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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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Here's to a very hopeful and speedy recovery to Cammy!
This supposed misfortune can turn out to be diamonds in the rough!
On a side note, Calgary got Montrealed by their fans last night. Ouch.
In other non related news today, team USA received good news, Komisarek not likely to play, this can only help Miller with one less offensive threat to look out for!
Funny line in Calgary Herald after Flamers were booed off the ice tonight:
"Usually a seven-player deal is enough to awaken dormant competitive juices, rile the boys up, for at least a couple of tilts. Instead, (...) the Flames offered absolutely nothing. And the four new guys looked like ... well, like four Toronto Maple Leafs."
At least it came as advertised, didn't it?
Righty-ho, g'night to yehs.
Radically yet unassumingly your
L.B. Potter, esq. Vice-Chairman of the Horde of Butterers at Flannelcom's Accountability Office and Senior Exponent of Relative Theory at Habsbros Investigative Services: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
...I bet Higgens will be re-born in Calgary
...Jokinen was a non-factor and a bit of a cancer on the Flames ...but may shine for awhile in New York
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
I hope Higgins improves his play, I always liked the guy. His partying needs to stop though.
__________________________________________
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
Darryl Sutter's officially a raving madman, Kotalik and Higgins for Jokinen and Prust.
I have a question, just what did go on at the last GM's conference and what kind of photographs do Burke and Sather have about what Sutter did that weekend? I know I've dumped on all the scoring the Leafs sent the Flames way, but you think Phaneuf could have gotten the Flames a legit Top 6 forward from another team at the very least and a decent defencemen, 24-year old with 20 goals in each of his first 2 seasons as a defencemen and all.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Sutter obviously inhales.
I think its all a part of something much bigger.
http://gushuecards.webs.com/
Are you trin' to tell me that Subban couldn't do a better job than Gill???!!??!?
... they are two different type players, poor comparison. It's rather pointless to spoil a young prospects development cuz you think another roster player is struggling.
Not necessarily. He would score allot more goals . . . but that is not the point. I wan't him no where near this team this year.
Anyone get a chance to watch Attaque A 5 tonight? Jean Perron was talking about the "fact" that a deal was all but done last year involving Plekanec and Price (yes, Price) for Lecavalier. Am I completely ignorant? I never realized Price was involved in that deal. If that's true, then it could go a long way to explainnig his serious drop in play after the all star game last year.
Anyone know anything about this?
By the way, new podcast up: http://www.habsradio.com/2010/02/01/oy-oy-oy/
=========================================================================== Check out www.HabsRadio.com for a fresh take on all things Habs. Blogs, Discussions, and of course, the Podcast!
THN has been reporting that Bettman blocked Pleks+Price+Prospect for Vinny in June due to the ownership differences.
Bettman didn't block it; Barrie blocked it. So Bettman couldn't approve the deal.
Poor THN wording is putting a nefarious spin on Bettman's non-existent motives to disrupt the deal.
Radically yet unassumingly your
L.B. Potter, esq. Vice-Chairman of the Horde of Butterers at Flannelcom's Accountability Office and Senior Exponent of Relative Theory at Habsbros Investigative Services: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
Exactly! Bettman DID NOT BLOCK THIS TRADE! Barrie did! Why do people not get this?!?!?! I don't like Bettman, but you can't blame (or thank) him for this one!
I'm glad it didn't go through, but that's another story.
...correcto Bugzy
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Martin will never win the cup wake up people he is a set up for Boucher or some body , but not the leader to the cup. look at the winner younger smarther and open minded they ajust Martin do not
are you drunk?
I'm having a couple of snorts of Rye and your Avatar is looking better and better ...lol
Ah, my old avatar. How ya been? Not you habs12345, the avatar.
not too bad bud i know we disagreed alot in the past its very stressfull following the habs!
and yes its a very fine lookin avatar :)
Laffs has just one NHL forward line: Kessel, Stempniak and Ponikarovsky. When Grabovski is back, they may create another one. Looks like this one line will play most of the time.
Here are a few random comments that are on my mind right now!
Is it me or was the season in turmoil as soon as Martin had O'byrne playing forward on the 4th line?
Why Do they continue to play Gill ?-who is a big lanky useless tit! And why in Overtime last game.
Why hasn't Desharnais and Trottier been called up yet? Yeah I know theyre midgets but they have more heart and scoring potential then Lapierre, Dagastoni, Pyatt, White, Maxwell, etc.
Why do the Habs defence keep letting Gomez take it from behind his own goal, only to skate up the center of the ice and either lose it or do a dumb dump in?
Why Is Martin still coach? What a terrible system. Go and be an actor in the next Star Trek-Spock!
Talk about hitting the nail on the head...nice
Why do people on HIO keep posting negative whiny posts?
