After taking our beloved Habs all the way to the brink of the Stanley Cup Finals (almost single-handedly at that), we reward Jaroslav Halak with a … trade. Yet, after all but disappearing offensively in the later rounds of the playoffs, we reward Tomas Plekanec with a … 6 year, $30 million deal. Makes perfect sense right? We try and figure it all out.
Habs are through, just as we all expected, right? Sure. You think Gary Bettman is happy about this? How about NBC? The Habs have given new meaning to the term “refuse to lose” and the entire city is LOVING it. We try to pinpoint what it is that makes this team do the impossible, whether it will continue all the way to the cup, and how all of this might affect next year. Oh, and we go a little nuts.
HABS WIN! HABS WIN! HABS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
This is just plain fun. Somehow, some way, this team has taken Montreal by complete surprise and absolutely captured the imagination of the entire hockey world. It seems no matter what they face, they find the way to bounce back from it. Heart epitomized. But now with both Markov and Spacek out, facing the Staal-less Pittsburgh Penguins, they’re up against an arguably bigger challenge than even the Washington Capitals. Can they really keep it going?
So the Habs have held the lead in the series 3 times as long as the Capitals. The goaltending has gone from suspect to otherworldly. The team as a group clearly never quits. The coaching has suddenly gotten more creative and has officially turned into a big edge in the series. Special teams has been incredible throughout. So who do YOU think is gonna win game 7? You might be surprised to hear what we have to say…
For our first official Playoff Podcast, we turn up the intensity a few notches and are pretty much at each other’s throats for most of the show. You gotta hear it to believe it. Somehow amidst the fire, we manage to delve into how the Habs lost control of the series so suddenly, who starts in nets for game 4, and who starts on D: O’Byrne, Bergeron, or … Subban?
This one’s a can’t miss if we’ve ever had one…
THEY MADE IT! (Barely). Monday’s podcast will dissect the weaknesses, but for now, I’m thankful for the following:
1. PLAYOFFS, Baby!
Don’t kid yourself. This is a major achievement, specifically because of the injuries to their best players. Plenty of other teams in the league lost their best players to injury or trade – Atlanta, Calgary, Carolina, Anaheim – and you don’t see them in the dance, do you?
Plus, these Habs had to start all over from scratch this year, deal with all the changes, fight back against ridiculous expectations from some boorish fans…..yeah, I’d say the Habs persevered quite nicely, all things considered.
2. Excellent Goaltending.
I don’t know what happens in the off-season and I am so glad I don’t have to make that decision, but Jaroslav Halak was nothing short of excellent. And Carey Price was much MUCH better than last year, if a lot more unlucky.
Another word on Carey, because it bears repeating: Maybe his confidence is shaky, but the kid can play.
3. Andrei Markov.
The only elite player in the lineup.
4. Moving Forward
The Habs may not be big, and some of their talent is overpriced / underperforming, but this year saw a nice group of forwards that just never quit. There’s energizer bunny Brian Gionta, the no-longer-girlish Tomas Plekanec, 50-stitch man Travis Moen, heroic and gap-toothed Glen Metropolit, and I maintain brother Sergei had a nice rebound. And I am positive that mega-watt Cammy would have hit 40 had he not been injured. Hopefully, he’ll explode in the playoffs.
5. Hal Gill / Josh Georges
Every fan and so called expert was tough on Gill in the first 15 games. But dammit if he didn’t become the best penalty killer on the team. And he settled the room. He talked Carey Price through his slump, cajoled Georges to be more aggressive, and sniped back at the boo-bird-dummies after Price was awarded the third star with calls of “trade him”.
That’s called leadership, and the Habs needed it.
Speaking of Georges, I have six words: Mike Green slapshot to the head.
6. Benoit Pouliot
Yes, he is in a slump now. But he’s never played a full season (before this, his top total was 37 games!). He’s never been a top-six forward. He’s also only 23 years old. And he’s big, mobile, got guts, and lightening quick hands.
When he gets really healthy, properly conditioned for a full season, and gets used to the responsibility, man is he going to be good. Doesn’t matter if Guillaume is tearing it up. This was one of Gainey’s best trades.
7. Guy Boucher
Unlike the major league bench boss, Guru Boucher showed an uncanny ability to squeeze the most out of his young charges. Guys like Tom Pyatt, Mathieu Darche and Ryan White aren’t going to scare anybody too much, but they came prepared and confident. Sergei came back with his attitude in check (I won’t credit the Guru with PK – who was just sublime – because I think a sock puppet could coach that guy).
Compare that with the dismal performances and sinking confidences of the young players who started the season with the big-league Habs: Guillaume, MaxPac, D’Agostini, MaxLap, the Kostitsyns…….that’s a lot of talent not living up to its potential. They can’t all be duds, eh coach?
8. Jacques Martin
I know it looks like I has needling him just now. I was. But the man coached the hell out of this team. Let’s remember, there was a stretch of games there where the Habs lineup was the best in all of the AHL. This was his first year, on a team that was brand new, in a smoking-hot cauldron of a market that was calling for the decapitation of the very man who hired him. Hello? Can you say pressure?………..Don’t agree?……I’d like to see you coach the Habs for even one day. You wouldn’t last the first period.
So the Habs are in. Tonight, let’s be happy.
Tune in Monday, when Eric and I really take out the scalpels.
Welcome Boone readers. The Man of Extra Class has given us some shout-outs, and we are very appreciative. Boone has once again shown us why he is the King of the Habs Blog Hill.
Some of you have been wondering why there haven’t been any posts or blogs lately. I have two answers. The first, I have been visiting family in Montreal, including Eric, and um….enjoying it. The second is that, based on the Habs recent play, there is nothing we can add right now that we did not say in the last post. The Habs still lack killer instinct. They are still soft at the wrong times. And quite possibly, they are very very confused about what they need to do.
The Only Dependable Hab
And who can blame them? On a team where the only constant from last year to this year has been the mascot (new owners, new GM, new coach, new players), this team remains a great scientific experiment, the likes of which the league has never seen. A lot of us, myself included, have been grumbling about coach’s decisions, especially in recent weeks. And I maintain that they have only added to the confusion.
But none of that matters tonight. Once again, les boys must summon their manhood and just win. If they believe, truly believe, they deserve a shot at the post season, they need to send a message tonight. But how can they pull together after such a tough week? That’s up to them. But if they back into the playoffs, or fail to make them, they will be embarrassed by their efforts. And Habs nation will be calling for all the Canadiens scalps – save for the aforementioned mascot.
Enjoy the game, but hold on tight, it might be a bumpy ride.
Check back here on Monday as Eric and I post our season-in-review podcast and (fingers crossed) our playoff preview extravaganza.
Brother Sergei had a good Olympics. His skills and physical attributes are clear and evident. He’s had his up-and-downs for the year, but seemed to have come around. So after two games of so-so post-Olympic performance on the second line, what does Coach do?
He plans to drop Sergei down to the fourth line for the game against LA and he will replace him with……Tom Pyatt!
REALLY?!!!?
Now I like Tom Pyatt as much as the next guy, and he deserves to stay with the big boys based on the current lineup, but does Coach really think a guy like Pyatt is a true second-liner, better than what Brother Sergei could be? Is Coach really so bereft of ideas that he can’t find another way to motivate a talented young forward to play better – one who was playing well for the big club right before the Olympics?
GROAN…..and here we have yet another insufferable “lesson” about the value of “hard work”. Pyatt brings his hard hat and doesn’t complain, and apparently, Sergei…not so much…
But here’s how I see this latest line shift: If a coach doesn’t have faith in me to turn things around, why would I have any faith in myself?
Is it any wonder the young forwards have lost all confidence in themselves this season?
Pierre Gauthier’s first trade as GM of the Habs: The Habs 2nd round pick in 2011 for Florida C/RW Dominic Moore.
PG has gone on record a number of times now, saying the priority this year is for the Habs to make the playoffs. So I can’t say I’m surprised by this move. Though it would probably be best for the franchise, PG doesn’t want to unload salary and stock up on prospects. So let’s not expect that.
***let’s not get too excited***
A lot of people don’t like this deal because:
* The Habs give away a future high-ish pick for an aging journeyman who will see limited ice time.
* Moore is a UFA at season’s end and will likely not return to the Habs.
* Considering Moore was picked up on WAIVERS last year, a 2nd rounder seems high (even though “everyone” is saying 2011 is a weak draft).
Here is what people are saying Moore brings to the table:
* Good faceoff skills, can relieve Pleks on the PK, smart positioning and decent skater. An upgrade on Maxwell.
I agree that in some critical situations, Moore might be of benefit. I also agree that a 2nd round pick seems a little high for this guy. But here is one reason why this deal MIGHT JUST WORK:
* It allows Max Pacioretty to stay down in the minors and develop with Guy Boucher.
Face it. Coach Jacques either doesn’t have the time or the ability to take our young forwards by the hand. Coach is many things: fair, protective of his players, cagey with the goaltenders, a believer in hard work. But one thing he hasn’t done well this year is TEACH. The young forwards who started this season with the Habs have slumped BIG TIME. And I remain convinced that the only reason AK-46 broke out is because Pleks kept encouraging him. Gui was traded. SK-74 is only now showing signs of life. Laps has sucked. Dags has sucked. Chipchura sucked. MaxPac has sucked.
The young ‘uns who have performed well on occasion (Pouliot, Pyatt, White, Desharnais) did not start the year with the Habs. They were traded for or CALLED UP.
So barring another trade or even more injuries (plus AK-46, Benny, and Cammi are all coming back soon), MaxPac, who was downright lost in the big leagues, gets to stay in Hamilton with the Guru. MaxPac has loads of potential, he is only 21, and has yet to have a full season in the AHL. I say the longer he stays down there, to learn and develop his skills away from the pressure, the better he will be in the future.
Would you trade a future 2nd rounder if it meant Max Pacioretty could unleash his true potential next year?
I definitely would.
And IMHO, that’s the real reason why this trade might work out in the end.
***Tune in on Tuesday for our final Habs Podcast before the Olympics***
