Magic ... to the Max
posted by Mike Boone at 19h08 EST on Sep 30
Ville Leino: Goal
Max Pacioretty: Goal
Hossa: Save
Robert Lang: Goal
Valtteri Filpulla: Save
• • •
Very entertaining game.
Canadiens started slowly but then held their own.
Shots are 28-26, Detroit.
Kovy finds Pacioretty in full flight.
Exciting stuff.
• • •
Weber gets good shots on the PP, with Gui! parking his big body in front.
Robert Lang knows his way around the offensive zone. Smart hockey player.
• • •
Chipchura has REALLY helped himself tonight.
Worked his *** off. Skated well for a slow guy. Very heady in the O-zone.
Heroic PK.
Pre-season, regulars missing on both sides but what a game!
• • •
Miraculous arm save by Price.
But now it's 5-on-3
• • •
Why are they booing?
O'Byrne clearly hauled down Downey.
• • •
Kovy booed!
OK, by only one guy, after yet another cross-ice pass was intercepted in the Detroit zone.
But still.
Scrum in the Detroit goalmouth elicits the first "Gui!" chant of the pre-season.
• • •
Great shift for D'Agostini and friends
• • •
Breezer negates a power play.
He's fadin' as the game wears on against a skating team
• • •
Blocked shots: Canadiens 16, Wings 4 (I screwed it up after the first period).
Chipchura a respectable 6-6 on faceoffs. And he has three shots.
Pacioretty: a goal, two hits and a blocked shot.
• • •
Bob McKenzie raving about the Wings on TSN.
Max Pacioretty got some face time on national TV.
The guy has can't miss written all over him.
Chipchura is really good tonight, against a good team.
• • •
Another good shift: Lapierre, Tom the Bomb and D'Agostini.
• • •
What a sequence. Great work by Chipchura, Latendresse, Dandenault. A shot dinged off the post. Rebound nearly in.
• • •
Wings aren't as bedazzled by Kovalev as some other teams.
I can't survive 41 car races, plus playoffs.
• • •
First skirmish: Gregory Stewart and Kyle Quincey
• • •
Ugly PP. Detroit had the better chances.
• • •
First PP: Lang conferring with Kovy and Max-Pac. Weber and Breeze on the points.
• • •
Ville Leino walks right in.
1-1
• • •
Lovely feed by Sergei. Some posters think he's not having a good pre-season.
I'm not one of them.
• • •
MAX PACIORETTY!
Goal.
1-0
• • •
Some dimwits in the cheap seats chanting "Wings suck!"
Hello. Stanley Cup champs.
• • •
Breezer has been rock solid tonight.
• • •
Odd stat: Canadiens haven't blocked a shot. Wings have blocked 12. Canadiens have seven giveaways, Detroit one.
Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski each played more than eight minutes, Brett Lebda 7:36.
Mike Komisarek: 9:01
• • •
Review of complimentary press lounge water: Eska is pretty good.
Komisarek jacked up Tomas Holmstrom pretty good.
• • •
Price: 12 stops already, few of them easy.
• • •
Hossa is going to have a huge season in Detroit.
• • •
Canadiens have finally come to life, keyed by the kids.
• • •
What a PK shift by Max-Pac. Spectacular hustle and skating. Crowd loves him.
• • •
This is what, the fourth Detroit PP in less than 12 minutes. Hustle and skill will do that.
Price was very good on Darren Helm, who's quick as a cat.
• • •
O'Byrne and Komisarek have bounced off Hossa.
• • •
Good PK by a whole lotta guys. And they're getting plenty of practice.
• • •
First good shift: Chipchura, Stewart, Dandenault
• • •
Man, the Detroit PP passing is a sight to behold.
Presentation of Béliveau Award to Kovy: Place goes predictably nuts, beginning when the great Jean shows up on the video screen during Michel Lacroix's intro.
Red Wings banging their sticks for Béliveau, not so much for Kovy.
No Pavel Datsyuk.
No Nicklas Lidtsrom.
No Henrik Zetterberg.
Jimmy Howard in nets.
• • •
The last time Detroit played at the Bell Centre was Dec. 4, 2007 – and the aforementioned guys were in uniform.
They won 4-1 – and it wasn't that close.
Shots were 34-16 – Canadiens' lowest of the season, despite five power plays.
Detroit went 27-18 on faceoffs.
Trailing 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Canadiens had four shots in the third period.
The Red Wings schooled 'em ... and looked very much like a Stanley Cup team.
• • •
Tonight's lines, per RDS:
Max Pacioretty - Robert Lang - Alex Kovalev
Guillaume Latendresse - Tomas Plekanec - Sergei Kostitsyn
Tom Kostopoulos - Maxim Lapierre - Matt D'Agostini
Gregory Stewart - Kyle Chipchura - Mathieu Dandenault
Carey Price in nets.
On defence: Patrice Brisebois, Josh Gorges, Mike Komisarek, Francis Bouillon, Ryan O'Byrne and the people's choice, Yannick Weber.
• • •
We're Number 1!
The Hockey News rates goaltender confidence.
Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price top the list.
