Big T has done the heavy lifting. I'm adding some top of mind prognostication for the short attention span times we live in.
Forwards
Scoring lines: The production will be similar, the explanations for why it happened the way it did different.
Checking lines: They’ll excite, have their time in the sun. But it’s still 10 goalscorers with PK time.
Line integrity: Same coach? Yup. So none then. 20 minutes into Thursday’s match-up should be it.
Tomas Plekanec: Good on the PK, good on the PP, good at ES, good all around. Will good be good enough?
Erik Cole: Beats goalies with an elite shot. Works hard. Will still disappoint those who confuse 20 goalscorer with goal-a-game man.
Mike Cammalleri: Won’t turn on his playoff magic until the situation requires it. Leading scorer anyway.
Scott Gomez: Rebound year? Yeah, certainly if he can put in a rebound or two this time around, or shoot hard enough to create one.
Brian Gionta: Team shot leader should poach important goals as he always has.
Max Pacioretty: Will be demoted from the scoring lines at some point. How he reacts will determine his long-term success.
Andrei Kostitsyn: Will be promoted to the scoring lines at some point. How he reacts will determine his fate.
Lars Eller: Won’t end atop the scoring pile. To the delight of some, he'll lead in an obscure category.
Mathieu Darche: A promotion to the first line after a good stretch will be end looking a repeat of years past.
Ryan White: The honeymoon will likely end sometime between November and February.
Andreas Engqvist: So long, we hardly knew ye.
David Desharnais: Were all the scouts right or wrong? Montreal fans will decide within the month.
Travis Moen: Will collect his oversized cheque under the welcome shadow of Scott Gomez.
Blair Betts: Once came second in the NHL in GA on the PK.
Defenders
Andrei Markov: Day-to-day. That’s how often the barometer on his contract status will change as well.
PK Subban: Will grow into the best defensive defenceman on the team as well.
Hal Gill: Think happy thoughts. If we make the playoffs all this will be worth it.
Jaroslav Spacek: While tripping over his own feet, he’ll still be on for more goals for than against.
Josh Gorges: If we set our expectations right, he’ll deliver and maybe exceed just a little.
Alexei Yemelin: Expect a rocky ride. Have we seen a check since that scrimmage, he obviously takes new instructions very seriously.
Raphael Diaz: Unless there’s injuries, let’s not hold our breath for a PP run by Markov and Diaz.
Yannick Weber: The forward from the 2011 playoffs sees more time than the D from the 2009 playoffs.
Chris Campoli: Picard with a better shot, and a better shot at sticking around.
Goalies
Carey Price: As his teammates come to know what to expect, reliability may become his new word.
Peter Budaj: How many back-to-back games are there?
Special teams
Powerplay: The goal droughts will be directly proportional to PK's wind-up.
Penalty kill: Our only complaint will be how often they are required.
Trades
Trade deadline wants/needs: Forward with size who can score.
Trade deadline acquistions: Paul Mara.
Ranking
Teams the Habs will beat: NYI, FLA, CAR, WPG, OTT
Teams the Habs won't beat: PIT, WSH, BUF, NYR
Teams the Habs will be watching in March: TOR, BOS, PHA, NJ, TBL
Playoff qualification: Even 4th isn’t safe territory. It’ll be a fight.
Media storylines
Goaltending battle: Carey Price lost 2 games in a row...
Kostitsyn slump: 25 goalscorer totals 62 games without a goal. Again.
Pacioretty on third line: Remember that quote? Well...
Habs need size, grit: It's February, the Habs have just lost their first game to Boston this season...
The 50s Habs were better: When I started as a reporter...
Desharnais benched: How? Why?
Louis Leblanc scored: In Hamilton, ...
PK Subban's ipod: He changed a song...
Markov missed (recurring feature every Saturday)
Think that's enough. Send in your own ideas for tweet previews (they've gotta be better than most of this rubbish).
Aware that you all are very excited and need to read something more substantial to stop your restless legs from disturbing your workmates. Check out these two pieces:
1) Knowing the Enemy (From HEOTP)
A very good run down on the Leafs. Generous but with that realism that you won't find from Leafs fans' own blogs.
2) If it all goes wrong
Hey, at least they said "if". It's a fun portend on what could be written by the analysts if the points in the standings don't match the dreams of the fans.
Hope you all enjoy the game tonight. See you for the aftermath.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Notes from Camp (Part 2 of 2) - The Defence
After looking at the forwards in part 1 of this series, we now shift our focus over to the defence. As you’ll notice, I tried to address more of the issues or concerns that stood out rather than do a complete man by man analysis.
Yannick Weber
Although I was disappointed with Weber’s performance this preseason I do believe it’s premature to write him off. I love Yannick Weber’s versatility (even though he might not - simply meaning he’d rather just be a defenceman) but that being said, I truly believe that he should be given a proper and fair shot at playing on the blue line. I don’t blame him for not being able to replicate the intensity and drive he showed during the playoffs. It’s not his first preseason and he clearly understands the concept of turning it up a notch or two. Considering injuries and/or slumps, I’m sure that he will get another showcase his talents on the back-end. But it is ultimately up to him to demonstrate that he can be a legitimate NHL defenceman.
