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In the Name of Zeus!
posted by Chris Aung-Thwin at 16h47 EST on Jan 31
Mike Cammalleri’s injury will perhaps be the final death blow – in a long series of death blows - to this 2009-2010 season for the Montreal Canadiens.
Andrei Markov’s injury.
Brian Gionta’s injury.
Andrei Kostitsyn’s injury.
Injuries to Ryan O’Byrne, Paul Mara, Roman Hamrlik, Sergei Kostitsyn, Matt D’Agostini, Scott Gomez, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill.
The Georges Laraque fiasco.
The SK-74 fiasco.
The regression of young players.
Halak vs Price.
Halak vs Price Part II.
Halak vs Price Part III.
The team – and most especially us, the fans – need a break.
We need a truce.
No more debates, no more arguments, no more public calls for the heads of coaches, players, management. The players need some time on the beach, away from our x-ray scrutiny, contradictory demands, and unrealistic expectations.
It seems that the drama surrounding this team for the past year or so has been off the charts. We’ve had the rise and fall of Guy Carbonneau, the rise and fall and rise and fall again of Alex Kovalev, the departure of heart and soul Captain Saku Koivu, the All-Star Game, the first place finish, last season’s collapse, the purse scandal, the trade of Cristobal Huet, the unfair anointing of Jesus Price, the team sale, the Centennial celebrations and huge summer trades and transactions.
As fans, as heavily invested fans, we’ve gone up and down with this team. And this season may have had the biggest mood swings. We thought that by 20 games in we’d know if this was a legitimate team. But we’re 56 games in and this team hasn’t had one full and healthy day together. There’s been hope, but it’s always been on the horizon – just out of reach. A ‘system’ that wasn’t. A franchise goalie who is not quite ready.
We’re frustrated. We’re tired. And now we’re jealous.
Brian Burke is making sweeping, bold changes. Regardless of whether or not they’re beneficial moves for the Leafs, they are sweeping and bold moves – something exciting and refreshing. Something that Habs fans need right now. This season is grinding on and each game, each one goal loss, every lost battle and every injury in taking its toll on morale – our morale.
The two week Olympic break will give everyone a few moments to catch their breath and come back refreshed and focused. We can unite behind Team Canada – cheer in unison and not worry about cap space, prospects, or the draft. A few days away from the rink will be the best possible thing for this team. When we come back hopefully we’ll be joined by some company in Andrei Kostitsyn and Mike Cammalleri.
Hopefully we can be positive.
Hopefully we – as supportive fans – can help this team string some wins together.
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Today's Game was a reminder that in the current NHL, ANYTHING can happen :)
"The drive for 25 won't be a cake walk, but the team is up to the challenge. Let's GO-HABS-GO!!!"
...the reality has been obvious to Myself for months ...Good Karma just has not been with Us for 2 seasons now (...since 1993 actually, if We value Good Karma as nothing less than a Stanley Cup)
...Bad Karma will change inevitably to Good Karma, but as Fans We must be realistic many of Our attitudes are based on the past ...these 'attitudes' are today out-of-date ...We have to face it,many of Us have been living on the legacy of the Montreal Canadiens' history (...over 20 years as noted, since We have been close to being an 'elite' team ...a whole generation)
...today, in this age of the goal of 'parity', the Montreal Canadiens, like EVERY NHL team (...from Us to the Phoenix Coyotes) have to work within the reality of salary-caps and the universal draft, which depends on enlightened (...as well as lucky) management and scouting
...for Me, these management objectives must also include to maximize the presence of Francophone Players to be the charismatic spine and soul of Our Team ...and build-around same
...this is one of the most obvious years where We must take advantage of Our Bad Karma and resign Ourselves on targeting and maximizing Our position for this summer's draft ...instead of deluding Ourselves in false pride
...looks like HardHabits Tank With Honor Corps is growin' in numbers ...and about time !
...tank with honor ? ...simply play Your best until the end, and unless We can steal a super-talent, additional top-end draft positions, or strategically clear cap-space ...don't do something 'stupid' like trade any of Our future assets for mediocrity just to make the playoffs
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
I am surprised you are lauding the Toronto trades as 'exciting and refreshing'... as if exciting and refreshing are a suitable alternative to effective.
I hope we stay a bit boring and effective. Oh, I know people will argue BG hasn't been effective, but I believe the injuries have played a huge role in our current situation and I say some minor tweaking and stay the course until we know what we have.
The Leafs will be reeling from these developments longer after our team has righted itself.
V - i'm with you that injuries have been a huge issue for us... i bet you that we're close to tops in the league for man-games lost over the past 2 seasons... it's been crazy.
