Posts Tagged ‘Andrei Kostitsyn’

My evaluation is still…

As I mentioned yesterday in the post titled “Has the season self-destructed??” I think it’s been pretty hard to clearly evaluate just how good this team is.

There has been some raunchy performances on the one hand. On the other hand there have been some great performances where they’ve been in the game or have won.

Last night against the Washington Capitals were one such game were I wasn’t filled with optimism before hand but afterwards I certainly was.

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Has the season self-destructed??

The constant injuries and lack luster play has certainly been tugging away at the optimism I had coming into the season. A quarter of the way through it’s still pretty hard to read exactly who this team is. But although it is hard to discern it’s not really something that can be faulted on management.

I’m not saying that there haven’t been moves (or “non-moves”) made in the last few years that I think were bad in hindsight leading up to today… but what I am saying is that one can’t honestly measure just how good this team is

We’ve been without our best player and other players who were keyed in as integral parts of this team.

When compared to last year’s team and the “core” that the Habs had prior to this season it still speaks loudly to me that this group is 10-11-0 after 21 games… without Markov… and other pieces of the puzzle also out.

There’s a great article on the numbers without Markov over at Lions in Winter… check it out.

There’s been quite a bit of doom and gloom from what I’ve been hearing in regards to the season and the talk about a “rebuild” has begun. Honestly, I think we’ve just begun “the rebuild”.
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What I’ll be looking for – Habs vs Avs

Tonight, the Montreal Canadiens take on the Colorado Avalanche and is the Canadiens home opener.

Coming into tonight I’ve seen positives and negatives in the previous 5 games. The Avalanche should provide a very formidable opponent. They’ve got some great young talent and their taking off.

Here’s what I’ll be looking for tonight:
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Pre-game thoughts: Montreal Canadiens vs Florida Panthers – First pre-season game

We’re just a few hours away from the first pre-season game for the Montreal Canadiens this season! For some of you, if you’re anything like me, it’s been a long time coming. Since the last playoff game back in the spring I’ve been thinking about these first pre-season games.

Here are a few pre-game and really “pre-season” thoughts.
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Rookie camp 2009 – Martin thinks young players could play key role

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just because I mean it. I’m excited for this upcoming season and it’s great to see the reports coming out of the rookie camps. It satisfies part of my desire to see some Habs hockey.

Watching a report on RDS, it’s interesting to listen to Jacques Martin and the RDS analysts. Martin really seems to leave the door open for any number of young players…. from Chipchura, D’Agostini, Pacioretty.. to Maxwell, Latendress, the Kostitsyns, Lapierre… he goes on to say that any number of these young players could have an important role in the Montreal Canadiens lineup this year.
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A look at possible player achievements for 2009

The pre-season is almost with us! Just gotta wait a little bit longer to see some “bleu-blanc-rouge” hockey!

I thought I’d take a look at what we could see individual players achieve in 2009. What career achievements could be made by players on the Habs roster. I haven’t listed all the possible numbers…. but listed many.

So here’s my little preview!
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Lot’s of trouble in the air

I’m totally stunned….

Habs + Kovalev + Playoffs + Trade deadline

Lot’s has happened since I last posted…. some ups and downs. Maybe major downs lately.

The big slump or whatever you would like to call it has sparked lot’s of emotion by Habs fans… Listening to Team990, I’ve heard lot’s of opinions… lot’s of negativity.

I find interesting that just a few months ago, so much sounded “rosie” because they weren’t doing to badly… just totally injury riddled.

Kovalev has been told to take time… so many people have put blame on him… but listen, the guy is 35 years old… almost 36 (on Feb 24th!!

Over the Sabres

I thought at times the pace of last night’s game was great and the guys who continue to show up are this team’s “4th” liners (at least we’ll call ‘em that while Carbo changes the lines up)…

Bégin, Tom K, Lapierre…. those guys bring the hustle every night. The Habs need that…. actually every team needs that…. they need the Grinders…. the guys who hit, bring energy and get in the other team’s face on D….

Last night Lapierre made a beautiful pass for a one timer by Bégin…. I’m really glad Bégin is back in the lineup. He’s certainly responded.

There were chances last night… right around Lalime’s net but it seemed pretty hard to finish.. it’s been said before that it’s tough for small forwards to get a handle on the puck right in the goaltender’s face and put it in…. while dealing with D-Men trying to take you out of the play. I’d love to see a little more of George Laraque (when in the lineup) in front of the net…. throw him out there every now in then with a couple of puck moving forwards and shoot on net…. see if Big G can put it in… he was used in that role occasionally in Edmonton.

Andrei Kostitsyn showed some moves last night…. really nice play to put the puck in.

I thought D’Agostini played well.. admittedly I missed the last few minutes of the second and the start of the third….

Sergei Kostitsyn got a little too agressive and took a couple of bad penalties… I really like what Sergei can bring… hope it balances out for him.

Here’s some recent habs articles..

Andrei answers the bell
http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=395223

Carey Price And The Grinders Come Up Big
http://dennis-kane.com/carey-price-and-the-grinders-come-up-big/

La contribution de Steve Bégin
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/264439.html

One Kostitsyn rising, one falling
http://dailyhab-it.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-kostitsyn-rising-one-falling.html

Lapierre plus confiant offensivement
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/264484.html

Players not in practice

At today’s practice 4 players were missing.