shortcat1

You forgot John LeClair. Also Ed Ronan played for Montreal for several years (part seasons). [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

RDS.com says that Mathieu Dandeneault and the Canadiens are interested in each other. Hmmm... Not a top end player but is a good team player.

This has probably already been posted on one line or another but... Pierre Dagenais has been given a qualifying offer of 450,000. It doesn't say for how long but it does say that it's a two-way contract offer. Dagenais will be negotiating for a one-way contract.

Sometimes I wonder 'what if...' Montreal had kept Tomas Vokoun instead of or along with Théodore. Vokoun is a REALLY BIG one that got away.

Hey, Peter Popovic made the team (4 years) as did Sean Hill who became a top-four defenseman for the Whalers/Hurricanes and Florida. He's a big one that got away.

At my 'draft age', the draft age was 20. That makes it the 1970 draft year. That year is memorable for one of the most famous 'never made it' first picks. Here we go: 5 - G - Ray Martyniuk 6 - C - Chuck Lefley 31 - D - Steve Carlyle 45 - G - Cal Hammond 52 - L - John French 66 - D - Rick Wilson 80 - D - Robert Brown 93 - R - Bob Fowler 105 - D - Ric Jordan As some of you will know, Ray Martyniuk never made the NHL, nevermind the team. He did play till 1979 but only in the minors. The highest he got was the AHL and IHL. Chuck Lefley made the team (4 years) , Rick Wilson (part of 1 year), Steve Carlyle and Ric Jordan both did stints in the WHA. The others... nada. By the way, that's the same year that Gilbert Perreault, Dale Tallon, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Darryl Sittler, Billy Smith, Ron Low among others were drafted. Interestingly, Detroit chose, at the 40th pick, a left-winger called YVON LAMBERT. He was a strong part of the late-70's Canadiens dynasty. Still see him on interviews on RDS, TVA or Radio Canada. I never made it past minor bantams (house leagues). A guy boarded me and I couldn't understand why. My dad said that that was part of the game. I didn't stay with it much longer... chicken poop. [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

I'm surprised that no one has thought of MARK STREITZ. He's already in the Canadiens organization. He's in the same mold as Brian Rafalski but potentially better (and he's only 27). Dan Linn had this to say about him in his article 'Montreal Canadiens Top 30 Prospects' (2005-05-22): 12. MARK STREIT - D. Streit at 27 is really too old to be considered a prospect, but it's hard to over look his impressive set of skills and the way he plays the game. After being drafted last summer as an overager, Streit enjoyed a career year in the LNSW, and represented his team at the World Championships, where he showed why the Canadiens were interested in picking him up. Streit isn't the biggest guy, but he skates well both forwards and backwards, has good speed, but it's his positional play as well as being very intelligent in reading the plays both defensively and offensively. Looked very strong in his one on one play and along the boards, which must be very encouraging for the Canadiens management including Mr. Gauither who was the brains behind selecting him. The '12' means that he's the twelfth best prospect in the organization. He's their third best defenseman in waiting. The only other one who's 'ready' is Ron Hainsey. Ryan O'Byrne is way too young yet. If you want to read the whole article, here it is: http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=799 [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

Interesting page on The Hockey News.com. Worth reading a bit. http://www.forecaster.ca/hockeynews/hockey...DraftID=10#4960

I hope that Brian didn't go to the 'How To Fill The Air With Nothing, Assinine Comments Or "He Said That?" School Of Colour Commentating'. And yes, it would be interesting to hear the comments from a former habs.

Well, order your coffin. It's likely going to happen.

Amen, les Glorieux! I find that, on the average, the French-Canadian commentators treat their viewers more intelligently than some of the English ones. They take it for granted that the average viewer knows the game pretty well already whereas the English commentators often seem to 'talk down' to their viewers in the sense that it's taken for granted that the viewers are not that knowledgable about the game. At least that's the impression that I get having watched the game in both languages. This is going to make me sound like an 'old-timer' but it wasn't always that way. Back in the days of Bill Hewitt, Danny Gallivan, Dick Irvin and Bob Cole the viewer was treated as one who knows the game. I wonder if today's commentators are that way in part because of the fact that our Canadian broadcasts can be seen south of the border where the game is still being learned? Or, is it part of the general dumbing down factor that's going on in the media anyways. I don't know. Hey, I could even be wrong - it's just the impression I get. These days, I find that the best commentators are Bob McKenzie, Ron McLean & John Davidson. For them, the viewer is an intelligent person. I enjoy watching Don Cherry but to take him seriously, well.... [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

