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About Dave Stubbs
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Dave Stubbs
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About
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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anybody see this on cyberpresse? their "stats" indicating just how good Bergeron is, why Lats is a great forward, etc. brings to life the old phrase, "Figures Lie and Liars Figure"
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/200911/10/01-920175-nouvelles-st...
LaLa says: "i hope these numbers and things help me to get in the lineup tonight. crescent street is much more fun if i'm on TV before. i better remember to tell Jerome - Not the face!!"
I'm also hoping MAB sits in favour of Leach. Flames are a team of wrecking balls. RDS (esp Gaston Therrien, if you read his last blog) will have a collective stoke if Lats, Laps, and MAB are benched on the same night... at home... wow!
Lapierre + Latendresse = LaLa
Apparently Jay Beach is playing tonight. I wonder who's out? Probably Carle, but I think I'd prefer it if MAB sat a game...
JM say whose in net yet? i live in cgy and the past two games in cgy its been jaro ive totally been hoping to see pirce in action but guess ill have to wait tilll next season... =D
Deadly from the slot ...
Okay Metro, let's see that in a game!
--------------------------------------------------- Tired of the SmartDog icon.... trying out new candidates... HabsProf says the ORIGINAL (evil) SMARTDOG will help us win games... who am I to argue?
... Calgary Flames consider Habs old home hallowed ground ... by John Down / Calgary Herald ..... http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-flames/Flames+consider+Habs+home+hallowed+ground/2204093/story.html ........ an excerpt ..... “It just has that . . . when you get there . . .” began Craig Conroy, searching for the right words. “It’s just that mystique about the Montreal Canadiens. The Toronto Maple Leafs have it but Montreal is it because it’s been so successful in everything they’ve done with their franchise.
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
Do anybody have the clip on Steve Ott's hit on Petr Sykora? Apparently out with a concussion from a head shot when Ott left his feet to him him. Nothing said about that hit either. Amazing ain't it!!!!!! WOW!!!!! When is the head shots going to stop? Who's next I wonder????????? Go Habs Go!!!!!
Mike Camalleri: "It makes you feel a little better about coming to work the next day, realizing that the sun's still shining and there's still a lot of great fan support in this city," Cammalleri said, looking ahead to tomorrow's home-ice game against the Calgary Flames, his club of last season.
"You can lose a couple games and feel like the sky's going to fall, and you win one game and it solves all the problems in your life, whether it be hockey or anything else. Things change quickly and you just have to be prepared for those ups and downs."
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Anyone going to the Caps-Canadiens game in DC next week? If so, message me! First round on me!
I'll be there with about 200 friends. First round on you right? ....just kidding ;)
Everyone from Sweden, Finland (swedish speaking), Norway, Denmark: Join the Facebook group "Montreal Canadiens Fan Club Scandinavia"!
Everyone is getting all lathered up about how one of the Habs performed in a skills competition before fans? Freakin' pathetic bordering on woeful! How many of us who have actually played the game shared a room with guys who were aces at this stuff and weren't worth crap in a real game? The problem with this blog at times is that you have too many posters who can't see their twig and balls let alone actually tie on a pair of skates!
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
You sound like you really, really, really know what you're talking about.
wow. they were just having fun. i don't think anyone mistook any of the guys for Gretzky out there on the ice.
chill out. that's what the public practice was for.
Disturbing Hab Injury Report. Puts things into perspective a little...
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
Haha good job Bugs! I am beginning to suspect that since you know so much about this injury..you might as well turn out to be the person that analyzed Halak's health conditions last week ;)
What's up with that, Doc?
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
Sweeeeeet....
Thank god for the Métro...
--- Anything less than 82 wins is an outright failure ---
In a word: awesome
lol....this clip is pretty cool wiht metro but he had about three shots from 20 feet out last game with the upper corners open and ripped everyone of em high and/or wide......I give him credit though for seeing the openings though,,,,,,maybe he should have fired clappers instead.
how bout that patrick sharp...that guy can play...so smart.....put something together and get this guy Bob. Before anyone says it isn;t worth it this year......he is signed for a very reasonable 3.9 for this season plus two more......we have to try and get in on those talks......he would fit perfectly......too perfect.....make it happen.
Sure Patrick Sharp would be a nice adddition, filling some of our needs. So the question is, krob, who could we send in return that would realistically work for them, remembering their need to shed salary?
Sergei(hate to lose him)or Lats and Carle or Weber? Would this require a 3rd round pick to make it happen too?
patrick sharp is becoming this year's hossa/lecavalier...hopefully it's not a pipe-dream cause i'd love to have him on our side.
- we need a MARKOV.
Marksman Metro? Why not go full out alliteration?
