Steve Yzerman is a man after Bertrand Raymond's heart. How else to describe a GM who retains a core of French Canadian superstars to build on with Simon Gagne and the biggest coaching star to come out of the province in a decade?
The Lightning play the Habs tonight in the arena RDS would be happy enough to hand over to them this very evening. I don't think I'll be among those fawning over the Yzermen, but we still need a preview, right?
Key match-ups
Boucher and Martin
It's possible that everybody has already forgotten that they wanted an experienced NHL coach. As Guy Boucher takes to the NHL bench for the second game of his career, it seems the fear that he might be the one who got away is now trumping all those years of growing coaches to no avail. Martin will be in tough tonight, though. Not only is Boucher riding in on a wave of good feeling, he is also a crafty coach, and one that can call Steven Stamkos' name.
St. Louis and Cammalleri
Two very good scorers, Two very effective offensive players. But Mike Cammalleri's deficiencies are known because he plays every other night on Quebec TV sets. The grass is greener with St. Louis, since he doesn't. Within the game, both players are now the ones who make their offenses tick. Cammalleri is the Canadiens most dangerous finisher and St. Louis the generator for the Stamkos powerhouse.
Hedman and Hamrlik
Two well known Lightning top 2 draft picks. Two touted big-framed juniors. Not that the Canadiens could have had Hedman. He remains an object of admiration. Hamrlik will also be in focus as he returns tonight. Both should be anchoring the defensive end for the respective teams. Hamrlik will look to find early 2009-10 form, but will be an improvement over Picard with a mediocre performance. Hedman will be battling age and experience to tie together a mostly offensive minded blueline.
Price and GF
Carey Price is in a delicate place. This season he has a win and a loss taken from games where his team scored timely goals and didn't. In order for his belief in winning to return, the conquer of the idea that the team must decide (i.e., score 3 times) must be banished. Last year against Tampa, Price played 3 times. Twice he played well, once pretty well and he came out with one win, the Lightning got points in every game. As demons go, the Lightning games represent them very well. performing well against another team with straight shooting stars and giving his team a chance to win will be s big step.
Momentum
Little at all. The Lightning have only played once. The Canadiens twice. Neither team has played since Saturday. I don't know how the NHL schedule is made, but this seems a strangely long layoff given both teams have to be somewhere else within a night or two. Maybe there were Icecapades to accommodate? The media momentum is also split. The Boucher phenomenon is fueling the Lightning, while a single win has been enough to light the Habs fire.
Lightning the Habs covet
Steven Stamkos
Big, fast, scorer. When Stu Cowan wrote on the draft, this is the kind of player he was no doubt lamenting. But players like this are hard to come by without losing for a season. He'll be as hard to pry from the Lightning as Lecavalier ever was.
Simon Gagne
A few years ago, I'd have written St. Louis. Gagne is 5 years his younger, though and is just as reliable as a scoring threat. One of the biggest Quebecois stars of the past decade really should have been on the Habs radar when they did their reshake.
Habs the Lightning covet
PK Subban
Guy Boucher owes a lot to PK Subban. An NHL job for a start. PK is the dynamic skating defenceman that every team wants. But teams dressing Randy Jones and Brett Clark just scream it a little louder.
Tomas Plekanec
Last season the Lightning dressed Lecavalier and 50-goal Steven Stamkos at centre. A pretty good one-two punch. Last year the Lightning missed the playoffs by a clear margin. Tomas Plekanec is that rare centre who can swing between offense and defence with ease and in the team-building blueprint, he's a valuable piece to teams who can't stop shedding goals.
Ready-made excuses
Neither team will want to lose, but both can afford to for the moment. i don't think that will have stopped them getting their excuses all lined up:
If Montreal lose:
- Markov is injured
- Guy Boucher is a genius
- The Lightning were better rested
- The Lightning channeled the energy of their home province
If Tampa lose:
- Not in the rhythm of the season
- Boucher is a rookie coach
- Players are still learning system
- It's all written in Yzerman's plan
Impact of this result
I say that both can afford to lose. Of course they can, it's game 2 and 3 for the respective teams. That doesn't mean there won't be an impact.
