• AUDIO Jacques Martin English French
Mike Cammalleri Brian Gionta Eric Neilson Ben Maxwell
Live game blog
The Canadiens will shave their roster by half after tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Goalie Carey Price is expected to go the whole route tonight.
Great audio with Eric Neilson, who remembers bodyslamming Sidney Crosby when they shared a billet's home during their junior days in Rimouski. "The people had to move," he jokes of what was left of the house.
On the injury front:
-> Roman Hamrlik was at the rink today for the first time since coming down with a virus before exhibition games began. Coach Jacques Martin says the defenceman is a possibility for Saturday's final preseason game.
-> Georges Laraque (lower body) skated with training staff this morning and is making progress. Martin said he might practice with team on Thursday.
-> P.K. Subban (foot) is day to day. He was working out in the gym today; you'll probably hear his stickhandling in the background of the Martin audio.
-> Alex Henry had hand surgery today, apparently having suffered a fracture during his fight Friday night against Ottawa's Matt Carkner. He's out four to six weeks.
2-0 ..Komiserek on the ice again .. he got caught pinching..so MacGuire blamed a forward for not covering
Komi with the " A " - 2 .. love it
Pittsburg 1-0,,,Komi on the ice !!! wearing the " A " make me gag !
just in: PK SUBBAN HAS BEEN SENT TO HAMILTON.
for the best i suspect. he is not ready ...good on BG and Martin for not bowing to public pressure and make him stay.
Where did you get that?? did he call you?
TSN.ca
He was a little tentative this camp, but he'll come around in time. I think even he knew he wasn't ready ... Great guy, great player. All he needs is some more time.
"... et le buuuuut!"
No real surprise there. Writing has been on the wall for some time, given the signings this summer. Doesn't help him that Weber is ahead of him in terms of being NHL-ready as an offensive defenseman, with a year of AHL domination under his belt plus a handful of NHL games.
Release Laraque and see what happens. This guy has used up any credibilty he's ever had. He needs to be taken down a notch.
What is this about 4 players including Belle and Sanford put on wavers.????? just rumor right!??
Also is this game on TSN tonight??
Ian , the guys being put on waivers are the veteran players (pro+3 years) going to Hamilton. They have to clear waivers going down.
TSN2 i think Ian
Thanks Dintrox
It's just part of sending them to Hamilton. They have to clear waivers first.
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Beliveau is the best that ever was.
Taylor Hall will be a Bruin next year because of that knucklehead Burke. This is why ,number one Kessel won't be back till Nov. and it will take him to the new year to get his timing and legs. Number two Kessel success was due to playing on strong team that allowed him to float to get those goals and a great centre in Savard. Leafs will finish last this year because they can't score and there is nothing on the farm. Which means the next year unless knucklehead can dump salary and sign some tallent they could be handing the Bruins another first rounder. Now normally I wouldn't care but its the dam Bruins they are giving theses first rounders to. The last thing is all the T.O. media are praying to their god Burke as the choosen one so please Mr. Fisher please hold that T.O. media accountable. When the wheels come off this trade they will be saying I knew Burke made a mistake. The Leafs will crash and burn but the Bruins will get a lot richer.
There are so many things wrong with this post, I don't know where to start.
Actually, just about everything he said in that post was 100% accurate so maybe it would make for a better discussion if you laid out what specifically you disagreed with.
In a discussion, it's ordinarily important for people to include factual evidence to support what they said. Someone running around calling 'knucklehead,' screaming about the sky falling and the Leafs finishing dead last on back-to-back years and trying to put Kessel's success on everyone else's shoulders doesn't even warrant or deserve a legitimate response beyond having someone point out that he's just woefully wrong.
I concur. This is the type of tactic that makes the right wing so successful. Let's not debate the ideas, let's either insult the poster or just say that the whole thing isn't even worth debating therefore it's wrong.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/28008-Campbells-Cuts-Kessel-deal-demonstrates-Burkes-gumption.html
Ken Campbell with an interesting take on the Kessel Trade. My personal favorite line:
"In fact, Savard drew an assist on 22 of Kessel’s 36 goals last season, with a whopping 17 of those being first assists. That means almost half of Kessel’s goals came on direct feeds from one of the league’s most talented set-up men.
