Komisarek the Cruncher

Consideration..maybe because of his points, but that's it. The guy stinks defensively (-5) and gets most of his points on the PP. He is more a liability tahn an asset on 5 vs. 5. Don't forget that the Olympics are played under the International rules which are like the old NHL rules. McCabe is worthless under these rules... Also, we need reliable defensemen at the Olympics if you take into account our offensive power upfront. More over, we have plenty of canadian defensemen that are both strong offensively and defensively, so no thanks to that one dimensial joke that the Maple Laffs Nation wants as a Norris winner. Don't forget that even Quinn mentionned a couple of days ago that McCabe needs to be more reliable in his own end. If anyone of you thinks that he as a shot at the Norris or making the Olympic team, then you are having a serious acid trip...:guru:

Scott Cullen is a idiot. I've been writting to him every week and he keeps writing back with bullshit explanations and contradictions. One week he says that are low ranking is due to our poor goal differential, then this week (today), he writes to me that its not even a criteria in his rankings? I wrote to him this morning saying that Colorado, Vancouver and LA had no place being in front of us, that our record is better and that the goal differentials is the same or almost the same between the 4 teams. I'm telling you guys, is system is a joke. He can't even defend himself against certain things I wrote to him about like the fact that he doesn't take in consideration divison forces (easy to have a good record and stats when you're in a weak division) and how teams do vs. one another when they are close in power rankings. He says the Flyers are ahead of us because their 1st line is better then ours, but when I told him that: 1) they needed to win their 3 games in hand to tie us 2) they play in a week division and have played much weaker teams since the beginning of the season then us 3) we kicked their asses when we played them and that our 1st line completely shutdown their 1st line He had nothing to say except repeating is sorry ass over that their 1st line is better. Again, guys, don't even waste time discussing Scott Cullen's power ranking on TSN...the guy is a joke living in Leaf Nation that is also a joke. If a national sports writter can't be non-biased, then what is he really good for:?-:guru::?-:guru:

I agree, which is why I'm saying that although he as been usefull so far, there is definetly room for improvement. All I'm saying is that I won't be satisfied if he keeps up that kind of production all year. Extrapolated, his stats represent a 0 goal and 22 assists season...would you really be satisfied with that... Don't protect is stats by saying that its is wingers fault. You watch carefully when he plays and yes he make passes on the tape but the problem is that he makes 1 pass per game. Sorry, but he asn't generated a lot of opportunities for his linemates. Begin plays with the same linemates and generated more points and chances in 2 or 3 games as our #3 center then Bonk...enough said about Bonk and your excuses for him. Can you come up with a excuse for why Begin does better eventhough Bonk is more talented offensively? Doubtful... Don't get me wrong guys, I like Bonk and I'm not asking for a trade, but I want and expect a little more production from is part, is it too much asking from a guy that has 3 assists in 11 games ans his paid 2.4M$?

Let's not content our selves of below average. Let's be realistic, he has 3 assists in 11 games, that's all. I'm not asking for 1 point per game, but 3 assists in 11 games, including powerplay time? One of the reasons I was glad we had him was because he was an upgrade on Juneau offensively. I feel that we have another Juneau, or even worse. He's playing at his minimum for us right now. Yes he's doing a good job in a checking role, but there are no reasons for him not contributing more offensively. Do I need to remind you guys that the Koivu line as played often against the other teams #1 line, so Bonk's line played often against lines that were avarage at best. Although his play asn't been a disaster, there is certainly room for improvement and personnaly, I won't satisfy my self with this kind of offensive production. Ottawa wanted a #1 center production, all I'm asking for is a #3 center production which is not at all what he has given us so far. Stop protecting the guy, he hasn't delivered so far this season and at 2.4M$, I'm certainly not happy with is production. Bégin as done more in 2 games as 3rd center then Bonk in 11 games...enough said.

Bonk is an excellent 3rd center. I agree that he could be giving a little more offensively, but he does a great job. My only problem with him is that he makes too much under the new cap rules for what he gives us, but that I'm sure Gainey is aware. Not Gainey's fault if he signed him for a few years before the new CBA. His salary will be adjusted after next year.

