As noted in the last post on this vein, January first this year marked the first day of the second decade of the millennium. Last time, we gave you some Habs High Points, this time I share with you what I thought were ten low points.
A decade that began inauspiciously enough with a roster that on a cold January day once sported Aaron Asham, Craig Darby, Chad Kilger, Eric Landry, Juha Lind, Gino Odjick and Patrick Poulin had its fair share of lows.
Here are the worst ten for me:
10. Bernie Geoffrion's passing
It wasn't anyone's fault. But although Bernie Geoffrion died knowing his #5 was to be retired by his team, he never got to see it happen - to experience again how much the city appreciated him. It was a terribly sad thing.
9. Expansion
Most of the expansion took place prior to 2001, but its effects were still felt into the pre-lockout years. The timing of expansion couldn't have been worse for the Habs. They had their worst management team in decades, scouts who weren't on the ball with player assessments (if you think it's bad now, spare a thought for your 2001 self). The Habs had been on the rebuild through a draft and had accumulated a small stable of good, if not great players. Guess who doesn't get protected in expansion drafts?
8. Not calling Larry Robinson
This one was totally avoidable. Last December at the Centennial game, Robinson feeling the nostalgia was told he'd be getting a call for later in the year re: possible ways to work together. No call. No call to a member of the all-time team, a valued alum. I don't care if there were no positions for the next 25 years, there's no excuse for not making this call. This, together with my estimation that a defenceman to coach our young defencemen might be a tonic to some ills down the road, and it still feels like a real low.
7. Randy McKay signing
In direct contrast with the Cammalleri signing is the McKay signing of 2002. It wasn't a big year for free agency, but Philippe Boucher might have looked nice. The Habs at he time dressed this up like it was big, as they were desperate that it would be. Doing nothing at all that July 4th would have led to better results.
6. Playoffs 2009
The 100th season in operation ended much like the first, and much like the early years of the Noughties - without a playoff win to speak of. It was especially disappointing considering it was the fifth year of Gainey's plan, and a year after winning the conference and challenging well enough in the playoffs. More important than the sweeping itself was the repercussions of the sweep, as those four losses became four nails in the career coffins of Koivu, Kovalev, KOmisarek, Tanguay and others. Regardless of what came later, the way those players were treated leading up to July 1 was a low point for a franchise that likes to think of itself as the embodiment of class.
5. The grooming of Mike Ribeiro
The mishandling of Mike Ribeiro began early. The Habs knew they had an egomaniac on their hands, and one that liked to party. What better way to bring him along than to play him in 19 games at the age of 19, boosting his idea of himself and burning a year of his contract in the process. The next season, he played a mere 2 games and was then on prolonged probation until he finally stopped being relegated to Quebec/Hamilton at age 23 in 2003. His grooming to that point was typical of the Canadiens approach with pure offensive players - play them with Aaron Asham and Jason Dawe. That's to say, he wasn't given much freedom. A breakout season in 2003-04 was seen as good news, but was the straw which broke the camel's back in terms of his later entitlement and corresponding work ethic. Traded for another tram's garbage, he has gone on to 5 consecutive good seasons as an offensive player. A true shame that the team could find neither the time for him on the ice, or the time for him off the ice, as he is exactly what this team craves in their Quebec recruitment program.
4. Therrien carry-on
A coach hired in the time-honoured tradition of simply looking at the QMJHL standings and nothing else, Therrien didn't have a very good time of it with the Habs. His low moment came during what had been his high moment. Following the 2002 knockout of the Bruins (courtesy, Koivu, Gilmour, Zednik, Theo), the Habs were rolling along nicely. The Habs had battled with the Hurricanes in three games to earn a 2-1 series lead. They were winning in Game 4 and looking to bury the Canes with a 3-0 going into the third. Quintal took a simple cross-checking penalty, Therrien's temper came out of check. Two-man penalty, Carolina goal, momentum shift, game slipped away, Canadiens lose in 6.
3. Brisebois contract extension, December 2001
At the time, the extension was going to make Brisebois the highest paid Montreal Canadien in all of history. Of course, he'd just had his -31 season and wasn't exactly able to hide his warts as much as previously. The contract made him untradeable even without the clause that said it in writing. It was a decision that hampered a rebuild from happening prior to the lockout.
2. Cristobal Huet trade
Probably the worst justification for any move the franchise has made since trading Patrick Roy. Huet, fresh off a hot start, an All-Star appearance, and a tiny wobble in February was traded so that Carey Price could be handed the reins without fear of losing them. We didn't even need retrospect to know this was a recipe for disaster. Starting Carey Price looks like a move of genius for a while, but then having a back-up the coach and GM are so reluctant to use they leave Carey to be dismantled by the Flyers shows why Huet should have been retained. Not even the return on the trade justifies the move. And now, with retrospect, nor does the experience Price gained.
1. The year with no hockey
There's not much to say. it was unfortunate and unnecessary. Nothing bottoms below this one. It remains the black eye of the decade for all teams (and players).
And again for those interested:
Blogs were less prevalent in 2001, this one wasn't conceived, i can assure you. But I did find one amateur account of the beginning of the decade. It's fun read.
Showing posts with label Houle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houle. Show all posts
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Friday, September 25, 2009
Part Of My Life Is Over:
Patrice Brisebois And Me
Perhaps you'll think me lazy for re-posting, perhaps not. I just thought that I couldn't do any better, not today, so I'd repost an article I had published as "999 Not Out" in the spring.
Patrice Brisebois and me have had a rocky relationship at times, but it's been a long one. He's been part of my life for more than 20 years if you count me following him in junior. He's been a part of this blog since the beginning too. And together I think we've both grown up a lot since the days he pinched and scored in the playoffs; since the days he fell and I booed. So as you do when an important era of your life passes, I reflect and relook. I hope you enjoy my "tribute" to our newly retired Canadien.
I'm not sure whether you'd call this a tribute, perhaps more of a synopsis.
I am not qualified to do a Brisebois tribute, you see, and I would only mess it up. So, instead I will tell you about my 19 years with Patrice Brisebois – with my memories, my interpretations and my feelings.
Early days
Blue chip beginnings
It must be said that Patrice Brisebois was one more in a long line of bluechip defenceman prospects to come through the Montreal Canadiens system back in 1990. That is the reason, Serge Savard and staff must be forgiven for overlooking no less than 3 superstars in Pavel Bure, Sergei fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom to get Patrice.
In 1989, Patrice was the Canadiens dream come true: a French Canadian, goalscoring defenceman who was winning competitions. By the end of that season, he had racked up 30 goals and 109 points in 98 junior games and had competed for the Memorial Cup for the first time with the Laval Titan.
I have to admit that even I was a big fan back then, and I still have his QMJHL rookie card signed in a case somewhere, I think.
Excellent progression
The good times didn't stop at the draft for Patrice, as he would go on to play for Team Canada twice in the next two years, winning 2 gold medals – beating Jagr's Czech team and Pavel Bure's USSR no less. After the two stints for Canada, he also played in 10 NHL games as a 19-year old (which, if you remember Serge Savard's model of player development, was quite a feat). To top it off, there were two Memorial Cup finals in 2 years, the second one with him as a tournament all-star. If that's not enough to impress the socks off any scout, he raked in the CHL defenceman of the year award in 1991 as well. Just a quick run-down for those who prefer bullets:
– 2 WJC gold medals
– 3 Memorial Cup finals
– 1 CHL defenceman of the year
– 1 Memorial Cup All-Star team
– 65 goals and 258 points in 208 junior games
– 11 points at both WJCs and Memorial Cups in 13 and 14 games, respectively
This guy was the Carey Price of his age – a shoe in to be a star...
NHL debuts
Following his tour with Montreal in 1990-91, he saw a bit more replacement work in 1991-92. In all, there were 26 regular season games, and more importantly, Patrice featured in all 11 playoff games that spring for the Habs as they lost to the Bruins in round 2. As the Canadiens 6th scorer that post-season, it seemed as if he was about to leap-frog Mathieu Schneider and JJ Daigneault in the depth chart.
The next season, Patrice did make the team and had a good season. However, he did not make the immediate jump into the limelight, as Schneider and Eric Desjardins became the pair to carry the Canadiens when the going got tough. Nonetheless, Brisebois played 70 games in 1992-93, chipping in 10 goals and 21 assists. He was an integral player in the Cup run (playing in all 20 playoff games), taking his new backseat role in stride, it seemed.
The graduation
The Stanley Cup run of 1993 (in Patrice's rookie season) has been the pinnacle of his NHL achievements to date. As so many a veteran will tell you – the thought that Cups would be so hard to come by after that first one didn't cross the mind at the time. It was perhaps fitting, that Patrice was at his best though, at that time, in a system where he could use his talents without being overstretched. On a team with 4 defencemen ahead of him in playing time, a goalie that could stop seemingly anything – Patrice could play at forward from the back as he had done so well in junior.
As things started to go wrong for the Canadiens, things looked quite rosy for Patrice. He played a lot, despite some injuries. A pivotal moment in his career would come in the spring of 1995. February 9th of that year, Serge Savard made an infamous trade that sent Eric Desjardins, John Leclair and Gilbert Dionne away for Mark Recchi. April 5th, Savard would trade his other defensive stud as Mathieu Schneider and Muller were swapped for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov. Those trades had two impacts for Brisebois. Out Desjardins, Schneider and Haller (summer 1994) in Malakhov, Racine and other spare parts meant that Brisebois was being entrusted with a new brief as top 3 defender. He handled the brief OK for a while. But it was a lot to ask of a forward playing on D (essentially) to fill out major minutes after what happened that next December – when the man who masked so many defensive deficiencies was traded for Jocelyn Thibault, Rucinsky and Kovalenko.
Once Patrick Roy departs, the Canadiens become a bit of a mish mash for the next few years. They still had the offensive firepower with Damphousse, Turgeon, Recchi and belatedly Koivu, to carry some wins – and there were good seasons in 1996 and 1998; but their defence was buckling. Brisebois continued to contribute offensively, but began to struggle to protect a net not filled by Patrick Roy.
By 1998, after all Rejean Houle's other inane moves, Brisbois was left as the major star player from La Belle Province. This pressure brought pressure sure, but perhaps more significantly it brought ego to the year-on, year-off Brisebois.
Highlights of the rest of the decade for Brisebois included several 30+ point seasons (every other year, really) and numerous game-winning goals, despite few meaningful wins. Patrice was a plus player over this time as well, no small feat.
Of these ten years, this is all the NHLPA Legends site had to say:
It's a telling quote, given the site is trying to position each player in the most positive light. There's just not much to say. Not much we'd like to recall... In preparation for this piece, I also read some of the books I have on the shelf. One, Canadiens Legends, even has an entry for Brisebois. After reading it, I almost felt sorry for the guy as it showcased how the sweet ride of his career was over after year one, and has been filled with trouble ever since.
If you think about it, though, Serge Savard drafted Brisebois to fit in behind Desjardins, Schneider and other solid defenceman; and he had the best goaltender to ever play the game. Things looked solid, and a gamble on a defenceman who was much better going forward than skating backwards was a worthwhile gamble. Who knew he would be the last man standing on this defence stood in front of two projects learning to play goal?
Based on a mercurial junior career and rise to success in the big league, there was hope that Brisebois could fill in the position of top defenceman on a top team. Alas, he was never able to reach those heights. He probably should never have been asked or expected to do so.
The contract
No discussion of Brisebois' career would be complete without talk of the contract that came late in his first Montreal stint.
It was the winter of 2001, that new GM Andre Savard decided to make his mark on the Montreal Canadiens for brand new owner George Gillett. Patrice was taken aside and offered an extension on his current offer. probably surprised enough to receive any offer after his -31 season, Patrice jumped on a fully out-of-whack biggest Canadiens contract offer in history ($12 million over 3 years). At the time it was an absurd move for a defenceman that had just been given a raise to $2.5 million a year the spring before following his worst ever season. To add insult to fans' injury, he was also given a no-trade clause.
If ego was a problem before, it was getting out of control not long after. There were incidents off the ice (like urinating at the Canadiens golf tournament and nearly running over Jack Todd), but on the ice Patrice seemed to lord his money over people. Mistakes he made were met with shrugs, and mistakes from others with scolding.
Patrice played out 2002 as more of a bit-part player once Jose Theodore took over. 2002 will certainly never be remembered for defensive play and his 2 goals in the 24-game final push showed how the Canadiens had learned to live with him in the defensive zone and without his contributions up front. So when Patrice came back the next season with less than stellar play, and his customary year off in his 2-year cycle; people were starting to be a little less than impressed with the highest paid player on the team.
By this point, Patrice was being booed every game. Whether it was the booing or the years catching up with him, one thing was abundantly clear – the offensive defence star from 1991 was gone. By February, the pressure had taken its toll. Brisebois took leave for heart problems brought on by stress. No one could forget his ill-advised trip to France against doctor's orders in that time.
The final year of his no-trade clause opened with a condemnation of the general booing from Bob Gainey. It initially stopped the booing and seemed to lift a weight from Patrice's shoulders. I wouldn't say he suddenly fulfilled all the promise of 15 years earlier; but in the least he proved less of a constant distraction and managed to minimise the damage he did so the Canadiens could make the playoffs.
