Helmethead

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!!!!

No offence, but couldn't you have predicted a regulation win instead? I think the collective Habsworld population will experience simultanaeous chest pains if this game is tied with 2 minutes left in regulation. I'm off work tomorrow (Good Friday!) which means I can stay up ALL night to listen to this one. All by myself, with a six pack of Heineken, a pack of cigarettes (I'm taking up smoking tonight), and my laptop connected to CJAD. Our team has something special. I think the time has come where our Veterans and Youngsters will provide us with a quintessential team effort. We have more guts, more character and more leadership from top to bottom. Come on boys! Your fans from the 4 corners of the world are behind you. Make us scream. Make us proud! Give us a couple more weeks of excitement!!! :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo: :hlogo:

Awfully quiet here tonite... 1st period over with...so far so good... GO HABS GO

Crap...almost first... Oh well, GO HABS GO!!!!

I have a friend here in Athens who will make $600 if Komi reaches that milestone. Safe to say I'm praying for him. (You know how many beer and souvlaki's we can get for $600??)

Went to sleep, 3-1 scrum Wake up, 6-3 les Glorieux. Beautiful weather here in Athens, sun shining just a bit brighter... ------See how small and similar the world is when the Habs win..??------- :hlogo: GO HABS GO :hlogo:

If I am not mistaken....it was game 2 of the Adams Division Semifinal played on April 9th 1987. Habs won that series 4-0, when on to play the Nordiques in the Adams Final, beat them in 7 games after going down 0-2 in the series. They eventually lost in the Wales Conf. Finals to the Flyers in six games. That was Hextall's rookie season, during which he won the Conn Smyth Trophy as the losing goalie.... :hlogo: GO HABS GO :hlogo:

It seems to me that the sun, moon and stars are finally alining, giving this team the necessary supernatural push it needs to creep into the playoffs. As cliche as it sounds, all it takes is to take it one game at a time. Look within your inner soul and convince yourself that you want (and rightfully deserve) to win this game more than your opponent. The youth seems to be reminding the vets how much fun playing hockey can really be. Their cockiness, explosiveness and lack of fear reminds me of the 86' Habs. That doesn't mean that I expect them to win the cup, but at least it makes for some interesting and inspiring hockey. Although this clip isn't from 1986, (it's from 1987) I think most of you old enough to remember it will enjoy it. For those of you that are a little younger, know for once and for all, that the Big Bad Bruins have always been and will always be our Bitches... Habs-Bruins 87' Playoffs :hlogo: GO HABS GO :hlogo:

Happy Saint Patty's Day!! I think Spiderman started early on the green beer, that's why he's seeing Streit & Dandenault in doubles... As much as this team dissapointed me last, I still hope they beat the living snot out of the Leafs. I'm wearing my "Kiss my I'm Irish T-shirt" from my first St Patrick's Day parade in MTL and I'm on my way to Molly Malone's for my first St-Patty's day in Athens. Not quite the same, but at least it's 23C here today!!! Cheers to all!!!

I'm surprised you remembered... Actually, I worked in the kitchen of a hot dog joint on Beaubien before I moved back to Greece, so I can make a pretty mean poutine... Only problem is where to find the right cheese curds....

Gooooossssefraba.... Gooooossssfraba.....

We're still alive.... COME ON!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!

WoHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chirssy Higginss.....

My God... We just keep on shooting ourselves in the foot...

maybe not...

we're gonna score...