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Stat of the Day

Erik Cole has 27 goals in 71 games this year, there’s a very good chance that he’ll crack 30 for only the second time in his career (the first was in 2005-06 with the Hurricanes).

Max Pacioretty already has 30 so this will be the first time that the Habs have had two players with 30 goals in the same season since I was in high school. Pierre Turgeon and Vincent Damphousse both notched 38 goals in 80 games in the 1995-96 season.

It blows my mind that if this occurs it’ll be for the first time in 15 years.

Posted 15 March 2012 † mrb § 2011-2012 season § Stat of The Day ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , ,

#NHL Trade Deadline: #habs Dead and Buried


Obligatory Jack Albertson photo due to Dead and Buried mention in title

What’d the Canadiens do?

Lots of talk, lots of rumours, lots of bullshit. Everyone aside from Subban and Price was mentioned as moving and in the end the Canadiens made two moves and only moved one roster player.

Andrei Kostitsyn was the first casualty of deadline day and went to the Nashville Predators for a 2nd round pick in 2013 and a conditional fifth round pick in 2013 that was Montreal’s to begin with (traded along with Hal Gill).

Andrei gets to rejoin his brother Sergei in Nashville

The Montreal Canadiens dealt winger Andrei Kostitsyn to Nashville Predators for a 2013 second-round pick and conditional fifth-round selection ahead of the NHL’s trade deadline. Sergei Kostitsyn is a defenceman with the Predators.

Defenceman – hey fair enough.

The Canadiens’ return is not overwhelming. It’s not surprising considering the Habs are trading a forward who seems to, at times, only give the bare minimum required and is a pending UFA. He’s a 3 time 20 goal scorer who seems to top out a .55 points per game. He’s always teased with his potential, but has never found a great fit in Montreal. It might be partially due to the names taken after him in the 2003 draft: Corey Perry, Jeff Carter, Mike Richard, Patrice Bergeron, Zach Parise, Shea Weber, Loui Eriksson, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Dustin Brown, David Backes – it’s a mindblowingly good draft and Kostitsyn is a few tiers below most (if not all these players).

It’s a good trade for both teams. Nashville gets an offensive player who has some familiarity with their lockerroom (S. Kostitsyn, Hal Gill, Francis Bouillon) and they don’t give up a roster player to get him. Montreal gets a decent draft pick for a guy who was probably going to walk and who didn’t exactly flourish under Randy Cunneyworth.

Thinking that Gaustad and Kostitsyn are comparables and thus should fetch the same return is a ridiculous assumption that focuses only offensive production. Nashville overpaid for Gaustad, but they’re weren’t a whole lot of players with his skill set available (top three centre, penalty killer, great size and terrific on faceoffs). There was no way the Canadiens were getting a first rounder for Kostitsyn straight up.

The Habs also picked up Brad Staubitz on re-entry waivers from the Minnesota Wild. I, erroneously, thought Staubitz played defense (he did so in junior) and thought his acquisition was a prelude to a trade of Campoli.
I was wrong. That’s what separates me from most Habs fans.

Staubitz is a fighter and claiming him on waivers is something teams do when they’re giving up on a brutal season.

In all honesty I don’t think the Canadiens did so poorly in the days leading up to the deadline. The package for Gill wasn’t bad and Geoffrion is paying dividends in Hamilton. He’s a top ten organizational prospect for sure. Getting a second for Kostitsyn is ok, it’s certainly more useful than hanging onto him.

I am also glad that everyone who said that Gauthier was going to look silly when Carolina got a great return for Spacek was wrong. It didn’t happen.

Posted 27 February 2012 † mrb § 2011-2012 season § Trade Deadline § Trades ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , , , , ,

Nashville

So I finally got to see a hockey game, live.  Got to see (at least) three ex-Canadiens.
LaPierre, Kostitsyn, and Gill.  When my mother and father in-law bought us the tickets
I expected to get okay seats, not 10 ROWS BACK BEHIND THE PREDS PENALTY BOX!
Pretty sweet, we had a great time.  We were hoping to get on TV but they didn’t like our sign.
Welcome to Nasville, Hal! picture by Bob.

