Above Expectations
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The Canadiens have 60 points.
The Habs have the 5th highest point total in the league having played equal or less games than all the teams ahead of them. Only Ottawa has more points in the East.
The Canadiens have their highest point total at this point of the season in 15 years.
2008 – 15 = 1993
1993 = Stanley Cup.
That may be a a bit of far stretch, or it may turn out not to be. But what’s real is the Canadiens have played above expectations thus far and are in a great position with almost 2/3′s of the season done.
What’s also real is if the Canadiens don’t play well for the last 1/3 the season, that good start could be wiped clean and end in another bitter disappointment.
Will the Habs be strong to the end of the year or end up in their usual playoff cellar dog fight?
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- Avatar37 : pressure playing in Montreal, since he has problems with the expectations in Washington and Montreal isn't any easier. Then again, the media were very easy on Kovalev, so maybe it's a Russian thing? No idea. Anyway, yeah, it would have to be an established star that gives us an immediate drastic upgrade at forward, that's the only way I'd trade PK, because we'd be giving up a potential QB on our blueline for the next decade.
- Avatar37 : Goalie - Sure, the only player I'd say who is untradeable (meaning I wouldn't trade no matter what) is Carey Price. You build a winning team from the net out, and I don't think there's a better goalie for his age in the NHL than Price, so I wouldn't trade him. Otherwise, every player would be open for offers, but for PK Subban, it would take (for me) an already established star, like Carter or Crosby or Ovechkin. As much as I like Ovechkin, I'm not sure he could handle all the media pre
- goalie : I'm not suggesting at all that we judst dump or get rid of PK. I do however believe that he is a very valued commodity in the NHL adn that the Habs will receive offers for his services. If someone ffers us young, strong, puck handling forwards who can score, I think the Habs have to look at that possible trade.
- Avatar37 : Agreed. It would be a big mistake to trade PK just to move up 2 spots in the draft. PK, Emelin, and Gorges are the bright future of our defense.
- Senet1 : I am with you Avatar, Subban stays, it is not often that you get a stud defenceman who can play 25+ minutes. The mistakes he makes are for the most part not that serious and people forget he is only 23 and been in the league 2 years. He has come a long way in those two years. He has offense, defence and he hits. You cannot bet much better than that. Two more years experience and he has a shot at the Norris. If Markov does anything I hope he teaches PK how to work the PP.
- Avatar37 : «link»
- Avatar37 : go.
- Avatar37 : round exit. Heck, even the year they won the cup we almost took them out in round 1. I believe in the corps of this team, I really think we just need a few tweaks. Adding Larry Robinson to run the defense would be a BIG help, keep Cunneyworth as offensive coach, and get a head coach who can get these guys back on the right path. We need to establish an identity again, a team that won't let itself be pushed around like it was under Martin. A few scrappers on this team and we'll be good to
- Avatar37 : Yeah, the only way I'd trade PK is if we were getting an established star in return, like Carter or Crosby. I don't think we're miles away from competing deep into the playoffs, the NHL has become so competitive because of the salary cap that really there aren't huge differences between the teams. Add into the equation the stupid scoring system (some games worth 2 points, some 3) that the standings don't truly reflect where teams should really be. Look at Boston, cup winners to first rou
- Senet1 : It would have to be something pretty special before I would trade PK. To me he is the #1 building block of our defence. I would trade any other defenceman we have before I would trade PK.
- Senet1 : An improvement in our offense and strengthening our defence. Personally, I do not think we are that far off, five players at best could get us there. One thing that has always been true about the playoffs, Defence wins and you need a strong 3rd and 4th line.
- goalie : I'm more optimistic now about the Habs than I have been for the past three dreadfully long seasons!
- goalie : 2: I think GM Bergevin will make somewhat of a 'blockbuster't rade either before or on the day of the draft adn I believe PK Subban will be in that package. WE have t rememebr we have to give away some talent to get back other talent. No one wants players like Moen to move up in the draft etc.
- goalie : Some thoughts:The more I see the playoffs it becomes even more obvious that we're miles away from being able to 'compete' dep into the playoffs
- Avatar37 : «link»
- Senet1 : Young Subban might also be an option if the Russian goalie is not available. However, to me I would wait another year and attempt to use my draft 2nd round draft picks to improve out forward situation.
