Canadiens Sign Petry to 6 Yr/$33M Contract; What's Next?

After what can only be described as a stroke of genius by Montreal Canadiens' General Manager Marc Bergevin at the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline, and an above-average contribution to help bolster the Canadiens' blue line in the latter part of the season and the playoffs, it was announced today that Jeff Petry signed a six-year, $33 Million contract to remain with the Habs.

The deal includes a full no-movement, no-trade clause, which has become a standard offering by teams wishing to sign trade deadline acquisition prior to them testing the free agent market come July 1st.

Many assumed that Petry, a native of Detroit, Michigan, wanted to sign with his home town Red Wings, however this year's playoff run, and the experience of playing with the league's most storied franchise, seemed to be enough to keep the 6' 3", 196 lbs defensemen with "Les Glorieux".

The signing now solidifies the top four defensemen on the Canadiens' blue line, with Norris trophy nominee P.K. Subban, veteran Andrei Markov and up and comer Nathan Beaulieu.

The last two spots and the role of the Canadiens' 7th defenseman are now up for grabs. While Alexei Emelin is still under contract until the 2017-2018 season, many observers believe, given the chatter about the Russian blue liner being dealt during the season, that the Habs may shop him around to try and alleviate themselves of the $4.1 Million cap hit his contract represents. Emelin has not looked anywhere as good as he did prior to injuring his knee against the Bruins on April 6th, 2013.

Emelin would definitely be a player teams would be interested in. His brutal physical assaults on opponents have brought many a Canadiens fan out of their seats, and would be a welcomed addition to any blue line. One team in particular, the Edmonton Oilers, might be a good fit. With the expected selection of Erie Otters' superstar Connor McDavid in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Oilers will have to part ways with one of their young forwards. Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov have both been rumoured to be trading chips for Edmonton, but that may all change with the arrival of their new GM, Peter Chairelli.

That said, the Canadiens are in a situation that will force them to make some very difficult decisions. Jarred Tinordi, who played the majority of last season with the Habs' AHL affiliate, nursed a wrist injury for the majority of the season. His 6' 5", 218 lbs frame is a much need commodity on the Canadiens' back end, so the organization cannot afford to make the wrong decision in his case. Tinordi is a restricted free agent, and must be signed to an offer sheet prior to July 1st.

Veteran rearguard Tom Gilbert ran hot and cold all season for the Canadiens. While he showed flashes of why Marc Bergevin signed him in the off-season last year, he also made his share of defensive gaffs in his own zone. The inconsistency in his game may relegate the 32 year-old to the role of 7th defenseman, as was the case with former Hab Mike Weaver, whose game plummeted since he resigned with the club after some fantastic play in the 2013-2014 run to the Eastern Conference finals.

Then, there is Greg Pateryn. For the last two seasons, this analyst fully expected the American-born defenseman to crack the Canadiens' roster in 2012-2013, only to see get pushed back down to the AHL by the signings of Douglas Murray and the aforementioned Gilbert. In the latter part of last season, the native of Sterling Heights, MI showed he had all the necessary tools, the skills and the mindset to remain with the big club.

Now What?

With the defense accounted for, now the daunting task of adding supplemental scoring is what faces the Canadiens' brass. While GM Bergevin was unwilling to admit what needed to be done going into next season, it's all but a foregone conclusion that the Canadiens' 1st round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Alex Galchenyuk, will need to make the move to centre at the start of next season.

Galchenyuk has spent most of his first three NHL seasons on the left wing, bouncing from linemate to linemate, and restricted to playing up and down the half wall. Having watched quite a bit of his junior career with the Sarnia Sting, it's obvious that his biggest asset is his ability to use the entire offensive zone to create scoring opportunities. Despite Canadiens' coach Michel Therrien claiming his young forward needs to improve in his own zone, Galchenyuk finished last season with a +8 rating. He is oftentimes the first forward back in support of his defenseman, unlike some of his teammates who seem disinterested in defending their own zone.

With a move to centre, the Canadiens would now need to address the need for a scoring winger. Granted, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche last off-season in exchange for Daniel Briere to fill that need, but a string of concussion issues kept the veteran right winger from getting his game to where everyone expected it to be.

Many expect the Habs to make a move or two at the 2015 NHL draft in Sunrise, FL, and they may be right, but there is a name on the unrestricted free agent list that is definitely worth dealing a draft pick or two to get the negotiating rights for before the 2015 free agent frenzy begins.

Capitals' forward Joel Ward, who had 19 goals and 15 assists during the regular season and added another 14 points in the playoffs, can fit the bill nicely in my opinion. His size and physicality, along with his ability to finish from in tight, would be a much needed addition to the Canadiens' all but non-existent power play. His play along the boards, and ability to separate the puck from defenders would help the likes of Max Pacioretty and Galchnyuk, but allowing them to get into prime shooting areas in anticipation of Ward's puck retrieval prowess.

It's going to be a very interesting summer for Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens, and given the long term commitment given already to Jeff Petry, for once, this team will be the aggressor.

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Montreal Canadiens Trade Target: Andrej Sekera

With the latest injuries to Alexei Emelin (broken collarbone or separated shoulder) and Sergei Gonchar (concussion), the Habs' blue line is in turmoil. As result, the team called up prospect defenseman Jarred Tinordi after last night's defeat to the Ottawa Senators. Tinordi will join Bulldog teammate Greg Pateryn, who was called up earlier this week, to man Montreal's blue line.

If Gonchar and Emelin are out long term, it becomes critical for General Manager Marc Bergevin to bolster his blue line in prevision of the playoffs. With about 10 days before the March 2nd, 2015, trade deadline, it becomes important for Bergevin to assess all his options before making a bold move. Also, with Jeff Petry leaving last night's game with an apparent upper-body injury, and Tyler Myers and Zach Bogosian traded for each other, the options on the back end are getting somewhat limited. Oh and let's not forget that Cody Franson was also shipped to Nashville while Marc Methot was extended by Ottawa.

Another coveted option on the blue line, is offensive defenseman Andrej Sekera of the Carolina Hurricanes. Making only $2.75 million this season, the 28-year-old rearguard is having a tough offensive season with the lowly Hurricanes, scoring 2 goals and 17 assists for 19 points and a -7 differential in 54 games. However, Sekera enjoyed the best season of his career in 2013-14 with Carolina, potting 11 goals and 33 helpers for 44 points and +4 rating in 74 contests.

The puck-moving Sekera, who is slated to become a UFA on July 1st, will not come cheap as the asking price is reportedly a first-round pick and a solid prospect. Will Marc Bergevin be willing to pay that hefty price for a rental player? I highly doubt it.

Playing on average 22:50 per game this season, the left-handed blue liner is great on the power play and makes a very solid first pass, helping with the transition. Also, despite playing for a cellar-dwelling team, Sekera's possession numbers are pretty good with a 52.3 CF% and a 52.2 FF%. The problem with Sekera is that he is not physical at all with a mere 43 hits in 54 games.

In sum, if Bergevin wants to acquire an offensive-minded defenseman for the playoffs, Sekera is his man, but if he is looking for a physical and defensive-oriented rearguard, Andrej is really not his man. The team could also call up veterans Bryan Allen and Davis Drewiske if they don't want to mortgage the future by trading away prospects and draft picks.

Who would you want to acquire if you were Marc Bergevin?


Other options on defense include Mike Green, Jeff Petry, Zbynek Michalek and Marek Zidlicky.


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Follow me on Twitter at @FredPoulin98

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Game 41: Canadiens vs Penguins

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (26-12-2) wrap up the first half of the season Saturday night when they host the Penguins (24-10-6). The game starts at 7:00 and will be broadcast on TVA and CBC.

This is the third and final game this season between the Habs and Pens, they've played a game each in their home building already this season. After losing 4-0 in Montreal, the Habs got a measure of revenge last week when they beat the Penguins 4-1 in Pittsburgh. Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert each had a goal and an assist in that game.

What to Watch

Carey Price had an off night Tuesday against the Lightning, allowing four goals on 16 second period shots, but the Habs netminder is having a career year this season. With 22 wins in 33 games, a 2.20 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, Price is on pace to match or set personal records in each of those categories.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are always players to watch when the Penguins come to town. The duo has 88 points between them, 45 for Malkin and 43 for Crosby, that's more than the top three scorers combined for the Canadiens (Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk and PK Subban combine for 86 points so far).

What's at Stake

The Habs and Pens are both chasing top spot in their division after falling behind the Lightning and the Islanders respectively. The Canadiens are four points behind the Bolts with three games in hand while the Penguins trail the Isles by a single point and have played one game less.

Who's Out

P.A. Parenteau (head) is skating on his own, but doesn't appear ready to rejoin the team yet. Special mention as well to Jarred Tinordi who was injured in a fight Friday night while playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Pens are missing Patric Hornqvist (lower body), Olli Maata (upper body), Blake Comeau (wrist) and Pascal Dupuis (blood clot).

What Else

Not only did Montreal's seven game win streak come to an end Tuesday night against the Lightning, their perfect streak of wins after scoring first was broken as well. The Habs went into Tuesday's game with a perfect 16-0-0 record when scoring the first goal, but after they opened the scoring, four straight goals from the Lightning ended that streak.

The Question Mark

What are your thoughts on fighting in professional hockey and do the Habs need more muscle in their lineup?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Penguins.

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Almost Bourque Traded to Ducks for Bryan Allen

When we thought Marc Bergevin could not make a better deal than the Moen vs Gonchar trade, we learned today that the Montreal Canadiens had traded disappointing forward Rene Bourque to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for rugged defenseman Bryan Allen.

The 34-year-old Allen comes to Montreal only played six games this season after sustaining an injury that cost him the first 14 games of the year. A physical defender, Allen has only one point this season, playing 18:12 on average per night. The 6'5'', 225-lb, native of Kingston, Ontario will provide leadership, size and grit to the Habs' blue line, qualities that were missing this season, especially against bigger teams.

The former Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers, among other teams, is also in the last year of a three-year, $10.5 million deal that pays him $3.5 million annually. The move will allow the Canadiens to clear more cap space for next season as Rene Bourque was slated to receive $2.5 million for a cap hit of $3.33 million.

After a poor start on the season,. #AlmostBourque had been demoted to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. In 13 games with the Canadiens, Bourque had no goal and only two assists with a -9 rating before being put on waivers and demoted after clearing. There was no money retained in the deal on either side.

At first glance, this trade gives the Canadiens a lot of depth on the blue line, pushing young defenseman Nathan Beaulieu on the outside looking in and probably on a bus to Hamilton after a disappointing start to the season.

You have to hand it to Bergevin has he was able to clear out $5.183 million in cap space for this upcoming summer by swapping Travis Moen for Sergei Gonchar and Rene Bourque for Bryan Allen. This will allow him plenty of room to re-sign impending RFAs Brendan Gallagher, Alex Galchenyuk, Michael Bournival, Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu.

The bad news is that Bryan Allen is on the decline and that is not a good puck moving defenseman who struggles against faster teams. Allen's Corsi is at 48.4% which is not too bad considering he is not an offensive juggernaut and he has been hampered by nagging injuries the last three seasons.

Also, we know that Michel Therrien loves his veterans, so this basically spells the end for Beaulieu and Tinordi this season and we can expect Allen to rotate with Tom Gilbert and Mike Weaver on the team's third pairing. 

The other possibility is that Bergevin will trade a defenseman for some offensive help, especially on the wings where the Habs could use a big power forward to play with the team's smaller pivots. 

Finally, I think Bergevin made the last two deals to clear cap space after the current season to land a big fish via trade from a team which is sitting tight against the cap such as the Blackhawks, the Bruins, the Capitals or the Flyers, Remember when the Booins traded Johnnny Boychuk for some picks before the season due to cap space problems... Well Boychuk now has 2 goals and 10 helpers for 12 points in 17 games with a +5 rating!

Do you like this trade? If not, why?

No Foolin' Fred Poulin

Follow me on Twitter at @FredPoulin98

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Game 12 - Canadiens vs Flames

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (8-2-1) return home to host the Flames (6-4-2) Sunday night after completing their Western Canada road trip. The puck drops at 7:00, and the game airs on RDS and City.

This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and Flames this year. The Canadiens took the first game less than a week ago, winning 2-1 in a shootout. Both regulation time goals were scored by defensemen in the first contest, Tom Gilbert got his first goal with the Canadiens after Flames captain Mark Giordano opened the scoring for Calgary.

What to Watch

If you're watching the Canadiens, it's a good idea not to turn the game off early. The Habs have scored 12 third period goals, just one less than they've scored in the first two periods combined. In fact, you can probably just tune in after the first. After 11 games into the season, the Canadiens have yet to take a lead into the first intermission, not altogether surprising considering they've scored just four first period goals.

Johnny Gaudreau followed up his strong game against the Canadiens last week with an even stronger one against the Predators. Tuesdat he had an assist on the Flames only goal versus Montreal and tallied six shots, while Friday night he had five shots, the game winning goal and an assist, bring him to six points on the year.

What's at Stake

With 17 points in 11 games, the Canadiens have slipped to second overall in the league, trailing the Ducks by a point but holding a game in hand. The Lightning have also caught the Habs in the standings, but again the Bolts have played an extra game.

Montreal will put their perfect home record to the test Sunday night. They'll be looking to improve on their 4-0-0 start at the Bell Centre.

Who's Out

The Canadiens got slightly banged up in Vancouver on Thursday, with a head shot to Alexei Emelin causing the most concern. Emelin did return to finish the game and it seems like he escaped without any lingering effects.

The Flames are dealing with injuries to Matt Stajan (knee) and Joe Colborne (upper body), both of whom were knocked out of Tuesday's contest against the Habs, though Colborne could dress Sunday. Mikael Backlund (abdomen) is also missing. Reinforcement arrived for the Flames on Friday in the form of Michael Ferland, but the rookie was forced out of his first NHL game with an upper body injury.

What Else

Michel Therrien brought a whole new look to his forward lines at practice on Saturday, hoping to wake up his team's anemic offense. Dale Weise, skated with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty, the same linemates he finished Thursday's game with in Vancouver.

Alex Galchenyuk, could find himself at center Sunday if the practice lines hold. Look for him to play with Rene Bourque and Brendan Gallagher on his wings, while Lars Eller may line up beside Tomas Plekanec and P.A. Parenteau. Even the defensive pairings got a shake-up with Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu practicing together.

The Question Mark

What are your thoughts on the new lines Therrien was testing at practice?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 on Sunday to preview the Flames and Canadiens.

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Game 11 - Canadiens at Canucks

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (8-2-0) wrap up their road trip Thursday night with a visit to Vancouver to face the Canucks (6-3-0). The puck drops at 10:00 and the game airs on RDS and SN360.

This is the first of two meetings between the Habs and Canucks this season, they'll meet again at the Bell Centre in early December to close out the series. Last year, the Canadiens dominated their two games against Vancouver, scoring 4-1 and 5-2 victories. Max Pacioretty had four goals against the Canucks last season, including a hat trick in the 5-2 home win.

What to Watch

Tom Gilbert picked up his first goal as a Canadien Tuesday night in Calgary, helping the team draw even against the Flames. If Pacioretty was looking for an opportunity to step up his game, there's no time like the present. The Canadiens' leading goal scorer last season has lit the lamp just three times in the first ten games, leaving him on a pace well shy of the 39 goals he had last year.

The Sedin twins are back in fine form to start this season, Daniel and Henrik each have 11 points the nine games to start the year. Ryan Miller is off to a strong start as well with a 6-1-0 record through is first seven games as a Canuck. The only goalie with more wins than Miller will be occupying the crease 180 feet away. Carey Price leads the league with seven wins.

What's at Stake

The season keeps moving along and the Habs keep distancing themselves from their competition. Montreal has a three point lead over Tampa and a six point cushion on the Bruins; Long Island, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Ottawa are all four points back or more with varying games on hand. While there is plenty of hockey left to play, the Canadiens have and early edge in the East and can build on their advantage with every point.

Who's Out

The question of who's out keeps popping up keeps popping up for the Habs, but it has nothing to do with injuries. Jiri Sekac has been a healthy scratch for the past four games, Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu have split duties occupying the final defensive spot, while Michael Bournival has yet to see action this season, despite suiting up for 60 games last year.

The Canucks have been without defenseman Ryan Stanton (lower body) for much of the season. He is expected to return to action soon, but will likely miss Thursday's game.

What Else

The Canadiens have scored just one goal over the two games they've played in Alberta already this week. They still have yet to score a power play marker on the road, and they've scored just six goals in their last five road games. Three of their four road wins have come by way of shoot out. All that to say, the Habs has had trouble scoring on the road and they'll need to find a way to correct that as a team if they hope to have continued success.

The Question Mark

The Habs have picked up 16 out of a possible 20 points to start the season, but how many points have they deserved?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 9:00 on Thursday to preview the Canadiens and the Canucks.

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Game 7 - Canadiens vs Red Wings

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (5-1-0) host the Red Wings (3-1-1) at the Bell Centre Tuesday night for an Original Six match up. The game is set to start at 7:30 and is being shown on RDS, City - Montreal, and Fox Sports - Detroit.

This is the first of four meetings between the Habs and Wings this season. Last year the Canadiens went 2-1-1, winning the last two games. Jarred Tinordi played over 15 minutes in the Canadiens 5-3 win in their final game last year, picking up two assists in the process.

What to Watch

When he gets going the way he did Saturday night against the Avalanche, PK Subban can be hard to miss. PK lit the lamp twice Saturday bringing him up to three goals and four points on the season. He also picked up his seventh minor penalty of the season, putting him in a familiar position ahead of the league in that department, tied with Boston's Brad Marchand.

Red Wings fans needed to sit through 64 minutes and 50 seconds of goalless hockey Saturday night when the Wings hosted the Maple Leafs, but were treated to a Henrik Zetterberg one-timed game-winner off a beautiful feed from Niklas Kronwall for their troubles. It was Zetterberg's first goal of the season but he now has a team-best six points. Gustav Nyquist is also off to an impressive start to his season. After posting 28 goals and 48 points in 57 games last season, he already has four goals and five points in five games this year.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens are at the top of the standings and a win against the Red Wings will help them keep it that way. Detroit is off to a strong 3-1-1 start to the season so the Habs will also be doing themselves a favor by beating their division rivals.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are healthy heading in to Tuesday's game. Jarred Tinordi has played the last four games, the last two of which have come at the expense of Nathan Beaulieu. Dale Weise has also been a healthy scratch the last two games.

Johan Franzen (leg), Pavel Datsyuk (shoulder) and Jimmy Howard (groin) all missed Saturday's game against the Leafs, Datsyuk hasn't played yet this season, but all three could be in action on Tuesday. Howard is expected to start in Montreal, the two skaters are a bit more questionable to see action.

What Else

While the Canadiens have been slow out of the gates in their first six games, they've been pretty solid in the final two periods with seven second period and eight third period goals. And although they've allowed five and six goals against in the final two frames, if you discount Montreal's 7-1 loss to the Lightning, they've outscored their opponents 7-3 in the second and 8-3 in the third period.

The Question Mark

How would you like to see Michel Therrien use Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu this season?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 Tuesday to preview the Canadiens and Red Wings. Monica McAlister joins us in the second segment to fill us in on the Wings perspective.

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Rookie Watch Part 1: Bruins vs Habs

Last night in Montreal took place the first pre-season game of our Habs. They were playing against the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens decided to go with line-up mostly made up of rookies, with only Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov, Rene Bourque and Tom Gilbert as NHL veterans (note : you can also add goalie Joey MacDonald, even though he has only played 133 games in the NHL and former Hurricanes forward Drayson Bowman).

One thing I wanted to look at was the performance of our young players, but mostly Jarred Tinordi, Michael McCarron, Christian Thomas and Nick Sorkin.

Here are my thoughts on how they played:

Let’s start with Jarred Tinordi. He was one of the few Habs who had played some NHL games last year. Physically speaking, he was on-par with the Bruins. He was able to deliver some good body checks throughout the entire game. However, his defensive skills were lacking a bit. He has not improved his speed at all this summer. In fact, he looked slower than last year. Maybe it is because he spent almost 24 minutes on the ice ? Him and Pateryn looked exhausted in the third period and definitely were Montreal's worst defensive pairing.

Michael McCarron played a great game, for the small amount of time he spent on the ice. He delivered spectacular body checks, managed to put some pressure on B’s defense, took a couple great shots on the net. However, in early second period, he got injured. The latest news are that he suffered a day-to-day upper body injury and that his timetable is still unknown. The only thing he was missing last night was speed. He really does need to work on that aspect of the game this year in London under Dale Hunter. If he can improve at least just a bit, then I would not be surprised to see him in the Canadiens' line-up in a couple of years.

Christian Thomas definitely impressed me. Great speed, good hockey sense, great passing skills and always backchecking hard to prevent scoring chances; he was probably one of the best players on the ice last night. He scored an awesome goal by putting in some effort during a powerplay, as well as preparing Bowman’s game-winning goal with a very accurate pass. He deserved to be named the game's First Star in my opinion. However, I doubt he’ll stay in the big league since he’s a pretty small guy. Who knows, maybe if many injuries happen during the season, he will be called-up…

To be honest, I did not know what to expect from Nick Sorkin. I did not even know the guy up until he showed some promising things during the rookies’ training camp. Well, I must say he has been pretty impressive last night. In fact, if a single rookie could cause a surprise this year, I would put an old $2 bill on him. The problem for Sorkin is that he signed to an AHL-only contract. He is not a giant, but he definitely has a pretty good size. He can be physical, he has a reliable speed and he would definitely have everything it takes to be a power forward in the NHL once he's polished and more mature. I would like to see him perform against a faster team such as the Colorado Avalanche.

That about sums it up for my last night observation on those four guys. The only one who really needs to step up his game in order to even be recalled if something happens is Tinordi because at this rate, he’s going to spend the entire year in Hamilton, while Nathan Beaulieu and Francis Bouillon stay with the big club. 

Written by Dan Beaulieu @Azgarde54                         

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98 Points. Who cares!? Michel Therrien is not the right coach.

by Eitan Calmy

not with Michel Therrien as a coach!
image from @weber514 

The date is April 11^th, 2014. The Montreal Canadiens are sitting in second place in the Atlantic division. The NHL playoffs are about to start. The Canadiens are red hot (yesterday doesn’t count); actually they’re one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. However they’re not even close to being considered a contender for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Are the Montreal Canadiens this good? Or is this just an illusion? In the coming weeks and most certainly next season, we will get a better idea of where this organization really stands.

Most experts had the Canadiens missing the playoffs. Now that Habs have secured their spot in the post-season, most experts are not giving them a chance to get past the second round. Will the Montreal Canadiens suffer a rapid elimination in the same manner as they did approximately one year ago?

I am a fan; I have been a die-hard HABS fan for years. I am one of those guys that has mood swings when the Montreal Canadiens win or lose. Some will say that at this level all we should care about is wins. Although I love when my team wins and overall the 2013-2014 NHL season has been wonderful in that aspect. I will say that I truly think that this season was a complete waste, a disappointment. Let me explain.

-PK Subban won the Norris trophy last season and seemed to be gaining the coaches' trust but actually that is completely false. Some will say look at his ice time. I would say he is misused. He does not play on the penalty kill, his coach does not use him in crucial defensive situations and Michel Therrien benches him at will. It’s clear that Subban is not playing with the liberty to do his thing and because of that he can't be effective. PK Subban has regressed this season. His confidence is at all-time low and I hope I am wrong, but it does not look good for the playoffs.

-Alex Galchenyuk has had sparks of superstardom since he came into the NHL last season. Nobody expected the Montreal Canadiens to do as well as they did this season and for that reason Chucky should have started the season at center. Alex’s natural position is in the middle. He’s exactly what we have been looking for. His passing and play-making skills are comparable to some of the best. Alex Galchenyuk did not improve in any way shape or form this season.

-Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu. No reason whatsoever for these two guys to have spent as much time as they did in the minors this year. They have reached a level in their game that can only further develop with the players in the NHL. I can’t understand how the organization thought that it was better to use Douglas Murray or Francis Bouillon instead of them. They talk about depth and development. The team would have been better served if Beaulieu would have gained experience in the NHL. His offensive contribution would have been a major asset on the power play.

The bottom line is the Montreal Canadiens are not even close to being a serious contender for the Stanley Cup. Michel Therrien has to trust some of the young guys. He won’t! He is a veterans’ coach. He believes that Murray and Bouillon’s  experience is more useful than the size and mobility of Tinordi or than Beaulieu’s smooth skating abilities, first pass skills and sparks of offensive genius. Yes a little late to throw them in the mix with full confidence that they won’t make mistakes but WHO CARES? They can’t be worse than Murray and Bouillon.

THE MONTREAL CANADIENS WILL NOT WIN WITH MICHEL THERRIEN AS A COACH. I don’t care about the record right now. It does not matter how many games we won in regular season. We don’t stand a chance to win the cup “TODAY” so he should have given Alex Galchenyuk more ice time. PK SUBBAN should be used in every situation. HE IS NOT A LIABILITY, he is your best defenseman for God’s sake, and he is amongst the top-ten defensemen in the world! He overused the veterans. Gionta, Markov and others should have never played as much as they did all year. So many strange decisions.

In today’s game you have to trust your young guys. The game is so physical and fast that the older slower guys are lucky to still have jobs in NHL.

The future is Carey Price, PK Subban, Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi. PLAY THEM NOW! Use them, teach them! Bring this team to another level.

The amount of points we cumulated this year will mean absolutely nothing once we get eliminated. And then we will evaluate and realize that this season was simply false hope.

Will I be happy if we win? Of course. Do I think we stand a chance? No, I don’t. Do I think the future is bright? Absolutely! BUT NOT WITH MICHEL THERRIEN AS A COACH!

If Therrien got fired from the Penguins with the players that he had and after reaching the Cup Final, why would he be the man to do it here? He did not change. He calmed down, but he did not change. We need a coach that is not scared to trust the youth.

-Have PK Subban and Alex Galchenyuk regressed? (notice I'm not even mentioning Lars Eller)

-Should Tinordi and/or Beaulieu be used instead of Murray and Bouillon?

-Is Therrien the coach that can bring to the promised land?

Let me know what you think. @habsaddict

----------------------------------------------------

I've been involved in the game for 25+ years, as a player, a referee (over 15 years), and now as a minor league coach (I coach my 7-year-old son) I can say that I know and understand the game. I'm definitely not an expert, but who is?

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Beaulieu is Back!

The day has finally come. Nathan Beaulieu has finally been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens in light of Douglas Murray being handed a three game suspension.  In my opinion, this is long overdue. Beaulieu is a dynamic defensive man who has done everything in his power to improve his all around game in hopes of making the club full time. At one point this season he seemed like he was in Montreal to stay.  Leading up to the Olympic break Beaulieu was playing regular minutes, and appeared as though he was a perfect fit. When he was sent down to Hamilton for the break, everyone assumed he would be back up right after. I would have taken it as a slap in the face to be passed over after having success and proving my worth. I can only assume that this is how Beaulieu would feel. He deserves this chance, and will have to make the most of his opportunity.

Beaulieu has played 16 games with the Canadiens thus far this season. He has 2 assists, a +5 rating, 14 shots and only 8 penalty minutes in that time. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. But in order to improve, Beaulieu at this point in his hockey career, he needs to advance to the next level of competition. There are a couple of guys battling for a spot on the Habs D core heading down the stretch, and I believe Beaulieu should have an equal opportunity.

Lets look at some stats of guys who are battling for the final spot (or two) (before Friday's game).

Francis Boullion

48 GP, one goal, four assists for a total of five points. He has 31 shots despite being seen on the second PP unit relatively frequently for some odd reason. Boullion sees time on a top pairing alongside offensive catalyst PK Subban.

Douglas Murray

52 GP, no goal, 2 assists, and has only 25 shots on net. Murray is a big man and is meant to bring size and grit to an otherwise small line-up. He does that, but that is about it. His skating is very sloppy, and he makes some terrible decisions where he really shouldn't. Why he is playing such big minutes is beyond me.

Jarred Tinordi

19 GP, no goal and no assist. He has nine shots on net, but has not really been used as an offensive defenseman. Tinordi deserves a spot in this line-up just the same as Beaulieu. He makes mistakes sometimes, but playing in the NHL will help improve these small in-game errors.

In a perfect world, Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi would both have permanent spots on this Canadiens team. Timordi is a big man, who is willing to play physically, drop his gloves, be a shutdown player, and will go on rushes when the time is right. He brings everything Montreal needs in a defenceman and should have a permanent spot next season on the Habs back end. Beaulieu has a great offensive upside, and is a smart player. He is exactly what Montreal needs on a second PP unit as he is able to put the puck in the net. Playing with an excellent role model in PK Subban would help take Beaulieu's game to a whole new level.

With Murray and Gorges both out, these two young studs should get their opportunity to play with the club. There are spots available, and I hope Therrien makes the right decision here.

Welcome back Beau-flow!

Thanks for reading, and give me a follow @Darrinharmy

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After Just One Game, I am Haunted by the Letter "D"

Ok it’s official, we are one game into the 2013-14 NHL season and I am already stressed out of my mind and agitated beyond words.

I will admit that the Leafs-Habs game was a fun game to watch. We had end to end action, teammates sticking up for one another, some beautiful saves and of course some really nice goals.

But at the end of the day, besides the handful of positives, my mind is full of questions, all of which point to the letter “D”

Danny B

Ok serious question here. I thought I remember seeing Daniel Briere being handed the torch from the great Guy Lafleur during that touching opening ceremony but then what happened?

Did he decide not to dress for the night? I swear I didn’t hear his name mentioned at all.

Brought in to help our Power Play right?

D-core

One word comes to mind, ouch !!!

The loss of Emelin and Murray is apparent.

As an overall group of 6 players out there they are small, they are soft and surprisingly they are slow.

With that said, I think that we can agree that the pairings of PK Subban and Josh Gorges, Jarred Tinordi and Francis Bouillon looked good together. If this is going to succeed then they simply cannot have Andrei Markov-Raphael Diaz playing together !!!

Michel Therrien MUST absolutely switch these guys up and fast.

Hate to say it but it’s time to put Gorges back on the right side and pairing him with #79 and let the stud D-man Tinordi play alongside #76

Decisions

Can some please explain how PK Subban is glued to the bench on the PK, yet the names Diaz and Markov are repeatedly sent out there with a man down.

Better yet, can someone please debunk the myth that Desharnais is either married to Therrien’s daughter or is somehow involved in a love triangle with the coach?

How on earth is Desharnais sent out on the ice for every PP, late in the game when you are in need of a tying goal when arguably you’re two best offensive weapons in the Gally’s receive approximately 12 minutes of ice time each?

I mean seriously, 18.30 minutes of playing time for Desharnais including 3:19 on the powerplay (2nd most on the team by the way) when Gallagher had a total of 11:09 of playing time and tied for eighth on the team (tied with Lars Eller) in PP time with just 1:29.

Diaz

I’m sorry buddy, but it’s time to go.

Yes you make nice tape to tape passes, and sometimes the forward is even expecting them but you make horrible decisions with the puck, pinch when you shouldn’t and somehow seemed to forget that to score the puck has to be on the net.

David Desharnais

Oh my GOD, two D’s.

Simply put, what the hell is wrong with you?

On the PP you are never where you should be, you cannot win a faceoff if your life depended on it, you have the body of an 8 year old boy, the muscle mass of a jelly fish and actually bring down the play of our top line.

I swear that my 3 year old son would go into the corner of the ice with you and would come out with the puck. I am fed up of the excuse that small players cannot make it in the NHL yet somehow you seem to add fuel to that fire every game.

Here is my advice to you, learn to stay on your feet, learn to battle for a puck, learnt o take a faceoff draw and actually win it because whatever it is that you do, it ain’t working.

I still cannot fathom how this guy somehow led the team in PP minutes among forward last night. Can somebody please explain this to me

The Dane

Finally a letter “D” which doesn’t give me nightmares.

The Great Dane put on a show last night. He was 50% in the faceoff circle, he was [physical, drove to the net and as we know ultimately scored 2 goals and an assist.

However despite this success somehow he was one of the least utilized forwards on the powerplay, was only the fifth most utilized forwards while short handed and was third in ice time among centers.

Did I miss something here?

Eller was our best player last night, so why was he not on the ice?

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!

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The Montreal Canadiens Getting Ready for Season Opener... With a Few Questionable Calls

By: SHAWN LAVOIE (@SLavoie54)

Opening night is finally right around the corner, and the Montreal Canadiens are in the final stages of preparation to kick off the season at home against the hated Toronto Maple Leafs.

Here is how the lines look like:

Max Pacioretty	David Desharnais	Daniel Briere
Rene Bourque	Tomas Plekanec	Brian Gionta
Alex Galchenyuk	Lars Eller	Brendan Gallagher
Travis Moen	Brandon Prust	George Parros
Michael Bournival	Ryan White

Josh Gorges	P.K. Subban
Andrei Markov	Raphael Diaz
Jarred Tinordi	Francis Bouillon

Carey Price

Peter Budaj

If the lineup doesn’t change for tomorrow’s game, the team will feature a very balanced top-9 forward group and an extremely physical fourth line. The Pacioretty, Desharnais, and Briere line will be the line who will be most counted on to contribute offensively, with the EGG line as a secondary offensive line. Plekanec’s line will receive most of the defensive assignments while the bottom line will act as a support line. Obviously, Moen, Parros, and Prust will be counted on to swing momentum in the Habs’ favor with their physical play.

The defensive unit has a few question marks however. Gorges and Subban is a solid top pair. They can play in all situations, and should eat up a ton of minutes. Things look shaky after them though. Markov and Diaz isn’t the most reliable pairing. Markov isn’t a top level skater anymore, and Diaz isn’t the ideal partner for him. Diaz hasn’t had a great camp, and hasn’t shown that he can play top-four minutes yet. Tinordi and Bouillon are two defenders who usually play on the left side, so one of them will play on his off-wing. Therrien faces are real puzzle with his defensive corps early on this season with Emelin, Drewiske, and Murray now on the injured reserve list.

Moen-Prust-Parros as a Line, and Markov on Penalty Killing.... Really?

It is understandable that Therrien wants to have a line that can stand up against Toronto’s tough guys, but at the expense of using an actual center on the fourth line? Prust is not a natural center. Yes, he’s already been used their a few times, but he can’t win face-offs as regularly as White or Bournival, who are both natural centers.

If the coaching staff wants to have a physical bottom line so badly, why not us Ryan White at center? He’s an extremely physical player, and he will fight anybody, like he showed by fighting Chris Neil twice against the Senators during pre-season. It is okay to use Parros as he can take care of the fisticuffs if need be, and Prust is indispensible. So why not scratch Moen and dress an actual center? Only the Habs’ coaching staff knows.

Another questionable decision is having Andrei Markov on the penalty killing team instead of Subban. Honestly, why? Why not use the Norris trophy winner on the penalty killing? Why not use the player who was one of the team’s best penalty killers two seasons ago instead of the player who obviously has lost a step and ran out of gas at the end of last season? Again, only the coaching staff knows.

If Therrien wants to maximize his assets and give himself the best chance to win, he will need to use a natural center on his fourth line and use Subban on the penalty killing instead of Markov. The Russian rearguard should now be used as a power play specialist from now on. He shouldn’t see more than 20 minutes a night, while Subban should see 25+ minutes per game, like other elite defensemen. Not using Subban in every situation is a complete lack of logic and hurts the team.

As for the lack of natural center on the fourth line, this is the perfect example of a coaching staff concentrating more on gooning up rather than putting the best team on the ice. It is okay to use an enforcer like Parros when you’re facing a big physical team with a few fighters in their lineup, but you can’t sit down your natural centers and use three wingers to have a tougher team. Even worse, Moen was used at center during a few exercises during practice. This defies any sense of logic and reason. Moen has never played center during his career. Would you seriously want to have Moen take a faceoff? Even if Therrien is smart enough to not use Moen at center, who would you rather have take a faceoff, Prust or White?

Despite all this, the Montreal Canadiens will show up tomorrow with good chances to win. They have the better offense and the better goaltender heading into the game. The Leafs have a better defense, but in the end the Canadiens’ balanced attack should be able to win the game, as long as the team stays disciplined. 

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Jarred Tinordi Making A Lot Of Noise In Training Camp

The Canadiens have played five pre-season games so far and rookie defenseman Jarred Tinordi played all five of them due to a rash of injuries on the blue line and the fact that he has been the best rookie defenseman by a mile in September. Michael Bournival and JT have been the biggest surprises in training camp for Les Glorieux and both players are making a case for the themselves to stick with the big club come October.

Drafted 22nd overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens and Trevor Timmins, the 6'6'', 215-lb rugged defenseman has made great strides offensively and defensively since last season. Tinordi played eight games with the Habs in 2012-13, notching two assists, after spending most of the campaign in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs. In 67 games with the farm club, Tinordi scored 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points to go along with 71 penalty minutes. The son of Mark worked very hard on his positioning and his skating during the lock-out with great success.

With Alexei Emelin out at least until December with a serious knee injury and Davis Drewiske slated to miss a least one month with a shoulder injury, Tinordi is bound to begin the season in Montreal, we just don't know his role yet. A left-handed defenseman, Tinordi would be guaranteed a regular spot if he was right-handed with only P.K. Subban and Raphael Diaz as RHD on the Habs' defensive brigade. 

As a result, Tinordi will have to battle with veteran Francis Bouillon and newcomer Douglas Murray for playing time on the left side (assuming Josh Gorges and Andrei Markov are the top-two defensemen on the left side).

While Josh Gorges and Francis Bouillon can also play on the right side, head coach Jarred Tinordi is not convinced the rookie would be able to make such a transition as shown last night against the New Jersey Devils when JT was tried on his unnatural side without much success. With Emelin out of the line-up, Tinordi is the best option to replace the physical element that Emelin Boom gave the team last season before his terrible knee injury. With Subban, Markov and Diaz all offensive-minded rearguards, the remaining four defensemen, namely Gorges, Bouillon, Murray and Tinordi, will be asked to provide toughness and grit in front of Carey Price and play heavy minutes on the penalty kill.

Will Michel Therrien go with the experience and defensive awareness and dress Bouillon and Murray, or will he go with speed and toughness and dress Tinordi? With two exhibition games remaining before the start of the season on October 1st, I'm fairly certain we'll see Tinordi at least one more time, especially if Douglas Murray is unable to go as he is still nursing a groin injury.

I consider Tinordi to be the team's fourth best defenseman already behind Subban, Markov and Gorges, and you where do you see him?

No Foolin' Fred Poulin

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Impressions on the Montreal Canadiens’ Training Camp Thus Far

BY: SHAWN LAVOIE (@SLavoie54)

First off, I was as surprised as anyone when I learned that Leblanc was cut by the Montreal Canadiens. I thought that he was having a decent camp, but as Therrien mentioned, Leblanc was going down early no matter what. Could he have been able to force the team’s hand by having an amazing camp? Maybe, but the team’s idea was already made. Some people are starting to write off Leblanc, but I still believe in the Pointe-Claire native to eventually develop in a decent third liner. To give himself better chances, the forward will need to develop some kind of specialty, like a PK specialist for example.

As for the other cuts, I was at first to see the likes of Reway and Hudon among the cuts, since they were impressive with their talent level. However, it’s logical that they were cut early since they would have never made the team.

Now, about the players that are still here, I had the chance to see the inter-squad scrimmage, see Monday’s game against Buffalo, and Wednesday’s practice. I can tell you that I would make room for Jarred Tinordi on the team. The kid has improved tremendously since last season. He is a much better skater, enough to keep up with most forwards, and is obviously stronger. So far, in my opinion, he looks much better than Murray and Drewiske, who are slated ahead of him in the depth chart.

Speaking of Murray, he is slow, reeeeeeally slow. I don’t know if he really has a lower body injury­­ – which could explain his turtle like pace – but I get the feeling that this is just a cover up because he is in the middle of trade talks since Tinordi has been outperforming him.

That or it’s Drewiske leaving, once he comes back from that injury he suffered in a weird accident with Bouillon.

Watch out for Galchenyuk. The 19 year old phenom is obviously bigger, stronger, and faster. His talent level is completely insane and he looks confident. Forget the sophomore jinx for him; he will have a great season.

Gallagher also won’t suffer from the sophomore jinx. He’s too much of a hard worker to see a decrease in his production.  Gallagher, Eller, and Galchenyuk could become the team’s top offensive line.

Andrei Markov looks much more comfortable on the ice now compared to last season. Having a full summer to work-out without rehabbing an injury has obviously helped him. He looks quicker and more agile, which can only be good news for the Habs. He still shouldn’t see more than 23 minutes of ice time per game, nor heavy penalty killing minutes, but he should still be the team’s best point producing defenseman after Subban.

Speaking of which, P.K. is a bull! During Wednesday’s practice, Subban and Galchenyuk would battler along the boards, and it was quite the thing to see. You could see their talent level on display, and I can tell you that both of these young franchise players won’t disappoint this season. Subban looks as quick as last year and stronger.

Michaël Bournival is very impressive this year so far. Scoring two goals against the Sabres is good way to impress, but it’s his work ethic and awareness that impresses. He always seems to know where to position himself and he isn’t shy to play the physical game. He may very well have taken Louis Leblanc’s spot on the depth chart and earn himself the right of being the first injury call-up this season.

Even though lots of people compliment McCarron’s game, and with good reason, he still has ways to go before being an NHL player. Yes he skates well for his massive frame, but he still kind of looks awkward on his skates. He doesn’t seem to have a fluid stride like Tinordi has, or his agility. He still has lots of work to do on his skating and his puck skills. However, he does seem to have good instincts on the ice and he uses his large body effectively. I’m looking forward to see how he fares when he goes back in the CHL.

Now let’s hope the Habs start winning some games.

(Photo by Clause Anderson/Getty Images North America)

Follow me on Twitter at SLavoie54

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Habs/ Sens Game 3, Tinordi Embraces Playoffs And More...

Good Afternoon Addicts!

Craig Anderson will need to be in top form for the Senators to
move past the Habs in round one

The Montreal Canadiens resume their first round best of seven series tonight against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.

Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty traveled with the Canadiens to Ottawa but it's unsure as of yet if they will return to the lie-up tonight.

Whether or not the two top six forwards return, the Habs will need to play the way they did in Friday night's 3-1 win if they want to take the series lead. Craig Anderson will look to bounce back in goal for the Senators and if Montreal sticks to their game, he will be the main concern.

With more depth up front as well as on the blue line, Montreal will need Carey Price to outplay Anderson once again. Anderson finished the season with a .941 save%. That's a record for any goalie who has played at least 20 games in a season.

Anderson no doubt has the ability to steal a game or two in the series - hence the 48 saves in Ottawa's 4-2 game one win - and so the Habs will have to keep their offensive game going.

Habs And Hockey News

- Jarred Tinordi says the playoffs are good for his style of play

- TheActiveStick of habseyesontheprize.com  writes on whether or not the Habs window for the Stanley Cup as re-opened.

- Sal Lentile of thehockeywriters.com focuses on four players who have something to prove in the playoffs.


(Photo from ingoalmag.com)

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Habs/Rangers, Ryan Clowe, 'Dogs Lose Again And More...

Good Morning Addicts!



Nathan Beaulieu will make his NHL debut tonight against
the New York Rangers

 The Montreal Canadiens are back in action tonight as they host the New York Rangers. it will be the third and final meeting between the two teams with the Habs winning the first two games by a combined total of 6-1.

It seems Brandon Prust will return to the line up for Montreal after missing eight games due to a shoulder injury. His timing is quite fitting as he is back on time to face his former team. Prust is a +4 against the Rangers this season and has also notched an assist.

With Prust returning to the roster, Gabriel Dumont was sent back to the Hamilton Bulldogs along with defenseman Jarred Tinordi. Tinordi played six games during his stint with the Habs earning one assist, two penalty minutes and a +2 rating while averaging 10:32 minutes of ice time.

Nathan Beaulieu was called up from Hamilton to take Tinordi's spot on the blue line. Beaulieu has six goals and 19 assists for 25 points in 62 games for the 'Dogs. His style is more offensive than that of Tinordi and will be called upon to help the Canadiens second powerplay unit.

Habs And Hockey News 

- There has been lots of talk about the Habs interest in San Jose's Ryan Clowe as the trade deadline approaches but is he a player the Habs should acquire?

- Eric Engels (@EricEngels) takes a look at who he thinks the Habs should target on April 3rd.

- The Hamilton Bulldogs continue to struggle as they fell 4-3 to the Abbotsford Heat last night for their sixth loss in their last ten games.

(Photo By Bernard Brault, La Presse)

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Habs Win Fifth Straight, Emergence of Eller, 'Dogs Lose And More...

Good Morning Addicts!



Colby Armstrong (center) celebrates his first goal of the season
with teammates Ryan White and Jarred Tinordi

 The Montreal Canadiens made it five wins in a row for the second time this season last night defeating the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in Newark. Despite outshooting the Canadiens 33-22, the Devils play made it quite apparent that they were tired from their game against the Flyers the night before.

Colby Armstrong scored his first goal as a Hab in the first period and Peter Harrold responded for the Devils in the second frame. Jarred Tinordi earned an assist in his NHL regular season debut after Tomas Plekanec tipped his point shot past Johan Hedberg for the game winner in the final period.

Tinordi also finished the game with a +2 rating. Lars Eller had another strong showing directing four shots on goal and throwing a team leading four body checks.

Carey Price was solid when he needed to be, making multiple big saves to keep his team in a position to win in the low scoring contest. With the win, Price shares the lead for most wins with 15 along with Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Canadiens also moved back on top of the Easten Conference after briefly falling to fourth with the Penguins and Bruins both winning their games earlier in the day.

Habs And Hockey News

- As mentioned above, Eller has been playing fantastic as of late, here is Andrew Berkshire's (@AndrewBerkshire) take on the emergence of the "Great Dane".

- Alexei Emelin is another player who has been coming into his own recently. The Russian defender has seven points in his last ten games and has been much more sound defensively.

- The Hamilton Bulldogs lost their third straight last night as Josh Lunden of the St. John's IceCaps scored with 26 seconds left in the game to down the 'Dogs 4-3.


(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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