No sarcasm intended Hal, we just wanted to wish you well. I know you’re going to do great in Nashville. You should have heard the tones of wonder people with which people used when speaking of you.

We were lucky enough to sit next to this guy, Bob, 13 Year Season Ticket Holder His name is Bob (Lockhart, I think) and he’s been a season ticket holder for 13 years. He welcomed us and clued us in to all the cheers and jeers the Nashville crowd offered up. He also knew quite a few folks in the seating area, which included one of the owners. I forget the guy’s name, but he was friendly, I offered my best wishes and congratulated him on the Gill acquisition. sigh.

Gill played great, the crowd was behind him, and I think the change in attitude’s going to mean a great end of season for him regardless of how far his new team goes. Here he is towering about everyone else on the the ice.
Hal Gill as a Predator

Best of luck Hal!

Posted 27 February 2012 † jim § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,

Every game is frustratingly awesome.

Almost four weeks ago
As I sit here in my little computer room in the R.O.K., I think about what is very likely a season without a playoff spot for my beloved Canadiens.  I have been following this team since 1972.  I love my Canadiens.  I feel pain when they do.  Well, not exactly the same, ’cause they actually get hit really hard, or take pucks to the body, or get booed, or are not supported by their “fans”, or are blamed for poor performance when a lack of consistent direction from management appears to be the issue, or might possibly find themselves traded off in what seems to be a random act of management, or … sorry.

It’s a game that is highly entertaining.   This season has been frustrating as I’ve watched a number of near misses that could have easily gone in our favour.  How many leads have we blown this year?  Many.  How many games were snorers? A few.  How many games had me involved, excited, and sitting on the edge of my sit?  Enough to make me watch them all.  I know that when I return to Canada, in a matter of weeks, I won’t be able to watch my team nearly as much due to the entirety of Atlantic Canada being considered the Hab’s market and subject to blackouts on NHL Gamecenter. (Cause we’re just going to hop into a car and take in a game)  … Where was I?  Oh yeah, it’s great drama!  We’re in a league that tries it’s best to contain and make bland every aspect of a players persona.  Boring old Sid is the model.  Socially inept Brad, “flamboyant” Subban are players in need of reform.
Of course I remember when players use to be interesting beyond their ability to rack up significant stats.  The game had personality and it was interesting.  I think it comes through regardless of the attempts at hushing players.  Good thing too, it’s what makes the game one played by people, not automatons.

Present day
As I sit in my in-laws house outside of Nashville, I consider how I’ll likely be watching big Hal Gill play in a few days against the Vancouver Canucks.  I’ll be wearing my knock off(read, affordable) Canadiens jersey.  He’s gone and he won’t be back.  He’s gone to play with the other Kostitsyn.  I’ll get to see him play in my very first regulation NHL game ever.  An awesome gift from my Mother and Father in-law.
I was kind of hoping I might see him play in the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge.  Best of luck Hal, see you in a few, and thanks.

Here’s the thing, I was sure it was Kostitsyn that would be next to go.  The guy who spoke out about his ice time.  I was expecting another dramatic mid-game trade during the last (disappointing) Boston game.  We really should have taken that one.  Oh well, we have been playing better as of late. Happy we took the Buffalo game last night, of course.

Nice to see Gomez FINALLY get out of that slump.  I was wondering why they didn’t  put him in for the 3rd period of that washout Toronto game and feed him pucks until he got one in.  He clearly works hard when he’s out there, in my opinion, but something’s just not working.  I think they should buy out his contract and send him along. Capgeek.com calculated this as the cap hit savings to buy out his contract: buy out cap hit as of June 6, 2012. 2012-13: $3,523,810, 2013-14: $4,523,810.

Finally I think with the trade deadline coming up Gauthier ought to be trying to do the following:

Get rid of Gomez, Kostitsyn,  Moen, Kaberle

Possible pickups: Shane Doan! , Ray Whitney, Shawn Thornton!,  and Brandon Yip.

Also, he should find a coach who knows how to make use of the talent they have and hand in his resignation.

In this one of the most frustrating  seasons of all, always cheering for you guys.

