Habs and Leafs in Hogtown A Preview

The season is upon us. There's a game at noon! So we need to get ready.

For you here is the first game preview of the season.

I figured, you knew the lineups, you knew the lines that would last for the first 5 minutes and you knew all the basic news, so I thought I'd try to look at things differently and add: Key match-ups, Momentum, Players the other side covets, Ready-made excuses, and the ultimate Impact of this result.

Key match-ups

Kessel and Auld Price
Kessel shoots from just about anywhere, and the Habs defence let up shots from just about anywhere as a strategy. It will be down to Kessel's accuracy vs. Auld's Price's positioning and size.


Komisarek and Moen
Komisarek is still looking to prove to Montreal TV audiences that he intimidates people. Last season, he opened with 15 PIM, including a double minor for high-sticking and a fight with Travis Moen. His final penalty led to the tying goal and ultimately the first Leafs loss of the season. Moen is the only player on the Habs who "can" fight. The team once again chose to recognize that 84% of NHL teams don't even have a fighter, so Moen can get pummeled in Toronto if it means having forwards on the roster. Should be fun for him.


Gionta and Phaneuf
The new captains will be squaring off for the HNIC spotlight on opening night for the season. Gionta is already under pressure to learn how to speak French. Phaneuf is already under pressure to learn to skate backwards.


Todd Warriner and Patrice Brisebois
Habs and Leafs fans both have reason for optimism as victory on the ice actually seems within reach this season. Alums Todd Warriner and Patrice Brisebois both survive to skate against Kelly Chase another day on Battle of the Blades. Needless to say, there's work to be done for both. For Warriner, learning to speak French could help him with Isabelle Brassuer. For Brisebois, learning to skate backwards is still on the do list.


Momentum

In reality: none. Training camp is a farce and I can hardly believe it is televised.

In fantasy world, the Leafs are counting on the "strong finish" from last season to spur them to at least three October victories. Similarly, the Habs believe that playoffs rounds 1 and 2 (all the same players, almost, remember) is their impetus going forward.


Leafs the Habs covet

Phil Kessel
Phil really stands out on the Leafs for possessing exceptional natural talent. On a roster laden with guys who want to push the net over the puck, Phil shines with the quickest of releases teamed with sharp accuracy. He'd be an expensive addition to any team (see no draft picks for a few years), but guaranteed scoring is worth it.

Tomas Kaberle
Even as he greys a little on top, he is still one of the smoothest and canniest passers in the league. Perhaps he doesn't fir the Leafs plans for their own reasons, and might not fit other teams because of defensive concerns, but with skills like his, you make allowances.


Habs the Leafs covet

Mike Cammalleri
More than anyone on the roster, Cammalleri is the one they longed for. The Habs signature of the Toronto sniper not only deprived the Leafs of a season with forwards, but also ultimately led to the fiasco that was the Kessel trade (even though we admire Kessel, a free agent would have allowed the MLs to keep that top pick, and the next top pick).

PK Subban
The Leafs' parent club Boston Bruins are looking to accept draft picks and a good prospect in another annual trade, but they are asking for a decent defensive prospect. Sadly the Leafs might have to look elsewhere to dump their selections in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 drafts. Subban might have been the ticket.


Ready-made excuses

In Toronto and Montreal, the only sport more popular than hockey is scapegoat hunting. Over the years, this has led to players, trainers, coaches and managers adapting the uncanny ability to wriggle free like earthworms trapped in the maw. I figure to do this, they need some excuses ready. Luckily, they've had a whole summer to think of these.