Finding a better player ten Lecavalier at 5M$ is almost impossible, but there are a few. Don't forget that Lecavalier is still just 25 years old and will improve in the next 3-4 years. As for you not wanting this guy or that guy, well sorry but last time I checked, Bob was still our GM, and based and some of your comments, I'm glad its not you. Funny how you still refer to last year's stats when its clearly no longuer applicable in the new league. Throw away any prior stats as they meen absolutely nothing anymore. They (St-Louis & Richards) were more important last year but the quality of a good GM is to evaluate the future, not the past (which is why I'm glad your not our GM because you relly wat too heavily on prior stats), and Lecavalier will be the best from now on. As for the other people on this site, nothing against them but none of them are working for an NHL team, I'd rather trust what other GMs have to say. As for Vinny not playing for us in 4 years, there are no guarantees in life, but I'm damn sure that he will be. As for asking more money, good because he will be in his prime and if he's asking more money the, it will mean that he's one of the top players in the league (already his in the top 10 in my opinion). Don't forget that there's a cap and you can only pay a player 20% of the cap, so he won't be able to ask much more:guru: As for him having kids, it actually supports him coming back:guru: Say he as a kid in 2 years, that means he will be 2 in 2009. Perfect for him to com back to Montreal to learn is roots and french. Don't forget that Lecavalier is from Montreal and proud of it and so his is girlfriend, and again, if you were old enough, you would understand that they probably want to raise their kids here, near family and friends. Man, you don't know what you're talking about. Its only this year that teams are playing 8 games vs. their division teams, being in a weak division 2 years ago had little impact on the standings, but then you were just 12 and probably don't remember. As for Khabibulin stats, again, you're looking at them as if they were from an NHL like this year but they are not. Khabibulin is a slightly above average goalie, nothing more. The most overpaid player in the league. As for you not wanthing a player making 6 or 7M on our team, well luckily for us, you don't get to make those decisions :clap: Honestly, try and be more accurate and fair in your analysis of other teams and players. Who knows, maybe Lecavalier will gladly not ask the maximum he can get to come and play here in 2009:?- You keep refering to him as a greedy bum when he's far from being that. In the new NHL, he will kick ass. He's big, strong, fast and very skilled, nobody can stop this guy under the new rules. As much as I like Koivu, he won't be a #1 center in 4 years, so we have to start looking at the future. Lecavalier with Latendresse, I'm already druling at the idea...

Bonk and Rivet are already under contract for next year at the same price as this year. Its the last year of their contract.

The Bulin wall is a myth and a joke. Look at that guys stats over the years and you will see that is always been average or just above average. I know that 2 years ago is far away and that you were very young, but Khabibulin was having a crap season (he's season stats are not thatv great), he was benched for a while and Tampa didn't know what to do with him anymore. They even started to shop around for another goalie at one point. He finally started to play well at the end of the season and yes had amazing playoffs, but that doesn't make him the great Bulin wall. Have you watch a Blackhawks game so far, probably not, because he has been plain horrible. He has the worst stats of all starting goalies in the leagye thus far..the worst, not one worst then him. I'm not saying that Grahame is amazing but he's a very good replacement to Khabibulin and his presence doesn't make the team weaker. As for Carolina, I'm sure you didn't see them there either, but they have the 3rd best record in the NHL, only 1 point behind Ottawa in the East, so its not a shame to be behind them. Tampa is 5th right now, which is not bad and there's still a lot of hockey left before the end of the season. They will probably not finish before Ottawa, so 2nd in the conference. Still better then the barely making the playoffs spot you gave them. Trust me, they will finish ahead of Carolina. I never said that Stillman is not good, and simply mentionned that Prospal is a very good replacement and he is having a better season this year then Stillman and is on pace to be better then Stillman when he played with Vinny. They certainly are contenders like any team that will make the playoffs. You say that we might face them because they will finish 5th and us 4th, does that mean that the Habs are not contenders too? All I'm trying to say is that you bashed Lecavalier for no apparent reasons, except childish frustrations. All I'm asking for is more respect for a very good player that will probably be our #1 center in 4 years. All your arguments about money could be said about Theo (only had 1 good half season and he's paid a fortune), but I don't see you bashing him... Actually, Lecavalier is at least proving that he deserves that money, what has Theo proven this year?

