Glad to see you aboard. I’ve wondered just how you would fare in the NHL in the big league. You’re a talented young hockey player and not only that, you are also quite intelligent.

Hope tonights Game goes well for you.

Let’s be consistent

In California for 3 games against the Ducks, the Sharks and the Kings. And there is no Pacioretty in the lineup due to the 3 game suspension that was given after the Penguins game.

My wish list for this road trip is simple. Consistency.

I would look for this all across the board. From the line combinations to the intensity on the ice (and please, let’s be intense!) I’d like to see this team fire away at the opposing team’s goaltender. Keep it simple, far away from the pressure cooker of the hometown crowd (probably good for both Leblanc and Budaj), it’s an opportunity for these guys to make the simple plays and build some confidence.

Will it be easy? I doubt it. In today’s NHL, I doubt there is truely an easy stretch on the schedule. But this is a chance to get some of the positive energy that a young guy can bring to a team, playing his first game.

None of these 3 teams they will face are having stellar seasons…. but sometimes it seems to be harder to win against a struggling team.

So tonight and the next 2. Let’s not go the way of the yo-yo….. let’s be intense…. consistent.

(Please) Win!

Go Habs!

Koivu, during his tenure in Montreal, was one of my all time favorite players. In fact, back when Saku officially became a free agent, I wrote an article with my personal goodbye to him titled “To Saku Koivu“.

I can tell you that I’ve cheered the former Habs captain on for so many years that it will be hard not to cheer him on against the very team he once lead. Koivu had been an inspiration on many levels. Coming back from a few major injuries, a battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a certain disrespect that I don’t believe he deserved as long time captain of the team. I know some might argue otherwise but I could never understand the hounding he took from certain media outlets because he couldn’t speak french.

I thought I’d share some info sent to me by Matthew Ross, host of Game Points on the Team990 (which happens to be one of my favorite sports channels… that’s my plug! haha) on some recent polling going on for Saku Koivu’s return to Montreal:

Will Saku Koivu (ANA) score a goal?
Yes +325 ( or 13/4)
No -450 ( or 2/9)

Will Saku Koivu (ANA) record a point?
Yes +140 (or 7/5)
No -170 (or 10/17)

Will Saku Koivu (ANA) be the first star of the Game?
Yes -150 (or 2/3)
No +110 (or 11/10)

There’s been quite a bit of stuff written about Koivu’s return to Montreal. I really enjoyed this article by Dave Stubbs of the Gazette titled “Emotional return for Captain K“.

I’m really hoping that Koivu gets a warm response from the crowd. Through his long tenure as captain he was the source of much emotion, but inspirational like coming back from his battle with cancer, or battling back from a near career ending eye injury…. or from his critics that continued to pound at him in papers and radio/TV talk shows that he should speak french.

Saku, I truly hope you get an incredible welcome tonight. You deserve it.

Here’s an aspect that he was starting to bring more and more in Montreal.

Maybe it’s a little late to say it, but best wishes to you in Anaheim Kyle!

It was reported earlier that the Montreal Canadiens traded Kyle Chipchura to the Anaheim Ducks for a 4th round draft pick.

Chipchura was a first round draft pick who has many leadership skills and although he showed them very well in Hamilton in his time with the Bulldogs he was never able to cement his spot in Montreal.

Chipchura is a guy I had hopes for and this year at times he showed his smarts and grit dropping the gloves. But he also continued to struggle and in the end didn’t quite fit into the team’s plans.

So the Habs grab a 4th round draft pick in 2011 (edit: I thought it was 2010 but it was in fact a pick in 2011) and Kyle gets a shot at helping a new team in the Ducks.

I hope that Chipchura gets a good shot at getting his spot in Anaheim. He went up and down to the minors and in the bigs, played his game and never complained. He’s got hockey smarts…. best of luck to you Kyle!

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