Machine of Loving Grace

Call me silly but at this point, no matter who the GM is, they'll be expected to pick Patrick Roy as the new head coach. Maybe that might turn off a guy like Jim Nill that he doesn't get to choose his coach but Nill might like that, having a coach with GM experience in the juniors. He'd probably relate to him better.

You have to understand that there's no such thing as a player being worth x. When you consider the trade deadline, and a team having a need, and having to compete with other teams for that need since their goal is the Stanley Cup, there will be an inflation of value. Travis Moen is a bottom six player under the age of 30 who is a tough guy to play against and is exceptionally smart in shutting a player down, reversing a line momentum or playing the corners. He's one of the highest valued bottom six forwards in the NHL, especially after being a pivotal reason in the Ducks Stanley Cup win only a few seasons ago. Again, he's not even 30 years old. Teams like the Sharks and Blackhawks can see long-term value in acquiring him, especially for his PK abilities. These are teams that desperately need a guy like Moen and if Gauthier doesn't make them pay for it, he'll just be exercising his uselessness.

Subban is probably his most prolific OHL pick but it goes without saying that he's much more comfortable selecting in the WHL and the US programs than he is with the OHL. We've seen off the board picks when solid OHL picks were available. Honestly, it's probably not so much Timmins and more where Montreal has positioned their scouts. I think we need more scouts for the OHL than anything.

I've seen sources that have said that Jim Nill speaks french fluently. The most important factor in getting Nill is that Detroit lets him go and he wants the job. I bet he wants the job, but it's really about where Holland is. If Holland is happy where he is, Detroit will let Nill go for an interview. If Holland might be thinking of no longer GMing, they'll keep Nill and consider him for Holland's job. Hard to say.

Because people misquoted what he said in an interview. He said he would take a pay cut to what he would expect in a new contract and people took it as a pay cut to what he makes now. And Moen is unquestionably a third liner. Hab observers seem to love underestimating a guy who isn't even 30 years old and was an important cog in the Ducks winning the Cup. If you look at points for whether a guy is a bottom six player you've already lost sight of what makes a bottom line player.

Yeah, the only areas I think our coaching staff needs to work on is noticing player habits in junior and scouting the OHL better (they seem to be afraid of picking in the OHL). Otherwise, I'd consider Timmins and co. to be the best high pick drafters in the league right now. We always seem to find the gems.

People just need to remember it isn't just about the Top 5. It's also about having a 2nd Round pick that's like a high 1st, a 3rd Round pick that's like a high 2nd, etc. We can fill our prospect system quite nicely with a low finish.

To be honest, I didn't want to watch NHL hockey this season. The majority of that reason was due to the Pacioretty hit from Chara and how pathetic NHL administration had become. However, it is very hard to quit NHL hockey. The attachment to it is far too heavy. I also didn't have much hope for this years Canadien squad but I couldn't pinpoint why. I didn't like the Cole signing and I'm completely wrong about it but for some reason I just didn't believe in this team compared to last seasons team. And then everything felt apart and while I felt pretty good I was right... I felt like shit for abandoning the team. That's why I watch these losses. If this team is going to tank, I'm going to be there with it. Every loss. Every error. Every disappointment. Otherwise, what fan would I be?

Do you mean like worst Canadiens team ever? Because I don't see this team being worse than the 2000-2001 incarnation. That sparkling 28-40-8-6 record. That was the season that Montreal finally fired Rejean Houle after leading the Canadiens to an even worse record than the expansion Blue Jackets and Wild before Houle was fired. That was the year that Brian Savage's 21 goals lead the team. The team was an injured mess that year. Heck, they still weren't the worst team in the league by the end of the year either.