- Senet1 : Although Rinne contact is another example of long term at the wrong time. He is 29 years old. A case could be made with Price that double his money now with bonuses if we win the cup, I think that is still allowed in contracts?
- Senet1 : Problem is he is going to want Pekka Rinne money and term. That is closer to 7M. On the other hand, the contract could have step up clauses in it over the 7 years.
- Avatar37 : With Price, I wouldn't blink twice about offering him a 7 year contract now, especially if he'd be willing to give up dollar value for length. 7 years at $5.5 million a year would be just fine in my book.
- Avatar37 : I think the goaltending void in our current system would push me to draft Vasilevski with our second pick, if he was available. He's young and has lots of potential, but is at least 5-6 years away from starting to be ready to play on an NHL roster.
- Senet1 : Long tern contracts are a risk, but if you have a super star not as much. Luongo's contract was long term but signed too late in his career.
- Avatar37 : Senet - Yes, you were clear in your post, my question was directed at goalie. I'm with you in that I'd be willing to sign him to a 7 year contract. I'd be nervous about anything longer, because every single long term goalie contract I can think of turned out to be a disaster for the team signing it.
- Senet1 : I think that Budaj is a better goalie than many give him credit for, is he a Price no but with a tight defence he could be a good goalie. Many teams have average goalies but have great defence and still win. Look at Detroit, for years they have had average goaltending, but won cups. Goalies can get on a roll in the playoffs, look at Huet as an example, he was not really a good goalie but played great in the playoffs, next year he was a wash. Defence makes the goalie a winner, just ask Price.
- Senet1 : Having a young equivalent goalie in the system right now is not important, three years from now it will be, so we have three years to make that kind of move in the draft. I think we have more pressing needs aat the moment.
- Senet1 : Personally, I do not see this as a negative because of Price's age, you wait to draft a goalie of a Patrick Roy or Brodeur some teams wait a life time. To me we have on so why would we want to not play that out for as long as we can. Bottom line is this, regardless, right now you have a stud goalie, you are either going to pay him the money he deserves for not sign him and lose him. There is no middle of the road here.
- goalie : Avatar made a great point. We don't have an NHL or up adn coming NHL goalies in our system. Another great move by Gauthier. Price is sitting very pretty.
- goalie : WEll Price has us by the nads. I guess I'd have to go as far as a 7 year contract due to his play adn his age.
- Senet1 : Luongo is now 33, he has been a good goaltender for a number of years. I would sign Price for 7 years and at age 31 then we deal with UFA at that time. Hopefully, we could provide him with another 5 years at that time. That is my opinion anyway, I would never risk losing him as a UFA at this point in his career to me that would be a very poor management decision. Even a 10 year contract would put him only at 34 years old. If you are going to sign him to long term now is the time.
- Senet1 : If you have a young stud you have to gamble a little and give him a contract that is worthy of his abilities and his potential. It can have escalation clauses or reducing clauses like Kovalchuk's contract.
- Senet1 : Avatar, I thought I was clear Yes I would sign him long term. My previous post said. The problem is if you have a out in the contract after 5 years then the player also has an out after 5 years. So no self respected lawyer would accept a contract that did not have equal escape clauses. So no I would not sign only for 5 years, if Price was 28 years old yes but not a 24. Seven years still only makes him 31 when the contract is over. If you have a young stud you have to gamble a little and give him
- Avatar37 : Cammalleri trade. Given the fact that we have no NHL starting quality goaltenders in the system currently, aren't we held hostage to having to sign Price?
- Avatar37 : There are many bad goalie contracts, just look at Huet. However, your post didn't answer my question as to what you'd do with Price. He's an RFA now, but for argument sake, if he were a UFA, what would you do? If he wanted a 7+ year contract, you know some other team would give him one. Would you risk losing him for nothing because you didn't want to sign a contract over 5 years? And if we lose Price, our goalies are Budaj and Robert Mayer, as we sent Karri Ramo to the Flames in the Cam
- goalie : .. a 5 years contract again based upon the experience he has had AND he likes Bobby Lou!
