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Canadiens sign Tom Kostopolous

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  1. #1 Rubberman says:
    July 10, 2007 at 1:05 pm

    I agree with “Dan Im feed up”. I read the most comments (almost daily)on this blog but I’m tired of the **** that’s going on. One guy keeps bashing the Habs, Gainey, or whatever. Others always address his comments and encouraging him. Isn’t this blog about hockey??!!?? So, I too am finished with this bullshit. Habsblog you got to put your foot down, if not see ya…

  2. #2 Xtrahabsfan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 2:35 pm

    Thank-you coutNY, for stating the obvious about the postings on little blog,you a good HabsBRO. I’m sure H.B. knows who’s been the ***-dits making those messed up postings and he should let us all know who the idiot is,you bet I’d love to know!!!! As for some of my other Habs bro’s ,WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPERCRITICAL RAT ******** ,some of you guy’s should be extras in the remake of Mississippi burning,lol!AND RUBBERMAN you want to talk hockey ? nobodys stoping you so lets talk Hockey,but please don’t be so naive to believe I’m going to agree with everything you post,most chanses are it ain’t going to happen,eh.lol.Question for all ,how do you think our Habs year will go???

  3. #3 fuzz16 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 2:44 pm

    It all depends on Huet….we will go as far as Huet will take us

  4. #4 Dan Im Fed UP says:
    July 10, 2007 at 6:03 pm

    They will struggle to make the playoffs. Because of this Habs Nation and the media will freak out and pressure the team to make a push for the final playoff spot. They will pickup a deadbeat, over the hill, former 40 goal scorer and trade the farm to do so. This pickup will not re-sign the next year and before you know we will be back at square one.

    This team is like Edmonton, to a tee almost. Except Edmonton has the problem of being in the middle of nowhere and is a small market and Montreal has the problem of the french media and high tax rate.

    PS. Koivu is the worst captain. Get rid of the Euro Trash.

  5. #5 BarrieHabFan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 6:29 pm

    thanks Xtrahabsfan. Happy to contribute to some REAL hockey talk.
    I actually think that this team isn’t as bad as many think. They have replaced those they lost with perhaps even a little more grit, they have great prospects coming up and the young players they have that are playing well (Ryder, Higgins, Komisarek, Halek or Price, etc) are most likely going to be better this year. Pair that with improved performances from the coaching staff and I beleive that this team can do well. Probably still a few years away from serious contention, but I think a good bet for playoffs.
    And frankly, I can’t see why so many are down on this team. The development of prospects seems to be going ahead of schedule and that’s how this team is going to be built. Not through the signing of over-paid veterans.

  6. #6 Habs#1 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    “Koivu is the worst captain. Get rid of the Euro Trash.”

    Saku Koivu is the best captain the Habs have had since Guy Carbonneau. You obviously don’t watch the Habs game in a game out. When Saku is there the team has a chance, when he isn’t they’re screwed. Or did you not watch the Carolina series a couple years ago?

  7. #7 Higgy21 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:28 pm

    This team will be better prepared for battle this year then last: why?

    - Hamrlik, Smokey and Greek are an improvement over Bonk, Johnson and SS.
    - HIggins, Komi, Pleks Kost, Lats?, Laps? and streit will be better.
    - Our goaltending duo will be competitive every night. No Abby
    - Carbo will make less rookie errors.
    - Kovy cant get any worse
    - Gainey should not have to leave the team again in January. HE is our general without him we sunk fast.

    negatives:
    - Lats will still be the slowest skater in the league
    - Laps will get too confident and think he is a 6 goal a year superstar
    - 5/6 d are weak

  8. #8 Higgy21 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    I love Josh.