For Tampa, I think a loss will be quickly swept away. They play Philly tomorrow and only ten fans will have watched it happen anyway (if you don't count their support in our province).
Auld will start the next game and may start to put a credible challenge in on Price. Martin will carry the loss until he faces Boucher again. Hamrlik and Spacek will be panned. And all the good feeling will be turned to bad.
Showing posts with label Hedman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hedman. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, June 26, 2009
Draft Week
First Round Live Commentary
The Habs take Louis Leblanc. It's a good pick, and the best of the Quebec crop. Playing with Kristo must have helped and it certainly helped me to swallow the option.
RDS in their infinite professionalism still haven't mentioned Kristo as they collectively salivate from the press box.
Poor Louis gets his first taste of the press and does ably.
The Habs aren't any better for next year. I'm not sure we thought we would be. Louis Leblanc won't help us for ages yet and we have a third rounder coming up. Suddenly Koivu and Kovalev looking really good.
As for me, that's a good night for now.
9:34 RDS cameras have gone way over the line and they will be fined I think. At least they are consistent with their usual level of professionalism. RDS is a complete and utter joke.
9:31 Have we all recovered from our last big Quebec pick, Eric Chouinard? I hope so, Boivin's smile tells me we're trying big hometowner again...
9:27 Montreal will now be faced with a Quebec prospect who could have gone earlier. If they eschew the province again, they'll have hell to pay. That's the flip side. They could trade down, I suppose.
Blues take David Rundblad. Not surprising with Kekalainen the reknowned Euro scout at the helm. A good pick. not one for the Habs either.
Now the fans want Leblanc. We await. Even I'd be scared to stand up and take Jeremy Morin now. Perhaps if I pronounced his name with a real Sorel twang?
9:23 Surprised there aren't more cheers. It's better here with beer as predicted, I suppose. Montreal picks survive as offensive Dmen are not on the mind. Nick Leddy is a good pick, but you can see why Minnesota traded down.
9:18 6'2" isn't big everyone. Not anymore. Koivu can knock over a 74-incher no problem. ONe I was hoping we wouldn't pick, now we can't. Two more ahead and all my five survive. Schroeder should go in the next 2.
9:12 Hey at least Jacques Martin can lead a group of scouts, if the coaching thing doesn't work out. Kulikov at 14 is a great pick. Drummondville's turnaround was epic and Dimitri played a large part.
9:10 RDS cameraman crossing the line as he zooms in on Florida scout's screen. Russian names on the list. Someone's brave...
9:07 Gillett need not sell anymore bricks. The rest of the NHL is happily providing them today. Kassian to Buffalo, not as offensively talented as Lucic. Not good news for Buffalo.
8:56 Not a trade I'd have done. Kullkov survives. De Haan not a player I'd have taken at 18 even given the talent that remains.
8:54 Well done rookie GM in Minny. Value right there.
8:51 Montreal salivating for our Russian Quebecker? Trades in the wind...
Nashville took Ellis. Had bright eyes, looked an intelligent one.
8:38 At this point, we're about as expected. Only the amazing Kullkov remains from the players that should have been top ten. Oh that my fingers could all stay crossed and type at the same time.
Edmonton took the player I feared Toronto would get. Thankfully Edmonton is far away and Paajarvi-Svensson shouldn't hurt us too much more than the current Oilers squad did last Feb.
8:29 Meh. Ottawa have had some history of drafting good D, so I'll give them some benefit of the doubt here. But they missed the Swede.
8:18 Montreal will have to get the spin machine going if they're to outdo TO at this point. Brian Burke after all could have had the first overall pick and a local scoring phneomenon, but would not give up a 19-year-old defenceman to do it. Montrealers will be anxious but if teams continue to overlook people as they have been, it'll be a different story come #18 than we thought.