With all due respect, you can bet Kessel won’t be seeing those kinds of looks from Matt Stajan."
nothing like a good shot at the toronto maple laughs!
We all have to hope that the leafs remain a bubble team this year, because the last thing we need is for the leafs to win the draft lottery, and for Boston to get Taylor Hall (or any other first overall pick that results in cheap, cap friendly talent).
The ignorance surrounding Kessel and this trade continues to baffle me.
Burke traded three picks in two weak drafts, with the 2011 draft being the weakest in over a decade, to acquire a budding superstar who he immediately locked up for a reasonable price for a reasonable term. The fact that there are Habs fans calling him a leech after how absolutely atrocious he made every defenseman on this team look with his slick stick handling is something else entirely.
Kessel is 21. He's not Jason Blake. He's not a guy who's suddenly popped out of nowhere to score a bunch of goals, who's going to fade into obscurity or mediocrity. He's a guy who has shown tremendous talent at every level, including the NHL level, who has improved on a year-by-year basis. There is no 'mortgaging of the future' or anything remotely similar in this trade - Burke gave up three picks that were high, yes, but in weak drafts to acquire an established young player who he will have to build a team around for many years to come.
Let's not forget the Leafs already have Kadri, Schenn, Kulemin, Tlusty and a host of relatively young talent outside of those players. Now they have Kessel, another very young talent who has the potential to be the go-to guy for their offense, as Schenn will be the go-to guy on defense. Like it or not, the future of the Leafs has been improving and their stockpile of young talent is certainly no longer the joke that it has been. Yes, there is still plenty of room to improve and, no, they aren't going to improve those aspects by giving away their picks. In this case, however, they didn't give their picks away - they traded picks in weak drafts to acquire a very young, very skilled and already established NHL player.
And for all of the people under the belief that the Leafs will finish in the bottom five (or, ludicrously, as the worst team in the league)... well, pass along whatever it is you're smoking, because I'm all over that.
Weak drafts do not exist. Only weak picks. Kessel is a fine player and will help the Leafs. But Boston has six forwards they prefer and it is very difficult to argue that he is worth 3 chances at the most promising young players in the world, in any given year. Happy-happy? I think Boston is the cat with feathers in its mouth.
Where do you get that Kessel is a budding superstar? Julien and Boston couldn't get rid of him faster. Premature I think. And the weak draft arguement....very weak in itself. 1st rounders are ALWAYS precious.
Uh, what?
When he was a prospect, scouts compared him to Crosby considerably. He's the best kid to ever go through USA's development program, and I'm pretty sure he owns most records in there. His stock -went down- during college slightly and he -still- went fifth overall. Plus, you know, the guy netted thirty-six goals and probably would have hit forty in a full, healthy campaign at 21.
And first rounders aren't always precious. They're always overrated. Especially with regards to 2011, which is hailed as the weakest upcoming draft since the mid-90's when such superstars as Aki Berg, Wade Redden, Andrei Zyuzin, Ric Jackman and Alexander Volchkov were top-five picks. 2010 is by no means considered particularly strong either, with most of its talent being in the top part of the first round. Fun fact: Detroit has only had a first round pick four times this decade. Toronto's had seven. Good picks are meaningless if teams are incapable of using them properly and there are teams out there that don't even need them to begin with. The degree to which the Internet overstates the importance of first round picks is absolutely inane.
So, no, you're wrong. Like everyone else thinking that this is a bad trade for anyone involved.
I don't understand how Toronto fans could be anything but dismayed at this deal. It smells of a kind of panicky I've-gotta-do-SOMETHING attitude from Burke. The article praises Burke for making firm decisions, for giving the impression he has a plan (where have we heard THAT before), but the only plan I can see involves a) stocking the team with UFC grunts and b) mortgaging the future to acquire risky talent.
Despite their claims to the contrary, I don't see any indication that the Bruins actually wanted to keep Kessel- according to several Boston sports blogs, contract talks died ages ago- so you have to think that Boston can't believe their luck that Burke came along and overpaid for this guy, in both cash and picks.
You gotta love the acerbic comment in the feedback section of that article: "Finally, the Talented scoring winger to compliment Sundin." *snort*
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Chorske's Rule #1: as the Habs' lead in any given game increases, the probability of a HIO poster predicting an imminent Stanley Cup championship approaches one.
