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sainteflanelle

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    Andrei Markov

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    Laval, Q.C.
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    The Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Alouettes, Jazz and Blues music and computers.

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  1. The only player who can all by himself keep us in the race for the playoffs until Markov is back is Carey Price. Theodore achieved a similar feat in 2001-02 when Saku was lost for almost the entire season. If Carey doesn't have an excellent season, we're done.
  2. The Habs have proven in the second half last season that they are going nowhere without a sound defensive system and without tougher and faster players to execute it as well. I'm glad Jacques Martin has been hired as he'll bring much needed structure and discipline to the team. I'm not sure we have the perfect team on the ice though to play a tight and efficient trap system. Kovy, the artist, has never been at ease playing in any system and Saku may have lost the speed necessary to forecheck and come back quickly enough to block the centre. Hiring Martin is one thing but getting the players on the ice who will be committed and able to execute his system is another thing. The ball is in Gainey's court. The Habs right now are a skating team but they lack leadership and toughness. I hope Martin will put more pressure on Gainey to give him the horses he needs for the 2009-10 race. It won't be easy.
  3. I'm just back from the Pierrefonds 4plexe where the Habs played two 40-minute intrasquad games. I left the first game with 8 minutes left to play because I wanted to have a seat for the second game on rink #2. I don't know how that game ended but the score was 1-0 in favor of the Whites when I left. The goal was scored by Ryan White whose grand-father was sitting on the next seat on my right and he was quite happy about that. A precise shot from his left wing position just at the bottom of the circle. Everybody skated hard and there was a lot of hitting in that first game but little cohesion on either side. They all looked like kids playing free hockey at the neighbourhood park. Begin applied some solid bodychecks but was himself nailed by Komisarek who played a good game. O'Byrne skated well but took himself right out of the play twice without paying a price when attempting to nail opponents solidly. There was also a big hit by Marvin Degon on Kostitsyn. The second game was won by the Reds 3-2 and Price was in goal for the Whites. Lapierre scored the 2goals for the whites and played a heck of a game. He was everywhere on the ice. He scored one goal on a beautiful shot from the slot and on his other goal, he jammed the puck in between the post and the goalies's pad with very little room to manoeuver. The three goals for the Reds were scored by Kostitsyn, Valentenko and Latendresse. Kostitsyn scored a picture goal. He froze dman #24 and used him as a screen to beat Danis with a wicked shot from midway between the two circles. Valentenko also impressed me. He skated very well and played a good game defensively. His slap shot from the left side surprised Price for the second goal by the Reds. On the third goal by the Reds, Kostitsyn went behind the goal with the puck skated around the corner and made a perfect pass to Latendresse in front of the net who beat Price on a quick shot without warning. There was also a huge hit by Bouillon of the White team on Jon Gleed. The Habs regulars Koivu, Kovalev, Ryder, Markov etc... didn't look bad but, as expected, weren't playing all out in those two games. All in all, it was a good effort by the young players. Lots of skating and hitting but the passing and playmaking left a bit to be desired. I expect the rookies to continue honing their skills in the remaining two days of intrasquad games and hopefully the regulars will play harder in the two games against the Pens next Monday and Tuesday.
  4. Kostitsyn so far has scored 1 goal in 22 games in the NHL. I agree he's one of the most talented of our prospects and has a terrific shot on goal but he also has questionable work ethics. I think his brother Sergei will make the big team before he does. He may start the season with the Habs but if he doesn't pull himself by the bootstraps, he'll go back to Hamilton and I don't think he has any options left. I hope he proves me wrong. The crow pie will be tasty.
  5. The Habs need an enforcer who isn't a huge defensive liability, i'e a player like Brashear or Laraque, someone who can play hockey and can also keep the Barnabys and Averys of this world honest. This would also give more room on the ice for our talented players. Those who say we're OK with Komi and Kosto are just kidding themselves. Just look at the Sens. Would they be the same team without McGrattan and Neale? The Habs do have a tougher team this year when it comes to hitting opponents and winning battles along the boards but if our guys have to drop the gloves, they'll be in trouble. When your pseudo-enforcer constantly takes beatings and often has to go to the clinic for stitches, it's not good for the morale of the team. This summer, I would have liked BG to bring us a better 1st line center, a strong #1 to #4 dman (Hamrlik just replaces Souray. No gain there) and an enforcer who can hold his own against NHL heavyweights and he has done none of these things. I still believe we can make the playoffs, but it'll be that much harder.
  6. This means the Habs are deeper at the defense position than last year when, at approximately the same time, Dandy's job was safe and we even acquired Patrick Traverse and Jane Niinimaa . I'd hate to see Dandy at $1.7M/yr spending a lot of time in the press gallery or in Hamilton. That would be quite a waste of cap room. BG should try to complete a trade but I can't see too many takers for Dandenault.
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