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About Mike Boone
Full Name
Mike Boone
Web site
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/mike_boone.html
About
I grew up in Park Extension, within walking distance of Dickie Moore's Dairy Queen on Jean Talon. Moore had a place on L'Acadie Blvd., and we used to see him driving around in his convertible with a Samoyed and a very dishy wife.
While "studying" at McGill University during the 1960s, I used to attend games at the old Montreal Forum. My fellow undergraduate reprobates and I would scramble up the stairs to get centre-ice spots in the top standing room section, where aged ushers didn't know or care what we were smoking.
I stood out in the cold for six hours to get tickets to the 1975 New Year's Eve game between the Canadiens and Central Red Army. With the exception of the birth of my daughter, the 3-3 tie was the greatest event I've ever seen in my life.
The Canada-U.S. Gold medal game comes close .... but I wasn't there.
I've been a professional journalist since 1974, when I joined the Montreal Star sports department. I've covered the 1976 Olympic Games, the 1979 Expos, pop music and MSO tours of Europe and Asia (classical musicians are WAY more fun to drink with than athletes). I wrote a TV & Radio column for 20 years and, since 2000, have written a City column for The Gazette.
The best part of being a Habs Inside/Out contributor is attending games at the Bell Centre. I think it's a great building: noisy, raucous and packed to the rafters with Montrealers and visitors who live for hockey.
And I still get goosebumps every time Michel Lacroix booms out "Accueillons nos Canadiens ..."
Having seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series and the Pittsburgh Steelers add a couple Super Bowl titles, I suppose I can die happy ... but not before another Stanley Cup parade. And I'd really like my daughter to see a historic New Year's Eve game.
I like all the players. Covering baseball gives me a profound appreciation of pro athletes who aren't jerks.
My weltanschauung was summarized by the late great Bill Hicks when he said "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves."
Have a nice day.
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top signs your teamates are trying to kill you!
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2009/12/signs-your-teammates-are-trying-to-...
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
LMAO@ "Eklund just reported that your teammates are definitely not trying to kill you" & "Your name is Vesa Toskala."
HAHAHA...i know...that site just cracks me up every time
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
for those of you that are bored, this should make you laugh...it's a link from one of strombo's twits a few months back....only in Montreal I say! I love the insanity.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/06/19/montreal-fire-swinger...
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
check this guys site....he's got a ton of Habs including the 100th and 75th vids and a load of old baseball stuff as well.
FireFox allows you to grab these vids with the download helper addon btw...
http://www.youtube.com/user/buffalochoppers#p/u/18/4GN5RCreL8w
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
"I read in the Comments that Scotty Bowman's CBC interview included his endorsement of Carey Price as the real deal"
Actually Don Lever told Bowman that he was the "real deal", but Bowman thoroughly endorsed it as you said.
So the Leafs blank the Habs 3-0, We throttle Boston 5-1, then the Bruins crush the Leafs 7-2.
Tough two weeks ahead for the Habs.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
Poetic Justice on the wins isnt it? I'm predicting we go 6-4 before Christmas, but would love a better record than that as my Christmas present.
I forgot to mention one other thing that was quite satisfying Friday night. Watching Bettman troll around like an accountant on a construction site. I was so pleased he was not given any official role in the ceremony.
I missed this but apparently at some point during the ceremony he was caught on camera checking his watch.
I recall watching the video and saying to myself, did that stupid *** just check his watch with that disguisting weasel look on his face
That was when he dumped the beer on his pants.
I think Bettman ALMOST shed a tear when I saw him during the ceremony.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
... Michael Russo's Sunday Insider: A Nashville state of mind ..... http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/78543902.html ............................. from James Mirtle ..... NHL Players on Twitter ..... http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/12/6/1187908/nhl-players-on-twitter
Bring that talent to Winnipeg, Quebec, or Hamilton and spending to the cap will be no problem.
Eric - "I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come..." Forget Quebec City, that's not happening any time soon.
Senators AT Coyotes
December 5, 2009 Jobing.com Arena
Attendance: 8642
... Shame on the Flyers ... by Sam Carchidi ..... http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20091206_Inside_the_Flyers___Shame_on_the_players_for_what_happened_to_Stevens.html
... Sunday Rumours Column .. from Bruce Rumours Garrioch ..... http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/05/12053711.html ........ ... The talk is the Oilers are sniffing around to see if there’s any interest in D Sheldon Souray, who has three years left on a contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5.4 million. There are whispers Souray, 32, was offered as part of a package in a four-player deal with an Eastern Conference team.