Dallas takes Scott Glennie, Robert's fantasy pick.
8:12 Out of spite, The Toronto Maple Leafs take Nazem Kadri. Ottawa will be pissed when they get Svensson.
8:07 That leaves Toronto with a good few options here. My system says go for the Swede Pajaarvi-Svensson. My hope is that they don't and take a defensive defenceman.
8:05 Now that's a surprise. I think it's a good pick. Ekman Larsson to Phoenix.
7:57 Anyone else notice that the Habs haven't acquired a big centre yet?
LA takes Brayden Schenn. Hooray. Not even overrated. Nor anyone in his family. never have been.
7:45 Rumour from Big D: Kaberle for Niskanen and their first this season. Sounds like a good deal for Toronto. Not so sure for Dallas.
Atlanta toe the line and take 48-goal man Kane. I'd have been happy with this guy. 48 goals don't lie.
7:39 Once Colorado get the last pre-set pick over with, I'll finally have something to say. Duchene looks a good pick now. Will all 3 make it here? Will there be a Pat Falloon? A Patrik Stefan? An Alex Daigle? You get my point. History tells us there might very well be.
And Philly. Ouch. That first in 2010 might be worth a bit by the time the roster is readjusted...
7:28 Tampa keep the script going, take Hedman at #2.
7:26 My mistake not a 2nd, 2 firsts. Blinded by the 2.
7:24 Mirtle has Sbisa, Lupul and a 2nd for Pronger. Haven't decided.
7:19: Islanders don't surprise anyone. Take John Tavares. Wow the hype was good though...
7:15: At least bettman has a sense of irony...
7:10: Dreger says Pronger traded to Philly. Not good news for the Habs. It's good news for Philly who hope to absorb half the league's entire salary load themselves.
6:49: Duchene, come the Island. Trade if you're throwing away your pick. Tavares over Hedman, fine. Duchene over Hedman, welcome to another 15 years of morass.
6:45: Under starter's orders here.
Watching RDS for now. May have to switch if Luc Gelinas keeps prattling on and on about Quebec players. Apparently they're all from the 6th round. Urquart and Lapierre (2nds unrecognised by him), then last year's Fortier in the 3rd.
Never mind the Habs have already signed Dany Masse this year as a free agent. Hush hush, though, the fans might be placated...
RDS in their infinite professionalism still haven't mentioned Kristo as they collectively salivate from the press box.
Poor Louis gets his first taste of the press and does ably.
The Habs aren't any better for next year. I'm not sure we thought we would be. Louis Leblanc won't help us for ages yet and we have a third rounder coming up. Suddenly Koivu and Kovalev looking really good.
As for me, that's a good night for now.
9:34 RDS cameras have gone way over the line and they will be fined I think. At least they are consistent with their usual level of professionalism. RDS is a complete and utter joke.
9:31 Have we all recovered from our last big Quebec pick, Eric Chouinard? I hope so, Boivin's smile tells me we're trying big hometowner again...
9:27 Montreal will now be faced with a Quebec prospect who could have gone earlier. If they eschew the province again, they'll have hell to pay. That's the flip side. They could trade down, I suppose.
Blues take David Rundblad. Not surprising with Kekalainen the reknowned Euro scout at the helm. A good pick. not one for the Habs either.
Now the fans want Leblanc. We await. Even I'd be scared to stand up and take Jeremy Morin now. Perhaps if I pronounced his name with a real Sorel twang?
9:23 Surprised there aren't more cheers. It's better here with beer as predicted, I suppose. Montreal picks survive as offensive Dmen are not on the mind. Nick Leddy is a good pick, but you can see why Minnesota traded down.
9:18 6'2" isn't big everyone. Not anymore. Koivu can knock over a 74-incher no problem. ONe I was hoping we wouldn't pick, now we can't. Two more ahead and all my five survive. Schroeder should go in the next 2.
