Players

Andrei Markov to become a Canadian citizen

Andrei Markov, one of the best defensmen in the NHL and a defenseman who we’ve had for the last 10 years in Montreal, will become a Canadian citizen on Friday July 16th 2010.

I’ve always been a huge Markov fan and he’s almost been a forgotten star in the NHL because he seems to do everything so quietly…. like ranking among the top offensive defensemen in the league.

Andrei, congrats on becoming a Canadian citizen.

@yarfangor on twitter wondered if that meant Markov could now play for Team Canada…..

Montreal Canadiens sign David Desharnais to a 1 year deal

RDS reports that the Habs have re-signed David Desharnais to a 1 year, 2 way deal.

Desharnais’s agent mentions in the article that David preferred to avoid arbitration and wants to prove his worth on the ice. In this age of big business in sports…. and all the big money…. it’s completely respectable to me that Desharnais made that choice.

In fact, another player (not a Habs player) who settled for a smaller contract just last year (I believe it was last season) was Manny Malhotra. He pretty much went in and worked really hard…. put his focus on playing hockey as best he could and this year he signed a 3 year 2.5 million dollar deal.

Not sure that Desharnais will follow that exact path but I think he’s got a shot at sneaking in and taking some ice time this season. Seeing him play last year I can’t help but think a bit about Gionta and Martin St Louis. Not just because Desharnais is 5′7, I mean yeah that’s part of the comparison but the other part is that Desharnais was all hustle.

I look forward to seeing him a little more this year.

Maxim Lapierre signs a 1 year $900 000 contract

According to RDS, Maxim Lapierre and the Montreal Canadiens have agreed on a 1 year $900 000 contract.

Last year, Plekanec had signed a 1 year deal and responded with a big year. I’m wondering if this will light a fire for Lapierre. Hopefully it will.

Lapierre has shown that he can be an effective pest for opponents. I’m always hopeful for every player that wears the “CH”…. and I only wish Lapierre all the success.

Maxim also provided a bit of humor in the playoffs…. anyone remember 2 diving penalties in a playoff game for Maxim?? Followed by 1 for Gionta…. man…. memories. What’s the record for diving calls in a game anyway?

Reports on Sergei Kostitsyn don’t look so great

First off let me say that when I first saw Sergei Kostitsyn in his first pre-season games against the Penguins a few years back (yes the very penguins we’re battling now!!) I was impressed.

Sergei possesses a ton of natural hockey skills. There is no doubt about that.

But the monkey has been on his back the last 2 seasons. He’s really been a distraction to the team and in all fairness it looks to me like Gainey (at the time) gave him a fair shot. Go down in Hamilton, work hard, be coach able,  you’ll get your shot at playing.

But controversy keeps following the guy.
Read more…

Sportsnet feature on Halak

Here’s sportsnet.ca’s feature on Jaroslav Halak going into game 7 against the Washington Capitals.

Halak gets nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

It’s been a break out year for Halak so far and of course even as of early 2010, prior to the trade deadline he was being mentioned by some in many trade rumors.

If there’s one thing that Jaroslav has shown since entering the Montreal Canadiens organization, it’s that he’s not about to give up. Halak has never been handed anything on a silver platter since coming over in the Canadiens org and he’s always put his time in and earned his spot at every level.

The Gazette have a nice write up on Halak being nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Congrats on the nomination!

Fight for the Playoffs – Halak gonna keep it up?

Always seems to me to be a fight to the finish. Except a few years ago when everything went well for the Habs and they finished top of the Eastern conference.

But this season again, so much seemed to go wrong with such a brand new team.

Well, that’s all behind us at the moment. Because there’s only 3 games left in this season and our Habs sit 6th spot in the East. Still a very tight race, but they’re in none the less.

One thing on my wishlist this time of year??
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Metropolit done for the year

Yet another injury it seems for the Habs.

Glen Metropolit who had a pretty strong season with the Canadiens with 16 goals (career high) and 13 assists will likely be done for the year.

According to this RDS article, it seems that he’ll be meeting with doctors to access an injury to his left shoulder.

It seems to me that with the opportunities that were given to Metropolit, power play time… etc. He sure made the best of it. Though I don’t want this to sound as though Metro was “the best” or the “most skilled” player on the ice, he certainly gave his all in my opinion. And at times I was really surprised by his passing skills.

I’ll miss you Glen. When the Habs first traded for you, all I knew is that you had played for Philly and the season before for the rival Bruins. Thanks for the great season!

Hope Travis Moen is ok

The other night as most people have seen, Travis Moen got Cullen’s skate to the forehead…. causing a really nasty cut and lots of blood.

I could help but go back to that moment all game long. Maybe that fact was made easier by the seeming lack of effort that the Habs showed on the ice.

My very best wishes go out to him.

Travis had a streak going this year. He was one in 3 players who had worn the Habs uniform in every season game (along with Plekanec and Gorges who probably should have missed one due to blocking a slap shot with his head).

A 1 – 2 Goalie punch?

Alot is being said about the goaltenders in Montreal in the media. Will one get traded? When? For who/what? Which one?….etc.

This morning I read this great article on The Hockey News site titled “Top Shelf: Re-packaging the 1-2 goalie punch“.

The author (Ryan Dixon) mentions that there is another team doing a very similar thing that is going on with the Habs as of late. That is, each goaltender has played a substantial number of games.
Read more…