Game Thread | Tampa Bay vs. Montreal | 11/08/05

[Spider-Man NL]

<img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Jason/Game%20Thread/VS.gif>

7-6-2 : 16 Points (8th in the Eastern Conference)

11-3-1 : 23 Points (1st in the Eastern Conference)

Projected goalies for this game are:

# 47 John Grahame (5-6-1), 2.78 GAA

# 60 Jose Theodore (9-3-1), 2.98 GAA

Lightning Roster

Link

Canadiens Roster

Link

<P align="center">

Zednik - Koivu - Kovalev

Higgins - Ribeiro - Ryder

Bulis - Begin - Sundstrom

Dagenais - Plekanec - Perezhogin

Souray - Komisarek

Markov - Rivet

Bouillon - Dandenault

Jose Theodore

</P>

This game can be seen 7:30pm eastern on

Listen to the game live on CJAD 800 AM

[Edited on 2005/11/7 by Spider-Man NL]

[BTH]

GO HABS GO! Let's make the champions .500! And us in first place (ahead of Detroit?)

[JMMR]

Will be a tough game we all remember the playoffs last season. Markov will have another tough job shutting down at least two of St. louis Richards Kubina and the always impressive in montreal LECAVALIER. One thing needs to change no offensive zone pim's tuesday night we had at least 2 or 3 against buffalo?

Will bulis be playing????? if not do we call up Hainsey????

[simonus]

i'd imagine bulis is doubtful, but I wouldnt be surprised to see Bonk back.

Can't see calling up Hainsey - between waivers and already having streit on the roster, I can't find a reason why.

[Psycing]

Call up Murray (the guy we got when we traded Hossa)... Let's see what he can do for us .

Him or Kostitsyn would be interesting...

[Psycing]

Originally posted by simonus

i'd imagine bulis is doubtful, but I wouldnt be surprised to see Bonk back.  

Can't see calling up Hainsey - between waivers and already having streit on the roster, I can't find a reason why.

If anything... Dandenault would be moved to the wing and Steit would get dressed...

Plus, if we call up a D-man, you've got to think they'd want to give Benoit a chance...

Then again, maybe a last chance for Hainsey to prove himself?

[Howie_Morenz]

Originally posted by Patskidoo

Bonk still hurt?

Anyone else think that Bonk is not necessary to this hockey team. His salary hurts, looks like he is missing his little blonde friend Hossa, he had his brother for a while to compensate but for now i think his heart is in Atlanta.

I have a hard time thinking he does not belong. His size and checking abilities does not harm the team. 11 games and 3 points is not great, but he could be better and I would hate to give up too early. Plus who would be the centre to replace him be?

[simonus]

from the gazette:

"Bulis's condition is to be re-evaluated today, but he's not expected to be back in the lineup tomorrow night when the Tampa Bay Lightning visits the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800).

There's a possibility that Radek Bonk (strained groin) will be ready to fill Bulis's spot. If he's not ready, the Canadiens will probably dress Mark Streit as the seventh defenceman and use him on the power play."

[Howie_Morenz]

Originally posted by Patskidoo

At center position, Plekanek+5 and Begin+6 are our leaders in +/-. Plek as our second line center and Begin as our third.  And for Bonk -1 and Ribeiro -4. It's time to think about it before trade values go down.

So with a winning team you trade away any depth we have just to justify moving rookies up the chain? That makes no sense to me. Bonk needs a year to prove himself and like it or not, Ribeiro is the #2 centre for the team.

Who wants Bonk or Ribeiro? Sometimes the value we place on the player is not realistic. Cannot trade these guys for draft picks if there is not much left on the contract. A team then could pay nothing except money to get them. The -1 number is not that bad as Bonk is a penalty killer and Montreal loves to take lots of penalties every game. Those 5 on 3 penalties are killers for goalies and PK specialists.

I understand your enthusiasm with Plek and Begin as I join you there.

[simonus]

Originally posted by Howie_Morenz

The -1 number is not that bad as Bonk is a penalty killer and Montreal loves to take lots of penalties every game.  Those 5 on 3 penalties are killers for goalies and PK specialists.  

I understand your enthusiasm with Plek and Begin as I join you there.

I agree that Bonk's -1 isn't so bad as he is supposed to be a checking line center, but you don't take a +/- hit for PK GA.

[JLP]

Can't we call up players when we have injuries ("emergency callup") without them having to clear waivers?

[Makh2o]

Although off to a slow start, Ribeiro appears to have found his groove...he seems to be skating a lot harder, and holding the puck a lot longer....good signs for a play maker....

As for Bonk, his role is to shut down the opposition. We have a plethera of guys who can put the puck in the net, and Bonk knows that. his role is to keep the other teams top line from scoring so that Saks and the boys can focus on offence.

[Komisarek the Cruncher]

Originally posted by Patskidoo

Bonk still hurt?

Anyone else think that Bonk is not necessary to this hockey team. His salary hurts, looks like he is missing his little blonde friend Hossa, he had his brother for a while to compensate but for now i think his heart is in Atlanta.

Bonk is an excellent 3rd center. I agree that he could be giving a little more offensively, but he does a great job. My only problem with him is that he makes too much under the new cap rules for what he gives us, but that I'm sure Gainey is aware. Not Gainey's fault if he signed him for a few years before the new CBA. His salary will be adjusted after next year.

