Monday Musings: ... On Tuesday; Sochi Recap

Greetings Habs Addicts!

Photo Credit: CTVnews.com

It was a golden weekend for Team Canada, wrapping up the Olympics with a stifling defensive performance in the Gold Medal game against Sweden. Carey Price notched his second straight shutout in the a 3-0 victory. In the semi-finals, it was the Battle of North America again, as Canada squared off against the United States. Carey Price was sensational in stopping 31 saves and out-duelling Jon Quick who had 36 stops of his own in a 1-0 shutout win to advance Canada to the final. In order to get to that point at all, Canada had to first get past Latvia. Sounds easy enough, but this game was extremely close in score due to a career-defining performance by Kristers Gudlevskis, the Latvian goaltender - and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect - who made 55 saves including many difficult ones in the 2-1 Canada win.

Carey Price was named the Top Goaltender of the tournament. The Montreal Canadiens goaltender finished the tournament with a 5-0 record, a 0.59 goals-against average and .972 save percentage. He allowed three goals on 106 shots and finished with a shutout streak of 164 minutes and 19 seconds - the longest of his career to-date. What can we say, maybe the rest of Canada woke up to the greatness that is Carey Price, but we've been privy to these performances all season long and we always knew the potential for greatness was there. Keep Calm and Carey on! (Yes, I know. Shameless plug. Sorry, not sorry).

Photo Credit: TheChronicleHerald.ca

P.K Subban finished the tournament as Canada's best cheerleader, developing quite a bond in the press-box with goalie Mike Smith.  Subban only appeared in one game - Canada's only game in which they scored more than 3 goals - which was a 6-0 drubbing of Austria. Mike Babcock preferred to dress Dan Hamhuis over Subban. Hamhuis played 1:06 against Team USA and did not leave the bench in the finals. Canada's power-play struggled and Patrick Sharp - a right-handed shooting forward - looked horrible playing the point, as many of his shots hit defenders and he rarely got the puck through traffic. I spoke at length last week about Subban's lack of use in the tournament. We won the gold medal. I'm not going to beat a dead horse. I'm simply going to reiterate what I said all tournament long: Why do you have the Norris Trophy winning, right-handed shooting, power-play point shot specialist sitting in the press box in order to play a forward at the point and dress a 7th defenseman you will not use. The point is moot, as Canada won the tournament. The logic behind that move just does not make sense. Subban was a great teammate and clearly savored the moment of being on the podium (SubbieCam strikes again) as well as the opportunity to be a part of the team. Subban should be a force in 2018 if the NHL players are allowed to participate.  Congrats to both PK and Carey!

Rounding out the medal winners was Finland, who soundly defeated a hapless United States team 5-0 in the Bronze medal game. Back in July, when Montreal Hockey Talk had us provide Olympic previews, I took on the task of predicting the Finnish team's roster and ultimate finish. While I was wrong with some of my roster predictions - Saku Koivu should have been on the team, I don't care what anyone else says and injuries to Pekka Rinne and Mikko Koivu certainly played a part with some of my wrong choices - I had the core of the team correct. I gambled incorrectly that youngsters Alexander Barkov and Olli Maata would take the necessary leaps to find a place on the roster, but both rookies have been extremely solid this season and both played a big role for the Fins. Finland's Teemu Selanne had two goals against the United States and was also named tournament MVP in what will be his final Olympics. Congrats to Team (Grumpy Old) Finland on a well played tournament. Finland surpassed my prediction of a 4th place finish by winning the bronze medal game instead of losing it and taking home the medal. My Canada vs Russia final was also wrong, but to be fair, I made the predictions in July. I correctly predicted the participants of the bronze medal game as well as the gold medal winner. I'll take that! Watch out, Wiarton Willie. I'm coming for your job next!

