Habs And Leafs: A Jersey Shared - the 1990's and 2000

Mikhail Grabovski is the most recent player to have worn both the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys.

The Belarussian born center, was traded to Toronto in the off season for the Maple Leafs second round choice in 2009, and defenseman Greg Pateryn, who the Leafs selected in the fifth round, 128th overall, in the 2008 Entry Draft.

The Canadiens used the second round pick acquired from the Leafs, and traded it to Chicago for center Robert Lang, who scored the first goal of the Canadiens 100th season last night in Buffalo.

For Toronto, the early returns on Grabovski have been positive, as he led all Maple Leafs in pre-season scoring.

In Montreal, Grabovski was burried beneath much depth at center, and likely would have been given little opportunity to play. A pivot of small stature, with speed and flash on his side, Grabovski's critics often point to how easily he is knocked off the puck to explain his expendability in Montreal.

Time will tell whether Grabovski has a long term impact in Toronto, but for now, it seems as though he has found a team that will enable him the icetime to develop into a solid NHL player.

What follows chronologically, is the fourth and most recent of a four part series dealing with all the players who have worn both the Canadiens and Maple Leafs jerseys. I last published this in February of 2008.

Since 1927, when the Canadiens longest standing rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, first entered the NHL, very few transactions have taken place between the two teams.

That is perhaps due to the fact that a blown deal between the teams would be cause for aggravated embarrassment, considering the proportions of the rivalry. Because of the small number of trades involving the teams, the number of players who have donned both jerseys is quite minimal through an 80 year history.

I though it would make for an interesting piece, to list all of those who have worn both the bleu, blanc, rouge of the Canadiens, and the blue and white of the Leafs, so I did some research and found 72 players prior to 2008 who fit the bill as both one time Habs or Maple Leafs.





















One point of view I sought to bring to this post arises from an incident a few years ago in which a Toronto fan, my daughter's hockey coach, termed a former Hab favorite of mine, as a former Maple Leafs player.

On the occasion of a hockey tournament, Habs current assistant coach Kirk Muller, there to cheer on his daughter and her Kingston Pee Wee team, was brought into our dressing room to give the girls a little pep talk. The coach introduced him to the girls as a recent Leafs player - a devlish grin towards me in jest - and I interjected with "Yeah, and one who won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens", to Muller's visible approval and laughter.

In light of that coach's lark, I have always wondered what the perception is when a player stars for two teams. To which team's history does he belong to and why, are questions I ask myself when going over such players.





















In my heart, Frank Mahovlich will always be a former Hab to me. Evidence to the contrary, most of his success renders him an all time Leafs great. Although my memories revolve around his great playoffs with Montreal in the early 1970's, he'll be considered a Leaf forever.

Another angle I wanted to shed light on, is how many players were in which city first, through the decades. I though it might be interesting to note if either team sought out these former players due to previous success or Cup glory.

I have noted the players on Stanley Cup winning teams with an asterisk ( * ) and broken down the chronological listing by decade, out of that curiosity. Players stats while suiting up for both teams are listed as well.





















This is part 4 chronologically, but we can start with the present and work our way back.

Have fun with this, and enjoy the comparisons, analysis, and surprises.

The 1990's

For the first time in three decades, both the Canadiens and Maple Leafs peaked at the same time. Toronto would reach the semi - finals in 1993 and 1994, while Montreal would win the Cup with a young team in 1993 that was in hindsight, unconsciounable torn apart rather rashly in light of it taking a few steps back after winning it all.

The former Montreal players that began to appear in Maple Leafs jerseys, were for the most part, Habs of the late 1980's. The former Leafs turned Canadiens included three former first round picks and a 50 goal scorer gone sour.

By the decade's end, Toronto would emerge the stronger franchise despite Montreal's Cup win in 1993, and a role reversal of sorts, would begin to take place. Ultimately, neither team would reach previous heights, with Montreal experiencing the lowest of franchise history low points.

Lucien Deblois - MON 1984 - 86*/TOR 1990 - 92
MON: 112-26-28-54 / 19-2-4-6
TOR: 92-18-23-41 /

Deblois was an honest and useful two way player by the time the Leafs aquired him. In Montreal for a short stint, Deblois arrived as a gifted offensive threat and departed a checking forward.

Rick Wamsley - MON 1980 - 84/TOR 1991 - 93
MON: 131-72-36-16 / 9-2-6
TOR: 11-4-6-0 /

Ric Nattress - MON 1982 - 85/TOR 1991 - 92
MON: 79-1-16-17 / 5-0-0-0
TOR: 36-2-14-16 /

Wamsley and Nattress arrived in Toronto via the blockbuster 12 player deal that brought the Leafs Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun and spare parts in exchange for Gary Leeman and the same. Wamsley was a decent regular season goalie for Montreal, who had trouble converting the success into playoff wins. Nattress was a kid with great upside until he was marked and blindsided by pot possesion charge from his junior days that he never seemed to recover from emotionally. In the end, neither gave either team much.

Vincent Damphousse - TOR 1986 - 91/MON 1992 - 99*
TOR: 394-118-211-329 / 23-1-8-9
MON: 519-184-314-498 / 48-19-24-43





















Damphousse was one the brightest Leafs draft choices to arrive on the scene in a decade in the late 1980's. Toronto gave up him some after one uninspired season and he was dealt to Edmonton for some over the hill Oilers that never gave them much.

After a year in Edmonton, the Habs fleeced the Oilers of him, and a year later he was the key to the Habs offense as they hoisted their 24th Cup. Damphousse would serve as the Habs captain for three seasons.

Sylvain Lefebvre - MON 1989 - 92/TOR 1992 - 94
MON: 200-11-42-53 / 19-1-0-1
TOR: 165-4-21-25 / 39-3-3-6

Lefebvre followed former Habs coach Pat Burns to Toronto after three solid seasons on the Habs blueline. Traded for a 3rd round pick, Lefebvre spent two season in Toronto, helping them reach the semi - finals in both. He was part of the package that enabled the Leafs to land Mats Sundin from Quebec.

Gary Leeman - TOR 1982 - 92/MON 1992 - 93*
TOR: 555-176-231-409 / 24-7-14-21
MON: 51-10-23-33 / 12-1-2-3

One of only three Maple Leafs to ever score 50 goals, Leeman ran into personal troubles with team mates and it had a great effect on his play. Never one to be accused of backchecking, he was the main card that lured Gilmour to Leafland. Calgary gave up on him within a year and he was reduced to spare part status. The Habs offered Brian Skrudland, the antethisis of Leeman and he became a Hab. He had a rebirth of sorts in Montreal during the regular season, but was a playoff spectator for the most part when things got serious and playing Leeman became risky. His tenure in Montreal saw him gone early the next season.