[johnnyhasbeen]

I'm back. Missed weekend, away doing gigs.

1st of all

11-3-1 23pts

1st in East

All is Good

2ndly, in regards to Bonk's lack of point production, this is what Ottawa was concerned about, and I don't feel it should be a big issue as he is in a checking role, and in my opinion, doing a great job so far.

[kaos]

Bonk is nice to have simply for the fact that hes a good penalty killer, and he a decent faceoff guy. If he played with some better linemates, he might have a few more points. Bulis couldn't bury his chances and it was a revolving door on the other side for wingers, so not a lot of chemistry was developed. Maybe if Plekanec and/or Higgins would have had a chance to play alot of minutes with him, something might develop.

If Hainsey gets the call up I think theres a chance he can be claimed off waivers right? He's having a monster year in Hamilton right now 2g 9A in 12 games so far.

Somebody would definitley claim him. I think Montreal ######ed up by keeping Streit and sending Hainsey down.

I think there only option for Hainsey now is probably trading him, otherwise taking the chance of calling him up and losing him on waivers.

As for Garth Murray this guy has been nothing but junk. No points in 12 games and a -2. This was a bad trade, and Gainey got hosed. No use bringing him up.

[bombTHEice]

Originally posted by kaos

If Hainsey gets the call up I think theres a chance he can be claimed off waivers right?  He's having a monster year in Hamilton right now 2g 9A in 12 games so far.

Somebody would definitley claim him.  I think Montreal ######ed up by keeping Streit and sending Hainsey down.

I think there only option for Hainsey now is probably trading him, otherwise taking the chance of calling him up and losing him on waivers.

Maybe I'm wrong but don't you have to clear waivers only if you're sent down to the AHL (and not vice-versa) ...?

[Howie_Morenz]

Originally posted by simonus

Originally posted by Howie_Morenz

The -1 number is not that bad as Bonk is a penalty killer and Montreal loves to take lots of penalties every game.  Those 5 on 3 penalties are killers for goalies and PK specialists.  

I understand your enthusiasm with Plek and Begin as I join you there.

I agree that Bonk's -1 isn't so bad as he is supposed to be a checking line center, but you don't take a +/- hit for PK GA.

DOH! Give me a minute to take my foot out of my mouth............

[kaos]

Yeah I'm not entirely sure how the waiver system works now? I know I've read on here guys talking about it, but I'm not exactly sure how it works.

[habzz22]

In the new CBA you have to clear waivers on the way back up, not only that, but If Hainsey were claimed the Habs would be on the hook for half of his salary.

[Howie_Morenz]

Originally posted by habzz22

In the new CBA you have to clear waivers on the way back up, not only that, but If Hainsey were claimed the Habs would be on the hook for half of his salary.

Someone on here wrote this before. That would suck to lose Hainsey for absolutely nothing then get a bill in the mail for half the salary. And that half probably counts against the Habs cap.

[simonus]

if i understand correctly, the other team would pay the whole salary, but the original team takes half the cap hit. Completely unsure about this.

[habzz22]

I agree Howie. I would think that the most likely scenario foir Hainsey would be to be traded or spend the entire year in Hamilton.

[simonus]

correct me if im wrong, but if hainsey gets traded, he still needs to pass through waivers to come up to play with his new club.... I have no idea about this at all.

[Howie_Morenz]

Originally posted by simonus

correct me if im wrong, but if hainsey gets traded, he still needs to pass through waivers to come up to play with his new club.... I have no idea about this at all.

The waiver wire I bet he would get picked up. Young, big, can hit when he wants to and is not costing much money.

It would be nice to see him correct his game in Hamilton then get another shot next year with the big club. Dont want to lose players for nothing.

Back on the game thread; does anyone think that Tampa is going to really push the Habs with a speed game to counter the habs forwards constant forecheck? I wonder how many chances Montreal defense is going to take as well. Tampa forwards can get behind Montreal defense to quick if the Montreal D pinches most of the time. Scary thought having their crew on breakaways against Jose.

[Komisarek the Cruncher]

Originally posted by johnnyhasbeen

2ndly, in regards to Bonk's lack of point production, this is what Ottawa was concerned about, and I don't feel it should be a big issue as he is in a checking role, and in my opinion, doing a great job so far.

Let's not content our selves of below average. Let's be realistic, he has 3 assists in 11 games, that's all.

I'm not asking for 1 point per game, but 3 assists in 11 games, including powerplay time?

One of the reasons I was glad we had him was because he was an upgrade on Juneau offensively. I feel that we have another Juneau, or even worse. He's playing at his minimum for us right now. Yes he's doing a good job in a checking role, but there are no reasons for him not contributing more offensively. Do I need to remind you guys that the Koivu line as played often against the other teams #1 line, so Bonk's line played often against lines that were avarage at best.

Although his play asn't been a disaster, there is certainly room for improvement and personnaly, I won't satisfy my self with this kind of offensive production.

Ottawa wanted a #1 center production, all I'm asking for is a #3 center production which is not at all what he has given us so far. Stop protecting the guy, he hasn't delivered so far this season and at 2.4M$, I'm certainly not happy with is production. Bégin as done more in 2 games as 3rd center then Bonk in 11 games...enough said.