Habs Off Season Changes
What are the most important moves the Habs need to make in the off season?
Which free agents need to be re-signed?
Which free agents need to be pursued?
Who needs to be brought up from Hamilton?
Which players absolutely must go?
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 2:28 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Montreal has to do something with Steve Begin. He hurts the team with his penalties and although it’s good that he’s feisty, that alone doesn’t outweigh his stupidity.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 2:55 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Most important moves:Clean House and replace with size ,skill,speed and fight !!
Free Agents Resigned: Markov and Souray
” ” Pursued :Smyth
Bring up from Hamilton? : Hell ,let them all try-out !Grabivski,Stortini,Ferland,Kostistsyn,Loke,Biron,Janievski,Milroy ,Chipchura,***Price ***etc…oh yeah !!
Habs that must go:Downey,Bonk,Johnston,Kovalev,Samsonov,Dandanult,Niinamaa,Abbyshit and Huet !
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 3:04 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Without a doubt Kovy and Sammy NEED to go, the thing is is that Kovalev will unfortuanately be back in the Habs uni.Sammy will be bought out. Unless Gainey can pull some more fairy dust out of the same bag of tricks he used in the Theo trade Kovy will be back with the Habs. I can’t see a team in their right minds taking an underacheiving Russain earning 9 mil over the next two years. Either Boullion or Dandenault(or maybe both) need to go and if the Habs bring back Markov.
Who needs to be re-signed? Markov. Without a doubt Andrei Markov. Although I read that Tony Marinaro said that friends of Markov are saying he won’t be back next year. Can someone please confirm this for me? HB would you know? Souray could be brought back at an affordable price but Gainey should not break the bank for him, no more then 5 mil for Souray.
Bonk, Abby, Ninnamaa, Downey and the more I think about it, Johnson won’t be back. Ninnamaa’s dirt, same with Abby and Downey. Bonk, while he had a good year, won’t be worth the money he’ll ask for. And I’m a big Johnson fan, but his role could be filled by a younger cheaper player next year.
Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Halak, and maybe O’Byrne should be on the big team permanently with Chipchura maybe taking Johnson’s spot on the wing on a third line with Pleks, but I think he should stay in the minors for at most one more full season until Kovalev goes which would open up a spot on the top 2 lines for Guillaume, cause right now Latendresse is in Chipchura’s spot..
I’m not convinced that any of the top UFA centre’s(Drury, Briere, Gomez) would fit in MTL. The Habs need a big centre to tandem with Koivu, not another smurf. But if it came down to those three I’d go with Briere. Ryan Smyth to a three year deal, Scott Walker or Scott Hartnell to 4 year deals would be who I go after for wingers. All three of them have grit and drive and skill. Smyth is proven, but his game leaves him injury prone(I live in Edmonton, so I know that he spend’s at least a month per season on the DL), and I think Walker and Hartnell just need top 2 line minutes to prove themselves.
They need another Dman and if Emelin isn’t over or isn’t ready, then Andy Sutton or Garnett Exelby would be awesome. The Trashers will be in cap hell going into next season so the Habs should be able to steal at least one of them. They’re both smart with the puck in both ends of the rink, both have grit and both hit like freight trains.
And no matter what anyone says, a heavyweight in my books should be a huge priority.The top teams in the East(Buffalo, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, NYR, Tampa Bay) all have heavyweights. Adam Mair becomes a UFA at the end of the year and he’s a clone of Chris Neal. A guy who can be an effective 3rd-4th line player and go toe-to-toe with the big boys in the league. Derek Boogard is a RFA and the Habs should look at him.
The biggest needs though for the Habs are as follows: A big #1-2 centre(probably aquired via trade), a top 2 line winger, a D man(hopefully Emelin), a heavyweight, two less Russian wingers who are over or close to the age of 30. They also need Guillaume Latendresse’s skating to improve by leaps and bounds and also his play without the puck. They also NEED to get Emelin and Valentenko over to North America to let them ajust to the NHL style of play.
If everything goes the Habs way this summer, except for getting rid of Kovy which I think will be impossible even though it’s the best thing, then the line up should be this next season:
first line: Kovalev—Koivu—Ryder
second line: Smyth/Hartnell/Walker—Legwand/Briere—Higgins
third line: Latendresse—Plekanec—Kostitsyn
fourth line: Mair/Booggard—Lapierre—Begin
1rst D pairing: Markov—Komisarek
2nd D pairing: Exelby/Sutton—Streit
3rd D pairing: Souray—Georges
Goalies:#1:Huet #2:Halak(he takes over #1 spot at the halfway mark)
Emelin, Valentenko, Sergei Kostitsyn(who needs to be signed by July 1rst or he goes back into the draft I believe), Chipchura all start the year in the minors.
And I repeat, can someone deny or confirm the report from Tony Marinaro on the Team 990 the Markov is telling friends that he’s leaving Montreal. Cause if this is true then this contradicts everything he said and all of his actions this past year, so even if it is true I’m not sure I can believe it. I never really trust much that comes out of the media in Montreal cause they’re basically tabloids when it come to the Habs. But I just need to know for my own sanity!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 3:10 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Oh yeah, two more things I forgot to add:
1) Carbo and Gainey need to change they’re defensive system from passive to constent pressure and two guys forechecking instead of one. Rivet had a very good point here about the defensive system. If they forecheck with two guys they will score more 5 on 5.
2) They need to draft either Esposito, or if he’s not available, Brendon Sutter. Esposito is currently the more talented of the two and a home grown Quebec boy(although that’s also a fear that the media and fans will want him immediately even though he’s not ready). Sutter is 6 foot 3, and will fill out into a huge #1-2 centre. He’s got boatload’s of heart and grit, and he had even more skill then his uncle’s and dad apparently.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 4:20 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
What are the chances of getting Handzus? I don’t think the hawks are going to resign him, and I think he’s got alot of talent. Also, there’s no chance of landing Briere, and he’s too small. Koivu is only a 2nd line center, not 1st line. I’d like to see Huet get traded, in return for a center or winger. Huet tyo TB for Richards? How about a veteran like Murray from Boston?
And for our big deal, sign UFA BLAKE from NYI. Bonk, Johnson are probably gone. We must sign Markov, because he was a +2, and gets the puck out of his zone quickly. Begin, tho good at blocking shots, gets injured too often.
Ninnimaa and Abbyshit are gone, along with Nurray and Downey. Look for 2 D men from Hamilton: O’Byrne and Cote. Also, they’re trying hard to get Valentenko over from Russia. Halak should be our #1 goalie, with Price as the backup.
We need 2 wingers, and 1 center, and possibly a D man. Oh, I forgot: we have to get rid of Dandenault and Bouillon too.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 5:23 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
There is no way Price should not spend at bare minimum a full season in Hamilton. He should NOT be with the Habs next season.
And Brad Richards? Where are the Habs going to get 8 million in cap room to fit him? And it would require more then just Huet to get him.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 5:50 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Hab#1
I wouldn`t take anything that Tony Marinaro says too serious, his inisde information has no subtance. If you remember during the trade deadline he said that Souray was going to be moved and well you know what happened there.
Tony Marinaro use to get all his information from yours truly Mike Riberio.
Trust me on this.
The only person on team 990 that knows his stuff is PJ Stock.
The last thing that I heard is Markov has moved his family from Russia over to MTL.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 6:04 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I thinkRichards is an UFA. If that’s true, then we don’t have to worry about giving up a player, because they definitely are looking for a goalie, and we have plenty! I think the habs will sign Zubrus. I’d bet my paycheck he’s coming back for another stint here. He’s mentioned he wants to return, and his fiance is from Montreal. So who’s a good strong centerman? does Handzus play center?
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 6:16 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
‘Hey Hab#1
I wouldn`t take anything that Tony Marinaro says too serious, his inisde information has no subtance. If you remember during the trade deadline he said that Souray was going to be moved and well you know what happened there.
Tony Marinaro use to get all his information from yours truly Mike Riberio.
Trust me on this.
The only person on team 990 that knows his stuff is PJ Stock.
The last thing that I heard is Markov has moved his family from Russia over to MTL.’
His source was Mike Ribeiro? Haha ha ha ha ha! Thanks man, you actually put a mind at ease. Anyone who uses Mike Ribeiro as a source can’t be beleived.
