Glad to see you aboard. I’ve wondered just how you would fare in the NHL in the big league. You’re a talented young hockey player and not only that, you are also quite intelligent.

Hope tonights Game goes well for you.

Let’s be consistent

In California for 3 games against the Ducks, the Sharks and the Kings. And there is no Pacioretty in the lineup due to the 3 game suspension that was given after the Penguins game.

My wish list for this road trip is simple. Consistency.

I would look for this all across the board. From the line combinations to the intensity on the ice (and please, let’s be intense!) I’d like to see this team fire away at the opposing team’s goaltender. Keep it simple, far away from the pressure cooker of the hometown crowd (probably good for both Leblanc and Budaj), it’s an opportunity for these guys to make the simple plays and build some confidence.

Will it be easy? I doubt it. In today’s NHL, I doubt there is truely an easy stretch on the schedule. But this is a chance to get some of the positive energy that a young guy can bring to a team, playing his first game.

None of these 3 teams they will face are having stellar seasons…. but sometimes it seems to be harder to win against a struggling team.

So tonight and the next 2. Let’s not go the way of the yo-yo….. let’s be intense…. consistent.

(Please) Win!

Go Habs!

The uproar soon followed. I must admit, I felt that we were in for a long season. And honestly, we may be. Time will tell.

However, I try to be a “glass half full” kinda guy. An optimist.

When it comes to predicting the outcome of a season by looking at a team’s roster at the start of the year maybe you can, in a general way, assess where the team will finish. When it comes to predicting where a team will finish by looking at a team’s first 10-15-20 games…. you can make certain judgements… sometimes you’ll be right.

But sometimes, you’ll still be dead wrong.

In the last few years, we’ve seen predictions by experts that rated a team at the top of the conference…. the team barely makes it in. A team was rated as being out of the playoffs and they finish in the top spots of the conference.

There are so many variables it’s impossible to tell. Maybe your best guy gets hurt. Maybe a mediocre player has a career year and puts up surprising numbers which really helps raise his linemates production and the team in the overall standings. Maybe your GM makes a move that propels the team on a higher level…. or cuts the heart out of the group.

Just look at the Penguins of just a few years back when they won the cup. Going into the home strech, they weren’t even in the 8th spot. They were out of it. Sure, they had Sid, Malkin etc… But they were struggling big time. The last strech of the season, they hit a different gear and seemed to peak in the playoffs.

That’s not a one time occurance either. 8th seeds, 7th seeds, they occasionally go far. If your team really hits it’s stride at the right time of the year, you’ve got a shot.

So how good can these Habs be?

Well, there are positives for sure.

Erik Cole has been looking like the player they brought him here to be. He now has 6 goals and he’s always going to the net. Montreal has needed players like this for years. A bigger frame guy who goes into the other team’s goaltenders face…. and causes problems. Of course, to start the year, Mr Martin didn’t seem to want to play Cole much. Thankfully, that has changed.

Tomas Plekanec is a hell of a hockey player. We Habs fans have known this for quite some time. He has become much like Markov was a few years back. Our secret weapon.

Markov was quitely in the tops of the league in offensive defensemen. One of the very best.

Plekanec is such a good 2 way player. And it’s almost like it’s a secret because you don’t hear much about him. If it’s 5 on 5, penalty kill or power play, Tomas is on the ice and paying dividends. In fact, on the penalty kill he will sometimes generate offensive opportunities and rarely gives up on a play.

Our defense is depleted but some young guys are settling in. Gorges has been hitting his stride. Not that he’ll lead all defensemen in points or anything like that. But he’s a steady defensive precense. Josh is leading the team in +/- at +10. He wasn’t that strong to start the year but it’s coming together.

PK Subban is starting to settle in. Early in the season he gave up the puck alot and took some pretty bad penalties. Weber has looked really good at times, Emelin had a strong game the other night being quite physical.

Carey Price is looking like he’ll be the same goaltender we had last year. One of the best in the league, he will steal some games for sure.

Scott Gomez started looking alot better in the last game…. while many people expressed their desire to can him right away, if this guy can find it, he can be a heck of a puck mover. He and Gionta were looking like their New Jersey days last night.

Andrei Markov. Certainly, his contract is a risky one at best. If Markov can come back and be reasonably healthy this season, you can be assured that the special teams and the offensive game will be affected quick positively. Even with some diminished production due to his injuries, the guy has an incredible vision and hockey sense. Komisarek should be paying him a good chunk of his contract for making him look good for those Montreal years (I had to!).

