tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post6234791957279421144..comments2023-06-01T21:15:57.354-11:00Comments on The H Does NOT Stand For Habs: Step Right Up!J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-11276231450468545982011-10-24T09:53:28.639-11:002011-10-24T09:53:28.639-11:00Why wasn't Hamrlik re-signed as an insurance p...Why wasn't Hamrlik re-signed as an insurance policy? He was a workhorse with experience. PG should have given him the 2 years he asked for. Halpern should also have been re-signed. He provided depth at center and was a good faceoff man...for $700K. Funny, they're good enough for the Capitals but not for PG. I guess he thought 3 European rookie defensemen, with virtually no NHL experience, could do a better job. And Enqvist would provide the badly needed depth at center...what a joke....And why not have signed Moore 2 years ago?? He tore it up in playoffs, is looking great in TB (was good enough for Yzerman to sign...we would have some decent depth at center...oh well another 2nd rnd pick flushed down the toilet for a rental. Letting Muller go was another huge gaffe...clearly the heart, soul and brains behind the bench....Moen with his 2 cement blocks as hands is the leading scorer while Capn Gio is taking tons of stupid penalities???...what gives?? if you ask me it's a sypmtom of the new NHL...size, grit and strength scores goals...speed is fine, but speed without protection just leads to frustration...now they're taking runs at CP....what a mess. Fire PG and JM and get BG out of the system. Bring in some modern thinking fresh blood to turn things around. I like the Pierre McGuire as GM and Kirk Muller as head coach idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-36334269544682328812011-10-24T08:29:43.991-11:002011-10-24T08:29:43.991-11:00I am a bit concern about the results but not the w...I am a bit concern about the results but not the way we are losing. The Habs are very much present and..scoring goals...<br />The last years was a lot different: we would win despit not competing...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-22289448254142799082011-10-24T06:08:15.508-11:002011-10-24T06:08:15.508-11:00Can hardly wait for Josie's picture and your t...Can hardly wait for Josie's picture and your take on the upcoming loss to the Panthers. Am starting to chuckle already.<br /><br />Read a headline on HIO saying Habs bulk up for Panthers ignoring the fact that Weber and Spacek will play while Emelin, the Habs ONLY physical D-man, will be eating hot dogs. Quite the oxymoron.dustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-89673013619907924152011-10-24T04:29:41.532-11:002011-10-24T04:29:41.532-11:00Hey JT, quick comment on Cole if I may.
I will h...Hey JT, quick comment on Cole if I may. <br /><br />I will humbly disagree with ya. Cole for the past few games HAS been bringing it. He has been physical, drove the net and so on...but still gets under 14 minutes of ice time! Martin is creating a crap storm here. Play cole 18 minutes, give him ice with Plek and Cammer, full on. ESPECIALLY when he is physical and driving the net like he has been for the past few games....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-65738314962829082602011-10-24T04:27:32.030-11:002011-10-24T04:27:32.030-11:00I guess these players would be considered small if...I guess these players would be considered small if they were on the Habs.<br /><br /><br />3 D's under 200lbs is akin to suicide..2 of them without any significant NHL experience...Weber has not proven he's NHL calibre yet...much better as a winger...<br /><br />Diaz and Emelin lack NHL experience....<br /><br />Habs defensive core is smaller than last year...<br /><br />PG ought to be fired....on three counts<br /><br />1) Gambled on Markov - without signing a "cop" to protect him - Markie has been protected for the last 10 years by either Komi or O'Byrne<br /><br />How long will he last without protection?<br /><br />2) The non-replacement of Hamrlik<br /><br />Hammer was a workhorse and though a non-fighter, had enough strength and size to clear the front of the net<br /><br />3) Non replacement of a good face-off man, in Halpern- <br /><br />PG had all summer and a pocketful of cash to find good replacements<br /><br />He failed<br /><br />It will probably cost a 1st or 2nd rounder that will need to be sacrificed to rectify the situation but unless its done soon it may be too late and sayonara play-offs....