Well, with big Mats setting a time frame for late July or early August, us Habs fans will soon know if we are the Habs, or the HabNots. I am still confident that Sundin will come to his senses and realize that Vancouver isn't going anywhere, the Leafs will suck just like every other year, and that he doesn't need money, so his chances of winning a cup, and playing in the post season, are greatly increased if he decides to play with the Canadiens.
Gainey has assembled a team that has youth, and would benefit tremendously from a seasoned veteran with a strong work ethic. Can you imagine a powerplay with Sundin, Kovalev, and one of the Kostitsyn's? Talk about talent and power. When was the last time Sundin had a guy like Kovalev to play with on the wing?
The Habs and Sundin are a perfect fit and if he does sign, Montreal will definitely be battling it out for top in the Eastern Conference again. Lets all hope and pray, and wait, till Magical Mats makes up his mind.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Gainey on his to Swedem - Sundin on his way to Montreal?
Well, Bob Gainey is on his way to Sweden to see if he can convince the talented Mats Sundin to join the Montreal Canadiens. He has until the July 1st deadline to make the signing before the other NHL clubs can make offers to Sundin.
Gainey is going to be convincing Mats why Montreal is a good fit Sundin and why Sundin is a good fit for Montreal. I am sure the fact of a spring Playoff run is something that Sundin would like to enjoy as it seems like ages ago the last time Mats laced up the laces in the post-season.
I give it a 50/50 chance for Sundin to join the Habs. I suspect it to happen by the end of the week if in fact it is ever going to happen. Until then, lets all sit back and cross our fingers, hands, arms, legs, toes, eyes, and anything else that is crossable.
Gainey is going to be convincing Mats why Montreal is a good fit Sundin and why Sundin is a good fit for Montreal. I am sure the fact of a spring Playoff run is something that Sundin would like to enjoy as it seems like ages ago the last time Mats laced up the laces in the post-season.
I give it a 50/50 chance for Sundin to join the Habs. I suspect it to happen by the end of the week if in fact it is ever going to happen. Until then, lets all sit back and cross our fingers, hands, arms, legs, toes, eyes, and anything else that is crossable.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Tanguay a Hab, Sundin on the Way?
Well, I guess we all know that Alex Tanguay is now officially a Montreal Canadien, with all the rumours around the trade deadline that he was on the way here, I guess he is finally here. For a guy that has produced top notch numbers consistently in the NHL, he should be a much needed forward for adding some punch, especially in even strength situations.
The other thing that is heating up is the Sundin talk. Bob Gainey has officially been granted exclusive rights to talk to Sundin before the July 1st deadline and is using it to pursuade him to join the red, white, and blue. Sundin would be a fantastic player to add up front to our line up because he can use his strength and size to compensate for some of our smaller forwards. I am salivating just thinking about him and Kovalev moving the puck around on the PP. We will have to wait and pray, but expect this to happen pretty quickly if it is going to happen.
The other thing that is heating up is the Sundin talk. Bob Gainey has officially been granted exclusive rights to talk to Sundin before the July 1st deadline and is using it to pursuade him to join the red, white, and blue. Sundin would be a fantastic player to add up front to our line up because he can use his strength and size to compensate for some of our smaller forwards. I am salivating just thinking about him and Kovalev moving the puck around on the PP. We will have to wait and pray, but expect this to happen pretty quickly if it is going to happen.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Free Agent News
So, with the season over now, and my grieving completed, we must wonder what is in the cards for changes to the team for next season. Some rumours just will not go away.
One of those rumours is that Mats Sundin is interested in coming to Montreal. I am not sure how much stock I would put into this rumour, but there is no doubt, adding a guy who has put up a point per game for 15 years and is big and strong would be a big help to our team. Not to mention, all those Leaf fans that don't like Sundin would finally get a feeling for how good he actually is.
Streit will likely be able to command a decent salary on the market but he also seems like the kind of guy who would consider giving Montreal a 'home team' discount. It is hard to justify big bucks for a guy who can't even play defence everyday but then again, he is a great asset on the point during the powerplay.
Ryder has likely played his last game in Montreal and will likely leave town for half the money he was hoping to command. I suspect that where ever he ends up, he will put the puck in the net and show that last season was just a bad year. But that is my predictions.
We will have to keep our ears to the ground to see if Sir Gainey makes any draft day deals to move up, likely not, but you never know.
Is it September yet?
One of those rumours is that Mats Sundin is interested in coming to Montreal. I am not sure how much stock I would put into this rumour, but there is no doubt, adding a guy who has put up a point per game for 15 years and is big and strong would be a big help to our team. Not to mention, all those Leaf fans that don't like Sundin would finally get a feeling for how good he actually is.
Streit will likely be able to command a decent salary on the market but he also seems like the kind of guy who would consider giving Montreal a 'home team' discount. It is hard to justify big bucks for a guy who can't even play defence everyday but then again, he is a great asset on the point during the powerplay.
Ryder has likely played his last game in Montreal and will likely leave town for half the money he was hoping to command. I suspect that where ever he ends up, he will put the puck in the net and show that last season was just a bad year. But that is my predictions.
We will have to keep our ears to the ground to see if Sir Gainey makes any draft day deals to move up, likely not, but you never know.
Is it September yet?
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Do or Die!
Well it is game 5 and Montreal was not expecting to be down 3-1 in a series against the sixth seed Phillidephia Flyers. The Canadiens have both out shot and out chanced the Flyers by more than a hair but we don't have many goals to show for it.
