Habs Can't Get There From Here

Continuing in the rock song analogy mode, my favorite R.E.M. track has always been a funky mother of a tune called "Can't Get There From Here". It's from a disc called "Fables Of The Reconstruction / Reconstruction Of The Fables", oddly enough, which falls perfectly in line with my thoughts of what the Canadiens should be doing, seeing as the off-season has immediatly kicked in resulting from the Saturday night shock in Toronto.

In the track, as lead singer Michael Stipe shouts out the title in the chorus, while background singers contrarily chime "I've been there, I know the way."

It may sound out like a discourse between Habs GM Bob Gainey and the Montreal media this summer!

Gainey knows the way, he's been there before.

It must surely be obvious to the GM that this working version of the Canadiens has run it's course. With this lineup, there would be no playoffs again next season.

Now as the song's Philomath, Oregon destination might describe a futile road trip, the Habs road back to Stanley Cup glory would hit similar roadbumps or get stranded in a perpetual pothole, should the team remain stagnant.

There are no shortcuts here, but this vehicle needs more air and better winter tires.

Trust me, my fellow Habs fans, on further inspection, missing the 2007 post season is not the devastation it appears to be.

Had the team gone on, to what was likely a first round eliminition, what exactly would that have meant? Could anyone have suggested mission accomplished, then? I doubt it!

Making the playoffs, would have caused the team to be over-evaluated. Now, it is certain that many of the teams elements will be given a good going over. Maybe even a ruthless one.

What I see happening is one third of the lineup being trashed, if only to create spending options and answer team chemistry questions.

Keeping in mind that the Habs have so far committed almost 22.3 to ten players on next years roster, they should have near 27.7 to spend as they choose.

Those in the group of 10 consist of Koivu, Kovalev, Samsonov, Begin, Huet, Latendresse, Murray, Boullion, Dandenault, and Streit.

As it looks more and more that the dollar totals of Murray and Samsonov could be minor-leagued, the Canadiens would then have 18 million as a starting point for next season. Not a bad proposition at all!

There are 6 RFA's of lesser concern, as the team has the right to match any outside offers. Four of those six could receive deals upping their salaraies by a million per season. Aside from the ghostly Alexander Perezhogin and seldom used Josh Georges, raises should be tendered to Higgins, Komisarek, Ryder and Plekanec. Considering the team missed the playoffs, GM Gainey may be able to get away with less dollars in a case or two.

If those four named add 5 million to payroll, it would be sensible. That would bring 14 players under contract at 23 million. The remaining 25 big ones could be used to resign Markov and Souray, who I feel would both remain Canadiens if offered market value.

David Aebischer, Mike Johnson, Radek Bonk and Janne Niinimaa, UFA's all, will hit the highway, no tears cried while subtracting 8.7 million dollars from last (and next) season's salary cap - no questions asked.

Bonk is the only one of the 4 who could return at a discounted rate. He'd be hard pressed to ask for a raise.

If this summers signings mirror the tidy effectiveness executed last June, when Gainey had everything wrapped up earlier than most, things could become interesting for the team at noon on July 1st.

Perhaps the most intriguing question that will be asked, will have to do with Alex Kovalev.

There is little doubt in my mind that the Canadiens will seek to rid themselves of the overpaid nightmare. Any takers?

GM Gainey Will Be Defined By Trade Deadline Actions

The city of Montreal's media are an ocean divided when it comes to how Candiens GM Bob Gainey should approach the Febuary 27 trade deadline. Fans fall on both sides of the divide are split as well.

While the Habs hopes were seemingly fleeting, questions arose as to whether they would be buyers or sellers within the coming week's wheeling and dealing.

After back to back wins moved them higher north in the standings, some are still calling for moves to be made.

It will all depend on how Gainey assesses the teams assets, progression and future.

Are the 2006-07 Montreal Canadiens the team that held on steadfastly to the fourth position in the Northwest division until a ten days ago, despite a recent slump?

Or are they the dysfunctional crew that has displayed a total lack of unit cohesiveness beginning with a December 23rd undoing at the hands of the Boston Bruins?

At Christmastime, you may recall, the Habs were one of the NHL's surprise teams. With Cristobal Huet proving critics wrong in terms of him being a one year wonder, the Canadiens power play and penalty killing units were, for a short spell, both ranked at number one in the league.

Since then, the Habs have meandered beyond recognition. Talents have come up lame, team togetherness has been nil to inexistant, and discipline at crucial times in games has been preached to deaf ears.