Thank you for making my point even clearer. You definetly have a gruge against Lecavalier for saying the thing you say. Maybe a little maturity will make you see clearer one day. First of all, lets discuss in today's world and reality which is that pro athletes make millions. Yes, blablabla, they don't deserve it and we all agree with that but its not how it is. Lecavalier is worth more then Kovalev, there's no point arguying there. Tampa offered him the big contract because they knew and felt that they could lose him to Mtl, not because Lecavalier asked for it. How could you even say that he's the worst of the Big 3 in Tampa? Ask any GM in the league and given the choice, they would take Lecavalier in a heart beat. Grow up man and stop being frustrated because he didn't come to Mtl. He's not greedy, he's dedicated to the team that drafted him, developed him and brought him a Cup...now that's respect. Maybe you'll understand when you're older. Also, the guy as been living there for 7 years and he as established him self there. Again, maybe you'll understand when you're older. Also, prepare your self for his arrival, because he will be coming here in 4 years. The funny thing is I'm sure that you will be the first one to jump up and down when he does. I agree that paying him 7 millions was a lot based on is past performances, but he is proving this year that he's worth it. If you hate him because he's overpaid, then you must also hate Theo, Bonk, Souray and at least another dozens of players in the league. You think Iginla is worth is 7 millions thus far? And Khabibulin ? You mentionned Niedermayer, but apparently he's not playing up to his status and salary level in Anaheim either. Look at Brodeur's stats, think those are worth 7 millions ? Honestly, grow up a little and stop bashing Lecavalier because he didn't try to come to Mtl. He deserves better then that.

Also, I don't know why you hate Tampa Bay and their players so much, except maybe the fact that you thought this summer that Lecavalier would sign for Mtl next year and now you're just frustrated. I remember before the season started that you were saying that Tampa Bay had no team this year, that Grahame was a joke, that losing Khabibulin was huge, and that replacing Stillman by Prospal was a joke...and I was saying the complete opposite. Well here's me laughing at you now. Grahame is having a great season, Tampa Bay has one of the lowest goals against average in the league, Khabibulin is a joke in Chicago, and Prospal is even better then Stillman Get real Bulis_the_Habbie, Tampa is for real and Lecavalier, at 25 years of age, is one of the best centers in this league.

What do you know about what went on this summer in Lecavalier's mind. First of all, its his agent that got him this money. Second, he was a restricted free agent, so he and Gainey never even had a discussion. Third, I don't blame a guy for resigning with the team that he just won a Cup with. Fourth, he admitted that with the uncertainty of the new CBA and the money that Tampa was offering that it was impossible for him to refuse. He had no guarantee that Gainey wanted him next year. Fifth, he's proving that he's worth that money this year. Did you even bother to look at his stats. He's got 17 points and 9 goals in 14 games and he's +7 !!! Can Kovalev say the same? Not even close. Sixth, he will be 29 years old at the end of his contract...he will be in his prime and his market value will be well established by then, so he could come to Mtl for 2009 which also coincides with the Habs 100th anniversary...that would be a nice gift to the fans for their 100th anniversary So yes Gainey would pay him more then Kovalev. Lecavalier was offered 6.75 millions by Tampa, he never said that he wouldn't accept anything less. And he also admitted to his father that he would play for the Habs eventually (Bertrand Raymond had a big article about it in the Journal de Montréal). Please be respectfull of such a good hearted player that will probably become the Habs #1 center in 4 years from now. How can you bash a guy who accepted to sign with the team that drafted him, developed him and brought him a Cup:?- Lecavalier has all my respect for doing so :/)

Please oh please oh please, lets kill the opposition for once. Can I get a 5 to 7 goals advantage for once !!! If we play hard for 60 minutes, there is no reasons for us to not kill Buffalo. We are 10 times better then them. Every time I predict a massacre, we end up with a 1 goal win, so I will predict a 1-0 win for tonight

