tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post4922070457907240125..comments2023-06-01T21:15:57.354-11:00Comments on The H Does NOT Stand For Habs: IdentityJ.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-17170784470919402502010-08-29T04:04:27.984-11:002010-08-29T04:04:27.984-11:00The first game against the leafs should give a goo...The first game against the leafs should give a good indication of what the Habs identity will be. Burke's boys will try to murder the Canadiens and how they respond to the physical play will be interesting to watch. Although I was thrilled with the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Flyer series was very disappointing. I know the Habs were tired out by the back to back emotional 7 game series but their inability to give the Flyers a real battle leaves me pessimistic about the immediate future. The Habs will most likely be a bubble team not a contender for the foreseeable future. Having Moen as the only physical response is depressing. I feel sorry for the poor guy.<br /><br />As far as Doan goes, he's good hockey player but a racist, so what are you gonna do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-9102911814042878062010-08-29T02:28:22.502-11:002010-08-29T02:28:22.502-11:00Watching one of our playoff games last spring from...Watching one of our playoff games last spring from Vancouver my sister's first impression on our team (her usual reference being the Canucks and whatever series they're in) was that they were.... fast, relentless, well organised... a treat to watch.<br /><br />She is not moving back to Montreal but she'll be watching more of us..... hopefully our identity will keep developping around those lines.pierrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722439953017469433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-32931820660140601682010-08-29T01:34:08.689-11:002010-08-29T01:34:08.689-11:00Hi J.T.
Excellent as usual. Couldn't agree w...Hi J.T.<br /><br />Excellent as usual. Couldn't agree with you more. We've gone through so many young prospects that we hoped would pan out, but didn't. We're there again.<br /><br />If some of them do, I like the club. If they don't, then we will fall short. I like our top guns, so no concerns there. Of course, anyone can have a bad season, but I don't worry about that. It's what the bottom half brings that will make the difference.<br /><br />I'm excited about PK, but will grant him time to establish himself. He's young, will make mistakes - like everyone else - and he will learn from them. I don't see him as one of our prospects that will fail.<br /><br />I'd sure like O'Bourne to get the confidence of the coach to prove himself. He's had good spurts, but gets punished when he makes a mistake. He's got the size and toughness this club needs, and I hope he gets more opportunity this year.<br /><br />I didn't like giving up a second round pick for Moore, but I thought he would be a good addition to the team last year. He was, and proved worthy of a second round pick, IMO. I lament his loss this season. So here's where a prospect has to step up, and not be like so many that haven't and been moved out.<br /><br />I'd love to see Pouliot produce. I liked the trade immensely. Lats was never going to produce in Montreal like he did in Minny. I do wish him well there. I hope Pouliot stays and produces, and doesn't end up with the long list of failed prospects. He's loaded with talent - and size - IMO.<br /><br />I'm a BIG Gorges fan, but I'd like to see Gionta as captain. Both never stop working, but Gionta is the bigger 'star player' IMO.<br /><br />My favourite player growing up was The Big M, and I was thrilled when he beat out Bobby Hull for rookie of the year. That should date me. Long time Hab fan, BTW.<br /><br />Keep up the great posts. They are so inciteful and well thought out, it is a joy reading them. Your journalist talent shows in spades. I check EVERY day (I am a bit of a Hab fanatic).<br /><br />Thanks again, J.T. Best wishes to you, your non-hockey fan hubby, and kids.