Those playoffs would be the last time (or so we thought) that Patrice would step on the ice for the Canadiens. In a rather anti-climactic end, Patrice was told the Canadiens would rather not pick up their option for the next season. The untradeable defenceman was gone, for a while anyway.
The Canadiens dollar
More Canadiens dollars have ended up in Patrice Brisebois' garage than probably should have. In fact, he is among the best compensated (by the Canadiens) players of all time. If estimates from 2004 are to be trusted (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), together with his $2.9 million from the past two seasons, Brisebois will have cost the Habs over $22 million for a career. Only Saku Koivu has made more.
The returns
A more recent history of the Patrice Brisebois stories is highlighted by his re-signing and re-signing again with his Canadiens. In fact, the Canadiens rescued him from outright retirement as another team had run out of patience and use for him in 2006.
It has been a nice story for the player, but I think many of us wonder whether the Canadiens exist to please the alums of the team, or indeed to win. Signed both times ahead of younger and more intriguing options, he was sold to us as a cheap 8th defenceman. Yet both times, he was given bonuses to negate any notion of value for money. And both times he has been deployed as a 5th or 6th when push came to shove.
Last season, this was met with stoicism – one season, we can bear it. This season, I can't tell you how many times I've read "1000 games, can we get it over with?", or "Can we get this retirement pushed forward?".
In fairness to the player, he has done what the coaches asked and can't be blamed for their weaknesses. He has also tried his utmost (I think) to keep his game simpler and limit the flashbacks of 1996-2004 to a minimum. One highlight was a playoff game with a timely winning goal. There have been lowlights too.
The booing
It is a very common misconception nowadays that Brisebois started getting booed after he was awarded the biggest (and most ridiculously out of whack) contract in Montreal Canadiens history. This is simply untrue. And it does nothing but attempt to gloss over the fact that people were booing Brisebois for his mistakes (presumably in hopes that a GM might trade him?) long before he made $4 million a year. The booing began before that point, for certain, in a futile effort to get incapable GMs to do something about our number one defenceman position. It was only intensified by that ridiculous contract.
In fact, in 1998-99, when awarded a whopping $1.8 million a year, he was already the second best compensated defenceman on the team. That contract was three years in length at a nice $6 million in all. If being overpaid was the source of the boos, it had its origin in that contract of 1998.
As I pointed to above, Brisebois' play and his ego were on separate courses from about 1995 (post-Roy). It could be said that he was thrust unfairly into both ice time and spotlight he couldn't handle. And perhaps it would have been something to be forgiven given a show of a little humility. No show was ever forthcoming, not back then anyway. The booing he received was as much due to the response he gave to errors (both his and others) as it was to his play.
The situation as it currently stands is completely different. Brisebois to his credit has been knocked down a few notches. Humility is now part of his vocabulary, at least some of the time. Any booing (or hand wringing at this blog, for example) is probably more frustration for Bob Gainey at having signed the veteran in place of other more attractive or forward-looking options.
Awaiting the 1000th
It was clever how Carbonneau sat Brisebois for this road trip. How clever will it be to bring him back just when O'Byrne has started to play well? He'll be back though, as sure as Carey Price will be the only one to reap the benefit of the win-you're in policy...
When he plays in Montreal, he will receive thunderous cheers. Why not? His achievement is monumental (consider this player and then consider how few players reach 1000 games – monumental doesn't even do it justice).
Many will be cheering in hope that it will be the end. However, I think we're deluded if we think that. Has he already played his last playoff game? Will he be satisfied with 1000 regular season games, when 1000 with the Canadiens is so close? (he's at 974 right now!)
If he reaches that milestone he will be the 12th player in the history of the team to do so. His company would include 9 players whose numbers are retired along with 2 whose were not:
1436 – Henri Richard
1405 – Larry Robinson
1342 – Bob Gainey
1287 – Jean Beliveau
1131 – Claude Provost
1115 – Yvan Cournoyer
1111 – Maurice Richard
1073 – Guy Carbonneau
1040 – Serge Savard
1025 – Guy Lafleur
1013 – Doug Harvey
Will I cheer Brisebois? Probably. 1000 games is nothing to sneeze at. Oh, go on, you'll cheer too. It'll be a strange feeling...
Patrice Brisebois and me have had a rocky relationship at times, but it's been a long one. He's been part of my life for more than 20 years if you count me following him in junior. He's been a part of this blog since the beginning too. And together I think we've both grown up a lot since the days he pinched and scored in the playoffs; since the days he fell and I booed. So as you do when an important era of your life passes, I reflect and relook. I hope you enjoy my "tribute" to our newly retired Canadien.
I'm not sure whether you'd call this a tribute, perhaps more of a synopsis.
I am not qualified to do a Brisebois tribute, you see, and I would only mess it up. So, instead I will tell you about my 19 years with Patrice Brisebois – with my memories, my interpretations and my feelings.
Early days
Blue chip beginnings
It must be said that Patrice Brisebois was one more in a long line of bluechip defenceman prospects to come through the Montreal Canadiens system back in 1990. That is the reason, Serge Savard and staff must be forgiven for overlooking no less than 3 superstars in Pavel Bure, Sergei fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom to get Patrice.
In 1989, Patrice was the Canadiens dream come true: a French Canadian, goalscoring defenceman who was winning competitions. By the end of that season, he had racked up 30 goals and 109 points in 98 junior games and had competed for the Memorial Cup for the first time with the Laval Titan.
I have to admit that even I was a big fan back then, and I still have his QMJHL rookie card signed in a case somewhere, I think.
Excellent progression
The good times didn't stop at the draft for Patrice, as he would go on to play for Team Canada twice in the next two years, winning 2 gold medals – beating Jagr's Czech team and Pavel Bure's USSR no less. After the two stints for Canada, he also played in 10 NHL games as a 19-year old (which, if you remember Serge Savard's model of player development, was quite a feat). To top it off, there were two Memorial Cup finals in 2 years, the second one with him as a tournament all-star. If that's not enough to impress the socks off any scout, he raked in the CHL defenceman of the year award in 1991 as well. Just a quick run-down for those who prefer bullets:
– 2 WJC gold medals
– 3 Memorial Cup finals
– 1 CHL defenceman of the year
– 1 Memorial Cup All-Star team
– 65 goals and 258 points in 208 junior games
– 11 points at both WJCs and Memorial Cups in 13 and 14 games, respectively
This guy was the Carey Price of his age – a shoe in to be a star...
NHL debuts
Following his tour with Montreal in 1990-91, he saw a bit more replacement work in 1991-92. In all, there were 26 regular season games, and more importantly, Patrice featured in all 11 playoff games that spring for the Habs as they lost to the Bruins in round 2. As the Canadiens 6th scorer that post-season, it seemed as if he was about to leap-frog Mathieu Schneider and JJ Daigneault in the depth chart.
The next season, Patrice did make the team and had a good season. However, he did not make the immediate jump into the limelight, as Schneider and Eric Desjardins became the pair to carry the Canadiens when the going got tough. Nonetheless, Brisebois played 70 games in 1992-93, chipping in 10 goals and 21 assists. He was an integral player in the Cup run (playing in all 20 playoff games), taking his new backseat role in stride, it seemed.
The graduation
The Stanley Cup run of 1993 (in Patrice's rookie season) has been the pinnacle of his NHL achievements to date. As so many a veteran will tell you – the thought that Cups would be so hard to come by after that first one didn't cross the mind at the time. It was perhaps fitting, that Patrice was at his best though, at that time, in a system where he could use his talents without being overstretched. On a team with 4 defencemen ahead of him in playing time, a goalie that could stop seemingly anything – Patrice could play at forward from the back as he had done so well in junior.
As things started to go wrong for the Canadiens, things looked quite rosy for Patrice. He played a lot, despite some injuries. A pivotal moment in his career would come in the spring of 1995. February 9th of that year, Serge Savard made an infamous trade that sent Eric Desjardins, John Leclair and Gilbert Dionne away for Mark Recchi. April 5th, Savard would trade his other defensive stud as Mathieu Schneider and Muller were swapped for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov. Those trades had two impacts for Brisebois. Out Desjardins, Schneider and Haller (summer 1994) in Malakhov, Racine and other spare parts meant that Brisebois was being entrusted with a new brief as top 3 defender. He handled the brief OK for a while. But it was a lot to ask of a forward playing on D (essentially) to fill out major minutes after what happened that next December – when the man who masked so many defensive deficiencies was traded for Jocelyn Thibault, Rucinsky and Kovalenko.
Once Patrick Roy departs, the Canadiens become a bit of a mish mash for the next few years. They still had the offensive firepower with Damphousse, Turgeon, Recchi and belatedly Koivu, to carry some wins – and there were good seasons in 1996 and 1998; but their defence was buckling. Brisebois continued to contribute offensively, but began to struggle to protect a net not filled by Patrick Roy.
By 1998, after all Rejean Houle's other inane moves, Brisbois was left as the major star player from La Belle Province. This pressure brought pressure sure, but perhaps more significantly it brought ego to the year-on, year-off Brisebois.
Highlights of the rest of the decade for Brisebois included several 30+ point seasons (every other year, really) and numerous game-winning goals, despite few meaningful wins. Patrice was a plus player over this time as well, no small feat.
Of these ten years, this is all the NHLPA Legends site had to say:
"As the franchise struggled in the late 1990s, Brisebois was a constant on the defensive brigade. He set a personal high with 15 goals in 2000-01 and was an integral part of the club's playoff hopes in 2001-02."
It's a telling quote, given the site is trying to position each player in the most positive light. There's just not much to say. Not much we'd like to recall... In preparation for this piece, I also read some of the books I have on the shelf. One, Canadiens Legends, even has an entry for Brisebois. After reading it, I almost felt sorry for the guy as it showcased how the sweet ride of his career was over after year one, and has been filled with trouble ever since.
If you think about it, though, Serge Savard drafted Brisebois to fit in behind Desjardins, Schneider and other solid defenceman; and he had the best goaltender to ever play the game. Things looked solid, and a gamble on a defenceman who was much better going forward than skating backwards was a worthwhile gamble. Who knew he would be the last man standing on this defence stood in front of two projects learning to play goal?
Based on a mercurial junior career and rise to success in the big league, there was hope that Brisebois could fill in the position of top defenceman on a top team. Alas, he was never able to reach those heights. He probably should never have been asked or expected to do so.
The contract
No discussion of Brisebois' career would be complete without talk of the contract that came late in his first Montreal stint.
It was the winter of 2001, that new GM Andre Savard decided to make his mark on the Montreal Canadiens for brand new owner George Gillett. Patrice was taken aside and offered an extension on his current offer. probably surprised enough to receive any offer after his -31 season, Patrice jumped on a fully out-of-whack biggest Canadiens contract offer in history ($12 million over 3 years). At the time it was an absurd move for a defenceman that had just been given a raise to $2.5 million a year the spring before following his worst ever season. To add insult to fans' injury, he was also given a no-trade clause.
If ego was a problem before, it was getting out of control not long after. There were incidents off the ice (like urinating at the Canadiens golf tournament and nearly running over Jack Todd), but on the ice Patrice seemed to lord his money over people. Mistakes he made were met with shrugs, and mistakes from others with scolding.
Patrice played out 2002 as more of a bit-part player once Jose Theodore took over. 2002 will certainly never be remembered for defensive play and his 2 goals in the 24-game final push showed how the Canadiens had learned to live with him in the defensive zone and without his contributions up front. So when Patrice came back the next season with less than stellar play, and his customary year off in his 2-year cycle; people were starting to be a little less than impressed with the highest paid player on the team.
By this point, Patrice was being booed every game. Whether it was the booing or the years catching up with him, one thing was abundantly clear – the offensive defence star from 1991 was gone. By February, the pressure had taken its toll. Brisebois took leave for heart problems brought on by stress. No one could forget his ill-advised trip to France against doctor's orders in that time.
The final year of his no-trade clause opened with a condemnation of the general booing from Bob Gainey. It initially stopped the booing and seemed to lift a weight from Patrice's shoulders. I wouldn't say he suddenly fulfilled all the promise of 15 years earlier; but in the least he proved less of a constant distraction and managed to minimise the damage he did so the Canadiens could make the playoffs.
Those playoffs would be the last time (or so we thought) that Patrice would step on the ice for the Canadiens. In a rather anti-climactic end, Patrice was told the Canadiens would rather not pick up their option for the next season. The untradeable defenceman was gone, for a while anyway.
The Canadiens dollar
More Canadiens dollars have ended up in Patrice Brisebois' garage than probably should have. In fact, he is among the best compensated (by the Canadiens) players of all time. If estimates from 2004 are to be trusted (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), together with his $2.9 million from the past two seasons, Brisebois will have cost the Habs over $22 million for a career. Only Saku Koivu has made more.
The returns
A more recent history of the Patrice Brisebois stories is highlighted by his re-signing and re-signing again with his Canadiens. In fact, the Canadiens rescued him from outright retirement as another team had run out of patience and use for him in 2006.
It has been a nice story for the player, but I think many of us wonder whether the Canadiens exist to please the alums of the team, or indeed to win. Signed both times ahead of younger and more intriguing options, he was sold to us as a cheap 8th defenceman. Yet both times, he was given bonuses to negate any notion of value for money. And both times he has been deployed as a 5th or 6th when push came to shove.
