I woke up today, got some coffee brewing and then sat down
at the computer.As always, my first
move of the day is to log onto Twitter and catch up on the overnight
tweets.In between all the NFL
free-agency news, I saw a sad announcement:Blake Geoffrion will announce his retirement after suffering a horrific
skull fracture after a violent hit during a game on November 9th, 2012.
Geoffrion, the 2010 Hobey Baker award winner for best
collegiate hockey player in the US, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in
the Hal Gill trade on Feb 17, 2012. When he made his debut with the Canadiens,
he became the first fourth-generation Canadien: His father Dan Geoffrion,
grandfather Bernie ‘Boom-Boom’ Geoffrion and great-grandfather, Howie Morenz,
all preceded him.The Habs blood-line
ran thick with Geoffrion.He finished
the 2011-12 season with 2 goals in 13 games with the Habs.
I’ve always had a soft-spot for Geoffrion.I liked the back story of his family history
and I liked how he respected the history of the Canadiens and his family’s role
in that history.Choosing to honor both
his grandfather and great-grandfather by donning the No.57 (Bernie Geoffrion
wore 5, Howie Morenz 7 and both numbers are retired), I hoped he would have
secured a spot on the opening day lineup.Instead the NHL lockout forced him to start the year playing for the
Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he suffered his
unfortunate career-ending injury.While
talented, he never projected to be more than a bottom six depth player at the
NHL level. He possessed good size and a solid two-way game, but he never projected to be a scoring champion.
However, due to circumstances beyond his control, his
professional hockey career is over.I do
applaud him for taking the smart path and putting his long-term health above
his career aspirations. Its never easy for an athlete to give up the sport they
devoted their life to. I would imagine
its especially hard to step away when their career is cut short due to injury
and not because they were ready to step aside. Every athlete wants to leave on their own
terms.
I would speculate that Geoffrion will be offered a position
within the organization, should he choose to accept it.He is a bright, young individual with a
degree to fall back on. He’ll land on his feet and do well whatever he chooses
to do. Due to a freak injury, suffered in a game he was potentially only
playing in because of the NHL lockout, we’re left wondering what could have
been for Blake Geoffrion.
As of this morning, the Canadiens have found themselves in the cellar of the Eastern Conference, 66 games into the season with a dreadful 25-31-10 record.
In a city that holds high expectations for their hockey team, it's normal that during such an awful campaign, the negatives—and there are many—are sticking out like Brad Marchand's nose.
Andrei Markov—the team's top defenseman and power play quarterback—has yet to step on the ice. Jaroslav Spacek was sent to Carolina for Tomas Kaberle and his $4.25 million contract for the next two seasons. Scott Gomez is still making boat loads of money and has just 10 points (2G, 8A) to show for it, and so on and so forth.
There are however, a number of positives that have come out of what has otherwise been a disastrous season.
Better Late Than Never
After years of filling their roster with players comparable to Snow White's companions, Canadiens management has finally seemed to realize that size matters in today's NHL.
It may have taken season after season of being pushed around, but at some point this season, Habs management decided it was time to get tougher.
Mike Cammalleri was swapped for a much bigger Rene Bourque, Alexei Emelin has seen his role grow as he delivers big hits game after game, and 6'2" 215lb tough guy Brad Staubitz was claimed off of waivers to keep the opposition in check.
With Emelin patrolling the back end—and 6'6" 212lb Jarred Tinordi working his way up—the Habs zone will become increasingly tougher to play in.
Bourque joins Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty up front as wingers who can crash the net, and Staubitz—along with Ryan White—will provide the smaller forwards with the protection and confidence needed for them to play their game.
Tough Price to Pay
You can't help but feel bad for Carey Price.
Night in and night out he shows up and gives his team a chance to win. Unfortunately, the team in front of him very rarely takes advantage of the opportunities he provides.
Price has a .915 save percentage and 2.43 GAA.
Those stats are quite respectable when you consider his record of 23-25-9. The fact that Price is between the pipes, is the main reason the Habs are still ahead of the Oilers and Blue Jackets in the overall NHL standings.
In Price's 25 losses, the Canadiens have managed to score more than one goal only eight times. That's 17 games where the offense couldn't provide him with more than one goal to work with.
It's refreshing to see how a goalie who was pinned as immature not so long ago, has displayed a professional manner throughout what has been the team's roughest year in his tenure.
If Price could put up respectable numbers during a season where his team is in turmoil, just imagine what he'll do for them when they get back on their feet.
What Do You Have On Draft?
The obvious positive for any team this low in the standings, is their draft position. The Canadiens currently sit in 28th spot and there is still plenty of time for the 29th place Edmonton Oilers to leap frog them.
The Canadiens have a talented group of core players in Price, Erik Cole, Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais, Josh Gorges, P.K. Subban, and Tomas Plekanec. With this group of players to work with, the Canadiens don't need a full rebuild that would require another season, maybe even two, of failure.
Instead the Habs have a chance to take advantage of their high draft position to nail down a top prospect, pun fully intended.
If the Canadiens can land a young talent who is NHL ready or even just a year away, then this season is no longer a wash. When you add the draft picks acquired from Nashville in the Hal Gill and Andrei Kostitsyn trades—both second rounders, 2012-13—the Canadiens suddenly find themselves with solid draft positioning.
Montreal can use their abundance of well positioned picks for a quick retool, relying on the team's scouts to add some new, young talent. Another option is to trade away some of those picks, maybe in a package with a roster player, to acquire a much needed established centerman with size.
Either way, whether it be a quick retool through drafting, or trading for missing pieces, the Canadiens have found themselves with options.
At the end of the day, do you think the positives mentioned above were worth the heartache suffered by Habs fans throughout the year? Will the added toughness help the Canadiens win more games? If Price re-signs, can his team rally behind the talent he displayed this year and provide him offensive support? Can the Canadiens find success through the picks they've accumulated?
How do you feel?
--- Sean is a freelance writer currently contributing to HabsAddict.com. He is also a regular blogger and frequent panelist on the Habs post game show at MontrealHockeyTalk.com
Quite the day for your Montreal Canadiens yesterday, eh?
Things started off with the trade of veteran defenseman, Hal Gill, to Nashville. That moved signaled, in no uncertain terms, that the Habs are sellers. As such, expect lots more movement between now and the trade deadline.
Travis Moen (if or when he's healthy), Andrei Kostitsyn, Chris Camploi, amoung others, could all see themselves playing for new teams shortly.
Whatever happens off the ice, the Habs continue to win on it, pulling off a rare shootout win over the Sabres last night.
It really was opposites day yesterday: Pierre Gauthier pulled off a good trade, Chris Campoli, Tomas Kaberle, and Scott Gomez scored goals, and the Habs won in the shootout.
CANADIENS ACQUIRE FORWARDS BLAKE GEOFFRION AND ROBERT SLANEY, WITH A SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK IN 2012 FROM THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS IN RETURN FOR HAL GILL AND A CONDITIONAL FIFTH ROUND DRAFT PICK IN 2013
MONTREAL (February 17, 2012) – Montreal Canadiens general manager, Pierre Gauthier, announced today the acquisition of forwards Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney, as well as a second round draft pick in 2012 from the Nashville Predators, in return for defenseman Hal Gill and a conditional fifth round draft pick in 2013.
The 24-year old Geoffrion played 22 games with the Predators this season. He registered three assists, 29 hits and 17 penalty minutes, playing an average of 10 minutes and 20 seconds per game. In his second year in professional hockey this season, he also played with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals recording nine points, including two goals, in 20 games.
The 6’01’’, 190 lbs left winger has collected 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 42 regular season games in the NHL. Geoffrion displays a career +1 plus/minus differential. He added two assists in 12 playoff games in 2010-11, along with a +1 plus/minus ratio.
A native of Plantation, Florida, Geoffrion was drafted in the second round, 56th overall by the Predators at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was awarded the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, as the Top U.S. Collegiate Player in 2010.
Slaney, 23, notched one assist in nine games with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, and 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 30 games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones this season.
A product of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles the 6’02’’, 203 lbs left winger registered eight assists in 52 career games in the AHL. Slaney added 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists) in 113 career games in the ECHL.
The Upper Cove Island, Newfoundland native Slaney signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 14, 2009. He was acquired from Toronto by the Predators on July 3, 2011.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Hal Gill for his contribution to our team over the last three seasons. His leadership and commitment were much appreciated. I wish him the best of luck with his new team. We are also very pleased to have acquired a second round draft selection in 2012 and two young prospects for our organisation. We look forward to working together with Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney to continue their progression,” said Canadiens’ general manager Pierre Gauthier.
Hal Gill played 53 games this season with the Canadiens registering eight points (1 goal, 7 assists). He recorded 48 hits and 122 blocked shots, playing an average of 16 minutes and 44 seconds per game.
Since joining the NHL, Gill has recorded 179 points (36 goals and 143 helpers) and maintained a +43 plus/minus ratio in 1,047 NHL regular season games.
The Montreal Canadiens traded defenceman Hal Gill and a conditional 5th round pick in 2013 to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney and second round draft pick in 2012.
Click here to read the official Habs press release.
Wow, what a haul by Pierre Gauthier!
Let's break down the trade a little.
Blake Geoffrion is, first off, the grandson of Habs legends, Boom-Boom Geoffrion. Ya, not too much pressure there for the kid!
"Geoffrion is an excellent two-way forward that combines of size, power and energy. He thrives on the physical side of the game and can often be found delivering some very solid checks. Geoffrion is an outstanding skater with good agility, and power in his strides. He possesses very good hockey sense and on-ice vision. He utilizes his 6’2 frame quite effectively, particularly along the boards and in one-on-one situations. He is sound defensively as well. He’ll drive to the net hard and shown a willingness to go into the difficult areas to make the play. Geoffrion possesses a very hard shot and can get pucks to the net. While Geoffrion possesses good puck skills, he could stand to shoot the puck more often."
And so the Habs trend of getting bigger and stronger continues. Nice.
"A character forward with good size, Slaney displays strong puck possession skills. His big body is able to shield the puck efficiently and open up space for teammates. He leads by example with a strong work ethic and is a team player."
Slaney is clearly a depth player/fringe NHLer at best. But, like Geoffrion, he has size.
In addition to these two prospects, the Habs grab themselves a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft.
Analysis
Wow, seriously, wow.
That is a hell of a price to pay for an aging, soon-to-be free agent defenseman. But hey, I guess this means the Preds plan on making a run at it in the playoffs. That probably also means they have other moves in store, but who knows.
As for Montreal GM, Pierre Gauthier, this seems to be the first deal where he maximized his asset. And man did he ever maximize it!
He got a 2nd round drafted, solid prospect, a depth player with size, and a 2nd round pick in this summer's draft.
Per ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, the conditional fifth rounder going back to Nashville is if Geoffrion plays 40 or more games in Montreal next year. If he doesn't play in that many games, no pick for Nashville.
This is an excellent deal for the Habs on every level. They get younger, bigger, more cap space and maximize an expiring asset.
I ran the trade of Hal Gill for Blake Geoffrion, straight up, using the PowerScout Hockey TradeMaker (above), for your information.
The final note on this trade is that, if there was any doubt, this signals in no uncertain terms that the Canadiens will be sellers at the deadline. So watch out, because I expect a flurry of other moves from Gauthier between now and the deadline.
So who's next to go? Travis Moen? Andrei Kostitsyn?
What's your take?
--- Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and featured columnist on PowerScoutHockey.com. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny segment of The Franchise weekend morning show, on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
Less than two short weeks away, the Trade Deadline is the focus of increasing discussion and chatter, both online and off.
Obviously, here at HabsAddict we are more than thrilled to join the conversation.
Continuing our multi-part series looking at both potential trade bait as well as possible targets for the Habs, we look at the potential trade of rearguard Hal Gill.
Why he could be traded- Like Travis Moen, who was profiled here earlier, Gill is an impending unrestricted free agent on a team that has every reason to sell.
Hal Gill certainly has the experience, leadership and defensive acumen that contending teams covet.
An NHL veteran with over 1000 career games, the blueliner is also the proud owner of a Stanley Cup ring with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
One the game's top penalty killers, Gill has shown he can be a tremendous shutdown force in the post-season and is undoubtedly a positive voice in a locker room.
Clearly, the substraction of Gill would be a blow for the Canadiens backend. However, as Randy Cunneyworth has been dressing seven defencemen on most nights, the team does posess the bodies to compensate for his departure.
What he could be worth - Between a first round draft pick (or equivalent prospect) OR a combination of picks and players OR a second round draft pick (or equivalent prospect).
A first round pick sounds high? Yes, it is. Very.
Too high? Perhaps. Probably.
But it is not completely impossible. Teams looking to acquire Gill are typically well situated in the standings, meaning their first round picks are likely of the late variety. And the 2012 draft class has the reputation of being a weaker crop.
In addition, with prime rental candidates Francois Beauchemin, Tim Gleason and Andy Sutton re-signed by their respective teams, the market for blueliners has dried up considerably, which evidently works to Montreal's benefit.
Not only does the aforementioned trade market support the idea that Hal Gill can fetch a high return, but so does recent history.
In 2008, an aging Adam Foote was shipped from Columbus to Colorado for a first round draft pick and a conditional fourth round selection.
In 2009, Derek Morris was traded to the Rangers for three roster players - Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha. The same year, Jordan Leopold was shipped from Colorado to Calgary for a similar package. The Avalanche received two defensive prospects and a second round pick in return.
If nothing else, it is hard to imagine Montreal getting anything below a second round pick. Lesser blueliners like Andrew Alberts and Jaroslav Modry wielded third round picks. Gill is clearly worth more than that.
With a little luck, perhaps the Canadiens can even pull of a trade reminiscent of the one that sent Craig Rivet to San Jose in exchange for Josh Gorges and a first round pick by the name of Max Pacioretty.
Who could be interested - Chicago, Detroit, Florida, New York (R), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis.
Unsurprisingly, of the team's above, only New York and Pittsburgh rank near the top of the league in penalty killing. The other six squads are situated in the bottom third in that category.
That alone should suffice to justify their interest in Hal Gill.