Injuries and viruses notwithstanding, getting a grip on the character of this team is no easy feat. It could be that the SOS launched to American League standout Jaroslav Halak came just in the nick of time to save the sinking ship.

Gainey and his scouting staff will have to make some crystal ball evaluations on the teams impending free agents as well as a crop of six or so young prospects on the verge of making the team.

The trio of defenseman set to become free agent come July 1st, Sheldon Souray, Andrei Markov, and Craig Rivet, are the teams main focus. Both Souray and the Canadiens have made statements that both want the relationship to last longer. Markov is harder to put a finger on. He would undoubtably a fetch a more lucrative offer elsewhere, but on the other hand he could also command some nicetradebait as well. Rivet may be sacrificed for no other reason than changing the guard.

Scrutiny of Gainey will be higher this time around as many of his past deals have been termed busts. Whatever love the Montreal populace has had with Alex Kovalev has worn thin. The Sergei Samsonov signing has been an utter disaster from the get-go. Bringing in Janne Niinimaa for Mike Ribeiro has had little impact. The Stars center produces at a good rate for his newer team while most nights Niinimaa is a healthy scratch. Radek Bonk and Cristobal Huet, coming over two seasons ago for Mathieu Garon was deemed a success due to the surprise that has been the goaltender's play. While no one misses Jan Bulis or Richard Zednik terribly, Mike Johnson has been a dependable pickup.

Gainey's biggest move so far has been one of dispatching the overpaid Jose Theodore for David Aebischer. It could be said that the current Canadiens goalie has been only slightly more reliable than the former, at a discount of $4 million.

There will be watchful eyes on Gainey in the next 6 days. The patient GM will likely speak of deals unmade when it's over, preaching to team confidence rather than risk a bad deal with a gun to his head.

Several players on this years team will not return next season. Ninimaa, Bonk, Aebischer, and Samsonov are all candidates to hit the highway. With the salary cap set to rise by $4 million, Gainey will be focused on signing the players he wants to return with, more than rental players who could likely change the teams fortunes at this point.

Expecting a rabbit from a hat via Gainey at this time, may be a little much. The stoic GM will surely catch hell from the media, whichever way he turns.

Canadiens In Crisis Mode

What in God's name has gone wrong with the Montreal Canadiens lately?

Watching the team tailspin in the last ten games, I wish I had the answer.

I wish Guy carbonneau had the answer!

I have been watching games over, wearing out the rewind button, hoping to pinpoint the cause of their recent lustre lacking performances, looking for that one thing needing correction to set them right.

Trouble is, it is not one particular facet that is lacking, it is a combination of undoings that are unmaking the team currently.

The list almost reads like a bunch of lame excuses mixed with poor execution and terrible timing.

What the added catastrophies sum up to, point to no easy solution.

With upcoming back to back games versus a pair of solid thriving opponants in the Red Wings and Canucks, it might be high time for coach Carbonneau to begin rattling some cages. After stressing for two weeks that it is not time for hammering the panic buttom, what has grown into team complacency must be swiftly addressed.

While there are certainly other issues to contend with, the lack of overall team confidence is shaky at best.

Without getting into much detail, here are a list of reasons contributing to another annual January slide.



















1 - They miss Radek Bonk's contribution in defensive roles. It has been taken up by a rotating commitee who aren't up to task. Plekanec, Lapierre, and Murray, are not Bonk's equal in such matters as lining up against opposing teams top lines.

2 - The goaltending hasn't been up to par. While Aebischer's play in some instances has gotten better, weak goals he's often victim of, deflate the team. Huet's not been as sharp due to the increased workload. The lack of cohesion between the forwards and D have him offguard way too often. He's been a savior in many games, but he can't accomplish it all himself.

3 - Slumping players are getting away from the basis. Coaches term this "cheating". Forwards are not coming back with the same dedication they were earlier in the year. The are hanging out too long looking for scoring opportunities where they don't exist. Teams have picked up this and are jumping all over loose pucks, pinning the Habs in their zone for longer chunks of time.

4 - Injuries and a bout with an intestinal flu virus threw the team off balance at a precarious time. When a coach shuffles 19 different line combinations during a game, it's a sure sign of fishing without worms.

5 - Still no solution for a center on the Donut Line (a hole in the middle?). Getting in sync with Kovalev is tantamount to madness. Trying Samsonov on the third or fourth line might allow him the extra puck time and space he needs to use his game. Recent minor league callups were tried out there, in what E at Theory Of Ice hilariously termed an initiation ritual. It's time to split thst duo for good!