Alexei Yemelin
We’ve been waiting for him to come to Montreal for years and now that he’s here, every Habs fan is almost unfairly dissecting every aspect of his play. From being overly physical at his first scrimmage to shying away from the physicality as training camp progressed, all I can preach with regards to Yemelin is patience. He has to be given the opportunity acclimatize himself to the North American game and more importantly the North American sized rinks. Imagine playing pool all your life on a pool table that’s 50% or so larger than the one you now have to play on against the very best players in the world. His angles, his positioning, cut-off points along with how he manages his gap all have to be adjusted not to mention the power he puts on his breakout passes. This is the problem that Alexei Yemelin is now facing and having to adapt to.
Ideally this would be done over a season or at least half a season in Hamilton versus weaker competition but we are all aware of his special status. Yemelin has proven himself in the KHL and on the international stage as well representing his native Russia in World Championships and in the Olympics, the guy can play. So we can’t send him down to Hamilton because if we do, he bolts to Russia to play in the KHL. So how do you deal with this dilemma? In my opinion, you shield him. Ideally, Andrei Markov would have been an ideal partner for Yemelin because he would have been capable of correcting a lot of Yemelin’s shortcomings and allowed the time for him to mature into a bone-fide NHL defenceman as occurred with Mike Komisarek (before he contracted blue & white disease and regressed).
We all saw what happened to Mike once he lost his pairing with Markov. It’s not unreasonable to believe that Markov could have been the perfect mentor to bring Yemelin into the NHL. Since, Markov is now injured and that situation is not possible, the next solution is to buy time until it’s possible to have such a pairing. So, in my opinion, Yemelin should be allowed to stay with the big club and play limited minutes on the last pairing. My gut tells me that he will adapt and be a very useful defenceman for the Habs for years to come.
And what about his physicality or apparent lack of it after that first scrimmage.
Well, my hypothesis on that is simple, he had proven his physicality and was told to concentrate on his positioning and his adaptation to the angles of a N. American rink. He’s been told that the hits and the physicality will come in due time once he’s had the chance to become comfortable on the new ice. So, don’t fret my fellow Habs fans, if it’s hits that you desire and a mean attitude that you want to see, it will come but let’s be patient with this project as it could prove to be very rewarding for those that can have the patience.
Raphael Diaz
Diaz is a real flip of the coin for me. By that I mean that I’m not sold on him as a full-time NHL defenceman...yet. He has shown flashes of adeptness to the NHL game but also demonstrated moments of complete and utter futility (especially in the defensive end). That being said, he has improved throughout the camp and that in itself is a terrific sign. Diaz like Yemelin also needs to be given the opportunity to adapt to the North American game and rink and unlike Yemelin he has been signed to a 2-way contract that does not have an ‘out’ clause. I feel that Diaz would strongly benefit from a stint in the AHL where he can hone his game and optimize it for the style of game played in this part of the world. I understand why he was signed and I strongly feel that his time in the AHL will be the strongest indication to us on whether or not he can achieve success in the NHL. Although I understand why he has remained with the club till now I urge Pierre Gauthier to send him down to Hamilton where he will be given top minutes on the 1st or 2nd defensive pairing and major minutes on the PP as well as PK in order to round out his capabilities and properly assess his attributes going forward. This goes hand in hand with my desire for Weber to be given a fair shot on the PP at this early stage of the year.
Andrei Markov
Considering the contract given to Markov one would be foolish not to be worried by his latest setback. However, considering that this is his 2nd ACL reconstruction he would have been ahead of schedule had he been ready to lace up the skates on opening day. Therefore, fans need to look at the big picture and that is that this premier defenceman has been signed for 3 years. We need Andrei to be relatively healthy for those 3 years so if that means sacrificing even 2 months off of the start of that 3 year deal then so be it. In reality, the focus should be on getting him strong, recuperated and fully recovered so that we can enjoy his skills for most of this year (including a deep playoff run) as well as another 2 years.
The Rest
With regards to the other defencemen, I really didn’t see enough of them to make me feel differently from what we’ve come to expect of them. However, I suppose it would be prudent to remind Habs fans that Hal Gill usually plays pretty poorly through till December when he begins to warm up and then rounds into form about a month before the playoffs start.
Alright, let the games begin!
Yannick Weber
Although I was disappointed with Weber’s performance this preseason I do believe it’s premature to write him off. I love Yannick Weber’s versatility (even though he might not - simply meaning he’d rather just be a defenceman) but that being said, I truly believe that he should be given a proper and fair shot at playing on the blue line. I don’t blame him for not being able to replicate the intensity and drive he showed during the playoffs. It’s not his first preseason and he clearly understands the concept of turning it up a notch or two. Considering injuries and/or slumps, I’m sure that he will get another showcase his talents on the back-end. But it is ultimately up to him to demonstrate that he can be a legitimate NHL defenceman.