If Montreal lose:
- Markov is injured
- The goaltending coach is working hard on that every day
- This new group of guys really needs time to gel
- Our defensive strategy relies on a lot of luck, sorry
- Halak lost too

When Toronto lose:
- We had a strong finish to the game and that will provide our momentum going forward
- We thought the fans were booing us, so we stopped shooting high glove side
- Kaberle is distracting us
- You can't judge this team during the portion of the season where the refs ref, it wasn't built for that (see: strong finish)


Impact of this result

In Toronto, fans really are a bit more even-keeled than in Montreal. They will give the team plenty of leeway this season to grow and take advantage of the deft maneuvering that created the defense that boasts five potential 30-point men, to go with the two they have at forward. A win will be greeted with knowing nods and uneasy optimism. A loss with knowing nods and familiar pessimism. Either way, Kaberle really must go.

In Montreal, I expect everything will be viewed through the in-net camera. The Halak trade made an already focused group into one completely obsessed by goaltending. If Auld should win, the inevitable cascade of praise will lead to questioning of Carey Price. If Auld should lose, the hand wringing will be followed by the questioning of Carey Price.


Sometimes, you have to wonder if they even need to play the games. Both teams could really use the points, however. And, in all seriousness, these 2 points look to be deciders for these teams that fancy themselves contenders.

Calgary Shows What's Possible

When the Canadiens had locker room problems, they excommunicated a player. yet neither his salary nor his roster spot were gained in the transaction. It was a great PR move, but a nothing from a hockey point of view.

Calgary has been bombing in the standings of late. Possible explanations include their lack of scoring, and that old losing streak favourite – a rift in the locker room.

Considering the issues facing Darryl Sutter, the task must have seemed monumental. A second number one defenceman, but one with an attitude (and not one that helps the team). How to get value in a trade. Next, a one-dimensional attack, hampered again by an anchor of a personality. Both problem players are paid as if they're not problems, as if the order wasn't tall enough already.

Yet Sutter seems to have pulled off a coup.

In his first trade, he seemed to manage to get value for his promising, yet troublesome young defenceman. Not only that, he actually got a second line in return. Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman are among the Leafs top scorers and come in ahead of most Flames but Iginla in the scoring race. The fact he also replaced Phaneuf with Ian White, a pretty adept blueliner, without the salary or the ego, was the winning shot as he parted the negotiation.

This first trade allowed him to turn around and jettison Jokinen, which reports say he did in a trade for Ales Kotalik and sudden journeyman and trade throwaway Chris Higgins.

All in all, not a bad remake.


From the Leafs point of view

I'm not sure another pundit needs to get into this from the Leafs point of view. TSN has a month ahead of them here. But I thought a couple of thoughts wouldn't kill anyone.

Bringing in Phaneuf was a coup for Burke as well, no matter how you look at it. On the Leafs at the moment, it makes no difference who is sipped out, since it's a losing formula anyway. Phaneuf may not be a winner, but being the top dog will surely stroke his ego again, the way he likes.

It also fulfills Burke's one ask this season – improve the team for next season. In acquiring Phaneuf, he claimed a piece that will be harder to grab in July. Presumably he'll replace the forwards then, as forwards of the Stajan stature, though valuable now, are not July 1st material usually.

If I want to take a negative view on the Leafs, it's losing Ian White. But that's a case of giving to get, it doesn't happen any other way.


Habs implications

Many Habs fans are getting antsy after this. In the land of consecutive losses, a big trade would at least stem the break between Feb 1 and the Olympics with some excitement.

My feeling is that is a bad reason to make a trade. There's no way the Habs missed out too much yesterday. Phaneuf, even if he matures into a man one day, is still an offensive defenceman. With Markov and then every prospect worth the paper his name is written on being an offensive defenceman, the addition wasn't on the radar. The Giguere move would be a disaster here – we already have two goalies better than his current self. The forwards exchanged, perhaps with the exception of Jokinen were extra pieces in trades, not the key pieces. I suspect Burke doesn't trade Stajan unless he's part of a big one. Jokinen himself seems to burn a lot of bridges. Maybe he'd fit. perhaps not worth the gamble.

In terms of future trades, I don't think it changes much. Not for the Canadiens anyway. New York would have always been looking for a centre, but we wouldn't give them Plekanec, and they wouldn't have Gomez. Calgary may be finished, but a team with forwards who can't score and offensive defencemen who trip on their own feet is not one we should be mining to correct a problem.

