Monday, May 12, 2008

Post Sript

Its been a couple of weeks since the Habs hit the wall, had their season end with a resounding THUD. I have digested it all, actually I have been busy enough with life to not have given it too much thought. But in an attempt to keep this blog relevant, it would be best, I guess, that I break the 2007-08 season down. Time for me to reflect on the good the bad and the ugly. So here goes.

On to the positive first. The Habs surprised everyone this year, there wasn't a pundit, however delusional, that expected the Habs would finish a top of the Eastern Conference. I believe that I wrote in the 2007-2008 pre-season that I expected that this group of guys would finish anywhere from 6th to 10th, I was not going to be shocked (disappointed of course) if the Habs failed to make the playoffs. But, but, surprise, surprise, surprise, not only did they make the playoffs, but they won their conference. How did that happen? Lets start at the top; shame on me for questioning Carbo's coaching, the 2nd year man, not only lead a young (not riddled with superstars, by any stretch) team to the top of the Eastern Conference, but he has also received recognition for the job he did from the hockey press, by securing his first Jack Adams nomination. Truth be told I do not believe Carbo to be that shit hot a coach, but then again I don't believe in a lot of stuff, so what do I know? O.k., I put the cart before the horse, I should, if I meant to start at the top, started at the top, and Bob Gainey is at the top of the Habs organization. Gainey it has been said has a plan, he is building, so its been told, a championship team for the centennial season, which if you look at your watch, is next year. If this season is not an aberration, then hell, it looks like BG's plan is working. How, what did he do or not do to make the Habs a contender? First he was brave enough to stick with the youth, the Habs have drafted extremely well in the last 4 or 5 years, and Gainey has made sure that the young skilled players in the organization cut their teeth at the NHL level. The emergence of Carey Price, and Kostitsyn brothers are a testament to Gainey's youth movement. Experience is only going to make this young and talented crew all the better. The veterans, hmmm, Kovalev had a comeback player of the year style season, he was key to the Habs success this year. Roman Hamrlik, Mike Komisarek and Andrei Markov provided stellar veteran leadership on the backend. There was just enough a dynamic between veteran and youth this season to float the Habs ship.

I believe aside from Kovalev, Hamrlik, Markov, and Komisarek (hard for me not to think of him as a kid, but Komi is all growed up), it was the kids that were key to success in 2007-08. The Kostitsyn brothers added a spark offensively and with their speed. Guys like Gorges, and O'Bryne filled important holes in the blueline, and Carey Price gave glimpses that he may be a force between the pipes for years to come.

O.k. enough with the sappy feel good stuff. Why did the Habs flame out in the playoffs? How could a plodding team like the Flyers make short work of a much faster, seemingly more talented Habs squad?
One word, TOUGHNESS! The Habs are too soft to survive the war that is the playoffs. Speed and reliance on an effective powerplay works in the regular season, the playoffs are a different beast. When the line of Smolinski, Kostopulous, and Begin is your most effective line in the playoffs, you can not expect much playoff success. It was far too easy to lean on the Habs, Carey Price was run at will. The Bruins figured this out, and almost stole the first round series, the Flyers followed the Bruin blueprint, and the smaller, weaker Habs had no answer.

The other disappoint was the disappearance act of key players like Markov, Hamrlik, Higgins, and to a lesser extent Kovalev (I believe he tried to do too much). I was also upset that Ryder (who was atrocious in the regular season) did not get a shot in the playoffs, the guy can score goals, and well goals were hard to come by in the playoffs. Perhaps guys like Markov and Komisarek were playing hurt, but the disappearance of veteran leadership was along with the lack of size and toughness the main cause of the playoff disappointment in 2008.

What to expect for next year? I expect BG to add some size up front. Yes, yes, and yes every true Habs fan on the planet has been screaming this for years, but damn it, its what is missing on this squad. The Habs need someone with hands that will sit their arse in front of the net and take the abuse needed to win big games. Aside from added size and toughness, if the Habs young players can continue to develop, the 2008-09 season should be just as exciting as the season just passed. GO HABS GO!