Alexei Yemelin
We’ve been waiting for him to come to Montreal for years and now that he’s here, every Habs fan is almost unfairly dissecting every aspect of his play. From being overly physical at his first scrimmage to shying away from the physicality as training camp progressed, all I can preach with regards to Yemelin is patience. He has to be given the opportunity acclimatize himself to the North American game and more importantly the North American sized rinks. Imagine playing pool all your life on a pool table that’s 50% or so larger than the one you now have to play on against the very best players in the world. His angles, his positioning, cut-off points along with how he manages his gap all have to be adjusted not to mention the power he puts on his breakout passes. This is the problem that Alexei Yemelin is now facing and having to adapt to.
Ideally this would be done over a season or at least half a season in Hamilton versus weaker competition but we are all aware of his special status. Yemelin has proven himself in the KHL and on the international stage as well representing his native Russia in World Championships and in the Olympics, the guy can play. So we can’t send him down to Hamilton because if we do, he bolts to Russia to play in the KHL. So how do you deal with this dilemma? In my opinion, you shield him. Ideally, Andrei Markov would have been an ideal partner for Yemelin because he would have been capable of correcting a lot of Yemelin’s shortcomings and allowed the time for him to mature into a bone-fide NHL defenceman as occurred with Mike Komisarek (before he contracted blue & white disease and regressed).
We all saw what happened to Mike once he lost his pairing with Markov. It’s not unreasonable to believe that Markov could have been the perfect mentor to bring Yemelin into the NHL. Since, Markov is now injured and that situation is not possible, the next solution is to buy time until it’s possible to have such a pairing. So, in my opinion, Yemelin should be allowed to stay with the big club and play limited minutes on the last pairing. My gut tells me that he will adapt and be a very useful defenceman for the Habs for years to come.
And what about his physicality or apparent lack of it after that first scrimmage.
Well, my hypothesis on that is simple, he had proven his physicality and was told to concentrate on his positioning and his adaptation to the angles of a N. American rink. He’s been told that the hits and the physicality will come in due time once he’s had the chance to become comfortable on the new ice. So, don’t fret my fellow Habs fans, if it’s hits that you desire and a mean attitude that you want to see, it will come but let’s be patient with this project as it could prove to be very rewarding for those that can have the patience.
Raphael Diaz
Diaz is a real flip of the coin for me. By that I mean that I’m not sold on him as a full-time NHL defenceman...yet. He has shown flashes of adeptness to the NHL game but also demonstrated moments of complete and utter futility (especially in the defensive end). That being said, he has improved throughout the camp and that in itself is a terrific sign. Diaz like Yemelin also needs to be given the opportunity to adapt to the North American game and rink and unlike Yemelin he has been signed to a 2-way contract that does not have an ‘out’ clause. I feel that Diaz would strongly benefit from a stint in the AHL where he can hone his game and optimize it for the style of game played in this part of the world. I understand why he was signed and I strongly feel that his time in the AHL will be the strongest indication to us on whether or not he can achieve success in the NHL. Although I understand why he has remained with the club till now I urge Pierre Gauthier to send him down to Hamilton where he will be given top minutes on the 1st or 2nd defensive pairing and major minutes on the PP as well as PK in order to round out his capabilities and properly assess his attributes going forward. This goes hand in hand with my desire for Weber to be given a fair shot on the PP at this early stage of the year.
Andrei Markov
Considering the contract given to Markov one would be foolish not to be worried by his latest setback. However, considering that this is his 2nd ACL reconstruction he would have been ahead of schedule had he been ready to lace up the skates on opening day. Therefore, fans need to look at the big picture and that is that this premier defenceman has been signed for 3 years. We need Andrei to be relatively healthy for those 3 years so if that means sacrificing even 2 months off of the start of that 3 year deal then so be it. In reality, the focus should be on getting him strong, recuperated and fully recovered so that we can enjoy his skills for most of this year (including a deep playoff run) as well as another 2 years.
The Rest
With regards to the other defencemen, I really didn’t see enough of them to make me feel differently from what we’ve come to expect of them. However, I suppose it would be prudent to remind Habs fans that Hal Gill usually plays pretty poorly through till December when he begins to warm up and then rounds into form about a month before the playoffs start.
Alright, let the games begin!
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Your New Betts Friend
You know this is the absolute peak of Habs fan excitement and anticipation, hours away from a game that makes a putrid Stanley Cup playoffs (wrong champs) irrelevant again. Fans have been very excited about the waiver wire moves.
What happened today was that Pierre Gauthier took an honest look at his prospects and admitted none was quite ready, turned around and saw Blair Betts sitting on waivers only to claim him.
The waiver wire pick up was not an indictment of Engqvist or Palushaj, they did that to themselves with their play. It's just a simple little addition that means we fans can expect a more honed game from a 4th liner.
The news of the addition did little to stir my own emotions. If that feeling wasn't indifference then I'm not sure what it was. Betts is big sure, but he's pretty one dimensional. I mean we're getting some pretty straight forward hockey here.
The good news is that 4th liners shouldn't stir the emotions. That line will hopefully be made up with guys everyone is comfortable with leaving off the ice for 51 minutes a night. What's more, Betts himself does have some intrigue about him. He played in 23 Stanley Cup playoff games about 16 months ago (that has to mean something) and he usually scores more goals than Gomez did last season.
