Comments on: Canadiens sign Roman Hamrlik and Bryan Smolinski http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:54:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Donnie http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-41576 Donnie Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:35:07 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-41576 Ah well, looks like Gainey isn't gonna be swayed by anything. Being the defensive player he was (Carbo too), it seems D is not only #1 on his list, it seems its the only thing. Enough of this foolish notion that you need more scoring power. Last year was a success wasn't it? OH, thats right....IT WASN'T !! Sure, take away the power play goals, and did they score any? 5.5 for Hamrlik? Big contract for Markov? What did Ryder get again? 1.9? And that took arbitration. Ya gotta love being a defender coming to Montreal huh? Thats where all the $$$ and rewards are, even if you don't deserve them. Here's a plan....why not wipe out the 3 top offensive lines and replace them all with defenders. Hell, why go in the other teams zone at all? Lets play 5 men behind the blue line at all times....actually just cram em all into the net behind Huet so no pucks can fit in there....we'd probably get a Vezina out of it. No money is being given to your forwards to show them they're appreciated...well, just the ones not living up to their potential are getting it (Koivu and Kovalev). Make no wonder we can't get a good power forward with good numbers who wants to come to Montreal. What kind of paycut would someone like Briere have to take? 100 bucks a game and all the Gatorade you can drink? Listen, if a revered, class act, hockey God like Belliveau can't talk a player into coming to Montreal....THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG !!! Maybe Bobs gotta big plan in mind....maybe theres an earthshattering trade approaching....because theres gotta be something....these offseason acquisitions were about as brutal as you can get...at least, for what the Habs need it was. God, lets get some offense there...OFFENSE. Anyone remember the days of Lafeur? Anyone find that brand of hockey boring? Were alot of goals not scored? Did we not make the playoffs? Did we not win cups? I know there are dozens of greats who played before Guy, but Guy is all I can recall watching because of my age. Plus, there were great supporting casts...but people....Brisebois, Hamrlik and Smolinski are a far cry from Shutt, Robinson and Gainey. C'mon Bob, give us some exciting hockey again. Let the legions of loyal Habs fans shout again with pride "GO HABS GO !!" Please don't let these signings be it for the year....a year where we need something much better to rebound from the boring, horrible season a year ago. Get Ryder his 50 goals, get Koivu his 100+ points, and the rest will fall into place naturally. GO HABS GO. Ah well, looks like Gainey isn’t gonna be swayed by anything. Being the defensive player he was (Carbo too), it seems D is not only #1 on his list, it seems its the only thing. Enough of this foolish notion that you need more scoring power. Last year was a success wasn’t it? OH, thats right….IT WASN’T !! Sure, take away the power play goals, and did they score any?

5.5 for Hamrlik? Big contract for Markov? What did Ryder get again? 1.9? And that took arbitration. Ya gotta love being a defender coming to Montreal huh? Thats where all the $$$ and rewards are, even if you don’t deserve them. Here’s a plan….why not wipe out the 3 top offensive lines and replace them all with defenders. Hell, why go in the other teams zone at all? Lets play 5 men behind the blue line at all times….actually just cram em all into the net behind Huet so no pucks can fit in there….we’d probably get a Vezina out of it.

No money is being given to your forwards to show them they’re appreciated…well, just the ones not living up to their potential are getting it (Koivu and Kovalev). Make no wonder we can’t get a good power forward with good numbers who wants to come to Montreal. What kind of paycut would someone like Briere have to take? 100 bucks a game and all the Gatorade you can drink? Listen, if a revered, class act, hockey God like Belliveau can’t talk a player into coming to Montreal….THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG !!!

Maybe Bobs gotta big plan in mind….maybe theres an earthshattering trade approaching….because theres gotta be something….these offseason acquisitions were about as brutal as you can get…at least, for what the Habs need it was. God, lets get some offense there…OFFENSE. Anyone remember the days of Lafeur? Anyone find that brand of hockey boring? Were alot of goals not scored? Did we not make the playoffs? Did we not win cups? I know there are dozens of greats who played before Guy, but Guy is all I can recall watching because of my age. Plus, there were great supporting casts…but people….Brisebois, Hamrlik and Smolinski are a far cry from Shutt, Robinson and Gainey.