Beyond that, Chicago cannot be thrilled having Sami Lepisto and John Scott as their bottom, depth blueliners.
Philadelphia would obviously love to shore up their defensive depth, especially with the absence of Chris Pronger and their dubious goaltending situation. However, that may have changed since they acquired Niklas Grossman from the Dallas Stars.
Pittsburgh won a cup with Hal Gill and are quite familiar with what he can bring to the table.
In short, there are plenty of team's who have legitimate reason's to show interest in the American rearguard.
What do you think? Where will Gill go? And for what price?
--- Louis is an Associate Editor atHabsAddict.comand an Editor atHabsWorld.net. Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval.
He currently resides in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. Find him on twitter@LouisMoustakas
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images North America)
The 2012 NHL Trade Deadline is approximately two weeks away.
If any of you are like me, excitement is building within.
To be honest, I am really not sure why I get all giddy at this time of year.
Generally speaking, the Montreal Canadiens make little or no moves at the deadline. Minor trades, little tweaking and roof repair have been the norm in recent years.
However, this year I truly sense something different.
For the first time in many years the Montreal Canadiens find themselves on the outside looking in.
This team isn’t looking through the window, they aren’t even at the end of the driveway. They find themselves down the street, around the corner and seven blocks over.
In short, the Montreal Canadiens will not be making the playoffs.
This is something that I came to terms with many weeks ago. It’s time the rest of you do as well.
To quote the great Dick Vitale upon watching then NBA superstar Vince Carter in the Slam Dunk contest of 2000 (wow has it really been 12 years): “It’s over ladies and gentleman, it’s over.”
Now that the proverbial nail is in the coffin there is really only one thing left to do: Sell, Sell, Sell !
The Foundation
The Habs were always a bubble team to begin with, but I truly believe that they are better than their record indicates.
It is hard for the squad to perform to its full potential when Andrei Markov ($5.75 million), Brian Gionta ($5.0 million) and Scott Gomez ($7.387 million) collectively do little or nothing.
Could Detroit or Boston or San Jose or Vancouver thrive, or even survive. with $18.15 million out of the line-up? No way.
On the flip side, how many teams in this league would not kill for the chance to have a foundation featuring Carey Price in goal, P.K Subban on the blueline and power forward Max Pacioretty on the wing?
With Alexei Emelin, Josh Gorges, Lars Eller and David Desharnais in the mix, the Habs have a group of key players all 26 years or younger.
With that in mind, I dare to say that this team is still good enough to compete in the Eastern Conference. However, management needs to part ways with some assets, acquire some building blocks and re-tool for a promising 2012-13 season.
What’s that you say? You want to know what I would do if I was named GM of the Montreal Canadiens?
Well thank you for asking. Now sit back, relax and take hold of greatness as I single handedly re-tool the Montreal Canadiens in just two short weeks.
There are many crazy ideas circulating in my veins right now. As such, I will break this exercise down into two articles. Today, we will focus on the defense and look at the moves I would make on the backend.
Here goes nothing.
Who is available?
Before wheeling and dealing, it is worth mentioning who I feel should stay. P.K Subban, Josh Gorges, Alexei Emelin and Raphael Diaz are four players who should remain with the organization.
Naturally, if a “knock your socks off” type of offer presents itself then absolutely anyone on this team can be moved.
As for Hal Gill, Chris Campoli and Yannick Weber, they should find themselves playing in a different area code by the end of the month.
Realistically though, of the names above, only Hal Gill has any significant value.
Players like Campoli and Weber have found themselves out of the line-up frequently and, as a result, their value is not as strong was what it could have been.
Then there is Tomas Kaberle.
I have not been shy in hiding my displeasure towards him and would be ecstatic to move the rearguard. However, he has a nearly unmovable contract that will see him play out two more years at 4.5 million dollar per season. He is virtually untradeable, unless we do something unthinkable.
Chris Campoli
He is a puck moving veteran who can add inexpensive depth to a playoff bound group. Teams like Boston, Chicago, San Jose, and Detroit appear to be showing some interest.
What I would do: Chicago has the most familiarity with Campoli, but I can see him going to Boston for a third or fourth round pick. Boston has only six NHL D-men on their roster and look to again be a contender. Campoli would be an ideal fit to play limited minutes on a third pairing.
Yannick Weber
Weber is a little bit of a conundrum. He is young, has an NHL-caliber shot and still has room to grow. He could attract a few teams, but his limited experience and defensive woes will push others away.
Nonetheless, he certainly possesses some upside and could fetch a decent return. Because of his powerplay abilities, teams like the Kings, Rangers and Blues may bid for his services.
What I would do: The Devils have had success with young, small puck moving defensemen like Brian Rafalski and Andy Green. That, along with their struggles on the man advantage, make them the best fit. In return, I can see Montreal acquiring J.S. Berube from Matane, Quebec and a fourth round pick.
Hal Gill
Gill's value is high.
Two weeks ago he was likely the fourth or fifth best d-man available this deadline. Now, with Francois Beauchemin, Andy Sutton, Tim Gleason all signing contract extensions, he may be the best name available.
Gill lacks foot speed, but is a Stanley Cup champion, a leader and one of the elite penalty killers in the game.
He could pay tremendous dividends for teams struggling on the penalty kill. Namely, Chicago, San Jose, Florida and Detroit all find themselves amongst the league’s worst when down a man.
The Canadiens could easily flip him to any of the above mentioned teams and find themselves with a second round pick - along with perhaps another late pick thrown in as well. I would be tremednously happy with this however I would like to take it a step further.
It has been rumored for a few weeks that Chris Stewart is being shopped by the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are thin on the backend and are 21st overall on the penalty kill. They also own some depth at the forward position and are a cap conscious team. The stars seem to aligned to somehow work a deal sending Gill to St. Louis in exchange for Stewart.
I am not suggesting a one-for-one move. That would be what I like to refer to as "Milbury-ish". Yet, if the Habs could create a package with the right assets, then acquiring Stewart may not be so crazy.
What I would do: I would like to think that Hal Gill, a 2012 second round pick and Danny Kristo would be enough to pry Stewart from St. Louis. If this is not enough then, I am talking with St. Louis to see what sort of tweaking is needed to make this deal happen.
I am not prepared to sell the farm to land the forward, but given the team's limited size down the middle, Stewart could provide necessary physical insulation for Tomas Plekanec.
Tomas Kaberle
I know that he is practically untradeable at this point. I've heard the arguments that he is producing points but let's be honest here: he makes $4.5 million and is a bloody useless player on this team. Moving him will be next to impossible, but...
What I would do: Pick up the phone and call Brian Burke. We need a defensive D-man and the Leafs, given their style of play, could perhaps use another puck mover familiar to the city. Let's see if we can swap two equivalent contracts by shipping Kaberle for Komisarek. To be honest I would even be willing to add a pick or second tier prospect to get this done.
Their deals are nearly indentical and Kaberle has absolutely no role on this team. Meanwhile, Komisarek could help fill Gill's eventual departure.
So there you have it folks.
Go ahead, tell me what you think of my moves? I am more Ken Holland or Mike Milbury?
