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Sergei being Sergei
posted by Mike Boone at 8h19 EST on Aug 22
Carey Price is the highest-ranked Canadien, 14th, in ESPN's Fantasy projections:
2009 Outlook: He’s been successful on every stage he’s been thrust on to (prematurely, we might add), and now Price gets his first crack at being the unquestioned starter for a whole season. Youth is definitely a reason to hold back on him through the first couple rounds of your draft, but Price has the potential and opportunity to hang with the best of the best fantasy goaltenders this season.
ESPN projects 29 goals and 43 assists for Alex Kovalev:
Many believed he was on the last legs of his career, but Kovalev resurrected himself in a big way with his first stud season since becoming a Montreal Canadien. The driving force behind the league’s best power play scored 35 goals, 17 of them coming with the man advantage. A real key to the club’s fortune, Kovalev scored 62 points in the 47 Montreal wins, but just 22 points in the team’s 35 losses. The addition of Alex Tanguay only gives Kovalev another weapon to work with. Another season dominating the power play and hanging with the league leaders should be counted on.
• • •
Marc Denis is working out under the watchful eye of Roland Melanson at a goaltenders' training camp in Moncton (Rollie is from Shediac, N.B., where you can get the best fried clams in the world):
"I want to see a battle between all those guys,'' Melanson said in reference to Price, Halak and Denis. "Come into camp and fight for your ice. When you get into scrimmages compete hard and get the coaches attention. Competition is great for development.
"Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak have to come to camp ready. I also want Marc Denis to go there with the attitude of making the team, not to go there thinking we're shipping him to Hamilton (of the AHL).''
• • •
While the Canadiens have not announced any jersey number retirements for this centennial season, the Rangers will honour three players: Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate (who wore number 9) and Harry Howell (number 3).
Footnote: Howell was the scout who recommended the Rangers take Jozef Balej rather than Tomas Plekanec in the deal that brought Alex Kovalev to Montreal.
The Rangers
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Well reasoned gents!
Is Chips fast enough to play with Sergei and Higgins? We'll see what his off season prep has done for him.
Begin, Lap, and Kosto play very similar roles (we might add Stewart and other farm hands here) and will be the black aces until "THE TRADE"...the package will include a depth D man (FB?) and a top prospect. We will get a top 4 D and a power forward.
This is a key season...the vets will be gone in one or two
years and it's time to make the push.
wow from the build up to the season it hought about gregory stewart...now that we have laraque...stewart drops down the pecking order.
Bash,
I think we're on the same wavelength, please see my reply to REB2.
Rgds,
LGB
t-minus 29 days until 1st pre-season game
Higgins should move to center on the third line, at least at the start of the season. He is a great skater with sound defensive awareness and could be the (faster) second coming of Carbo. He would also see duty on the wing pk and pp as necessary.
Higgs is not a goal scorer and seemed to shoot or drive too often when a pass to Ryder in good position was available. (I'm sure I will take heat for that one ;)...) He got more than his fair share of chances and did not convert.
If the the move to center reveals more offensive upside than Carbo can still try him as the second line pivot.
Higgs at center might allow us more trade options as well.
Higgins may have been originally drafted as a centre but has shown in the pros that he is a winger.As for what type a player he is ...pure 2-way,better offensively then Bo but not as good defensively.Believe he can score 30 in the right circumstances.His other big asset is his leadership ability,he has taken on the role as the leader of the young guns.The next item is that he is a lifetime Canadien fan and wants to play here above all else.The last item is that he has been friends with MK for a long time,trade him and risk lower MK's commitment and resigning potential.
Would also like address the business of converting wingers to centres,it is almost impossible to do.You are either a centre or not and by the time you get to this level ,it is obvious what you are. The only case in a long time of switching a winger to centre that I can remember, is Tkaczuk in St Louis and that is possible by having him play with a play maker like Kariya.
Bash,
I'm not going to give you heat but I will disagree with you about making Higgs the 3rd line center. I do emphatically agree with you that he isn't a goal scorer. While his numbers have improved every year, his shooting percentage was the worst on the team if memory serves. I cannot honestly recall if he was better off to pass to Ryder at times, but it would not surprise me.
I also agree that he should move to the third line, just not at center. Rather than model himself on Carbo, why not emulate the original defensive forward (and argueably the best one at that role) Bob Gainey. BG was a LW so being a centerman is not a prerequisite for that role. Besides I seem to recall Higgy stinking at face-offs.
Personally, I think that barring any signings or significantly different than anticipated individual performances in the preseason (for better or for worse) I see the lines as follows;
1a- AK46 - TP14 - AK27
1b- AT?? - SK11 - GL84
3- SK74 - KC28 - CH21
4- SB22 - ML40 - GL??/TK6
GL84 could switch with SK74 and/or CH21 depending on performance, as could KC28 & ML40 (the only reason I put KC28 on the 3rd rather than 4th line is that I think the 3rd one would be more of a checking line with offensive upside and the 4th an agitating/energy one.)