As starter last year, Carey Price proved he’s ready for prime time. The keeper was pulled in just five percent of his starts as a rookie, but it was a sick .615 winning percentage that really boosted his stock. And the Habs lose nothing when Jaroslav Halak is in net; he actually led the league with an overall score of just 48, courtesy of his stellar work during spot-duty in 2007-08.
• • •
From Habs I/O's Kevin Mio:
The Leafs honour Wendel Clark on Nov. 22, the same night the Canadiens
retire Roy's No. 33.
I wonder which ceremony the CBC will cover this time?
Comments
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Submitted by TC on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:58.
The Canadiens should (for the start of the season at least) start Pacioretty down in Hamilton.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/18236-Canadiens-Blog-Habs-shoud-be...
T.C.
tc.denault@habsworld.net
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 12:11.
Very nice article summing up everything that needs to be considered in this circumstance. Another thing worth noting is that Pacioretty seems to understand that he should start in Hamilton. There seems to be less risk of the big disappointment factor that sometimes plays into the situation.
Submitted by Chris on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:02.
I know that this has been commented on a bit already, but there is absolutely NO way that Pacioretty should be starting the season in Montreal. As a few posters have already pointed out, this same hype surrounded Guillaume Latendresse after his first training camp, that his "youthful enthusiasm" (to borrow one of Pierre McGuire's tired cliches) was absolutely necessary to add to the Montreal roster. There is a huge difference between playing against a team missing half of its own regulars (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Stuart, Franzen, Cleary, Hudler and Stuart) and playing against an NHL-calibre lineup in a regular season game that actually counts.
We are finally in the position that partially defines great teams: we have depth and flexibility on the big club. What this means is that a guy like Pacioretty, who realistically needs to be on one of the top two lines, does not need to be forced into the NHL until he's had a bit more seasoning and time to adapt to Montreal's offensive and defensive systems. If we run into injury problems, then by all means call him up as the first replacement. But until then, I don't want to see a repeat of the mistake that was made with Latendresse, rushing him up to fill a roster spot as a third line winger (a role that he wasn't really suited for). Don't get me wrong, as I am pretty stoked that Pacioretty looks like a real gem (that Rivet deal is turning into a masterpiece!), but Montreal no longer needs to rush its young talent. And that is a wonderful thing!
And I'm once again amazed at how quickly people are willing to give up on Latendresse. I still think he needs another year or two before we will see what he really brings to the table. I certainly don't see any great upgrade over Latendresse in D'Agostini or Stewart, so I'm content to roll the dice with Gui and won't be at all surprised to see him potting 20-25 goals this season, especially if playing on a line with Lang and S. Kostitsyn.
Submitted by tony d on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:47.
ypu're joking about Latendresse, right?
he supposedly has been working on his skating but he still lacks speed and for the most part puck smarts...
he always seems to be lost out on the ice and unsure about where to go....
if he gets 20-25 goals as you say, they'll be tap-ins that my 90 year old Zia Loretta could score with her Glaucoma eyes shut
Submitted by Ton on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 20:27.
I agree. Lats has no hockey smarts. There's been enough time to evaluate. Its like Price. If he had continued to have outings like the playoffs and then carried over for another two years than people would have come to the same conclusion. Lat lacks hockey smarts, puck skill, goal scoring touch, and he is hesitant to go in the corners. He's psyhically big only and a native quebecer. Unfortuneately not enough. Its too bad really I would have liked to see him succeed. I see him as a 12 to 18 goal scorer only and he will be a good minor leaque player is my prediction.
Submitted by habsperspective on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 17:43.
No matter if Max scores 50 goals in the next 2 games, management realizes they wont make the same mistake they did with latendresse...
Max in the Hammer for the season, with some callups along the way!
I dont see any rookies making it in honesty, the 23 man lineup is set!!!
But those unavoidable injuries, will get us to see many bulldogs this season.
Submitted by Chris on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 16:46.
Well, he's scored 16 goals the past two seasons skating at roughly the same speed as a tree. If his skating improves in any way, or he figures out that just standing in front of the net could add 4 goals to his total, then he could easily get 20. And he DOES have the size and the soft hands to get those garbage goals, he just needs to get the desire to accept the punishment that will come his way in exchange for them. Playing with a smart centre like Lang and a winger with the vision of Sergei Kostitsyn can only help, as long as he knows and accepts his role.
Submitted by HAB-PROFESSOR on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:40.
here we go again, settling for mediocrity...
anyone with half a brain cell can see that PAX should be a regular along with CHIP.
Breeze was terrible, almost scored on his own net, fell down half a dozen times and was generally timid at best. Dandy, although I give him an A for effort, his time is up....how he could ever get into the lineup before PAX or CHIP is totally and utterly folly.
Submitted by RetroMikey on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 15:20.
Patience Patience Patience!
Pax will get plenty of ice time in Hamilton and when he's ready to come to Montreal, watch out!
I do not want the kid to be rushed so quickly into the NHL.
He still needs alot to learn in our system and a good training camp for him and others mean we are deep on the farm to perhaps make a trade for an elite offensive centreman we are in dire need. I'm excited that the young kids are sprouting so quickly!
If you want to see Max play, come down to Hamilton where a good ticket is no more than 20 bucks and you support not only the Bulldogs but the Habs as well!