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11141406139388093224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-24827163728592935442010-08-29T01:09:40.014-11:002010-08-29T01:09:40.014-11:00I dunno J.T., maybe you are mellowing:-) or I am i...I dunno J.T., maybe you are mellowing:-) or I am in a funk. I don't see a strong second line on the team w/o busting up Gomez/Cammi/Gionta to support it. Kostitsyn and Pouliot have been moody players, and can't be counted on to earn their pay. Talented? You bet. Gamebreakers - only if they see mom in the crowd. So to me, under that situation, the lines are in a bit of turmoil. I like Pleks but he can disappear when the going gets tough. Throw in an injury or two, and what you have is another season of the 1 and 2 lines in flux, which means the 3 and 4 lines are always adjusting. <br /><br />So to me the biggest loss has been Boucher. A NHL team shouldn't be a developmental team. Kostitsyn can't cut it? Bring in someone trained to do the job. Eller, and Avstin have huge upside, but I don't see them playing much under Martin. Because they are developing. Boyd might be ok, I have no idea. <br /><br />What I do know is that the team won't be willing to play at playoff level for an 82 game season. They might come out the gate strong until everybody gets their gears meshed but by December (late October in the Quebce press:-) people will have found a scapegoat or two. Likely Price and Gill which is strange because goal and the D are ok, it's up front where the problem exists. <br /><br />Now I want to be wrong but I'm thinking Laps will be back to his old self, skating all over the place and achieving nothing. Markov will come back too early, Subban will make mistakes, and OB will be benched for them. Pleks will score a lot when the team is winning, and Gomez will be booed. Gionta will play like 6'2" and get hurt like 5'5". Kostitsyn will appear lost out there and get plenty of powerplay time. The powerplay will be ineffective unless Markov and Subban are on the ice. Moen, White, Laps, Boyd, Darche will all score big goals, and likely total 30 between them all season leaving Eller to produce some offense from the 3 and 4 or just chalk it up as Cammi better score in the shootout again.<br /><br />Price will help a visually impaired old lady to her seat in the Center amid a chorus of boos raining down. The same gang that screamed for Theodore, Huet, and Halak, will demand his head on a platter delivered to center ice for the opening faceoff of the first exhibition game. Then the Riberio group will start on Gomez, who will smile and say how it loves it in Montreal for the intensity. The Brisbois group will start on OB because he hits someone. On the jumbo someone will flash up a clip of MAB scoring a beauty from the slot, and the roar to bring him back will begin. (In other league barns their jumbo's will feature MAB highlights as well, only he will be standing 20 inside the other blue line looking back towards the play) Halak will get a shutout and the offices of Gauthier/Gainey/Geoff Molson will be tougher to visit than an Israeli consolate in Tehran. Martin will juggle his lines the first shift after Toronto makes a mistake. One of the players will have spent 6 hours a day practicing all summer, and another four learning la belle langue. He will visit a children's hospital, fumble over a medical term, and be roundly criticized. It won't be Kostitsyn.<br /><br />The team Montreal Canadiens will win some and lose some. Debate will rage about tanking for a chance at the best 17 year old 5 foot nothing player to ever come along. In the end the team will squeek into the playoffs, the vets will put it on the line again, the goalie will be said to have come into his own, but Philly will win the Cup because their goalie, previously with a won/lost of 1-72-26, stood on his head then was released to his old timers league. In the Philly clinic the trainers will just shake their heads and celebrate the winner of the "Total stitches" playoffs pool. <br /><br />Everything depends on Kostitsyn and Pouliot growing up or being replaced by someone who has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-34511928569400402832010-08-28T13:41:40.828-11:002010-08-28T13:41:40.828-11:00Superb writing J.T.
Gonna compile my thoughts and...Superb writing J.T.<br /><br />Gonna compile my thoughts and get back to you, dude.<br /><br />: )moemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07714585748102791365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-38476064289481878502010-08-28T07:45:13.927-11:002010-08-28T07:45:13.927-11:00hey j.t.,
love the blog, read all the time etc etc...hey j.t.,<br />love the blog, read all the time etc etc. (but really, I do).<br />Please say something about the Doan thing. It seems like anglo media does not see a story there, but my boys (I'm a french quebecer who learned how to read with La Presse) disagree. <br />I respect your opinion, you seem like a level-headed dude etc, so I'd love to hear your thoughts..;I was kind of hoping this post would be about that...<br />Thanks. And keep up the good work.manuel.soulie@ehess.frnoreply@blogger.com