Comments welcome.
Rgds,
LGB
I like your lines!
AK46-TP14-AK27 : keeps togeher last years success.
AT??-SK11-GL84 : HOORAY! Leave GL84 with SK11 and you'll see some serious productivity from him, Add AT??, another great set-up player, and we could see a 40+ goal scorer (yes, I'm optimistic by nature!)
SK74-KC28-CH21 : with SK74 on this line, CH21 might become that goal scorer you think he isn't. He might not be a pure sniper (Ovechkin-like), but he sure isn't afraid to shoot - he'll get a goodly number of goals.
SB22-ML40-GL??/TK6 : Here I;m going to disagree slightly. I like the pairing, but would dress GL?? every night, and rotate SB22/TK6 (and I'd add MD18). Just the presence of GL?? on the bench will keep the other teams honest and stop any BS before it even starts.
When you look at the lineup in this perspective, we don't need "he whose name we do not mention". Add in players from Hamilton like D'Agostini, Pac-man (who isn't ready, but would benefit from a 2-3 game callup), and this year has me all tingly already.
REB2,
Thank you for your comments. Yes last year's success were my reasoning behind line 1a.
I'm not sure Gui! will get 40+ but 30 would make us all forget Ryder (unless MR scores more in Beantown)
I'm not concerned Higgy's goal numbers. If the line is successful overall, I'm satisfied.
I agree with you about the 4th line and was going to post as you suggested. The only reason I didn't is the Habs site lists Begin as LW and BGL and Tomnonstopoulous as RW. Unfortunately I don't see Begin staying off of the DL again this year so it might be a moot point.
As far as call-up I'd like to see Stewart again. Everyone was raving (justifiably) about his one game performance against the Laffs, but I think those that were pencilling him in on the 4th line (before the arrival of BGL, understandably) were overly optimistic. And yes, I'd love to see PacMax have a shot at a couple of games.
As far as signings I have gone on record as saying that I think we need a solid 4th defenceman almost as much (if not more so) than The-Swede-Who-Must-Be-Named.
Rgds,
LGB
if GL84 can manage to score 25 and doesn't have a +/- number close to our cold winter's temperatures, then ryder would be quickly forgotten.
The Morning Skate : A Deadline for Radulov , a Ceremony for the Rangers and a Kid for the Badgers .. by Stu Hackel .. NY Times ..... http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/the-morning-skate-a-deadlin...
This Radulov kid has really opened up a can of worms. His situation needs to be dealt with quickly. If still a no-show by 01/09 the NHL should bar him from playing in the NHL for ?? years. I know the Preds would never agree to that but this issue deals with the NHL as a whole more than just he vs the Preds.
they'd probably suspend him for the remainder of his NHL contract...after that you can't really control him.
I love that Sergei kid. He has a chance to be something special. He needs to work with some lead pucks or something, though - needs to improve his shot.
Needs to improve his shot??? Anyone who can snipe on Lundqvist like that at 20 yrs. old has a great shot and it will only get better once he puts some meat on him. I'd say the only thing he needs to work on is eating.
ya that was awesome! but i think lundqvist was looking for a deke from a skilled player like sergei and was fooled by the shot more than anything.
He actually has a great shot and a super quick release ...the problem is mentally convincing himself to release it. He won the coaches award in the OHL for best shot 2 years ago and when he does shoot it is by no means a weak shot. Even his clapper from the point was decent when he played there on the pp. He has a problem of seeing too much and trying to make plays that others aren't aware exist and sometimes costing the opportunity. In his head he has weighed surveyed this situation and decided the best chance to move the puck....which it would be perhaps if all players thought as he does....they don't. This is often a disease that can become irreversible if not nipped early in his career. He has to start shooting more...HAS TO. He needs to be programmed to shoot first from certain spots because you will never alter his mentality as based on what he is seeing he is probably making the right decision....even Gretzky was quoted saying something like "you score on zero percent of the shots you never take".
I have this disease and I picked it up years ago and pass waaaaay too much (nearly every game I get yelled at by a teammate lol). I try to change but it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I picked this habit up when I was a late teenager playing casual pick up hockey with older, slower guys and not wanting to appear to be a "HOG". Next thing I knew I wasn't pulling the trigger anymore when I could and stopped realizing that I had a better chance of scoring than passing to someone with stone hands...even if they were open.
I agree about the preference to pass, but as far as his shot goes, I gotta disagree. He may have had one of the better shots in the OHL, but I have yet to see that at the NHL level. The only goal he scored where he really ripped it (that I can remember) is the penalty shot against the Rangers. During a melee around the goal it seems to me he has trouble getting it off. His release is nothing like his brother's, and not even as good as Higgins or Plex.
