A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Posts tagged Brian Gionta
New faces in their montreal canadiens jerseys today
Jul 30th
First off I’d like to say thank you to the Montreal Canadiens for putting this stuff online because I’m seriously experiencing withdrawl.
I swear I was smiling while watching this video. They were all standing in line in their dressing room at the practice facility… Travis Moen, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri and Paul Mara.
Then with pictures flashing they put on their new uniforms. Awesome. In fact, I’ve been dying to see some habs hockey and just seeing them put the jerseys on with their names and numbers, it somehow helped satisfy the desire for a game.
They looked good in those uniforms.
Travis Moen to me looked like he could have thrown everyone around without difficulty. Is it just me or does he look big?
Then Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta jumped on the ice to practice with some kids. It’s awesome. They seemed to have fun. I think both Gomez and Cammalleri are gonna be great with the media, well at least when “some” media isn’t trying to make some kind of fuss about something new… now that they can’t blame Koivu for everything under the sun.
Boys look good in their uniforms.
And for anyone who hasn’t watched the video, here it is:
What do you think??
New players vs Old players – Numbers game
Jul 28th
I thought I’d take a look at a some numbers and try to have fun. That probably really makes me sound lame…. but anything to do with the Montreal Canadiens will interest me in general.
Trust me.
So to start, what I wanted to do was simply look at last years roster and this year’s roster (2008-2009 vs 2009-2010) and compare some numbers.
So we have 7 players coming in and something like 11 players going out. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers each player game the habs last year:
Looking at last year vs this year and taking out Mathieu Schneider’s numbers because he only finished the season in Montreal, we see something like this:
New Habs – 539 out of 574 possible games played. 35 missed games or 6.1% missed.
Old Habs – 601 out of 820 possible games played. 219 missed or 26.7% missed.
With these numbers, some things don’t really look too different if you do crunch numbers but other things kind of jumped out at me.
Did you know Scott Gomez finished 16th in the league in shots on goal last year?
Did you know Mike Cammalleri finished 25th and Brian Gionta finished 31st?
Last year’s leader (in Montreal) was Alex Kovalev who finished with 209 in 68th position overall. Tomas Plekanec was right behind him with 202 shots on goal.
Did you know that Mike Cammalleri finished 3rd in Power Play goals last year?
Alex Kovalev had 11 power play goals last season.
All those numbers are just that, they are numbers from a season gone by. All these players find themselves in new places (well, most of ‘em) and they’ll be surrouned with new teammates. So their numbers this year could vary, for better or worse.. depending on chemistry, the team’s system (or strategy), injuries…. a whole host of varialbes.
A few things jumped out at me.
- Scott Gomez will likely shoot the puck quite a bit. Putting the puck on the net is a good thing although he’s never been scorer so much as a playmaker.
- Mike Cammalleri will likely be shooting alot. He had 299 shots on goal in 2006-2007.
- Robert Lang was a great pickup last year… so efficient. As was Alex Tanguay. Tanguay’s number weren’t too bad at all really. Just too bad he was hurt and seemed a bit soft in the playoffs.
- The players coming in (7 of them) actually have a higher total of shots on goal as the ones going out (that’s 11 going out).
- Although I was a fan of Chris Higgins and do wish him the best, I can’t seem to be disappointed in the numbers he put up last year.
I do believe this year we’ll see a more organized and tighter defensive system that will protect Carey Price. Players like Gionta and Gomez thrived in New Jersey with a similar system and if the defense is tighter it will be so much more fun for Price.
The team has a new look, the dressing room will have a new feel and the team’s culture is different. Who knows which way it will go. I’m waiting to hear more from the analysts.
Whatever they say, just remember. 2 years ago most of ‘em said the Montreal Canadiens wouldn’t make the playoffs while they finished 1st in the east. And 1 year ago most analysts picked them to go deep in the playoffs, some even to contend for the stanley cup, while they barely crawled in at 8th.
So many variables. It can’t be calculated. But the sum of the team’s efforts night after night will tell the story.
Go Habs!
Scott Gomez – Welcome!
Jul 18th
Scott Gomez, when I first heard of that trade, I’ll say that I really didn’t like the deal. Not at all.
Since July 1st though, I’ll say that Gainey deserves credit. Some of the UFAs that were signed probably wouldn’t have come to the Montreal Canadiens if Gomez hadn’t have been a member of the new team.
Mr Gomez, if you’re reading this… I’m now happy to have you aboard. I know that some people have said that your production dropped with the New York Rangers… but so did Alex Kovalev prior to coming to Montreal where he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career 2 years ago. Some people are saying the same about Brian Gionta.
But I think that a new beginning in Montreal with some familiar faces like Brian Gionta and Paul Mara…. coupled with a coaching system which I suspect will be similar to that which you had in New Jersey with the Devils might be a good fresh start.
With all the current changes to my beloved Montreal Canadiens I was a bit sad to see so many people go that I spent countless hours cheering on… but I’m looking forward to cheering for you (Scott) as well as the new teammates.
I’ve heard a few of the new players talk about you’re (Scott) great playmaking skill. All I can say is that I’m so looking forward for this season to start… I can’t wait.
So now, I ask you Habs fans… Who can resist seeing someone score against the Leafs??
Scott Gomez highlight vs Maple Leafs Feb 22 2009.
Or how about seeing a guy score against the Bruins??
Scott Gomez highlight vs Bruins March 8th 2009.
Can’t wait to see you lace ‘em up in Montreal!