... from Larry Brooks .....
Ever since Feb. 17, 1979, the day the great Bernie Parent was poked in the eye by a stick and thus forced into retirement, the Flyers have been blind to the necessity of having a big-time goaltender in order to actually win something.
Since the '97 choking situation of the sweep by Detroit in the Cup Final, the Flyers have trotted out Ron Hextall, Garth Snow, Sean Burke, John Vanbiesbrouck (the on-the-cheap free agent signing when both Mike Richter and Curtis Joseph were on the market during the summer of 1998), Brian Boucher, Roman Cechmanek, Robert Esche, Jeff Hackett, Antero Niittymaki, Marty Biron and now Ray Emery as their No. 1 netminders.
While, by the way, the East's preeminent team, New Jersey, has had one No. 1 in Martin Brodeur and the West's preeminent team, Detroit, has had three in Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood, Dom Hasek and Cujo.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/unselfish_naslund_our_sportsman_rGfz5OgvBcHVOdQ7WeHSUK#ixzz0Yvx6LTEh
Have always believed - based on nothing other than (1) Bobby Clobber's a mouth-breather, and (2) As GM, Bobby Clobber was often openly critical of his goaltenders more than anybody else - that Clobber deeply resented seeing Parent win the Conn Smythe for both Philly Cups. From Bobby's perspective, it had to be frustrating to see the team grind its way to the top on the back of blood, blood, and more blood only to see the NHL's most prestigious individual award being given to the goalie.
Twice.
I think Clobber's resentment carried over into his GM days and that, given his lengthy tenure, the Philly culture eventually became deeply steeped in it. It wasn't as if he couldn't see what Brodeur was doing for the division rival Devils.
The only goaltender I think Clobber identified with was Hextall, for obvious reasons.
Holmgren, a Clobber disciple, has effectively carried on this legacy.
Interesting post. Personally I think its been a lack of defensive team play thats the culprit. its been a while theyve been a team that allows few shots on net. Theyre very good offensively, good on the PP, good with physicality but lack defensively...Its hard nowadays for a team to be good in all areas. Ive met Bobby Clarke and I dont think hes an idiot by any means, he is diabetic though and I think that makes him say and do wtf things at times, Im not an experts on diabetes though. And I think Hextall was a legitimately good elite goaltender.
Heh. Diabetes doesn't make one act like an idiot. Trust me on that.
I agree: Clobber isn't an idiot. Clobber was and is, however, a world-class, Grade A, take-no-prisoners jerkwad. You could verify that with Roger Neilson, but he's no longer with us.
"the West's preeminent team, Detroit, has had three in Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood, Dom Hasek and Cujo" That's four, no? or are you not counting Cujo as a No. 1?
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
someone forgot Pelle Lindburgh, who may have gone on to acheive great things in that hated orange sweater
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
... I think that Larry Brooks went to the same school as Mr.Boone.
Would that be the high school where you spent the eight happiest years of your life?
St. Catherine High,.... between Atwater and St. Lawrence Main.
Best school in the world.
I feel for all the younger posters here that didn't have a chance to study at that grand old school.
All my changes were there....N. Young
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
lol
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
here's a comment posted on faceoff.com by a laff fan regarding last nights game vs the bears. I think you'll agree that ....oh nevermind...lmfao
"There are two positives we can take from this game and they are the two goals scored late in the third. Even when down by a score of 7-0 our boys battled back and made a game of it. Not surprisingly, Mats Stajan (the heart and soul of Leaf Nation) lead the charge with a Gretzky-like pass from behind the net. I truly don't see how Stajan and Co. miss the playoffs with the tenacity they showed last night."
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
Sounds like something Cole the Hole would say
Once a Habs fan, always a Habs fan
freakin' unbeleafable eh
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
That sounds like something you'd say if we were in that situation.LOL!!
it took you long enough to slap me back lol. i thought maybe you were down for the count ;)
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
Here are the weekly stats how we are now positioned in a 30 team league.
Goals Against---86---we are in 21st place. Last week we were in 19th place.
Total Points-----28---we are in 24th place. Last week we were in 23rd place.
Goals For--------73---we are in 24th place. Last week we were in 24th place.
Believe it or not we are only 15 points out of 1st place in the whole league. This heavy schedule this month will tell a large story on how good a team we are.