6 - Teams have figured out the Canadiens weaker spots and are pouncing on the opportunities handed to them. The Ottawa game was a classic example of judgement errors and lapses in communication.

7 - The passioniate play of early December has been overtaken by doubt and complacency. Not many games of late have featured the Habs beating other teams to the puck. Often they watch and react rather than force the play by pressuring puck carriers.

8 - Chris Higgins, a big key in the kog, has yet the find his game since returning from injury. The effort is often there, but his health may be hindering his consistancy.

9 - Too many UFA contracts at seasons end may be contributing to individualism on the ice. While there are no obvious cases yet of players putting themselves ahead of the team, glimpses of selfishness on the ice in passing or shooting options are inexplicably popping up too often.

10 - Carrying 8 defenseman is reducing the amount of options at forward. While playing Mark Streit on the fourth line has at times appeared to be a success, tossing Dandeneault and Niinimaa there is just a desperation move.

11 - Carbonneau has been too fair and understanding with players who underperform. Earlier in the year, he caved in to Samsonov, during a flare up. He needs to rattle some cages at this point without backing down.

12 - Capped out in salary. The Habs need to shuffle off a body or two and create some cap room for the playoff stretch. Being almost maxed out midway through the season creates an adverse uncertainty. Complacency sets in here also. It's time to act on it.

I have to cut myself off at this dirty dozen for the good of an ill tempered and bulging forehead vein.

The Canadiens next two games should be extremely good tests for the wherewithall of the team. Should they not go well, shakeups will occur for sure.

Habs All Over Ovechkin In More Ways Than One

Alexander Ovechkin is quite the newsmaker, on and off the ice. As the great 8 gets a firmer handle on the English language, the Russian star will surely be a media and blogger story trigger for years to come. Here's just hoping he don't turn into a Sputnik Roenick!

Writers for Le Journal de Montreal in this morning's paper, were all over Ovie, covering him pre-game and post game, with everything in between. There were on him like Hugh Hefner on a Playboy Bunny, with a fistful of viagra!

Stories on Ovechkin's comings and goings and quotes were spread out on six pages of game coverage. I consider myself damn lucky to be able to snatch this paper up a hundred miles from where it's published. I can't imagine the knowledge I'd have lost out on if I were without. I don't always agree with all they say.

Mingled in with the paper's astute thinkers, are the occasional morons who believe they have a better handle on the Habs than anyone else in the city, including the teams GM. That, or they just prey to controversy making themselves a name and selling more newsprint.

There's lots to cover, so I'll start somewhere in the middle:

It seems Ovechkin became very good friends with the Habs Andrei Markov while both were teammates in the 2004 Olympics. Before yesterday's game they were spotted enjoying each others company and sharing some laughs. Ovechkin mentioned that since The Games, they have stayed in touch, even training together during the summer months in Toronto.

The great 8 said the had lots of catching up to do the morning of the game.

When asked a few days back, which defenseman in the conference gave him the most trouble, Ovechkin dropped a few names while singling out Zdeno Chara and Markov. He uggested that Markov is one of the better D-men in the NHL.

"It's because he knows my every trick on the ice. He reads me like you read a book."

When these comments reached Markov, the defender said, "He's so funny. He's just trying to put me to sleep with all that. It's true that we're great friends but that ends on the ice."

The paper noted that "as his command of the language improves, so does his ability to express his opinions. He's quite a lighthearted treat, a refreshing athlete."

Glen Hanlon stated that he "wished the fans in the Washington area realized just what a fun-loving exhuberant star they have in their midst. He's an extraordinary player and not the only one on the team."

The Caps pull in a little less than an average 13,000 fans per game at the Verizon Center, even though the team has been doing much better than was expected. Hanlon says that will change as the team moves up in standing.

When Ovechkin was asked why the seats were empty, he replied, "They're only half empty!"

Asked to comment on his recent run-ins with the Sabres Daniel Briere, Ovechkin suggested "they were now even."

Briere seemingly evened the score in the previous game when he tagged the Russian with a sprear to the family jewels.

Ovechkin enjoyed the Buffalo crowd getting on him, heartily booing him after he scored. Ovechkin put his hand to his ear in a suggested "I can't hear you" pose.

"I play for fans and they enjoy players who give it up for them. Those boos motivated me way more than they ever could bother me!"

When asked what happened to his tinted visor, he exclaimed, "It's all Martin Brodeur's fault. He complained that he couldn't see my eyes behind it. He should keep his eyes on the puck. Anyhow, that's not why I wore it - I am just trying to be a little different, that's all. It went well with my personality. If left up to me, I'd wear one that's completely black!"

