Helmethead

4 for 4 tonite... Carey, Saku , Mike and Chris owe us a good performance tonite... Thank God for Sopcast!!! Go Habs Go!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are hilarious. Whoever thinks that this team is not performing, or hasn't shown signs of major fundamental improvement as compared to the past decade is sniffing glue. We FINALLY have a nucleus comparable to teams that we have been envying since 1995. Do not underestimate the hockey sense, general capability and heart of the players of this team. I honestly believe that the mettal of most of our players under 25 (Higgins, Komi, Pleks, Chipchura and Price to name a few) is at least at par with that of that of Carbonneau, Skrugland, McPhee, Lemieux, Chelios and Roy. The difference is that the 1986 team was surrounded and literally broken in by Future Hall of Famers - Gainey and Robinson and others. Unfortunately, this 2007-2008 team isn't. Hence, these players need time to create their own identity. They need to find the way to win. The effort is there, and as time goes by, you will see this effort become more and more consistant. With this consistancy will come confidence. And with the confidence will come the results. And because this is a young team, with a deep farmteam (thank you Andre Savard and Bob Gainey) there will be a spillover effect through the system. Gainey is well aware of what this team needs. He is very reluctant to pull the trigger on a move that would bear our cupboard. Why you ask? Cause he (directly and indirectly) has been grooming these players to become leaders; to become winners. He knows their potential, and that's what worries him. You can either mortgage part of your future for someone who's gonna "possibly" help you in the short term, or be a little more patient and wait things out. Some people mentioned Gainey's trade of Iginla for Nieuendyk that brought Dallas the cup. Agreed, however there is one glaring difference between the NHL of then and now. Back then, trading prospects for primetime players would have the opportunity cost of losing a prospect. THAT'S IT! Today, not only do you risk losing a prospect(s) but you also risk putting your team in an uncompetitive position for many many years to come. Why? Cause of the salary cap. Fans have been kicking and screaming about the Habs inability to lure expensive UFA's over the past two summers. I am personally glad we haven't been able to. Any deal that sucks out over 20% of your cap space is LETHAL! Philly (was and is still) playing russian roulette with Briere. And all looks fine and dandy right now, and yes he MIGHT perform for them throughout the course of the year, but he has to do that CONSISTANTLY for the duration of his contract. If he doesn't - ur @#$#^*!!! Cause I'll bet you my last souvlaki that no one will want to take a risk on him at a cap hit of +8million a year. Oh, and for every one Briere there is a Brian McCabe or Zdeno Chara (you get the picture). That being said, I believe Gainey will make a bold move. It might be at the tradedeadline, it might be at the draft, it might be this afternoon. Bottom line is he is in full control of this team and overall we should all be very satisfied with his work. That doesn't mean that he shouldn't be critisized or that every move he make makes sense (Souray SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT!) but overall he has turned this team around. Trade Huet??? In my opinion, he should sign him ASAP. (On a side note - just wanted to commend Chicoutimi Cuccumber, Wamsley01, Tokyohabs, JMMR, JLPilon, saskhab and Mathieu30 for the thought they put in their posts. Although I don't write here often, I visit the site at least 5 times a day and honnestly look forward to your thoughts. Sorry to those whom I haven't mentioned.)

Just to remind you guys, that "backup" was the reason the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs last years. I think last night was their way of saying thank you to Wade.

This bit of news really made me sad. Nothing must hurt more than having the hope of new life dissapear from your family. Stay strong Cristobal. All Habs fans throughout the world know that you and your wife get through this and have a life filled with love and many children.

I say 99 too.. 99 points to celebrate our 99th season This team is destined for great things. Few people have understood this so far. Youth and hunger can really take you a long way. :hlogo: GO HABS GO :hlogo:

Bobo, stop being such a pussy. Yeah, Greece really sucks this time of year..it happens to be 28 C and sunny today. You forgot to mention to everyone how your typing away from the beach. By the way, I think it's time we start a Montreal Canadiens Fan Club in Greece. We can have our own clubhouse and get High Speed internet and Sky Digital so we can subscribe to NASN so we can watch the Habs rip into those $@#%$# Leafs... Oh, maybe we can ask Kovalev and Markov to send us an autographed pictures of themselves, that way we can lure the beautiful Russian ladies who are living and (cough, cough) working in Athens.... B) Ahhhh..gotta love it, smells like winter!!! :hlogo: GO HABS GO :hlogo:

Pretty excited to be the first to post (even though it's a preseason game). Once again, Kudos to Spidey for his dedication and impeccable work! From Athens, Greece----- GO :hlogo: GO

wooo boy... Here we go already... Brisebois Injured It's already starting to look a little less congested. Anyone want to bet he doesn't play a game for the Habs this year??

Wooooohoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I'm gonna cry...... :hlogo:

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere so I thought I'd take the liberty of starting a new thread. Team 990 is reporting that the Habs have called a news conference for 4pm this afternoon. Speculation is that it's for the announcement of the numbers which are to be retired, however nothing has been announced yet. Again, if a thread already exists, please mods feel free to merge mine as well.

Marleau just resigned with the Sharks... http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/235847.html To the pessimists this means he'll be in San Jose for 3 more years.. To the optimists it might seem like a sign and trade is in the works, although at 4.5mil there is no way the Sharks are dumping him for nothing less than the farm... Geez..What a bargain.

Can you please send my Red Canadiens jersey with "Kostopoulos" written on the back to Athens Greece please? Kalos orises sto Montreal Thanasi (Tom)!! Oloi i elliniki parikoia tha einai dipla sou... Kane mas yperifanous....!!! (Welcome to Montreal Tom (Thanasis is Tom in Greek). The whole Greek community is behind you...Make us proud!!!)

The collective sigh of relief that "logical" Habs fans all over North American breathed just reached Athens Greece... This is by far the best news that I could have heard today. Talk about a huge Albatross... This is really gonna backfire for the Flyers....i mean come on, 8 yrs?? For Briere? Get real...

Who??? My God.. Am I drunk? Anyone wanna give me a breakdown on this kid?? Welcome Ryan McDonagh!!

The Habs will take Esposito and trade up to get Cherepanov.... Please Please Please...!!!

3:20 am here... I have a feeling Montreal will keep 12th pick, and will trade up their 22nd pick for someone else who has fallen below where they expected... Cherepanov and Esposito anyone??

Thanks everyone! It's gonna be one long night for me. Let's hope the draft lives up to its billing!!

Does anyone know if there will be Live Streaming done from TSN?

First the rumor for Kovalev to Washington, now to Calgary for Tanguay? Boy am I glad Iron Mike is back in the fold... Looks like Bob is trying to get a bidding war started! And to think that a couple of weeks it go most of us thought we couldn't get rid of him for free.... Ain't life looking grand all of a sudden.....

