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Thanks, dlbalr. I'm neutral on this as a pure hockey move, but he's certainly qualified and I love Captain Kirk for sentimental reasons, so - hooray!

The preseason is here and the Habs will look to start on a winning note as they take on a New Jersey split squad. Johansson - Zacha - Palmieri Studenic - Zajac - Stafford Coleman - Seney - Anderson Baddock - Gignac - Speers Mueller - Severson Butcher - Lovejoy Strait - Jacobs Lack Blackwood Lines are based on the practice combos but these are the players that are expected to suit up. Tatar - Danault - Gallagher Deslauriers - Kotkaniemi - Lehkonen Shinkaruk - Plekanec - Hudon Chaput - de la Rose - Froese Mete - Juulsen Alzner - Schlemko Despres - Valiev Niemi Lindgren Puck drop is at 7:30 PM EST on TSN2 and RDS. Regional restrictions apply.

Kirk Muller is now locked up for the next three years after the Habs gave him a two-year extension. http://www.habsworld.net/2018/09/habs-sign-kirk-muller-to-a-two-year-extension/

Kirk Muller runs the powerplay. Despite only winning 29 games, Montreal had the 13th best powerplay in the league. The only teams in the Top 20 powerplay with less than 40 wins were the 6th place Islanders (35), 9th place Canucks (31), and 20th place Sabres (25). Out of those teams Montreal had the least powerplay opportunities (though were only separated by 2 with Vancouver) at 245. In 16-17 the Habs were 13th again, albeit with a lower percentage. But they also were 27th in opportunities. In 15-16 the powerplay sucked and was 25th (pre-Muller) but also was 11th for PP opportunities. Between 12-13 and 15-16, the Habs were 6th in PP opportunities and 23rd in PP. 16-17 to 17-18 (smaller sample size I know) we're 23rd in PP opportunities but 11th in powerplay. You can draw your own conclusions on some of that. I should add that between 12-13 and 15-16, Subban was 4th in PP goals and 1st in PP points with Markov 11th in PP goals and 4th in PP points so it wasn't like the firepower wasn't there. Muller is making a serious contribution to the team in the way they play the powerplay in ways the crappy coaches Therrien brought in before Muller couldn't.

I think Gallagher is the #1 choice. Hard working leader of the crew.

His article says it all.. total character.. the right type of character this team needs. Without reading into it. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/nhl-max-pacioretty-were-going-to-vegas This team has very little identity left and first time ever..i have been a Habs fan since I was 2 years old. Even when I started kindergarten in Toronto I wore a Montreal jersey. And as an 11 year old in Edmonton. Not wanting to see Oilers win the cup. As I always was hoping was the Canadiens. When the team won in 1986 I gave it to my friends in Edmonton. Always true Montreal fan ever since I can remember. And this being first year I have lost a lot of that passion for the team. Because most important the way this team and MB treats the players that have put in their time and other than Plekanec.. all are put aside and as max on the above article says..looks forward to the enthusiasm and excitement of a new team. The excitement that the Habs should create to foster in their own team. NOW THAT IS CHARACTER MB has no business being the GM of a once CLASS and ICONIC franchise.

It’s the millions of dollars Molson owes MB regardless

Truly a class act.

Pacioretty wrote a piece for The Players' Tribune: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/nhl-max-pacioretty-were-going-to-vegas