- goalie : Ditto for Philly, Ther goaltender 'situations' have both become the number 1 story line for both teams, and in Vancouver one could see the exaspiration on Gillis' adn to some extent Vigneault's faces when continously being bombarded by the loooong term contract that the Canucks are stuct with. (Gillis even said last February or so, thank goodness it looks like more than few other teams will be looking for a starting goaltender for 2012-13. He said he would never again do more than a 5 year c
- goalie : I've spent the past four winters in BC thus I am very aware of the Canucks situations. I'd first say I give Gillis adn Vigneault 100% credit for being VERY supportive of Roberto L. even when Corey Schenider has vastly out played him. (I too like Bobby Lou but facts are facts).
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Copyright © 2010 montreal canadiens hockey - habs blog
January 29, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Stanley!!!
January 29, 2008 at 5:42 pm
HOld me closer tiny dancer.
January 29, 2008 at 6:12 pm
lmao wtf? lol
January 29, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Now that is how you start a game….
January 29, 2008 at 9:20 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO its already 3-0 and #11 hasa goal GREAT and Ryder has a point !! GO HABS GO !!! GO HABS GO!!!
January 29, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Oh oh dont tell me AK27 is injured ???? He took a heavy shot on the hand !
January 29, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Time for me to spam …. I am starting to like that guy Josh … he is only 23 years old and he is turning out to be a decent defenceman …
January 29, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I agree Don, Josh looked very good tonight. I’m happy Koivu did well, but that line is probably still the weakest on the team.
This team is a contender with the addition of another scoring winger and perhaps a faceoff man.
What would everyone think of Fedorov coming in for a playoff run for faceoffs and defensive covereage?
January 29, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Federov gets 3mill a year.Too much.
January 30, 2008 at 12:03 am
When does Feds Contract end? Anyone know? If It’s this year I can see It happening but If anything else, don’t count on it. By the way, good game Habs!
January 30, 2008 at 1:01 am
We’re gliding ever closer to the playoffs with a more than respectable record and an apparent drive that hasn’t existing in years past – huge shutout tonight, looking forward to seeing what they do on Thursday in DC!
January 30, 2008 at 8:47 am
Feds makes 6,080,000mill for this year then is UFA…(AS NOTED BY HOCKEY NEWS SALARIES PAGE)
January 30, 2008 at 10:32 am
Kovalev played inspired hockey. Komisarek is quickly becoming the new Scott Stevens. Sergei plays mean and has great moves. All the Habs need is for Higgins and Latendresse to play up to their talent, however, you can see that its coming. Did anyone notice the stat showed on RDS last night that the Habs are second in the NHL for bodychecks. It all looks and feels good.
January 30, 2008 at 10:36 am
Ok, if anyone knows how this works…
I checked the Federov numbers as well, if we were able to get him for cheap (2nd round pick or for Halak say), would we only be responsible for approx. 1/4 of his annual salary as a cap hit since the season is 3/4 done at that point? so about $1.5M?
January 30, 2008 at 10:46 am
His contract ends this season so I don’t see the big problem. But if you want to get good face offs just save money and get Yannick Perrault. He might play on the third line, but his face offs are 1st in the NHL again. And either than Koivu, habs suck at taking face offs.
January 30, 2008 at 10:52 am
I’d prefer to see a scoring winger aquired for the first line but I think a player like Fedorov is more what Gainey may be after. Someone who doesn’t mess with the success and chemistry of the top scoring lines, who isn’t signed beyond this season and who helps in two areas of weakness, penalty killing and faceoffs. And with the strong Russian content of the habs it may be good for all.
January 30, 2008 at 11:19 am
Woohoo, keep on rollin Habs. Damn, we’re only behind Ottawa and Detroit now for 3rd overall. They’re a pleasure to watch again. Gotta catch them Sens though or the best we can get is 4th in the conference…and we got a home and home coming up next month…2 biggest games of the year so far.
And as an added bonus…the Leafs are bummin out, hahahahaha….How many Leaf fans said to me before the season started that the Habs lost Souray..thats too much for them to make the offseason….but with the Blake and Toskala pick-ups, the Leafs were guaranteed a playoff spot….hehe, looks good on the bums.