When is Gio due to return? With Pouliot and Gionta back we will start to move past the hill. We will no longer be moving uphill. Gill has impressed me with his PK abilities, and once Morkov is back and we do not need his to play more than 6-8 minutes we will be looking good.
Look at how well TO are doing with the addition of Kessel. It isnt enough for them to make the playoffs. But it will be for us. We can make it past the first round too.
I think we are simply one player away from being in the top 10. If Pouliot turns into this player I will be very very happy. Plus it seems as if Sergei K is stepping it up. I don't know how much improvement we will see from those two, but it might turn out very very good.
Lastly MaxPac is starting to show us why we picked him too. If these 3 guys can keep playing the way they have been, and of course improve. I think we will all (at that time) agree Bob has assembled a very very good team.
If of course they don't do as well as we hope then we will be back to where we are a struggling middle of the pack team.
But I like our chances more so than I have in the last maybe 10 years of being something great. I honestly don't know how much better Bob could have done in the last few years with what he had to deal with. I'm pretty happy all around (other than the last game with the leafs). We just need to stop paying for the 2007 season with our current injuries...
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey...
okayyyyyyyyyyy
When Scotty hands the Hawks over to Stan, the Molson's need to be on Scotty like stink on a skunk! Like Suck on the Leafs, like Grey on Boone. You get the drift.
Question: Can another team talk to a GM when he is under contract to team?
Well to be honest ....maybe a few more analagies,and throw some metaphors in as well..
How about "all over him like a chicken on a June bug" or maybe "on his heels like armyboots on your momma>>.
Scotty was the best,but he's around 80,and I'm sure has lost a bit of his fastball.He's staying with his son until he retires.he doesn't need the money or pressure.
DING DING DING!!! 100 bonus points to Dean for his "Suck on the Leafs" comment.
Well done laddy....
Once a Habs fan, always a Habs fan
I was thinking the EXACT same thing. I would not be surprised if the Molson brothers have hinted to Scotty about such a possibility. It would be a nice valedictorian kind of thing and the organization could benefit from having a guy like him around as advisor.
Bowman compared Price to Fleury, saying that it took him 2 or 3 years to get his game at a top notch level, and he sees the same type of thing in Price.
Drive For 25 Is Alive!
Well isnt that what many people said too? Its kinda obvious, they have the very same style of play. They also have the same mental fragility. Well Fleury use to have it. I remeber Fleurys first seasons, after a goal you'd see a face of a man who was completely disappointed. Same with Price last year.
I do believe Price will have a stellar career, with or without the Canadiens.
We shall not dispute the Great Scotty Bowman.
"BOWMAN KNOWS BEST"....
If Scotty says that Price is the real deal, I believe it but please don't tell Price.
Right, it might just go to his head...LOL...
(Re-post)
On a day where the Leafs are having a skills a competition, I'm gonna have a look at our position in the standings. And explain to you all why the upcoming games are important and that everything still has to be played. A lot of four-pointers coming up. I won't look at the top of the East where Washinton, Pittsburgh, Boston, New Jersyey, Buffalo and Atlanta (!) have all built up respectable lead in the playoff race.
However it gets interesting after that.Note that we have 28 points after 29 games played.
7. Ottawa (30 points with 2 games in hand): They are on a 3 game losing streak (lost last nite in Phoenix and face the suprisingly sucky Anaheim today) So the one we play against does have an importance significance and could improve our standings if we can pull it out.
8. Tampa Bay (30 points with one game in hand): The good thing is that Tampa faces some tough opponents mostly from the West, some bona-fide cup contenders in its next few games including Washington, Edmonton, colorado, Chicago, Nashville, Detroit. If we can take advantage of the game we play in that stretch, the schedule Tampa has could favor us big time!
9. New York Rangers (29 points with one game in hand): That game in hand will played tonight at MSG against the Wings (both teams played last, Wings lost in Jersey and NY beat Buffalo). Except for their next game against the Hawks in Chicago, the Rangers have an better schedule (compared to us) They play the Islanders three times (!) (trouble for us because both of them are ahead of us in standings!), Thrashers, Sabres, Canes, Panthers...you see where this is going! If everything follows a logical order (with Gaborik, you can never know!), they should be in a playoff spot soon.
10. New York Islanders (29 points with the same number of games): It's weird to see the Islanders in such a position but they're ocmign along. DiPietro played in the AHL last nite (after being out for over an year) allowing 3 goals on 13 shots. The Islanders also have a good schedule with 8 games at home against opponents like Toronto, Atlanta, Florida, Tampa, Boston, Habs. And most of these can go either way.
