The Chicoutimi Cucumber
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Posts posted by The Chicoutimi Cucumber
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I'M proud of our boys. With all the injuries, it was a tough assignment.
I'm already looking forward to next year with MaxPac, Subban, Price, Desharnais and Eller. I have to say that Eller really impressed me in this series. I was at the Bell Centre last night, and Eller played a really good game. I think he really grew in this series!
On Eller, yeah...I didn't realize he had it in him to play that kind of physical hockey. Brobin makes a good point, though. Keep him protected, let him evolve.
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Just felt compelled to start a sentimental thread acknowledging the TRUE character and grit of this year's team. I've seen better and more talented Habs teams, but I'm not sure I've seen one with as much determination and guts. These guys gave everything they had and more and were fully worthy of the
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That's what also scares me. I think I've made it clear i'm not a JM fan. Although, I think starting with him having the chat with White (game2??), he seemed much more communicative with his players in this series then I have seen over the past two years. I just hate the handling of Pouliot, the fact that Weber only played 3 games and Eller/Desharnais getting less time then Gomer. This is a young team and they need to play more. I still say if Gorges, Spacek and Hammer hadnt had injuries, PK would not have gotten the chance he did to put up a pretty good numbers during the last 1/3 of the season.
Muller I think has been pegged for NJ, ever since his ex-linemate Maclean got fired and sounds like Pearn is being considered now for Ottawa.
We'll never agree on this, but Jesus, JM coaches us to the semi-finals last season and this season gets everything you could possibly hope to get from an injury-decimated roster, all the while bringing along Subban, MaxPac, DD and Eller in exemplary fashion. Surely the body of evidence supports giving him the benefit of the doubt.
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Markov can make Markov money, or even a little less.
Wisniewski can make some of Hamrlik's money.
Hamrlik can make as much money as he can get from another team this offseason.
I really think it comes down to whether Wis wants to be here or not. If he does, they'll make it work.
Markov - Wisniewski
Spacek - Gorges
Gill - Subban
Weber
I'd be happy.
100%. That D is a little shaky in its own end, but all told pretty impressive.
Remember, though, Bieksa could also be available. I agree that we should try to re-sign Wiz - then again, I have a recurring bias in favour of re-signing players - but we should keep in mind that other options will be in play too. My main concern is that we not go into next season without a legitimate top-4 guy in Wiz's slot.
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Every game was a coin flip. Nothing you can do but look toward next year. Price, Subban, Desharnais, Eller and Pacioretty's development give Montreal a lot to look forward to.
I thought you wrote somewhere that you wanted Mara to be brought back. I don't think he will be, but I wouldn't mind. I liked him a lot more this time around than last year.
Management MUST proceed with boldness and intelligence. This team is not that far away: a shrewd summer with one or two key moves might put us into the elite echelon, assuming continued progression from PK, Price and MaxPac, and no dramatic regression from aging vets like Markov and Gionta. Everyone is optimistic about our future, but I've heard that song before (e.g., 2008, 1996). It takes real managerial skill to fully realize that potential. Nothing is guaranteed. I for one have great faith in our coach, though.
Another sub-plot for another thread: the impending departure of Muller and, conceivably, Pearn.
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Well I hope this was the last game as a habs for Gomez, Moen, Mara, Hamrlik and Spacek.
Unfortunately, I think Pouliot will also be gone the same route as SK74 this summer.
This is really a discussion for another thread, but I'll say that we may have to keep Gomer around just long enough to shelter Eller so he can continue to develop. The alternative is either to sign some other veteran UFA - likely to a too-long deal, considering that he'll be a stopgap until we have confidence in Eller - or else throw Eller/Desharnais into the breach, a dangerous approach.
Of our veteran D, Gill was CLEARLY the most valuable in this series. I'd re-sign him. Hammer is touch and go, depending on his demands.
Brobin: the message of this season is that headhunting and deliberate attempts to injure are sound strategy, especially against conference rivals.
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A crushing defeat.
But you have to be proud of our boys. They played with all the heart imaginable and then some.
Far be it from me to express sour grapes, but in a series that came down to one goal, d'you think MaxPac might have made a difference? Chara got EXACTLY what he wanted, and now he has been fully rewarded. Thanks, NHL.
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Cammy
Lucic
But damn, did you see that shift by Eller in the third? This kid has it in him to be a dominant C...eventually.
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UNBELIEVABLE bullet by Subban. NOBODY stops that shot.
I cannot believe this team. These guys simply refuse to stop battling. They are true
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Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted...
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Several people are expressing unease as game time approaches. I think it's because the odds are - as usual - against us, due to the combination of injuries + back-to-back games. I expect the Prunes to enjoy some stretches of domination tonight. Price will need to be huge. If he is, we have a great chance to win.
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Random observations:
I haven't seen Gomez skate with that kind of eye-goggling speed in a while. When he is in full flight he is one of the most spectacular players in hockey. Now if only he'd do that every night...but I'll settle for his doing it again in Game 7.
All those saying the Habs were outplayed and got lucky overlook the legitimate goal that was stolen by the refs, and the fact that the Bruins had ALL the breaks over the last few games. We were due for something to break our way.
I don't like the lack of a day off. It hurts us more than the Bruins, since we're the more banged-up club. A day off might have made a difference for Wisniewski. Oh well. This ain't a club that seeks excuses.
Mike Cammalleri is one of the great playoff performers of his generation. Brilliant signing by Bob.
Brian Gionta may not be the most talented guy on the planet, but he is full value for the 'C' on that jersey. His play has incarnated the best of the Habs's tradition. Which is really saying something.
Finally: let's call a spade a shovel. The Bruins are a great opponent. Look at the way they tied it up in the first two minutes of the second period. They did EXACTLY what they needed to do, and they've been doing that most of the series. This series has been awesome, and it's because you have two strong teams bringing out the best from each other. On the eve of Game 7, I tip my hat to them.
NOW LET'S GO GET THE WIN AND LEAVE THOSE F*CKERS CRYING!
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That is bloggers and fans on messageboards, I didn't see ANYBODY outside of Montreal in the MSM defend PK Subban against the media attacks.
I have yet to see anybody call out Marchand for his lack of respect. I haven't seen anybody telling us how galling Ference tossing the middle finger is, yet I saw plenty of reports telling me how disrespectful shooting an arrow at the sky was after Subban scored an OT winner.
Anybody who lives within a Leaf fan region understands the hatred they hold towards Hab fans. Hab fans return the favour.
Now take your regular Habs suck discussion with your Leaf fan friends and begin to place those individuals into the national media. The CBC, TSN, Sportsnet etc are all Toronto centric (even though Sportsnet tries to regionalize). The natural tendency becomes a bias based on their personal viewpoint. They don't care if it is unprofessional, they use it to drive their narrative.
So in 1993 when the Habs won the Cup it became marginalized as a crap team being dragged to a title on the back of a superhero goaltender. Nevermind that the 93 Leafs team was deified as a scrappy underachieving team that almost realized a dream based on will and determination. The Habs had 102 points in 93, the Leafs had 99.
That is based on bias and the creation of narratives based upon that bias. Add in that the Leafs had been terrible for 20 years and their previous ineptitude was placed upon the 99 point 1993 squad even though that was not reality.
It is undeniable when you watch the CBC with Cherry, Milbury, Stock, Cole all of whom at one time or another have admitted their bias to long time rivals with the Habs.
It is just the reality of our media experience as Hab fans. Just like you have to come to accept that the Quebec media favours francophone players regardless of ability.
Well said. The blogosphere and even local broadcasters who naturally have a huge homer bias are one thing; but on some level I can't seem to get over the spectacle of well-paid professional commentators on national broadcast networks acting like buffoonish fanboys of specific teams. OK, so Cherry is Cherry. I can accept that. But for the rest of them to allow their fan bias to contaminate their analysis is an insult to the viewer. You're being paid precisely NOT to be a mindless fan automatically parroting received wisdom, disliking the Habs, overtly pulling for the Leafs, etc.. In the case of this Bruins love from CBC, it's even more pathological, given how hard HNIC has pushed the 'rah rah Canada, go Canadian teams!' agenda over the last 20 years. Apparently Montreal is not in Canada. And these guys make six figure incomes and are hailed as 'experts.' Pathetic.
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Just another great example of the hockey media latching on to ANYTHING because it's a slow news day.
I don't really think there is a double standard though. If you look around you will find analysts, journalists and fans making arguments on both sides of the fence.
Same with Marchand's ridiculous pre game comments
Same with Ference's middle finger.
Same with Recchi's comments about Patches getting out of the hospital and enjoying a movie.
The interwebs is full of Canadiens fans and Bruins fans yipping at each other over nothing. It's like one big playground with one kid saying " MY dad is stronger than your dad, No my dad is stronger than your dad."
I don't know why anyone is demanding social responsibility from a group of hockey players.
They guys just laugh this stuff off, why can't we?
I wouldn't mind at all except that Pacthes felt the need to apologize for the remark. That's what I find completely daft. It WAS a harmless and funny little tweet. And yet he feels compelled to say sorry. Ridiculous.
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I don't know why this is even a story. I don't want MaxPac back this year. Let him fully recover, build strength in his neck, hit the weight room hard and come back stronger overall for next year.
100%. The prospect of MaxPac returning this year is BAD news if you ask me. For God's sake, learn from Marc Savard and let him heal.
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Can somebody please explain this to me:
THIS constitutes some horrible offensive act in today's NHL? An inocuous bit of harmless teasing about a guy's big nose?
More to the point: did Chara ever apologize publicly for attempted murder? Did Ferrence apologize for flipping the bird to habs' fans? Oh, right, those guys were just being rough and tumble gritty guys.
I'm not the paranoid type, but I swear there is some sort of double standard against the Habs when it comes to player behaviour. Other teams' players are allowed to be irritants, have some charisma and character, etc.. When the Habs do it, ooooo, it's scandalous I tells ya.
If PK and Patches were Leafs, they'd be national heroes. That tells you all you need to know about the perversely biased culture surrounding hockey and media.
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What Pittsburgh has done is truly remarkable. If Byslma doesn't win coach of the year, then something is gravely askew.
Nevertheless I will still complain about injuries. It's three years running we've been ravaged and I see no sense in denying that it sucks. Having said that, I'm not advocating a pity party. The Habs need to - and will - suck it up and play their hearts out no matter what.
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The smart money favours Boston to win the series even if it were an even split, if only because of the injury situation. Wiz is hurt. DD is hurt. The former, especially, is extremely bad news for us, given his integral role on our blueline. Then there's the issue of Gill's insane overuse - he's excelled, but he can't keep this up, can he?? - and Hammer and Spatches, both of whom have looked pretty gassed the last few games.
The Brutes, meanwhile, appear to be what Red Fisher always referred to as 'disgustingly healthy,' notwithstanding Savard.
The psychology of the last two losses is harder to figure. Yes, it could be tough to overcome. Or it could be as BrenDittero says - the Habs just need the breaks to start bending their way and they'll be full steam ahead. It's the aforementioned physical issues that worry me the most.
Having said all that, yes, the series is still close and anyone expecting the Habs to just roll over doesn't have a very good read on this hockey club. A lot of the pessimism is founded on the dismal first two periods from last night, overlooking that the Habs arguably had the better of the play after that.
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Now both Wiz and DD are 'questionable' for tomorrow night according to CBC
The madness continues -
Who has it happened to other than Pacioretty?
Oh, all right, I'm just griping. The point is, our propensity for injuries this season sucks.
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Looking like a knee injury for Desharnais, no word yet on his potential availability for Tuesday.
Of course it does. Habs player gets hot, Habs player gets hurt. It's like an iron law of the 2010-11 season.
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You know, that idiot Michel Bergeron remarked between the first and second OT that this was a game neither team deserved to lose. He was right. That we lost came down to breaks and bounces (including the injury to DD, so typical of this season to have a hot hand go down), NOT to the intrinsic superiority of the Bruins. Just as I said going into this series, the Bruins had to be rated marginal favourites, but we would be fully value, win or lose. We should be proud of our boys for getting stronger as the game progressed and for ultimately giving us one hell of a hockey game. As disappointing as the outcome was, I can't summon any rancour toward the team for an all-around gutsy performance, nor can I begrudge the Bruins the win. They were great too. This was an honourable victory and an honourable defeat on both sides.
Where does this leave us? Well, I remember (I think it was) the 1990 Habs losing two straight games in OT in Beantown and going on to lose the series. That was a team with superb leaders like Carbo, Roy and Skrudland. My point is that the Habs have suffered two consecutive heartbreakers - games that, with a different bounce or two, they would have won - and that it's very hard for teams to recover from that. So I say Boston wins Game 6.
As for what we do going forward, that's a thread for another day. But I'm with those who thinks this team is close to being really good. And I will point out that it seems slightly odd to talk about not re-signing Gill when the guy played something like 40 superb minutes last night.
And Eller was phenomenal last night. Hitting everything that moved and being continuously effective on offence. I think the Habs will probably hold on to Gomez for one more year mainly to protect Eller and allow him to continue to grow. We are seeing the future of our #2 C position develop before our eyes.
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DD has some St. Louis in him.
Reminds me of Gerbe in Buffalo. He is an NHL player, no doub about that anymore.
Maybe there's something to the idea of putting him on the wing?
On another note, Spatches and Hammer look gassed. But they're hanging in.
Can't believe how great this game has gotten
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Price is a beast.
Desharnais - what a warrior.
However, Gomez is a real key in this game. Every time he gets the puck things stabilize and the Habs get something going.
Wiz's return is huge.
HELL OF A HOCKEY GAME
Two ancient rivals going toe to toe in the Stanley Cup playoffs - this is what it's all about. Stressful? Hell yeah!! But we should enjoy every second.
Next season for the Habs
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted
I too will be more coherent tomorrow, but what the hell...
Yes, standing basically pat is a viable option and one I wouldn't necessarily oppose. My overriding concern is that we re-sign Wiz or replace him with a comparable player (otherwise we would not be 'standing pat,' we'd be regressing). We will also need to add depth defencemen, because Hammer's minutes will not be easy to replace. More size up front would obviously be nice too, although Patches represents that to a degree and it's easier said than done.
We need a backup who can actually play in the NHL IMHO. One injury to Price and we might not have even made the playoffs, with that piece of crap Auld.
The elephant in the room is of course Gomez. If you could liberate the team of his salary *and* replace him with a middling-quality C, you might have some loose change to further strengthen the club. Although he wasn't incredible this series, I thought he did at least look like a legitimate #2 C, so it's become at least possible to imagine the Habs as contenders with him on the club. I do hope, however, that management turns over every stone investigating possible upgrades.
It occurs to me that Mario Tremblay has a track record as an assistant coach with conservative head coaches. Dare I speculate on him as a possible Muller replacement - ?