Toren

Souray left the game. I can't figure out what happened. Whatever it is, I don't like it one bit.

If that's the game winning goal, I'm gonna beat up the first Panthers fan I see. That might take a long time...

Yeah, those were both gifts for Kozlov. And now the game has stopped because Zednik broke the glass on a dump-in. They're just getting the glass installed now, almost 10 minutes later.

That's my fondest memory of Komosaurus yet.

Maybe he'll show Audette a little ex-habs love.

I have to admit, that was much more entertaining than it's big league counterpart. 9-5 win for the Canadian All-Stars over the PlanetUSA All-Stars. Gratton had a goal and two assists, one of them was an amazing passing play. The guy who stood out the most was Josef Balej. The announcers just could not stop talking about this guy. He's an amazing talent. They had an interview with him, and he said that he was trying to have fun out there and put on some moves for the fans to enjoy. He flipped a puck from almost the goal line over the goalie to a teammate on the other side of the crease, who just missed the shot. He also flipped the puck up on the breakaway and nearly batted it in on the other side of the goalie. (I know you're probably having a hard time picturing these plays, but they're so unique that I've got a hard time explaining them). He also made an amazing move on another breakaway to fake out goaltender Emery, but was stoned by a very lucky goalie skate. On the same shift, he faked a shot, faked a deke, and faked a backhand all within about a second, then made a pass to a teammate streaking in on the play, who seemed to also be in awe and couldn't finish it. Unfortunately, Balej came out with no points, but it wasn't for lack of effort. All in all, an entertaining game, and a Balej set up an offensive skills camp for everyone. Can't wait to see him in a Habs jersey in the future. [Edited on 2004/2/10 by Toren]

We need a guy like Ryan Smyth, I just don't want to pay too much for him. The last thing we need is to get the injury bug back in Montreal.

I'm all for taking a risk with Perrault. Trade him for a project power forward. Like Mikko Koivu or Fedor Fedorov. I know that coincidentally, they're both brothers of great players, and both teams who wouldn't be interested in Panic Yanic, but it's just a guidline. If we're gonna lose him anyways, let's try for a gamble. Face it, we're not gonna get a clear-cut budding power forward for Yanic alone. We may be able to use our strong scouting and pick up a gem that another team might be willing to get rid of.

The problem I have with trading youth to get Smyth would be that he takes shifts and sometimes games off. He's lazy from time to time. He's also injury prone. I just don't want to trade two good prospects for a guy who's sleeping in between injuries.

http://slam.canoe.ca/BulldogsImages04/balej.mpg When that kind of creativity and talent is just ripening in the farm system.

Obviously they're high picks, but it's still something we're missing. I almost wish we did bad enough to get some top-three picks for two or three years straight. We didn't make the playoffs, but we didn't get superstar players, either.

That comes as a suprise to me. But you have to remember that the only reason we're not #2 is because Pittsbourg's prospects are all playing in the NHL this season, which means that they're not prospects anymore. But good to see us on top of something for once. I think we're really lacking the talents of a pure superstar. Kastsitsin is probably our greatest chance of that, but we really don't have a Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuck, Rick Nash, or Jailhouse Joe Thornton (He's a cheap bastard, but he's talented up the wazoo) But, there's always hope! :ghg:

Allright boys and girls, c'mon. We're all habs fans here. Isn't there a Boston Bruin fan, or a whole Leafs team we can make fun of? :ghg:

No, but Gainey is about to pull the trigger on the Theodore for Belfour deal! Yeah, right. Dream on Tarrana.

I wouldn't be worried, guys. I've been in fights before with my hockey team, and it's been over stupid reasons. I'm usually pretty laid back and I'm joking all the time, but there are some players who are the exact opposite. Always getting on your case when you do something wrong, and blaming you anyways when they do something wrong. And after awhile sometimes it blows up. We had a particularily stressful practice one time, and I took a hard shot on net from the left circle. I nailed one of our defencemen in the arm (we're pretty lax for wearing equipment to practice.) He flipped out and had it not been for the goalie stepping in to break it up, we would have gone at it. I had the gloves dropped and everything. 5 minutes later, we were back to joking with each other and having a good time. The point of this rant is, boys will be boys. I'm not saying there isn't groups of friends on this team, or even "cliques". I just don't think this fight was related, and I don't think that the groups are affecting the team. Let's just enjoy the ride this year. :ghg:

There's always a few of us, although I don't know that many. If you see someone with a plain red Habs cap and a black jacket (driving an 84 Tempo that's starting to fall apart), give 'em a wave.