With the Sochi Olympics wrapped up, it was nice to see the host Russian squad get eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-finals even if it meant my Olympic prediction would be crushed. The early knock off allowed for our veteran workhorse Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin to get some much needed rest before returning to North America. Sorry, Russia. Purely selfish Habs reasoning here. Rounding out the Montreal presence in Sochi, Tomas Plekanec had a great tournament playing with Jaromir Jagr (Hey Marc Bergevin, trade deadline is approaching...) for the Czech Republic and Max Pacioretty played very well with linemates Paul Stastny (Hey Marc Bergevin, trade deadline is approaching...) and T.J Oshie for the United States. Peter Budaj only appeared in one game; in relief of a shelled Jaroslav Halak in the opening round. He'll be ready to resume wearing the ball-cap and pom-poms on the bench and dominate when called upon to play.

Coming up this week: The NHL season resumes!

P.K Subban will get to show Mike Babcock exactly how he really feels about his lineup snub when the Detroit Red Wings come to town on Wednesday. Personally, I'll expect Subban to dominate down the stretch and take the playing-time snub as an added motivational chip on his shoulder. The Habs travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday and take on Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby's Penguins before wrapping up the week at home with a rivalry showdown against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Three very tough match-ups against three very good teams. Great way to jump right back into the action.

Welcome back, NHL hockey!

Three Questions From My Musings:

A) Will P.K Subban use the playing-time snub as added motivation to dominate down the stretch?

B) Will the Habs be affected by having so many key veteran players participating in the Sochi games?

C) With only 23 games remaining to be played, what do you think the Habs record will be from this point forward?

 ---
Nick M. is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.

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5 In A Row For The Habs, A Lump Of "Cole", More...

Happy HumpDay Addicts!!!!

The Canadiens made it five in a row yesterday, with a 3-1 victory against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Alex Galchenyuk scored the game-winner at 1:48 of the third period on a three-on-one with Brandan Prust and Lars Eller. Suffice it to say that the trio has looked pretty good together since Montreal's head coach, Michel Therrien put them together.

That said, the Habs welcomed Ryan White back in the lineup, and Coach Therrien called upon the much-maligned tough guy late in the third period, as the Canadiens were killing off a late penalty to Tomas Plekanec. With all the faceoff problems the Habs have had so far this season, it was nice to see White get a confidence boost from Therrien after his early season braincramps.

White won that particular draw in the defensive zone cleanly, and it eventually led to an empty net shorthanded goal by Swiss d-man Raphael Diaz on a clearing attempt from his own zone that found the back of the Rangers' net 200 feet away.

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The Rangers only goal came in the second period while there was a delayed penalty being called on P.K. Subban for holding. The Rangers maintained possession of the puck, as Subban momentarily complained to the official, which led to Anton Stralman scoring on a mice feed from Derrick Stepan.

The biggest issue with that play was the half-hearted backcheck by Canadiens' veteran winger Erik Cole. Carey Price made a brilliant initial save on Stralman, but because Cole had his feet in cement, the Rangers' forward had ample time to score on his own rebound. That lack of secondary effort by Cole landed him on the bench for the better part of the third period, with only 3:59 TOI.

Since the beginning of the season, Erik Cole has been scrutinized by everyone surrounding the Canadiens. Some question his heart, while others maintain he has a health issue. Some even reference his propensity for starting each season slower than most.

There have been instances were Cole has indeed looked like the player he was last season, when he led the Canadiens in goals with 35, and was a major reason why his linemates, David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty were so effective.

With 33% of the season in the books, and the Canadiens leading the Eastern Conference with 23 points, Cole remains an enigma among an otherwise outstanding group of players. The combination of character and talent has Habs' fans believing that this team can do major damage in the playoffs moving forward. As ineffective as last year's best line has been so far, Pacioretty and Desharnais are beginning to find their groove, while Cole remains behind.

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Last night's edition of Montreal Hockey Talk was a hoot. With the likes of Simon Tsalikis, Mitch Gallo, Jay Ferrar and Nick Murdocco joining host Corey Collard, the laughs just kept on coming.

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"White Out!", Lousy Week For The Habs, More...

T.G.I.F. Addicts!!!!

How dumb and selfish could a single player be? Well...let's take a hard look at Ryan White.

Against the Florida Panthers, White decided to drop the gloves against notable NHL turtle Tomas Fleishcmann, which cost him and the Canadiens 27 minutes in penalties. You'll say, "Big deal! It was the Florida Panthers." Sure, you could, but let move forward.