The Leafs suck. Plain and simple. They were going to move Stajan, Hagman and White before the deadline anyways and in return they now get back a what-could-be premium defenseman, a decent prospect and a good, cheap checker. They upgrade Toskala with Giguere and unload Blake. A decent day for the Leafs. They'll probably suck even more, but I'm not looking forward to having Phaneuf line up our boys for the next few seasons. They might not have a great team, but they'll be tough to play against. Yesterday was both exciting and refreshing and for the Leafs and that, more than anything was desperately needed.
Interesting moves by Calgary, if the rumoured trade with the Rangers goes through:
Out:
In:
I really like what the Flames did here, unlike many Flames fans it seems. Stajan and White have the same production as Jokinen and Phaneuf, Mayers takes Prust's spot in the lineup, but they get another three NHL calibre top-9 forwards in addition (Hagman, Higgins, Kotalik). Depth goes a long way in the playoffs...the Flames were basically a top-heavy forward group, but this gives them the depth they need to go up against the other contenders in the West. Given that the window is closing for the Flames with Iginla and Kiprusoff having logged a lot of years and wear and tear, this might be their last chance to truly contend.
I agree Chris... the Flames had holes up front and have patched them up with guys like Stajan and Hagman. They have a great defensive corps, even without Phaneuf, and White is a good addition. Phaneuf might be a HOF defensive down the road, but he's not right now and the Flames have a small window of opportunity with Iggy and Kipper... moving Phaneuf also gives them flexibility for the trade deadline and next summer.
The Leafs get another tough defenseman and raise their truculence level by +4.
And that is without factoring in Keith Aulie. 6'6", 208 lbs and generally plays a tough, physical shut-down style of defence. If he pans out, it could be a good trade for the Leafs.
Chris - If Cammy is gone long term, then so is our season.
I jsut hope that Gainey accepts that fact and doesn't do anything stupid like trading away our future 1st round draft picks.
Whether Cammalleri is gone long-term or not, this season may already be gone. Losing the three potentially winnable games before this brutal 7-game stretch leading into the Olympic break might have doomed the team.
But I agree...no picks or prospects should be dealt for a misguided attempt to get into the playoffs.
Steve, Chris - In this day and age it seems that good teams are built through the draft. We have given away some picks (ex: for Tanguay) and have not acquired many... the ones we have kept haven't really blossomed...
Top picks like Higgins, Komisarek, Chipchura, Latendresse, McDonaugh are gone. Fisher, Maxwell, Carle, and White were drafted in 2006 and should be making an impact with the team now, but really aren't. Picks like Perezhogin, Yemelin and Valentenko prefer staying in Mother Russia. Lapierre has regressed, the pressure might be getting to Price and we all know who was picked AFTER AK46.
We've lucked out with some later picks (Pleks, SK74, Halak...) but mainly have a team of non-drafted players (Gomez, Gionta, Cammy, Pouliot, Metro, Moen, Mara, Spacek, Marlik, Gill, Bergeron, Darche). A lot of our prospects will be, at best 3rd or 4th line players.
Is it time for a new scouting staff?
Or are we brutal at development?
Scouting is a legitimate concern. They are good in some areas (U.S., continental Europe), but seem to really struggle with finding NHL-calibre players in hockey hotbeds like Sweden and Western Canada.
Good post Chris.
As far as Brian Burke's big moves, they sure have tongues wagging in Toronto, but this is all done looking down the road to at least the 2011-12 season. I had a feeling Gainey's moves last summer might take a year or two to come to fruition as well. Time will tell. As far as this season, they are a .500 team and will probably remain as such. The playoffs are a possibility, if they chose to give Halak the majority of the remaining games this year and depending on whether any of the other bubble teams go on a long losing or winning streak. If it's status quo for the bubble teams I wouldn't be surprised if the whole lot of them end up tied for points and positioning is determined by head to head records.
As I said in another post, I don't believe tanking is necessary it will probably happen naturally, especially if Cammalleri is done for the year and they have any other significant injuries. Those pesky hockey gods (is Zeus one of them now?) will have a lot to say.
I'd be surprised if Toronto manages to score another 10 goals all season. They got Phaneuf by gave away most of their offense in Stajan, Hagman, and White. Burke is definitely worrying about the future...
With our injuries, I'm close to giving up for this season. If Bob plays his cards right and signs the right players this summer - I believe that we will have a very competitive team.
well put Chris....you echo the sentiments of many of us.
I bought tickets to the Feb 7th game against Boston way back in November and now I'm almost dreading it.
there was a time when going to a game to support our beloved Habs was exciting....this is not the time.
At least there's a chance we might beat Boston...
И да будет так!
Amen!
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