On a personal note
For those who follow me on Twitter, I have been continuing to tweet quite a bit about the progress that my wife is making with her involvement with Team In Training Marathon and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Melody continues to put in the hours needed to complete the Marathon but needs your help when she is not on track.
Thank you all for any and all support that you can provide.
--- Bryan is a Marketer by day, writer for HabsAddict.com by night and full time fan of the game. Follow me on twitter @BryanWilley78 but don't bother looking for me on Facebook, I'm just too old for that now!
The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching—approximately two weeks away—and the buying teams are starting to separate themselves from the sellers.
For the Montreal Canadiens, currently sitting in 12th overall in the East, the question is which category they will fall into.
Logic would dictate that this team should be selling, since squeaking into the playoffs hardly makes you a contending team. That being said, no one really seems to have a handle on what GM Pierre Gauthier plans on doing.
He's been seen scouting games across the league so it seems like a deal is in the works.
But is he looking to sell or add to his roster in an attempt to make the playoffs?
That is the real question.
Targets
If you listen to RDS' Norman Flynn, he thinks it's a joke that anyone would believe Montreal will make the playoffs. He goes on to say that this team didn't play .500 hockey over the first 50 games, yet everyone expects them to solve everything over that last 32.
Amen brother.
That said, his stance is that Gauthier should be selling and selling fast.
If the Canadiens do decide to sell, by most accounts the three most tradeable assets in their lineup are Travis Moen, Hal Gill and Andrei Kostitsyn.
Gill and Moen both have Stanley Cup rings and boatloads of experience. Kostitsyn, on the other hand, is a player who has scored 20 or more goals in three out of the last four seasons.
He could surely be a solid addition on a contending team looking for a little offense with size.
As for Gill, he is a slow skater but his leadership skills and ridiculous penalty killing prowess make him a desirable acquisition to any team with Cup aspirations.
Moen, on the other hand, is a player whose secondary scoring ability, toughness and ability to win in the playoffs make him a hot commodity. The problem is that he is currently injured with a mysterious upper body injury.
Word around the campfire is that it could actually be an injury to his head. Ummm, concussion anyone?
If that were to be the case there could not be a more disastrous scenario for the Habs. Because if Moen has anything seriously wrong with his head, including a concussion, he could become untradeable.
As a player who will be a free agent this off-season, and one who I don't believe the Habs should re-sign, Montreal could end up losing him for nothing.
But they are not there yet. Officially, he has an upper body injury, and was supposed to play against the Leafs last Saturday but suffered some kind of setback.
This will be a situation to keep an eye on.
Outside looking in
I've taken a lot of flak lately for seeming to come off on a very negative tilt, when talking about the Habs playoff chances.
I, generally speaking, am a pretty optimistic person. But in the case of the Habs, I think I'm just being realistic.
As much as their four-game winning streak got fans excited with dreams of first round playoff exits dancing in their heads, the reality is that Montreal didn't make up any ground in the standings.
None.
In fact, despite going 6-4-0 in their last ten games, the Habs are closer to the 15th overall spot than they are to eighth place. Carolina, last place in the East, is only two points behind Montreal while Toronto, currently in eighth, is seven points ahead.
As of this morning, the Habs chances of making the playoffs sit at 13.4 percent, according to Sports Stats Club.
Not exactly something you'd bet the bank on.
Dust-up
So it seems that the much maligned Scott Gomez is in headlines again this morning. This time, however, it is not because of his lack of scoring ability or his ridiculously high salary. No, this time it is because of a verbal yelling match he had with Assistant Coach, Randy Ladouceur, at practice yesterday.
Most media in attendance said they have never seen anything like that before, with the two yelling at each other in front of the other players. Eventually, they took the argument into a corner of the rink to continue in private.
But it lasted a long time.
And this on the heels of Gomez seeing a meager 7:49 of ice against the Canes.
Gomez brushed off the incident as something that happens all the time. A coach giving heck to a player for messing up a drill. And that may be the case, but the timing of it is definitely curious.
Love him or hate him—and I personally love what he's doing with the team—you've got to hand it to Randy Cunneyworth and co. They simply do not take crap from their players.
Moreover, and unlike under the veteran-loving Jacques Martin, Cunneyworth couldn't care less the name on the back of the sweater or the price tag that comes with it. He plays the players who he feels will give him the best chance of winning. Period.
And that, ladies and gentleman, is the way you should run a bench. Favoritism, coddling veterans, and constantly punishing young guns is a recipe for the unemployment line.
Just ask Jacques Martin.
Habs top-10s
My HabsAddict.com colleague, Fred Poulin, recently wrote an excellent piece on the top-10 worst players in recent Habs history. If you haven't read it, check it out. Man is that an ugly list.
I have two words for you: Juha Lind.
Ugh.
That list aside, I found this great video of the top-10 Canadiens hits for this season (so far). I thought you'd all get a kick out of it so take a look below and enjoy the calm before the Bruins storm tonight.
No.1 is awesome...I'll let you guess which hit it is...
Enjoy!
--- Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and featured columnist on PowerScoutHockey.com. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny segment of The Franchise weekend morning show, on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
The Canadiens lost a heartbreaker last night against the Hurricanes, although they had rallied from a 0-2 deficit to take a one goal lead headining into the final frame.
But, really, the game was the reflection of their season. When the pressure was on for the Habs to build, to capitalize on their momentum, they were tentative and uncertain.
And that uncertainty cost them, as the Canes stormed back - no pun intended - in the third period, eventually winning the game 5-3.
Mind you, this loss does not completely exclude the Canadiens from the playoff chase - mostly because the bottom spots in the East has seen teams like Ottawa, Toronto and Washington struggle of late.
As of this morning, Sports Club Stats gives Montreal a 19.7% chance of qualifying for the post-season. Not exactly betting odds, eh?
Louis' Note: With Francois Beauchemin and Tim Gleason also signing extensions recently, the market for rearguards is thinning considerably. This is good news for the Canadiens, who will likely trade Hal Gill by the deadline.
Well, well, well...look what the cat dragged in: a four-game winning streak!
Your Montreal Canadiens continue to play inspired hockey, downing the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-0 yesterday at the ACC.
Shellacked!
And the best part? The new addition, Rene Bourque, continues to get on the scoreboard on a semi-regular basis, notching his third in a Habs uniform. He also finished the night a plus-two.
But who has had a bigger turn around than Max Pacioretty, who, one game after getting a hat-trick, potted his team-leading 23rd of the season last night.
Patches also leads the team in points with 42 in 53 games.
Carey Price's shutout was nice but the revelation of all revelations has to be the strong play of Lars Eller.
He scored one of the prettiest goals of the year, turning Leafs defensive stalwart, Dion Phaneuf into a pilon.
Sweet as molasses!
The streaking Habs now sit seven points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Still, making up three and a half games on the eighth spot also means the Leafs also have to lose three and a half games just for the Habs to tie them—while the Habs win all of those games.
To put that in perspective, the Habs have to be perfect over their next four games while the Leafs only have to win one game to remain ahead of Montreal.
A steep climb indeed.
That said, the Habs are masters of their own destiny and have a nation of fans believing this morning.
With the NHL's February 27th trade deadline just under three weeks away and the Canadiens sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Division - and 25th overall - the only things the Habs should be buying are golf clubs.
Let's face it, with many games to be played between against direct rivals and the extra points being awarded in overtime, it is hard for even the more optimistic Habs fans to expect post-season play.
With that being said, how is it that the Canadiens are still being categorized as a team that is "on the bubble" as the trade deadline looms closer?
Any fan with the least bit of hockey knowledge has already cast this season among things to be forgotten, much like the macarena and parachute pants.
When dealing with an underachieving Habs roster at the deadline, it's incredibly important for Pierre Gauthier to indentify the "untouchables" who currently wear the CH.
Can't Touch This
Carey Price - The Habs netminder is a staple in this city and has single-handedly won games in which his team had no business winning.
At 24 years old, Price has endured failure in Montreal, losing the #1 spot to Jaroslav Halak, only to bounce back with phenomonal play that has lead the Habs faithful to forget the magical playoff run that Halak was responsible for in 2009
Max Pacioretty - On a team that has been deemed too small to succeed for years, Pacioretty has brought a level of size and skill that has not been present since John LeClair.
Many were worried that the dreadful hit delivered by the Bruins hulking defenseman Zdeno Chara would impede Pacioretty's development. Pacioretty, however, returned at the beginning of the 2011-12 season to deliver what, so far, has been a career year in every major statistical category.
Erik Cole - The acquisition of the Stanley Cup winning power forward is one of very few positive moves made by Pierre Gauthier. Cole has shown no sign of quit through the first 53 games as he leads the team with 39 points.
Cole's perseverence on every shift is something that this team will need as it moves forward. Cole's blue-collar work ethic has also seemed to rub off on linemate Max Pacioretty.
This type of leadership is something that will have a positive effect for years to come.
David Desharnais - Many followers of Nos Glorieux, myself included, wrote Desharnais off early in his career due to his size. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that there are plenty of smaller type guys that have found success in the NHL, it just seemed that the Habs had too many roster players playing with hearts that out weighed their physique.
Desharnais, however, has had no problem silencing critics with his play. The 5'7", 177lb center has shown a willingness to battle alomg the boards and his 26 assists in 53 games year demonstrate his above-average playmaking ability.
His dedication and hockey sense are things that a rebuilding team cannot afford to trade away.
P.K. Subban - All of this "trade Subban" nonsense that has been circulating the web proves that too many Montrealers have too much time on their hands.
P.K. has certainly struggled this year, that is no secret. Maybe it's due to Andrei Markov's absence, maybe it's due to the pressure put on Subban by a fanbase that has not seen a Stanley Cup in 19 years.
Most probably it's the pressure that a highly skilled, over-confident young man puts on himself to succeed in a hockey market that expects nothing but the best from players, even at an early age. Subban makes plenty of mistakes and is not bolstering his reputation with some of his antics, but he is a 22-year old that has plenty of time to mature.
And, when he does, you will have a tough time finding anybody spewing this trade Subban garbage.
Josh Gorges - Heart and soul. That should be enough to explain why the future captain of this team should be labeled as untouchable.
If not, consider this: through 53 games Gorges leads the league with 147 blocked shots.
Gorges has consistently thrown his body in front of rubber for a team that is far behind in the playoff race. In addition, the rearguard has never failed to face Montreal's blood sucking media after an embarassing loss. And you will never find a clip in which Gorges throws a member of the Canadiens under the bus.
When you come across a player of his caliber who displays the leadership qualities worthy of any professional sports club, you keep him. Period.
Once you get past the mentioned players, it's go time for Pierre Gauthier. When considering that the above mentioned players are off the market it's time to take a look at who's left.
On the Bubble
Lars Eller and Rafael Diaz - While these young NHL players have not yet reached the status of "untouchable", they are the closest thing to off that market after the original list.
Eller, the main piece in the infamous Halak trade, has been improving consistently since his acquisition and would have to bring back a significant piece to that Habs roster in order to be shipped off.
Diaz has had ups and downs during his rookie season but his 15 points and minus-3 rating on a struggling team makes him difficult to move. The Swiss blueliner has shown some offensive prowess as well as defensive acumen. On a team facing the uncertainty over Markov's future as well as the impending movement of veterans Hal Gill and Chris Campoli, Diaz's presence is most welcome.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Andrei Kostitsyn - The rugged Belarussian forward is possibly the toughest player to gauge on the Habs availability meter.
Many feel it's time to ship the inconsistent winger off to the highest bidder while others argue the recent chemistry found with Eller and Travis Moen is reason enough to give him yet another chance. The bulky winger has surpassed the 20 goal mark three times and, when he shows up, can be an invaluable asset.
The problem is he doesn't always bring his "A" game and many have become fed up with his frequent, prolonged absences.
Thank You and Goodnight
Hal Gill, Travis Moen, Chris Campoli, Yannick Weber - It's no secret that these four players top the list of potential ex-Habs. Gill in an incredible penalty killer who will bring leadership and a Stanley Cup ring to a contending team.
Moen is a hard working, third-line player whose grit, alongside Samuel Pahlsson and Rob Niedermayer, played a huge role in Anaheim's 2006-07 Stanley Cup run.
Campoli and Weber don't exaclty stand out as elite NHL defenseman, but a league of 30 teams will never run short on clubs in need of rearguards.
Campoli at least has over 400 games of experience on his resume while Weber brings youth as well a a decent shot from the point. Look for these two to potentially move oin exchange for later round draft picks.
Damaged Goods
Brian Gionta - It's tough to see the Habs current captain sit out for so long. However, you can't help but think the vertically challenged winger would be shopped were he not be sidelined with an upper body injury.
Gionta has heart, there's no doubt about that. But Montreal has recently been addressing their problem with size up front - as illustrated by Cammalleri for Bourque - and you can't help but think that a healthy Gionta would be dangled as trade bait.
Stuck with You
Scott Gomez and Tomas Kaberle - Gomez is an established playmaker who appears to be a likable individual. You can't help but feel for anyone who's gone through a calendar year without a goal. Kaberle has a keen vision on the ice and a Stanley cup ring to boot.
Despite this, Gomez' cap hit of $7,357,143 million through 2013-14 and Kaberle's hit of 4,250,000 per year through the same time frame make it almost impossible to fathom any GM acquiring either of Montreal's burdens.
How do you feel as the trade dealine approaches? Should the Habs sell whatever assets they have- and if so at what price- or should they be buyers and push for a playoff spot? In which case, which players should they have in their sights?
--- Sean is a freelance writer currently contributing to HabsAddict.com. He is also a regular blogger and frequent panelist on the Habs post game show at MontrealHockeyTalk.com
You can follow Sean on Twitter.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)
With a little more than one month to go before the NHL 2012 trade deadline (February 27th, 2012 at 3PM EDT), the Montreal Canadiens are desperately trying to make the playoffs.
After 48 games, the Canadiens hold the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind the Washington Capitals who hold the eighth and final playoff spot (53 points). The Habs have not made things easier on themselves, playing weak hockey over their last ten games and going 4-4-2 in the process.