Yes, I'm envious that Toronto fans get to dream for a few days about a better backline while we await an MRI, but ultimately, I'm fairly comfortable that we didn't get into this affair.

Habs FlamesGuest Preview

Ahead of tonight's match-up with our once arch-rivals (well in my Panini sticker world they were, anyway) Calgary Flames, I spoke with Kent of the Five Hole Fanatics (member of The Score Sports Federation) about the game and some hockey stuff.

He asked me some questions of his own, the responses to which you can read (and agree/disagree with, if you want) at their blog.


Q1) We look at your team as foreign fans and think Iginla, Kiprusoff, Phaneuf... Can you tell us from a Flames perspective who the players to look for tonight will be?

Kent: The stars are the obvious ones, although the Flames have some support guys making waves this year as well. Keep an eye on Glencross, Moss, Bourque and Boyd (who returns from injury tonight). On the back-end, watch the contentious sophomore Mark Giordano.


Q2) By the same token, who are the players you as Flames key on when you think of a match up with the 2008-09 Canadiens?

Kent: When I think of the Canadiens this year, I worry about Koivu, Tanguay and Kovalev (on the PP). I also think you have one of the best defensemen in the league (Markov) and one of the best young goalies (Price).


Q3) We have an interesting history between our teams. Recent additions for the Habs have included two well-paid one-time Flames: Hamrlik and Tanguay. In a line, how do you feel about Tanguay?

Kent: I was a big supporter of Tanguay when he was in town. I think he has tendencies than can be annoying for the average fan (SHOOT THE PUCK ALEX!), but is a valuable even-strength producer.


Q4) Mats Sundin is stirring again. Do you want him on your team? Do you need him?

Kent: I'm sure everyone WANTS Sundin, because he's still a difference maker.

Sundin isn't an option for the Flames though. The club is right up against the cap and has centers coming out of every orifice (Boyd, Langkow, Lombardi, Primeau, Conroy). In short, there's no room cap-wise or on the roster for Mats in Calgary.


Q5) In Montreal, we like to think we are extra hard on our players. Obviously, we are only following in the best Canadian traditions (In a recent post Five Hole Fanatics had said):

Iginla has more empty net goals (3) than even strength goals (2) through 25 games this year. Bourque, Glencross and Moss all have better ESP/60 rates - and a couple of them have faced tougher competition according to behind the net. That's not the difference maker we've come to know and love 'round these parts. Iginla has been beating up on the opposition for years at ES, but that dimension has been severely lacking through the first quarter of this season. Maybe he's injured, maybe he's not getting the bounces, maybe it's an issue of chemistry - whatever it is, I still assume that Iginla will get things going eventually. Sooner rather than later would be preferable though. As in, starting tonight.

Do you think Calgary is a harsh hockey market? How tough ae you on your stars? How long can a scoring slump go before criticism? Booing?

Kent: Expectations are fairly high in town, although I wouldn't call this market overly harsh. Most of the heroes are worshipped, although sometimes guys get run out of town on a rail if they have a rough go of it (*ahem* Tanguay). My recent criticism of Jarome Iginla probably isn't typical of the Calgary market, just to let you know.


Q6) The curse of EA Sports. How much do you want to burn all the EA NHL 09 boxes out there? What's up with Dion?

Kent: Meh. Dion has been good and bad so far. The guy is still just 23 years old and laboring under a new contract and lofty expectations. The coaching staff has gone on record recently to say that Phaneuf is simply trying to do too much every time he steps on the ice. I think he'll settle down as the year progresses.