What's up with all this luck talk. Having a 9-2 record in 1 goal games is not luck, its called character :/) As for luck, we keep having stupid calls against us (best example is Markov's penalty last night where it cancelled our powerplay and gave Buffalo a goal when Markov barely sneezed on the guy who fell on his own 2 seconds after Markov touching the guy). Also, we keep hitting posts, missing breakaways (Bulis and Plekanec), having great saves against us (Biron on Kovalev last night), having unlucky rebounds in our own end that end up being easy goals for the other teams...on the contrary, when luck turns to our side, we will start to kill the opposition. We are presently winning without luck. Just imagine when Theo gets sharper and we start having a few bounces on our side, it won't even be funny for the opposition. Anyone that thinks that the Habs are going to start sliding down the rankings is blind. Please, give me a break with us ending up finishing maybe 6th or 7th in the conference. We will finish 4th. The only reason we won't finish higher is because we are in Ottawa's division, and even then, we are not far behind them (actually, they have to win their games in hand to be in front of us), so 1st place is still a possibility in my mind. Don't forget that Ottawa as no cap space, as we can still improve our team by the trade deadline. More over, its Ottawa's final year of being ahead of us, because they won't be able to have a Hasek type goalie for a million $ next year and they won't be able to keep Havlat, Redden and Chara because of limited cap space. One or two will have to go. Ottawa can only be worst next year. Starting next year, the Habs will be the Eastern conference team to beat :/) Actually, they almost already are... :ghg: :ghg: :ghg:

You want heart and determination, it starts with the coaching. Rick Green got a fractured cheek bone tonight from a shot into the bench and he stayed behind the bench the whole game. :/):/)

I wouldn't say that we have been lucky so far. Theo as been crap (finally had a great game tonight), can't be worse !!! Our scoring touch can't be worse either !!! Our 1 goal wins are not luck, but the result of giving away easy goals and missing too many chances although out playing the other teams. Maybe 1 or 2 was luck but a hard playing team makes is luck and we deserved to win the 2nd vs. TO and at least a tie in the 1st vs. Ottawa. Their 3rd goal in that game by Vermette was goalie interference, so instead of staying 2-2 and us having a PP, they took the lead. In case you didn't know, the NHL called Bob Gainey the following today to apologize and admitted that the goal should have been refused. Lucky in some, not in others, its part of the game. By the way, stats don't always properly reflect the reality. We out play and out shoot our opponents in most games. Zednik was missing. Its only been 12 games. Its a long season and some players score by bunches and some are more 2nd half players. Bet you that at seasons end, we are among the top 15 in scoring and top 5 in defense. Like I said, we have many scoring chances and our scoring touch can't be worse then it is now (I can't believe how many chances we missed this year), so relax folks and be patient, it will come and once it does, we will be a real force in this league. Now all we need is a real solid Dman: 1) to give confidance to the other Dmen, 2) to have as a real quaterback for the PP, its all we are missing to have a good PP 3) to play 30 min so that our less skilled Dman play even less Not that our Dmen have been bad, on the contrary, its just that a Championship team starts with a solid D and having a Redden type Dman would make us a top 3 team in the league. Plus we have the cap space to get a player of that type Bob you are a genius and I await a good trade for a solid D by season end.

And how many titles has Iverson helped his team win? Zero. It's not all about talent. Staying in the area of basketball, look at a guy like Larry Bird. Certainly not the most naturally skilled player in the world, but because of his amazing work ethic, he became one of the greatest players to game has seen. Hard work is just as important as skill. If you aren't putting it the time, your skill isn't going to mean nearly as much. Well said and I would had that hard work makes you a leader and an inspiration for your teamates. Those type of players are the ones that make CHAMPIONSHIP teams, not just good teams. I would take 21 hard working average players that are united vs. 21 non working skilled selfish players. This is to comment on what you said about "who cares about hard work", its not about what I think of Mike Ribeiro, whom I like. Great creativity and passer but still commits dangerous passes sometimes (although improving over the years) that create 2 vs. 1 and 3 vs. 2 against us. As for my fav player, Kovalev. He's proud to be a habs and I'm proud to have him on my team. This guy as nothing to do with all these rumors of being lazy and not always showing up. What a goal tonight. 2nd in 2 games. My friend kept telling me last week that Kovalev was playing well but that he wasn't scoring a lot so I had to remind him that Kovy scores by bunches and told him to wait, it was just a matter of time. Smells like a few more goals in the next few games for Kovy. I predict 2 vs. Luongo tomorrow. Good night all !

Theo as been confirmed for tonight. Julien didn't mention when Danis would get another start. We are playing 2 games in a row this coming Monday and Tuesday and Friday and Saturday, so my guess is that Danis will get the start in one of those games.

