidence that everyone in the Canadiens organization has unanimously offered their support and has shown their solidarity with him while he maintains slim hope for good news. The city is hockey; in these trying times, the city is with you, Bob.

Welcome home, José

2006-10-21T13:02:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posting that's been going on here this year... I am following the Canadiens very intently but I've been too busy to write about it. I should be able to dedicate more time to the blog in a week or so.

I did, however, want to spend a moment talking about the occasion of José Theodore making his first return to the Bell Centre tonight. To me, José reminds me of how the Canadiens finally turned it around and made the playoffs after those dreadful Mario Tremblay-Réjean Houle days. He carried the Canadiens on his back into the playoffs, and stole a series for them. A proud Montrealer, Theodore never hid the fact that he loved playing for the often rough home crowd, whether they were on his side or not. How soon we all forget - it's been hard for many people to look past his incredibly high GAA and SV% of last year. Obviously, Canadiens fans hold their team only to the highest of standards and when Theo didn't perform, they let him know. But how often do Habs fans get to cheer for a Quebec superstar who loves the team and actually wants to play here nowadays? The answer, of course, is not very.

To anyone who is going to the game tonight and happens to be reading this, I ask you to consider what Theodore did for the team in his 10-plus years there before you jeer him. Obviously, he's a professional athlete whose job it is to not get phased by what people think of him. But at the same time, I profoundly believe that Theodore is a proud Montrealer and was a proud Canadien, and we owe it to him to show that we respect him for that - even if he does play for the team that stole Patrick Roy away from us.

Welcome home, José!

Abby in Philly

2006-10-10T18:45:00.000-04:00

TSN is reporting that David Aebischer will make his second consecutive start when the Canadiens face off against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night. After hearing mediocre reports out of the Habs' training camp, I was thoroughly impressed with the way Aebischer played in Saturday's shootout win over the Maple Leafs. He seemed confident and in control of his play, and did all he could to stymie a surprisingly ferocious Toronto attack. I'm sure part of the reason Aebischer is getting the start is that Cristobal Huet might have injured his left leg slightly in the Buffalo shootout, but Aebischer has certainly earned the start. Besides, coach Guy Carbonneau probably wants to keep both goalies on their toes by not guaranteeing them anything they don't deserve; Huet will have to keep up his play if he wants to play more than Aebischer.

As for the rest of the Canadiens, I thought they were good - but not great - in their first two games of the season. The Habs had some difficulty getting the puck out of their zone in the Toronto game, and it seemed like they were trying to do too much. Instead of making simple plays, they were looking for the perfect outlet pass or breakaway opportunity. I think this is the main problem that has dogged Alex Kovalev and Sergei Samsonov, and perhaps it would be smart to lower the level of sheer talent on the second line to avoid that perfect-play syndrome. Of course, that would have to come at the expense of the red-hot Higgins-Koivu-Ryder line, and who would want to do that!

Finally, kudos to whomever is responsible for the design of Aebischer's new mask. Just one more reason to like the guy...

Tomorrow's game at Philadelphia starts at 7:30 PM, and the Habs' next match after that is Saturday night against the divisional rival (and potential bottom-dwellers?) Ottawa Senators.

Carbo's Canadiens

2006-10-04T23:55:00.000-04:00

In past years, Canadiens fans would be looking forward to an exciting storyline that would dominate the sports headlines and the pulse surrounding the hockey team. Be it in days past in the era of Rocket Richard or Jean Béliveau, or the modern-day spectacles of Patrick Roy, John LeClair, Mark Recchi, and, most recently, Saku Koivu and José Theodore, Montrealers always found a hero to make their own. This year, however, there is a much different flavour to the Montreal Canadiens.

Theodore is gone, having been shipped off to Colorado in the wake of a disappointing and rocky season in Montreal. The team's homegrown count has dwindled to three - four if you count the New York-born Francis Bouillon - although both goaltenders are French-speaking as well. Saku Koivu, always a source of inspiration and leadership, is on shaky ground waiting to see how his injured eye will hold up. The team's goaltending, led by the composed Frenchman Cristobal Huet, is questionable at best at the moment; will Huet continue his amazing play from last year, or will he fade back into the backup goaltender's role he had previously held? And finally, Alex Kovalev, perhaps the team's biggest star, is expected to have another mediocre, up-and-down season unless he decides to apply himself more steadily.

All this has led to mixed opinions from the people who call themselves "experts" amongst hockey circles. Both TSN and Sportsnet predict the Habs will miss the playoffs, while the Toronto Star, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated see Montreal pushing for a divisional title. This more uneven spread of predictions is pretty normal for the new NHL, where, with more parity, it has become much harder to predict who will come out on top. However, the media's obsession with big free-agent splashes and blockbuster trades often guides who they pick as Cup favourites at the start of the year. This clashes with Canadiens' general manager Bob Gainey's more quiet approach to team-building.

Speaking of Gainey's moves, the Canadiens clearly became a better team with the handful of transactions the Habs' GM made over the summer. The additions of Sergei Samsonov and Mike Johnson were upgrades over Richard Zednik and Jan Bulis, although Bulis is going to enjoy a very successful season in Vancouver. Adding Janne Niinimaa to the lineup is a plus to the Habs if only because it allowed the Habs to rid themselves of the distraction that was Mike Ribeiro. And that's where Gainey ended it, keeping the core of a team that jelled quite nicely towards the end of last season intact.

On defense, the Habs have a punishing and effective corps of players. Andrei Markov is set for another breakthrough season, and Sheldon Souray, an unrestricted free agent at season's end, should be able to bounce back from the marital troubles that distracted him from his All-Star season of two years ago. When healthy, Francis Bouillon is a reliable and talented third or fourth defenseman, and, with Mike Komisarek, Mathieu Dandenault and Niinima rounding out the pack, the Canadiens are looking strong on the blueline.

Finally, the Canadiens' young players are poised for high achievements this year. Look for Chris Higgins to play a big part in his team's success. Michael Ryder should improve on his 30-goal total now that he is free of the back problems that hampered his play last season. Tomas Plekanec played consistent and dependable hockey in the playoffs and will take full advantage of the vacancy left by the departed Ribeiro as the team's new second-line centre. Guillaume Latendresse's passion for the tricolore will drive him to bring a determination and energy to the locker room that was somewhat lacking at times in 2005-'06. The only question mark in the youth department is Alexander Perezhogin, but with the emergence of a number of other prospects waiting in the wings in Hamilton, Perezhogin might become expendable.

The success of this team will depend largely on two things: the effect of Saku Koivu's eye on his play, and the kind of goaltending the Canadiens get from Cristobal Huet. But make no mistake about it, there will be a remarkably different feel in the Habs' dressing room with former captain Guy Carbonneau at the helm. Gone are the days of the revolving coach's door, and of a lax, uninspired attitude amongst the players. These are Carbo's Canadiens, and they are in for a good fight in 2006-'07. As the Habs' new marketing slogan so accurately declares, the city is hockey, and this edition of the Montreal Canadiens is determined to do it proud. Bonne saison.

Site re-launch

2006-09-05T17:28:00.000-04:00

Stay tuned for a site re-launch as well as commentary on GM Bob Gainey's offseason moves and an outlook for the 2006-'07 season!

Coaching news

2006-06-14T10:37:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Claude Julien, who yesterday was introduced as the new head coach of the New Jersey Devils. If he agrees to be a little more flexible in terms of playing his youngsters, he should enjoy a successful run with the Devils. However, if GM Lou Lamoriello gets fed up with Julien's coaching, expect him to get axed quickly to make room for John MacLean.

On the Canadiens' front, RDS is reporting that Kirk Muller has met with Guy Carbonneau about joining the Habs' coaching staff this coming season. Muller is currently coaching the Queen's University mens' hockey team, the Golden Gaels.

Other reports have suggested that former Canadiens head coach Mario Tremblay has asked his current club, the Minnesota Wild, to release him, leading to speculation he will be hired as the Habs' new assistant coach. If you ask me, bringing back Tremblay is nothing but trouble. While he has certainly gained experience in the shadows of Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota, Habs fans should never forget the way Tremblay mercilessly and selfishly drove Patrick Roy out of Montreal. Roy is grooming himself to be an executive in the NHL in the near future, and if amends are ever to be made between the former star goalie and the Canadiens organization, Tremblay should be far away from Montreal. I would much prefer to see Roy as the next general manager of the Canadiens than Tremblay getting a second chance to redeem himself for what was a completely disastrous and pathetic attempt at NHL coaching.

Update (1:18 P.M.): Throw former Habs and Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig into the mix. Carbo wants to make a decision before the draft, so expect the hiring to happen soon!

June update

2006-06-07T22:49:00.000-04:00

As you are probably aware, Bob Gainey has re-signed Steve Bégin, Aaron Downey, Garth Murray, and Mark Streit to new contracts. In addition to those signings, the Habs' GM announced that Jan Bulis and Niklas Sundstrom are officially not returning to the club next season. Bulis has decided to test the market as an unrestricted free agent, while Sundstrom has signed a contract to play in Europe.

There is speculation that if Gainey is able to retain Cristobal Huet, he may decide to keep the French goaltender and Swiss goalie David Aebischer next season. While that would make for a great tandem - one of the best in the NHL - I don't see it happening for two reasons. One is that Aebischer has stated his intent to be a #1 goalie, one who plays around 50 or 60 games, which is something he won't get if he is sharing the Habs' goaltending duties with Huet. The second reason is that Gainey is trying to improve his team at the forward position, either through a trade or free agency. Having a player of Aebischer's value would really help Gainey realize that goal; for example, the Tampa Bay Lightning are supposedly very interested in Aebischer, and we all know what kind of forwards the Lightning have.

Finally, Don Cherry made one of the most intelligent comments of his career during CBC's telecast of Game 1 Monday night when he talked about the new delay of game rule instituted in the NHL this year. Currently, if a player shoots a puck over the glass from his own defensive zone, he will get a minor penalty for delay of game regardless of if the play was accidental or intentional. The rule is both ridiculous and completely ineffective, and Cherry proposed a solution which is both intelligent and feasible. He said that rather than getting a penalty for shooting the puck over the glass, the team that does it should just not be allowed to change lines, as is the case with icing right now. Don, I don't know where you came up with that in your crazy little head but I'm glad something good has finally come out of it!

As for the Oilers, the situation is looking pretty dire without Dwayne Roloson, but they have enough character to get over his injury. It would be a shame for the Hurricanes to win the Cup under these circumstances, because they really don't deserve to be where they are after getting way too many lucky breaks their way.

Denis Savard

2006-05-22T11:14:00.000-04:00

According to RDS, Denis Savard is being considered as a candidate for the Habs' assistant coaching job. The other prominent name being thrown about is that of former captain Kirk Muller, although reports out of Kingston suggest that Muller would like to spend more time honing his skills as head coach of the Queen's University mens' hockey team.

Third-round predictions

2006-05-19T17:32:00.000-04:00

How I did so far: After going 3-for-8 in the first round, I was just as bad in the second round. I picked the Sens, Devils, Sharks, and Ducks, and went 1-for-4.

OK so maybe I should forget about pursuing a career as a psychic. In any case, here is who I predict will get the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup:


CAR-BUF: Sabres in 6.	ANA-EDM: Oilers in 7.

Coming up: why John Muckler should step down as general manager of the Senators, and a look at who the Habs should pursue in the free agency market. In the meantime, go Oilers!

Zed to W's?

2006-05-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

Spector is reporting speculation that Richard Zednik is being offered to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for centre Robert Lang, although he asks whether the Wings would be getting a fair deal in picking up Zednik and his streaky scoring.

Recall that Lang and Alex Kovalev were teammates together in Pittsburgh between 1998-'99 and 2001-'02 and in that time they put up impressive points totals together. In those 4 seasons, Lang had an average of 50 points a season, while Kovalev averaged 71. Although Lang is 35, this deal would be great for the Habs - Lang is a proven scorer and a decent faceoff man, and would help make the useless Mike Ribeiro expendable.

Only two questions remain, though: 1.) Are the Wings interested in Zednik's services?; and 2.) Will the Habs be willing to absorb Lang's hefty contract, which goes until 2007 and pays in the neighbourhood of $3.8 million? I'm not sure that Lang is the guy that the Habs would want to use their free cap space saved from José Theodore on, but acquiring Lang would be a fairly short-term investment anyways. In my opinion, if the Wings bite, make a deal.

Second-round predictions

2006-05-08T21:12:00.000-04:00

How I did so far: In the East, I picked the Habs, Sens, Rangers, and Sabres, and went 2-for-4. In the West, I picked the Wings, Stars, Flames, and Sharks, and went 1-for-4. Ouch.

I know the second round has already begun, which may make it a little easier to predict the series, but it seems like I need the help. Here are my picks:


OTT-BUF: Senators in 7. CAR-NJ: Devils in 5.	SJ-EDM: Sharks in 6. ANA-COL: Ducks in 6.

I'm taking a little break from blogging, but I do want to review the Canadiens' situation at some point. Keep checking for updates!

Game 6: Carolina 2 @ Montreal 1

2006-05-03T22:09:00.000-04:00

To borrow from the Canadiens' marketing slogan of "Tricolore jusqu'au bout," the 'bout' has come. The Montreal Canadiens, winners of 24 Stanley Cups and makers of endless playoff magic, have been ousted from post-season contention by a team that resides in the heart of NASCAR country. For Habs fans everywhere, this loss hurts; just a week ago, lovers of the bleu-blanc-rouge were awakening to the hangovers that must surely have followed celebrations of their team's surprising 2-0 series lead over Carolina. This morning, however, they were jolted out of bed with the thoughts of what should have, could have, and might have been.

The worst part of it all? The Canadiens actually played a great game in Game 6. They got back into form just in time to force a seventh game, but their offense was stalled yet again by the Hurricanes' rookie goaltender, Cam Ward. And though Cristobal Huet made some amazing saves, keeping a flurry of shots out of the net in the final minute of play to send his team into overtime, he let in a pretty weak goal to end the series (and yes, I know it was deflected, but the deflection happened below the faceoff circle near the blue line, leaving Huet with plenty of time to adjust his positioning).

That being said, the truth is that this series was over the minute Justin Williams got careless with his stick - and got away with it. Not necessarily because Saku Koivu was missing, but because no one on the Canadiens, not Alex Kovalev, Mike Ribeiro, Radek Bonk, or Jan Bulis, was up to the task of filling the void left by Koivu's absence. The Habs made a mountain out of a molehill in interpreting Koivu's being sidelined, and lost all their confidence because of it. That, coupled with unabashedly one-sided refereeing, did the Canadiens in for these playoffs.

There are some who will attribute this Canadiens loss to the Hurricanes' switching of goaltenders, and while I admit that Ward was very good, I think the officiating helped the young goaltender out quite a bit. If you caught the goaltender interference penalty that was assessed to Jan Bulis in last night's game and compared it to the one Mark Recchi got, it would become pretty obvious that Ward was offered significantly more protection than his Canadiens counterpart, Huet.

In any case, what's done is done, and the Habs' 2005-'06 season is a thing of the past. It was, as I have said many times before, a season of extreme ups and lowly downs, and though their lack of effort became glaringly obvious at times in this series, there were also a lot of positives to come out this year - the play of young players Tomas Plekanec, Alexander Perezhogin, Chris Higgins, and Mike Komisarek, the emergence of veterans Francis Bouillon, Andrei Markov, and Craig Rivet, and the impending departure of the inconsistent Mike Ribeiro and perhaps even Richard Zednik.

Thanks for an exciting season, Habs, and, come September, we'll all be singing the familiar song that rejuvenates us year after year: Tricolore jusqu'au bout.

Check back here for player report cards, random thoughts on the rest of the playoffs, and Canadiens rumours and speculation. Happy playoffs, and happy off-season!

Best Buy

2006-05-02T16:07:00.000-04:00

I know this isn't exactly the best time for Leaf-bashing, but I thought I'd post this anyways to help get Habs fans somewhat pumped up for the game tonight:

Enjoy Game 6, let's hope it's not the last!

Game 5: Montreal 1 @ Carolina 2

2006-05-01T13:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know which game Jack Todd was watching last night, but the one I tuned into on RDS looked more like a lame-duck pee wee team taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in an exhibition game than a real NHL playoff game between the 'Canes and the Montreal Canadiens. This game was not exciting, nor was it close, nor was it entertaining. The Canadiens were pure awful for the second straight game in a row; they didn't put an ounce of effort into this one at all. And now they're down in their first round series against Carolina, 3-2, and on the brink of elimination from the playoffs.

It seemed like pretty much every Canadiens player out there had a complete change of heart after the Saku Koivu injury. Before that incident, the team was making perfect passes and dangerous offensive plays. They were skating amazingly fast, and, most importantly, were scoring lots of goals and winning games. The past two games, however, have been remarkably different. Only Tomas Plekanec, Alexander Perezhogin, Richard Zednik, and Francis Bouillon have really shown up to play. The rest of their teammates stayed home, and I have a theory as to why.

Koivu is injured; Kovalev is injured (where, we don't exactly know); and the refs are clearly not on the Habs' side (although, surprisingly enough, Kerry Fraser actually seemed to put away his personal vendetta against Montreal last night - he actually called high sticking and goaltender interference against the 'Canes!). All things considered, it doesn't make sense for the Habs to advance to the second round to face the Ottawa Senators. Why risk more injuries, and risk making Kovalev's worse, when you know there's no chance of beating the Sens if you're not 100%?

I don't believe anyone who says that Koivu's absence is the reason behind this club's lack of motivation. Koivu is not as big of an impact player as everyone makes him out to be, and he certainly hadn't been playing that way in the games before he got injured. A team just doesn't turn the switch to "off" when one of their players gets injured; if anything, they play harder to avenge his loss. The Canadiens have done nothing of the sort.

It's a shame that their season will have to end this way, but, truth be told, the 2005-'06 Canadiens were and continue to be a team of extreme ups and downs. Unfortunately, that's the way it goes with these Habs, especially considering that they are a team in transition. We'll look more at that later, but for now, let's just enjoy the last bit of active hockey this team will play before they pack up for the summer. There's no way this team is winning Game 6; one game is all we have left.

Bégin on Sunday

2006-04-29T17:50:00.000-04:00

RDS is now reporting that Steve Bégin will return tomorrow night for Game 5. What a relief that is - the Canadiens need him badly. Bégin will hopefully provide the spark the Habs need to get back on track in this series.

In other good news, RDS is also reporting that Saku Koivu's injury appears to be a lot less severe than what was feared. Apparently, if swelling around his eye goes down enough by tomorrow, Koivu could be back in the lineup as well. However, TSN is claiming that while he was released from hospital, Koivu is not yet cleared to play. Only time will tell on this one.

In today's Gazette, Red Fisher had trouble understanding why Canadiens fans were so upset with the non-call on Williams on the Koivu hit. I answer that it is more the fact that they didn't call that penalty but then called Komisarek for a double-minor in the last five minutes of play for a much less severe and equally accidental high stick. The refs' case was made worse last night when they only called 1 of 4 blatant high sticking infractions on the 'Canes. You can screw up once, but if you do so more than that, don't blame the fans for raging.

Game 4: Carolina 3 @ Montreal 2

2006-04-29T13:08:00.000-04:00

So apparently in this "new" NHL, high-sticking is a perfectly legal thing to do as long as you're a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. After an awful and unpenalized high stick by Justin Williams in Game 3 which put the career of Canadiens captain Saku Koivu in jeopardy, the Hurricanes were back at it last night with some more of the same. Four Habs players - Richard Zednik, Andrei Markov (by Williams himself), Mike Komisarek, and Craig Rivet - were recipients of "errant" Carolina sticks, and only one of those four dangerous plays, the one on Zednik, was called for a penalty.

The officiating - or, rather, a lack thereof - wasn't the only thing wrong with this game, unfortunately for Habs fans. The Canadiens played an atrocious first period and an only slightly better second one. Alex Kovalev was basically non-existent in the game despite playing over 21 minutes of ice time. Cristobal Huet was just average. Mike Ribeiro, after two solid performances in Carolina, was back to his normal self, dipsy-doodling all over the place with nothing to show for it. In fact, only the line of Alexander Perezhogin, Tomas Plekanec and Richard Zednik had anything to show for themselves, with some exciting shifts and Perezhogin's first NHL playoff goal.

Yet despite the Canadiens' sloppy passing, lazy mistakes, complete lack of offense, and very ordinary goaltending, the Hurricanes, who seemed like the better team last night, were only able to score on some lucky breaks and fluke goals. Yes, these are the same Hurricanes who had scored 294 goals this regular season, and they could only score goals on a mediocre, Saku Koivu-less Canadiens team by crashing the net and interfering with the goaltender.

Speaking of goaltender interference, Jacques Demers and Don Cherry (I know, I can't believe I'm saying this) brought up two very good points about the Hurricanes' disallowed goal and their subsequent game-winner. Firstly, Demers pointed out that if a Hurricanes player interfered with Huet on the disallowed goal, referees Tim Peel and Don Van Massenhoven should have called a penalty on the player who caused the interference. I've seen goals get disallowed without a penalty before, but it doesn't make sense to only go halfway with the call.

Cherry's point is even more intriguing. If you look at the replay for Rod Brind'amour's game-winner at 5:54 of the third period, you will see that Niclas Wallin interfered with Huet just as much as the 'Canes player did on the disallowed goal. I've got my theories as to why the outcomes of these games have gone in Carolina's favour because of the officiating, but I'll keep them to myself for the time being.

If the Canadiens want to get back in this series, which is becoming less and less likely with each of Carolina's unpenalized high-sticks, they will have to come out of the gate strongly on Sunday night and show the Hurricanes why they took that 2-0 series lead to begin with. La Presse is reporting that Steve Begin might be ready for Game 5, and, if he is, he will provide the Habs with a much-needed boost in the absence of Koivu. If they continue to play as they did in Game 4, however, this series will be over faster than a Carolina winter.

Koivu done for first round

2006-04-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

According to RDS.ca, Canadiens captain Saku Koivu will not return for the remaining games of his team's first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. There is still too much swelling and blood around the cut near his eye to make a proper diagnosis. Koivu was struck by Justin Williams' stick in the second period last night in Montreal.

Though the refs should have called Williams for a double minor but didn't, Bob Gainey is not dwelling on the poor officiating that took place in Game 3. In keeping with his calm demeanor, Gainey is just going to go ahead with his game plan and make sure the Canadiens keep up their good effort tomorrow night at the Bell Centre. The Habs will have to use Koivu's injury as a rallying cry to win Games 4 and 5.

Game 3: Carolina 2 @ Montreal 1

2006-04-26T22:27:00.000-04:00

So far in this series, I haven't expressed nor harvested any criticism of the officiating, because, generally, Dennis LaRue and Dan Marouelli have been fair and consistent in their calls. That clearly wasn't the case tonight.

The fun all started in the second period, when Justin Williams clipped Saku Koivu in the face in the goal crease, in plain view of the referee, severely cutting Koivu and forcing him to leave the Bell Centre to go to the hospital. Williams wasn't assessed a minor penalty, let alone a double minor, for a blatant high-stick to the Canadiens' captain.

Then, in the 16th minute of the third period, Mike Komisarek high sticks a Carolina player (I believe it was Cory Stillman) and gets a four-minute double minor, leaving the Canadiens short-handed pretty much for the rest of the game. After the non-call on Koivu, this penalty seemed outrageous, but it wasn't over for the refs.

In overtime, Josef Vasicek throws Tomas Plekanec into the boards but gets away with another non-call. Plekanec then gets called for hooking Vasicek seconds later. Sheldon Souray loses his stick and Eric Staal scores on the power play, cutting the Canadiens' lead in the series to 2-1.

To be fair to the 'Canes, they had some good scoring chances and showed flashes of being the second-placed team that dominated the NHL for much of the regular season. But it was the Canadiens who dominated for most of this game, and, if it weren't for rookie goaltender Cam Ward's heroics and the blatantly lopsided calls of LaRue and Marouelli, the Canadiens would have had Carolina in a 3-0 stranglehold going into Game 4 on Friday. For now, though, let's just pray that Saku Koivu, who has suffered enough major setbacks in his NHL career, doesn't have to deal with another one.

Game 2: Montreal 6 @ Carolina 5

2006-04-25T17:40:00.000-04:00

The picture to your left is of a silver platter guy who I found thanks to the amazing search power of Google Images. The reason I posted this picture is because I want you to imagine this guy wearing a Montreal Canadiens uniform. That is the only way to understand what the Canadiens did in the second period of last night's Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes: they handed it to them on a silver platter.

After taking a commanding and insurmountable 3-0 lead at the hands of Martin Gerber in the first period on goals from Jan Bulis, Michael Ryder, and Radek Bonk, the Canadiens took 6 penalties in the second, including a high-sticking double-minor to Richard Zednik. While, as Mike Ribeiro pointed out, a team usually gets a boost from a goalie switch as the 'Canes did with Cam Ward, you have to wonder how the Canadiens managed to play seemingly perfect hockey in the first only to break down completely in the second. This game was a microcosm of their season - bipolar play to the max.

But despite letting their lead slip away in the second and again in the third period, the Habs partly redeemed themselves in overtime with smarter play and some dangerous scoring chances, especially a few by the reinvigorated Mike Ribeiro, who was playing with an extra fire and determination that we rarely see from him. Despite the Habs being outshot in overtime 16-7, Michael Ryder put it home in the second extra frame with what he described as the most important goal of his career so far.

The Hurricanes' situation isn't as dire as it was after Game 1; they played with a lot more desire and desperation and managed to find some cracks in Cristobal Huet's game, but they didn't have it in them to break the Cristo-wall completely. They still have to deal with the Habs' hot goaltending, Alex Kovalev, and the smart defensive strategy employed by Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, and Doug Jarvis. And though the potential loss of Sheldon Souray may hurt the Canadiens, home-ice advantage in Montreal is like no other in the League.

"Like practice"

2006-04-23T18:49:00.000-04:00

"I just had too much space and too much time on my hands. I could shoot anywhere I wanted. I felt like it was practice."

-Alex Kovalev on his first goal in Game 1.

I just can't get enough of him. Can you?

Game 1: Montreal 6 @ Carolina 1

2006-04-22T22:12:00.000-04:00

When I made my series preview for this Stanley Cup playoffs quarterfinal between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes, I said the Hurricanes would have trouble if they ran into a sharp Cristobal Huet, a hot Alex Kovalev, and a potent Montreal power play.

Tonight, the Canadiens went 3-for-3. After a shaky opening minute in which he allowed his first NHL playoff goal on his second playoff shot, Huet was impeccable in nets for the Canadiens in making 42 consecutive saves. Alex Kovalev had two goals and an assist, and Montreal scored twice in three power play opportunities.

I also speculated that the Hurricanes would allow a high number of goals against as they had done all season, and, sure enough, the Canadiens put 6 markers past Swiss goalie Martin Gerber. The 'Canes defense was mistake-prone all night, a huge reason why the Canadiens were able to score that many goals on a mere 21 shots.

The shot total is one area that the Canadiens will have to improve on for Monday night's dance at the RBC Center, especially considering how the Habs blocked 22 other shots and the Hurricanes missed another 11 of their own. Andrei Markov and Alexander Perezhogin each made a mistake which led to a dangerous scoring chance for the Hurricanes, and, though Huet was there to stop them both, the Canadiens will have to be more careful with the puck and try to take less penalties than the 6 they took tonight.

Unless Gerber dwells on this game and is completely unable to regain his confidence, this series is far from over. The Hurricanes will come to the rink extremely hungry on Monday night, and Montreal better be ready to weather a pretty devastating storm (no pun intended). But, if the Canadiens are able to take Game 2 in Raleigh, it will be very tough for the Hurricanes to overcome their series deficit in front of 21,273 of the most passionate, noisy fans in the game in Games 3 and 4 at the Bell Centre.

Post #100: Round 1 Preview, Carolina vs. Montreal

2006-04-22T03:18:00.000-04:00

The pundits, experts, and bloggers have all spoken. The Montreal Canadiens, according to them all, are going to be eliminated, quite handily they might add, by the Carolina Hurricanes in their first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series. Even Maggie the Monkey concurs. The Habs, my friends, have got everyone just where they want them.

Sure, Carolina has a speedy, explosive team. Sure, they have pretty good goaltending in Martin Gerber and Cam Ward. And sure, they finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference with 112 points. But those numbers don't reveal the full picture.

Although they scored 286 goals this season, the Hurricanes also hold the notorious record of having allowed the most goals against of any of the 16 playoff teams this year. That number doesn't look so good when you're facing the NHL's fifth-best power play, which belongs none other than to Carolina's current opponents, the Canadiens. It's especially disheartening when you realize that the Hurricanes' penalty kill is only 19th-best in the 30-team league. The 'Canes defense corps may be big and strong, but they're all of a relatively lower calibre than what a potential Cup contender should want to have. In this new, penalty-laden NHL, that doesn't help settle the playoff butterflies.

Then, there's the matter of the Hurricanes outscoring the Canadiens 25-9 this year. Let us remind you that three of the four games between the two teams were started by José Theodore, and he only finished one of them. Theodore gave up 4, 5, and 5 goals against the Hurricanes - 14 of the 25 goals they scored. David Aebischer started the fourth game, which just so happened to be his Canadiens debut. If you look at all the goaltender movement around the league this year, you can tell that a goalie's debut with his new team is not a true measure of his abilities.

The important point, though, is that the Hurricanes have yet to face Cristobal Huet as a starter, and that means that Carolina hasn't faced the Canadiens that made a remarkable push into the playoffs. They also haven't faced an Alex Kovalev who always turns up his game a notch in the postseason, especially when he gets frustrated answering questions about why people think his team is going to lose.

This series is going to be a fast-paced, high flying set of games, and boy, it's going to be close. But all those people who picked the Hurricanes to tear apart the Canadiens are forgetting that Carolina is facing a much different Montreal team than it thinks. These Habs know how to throw a wedge in a top team's Cup dreams; just ask Mike O'Connell.

Canadiens in 7.

Playoff predictions

2006-04-19T20:59:00.000-04:00

And now, here they are - my bold predictions for the first round of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs:


MON-CAR: Canadiens in 7. OTT-TB: Senators in 5. NJ-NYR: Rangers in 7. BUF-PHI: Sabres in 6.	DET-EDM: Red Wings in 5. DAL-COL: Stars in 6. CGY-ANA: Flames in 6. NAS-SJ: Sharks in 4.

Next up: Post #100 - Canadiens vs. Hurricanes preview!

Huet vs. Abby

2006-04-18T19:02:00.000-04:00

Here's a comment I posted on Jeff J's blog, Sisu Hockey, which can be accessed from my links menu on the right. Jeff, like many other Canadiens followers, was questioning Bob Gainey's decision to play David Aebischer more often than the red-hot Cristobal Huet the last week and a half. My response:

I disagree about Huet. I think Aebischer has proven over time that he is the more durable goalie. Remember, Huet has never played more than 42 NHL games in a season, and he's already 31 (yes, I know that's partly because he came into the league late).

Although playing behind a much better team, Aebischer still has better career stats if you ignore this year's numbers. When he played 62 games for the Avs in 2003-'04, he had a 2.09 GAA and .924 SV%. Huet has yet to accomplish that feat in that many games and he's a UFA looking at a big raise.

I agree that Abby's numbers aren't great with the Habs this year, but every goalie needs a few games to adjust to his new defensemen and, after doing so, he posted two solid wins against a very potent Ottawa offense. Huet wasn't all that great in his first few games as a Hab, but took off when he adjusted.

Gainey's investing in the right man when he plays Abby, in my opinion.

CANADIENS CLINCH

2006-04-17T21:52:00.000-04:00

Well, the Canadiens didn't actually do anything, but with the Atlanta Thrashers losing 6-4 to the Capitals tonight, the Habs have clinched a playoff berth. This marks the first time since 1996-'97 and 1997-'98 that the Canadiens have made the playoffs two seasons in a row. I know, it's not that impressive a feat, but it's something to build on. Most importantly, Todd Bertuzzi and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs both won't be seeing any postseason action, while 4 Canadian teams will be. Don't you love Alexander Ovechkin even more now?

As expected, Cristobal Huet will be getting the nod in nets tomorrow night against the New Jersey Devils. If the Canadiens want to play the Ottawa Senators, against whom I think they'd fare better, then tomorrow's game is a must-win. The Carolina Hurricanes, the Habs' other possible opponent, have been having some problems of their own, but they always seem to have the Canadiens' number. In any case, the Habs have made a point of upsetting top seeds (Boston Bruins x 2), so anything is possible. Happy playoffs!

*Sorry for being out of commission - it is exam time, but I'll try to post as much as possible. Keep checking!

Theodore debuts

2006-04-12T13:19:00.000-04:00

Still wearing the bright red and blue mask he donned for almost 10 years as a Canadien, José Theodore made his first start in a Colorado Avalanche uniform last night, helping his team to a 6-4 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes. Well, I'm not sure if I'd call it helping - the Avs were up 6-0 before Phoenix scored any goals, and then they managed to score four straight. Theodore made 21 saves on the night. This sort of reminds me of the beginning of the season, when Theodore was letting in soft goals but his team still won because their offense was hot. Only time will tell though, and, in any case, it was a bit weird to see Theo and his number 60 in another uniform.

Steve Begin will be out for the rest of the regular season, though doctors are hoping he'll be able to make it back for the start of the playoffs. Radek Bonk is questionable for tonight, and Cristobal Huet makes a return in nets against Buffalo. David Aebischer is likely to play tomorrow night against the Bruins.

Wild

2006-04-11T13:29:00.000-04:00

Last night was the second Habs game I've attended this season, but it was the first real game I've seen at the Bell Centre since hockey returned this year (the other was a boring 5-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes). The way the Canadiens have been playing, and the way the fans have responded, would make anyone from another city (except maybe Toronto) think that we were already in the third round of the playoffs.

Sure, the Habs beat a team whose defensive corps was depleted by injuries, but it worked the other way around when the Sens beat Montreal earlier on in the season. The Habs, in various games, had been missing the likes of Richard Zednik, Mike Komisarek, and Sheldon Souray, and were still dealing with the spotty goaltending of José Theodore in their losses to the Sens. Last night, however, the Habs got exceptional goaltending yet again from Theodore's trade partner, David Aebischer.

This win puts the Canadiens almost completely out of the Atlanta Thrashers' reach, as Bob Hartley's squad would basically need to win all of their remaining games in order to surpass the Habs. A Canadiens win and a Thrashers loss, or 2 Atlanta losses, will clinch the Habs a spot in the playoffs. But while Montreal has taken advantage of having their fate in their own hands, it will now take them a little help from the Devils if they want to move into the sixth position in the East. The Devils have one more win than the Canadiens, and the two teams face off once more in what will be the final game of the season for both clubs on April 18.

Last night's win marked only the third time in 10 years that the Canadiens have reached the 90+ point plateau in the standings. The other teams that were successful in that regard were the 2003-'04 (93 pts.) and 1995-'96 (90) teams. The 1992-'93 Canadiens finished the regular season with 102 points.

Aebischer starting

2006-04-09T23:20:00.000-04:00

RDS is reporting that David Aebischer will start tomorrow night against the Senators. This is another in a series of smart roster decisions that have been made by Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. Aebischer played exceptionally well in the Canadiens' 5-3 win over Ottawa last Thursday, and Cristobal Huet is in need of a bit of a rest. As I've been saying all along, and as Gainey has pointed out many times, the Habs will need both Huet and Aebischer in top form if they are to make and succeed in the playoffs, in case of injury or slump.

Speaking of coaching, there has been talk that ex-Canadiens captain Kirk Muller will join the Habs' coaching staff next year. Muller has just finished his first season as head coach of the Queen's University men's hockey team. While Gainey, Carbonneau, and Doug Jarvis were known for their defensive abilities, Muller was more of a scoring forward, amassing 357 goals among his 959 points in 1349 career games, including 247 points as a Canadien. His offensive knowledge could be a valuable addition to the already star-studded coaching staff.

Lastly, there has been lots of talk about whether the Canadiens will be able to hang on to Cristobal Huet after this season. Huet is a pending unrestricted free agent. First off, let me say that the amount of money Huet will command on the market will depend largely on how far he takes the Canadiens in the playoffs. While his 2.12 GAA, .931 SV% and 7 shutouts are spectacular numbers, Huet has only appeared in 34 games and his ability to be consistently great over an entire season is yet to be proven. I think that Gainey will offer him something in the $2.5-3 million range, but if Huet wants more in his pocket, Gainey will let him go and be content with David Aebischer. The last thing the Habs need is another monster José Theodore-esque contract.

Tidbits

2006-04-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Just a couple of things of note: The Habs have now evened up their goals-for and goals-against differential at 228. The Devils, however, who are tied with the Canadiens, have scored two more goals than they've let in, which is significant in the event of a tiebreaker. Montreal, at 40-27-9, is currently 4 games above .500, and has achieved the 40-win mark for only the third time since the 1995-'96 season.

The thing I liked best about the win last night was that after the game you could tell that the players weren't getting too high about their streak. They have kept in mind that, although they played well, the Senators were missing their top 4 defensemen and their other opponents were mostly non-playoff teams. For a second last night, the Canadiens reminded me of the team that only came out to play for 20-40 minutes, and not for a full 3 periods. Things could change in a flash and the win streak could go down the toilet, but for now, the Habs have managed to keep it alive.

Comparisons, continued

2006-04-07T02:07:00.000-04:00

The Montreal Canadiens won their 8th straight game tonight against the Ottawa Senators in a 5-3 victory on the road. The win marked the first time since the 1992-'93 season, their last Stanley Cup year, that the team had won 8 games in a row. If the 'Drive for 25' hasn't already picked up enough momentum, it sure has now.

The last time the Habs had as successful a month as they were in March was January, 1993, when Patrick Roy and Kirk Muller, among others, led them to Cup #24. Tonight, the Habs beat a depleted Senators roster that still played an extremely strong game. The Sens peppered David Aebischer with 47 shots, but Aebischer finally proved his worth in making key saves and showing that his positioning and poise were up to the challenge. And while the Canadiens' month of March was successful mostly due to the calibre of their opponents, the Habs faced adversity in a tight game against Ottawa tonight and still came out on top. Mike Ribeiro had a goal and 2 assists, Alex Kovalev had 3 assists, Saku Koivu scored a goal and added a helper, and Michael Ryder, still searching for his 30th of the season, picked up two assists on the night in an offence-filled affair.

While they were badly outshot, it is now safe to say that the Canadiens are in for the long haul. Unless things change drastically, their offence is running smoothly, Andrei Markov and Sheldon Souray are holding the fort on defense, and they have two very capable goaltenders in Cristobal Huet and David Aebischer. And who can forget the incredible performance of late of rookie forward Chris Higgins, who notched his 21st goal of the night, the same number he wears on the back of his Canadiens jersey. If the Canadiens can keep up the consistency against their remaining opponents, you can expect good things of them come playoff time.

Dangerous underdogs

2006-04-05T13:14:00.000-04:00

According to a THN (The Hockey News) player poll, the Canadiens are the third most feared "underdog" team to face in the playoffs this year. Ahead of them are only New Jersey and Edmonton.

Congratulations to Chris Higgins for scoring his 20th goal of the season, becoming the only Canadiens rookie drafted in the first round to do so since Saku Koivu in 1995-'96. With his 29th of the season last night, Michael Ryder is on the verge of becoming only the 5th Canadiens player to score 30 goals or more since that same season, the others being Richard Zednik (2002-'03), Mark Recchi (1996-'97 and 1997-'98), and Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse (both 1995-'96). An honourable mention should go out to Koivu, who scored the game-tying goal and assisted on Higgins' winner last night.