C’mon Bob, give us some exciting hockey again. Let the legions of loyal Habs fans shout again with pride “GO HABS GO !!” Please don’t let these signings be it for the year….a year where we need something much better to rebound from the boring, horrible season a year ago. Get Ryder his 50 goals, get Koivu his 100+ points, and the rest will fall into place naturally. GO HABS GO.

]]> By: Doug McGee http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40930 Doug McGee Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:50:47 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40930 if Daniel Briere & other stars don"t want to come to Montreal because of the prssure well then I for one don"t want them. They should be honnored the Canadians even asked them to sign. Most of the free agents were very over paid and not worth the money they are getting. Even Souray is not worth re-signing. Maybe he could score goals but his defence was terrible. WE have a great farm system and within a couple of years we will have a great team once again! I have been a HAB fan for almost 50 years. We will be great once again and will do it within our system not with greedy free agents that only play for money. We want players that want to play here & have pride in being a Montreal Canadian. I believe in Gainey. I know that when our players are drinking from the stanley cup Briere and the other players that did not want to come here will be sitting at home thinking Hey that could have been me. if Daniel Briere & other stars don”t want to come to Montreal because of the prssure well then I for one don”t want them. They should be honnored the Canadians even asked them to sign. Most of the free agents were very over paid and not worth the money they are getting. Even Souray is not worth re-signing. Maybe he could score goals but his defence was terrible. WE have a great farm system and within a couple of years we will have a great team once again! I have been a HAB fan for almost 50 years. We will be great once again and will do it within our system not with greedy free agents that only play for money. We want players that want to play here & have pride in being a Montreal Canadian. I believe in Gainey. I know that when our players are drinking from the stanley cup Briere and the other players that did not want to come here will be sitting at home thinking Hey that could have been me.

]]> By: RumeursDeTransactions.com http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40909 RumeursDeTransactions.com Sat, 07 Jul 2007 23:35:44 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40909 Not a bad acquisition, but i'd prefer Gainey signs Sheldon Souray Not a bad acquisition, but i’d prefer Gainey signs Sheldon Souray

]]> By: Joshtm http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40847 Joshtm Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:26:46 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40847 I heard that Bettman was considering waiving the rules regarding equipment, to allow Sakku Koivu and Roman Hamrlik use their walkers on the ice, and an additional waiver for Sakku to use his seeing eye cane and german shepard...maybe that way instead of hooking players Sakku could actually play hockey!!! Hey Bob, instead of water bottles, the Habs are gonna be giving out Ensure to half of the team during the game! I feel sorry for the Habs trainer, he's gotta get those adult pampers for Sakku and Roman! I also heard Gary Bettman is considering hiring a researcher so Bryan and Tom there, the other old age pensioners that Bob Gainey hired, hiring a researcher to find out ways in which they can transfer their social security cheques to Canada..... There was a replay on the old CBC HNIC black and whites, and Sakku, Tom, Bryan and Roman all looked old in those too! I think half of the Habs were born just after they invented electricity! Man, the NHL is considering making the nets larger just for Sakku's behalf! That's cause Sakku's so old he can see for trying. I also heard Gary Bettman is considering waiving the hockey stick rule for the habs forwards, seems on top of getting larger lighter pucks, they are considering allowing Roman, Tom, Bryan and Sakku to be allowed to use Goalie sticks in the hopes that the bigger blade will allow them to actually pass the puck! I have never seen such a wide range of players, one side of the bench is the old folks home for retired worn out used up broken down veterans in pampers and the other side are for Tim Bits players who are still in potty training! Man is that sad or what? And you know what is even funnier? There are fans out there who think Bob is Hockey God cause he can find a way to still allow old folkies to still play hockey and on the flip side, be a walking talking ad for Tim Bits peewee hockey!!!!HAHAHAAAA!!!!! I heard that Bettman was considering waiving the rules regarding equipment, to allow Sakku Koivu and Roman Hamrlik use their walkers on the ice, and an additional waiver for Sakku to use his seeing eye cane and german shepard…maybe that way instead of hooking players Sakku could actually play hockey!!!

Hey Bob, instead of water bottles, the Habs are gonna be giving out Ensure to half of the team during the game!

I feel sorry for the Habs trainer, he’s gotta get those adult pampers for Sakku and Roman!

