Sinking Ship
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Let’s quickly summarize last night’s games to give you an idea of what’s happened to the Canadiens.
Boston: 2 points
Carolina: 2 points
NYI: 2 Points
Toronto: 1 point
Tampa Bay: 2 pointsMONTREAL: 0 Points
This has been more or less a nightly occurrence for the past several weeks. The Canadiens getting no points and their Eastern rivals winning, or managing that extra point in an OT loss.
On the contrary, the Canadiens get shut out at home to a nearly 42 year old goaltender and a non playoff team.
There is a very real chance that one team misses the Playoffs by a single point. Should the Habs miss the playoffs you might look at last night as the night that cost them.
Were the Canadiens awful? Arguably. The least you can say is they did play a better game than the two against Ottawa.
Ed Belfour stood on his head as he has now earned the title of Hab Killer along with Erik Cole and Justin Williams and several others. The Habs hit several posts and couldn’t find a bounce all game including a 5-3 in the dire minutes of the 3rd. Is that good enough? Of course not. Not for a team that wants to be in the playoffs.
There is certainly some disturbing numbers on the Habs right now. I’ll share just a few…
They’ve allowed the first goal 9 games in a row. The Canadiens don’t win when they don’t score first. Their confidence tanks the minute a goal is allowed.
Their first line doesn’t produce, and worse than that they allow goals like their going out of style.
Saku Koivu is -16. When your first line Center and your Captain is that bad, what does that say about the team? The most troubling thing is Koivu’s expression on the bench is lifeless, tired, cold. Not characteristics of a Captain leading his team back on track.
Michael Ryder is -21 . 6th WORST +/- in the entire NHL.
Chris Higgins could not score on a soccer net at this point. Since his injury he hasn’t been the same. In recent games he’s looked like the Higgins of old but can not bury one and get the monkey off his back.
Pause for a moment and look at the Standings. The Canadiens sit in 8th place. Isn’t this where they are supposed to be? Isn’t this where they always are? Are we expecting too much of a rookie coach, a rookie starting goalie and a team that’s generally low on skill?
Look at the last few years:
05/06: 7th place.
03/04: 7th place.
02/03: 10th place.
01/02: 8th place.One could argue we are right on track, and lucky to be there. The bitterness and frustration comes from knowing not long ago the Canadiens held the 2nd highest point total in the East and routinely beat or challenged teams like the Sabres and Thrashers.
What next? The Habs play tonight in New Jersey. The chances of winning, very slim.
If you are a betting man you could safely bet the farm tonight on a Canadiens loss. They have won once in NJ in close to 20 games. If they have so much trouble with the Panthers they will certainly have their hands full with the Devils who are rolling along.Stranger things have happened, and maybe a good dance with Devils will put them back on track. More likely, the Canadiens will miss out on 2 more points.
Leave a Comment
February 14th, 2007 at 10:52 am
They’ll definitely lose tonite against Martin Brodeur. The story of the season won’t be the lost points in shootouts/OT but the team’s inability to play with anyone 5-on-5.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:57 am
See my last post on the last heading.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Big Brother alert! Big Brother alert! All persons who can type, spell or read are being edited!
THM will reincarnate, the rest of the hockey world is laughing their asses off far too hard for THM to die on this site!
Vive le free speech!
Vive le right to TYPE WITH CAPITALS AND USE A LOT OF PUNCTUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
February 14th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Typical government worker slacking on the job….
February 14th, 2007 at 11:43 am
cmon HB….lets at least have some fun with a pool of some type….winner gets to write the next blog headline ( with your approval of course )…
I’m saying 5 -1 devils tonight
any takers?
February 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Kovalev and Koivu when asked this am if they were nervous about tonights game said ” is it payday yet?”
