So Kovy has stated he would like to retire in Mtl, but is now playing for the Sens. Sens fans might think this a slight on them, but quite the opposite. He will always be respected and admired in Mtl. Dude had a lot of fans here... But you bet he is gonna play well for the Sens. No big Montreal pressure, but still an intense hockey town, Kovy is gonna light it up for the Sens. Mtl is 2 hrs down the road, with only 1/2 the bullshit Mtl players have to deal with. He's gona be fine...
Ok, and Demerse a Canadian Senator? Double-u tee eff. I don't hate him as a Coach, and he's pretty good on the TV, but someone I want as a Parliamentary watchdog, no thanks. When did Demerse ever show some sort of savvy for the welfare of the populous, or a nation? I've never met the man, but his public profile certainly doesn't portray a guy with a stable head on his shoulders. He's always seemed reactionary and emotional, neither of which I want to see in my senate. I think of him as a Pierre McGuire: awesome hockey dude, tops. But Polotics ain't hockey.
Update: there seems to be some solid support for Demerse as a senator: Steve Yzerman being quoted as saying Demerse is already a great politician. That is, people who know him outside his TV personality seem to really like the guy and credit his character. So, good luck Jacques. I'll miss you on RDS.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Team Canada Selection
Chatting with my bloggin' pal over at HHIB about the Team Canada selection process, its kind of an interesting topic for the dead time of the NHL.
Babcock seems determined to build a team around 'roles' and a 'system' -- as opposed to what Quinn would do and just take all the best players, and play his best as much as he could.
My basic opinion is that roles and systems take time to develop and to buy into: time Team Canada might not have. And Babcock would prefer someone who will dance to his tune than a talented upstart. So we'll end up with Dan Cleary instead of Dan Heatly.
Please go drop your 2 cents into the bucket; I'd be interested in what others have to say.
The link, again, is here: http://hockeyhotchicks.blogspot.com/2009/07/team-canada-debates-rolling.html
Babcock seems determined to build a team around 'roles' and a 'system' -- as opposed to what Quinn would do and just take all the best players, and play his best as much as he could.
My basic opinion is that roles and systems take time to develop and to buy into: time Team Canada might not have. And Babcock would prefer someone who will dance to his tune than a talented upstart. So we'll end up with Dan Cleary instead of Dan Heatly.
Please go drop your 2 cents into the bucket; I'd be interested in what others have to say.
The link, again, is here: http://hockeyhotchicks.blogspot.com/2009/07/team-canada-debates-rolling.html
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Pluky Plekanec gets 1 yr, 2+ mil
Gainey awarded Pleks with a pretty nice deal for a small center with ~40 points. It seems as though Gainey has recognized his talent, and is giving Pleks 1 more year to put up or get out. Gainey has burned his remaining cap space with this one, so forget getting Lang or Tanguay back.
I think this is a lot of money for a player who has failed to reach his potential, thus far. No doubt he is skilled and fast, but a threat he is not. He was dangerous short handed in 08, but when the pressure is on, Pleks is not. Even self admittedly, when he admitted he was playing like a little girl in the playoffs.
Still, you can do worse than Pleks, and hopefully the 1 yr contract doesn't get him down. Perhaps Jaque's new system will work well, and we'll see some explosive plays from the mini-man. I sure hope so- he can ne really exciting when his game is on.
On a side note, consider the depth of the two centennial teams:
2008/09:
Tanguay-Koivu-Higgins
Kovalev-Lang-Kostitsyn
etc...
2009/10:
Gionta-Gomez-Camelleri
Latendress-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
etc...
Better hope no one gets hurt. More on that later maybe.
I think this is a lot of money for a player who has failed to reach his potential, thus far. No doubt he is skilled and fast, but a threat he is not. He was dangerous short handed in 08, but when the pressure is on, Pleks is not. Even self admittedly, when he admitted he was playing like a little girl in the playoffs.
Still, you can do worse than Pleks, and hopefully the 1 yr contract doesn't get him down. Perhaps Jaque's new system will work well, and we'll see some explosive plays from the mini-man. I sure hope so- he can ne really exciting when his game is on.
On a side note, consider the depth of the two centennial teams:
2008/09:
Tanguay-Koivu-Higgins
Kovalev-Lang-Kostitsyn
etc...
2009/10:
Gionta-Gomez-Camelleri
Latendress-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
etc...
Better hope no one gets hurt. More on that later maybe.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Unsigned
Mike Boone has a nice little post talking about the unsigned free agents who played last season with the Habs.
The Big Names
Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider.
There is no doubt that these players were top tier players in the last 5 years. They are not a hot commodity now, because of age, injury, and price.
Is Montreal the place where players go to die? You arrive in Montreal a respected hockey commodity, and leave as a forgotten husk -- torn down by pressures of a brutal and unfair media, a rabid fanbase, and the faces of hockey greats constantly frowning on you.
"Only 2 goals in today's loss Monsieur Tanguay? My spirit cannot rest with such a lack-luster performance..."
"I am sorry Monsieur Richard. But I cannot do it alone..."
"I find your lack of faith... disturbing..."
It is of course hog-wash. It might be true that players under perform here, and then thrive elsewhere; driving down their value while here, and then making Habs fans lament the loss of such a wonderful talent. We traded LeClair and Desjardins for Recchi, then Recchi for... I don't even remember... a memoriable keychain?
I liked having Tanguay and Schneider on my team. I dunno if I liked them more than Komisarek and Koivu (Higgins was ma boy, he is seriously missed.) But Gainey has spent his money, and is looking to build Jaques Martin a team (not the HabsTwit.) So they are gone. Where do they go?
Tanguay will get picked up by a team wanting to make a splash right before the season starts. He's costly, but good enough to bolster some excitement for a GM with no headlines. Maybe St Louis? Dallas? Something like that.
Schneider and Lang, well, old journeyman. Lang has already been to Washington and Pittsburgh. New York Rangers need a centerman, so maybe he'll end up there. He has to be signed to a team that wants to give the impression of being a contender -- like NYR or Habs. I can't see him in Leaf-land, as Burke has a new game plan that involves.. defenceman only or something.
Schneider proved in Atlanta he can't carry a team's defense; he has to be a part of a bigger picture. He still has Stanley Cup experience and is great on the powerplay - but its a tall order to give this guy top minutes. I dunno where he fits; and maybe he should take a massive pay cut to be part of something; but I dunno what. I'm blinded; I think the best place for him is Montreal. But I always felt that way.
As for Brisebois, he's is probably done. Bouillion should fit in nicely as a late summer signing to round out a team needing some energetic defense. Any team could use him. Except Toronto, who has enough already. Dandenault -- what happened? No reason for this guy to be sent packing to the AHL, but who would take him as either a D or a 4th liner? Dang, hard luck.
Good luck to all of them; you all played well for my Habs, and I feel lucky to have been able to watch you.
The Big Names
Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider.
There is no doubt that these players were top tier players in the last 5 years. They are not a hot commodity now, because of age, injury, and price.
Is Montreal the place where players go to die? You arrive in Montreal a respected hockey commodity, and leave as a forgotten husk -- torn down by pressures of a brutal and unfair media, a rabid fanbase, and the faces of hockey greats constantly frowning on you.
"Only 2 goals in today's loss Monsieur Tanguay? My spirit cannot rest with such a lack-luster performance..."
"I am sorry Monsieur Richard. But I cannot do it alone..."
"I find your lack of faith... disturbing..."
It is of course hog-wash. It might be true that players under perform here, and then thrive elsewhere; driving down their value while here, and then making Habs fans lament the loss of such a wonderful talent. We traded LeClair and Desjardins for Recchi, then Recchi for... I don't even remember... a memoriable keychain?
I liked having Tanguay and Schneider on my team. I dunno if I liked them more than Komisarek and Koivu (Higgins was ma boy, he is seriously missed.) But Gainey has spent his money, and is looking to build Jaques Martin a team (not the HabsTwit.) So they are gone. Where do they go?
Tanguay will get picked up by a team wanting to make a splash right before the season starts. He's costly, but good enough to bolster some excitement for a GM with no headlines. Maybe St Louis? Dallas? Something like that.
Schneider and Lang, well, old journeyman. Lang has already been to Washington and Pittsburgh. New York Rangers need a centerman, so maybe he'll end up there. He has to be signed to a team that wants to give the impression of being a contender -- like NYR or Habs. I can't see him in Leaf-land, as Burke has a new game plan that involves.. defenceman only or something.
Schneider proved in Atlanta he can't carry a team's defense; he has to be a part of a bigger picture. He still has Stanley Cup experience and is great on the powerplay - but its a tall order to give this guy top minutes. I dunno where he fits; and maybe he should take a massive pay cut to be part of something; but I dunno what. I'm blinded; I think the best place for him is Montreal. But I always felt that way.
As for Brisebois, he's is probably done. Bouillion should fit in nicely as a late summer signing to round out a team needing some energetic defense. Any team could use him. Except Toronto, who has enough already. Dandenault -- what happened? No reason for this guy to be sent packing to the AHL, but who would take him as either a D or a 4th liner? Dang, hard luck.
