twitter.com/PenguinsMarchHockey Independent on Facebook

For two and a half hours this past Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg, the “cosmic tumblers” finally aligned and the re-launch of the Winnipeg Jets that for fifteen years seemed so improbable, became reality at their 2011-12 season-opening game against Montreal.  History will record a lopsided 5-1 victory for the visitors but the 15,004 fans inside the arena and the countless millions either milling about in Winnipeg or watching on television will remember only their Rink of Dreams finally coming to life.

The Jets did not emerge from between tall stalks of corn and it was not the old Winnipeg Arena, long ago demolished, that housed them. It was not the Jets of Thomas Steen, Teemu Selanne, Daniel Berthiaume or Dale Hawerchuk – their records and legacy rest now in Phoenix – but rather a new fleet of Jets, the old Atlanta Thrashers, who skated onto MTS Centre ice to deafening cheers.

Yet for Winnipeg, seeing any NHL hockey in their city is a form of sporting resurrection.  During the dark days of a stagnant economy, a weak Canadian dollar and a polarized salary scale from the late 1990s to the middle of the 2000s, Winnipeg accepted that an NHL team would never again return.  No, the only NHL hockey for citizens of Winnipeg would have to be experienced in the Elysian Fields of their minds – only memories of former favourite heroes who gave them reason to cheer and hope for nearly a quarter century.

Those memories would always be coupled necessarily and truthfully with sorrow in the face of cold, cruel history.  The NHL in 1996 had no more room for Winnipeg, the tiniest of its clans, as the league’s inexorable push towards more profitable markets and greener pa$ture$ accelerated.  Without new local owners willing to absorb increasing debt and to ante up for exponentially-escalating player salaries and without a new rink trimmed with luxury suites, a larger seating capacity and lucrative revenue streams from merchandise and concession sales, Winnipeg discovered painfully that the big business of professional sports cares little for the passion of fans.

Thus when Winnipeggers closed their eyes and daydreamed over the last decade, they would see Hawerchuk and Selanne swiftly moving along the Elysian Fields setting rookie records, but they would also see the numb, dejected, defeated faces of thousands of citizens who thronged the streets in 1995 for the doomed “Save Our Jets” campaign.  Ultimately, the total of donated money fell well short of the new cost of doing business and Winnipeg NHL hockey fell dormant when the Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996.

But those memories became more vivid in recent years, in starts and stops, in outlandish rumours and court reports.  Would the former Jets-now Coyotes be repatriated back to Winnipeg?  Preposterous!  What about the civil war among the hapless Atlanta ownership group?  Might that force a sale … to Winnipeg?  Stop dreaming.  Yet there it was, at the end of May when the cosmic tumblers did click into place – a rejuvenated economy, a small but relatively new arena, a hard salary cap and a strong Canadian dollar – and the NHL announced for real, that the Thrashers had been sold to Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment.

Despite the season-ticket drive that lasted literally, fifteen minutes before the goal was reached and the ratification of the sale and franchise transfer by the league’s Board of Governors in late June, the confirmation of the name “Jets” and the unveiling of the logo and sweater, the return of NHL hockey still didn’t seem real until skates hit the ice last Sunday and that indescribable roar from the deprived, patiently-waiting crowd filled the rink.

Oh, there will be grumbling about player performance, coaching decisions, parking fees and the taste of arena food sooner than one may think, as the city re-acclimatizes to top-level hockey.  But for one day in Winnipeg, the long dormant Elysian Fields stirred to life and the heroes and memories that rested patiently, biding their time, smiled as their successors glided onto the Rink of Dreams.

It’s common at this time of year, with the trade deadline right around the corner, to expect the rumor mill to go into overdrive, so it’s to be expected some pretty wacky rumors are going to float around.

And then there’s the rumors which are, to be blunt, friggin’ stupid.

I don’t know how the following rumor got started – supposedly it originated from a Montreal sports radio station but I’ve found nothing to substantiate it – but it’s garnered a life of its own this past week.

The rumor had the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks working on a multi-player deal, the centerpiece being forward Bobby Ryan headed to Montreal for Mike Cammalleri.

No, that’s not a misprint.

Now when I first heard this one earlier in the week I quickly dismissed it and never gave it another thought, but by Thursday it was still kicking around, with several readers e-mailing me to ask if I’d heard about it and my thoughts on its validity.

Folks, I understand there’s been an unusually high number of trades this month leading up to the deadline, several of them actual “hockey trades” which didn’t involve teams dumping free agents for draft picks, but actual player-for-player deals.

But one shouldn’t lose their common sense either.

Seriously, Bobby Ryan for Mike Cammalleri? Why in heaven’s name would the Ducks do that deal?

Look, I realize the Canadiens are in serious need of more scoring, and I don’t doubt their management is shopping around for something to boost their offense by the trade deadline.

To seriously suggest however the Ducks would move one of their leading scorers – whom they re-signed last summer to a multi-season extension – for a winger who while talented is often hampered by injury is just ridiculous.

So as we head toward the deadline, folks, remember that if a trade rumor sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is!

With just over a week to go until the February 28^th trade deadline there’s already been several notable trades which has only further stoked the rumor fires as the deadline draws nearer.

It’s also given rise to some pretty silly rumors, which is par for the course at this time of year.  Here’s a brief rundown of some of the latest.

Ales Hemsky to Dallas. The Stars are already loaded at left wing (James Neal, Brendan Morrow and Jamie Benn). They have no need to acquire Hemsky.

Marek Zidlicky to the Rangers. He may have been a draft pick of the Rangers ten years ago but he’s not going back to help them at the trade deadline. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has said he won’t be a seller but rather a buyer if possible at the trade deadline.

Brent Seabrook to Vancouver. Seabrook won’t be going to the Canucks or any other team. As if the Blackhawks would ship him to their arch-rival from the Northwest Division. Chicago GM Stan Bowman has already shot down the Seabrook rumors, insisting he intends on re-sign the blueliner.

Sergei Gonchar to the Rangers. OK, I realize the Rangers have over the years earned a reputation for overpaying talent but they’ve rarely if ever taken on another team’s contract mistakes. Besides, the Blueshirts wanna leave enough cap space freed up to pursue Brad Richards in next summer’s free agent market. Can’t do that with Gonchar’s $5 million per season eating a hole in the payroll.

Ed Jovanovski to the Rangers. I’m sure whoever floated these did so because Jovocop’s a UFA this summer and he’s playing for the Coyotes, but that person hasn’t been very observant with what’s going on in Phoenix. The Coyotes are very much in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and they intend on opening contract talks with him once the sale of the team has been finalized. Oh, and he has a full no-movement clause and no desire to waive it.  His recent sidelining to a fractured orbital bone will also keep him out of the trade market.

Alex Kovalev to Montreal. The Habs already saw Kovalev’s decline in his final season in Montreal. Then-GM Bob Gainey opted to go in a different direction, which current GM and former assistant Pierre Gauthier will continue.

Brad Richards to Toronto. Why would Richards, who has a “no-movement” clause, agree to be dealt from a playoff contender to a team which by their very moves over the last ten days have almost no shot at making the playoffs? Maybe – emphasis on “maybe” – Richards signs with Toronto as a UFA this summer, but he won’t accept a trade to a non-playoff club this season.

P.A. Parenteau to the Penguins. The Islanders just re-signed Parenteau to an affordable one-year deal, yet I’ve heard the suggestion he’ll “want to move on” after next season. If he wanted to move on, then why re-sign with the Isles when he was going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and could’ve moved on then? Sorry, doesn’t make sense. The Penguins would probably love to land him but he’s staying on the Island because – believe it or not – he wants to stay there.

That’s it for now, though I’m sure next week will bring another treasure trove of wackiness.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net

Very few people in the world of hockey ever become as well known as the players on the ice.

Then again, there aren’t many people like Kerry Fraser either.

He’s perhaps the most recognizable referee in the history of hockey. In his 30-year career he managed to get under the skin of fans in nearly every NHL city. Yet, he was simply doing his job in most cases.

At the end of last season he hung up his whistle after more than 2,000 games all across North America. He penned a book, The Final Call, while taking those last laps in stripes. It’s a telling memoir featuring candid insight and often provides the emotion behind stories fans may not have otherwise been privy to.

In the podcast below Fraser shares some of those memories. He talks about lecturing a young Mario Lemieux and the friction it created, allowing Mark Messier a little latitude when taking care of a situation on the ice and recalls a crushed Theo Fleury asking him for help.

Of course, he also talks about several key events involving the Kings – including the non-call on Wayne Gretzky in the ’93 playoffs vs. Toronto, Marty McSorley’s illegal stick in the Stanley Cup Finals, coach Tom Webster throwing a stick at him and quite a bit more.

He shares the experiences of receiving death threats, contemplates rule changes and offers opinions on calling penalties in the final minutes of play.

Like many MayorsManor interviews, we also play word association and you may not believe what he has to say about guys like Gary Bettman, Chris Pronger, Sean Avery, Patrick Roy and several others. The most shocking though may be his comments on Alex Ovechkin.

Take a listen to the podcast here.

Enjoy!

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119 
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

MayorsManor Podcast featuring Ian Laperriere

Interview with Marcel Dionne

Interview with Luc Robitaille

twitter.com/PenguinsMarchHockey Independent on Facebook

At the 58th NHL All Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina yesterday afternoon, Team Lidstrom/Penguins’ starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was, as expected, abandoned by his defencemen and humiliated, giving up the first 4 goals of the game on the first 9 shots he faced.  Meanwhile Team Staal/Penguins’ defenceman Kris Letang flourished, scoring twice on 3 shots.  His first goal made the game 6-4 when he snapped the puck from the high slot over the blocker of Anaheim netminder Jonas Hiller to complete a great triangular passing play with Alex Ovechkin and Daniel Sedin.  His second goal gave Team Staal its last lead, 8-7, when he found the puck just above the crease and whipped it by Boston’s Tim Thomas.

Opportunities to cheer, indeed.

It struck me this afternoon that the All Star Game is really a vehicle for fans in every pocket of the continent to cheer for their favourite “home team” players, exhorting them to create one fleeting memorable moment on a nationally televised stage.  Quite likely, Shea Weber, Rick Nash, David Backes and Erik Karlsson will not be seen on national television again this season but for one afternoon, their fans in Nashville, Columbus, St. Louis and Ottawa cheered when these All Stars touched the puck.

In the same way that this writer applauded in Toronto concurrently with fans in Pittsburgh and wherever else Penguins’ fans are found when Letang scored his two goals, no one will forget the enthusiasm written on the faces of the Carolina crowd and their prolonged cheers when Hurricanes’ captain Eric Staal tied the score 7-7 on an early third period breakaway goal.  They roared again with 34 seconds left in the game when his second goal pulled Team Staal to within one of Team Lidstrom.

My version of Team Lidstrom went head-to-head against Team Staal, captained by fellow blogger Jana Kimmel. We drafted players on Saturday morning. Adrian won 25-14. Jana immediately called for a rematch in the 2012 All Star Game.

It is incidental that Staal’s second marker was the final goal of the game and his squad fell 11-10 to Team Lidstrom.  Rather, each hockey fan will remember one or more frozen moments likely related to a favourite player.  Nashville will remember Weber’s 4 assists, +6 and his mano-a-mano with Zdeno Chara in the Hardest Shot contest on Saturday.  Los Angeles will remember the slick stick-handling and moves of Anze Kopitar who scored twice.  Colorado will remember Matt Duchene’s game-tying breakaway goal in the first period and will hiss at the memory of Alex Ovechkin throwing his stick at Duchene’s stick in the third to avert another breakaway, producing the first-ever All Star Game penalty shot.