For once, I want a massacre. Can we finally win one by killing the other team??? Besides Jagr's line, they have nothing. Lets shut down that line (Markov will take care of Jagr like the last game vs. the Rangers) and kick some ass. 6-2 Habs !!!

Don't really have a choice when the whole family are Habs freaks and that you're raised, fed and brainwashed Habs all your life. I have a picture of me at my 1st birthday with my first Habs t-shirt as a gift. Also, being raised, fed and brainwashed Habs all my life also comes with being raised, fed and brainwashed a Maple Laughs hater !!!! God I love my family for teaching me the good and proper values of life !!!!

I agree, your comments are very similar to my previous post. Although Souray misplayed Spezza in OT, the game shouldn't have gone to OT in the first place. Zednik is the real reason why we lost, but I'm willing to be patient since it was his first game back. Couldn't agree more with you on the backchecking of Rivet and Zednik on that OT goal. Sucks for Theo because he deserved the win. The rest of the team played well and we should have won that game and the 2 points. Oh well, will get them next time when Zednik is back to his regular level of play. Hope that Julien got his lesson and will adjust Zednik's playing time to how he plays. Now lets get 4 points out of the Rangers and it will be a superb start of the season...9-2-1 !!!! Theo is back and there's no stopping us!!!!

We lost because of Zednik. He cost us their last 3 goals. 1) Was out of position and not covering the point properly when Chara scored. (Ottawa's 2nd goal) 2) Do I even have to explain their 3rd goal ??? All Zednik's fault. How can a guy lose the puck like that in front of his own net ??? 3) He lost the puck again to give Spezza that chance...although Souray was lousy on that play. Don't worry guys, I like Zednik, and I know that we have to give him time to get his synchronism back...but that was an awfull game from his part. He wasn't even a sure thing for the game as they said that he had some problems in the morning's practice. Why did Julien make him play? The guy is still not healty, hasn't played a game yet and you bring him against Ottawa??? He could have waited for Sunday against the Rangers. It was an important game for us and he completely blew it for us. :mad::mad: As for Souray, I can't take it anymore. The guy sucks under the new rules...period. Can't wait to get rid of him. Definetly not coming back next year...thank god. And if anyone of you wants to defend him on Spezza's goal proves that you don't know anything about hockey and that you don't play the game. He went towards Spezza and stayed there without being in movement. A D has to be in movement when a guy coming with so much speed to be able to follow him. And instead of staying more in the center to cut his lane. Even Spezza said so after the game. He said that if Souray would have played him more causciously by staying in the center, he would have not went for it and would have waited for somebody from his team to join in the rush. I'm very frustrated...we should have won that game but Zednik and Souray were horrible and cost us the game. I still don't get why Zednik was playing???

For Kovalev, its true that he has been missing some practices (not all) to heal some small injuries. I read it atleast twice this year in the newspaper. Doesn't matter, it doesn't show on the ice...

RDS is saying that Ryder as spasms in the neck and might not play tonight... Higgins with Ribs and Plekanec ???

It is a good idea. The expos used to play (10 secs) the song of the player coming at bat in between each out.

I think will agree that Dags as to go!!! That 2nd line needs a speedster to make it efficient. They are just to slow when Dags is on that line. Higgins brings speed and defensive awareness to the line that Dags just doesn't have. We could try Perezhogin, but he's not as agressive and defensively reliable as Higgins. This brings up another question, would Latendresse fit with Ribeiro and Ryder? I have my doubts there also. Latendresse has the same weaknesses as Dags, no speed and no good defensive awareness. Many questions for this season and next... I'm starting to wonder if Ribeiro as the speed to succeed in the new NHL? Maybe Plekanec is our 2nd center of the future? One thing for sure, can't have 3 slow guys on the same line. I see Latendresse playing with Koivu (if he returns?) and Kovalev next year. I have so many questions???? I think our team will change over the next 2 years with the new rules. Gainey as just started to build is Stanley Cup winning team. I definetly anticipate Gainey adding a good D and trading either Zednik or Ryder by next season. We have plenty of 2 top line wingers for next year: Kovalev Zednik Ryder Perezhogin Latendresse Maybe Kostitsyn? Probably in 2 years.