A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Posts tagged Jaroslav Halak
Can the real boo-birds please stand up?
Sep 22nd
I did enjoy the pre-season game between the Habs and Bruins tonight. I was totally pumped up to see some hockey again. Seeing the Habs team and all the young guys hanging around for a couple of games.
Lot’s of positives by the young players tonight.
Something that sickens me is the cheers that Carey Price got in warm up turned to boos quickly.
Honestly people, I don’t understand your reasoning at all. If you’re all drunk, then yeah, maybe that’s an excuse although it’s a terrible one.
I understand you’re buying tickets, that you may be buying merchandise. I understand that some of you may love hockey. But I really do not understand your reasoning in booing a member of “you’re team” (and I use that term incredibly lightly here) and ridiculing him when he touches the puck.
I have no idea how that would have any positive impact on a team you profess to be a fan of. These hockey players, they are people… just like you. Maybe a few hundred people should follow you into your work place and just get on your back while you work…. or maybe your co-workers already do that.. who knows?
Last season Halak became the guy in the stretch. And people would boo Price… which I didn’t understand then. But, ok, you’re voicing your desire for the other goaltender.
But, now… here we are, game 1 of the Pre-Season… a game where the rust will just fall off a bit… a game that means nothing… and that other guy who some professed to love… well he’s gone!
On twitter it was said that many fans didn’t like the Halak trade. I know many fans didn’t like the Halak trade. I myself would have preferred to have both goaltenders in Montreal. But we don’t get everything we want. And there’s a possibility that Eller and Shultz turn out to be players for years to come.
Still, what would that have to do with Price? Price didn’t trade Halak.
It just seems (likely because it is) classless to get on a guy like that. One period into the pre-season.
Jaroslav Halak interview in Montreal
Sep 4th
Even though Jaroslav Halak is with the St Louis blues, he still holds a special spot with many Habs fans.
Today Jaroslav was saying his goodbyes and thank yous to fans in Montreal and there were estimates of about 5000 fans showing up to meet Halak.
Personally, I’ll never doubt him. He just did everything he had to do in order to find his number 1 job that he now holds in St Louis. Played the ECHL, played the AHL… starting, backup… always worked hard.
I’m happy that he’s getting a number one job.
Here the link to the interview.
And here’s the video player:
(Courtesy or RDS)
Best wishes to you Jaro!
Jaroslav Halak now officially a St Louis Blues
Jul 6th
Today it was announced that Jaroslav Halak signed a 4 year contract with the St Louis Blues. That officially makes him a St Louis Blues player.
I just wanted to write a few words to say that in my opinion, Jaroslav is one of those players who earned that 4 year $15 million dollar contract and all the respect that goes with it. In his draft year he was pretty much overlooked, he did his time in the ECHL, he did his stints in the AHL (call ups, send downs), he was put in as backup (behind both Huet and Price) on a few occasions despite playing very well and he never really made a fuss. He worked hard and through that hard work was rewarded.
Jaro you always looked good in that Habs jersey. Thanks for the memories and I wish you the very best in your career.
Lots cooking in another summer of changes
Jul 6th
Since the end of the Habs playoff run there have been many changes and to me it feels like a kind of sequel to last summer…. however not in the same mesure we saw last season.
Jaroslav Halak is long gone to his new job with the St Louis Blues and it still seems as though some fans will hold on to that one for the months to come.
New arrivals Lars Eller and Ian Schultz, who came over in that Halak trade, will be at the Habs development camp from the 6th of July until the 9th. Yeah…. camp starts today!!
On July 1st, I had been hopeful that Gauthier would be able to sign Ellis…. but it didn’t happen. And one can’t really blame Ellis as in Tampa he’ll certain get his shot at being number 1.
On on the goalie front I believe this does mark a year of change… as Price will be the Habs number 1 goaltender going into this season. He had been etched in at number 1 before, but still being so young…. behind both Huet and then behind Halak who caught fire, he had some time to taste the NHL pressure cooker…. taste the pressure, the good times and the hard times.
I think Price did some maturing last season while Halak was getting all the playing time judging by how he seem cool with the media.
No big UFA signings this year…. and I wouldn’t have expected it. I saw some people were forever hopeful that somehow the salary cap would be forgotten and we’d end up with a Kovalchuck… but really. That’s a demand for the miraculous.
I’m hoping to get back to blogging alot in coming days. It’s a busy time for me and days, weeks are flying by….
As for the Habs development camp… here’s the list of players attending!
Name 2009-10 team
AVTSIN, Alexander Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
BRISEBOIS, François Colgate (ECAC)
BRUNELLE, Jonathan Drummondville (QMJHL)
CONBOY, Andrew Hamilton (AHL)
ELLER, Lars Peoria (AHL)
ELLIS, Morgan Cape Breton (QMJHL)
ENGQVIST, Andreas Djurgarden (Sweden)
GALLAGHER, Brendan Vancouver (WHL)
KLUBERTANZ, Kyle Djurgarden (Sweden)
MacMILLAN, Mark Alberni (BCHL)
MAXWELL, Benjamin Hamilton (AHL)
MAYER, Robert Hamilton (AHL)
PALUSHAJ, Aaron Hamilton (AHL)
PATERYN, Greg Michigan (CCHA)
QUATTROCCHI, Joseph Fort McMurray (AJHL)
SCHULTZ, Ian Calgary (WHL)
St-DENIS, Frédéric Hamilton (AHL)
SUBBAN, P.K. Hamilton (AHL)
TINORDI, Jarred USA U-18 (USHL)
WEBER, Yannick Hamilton (AHL)
WESTIN, John Modo (Sweden)
WHITE, Ryan Hamilton (AHL)
Big new of the day… bye bye Jaroslav Halak
Jun 17th
I was stunned to see the news come and go. Jaroslav Halak traded to the St Louis Blues!?!?!?!
It had been my hope that Gauthier try to keep both young goaltenders, but in all actuality I figured the chances of that happening were quite low.
Halak had played second fiddle to Price for some time despite showing that he certainly could play and play well. Not sure if Halak had wanted out of Montreal although I wouldn’t necessarily blame him if he did.
Let’s remember, before everyone got on the whole “Halak” stop sign trip…. he had been in numerous trade rumors all season. And even though Carey Price took alot of heat from some fans….. it’s not that long ago that Halak was seen as quite average….. and was continually thrown into trade rumors by fans…. probably some of the very fans who voiced their opposition to this trade on Facebook and Twitter.
Imagine that.
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