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About Dave Stubbs
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Dave Stubbs
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Dave Stubbs has been a sportswriter since 1976, which was roughly a decade after he wore the first of many holes through the knees of his jeans playing nets in road hockey (using a modified butterfly popularized by Hall of Famer Glenn Hall). He still has the welts to show on his shins from that rotten, frozen orange ball.
Stubbs kept thick hockey scrapbooks filled with game summaries and Gazette and Montreal Star stories, collected dozens of Bee Hive Corn Syrup photos and put a fortune of hockey cards through the spokes of his bikes. First book ever owned: Scrubs On Skates, the classic by Scott Young (Neil's dad).
Stubbs's fantasy is to travel back in time to the 1950s and watch the great Canadiens dynasty that won five consecutive Stanley Cups. Or a decade earlier, to watch Elmer Lach centre Rocket Richard and Toe Blake on the fearsome Punch Line. Or at least to get Rogie Vachon into the Hockey Hall of Fame – where he belongs.
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Everyone, stop hoping for Kovalev or Tanguay or any other UFA forwards to sign here. Bob has spent about as much money of UFA's as he can. We went from having $31 million in cap space to only having $8.8 million. Now Bob still has to resign Plekanec, Latndresse, Chipchura, D'Agostini & Stewart, so don't expect any more big signings.
Now as for Bob's work so far, I'm torn. I like what he did in bringing in another puckmoving defenceman in Spacek and finally picking up a sniper in Cammelleri. I still don't understand the Gill signing though. With Komi testing the market, we should have been looking for a #2 defenceman like Beauchemin. Gill just seems more like a backup plan. And while Gomez is a good player, IMO he's in the same boat as Lecavalier. He signed a big contract that most people knew he would never live up to, and then to top it off Gainey overpaid for him, sending our top defensive prospect the other way, who was projected to be a top 2 defenceman. Gionta is a decent pickup and brings experience and a hard-nosed style, but i think he's costing us a little too much in terms of his cap hit and his contract length.
"Hard work always beats talent, if talent doesn't work hard."
interesting moves, to say the least! we got smaller but grittier - not a bad compromise.
I'm not convinced Hal Gill was a good signing. He's a monster, but he's no Chara in terms of what he brings to the ice. It would've been nice to keep Komi, but for a lot less than TO paid him. Komi wanted out and wanted a big bag of money. Hope he's happy in Leafland!
Some have complained that Kovy should be resigned. But, as talented as he is/was, he is an artiste. This team doesn't need an artiste. I believe Bob is changing the face of the team to become a hardworking, skilled, and gritty one. Kovy doesn't fit that mould. Tanguay, who was one of my favorite players, is also very skilled but lacks grit and drive.
However, I am disappointed that we didn't land a big power forward - the Sedins would've been nice IMO. Havlat also wouldn't been nice. The saving grace is that we have MaxPac coming up, and he will become that kind of impact player.
The jury's out on this new look. But, one thing's for sure... this team will have more heart on the ice.
I'll have to admit I sort of called this yesterday when people were b----ing about the Gomez deal.
"Who would a UFA prefer to play with: Gomez or Higgins?"
Nice moves Bob.
wouldn't Bob try to work Kovy in? seriously...?
i'm f-ing heartbroken if we're left Kovy-less.
I still think that as soon as LA started kicking the tires on Kovalev he tried to use that as leverage to get more money out of Mtl. But instead of paying him more, they went for the next best RW...then saw that ol' Slats did what Slats does best - making the zaniest signing of the day ($7.5m for 5!! years)...so he went to the next best available RW after that, and hey, lookie that, he had a tonne of chemistry with our newest Centre!
I personally love the moves, I'm not sure where we stand on cash flow...but I'd still love to see Tanguay back (not resigning Pleks might get us close no?)
As for the rest of the trades, I love Love LOVE the Spacek signing..the highest scoring UFA defenceman for under $4m? That's a steal, no matter how you slice it. Gill should be a steadying presence on the 3rd pairing (with the ability to move up to 2nd pairing in case of injury).