After trading disgruntled sniper Mike Cammalleri to the Calgary Flames in exchange for rugged forward Rene Bourque on, look for GM Pierre Gauthier to continue making changes.
While some fans still hope the Canadiens will be buyers this season, it would be wise for the organization to retool its depleted farm system, acquire prospects and picks to make the team younger.
According to Sports Club Stats, the Canadiens have a mere 14.8% chance of making the playoffs this season.
With that in mind, let's have a look at the Canadiens' best potential trade baits before or on trade deadline day:
Andrei Kostitsyn
The inconsistent winger will certainly attract teams looking for an offensive boost, despite his inconsistent play. The Russian sniper, who will turn 27 in February, will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
AK46, who is making $3.25 million this season, has expressed his interest to stay in Montreal, willing to take a home-town discount. But the 6'0'', 215 lb, has only notched 11 goals and added 11 assists for 21 points in 38 contests with Montreal.
One of the streakiest players in the league, Kostitsyn has reached the 20-goal plateau three times during his career which makes him an attractive and affordable acquisition for a team looking to add depth up front.
Montreal should really consider trading him as he likely fetch a pick and a prospect at the deadline. If he's not signed in the upcoming two or three weeks, look for AK46 to be donning another sweater by March.
POTENTIAL TEAMS INTERESTED: Penguins, Devils, Panthers, Predators, Wild and Kings
Chris Campoli
A few days before the season started, the Canadiens signed him to a $1.75-million, one-year contract as an insurance policy. Campoli, who was mainly signed because All-Star Andrei Markov had a few setbacks during his rehabilitation from off-season knee injury, sustained a hamstring injury in his first game with the Habs.
A frequent healthy scratch after his return from injury, Campoli never really settled in his role as a seventh defenseman. In 13 games, the 27 year-old blue liner has only one goal and one assist.
Look for Campoli to be traded for a 4th or 5th round draft pick before the deadline.
POTENTIAL TEAMS INTERESTED: Blackhawks, Sharks, Devils and Blues
Hal Gill
An experienced penalty killer, Gill has seen his ice-time dwindle under Randy Cunneyworth. But he remains a force on the man-disadvantage, as evidenced by the Habs 89.4% penalty kill efficiency, good for first place in the NHL.
A Stanley Cup winner, Gill is the kind of player that is in high demand come deadline day. His playoff experience can certainly help a team looking for a veteran presence on their bottom defensive pairing.
Look for Gill to fetch a second round draft pick.
POTENTIAL TEAMS INTERESTED: Flyers, Penguins, Sharks, Panthers, Stars and Avalanche
Travis Moen
Another Stanley Cup winner, Moen is a proven veteran that offers size, grit and toughness. Moen can also chip in the occasional goal as shown by his 16 points (9G, 7A) this season.
Making only $1.5 million this year, Moen is also an adept penalty killer and a good skater. The 6'2, 217 lbs left winger will be a hot commodity in the next few weeks.
While the Habs may be interested in re-signing the 29 year-old, it would be better to maximize his value and trade him for a prospect and a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
POTENTIAL TEAMS INTERESTED: Canucks, Red Wings, Sharks, Predators and Senators
Yannick Weber
After a tough start, the power-play specialist has been in and out of the line-up this season. Weber, who has scored all of his four goals with the man-advantage, has also been used as the team's 12th forward during many games.
Making $850,000 this year and next, Weber doesn't seem to fit in the organization's plans anymore. Especially with the emergence of countryman Raphael Diaz and bruiser Alexei Emelin.
The Habs will be looking for another prospect, most likely a forward, in exchange for the Swiss defender.
POTENTIAL TEAMS INTERESTED: Oilers, Islanders, Lightning and Blue Jackets
Mathieu Darche
The journeyman forward is having a very tough season with Montreal, after scoring 12 goals and adding 14 assists for 26 points in 59 games last season. This year, Darche has been unproductive to say the least, notching only two goals and adding four helpers for six points in 48 games.
The impending UFA might interest a team looking for depth on the fourth line and help on the penalty kill. Darche is making only $700,000, so his salary will be easy to fit under the cap.
Darche could fetch a late round pick or a disappointing prospect.
Scott Gomez
Frankly, most Canadiens' fans would like to see Gomez traded for a bag of pucks and a used jock-strap, but it won't happen this year.
With a cap hit of $7,357,143 this season, the Alaskan center has not scored a goal in more than 50 games—his last goal was on February 5th, 2011.
This season, Gomez has again been a major disappointment for the Habs, playing only 18 games and recording a brutal six assists.
Gomez is also -19 over the past two campaigns in Montreal. No one, not even the Habs want him. Gomez is simply going anywhere.
So what do you think? Who do you think are the mostly likely players to be traded?
--- Follow Fred on Twitter for more updates on the Canadiens and the NHL in general.
Last night the New York Islanders posted an impressive 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
So, why the heck am I mentioning this on a Canadiens related website?
Because, with the win, the Islanders are now ahead of the Habs in the standings. And, perhaps more saliently, le tricolore now finds itself in the bottom-five of the overall league standings.
All things considered, at this point it would be best if Montreal finished in such a position. By being in the bottom-five, they are eligible to win the first overall pick in the draft lottery.
Frankly, any top-five pick can pay rapid dividends.
Last year, Adam Larsson was drafted fourth overall.
In 2010, Cam Fowler, Jeff Skinner and Evegeny Kuznetsov were all drafted outside of the first quintet.
In 2009, Evander Kane was picked fourth, followed by Brayden Schenn and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
After playing the past seven seasons in Russia with Tolyatti Lada and Kazan Ak-Bars, rugged defenseman Alexei Emelin decided to come to North America to make his NHL debut for the team that drafted him 84th overall way back in 2004. In 2010-11, Emelin had his best offensive season in the KHL, registering 11 g and 15 assists for 26 points, while earning 117 penalty minutes. He also finished the year with a +16 ratio.
Despite playing in Russia for what seems like an eternity, Emelin is still only 25 years-old, the moment most defensemen reach their maturity and full potential. While Emelin will never be a constant point-producer in the NHL, he can certainly do better than his 0 point in 14 games so far for the Canadiens this season. Emelin has proved that he can block shots and make a good first pass. But right now, it's clear he is focusing on the defensive aspect of his game, but he showed in the KHL that he can contribute offensively too.
Often a healthy scratch at the beginning of the season, Emelin has now played the last six games due to a rash of injuries on Montreal's blue line and has slowly adjusted to the smaller NHL rinks and the more physical style played in North America. The 6'2'' 220 lb rearguard looks a lot like Red Wings Nicklas Kronwall when he made his North America debut in 2003-04. Kronwall is a hard-hitting defenseman that developed his offensive skills over the years to become Detroit's most important defenseman behind Nicklas Lidstrom. The former has amassed 191 points in 405 games in the NHL, or also one point every two games. Emelin is still far from producing offensively at such a good pace, but let's not forget Kronwall only registered 14 points in 47 games over his first two NHL seasons.