Dallas will remember Loui Eriksson scoring the winning goal into an empty net to complete a 2-goal, 2-assist performance though perhaps no one outside Texas noticed.  After all, Eriksson was named the “most underrated player” in an NHLPA poll disclosed on Sunday.  Still other fans will remember other moments.  Boston will remember the oddity and long odds of Tim Thomas becoming the first goaltender to win three straight All Star Games.  When Team Lidstrom scored its second goal, the puck went from Duncan Keith to Patrick Kane to Dustin Byfuglien – two Blackhawks to a Thrasher.  But while Atlanta was cheering for that goal, scored by its lone All Star, fans in Chicago were simultaneously smiling and saying to each other, “Remember last spring …”

Long after the All Star logos are removed from the RBC Center in Raleigh, these memories will remain.  Two decades from now, there will be a Carolina resident who will point to yesterday’s game as the day when a lifelong passion for hockey was ignited and will describe in great detail the play that created Staal’s breakaway goal.  The enthusiasm will be identical to the Pittsburgher who can recall Mario Lemieux’s four-goal game on home ice at the All Star Game in 1990 or an Edmontonian who can bittersweetly remember Wayne Gretzky returning to Northlands Coliseum in 1989 as an All Star, wearing a Los Angeles Kings’ sweater.

Further: Ray Bourque scoring in the final minute before his home Boston crowd to lift the Eastern All Stars over the West in 1996 and the following year, Shark Owen Nolan bringing the house down in San Jose when he pointed at the net before firing the puck past Dominik Hasek to complete a hat trick.  Dany Heatley scoring 5* goals in a losing cause in 2003 at Florida – a record-tying 4 goals in regulation then one more in the first-ever All-Star shootout.

Ultimately, the score of these Games are meaningless.  The All Star Game exists for one reason: to create moments that are memorable and indelible.

Another week, another round of Jarome Iginla trade rumors.

Yes, despite the insistence by GM Jay Feaster he won’t trade Iginla or the latter’s claim he doesn’t want a trade, some folks persist in keeping the Flames captain in the rumor mill.

To paraphrase Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part 3: Just when we think Iginla’s name is out of the rumor mill, some rumormongers drag it back in!

First up, Dominic Perilli of The Bleacher Report, citing a WFAN 660 report from “Incarcerated Bob” claiming the NY Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers were interested in landing Iginla.

Then there’s Adam Strickland of Truehockey.com, citing sources claiming the Montreal Canadiens plan on making a strong push for Iginla and have notified the Flames of their intent.

Now it’s possible those three clubs might’ve contacted Feaster to see if there had been any change in Iginla’s availability, though I have my doubts since they’d have to clear at least $7.5 million in cap space to fit him into their respective lineups, which ain’t easy to do at this time of year.

There’s also the little matter of Iginla’s “no-movement” clause, meaning folks shouldn’t assume he’d want to play for an Eastern-based team, or if so, that he’d want to play for either of those three.

Finally, there’s the fact the Flames, after months mired in 14^th overall in the Western Conference, have caught fire of late, with points in four of their last five games, including three consecutive victories, and are now only four points out of the eighth and final playoff berth in the conference.

Iginla’s led the way for the Flames, held pointless in only 8 games stretching back to November 12^th.  Even if the Flyers, Rangers, Canadiens or any other team were actually interested in Iginla there’s no way Feaster moves him now.

The rumormongers can drag Iginla’s name into the mill all they want, but the bottom line is he’s not available and won’t be dealt this season.

The Montreal Canadiens have found themselves mired in a horrific slump since early December, dropping nine of twelve games entering the first week of January.

Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier wasted little time hitting the trade market to address the problem, acquiring offensive-minded blueliner James Wisniewski from the Islanders and shipping unhappy checking forward Maxim Lapierre to Anaheim.

It’s believed Gauthier however might not be done dealing as his club’s offensive production has dried up during that slump, managing only 15 goals.

The Fourth Period recently reported the Canadiens “were linked to Minnesota Wild right wing Martin Havlat, who is under contract for four more seasons beyond this year”, also noting Havlat has a “no-trade” clause and adding it was “unclear, at this stage, if the Wild has any interest in moving him”.

I fail to see how it would be unclear if the Wild had any interest in getting out from under a contract for an over-paid, injury-prone 29-year-old winger. If the Canadiens or any other club were seriously interested in acquiring Havlat the Wild’s management would be all over that one.

Havlat is a talented winger but his injury history makes him a risky pickup for any team. Considering his current contract – with its “no-trade” clause -  expires when he’s 34 plus the fact the Habs currently cannot afford to acquire anyone carrying an expensive deal like Havlat’s the possibility he’ll be going to Montreal by the trade deadline appears remote.

James Wisniewski: point leader on the car wreck on Long Island, yet also with a booming -18 that gives the clear indicator that despite his use, he is not meant for the top pairings. It means he was playing out of his depth. He is and was not the 2nd coming of Aucoin, despite this season’s Isles fan level of oversensitivity and complete overreaction to everything that happens now… which reappeared when he was moved.

Sorry Isles fans, fact is that his numbers would have tumbled and his plus/minus would have dipped far below -20 hitting his value. The fact the Isles got a 2nd rounder this year and a 5th round next year is a boon, not a fire sale. Maximizing value is important, especially as the kids are still showing staying power on D.

No matter what Garth says about playoffs this year, they will be doing it with the kids at the forefront. The Isles are locked into a rebuild that demands that the kids be the change agents. Therefore, any climb upward will need them to carry the reins.

It means you will not see vet flotsam, especially at horrific contracts, suddenly on the team (Rolston).

It means you will not see them hold onto players who are in the kids way, thus the moving of the Wiz….who WAS NOT, and will never be a top pairing dman.

Isles got great value here. Sorry to deflate some balloons here, but it is nothing more than smart GMing. Get max value for a guy who did well in a pinch, but still has severe and clear limitations and fit in the longterm. That is good scouting, recognition and moving of a player. You might not like it, but the Isles will not change this path where the kids lead and carry this rebuild torch…whether they continue to stutter or finally get their act together.

Wiz will be a far better fit in Montreal, where he will be used on the powerplay and at the 4-5th man spot.

That’s my take. If you look further than just the stats, and at the plus/minus and who has been performing lately, it seems very clear as to why he would be moved.

The return to North America of former NHL goalie Evgeni Nabokov has more than a few pundits and bloggers buzzing over which NHL team he might eventually sign with this season.

“Eklund” over at Hockeybuzz.com joined the fun on Monday:

“…of course Nabokov would have to clear waivers, but the Washington Capitals would be the perfect fit here…I have also heard the Hawks may have interest (if he is willing to work for very little) as well as the Panthers (if they were to move Vokoun to the Caps or Habs)”

Eklund is indeed correct in pointing out Nabokov would have to clear waivers before joining a new NHL team, and he’s not the only pundit/blogger to suggest the Capitals as a possible destination, although that was subsequently dismissed by Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau.

But the Blackhawks? Nope, they’re not in the mix for two good reasons; one, they only have $178K in available cap space, and two, young Cory Crawford is outperforming Marty Turco, who appears willing to accept a backup-mentor role. So there’s no fit in the Windy City.

The Panthers could move Vokoun this season but if they do it’ll be much, much later in the season, like closer to the February 28^th trade deadline when GM Dale Tallon would have a better chance to land a high first round pick for him.

And no, the Canadiens aren’t interested in Vokoun. Eklund keeps beating that drum but with Carey Price playing brilliantly they don’t have any need to add another starter, especially one whom they cannot afford to add to their cap space. Unless Price gets injured and sidelined for the rest of the season, ignore any chatter claiming the Habs are interested in Vokoun. They’re not. Period.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is out for the remainder of the season to a knee injury, which naturally has some observers wondering what GM Pierre Gauthier might do to address his absence.

Gauthier currently has approximately $1.069 million in available cap space but with Markov on long-term injury reserve the Habs GM can go over the salary cap by spending up to the equivalent of the blueliner’s $5.5 million salary if required to bolster his roster.

The Canadiens so far have played well during Markov’s absences, dating back to the second round of the last season’s Eastern Conference playoffs, so Gauthier isn’t in a hurry to either replace Markov or look toward addressing other roster needs.

That however hasn’t stopped speculation over potential moves Gauthier could or should make.

Toutsurehockey.com suggested Gauthier pursue Jack Johnson of the LA Kings, believing the Kings can’t afford to re-sign both he and Drew Doughty next summer when they become restricted free agents. The site recommended Gauthier offer up forward Max Pacioretty and defenseman Yannick Weber.

It’s highly unlikely the Kings will move Johnson this season but if they were it certainly wouldn’t be for two guys who’ve yet to prove themselves at the NHL level.

The Kings are in the market for an established scoring left winger, which Pacioretty isn’t, and the Habs don’t have enough of their own to offer up for Johnson.

If the Habs remain in the top four of the Eastern Conference up to the February trade deadline Gauthier could use his extra dollars to pursue a physical scoring forward, not a defenseman who’s not going to be available this season.

The Florida Panthers are once again struggling early to remain in the NHL playoff chase.

One of the few bright spots is goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who after 17 games sports an 8-8-0 record with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and two shutouts.

Vokoun obviously provides the offensively anemic Panthers a chance to win nearly every game he plays but he also might not finish this season in Florida.

The veteran netminder is in the final year of his current contract (average cap hit: $5.7 million per season) and eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. The betting is Vokoun won’t re-sign with the Panthers following this season, which naturally has given rise to speculation he could be shopped by the February 28^th trade deadline.

“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com recently jumped into the Vokoun rumor pool with the following:

“I have said this previously, but I would not be shocked if Montreal makes a play for Vokoun towards the deadline…

my source: ” There is too much right now riding on Price and a fear the Habs could get held up for Vokoun if they wait too long…However, the Sens will also be in the hunt for Vokoun.”

I would be shocked if Montreal, or Ottawa for that matter, makes a play for Vokoun.

Eklund is of the opinion the Canadiens are afraid of Price either getting hurt or tired later in the season thus affecting their playoff hopes thus forming the basis for his “source” saying the Habs have interest in Vokoun.

As for the Senators linkage that’s obviously based on Pascal Leclaire’s injury history and Brian Elliott’s inconsistency.

Even if both clubs were seriously interested in Vokoun – which I doubt – neither can afford to take on Vokoun’s salary, even later in the season, without freeing up significant cap space.

Panthers GM Dale Tallon won’t just accept castoffs or a high-priced player carrying a big contract.

Finally, there’s Vokoun’s full “no-movement” clause, which he’d have to agree to waive to facilitate any trade. Last spring he suggested he’d waive it only to go to a Cup contender, which rules out Montreal and Ottawa as potential destinations.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Vokoun is traded by February 28^th but it won’t be to the Canadiens or Senators.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net

The struggling Calgary Flames continue to be a focus in the rumor mill with pundits and bloggers wondering what moves – if any – GM Darryl Sutter can make to improve his club’s fortunes.

While last week much of the focus centered on team captain Jarome Iginla it appears this week’s new target is defenseman Robyn Regehr.

“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com suggested Regehr could be a trade target of the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres.

“Eklund” suggests the Canadiens weren’t “really in the position to go trading a D-man with size unless there is something else on the horizon”.

In other words, they wouldn’t have dealt Ryan O’Byrne to the Colorado Avalanche earlier this week without planning to replace O’Byrne with another, better physical defenseman.

Eklund doesn’t get into specifics as to why the Sabres supposedly have interest in Regehr, although the assumption would likely be the Sabres have been struggling nearly as much to keep the puck out of their own net as they have to score.

His theory as to why O’Byrne was dealt however doesn’t make sense. As TSN’s Bob McKenzie recently pointed out, O’Byrne had fallen down the Habs depth chart, and as more than one scribe has suggested, Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin had lost confidence in O’Byrne, preferring to play Alexandre Picard in the role of sixth defenseman.

