GHT120

4-0

With two more years on a contract that would undoubtedly be paid out for some sort of consultant's role, at 60 years of age and 18 years as a NHL head coach he may even decide it isn't worth it.

I'm not a fan of the idea unless the payoff is much more than a first round pick (unless its this season's ... which it would never be) Lundqvist has a NMC, so he needs to agree to be dealt (which is where the concept of trade and re-sign may make some sense as an enticement to waive his NMC) ... also, NYRs have two young goalies who both had better seasons than Lundqvist ... unless they get a good trade offer for one of the youngsters I doubt the NYRs have room for Henrique next season regardless of cap hit .. Trading for Lundvist just to buy him out AND then re-sign with the NYRs is a salary dump that needs a significant payoff ... ***IF*** this were to be done, IMO the payoff would need to include (a) either one of the young goalies or (b) Tony DeAngelo or (c) K’Andre Miller or (d) Nils Lundkvist ... who the Habs would have to give and/or what else comes from the Rangers would vary with each option.

There is a relatively small cadre of French media who always stir things up about language and Habs HC s and GMs ... think this was intended to avoid them being able to even try to make an issue of it ... there may still be some who question why Dominic Ducharme is filling in, but they will look very bad if they do.

Perhaps ... but if Mete was valued on the PK he could play his regular side killing penalties ... my point was largely that Xavier has a role beyond 5-on-5 ... also, Flyers are a more physical team then Pens and that disadvantages Mete in the defensive zone ...

Most Quebecois don't care whether or not the Habs head coach is French ... they just want a coach who does a good job ... but a vocal minority, especially a cadre of journalists, stir the pot.

Learning from the Cunneyworth experience, being proactive to cut off those in the French media who would make a stink ... also hopefully avoids Kirk having to answer questions about being unilingual ...

I'll agree about Fleury, but of the two LHD I think that Ouellette has contributed more

Marc Bergevin's full statement regarding Claude Julien, in essence: Claude Julien ... experienced chest pain during the night ... he's undergoing tests to determine the exact nature of his condition. This has nothing to do with COVID. We don't expect him to be back during this series against the Flyers. Kirk [Muller] ... (associate head coach) will assume the responsibility of head coach until Claude's return. Doesn't sound like a heart attack as such, it would already be diagnosed, but doesn't sound good ... at age 60, after 18 seasons as a NHL head coach and two years left on his contract that would be paid out, it might be tempting (even smart) for him to stay away and call it quits after the playoffs. Thoughts with Claude and his family for a speedy recovery.

Marc Bergevin's full statement regarding Claude Julien, in essence: Claude Julien ... experienced chest pain during the night ... he's undergoing tests to determine the exact nature of his condition. This has nothing to do with COVID. We don't expect him to be back during this series against the Flyers. Kirk [Muller] ... (associate head coach) will assume the responsibility of head coach until Claude's return.

IMO Ouellette is outplaying Mete, if only for his contributions (4th D) on a thus far successful PK ... against a more physical Flyers team I would sub Fleury for Mete ... don't think it would be fair to depend on Juulsen in a playoff series given he has not played an NHL game since December 17, 2018 (but I see him as part of the D next season) and I'm not certain Folin is an upgrade on Xavier ... Folin is a pending UFA and Ouellette a pending RFA ... my guess is that Folin leaves and Ouellette gets re-signed to a one-way deal (for less than the limit that can be buried in the AHL at no cap cost) to be available as a 7/6 D if needed. As for Weise, not certain his willingness to drop the gloves is enough to keep him in the lineup ... but it is an asset the others don't bring ... ***if*** Evans is healthy he would be my choice (think there is a good chance he is the 4C next season) ... I lean towards Poehling over Weal because of the experience it would give him going forward ... but in terms of expected production Weal might be slightly ahead of Ryan (Ouellette outscored him last season in Laval) ... Hudon would be a hugely surprising choice IMO, but if they are looking to optimize the chance for 4th line offence he does have the most skill (IMO)

Tartar only played 8 of the 20 games Vegas played in that run ... scoring 1g and 1a in those 8 games, so wasn't a big part there ...

Worth a try ... initially I thought there might be an issue at centre on the 4th line but then discovered Belzile is a centre ... go for it

Over his career, in the regular season he scores every 3.5 games but only every 7.25 in the playoffs ... hopefully he can break his previous patterns.

Ouellette's heart may have been kin the right place ... but Price really didn't need Grant landing on top of him

Just to share, from NHL.com (Status Report under "3Keys"😞 Evans skated Wednesday for the first time since leaving Game 3 against the Penguins after being hit into the boards by Pittsburgh forward Brandon Tanev.

HA Ha ha

Yeah, he was one of several GMs that mismanaged the protection list concept (in fairness, they were all rookies) ... fo some reason Florida went for 8 skaters rather than 7F and 3D and protected defencemen Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad (as was expected) but also Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic ... I also recall there being some talk of them not believing Marsasault was really a 30 goal scorer (as he had just done fo the first time at age 26 after 8 goals in 49 games over three seasons with CBJ and TBL) and Smith's production had been a yoyo (20g - 13g - 25g - 15g), with the second dip coming after the Panthers signed him to a 5yr @ $5M the previous summer ... it didn't work out but there were other factors at play. Two of the reasons I would like Tallon onboard are (a) he would be a hard voice for Bergevin to ignore given his many years as a GM, and status as Bergevin's former boss, and (b) if needed, he is a potential GM replacement; coming onboard would allow him to get a good look at the players and the administration.

Per TSN690 ... puck drop "on time" for 8:10-ish

Thanks ... I am a Bell subscriber ... but NEVER watch Sportsnet unless there is no choice ... luckily I am bilingual ... sadly TVA has the games not RDS ... but still better than Sportsnet (IMO)

Not certain if that is good news or bad news ... given their recent record Go Habs Go

(1) LOVE the "gif" ... will be thinking of it all game long (2) Things other fans have advocated did not always "sit well" with me but I respect that everyone's entitles to an opinion as to what is best for the team.

I was but then was told we "tankers" are not allowed to watch and get behind them because we are not "real" fans

I never thought of that ... D'Oh In context, given the choice the "anti-tankers" were cheering for the win rather than the chance at the #1 pick; the reverse of the espoused logic that I as a (despite what some may think) Habs fan should not be allowed to watch these games.

Inserted above each lines' total regular season goals/60 minutes (to balance out for games played) ... the Hayes line is the most dangerous offensively ... and given Hayes' size I expect Julien will want Danault on Kevin ... I would expect he would want Suzuki on Couturier and KK on Grant, despite the "Grant line" having the better numbers With last change (and ignoring the likely preference every team has to play any of their top three against the opponent's 4th line) I expect Vigneault would like to have Hayes on KK as his is the least defensively oriented of the Habs top 3 lines as much as possible ... might that lead Julien to sometimes flip where we expect Danault and KK to play ... giving Drouin a more defensive centre and KK more defensive wingers? Hope not as Suzuki and KK versus Hays and Coutrier would be great challenge for the youngsters to take on.