Subban holdout an insult to organization, teammates

 This soap opera has gone on too long.  First the lockout, and now the holdout by Habs defenceman P.K Subban and his agent Don Meehan.  The 48 game NHL season begins today, and it appears the Habs will be without their talented and cocky blueliner to begin the season.  Lets look at some facts.

  First of all, how can you justify holding out to new management, the fans, and most importantly your teammates, in a shortened season after your team finished next to last in the whole conference and missed the playoffs??  Maybe P.K  wants to be paid among the elite defenceman in the league, but he still has a lot to prove, and now he is holding out on his team for money!!!  I don't understand the sympathy the city is giving to this player.... yes he is talented, well spoken, and an exciting player...but he is not Erik Karlsson or Drew Doughty, two of the best young defencemen in the game today.    He needs a big season to get the big contracts teammates Max Pacioretty and Carey Price just received.  I applaud new GM Marc Bergevin for not giving in to his demands.  Bergevin played the game for a long time, and he knows what it takes to win.
  Another fact is that the Montreal Canadians are one of the most successful and most revered organizations in all of professional sports.  How can a player with only 2 years experience hold out on an organization who has won 24 Stanley Cups??   Beliveau, Richard, Lafleur, Harvey, Robinson....  the list of Hall of Famers and legends in this city goes on an on...  but Pk Subban is holding out for money after his team  finished next to last and they missed the playoffs.  Maybe selfishness has something to do with it??  I've seen Subban play...  he's exciting, talented, but he plays for himself... He's a "hotdog".  I dont think hes the best teammate either.  How many mistakes did Subban make last season that cost his team a goal??    That being said, Subban played much better in the seasons second half, but it was too late by then. 
  There  is something that Subban can do to win back  everybody's respect...sign the Habs offer and show up to play!!  We all know players take advice from their agents...  but the players are paying the agents!!!  This is Montreal, not Nashville or Columbus!!!  The season is short and everyones patience will start wearing thin, starting with teammates and the fans.   Fire your agent if you have to, but missing games is inexcusable...  starting with tonight's opener against the Leafs.  Do the right thing P.K....  sign up and come to play!!  Its not only about you!!!

Nash acquisition a big deal for Rangers

  The New York Ranger have got their man.  After months of speculation, the Rangers have finally acquired former # 1 overall  pick Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue jackets in exchange for Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, Artem Anisimov, and a first round draft pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft.   All three players  are talented and can immediately help Columbus.  Dubinsky especially can bounce back and be the player he was a couple of years ago.  But make no mistake, this trade is all about  Nash.
  In acquiring Nash, the Rangers have filled a much needed hole...  goal scoring.  The Rangers lack of production was evident in the playoffs, as they struggled to put the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals  away, finally succumbing to the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals.  The Senators and  Capitals both took the Rangers to 7 games,  and the blue shirts  struggled mightily to score goals.
  With Nash, the Rangers should  again be favored to come on top of the Eastern conference.  Nash is a  two  time 40 goal scorer and a has passed the  30 goal mark seven times.  He is the youngest player in NHL History to ever lead the league in goals  when he tallied 41 times as a 19 year old.  With Marian Gaborik likely to miss the first couple of months of the regular season due to a shoulder injury, Nash will have plenty of time to acquit himself with his new teammates; and will have the luxury of finally playing with some top level talent such as Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan, Gaborik, and up and comers Carl Hagelin and Chris Kreider.  The defence is young, mobile  and solid, and goaltender  Henrik Lundqvist is coming off a Vezina Trophy win.
   In Nash, the Rangers are getting a player who is in his prime, a just turned 28 year old  who is a natural when it comes to scoring goals. He has scored 289 goals and 547 points in 674 games.  With decent but not great speed, great size and reach,  great hands and a quick shot, Nash will quickly become a fan favorite with the Rangers fans.  Nash can score in many different ways .  I feel the Rangers will be very tough to beat this year, and will have something to prove after losing to the Devils in the Conference Finals.  The team is young; Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, and Derek Stepan  are all under 25 and are all improving.  Captain Ryan Callahan is 27 and defensive anchor Dan Girardi is 28. 
  All this being said, I feel the Rangers will finish first overall again in their conference, and will come out as Eastern Conference Champions once again.  On the other side of the league, The L.A Kings will now get a full season from Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and a rejuvenated Drew Doughty will once again be a Norris Trophy contender.  Its early, but I'm predicting a Kings-Rangers finals...now lets hope they iron out this collective bargaining issue so we can have a hockey season!