For Habs GM Pierre Gauthier it was simply a matter of moving O’Byrne and getting something back in return, in this instance prospect forward Michael Bournival, rather than lose him for nothing on waivers by demoting him.

Sure, it is possible Gauthier might be considering adding a more experienced, physical blueliner, although at this point in the season, sitting atop the Northeast Division, he’s not under any pressure to do so.  It might indeed be wiser to sit on that available cap space and save it to address perhaps more serious needs (such as scoring depth at forward) later in the season.

It must be remembered Regehr has a full “no-movement” clause, meaning he has to bless any deal, and it’s a good bet he won’t approve a trade from one struggling team in Calgary to another in Buffalo.

Habs fans would probably love to see him in a Canadiens jersey but their club cannot afford his $4.02 million per season salary without giving up as much in return, and that would mean sending a scoring forward to Calgary, which the Habs also cannot afford to do.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net

Last season, the Habs took five out of the six meetings between the two teams, with the rivalry fizzling a bit as well as the Habs had a handful of new faces. Tonight marks the first meeting of the Original Six rivals this year, and for the Bruins it marks a chance to sit alone atop the Northeast Division.

Looking up and down the Habs roster though doesn’t incite the same hate it had in past years. Gone are familiar punching bags Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Mike Komirsarek and co. In six games combined last season there was one, count it, one “fight” and it featured Blake Wheeler vs. Ryan O’Byrne. Just to make that more disappointing, Ryan O’Byrne is no longer a Canadien as he was traded earlier this morning.

Hopefully tonight a new blood will begin to boil, there is no question that Montreal is still public enemy number one at the Garden, but without the hatred on the ice, the rivalry begins to fade.

Where They Stand:
Bruins – 8-3-1, 17pts, t-2nd in NE
Canadiens – 9-5-1, 19pts, 1st in NE

Bruins Leading Scorer’s:
Goals – Nathan Horton (7)
Assists – David Krejci, Mark Recchi (8)
Points – Nathan Horton (13)

Canadiens Leading Scorer’s:
Goals – Andrei Kostitsyn (6)
Assists – Tomas Plekanec (7)
Points – Tomas Plekanec (12)

Projected Lines:

Bruins

Forwards
Milan Lucic-Patrice Bergeron-Nathan Horton
Jordan Caron-Blake Wheeler-Mark Recchi
Daniel Paille-Tyler Seguin-Michael Ryder
Brad Marchand-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Defense
Zdeno Chara-Andrew Ference
Matt Hunwick-Dennis Seidenberg
Mark Stuart-Adam McQuaid

Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask

Canadiens

Forwards
Cammalleri-Plekanec-Gionta
Kostitsyn-Gomez-Lapierre
Pouliot-Halpern-Darche
Pyatt-Eller-Moen

Defense
Markov-Gorges
Gill-Subban
Hamrlik-Spacek

Goalies
Carey Price
Alex Auld

Who To Watch For:
Patrice Bergeron – Ringing the post two times Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, and once in the shootout last Saturday, Bergeron seems to be on the verge of an offensive explosion. Slotting into the first line between Horton and Lucic due to David Krejci’s absense, Bergeron seemed to gel just fine last night as the top group looked sharp as ever.

Bruins Game Notes:
- Both Michael Ryder and Gregory Campbell bring four game scoring-streaks into tonight’s contest
- Montreal’s league worst powerplay (7.8%) will be up against Boston’s league best penalty kill (90.9%)
- Tuukka Rask is still seeking his first win of the season, some horrendously bad play in front of him, and bad luck have combined to create his 0-2-1 record.

The Puck Drops At 7:00PM EST on NESN(TV) and 98.5 The Sports Hub(Radio)

Boston Bruins Video(s) Of The Day

This first video comes to us once again from BostonBsProductions

Click here to view the embedded video.

The second video is from the ever-popular dafoomie

Click here to view the embedded video.

One month into this season and so far Montreal Canadiens starting goalie Carey Price has silenced his critics with a solid performance, going 6-4-1 with a 2.44 GAA, a .910 SP with one shutout.

Another netminder who’s also off to a good start is Tomas Vokoun of the Florida Panthers, going 4-4-0 with a 2.37 GAA, a sparkling .920 SP and two shutouts.

Vokoun is an unrestricted free agent next summer and it’s widely assumed the Panthers could put him on the block if they’re out of the playoff race by the February 28^th trade deadline.

“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com not only believes Vokoun could be a major rental player by the deadline, but the Canadiens might consider targeting him:

Tomas Vokoun’s play against the Canadiens the other night may have been an “audition” of sorts. Like many teams, the Canadiens have some contingency plans, and one of which centers around: “What would happen should Price go cold or get injured.” A source told me the first call would be to Florida for Vokoun.

What would happen if Price goes cold is veteran backup Alex Auld will see more playing time, and if Price gets injured not only will Auld get more playing time but they’ll also call up a backup from the minors.

Vokoun’s play against Montreal was “an audition”?  Gee, and here I thought it was a veteran goaltender in a contract year providing a solid performance for a rebuilding club which needs all the wins it can get this season.

Perhaps the assumption for this rumor is based on Montreal drafting Vokoun in the 9^th round of the 1994 draft, only to lose him to Nashville in the 1998 expansion draft.

The Canadiens main issues are finding a scoring winger for the Gomez-Gionta line and bolstering their blueline depth. They’re not worried about their goaltending at the present time, and if Price grows cold or gets hurt they’ll look to within because they lack the cap space (currently just over $800k) to pursue Vokoun or anyone else of significance.

And then there’s the little matter of Vokoun’s “no-movement” clause. He was on record last spring saying he’d waive it only to go to a Cup contender.

That doesn’t bode well for any real or imagined “plans” of the Canadiens to try to land him at the trade deadline.

Besides, if the Panthers are in playoff contention by that point they won’t move Vokoun. This is a franchise desperate to make the playoffs, just as its previous ownership was desperate two seasons ago when Jay Bouwmeester was an impending UFA. Lots of folks incorrectly assumed the Panthers would shop him by the trade deadline.



Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net

twitter.com/spectorshockey

While there may have been a few players that others graded and ranked differently, fans and readers generally consented on what this team’s line-up would look like, in terms of skaters, and where they played, from best to “worst”. The top six is going to look exactly the same as it did for the most part last season. The defense has been set since last year’s playoffs. And plus or minus a couple of rookies, the 3rd and 4th lines have also been basically set in stone.

The same could be said about what’s left of this team’s goaltending heading into October. The difference, however, between this team’s goaltender and skating players is that GM Pierre Gauthier has really left us no choice but to accept Carey Price as the Canadiens’s starting goaltender.

Through a series of moves that saw Jaroslav Halak leave town for St. Louis, Cedrick Desjardins join pretty much half the organization in Tampa Bay, and Alex Auld sign a contract with the Canadiens, Carey Price has been handed the keys to the organization and sole ownership of the nets at the Bell Centre.

While Price didn’t exactly have a bad season in 2009-10, once you really look at the way he played and beyond the stats, anyway, he was often the source of criticism from fans and media members alike, culminating on a night where he was booed after a game at the Bell Centre in which he was named the 3rd star. Even Jacques Martin, who will have no choice but to go with Price as the season starts, had a surprise reaction that gave us one of his most memorable quotes from this past season:

“I respect the fans. They pay good dollars to be entertained and they have a right to an opinion. As a professional athlete, or a coach, you have to work within the framework. Sure I’d like to see better results (for Price), as he would. At the same time, I can’t say we lost the game because of him.”

Martin and the team ended up more or less giving up on Price after this incident. March 31st was the last time Price saw regular season action, and the four (of 19) games which saw him take the ice during the playoffs were only in relief of Jaroslav Halak. The team in front of Price had long given up on their goaltender as well, and the fans were quick to jump on the Jaroslav Halak bandwagon early in 2010, if not sooner, despite multiple attempts from the media and blogs to quell the nastiness that had developed from this “goalie controversy” throughout the season. Some of the best work on the subject can be found at Habs Eyes on the Prize by writer Chris Boyle, who put together some excellent comparisons between the two tenders through December 2009, before the Halak tidal wave made certain that Price wouldn’t stand a chance.

For the record, I’m not taking a side in the whole Price vs. Halak debate here. Frankly, I’m not even going to bother giving either goaltender a grade or rank them, as there would be no point. There will be plenty of comparisons, plenty of blogs, criticisms and comments about Price throughout the season. As someone who will likely read most of these criticisms, I hope that the rational fans can keep Halak out of the comparisons. For better or for worse, Jaroslav Halak is gone, and Carey Price will be this team’s starting goaltender. No amount of complaining will bring Halak back, so all we can do is hope that Price will regain his form and become the goaltender we have all expected from him since the beginning.

So I plead with the readers. If you’re going to criticize Price, criticize him and judge him on his own stats, his own merits, his own performance, and not based on what Jaroslav Halak or any other goaltender is doing around the league, with different teams, different coaching stats and different fans.

All of this, of course, hinges on when and for what Carey Price signs with the Habs…

————————–
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS: WHAT’S THE HOLD UP?

The closest thing to an update on Carey Price’s contract negotiations since the season ended in Philadelphia has been the following quote from his agent, Gerry Grossman, taken from Habs Inside/Out:

(The two sides) are not necessarily close, but it’s not that we’re not close in a bad way. We’re having good conversations and we both are committed to getting things done.

Look who’s here?

Jarred Tinordi must have had a conversation with Louis Leblanc this past week.

The Canadiens’ 1st round pick in this past June’s draft will be leaving Notre-Dame of the NCAA to join the OHL team that held his rights, the London Knights.

Tinordi was selected 22nd overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, with the Canadiens even trading to move up in the draft and select him. Add to this the relentlessness of Mark and Dale Hunter in bringing Tinordi to the OHL, and you can tell that there is something special about this young defenseman.

Son of Mark Tinordi, defenseman in the 80s and 90s for the Rangers, Capitals, North Stars and Stars when they moved to Dallas – where he was captain for four seasons – Tinordi’s profile speaks for itself:

- 6’6″ frame, which would make him one of the tallest players in hockey.
- 205 lbs, which will definitely go up another 20-30 lbs by the time he makes the NHL.
- Captain of the Under 18 national team in the United States.
- Solid defensively, good skater and a tough guy who uses his size.

To call him the next “Mike Komisarek” of the Canadiens’ organization (the good parts about Mike Komisarek) may be an understatement. In London, he instantly becomes a star and a major part of a team that will definitely compete in the OHL and CHL this upcoming season. The move also means that Tinordi’s development will accelerate, basically guaranteeing that he will turn pro in 2012 when he turns 20.

Under the leadership of General Manager Mark Hunter and notorious former-NHLer Dale Hunter as head coach, on a team that has produced a plethora of NHLers, Tinordi is definitely in good hands.

“He’s the kind of player who will make a huge difference for us,” said Dale Hunter to the Toronto Sun. “He’s big, mobile. He can skate and jump into the play. He’s got great character. “We’re going to encourage him to jump into the play. We needed that last year and we’ll be doing it a lot more this year.”

Hunter was roommates with Jarred’s father Mark while they both played in Washington, which only adds to the pros of Tinordi’s move North. The connection with Hunter will only benefit his development.

As mentioned above, the move marks the second Habs’ first round choice in as many weeks to make the jump from the NCAA to the CHL. Last week, after months of rumors and speculation 2009 1st round draft pick Louis Leblanc left Harvard for the Montreal Junior, where he will be the team’s highest profile player, a local boy with drawing ability and talent that will vastly help the Junior establish themselves as a legitimate sports team in the Montreal area. It will also allow Leblanc to re-familiarize himself with the city of Montreal, find out what it’s like to play an 80 game hockey schedule, and of course, get used to the pressures of playing in a hockey market such as this city.

