Archive for March, 2009

Week 2 – Post Guy era

Mar 16th

Posted by Yves in Game comments

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I for one thought the team would respond a bit better to having Gainey behind the bench.

I was “flabbergasted” (or whatever) while watching the Islanders game where we could say that so many were minor leaguers out hustle and outplay the Canadiens. I simply couldn’t believe how well the Islanders seemed to play against my beloved Canadiens.
And wow…. Mark Streit, he’s having a great year. Anyone thinking that he wouldn’t have the numbers because he would be on a “worse” team were wrong.
It hurts to see a guy like Streit walk away for nothing. It really does. Same thing has happened with a few guys in recent history and I have a feeling that a few will walk away again.
Now I know that being in Gainey’s position at trade deadline would have been a hard one, if he was thinking about letting guys walk for nada… and I’m sure one of the reasons why no one was really moved was the fact that missing the playoffs is unacceptable. At least that’s the mark that’s been set.
So coming into the Rangers game tomorrow night it’s a must win. In fact, it’s a bit more then a must win in my eyes. These guys have to play playoff hockey and they have to start playing it now. Because they’re now in a position where every game counts so so much.
We’ll also get to see the “new look” Sean Avery.
I’ll be watching and hoping.
Go Habs!
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Gainey’s day one

Mar 10th

Posted by Yves in Coaching

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The post-Carbonneau era begins today.

Doesn’t that sound strange??
Don Lever comes in as an assistant. I like that. Lever has some serious coaching experience.
I was so surprised that it happened yesterday….
Anyway, Gainey had his first team practice today… interesting quotes.
Mathieu Dandenault will be in the lineup tonight… here’s what he had to say about Gainey:
“Bob has a gift of making any player feel like they’re the best player in the world,” explained Dandenault. “He’s always direct and you always know what to expect from him. Even down to the role players, it’s important to Bob to let them know they are an important part of the team.”
We’ve heard that Carbonneau didn’t communicate a whole lot with the team…. Gainey’s style will be very different. From hearing Dandenault being frustrated not playing and thinking trade… to having him being made feel part of the team…
It’s quite possible if Gainey can get all the team to feel very important in their roles that we could see some interesting results…. team toughness….. being emotionally involved… I think Gainey is workin’ towards it.
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Carbonneau fired

Mar 9th

Posted by Yves in Coaching

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Wow.
I’m shocked.
Not really shocked because Carbonneau was fired, but that he was fired now and not earlier.
I figured he would at least last the end of the season and then…. open season. But I guess Gainey figured it was time to send a strong message to the players. Gainey’s taking over the bench and I really think that should fire up the troops. Big time.
He’ll obviously be able to evaluate all the UFAs himself first hand being behind the bench.
This is an interesting move…. and gets me wondering about next year… and about how the team will respond tomorrow night VS Edmonton. If the players really didn’t want to play for Carbonneau anymore then they got their wish. I expect the players to come out hard for the new coach.
So this move opens the door for someone else next year.. who could it be? Bob Hartley is the name I’ve heard alot in various media shows on RDS and Team990…
I think Bob Hartley would be an interesting choice… but I’m not exactly sure who my pick would be.. mostly because I haven’t spent any time thinking about it until now. I actually like Gainey himself behind the bench.
There are reports that Don Lever who is the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs will be joining Gainey as an assistant. Could that open the door for Don Lever?
I feel for Carbonneau. I was a big fan of his during his many years in the Canadiens uniform. Carbonneau was a true “Montreal Canadien”… I always appreciated how he worked hard… blocked shots and although he scored alot in juniors became a shutdown player in the NHL. But this season which was the centennial year in Montreal became a bit of a train wreck… and Carbo one of the casualties.
Communication problems were sighted in some reports. I think Gainey will do well as interim. This certainly adds to my already hightened interest in how the team is doing going into the playoff stretch.
Amazing.
And, here are some links to a bunch of articles posted on the subject.
Carbonneau Fired!
By Justin on Your Habs

Carbonneau congédié

By RDS.ca
Ce n’est jamais une bonne décision
By Michel Bergeron on RDS.ca
Gainey takes over as head coach
By Montreal Canadiens
By Spector’s Blog
By Mike Boone on HabsInsideOut
Carbonneau fired by Habs
By Kevin Mio on HabsInsideOut
Les joueurs devront prendre le blâme
By Benoît Brunet on rds.ca
Cette décision provient des joueurs
By Jacques Demers on rds.ca
I’m sure there will be many more articles on the subject… these are the ones I’ve seen.
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Looking for answers

Mar 6th

Posted by Yves in Montreal Canadiens

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After getting a short winning streak going, the Canadiens played their hearts out in a first period against Buffalo… the a quick goal at the end of the first… no big deal…

Another goal coming in the second… the wheels flew off.
Tonight, the Habs play in Atlanta.
Halak will most certainly be in goal.
I’m hoping the team can find a way to come together. They need to play so much tougher then they did vs Buffalo.
With big Georges Laraque out with more injuries to his back and his season all but done… the guys HAVE to play tough as a unit. Much like Carbo talked about, but we didn’t see last game.
Tom Kostopoulos, Maxim Lapierre, Gregory Stewart… these guys will and should paly tough… so should Komisarek, but I have to believe that he’s hurt.
Over the last few seasons, we’ve seen it over and over again…. guy hammers your captain… or another guy like Kovalev… no one responds…. guy comes through the crease and hammers Price… Halak…. no one responds….
Moves were made to adresse some of those problems. One of those moves was Georges Laraque. But Georges Laraque was practically not %100 all season… much of the season out due to injury and now seems as though he’s out.
So tonight… a big test. I believe Atlanta will be out to hit guys and jam the net. Carbo and crew NEED to play tough….. they need to jam Atlanta’s net… to get the emotions going…
From a fan’s point of view, if they don’t play tough the season may be over. Really.
I’m hoping to see Tanguay back in the lineup tonight. And please… I would put Dandenault in there on D… give him some time…. give Breezer a break.
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Price in goal and the deadline is on

Mar 4th

Posted by Yves in Montreal Canadiens

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Been up for a while, looking at work…. 6:41 am here, 5:41 am EST.

Halak doesn’t make the trip to Buffalo because he’s sick… so Carey Price is in goal tonight.
I’ll bet that he (Price) will try and impress tonight… of course he has too.
One thing that I’ve gotten tired of is how Price has become, for some, a bum… he was the best and after a tough spell some people have written him off…
Price is in his sophmore year… he’s a young guy… and this year he was given responsibility as a No1 goaltender in the NHL.  So he’s struggled a bit in his sophmore year… gosh, he’s not the first NHLer to do so…
Like it or not, there is a learning process and for a young guy given the No1 job in a market like Montreal you can bet it’s been a learning curve unlike any he’s had in his previous goaltending duties.
If some of you out there would have been GM… Price along with many current roster spot holders would have been gone…. some for nothing and some in trade scenarios based in pure fiction.
Today, I’m hopeful Gainey will attempt to make a move to improve the team. But one thing that I appreciate about Gainey is that he will certainly measure what he’s trading VS what he’s acquiring making sure the Habs aren’t weakend long term and that they are strengthened short term.
He won’t sell the farm…. and of course a trade can be measured in different ways… short term success vs long term success…etc…
Anyway…. Game on!
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