Price is right; Habs lock up goaltender : 6 yrs/39mil

  The Habs have their man in the net.  If all goes well, we will not have another goaltender controversy in Montreal for the next 6 years.  New GM Marc Bergevin signed  goalie Carey Price to a six year, $39 million deal, making him the third highest paid goalie in the NHL after Nashville goalie  Pekka Rinne, and New York  Rangers  Vezina trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist. 
  While many, including Montreal Gazette writer Jack Todd, questioned  the length and  wisdom of such a deal;  I feel that locking down Price was an absolute necessity... even if  it was a bit too rich.  The time is now.  Price is only 24, and is a proven NHL goaltender who is only going to get better.  Price has the talent to be one of the top goalies in the NHL year after year.  I feel he can be a perennial Vezina candidate with the right team in front of him.  Todd makes several comments in his article; claiming both Kings Jonathan Quick and Canucks goalie Corey Schneider are both "far better" than Price at this stage in their careers.  While there is no argument with Quick; who  won the Stanley Cup and was the backbone of a suffocating Kings Championship team, but Corey Schneider??  Are you serious??  Far better??  He has played in 68 NHL games vs 271 for Price.  He has also played for far better teams than Price has; I feel this argument is utterly ridiculous.  Price is a Blue-chip prospect, a 5th over pick in the draft and I agree with Todd that his time is now!  Price has to solve his consistency issues and be a leader on the team.  I also think he should show some more emotion, anger, anything...but I don't think he lacks "fire in his belly"...  Price has shown he can win, as evidenced in the World Junior Championships. 
  We shouldn't expect Patrick Roy or Ken Dryden, or Jacques Plante...Price doesn't need that pressure, and those goalies also had legendary teams in front of them. But we should expect someone who will be the backbone of the team for the next six years, and I think Price is up for the challenge. I  don't think we should bring up comparisons to Jose Theodore either.  Even though Theodore caught lightning in a bottle and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2001-02, his career fizzled after that and he is now an average NHL goalie.  I feel Price is far better than that, and Habs fans should be excited they have a top level goalie under contract for the next six years.  Only time will tell if it was  the right thing...  but I think Marc Bergevin paid the right price!

Prust signing is Habs gain, Rangers loss



New Hab Brandon Prust lands a right hand vs Bruins Milan Lucic while a member of the Rangers.

  New Habs GM Marc  Bergevin  made a bold  move this weekend with the free agent signings of Brandon Prust, Colby Armstrong, and Francis Bouillon.  The Prust signing has given the Habs another gritty forward, one who can skate very well, kill penalties, and fight if need be.  Prust brings a lot of intensity and attitude to his game, something the Canadians have lacked in recent years.  As a Rangers fan, I am dissapointed to see him go...  he hadn't missed a game in two years with the blueshirts, and had developed very good chemistry with buddy and linemate Brian Boyle, especially while killing penalties.   Prust brings a lot of passion to his game, and I think it will not take long for him to become a fan favorite.  Even though he is not the biggest guy, Prust will not back down from anyone and he will protect smaller teammates.  Another key factor is that Prust has gotten used to winning, and Im sure he will like to continue this for his new team.    I'm sure the Habs will "play bigger" due to his addition.  The price was steep for a guy who only scored 5 goals this past season, but as I said earlier; it will not take Habs fans long to realize this was an excellent acquisition.
     I hope Glen Sather made a reasonable offer, because this is definitely a loss for them.  They will miss his intensity and chemistry he created with his teammates...  a team I feel will contend for the Stanley Cup for the next 2-3 season. Several key players are very young;   Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, Ryan Mcdonagh, Carl Hagelin, and Derek Steppan are all under 25.  Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist  is only 30,  and key returnees Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, and Dan Girardi are all either in their prime or just past it.  
  A Rangers-Canadians playoff matchup is very possible in the coming year, since I think the Habs will make it this year.  With Brandon Prust on the other side, it might not be so easy for the Rangers.  Only time will tell...Welcome Brandon Prust!

Euro Cup 2012

  The stage is set...  after Italy's victory over Germany, they will battle with Spain this coming Sunday for the European Cup.  This should be a good game, Italy has shown its willingness to attack and create opportunities in this tournament, while Spain has overwhelmed teams with its ball control, precision passing and timely scoring.  If Italy can keep the ball away from the Spaniards,  meaning close to 50% posession;  I think they can  win the game.  Spain will need to get off to a good start and impose their will over the Italians, while keeping an eye on emerging national hero Mario Balotelli who has created a lot of space and chances while scoring some key goals this tournament.   I think it will be a close one with back and forth action...  Not gonna pick a winner I just wanna enjoy the game!

New Hockey Hall members all worthy of induction

Hall of fame teammates Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin as members of the the Quebec Nordiques.

Adam Oates as member of his first team, the Detroit Red Wings

  Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, and Mats Sundin...  they were all great players, and now they are Hall of Famers.  The class of 2012 wasn't elected without controversy, as many thought Brendan Shanahan was a sure bet to go in on the first ballot along with Joe Sakic.  In my view, Sakic was the only sure bet.  Oates and Bure were denied in the past but now belong in the exclusive club, although many past  shaky selections  have many questioning the true value of a Hall of Famer.  Sundin had a very good, long career,  and he was the epitome of consistency; the smooth skating Swede with the long reach and soft hands.  Although I believe he deserves induction, Im not sure he is a true first ballot Hall of Famer.   Shanahan also had a great career; a true power forward with a great scorers touch, but I dont believe he was a sure thing to be inducted... his turn will likely come  very shortly.

Pavel Bure as a Vancouver Canuck on one of his many breakaways.

    Im really happy for Oates, as Im sure some of his Hall of Fame wingers such as Brett Hull and Cam Neely are.  Oates helped them achieve greatness with his precision passing and playmaking ability.  Although not one of the swiftest skaters and definitely not a hard shooter, Oates was a highly intelligent player who made all those around him better.  I congratulate him on his honor and on being named coach of the Capitals on the same day.
  Bure was probably the most electrifying hockey player I have ever seen play.  From his first shift in the NHL, he played as if he was shot out of a cannon.  His breathtaking speed and super quick hands were a nightmare for many NHL defencemen.  He was a weapon...  a goal scorer that other teams had no choice but to attempt to contain.  Although his career was  cut short due to injuries, he definitely deserves his induction.
  As for Joe Sakic...  what esle can we say...  the consumate professional, a winner, a champion...  a classy guy who was great for the game.  I remember when he broke in with the Nordiques on a pretty poor team..  there was just something about him that was special.  I wonder if Guy Lafleur, playing in his last NHL season, ever though he would be playing with two  future Hall Of Famers in Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. 
  After Sundin left, the team was built around Sakic.   He had it all; great playmaking ability, a great hockey mind and the will to win, a great wrist shot...  he knew how to win.   Scoring Champ, Stanley cup Champion, this is the icing  on the cake.  One of the greatest players I have ever watched.

  Congratulations to the four  new members... The selections were well done...

Price helps Habs snatch victory from Leafs

It wasn't pretty, but the Habs found a way to pull out a victory over the Leafs in the opening game of the 2009-10 season . Josh Gorges scored the winning goal with just 12.8 seconds remaining in overtime, capitalizing on a rebound from a nice Mike Cammalleri rush. Carey Price was solid in nets, making 43 saves to get the win over the Leafs in what looks like will be a heated rivalry this season. Former Hab Mike Komisarek played his first game for the Leafs, and although he made his presence felt with some big hits, his lack of discipline cost the Leafs as the Habs scored 2 goals with him in the sin bin. Komisarek had 15 penalty minutes in this game, and he probably should have been called for at least another 2 minor penalties.
The Leafs totally dominated the Habs in the first 2 periods, out shooting them 30-13 after 2 periods. They controlled the play and were much faster on the puck than the Habs. Paul Mara and especially Hal Gill struggled in their Habs debut. Gill's troubles cost the Habs 1 goal, as he was stripped from the puck behind the net, resulting in a goal for Alex Ponikarovsky. Gill's lack of foot speed was obvious throughout the match as he was continuously beaten to the puck by speedy Leafs forwards, and it is definitely a concern for the Habs. Of more concern is the injury suffered by Andre Markov in the 3rd period. Markov left after apparently being cut by Carey Price's skate after a Leafs goal. Lets hope it isn't serious. Hopefully Roman Hamrlik will join the Habs for their next game. Hamrlik is desperately needed to log minutes in key situations, relieving pressure from Gill and Mara. Ryan O'byrne had a solid game and showed poise in this match. Lets hope his progress continues.
Newcomers Brian Gionta and Travis Moen scored for the Habs, and crafty center Glen Metropolit scored the goal that sent the game in to overtime in the third period. Metropolit also made a nice play on Moen's goal, stripping a Leafs defender behind the net and feeding Moen in front of the net who put it past Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala. Enforcer George Laraque also assisted on that goal, and also fought with newly acquired Leafs tough guy Colton Orr, earning a decision. This line was consistent throughout the match with their effort and grit. Maxim Lapierre's line was largely invisible, Guillaume Latendresse had a few good shifts, but they need more from their third line. Tomas Plekanec was all over the ice, and his effort was rewarded with an assist on Gorge's winning goal. Camallerri, who had 2 assists, and Gionta were impressive in their debut's, and Scott Gomez had his best period in the third. The Habs definitely need to be better, and coach Jacques Martin must be vigilant in order to make any adjustments necessary. The Leafs definitely controlled the flow of the game, but the Habs showed a lot of heart and team unity in coming up with the win. Carey Price made this possible. Lets hope he can keep it up...

Sergei Kostitsyn To Ride The Bus in Hamilton

New Habs coach Jacques Martin is sending a message by demoting talented winger Sergei Kostitsyn to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. The 22 year old heads to Hamilton after an inconsistent training camp which saw him get publicly berated by coach Martin during drills. The demotion comes right before Martin and his troops head to Teen Ranch in Caledon, Ontario, in a move Martin hopes will bring the team closer together. “This type of team building is something I’ve always done with my teams,” said Martin. “I think it’s a great way for the guys to get to know about each other and develop their leadership skills. There will be training sessions in the morning, both on and off ice, and then in the afternoons and evenings we’ll do some activities, including some physical ones, which will be aimed at developing responsibility and leadership.”
By excluding the younger Kostitsyn, Martin is sending a message to the team; including older brother Andre, that a poor work ethic and inconsistency will not be tolerated. This should include some of the younger Habs who seem to enjoy their new-found fame. Carey Price needs to put last season behind him, and he will be pushed by Jaroslav Halak if he doesn't. Maxim Lapierre is a hard worker, good skater with decent hockey skills, but he occasionally takes games off. I find it laughable that people are anointing him the next captain. Max should maybe take some tips from junior rival Maxim Talbot, who won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer. Although smaller and probably not as fast, Talbot plays a bigger game and is more of an "in your face" type of player. While Lapierre has 0 goals and 3 assists and is a minus 8 in 16 career playoff games, Talbot took his game to another level during the playoffs, scoring 8 goals and 5 assists during last seasons Stanley Cup run, including the glorious Cup winning goal in game 7. I like Lapierre as a player, he brings energy and is hard to handle down low with his speed, but I didn't like what i saw in the last 2 playoffs series: Max disappeared. Giving him the captaincy will only put more pressure on him and inflate his ego even more; stick to Hockey Max.
I don't know what to say about Lapierre's sidekick Guillaume Latendresse. I think people are putting up too many expectations on this guy... I don't think he's that good. He's not Guy Lafleur and never will be. Don't get me wrong, Guillaume has size and soft hands for a guy his size... but unfortunately he doesn't use it. Newcomer and one of the league's smallest players Brian Gionta plays in traffic more than Latendresse. I think he can be an effective guy from the blue line in... lets hope he can become something like John Leclair. The Habs sorely need a power forward, and Latendresse has to start crashing the net and start making a name for himself in the NHL. Other guys like Matt D'agostini must also keep up their work ethic. I think coach Martin will not have much patience with guys on the bubble... and the boys in Hamilton better be ready if their name is called, because there will be opportunities to play with the big club.
Opening night is 3 nights away in Toronto, and hopefully the Habs will have gotten to know each other better, and will stick up for each other when the going gets tough. One things for sure, the Maple Leafs will not make it easy on the Habs, lets hope the Habs show up for the challenge and prove who I feel is the superior team. Until next time...

Habs Brisebois Retires Graciously

I never thought I'd be writing anything about Patrice Brisebois. As a former Hab hater, Brisebois was one of my favorite whipping boys. Brisebois retired today after an 18 year career which saw him play 1009 NHL games and win a Stanley Cup in 1993 as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. The former Habs and Colorado Avalanche defenceman showed class and was very gracious in his retirement speech this afternoon. He thanked his family, former teammates, his trainers and the fans; as well as Habs GM Bob Gainey for giving him a chance to return to play for the Habs in 2007. . With tears in is eyes, Brisebois appeared a sympathetic figure who seemed humbled and privileged to have had such a long career. He finished his career with 98 goals and 322 assists for 420 points, including 371 points for the Habs; good enough for 5th place all time on the team for defencemen. Unfortunately for Brisebois, this wasn't always the perception the Habs faithful always had of him, and neither was mine. By all accounts, the former 30th pick overall in the 1989 NHL entry draft had a good career, however, it wasn't always easy.
After a successful Junior career which saw him win 2 gold medals as part of Team Canada's Junior Championship team, Brisebois joined the Habs with lofty expectations; playing his first game during the 1990-91 season and became a regular during the 1992-93 Stanley Cup winning season. Many people had high hopes that local boy Brisebois would be their next superstar, but despite his accomplishments, he was never destined for greatness. Brisebois did have talent; he was a very good skater with a hard and accurate low shot, and he was an excellent passer. However, Brisebois was prone to many defensive miscues in his own zone, and was often over matched and out muscled by forwards in the corners and on the boards. He added muscle later in his career, but was not much of a hitter, although he would surprise the crowd with a big hit every once in a while. But no matter how he played, Brisebois bled the red white and blue of the Montreal Canadiens; and his effort was always there. His game was at his best when he kept it simple: crisp outlet pass to the forwards and good positional defensive play. The Habs fans wanted more however, and they were merciless on him, booing him relentlessly and sometimes undeservedly. I never really liked Brisebois during his first tour with the Habs. I always felt he was a whiner, and he tended to hit his opponents when they weren't in the best position to defend themselves. Late in the 1990's, I witnessed some of Brisebois's antagonistic attributes first hand during a game at the Bell Centre vs my favorite New York Rangers. As aging superstar Wayne Gretzky skated in the corner, Brisebois crosschecked the NHL's all time scoring leader in the back, drawing the ire of the Great one and causing a scuffle. Although it wasn't a dirty hit, it was a cheap one...and it ended up being the motivation the Rangers needed to win the game. Gretzky emerged from the third period scuffle with fire in his eyes, and he victimized Brisebois in OT with a sweet pass between Breezer's legs to a Ranger in front of the net for the winning score. It was classic Gretzky moment, his third assist of the game on a beautiful pass.
With the media and the fans all over him, Brisebois left the Habs after the lockout in 2004, and joined the Colorado Avalanche for the 2005-06 season. With all the weight of the world off him, Brisebois excelled in the thin air of Colorado. He played a career high 80 games and added a career high 38 points. His next season was injury plagued, lasting only 33 games. During his exile in Colorado, a strange thing happened. Fans, media and myself alike, earned a mutual respect for Brisebois. By 2007, he was ready to return to the site of his Stanley Cup triumph; now a seasoned veteran looking to add some experience to a young team. Bob Gainey signed the veteran to a contract, and during the 2007-08 home opener, Brisebois received the loudest ovation of all the players. During the past 2 seasons, Brisebois played a steady game, adding a veteran presence on a team full of youngsters. His career had come full circle, the fans and media alike appreciating his 16 years of service he had given, his contributions to the team overshadowing some of the lower points in his career. He was the victim of unrealistic expectations placed upon him at a young age, and the more he tried to appease the fans, the more he was prone to errors, the louder the boos. He showed great courage and perseverance in overcoming this, and was even The Habs Masterton Trophy nominee in 2008. Thanks to Bob Gainey, Brisebois got to finish his career with the Habs with dignity and class, claiming the Jean Beliveau Trophy, which recognizes a player’s effort, enthusiasm, involvement and time invested in collective and personal initiatives. I can honestly say that I wish the guy well... he went through some rough times, but the true Habs fans appreciate effort, and he always gave it his best. Hopefully he will be remembered for his effort, courage, and perseverance, and for his love of the game of hockey. He is a true Montreal Canadien, with a Stanley Cup ring to prove it. Good luck Pat....

Bruins Will Miss Kessel

The Phil Kessel saga is finally over. After only 3 years with the Boston Bruins, the Phil Kessel era is over. The Bruins finalized a trade with the Conference rival Toronto Maple Leafs in which the Leafs give up a first and second round draft choice in the 2010 draft, and a first rounder in 2011. By all accounts it seems that the Bruins wanted to keep their speedy 2006 first round draft choice. However, as is almost always the case when an agent and big dollars are involved, Kessel bolted and signed with the leafs. Recent reports indicate he signed a 5 year 27 million dollar contract with the Leafs.
In the short term, the Bruins will definitely miss the speedy Kessel. Besides being only 21 years old and missing 12 games due to injury, Kessel led the Bruins with 36 goals last season; 9 more than runner-up Michael Ryder. The Bruins lost their game-breaker, Kessel's blazing speed and accurate shot made him the most dangerous of all the Bruins. Kessel was a mainstay on the Bruin power play and added something the Bruins sorely lack; speed. While the Bruins have some decent skaters in Patrice Bergeron, Chuck Kobasew, and the returning Marco Sturm, none of them posses Kessel's offensive arsenal. Kessel was a perfect fit with the Bruins. With punishing hitters such as Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic, the offensive mastery of Marc Savard and David Krejci, and with Kessel being the ever present danger in the opposing zone, the Bruins could have made another serious run at the Stanley Cup again this year. Even though the Bruins pounded the Habs in to submission in last season's first round playoff series 4 games to none, the speedy Carolina Hurricanes exposed the Bruins lack of team speed in winning a thrilling series 4 games to 3. With Kessel gone, they will not be any faster, although the return of Sturm will help. Although the future draft picks will help, this transaction will not help them this season. Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas had career seasons last season, and the Bruins will need an encore from their aging veterans in order to have the same success this season.
For the Leafs, Kessel, who will be out of the line up until November with a shoulder injury, will add another dimension to the Leafs offence. Time will tell whether Brian Burke paid the right price in acquiring Kessel. As a hockey move, Kessel will definitely be playing on a weaker team and in a city where the pressure to play is matched only in Montreal and New York. Kessel and his agent obviously went for the big bucks, and it remains to be seen if Kessel can improve on his success from Beantown. Can he lead the Leafs in to the playoffs??... Despite the Leafs numerous acquisitions this season...unlikely.