Playoff Preview?
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The trade deadline has come and gone and the criticism about the Canadiens lack of activity was harsh.
The bottom line is it has passed and the Canadiens still have 16 games remaining and a playoff birth on the line.
If the playoffs started today, the Habs and Sabres would be squaring off in Buffalo and that just so happens to be exactly what’s on schedule for tonight.
Earlier in the year a Habs and Sabres game was always exciting and entertaining as two of the quickest teams in the East kept a fierce pace for 60 minutes or more.
These days the Sabres have been hit hard by injuries and the Canadiens are playing their best version of Jekyll and Hyde hockey.
If the Canadiens play the way they did against the Leafs, skating, forechecking and finishing every single hit - they look like they can compete with any team in the league.
If they play the way they did in New York, they’d have trouble beating some Pee Wee teams.
Consistency is lacking. Big time.
The Habs usually ‘get up’ for a game against the Sabres and they will have to be ready to play every remaining game if they hope to not squander their season and finish 9th or worst.
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March 2nd, 2007 at 10:49 am
42 R habs 4 real “Name me another defenseman that has scored 20 or more goals, 2 YEARS IN A ROW? Savard didn’t, neither did Robinson or Lapointe, or for that matter Orr.�
Orr??? Are you people hockey fans or morons????
Bobby Orr scored 20+ goals in a season 7 times in a row including 30+ 4 times and a 46 goal season before injuries took him from us forever! And Guy Lapointe scored 20+ goals in a season 3 times in a row!!!
Why do I even bother with some of you?
ANYWAYS!!!!!!!!
Habs take Buffalo tonight in a tight one and beat Boston tomorrow in another close one… ****, aren’t all Montreal’s games ‘close ones’?
When’s the last time this team had an good ol’ fashioned blow-out in their favour? Okay Monday against Toronto but Abby let them back in the game in the 3rd period.
Who plays goal in these back-to-back games? Does Abby get Buffalo and Jaroslav “the Czech Steve Penney� Halak get Boston? Or vice-versa?
Also, like Rob, I’m looking for Kovalev, Higgins and Ryder to catch fire going into the playoffs! Dark horse is always Sergei Samsonov, hopefully, he also explodes into a force for this stretch run.
Watch, if the Habs do make the post-season, they’ll steal a round unless some ******* goes and sticks his Sher-Wood into someone’s eye again.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:29 am
55 smiler2729
Posted on March 2nd, 2007 at 10:26 am. About ‘Eastern Playoff Race’.
Habs take Buffalo tonight in a tight one and beat Boston tomorrow in another close one… ****, aren’t all Montreal’s games ‘close ones’?
When’s the last time this team had an good ol’ fashioned blow-out in their favour? Okay Monday against Toronto but Abby let them back in the game in the 3rd period.
Who plays goal in these back-to-back games? Does Abby get Buffalo and Jaroslav “the Czech Steve Penney� Halak get Boston? Or vice-versa?
What about both games by Halak????
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:55 am
Are you guys parrots, or what?
In answer to your repetitive reply, (4 times), remember that Orr was unlike any other defenceman you woud ever see. There will NEVER be another Orr. He was truly magnificant. My point is, his +- ratings, were also EXCELLENT, unlike piss poor SOURAY’s DEFENSIVE STATS! As far as Lapointe is considered, his +- ratings, were EXCELLENT as well! And Souray(with his great shot), didn’t score 20 goals last year. How come? I’m telling you guys, NEXT YEAR HE WILL NOT SCORE 20 GOALS! Just like McCabe couldn’t either. It’s a huge mistake to resign him. How are you going to feel when players again, go around him to score goals that affect the game? He’s too slow, and a MAJOR DEFICIT TO OUR DEFENCE. Anyways that’s only my opinion. But I would take a stay at home defenceman, who will protect you, instead of allowing the opposition to score.
I bet we find a D man with a good shot. Here’s your choice: a D man who has a great shot, but will take stupid penalties and cause your team to lose, and NEVER PROTECT YOU, or one who has an average shot, but WON’T TAKE STUPID PENALTIES, AND WILL ALWAYS PROTECT YOU?
Besides, CHARA has a harder shot than Souray, and is a much better defenceman!