February 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Devils 15- Habs 3.5
February 14th, 2007 at 11:52 am
thefourhtperiod reports:
Two other teams also were willing to part with a first-round pick for Nagy, but Phoenix opted to trade with the Stars because Dallas was ready to deal Monday. “I wasn’t expecting to go to Dallas,” Nagy said after practicing with the Stars in Frisco Tuesday morning. “They told me I am going to Toronto or Montreal and I should prepare to move. Then the GM suddenly called me and told me Dallas.”
February 14th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Typical government worker slacking on the job
Let me edit that for you as it applies to your team:
Typical Montreal Canadien skater slacking on the job
February 14th, 2007 at 11:57 am
If the Habs are right where they usually are in February like the previous seasons, then what’s the big worry?
I think our expectations are way too high for this bunch and yeah, the great start (the goaltending and special teams carried them) but they just really aren’t that good right now talentwise.
Like I’ve said, Saku Koivu’s not a number one center type but a great number two guy but Canadiens management has built the team around him now for a decade with him as their cornerstone! Yes, he’s good, even great sometimes but to put that kind of pressure on him is a little much. I’m not saying he’s the problem or even to trade him but he’s not the guy to carry your offense and your team to great heights but rather an impportant cog in the big wheel. So when will Montreal land that true number one superstar center??? Will it be via trade or is he in the system??? So close we were to drafting Sidney Crosby in that post-lockout lottery draft, one can only dream eh…
I, personally, like Sergei Samsonov as a player. I don’t expect him to score 30 to 50 goals a season which everybody seems to but I know he can be productive but the stress put on him here by the fans and media would be enough to crush anyone. I also like Alexei Kovalev but he continues to amaze me at his lack of production and that is maddening, he is one Hab I’d like to see dumped on some other team (sucker).
I don’t see the goaltending as being bad or great, in fact, both goalies seem to be twins of each other in style. They play technical styles and are interchangeable with each other with Huet being a little better only because he seems more unflappable and less apt to being rattled than Aebischer… but for every amazing save, they are prone to those team-killing soft goals with the real killer being the soft seems to go in way before they’re called on to make the scintillating stops, too little too late kinda thing.
The scoring is the problem here, losing 1-0 or 2-1 sucks… REALLY SUCKS. I’d rather get blown out 6-0 so I can change the channel and get on with life than sit there hoping and praying for a comeback that never comes… last night I wasted 2+ hours of my life watching that ****.
And for everyone getting on our rookie coaches, Carbo at al are learning and will be great for this team. Did Scotty Bowman win a Cup in his first year? And as for Bob Gainey, patience is a virtue yes, but if he is trying to make a deal what makes everybody think the 29 other teams are going to make things easy for him by taking his underachievers? No, they’re probably asking for Carey Price, Grabovsky, Latendresse, Higgins, Komisarek and any other building block we have! Patience is indeed a virtue.
As for the playoffs, maybe we make it, maybe we don’t, depends on the boys with the skates on and only THEM, not the coaches, or the G.M. or the fans and media.
Only time will tell…
February 14th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I split time watching yesterdays Habs and Bolts games. What a difference! The Habs play without any offensive cohesiveness whatsoever, particularly when compared with the Bolts offense. Tampa Bay beat up on Brodeur a few days ago with an organized offensive attack. Unless the Habs follow suit, Briere, Elias and friends will have them for lunch.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Montreal is the laughing stock of the entire league. Say what we will about how great Gainey is; but in actuality he is doing nothing but provoking this implosion. Gainey is simply saying this a fine and dandy by not making a trade. If nothing else an early trade two weeks ago would have shaken things up in the dressing room. But now, it’s too late; a trade now is a desperation trade; so Gainey you might as well sit on the same hands that used to hoist cups!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I suggest we dumpe the overpaid-under achieving, Kovalev, Samsonov, Bonk,
dump these 3 and replace with 3 juniors—–lets face once we miss the playoffs then lets start working on the next two years, and we don’t need
these 3 floaters. Just remember how the Canucks gave the Sedin sisters all the ice they could handle–at the expense of others–now they are one of the better
lines around—and if they had kept Carter, would be a lot better off today. So it pays to develop players, these 3 floaters above, trade them, cut them, buy them out—-WHATEVER—just get them the hell out of there, they don not deserve the honour of the beloved CH.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Apparently, Forsberg and York are going to Toronto for Wellwood and Tucker. I guess Gainey didn’t want Pete either. Actually, I don’t think he cares if they make the playoffs or not!
