It’s been quite a year for Gomez. I can relate in a way. Last couple of years have been years of transition for me and I’m quite happy to be where I am now.

In fact, along with Gomez’s return to the score sheet…. it’s really long overdue for me to get back to some of what I enjoyed in life.

Blogging.

Sharing ideas and/or comments about the Habs.

This is my new beginning. And I believe this is yours too Scott.

And honestly, just before Gomez scored, I was going to fill up my cereal bowl with some lucky charms. My daughter’s cereal, but I’m known to eat some on occasion.

So, this a mere coincidence?? Or some galactic mystery??

Maybe a bit of both. But for now, Habs win! Gomez scores!

Love him or hate him I think you have to be happy for the guy. Montreal isn’t exactly the friendliest place in Pro Hockey to hit such a slump…

Can he net another in the net couple of games??

Who knows.

To start, I would really like to say that I’m all optimistic and all is well. But I’m not sure that’s the case. At the same time, I really don’t think anyone should go so far as through the season down the tubes after 5 whole games.

1-3-1 start, are we done yet?

No, we’re not. We can go back many many years and look at several examples of teams who struggled out of the gates not only to land in the playoffs but some also did quite well. Anyone remember how terrible the Penguins were a few years back when they hit the half way point of a season out of the playoffs only to finish strong and win the cup??

Sure you do!

I’m not saying the Habs are going to win the cup this year. In fact, for the last 15 years or so, my gut points to Detroit as the winner. My point is it’s a long season and much can change, a quarter of the way, half way through. You get the point. However one thing is for certain. If the Canadiens do want to hit the playoffs…. well, gotta win some real soon.

But, not time to throw ‘em under the bus.

Max Pacioretty, Thank You!

Max Pacioretty is looking good out there. He seems to find the puck in front of him a lot and I like the fact that he’s shooting alot of shots on goal. The combination of Andrei Kostitsyn, David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty have looked really good out there. At times they don’t just look good but seem to dominate their opponents.

David Desharnais is a player that I enjoy watching. Going into corners and coming out with the puck against much bigger guys. Just always hustling, giving his all.

Alexei Emelin getting adjusted

At first Emelin would sometimes look out of place. The more he’s played I think he’s adjusting. One thing I do like about him is that he hits and at times hits hard. Komisarek used to give the Habs that kind of presence on defense and though Emelin is not as big he is more mobile. He seems to have good vision with some of his passing.

To start camp and the regular season it just seems to me that it’s an adjustment as the game is fast pace.

Erik Cole, we need you

When Cole was signed I thought “great, a bigger player who has a decent shot and will not only hang around the net but crash the net”. I figured that his presence in front of the net would bear fruits with some of our quick skating play makers. (Think Plekanec, Cammalleri, Gomez, Gionta)

But I’ve yet to see it. For some reason, Erik looks a little out of sync.

We need you Erik. I believe bro.

PK Subban needs to find D

One thing about Subban is that he can excite the crowd like no other. The man can skate circles around anyone and has some serious puck handling ability.

Problem is that when he’s tried to do too much and be “out there” with “carte blanch” creativity…. it’s cost the Habs in terms of goals.

The plus/minus stat is not an exact science, but for 5 on 5 play when you’re a -5, 5 games in the season then you’ve got problems.

We need you PK. But if I was coach, I’d ask you to tone it down a notch and make sure the risks aren’t too high.

Diaz and Eller

Watching Diaz last night I thought he looked good out there. He can skate, he can move the puck, he’s got a good shot and seems to have pretty good vision. Loved the patience he showed on his goal last night.

3 games in Lars Eller doesn’t have a goal and coming off injury, this is his training camp. But he’s looking good out there. Seems strong on the puck, can pass….. give him a bit and he’ll find the back of the net and get some assists.

I’m sure someone out there is still bitter about the Halak trade but so far the trade isn’t as one sided as some believed. Halak has been far from stellar in St Louis and the way Eller looks as a 22 year old NHLer in his 2nd second season makes me think we’ve got a good player on our hands.

We’re 5 games in. Bring on the Pens!

I’m generally an optimist. Gotta be.

In years past there were some things that I didn’t like… like say the constant line juggling that we saw just a few years ago and some signings. I mean, honestly when the Habs first signed Hal Gill, I wasn’t sure how to feel because I could get past his former Leafs and Bruins jerseys… (I think Gill is a valuable asset today, not only on the ice but in the room from what we hear)

When Gauthier was hired, I didn’t know what to think. I was somewhat pessimistic.

But going into the fall this year I’m satisfied with what he’s done. I think Gauthier has done a decent job. Sure, someone can can point at a deal or two they don’t like or that may not have turned out 100%. But I’m not convinced it’s so different on many a team. Trades and drafts are sometimes a crap shoot. It’s like rolling the dice sometimes.

One move that I liked was the addition of Erik Cole.

When people talk about UFAs and over payment, it’s a given that UFAs are getting a pay day. Multiple teams trying to get in on signing players…. it’s a bidding war. It is what it is.

I’m looking forward to see Cole in a Habs uniform. As many have said, he just may be the power forward that the team’s been lacking for a number of years. He also may be a great mentor for Max Pacioretty.

When I think of the forwards I do think he may be a great compliment. Plekanec, Gomez, Gionta, Cammalleri…. speedy guys, they can move the puck…. if Cole becomes an annoyance in the crease of the opposing teams it should give these guys more room to move the puck. And Cole has the hands to score some goals. Habs fans know that all to well.

Plus, he loves playing in Montreal. He’s mentioned that he loves the atmosphere. He’s always been the villain. Now he can be the hero. I think he’ll love it… and that’s an other important aspect of the move. He knows that it’s a media frenzy.

I’m pumped up for training camps to start…. pre-season and the new season.

Here’s a couple of shorts vids of Erik meeting the media in Montreal.

Go Habs Go!

Erik meeting some new fans

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…..

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.

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?

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.

For the record, I really like what Sergei Kostitsyn can bring and at times has shown… for this team. BUT, I equally dislike that he’s a young man with baggage that just seems to follow him around. Or maybe…. he carries it around.

While the Habs are fighting battles in the playoffs it’s really not the time for drama. This is the time of year where you want your team as a unit.

Sorry for this analogy… but I have to make one. A team sport in a very small way must behave as a military unit. They have to be on the same page especially come this time of  year… because they face their combatants on a different level in the playoffs. And much like soliders must buy into a strategic plan to complete a mission together, players also need to be coachable and listen to direction.

When you have people acting out individually, it harms the group as a whole. This is not a comparison at all.. we all know the great men in military do work that is much different, serious and dangerous then hockey players. But there are similarities in a team concept. If Sergei were to act out in the army as he had within the organization he simply wouldn’t be there or would likely be a casualty of an armed conflict somewhere.

Here’s an article by Bob McKenzie on the current situation.

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!

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??

Well, if you’re gonna catch fire…. get on a hot streak…. there’s no better time of year. And it literally doesn’t matter what happened the months before. It all boils down to this time of year.

Jaroslav Halak. You’ve earned your playing time, you’ve worked hard, you’ve believed in yourself…. at times people (yeah, many fans I guess) had you on the trading block. Actually, many people had you on the trading block…. even earlier this season. But now, you seem to have the confidence of so many.

This is what it’s all about. I’m lookin’ for a good outing tonight against these Islanders. C’mon boys, find that killer instinct that seems to disappear at times…. win this game.