Last season, this was met with stoicism – one season, we can bear it. This season, I can't tell you how many times I've read "1000 games, can we get it over with?", or "Can we get this retirement pushed forward?".
In fairness to the player, he has done what the coaches asked and can't be blamed for their weaknesses. He has also tried his utmost (I think) to keep his game simpler and limit the flashbacks of 1996-2004 to a minimum. One highlight was a playoff game with a timely winning goal. There have been lowlights too.
The booing
It is a very common misconception nowadays that Brisebois started getting booed after he was awarded the biggest (and most ridiculously out of whack) contract in Montreal Canadiens history. This is simply untrue. And it does nothing but attempt to gloss over the fact that people were booing Brisebois for his mistakes (presumably in hopes that a GM might trade him?) long before he made $4 million a year. The booing began before that point, for certain, in a futile effort to get incapable GMs to do something about our number one defenceman position. It was only intensified by that ridiculous contract.
In fact, in 1998-99, when awarded a whopping $1.8 million a year, he was already the second best compensated defenceman on the team. That contract was three years in length at a nice $6 million in all. If being overpaid was the source of the boos, it had its origin in that contract of 1998.
As I pointed to above, Brisebois' play and his ego were on separate courses from about 1995 (post-Roy). It could be said that he was thrust unfairly into both ice time and spotlight he couldn't handle. And perhaps it would have been something to be forgiven given a show of a little humility. No show was ever forthcoming, not back then anyway. The booing he received was as much due to the response he gave to errors (both his and others) as it was to his play.
The situation as it currently stands is completely different. Brisebois to his credit has been knocked down a few notches. Humility is now part of his vocabulary, at least some of the time. Any booing (or hand wringing at this blog, for example) is probably more frustration for Bob Gainey at having signed the veteran in place of other more attractive or forward-looking options.
Awaiting the 1000th
It was clever how Carbonneau sat Brisebois for this road trip. How clever will it be to bring him back just when O'Byrne has started to play well? He'll be back though, as sure as Carey Price will be the only one to reap the benefit of the win-you're in policy...
When he plays in Montreal, he will receive thunderous cheers. Why not? His achievement is monumental (consider this player and then consider how few players reach 1000 games – monumental doesn't even do it justice).
Many will be cheering in hope that it will be the end. However, I think we're deluded if we think that. Has he already played his last playoff game? Will he be satisfied with 1000 regular season games, when 1000 with the Canadiens is so close? (he's at 974 right now!)
If he reaches that milestone he will be the 12th player in the history of the team to do so. His company would include 9 players whose numbers are retired along with 2 whose were not:
1436 – Henri Richard
1405 – Larry Robinson
1342 – Bob Gainey
1287 – Jean Beliveau
1131 – Claude Provost
1115 – Yvan Cournoyer
1111 – Maurice Richard
1073 – Guy Carbonneau
1040 – Serge Savard
1025 – Guy Lafleur
1013 – Doug Harvey
Will I cheer Brisebois? Probably. 1000 games is nothing to sneeze at. Oh, go on, you'll cheer too. It'll be a strange feeling...
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Patrice Brisebois
999 Not Out
[RE-POST OF THE EARLIER BRISEBOIS RETROSPECTIVE]
I'm not sure whether you'd call this a tribute, perhaps more of a synopsis.
I am not qualified to do a Brisebois tribute, you see, and I would only mess it up. So, instead I will tell you about my 19 years with Patrice Brisebois – with my memories, my interpretations and my feelings.
Early days
Blue chip beginnings
It must be said that Patrice Brisebois was one more in a long line of bluechip defenceman prospects to come through the Montreal Canadiens system back in 1990. That is the reason, Serge Savard and staff must be forgiven for overlooking no less than 3 superstars in Pavel Bure, Sergei fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom to get Patrice.
In 1989, Patrice was the Canadiens dream come true: a French Canadian, goalscoring defenceman who was winning competitions. By the end of that season, he had racked up 30 goals and 109 points in 98 junior games and had competed for the Memorial Cup for the first time with the Laval Titan.
I have to admit that even I was a big fan back then, and I still have his QMJHL rookie card signed in a case somewhere, I think.
Excellent progression
The good times didn't stop at the draft for Patrice, as he would go on to play for Team Canada twice in the next two years, winning 2 gold medals – beating Jagr's Czech team and Pavel Bure's USSR no less. After the two stints for Canada, he also played in 10 NHL games as a 19-year old (which, if you remember Serge Savard's model of player development, was quite a feat). To top it off, there were two Memorial Cup finals in 2 years, the second one with him as a tournament all-star. If that's not enough to impress the socks off any scout, he raked in the CHL defenceman of the year award in 1991 as well. Just a quick run-down for those who prefer bullets:
– 2 WJC gold medals
– 3 Memorial Cup finals
– 1 CHL defenceman of the year
– 1 Memorial Cup All-Star team
– 65 goals and 258 points in 208 junior games
– 11 points at both WJCs and Memorial Cups in 13 and 14 games, respectively
This guy was the Carey Price of his age – a shoe in to be a star...
NHL debuts
Following his tour with Montreal in 1990-91, he saw a bit more replacement work in 1991-92. In all, there were 26 regular season games, and more importantly, Patrice featured in all 11 playoff games that spring for the Habs as they lost to the Bruins in round 2. As the Canadiens 6th scorer that post-season, it seemed as if he was about to leap-frog Mathieu Schneider and JJ Daigneault in the depth chart.
The next season, Patrice did make the team and had a good season. However, he did not make the immediate jump into the limelight, as Schneider and Eric Desjardins became the pair to carry the Canadiens when the going got tough. Nonetheless, Brisebois played 70 games in 1992-93, chipping in 10 goals and 21 assists. He was an integral player in the Cup run (playing in all 20 playoff games), taking his new backseat role in stride, it seemed.
The graduation
The Stanley Cup run of 1993 (in Patrice's rookie season) has been the pinnacle of his NHL achievements to date. As so many a veteran will tell you – the thought that Cups would be so hard to come by after that first one didn't cross the mind at the time. It was perhaps fitting, that Patrice was at his best though, at that time, in a system where he could use his talents without being overstretched. On a team with 4 defencemen ahead of him in playing time, a goalie that could stop seemingly anything – Patrice could play at forward from the back as he had done so well in junior.
As things started to go wrong for the Canadiens, things looked quite rosy for Patrice. He played a lot, despite some injuries. A pivotal moment in his career would come in the spring of 1995. February 9th of that year, Serge Savard made an infamous trade that sent Eric Desjardins, John Leclair and Gilbert Dionne away for Mark Recchi. April 5th, Savard would trade his other defensive stud as Mathieu Schneider and Muller were swapped for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov. Those trades had two impacts for Brisebois. Out Desjardins, Schneider and Haller (summer 1994) in Malakhov, Racine and other spare parts meant that Brisebois was being entrusted with a new brief as top 3 defender. He handled the brief OK for a while. But it was a lot to ask of a forward playing on D (essentially) to fill out major minutes after what happened that next December – when the man who masked so many defensive deficiencies was traded for Jocelyn Thibault, Rucinsky and Kovalenko.
Once Patrick Roy departs, the Canadiens become a bit of a mish mash for the next few years. They still had the offensive firepower with Damphousse, Turgeon, Recchi and belatedly Koivu, to carry some wins – and there were good seasons in 1996 and 1998; but their defence was buckling. Brisebois continued to contribute offensively, but began to struggle to protect a net not filled by Patrick Roy.
By 1998, after all Rejean Houle's other inane moves, Brisbois was left as the major star player from La Belle Province. This pressure brought pressure sure, but perhaps more significantly it brought ego to the year-on, year-off Brisebois.
Highlights of the rest of the decade for Brisebois included several 30+ point seasons (every other year, really) and numerous game-winning goals, despite few meaningful wins. Patrice was a plus player over this time as well, no small feat.
Of these ten years, this is all the NHLPA Legends site had to say:
It's a telling quote, given the site is trying to position each player in the most positive light. There's just not much to say. Not much we'd like to recall... In preparation for this piece, I also read some of the books I have on the shelf. One, Canadiens Legends, even has an entry for Brisebois. After reading it, I almost felt sorry for the guy as it showcased how the sweet ride of his career was over after year one, and has been filled with trouble ever since.
If you think about it, though, Serge Savard drafted Brisebois to fit in behind Desjardins, Schneider and other solid defenceman; and he had the best goaltender to ever play the game. Things looked solid, and a gamble on a defenceman who was much better going forward than skating backwards was a worthwhile gamble. Who knew he would be the last man standing on this defence stood in front of two projects learning to play goal?
Based on a mercurial junior career and rise to success in the big league, there was hope that Brisebois could fill in the position of top defenceman on a top team. Alas, he was never able to reach those heights. He probably should never have been asked or expected to do so.
The contract
No discussion of Brisebois' career would be complete without talk of the contract that came late in his first Montreal stint.
It was the winter of 2001, that new GM Andre Savard decided to make his mark on the Montreal Canadiens for brand new owner George Gillett. Patrice was taken aside and offered an extension on his current offer. probably surprised enough to receive any offer after his -31 season, Patrice jumped on a fully out-of-whack biggest Canadiens contract offer in history ($12 million over 3 years). At the time it was an absurd move for a defenceman that had just been given a raise to $2.5 million a year the spring before following his worst ever season. To add insult to fans' injury, he was also given a no-trade clause.
If ego was a problem before, it was getting out of control not long after. There were incidents off the ice (like urinating at the Canadiens golf tournament and nearly running over Jack Todd), but on the ice Patrice seemed to lord his money over people. Mistakes he made were met with shrugs, and mistakes from others with scolding.
Patrice played out 2002 as more of a bit-part player once Jose Theodore took over. 2002 will certainly never be remembered for defensive play and his 2 goals in the 24-game final push showed how the Canadiens had learned to live with him in the defensive zone and without his contributions up front. So when Patrice came back the next season with less than stellar play, and his customary year off in his 2-year cycle; people were starting to be a little less than impressed with the highest paid player on the team.
By this point, Patrice was being booed every game. Whether it was the booing or the years catching up with him, one thing was abundantly clear – the offensive defence star from 1991 was gone. By February, the pressure had taken its toll. Brisebois took leave for heart problems brought on by stress. No one could forget his ill-advised trip to France against doctor's orders in that time.
The final year of his no-trade clause opened with a condemnation of the general booing from Bob Gainey. It initially stopped the booing and seemed to lift a weight from Patrice's shoulders. I wouldn't say he suddenly fulfilled all the promise of 15 years earlier; but in the least he proved less of a constant distraction and managed to minimise the damage he did so the Canadiens could make the playoffs.
Those playoffs would be the last time (or so we thought) that Patrice would step on the ice for the Canadiens. In a rather anti-climactic end, Patrice was told the Canadiens would rather not pick up their option for the next season. The untradeable defenceman was gone, for a while anyway.
The Canadiens dollar
More Canadiens dollars have ended up in Patrice Brisebois' garage than probably should have. In fact, he is among the best compensated (by the Canadiens) players of all time. If estimates from 2004 are to be trusted (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), together with his $2.9 million from the past two seasons, Brisebois will have cost the Habs over $22 million for a career. Only Saku Koivu has made more.
The returns
A more recent history of the Patrice Brisebois stories is highlighted by his re-signing and re-signing again with his Canadiens. In fact, the Canadiens rescued him from outright retirement as another team had run out of patience and use for him in 2006.
It has been a nice story for the player, but I think many of us wonder whether the Canadiens exist to please the alums of the team, or indeed to win. Signed both times ahead of younger and more intriguing options, he was sold to us as a cheap 8th defenceman. Yet both times, he was given bonuses to negate any notion of value for money. And both times he has been deployed as a 5th or 6th when push came to shove.
Last season, this was met with stoicism – one season, we can bear it. This season, I can't tell you how many times I've read "1000 games, can we get it over with?", or "Can we get this retirement pushed forward?".
In fairness to the player, he has done what the coaches asked and can't be blamed for their weaknesses. He has also tried his utmost (I think) to keep his game simpler and limit the flashbacks of 1996-2004 to a minimum. One highlight was a playoff game with a timely winning goal. There have been lowlights too.
The booing
It is a very common misconception nowadays that Brisebois started getting booed after he was awarded the biggest (and most ridiculously out of whack) contract in Montreal Canadiens history. This is simply untrue. And it does nothing but attempt to gloss over the fact that people were booing Brisebois for his mistakes (presumably in hopes that a GM might trade him?) long before he made $4 million a year. The booing began before that point, for certain, in a futile effort to get incapable GMs to do something about our number one defenceman position. It was only intensified by that ridiculous contract.
In fact, in 1998-99, when awarded a whopping $1.8 million a year, he was already the second best compensated defenceman on the team. That contract was three years in length at a nice $6 million in all. If being overpaid was the source of the boos, it had its origin in that contract of 1998.
As I pointed to above, Brisebois' play and his ego were on separate courses from about 1995 (post-Roy). It could be said that he was thrust unfairly into both ice time and spotlight he couldn't handle. And perhaps it would have been something to be forgiven given a show of a little humility. No show was ever forthcoming, not back then anyway. The booing he received was as much due to the response he gave to errors (both his and others) as it was to his play.
