D'Agostini, Laraque still missing

Give me a freakin' break. A. Kostitsyn's an over-rated floater and so is his brother. Trade both of them now....First, I read an excellent piece on PK Subban and his experience in Hamilton....his willingness to work to improve EVERYDAY is refreshing....to become a complete player so that he can help les canadiens strive for another Cup. Kostitsyn? He continue's to underachieve complaining about getting 7 minutes a game on the fourth line. Andrei, why don't you do someting about it? Maybe start by playing with a little passion and determination....

I'm sorry, but this guy's attitude doesn't mesh with the climate that Gainey et al are trying to change in this team....Andrei, don't let the door hit you on the way out...

I fully agree. That's exactly what I have posted.

Thinking back, JM did make it tough for AK. Initially, he was getting his 4 points and there was one game where he made a bad pass resulting in a goal. He was benched the rest of the game. At that time, there were a lot of bad passes from many different players. AK was singled out. JM later told reporters that that play was not in his "system". That event must have impacted AK's confidence on playing JM's "system". AK's understanding of English instruction is not that good. Now he is probably at a loss of what that !@@#$ "system" JM is talking about.

Tell me about it... I listen to CJAD while at work sometimes, and I just turned it off completely today. Rick Moffat's snarky handling of the Kostitsyn questions were just pissing me off. It reminded me of the bully comment Gainey made, only now it's from the press to a player's face. Uncool.

What's that? Colorado has almost double dtroit's points? What did you say? Were you supplying evidence to prove that the standings (to an extent) dont matter yet?

Go Habs Go!

Carey Price moves the better than most of our defensemen.  That alone should be reason enough for him to play the majority of the games.  That Chicago game was impressive. Too bad the forwards couldn't have turned the Price break out passes into scoring chances.

They call me Shane

I know what your saying, J.D., but that may be playing with fire.

Seeing the bigs, and the bigs seeing P.K., might mess with his head. I honestly think it would be best for him to stay in Hamilburger all year.

Maybe a peek after the roster limits are lifted in the spring, just as a cookie.

Let's get this one dead right.

Besides Carle has earned this and has had some bad luck along the way. he had a very solid year last year after returning from his concussion and has played over two full seasons in the A.

(On another note, I was happy to see how things turned out for Pierre Boivin and that the rumours of his 'snuggling' appear to have been just that, rumours.)

And a huge smile.

In one pool I have Staal, Ward, and Steit all grossly underachieving (though in Ward's case it's more the team in front of him). In another, I had Gonchar, Markov, Sedin, and Kovalchuck. One team is snake bit and the other is on crutches.

maybe the fact that he is pissed of means he DOES get it??? but i guess you are more capable of judgin someones mentality who you have never met

--- we need a kovalev

Kovalev [ka-va-leov]: A player who makes you jump out of your seat with a wicked deke or a sick shot and makes you say: "Did you see that!!"

I am glad they are finally giving Carle a regular season look. I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.

To tell you the truth, I hope when Gill returns he displaces Bergeron.

Just saw Mr. Stubbs tweet on said subject.

___________________________________________

Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!

There R ways of getting out of paying high taxes in Montreal. Something to do with owning a residence in  NY state!

"Truth! You can't handle the Truth"

Wait... "50% of their salaries to tax" ... compared to only X% somewhere else.  Net difference (50-X)% .   It's not like they will make 1/2 what they would make if they went elsewhere, unless there was an NHL team in Bermuda.

But, yes, taxes here are a part fo the equation.  Tony Marinaro has a tax lawyer on his show when Briere was considering a hab contract, and the conslusion was that Briere was nuts to come here.

You have a point - if my last name is Gomez.

It's the same salary cap regardless.  Is that fair?  Maybe not.  But it's the way it is. 

--------------------------------------------------- `Could this team miss the playoffs? Who knows?' - Bob Gainey on the new Habs.

Nice find... but everyone knows that.

But... i have to ask.  Why did Gionta and Cammalleri signed here then?

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We have a new team!

Mike Komisarek: (-2)-0-(-2)

Gainey Haters bandwagon ---> This way

As the old saying goes..."It takes one to know one."

When life gives you lemons....dither around until their best before date has expired and then toss them away for more lemons."

Robert Gainey, celebrity chef and master bread maker.

I usually am a supporter of Gainey on most things, but the Laraque ordeal hasn't worked out.  If you think about it, at the time we signed him, everyone and their mother was crying for more team toughness.  We wanted a guy who could fight our battles for us and intimidate.  We were fresh off the loss against Philly in the playoffs and Bob saw this as a hole in our roster that needed to be filled.  Who could have predicted that Laraque would have ended up being a dud?  He somehow came home to Quebec and forgot his roots.  He decided that fighting and making a name for himself in that way were no longer necessary.