Less than a week later, after Michel Therrien defended White for coming to the defense of one of his teammates, White took it a step further. In a game against the Ottawa Senators on January 30th, White was assessed a roughing penalty for in front of the Senators bench, and an extra two minutes for chirping at the officials. That double-minor lead to two Ottawa power play goals, and a complete swing in the game's momentum, which ultimately led to a 5-1 win for the Senators.

Then last night, White, in his ultimate wisdom, decided that a 4-2 lead against the Buffalo was the perfect time to lose his mind, and go after Sabres' pest Steve Ott.

Ott, being the cagy veteran that he is, used his pre-game verbal taunts to his favour, turtling in front of White, leading to a double-minor for roughing. And, as luck would have it, those penalties lead to Buffalo's resurgence, and a 5-4 victory by the Sabres in a shootout.

It's time for Canadiens' head coach Michel Therrien to crack out his bottle of "White Out!", and send an extended message to the Habs' tough guy that, while he loves character and physicality, he appetite for stupidity is quite full at the moment.

Hot dogs and soft drinks will be White's diet over the next few days...with a great view from the Bell Centre press box included.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

In what has been the worst week of the Habs`season so far, Montreal Hockey Talk welcomed Tim Redinger, Senior Editor on Sabrenoise.com during the pre-game show to analyze last night match-up, while the post-game gang used their mics to vent their frustration towards White, Peter Budaj and a few other Habs that are dragging their feet.

- Last night's game tying goal by Sabres' forward Thomas Vanek, was his league leading tenth of the season.

- The Chicago Blackhawks continued to roll to start the NHL season. Playing 10 of 12 games on the road to start the season, the Hawks once again won versus the Phoenix Coyotes by a score of 6-2 in Glendale. Patrick Kane continued his torrid start, adding another goal a two assists to his point totals. He is currently second in points in the NHL, behind only the aforementioned Vanek, who has 21 points.

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Sens Trounce Habs, P.K. Meets With Therrien, More...

Good Morning HabsAddicts!!!

In a less than stellar effort last night, the Montreal Canadiens went into ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa and were thoroughly trounced by the Senators by a score of 5-1, ending the team's four-game winning streak.

Although the Sens were without Jason Spezza and Sergei Gonchar, they managed to take advantage of the Canadiens' lack of discipline, and had an edge in blocked shots, hits and faceoffs. Backup goaltender Peter Budaj got his first game action of the season and stopped 27 of 32 shots he faced.

Once again, David Desharnais and Erik Cole seemed a step behind everyone else, showing an inability to get off shots in quality scoring situations and making any kind of offensive contribution. The lack of offense from Desharnais in the first six games of the season has prompted many to ask that he be given a wake-up call, and sat in the press box for at least a game this weekend.

Super Bowl weekend has the Habs playing back-to-back afternoon games against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, and a rematch against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. These two game hold particular importance, since the Canadiens are 0-2 versus the Northeast division so far this year.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- After last night's loss, Montreal Hockey Talk was as energetic as ever, as host Corey Collard discussed the night's action with Steven Hindle of HockeyBuzz and the incomparable JD, as he made his return to WSMN's airwaves.

- P.K. Subban met with head coach Michel Therrien early Wednesday morning, after the Canadiens arrived in the Nation's capital for the tail end of a back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators. He also met the media for the first since signing his new two-year, $5.75 Million contract on Monday.

- Brian Wilde gives us his opinion of the new look and attitude of Michel Therrien in his latest installment of Habs Fever for CTV Montreal.

Photo:  Wayne Cuddington , Postmedia News

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Habs Best Devils in OT, The Gallys Are Staying, More...

Hey there, HabsAddicts!!!

Our Montreal Canadiens squeaked out a 4-3 overtime victory last night against the previously undefeated New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre.

Brendan Gallagher and Brandon Prust both scored their first tallies in a Habs' uniform, while Alex Galchenyuk had two helpers and Andrei Markov scored the overtime winner.

Little could be said about the performance of Carey Price once again, as he outplayed his counterpart , Martin Brodeur. However, with the Canadiens playing four games in six days, some expect Peter Budaj to make his season debut on Tuesday.

