ch_nl

One of the best in the game today. Of course everybody would want him.

Agree. And maybe that's why Plekanec shouldn't be centering a second line? Samsonov and Kovalev are the most skilled players on this edition of the Montreal Canadiens. Plekanec is a solid two-way player that would look great on the left wing. Higgins is having great chemistry with Koivu and Ryder and therefore it't not an option to break them apart. But it will be inevitable to try Higgins at the center on the second line if things won't work for Kovalev, Plekanec and Samsonov.

If the trophy would be handed out now then Higgins should have won it. With that said, I think that he will be a candidate if he continues like he has.

Habs fans in a nutshell. Never satisfied.

Im rubber you are glue. Whatever you say to me bounces back a sticks to you. (Still looking for the ultimate insult)

Good for Lapierre. But why didn't they bring up a more speedy player when it's the Sabres that will be on the other side of the rink? Or why not try Chipchura?

Not a habs anymore but Sunny is called "Susse" in Sweden and by close friends. And no, that's not "Suise". "Suss-ee" is closer.

He's in a good team and with the right people on his wing Ribs can put up numbers. Remember he was a top scorer with the Habs as well but Gainey needed size and defense.

What for?!?! Swedes have a great reputation. 20% of the captains in the NHL are Swedish. Peter Forsberg lower his salary just so the Avs can afford to keep Sakic. How can anybody hate swedish hockeyplayers? What has Swedes ever done wrong? Just look at our own team. Mats Näslund? And latley we had Sundström and Dackell. Didn't they do their job? It's not like they went skiing or took a trip to Paris...

Under 30 and not a leafs fan. It's the rivalry. I hate when the Leafs beat the Habs just as much as I love when the Habs win. It's the history of the two teams. None of the players that plays today was around 1967, yet I think they all feel the tension. I guess the same things goes for fans. And about Leafs fans in general... Their optimistics. The Leafs are great and the club never makes misstakes. All players are great and every year they are a contender. Habs fans are the direct opposite: I think the Patrick Roy story tells it all... But personly I disslike the Bruins just as much as the Leafs. That's only team that has played the Habs enough times in the playoffs to make an impact on me personly.

And as usual the European sees things different. The hockey-stick Canucks jersey is the best they've ever worn. The Montreal Canadiens and the other original six are the best ones. New York Islanders former "fisherman" was ugly and so it Boston's "Teddybear". San Jose has a logo that's just stupid. It's not cool, it's not cartoony. It's just a poor old shark that has found an old hockeystick.

Kopitar is a great player and a great guy. Broke some records here in Sweden when he played in the juniors. He's had a great start but I don't think the Habs did a bad thing to go with Price. If a team has decided to pick a goaltender with their top pick then it's never a dumb idea to get the best available. Kopitar will turn some heads and is a potential first liner.

Chris Higgins.

Buffalo and Canes have allready started...

Who will score the first goal of the season? My pick: Henrik Tallinder

No not at all. When I started to watch Salmin he played in Detroit and later signed with my favourite club in Sweden, AIK. I think Salming was the greatest. I think Leafs fans thinks that as well and of course Salming would have made the Habs in the 70's. An older version of Vladimir Kostantinov.

Defending Ryder here... Why so critical? Low draft pick, came out of nowhere and scores a lot of goals. Will just start his third season and still learning. Why on earth do people want him to leave when things are working for Ryder in Montreal? Let's say the Habs aquired a top scorer like Cheechoo. What would garuantee Cheechoo to score 50 goals with the Habs just because he did in San Jose? There's a lot of individual factors and chemistry that trading Ryder would be stupid when the team needs scoring. Or take a look at Marcus Näslund. He didn't produce in Pittsburgh but once he landed in Vancouver he started to lit the light and he didn't became a different player just over night. He had it all along.

Ryder?! No, no, no. He may not be the most complete hockeyplayer but he score goals! When did the Habs had a guy capable of putting up 40 goals before Ryder? Perezhogin, Aebischer and Souray are the guys that will have to fight if they want to stay. Perezhogin have the Kostitsyn brothers fo fight, Aebischer has Huet, Danis, Price and every other Habs goalie and Souray want to play closer to his family.

I'll watch the Leafs taking a hit (Hopefully) and to watch my childhood star Börje Salming get his number retired.

Kovalev - 77 Ryder - 75 Johnson - 63

About size... Is Montreal still that small? Jan Bulis, Richard Zednik and Mike Ribeiro gone. Mike Johnson, Guillaume Latendresse and Janne Niinimaa added.

I don't know about you guys but my opinion is that most you haven't realized how good Janne Niinimma is. His stats may not be so great but please find an old video and watch. He's dominant from time to time. Markov, Niinimaa and Boullion. Looks fine to me. Souray might be happy, Habs get something they need. Win-win situation.

I guess the same thing could have been said about Michael Ryder a coupple of seasons ago. I would love to see Latendresse on a line with Ryder and Koivu. But that would demote Higgins to the second line. And remember that Higgins is a center and should work well with Samsonov and Kovalev. Plekanec is still a great player but I wonder if he wouldn't do better on a third line with Mike Johnson. So... Don't rule out the possibillity of Latendresse getting time on the top line, nor winning the calder. But Malkin is the favourtite and one of the most skilled hockey players on the planet.

3 former Habs players. Good they are all in the west.

Anze Kopitar is rookie. Played last season in Sweden.