Habs Should Package Kids For Impact Player

The Canadiens 2008-09 training camp is at it's midway point, and other than a dismal first game showing against Boston, the team's performance has been excellent. Without once yet having iced a squad remotely reminiscent of last season's lineup, the Habs have fared well enough that one could envision them starting the season with either of the rookie laden groups they have dressed in the past three games.

I mean really, what are they to do with all of these kids coming through the woodwork?

It's a beauty of a problem to have if you happen to be Bob Gainey.

So far in exhibition games, it is clear that if this were any other season in which the Canadiens weren't so set and stacked, a good four or five rookies and prospects would be termed as NHL ready.

Matt D' Agnostini looks as though he could be a 15 to 20 goal scorer on about 15 NHL clubs starting this season.

Max Pacioretty is both physically and mentally at a big league level despite only being 19 years of age.

The performances of defensemen P.K. Subban and Yannick Weber tell of great futures so far.

The potential of center Ben Maxwell has shown itself greatly, especially when his talents are combined with those of solid NHL'ers.

And they have only been the best of the best thus far.






















There are also players with last names like Desharnais, Beauregard, Carle, Desjardins, Trotter and Stewart who have made strong impressions in a short time.

All could one day be in the NHL.

The 11 players named here, are primarily just the sharper tip of the iceberg for the Canadiens, and the reality is that they cannot all fit into the club's future plans.

The problem for a smiling Gainey is that the inner competition amongst these one day Habs is that it will bring out the best in them. Open spots on the club currently are more rare than Beatles reunion rumours.

The downside is that many of these players will walk from the team in time, returning little in terms of value. They will be flipped for draft picks down the line at best.

An interesting solution might have presented itself in the sheer numbers of these cumulative talents, as individually their worth would tend to be less than their combined value as a whole.

The Canadiens should make some decisions, perhaps premature, and roll the dice, in order to acquire a player that could not only take them to a higher level, but keep them there for a good long haul.

I bring this up because I see a pair of clubs - Pittsburgh and Detroit - screening the Canadiens Stanley Cup visions.

To ask why, is to understand that the Habs have no players in the Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk class within their ranks.

Adding a player of that high calibre, would go a long way towards ensuring that the club maintains annual Stanley Cup aspirations.

Mind you, I think this current team is capable right this season, with its current configuration, to go all the way.

But I'm a Habs fan, and I can only think in terms of dynasties. One Cup, only brings a thirst for more, hence my long term view that gaining a markee player suits that need best.

As I see it, in the short or long term, the Canadiens will need a player of absolute character, force, and value. A player that might well define the team identity, beyond the current Koivu and Kovalev regime.

















I envision the idea of such a player as being capable of producing between 85 and 100 points annually for the next decade, or close to it. Someone to measure up against the likes of Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk.

The Canadiens can only gain such a player via three methods.

1 - Drafting a prospect in the top three spots over the next two seasons.

2 - Making a trade for such a high pick.

3 - Acquiring via the trade route, an already established player who could fill this need.

For option number 1 to happen, the Canadiens would need to be the Islanders, Maple Leafs, Thrashers or Kings. File that scenario under "Not Gonna Happen".

Option two is more likely, in that the Habs could package a group of a half dozen bodies of promise, and gain a lottery pick in the draft that could turn out to be more than the sum of it's parts.

The most immediate route is obviously the most salacious. Acquire a bona fide NHL star - rising or established.

Names - you want: Kovalchuk, Gaborik, Morrow, Kopitar, or Getzlaf. (There are others, but I digress!)

Placed in the Canadiens shoes, I would not part with Pacioretty, McDonough, Yemelin or Maxwell. Other prospects are negotiable.

The bait offered- an alluring bevy of Habs prospects with a pinch of current regulars tossed in.

























Here's the card I would play if I were Gainey:

2006 first round pick, defenseman David Fischer.

Jaroslav Halak.

The rights to Alexandre Perezhogin.

A choice between center Ryan White and winger Matt D' Agnostini.

A choice between Subban and Weber.

A choice between centers Lapierre and Chipchura.

A choice between Mathieu Dandeneault and Tom Kostopoulos.

The possible flip flop of draft choices in 2009 or 2010.

Depending on the trading partner, I'd want Gainey to consider adding an alternative, in the name of a roster player or second round pick.


You might ask why I would be willing to see the club part with so many assets to gain but one player.

My answer involves calculated risk, but I always see it in the sense that the club gaining the best player in a deal is usually the winner.

Of the options available above, if I were to be another clubs GM, I'd grab the following.

White as he is a centerman, over D' Agnostini, because he is a better skater and shows more two way responsability.

Subban over Weber, for reasons incurring grit, charisma, and nationality.

Lapierre over Chipachura in regards to experience, skating skills, and attitude.

Kostopoulos, for his age over Dandy, and his willingness to go to no end for team mates.

I'd also say "NO" to the flip of choices, or at best retain the option.

In the final tally, a deal for the likes of Kovalchuk, Gaborik, Morrow, Kopitar, or Getzlaf would boil down to Fischer, Halak, Perezhogin, White, Subban, Lapierre, and Kostopoulos.

All told, seven bodies for a franchise player.

Which trigger would you pull?

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What The Habs Training Camp Is, Means, And Does

The Canadiens and Sabres tilt in Roberval is a few hours away, and I've got mathematics and possibility on the brain.....

So I'm trying to figure this out.

An abundant 52 players in the Canadiens camp.

Six games in seven nights.

Maybe 23 roster spots.

Almost as many one way NHL contracts.

What gives?

I laughed when one take I read said, "All this time to find out if Kyle Chipchura will make the team."

Chipchura won't. He needs to play. Cut to the chase, already!

So just exactly what is this Canadiens training camp supposed to accomplish in terms of final roster and pre-season preparation.

If I'm the coach, I start with about 30 hopefuls, and give the additional 7 or 8 players a good four games to strut their stuff.

The other 22 young studs time's will come. Show me what you got in Hamilton, where I believe it is a more important priority for them to gel as a unit ASAP, rather than getting a look-see of how they fare against the pros and other NHL hopefuls in preseason.



















Perhaps that's why I don't run the team.

But the Canadiens tend to approach matters differently. They want to see exactly what these guys have got in the tank. There are many ways to measure the skills and gamesmenship of prospects, but this is perhaps the one opportunity when they can be given the chance to show what they can do against established NHL'ers.

So we get to find out how Marc Denis deals with playing behind a dyslexic defense unaware they are screening him.

We get to know that Mathieu Aubin has trouble deking Zdeno Chara.

We may learn a few more useful bits of information from tonight's game against the Sabres.

For myself, there are three main curiosities this camp.

How close is Pavel Valentenko to making the team.

Is there a goalie we could call up in a pinch should Carey Price get hurt.

How ready is Pacioretty, in that beautiful number 67 I hope he keeps, for no other reason than I want it on the ice when the Habs play the Leafs.

Training camp is no longer about getting in shape. Unless you are Kyle Wellwood and have turned into Fat Balloon. Players today show up in shape.

Today's camps are about synchronicity and environment.

The synch is for the vets, the atmosphere for the kids.




