Rob Ramage - TOR 1989 - 91/MON 1992 - 93*
TOR: 160-18-66-84 / 5-1-2-3
MON: 14-0-2-2 / 7-0-0-0

Ramage started off his career as a "can't miss" prospect, and after playing for some mildling teams, he hit his stride as a Flame during their 1989 Cup win. He was captain of the Leafs, and that was where he played his last top line hockey. He became a depth defenseman after, and drifted around before becoming an insurance player brought in for leadership and the same depth in Montreal. He was solid when called upon for the Canadiens in the '93 Cup run.

Kirk Muller - MON 1991 - 95*/TOR 1995 - 97
MON: 267-104-143-247 / 38-20-12-32
TOR: 102-29-33-62 / 6-3-2-5





















Unhappy with his contract negotiation in New Jersey, top line center Muller was a key aquisition for the Canadiens in the early 1990's, one that saw 50 goal man Stephane Richer head to the Devils. Muller responded with his best years while helping lead Montreal to the Cup.



























Always durable and dependable, playing through injuries slowed Muller down by his fourth season in Montreal, and the Canadiens traded their captain to the Islanders for Pierre Turgeon. Muller was disillusioned in New York, as the Islanders quickly found out the same as the Habs did - that Muller was no longer a top line player. Toronto aquired Muller for goalie Damian Rhodes, and he went on to score 20 goals for the Leafs in the 1996-97 season.

Paul Dipietro - MON 1991 - 95*/TOR 1995 - 96
MON: 154-25-44-69 / 24-10-9-19
TOR: 32-5-5-10 / 7-1-1-2

Dipietro was a sparkplug for the 1993 Habs and proved to be an even sounder playoff performer that year. The Leafs thought he had more to give after he failed to stick with Montreal but they were wrong.

Sergio Momesso - MON 1983 - 88*/TOR 1995 - 96
MON: 137-29-38-67 / 17-1-5-6
TOR: 54-7-8-15 /

Montreal had high hopes for Momesso after a great junior career and they weren't disappointed by his rookie performance. Midway through a stellar first season, Momesso suffered an injured that left him a tentative player at best afterwards. The Canadiens gave up on him after three frustrating seasons and he became a journeyman from that time on. The Leafs would be his fourth of six teams, and he would be the same paradox as he was in Montreal and St Louis.

Mathieu Schneider - MON 1987 - 95*/TOR 1996 - 98
MON:360-53-136-189 / 44-5-16-21
TOR: 115-18-38-56 / 6-0-4-4

Schneider was chosen 44th overall by Montreal in the 1987 draft and found his way onto to team for short stints over the next three seasons. By the age of 21, he was a Canadiens regular, and an important componant in its attack when they won the Cup in 1993. The following season, he became one of the rare Canadiens defensemen to ever reach the 20 goal plateau. Things soured from there for Schneider, as rumours of dressing room conflicts and contract squabbles shortened what should have been a secure stay in Montreal.

Packeged with Kirk Muller for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov in a trade with the Islanders, Schneider was an ill fit on the Island, and was again dispatched to Toronto with Wendel Clark, in a trade that gained the Islanders Kenny Jonsson and a first round pick that became Roberto Luongo.

Toronto and Schneider went together like oil and water, and the defenseman was practically given away to the New York Rangers for Alexander Karpotsev and a 4th round pick.

After two decent seasons in the Big Apple, Schneider was a hot commodity, landing first with the Kings, then the Red Wings - where he regained a prowess last seen in Montreal, and then finally with the Anaheim Ducks for the 2007-08 season.

Scott Thornton - TOR 1990 - 91/MON 1996 - 2000
TOR: 33-1-3-4 /
MON: 222-25-26-51 / 14-1-2-3

Thornton, believe it or not, was a third overall pick of the Leafs in the 1989 draft. A rugged depth player at best - Joe Thornton he wasn't. Before even having the chance to add sugar to his Maple Leaf cup of coffee, he was packaged with Vincent Damphousse in a mega 10 player deal with the Oilers.

When he failed to pan out in Edmonton as well, he was shipped to the Habs for Andrei Kovalenko. His toughness served the Canadiens well for three seasons, but Thornton was a consistant unhappy camper, and was offed to Dallas for Juha Lind.

Signing as a free agent with the Sharks the following season, Thornton finally reached potential with 19 and 26 goal seasons. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

Jonas Hogland - MON 1997 - 99/TOR 1999 - 03
MON: 102-14-15-29 / 10-2-0-2
TOR: 325-78-106-184 / 49-6-11-17

Another Rejean Houle blunder, Hoglund was the laziest player on skates, aquired for the talented but undisciplined Valeri Bure. Hoglund played on a team too thin too cover his weaknesses in Montreal, but thrived initially in Toronto when paired with Mats Sundin. Over time, the holes in Hoglund's game in Toronto, along with his decreasing production, mad ehim the wrath of fans there as well.

The final tally:

Of the four former Leafs donning Habs jerseys, three of them would see their names engraved with the 1993 Canadiens. Leeman and Ramage made varying contributions as part time Habs, but it would be Damphousse that would be the Habs markee player for seven seasons.

Five of the nine former Canadiens who became Leafs had won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in either 1986 or 1993. Of those nine, the biggest contribution came from Jonas Hoglund, who lasted four full seasons in Toronto before wearing out his welcome. The Leafs miscued on the Schneider aquisition bigtime, as a decade later, Schneider is still a vibrant contributor in the NHL.

2000 to the present:

In the current decade of players who have shared both the Habs and Leafs storied colours, only 3 of 11 are still active - current Leafs Darcy Tucker, Chad Kilger, and the Blackhawks Yanic Perreault. Seven of the players were Canadiens first, before joining the Leafs afterwards.

It is a difficult era to assess so far, as both teams have meandered through tough times, with few glimmers of hope.

Not many of the 11 players have been consequential in hindsight, but many others seemed to be key componants to their team's fortunes at the time.

Gerald Diduck - MON 1990 - 91/TOR 1999 - 2000
MON: 32-1-2-3 /
TOR: 26-0-3-3 / 10-0-1-1

A steady, stay at home defenseman with the Islanders, Diduck was a mess for a half season in Montreal. Aquired for Craig Ludwig, he was dispatched 6 months later for nothing more than a draft pick that became Vladimir Vujtek. Toronto sought his experience in 1999, adding his as a 7th defenseman to little avail.