Point is, it’s a guessing game. A crap shoot. You never know what can happen. There may not be another major injury this season. Or maybe, they will be decimated with injuries. You can only guess. If you’re “the expert”, the “arm chair gm” or whoever, it’s impossible to be completely accurate without an incredible amount of luck on your part.

My hope is that Montreal hits their stride and really click when the playoffs roll around.

I think they’ll make it in!

An important stat, in my mind, that sticks out right away is that Montreal has only picked up 2 penalties. (To Carolina’s 1)

They were so heavily penalized in past games that they would sometimes kill whatever momentum they were building.

Interesting note, Carey Price got an assist on the first goal (Cammalleri scoring, Plekanec with the other assist). While they seemed to need to find the offense just a little while back, who knew it would come from Price.

Scott Gomez and Max Pacioretty and leading the team with 4 shots a piece…. 32 shots after 2!! Limiting Carolina to 12 shots.

That’s my 1 concern…. Price is usually hot when he faces tons of shots…. but with only 12 shots, he may be a little cold.

On to the 3rd!

Mike Blunden has been recalled and while he won’t be the turning point of the season a guy like him could bring a whole lot of hustle and a whole lot of hits. Both of which I wouldn’t mind seeing right about now. I don’t think this can hurt the lineup any more then they’ve been suffering.

Petteri Nokelainen was acquired to add some depth in the center position. I would have preferred Betts… if he would have been healthy of course.

Let’s hope Petteri brings something. So far he’s won 18 face offs and lost 13. Not a huge stat there.

We need somethin’ folks.

Trade rumors… well, if you listen to call ins, you’ll likely hear rabid fans suggesting every possible scenario. Hey, we’re Habs fans after all right? Passion?? You got it.

Reports about Kostitsyn being on the block. Those rumors certainly aren’t new. We’ll see what happens.

My personal thoughts are that if the ship doesn’t change course, Mr Martin will be sailing somewhere else. And a player or 2 could sail the seas as well.

Tonight…. Habs vs Panthers. What will happen??

Stay Tuned.

To start, I would really like to say that I’m all optimistic and all is well. But I’m not sure that’s the case. At the same time, I really don’t think anyone should go so far as through the season down the tubes after 5 whole games.

1-3-1 start, are we done yet?

No, we’re not. We can go back many many years and look at several examples of teams who struggled out of the gates not only to land in the playoffs but some also did quite well. Anyone remember how terrible the Penguins were a few years back when they hit the half way point of a season out of the playoffs only to finish strong and win the cup??

Sure you do!

I’m not saying the Habs are going to win the cup this year. In fact, for the last 15 years or so, my gut points to Detroit as the winner. My point is it’s a long season and much can change, a quarter of the way, half way through. You get the point. However one thing is for certain. If the Canadiens do want to hit the playoffs…. well, gotta win some real soon.

But, not time to throw ‘em under the bus.

Max Pacioretty, Thank You!

Max Pacioretty is looking good out there. He seems to find the puck in front of him a lot and I like the fact that he’s shooting alot of shots on goal. The combination of Andrei Kostitsyn, David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty have looked really good out there. At times they don’t just look good but seem to dominate their opponents.

David Desharnais is a player that I enjoy watching. Going into corners and coming out with the puck against much bigger guys. Just always hustling, giving his all.

Alexei Emelin getting adjusted

At first Emelin would sometimes look out of place. The more he’s played I think he’s adjusting. One thing I do like about him is that he hits and at times hits hard. Komisarek used to give the Habs that kind of presence on defense and though Emelin is not as big he is more mobile. He seems to have good vision with some of his passing.

To start camp and the regular season it just seems to me that it’s an adjustment as the game is fast pace.

Erik Cole, we need you

When Cole was signed I thought “great, a bigger player who has a decent shot and will not only hang around the net but crash the net”. I figured that his presence in front of the net would bear fruits with some of our quick skating play makers. (Think Plekanec, Cammalleri, Gomez, Gionta)

But I’ve yet to see it. For some reason, Erik looks a little out of sync.

We need you Erik. I believe bro.

PK Subban needs to find D

One thing about Subban is that he can excite the crowd like no other. The man can skate circles around anyone and has some serious puck handling ability.

Problem is that when he’s tried to do too much and be “out there” with “carte blanch” creativity…. it’s cost the Habs in terms of goals.

The plus/minus stat is not an exact science, but for 5 on 5 play when you’re a -5, 5 games in the season then you’ve got problems.

We need you PK. But if I was coach, I’d ask you to tone it down a notch and make sure the risks aren’t too high.

Diaz and Eller

Watching Diaz last night I thought he looked good out there. He can skate, he can move the puck, he’s got a good shot and seems to have pretty good vision. Loved the patience he showed on his goal last night.

3 games in Lars Eller doesn’t have a goal and coming off injury, this is his training camp. But he’s looking good out there. Seems strong on the puck, can pass….. give him a bit and he’ll find the back of the net and get some assists.

I’m sure someone out there is still bitter about the Halak trade but so far the trade isn’t as one sided as some believed. Halak has been far from stellar in St Louis and the way Eller looks as a 22 year old NHLer in his 2nd second season makes me think we’ve got a good player on our hands.

We’re 5 games in. Bring on the Pens!

It’s that time of year folks! You dust off your TV remote or getting in the ticket buying mood and start watching the greatest team in the NHL! (yeah, that’s right…. but as you can tell, this is a Habs blog right??)

Always a great time of year… I know these games really mean nothing… but do they?

What do they mean to me?

Well, I get to watch the veterans get in gear again… but more importantly (for this time of year) I get to see the prospects lineup next to our veteran players. I always love watching the young guys who are trying to force the coach’s hand, or find their spot on a roster. The enthusiasm…. the talent, the timidity (sometimes… let’s be honest!)…. it’s a chance to see tomorrow’s lineup.

How they handle taking the first steps towards their dream and playing for this great franchise we love.

Go Habs Go!

Enjoy!

A prelude to the training camp and pre-season is the Rookie Camps.

Thanks to the Montreal Gazette we can even see clips on YouTube. Yeah I know, they’re probably not the only ones.

Once all the pre-season roster is together and they play their first pre-season games I’m usually elated. I love seeing the prospects play in pre-season games. I know some people say the games mean nothing… etc.. etc… But they do mean something.

We get to see the young guys along side the regular roster players. How they handle it, talent level… improvements over last year… etc.. etc..

Can’t wait!

I remember watching this game and when the N.Y. Rangers were up 3-0, 4-0…. 5-0!!! I was demoralized. I was going to turn off the game but I generally always watch every game start to finish no matter what. On this night I did and I went from demoralized to amazed.

It seemed as though “it all went right” for the Rangers for the first half of the game and it just totally switched.

I figured Michael Ryder looked like he could have scored 10 goals in that second half. It was amazing to watch. I also remember that Kovalev goal where he falls to the ice with legs in the air. (Check out Scott Gomez playing for NY)

Classic moment in NHL hockey and a historic game. Coming back from a 5-0 deficit is no light task.

You remember this one?

Watching this video, my memories and even emotions come back…. pretty neat.

What do you remember most about this one?

I’m generally an optimist. Gotta be.

In years past there were some things that I didn’t like… like say the constant line juggling that we saw just a few years ago and some signings. I mean, honestly when the Habs first signed Hal Gill, I wasn’t sure how to feel because I could get past his former Leafs and Bruins jerseys… (I think Gill is a valuable asset today, not only on the ice but in the room from what we hear)

When Gauthier was hired, I didn’t know what to think. I was somewhat pessimistic.

But going into the fall this year I’m satisfied with what he’s done. I think Gauthier has done a decent job. Sure, someone can can point at a deal or two they don’t like or that may not have turned out 100%. But I’m not convinced it’s so different on many a team. Trades and drafts are sometimes a crap shoot. It’s like rolling the dice sometimes.

One move that I liked was the addition of Erik Cole.

When people talk about UFAs and over payment, it’s a given that UFAs are getting a pay day. Multiple teams trying to get in on signing players…. it’s a bidding war. It is what it is.

I’m looking forward to see Cole in a Habs uniform. As many have said, he just may be the power forward that the team’s been lacking for a number of years. He also may be a great mentor for Max Pacioretty.

When I think of the forwards I do think he may be a great compliment. Plekanec, Gomez, Gionta, Cammalleri…. speedy guys, they can move the puck…. if Cole becomes an annoyance in the crease of the opposing teams it should give these guys more room to move the puck. And Cole has the hands to score some goals. Habs fans know that all to well.

Plus, he loves playing in Montreal. He’s mentioned that he loves the atmosphere. He’s always been the villain. Now he can be the hero. I think he’ll love it… and that’s an other important aspect of the move. He knows that it’s a media frenzy.

I’m pumped up for training camps to start…. pre-season and the new season.

Here’s a couple of shorts vids of Erik meeting the media in Montreal.

Go Habs Go!

Erik meeting some new fans