Finally, I thought it would be fun to have a look at some players, people and places that mean something to either side. That's why I asked both Kent from Five Hole Fanatics and our own Tobalev to state whatever came to mind (in a word or two) when they read the following list (the answers are good):

Rob Ramage, Doug Riseborough, Doug Gilmour, Patrick Roy and Turku

a) Rob Ramage
Kent (Flames): Great defenseman
Tobalev (Habs): Moustache (and car crash)

b) Doug Riseborough
Kent (Flames): Gary Leeman
Tobalev (Habs): Bust

c) Doug Gilmour
Kent (Flames): Local hero
Tobalev (Habs): Hated Him then Loved him more than any other player before or since

d) Patrick Roy
Kent (Flames): Arrogant wind-bag
Tobalev (Habs): Cocky, Show-off (glove-hand), was on great teams, despite all that was a winner
e) Turku
Kent (Flames): Goaltending
Tobalev (Habs): Saku

Sporting News: Habs Players Snubbed

Thanks to Mike Boone for keeping up his posts and fishing this one out:

The Sporting News has named Bob Gainey National Hockey League Executive of the Year.

Gainey received 12 of 28 votes cast by league executives. Detroit vice-president/GM Ken Holland was second with six votes.

Sporting News Coach of the Year Mike Babcock got six of 18 votes cast by his peers, while Guy Carbonneau picked up five votes to finish second.

Alex Ovechkin was named Player of the Year, picking up 250 of a possible 287 votes in a poll of players conducted for the magazine. Evgeni Malkin finished second with 18 votes.

The Sporting News named Patrick Kane Rookie of the Year. The magazine's All-Star team includes Martin Brodeur, Mike Green, Nicklas Lidstrom, Ovechkin, Malkin and Jarome Iginla.

How funny that the year the players put it together and Gainey does little more than watch his previous work come to fruition, it is Gainey that is honoured and the players, namely Markov, that are snubbed.

I am excited for Washington that they are up and coming and made the playoffs for the first time in a while, but I don't think they necessarily merit 33% of the places on the all-star team for the season. One can hardly argue with the selections of Brodeur, Lidstrom, Ovechkin, Iginla and Malkin from this past season, but Mike Green should be up for discussion.


Questionable choice

Mike Green is definitely an up-and-comer, but I would hesitate to lay this honour on him just yet.

For on thing, the Capitals were not a good defensive team. While Lidstrom led defencemen in the NHL for scoring, he also led his team to the Jennings trophy. Green, while scoring 18 goals and 56 points led his team to a tied 17th best GA record (tied with Phoenix, no less).

For another thing, the Capitals play in what is hands down the worst division in the NHL. They played 32 games against division rivals, all of whom missed the playoffs. Most of their success came against these teams, as well.

Finally, I thought everyone was in agreement that Washington Capitals = Alexander Ovechkin. At least, that's why a player from a seventh place team is the heavy Hart trophy favourite, right? I would suggest that Mike Green without Ovechkin is probably a lesser player than all the alternatives (who incidentally, all play without Ovechkin).


My 6th All-Star

Looking through the league I see at least three legitimate candidates who would supersede Green in my ranking:

1) Dion Phaneuf
Already a Norris trophy candidate. Plays well at both ends. And, unlike Green, his team's seventh place finish came in what is probably the toughest division in the NHL.

2) Zdeno Chara
We saw what kind of a defender he was in our series. And, having seen what else Boston has to offer, it wouldn't be a stretch to say Chara led a team pretty much bereft of talent (certainly Ovechkin-calibre talent) to the same number of points as Washington in a much tougher division.

3) Andrei Markov
Outpointed Green. Led his team to first overall in the East. Choreographed the best PP in the league. Played on a defense that was significantly stingier in much tougher divisional games. What's more, he did it all without Ovechkin (with all respect to Kovalev).


I select Andrei Markov for the team instead of Green. He not only has better credentials than Green to make it, but the Canadiens deserve to be recognised for the season they had (and Markov would be a good representative) rather than the Capitals being given a double gong for pipping the flailing Canes at the post.

As if to prove the point, in the last head-to-head, Markov's Russia prevailed. Let's hope the next magazine gets its selections right...