The situation as it currently stands is completely different. Brisebois to his credit has been knocked down a few notches. Humility is now part of his vocabulary, at least some of the time. Any booing (or hand wringing at this blog, for example) is probably more frustration for Bob Gainey at having signed the veteran in place of other more attractive or forward-looking options.
Awaiting the 1000th
It was clever how Carbonneau sat Brisebois for this road trip. How clever will it be to bring him back just when O'Byrne has started to play well? He'll be back though, as sure as Carey Price will be the only one to reap the benefit of the win-you're in policy...
When he plays in Montreal, he will receive thunderous cheers. Why not? His achievement is monumental (consider this player and then consider how few players reach 1000 games – monumental doesn't even do it justice).
Many will be cheering in hope that it will be the end. However, I think we're deluded if we think that. Has he already played his last playoff game? Will he be satisfied with 1000 regular season games, when 1000 with the Canadiens is so close? (he's at 974 right now!)
If he reaches that milestone he will be the 12th player in the history of the team to do so. His company would include 9 players whose numbers are retired along with 2 whose were not:
1436 – Henri Richard
1405 – Larry Robinson
1342 – Bob Gainey
1287 – Jean Beliveau
1131 – Claude Provost
1115 – Yvan Cournoyer
1111 – Maurice Richard
1073 – Guy Carbonneau
1040 – Serge Savard
1025 – Guy Lafleur
1013 – Doug Harvey
Will I cheer Brisebois? Probably. 1000 games is nothing to sneeze at. Oh, go on, you'll cheer too. It'll be a strange feeling...
I'm not sure whether you'd call this a tribute, perhaps more of a synopsis.
I am not qualified to do a Brisebois tribute, you see, and I would only mess it up. So, instead I will tell you about my 19 years with Patrice Brisebois – with my memories, my interpretations and my feelings.
Early days
Blue chip beginnings
It must be said that Patrice Brisebois was one more in a long line of bluechip defenceman prospects to come through the Montreal Canadiens system back in 1990. That is the reason, Serge Savard and staff must be forgiven for overlooking no less than 3 superstars in Pavel Bure, Sergei fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom to get Patrice.
In 1989, Patrice was the Canadiens dream come true: a French Canadian, goalscoring defenceman who was winning competitions. By the end of that season, he had racked up 30 goals and 109 points in 98 junior games and had competed for the Memorial Cup for the first time with the Laval Titan.
I have to admit that even I was a big fan back then, and I still have his QMJHL rookie card signed in a case somewhere, I think.
Excellent progression
The good times didn't stop at the draft for Patrice, as he would go on to play for Team Canada twice in the next two years, winning 2 gold medals – beating Jagr's Czech team and Pavel Bure's USSR no less. After the two stints for Canada, he also played in 10 NHL games as a 19-year old (which, if you remember Serge Savard's model of player development, was quite a feat). To top it off, there were two Memorial Cup finals in 2 years, the second one with him as a tournament all-star. If that's not enough to impress the socks off any scout, he raked in the CHL defenceman of the year award in 1991 as well. Just a quick run-down for those who prefer bullets:
– 2 WJC gold medals
– 3 Memorial Cup finals
– 1 CHL defenceman of the year
– 1 Memorial Cup All-Star team
– 65 goals and 258 points in 208 junior games
– 11 points at both WJCs and Memorial Cups in 13 and 14 games, respectively
This guy was the Carey Price of his age – a shoe in to be a star...
NHL debuts
Following his tour with Montreal in 1990-91, he saw a bit more replacement work in 1991-92. In all, there were 26 regular season games, and more importantly, Patrice featured in all 11 playoff games that spring for the Habs as they lost to the Bruins in round 2. As the Canadiens 6th scorer that post-season, it seemed as if he was about to leap-frog Mathieu Schneider and JJ Daigneault in the depth chart.
The next season, Patrice did make the team and had a good season. However, he did not make the immediate jump into the limelight, as Schneider and Eric Desjardins became the pair to carry the Canadiens when the going got tough. Nonetheless, Brisebois played 70 games in 1992-93, chipping in 10 goals and 21 assists. He was an integral player in the Cup run (playing in all 20 playoff games), taking his new backseat role in stride, it seemed.
The graduation
The Stanley Cup run of 1993 (in Patrice's rookie season) has been the pinnacle of his NHL achievements to date. As so many a veteran will tell you – the thought that Cups would be so hard to come by after that first one didn't cross the mind at the time. It was perhaps fitting, that Patrice was at his best though, at that time, in a system where he could use his talents without being overstretched. On a team with 4 defencemen ahead of him in playing time, a goalie that could stop seemingly anything – Patrice could play at forward from the back as he had done so well in junior.
As things started to go wrong for the Canadiens, things looked quite rosy for Patrice. He played a lot, despite some injuries. A pivotal moment in his career would come in the spring of 1995. February 9th of that year, Serge Savard made an infamous trade that sent Eric Desjardins, John Leclair and Gilbert Dionne away for Mark Recchi. April 5th, Savard would trade his other defensive stud as Mathieu Schneider and Muller were swapped for Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov. Those trades had two impacts for Brisebois. Out Desjardins, Schneider and Haller (summer 1994) in Malakhov, Racine and other spare parts meant that Brisebois was being entrusted with a new brief as top 3 defender. He handled the brief OK for a while. But it was a lot to ask of a forward playing on D (essentially) to fill out major minutes after what happened that next December – when the man who masked so many defensive deficiencies was traded for Jocelyn Thibault, Rucinsky and Kovalenko.
Once Patrick Roy departs, the Canadiens become a bit of a mish mash for the next few years. They still had the offensive firepower with Damphousse, Turgeon, Recchi and belatedly Koivu, to carry some wins – and there were good seasons in 1996 and 1998; but their defence was buckling. Brisebois continued to contribute offensively, but began to struggle to protect a net not filled by Patrick Roy.
By 1998, after all Rejean Houle's other inane moves, Brisbois was left as the major star player from La Belle Province. This pressure brought pressure sure, but perhaps more significantly it brought ego to the year-on, year-off Brisebois.
Highlights of the rest of the decade for Brisebois included several 30+ point seasons (every other year, really) and numerous game-winning goals, despite few meaningful wins. Patrice was a plus player over this time as well, no small feat.
Of these ten years, this is all the NHLPA Legends site had to say:
"As the franchise struggled in the late 1990s, Brisebois was a constant on the defensive brigade. He set a personal high with 15 goals in 2000-01 and was an integral part of the club's playoff hopes in 2001-02."
It's a telling quote, given the site is trying to position each player in the most positive light. There's just not much to say. Not much we'd like to recall... In preparation for this piece, I also read some of the books I have on the shelf. One, Canadiens Legends, even has an entry for Brisebois. After reading it, I almost felt sorry for the guy as it showcased how the sweet ride of his career was over after year one, and has been filled with trouble ever since.
If you think about it, though, Serge Savard drafted Brisebois to fit in behind Desjardins, Schneider and other solid defenceman; and he had the best goaltender to ever play the game. Things looked solid, and a gamble on a defenceman who was much better going forward than skating backwards was a worthwhile gamble. Who knew he would be the last man standing on this defence stood in front of two projects learning to play goal?
Based on a mercurial junior career and rise to success in the big league, there was hope that Brisebois could fill in the position of top defenceman on a top team. Alas, he was never able to reach those heights. He probably should never have been asked or expected to do so.
The contract
No discussion of Brisebois' career would be complete without talk of the contract that came late in his first Montreal stint.
It was the winter of 2001, that new GM Andre Savard decided to make his mark on the Montreal Canadiens for brand new owner George Gillett. Patrice was taken aside and offered an extension on his current offer. probably surprised enough to receive any offer after his -31 season, Patrice jumped on a fully out-of-whack biggest Canadiens contract offer in history ($12 million over 3 years). At the time it was an absurd move for a defenceman that had just been given a raise to $2.5 million a year the spring before following his worst ever season. To add insult to fans' injury, he was also given a no-trade clause.
If ego was a problem before, it was getting out of control not long after. There were incidents off the ice (like urinating at the Canadiens golf tournament and nearly running over Jack Todd), but on the ice Patrice seemed to lord his money over people. Mistakes he made were met with shrugs, and mistakes from others with scolding.
Patrice played out 2002 as more of a bit-part player once Jose Theodore took over. 2002 will certainly never be remembered for defensive play and his 2 goals in the 24-game final push showed how the Canadiens had learned to live with him in the defensive zone and without his contributions up front. So when Patrice came back the next season with less than stellar play, and his customary year off in his 2-year cycle; people were starting to be a little less than impressed with the highest paid player on the team.
By this point, Patrice was being booed every game. Whether it was the booing or the years catching up with him, one thing was abundantly clear – the offensive defence star from 1991 was gone. By February, the pressure had taken its toll. Brisebois took leave for heart problems brought on by stress. No one could forget his ill-advised trip to France against doctor's orders in that time.
The final year of his no-trade clause opened with a condemnation of the general booing from Bob Gainey. It initially stopped the booing and seemed to lift a weight from Patrice's shoulders. I wouldn't say he suddenly fulfilled all the promise of 15 years earlier; but in the least he proved less of a constant distraction and managed to minimise the damage he did so the Canadiens could make the playoffs.
Those playoffs would be the last time (or so we thought) that Patrice would step on the ice for the Canadiens. In a rather anti-climactic end, Patrice was told the Canadiens would rather not pick up their option for the next season. The untradeable defenceman was gone, for a while anyway.
The Canadiens dollar
More Canadiens dollars have ended up in Patrice Brisebois' garage than probably should have. In fact, he is among the best compensated (by the Canadiens) players of all time. If estimates from 2004 are to be trusted (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), together with his $2.9 million from the past two seasons, Brisebois will have cost the Habs over $22 million for a career. Only Saku Koivu has made more.
The returns
A more recent history of the Patrice Brisebois stories is highlighted by his re-signing and re-signing again with his Canadiens. In fact, the Canadiens rescued him from outright retirement as another team had run out of patience and use for him in 2006.
It has been a nice story for the player, but I think many of us wonder whether the Canadiens exist to please the alums of the team, or indeed to win. Signed both times ahead of younger and more intriguing options, he was sold to us as a cheap 8th defenceman. Yet both times, he was given bonuses to negate any notion of value for money. And both times he has been deployed as a 5th or 6th when push came to shove.
Last season, this was met with stoicism – one season, we can bear it. This season, I can't tell you how many times I've read "1000 games, can we get it over with?", or "Can we get this retirement pushed forward?".
In fairness to the player, he has done what the coaches asked and can't be blamed for their weaknesses. He has also tried his utmost (I think) to keep his game simpler and limit the flashbacks of 1996-2004 to a minimum. One highlight was a playoff game with a timely winning goal. There have been lowlights too.
The booing
It is a very common misconception nowadays that Brisebois started getting booed after he was awarded the biggest (and most ridiculously out of whack) contract in Montreal Canadiens history. This is simply untrue. And it does nothing but attempt to gloss over the fact that people were booing Brisebois for his mistakes (presumably in hopes that a GM might trade him?) long before he made $4 million a year. The booing began before that point, for certain, in a futile effort to get incapable GMs to do something about our number one defenceman position. It was only intensified by that ridiculous contract.
In fact, in 1998-99, when awarded a whopping $1.8 million a year, he was already the second best compensated defenceman on the team. That contract was three years in length at a nice $6 million in all. If being overpaid was the source of the boos, it had its origin in that contract of 1998.
As I pointed to above, Brisebois' play and his ego were on separate courses from about 1995 (post-Roy). It could be said that he was thrust unfairly into both ice time and spotlight he couldn't handle. And perhaps it would have been something to be forgiven given a show of a little humility. No show was ever forthcoming, not back then anyway. The booing he received was as much due to the response he gave to errors (both his and others) as it was to his play.
The situation as it currently stands is completely different. Brisebois to his credit has been knocked down a few notches. Humility is now part of his vocabulary, at least some of the time. Any booing (or hand wringing at this blog, for example) is probably more frustration for Bob Gainey at having signed the veteran in place of other more attractive or forward-looking options.
Awaiting the 1000th
It was clever how Carbonneau sat Brisebois for this road trip. How clever will it be to bring him back just when O'Byrne has started to play well? He'll be back though, as sure as Carey Price will be the only one to reap the benefit of the win-you're in policy...
When he plays in Montreal, he will receive thunderous cheers. Why not? His achievement is monumental (consider this player and then consider how few players reach 1000 games – monumental doesn't even do it justice).
Many will be cheering in hope that it will be the end. However, I think we're deluded if we think that. Has he already played his last playoff game? Will he be satisfied with 1000 regular season games, when 1000 with the Canadiens is so close? (he's at 974 right now!)