So Welcome Scott Gomez!
Brian Gionta plays big
Jul 17th
So by now we’ve all heard about ESPN’s predicting that the Montreal Canadiens would miss the playoffs this year. If you haven’t, All Habs have the eastern conference predictions here.
And I’m sure that many of you have heard how Gainey went out and got smaller (at least at first… since then he’s actually made the team bigger and tougher).
Well, one guy who has been mentioned as a new UFA signing and as many have said of him that his “offensive production” has been down the last 3 years… his name is Brian Gionta. I thought I would spend a little bit to get to know him a little better by numbers and try to see a bit more of him in action.
When I looked at his numbers here’s what I saw:
2005-2006 – 82 Games – 48 G | 41A | 89 P | +18
2006-2007 – 62 Games – 25 G | 20A | 45 P | – 3
2007-2008 – 82 Games – 22 G | 31A | 53 P | +1
2008-2009 – 81 Games – 20 G | 40A | 60 P | +12
As we can see, he had his big season in 05-06 where he scored 48 goals and 41 assists for 89 points. Super year.
The next year, he missed some games in an otherwise quite durable career if we were to look at previous years as well as the ones I’ve listed.
Gionta certainly has not produced as much as that super year back in 05-06. But, although his goals have gone down in the last 3 years… his assists are up the last 2 (and of course points totals) as were his +/-.
Gionta at 30 years of age still has some good years ahead. And if Jacques Martin puts him in a system that was similar to the one he played in with the New Jersey Devils along side a familiar player like Gomez… then who knows. I think with the right linemates and system, Gionta can score some goals. I have no doubt.
One thing I like about Brian Gionta is that he plays bigger then he is to. Check out these videos… Gionta will stand up for himself. And that’s important.
Gionta vs Comrie
Gionta vs Marchant
Gionta vs Chara
Winning or losing these fights are irrelevant.. the point is that he’s got a little sandpaper in him.
And here’s a few goals by Gionta:
So welcome Brian Gionta!
Operation facelift – 2009 edition
Jul 3rd
Over the last several days the Montreal Canadiens have gone through enormous changes.
Going into “Free agent frenzy”… I was “super looking forward” to that date.. to see what if anything was gonna happen with my loved Montreal Canadiens.
I was floored when Gainey pulled off that trade for Scott Gomez. I was totally floored…
I didn’t like that deal at all. Gomez comes with a hefty price tag. Mind you, I do think that he comes with considerable puck moving skill… but it was obviously a commitment to take on that contract.
By noon time, July 1st…. I had a doom and gloom feeling… and couldn’t shake it… but as soon as the signings started (not montreal’s… but in general) I felt much better.
Montreal’s day started with the signing of Jaroslav Spacek, an offensive defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres. I was not thrilled at this signing…. 3 years for a 35 year old… but after checking out his numbers… he has seemed very durable… and fairly consistent… he has pretty much always been a “plus” player in +/-… except in his Columbus years…
Then later… Hal Gill… which I didn’t like at all either… essentially, I had gone through about 2 days of Mr Negativity in regards to the Habs after the draft. Then when I thought about Gill, I actually felt a bit better. He’s big…. and what sold me a bit on him, was that he made it to the cup finals 2 years in a row and won last year. And he was used in both playoff runs. He could be effective in clearing room for Price… which we need.
I was ready to step out.. and go with the family to the July 1st fireworks… when all of a sudden, I saw that the Habs signed Mike Cammalleri.. at first I thought.. “wow.. Gainey landed Mike Cammalleri!”.. all of a sudden, it was looking better. I was starting to become very optimistic.
When I got back late that night… what??? Gainey signed Brian Gionta?? Now, I was floored.. the face of the team was changed… and changed much more dramatically then anyone could have guessed.
Now, most of these guys are small…. which seems like a problem. But I gotta say… 2 years in a row… 2 puck possession teams won the cup. Some of their most important players weren’t huge in stature… (think of Crosby and Maxim Talbot)
It surely didn’t seem to be a problem when the Canadiens finished 1st in the east 2 seasons ago and all the “experts” picked them to contend for the cup.
There are many variables that come into play for a team to succeed. Is the team well disciplined? Do they really play within their coach’s plan? Are they having an injury free season (Habs 2 seasons ago)? Are they having an injury filled season (Habs last season)? Do the players get along? How is the dressing room? etc…etc.. etc..
If rough and tough teams won the cup every year… then Philly should have won several years running…
Talk was about re-signing Kovalev… which I had hoped for … some talked about Tanguay.. Koivu… Even though there has been an overwhelming consensus about changing the team’s core. But that wouldn’t really “changed” the face of the team.
I would certainly welcome back any of those guys if Gainey and Martin think they fit. I’m hoping that Martin runs a tight defensive system this year… and shots on goal go down…. Gionta and Gomez played their best years under such a system.
I love Kovalev… I love Koivu… Koivu has been one of my favorite players for years and years. I would take them back in a heartbeat.
Tanguay… if it’s true he chose not to play in a little pain in last year’s playoff… I don’t mind him going.
After a couple of days to think all this over… I’m very positive about this year’s team. Although, there are still a couple of holes to fill. Gotta have 1 more D-man.. And, get a bigger center.
I’m really lookin’ forward to the pre-season camps…. really really lookin’ forward to it.
So we have 3 new core guys locked in for 5 years….. next year, I believe there’s only 1 guy who will be UFA… so this will be the core for a few years.
I’m optimistic.
Go HABS!