No he's not Dominic Moore, but that ship has now sailed. He's no Engqvist either you know.
What happened today was that Pierre Gauthier took an honest look at his prospects and admitted none was quite ready, turned around and saw Blair Betts sitting on waivers only to claim him.
The waiver wire pick up was not an indictment of Engqvist or Palushaj, they did that to themselves with their play. It's just a simple little addition that means we fans can expect a more honed game from a 4th liner.
The news of the addition did little to stir my own emotions. If that feeling wasn't indifference then I'm not sure what it was. Betts is big sure, but he's pretty one dimensional. I mean we're getting some pretty straight forward hockey here.
The good news is that 4th liners shouldn't stir the emotions. That line will hopefully be made up with guys everyone is comfortable with leaving off the ice for 51 minutes a night. What's more, Betts himself does have some intrigue about him. He played in 23 Stanley Cup playoff games about 16 months ago (that has to mean something) and he usually scores more goals than Gomez did last season.
No he's not Dominic Moore, but that ship has now sailed. He's no Engqvist either you know.
Notes from Camp (Part 1 of 2) - The Forwards
With the last of the preseason games now in the books, training camp now moves into its last phase before the regular season starts - the team building phase. Here are my thoughts on training camp so far in a two-part series starting with the forwards that for one reason or another made an impression:
Andrei Kostitsyn
Although neither a lover or hater of Andrei Kostitsyn, he seems to me to have an added maturity and more of a veteran presence. Maybe this was just a short-felt impression that I had which was accentuated by the fact that he was in fact surrounded by lots of kids in camp but I have a gut feeling that this will be a good year for #46.
This is a big year for Kostitsyn as he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. Although many believe that he’ll sulk on the third line if played there (as appears likely), I believe that you’ll see a completely different Andrei. Any of his negativity this year will not only translate badly for his reputation amongst Habs management but also amongst all 30 GMs in the league. Andrei has a very smart man as his agent in Don Meehan who I’m sure has advised his client that any misgivings that he may have with the Habs can be erased from his memory very easily by bearing his head down and playing hard which in turn will earn him a contract from any of the other teams in the league. In fact, if he plays so well, he then forces Pierre Gauthier to offer him a very rich contract in order to avoid going to free agency. In my opinion, Kostitsyn simply has too much raw skill and talent for it not to translate into a great year should he put forth the effort that I believe he will - just don’t expect him back next year.
Brendan Gallagher
Like everyone else, I was absolutely enthralled by young Brendan Gallagher this preseason. I’m also happy to say that although I was surprised by how well he competed I was not shocked. A close friend of mine had pointed him out to me early last year as Gallagher was ripping it up for the Giants. That being said, I’m very positive about the kid’s future and really believe that he will be a fun prospect to watch over the Christmas holidays when he plays for Canada at the World Juniors.
I will tell you what did shock me - the number of people (especially from the English media) calling for young Gallagher to stay on with the team. In all honesty, please explain to me what was so different about his camp from that of one young Guillaume Latendresse (other than the fact that Latendresse performed even better in his camp). This case is no different, the French media were wrong then and the English media is wrong now. Both kids were not ready for the leap to the big leagues at such a tender age just as Max Pacioretty wasn’t ready when he first made the team. These kids are good (no doubt) but they do need to get their seasoning in the AHL it bodes for a better NHL player down the line.
Louis Leblanc
Another interesting observation that occurred during preseason was something that I noticed on twitter. All of a sudden twitter was abuzz with how Louis Leblanc’s development had suffered a major setback due to his injury and how his career potential was at best a solid 3rd liner. Look, I’m not going to sit here and say that he’ll be a 1st or 2nd liner but at the same time I felt like it was undue criticism. I don’t like projections being made of a player people have yet to see perform at a NHL let alone AHL level. Everyone has the right to see what they want and they may eventually be right but the point is you at least allow someone to show you what they have. Being injured is not great for development but it also doesn’t mean that development is stalled forever.
Erik Cole
I’ve been very pleased with Erik Cole so far and as I discussed earlier during this off-season, I believe that he will be a very important key to helping this team take the next step forward. It’s not just the size but the tenacity for driving the net coupled with the speed that he has. I was a tad worried that with his age he may be starting to lose a step but on more than once occasion, Erik put the pedal to the metal and impressed me as he wheeled around and past a defenseman almost effortlessly.
Scott Gomez
It’s way too early to make any judgement on Gomez but I will say this, the guy looks like he cares and seems to be putting in the effort to show it. Really, at the end of the day, that’s all we can ask at this stage of his contract. Hopefully, he continues to show night in and night out that he cares and more importantly puts forth the actual on-ice effort to demonstrate that care in the eyes of all the Habs supporters. I’m cautiously optimistic on Scott Gomez.