9:12 Hey at least Jacques Martin can lead a group of scouts, if the coaching thing doesn't work out. Kulikov at 14 is a great pick. Drummondville's turnaround was epic and Dimitri played a large part.
9:10 RDS cameraman crossing the line as he zooms in on Florida scout's screen. Russian names on the list. Someone's brave...
9:07 Gillett need not sell anymore bricks. The rest of the NHL is happily providing them today. Kassian to Buffalo, not as offensively talented as Lucic. Not good news for Buffalo.
8:56 Not a trade I'd have done. Kullkov survives. De Haan not a player I'd have taken at 18 even given the talent that remains.
8:54 Well done rookie GM in Minny. Value right there.
8:51 Montreal salivating for our Russian Quebecker? Trades in the wind...
Nashville took Ellis. Had bright eyes, looked an intelligent one.
8:38 At this point, we're about as expected. Only the amazing Kullkov remains from the players that should have been top ten. Oh that my fingers could all stay crossed and type at the same time.
Edmonton took the player I feared Toronto would get. Thankfully Edmonton is far away and Paajarvi-Svensson shouldn't hurt us too much more than the current Oilers squad did last Feb.
8:29 Meh. Ottawa have had some history of drafting good D, so I'll give them some benefit of the doubt here. But they missed the Swede.
8:18 Montreal will have to get the spin machine going if they're to outdo TO at this point. Brian Burke after all could have had the first overall pick and a local scoring phneomenon, but would not give up a 19-year-old defenceman to do it. Montrealers will be anxious but if teams continue to overlook people as they have been, it'll be a different story come #18 than we thought.
Dallas takes Scott Glennie, Robert's fantasy pick.
8:12 Out of spite, The Toronto Maple Leafs take Nazem Kadri. Ottawa will be pissed when they get Svensson.
8:07 That leaves Toronto with a good few options here. My system says go for the Swede Pajaarvi-Svensson. My hope is that they don't and take a defensive defenceman.
8:05 Now that's a surprise. I think it's a good pick. Ekman Larsson to Phoenix.
7:57 Anyone else notice that the Habs haven't acquired a big centre yet?
LA takes Brayden Schenn. Hooray. Not even overrated. Nor anyone in his family. never have been.
7:45 Rumour from Big D: Kaberle for Niskanen and their first this season. Sounds like a good deal for Toronto. Not so sure for Dallas.
Atlanta toe the line and take 48-goal man Kane. I'd have been happy with this guy. 48 goals don't lie.
7:39 Once Colorado get the last pre-set pick over with, I'll finally have something to say. Duchene looks a good pick now. Will all 3 make it here? Will there be a Pat Falloon? A Patrik Stefan? An Alex Daigle? You get my point. History tells us there might very well be.
And Philly. Ouch. That first in 2010 might be worth a bit by the time the roster is readjusted...
7:28 Tampa keep the script going, take Hedman at #2.
7:26 My mistake not a 2nd, 2 firsts. Blinded by the 2.
7:24 Mirtle has Sbisa, Lupul and a 2nd for Pronger. Haven't decided.
7:19: Islanders don't surprise anyone. Take John Tavares. Wow the hype was good though...
7:15: At least bettman has a sense of irony...
7:10: Dreger says Pronger traded to Philly. Not good news for the Habs. It's good news for Philly who hope to absorb half the league's entire salary load themselves.
6:49: Duchene, come the Island. Trade if you're throwing away your pick. Tavares over Hedman, fine. Duchene over Hedman, welcome to another 15 years of morass.
6:45: Under starter's orders here.
Watching RDS for now. May have to switch if Luc Gelinas keeps prattling on and on about Quebec players. Apparently they're all from the 6th round. Urquart and Lapierre (2nds unrecognised by him), then last year's Fortier in the 3rd.
