Guess who is skating in full uniform and will be looking to skate with the University in Montreal to get into shape??? can we say “Get Higgy with it”
Was at the Islander Game last night, there were a large group of LOUD HABS fans there, (sitting in the upper section),and I thought NY fans were loud!! impressive..

I GOT IT! I dreamed up the perfect trade. After reading Doug Wilson and the Sharks saying they wanted a number one defenceman, I cooked this little number up, now I’m not sure of cap issues so bear with me and Bob Gainey, if you read this, do it. Habs send D Andrei Markov, LW Sergei Samsonov and a high draft pick or prospect to Sharks for C Patrick Marleau and D Kyle McLaren. Ya gotta think big Joe Thornton would love his buddy and ol’ linemate from Boston beside him again… hmmmmm.

Not to change the subject…

Jaroslav Halak (Habs’ Goaltender prospect) in Hamilton is putting up phenomenol stats for a rookie, (save percentage .951, GAA = 1.85, 4 shut outs in 11 starts) and was named the Goaltender of the Month in the AHL for November. He has basically turned Yann Danis (who was one of last year’s goaltenders for the AHL all star team) into the backup goaltender in Hamilton.

Carey Price is also waiting in the wings. Not to fuel trade rumors or speculations, but I am sure that just about everyone would agree that the Canadiens have to deal a goaltender (or two?) No NHL team can keep two bona fide NHL starting goaltenders on their roster while leaving three top goaltender prospects withering on the vine. Still it is nice to have that luxury… If you ask me, this just shows how smart Canadiens management were a few years back while the rest of us were almost exclusively focused on Theo who?

And Marleau isn’t French Canadian if that’s one of your reasons for wanting him(a proud Saskatchewan boy).

I am ever so happy that my prediction of these two recent games was proven wrong by Les Habs; where I predicted two losses, Habs got three out of four points, although they could have possibly gotten the fourth point in a shoot out in Jersey.

Well, if the Sabres lose to the Panthers, I shouldn’t be so disappointed that La Sainte Flanelle lost to the Panthers in the second game of a two in two nights schedule on November 16th & four games in five nights, all on the road.

I think Habs fans have watched Markov grow into a very dependable #1 or #2 defenceman and now that he is a valuable asset to the team, he is a keeper and not to be traded away.

Surely, in lieu of considering a trade, all alternative solutions should be explored in order to increase/improve the effectiveness of Kovalev & Samsonov; two big money players that should be contributing more to the team effort. That is why we have Carbonneau, et al as coaches.

Too many goalies is a nice problem to have and perhaps BG may be able to turn the problem into a valuable bargaining chip for the future. At the same time, there is the problem of projecting the future NHL capability of these goalies. If you are going to select one or two to trade, hope you select the right one. The issue may to take a wait-&-see position relative to a new goalie in the league who is putting up good stats. Can that be done on a consistent basis once the opponents determine his weaknesses? If any?

Presume a good number of you noticed that Kovy was on the 1st line and Latendresse was on the 2nd line for most of the 3rd last night. Kovy and Koivu together, that could be good. Given that they are 2 of the most talented players on the team, I always by default presumed they should head the 1st/2nd lines, respectively, and then match winger(s)/center with them to “make” the line.

I think you will see those lines again next game. You could see a bit more jump in Kovy’s step when he played with Koivu last night. Bottom line, and I said this way back when (when my id was ‘bauld’) that Sammy and Kovy, despite both being Ruskies, don’t match up well together. They are both better with the puck than without.

Latendresse is really coming along - it would be interesting to see how he does on the 2nd line - maybe open up the ice a little more for Sammy. He has not only benefited like any player that plays with Koivu has, but he has also starting making some plays of his own - showing good vision on the ice.

Higgins coming back makes it even more interesting.

Kovalev + Koivu = Goals

First, let me say that I don’t watch too many Habs games, but listen to CJAD on the internet and my opinions reflect what I hear from Rick & Murray, especially Hab Murray Wilson.

I agree with HabsinBlood #11 post. I do have a concern with so much so-called goal scoring capability on one line, it allows the opposition to more effectively use their #1 checking line against us. If you are able to spread the goal scoring amongst two lines or more, it is more difficult to keep us in check. I am sure that was what every Habs fan was thinking when we acquired Samsonov to play with Kovalev.

I also agree with fanatic1 about Perreault, lives in nearby Sherbrooke [I think, during the off season] and would have been a good fit, given his goal scoring capability with Nashville last year and previously with the Habs. He must have some shortcoming that wasn’t corrected when he was with the Habs, I believe the knock on him is that he is a slow skater. But don’t his pluses outweigh his minuses? Best % faceoff person in the NHL and scores 20 goals a season.

Which brings me to Jan Bulis, another 20 goal scorer with Les Habs who thought that he belonged on the second line vs. BG who didn’t resign him.

I realize there is a need to bring in new players from the Bulldogs on a yearly basis thereby making it a difficult decision for BG to make, relative to adding a new player or keeping an older successful one and I am sure that payroll plays an important part in the decision making, but Yanic is making not much more relative to an NHL rookie.