Shayne Corson - MON 1985 -92, 1996 - 2000/TOR 2000 - 03
MON: 662-168-255-423 / 90-28-35-63
TOR: 197-27-47-74 / 32-2-7-9

A rugged two way player who wore out his initial welcome in Montreal, Corson was sacrificed in order to aquire Vincent Damphousse from Edmonton. Five sesaons later, he was reaquired in exchange for Pierre Turgeon. Corson was more serious and focused his second time around, but the Habs were spinning their wheels as his game declined. Corson wanted way too much for his worth, and bolted for silly money with the Leafs and a chance to lay with his brother in law Darcy Tucker. Personal problems conspired to taint Corson's time with the Leafs and he was almost thrown out of town for being a distraction.

Darcy Tucker - MON 1995 - 98/TOR 2000 - 07
MON: 115-8-18-26 / 4-0-0-0
TOR: 489-134-160-294 / 58-10-11-21



























A pesty, gritty, do anything to win player that Rejean Houle let get away found himself in Toronto three seasons later. He found his niche as an irritant in Toronto, becoming one of the most despised players in the game.























While he has rarely helped the Leafs become unqualifiyingly successful, Tucker does have what it takes to make the opposition know when he's on the ice. One could wish the Habs were more patient with Tucker.

Dave Manson - MON 1996 - 99/TOR 2000 - 02
MON: 101-5-33-38 / 15-0-1-1
TOR: 87-4-8-12 / 2-0-0-0

Manson was highly drafted defenseman for Chicago in 1985. Known for his temper and hard shot, Manson develped a "crazy man" reputation for his willingness to drop the gloves, even after having suffering an injury to his larynx that made him sound like the "Godfather".

Rechristened "Charlie" for his on ice insanity, Manson had moved around a bit when the Habs aquired him from Phoenix for Murray Baron and Chris Murray in 1996. After a season and a half of being pretty much average in Montreal, he was offed back to the Hawks with Jocelyn Thibault as bait for Jeff Hackett and Eric Weinrich.

Early in the 2001 season, he was sent to Toronto by Dallas for Jyrki Lumme, in an exchange of unwanted parts.

Yanic Perreault - TOR 1991 - 94, 1998 - 2001/MON 2001 - 04/TOR 2006 - 07
TOR: 176-54-69-123 / 29-5-10-15
MON: 224-67-66-133 / 20-5-7-12



















Yanic Perreault was an offensive dynamo with the QMJHL's Trois Rivieres Draveurs for three junior seasons. It wasn't his 5' 11'', 180 lbs frame that initially scared NHL teams off, it was the fact the he played small that kept him undrafted until Toronto took the bait in 1991.



























Perreault was crafty though, and despite his shortcomings, he parlayed his talents into an NHL career with a mastery of faceoffs.

During his first of three stints with Toronto, he accumulated enough curiosity that the L.A. Kings came calling for his services, and through parts of 5 seasons there, he developed into a full time NHL'er. Toronto reaquired him for draft picks in 1999, and Perreault continued to be an ace at in the faceoff circle despite a perceived reluctance to play in traffic when the going got tough.

The Canadiens signed Perreault as a free agent and learnt the same lessons - through three seasons of diminishing production, Perreault could only exel when he was given ample room. The puck drop specialist who was defensive liability was not resigned by the Habs, and began a journeyman's trail through Nashville, Phoenix, Toronto again, and now Chicago.

Darryl Shannon - TOR 1988 - 93/MON 2001 - 02
TOR: 98-3-13-16 /
MON: 7-0-1-1 /

Shannon, the elder of two NHL playing siblings, was a high draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 1986 that never panned out. After bouncing back and forth between Toronto and Newmarket of the AHL for 5 seasons, he began journeymen excursions to five other NHL cities, ending with a seven game stint with Montreal after signing there as a free agent in 2000.

Doug Gilmour - TOR 1991 - 97/MON 2001 - 03/TOR 2002 - 03
TOR: 392-131-321-452 / 52-17-60-77
MON: 131-21-50-71 / 12-4-6-10
TOR: 1-0-0-0 /





















Likely because I've met him a few times, Doug Gilmour will always be one of my all time favorite Montreal Canadiens players. But who's kidding who - he may just have been the greatest ever Toronto Maple Leaf player.

Gilmour made his mark with me while playing with my hometown Cornwall Royals from 1980 to 1983. Watching him set an OHL league record 55 game point scoring streak is still of my most endearing hockey memories.

Dougie was a Hab killer with the Calgary Flames in the 1989 Stanley Cup finals and became an even better Leaf. Gilmour literally owned the city for six seasons while setting numerous team records and bringing the Leafs to within a period of meeting Montreal in the 1993 finals.

A word of advice - if ever you meet Doug, don't ask him what happened in game 7 of the Kings series!

The Leafs sinfully traded the gritty Gilmour away to New Jersey and likely regretted it. After suiting up with the Devils, Gilmour played for the Blackhawks and Sabres.

I recall meeting Dougie in a local bar in the summer of 1999, before his third season as a Blackhawk. It was a memorable night for many reasons. That evening, as I kidded him about undoing my Habs in 1989, he stated to me that he would be interested in finishing his career as either a Hab or a Senator. It was startling to hear, and when it finally did happen, to me, it felt like a dream come true.

As a Montreal Canadien, Gilmour was far removed from the player, the legend, he was in Toronto. But still, there was a certain fire in his eyes.

With Habs captain Saku Koivu out for the season while battling stomach cancer, Gilmour, along with Habs goalie Jose Theodore, became inspirational leaders. Gilmour virtually captained the team and led it to a playoff spot and a first round upset over the Bruins. It was an unforgettable season of surprise and character for an aging warrior.

The Canadiens were not as united the following season, and Gilmour was reaquired late in the season by Toronto to strengthen their playoff run. Two shifts into his first game back as a Leaf, he suffered a freak knee injury that ended his career.

Sergei Berezin - TOR 1996 - 2001/MON 2001 - 02
TOR: 357-126-94-220 / 40-12-15-27
MON: 29-4-6-10 / 6-1-1-2

An offensively gifted but defensively weak player, Berezin would play five season in Toronto before being dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001-02. Known for his blazing speed and wicked shot, Berezin would falter somewhat in Phoenix and subsequently was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens in 2001 for Brian Savage.

Berezin would last long enough in Montreal to score the team's 10,000th home ice goal, but he was generally unable to fit in with the Habs. Berezin was on the move once again, traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for a draft pick. There, he would regain his scoring touch somewhat, notching 18 goals before he was dealt to the Washington Capitals at the trading deadline.