At least Toronto is trying to make a serious run at the post season….good for them. I was readying this morning that, get this……Gainey is in “serious” talks with Van-city about Rory Fitzpatrick!!!!! ya, can you beleive it!!!! For Komisarik…..that is a fantastic trade! We need offence, and were going after a D-man….WTF is that!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
fan4066, where did you read the Forsberg news?
Montreal has a lot of cleaning up to do after this season. The good news is that there are over 300 Free Agents this summer for the Habs to start rebuilding with.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
The problem is that this team has no offence worth mentioning, and this has been the problem for several years. The core offensive players have remained the same with similar results. When have the Habs had a player in the top 10 or even top 20 scoring at the end of a season? Over the last few years the main reason the Canadiens had any success was because the goalie was always one of the games three stars. A change is due. Remember this is, for the most part, the same players that ran Alan Vigneault, Michel Therrien and Claude Julien out of town. How are their present teams doing compared with the Canadiens? Are the Habs going to fire Carbo now? It’s time to start looking at the future; this may involve-Saku, Souray, and definitely Kovalev being put up for grabs to ensure a different future.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Keeping Souray would be a mistake, sisuhockey.blogspot.com had a good piece about the need to move him.
It’s true, without Theodore playing otherworldly the Habs would never have made those two comebacks against the Bruins if they had even made the playoffs.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
What would you trade for Vinny Lecavalier?
The Montreal offense needs an ***** (and has for years!) and Tampa Bay needs salary cap relief and a goaltender so what would you trade?
Would the Lightning even trade him now after the season he’s having? They need to unburden themselves of one of their big three (Vinny, Brad Richards and Marty St.Louis) which do you want, which do you think they’ll end up moving (I, personally, think it’ll be St.Louis)??
What would you give up to make it a true blockbuster getting the Florida French Connection of Lecavalier and St.Louis to Montreal??? We’d have to give up the sun and the moon for that (the future, Price, Komisarek, Higgins and more probably!) Would ya do it?
Would Gainey dare?
February 14th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Forget trading Sheldon Souray, he’s too valuable just as much as for his offensive firepower but even more because he truly cares and bleeds for the C-H and has true Canadian grit and heart, I’d rather see Markov gone than Souray…
February 14th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
smiler2729, Gainey isn’t prepared to do anything other that pretend he is the captain of the Titanis, and go down with his ship. That’s it
February 14th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
The Titanis sunk? I know the Titanic did but the Titanis too!!!???!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
scotty did go to the finals as rookie coach with the blues.. ithink 68
February 14th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
LMAO…..sorry for the typo…all thumbs
February 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
No, I did not, gib hab. But I do know one thing. I had far better talent to do it than what this team has to work with.
Cheers,
Scotty Bowman
February 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Yeah, Scotty took the Blues to the Finals in ‘68 and ‘69 but were swept in 4 straight both times -BUT- that’s also the kooky NHL putting the Original Six in one division and the six expansion teams in their own division so there was a guarantee there’d be one of the new teams in the Finals, they were the best of the worst.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Just in passing dept…
D’ya think the NHL has just been goofy in the last decade with dumb schedules, glowing pucks and silly cartoon duck logos??
In 1968, Pittsburgh joined the NHL and had a silly cartoon penguin on skates for a logo that nobody even goofs on today!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Dear smiler2729,
I know we lost, but at leat I got my team to the finals. Thats more than I can say about my “former” 4-time Stanley Cup Championship team these days. They are lucky to win 4 games in a row these days!
Cheers,
Scotty Bowman
February 14th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Are there any New York Islanders anyone covets? Any St. Louis Blues? The Isles have a Garth Snow ready to be fleeced and the Blues will be sellers and so will the ‘Hawks, the Jackets, the Flyers and the Panthers so other than the obvious (Forsberg, Jokinen), who off these teams could the Canadiens use to help out???
February 14th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Scotty, go home, you’re drunk again!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Jokinen would be nice, but he says he wants to stay in FLA. Nash from the Jackets would be a big asset….but would it be a BIG salary too. Were losing Souray, thats a fact in the off season. Brewer would be a formidable replacement I think. Even Smolinski from Chicago may be a nice touch
February 14th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
The reality is: Souray will be gone at the end of this season,whether we like it or not. After all, why would he want to stay on this crappy team?
As far as unloading Kovalev, Samsonov, and Bonk, who would want their enormous salaries? Yes, I would love to get rid of them, but unless the habs are willing to part of their salaries, nobody will take them. And seriously, would you want Samsonov(with his 7 goals)? I say, trade Koivu, mostly because he can’t do the job for us, he certainly has never scored a lot of goals, and he’s not a #1 center anyways. He’s just too small. It’s also STALE with him here. Since he’s been here, have we finished higher than 7th place? NO
Start anew, fresh, and with UFA’s and draft picks. Here is my list of players to keep: Markov and Komisarek on D. Goalies: Huet(keep as a backup), trade Aebischer, and bring up from Hamilton halak or Danis, as a starter. Also, I think it would be a good idea to bring 1 of those goalies up before the end of the season, just to give them some NHL experience, and get them ready for next year. I would keep: Latendresse(and hope he develops next year into a bonafide scorer). Keep Higgins, and hope he rebounds. keep Begin (because of his energy). keep Streit(good utility player who can play D or on 4th line.
keep Plekanec. Ryder, Downey, Murray, Kovalev, Samsonov,Koivu, Perehzogin, need to go! Bonk? not sure yet. Lapierre keep. Begin, Lapierre and Streit would make a good 4th line.
So basically, you need to rip apart this team, and start rebuilding.
Gainey should concentrate on 2 35-40 goal scorers, no matter what the price!
If you don’t have a great 1st line, you go nowhere! Higgins, Latendresse on the 2nd line. We need to make OFFENCE A PRIORITY! And forget those little shrimpy guys like Koivu. We’ve had enough of that style of player, it DOESN’T WORK. We want a team like Atlanta or Tampa (offensively). Because when you have great offence, it makes up for the lack of talent on defence. Remember,Tampa won the cup with lousy defence.
The problem is, Carbo and Gainey were defensive specialists. and therefore put defence before offence. So, that’s why we have no offence. I guess they did a lousy job on our D too! Ok, then, GET RID OF CARBO AND GAINEY! WE’LL NEVER HAVE A TOP OFFENCE WITH THEIR MENTALITY!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
The CBJ won’t trade Rick Nash for anything… Jokinen wants to stay in Fort Lauderdale? Gee, I wonder why… Eric Brewer apparently has become totally disinterested in playing hockey (a-la-Alexander Daigle) so forget him… Smolinski’s not really a scorer but I’d take him and I’d throw all the money Gillet has at Sheldon Souray (maybe rent him out for prospects and whatever but re-sign him in July)…
I’d like Brendan Witt from NYI, tough as nails defensive defenceman… Would Columbus part with David Vyborny? And man, oh, yeah, make the Kings an offer for Mike Cammalleri!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I have said it b4, and I will say it again. They NEVER EVER should have resigned Koivu to a three year deal, with a no tradec clause. We need some power forwards that can crash the net, not guys that look like they are tip toeing through the tulips.
February 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
ya, I did read somewhere that Jokinen wants to stay in FLA. Souray is gone. Probably to LA. A friend of mine thnks they should move em out while they can get something of value for him. since he is a UFA. As for David Vyborny and Mike Cammalleri, I don’t really know much about these guys. I doubt the NYI will trade Witt, playoofs are coming, thats unless he is a FA too, I ‘m not sure. Nash would be fantastic to have, but your right, the Jackets are not movin this guy. But lets face it , he’s going nowhere in that town! He’s a waste of talent in Columbus….who puts hockey in Columbus????, oh ya Gary Betman, man, he’s gotta go!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
tony pullia, how about Gary Roberts for grit and net crashing?
February 14th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I’ve been to 3 games in Columbus, my wife’s from there and follows the Jackets like a religion and it is a good hockey town with good , knowledgeable fans that really love hockey.
I thought they’d be dummies like having the P.A. announcer point out what offside and icing is between plays but nope, they’re all into it and their arena was sold out for every game for 5 years until this year so it’s a good market for the NHL unlike Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix and Florida!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
But you’re right though, GARY BETTMAN’S GOTTA GO!
February 14th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Really….never thought Columbus whould be that good. As for Nashville, ya, bring’em to Winnipeg baby!!!!
We need a real Commish!!! Someone who appreciates the Canadian game
February 14th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Well The problem lies with the Captain. He is the man who gives leadership. he & his linemates are playing piss poor. If he cannot lead this team… it is time to give it to someone else…. didn’t begin look good with the “A” on his jersey? Maybe it should be a “C” instead…. he shows what heart is…. Rivet is a poor leader and should be Kovalev.
Here are my Picks for the captaincy,
“C” Steve Begin
“A” Saku Koivu
“A” Alex Kovalev
February 14th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
dano,
No
No
& No
They’re all ****. They all gotta go
February 14th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
The Problem is our offense…plain and simple..Huet should play every game…his worsts games this year were letting in 3-4 goals which is average considering lots of teams win games 4-3 and 5-4 even when they let in a few..the only reason huet got cold and in a slump is because cabonneau kept pullling him and benching him in favour of huet the second he plays average…he loses his confidence…who wouldn’t? we have a few excellent hockey players..kovalev samsonov koivu souray but the rest of the team is fit for jr B but the biggest problem is that even these few decent players can’t perform in this defensive system and there is no chemistry on any line or the team in general…hockey is a team game..ask the oilers last year who played as a team and won or the rangers who year after a year have a huge payroll and suck…whoever put together this team needs to be held accountable
February 14th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
This is garbage make a trade allready I didn’t want them to make trade at the start i liked the team but now it’s just a f#$%ing joke!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Well, I guess it is ultimitely Gainey’s fault, since he is the GM for 2 seasons now
February 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
a trade for vinny from tb thats a great idea smiler2729 you wanna be gm
February 14th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Wow, going to be a rough stretch to the end of the season.
The Habs have to start winning games early on, or they’re toast. They can’t always wait until the third period to get going.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Done deal: Shane Doan stays in Phoenix 5 years/$23 million so forget him…
Detroit wants some toughness, so let’s give them Aaron Downey or Garth Murray and a late round pick for Chris Chelios. Chelly could act as 6th-7th defenceman and assistant coach teaching these Hab rearguards a thing or two about breakout passes and defensive toughness, what the hell, he says he wants to play til he’s 45 and he’s only what 42-43? He should retire a Hab.
February 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Now is the time for new direction,the teams talent pool is bankrupt and it is time for a NEW BEGINING ! So wellcome to liquadation World “Habs style”. Keep a few vets and go to a youth movement. The vets must be 1}SOURAY, HE IS THE TRUE LEADER OF THE TEAM,if you want him to stay give him the big C rite now,he will stay.2}The Habs have over achieved for many years now and our smaller vets are burned out and in thier 30’s,so unless thier is a big push for steroid use,give them thanks and a chance for the cup elsewhere. 3}Because we over achieved for years our aquired younger players “bulldogs etc” are not superstar sure bets,they will have to have the coaching and the Leadership in order for that to happen. 4}NO MORE SMALL PLAYERS! 5}EVERY PLAYER HAS TO BE A TOUGH GUY, even the skate sharpener,it has to be a scary time playing the Habs.