Manager Gainey, prior to camp alluded to the lack of open roster spots for rookies as compared to previous seasons. He spoke honestly that the quality of ready players knocking at the door aren't quite as plentiful as last season and those before it.

In saying such, Gainey also projected to next season and its camp, and stated that many would again be at the door then.

Maybe the notion of having the abundance of players this time, is a nod to getting them prepared for next camp, in terms of best assessing what needs to be accomplished on an individual basis for players over the next 12 months.

That, to me, makes sense. It's not so much about players making the team. It's about where these players stand in rank.

......the Roberval love-in game is in the books, and the Habs have won 3-2.

The 52 players in camp proposition does have it's props after all.

Still I wish I could have seen the most serious greenhorns trimmed down to a half dozen, surrounded by vets.

It would make all our assessments more serene, for now.

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Don't Pitch A Tent Over Habs Camp Surprises

Now that the Canadiens rookie camp is winding to it's end, the focus will now be shifted to the 52 players at the main camp - more than double the roster than will begin the Habs 100th season in October.

Training camps are all about battles for survival in making the team, and the surprises and unexpected twists in the perceived plans of the team.

Unfortunately, this season, for those expecting suspense and intrigue this fall, the pickings will be slim.

There may be but one surprise this camp. More on that in a bit.

Last season, fans and management alike were aware of the potential for as many as five rookies making the team, and eventually each of those expected scenarios played out.

Carey Price not only made the club, but over time he wrestled the starters job away from Cristobal Huet.

Centers Kyle Chipchura and Mikhail Grabovski beat out Maxim Lapierre in the battle for the club's fourth and fifth pivot spots.

Ryan O'Byrne fell just short of making the team, but would eventually end the season in Montreal.

Sergie Kostitsyn, perhaps the best Habs rookie in pre-season, was offered an AHL trial run before becoming a Habs mainstay come December.

It seems almost ancient history now that great ink was spilled over the rise of Price and the fall of Lapierre.

This season promises a whole lot less drama.

You can safely bet your grandmother's false teeth that when camp breaks this time around there won't be a rookie in sight. You could even throw in Grandpa's Depends!

That's not to say that there aren't worthy candidates on the watch - there are plenty! It is just that this season's Canadiens are a whole different animal.

They've gone from a yappy Jack Terrier to a rabid pit bull in one season - a first place finish will accomplish as much. Whatever holes were apparent on the team when the playoffs ended last spring have been remedied by the free agent signing of Georges Laraque and the acquisitions of Alex Tanguay and Robert Lang.

In three fell swoops, went the hopes of Gregory Stewart, Matt D' Agnostini, and Kyle Chipchura, never mind every other rookie clammoring for a spot behind them.

With the Canadiens packed and primed for a solid run at the Stanley Cup, the hopes and dreams for prospects such as those named above and the likes of Pavel Valentenko, Max Pacioretty, and Mathieu Carle will be put on hold.

And it is only logical, no matter how well they fare come the end of camp.

Expect Pacioretty to stick around right until the final cuts, as the Habs brass will want a good look at everything he has to offer. He will do well, but he'll get cut, for no reason other than the team he is trying to make is loaded.

You could almost pencil in the Canadiens starting lineup on opening night.

A. Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Kovalev
Tanguay - Koivu - Latendresse
Higgins - Lang - S. Kostitsyn
Laraque - Lapierre - Begin

Markov - Komisarek
Hamrlik - O' Byrne
Gorges - Bouillon

Price

The pressbox paper airplanes, barring injuries, will be piloted by Mathieu Dandeneault, Patrice Brisebois, Tom Kostopoulos, and perhaps Chipchura.

No shockers and no surprises!

I predict good showings for all of Valentenko, Pacioretty and Stewart, but don't get excited over it - their future's will play out 12 months from now.

If you want to look for a surprise camp battle, a scrambling of the cards - look no further than the crease.

Unmentioned, and often relegated beyond memory, was the Canadiens signing of veteran free agent goaltender Marc Denis.

Trust me, a showdown between Denis and Jaroslav Halak will take place in this camp!

Am I off my rocker?

No, sir, I am riding it!

I'll explain why

Among all goalies in the Canadiens organization, no puck stopper is more experienced than Denis. He has played more NHL games than Carey Price, over 300 to be precise. His 112 NHL wins speak of his worth, although he has never stopped a puck in the playoffs.

Denis has similarities with Price - both were first round picks burdened with high expectations.

Each has gone onto the World Junior stage in annual WJC.

While Denis' NHL career has had it's low notes, he may be the Habs best stopper when it comes to relating to Carey Price.

If you think that is merely coincidental, how about that Denis has backed up both Patrick Roy and Jose Theodore in his NHL career.

Still thinking I am off my rocker?

You know, of course, that Bob Gainey works in mysterious ways. The Habs GM is not going to disect his decisions for public scrutiny - right?

As you might well see what I am getting at, I do not want my views taken as a vote of non confidence in regards to Halak - a goalie whom I greatly appeciate.

But quite simply, my view's matter squat. I've no insight into the Canadiens brass' inner workings or thoughts.

I just a see two suitcase loads of experiences that can affect and benefit Price's standing as the Habs number one goalie as this season progresses.

In Halak, a puckstopper of equal age and experience, aspiring to the same position - Habs number one goalie - that may or may pressure Price, depending on his performances.

Or Denis, a young veteran with a history and road travelled similar to Price, with whom he can learn a great deal of harsh reality lessons from.

What will Price learn if Denis is sent to Hamilton?

In a nutshell, there is your training camp battle, intrigue, and surprise - for what it is worth.

Oh, and did I mention that Denis is getting the start against the Buffalo Sabres in the Roberval game on September 23.

Carbonneau Declares The Habs A Contender

Guy Carbonneau was on CKAC this morning at 9:30 talking about what he is expecting of the Canadiens this season. CKAC caught up with him at his annual charity golf tournament - L' Omnium Guy Carbonneau.

Here is quick translation of all his statements:

Carbo is cinfidant that the Habs are a contender this season.

He says that the 100th anniversary season with be a funfilled year, but that the multitude of events shouldn't be distracting to the players.

The coach says that he knew he had a better team than what the experts were predicting last season.

He adds that with experience, they are only getting better and better, and that they should have learned a great deal from their elimination.

He believes the Habs are still the running for Sundin, and understands why he's taking his time. He thinks Mats is being professional in taking his time to make the right decision.

Carbo doesn't believe that adding Sundin would change the composition of the team greatly.

















He says he spoke with Alex Tanguay and that the player is very excited to join a team that is at this particular point in its progression.

Carbo says he's satisfied with his team, even without Sundin.

The coach says the fans will love Laraque and what he brings, and having spoken to his player, he is up to every challenge.

He says that there haven't been too many organizational meetings of late with the club, and that heading into his third season as coach that it will be easier as as the training camp schedule is set in stone. Rookie camp starts September 15.

Asked if there are any young players he will have his eyes on, Carbonneau spoke mostly of Chipchura and the opportunity that lies ahead for him. Beyond that, Carbonneau says he doesn't yet see any one player that he feels will cause big surprises in camp and make the big team, and that every worthy rookie should be getting a minimum of three games to show their stuff.

Carbonneau said he noticed Max Pacioretty standing out at developement camp, but placed emphasis on the fact that it was a developement camp after all and the player will be best judged against professional talent come next month.
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Looking Back On A Successful Regular Season

What a difference one year can make!

Last season, the Canadiens rode the hot goaltending of Jaroslav Halak, in for the injured Cristobal Huet, trying desperately to cling to an elusive playoff spot.

In 11 games from March 10 to April 3, Montreal were 9-2, and saw their hopes of advancing to the post season vanish with consecutive losses in their final two games.

The 6-5 heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 5th did them in.

That final game was a fair representation of what 2006-07 was to the Canadiens. It all about breaks, bounces, and unpredictability.

For certain followers of the team, the ending result was dubious - a happenstance of the oddball calamities that inflicted the team. Some knew the Canadiens were a better team that the record showed.

For others, it was testimony that the Habs were still at square one. Faith, in the big picture for doubters, was fleeting.

So, what happened this season? What were the causes of behind the Canadiens launching from tenth place a year ago into the top spot in their conference this season?

It all started with the believers in the team, the GM, the coach, and the entire organization, understanding that the end result last season was not a true reflection of where the Canadiens were at.

No one panicked, no one was fired, the blueprint was not blown up.

Instead, the continuity of faith in the plan was reaffirmed.























General manager Bob Gainey hit the summer free agency period with a Plan B that might have worked out better than his Plan A.

When the homerun swing for Daniel Briere and the attempted resigning of Sheldon Souray failed, Gainey went for depth. Subtracting Souray, Radek Bonk, Mike Johnson, Janne Niniimaa and David Aebischer from the starting lineup, the Habs GM latched onto Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Patrice Brisebois, and Tom Kostopoulos, and with them, brought in character and experience.

Gainey's best moves may have involved doing his homework in regards to the Canadiens youth corps.

With over a half dozen prospects ready to contribute in Montreal, he managed every case perfectly.

Young players on the table in off season discussions included Price, Halak, O' Byrne, Grabovski, Lapierre, Latendresse, the Kostitsyn brothers, and Kyle Chipchura.

Many organizations follow structured means and motto's where each player is treated the same, when it comes to making it to the National Hockey League.

Gainey treated every player scenario individually based on a progression expectation. He tested skills, maturity, and and compatibility in each player, and learned exactly where each one stood.

When training camp broke, Gainey dispatched Lapierre, Halak, O' Byrne and the younger Kostitsyn back to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Many thought all four had earned a spot - but there are only so many openings.

Opinions were divided over the camps of Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn, and the cases of Price and Grabovski making the big club caught many by surprise.

In certain cases Gainey was examining reaction and adaptation. He kept a pulse on maturity and an eye on domination in the AHL.

The fate of the Hamilton Bulldogs be dammed - Gainey wasn't in this to win back to back Calder Cups!

The tests that Gainey layed out for individual players paid great dividends. Eight of the nine players are currently with the Canadiens - save for Chipchura, who likely a victim of depth.

Price played well, but not steady enough to satisfy the team. A stint, a reality check of sorts, in Hamiltom at mid season served him well. He has been a different netminder since his callback, to the point where Gainey did not bat an eyelash in dispatching Cristobal Huet to the Capitals so that Price could assume his destiny.

Max Lapierre coasted when he should have been focused in camp. His easing off the gas pedal cost him a Hamilton reminder. He returned to the Habs with renewed dedication.

Halak brooded upon his send down, a victim of numbers. No fault of his own, the Canadiens needed to learn what Price was capable of at an NHL level, as they had an impending free agent goalie to assess. After a shakey start, Halak reaffirmed his AHL dominance and his NHL worthiness.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Guillaume Latendresse shared a similar microscope. Both had qualities worthy of being solid NHL'ers, but their work habits represented question marks.

For Andrei Kostitsyn, it was an application to a more physical game that was being looked at. Intensity and a willingness to pay the price were his faults, and patiences were tested when he was sat off on occasion.

For Latendresse, the Canadiens organization kept a close eye on his dedication to learning. Not blessed with wingers of size, the Canadiens needed the big winger for his physical element as much as his scoring. A different approach was applied to his learning curve and there was a marked improvement in his on ice awareness while he maintained his offensive numbers.




















Grabovski and Chipchura were left to duel it out as fourth line center and eventually both were sent back to Hamilton.

Grabovski had lost his spot with the team initially for two main reasons. The first, which had nothing to do with his play, involved the Canadiens getting good offensive contributions from everyone to the point where he was not really needed. The second was the fact that Chipchura had outplayed him and it didn't do any good for him to be sitting around.

Chipchura's half season was a positive one, where he often looked very instinctive for a player of his young age. He did a lot of things well, but when measured against Maxim Lapierre in a similar role, his role and roster spot became expendable.

Sergei Kostitsyn was a revelation of sorts. He had been scoring at a point per game pace in Hamilton when called up and he has never looked back. He offered a physical dimension Grabovski did not have and also was a most compatible winger on whatever line he was given to play on. He also had a profound effect on his older brother, and somehow having the two together brought out the best in Andrei.

O'Byrne came as advertised and hasn't disappointed. He is a patient and poised defender who does not try to do to much. His size and his reach demanded a big league tryout and he passed it with steady play. O' Byrne seems to improve with each passing week, and I recently heard one assessment by a former NHL coach who said that O' Byrne is ahead of Mike Komisarek at the same stage.























In the grand scheme of things, it was important for Gainey to find out exactly what he had in all this youth. They were all tested at the NHL level and though trial and error Gainey and Carbonneau learned what their youngsters were capable of bringing to the team. Seeing each indivudual player as a piece of a larger puzzle, enabled the team to find out exactly where other individuals fit.

What helped speed up the process for Gainey was the Hamilton Bulldogs surprise Calder Cup win in 2007. That bought players experience they could not have gotten otherwise, and not only was it beneficial to their progression as professionals, it also expediated Gainey's evaluation of his best prospects.

An abundance of talented youth injects a great faith in a team when every player understands their role. It can cause division and individualism if players feel their jobs or roles are threatened.

None of this seemed to occur with the Canadiens this season. Most players who were sat out for a game or two were quickly brought back into the lineup to contribute. One has to assume that Carbonneau understood how to manage not only his players, but their personalities.

Dealing with the ego's of third and fourth line players, as well as the extra defenseman the team carried, was crucial to not causing a division and the creation of player cliques.

It is obvious that both Carbonneau and Gainey learned a great deal about how to proceed with this from the Stanley Cup win of 1986.
















The storyline of the Canadiens 23rd Cup will always center around the exploits of Patrick Roy's rookie season, but in truth it had as much to do with how a team with 9 rookies at any given time learned the hard lessons of bonding for the betterment of team goals. Veterans and newcomers that season ran into conflict upon occasion, but this season the Habs seemed to steer right by such problems.

The tales of Alex Kovalev playing big brother to many of the European talents on the team is but one example of possibly many in regards to how this team gelled almost from the start. Veteran players such as Koivu, Hamrlik, Markov, Smolinski, Brisebois, and others surely were as supportive of the team first scheme.