Emelin is currently ranked 32nd in the NHL in total hits with 49 in only 14 games (3.5 hits per game), but is ranked 6th for hits per game behind the likes of Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck, Troy Brouwer, Mark Fistric and Steve Ott. Not bad for rookie defenseman used to play in the KHL, not a league that is known for its physical play.
Alexei Emelin hip-checking Ales Hemsky at the blue line
Alexei Emelin with another hip-check on Tomas Vincour
Emelin is by far the Habs most physical defenseman as the rest of the defensive corps is composed of smaller players (Diaz, Weber, Spacek, Gorges) or softer players (Gill, Markov, Campoli) than the Togliatti, Russia, native.
Currently earning $984,200 this season with the Canadiens, Emelin will be a restricted free agent at season's end, so the team will have to decide if they want to sign him long-term in order to prevent him from returning to Russia. The left-handed blue-liner moved to North America in part because of Andrei Markov, who has yet to play this season recuperating from a knee injury that sidelined most of last season.
One has to wonder if Jacques Martin will reunite the two Russians on a defensive pairing in order to groom the young Emelin along a proven veteran to back him up and repair his occasional blunder. Once Emelin earns the confidence of his head coach, he will most likely receive more power play time than the 2:11 minutes he received so far this season!!
Through 14 games this season, Emelin is only seeing 15:11 minutes of time per game despite all the injuries the Canadiens sustained on the blue line. However, when Emelin gets more ice-time on the special units (playing only 43 seconds per game on the penalty kill this season), his ice-time will increase exponentially. With only four penalty minutes, Emelin has been very disciplined despite his rugged style. He has also taken only one penalty while drawing seven, which ranks him 7th in the NHL with a very positive ratio.
Now the question remains: Will Emelin be dressed over smaller defensemen Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber when the Andrei Markov and Jaroslav Spacek come back into action in early December? Or will Emelin be made a healthy scratch more often than not?
------
Fred is a freelance sports write and translator, as well as a featured Montreal Canadiens blogger on http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/ and a baseball columnist on http://www.dobberbaseball.com/. Fred also joined HabsAddict.com in time for the 2011-12 season.
Looking for a multi-year contract after an injury-riddled 2010-11 campaign, restricted free agent Josh Gorges had to settle for a one year $2.5 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens this off-season.
Gorges missed 46 games last year with a knee injury.
He originally tore up his right knee during his last season with the Kelowna Rockets, of the WHL, and had hoped to postpone the surgery until his retirement.
Despite what Gorges may say, the surgery was the best thing that could happen to him and the Canadiens.
Gorges has been far more effective this season for the Canadiens, playing on a depleted defensive corps that has seen four key veterans miss time with injuries.
Currently paired with the offensive-minded P.K. Subban, Gorges has been the calming veteran presence that Jacques Martin needs to keep his team afloat.
The Canadiens are currently using four rookies on their blue line—winning two of their last three games—both via shutout, with Frederic St-Denis, Yannick Weber, Raphael Diaz and Alexei Emelin combining for only 104 games in the NHL.
That's not a small feat, especially against the red-hot New York Rangers on Saturday.
With a 9-8-3 record for 21 points after 20 games, the Habs are only one point back from the eighth seed—Ottawa Senators is eighth in the Eastern Conference—and Josh Gorges has been a key to the Habs 6-3-1 record over their last ten games.
Through 20 games, Gorges leads the Canadiens defensemen with one goal—a game-winner in Phoenix—and seven assists for eight points.
The 27-year old defenseman is on pace for a career-high of 33 points, ten more than his previous summit of 23 points in 2008-09.
Gorges is also ranked 12th in the NHL with an impressive plus-10 +/- differential. The second best Habs player is Travis Moen at plus-six. The Kelowna native also has 24 hits and seven takeaways this season.
Most impressively, Gorges is currently second in the whole league with 52 blocked shots, seven behind the NHL leader Ladislav Smid of the Edmonton Oilers.
Gorges is averaging 21:42 minutes per game this season, which is second on the team only behind P.K. Subban's 23:47 minutes per game. Despite playing far less than some defensemen, Gorges is averaging 30.6 shifts per game for the Canadiens, which is good for eighth in the NHL.
Gorges is also ranked 13th among rearguards with 3:48 of PK icetime on ice per game—eight seconds more per game than penalty-killing specialist Hal Gill.
To top it off, all of Gorges' points have come at even strength as he's barely used on the power play. In fact, he presently averages a mere seven seconds of PP time per game!
Acquired from the San Jose Sharks along with a first round pick—which the Canadiens turned into Max Pacioretty—in exchange for veteran Craig Rivet, Gorges has turned into one of the most undervalued and underrated blueliners in the league.
When he arrived in Montreal, Gorges was often a healthy scratch and played only sporadically when dressed. Now, he has been given the task of shutting down the top players in the league on a nightly basis.
And he does so with great success.
The problem is that this situation might turn out to be a major problem for GM Pierre Gauthier. The Habs GM has painted himself into a corner by giving Gorges a one-year deal, preferring to extend a longer, three-year contract to brittle veteran Andrei Markov.
One has to wonder if Gauthier will have enough money to retain Gorges' services since he needs to re-sign RFAs P.K. Subban and Carey Price—both will likely hit the jackpot, signing long-term extensions.
The Canadiens' GM needs to “think outside the box” and start negotiating with one of these key players immediately. Every game Gorges plays, every solid mistake free shift he takes, he gets a little more expensive.
With both veterans Hal Gill and Jaroslav Spacek slated to become unrestricted free agents at season's end, Gorges' experience and leadership will be even more so important for the Bleu Blanc Rouge's long-term plans.
--- Fred is a freelance sports write and translator, as well as a featured Montreal Canadiens blogger on http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/ and a baseball columnist on http://www.dobberbaseball.com/. Fred also joined HabsAddict.com in time for the 2011-12 season.
Topics include: -reflections and recap of the Stanley Cup Finals thus far implications for game 3 in Boston -Winnipeg gets an NHL franchise... again...will it work this time? (see Atlanta, Minnesota etc...) -Colin Campbell steps down...thoughts -Shanny to take over functions...thoughts -expecting drastic changes or same old same old? -Habs signed Hal Gill: good or bad signing? -Dallas will not make an offer to Brad Richards, should Habs follow suit with AK46?
Click play below to listen in (listing time 47:06):
After a few nervous moments for Habs fans in recent weeks, the Montreal Canadiens were finally able to clinch a playoff spot last night.
With only three games remaining prior to yesterday's tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks, Habs-nation was cautiously optimistic about the Canadiens' chances. However Montreal fans had bad memories of last year when they qualified in the final game of the season, losing in overtime to the Leafs.
With games Thursday against the Sens and Saturday against the Leafs, the hope was that they could get in done before the weekend.
And get it done they did.
Yesterday's 2-1 overtime victory over the Blackhawks was the best and most entertaining game of the Habs season.
Both teams, whose games are based on skill and speed, came to play and win. As such, it was a fast-paced playoff-like game that had a ton of beautiful plays and even more spectacular saves.
Carey Price and Cory Crawford—playing his first career game in front of his hometown crowd—put on goaltending clinics, turning aside shot after shot to keep it a low-scoring affair.
