Chris

No offense Platypus, i agree with you on everything accept "it was Huet's fault" in the Leafs Game. The Leafs dominated the habs from start to finish. They doubled them in shots i beleive and only poor leaf goaltending kept it close. I think Hlak and Price will run the show next year.

It was a T E A M problem last game, not a goalie problem. He let in a softie but so does Huet. If Huet gets a second game to redime himself, so should Price.

I hope they prove me wrong too. This kind of play reminds me of the last 10 years. Hopefully someone will step up and then team will make the playoffs.

Why, the habs have just as good prospects, Vermette is a solid player but nothing that great. If the Habs want him, they have enough to get him.

Getting nervous Wamsley? I told they would start to falter. Typical lazy uninterested efforts in the last 10 games. 1 lucky miracle doesn't change the fact they are playing poorly, especially defensively. I hope they have enough to make they playoffs in any spot. It will do the youth alot of good to get over the hump. GC needs to drop the hammer on these guys again and start the benchings. Higgins and Koivu may be a good start. Komi and Markov would be my second pick. Send the mesage, it's unacceptable to play how your playing.

It's pretty simple, Streit can't hit the net. They pass too much and never have anyone in front of the net. When was the last rebound or garbage goal theyt scored? Know one is willing to pay the price in front of the net.

Gerber's mak is Darth Gerber. I heard that's what the team calls him and he likes it, that's why it's not paited. Unless they were BSing. Who cares what his mask is as long as he stops pucks.

The bottom line is the whether it's goaltending, piss poor defense and no offense the problems remain the same. Currently the goalies aren't able to mask the Habs problems. 1. They have no real leadership or character, they take long periods of time off, only play parts of games and when a "weak" goal goes in they fold like a tent. For those who say Koivu, may i remind you they only have like 10 playoff wins under his leadership. I'm not talking about his play. 2. They are too soft and small to compete with the big boys. The 8 dman is just stupid. Komi wins an occaisional fight but it's always against a non-fighter. The rest of the habs get rag dolled and pushed all over the ice. GC has done a good job getting these guys to work harder and buy into the system, atleast much more then the prior 10 years. 5th place with 19 to go i'll take, especially since i picked them 10th. They have 19 games to prove what there worth, this team could go either way. That was an emabarrassment on BG night, they showed nothing.

Yep it's hard to say. Both Valentenko and Grabs do have a strong upside, i would not trade McDonagh, Emelin for any player rumored to Montreal. They will both be great players. I honestly don't know who has more young talent then Montreal, Kings and Chicago come to mind. I also think Jolanin is a little over rated if that helps. That's my pick and i'm sticking to it.

I look at it like Valentenko doesn't really have a roster spot anyway, he is a LD. So is Emelin and Mcdonagh and Hamrlik, Markov already under contract. Grabaovski wouldn't have a spot either with the addition of Jokanin. Pleks Koivu and Jokanin. With lapierre and Chipchura in the wings.

We'll know in 4 days or less who BG thinks is a top player. Call it a hunch, but i'm guessing Jokinin or how ever you you spell his name. Ryder Valentenko Grabovski and a 2nd going the other way.

Gotcha, fair enough. I just don't like Richards.

Yea, what has throwing richards out there all the time got them. Last place. I saw that, who would pick up McCabe though. Talk about over paid.

I do agree with you on not resigning any UFA off the current team. That by itself would pay for the Richards contract, I have seen several Tampa games this year and he really hasn't impressed me. My problem with Richards is it's alot of money for soemone who played well 2 years ago.

As far as trades and rumors go if Bg is looking for the impact player there are about 5 or 6 choices. Depends who he likes. I think the impact player needs to have some size and grit to them, the habs get puxhed around alot. Hossa: the best choice, does it all does add speed and size. Plays like a North American style. Who will it take to get him, depends on if he signs i'm assuming. Jokinin: big tough centre, wouldn't move him to the wing, could play lwith Lats / Sk. Keep higgins and Koivu together. Probably would cost alot. Havlat is interesting would be great on a line with SK Koivu. Put higgins where he belongs, 3rd line. Probably wouldn't take too much to get him. Isn't physical and injury prone. Tangauy: Is allright, would probably play well with SK Koivu. Kills penalties, playoff tested. may cost Ryder Streit and a 2nd. Richards: Not high on him, invisible the last too years, huge contract with RFA's needing raises. Doesn't do it for me. I would get a big shut down centre, that's all. The Habs need a shut down line. Atleast the weekend will be interesting.

Yep, until they locked in they still can be caught. The other thing in there favor, the devils, flyers, rangers and islanders play eachother alot down the stretch so that should prevent atleast 1 or 2 of those teams from getting on a big role. I just look at points for the ninth place team so they still look good for the playoffs. 10 wins 95 points shouls be a lock. So once they are gauranteed in, i'll officially post i'm a beleiver.

Well to blame that one on Huet is probably wrong. I will agree all nut the break away he had pieces and went through him. However, defensively they were brutal again, very soft, not moving there feet and standing around watcxhing the puck. 10 goals against in 2 games just doesn't fall on the Goalie. Price will go Saturday i'm sure. Gc should start calling out a few guys, Komi and Markov, goaltenders for starters. Wamsley, you wonder why i'm still not a beleiver, it's because of efforts like last night. You just can't show up for 20 minutes a night and expect to win. Obviously they are tremendously improved, the work ethic is way better then the last 10 years, but i will throw out leadership issues, although everyone else on the board seems to think they have great leaders. They are still too small to compete with the big boys, they get pushed around alot. Various players still disappear from time to time. (Kovalev is the exception this year) i can't beleive i just said that. I have supported GC since he got here, the only thing i still don't like is the 8 d man system, it frustrates me to no end. Why is Begin sitting and Smoke, Dandy taking ice time. He is one of the toughest guys they got. Anyway, they have 2 very winnable games the next 2, they need to learn and play harder to get points to wrap up the playoff spot.

I'll say it. McDonagh. You heard it here first.

He isn't going to trade Mcdonagh and Emelin for a washed up RW and a UFA. Those are Possibly the 2 centre pieces of the D core in a few years.

Chris Gratton Big, tough, wins faceoffs, will fight every now and again. Won't have to give up much to get him. Won't be a major chemistry change either. Begin Gratton Kostopolous

I have never seen anyhting like that. What a comeback. I have also never seen a team look so bad for 30-35 minutes then wake up and totally dominate. I'm still not sure sure about the negatives and the positives in this one, obviously great win, great comeback, should be a momentum builder, 10 wins will be a lock for the playoffs. But on the other hand, what the heck was that first 35 minutes? That was the worst hockey i've seen in a long time. So let's hope this is the beginning of something special, i'm still not a complete beleiver until they wrap up a spot in the playoffs, 10 years of collapsing has caused that.

UMM, didn't the habs have him last year and he was the WORST defensemen in the league. Minus 30 or something. There is a reason Rivet and Souray were moved. I also think Souray sticking up for his team mate thing is a little overblown, he didn't even that many fights.

I wouldn'r rule out Emelin, if BG can get him signed i doubt it will be in Hamilton. So Maybe someone gets moved in the offseason. I don't know if Emelin is a LD or RD.

Well i won't make excuses for Gorges but he has paid on his wrong side quit a bit. He is solid with Bouillon when paired together. I think he is alot better then Brisbois, that guy looks actually scared to be out there.

I didn't see the game either but i had to post and give all the credit to Saks-Avenue. Just like i said i would. I was wrong. So i ate a crow sandwhich for breakfast. It sounds like Price was really good, and the team didn't show up physically again. I think i'll go skiing this weekend and not watch the games again do they can win the pair.