Many were concerned that the absence of Max Pacioretty would be a weakness for "Les Glorieux", but Lars Eller did an admirable job in his absence. Much maligned left winger Rene Bourque continue to play solid hockey with another excellent effort, silencing many of the naysayers who want him to bought out at season's end.

On the Devils' side of the ledger, Patrick Elias has a goal and two assists to lead the boys from Newark, while Ilya Kovalchuk had but a single assist on the night.

Next up are the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, who are coming off another win against the New York Islanders 5-4 in overtime. Evander "Show Me The Benjamins" Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom lead the Jets in scoring with six points respectively. Expect Ondrej Pavelec to be between the pipes for Winnipeg.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Jimmy Murphy of ESPN Boston joined host Corey Collard and Jay Ferrar on the Montreal Hockey Talk's post-game show. MHT is also giving away a pair of tickets to the game on Super Bowl Sunday at 2 PM versus the Ottawa Senators, courtesy of HockeyTickets.ca. Simply follow @mtlhockeytalk and send a message with the hashtag #HabsGiveAway to enter. The drawing will take place during the Pre-Game Show on Saturday at 1 PM, hosted by Steven Hindle.

- Today, Canadiens GM Marc Bergavin and head coach Michel Therrien advised both Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher that they will be remaining with the Habs for the remainder of the season. Galchenyuk is expected to live with his mother and sister in their apartment in Montreal, while Gallagher has been told he'll be living with Josh Gorges for the foreseeable future.

- Andrei Markov took a therapy day on Monday. With the tight schedule this week, the break will do him some good. Markov leads the Canadiens in goals with four on the season.

Photo: Graham Hughes/Canadian Press

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Habs Declaw Panthers, Kovy Returns, More...

Happy Hump Day HabsAddicts!!!

Our beloved Habs, fresh off a lacklustre performance on Saturday against the Leafs, brought their A game last night, beating the Florida Panthers 4-1. The Canadiens were led by Andrei Markov, who scored two power play goals, his first tallies in over two years.

Rookie centre Alex Galchenyuk, who centered the Habs' third line alongside Brandon Prust and Brendan Gallagher, scored his first career NHL goal. Gallagher tallied his first career point on the play.

Many were questioning the removal of Lars Eller from the lineup, but Galchenyuk's performance, which earned him the first star of the game, brought the capacity crowd to its feet and quickly silenced the naysayers. It was obvious through his performance that the Canadiens' 2012 third-round pick was right at home playing the centre position.

The team's character was also in evidence when Ryan White threw a couple of punches at the Panthers' Thomas Fleischman after he hit Josh Gorges from behind. While the altercation earned White an instigator penalty and ejection, no one criticized that fourth liners for coming to the defence of one of his teammates.

Kevin Dineen, the head coach of the Panthers, started Scott Clemmenson in goal versus the Canadiens. Coming into the game, Clemmenson boast a flawless 6-0 career record versus "Les Glorieux."

The Canadiens are next in action on Thursday night, as they travel to Washington to take on Alex Ovechkin and the still winless Capitals.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Tune in to the podcast of the post-game show on MontrealHockeyTalk.com, as host Corey Collard, Matt Casavant, Jay Ferrar and our own Kamal Panesar analyze the Canadiens' victory, and it possible implications in the P.K. Subban negociations.

- Dave Stubbs visits with former Hab and current Florida Panthers' winger Alex Kovalev to discuss his return to Montreal. 

- With Vancouver GM Mike Gillis' comments yesterday about a possible deal being close for trading goaltender Roberto Luongo, rumbling out of Toronto suggest that the "additional player" in the deal may be either Joffrey Lupul, who just signed a five-year extension with the Leafs, or Phil Kessel, who has lost favour with head coach Randy Carlyle.

- While we already knew sports merchandise sales were down during the NHL lockout, SportsPosterWarehouse.com posted some interesting stats in regards to how overall poster sales were affected. Hopefully, business is about to pick up.

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Survey Says?, NHL Brand Damaged, More...

Happy Hump Day, HabsAddicts!!!

