tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post8006628209025134928..comments2023-06-01T21:15:57.354-11:00Comments on The H Does NOT Stand For Habs: Speed KillsJ.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-35716123194681232262009-08-29T10:46:45.868-11:002009-08-29T10:46:45.868-11:00Now that I think about it, is it really surprising...Now that I think about it, is it really surprising that Dryden retired early? With every practice being played at the same pace as a game, that's a lot of wear and tear back in those days of heavy gloves and poor body padding.<br /><br />On another note, it's really encouraging to see that Gui is taking an intensive power skating class with Lapierre. If there's anything that endears me to players, its a constant struggle to improve themselves.Andrew Berkshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953075568931375583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-84664058580892078062009-08-29T06:56:32.357-11:002009-08-29T06:56:32.357-11:00appreciate the time taken for your posts, always a...appreciate the time taken for your posts, always a good read. Thank yourodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487731332310809242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-1140911440756791092009-08-29T06:55:31.101-11:002009-08-29T06:55:31.101-11:00Great point again JT except for the "with an ...Great point again JT except for the "with an exceptional lack of height" part.<br /><br />The top six forward, specialy if Sergei wins the 6th spot, are small.<br /><br />The rest of the team is pretty big.<br /><br />The bottom six forward could be Lats-Laps-Pax<br />Moen-Chipper-Stewy/BGL<br /><br />All 6'2" minimum.<br /><br />Gill is 6'7", O'Byrne 6'5", Mara and Hammer 6'4"... <br /><br />The average height of the Habs is on par with the BIG bad Bruins and Philly.LIAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02468878726477572691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-45611283489349628602009-08-29T04:39:43.330-11:002009-08-29T04:39:43.330-11:00You guys are probably too young to remember the im...You guys are probably too young to remember the impact that the Russians had on the Canadian approach to practices in 1972 but it's as JT says...balls to the wall every second that they are on the ice. Scotty Bowman and everybody else in the hockey firmament took notice and changed accordingly. Sadly in the past 15 years or so, the coaches took the cerebral approach and practices relapsed back to the "good old days', with a lot of chalk talks, Xs and Os, explaining, and some desultory line skates. <br /><br />I had the good fortune to sit in on a lot of the practices of the powerhouse NS Voyageurs in the early 70s, under Al McNeil. Guys like Larry Robinson, Dave Gardner, Chuck Lefley, Rocket Rota, Chuck Arnason, Murray Wilson, etc. were melting ice with their speed. Even Yvon Lambert and Chartraw were drawn into the speed mode. I have also watched a few practices of the Habs under Bob Berry, and then Jean Perron. The contrast was distinct, dismal and disheartening. In the latter case, there was a lot of standing around and horseplay going on. Nothing wrong with horseplay at all, but the ice time was for learning and practising.<br /><br />Martin has been handed a very speedy team, and if he doesn't harness that speed it will be a long season indeed in Habland.geezerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685231216524956633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-62873132075886181832009-08-29T03:26:56.093-11:002009-08-29T03:26:56.093-11:00I think you've pinpointed what could be the ma...I think you've pinpointed what could be the main key to the Habs' success this season. Last year there were disquieting suggestions that the team was not in good enough shape and did not work hard enough. That should change this year with a more methodical, more experienced coach and a new conditioning expert. If Martin can get the players working all out and at full speed during practice, they should be able to carry that over into the games, and hopefully leave the other team standing. There can be no passengers this year and no distractions; every player needs to focus his life around hockey and what he has to do on the ice.JRFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17810149422952428275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-85294129224957600052009-08-28T15:46:25.598-11:002009-08-28T15:46:25.598-11:00With a few exceptions, most of our new players hav...With a few exceptions, most of our new players have great wheels. They say you should play to your strengths, so I'm sure that won't be lost on Martin. BTW, I admire how you always stand up for your Hab favourite. A major comeback by your boy will do wonders for the upcoming season. A solid 2nd line could even be more important than the contributions of the three new wisemen.24 Cupshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12281838355386830648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-79788185567559295342009-08-28T15:31:55.441-11:002009-08-28T15:31:55.441-11:00I know its a common view to see the Gomez signing ...I know its a common view to see the Gomez signing as the pivotal move made by BG this summer... but in my books it was the hiring of Jacques Martin before July 1st that was the big one. So methodical of BG.harmonielehrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06669826290198478143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-86397351579369285982009-08-28T14:44:38.865-11:002009-08-28T14:44:38.865-11:00You're absolutely right that the team needs to...You're absolutely right that the team needs to practice at full throttle. Slower players will learn to make quicker passes, play the angles, and read plays sooner.<br /><br />As proof all you need to do is look at the 76/77 Habs. They had a few players (Lambert, Tremblay, Roberts, Chartraw, Van Boxmeer, Bouchard) who weren't exactly speed demons, yet they knew how to play a fast game because of the way the team practiced.<br /><br />Martin knows this so the players better be ready for intense practices.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08774116563390591423noreply@blogger.com