Tinordi may not have the exact same experience in London. He will not put up as many points, and it is doubtful he will be as big a centerpiece of the team as Leblanc will be made out to be in Montreal. While he will be a star, it won’t near the attention Leblanc will receive in the city – commercials are already being pumped out into Montreal airwaves advertising Leblanc and the Junior. Moreover, the Knights are an established franchise with a fanbase, so he might not be as important to the business aspect of the team. But he will definitely have a major impact on the ice, which is why the Hunters went hard after him to leave Notre-Dame. His development will be just as important to the Knights as using him to win games will be, so Habs fans can rest assured that Tinordi is in good, experienced hands.

Almost as importantly, Habs fans will get much more chances to watch Tinordi play. Not only are OHL broadcasts more accessible than NCAA broadcasts, Tinordi will now be able to participate in any camps the Canadiens put up until he is pro-ready.

Tinordi does, however, leave behind a good CCHA team in the Notre-Dame Fighting Irish, with a good coach in Jeff Jackson. His loss will leave a major dent in the Fighting Irish’s line-up. However, with most experts and talking heads predicting Tinordi to be NHL-ready in as soon as two years, this was the right move for both the prospect and the Montreal Canadiens, who see the stock of their prize 1st round selection rise significantly on this August day.

And not to toot my own horn here, but a certain someone predicted that the Canadiens would pick Tinordi before the draft.

But I digress.

While the Montreal Canadiens of 2010-11 may not look like the best Habs’ team in their 100+ year history, the future certainly looks bright. With Leblanc, Tinordi, Subban, Dumont, Avtsin and others will on their way, and a good core of players already in Montreal, Habs fans definitely have a future they can be hopeful of.

With the season getting ever-closer, our Off-Season Analysis will continue later this week and in the coming days of August. Until the next installment on the defensemen, read the following two articles on the forwards and post your comments:

- Off-Season Analysis: The Top Six Forwards
- Off-Season Analysis: The Forwards – Best Of The Rest

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

While the players you normally see the most of are the one who score a lot of goals, the ones who put up the most points and the ones who make the most money, they are often the ones who are overrated, over-paid and over-hyped. Every team has players in this category, and the Montreal Canadiens are no different.Last week, we ranked the top-six forwards for the Habs in this past season, and looked at what might be expected of them as 2010-11 quickly approaches.

And the list definitely held a few names that, if ranked top to bottom with all the other forwards who saw time on the ice with the Canadiens this past season, might not end up being in the top 6 overall best forwards for the Habs. Instead, guys like Benoit Pouliot and Andrei Kostitsyn simply fall onto this team’s top six because, let’s face it, they would be even more useless in any other position.

The moment that Pouliot was demoted off Scott Gomez’s line last year, he regressed, scoring not a single goal in the final month of the regular season, and not a single goal during the playoffs either. Andrei Kostitsyn didn’t spend much time away from Tomas Plekanec or Mike Cammalleri, but took way too much time to get used to the groove of playing in the NHL, the travel, the schedule, what have you.

So, are these two players amongst the top 6 best forwards on the team? By no means. But unfortunately, their roles prohibit them from being ranked as anything other than scoring forwards.

The truth is that there is much more to a team than icing two lines that can score many goals. Over the years, the great hockey minds of our times have decided that teams are best served icing 20 players, usually 12 of them being forwards. Of course, the top lines are the ones expected to put goals in the net, but what do we expect of the other two lines? The often mis-represented “third” and “fourth” lines, or the “bottom” two lines, as we have unfortunately gotten too comfortable in saying.

Usually, what is expected of some of these players is defensive prowess. Many of the best defensive forwards and penalty killers end up playing on the 3rd and 4th lines as they don’t put as many goals into the net, and their ice time revolves around the defensive situations they might be needed in.

Most teams will also have one or two rookies or young players playing on these lines, surrounding by a veteran presence to help their development, hone their skills and get them used to the NHL before they maybe move to a more prominent role. Finally, there are the “plugs” that some teams use to fill out their roster, provide energy, and give the stars a rest when they’re playing too much.

These three or four aspects of a team’s non-scoring lines are generally what comprise a roster’s “bottom” two lines, and it’s fairly representative of what we saw of the Canadiens this past year, and what we’ll see come October.

In fewer words, while these lines will certainly include “plugs” and temporary players, some of the more prominent players on these lines are indispensable to a team’s success. The Habs’ Travis Moen is living proof of that, proving himself to be a deciding factor in the Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup victory in 2007 on a line with Sammi Pahlsson and Rob Neidermayer, a line which coach Randy Carlyle kept intact through basically 103 games, through the season and the playoffs on the road to the cup. Pahlsson was nominated for a Selke to go along with his cup ring, and the line was credited as one of the main reasons for the Ducks cup victory.

Do the Canadiens 3rd and 4th lines stack up against the good checking and energy lines around the league? Do the Habs have what it take to ice a group of forwards as good as the one that took them to the Conference Finals last year? It’s hard to say. Yes, their 19 playoff games wouldn’t have been achieved without the Travis Moens, the Max Lapierres of the team that are still here, however since the playoffs, the Canadiens have lost two veteran forwards that were big keys to that success, through both the season, and the playoffs: Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore. And while they may no longer don the Canadiens’ historic jersey, they were much bigger parts of this team than they were given credit for, and deserve their own grades:

Glen Metropolit scored 16 goals and added 13 assists for 29 points in 69 names, despite suffering several injuries throughout the season and a shoulder injury in the playoffs that most thought meant the end of his season, maybe even his career. Keep in mind this 36 year old played most of the season in Jacques Martin’s doghouse and on the 4th line, ending the season with an average of just over 13 ½ minutes of ice time. The most impressive stat? Ten of his 16 goals were on the powerplay. One can understand why the coaching staff and management would want to try and groom a younger player in Metropolit’s spot, but is there a young player in this organization that can step in and provide the secondary offense that Metropolit did, against all the odds? Whether there is or not, Metro was a class act, a hard working and tough player who gave more to this team than could have ever been asked of him.
2009-10 Grade: A

Next, I was never a big fan of Dominic Moore. He always struck me as somewhat of a selfish player, ever since he tried to use the Leafs to cash in on a big contract. So you can imagine my reaction when I found out that the Canadiens traded a 2nd round pick to the Panthers for a player no one really wanted. Losing a 2nd round pick for a 3rd line rental still kind of stings, but Moore was admittedly a nice surprise. Through 21 games as a Hab, Moore didn’t score many goals (2), but he produced points at more than a .500 rate and remained defensively responsible. He really shined in the playoffs, scoring 4 goals, including a game winner, and really helping the team. Although he doesn’t really fit in with this team’s plans, it would have been nice to see him stick around.
2009-10 Grade: B+

Three other players to leave the Montreal Canadiens through trade and firing (buyout) were Sergei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresseand Georges Laraque. Many blogs, many articles, much discussion and way too much time has been wasted discussing these two fringe forwards who were nothing but a nuisance to the Canadiens the time they spent here. All there is to say, really, is good riddance, and to anyone disagreeing with the following ranking, keep in mind that if these three deserved any better, they would not have been so unceremoniously traded (respectively) for two free agents, a problem-child 1st round pick, and a membership in the green party and arguably the worst commercial in the history of television.
2009-10 Grade: F (and yes, that stands for a 4-letter word, followed by a 3 letter word. A TCL hat for the person who figures it out first)

—————————–

With these guys out of the way, the Canadiens still have a 3rd and 4th line to put together for next month. And while it may be hard to replace Metropolit and Moore internally, the Canadiens still have a plethora of young and experienced forwards that will make building two lines hard for all the good reasons.

That being said, here is our list of the forwards ranked 7 to 12 for the Canadiens in this past season, followed by some honorable mentions, and, finally, some new arrivals to look out for as the next season approaches:

———————————
7. TRAVIS MOEN
2009-10: 81GP – 8G – 11A – 19PTS – -2
Playoffs: 19GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS – Even

2009-10 Season: Travis Moen missed but a single game of the 2009-10 season. The reason? He needed to get 50 stitches in his face after a puck struck him near the eye. Moen barely missed a beat upon his return two days after the incident. If that isn’t hard nosed and dedicated, I don’t know what is. A lot of people expected Moen to be this team’s new fighter, the tough guy, or something of that nature. Clearly, he was a lot more than a just tough guy, ending up being a very important part of this team’s 3rd line.

Outside of the 2006-07 season, in which Moen won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks and scored a career high 11 goals, this past year was Moen’s best in the NHL. Eight goals may not seem like much, and frankly, half of them were bunched up fairly early in the season, but Moen provided more than just secondary offense. He was second on the team with 161 hits, second amongst forwards with 51 blocked shots, and seldom gave up any pucks. He averaged nearly 2 ½ minutes per game on the penalty kill, nearly 20% of his total ice time.

There really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to Travis Moen, but considering some of the injuries suffered by the Habs and the fact that he often found himself in a more prominent role when the Canadiens were facing tough injuries, he could have put up a few more points. Otherwise, he was all you could have asked for from a 3rd line player.
2009-10 Grade: A-.

2010-11 Expectations: Considering the Canadiens gave up two veteran forwards who can jump up and play on a top 2 line with injuries, and Moen’s connection with Gionta and Gomez in the playoffs, you can expect Moen to see more ice time on a top line if there are injuries, or if things don’t work out with Pouliot. That being said, Moen will have to provide a bit more offense if he expects his expanded role on the team to last. Otherwise, if he continues doing what he does best in his checking role, he should do fine. Ten goals and another 12-15 assists for about 22-27 points is what should be expected. Moreover, it would be nice if he could up his hits to about 200 for the season, a 40-hit improvement over last season.

———————————
8. MATHIEU DARCHE
2009-10: 29GP – 5G – 5A – 10PTS – +2
Playoffs: 11GP – 0G – 1A – 1PTS – -1

2009-10 Season: No one here is going to tell you that Mathieu Darche isn’t a 4th liner in this league, despite the one season he was lucky to play alongside Vinnie Lecavalier in Tampa Bay two years ago. But over the last few months, Darche has proven to be quite a fine 4th liner. An experienced veteran who’s played in many leagues and many cities, Darche has a chip on his shoulder and the desire to make it in the NHL any way he can. Last season, he proved his worth to the Habs, scoring 5 goals in only 29 games, and adding another 5 assists. The most interesting stat? Three of his goals in the regular season were game winners.

All this while averaging only 10 minutes of ice time, and receiving only the occasional shift on the powerplay. His grade drops, unfortunately, because of his disappearance in the playoffs, but his versatility, his offensive upside and his owning-the-moment attitude have earned him a B rating and another year with the Canadiens.
2009-10 Grade: B.

2010-11 Expectations: Keep doing what you’re doing, Darche. No one will expect him to score at the same pace he did in 29 games last year, but if he can provide anywhere between 5 to 10 goals and another 10-15 assists, he will have once again earned himself a contract. That being said, on October 7th against the Leafs, he starts the season in the pressbox. Call it a hunch.

———————————
9. MAXIM LAPIERRE
2009-10: 76GP – 7G – 7A – 14PTS – -14
Playoffs: 19GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS – -2

2009-10 Season: Love him or hate him, Maxim Lapierre is the closest thing to a hometown hero this team has, and with Guillaume Latendresse and a lot of experienced forwards having left town, he is here to stay, and he will have a prominent role on this team right out of training camp.

