Confirmed deals...

Calgary reacquires Leopold from the Avs. Taking them out of the Jokinen sweepstakes?

Pittsburgh gets Wozniewski from the Blues for Richmond... minor deal at best.

Tellqvist to Buffalo for a 4th. Help for Miller, who has a high ankle sprain.

Leafs claim Gerber off waivers. Good luck with that Bud fans.

Morrison to the Stars off waivers.

Jokinen to the Flames for Lombardi, Prust and a 1st round pick. Damn, I was sorta interested in Olli.

Montador to the Bruins for Nokelainen.

Recchi a Bruin. Wouldn't be a trade deadline if Rex wasn't moved.

Guerin to Pittsburgh, for a conditional pick, 5th or a 4th or a 3rd depending on how far the Pens go. Bob misses out again.

Carcillo to Philly for Upshaw and a 2nd rounder.

Antropov to the Rag$ for a 2nd and conditional pick.

Confirmed deals...

Calgary reacquires Leopold from the Avs. Taking them out of the Jokinen sweepstakes?

Pittsburgh gets Wozniewski from the Blues for Richmond... minor deal at best.

Leopold back to the Flames

Calgary reacquires Leopold from the Avs. Taking them out of the Jokinen sweepstakes?

Live Blogging the Deadline

Quiet, really, really quiet. A couple of signings, the Sens lock up Kuba, the Sabres Connolly. The only deal so far is Vermette to Columbus for Leclaire and a 2nd round pick. More to come....

What Will Bob Do?

It's that time of the year again, yes, the wonderfully mad Trade Deadline period. A time when anyone who calls themselves a true hockey fan scours the Internet is search of any and all rumours. Web sites such as TSN, Spectors, Eklund, and the Fourth Period are visited and revisited all in the hopes that a deal has been struck, that the first shoe has dropped, hell even the waiver wire is exciting right now. Up until this point, I am still waiting, it's eerily quiet..refresh, reload, refresh, reload, still nothing.

So what is Bob Gainey going to do? Surely he isn't finished. Schnieder was a heck of an acquisition, one that has paid huge dividends on the powerplay already, but there are still some glaring holes in the Habs lineup. The Habs have to be looking to add a big talented center... Jokinen's name keeps popping up, he is a definite possibility, but he is also a guy that has never played in a playoff game, and has played poorly all year in Phoenix. I'd love to see BG land Tkachuk, he is both physical and can score, the problem is that the Blue's are still in the playoff picture and look to maybe be buying not selling. Then there is Vinny, who was the darling of the rumour world during the All Star break, but Brian Lawton (can he be trusted?) seems adamant that Vinny is not being shopped. Vinny landing in Montreal would be the trade of the century, will it happen? I doubt it, but again, it's that time of the year, anything is possible, salary cap permitting.

Those were a few names for the hole at center, what other holes might Bob try and fill? Defense: I think BG would like to land a big stay-at-home defenseman. The names out there are Derek Morris, Brendon Witt (still suspended, but tough), and Jay Bouwmeister. I think Morris ends up in Boston. Witt I believe can be had, if BG wants him. As for Jay Bouw, every GM in the league is wetting themselves for his service, aside from Vinny (which is all speculation) he is the biggest name out there. I am not convinced the Panthers will move him, they desperately need to make the playoffs and he is their best player. But, if Jacques Martin does move Jay Bouw he is going to ask for the moon, and Jay Bouw is probably worth it. I doubt BG sells the farm unless he has Jay Bouw locked up in a new contract, which is not going to happen. If he goes anywhere it will be Philly, or a team from out of nowhere with an offer which was impossible to refuse.

Any other holes, sure, what about a tough physical forward. The Habs tend to get pushed around by bigger more physical teams, a top six forward who is tough as nails would be a great addition. Ryan Symth might be available, so too Laperriere (not much of a scorer, but grit to spare). Bill Guerin is in limbo, two days ago it looked like he was going to be traded at any moment, things for whatever reason have fallen apart, that said he is a gritty forward with top six capabilities. Gary Roberts (too old) is on waivers, and Recchi (as is the case at every deadline) is also on the block. I could see BG taking a run at Guerin, I love Ryan Symth, but I just can't picture him coming back to play in the East. If Bob makes a move, or moves I bet he tries to land a center or defenceman first, but what do I know?

Ok, sure, those are some names that might go the Habs way, who might be headed out of Montreal? If BG makes any sort of significant move I think the one big piece moved would be Chris Higgins. Higgy was stripped of his 'A' earlier this year, and his offensive game, has well, been offensive. Other possiblities are the Kostitsyn brothers (one or both), Halak (his stock has never been higher), Dandy (he is a goner), O'Bryne, and any prospect (especially on the defensive end). Pure speculation on my part, but isn't that what makes this time of the year fun? Ok, back to refreshing every possible hockey site on the web. Enjoy the madness fellow puckheads!

Early Season Reflections

I haven't written in awhile, life has a way of holding back my words, chalk it up to bed case of writer's block, and the demands of raising a couple of kids. Anyway, yes, this is a hockey blog, not a diary entry, so lets get down to it.

The Habs are off to a blazing start, after last night's 2-1 victory over the Wild the Habs are sitting pretty with a 7-1-1 record, not too shabby. What pleases me the most about the Hab's fast start is that I believe they have yet to play their best hockey. Last year's top line of Kovalev, Plekanek, and Kostitsyn has yet to show the magic that it had the last year, and the powerplay, which was the bread and butter of the Habs last year, is a shell of its former self.

What then explains this fast early start? First and formost, I think the Habs are scoring goals outside of their top line, Saku and Tanguay seem to be a great fit, the third line (although it hasn't yet jelled with the return of Higgins) is always a threat, and the pluggers, although not putting up big numbers, have enough jam and energy to change the pace of any game. Secondly Carey Price is living up to expectations, this kid time and again comes up with big saves at key moments. He has a bit of a bad habit of over-handling the puck, but I believe that in time, he could have comparable puck-handling skills to a Marty Broduer, or at the very least a Marty Turco. And finally, I am impressed with the Habs defence this year, sure I would love nothing less than to see Brisebois sit in the press box and not as the Habs sixth defenceman every other night, but as a unit they have played some solid hockey. Huge props to Markov, who seems to have gone from an all-star defenceman to a Norris Trophy candidate.

Enough about the Habs for a bit, I'd like now to talk a little about the NHL in general. I haven't watched all that many games, and the games I have watched have really only been those inwhich the Habs were playing... but damn is it just me or are the refs really over officiating? Yes, its early in the season, the zebras have their marching orders from the league to call anything and everything, but damn, talk about ruining the flow of a game. Take lastnight's Habs-Wild game for example, the wild were rewarded 3 almost back to back 5-3 advantages... yes most of the calls were legit, but the refs have to swallow their whistles every now and then, just for the sake of the game. The idea that more powerplays will lead to more goals is a myth. Sure if each team has 5 powerplay chances a game, there is a chance that each team, if their units are functioning well will score a couple of goals each, but the Wild had 10 chances against the Habs lastnight and failed to score a goal at all. The special teams guys are a select group, if you have your 10 best guys on the ice for 15 minutes a period, they are going to wear out, it defeats the purpose. Give me an end to end 2-1, hardly any penalties called barn burner any day.

Thats all I have got... oh ya, Go Habs Go!!!

Off Season

I have kept a keen eye on the off season developments of the Habs and the rest of the NHL, but haven't found, or made time to comment on any of it. I have a few spare hours today so, in an attempt to keep this blog relatively relevant, I will throw my one or two cents out there.

First I'd like to give a little tip of my hat to Bob Gainey for being as active as I have seen him for a long time. The Sundin soup opera, as exciting as it is, has me a little nauseated, all the power in the world to Mats to sit and reflect about his career, and what he wants to do next, but shit, he has Bob and the Habs over a barrel right now. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks this is yet another situation where a big named UFA is simply using the Habs as leverage to land a larger contract. Similar to what Brett Hull, Brendon Shanahan, and Martin Lapointe have done in the past. Mats my simply be suffering from a crisis of consciousness, he is as you know an all-time Leaf great, the idea of signing with the Habs may have him questioning everything he knows. It would be much easier, at least on his Leaf plagued soul to resign with the Leafs, retire, or sign on the dotted line with the Canucks, who have reportedly offered him a ridiculously bloated 20 million smackers for 2 years. Perhaps Mats has been adequately wooed by Bob Gainey, the Habs, and the prospect of living in Montreal, but I just have this feeling that Mats won't sign with the Habs, I can't put my finger on why, maybe its because I feel he is still loyal to the Leafs, maybe its because this is probably the last chance for Mats to cash in large in his career, maybe its because its taking too long....shock me Mats, shock me.

I am content with the other moves Gainey has made this year, Alex Tanguay is a big improvement over Michael Ryder, and the addition of Big George Laraque gives the Habs an elite enforcer that they have been so sorely missing for years. Gainey has also been able to resign a number of key RFAs, like Kostitsyn, Halak, and Gorges. The departure of powerplay specialist Mark Striet remains a bit of a concern, unless either a forward like Tanguay or Kovalev, or a dman like Gorges can be fill the void at the point.

So here we are, the Habs are in a sort of void until Sundin shits or gets off the pot. Rumour mongers like Eklund would have you believe that if Sundin does not sign on with the Habs, that Gainey has a plan B, which would be say Marleau, or the artist formerly know as Forsberg, but I believe that if Sundin does not sign with the Habs, then Gainey will stick with what he has got, and fiddle if need be throughout the regular season. I think the Habs still have two pressing needs, the elusive first line center, and a puck moving defenceman that can man the point on the powerplay. Gainey has feelers out for the centerman, as for the dman, well he might have to try to fill that hole with a guy from within the Habs organization, or wait and trade for one later in the season.

Do I believe this team is as good or better than the 2007-08 squad, hypothetically yes. If Gainey can reel in the big fish that is Sundin, the Habs instantly become an early favorite for the Cup, if not, well the talent level of this team is on par with that of last years squad, as to whether it can perform like it did last year well that is a question that is impossible to answer at this point.

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!

Philly It Is

I will admit that I have yet to become full engaged in the 08 playoffs. I watched the Habs game 7 victory over the Bruins, I was in full Hab regalia, and I even have a playoff bread, but my life outside of the world of hockey is, well, far more exciting at the moment. Why its exciting um, that story is meant for a different blog, so I will not get into it here.

As for round 2, I am content that the Habs are matched up with the Flyers. As much as I believe that the league would have loved a Crosby vs. Ovechkin battle in the second round, the idea of the Habs squaring off against the Rangers had me worried. I think the Hab's speed gives them the edge against the slow plodding Flyers. If the Habs play their game, and if Price holds up, which I think he will, the kid is something special, I believe the Habs can win this series in 5 or 6.

GO HABS GO!!

Eastern Conference Champs!!!

Who'd have thunk it? Not this fella, last fall I believed that the best that this team could do was creep into the playoffs, wow, was I and every other pundit in the hockey world wrong. If anyone of us had of predicted that the Habs would finish at the top of the heap in the Eastern Conference, we would have been called delusional, or at the very least uber-optimistic.

Tips of my hat have to go out to Bob Gainey, Guy Carboneau, Alex Kovalev, Carey Price, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov, Mike Komisarek, Roman Hamrlik, the Kostitsyn brothers and Mark Striet. There are names left of the list, my hope is that guys like Saku, Higgins, and Ryder can come up big in the playoffs, they as well as those mentioned on my hat tip list, are key to playoff success.

I am worried about the Bruins, yes, the Habs have owned the Bruins all season, and historically, but the law of averages says that the Bruins are gonna win a couple of games at least. Godspeed Les Boys!

Thank you Bruins

The Habs have made the Bruins their bitch this year. The regular season sweep of the Bruins has netted the Habs a free and easy 16 points, which have gone a long way in propelling the Habs to first place in the Eastern Conference. As it stands right now it would be the Habs vs. Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, although that sounds like an enticing match up, I have grown rather tired of Habs vs. Bruin playoff match ups. I am going to have to hope the Bruins miss the playoffs, as nice as it would be for the Habs to have a free pass in the first round, it would be nice to see the Habs to match up against someone different for once in the playoffs. Go Habs, thanks Bruins.

Losing and Gaining

The madness that is the charity point for an overtime, or shootout lose, worked in the Habs favour last night. I am philosophically against the idea of rewarding a losing team with points, it tends to lead to boring hockey late in the third period if the game is tied, teams sit back and try and insure themselves' of at least the point. I want my team to play for the win at all times. The charity point has lead to NHL parity, which the NHL brass was striving for, it sees teams that should have no business competing for a playoff spot, for example, the Oilers, the Bruins, the Coyotes, and the Panthers, still in the playoff race. Great if you are a fan of those aforementioned teams, but not good if you are a fan of hockey played at a high level. I will take the point for a lose last night, it has propelled my guys into a tie at the top of the Eastern Conference, but I would love the NHL brain trust to rethink the whole thing. The playoffs are approaching, and I can't wait, no more playing for a point, no more skills competition shootout, its win or lose, and thats how I like it.

Plugging Along

Les Boys are still keeping pace, sure a win against an injury depleted Islanders team isn't much to write home about, but it was one of those trap games, that had the Habs not shown up might have sent them on a tailspin, not something you want to see with less than 10 games remaining in the regular season. Hat tip to Halak, who has seen very little ice time on the big team this year, but when he has been called upon, he has preformed admirably. I was pretty confident that Huet was going to be moved at the deadline (would have liked a warm body, and a pick, but what ya gonna do?), and it looks like Bob made the right decision. The future is now, Price and Halak look like they can carry the load. The playoffs are a different beast, it will be interesting to say the least to see how the kids react to the added pressure.

Hrrumpp

I am going to try and make an effort to update this blog more regularly. Its a good way to keep my skills fresh, and hell, the NHL season is getting down to the brass tacks, the playoffs are just around the corner.

I really haven't much to say about the Habs vs. Sens match up last night. I didn't watch it, I am superstitious, I have noticed lately that the Habs seem to perform better when I don't watch. All bollocks of course, I was busy doing other things last night (namely flirting with the ladies, a guy needs to play). I turned on RDS, it was late in the 3rd, Les Boys were down 3-0, seems I didn't miss all that much. It was a big game, to bad the boys were a no show, it happens, lets hope it is not the beginning of a trend. The Sens are a topsy-turvy squad, they are hot right now, give them a few games, they will deflate again. I mean really, how far can Gerber get them?

As for my guys, they need a few days off. I'd rest them, they are fresh from a Western road trip, and a fantastic 4-0 victory over the Devils. They were due for a let down game. Too bad it was versus the Sens. They will get them next time.

What a difference a couple of months makes

I have been away. Off to Europe I went, passport in hand, backpack on , well ya, the back. It was fantastic, I could tell stories, but this is a hockey blog, its the wrong medium. Ok, focus, when I left Canada in January, the Habs were floating around 5 or 6 place in the Eastern Conference, things looked eerily similar to years past. The Habs looked like they might play .500 hockey and squeak into the playoffs, or once again fall into their all to typical post-Christmas swoon and be on the outside looking in. It hasn't happened, the Habs have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL for the last couple of months, and after last night's 4-0 victory over the Devils they see themselves on top of the Eastern Conference. Who'd have thunk it? Not me, nope I am forever the pessimist, its innate for a Habs fan, it protects us from the inevitable soul crushing that is watching the Habs being brilliantly mediocre year in and year out.

Right so there are 11 regular season games remaining. I am positive that my boys will make it into the playoffs, as for winning the Conference, of that, I am not as confident...see there is the pessimism again. Right now there are 4 teams that are competing for the top spot. The Habs, the Devils, the Sens, and the Pens. The Habs, who are riding a hot Carey Price, and a rejuvenated Alex Kovalev, are going to have to shore up their defense, and pray for secondary scoring outside the top line. This may sound absurd, considering the way he has played all year, but I think the play of Michael Ryder, might be key to the Hab's success during the stretch. The Devils, what can you say about the Devils? Any team that has Marty between the pipes is going to be successful. The are a bore to watch, and a bitch to play, I think they will finish at the top of the Eastern Conference pile by game 82. The Sens, oh the enigma that is the Sens. When the Sens are on, they are deadly. They have the best top line in the NHL (when Alfie is healthy), but after that the Sens are vulnerable. The soap opera that is Ray Emery, and a defense that is very suspect, might just keep the Sens from the top spot. They are however, very streaky, it would not surprise me if they finish anywhere from 1st-5th. The Pens, even when Sid was out the Pens found a way to win. Malkin solidified his status as a legitimate NHL superstar. They made a splash at the deadline by adding Hossa. When the Pens get healthy the are going to be one off the most exciting teams in the league to watch. My fear with the Pens is their goaltending and defense, both are average at best. I don't think the Pens are quite ready to win the Conference. But with the amount of skill that is on that team, like the Sens anything is possible.

There you go, my first hockey blurb in months. I haven't been this excited about my Habs in years. There seems to be something special in the air, what with the parallels that can be made to Dryden, Roy, and Price, and the fact that the last time the Habs were in first place this late in the regular season was 1993, and well every Habs fan knows what happened that year. Oh but I am a pessimist, a pessimist damn it! Go Habs!

Same Tired Script

If the Habs were a television drama, people would quickly be tuning out. The Habs of the last five to ten years have become so formulaic that they have become mundane. The typical fast start, which leaves the experts shaking their heads, hopping on the Habs bandwagon (which has worn out shocks by now), then oh ya, the holiday season approaches, and whammo, the Habs look like a shell of the team that they were at the 10 to 15 game mark. You can almost set your watch to them.

Why does this happen? Is it a conditioning thing? Are they unable to maintain their legs past game 15? Is it a question of talent? Is this team simply not deep enough to compete for extended periods? Is it coaching, are the Habs simply that easy to figure out?

I could rant, and rant. It looks right now that Koivu is both tired and disinterested. The Habs have to be the worst passing team in the league. They are too small up front, and too dependent on 3 guys on the back end. This team is too easily manhandled. They are not tough enough mentally or physically, and egad how hard is it to shout the God damned puck and drive the net for a rebound, forecheck, and chip the puck off the boards in the defensive end? Hockey basics is sourly lacking on this club.

What can be done? A couple of weeks ago, their arch enemies a few hours up the 401 looked like they were on the verge of blowing everything up. Is this the only option in Montreal? Is it time to erase the play book, rework the whole game plan? Do Gainey and Carbo have a game plan? I am not going to hold my breath, patience at the executive level is about as predictable in Montreal as the inevitable December meltdown. YAWN.

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What is Going on in the North East?

It has been a difficult couple of weeks for the 3 Canadian teams in the North East Division. Much has been made of course of the soap opera that is the Toronto Maple Leafs (don't look now, but they have won 2 in a row), but things are not going all that much better in Montreal or Ottawa. I haven't much to add to the Maple Leaf circus, as a Habs fan it does my heart some good to see the Leaf Nation in turmoil.

It is hard to fathom what is wrong with the Senators, this was a team that was 16-3 to start the season, there were comparisons about two weeks ago to the 1976-77 Habs who only lost 8 games. Oh how things can change, the Sens are in the throws of a 6 game losing streak, some of the demons of years past seem to have sneaked back into their game, namely average goaltending, and the whole question of heart. I believe the Sens will soon straighten things out, they are an elite team in this league, but they are in no way the 1976-77 Habs.

As for Habs, I could go on and on, there are as many negatives as there are positives with their line up. Morale has dipped to a level similar to that of the disastrous December 2006. Carbo can try his best to shake things up (pairing Saku with pluggers like Smokes and Streit, was a bit over the top, me thinks), he can bench this guy or that, nothing seems to work at this point. Could a true shakeup be in order, say maybe a trade, or at the very least a call up from Hamilton? Things are not going to get any easier for the Habs, Detroit comes to town on Tuesday, and if Les Boys come out with the same sort of effort as they did against Nashville, they will be run out of the rink.

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The Big Game

It is still early in the year, and really each and every game of the season is a must win, but tomorrow night's Buds vs. Habs tilt, is more important then the rest so far this season. The Leafs have been struggling all season, the Leaf Nation, the media, pretty much everyone who gives a damn about the Buds (exclude moi from the list), are screaming for whole scale changes in the TDot. A lose to the Habs tomorrow night maybe be the last straw, it may force the hand of the fine people of the MLSE to actually do something, in an attempt to right a sinking ship.

As far as what this means to my Habs, well things are not as dire in the MTL, yet, but a lose to the Buds always stings, and would be a 3rd lose in a row. It may not lead to panic, but it certainly will be a wake up call to the Hab's brass that things may be coming off the rails. The Buds always give the Habs trouble, they play Les Boys hard and seem to find a way (whether it be lucky bounce, or dominant physical play) to win.

I see this going one of two ways, the Habs either blow the Buds out, setting the ball rolling on the reconstruction of the Buds, or the Buds show up, like they always do against the Habs, and squeak out a victory, hence handing JFJ, Maurice et al. yet another temporary reprieve. It should be fun!

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Deja Vu?

I have once again been negligent to this poor old blog of mine. Let it be known that I still love my Habs, warts and all, but, life, maybe a touch of the writer's block, and hell perhaps a case of the what the hell is there to say, have prevented me from posting lately.

Lets get down too it then. is it just me, or do the Habs circa 2006-07, give off the same odor then that of the Habs 2005-06 team? Once again they explode quick out of the gate. They zoom all the way up to 4th in the Eastern Conference, then egad, and shite, guess what, the wheels start to fall off.

What does it all mean? How come? Lets start with the positives. The Habs have 3 of the best defensemen in the Eastern Conference right now. No one can blame Markov, Hamrlik, or Komisarek for their play thus far. The powerplay (which has disappeared the last 3-4 games) has not missed Souray one bit. The goaltending has been above average, no complaints there. Last year's whipping boy Alex Kovalev is playing his best hockey as a Hab. Kovalev's linemate Thomas Plekanec just keeps getting better and better, he has been the Hab's best forward many a night this season. Have I missed anything? Um, Higgins, well he has also had periods of brilliance, but to this point, I'd have to give him only a C+, he has to be great every night, he is that important.

Right, so now the bad news. As good as the Habs big 3 on defense have been, the bottom 3, or 4, Brisebois, Streit, Boullion, and Gorges have been really soft. I will reserve judgment on Gorges, he sees the least amount of playing time, and except for one brutal giveaway this year, he has been ok. Brisebois, what can I say, he might be my least favorite Habs player of all time. Why Bob Gainey brought this waste of space back I will never understand. Mark Streit, this kid was the best Hab during the pre-season, he was solid in the first ten games of the season, but he seems to be squeezing the stick now, he will be fine. Finally Bou Bou, oh poor Bou Bou, I know its not easy being a smurf, this guy is out of his league, there may be a spot for him on a TimBits Hockey squad.

Lets talk offense, or the lack of there in. This team, like last year's team, and well any Habs team for say the last ten to fifteen years can not put the puck in the net 5 on 5. It starts with the fact that the Habs 'sniper' Michael Ryder has been God awful all year. The '1st' line of Saku, Higgins, and Ryder have been non-existent for the last ten games, and well, how they go the Habs go. The Habs need some help up front, how that is going to happen, I have no clue. My only hope is that Gainey sees what I see, and finally makes this happen. Trade Huet, trade Ryder, dangle some picks, this team is in drastic need of scoring.

Thats it for now, seems I had a lot to get off my chest. Lets hope that the Habs can get their act together, it pains me to think that I am watching a rerun of last year. Yuck!

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5 Days Away

I have been rather silent lately. The Habs off season has been meh at best. I am always guarded in my optimism when it comes to my Habs. I find it much easier psychologically to be pessimistic of my team's chances. It is much better to be pleasantly surprised, for me, then it is to have my heart broken again by misguided hope. All that said, I looks to me that, with yet another quiet off season from "Stand Pat" Bob, it is going to be a long season for we in the Habs Nation. They have not gotten any better, and yet they probably aren't any worse. They are mediocre, and we the fans have sort of got used to that, haven't we?

Breezer, bashing instead of Souray bashing this season. Oh and I am loading up on my Bou Bou ammunition as well. Blargh!

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