And Brad Richards a UFA? You guys must only pay attention to the Habs. Brad Richards signed a 5 year deal worth 8 million per season last summer. And he only had 25 goals and 70 points. That kind of production isn’t worth 8 million. But if you love Richards that much you’ll have to wait another 4 years for him to become a UFA.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 6:29 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Stop naming unknown names…We want to acquire true starts. NOT THE LIKES OF ZUBRUS AND HANDZUS.
I say we should acquire a North American Center. It could be Smith or Smyth(the one nthat got traded to Islanders). We will be great on defence if we resign Souray and Markov, and in addition acquire a young skilled defenceman.
Now the qustion comes to goaltending., Sometimes I think we’re great on goaltending, then I’m not sure about it. I believe Halak would be a great #1 starter, but in order for him to be great, we must have a good backup goalie so that he forces his way out to keep the #1 spot. Anyways, trading Huet wouldn’t be the smartest move Gainey can pull out.
Moreover, we need to bring more yougsters from the farm team. If we have the mixture of young blood and experience minds on the lineup, our roster will look similar to Pittsburgh.
Looking ahead to 2007-2008
GO HABS GO!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 6:45 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Habs#1,so I’m reading your post #3, and enjoying it and then you get to your line-ups,line #1 Kovalev Koivu Ryder ,and all of a sudden I feel flush with anger ,doubt,confusion,vertigo,then….I puke all over everything. I don’t care how it’s done Bob Gainey but as long as Kovalev is on my team….well…and this kills me,I boycott !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 6:55 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I hate Kovalev as much as the next guy, but if you look at the situation, they’re stuck with him. No team will take an underacheiving Russian who makes 9 mil over the next two years.
NO ONE WILL TAKE HIM!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 7:23 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Package Kovalev with Pershogan”however you spellit” and Dandanault “whats with these last names?” Good trade for some one,or send Kovalev to the Bulldogs !!!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 7:37 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
That may be Gainey’s way out. XHabsfan just brought up a good point that I didn’t think of.
Lou Lamerillo traded a first round pick to San Jose for the Sharks to also take on Vladimir Malakohv’s salary.
Gainey might be able to pawn off Kovalev on one of the bottom feeders(Philly, Chicago, LA, Washington. Maybe St.Louis cause they feel he can put them into the playoffs next year) as long as he throws in a first round pick or Perezhogin and a draft pick.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 7:46 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
There is no way that we get a guy like Briere out here. Without making the playoff, it will be really hard to get any free agents out here I think.
People who say we should trade Huet, is wrong. The habs will never do this. Gainey got Abbi cause he was not sure Huet would be able to make the job again, so do you really believe he will let the net to a rookie like Halak ? And Carbo won’t ask him for this, cause he preferred Huet to Halak in the last game of the season when it was crucial.
The team will rely on it’s rookies next year, wich will make Koivu probably go during the year (if we fallow what he said about reconstruction).
We draft 12th, I am pretty sure that Esposito will be gone before this, no ? I don’t have the list of the possible draft but…
BTW : Any one know where I can get the list of the UFA for 2007 ? I tryed to search for a possible list on the web but didn’t find any. I think the NHL get them out only on 1st of july, but there must be a list somewhere that the manager use and blah blah blah.
I can’t wait for next season and see what’s going on, since I been able to only see 2 match via Internet since I am in the Netherlands.
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 8:27 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
J-Nic, there’s another way to rid of the Kovalev one, package him with Huet, you see guy’s we are only stuck in a hole ,if we want to be in a hole !!!And a Habs fan Bloging from the Netherlands deserves a Stanley cup in my books.!!!
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 9:09 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Post #15 j-nic. Here are the 2007 ufa’s team by team http://www.hockeytraderumors.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8086&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Posted on April 14th, 2007 at 10:18 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Gainey will find a way to get rid of Kovalev. He knows only to well, that if Kovalev remains on this team, it means no playoff appearances for the habs for the next 2 years! He won’t risk that probability, and also losing fans in the process. Some of us want Kovalev off this team so badly, that we want Gainey to do WHATEVER IT TAKES TO RID OURSELVES OF THAT SELFISH UNDERACHIEVING GUTLESS CANCER! If Kovalev stays, I leave!
We should all sign a petition, and send it to Gainey. He needs to know how ALL hab fans feel about Kovalev!
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 11:28 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Marinaro, Ribeiro, both of ‘em are weasels.
The must-gos are the obvious -
Sergei Samsonov (bought out or traded but who wants him?),
Dave Aebischer (not good enough for the NHL),
Aaron Downey (big mouth, distraction)
and Janne Niinimaa (not worth the dough he gets).
Bob Gainey says he’s going to get a big impact type forward either thru free agency or trade. Somebody needs to come in here and take the heat off of Saku Koivu (not a #1 type center but valuable as #2) and Alexei Kovalev who is great when he isn’t the go-to-guy on a team (see Penguins 1998-2001).
Hopefully Sheldon Souray and Andrei Markov stay for obvious reasons but I’d really to see Markov explode into the great d-man everybody says he is. As for Mathieu Dandeneault and Frankie Bouillon, it’s too bad we just can’t roll them into one player… betcha Dandy stays cuz he’s versatile and a right hand shot.
As for the goalies, I’m satisfied with Huet/Halak doing the platoon thing until Price is NHL ready.
And hopefully all of the Bulldogs get a chance to really stick.
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Smiler2729 I couldn`t agree with you more.
BOYCOTT TEAM 990 between 12:00 to 1:00….
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Is it just me or is Gainey using Nashville as a model to build the Habs? He seems to be building a future dominant defence corps and possibly finding some offensive gems in later rounds.
Nashville has the best young defence in the league today and some great young offensive players and it looks to me like the Habs will be in the same position as the Preds in 2-3 years but with better goaltending.
All of the following players for Nashville are under the age of 26:
Nashville today: Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Dan Hamhuis and Greg Zanon on D(with Cody Franson coming up the pipe), and Alexander Radulov, Martin Erat, David Legwand, Scott Hartnell, and Jordan Tootoo as an effective pest(I love that kid and his style of play). Nashville however doesn’t have any young goalies.
All of the following Montreal players are 23 and under accept for Pleks(24) and Komisarek(25)
Habs future: Mike Komisarek, David Fischer, Alexei Emelin, Pavel Valentenko, Ryan O’Byrne, Mathieu Carle, Josh Georges on D(with all these young D men Gainey will be able to use one of them, like Nashville used Ryan Parent in the Forsberg deal, to go out and get a star player from a rebuilding team), and Guillaume Latendresse, Andrei Kostitsyn, Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, Sergei Kostitsyn, Mikhail Grabovski, Kyle Chipchura, Alex Perezhogin and Maxim Lapierre as the pest. They also have Halak and Price coming up in net.
These guys have even more young good prospects and players then Buffalo and Nashville who are lauded as model franchises in that repect.Just wait, in 1-2-3 years the Habs will be winning Presidents Trophy’s and locking up playoff spots in Febuary/early March. It took Buffalo and Nashville almost 8 years each to get where they are, it’s going to take Gainey a lot less time then that.
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
But Nashville is able to sign free agents, and we aren’t! That’s the difference, ie. Arnott, Kariya, etc.
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 6:43 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
How can you respect some superstars that sign in nashville,carolina etc. Come on.
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 9:03 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Nashville is in the playoffs, and we’re not! I would gladly change places with them. I would take the talent of Nashville any day, over ours! And any team would grab Kariya and Arnott if they we’re available. It’s just our misfortune to not get 2 very talented players, like them. I would never laugh at teams that are better than us!
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 10:00 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Who’s laughing at them? I’m just saying that once the Habs prospects develop the Habs will become winners and then UFA’s will want to come to MTL again.
And I agree with Pactum. Kariya hates playing in hockey markets and so does Arnott. Arnott folds under pressure(He did in Edmonton and never went back to a real hockey market).
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 10:33 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If certain players can’t play well under pressure, then who wants them?
OK, so who do you think we should try and get?
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 10:47 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Ryan Smyth to a three year deal. He’s the only scoring big name UFA I’m interested in. Garnett Exelby or Andy Sutton for the D, Adam Mair for a heavywirght.
If those don’t work then maybe it’s time for Gainey to take a page out of Kevin Lowe’s book and trade for impact players. I’m looking for Gainey to make some or one huge deal at the draft.
Posted on April 15th, 2007 at 11:24 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I agree, and wouldn’t be at all disappointed if Kovalev and (Samsonov, Abby, Bouillon, Niinima, Bonk/Johnson) were packaged together.
Would not include Pleks, any of the young guns (Kos/Lapierre/Latendresse/Grabovsky/Price/Jarolak/and any others still developing)…of course with the exception of major block trade where quality is being brought in then one hopes Gainey is using his marbles.
Something has got to be done to move us up and grab a draft pick worthy in the future and dish off some dead wood / in exchange for other underachievers…Y’know there was a time where Luongo and Lecavalier were not doing well but we missed the chance to get them. Oh well, c’est la vie! Something’s gonna change that’s for sure…my two cents!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 8:31 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
We all know that Samsonov will have to go somehow and like to see Markov and Souray both back. Guys, I DO like the younger players who are in the system and think they have the potential to be very good (Latendresse, Halak, Plecs, Higgins, Lapierre etc.), but I was just doing some researching and looking back to the 93 season which the Habs won it all. Since that season the Habs have made the playoffs 7 times and missed them 6 times. The highest seed they have had was 5th in 93-94 the year after they won the Cup, and since the 96-97 season they have not gotten any better than the 7th seed. And since the 93 Cup winning team they have only made it through the first round 3 times. The Habs are my team and I will cheer for them till the day I die but how long will we have to wait until the Canadiens can become a team that battles for one of the top 2 or 3 spots? Hopefully Gainey can do some good things this offseason and get things going again. GO HABS GO!!!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 10:45 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Nashville is getting the crap beaten out of them by San Jose, what kind of model is that to follow? I say get rid of Gainey and Carbo and the rest would naturally flow.
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 12:35 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Testing
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 1:34 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Definitely something needs to be done about our defense, trade them all except for Souray and Kostysn….if we need to get rid of anyone, Dandenault and Bouillon should be the first to go, then of course the pecking order…and get rid of Huet and Abby!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 1:44 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If we have to keep Koivu, bring his brother up for God’s sake that might solve his unwillingness to be a team player! Threaten Kovalev once more or find him someone he wants to play with!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Note Gainey’s emphasis on listening to Koivu. Guess that means another season of watching the pathetic defense, pathetic goaltending, and Sakku leading the team to the penalty box for the most wimpiest penalties. If there was a penalty for being a wimp, Sakku would lead the league! I guess that means Gainey is gonna listen to Dandenault and Bouillon yet again…
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Joshtm I have heard of you and some of the senseless stuff you post on here. For starters you stated in post #32 to trade all D-men except Souray and Kostysn?? Kostitsyn is a forward not a D-man. And in Post #33 you said
“If we have to keep Koivu, bring his brother up for God’s sake that might solve his unwillingness to be a team player!”
I think it would be hard to bring up a player that plays for another NHL team numbnuts Mikko Koivu plays for the Wild. Get your shit straight before you blab all this meaningless bull. Koivu is still a great player and a leader. He did after all LEAD the team is scoring. GO HABS GO!!!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 6:32 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
hABS#1fan, re:post 35,
I’ve got to tell you ,you the first one to say “GO HABS GO !” SINCE THE LAFFS game ,YOU KNOW ,THE GAME THAT TOOK US OUT OF THE Big Show !!! The game the Maple Dicks eliminated us !!!!! So, before we fans headhunt each other,maybe us Fans should get together and help fix this very BROKEN DOWN team through the power of suggestion. THAT LAST GAME WAS A MESSAGE;THE TIME IS NOW TO REBUILD !!!!Man ,it still hurts ,dam-it !!!!!!! Drastic measures must be taken,period !!!!!!!!
Posted on April 16th, 2007 at 10:37 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I wonder if there’s any truth to the story , that the owner of “RED BULL”, (worth about 3 billion), is interested in buying the HABS! that would mean lots of dough to make changes, despite the salary cap. I wonder?
Maybe Gillette is so upset the habs didn’t make the playoffs, and fed up. we’ll see.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 6:17 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
It’s good to see you guys have some ideas on how to improve the team, not that I agree with all of them. I have my own wish list, and here it is…
1- Bury Samsonov in the minors instead of buying him out. I know you’ve all heard me say it before, but buying him out hurts the team’s chances @ the deadline, and when trying to sign UFAs. I don’t care if we have 98 million to spend, he doesn’t deserve $5833333.33 for the season he had. Loan him to an ECHL team, and call him up at a point when we think another team might take him on waivers. Lamorello did the same with guys like mogilny and malakov, and he can still sign guys as ufas…
2- Trade for/sign as a UFA a legitimate #1 center. Unlike many who crap all over Koivu, I’m a fan. I just think he’d be better off as a # 2 guy, especially with the defensive year he just had. Players NOT to get include Gomez, Handzus, and Smolinski; these 3 are not guys to build a team around. I’m not as scared of Briere’s size as others are–the smurf’s got game. I’m not convinced Legwand is for real yet, either, and I doubt Nashville will trade him now that he’s finally producing, in any event.
3- Get rid of Kovalev. His lazy, uninspired play seemed to rub off on others on the team this year, and I get virulently bitter and go into untramelled rages every time I see him give up on a play. Which happens twice a game or more. The guy’s a cancer, and needs to be excised. Too bad it won’t happen. Due to the genius deal Gainey gave this underachiever, we’re stuck with him. The best we can hope for is that he is forced to retire, I suppose.
4- Institute a better system. I don’t care if it’s 2, 3 4, or even 5 forecheckers they use next year. This rope-a-dope defensive system is a terrible thing to behold. Even when winning, the habs were invariably outshot, outplayed, and outchanced this season. Sure, it often seemed like they scored on every good chance, but it sickened me to watch them do zero for 40 minutes most nights. Whether this is a system or a coaching/motivation thing, it isn’t working, and needs to be changed.
5- Get rid of ninnimma, dandenault, downey, bonk, and maybe johnson. I’m in favor of keeping Boullion, though it surprises me that I would ever feel this way. Seeing him man up versus Tucker and Tkchoke during the season, and how he isn’t afraid to throw a hit, have changed my opinion on him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s no Norris candidate, but we need more players with heart, not less.
As I said at the beginning, this is a wish list. Don’t expect major changes, whatever the man behind the curtain says. As Mike Milbury isn’t a GM anymore, don’t expect some team to take a package that includes any combo of Kovalazy, Samsonstiff, Dandenault, Boullion, etc. If a GM actually DID, we’d be getting some refuse in return–count on it. Myself, I worry that any big trade will have to include the likes of Higgins, Komisarek, Plekanec, and others who I feel are ready to take that next step. Because other teams want value in return, not stiffs.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 8:28 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Let’s just let things unfold as they will. In Gainey We Trust.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 10:18 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Smiler, and the band played on, ya right in Gainey we trust….the Titanic Gainey and his unsinkeable habs…..oh no we don’t need to rebuild, just build. I guess that means a summer of Souray and Dandenault and Bouillon giving lessons on how not to protect your goalie, how to screen your goalie and how to intercept a pass that is going to miss the other teams forward, how to stop it so they can get a quality shot on your goalie…oh yes, Carbo the great defensive coach and his anti-hab defense! In Gainey we Trust! Ya right, another lacklustre season, another crappy year for the habs upcoming, while Gainey plays GM to the farm team instead of playing GM to the Habs!!!!
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 11:16 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Sorry, after last season fiasco ,”TRUST!” LOL,no ,you have to earn trust. Smiler, I still feel like a rape victim after that last game and trust is no longer avalible !!lol
Nigelski, again ,nice post. Agreed on Boullion,and there are other ways to get rid of cancers.
Joshtm,man,It is fun reading your posts! It stirs the pot which serves up more flavor at the table,good on you mate!
The Habs need that homes on homes dude;tear down to foundation and rebuild rite!Nothing else acceptable,get on it Bob !!!!!!!!!!
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 11:22 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Guys:
I just heard that The Score may sign a deal to broadcast up to 12 Hab games for the 2007-08 season in english. I’m not sure if they are only regional, and if that is the case then it would suck but it may be Quebec/East or West. Steve Kouleas told me they are very close to having a deal done though he isn’t sure if it is regional or not. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we will be able to see our Habs outside of Quebec, in english, with balanced coverage and NOT some GD pathetic Leaf homer commentary! GO HABS GO IN 2007-08!!!
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 2:52 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I guess its time for me to weigh in here. First of all it was a blessing that the Habs did not make the playoffs. If they had management would have thought that they were on the right track and would not have to make any significant changes. I think this shook them up a little. Now I don’t think this is going to happen but Gainey should re evaluate their system. He hired three defensive coach. Any high scoring UFA will not want to sign with Montreal because if they do they will go from 50 goal seasons to 25-30 goal seasons. The first time he tries to do anything creative, he will be hauled into Carbonneau’s office and told to play defensive. Now I am not a fan of New jersey hockey but that is exactly the kind of team Carbonneau wants. He wants 25 Guy Carbonneaus out there. The reason Montreal looked so enemic in the first period of most games was that they were told not to try and score but to wait for a break and then try to score. Defence, defence defence.This version of the Habs looked terribly lost when trying to play defensive. They are a small team that should be built on speed. When they opened it up they looked on par with most teams. Defensive playing was the reason they were terrible 5 on 5.
On that basis it doesn’t matter if we get Briere, St Louis, LeCavalier, or Sydney Crosby…. they will all be expected to play defence first and only open it up in the last 5 minutes (if they are behind). I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey, I hate defensive hockey. And if you didn’t get that I HATE DEFENSIVE HOCKEY. I am finding it quite refreshing that Minnesota and New Jersey are behind in their series.
But will Carbonneau be the man to lead this team in a different kind of system? I don’t think so. Montreal Canadiens should be a synonym for speed (the flying Frenchmen) but they have been absolutely grounded. So if they do not make changes in their system it doesn’t really matter who they get. I’ll bet you a donut that they go after New Jersey players this summer. Oh yeah and one more thing I HATE DEFENSIVE HOCKEY…….. evenif they were to win………
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 4:59 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Habs#1Fan hey! Koivu is so constipated he can’t take a crap for trying, cause hey, your nose is so brown and so deep up his you know what, Sakku says “hey Habs#1Fan, I know I stunk and I need to build, not Gainey needs to build..” interesting eh? How Gainey would twist Koivu’s admission of sucking big time into an excuse for staying the course. I guess Gainey and W Bush there share the same speech writer, heck wouldn’t be suprised if Cheney himself is the big mover and shaker in the Habs, kinda explains why everyone just loves Bouillon, in spite of him sucking big time and giving away half of the passes that cost us the season and put us in the slump. Of course Bouillon had competition for the worst defenseman from Dandenault! I say bring up Sakku’s bro from the states, what are you braindead too Habs#1Fan, I know his bro aint’ in the dogs fool!!! I hope the Red Bull buys out Gillett, might cost Gainey and his VP their job but hey, we gotta get rid of Carbo somehow.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 5:08 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I strongly believe that Koivu has had his time. He shouldn’t be expected to carry the team. If he’s willing, trade him, other teams would have interest.
Same goes for Kovalev, yes big contract but some teams who need some extra offence would take him. Again, Gainey has to start making calls. I don’t think he’s the type to call anyone. He seems to quiet and reserved.
As for Carbo, this is it. No success this coming yr, he’s gone.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 8:24 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Carbo isn’t Scotty freakin Bowman here. He doesn’t have a team chalk full of superstars to work with. And it was his first year of head coaching, he was bound to make some mistakes.
Koivu isn’t a #1 centre. If he’s a #2 behind someone else he would thrive. He’s the best leader the Habs have had since Carbonneau left in 1994. Anyone who doesn’t respect him as a person or a player obviously knows nothing about hockey.
And whenever Joshtm posts anything, the intelligence level on this blog goes down a large amount.
Posted on April 17th, 2007 at 11:22 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Frank,
what was it about defensive hockey you were referring to, I didn’t quite get it yet!
seriously…who in their right mind would ever want to watch that type of game. It was so obvious when Lemaire, Julien were here and now with Carbonneau, that I complained then and I know I would do so again and again, etc.
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 1:16 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
A) Habs #1:
You are absolutely right — Koivu is a leader and a class act. He is the captain and leader of the Habs now and in the future.
Don’t let joshtm get you down — he is not a class act.
B) Nigelski, you are right on with post #38. I agree with your wish list.
C) Frank Doiron, you are also correct in post #43, and I also noticed that the Habs also SUCK at playing “defensive” hockey (despite who their coaches are.) The times when we were all most nervous about the Habs in the past season was when they were trying to sit on a lead — they could never do it. They need to always be pressing or they will continue to lose.
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 8:55 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Rob, if Koivu is a class act, then hey, he should be tennis player, this is hockey buddy, where a player has to play with a team, not hog the puck, take individual kamikaze rushes to the net and leave the team behind, have hissy fit hooking penalties after he gets checked and basically outmuscled off the puck. Any coach worth their salt would be happy with Koivu’s scoring and assist record but not his on-ice style. There it had to be said.
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 10:46 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Joshtm, That’s so funny you said that about Koivu,cause this morning as I woke up ,for some strange reason ,that was exactly what I was thinking.It is a team sport people,A TEAM SPORT !!! And that’s one of the biggest problems with the Habs; and as you watch the other teams compete in the playoffs ,it’s so obvious
what the Habs are missing…A TEAM THAT CAN COMPETE AS A TEAM AND MAKE IT INTO AND PAST THE FIRST ROUND !!!!T he new Habs ,everyone must compete for a job,contract or no contract,period!!!!!BIG CHANGES ARE COMMING FANS AND IF KOIVU GETS TRADED ,THEN HE GETS TRADED FOR THE TEAM !!!!!
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/04/17/for-dubious-hockey-achievement/
Let’s re-sign him!
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 12:45 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Sam
I re read my post and I don’t think I made it quite clear. I think it has to do my complete abhorance and disdain for defensive hockey. But I don’t think I made it clear enough. So here goes: I HATE DEFENSIVE HOCKEY!!!!!!!!
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 1:08 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
It is sad when Gainey is so out to lunch and unwilling to admit he made a mistake signing some real losers, and keeping on some really crappy defensemen like Dandenault, and his side kick in total incompetence Bouillon!
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 5:16 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Yes, Gainey can just wave a magic wand when he admits he makes a mistake and all the problems will be solved. He can just magically find someone to take all the players you don’t like.
Do you seriously have nothing in your life other then the Habs? You are seriously OCD josh. Get some help.
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 7:45 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Gainey is smarter then any of you think, he was constantly telling people about how New York was a stanley cup contender and a great team, Was he right or what?? I dont know about tonight but the rangers are defintely goong deep in the playoffs. I should have listened to him and notput money on atlanta ebcasue they on their way to a first round exit.
so lay off gainey!
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
All I can say Gainey knows his stuff. It’s not because a GM is smart that the team will make the playoofs and win the stanley cup. He did his job. He acquired Samsonov who was belived to be a skilled player, but turned out to be a lazy loser that cried everytime he was benched. It’s not Gainey’s fault he signed him for 2 years. What if he would have tuurned out to be a great match with Habs, everyone would’ve been cheering for Bob Gainey. Joshtm , I know you don’t like the staff right now, but what do you wan to do. Sometimes you have to live with it. Bob Ganey is way better than the likes of Savard and the other Garbage GMs we had after 93-94.
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 11:52 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Frank,
could you say it a couple of times in French…so that it isn’t misconstrued and misinterpreted…just want to make sure it’s crystal clear for everyone…y’know the stuff about defensive hockey!! S-tttzz…want to make sure we cover all corners just in case someone from the organization is actually looking over our shoulders.
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 8:05 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I’m going to take in a Bulldog’s game this sunday. I have great seats and they are cheap too. Great price for great hockey. Those players play harder than the NHLer’s because they have something to prove. They want it.
Speaking of Price. I will get a chance to see what Price is all about…..
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 10:39 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
ENJOY THE GAME DIE HARD,
IJUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ,THAT WHILE WATCHING PLAYOFF ACTION,I have witnessed what a real N.H.L. club or clubs do ,one of them being to play hard,for 60 mins!!!It just shows me how bad the Habs are and how big the changes have to be,TRADE,TRADE,TRADE….SELL,SELL,SELL..!…..!!!THIS YEARS MONTREAL CANADIENS WAS THE WORST EVER !!! IF NOT FOR THE ROOKIE’S ,O.M.G.!!!!
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 10:44 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Thanks. I am bringing my wife and daughter. It will be a fun evening for sure. My daughter has never been to a game of that level before. And she is only 11 yrs. old. But she loves hockey.
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 11:23 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Price could be just another Halak waiting for Dandenault and Bouillon to destroy his NHL debut! The kiss of death for any decent goalie, the defense duo of Dandenault and Bouillon!
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 11:40 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
How can Gainey say he is building the team when he keeps crap like Dandenault and Bouillon? More like letting the team fall apart and die a slow nasty horrible death, Montreal soon to join the ranks of has been teams like Toronto and Philadelphia, never to see a cup ever, ever, ever, ever ever ever ever again….
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 11:47 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Jack, if you want an example the Devils, now the devils inherited some pretty crappy stuff cause, hey Lou was learning on the job. But hey, he admitted he made a mistake, admitted he was unable to do anything because of contracts, let them die out and rebuilt. What does Gainey and Carboneau do? They don’t. That is just it, they don’t do nothing. If anything they destroy the team morale, play head tricks with goalies who if they had the right GM and coach would match the likes of Biron with a bit of help and work. But what does Gainey and Carbo do? They stick with the kiss of death, Dandenault and Bouillon, both get a combined ice time that makes any veteran wish they were playing in Montreal if only for ice time. What does Dandenault and Bouillon do with their opportunity? Instead of taking advantage of it and becoming decent defense, play lacklustre lazy hockey! You call that building? You call that SMART? I sure as heck don’t.
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 5:07 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Maybe if we asked George Gillett to move Bob Gainey and Guy Carboneau to Hamilton, and the Habs team, make them the farm team, and move the farm team to Montreal, we could win a cup next year!
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 5:11 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Instead of making one post you did four in row.
You are seriously OCD.
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 2:27 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
HABS#1, it’s apparent to me at this time any body on this blog who still has an opinion or a post ,mite have o.c.d….
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 9:35 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey everyone, Habs#1 is providing free online mental health professional counseling, hey Habs#1, if Bob Gainey doesn’t see the same game we are seeing, does that mean he is a)gifted b)smart c)totally out to lunch d)clueless e)post concussion delusional f)don’t know:
So what is it Habs#1 since you seem to be the expert here….
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 9:40 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Well since I am OCD I might as well take advantage of Habs#1 professional online psychological service, If so, I would suggest that you get professional help because hey, copycat syndrome is pretty sad, you know, pretending to know someone who you don’t know is pretty sad.
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 9:42 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Oh no, this is posting number three that I am making, oh wait, Habs#1 is an online stalker, someone call the Habs fan police cause Habs#1 is also harrasing fans of the habs with online psychological assessments.
Actually this site is for fans of the Montreal Canadiens, not an online support group for OCD Habs#1, and maybe that psycho ward steward there should keep tighter tabs on you to make sure you are taking your meds Habs#1.
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 9:53 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Oh My God! Now I am again on Post number 4, this must really make me seriously crazy! Someone call 911, I am nuts for caring about the Habs demise, for giving a damn!
It is sad that Gainey has set his sights on the Dogs literally. Gainey doesn’t give a rats’s arse about the Habs! Samsonov’s and Kovalev’s and early in the year Rivet’s sniping and sniveling remarks show Gainey doesn’t give a shit!
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 9:54 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
RDS & Gazette reporting Markov is favoring Montreal, this is the word according to his Agent: “Agent Don Meehan believes the team has a good chance of signing defenceman Andrei Markov before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.” Don will be Flying to Moscow for the Worlds next week and will speak with Markov, then hopes to have discussions with Gainey when he returns…
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Ha ha ha ha. Always good to see joshtm’s lame brain reactions. You really are the court jester of this site, if you need a laugh all you need to do is provoke joshtm and you’ll get it.
And this is very good news about Markov. But I’m not one to trust Don Meehan. The guy is the Drew Rosenhaus of the NHl, a real slimeball.
Posted on April 20th, 2007 at 5:19 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey Habs#1 what is the bill for your free online assessment? And you did’nt respond to what serious mental illness Gainey has for not thinking about rebuilding the team instead of building….hmmm….or his delusional emphasis on making sure the Dogs have a good win record as opposed to the habs….
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 1:05 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
How much to get you to finally shut up?
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 1:19 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
How much saved when we get rid of Kovalev, Samsonov,Huet,Abbyshit,Bonk,Murray, Downey,Johnson,Dandanult,Bullion,and Niimamaa????????
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 2:13 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
probably over 20 million. But you aren’t getting rid of all of them. That’s not realistically happening. It’s a nice dream though.
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If you guys are waiting for big name superstart free agents for the Habs to target, wait for the next two offseasons:
Jarome Iginla, Mikka Kiprusoff, Robyn Regehr, Kristian Huselius(man is Calgary screwed or what?), Dany Heatley, Markus Naslund, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau(ah oh, San Jose can probably only keep one!), Vinny Lecavelier(oh boy here we go again. He and his florida supermodel wife are happy in Tampa, do you really think she’d want to live in Montreal? See Chris Pronger in Edmonton), Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg will all be UFA’s within the next two years.
Strangely enough this all conincides when all of Montreal’s big contracts run out? Coincidence or strategy? That’s up to you to decide.
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 9:51 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I do believe that was a Souray shot that broke Sid the Kid’s foot,that Souray has the mother of all shots !!!lol
Posted on April 21st, 2007 at 10:39 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Just finished the Dallas/Nucks game, we made a big mistake getting rid of Riberio,big ,big ,mistake !!
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 8:59 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
lol Your kidding right? bahahahaha
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 10:24 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If the Canadiens sign Souray, I would make him a forward (centre or wing). He’s a liability on defense, so put him in the front. THere’s the big centreman they’ve been looking for. Just a thought.
I’ll restate what I said last week, trade Koivu. He has had his time. It’s not a matter of disrespecting him, it’s because he has value and he also has attitude. Yes, he beat cancer, he got an eye injury, he did give his all for the team but they didn’t go anywhere. Maybe it’s not his fault, but it’s time for new blood. And, to all you know it alls that think he’s a god, he’s not. He’s good BUT NOT GREAT.
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
NO PACTUM, I’m not kidding ! And these are the reasons…1) Dallas is in the playoff’s !..2)Riberio led Dallas in scoring,Habs scoring ????????????..3)Riberio has turned into a leader for Dallas,thanks to his development years with the Habs in his hometown of montreal !!!…4)Mike Modano say’s so….5) And just because Don Cherry thinks Ribs is a looser,at this point from what Don Cherry has SAID ,AND HIS PRO MAPLE DICKS STANCE ,ANY ONE WHO AGREES WITH CHERRY IS A MAPLEQUEER !!!!LOL
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Mike Ribeiro is a pansy and gutless. Sure he lead Dallas in scoring……WITH 59 POINTS! BIG FUCKING DEAL! Saku had 72!
Dallas is in the playoffs because they have one of the top 3 goalie tandems in the league in Marty Turco and Mike Smith and the defensive system they play.
Ribeiro is not a leader on the Stars. They have to many real leaders for Ribeiro to be one on that team. He hides in the shadow of Mike Modano, Brendan Morrow, Sergei Zubov, Darryl Sydor, Mattius Norstrom, Jere Lehtinen, Stu Barnes and Jeff Halpern and the fact that no one in Dallas knows who he is.
His career was finished in Montreal, and he still isn’t that great. Dallas can have him.
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Everyone who wants Gainey and Carbo gone, you are the visible minority and have almost no support:
The vast majority (83 per cent) of Canadiens fans interviewed for a SOM-La Presse poll support Bob Gainey and wish to see him remain as the team’s general manager, Presse Canadienne is reporting. Sixty-three per cent believe Gainey is one of the 10-best GM’s in the NHL and half of fans interviewed see him as the true boss of the Canadiens, ahead of owner George Gillett and team president Pierre Boivin.
Head coach Guy Carbonneau also has the support of fans, with 90 per cent wanting him to be back coaching the team for the 2007-08 season.
As for the team’s two stars, 69 per cent of fans want to see Saku Koivu in a Canadiens uniform next season, while only 50 per cent have that desire for Alex Kovalev.
In general, fans seems to believe the the team is on the right track, with 55 per cent believing the team can win the Stanley Cup by 2009.
Koivu, Carbo, Gainey still loved, Kovalev still hated. Sounds about right to me.
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Sounding more and more like a Toranna Maple Sucks SITE HERE,Pansey and gutless deplics most of the Habs team and that’s why no playoff action for Habs Fans !!!!
Our Habs Team is Garbage that NOBODY WANTS AND WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE LEAGUE,so be in denial all you want, in fact ,hypothelicy,if Ribeiro won the cup all on his own you guys would still have the same opinion about him and maybe ,just maybe that’s what’s wrong with this Habs team. WAKE UP HABS FANS !!!!!I’ll tell you what ,I take Ribs and you can have Samsonov ,Kovalev,Niinamaa,Murray,Downey,Johnson and Bonk !!!lol
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
You said it all HABS#1 Yep mikey ribs lead dallas with 59 HUGE points lol.Give me a break.Man i miss the days of ribeiro rolling around on the ice like he had been shot lol.Xhabsfan you need to stop sniffing glue dude 4 REAL.If anyone here sounds like a leaf fan its you.Just read all of the garbage you put on here.Please stop you are embarrasing yourself.Ribiero a leader? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah I think borat said it best when he said “NIIIIIIIIIIICE HIGH FIVE” Grab a helmet dude!!!!!!
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
KOVALEV:47PTS -19
SAMSONOV:26PTS -4
murray:3pts -10
downey:1 pt -6
BONK: 23PTS -0-
JOHNSTON:31PTS+6
They were paid a combined $12 mil this year, for what ?????There not from Montreal and we’re not in the PLAYOFFS!!!!I would laugh back at you,but it’s NOT FUNNY,4REAL !!!!!ALL THE CANADIENS FANS ARE EMBARRASED !!!!!
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:08 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I went to the Hamilton Bulldogs game yesterday. It was a great game. Alot of goals, hitting, roughing. The Dogs won 5-4 14 seconds into to double O.T.
I just don’t know what all the hype is about PRICE. For a goalie who is 6′3″, he is on his knees and awful lot. He reminds me of Huet and that is scarey. All four goals were over his shoulder and all 4 goals he could plainly see as well. There is more life in a door knob than in Price. The Americans scored 3 goals on 12 shots. Pathetic. Price must be watching highlight reels from Huet and Abbyshit games.
Well boys I know that that was only his third game in as a Bulldogs goalie but from what I have seen, mark my words, Price will not be playing in the NHL next year or the year after that. If he does he will be back up to Halak.
I was very disappointed in Price last night.
If Price is the Habs future then the future looks pretty dark.
HALAK is the Habs futrure……………
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Watching the SCORE and seeing them play the SPEZZA goal from last year I finally heard a good analysis of the play. Basically they said that Souray should get credit for at elast rying to stop SPezza while RIvet and Zednik who put souray in that position to start didnt even attempt to stop him. Watch the replay closely Rivet stops skating at the blueline and is only a armlength away from him after th emove yet does not attempt to make a play. Souray went for the hit and missed. BOOHOO! I saw Lidstrom miss a hit last night, only differnce was his de partner backed him up.
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 3:07 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Like what you said at 72 & 83 habs#1. I watched that too, Snake, and I have to admit that this was the first good look I got at the other culprits. I didn’t see the game live, and I could tell that two other guys did nothing, but until I saw Zednik’s brutal backcheck, I didn’t know it was him.
Zednik was practically in Spezza’s back pocket for two seconds there, and did NOTHING!! He could have hooked/slashed him (I like the /slashed thing…), pokechecked the stick, pushed him off balance or given him a good bump, or even Perezhogin’d him, but he just watched, after he and Rivet just coasted in.
Still, Souray DID look like a pylon there, with his totally half-heated hipcheck. That’s why he got all the bad press–well, he has been victimized the exact same way a few other times, so that probably figures in as well…
Bit of a barnburner in the last ‘dogs game, but they won despite a pretty decent performance from Craig Anderson @ the other end. Locke got a hat trick, Joshtm’s boy Grabby got the double OT winner, and Price did make 30+ saves. I read that Kostitsyn was sent down with Lapierre, but he wasn’t listed as being on the playoff roster, at least not at AHL.com or whatever. Anyone know if he’s playing or injured? I was kinda thinking of throwing the game on the ‘dogs website and listening to the audio feed in the background tomorrow, just to see how they sound, at least. Until Rescue Me is back on new shows, there’s little else doin’ on a Tuesday night, IMO.
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
DIE_HARD_HABS_FAN give Price time to develop, it was only his 5th proffesional game.
Did you expect him to be perfect right away? The common misconception among Habs fans is that if a player is drafted by them they will be an automatic superstar. He needs at least a full year or two in the minors to work with the goalie coaches(the Habs seem to have pretty good ones) and time to get used to being a pro.
Give him time and have a little faith.
Oh, and people who want Angelo Esposito really badly and not Brandon Sutter, Esposito is starting to be compared to Alexander Daigle and Alexei Yashin. Tons of talent but no drive at all.
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:28 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I read this on a talkback today and it opened my eyes to how much Gainey has improved this team. Even JOshtm won’t be able to find away to refute it.
This is the team that Gainey took over in 03
Forwards :
Donald Audette
Jan Bulis
Mariusz Czerkaswki
Andreas Dackell
Gordie Dwyer
Doug Gilmour
Marcel Hossa
Joé Juneau
Chad Kilger
Saku Koivu
Bill Lindsay
Randy McKay
Yanic Perreault
Oleg Petrov
Mike Ribeiro
Niklas Sundstrom
Jason Ward
Richard Zednik
Defense :
Francis Bouillon
Patrice Brisebois
Karl Dykhuis
Ron Hainsey
Andrei Markov
Mike Komisarek
Stéphane Quintal
Craig Rivet
Patrick Traverse
Goal:
Jeff Hackett
Jeff Hacket
Jose Theodore
Our habs are a hell of a lot better then 03!!! AMAZING RESULTS FOR 3 SEASONS. Two more and we got a cup!!
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Thank you habsfan_for_life1212. Someone who finally see’s exactly how much work Gainey has had to do in 3 years and how much he has improved the team.
Has he made mistakes? Absolutely but even the best do at times. But in FA, with trades, with bringing young guys up WHEN THEY ARE READY and at the draft table especially Gainey has done a fabulous job.
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
87 Xhabsfan
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm. About ‘Habs Off Season Changes’.
KOVALEV:47PTS -19
SAMSONOV:26PTS -4
murray:3pts -10
downey:1 pt -6
BONK: 23PTS -0-
JOHNSTON:31PTS+6
They were paid a combined $12 mil this year, for what ?????There not from Montreal and we’re not in the PLAYOFFS!!!!I would laugh back at you,but it’s NOT FUNNY,4REAL !!!!!ALL THE CANADIENS FANS ARE EMBARRASED !!!!!
Thats it thats the problem we should only have white french guys from Montreal on this team!!!
yes yes that was the trouble all along
Right now back to the real world were we dont give a crap where they come from .
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
87 Xhabsfan
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm. About ‘Habs Off Season Changes’.
KOVALEV:47PTS -19
SAMSONOV:26PTS -4
murray:3pts -10
downey:1 pt -6
BONK: 23PTS -0-
JOHNSTON:31PTS+6
They were paid a combined $12 mil this year, for what ?????There not from Montreal and we’re not in the PLAYOFFS!!!!I would laugh back at you,but it’s NOT FUNNY,4REAL !!!!!ALL THE CANADIENS FANS ARE EMBARRASED !!!!!
Thats it thats the problem we should only have white french guys from Montrealon this team!!!
yes yes that was the trouble all along
Right now back to the real world were we dont give a crap where they come from .