Marksman Metro Mesmorizes Many Munchkins: Meticulously Masters Mindboggling Moves
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
Adam Mair is on waivers. Anyone think we will pick him up too??
Doesn't he deliver pizzas in Sacramento?
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
Pick him up and then find another 3rd/4th liner and then drop Lats and Laps! since at least a guy like adam mair KNOWS hes a 3rd/4th liner which makes all the difference
Why the heck not. You can never have enough 4th liners on your team.
To quote Sean Avery, why do we want other team's sloppy seconds?
Hilarious!!!!
So these bum stink up the joint on Saturday and there is no practice today? Damn, are we that good? Fire Carb... I mean Martin! Flames tomorrow... ouf... I am a little a-scared. Habs better call up a couple of good from wherever... cause if they thought Tampa was physically tough, wait until the Flame start dishing it out.
Good one Timo, you're right, we lost. They should be exorcising the dressing room for demons, and skating bags of coal up and down the rink today.
Look at my tagline.
--- Anything less than 82 wins is an outright failure ---
They lost last battle in Bell Centre, right Timo?
no worries, they lost glencross.
Kopitar seems to be morphing into a beastly beast of truly beastly proportions.
Je suis
Sieur Bugs Potter, écuyer. Major-général du dépôt de munitions Fort Gainey, contre-amiral du torpilleur de classe-II Sainte Flanelle, et sous-secrétaire du ministère de la Défense Tricolore.
so glad i got him in my pull... with Ovie out i need somebody to do the scoring.
Anyone watching the Hawks vs. Kings on TSN2? Some smokin hot chick from Versus interviewed Ryan Smyth.
Oh, Ryan Smyth was being interviewed. I hadn't noticed.
Cool. I watched that video at work and for a few moments it didn't bother me to be there...
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer reports that Manny Legace has received a one year, two-way contract from the Carolina Hurricanes. He is on the ice this morning.
More detail from TSN: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=297772
i realized why plekanec kept going after lecavalier this weekend! it's cause lecav speared him last season off the faceoff!
our potential second liners fighting
http://www.tomasplekanec.net/resources/_resize_picture_portalCAZNZ57G.jp...
- we need a MARKOV.
Hahah wow awesome pic bud!
Lats has just tweeted that JM has ordered a full deployment of The System against the Flames. That's right Hab fans, we're going to DEFCON 5! Brent Sutter will never know what hit him as a gellin' of the Habs occurs that will be reminiscent of the playoff run in '71.
Get with The System, before The System gets with you!
Wow look like Metro rocked it out on Metro (practice) day... Wonder if he thought the day was about him ? lol
:) lol
Oh man, That was cool! Thanks for posting it.
If any of the posters who watch the Bulldogs see this before it vanishes under the pile of comments, I have a question. Statistically, I see no signs of Sergei tearing up the AHL. Is it possible his time in the AHL is now no longer a question of character building, but rather a matter of how he's playing?
We have a tendency to seek saviours in this town - I remember all the postings last year angrily demanding that the mighty Max Pacioretty be brought up, with much the same tone as the pro-Sergei comments this year. We have a tendency to assume the people running the team are idiots if they don't bring up the latest AHL talent long before he's ready to be the player more seasoning would allow. Is Sergei good enough to be with the Habs now, this year, and not from what he looked like a couple of years ago?
I remember Benoit Brunet loooking like Mario Lemieux when he played in fredericton. He was so dominant he could almost score at will. He had a credible, injury-shortened career, but he was no superstar. You really have to be a top AHLer to bring a lot to the NHL. Is Sergei there yet or are we just dreaming in colour?
They are dreaming in technicolour that was filmed in panavision. _________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau- his legend is 600' tall and growing...
Players can contribute more then scoring, and as you can tell not every player on the team is going to get lots of points. I think S.K has a chance to be a point getter in the league but I also think even if he doesn't get a lot of points he can contribute in other ways that a couple/few of our current 3'rd and 4'th line players are not.
Contribute in ways like what? Bad attitude?
_________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau- his legend is 600' tall and growing...
Sergei is different from Pacioretty. Sergei has proved himself two seasons ago.
This episode has nothing to do with Hockey. It was purely from JM's punishment for Sergei was not a "good boy".
Anyone watching the HHOF inductions?
___________________________________________
Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/GIONTA4CAP/signatures.html
BRIAN GIO FOR CAP PETITION
Very poorly written petition. Most notably, "our coach"... is this supposed to be taken seriously?
Can i start one for Cammalleri?
I used to be for Gionta, but... i like Cammalleri a lot now.
--------
We have a new team!
Mike Komisarek: (-2)-0-(-2)
Gainey Haters bandwagon ---> This way
Cammy is my favourite too. But GIO should be Captain.