If he reaches that milestone he will be the 12th player in the history of the team to do so. His company would include 9 players whose numbers are retired along with 2 whose were not:
1436 – Henri Richard
1405 – Larry Robinson
1342 – Bob Gainey
1287 – Jean Beliveau
1131 – Claude Provost
1115 – Yvan Cournoyer
1111 – Maurice Richard
1073 – Guy Carbonneau
1040 – Serge Savard
1025 – Guy Lafleur
1013 – Doug Harvey
Will I cheer Brisebois? Probably. 1000 games is nothing to sneeze at. Oh, go on, you'll cheer too. It'll be a strange feeling...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Least Original Scheduling Week: Montreal Canadiens November 12 - November 18
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was
Leafs, Sabres, Bruins. OK, we've had enough of you guys now. It's getting too close for comfort here... You know it's bad when you're longing to see the Hawks and the Blue Jackets.
Despite it being a rather uninteresting week of rehashing previous previews division rivalries. It did see the Canadiens grab another 4 points. Can't complain about that. The rivals did grab 3 themselves, but we beat the right teams if you thin the standings will stay the way they currently are, only giving up 2 to the last in division Sabres.
If this week provided anything else, it was the continuing emergence of Mike Komisarek. While Hamrlik has been an excellent addition, it is the greatly improved play of the Long Islander, in my opinion, that has turned the defense of this team around vs. last season. Quite apart from his scoring, which I see as a bonus, he has taken very well to his role of top defensive defender on the team. He hits with conviction, blocks shots and complements our best player Andrei Markov perfectly. I hope to see more of this from Mike, and hope that it makes the loss of Beauchemin look laughable over time.
If you all knew Tobalev, you would know how much of an endorsement it is for Komisarek to be in the dome for consecutive games. Let's just say, if we had had a blog the past few years, Komisarek's dome numbers would be closer to Brisebois' than Markov's. This year, he is pressing for No. 1. I'm impressed.
Beating the Leafs in Game 1 this week was great, though there was some disagreement as to whether the spectacle was or not. My question to our anonymous poster: now the week is over: Do you care how that game looked? Of course, you did spend money to see it in person, so the sting is a little more long-lasting with you I suppose...
The Sabres game was a classic unfortunate match-up. The Sabres (a team that is much better than their place in the standings indicates) vs. the Canadiens coming off two highly emotional and competitive games and then a 3-day break. it would have been nice to see more from the Habs, but let's just say a win here would have been quite immpressive.
The win against the Bruins was very impressive indeed, however. Not only did the Habs run rampant in the offensive zone, they also turned their game completely around in only 24 hours. I tell you what is nicest of all: watching Claude Julien's blank expressionless face behind someone else's bench. Phew.
Due to circumstances, this has lapsed to Tuesday. And, teamed with the rare Monday game, I missed one out. As it turned out, it was a good one to miss. Afterall, what more can we say about the team we haven't been able to beat since Cunneyworth's days. If it's any consolation, teams they own in the regular season tend to own them in the postseason. So...
Quote of the week
On the art of understatement:
Coming off a week that ended with a rousing period and a suspension...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Tells the media he knew Michael Ryder would break out of the slump on the third line.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
After contacting Phoenix earlier in the week, he would have traded them Halak for a second round pick. He then claims Bryzgalov off waivers and trades him for Halak straight up.
The week upcoming
The five days left in the week must yield a few points if the team wishes to stay ahead of the pack. A game against someone new might be just the medicine.
Wednesday night: New York Islanders at the Nassau Colisseum.
Finally a team that we can get excited about before we go back to scheduling lunacy. Toronto. If it's points we want this week, then this is the critical game. Sweeps of back-to-back games is a tall order. Beating a middling team like the Islanders is a must. There are reasons to believe we can as well. Firstly, their defense is average to awful. Their system may make up for that, but our forwards will need to challenge these players one on one. Secondly, their forwards, which are arguably less inspiring than their defense. They have been putting together the wins though, so a lethargic start won't help our cause. I see a win here. For Larry??
For crying out loud, this team has vasicek on their opening page. Let's beat the bargain basement Isles...
Isles to watch: Chris Campoli and Ted Nolan – Campoli is thriving this year, despite the poolies calling for Bergeron to do it all (too bad I didn't pick him up), and Nolan is a truly great coach (you only need to look at their record and their roster to see why).
Friday night: Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena.
Second Friday in a row in Buffalo. Can Hamilton just play this one? They're closer...
Sabres to watch: Maxim Afinogenov and Derek Roy – I'm going with Afinogenov again, because how could he get any worse and as for Roy, it's just funny that RDS insist on pronouncing his name Patrick's way.
Saturday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
What more can we say about the Sabres. Well, for one thing the only points they got over ten days were against us. They are second to last in the East. We should stop treating them like a good team and take our points. Everybody else does.
That is the one reason it's a shame to have back-to-back games, as it is less likely to catch the team out twice, even if they are as bad as the standings say. I think we can take 3 points here - in fact let's arrange for 3 each, shall we? Lindy?
Sabres to watch: Whoever didn't score the night before. No one is putting massive point streaks together here. This year is starting to make the "Derek Plante scoring champion" days look prolific for the Buffaloes.
Overheard on the Habswagon
Fan 1: "With Kovalev on our team, we have a legitimate superstar."
Fan 2: "Yeah, I love my man Kovy."
The week that was
Leafs, Sabres, Bruins. OK, we've had enough of you guys now. It's getting too close for comfort here... You know it's bad when you're longing to see the Hawks and the Blue Jackets.
Despite it being a rather uninteresting week of rehashing previous previews division rivalries. It did see the Canadiens grab another 4 points. Can't complain about that. The rivals did grab 3 themselves, but we beat the right teams if you thin the standings will stay the way they currently are, only giving up 2 to the last in division Sabres.
If this week provided anything else, it was the continuing emergence of Mike Komisarek. While Hamrlik has been an excellent addition, it is the greatly improved play of the Long Islander, in my opinion, that has turned the defense of this team around vs. last season. Quite apart from his scoring, which I see as a bonus, he has taken very well to his role of top defensive defender on the team. He hits with conviction, blocks shots and complements our best player Andrei Markov perfectly. I hope to see more of this from Mike, and hope that it makes the loss of Beauchemin look laughable over time.
If you all knew Tobalev, you would know how much of an endorsement it is for Komisarek to be in the dome for consecutive games. Let's just say, if we had had a blog the past few years, Komisarek's dome numbers would be closer to Brisebois' than Markov's. This year, he is pressing for No. 1. I'm impressed.
Beating the Leafs in Game 1 this week was great, though there was some disagreement as to whether the spectacle was or not. My question to our anonymous poster: now the week is over: Do you care how that game looked? Of course, you did spend money to see it in person, so the sting is a little more long-lasting with you I suppose...
The Sabres game was a classic unfortunate match-up. The Sabres (a team that is much better than their place in the standings indicates) vs. the Canadiens coming off two highly emotional and competitive games and then a 3-day break. it would have been nice to see more from the Habs, but let's just say a win here would have been quite immpressive.
The win against the Bruins was very impressive indeed, however. Not only did the Habs run rampant in the offensive zone, they also turned their game completely around in only 24 hours. I tell you what is nicest of all: watching Claude Julien's blank expressionless face behind someone else's bench. Phew.
Due to circumstances, this has lapsed to Tuesday. And, teamed with the rare Monday game, I missed one out. As it turned out, it was a good one to miss. Afterall, what more can we say about the team we haven't been able to beat since Cunneyworth's days. If it's any consolation, teams they own in the regular season tend to own them in the postseason. So...
Quote of the week On the art of understatement:
"Last year was hard on me and I had a long summer to think about it. I knew I had to change my approach and my attitude this season and that’s what I’ve done."
Coming off a week that ended with a rousing period and a suspension...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Tells the media he knew Michael Ryder would break out of the slump on the third line.
... what might Sam Pollock do?After contacting Phoenix earlier in the week, he would have traded them Halak for a second round pick. He then claims Bryzgalov off waivers and trades him for Halak straight up.
The week upcoming
The five days left in the week must yield a few points if the team wishes to stay ahead of the pack. A game against someone new might be just the medicine.
Wednesday night: New York Islanders at the Nassau Colisseum.
Finally a team that we can get excited about before we go back to scheduling lunacy. Toronto. If it's points we want this week, then this is the critical game. Sweeps of back-to-back games is a tall order. Beating a middling team like the Islanders is a must. There are reasons to believe we can as well. Firstly, their defense is average to awful. Their system may make up for that, but our forwards will need to challenge these players one on one. Secondly, their forwards, which are arguably less inspiring than their defense. They have been putting together the wins though, so a lethargic start won't help our cause. I see a win here. For Larry??
For crying out loud, this team has vasicek on their opening page. Let's beat the bargain basement Isles...
Isles to watch: Chris Campoli and Ted Nolan – Campoli is thriving this year, despite the poolies calling for Bergeron to do it all (too bad I didn't pick him up), and Nolan is a truly great coach (you only need to look at their record and their roster to see why).
Friday night: Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena.
Second Friday in a row in Buffalo. Can Hamilton just play this one? They're closer...
Sabres to watch: Maxim Afinogenov and Derek Roy – I'm going with Afinogenov again, because how could he get any worse and as for Roy, it's just funny that RDS insist on pronouncing his name Patrick's way.
Saturday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
What more can we say about the Sabres. Well, for one thing the only points they got over ten days were against us. They are second to last in the East. We should stop treating them like a good team and take our points. Everybody else does.
That is the one reason it's a shame to have back-to-back games, as it is less likely to catch the team out twice, even if they are as bad as the standings say. I think we can take 3 points here - in fact let's arrange for 3 each, shall we? Lindy?
Sabres to watch: Whoever didn't score the night before. No one is putting massive point streaks together here. This year is starting to make the "Derek Plante scoring champion" days look prolific for the Buffaloes.
Overheard on the HabswagonFan 1: "With Kovalev on our team, we have a legitimate superstar."
Fan 2: "Yeah, I love my man Kovy."
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Neighbours Week: Montreal Canadiens November 5 - November 11
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was
Everyone turn to your right, now turn to your left. Introduce yourselves because you'll be spending a lot of time together.
This week the Canadiens met their opponents for the next month. Unfortunately they didn't get a chance to meet the NHL schedule makers who did about as good a job at shuffling as a down and out player at a Hearts tournament.
Another week down and another 4 points. Someone is paying attention to the game this year on the Habs. Less wins against Toronto, but, hey, let's beat everyone else.
The week properly belonged to Cristobal Huet last week. After what was mostly unfair criticism of him the previous week, he came out and showed that he is a top goalie (again). In addition, he is managing to light quite a little fire under Carey Price who played and earned a star in his performance again, but for the first time he actually earned his Molson points in full.
Our Eastern European youth movement also had a good week. Well, in the NHL anyway. Kostitsyn proved why he should be on the second line with a few amazing passes. And, Plekanec showed us how to beat a goalie on a 2-on-1 turned mini breakaway. It's quite exciting that both of them are on the go at the moment, as they will no doubt have to carry a lot of the offensive load in the future – both this season and those ahead. I would hope the Andrei eventually starts to shoot some of the time himself, but you can hardly complain when he sets up game-winners with such exquisite passing.
Finally, I would like to rehash some of what Tobalev has been saying over at the game reports, and that's that the stats won't tell the whole story of this week (or any week) in a few weeks or months time. I mean Kostitisyn and Plekanec had good weeks, but they didn't get 10 points each. Even Kovalev played very well, but this was not his best week for stats either. And then you could look to Michael Ryder, who once again didn't score, but did play well enough in two wins and very well in the loss. The only players who padded the stats this week was M. Huet and Mr. Price, of course. And while they were the players of the week in most assessments, it would be harsh to ignore what the rest of the team accomplished, that is the difficult task of beating teams that you just met and beat a few days earlier.
Anyway, the team will not dwell on the past, so neither should I. On to next week, 21 points in hand, 75 to find...
On clutching at straws when your team fails to score for you (Ryan Miller):
Coming off a perfect week with a five-minute lapse to end...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Wait. Sometimes even Houle took weeks off making a mess of things.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
Wait... on making any personnel moves with the Canadiens. Get updates from the amateur scouts on this year's draft eligible players. Good GMs make use of their time spent waiting.
The week upcoming
Didn't I write this preview last week?
Tuesday night: Toronto Maple Leafs at the air Canada Centre.
Toronto. Tough game, blah, blah. We're gonna win this one. A few reasons include the injury to Kubina (hence McCabe will be back to more minutes), it's not in Montreal (so the annoying away fans will be ours) and we won't be swept by the Leafs this season (so time for a win...)
Leafs to watch: Kyle Wellwood and Tomas Kaberle – Kaberle is Toronto's Markov, just good going forward and can pass with the best of them; Wellwood is just a good player with no points, one of the only Leafs prospects I actually catch myself envying them for now and again.
Friday night: Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena.
I've picked on Miller once (with the quote of the week), but I really do think it tells you a lot when any player comes out of a loss (where his team scored no goals) and gives an assessment like that. Last season Buffalo would not have been satisfied with that result. This year, at least one of their players was. A different team, that we should try to push further down the standings this week.
Sabres to watch: Paul Gaustad and Andrew Peters – Last game was tame and Buffalo lost, realising they can't skate with us anymore, Ruff could turn to these two to make the game more of a battle.
Saturday night: Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
Another classic Saturday match-up. I think the Bruins might come and score a few more goals this time. Another defensive battle won't go their way and Julien knows it. He might just let Marc Savard off the leash, maybe even Phil Kessel too. I think the Habs may just cure their scoring blues by this game too though, and I think Ryder could find a slump cure in Boston the way Zednik always did.
Bruins to watch: Chuck Kobasew and Marco Sturm – Kobasew (wow on my list again) scored the game winner last game for the B's and he already has 2 more goals than last year, while Sturm scores at a more regular pace, but still scores.
Overheard on the Habs train
"Where'd Mike go? He was right here a minute ago."
"Oh, he's getting the train out of Ottawa instead."
(Oh yeah, it's November, but he also said: The Canadiens will not win the Stanley Cup.)
The week that was
Everyone turn to your right, now turn to your left. Introduce yourselves because you'll be spending a lot of time together.
This week the Canadiens met their opponents for the next month. Unfortunately they didn't get a chance to meet the NHL schedule makers who did about as good a job at shuffling as a down and out player at a Hearts tournament.
Another week down and another 4 points. Someone is paying attention to the game this year on the Habs. Less wins against Toronto, but, hey, let's beat everyone else.
The week properly belonged to Cristobal Huet last week. After what was mostly unfair criticism of him the previous week, he came out and showed that he is a top goalie (again). In addition, he is managing to light quite a little fire under Carey Price who played and earned a star in his performance again, but for the first time he actually earned his Molson points in full.
Our Eastern European youth movement also had a good week. Well, in the NHL anyway. Kostitsyn proved why he should be on the second line with a few amazing passes. And, Plekanec showed us how to beat a goalie on a 2-on-1 turned mini breakaway. It's quite exciting that both of them are on the go at the moment, as they will no doubt have to carry a lot of the offensive load in the future – both this season and those ahead. I would hope the Andrei eventually starts to shoot some of the time himself, but you can hardly complain when he sets up game-winners with such exquisite passing.
Finally, I would like to rehash some of what Tobalev has been saying over at the game reports, and that's that the stats won't tell the whole story of this week (or any week) in a few weeks or months time. I mean Kostitisyn and Plekanec had good weeks, but they didn't get 10 points each. Even Kovalev played very well, but this was not his best week for stats either. And then you could look to Michael Ryder, who once again didn't score, but did play well enough in two wins and very well in the loss. The only players who padded the stats this week was M. Huet and Mr. Price, of course. And while they were the players of the week in most assessments, it would be harsh to ignore what the rest of the team accomplished, that is the difficult task of beating teams that you just met and beat a few days earlier.
Anyway, the team will not dwell on the past, so neither should I. On to next week, 21 points in hand, 75 to find...
On clutching at straws when your team fails to score for you (Ryan Miller):"I thought we were better than Montreal in a lot of aspects, but Huet came up big for them," said Miller. "We can't be too mad. Hopefully, the guys won't take this one too hard. We played a heck of a game."
Coming off a perfect week with a five-minute lapse to end...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Wait. Sometimes even Houle took weeks off making a mess of things.
... what might Sam Pollock do?Wait... on making any personnel moves with the Canadiens. Get updates from the amateur scouts on this year's draft eligible players. Good GMs make use of their time spent waiting.
The week upcoming
Didn't I write this preview last week?
Tuesday night: Toronto Maple Leafs at the air Canada Centre.
Toronto. Tough game, blah, blah. We're gonna win this one. A few reasons include the injury to Kubina (hence McCabe will be back to more minutes), it's not in Montreal (so the annoying away fans will be ours) and we won't be swept by the Leafs this season (so time for a win...)
Leafs to watch: Kyle Wellwood and Tomas Kaberle – Kaberle is Toronto's Markov, just good going forward and can pass with the best of them; Wellwood is just a good player with no points, one of the only Leafs prospects I actually catch myself envying them for now and again.
Friday night: Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena.
I've picked on Miller once (with the quote of the week), but I really do think it tells you a lot when any player comes out of a loss (where his team scored no goals) and gives an assessment like that. Last season Buffalo would not have been satisfied with that result. This year, at least one of their players was. A different team, that we should try to push further down the standings this week.
Sabres to watch: Paul Gaustad and Andrew Peters – Last game was tame and Buffalo lost, realising they can't skate with us anymore, Ruff could turn to these two to make the game more of a battle.
Saturday night: Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
Another classic Saturday match-up. I think the Bruins might come and score a few more goals this time. Another defensive battle won't go their way and Julien knows it. He might just let Marc Savard off the leash, maybe even Phil Kessel too. I think the Habs may just cure their scoring blues by this game too though, and I think Ryder could find a slump cure in Boston the way Zednik always did.
Bruins to watch: Chuck Kobasew and Marco Sturm – Kobasew (wow on my list again) scored the game winner last game for the B's and he already has 2 more goals than last year, while Sturm scores at a more regular pace, but still scores.
Overheard on the Habs train"Where'd Mike go? He was right here a minute ago."
"Oh, he's getting the train out of Ottawa instead."
(Oh yeah, it's November, but he also said: The Canadiens will not win the Stanley Cup.)
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Bizarro Week: Montreal Canadiens October 29 - November 4
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was
Remember Bizarro Jerry, George and Kramer. They were nice, courteous, they liked everyone, they did things. Bizarre.
Canadiens meet Bizarro Canadiens.
You'll do the opposite of what everyone expects at every turn. You'll end a 4 game winning streak by laying an egg against what up until now was the worst team in the league. You'll make Johan Hedberg look like an NHL goalie. You're captain will speak French. Don Cherry will take your side. You'll score shorthanded.
You'll let the Leafs win in your building. Oh wait, that must be the return to normality...
At the risk of ruining my theme here (it was fun while it lasted). I will go on record as not being the least bit surprised by what happened. The Canadiens, not being a top team yet, were bound to slip against a team who was starting to get it together. I just thought there would be more goals in Atlanta. They have owned the Flyers since the curse of John Leclair was lifted. And, those Leafs games are always a coin toss no matter where they are played.
Taking a look at individual performances, I'd say I'm pleased on the whole:
Carey Price is a capable NHLer, but not even close to being a star (let alone a superstar) yet - entirely normal considering he is only 3 games in. I'd wait till 3 years in with him to pass judgment. Patience.
Saku Koivu had an interesting week. Criticised for his unwillingness to address certain people in their own language (ahem, pot calling kettle black). He came back, played a cracking game against Philly and addressed 21,273 + catwalk denizens en francais. The blemish was a loss against the Leafs. But they know him well, so he can be forgiven for losing to Sundin's Leafs.
Finally Michael Ryder. He can't do anything right. His line's doing well. We're near the top of the East. We're winning. But, alas, Ryder only has 2 goals. But you know Ryder. Goals in bunches, 6 goals in the next 8 games and he's on pace for 30. When I consider that he'll only score in 20 games this year. I'm glad he's thinking about how to improve his play in the other 62 games. Why isn't everyone else??? I would rather win the Cup than have a 40-goal man from Newfoundland anyway.
The standings are looking quite nice these days too. Sitting in the top half is great. Top half of playoff teams. Oh, heady days. Threat teams like Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are tanking it a bit at the moment, so they'll be climbers to watch for. But, apart from Pittsburgh, the teams better than us (Ottawa and Carolina) are already ahead of us. If the Habs can approach each game with a bit more zest, then I think 4th is attainable in the end. I said heady days didn't I?
Anyway, it's 17 down. 79 to go.
Quote of the week
On enjoying your teammates appreciating what you can and can't do:
Coming off a week with enough points, but ending on a sour note...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Play coach and insist that Michael Ryder be replaced by Latendresse on the top line.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
Ask Captain Koivu to use his Finnish language skills for the team this time... to speak to Teemu Selanne.
The week upcoming
Monday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
Ah, Buffalo. Last time I said they may or may not be finished as conference lead contenders. I think it's too early to tell. If you remember two years ago they started relatively well, but finished with panache to rocket up the standings. The same could yet happen here. It's fairly clear they are adjusting to losing their two top centres, and that Vanek has not yet adjusted to all the increased attention from defenders.
We are well matched with Buffalo, and we each play about the same way the others would like to. But as Buffalo has lost their last 2 to Ottawa and Florida, we could do ourselves a favour by kicking them while they're down. If the Habs want to cruise into the playoffs instead of fighting tooth and nail, this is a game to win.
Sabres to watch: Jaroslav Spacek and Maxim Afinogenov – Spacek has been putting up points for Buffalo even as Campbell looks to usurp the No. 1 role. Afinogenov in the meantime has been the Sabres' very own Michael Ryder (this scares me, as he is probably not going to finish the season with
half as many points as Jason Pominville).
Thursday night: Boston Bruins at the TD Banknorth Garden.
To Boston and, in my opinion, our best, if not oldest, rivalry. Too bad we're now battling it out at TD Banknorth and Bell instead of the Forum and Garden days. Boston after a rocket start have slowly been coming to earth. Playing the Senators twice in two nights isn't much fun. But as good as the Sens are a contender for top 4 in the conference would have won once. They didn't. The Bruins are neither as good as their start, or as bad as their game against us. I would call them a middle of the pack team, in it right to the last days of the season. Since we are now aspiring for more, they could be inferiors. On the form we showed last week, they are our peers. Even so, the way they are built, they shouldn't beat us if we play our own game.
Bruins to watch: Chuck Kobasew and Tim Thomas – Kobasew is shooting 27.3% with 6 goals. Higgins take note, you too Mike. Thomas's stats are unbelievable again (wonder if the management will ever trust him enough to stop signing other goalies).
Saturday afternoon: Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.
My goodness. Just when you think Ottawa might slip, they keep rolling. Does it matter who plays goal? who coaches? Ottawa got their taste for the Cup and now they're going to do their best to get their paws on it. The timing for a game against them couldn't be much better from our point of view. Games they should win against Toronto and Washington will put them at 14-1. Built better for the playoffs, the Sens are not an 8-loss kind of team, they're due a few hiccups. I honestly think we'll beat the Sens, it's the most confident I am for all games this week.
Senators to watch: Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher – Alfredsson has been drinking water from the same Swedish spring as Zetterberg and Sundin and is proving again that he Ottawa's main man, Fisher (who we tried to trade for loads of times when he was young) has been playing some great offensive hockey of late.
Overheard on the Habs train
"Hey M. Gagnon. I thought you didn't need a ticket this year..."
The week that was
Remember Bizarro Jerry, George and Kramer. They were nice, courteous, they liked everyone, they did things. Bizarre.
Canadiens meet Bizarro Canadiens.
You'll do the opposite of what everyone expects at every turn. You'll end a 4 game winning streak by laying an egg against what up until now was the worst team in the league. You'll make Johan Hedberg look like an NHL goalie. You're captain will speak French. Don Cherry will take your side. You'll score shorthanded.
You'll let the Leafs win in your building. Oh wait, that must be the return to normality...
At the risk of ruining my theme here (it was fun while it lasted). I will go on record as not being the least bit surprised by what happened. The Canadiens, not being a top team yet, were bound to slip against a team who was starting to get it together. I just thought there would be more goals in Atlanta. They have owned the Flyers since the curse of John Leclair was lifted. And, those Leafs games are always a coin toss no matter where they are played.
Taking a look at individual performances, I'd say I'm pleased on the whole:
Carey Price is a capable NHLer, but not even close to being a star (let alone a superstar) yet - entirely normal considering he is only 3 games in. I'd wait till 3 years in with him to pass judgment. Patience.
Saku Koivu had an interesting week. Criticised for his unwillingness to address certain people in their own language (ahem, pot calling kettle black). He came back, played a cracking game against Philly and addressed 21,273 + catwalk denizens en francais. The blemish was a loss against the Leafs. But they know him well, so he can be forgiven for losing to Sundin's Leafs.
Finally Michael Ryder. He can't do anything right. His line's doing well. We're near the top of the East. We're winning. But, alas, Ryder only has 2 goals. But you know Ryder. Goals in bunches, 6 goals in the next 8 games and he's on pace for 30. When I consider that he'll only score in 20 games this year. I'm glad he's thinking about how to improve his play in the other 62 games. Why isn't everyone else??? I would rather win the Cup than have a 40-goal man from Newfoundland anyway.
The standings are looking quite nice these days too. Sitting in the top half is great. Top half of playoff teams. Oh, heady days. Threat teams like Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are tanking it a bit at the moment, so they'll be climbers to watch for. But, apart from Pittsburgh, the teams better than us (Ottawa and Carolina) are already ahead of us. If the Habs can approach each game with a bit more zest, then I think 4th is attainable in the end. I said heady days didn't I?
Anyway, it's 17 down. 79 to go.
Quote of the weekOn enjoying your teammates appreciating what you can and can't do:
“The guys had a pretty good laugh there just before it was time for me to shoot. What a bunch of jerks,” said Hamrlik with a smile, shaking his head.
Coming off a week with enough points, but ending on a sour note...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Play coach and insist that Michael Ryder be replaced by Latendresse on the top line.
... what might Sam Pollock do?Ask Captain Koivu to use his Finnish language skills for the team this time... to speak to Teemu Selanne.
The week upcoming
Monday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
Ah, Buffalo. Last time I said they may or may not be finished as conference lead contenders. I think it's too early to tell. If you remember two years ago they started relatively well, but finished with panache to rocket up the standings. The same could yet happen here. It's fairly clear they are adjusting to losing their two top centres, and that Vanek has not yet adjusted to all the increased attention from defenders.
