Maxwell returned to Bulldogs

I would like to find ways to move Hamrlik in the trade deadline to solve our Cap. issue. Mara will be gone. We have enough Dmen in the BullDogs to replace them. BGL's contract will be bought. The saving will allow us to sign Plekanec and a goalie. SK, Lapierre and Darche are cheap and can be kept. I would keep Moore instead of Metropolit because Moore is younger and faster. Moore is worth 1.5 mil. But Moore has a history of contract problem. With Subban and Weber arriving, we can pass MAB if he is asking for more than 1 mil.

All in all, moving Hamrlik is the key.

Weighing in on the Lapierre talk here.  Lapierre is a RFA this summer, so no doubt he will expect some kind of substantial pay increase.  Obviously he can't demand a UFA-type increase, but he will be looking for a raise.  The question is, and I believe this will be considered carefully by Habs management, but the question is, are we better off with Laps and a pay increase?  or, are we better off filling his spot with someone else at a lower rate of pay?  Given the small amount of wiggle-room with cap space, I'd be a bit nervous if I was Lapierre.  He picked a bad time to put in a half-hearted season.

Okay I have to say this.

It's nice that Darche has made the NHL this season and has contributed. But he is 33 years old, basically a career AHL player and doesn't go into the lineup of any team that is expected to contend for the Cup. He's gotten some points, shown some grit but he is playing at his absolute best and that makes a 4th-line NHLer.

Maxim Lapierre is 24, he came off a season where nearly the entire team was minus players, but he managed 15 goals, 13 assists and a +9 as a 3rd/4th liner. He was a PK expert, faceoff specialist, scored a pair of game-winning goals and had a hat trick in that season, plus some SO goals. He was awarded the Beauchamps trophy for most improved player by the local media.

Lapierre is about a decade younger and he has the potential to improve significantly if he recaptures his passion for the game he could be a key 3rd-line/4th-line centre for the next ten years. Can we say Matt Darche is anything more than a 4th-line winger in 3 years? I doubt it. He's a feel-good story, but what is his future with this team? Honestly people. Lapierre's having a bad season yes, but he was getting better before that very bad hit he gave out. He could come back better even, wanting to prove he belongs with Moore challenging him for a spot next year. He scored more goals last season than Darche has in all 120 of his NHL games.

The lack of fan loyalty around here is really wearing thin for me.

- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/

Good move, Maxwell needs the time and experience in Hamilton.  They should have a good playoff run.  Lapierre needs to come back with energy to spare, this is his chance to step up his game.  I watched him play in Hamilton where he made a difference, he seems to play stilted in Montreal only showing flashes of ability.  I am looking for better things from him, he appeared to be on the right track just before the suspension.

Yep, true growth takes time.

Make sure you read Captain Hab's post below. Good points there from Boucher.

Michael Del Zotto is a perfect example of what can happen to young players (especially D-men, for all you Subban fans out there!)

He came up and made a big splash at the start, lots of hits, points, key plays, you name it.

Points before Christmas: 20

Points since: 8

Plus/Minus: -21

That's not very good. Especially for a young player. This kind of performance shows that he has the skills, but not the staying power that you NEED for the long NHL season. Takes a lot of maturity, focus, and physical conditioning. Many seasoned veterans are half-dead by the end of the season, imagine how the greenhorns feel by Olymipc/All-Star break!

---Hope Springs Eternal---

The Habs should put Slappy Lappy on waivers. I  don't care if they get  a bucket of chicken for the guy. As far as I am concerned Darche has beat him out for a job. bring up a tough winger.

It's just a therapy day for Markov! Phew~

"I gotta a feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night!"

Habs were lucky to pull that one out.  Halak was great in the shootout but WEAK in regulation.  Price next game?

Read more:
http://www.habsaddict.com/2010/03/montreal-edmonton-plekanec-lifts-habs.html

I think Lapierre may be getting nervous about his position with the habs. with him out they win and guys like Moore and Darche are working hard...not to mention Metros play as well...I see him being traded in the off season...maybe to minesota lol....

That's right captain a hab,, people forget that the jump from Junior to the pro's (in the A) is a large step. It takes at least two years to learn first how to be a pro, then to put it into practice for a full year or two. The next step is even a much larger and faster environment to find yourself as a young hockey player.

Just like everyone including me wants to see PK up with the squad, it will take some time yet. Bring these kids along slowly in the minors is the formula of developing them into strong players at the highest level.  Both physically and even more importantly mentally with great speed and confidence.

It takes great skill and patience to bring these kids along properly. Today thanks to Bob we now for the first time in many many years have great people in position  to develop these players throughout the whole organisation.

Ian

MAGodin tweets that Andrei Markov is missing from practice? Only therapy day? What now?

"I gotta a feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night!"

Like Maxwell and other top prospects in the system, Boucher himself should be given time "to grow and dominate" as a coach at the AHL level. If all the reports are correct, it sounds like he has a long future ahead of him once he arrives to the NHL. I hope he's patient and wants to coach for the Habs. It would be a shame to lose him to another team.    

Was at the Flames game last night, I can't believe how much I hoped and prayed that the Habs would land Bouwmeester.  He looks quite insignificant out there.

"A month before the season I stop putting ketchup on my french fries." -Mario Lemieux on his off-season training.

Yesterday's La Presse had an insert in which there was a good interview with Guy Boucher. He talked about Maxwell and said that you simply can't make up for the close to 2 years he lost to injury. He said it'll take him time. He also had a good quote when discussing PK Subban: you don't grow a flower by pulling on its stem, i.e. let him totally dominate and learn the trade in the AHL before bringing him up too quickly.

Apparently Boucher is very much the bad cop down in Hamilton. Guys doing push ups when they screw up and stuff like that. The article also said that some guys do more push ups than he's asking for so they get it. He said his approach is to make sure that the work ethic he asks of his guys is always done with enthusiasm. "Hard work without pleasure becomes a chore, hard work with enthusiasm becomes a culture."

Another point he made was that he tries to have guys work at what he called extreme speed (I think he meant reaction time) so they don't fall behind when they hit the NHL.

Very very interesting piece.

anyone looking forward to burke's annual mathmatically emliminated from the playoffs speach?