So true. Leafs got jacked. Boston made a great trade.
Here's another odd stat,only 7 of kessel's 36 goals he scored last year were against teams that made the playoffs. Does anyone else find it weird that he was made a lower priority then krejci? Or that they didn't try to shed salary such as trading off an injury prone bergeron? I even heard some bruin fans on xm saying they would have prefered to trade ryder to keep kessel.
That 7 of 36 stat is a bit weird, considering he has 9 goals in 15 playoff games in his career (those are obviously goals against playoff teams, lol). In short... I wouldn't read ANYTHING into that goal scoring split. He seems to just score goals.
I'm not reading much into it. I'm sure most of ovy's goals or any other snipers goals probably come against non playoff teams as well. I'm more confused over the whole lack of effort from management to create cap space to keep him.
Yo.
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Emir of Al-Hab Habbala, Sheikh of Sheestleton, and Apostle of the Successors of The Flannel.
Two 1st rounders and a second-rounder is a HELL of a price to pay, no question. But for Kessel, it sure as Shirley ain't a crazy one.
Burke gets the better deal. Phil Kessel for three numbers on a paper. They could ALL be Alexandre D'Aigle. ALL of'em.
Phil Kessel is Phil Kessel.
Yo.
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Emir of Al-Hab Habbala, Sheikh of Sheestleton, and Apostle of the Successors of The Flannel.
The one thing that stands out to me is for the first time in my lifetime (53 yrs) it appears the B's have a GM that knows what he is doing. Very scary indeed.
Franklin the Beagle, 7/1/2002-7/13/2009
Exactly, Phil Kessel IS Phil Kessel. And at this point in Phil Kessel's career, being Phil Kessel isn't being a 5.4 million dollar restricted free agent.
Not just three numbers. Don't forget the twenty-seven million other numbers it's consting MLE to roll the dice on Kessel.
I like to think that you only blow those kinds of picks and that kind of dough on a guy who is going to get you almost a point per game. Not so with Kessel (exept for one good year last year).
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Chorske's Rule #1: as the Habs' lead in any given game increases, the probability of a HIO poster predicting an imminent Stanley Cup championship approaches one.
Phil Kessel has some pretty nice skills, but I wouldn't anoint him a superstar just yet. He had 36 goals last year and looked very good at times. It was his first decent year and we will have to see what happens now. There are still a ton of question marks on this guy. His defense, his attitude and his ability to handle tough games has all been questioned. Boston sure as hell didn't make too much of an effort to keep a top 5 pick, 22 year old, with a lot of potential. There has got to be a reason they didn't try to lock him up. Maybe he's more trouble than his potential is worth.
I don't think Kessel will turn out to be better than a 30 goal and low assist man, who is one dimensional This upcoming season. I think the Leafs were desperate for some offense and thus overpaid for a guy who is far from established.
I've seen enough from Kessel. I'm convinced. He's got speed to burn, uncanny vision and a beautifully precise shot. But most importantly: he's a winner. He's got that imponderable about him. He makes things happen or things tend to happen around him that leads to victory.
We'll see if it works in Toranna, the ultimate test of talent. Turns out after all these years that Mats Sundin was friggin good cuz...dang!
Yo.
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Emir of Al-Hab Habbala, Sheikh of Sheestleton, and Apostle of the Successors of The Flannel.
...You had Me up until You crowned Him a 'Winner' Bugz ...that is one point of Your argument that is without basis at this time ...BUT Other Than That ? ...You doin' good
...I have a feeling with CBA mandating much shorter shelf-lives for players remaining with the same team for long ...that first-round draft choices can be replaced more easily down the road than in the past
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
We will see, but I'm not ready to label him a winner in any shape or form before he actually wins and proves he's got more than just talent. He started a little with some goals last season, but certainly needs to do more. He's gonna have all the pressure on him in the world to lead a so-so Leafs offense. I'm not convinced he can handle that and come through as a "winner" should.
They could all be Crosby's too.
Every one of em.
Crosby was there at 12years old. A natural comes along every few years. Most other draft pics its a crap shoot.
Impossible.
Yo.
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Emir of Al-Hab Habbala, Sheikh of Sheestleton, and Apostle of the Successors of The Flannel.
I know it's impossible but it is equally impossible that they all turn out to be Alexandre D'Aigle, which was my point.