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-21259520367967380302011-10-24T01:46:22.615-11:002011-10-24T01:46:22.615-11:00I was at the Rangers-Oilers game in Edmonton on Sa...I was at the Rangers-Oilers game in Edmonton on Saturday night. Ryan McDonagh was the best Ranger defenceman on the ice, and it wasn't close. He played the first minute or minute and half of every penalty kill, and was on the 2nd Power Play as well. He was their starting left defenceman at the beginning of each period and logged the most minutes. He is 6'1", 222 lbs. and strong as an ox. The year the Habs drafted him, he was said to have one of the best numbers in the history of Combines testing --quite simply, the kid is a stud. On the ice Saturday night, I didn't see him make a single mistake. He just always seems to make the right play. He doesn't get out of position to make a hit, usually ends up with the puck, and then efficiently clears the zone. He is an outstanding lateral and backwards skater.<br /><br />I have read elsewhere that when he was traded for Gomez, his progress hadn't been "up to par" -- could someone please explain that statement to me, because the very day he was traded, Glen Sather said "Ryan McDonagh will play in the National Hockey League." <br /><br />This is a trade that will haunt the Canadiens for years to come. It falls in the same category as trading 5-time all-start John LeClair to the Flyers for "diddley and squat" as Jack Todd would say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-7983811251407570122011-10-23T17:09:28.443-11:002011-10-23T17:09:28.443-11:00Cole was having the start of a great game and got ...Cole was having the start of a great game and got benched for his efforts. Darche wasn't looking too great, whiffing on a few passes let alone shots. A good coach would recognize that hmmm maybe give Cole some ice time and a chance on the PP with a very weak Leafs goalie.<br /><br />Hell even Moen might have done better on the PP than Darche. He is our leading scorer! With Eller and Kostitsyn, their basically our best line...<br /><br />But nope. Martin (and Perry for that matter since he runs the PP supposedly) has the plans written in stone in his little notebook and thou shalt not rewrite the Commandment!<br /><br />Man...even Carbo had a few moments where he threw his notes out the window because of what was going on on the the ice.Number31https://www.blogger.com/profile/04754429306690847476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-36956164115283540952011-10-23T11:26:19.100-11:002011-10-23T11:26:19.100-11:00What about Dryden as GM, he is out of work?What about Dryden as GM, he is out of work?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-33746084247058055122011-10-23T10:11:29.411-11:002011-10-23T10:11:29.411-11:00Good post JT. Something's gotta give but what ...Good post JT. Something's gotta give but what exactly? <br /><br />Fire the coach? Who would replace him? Don't say Jacques Lemaire (turned it down once), Larry Robinson (too much stress, also, does he speak French?) or Bob Gainey (been there, done that). The Michels (Bergeron and Therrien)? I don't think so. The interim coach has to speak French. Personally, I'd like to ride out the enxt couple of years and have Kirk Muller come back as coach -- which is why I wouldn't bring back Carbonneau. Perhaps the French issue will be manageable in a couple of years. <br /><br />Fire the GM? Who would replace HIM? There are lots of people who would salivate at being the Habs' GM but wouldn't be an upgrade over PG. And, no, I don't think we want Gainey back as GM. <br /><br />Talk at HIO has brought up the names of Pierre McGuire and Patrick Roy for GM and coach, respectively. Talk about nightmares of the Houle-Tremblay era! For all his strengths as a player, St. Patrick has to do more before he can be entrusted with the Habs. Pierre, well, no more needs to be said.<br /><br />I think the best option is to do nothing right now. The trade today qualifies as nothing. Let JM fulfill his contract. If we fire him, it's only to hire an interim coach. Lets trade veterans for picks at the trade deadlines. The only untouchables are Pleks, PK, Eller, AK46 (I know, I know, but I like the guy), Cole (only because he has a NTC-- perhaps he would waive it?) and CP. We'll become the Florida Panthers North. In the meantime, we put up with losing seasons, build through the draft, have Captain Kirk come back as HC in 2 years, and then hope for the 25th Cup. We would need a new GM because I don't see PG staying here without JM. By then, perhaps someone could be groomed so that it won't be a panic move done in a rush.Rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-12522641156384078612011-10-23T09:35:54.457-11:002011-10-23T09:35:54.457-11:00I am not sure Gauthier knows what he is doing. I ...I am not sure Gauthier knows what he is doing. I mean he does not appear to value the draft or understand how to retain personnel. Woywitka is an example. Sign him, lose him on waivers, look around for a defenseman. Blunden will be another. He's coming up but needs waivers going down. Nokelainen needs them both ways. Gauthier seems to be gambling that no want will want either? Why then does he? Unless someone else will be gone instead? I thought the name of the game was to acquire the assets to obtain other assets, not diminish the asset base.