To show all the flaws in the NHL balloting system, you’ll never guess who is included: Downey! that’s right. go check it out! It’s such a farce! People in large populated cities like NY and Philly, stuff the ballot box to get mediocre players on the team, or no talented players like DOWNEY are included. Where’s the logic? The right way to pick players, is to have all the coaches pick the players. Fans only pick players from their own team, no matter how bad they are. Also, HIGGINS, KOVALEV,and HUET aren’t even included! Go figure!

Considering how bad Nash is, don’t expect much for Aebischer unless we throw in another player, and make it a package deal.

It’s ridiculous that Huet was left off the all star ballot. He is dominating this year, and had a great run last year as well. There is NO excuse for the NHL dropping the ball here.

On another note, did anyone read Eklund’s blog on Hockeybuzz today? According to him, the Habs are working on a package to get Naslund out of Vancouver. What you guys think? Who would we send back in a trade like that? Naslund is making 6 mil this year, so I’m thinking Rivet, Aebischer and Bonk should cover the salary going back. any thoughts?

I don’t see any way Naslund is coming to Montreal. Now that I know NYR, Pitt,and SJ are also pusuing him, forget it! I’m sure NY can put together a much more attractive package than the habs! Also, we can’t afford to give up 3 players for 1, especially with Bonk playing so well. I could live without Rivet and Aebischer, but not also Bonk. But if we give up Souray instead of Rivet, then we can possibly swing that.

The second period just finished and overall both teams are about even. Florida has had more activity on Huet and he’s the difference so far. The Canadiens are near the net but can’t find the trigger. Seems like they shoot right at the goalie or the shot doesn’t get through. Need the Leclair type player. Kovalev has the hands but chooses to show up only when he feels like it. Samsonov has to have that finishing touch. Higgins would be that type of player but he’s on the shelf. Let’s come out better in the third. Way to close for the Florida Panthers at this stage of their year. Let’s go! Wake up and close it out. Somebody take the bull by the horns!!!

Has anyone read the other article “Habs and Have Nots” it was on HOCKEYBUZZ.
by ANTHONY SANFILIPPO…..really good read,

OK, the Montreal Canadiens are the biggest threat to the Buffalo Sabres to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

So much so, that they may even be better than Buffalo when all is said and done.

Wow. I almost can’t believe I typed it.

But, believe it. Guy Carbonneau has done an outstanding job of turning a team that was never known to be gritty (some might have called them soft in the past) and turned them into a scary good hockey club.

I watched them lose 4-2 to the Flyers at Bell Centre in Montreal Saturday and aside from a less than stellar second period, the Habs were the better team.

They were foiled by a new defensive scheme the Flyers are employing and a stellar goaltending performance by Antero Niittymaki, otherwise they were the better team on the ice.

Starting with special teams, their penalty kill is relentless, which is how Carbonneau used to play when his teams were a man down.

They created more chances in the first period against the Flyers power play unit than the Flyers did them. They have the third best kill in the NHL and lead the league in shorthanded goals with seven.

On the flip side, their power play is potent and generates a bevy of chances. They rank sixth in the league and are paced from the point by the awesome shot of Sheldon Souray, who has seven man advantage goals from the blue line already.

In net, Cristobal Huet has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s 8-2-2 with a 2.10 GAA which is impressive enough, but his save percentage is an eye-popping .935.

And their scoring is well-balanced throughout the lineup. They don’t have a double digit goal scorer, but they have seven players with at least five goals at the quarter pole, suggesting they all could conceiveably score 20.

Aside from the numbers, the thing that can’t be measured statistically is determination, hustle and energy, and boy do the Habs have those.

They hit hard, they arrive at the puck with a physical mindset. They win a lot of 50/50 battles along the walls. They create turnovers, they can skate, and they can pressure the opposition into making mistakes.

Those of you in Buffalo should know this well, because they frustrated the hell out of you Friday night.

For a team that averages more than four goals a game to be held to just one, on home ice no less, is a credit to the visiting team.

Is Buffalo still the odds on favorite? You bet. I’ve only seen them twice, and it was against the Flyers, so I don’t think it’s fair to judge them on those performances.

However, I’ve spoken with people in Buffalo who are around the team every day and they say it’s hard to believe, but the Sabres have had stretches of bad hockey this year and have just figured out ways to overcome them and win games.

That’s the mark of a good team.

But Montreal’s a good team too. Make no mistake about it. And I think both Carbonneau and G.M. Bob Gainey know it.

Something tells me if they feel there’s a move to make at the trade deadline that can get them over the top, then they’ll do it, even if they are kind of close to the salary cap.

For the first time in a long time, the Canadiens are playing a style of hockey that the fans of their fine city deserve to see.

And something special could be the result of it.

Big Kevin, try taking off those rose-coloured glasses…I think being positive is good but try smelling the coffee. The habs are playing better but the same disappointment can happen (look at last year’s stretch)…Souray has his moments and the difference is this year he’s not hurt(yet). Also, he’s scoring…look at last year he was no where as effective on the PP. I think the year before was where we were able to see his shot but somewhere after his injury, he was gun shy. Also, where oh where has Kovalev gone! Oh yeah, there are signs of him being around. Thank goodness he was in the shootout lineup…Oh look Koivu is able to finish off plays. OK..so if we can keep the other team down to…let’s say 1 goal per game and limit their PP chances to 5 (because we know we do more), then we have a good chance at winning and not going to a similar fate as last year. (By the way, all those blown games last year made it a very tough and uncomfortable finish), they barely just squeaked in to the play offs (if you recall, the other sisters were more pathetic and couldn’t win). But I am optimistic, I see good things (keep going with Huet and let Aebischer sit for a while – maybe even trade him for a sniper), correcting some bad habits and shooting on net. That’s my 2 cents…Keep it going! Go Habs Go!