!!! 6}Since we have defence minded managment and coaches”all with S.C.rings” ,from now on all our big D men must have cannons ,”no if ands or buts”.7}Proper trades from now on.8} It’s LETS SAVE SOME MONEY’S FOR THE END OF NEXT TRADE DEADLINE TIME,so we can do what has to be done to make the BIG SHOW !9] Make Ken Dyden the pres. You can fill in the rest. Oh yeah,10} THM LOVE’S THE CAP LOCK BUTTON ON ,SO………….. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
COuple of quick notes:
- Even if we added a player like LEcavalier it does not mean we would have a superstar. WIth the system we play he would probably only get 55 points.
- IF the team struggles eveytime Koivu struggles then we need a change in captaincy. HE goes through these midseason slumps every year and the team goes down with him.
- If Souray stays he is the obvious choice for captain.
- Need more puck moving defenceman.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
get Chelios, and call the team, “the senility squad”!
February 14th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Fan 4066;
Bring him to WInnipeg? THe MTS Center? I would love to see it but those fools should of built a bigger arena.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
LAst night was a nightmare. ONe of those games that everything goes against you and there is nothiing you can do about it. ITs one of those games if the team was on a roll that everyone would be complaining on how we deserved to win. Weird goal for FLorida opens the scoring. 5-3 goes bad, we hit two posts late including a empty netter late in the game. Wow what a nightmare.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Perusing the Los Angeles Kings blog at HockeyFutures Board, they seem to have a lot of players out there available (G Mathieu Garon, D Aaron Miller, D Brent Sopel, D Mattias Norstrom, F Derek Armstrong, F Mike Cammalleri).
Mike Cammalleri’s intriguing but that’s about it. A young quick forward with some SCORING TOUCH, wow, just imagine.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
thats true,Xhabsfan, I remember when they went and got Recchi. He was a point scorer in Philly. He comes to Mtl, and bust he’s an average player
February 14th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I respect Koivu like everyone else but what we have seen on the ice recently has been unacceptable. That penalty he took on the 5-3 was lazy and hurt the team. NOt only did it erase the last 30 secs of the 5-3 it put us aman down with less then 4 mins to play. HE has been the worst player on the ice for several games. COnstantly losing the puck on the cycle along the boards and not showing any heart in the corners or IFO the net. NO emotion on the bench and no production on the ice. I Fthe captain can get away with this effort then what would put fear into players like Kovalev and Ryder who take nights off as it is. 4.750 a year? You’ve got to be kidding me. At the state our team is in and with the salary cap we cant be giving away many for past accomplishments and events.
IN 1996 with Koivu tearing up the NHL the habs decided they would focus their future around this kid. THey then Threw TUrgeon aside trading him and COnroy for COrson and Murray Baron. THen Koivu suffered that would knee injury fromt he hit from Jeff SHantz and has never been the same. INjury after injury we continued to stand by his side knowing he would return strong. NOt only have we failed to realize he is not a star 1st line center but we have failed to pick up a 2nd center for some years now. RIbeiro was the closest we had which isant saying much. TIme for change is about.
February 14th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Recchi was more then a average player, although his first year here he did struggle. A recchi is hi s prime is exactly what this team needs. HEART
February 14th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Old players are rentals,not to many consistent keepers in the lot. Habs have a great past,now it’s time to correct the present so we can get the GLORY in the near future. D E S T I N Y
February 14th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I have said this before. (at the time-3 wks ago) I indicated that Gainey shouldn’t do a darn thing. Let the current gaggle of troops play out the year with the possibilty of rebuilding while on the golf course. BG can get a head start and commence the selling of the unproductive “assets” (role call; Koivu, Kovy, Souray, Ryder, Ninny, Downy, Murray, Streit, yadda yadda and eany meany miny moe which goalie shall we let go…)
Stuff happens we’ll learn from it and cross our fingers and reload for our centennial season in 08-09.