GO HABS GO !!
January 30, 2008 at 1:37 pm
We owe a lot of the success to the young guy’s and their relentless play,it’s rubbed off on the vets ,finally.And Kovalev is the other factor,he’s done a 360% turn around and is as well very inspiring and awesome to watch.The big question is how do we stack up against the western powerhouse teams,cause we know were making the playoffs!And what do we need to beat up on Ottawa in the BIG SHOW? I truly believe a couple of the right moves and we will be in the finals and getting our Stanley Cup back were it belongs THIS YEAR.We also need a very big enforcer ,”watch out for Brashear tonite!” cause if you are going to be no.2 in hits it’s going to cause a reply as the regular season comes to a close….Go habs GO…. Keep it focused Huet ,your on your game dude.
January 30, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Only playing Huet in a bit over half the games up to now, may have been Gainey’s master plan… He’s playing better now than he has all season, and playing back to back games is helping him way more than going back and forth with Price.
Funny how we all refer to things going well or horrible back to Gainey, like we would a god or something…lol
January 30, 2008 at 4:14 pm
We are almost there .. Sometimes I wonder if making a change is the right thing to do .. you know when its not broken you cant fix it? Right now its not broken.. do we risk breaking it ? Tough postion to be in your damned if you do and damned if you dont !!!
GO HABS GO !!!
January 30, 2008 at 5:02 pm
We are almost there .. Sometimes I wonder if making a change is the right thing to do .. you know when its not broken you cant fix it? Right now its not broken.. do we risk breaking it ? Tough postion to be in your damned if you do and damned if you dont !!!
GO HABS GO !!!
Fully agreed. What is the point of trading? We are doing so good already!
January 30, 2008 at 5:50 pm
If Montreal doesn’t trade before the deadline I beleive that would be admitting defeat in the playoffs. I hope I’m wrong and you two are right, but I still think there are some obvious problems on the team and a first round exit still would not be out of the question. I also think they are good enough that Gainey can’t just stand pat. To be so close to stanley cup contention and not make the effor to bolster the lineup would be unforgiveable.
January 30, 2008 at 5:58 pm
barriehabfan what are the obvious problems with the team ?
January 30, 2008 at 5:59 pm
How quickly we forget. Are we leaf fans now who think our team is the greatest after a few wins?
January 30, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Ok. How about one of the worst face-off win percentages in the league. Or maybe the fact that they are one of the worst penalty killing units. Or amybe that the first line, despit very recent signs of life, is very little threat to most teams. Or I could talk about how physically stronger teams can give Montreal fits.
No team is beyond improvement.
January 30, 2008 at 6:03 pm
And the same goes for my typing.
January 30, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Nicely put BarrieHabFan,and to further your point just look at last years Stanley Cup winner”Ducks”,they have added Snider , Bertuzzi and just resigned Salanie “spelling?”
January 30, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Selanne
January 30, 2008 at 6:39 pm
that is how you spell it
January 30, 2008 at 7:34 pm
A stronger faceoff man would be nice, as would a new scorer to either reignite the first line or replace one of the non-producers (Ryder, maybe even Koivu).
Either way, I think we have the potential (I stress that word) to make a strong Cup run. That is assuming that everyone makes a point to play at the top of their level all the time, without exception, and that Huet stays as solid as he has been lately.
January 30, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Exactly, Chris. A Fedorov type of player for penatly killing and faceoffs and a better winger to replace Ryder is exactly what I’d like to see before I get overly excited about a possible cup.
January 31, 2008 at 1:23 am
I just heard Burke has a 6 million cap spot and he’s looking for another impact player,yikes!
January 31, 2008 at 8:45 am
that is true
January 31, 2008 at 11:33 am
welcome to the site Habfreak
January 31, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I agree with Habsfan…..if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’re winning without contributions from the “1st” line. Koivu got a few points this last couple of games, but I’d be surprised if he keeps it up…..he’s been streaky for 11 years now, so no one should expect that to change. Look at ikt this way…if we’re winning without these three racking up points, why not keep em together….they can’t get any worst productionwise….at the very least they may even find their groove from last year and start scoring down the stretch.
Heres the thing with Ryder…..the powers that be, have to decide what to do with him because of other reasons….they have to look into the future and see if he’s gonna sign with them again next year. Personally, I think we’ve seen the end of Ryder in Montreal. Now Bob has to decide if he thinks this also…..and if he does, moving Ryder before the deadline would be a good move….at least get something for him now. It is kinda the same deal with Souray last year at this time, with one big difference, Souray was producing and we needed him for a playoff run we thought we were going to have. It was a gamble, and we ended up with no playoffs, no Souray, and nothing for him. Not that it’s a bad thing now, seeing how his year in Edm is going…we dodged a bullet there. Anyways, these desicions are for Bob to make.
I’d love to see Ryder stay put….I think he still has good potential…he’s just having a crappy year…players do come out of this…may not be til next year though. If there is a trade, we need to find a team with a Ryder-like player of there own….someone who can produce but who is just not doing it for whatever reason…a change of scenery could help both players, and both teams could benefit.
But for a good playoff run, Huet does have to remain magical, the PP has to continue producing as does the Kovy line. The PK has to improve, dumb penalties have to be reduced, and the presence of a tough guy would’nt go astray. I think the catching the Sens and having a chance at a higher seed than 4th could be a priority right now. They are having trouble with the Heatley and Alfie injuries, just so happens they have been playing weaker teams lately and still winning…they will run into tougher teams (including us) and we gotta kick em while they’re down…God knows its happened to us enough. All in all, I like this teams look this year…they’re fun to watch again…keep the fire burning boys and keep marching forward. GO HABS GO !!
January 31, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Is it just me, or is this site incredibly quiet?
Is it that most fans like to ***** when things aren’t gong well but don’t have much to say when the habs win?
January 31, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I have things to say weather they win or lose, lol…..Is just so much better not to have a hell of alot to ***** about lately…..lately it’s just been…tune into the game, watch 2 points get added to the total, and a great all round game being played. Not mcuh to ***** about….I’m sure everyone is just waiting for the next loss, lol…..That’s just the way it goes for a faithful follower. Can you imagine what the Leafs blog site is like, lol….Nothing good to talk about for 41 years now, and no promising future in sight…..that blog site must soon be all bitched out. Good to see them fail so horribly though, because, and any other Habs fan in english Canada with agree…..all you ever hear about on TV, weather they win or lose, is the G-damn Leafs….enough is enough, and it’s good to see all these biased commentators have nothing to say about this franchise anymore.
Anyone agree? Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver…4 of our countries 6 teams are playing well….and it’s still Leafs, Leafs, Leafs….gotta turn the stomach of a non-fan and make us hate them more.
They were all complaining about McCabe before his injury cuz his mistakes were hurting the team, and since then its been…”well, it’s hard to win without McCabe in our lineup”……jackasses. And this is the kinda sh*t we gotta hear every day on english sports TV. Really, enough with the Leafs…start giving the other Canadian teams some props, and stop whining about what the problem is in Toronto….really, it’s become old, and no one cares anymore. Sign Tucker to a contract that size, you deserve to fail….he’s only Montreals scraps.Go out and sign Sittler back into the lineup next year and all your problems will be over again Leaf fans, lol.
Anyways, guys, don’t know where this rant came from…just built up from months and years of listening to the Leafs whine, lol.Good luck in Washington tonight troops…keep flying high….GO HABS GO !!!
January 31, 2008 at 5:35 pm
To change the subject again, of all the rumours I’ve been reading about possible Montreal trades there is always mention of young players headed out of town for various veterans. Right now, what young players on Montreal would you be willing to part with in a deal (regardless of who the deal is for). Right now I would think that the Kostitsyn’s and Plekanec are untouchable?
February 1, 2008 at 8:50 pm
At this rat next year ovechkin is supposed to get 90+ goals plus 76 assists. that means about 166 points! Hope breaks the great one’s record for goals!
-Pactum Severa
February 1, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Man that would be incredible
February 7, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I think Koivu has overstayed his welcome. He has not scored in 12 games, loses every face off and is on for most goals against the team. Carboneau needs a wake up call and stop putting that line out for crucial play. what a joke.