  9. #9 nigelski says:
    July 10, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    I expect a tough season, myself. Replacing Bonk and Johnson with Smolinski and Kostopolous is still not guaranteed to be an upgrade, to me at least. Smolinski has probably a better offensive sense than Bonk, but Kostopolous is an unknown factor. The media say good things about his work ethic and drive, so I’m hopeful…

    Hamrlik isn’t an upgrade, he’s a stopgap. He’s coming off a season in which he had 26 fewer points than Souray, isn’t a factor on the power play, is no more physical than Souray, and isn’t appreciably faster. He gets too much credit for the play of Dion Phaneuf–I saw Phaneuf at the world juniors, hitting everything in sight, scoring and setting up plays, and Hamrlik was nowhere to be seen. If you ask me, he has been insulated by playing with Phaneuf, not the other way around. Phaneuf is a star, and future Norris winner.

    Hoping on our rookies from Hamilton to make a big difference has some basis in fact, as they just won the Calder Cup. Or Price won it, I should say. When I was reading the boxscores during the ‘Dogs playoff run, I thought I was looking at Canadiens’ stats. They were outshot almost every game, just like the Habs usually are, sometimes by more than 20 shots.

    And AHL stardom doesn’t always translate into NHL success–just ask Jason Ward, former AHL scoring Champion.

    I don’t believe the team’s most glaring weakness, the lack of a big offensive threat, was addressed. I certainly hope that we see improvement from guys like Higgins, Plekanec and Lantendresse, number-wise, but will it be enough?
    The pessimist in me says no.

    That said, nothing would make me feel better than to be wrong. I hope I am…

  10. #10 BarrieHabFan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 9:46 pm

    I agree that Hamrlik certainly is a step down from Souray on offence and he may be slightly overrated, however he is a big upgrade defensively. Not to say Hamrlik is one of the best defensive players in the game. But for as good as Sheldon Souray was offensively, he was that bad defensively.
    The key this year may be how much offence the habs can pick up from the forwards. They will lose offensive production from the defence, so they have to pick it up somewhere else.
    And you’re absolutely right, nigelski, when you say that AHL success doesn’t necessarily turn into NHL success. But to elaborate on what I had said about the farm team, I think they are drawing form a pretty large pool of AHL talent (relatively speaking)and although many will turn out dissapointing, some will undoubtedly turn out to be legitimate NHL talent. A strong farm system is a key to most if not all of the strongest and most successful teams in the NHL. They suplement their lineup with trades and free agent signings, but the base is made through the draft and farm team.
    I think Montreal finally has a good development system. The rest will follow. It’s hard to be patient, but the best is yet to come.

  11. #11 Dan Im Fed UP says:
    July 10, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    Habs#1. First of all I have RDS out in Calgary so I never miss a game. Second two years ago? A lot has changed, I think he’s tired of carrying the team and the was evident during druing the HAbs slide last year, remember last year! He was horrible. Taking stupid penalties, not caring, pretty much acting like Kovalev or Samsonov. I give him credit for the end run but by that time it was too late. Souray was a more consistent leader even at -25(?). Now with Shelly leaving and Koivu most likely not caring anymore, who will lead? It won’t be Koivu,Gainey gave him no reason to be optimistic. Carbs?

  12. #12 wpgghabsfan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 11:43 pm

    I think the solution to the habs problems has to be drastic…as much as i love koivu..i believe we should use him as trade bait for marleau or lecavalieror even richards ….I think we should get rid of kovalev at any cost..and also ryder. I know this sounds like i have no faith in the habs but I really do believe we need a change at the top. I think we need a star centerman…and i dont believe koivu is him.

  13. #13 Signings says:
    July 11, 2007 at 9:23 am

    As far as the awarding of contracts go, wouldn’t it be a lot better to pay the players based on performance? For example, a player like Kovalev could have a 1.5 million dollar guaranteed salary. Give him an extra million if he plays at least 41 games. Give him an extra million if he passes the 50 point mark. An extra million if the team makes the playoffs. For what is expected of him this next season, that would earn him 4.5 million, which is what he now gets anyways. That way, he will be sure to really try.
    One could do this with every player. You get paid to perform, after all.

    As far as Kovalev is concerned I think he will try hard to have a good season this time because his contract expires by the end of the year and he will be looking to sign for the most possible amount come next summer.