Just think of the Leaf Nation drowning themselves in L.Ontario when we’re winning our 25th cup in our 100th year. SWEET.
Remember; The Lafs are no closer to winning the cup than we re so let them talk all they want.
Devils 2 Habs 1 in OT
February 14th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
So,with trade deadline fast approaching, will Gainey be a seller or buyer?
I suspect a seller, unfortunately. The beginning of Dec, we were so hopeful. What a shame. heartbreaking for all habs fans. WE DESERVE A BETTER FATE!
February 14th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
A NEW TWIST…..
Just throwing this out there….
guys…suppose the habs had been in 14th spot right up until a cpl months ago, and they fought their way back to where we are today….8th spot, 2 points ahead of tranna and the isles.
wouldnt Gainey be a BUYER then?
I mean we’re in the same spot in the standings as if that had happened?
that twist should be presented to the team….ok, I know you’re big boys, but lets pretend we just got here from 14th….lets keep it going and piss those tranna people off!~
February 14th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
this from our buddy Eklund @ 5:25 pm :….sheesh….
I am also hearing more Zherdev to Montreal Rumors, and I am about to go into a meeting with a montreal source in the next few minutes to discuss a rumor I am chasing that the Habs may be in the verge of something bigger. I will report back
February 14th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
izzy, thanks now I’m sad and confused.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I just heard on a sports report that Zherdev was fined for not putting in the effort on practice drills. Is that the kind of player we want? sounds alot like Kovalev’s laziness. Forget it. Between Kovalev and Samsonov, we’re not going that direction anymore.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
this was just on the team1200 radio…..lol…
guys?…if you get tired of this bs let me know and I wont post what I fina anymore…thx
they said that san jose is very interested in sheldon souray for the playoffs.
the habs want Marc-Edouard Vlasic and a first round pick but the sharks are offering Matthew Carle instead of Vlasic.
if some of you dont know, Vlasic is a hometown boy, speaks french and english.
we all heard about the samsonov and rivet to chicago for aucoin and smolinski, which i highly doubt gainey would do it.
another rumor has Radek Bonk and Mathieu Dandenault to Minnesota for Brent Burns and Branko Radivojevic.
source team1200.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
sorry xhabsfan…
February 14th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Zherdev would be awesome!
He got kicked out of practice Sunday and flipped Hitchcock the bird.
That’s friggin’ hilarious.
He’s having a tough year because he missed training camp.
Like so many players that miss training camp they struggle during the season.
I’d love to get Berard and Zherdev. Berard would be great insurance if we lost Souray.
I just don’t know about the whole Russian thing. Do we really need another softy?
February 14th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I agree with I Am Canadien. You all are freaking cuz you want everything NOW, well it ain’t gonna happen that way, this team’s not good enough YET.
I’m a born and raised Montrealer now living outside Toronto (way far from that boring place) since 1987… I remember how Buffalo just hated both Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff back but patience won out and now look at the Sabres.
Bob Gainey’s not stupid, everybody just relax and roll with the punches, the Habs will rise again!
February 14th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I say trade what people want, if they want Kovalev, or Koivu and give us some grinder, better a grinder than some prima donna with an attitude that sinks us on a 5 on 3 or gets a stupid penalty all the time.
We need cleaning out big time, we need to get rid of almost the entire team, even the goalies, the GM, the coaches, heck even Youpie has to go. We need a total new team, sporting our classic jersey…..
February 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
SHANA NA NAH SHANA NA NAH HEY HEYHEY GOOD BYE!!!!!!! So long Bob Gainey, so long Guy Carboneau, so long Kirk Muller, So long Dougie Jarvis, you guys are on the way out….SHANA NA NAH SHANA NA NAH HEY HEY GOOD BYE!!!!