Talk about hitting the nail on the head....Nice
Oilers are winning a game right now! 4-2 over the Hurricanes after 2 periods.
Losing streaks have to end some time I guess.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
When martin frist came in may be . trap =10 win will be better in the standing but no. CArbo was better lap got a hat trick remenber! Hab will win the cup in 3 to 4 years with subun,price pouliot. plac,o.bryn,markov,camally,georges,pacs,ks,ks,weber,bell,and some top 3 and 4 guy nilan or domie remake but not last a 38 olds coach Boucher with new teaching teck and winning sheet
Tabarnak!
Just to funny,more drinks everyone......
CanadienBoy,the more Rye I consume the more I understand your post so I guess I'm using the Ryesetta stone,lol
I had more than a few beers waiting for the fire depatment to find the smell of smoke in my building tonight and I still don't understand his post.
Bet that sounds great in English.
Radically yet unassumingly your
L.B. Potter, esq. Vice-Chairman of the Horde of Butterers at Flannelcom's Accountability Office and Senior Exponent of Relative Theory at Habsbros Investigative Services: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
You lost me at 22:57
LMFAO
say WHAT???
wtf..?
Great find.
Cute.
Radically yet unassumingly your
L.B. Potter, esq. Vice-Chairman of the Horde of Butterers at Flannelcom's Accountability Office and Senior Exponent of Relative Theory at Habsbros Investigative Services: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
LOL @ Gamecenter page on Flames/Flyers game with a pic on Dion Phaneuf!
on most nights for the rest of the season we cannot give up more than 2 goals and hope for o/t to win games...
So, business as usual, what?
Radically yet unassumingly your
L.B. Potter, esq. Vice-Chairman of the Horde of Butterers at Flannelcom's Accountability Office and Senior Exponent of Relative Theory at Habsbros Investigative Services: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
I need advice (sane advice) for my pool. I have been slowing climbing the ranking and currently clinging to the last playoff spot. I need to replace Shelley and I'm missing a right Winger. So my question is should I get Selanne, Kovy (Alex) or Mike Knuble? I can't seem to make up my mind. Thanx in advance.
I go with Knuble. Washington just keeps scoring and he's bound to pick up some garbage.
Selanne scored tonight.
lol. Guess he's back. On my yahoo fantasy hockey pool, it still lists him as on the IR.
Mike Knuble. Dont even hesitate.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey...
Gui!
At least you have a pool. My pool got wrecked when the jealous scumbag commissioner removed Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos and Marian Hossa from my pool because I am in first place and because he's against me this week. Also, he blocked me from doing absolutely anything, namely, calling him out on it.
You're in a pool with Bettman?
"A month before the season I stop putting ketchup on my french fries." -Mario Lemieux on his off-season training.
Knuble
Once you go Kovy you can never go back!...even if he doesn't get the points...your team will have some pizazz
The "System" needs a hug too!
the way the sens are rolling ...... got to go Kovy
Vs the 10 in a row Caps when Knuble is back from injury and is almost a point a game... Knuble every time.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey...
Not advocating this..
But if you go by many of the posts here the last few days, it appears your only solution is to tank your pool!!!
The sad part is if I rebuild, I can't keep the same team next year. Plus, my GMing skills sucked. How else did a team with Crosby, Kopitar, D. Sedin, Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Thomas Vanek, Jordan Staal, Ryan Miller, Cam Ward be dead last in 10th place. (actual answer: because I forget to play them! LOL).
But some phone alarms and early reminders have helped me get on track and sneak all the way up to the 6th spot and people are still wondering how it happened.
On second thought maybe I should trade one of my star centers for a capable RW and a Dman?
At least she's making it to the last playoff spot. ;-)
BTW it's called rebuilding. :p
Thanks for the chuckle dewd...
It is refreshing change to visit the site and not feel suicidal after reading all the anguish over what might have been...
Wayne Simmonds. LA Kings.
Trust me.
------
Komisarek: 0 - 4 - 4 (-9) http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8469460
Grab Knuble, I like Selanne but I wonder about how well he's going to do with the injury issues he's gone through this season and Kovalev's too much of a hot/cold player to be reliable. Knuble's offensive numbers have jumped up a lot since he started clicking with Ovechkin and Backstrom.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
For the first time in Winter Games history, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held indoors at B.C. Place.
Isn't it kind of obvious Gretzky will come in and light the torch on skates?
Tough to beat the flaming arrow at Barcelona in my opinion!
Barcelona was great, and I really enjoyed the Lillehammer games as well.
I find the fact they will hold them indoors kind of odd....
That's Vancouver for you. Ceremonies indoors, rain outdoors, and no snow on the local mountains. Why have the winter games in a non-winter city? Dumb idea, I still can't believe they awarded the games to this city.
