I was back on TSN 990 yesterday, with the gents from The Franchise weekend morning show. We discussed a variety of NHL goings on such as...
Rick Nash now a NY Ranger
-Safe to say the Rangers are the most improved team in the East?
-Does any team come close to their arsenal?
-But did they get less tough?
-Which other team in the East can stop them from reaching SCF?
Where in the world is the contract for PK Subban
-What’s the holdup?
-Don Meehan says no offers.. believe him?
-What about Habs new “transparency” policy?
-are worriers worrying for nothing?
What an Alexander Semin worth to you?
-did Habs make a mistake not going after him?
-Should he have been offered lower rate for higher term?
-Are points more important than longterm team building/chemistry?
-Can he “change”?
Tim Thomas
-Does he have the right to speak his mind freely
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!
(Just like last time, if the Habs lose, you get a coupon for FREE chicken wings so you come out a winner regardless!)
So come out and watch the Canadiens take on the Leafs with us, January 21, 2012 at Brasserie Sports 40!
Wanna be part of our VIP's? Read on and enter!
Entry into the party is completely FREE so show up early because seating will go fast!
We are happy to welcome the Habs Tweetup members who will be having an official Tweetup in conjunction with the event! If you’ve always wanted to see what a Tweetup is all about, now is your chance!
Also, there we will be giving away a ton of prizes such as tickets, jersey, gift certificates and more. Tickets for the draw can be purchased at the event with a portion of the proceeds going towards Team In Training (TNT)http://www.teamintraining.ca/mon/ (a nonprofit fundraising program of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer).
You can win VIP entry into the party for YOU AND FOUR OF YOUR FRIENDS which includes wings and nachos, drinks and a bunch of awesome swag!
WHAT: GUARANTEED WIN NIGHT II WHO: Presented by THE FRANCHISE and HABSADDICT.COM (Nick Murdocco, Gary Whittaker, Kamal Panesar) WHERE: BRASSERIE SPORT 40 (8220 Metropolitain E, Anjou) WHEN: Saturday January 21, 2012, 6 pm to 11pm COVER CHARGE: Nothing, it’s totally free! PRIZE DRAW: Tickets can be purchased for the prize draws at the event. CHARITY: A portion of the proceeds go to Team In Training (a nonprofit fundraising program of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer). SPECIAL GUESTS: Habs Tweetup members, TSN 990 radio personalities, Team In Training (TNT) Alumni
The holiday season is upon us and you know what that means right? Another Guaranteed Win Night! Oh, you were thinking about Santa Claus? Our bad.
To help ring in the new year in style The Franchise and HabsAddict.com are proud to announce our second “Guaranteed Win Night”! Just like last time, if the Habs lose you get a coupon for *FREE chicken wings so you come out a winner regardless!
Plus we are happy to welcome the Habs Tweetup members who will be having an official Tweetup in conjunction with the event! If you’ve always wanted to see what a Tweetup is all about, now is your chance!
So come out and watch the Canadiens take on the Leafs with us, January 21, 2012 at Brasserie Sports 40!
Does is get better than that? Yes, it does. Entry into the party is completely FREE so show up early because seating will go fast!
Also, there we will be giving away a ton of prizes such as tickets, jersey, gift certificates and more. Tickets for the draw can be purchased at the event with a portion of the proceeds going towards Team In Training (TNT)http://www.teamintraining.ca/mon/ (a nonprofit fundraising program of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer).
You can win VIP entry into the party for YOU AND FOUR OF YOUR FRIENDS which includes wings and nachos, drinks and a bunch of awesome swag!
Listen to The Franchise on TSN Radio 990 (www.tsn.ca/Montreal) every Saturday Sunday from 7am to 10am for your chance to qualify.
Keep checking the website for the trivia question (correctly answer the trivia question in order to qualify, winners will be announced on Sunday January 8, 2012 on the Sunday Shinny portion (9 – 10 AM) of the Franchise Weekend Morning show (TSN radio 990).
Once the game is over the lights get lower and the music gets louder as the on-site DJ and your great hosts at Brasserie Sports 40 will keep the party going!
So come out, watch the game and help out a good cause!
Topcis include: -Desharnais vs Scott Gomez -Guy Boucher's use of the 1-3-1 system vs common sense
-Plus the gang interviews Montreal Canadiens Legend Dickie Moore
Moore talks about: -Player's coach in Toe Blake vs Dick Irvin Sr -Jacques Plante and how Carey Price compares to him -Breaking into the NHL as a rookie and taking on Rocket Richard in practice -Rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings
-Plus, the gang gives their predictions for the Habs four-game week
Click play below to listen in (listing time 48:11):
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/
In this episode of the Sunday Shinny the gang is reunited as Nick Murdocco is back from vacation.
Nick, Gary Whittaker, Kamal Panesar, Amanda Stein and Sean Coleman breakdown the following:
-Cap floor still not met by 3 teams.. will we see a team forfeit a game this season? -Mckeens has Cammalleri as the top forward for the Habs re pools. agree? anyone else? -how many games does/should Price play? is Budaj a step up from Auld? -breakout player of the 2011 season? -who will be most likely to underachieve?
Click play below to listen in (listing time 50:12):
The Stanely Cup Final - did the canucks lose the cup, or did the Bruins yank it from them? - Goaltending situation in Vancouver? do they trade one? - what about Roland Melanson's future?
Should the HABS try to be more like the Bruins?
Jagr in Montreal - Yes? No? and the pro's and con's
Click play below to listen in (listing time 41:33):
-Jacques Martin and the Canadiens' system -The Canadiens so far in the playoffs -Is this the end of the line for the Habs or can they push the series to seven? -A quick look at the other playoff series and much more!
Click play below to listen in (listing time 37:17):
-We preview Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins -The continued debate over Jacques Martin -Predictions on who is favored to break out and represent their conferences, as well as the dark horses
and much more!
Click play below to listen in (listing time 37:28):
On this episode of the Sunday Shinny, Gary Whittaker, Nick Murdocco, Amanda Stein and Kamal Panesar of HabsAddict.com welcome Will Martinez of HeyMyNameIsWill to the studio.
Topics include: -We discuss if there is a double-standard involving PK Subban and other rookies around the league -The debate over whether Jacques Martin is the right man for the job continues -and much more!
Click play below to listen in (listing time 29:45):
With Nick home sick with strep throat, Gary Whittaker and Kamal Panesar welcome Kevin Mio, online editor of the Montreal Gazette to the Shinny.
Topics include: -we play the role of GM of the Canadiens, and define the team needs going into the trade deadline -we evaluate the current level of value that the Canadiens have to offer -we look ahead to the Heritage Classic game in Calgary
Click play below to listen in (listing time 39:45):
Our second Hockey Shinny of 2011 Gary Whittaker, Nick Murdocco, Amanda Stein and Kamal Panesar welcome Kyle Roussel of Cowhide and Rubber. Discussion topics include:
-our new HABS ADDICT contest -review Saturday night's heart palpitating game against the New York Rangers -weighing in on head shots around the NHL
In our first Sunday Shinny of 2011 Nick Murdocco, Gary Whittaker, Kamal Panesar and Amanda Stein discuss: -our new HABS ADDICT contest -review Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins -look ahead to their next game against the New York Rangers
The Montreal Canadiens are like a religion in this city.
Most of us have grown up watching them win and lose and have a strong emotional attachment to the team. Some people watch the games at home while others prefer to go the a pub with friends. Others collect their game ticket stubs while others collect Montreal Canadiens' mugs.
However people celebrate being a fan of the Canadiens most would have no problem admitting that they are addicted to their beloved team. That's actually why I called my site HabsAddict.com, because I feel that we are all addicts of our team. We are addicted to the highs of the team which is why the lows hurt so much!
We want to hear your story. We want to know what makes you the biggest Habs addict out there! So, we are throwing down a challenge:
Tell us what makes you the biggest Habs addict out there and get an opportunity to talk Habs with us on the Sunday Shinny!
We want you to tell us, in 250 words or less, what makes you the biggest Habs addict. It can be a story about your first game, something about a puck collection you have, or even a game memory. Whatever it is, it has to explain why you, more than any of the other entrants, are the biggest Habs addict. We will select the top five entries and put them up on thefranchise.ca for people to vote for their winner.
The winner will be announced at the beginning of February and will come on an episode of the Sunday Shinny in March (pending availability) with Gary Whittaker, Nick Murdocco and Kamal Panesar, to talk Habs and hockey!
So, without further ado, here are the CONTEST DETAILS:
-In 250 words or less, tell us what makes you the biggest Habs addict.
-Email entries to gary@theteam990.com, nick@theteam990.com, or kamal@habsaddict.com
-Entries will be accepted from Monday January 3, 2011 until Monday January 24, 2011.
-We will select the top five entries and post them for voting.
-Voting will take place from Monday January 28, 2011 to Monday February 14, 2011 on thefranchise.ca
-The winner will be announced at the end of February and will be on the Sunday Shinny at the beginning of March (pending availability)
The gauntlet has been thrown so show us your stuff! If you are addicted to the Montreal Canadiens and love to talk about them we want to hear from you!
