Postcard from camp

posted by Mike Boone at 9h38 EST on Sep 21


Playing soccer in the sunshine behind the Sportplex 4-Glaces: Tomas Plekanec, Roman Hamrlik, Mike Komisarek.

And the parking lot is full already.

•  •  •

Lines to watch: Plekanec with the Kostitsyn brothers, Robert Lang centring Alex Kovalev and Guillaume Latendresse.

Also Kyle Chipchura, who's trying to win a job, with Gregory Stewart and Tom Kostopoulos.

An interesting defence pairing on Team A: Pavel Valentenko and Yannick Weber.

•  •  •

First prediction of the season:

Plekanec will play with the Brothers K. Sergei and Andrei are great together, and if Pleks  can figure them out – as opposed to going nuts, like he did with Boris and Natasha two years ago – the line will flat-out fly.

I think Lang will centre the two Alexes, and Latendresse will play with Koivu and Higgins.

The fourth line, most nights, will be Bégin, Lapierre and Laraque. Kostopoulos and Chipchura in the pressbox. Dandenault dealt.

The defence pairings are set, with Brisebois as an extra.

So everything is set. Let's start the season.

•  •  •

Alex Tanguay is the first number 13 since Billy Boucher in 1921-'22.

Notable 17's preceding Georges Laraque: Jason Ward, Benoit Brunet, John LeClair, Craig Ludwig, Rod Langway, Murray Wilson, Larry Pleau, Phil Roberto.

Some number 20s before Robert Lang: Bryan Smolinski, Mike Johnson, Richard Zednik, Valeri Bure, Craig Conroy, Sylvain Turgeon, Jyrki Lumme, Mark Hunter, Cam Connor, Pete Mahovlick, Bob Berry, Dave Balon, Phil Goyette and the immortal P.J. Stock. 



Canadiens VP of communications Donald Beauchamp was in the press room telling us about Roberval.

The game against the Sabres will be played in an arena that seats 1,000. That's fewer fans than are here watching the scrimmage today.

Canadiens Team A will fly out of Halifax Monday night after the game against Boston. They'll have a morning skate – unsual during exhibition season – Tuesday in Roberval.

Fearless prediction: No one will be in school in Roberval that morning.

•  •  •

Beauchamp also said the team will announce its full slate of centennial activities on Wednesday afternoon.

Still to be confirmed: a game at Olympic Stadium in December, 2009.


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Comments

twocents's picture
Submitted by twocents on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:48.

NOOOOOooooooooo...... Please not Higgins-Koivu-Lats. It's the only combination I have seen suggested that I really do not want to see. Koivu should be playing with at least one player with a broader range of offensive skills and lots of creativity. Koivu can score too ya know, he is just so often paired with finishers, that he doesn't get set up much. Besides both of those guys have busy spaces between their ears these days. Koivu should have a chance to get away from the projects and play with players who are either well established(Tanguay) or losey-goosey-ready-to-go(the Kostitsyns). One of Lats or Higgins would be ok but, not both, in fact Higgins and Koivu need to be separated. For both's sake but especially Higgins' as he needs to be pushed to adjust and be more aware of his linemates. IMHO.


Ian G Cobb's picture
Submitted by Ian G Cobb on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 08:36.

Thanks to all for keeping us that cannot attend up to speed, even the 4 legged one with shades.


Moey's picture
Submitted by Moey on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 12:50.

Hey Mike, Hamerlik was the third one? I didn't recoqnize him. I was standing right beside you, I recognized your distinct voice, you didn't bat an eye at a horse wearing shades.

I got to watch one of the sessions from 11 to 12. Komy was the most impressive guy out there, he looks like he's in great shape. Kovy, as usual makes it all look easy. I though Saku looked a bit off kilter, then I remembered the foot injury.

Olivier Latendresse is faster and tries harder than his bro. But Lats did pot a couple.

Subban looked pretty good to me, his puck handling is good, he's strong on the puck but his defense still needs some work.


saskhab's picture
Submitted by saskhab on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 12:11.

I still believe last year's top line will resurface by the time the team is cut down to about 25-28 players. These combos are largely "what if" scenarios.

Things I noticed: Maxwell and Pacioretty get ice time with Tanguay. That indicates to me that the team wants to see what they can do with high end talent. Also, Tanguay is playing RW there. He could be the LW that makes the switch to the right side.

While Begin-Lapierre-Laraque looks like the 4th line, let's take a moment and realize that a Stewart-Chipchura-Kostopolous combo is almost on par with that (just less experienced). And hey, it's the age old English/French battle in Montreal!

D'Agostini and Stewart remain high up on the callup list based on being placed with players that will be on the team.

Dandenault, by being placed with two players that won't be close, definitely appears to be on the way out. An extra $1.75m in cap space would definitely be nice going forward.


Submitted by nightmare_49 on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 10:27.

This years inter-squad game has a hell of a lot of talent compared to last years line-up in size, experience and skill , hats off to Gainey and his team.


24 Cups's picture
Submitted by 24 Cups on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 10:03.

Mike - If Robert Lang can play as well for the Habs as Pete Mahovlich did, then I will be elated. There is no better time or place for Lang to erase his 'Wizard of Oz' reputation then right here, right now, in Montreal. This could be his last chance to win a Cup.

The Original 24 Cups