Also in our rearview mirror, Philly is appraching fast and that's why tomoro is a big game. The Flyers have 3 games in hand and sit one point back of the Habs. After last nite's 8-2 drubbing by Washington, Philly has something to prove to Laviolette and will come out desperate for a win. If the Habs can pull that one out tomoro, it will be HUGE!
I did this to show you guys that the standings can change at anytime. And in this league, you just need to see close to the pack and one stretch and POOF! you can be in a playoff position. Hope I injected some optimism into your sunday. Now, back to studying physics.
I agree every game is important especially those against teams our Conference and Division as each are 4 pointers win or lose. But the most important games are those in our own Division. The Division is still within reach and with it comes 3rd seed in the Conference and home ice. Only there will our chances improve getting past the first round. If we push for the Division then it's safe to say the consolation is probably 7 or 8. But the goal needs to be higher. That's why the game against the Sabres on Thursday was so important. We still play them and Bruins four more times each (???). Those games will be the most important if we have a chance not to just get in the postseason and out in a week.
"Don't play to get into the Playoffs - Play to WIN the Division" IT'S A TEAM GAME - Go Habs Go!
H -Ottawa has hit the skids on an extensive road trip out west. I realize that we are about to play back to back games, but you also have to believe that Ottawa will be coming home half bagged. There is even talk that they might start the untested Brodeur in today's game. Perry and Getzlaf should love that if it happens.
Tuesday is a huge four pointer for us but we have to keep in mind that Ottawa has the best home record in the conference right now (10-3-3). I also worry that Philly will be primed to bounce back for their new coach after dropping a stink bomb against Washington.
It should be an interesting 48 hours.
Hey there young lady. You're supposed to be studying. Now log off and get to work. We'll need you in the playoff run.
Too much electricity and magnetism can kill you! I needed a break.
Ya, I had that in my second marriage...then we broke up...no, wait...you mean science?
Wow, that whole gelling and The System thing is really working for us, doesn't it?
Has anyone come across photos of the skate around before fridays game? other than the lame collection the Gazette provided yesterday?
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
The CBC website has the whole pre-game show in it's video on demand page.
Watched it again last night, brought tears to my eyes!
Go Habs!!!
Someone put up a link of the whole u-tube vidio skate around on here yesterday. If I can find it I will put it up for you. Or do you just want pictures to print.???
thank Ian, I found the skate around vid. i'm sure pics will start popping up on google and news sites soon.
check this guys site....he's got a ton of Habs including the 75th vids and a load of baseball stuff as well.
FireFox allows you to grab these vids btw...
http://www.youtube.com/user/buffalochoppers#p/u/18/4GN5RCreL8w
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
anything at all is great!!
thanks guys...i've been looking everywhere
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
New names for NHL's top awards?
Change the Selke to the Bob Gainey
I may be old and I may be a traditionalist but this smacks of Bettmanism at its worst. Guess the trophy names can be changed at will to keep up with the times. Like the Ovechkin Trophy, the Markhov Trophy, the Subban Trophy...whatever. Question: what happens if the best scorer ever in the game turns out to be have the last name of ***? That name should be reserved for the retiring Commissioner's trophy.
Good point about *** and what about long hard to pronounce names like the Latendresse trophy?
I set to thinking last night. I was pondering how refreshing I suspect the end of the centennial celebrations will be for the current squad and yet how Friday's event helped motivate them. I then started thinking about the ghosts and how perhaps they have finally joined us en masse in the new rink. My mind then wandered to the night last year when St. Patty's curse was lifted... then all of sudden it hit me. Chris and I had a brief exchange the other day where he mentioned how Aurele Joliat's number 4 had been co-retired in 1984, Beliveau had already received the honour. My memory of this event was jarred and I couldn't shake the thought. Less than two years after raising his banner, we won a Cup and he soon parted from this world. Somehow, somewhere along the way, his banner was removed, likely when we moved to the new rink.
Now if there is a more surefire way of getting a ghost working against you, than removing a hard earned and deserved honour, I am unaware of it. It seems pretty obvious to me that to restore the natural favour we have enjoyed from the inhabitants of the hereafter, his banner MUST be reinstated.
This is no joking matter. This is a prerequisite for a return to glory. I don't have much experience in mobilizing campaigns, but I know several within this forum are quite accomplished in this area and I implore someone to take on this issue. How can we respect our past with this desecration on our hands.
REINSTATE AURELE JOILIAT'S number 4 retirement banner NOW before the season is over. This wrong must be righted.
Then, and only then, will the path of the future be unencumbered and our men will walk in the grace that is their patrimony.
While we were at it, his teammate of three seasons, Toe Blake and his number 6, should also be honoured and then full favour should return and justice served.
If I recall correctly from some two years ago, Demers commented that Bowman had said something to him regarding Price being a "can't miss" prospect.
Bowman's anything if consistent. Price is proving it.
Head games, it's you and me baby
Head games, and I can't take it anymore
Head games, I don't wanna play the...
Head games
Btw, did anybody see Keith's "head shot" on Cooke? Sweet. I hate Cooke, he is a head hunter. Good on Keith giving this dirt bag the taste of his own medicine.
That doesn't surprise me. You would endorse head-shots.
Sure, Scotty endorses Price, but what about MAB? Is he the real deal? I think he is... real crappy deal. What's with firing Stevens, btw? I didn't think Philly was doing that badly. Better than us, for sure. I guess some teams do not like settling for mediocrity.
I'm sure MAB endorses Price as well.
what's with the anti-tank thing, Dave?
Ha...just got tired with the tanking calls over the past couple of weeks. Then when HardHabits changed his avatar to a tank I figured someone had to provide counterinsurgency. Anyways, all in good fun. HH and I shared a few brews and laughs at the Summit.
I see... I am anti-tanking too then... I mean, not for a second I believe that if Habs got a top 3 picks would Bobo pick anything than a 5'5" center from the university of minesota that would be later traded for another washed up player and his 8 mil dollar contract. Hmm... why did I pick that example?
Good for you Mike. The path to redemption has many detours. Maybe our picks and trades have been questionable but purposely tanking is the cowards way out.
Tanks?...NO TANKS!!!
In view of the last 100th ceremony bash to end all bashes I'll hold my breath until December is over. Coward's way out is akin to dying a useless yet honourable death. Those who live to fight another day, yadda, yadda, yadda. The bottom line is championship teams are built on shrewd drafting decisions. The more high 1st round picks the better. As long as the Habs continue building middle tier place teams and throw away picks and prospects for that hope of a one off I wont be convinced that a few good seasons of bottoming out wont be in store. The problem is the Habs always say, "we're putting together a team that'll compete this year," and then that team waffles or folds. What's so wrong in admitting that this isn't the year, and that maybe that year is not next year either? Somewhere somethings got to give. Raiding the cupboards if it doesn't bring a championship mortgages the future. Tanking, in today's salary cap CBA revenue sharing ponzi scheme, is nothing more than tightening the belt and building for the future.
I say this because the Habs have a gap in stocking the shelves. Worse yet, is the few excellent prospects the Habs have brought up through their system have gone onto HOF or near HOF careers elsewhere (Chelios, Lemieux, Roy, Keane, LeClair, Desjardins, Schneider, to name a few). What did we get for these guys? Another thing that ruins this team is that every Hab fan demands that they win it all this year now all the time! What we end up with is the train that can't, all exhausted and spent languishing half way up the hill stuck in 2nd geer spinning its wheels while other teams fly past us after a few seasons of bottoming out and trading assets for picks and prospects. Either that or expansion teams end up with super-stars and we get to watch them when the visit us.
Make the top 5 picks a rotating lottery and the temptation to tank goes away, leave things as they are and teams that throw in the towel one year become all the richer for it the next. Except the Habs. I just hope the next 100 years bash isn't all about all those great teams that finished just out of the playoffs or folded early when they made them.
Lots to digest here (and my wonky power supply kept me from responding right away). The only correct way to discuss a) championship teams, b) ponzi schemes, c) strange trades and d) Thomas the Tank Engine analogies is over a refreshing beverage at a local pub. Name your poison HH and we'll pick a mutually acceptable time.
pick a hooker up on the street, shower her, clean her up give her nice clothes to wear.... she 's still a hooker. What i mean is your post is now written all nice with nice words put together and a new avatar but the message is still the same, TANK FOR GLORY.
Only time will tell. I'd much rather be wrong than right, but if by 2020 the Habs haven't made the finals and if by then any combination of Pittsburgh (again), Chicago and Washington do, than the proof will be in the pudding.
Look where Pittsburgh and Chicago have been for them to become what they are now. Do you really think the fans in Montreal can handle that? They BOO after one bad period. It will never happen. It works , i agree, but this team was not given a fair chance yet before your calling for the tank job.