AS far as the games this weekend, I predict the habs will play hard tonight, (considering they didn’t show up on Tuesday), and win the game in OT or a shootout. But we all know they never win the 2nd of back to back games, so I predict they will lose to Boston on Saturday. For some reason, they never have energy in the 2nd of back to back games. Don’t know why. Other teams seem to play well. Guess because Kovalev sets the example, and the rest of the team follows, like sheep. And no, I don’t think Kovalev will turn it on.He’s had 3 years to turn it on,and no improvement. Face it guys, we are a 1 line team, so better hope Higgins and Ryder score in bunches.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
R Habs 4 Real, I betcha a pint of whatever beer you want Sheldon Souray scores 20+ goals again next season (in Montreal).
Ugh, you know how the Sabres have their uniform numbers on the front of their right shoulder on their jerseys? Next year, ALL TEAMS as per Gary Buttman will be sporting that… so we can be more like the NBA. Somebody stop this guy.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hey Smiler: I don’t drink beer, but I drink good wine, kind of pricey. But in order for Souray to score all those goals, he first has to still be here, right? After reading other blogs, Ganey is NOT going to give him more than
5 mil/ season, and that just won’t cut it. Look at their cap. Read “Canadiens trade rumours”, and then you’ll see the financial problems. That’s one of the reasons why I said we should get rid of him. Unfortunately, McCabe killed it ,(or maybe Fergie JR did) for signing him for so much over his value. Sure, Souray will talk with Gainey, but will want more than Gainey can afford. Gainey will probably offer about 4.75/season, and Souray will say, “Thanks, but no thanks”. Remember we still need cap room to go and get a center, and maybe another goal scorer. They’re talking about maybe bringing Zubrus back again. I don’t know about that, but Ryan Smyth would be awesome. But we never get the great players, so I’m not holding my breath. Besides maybe Smyth will resign with NYI. I know 4 players for sure who will leave us: Ninny, Murray, Downey and Aebishit, thank god. We should also send Bamsonov to the AHL, and trade Kovalev. Bonk, Johnson, and Pleks stay,as a checking line. Hope they also get rid of Dandy, and maybe trade Bouillon?
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Higgins and Perezhogin questionable for tonights game…
http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=ca190af9-72f5-4c57-9190-9601a5ab5d54&k=68657
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I’d take Souray over McCabe any day so $5 million+ sounds like a wise investment for the power play cannon, the leader in dressing room and the good ol’ Canadian grit that Sheldon brings…
Zubrus would be alright if he’s better than the Zubrus that left here 5 years ago but I’m kinda tired of soft, skilled Euro types.
I don’t have a problem with Mathieu Dandenault but I never saw anything special in little Frankie Bouillon so I’m with you on that one as well as shipping out the rest of the deadwood that can’t perform up to their standards…
I wonder if Gainey will pull a blockbuster to land Lecavalier or someone of his ilk (preferrably North American) to alter the core of this team like speculation says he wants to. Been a long while since we had a French Canadian superstar (Pierre Turgeon, and then Houle trades him for Corson, WTF!)
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
And we did not trade Souray, Kovalev, Dandy, Bouillon, Ninny,…… so quit whining because this is the team we have going to the playoffs and it not going to change until the season is over…. Resume after the season when something can actully happen… We all know you are dissatisfied with lack of movement at the trade deadline but we have some high picks, salary room, and UFA’s to for moment at year end. You can make reference to all the blog posts to remind us of the distaste for their decisions…
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:01 pm
The article in Post #6 also refers to a Josh Gorges debute… Moving Striet up to forward. Scary thing Souray with the newbie????
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I’m not whining. I like the guys we have, don’t love them but like. I never wanted Souray traded and thought getting Gorges and a 1st rounder for tired old Rivet was genius so you ain’t talking to me.
Maybe Josh Gorges can cover Souray’s defensive liabilities…
Montreal 4, Buffalo 3
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm
1 thing we can do during the off season, is to follow the steps of Detroit for signing contracts. For every contract a player signs with their organization, they put in a performance clause, and incentives. So, in other words, a player gets a base salary, and any additional amount of $$$ based on how they performs, ie. how many goals they score, +- rating, etc. Imagine if Kovalev’s contract was set up that way. That’s the way it should be, for him, or any other player on our team. You would see, a completely different desire and attitude from key players. No wonder Detroit does so well every year. what a classy and smart franchise. Kudos to them, and if I had to pick 2 teams to win the cup this year, NJ and Detroit would be my picks, with Dallas as a dark horse.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I was not referencing anyone in particular and do not want to discourage any interesting hockey talk, but I think it is time to move on from trade and waivers(would of, could of, never will be’s) and focus on the playoffs, which are just around the corner.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I like Detroit too to win it all but they seem to be getting injuries now (Hasek, Zetterberg, Bertuzzi) and both Datsyuk and Zetts have yet to even show they are the player in the playoffs that they are in the regular season…
I like New Jersey too because they’ll just bore the **** out of any opposition by standing 5 guys across the blue line after they pot their one goal of the game… Only team I know that skates 4 checking lines consisting of 3 stay-at-home forwards on each, BORING! Dallas has become the same way…
Darkhorses: Gotta like Vancouver, Pittsburgh and Buffalo…
Coincidence or voodoo? The Habs last three coaches are all leading their teams to the top of the standings (Vigneault - VAN, Therrien - PGH and Julien - NJ)… Again, proof that Montreal eats its own.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I like the R habs 4 real suggetion of performance based salaries but it may be a hard sell to the players with other quick and easy money offers. I say flat $4.5 for Sheldon to start with a $500k bonus for 20 goals increasing increments of $250k for every 10 goals over 20, and $500k for a positive +/-.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
RDS saying Abby will be in Net, while TSN “ice chips” saying Jaro most likely to get the start???!?!
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I think that Habs fans may also need to face the fact that until Huet recovers. Aebischer is likely the starter for the majority of the next 16! Halak won some games, and did well in a fe3w starts, but Aebischer has to become the go to guy in nets now.
It’s high drama time. Watch the prima donnas start to shine and enjoy the show.
Smiler, we already know that Montreal eats their own. You probably don’t need to convince the rest of us anymore.
Montreal 5 Buffalo 3
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Jaro Halak week on the stick side and Abby can’t catch a beach ball lately,put Abby on left side and Halak on right side.This is another important game for fans of the Habs ,too bad the flu bug still plagues the team,what timing! But don’t worry ,KOVALEV will save the day …Russian roulette anyone??? I’m thinking its the Sens that are going to take it all at this point,which don’t tickle me fancy ,but it does show-cast how Canadian style hockey is the only style,its superior to the Euro *** style that’s being forced on all the fans!OLAY OLAYOGAYOGAY
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I would bet on Abby in the Net for the remander unless he shows a solid game. Halak even in his losses has shown more confidence than Abby who will most likely not be a Hab come July…
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
correction blog post 18 - I would NOT bet on Abby…
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Senators have a lot of Euro’s and Russians with a Swedish capton??? There best player is Heatley from West Germany.
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
If we put Aebishit in nets, we are doomed! The guy has no confidence, and can’t catch anything. With him, it’s a painful death! Anyone in nets, but him!
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:19 pm
It’s ‘Berth’ not ‘Birth.’
Sheesh.
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
lol
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I think that was a shot at you HabsBlog lol
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Aebischer is in nets. Oh Damn! forget this game! Can’t win with Aebishit in nets!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:13 pm
don’t worry we have KOVALEV?
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:13 pm
I told you people. AEBISHIT ALREADY LET IN 2 GOALS! ONLY 2 MINUTES GONE BY IN GAME! HE’S A DEATH WISH ! IF HE PLAYS AGAIN, I HAVE ZERO RESPECT FOR CARBO!!!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Rhabs4real ,come on Buds,I’m not a Abby fan but its like he’s the only Hab on the ice!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:20 pm
It was not his fault alone but there is no point in telling some people anything because they are always right .
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
OUR NEW D MAN IS ALLREADY -2,LOL
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Yeah poor guy getting stuck with that in his first game, he was a +5 and plays around 18 minutes a game and he is young, too bad for him.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
What do you expect? He’s playing on a team with players who don’t care,and it shows! Carbo was forced to take a timeout only 2 minutes into the game. They weren’t ready. How many times have we heard that before?
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
***** smarten up, are we Gonna get rolled by buffalo, faggots!!! Come on
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
The Habs were in a position to be a legitimate contender this season, but they fell apart. The essential need for a goaltender wasn’t addressed at the deadline, which also sends a negative message to the players.
They’re finished this season, folks. ****. If this isn’t clear now, it will be several games from now.
I hate to be negative but they aren’t showing much at all that’s positive.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
The Habs have to control the play and the puck in there end ,you could cinder block the front of the goal and they would still score,WE NEED MORE SIZE ON THE DEFENCE…….
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:49 pm
There is absolutely NO EMOTION from these players. If these were boys, Carbo should take his belt off and whip their asses! That’s what they deserve. Knock some emotion and desire into them, because THEY’RE TOTALLY LIFELESS!
They’re playing like they don’t give a damn and aren’t interested in making the playoffs. I feel sorry for Gainey! He really has his work cut out for him!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I read somewhere that Pat Burns might be interested in coaching again. Bring him on! Carbo doesn’t know how to handle these prima donnas. Carbo will be fired if habs don’t make the playoffs. It’s his job to get his players motivated, and he failed miserably!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Burns never won a cup as coach of the Habs and the one he got in N.J. was handed to him. Carbo needs players like Ryan Smyth not Kovalev
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Nice goal by KOMASARIK,hell of a tip in,yikes!!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:08 pm
yeahyeah always about Kovalev or some other guy , you guys are like broken records
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Maybe the players are angry because Gainey didn’t make any trades. It makes sense, because they played great on Monday, but next game, right after draft day, there was no effort. All the years I’ve watched this team, I have never seen such lack of intensity or desire. It’s a really sad situation, because we’re being embarrassed every game now. Oh my God!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
see the difference Don, Souray =leader =goals
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
lapierre,best player on the ice
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 pm
flood gate is open
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Ok,nice interview KOVALEV,NOW START POTING IN THE FREEKING GOALS MAN!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 pm
the penalties are killing us. all those penalties because we’re too lazy to knock the puck off their sticks. The need to move their feet.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
****!!, Carolina won…If they Habs don’t win, they’ll be at the 9th spot..
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I am feeling sorry for Abby,poor ******* doesn’t know if he’s coming or going,lol
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:18 pm
A h,Carbo,maybe goalie changing time!
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I was going to say that the Habs have to score 6 to win hockey games these days, but it appears that that number is rising. Maybe they should put Souray in net. No, that would hurt their offence.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
We need to get rid of EVERY SINGLE DEFENCEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Toronto won too. we’re in 9th and fading fast. I predict we’ll finish in 11th place, no better.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
If Carbo starts Abby one more time then we can all be very critcial of poor poor coaching. At this point Abby can’t be counted on for anything….we have a better shot with Halak and Leighton……or call up Jablonski and Hayward…
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 pm
But the defence kept giving away the puck all night long too, so Aebishit could sue his D for lack of support. Demers said on RDS, that Leighton should start the next game. He’s right. Aebishit should never play another game for us. He allowed 7(1 was an open net) goals. you can’t expect to win when you give your opponent a 3-0 lead to begin the game. If you don’t play 60 minutes, you aren’t going to win, and they continually REFUSE TO PLAY THE ENTIRE 60 MINUTES! As a fan, it’s so frustrating, because the effort isn’t there, and when they score alot, there’s no defence! It’s a catch 22. I see no way out.
Bouillon, Dandenault, and the other useless D men must go!
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 am
OK, I missed the game, but scrap everything that I said about Aebischer in post #16.
Perhaps more thought needs to be given to the goaltending situation. Maybe giving Leighton a shot is a reasonable next step. I watched him in a Philly-Detroit game recently and he looked pretty sharp.
Does anyone know whether Carey Price can legally be called up at this point? I know it would be terrible to rush a goaltending prospect, but that guy already seems to actually thrive on pressure.
Cue the prima donnas or let the fat lady start singing!
March 3rd, 2007 at 1:06 am
I don’t care who you put in there,if you want to destroy his career ,put a C.H.on him and throw him in as goalie,and I’m not jokeing. Souray,Markov KOMASARIK AND Georges are keepers and then the Habs need at least 2 more Dmen that have to be big burly control freaks and one of 2 has to have a rocket! That combined with the proper two way ,big new North American forwards two replace the likes of Kovalev,Saku,Samsonov,who are good players but don’t fit the needs of the team and cost two much,will amazingly fix any goal-tending problems, guaranteed
March 3rd, 2007 at 1:15 am
Eff this. Who effing cares about the goalie situation? If somebody on the team is slumping, slap the pads on them and put THEM in nets. Aebischer is not even AHL quality, so we might as well make it into a good ol’ fashioned game of shinny if we’re going to expect the Montreal Canadiens to play in front of this character.
The only thing I really like about Abby is that he kind of reminds me of myself; he plays exactly how I would play if they strapped the pads on me and said “Go play nets young man! Go play nets!”
March 3rd, 2007 at 2:53 am
Why are we still posting? The season’s been over 2 months ago.
Let’s keep going to the game’s and giving these bums money.
Ask me one question:
Why was Claude Julien fired while Carbo is doing even worse?
How can you allow this bull and justify firing Julien?
Sorry but guys talking penalty’s in the offensive zone cannot be tolerated.
This team makes me sick. It’s like watching an ex-girlfriend and hoping she fails in life.
I hope this team, managment and players burn in hell.
The have shamed us all! Shame! Shame!
Richard is rolling in his grave.
IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE!
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:47 am
dON’T BRING UP PRICE, WHAT A WAY TO RUEN HIM, THIS TEAM SUCKS, CAN’T NAME ONE GOOD PLAYER
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:48 am
dON’T BRING UP PRICE, WHAT A WAY TO RUEN HIM, THIS TEAM SUCKS, CAN’T NAME ONE GOOD PLAYER, ALL THIRD LINE PLAYERS
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:39 am
As a fan, I’ve lost complete confidence in David Aebischer and it’s quite apparent the Montreal Canadiens have also. It’s hard to play for a goalie that can’t make a crucial stop and is constantly out of position because his game is basically a guessing game, not a reflex game.
He’s turned into Jose Theodore and I’m pretty sure he’s started his last game for the Canadiens. Like I’ve said, I’ve followed Michael Leighton’s career (don’t ask me why) since he was a Blackhawk and he’s got the stuff to be a successful goalie so I have no problem with him and Halak spelling each other but the question I have is both Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour were seemingly available as rentals and no team including Montreal acquired them which leads me to believe the asking price was retarded or they have no-trade clauses… too bad, at least they would inspire some kind of confidence and comfort for the skaters in front of them.
Although Abby’s a sieve, can he really be blamed for every goal? Of course not but I’m blaming him anyway. I’ll tell you one thing though, the new NHL crackdown has really altered the way the Habs’ defence plays where 2 years ago, Souray would just pummel a guy near his goalie, he can only watch now. There has to be a happy medium discovered here because we need a tight shield of defence to compliment the fact that this team can skate with any opponent. Oh yeah and a 60 minute effort would nice eh.
Montreal 5, Boston 1. It’s getting to be ‘too little, too late’ time though.
P.S. Martin Brodeur’s lifetime record vs. the Leafs is now 12-13-8. What… the… ****!
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 am
The only difference between this team and the team we saw in the begining of the year is CONFIDENCE…and the reason Aebisher is getting all or most of the blame (BESIDES THE FACT THAT HE SIMPLY SUCKS!)is because without better than average goaltending, this team just can’t compete!
That is to say it’s too easy to become deflated when your goalie let’s in a 22 mph floater from the opposition’s blue line!!!
What I truely do NOT understand is why we didn’t get some experienced goaltending help at the deadline…at least Joseph or Belfour could have helped us gain a little momentum for the end of the year!!!
People were screaming that we didn’t pick up Biron…I too would have loved to see this however there was NO WAY Buffalo was going to let him go to a team in there own division!!
So this winds down another season for our beloved HABS and next season will be a new one, hopefully with a better more experienced team,I’d love to see Carbo get the AXE but that won’t happen because a GM can not fire 2 coaches in 2 years, it makes him look liable! I hate to sound like I’ve given up on the season that promised soooo much back in november/december…But promises are made to be broken…And broken is what this team is, with no fix in sight!
Go HABS Go! In OCTOBER
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 am
Yeah, Aebischer is making me sick. You’d think with Huet out this would be a golden opportunity to prove he’s still a quality NHL goalie seeking a new contract from some team for next year but time and time again, Abby doesn’t make the big saves in the big games. If Halak had started against Buffalo, the final probably would have been 5-3 Habs. So the Habs play the Bruins tonight and if they win, which they should, does this mean they’ll sneak into 8th or just delaying scheduling April tee-times. Tune in later …
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 am
No use crying about Belfour and Cujo…
First, (and I’m repeating myself here cuz nobody reads or understands) NO TEAM PICKED THEM UP probably because A) the asking price was way too much or B) they have no-trade clauses! Go ahead and slag Gainey for that.
Second, I really deep down don’t want any part of anything Toronto Maple Leaf.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 am
On a side note Rivet put in a goal for San Jose…
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:44 am
i love the habs and because i care I am not going to silently support wrong decisions and all we’ve done is make wrong ones all year wrong..someone tell me how abby got 25 starts this year when we had a healthy ALL STAR on our team who could have played 90% of the games?? and don’t say it’s because huet wasn’t great…neither was luongo the first half but the canucks started him every game and raycroft the same and both have confidence and are playing great now…the habs didn;t show huet and respect or support…abby should have never been traded to us in the first place..he shouldn’t have been able to share the starts and he should have got traded at the deadline..this season is over..start the young guys cause we got nothing to lose
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
QUESTION FOR ANYONE..i need to take a break from my habs bashing anyways…CAN ANYONE TELL ME>…when was the last time a defenseman led his team is goals scored for a season? maybe souray will be the first?
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 am
From what I’ve read, Souray will be the 1st defenceman to lead his team in goal scoring.
I looked at Bobby Orr’s great seasons but Phil Esposito always outscored him.
Paul Coffey in the Oiler dynasty? That Gretzky guy outscored him in his big goal years.
Blackhawk Doug Wilson’s 39 goals in ‘81-’82 eclipsed by Al Secord’s 44.
Even Detroit’s Flash Hollett’s 20 goals in ‘44-’45 beaten by forwards Joe Carveth (26), Mud Bruneteau and Carl Liscombe (23 each)…
So it means our forwards either can’t score or the scoring is well spread out among them all, hmmm, which is it?
Makes Sheldon all the more valuable eh.
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
What is scoring anyway?
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I’m not sure, bit I think Gonchar led the caps in scoring in 2000.
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Last 50+ goal scorer - Stephane Richer, 51, 1989-90
Last 40+ goal scorer - Vince Damphousse, 40, 1993-94
Goal scoring leaders of the past 10 seasons:
1996-97 Mark Recchi, 34
1997-98 Mark Recchi, 32
1998-99 Martin Rucinsky, 17!
1999-00 Sergei Zholtok, 26
2000-01 Brian Savage, 21
2001-02 Yanic Perreault, 27
2002-03 Richard Zednik, 30
2003-04 Richard Zednik, 26
2005-06 Michael Ryder, 30
What happened???
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Gonchar had 26 but Bondra had 39 in ‘01-’02.
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
The Czech Steve Penney starts tonight against Boston… duh, Carbo.
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Slovak Steve Penney, but anyway … does anybody get the sense that Gainey’s lack of activity at the trade deadline was just to ensure that nothing too valuable was given up before Draft Day? With 2 picks per round over the first 3 PLUS a lot more cap space PLUS a good variety of fair to excellent prospects, Gainey could be like Darryl Sutter nabbing Tanguay the year before. I hope he makes a serious pitch for Lecavalier. I would be willing to lose a lot to get him in a Habs jersey. He’d be exactly what the team needs - an elite franchise center with size who can produce and lead. Olli Jokinen or Marleau are also in that same kind of category. Things do look bleak now but if Gainey does it right in the offseason (i.e. big trade which impresses potential UFAs with management’s commitment to winning) the Habs could only be a few tweaks away from being contenders next year rather than having traded a Higgins or Komisarek to be pretenders this year.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Hey Kev, the playbooks gonna remain the same regardless of which face you put in or the types of moves they make on the ice, ie: Samsonov stickhandling, or Johnson falling over…
You could have Crosby, Ovechkin, Bertuzzi and heck even the hotest goalie but if they follow the same plays next year, it’ll be much of the same. Just like the Russians never win in international play cause everyone has figured them out.
Montreal is old hat now, Carbo’s and Gainey’s game has been figured out. All the other team has to do is park someone in front of the net, pass on the boards, and just outmuscle at the blue line and a quality shot and it goes in.
Whether the trade goes on now or the summer, big difference, in the summer the stakes and the salary goes higher, players demand six year no trade clauses in the summer, during the trade deadline none of that is there and negotiations begin based on actual proven play. That is what did Gainey in, waiting until the summer and paying through the nose for the likes of Ninnima, Samsonov and Johson, only to see they don’t fit in.
But Gainey is no Darryl Sutter, he has not sense of timing or no sense of what the Habs should be like. We are committing the same mistake that has Toronto going on fifty years without a cup, mixing and matching players only to get a team that doesn’t play as a team.
Very few of the habs play together as a team. The only ones are the rookies. Even Kovalev and Koivu don’t pass the puck to each other when they are on the ice together. No one hardley passes the puck to Kovalev anymore. Souray just shoots the puck cause he’s learnt the only way for the Habs to win now is individual play.
That is not exactly a team.