I don't blame Bob for this, because at the time many believed it was a good signing.  Who could have predicted that he would be so injury prone? 

NFLers don't play 82 games.

And I don't think 3 months on a raft with the others would make him feel closer to the team. The decision is his to make. Plenty of new players came to town, he could have made friends if he'd wanted to.

With a little help from the refs in the Toronto game Saturday, lol.

Perhaps he should be allowed to play for more than one game with Gomez and Gionta. Jacques has been summoning his inner Carbo a wee bit much with this situation

I agree. Put him in the press box for a game. Not on the 4th line.

--------------------------------------------------- `Could this team miss the playoffs? Who knows?' - Bob Gainey on the new Habs.

By game 2 Martin had Gomer Gionta and Cammy together...Last year it was pretty obvious that he and Plecks don't play well together. But you are probably right about the press box. I can see it coming already. We are the only team in the  league who bench their top players.

1. Can't hurt giving it a try.

2. Yes, more or less equal....but I still think the team plays better in front of Halak. Anybody want to try and explain why?

3. Big waste of money...but thats what I've been saying since training camp last year.

4. I never (or almost never) blame the ref's...but there does seem to be a change this year. Compared to the last couple of years, the refs seem to be letting more stuff go. Especially in the 3rd period, which was the way it used to be.

5. Hero. Why do you ask?

1. Haven't we tried that already? Perhaps in the event of an injury to a top six forward, recall SK and give it another go. One LAST go.

2. I can't help but feel that Halak is currently better but has plateaued, while Price is still on the steep part of that Fleury-esque learning curve. I think he will be a clear #1 in a couple years.

3. Huge, colossal waste of money. Has been a whiney distraction since day 1.

4. The same. Equally bad. That said, the Habs lack discipline and get disorganized in their own end, and that hurts us WAY more than bad officiating.

5. Depends on whether he's on your team, I guess.

---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.

1- Yes

2- So far pretty equal, however Price gets the edge for his puck handling ability, which is really noticeable on the PK when Carey clears the zone multiple times on any bad shoot ins

3- Self explanatory, however I must say he was playing fairly well this season

4- Reffing the same, league officials in charge of suspensions are getting worse by the day

5- Ridiculous that the Hall of Fame honoured this cheap shot artist. They can share part of the blame for the current mess this game is in

1. Yes. Trying the brothers together can't hurt. I think Andrei is sulking b/c Sergei's issues. Seems like he's got some of his own if he can't figure out why he's 4th line. gotta get those guys playing if they are going to play here or not...

2. No. Price is way better positionally and recovers quicker. Halak has a hard time tracking the puck and seems to look behind him on every goal mouth scrum to see if it went in. Halaks an excellent back up and playing him against weak teams will only build his trade value next year. Team also plays stronger in front of Halak. Look at how Carey got shellacked the first 4 games.

3. BGL couldn't keep up to my kids novice team. And the code is crap...ask Chris Nilan.

4. Seems like they're letting more go.

5. Biggest cheap shot artist in the game...ever.

1.  With all respect to Lapierre, I wouldn't mind seeing a Tender - Plek - AK46 line, or at least it given another opportunity.  SK74 can wait a little while longer.

2.  Price is more talented, and has already accomplished more.  I don't see Halak as a potential franchise goalie, and I see that in Price.  Price is a game changer when he's on his game, whereas Halak doesn't seem to have that.

3.  BGL - if didn't have a such a wonky back, he proved he can actually play hockey....that said, not protecting his teammates when an injustice has been done and being injured doesn't really justify 1.5mil/yr.

4.  Worse this year - but it seems to be across the board.  They are letting a lot more calls go, and just straight-up missing others.  I'm hoping its just early, because the reffing throughout the league has been pretty bad.

5.  Scott Stevens:  villian, but a hall of famer none the less.

1. Yes please!

2. Pricey! (Better positional play and excellent puckhandling!)

3. Waste of time, energy AND money!

4. Way worse.

5. The hero who turns villain.

"All you need in hockey is good character, luck and skills" - Ovie

1. Yes

2. For now, they are

3. Hmmm...I'll choose: waste of money.

4: Always terrible

5: Hero

We can't say for sure if he is communicating or not. We're not around them.

Martin has been giving Andrei opportunities on the first line. He needs to adjust his game.

I agree...

That is a killer 'stash.

I drafted JVK with my very last pick.  :)

They call me Shane