tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post7406477288632435450..comments2024-03-05T19:21:13.252-05:00Comments on Eyes On The Prize: Carbonneau At Work As Canadiens Riddle ContinuesRobert Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16631806704699552307noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-37666101416363826842007-12-02T14:33:00.001-05:002007-12-02T14:33:00.001-05:00Thanks Readers, for taking the time and effort to ...Thanks Readers, for taking the time and effort to offer such intelligently written and though provoking comments. I've read them them all, and it will be quite challenging to respond.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, this Sunday I am swamped with a hockey practice for my daughter as well as work at 3. I will get around to replying to each of you tonight or after work on Monday - so please do check back here.<BR/><BR/>Much appreciated,<BR/><BR/>RobertRobert Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631806704699552307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-61990667743417086632007-12-02T14:33:00.000-05:002007-12-02T14:33:00.000-05:00It's nice to hear that Chipchura is being reviewed...It's nice to hear that Chipchura is being reviewed so well. Also that Latendresse seems to be gearing up. The drafts are really paying dividends, similar to the way Buffalo has built their team (though they are much further along). It's hard to see the team play so inconsistently now, but this team has a future.DKerrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02445386772250841397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-52366699066890478852007-12-02T14:26:00.000-05:002007-12-02T14:26:00.000-05:00I listened to the game last night and then saw the...I listened to the game last night and then saw the highlights this morning. Truly, they did not deserve their 3 goal leads, but they still had them. With that, they should have been able to bear down and get the win. The other postings are right, the team does not have confidence in itself to get hte job done. But, the solutions are not going to come from the outside, they must come from the guys in the room. We could dream up nifty trades all day, but those days of shaking up the team are gone in this era. <BR/><BR/>One question I have is: We all agree Huet is a very good goaltender, how can he be so lousy in shootouts? I cringe when we go to shootout with him in goal. He was beaten on all three last night, Radulov just didn't convert. How weird would it be to swap Price in for the shootouts?DKerrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02445386772250841397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-13361568529534894532007-12-02T11:12:00.000-05:002007-12-02T11:12:00.000-05:00Thanks for an interesting post. One thing in part...Thanks for an interesting post. One thing in particular that you said is something that's been going through my head for a while: "The Canadiens do not seem to have faith in themselves one bit."<BR/><BR/>I think confidence is the source of it - and it's translating into letting teams back in the game and not being able to catch up to other teams' leads.<BR/><BR/>Still, I have a lot of faith in the team and the coaching staff. They've been average in November, after a good start. I hope the decline has hit bottom, but they're not in a 'bad' position yet. I'll call it bad when they drop below average and fall out of a playoff spot. I believe that you have to go through rough spots to actually contend for the top - learn to deal with adversity, etc. - and that this team has been coming up short against that adversity in the last few years.<BR/><BR/>I think a key reason the Canadiens get off to good starts is because the slate is clean at the beginning of the season. Once they start playing, mistakes creep in one way or another (that's life - no one is perfect), and that's when (perhaps through blame or miscommunication or distrust of teammates' abilities) the team starts to fall apart.<BR/><BR/>So to win, play as a cohesive unit, as you said, or play with confidence in your teammates, as I like to think of it. This team is almost there in terms of skill to be a serious contender, and once the team mechanism starts working well, it will be.CheGorditohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692712275320903448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-34604602020083620802007-12-02T09:56:00.000-05:002007-12-02T09:56:00.000-05:00Robert,Now you see why Scotty Bowman was so aloof ...Robert,<BR/><BR/>Now you see why Scotty Bowman was so aloof with players :-)<BR/><BR/>You're right. There was little wrong with those coaches, and Carbonneau will be a good coach one day. Bob Gainey is a good coach. If a player calls out the team to a reporter, Bob remarks back. To me the time to talk to a player is not on national TV, but on that off day, in private, before you make changes. Maybe there is a reason, maybe there is a conflict you don't see.<BR/><BR/>This is their livelihood, they are taken care of, the players don't want to lose that. But me a fan, I didn't bother to watch last night. Too many of these chaps accept losing as the other guys fault. The only one to blame is yourself if your team loses. One player can turn a game, three can turn a season. You see that spark in Price, and Chips for sure. They quietly say "if I had..." "I could have..." while others say "We..." except in victory when they say "I got a lucky..." or "He gave me a great pass and I...". When Kovalev speaks his mind the world pounces on his back. Why? Because he led? When LaFleur speaks his mind the world pounces? Why? Well you see the point. Great players can't possibly be right. Think of how Lemaire, Lafleur, and Shutt played. They brought it. Every night. They certainly didn't dump it in and get off. That philosophy is called turnover.<BR/><BR/>Most systems can win. Sometimes you don't get to choose what the game will be though. The Habs can't hold a lead, because they don't expect to have one to hold. They are constrained by their system which has been losing for...wow is that really 15 years?<BR/><BR/>Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But I'm here to tell you that if you think you are going to lose, then you likely will. If you get a lead then sit back you're going to lose. If you think you have to check each of the other teams four lines and be the great defensive team, you're going to lose. If you think any goalie can stand against >30 shots a night then you are out of touch with reality, and you're going to lose. If you constantly turn the puck over because you are afraid to overstay your time, you're going to lose, and it begs the question what the heck were you doing out there for the last 45 seconds if you can hustle to the bench so fast while the puck is going the other way.<BR/><BR/>I think you only have to look at Mr Bonk. Mr Bonk did what was asked of him the last two years in Montreal. He did it exceptionally well. Chips will do that now. For less cost. Different things are being asked of Mr Bonk now. Guess what, he can do them. Imagine Vinnie in a Habs uniform, being asked to check the other teams first or second line, get that puck down ice, get off. Guess what, he could do that. And get booed. Un-huh. I expect he'll jump at that opportunity.<BR/><BR/>Somewhere today someone will say "Well we got a point." Yes they did. Of a possible 164 season points, they got one. The other team got twice as many, they got two. So at the end of the season you're going to be out of it by about 14 points, and about 30 out of being a contender.<BR/><BR/>That team can change. They know it, and that's why the system breaks down every year at this time. Each of those guys has way, way, above average talent. It is frankly remarkable that they can be on the same team. Teams with rigid "systems" that work do so because everyone buys in, they recognize their limitations, that by playing together in a fashion they can increase their success, and financial wealth.<BR/><BR/>The Habs aren't like that. Look at Chips. On another team he would be heralded as the next Marleau, even more. By playing as a below average team with a fixed system they don't reach sports success (see their record), and they don't reap potential financial reward. So what is in it for them? Other than never ending critic by fans like me.<BR/><BR/>GaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-39736760147476686722007-12-02T09:53:00.000-05:002007-12-02T09:53:00.000-05:00Last nite was definitely an experiment by the coac...Last nite was definitely an experiment by the coach.<BR/><BR/>Grabovsky showed he can center good line mates, very good offensive player, unfortunate that he is knocked down so easily, definitely need to hit the weights this summer.<BR/><BR/>Latendresse showed he belongs in the NHL and can score with good players.<BR/><BR/>An ailing Markov shows that without him we are in big trouble which we already know from last year.<BR/><BR/>I saw Smolinsky throw a hit last nite, um that was a first that I saw in a long time. I dont know but he definitely seems complacent.<BR/><BR/>Streit continued to struggle on the point on the powerplay but as a forward played better than as a defenceman.<BR/><BR/>Dandenault is still good as a forward.<BR/><BR/>Kovalev is the man this season.<BR/><BR/>Koivu actually played alright but what seems to be the problem with him is that he does not have the stamina to play against such big players in the NHL.<BR/><BR/>Higgins definitely appears to be a first line player.<BR/><BR/>Ryder can shoot but will he regain his lethality.<BR/><BR/>Gorges is pretty good for his age.<BR/><BR/>Hamrlik is a great defenceman.<BR/><BR/>Komisarek is fine.<BR/><BR/>Too many puckmoving defensemen, wish O'Byrne was ready for the NHL.<BR/><BR/>Using Koivu as the checking center last nite was so very strange.<BR/><BR/>Our centers are weak at faceoffs.<BR/><BR/>The end of this game shows that one of Kostopolous or Begin are needed in the lineup, I dont think I would scratch both.<BR/><BR/>Big time experiment from the coach last nite which was great for accessing his players.<BR/><BR/>I think Smolinsky should be sat and Grabovsky should be played so he can develop.<BR/><BR/>Chipchura is an amazing hockey player.<BR/><BR/>And to think Gainey is looking at bringing up players from a struggling Hamilton team, no wonder Carbonneau tried this experiment last nite.<BR/><BR/>Huet had a huge meltdown last nite.<BR/><BR/>Wow, confidence is everything in sports, when you got it you win and when you dont well you blow a 3 goal lead with like 8 minutes to go. They got great chances in overtime, just an inch from a win. Ahhhh the habs are better than we think and not as good as we had hoped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com