Machine of Loving Grace

It all feels transparent to me. I'd rather see them playing with skill than play with physicality, 10 times out of 10. Of course I'd want both, but we're not showing both.

I think one technically, but boy do they look physical! Physically physical! They hit people and hit and... yeah... We look like the 08 Leafs.

This is why I have very little defence for this coaching staff. I could at least rely on Martin to put the team on a defensive strategy. I can't rely on this coaching staff to do anything other than kill penalties and forecheck. Not enough for me. The team ain't scoring. Put an AHL scorer with some NHL passers! EDIT: I thought Palushaj had a good wrist shot? Then yeah, try Leblanc.

Eller - Gomez - Darche is a terrible line because Eller and Gomez are both puck distributors. Why not put Palushaj or Kostitsyn on that line?

It's nice to watch hockey games without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack at age 26 but there will always be that fear that the team will make this all fruitless. "And with the second overall pick, the Montreal Canadiens select... Ryan Murray!"

Zetterberg has a "red wing for life" contract and likely will be a Red Wing for life. If you're trying to get him, it's going to cost you more than just Plekanec, Moen and a mid level pick. You're asking Detroit to remove one of its best players on his first average season of his career. That said, I agree that Plekanec seems like a Red Wing type player. There's just no room for him in the top six and I doubt Detroit wants to spend $5M per season on a third line center. Moen would make a lot more sense for them.

Pittsburgh would never, ever trade him. People would stop following the Pens if they did that. Now, if the Penguins let Crosby leave on his own? People would blame Crosby and still stay Penguins fans.

This is honestly no surprise to me, remembering there was a petition to make Don Cherry the GM of the Leafs several years ago. Oh how I hoped that happened.

Crosby becoming a Hab would be incredible. Don't ever see it happening, even Crosby as a 38 year old on his way out, but it would still be incredible.

I'm not convinced Fleury is better than Price based on goaltending performances. Even if you compare them at age. Letang is definitely better than Subban... now.

He really should have waited when it came to Cammalleri. I know the impression was to get rid of the people not listening to the coach and that, "we can't let his value drop any further" but the trade deadline is when you pick up players to get ready for the post-season and Cammalleri is one of the best post-season scorers of the last two years. That's when you move a guy like Cammalleri. I got little to no confidence in Gauthier or the coaching staff but that doesn't mean I hate every move they've made.

People tend to forget that trade deadline predictions are not about the players worth but the players inflated worth through desperation and bidding. The trade deadline is starting to simmer down compared to earlier years but you'll always see moves for complimentary players for prices much, much more expensive that they'd have been three months earlier.

I don't see at all how he'll be right about Eller. I think by the time Eller has matured into a top six centerman, he'll be comfortably scoring 20 goals a season. People are funny when it comes to centers. Tomas Plekanec has scored more goals in a season than Andrei Kostitsyn has but if you ask around, most will tell you that Andrei Kostitsyn is the goal scorer while Plekanec is the puck distributor.

Pierre McGuire went on a rant a season ago saying that Lars Eller, "will never be a goal scorer in the NHL". He argued that he was a good player who had good skill but, "Don't expect him to score any goals for you." He now has 10 goals in his second official NHL season and will probably finish the year with anywhere between 15-20. Not bad at all for third line production and a guy who is a much better puck distributor than goal scorer. But listen to McGuire and he can't score in the NHL.

There isn't a single player that's untradeable, but there are players I have no confidence that Gauthier will get the best return for.

I say doubtful. Dallas is very happy with Souray while Carolina was actively shopping Kaberle.

It feels like Montreal hasn't played a road game in a year...

Funny you mention Chelios. His words. Chelios was 28 when Montreal traded him and he admits to being immature and not handling his responsibilities properly. And we're complaining about Subban as "not a team player" at 21. Cunnyworth and co. are going to do whatever it takes to save their jobs. That means deflecting blame. Not saying Subban hasn't been irresponsible or that he is too good to be disciplined. I just remember this talk happening when the guy who plays net for Montreal was a little younger.

I still believe it's less of a "Subban is not a team player" and more "Subban doesn't get along with the coaching staff". It was pretty clear that two guys were not having a good time with the coaching staff. Cammalleri and Subban. Cam gets traded, Subban is now in supposed trading rumours. This is the worst Habs coaching staff since the rookie string of the mid/late 90s (Tremblay, Therrien, etc.) and those coaching staffs had rookie casualties as well. It'd be nice if we didn't lose players over it.

Diaz vs. Smith on puck control? Nice.

Timmins and the Canadiens biggest issue when it comes to drafting is they seem to almost completely avoid the OHL.

Beer Prediction A. Kostitsyn and Y. Weber to DET for 1st Round Pick 2012 and 4th Round Pick 2012

If you honestly think Begin was more physical than Moen, you should ask why every team in the NHL is willing to give more for Moen than Begin has ever been worth.

Gill and Desharnais to the Blackhawks for a 2nd and Jimmy Hayes.

They can acquire both if they want both. Chicago seems to always have a lot of pieces where people are unsure where they fit. Ben Smith, Jeremy Morin, Brandon Saad, Marcus Kruger, Jimmy Hayes, all guys the Blackhawks could offer up instead of a draft pick if they wanted to. If Chicago wanted Gill and the Hawks said, "Want Hayes?" I'd say yes please.