Jan Bulis scored a goal after being inserted back into the lineup tonight, which begs the question, Can GM/Coach Bob Gainey really justify continually scratching Bulis, when the man who normally plays instead of him, Richard Zednik, has been completely flat offensively? Bulis is going to be a UFA at the end of the season and currently has 18 goals. He's obviously going to want to rack up his totals to score big in his next contract, and Gainey should take advantage of that, because it certainly helps the team. What of Zednik, you ask? Let him watch and learn.

Chara broiled

2006-04-04T17:26:00.000-04:00

Ottawa Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara is out for 5-6 weeks with a broken finger, an injury which stemmed from a fight with Penguins defenseman Eric Cairns. The Sens are also without defenseman Chris Philips for about 4 weeks, and goaltender Dominik Hasek is still waiting to return. There have been rumours that Hasek won't be back at all this year, although Sens GM John Muckler has stated otherwise.

Right now, it's looking pretty good for the Canadiens to face the Senators in the first round of the playoffs, but that could end up backfiring. The Sens are still a deeply talented team, and losing a few key players isn't as much of a problem for them as it would be for other teams. Remember, Martin Havlat is expected to return sometime next week, and Ray Emery has been doing a pretty fantastic job in replacing Hasek in nets. Although these injuries might make it a bit easier to beat the Senators, the Habs shouldn't change their plan of trying to move up in the standings as much as they can.

More fun stuff

2006-04-03T18:29:00.000-04:00

Here's some more fun stuff I've found...always looking for more things around the Web, the blogging home of the Montreal Canadiens - thehabs.blogspot.com!

A feature interview from ESPN.com on Canadiens defenseman Sheldon Souray.
A hilarious article on why Canadians should console Maple Leafs fans over their team's lost season. And they wonder why we hate the Leafs and Toronto!

Surprise, surprise

2006-04-03T12:19:00.000-04:00

Cristobal Huet was named the NHL's defensive player of the week after posting a 0.65 GAA, .979 SV%, and one shutout in 3 games last week. It was Huet's third straight shutout against the Bruins this year. Could there really have been anyone else?

Other news of note:

According to TSN.ca, Richard Zednik will be a healthy scratch tomorrow against the Bruins. Bob Gainey has elected to go with Jan Bulis instead. It's about time! Bulis has been having a stellar season for the Canadiens, yet has seen more time in the press box than Zednik or Mike Ribeiro, who both have a lot of work to do on their game.
If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to sign the petition asking the Canadiens to bring back the old goal song instead of U2's vertigo. That was the song that took us through the Habs' most recent playoff runs -- we need it back!!
Here's a nice article on Aaron Downey and how he has become one of the most well-liked players in the dressing room, due in part to his gift of a sack of potatoes from his family farm for each player.

Reeking of yesteryear

2006-04-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

I hate to get ahead of myself and seem like the typical bipolar Habs fan, but the Canadiens, as they're playing right now, are showing a lot of similarities to the way they were in 1986 and 1993, the club's last two Stanley Cup victories. They have a hot new goaltender, a good mix of energetic youngsters and talented veterans, and Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, and Doug Jarvis, albeit in different capacities, with the team.

Let's remember that those two Habs teams that won Cups were not expected to go very far in the playoffs, and, by comparing this year's Canadiens to those two teams, we are placing pretty lofty expectations on them which might end up being a distraction. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that the Canadiens have momentum, something a lot of other teams had at various points of the season but have since lost (see: Buffalo Sabres). We've seen the possibility of the Habs breaking down and collapsing, but, more recently, we've seen a team that is extremely talented and cohesive. That could be a huge factor should the Canadiens face the Ottawa Senators, who are hurting and, for the moment, inconsistent.

If Cristobal Huet continues his superhuman play, and if the Canadiens' offence can stay afloat, the Habs' playoff run this year will be very promising and exciting. First, though, they have to clinch a berth in the postseason; only then can we really begin talk about how many years (or months) until #25.

Halloween Party

2006-03-30T11:13:00.000-05:00

I was just looking at some videos on Google Video when I came across this footage from the Habs' Halloween party. It's hysterical, you've got to have a look. Especially funny is Saku Koivu dancing on the dance floor at the 1:42 mark of the video. Enjoy!

Press the play button to start.

Leafs' downfall

2006-03-29T12:24:00.000-05:00

Now that we can take a little breather from the Habs' playoff push, I thought I'd comment on the Maple Leafs and their situation, in the aftermath of last week's games in Montreal. A lot of Leafs fans and observers thought - and wrongly so - that the Leafs would be the dominant team they have been for the past 7 years. The fact is, the Toronto organization is built around putting bodies in the ACC's seats and selling jerseys, not on competing for the Stanley Cup. Brian Leetch and Owen Nolan are two examples that immediately come to mind, but, by far, they are not the only two players the Leafs have brought in more for the novelty than for a Cup run, although they are very talented players.

For the longest time, Toronto has acquired rent-a-players that just didn't pan out, and they've pretty much emptied the farm to do so. With the exceptions of Alex Steen, Kyle Wellwood, Tuukka Rask, Justin Pogge, Carlo Colaiacovo, and maybe Aleksander Suglobov, the Leafs' future is looking pretty bleak. Their pre-lockout spending sprees and over-the-top deals are finally catching up to them, and it's going to take them some time to restock the system.

What also hasn't helped is that John Ferguson Jr. has caused tension in the front office, and his transactions to date have produced mixed results at best. Jeff O'Neill, Eric Lindros, and Jason Allison were brought in in an effort to continue their marquee spending ways, but the Leafs were already too old and too slow and adding more older, slower players to the lineup didn't help. All the focus is on whether or not Pat Quinn should get the boot after this season, but while Quinn seems to have lost his touch with both the Leafs and Team Canada, I would put more of the blame for this year's failures on Ferguson than on Quinn. While other teams were preparing for a salary cap world way before the lockout, the Leafs' GM simply didn't anticipate what the new NHL would be like and didn't prepare his team accordingly.

The Canadiens, on the other hand, seem to have recovered somewhat from their drafting blunders of the 1990's. Hockey's Future magazine ranks the team's prospect system as the sixth-best in the League. I guess when you're not doing well and you can't buy players like the Leafs can, you have no choice but to improve your drafting and scouting departments.

In any case, what the Leafs need is to purge as much of the old NHL out of their system as possible. That includes, but is not limited to, Ferguson, Quinn, Allison, O'Neill, Ed Belfour, Luke Richardson, and even Darcy Tucker. They need to clear space under the salary cap and rid themselves of the components that are dragging them down. I could see MLSE hiring Quinn to take over as GM, since he has always been cozy with ownership, but the Leafs need to start anew. They've got a ways to go before they can become the playoff team they have been for so long.

Getting a Stanley Cup banner from a later time than when bell bottoms and thick glasses were popular? Well... that's a whole other story.

Fun stuff

2006-03-27T21:28:00.000-05:00

Two things I've come across in my travels around the Internet: One is a tribute, of sorts, to Alex Kovalev's hit on Darcy Tucker. Man he is awesome.

The second is a cartoon from the CBC's online cartoonist, Charlie Teljeur, dissing the Maple Leafs. I know, I know, I was shocked too. I guess they realize they'll have to appeal to a different fan base these playoffs.

Finally, in case you haven't heard, the Canadiens inked prospect Kyle Chipchura to a 3-year contract. Chipchura has enjoyed a great season with the Prince Albert Raiders, and will join the Hamilton Bulldogs for the remainder of their season.

The Canadiens' scouting has been blamed for the ineptitude of Habs teams in the recent past, but they're definitely making strides in the opposite direction. Craig Rivet, Saku Koivu, Andrei Markov, Francis Bouillon (not drafted), Chris Higgins, Alexander Perezhogin, Tomas Plekanec, Mike Komisarek, and Michael Ryder are all originaries of the Canadiens' system.* And doesn't Bob Gainey look like a genius for dealing for Kovalev, Garth Murray, Radek Bonk, Cristobal Huet, and Mathieu Dandenault now?

*I know Mike Ribeiro was drafted by the Canadiens, but I didn't list him because I don't think he's an asset to the team, and I think his tenure in Montreal will be over soon.

Big (but close) win

2006-03-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

It seems a lot of people were surprised Aebischer would get the start tonight, but to me it made perfect sense. He has to be ready for the playoffs too, just in case, and Huet needed a break. Enough said. He wasn't close to stellar, however, and he clearly lacks confidence for whatever reason.

Alex Kovalev and Christopher Higgins with two goals each, Saku Koivu 3 assists. The Habs have, at least for the moment, found their offense, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks to the Maple Leafs beating the Devils, the Canadiens are now tied with New Jersey for seventh in the East. Onwards and upwards!

Habby to be in nets

2006-03-26T17:08:00.001-05:00

As expected, David Aebischer will be making the start tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving Cristobal Huet a rest. Aebischer hasn't played since last Saturday night against the Pens, when he surrendered 5 goals for the second straight game.

Also of note, Mike Ribeiro has been scratched from the lineup, probably in favour of Jan Bulis. Bulis didn't play last night against Toronto. Last time Bob Gainey contemplated scratching the Czech forward, he ended up playing him and Bulis responded by scoring 4 goals against Pittsburgh's cross-state rivals, the Flyers. As for Ribeiro, he's been playing alright, but I guess when Radek Bonk and Garth Murray are scoring goals and you want to get Bulis back in the lineup, just playing alright isn't good enough. Especially if you're the team's #2 centre.

Wham, bam, thank you ma'am

2006-03-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

My NHL playoff dream scenario is getting closer to being a reality. After last night's hard-fought, playoff-style game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the five "other" Canadian teams are now sitting in a playoff spot, while the Leafs are toiling in 12th place, well out of contention for this year's playoffs. For the first time since Pat Quinn took over in Toronto in 1998-'99, the Leafs likely won't be making a run at the Stanley Cup. And it happened in front of 21,273 screaming Bell Centre fans, many of them clad in the blue and white of the Canadiens' archrivals. More satisfying than that, though, was that this game, the most important of the season for both teams, took place on a Saturday night, on Hockey Night in Canada, leaving all the Leafs cheerleaders that work for the "public" broadcaster with nothing but the sweet sound of dejection in their voices.

Admittedly, the Canadiens' game started off slightly shakily, and it looked like they were reverting back to their submissive selves against the Leafs when they allowed the first goal, but they came back with a fire we haven't seen since the 'Cardiac' Canadiens flatlined sometime in November. The affair was fight-filled, and showed how frustrated the Leafs were with losing so one-sidedly for the second straight game in Montreal. Their frustration over the loss is the one thing I like about the Leafs and think the Habs need more of. No professional hockey player should be content or at ease with losing, and the Canadiens have gotten far too used to it in recent years.

My favourite part of the night came from my favourite Hab, Alex Kovalev, who gave Darcy Tucker a taste of his own medicine with an elbow to the head and a slam to the ice. Last night, Kovalev answered any critics accusing him of apathy. This guy has character and intensity when it counts, and boy did it come out tonight. Expect his hit and that of Tucker's to get a look at from the NHL. I'd be surprised if only one of the players gets a suspension, but there's a chance that both will since they were handed misconducts in the last 5 minutes of the game.

In any case, folks, this game was one for the books. The passion and pride that has too often been lacking was back in full force tonight, and, most importantly, the Canadiens got stellar performances from pretty much all their players tonight. Looking right down the roster, from Radek Bonk to Kovalev to Garth Murray to Andrei Markov, the Habs were on their game tonight. If they don't end up making the playoffs, we can all still take some comfort in the fact that they won this one wholeheartedly. Against the Leafs. It couldn't be better.

It's a start

2006-03-24T00:11:00.000-05:00

Mathieu Dandenault was getting anxious over the Canadiens' position in the standings, and wanted to make sure he didn't have to watch this year's playoffs from the sidelines. The Sherbrooke native led by example, scoring the Habs' second goal of the night and logging a +2 rating in his team's energetic 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre tonight.

This game, the first of two in Montreal against the archrival Leafs, brings to light some important questions, like, Why can't the Canadiens play like this more consistently when it counts? Why doesn't Alex Kovalev dominate the game more often, as he did on this night? Why isn't the officiating always this levelled?

Perhaps the most important question, however, is whether the Canadiens will do as they have done too often this season and flop the game after building some momentum, as I fear they will do Saturday night. The other possibility is that they use this effort, which started out strong and barely faltered throughout, as a springboard that will thrust them into the playoffs. Having Andrei Markov and Craig Rivet in the lineup will certainly help the latter occur. But the success of this team depends not on one or two individuals, but on the collective. They have to put together more efforts like this - and more often - if they are to reach the post-season.

Expect David Aebischer to play sometime in the not-too-distant future, probably against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Whether Aebischer is able to face his demons is just one small part of what will predict the outcome of his next game, and of all remaining Canadiens games. The Canadiens have to heed the messages Dandenault and captain Saku Koivu have sent them: play as a team, play hard, and play well. Turn the page on the misfortunes that hounded them earlier this season. Tonight's whomp against the Leafs was a start, but it only gets harder from here.

Dandenault hurting

2006-03-23T13:06:00.000-05:00

A whole bunch of articles have come out recently about how upset Mathieu Dandenault is that the Canadiens might miss the playoffs. I certainly hope he's not just doing this for the media attention, and that he's sincere in saying that he's been experiencing sleepless nights and bouts of anger over that possibility.

If Dandenault is in fact expressing his true emotions, he should make them extremely vocal in the dressing room. The Canadiens have accepted losing and second-best for way too long now, and having a player (Dandenault) coming from a team (the Red Wings) where losing is just not an option is definitely an asset, as long as he transmits that attitude to his teammates. It could be the only edge he'd have provided the team with all year.

Not waiting

2006-03-21T21:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not even going to wait until the end of the game to post this. The Canadiens are digging their own grave, taking bad penalties and not capitalizing on the seemingly easy schedule they have inherited. They simply aren't playing well defensively, and their offense is sputtery at best. What I see right now is not a playoff team, and if the Habs were to be so lucky as to make the postseason, they wouldn't be capable of doing much damage anyways. If they lose even one of their two consecutive games against the Leafs (which they probably will considering the nature of the officiating in those games), you can count them out of this year's Stanley Cup tournament.

Back on track... for now

2006-03-20T22:25:00.000-05:00

With a morning speech by captain Saku Koivu in mind, the Canadiens took a 4-2 decision over the Washington Capitals tonight at the MCI Center in D.C. The Habs got goals from four different players, including Mike Komisarek's first career marker, and outshot the Caps 32-26. More importantly, Koivu managed to stay out of the penalty box after taking two offensive-zone penalties Saturday night against Pittsburgh. The Canadiens have lacked discipline this season, with Koivu being no exception, but he was penalty-free tonight and picked up his 33rd assist of the year.

I find it quite interesting that the Canadiens have been getting a few more goals than usual from their defencemen - Komisarek and Mathieu Dandenault tonight, two from Sheldon Souray against the Penguins, and more help from Craig Rivet and Francis Bouillon in recent games. Must be the work of Guy Carbonneau.

Speaking of Bouillon, TSN and the Gazette are reporting that he is undergoing MRIs to confirm that nothing is wrong with his ankle. X-rays revealed no breaks, so he should only be out of the lineup a couple more games, unless the MRI tests say otherwise. Luckily, the Canadiens enjoyed the return of Andrei Markov, who had been complaining of back spasms. Markov logged just over 20 minutes of ice time and was a +1. A huge win for Montreal, especially considering that the Thrashers won quite decisively against Buffalo tonight. Tomorrow, the bleu-blanc-rouge are at Nassau Memorial Coliseum to take on the Islanders.

Repeat

2006-03-19T23:20:00.000-05:00

For an accurate depiction of last night's game, please see my previous post, and replace 'Carolina' with Pittsburgh. Oh, and take out that comment about how Aebischer played well. He was awful. Back to Huet!

As for the CBC's attempt to make amends with Habs fans: a nice gesture, but too little, too late. This Leaf cheerleading has gone on unquestioned for way too long, and no matter how many times you get Don Cherry to awkwardly wear a Canadiens cap, the damage has already been done. Follow up on the apology, on the other hand, and all will be forgiven. But let's be realistic here...that won't happen. I would like to reiterate my wishes to CBC- good luck without the Leafs in the playoffs this year.

Update: Francis Bouillon will be out of action for the next two games, according to RDS. The Habs play Monday and Tuesday against the Capitals and Islanders, respectively. Bouillon and the Canadiens caught a lucky break -- he is one of the hardest-working players on the team and boy, can he hit. On the plus side, it'll be good for Todd Simpson to see some action before the playoffs begin. If he's anything like David Aebischer, he's going to need a few games to get the rust out of him.

2006-03-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, I don't understand these Canadiens. They go on a hot streak where their play is near-perfect, and then they revert back to their lazy habits. Their game against Carolina was atrocious - they took a ridiculous number of penalties, and did nothing to salvage David Aebischer's debut for the Habs (Aebischer, on the other hand, played quite well given the circumstances).

Does this look like a team that wants to do some damage in the playoffs, or one that's just going through the motions? The way the Canadiens have been playing, I don't think we'll ever know.

HNIT

2006-03-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

From yesterday's Gazette - thank you Aislin!

Abby in, Markov out

2006-03-15T19:14:00.000-05:00

As suspected, newly acquired goaltender David Aebischer will be making his Montreal Canadiens debut tomorrow night against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre. This should be a great game for him to start with his new team, as the word is that Aebischer can pull out some key performances at opportune times (see: Torino Olympics).

Andrei Markov won't be dressing against the 'Canes, however. The Canadiens' top defenseman had to leave the Tampa Bay game due to back spasms, and his status was up in the air. I imagine Bob Gainey will have Todd Simpson make his Habs debut tomorrow night as well. His other option, Mark Streit, hasn't been quite as effective or efficient as he should be at this point in the season of late.

Another article

2006-03-14T15:37:00.000-05:00

In case the Globe article wasn't enough, here's another one, this one from the Ottawa Citizen, criticizing the CBC for the Geoffrion debacle.

I'm thinking of writing a letter to the CBC to complain. I know they don't care about what non-Torontonians have to say, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it to give them my opinion.

Too bad the Habs lost last night, although we wouldn't want them running out of gas before the end of the season, so we can't expect them to outplay their opponents all the time. As long as they keep up a steady pace and only take a minimal amount of nights off, as they did last night against Tampa, they should have no problem overtaking the Lightning and maybe even the Devils. I would be quite happy with a Montreal-Rangers series, wouldn't you?

Finally, congratulations to Alex Kovalev, who played in his 900th NHL game, just a few months after picking up his 700th career point. Kovalev picked up an assist on the Canadiens' lone goal by Mike Ribeiro.

Shame on Leaf nation

2006-03-13T15:56:00.000-05:00

Here's an article from today's Globe and Mail about the shameful ignorance displayed by the Toronto - uh...I mean, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who broadcast the Leafs-Lightning game over the Habs-Rangers one and barely gave any mention to Bernard Geoffrion's passing or his jersey retirement. It just makes you hate the CBC and the Leafs even more.

I, for one, am going to watch as many playoff games as I can on SRC/RDS (hopefully SRC will simulcast for the playoffs while I'm still in Kingston) and TSN. The CBC doesn't deserve my viewership anymore, and I urge you all to take a stance against them as well.

Habs-Rangers

2006-03-12T03:22:00.000-05:00

Tonight's game was one of the most exciting I've seen on TV since the start of the season. The Canadiens battled hard and played a fast, up-tempo, and - for the most part - smart hockey game tonight. Despite taking several unnecessary penalties, including one mindless one by captain Saku Koivu in the first, they played quite the flawless game, although they were outshot 26-24. Needless to say, then, that Cristobal Huet was once again exceptional in earning his 5th shutout of the season.

The Habs looked extremely focused tonight, something I haven't seen from them in a long time. Their game was clean, their skating swift, their passes crisp. They seemed to be running on all cylinders, much the same way they were during their early-season burst to the top of the standings. One has to wonder if they felt refreshed and unburdened by not having to deal with the distractions José Theodore brought to the room. His play certainly brought their confidence down, and perhaps now that he's gone, they can feed off Huet without having to worry about when Theodore would be getting his next shot at redemption.

I enjoyed the moving, yet somewhat long, ceremony for Boom Boom Geoffrion at the start of the game. It's too bad he wasn't honoured a lot earlier when he should have been, so he could have been there to feel the fans' warmth in celebration of his career. At least the Canadiens played an inspired game for him. Appreciating the history of the jersey they're wearing can help the current-day Canadiens go the extra mile sometimes, and they certainly did tonight. Here's to a great finish to the season!

The Hab that might have been

2006-03-11T21:46:00.000-05:00

Various reports have surfaced that the Canadiens were actively pursuing Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi, but the deal with Vancouver didn't go through because the Canucks were asking for a high-quality forward prospect in return. Apparently, the Canadiens were offering up Richard Zednik and a defenseman. As well, The Fourth Period reports that a Canucks-Habs deal was in fact in the works for quite some time, and would have involved Zednik, José Theodore, Dan Cloutier, and Bertuzzi, but talks fell through when Cloutier got injured. I'd say the Habs are lucky that deal didn't go through, because they would have been trading one distraction (Theodore) for another (Bertuzzi), and would have gotten a pretty bad goaltender in return in Cloutier.

The Canadiens are much better off with the more talented David Aebischer, and without the presence of Bertuzzi. That doesn't mean that Montreal doesn't need a power forward, and Bob Gainey will hopefully use the cash he saved in the Theodore deal to acquire one.

Bernard "Boom Boom" Geoffrion: 1931-2006

2006-03-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

Bernard Geoffrion passed away today, the same day his jersey number 5 is to be raised to the rafters of the Bell Centre. Part of me thinks this is all part of the mystique of the Canadiens; it's sort of fitting for Geoffrion to join the Forum ghosts in two ways on the same day. It's always sad to lose a Canadiens legend, even more so when you realize that all the stars from those amazing teams of the 1950's will soon be gone. Rest in peace, Boom Boom, and rest assured that your slapshot will forever live on in hockey players everywhere.

Thoughts on the Theodore trade

2006-03-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

It's at moments like these that you realize just how much the Canadiens are a part of our lives. José Theodore was the face of the Montreal franchise, through thick and thin, ups and downs. It's not often in this new, international NHL that a French-Canadian, Montreal-born player can be a poster boy for the Habs and withstand the pressure, yet Theodore did it for quite some time - this was Theodore's 10th season with the franchise. I guess what I'm getting at is that, while I have been wildly frustrated with his play this season, it's with a twinge of sadness that I wave goodbye to #60. Despite his inconsistency on the ice, Theodore represented Montreal well, and never shied from being an icon in this city, as so many Quebec NHLers have.

This trade confirms a lot about Bob Gainey that we had suspected but not known for sure. He's a doer, not a watcher. When Claude Julien wasn't motivating his team out of a slump, Gainey axed him. Same thing could be said for Theodore, although he gave him a little more time than Julien. There were lots of reasons for this trade - Aebischer's stats this season, Theodore's salary, the risk of having Theodore recovering from injury in the playoffs - but Gainey made this deal first and foremost because he capitalized on an opportunity to rid himself of a player who wasn't playing up to par.

José, thanks for being such a big part of Montreal and for facing the music when so many have blocked their ears. It was a rocky road, but with all said and done, you have contributed greatly to the turning around of this team. I wish you well in Denver.

Read below for today's and all previous posts.

Bertuzzi?

2006-03-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Eklund believes that Bertuzzi might be headed to Montreal for Zednik and Souray. Now that Vancouver has a goalie, this deal becomes a lot more realistic. But do the Habs want to part with a now-hot Souray? Even with the acquisition of Todd Simpson, I would say 'no.' It's a lot to give up for a power forward who has yet to recover from his Steve Moore blunder and its aftermath. Zednik and Ribeiro? Do it in a second, Mr. Gainey.

Update: The Canucks have acquired defenseman Keith Carney from the Mighty Ducks, so all their needs have been filled. I'm getting the feeling a Bertuzzi trade won't happen now, but you never know. 1 hour remaining...

CANADIENS ACQUIRE TODD SIMPSON

2006-03-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

The Canadiens acquired big defenseman Todd Simpson from the Chicago Blackhawks this morning for a 2006 sixth round draft pick. Could be part of a bigger deal to occur today, or just to bring more size to the defencemen. I'm still hearing things about Bertuzzi, but any big deal will have to involve Aebischer, and I think Gainey wants the goaltending depth. Look for an Arron Asham or Matthew Barnaby to be headed Montreal's way, maybe a little more if Zednik is dealt.

JOSE THEODORE TRADED

2006-03-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

Just in... José Theodore has been traded to the Colorado Avalanche for David Aebischer. No more details just yet. I'm completely shocked, wasn't expecting this at all. May be a precursor for a bigger trade... perhaps involving Luongo? What about the Avs? What are they going to do until Theo's return?

More later...

Statistical analysis

2006-03-08T18:28:00.000-05:00

After having posted so many angry rants about the officiating in Habs-Leafs games, I decided to engage in a little investigative journalism to see if my accusations had any basis, and to rule out "Intense Fan Syndrome."

What I found was quite astonishing: When the Canadiens play a regular opponent, they are penalized, on average, two more minutes per game than their opponents, and receive 0.6 less power plays per game. However, when the Habs play the Leafs and both referees are Ontarian (which has been the case four times this season), the Canadiens are penalized an average of 7 more minutes per game than Toronto and are awarded 2.5 less power plays than the Leafs. So I'm not just a crazy fan...

If you'd like more details about my statistical analysis, post a message here with your contact info and I'll be glad to provide some more details.

In other news, the Leafs, who are hot up the Canadiens' tail thanks to their unfair win over the Habs Tuesday night, have acquired veteran defenseman Luke Richardson from the Blue Jackets. I mentioned recently how Bob Gainey has to keep an eye on the moves that are made by teams behind his in the standings, and this would be a good place to start. The Leafs are gearing up for a run at 8th place, and the Canadiens should look to improve their defence before 3 PM tomorrow.

In other trade news, rumours have circulated that the Canadiens are interested in Sharks forward Alyn McCauley. McCauley only has 21 points this year and is a -4, but the important thing is that, at 6', 198 lbs., he adds size up front. The Canadiens have been lacking size in the forward department, although I'm still of the opinion that their top trading priority should be an upgrade on defence.

