Chris

That was a solid 45 minute effort. I thought the flames dominated them for the first 15 minutes then the habs started rolling. Thank goodness Halak was on his game early. How about Lang? That guy was kind of a steal at this point. Other then Koivu, Markov and maybe Tanguay, he has been tthe most consistant guy out there. They actually had 2 lines last night that looked dangerous. The PP looked better but it's all about results. The Pk was good as well. I thought the Markov hit was his foot that got him and it looked like a knee initially. I'm sure someone will get him back in Calgary. While the D zone is improving a bit, i still wouldn't call it great. How many "No look passes" do they try in there own end? I think they teach you not to do that at age 8. Passing needs to improve, they are still aturnover machine. and when you get a chance to clear it, clear it. I think the goaltending is still making some issues in there own end but they are playing much better, work ethic is better, dumb penalties are down. The offensive zone actually looks like they are doing something. (D'agi Koivu and Akosty) have looked great since put together. Any news on Higgins or Dandy?

Apparantly Sundin has narrowed it down to 4 teams. The Habs being one of them. They will have to shed 3-5 million salary to sign him i think. Vancouver, Chicago, Rangers are the others. I wouldn't know how to comment unless it actually happens. He is a great player.

Are you sure on that? I thought the habs had that pick based on the round they were bounced, plus they had the most points of those teams who got bounced in the same round. I could be wrong but i thought that is how they explained it. My assessment in the playoffs is simply based on the team i see today. It could change later in the year. Right now they have too many holes to do much in the playoffs. Just my opinion.

Remember in the playoffs your pick in the draft relates to when you get bounced out of the playoffs. Only if the habs make it past the first 2 rounds will they be picking around 25. Based on what i've seen so far this year they could easily be bounced in the first round, which would put the pick between 16-20.

Probably posted in the wrong area but Gratton and Vrbata were waived by Tampa.

I agree about giving a trial for Weber or Carle, but it depends on what BG wants to do. He is limited with cap space, and can only bring players up when people are injured, they still have extra D on the current roster. If BG thinks they have a shot at the cup, he may make a deal for someone to play with Hamrlik. When Komi does come back it doesn't make the D a whole lot better, it makes them tougher and bigger. The problems on the D is foot speed, poor passing and losing battles. Komi only helps one of those categories. I suspect BG doesn't bring in any D from Hamilton unless they have alot of injuries, they fall apart and are out of the playoffs.

Yea, a bigger trade with the Wild could definatley help both teams. Clark? Come on, seriously, if the habs want anyone off the the Avs it's Liles. The habs need a hammer from the point. There are some moves out there available, it depends what BG wants to give up. Watching some of the players this season the list of untouchables is growing smaller. Especially with the success of some younger players and prospects coming in. centre is still weak.

Thanks for the list, i get alot of college games on my satelite dish. I can definitely look for Pateryn, Kishel and Johnson. DU palys alot of those teams. Michigan is on TV alot.

If the Habs could move up to get Schroeder from the University of Minnesta, they should definatley consider it. He is going to be a great player. He looks just like Wheeler from Boston. I'm not sure where he is ranked, but he'll be a player.

Just a little info on some of the college prospects i got to watch over the weekend. Can someone varify the Conboy at Michigan state is the Conboy the habs drafted. He is a big physical guy who plays in front of the net and corners. He looked good and bad over the weekend. He definitely needs to work on his skating, his hockey sense isn't the best either. If i remeber correctly, he was a later pick anyway. He's a bit of a project. He does win alot of battles and plays physical. McDonagh, looked good again over the weekend. I thought he had an assist or 2. He is still on the top PK, 2nd PP. Plays alot of minutes. Very good skater and even more physical then i saw him last year. Real good player. Fisher looked good again. He looks more physical then i saw him last year. He also seems to be jumping in, skating with the puck more. He is a great skater with a real good first pass. He plays on the top pair, top Pk, and 2nd PP units. He looks like he bulked up as well. I think the broadcast had him listed at 6'2 205. I don't know who else plays in the US colleges from the habs.

They won't trade the first rounder this year. They didn't get 1 last year, with the draft next year in Montreal, i highly doubt they give away picks.

I don't know, i didn't think they played that bad. They played hard, definitely outplayed in the 3rd. I think they were lucky to get a point. Teams like the Devils is what the Habs have problems, hard working, good forecheck, good size and speed. The habs better get use to beating teams like that, that style is what is played in the playoffs. They are bigger and tougher, but still not enough to make a run in the playoffs. I can't beleive people are taking shots at Price? What else does the guy have to do, if it wasn't for him they would be a sub par 500 team. If his team could clear the puck themselves maybe he wouldn't have to try and clear it everytime. Goaltending is no issue on this team. Don't complain about the officiating, the Devils had 2 soft calls against them in the 3rd, habs had 1 shot on goal. Kovalev made a boneheaded play. Bench that guy for a while please? It worked great for Penner. I think i have as many goals as he has the last month, with much less playing time.

I doubt BG signs many of those UFA's, especially if they bow out of the playoffs early again. Komi for sure Koivu if he wants to come back Tanguay I'm not sure who else they need that can't be replaced by younger and cheaper players. I do like Begin, but it may be hard to sign him for alot of money.

Yes, that was a very solid game. Probably the best all year. Good points on Dandy, i would add he is pinching because he has the speed to make up for any mistakes. D'Agi is a very good mix for that line, great speed, goes to the net, smart away from the puck. The line plays much more north / south, when they get a chance the SHOOT which is nice to see. 4th line very good, D was overall solid, Price had no chance on either goals. Not many shots against was nice to see. It may be time to put Halak back in Saturday, the team is playing well and thye owe him 1 from Washington. Let's hope they keep it. When Komi comes back, there will be an interesting roster move for someone.

Instead of oputting numbers on what the D needs, what they need is someone who can skate, skate the puck out of the zone ,make a good break out pass, play the right side with Hamrlik, and win some battles. That type of player will be expensive to get, but the habs have some assests to get a deal done if they want. I have a suspicion BG may be waiting on Sundin again before he makes a move. Obviously i could be wrong. Boumeester is the Dman i would go after.

Yes i did watch the same game. That's i was surprised by all the praise. I know a turnover here or there happens but he he did it numerous times last night. Maybe i expect too much from him. The other thought on that is alot of people were all over higgins and i thought he was really good last night, hustling, creating turnovers, played around the net. I also realize he is not a scorer, so maybe that's about expectations also.

Well that was the good, the bad and the ugly. 2 points is 2 points. A great 40 minutes of hockey followed by 10 minutes of standing around like a deer caught in headlights. Good: 4th line A kosty was excellent, maybe he is finally taking off Defensive passing for 40 minutes Work ethic for 45 minutes 5 goals Bad: Stopped Playing hanging the Price out to dry lack of hockey smarts (Lapierre i think, blindly throwing a puck in the slot with a lead, taking dumb penalties with the lead, not using the glass when you have a lead physical play in front of the net, there wasn't any Ugly: Brisby is so gutless in his own end, he literally looks scared to go in the corners Hard to beleive a team can look so good and so bad in the same game Hamrlik was awfull ( i wonder why no thread for all the D mistakes? just O'Byrne?) A couple of random thoughts, how did Kovalev come out with points and what looked like a good night? he turns the puck over, another player gets it, a quick pass and in the net. Kovalev stays too long on a shift, puck hits his skate, pleks winds up scoring. I can't figure that one out. The defense is incredibly slow, imagine how slow they were before Dandy moved back there. Does it annoy anyone else watching these guys cycle away from the net? I want to scream every time they skate in the Offensive zone, stop, throw a blind pass otu and turn it over. I also enjoy the cycling towrds the blue line causing a 2 on 1 or 3 on2 the other way. I always complain when the effort is bad, so for 45 minutes last night they played very hard, physocal, forechecking, very nice to see.

To be fair, they were struggling before Tanguay was injured. Tanguay may work well with a plunger and a shooter (pleks). Give it some time. GC is trying to find anyone who will click together at this point. They have too many set guys not enough finishers. sorry plugger, not a plunger.

And except the first 6 or 7 games those Habs players listed have been invisible as well. Kovalev, Tanguay and Koivu are making a pretty big chunk of change for not much results either. Arguably without the great goaltending the habs record would be right there with the Stars.

No kidding, i thought he had to be on long term to get the numbers down. So by your statement i'm assuming now they are full until Komi is cleared to play. Thanks for the info

Oh, sorry about that. Apparantly i can't read this morning.

If Tanguay and Laraque are in the lineup, i beleive A'Agostini has to be sent down. 3 healthy scratches are O'Byrne, Lats and SK. The linup is full.

Special talents? Taking bad penalties, not back checking, not trying or producing any points. That isn't very special. I'm just saying if GC was fair, everyone is open to a benching. There are numerous people who can be benched. Pleks could make that list as well. His benching a few years ago seemed to hit the spot for a good year last year.

They could SHOOT, move there feet, go to the front of the net. I'm not sure they tried that yet.

Yea, Lats and Sk are benched tonight. Obviously I understand sending a message, but as i keep saying, benching 21 year olds doesn't send the team a message. Sk does work hard every night even though he has taken soem dumb penalties lately. I just don't understand why Kovalev, Brisby, Higgins and others never receive the same message. Benching Kovalev a few games would send a big message. He hasn't done anything, especially 5 on 5.