BCHabnut

OK, I am english and I really want to watch the game at work. Can one of you fine french fellows please post a link so I can watch on RDS?

I am in the same situation...read back a few pages on this same thread. I booked my flights and room through expedia, and ended up getting a room at the Sheraton, across the street from the Bell Centre. It has been recomended that I eat at the beaver club in the Queen Elizibeth Hotel. Shirt and Tie, no jeans. I am freekin pumped. I will catch a Toronto Montreal game on Saturday November 3rd and then the Buffalo home game.

I think Plex played well last game. I hope he shines tonight as well. I also think that O'byrne has a shot at the line up. I don't know who he would bump, and it could be that because he played with Hammer, his mistakes were less visible. I thought he played great last night. If he plays like that for the rest of the pre season, he will definitely be the first call up if we need D support.

Has Breezy played yet?

Last nights standouts were D'Agostini and O'Byrne for me. The comparisons of D'Agostini being like Higgins have merit. Problem is, it's Higgins of 2004-05 in Hamilton. D'Agostini is going to take some time but that's fine. I'd rather he be a 2005 Higgins now than nothing at all. O'Byrne has to work on his hit timing but I am very impressed with his patrolling the boards and returning to the slot to guard against back door plays. I am impressed. I totally agree. I was actually surprised that it took this long in the thread to mention these two guys. They both played NHL caliber hockey. The rest of the dogs, including Price, played like call ups

Shaw has RDS. I order it every year for hockey season. My grade 11 french isn't enough to understand it all, but I can follow the game and a lot of the commentary.

Thanks for the advice. I will probably try the beaver club. Under 300 dollars is fine. Above is a little rich for my blood. I am very excited. The only good architecture in western Canada is in Vancouver, so you are right there.

I am from British Columbia, and I live in Alberta right now. My wife and I got some tickets from a friend. Toronto/Montreal on November 3rd, and Buffalo/Montreal on November 5th. I have never been to Montreal, so I am very excited. Is the Hotel Montagne a nice place, or can you recommend a nice affordable hotel within 3 blocks of the Bell centre? I look forward to seeing the sights as well. I love architecture, and I have heard there is a great deal to see. I hope my time there is enjoyable. My French is very poor.

Haha still no offer...

I think Bob did his best with what was available. He tried to sign some big names, but nobody wants to go to Montreal. I think Bob should use our cap space to make a tradee in the season for a star. Trade Koivu and some prospects for Vinny maybe. I don't know, but I think the only way players will come here is through trades or by coming up through the ranks. ROOKIE CAREY PRICE CARRIES HABS TO 2009 STANLEY CUP VICTORY

I think he will start as the 3rd line centre. Plecks played well with Higgins, so I hope they stay together. Things change though, and Smolinski can easily play 1rst line if Koivu is hurt or 2nd if chemistry is found. He added some depth and work ethic to this team. ROOKIE CAREY PRICE CARRIES HABS TO 2009 STANLEY CUP VICTORY

IMO you are wrong about that. I have watched him in the west for years, and Hamilik does not get the credit he deserves. To be honest, I would rather see Hammer and Smolinski than Souray and Bonk. Smolinski will work hard. Granted he will be on the checking line, but I think that our 5 on 5 production may improve this year. Watching the Habs 5 on 5 last year was pathetic. Carbo had them collapse out of the neutral zone and into the defensive zone cuz he knew that our D was too weak to recover from a mistake in the neutral zone. Hammer is a better all round D man than Souray. We now have a number 2 D man which we haven't had for a long time. Souray is a PP specialist not a top 2 D man. Rivet, Shelly, and even Komi cannot be called number 2 D men at this point. I know that Komi will be our star D man soon though. Hammer cost a little more than I would have liked, but there is some cash left over for trades if the Habs have a good season. ROOKIE CAREY PRICE CARRIES HABS TO 2009 STANLEY CUP VICTORY

I would try to throw him on a wing, and use him as a defensive forward. Timmins prbably looked at Streit's successful year and said, why not?