Jyrki Lumme - MON 1988 - 90/TOR 2001 - 03
MON: 75-2-22-24 /
TOR: 124-10-19-29 / 21-0-2-2

When Lumme joined the Montreal Canadiens in 1988, it was a historical move, for he was the first ever Finn to don the legendary jersey. After parts of two seasons, adaptation and disciplinary issues made him expendable, and he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a draft pick which became Craig Darby.

Lumme would spend a decade with Vancouver, rounding out into a solid two way defenseman. After short stays in Phoenix and Dallas, Toronto aquired him in exchange for Dave Manson. Like Manson before him, Lumme was also the victim of Maple Leafs fans wrath, and his tenure in Toronto was short lived.

Chad Kilger - MON 2000 - 03/TOR 2003 - 07
MON: 214-28-40-68 / 12-0-1-1
TOR:199-39-31-60 / 13-2-1-3





















Highly drafted Chad Kilger - 4th overall in 1995 - has shown flashes of a salivating package, but has never quite lived up to his billing during his career. Chosen by the Anaheim Ducks, he was dispatched in a deal for Teemu Selanne. Once projected as a top line line forward, Kilger soon became a journeyman. Stints in Phoenix, Chicago, and Edmonton did little to asert regularity.

After scoring only seven points as an Oiler in his first 34 games of the 2000-01 schedule, Kilger was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Sergei Zholtok. Upon his arrival, Kilger played some of the most inspired hockey of his career with the Habs. Kilger recorded 25 points in 43 games and went on to play parts of three more seasons with Montreal before being claimed off of waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2004 trade deadline.

Mariusz Czerkawski - MON 2002 - 03/TOR 2005 - 06
MON: 43-4-5-9 /
TOR: 19-4-1-5 /

Czerkawski, Polish born, was an all offense and no conscience proposition by the time he reached Montreal, and his razzle dazzle act was short lived. He finished out the season demoted to the hamilton Bulldogs. He cost the Habs a workmanlike player in Aaron Asham, and insult was added to injury when he was resigned by the Islanders a season later, scoring 25 goals for New York. The Leafs rolled the dice on him two seasons later with the same mixed results.

The final tally:

As the second half of the decade plays out, there are no former Maple Leafs on the Canadiens roster.

Looking forward, the Canadiens fortunes look brighter as the team is at the top of the standings and the Leafs nearer to the bottom.

As can be seen in previous decades, the Maple Leafs have remained inclined to prefer refurbishing other teams assets over developing their own. One cannot say they have learned from past errorrs.

Here are the first three parts in the series:

Habs And Leafs: A Jersey Shared - Part 1: The 30's, 40's, and 50's

Habs And Leafs: A Jersey Shared - Part 2: The 1960's and 1970's

Habs And Leafs: A Jersey Shared - Part 3: The 1980's

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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 For Breakfast - April 4, 2008

You have to appreciate how these bunch of Habs have the ability to win games in different ways, with a varying cast of heroes changing on a nightly basis. We looking one gelled team right now!

There are four intangible that I've always maintained a team needs to go deep into the playoffs and win a Cup with. They are goaltending, faith, harmony, and line depth.

Right now, the Smolinski, Begin, Kostopoulos line are playing about as good as one can expect of a fourth line.

This team gets along and there is no turmoil whatsoever this season.

They believe in themselves. How could they not.

Their goalie is a zone, mentally. Carey Price is not surrendering the type of goals he was earlier in the season, when concentration and puck tracking seemed his biggest woes.

Add it all up!

Ryan O'Byrne had this to say about Carey Price last night after the game:

"He’s just so relaxed. Nothing fazes him," shrugged O’Byrne. "He’s the first guy to be chatting it up with someone in the room before a game, and you never see that in a goalie."

Do I like our chances? I Love our chances!




















Habs Keep Conference Dream Alive - Gazette

"The Canadiens can put the pressure on the Penguins with a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. The Penguins would then have to win their final game Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers." - Pat Hickey

Price Can Lead Canadiens To Promised Land - Gazette

Admit it: you knew all along that with only one game remaining in the season, the Canadiens would have the Northeast Division championship locked up and still be in the race for No. 1 overall in the Eastern Conference. Yeah, sure you did. - Red Fisher

Canadiens Eliminate Sabres With Win - TSN

"It gives us a chance to finish first," said Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau. "We don't know what will happen on Sunday, but if we win on Saturday, it will force Pittsburgh to play their best players."

How Sweet it Is - Except If You're A Sabres Fan - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"The Habs aren’t being stopped, eliminating the Buffalo Sabres tonight in a completely convincing, except for some brief moments in the third period, 3-1 win. And they won it in style, even with injuries, even with the northeast sewn up, because, like Alex Kovalev says, "a team starts the playoffs the way they end the season." - Dennis Kane

1st In The East Still Up For Grabs - Lions In Winter

Our first goal on the Power-Play was our nicest tonight. The Habs PP is so effective these days that I have come to take goals like this one for granted. Kovalev fed it back to the point to Hamrlik. Hammer then sent the puck straight back to the right side to Streit who released a very good slapshot. In front of the net Higgins was providing the screen and had just the right touch to tip it up over Miller. - Tobalev

Gorgeous Gorges - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"I wonder if Bob Gainey has allowed himself a small, secret smile at the way Josh Gorges is playing these days? Or whether Doug Wilson has stopped kicking himself yet. I wasn't sure how things would work out when Craig Rivet got traded to the Sharks for Gorges and the Sharks' first-round pick last year. I wasn't even sure how I felt about it. On one hand, Rivet was a lifetime Hab who'd given a lot of himself to the team. On the other, he was having a pretty rotten season and had betrayed the "A" on his sweater by getting angry and dividing loyalty in the room." - J.T.

Q & A With Mikhail Grabovski - McKeen's Hockey

"McKeen's recently had the opportunity to chat with Grabovski before he was recalled by the Canadiens at the trading deadline. The talented forward talked about his AHL exploits, splitting time between Hamilton and Montreal, coming back from injury, playing in Russia, representing Belarus, and his overall game." - Kevin Wey

4-3-08: Canadiens 3 Sabres 1 - Theory Of Ice

"It’s a little scary how irrelevant our injury ‘woes’ are starting to seem. No Koivu, Komisarek, Bouillon, Ryder, or (incidentally) Grabovski, and yet no obvious deterioration in the Habs’ overall game. Not to say that I don’t want those guys healthy again for the playoffs, but there is clearly more to the team’s success than just good luck with bones and muscles." -E















Eyeing The Calder Trophy - Montreal Canadiens.com

"You often hear about a goalie being in the zone for a period of time. Carey certainly was at the World Juniors, in Hamilton, and even with his junior team," explained head coach Guy Carbonneau. "And now since the trade deadline, Carey has been in that zone."