Great last two shifts by Jason Ward. He forechecked hard and kept the Islanders running in their own end for a solid 40 seconds. Sloppy points in the game for les boys, and that's something we'll have to improve on, but overall a good game and a fun one to watch. Let's hope the break refreshes our players, and that Sheldon and Jose have a good All-Star game and carry that feeling after the break.

90% of all Habs fans need to read this. I can't tell you how many times I've just wanted to hit people in the head for posting such stupid trades.

Good call Bettman. I hope you handle the CBA better than this decision. I think it was ridiculous. I'd like to think of myself as at least 90% unbiased, but Dagenais wasn't even looking at Marchment. He should have gotten the double-minor. There was no stickwork involved, really. He just skated with his stick up and managed to clip the guy in the face. If that's what constitutes a two-game suspension then there should be a big pot for the Player's Emergency Fund. Absolutely appaling.

Kastsitsyn is a more talented winger than Perezhogin, and if anyone of the two is getting a top-line spot, it's Kats. I think the best line combo would be Kats-Higgins-Perezhogin, because they're three of the best skating prospects we have. Higgins can play a crash-and-bang game, and he's a good all-around player. Kats has an awe-inspiring shot, and Perezhogin is good playmaker.

I think Gainey might be doing two things. First off, showing Balej that hard work will get you up to the top. Secondly, I think Bob is trying to push our players to be their best. If you're a fourth liner or a player who's not producing and this young kid who's got a great arsenal of talents and is on a massive confidence boost, you're gonna play that much harder. If I had to make a choice, I'd think Dackell will be the first to go. He's not a great 4th liner, and Ward has made him expendable for now. I like Dackell, and I think he works hard, but he's really the odd man out right now. Balej would probably get 2nd line PP time as well. Just my thoughts. :ghg:

TSN just said that Theo is in net tonight. This is the 3rd back to back game that Theo has played both games this year. Komosaurus is also in, which makes me beleive Markov is still out. Perrault and Sundstrom were both injured. Kilger and Pleckanec are in. Kilger is playing on the 3rd line with Dackell and Juneau. Koivu back on the 1st line. (Edited to provide updates) [Edited on 2004/1/4 by Toren]

I don't want to give up on this guy so easy. Vancouver's top two scorers are players that they got on one-sided deals, because other teams gave up on them. I agree that he hasn't justified regular ice time with the big club, but I want to see him stay for the remainder of this year, and see what happens. I've always liked Kilger, but he needs to realise that four teams have dumped on him already and he's on his last legs with Bob Gainey. Cheers. :ghg:

Since he was benched, it seems that Julien has lit a fire under his rear end. I didn't see the Dallas game, but Perrault was playing hard in the Atlanta game. For the first time...possibly ever, I saw Yanic Perrault using his body and not quite hitting, but just leaning on people and working hard in the corners, which is all I'll ever ask of him. Which is why I beleive Julien allowed him to take the faceoff with a minute or so left. The game before that, Juneau took the late faceoff in the defensive zone, because Perrault is a defensive zone nightmare. But, if Panic Yanic can keep up this inspired play, I've got no problem with having him on. He's the best faceoff man in the NHL, he's got hands as soft as silk, and he's a great depth person to have. A lot of teams would like to say that Yanic Perrault is their 4th or 5th string center. He can score in bunches on the PP, and if he plays hard, he'll be the perfect role player for our beloved team. Cheers. :ghg:

That just shows that the team is growing. Don't worry, we've got a strong group of kids and an even stronger group of people calling the shots. Playoffs this year, parade on St. Catherines in the next half dozen.