Michael Cammalleri opened the scoring for Montreal when his shot, off an Andrei Kostitsyn pass, deflected off the Hawks defender and past Crawford at 6:55 of the second period.
Patrick Kane got that one back less than four minutes later with a spectacular fake on Mathieu Darche before firing it past Price.
In a game where momentum swung back and forth both goaltenders had to be at their best. Price, in particular, elevated his game making 20 saves as the Hawks took control of the game in the third.
Next up was overtime and a tripping penalty by Hawks captain Jonathan Toews only 37 seconds in. Montreal took advantage of the ensuing 4-on-3 PP with P.K. Subban powering a beautiful Kostitsyn feed top corner past Crawford. The goal was his 14th of the season and it punched the Habs' ticket to the post-season.
In a lot of ways, this game was a microcosm of the Canadiens season: Montreal wouldn't be in the playoffs nor have won last night's game without Price's brilliance.
Final Score: Habs 2 - Blackhawks 1 (OT)
Habs scorers: Michael Cammalleri (18), P.K. Subban (14)
Hawks scorers: Patrick Kane (27)
Three stars: 1. P.K. Subban, 2. Carey Price, 3. Michael Cammalleri
Celebrate good times, come on!
After his game winning goal, P.K. Subban and Carey Price had a great body bump celebration that knocked Subban to the ice. It was not only hilarious but a genuine moment between the two players that are the undeniable future of this organization.
If you haven't seen it here's the vid:
Game Notes
P.K. Subban is ready for the playoffs
I can't wait to see what Subban can do once the playoffs start. Sure he played in the playoffs last year, but he now has a full season under his belt and is a better player for it.
If his play since January is any indication, this kid is ready for prime time.
Last night, against the offensively potent Chicago Blackhawks, Subban was once again the Habs' best defender. He and Hal Gill were tasked with shutting down players like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and Subban was ready for the challenge.
The battle between Toews and Subban was epic and on display all night. And while they each took turns winning battles, overall, Subban did an excellent job of shutting down "captain serious"—Toews was held off the scoresheet.
Moreover, the battle between the two players is what produced the Toews tripping penalty on Subban in overtime. While some are crying foul on the play this morning, if you look at the replay you can clearly see Toews' stick tripping up Subban.
Was it intentional? No. But it was a penalty.
Despite his excellent play, there continues to be a dark side to Subban's game and it is not his post-goal celebrations.
The Canadiens are second in the league for most minor penalties taken, and Subban is first on the Habs in that department with 124 minutes. Last night, he was at it again taking a first period hooking penalty on Toews before his delay of game call in the second.
Penalties aside, Subban is putting up some impressive numbers.
His goal last night gives him 14 on the season. Fourteen goals as a rookie D-man puts Subban second in Habs history to Guy Lapointe who potted 15 in 1970-71. Subban now has 38 points, tying him for 28th among NHL defenseman.
What is interesting though, is that Subban only had 11 points (2G, 9A) over his first 34 games for a 0.32 points per game (PPG) average. Since January, however, P.K. has 27 points (12G, 15A) over 41 games for a 0.65 PPG.
Over 82 games, that averages out to 54 points which would put Subban in the top six among defenseman.
While Subban is young and still has a lot to learn, he is ready to be the Habs' No.1 D-man this spring and beyond.
The Habs top players showed up
They say in order to win on a consistent basis your best players have to be your best players on any given night.
While this has not always been the case for Montreal this season, last night the Habs' top players showed up in spades.
The Hawks controlled the first five minutes of the game before Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta, flanked by Mathieu Darche, turned things around for Montreal.
Gomez and Gionta used their shiftiness and Darche simply went to the net. The result was the Habs' first scoring chances of the game and a shift in momentum. Next it was Michael Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn who carried that momentum and set up a few more scoring opportunities.
The top two lines played their best games in a long time and the result was a myriad of scoring opportunities for the Canadiens.
Cammalleri finished the night with five shots on net and if it wasn't for Crawford's brilliance, he would have had three or four goals.
With two games to go Jacques Martin has to be breathing a huge sigh of relief this morning. While Price is the number one reason the Habs are in the playoffs and the reason they won last night, the Canadiens need their offense to get going.
The Habs will go as far as Price can take them in the playoffs but if Cammalleri, Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Gomez and Gionta aren't scoring, Montreal won't get out of the first round.
Wake up, Jacques Martin!
Last night, the Habs were playing their best game in months until Kostitsyn took a bad tripping penalty on Toews at 7:42 of the second. The penalty killed a Habs man-advantage and handed the momentum over to the Hawks.
Chicago was down 1-0 at the time and was able to tie it up less than three minutes later. After that, the Hawks were flying as the Habs struggled to contain their speed and skill.
This utter domination went on for a good five or six minutes with Chicago coming dangerously close to scoring on several occasions. And while everyone online was screaming for Jacques Martin to call a timeout, the wise old veteran just stood there blinking.
Fortunately for Montreal they were able to weather the storm, largely due to Price's heroics.
That being said, I just don't understand Martin's resistance to using timeouts. You see other coaches doing it all the time and sometimes a well placed timeout can help get the game under control.
It's almost like Martin thinks you are only allowed to use a timeout with less than two minutes in the game.
Strange, very strange. But then again so is Martin.
The Hawks are ridiculously skilled
While Chicago lost the game and may not make the playoffs this year, there is no doubting the tremendous skill on their team.
Early in the game, the Hawks defensemen were forcing the play a little too much—perhaps they were nervous given the magnitude of the match.
They quickly settled things down, however, and it helped their forwards take control of the game. Once Chicago got their wheels going they simply bowled the Canadiens over for a good portion of the match.
Players like Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook bring varying mixes of speed, skill and size and Montreal had a hard time containing them.
Kane in particular made a ridiculous fake on Mathieu Darche, freeing himself from coverage before picking the corner on Price to tie the game at one.
There are maybe five or 10 players in the league with the skill to make that play.
Chicago has clearly been knocked down a few pegs since winning the cup last year. But with the solid core of incredibly skilled players and the sudden emergence of goaltender Cory Crawford, it won't be long before this team is back on top.
Standings and Next Game
The win moves the Habs record to 43-30-7 with 93 points in the standings and clinches a playoff spot. With two games left in their season all that is left to decide is final positioning.
Montreal has run out of racetrack to catch the teams in front of them, as both Tampa and Boston have 99 points.
Depending on what the teams in front and behind them do, Montreal could end up facing either Boston, Philadelphia, Washington or Pittsburgh in the first round.
Buffalo—who were in sixth place for about 10 minutes until Montreal pulled out the victory—are one point behind the Habs in seventh. Behind them are the Rangers with 91 points.
The Habs now embark on their final road trip of the season: in Ottawa Thursday before closing out the season in Toronto on Saturday.
It will be interesting to see how the team responds over the final two games. Will they sit back, secure in the knowledge that they are going to he playoffs no matter what? Or will they put together Herculean efforts like they did last night and enter the playoffs on a roll?
Tune in on Thursday to find out.
--- Kamal is a freelance Habs writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and Habs writer on TheFranchise.ca. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on The Team 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 8 - 9 AM. Listen live at http://www.team990.com/
(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)