Habs-Leafs

2006-03-07T22:17:00.000-05:00

Just some stats from tonight's game:

Number of penalties the Canadiens took tonight: 12.
Number of penalties the Maple Leafs took tonight: 6.
Number of on-ice officials born in Ontario: 4 (out of 4).

They can't give them goals, but they can give them power plays. Unbelievable, yet again.

HTR Article

2006-03-07T17:40:00.000-05:00

Here is an article I wrote for hockeytraderumors.com, similar to my last post. It's more of an overview of the Canadiens' trade situation leading up to Thursday. Be sure to check back here for updates right up until the deadline!

Plekanec on the move?

2006-03-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

Update (3:45 P.M.): Sorry I didn't mention one or two other names that have been linked to the Canadiens. According to someone who just listened to CKAC, the Habs are very close to landing an experienced defenseman who has expressed interest in playing for the Habs. The listener and other posters mentioned three possibilities repeatedly: Eric Weinrich, who was originally acquired in the Jeff Hackett deal, Sean Hill, who was drafted by the Canadiens and claimed by the Mighty Ducks in the '93 expansion draft, and Chris Chelios, former Canadiens captain. Is Gainey going after these guys? Brendan Witt? Anyone at all? Names being thrown the other way are: Ribeiro, Zednik, Kostitsyn, Dandenault, Bonk, Souray, and, of course, Plekanec.

From Eklund: A source of his wrote in saying that Tomas Plekanec had been taken off the bench by a trainer prior to yesterday's shootout loss in Philadelphia, and seemed confused, leading to speculation he was to be traded. However, no trade has been made as of yet, and I continue to doubt whether Bob Gainey will actually make a move. If he does, and is asked for a rookie in return, Plekanec would probably be the first one offered up - Perezhogin isn't all that desireable and moving Higgins would be a disaster for the Canadiens given the way he's been playing. But is it really worth it to give up a young, NHL-calibre prospect for what will likely be an extremely difficult playoff series against either New York, Carolina, or Ottawa? I'd rather stick with my guns, let the young players get some playoff experience, and hope for some lucky breaks.

Eklund also reports that the Canadiens are interested in Matthew Barnaby. This is starting to sound like the rumours that go around in Toronto, namely, everyone and everyone being linked to the team. We've heard about Tyler Arnason, Mark Bell, Marc Denis, David Aebischer, Todd Bertuzzi, Keith Tkachuk, John LeClair, Mark Recchi, Denis Gauthier, Derek Morris, Bryan Berard, Sergei Gonchar, even Brad Richards (who, by the way, will not be traded - Jay Feaster met with the Lightning and put those rumours to rest). This is going to be a much quieter trade deadline day than normal because of the new CBA, and, unless Gainey pulls off another surprise like he did with the Kovalev deal, don't expect much player movement in Montreal.

Finally, I have seen a lot of talk on discussion boards suggesting that the Habs use Michael Ryder as trade bait in order to lure a big-name player to the team. Let me say it loud and clear: Ryder will not be traded. Trading him could be one of the stupidest things a Canadiens GM has done since dealing Patrick Roy for Jocelyn Thibault. The Canadiens need more goals scored and they're not going to achieve that by trading away their top goal-scorer. Had Ryder been sent to Florida in the off-season with José Theodore for Roberto Luongo, I might not have been disappointed. But that deal didn't go through at least partially because Gainey recognizes what I've just said - trading Ryder is a purely dumb move to make.

Defense deals possible

2006-03-04T20:28:00.000-05:00

While reports continue to surface saying the Canadiens are going after Todd Bertuzzi, expect them to deal for a defenseman before they trade for the hulking Canucks forward. Numerous sources have linked the Canadiens to Derek Morris, Denis Gauthier, and Bryan Berard, among others. The Habs could sure use Gauthier's size on the blueline, although Morris would probably be the best acquisition overall. More to come as it unfolds.

Tidbit

2006-03-03T19:02:00.000-05:00

The The Rockland Journal News and TSN.ca are reporting that the Canadiens have shown interest in Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes. Perhaps Bob Gainey wants a more experienced backup to Cristobal Huet until José Theodore returns?

This rumour doesn't really make sense - the Canadiens have Huet and Yann Danis to man the fort until Theodore returns. If they acquired Weekes as well, they would really have a goalie surplus. Better off trading off their assets for a second-line centre or top-4 defenseman.

Rumours galore

2006-03-02T20:16:00.000-05:00

Lots of rumours out there, most of it speculation that isn't very realistic. Among the most prominent:

John LeClair coming back to Montreal for a playoff push (from Eklund). I believe this is highly unlikely - LeClair is old and hasn't had an amazing season. He's past his prime and wouldn't be worth the price.
Sheldon Souray to the Canucks for Todd Bertuzzi. Again, this won't happen; Bob Gainey doesn't want Bertuzzi, and Souray had 3 assists in the Habs' first post-Olympic break game, proving he's still an asset to the Canadiens.
Chicago has been sending scouts to Canadiens games, presumably regarding a Tyler Arnason deal. I've always said if the Habs can get rid of Mike Ribeiro for a decent second-line centre, they should, and Arnason fits the bill. Ribeiro has been playing well enough (read: not lazily) lately for him to be attractive to other teams.

These are the most recurrent from around the Internet. There are countless other rumours going around - Willie Mitchell, Denis Gauthier, etc... - but of all the crazy talk out there this has been the most legitimate. Still nothing really that I could see actually happening just yet, but it seems like it's heating up.

Koivu in

2006-02-28T17:45:00.000-05:00

Saku Koivu will indeed be playing tonight against the Islanders in New York. No word on the Habs' five other Olympians, although I assume that, since they have had a few more days of rest than Koivu, they will be in the lineup as well.

Teemu talk

2006-02-28T16:40:00.000-05:00

Just listening to The Team 990 and speculation has come up that the Canadiens are yet again interested in acquiring Teemu Selanne from the Ducks. Considering the way Selanne has been playing this season (26 G, 28 A in 55 GP), it would probably be quite costly for the Canadiens to bring Selanne east. But boy, just picture Selanne and Koivu on the same line -- he could really bring out the best in the Habs' captain. Remember, they are coming off a silver medal at the Olympics...

Back

2006-02-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

After an amazing Olympic Games, it's now time to return to the NHL. Before I do, I want to congratulate Cindy Klassen and the Brad Gushue rink especially, and all Canadian athletes in general, for their performances in these Games; it truly was an great time to be a Team Canada fan.

For the less than 2 weeks that will lead up to the trade deadline, there will be lots of rumours flying around, and I'll try to post the most legitimate ones. It's always interesting to hear what people have to say regardless of how realistic the thought might be, but I'll keep the more far-fetched ones out of my posts so as not to be too confusing.

The latest rumours continue to involve Blackhawks centre Tyler Arnason, whom the Canadiens are still looking at. Mike Ribeiro, Richard Zednik and Radek Bonk's names continue to surface as players Bob Gainey would like to move on or before March 9, but there is a strong likelihood that the Canadiens could stand pat and do nothing. José Theodore's injury does free up some salary for the Canadiens to use, so it's anybody's guess as to what Gainey will do. Whatever happens, it will be an exciting finish, so stay tuned for all the updates.

Short news

2006-02-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Hope you're all enjoying the Olympic Games, what a great showing for Canada so far! (Minus the hockey of course...) Just a quick note to let you know that the Canadiens are supposedly interested in taking a risk on Alexandre Daigle of the Wild, who has 28 points in 46 games this season.

Also, while José Theodore claims he'll be back sooner than the doctors had predicted, Bob Gainey says he plans on sticking with the duet of Cristobal Huet and Yann Danis for as long as possible. I think Gainey wants to take advantage of Theodore's injury to let Huet feel comfortable as #1 for awhile, and maybe also to take advantage of the cap space the situation affords him. Remember, players don't get paid salary in the playoffs, so if Theo held out until then, Gainey could potentially seek out a playoff rental without having to worry about cap issues. Remember also that if Theodore is out a certain number of games, insurance pays his salary and not George Gillett. This is all very iffy, but it does provide the Habs with some more options.

Vigilance

2006-02-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

Canadiens GM/coach Bob Gainey has to pay attention to the trade rumours that are circulating around the league, especially the ones about teams his club is fighting for a playoff spot with. Even if he doesn't want to necessarily make a move, strategically it may be wise to anyways, as long as he is not giving up the future in return.

For example, the Canadiens would be best served by getting rid of the inconsistent yet talented Mike Ribeiro, although Gainey, patient as he is, hasn't pulled the trigger on him yet in the hope that his playing attitude will change. Recent reports have suggested that the Maple Leafs are interested in the services of Blackhawks centre Tyler Arnason, who might help them make a push into the playoffs. If Gainey acquires Arnason, he will accomplish two things: rid himself of the distractions that come with having Ribeiro on the team; and snatch a potential playoff helper out of the reach of the Leafs. That being said, I know Gainey has decided Arnason is not a right fit for the Habs, but he has to keep his ears to the ground with regards to the teams battling his for the postseason.

Hair growth

2006-02-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

José Theodore tested positive for a hair-growth drug which he has used since he was around 21 years old in order to prevent a family condition of hair loss. The drug has been proven to function as a masking agent for a certain type of steroids, but the masking effect of the drug is very weak. As soon as the NHL informed the Canadiens that the drug was a banned substance, Dr. David Mulder, team physician for the Canadiens, informed the league that Theodore was on the medication. Banned substances are allowed to be taken if a doctor states to the NHL that the player is taking the drug for a specific condition - called a therapeutic use exclusion - as was the case with Theodore. Dr. Mulder pointed out that none of this would have become public had the drug testing not been leaked; this wouldn't have been an issue since Theodore was doing nothing outside of the bounds of the procedure for taking medication. The journalists at the press conference were looking for blood and it's completely unfair to Theodore to be hounded as he was by the press for taking a prescribed medication. This is personal information that the public and the press don't need to know.

It's no wonder that unrestricted free agents don't want to come to Montreal. The team's biggest star is chastised at every opportunity and every aspect of his family life is exposed for the province of Quebec to consume. It's a miracle he had been able to play through this before. I'm not giving Theodore excuses for his poor play but it's not exactly like he has a lot of factors in his favour right now. As Dr. Mulder said, none of this would have become public had it not been leaked to the press, and there's no reason to even still be talking about it. Let's just focus on the Canadiens' game and their quest to make the playoffs.

Hab tests positive for drug use

2006-02-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

A Montreal Canadiens player has been accused of testing positive for a banned substance. TSN reports that it is a player who was on the original 81-man Team Canada roster, but the player did not make the team or the taxi squad. That leaves either Sheldon Souray or José Theodore. RDS reports there is a press conference at 6 PM at the Bell Centre. This is how we know it's a Canadien.

Don's deed

2006-02-08T15:41:00.000-05:00

Once again the Canadiens were done in by the refs, this time at the hands of the veteran Don Koharski. Don't get me wrong, the Habs are often undisciplined and deserve most of the calls they get, but it seems like they get an unfair share of "iffy" and absolutely wrong penalties on top of that. Even the calm, collected Bob Gainey has complained - several times, I might add - that the officiating was not as objective as it could have been. While the Buffalo game wasn't as severe a case, it's not the first time the Canadiens have received the short end of the, uh... whistle. Or maybe that's just every fan's take on the reffing from their own perspective?

No news to report on the trade front, although scouts continue to be spotted at Canadiens games. Speaking of scouting, word is that Claude Julien has been offered a scouting job with the Habs. No news on whether or not he'll take it, but if he does, it certainly won't be for long.

Modified 3-way deal

2006-02-06T17:28:00.000-05:00

CBS and the Ottawa Sun are claiming that Tampa Bay is still interested in José Theodore, and are looking to complete a 3-way deal with Montreal and Columbus. They claim that Brad Richards will be sent to the Jackets, Marc Denis to the Habs, and Theodore to the Lightning.

This rumour is even more ridiculous than the 3-way floating around last week between the Habs, Jackets, and Avalanche. The Canadiens wouldn't give up Theodore in exchange for just Denis, especially since they are enjoying a little more stability than earlier this season. I still maintain that Gainey's course of action will be to rest Theodore as long as he can (read: as long as Huet keeps winning), and then hope that Theodore comes back to the ice refreshed and refocused. As inconsistent and awful as he's been this year, José Theodore is not going anywhere. Thought I'd post this trade talk anyways, but don't put much credence into it.

Update: With the losses of Adrian Aucoin and Ed Jovanovski respectively, the Blackhawks and Canucks are supposedly interested in Sheldon Souray, and have also been sending scouts to recent Canadiens games. I doubt Souray will be dealt unless Gainey is able to acquire a higher-calibre defenseman in return, but don't take this as an endorsement of Souray's play this season - he's been mistake-prone and defensively liable much of the time.

Finally, a solid win

2006-02-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

For the first time in a while, the Canadiens came out of the gates with amazing energy, and were able to maintain it for much of the game against the Bruins today. And through this good effort, one can see where they have gone wrong these past few months, and why it's not quite over yet.

The Habs continued to take stupid, mindless penalties, and commit avoidable errors, and you could see how it really took the wind out of their sails. The Canadiens were heavily penalized this afternoon, and while the Bruins could have been assessed several more minor penalties themselves, the truth is that Montreal consistently spend many more minutes in the penalty box than their opponents, and it kills them. The difference tonight was that they decided to overcome that adversity and bring out even more energy. That and, of course, Cristobal Huet, who was incredibly stellar in goal today.