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Submitted by TommyB on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 19:23.
Retro....Max is a major motivator in getting me down to some Bulldogs games this year. I will be checking their sched....I'm back in coaching at the Midget level this year, so it will depend on what nights/days the home games are. But I definitely have the Dogs on my "must see" list this year. Max is the the big reason, but there are others that will make this a pretty good year in Steeltown, I imagine. I'd be more than pleased to hook up with you for a game or two.
Submitted by HAB-PROFESSOR on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 16:30.
good way to look at the positives!, PAX in Hamilton is great for the Bulldogs and their fans!.
Submitted by HKisses on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:12.
Was Breezers first game of the pre season.....U talk about those mistakes but you dont speak of the O'byrne give away, which lead to a goal..... Dont hate on Breezer......
Submitted by HAB-PROFESSOR on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 16:28.
may have been his first game of this preseason, but very far from his first game...been watching that guy since 1993. Obryne has all upside, breeze only downside. by the way, its not 'hate', that would be personal, its strictly about putting our best players on the ice.
Submitted by RS on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:08.
With the heart and effort Tom the Bomb showed last year, especially in the playoffs, I would hate to see him lose a spot in the Habs line-up. I'm surprised at how many folks are writting him off.
Submitted by Xtrahabsfan on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 12:22.
I love Tom the Bomb but........to build a top team and keep a team in top form dictates a constant evolution of of tweaks and changes.You can't keep all the players soooo...somebody's got to move on.
Submitted by tony d on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 09:35.
Caught the last half of the game last night.... few observations.... resigning Brisebois proves that even Bob has his off days....oy.... hope his ice time is limited
I was not impressed with Latendresse last year and from what I see now... not much has changed.... give his spot to Max Pac PLEASE!!!!!!!
It was an exciting game at times....scary in our end at other times... but hey, understandable, being an exhibition game and all.
I just hope players earn their spot on the roster because of talent and not because of their heritage.... Guy and Bob let's ice the best team puhlease!!!
Submitted by habsfansince91 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 09:25.
hey Robert L in my opinion you should apply for a job in the Gazettes sports page because your reads are a real treat. nothing against Mr. Boone or anyone else in the sports section but Roberts articles are fabulous.
Submitted by habs33 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:33.
Did anyone else feel like that was playoff hockey in the third last night?! Wow, what a game!!!
Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:40.
Absolutely. Both teams were playing guys trying to impress to stick around and it showed. I'm thinking a lot of GMs were watching that game having wet dreams about the depth the Habs and Wings have access to. And nightmares about having to face these teams.
_____________________________________________________
Mad Pax...Beyond Powerdome
Submitted by Ton on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:23.
I like the Habs chances. Figure that Detroit did not have 4 solid super stars out of the lineup we could make a solid case that we had some great hockey players sitting also. Our cup quest will come down to whether we get the goaltending; I was especially critical of Price at the end but amazing how much quicker he got. If he could plug up his weak spot woh we got a goalie. I think experience and grit will also play a part. On another note were being to lenient with players like Latendresse and Lapierre. I saw three rookies yesterday that clearly should over take these players. We need to get another good solid defensemen if were going to win it all. It become very clear yesterday that O/b, Weber, Breezer are not going to fill that void. With the surplus of youth on board a defensemen in the likes of a Kaberle etc would do wonders for our cup quest. Figuring that we have 8 to 9 months until our quest begins were looking good. Does Lang impress anyone or does he take time to ramp up?
Submitted by habsperspective on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 17:56.
Ton, the quest you talk about, began 5 years ago, when Boivin did the only thing IMO thats keeping him in as president, in hiring Gainey, in 8 months will be the reward for the then 6 year process.
Agree wiht you on the deffense however, need more great canadiEn shot blockers!!!
GO HABS GO
Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:41.
I thought O'Byrne had trouble too but he was playing on his wrong side and with Weber. Put him back with Hammer and I have no trouble with him. I think Breezer was being Breezer. Good at times and bad at times. It's not like that will be surprising for Gainey and crew and they still signed him. I doubt that they're sitting there this morning saying: ``woah, where did those mistakes come from? Gotta replace him stat.``
I thought Lapierre played well last night but Chips will force the team's hand. Laps didn't take a demotion well the last time it happened and I doubt it will this time around. I think he'll be demoted and traded if he raises a fuss.
_____________________________________________________
Mad Pax...Beyond Powerdome
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:09.
Rookie Shines In Win Over Cup Champs - Dave Stubbs
http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/nhlnews/story.html?id=ca469a4f-3907-45a9-a...
Submitted by RetroMikey on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:14.
Max will be coming to Hamilton no question. Give the kid 20 minutes of ice time in Hamilton.
Such a confidence booster for the young kid to play with Lang and Kovalev.
Don;t be surprised if he gets called up mid season or if we make a trade in mid season.
I am looking forward to seeing Max and others in Hamilton donning a baby Habs jersey!
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Submitted by moser17 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:47.
I think he'll go down to Hamilton, but I don't think it will take until mid-season for him to be called back. 10 or 15 games with the Bulldogs will show that Dandy or someone else, maybe Begin, isn't being nearly as productive as Max would be.
Submitted by RetroMikey on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 12:51.
