redondo

Yes, it is possible. Then again, as far as I understand power rankings are not based upon actual success but upon potential dominance because of the players that are on the team. Could be wrong... Exactly, that's why all those rankings are pretty meaningless. Let the CH keep racking up the points, leave all the unofficial "honors" to the Leafs and their biased writers, they need some consolation for all those years (and counting) without the cup.

Maybe if we were to win the Cup this year we could crack TSN's top five. Maaaaybe......... Seriously though, I'd much rather have our boys fly under the radar for as long as possible. If we're still playing in June and ranked #30, I think I can live with that...Screw TSN!

True, however they can't be changing the rules every few years, and the current setup is a pretty surefire way to ensure at least couple of the teams from the Nascar markets make it to the dance every year. In Montreal or Toronto, if you miss playoffs for 10 years straight, you may have yourself a riot, but you're still gonna have a hockey team no matter what. Even as Cup winners, if TB were to suck for that long, I don't see them staying put. However with the new CBA and the parity that's supposed to take place it may be a moot point. I for one am for having the best 16 teams play every year, it must suck to be fighting for a full regular season just to see a team you handled make it to the playoffs and you don't.

Well I would say another side effect of more divisional play is that with emphasis on all the rivalries, you also end up being more banged up come playoff time due to the intensity of the games. Yes in theory the new rules should cut down on some of the dirty stuff, but in reality our best friend Darcy Tucker and those like him will still be looking for an opportunity to take someone out every chance he gets. As far as the Division leaders making it into the playoffs over other teams with more points, yeah it's unfair, part of the reason may be that the league wants to make sure enough regions are represented, so that fans of teams from sucky divisions and non-hockey markets that didn't make it to the dance still maintain some interest throughout the playoffs.

Yeah, I remember reading about him having I think aeronautical engineering degree and flying his own planes. At the same time many hockey guys (and in other sports for that matter) couldn't seem to stay away from the game, and it's not always a matter of not knowing what to do with your career next. Good luck to Joe either way, if he does decide to get into coaching at some point, hope Gainey gives him a shot.

Not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I've been thinking about Joe Juneau lately. Easily one of the smartest players on the team in the last decade (hockey and otherwise), used his knowledge of the game and it's rhythm to compensate for declining physical skills. I think this guy could be a great addition to our staff at some point in the same way that Carbonneau was few years back. I'm not comparing the two as players, but I do think lot of the same qualities that translated into Guy being an asset behind the bench could apply to Juneau, provided he'd even be interested in getting back into hockey.

My prediction: 4:2 Habs. Scorers: Higgins, Koivu, Kovalev, Streit. I have a feeling either Dandenault or Streit score their first goal with CH tonite, I'm going with the Swiss boy. Ribs with two assists. GO HABS GO!

Sunny will be missed, I'm curious who gets plugged into his spot. Incidentally, wasn't Marcel Hossa looking pretty decent on that third line in the preseason? No, let's not call Sather just yet, but..... [Edited on 2005/10/21 by redondo]

Don't you think it's a little early to be calling someone a bust after 7 (seven) games with a brand new team, under new rules, etc...? I'm not overly impressed with Bonk either so far, but he just may gel if given time. As for Sundstrom, I think he's very underrated, he contributes beyond what the stats show, and will be missed on the third line while out. I would have liked Laperriere three years ago, when we had some talent but not enough character overall, but that ship has sailed. Begin gives you lots of the same leadership/toughness qualities already and now he's even starting to score goals, hehehehe.

Folks seem to love or hate this guy, so unless there's a thread on him already that I missed, he seems to merit his own. So anyway, how does everyone feel about his future with the team? In my book, it all has to do with his effort over the next year or two (if he's around). If he turns up his intensity and skating (still) a notch, I really feel sky is the limit. If he stays where he's at, he's still to me a serviceable 2nd line C who will give us an amazing game for every 1-2 mediocre ones. As such, I see him staying around for another year or so, until one of the kids (Plek?) proves to be a reliable, consistent replacement and then it's bye bye.

I wouldn't start Danis out of order just yet, not because I think Theodore should be untouchable, but because I don't think YD needs any added pressure right now. The kid's trying to get comfortable with the backup role until Huet gets back, and it's great that he got a shutout in his debut, but I also remember him getting lit up a few times in preseason. If you ruin his confidence by asking for too much straight away, you may also end up with a frustrated prospect and a shaky backup. Theodore has shown in the past that he can rebound from his struggles, though he's also done better when pushed for his job. Hey, come to think of it, all we need to do is get Hackett out of retirement and Theo'll probably start playing out of his mind!

My prediction: Habs 4:1 Theo 1 bad goal but spectacular the rest of the way, CH goals by Plekanec, Ryder, Rivet and Kovy. Markov with 2 assists. It's time to start dominating this excuse for a hockey club again, giv'em a complex or at least something to think about for the remaining six meetings this season. GO HABS GO!

Remember also that Pittsburgh's focus has changed from before the lockout. They're a much older team now, and supposedly a contender. They can't live with inconsistent goaltending, in the AHL on the other hand there is no pressure on the kid. It's not necessarily a reflection on his play. Fleury will be a very good goalie some day, maybe even elite.

Another thing about Ribs - his value is probably much higher to us then to anyone else in the league, despite the fact that he led the team in scoring last year. Lots of people around the league are still pissed at him for the whole "diving" thing against the B's, plus as a local boy he has marketability in Mtl (at least for now) that he wouldn't have elsewhere. So we may as well show a little patience, it's not as if we're losing games right now. Of course, as I type this, watch him get traded to L.A. and then be put on the line with Sean Avery. Now THAT would be funny shit!

I think our 3rd line right now is set, Sundstrom isn't going anywhere. On the other hand, I will be SHOCKED to see Dags still in the lineup once Zed comes back. So: Zednik - Koivu - Kovalev Perezhogin - Ribeiro - Ryder Sundstrom - Bonk - Bulis Higgins - Bégin - Plekanec If Zhog doesn't click with Ribs, then swap him and Higgins, Chris has done alright on that 2nd line for the short time he was on it. I really think we have to see how Ribs does with at least one fast linemate before anointing Plekanec in his place, especially since that 4th line is so awesome right now, well worth keeping while Ribs gets his sh!t together.

well............sucks to lose, especially within the division, but the senators are the supposed favorites for the cup, one of 'em anyway... positives: Kovalev starting to dominate, Koivu on fire, rookies still going strong, Streit getting better with each game. negatives: WTF is up with Theo and Ribs? I know Ribs scored a goal last game, but I'm getting more and more concerned........have we truly had a good game out of either of them this season yet?

Hey, it's the home opener, and Kovy's been saying how much he digs being back with the CH. No better time to make the home crowd happy and show we're gonna be a contender GO HABS GO! [Edited on 2005/10/10 by redondo]

Hey everyone, any room on the bandwagon? My prediction: 6-4 Habs, Kovalev with a hat trick, Higgins, Bulis and Markov scoring the other goals. Koivu with a pair of assists again.

100 pts: nice round number

Hey guys, been reading for a while, thought I'd weigh in.... Agree on Dags (not as if we could find a taker right now anyway), no way would I trade Dandy. He's not without his faults, but he's first of all versatile, and if we can upgrade our defence I see use using him the same way Scotty Bowman did - mostly at D, some at forward as injuries force us to. Dags is like the opposite of that - not very versatile, can play only on Ribs' wing, can't defend and looks like he's now becoming a penalty machine. Like MN said, hope he adopts...