I also heard Gary Bettman is considering hiring a researcher so Bryan and Tom there, the other old age pensioners that Bob Gainey hired, hiring a researcher to find out ways in which they can transfer their social security cheques to Canada…..

There was a replay on the old CBC HNIC black and whites, and Sakku, Tom, Bryan and Roman all looked old in those too! I think half of the Habs were born just after they invented electricity!

Man, the NHL is considering making the nets larger just for Sakku’s behalf! That’s cause Sakku’s so old he can see for trying.

I also heard Gary Bettman is considering waiving the hockey stick rule for the habs forwards, seems on top of getting larger lighter pucks, they are considering allowing Roman, Tom, Bryan and Sakku to be allowed to use Goalie sticks in the hopes that the bigger blade will allow them to actually pass the puck!

I have never seen such a wide range of players, one side of the bench is the old folks home for retired worn out used up broken down veterans in pampers and the other side are for Tim Bits players who are still in potty training!

Man is that sad or what?

And you know what is even funnier? There are fans out there who think Bob is Hockey God cause he can find a way to still allow old folkies to still play hockey and on the flip side, be a walking talking ad for Tim Bits peewee hockey!!!!HAHAHAAAA!!!!!

]]> By: joshtm http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40819 joshtm Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:16:19 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40819 Hey Poncho! I guess you didn't read the article on Sportsnet.ca on Hamrlik. If you read it, you'll see Roman there admits he is old. Roman admits that Martin told him that in Montreal, things go a certain way. That's its okay for old guys like Roman. Cause you wanna know why? Cause Bob doesn't care. Roman could not produce and Bob'll love him, like Dandy and Bouillon don't produce and Crazy Bob just loves the heck outta those guys. And Roman ain't got great stats there! If Roman was so hot, how come the Ducks didn't go for him? Hey Poncho! I guess you didn’t read the article on Sportsnet.ca on Hamrlik. If you read it, you’ll see Roman there admits he is old. Roman admits that Martin told him that in Montreal, things go a certain way. That’s its okay for old guys like Roman. Cause you wanna know why? Cause Bob doesn’t care. Roman could not produce and Bob’ll love him, like Dandy and Bouillon don’t produce and Crazy Bob just loves the heck outta those guys.

And Roman ain’t got great stats there! If Roman was so hot, how come the Ducks didn’t go for him?

]]> By: Joshtm http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40805 Joshtm Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:33:08 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40805 I can't wait to be proven wrong in the fall, when all of a sudden Roman and Bryan and Tom there come out as superstars! Not that they were great before, like all of their stats leading up to the trade are dismal! And they are the calvary come to save Montreal from itself? And honestly, if the fans and the media are that bad in Montreal.....maybe Gary Bettman should permanent shut down the habs forever! Cause hey, according to Mr. Gainey there, the media, they are toooo bad! and the fans? toooo demanding!!! Honestly, like the media who pay through the nose to the habs for rights to cover the habs, and the fans who pay through the nose for tickets, both of who give their hard earned cash to Mr. Gainey and Mr. Gillett....honestly, what a bunch of total BS!!!!! And we're not supposed to be pissed at that? If it is so bad there Bob Gainey, resign! And if the pro hockey players can't stand adoring fans and media, what are they doing becoming pro hockey players??? Talk about being totally out to lunch or what? And you are all so stupid as to accept those stupid BS excuses!!! I can’t wait to be proven wrong in the fall, when all of a sudden Roman and Bryan and Tom there come out as superstars! Not that they were great before, like all of their stats leading up to the trade are dismal! And they are the calvary come to save Montreal from itself?

And honestly, if the fans and the media are that bad in Montreal…..maybe Gary Bettman should permanent shut down the habs forever! Cause hey, according to Mr. Gainey there, the media, they are toooo bad! and the fans? toooo demanding!!! Honestly, like the media who pay through the nose to the habs for rights to cover the habs, and the fans who pay through the nose for tickets, both of who give their hard earned cash to Mr. Gainey and Mr. Gillett….honestly, what a bunch of total BS!!!!!

And we’re not supposed to be pissed at that?

If it is so bad there Bob Gainey, resign! And if the pro hockey players can’t stand adoring fans and media, what are they doing becoming pro hockey players??? Talk about being totally out to lunch or what?

