Log in & Sign up
You are not logged in.
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.
Boone's Online Eeee-mail
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
The Puckcast
Weekly commentary and inside info about the Canadiens straight from the Gazette's experts.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Follow Habs Inside/Out on Twitter, featuring live updates from Gazette feature writer Dave Stubbs.The Other Wing
The Other Wing features regular Habs commentary by some bloggers we like.
The Rules
Habs Inside/Out encourages lively debate, but there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism, profanity and behaviour that we deem to be offensive. We will, without warning, ban those who do not abide by this simple rule, so as to maximize the enjoyment of readers and participants of both sexes and all ages.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
Mike Boone's RSS feed
PuckCast RSS feed
Other Wing RSS feed
Site concept and design by User Generation
Most Commented
Most commented posts from the last 7 days:
Resources
Player info: League info:
Habs Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens
For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan (scowan@thegazette.canwest.com).
For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative (gazadv@thegazette.canwest.com).
©2008 The Gazette, a division of Canwest Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Statement
... from James Mirtle - ' Hossa Deal Under investagation ' (little late) ..... http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/7/31/970271/hossa-investigation-too-little-too ............................... from Bruce Garrioch - ' Blackhawks Under NHL Scrutiny ' (Hossa deal) ..... The ’Hawks could be facing a maximum fine of $5 million and the loss of draft picks if the league’s investigation uncovers proof of allegations that Chicago discussed the possibility of Hossa retiring before the end of the deal, which would end Hossa’s cap hit. ............. the rest ..... http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/07/30/10319706.html
If TFP is right that the Habs are talking trade with the Oilers, what do you all think of this:
AK46 (3.25) and SK74 (.817) for
Patrick O'Sullivan (2.925) and Gilbert Brule (RFA, last year's number: 1.247)
AK46 maybe becomes the LW scorer that Edmonton has wanted to pair with Hemsky (and that spot is vacated with Kotalik gone), SK74 gets reunited with Gagner. We get a speedy two-way forward in O'Sullivan who used to play with Cammy in LA, and Brule is a RH center prospect (and we may be short on centers with Pleks and Metro being UFAs next year).
MaxPower-Gomez-Gionta
Cammy-Pleks-O'Sullivan
Moen-Max-Laps
BGL-Metro-D'Ags
Bench: Stewart, Chipper
Markov-Spacek
Hammer-Mara
Gorges-Gill
Bench: OB/Weber
Price
Halak
i like o'sullivan alot. he's been through a heck of a lot to get to where he is today. he's a good character guy, not to mention a good hockey player who's only going to get better. i'd be down for this trade, though i'd miss the kostitsyn's.
Last year we used to make line predictions ad nauseum yet nobody put together the Tanguay-Koivu-Kovalev combo, not here, not in cyberspace. Not one pundit suggested it as far as I know, nor did any of us supposed know-it-all fans. You're suggestions are great but they tend towards the "what if" category. This isn't NHL2010 and Gainey's not a gamer.
The core of the team is set, but do we really know if there will be any other moves?
I'd rather wait for any surprises that Mr. Gainey has in store for us and leave it at that. Up until he makes a move it's all speculation. I am tired of every body eklunding a trade scenario.
There! Eklund is now father to a verb.
Here is a video of Gomez, Gionta, Cammalleri, Mara and Moen's visit to the Bell Sports Complex from the Canadiens official website. They look real good in a Habs colors. Cammalleri is becoming my favorite Hab ny the minute! He's AMAZING. And Gomez meeting Martin was really kinda awkward! Sooo excited for the season to start!
Carey Price is THE future of the Habs. I believe!
I'm liking Cammalleri alot now too. He pulled out the ole "feel shame" line from slapshot after he tripped a kid.
Haha gold.
:)
thanks for the link Harani, i saw the picture on the website earlier today but i couldn't find the video. these guys look good in canadiens jerseys. i think i'm in love with cammalleri already.
Troll alert!!!!!!
Hitler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's like swattin' skeeters. Ya squish one and 2 more show up.