The most realistic scenarios I have heard so far from all this bullshit circulating on various websites are as such: Habs trade up in today's draft in order to secure the player of their choice. Habs dump Kovalev to Washington to free up more Cap space Let's set things clear. Montreal has been lacking the ability to move up substantially in the draft over the past 2 or 3 decades. Even if they wanted to move up in previous years, they would have to mortgage their future (which they didn't even have) in order to snatch a prime (top 3) prospect. This year things are different. Why you ask? Well..it's quite simple. The 1st overall Consensus pick up to Christmas was Angelo Esposito. Anyone you would have asked last summer would have said straight out that he would be going 1st overall. His drop off in performance this year however had almost wiped him off the map. This fact, along with the NHL's inabilty to come to an agreement with the Russian Hockey Federation concering the Transfer System, has blown this years draft wide open. Had Esposito continued producing at the same pace as he did last year and had the NHL and Russia agreed to a Transfer System, thus giving the teams the security they need in order to bring Cherepanov to North America, these two would have been 1st and 2nd overall. This isn't the case however, and that's why things get interesting for Montreal. As we all know, Risk reduces Value. The Habs scouting system, Timmens and Gaultier in particular, have carte blanche from Bob Gainey. In my view, the organization's strength is being able to properly assess Risk vs Reward. Many have stated that this year is a particularly weak draft. I DON'T BUY THAT! And I don't think the Habs buy that either. Montreal is in the process of playing a very intruiging game of chess. The moves leading up to the draft have been throughly thought out. I strongly believe that they will indeed move up in order to draft the player they believe will be a Superstar; and the reason is, cause this year it will cost them less than what it would any other year. Let's be realistic. Montreal will not be placed this low in the draft order for the next couple of years. The reason is quite simple; the team is maturing, the players are gaining experiences and obtaining character. Management has been weeding out the players which did not buy into the Team First Mentality. Our prospect cupboard is almost replenished. The proof is in the pudding - Look at the Bulldogs and the young core of players currently in Mtl. Good young kids, with the proper attitude, the proper mentality and the heart, drive and the conviction needed to bring this team to glory. This is Montreal's last chance to draft from such a high position (12th). Hence this might be the last chance to try and grab the elusive "potential superstar center" prospect which is missing from our stock of young talent. Gainey knows this, Timmens knows this, Gaultier knows this. Now the rumor which surfaced yesterday concerning Washighton's potential interest in Kovalev is indeed intruiging. We all know that as good as Kovalev is, and as much as we love him, he does not fit into this team. Up to 2 weeks ago, it seemed impossible for Montreal to be able to get rid of Kovalev, let alone Samsonov. Well, Samsonov is gone, and Kovalev might finally find a suitor. What has suddenly changed? Two things: Increase in the Cap to 50+ million The overpriced signings of Hartnell and Timonen by Philadelphia All of a sudden, Samsonov's and Kovalev's contracts aren't considered as expensive as they were originally made out to be. IF Montreal is willing to dump them off without taking on the equivalent salary, then I think they will. In Samsonov's case, it is obvious that we had to take something off Chicago's hands, but honnestly, did anyone of you expect Samsonov to garner any interest from NHL teams after he cleared waivers last year? Didn't think so. Kovalev, is not as bad as a case as Samsonov was. He still produces, and a team like Washington, who is well below the cap might want to provide Semin and Ovechkin with a Russian Superstar/Fatherfigure. In my opinion, if they want him, they can have him and Gainey will not bat an eyelash in pulling this one off. I honnestly do not think Marleau is coming to Montreal. Why? First and foremost cause this rumor has been circulating for well over a week now. That is a strong deterant in itself cause we all know how secretive Gainey is. Secondly, because Marleau would cost us prospects. Gainey has proven time and time again that he DOES NOT WANT TO SHED YOUNG PROMISING PLAYERS for a quick fix. Now I know Marleau is only 27, but he will be a UFA next summer, and with all due respect, I don't think he's the player who will bring Montreal to the next level. The only possible scenario I see for Marleau coming to Mtl is IF we can't secure a higher position in the draft in order to pick the player we want, and providing that when our turn comes, we package both 1st rd picks to San Jose for Patrick. In that case, I would not mind. All in all, I think that Gainey has been very successful this off-season. IF he can move up in the draft, and IF he can dump/trade Kovalev, I will be very happy because we will have valuable CAP space in order to sign a top-notch UFA and we will have drafted the player whom our 1st class scouting dept. truly believes will lead the Habs through the next decade. Thanks for bearing with me. Please let me know what you guys and gals think. Is it obvious that I'm excited for the Draft??? Starts Saturday morning at 2am Local Time for me.... GO HABS GO From Athens, GREECE

Thanks Alexstream for resurecting this thread. I sat and read through each and every post. It felt quite cleansing actually, cause it gives you the opportunity to see how we "overreact" to certain incidents which might not have made sense to us at that specific time. After picking Carey Price 5th overall: Some wanted Gainey, Timmins and the rest of the crew to walk off the Jacques Cartier Bridge... Other's were skeptical, but expressed confidence and blind faith in our GM and scouting dept. and Beckham (who would have thunk it.. ) hit the nail right on the head.. In retrospect, we should be thanking our lucky stars that the Habs went out on a limb and drafted this kid. He his the real McCoy... I can't wait to see what kind of rabbit Gainey will pull out of his hat this year. My personal feeling is that we will trade both 1st picks away to move up and draft Esposito (whether we like it or not). Can't wait to resurrect the 2007 Draft Day Thread two years from now to see how many fans overreacted to the Canadiens moving up to draft an overhyped and possible cronic perennial slacker... I hope I don't get "Banned like Beckham" cause of my belief that the Habs made a good decision in drafting Esposito.

These are the type of signings that could really help a team in my new NHL 2. Unknown fringe players playing in Europe can give you the leverage (Cap Space) you need in order to be able to absorb overpaying for unproductive players (Samsonov, Kovalev). The difference in quality between the NHL and the various European Leagues has diminuished so much that it quite possible to find virtually unknown players to North America, who can jump in and play quality minutes while getting paid the league minimun. Never underestimate smart, hungry players who are dying to take advantage of the golden opportunity which is given to them; to play in the most competitive league in the world. These players are more willing to lay it all on the line in order to establish their presence in the league. Keep in mind that most of these players play hockey cause they love the sport, not cause they are drawn to the millions which are being thrown at their feet. These are the type of players I would want on my team. Just my two cents...

Guys, Let me know if the link works...... Thanks

www.sopcast.com/player/index.jsp# I'm not sure if that's the direct link but look at the list it's ID# 22078 Channel: NHL Name NYR/MTL You're all welcome.... P.S. Get the #@$@#@ goal back!!!

The hockey Gods are smiling on me tonight.... I found a free online streaming site and I get to watch the most important game of the year on RDS!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go HABS Go!!!!