Posted on April 24th, 2007 at 10:27 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Geese, I forgot to mention,the waste of money’s Niinamaa and Abbyshit are, what’s that ? OH ANOTHER 4 MILL!! What about this ,a BACK-UP GOALIE “HUET”FOR 3 MILL !!This is a joke and Habsfan anybody could of improved the team from 03 cause that is like now,bottom of the barrel,not in the play-offs garbage team who’s face was saved by no name rookies,who were signed and scouted by Savard and Houle !!! As mentioned by Gainey in his last press conference with Carbo . I’ve got a joke for the short memoried and short sighted short bogus fans of my team the Habs… How many Habs fans dose it take to change a lite bulb ?? Ans :10,..one to change the bulb and 9 to bitch about how nice the oid ,burnt out bulb was !!!lol
Posted on April 24th, 2007 at 4:36 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Hey you Gainey fans, answer me this. How come if Gainey was so good, we lost to Toronto who in turn lost to the worst NHL team for last spot in the playoffs and even then they only got out because of being bumped out by another team, the division we are in was last place in the NHL! Last place. Even our first place team within Montreal’s division would not have gotten in if it was a point system over all.
So again I ask just what good has Gainey done for Montreal? One of the highest paid teams in the NHL and this is what we get for almost fifty million in salaries? Anywhere else Gainey would be walking out with a pink slip buddy!
Posted on April 24th, 2007 at 5:21 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Almost 50 million in salaries? Uh, you do know there is a 44 million salary cap right? So how can you say they’re one of the highest paid teams when every team is about the same?
Posted on April 24th, 2007 at 7:26 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Cause around here the SHIT FLOWS thick from the mouths of some of the so called fans, no matter what happens if it is not a cup they will continue to spew at the mouths.
Now seeing as TB is out there is a good chance that we can snag us a good player, they cant keep all 3 of those guys we know who they are, so let the nego’s begin!
Posted on April 24th, 2007 at 8:41 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Xhabsfan and Joshtm if you never have anything good to say about the habs then why waste your time being a fan.I bet most of the people on this site already know what you two will say next because you say the same thing over and over again.Just look at the 33rd post by joshtm it really shows how much he knows about hockey and who plays on which team lol.Didnt larry bird play for the habs lol.Reading Xhabsfan and joshtm posts use to really get under my skin but now i just laugh and i swear when i read them i hear circus music playing in the background.Oh yeah and by the way dose anyone know how mikko koivu is doing with the hamilton bulldogs these days HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 12:49 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Pactum, what kind of fan is so happy his team hasn’t done s h i t all these years since 93 ,and Don you don’t have any points when our record is this bad and Habs no 1,50 mil or 44 mil 0r 60 mil ,THE TEAMS A JOKE and that is unacceptable if you are a fan of the Canadiens,period !AND AS FOR ME NOT BEING A FAN,UP YOURS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 6:24 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Mikko Koivu seems to be only good at shootouts so far, so I doubt he’d help anyone become a better team player, let alone Saku…
Looks like another year with the final having a hot weather team in the final. SJ or the Ducks will probably make the finals, so they’ll be skating in slush for a few weeks. Not the way I like to see the game played, but this is Bettman’s NHL, not “MY NHL,” as those wetarded commercials say.
If players and owners weren’t so greedy, perhaps there could be a return to the best of 3, 5, 7 ,7 like it once was. I love the game as much or more as the next die hard fan, but hockey in June is pathetic. Best of 7 in the first two rounds is overkill, IMO.
Not that it would be so bad if Montreal were to be playing in June (hockey, not golf!).
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 9:29 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I don’t think any Habs fans are happy with missing the playoffs, but up until that 10 game losing skid we had a good chance of making something happen. Huet going down didn’t help team morale, regardless if you like him or not, he’s our number one until someone else can take the reins, ( I don’t think anyone was knocking him when he single handely got us into the playoffs last year).
As for Gainey, the guy made a some mistakes this year, namely not getting rid of Sourray when he was worth something. I like Sourray as much as the next fan, he’s gritty, he dominates the point on the PP, he’s a inspiring guy in the locker room. But the main thing is, and I say this in the nicest possible way, he can’t play positional defense. Had Gainey traded him at the deadline we could have stolen another 1st round draft pick and possibly a mid-level player to deal away this summer. Now we face the possibility of getting nothing, or worse yet, signing him to an overinflated contract when we could easily sign a 25-30 goal scorer and a stay at home D-Man for the same price Sourray is going to command this summer. Markov and Komisarek are our franchise on D, and as much as everyone loves to hate on Boullion, before he got injured he was laying down some bone crunching hits so he deserves another shot. Streit has been a bright spot, not gonna be a top 4 D-Man but can be counted to at least play positional.
As for the offense, I wish we could get rid of Kovalev, but like the majority of people are saying it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Let’s just hope he can keep up the spark that him, Latendresse and LaPierrre had going off in the end. Samsonov is a done deal, really sucks that he didn’t click with the Habs, maybe the media pressure got to him?
I love Michael Ryder, has a wicked wrist shot from anywheres in the circle and take a lot of shots. He’s been our highest goal scorer for the last couple of years and has the potential to develop into an NHL sniper. As for his cons, he can’t do anything when he doesn’t have the puck, takes really bad penalities and has a tendency to go on long streaks without producing. I know this sounds crazy, but I could see him or Perezhogin being used as trade bait if the Habs do try and pull off a serious trade.
Bonk and Johnson are both well adjusted players that make a gret combination on the 3rd line, and Bonk is especially excels on the PK. I don’t think Gainey will give Bonk more than what he is making, so I could see Bonk being dealt to free up some cap space. I really hope we re-sign Johnson, despite his lack of points, I think he’s a good two-way player.
Saku Koivu is our a foundation. I hated when poeple this year dumped all over him for his lack of this or that, him not being big enough, et cetera, et cetera. The guy is the only one who has stuck out his career in Montreal in the last decade and can take the pressue of playing there. He may not be a dominant 1st line center like Lecalvier, but he is a play maker who can make people around him better.
Montreal will make the playoffs next year and will prove to those that think we are a shitty team that we are only missing a few core players to make us a dominant NHL team. And for all those who shit on Gainey for our skid this year, WE COULD HAVE JFJ.
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 10:52 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Seoul_Korea : Good, solid assessment and I agree on almost every point. For all the whining and moaning, we have a pretty solid team for next season if we can get Markov under contract. I also agree that Souray is not a very solid positional defenseman, but what he brings to the powerplay is worth looking at at least making an effort to re-sign him. I was surprised as anyone that Gainey did not trade him at the deadline, but maybe he knows something we don’t…
18
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Alestar: I know, I hate even trying to justify putting Sourray down. He was our go to guy this season when the chips were down. Someone on this site did make a good point that on the Spezza/ making Sourray look like a pylon move last year, there was no other defensemen even trying to make an effort in getting back in the play. Like you said, maybe Gainey has something up his sleeve. I really think we had the right stuff this year except for a few unlucky bounces.
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 6:48 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
…a few unlucky bounces!!!
I beg to differ…if only some of the free loaders showed up and gave an effort we probably would have won at least 2-4 games instead of losses. Blaming a total collapse on mere small pieces to build the puzzle is not the case here. We need an overhaul where the dead wood has to go…even down to the Bulldogs if it’s an alternative.
When a collective effort is subpar, this is signs of something bigger and this was the case in far too many of those losses during that skid. mmm skid from late December right through to the last two weeks of the schedule!! #$@%!!
Let’s hope for a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline. You gotta think Souray and Kovalev and Abischer got to be in the mix. My two cents.
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 8:51 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Sam you dont get to trade UFA’s there is no deadline the season is over … Lets hope Montreal gets a shot at some superstar player ..
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 9:10 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Why can’t Koivu be traded? It’s time for new blood. He has value and if you look at the other side of the coin, he might enjoy playing where he is the 2nd centreman.
Now, I’m not saying give him away, only trade him if you get a good deal and he lifts his no-trade clause.
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 9:23 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If he is good enough to trade he is good enough to keep …
I like Koivu I hope they keep him but not with the “C” I think he would play better without it.
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 9:42 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
All I have to say is Dump the Russian cancer on this team…? Yes I said it Kovalev is a lazy,selfish,egotistic,under-achieving,pre-madonna…That doesn’t deserve to wear a habs jersey let alone get paid 4.5 Mill to do so! This guy is the epitome LAZYNESS….and he makes me SICK!
Posted on April 25th, 2007 at 9:44 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/mtl070425.html
Posted on April 26th, 2007 at 11:52 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Geeze Pactum must have his head in a pothole 24 hours a day. Listen a true fan cares about their team. Or as David Suzuki says, hey Pactum you must have your head up you know who’s backside so far up….