<br /><br />Anyway the team is in a hurt locker and I don't think it is from a lack of talent. The guys inadvertently saved Martin's job with the playoff run two seasons ago. I don't think they thought that would happen. They are young and likely thought Boucher or Muller would be allowed to coach the team. When Lemaire was upstairs in the booth they may have even thought he was interested.<br /><br />To me the problem with Martin is twofold. A) he knows more about coaching than I ever could dream of and B) he knows that and is too arrogant to change. This is good in that it keeps no-minds like me from having an effect and bad in that any decent coach can change his game plan quickly, or over the intermission, while Martin will stay the course of the plan he laid out.<br /><br />Couldn't they bring Muller back and pretend that Martin is the head coach for us fans? Since he is big on what Cole didn't do in Carolina with three pp goals last year and can explain using Darche with 3 pp career goals instead perhaps he could just do the press conferences?<br /><br />Awh, I'm just so disenchanted with the way they are using and losing these guys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-39068659234022126702011-10-23T09:32:53.781-11:002011-10-23T09:32:53.781-11:00Here are a few thoughts on some of the more popula...Here are a few thoughts on some of the more popular theories about why the Habs have sucked this year.<br /><br />Inexperienced Defence<br /><br />The Rangers just won 2 out of 3 out West with a defence consisting of Girardi, Del Zotto, McDonagh, Woywita, Erixon and Bell. Not exactly an all-star line-up of grey-beards. Maybe the lack of NHL experience can be overcome.<br /><br />Small Forwards<br /><br />It seems some people look at Gionta, DD, and Cammalleri and decide that every Hab forward must be small. They aren't. Habs have 3 forwards over 210 lbs and 3 who weigh 190 lbs or less. The Flyers have 4 players over 210 lbs (excluding Betts) and 5 190lbs or less. The big, bad Bruins have 3 forwards over 210 lbs and 3 190 lbs or less.<br /><br />Weber, Diaz and Gorges are too Small<br /><br />Weber and Diaz are 5 11 195 lbs. Gorges is 6 1 200 lbs. Here is a partial list of other "small" defencemen.<br /><br />Lidstrom 6 1 190 lbs<br />A Ferrence 5 11 189 lbs<br />N Kronwall 6 0 192 lbs<br />P Martin 6 1 200 lbs<br />D Keith 6 1 200 lbs<br />R Suter 6 1 198 lbs<br />Bieska 6 1 198 lbs<br />Del Zotto 6 0 193 lbs<br />Shattenkirk 5 11 193 lbs<br /><br />I guess these players would be considered small if they were on the Habs.<br /><br />Coaching<br /><br />Designing and implementing a system that gets the most out of the available personnel is the responsibility of the coaches. Babcock does it in Detroit. Blysma does it in Pittsburgh. <br /><br />In Montreal Martin's system has resulted in a terrible power play, awful penalty killing and a team that's been out of synch since the start of the pre-season.<br /><br /><br />DBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-67606088948555336172011-10-23T08:19:56.825-11:002011-10-23T08:19:56.825-11:00Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Molson the RingMaster sh...Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Molson the RingMaster should step right up and make some CHanges.moemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07714585748102791365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-24614069797515754222011-10-23T07:38:27.232-11:002011-10-23T07:38:27.232-11:00Good points. Who is responsible for the line chang...Good points. Who is responsible for the line changes? Another area that needs improvement and has for sometime now. <br /><br />Martin's favouritism toward certain players is quite baffling. <br /><br />When Scott-the void- Gomez returns, it is probable that Martin will return Eller to the wing to accommodate, in spite of the fact that Eller is much better as a center while being much better than the void.<br /><br />Twice Martin has 'called out' or criticized or spoke negatively, whatever venacular you choose, in reference to Cole. I would like to know why he doesn't like him...Pisanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-22953215143243140782011-10-23T06:55:38.977-11:002011-10-23T06:55:38.977-11:00Your comment re Gomez is spot on. I think a new co...Your comment re Gomez is spot on. I think a new coach stepping in (I can hope can't I?) will immediately move Eller to the top line. If and when a new coach comes, the Habs will be in rebuilding mode and Eller is the only center with size and grit on the team. With Max and AK46 the top line would no longer be a bunch of pussies.<br /> <br />After that I would hope for a GM with brains and vision to fix the rest of the mess we call the Habs.dustynoreply@blogger.com