Price has not been 'himself' in this series but he has been given the start tonight, which was a must make decision by the coach. Price has the potential to walk in to Montreal tonight and steal the game.
I expect Montreal will come out flying. They need to, and if they don't then they can throw a gem of a season away. Biron seems to be the only thing in the way in the series. They also have been playing from behind, every game. A quick start or even a goal in the first period would go a long way to letting Price settle down and relax.
Rumour has it that Brunnstrom will be in Montreal examining the city/team. A big win here with a nice loud crowd should go a long way in giving him a good reason to consider Montreal further as a potential destination.
Game 5 tonight, Montreal needs a big win to get their confidence up, we will just have to wait and see...
Price has not been 'himself' in this series but he has been given the start tonight, which was a must make decision by the coach. Price has the potential to walk in to Montreal tonight and steal the game.
I expect Montreal will come out flying. They need to, and if they don't then they can throw a gem of a season away. Biron seems to be the only thing in the way in the series. They also have been playing from behind, every game. A quick start or even a goal in the first period would go a long way to letting Price settle down and relax.
Rumour has it that Brunnstrom will be in Montreal examining the city/team. A big win here with a nice loud crowd should go a long way in giving him a good reason to consider Montreal further as a potential destination.
Game 5 tonight, Montreal needs a big win to get their confidence up, we will just have to wait and see...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Game 3 - Monday Night
Well, I have to admit, playing the Phillidelphia Flyer's is not as scary to watch as the Boston Bruins. Although the series is tied 1-1, they don't create a lot of chances that make you twist in your seat and think, wow, that was close. There was never a moment in either game, until the fourth goal in game 2, where I thought we wouldn't be able to score.
The forwards are fast and Phillidelphia is relatively slow, especially with big ogre's like Hatcher. We generated lots of chances on Biron but Biron won that game for the Flyers.
With game 3 going tonight in Philly, you can expect a really hard fought game. The corners are going to be well patrolled and expect to see some big hits. Montreal has really stepped up in the toughness category and has really impressed me with their ability to finish off checks. We have come to expect that from guys like Boullion and Komisarek but the whole team is now in on the action. Hamrlik, the Kostitsyn brothers, even Streit, are trying to punish the opposition.
Kovalev has been hot and cold. Game 2 I thought he dominated most of his shifts but had a couple shaky ones. I expect to see Carbonneau putting him on both the first and second line to switch things up and try and throw off Stevens and the Flyers. For the most part, he generated a number of chances when changing things up with Kovalev.
Plekanec needs to play better. He hasn't played poorly, but this is the NHL playoffs and he needs to generate more offense. Price has been uncharacteristically inconsistent and I expect him to improve on his game...
Well, enough of the mumbo jumbo, it's playoff time and game time is 7:00pm est.
The forwards are fast and Phillidelphia is relatively slow, especially with big ogre's like Hatcher. We generated lots of chances on Biron but Biron won that game for the Flyers.
With game 3 going tonight in Philly, you can expect a really hard fought game. The corners are going to be well patrolled and expect to see some big hits. Montreal has really stepped up in the toughness category and has really impressed me with their ability to finish off checks. We have come to expect that from guys like Boullion and Komisarek but the whole team is now in on the action. Hamrlik, the Kostitsyn brothers, even Streit, are trying to punish the opposition.
Kovalev has been hot and cold. Game 2 I thought he dominated most of his shifts but had a couple shaky ones. I expect to see Carbonneau putting him on both the first and second line to switch things up and try and throw off Stevens and the Flyers. For the most part, he generated a number of chances when changing things up with Kovalev.
Plekanec needs to play better. He hasn't played poorly, but this is the NHL playoffs and he needs to generate more offense. Price has been uncharacteristically inconsistent and I expect him to improve on his game...
Well, enough of the mumbo jumbo, it's playoff time and game time is 7:00pm est.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Achievers???
Well, with a 3-1 lead on the Boston Bruins, it is safe to say that we are looking good and in a good position to move on to the next round. However, the team needs to play better as they are not playing up to the potential of the Canadiens.
The Smolinski line is playing great, and even better than they should. Carey Price is playing better than anyone could expect. He made some stops in game 4 that were unreal. Not to mention, he still hasn't appeared to ever have to regain his confidence and composure because he never seems to lose it. There is no doubt that Price is one of the reasons, if not the main reason, that we are up in the series.
The Plekanec and Kovalev line however is really not playing that well. It is true that they are playing against the top defensive unit of the Bruins but they need to find ways to be better, quicker, and smarter. They need to contribute on the scoreboard or else this playoff run is not going to last. Lets hope that tomorrow nights game puts this line back on the scoreboard and gives them something to build off for the upcoming games.
The Smolinski line is playing great, and even better than they should. Carey Price is playing better than anyone could expect. He made some stops in game 4 that were unreal. Not to mention, he still hasn't appeared to ever have to regain his confidence and composure because he never seems to lose it. There is no doubt that Price is one of the reasons, if not the main reason, that we are up in the series.
The Plekanec and Kovalev line however is really not playing that well. It is true that they are playing against the top defensive unit of the Bruins but they need to find ways to be better, quicker, and smarter. They need to contribute on the scoreboard or else this playoff run is not going to last. Lets hope that tomorrow nights game puts this line back on the scoreboard and gives them something to build off for the upcoming games.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
