Montreal Canadiens

[ericdaoust]

This is the wierdest feeling for me. I have NEVER pulled for the Habs to lose, but now I find myself cringing with every point that gets them away from the cellar. Tank already, we need a top 3 or 4 pick next year, and preferably top 2!!

The only exception is the Leafs game, it is such a pleasure to be a spoiler for the Leafs (God only knows they have been a spoiler at times against the Habs in the past).

The other problem is that if the team continues to tread water as they have the past two years then we won't get the major changes we've been hoping for. They need big changes starting at the top.

[ericdaoust]

Only one game this week, Wednesday vs Detroit. It's going to be a slow week but there is one bit of news that is worth following:

http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/...actice-tuesday

Carey Price missed practice with a cut somewhere on his lower-body, apparently to the foot after Saturday's game. He is expected back at practice but the team also said this about Andrei Markov numerous times. I know, I had to say it.

[ddp]

The habs will NOT get a top 6 pick. Bank it. They will finish anywhere between 10th and 8th in my opinion. They are too good of a team to tank that badly.

[ericdaoust]

The habs will NOT get a top 6 pick. Bank it. They will finish anywhere between 10th and 8th in my opinion. They are too good of a team to tank that badly.

The defensive system and great goaltending masked a lot of deficiencies in the team. They are using up all of their cap space for mediocrity. I don't think they're a good team at this point. They might climb to 10th in the East but that's it.

[ddp]

When I say good team I mean they are/were better than last year's team. ANyway I sure hope they shake things up...some miracle and gomez isn't here for long. All I know is columbus will finish dead last and likely followed by NYI

[ericdaoust]

When I say good team I mean they are/were better than last year's team. ANyway I sure hope they shake things up...some miracle and gomez isn't here for long. All I know is columbus will finish dead last and likely followed by NYI

The problem is that when you're treading water for a few years and constantly a bubble playoff team, it doesn't take much for the bottom to fall out from under them. Personally I think that this season, along with some much-needed changes, are the only hope of ending this water treading.

[ddp]

Subban for Getzlaf PLEASE. Throw in a few kostizins and leblancs and bring perry or ryan with him!

yes I realize this is probably one of the stupidest things I've ever said.

[ericdaoust]

Andreas Engqvist is called up for tonight's game. Travis Moen and Petteri Nokelainen will probably not play. This means the team is likely to go back to seven defencemen.

[ericdaoust]

Subban for Getzlaf PLEASE. Throw in a few kostizins and leblancs and bring perry or ryan with him!

yes I realize this is probably one of the stupidest things I've ever said.

I've just named you the new Dobberhockey Canadiens' capologist! :P

[ericdaoust]

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/blog.htm?id=261

Rafael Diaz is going to the All-Star game as a rookie. Well deserved as I felt he should have been on the list when the rosters were initially announced.

[ericdaoust]

I'm officially speechless. The same offensively-challenged and inconsistent team that caused us fans all this heartbreak since October just manhandled the league's best team in the last game before the All-Star break. Such is life in the salary-capped NHL, I suppose. Much credit goes to the Red Wings who did not show up.

The usual culprits were leading the charge. David Desharnais took over the game early with two goals and an assist. He was the best player on the ice for the first two periods. Erik Cole had a goal and two assists. He was a force in the third period. Max Pacioretty added a goal and an assist.

This just in, Rene Bourque is grossly outplaying Mike Cammalleri since the trade. Sometime this summer people will be speaking about Cammy's contract being a real inconvenience in Calgary. Bourque had a goal and an assist tonight.

Alexei Emelin scored his first NHL goal and skated well all night. He did get caught on the second Red Wings goal but finished plus-3 regardless.

PK Subban was benched for the second period following a bad retaliation penalty at the end of the first. His ice time dropped to 14:36 which is dead last among the seven defencemen dressed. This is not a bad thing in the long run - for the first time in a while he is actually being coached.

Lars Eller and Andrei Kostitsyn each had one assist but their work on the forecheck (especially Eller) was marvelous.

Scott Gomez played a strong game (one assist) aside from a defensive lapse on the first Wings' goal.

It's tough to cover everyone because even the healthy scratches had points tonight.

[ross10019]

Mike Babcock, former McGill Redmen coach, sporting his brand new McGill tie for the big loss, given to him by old friend Earl Zukerman, Mr. Everything Sports Journalist and Statistician at McGill. Then Babcock went to Hurley's Pub and had some beers with the TSN (Team) 990 guys and interacted with the fans. Gotta love this guy.

[ddp]

Guys. Put me in place. Tell me its not possible.

think about this.

Columbus…REGRET the Carter trade and contract BIG TIME. They want to move him.
10 years at 5 million….TSn says who would want that?

Ummmm….the habs? Big star Center we never had.

What is Columbus after all these years? A center to setup nash? What is Gomez famous for? Not scoring goals but assisting.

Seems like an easy trade to me as both of us would get out of contracts we don't want.

[ericdaoust]

Guys. Put me in place. Tell me its not possible.

think about this.

Columbus…REGRET the Carter trade and contract BIG TIME. They want to move him.
10 years at 5 million….TSn says who would want that?

Ummmm….the habs? Big star Center we never had.

What is Columbus after all these years? A center to setup nash? What is Gomez famous for? Not scoring goals but assisting.

Seems like an easy trade to me as both of us would get out of contracts we don't want.

Despite Carter's woes I still consider him a better playmaker than Gomez at this point. Plus he brings way more in other areas, including intangibles. They might trade Carter but it won't be for Gomez.

[ericdaoust]

Just to add to my game report from last night, Tomas Kaberle has 13 points in 20 games since being traded to Montreal. This while playing over 20 minutes just twice.