The Habs have to build on this victory and recognize their mistakes. If they can remember that they're still capable of an effort such as today's, and eliminate their amateurish imperfections, they still have a shot at putting together a string of wins. And Mr. Gainey, I highly recommend you let José take an extended rest so that he can regroup and refocus. Perhaps send him on a trip to Paris?

Update: Apparently Mighty Ducks GM Brian Burke was in attendance at both Habs-Bruins games. While that might lead one to believe that a Theodore-Giguere trade is in the works, the more likely possibility is that Gainey is talking to Burke about one of his potentially available defensemen, most notably Ruslan Salei or Keith Carney.

Losing crucial ground

2006-02-02T22:31:00.000-05:00

Another effortless game, another avoidable loss. Mindless giveaways, endless time spent in the defensive zone. These Canadiens are pure awful, there's no other way to describe it.

I'm starting to see Gainey's plan here: see if anything's possible with this sorry bunch in his first 10 games or so behind the bench, and then start to make some decisions. At this point, it would be wise for the Habs' coach/GM to give up on the season and try getting some bang for his buck with trades. That would give him the chance to really put his stamp on the team and flush out all the poison that's dragging this organization down. I'm not saying this to knock André Savard, who is a very intelligent hockey man; this team's problems go back way before he was a part of it.

One must really beg the question: are the players on this team worthy of enjoying success and raucous applause from their fans if they're even capable of it? My personal answer right now is 'no' - I would have a very hard time cheering for these guys after their consistently lacklustre play - but a few digits added to the 'W' column might persuade me otherwise. For now, though, this is absolutely pathetic.

Rumour on the Fritsche

2006-02-02T11:29:00.000-05:00

Update (3:26 PM): The rumour has been declared a hoax. It's too bad, and not for the sake of the possibility of the trade, but because a potentially good source for rumours has lost some credibility. Whether Theodore will still end up getting traded remains to be seen, though it will be difficult. Gainey will most likely shop for a top-4 defenseman, as he has previously stated he would.

So now that the rumour is just about everywhere on the Internet, I figured I'd post it. I try not to post ridiculous rumours that seemingly have no basis, but sometimes I give into the temptation to legitimize Eklund's fantasies. According to Bob McKenzie, his Tampa Bay (Richards-for-Theodore) rumour was completely false. Anyways, this is the MTL-COL-CBJ rumour:

To Montreal: Marc Denis, Ian Laperrière
To Colorado: José Theodore
To Columbus: Dan Hinote, Tom Fritsche

Draft picks here and there, details not yet known about whose would go where. Eklund claims this rumour is completely false, but it seems pretty legitimate. It works in terms of the salary cap, and it has even been published in today's La Presse. If this deal goes through, Eklund is officially the biggest liar in the game. If not, this Tom Fritsche character that divulged this information is going to be in a lot of trouble with a lot of people.

And this from Mike Boone in today's Gazette:

I asked a knowledgeable writer whether the NHL had any expansion plans.

"Probably not," Pat Hickey replied.

Too bad. It would be great to have professional hockey in Montreal.

(© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006)

Michaud to Hamilton

2006-02-02T00:53:00.000-05:00

Canadiens' goaltending prospect Olivier Michaud has been reassigned from the Long Ice Beach Dogs to the Habs' AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. Something's definitely up... I'm still hearing things about the three-way trade.

New rumour

2006-02-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

Something big is brewing between the Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, and Columbus Blue Jackets. That's all for now.

The next step

2006-02-01T11:42:00.000-05:00

It is quite clear that something is going to happen to José Theodore in the very near future. At the very least, he will be watching the Bruins game from the bench tomorrow night, and maybe even on Saturday. Seeing as how the Canadiens have three games in 4 nights, however, Bob Gainey will have to make a decision quickly, because Cristobal Huet cannot play all three games.

The next step for Gainey, in my opinion, is to send Theodore to the minors for a conditioning stint. There's no point letting him play in the NHL right now; Theodore's trade value decreases with every game he plays, save for last Saturday's Leafs game. If Gainey wants to either a.) Have Theodore back in form to make a playoff run, or b.) Have him back in form in order to facilitate a trade, sending him to the minors is the best option for that.

The Canadiens can't afford to let Theodore ride out his own personal Streak of Awful in the NHL, because it will continue to cost them valuable points in the standings. Sending Theo to the minors will allow Gainey to assess whether the duet of Huet and Yann Danis is up to the task of minding the nets, and, if not, Gainey will have to consider which other goaltenders are available around the NHL. A commentator on CKAC thinks that since Theodore usually plays well against the Bruins, he should be in nets tomorrow night in Boston, but I highly doubt he'll be given the opportunity. He's been given far too many chances to regain his confidence, and he has flopped horrendously on each and every one of them. There comes a point where you have to take some sort of drastic action, and for Gainey and Theodore, that point has been reached.

Update (12:37 PM): I take all this talk of sending Theodore to the minors back. He would never clear re-entry waivers, and the Canadiens would be stuck with half his contract when a team would pick him up. This new CBA really puts some teams in a rut...

Lightning rumour

2006-01-31T21:39:00.000-05:00

Eklund claims that Tampa Bay is in "heavy" discussions with the Habs regarding José Theodore. It has been rumoured before that the Canadiens have been interested in Brad Richards, so this is not completely out of the blue. The Lightning are looking for goaltending help, and it's quite clear that Theodore needs a change of scenery. You don't let in 5 goals and get pulled a third time without something happening. 18 goals against on his last 63 shots faced. Montreal will have to absorb some of Theodore's hefty salary, but I believe this was his very final straw.

Roster news

2006-01-31T02:34:00.000-05:00

RDS is reporting that Alexander Perezhogin has been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs, just three days after the Habs sent Andrei Kostitsyn back down. It seems that Bob Gainey is contemplating scratching Radek Bonk from the lineup against Carolina, although I thought he had a pretty good game against Toronto. Richard Zednik might have to watch yet another game from the press box too, unless he can convince Gainey that he's worthy of being dressed again.

I like what Gainey's doing - he's making his players earn their spots on the roster a little more, so that they play like they deserve it. However, Jan Bulis' ice time didn't increase after his 4-goal outburst against the Flyers, and I don't know what Mike Ribeiro is doing on the first line; that's where he has been put in practices leading up to the Hurricanes game. I guess there must be some method to Gainey's madness, and you can be sure that Zednik is going to come back hungry... whenever that may be.

Update (1:20 PM): Bonk will be scratched, and Ribeiro will still be playing on the fourth line tonight. Chris Higgins resumes his spot on the first line, while José Theodore will be in nets. No word on Zednik thus far.

What to do

2006-01-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

Now that he's taken over behind the bench and the Canadiens are still not giving it their all, what can Bob Gainey do to put this team back on track? It's pretty obvious that the Habs' GM, one of the most patient in the game, is waiting to make a move. He has openly stated that pretty much everyone on the roster is being considered for a trade, although you can bet that Michael Ryder, Andrei Markov, and the Canadiens' impressive rookies Tomas Plekanec and Chris Higgins, are safe. He has also stated that he's shopping for a top-notch defenseman to give Sheldon Souray, Markov, Craig Rivet, and Francis Bouillon a hand.

So how can Gainey approach this? No one wants the Habs' most valuable asset, José Theodore. Edmonton is pursuing Andrew Raycroft, Olaf Kolzig, or perhaps even one of Manny Fernandez or Dwayne Roloson. The Cancuks have been quiet on the goaltending front, and Colorado's David Aebischer has improved his play of late. Remember that Buffalo is trying to unload one of their 3 talented goalies as well, which means that Theodore will likely stay put. And as long as he builds on his Toronto performance on Saturday night, that's fine with me for the moment.

The only teams what would give away an asset for draft picks or questionables are teams that have already thrown in the towel. Right now, that list includes Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, and Columbus, but expect it to grow longer as the trade deadline approaches. These teams will either want draft picks, prospects, or skilled players who either haven't found their niche on the Habs or who just haven't played up to their potential this year. What does this mean? Exclude Radek Bonk, Mathieu Dandenault, or Theodore from any trade banter. Expect Jan Bulis, Richard Zednik, Mike Ribeiro, Niklas Sundstrom, Sheldon Souray, and maybe even Francis Bouillon, to be offered around instead.

If you're looking for a forward, Pittsburgh's Ryan Malone, Washington's Matt Pettinger or Brian Sutherby, Chicago's Mark Bell, Tyler Arnason, or Kyle Calder, or Columbus' Manny Malhotra, are your most viable options. Washington is supposedly very interested in Ribeiro, and it has been reported that Gainey isn't interested in Arnason. Chicago likely won't part with the other two for what the Canadiens have to offer. Malone, despite his size advantage, is a huge defensive liability, although Malhotra is having a pretty decent season. Gainey might want to wait before pulling the trigger on a forward.

On defense, Pittsburgh just shipped off Dick Tarnstrom to Edmonton, and the rest of their defensemen have horrid +/- ratings, so exclude them from any trade talk at this position. Washington's Brian Muir or Brendan Witt boast pretty attractive statistics this season, although they are both over 30 years old. Chicago's Adrian Aucoin is a tad bit too expensive, but Jim Vandermeer would be a nice addition. St. Louis is probably the most defense-rich of these teams, with Barret Jackman, Eric Brewer, and Eric Weinrich on their roster, and a fire sale that's already begun, although Brewer & Weinrich's ages may make them undesireable to the Habs. Ditto Columbus' Adam Foote, Bryan Berard, and Luke Richardson.

Bob Gainey has a lot of work and thinking to do in the next little while, so it may take him some time before a trade is completed. He also may want to wait a little to see what else becomes available as teams fall further out of the playoff race and become sellers. The Canadiens, too, could end up in that situation, which would mean that the likes of Saku Koivu or Alex Kovalev might find themselves in other jerseys, as well. Countdown to March 9: 37 days.

Good morning

2006-01-29T13:53:00.000-05:00

Good morning, Alex Kovalev. Good morning, Saku Koivu. Good morning, José Theodore. Thanks for finally waking up. There are certain people who watch the game and who watch these Canadiens who have it right: when the Habs' best players aren't giving it their all, the team will do poorly. These three players combined make about $12.42 million, roughly a third of the Canadiens' total payroll for the season, but their presence on the ice is worth much more than that 33%. When these three are at their best, which they were last night in Toronto, the Canadiens will win way more often than they will lose. Unfortunately, during the Canadiens' "Streak of Awful," as I shall refer to it, none of these three players were earning their fat paychecks. If they're not motivated, no one on their team will be.

I was quite impressed with the presence of Canadiens fans at the ACC last night. Normally, Leafs-Habs games draw many Toronto fans to the Bell Centre, but the same bipartisan atmosphere isn't usually found in Toronto. That was different last night, and it was great to hear people cheering Canadiens goals in the Leafs' lair. I'm sure at least part of the cheering was coming from disgruntled Maple Leafs fans, who saw their team get handed their 8th straight loss last night. At least we can be united in the lameness of our teams this year!

For those who didn't notice, Richard Zednik was a healthy scratch last night against Toronto. It didn't seem any different than when he was in the lineup, however, as the Slovak forward has contributed little in the way of offence to help curb the Canadiens' futility streak. Trade talk continues to heat up amongst the Canadiens - everyone from Tyler Arnason to Manny Fernandez to Roberto Luongo are being rumoured to be coming to Montreal - and expect Zednik to be part of any deal involving the Habs.

Also, take note of the fact that when all the Canadiens' big-time players come together and put in a good effort, as they did last night, Mike Ribeiro continues to be useless. Ribeiro had 17:17 of ice time last night, including a whopping 5:51 on the power play, yet he only managed 1 shot. I don't know if anyone would want him, but I sure hope Bob Gainey is able to make short work of him, and soon.

Don't expect Theodore to be traded this season, either. He is having an awful year, which puts him quite low on GMs' priority lists, especially considering his salary. Habs fans, including myself, have had to learn to be patient with him, but there's only so much time you can give someone to get back into form. As long as the Canadiens play like they did against Toronto for the remainder of the season, they still have a shot at the postseason. But if they play like they did against Ottawa, boy, are they in for a major fan backlash. Our patience is as thin as dental floss. Don't disappoint, José & co.

Listless

2006-01-26T22:13:00.000-05:00

Dany Heatley: 8 shots.

Montreal Canadiens: 12 shots.

Huet tonight

2006-01-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

Cristobal Huet is starting against Ottawa tonight. Claude Julien was fired for what reason, again?

Huh?

2006-01-25T23:07:00.000-05:00

...is all I have to say about tonight's Montreal-Philadelphia game. I don't really understand how the Canadiens could go from being so awful to so competitive in a matter of a night. Maybe Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau's strategy of team-building and a relaxed atmosphere is working... for now.

And to think that Jan Bulis was going to be scratched tonight. Perhaps it's just what he needed - the motivation to prove his coach wrong for even considering it. But why would Gainey scratch one of the Habs' most consistent and reliable players this year in the first place? In any case, congratulations to Bulis on an amazing game and on a spectacular season; he's been one of the few positives on this team full of negatives.

All I know is that the Canadiens were given the wrong nickname, the "Cardiac" Canadiens, at the beginning of the season. These are the Bipolar Canadiens. Will their manic stage extend past one game? Stay tuned.