Andreas Engqvist
I’m not sure if this is just a case of bad scouting but I simply don’t see where and how a projection was made on this kid being able to effectively center the 4th line. I was unimpressed with his performance during his brief call-up last year and although he apparently excelled in a defensive role in the AHL under the tutelage of Randy Cunneyworth, I find it very hard to understand that these coaches don’t realize the massive disparity between the NHL and AHL. In fact, I’m quite sure that they are more than well aware of it considering their experience. So what’s the deal? And to top it off, Andreas put forth a disappointing effort during training camp. I hope we all get to see what it is that management sees in this kid because at this point, not only do I not see it but I’m actually worried that this might very well be the team’s Achilles’ heel.
And with that, I conclude the first part of two blog posts outlining my feelings on training camp. Next post will tackle the defense.
Andrei Kostitsyn
Although neither a lover or hater of Andrei Kostitsyn, he seems to me to have an added maturity and more of a veteran presence. Maybe this was just a short-felt impression that I had which was accentuated by the fact that he was in fact surrounded by lots of kids in camp but I have a gut feeling that this will be a good year for #46.
This is a big year for Kostitsyn as he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. Although many believe that he’ll sulk on the third line if played there (as appears likely), I believe that you’ll see a completely different Andrei. Any of his negativity this year will not only translate badly for his reputation amongst Habs management but also amongst all 30 GMs in the league. Andrei has a very smart man as his agent in Don Meehan who I’m sure has advised his client that any misgivings that he may have with the Habs can be erased from his memory very easily by bearing his head down and playing hard which in turn will earn him a contract from any of the other teams in the league. In fact, if he plays so well, he then forces Pierre Gauthier to offer him a very rich contract in order to avoid going to free agency. In my opinion, Kostitsyn simply has too much raw skill and talent for it not to translate into a great year should he put forth the effort that I believe he will - just don’t expect him back next year.
Brendan Gallagher
Like everyone else, I was absolutely enthralled by young Brendan Gallagher this preseason. I’m also happy to say that although I was surprised by how well he competed I was not shocked. A close friend of mine had pointed him out to me early last year as Gallagher was ripping it up for the Giants. That being said, I’m very positive about the kid’s future and really believe that he will be a fun prospect to watch over the Christmas holidays when he plays for Canada at the World Juniors.
I will tell you what did shock me - the number of people (especially from the English media) calling for young Gallagher to stay on with the team. In all honesty, please explain to me what was so different about his camp from that of one young Guillaume Latendresse (other than the fact that Latendresse performed even better in his camp). This case is no different, the French media were wrong then and the English media is wrong now. Both kids were not ready for the leap to the big leagues at such a tender age just as Max Pacioretty wasn’t ready when he first made the team. These kids are good (no doubt) but they do need to get their seasoning in the AHL it bodes for a better NHL player down the line.
Louis Leblanc
Another interesting observation that occurred during preseason was something that I noticed on twitter. All of a sudden twitter was abuzz with how Louis Leblanc’s development had suffered a major setback due to his injury and how his career potential was at best a solid 3rd liner. Look, I’m not going to sit here and say that he’ll be a 1st or 2nd liner but at the same time I felt like it was undue criticism. I don’t like projections being made of a player people have yet to see perform at a NHL let alone AHL level. Everyone has the right to see what they want and they may eventually be right but the point is you at least allow someone to show you what they have. Being injured is not great for development but it also doesn’t mean that development is stalled forever.
Erik Cole
I’ve been very pleased with Erik Cole so far and as I discussed earlier during this off-season, I believe that he will be a very important key to helping this team take the next step forward. It’s not just the size but the tenacity for driving the net coupled with the speed that he has. I was a tad worried that with his age he may be starting to lose a step but on more than once occasion, Erik put the pedal to the metal and impressed me as he wheeled around and past a defenseman almost effortlessly.
Scott Gomez
It’s way too early to make any judgement on Gomez but I will say this, the guy looks like he cares and seems to be putting in the effort to show it. Really, at the end of the day, that’s all we can ask at this stage of his contract. Hopefully, he continues to show night in and night out that he cares and more importantly puts forth the actual on-ice effort to demonstrate that care in the eyes of all the Habs supporters. I’m cautiously optimistic on Scott Gomez.
Andreas Engqvist
I’m not sure if this is just a case of bad scouting but I simply don’t see where and how a projection was made on this kid being able to effectively center the 4th line. I was unimpressed with his performance during his brief call-up last year and although he apparently excelled in a defensive role in the AHL under the tutelage of Randy Cunneyworth, I find it very hard to understand that these coaches don’t realize the massive disparity between the NHL and AHL. In fact, I’m quite sure that they are more than well aware of it considering their experience. So what’s the deal? And to top it off, Andreas put forth a disappointing effort during training camp. I hope we all get to see what it is that management sees in this kid because at this point, not only do I not see it but I’m actually worried that this might very well be the team’s Achilles’ heel.
And with that, I conclude the first part of two blog posts outlining my feelings on training camp. Next post will tackle the defense.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Gauthier's Plan C?
Below I have attached Big T's first contribution to Lions in Winter where he examines the history and probable implications of the Campoli signing.
The signing of Chris Campoli last week seems to have sent a lot of different messages to the Habs faithful from Andrei Markov possibly being out long-term to Alexei Yemelin, Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber having underwhelmed at training camp. The truth is if Andrei Markov was in fact ready, everyone would be bumped down the depth chart one notch and Gauthier probably doesn’t sign Campoli.
However, considering that this was Markov’s second ACL reconstruction, the timeline on the recovery and rehab from that procedure is approximately twelve months. Since, Markov had the procedure done last November it would be foolish for Habs management to have not had a backup plan in place. In retrospect, it seems clear not only did they have such a plan but they had 3 plans in place.
The first as we all know was offering a one-year deal to Roman Hamrlik. While most Habs fans were ready to throw in the towel on the workhorse journeyman defenceman, Pierre Gauthier saw otherwise and offered the rearguard a one-year deal at a discounted yet healthy $3.5M which made a lot of sense in my eyes. We all know what happened next, Hamrlik declined the Canadiens offer countering that he wanted a two-year deal which he eventually got from the Washington Capitals.
So right from that moment one can deduce that Pierre Gauthier had planned for another veteran defenceman to be signed. Money was allocated and a roster spot marked down in both the general manager and coach’s clipboards. Diaz and Yemelin had both been signed at that point meaning that regardless of their outcome in camp, the Habs brass had still envisioned another veteran defenceman on the roster.
What we will never know of course, is who (if anyone else) Gauthier targeted during the free-agency period. It’s possible that some offers were presented but rejected and it’s also possible that trade discussions were fruitless. Although these are assumptions, what’s clear is that the Habs wanted another veteran defenceman and did not obtain him. It is very possible that at this point, a calculated risk was taken. Initial reports on Markov had been positive and Yannick Weber had put in an inpired playoff performance. Diaz and Yemelin both were coming to camp (not as kids) but as professionals who had multiple years of experience playing in a pro-league. It was thought that Markov would be good to start and should there be an absolute need hopefully one of Diaz, Yemelin or Weber would probably step up.
The gamble failed. Markov suffered a setback that pushed back his readiness and Weber had an overwhelmingly underwhelming camp. Yemelin and Diaz showed promise but both also showed that there will be an adjustment period and for a team striving to be an elite team in this league, you simply cannot have a defenceman eating up major minutes who is also adjusting to the North American game and rink.
The decision was made to go back to main strategy which was to shore up the back-line with a veteran NHL defenceman. Considering the time of year, the options were limited and with that, I would still say that Gauthier did well in signing Campoli. He’s a capable bottom pairing D-man that can log some minutes and help the top 4 get their rest on the bench. At the end of the day, a GM that’s been overly ridiculed and criticized for being too conservative actually rolled the dice, came up short and then was proactive in taking steps to correct a situation.
I don’t call that passive.
The signing of Chris Campoli last week seems to have sent a lot of different messages to the Habs faithful from Andrei Markov possibly being out long-term to Alexei Yemelin, Raphael Diaz and Yannick Weber having underwhelmed at training camp. The truth is if Andrei Markov was in fact ready, everyone would be bumped down the depth chart one notch and Gauthier probably doesn’t sign Campoli.
However, considering that this was Markov’s second ACL reconstruction, the timeline on the recovery and rehab from that procedure is approximately twelve months. Since, Markov had the procedure done last November it would be foolish for Habs management to have not had a backup plan in place. In retrospect, it seems clear not only did they have such a plan but they had 3 plans in place.
The first as we all know was offering a one-year deal to Roman Hamrlik. While most Habs fans were ready to throw in the towel on the workhorse journeyman defenceman, Pierre Gauthier saw otherwise and offered the rearguard a one-year deal at a discounted yet healthy $3.5M which made a lot of sense in my eyes. We all know what happened next, Hamrlik declined the Canadiens offer countering that he wanted a two-year deal which he eventually got from the Washington Capitals.
So right from that moment one can deduce that Pierre Gauthier had planned for another veteran defenceman to be signed. Money was allocated and a roster spot marked down in both the general manager and coach’s clipboards. Diaz and Yemelin had both been signed at that point meaning that regardless of their outcome in camp, the Habs brass had still envisioned another veteran defenceman on the roster.
What we will never know of course, is who (if anyone else) Gauthier targeted during the free-agency period. It’s possible that some offers were presented but rejected and it’s also possible that trade discussions were fruitless. Although these are assumptions, what’s clear is that the Habs wanted another veteran defenceman and did not obtain him. It is very possible that at this point, a calculated risk was taken. Initial reports on Markov had been positive and Yannick Weber had put in an inpired playoff performance. Diaz and Yemelin both were coming to camp (not as kids) but as professionals who had multiple years of experience playing in a pro-league. It was thought that Markov would be good to start and should there be an absolute need hopefully one of Diaz, Yemelin or Weber would probably step up.
The gamble failed. Markov suffered a setback that pushed back his readiness and Weber had an overwhelmingly underwhelming camp. Yemelin and Diaz showed promise but both also showed that there will be an adjustment period and for a team striving to be an elite team in this league, you simply cannot have a defenceman eating up major minutes who is also adjusting to the North American game and rink.
The decision was made to go back to main strategy which was to shore up the back-line with a veteran NHL defenceman. Considering the time of year, the options were limited and with that, I would still say that Gauthier did well in signing Campoli. He’s a capable bottom pairing D-man that can log some minutes and help the top 4 get their rest on the bench. At the end of the day, a GM that’s been overly ridiculed and criticized for being too conservative actually rolled the dice, came up short and then was proactive in taking steps to correct a situation.
I don’t call that passive.
The New Lion in Winter
Another season, another year dear readers.
Like the Habs, Lions in Winter has changed a lot since the spring of 2007. No more posts about Kovalev (well not daily ones anyway), less arguments about goalies. Like the Habs, LIW needs to keep refreshing its lineup to keep up with the demands of new seasons.
Over the summer, with the site ticking over, we got to thinking about how we could manage to cover the Canadiens in the way that loyal readers have come to expect (and enjoy?). I feel that in blogging as with hockey, a veteran will find most success in admitting to the changes that are happening (where’d that speed go?), develop the skills that remain more fully and find those to help fill the skill gap. The veteran bloggers here all have increasing demands on time as we progress to different stages of life and the hours that were once spent developing ideas for posts seem fewer and farther between. As you know, we added the unforgiving and insightful views of Ian Vitro last season, but the task, even for three still looked daunting.
And so the decision. Allow the blog to follow the inevitable path of change or do something about it. We all decided to do something about it.
It sounded easy enough.
With that the LIW scouting department opened up a search for the elusive power blogger. Someone with strong writing, insight and enough energy to mesh tightly with some gritty veterans. It was during this search that I started following one of the new up-and-comers onto the Habs blogging scene – Big T on the Habs.
After reading a lot of sense from June on, I knew I had found the prospect LIW was after when his late July rendering on the Josh Gorges situation came online. It was at once an answer to those who brayed about the stinginess of the contract and a thoughtful compliment to Gorges. If this contract had gone to arbitration, this was the case you’d have wanted to present.
After getting over the panicky feeling that I needed to contact him that day, lest lose the chance to collaborate to another site’s GM, I consulted with the LIW braintrust. From there, the wheels were set in motion and an agreement to collaborate between Big T and LIW was reached.
At LIW we are very excited at the prospect of the new season with a new team. I am certain that all you readers will thoroughly enjoy the chance to get into the head of Big T.
Without further ado, I give you Big T. I asked him a few questions to help get you acquainted. I also recommend reading his back-catalogue at Big T on the Habs:
Why are you a Habs fan?
I've always believed that unless you're guided to cheer for a certain team, you usually end up cheering for the team that wins the first game you watch. The first game I watched on TV that I really remembered ended in a 3-3 tie between our beloved Habs and yes, the enemy Boston Bruins and I'll surprise you by saying that for almost a full year, I cheered for both the Bruins and Habs almost equally. I was too young to understand the rivalry or its history and didn't realize that cheering for both Adams division rivals couldn't be maintained long-term.
Needless to say, I realized my grave error in judgment and quickly understood just how much hatred one can have for those that wear the black and YELLOW (yes, I said yellow not gold). I now hate the Bruins more than any of our rivals (including the Leafs whose futility over the last decade has helped them slip to a close second).
What makes you want to blog about the Habs?
Amongst my friends I was always the one with a more analytical mindset and more often than not the voice of reason during heated debates regarding our beloved Habs. I've always enjoyed writing and when my profession took me away from that and shifted me more towards numbers, I figured writing a blog would be the perfect outlet to share my thoughts with the easily excitable but extremely astute Habs fans.
So join me in welcoming our newest teammate and your newest debating partner. You can look forward to some new pieces from him the next few days.
Like the Habs, Lions in Winter has changed a lot since the spring of 2007. No more posts about Kovalev (well not daily ones anyway), less arguments about goalies. Like the Habs, LIW needs to keep refreshing its lineup to keep up with the demands of new seasons.
Over the summer, with the site ticking over, we got to thinking about how we could manage to cover the Canadiens in the way that loyal readers have come to expect (and enjoy?). I feel that in blogging as with hockey, a veteran will find most success in admitting to the changes that are happening (where’d that speed go?), develop the skills that remain more fully and find those to help fill the skill gap. The veteran bloggers here all have increasing demands on time as we progress to different stages of life and the hours that were once spent developing ideas for posts seem fewer and farther between. As you know, we added the unforgiving and insightful views of Ian Vitro last season, but the task, even for three still looked daunting.
And so the decision. Allow the blog to follow the inevitable path of change or do something about it. We all decided to do something about it.
It sounded easy enough.
With that the LIW scouting department opened up a search for the elusive power blogger. Someone with strong writing, insight and enough energy to mesh tightly with some gritty veterans. It was during this search that I started following one of the new up-and-comers onto the Habs blogging scene – Big T on the Habs.
After reading a lot of sense from June on, I knew I had found the prospect LIW was after when his late July rendering on the Josh Gorges situation came online. It was at once an answer to those who brayed about the stinginess of the contract and a thoughtful compliment to Gorges. If this contract had gone to arbitration, this was the case you’d have wanted to present.
