By Willey
Well there weather out side is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the holiday season is upon us and the city of Montreal now finds itself blanketed with a nice little 30 cm of snow fall which the city continues to try to scoop up.
This can only mean one thing: Santa is coming.
Before the birth of my daughter I saw the holiday season as nothing more than a couple of days away from the office and an excuse to go on a nice little vacation somewhere in the south. In more recent years however the holidays have taken on a whole new meaning.
It’s a means to put a smile on the face of my little one as we stroll down the streets admiring the Christmas lights and decorations singing carols in anticipation of the arrival of the jolly one.
Being about two weeks away from his presence, all was good and the nights were silent with little to complain about in life or in hockey.
Unfortunately this week took a turn for the worse for the blue blanc rouge and before I knew it the Grinch stole my X-mas cheer.
On the Ice
Coming off an impressive week which saw the team take five out of a possible six points, the Habs were riding high. Next on the radar were games against the lowly Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and the suddenly struggling Detroit Red Wings.
By the time the dust has settled however, a measly two points was all that we could muster.
The Sens were first up this past week. Although the result was a fairly easy and convincing 4-1 victory, it was the side story of an injury to second line center Scott Gomez which seemed to prove the most telling plot of the week.
Without truly knowing when or even how Gomez injured himself, the American center found himself in the press box looking down at what can only be described as "General Body Soreness" and unable to play the following two games versus the Wings and Leafs.
Although often critiqued for his inability to produce, the lack of Gomer in the lineup exposed a critical problem with the Canadiens' depth at the forward position. With a team already thin in top-six talent the Habs suffered back-to-back losses going down 4-2 against the Wings and a very disappointing 3-1 versus the Buds.
It was a week which can only be described as a disappointing.
Off the Ice
A disastrous week on the score sheet was even further echoed off the ice.
NEWSFLASH, NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH
I have an inside scoop from a source deep within the organization that Dustin Boyd is no longer part of the Montreal Canadiens!
First off don't worry because you didn't miss a Tweet or an RDS update so there is no need to search for one. If you have watched the games, however, it is safe to say that Boyd is no longer part of the organizational plans?
I have yet to figure out where this went wrong. With more production than Tom Pyatt in less ice time, somehow Boyd found himself in Martin’s doghouse and cannot find his way out of it.
In fact it is a telling sign of the coach’s plans when he decided to go with seven d-men rather than give the former first round pick a chance to play. Unfortunately the writing is on the wall and this kid is as good as gone.
UPDATE: The Habs have once again waived Dustin Boyd.
This now brings me to PK Subban.
Out of respect for the readers out there I tried to refrain from giving an opinion on "P.K.-gate", but I found myself getting more and more agitated as the season progressed.
Truth be told I like Subban because he is everything that the Habs organization is not. He is flamboyant, exuberant, flashy and is an exceptional talent that keeps me at the edge of my seat every time he touches the puck.
The Habs organization on the other hand is quiet, secretive, bases decisions on the public brand which they have built and make decisions which best suit the brand rather than the individual.
I am all for occasionally benching a player so he can learn a new dynamic or gain a different perspective from the press box. But when the scratching of the player is punitive, because of the chances he takes offensively and because of the flare that he plays with, then I take exception.
P.K. Subban is a rare type of player who brings a skill set which we Habs fans have not seen since Chris Chelios.
To restrict this kid is an affront to his game and to the fans.
You have to let this kid play and be who he is. Sure you have to teach him the defensive side of the game but you also have to let him be the player that got him to where he is right now. Let him make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes.
Come on guys, let him play!!!
In the Minors
Since day one of the pre-season, we have all been pondering and pleading to acquire a top-six forward with size and speed who can score. Up until yesterday, nothing had been done to address this glaring need.
Rather than looking to fill this organizational need externally, we have tried Tom Pyatt, Travis Moen, Benoit Pouliot, Mathieu Darche and Maxim Lapierre as the second line winger. Moreover, the Habs have further mixed and matched the likes of Andrei Kostitsyn, Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta all in hopes of finding a balanced line up. Well here we are 30 games into the season and all combinations of players have failed to produce that elusive balance and the Habs continue to search.
Well folks, search no because it is official; Max Pacioretty has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Whether or not Pacioretty is ready is yet to be seen but he was due to get his chance.
Mad Max had a very poor 2009-2010 season which saw him struggle not only through personal issues but a nagging shoulder problem. Despite the poor performance however, Pacioretty has rebounded beautifully this season forming one of the deadliest lines in the AHL playing alongside David Desharnais and Aaron Palushaj.
As of December 13th, both Pacioretty and David Desharnais found themselves tied for second in league scoring behind only former Canadiens prospect Corey Locke with 32 points; Pacioretty leading the way of course with 17 goals.
Whether his excellent play in the "Hammer" translate to the NHL is yet to be seen but Gauthier simply could not make a move to acquire a top line forward without giving this kid a chance first.
The ball is now in his court.
Five Questions
1 - Since returning to the line up, I think we can agree that P.K. Subban has looked average at best. Do you think his confidence is shot or is P.K. simply playing the way Martin wants him to?
2 - We’ve seen what the Habs can do with and without him in the line up. How important is Scott Gomez to the success of the team?
3 - Max Pacioretty has officially been recalled by the organization. Does he have what it takes to be a regular top-6 forward or will we see him playing on the fourth line?
4 - I have been a fan of Dustin Boyd since junior and was pleased when he was brought into the organization, but somehow he has found his way into Martin's doghouse. What has he done to deserve this and what do we do with him?
5 - With the great start to the season by Price, Plekanec and Halpern who has been the most surprising Hab thus far?
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)
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Willey was the shinning light among the wicked growing up as the lone Habs fan in Toronto. Pray to Holy Ghosts of the old forum and all shall be answered I was told, and just like that my family was transferred back to Montreal and away from the damned. Olé Olé Olé.
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