There is no question that this second NHL lockout in less than ten years has damaged public perception of the league. Fans across North America are beginning to look at other types of sports entertainment to fill their hockey void.

A poll conducted between December 11th and 16th surveyed individuals from different six regions across Canada. The poll, conducted by NRG Research Group and Peak Communications, asked "Do you think the NHL lockout will be settled in the next couple of weeks; in the new year in time for a shortened season to be played; not until it's too late for games to be played this season; or don't you care?"

Any astounding 58% of people surveyed said they could care less about the NHL lockout, while 5% thought the two sides could strike a deal before the New Year. Another 8% answered that a deal could be done in early 2013, allowing enough time for a shortened 48-game season. Out of the over 800 surveyed, 25% thought that it's already too late to salvage a meaningful season. The remaining 4% either did not know about the lockout or refused to answer.

The NRG and Peak survey's numbers pale in comparison to the percentage of disgruntled fans who responded to a poll conducted online on CBC Sports. Their survey, composed of ten questions, showed an incredible 68% of the over 7000 respondents believed that the NHL season was already lost.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- While NHL owners chose not to use a report by Level5 Strategy Group to gain favour in the PR battle with the NHLPA, Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail explains the survey's economic damage comparison between the NHL lockout and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

- Cam Cole of Postmedia News looks at how he thinks the dissolution of the NHLPA would result in what he calls, "glorious chaos".

- Episode 10, and the final final broadcast of Montreal Hockey Talk's Lockout Shows for 2012, will drive you crazy with legal jargon and llama flatulence. Join host Corey Collard as he tries to corral Jay Ferrar, Nick Murdocco and the punctually challenged Dave Kellerman.

- The Baby Habs lost another close one last night, this time to the Peoria Rivermen by a final of 4-3 in a shootout. Brendan Gallagher scored in regulation and the shootout, while Stefan Chaput had the other two tallies for the 'Dogs.

- Finally, Dave Stubbs spoke to P.K. Subban, who was busy trash talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos' team in advance of the RBC Play Hockey Charity Challenge tonight at 7 PM in Toronto.

(Photo: Andy Clark/Reuters)

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NHL's "Hill To Die On", CBA Talks To Resume, More...

Happy Hump Day HabsAddicts!!!

After last Thursday's statement by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, who said that the CBA term, player contract lengths and transition payments were "the hill the NHL would die on," WSMN decided to do some digging.

After speaking to multiple people close to the negotiations, some of the numbers the league has envisioned, as far as revenues and expenses for a shortened season are concerned, were staggering.

Take a look at this piece that I put together for Montreal Hockey Talk, where I go over those figures, and breakdown the three points in detail. It brings the NHL's position into a different perspective.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Speaking of MHT, Bobby Dollas and Dino Masanotti joined host Corey Collard and Jay Ferrar to talk about the lockout, the negotiations.

- Katie Strang of ESPN.com tells about how FMCS mediators will rejoin the CBA negotiations once more.

- Since we're talking about tomorrow negotiations, Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette give his opinion on how Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr need to go busy.

- Former Habs goaltending legend Ken Dryden writes, in the Globe and Mail, that in order to understand this latest NHL dispute, you have to follow the players' pride.

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NHL Talks "Cautiously Optimistic", Markov's Gordie Howe Hat Trick,More...

Good Hump Day HabsAddicts!!!

On a day where nobody was expecting any type of progress in the NHL labour negotiations, it seems that some kind of headway has been made.

Both sides were reported as being cautiously optimistic , as far as any progress in yesterday's meetings were concerned. While no details have been released about the meetings, things went so well that the NHLPA held a conference call with it's members during the dinner break.

Who was responsible for leading the charge? Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tell us that the Pittsburgh Penguins' duo of Rob Burkle and Sidney Crosby led the way.

And for those that are curious, ESPN.com's Sarah Goldstein provides us with a list of all the players in yesterday's negotiating session. 

Players and owners are scheduled to meet again this morning at 9 AM, prior to the 11 AM NHL Board of Governors meetings. Gary Bettman is scheduled to speak to the media at 1 PM, however that may be delayed should there be further talks between the two sides.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Corey Collard of Montreal Hockey Talk was joined by Jay Ferrar, our own Kamal Panesar and JD on the latest Lockout Show to discuss the lockout as live updates came in on Twitter.

- Andrei Markov enjoyed another first in his career while playing in the KHL...A Gordie Howe hat trick!!! The Montreal Gazette's Dave Stubbs looks at this unique event for the Habs' Russian rearguard.

- Alex Kovalev is returning to the Bell Centre for the All-Star Classic. Brenda Branswell of Hockey Inside/Out explains.

- And to finish on the lighter side of things, CBC Sports posted an Associated Press report on how actor Mark Wahlberg challenged Tie Domi to a boxing match. 

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Crosby & Toews May Attend Meetings, Sabres Don't Care, More...

Good Morning HabsAddicts!!!

Well, this all important day has finally arrived. And while the NHL has divulged its list of attendees, the NHLPA has kept their list close to their vest.

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be among those attending on the players' side, but the union hasn't confirmed anything yet.

To get a better understanding, Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com explain the importance of today's meeting.

Habs And Hockey News and Notes:

- Fred Poulin updates us about the Habs' CHL prospects via The Hockey Writers.

- Olean Times Herald beat writer Bill Hoppe examines why players from the Buffalo Sabres don't want to be bothered with the players/owners meeting.

-And while you're at it, take a look at my newest What If instalment for Montreal Hockey Talk, where I ask what the NHL's motive for such a meeting are.

- With MLSE's Larry Tannenbaum involved in the meetings on Tuesday, Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun explains why the players trust and respect him.

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MHT Podcasts, Return Of Salary Cap?, Quebec's New Arena And More...

Good Morning Addicts!

This past Thursday was the launch of the MontrealHockeyTalk.com show and it included appearances by Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, Bobby Dollas, Rick Moffat, Eric Engels, Steven Hindle and more.

The night was a blast and it if you were unfortunate enough to miss it don't you worry, the link to the podcasts is right here.

I am trying my hardest to remain optimistic about a possible start to the 2013 NHL season but the longer the two sides go without any significant progress, the harder it is to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Last week at an editorial meeting at the Toronto Star's office, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr expressed some concern that the longer the lockout lasts, the more the players may reconsider their stance on playing under a salary cap.

If Fehr and the players decide to bring that to the table, the two sides will be as far apart as ever and the 2013 season will have to be decided by EA Sports.

Habs And Hockey News

- Here is part one of a two part interview of NHL agent Allan Walsh by David Cushnan of SportsPro

- Our own Fred Poulin did a piece at The Hockey Writers about the unveiling of Quebec City's new arena

- Donald Dufresne was looking forward to making the jump from the QMJHL to Hamilton before this whole lockout business

- Here is a sneek peek at The Last Gladiators, a documentary on the decline of the enforcer role in the NHL. The movie centers around Former Hab Chris Nilan, and is made by Oscar winning director Alex Gibney.

- Here is the Hamilton Bulldog's opening night roster for tonight's game against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

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Big News at HabsAddict, Antoine Corbin, Lockout Survival, More

Happy Friday!

As you probably by know, HabsAddict and Montreal Hockey Talk are joining forces.

For me personally, I am thrilled to be under the same roof as so many writers and players I've followed over the years. I am thrilled we will be able to reach a broader audience. And I am thrilled we will be able to deliver even better content.

Plus, I've seen the new website (you know, being an editor and all, they let me touch things on occasion) and it looks absolutely amazing.

I can't wait for all of this to be revealed and hope you follow us along for the ride.

Habs and Hockey News

- Eric Engels unveils the ultimate Habs team at HockeyBuzz. I enjoy that Andrei Markov and Saku Koivu both made the squad.

- HabsWorld reports that Antoine Corbin has been signed by the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. The website also reveals the team's top prospects according to the fans.

- The NHL and the players' association concluded two days of meetings Thursday with no significant progress. Thankfully, at least Sports Illustrated was kind enough to provide us with a lockout survival guide. Apparently, this is going to last a while.

- An interesting story on the suspension of an NCAA prospect and its possible repercussions. 

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