tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post5485974302923622550..comments2023-06-01T21:15:57.354-11:00Comments on The H Does NOT Stand For Habs: Big GeorgesJ.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-81344343426584556252008-07-07T08:17:00.000-11:002008-07-07T08:17:00.000-11:00I enjoy JT's blog and visit almost as regularly as...I enjoy JT's blog and visit almost as regularly as I go to HIO. Boone and Stubbs provide lots of info, but for analysis that doesn't get drowned out (sometimes) by the decibels and shrillness -- I like THDNSFH. <BR/><BR/>So, Georges... well, like JT and the posters-to-date, I was tickled and I'll offer up an additional perspective that relates to our Centennial Year and Bob’s ambitions for The Team.<BR/><BR/>For starters, we all know that everything Bob does has a reason, and usually more than one. I start examining the Georges signing by looking back to ’75-’76 when the Broadstreet Bullies had just absconded with hockey for two straight years. Then came the pre-season donnybrook in Philly when Scotty iced our tough guys and they iced the Flyers. That exhibition game set the tone for the Stanley Cup final and I have a vivid recollection of a Jim Roberts TV interview between the first and second period of the first game of that Habs-Filly Final: “So, Jim, how many games is it going to go?”, and Jim’s answer: “Four.” <BR/><BR/>And, while I dislike fighting, I recognize that it’s a reality in today’s NHL, which says that having Laraque will mean no one will mess with the Habs throughout the year, i.e. Komisarek won’t have to jeopardize his hands protecting Carey Price and his crease; Plekanec and the Brothers K will be able to fly the way they can; Markov won’t have to worry as much about getting pasted into the glass.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, by the time the play-offs role around, we should pretty much have our game in place. At the NHL level, a few degrees makes such a big difference, and confidence and familiarity can add to those degrees. We took our “highlight reel hockey” into this year’s play-offs and squeaked by boston, but couldn’t adjust to Philly’s “clog-the-slot/play-your-position” style.<BR/><BR/>Not this coming year. Georges will ride herd through the regular season and by the time April rolls around, he’ll be riding the play-off pine. But we’ll have solidified into a team confidence that will begin with Carey Price and will be capable of making the play-off playing changes.<BR/><BR/>Which brings up another reason why Bob signed Georges. How long do you think it took Bob to communicate the Laraque signing to Sundin? I’ll bet he didn’t e-mail – naw, it takes too long for the server to clear messages, so, Bob would have phoned.<BR/><BR/>Finally, even if Sundin doesn’t come to Les Habs, I’m sure Bob already has a trading deadline/play-off strategy in the works in the event that: Sundin doesn’t sign; Kovalev doesn’t repeat; and injuries. There’ll be names in each column of players with one-year contracts, and players who are about to become UFAs and RFAs on July 1, 2009. <BR/><BR/>Whereas some GMs play checkers, Bob plays chess. In fact, I’ll bet he’s already looking at ’09-10 and thinking about how we can keep our losses down to 8 games.Silver in 16https://www.blogger.com/profile/17083464397570149663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-74121167598662940172008-07-07T02:47:00.000-11:002008-07-07T02:47:00.000-11:00From the late 50's to 1970, I was a regular at the...From the late 50's to 1970, I was a regular at the Forum. Not for the big team (I couldn't afford it) but for the Junior Canadiens. I saw, Backstrom, Rousseau, Laperrière, Savard, Lemaire, Pleau and all their teamates get hammered by those Ontario bastards, year after year and I suffered and was humiliated all this time.<BR/><BR/>Then in the 66/67 season a young kid with the familiar name of Bouchard made the team. Everything started to change. Now, the toughest guy was playing for us. <BR/><BR/>I don't like fighting anymore than the next guy but hell, seeing our guy beating the crap of the others, was a nice change. Then, in the years after came Guy Lapointe, Moose Dupont, Serge Lajeunesse, Gary Connelly and Alan Globensky.<BR/><BR/>At the same time, we began winning championships. Of course the goals were scored by Houle, Tardif, Perreault and Martin but now they had some space on the ice.<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying we'll win the Cup next season (and then again, we might) but at least we'll probably get a little more respect from Lucic and Downie and ll the others. And I believe Big Georges won't even have to fight as many times (13) as he did last season.<BR/><BR/>I also believe Laraque can play a little hockey. At least, as well as the Aaron Downey and Garth Murray of a not so distant past. And if Carbonneau decides (just once in a while), to have Georges impersonate Holmstrom, in front of a goalie during an occasionnal power play, I think he could manage to do it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12560846020660844448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-60299961924147133512008-07-07T02:29:00.000-11:002008-07-07T02:29:00.000-11:00Topham:I agree fighters are disappearing, but I'm ...Topham:<BR/>I agree fighters are disappearing, but I'm not sure they won't make a comeback. The league in many ways is settling back into its pre-lockout mindset, including the phenomenon of ballooning salaries. If GMs are filling their rosters with long-term, expensive deals, they'll round them out with cheap bodies. As some of those bodies are young talent who'll score bigger deals sooner, the mainstays will be the cheap, veteran grinders and, yes, goons. Anyway, I think Gainey's got a fairly decent handle on what the team needs, and Laraque didn't seem to be a panic move at all...so I'll assume he'll help to some degree.<BR/><BR/>Chegordito:<BR/>I completely agree. I wish there were no goons in hockey at all. But as long as the mindset is there, I suppose Gainey feels he might as well have that weapon on hand if it's needed.J.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-35583515675618903722008-07-07T02:06:00.000-11:002008-07-07T02:06:00.000-11:00"It's like being in grade six and having the bigge..."It's like being in grade six and having the biggest big brother in high school. You can pretty much do whatever you want and no one will bother you. "<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean. And isn't it a sad statement about hockey?CheGorditohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692712275320903448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-90630982862285452852008-07-07T00:50:00.000-11:002008-07-07T00:50:00.000-11:00I like you am a proponent of the "team toughness" ...I like you am a proponent of the "team toughness" approach, or the "whatever it takes not to ice a guy who can't skate or play" approach.<BR/><BR/>I find it funny that you mentioned Laraque taking a place from greg Stewart, because that is exactly who it will be. Stewart is one of those new breed of tough guys, who's not quite as big or as good at fighting, but does more Barnaby than Ray. <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, I would prefer Stewart to Laraque, as he has the will to prove himself. Laraque is nearing the end and is looking to be paid for what he is. He will no longer be pretending to play hockey like he did in his early years when he scored his fair share.<BR/><BR/>What's more, just who is Laraque meant to be fighting? He is the undisputed fighting champion because fighters have left the league in droves. Where the Canadiens were at the vanguard of teams that shed their fighters early, they have now returned to the pack. <BR/><BR/>Not a devastating move by Gainey, but hardly one of his better ones...Tophamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14157334079663330151noreply@blogger.com