I'll take 2 firsts and a second any day for a one way player like Kessel.
There is no doubt about it, the leafs are a much better team with Kessel. He makes players around him better. We are going to have fun playing them this year for sure. I am also disliking what the veteran coach Wilson has done since arriving in laugh land. He has made that team work much harder and it shows.
...DAMN ! ...You're HOT lately Bugz
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Who will bury those passes now for Boston?
Marc Savard ain't Mario Lemieux, and Phil Kessel ain't Rob Brown. The guys that have scored 35+ goals on Savard's wing have been Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk, Phil Kessel, and Jarome Iginla had 31 in 2000-01 on Savvy's wing before both had broken out (Iginla would score 52 the next year on Conroy's wing as Savard was being marginalized). Not a slouch amongst them. He doesn't make bad players into great ones. He helps very good players have very good seasons.
Boston is becoming exactly what we were... a lot of second liners. It'll fail, you only stay at the top by keeping your high end talent. Don't kid yourself, Toronto won this trade by a landslide.
Ha! That's a great story... but I wouldn't bash Burke too much about it yet - he admitted that Kessel probably won't have great players around me for at least a year, if not two.
Awesome!
Two first rounders and a second rounder sacrificed at the altar of Burkie's ego.
Add to that Rask, who's turning into a good goalie and you'd almost think that Toronto was TRYING to build up the Bruins.
EVeryone was saying how PO'd Chiarelli (sp?) was at Burke. I think he's laughing at having squeezed an extra 1st round pick out of him.
--------------------------------------------------- `Could this team miss the playoffs? Who knows?' - Bob Gainey on the new Habs.
Once the cuts are made tonight and the team is down to a more manageable level, our team will start to come together and develop speed and chemistry. Long way to go yet but I love watching the development, coaching moves and groups being molded together into a team. Half the fun is in the process.
agree Ian... It is very encouraging to have a good coach again... Martin is both knowledgeable and capable. You can already see it in the pre-season games... Last night he made some line changes and put guys in different situations and did something I haven't seen since Claude Julien left... He was able to change the momentum of the game!!! They fell short but I loved the effort in the 3rd against a Bruins team that had a good mix of regulars in the lineup...
Latendresse is playing physical again... O'Bryne is playing with confidence... There is a different vibe about this bunch and I for one am looking forward to seeing what Martin can squeeze out of this bunch...
Cheers..
I agree Ian. This team is certainly a work in progress with all the new elements. I never put much stock in pre-season, and even less so this year. I think we'll have to wait until the 30 game mark to really get a grasp on where this team is going, but even 30 games may be too early to make a judgement.
If by 30 games we do not have flow and chemistry coming together, then I agree with you. But this is a sound group with a veteran coaching staff. So I look to be in the top one third of the league by New Years.
...agree Ian ...I think even if We don't come out on top this season ...We will have an entertaining Team
...for tonight ? ...only concern Price playing behind an AHL D and Malkin and Crosby in-the-house ...Price needs reinforcement for His confidence at this time ...and tonight is a potential risk to His self-confidence
...on the other hand ...if He does well...could be a turning-point for better things to come
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Mental toughness is develop through loosing and figuring it out for yourself. Sink or swim at this level. He is aloud to get beaten by the league's best. How he reacts to being beaten is what will determine weather he stays focused or not.
...I was a goalie Ian ...and went through something similar to what Carey is going through now ('things' that were off-ice related, in My case) ...My coach, knowing My 'potential', handled it in a way to not put Me in situation of 'high risk' ...AND, in THOSE days, a coach having THAT kind of consideration or insight was VERY rare
...reflecting on it now ...it helped Me work through until the off-ice matters were resolved ...and helped Me from giving-up on myself ...and played another couple years at the level he knew I could
...I know I would have quit ...and given-up on myself, otherwise
...in Carey's case ...in My opinion, I feel CERTAIN He will one-day be a top, if not a Great Goalie ...AND I prefer that He will blossom as a Great Goalie for the Montreal Canadiens ...not the Leafs ...or Ducks ...or Bruins, etc.
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
I will buy your view point sir. All you goal tenders are a little different between the ears anyway, must come from being between all those pipe's for years.
Could not resist!! sir.