Lapierre had a roller coaster season this past year, a season which included the loss of his best friend on the team in Latendresse via trade, a 4 game suspension and a heavy amount of criticism. His 7 goals, 14 points and -14 rating were a far cry from the career season he had last year (15G – 13A – 28PTS – +9), but Lapierre still managed to somehow lead the team in hits in both the regular season and playoffs, all culminating in a very memorable game 6 game-winning-goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre, forcing a game 7 and even getting Lapierre his own commercial.
2009-10 Grade: C+.

2010-11 Expectations: Overall, you can’t be too disappointed with Lapierre’s performance. The hits are about as much as you can ask of him, but considering his role on the team, and, again, the recent decrease in depth in this role, he will definitely need to step his game up, offensively. No excuses now, no distractions, 15 goals is the expectation. And if he can’t achieve this pace early in the season, if he has another slow start, the Canadiens will have Dustin Boyd and a plethora of young talent to take his spot. With free agency once again looming for Lapierre in 2011, the pressure will be for the Saint-Leonard native.

———————————
10. TOM PYATT
2009-10: 40GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS – -5
Playoffs: 18GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS – -1

2009-10 Season: Tom Pyatt was an after-thought of the Scott Gomez trade. Like most major trades of this nature, GMs often ask for a low-ranked prospect to be “thrown in” to make a deal a little more savoury, or in the case of this particular deal with the Rangers from last year, easier to swallow. Most fans kind of laughed at Tom Pyatt last summer, asking themselves who this player was, after lamenting the addition of Scott Gomez’s salary. Somehow, however, Tom Pyatt has worked himself onto the Canadiens’ line-up, and into the heart of coach Jacques Martin.

Recalled from and sent back down to the AHL 3 times between October and March, it was hard to say what Tom Pyatt was going to be for this team. He definitely shined in Hamilton, scoring 13 goals and adding 22 assists, with a +17 ratings in 41 games with the Bulldogs. In Montreal, he was far from an offensive threat to anyone, nor did he really hit that much or block shots. But he was stable, consistent, and defensively responsible in his role on the 4th line, shining especially in the playoffs, under the pressures of the team, the coaching staff and of course, the fans. Frankly, it’s difficult to see what Pyatt brings to this team in terms of tangibles, but he’s good enough to keep around, and he’s good enough for a C rating.
2009-10 Grade: C.

2010-11 Expectations: It’s hard to know what to expect of Tom Pyatt next season. Will he replace a Dominic Moore type of player, or will he remain on the 4th line as a mostly even strength energy-slash-shutdown guy? Will he become a pivot for the 1st or second line with injuries, or is he simply there to be Jacques Martin’s work horse? Only time will tell, but he definitely needs to hit more, and try to put up a few more goals, around the 8 that Moen did last year. Expect him to start on the 4th line, barring any setbacks at camp.

———————————
11. RYAN WHITE
2009-10: 16GP – 0G – 2A – 2PTS – -6
Playoffs: N/A

2009-10 Season: Although we only got a glimpse of Ryan White this past season, I have to say that I was impressed with what I saw. Only 2 points in 16 games and a -6 rating, but White had an impressive 47 hits in those games, and provided energy for the Habs on nearly every shift. The Canadiens ran out of call-ups as the season came to a close, so they couldn’t bring him up, but frankly, the extra experience he received playing an important role in the Bulldogs own Cinderella run in the AHL playoffs may be a blessing in disguise. If I had to bet, I’d say that White will work his way into a spot on the roster at training camp. And while his grade maybe a little higher than some of the players above him, he drops to number 12 on the chart simply due to the fact that he played the least amount of games.
2009-10 Grade: C+.

2010-11 Expectations: White held a pace of nearly 3 hits per game this past season, a figure that would put him at 250 hits if he played the entire season in Montreal. If he wants to stay here, that should be his goal. That, and of course, scoring at least his first NHL goal! While some may consider it a long shot, I would like White to start the season on the 4th line with Tom Pyatt and Dustin Boyd, giving the Canadiens a proper 4th line, with lots of youth, enthusiasm, and energy.

———————————
12. MAX PACIORETTY
2009-10: 52GP – 3G – 11A – 14PTS – -5
Playoffs: N/A

2009-10 Season: Unlike players like Darche, White and Pyatt, Max Pacioretty actually played himself out of Montreal last season. There were high expectations for the young American forward after he left the CCHA in 2008 to turn pro and play for the Canadiens, but after a decent 2008-09 season in which he scored 3 goals and 8 assists in 34 games, he kind of floundered. It was hard to figure out what exactly was expected of Pacioretty this past season. His frame and his pedigree imply more offensive prowess, and of course Jacques Martin and his staff expect their young players to be defensively responsible. But looking back on his season, I really can’t recall Pacioretty doing anything “wrong”. I can understand that he didn’t do much right either, that he was just kind of there, so hopefully the 18 games he spent in Hamilton were a wake-up call. As far as his 2009-10 season goes, Pacioretty receives a modest and average C-.
2009-10 Grade: C-.

2010-11 Expectations: It’s safe to say Pacioretty will get another chance this upcoming season, barring any major setbacks at training camp. If I had to guess, I’d say he starts the season on a line with Maxim Lapierre and Travis Moen, as the Habs checking line. If this ends up being the case, Pacioretty will need to at least double his production from last year if he expects to stick around: 6 goals, 20 assists is the minimum, assuming he gets the occasion chance on the powerplay and a top line. Hopefully, the guidance of Max Lapierre and Travis Moen will allow him to produce a little more and finally break out.

———————————
BEST OF THE REST

- David Desharnais only played 6 games with the big club last year, registering 1 assist, but the 23 year old Montreal native did not look out of place in a Habs uniform (cue jokes about his 5’7” height). I doubt he starts the season in Montreal, but expect him to be called up with some of the first injuries.

- Ben Maxwell saw a lot of the Canadiens’ pressbox this past season, but it also means he saw and participated in a lot of practices. Its hard to gauge where he stands with the Habs. The staff obviously has enough faith in him to keep him around the team. But does that rather mean that he doesn’t fit into long term plans with the Habs, and that his development doesn’t really matter, or that he is expected to make the team this year?

———————————
NEW ARRIVALS

There are several players that will certainly crack the line-up of the Canadiens this upcoming season, and several others who are on the shortlist:

- Dustin Boyd was acquired by the Canadiens before free agency in exchange for Sergei Kostitsyn. Despite being his 3rd team in a year, the Habs definitely acquired Boyd to start on their roster, and will take a spot on one of the bottom two lines, likely centering the 4th.

- The other trade that saw the Canadiens acquire a forward was the Jaroslav Halak deal, which, of course, brought Lars Eller to Montreal as the centerpiece of the deal. Whether Eller makes the Habs out of training camp is anyone’s guess. Considering the logjam of 3rd-4th line forwards on the team, and the nature and expense of the players in the top six, Eller might be best served biding his time in Hamilton before getting called up for a 1st or 2nd line assignment down the line, if a spot opens up. That being said, I would nearly guarantee that he eventually wears the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge, at the very least to try and justify trading Jaroslav Halak for prospects.

- Ian Shultz was the other player acquired in the Halak deal. At 20 years old, coming off four years with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, Shultz is nearly guaranteed to start in Hamilton. However, if the likes of Pacioretty, Pyatt or White don’t pan out in their roles, and Shultz has a good start with the Dogs, he could very well find himself being one of the first call-ups.

- Surprisingly, Gabriel Dumont has fallen off a lot of people’s radars as a potential Canadiens’ forward for this upcoming season. Coming off a great run with Drummondville of the QMJHL, where he scored 93 points and ranked 3rd in scoring in the league this past year, Dumont could have an outside chance of impressing at camp and making the team. In all likelihood, he’ll start in Hamilton, as the Canadiens have made the mistake of mismanaging their player development too many times in the past. But keep an eye on Dumont, as his development has been progressing fairly well.

- Alexander Avtsin is another player to get excited about if you’re a Habs fan. There is far more good to say about him than there is bad, and the 19 year old recently made the decision to sign a pro contract with the Canadiens. The implication is, of course, that Avtsin will play for the Bulldogs, but like Dumont, keep an eye on this one.

- Finally, we have to mention Louis Leblanc. He will definitely start the season with the Montreal Junior, but with injuries and the fact that he’s eligible to play pro, unlike most 19-year-old Canadian prospects, thanks to his time in the NCAA, you never know…

While the 12 forwards the Canadiens are likely to start with might not look as impressive as one would have hoped, coming off a final 4 run in this past year’s playoffs, there is much more hope for the team than some fans might give credit for, through the acquisitions that have been made and some of the up-and-coming players. Maybe none of them beyond Dustin Boyd make the team. Maybe the 12-14 players ranked above is what the Canadiens are going to be stuck with as the season starts. But Habs fans can at least take solace in the fact that there is some hope down in the farm.

As it stands today, barring any other acquisitions, my prediction for the Habs opening line-up up front is as follows:

Benoit Pouliot – Scott Gomez – Brian Gionta
Andrei Kostitsyn – Tomas Plekanec – Mike Cammalleri
Travis Moen – Maxim Lapierre – Max Pacioretty
Tom Pyatt – Dustin Boyd – Ryan White

Pressbox: Mathieu Darche

Do you agree or disagree? Please let me know in the comments, and provide your own rankings and depth chart!

And in the coming days, expect an analysis of the defensive corps before we get to the goaltenders and coaching staff.

Enjoy the week,

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

In anticipation of the season to start, or frankly, for anything hockey-related to happen, it’s time to slowly start to get back into the groove of things. Reading about hockey, writing about hockey, and of course, eventually, watching hockey.

As the anticipation for the upcoming season looms, it’ll start to get easier. But for now, I’m sure most of us just want this BORING month of August to come and go, so we can get into September and start thinking about training camp!

Well, as a hockey writer, it’s my duty to make the time pass a little quicker for all you fans. That’s why, throughout the next month and until training camp arrives, I will be providing you with six (that’s right, SIX!) preview blogs, detailing the top six forwards, the depth forwards (3rd, 4th liners and anyone you might see in a Canadiens uniform after the season starts), the top 4 defensemen, the depth defensemen, the coaching staff, and, finally, the goaltending.

Assuming, of course, the Canadiens have any goaltending by the time we get to that.

So, while we wait for Carey Price and the Canadiens to hammer out a contract, and while we try not to lose our minds, I present to you the first installment of our off-season analysis!

Each article will contain a short analysis of each player’s 2009-10 season and stats, a letter grade for their performance this part season, and expectations for the 2010-11 season.

Now that we have all this administrative stuff out of the way, time to jump into the Top Six Forwardsfor the Montreal Canadiens heading into the 2010-11 season, organized from best to ”worst” performance of the year.

———————————
1. MICHAEL CAMMALLERI
2009-10: 65GP – 26G – 24A – 50PTS – +7
Playoffs: 19GP – 13G – 9A – 19PTS – -6

2009-10 Season: While several players may have met or exceeded the fans’ expectations this past season, I don’t think there is anyone who can argue that Mike Cammalleri was the player who impressed us the most, both through the regular season and the Cinderella run of the Canadiens through the playoffs. Despite missing 17 games with a fairly severe MCL injury, Cammalleri managed to score 26 goals in 65 games, 2nd on the team behind Brian Gionta. Considering that Cammalleri struggled even after returning from his injury, not scoring a single goal in the 9 final season games he played for the Canadiens, adding only 2 assists, you really have to wonder what kind of numbers he would have been able to put up had he not suffered that knee injury. When you think about it, Cammalleri really scored 26 goals in 39 games, a pace that would have at least put him very close to his best career season of 39 goals with the Flames, and the top tier of the league in goals scored.

But these are of course all hypothetical thoughts. The reality is that Cammalleri scored 26 goals in 65 goals, and proved to be one of the Habs first real goalscorers since Stephane Richer nearly 2 decades ago (I know, sad). On top of this, Cammalleri further proved his worth and his ability to be a clutch player in the playoffs, where he scored 13 goals in 19 games, the most of any player this post-season. Adding 6 assists, Cammalleri was a point-per-game player and a playoff hero for the Habs.