The Numbers Game - April 3, 2008 - Montreal Canadiens.com

"7 Canadiens players, now including Chris Higgins, to have reached the 50-point mark this season, the most since seven Habs also turned the trick in 1988-89."

Le trio de Smolinski a donné le ton - RDS

"Ce trio va très bien depuis le retour de Steve, a indiqué Guy Carbonneau. Chaque joueur comprend bien son rôle. On parle ici de vétérans qui font le travail défensivement et qui obtiennent ainsi des occasions de marquer."

Desharnais brûle le ECHL - RDS

"Le centre natif de Québec occupe le premier rang des compteurs (28-74-102) de la ECHL en plus de présenter un différentiel de plus-35 dans l'uniforme des Cyclones de Cincinnati."

Canadiens 3 Sabres 1: "Ramenez la Coupe" - La Presse

"Le message était on ne peut plus clair: ramenez la Coupe à Montréal. Coiffant, en grosses lettres, les noms de tous les joueurs du Canadien, ce message occupait chaque centimètre d'une longue bannière blanche que des partisans ont plusieurs fois déployée d'un bout à l'autre d'une rangée de la section 107, hier soir, au Centre Bell." - François Gagnon

Viacheslav Fetisov, compatriote et fan de l'Artiste - La Presse

"Je n'aime pas classer les joueurs. Mais Alexei Kovalev, du point de vue des habiletés, a toujours été en haut de la liste, autant aujourd'hui qu'à l'époque où les Rangers de New York ont gagné la Coupe Stanley, quand il était encore tout jeune. Dans la centaine d'années d'histoire du hockey, il y a peu de joueurs qui ont été capables de faire ce qu'il accomplit avec une rondelle." - Viacheslav Fetisov

Carey Price entre dans sa bulle - La Presse

"Carey est dans sa zone depuis la date limite des transactions, a estimé Guy Carbonneau. On a vu dans le passé, aux Championnats du monde junior et l'an dernier à Hamilton, que plus les matchs sont importants, plus il est capable de garder son calme et de faire les arrêts."

D' Agnostini et Srewart int cru à on poisson d'avril à retardement - La Presse

"J'ai été surpris et je suis excité. J'arrive dans une équipe solide qui a gagné le championnat de sa division. Je vais donc travailler fort si je suis appelé à jouer", a déclaré D'Agostini, hier matin, quelques instants avant que l'entraîneur-chef Guy Carbonneau ne confirme sa présence au sein d'un trio avec Chris Higgins et Sergei Kostitsyn." - Pierre Lacouceur

Comme l'année de la dernière coupe - Le Journal

"Le Tricolore a anéanti les der niers espoirs des Sabres de Buffalo de prendre part aux séries éliminatoires en l'emportant 3 à 1, hier soir, au grand plaisir de ses partisans avec qui il renouait après une série de trois matchs sur les patinoires adverses." - Marc de Foy

L'increvable Steve Bégin - Le Journal

"Steve Bégin nous étonnera toujours. À chaque fois qu'on le pense au bout du rouleau, il revient plus fort. Il est increvable! Le vétéran attaquant a joué comme s'il avait 20 ans hier soir. Il a secoué les puces de ses adversaires en appliquant huit mises en échec toutes plus percutantes les unes que les autres. Il lui reste du jus, le vieux! " - Marc De Foy

"Carbonneau a fait du très bon travail": Lindy Ruff - Le Journal

"C'était un pari risqué, a raconté le pilote des Sabres, Lindy Ruff, après la rencontre. On aurait pu se sortir du match, mais ça nous a remis dedans." Ce dernier a tenu à lever son chapeau au Canadien, qui n'a pas donné beaucoup de marge de manoeuvre à ses jeunes joueurs. "Nous ne voulions pas accuser un déficit. Le Canadien joue un système difficile et il a fait un bon travail à nous fer mer la porte", a expliqué l'entraîneur." - Charles Rooke

"Price ne connait pas ce qu'est la pression": Bryan Smolinski - Le Journal

"Ça fait du bien de contribuer à l'attaque, même si la mission de notre trio est surtout défensive, a raconté Smolinski. Des joueurs clés manquent à l'appel et il faut que d'autres en fassent davantage pour combler ces pertes."
.

Time For Carbonneau To Get Playoff Serious

There wasn't much to like about losing to the Blues on Tuesday. The loss was followed by all kinds of talk that the Canadiens took the game too lightly.

No kidding!

The Habs were damn lame against the blue notes, and by the time they realized there was a competitor playing for pride on the ice, they couldn't gain enough edge to get back in it.

Since I took the youngest to see "Horton", I'll use a Seussism for an analogy for what went afoul.

The Habs were lame,
The coach was the same,
And that's the name where I aim the blame

Yes, Guy Carbonneau, in hindsight, is at fault for this one. He too, took it lightly.

I almost blew out an eyebrow frowning over a quote on radio CKAC this morning when Carbonneau was asked in hindsight if perhaps the Habs were in fact guilty of taking the Blues lightly. He skated a Latendresse pivot around the question before polishing this turd something along these lines:

"St. Louis is an opponant that we don't know very well. We don't play against them often enough to be familiar with them. Maybe the players knew the Blues weren't doing well. Things like that happen sometimes."

"WHAAAAAAAAAT CRAAAAAAAAP", was my reaction as I drove over a schoolbus.















Now I like Carbonneau. I like him a lot. But that comment cost him my vote for coach of the year. I'll put him down third behind Bruce Boudreau and Lindy Ruff on my imaginary ballot.

None of his answer washes with me because you don't reply with a "maybe" while absolving your team.

And you don't absolve your team after such a loss, even with that handy and lame excuse at the ready.

If I had been a reporter in the room after hearing that, I would have earned a menacing stare with my next question.

"But Guy, it is your job to prepare your team, is it not?", I would have asked, ducking the flying bottle of Cristill Light.

How on God's ice can he admit to lame pre - scouting of the Blues? Who are the Habs pro scouts and what is their assignment again? Do they not look at teams tapes of recent games as well as when teams were faring better to get a complete picture of the opponant they are about to face?

Legitimate questions, don't you think?

If in the coach and coaches preparation of the game, those in charge glanced at and skipped over minute details of their opponants good and bad habits and tendencies, then I am really scared for the playoffs.

Taking any opponant lightly at this time of year is unforgivable. It sends a frightful message that turns gamers into passengers real quick.