When tracking a plus/minus stat, only goals for and against are counted if it is five on five. Souray plays on both special teams and on 5 on 5, so his plus/minus is a little decieving, considering how many points he put up on the PP. He is better than his plus/minus says he is. It is very much like Gonchar. Souray is definitely no Pronger or Lidstrom ( They are able to play special teams, put up the points and keep their plus minus in tact.), but the fact is that entire team was awful 5 on 5, and because plus minus is derived from 5 on 5 play, you can't judge his ability strictly on that. I would be happy if he is signed, even though I worry that next season will be a bust for him. And I would be equally happy if we gave him up and signed a suitable replacement.

So Locke is having a hell of a playoff. I will be watching him closely in training camp. Do you think he can step up to the big leagues?

I don't care what Gainey has to do. I want to buy a Habs jersey with Smitty's name and number on it. If I were to choose my favorite UFAs this year, and how I think they would fit into this organization, they would be... Centre: Chris Drury. He can play all sides of the game. I think he is signable (unlike Lacavelier and Briere, who are going to be fought harder for.) Wing: Smythe. My favorite NHLer right now. (put the friggen teeth in a bag and let me back on the ice) Defense: Rafalski. Very mobile. We might be able to keep the D a little farther forward in the neutral zone this year with him. Our D get caught flat footed all the time, so Carbo makes them retreat to our zone, and the opposing team skates in unobstructed. It drives me nuts.

I would not object to trading any player on the team, if we could get the righ guy. I love that little Finn, but if we could get Drury and another centre with the extra cap space, I would have no problem with it.

The number one guy we need to chase is Smythe. He has the heart of a lion. I know we need a number 1 centre, but I would take Smitty over any UFA in the league. He's all work ethic and all heart. He's also my favorite player in the NHL. If they sign him, I'm buying a Habs Smitty Jersey, and wearing it to Rexal place next year to the Habs Oilers game. (At this game Smitty will score 3 goals, lose three more teeth, and block 47 shots) I've got it all planned.

Rangers in 7 Devils in 6 Ducks in 6 San Jose 7

My bad. I should have said, It's safer than it looks when performed correctly. The reason the "forwards should block shots is that many key goals were scored from outside, bouncing off players standing in front of the net. I should also have been more specific by saying that they could block shots like Carbo did. Stay back so the player won't fake and skate around you, drop and block with the shin pads.

Okay, Carbo was elite when it came to shot blocking. Why the crap aren't we number 1 as a team for blocked shots? With the passive D that we play, there are tonnes of shots from the outside, because nobody can get inside, but these guys have to learn to block shots. I know it's suicide, but if it's done correctly, it's safer than it looks. I better see a lot more blocked friggen shots next year.

I think Higgins and Komi are definitely the 2 future Assistant captains. I don't know why, but I keep picturing Lapierre in there too. I friggen love this guy. I guess he's too much of an agitator and will never get it. Carbo got under people's skin too though, so you never know.

You guys are both right in some ways, and Bobby, you are wrong in some ways IMO. I think people are hyping Briere, because he is the most prolific UFA centreman this season. Not because he is franclaphone. Having said that, I don't think he is a good fit with this club. His speed would definitely fit in, but he needs a second forechecker with him in the zone, and I know that Carbo will not allow that. Also, what Bobby said is correct. We bring stars down for some reason. The only superstar I can remember signing that performed well for us was Bobby Smith. And we even brought him down. He had 4 point per game seasons in 5 years with the stars, and 3 point per game seasons in 10 years with the Habs. All the other stars stars we have signed have been a disapointment. The habs' real stars have always come up through the ranks. I think that if the Habs sign anyone from Buffalo, it will be Drury. I would love to see Smythe in a Habs Jersey as well, but I honestly think you will not see a prolific forward signed with the candiens. Look for a solid 2 and 3 D man to be signed this summer.

Ryan Smyth is my favorite player in the league right now. He would be amazing in a Habs jersey. His simple style and unbelieveable work ethic would fit right in to Gainey's vision of this team. Chris Drury would be incredible too. I know you will not see Briere on the team, and as I posted before, we would just bring him down. Our style is too different for him. I'm willing to guess the Habs won't sign any forward UFAs though. I think Striet will replace Johnson, they will sign Bonk if they don't have to fight for it, ( Gainey already said he would not pursue them too hard) and we will sign some D men. How about Rafalski and Hannan??? I wonder if the team could afford it?

I haven't looked at the draft for this year, but I would love to see another Higgins style forward. With this coaching staff, it's all about work ethic. Also, we are weak in the defense department, so look for us to pick up a D man in the first.