February 14th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Maybe we can ask George Gillett and save us the torment, forfeit all games cause the habs are not gonna even make it to the playoffs and spend all this time shutting down the team. Disenfranchise for a year, release the contracts and rebuild from the ground up. The whole organization is in a problem. I bet Bettman would support shutting down the habs for a year, if only to get rid of the likes of Kovalev and Koivu and Samsonov….it may hurt, but its less painless than watching this cancer called the Habs Now….Honestly, its drastic but if that is what it takes to find decent hard working and eager hockey players, it is worth it. You would have thought with the lock out that Gainey would rebuild the team, but did he? No.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Don’t forget Bettman , Gillett and abunch of stinking bad ref’s.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I just keep em coming:
Yvon Pednault of RDS says Bob Gainey and Gauthier are in New Jersey tonight working hard to land a top centre and are looking at the possibility that Martin Gelinas may become available… no mention of who that top centre could be…
February 14th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Everybody mentions Samsonov, Kovelev and Koivu as the problems in MTL. What about Higgins and Ryder? The Europeans aren’t the only ones stinking up our offence.
I’ve just mentioned 5 guys that aren’t producing, wtf? Gainey do something, I’m tired of going to bed pissed off!
February 14th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Higgy’s a keeper ,he’s got the jinx that’s all.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Hey Dan it’s everyone on the habs organization is not producing, like even the damn janitors are getting hooking penalties and all they do is pick up the garbage, oh wait they’re not even doing that either. Even Youpie, the ******* sits through most of the game too, I say trade Youpie….
Even Montreals Doctor there, let the ambulance guys do the work too, and word has it, Gainey had to bring them in from Ottawa cause the Habs ambulance people were busy drinking six packs….honestly. Even Lapresse is not doing their job either as journalist….
Tell me anyone on the habs team who is doing something, okay, Plekanec and Bonk when they really want to, but the rest of the game they are back on their heels watching Souray give the puck away….
No wonder the refs pick on the habs, who wouldn’t, wouldn’t you be pissed to see these multimillionaire slobs just doing the easy thing like hooking and slashing and shooting the puck away?
February 14th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I agree Higgins is almost untouchable, ALMOST!
The only great thing about living outside Toronto is living closer to Hamilton.
I get to watch more of our Bulldogs.
Guys let me give you an update: THERE AWESOME!
Halak - what a future this guy has. Ready for the NHL. Will be better than Huet or Abby.
Chipchura - guys look up to him on the ice. Pure leader and future captain. Leads by example.
Dropped the gloves last week and beat the **** out of a Rochester player.
A. Kostistyn - The Real Deal. I don’t remember the last time we had a guy like this. Looks like a young Kovalchuk.
Milroy - Needs a chance. This kids on fire.
So bottom line. I would love to get rid of the **** and bring up these kids.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
OK , NOW I NO THERE’S BIG TROUBLE’S ON THE HABS WHEN NIINIMAA ‘S A FOWARD. Some one wake me up,I’m having the worst nightmare ever.Oh no Murray just got beat up, lol
February 14th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
That was a horrible fight, Murray got the **** beaten out of him, but not before he gave a few himself….but those rabbit punches to the back of the head, I am suprised the NHL allows those, those are dangerous.
And right after the fight you could tell the habs have given up. No fight whatsoever.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Niinima on offence? What’s next? Downey in the shootout? Embarassing!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Don’t be surprised to see Gainey git rid of some of the underacheivers in the offseason(i.e. Kovalev, Ryder, Rivet, Sammy,), but it won’t happen till the offseason.
It’s not like Gainey’s blind. He can see what’s going on but his hands are tied. It’s not like he’s not out there trying to do something but other teams can see the Habs in freefall and know that they have all the leaverage.
Plus, if you were a rival GM who the hell would you want on the Habs roster. The other GM would have to get something they want to you know.