I'm not concerned about his comments with regards to the Canadiens and Price. Each to his own opinions. As to being a jerk, I don't know but I can honestly say that I have often found him to be irritating when he was part of the panel discussions. The others would talk and he would scream his comments, especially when making comments on a video clip - maybe some sort of Foxism or hyper-hype that takes place on a number of US sports presentations. I sent an email to TSN once asking them if it was necessary that Pierre shout his commentaries. I don't imagine that there was a direct connection but he was actually a calm commentator for a while after that. He seems to have a reliability factor because he was once an NHL coach with the Hartford Whalers but, nevertheless, for me, he still rattles me.

I agree that moves like that are necessary, especially considering the number of young guys who are pretty well ready to make the jump. In so far as I understand, there comes a time when a team has to move their players up or thy lose them (a waiver thing? - or is that baseball?) That aside, I wonder if he'll go the route of Chad Kilger? To another team who will end up liking him and signing him to a multi-year situation? (Kilger got a qualifying contract - good for him.) If nothing else, he's a kid who plays with heart and gives of himself regularly. I'm sure that his skills will be useful with some other team. [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

No, it wouldn't be funny. Not for him, not for Anaheim, not for those who hope the best for him. I still hope the best for Dagenais. He may not be the most talented player but Gainey saw something of value in him to get him. Gainey hasn't let him go either so there is still value to be found in him. At some time, he will move on or be moved on. It's the nature of the business. Nevertheless, he is still a player with a worthwhile talent and he will be till his 'time' is done. [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

I agree. It would also be wild to see him become captain of the team.

This is hardly Canadiens-oriented but I enjoy my Avatar. It's just plain fun. All a part of my 'mood' too. So is my location... not very geographical but very topical. By the way, so is my sig. All a part of enjoying the gifts given to His children. Yessssssirrrr. By the way, I'm going to change my Avatar once in a while. Gonna find some more enjoyable stuff. [Edited on 2005/8/1 by shortcat1]

I strongly suspect that that will be the case. I wonder who it will be. Higgins or Plekanec? They seem to be the only two who are appropriate ones that I can think of...

The report that I read on CHFans reads like this: "Le dimanche 31 juillet 2005 - Selon RDS, Bob Gainey n'a pas fait d'offre qualificative à Jason Ward compte tenu qu'il considérait le salaire à verser trop élevé (669 000$). Le Canadien aurait tenté de négocier un nouveau contrat et aurait également tenter de l'échanger sans succès. Dès lundi 12h00, Ward sera libre de signer avec une autre équipe. Jason Ward avait été sélectionné par le Canadien au 11ième rang du repêchage de 1997. Il aura accumulé 10 buts et 12 passes pour un total de 22 points en 110 parties jouées avec le Canadien. Source: RDS" Gainey didn't make a qualifying offer to Ward because he thought the salary would be too high. The Canadiens tried to negotiate a new contract and also tried to trade him without success. The rest is just general related info.

:ghg: Congratulations to me! I'm now in the AHL! At 55 years of age and I finally made the farm team.:contract: Bullydogs for me!!! :/) I'm just another Gordie Howe. :bow: :ghg: EDIT: That many smilies can make it hard for the page to load for our dial-up users. [Edited on 7-31-05 by Fanpuck33]

Looks good for the better part except for Bonneau. I don't think that he'll be able to make it. Anyways there will be a good three to four more drafts before this scenario can come into play. There could be any number of fast-trackers during that time (at least one anyways.) :ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg:

Leclair? No, disagree with this one too. To be honest, I can't give you a name so this isn't constructive but still, Leclair wouldn't do. Too damaged.

McKeen's 2005 CHL Import Draft list lists SK as follows: 56 London Knights Siarhei Kastsitsyn Mar.20/87 LW Gomel/Belarus 6 190 Maybe I'll get to see him playing against the Sudbury Wolves in Western Samoa.

200 - Siarhei Kastsitsyn

Beckham's last two sentences could be taken in a variety of ways. I laughed, thinking of the ways one could receive the comments "They also managed to get a couple of Francophone's with size and character. That is not easy to do." :ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg: [Edited on 2005/7/30 by shortcat1]

Sure, all things are possible. All I can say is that, so far as I understand (and that's relatively very little) Gainey, Savard, Timmins and Pagé will do the best they can to develop a contending team in a pretty efficient a manner, especially considering the new economics of the league. :ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg::ghg: