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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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Havlat sounds kind of upset on Twitter... It's no secret he was trying hard to stay in Chicago.
"There's something to be said for loyalty and honor."
(And yes, it's the real Havlat)
Gionta next for us
5 years - 25 million
Gaborik to the Rangers, 5 years.
i mean 7.5 per
not such a great deal i guess for a guy with two wonky groins
Interesting activity...at least people can't say that Gainey was napping. Now the question will be whether the team has accomplished much.
Defence - Markov, Spacek, Hamrlik, Gill, Gorges, Weber, O'Byrne
That group has the potential to be a decent seven. Spacek gives Markov some help on the PP, and can still log heavy minutes. Gill is huge, but slow. We all thought he was going to struggle with the "New NHL", but he had a good year in Pittsburgh. But like the TSN panel said, I'm not sure I like how old the blue-line is...we're wasting Markov's prime years, but not developing the guys to replace him. That McDonagh trade just eats me up. Komisarek's actual number ($4.5 million) was much less than the $5 and even $6 million that had been bandied about...hard to see him leave after a bad season. I prefer to remember the previous year where he was outstanding. Weber and O'Byrne will probably platoon, although I'd prefer to see O'Byrne get the first half of the season as a full-time partner for Hamrlik.
Biggest concern? So many left-handed shots: only Weber and O'Byrne are right-handed.
Forwards (not proposing lines, just sorting things out)-
Cammalleri - Gomez - XXXXXXXX
A. Kostitsyn - Plekanec - S. Kostitsyn
Latendresse - Lapierre - D'Agostini
Pacioretty (?) - Metropolit - Laraque/Stewart
Now the big decision...what does Bob do with Plekanec? He's still got some money to work with, but guys like Latendresse, Plekanec, D'Agostini and Stewart still need to be re-signed with that money. The team has $13.8 million left in cap space, and you have to think that Plekanec will get at least $2.5-3.5 million, Latendresse should eat $2 million of that and D'Agostini and Stewart $1 million each, or thereabouts. So that leaves $6.3-7.3 million on the table, and the team still needs a top-line right wing (Kovalev?).
I think with that kind of money left over, we can rule out signing Koivu or Tanguay and Gaborik. Havlat might be willing to sign for $5.5-6, but I would say that's a long shot. Or if you deal Plekanec, then you can think about Kovalev and a second line centre (Koivu?, Comrie?, somebody else in a trade?).
I don't think Bob has much left to do except ink Kovalev and/or Havlat, if they are willing to come, or a cheaper replacement. Options would include 30 year old Brian Gionta (creating Smurf Line - Redux!) or Ales Kotalik, also 30. Gionta is fast, offensively skilled (5 straight 20 goal seasons) and knows how to play a trap, probably appealing to Martin. Kotalik has some size (6'1", 227 lbs.) that might be sorely needed on that top line and he has scored 20 goals in 4 of the last 6 seasons.
Overall, I can't say I disagree that there were a lot of sideways moves and gambles here: will Cammalleri thrive without Iginla? Can Gill and Spacek replace 2007-08 Mike Komisarek and Mark Streit? Hmm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cum7t3QTHZs&feature=related I don't know about Havlat anymore...LOL
yeah LOL , the fact we haven`t heard from BG leads me to believe he`s working hard to sign our UFA`s
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
That's good. Not time to hang up the pen and paper yet...err skates..
We sign Kovy and Tanguay and we're styling big-time.
Don't think we have the money...Cammalleri looks like he was signed to be the sniper that Gomez needs on his wing...if we re-sign all our RFA's that we need to fill out the roster, you don't have enough for both Kovalev or Tanguay. I would say Kovalev is the priority, but will he play and fit in Martin's system?
if that happens maybe Boone`s sarcastic name `Ca sent la coupe!` good become true after all:P
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
I am ripping this off of an RDS poster: (Can we afford it?)
Tanguay - Gomez - Cammaleri
Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Kovalev
Markov - Spacek
Gill - Hamrlik
Price - Halak
The French fans are loving Bob Gainey right about now and Reseau de Sainte-Flanelle talking heads unanimously think the Habs are better.
They are onside with Gainey? Wow....the world HAS turned upside down.
"Even Roy can be run out of town after 2 Stanley Cups."
If you can read French or use a translation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kmsF93bBww I don't see Iginla in these videos... Hmph.
You know what I like about Cammalleri the most? He has a Brett Hull-esque one-timer. It's absolutely beautiful.
yeah and he shows grit in the playoffs ( punching havlat in the face) he doesnt get injured and he`s a goal scorer! lets go camalleri! he needs a nick name now eh;)
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
Pleky, the K bros, and Gomez for Eric staal, then resign Tanguay. Fill in the rest of the spots with cheap players and Bulldogs.
Tanguay-Staal-???
Dags-Cammy-???
???-Laps-Lats
Stewart-Metro-Laraque
Sooooooooo........Anybody want what I'm smoking
OK Towelie.
any kovy, koivu, or tanguay updates
i hope they resign all three but theyd need to accept lower salaries, if this was possible we could be a really good team heading into the next season!
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
"Do something Bob"... where are you posters now?
...I remain quiet ...as I finger prayer beads ...and chant ...Buddha-like ...Ian Cobb posts
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
LOL without Ian our posts would be all negative and i would no longer have any optimism left inside me! thank you Ian for always believing in the Habs we need more posters like you!
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
Ian!!!
Komi a Leaf? I am CRUSHED.
I'm delighted, Just informed my no nothing die hard to expect bad stickhandling a lot of smack talking and blocked shots (ones that the goalie would have had - mabey). I just became a fan opf Milan Lucic. sort of.
Well at least Gainey changed the face of the club. IMO he did a good job. Got a puck moving Dman with a bit of size, got another one at half the price of Komi to clear the front of the net. They got a speedster that can score, and a playmaking centre, though not big. Now they can package a couple of the other bit parts and get some more size up front.
As for TO, good luck. Now you have another slow Dman that cannot make a tape to tape pass. Good bye Komi, enjoy TO....
Dear Habs fan. I tried so hard. Maybey in Toronto I'll score like Breezer.
signed Komo.
Good post, I agree with everything you said.
All these UFA's, a desire (imperative) to make the team better and a poor track record of getting these people to sign in Montreal - all that uncertainty along with the cowards and cynics cheering and hoping Bob fails so they can say they were right.
I just want the guy to step up and hit a grand slam in the face of all of that.
That's what made him the player he was... when the chips were down and lesser men turned tail and ran, this guy was there. I admire that.
Your day is not done Bob, but here is a toast to you. Now go seal the deal and raise a glass with those of us who stood behind you all day.
Holy crap, I take my kid for a walk for an hour and return to all this... Gil, Komisarek, Camillari (sp?)
Gil - as bad as Komisarek but a lot cheaper... nothing lost, nothing gained
Komi - good riddance to that pilon. Useless in every single department. Will be fun playing him 6 times next year though.
Mike C - although I think 6 mil is a bit much for one good season but he is ok. Had a chance to watch him in Calgary and while he is no Vinny he is a solid hardworking player with good hands.
But in the end, Bob hasn't addressed our 2 biggest needs - toughness and grit.
Yeah I like Cammalleri as well, pure goal scorer and a lot tougher than that pansy Tanguay. Wish he was six inches taller though. Are you as surprised as me that Sutter has not moved Phaneuf. A lot of money Calgary has tied up on the blueline.
agreed we should resign TK
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
No thanks. I like the guy but I won't be able to take seeing him lose another scrap.
I know it's not going to happen, but you know what would be nice, A big trade for Joe Thornton or Eric Staal
Laffland economics:
Komi's 11 points=$4,500,000
Hireing Colton Orr to protect those 11 points = $1,000,000
Look on Burke's face when he sobers up = Priceless (just like their net!)
I don't think we should be the ones to be pointing and laughing at GMs wasting money on large, undeserved contracts.
---- "The best fans don't embarrass our coach, they don't embarrass our team, they don't embarrass the players, they don't embarrass the goalie. When you're a proud Montreal Canadiens fan, you bleed the Canadiens; you don't do stuff like that." - BGL
Normally I would agree, but i am reacting to the tons of mud thrown at Bob, and Burke placed on a pedistal as God's gift to Hockey.
That's fair. There's _more_ than enough mud to go around.
---- "The best fans don't embarrass our coach, they don't embarrass our team, they don't embarrass the players, they don't embarrass the goalie. When you're a proud Montreal Canadiens fan, you bleed the Canadiens; you don't do stuff like that." - BGL
I have to admit ( and this is hard...lol) that the deals though brutal looked at individually, are not that bad in the collective. I am not sure the team is better but it is not brutally worse either. If Bob can sign Koivu I will keep quiet at least till November.
camalleri koviu`s replacement....
we need kovy signed or tanguay!!!
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
Then who is captain?
The only logic choice I can see is O'Byrne.
Hahaha....sounds good to me.
let`s worry about this later... first we need to sign kovy or tanguay, and if kovy resigns it`ll be him
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
can someone tell me what;s gonna happen with kovy and tang or what their thoughts are on this situation im starting to get antsy
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
There has to be a package brewing for a big center....
You know which team needs a big centre badly? Detroit. My god, their first and second down the middle are, what, 5'11"? They can't hope to win with that. Make a trade or flounder in mediocrity, Wings.
(100 in 25!-- ...what?)
You are absolutely right. I keep going back to that everytime someone tells me that the Canadiens are too small down the middle. Another good example is Buffalo three years ago with Briere, Drury and Roy. That was a very exciting club. Now, all we need is for Gomez, Pleks, etc to start playing like Zetterberg and Datsyuk. At that point, the argument sounds a little less sound, but I'll dream a little.
we can only hope....
Gill = Komisarek. Gill plus his salary > Komisarek and his salary.
Is there no loyalty anymore! GOD!
So if there $13 million left, as somebody said below that should be enough to sign Tanguay and Kovalev, and have a bit of room left over.
That would look pretty good to me.
What have the NY Rangers done all day?
Help! someone please post a link to watch... usstreamtv vanished (in Finland)...
theres no more coverage of the free agency
it ended
Hahaha! All of these Leafs fans saying that Burke "bitch-slapped" Gainey by signing Komo. It's like...we just took the guy you idiots wanted the most in Mike Cammalleri. Who got the short end of the stick? We didn't want Komo for that money!!!!
wait and see how the idiot leaf fans feel when he's giving the puck up in the D-zone and getting pounded by chickenshit Lucy.
Hahahaha
BOB!!! PLEASE SIGN KOIVU!!!!!
BOB!!! PLEASE SIGN KOIVU!!!!!
Komi had 11 points in 66 games last season and played like a little b*tch. Komi is making $4.5M next season.
Gill had 10 points in 62 games last season, won the Stanley Cup and makes you afraid to go into the corners with him. Gill is making $2.25M next season.
Go figure...
_____________________________
Koivu for Prime Minister :)
kovalev`s returning! stop scaring the feeble minded people!
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
Why is Kovalev still a free agent? I am not so confident he is returning to the Habs anymore...
I would be shocked if he went elswhere. He really wants the "C" and the city is ready to give it ot him + 4.5 mill per.
Boston is getting more and more Quebecois :P Caron, and then a week later, Begin.
How much more can we spend and leave enough to sign our goalies for nest year?
If I'm bob I extend carey now before he has a chance to put up some good numbers.
Flip side; If I'm Carey I don't sign until I atleast give myself a chance to put up bigger numbers.
I got money on pleks not being a hab next year. we're resigning koivu somehow.
I would love that.
Plek + Halak for something
Sign cheap old backup, sign the guys who wanted to stay, and extend Price
KOIVU! KOIVU! KOIVU!
And KOVY! KOVY! KOVY!
Tanguay, Kovy and Koivu all want to stay in Montreal and now Bob with the free agent signings today and Gomez yesterday has more leverage to get them at a price we can afford... good strategy.
So there is still work to do and Bob has to seal the deal with at least 2 of our own key ufa's. And if if does, those posters who ripped him all day can follow Komo to Toronto.
The gatekeeper of Montreal fandom has spoken. We must all begin the exodus!!
Not gatekeeper... I just appreciate the balls it takes to be in Gainey's shoes.
All these UFA's, a desire (imperative) to make the team better and a poor track record of getting these people to sign in Montreal - all that uncertainty along with the cowards and cynics cheering and hoping he fails so they can say they were right. I just want the guy to step up and hit a grand slam in the face of all of that.
That's what made him the player he was... when the chips were down and lesser men turned tail and ran, this guy was there. I admire that.
Who is going to score for them? And who is going to move the puck up to them? Maybe if kaberle plays 55 minutes a game.
Komi had 58 points in 361 games
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
What a loss.....
Now the Leafs have $8.5M invested in Jeff Finger and Mike Komisarek, a return of about 20 points a season (ok, I'm exaggerating a little...25).
They're big, they're blue and they don't have a clue..... how to win a Stanley Cup!!!
loll
_____________________________
Koivu for Prime Minister :)
You know something is not right when Komisarek is being showcased by many as the best defenseman available.
agreed,
4.5 million for a guy that doesn't score, gives the puck up often and gets beat down buy a hunchback regularly...Good job Burke, hahahahahahaha, Komiserek, May, and Colton Orr!! what a joke! where's the idiots on this board that were saying what a genius Burke is and that the Leafs will be better than us?
I like their linup better then ours, but then I like tough smash mouth hockey better then *get smashed* hockey like our team of midgets will enjoy.
good luck making the playoffs when your GM's big aquisitions are Brad May, Colton Orr, and Komiserek. Gonna score lots of goals with a team full of slow stupid tough guy's. Habs are gonna destroy TO next season. you heard it here first!
jeff finger
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
wasn't Finger Fletcher or JFJ?
Jay Feaster on the Canadiens: Are they better or did they move sideways?
Ok, so last year they picked the Habs to win the conference and contend for the Cup. So now they either got better or stayed the same, my guess is TSN has picked the Habs to finish 9th. Go figure!
Koivu???? Any news?? Somebody has to know something... this is our captain!
Say hello to your lost-in-the-woods GM people.
bg needs to lock up kovy or tanguay
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Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
At least one of the two, and I wouldn't mind trading Pleks and Sergei and maybe a pick for a big power forward who'll drive the net on that first line.
???-Cammy-Kovalev/Tanguay
AK-Gomez-Dags
Patches-Laps-Lats
Stewart-Metro/Chips-Laraque
what the hell am I supposed to do with my Komisarek Jersey now?
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