Don Lever will be the man to give the approval to Bob Gainey if Max is ready before mid-season.
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Submitted by Chorske on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:21.
Fully agree 100%.
Submitted by howtathor on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 06:42.
The possibilities are getting more interesting with the "arrival" of Max Pac. Reminds me a bit of the same scenario with Gui a couple of years ago. There was big disappointment when he was sent back to junior and the club was forced to keep him up the second year instead of sending him to Hamilton. In our lust for a power forward Gui's developement was certainly rushed. Patrick Roy was right when he said that if Gui wasn't a Fracophone he probably would have been in the minors.
That being said, I think Max Pac has a better upside than Gui. More speed, power and a soft hands as evidenced by last night.
In an interview with Pierre Mcguire on Monday he said that Max had to spend at least a year or more in Hamilton.
Last night on TV he was raving how Max MUST make the team! I love Miller and Mcguire. Miller is a wealth of anecdotes and Mcguire is a wealth of hockey knowledge.
I feel that Max is ready. He has to play on one of the top three lines so I've revised my lines.
A Kost Pleks Kovy
Max Pac Lang Tanguay
Higgins Koivu Gui
Chipper/Maxwell Stewart BGL/Begin
Markov Komi
Hammer Webber
Bull Gorges
O'byrne
The odd men out are Dandy, Kosto, Breezer.
When Bob signed Breezer I don't think he foresaw the ascendance of Webber who has a killer shot and could help the pp.
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:41.
Weber is too vulnerable playing his true role, playing defense. He's definitely Hamilton bound.
Higgins, on your 3rd line, will be one to watch early in the season. His name always comes up when trade rumours start.
It's getting crowded in the dressing room. If they move your locker near the door it should give you a pretty good hint that there's a taxi standing by outside the Bell.
Submitted by piche on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 07:56.
S. Kost?
Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:05.
Yeah him too. lol
_____________________________________________________
Mad Pax...Beyond Powerdome
Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 07:59.
You're cutting Lapierre too. I can see how Pax could be staying but I think Maxwell is going back down. Maybe Stewart too. I think Gainey et al may tell Pax and others they'll start in Hamilton while the Habs work on a trade to clear some space for them. Fifteen or so games in, the trade will happen and a couple of young guys will come up.
I love Bégin but his injuries and mental farts (bad penalties in the playoffs) make me wonder if he should still be there.
And I'm not 100% sold on Weber right now. I think he will be great but he had a bunch of mental slips last night. I think he spends a year in Hamilton to improve his D.
_____________________________________________________
Mad Pax...Beyond Powerdome
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:33.
Good one Blitz,
Agree that unfortunately Begin has to go. Lapierre is his replacement and he played very well last night on the PK. Chips is also ready.
re Weber; I say it for the 1,000th time; The Habs must hire a coach for their D-squad. This kid is promising but he is nowhere near what an NHL blueliner should be (playing defense). He needs coaching and this applies to the rest of the kids coming up. It's nice of Muller telling Subban the dos and donts but I just don't understand why they don't have a carpenter teaching carpentry instead of an electrician.
Submitted by styleofthetiger on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:02.
Breezer as D coach.. he's got experience... just maybe lacking in execution. I think his theory is there.
Also, it will keep him off the ice.
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:40.
Well said Hoegarden, a D coach is needed more than ever now. Someone who would be wiling to move up and down and work with the kids here and in Hamilton. That could be a low key, fun job with little pressure.... If Larry would be willing, Bob could even say there would be no bench duties.
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:45.
2cents,
Larry would be a dream come true but I would settle for Green. I wonder what Ray Bourque would say ?
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:49.
Bourque would obviously be great. You know who would be good too? Desjardins.
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:58.
I'm afraid we missed the boat on Eric. Philly snatched him earlier this year. He is now their D coach. He too would have been perfect. He was one of the analysts on Radio-Canada's "La Zone" last year and you could tell he was the right kind of person to teach kids.
Denis Potvin would be on my list too. What have we got to lose ? A quick phone call. Here's hoping !
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 11:07.
Or maybe Bob could poach Ludwig.
Rats! about Desjardins.
Submitted by G-Man on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 05:44.
Pac played a great game. He will be a player to watch for the next 10 years. That being said, it was an EXHIBITION game against about half of the Wings regulars, with Datsyuk and Zetterberg not in the line up.
Before you all throw Lats under the bus, the Lang, Kovy, Pac line was for last night only. Kovy will play with AK46 and Pleks. Who Lang and Koivu play with is still up in the air. Over 600 posts for an exhibition game. HIO rocks!
Gilbert
2008/09 is the season of the Habs
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 05:25.
Max Pacioretty On Everyone's Lips
http://wwwrealitycheckeyesontheprize.blogspot.com/2008/10/max-pacioretty...
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:18.
Robert,
What I liked about Max was his comments after the game. He mentioned turnovers and this shows that he knows how to appreciate praise but at the same time, he can be critical of his own play. His turnover giving Hossa a clear breakaway could have easily turned the game around and he acknowledged his mistake right away.
