- Stu Hackel wonders if Alex Semin was worth 7$ million. He probably won't be worth every penny, but he has the potential to be. At worst, it is a one-year deal that can easily be moved at the deadline.
Your Montreal Canadiens played and defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs last night at the ACC in Toronto.
This was yet another must-win for the still mathematically alive, but mostly otherwise dead, Habs.
Including a 4-2 shootout loss to the Pens, Montreal has picked up three out of a possible four points in their last two games. They'll have to continue to collect points at that rate it they have any hope of making the playoffs.
But, in my opinion, the mountain is just too high.
Montreal plays their final game before the all-star break, Wednesday, against the red hot Red Wings. After that, the Habs play the Sabres, Devils, Capitals and Jets. These are four teams that are hardly tearing it up in the standings, and with whom the Habs are in direct competition for a playoff spot.
Anything less than three out of four wins just won't be enough. But let's see how they do, Wednesday, starting with the Red Wings. Oh how sweet it would be to ride into the All-Star break with five out of six points in their last three games!
Well, if you haven't heard the rumour by now, it has been floated out there that the Habs have offered Carey Price a seven-year, $49 million contract extension.
Apparently, Price's camp has countered at 10 years, $70 million.
Holy huge contract!
Now, to back up a little, this all came out this morning on the Sunday Shinny segment of The Franchise weekend morning show, on TSN 990. JT Utah, from 25 Stanley, was on the show and he said he has a single source, very close to negotiations, who gave him the info.
All this to say that this doesn't necessarily mean this is true. It is a rumour right now.
That being said, veracity aside, this is a great discussion point.
You can listen to our discussion about the topic below but, for now, here's how I see it:
IF this is true, I imagine that Price's agent is using Pekka Rinne's seven-year, $49 million extension this year as a barometer.
I'm not a huge fan of super long term deals, but there is something to be said about identifying a franchise player and signing him long term.
So, between seven and 10 years, I don't really see too much of an issue. What irks me is the $7 million per year price tag. That is a hell of a lot of money for an upcoming RFA (with arbitration rights).
Rinne got potential UFA money and I, personally, see a $5.5 to $6.5 million hit as much more reasonable for Price. I guess $6.5 million is not that far off from $7 million but wow, that number just seems huge.
The good news?
Again, IF this rumour is true, is that Price and the Habs are on the same page, dollar wise ($7 million per). The only thing to hammer out is term and there is only three years difference between the two sides.
If that's the case, I imagine a signing announcement will be imminent. Maybe the Habs agree to the 10 years but pull it back to $6.5 per year.
Who knows and, for now, it remains solely a rumour.
So what do you think? Would you sign Price for seven year? 10 years? Is $7 million per year too much? Not enough?
Click play below to listen in (listing time 58:10):
--- 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/
Well your Montreal Canadiens lost another one last night, this time in a shootout to the surging Ottawa Senators.
It was a game that Montreal controlled for large stretches, even managing a comeback to tie it in the dying seconds of the game. But, ultimately, Craig Anderson was brilliant and kept the Habs from running away with this one, especially in the second.
Montreal did pick up a point in the loss and showed some positive signs but, at this point, they need wins and not positives.
In other news, we had a raucous Sunday Shinny today. JT Utah, of 25 Stanley, was on the show and dropped a bombshell. According to his source, the Habs have allegedly offered Carey Price a 7 year, $49 million contract. Price's camp has countered with a 10 year, $70 million deal.
Sick numbers, if this is true. Well that discussion pretty much took up the entire Shinny. Listen in for the insanity that ensued!
Last night's matchup between the Montreal Canadiens was a game between two red-hot teams.
The Habs were riding a three-game winning streak while the Sens were 6-4-0 in their previous 10 games.
Fortunately for Montreal, they played a "perfect" road game last night, especially in the first 40 minutes. The Habs patiently waited for their chances while shutting down the opposition.
Moreover, Montreal took the play to the Sens for the first 40 minutes before falling into the predictable third period shutdown mode—Montreal outshot Ottawa 22-18 through 40 minutes but managed only four shots in the third.
Carey Price continued his excellent play, turning aside 33 shots for his fourth win of the season.
The win moves Montreal the to .500 mark for the first time this season and pushes their streak to four straight wins. The Habs are now 5-5-2 on the season with 12 points, good enough for 11th overall in the East.
Final Score: Habs 2 - Senators 1
Game Notes
Erik Cole turned this team around - Much maligned for having a slow start, the Habs prized offseason acquisition is finally starting to play like a star.
Since assistant coach Perry Pearn was fired, Cole has been getting much more ice time. In addition, he has been playing a lot on the power play.
More importantly, however, there was one key shift by Cole in the second period against the Flyers that started the Habs recent streak.
Montreal came out flat in the first against the Flyers, and with the second looking pretty much the same way, Cole changed the tone.
Grabbing the puck near the Habs bench, Cole drove straight to the Flyers net, fighting through defenders, knocking people over and getting a shot on net.
While he didn't score on the play, his determination seemed to be contagious.
On the next shift, Max Pacioretty did the same exact same thing and the result was that the Flyers were suddenly on their heels. Shortly after those two shifts, Andrei Kostitsyn got on the board and the Habs never looked back.
Over the first nine games of the season, Cole had two points (1 G, 1A), a minus-4 rating and 15 shots on goal. Since then, the Habs have won four straight and Cole has three points (2G, 1A), a plus-2 rating and 19 shots on goal.
Wunderbar!
Andrei the Giant - So how does everyone feel about Andrei Kostitsyn now?
He and centerman Lars Eller have got to be the two biggest revelations of this still young season for Montreal. With Eller looking more and more confident each game, the chemistry between the two is undeniable.
Last night, after picking up a Sens' D-zone turnover, Eller skated in on Craig Anderson, did a deke then shuffled a short backhander to Kostitsyn for a goal into the empty cage.
It was a beautiful play by Eller and the fourth goal of the season for Kostitsyn. That ties him for the lead in goals with Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty.
In addition, with eight points(4G, 4A) Kostitsyn is one off of the team lead.
To me, that say that the Habs actually have three capable scoring lines for the first time in, well, a long time.
P.K. Subban is having a sophomore slump - Let's face it, it's time to say that Subban is just not playing well and is, in all likelihood, suffering through a sophomore slump.
Through 12 games Subban finds himself with only three assists and a minus-4 rating while racking up a team-leading 23 penalty minutes.
More importantly, he is not making smart decisions on the ice with the perfect example was on the Sens loan goal last night.
Erik Condra was carrying the puck down the wing on a 2-on-1 with Zack Smith with Subban back as the lone defender. But, for some reason, Subban left his position as the last man back to hit Condra.
Condra just dished the puck to Smith who put a bit of a softie past Carey Price.
But why was Subban going for a hit on the puck carrier rather than giving him the shot and cutting off the pass? I mean that's textbook 2-on-1 defensive play.
Plays like that show that he is just not thinking the game right, and as a result he's making a lot of mistakes.
And Subban has to get his lazy tripping, slashing, interference penalties under control. Last year he led the team in penalty minutes with 124 in 77 games.
Right now he's on pace to top that total with 157 for the season and most are of the slashing, holding and other lazy penalty variety.
Up Next - The Habs are right back at it tonight as they take on the Rangers in New York. This will be Sean Avery's first game back in the Rangers' lineup and he is sure to be a thorn in the Habs side all night.
You could win hockey tickets, an authentic Carey Price or P.K. Subban jersey, gift certificates to restaurants and more!
Plus, former Habs enforcer Chris "Knuckles" Nilan is going to be in the house. He'll be giving his take on the game in between periods as well as talking hockey with whoever is around.
Make sure to get there early to reserve a seat as we're expecting a sell out! So come on by tonight, it's going to be a great evening!
Questions for Corson
On a final note, we are having Shayne Corson on the Sunday Shinny this Sunday at 9 AM.
As such, I wanted to ask what YOU would ask him. If you come up with a good question or two I'll ask him for you.
So, given the state of the league and how the NHL has changed since Corson's days, what would you ask him?
--- Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com and Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
Since the "new" NHL launched a few years back there have been a myriad of changes in the league.
First and foremost is, of course, a crack down on obstructions—one that has been relaxed considerably in recent years.
Another change that can be felt more tangibly, is that of the NHL schedule. I remember working for a software company, in a previous life, that pitched the NHL on automating their scheduling system.
At the time, it was one guy—yes, one guy—who did all of the scheduling by hand. He had a massive white board with logos for teams, various arena schedule information and other aids to help him put together a given NHL season schedule.
I know, total insanity.
But in recent years, this man has been replaced by software and, as such, we have seen a dramatic increase in teams randomly having several days off.
Witness the current five-day break the Habs are on as exhibit 'A'.
A question of momentum
With the Habs fresh on the heels of a three-game winning streak including back-to-back Ws over the rival Boston Bruins, the timing of the break is not necessarily great.
It remains to be seen how the extended break will affect the team, but suffice it to say that there is something to be said about keeping the momentum going. Especially considering the Habs were just starting to turn their horrible start around.
But who knows, they might come out with fire on their eyes on Friday as they face the red-hot Ottawa Senators.
I know, that doesn't roll off the tongue very well does it?
The only team ahead of the Sens—Ottawa is second in the Northeast with 14 points—are the Toronto Maple Leafs with 15 points.
That also doesn't roll off the tongue very well, but such is the 2011-2012 NHL season so far.
If there is a bright side to the Habs early November break, it is that they have time to lick their many wounds. That and they are, at least, going into the break on a winning streak.
Can you imagine all the hand-wringing that would be going on if they had just lost three in a row?
Better D
Jaroslav Spacek made his return to the lineup at the same time that assistant coach Perry Pearn was let go.
And while some are looking at the departure of Pearn as the reason for the turnaround, I think that Spacek's presence in the lineup isn't getting enough press.
With him out of the lineup, Montreal was forced to play Yannick Weber, Raphael Diaz and Alexei Emelin and give them major minutes.
Combine that with second-year defenseman, P.K. Subban, Josh Gorges and what looks to be an over-the-hill Hal Gill, and Montreal simply did not have enough experience in the lineup.
Spacek's presence on the back end helped to calm some of the young guns, especially his frequent playing partner Weber.
I think that having more experience on the backend helped the Habs get their transition game going, while allowing the coaching staff to spread out the ice time.
The result: a three-game win streak in which Gill has averaged around 18 minutes per game, along with Weber and Diaz.
Walking Wounded
Both Andrei Markov and Scott Gomez have been skating on their own and look to make returns to the lineup in the not-so-distant future.
Markov is probably still about three weeks away, maybe more, but Gomez looks like he could be back as early as this weekend.
So the big question floating around town is where does he fit in the lineup?
The short answer is that he doesn't.
Gomez has done nothing over the last two seasons to show that he deserves to be in the lineup. Moreover, with David Desharnais and Lars Eller getting more and more ice time, the two young centers are looking better each game.
Desharnais is a known commodity from last season but the emergence of Lars Eller as a big, strong two-way center has been nothing short of a revelation for the Habs.
Sure he doesn't have the best hands in the world and likely will never be a 30-goal scorer. But he should hit 20. Maybe even 25.
What's more important is that he, finally, gives the Habs some size up the middle.
So what do you do? Bump him to the fourth line in favour of Gomez, giving the Habs three small centers in their top-nine?
Personally, I'd let Gomez sit, look for a trade option or send him down to Hamilton.
That's a pipe dream, I know, but that's what I'd do.
As for the veteran-loving Jacques Martin, well, he will likely dislodge a player who is playing well in favour of getting Gomez back into the lineup. And that, my friends, is a crying shame.
Chris Nilan floated the idea, on TSN 990, of playing him on as a third line winger.
I suppose that's possible but I don't see a player who has been a "career" center, faring well in that transition.
Either way, Habs management has some big decisions to make!
Guaranteed Win Night
So the gents from The Franchise weekend morning show (on TSN 990) and I are throwing a hockey party this Saturday and you are all invited!
Why 'Guaranteed win night'? Because if the Habs lose, you get a coupon for free chicken wings!
It's at Brasserie Sports 40 in Anjou and costs $10 at the door which gives you entry into the party and one raffle ticket for our prize draw.
We'll be giving away tickets, jerseys and so much more! Plus, a portion of the proceeds will be going to Team in Training (TNT) charity.
If that wasn't enough, Chris 'Knuckles' Nilan will be in attendance.
So come out, watch the game (Habs v. Rangers) talk some hockey with Nilan, help out a charity and possibly win some prizes.
I'm hoping to see some of you Habs addict out there! Shoot me a message if you're going to make it, I'd love to meet you all face-to-face!
Lastly, but not leastly (can you say that?), here is our Sunday Shinny podcast from this past Sunday.
Former NHLer and current radio analyst for TSN 990, Bobby Dollas, was in studio with us.
It's always an amazing experience to hear a former player talk about the league and what goes on behind the scenes. I highly recommend checking out the podcast!
We discussed the return Gomez, Markov, the firing of Pearn, the Habs recent turnaround and so much more.
When it comes to Gomez I contented that he has never been more superfluous to the Habs lineup.
Never.
On Markov, I said that his return to the lineup will make Emelin the eighth D-man while pushing Diaz and Weber down the line. So does that mean that Emelin will go back to the KHL?
The bottom line is that, to me, the logjam spells a trade, probably of either Weber or Diaz, and that is a tough choice!
What do you think? Who goes where when Markov and Gomez are back? Is there a trade in the works?
Click play below to listen in (listing time 51:05):
--- Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com and Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
With the Montreal Canadiens 2011-2012 training camp in full swing, the players are on the ice again Monday, in preparation for their first exhibition match tomorrow against the Dallas Stars.
And like with any training camp, there is no shortage of storylines that emerge on a daily basis.
From Andrei Markov suffering a setback with his rehabilitation from knee surgery, to Scott Gomez's lower body injury that is keeping him out of practice, the Canadiens season has already got its share of spice to it!
But, for me, the storyline that I am following the most—and which I always enjoying watching—is the youth progression. Who are they? How good are they? When will they be ready for primetime, and what kind of players will they be?
This year's camp is filled with young, bright-eyed prospects but none are attracting more attention than Brendan Gallagher.
Impressive on and off the ice
Picked 147th overall in the 2010 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Gallagher is yet another small but talented prospects in the Habs farm system.
Listed at 5' 8 and 163 lbs, Gallagher won't be intimidating the opposition with his physical play but, with a hard, heavy shot, pinpoint accuracy and excellent on-ice vision, he is a kid who knows how to create offense.
Gallagher is coming off a career season with the WHL Vancouver Giants where he was their undeniable go-to offensive guy. In addition, he was near the top of the league in scoring despite missing time to try out for the Canadian World Junior team.
In the 2010-2011 WHL season, Gallagher played in 66 games potting 44 goals and 47 assists for 91 points to go along with 108 penalty minutes. While the Giants were eliminated early in the playoffs, Gallagher did manage two goals over four games.
So far through the Canadiens rookie camp—and now playing with the pros—Gallagher hasn't looked out of place. In fact, much like Canadiens captain Brian Gionta—who coach Martin compared him to—he plays with a fearless edge, going into the corners with players who have almost a foot on him, and coming out with the puck.
I should caution that as exciting as Gallagher has been so far in camp, this is a player who could use some work on his skating speed. That and a little improvement on his defensive game will go along way towards making him a bonafide NHLer.
His on-ice play aside, Gallagher appears mature and wise beyond his 19-years of life.
Listening to this kid talk and watching how he responds to the crush of microphones in the dressing room, he looks like someone who has the character to make it in the NHL. Especially in the media frenzy that is Montreal.
But like Martin St. Louis, Brian Gionta and other diminutive NHLers, success for Gallagher will only come with speed.
And for Gallagher, skating is an area that he needs to work on.
Still, he seems to be rounding into form and a likely spot on this year's Canadian World Junior team should go a long way towards continuing him progression.
Whatever happens going forward, Gallagher has gone from a prospect that was once a long short to make it, to a player who will definitely be on the Habs radar for years to come. And that has to be a source of contentment for the organization.
New Sunday Shinny podcast
This week on the Sunday Shinny we discussed the Andrei Markov situation and what it means for the Habs defense. Nick asked the excellent question of who we all see as the Canadiens top-seven defenseman for this season.
For me, if Markov is ready to go for the start of the season, I see the pairings looking a little like this:
Markov-Gorges
Gill-Subban
Spacek-Yemelin
Weber
The question is, who takes Markov's spot if he is out for an extended period of time?
The good news is that GM Pierre Gauthier spent the summer acquiring defensive depth for the Habs. There are no all-stars in the bunch but players like Jeff Woywitka, Raphael Diaz and Mark Mitera are all capable of playing adequately at the NHL level.
I think, if Markov can't play, it will be one of those three that slots in as the seventh Dman with Diaz on the top of the list.
Click play below to listen in (listing time 42:35):
So how do you see the Canadiens D shaping up this season? Are you concerned about the Markov injury or is it really a mountain out of a mole hill?
--- Kamal is a freelance Habs writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com and Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com. 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/