Much has been made of Gainey's off season chats with Kovalev and the dividends they have paid, and rightfully so. For a player to show up with a freshened attitude, and who turns himself from a team cancer to it's most outspoken leader, it has an unestimable trickle down effect on the overall chemistry of a team. Leadership needs to come from many areas on a winning team, but when it is sought and found where it should be is most reassuring, especially on a young squad seeking guidance in their initial seasons.

Many decisions were made by team managemant throughout 82 games. There are always lineup substitutions, line mate changes, callups, demotions, off ice incidents, and game plan alterations. Players all have their opinions on what they believe works and doesn't work. When decision made by Carbonneau or Gainey produce the desired result time after time, players cease to question the motives or means, and simply place faith in those decisions as being best for the team.























When Bob Gainey chose to part with Cristobal Huet at the trade deadline, he had to consider many evaluations. Gainey had to not only know for certain that Price was ready to handle the starters role, but also have a solid idea how the players themselves would react to it.

Huet was obviously a respected and appreciated team mate. Many mourned his trading away, but few doubted Gainey in knowing that it was the right thing to do. There were no players questioning the risk of the move or Gainey's bravery in being so decisive at a crucial time.

Gainey obviously has his thumb on the pulse of team, otherwise he would not have risked such a trade. He had to now that his team had faith in Carey Price and the character to soldier on.
In the 19 games in the post Huet era, the Habs went 14-4-1 to finish out the season.

In looking back over what has been the 2007-08 regular season, you will find all kinds of individual benchmarks, career years, and shining statistical notes. Numbers are spit out about how the Canadiens have not done this or that since whenever, and it all adds up to one big sexy spin.

The angles and views build great confidence, from players down to fans, but it is wise not to get too caught up in the allure.

What the Montreal Canadiens did best in this season was build, gel, and progress.

They are getting closer and closer to that Holy Grail destination, and if 2008 doesn't turn out to be the year, we can be comforted in the knowledge that a foundation has been poured, secured, and cemented for the future.

Regardless of how far the Habs go into this playoff, what has been learned along the way should serve them for years to come.
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Habs Experience A Little Southern Comfort

(Robert L Note: Bare with me, loyal readers - this post is all over the place! It takes in these two recent wins in Florida, the team's fumbling and stumbling through ups and downs, its youthful growing pains, a fan's view, and my own perceptions and deceptions with having to take it all in while trying to make it all make sense in the grand scheme of things. This piece may read like a collage of thoughts and feelings you may have felt at times when pondering the Habs fate of late. Admittedly, that is exactly what it is. I hope that somehow it comes together as a whole for those reading it.)

Back to back wins, on consecutive nights, in the state of Florida?

Like, when has that ever happened with the Canadiens?

Usually, the southern state twofer presents itself as a traditional rough spot for the Canadiens and I'm certain many were not predicting this result after a very uninspired showing in Dallas on December 23rd - historically a 2 point Habs graveyard.

In addition to that notion, it is doubtful than any fan foresaw a ten goal outpourring down south after it was announced that coach Carbonneau had reconstituted the first and third lines incomprehensibly. What looked like desperate and foolish juggling some 48 hours ago, now looks genial two wins later.

Even Michael Ryder, in the midst of the most successsful vanishing act since Sergei Zholtok, chipped in with his first goal in eons!

As surprising as this recent pair of wins is, the team is still as mysterious as it is youthful. The Canadiens can be all guns some nights, and nothing but firers of blanks the next. It gets outshot badly, yet wins, and the next game the opposite happens and they lose while outchancing opponants.

Another paradox involves watching young players flourish while the team as a whole stumbles. Individual performances do not add up to a united chemistry. The puzzle pieces of the team are confusing in how they are all seemingly sitting there, but not always coming together like the big picture it demands it should be.

I have been struggling, to be quite honest, with how to approach writing about the repeated fumbles of the team in the past weeks. It is difficult when the team merely plays .500 hockey, to maintain some freshness in regards to a point of view and an overall theme.

This site was baptized as "Eyes On The Prize" because I sought to pursue the big picture - the Stanley Cup as a goal - with lessons learned from the past linking to the trials of the present.

Sometimes, with that goal in mind, I have to remind myself that big picture patience requires blogger patience!

I have long believed the Montreal Canadiens to be on the right path, with some of the right players, and the best coach and GM available presently to allow the process of building a championship team to be an accentuated one. This season, like last season, we are witnessing that the procerss does not happen overnight.

I feel I need to declare and explain such particular points when the frustration over the team's treading water begins to make me feel my words are becoming redundant.

Occasionally I get to feeling this way when I place myself in readers shoes and perceive my own words as beginning to sound like a broken record. I make no apologies for how I look at things in Habsland - it's just my job to try to not get boring and repetitive.

So, if what you are about to read sounds like something you have heard here before - crucify me for my consistency of thought.





















The Canadiens back to back wins over the Lightening and Panthers reminds me of how much we as Habs fans have come to resemble fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs at times. We spring eternal hope with a mere sound win, yet despair to the depths of hell in back to back losses.

The connundrum baffles me to no end. Have we fans strayed so far from the teams glory years of the Canadiens that we have lost sight of the perspective of how to build winning teams that we must question every decision a coach makes in regards to line changes?

Have we reached a point of frustration where, sitting in a playoff spot, 5th in the conference, simply is not good enough by mid season?

Considering how young the present edition of the Canadiens is, shouldn't we be more hopeful than we are confused?

The answers to all these questions are hardly simple. They require some perspective and tunnel vision. They also require of a fan, the ability to focus inward at the soul of what hope means, while not glancing too long at the current NHL picture as a whole.

The Habs, all roadbumps given so far, aren't faring too badly. They have had their sluggish, frustrating, and distracted moments, but their standing in the upper echelon of the league, despite their slips, isn't all that bad.

Yes, we may agree the team could be doing better, but the memories of what is worse shouldn't be lost on our collective craniums. I mean, remember the days when an Oleg Petrov or Juha Lind represented hope?

























The Habs are building - one brick, one loss, one day, one lesson at a time. If that is not fast enough for fans - that's their problem, not the team's.

When the nucleus of this current youth core reaches the ages of 24 to 27 years of age, the Canadiens will be built to contend year in and year out, much like the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators do.

In each of the last few seasons the team has added rookies from it's own fruitful drafts to shore up the team, building it from the ground up. Since 2005, it has been designed from the net out, with the drafting of Carey Price and the careful and particular selection of character defenseman.

The first wave of young talent - Komisarek, Plekanec, and Higgins - were joined last season by Latendresse, Lapierre, and Andrei Kostitsyn. This season has seen the additions of Price, Chipchura, O'Byrne and Sergei Kostitsyn. Should the next few years bring Alexei Emelin, Ryan McDonagh, P.K. Subban and Max Pacioretty - all solid prospects that may arrive sooner than we think - then the Canadiens will have assembled quite a devastating artillery of players from the draft.

It is refreshing, even while the team has meandered inconsistently of late, to watch players such as Latendresse and the younger Kostitsyn, both 20, develop their games and character.

Often, I believe, we forget how young this team actually is in spirit and experience.

Currently, there are 5 players on the team on pace for 20 goal (or more) seasons. Should Koivu and Andrei Kostitsyn pick it up in the second half, there could be seven. The team's best scorer from the last three seasons, Michael Ryder, is not among the group, and that may testify to the progression of the current lineup. Pencil in the younger Kostitsyn as another who may reach that 20 goal total in a year, and it gives the impression that the Canadiens aren't far off in assembling a well balanced team with both offensive attack instincts and defensively rounded games.

Many of these players are projecting career seasons - an upward trend that should continue as seasons pass with gained experience and confidence.
























What has me newly inspired with these two wins in Florida, is that it seems the team has turned a corner. It is pushing itself to be better. It may be learning to deal with its own panic tendencies with a calmer reaction and focus. It is starting games with a more eager intent on setting a pace rather than being concerned with the fear of making mistakes.

Coach Carbonneau has caught me off guard with two gutsy changes he has made of late. One, which I do not agree with, was sitting Chipchura - undeservedly in my opinion. I don't understand what was behind the move, but the gamble has resulted in Maxim Lapierre's unleashed best efforts two nights running. Coincidence or plan?

Look into the future - don't Chipchura and Lapierre strike you as killer third and fourth line centers?

The other move that has been pleasingly perplexing to me, has to do with the perceived long standing Habs tradition of bringing in talent by grooming it slowly and surely. It is an old theme, going back to the grooming of such greats as Yvan Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur, who were schooled in defensive systems and placed precariously into fitted roles on well established winning teams.

It has been complained long and hard by fans - "Why don't we just let these young kids play their game?"

It is a valid question.

Has anyone taken note that captain Koivu is centering two 20 years old?

Consequently, has anyone extended kudos to Carbo for having the balls to spread out his team's attack so fluidly over three lines in countering the pop gun, one line attacks of both Southern state opponants?

We have a young team that is learning by experience. We also have a coach who is learning who his team is by the same trials and errors. It could be that Carbonneau often poses the same questions we do - who knows?

I mentioned earlier about hope springing eternal upon the positiveness of good performances. I have come to the conclusion that it is so much easier to despair about the Canadiens, in regards to the current assembled talents in the stable, when the team disappoints, than it is to be hopeful.

But that is a natural reaction built up by hope.

The next time I feel like I have felt of late, I'll tap myself upside the head and consider the options that are presented by no hope at all.

I'd rather this hopeful outlook.

Price Too Much For Leafs

To quote former Habs coach Jacques Demers on RDS about Carey Price after this win, "I have never seen a goalie with this much talent, have such coolness and composure at the age of 20!"

No kidding Jack...the kid reminds of Tuuku Rask!

Joking aside, tonight Carey Price very adequately lived up to every superlative that has ever been claimed for him.

And this game lived up to it's billing in every way as well.

Both teams played decently well head to head. The Leafs as usual, outshot the Canadiens.

Tucker was a pest, while Kovalev was at his best. Montreal's powerplay was on. Wade Belak did something dumb. Latendressse took advantage of his promotion to the top line. Mats Sundin almost played Hab killer again.

The usual, sprinkled with the usual strangeness.


















The officials missed calls, virtual muggings at times on both sides, and let the teams play. I often like the idea of letting wide open games unfold, but as the Canadiens have the league's best PP, you can understand why I might grumble some, as this letting things go method surely hurts the team with the best PP more.

The zamboni driver might be fired before John ferguson Jr. Either that or he is getting paid under the table by Master Card. It's unthinkable that he has to pass the mat four times over the ice before both teams are satisfied. File that scene under things you might never see again.

The duo of Roman Hamrlik and Patrice Brisebois looked more like Abbott and Costello for two periods.

Chad Kilger, still one of my favorite players (A Cornwallite and former Hab) when he puts it together, looked like vintage Eric Lindros on one rush. Happy Birthday Chad - but your team still bites it!

Paul Maurice looks like Michael Douglas in "Falling Down", right before he losses his marbles.


























Enough of the strange, many Habs did good things worth mentioning tonight, starting with Price.
Ridiculous claim time for Price? The Habs goalie of the future has arrived. His time is right now, and I'll say it like this - the Canadiens have two number one goalies. The younger one has a better winning percentage. Should the trend continue until playoff time - who is the starter for Game One?

Another proclamation in the high hopes department. Everytime I watch Kyle Chipchura play, I raise the bar on his upside. This kid is solid, smart, poised, and aware on the ice. One day, he'll score 20 goals and be one of the best shutdown centers in the league.

Latendresse didn't look out of place with Higgins and Koivu - far from it. Kudos to him for not giving up on play that only he and a referee knew wasn't dead. He was exactly where a player of size should be in a scrum, and he was justly rewarded.

Speaking of young players of size....

( Interupting the writing of this post game report, was an RDS feature on Habs first round pick Max Pacioretty. For those who didn't tune into RDS after the game, Max was lauded by his Michigan state coach Red Berenson, as well as Habs scout Trevor Timmins, who was on hand in Michigan to catch some games. Old Red seemed thrilled with Max's play, adding that he has 12 points in his last 10 games. He was compared favoratively to a Ryan Smyth or Eric Cole type. Berenson noted that Pacioretty is getting the ice time of a veteran, which is unheard of for a rookie in the University ranks. Max is surprisingly playing on both the PP and PK unit's. Timmins noted that Pacioretty is precisely the type of player a team cannot trade for, as no one gives up on such physical specimens whose games include a scoring touch combined with size. The report concluded by agreeing that Pacioretty is so far ahead of his expected progression, that it is highly doubtful thhat he will be left to complete his four year stage at Michigan Tech.)

I had to share this. Back to the game now.

The second coming of Alex Kovalev continues. He is to Leafs fans what Sundin is to us. Give him five square feet of open ice, a distracted defender, a puck and a split second, and he'll point that little black blur up high before a goalie wonders what blew by him. I declare his questionability and his purgatory over for now. All heap praise on Alex.




















How about that Kostitsyn shuffle in the shootout? A dandy move and highlight reel worthy.

On the downside of things, I can't say the same for Plekanec's effort - in both the shootout and the game as a whole. It might look as though Plekanec has turned into a streaky player, but I believe he is just adjusting to being keyed on a whole lot more. No fears that he won't eventually adjust to it.

Before Patrice Brisebois sneaks towards the net, he might want to run it by a winger to cover his ass. He did a lame brain move, scooting into the slot without so much as a look at Higgins who would be the guy to cover him. Higgins was still alert enough to make it down ice and break up a two on one a whole six feet from Price. Back at the bench, Carbonneau looked like he wanted to say "If I need to explain where the goof was to a 15 year veteran, I might as well slap you with this clipboard!"

His partner Roman Hamrlik played his worst game as a Hab. If this side of him only comes out every 22 games, I'll stop beating on him now.

Andrei Markov, had his rough spots tonight as well, but how many other D - men can zing a pass as crisply and on tape like the setup on the first Kovalev goal. Goalies pull groins on such precise plays.

Why were Koivu, Begin, and Smolinski out against the Sundin line with less than a minute to go?

Smolinski might be the next Habs player to garned the hot lights of inscrutible critics. He's simply not bringing consistency to his shifts or any part of his game.

Mike Komisarek loves playing the Leafs almost as much as Price and Kovalev appear to.
Finally, much as I regale in these division battles, can't we start facing opponants other than Toronto, Buffalo, Boston, Ottawa, and Carolina. The NHL shuffles it's schedule like a cheating card player stacks a deck.

It gets hard to truly size up the Habs against the rest of the league when they haven't played them yet. Watching teams adjust to the Canadiens one game at a time has been educational and dull.

What I'm curious about for now, is whether the Canadiens make this win a springboard for a winning streak, or whether they continue to wallow in the mire of mediocrety.

Habs Dismantle Dumb Bruins

Was this an exciting game?

Does Jiri Tlusty enjoy photography?

Talk about your gunpowder induced barnburners, this game had everything but a jersey retirement - that comes Monday!

As the third period turned into a blowout, a question came to me. The Bruins or the Flyers - which team deserves the distinction of being called the "Dumbest Hockey Team of All Time?"
Each team has a history of stupid, as lengthy as it is embarassing, and both tend to turn to thuggery on occasion, especially in instances of losing against Montreal. It's never worked and never will.

I'm curious to know who Habs fans would choose as dumbest team ever, so look for a poll attached to the sidebar to decide the answer.

Tonight, Boston made a bag of hammers look intelligent, starting with that big zero, Zdeno Chara.

This lug is over rated, over paid, and over used. He's brought nothing to the Bruins since they signed him to a huge deal. He's the team captain, and was brought in to steady the defense, but tonight he lost his marbles twice and did more to help his team lose the game than win it.

Dumb is taking obvious liberties against the team with the best power play in the league and expecting to win.

Dumb is also waking up a Canadiens team that was asleep, for all intents and purposes, for two games. After a brutal showing in Buffalo, Montreal needing a rallying cry type of game and they were handed it by the Bruins.

I arrived home too late last night from an Ottawa tournament to write about the debacle in Buffalo. I watched a fast forward version of the game on tape, sat down to start typing and found I was rewritting the same rant from the Toronto game the previous Tuesday. Watching the post game highlights and interviews, I did see Guy Carbonneau, gritting his teeth slightly, and noticed a nerve near his temple pulsate to purple, as he admitted that the team had shown a lack of intensity and focus in practice over the last few days.

If such is true, tonight's victory must have been spirit building for the Canadiens - and not a game too late!


















Nevermind the offensive keg they unloaded on Boston, seeing the likes of Kostitsyn and Kostopoulos drop the gloves and players such as Begin, Gorges, and Latendress sticking up for team mates must make a coach happy.

Four of the Canadiens who impressed me most were Michael Ryder, Kyle Chipchura, and the Kost's - tops and tits.

Ryder was one of the players last night against Buffalo who played as if something were at stake. Tonight against Boston, he applied himself to making a difference as much with his body as he has in the past with his stick. I noticed how his physical play opened spots for linemates as well as himself. This is the work ethic that makes slump vanish, and I sense that Ryder may have turned a corner with his commitment of late.

Chipchura is revealing himself to be even more than I had expected him to be. Not only is he sound defensively as billed, but he is also strong and sly. He has a built in sense of anticipation in countering plays and has a variety of moves with the puck that are never obvious to read. Once this boy's skating upgrades and his faceoff savvy improves, he's going to be a pivotal player in all area's of the Habs game.

Kostopoulos is unreal. He drops the gloves knowing he's unlikely to win a bout, but puts team needs first everytime. Some players take games off, some merely periods or a few shifts. This guy doesn't take a stride off, and is always in consistant pursuit of either the puck, a hit, or both. He's the on-ice analogy to the parable of the devil snapping at your heels.

Kostitsyn is a jewel just beginning to shine. I find that he has finally seized what he needs to do to reach the next level. I've mentioned before that he is potentially the player with the most complete package on the team and this game displayed all of those notions. His shot, size, and vision were each used in exempliary fashion against Boston. Should he continue to dig this deep to display his tools ( Insert bad Tlusty joke here ) on a consistant basis, he will become a point per game player before the season is out.

I was also pleased with Latendresse's play in this game. He is rounding out well after a slow start and seems to be getting the message as well. There is more intensity and focus coming from him, but it has yet to find a constant groove. When I find myself gnawing my teeth at his shortcomings and youthful errors, I remind myself of his age and judge him not on the somewhat confused player he seems to be of late, but rather on the complete player I feel he one day could be. Right now, he reminds me of a young John Leclair, who showed only intermitant flashes of a bigger game in Montreal before busting loose when teamed with the right players in Philadelphia.

Some other things to like about this game were:

52 shots on goal - hot damn! Are the Habs that capable or are the Bruins this porous on defense?

Two more goals from defenseman and three more from the powerplay unit. Combined with a four point game from the fourth line, and contributions from the top two lines, it is hard to quash a team which has all wheels rolling at once.

On a night where the defensive mindedness was secondary, the offense was unleashed. The game itself got a standing "O" when it was done.

Alex Kovalev played like an auger last season - this season he plays like a train!

Carey Price wins the game, without having to be the difference.

35 penalties called, including four fights. Old time hockey for all time rivals.

Whether it is a bag of Chips Ahoy, 2 points in the standings, or sealing a playoff win, the Bruins still can't beat the Habs when anything is at stake!

Why?

Cause they're as smart as their coach is hairy.

What A Difference A Year Makes!

Last night's tight 2-1 win over the Bruins wasn't quite boredom personified as it was a chess game of patience and piece fitting. For 60 minutes, the Habs rarely lost their heads or their composure. Fans would be well advised to become used to this dullness, because the action in games created by past mistakes from teams of recent years may well be a thing of the past.

Watching this game, I couldn't help notice these changes. This year's team is different from the 2006-07 edition in that it panics less and has more focus. While it may often leave fans dry for excitement - 2 points is 2 points. Wins are not graded for style!

Rather than a post game analysis for last night's contest, I thought I'd break down 10 points on the Habs this season that have so far warmed my heart. These factors are generally in comparison to last season's team and the rollercoaster ride that ultimately led to them missing the post season by one meagre win.



Grit To Spare:

Names first. Begin, Kostopoulos, Smolinski, Chipchura, and Dandeneault, are as a group a way more effective web for opponants to tangle with. Only Begin remains from last season's forwards in the "pain in the derriere" role, but the other 4 are upgrades from the Bonk - Johnson method of positional poise. This assembly of third and fourth liners is a more relentless tank. The flip flopping of Dandeneault and Streit in similar roles pays off in adding better experience to both ends. Where last season chompers bit with gums, this years nags bring teeth with attitude.

Kovalev Reborn:

Through 15 games, Kovalev's rededication to the team concept has yet to falter. Simply put, the man has been earning every dollar paid to him so far in bringing the goods forth. He leads the team in goals and is on pace to net close to 40. Word is that he went over game films of his play last season with a fine tooth comb to learn where he went wrong. This season, he is playing with more focus and gelling with Plekanec as his centre. Perhaps all that was wrong with him last season was being paired with a dead weight named Samsonov.



The Anti - Aebischer:

Carey Price is so calm he is almost lucid. Like Mike Boone suggested, he truly is the anti - Aebischer. Where last season's backup faced pressure as though he had unpinned grenades in his pockets, Price deflects every distraction as though they did not exist. It is an upgrade that should allow the team to win an additional 10 games this season.

Second Line Support:

Kovalev, Plekanec, and Kostitsyn are a cohesive second line where the Canadiens did not have one last year. When Koivu's trio are shutout from the score sheet, this combo can step it up and help win games. The youngsters are helping to keep the rejuvenated Kovalev interested, and it all parlays itself into secondary support that went absent last season. In tight games, this second line will often be the difference between winning games normally lost last season. This facet of the team restores order to all that was wrong with last year's crew. No one has to exceed their roles when the second line clicks.



Better Line Matching:

With the multi - usefullness of players such as Smolinski, Begin, and Kostopoulos, coach Carbonneau can size up and measure against opponants with more confidence. Precise tasks are handed out with doubtless focus and the players are responding positively. The fact that Carbonneau has players that can slip into different, yet familar roles, helps him counter rapidly changing game flows better than he could have last season.

General Calmness:

Having every player know their role, affects a greater sense of job duty and distinction. This is especially true when all the parts fit and perform as they should. Most of the team's losses so far in have been by a one goal margin, and that testifies to a lack of panic and a focus on a game plan. This team, perhaps due to veteran experience, simply doesn't panic where last season's team came unravelled.



A Hammer Impacts More Than A Chisel:

Last year the Canadiens won many games thanks to a Sheldon Souray focused powerplay that brought the team from behind when slow starts and a lack of discipline got them in trouble. This season, players have tended to look less like headless chickens. Bad penalties are down while a certain calmness has been restored. Credit much of this to the solid and often unnoticed Roman Hamrlik, who will never be the mistake in another team's highlight reel. This season, the team does not chip away at other teams leads, it seeks to contain its own.

An Unquestioned Coach:

Second guessing the Habs bench boss has been a decade long ritual in Montreal that is about to fade as Guy Carbonneau has been given the proper elements to guide the team with. His line matching is working, simply because he has more to work with and knows how to use it. Players know their roles better this season, and Carbonneau's job so far has consisted more of managing the pieces as opposed to square pegging them into round slots where they did not previously fit last season. Not having to use Sergei Samsonov on a checking line hardly impairs his team concept.

Young Guns:

Of course, having young players consistantly progress, eases many concerns. The further development of players such as Plekanec, Komisarek, Kostitsyn, and Higgins are equal to making trades that benefit the team. As these individual upgrades continue, the Canadiens are grooming winners from within. When this team wins a Stanley Cup, the whole of the smarts of this organization's plan will come under the microscope as a model for many NHL teams to follow.

Confidence:

Taken as a whole, gains made add up to a team with more faith in itself. Players have more faith in the coaches perspective, and coaches are more assured in assigning roles that counter opponants. When wins accumulate as they have, team bonds strengthen. We are watching this occur right now, and it goes a long way towards explaining why the Habs are chasing the top teams rather than looking over their shoulders.

The Trouble With Lopsided Wins

As everyone did, I enjoyed the Habs pounding of the Hurricanes last night.

Thumbs up to a killer power play and a four point game for Tomas Plekanec. Kudos to the toughness of Tom Kostopoulos and Francis Bouillon. Props to Alex Kovalev, who remains motivated and played his 1000th career game like the player I want him to be. A big high fiver to Kyle Chipchara for showing why he has become a regular while making the Habs fourth line a going concern for opposing teams.

Hey, I hate the Hurricanes as much as anyone - maybe more, so there was alot to like about this game.

On the surface.

Unfortunately, beneath the glitter of a half dozen highlight reel goals and a running up of the score was one ugly performance that showed the team still needs to mature.

Hockey is sometimes a game a that would perplex even the most astute of sports psychiatrists. Teams have a bad minute or a rough shift in a certain game and it costs them. A good example is last weeks meeting with the Florida Panthers, where 58 good minutes of excellent hockey wasn't quite enough.

Last night against the Hurricanes, roughly 20 minutes of good play, led by a killer PP unit, sufficed for a win.

For the remainder of the game, the Habs were butt ugly, and that is exactly where they might have been bitted were it not for a break or two.

Considering that this season Habs are young in experience, and playing with large leads is not a common occurrance, they are not used to dealing with what needs to be taken care of in games such as these.

When it comes to blowouts, "often" is a word they seldom use.

There are two points of view in how teams should go about duties when entering the second period with a 5-1 lead. The teams who are inexperienced, are loaded with players seeking to pad their stats. Experienced teams know better, and look to bag the two points by throwing a blanket over the opposition.

You don't see the Detroit Red Wings blowing 5-1 leads, that's something the Maple Leafs do. There are many reasons why.



The 1970's Canadiens used to drive my father right nuts, sitting on leads and subtly dumping endless pucks down ice and controlling the flow of the game. By playoff time, the discipline was perfected.

Does it make for dull hockey?

Of course it does, but that's beside the point - which is the two points.

The Canadiens should pour it on, and put the other team away, you say.

That has already been done. The score is 5 - 1! Stick a fork in the 'Cane's butts and turn 'em over - they're cooked!

The team is playing on the road and doesn't have the last line change. There is no need to entertain the fans as they are not playing at home. The Canadiens have another game within 24 hours, so it was time they shut this one down.

I've had the pour it on versus shutting it down argument for years with everybody from my father to other hockey coaches I have been associated with or had known while coaching.

Often the misconception of the pour it on method is based on the fact that the same 1970's Habs teams were equally adept at both. They could run up the score, or turn the bore into a snore.

Both ways worked wonders, but it was the hypnotism of dullness that was preferred come playoff time.

I recall the fifth game of the 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Rangers as the ultimate snorefest in the ultimate game. The Blueshirts came out guns-a-blazing, having their backs to the wall facing elimination. It was Rangers coach fred Shero's style to create and provoke anything, and the Habs sat back, ate them up, and spat them out. Once they had a 4-1 lead, the Canadiens let the Rangers chase dumped pucks for close to 40 minutes. By the third period, the Rangers simply gave up, ill equiped to beat the impenetrable wall the Habs had set up.

No one likely remembers this game as a benchmark of great hockey. Fans do recall that the Canadiens won four straight Cups.

Just as winning the Stanley Cup was the objective in that particular game all those years ago, winning the two points last night isn't at all disimilar.

There's no need to remind anyone that these boys ain't the '77 Habs by any stretch!

The point in matter of proceding is all about that singular objective. Fashion points for stylishness of wins matter little in the end.

The current edition of the Montreal Canadiens needs to learn the distinction.

Price Gears Up For Flightless Birds

With quotes from Le Journal De Montreal, October 9, 2007.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau confirmed Tuesday that rookie goalie Carey Price will be given his first start against the mighty Penguins Wednesday.

It's a logical move by Carbonneau, as Price had seen action against the Penguins in preseason.

Other lineup changes include inserting Josh Gorges into Patrice Brisebois' slot and subbing Kyle Chipchura in lieu of Mikhail Grabovski. Chipchura will be centering the Habs fourth line, and centers Tomas Plekanec and Bryan Smolinski will be bumbed up in the order down the middle.
When asked if Price was a possibility for the Pittsburgh game, Carbonneau simply stated that he didn't "want him remaining inactive for two or three weeks."

Upon journalists noting that the team was in fact entering its second week of the season, a sly grin crossed carbonneau face as he turned to head towards his office.

Carbonneau surely made his mind up to start Price against Pittsburgh as it would be seen as a testing of the highest order. Cristobal Huet was not at his best on Saturday but logic simply dictates that he should still start the team's first home game against Carolina this coming Saturday.

I have to agree, after seeing Huet play so well against the Hurricanes last week.

In consequence, if Price had not been given Wednesday's assignment, it would have meant that he had not seen action in over two weeks since playing the third period against the Senators September 29th.

During yesterday's practice, Price was put through the rigors taking shots from all situations and was severly tested by teammates in a breakaway drill.

Carbonneau placed the net ahead of the goal line a good distance in order for Price to have less reaction time for each breakaway.

That's a curious idea Guy, but why not just have the players file in from the blueline?


During the scrimmage, Price had to remove his mask for all the snow he was wearing and clear his eyes, due to players turning on the brakes so close up. He had a good sized bruise after practice, a souvenir from a Bryan Smolinski drive.

"You should see the puck marks on my legs", Price suggested afterwards.

Price was hardly complaining about the treatment, far from it.

"These workouts with NHL players are very profitable to my progression - as much as an actual game", he explained. I got to see a whole lot of good shots, and I had Rollie Melanson at my side to analyze my work, such as feet movement and covering angles."

"I won't hide it - I'm real anxious to get into a game. It's a little different for me this season in that in the past I played the majority of my team's games.

Price cannot ask for a better test than Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. He's not the type of young man to worry about such a challenge. He is rather stimulated at the thought.

Good, Bad, And Not Too Much Ugly Versus Sens

There are three ways to see things, in occurance with the Canadiens final pre-season matchup against the Senators. I employ the word "see" with journalistic liberty as I didn't get to actually take in the game on televison or online. Catching tonight's contest on radio makes for an odd way to assess performances.

So speaking in general terms, tonights 5-4 OT loss to what is supposed to be the strongest team in the Eastern Conference is hardly the worst way to end the preseason schedule. Outshooting them 39-22 is a bonus considering three key elements left aside by Montreal, Koivu, Kovalev, and Markov.

In all regards, it appears that the Habs were beaten by Daniel Alfredsson's hat trick. Perhaps not being able to match up lines, and present the scoring threats that are Koivu and Kovalev, allowed coach Carbonneau to test different players against the most solid of lineups.

I gets harder and harder to get what Guy's thinking at times - more on that later.

The goaltending duo of Huet and Price faced 22 shots and allowed 5 goals, which is troublesome at first glance. Maybe the quality of the shots says more than the quantity here.

Carbonneau initially stated that the goalies used in the final games would start the season with the team, and Halak was expected to be given the nod for the backup role tonight. Low and behold, surprise of surprises, the coach seems to have changed his mind on Price, and the earlier statements concerning where he would begin the season.

Given that Price has gently outplayed Halak and has been dressed for the final two tilts does this mean he's won the job? It looks so to me.



Of the players who needed to perform well tonight in order to stick with the team, Mihkail Grabovski has finally hit the scoresheet with a pair of assists. He seems to have found cohesion with Andrei Kostitsyn, and Kovalev, and by all accounts when the trio is paired together ( wait...can't pair a trio together, but it's getting late!) sparks tends to fly. It seems that they will be given time.

If there's a battle at center between Maxim Lapierre, Kyle Chipchura and Grabovski to make the team, then Max was one upped tonight. He received less than 10 minutes of ice tonight - the lowest of any Habs player. Not a sign I like. It does not look good for him. Maybe Max just looks too much like Carbonneau in smartass grin mode?



Andrei Kostitsyn, with a goal and an assist will be getting much love from the Bell Centre faithful this season.

Three of the Habs four goals were scored from the blueline. Interesting that they have firepower there still beyond The Lost One. It could however be too early to draw conclusions.
Back to the shots on goal stat in coalition to the outcome - wasn't it the Canadiens who were winning games while being outplayed like this about a year ago? Odd, isn't it?

Perhaps the loss of The Player They Let Get Away will actually help tighten up the teams defense. Hell if they can hold the Senators to a decent amount of shots, they should fare even better against other opponants.

That might begin right of the faceoff circle. Checking the game line, I noticed that four centers took a total 56 of the 60 faceoffs in the game. Grabovski won 75%, Smolinski 59%, Chipchura 53%, and Plekanec 44%. Begin, Ryder, and Kostopoulos were a combined 1 for 4 on others. Too bad there isn't a puck possession stat to give creedence to the notion that winning faceoffs eventually renders more shots on goal. Of course this is obvious in offensive zone faceoffs, but one can draw their own conclusions here.

I like it that both Grabovski and Smolinksi held an upper hand, while Chipchura was more than accountable it that department. Koivu's usual 50% at best will of course temper this stat somewhat in real games.

Having mentioned three goals from the backline being a good thing, add in 19 shots on goal as well - almost half the team's total. The Canadiens dressed seven defenseman, sitting out only Markov and O'Byrne, whose Hamilton fate seems sealed unfortunately. Streit and Dandeneault were again taking shifts at forward, which is an asset Carbonneau needs to make use of any further.

I'm not sure where anyone else sits on the issue, but I'd rather see the likes of Begin, Lapierre and Latendresse taking a unified regular spin than spotting a spare defensema so he doesn't get cold. These are players than could have been the difference tonight.

Carbonneau ruffled the feathers of an entire city and a nation of fans recently in stating that Patrice Brisebois will be paired with Roman Hamrlik to start the season. Despite the idea that the duo makes practical sense in and of itself, the notion of Brisebois having even made the team is idiotic at it's simplest.

Does this annointing of Brisebois not come at the consequence of hampering the furthering of Gorges and O'Byrne?

What does playing and proping up Brisebois in such a manner actually give the team?

Wasn't Brisebois the most obvious goat of a goal tonight on the game's first marked? A trickling of boos were heard and it will get loader in proportion to his goofs this season.

Too bad the Habs gift shop don't sell a Breezer voodoo doll with a pin already inserted in the back. The item would be out of stock on a nightly basis.

It will be interesting to see how patient Carboneau remains with him. The coach was burnt badly by being too patient with Aebischer last season, a player who resembles Brisebois in cluelessness smirk and disinterest. Hopefully he catches on quicker this season.

Speaking of the coach, he has to do something to get me back into his corner again. I'm finding my faith in him slipping away some, and I feel I am starting the envision his end. I don't feel good about it either. Things I don't feel comfortable with are adding up and I'm wishing that wins adding up makes it disapear.

I'd respect certain things he's doing a whole lot more if proven wrong.

As for the final round of cuts, I get that O'Byrne will be sent down, a statement will be made, or attempted, with Lapierre, and Dandeneault will waiving goodbye, for now.

The jury will be watching Grabovski and Chipchura closely upon Max's Bulldog rebirth.

All things told, a fairly solid final outing without much overall on the line. The missing elements will return to bolster what ought to be an entertaining and competitive team come Wednesday.

Finally!