I disagree with Johnson, I don’t think Johnson is a credit to the team. I agree if Koivu lost the C he would play better probably and concentrate on actually being a team player.
Posted on April 26th, 2007 at 2:11 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
If Gainey is not going to do any major changes, particularly with the real cancer on the team the duo of Dandenault and Bouillon, we need someone like Kovalev to get us over the slumps, he works well with the rookies, I say demote him to another line or something or use him sparingly.
Posted on April 26th, 2007 at 5:22 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Kovalev’s at it again:
Once again, Alex Kovalev is settling accounts in a Russian daily.
In an interview (published) last Friday in Soviet Sport and translated by Radio-Canada Sports, Kovalev has again cast in doubt his future in Montreal. At the centre of it now is how he’s used.
“At the end of the season, I had a discussion with GM Bob Gainey,” Kovalev explained to Pavel Alexandrovich Lysenkov, the author of Kovalev’s official biography. “I told (Gainey) that I didn’t want to be back on the team if I’m treated the same way as I was (this past) season.”
Kovalev evidently was referring to his days in the doghouse, when he was relegated to the Canadiens’ fourth line. That’s where he finished the season, flanking centre Maxim Lapierre along with Guillaume Latendresse.
Reached at the end of Wednesday afternoon (by Radio-Canada Sports), Kovalev’s agent, Scott Greenspun, had no comment, except to say that his client is on vacation in the Cayman Islands.
Kovalev said in the interview that the problem as he sees it is not one created by the media, but one within the team itself.
“Journalists can accuse me of anything they want, I’m not going to give that any importance,” Kovalev said. “But when your team doesn’t support you, when it gives you a secondary role that won’t let me play, and all without explanation… that’s hard (to digest).”
Money is far from his priority, says Kovalev (who will earn $9 million U.S. over the final two seasons of his Canadiens contract). “What’s most important is to have fun,” he said, “and for now, that’s not the case in Montreal.”
The Soviet Sport article centred on Kovalev’s non-participation in the upcoming world championship, to take place in Moscow. Kovalev was captain of the Russian team at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
He is said to have not been pleased with the team selection of national-team boss Sergei Fedorov, who explained to Kovalev that he was building a young team for the event.
What a fucking disgrace he is. I hope he just realises he blows and retires back to Russia.
Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 11:30 am. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
I am amazed at the media coverage Kovalev is getting this time and the common stance from across the country ,weather your a Habs fan or not. How embarrassing is it when fans of the other teams who state they hate the Canadians, feel sorry for us and want Kovalev gone too !!!
Kovalev and Samsonov are the biggest mistakes Gainey have made and not only did Bob embarrass himself on these signings ,but he has embarrassed the Canadiens and their FANS !!!!!! Pathetic , is the feeling expressed from across the second largest country in the world,so Kovalev must go Bob,ALL OF CANADA ,NOT JUST HABS FANS ,WANT HIM GONE BOB GAINEY,MAKE IT SO !!!
On a brighter note for G. M. Gainey ,I do believe he would make a fine Prime Minister!Only he could bring this vast country together,no matter what their stance on issues are, to a common agreement,wow !!!lol
Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 1:03 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Kovalev is a skilled player…however, the attitude and heart is not there. He is a selfish player and unless he has someone feeding him the puck or someone creating space for him to dance, he will be a “cry baby”. The slightest hit and knock and he’s out.
I am so disillusioned to see that he becomes invisible on the last two games of the season. That’s where he has to give his all and he simply chose to go for the skate. I bet you his jersey wasn’t even wet. It went straight into the bag ready for his next game; which I hope is not with the Canadiens. I would love to be here typing positives and expressing what an excellent player he is and the leadership he provides but I can’t. I hope another team takes him…see Pittsburgh they probably have the type of players to make him effective. Remember he can’t be the main guy and if you give him space and feed him the puck he will become an effective producer. However, that’s not in the Canadien’s scope. He was brought in to be the scoring machine but alone that would not work (because he wouldn’t be able to cope (remember he’s selfish and in his mind, the others should be producing or he’s going to slide and go for his walk in the park - non-chalant attitude). That’s the proof in the puddding. See ya Kovalev but not in a Habs jersey.
Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 3:31 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
Kovalev needs to go, it is obvious he does not want to play in Montreal and we can bring up some of the younger players to take his spot. Give the spot to someone who wants to play in Montreal and not someone who whines and bitches all the time like Kovalev. I am sick and tired of his whining. We need to rid ourselves of the cancers on the team, i.e. Kovalev, Samsonov. These guys show no heart and do not deserve to wear the CH. They are useless bums who should be thrown on the scrap heap or just retire. They are both morons. I hate them with a passion and wish they never wear the CH of the Habs ever again. Gainey needs to be more active in the free-agent market this summer. He said he was going to be active last summer and we all know how that turned out. He needs to stay true to his word and get the right type of players who want to play for the Habs. Sign good free-agents. I agree with some of the posts here that in 2-3 years the Canadiens will be like the Sabres and Predators and winning division titles and maybe even the Presidents trophy but we also need to sign the right players right now. They will become Stanley Cup contenders again someday and win Stanley Cups in a few years, but we have to be patient and let that day come!
Ziman
Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 6:30 pm. About 'Habs Off Season Changes'.
So Kovalazy’s crying to the russian media again. Does he deny it once more like the cowardly liar he is, or does he take ownership of his comments this time?
The answer is: who cares?!?!? He can bitch and whine all he likes, but the contract he signed makes him untradeable, and even HE should realize this. As Mike Milbury isn’t an NHL GM anymore, there’s little hope of a trade here. Buying the undeserving stiff out will hurt the team for 4 seasons, @ 2/3rds of the $4.5 mil he’s owed for the next 2 seasons, so THAT’S no option. Who’s gonna take a lazy 47 point $4.5 million piece of monkey dung? The answer is no one will. Ever.
I’ve said we should demote Samsonov to the ECHL on many occasions rather than buy him out, and I stick by that. If Kovalazy is so unhappy, let’s see how he likes riding the bus for two years. He won’t. I say, don’t even give him a chance at training camp, just loan him to the worst and willing ECHL team that exists, and wait for the inevitable retirement announcement. He’s no Mogilny, to take the demotion in stride and just collect his paycheck–his ego spans whole continents.
Perhaps that’s where his bullsh_it vertigo and fake injuries came from. Will other UFAs think badly of us for treating him this way? I doubt it, as most, if not all, of the NHL knows what a heartless slacker he is, either from being on his team, or by playing against the puke. I’m so sick of these russian and european primadonnas who think they are better than the game. Take Backstrom, the Capitals 1st pick in last year’s draft. They get Ovechkin to call his name at draft time, and try to pep talk him into coming over for last season.
If I’m a draftee, and one of the most exciting players in the game shows up like that, and tries to talk me imnto coming over to NA right away, I’m listening. What does he do? Stays in Sweden for at least one more year. The Sedin sisters refused to come over at all if they weren’t drafted by the same team. The number of examples I could go on to list is endless: how about Bure holding (or trying to hold) Florida hostage by saying he could get 8 mil in Belarus?
It’s past time all NHL teams started to realize that 98% of non North Americans only come here to make money. They don’t care about the cup, and unselfish play is part of a myth in Europe. If I were GM of any NHL team, I wouldn’t give any more than a 2 year contract to any russian, swede, finn, or belarussian. Did I mention a Swiss, German, Kasakstanian, dhirka dhirka dhirka, dane, norwegian, frog from france, tcheknian, etc.?!?!? The label handed to Jacques Demers was 5 year contract, 3 year act, but the likes of Kovalev don’t even give you the first year, they only give you the last.
I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m a racist. The facts bear me out on this one. Sure, there are canadian players that don’t give their all, and russians that do, but the large majority of canadians are heart and soul types, whereas the euros are money-grabbing tin-men who care more about olympic gold than any number of cup rings.
I think that it should be mandatory for all but the most skilled of euros to play a season in the AHL after being drafted. 40-45 games is what they play in the so-called elite leagues, which doesn’t hold a candle to the 65 in the OHL, or the 80 in the AHL. It’s no wonder 95% of euros disappear in the playoffs–they’ve been gone since mid-January, and their alleged conditioning is non-existant.
Well, that’s today’s rant. Hope I didn’t offend all of you, but if I did, i