He already has the A, he;s the one who takes the Ceremonial Face/Offs and he's the one who talks to the Refs when there's a problem (which seems to happen a lot with the Habs)
Would he take the ceremonial faceoffs if Markov was in the lineup, though? Like twocents, I'm not so sure that they aren't holding out to name Markov captain.
New RDS.CA news:
Sergei almost left for the KHL : http://www.rds.ca/bulldogs/chroniques/285891.html
English Version : http://translate.google.ca/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=rds.ca&sl=fr&tl=en&history_state0=
(right hand side)
I find it sad how hard RDS tries to demonize the Kostitsyns. Would they ever post such an unflattering picture of their boy Latendresse? I doubt it. And to turn a story on him turning down the KHL (which happened two weeks ago) into news about how he "almost" left for Russia just as he turns it on in the AHL is sickening.
__________________________________________
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
I'm no big lover of Latendresse, but to be fair, he hasn't pulled any of the crybaby crap that SK has (and like his contryman Grabovski did before him).
Latendresse keeps his nose clean, there's no dirt on him, he's just not playing well.
--- Anything less than 82 wins is an outright failure ---
The way i read it is that if he was going for KHL, Belarus would deny him playing for the national team. Maybe he was not aware of that... asked around and then didn't sign the KHL contract.
demonize... LOL.
--------
We have a new team!
Mike Komisarek: (-2)-0-(-2)
Gainey Haters bandwagon ---> This way
There will never be bad press for Latendresse (hey that rhymes)
So does Lapierre and derriere...
___________________________________________________________________
This concludes our broadcast. Goodnight.
Yea I've heard plenty of negative comments on Lats from french sport news. Not so much on Lapierre.
Lol... they do.
Him and Lapierre... Maybe not on the website, but it`s in their shows and news broadcasts.
--------
We have a new team
Mike Komisarek: (-2)-0-(-2)
Gainey Haters bandwagon ---> This way
i completly agree... i think if read correctly just goes to show how kostitsyn ISN'T a "typical euro" who plays for money.
he turned down more cash just to be able to play once a year at a hire level. this kid doesn't care about the money, just wants to play hockey with the best of them
--- 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!!"
Martin has demonstrated that he is managing the players with authority. He has benched players in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines based on their plays. Sergei could give him another option to setup the lines. If Sergei didn't behave or didn't perform, he'll be benched. We have nothing to lose. Our goal is to win games. What has happened in the past hurts only Sergei and not the team. Playing him in the NHL can also increase his trading value.
did anyone catch Mike Milbury on HNIC?? when talking about hits to the head and how one day it could resolve in death he responded "people die everyday"
God help us all.
If you have a couple minutes here is a good read regarding the tragedy that took place in the OHL
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/29183-Bob-McCowns-Blog-Culture-not...
I saw it, and if I had any respect for him at all I would have lost it... but I lost it long ago anyways.
Milbury is like many hockey people, just nuts. It is very sad when our highest paid hockey analyst, Don Cherry, shows highlights of Maxime Talbot's fights, in between periods of an NHL final game, after he scores a critical goal.
There was great discussion on these boards regarding head hits, and some actions the NHL should take.
Even then, one of the 'sacred cows' that is still often referenced is the adage of 'finishing the check'. Most of the dangerous hits are made when the victim either no longer has the puck, or has yet to reach the puck. A couple of years ago Mike Peca hit a defensemen, who had caught an edge, about 2 full seconds after he had moved the puck. To my dismay, the analysts defended Peca as 'finishing off the check'. This is one of the main problems with the game. If a player has released the puck, the pursuing player MUST refrain from making full contact.
Two years ago, I sat three rows from the ice, in an Isles/Habs exhibition game. It was my first closeup look at a game since playing junior hockey in the days of Dirk Graham, Brian Propp, etc.. What struck me most was NHL players struggling to duck away from armor padded attackers hitting them well after they had dumped the puck. Really made a mockery of the game.
(In the old game, we were taught early to protect ourselves with our sticks, upon releasing the puck. Any late hitter would be met with wood in the teeth. )
I saw that segment. In all seriousness this guy is more than a dolt. I find it had to believe that people can be that stupid.
mjames
Great job by Metro, showing off for all the kids watching. Why do it if it isn't done with style?
_________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau- his legend is 600' tall and growing...
alex kovalev...is that you?
- we need a MARKOV.
A really good post by kostadis:
"@boone
When Markov went down any analysis of this season went out the window.
The record of Montreal without Markov before this year was 7-18 (7 wins 18 losses).
That's how important he is.
Take lindstrom out of detroit and they suck. the year they won a cup lindstrom was out for 5 games and they lost all five.
Take Gonchar out of Pittsburgh and they have problems inspite of Crosby/Malkin et al.