And you are all so stupid as to accept those stupid BS excuses!!!

]]> By: Poncho http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40800 Poncho Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:47:03 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40800 Hamrlik is a much better defenseman than souray, he might not have his powerful shot but listen if you score 20+ goals and finish your season with a -28 +- rating means that he wasn't too defensifly too hot!! Hamrlik played with phaneuf, so now he knows how to play with a young rookie, so now let's put him with O'byrne and enjoy the show !! Hamrlik is a much better defenseman than souray, he might not have his powerful shot but listen if you score 20+ goals and finish your season with a -28 +- rating means that he wasn’t too defensifly too hot!!

Hamrlik played with phaneuf, so now he knows how to play with a young rookie, so now let’s put him with O’byrne and enjoy the show !!

]]> By: Joshtm http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40792 Joshtm Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:19:06 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40792 Yes, Larry Robinson for GM and Andy Murray as coach! Maybe they can do something with this bunch, make them competitive enough to make the team attractive to other winners, then maybe players like Shanahan would love to come to Montreal. Yes, Larry Robinson for GM and Andy Murray as coach! Maybe they can do something with this bunch, make them competitive enough to make the team attractive to other winners, then maybe players like Shanahan would love to come to Montreal.

]]> By: Joshtm http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40791 Joshtm Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:11:14 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40791 Avatar, honestly, short of insulting you, I must agree though on some points, yes Gainey can't kidnap family members, and yes the habs won big in a six team league but they also won some 14 years ago when the league wasn't that much bigger than it is now. For all your attempts to apologize on behalf of Gainey and Carbs...I must give you the Sacred Heart Award, the St. Judas of Lost Habs fans, but sorry, in a league with a lot of players, this is the best Gainey could do? Honestly. You have to ask yourself, and ask yourself once more, why when Laraques wanted to come, Gainey did nothing? When many players mentioned they hoped to be taken by Montreal during the period leading up to the playoffs, and then recently, it is sad that Gainey did not take those offers he was given. Sure he'll excuse himself by saying he went after Smyth, but hey, what about all those other stars who wanted to come that Gainey turned his back on? HUH???? But honestly Avatar, I can't believe you fell for Gainey's Sham of an excuse, heck Avatar, BoB Gainey wants to sell you a wooden three dollar loonie, are you gonna go for it too? Oh wait the Ghost of Jean Drapeau also wants to sell you an AMC Pacer of Stadiums! Look Avatar, Enron wants you to invest in some stocks, are you hip for that too? Avatar, honestly, short of insulting you, I must agree though on some points, yes Gainey can’t kidnap family members, and yes the habs won big in a six team league but they also won some 14 years ago when the league wasn’t that much bigger than it is now. For all your attempts to apologize on behalf of Gainey and Carbs…I must give you the Sacred Heart Award, the St. Judas of Lost Habs fans, but sorry, in a league with a lot of players, this is the best Gainey could do? Honestly. You have to ask yourself, and ask yourself once more, why when Laraques wanted to come, Gainey did nothing? When many players mentioned they hoped to be taken by Montreal during the period leading up to the playoffs, and then recently, it is sad that Gainey did not take those offers he was given. Sure he’ll excuse himself by saying he went after Smyth, but hey, what about all those other stars who wanted to come that Gainey turned his back on? HUH????

But honestly Avatar, I can’t believe you fell for Gainey’s Sham of an excuse, heck Avatar, BoB Gainey wants to sell you a wooden three dollar loonie, are you gonna go for it too? Oh wait the Ghost of Jean Drapeau also wants to sell you an AMC Pacer of Stadiums! Look Avatar, Enron wants you to invest in some stocks, are you hip for that too?