On the taxi ride taking reporters to the game, they noticed two large billboards that proclaimed, "Do you know Number 8?' They asked the taxi driver if he knew who the young man was. The driver, a native of Sierra Leone in Africa, had no clue.

"Is he French or American" asked the driver.

"He's Russian", they replied.

He turned to one reporter and asked in complete seriousness. "Is he still alive?'

"Oh yes he is", he answered. "He's just 21, and very much alive!"
















Another focus of the papers Ovechkin coverage centered around how well the Canadiens managed to contain him on this night. Coach Guy Carbonneau told that the plan was the same as the one applied Sidney Crosby a week earlier. They attempted to have the Markov - Komisarek duo on him at all times, along with Radek Bonk's line keeping to the perimeter as much as possible.

Cristobal Huet, who played another outstanding game, added, "He's such an explosive player in the offensive zone. He's a constant threat. He can let one go quickly from any conceivable angle."

Carbonneau added that he was especially pleased with the job done by his defenseman. He also gave a tip of the hat to Bonk's line, noting that Hanlon pulled the Ovechkin trio off, each time Carbonneau countered with Bonk's.

"That's exactly what I'm hoping to achieve!" said the coach.

Should be quite a circus when Ovechkin hits Montreal on Febuary 20th.

Bruins Dump Habs In Annual Pre-Christmas Twilight Zone Game

I decided to do something a little different tonight with the game recap. I thought I'd try my hand at some live journal note taking during the game. It's not a simple as when I do Poke Check's games and turn them into summaries, of course. With much more going on at a faster pace, it's a hectic endeavor I likely won't attempt again anytime soon.

Games on the eve of Christmas always seem to lack focus and concentration. It's like everyone has half their minds elsewhere. Tonight was no exception and the officials went along for the ride. The whole mess was weird and infuriating as I had the impression I was watching another team play in the Habs jersey's.

Nothing was pretty about this game. It was entertaining, in a twisted way.

Montreal has not won on December 23 since 1945, an almost hilarious stat. Think about it, a 61 year drought on the day!

The game started out well for the Canadiens and they forced Tim Thomas into making some great saves right off the drop of the puck. He stoned three good Habs scoring chances before the Bruins managed a shot on Huet.

The Canadiens goalie unravelled just as he did last December 4th when the Bruins again won 6-5. That had been the Habs last regulation loss and Huet was pulled after the 4th goal.

Tonight, his own team gave him headaches!

Zdeno Chara scored first for Boston on a blast from the middle of the blue line. It was tipped in expert fashion directly in front of Huet by Francis Bouillon, who played it like he was receiving a pass. Chara still reminds me of a big monkey on skates. He doesn't appear as smooth and relaxed when he was effectively paired with Wade Redden in Ottawa.

Chara's shot was the Bruins first of the game, at the 8:29 mark.

On the second Bruins goal, Craig Rivet entered the nights twilight zone by getting slashed near the eye. There was no blood and no acknowledgement by the officials. Rivet was essentially taken away from the play just long enough for his open man to pop one in.

At this point I began taking note of the many missed calls by the referees. I gave up soon thereafter - there were too many blind mice on the ice to continue counting. I'll make note of the most glaring fouls untouched - but I could do a whole post.

Koivu and Glen Murray got into a little leg chopping and tusled to the ice. Murray started it, Koivu tried to finish it and dumped him to the ice. Higgins came to the good captains rescue and piled behind Murray, trying to pull him back. While Higgins was down, Paul Mara skated in and began hitting Higgins (a good four punches to the head that Higgy didn't even seem to feel) before the refs pulled them apart. The zebra's had a tough time of it - it took way to long to separate the tuslers. Koivu and Higgins each got 2 for roughing, with no slashing calls handed out and nothing for the extra shinanigans.

Komisarek made it 2-1 on a point drive that looked to be deflected by Bonk in front of a screened Thomas.
I always have to laugh when the Habs play on the road. I always watch to see if the television crew picks up the mic sounds from ice level. Sure enough, TD Banknorth Garden does have the in-boards mics that let you hear each bodycheck as if they were body slams on the WWE. Neater is hearing the skates and shots way louder than normal.

Bonk looked to tie the game up early in the second but the goal was ultimately disallowed. I say ultimately, because no calls were made on the play. With Alex Kovalev being showed twice before falling over Thomas as the shot beat him, every one looked towards the officials for an immediate ruling on the goal. None made any motion. No pointing to the puck in the goal. No waving horizontal arm signs disallowing the goal. No arms raised making a penalty call. Nothing.

The four officials then conferred and decided there was no goal. The referee skated to the time keepers bench where the annoncement was made. As the officials seemed still somewhat confused as to whether to start play, coach Carbonneau asked an official over for an explanation. While they spoke, the game announcers made the point that if Kovalev wasn't judged (penalized) to be interfering with Thomas, then what exactly is the reason for disallowing the goal in the first place. That's surely what Carbonneau was making a point of, as Kovalev was given no indication he was being sent off. To me, if that's the judgement on the play, all calls would immediatly be made. No point in having a referee conferance on it, it should be cut and dry. The official then handed Kovalev a minor for goalie interference.

It was almost like they went, "Thanks for reminding us, Guy!"

Referee Dave Jackson definitely needs retraining.

By the end of the period, the unglued Kovalev would take a total of 4 penalties. One was totally dubious. Wayne Primeau actually climbed Kovalev's stick and fell. The Bruins must be taking diving lessons from the Avalanche!

With all the calls, the Bruins took the play away from the Habs by being gritty, tenacious and downright scrappy. They clearly wanted this one more badly than the Canadiens did.

Montreal tied the game shorthanded when Koivu set up Ryder with beautiful precision on a 2 on 1 break. Chara stupidly chose to move to Koivu's side while his reach already had Ryder eliminated. I'm not sure why Ottawa misses this tower so much, each time I see him play, he's brutal.

Murray took another call, this time for tripping, and his victim twirled and twisted like loose bacon flaps in the wind - and he wasn't overdoing it either.

As Murray was being sent off, he knocked away the players dropped stick and shot the puck down ice. That should've been two more but the ref was finishing up his Christmas list and missed it.

Brutal could also describe Andrei Markov on the night. The usually solid D-man was off in every way possible on the evening. His passes were soft, if he didn't outright fan on them. He was out of position often, missing checks and scrambling back. He had a miserable time keeping the puck in the Bruins zone. In short, he had his worst game of the year. Then again, it was likely his only bad game of the year. Markov has been one of the Habs unsung revelations in the first 34 games, just not on this night.

Ironically, he was scheduled for one of those in between period interviews most players hate.

This is gonna be interesting, I thought - Markov is shy as hell and barely audible in a timid English. Two seasons back he could still not speak it. Holding the mic was a female host, the sorta hot Chantal Macabe, who proceeded to ask him the most simpleton of questions so that Markov wouldn't be thrown way off and start answering in Russian.

"Last season the Canadiens were fighting for a playoff position and this year they are one of the top teams.

What do you think is the difference between this year and last year?"

"We are better", said Markov. I was almost rolling on the floor. That's exactly the answer the question deserved!

"We are playing more like a team", he added, looking almost stupefied.

"Many of us think you belong in the All-Star game", she said to a still stupefied looking Markov.

"Thanks", he said. He actually blushed. He probably knew he was having an off game.

"Do you ever think about playing in the All-Star game?"

"Not till now". Here I realized that stupefied is the actual normal look on his face. He has these constantly upraised circular eyebrows that make a frown virtually impossible. Add that to his plunger shaped lips and you have a face that is pure bemused.

But he's a great D and I love his play. Just not tonight. He might have fretted over the interview so much it got in his head during the game, who knows?

Starting the third I began paying a lot of attention to the Bruins system. Coach Dave "Hitler Moustache" Lewis has the players running basketball type pics to impede the motion of every puckless Hab in the neutered zone. It's one sneaky trap and it works because all contact with players is avoided. Only thing is, it's totally obvious. It's not easily defendable and for the most part went completely uncalled. I have an ingenius word for it - interference.

The Bruins parlayed this system to perfection frustrating the Habs to no end.

Chasing a player to the boards, Rivet caught a rut and dropped to the ice. The player he was pursuing fed the puck to Milan Jurcina at the point and Rivet arrived back in front of his net just in time to have it glance off his skate. Man when things go wrong!

Chistov put the game away with a nice deke that left the usually cool Huet steaming. He slammed his stick on the crossbar in frustration. Huet had 3 shutouts against the Bruins last season. Won't happen this year!

The refs missed one last brutal infraction when Kovalev drapped himself like a horny octopus all over Chara behind the Bruins net. They must have figured slapping him with a fifth call would cause an aneurism or something.

It finished 4-2 Bruins with a little late scurry by Montreal to make it almost interesting.

The Habs best guy tonight was Bonk, the worst far and away was Sergei Samsonov, who is completely useless without the puck and even more worthless with it. Someone change his address, please! He deserves his own suckometer, in the WFS tradition.