Habs at the Worlds, Prospects At The Memorial Cup, Gallagher For The Calder And More...

Good Morning Addicts!



Alex Galchenyuk celebrates his goal against
Russia in USA's 8-3 win on Thursday.

 The Montreal Canadiens may have started their off season earlier than they had hoped but there are still a few Habs who have yet to hang up their skates for the summer.

Alex Galchenyuk scored what provd to be the game winner for Team USA in the World Hockey Championships on Thursday as the Americans rolled over Russia 8-3.

Raphael Diaz notched an assist on Switzerlands game winner in their 2-1 win over the Czech Republic that same day. Tomas Plekanec had an assist on the Czech's only goal.

Galchenyuk and the Americans will face Diaz and the Swiss this afternoon at 1:00 pm with the winner advancing to the final against Sweden as the Swedes shutout Finland 2-0 this morning. The loser of today's match up will play Finland for Bronze.

Habs And Hockey News

- A pair of Habs defensive prospects lost in their 2013 Memorial Cup debut. Dalton Thrower and Darren Dietz of the Saskatoon Blades fell 3-2 to the London Knights in the tournament opener.

- While it may be a shock that Habs coach Michel Therrien was left off the ballot for the Jack Adams Trophy, here's a reminder as to why Brendan Gallagher should come home with the Calder Trophy.

- Pat Hickey of the Gazette writes up on something that has been true for too long now as he points out that the Habs need to get bigger.


(Photo by Martti Kainulainen/Associated Press)

Read More

Kings Win, Possible Suspensions, World Championships and More

Good afternoon hockey fans!

Well, the Phoenix Coyotes sure dug themselves into a hole last night.

Not only did they go down 0-2 in their series against the Los Angeles Kings, but both Shane Doan and Martin Hanzal received major penalties and are facing potential suspensions.

And here I was thinking they would win this series. At this point, it would almost seem miraculous for them to win a game.

Two questions, then, this PM

Do Hanzal and Doan deserve a suspension?

Can anyone stop the Kings?

Hockey News 

ESPN - Morning jam: Kings-Coyotes, Game 2 facts

ESPN - West finals turn nasty in Game 2

IIHF - Video: Max Pacioretty on pace

IIHF - 10 stories you need to know

La Presse - Le printemps de M. Anschutz

La Presse - Après la trappe, les tirs bloqués

The Hockey News - Rory Boylen: The myth of the blocked shot problem

The Hockey News - Ken Campbell: Kings outmatch Coyotes, poised for Stanley Cup final

TSN - McKenzie: Shanahan must decide if Coyotes hits suspendable

TSN - Cullen: Carter's trick leads Kings past overmatched Coyotes

USA Today - Jeff Carter hat trick leads Kings past Coyotes

USA Today - Eight players break out from the NHL draft pack

(Photo by Jeff Vinnick/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Read More

Habs News, World Championships, Kings, Devils and More

Good morning Hab fans!

As if we did not already have enough hockey to digest, what with both NHL and CHL playoffs in full swing, the IIHF World Championship gets underway today from Stockholm and Helsinki.

In fact, at the time of this writing, Max Pacioretty and his American teammates crushed the French national team 7-2. Pacioretty had a goal and two assists in the game.

There are three other Habs in the tournament. Tomas Plekanec is representing the Czech Republic, Lars Eller is lining up with Denmark and Alexei Emelin is yet again on the Russian squad.

P.K Subban was a member of Team Canada, but an injury is preventing him from competing in the event. Injuries also prevented Swiss standouts Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber from representing their country.

Petteri Nokkelainen was on Team Finland's camp roster, but he did not make the cut. Shocking, I know.

Will you be watching the annual tournament?

Habs News

HabsAddict.com - VIDEO: Bergevin Introduced as Montreal Canadiens GM

HabsWorld.net - The Departed: Forwards Edition

HabsWorld.net - 2012 World Championships StatTracker

La Presse - Des fleurs pour le nouveau DG

La Presse - Le meilleur, «that's it, that's all!»

Hockey News

IIHF - U.S. opener: French toast

The Hockey News - Clutch Kovalchuk leading quick Devils; Brian Elliott falling apart

The Hockey News - Ryan Kennedy: Flames shouldn't expect much from Roman Cervenka

TSN - Fraser: Breaking down interference calls on shoot-ins

TSN - Report: Coyotes closer to staying in Phoenix

TSN - Cullen: Kings in charge; Devils snatch OT win

TSN - McKenzie: Brown, Kings playing well and frustrating Blues

USA Today - Kings dispatch Blues, now on brink of series sweep

USA Today - Ponikarovsky's OT goal delivers Devils to Game 3 win

USA Today - Sizing up USA's medal chances at worlds

(Photo: AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOVALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/GettyImages)

Read More

Habs/Leafs Post Game, Season Over, Price and More

Happy Easter Hab addicts!

After a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is finally over for the Canadiens.

It's just begun for 16 other teams.

As a current resident of Ottawa and a native of Chicago, needless to say that I will pay particular attention to the New York-Ottawa and Phoenix-Chicago series.

What will you be watching now that the Habs are out?

Habs News

HabsAddict.com - Canadiens-Leafs: Habs End Miserable Season on High Note

HabsAddict.com - Louis Moustakas on CKCU's Red Zone

Faceoff.com - Habs crush Leafs 4-1 

Faceoff.com - Imagine a Habs-Leafs playoff series

HabsWorld.net - HW 3 Stars: Leafs Fall in Spring

RDS - Price n'ira pas aux Champ. du monde

TSN - Canadiens down Leafs; both teams get shot at No. 1 pick

Hockey News

Faceoff.com - Twins pace Americans' rout of Canadian women

USA Today - Stamkos hits 60-goal mark in Lightning's win over Jets

USA Today - Roundup: Canucks blank Oilers to win Presidents' Trophy


(Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

Read More

Pierre Boivin, Derek Boogaard, Conn Smythe Trophy, Curtis Glencross, rumours and more...

NHL news

Hockey Inside/Out - Boivin weighs anchor
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/50087

RDS - Pierre Boivin quittera la tête en paix
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/319799.html

ESPN.com - Finland wins hockey world title
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olyhockey/news/story?id=6553308

TSN - TRUE NORTH IN DISCUSSIONS REGARDING SALE OF THRASHERS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365898

FLAMES INK F GLENCROSS TO FOUR-YEAR, $10.2 MILLION DEAL
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365890

MCLELLAN: SHARKS LOSS TO CANUCKS BEGAN BETWEEN THE EARS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365859

FAMILY DONATES BRAIN OF NHL ENFORCER BOOGAARD TO SCIENCE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365809

THN.com - Campbell: Hockey fans being priced-out of Memorial Cup
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40334-Campbell-Hockey-fans-being-pricedout-of-Memorial-Cup.html

VIDEO: THN Puck Panel – Conn Smythe Trophy chatter
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40336-VIDEO-THN-Puck-Panel-Conn-Smythe-Trophy-chatter.html

Spector's Hockey - Updates on the Capitals and Hurricanes – May 17, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5402

The Latest Jagr Rumors – May 16, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5395

(Photo by Getty Images North America)

Read More

Montreal Canadiens: New Sunday Shinny, Should Habs sign Jaromir Jagr?

by Kamal Panesar

Greetings folks! I'm popping my head out of my cave during a minor break in renos to discuss a little puck.

So, if you haven't already heard, Jaromir Jagr said to the press—after the Czech Republic won the bronze medal in the Worlds—that he would consider playing for the Penguins, Rangers or Canadiens in an NHL return.

He went on to say that hockey in Montreal and Canada is crazy and unlike anywhere else. He said he's never played in Canada and would like to but that "...you never know."

Sounds pretty clear that he would love playing in Montreal with fellow countryman Tomas Plekanec.

We discussed this topic on the Sunday Shinny this past weekend (you can listen to it below). In short, my view is that Jagr is more of a plan 'B' to me, since he isn't a long term solution. The Habs desperately need more scoring up front and Jagr, playing on a line with Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri, would surely help in the department.

He wouldn't put up 100 points but would likely put up 60.

That being said, he is not likely to play more than a year or so and, being in a building mode, the Canadiens are better off looking for longer term help. Try Brooks Laich or Ville Leino or even my personal favorite, Curtis Glencross.

Failing the ability to land some kind of longer term help I wouldn't hesitate to bring in Jagr for a year or two.

Word also has it that Habs' GM, Pierre Gauthier, hasn't yet ruled out signing Jagr so the plot is certainly thickening!

What are your thoughts? Would you take a flyer on Jagr?


New Sunday Shinny podcast
In this episode of the Sunday Shinny, we had a full house in studio with Gary Whittaker, Nick Murdocco, Kamal Panesar, Amanda Stein and Sean Coleman welcoming Will Martinez to the show.

Topics include:
-The Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Boston Bruins
-Who will win? How do they matchup?
-San Jose Sharks versus the Vancouver Canucks
-Who will win? How do they matchup?
-Alexei Yemelin
-The Montreal Canadiens defense and forwards
-Jaromir Jagr
-And much more...

Click play below to listen in (listing time 40:19):


---
Kamal is a freelance Habs writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and Habs writer on TheFranchise.ca. 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/

Follow Kamal on Facebook and Twitter

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images North America)

Read More