]]> By: Avatar37 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40777 Avatar37 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:02:03 +0000 http://www.habsblog.com/2007/07/02/canadiens-sign-roman-hamrlik/#comment-40777 Well said smiler, my father was born in Montreal, and I was raised a habs fan, I'm fluent in french, and yet most of my visits to Montreal I've run into nothing but problems. It's almost like Montreal is trying to be the Quebec version of Paris, and that's nothing to want to try and emulate. Regardless, I was raised a Habs fan, I will always be a Habs fan, I will die a Habs fan. I am proud of the Habs tradition, but people need to realize that the league has changed. You can't be the dynasty in a 30 team league that you could be in a 6 team league. Just ask the Maple Leafs. The only expectation I have of my team is that at least they go out and *try* every night. What drives me crazy is how many floaters there are out there. Kovalev in particular drives me crazy because he is one of the most talented, if not *the* most naturally talented, player in the league. I'll never ever forget when he took Tucker out. If only he played every shift with that intensity, he'd be amazing. sigh. Carbs is a first year coach going into his second year. I will remind people that in his first year he took the Habs special teams (which the previous season had been in the LOWER half of the league in ranking) and moved them to #1. (#1 PP, #3 PK I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong). Yes, he needs to change his 5v5 strategy. Dumping the puck and cycling doesn't work. It would also help if he had a few wingers (besides Begin, Latendresse, and LaPierre) who were willing to chase into the corner, throw a body check, and dig the puck out. Smyth would have been a perfect winger for Kovalev... alas that didn't come to pass. However, maybe Latendresse can play on his line, bang some bodies around and get Kovalev the puck. Carbs needs to change his 5v5 strategy in the offensive zone, we'll see what happens this year. He's learning folks, BE PATIENT and GIVE HIM SOME TIME ffs. Gainey can't go out and kidnap the family members of the players he wants to sign and force them into coming to Montreal... he can only extend contracts. Players make up their own minds as to where to go. Welcome to free agency. No tier 1 players decided (so far) to come to Montreal. Gainey tried. Get over it, it's not his fault. Gainey is doing the best he can, there are NO immediate fixes for this team. In the meantime, he's laying the foundation to make the team stronger in the future. Personally, I'm happy to wait. Slowly, we're getting players that want to compete every night. Slowly, the team is changing. It takes time, keep up the good work Gainey, Carbs, and we'll see you in October. Finish first, finish last, I'll still be cheering for my Habs! Go HABS Go! Well said smiler, my father was born in Montreal, and I was raised a habs fan, I’m fluent in french, and yet most of my visits to Montreal I’ve run into nothing but problems. It’s almost like Montreal is trying to be the Quebec version of Paris, and that’s nothing to want to try and emulate. Regardless, I was raised a Habs fan, I will always be a Habs fan, I will die a Habs fan.

I am proud of the Habs tradition, but people need to realize that the league has changed. You can’t be the dynasty in a 30 team league that you could be in a 6 team league. Just ask the Maple Leafs. The only expectation I have of my team is that at least they go out and *try* every night. What drives me crazy is how many floaters there are out there. Kovalev in particular drives me crazy because he is one of the most talented, if not *the* most naturally talented, player in the league. I’ll never ever forget when he took Tucker out. If only he played every shift with that intensity, he’d be amazing. sigh.

Carbs is a first year coach going into his second year. I will remind people that in his first year he took the Habs special teams (which the previous season had been in the LOWER half of the league in ranking) and moved them to #1. (#1 PP, #3 PK I believe, but correct me if I’m wrong). Yes, he needs to change his 5v5 strategy. Dumping the puck and cycling doesn’t work. It would also help if he had a few wingers (besides Begin, Latendresse, and LaPierre) who were willing to chase into the corner, throw a body check, and dig the puck out. Smyth would have been a perfect winger for Kovalev… alas that didn’t come to pass. However, maybe Latendresse can play on his line, bang some bodies around and get Kovalev the puck. Carbs needs to change his 5v5 strategy in the offensive zone, we’ll see what happens this year. He’s learning folks, BE PATIENT and GIVE HIM SOME TIME ffs. Gainey can’t go out and kidnap the family members of the players he wants to sign and force them into coming to Montreal… he can only extend contracts. Players make up their own minds as to where to go. Welcome to free agency. No tier 1 players decided (so far) to come to Montreal. Gainey tried. Get over it, it’s not his fault. Gainey is doing the best he can, there are NO immediate fixes for this team. In the meantime, he’s laying the foundation to make the team stronger in the future. Personally, I’m happy to wait. Slowly, we’re getting players that want to compete every night. Slowly, the team is changing. It takes time, keep up the good work Gainey, Carbs, and we’ll see you in October. Finish first, finish last, I’ll still be cheering for my Habs!

Go HABS Go!

]]>