Never mind the Habs have already signed Dany Masse this year as a free agent. Hush hush, though, the fans might be placated...
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Rumbles From Bolts Country
Scanning my morning news, I came across this piece of miscellany.
Apparently, the Lightning have asked a local radio broadcaster to do an embedded broadcast with them from Montreal. Not news we're concerned with here in Montreal, surely. But as we're into reading the tea leaves a bit lately, it's what this request means, specifically regarding a Lightning trade, that caught my eye.
Seeing as life in Tampa must be as quiet or quieter for real news than here, the speculation around this announcement was disproportionate.
The broadcaster himself, Steve Duernig, took the invite to mean that nothing was afoot.
One blogger, Joe Bolts Fan, thought the announcement and its timing suggested that the opposite might be the case, that the Lightning would complete a trade for their number 2 selection – perhaps only to assure themselves of Hedman, though.
Jpfdeuce of Raw Charge (my original landing point) goes further. He likes the speculation about a trade being in the works. He doesn't limit this trade to a #2 for #1 swap, but drops Lecavalier's name in there as well:
If Lecavalier is being bandied about the league, then Gainey is sure to be in the loop (thus this is Habs news). If the Lightning want to trade their pick, I hope Gainey is in the game there too. If we come out of this draft with Hedman, Tavares, Lecavalier or even St Louis, I think all the talk about Louis Leblanc being overlooked will quickly fade to black.
I know a massive stretch of the imagination based on the source. But in these times of imaginary news, signing and drafts, surely this is within bounds.
The reality is the Lightning would be foolish to close their ears to deals today, leading up to or at the draft. Nothing has been pre-deigned as of this point. If a deal had been hashed out, the GMs would have announced it. Any deal is open and any deal could happen.
At the same time, the perceived constraints on deals are all still there: salary struture, future cap, etc., etc.
Asking a talk radio man to accompany the Lightning scouts to Montreal does nothing to change all of that.
Apparently, the Lightning have asked a local radio broadcaster to do an embedded broadcast with them from Montreal. Not news we're concerned with here in Montreal, surely. But as we're into reading the tea leaves a bit lately, it's what this request means, specifically regarding a Lightning trade, that caught my eye.
Seeing as life in Tampa must be as quiet or quieter for real news than here, the speculation around this announcement was disproportionate.
The broadcaster himself, Steve Duernig, took the invite to mean that nothing was afoot.
One blogger, Joe Bolts Fan, thought the announcement and its timing suggested that the opposite might be the case, that the Lightning would complete a trade for their number 2 selection – perhaps only to assure themselves of Hedman, though.
Jpfdeuce of Raw Charge (my original landing point) goes further. He likes the speculation about a trade being in the works. He doesn't limit this trade to a #2 for #1 swap, but drops Lecavalier's name in there as well:
But what about the fact the team has put Tampa Bay's sports-talk radio "Dean" into their good graces and encouraged him to join the party in Montreal? Doesn't this suggest that, if something does happen regarding the #2 pick or Vincent Lecavalier, Duemig is going to get an excess of access to the what's, how's and why's by the Lightning to explain it all? We-scratch-your-back, you-scratch-ours kind of favoritism?
If Lecavalier is being bandied about the league, then Gainey is sure to be in the loop (thus this is Habs news). If the Lightning want to trade their pick, I hope Gainey is in the game there too. If we come out of this draft with Hedman, Tavares, Lecavalier or even St Louis, I think all the talk about Louis Leblanc being overlooked will quickly fade to black.
I know a massive stretch of the imagination based on the source. But in these times of imaginary news, signing and drafts, surely this is within bounds.
The reality is the Lightning would be foolish to close their ears to deals today, leading up to or at the draft. Nothing has been pre-deigned as of this point. If a deal had been hashed out, the GMs would have announced it. Any deal is open and any deal could happen.
At the same time, the perceived constraints on deals are all still there: salary struture, future cap, etc., etc.