In this case Joe Biden = The Capitalist Pig = Courny12; they're all the same person. He's also the same idiot that re-appears as sheldon the clown every now and again, you know, the one that always get's banned the same day he opens his upteenth clown account. I am hoping that all his accounts get closed for good. The idiot just posts offensive crap and is the quintessential troll. Cool thing is that whenever I attack him he logs back in with another of his usernames and exposes more of his idiot aliases.
I fed him so much he's gone asleep.
Re:"We Want Pusie!"
No, we don't. We have over a decade and a half of it!
I know you're not as stupid as you sound. Nobody could be.
Let me see. The Habs last won a Stanley Cup when? And, you think that you are gonna be the organization that brings it back to Canada? ***, the Impact have a better shot at winning the World Cup!
My God, his favorite players is Maxime Lapierre? Yea, you're a real judge of hockey talent! Just another craphead who knows jackall about hocket from Montreal. And, you wonder why such a suckass team continues to sell out the Bell. Please reply, I can't wait to see what intellectual gem you counter with. What a dope!
One down. Two to go!
Spanking it over Guillaume Latendresse like he's some sort of a key to a Cup? Jesus Christ, get a f'n grip!
I wonder whether you'd still be an idiot if you'd had enough oxygen at birth?
You're hanging your Cup hopes on the likes of him? My God, you are so dildonic I can't contain my laughter!
.
Crap, you have a point. That dude's so dumb he should volunteer to be euthenized for the good of mankind!
There you go again with your multiple aliases. How long until Joe Biden gets banned? Why not sign in under another name and make it look like people support you. Idiot!
Isn't there a relative that you could cheer on who is pole dancing this eveneing? Forgive me, but isn't that what women do in Montreal?
Learn to spell before you spew ignorance. I've come across decomposing bodies that are less offensive than you are.
How does it feel going through life knowing that you're such a ***? I'm just curious as to how you respond when someone accidently rubs up against you? Do you breath hard?
I breath HardHabits.
god, i hope your not marryed. watching that must be awful?
I understand that you have an inferiority complex - and it's fully justified.
No one gets banned. It's a myth!
was i the only one who didn't know that phil kessel had cancer in his right testicle. a little gross, i know, but i still can't believe that he had potentially life threatning cancer and only missed 11 games. I still hate him as long as he plays within our division, but it does give me alittle perspective. nice guy
Ah yes... the great Phil One-Ball Kessel.
His teammates always tell him to not get 'testy'.
If Tanguay is looking at offers of around 2-3 million, let's get him! That would be a basement bargain IMO since he had the highest PPG average on the team last year. He would play extremely well with Plek and AKost. We would just have to make a small-time trade that would clear about 0.5 M and we could definitely do it.
Decided I'll make a Mara video too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZFVFyCPZGY
I like the part where he beats up Tucker.
_______________________________
Not sure which Gainey bandwagon I'm on right now.
ALEX KOVALEV 1994 Cup interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdAf6U69EXY
THIS IS BEYOND GOLD.
HALAK YOU! DO YOU LIKE ME?!
he sounds like borat!
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
The Canadiens.com has a nice look at some of our newest addition's in their new jersey's
http://canadiens.nhl.com/index.html
Cammy seems like a born leader - guy is real vocal
I was leaning towards Gomez for captain but I am being swayed by Cammy. Captain Cammy sounds OK to me!
Who was that little kid wearing the #21 Canadiens jersey? He looked awesome! ;)
/\\ike
GO HABS GO!
Man, they look like they actually enjoy being Habs. You can see the pride on their faces when they put on their red jerseys with the famous CH on it. These guys look like they are going to be the core of a real TEAM. I can't believe how psyched I am for the new season to start. *goosebumps*
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The new Habs; more scoring punch, more punch scoring!
Question: If you buy out a players contract....does it count on the salary cap?
It's complicated, but how I think it works is that 2/3 of the players remaining salary is spread out over twice the remaining length of his contract. So for example, if a player has 2 years left on a deal that pays him $3million a year, the club's cap hit would be $1million a year for the next 4 seasons. ($6million total x 2/3 = $4million, over 4 years)
_______________________________
Not sure which Gainey bandwagon I'm on right now.