Maybe they should have som events here in Squamish, oops my bad no snow here either. Lots of snow in Whistler though.
It wouldn't be the first time they had to build some of the freestyle jumps out of haybails and plywood.
can't wait until the 5th though,The torch is stopping right outside my apartment. I should rent out my deck for a good view.
The opening ceremonies at Athens were fabulous as well. I enjoy the Olympics when anyone does it but us, i.e the US. With the exception of maybe the '80 Winter Games, which were special for obvious reasons, it just turns into a jingoistic *** show instead of a celebration of sport!
Selanne and Koivu are back in the Ducks lineup and the team is up 2-0 over the Panthers, Selanne has his first goal since getting back into action, he is 7 goals away from breaking the all-time goal scoring record for Finnish players.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Truly not sure why everyone gets all excited because Burke & Sutter make a "big" trade... It smacks of desperation on both Burke and Sutter...
The Laffs are now firmly up against the cap. Goaltending marginally improved at best. Offense significantly worse. Ah yes they get Phaneuf... If he was "the franchise", he would still be in Calgary. He clearly wore out his welcome and maybe he might find success in Toronto. However, a 24 year old making $7M/yr with a bad attitude in Calgary... is likely going to be 24 year old making $7M/yr with a bad attitude in Toronto, with even more potential to be a jackass... He has $12M tied up in Kessel and Phaneuf per year now... Hope it works out for Burke... NOT
Sutter is clearly desperate to make this significant a change at this point. Not so much getting rid of Phaneuf... But the impact on chemistry by adding three guys to the lineup at this juncture...
Everyone knocks Gainey for not doing this or doing that... Everyone was screaming at the deadline last year that we didn't go after Oikenin... How is that working out for Calgary?
I've read several posts of how we should tank to start getting "top picks" the next few years so we can be like Chicago/Penguins/Washington...
No thanks... As difficult as it is to watch some times, I would not want that... Besides how often does a Crosby, Ovy, Towes come along... People seem to forget all the other bottom dwelling teams to perennially get top picks.. See the Islanders, Tampa Bay among others... How has that worked out for them..
Everyone knocks Gainey and Timmons for drafting poorly... Here is a little perspective for you. Since the 2000 draft there have been 2100 players drafted... It should not be a surprise to anyone that a very small percentage of these players even get a sniff of the NHL. Outside of the top 3 picks, most drafts are a crap shoot... Check out the draft history @ http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?... Most the gems are typically found late in the 1st round through round 2... Shame on Gainey and Timmons for not knowing exactly which of the 210 players being drafted each year are going to be superstars in the league... Shame... but I guess they have good company with the other 29 teams... Because outside of the top 3 it is as much luck as anything...
We have a relatively young, talented albeit smallish team... We have been hit with injury bug this year... *** happens...
It takes talent, good coaching, good goal tending, luck, few injuries to key players and team chemistry to win in the NHL... GMs are humans and have little control over most of this....
I apologize for the long rant... I just get tired of the constant negativity... Let's have a little perspective people..
Let the name calling begin...
Well said.. guess everyone here has been spoiled for the past 40 years
" Tampa Bay among others... How has that worked out for them.."
Their number one pick franchise player lifted the Stanley Cup.
No problem with what you are saying. Tanking is not for everyone, and you don't start the season saying yup this is the season we tank...
But as this season moves along, and with the Cammi injury (8 weeks probably), if we lose the next games before the Olympics, the Canadiens will have to make a choice. Sell or buy to try to make the playoffs. We have nothing to give to buy, so we either sell or sit put.
As for Tampa well they won the cup and the Islanders well they had Milbury so that goes out the window. You forgot Carolina, and Pitts. The only exception is Detroit. This year Chicago looks like tanking helped them out.
As for what this teams needs:
Coach : average at best
Goaltending : good
Luck : ooops
Few injuries: double ooops
Chemistry : not this year....
So to me this season had some promise, but too many factors make it another rebuilding project. Might as well get the best materials. Start with Pouliot, and build around him.
The tanking question is like the Steroid question, short term gain for long pain ? Admit it, most of you who never went to a stanlet cup parade would say yes right away.
I went to 4 so I could wait a little bit....
Having Another Bad Season
Other successful non-tankers include NJ, SJ, Van
Vancouver is not a Successful team as of yet. Just reminding everyone.
NJ are an expansion team. They spent their first decade in the cellar. Having Marty Brodeur helps. GM Lou Lamoriello helps. Playing the Lemaire trap since their 1st Cup helps. They also kick our *** in drafting and development.
SJ another expansion team >> How did they get Marleau?
Van >> How did they get the Sedin twins?
When you have a good and high hand to deal you can trade. Habs have a low and bad hand because they never build up their assetts. It's a perpetual cycle of being a bubble team. We're not inching our way up either because right now we're looking like the late 90's all over again.