Posted 18 February 2012 † jim § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , ,

about that Detroit game

Yes!!!!!! :)

Posted 26 January 2012 † jim § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) °

about that Penguins game

Didn’t we play well?  I thought so. That game had action and energy.  We broke the power play curse and saw how the team can step up when the backup is in.  A couple of our goals were just poetic.  Price must be thinking “What about me?” I love seeing Budaj getting time in.  Pacioretty needed to answer for the Letang hit, and he did.  Second game in a row we had to deal with old business.  Not sure it helps.

Apparently Subban was benched for awhile during the game.  The roughing penalty he took was just plain stupid.  He’s been a bit of a loose canon as of late.

I think the loss came as a result of a D becoming flustered in the face of mounting pressure from the Penguins’ best in the 3rd’s final minutes.  That Pen. 3rd goal should never have happened.  To give up the puck so easily in your own end.  Later play had incredibly sloppy puck handling giving Pittsburgh the chance that Malkin capitalized on.

I think Cunneyworth needs to reconsider his strategy in shootouts.  Desharnais, Kostitsyn, Gomez(??)
I think I would have gone with Pacioretty, Cole, Kostitsyn/Eller  The guys that seem to be scoring.

It was frustrating to see that win slip away, but it was a great effort and entertaining hockey.

Posted 21 January 2012 † jim § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , ,

Kaberle as 2nd shoot out shooter …

stroke of attempted genius.

Posted 15 January 2012 † jim § Uncategorized ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , ,

It’s No Courtnall for Kordic – the Bourque for Cammalleri trade

Ok, let’s clear a few things up:

1. The Canadiens are mired in their worst season since 2000-01 when they swapped Alain Vigneault (5-13-2-0) for Michel Therrien (23-27-6-6). After 43 games the Canadiens were 12-25-4-2, at the same point in this season the Canadiens are 16-20-7. Four more wins. That Canadiens team was a very bad team. Lots of underachievers and castoffs like Martin Rucinsky, Patrick Poulin, Chad Kilger and Trevor Linden. One of the bright spots was Saku Koivu’s 47 points in 54 games that tied him with Oleg Petrov for the team lead. Petrov played in an astounding 82 games that season. Markov with 23 points in 63 games was also a source of hope. But make no bones about it, that team was terrible. Just as is this current edition of the Canadiens is terrible.

The Canadiens haven’t fallen from grace, they’ve been a mediocre team in the NHL for a long time. In 20 years, they’ve finished first in their division just twice. They have had some bright spots – 2007-08, 2009-10, 1992-93, but they have never put together a stretch of years where they were an elite team. I find it laughable to see fans of my age mourn how far this team has fallen from its once honoured status as if it’s a new development. It isn’t.

2. Mike Cammalleri had a limited no movement clause. There seems to be criticism that Cammalleri wasn’t shopped around the league and that Gauthier could have received better market value than he did. I have no idea whether that speculation is founded or not, but Cammalleri’s limited no movement clause meant that the teams Gauthier could deal with were, well, limited.

3. Players like Cammalleri were offensively shackled under Jacques Martin and everyone’s production was down while JM was the coach. Benoit Pouliot, James Wisniewski and Tomas Plekanec all enjoyed career years under Martin. Gionta’s goal scoring, which was on a 3 season decline after his monster 48 goal season, improved. He recorded the second highest points per game mark (.75) in his career in his first season with the Habs. Cammalleri had a 13 goal playoff for the Habs.

Pouliot’s 2009-10 was a breakout year for him, he recorded a .62 ppg in 39 games for the Habs, his 2010-11 season was a bit of a regression. I have read a few comments praising Pouliot’s play with the Bruins this year, but with the same amount of ice time in Boston (11:32 per game) as he had in Montreal last year, Pouliot is still only collecting points at .43 clip, up .05 from 2010-11. It’s not that big of a revelation.

Martin favored a defensive approach, obviously, but not every player suffered offensively under Martin. Gomez has been in a downward spiral since before coming to the Habs, Kostitsyn has pretty much found a pace (.55-.56 ppg) since the end of 2007-08 that he’s happy with and has settled there – regardless of who is coaching, Pacioretty has shown about the same production regardless of coach and Cole and Eller have improved under Cunneyworth. In my opinion it’s pretty split when it comes to the top offensive forwards, some (like Gionta) responded well to Martin, some (like Kostitsyn) gave about the same and others had their ups and downs (Cammalleri).