I'm late on this, but Giontas 5'7 ????!!!!
Use this spreadsheet to figure out the habs.... http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=cf3539c23e2c0959931c7453395df025e04e7...
Camalleri - Gomez - Gionta better be a good line because it sounds like we're married to them for the next five years.
I am not sure what to think of Plek's. His point total rised every year until last year. He is a good 2 way center and under Martin might have a very good year. Thanks for changing the team Bob. After last year, I could not stand watching another year of the same team.
With Bob being the GM and coach last year, nobody knew the team better than him. He saw this group quit on his best buddy Carbo. It is no surprise that he didn't want that group of players back.
... in the past 4 years Gomez has averaged 251 shot on goal per season, Gionta 247 SOG/yr and Cammalleri 242 SOG/yr. Last year only two Habs had over 200, Kovy 209 and Pleks 202 and Tanguay and Saku's total were less than 200.
I noticed those stats too, but to be honest Tanguay and Koivu didn't play enough games to get to 200+
What bothers me about Gomez is his shot%. Really abysmal. Hope that Gionta will help him get his scoring touch back.
Looking at Gaborik for the same money you have to wonder if this was the best move? Perhaps Gaborik stated very clearly to us that Montreal was not a place he wanted to play.
I originally thought this was probably the best available deal after Camalleri was done.
Also Gomez and Gionta reuniting should be good.
However our top line is now 5" 9, 5" 11 and 5" 7. It's hard to imagine any of them getting near the paint with players like Pronger, Chara and now Komisarek gaurding their nets.
Size won't matter here. I think "sewing machine speed" will be a lot more of a concern for the opposition and will translate into tons of power play opportunities. Any of you remember Larionov, Krutov and Makarov? They went up against size but were still awesome. This new first line talent is comparable.
Have you ever watched these guys play? They are not afraid of getting to the paint and getting dirty. Were not talking about Pleks and the K sisters here. Now that's a whole different problem that Martin will have to sort out.
My wife told me the Habs did a big trade with the Rangers today and I come over here and we have a whole frickin' new team. I figured we would see a couple of new names and a couple of popular names gone but this is a completely different team now. Komi and Higgy was not a huge surprise, but I figured we might be keeping Koivu, lang, Kovalev and/or Tanguay. Given last season I am not surprised I may have been wrong on those players, either.
We still need an experienced backup goalie. If Price craps out again, this team is done.
Halak.
Bravo Bob, you were and might still be active. You did what you had to do, got players who are winners and could put up numbers.
Who cares if you're close to the cap, you got what we wanted and heck a new fresh start. Figure Kovy is going to take care of the Russians and Price will be isolated. His best bud Georges is still there.
So there is hope, and I look forward to training camp.
Well holy sh*t and a 1/2 !
Might even start Ex......
Looking at the team we have now, you gotta admit, we landed some pretty established players, all experienced, most of them with more points than our former top players (injuries aside)
Losers Even After Forty two Seasons
The team got younger and got players that will fit Martin's style of play better.
But let's not stretch things too far: Cammalleri has out-pointed Tanguay over the past three seasons, but Koivu (58 G, 181 PTS) and Kovalev (79 G, 196 PTS) basically compare quite well to their replacements, Gomez (45 G, 188 PTS) and Gionta (67 G, 148 PTS).
Ya, but Gomez is younger and so is Gionta. Still hoping things workout with Kovy.
I admire Bob Gainey's courage to do what he did today. I have no idea if it will work...but ya know what? it was fun watching the day unfold and I am looking forward to seeing these guys come together in the coming season. At the very least this looks like its gonna be a fun bunch of guys to see play. Cap space, no cap space..I will be upset about that in the future I am sure...but not today...:)
Can't say Bob didn't do anything. He stuck it out with our players the last couple seasons on the hope that these great players would live up to their potential. He didn't sell out our future and was loyal to the end. The end was this season. We didn't prove how badly we wanted this to work. In fact we showed our true colors. Bob has dealt with that. He needed to change ALOT. Thats exactly what he did. I just want to see who signs next. I think we have enough for Kovy or something. I can't see us putting a C on someone who has never played for us before. Maybe Koivu will take a pay cut to see out the season as our Captain and leave with a big parade. Maybe Bob has talked with Kovy and we are all set. But here's a final CANADA DAY beer to BG, I think we have a great season ahead of us. We got the guys who can score, we got the guys who can fly, and I think we got the guys with the right attitude. We are just a bit small.
a little premature but: stanley cup contenders possibly with martins style of play... i believe the habs are a new team!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taylor Hall on the 2010-2011 roster
OMG, a little premature? ya think??? This squad still has a ways to go. Let's see what kind of chemistry can be achieved.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves, but you can change your sig now lol
http://www.jwrworkings.com/hockey.jpg
haha!
is gionta really worth 5MM a year? :|
I think getting Gomez springboarded Cammi and Gi!
Bob, you r ok!
"responsibility"
I felt that way yesterday. I think going into today players saw that there was someone to play with in Gomez. Without him, the cupboard looked pretty bare!
I'm a little stunned, as much as we needed change the old comfy slippers still have their place. Bob, just throw in a Kovy or a Koivu and I'll be happy.
http://moeymusings.blogspot.com/
I have to think that Koivu is just done. The way Gainey gutted the old leadership of the team makes me believe that something happened off ice last year to sabotage the Centennial season and Gainey holds Koivu, Komisarek and Higgins somehow responsible.
Yup. They were all sleeping with Carbo's wife.
You could be right, Higgins lost his "A" mid season. Komo said he was glad Toronto was giving him a "new start". Losing Koivu hurts a lot. I so badly wanted to see him with the cup. But this is a business and in the end it's all about winning. We have the whole summer to digest it and somehow I think with a few wins under our belt in Oct. we'll welcome the new look. The one thing I will miss seeing is Kovy trying to play under Martin's system....it would have been entertaining.
http://moeymusings.blogspot.com/
Agree with you here Brian. Believe there was something seriously wrong in the dressing room last year.
To be honest, neither guy really jumps out as a good candidate for a Jacques Martin defensive system, either.
Probably up 2 K or K. But good news so far, none is with da leaves as komi. (so far)
"responsibility"
Summing up the Gainey Press Conference
- He said he is pretty much done. No Kovalev, Koivu or Tanguay
- Nothing really with Koivu. Kovalev deal didnt work out. Tanguay had to do with Gionta. Gionta was a hard deal. Without Gomez there would have been no Gionta
- Biggest change: Saku Koivu
- Who will be captain? Hasnt though about it. He said ask Martin
- Used words "durable".. Spoke of injuries, etc.
- He was able to attract players who WANTED to go to Montreal. Players who dont have ties to Montreal
- Mike Komisarek was in the same area as Toronto. Problem in that deal was Komisarek never gave a counter-offer back
- Said he wanted talent before size. Said you cant find the players in December or March. He said these guys are a lot younger than our previous top guns
- Chemistry played a huge deal
I really hate when Gainey says we are done, as GM you are on alert all the time and that is why you got yourself in the position you were in, email Bob. All in all you had an interesting day.
I will miss Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev until I see a tic tac toe between gomez gionta and cammy.
Koivu will always be a Hab at heart and will always be loved in this town - 1-2 years in Minnesota won't change that.
kmoi was in the same area as toronto?
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
Ahah oups my bad.. I was typing quick trying to keep up with the radio.
***Our offer to Komisarek was in the same area as Torontos
Now that all the "sit on his hands Gainey" posters have fallen silent, we can say it loud and clear, "Holy S**t, Bob, what did you have for breakfast today?"
Adding Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri, along with Spacek and Gill on D is, quite simply, totally surprising. The no heart Habs have become a new beast in 24 hours. Way to go, Bob. I wonder what that wannabe GM McA**wipe on TSN will say now? On secong thought, who give a s**t? He's Burke's spokesman anyway.
Sweet dreams, laff fans!
__________________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau is the best that ever was.
Wheres that guy now that calls Mr.Gainey the rocking chair.
I hope he's having a cold one and celebrating the remaining hours of Canada Day. I'm raising a glass to him right now.....cheers!
Fellas. This team is not undersized.
We have Pacioretty who is a big boy and very strong. We have Greg Stewart, ditto the strength. We have BGL, Latendresse and Obyrne (both of whom can be taught to use their body by Martin), and of course, we have Hal Skill, the league's monstrosity.
Our top line is small - but they are faster than any other top line in the league, and arent afraid to play tough.
Miles better than Koivu and his offensive zone penalties, Kovalev and his neutral zone floating, and Tanguay and his...well I liked Tanguay, but the guys we have are more skilled.
I think BG didn't resign Tanguay is because of Tanguay's reaction during the playoff. He mentioned in his interview that he is looking for players who are durable. Tanguay refused to play when he needed him during the playoff.
I think Tanguay's comment of he wanted to see who the next coach would be before signing didn't sit too well with Bob.
These guys play "bigger" than a lot of taller fellows in the League. Isn't that what we really wanted?
Absolutely. All three of these guys are excellent workers, Gomez in particular, even though most people see him as the biggest mistake. The guy cares a lot about being a good player.
The best part is that they will set a good example for our emerging players - plekanec, kostitsyns, d'agostini, paccioretty.
The work ethic in that room will be incredible - Max Lapierre, and Pacioretty, these guys play 110% every night. There are no more lazy players. Everyone left will work for every inch of the ice from what I have seen.
Does anyone have the numbers on the recent signings? How much is left to sign whoever is still available? It's obvious that Koivu isn't coming back with the signings of Cammalerri and Gomez, but is there any money left for Tanguay? It seems like such a waste of a first round pick now to just let him sign with someone else. Plus, didn't everyone want a good French Canadian player on the team? Picking Leblanc surely isn't going to make up for that in the public's eye. It's not like Tanguay was a waste of space, say what you will about him being soft.
8.738 is left
To sign, Plek, D'ags, Stew, Tenderness, and our guys in the press box
ANY NEWS ON BREEZER!!!!
Some guys know when to let go of a joke.....do you? I mean, if that's the best you can contribute on this day maybe it's time to re-evaluate yourself, no?
Hey Tom? Keep up the hating, bro. Way to be man.
You don't see yourself as the kettle calling the pot black??? Don't waste my time.
it seems to me you're hating on breezer
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
Not so. I love the guy Jaba.
Gotta admit most exciting JUly one for many years here!
"responsibility"
I think Pleks is going to be moved...
AK46-Gomez-Gionta
MaxPower-Cammalleri-Dags
Gui!-Laps-SK74
Stewart-Metro-BGL
Chipper, ?
Markov-Weber
Hammer-Spacek
Gill-Gorges
OB
Price
Halak
going to be a long season with that lineup
Just curious...what do you think of the moves besides being surprised that there were moves?
"Even Roy can be run out of town after 2 Stanley Cups."
To be honest, the Gomez deal was not good at all -- in terms of his size, salary, what we gave up, the desparation it showed....
I would have wanted/expected us to bring back Kovy and Tang (seeing as how we gave up a 1st round pick for him last year).
The only move that excites me is Cammalleri. Overall, we're still a small bunch in a very tough division and conference.
I was very pissed yesterday, pissed after Spacek as well -- but it is what it is, this is now the team I will root for because I love the Habs. What matters now is how we will perform on the ice, and I hope with all my being that we succeed.
I think Plek should get another chance... Yes he had a horrible year, but it was just one year ago that he was coming off a 70 point season. If he shits the bed again, then he's gone.
Cam light it up last year as a LW
ok so, in the four lines as posted, top six, and two goalies, that's:
4 Americans (three signed today)
2 Belarussians
2 Czechs
6 Anglo Canadians (only Camalleri on the top six)
3 French Canadians
1 Russian
1 Slovakian
1 Swiss guy
My point? Nothing.
We've had so many changes in a day and with your interesting nationality dissection of the team they could be renamed the "Montreal Internationals".
you made me smile, the team looks pretty damn good, and boy I like D'Ags and Pacioretty (my old man is a huge fan of D'Ags, me its Pacioretty, they are both going to be VERY VERY good players).
maybe we could send pleky to the rangers to get mcdonaugh back.
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
this is the most important season in laraque's career...he has 3 small forwards to protect...can he do it?
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
he was prescient: is spending the summer protecting small animals. may have been the method gainey had in mind to try to address his "code".
OMG, is he still on the roster? I thought he had departed to eat celery and protect quales!
I still think Bob is going for a defense, someone like Scuderi. He is solid and could probably be signed for 2 or 3 mill.
i would expect Scuderi to get around 3.5 or more along the lines of Johnny Oduya i wish we had sigend Scuderi or Oduya both are in the prime of their careers and solid
So Kovy there is no possibility whatsoever for him to return?
I'm heartbroken, if thats the truth.
yeah that seems to be the case...really sucks.
but one player is not above the CH...I still love the Canadiens, and we gotta give the new class all the support they need...still, NO KOVY?
Shocked Fan from NB,
GO HABS GO!
Unless there is a trade, its impossible.
For you people complaining about the size who cares? I mean really? Was Pitt big? No. Was Detroit big? No, yet they won the Cup in back to back years...Size does not mean anything.
Does your girlfriend tell you that? haha.. i couldn't resist.
But you are right. If the Pens and Wings can do it... so can we! Start planning the parade! ;)
The last Habs team that won a Cup -- the '93 squad -- was considered undersized as well.
Why don't the Canadiens, sign more CANADIANS....especially on this Canada Day. More runty, foreigners is NOTHING that we need here!!!
Yeah, and while they're at it, why not sign everyone and anyone from Kingston, Ontario. Are you Don Cherry's nephew by any chance?
(...makes disgustingly wet raspberry sound...)
We got a lot more North american at least
Dumbest comment of the day belongs to you! Congrats.
Not dumb.....just honest. Looks like some "pip squeaks" getting their feeling hurt again. Time to go visit mommy...kids! Somebody has to tell the truth around here.....the rest of you can just spend your time being whatever it is that you are being. I will give you this though.....if Les Canadiens raise their 25th Stanley Cup in June of 2010, with this line-up, I will return here and AP-O-L......to all squirts!!...but if they DON'T....well no matter....the Canadiens are NOT getting one more penny from me or my family....unless they change their evil runty, foreigner ways!!
dumb and honest can go hand in hand; hence-- your comment.
Less than half of Les Canadiens....are CANADIANS!! Am I the only one who sees that there is something wrong with this picture. This is not just some other "dork-head" team in the NHL. This is Les Canadiens we are talking about. No more than two imports....oh wait....Canada does not own the NHL and the Stanley Cup...the yanks have stolen those two prized possesions away from us....and if it wasn't for the good people from Quebec, telling the yanks to go f*ck themselves, they would have stolen Les Canadiens by now too!!...still the "southerners" are doing a pretty good job of infiltrating, thanks to ***-head management bowing to their wishes. What happened to the days when "the Alpha" Canadiens were calling the shots, and the Americans were it's "bitches"? NOW THAT WAS MORE LIKE IT!! Unfortunately, the team is now becoming the reverse.....
gionta and camalleri are both RW...so they're not going to play togethre on the top line.
- Pride + Envy = Second Place
believe camalleri's a left wing and center