In coaching, you never make excuses for your players, because trust me, they will use them. Players are like that. Not all of them of course, but give some a window to crawl from the fire and they're out there. Whether it is in the form of bad pre - game prep or weak post game assessment, some players will jump all over that opportunity to absolve themselves that is platter handed to them from ther coach.

It's all very much inexcusable!





















Even worse, Carbonneau's biggest sin was in the lineup he dressed for the game, which was a sure sign of an upcoming night off.

I didn't have much problem with Carbonneau giving a bonus start to Jaroslav Halak after a solid Islanders game, but combined with the other moves he made, it created a detrimental domino effect across the lineup.

If Carey Price is going to be the go - to - goalie from this point on, then he must be used in not only must win games, but the apparent easy looking ones, if for no better reason that to back up the notion that this is a serious game on the line - as they all should be this time of year.

I'd have said to Halak, "Nice game kid, you've earned another start - in the first game after we clinch a playoff spot, maybe. Keep working hard."

Now the biggest problem I have was in inserting Bryan Smolinski and Patrice Brisebois in the lineup in lieu of Maxim Lapierre, Steve Begin and Ryan O 'Byrne. I understand the virtues of keeping certain elements fresh at this time, but dressing both, combined with Halak starting against a down and out team was playing with fire while drinking gasoline.

Smolinski and Brisebois have both had numerous opportunities to play of late, to validate their existances, and give the Habs some smoking games.

I could rant off on the faults of the two endlessly here, but I'll suffice to say that the pair rarely bring it. It's just not good enough to be "good enough", these two have to be excellent to re - enter the lineup. In the end, they're just too damn soft of players to throw out unless there are injuries. Black aces they ought to be.

When players see who is in the lineup, it sends signals.

"Coach ain't worried", goes around a room in a hurry - virus like!



















There has been a drop in intensity about the team since the western road trip and it coincides with the reintegration of these two players into the lineup. They aren't getting the message to "bring it or you're out" because it is not being delivered by the coach.

It's been delivered to Tom Kostopoulos, and he gets it in spades.

The Canadiens need the contributions of Lapierre and O' Byrne. They need their crunch and attitude and youthful exhuberance. The league knows the book on Brisebois and Smolinski and how to play against them. They could pull out a five year old scouting report and not go wrong. The kids are wild cards. Not as well known, and able to light fires or piss them out in a hurry.

Begin brings intensity and confidence. I'd like to see a stat of the Habs record when he dresses. I'd be willing to bet it is impressive.

Hopefully Carbonneau is finished with his expiriments. It's time to send a signal to the team that it's serious time now and that the margin for error is zero.

On Tuesday, there were maybe four or five players at best who played as though something of value was on the line. Other than Kostopoulos, I found that Grabovski and Sergei Kostitsyn had their usual edge and that Chris Higgins was very much focused on what his coach has dictated as his defined role a matter of days before. Kovalev was desperately trying to do too much again, like last season, in light of his line's funk - not a reassuring sign.

The rest of the players caught on a little too late.

Tonight, the Bruins might as well be playing for the Stanley Cup - they want to beat Montreal so badly!

It's up to Carbonneau to dress a serious playoff time team tonight to show the players it is serious business time.

After all, they've scouted the Bruins!

The Misunderstood Enigma Of Guillaume Latendresse

Not much, or at least never enough, is written about Guillaume Latendresse in the English media.

It's unfortunate because it would help remove what seems to have become a certain stigma regarding the big Quebec born winger.

I don't want this post to take on "a language issue" appearance, but it seems to me that if the english speaking only readers were more informed about how Latendresse is doing, they might be less inclined to criticize him unfairly.

And Latendresse is often criticized, only some of it fair.

Perhaps if readers were to learn what a frank young man Latendresse is, how he is constantly concerning himself with his play and progression, and how his coach appreciates not only his dedication but his willingness to learn, then they would find a sympathetic player who they would then better understand.

Latendresse has his weaknesses and has had his glaring moments of looking out of place, but he is an interesting package to develop and groom. His size and shot were NHL calibre at 18 and he has the potential to became a solid power forward when his complete game rounds out.

What I've always found most concerning was Latendresse's reading of the play between the blue lines because of his skating concerns. There are many laments about his skating stride, but it is his turns that need work most. His top speed going in a straight line is quite good and deceiving for a big player.

Nevertheless, his quickness in takeoff is that of a big player. When Latendresse becomes more adept at reading the play, his reaction time will improve with it. Once his skating turns gain more fluidity, combined with a better understanding for reading the plays that are breaking around him, his most glaring weakness will be less concerning.

As he works out these facets of the game, he continues to do many other things well that are not brought up often enough.

Recently, Latendresse has matched last season's goal total, but it would be unfair not to underline that he has done so with less top line and powerplay time than last season. He is fifth on the tean for goals scored. He has also made improvements defensively, going from a rookie like minus 20 to a more respectable minus 4 this season. He continues to throw hits at every opportunity, ranking third on the team in that category. Last season, he led all rookies in hits.















There is no statistic that tallies missed scoring opportunities, but it would be my guess that Latendresse is up there on the team as well. For the longest time he was stranded at 14 goals and seemed positively snakebitten around the net. It was good work that led him to being in position for the opportunities to come, and perhaps timing and confidence that led to them being missed. It is another area of Latendresse's game that will improve with dedication and hard work.

Often, it has been wondered aloud why Latendresse was never deemed worthy of a stint in the AHL in order to work on these and other facets of his game. With players such as Maxim Lapierre, Kyle Chipchura, Mikhail Grabovski and Carey Price all being Bulldogs at one point this season for different reasons, many assumed that Latendresse would also profit from such a stint.

His name is often brought up in regards to the unequal or preferential treatment of certain players because he never suffered the demotion many felt he had coming. It is then that the language nonsense comes into play, with suggestions that the team may fear some kind of backlash the moment Latendresse would be Hamilton bound.

I think that type of thinking is utter rubbish!















The Canadiens are in the business of grooming players, regardless of birthplace. That Latendresse happens to be french speaking is entirely inconsequential to his development as a hockey player.

Mentioned as well, negatively, is coach Carbonneau's view of the player. There is an obvious appreciation of Latendresse's skill set by the coach, and the work ethic of the player is constantly being monitored. He was given a press box seat on two occasions, and kept out of the starting lineup for an additional pair of games after being injured earlier in the year. It's far from a free pass for the player.

Perhaps the reason for Latendresse not being demoted lies in Bob Gainey and Carbonneau's assessement of where the player is at both physically and mentally. In this organization, players are sent back to Hamilton to work on certain aspects of their game, and not simply as punishment. It is important that players going to the Bulldogs are sent there in focus, and not with their tails between their legs.

It could be that Gainey and Carbonneau feel that Latendresse is best off continuing to work on his game at the NHL level. It is likely that their assessment tells them that this is where Latendresse's challenges lie and where his steps need to be measured.

When the decision was made for Latendresse to make the jump to the NHL from junior, these were surely scenarios that were discussed. They obviously didn't promote him to render him an AHL'er a season later.


















The Canadiens brass have gotten good marks lately for their patience in dealing with young players brought into the team at fairly advanced stages. It has been eons since the Habs have had so many 20 and 21 years old on the team, learning as they go. The names of Sergei Kostitsyn, Carey Price and others are cited as examples of where the Habs have had the patience to let rookies make mistakes and learn from them. Yet, Latendresse is rarely mentioned in the same breathe as them.

The language issue does come into play in a realistic way for Latendresse as the focus on him from the get go was overblown to the max. It can't be easy for players from the Montreal area to deal with the pressure, and Latendresse has handled it all quite admirably for a 20 year old.

When I watch Latendresse play, I look at his progression and his intensity level to judge if he is the right track. So far, the strides he has made have not been huge ones, but there is consistant progression in his adaptation to the game around him. He has been given different roles and linemates in his two seasons with the Habs but has yet to find his true niche with regular line partners. Familiarity will go a long way towards helping cement Latendresse's role with the team and I see him as fitting in well on a crash and bang line with Maxim Lapierre and another player who brings grit and emotion.

Often with young players on the Canadiens, I look back into their history to find comparable situations with players who have the same tool set. Latendresse reminds me of none other than Yvon Lambert, another burly winger whose skating skills were suspect when he first turned pro.

Lambert was drafted by Detroit from the Quebec junior leagues and was slow to develop in the Red Wings system. After a trade brought him into the Habs fold, he was sent to the Nova Scotia Voyageurs for some grooming and he joined the Habs two seasons later.






















Curiously, Latendresse and Lambert both played their junior days in Drummondville, and the similarities do not end there. Both players bring the same game, and Lambert learned to profit most from his size by throwing solid hits and being immovable in the crease. Despite a skating style that would best be described as abrasive at first, Lambert learned defensive positioning under Scotty Bowman and was never a detriment to the Habs on the ice. His slot readiness and shot made him a second unit power play regular, and his role became well defined once teamed with Mario Tremblay and Doug Risebrough.

Together the unit were used to specifically get under the skin of opponants, and Lambert went on to notch 6 seasons of more than 20 goals with the Canadiens. If such totals do not sound like much, consider that the trio were often the Habs thrid or fourth line on many night.

What differs greatly between the development of Lambert and Latendresse was that the former spent two years in the minors with the Voyageurs before being called up. In hindsight, the time spent there was beneficial to him.

As to whether the same treatment would have, or still would, befit Latendresse in the same manner in point moot now. Latendresse made the Canadiens at the start of the 2006 season after being one of their best players in two successive training camps. The Habs had an opening then, and he filled it. Lambert joined the Canadiens after the 1971 Stanley Cup, and worked hard for two seasons to crack a more established lineup.

This is new era for the Canadiens as they have begun to draft with the same steady hands that guided the team during it's 1970's heyday. Back then, they were often criticized for not giving the kids enough of a chance to develop but it was perhaps a reflection of how strong the Habs were drafting - they just couldn't keep everyone. Later on, in the 1980's and 1990's, when their drafts were less successful, the team was termed to be too hard on it's young players, and often gave up on them before seeing what they could bring at the NHL level.

It takes many different opinions to decide what to do with individual players and scenarios. One thing is for certain, no across the board policy for all players and situations is correct. Often it will be the player's showing that dictates how soon he is an NHL'er, as evidenced in the callup of Sergei Kostitsyn after only 20 or so games with Hamilton earlier this season.

Curiously, all of Kirk Muller, Doug Jarvis, and Bob Gainey made the jump almost straight from junior, with Gainey seeing a whole 6 games as a Voyageur in 1973. Carbonneau spent two full seasons before being called up, essentially taking Jarvis' place and number in 1982. This might represent why there seems to be different philosophies when it comes to handling the Canadiens youth.

In the case of Latendresse last season, the risk was minimal, as he could have always been sent back to junior. Such a scenario might have been deemed neccessary earlier on, but when Latendresse was given a more involved role he started putting up points and the decision was made to keep him in the NHL for the season.

This year, the watch has been on his work ethic and progression and the decision not to give him some Hamilton time likely lies in Gainey's view that there aren't the precise elements for linemates in Hamilton to help Latendresse along at the moment. It could also be a case of when sending down Latendresse, it puts back the progression of other players on the farm as well. Since the recall of Mikhail Grabovski, there are only so many offensive centerman on the Bulldogs to spread around.

There are many circumstances that can play into a decision that can have unforeseen consequences. When sending a player down the goal is not to set him back but set him up with the best possible surroundings.

In any event, the decision in Latendresse's case has been made. For the role he is being groomed to fullfill on the team, he has shown steady enough progress to remain with the club. It is always tougher to analyze what a player brings when 90% of his game relates to what is done before he gets to the puck, as opposed to when he is seen carrying it. Finesse is not Latendresse's game, nor should it be, but it is often something about him that is critiqued unfairly.

The final judgement on Guillaume Latendresse will be measured by his timing for being in the right place at the precise moment his skills are needed there. Whether it is delivering a crunching hit behind the net, crashing the slot for rebounds or passes, or simply being positioned smartly when the play heads the other way, this is where it will be determined how successful his adaptation is going.

Here are two translated articles, similar in nature from Le Journal and La Presse that speak of what goes on with Latendresse between games. They perhaps show a side of him that is not as commonly known by non readers of these papers. It sheds a light on the dedication of the young player becoming a pro.

Latendresse Working Hard To Improve His Conditioning by Pierre Durocher

Playing alongside of Saku Koivu and Michael Ryder on Saturday, Guillaume Latendresse played a solid game and netted his 16th goal of the year. In 15:31 of ice time, he had two shots on goal and was credited with two hits.
"My role is different when playing with Koivu", says Latendresse. "I'm expected to produce and things went well on Saturday. Now it has to continue."

The 20 year old winger has matched his goal production from last season, his first in the NHL. There's a chance he could reach the 20 goal plateau.

"I'm happy to reach 16 because I have had less powerplay time this season", he noted.
Latendresse mentions that he spends alot of time in the gym, as he has a tendency to put on weight easily.

"I'm putting in extra hours with Roland Melancon after the on ice workouts, and spending a lot of time with Francis Bouillon in the gym. We have our little routine that we do."