NJ: being an expansion team has nothing to do with their current and continued success. "They kick our *** in drafting and development"...exactly. This is why they are great. Not tanking. Sorry. Tanking didn't get them Parise. Or Brodeur. Or Lou Lamoriello. Or Lemaire.
SJ: did draft Marleau high (but that had absolutely nothing to do with being an expansion team), but Heatley, Thornton, Nabokov, Boyle and Co. have nothing to do with tanking.
Van: Brian Burke managed to do some wheeling and dealing on draft day to get the second and third picks. Although you are right that they were one of the worst teams the year before.
You're definitely right about the Habs wasting assets...but you don't need to 'tank' to save assets. You draft well, develop well, and don't do stupid things like give away first rounders for Tanguays or trade assets for overpaid and soft second line centres.
I only want to tank to acquire assetts. ;-)
I agree with everything you're saying. I am only here to debate and I put forth the tanking debate as a means of challenging our preconceived notions. You have to admit that it forces us as Habs fans to pay closer scrutiny to the Habs organization's past drafting and development record and as you state its trading away picks for Tanguays or prospects for overpaid 2nd line centres.
Nice essay. It's just a longer post of my point below. Quit panicking ppl! If for each time someone does something, we have to, it'll be ridiculous. All those banging their heads for AK46, I looked it up last nite to look for Higgins and came across this.
Alexander Semin was picked 13th overall in 2002. Players picked ahead of him include Ryan Whitney, Scottie Upshall, Joeffrey Lupul, Pierre-Marc Bouchard (!), Petr Taticek (who?), Eric Nystrom, Keith Ballard (!), we picked Higgins 14th overall. And Cam Ward was picked 28th overall. Apart from amybe two name the rest in the first round between 15 and 28 never even made it. So, it just goes to sow that the draft is a real toss-up. You could get luck or end up with Corey Uruquart ahead or Patrice Bergeron and David Backes.
Exactly... :)
Nice post. I agree. If we had a few less injuries or to lesser players things might be a lot different.
I don't support mediocrity but adversity does build character and those are the people you will want to
build your team around. Not sure if we will be able to do that due to some of the long contracts unfortunately.
Leafs are up against the cap this year, but next year they have 14 million to sign a couple of very good top-six forwards, and if they trade Kaberle, they could probably get another. The Habs, on the other hand, are basically stuck with their "smallish" forwards for 5 more years of mediocrity.
Leafs still have to actually attract those Top 6 forwards to come to Toronto after 5 and what will likely be 6 years of playoff drought next year since they're crippled cap-wise to sign new talent this off-season and there is little offensive talent to be gathered in free agency this year and Burke is now stuck in that 29 GMs in the NHL know they have him by the balls if he wants anyone who can score over 20 goals a season in a trade.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
They are not crippled cap wise...they have 14 mil to spend on a top centre and a top winger, and are going to trade any UFAs for prospects and picks. They do have a lot of FAs, but when you look who they are, it's clear they won't be coming back.
Cap Geek has their signed forwards, defencemen and goalies, not including their RFAs to 42 million in the 10-11 season discounting bonuses, that's 14 players signed with 9 slots left. Tell me, how do you sign a top centre and a top winger and still have enough money to fill out 7 more roster slots? Use the AHL prospects that are a part of one of the worst AHL teams right now?
Besides, 2010 free agency is the Kovalchuk Bidding War and a whole lot of nothing for the most part, a lot of retiring players and older players with limited upside and a big price tag as there are so few good forwards after so many long-term deals have been signed in the last 3 years that it will be difficult for anyone to get value on their money for a scoring forward and not be overcharged.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
They have 17 players signed according to nhlnumbers. They need 20. IMO, they will sign 1 goalie (Gustavson) and 2 forwards, which can easily be done for 14 mil. I don't think they would get Kovalchuck before the deadline, but they coujd try to get him in the offseason (although I don't think he has enough truculence for burke). My point is, is that Burke still has options, which is something that Gainey doesn't have.
that 17 includes 3 RFAs that need raises, Cap Geek updates their information more quickly and generates more accurate information. NHL clubs don't run with 20 players as well, you always have extra bodies on the roster to fill in and test who's the better person to be 6th defencemen and the 4th-line pluggers and those guys have to be paid something. The number still stands at 42 million with 14 players signed for next season before the RFAs get their raises and most importantly, a pretty dry free agent period where a lot of teams with playoff aspirations to offer and equal money can match the deals the Leafs will offer to the few good forwards out there. Leafs can't just make scoring forwards appear on their roster and their farm is crap.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Well, you make a good argument. I don't have time to look up all the numbers, but you are probably right. That said, I still think that Burke has left himself more options than Gainey. I am also skeptical that the Habs will be able to beat the Leafs this year.