  14. #14 fan4066 says:
    July 11, 2007 at 10:00 am

    all comes down to – no playoffs this year either. Nobody wants to play here, thats the bottom line, its obvious

  15. #15 habsandwich says:
    July 11, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    still waiting on those t-shirts HB

  16. #16 nigelski says:
    July 12, 2007 at 6:08 am

    http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213273&hubname=

    There’s Yashin’s latest crybaby story, if anyone cares…

    While I agree that performance based signings would be good, Signings (post#162), the problem is that the collective agreement only allows for such after a player hits a certain age, and has had health problems in the past limiting them to a certain # of games. I don’t have exact #s on the requirements, but past incentive laden contract getters include Jason Allison, Lindros, and most recently Hasek last season.

    By far, the best solution, is to go after guaranteed contracts in the next CBA, and eliminate them altogether. Buyout issues would become a thing of the past, and you’re only as good as your last season. It seems to work well for the NFL–the NFL being THE model for pro franchising, revenue sharing, and television contract.

    To quote Homer Simpson,”…I liked your hustle out there…that’s why it was so hard to cut you…” Let the cuts begin!

  17. #17 netcase says:
    August 7, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    I always waited for Gainey to make that stellar move that makes us understand what he’s doing.
    I’m still waiting.

  18. #18 TrueHabFan says:
    April 4, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    Well, solidly in the playoffs and division champions.

    Now, it’s been a while since all the experts on this thread gave us their opinions. Time to explain yourselves.

    Go Habs!

