DON

I haven't heard anything on Pacioretty, is it just a minor injury? He looked so good in pre-season

Agreed and on 3 defensive-only d-men, that Is likely on par for league isn't it? But I would guess that the offense PK, Markov and Diaz bring, Habs should above-average to near top in offensive #s from backend. Just need more sound defending by Diaz and I think group would be fine. And with PK playing as well as he is for 1/2 the game, makes it easier for the rest, cept Markov who is still playing a bit too much and Tinordi could likely handle more than 10 minutes? Just how good can that 3rd line get? Eller finally on the PP, took long enough. 48-51 at least got icetime they should, hoping Briere is maybe a slow starter? Price was normal, solid with 1 glaring fumble. But 22 saves vs a weak looking Flyer team, shouldn't been 1st star over, maybe Bourque or one of other forwards (or Subban?).

Gregoire still rolling, 8 goals in 7 games, Hudon doing well also. Vail 17th and Crisp is 29th in OHL scoring, I know still early in season, but still nice to see. Thrower also had good 1st game with goal&assist

No don't compare drunk driving and hockey fights, other than simply fact (maybe a bad/extreme example) some groups simply cant see err of their ways and need someone else to step in to protect themselves from themselves. And in education, I would use the cup and helmet choice as one prime example of misplaced or wonky attitude, protective cups had been worn by NHLers since beginning of time (I am guessing at that, but agree a long long time), but went decades with zero protection to a much more important part of body, till basically players were mandated that might be good for their well being to all wear helmets.

Sure, but you are talking about workers whom barely made it through high school and don't know any different. Did they fight mandatory helmets? Are they fighting mandatory visors? Do drunk drivers think they are driving fine after couple drinks? There is always a time for big brother to step in for a groups own protection whether they like it or not. There are many different ways to step up enforcement and many will not turn hockey into a "soft" or boring game. I think they should start by reducing equipment, in rugby if 1 player runs over another, both suffer and you don't have the head on concussion causing collisions as we see in Hockey/Football. Toss the Kevlar-type crap which is being used both as a weapon as well as protection and players will tend not to run 100kph at other players. Similar to "old-time" hockey which did have more clutching grabbing but most were fine with that at the time and maybe wasn't a bad thing for safety?

Agree with quote, cept; In "ban", do you mean in same way as ban on steroids, drugs, unsportsmanlike conduct (e.g.attacking a fan), criminal behavior (game rigging) etc are effectively eliminated from sports? I think all stuff not in playbook and punishable by the sports body, can be considered banned, prohibited or simply against the rules of conduct, however you want to put it. You are not allowed to do X, if you do X the punishment will be...You are not allowed to punch another player in the face, so couldnt that be considered "banned" from the game already? And like u say, simply needs to be dealt with firmly as other sports do. Some other sports do some interesting stuff; soccer makes a team play rest of game shorthanded for bad stuff (red card). And NBA has basically a well respected (unwritten?) rule of being given technicals for arguing with or making any smartass comments to any ref and that player is quickly ejected from the game. (but officiating is another pet peeve, put whistle n "back pocket" if game almost over and is close in score is as "bush-league" as it gets. In NFL a hold/interference is a penalty no matter what scoreboard says, nor whether is OT in Superbowl or just pre-season.)

Gregoire still on good pace, 6th goal in 6th game with 1 period or so left, looking good for pick 176th (over very short span, but still encouraging).

Yes is true, majority who follow hockey get excited and/or enjoy when fight breaks out. But, not quite sure how you link; one-on-one combat sports, penalizing violations in NHL and banning a sport?

I have said fighting should be penalized for years. And just chime in when topic comes up every year or so. The oddity of NHL fighting attitude/tolerance/glorification vs that of rest of world sports, seems to speak for itself and not in a flattering way.

World Junior hockey seems to be not a bad game to watch eh? Its popularity isn't lessened with zero fights is it? Frustrations seems a very weak argument; Sakic-Datzyuk and majority didn't/dont fight much, why don't they get as frustrated as a Parros-Orr-Probert? Or do you mean, a Sakic's frustration maybe subsides when he saw a tormenter pummelled by a Dale Hunter? And fighting happens in rugby-football, but is not tolerated and ejection-fines-suspensions seem to work quite well. And we all know fights will always be a small part of most sports, but NHL really does live in stone ages. Cheap shots happen in NBA, NFL, but again are not tolerated and is one purpose of officials is to penalize the Ott-Avery and Kaletas and unsportsmanlike penalites are just for that purpose. As far as taking 30-40 goons out of NHL, you got to be kidding that more skilled players will unfairly usurp them? I will take a guy who can skate-hit or score, over a part-time hired thug who plays 2-6minutes/game.

I agree and don't think he will be out too long, but Habs luck with hired goons hasn't been good. But is a good opening for White or Bournival, who can actually play hockey. Still got Tarnasky I suppose.

Would be a nice day in Toronto before Canucks trade a top 4 d-man for spare parts. A Plekanec..maybe would do it. Bergevin needs to find another goon first.

I think a bit pessimistic take on a freak accident, preventable only by maybe wearing full cage like lacrosse. The hit from behind and follow up crosscheck to neck on Schiefele was more disturbing. I am all for instant ejection for fighting, is a childish act anyways and one reason why every other team sport has banned it, but aint gonna happen in NHL till a fatality occurs directly from a fight, which is just too bad as the game is just as entertaining without it.

Who fills in for Parros? White or Bournival? Flip a coin?

DD for Bournival. At least Bournival wouldn't turnover pucks to avoid every hit.

I agree, Max just didn't look the same when he came back to game. Super to hear Parros has a granite chin and not hurt bad. And yes 4th line looked good, but got to say White should help in faceoff circle, unless Bournival gets the nod on Saturday (which he likely deserves after pre-season showing he had).

Still miss #74 big time. Eller played like I expected Pacioretty would. Any word on injury to Max, minor I hope? Tinordi, Diaz, Price, Gorges, Subban all played well. Many vets not mid-season form. Still not sure what coach has against using Eller on the PP? Need Plekanec never to take a PK faceoff again, great penalty killer but still cant win a faceoff in own end. Eller and whomever was playing with him was simply dangerous all night. Sloppy game and both goalies look good. Nice to see Moan step up for Prust,

Hughson is good, but cant stomach idiots around him Cherry, Ron M, Healy, etc, etc, so I never watch CBC game done by Leaf crew anymore. Is almost like listening to Jack Edwards describe a Bruins fight. Idiot Healy will be spouting what the Leafs must do to win, or what the Leafs are doing wrong to be losing to that other team. You yanks got NPR we get CBC, 2 outdated public funded orgs.

Sportsnet a few minutes ago had Reimer in and for Habs in net was "TBA". Therrien maybe will just flip a coin for this one?

He just seems defensively weak and pushed off the puck way too easily. But you cant deny his skill with puck in offensive zone is top notch and he will play some NHL games this year for sure.

obviously not 2PPG, but thinking Gregoire possibly come in 80+points and 100+pims? And I keep comparing him to Emile Pourier, whom I thought might be a good pick @25 and both off to similar start. didn't know concussions were issue for the Finn, hope dosent crop up again this season, was it a Ruuttu dirty hit that did it? I vaguely recall Ruuttu cheap shot on some prospect? Just noticed Vail is off to similar hot start he had last fall? Good to see.

Lehkonen and de la Rose both doing well. de la Rose seems like a physical, good skating and defensively sound prospect, look forward to see him at world juniors. Were size and Collberg type defensive play, the only negatives for Lehkonen? Bozon not off to good start. Will Gregoire be like Hudon and be a great-looking late pick, or is he just off to a freakishly good start?

I expected him to go back and will be good for him to play under Don Hay. Dietz got exposed in pre-season and adding Thrower to Dietz, Nygren and other young-d in Hamilton didn't seem likely. Thrower and Bennett will get their shot next fall once Tinordi and Pateryn likely will have moved on.

My feeling on this signing hasn't changed and still like it, as we have already seen in pre-season you simply cant have "too-many" d-men over 82 games + 2nd season (team averaged around 10 d-men last year, in 1/2 season). Not sure why anyone really has an issue with signing, if Murray nevers plays 1 game for Habs, not a big deal is it? And in the 1 game he did play he didn't leave anyone standing in Price's crease, which is play that has been missing from a very soft d-core for years.

agreed, 67 has looked the most dangerous all pre-season (Subban also has looked super, but more likely to assist on first goal) . I agree with Brain on the PK being important and heres hoping faceoff % is also better this year. But I am more optimistic about Price and think he will be fine.