The stat that really puts him over the top, in my opinion, is his 5-on-5 scoring. Only 4 of his season goals were on the powerplay, and only 3 of 13 in the playoffs, making him a huge threat 5-on-5, despite his smaller size and skill-oriented style of play. Considering the Canadiens major struggles to score even strength goals over the past few years, you have to consider Cammalleri as a strong candidate for Canadiens’ MVP of this past season.

2009-10 Grade: A-.
He loses some points for his injury late in the season, his struggles upon his return and the fact that Brian Gionta beat him out for the team lead in goals scored, but thanks to a courageous performance during the season and a really incredible performance during the playoffs, an A- may even be a modest grade for the Canadiens’ top sniper.

2010-11 Expectations: If he can play a full 82 game season, without injuries, 40 goals and 80 points should be the expectation for Michael Cammalleri. He has chemistry with the 2 players he’ll probably start the season with (Plekanec and Kostitsyn), and can definitely play with Gomez and Gionta if needed. With great passers like Gomez and Plekanec feeding him during the season, 40 goals shouldn’t me much of a stretch. The only thing he really needs to work on is burying the puck on the powerplay. If he can do that, his stats will definitely be nicely padded this upcoming season.

———————————
2. BRIAN GIONTA
2009-10: 61GP – 28G – 18A – 46PTS – +3
Playoffs: 19GP – 9G – 6A – 15PTS – -6

2009-10 Season: Mike Cammalleri was the talk of the town throughout the season. His exciting style of play, his passion and his kindness to the fans and the media made him a fan favorite that really got people excited in Montreal. But standing in his shadows, maybe both figuratively and literally, was Brian Gionta.

Despite breaking his foot in November, and despite his diminutive stature in a league getting bigger and tougher with each passing game, Gionta managed to come back swinging in the new year, stepping up his game, especially when Cammalleri was out with an injury of his own and helping the Canadiens squeeze into the playoffs. Gionta finished the regular season with the team lead in goals, with an impressive 28 goals in only 61 goals, the second best totals of his career, and his best since 2005-06, when he scored 48 goals with the Devils. Of course, we cannot forget that Gionta also netted 9 goals in 19 games in the playoffs, second in both goals scored and points to Mike Cammalleri.

Gionta proved to have immediate chemistry with his former Devils teammate Scott Gomez, and both embraced their roles as leaders on the Canadiens, with Gionta donning an “A” on his jersey for most of th eseason. In fact, for most, Gionta was and is the front-runner for captaincy on the team. His stats, enthusiasm towards the team and the city, and of course his general never quit and hard working attitude would definitely justify it.

2009-10 Grade: A-
Picking the top forward for the Canadiens this season was a difficult task. Both Cammalleri and Gionta had nearly identical seasons, suffering serious lower body injuries and missing a considerable portion of the season. In fact, for a fair amount of games, they shared the team lead in goals, with each matching the other nearly every time a goal was scored. Two goals in the final 3 games of the season is what finally gave the edge to Gionta.

But if you had to compare the two players, you’d have to categorize Cammalleri as a skilled player, and Gionta as a hard worker that never gives up, that works and pays the price for each goal that he scores. Add to this his leadership qualities and the examples he sets, and you can’t help but be impressed with this player.Maybe Cammalleri gains the slight edge here based on potential, and the “benefit of the doubt” he earned with his injury. But in terms of letter grades, these two surprise players for the Canadiens get an identical A-.

2010-11 Expectations: Setting expectations for Gionta in 2010-11 is kind of difficult. On one hand, you’d expect him to easily match his totals from last season. On the other hand, you have to wonder if his performance this season was slightly anomalous. Don’t get me wrong, he should easily score 20 goals next season, he’s proven that. But can he hit 30 with a full, healthy season? Or was last season a peak from which he will have to level off? In any case, if Gionta can continue to be an effective, hard working and consistent player, most fans should be satisfied with a 25-30 goal season from Gionta, for a total of about 50 points.

———————————
3. TOMAS PLEKANEC
2009-10: 82GP – 25G – 45A – 70PTS – +5
Playoffs: 19GP – 4G – 7A – 11PTS – -5

2009-10 Season: There was a long period of time during this season where Tomas Plekanec would have handily taken the #1 spot on this list. On pace for a career year and the lead in points on the team for pretty much the entire season, and obviously finishing with those very accolades when the season was in the books, Plekanec was one of the main reasons this team even stood a chance at making the playoffs this year. Finding instand chemistry with Cammalleri and keeping Andrei Kostitsyn afloat during the season, Plekanec was invaluable to the Canadiens.

When the playoffs came around, however, the so-called “Tomas Jagr” somewhat receded back into his shell. His numbers were average and he was nearly invisible as the playoffs progressed, despite Cammalleri producing at a high rate. Does this mean that Pleks is a regular-season performer? That he’s not clutch enough to be a major factor for the Canadiens in the playoffs? I don’t think we could really make a final decision on this until we see him in another playoffs, but for this season, his playoff performance drops him down to 3rd place on this list.

2009-10 Grade: B+
You can’t take much away from Tomas Plekanec. His regular season, a career season, was incredible, and frankly, as close to an A+ as you’re going to get. Plekanec was there the entire season. He didn’t miss a game, and it seemed like he was putting up points in all those games. But frankly, you can’t help but be worried after seeing his disappearance late in the playoffs. Will this carry forward into next season? Hopefully not. But the thought has to remain in the back of the heads of some Habs fans. Plekanec’s playoffs drop him an entire grade point to a B+ for his overall performance in 2009-10.

2010-11 Expectations: Plekanec’s career year led to him cashing out on a 6 year, $30 million contract. The way these things usually go means that Plekanec probably won’t have another career year this season. If he can however match his numbers from last season, putting up his seemingly yearly minimum of 20 goals, and at least 40 (preferably 50) assists, alongside a Mike Cammalleri who will score a little more often, a 60-70 point season for the Canadiens’ second line center should be more than satisfactory.

———————————
4. SCOTT GOMEZ
2009-10: 78GP – 12G – 47A – 59PTS – +1
Playoffs: 19GP – 2G – 12A – 14PTS – -6

2009-10 Season: Ya, I know, 12 goals during the season (2 during the playoffs) might not look so great for a play who makes upwards of $7 million a season. A lot of fans have quoted this exact stat as a complaint against the Canadiens’ first major acquisition in the summer of 2009. But you know what doesn’t really look so bad? 47 assists during the season, and another 12 during the playoffs.

Scott Gomez is a playmaker and a premiere puck-carrying forward in this league. When he is on the ice for the Canadiens, he commands the play. He has incredible vision on the ice, he is a hard worker and a reliable player. He won’t score very many goals, and he’ll need to put up more than 60 points to justify his contract, but his first season with the Canadiens really wasn’t that bad. We all knew what kind of player Gomez was, and what he brought to the table, and frankly, I think he delivered on what truly should have been expected of him.

2009-10 Grade: B-
I don’t want more goals from Gomez. I want more assists. And regardless of his contract situation, the performance of Scott Gomez in the 2009-10 season was more than satisfactory.

2010-11 Expectations: As I mentioned earlier in this analysis, Gomez needs to find a way to put up more assists. A full season of PK Subban on the point, of Gionta and Cammalleri healthy on the wings, and maybe of Plekanec letting off slightly from his performance last year should allow Gomez to put up a few more points. Not asking for the world here, we all know Gomez’s cap is pretty much at 55 assists, so lets see him try and strive for that. Expectations for next season will be 10 goals and 55 assists for 65 points, and to continue doing what he’s doing in terms of puck carrying and on-ice vision.

———————————
5. ANDREI KOSTITSYN
2009-10: 59GP – 15G – 18A – 33PTS – +1
Playoffs: 19GP – 3G – 5A – 8PTS – -1

2009-10 Season: To say that Andrei Kostitsyn had a less than spectacular season might be the understatement of the year. His 15 goals was the lowest of his young career. He barely recovered from the knee injury (starting to see a trend here) that kept him off the ice for 23 games. Frankly, the only reason he even made it to 15 goals is probably because of his chemistry with Plekanec, a player who makes those around him better. Kostitsyn came into this league with loads of potential, and he could still end up being an offensive powerhouse. Whether that will happen in Montreal, or anywhere at all, for that matter, is a definite question mark.

2009-10 Grade: C-
Everyone knows that Kostitsyn has trouble getting into the groove of things early in seasons and coming off of injuries, so frankly, the fact that he even made it to 15 goals is somewhat impressive, and keeps him above a D. But there isn’t much to say about the rest. Kostitsyn ends up with a generous C-.

2010-11 Expectations: Andrei Kostitsyn has no more excuses. No more distractions. His brother has been traded to the western conference. He gets another chance with the Habs in the last year of his contract, and will likely start the season with his usual linemates – Cammalleri and Plekanec. If he starts off slow, he likely won’t be sticking around for too long. This is his last chance, and he needs to deliver, or it’s over. Assuming he ends up staying the entire season, 20 goals is a bare minimum for Andrei Kostitsyn.

———————————
6. BENOIT POULIOT
2009-10: 53GP – 17G – 11A – 28PTS – +8
Playoffs: 18GP – 0G – 2A – 2PTS – -5

2009-10 Season: Throughout my musings and travels around the internet since the season ended, I’ve heard many excuses made by fans for Benoit Pouliot. His wrist injury, his personal problems, adjusting to a new team. Frankly, it’s quite amazing that he even ended up with 17 goals this season (15 in 39 games with the Canadiens), considering all this, and his nagging injury which kept him out of two line-ups for 29 games this season. But the way Benoit Pouliot ended his season, scoring only a single goal since March 9th (regular season and playoffs included) and really dropping completely off the radar on the Canadiens. No matter how many goals he ended up with, Benoit Pouliot was supposed to be the answer for size and goalscoring ability that was left vacant but the under-performance and eventual trading of Guillaume Latendresse. In the end, he didn’t deliver, and proved to be nothing more than a coaster.

2009-10 Grade: D
In what seems to be the norm in these grades, Benoit Pouliot gets saved from a failing grade thanks to an injury. A wrist injury can really put a damper on a player’s performance. Holding a stick isn’t comfortable anymore, and it’s hard to make any movement that a skilled player is used to. Add to this a new team, new teammates and new pressures to overcome, and Pouliot earns a second chance. In any case, a D is as high as I can go with this player, for his performance this season.

2010-11 Expectations: Just like Andrei Kostitsyn, Pouliot will be on a tight, short leash come this fall and the upcoming season. No more excuses, no more wrist injuries. We can all assume he gets a shot with Gomez and Gionta, the two players he seemed to click with the most. And if he starts slow, if he can’t get it going, he’s out. It’s really not a matter of goalscoring with Pouliot. It’s a matter of using the body, hitting, forechecking, and playing consistently. 15-20 goals will be more than enough, but he needs to be CONSISTENT. Otherwise, just like Kostitsyn, it will be out the door for Pouliot.

——————————–

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that, as a whole, the top six forwards for the Canadiens reached most expectations this past season. Plekanec had a career year, Cammalleri and Gionta battled hard out of injuries and led the team in scoring, and Scott Gomez did a lot of little things that really impressed a lot of people, regardless of his salary. Clearly, these four forwards are a good, hard-working core for the Canadiens as the next season approaching. But just as clear is the lack of two good forwards to round out this top six. Are Benoit Pouliot and Andrei Kostitsyn the answer? Can they rebound from injury-ridden, disappointing seasons? Maybe, maybe not. We will definitely find out this fall. But as it stands right now, there really doesn’t seem to be anyone else to fill their roles as big, hard-hitting forwards who can support the big names offensively.