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  • goalie : I don't know when they'll announce it but the Oilers will be signing Sutter (Flames ex-coach) to coach their team - that's why Kevin Lowe chose him to coach in the World's. That was the world's worst kept secret.
  • Senet1 : I guess I wish we could get it done so all the speculating was over and we can get to building out team.
  • goalie : I can't type.... what a faux pas on my behalf...
  • goalie : I just realized what I said adn didn't say yesterday. What a fayx as on my behalf. Regarding coaching Randy Cunnyworth MUSDT stay as an assistant- he deserves at least that after the tremendous job he did in the latter part of this past season. I'd still mlike to have Robinson, Carbo adn Allard on the staff also.
  • Avatar37 : I agree Senet, my choice if we can't have Cunneyworth would be Crawford, Robinson on defense, Cunneyworth for offense, and Carbo as offense/faceoffs .
  • Senet1 : I think if I had my choice it would be Crawford and see if he could get Carbo and Robinson as assistants. That would be my idea coaching team.
  • goalie : I witnesed Marc Crawford MANY times when the Avs, etc. played against Oilers and let me tell you - he is constantly on the referees asses virtually game after game. He is the complete OPPOSITE of J. Martin. Crawford is calm on TSN but he is one excited coach behind the bench. A friend of mine who was an NHL linesman for 26 years said they dreaded Crawford he was so tough on the officials!
  • goalie : You know, I've bee thinking about the coaching situation. I'd be really excited if the Habs had Hartley as head coach and Carbo adn Robinson as his assistants. I also read it somewhere about a month ago that Toronto's goalie coach Allard (?) wants to relocate back to Montreal where he has his goaltending school/business. Add him to the mix and I'd say the Habs would be in great shape coaching wise.
  • Avatar37 : Well, from what I recall, Hartley didn't do all that well with the Thrashers. But, I don't know enough about him to judge one way or the other. Crawford I do know, and he always seemed to be a good, level headed coach to me.
  • Senet1 : even Pacioretty two years ago did not impress any of us. Younger players have to play and make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. If they sit in the press box they are learning nothing.
  • Senet1 : Of course if he have some good assistants like a Larry Robinson to teach the young defence and someone like Carbo to teach faceoffs etc. then your coach does not have to be as good at teaching. If Hartley fits the bill you get no argument from me. My only previous point is that if he is impatient with your younger players to the point that he does not play them, then we are right back where we were with Martin. Martin was a good coach too, but how he handled Emelin, PK and even Pacioretty two
  • goalie : I would like to see the Habs sign a coach who realizes that our team isn't tough enough (we need to get bigger and somewhat more nastier),the coach needs t be a great TEACHER and be a coach who can get the players to understand and buy into his system. Other than that I couldn't care what lingo he speaks. I wnat to see our team become a ligitimate contender fast!
  • HabsLoseAgain : Well we dont know if he is or is not a teaching coach. I woukd just hate to paint Hartley something that he is not. There will always be questions but if Hartley was hired as the habs new bench boss i for one would not be overly upset.
  • Senet1 : My thoughts are not that he is or is not a good coach but rather that when he won the cup he had an experience team of superstars on that team. Where as we have a group of young inexperienced players, is he a teaching coach or a tactical coach or both? I am not question whether he is a good coach, but my question therefore is he the coach for us at this point in the deveopment of our team?? Not sure we are all purely speculating at the moment?
  • Senet1 : Something happened to my first post. I will try again.
  • Senet1 : That is why I said I am not sure he is the coach for us at this time? Right now we are all speculating including yourself, because non of us know for sure?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Crawford also won a cup with Patrick Roy so would you say he is a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best goaltenders of alltime?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Senrt so please give me some reasons why you think Hartley is not the coach the habs need right now. What is it that you do not like about him or his coaching style?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Well all great coaches had great players playing for them so i guess you you add a a pile of other coaches to that list including Bowan......
  • Senet1 : Hartley, was he a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best altime goaltenders of all time. I am not sure that he is the type of coach that this organization needs right now. Unless of course we sign a ton of free agents.
  • Avatar37 : However, my feelings may completely be wrong, Hartley may turn out to be a good fit.
  • Avatar37 : I didn't say Hartley was unknown, I said we demoted a good coach in Cunneyworth and now have an unknown quantity because we don't have a coach. I don't have that great a feeling about Hartley, I'd be much more comfortable with Crawford.
  • HabsLoseAgain : In my opinion i think he might be a good fit in montreal. Oh and he also likes to have a tough team.
  • HabsLoseAgain : Also this year he coached the ZSC Lions to the swiss championship title.
  • HabsLoseAgain : lol the so called "unknown" won a cup in 2000-2001 with the colarado avalanch.
  • HabsLoseAgain : lol Bob Hartley is not an unknown lol.....sheesh.
  • Senet1 : I think he has until the trading deadline to show us that he deserves to be on this team. If he does not get back on track then he could be simply a 2nd round draft pick to whoever we can trade him to.
  • Avatar37 : Bourque reminds me of Pouliot, size, skill, and invisible. He needs to get back to playing a physical game and bang people around and maybe he'll start getting some of those garbage goals again. Need to get to the front of the net. I hope he can find his game again.
  • Avatar37 : We had a good coach in Randy Cunneyworth. Now we have an unknown, with Bob Hartley rumoured to be the front runner. I'd rather have Cunneyworth.
  • goalie : A player like Rene Bourwue has al the physical attributes of what would be a beter than average player. Hwever, he certainly didn't play that well especially after being in Montreal about three weeks. We NEED players like Rene to play hard AND produce points on a REGULAR BASIS in order for us to be competitive.
  • Senet1 : MONTREAL – Rene Bourque had a rocky start to his career as a Hab, but he’s planning on using the next four years to make up for it. After arriving in Montreal under less-than-ideal circumstances in January, Bourque spent the following 38 games hoping to find the spark he needed to rekindle his offensive production. Despite flanking Tomas Plekanec on the team’s second line to close out the season, the 30-year-old sniper suddenly found himself firing blanks in his new NHL home.
  • Senet1 : I think we have to be patient and not expect too much too soon. Let's get a strong management team in place, make a good choices in the draft get a good coach and then see what we need at the free agent market. I will not be too disapointed if we miss the playoffs again next year if it means a long term team success. We have the opportunity to make some major strides over the next two years at the draft table. Then we fill in the holes.
  • goalie : I certainly agree that we need to get some impact forwards who will sign for 5 years, not for a season then walk away. That's not going to help us.
  • goalie : I wouldn't trade PK for Ovetchkin no matter what. He is a coach's NIGHTMARE and a poor team player.
  • Senet1 : I believe he will as we graducally put better players around him and build this team.

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