He still has alot to learn in the NHL and I would like to see him in Hamilton for more seasoning.
Guy Carbonneau has tough decisions on who to keep and demote this year.
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Sergei will not play another game in Hamilton.
Get real, man.
Hope you're right Mike Boone. Honestly I like the kid as well. But..................................................
I would not be surprised if he's sent down to my hometown in Hamilton.
Never say never, man! We shall see.
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Ok, normally I just float along in the Bordeaux mellow-yellow, and like my habs. I read our stuff and we all have a laugh. Hold it. I'm sorry. Are you kidding? Hamilton? Words fail me.... but I'll try. Are you some kind of nut?
Just voicing my opinion. That's why it's a forum.
Not a nut, are you?
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
I guess he is retro and is reliving the days when Sergei was in Hamilton, cause that was 2 very bizarre statements, and then he makes it sound like he hopes it will happen :S
"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"
What's so bizarre about my previous statements?
All I'm saying is that there are high expectations in the kid this season.
If he doesn't produce the offensive numbers that most of you are expecting, crap's gonna hit the fan.
I don't consider him a second liner on our team this season.
I hope I'm wrong in what I'm saying but I just have this vibe that the kid will have the sophmore jinx and be frustrated.
Playing with Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner with the London Knights he put up offensive numbers in the OHA. I don't see this happening with Montreal in another 2 seasons with Sergei.
Everybody remember Patrick Lebeau? There were high expectations on him since he had an older brother Stephane on the team and Patrick turned out to be a flop.
I see no reason as I have stated before that being in Hamilton under yhe watchful eye of Don Lever would make him more of a complete player. It never hurt Lapierre who was sent down in the beginning of the 2007-08 season and being called up did it?
BTW, if Boone says he should stay in Montreal, we should all agree with him? I don't think so.
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Well, ok, maybe you're not a "nut", but I don't think Mr. Boone is the only person who thinks little K stays in Montreal. Maybe what I don't understand is some of your logic, e.g. comparing the K bros to the Lebeau's (oh dear)or even 74 directly to Lapierre (huh?... there is a talent issue here). Never mind, I am just looking forward to little K playing his game all season, very skilled and very character tough for someone of his dimensions. This kid never backs off from a hit either way..... and this is one of the reasons why he is a favourite with many fans including me.
Retro , SK was around London the previous year before Kane/Gagner and had the most points for a rookie (award went to Travere) in the OHL maybe even the CHL.So he produced before Kane and Gagner even showed up. His second and last year of junior, he started out in a funk because the Canadiens won't let him go to Hamilton to play with AK. But after the world junior championship came back on fire and lead all Major Junior in scoring the rest of the year...who made who.
He is three important (at that age) years younger than his brother and several years younger than Higgy or Pleks. At his age none of those guys were anywhere near as productive in the NHL....he is aleady ahead of all of them as far as relative progression goes. I'll agree to disagree with you on this because from what I have seen and my impression of him was that he can shoot ...just doesn't enough. I remember Petrov and Valeri Bure...those guys could not shoot (Bure got better later on). Pleks actually has an amazing shot and Higgins has a great snap shot but I still think Sergei's is above average and when you factor in his age and experience I think he'll surpass both. Andrei...his release/shot is special...he is in a league of his own as far as the Habs go IMO ....Kovy in certain situations is a rival but overall Andrei is already our most dangerous shooter IMO.
Lats is as productive at that age, and look at that the shit he gets.
Lats gets all this flak for one reason - he can`t skate. IMO , there is little room in today`s game for the Tim Kerr type of winger, even though D-men are now severely restricted in front of the nets these days. The one diff between Kerr and Latendresse is Kerr`s willingness to stake his place in front and take the abuse - Latendresse doesn`t do that now, when the abuse is roughly half as serious as it was "back in the day". I cannot get away from the opinion ( I'll say it that way, rather than 'fact' ), that Lats doesn't deserve a spot on Mtl's team , becasue he is simply not good enough on his skates.
I didn't really like how Sergei handled the interview, came off a little cocky.....I would have liked to hear him talk about his team play more than his individual play..I suppose crediting it 'hard work' to play on the Koivu line was satisfying
I like that he doesn't have in an interest in leaving the NHL, hopefully the habs/Kovy/AK46 can groom him into a more team focussed player. He is one of the players that i enjoy watching game in game out and i think he'll take a big step this year.
As for Roberts comment on the centres i believe we are still a better team this season without sundin...think of how much playing room the addition of Laraque opens up for our talented/small wingers. Putting the fear into the opposing team alone opens up room. It also clears up Komisarek's game. We will see less snakes like Lucic getting away with the garbage he did in the playoffs last year.