Columbus will likely be unloading Pahlsson and Prospal. They'll get a good return for Prospal I bet. Plus those rumours about Carter. Nothing to do about the Jackets. The Oilers *might* unload Ryan Smyth and will likely unload Ales Hemsky. Andy Sutton is another guy they'll likely let go of. Won't make them much worse doing it. The majority of the Ducks forwards are UFA this summer so who knows who they trade and what they get back. Ruutu, Allen and maybe Spacek could be sent packing for the Hurricanes. Won't change them much. Buffalo has Boyes, Gaustad and possibly Roy to trade. Who knows if they can even find a buyer for Boyes, his knee is shot. This leaves Montreal open to trade Gill, Kostitsyn, Moen, Campoli and possibly Darche, Weber and Budaj if there are takers. I'd say the impact ends up being the same all around.

The Oilers are better than their record suggests as they only have 5OTLs compared to the teams around them. I think they'll show that in this last stretch. I don't see a Top five pick this June for the Oilers. They'll happily select a blueliner between 6th and 10th. Columbus is bad and nothing is going to change that. If one team is going to be guaranteed a Russian, it's Columbus. Anaheim and Carolina have been pretty good as of late. Eric Staal is awake and it shows. Anaheim is winning games without Perry/Getzlaf/Ryan playing well. I wouldn't take that as a hint to anything. If they get going, Anaheim might not be bottom five. That leaves room for the Canadiens to slide into the bottom three. I see the season finishing 30. Columbus 29. Montreal 28. Buffalo 27. Carolina 26. Anaheim by the end of it. Especially once the trade deadline passes and a lot of the UFAs get unloaded. If that's the case, the only thing we'd have to fear is the lottery bumping Montreal out.

The worst thing to take out of this game is Cunnyworth considering it a good effort.

Just a joke. Friedman might be dry but not that dry

Identifying buyers: Chicago: terrible PK Los Angeles: low goal scoring Rangers: poor PP St. Louis: poor PP San Jose: terrible PK Detroit: poor PK New Jersey: bad FO%, poor 5/5 Philadelphia: bad FO%, poor GA/G I'd force Chicago, Detroit, San Jose and whoever else to make bids on Moen and Gill. Montreal's PP might be terrible but that doesn't mean they can't sell a Yannick Weber to the Blues or Rangers. LA could certainly be interested in Andrei Kostitsyn (and would consider him a replacement for Penner) while the Devils could have serious interest in a Tomas Plekanec, though that would be a very big trade to make.

Subban was excellent. Solid performances by Gorges and Diaz as well. Diaz is finally growing on me. Emelin was solid too. I liked what I saw from Palushaj and Leblanc, especially Leblanc. Gomez was trying and there wasn't much I could say about others except Cole. Budaj put out a backup performance. Montreal needs to begin unloading. Find a few desperate teams. Chicago has to be sweating bullets already. Start asking them what they need.

Carolina needs to beat LA. It serves two purposes: improves the Canadiens tank status and will make the Kings that much more desperate. Buffalo/Long Island can goto shootout. Edmonton beating Detroit will create the same effect that the Canes can have on the Kings.

I like everything I see from Leblanc.

Oh god Kaberle, that was embarrassing. I guess we're gonna get a one sided shootout tonight even with a regulation loss!

You know, if Gomez had someone fast enough to play with him, he'd probably have an assist there. Gomez seems to be making things happen and nobody else cares to follow it. Put Palushaj and Leblanc with him and see what happens.

Cap players right now must be thinking, "Well, at worst we'll win it in shootout."

Randy Lacdouceur is happy with the teams play. This coaching staff...

Fact is, trading a playoff superstar at the trade deadline will always get you a better return than trading him at his lowest value point. Calgary acquired him to try to make the playoffs. If they are out, they'll be dealing him to a team trying to add playoff goal scoring. Problem is, it'd have to be a team that wants him for beyond Only team that fits that bill will likely be LA. LA would basically be losing Penner and adding Cammalleri.

It's so strange to watch a 1-0 game and have little faith in the team being able to dig out of a... one goal deficit. That said, I infinitely prefer this kind of a game to a losing side blowout.

Montreal officially has one scoring opportunity this game!

Did everyone fall asleep? Haha.