If the top 4 can stay healthy and carry the load, a 150 goal production from these two lines really wouldn’t be too far out of the question.

Whether they can deliver, under the pressures of living up to last year’s standards and Cinderella playoff run, that definitely remains to be seen.

Soak it in, leave your responses and your own grades and expectations for these 6 players, and I’ll be back in a few days with the best of the rest when it comes to the forwards.

Don’t forget to comment!

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

Finally, some blog-worthy news to come out of the Montreal Canadiens’ camp.

It was announced on Friday evening that the Montreal Canadiens have signed 1st round pick Louis Leblanc to a three-year contract. While terms of the contract were not released, you can expect it to hover around the league maximum for an entry-level contract.

The deal means that Leblanc will leave Harvard and his team, the Crimson, after only one year at the Ivy-league university, to come back to his hometown and play for the Montreal Junior of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. While he is eligible to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs, he will likely spend the season in the Q, in order to fill out his frame, hone his skills, and get used to playing a full hockey season.

Leblanc’s decision comes after several months of discussions between fans of whether he would be better off staying in Harvard and gaining an education, while playing a reduced schedule with the Crimson, or whether he should come back to the bright lights of Montreal and be the star player for the Junior, all the while playing more games in a league that has delivered plenty of players to the NHL.

Obviously, there are arguments for each side, and it seems like Leblanc has chosen to forgo his education, for the moment, in order to see what it’s like to play in the mecca of hockey, as a star.

The West-Islander and 19-year-old center played 31 games with the Harvard Crimson last season, tallying 11 goals and 12 assists with a +2 rating. The year before, he played with Omaha of the USHL, tallying 69 points in 60 games. He is 6’1″ and about 185lbs, but these figures could still go up. He is also a right handed shot, something the Canadiens have desperately needed at the center position for year.

Leblanc was also invited to Team Canada’s World Junior camp in Newfoundland next week, and could see action for a third time with a Canadian national team this upcoming December in Buffalo. The Montreal Junior’s camp is scheduled to start on August 15th, and Leblanc will likely be invited to the Canadiens’ camp in September.

The biggest winner in all of this is arguably the Montreal Junior, who get a player who will be an NHLer in a few years. They also bank on the trade they made earlier this year, sending Guillaume Asselin and a first round choice in the 2011 draft to acquire Leblanc’s rights. Robert at Habs Eyes on the Prize calls Leblanc’s move to play junior in the city “unprecedented”, in an excellent article running down Leblanc’s career so far and what’s to come of the young player in the next few years.

What we can gather for certain from the deal is that Leblanc will now become one of the most closely watched and heavily scrutinized players this organization has seen in years. He has thrown himself into the media fire, and will have to prove that he can handle it on top of his on and off ice duties with the Junior, and eventually, the Montreal Canadiens.

While staying in Harvard would have shown maturity and his dedication to an education and bettering himself, and his life after hockey, coming to Montreal shows guts, determination, and that he isn’t afraid of what this city might do to him.

I am definitely looking forward to seeing Leblanc play up close and personal this upcoming season in Verdun, and I can bet that the Junior’s average attendance is about to go up significantly.

——————————–
HABS SIGN PICARD

Have the Habs FINALLY found their captain? Probably not, but they have added a player who could be the subject of many jokes if he was named captain, and one who will provide depth on defense while Andrei Markov rehabs the blown tendon in his knee.

RDS is reporting that the Canadiens have signed defenseman Alexandre Picard to a one-year, two-way contract. No word on a term yet, but considering all the signings Pierre Gauthier has been making lately, it won’t be for much.

Picard split last season between the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes, scoring 4 goals and 11 assists in 45 games with the Sens, and no point sin 9 games with the Canes. A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Picard is 6’3″ and 215lbs, a good size for the Canadiens.

Picard will obviously be this year’s version of Marc-Andre Bergeron, who was acquired early in the season after (you guessed it) Andrei Markov suffered a lacerated ligament in his leg in the first game of the season. With the arrival of PK Subban on the scene, however, the Canadiens did not have a need for a powerplay specialist, instead opting for a bigger, tougher defenseman than Bergeron to fill the void on the blueline. The two-way contract also ensures that Picard will not have to remain on the roster if the Canadiens end up with too many defensemen later in the year.

——————————–
IN OTHER NEWS…

- The Canadiens also announced on Friday that they had re-signed defenseman Alex Henry to a two-way contract, to remain with the Hamilton Bulldogs in his duties as captain.

- The Habs lost their other connection to Harvard yesterday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning announced the signing of Dominic Moore to a two year contract worth $2.2 million, only $100,000 more a year (on average) than what he was paid last year. Yup. Had enough yet, Stevie?

- Finally, in lighter news, Georges Laraque will be named Deputy leader of Canada’s Green Party. Yup.

There will be plenty more to come as we start to rev up for the upcoming season and rosters begin to be finalized. Already today there have been several new contracts to report, including Anti Niemi’s arbitration decision, awarding him a $2.75 million contract. Could this mean that a Carey Price announcement could be on its way, with the closest (albeit cup-winning) comparable out of the way (assuming the Hawks even accept the deal)?

There will be plenty to talk about, including the long-promised position-by-position Habs analysis, so stay LOCKED on The Checking Line as well as Hockey Independent for all the news, analysis and breakdowns!

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

According to various sources, Maxim Lapierre has re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens for the upcoming season. His new, 1-year deal is slated to be worth between $840,000 and $900,000, depending on the source, but which ever number ends up becoming official, it would be a great figure for the 3rd line forward and for the Canadiens.

The deal will only slightly exceed the qualifying offer that Pierre Gauthier and the Canadiens were obliged to offer Lapierre before the start of free agency, at the end of June. As a matter of fact, Richard Labbé at La Presse is reporting that the issue was never the dollar amount for Lapierre, but the term on the contract. The Montreal native wanted to be assured that he would continue to play in Montreal for the foreseeable future. In the end, he has to settle for a 1-year deal and a much shorter leash from the coach and management.

The big, versatile forward has had a love/hate relationship with both fans in Montreal and the management of the Canadiens since his arrival in Montreal. Being a native of the province and especially of the city, Lapierre has always had to deal with the added pressure to perform for the team and be a local hero. This expectation reached its pinnacle during the Canadiens’ 2010 playoff run, when Lapierre even received his own commercial as part of the “History Will Be Made” campaign for the NHL, after scoring an important goal, one of only a few that actually found the back of the net this season.

Not only has the pressure been on him, as a player, but also on management. With the well of quality francophone players drying up over the last few years, the Montreal Canadiens have always been pressured by fans and the community to have a certain local flavor on the team. Big name francophone players such as Daniel Brière, Vincent Lecavalier and Simon Gagné have never really wanted to play here. Moreover, players such as Guillaume Latendresse, Lapierre’s close friend, have had trouble adapting to the pressure and lifestyle of being a Montreal Canadiens, culminating in the trading of Latendresse early last season

Aside from marginal plug players such as Marc-André Bergeron and David Desharnais, Lapierre was left as the only Francophone player regularly playing on the team, with the pressure of being a successful local player resting solely on his shoulders. This made any dissatisfaction with Lapierre’s play difficult to deal with for management over the course of the last few seasons.

This past season, Lapierre had arguably his worst year in a Montreal Canadiens’ uniform, tallying 7 goals and 7 assists in 76 games, and adding 61 penalty minutes, half his production from the 2008-09 season, where he scored 15 goals and added 13 assists for 28 points. Lapierre saw his ice time and his role reduced under Jacques Martin, because he was unwilling to do what he needed to do to perform, score goals, and gain the favor of the coaching staff. But thanks to cap troubles and the need for cheaper players to plug the holes along the Canadiens’ roster, Lapierre is back for another season with the Canadiens.

However, one can only have the feeling that his leash will be significantly reduced once the Canadiens take to the ice next fall, with plenty of players available for a similar role waiting in the ranks down in Hamilton.

In order to stay with the team and thrive, Lapierre will need to learn how to go to the dirty areas and bury the puck, he will need to be defensively responsible, and he will need to use his 6’2” 210lbs frame a lot better than he did this past season. If he doesn’t, Jacques Martin and Pierre Gauthier will not hesitate to get rid of him, whether he’s Quebecois or not. And with free agency looming once again for Lapierre next season, he will need to earn whatever contract he expects to get next July, one game at a time.

—————————–

This latest move from Pierre Gauthier leaves but one major restricted free agent for the Canadiens to sign. Carey Price has yet to sign a contract with the Canadiens, but with over $4 million in cap space left for the Habs and only 1 free agent to sign, one would expect the deal to be done soon. Most expect Price’s yearly figure to land somewhere between $2 and $3 million, leaving $1 to $2 million of wiggle room for the Canadiens heading into next season.

Beyond that, the Canadiens maneuvering should just about be done for the summer.

We’ll certainly have more Canadiens and NHL coverage for you as the summer months roll on, so stay tuned on The Checking Line as well as Hockey Independent for all the coverage!

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

Just a quick one today, folks, as everything for now appears centered around the Ilya Kovalchuk free agent saga.

Eklund on July 8th posted “15 Rumors”, amongst which was the following nugget:

“Glen Metropolit may be a Leaf or a Panther sooner than later…and a perfect pickup he would be …I also hear he may stick in Montreal (the Habs would be nuts to not bring him back, in my opinion.)”

Well, color Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier “nuts”, because he announced Metropolit wouldn’t be returning to the Habs…two days before Eklund’s post.

The reason actually isn’t nuts at all. Gauthier currently has limited salary cap space (roughly $5.6 million as of this writing) and must re-sign Carey Price and Maxim Lapierre, plus add three more players – likely to come from the Habs farm team – to fill out the roster for next season.

Metropolit was a good, cheap addition to the Habs last season, but with the recent addition of Dustin Boyd from Nashville, along with the potential addition of younger, cheaper players like Lars Eller, Yannick Weber, Ryan White or Ben Maxwell, Gauthier simply didn’t have the cap space to keep a veteran like “Metro” next season.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

The Montreal Canadiens have traded problematic forward Sergei Kostitsyn to the Nashville Predators.

The deal is simply an exchange of pending free agents, as Montreal received center Dustin Boyd (RFA) and goaltender Dan Ellis (UFA) in return. Future Considerations are involved for both teams, presumably if any of the players end up signing or not.

The relationship between the Canadiens and Sergei Kostitsyn was always shaky. The troubled forward has consistently made headlines since his arrival in Montreal, for better or for worse, but mostly for worse. Whether it was calling out Canadiens GM last week over the Jaroslav Halak trade, not paying his dues at practice or just plain sucking, Sergei Kostitsyn has been a thorn in the Canadiens’s side for years.

Despite being drafted in the 7th round in the 2005 draft (200th overall), Sergei was quick to exceed the expectations of many, posting 40 goals and 131 points with the London Knights a year after he was drafted, and showing commitment to the game of hockey and to playing in the NHL by making the move to North America, despite not speaking much English or playing the style of hockey that a lot of us have become used to. The next season, he made an impact in both Hamilton and Montreal, posting 22 points in 22 games with the Bulldogs and then 27 points in 52 games with the Canadiens, endearing himself to both the organization and to fans.

But things quickly went south from there. Maybe it was the fact that he had become a fan favorite, maybe it was the fame, maybe it was the bright lights of Montreal, but to say that things degenerated quickly might be an understatement. Feuds with fellow players, a drop in production, and an overall bad relationship with the team, the city, and especially its fans.

The rumors surrounding Sergei’s personal life and his attitude were rampant and serious. From his lack of commitment to the team, to his ego and selfishness, Sergei quickly became a pest and a player other Habs did not want to be around. Moreover, rumors were running rampant that Sergei feigned an inability to understand English to avoid the media, and even that he, along with his brother Andrei, had connections with a known Mobster in Montreal.

Things finally came to ahead this year, when splitting time between Montreal and Hamilton, Sergei gave then-GM Bob Gainey an ultimatum: Play me or trade me. Gainey responded by doing neither, by letting him sit at home until he was ready to earn his ice time in Hamilton. Eventually, he made it back to the Canadiens’ line-up, thanks to injuries, but failed to keep his spot, playing only 5 games in the Canadiens’ playoff run and putting up no points in the playoffs. Eventually, the Canadiens told him to stay away from the team because of his negative effect on his teammates.

Sergei leaves his brother Andrei in Montreal, who has also fallen out of favor with the fans. What remains in Andrei’s future is a mystery, but if I had to take a guess, I would say that Andrei will remain with Montreal to start the season, in the final year of his contract. An environment where he doesn’t have to worry about his brother may benefit the 25-year-old sniper.

——————————-
Interestingly enough, the deal could have been for nothing. In exchange for Sergei’s rights, the Canadiens receive Dustin Boyd and Dan Ellis. While Boyd, a 6 foot 200 lbs center, is likely to sign with the Canadiens in a 3rd line role, Pierre Gauthier has but a day and a half to sign Dan Ellis.

The 30 year old goaltender from Orangeville, Ontario, had a good season as the back up for the Preds, putting up 15 wins in 31 games, a GAA of 2.69 and an SVP of .909. His best season came in 2008-08, where he had 23 wins in 44 games and won the Roger Crozier award for best save percentage with a .924. He could very well test the market, but Habs fans can hold out hope that he’ll sign with the Canadiens to back-up young Carey Price next season. Ellis made $2 million in 2009-10.

Nonetheless, Ellis sent a message through twitter in reply to the trade, stating that he was “Very excited about the trade! It’s an honor to be part of a team with such great tradition and passion! Hope we can figure something out!” , giving Canadiens fans hope that the team will be able to get a deal done with the netminder.

As for Dustin Boyd, the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has good size, hits, and can be flexible in a checking line role. At 23-years old, he already has 200+ games of NHL experience. He put up 11 goals and 13 assists last year in 78 games, with a +6 rating, and only took 19 penalty minutes. I can’t say much more about the young forward at this point, but Canadiens fans will likely see a lot of him next season.

——————————
Overall, this trade is indicative of the attitude that has become this organization over the last season: If you’re a problem, you’re out. GM Pierre Gauthier and Bob Gainey have molded this team into a North American group of players consisting mostly of hard workers and leaders that find ways to win, and that is definitely true with the two new players that will hopefully be arriving in Montreal next fall.

Is Pierre Gauthier done? If the last two weeks are any indication, odds are that he isn’t.

Stay tuned, there will be plenty more to come!

Prax

TheCheckingLine.com
twitter.com/GeorgePrax

———————————-
In this year’s draft, the Montreal Canadiens will be selecting 27th overall, thanks to their impressive run in the Stanley Cup playoffs. To put things into perspective, if they hadn’t amassed that single overtime point they did in the final game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canadiens would be drafting in the first half of the first round, possibly as high as 10th place.

Before you go ahead and jump off the bandwagon, don’t take that as bad news, necessarily. On top of accumulating invaluable amounts of playoff experience, the Canadiens still have an impressive (and physically large) crop of players to choose from when their turn to pick will come around tonight, likely sometime around 9:30PM.

Here is a list of some potential prospects the Canadiens could be picking this evening with that 27th pick, ending with who I think the Canadiens will end up drafting.

TYLER TOFFOLI

TSN’s final 1-through-30 draft rankings have Tyler Toffoli comfortably sitting at 27th place, perfect for selection by the Montreal Canadiens. He’s a center, he’s 6 feet tall and 181 lbs, which, if course, could indeed go up with a few more growth spurts. Toffoli played with the Ottawa 67 in the 2009-10 seaosn, amassing 37 goals and a total of 79 points in a total of 65 games played. Toffoli suited up for Canada’s under-18 team last year, and even spent time on a line with Tyler Seguin and John McFarland. Early projections have him as a solid 2-way center who can contribute big forward minutes on a scoring line, which would make him an instant hit with some Habs pundits. The only knock against him is his skating, which he could, of course, work on during his development.

JUSTIN FAULK

A defenseman? American? Native of Minnesota? Not too small? Not to big? Sounds like a good fit for the Canadiens’ organization. Considering who’s doing the drafting, this could very well be the pick the Canadiens make in the first round this year. Described as ” compact and solid and a strong skater” by Bob McKenzie, Faulk is a fast, offensive defenseman with one of the hardest shots in the draft, something the Canadiens could definitely use in the coming years, with a lot of defensive turnover on the way and with the prospect ranks on the back-end somewhat depleted. With the US under-18 national team, Faulk amassed 9 goals and 3 assists in 21 games, adequate numbers for an offensive defenseman in the American system.

BROCK NELSON

Brock Nelson has slipped in a few of the final rankings, but if you ask me, his size and the position he plays will allow him to go in the 1st round. The Canadiens would be lucky to draft this 6’3” 205lbs Center from (you guessed it) Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 18-year-old scored an impressive 53 goals and 42 assists in 31 games for his high school, Warroad. He is commited to the University of North Dakota for next season, but he might be a package at Center that the Canadiens would be dumb to pass up, if available at 27th.

TYLER PITLICK

Projected to go slightly ahead of the Canadiens draft position, this is another player that the Habs would be lucky to draft. Another big center that hails from Minnesota, Pitlick is already 6’2” and 195lbs at 18 years old. The knock against this one? While considered to be an offensive center, he has yet to prove that he could put up big numbers as the US high school system is not always considered to be the highest producing hockey system in the world. Still, Pitlick’s 11 goals and 8 assists in 38 games is respectable. Hockey’s Future has described him as both a ”pure goalscorer” as well as a player with both ”playmaking and finishing capabilities”, with lots of hockey sense.

KIRILL KABANOV

Considered by Scott Cullen of TSN to be “the ultimate draft wildcard”, many consider Kabanov to be a giant risk for the 1st round, considering the fact that he hails from Russia. A fact that people seem to look over is that Kabanov is committed enough to hockey to have moved to Moncton to play with the Wildcats of the QMJHL this past season, at a very young age (maybe against his will, but nonetheless). His season has been surrounded by controversy and injuries, having appeared in only 22 games for the Wildcats, eventually being released by the team. Still, his 6’3” frame and his offensive skills might be worth taking a risk at a late stage of the draft. Are the Canadiens willing to throw another Hail Mary so soon after the Jaroslav Halak trade, and of course their troubles with Europeans in recent years?

——————————————

Despite there being many players that seem to fit the Canadiens’ needs and their profile at the moment, one has to consider that picking a late-1st-round youngster does not necessarily mean that an organization has to fill needs it has in the present. Draft picks are usually long-term projects if they’re not prodigies or superstars, and can take as long as 4 or 5 years, if not longer, before finally making their impact at the NHL level.

That being said, looking ahead 5 years into the future of the Canadiens is a craps shoot at best. By then, most of the Canadiens’ long term contracts will be done. Players such as PK Subban, Carey Price and even Louis Leblanc will likely be well into their NHL careers. Frankly, at that point, anything can happen. But looking 2 or 3 years into the future of the Canadiens, and the needs of the Canadiens are glaring.

While they could use as many talented, big wingers as they can, they simply don’t seem to be in abundance that late in the first round. Moreover, adding centers at this point seems to be a waste. the middle seems to be locked up for the Canadiens for a while now, with Scott Gomez and Tomas Plekanec locked up to long term deals, and with Lars Eller, Louis Leblanc and others well on their way.

Carey Price is here to stay in goal, and the Canadiens still have a few prospects in that department, including Cedrick Desjardins, last year’s star in goal in Hamilton.

As you could probably guess by the process of elimination, the one place where the Canadiens seem to be in trouble going into the future, is on defense.

Beyond PK Subban, the prospect ranks for the Canadiens when it comes to defensemen are shot. David Fischer is likely a bust, Ryan McDonaugh and Pavel Valentenko have been traded away, Matthieu Carle and Yannick Weber may never be fit for the NHL level, and Alexei Elemin may never show up in North America.

Add to this the older age and expiring contracts of Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek, Roman Hamrlik and even Andrei Markov, the Canadiens will soon be depleted on the back-end.

A big, solid defenseman who can skate is simply the necessity in this year’s draft, and I think we have the perfect fit. That being said (assuming I had the power to do this)…

With the 27th pick overall, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to select….

JARRED TINORDI

This team’s experience with American defensemen is well established. And Jarred Tinordi fits the mold, arguably better than anyone else.

At 18-years-old, Tinordi is already 6’6” and 205lbs. With growth sprouts, he could easily end up being one of the biggest players in the NHL when he finally makes it. He only scored 4 goals and 5 assists through 26 games with the Under-18 USA team, but how much of a beast he is makes up for his lack of offensive production.

Attending Notre Dame in the fall, Bob McKenzie and scouts had many good things to say about him: “He’s naturally aggressive, a heavy hitter, with outstanding leadership and character, as evidenced by his captaincy on what may be the best U.S. U-18 team ever.”

Simply put, Jarred Tinordi is exactly what this team needs. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, considering how much he impressed scouts and doctors at the draft combine, he’s unlikely to be available at 27th overall. But if he is, the Canadiens will have to draft him. Or else.

—————————————–

DRAFT COVERAGE AT WWW.THECHECKINGLINE.COM!

Yes, it’s that time of year again! Time to get revved up for the NHL draft! If these last two weeks have been any indication, then we should expect plenty of activity from GMs throughout the day, and of course this evening. TCL will of course be on top of it all, with our live chat commencing at 6:45PM eastern tonight (details can be found here).

Since the hammer dropped on Jaroslav Halak last Thursday, there has been much movement around the league, and it all leads into tonight’s Draft. Here is a list of all the happenings of the last week, including many links, by the numbers:

And with the draft scheduled to commence in less than 8 hours, there will certainly be much to talk about throughout the course of the afternoon hours.

Don’t forget to keep things locked on TCL this evening for all the draft coverage you can handle! The live chat starts at 6:45PM eastern time, don’t be late!

Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
twitter.com/GeorgePrax

We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have partnered with the one of the best in the NHL blogosphere….Lyle Richardson of SpectorsHockey.net. Daily Rumors with Lyle Richardson will now be a regular feature on HI this summer and beyond…

Prior to the Montreal Canadiens trading away Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues there was a rumor making the rounds which had the Philadelphia Flyers shipping Jeff Carter to the Montreal Canadiens for Carey Price.

In the wake of the Halak trade, Price is now ensconced as the Canadiens starting goalie but there’s still a suggestion the Canadiens would move Price if the Flyers offered up Carter.

Apart from the obvious fact the Canadiens would then have to find a new goaltending tandem, the problem for the Flyers is that Price, while he still has promise, has yet to establish himself as a quality starting goaltending, something the Flyers have been lacking since Ron Hextall’s glory days in the late 1980s.

While Carter’s critics point out he’s yet to come up big in the post-season, this year he was hampered by a foot injury. His regular season numbers dropped last season to 33 goals and 61 points from 2008-09’s impressive 46 goals and 84 points but there’s every reason to believe Carter will be a consistent 35-40 goal man for several years to come.

Carter is a proven commodity, a reliable offensive threat. Price, on the other hand, has yet to prove he’s ready for prime time as an NHL netminder. Unless the Flyers are simply looking to dump salary they could probably land a better goalie than Price in exchange for Carter.

Given the return the Canadiens got for Halak that’s a clear statement Price won’t fetch a top line player.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey