Roster

Game day with PK!

P.K. Subban has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs for this all important game 6 in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs.

Habs face elimination tonight against Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals. The game is in Montreal.

The Bell Center will likely exploded with energy. Habs weren’t really expected to win the Capitals but in the course of this series they’ve shown some good things against the Caps… and that the Caps can certainly be beaten.

P.K. Subban has become a fan favorite without barely scratching the ice in Montreal. He’s a great young prospect who’s had an incredible year in Hamilton. Always enthusiastic and upbeat P.K. will certainly bring lot’s of energy in the lineup. I expect that the crowd will show him some love tonight…. think we’ll hear some “PK” chants? I do.

Subban has 18 goals and 35 assists in 77 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs this year. He’s got great skating and puck moving skills and can play a physical game.

In my opinion, the Canadiens have nothing to loose in bringing him up being that they’re down 3 games to 2 and had a sub par performance by MA Bergeron in the last game. Although I don’t think Subban will be the savior for the series I think this is a great opportunity for him to get a taste of the pressure cooker in a Montreal Canadien’s playoff game… facing elimination.

Here’s the official press release!

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!

Habs call up Benoit Pouliot

We’ll be seeing Benoit Pouliot soon. He was the player who came to Montreal in the Latendresse trade with the Minnesota Wild. It was announced today that he’s been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs. Pouliot had 3 pts in his last game in Hamilton, 1 goal and 2 assists.

Pouilot was a high pick (4th overall) in the 2005 draft… just ahead of our own Carey Price. He has talent to burn and I think the hope is that the new surroundings, closer to home along with the new coaching staff might be just what the doctor ordered for Benoit.

Here’s the official press release that can be found here:
http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=510684

Canadiens recall Benoit Pouliot from the Hamilton Bulldogs
Monday, 21.12.2009 / 10:47 AM / News
Montreal Canadiens
PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens announced today that left winger Benoit Pouliot has been called up from the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs. Pouliot will join the Canadiens today in Atlanta for tonight’s game against the Thrashers.

Pouliot recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in three games with the Bulldogs. He also maintained a +1 plus/minus rating, registered 11 shots on goal and served four penalty minutes.

Pouliot, 23, was assigned to the Bulldogs on December 10 for conditioning purposes. The 6’03’’, 199 lbs forward has yet to play a game with the Canadiens due to an injury. Pouliot played 14 games with the Wild this season, recording four points (2 goals, 2 assists), serving 12 penalty minutes with a plus/minus rating of 0 and averaging 11:56 minutes of ice time per game.

Yannick Weber called up again

With the recent injury to Roman Hamrlik last night the Montreal Canadiens called up Yannick Weber. Hopefully the Habs management have made all the proper contacts so that the whole “playing an in-eligible” player thing won’t happen again.

I’m sure they did.

Last time Weber was called up we didn’t get to see him in action and he was sent back to Hamilton. This time around he’ll most certainly see a bit of ice.

Here’s the official release from the Montreal Canadiens website.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=510236

Habs call up Yannick Weber
Thursday, 17.12.2009 / 12:00 PM / moves
PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens announced that defenseman Yannick Weber has been called up from the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs. Weber will join the Canadiens today in Montreal for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

The 5’11’’, 193 lbs defenseman played three games with the Canadiens earlier this season. He was held pointless with one shot on goal, while averaging 14:50 minutes of ice time per game.

Weber recorded six points (1-5-6) in 24 games with the Bulldogs this season. He added 62 shots on goal and 24 penalty minutes, with a +4 plus/minus differential.

Ryan White gets another shot

Things seem to happen pretty fast at times…. and with all of the injuries in the NHL this year guys like Ryan White are getting ample opportunity to make an impact in the big leagues.

According to the Habs official website, Ryan White has been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Ryan White currently has 2 assists, 40 hits and 12 blocked shots in 13 games.

Welcome back!

Ryan White returns to the Hamilton Bulldogs

Today the Montreal Canadiens have announced that forward Ryan White has been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

White certainly made a good impression in his time in Montreal… taking the opportunity to play 13 games since November 4th. Ryan has 2 assists in those games.

With the return of Georges Laraques and the recent experiment to put Marc-André Bergeron at forward… there isn’t much room for him at the moment.

The M.A. Bergeron experiement at forward last night….. I didn’t mind that one bit.

Jay Leach may play and thoughts on D

The newest member of the Montreal Canadiens might see the light of day in the next game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.

At first when I saw that the Habs had claimed Jay Leach off waivers I figured he would probably be in Hamilton. But it’s quite possible or maybe probable that he’ll play on Tuesday night.

Leach is a big stay at home defenseman at 6′4 220 lbs and he does play a physical game.

With injuries to half of the defensive core Bob Gainey has been trying to bolster the D with a variety of moves to date.

In last night’s game Ryan Malone scored a goal by being able to stand around in front of the crease and not just get one whack at the puck but got his own rebound off of Carey Price’s stop to put his second shot in the net. This has been a big problem for the Canadiens and not just this season.

If Leach gets some ice time this is one of the tasks he’ll likely be given. Clear the front of the net or at least make it much harder for the opposing teams to park their players there.
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Tom Pyatt and Ryan White called up

The official press release from the Canadiens can be found here. That makes it official. Tom Pyatt and Ryan White have been called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

It was actually a bit of a surprise for me. I recently wrote about Pyatt and although I thought we’d see him in Montreal for a few games I didn’t think it would come this fast.

One of Montreal’s problems this year has been defense. As it stands now 3 of the top 6 defensemen are injured and I thought we might see a bit of a change on the backend but it seems as though there’s a shake up in front.
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Mathieu Carle gets called up

RDS reports that Mathieu Carle has been called up by the Montreal Canadiens.

Hal Gill was hit in the foot by a puck in practice and had to leave practice early.

This is a great opportunity for Mathieu Carle who had his 2 first training camps cut short because of injury. This season he seemed to start a bit slow (in camp)… I thought he looked nervous at times… but he got better and better.

I believe Jacques Martin wanted to get a good look at him and gave him a good shot in camp.

Carle will be in the lineup on Tuesday night in the game against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Shawn Belle gets the call

As many of us were expecting a swift call up of newly acquired Marc-Andre Bergeron it seems as though the Habs feel he needs more time to get it going.

Shawn Belle was called up yesterday to round out the defense as Yannick Weber had been sent down.

Some might not like this move but I don’t mind it at all.
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