Max played 12 mins last night with two seasoned veterans who knew exactly what to do. That should not be forgotten. Some of the younger stars coming out of Junior or College are now learning in the NHL instead of the minor leagues and it looks like he would be a perfect example to do so. Business wise, if the Habs keep him, they lose one year on his becoming a UFA down the road, and that could cost them a lot if the cap keeps going the way it has.
He definitely has created a problem for the team. Some of the vets mentioned in your article know very well that their time in Montreal is counted. The season has yet to start and the passion of fans is already at its peak. You are going to be a busy lad typing all winter long my friend.
Submitted by MikeL on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 14:16.
He has already signed a pro contract, so it doesnt matter whether he is in the NHL or the AHL, he is still losing a year. Saving a year only applies if they are going back to junior.
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:25.
Yeah, Max's comments about giving up the puck were good to hear and are yet another indication that this kid has got a lot going for him. Just imagine 7 or 8 years ago, we would never have heard something like that from Mickey Ribs.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 07:52.
Robert L. - Good read and it was nice to read about the situation Pacioretty has made with his fine play and your views in your own protective way. As much as i stood up for Dandy last year the team has outgrown him and i wish him the best, the numbers game, and i'm sure he can help a few teams in the NHL and St.Louis is a great place to continue his career. With nagging injuries maybe nothing drastic will happen for now but when it does the Habs must first look at who is able to be sent down without hurting the core and without going thru waivers and who needs to develop and they know what the role veterans can do as they proved themself clutch in last years playoffs. As Carbo said and Gainey hinted you have to win your spot and if Pacioretty continues he's done that by securing that ninth spot in the top 9 and decisions will have to be made and language, race and colour shouldn't impede this process.
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 08:06.
In limited action last season, Dandenault came out of the press box in spot duty and scored 9 goals. I feel that won't be lost on 29 other teams. His salary might be high for some teams, but a couple of clubs need to fill space. Dandy has 2 or 3 good years in him still. The club as you said, has just outgrown him.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 09:05.
Robert - First of all there are many teams with little or no cap space so if they are going to add somebody his salary will not have them doing cartwheels so you can eliminate them so in my opinion he is a fit player whose value is his versatility F/D and his superb skating that can carry his career beyond 2 or 3 years but at a lower salary. He's always has been durable and if he can play a forward role on a team regularly and in case of injury to a 'D' during a game which happens very often his value to that team could give him a lot of security. Robert we were spoiled last year with injuries and many games i watched or listened to in the NHL last year had multiple injuries to their 'D' and many games were finished with 4 or less 'D' and for the most part it cost them the game, the Panthers can attest to that. I'm sure a dozen teams will take a look at Dandy and the laffs may be one of them but the Blues have an urgent need for 'D'.
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 04:01.
Habs Match Up Well Against Blueprint Wings
http://wwwrealitycheckeyesontheprize.blogspot.com/2008/10/habs-match-up-...
Submitted by twocents on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 10:04.
Enjoyable read Robert, However, I would argue that the template for both teams success is actually based on the '50, '60, 70's Habs, with both Gainey and Holland being students of Bowman...being a student of Pollock... being a student of Selke. Sure times have changed but, the premise of having a well staffed organization from top to bottom and a focus on the critical aspect of developing young players and developing them into a team system is all Habs theory. Thankfully Gainey came home to restore the proper way.
As for style of play, there remains the possibility that the Canadiens never choose to evolve into Detroit's style completely. I am not stating this as a certainty but, the perfection of the explosive fast-paced quick-resolution to a scoring chance style they have played often in the last 8 months may prove to be an end in itself. Perhaps the next trend in the constantly evolving strategies of the NHL. What would be interesting about this is that they would be employing a style that very few teams would have the talent to emulate effectively, much like the Canadiens of the seventies, whom very few teams could imitate and it took a long time before anyone was ready to even try. The mid to late eighties Oilers being arguably the best impersonators.
Of course there is a need to improve puck possession, especially when we are up on the scoreboard but the balance of the focus might be skewed differently than Detroit's.
What we seem to be doing now, when we're most effective, is a kind of jacked up firewagon hockey. How about Inferno Hockey!
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 05:26.
Thanks Ace!
Submitted by Bugs on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 02:14.
Holy Cow, what'd I miss? I can't leave you kids alone for a few seconds?
I thought I was the one in training pants!
Max played great; no denyin' it. Tonight. This night.
I'm sure you remember nights when Gui was the Man. So: grain'a'salt here, ok? Let's not be sending Gui to the salt-mines of Siberia just yet.
I wrote in on a completely different subject, so I kinda feel weird about bringing it up in this turmoil, but here goes anyway:
I just thought of a cute name for O'Byrne! Not that it's terribly clever and I'm sure I'm not the first to have proposed it.
"The Byrne". Huh?! It's nice; it's kooky; I think you'll like it.
When he PUNISHES opponents, it could be said that the victim got BYRNED!
You see what I'm saying to you?
That's what I'm saying.
What am I saying?
I don't know!
Peace Out.
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Flopshlupshire and Knight of the Flannel Republic.
Submitted by mrstewart61 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 07:21.
O'Byrne got Byrned last night on the Detroit goal. :)
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If a man speaks in a forest where no woman can hear him, is he still wrong?
Submitted by sholi2000.com on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 02:07.
Everyone is missing the point tonight. This whole thread belongs to Max Pacioretty and his dad. It's those stories that keeps fans in the game! I'm happy for them both.
sholi2000.com
God Bless Our Infantry
2PPCLI
Submitted by Diriangen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 01:14.
I agree. I don't think the point is to bash Gui here. Gui is Gui, and he is a decent player in his own right. The problem is not that he's bad but rather that Max could be very good - as he's already shown hings and flashes of that.
In the end, however, the real issue is that our team is loaded with talent. Geeeeeez, how long has it been since we've said that!? I've been a fan for over 20 years and I am really enjoying this current group!!!
So, that's the real issue. Someone's gotta go down because there's too much talent on this team. I like Gui but I would take Max any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Go Habs!
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 01:30.
If there is an odd guy out at forward, it'll be Kostopoulos. It won't be a 21 year old still in development and it won't be aging veteran for whom there is little market.
If anyone has watched how Gainey operates, there are only three possible scenarios for making room for Max Pacioretty.
One is trading Kostopoulos.
Two is sending Dandeneault to the minors.
Three is having Max go to Hamilton and wait for injuries to open a roster spot.
No knocks against either Dandy or Tom the Bomb, both give their all.
With respect to Dandeneault, Gainey would treat him very professionally and allow him a say into. Will he want to remain on the club in a spare capacity, play in Hamilton, or be put on waivers.
Dandeneault will likely choose a role where he gets to play and be seen, as he is without a contract beyond this season. Gainey will let him address the option while painting a very realistic picture of what awaits him this season in Montreal.
Dandy has been with the club several seasons, and has a Stanley Cup ring and experiences to pass along.
Kostopoulos is a bubble player on most good to average teams, and has some worth in a transaction. As he has been with the club but one season, my gut tells me he's the odd man out.
Submitted by fuhgawz on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 02:21.
hmmmmm
Submitted by theflower on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:32.
I agree that Max Pax deserves a spot on the team and for all those against bashing Gui take a leap. I said 3 years ago when I saw him in Rookie camp that he was never good enough to play in the NHL and I stand by that today. Oh yes does he have potential sure, but has he ever lived up to that potential? Not a chance. He has had enough time to prove his worth and all he has proved is that he is not good enough. With all that skating training this summer he looked a little faster, but not much, still not very good. As far as going to the minors goes that can be easily done as he is 7 games short of the required waiver amount. This means he does not have to clear waivers to go down. Gainey really has no choice as I see it, Pax has been outstanding, Gui has been Gui which for his short career has been a lot of promise with little delivery. Go to Hamilton Gui let's end this soap opera already:)
Submitted by sam on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 02:43.
i just finished the game (wasn't RDS showing this tonight???? thank god the gf came home early and noticed they had a golf game on and switched it to TSN for me).
#1. my man Max is just exploding game after game, isn't he?
#2 appears to be the thought of many posters tonight: Gui. can you imagine Gui with Lang and Kovalev now that you've seen how Max does it in his first game with them? i don't wanna have to wait 3 years again for the promise to show.
#3. can't you just see these top 2 lines: Max/Lang/Kovalev, SK/Pleks/AK.
please, Carbs, don't impose Gui on there if you just saw what Max can do. please.
i don't see Carbo or Gainey (okay, if anyone would do it, it would be Gainey) sending Gui down, but right now, Max is just twisting their arms. and we all know Gui can't do 4th line duty (plus, we have enough talent for that line as it is). send Gui down. it'll do him good and we'll get to see Max every game this year. and if you keep Max, keep the Kostitsyn brothers together and keep the Lang line from tonight.
Submitted by Diriangen on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:29.
This is my first post since game five of... Well, you know what I mean!
I saw the game today and Max has got to stay! In my eyes he has already made the team. He is unbelievable!
So, it's just a matter of who's out. I say Guillaume and Maxime are in danger of spending some time in the press box / Hamilton.
How about Robert's soft hands!
Go Habs!
Submitted by MikeL on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:16.
I agree that maybe the Lats bashing gets out of hand, but there is some substance to the Max for Gui! trade off that many people are pleading for.
The reason everyone wants to replace Gui rather than the other depth players is because Gui is penciled in on our 1C line. The 4th line is bangers/grinders like Chips, Lapierre, Laraque, Begin, etc.... Latendresse isn't really good at one thing. He doesn't do one thing better than anyone else on the bottem 2 lines. We are all waiting on him because of potential, not because he is a huge asset to our team right now. Max Pac would fill the role of a scoring power winger that we wish Gui! would turn into.
If Max did make the team while Gui was on it, that would push Gui down to the fourth line, where he is less effective than the other 4th line grinders. Essentially, everyone sees Max Pac in the role that Gui currently holds. It's kind of like a team saying they won't bring a scoring prospect up to play on the 4th line. Max has a role to play, and Gui currently holds it. Not Begin, not Stewart, not Chips, not Laraque.
An example of this is when we called up Andrei Kostitsyn late in the 06-07 season. He was certainly a better player than many of the 3rd and 4th liners that were on the team, but Gainey wasn't going to waste his talent in a role he wasn't going to excel in. That was until he essentially took Samsonov's spot. Samsonov went on to be productive in Carolina and is still considered a useful scorer, but he is either a top 6 player or press box player. It's the same thing here. Gui! isn't as good a 4th liner as the other 4th line players, just as Andrei K and Samsonov would not be great 3rd or 4th liners. It all comes down to the roles a player plays on a team.
I think that is why Gui is getting the harsh criticism during Max Pac's great pre-season.
Submitted by HabsProf on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:29.
My point exactly - if Max stays, he takes time from Gui. But we are still trying to develop Gui. Far too early to give up on him.
I think people are hard on Gui because he hasn't seemed to develop the way we want him to. That he scores is true, but he can't help others score: he is not a passer, he doesn't make space for others by using his body, and he doesn't plant himself in front and screen the goalie. Throw in the fact that he isn't great on the other end of the ice, either. He doesn't do all the things you need to do without the puck.
For my part, I will remember how Gui was a preseason wonder for two consecutive years. Preseason success does not equal regular season success.
Give MaxPac a little space. I'd prefer to avoid another Icarus, thank you.
Submitted by filincal on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:03.
I'd hate to see this be Chelios' last game. I hope his injury isn't too serious. At his age something like that can knock you out for awhile.
I BLEED BLEU BLANC ET ROUGE!!!
Submitted by filincal on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:00.
Stewart was nowhere to be seen tonight, Weber...ehh needs some seasoning. Chipper looks good and will fight for fourth line duty, D'agostini was impressive in the offensive zone. O'byrne...I hope this game is not a sign of things to come. Breezer...that outlet pass will keep him on this team, no big gaffs either. Sergei keeps impressing me, he's the real deal. Pacioretty's future looks bright indeed as do our Habs'
I BLEED BLEU BLANC ET ROUGE!!!
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:10.
Good summary and Breezer was tiring in the third but impressed in the first two periods. O'Bey had a rough one but i seen some nice signs in confidence and i wouldn't worry about him as his biggest problem is ice time with Carbo's roommate around , we need his size as much as the forwards need a power forward and we may have found that.
Submitted by Sith on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:51.
Heres Carey's amazing stick save: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Uqzt2f8DU&fmt=18
Submitted by Chorske on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:50.
Holy smokes. Nice.
Wish Carbo would stop jawing off at the refs every time there's a call. Seems to me the call on Gorges was fair.
Submitted by Xtrahabsfan on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:50.
So if Mad Pax is to stay ,who must go?I hate to say it but...Dandy and Tom the bomb in exchange of Stewart and Pax.
Submitted by G-Man on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 05:45.
Stewart looks Hamilton bound.
Gilbert
2008/09 is the season of the Habs
Submitted by HabsProf on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:20.
You guys say Dandy for Max - but Dandy isn't going to be a regular. He'll play 20 to 40 games, barring injuries. If we keep MaxPac here, it isn't to only play 20 to 40 games. He has to bump a regular. And the only person I see him beating out in that regard is Gui (I don't want to keep Max here for 4th line duty). But Gui is another young player - what would that do to his development? While I didn't buy all of Robert L's recent defense of Gui (only focused on goals, not points), I did agree with his overall assessment that people are being too harsh on him too early.
So who do we bump? Given that the college game involves about what... a 30 or 40 game regular season? against kids 22 and under, do we really expect this kid, no matter how impressive, to play 80 games against men? Plus playoffs?
He's a talent, but he's not Crosby or Ovechkin. In the end, this is just a few games of preseason. Price wore down last season - let's take it easy on MaxPac and send him to the AHL, saving him for injury callups.
Submitted by theflower on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:41.
Some players have it and some players don't Max does and Gui never has. Hockey is a funny thing, we had less depth a few years back when Gui made the lineup so there was always a chance he could. Now 3 years later, getting, keeping and holding a spot on the big team is no easy task. Young guys like Gui who got a free ride are now staring down the barrel of a bunch of determined, harder working, better players who just by their hard work, talent and effort will take the spots of existing players. Since we now have more talent and depth we can expect the unexpected. Carbo himself said he made the Habs back in the day, by beating out a regular player for his spot on the team. So he clearly is not adverse to the idea. If Gui has not earned his spot on the team and some young gun wants it, basically he gets it, that is my feeling so I would say based on preseason play Gui easily goes down to Hamilton. We can't worry about how it affects his progress, he has already had all the time in the world to progress. I feel Max makes the team and just like last year when Chips made the team and was sent down, we will see Gui back up here at some point as well. The great thing about having depth in the system is everyone becomes hungrier for a place. This healthy competition we are seeing with all these youngsters is going to pay huge dividends for us now and in the future. Well done Trevor Timmins and the scouting crew! The future is bright for sure!!!
Submitted by Kristopher7 on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 01:39.
Well from what I've seen of Max-Pac so far has been amazing.. but tonight, watching hte game on TSN .. WOW man.. just WOW. Every time I saw their line on the ice I was going nuts... the whole game was just awesome.. but Max really showed he has what it takes.
Tonight's game in my opinion defines Max-Pac.
Who should go for Max? I don't think I'm one to decide.. but let's say for example Gui!... has Gui! ever had a game or night like this? ... Last thing I remmeber about Gui! was the Flyers series last year and he had an open net shot on Biron, hit the post, and then stood there in awe ans didn't even react to the rebound.... so yeah.... sorry I know I'm being biased but Max-Pac all the way ladies and gents.
Submitted by Bianca on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:56.
I'd hate to see Tom go, but I think Pacioretty and Stewart are going to be huge guys for us. But Dandy for Max is a given!... I hope.
Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:56.
While I like his potential, what has Stewart done to prove that he's more NHL-capable than either Dandy or Tom?
__________________________________
Submitted by Robert L on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:46.
Lots to digest here...
I just returned home an hour ago and have read through about 12 pages of comments here.
Three impressions I'm having...
First and foremost: 8 rookies in the Wings lineup (no Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Osgood) versus four on the Habs (no Saku, AK46,markov) is NOT a proper gauge of how good we measure up against the Wings. That said, there are many confidence builders that I will gladly take from tonight's game.
Second: That save by Price! Nuts, people were standing up for the replay like it was the playoffs!
Last: Pacioretty. What a game he had! Not just in the goals he scored. He looked solid in all the little things. Positioning, alertness, physical play and reading the plays defensively. If there are injuries to start the season, he'll definately stick!
Submitted by T-roy West on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 00:51.
Robert L. - I think your leaving out a few important players that weren't in the Habs lineup tonight- Tanguay,Higgins and Hamrlik to name a few. Both teams weren't playing their final roster.
Submitted by Robert L on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 01:18.
Thanks T-Roy, I hadn't looked at the lineups on paper. I watched the game on a fuzzy dining room big screen and just assumed that those 3 were unnoticable tonight. Knowing that, I guess teams were evened up more than I first perceived.
Submitted by db on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:41.
You know, it was really, you know, easy to get.. you know, tickets.. you know, on craigslist.. you know. (Quote from Robert Lang)
I couldnt resist. I managed to get 2 whites, 305CC1 for 30$ each. Yay preseason :)
Holy Price, pacman!
Submitted by yukonhab on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:40.
One more closer to 600 posts...! Great to see all the excitement happening on HIO tonight, let alone the excitement on the ice. This was a very good game to watch as will most Habs games will be this year. Wow...MAx PAx is the real deal and will stay with the BIG team, his next development stage needs to be with the likes of Kovalev, Kouvi, The Bros K, HIg, and Plecs....love this team....Price is going to crush all the doubters out there who say he won't deliver....shame on the doubt....bring on the 10th......F.N.A.
GO HABS GO!!!!
Submitted by Blitzen on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:39.
Well, I have my new avatar
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Mad Pax...Beyond Powerdome
Submitted by Sith on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:32.
Higher quality : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5v03JMXzdM&fmt=18
Submitted by likehoy on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:24.
550 comments already!? we're warming up for the real season
Submitted by habs R my team on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:16.
Lats might start the season, but if he doesn't produce, gone to Hamilton and Pac comes up for good!
Submitted by Chuck on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:19.
Latendresse would have to pass through waivers soon, so I couldn't see that happening.
__________________________________
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:32.
The writing is on the wall for #84.
Submitted by mbplekfan on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:24.
Too many people forget about waivers. No way Lats would go unclaimed. Besides are you going to keep Begin, Dandy, Stewart, and Lapierre ahead of a guy with 32 goals in his first two seasons?
Submitted by Gary320 on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:23.
Are you sure? I mean isn't this his last year of the 3 year contract, which means he could be sent down to the Bulldogs?
Submitted by likehoy on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:23.
7 games tsn reported
Submitted by Number31 on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:14.
Holy crow what a game!
C'mon, everyone, say it:
CAREY! CAREY! CAREY!
Sergei was working hard all camp, who said he wasn't doing so good?
Patches will be gold. Chips needs to stay. Breezer needs to crank that shot like he's breaking glass in practice.
Detroit needs to play their "goalie of the future" already. He's damn good. He's going to be too old to play by the time they use him fulltime. I think he's waited long enough. Dump Conk! Use Howard!
And Babs! USE PAPER NEXT TIME. Hope that comes off... >.>
******
the notwithstanding clause - The general consensus of an ordinary Habs fan in Montreal
Submitted by Kaptain K on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:09.
LOL i read it backwards....and only realized at the end... :S
---
We ride together
We die together
Habs Fans for Life!
Submitted by twocents on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:06.
I couldn't stand all of you watching while I was listening, I had to run out to a friend's with a dish.
Wow, what an impressive showing by our Habs. I couldn't believe the pace for preseason. Max looks great and will be hard to cut. Price was beautiful, I'm so psyched to watch him play all season. Chips looked good and Lang seems to be one of those players who seems like he's floating and then comes to life, I wasn't floored by him but, he was better than my worst fears, clutch in the shootout. He also stood in front of the net a lot which was nice. But again Max was great and he too stood his ground when he was in front of the net.
On D, Komi was great, and Gorges was mostly very good. Though Weber has skills but he is not ready and Breezer can't handle the urgency that this team can play at, though it sounded like he played better before I got the moving pictures. And OB looked a bit ragged. Which brings me back to what I was saying the other day. I really think Gainey needs to add a Dman. This goaltender and these forwards deserve another solid NHLer on the blueline.
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