sbhatt

The Burke injury definitely helps the teams trying to catch the Lightning...Grahame is inconsistent.

I'm glad some of you are waking up and smelling the coffee where Koivu is concerned. Every game he stinks up, he proves more and more that BG overpaid for a second-line caliber center. Gotta pray that Ribs and Kovalev get red-hot, because Koivu and Ryder look terrible out there.

The team as a whole didn't play well tonight. But two players really stood out, yet again, for being completely useless: Koivu and Ryder. They should both be watching the game against the Pens from the press box as healthy scratches. Both of them need a wake-up-call.

I signed the petition...and it's a damn good idea. CBC is paid for by tax dollars...and is supposed to represent ALL Canadians. HNIC should not be LeafsTV!!!

If Bob is trying to send messages, he should be leaving Koivu on the bench, not Kovalev. As far as experimenting with the PP, I wouldn't mind seeing Kovalev rotate out to the point more often for one-timers, the way the Rangers often do with Jagr.

I don't think it sends a bad message at all to send Koivu a message. I'd like to see Bob tell him to watch the next game from the pressbox. They could put a spin on it publicly and say Koivu is getting some rest, but I think he needs his coach to tell him that his lack of effort (and discipline, at times) is unacceptable. And really, I he should have been benched during a couple of games....star player or not, oldschool-style. Where's Scotty Bowman when you need him, eh? Sometimes, players need their coach to get in their face and call them out on their crummy play. If the player is a leader and a winner, they'll respond positively and rise to the challenge.

Koivu was unremarkable yet again out there tonight...but he certainly wasn't alone in that regard. Lots of Habs just going through the motions. I like the continued intense play of Zednik though...looks like he's determined to keep it up.

I like this idea....the better goalie should play more games, it shouldn't be a 50/50 split. A system like this allows you to tinker with the formula to account for riding a 'hot' goaltender for a streak as well.

Amen to that. I think a some people on here are looking at Koivu's play through 'rose-colored glasses', as the old saying goes.

If Koivu is indeed tired, he ought to be rested for a few days. Keep him out of the next game and the next practice or two. Because right now, he's not helping the team much anyways.

Ummm...no, I'm not going to jump on Huet...like I said, everyone deserves to have a bad game every now and then. I just see Koivu having significantly more bad games than good, and it's not just since the Olympic break. I know what he is capable of...and he's not playing at anywhere near his potential. If he was a 4th liner, it'd be far easier to take. But he is a talented player, the team captain, and the Habs big-ticket item. I am enjoying the Habs winning....but it's because they are winning that Koivu needs to start playing up to his level. The team is picking up the slack and covering for his lack of production lately, but we all know that this team is not going to continue winning indefinately with Koivu contributing little-to-nothing on most nights. I'm looking ahead to the playoffs...and we need Koivu on top of his game to both jump in the standings to improve our seeding, and to be poised to win in the first round.

Looks like Aebischer will have to wait a lil' longer to get some playing time, because it would be foolish to sit a goalie with a shutout streak going. Huet just keeps on impressing me game after game...he's rock solid. As for Koivu...pretty much useless out there yet again. He doesn't deserve to be bashed? Are you kidding me? He's the captain and is making $$$$...everyone has a scoring slump from tiem to time, but he's not only ineffective offensively as of late...he keeps taking bonehead penalties in the offensive zone. As long as he's doing that, he RICHLY deserves to be bashed.

I hope Dandenault watches the rest of the games from the press box once Todd Simpson arrives.

I'm not disappointed. We picked up the defenseman that we so badly needed, and we dumped Theo's bloated salary. The top two objectives were met. I'm relieved we didn't trade for Bertuzzi, as I'd never want to see that scumbag in bleu, blanc et rouge. I'm also glad we didn't shake up the team too much, as the group chemistry seems to be good lately.

I'm shocked that the Avs would make this deal...but I'm absolutely thrilled that they did. Maybe they thought they owed us a favor given the Patrick Roy deal???

It was wrong to say it, but I too am wondering why Koivu can't bust his ass for the Habs the way he has been for his national team.

I'm rooting for the Russians from here on out.

Ron just said it: six of the top nine scorers in the NHL that are Canadians were NOT on this team. Ummm...Wayne...want to explain to me how the F@!K that happens???!!!

I said it all along....this team was poorly selected. Foote, Blake, and Pronger looked like pile-ons out there. Shane Doan, Goontuzzi, and Draper being there over Staal, Crosby, and Spezza was a joke...I'd gladly take any of those guys and move them to the wing. Sickening.

Except for Brodeur and Luongo, Team Canada played like a bunch of bums. In fact, they ought to put little pictures of every player but Brodeur and Luongo on the front page of every newspaper in Canada tomorrow under a big bold headline that simply reads: BUMS

I find myself feeling some symptoms of withdrawl during the Olympic break. I need my fix of hearing that horn...hearing the roar...and hell, I even miss that sound bite of 'Vertigo' :hlogo:

And on a related note, Koivu looks like a #1 center now that he's out of a Habs jersey and playing for Finland. I hope he plays with similar intensity when he gets back to Montreal.

Kovalev looks great...amazing what he can do playing with a real #1 center.

Bobsled? No, a bobsled is something that moves...and quickly at that. Cobweb would be more Gainey's speed.

Whether it really happened or is a work doesn't matter to me at all. Bottom line is that I'm happy we won't see Jose giving away games anymore this season, and the Habs get some cap relief to play with for the home stretch.