Congrats to Mike Johnson on his exceeding most Habs fans expectations thus far and for Radek Bonk for really showing up this year. I don’t see many complaints about their play this year.

San Jose wants a number 1 D man and Andrei Markov is one or one in the making… I know Marleau is not French Canadian but he’s a gritty, talented center who would thrive here. Throwing in Samsonov for the Thornton factor and getting McLaren (a tough as nails defensive d-man) only sweetens the pot for both teams. Maybe a prospect or draft pick sweetens the deal, again I don’t know about each teams’ cap issues but I know about their needs…

um….why are we spending so much time on a would be fantasy trade that incidently makes absolutely no sense….Markov on the way to becoming a #1 D? Have you seen a game this year?….best freaking d man in the eastern conference bar none….on his way…jesus…absurd…..he’s worth Marleau and package up any other nine sharks…….ya might wanna watch the whole game on saturday instead of heading off beddie bye after the first….oh./…Markov wears # 79.

I say just go with forwards one hundred percent as our defense was no where to be seen in the victory….heck if it wasn’t for Koivu basically taking the puck out of the zone, the defense was no where to be seen…..apart from getting stupid penalties, that was the defenses contribution.

I don’t know what is wrong with Montreal’s defense though. Go Habs Go!!!!

ps i seen all but 2 habs games this year on tv. rds dont trade the dmen they are great

The perfect player would be someone that:

1.Has the talent of Koivu
2.The heart of Begin
3.Build like Latendress and tall like him as well
4.Resistent like Rivet

Question: Are we ever going to get this player?

Well, it would be very dumb to trade Markov. He is not only our best D, but one of the best in the league. He is 28 years old and he has at least 5 more good seasons to give to the Habs. Plus he is one of the more underestimated player in this league. Im not sure but if Bob Gainey calls the Sharks manager, he will hear something like Andrei who? In fact this is really cool, can you imagine how much $$$ could he do if he was a north american?

Either Forsberg or Gagne, would be nice but what would it cost in return…

mmm…Aebischer & (Samsonov or Kovalev) or a draft pick (I would consider it)

as for all the comments about trades…It’s pretty simple (IMHO), if the floaters continue to do just that then they are useless to us…

Since we are in the enviable position of having a pretty good showing in the standings then we want to stay there or strengthen ‘that’ position even more.

It doesn’t mean we want to get rid of everyone and anyone that makes errors. Hell, just stop doing the same errors game in game out. As for the floaters, especially the ones who are there to produce (the argument can be made that everyone should be there to score, but no we have spent big $$$ and these same floaters are not putting in a return…so that’s what spurns the trade talks…

so yes, the team is far better than the previous versions but there is still inconsistency, bad penalties and poor defensive plays, and obviously the lack of scoring punch. (I think everyone would jump for joy if we saw Kovalev and Samsonov punch in a 2g and 3a nightly effort). Heck I’d even shout for restructuring their current contracts….but let’s face it, right now they’re going for the ride as passengers…we need them to direct and lead the boat as part of the crew!!

So here we are facing the Sabres…let’s play 60 minutes, stop the puck giveaways and the bad penalties and we should be in for a heck of a game. Go Habs Go!

score tonight, habs 3- sabres 2

Bonk wasn’t brought in to score goals…if he developed into this then that’s an extra bonus.

Both Kovalev and Samsonov are goal scorers and that’s what they need to do. At the very minimum skate like hell and make things happen. Right now they are invisible. Remember Kovalev when he made things happen against Boston and then versus Carolina in the playoffs well, that’s why he’s getting paid the $$. That’s why we are expecting better things and effort from him. Samsonov can probably be better bait than what he is doing for us. (IMO). Besides waiting another year before they wake up (like Bonk) is too risky and then they’re value will be peanuts. Go Habs Go!

Facts for IZZY: Habs have 4 unrestricted FAs in July (Markov 79, Souray 44, Rivet 52, Niinimaa 6). Cap issues say they can’t retain all of them.

Show me a network that carries or covers anything about the habs,(Other than RDS) I said it before and I will say it again it’s because the Habs are from Quebec and the rest of the country looks down on Quebec, Just hearing Bob Cole call a leafs-Habs game make me wanna put my foot thru the TV, Mats this and Mats that.

yeah, unless you’re part of LEAFS NATION, the rest of the country could care less. And , on LEAFS TV, they have a show,”AFTER THE HORN”, after each leaf’s game. it’s on for 90 minutes, and all they talk about is, that game. it’s sickening, but I love to watch it, but, only if the leafs lost the game. I think Buffalo has been alittle complacent recently, so now would be the time to try and beat them. if we don’t put in a 60 minute effort, and if Huet is off his game, expect a loss. I don’t know if you guys have noticed it, but Saturday night games, recently, have ended in losses for us. I don’t know why, but we aren’t playing well on Saturday’s. Please prove me wrong tonight!