Take Green out of Washington and they have problems. 9/10 of the reason Pens beat Wash last year in the playoffs was because Green was injured.
So instead of whipping up a frenzy about how much the habs suck, and panic'ng, let's observe that the team has to stay at about 500 without markov, and when he joins they'll be fine.
cheers,
kostadis"
I agree with 99.9% of it, but I gotta say, AK, Laps, Sk gotta go. please. for a DECENT second liner. PLEASE.
Go Habs Go!
"The record of Montreal without Markov before this year was 7-18 (7 wins 18 losses)."
Yes but how many of those losses came with Price in the nets compared to Halak?
better question: who freakin cares?
Go Habs Go!
"I agree with 99.9% of it, but I gotta say, AK, Laps, Sk gotta go. please. for a DECENT second liner. PLEASE."
Trading 3 young players at their lowest possible value would be silly. And anytime you send away 3 young roster players for 1 in return, you lose the deal.
It seems that people think that this team is Markov and one second line winger away from contending. I don't agree...I think this team is 2-3 years away from contending.
I agree with that time frame, Chris.
In the meantime, I see nothing wrong with making the playoffs the next few years to gain experience. Not to mention, a lucky run to the conference finals would be nice too. :-)
I agree with you about the team making the playoffs to gain experience for its young players...but if the cost is some of those very players being shipped off to acquire a veteran top-6 forward. If they can land such a creature for some of their surplus assets (one of the veteran defenceman not named Markov, for example) then I'm okay with it due to the defensive depth the team is building up.
But our forward depth is weak, both at the NHL and in the system. We can't afford to give away some of those few assets for pennies on the dollar.
I agree, we generally shouldn't be sacrificing the future for the sake of shoring up a playoff spot. However, if one of our young players is showing they may not have a future with us, like perhaps Latendresse, I would be open to a move if the player in return was under 27 years of age themselves. That's why the Frolov idea interested me a few weeks back.
Barring a rare oppurtunity, we likely have to live with our shallow forward depth while players like the Kostitsyns, Pacioretty, D'Agostini, the aforementioned Gui, and maybe Maxwell mature into steady contributers.
1 for 1 deals I am okay with. Or even 2 for 1 deals where the Habs send off some of their defensive depth and a forward for a forward that can contribute on a scoring line. I'm just against package deals where we send out a lot of guys...the Habs are still in the process of rebuilding their organizational depth after the dark years of the Houle era. It's better now, but still not at the point where they can afford to throw in any forwards with promise in potential trades.
Yeah, some of these, let's package three or four players for one, deals that people have been bandying about would be a big step backwards organizationally.
If fact, if anything like that were to happen, it would be undeniable that Gainey had completely abandoned his plan to rebuild the organization for the sake of foolish short term gain.
at least with markov and a second-liner winger we can enjoy winning streaks :P
- we need a MARKOV.
and what would they do in those 2-3 years, besides have their goalies mature and their first line age?
I suppose PK will be entering his prime...but markov will be starting to decline. Same with weber. And not to mention our pair of fairly old D-men (spatch and hamr) who are our defensive core will be relics.
Go Habs Go!
Well, in principle, you should see better production out of the Kostitsyn brothers, Latendresse, Lapierre and Pacioretty. I don't think the first line will see a significant drop off over those 3 years, particularly Cammalleri. If they can still afford him after this summer, Plekanec will be in the heart of his prime. So the forwards should be better.
Gorges and O'Byrne will have matured, and by then one or more of Carle, Subban and Weber will have made the jump to the NHL. Hamrlik will be gone after next summer, and Spacek will be gone in two years time. Either young guys will have stepped up, or other FA acquisitions will have been brought in. Markov, if re-signed in two years when he becomes a UFA, is 4 years younger than Gonchar, who played very well last season. I would expect that Markov should be able to maintain his form for another half-dozen years or so.
As you said, the goalies will have had a chance to gain experience and should be hitting their stride as they enter their mid-20's.
As many in here are fond of saying, anything can happen if you make the playoffs. But this team is relying on too many unproven players in too many positions to get a decent playoff seeding, a must if the team has any realistic hopes of winning a Stanley Cup.
you have a point. Although I STILL think theyd be much better with another legit, proven scorer/setup man over lats/k brothers.
Go Habs Go!
so who do we get?
I want to hear it. Everyone here talks like making a deal is so easy. LEts hear some proposals that will land us that second line player who will solve all our problems. Im all ears...
K brothers for patrick sharp? ok, but how are you going to justify that move when sharp doesnt help this team because our defense is so utterly poor on some nights. Is sharp going to score those extra 3 goals a night to change a 3-1 loss to a 4-3 win? Not a chance.
WE just have to make due with what we got and be patient my friends. No other choice really at the moment.
So true.