After getting over the panicky feeling that I needed to contact him that day, lest lose the chance to collaborate to another site’s GM, I consulted with the LIW braintrust. From there, the wheels were set in motion and an agreement to collaborate between Big T and LIW was reached.
At LIW we are very excited at the prospect of the new season with a new team. I am certain that all you readers will thoroughly enjoy the chance to get into the head of Big T.
Without further ado, I give you Big T. I asked him a few questions to help get you acquainted. I also recommend reading his back-catalogue at Big T on the Habs:
Why are you a Habs fan?
I've always believed that unless you're guided to cheer for a certain team, you usually end up cheering for the team that wins the first game you watch. The first game I watched on TV that I really remembered ended in a 3-3 tie between our beloved Habs and yes, the enemy Boston Bruins and I'll surprise you by saying that for almost a full year, I cheered for both the Bruins and Habs almost equally. I was too young to understand the rivalry or its history and didn't realize that cheering for both Adams division rivals couldn't be maintained long-term.
Needless to say, I realized my grave error in judgment and quickly understood just how much hatred one can have for those that wear the black and YELLOW (yes, I said yellow not gold). I now hate the Bruins more than any of our rivals (including the Leafs whose futility over the last decade has helped them slip to a close second).
What makes you want to blog about the Habs?
Amongst my friends I was always the one with a more analytical mindset and more often than not the voice of reason during heated debates regarding our beloved Habs. I've always enjoyed writing and when my profession took me away from that and shifted me more towards numbers, I figured writing a blog would be the perfect outlet to share my thoughts with the easily excitable but extremely astute Habs fans.
So join me in welcoming our newest teammate and your newest debating partner. You can look forward to some new pieces from him the next few days.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Why the Malone Hit Happened
There's a reason these hits to the head have been happening in the NHL. There's a reason that players refuse to take heed of the "significant" suspensions that are being handed out thus far.
Excuses instead of commitment. From the mouth of the new veep himself:
If the NHL doesn't understand that to eliminate hits to the head, it will even have to go as far as penalizing hits that could end up being a hit to the head (and do), then they are going nowhere on this. This is the perennial " he turned his back" argument those who care about player safety, but not at the expense of their entertainment take.
Curbing this habit, hits that might endanger the opponent's head, will be difficult, yes. But it will be impossible if hits like Malone's continue to go unpunished.
The lack of punishment in this case baffles. It really does. I can make sense of the excuses Shanahan and his office offer because I'm used to hearing things like that. But in the end, they are just excuses.
The opportunity is there, with the will of the current players, to rid the NHL game of this pointless element on the periphery. Seize the moment Shanny. Get this one in on the next rebound.
Punishment that matters
I've had the conversation several times now, and I'm sure I will again. I believe that the only way to truly rid this (or anything) from this game (or any other) is not through personal suspensions but through action that matters.
A suspension is money. But a penalty big enough is paid in points.
I don't know how big PP has to be in an extreme case, but let's say for the sake of argument, it's 10 minutes.
Do you think a player doesn't get an earful from his captain and his coach after a 10-minuter costs his team a game? Do you think said player will be told to just go out and do what he does after a couple of these?
No, of course not. Coaches live and die by the win. GMs as well. They pull the strings on a team and can actually change a player's or a number of players' behaviour.
Make the penalty affect the win column and you'll see. I believe this strongly.
Really though, if we can't even get suspensions done, what's the hope of something like this?
Excuses instead of commitment. From the mouth of the new veep himself:
"In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright. However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit."
If the NHL doesn't understand that to eliminate hits to the head, it will even have to go as far as penalizing hits that could end up being a hit to the head (and do), then they are going nowhere on this. This is the perennial " he turned his back" argument those who care about player safety, but not at the expense of their entertainment take.
Curbing this habit, hits that might endanger the opponent's head, will be difficult, yes. But it will be impossible if hits like Malone's continue to go unpunished.
The lack of punishment in this case baffles. It really does. I can make sense of the excuses Shanahan and his office offer because I'm used to hearing things like that. But in the end, they are just excuses.
"There are elements about the hit that we don't like - specifically, the principal point of contact being the head and that it was not a full-body check. But the overriding factor in our judgment was that Campoli's loss of the puck and subsequent bending forward for it just prior contributed significantly, if not entirely, to those elements."
The opportunity is there, with the will of the current players, to rid the NHL game of this pointless element on the periphery. Seize the moment Shanny. Get this one in on the next rebound.
Punishment that matters
I've had the conversation several times now, and I'm sure I will again. I believe that the only way to truly rid this (or anything) from this game (or any other) is not through personal suspensions but through action that matters.
A suspension is money. But a penalty big enough is paid in points.
I don't know how big PP has to be in an extreme case, but let's say for the sake of argument, it's 10 minutes.
Do you think a player doesn't get an earful from his captain and his coach after a 10-minuter costs his team a game? Do you think said player will be told to just go out and do what he does after a couple of these?
No, of course not. Coaches live and die by the win. GMs as well. They pull the strings on a team and can actually change a player's or a number of players' behaviour.
Make the penalty affect the win column and you'll see. I believe this strongly.
Really though, if we can't even get suspensions done, what's the hope of something like this?
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