REV-G

Since Dudley is a smart guy I'm sure if he's interested he'd get the necessary written guarantee's giving him all the freedom and decision making regarding all the areas and personnel he'd need to do the job. He would go into this fully aware of the history of everyone involved. There are some situations that are ready to be turned around by the right person and some leaders look for them. However there are sometimes fine lines between what is possible versus that which may not change for a long time. So as you suggested, he may know enough and be smart enough to say no.

Interesting. I wonder what reasoning or info there is behind a statement/tweet like that? Does he have some inside info from the Canadiens?

I personally hope that he stays with us. I think our team is stronger with him. But maybe he's not using his full capability with us. Maybe he needs to be a GM, build teams and be the go to guy. Maybe Buffalo needs him much more than we do?

There is evidently some discussion, maybe much discussion, that Rick Dudley, if he wants it, can be the next GM of the Buffalo Sabres. Who knows if that will happen although Dudley has lots of history with Buffalo, evidently still lives there and obviously has player, GM and salary cap experience and has the reputation as being one of the best judges of talent around. Many believe he built Tampa Bay before they won the cup and also put together the Chicago Blackhawks for their cup run. He drafted and traded for players that went against some of the accepted thinking of the day and yet most of his moves turned out to be successful. So the questions are, how much would we miss Dudley, would we be hurt if he left, and if he left who would we replace him with?

I'm glad the question of whether games should be decided by a shootout or end in a tie has come up and is being seriously discussed by the GM's in their meetings. I personally am no longer a fan of the shootout and I would like to see games end in a tie. On Tuesday night I think it was exciting to see the Canadiens work and get the tying goal in the last few minutes of the game. I would have been quite happy for the game to have ended that way. One of the players, it might have been one of the Sedins, said the shootout is like flipping a coin to see who's going to win. After watching the shootout for many years, I'm at the point where I tend to agree. I would like to see it revert back to the way it was for many years when two teams battle all night and if it is an evenly played a hard fought game and the game ends in a tie, then that's the way it should end. I think our overtime format in the playoffs is exciting and shouldn't be changed, and I wouldn't want to see that used in the regular season because the games would be too long for both the players and the fans. Maybe extend the existing 5 minute overtime an extra 2 minutes with fewer players on the ice. But for the games to be decided by a shootout.....it's time to get rid of it. What do you think?

I wasn't suggesting anyone give up on Yakupov, just pointing out how well Galchenyuk is doing in comparison.

I know it's still a little early to be looking at and evaluating drafts that were only two years ago, but I can't help but think that if that draft were to be held today Alex Galchenyuk would be the 1st overall pick. Of course there are still areas he needs to work on and improve but for a 19 year old who is still eligible to play junior you can see him developing, maturing and getting more comfortable every week. I'm not sure I can remember us having a 19 year old with his character, maturity, skill set and consistency. And his character and work ethic and energy have had such a positive effect on those around him. I don't think there's anyone in the league who would take Nail Yakupov over Galchenyuk today. I think Nail is a -14 the last I looked and is nowhere near to the complete player at this point that Alex is. Granted he is with a team that is struggling in many areas. It is a tribute to our drafting once again that we hit a home run by selecting Alex Galchenyuk. And we have years ahead of us to watch them grow as we continue to add to a strong young core that we have. Exciting and fun years ahead.

I really don't get it. Thomas P. misses a penalty shot....Alex G. doesn't do too well on face-offs, but PK seems to be the one always being penalized by the coach and getting these snide and veiled comments made about him. His coach doesn't endorse him for the Olympic team and gives him a reduced TOI last night. I was in favour of hiring MT compared to the other candidates available at the time. And so far I think he's done a good job. He gave DD a really long time to get things back on track. He didn't cut back on his ice time until the last game and then finally scratched him last night. Francis B. has struggled, as has Douglas Murray, but they had either roughly the same or more shifts last night than PK. What is it that MT has against PK? It's getting kind of obvious now based on ice time, usage and comments that that there is a problem. PK is our best defenceman, a Norris trophy winner and he's treated shabbily by our coach. To me this is getting personal and I think MB needs to sit down with MT, if he hasn't already, and point his coach on a bit of a different plan. We lost a superstar goalie and it took us years to recover. I don't want to see things slowly boil and then have it explode into a mess that will be difficult to fix. I was born and raised in Montreal but now live in Ontario so I don't hear the phone in callers who evidently are incensed over what's happening and what MT is doing with PK. So what do you think needs to happen in order to fix this?

Just a thought about Price. I often hear or read that Price had an off or poor year last year. I think Price had a good year but faltered down the stretch and then was hurt at the end. People keep saying that Price is a horse and can play 65-70 games. I wonder if that may be the problem. Maybe he's being played too much and needs to play fewer games so he can be stronger at the end of the season and the playoffs. There may be a pattern to his late season downturn and injuries and maybe his playing time should be something they look at and maybe reduce a little. Adding in the Olympics for him may not be a good thing for our team's success.

I would assume that this site is used by and devoted to, hard core, Canadiens fans. So the people who read and write in these spaces are not once in a while fans, but mostly people who have followed the game closely for many years. From what I've read here for many it is a lifestyle. Personally I've been following the Habs for over 50 years so I too am a very passionate Montreal Canadiens hockey fan. You never know who is responding to polls about whether fighting should be banned or much more strongly penalized. But I'm interested to know what the hard core fans on this site think about what, if anything, should be done with fighting in hockey. I grew up watching the Canadiens during the John Beliveau and Henry Richard era who also had John Ferguson on their team. Ferguson was one of my favourite players. And when Montreal played Toronto the Ferguson Eddie Shack fights were classics. Ferguson I believe scored 30 goals one year, in the 6 team league. He was a hockey player who could fight and in my opinion was one of the best. In the 70's I watched the Broad Street Bullies led by Dave Schultz. So I have had, I'm sure like many of you, a long history with hockey. But personaIly, I have come to the place where I think it is time for fighting to be banned from hockey. Some of my reasons are that I think if we want hockey to be respected and accepted as one of the legitimate top 4, big time sports we have to realize that we look barbaric and we end up putting hockey into the category of roller derby or wrestling when we have staged fights and end up with guys cut and bleeding. To watch John Scott drop his gloves and go after Phil Kessel and then watch Kessel hack with his stick to defend himself against a 6 foot 7 or 8, 250 pound fighter is in my opinion absolutely bush league. It makes us look terrible compared to the NFL or NBA and even the NCAA, all of which are regarded as having and drafting highly trained and dedicated athletes in sports that are accepted as the absolute best in the world. When I see the replays of players being knocked out cold by a punch in a hockey fight it now makes me shudder. When I watched Rene Bourque being sucker punched by Colton Orr last year which resulted in him missing part of the season I can't help but think that this is wrong and should not be allowed. Hockey has to be one of the only sports where being able to fight can help you make a team. It should be on hockey talent and character that opens the door for a player, who has spend years training and practicing and honing his skills, to make a team. Roster spots should not be taken up by someone whose main, and sometimes only ability [John Scott] is to fight. If you fight in the NFL or NCAA you are out of the game and repeated fights get you suspensions. I read this morning where some former enforcers said that if you take fighting out of hockey you will have absolutely no respect between the players and things will get out of control. Well what do other leagues and sports do? They have no fighting but they have taught the players how to have respect for one another. They get along without fighting very nicely. The best hockey every season is in the playoffs and you rarely see a fight. . I know there are many opinions on this topic but I'd like to hear what you think, the hard core fans, as to what we should do about fighting in hockey. Personally, I think it's time for fighting to be removed from our sport.

One of the moves I've wondered about over the past few years is why teams so easily and quickly let Michael Ryder leave? Montreal let him walk for nothing. The Bruins let him walk and Dallas traded him for an older, slowing power forward in Eric Cole and even gave up a draft pick as well. Wherever Ryder has gone he has put up decent to very good offensive numbers, yet after a year or two teams seem to be quite willing to let him walk or trade him? I have a lot of trust and hope in our GM but I have to ask, why would we sign Briere and not keep Ryder? Is it a character issue? But Ryder scored more goals and points than Briere did last year and had more goals and points than Briere over the past couple of years and is a few years younger, and yet Ryder signed with New Jersey for less money than Briere did with us and for the same term. And I heard Ryder was willing and even hoping to stay with us. Is there something we're not aware of? Other than Briere being able to play both center and wing there seems to be more advantages for us to have signed Ryder than Briere. What are your thoughts on this??

These kind of short term acquisitions are simply to help us improve a bit and get us over the next year or so until our drafted players can develop and be ready to step in. I really believe that this is MB plan. So I don't think his plan should be a cause for concern. Our future is bright and heading in the right direction.

We finished first in our division and other than the last few weeks of the season we played very well, very competitive and were fun to watch. I think that at the place where the NHL is right now we are a very good regular season team but are lacking some size and grit that will take us further into the playoffs. MB said something like this recently: "There are players who will get you into the playoffs and there are players who will get you through the playoffs". I think we are lacking a few players who will get us through the playoffs. Personally I noticed that in the Ottawa series. They were a bit bigger and tougher and at that time of the season, for me, that was the difference. So I think your main point is true. We are not a bad team. I'm glad MB isn't trying to do it all this summer. I believe he's adding pieces that will get us through the next two years until some our drafted guys are ready to step in.

Is there any way Pittsburg chooses to move Kris Letang?? While we're waiting for the fun times this weekend to arrive someone posted that Pittsburg may be looking at moving Kris Letang. Do you think there is any truth to this at all? If there is could we ever afford him?? Could he be a replacement for Markov?

I read today that is it looking like the Philadelphia Flyers may be using one of their buyouts to remove Danny Briere's salary from their books in order to get under the cap. If that happens would he be an automatic good fit for us? His numbers this year and last have declined. This year he had 6 goals and 10 assists and was also -13. If I remember he turned us down once before and went elsewhere. So now I'm wondering with all our young guys coming up would he be a good fit for us and would he be interested in coming to Montreal.

I'm curious. What do you mean by Theodore being on "the juice"??

I couldn't help but compare a bit and wonder about a question we can never answer. I thought we were going to have Bob Hartley as our coach last summer. But I also liked MT's track record and having been fired in Montreal and Pittsburgh I thought he almost by default would have matured and grown both as a person and coach. In hindsight, yes I know about the 20/20 vision thing, I do not believe Hartley or Mark Crawford would have done as well as MT has. Whether it was luck or MB really felt that MT would do a great job, this has really come together for us well. His system is working, the players have bought in, the young guys have been given a chance, and the new guys have all added to our team in a tangible way. And from my view of things the players all seem to respect him. So I agree this could be his best year, but it could also be the beginning of quite a few years of a really good team, both on the ice and off.

In the Hearts of Men, you're absolutely right about Plekanec. I think many of us have taken him for granted. He is absolutely a key piece of the puzzle for us. The reason I didn't include him in the original thread is because he is not a surprise, he just keeps on being consistent and solid.

I know it's still a bit early since the beginning of the season but with such a shortened season I think it's time to evaluate and see what we like and what we don't. What is working well: 1. GM Bergevin and his management team. I really like and feel confident in how they are working. I like how Bergevin handled the Subban situation. I read Bergevin himself was the one who sold PK on the deal. I like how Bergevin didn't try to remake the team right at the start but added a few pieces for toughness and then seemingly has allowed the rest to play and maybe even make up for last year with a fresh start so he can see how everyone is doing in a more stable environment than last year. 2. Players who have exceeded expectations or have risen to the occassion. Andre Markov: What an improvement he has made to our team in so many ways. It's obvious how much we missed him. Rene Bourque: he seems inspired, enjoying playing, and he's trying. Maybe he was injured but I didn't see any of these happening last year. The kids: Galchenuk and Gallagher. For me they have exceeded expectations. It's fun to watch them growing and gaining confidence and it seems like everyone is rooting for them, wanting and pushing them to do well. Price: He seems so confident, solid, well positioned and positionally so good. Around the league I've heard a number of analysts picking Price as the first or second goalie in line for the Olympics next year. 3. The coach: From the beginning I thought Therrien would do at least a good job and maybe even a really good job. I like his sysytem of aggressive forecheck, attacking and supporting one another. They seem to be using their speed much more effective this year and it is definitely making it difficult for other teams. I like that he is making players accountable. I like White but I think that has been a good example of what happens if you don't put the team first and it shows what Therrien wants. The overall team unity and buy-in: it seems to me they are all committed, are working together and are having fun together. For me that spells great team chemistry. So for me out team is better than what I expected. I find them much more fun to watch this year and with the young guys and what we have drafted and what we'll gte this year in the draft I think each year is only going to get better. So a very bright future ahead!!

I would like to humbly point out that about 7 months after making the above bold prediction things seem to be going very well and I personally really like the system MT has implemented. So far I find them a lot of fun to watch...especially with our "rooks"!!

I read that CJAD staffer/writer Chantel Desjardins reported that PK has told his agent to get a quick settlement to a new contact. This is good news if the report is accurate. Someone has to be willing to move if this is going to be resolved and gets PK signed with us. Does anyone know who Chantel is and if she is a good credible source?

I don't know how great the impact will be on our cap for next year with it being reduced so much, but what Commandment pointed out about comparrisons between PK, Price and Patches is very fair. It concerns me when I hear PK's agent say at this point in the season that they are not close. PK needs to be on the ice learning the new system and being a part of the team. Like the CBA, they must find a way to get this done and get PK back on the ice with his team. WIth all the talent we have coming up PK, for me, is a very key component on the back end and should be for years to come. I believe we are at a major transition time, this year and next, and the core of our team going forward needs to have PK locked up for many years. Is there a chance, a risk, that if we overpay a bit or give him a longer contracdt than we have some of the other guys, that PK will fall back and struggle? I don't so for one minute. WIth him, what you see is what you get. I think this will be his level of play for years to come, with a higher level of maturity and control. For me it will only get better. Get hims signed now!!

I read in an article this morning by Eric Engels that Scott Gomez is playing on a team in the ECHL. Is that true? If it is I hadn't heard anything about that. Question: why the ECHL and not the AHL??

I have been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens since I was old enough to watch and understand it. Probably for over 50 years. I've watched Jean Beliveau and all the great teams and players ever since and have been at many games at the old Forum [even had standing room tickets many times as a young teenager]. I was born and raised in Montreal but have lived in Ontario for the past 30 years. I am passionate about our Canadiens, and have subscribed to RDS in Ontario just so I can watch them. But I have never been so fed up and frustrated with the NHL owners and players as I am right now!! They waited too long to even begin to talk, and then went weeks without meeting, then they met for a week, then nothing and now Bettman suggests they take a two week break!! Are they out of their minds! I think fans need to begin to speak up and let everyone involved in this hear and understand how frustrated and angry we are. The people I feel badly for are first the thousands of people who work at the NHL arena's, and the surrounding restaurants and parking lots etc., and certainly all the fans. I don't feel badly for the owners at all, or the superstars, but I do feel badly for the middle of the pack on down type of players who, while they have salaries much much higher than any of us are likely legitimately starting to feel some financial pain. But in my own mind, I am actually at the point where I am so fed up with Gary Bettman and the owners locking the players out every 6 years or so that I am getting to the point, not there yet, but I am getting close to hoping that the season is cancelled again because my frustration with them all is beinning to make me not care if they play again this year. Maybe then some heads will roll and some people in leadership will be replaced and a new approach to negotiating and working with the players in a reasonable way can maybe be found and introduced. Obviously this current approach is not working and maybe even beginning to make people in other sports laugh at how poorly the NHL handles these things. I really do feel badly for those outside the NHL who earn their living off of the games and the league. But enough is enough. If Bettman and Fehr and their teams can't get the job done, if they don't care about the fans who pay their salaries, if they don't care enough about the game and league, and if they don't care enough about all the people they are financially hurting, then maybe the game should be put on hold and let some major changes be made. We need some people who care enough to put their own desires and ego's aside and start thinking about other people and get the job done!! That's how I feel and what I think needs to happen!

Interesting, today Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette wrote an article suggesting the same thing. He said, ...maybe it's time for us to take our game back and start a new league!! Maybe if enough people started kicking this idea around some wealthy people would start to think about it and maybe some people in charge right now would start to get a little nervous.