4. The trade. The Habs cleared nearly 3 million from their payroll, they shipped out a player who was probably never going to play for them (Karri Ramo) and they upgraded a fifth round pick to a second.

It’s not a bad haul. I don’t care how Gauthier went about it and I don’t care what comments Cammalleri made before the trade. Of course they are factors, but looking at it purely from how this impacts assets and economics, the Canadiens did ok.

Bourque’s production over the last two+ seasons is comparable to Cammalleri’s; Bourque has 67 goals in 191 games-roughly .35 goals per game while Cammalleri has 54 goals in 170 games-roughly .32 goals per game.

Looking at pure numbers, it’s a fair trade. The Canadiens get bigger, pick up a second round pick and a prospect, Patrick Holland, who has a shot at being a useful 3rd-4th liner (and he speaks French to boot), they give up a goalie that Jay Feaster drafted in Tampa Bay, a 5th rounder and a “name player” who has hit a rough patch.

I haven’t been the biggest fan of Cammalleri while he was with the Canadiens. I thought he had an amazing playoff and one decent season, but he never quite justified the contract the Canadiens awarded him. The Canadiens only really had one moveable monster/possible mistake contract and that was Cammalleri’s. They didn’t get a monster haul for him, but the trade, when looking purely at production and numbers, isn’t so bad.

Posted 13 January 2012 † mrb § 2011-2012 season § Trades ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , , , , , ,

Good luck Mike, and thanks! or Crackin’ Skulls!

Pretty classless way to let a player go, I’m sure going to miss Cammalleri.  By the way disgruntled Hab players, if you’re wondering how to leave a sinking ship and not have your careers tarnished by a whole year of mismanagement, Cammalleri just showed you how.

Here’s hoping Bourque gets to play more games than he gets suspended.  He has a bad habit of going for heads, hope he doesn’t influence younger more impressionable players.  Bourque clearly brings something to the team, but we’ve had our share of talent that doesn’t get to play regularly.

We were unlucky in the Boston game, that first goal took a weird bounce.  If anything, I thought our habs were setting the tone of the game.  It was not a rough, grinding game.  It was about skating and speed, excepting the almost spectacular hit PK Subban laid on Krejci, which unnecessarily became an elbowing penalty.  I can’t help but think it would have been better to let Cammalleri go after the game was over.  I suppose Calgary insisted he not play in case he got hurt once the deal was finalized.  That’s as gracious as I can be about it.  It seems that for a deal that had been in the works for awhile, Cammalleri as rushed off in haste.  How is the bench going to react to a boneheaded move such as sending a valued player packing when your down 1 against a team notorious for turning it on in the 3rd?

Our guys didn’t give up, that’s something.  I hope Gauthier is attempting make deals in good faith, I think we need some good analysis from Mark in order to see if this shit deal has any hope of producing something.

Posted 13 January 2012 † jim § 2011-2012 season ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , , , ,

Tell Me Why I Don’t Like Mondays

Interesting blog by Eric Engels’ on Cunneyworth’s coaching, a good read for a Monday.

Curious though, is Engels calling Blunden a native of Montreal?

In the next one, Michael Blunden stepped up to score his first goal as a Montreal Canadien. A native Montrealer, who rode the emotional high of the Habs old/new goal song.

Everything I have read points to Blunden being from Toronto.

Regardless it’s nice to see Blunden score a goal after I ripped him, Engqvist and Palushaj for not producing enough. That trio now has 2 points in 41 games for the Habs.

Not to dwell too much on it, but I felt that last year’s edition of the Habs received much better production from its lesser lights and tweeners (Tom Pyatt, Ryan White, Dustin Boyd) than this year’s squad. Blunden’s goal could signify change in that, especially with the impending return of White, but we’ll need to see a few more games.

Tom Pyatt has 5 points (3 goals and 2 assists) in 35 games for the Lightning, if anyone’s keeping track.

Posted 09 January 2012 † mrb § 2011-2012 season ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , ,