AnotherHabsBlog

Saturday, July 07, 2007

The Hammer and a Little Smoke

The frenzy has all but ended. Bob, did a little, as is his way. He signed Hamrlik and Smolinski. I like Roman Hamrlik, I am not sure he is really worth all the pennies that Bob threw his way, but that is Bob's way. The GM of the Habs has to throw extra pennies in order to entice players to come to Montreal. Brian Smolinski is a solid hockey player, he is not the upper end center I was hoping for but, well, that is Montreal's way.

My nemesis Sheldon Souray has yet to find a new home. Funny, I get a lot of grief for my disdain for Souray's defensive play, and yet, and yet, it seems that the NHL GMs agree that he is a liability in his on end. That or his agent is looking for the moon, and well, the sky is quickly falling. Boo Hoo.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Sammy Dealt to the Hawks..WooHoo!!

The Habs shipped Sergei Samsonov to the Hawks for winger Tony Salmelainen and defenceman Jassen Cullimore (whom the Habs will buy out). This is a great move, not that Salmelainen is going to be the next big thing in the MTL, but because it rids the Habs of the headache that Sammy had become, and also freed up a little cap space.

Higgins and Komisarek have both also been signed to 2-year deals. Lets hope this is a sign that BG is going to have a productive off season. Now what to do with those two 1st round draft picks...hmmmm??

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

My apologies dear blog 'o' mine. I have been a neglectful parent. I have been too engulfed in life, to write, well at least about the fastest game on ice, or more specifically about my Habs.

So here it goes. Now that the yawner that was the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over. They were not dreadful, but there wasn't a hell of a lot of drama. Cinderella, not only lost her slipper, but she could not find it, I am not sure if she made it to the ball at all this year. Yawn! Its now the time for salacious rumours, the time were fans from every team screams and yells, jumps up and down and pounds their chests, demanding that their team's GM signs this UFA or trades this washed up veteran for the 1st round prospect who is going to be the next big thing.

First things first, Gainey locked-up the Habs best defenceman in Markov. There has been an offer made to Souray, some say it is a low ball offer. I think 4.5 million, or whatever it was, over 4 years, or whatever it was, is about right. That said there is many a GM in the NHL that will throw huge money at Souray, and therefore, unless this original offer was just away to begin the discussion, well I think Souray is going to look elsewhere. That really doesn't upset me. I'd rather see Timmonen or Hannam in a Habs uniform in the first place. Slap shots be damned.

Finally Yashin. Egad, no. Have not the Habs their full of moody, enigmatic Russian 'talent'? If it comes down to Gainey coming up empty in the UFA market, and it might, Yashin may be an affordable option. But, geezus I hope not.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Enough with the Canada's team crap....

Ok I get it TSN and the CBC have a vested interest in pimping the Ottawa Senators as Canada's team. Its a matter of garnering interest in the Stanley Cup Finals, sure it makes sense. The more bandwagon jumpers the better, its all about ratings, ad revenue, but fawk, get over it already. The majority of Canadian hockey fans are either Habs fans or Leafs fans, true Habs fans or Leafs fans have an awful time cheering for the Sens..it just doesn't seem right. So Sports Center cobble together as many Top Ten reasons why Ottawa should be Canada's team as you like..I am sick of it. Go Ducks.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Hockey vs. Basketball

Two nights ago there were two separate body checks in two separate sports that lead to a sum total of 4 athletes being suspended. Lets chat first about the Pronger hit, I agree that Pronger should have been slapped with some discipline, he may be 6'6'' but he was headhunting and there is no need for that in the game.

Next lets gab about the Robert Horry hipcheck on Steve Nash, it was dirty for sure, Horry should have been t-ed up, an ejection was the right call by the refs. I find his 2 game suspension a little harsh, sure basketball in principle is a non-contact sport (ever play..non-contact, my ass) but, Nash was not hurt. The scandal here is not Horry, it is the league's one game suspensions of the Sun's Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudimire for leaving the bench and going on the floor. Rules are rules says the NBA commish, but geezus if you can't protect or check on your team's best player after they have been flagrantly fouled, how does that stop things from boiling over. The Suns get hit hard for a flagrant foul on their best player...time to rethink that rule I think.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

I am Canadian, Meaning I Have to Cheer for The Sens...

Um, well no. Sure I want to see the Sens take care of the Sabres, I can't stand the Sabres, no-brainer there. If the Sens match-up against the Wings in the Finals, I am all Sens, but, but, if the Ducks land in the Finals the Ducks are my team.

I have had a hard time getting emotionally involved in the NHL Playoffs 07, there are no underdogs, the 4 teams remaining in the dance are the 4 teams that are arguably the top 4 teams in the NHL...where is the drama? I suppose if I were a Sens fan, I could get excited about the fact that the Sens have not blown a tire as per usual in the post season. I could bandwagon jump, the Sens being the soul Canadian team left in the big show...similar to the Oilers last year, and the Flames before that..difference being that the Oilers and Flames were gritty underdogs, they both had something special. Bah, Go Sens, I guess.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Playoff Thoughts

I haven't yet been all that engaged in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I can't seem to find a team to cheer for. I have minor crushes on the Wild, Isles, and the Flames, but from how it looks none of those teams are going to survive the 1st round. My pick to win the Cup, the New Jersey Devils are in peril of also bowing out in the 1st round...Marty where art thou??

I am sure when the dust settles, when I can get a clearer feeling as to who the contenders are versus the pretenders, say after the completion of the 2nd round, I will catch playoff fever. I am just not all that interested yet.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

All Over But The Crying....

I have not blogged much lately, there seemed to be a strange connection between my lack of posts and the way the Habs played. Well, superstition aside, the Habs came up short in the biggest game of the year, and will be on the outside looking in, in terms of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The 2006/2007 Habs team was a disappointment, at one point early in the season the Habs were solidly 4th in the Eastern Conference and looked to be sneaking up on the Buffalo Sabres for perhaps 1st in the North East. Cue the post-Xmas collapse, starting goalie Huet gets injured longterm, the Habs penalty killing goes in the tank...they are unable to score 5 on 5, constant distractions like that of the Samsonov soap opera, the benching and then trading of Craig Rivet, a no show season by Kovalev and a GM who sat on his hands at the trade deadline...there is more of course, as to why this team didn't make it to the show, but I am suffering from a big lose hangover, I have yet to find levity, I can not yet digest the 06-07 season objectively. Give me a few days, hell I may even point out some positives. SIGH!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Good Old Bruins...

Nothing like a couple of games against the Bruins to get the Habs right back into the playoff hunt. I wouldn't say that I feel for the boys from Beantown, hell that is akin to cheering for the Leafs...you have to wonder when the Bruins are going to figure it out, you simply cannot blow up the roster every year and hope to succeed in this league.

The kids continue to lead the way, Halak has been solid, Pleks has been the unsung hero, hell it looks (if last night is any indication) that Higgins might be getting his groove back. Egad, these late surges to make the playoffs, you can set your watch to them.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Halak Shuts The Door

Jaro Halak obtained his first career NHL shutout, and the Habs disposed of the Bruins 1-0 last night. Habs rookie Gui Latendresse scored the lone goal, and it looks like the Habs may be peaking at the right time. This plot has been written over and over again the last few years..the Habbies bite, scratch and claw into that last playoff spot. The difference this year may be that the surge this time around is being lead by youth...the kids have really stepped it up the last couple of weeks. Here is hoping that vets can catch some of their enthusiasm and that the Habs can make yet another improbable push for the playoffs.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Les Boys Are Still Hanging Around...

The win against the Leafs on Saturday, albeit another one of those cursed 3 point games, has keep the Habs tenable playoff hopes alive. They remain on the outside looking in, but the win was an important positive step. Funny how a good goaltending performance can make things a whole lot easier. The Habs seem to play with a lot more confidence in front of rookie Halak, then they do Abby...whose on ice flopping makes everyone nervous. I believe it's time to ride the rookie, let Abby rot on the bench.

Every game at this point is a must win...the Habbies face long time rivals the Bruins on Tuesday night, if they can get the same kind of goaltending, if they can play a full 60 minutes, the B's are beatable. To say I am confident of the Habs playoff hopes would be a gross exaggeration, but a Saturday night win against the Leafs always brightens a fella's mood.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

OK A Post To Post

Seems that the smattering of spring-like weather the past week or so has distracted me from blogging about my Habs. I of course, always have an eye out, I know what is happening, I simply have not felt compelled to write. The Habbies throughout the distraction that is Sammy's whining, and Kovalev's vertigo are riding a 2 game winning streak and remain in the playoff hunt. They are in 11th in the east, but only sit 2 points out of the 8th spot...there is hope. I will try and be more vigilant with my coverage, this is not a good weekend for me though, seems there is a little thing called St. Paddy's day forthcoming, and a boy has to represent his Irish roots. Cheers!!!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Glad I missed it.....

I played basketball last night, ran around, got sweaty, stole the show...upon arriving home, I of course knew les boys were playing, I checked the box scores, only to see that the Habs were down 6-1 at the end of the 2nd, that was enough for me to tone them out for the night. If the players wearing the bleu, blanc et rouge refuse to honor the uniform, why should I waste a Thursday night watching them.

This team has quit, I could make a list of the problems from top to bottom as to why this team is so bad right now, but, to hell with it, read the other posts in this blog, its all there. Seems the Habs organization is content on securing a top 5 or 6 draft pick. Hey everyone needs a goal.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Much to do about Kovalev....

The Habs are in the tank, they have not played a hockey for close to a week...so what is the Montreal sports media to do but raise a huge stink over a Russian interview that Alex Kovalev took part in. Seems that if the interview is 'liberally' translated, Alex K has some rather derogatory things to say about the team, and his teammates. He may or may not have said some nasty things about Francophone hockey players, he may or may not have called out Carbo.....my take, its all bollocks...the the Montreal sports media, because of a rather slow news week Habs wise, needed to dig up some dirt to sell copy. I mean come on folks, how reliable is the Russian press??? Its time for the boys to get back on the ice, if the media have to sink to these kind of lows in order to fill their sports pages.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Same Old, Same Old

The Habs Vs. Bruins game last night was a pretty good game all and all. Both teams skated hard, there was the typical passion that one might expect from these two long time rivals. The Habs lost the game because of 3 poor decisions by their dmen. The first goal, may have looked like a softy that Halak failed to snag with his trapper, but if you watch the shot, it was clear that the puck deflected off Souray's stick, and changed direction enough to freeze the young tender. The second goal was created when Komisarek unwisely pinched in the offensive zone and failed to keep the puck in, it resulted in a 2 on 1 and well Halak had no chance. The Third B's goal, was just a brainfart of a pass in the defensive zone by Souray, the errant pass went right to a Bruin who then centered it to Glenn Murray, et voila game over.

The Habs wasted a fine performance by their young goaltender, and well they are not going to win too many games when only scoring a single goal, I don't care who is between the pipes.

A spot in the post season is fast slipping away from les glorieux. If they do not find away to step it up, they will be on the outside looking in....and the 2006/07 season will be simply a wasted effort. Try as I might to put a positive spin on things, if it stinks, it stinks, and these guys in the bleu, blanc et rouge are pretty ripe right now.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Upon Reflection

I was spitting mad all day yesterday. I spent a good 10 hours of my day refreshing TSN, and listening to the Team 990 in the hopes that Bob Gainey might pull a rabbit out of his hat, or at least make a deal that would shake up the Habs roster...didn't happen. But wait, it gets better, I then spent 3 hours of my night listening to Habs game on the radio (Idol night, not worth the battle), only to hear the Habs get white washed by the Rangers. The sound everyone heard last night was the vein in my forehead pulsing...arrrgghhh I was. It is a good thing I resisted the temptation to post last night, it would have been ugly, I would have spit fbombs, I would not have had anything good to say about the state of the Habs nation. What has changed?? Nothing really, I am still not at all impressed with the Habs roster. I still do not believe that they are good enough to compete for playoff spot. But I have decided to wait and see. I will give Gainey and his cabal until the end of the summer to fix the mess that they have made. If Bob has a plan, if he makes a splash signs a Drury or a Briere, or if he does something with that extra 1st round pick all may be forgiven.....now back to my deep breathing exercises, serenity now!!!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Gainey Does Nothing......

Ok ok sure he picked up a goalie that was waived from the Flyers. Michael Leighton was Bob's big splash. Egad, he neither bought nor sold...Souray stays, Sammy stays, Janne stays...and the Islanders score Ryan Symth, ugh, not a fun day if you are a Habs fan.

Nothing Better Then Beating The Leafs.....Eeeeeks DDay.

Try as he might, Abby could not throw away a good performance by his teammates, and the Habbies won a huge game 5-4 over the Leafs. It is hard to describe how awful Abby was in nets in the 3rd period, he sure had myself and every other Habs fan watching the game on pins and needles...I have said it before I will say it again, a win, is a win, is a win...but phew.

Well the trade deadline ends at 3:00 p.m. eastern, it should be exciting. I have a feeling that Bob is not quite done. He can make a huge splash by moving Souray, he may pick up a stop gap goalie, he might be able to move some weak links like Sammy or Janne. The Habs are still on the bubble, they currently sit in 7th, it is unclear if they are buyers or sellers......time will tell.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Rivet Sent To San Jose...Is Bob Done??

Long time Hab and assistant captain Craig Rivet was traded to San Jose along with a 5th round pick, for little known dman Josh Gorges and a 1st rounder. Not the huge move alot of us were hoping for between the Habs and Sharks, Souray to the Sharks would have yielded a larger return...my feeling on this deal is lukewarm...Rivet is UFA, and has had a mediocre year, the 1st round pick is nice, this kid Gorges is nothing but added depth at the defensive end. I am sad to see Rivet go, he is a long time Hab and has always worn the CH with pride.

So the question now is, is that it, is this the best Bob Gainey can do? Is this the start of a selling spree? Or is Bob going to flip this pick in an attempt to land a playoff (should the Habs make it) rental, or that illusive center? Time will tell, only a couple days left, and the madness will be over, as fun as it has been.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

2 In A Row

Watch out world, Da Habbies are streaking. But seriously, funny how a couple of games against sub-par competition, coupled with steady goaltending and production from the first line tends to shake a team out of a funk. Nashville will be a serious test, the Preds just might be the best team in the league. This is still a fragile group, if the Preds jump out to an early lead, this one might get ugly.

Bob Gainey has still not blinked, is he a buyer or a seller?? Is it Souray, Markov or Rivet? Is Ryder on the block? Will anyone bite and take Sammy off Bob's hands? Gainey never tips his hand, leaks rarely occur from his office. He will do something, the question is will that move be a major or a minor? I couldn't tell you, a week ago, I was screaming sell, sell....now, I am not screaming....I am more in the sell high camp now. If the Habs squeak into the playoffs, I would not like to see them completely gutted.