Good luck to all of them; you all played well for my Habs, and I feel lucky to have been able to watch you.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Travis Moen in, Tommy K out
This one is really a woopidy-doo.
Travis Moen brings his grit, energy and character play to bolster our third/fourth line and penalty kill. He has more hits than Mara, and is a big-fat-minus player. But he actually should do a nice job filling that role. I look forward to him mucking it up with the toughies on the other teams.
Tommy-K leaves us to go to Carolina. I have no feelings for this move. Tommy-K was supposed to be like Begin, but either his conditioning or his heart failed him by the end of last season. He wasn't hitting as much, he wasn't physical with the other team, he wasn't fighting, and he wasn't really able to help out Guillaume and Maxime Lapierre. I still think he is a good teammate to have, and he always played with energy. I mean, who, at the end of last season, really played their all?
So long Tommy-K, I think you'll fit in really well in Carolina, and wish you some success. Carolina has been a much more succesful post-season club in recent years than the CH.
And it really is a shame about Tanguay. He'd be a great fit for the Habs this year I think, but his price tag is just too high. The Gazette is wondering how someone who cost us so much can now be looking for work, and the answer is simple: Tanguay is an expensive player, prone to injury, who is a great setup man. Teams that have snipers who need "the pass" are already set up, for the most part, so Tanguay's role is just not required. Talks of him in Phoenix or Miami make sense -- he will naturally boost any offensive unit -- but contenders have spent their money, and already formed their killer offense.
I wish we could keep him. Wherever he lands he'll be a pleasure to watch.
Travis Moen brings his grit, energy and character play to bolster our third/fourth line and penalty kill. He has more hits than Mara, and is a big-fat-minus player. But he actually should do a nice job filling that role. I look forward to him mucking it up with the toughies on the other teams.
Tommy-K leaves us to go to Carolina. I have no feelings for this move. Tommy-K was supposed to be like Begin, but either his conditioning or his heart failed him by the end of last season. He wasn't hitting as much, he wasn't physical with the other team, he wasn't fighting, and he wasn't really able to help out Guillaume and Maxime Lapierre. I still think he is a good teammate to have, and he always played with energy. I mean, who, at the end of last season, really played their all?
So long Tommy-K, I think you'll fit in really well in Carolina, and wish you some success. Carolina has been a much more succesful post-season club in recent years than the CH.
And it really is a shame about Tanguay. He'd be a great fit for the Habs this year I think, but his price tag is just too high. The Gazette is wondering how someone who cost us so much can now be looking for work, and the answer is simple: Tanguay is an expensive player, prone to injury, who is a great setup man. Teams that have snipers who need "the pass" are already set up, for the most part, so Tanguay's role is just not required. Talks of him in Phoenix or Miami make sense -- he will naturally boost any offensive unit -- but contenders have spent their money, and already formed their killer offense.
I wish we could keep him. Wherever he lands he'll be a pleasure to watch.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Bring on the HItz!
Ok, so I was concerned we wouldn't have a hitter on the team; a guy who could (cleanly) push around opponents better players and make life miserable for the skilled forwards in our division.
... And so Gainey just signed Paul Mara: who according to this had 123 hits last year.
Andrei Kostitsyn had 124
Komisarek had 191
Luke Schenn had 206
Lucic had 262
And Clutterbuck won the day with 356
Mara, big, but not so much a hitter.
... And so Gainey just signed Paul Mara: who according to this had 123 hits last year.
Andrei Kostitsyn had 124
Komisarek had 191
Luke Schenn had 206
Lucic had 262
And Clutterbuck won the day with 356
Mara, big, but not so much a hitter.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Saku to Kalifornia
Looks like our Fearless Leader has managed to find himself a new nest; Saku is now a Anaheim Duck!
I think this is great news -- he'll be re-united with Teemu Selanne, play with Scott Neidermayer, and have a chance to bolster a young(ish) team. Plus, its almost as far from Montreal as possible, so he should get some relief from the press. Maybe.
That being said -- think he's gonna be a first line center? Hell no. Getzlaf is a big, angry young, talented first line center. And now Saku can play the 2nd line / 3rd line role, wherever he is needed.
So really Saku is finding a spot that we hoped he'd find on the Habs -- but without a Getzlaf, Staal, Malkin, Lecavellier, etc... Saku's giant heart simply had no place to fill here on the East coast.
Hyvä Menestys Saku Koivu!!
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