"Last season I spent less time doing those things. Scott Livingstone was giving me pushes to go", Latendresse admits.

Latendresse noted that he plans to emulate the practice taken on by team mate Tom Kostopoulos, who's been seen wearing weights attached to his skates in practice.

Coach Carbonneau has been impressed with Kostopoulos' speed in recent games.

"I think it's a good idea. When the weights are removed, things feel lighter. I'm going to try it out", he says.

More Off Ice Working Out For Latendresse by Marc - Antoine Godin

Guillaume Latendresse is straight up. Yesterday, he spoke about how his training habits had taken on a more serious note than the year before.

"These weren't things I was doing regularly last season. It was Scott (Livingstone) who would say "you have to do it". This season I have a routine with Francis Bouillon and I see a big difference from last season."

"I'm also doing extra work with Roland Melancon. He's pointed out that if I were to work on improving my speed, it would also improve my longevity."

Latendresse has dropped a few pounds. Surely the work habits have something to do with it.

Here are five You Tube clips and compilations showing Latendresse's best moments in his two seasons so far.

Habs For Breakfast - 2008-03-19

One second thought, maybe starting Halak wasn't such a great idea after all!

Surely that is what some people will be thinking after last night's game, but the truth may lie in the fact that the Canadiens as a whole may be guilty of taking this game a little too lightly. In the end, the goaltender is just an extension of the team's effort, and this one wasn't strong.

Continued solid games from the Higgins and Koivu duo, whether they play together or not.

Sergei Kostitsyn and Mikhail Grabovski also seem to be gelling of late.

Are you as concerned as I am getting about the lack of production from the Kovalev - Plekanec - Kostitsyn trio? They are working hard still, but have vanished from the scoresheet of late.

In about three weeks we'll all know whether the shootout point lost was costly or if the overtime point gained was a good thing.



Canadiens Sing Shootout Blues - Gazette

"We got a point out of it, but this is a team we should have beat," said Christopher Higgins, who was one of the bright spots for the Canadiens with a goal and an assist." - Pat Hickey

Price Is Better On The Road, Halak At Home - Gazette

"Jaroslav Halak finally lost a game at the Bell Centre and, by his account, gave up a bad goal to let the lowly St. Louis Blues back into the game." - Pat Hickey

Don't Cut Padding, Price Says - Gazette

"Jaro and I get hit a lot as it is already," added Price, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder, of fellow Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak. "If they cut back even more padding, we'll start getting hurt more. You'll see a lot of goalies getting beaned all the time."

Carpe Diem - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"If you look at the roster of the 1979 Canadiens, just coming off their fourth straight Stanley Cup championship, you'll see they're still shockingly young. Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt...26 years old. Bob Gainey and Doug Risebrough, 25. Yvan Cournoyer, the veteran captain, forced out with back problems at 34, and Ken Dryden retired at 31. Many of them won their first Cup when they were 21 and 22 years old." - J.T.

Habs Fall In Shootout To Blues - Lions In Winter

"Grabo, using his excellent speed, made a great play to come back and help the defence as he stole the puck at our own blue-line. Mikhail then quickly sent a pass to the equally speedy Sergei Kostitsyn who was joined on a 2-on-2 with Latendresse. Grabovski, showing more great hustle and speed joined the attack as the 3rd man in on a 3-on-2. Sergei took a good look at Legace and then at Latendresse and finally at the incoming Grabo." - Tobalev

Canadiens Sign James Wyman - Sports Network

"The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward James Wyman to a two-year contract, as announced by general manager Bob Gainey on Tuesday. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. "
















Canadiens Good Health Leaves Veterans Watching From Pressbox - CP

"With 23 players on the roster - 24 since the roster limit was lifted on Feb. 26 - that means some have to sit, and Kostopoulos has found himself among a group of that includes fellow veterans like Mathieu Dandenault, Michael Ryder, Bryan Smolinski, Steve Begin and Patrice Brisebois who have done time in the pressbox this season."

Canadiens Expanding Free Agent Appeal - National Post

"The Canadiens boast the sixth-youngest lineup in the NHL. Goaltender Carey Price, the Kostitsyn brothers, Ryan O'Byrne, Tomas Plekanec, Josh Gorges, Christopher Higgins, Maxim Lapierre, Guillaume Latendresse and Mikhail Grabovski are all 25 or younger."

Bruins Know Drill When It Comes To Habs - Boston Herald

"The Bruins, outscored 32-12 in the season series, know they’re in for a significant test when they face the Canadiens tomorrow night at the Garden and on Saturday in Montreal. The Canadiens won all six games, most in overwhelming fashion, including routs of 6-1, 7-4, 5-2 and 8-2. There were also a couple of more respectable setbacks, both at the Garden, 2-1 and 4-2." - Stephen Harris

Un point perdu - RDS

"Le Canadien a affronté une équipe coriace, qui occupe les bas fonds de l'Association de l'Ouest. Les Blues n'ont donné aucun répit au Tricolore, qui a joué du hockey de rattrapage à deux reprises dans la rencontre. Les Blues ont signé une première victoire sur la route après une séquence de dix revers."

Carbo n'en veut pas à ses jouers - RDS

"On a connu une mauvaise deuxième période. En première et en troisième, on a joué comme on le voulait", a-t-il analysé."

Latendresse:"On jouait comme en début de saison" - La Presse
"On a perdu notre concentration et l'on a essayé trop de petits jeux en dentelle», a observé Latendresse, qui a été muté à la gauche de Mikhail Grabovski et Sergei Kostitsyn en troisième."

Fausse note face aux Blues - Le Journal

"Ceux qui croyaient que les Blues, qui avaient encaissé la défaite dans leurs dix derniers matchs sur des patinoires étrangères, allaient être une proie facile se sont mis un doigt dans l'oeil." - Pierre Durocher

Un mauvais but et une malchance... - Le Journal

"Le Tricolore avait pris les devants depuis moins d'une minute lorsque Andy McDonald a surpris Halak avec un tir haut du côté éloigné, lors d'une contre-attaque des Blues." - Marc De Foy

"Ce fut un grand privilège de jouer avec le Canadien": Rucinsky - Le Journal

"J'ai joué avec le Canadien six ans. C'est ici que ma carrière a pris son envol et que je suis devenu un joueur établi. J'en suis fier. C'est le fait saillant de ma carrière."

"C'est inquiétant": - Carbonneau

"Ils ont beau occuper l'avant dernier rang au classement, leurs jeunes joueurs veulent impressionner leurs patrons tandis que les vétérans essaient de racheter une saison décevante." - Guy Carbonneau