I know what it means....but I'm not saying. I think it's obvious
“Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” Jean Beliveau
fact is, they are not doing better than us, and their expectations are way higher. Nightmare season for philly so far.
MAB was signed as a result of injuries, and we need someone on the back end for the PP. I like him a lot better on the 4th line.
Philly is suppose to be a contender tho, especially with their off-season moves. There was also talk that Stevens was causing a rit to be in the dressing room (all hearsay), and with the recent slide it was only getting worse.
We need to get Lapierre going again, as I honestly believe Lapierre is a strong player for us, when all's said. He has an all around game, and it is up to Martin to get him back up to full speed. He had improved is F/O %, which didn't just disappear, and is a stronger hockey player then either Pyatt or White (with no disrespect to either) when he's on. We just need to have a little bit of patience with the guy...it has only been a week since he's been in a slump, really.
Once Pouliot is healthy, that will see Pyatt join White with the Bulldogs (assuming Sergei is OK). He played really well for us, both did, and I'm glad to know that they are in the minors and able to jump up when the times comes.
Pouliot brings an interesting combination of size, skill, and speed to the table. There was a legitamate debate about who was the no.2 forward in that draft, and not everyone thought it was Bobby Ryan. Larger skilled forwards tend to take longer to round into form, and I personally think that is the case for Pouliot. It has been 3 weeks since he's been in game action, so I'd expect to see him start next to Lapierre on the 4th line alongside MAB. Once he gets into game shape, he could really be pushing for a spot alongside Gomez, which will leave it up to Sergei or D'Agostini to step up.
Then, once we finally have Gionta back in the fold, it'll have that ripple effect of strengthing all our lines. If we can be within striking distance of 8th when all that comes about, I really like our chances. Speaking of Gionta, does anyone know the timeline for his retun?
I'm wondering if the best thing that could happen to Pouliot would be to go to Hamilton for a two week conditioning stint. Lots of plus factors involved if that situation was to transpire.
I agree. It's said that part of his problem in the past has been attitude. I can't think of a better way for him to change that than by working with Guy Boucher, who seems to have done wonders with Sergei Kostitsyn and who has received rave reviews as a coach from some of our Hamilton call-ups. I think it was Ryan White said he's learned more from Boucher in six weeks than he'd learned in the previous six years.
I honestly was thinking the same thing. They talk about wanting him to get up to speed as fast as possible, and getting him into game situations would be best. is it because they want to intergrate him into the locker room as quick as possible, but there probabley is a reason... maybe they are just waiting for him to get back to full health, and then they'll make a decision on that front.
... from Jim Matheson : Sunday's Hockey World ..... http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/2308972/story.html ..................................... from Kevin Paul Dupont : Sunday's Hockey Noyes ..... http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2009/12/06/new_signposts_alter_chiarellis_direction/
"I read in the Comments that Scotty Bowman's CBC interview included his endorsement of Carey Price as the real deal.
Coming from the best coach and talent evaluator EVER, that's good enough for me."
It's nice that it doesn't take much to send you away nodding your head, but what does that statement even mean? That he is an NHL caliber goalie? That he is an all-star caliber goalie? Either way, he has the most POTENTIAL on the roster, that has never been in question.
Real deal would probably insinuate that he's the real deal, ie a legitimate no.1 goaltender capable of backstopping this team for years to come. The opposite being a flash-in-the pan, if you would.
And how could you possibly say something like "doesn't take much to send you away nodding your head"??? This is Scotty Bowman we are talking about, the man has forgotten more about hockey then you will ever learn. He is arguably the greatest hockey mind of all time, and definitely the best one still around, so when he says something, everyone should take note.
"The real deal" traditionnally mean that the player has great potential AND the character to reach it. Bowman roughly said that he didn't think Price would disappoint.
... Sunday's Inside the NHL ... by Bucky Gleason - Reshaping Payroll is Bowman's Task, plus Tidbits ..... http://www.buffalonews.com/opinions/columns/buckygleason/story/884374.html ........ Bowman, raised in East Amherst, actually has an enviable mess on his hands. The Blackhawks are under the $56.7 salary cap for this season, but they already have $60 million locked up for 15 players for next year. Projections had the cap decreasing, but the NHL reported Friday that business has been strong. It could increase. ..................... Senators coach Cory Clouston's patience is wearing thin as the listless efforts pile up, starting with winger Alex Kovalev and center Jason Spezza.