Asking a talk radio man to accompany the Lightning scouts to Montreal does nothing to change all of that.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Subban vs. Torp
A Habs Undercard to Tavares/Hedman Bout
Remember when Ovechkin was the clear number one pick in his year? There was some talk of Malkin being a good consolation prize, sure, but it was just that. 4 years on and it's tight between the two: Ovechkin has all the trophies in his cupboard now, but Malkin is current scoring leader and if Pittsburgh make a substantial push (as they habitually do), he could be positioned to take silverware from his countryman.
The NHL draft class of 2009 is similarly intriguing. John Tavares has been on the radar from age 14, and was so good last season that pundits were trying to get him into the NHL draft early through rule changes. The relative newcomer onto the scene is Victor Hedman of Sweden. Coming into this tournament he was number one consensus, because he is already a giant and plays defence the way his older peers do.
Tonight's game will be a chance for Canada to get another gold, in Canada (again). Pardon me for getting a little blase about this tournament and game.
With the backdrop of the repeating scene, the underlying story of player matchups adds some much needed intrigue to tonight's game. Tavares vs. Hedman is going to be exciting to watch as both are touted as can't-miss prospects (a la Ovechkin, Malkin or – perhaps not quite that good, but good nonetheless). Hopefully, they will be matched against one another to accentuate the drama. Either way, looking at the game as a pretend scout will be exciting.
For the Habs, there is also interest. PK Subban, playing for Canada has had an amazing couple of weeks. He has figured in the offensive Canadian moves a lot and has 8 points in 5 games to show for it. Nichlas Torp, the Gorges to Hedman's Hamrlik, should be showcased this game as well, as Canada will test his defensive defenceman bill.
With a night off for the Habs, it should be fun to see these two defenders line up against one another and enjoy the spectacle of battle for number one ranking in CSS rankings.
Sam Pollock's kind of year
I can't help but think that this would be Sam Pollock's kind of year to really get down and dirty, manouevering and trading for draft picks. With the lottery, there's no guarantees anymore as there were with Lafleur/Dionne, but I don't think one could go far wrong with an Atlanta draft pick. Does Gainey have the nerve to ante up like Pollock would have? Probably not, so I'll leave those dreams for another time...
The NHL draft class of 2009 is similarly intriguing. John Tavares has been on the radar from age 14, and was so good last season that pundits were trying to get him into the NHL draft early through rule changes. The relative newcomer onto the scene is Victor Hedman of Sweden. Coming into this tournament he was number one consensus, because he is already a giant and plays defence the way his older peers do.
Tonight's game will be a chance for Canada to get another gold, in Canada (again). Pardon me for getting a little blase about this tournament and game.
With the backdrop of the repeating scene, the underlying story of player matchups adds some much needed intrigue to tonight's game. Tavares vs. Hedman is going to be exciting to watch as both are touted as can't-miss prospects (a la Ovechkin, Malkin or – perhaps not quite that good, but good nonetheless). Hopefully, they will be matched against one another to accentuate the drama. Either way, looking at the game as a pretend scout will be exciting.
For the Habs, there is also interest. PK Subban, playing for Canada has had an amazing couple of weeks. He has figured in the offensive Canadian moves a lot and has 8 points in 5 games to show for it. Nichlas Torp, the Gorges to Hedman's Hamrlik, should be showcased this game as well, as Canada will test his defensive defenceman bill.
With a night off for the Habs, it should be fun to see these two defenders line up against one another and enjoy the spectacle of battle for number one ranking in CSS rankings.
Sam Pollock's kind of year
I can't help but think that this would be Sam Pollock's kind of year to really get down and dirty, manouevering and trading for draft picks. With the lottery, there's no guarantees anymore as there were with Lafleur/Dionne, but I don't think one could go far wrong with an Atlanta draft pick. Does Gainey have the nerve to ante up like Pollock would have? Probably not, so I'll leave those dreams for another time...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)