huzer

Completely agree. It starts much lower than HC. As I said before, these kids generally start being left alone in locker rooms once they can tie their own skates. These athletes should be 100% supervised through all levels of minor hockey. No good can EVER come from a gathering of 20 or so 12-18 year old boys with no supervision, whether it's sport related or not. And then once adults start reinforcing how "special" top athletes are, well, you're also reinforcing that they can do no wrong. Will supervision cure all ills? No. But it will certainly nip quite a few before they become larger problems.

Continuing to poo-poo a Hughes move? At least you're consistent!

Usually, fired coaches wait until they aren't being paid by the team that fired them to complain. Anyway, I think everyone knew the writing was on the wall for Ducharme. When does an incoming GM keep the coaching staff in place on a floundering team? I guess I was surprised they didn't let the season finish with Ducharme, but ultimately, I'm glad they didn't, given just how Caufield's season did a complete 180.

As my son moves through the ranks of hockey, I'm appalled by the lack of supervision these kids get, and the "old school" mentality of many of the top coaches. I wish I knew how to change it. It needs to start at the top. "Boys will be boys" is 100% a mentality that needs to end and not be accepted. I can tell you in the US, there is Safesport. I can also tell you that 99% of organizations (if not 100%) completely ignore Safesport. For example, two adults in the locker room at all times? That ends as soon as kids know how to tie their own skates. We billeted a kid that was tossed from his organization after reporting a kid pulling a knife in the locker room and threatening another kid (they settled a fairly significant lawsuit in their home state). Parents and kids alike bullied him for "snitching". Coaches on the ice belittling kids, calling them by their mom's names, perpetuating some "you play like a girl" as a negative, will hypocritically touting the growth of strength of the girls program at the same organization. Parents laughing along with it.

I base it on nothing other than my gut. The signing didn't steer me one way or the other. However, Montreal has 3 NHL signed goalies, 2 AHL goalies, 2 signed (maybe more, I dunno) ECHL goalies. I mentioned it in a different thread at some point, when I mentioned Byron and Price potentially starting the season on LTIR. I hope the PRP injections for Price provide some relief. I don't wish for Price to retire, nor to have debilitating knee issues. But with the hoopla of the Florida game to end the year, his year end presser, and the general air of mystery last season, I can't say I have warm fuzzies about the continuation of his career.

I wasn't implying in any way that there was any quality or successor in the mix. I still think Price won't play this year, through no indication other than my own thoughts. I also don't think there is any pressing need to fill the role with a quality starter this year.

The plethora of goalies is intriguing.

So, what's the expected AAV for his next contract?

I figured they'd have to go through the medical motions with Price for LTIR purposes. The PRP injections seem to be an effort to avoid another surgery. I can see the current treatment plan not working out, and either a season ending knee surgery happening some time during training camp/preseason, or Price deciding he doesn't want to undergo any further surgery for a multitude of reasons.

So...who thinks bother Byron and Price will start the season on IR? I do. It seems to me the Habs may be paying lip service to Price's offseason recovery, knowing full well he won't be back. Of course, just a guess on my part.

Press conference is scheduled for 1 PM ET today.

Playing 4th line wing with Poehling is not win-win for Dach. That's about worst possible scenario. Also goes against what Hughes said: "We believe Kirby has significant potential and we think with the Montreal Canadiens, in this environment, we can bring him along and get him to a point where he can be a pretty special centreman.”

It's a tired trope. Just say he's a talented player. It's a statement that seems to especially follow young European players the play Liiga or SHL as a teen. Usually it's used as a hedge against poor stats to back up a lofty draft position. Anyway, I'm not going to pretend I'm a prospect/draft expert. Merely a fan that's watched a few drafts. I know we've had a regime change, but the lack of success for the Habs at the draft table for what feels like decades has me skeptical, especially with the Habs failures when they've gone "big".

I wouldn't exactly call that strength down the middle. I'd call that a group of centers on the last place team in the NHL. Hopefully Dvorak has a better season this year. I wouldn't call 1st rounder Poehling being a fringe NHLers a "good job". Part of the disappointing failure of Habs 1st round picks.

I'm still leery about this pick. The cliche of "boy playing against men" is one such statement I'm tired of. I mean, my 12 year old is a good goalie, and better than quite a few adult goalies. Boy against man, indeed. (Yes, exaggeration, but you get my point). I would've thought (and still do) that in a close horse race, you take the C over a W. Probably flawed thinking on my part, especially after the years of Bergevin brainwashing of "centers are hard to find/get". It would be interesting to hear what deficiencies there are in Wright that convinced the Habs to choose Slafkovsky. I will admit, when Bettman announced a trade, I initially thought the Habs pulled off moving up to get Wright, too.

Unless the next thing from Bettman if "we have a trade to announce", I am stunned. winger of a center. hmm

I know NYR fans are happy Georgiev is gone. Seems like an interesting move for the Avs, but they didn't win the Cup on the strength of their goaltending. Crazy contract for Letang.

It's here! It's here! Do they do parades on the usual route for 1st overall draft pick selections, because the lead up sure feels like it. Ha.

I wish I still had some of my notebooks from that time period. I was thankful I could pick up Montreal radio stations from northern NY. I'd listen to Dick Irvin on the radio (and french language stations when I couldn't pick up the signal.) But you're right, there was no info to be found outside of the regular hockey season. I was able to catch a glimpse of a few future NHLers when I'd catch Cornwall Royals games.

I think the Habs will definitely be in play beyond the 1st pick. Should be a fun 1st round to watch. Only a week to go!

Unless it's a blockbuster, I don't see the Habs trading out of #1 overall when the draft is in Montreal. I think they take Wright as most have expected.

My family went to the watch party at Ball Arena last night. It was a really fun experience, and the entire playoff run was exciting to be a part of. We managed to go to a few games, but prices really went through the roof for the Finals games. ($90 seats became $3000 seats, and that wasn't through the resale market). I was impressed with how well behaved the crowd was after the game. There was a HEAVY police presence at all times, which I'm sure helped quell any potential shenanigans. Cool that Lehky got both the conference and Cup clinching goals. The speed of those first two games by the Avalanche is impressive. Good bit of coaching by Cooper to be able to counter that to some extent. And while it comes off as whiny, good job by Cooper of taking the reffing on this shoulders and not having the players get wrapped up in it. I will admit, the "equipment" delays to when the Avs scored or were pressing by Vasilevsky were annoying. I can now go back to my regularly scheduled programming of being a Habs fan. The Avs were a fun local distraction this spring and provided some good times/memories for my Habs-loving son, too.

Byram is not there yet. He only played (he played well) because Girard got hurt. He'll get a modest raise coming off his ELC, but nothing huge.

So, Jake Allen flips his mask off…Vasy gets an immediate whistle when he throws his off.

Shea Weber? 🤣