Update: After reading jeff j's comment on my previous post, I realized he answered my question as to why Bulis would have been scratched. That one definitely did not cross my mind for some reason.

Steadfast approach

2006-01-25T17:58:00.000-05:00

Bob Gainey seems to be taking the steadfast approach, having told the press he does not plan on making any major moves for the moment. That's partly because the Canadiens don't have that much to offer in a trade, and would be forced to take on some extra salary if they did. It would only make sense for Gainey to take on extra salary if his team was making a push for the playoffs, which, at the moment, it is not.

Gainey announced that he was going with backup Cristobal Huet in nets tonight against Philadelphia, after two of the worst performances of José Theodore's career. Theodore is trying to keep his head above water, however. He said he is no stranger to adversity, and, while his recent play has been frustrating to him, he is confident that he can come back to form. We've been waiting all year, José.

Finally, reports are out that the Blackhawks are trying to rid themselves of their #1 centre, Tyler Arnason. The Canadiens were reportedly considering him before Claude Julien got fired, and if Chicago was willing to take Mike Ribeiro and all the baggage he comes with, the Habs would really benefit from swapping the two. Arnason is 26, making $1.2 million, and has 11 G and 23 A. Most importantly, though, he is +1, compared with Ribeiro's atrocious -14 +/- rating.

Banner change

2006-01-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

I have changed the banner of this website to reflect my displeasure with goaltender José Theodore. In my opinion, the best players deserve to be featured in prominence, and Theodore has lost his status as such.

As well, I added the faces of who I believe to be the three quintessential Canadiens - Richard, Béliveau, and Lafleur - to the banner, placing them in a way that makes them seem as if they are watching over the current Canadiens. I did this for two reasons: One, because I believe that every player who ever wears a Habs jersey should conduct themselves on the ice as these men did, although I don't believe that's the case at all today; and two, because every time I go on an angry rant about the ineffectual season the Canadiens are having, I do it with these men in mind. They would have stood for nothing less than success, and, as a commentator on the team, neither do I. It's too bad none of the players seem to.

And the Theodore blunders continue...

2006-01-23T21:31:00.000-05:00

Claude Julien must really feel like crap now. He got fired partly for his decision not to play his "#1" goalie in favour of the more reliable Cristobal Huet, and now José Theodore has gone two games in a row where he has let in 5 goals in less than two periods. Give credit to Bob Gainey for trying, but after two so-so wins by Theodore, followed by his pair of 5-goal blunders, it's quite clear that Julien's coaching wasn't the problem.

Well, I partly take that back; Julien was unable to motivate the rest of his team to do anything useful, but his decision to bench Theodore against San Jose - which was at least partly the basis for his dismissal - was clearly a sound one. Theodore is apparently more committed to ITECH than to his team, and something clearly isn't clicking in his head this year. Pierre McGuire believes he is injured, but at this point in the season, after a dismal November, December, and most of January, Theodore would best be serving his dignity by revealing his ailment rather than concealing it.

To those Theodore supporters who want to blame the Canadiens' equally awful defense for Theodore's poor play this season, I say this: You can't let in 5 goals in less than two periods, as well as countless other soft goals throughout the season, and expect your team to stay motivated and competitive. It all starts in net, and when you're being paid $4.5 million, there is no excuse for the terrible play Theodore is guilty of. And to those who say that Theodore is a great playoff goaltender who must be kept, I say this: If Theodore can't get the Canadiens in the playoffs, something which he absolutely cannot do at the moment, that fact is irrelevant.

I have been a Theodore supporter despite his less-than-amazing play post-Hart/Vézina trophies, but this is getting ridiculous. Those Roberto Luongo and David Aebischer deals are looking mighty fine right about now; Gainey should have dealt Theodore while he was still worth something. José Theodore was the face of the franchise, but unless Habs fans want their franchise to be a pathetic, lacklustre AHL-calibre club, it's time to get a facelift.

Photo courtesy RDS.ca

Embarrassment

2006-01-22T02:14:00.000-05:00

I have never been more embarrassed to be a Montreal Canadiens fan than I am tonight. After making a committment to change and improvement by firing their talented and well-respected coach, the Canadiens spat in the faces of all their fans by putting out their worst effort since winning the Cup in 1993 tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. After resisting the temptation to blame and be angry for so long, I am tired of making excuses for the players I am supposed to like that are doing nothing to uphold the tradition that this great franchise obligates them to be a part of. The following are an embarrassment to the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club, to all their fans, and to the city of Montreal and the National Hockey League:

JOSÉ THEODORE: You let in three goals in the first 4:30 of tonight's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Regardless of the final outcome of the game (it happened to be a 6-2 loss for your team), you are being paid $4.5 million to stop the puck regardless of how useless your defensemen are. You have no excuse for your incredibly pathetic play. I saw you crying in the hallway on national TV after being pulled from the game; your time in Montreal is done. I have been a staunch supporter of yours despite your lack of effort this season. Clearly, you are more committed to ITECH than to the Montreal Canadiens, so good riddance, and good luck to you wherever you end up after this sad and sorry excuse for a hockey game you played.
SAKU KOIVU: Saku, I have supported you too despite the tough times you have endured with this team. I was inspired by you when you came back from your cancer treatment to help lead your team into the playoffs. However, in your 10 years with the Montreal Canadiens, you have been a part of only four Habs teams that have finished above .500 in the regular season, and have only won a handful of playoff series to go with that less-than-amazing statistic. You are a hard-working player, but as captain of this team, anything less than .500 should be unacceptable to you, and you have failed to motivate this team to be better than that. At this point, it might be better for you to sign elsewhere so that the Canadiens can truly have a fresh start next season.
ALEX KOVALEV: I have been dazzled by your play this season and last; however, you only have 10 G and 21 A to show for the $4.5 million you are making this season. A player of your calibre should expect more from his teammates, and from himself.
MIKE RIBEIRO: Your lazy play and disruptive attitude are a big reason why Claude Julien got fired, and why this team is so cliquey and unmotivated. Shame on you for being a Montrealer who is making the Canadiens worse than they could and should be. You deserve to be cast off from this island more than anyone else on this team.
RADEK BONK: You sorry excuse for a third-line centre, you cost Claude Julien his job and took a stupid penalty on what could have been a Canadiens breakaway after your team went down 3-0 early in the game tonight. You are making $2.394 million this year, and, considering how you were traded for Mathieu Garon, you were probably one of the worst acquisitions the Canadiens have made since Jocelyn Thibault. Get out of our town.
MATHIEU DANDENAULT: You were acquired after being a part of the Red Wings for your whole career, yet you have shown no evidence of being a component of their success. You have probably been involved in more unnecessary goals than any other teammate on the Canadiens, and have certainly not lived up to your expectations as a solid two-way player. Who are you exactly??
MIKE KOMISAREK: People are touting you as the next captain of this team. I am sorry for the tragedy you have had to endure this season; however, you are not living up to your potential as a top defender. Again, it's difficult for me to blame you for anything based on your situation, but you have to show why the Canadiens have placed so much faith in you as a prospect.
SHELDON SOURAY: I understand that you are going through marital problems, but enough's enough. Know the rules of fighting, and don't screw things up for your teammates. You've got to bring out your vintage slapshot again.
MARK STREIT: Too many rookie mistakes. Wrong place, wrong time.
RICHARD ZEDNIK: You're the first-line left wing. Where has your production gone? You better be some good trade bait...

And now for those who I'm either indifferent to, or who have actually contributed positively this season:

STEVE BÉGIN: Haven't heard from you in awhile, buddy.
FRANÇIS BOUILLON: You still know how to throw your weight around. One of the hardest workers on the team.
JAN BULIS: Great season! You have really established yourself as an effective and reliable role player.
CHRIS HIGGINS, TOMAS PLEKANEC, ALEXANDER PEREZHOGIN, ANDREI KOSTITSYIN: The exciting rookie class.
ANDREI MARKOV: By far the team's best defenseman. Thank the Rocket you're here.
GARTH MURRAY: We actually got something for Marcel Hossa!
CRAIG RIVET: I hear you're cocky, but wow, are you holding the fort on defense. Too bad no one else is, asides from Markov
MICHAEL RYDER: You are an amazing player. Only one of a select few Habs to score 20 goals in his first two seasons in the NHL. Keep it up!!
NIKLAS SUNDSTROM: I'm still bitter about the Jeff Hackett trade, but you've done nothing wrong.
CRISTOBAL HUET: I'd never thought I'd say this, but, for the foreseeable future, you are the Habs' #1 netminder in my view. You're calm, collected, modest, and well-trained. Most importantly, you're playing 1000x better than Theodore. Keep it up.

I hate being a bandwagon jumper, but I'm tired of the frustration that comes with being a Canadiens fan. If a big change is not made by the end of this horrendous road trip, I am switching my allegiance to the Senators for the rest of the season, if not beyond that. I'm tired of being the embarrassment of the bunch amongst my friends. This is not the Canadiens that I'm proud of. I was sad to see Henri Richard watching the Canucks game in Vancouver tonight. This game, and this season, goes against everything him and his brother, as well as so many other proud men, fought so hard for. I've had enough.

Honeymoon over

2006-01-20T10:28:00.000-05:00

Bob Gainey's honeymoon as coach of the Canadiens came to an abrupt halt last night as his team lost its 5th straight road game in Calgary. It's not so much the fact that they did lose, but the way in which the loss played itself out that hurts. The Canadiens had 18 shots to the Flames' 30, and saved their best efforts for the final 5 minutes of the game, after Alex Kovalev snipped Calgary's lead to 1. This was a classic example of the slumping Canadiens that got ex-coach Claude Julien fired: certain players failed to show up for the game, and no one put in the requisite effort to win at the NHL level.

Mike Ribeiro, whom Bob Gainey did not call out in his introductory press conference as a player who needed to step up his game, played 11:34, including 3:06 on the power play, was a minus-1, and did not register a single shot. And this guy, making $1.18 million this season, is supposed to be the Habs' second-line centre? You can bet that Gainey will quickly get fed up with Ribeiro's complete lack of anything resembling a work ethic, and will ship him out to any takers. It's a shame Ribeiro is such a bum, because he's a Montrealer who loves playing for the Habs - a rarity in today's NHL - but I'd rather have no Montrealers on the team than one Mike Ribeiro. He's that much of a disruption.

More on Edmonton

2006-01-18T18:19:00.000-05:00

According to CBS, the Oilers are offering Georges Laraque, Ty Conklin, and top prospect Robbie Schremp in exchange for José Theodore. I would say this rumour has a 0-25% chance of coming true - Conklin has been horrid (3.12 GAA, .872 SV%), and Laraque has previously stated that he would rather retire than play in Montreal for some reason.

This deal doesn't work for the Canadiens, especially if Gainey can motivate Theodore to get back into his form. Upping Mike Ribeiro's trade value, on the other hand, might produce a workable deal.

Julien's head high

2006-01-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

Claude Julien met with the Montreal media for the first time since his firing this afternoon and had nothing but good things to say about the organization for which he has always cheered for, and from which he got his first NHL coaching job. Julien said he has watched both Canadiens games since his firing from start to finish, and says he was rooting for the Habs 100%. During his tenure as coach, Julien always handled himself with class, and certainly went out with class today.

Julien said he has received many calls from around the league from colleagues expressing their thoughts and wishes to him, and said he was encouraged by all those who wished him luck in getting back in the league again. Julien harboured no hard feelings for his boss, Bob Gainey, for whatever disagreements they may have had, nor for the way in which he was let go - a most unpleasant 7:15 AM wake-up call. Most of all, though, Julien reserved his biggest thanks for the fans of the Canadiens, whom he called the best in the league:

"Mais surtout, je tiens à remercier les partisans du Canadien. On dit souvent qu'ils sont les meilleurs de la LNH. C'est vrai, ils sont les meilleurs. Même quand l'équipe traverse des moments difficiles, ils se rangent toujours derrière l'équipe. C'est ce qui rend Montréal aussi unique" (From RDS).

I've always thought Julien was an exceptional coach, although he could have been a little more strict with his players at times. That being said, Julien will be remembered for his dedication to the team, and for the kind parting words that he left for all Habs fans and team personnel. Good luck, Claude. We all hope to see you back in the NHL very soon.

Trade talk still floating around

2006-01-17T15:19:00.000-05:00

Despite the abrupt and surprising change in the Canadiens' coaching staff and the surge it has provided the team since, rumours are still being tossed around about potential trades involving Montreal. Eklund, who one way or another finds out about GMs talking and thinking, believes that José Theodore could still be headed to Colorado, and mentioned Edmonton as another possible destination. Talk around the message boards suspects that the Habs are quite interested in Owen Nolan's services as well.

Again, unless Theodore plays awful and causes the Canadiens to lose 5 or more games in a row, the Habs' #1 goalie will not be traded before March 9. Eklund is probably just hearing that Pierre Lacroix and Kevin Lowe are interested in acquiring him. As for Nolan, he is 33 years old, but is 6'1, 215 lbs., and has a right-handed shot. The Canadiens are in desperate need of a power forward and an attacker who shoots right, and Nolan would probably come at a bargain price for a player of his caliber. But, the question of his health still remains, and there's always the possibility that Nolan won't be anything like the player he once was for the Sharks and Nordiques. I'm sure GM/coach Bob Gainey is mulling these points over, and we'll see in the coming days and weeks if Nolan ends up donning the CH or if he gets snatched up by another team.