We are well matched with Buffalo, and we each play about the same way the others would like to. But as Buffalo has lost their last 2 to Ottawa and Florida, we could do ourselves a favour by kicking them while they're down. If the Habs want to cruise into the playoffs instead of fighting tooth and nail, this is a game to win.
Sabres to watch: Jaroslav Spacek and Maxim Afinogenov – Spacek has been putting up points for Buffalo even as Campbell looks to usurp the No. 1 role. Afinogenov in the meantime has been the Sabres' very own Michael Ryder (this scares me, as he is probably not going to finish the season with
half as many points as Jason Pominville).
Thursday night: Boston Bruins at the TD Banknorth Garden.
To Boston and, in my opinion, our best, if not oldest, rivalry. Too bad we're now battling it out at TD Banknorth and Bell instead of the Forum and Garden days. Boston after a rocket start have slowly been coming to earth. Playing the Senators twice in two nights isn't much fun. But as good as the Sens are a contender for top 4 in the conference would have won once. They didn't. The Bruins are neither as good as their start, or as bad as their game against us. I would call them a middle of the pack team, in it right to the last days of the season. Since we are now aspiring for more, they could be inferiors. On the form we showed last week, they are our peers. Even so, the way they are built, they shouldn't beat us if we play our own game.
Bruins to watch: Chuck Kobasew and Tim Thomas – Kobasew is shooting 27.3% with 6 goals. Higgins take note, you too Mike. Thomas's stats are unbelievable again (wonder if the management will ever trust him enough to stop signing other goalies).
Saturday afternoon: Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.
My goodness. Just when you think Ottawa might slip, they keep rolling. Does it matter who plays goal? who coaches? Ottawa got their taste for the Cup and now they're going to do their best to get their paws on it. The timing for a game against them couldn't be much better from our point of view. Games they should win against Toronto and Washington will put them at 14-1. Built better for the playoffs, the Sens are not an 8-loss kind of team, they're due a few hiccups. I honestly think we'll beat the Sens, it's the most confident I am for all games this week.
Senators to watch: Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher – Alfredsson has been drinking water from the same Swedish spring as Zetterberg and Sundin and is proving again that he Ottawa's main man, Fisher (who we tried to trade for loads of times when he was young) has been playing some great offensive hockey of late.
Overheard on the Habs train"Hey M. Gagnon. I thought you didn't need a ticket this year..."
Monday, October 29, 2007
70s Throwback Week: Montreal Canadiens October 22-28
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was
Wow. What a week. Boston, Carolina, Pittsburgh. W, W, W. And, done in style too! To make it all the better, the Bruins, Canes and Pens were all playing well until we showed them how to start a game.
Or, how about chasing Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury on consecutive nights? Heaven only knows why Fernandez wasn't changed. Kovalev's 1000th game and 800th point (habsinsideout.com treatment), no fights with Carbo and 2000 game plans were also highlights. The end of the week, the intense shootout, with Crosby miss and Markov goal was a fitting end to an exhilerating week.
Somewhat lost in the excitement, I thought, was Grabovski's move to the wing, place in the line-up and first NHL goal. To me, this is very exciting news, as he has some serious raw talent (and it's quite raw at the moment). If he continues to get and take his chances well, we could have a great little player on our hands. And what a nice surprise that would be, considering he wasn't even a prospect worth mentioning when he was drafted (150th overall in 2004). I also thought his goal was a beautiful one, finishing with a very confident shot into the upper part of the net. It kinda reminded me of when you're playing well at pool and you can start rattling them in, instead of carefully placing them.
Unlike previous weeks, I can quite honestly say I was surprised this Sunday with where we were sitting in the standings. A pleasant surprise for sure, but there's still 82 points to get, so noses back to the grindstone...
Quote of the week
Latendresse on Facebook:
Coming off an incredible week with 3 wins and 16 goals, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Sit tight and admire his own handiwork.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
Goes to Hamilton on the week off to watch the Bulldogs in action. Makes a call to Brian Burke to ask how his season is going. Sends scouts to California and Arizona.
The week upcoming
Tuesday night: Atlanta Thrashers at the Bell Centre.
There's not much more dangerous than judging a team by their record. Atlanta, as we all know, lost their first 6 games. Since then, though, they have a 3-2 record. Neither of these stats lead me in one direction or another. But the fact they have both Hossa and Kovalchuk does lead me to think this game will be close. Luckily the Habs are coming off three firewagon games, so they shouldn't be caught out here. And with our superior defense and goaltending, we should get points from this one.
Thrashers to watch: Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa - Regardless of previous or recent form, coming into most games against the Thrashers, these will be the two players to watch (Fancy and Fancier).
Thursday night: Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre.
Philly is a tough one to gauge. They had a good start on a western road swing and have got points in the majority of the rest of their games. They haven't played Ottawa, though, nor Pittsburgh, so it can't be said they have been thoroughly tested in the East. They have beaten Carolina, but then so have we (twice). Once again a superior goaltending backstop puts us in with a chance. Unfortunately,they have until this game to prepare, so they'll be ready. Honestly, this is not the playoffs, so if the Flyers want to do what they've done all season and injure people. I'd rather see a peripheral effort here than injuries like the ones their bullies have been dishing out.
Flyers to watch: Scott Hartnell and Martin Biron – Biron is the reason they are in the top half of the East (not Briere), and you can watch Scott Hartnell and be glad we signed Chris Higgins on the same day for 2.5 million a year less.
Saturday night: Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.
Every year since the lockout (all 2), we get to the end of October and we as Habs fans look down at the Leafs and taunt. But every March, they are right close, with one team eliminating the other. In other words, never count the Leafs out. Never. This will obviously be the spectacle of the week, and I wouldn't look for our goalies doing any padding of the stats. Like every game with these guys, it could go either way. We could do our playoff race selves a favour by making sure the Leafs don't take any points here.
Maple Leafs to watch: Mats Sundin and Jiri Tlusty - If Sundin weren't a Leaf, I would say he is a pleasure to watch on most nights, but he is, so... All Leafs fans will be raving about this guy Tlusty all year long (remember Stajan > Ryder), so you might as well get some ammo for the comebacks.
NOTE: Once again, it will be interesting to see whether Price plays. I'd put him in for Toronto, give him a taste of what it's all about. We need to score to win in that affair anyway.
Overheard on the Habs train
Fan 1: Hey man, great to see you!
Fan 2: Yeah, dude, been too long. When was the last time? April two years ago?
Fan 1: Well, there was last year round Christmas, remember? We met on our way off the wagon.
Fan 2: Oh right, well this time, I bought my ticket early, gonna be a great ride
Fan 1: But you got a refundable ticket, right?
Fan 2: Of course, fully refundable.
Fan 3: Long time no see guys...
The week that was
Wow. What a week. Boston, Carolina, Pittsburgh. W, W, W. And, done in style too! To make it all the better, the Bruins, Canes and Pens were all playing well until we showed them how to start a game.
Or, how about chasing Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury on consecutive nights? Heaven only knows why Fernandez wasn't changed. Kovalev's 1000th game and 800th point (habsinsideout.com treatment), no fights with Carbo and 2000 game plans were also highlights. The end of the week, the intense shootout, with Crosby miss and Markov goal was a fitting end to an exhilerating week.
Somewhat lost in the excitement, I thought, was Grabovski's move to the wing, place in the line-up and first NHL goal. To me, this is very exciting news, as he has some serious raw talent (and it's quite raw at the moment). If he continues to get and take his chances well, we could have a great little player on our hands. And what a nice surprise that would be, considering he wasn't even a prospect worth mentioning when he was drafted (150th overall in 2004). I also thought his goal was a beautiful one, finishing with a very confident shot into the upper part of the net. It kinda reminded me of when you're playing well at pool and you can start rattling them in, instead of carefully placing them.
Unlike previous weeks, I can quite honestly say I was surprised this Sunday with where we were sitting in the standings. A pleasant surprise for sure, but there's still 82 points to get, so noses back to the grindstone...
Quote of the weekLatendresse on Facebook:
"Je vais rarement sur ma page Facebook, mais je reçois quand même 15 invitations par jour de la part d'amis que je ne connais pas, raconte Guillaume Latendresse. Je voulais être là-dessus juste pour retrouver des copains d'enfance Je pense que je vais fermer ma page très bientôt!"
["I rarely go to my Facebook page, but even so, I still get 15 inivtations a day to become friends with people I don't know. I wanted to be on it to find friends from childhood I had lost touch with. I think I'll be closing my account very soon!"]
Coming off an incredible week with 3 wins and 16 goals, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Sit tight and admire his own handiwork.
... what might Sam Pollock do?Goes to Hamilton on the week off to watch the Bulldogs in action. Makes a call to Brian Burke to ask how his season is going. Sends scouts to California and Arizona.
The week upcoming
Tuesday night: Atlanta Thrashers at the Bell Centre.
There's not much more dangerous than judging a team by their record. Atlanta, as we all know, lost their first 6 games. Since then, though, they have a 3-2 record. Neither of these stats lead me in one direction or another. But the fact they have both Hossa and Kovalchuk does lead me to think this game will be close. Luckily the Habs are coming off three firewagon games, so they shouldn't be caught out here. And with our superior defense and goaltending, we should get points from this one.
Thrashers to watch: Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa - Regardless of previous or recent form, coming into most games against the Thrashers, these will be the two players to watch (Fancy and Fancier).
Thursday night: Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre.
Philly is a tough one to gauge. They had a good start on a western road swing and have got points in the majority of the rest of their games. They haven't played Ottawa, though, nor Pittsburgh, so it can't be said they have been thoroughly tested in the East. They have beaten Carolina, but then so have we (twice). Once again a superior goaltending backstop puts us in with a chance. Unfortunately,they have until this game to prepare, so they'll be ready. Honestly, this is not the playoffs, so if the Flyers want to do what they've done all season and injure people. I'd rather see a peripheral effort here than injuries like the ones their bullies have been dishing out.
Flyers to watch: Scott Hartnell and Martin Biron – Biron is the reason they are in the top half of the East (not Briere), and you can watch Scott Hartnell and be glad we signed Chris Higgins on the same day for 2.5 million a year less.
Saturday night: Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre.
Every year since the lockout (all 2), we get to the end of October and we as Habs fans look down at the Leafs and taunt. But every March, they are right close, with one team eliminating the other. In other words, never count the Leafs out. Never. This will obviously be the spectacle of the week, and I wouldn't look for our goalies doing any padding of the stats. Like every game with these guys, it could go either way. We could do our playoff race selves a favour by making sure the Leafs don't take any points here.
Maple Leafs to watch: Mats Sundin and Jiri Tlusty - If Sundin weren't a Leaf, I would say he is a pleasure to watch on most nights, but he is, so... All Leafs fans will be raving about this guy Tlusty all year long (remember Stajan > Ryder), so you might as well get some ammo for the comebacks.
NOTE: Once again, it will be interesting to see whether Price plays. I'd put him in for Toronto, give him a taste of what it's all about. We need to score to win in that affair anyway.
Overheard on the Habs trainFan 1: Hey man, great to see you!
Fan 2: Yeah, dude, been too long. When was the last time? April two years ago?
Fan 1: Well, there was last year round Christmas, remember? We met on our way off the wagon.
Fan 2: Oh right, well this time, I bought my ticket early, gonna be a great ride
Fan 1: But you got a refundable ticket, right?
Fan 2: Of course, fully refundable.
Fan 3: Long time no see guys...
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Montreal Canadiens Week: October 16-21
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was
Back to the normal rhythm, 3 games, 7 days; with a weekly review on the Sunday following the resounding win at home on Saturday. What could be more normal than that. For a week I thought we would be able to collect 4 points of 6, I have to say I am strangely satisfied with 3 points.
First of all, the Habs played some good games. In fact, their efforts were probably superior to the games in which they had won the week before. So, movement in the right direction.
Next, we had some scoring from scorers, namely Michael Ryder, Christopher Higgins and Guillaume Latendresse. Higgins and Ryder were rewarded for strong play, while Latendresse is starting to turn things around a bit (which is a very good thing if the Habs brass remain determined to find him a place in the lineup).
Lastly, there were some interesting and good decisions made this week. Benching Begin and the mass confusion it caused among the press at least sets the precedent that lineup decisions will be made by the coach, not the press, not the players. Murray may not have availed himself very well during that game, but Carbonneau should be looking at his options over 82 games, so as not to burn out all the intensity by December like last year. The Kovalev debacle, and the brief "crisis" that was purported was pooh-poohed so fast it was impressive. I have to say it was deft of Carbonneau to tell Kovalev off and massage his ego at the same time by likening him to Guy Lafleur.
In any case, the media was put back in their box a couple of times for getting overexcited, and Carbonneau coached through it without bowing to their wishes. It makes this fan happy, because I think Carbo will be a better coach than Michel Bergeron ever was.
Once again, at the end of the week, nothing is too surprising. We sit about where everyone expected (even the optimists). Some tough lessons learned this week will hopefully make us a stronger team in the winter months for once.
If I was stretched to come up with a surprise, it is that Brisebois is still up on the top two pairings and that they had Grabovski in the lineup instead of Andrei Kostitsyn in the last game. But even that, I am going to put down to October. Talk to me in January if we're in the same position – I think I will be surprised.
Quote of the week
On Kovalev's comments:
Coming off a slow week with a couple of good games and another we actually won, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Starts making calls about trading 1-goal man Michael Ryder.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
Calls Koivu, Kovalev and Higgins into his office to discuss the team and talking to the press.
The week upcoming
Monday night: Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
Well. They may have come around – the Bruins are actually ahead of us. On closer look, they've already beaten the Coyotes and the Kings, two of the relatively few bottom-dweller teams actually remaining in this league. And their last win was a scoreless affair where they pipped the Rangers to the post in the shootout. The Habs like playing against average goalies and average defenses, and the Bruins have these. They can still score if asked to, just not last game I suppose. If there is such a thing as momentum (and I think there is), then the Habs should win this with a properly convincing effort.
Bruins to watch: Bergeron and Chara - Beregeron always looks better in Montreal than anywhere else and Chara loves to manhandle the small forward corps here.
Friday night: Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center.
Our season series with these guys will be over by Remembrance Day at this rate. What to say that we don't remember from last week. They can score, and Cam ward can goaltend on occasion. Keeping the Eric/ks in check is obviously key. This series will be tight the whole way, but we should be in most games (including this one) with a chance.
Hurricanes to watch: Justin Williams and Bret Hedican – Williams has been having a great start, and Bret Hedican is looking for 3/3 on star selections versus the Habs.
Saturday night: Pittsburgh Penguins at the Mellon Arena.
Remember after the lockout, Pittsburgh were the team to beat and then they tanked. Last year, they were the team to get yer points off and they excelled. Who knows where this team will go to this year, but keep in mind, they are not going to surprise anyone this year. Bring Lapierre up to get in Sidney's face and I think we take it.
Penguins to watch: Crosby and Malkin - It's another game where we see if Therrien and the Penguins can ride on the two centres coattails for a win.
NOTE: It will be interesting to see whether Price plays Friday or Saturday this week. I don't think Sidney Crosby takes too long to figure a goalie out, I'd go with Friday if I were coach.
All aboard
A number of the passengers getting bored with the wait on the platform decide to detrain and head to the strip clubs up the street. A lot more empty seats than last week. Tickets fast becoming available on ebay.
Stationmaster Carbonneau assured the hysterical among the passengers that the train would be leaving if and when he thinks it is ready. He's frantically trying to find a caboose (with a loose connection) where he plans to entertain the press for the trip.
The week that was
Back to the normal rhythm, 3 games, 7 days; with a weekly review on the Sunday following the resounding win at home on Saturday. What could be more normal than that. For a week I thought we would be able to collect 4 points of 6, I have to say I am strangely satisfied with 3 points.
First of all, the Habs played some good games. In fact, their efforts were probably superior to the games in which they had won the week before. So, movement in the right direction.
Next, we had some scoring from scorers, namely Michael Ryder, Christopher Higgins and Guillaume Latendresse. Higgins and Ryder were rewarded for strong play, while Latendresse is starting to turn things around a bit (which is a very good thing if the Habs brass remain determined to find him a place in the lineup).
Lastly, there were some interesting and good decisions made this week. Benching Begin and the mass confusion it caused among the press at least sets the precedent that lineup decisions will be made by the coach, not the press, not the players. Murray may not have availed himself very well during that game, but Carbonneau should be looking at his options over 82 games, so as not to burn out all the intensity by December like last year. The Kovalev debacle, and the brief "crisis" that was purported was pooh-poohed so fast it was impressive. I have to say it was deft of Carbonneau to tell Kovalev off and massage his ego at the same time by likening him to Guy Lafleur.
In any case, the media was put back in their box a couple of times for getting overexcited, and Carbonneau coached through it without bowing to their wishes. It makes this fan happy, because I think Carbo will be a better coach than Michel Bergeron ever was.
Once again, at the end of the week, nothing is too surprising. We sit about where everyone expected (even the optimists). Some tough lessons learned this week will hopefully make us a stronger team in the winter months for once.
If I was stretched to come up with a surprise, it is that Brisebois is still up on the top two pairings and that they had Grabovski in the lineup instead of Andrei Kostitsyn in the last game. But even that, I am going to put down to October. Talk to me in January if we're in the same position – I think I will be surprised.
Quote of the weekOn Kovalev's comments:
"Mais Alex, c'est Alex. Il est comme Guy Lafleur. Je n'ai pas aimé ce qu'il a dit. Il a émis une opinion alors qu'il aurait dû m'en parler. C'est pourquoi je vais m'entretenir avec tous les joueurs."
["But Alex, he's Alex. He's like Guy Lafleur. I didn't like what he said. He gave his opinion (to the press) when he should have spoken to me first. That's why I'm going to have a talk with all my players"]
Coming off a slow week with a couple of good games and another we actually won, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Starts making calls about trading 1-goal man Michael Ryder.
... what might Sam Pollock do?Calls Koivu, Kovalev and Higgins into his office to discuss the team and talking to the press.
The week upcoming
Monday night: Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
Well. They may have come around – the Bruins are actually ahead of us. On closer look, they've already beaten the Coyotes and the Kings, two of the relatively few bottom-dweller teams actually remaining in this league. And their last win was a scoreless affair where they pipped the Rangers to the post in the shootout. The Habs like playing against average goalies and average defenses, and the Bruins have these. They can still score if asked to, just not last game I suppose. If there is such a thing as momentum (and I think there is), then the Habs should win this with a properly convincing effort.
Bruins to watch: Bergeron and Chara - Beregeron always looks better in Montreal than anywhere else and Chara loves to manhandle the small forward corps here.
Friday night: Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center.
Our season series with these guys will be over by Remembrance Day at this rate. What to say that we don't remember from last week. They can score, and Cam ward can goaltend on occasion. Keeping the Eric/ks in check is obviously key. This series will be tight the whole way, but we should be in most games (including this one) with a chance.
Hurricanes to watch: Justin Williams and Bret Hedican – Williams has been having a great start, and Bret Hedican is looking for 3/3 on star selections versus the Habs.
Saturday night: Pittsburgh Penguins at the Mellon Arena.
Remember after the lockout, Pittsburgh were the team to beat and then they tanked. Last year, they were the team to get yer points off and they excelled. Who knows where this team will go to this year, but keep in mind, they are not going to surprise anyone this year. Bring Lapierre up to get in Sidney's face and I think we take it.
Penguins to watch: Crosby and Malkin - It's another game where we see if Therrien and the Penguins can ride on the two centres coattails for a win.
NOTE: It will be interesting to see whether Price plays Friday or Saturday this week. I don't think Sidney Crosby takes too long to figure a goalie out, I'd go with Friday if I were coach.
All aboardA number of the passengers getting bored with the wait on the platform decide to detrain and head to the strip clubs up the street. A lot more empty seats than last week. Tickets fast becoming available on ebay.
Stationmaster Carbonneau assured the hysterical among the passengers that the train would be leaving if and when he thinks it is ready. He's frantically trying to find a caboose (with a loose connection) where he plans to entertain the press for the trip.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Montreal Canadiens Weeks: October 3-15
[Montreal Canadiens Week takes a look at the week that was and the week ahead from a subjective standpoint, and is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]
The week that was (weeks that were)
Well the Canadiens have played four games now, and though they technically took place over eleven days, these two weeks were a veritable hockey drought for us, so I took the liberty of extending the reach of my first week in review.
On the whole, the opening of the season has been a success, not a resounding one, but a success nonetheless. The Habs managed to grab 5 points on the road, and then lost a fairly close affair at home.
As far as hockey goes, I don't think there was anything too surprising. If you look at where the team sits right now and compare where most people thought they would be sitting, then about .500 is right - the overtime loss being bonus. Most of the players have been living up to expectation with a couple of surprises for the better and the worse.
As I've said in my blogs, I think the early relative success has to do with more players than the media reports would have you believe. Andrei Markov, the sometimes overlooked backbone of the team, is the major contributor among the many.
Quote of the week
On mentoring Price:
"I think the important thing is that I treat him like everyone else," Huet said. "But you should ask him."
Coming off a loss to the Hurricanes taking us back to a .500 record, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?
Swings a deal to trade Jaroslav Halak to the Lightning in return for Andre Roy and some much needed toughness.
... what might Sam Pollock do?
After a decent start, decides to stand pat. The player he wants to move has underperformed and his value is on the wane. No, he won't tell you who it is.
The week upcoming
Tuesday night: Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.
Are they off to a bad start? Are they right where they should be? One of these years Florida is bound to get it together. I think getting them early this season, and with them coming off a win (where they allowed 4 goals) is about the right position to get them. Out of the three games this week, this looks like the most winnable at the present time.
Panthers to watch: Jokinen and Vokoun - as they look to strangle our offense and win by a goal or two.
Thursday night: Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.
Off to another quick start, they seem to be back to their old ways (Toronto will be pleased). Last season, we started to have success against the Senators making it more into a scrap for points (like it is with the Leafs) vs. the one-sided affairs of a few years previous. I think this is likely to continue as the Habs are a better team now, and no longer an easy mark for anyone; and the Senators are for the most part the same team as last year. However, they'll be the team in the East, so whenever we visit it will be difficult.
Senators to watch: Alfredsson, Spezza and Heatley - as always the trio have sprinted out of the gates, helping their team win with gusto.
Saturday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
Just as Florida may or may not be on the ascendency, Buffalo may or may not be finished as conference contenders. The Sabres can still score, but they balance that with a healthy number of goals allowed. Given the way the Habs skated with the Sabres last year and the latter half the previous year, I think they should be favourites to come away with 2 points in this affair.
Sabres to watch: Campbell and Connolly - Campbell is driving the offense from the backend, and Tim Connolly back in action gives the Habs players a different element to deal with.
All aboard
The Habs Express is more crowded than it has been in recent seasons at this time. People expecting a non-stop train to Cupton were told that the train actually makes 78 more stops before deciding if it goes on the up hill track to that destination. Many upset fans disembarked.
People waiting to catch a quick photo of up and coming engineer Carey Price were surprised and somewhat dismayed that following his shunt in the station, Cristobal Huet was back in the front locomotive.
The week that was (weeks that were)
Well the Canadiens have played four games now, and though they technically took place over eleven days, these two weeks were a veritable hockey drought for us, so I took the liberty of extending the reach of my first week in review.
On the whole, the opening of the season has been a success, not a resounding one, but a success nonetheless. The Habs managed to grab 5 points on the road, and then lost a fairly close affair at home.
As far as hockey goes, I don't think there was anything too surprising. If you look at where the team sits right now and compare where most people thought they would be sitting, then about .500 is right - the overtime loss being bonus. Most of the players have been living up to expectation with a couple of surprises for the better and the worse.
As I've said in my blogs, I think the early relative success has to do with more players than the media reports would have you believe. Andrei Markov, the sometimes overlooked backbone of the team, is the major contributor among the many.
Quote of the week
On mentoring Price:
"I think the important thing is that I treat him like everyone else," Huet said. "But you should ask him."
Coming off a loss to the Hurricanes taking us back to a .500 record, ...
... what might Rejean Houle do?Swings a deal to trade Jaroslav Halak to the Lightning in return for Andre Roy and some much needed toughness.
... what might Sam Pollock do?After a decent start, decides to stand pat. The player he wants to move has underperformed and his value is on the wane. No, he won't tell you who it is.
The week upcoming
Tuesday night: Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.
Are they off to a bad start? Are they right where they should be? One of these years Florida is bound to get it together. I think getting them early this season, and with them coming off a win (where they allowed 4 goals) is about the right position to get them. Out of the three games this week, this looks like the most winnable at the present time.
Panthers to watch: Jokinen and Vokoun - as they look to strangle our offense and win by a goal or two.
Thursday night: Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.
Off to another quick start, they seem to be back to their old ways (Toronto will be pleased). Last season, we started to have success against the Senators making it more into a scrap for points (like it is with the Leafs) vs. the one-sided affairs of a few years previous. I think this is likely to continue as the Habs are a better team now, and no longer an easy mark for anyone; and the Senators are for the most part the same team as last year. However, they'll be the team in the East, so whenever we visit it will be difficult.
Senators to watch: Alfredsson, Spezza and Heatley - as always the trio have sprinted out of the gates, helping their team win with gusto.
Saturday night: Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.
Just as Florida may or may not be on the ascendency, Buffalo may or may not be finished as conference contenders. The Sabres can still score, but they balance that with a healthy number of goals allowed. Given the way the Habs skated with the Sabres last year and the latter half the previous year, I think they should be favourites to come away with 2 points in this affair.
Sabres to watch: Campbell and Connolly - Campbell is driving the offense from the backend, and Tim Connolly back in action gives the Habs players a different element to deal with.
All aboardThe Habs Express is more crowded than it has been in recent seasons at this time. People expecting a non-stop train to Cupton were told that the train actually makes 78 more stops before deciding if it goes on the up hill track to that destination. Many upset fans disembarked.
People waiting to catch a quick photo of up and coming engineer Carey Price were surprised and somewhat dismayed that following his shunt in the station, Cristobal Huet was back in the front locomotive.
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