There are other factors too. I believe it was Chris, who posted all the buy-out rules, within the last week.
Thanks for the update guys. I am just looking ahead for next year. We have lots of players to resign. I was looking at contracts like Hamerlick which we can possibly boyout if hes not moved this year.
Likehoy-
Just because another team makes a huge mistake and pays Huselius 5 million doesn't mean another team has to make a bigger one and sign Tanguay for even half that...
Self righteous? It's a hockey blog where I express my opinion, nothing more nothing less.
the line between being self-righteous and just being opinionated is drawn when you neglect to accept that there are other opinions that could make sense...
with what you're saying about tanguay..you make it as if anyone who would dare consider him is a fool...and i'm suggesting that even if you don't want him...there are 29 other teams in the league that have a different assessment of the player and the value, hence the huselius notion.
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
I don't believe I called anyone a fool? Maybe the GM who signs him, depending who and what situation, as you pointed out. However, at 2.5 million or more Tanguay should be laughing his head off. ;)
If one of the other 29 teams take him, I am relatively sure it will be one of the bottom feeders or some team that either needs to/wants to/has to blow money. He would be seen as a gamble, in my opinion.
Note: All of this is my OPINION,
Maybe a strong opinion, but an opinion nonetheless. Isn't calling someone self-righteous over a computer screen over a post they disagree with self-righteous in itself?
I was called nuts down below, he has a right to disagree with me also.
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
Wow, you're nuts if you think Tanguay isn't worth at least $2.5 million.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1605
One season hardly makes him injury prone. And that rumour about him not wanting to play in the playoffs is stupid and unfounded.
_______________________________
Not sure which Gainey bandwagon I'm on right now.
One season? the guy's had knee, groin and shoulder injuries...all high risk to re-injure. He always seems to be hurt come playoff time....It's all there in the link you posted.
He barely misses more than 2 games with each injury. This season marked the first time he's missed such significant time.
He's a PPG player when healthy, and his +/- shows that he's a great defensive player. The health issue may be the reason it's taking him so long to sign, but there's no way he signs for less than $4 million in my opinion.
_______________________________
Not sure which Gainey bandwagon I'm on right now.
he only missed two games with the groin injury. He has missed a total of 23 games due to knee injury.
11-Apr-06 Missed 10 games (sprained knee).
24-Apr-04 Missed tha last game of Round One against the Dallas Stars and Game One of Round Two against the San Jose Sharks (knee injury).
07-Apr-04 Missed the last 11 games of the regular season (knee injury).
And then there's the 28 games and two playoff games he missed with us due to the shoulder injury.
Due to all the checking in hockey groin, knee, and shoulder injuries are all high risk injuries for re-agravation and he's had all of them. Thats why teams are wary to shell out big money on a guy that could be out with one check.
IMO Tanguay is a good player but I am happy he is not back with the Habs. He is definately not worth 5 mil per year. Remeber Gainey;s comments this summer....HE WANTED DURABLE PLAYERS.
exactly....know doubt he is talented, I just question his durability. With philly, the laffs, and boston all getting tougher Gainey had to get some players in that can take a hit.
Yeah he's always so injured during the playoffs, that's why he has a Stanley Cup winning goal.
Yup, and thats why teams are all fighting to sign him....
Just like there was no fighting over Koivu because he took awhile to sign? That's an assumption that holds no water. Tanguay is the one delaying the decision, it has nothing to do with the lack of offers. He's by leaps and bounds the most elite free agent on the market now.
Koivu had multiple offers. He had a choice. Nobody's jumping in line to sign Tanguay.
And you wonder why nobody has signed? Pretty weak FA group out there right now. That Tanguay is one of the more noticeable ones left isn't saying much.
Robert L, your piece on Pusie is fantastic. Thank you.
So how can we get that photo on the habs website in wallpaper size? :)
Darryl Dobbs' C+: and this guy is whom?
The Mess in Phoenix? A Prairie Boy's (dream) Winter.
Red's absolutely right. Question: what's Montreal's overall record since moving to the Keg?
Tollefson gets signed by the cap-less Flyers.
There seems to be nothing called a salary cap for the Flyers. Very bizarre the way they go about signing guys....
Carey Price is THE future of the Habs. I believe!
For those who asked for a Hal Gill compilation (and others who are maybe interested):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykWTeOC1ZW4
That's awesome, I was waiting for that and it didn't dissapoint.
----------------------------------------------
Montreal Canadiens Blog @ http://yourhabs.com
He's no pro boxer, but it doesn't even look like punches hurt him. He also seems to use his size to completely knock people down at the blueline. EXACTLY the kind of guy the habs are missing.
I feel dirty saying this about Hal Gill.
That was sweet, ty.
Hal is so the "Fat Drunk" from now on thanks to that interview about where he picked Barny as the Simpsons character he would be.
Home opener I'm taking a huge sign to the rink that says "Bring on the Fat Drunk!!!"
------------------------ Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
I'd like to suggest that Gill's new HI/O nickname be "Barney".
I'm for that! BRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPP!!
Zubov off to Russia
I forgot the nice career he had over here. I hope he wanted to finish off in Russia and not sign there because he couldn't get an offer here.
Three former Canadiens coaches are on the Sporting News list of sports' 50 greatest coaches of all time, selectred by a panel of 118 Hall of Famers, championship coaches and other experts. No. 7 is Scotty Bowman, No. 37 is Toe Blake and No. 43 is *** Irvin. That's quite a feat, although it should be pointed out that it's really a list confined to North American sport, not worldwide sport, since not one of the select 50 was a football (soccer) coach and all 50 coached in North American leagues.
You can find the complete list at
http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2009-07-29/sporting-news-50-greatest-coaches-all-time
engels on the importance of divisional play
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=22321&blogger_id=82
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
Ya thanks for that. reading that forced me to have to watch that Debbie-does-Dallas-does-Hockey chick.
The auto play on that site is so annoying.
"Canadian? Wanna make it big on the Internet? Lose the accent. I did *pause* eh!"
I wanna kill that guy.
just hit mute...that's what i do whenever i visit hockeybuzz
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
@ likehoy
Interesting who he slots at #1 and #3
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/226968-5-players-who-may-surprise-nex...
------------------------ Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
Im going to go with Ray Emery as a big surprise. I think he'll be very good.
I think he'll have a good year, he has to, he doesnt want to end up back in europe.
I think he learned his leason and I think he's matured, we'll see but I agree with you, he should have a good season.
------------------------ Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
#5 and #3* you mean...i find those numbers hard to believe...wishful thinking! if they hit 70/60 respectively...i'll be happy with them.
on Brian Gionta:
As mentioned earlier, Gionta has been reunited with center Scott Gomez on the Montreal Canadiens, although at a steep price of $5 million a season. He has only scored more than 25 goals once in his career, the last season he played with Gomez, where he scored a whopping 48 goals. Since then, however, he has scored 25, 22, and 20 goals, not bad, but not worth $5 million.
If Gionta can find that old scoring touch, and say score 35-40 goals, the contract isn't so bad. We will see just how much of an effect Gomez has on Gionta's game.
Prediction: 37G 42A 79P
on Gomez:
Gomez has been taking lots of flak since he signed a seven year $51.5 million on July 1, 2007. With a cap hit of $7.357 million, fans in New York were expecting more than the 70 and 58 point seasons he put up there. After his trade to Montreal, message boards were alive with people laughing at how GM Glen Sather fleeced Bob Gainey.
While Gomez has only broke 20 goals and 80 points only once in his career, playing with two goal scorers in Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta should give him a boost, especially since he is a playmaker and his best season came playing with Gionta.
Prediction: 25G 60A 85P
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
i agree the prediction for gionta seems quite high but i hope that he surprises.
Ya, sorry I was counting from the first slide.
Well I like to think that the reunion will spark something good. I'll be happy with them if they are around 65 to 75 each, I agree his preds are a little high, but I expect a good year out of Gomez.
------------------------ Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
if the rumours are true and kessel goes to the western conference...then good riddance!
kessel is the hab killer...yes lucic is a bitch..but kessel scores all the effin time against us
p.s. he was offside by at least 3 strides.
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.