...absolutely undeniable Ian ...the more talented a goalie One is ...it seems the More Peculiar One is ...guess THAT means I am only a piddling peculiar
...there will be a point in time when Carey will have to swim or sink ...but NOW is NOT the time to force the issue
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Just noticed this pic on TSN and doctored it to emphasize the feeling fans had last year when price was in nets.. was this a shootout?
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c276/coriolus/price.jpg
Funny..
“He knows, like, unnecessary facts about putting Sears catalogs on your shin pads.” Sean Avery on Don Cherry
does it feel like groundhog day again?
Laraque unable to play in preseason, injured again...... Price can;'t stop a puck again........
don't have a complete 2nd line again....... D looks shakey again......... no big centerman again........
unable to score again.........
Oh well getting #1-5 draft pick will be nice, cuz it's going to be a very very veryu long season, but not in terms of the season being extended. woe, I'm really getting tired of rebuilding every year, but always tge same crap!
I also am getting that feeling....
Sid, you are going to miss the ride to the top, it is the most fun of all.
Sheesh, sit back and enjoy the ride, The train hasn't even left the station....
What's wrong with you? You're talking like the season is over and it hasn't even begun. Why don't you wait to see at least one game, where the team is all together, before making your predictions.
Exactly.
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Chorske's Rule #1: as the Habs' lead in any given game increases, the probability of a HIO poster predicting an imminent Stanley Cup championship approaches one.
It's the pre-season for crying out loud. Enough of your negativity. There's no gun to your head. If you're soooo tired and don't like the team go pull for the Laffs, why doncha?
Pff. One day, seventeen hours and you're already a Habs nihilist. If the Habs suck so much, why did you even join the site this weekend?
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Chorske's Rule #1: as the Habs' lead in any given game increases, the probability of a HIO poster predicting an imminent Stanley Cup championship approaches one.
guess what? contrary to your rude and unacceptable remarks, I've been a habs since BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN! so cut the hostility and act like a human being and show courtesy towards others, allowing EVERYONE TO GIVE THEIR OPINION WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE!
Really? I merely stated that you had been here for like a day too and you called me ignorant and said I have an IQ of zero. How is that polite? Methinks thou dost protest too much.
You didn't answer my very simple and politely worded question.
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Chorske's Rule #1: as the Habs' lead in any given game increases, the probability of a HIO poster predicting an imminent Stanley Cup championship approaches one.
I see nothing wrong with his post Chorske, and his time on site means nary a thing.
Chill out. People are going to be negative all year, get used to it.
Oh! In that case, you're merely having a bad day. Relax, we're going to have a good year. Trust me.
Whoa, let the man speak, not all of us wear our rose coloured glasses around 24/7. Anybody who does might as well join the leafs site( where they always plan a parade every year) . We are Habs fans, you know the fans who remember what it was like to win. We demand excellence, after all that is what the Habs brand stands for.
I've read a lot of your negative comments and disagreed with them but this one I agree with wholeheartedly.
Hammer - cant wait for him to return, we need some steady D back there, rookies and AHLers just not cutting it
Laraque - Useless waste of cap space, since hes always injured, and when plays doesnt even fight or intimidate
Subban - Too bad for him, but even if he was not injured, its still hamilton for you sonny boy
Alex Henry - Career AHLer
Im liking the forward lines for tonight finally, defence though on the other hand not so much still
Anyone interested in tonight's game? I'm selling 2 tickets (at cost) in the Whites. Send me a message though my profile if you're interested. I'd love to go but I've got sports of my own to play.
Jesus guys!
Here is the waiver status for the 2009-2010 Habs http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=1838
A two way contract doesn't mean you don't have to go through waivers before being sent down to Hamilton.
...wouldn't the waiver requirements ONLY begin once the season is underway ? ...for instance, Sandford is not YET on Our NHL Team ...therefore, at THIS time (pre-season), does not require passing through waivers before going to Hamilton ?
...I don't know ...I am asking
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Nope. Waivers even exist in the playoffs, believe it or not. They exist every day of the year, save for the Christmas and All-Star breaks. Last year, to start the playoffs, Anders Eriksson had to pass through waivers to be recalled from the AHL to play for the Flames in the first round. Anyone could've had him for nothing more than paying his room and board during the playoffs. It's very telling that no one took him. lol
I don't believe so. I would think that all players who are relegated to the AHL, that have to pass through waivers to get there, can get picked up anytime they are under contract.
So sending Sanford, Chips, and Stewie down to the Bulldogs, puts the Habs at risk to lose them. The team that selects them off waivers must select them to play with their NHL club. They can't take Chips off waivers, for example, and then place him with their AHL affiliate.
Looks like only Sergei and Pax cannot be lost by demoting them.
...but again ...at this point ...ALL mentioned are TRYING To Make Our NHL Team ...Most are ALREADY signed to play, at least,in Hamilton
...as They have NOT made the Team (pre-season) ...I don't understand why They are being considered being 'Sent Down' ...necessitating they pass waivers (before the season began)
...You may be completely right MA ...just seems not to make sense to Me
...I may be a Hab's Fan ...but this shows My complete ignorance of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
All these guys are signed by the Habs organization. It doesn't matter what team they are on (AHL or NHL). They are all property of the Habs (big club).
The thinking is that after a player has played for 3 years after his first pro contract or 160 games (less for older rookies like Streit), he has earned the right to be given every opportunity to play in the NHL. If the Habs don't want to offer him an NHL salary and decide to demote him (or not promote him), he should be able to be available for an NHL salary, if another team would give him that opportunity. Even if a guy has a one way deal he has to be offered to all 30 teams before he officially is refused an NHL job.
The fact that it is preseason doesn't change that a signed HAB is not being given a full and fair opportunity to play in the NHL. It's not fair because if you're the '76 Habs and don't have room for me, I can still play in the NHL with the Rockies. Why should I be punished for your depth. He has earned his league-wide NHL eligibility rights, because of service to pro hockey and through the waiver process can exercise this right.
It's basically about protecting a player's right to NHL opportunity. There is no loophole to that opportunity because it is preseason.
Now that we've seen Cammy, Gionta, Gomez, Gorges, Lapierre, Markov, etc., play some games, anyone care to guess as to who may be appointed Captain?
s - redundant
Hal Gill...you heard it here first, lol
Gionta would be a very solid choice
Laps and Marky with A's
------------------------ Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut. Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
I suspect 2 As go between Gomez/Cammalleri/Gionta, with a 3rd A going to either Mad Max, Gorges or Markov if it's a three Alternates system. If there is a Captain as it may be indicated, I suspect it'll be Gomez/Cam/Gionta with a A being also given to that group, but one also going to a Hab with some team history like Markov, Lapierre or Gorges.
I'd like Mad Max to captain, but I think he's 2-3 years from that role since he needs to develop into a stronger player first so he can make the 2nd line and be a more skilled player to hold the role. He also needs to log more time with the team and wear an A first.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
I'll wager it'll go to Gionta. Did you hear the way Martin praised him the other day? He played very well again yesterday as well so I'll bet it'll be him.
A "little" Bad American as le Capitain of Les Glorieux!!!!! The french media would have a field day with that one. Look at the outcry over Gillette being an American owner. Hooooooooweeeeeeeeeee
Markov definitely gets an 'A'.
I think Cammalleri would make a great captain, thanks to his talent on ice, ease with the media and natural charm. But there is STILL this French component, and I wouldn't want any of the guys to go through what Saku endured.
So I guess that leaves only the French Canadiens in your list. Simply based on language.
"... et le buuuuut!"
I sincerly hope Quebec gets a team again soon, then they can be the "french" team and can have all the stupid irrelevant politics directed at them and we(HABS) can concentrate on what really matters...hockey.
Seriously though.. Hal Gill for C!
------------------------ Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut. Vive La Sainte-Flanelle!
I wouldn't want any Habs fans to go through what they've endured having Saku as captain. Koivu's departure is good thing for the Habs.
I am kind of getting sick of all the tears shed for Koivu. Boo-hoo-hoo. Poor Saku didn't get re-signed. Good thing! He's the last remnant of the Corey era. The last remnant of 11 years of suckage gone. The captain who was too aloof and acted like his was a divine right. Enough of the cliques in the locker room, the O-zone penalties, the falling down in corners, the injuries, the indifference.
Let's see how well he does in Anaheim.
Better yet take your Saku Koivu whining asses and go root for them.
You put the "A" in asswipe.
http://moeymusings.blogspot.com/