Habs Handcuffed By Sundin?

Robert L Note: Regarding the pic....I read Four Habs Fans everyday. I Googled "cuffs" and this is what came up. Call it my flattering way of saying hello!

So Mats Sundin remains undecided as to what his hockey future holds!

I wouldn't want to be the waiter waiting on him in a restaurant! He'd order water, ask for some time. He's not even sure he's hungry!

Despite numerous attempts by Canadiens GM Gainey to take his temperature, there isn't even a sign of a pulse.

This puts the Canadiens in a quandry today, as the team clearly pinned their hopes that Sundin would be interested in playing in Montreal. Apparently, the big Swedish center is interested, if he does decide to pursue his career.

The "if" remain a big "if".

He has mentioned through his agent that he is impressed with Bob Gainey and his endeavors to sign him, but it all ends right there for now.

There have been back and forth chats between the three parties, and only they are privy to what they are worth.

It begs many questions, for starters, does Gainey wait Sundin out and risk coming up empty on the free agent market?

Are there plans B and C in place, and are they viable solutions to the Canadiens continued improvement?

How does this scenario affect other potential signings with the team?

Will Bob, or has Bob, imposed his own deadline for a concrete answer from Sundin?

Another question that some people will see as valid, in terms of the perception of the team and Gainey to land that targeted big fish free agent, is that if the Canadiens fail to reel in what they seek, should it be taken in the context that star players simply do not want to come to Montreal?

Before getting to the answers, perhaps a look at the big picture is in order, for the sake of balance and common sense amidst all this free agency frenzy.

To begin with, despite what some people might think, the Montreal Canadiens are in awesome shape. They finished first in their conderence last season, led the league in goals scored, own a jealous crop of rising youngsters, and are run by one of the best management teams in the league. They are progressing slightly ahead of plans.

On the flipside, after a very surprising regular season, they were knocked out of the playoffs by a team they should have beaten.

What is raising the stakes in this free agent summer is the fact that the Canadiens are possibly one solid signing away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. They are also entering their 100th anniversary season, which for many translates into the silliest notion that the team ought to go for broke to try to win a Cup in it's centennial season. I don't follow that compromised lack of logic, but I understand why others are caught up in it, including the organization itself.

But that's another thing altogether!

The way I see it is, if the team's most identified need is at center, how does signing a player who fits in anywhere else remedy that?

What the Habs need most in order to maximize the assets it already owns is a centreman and nothing else.

Should Gainey wait Sundin out?

I'd be tempted to say "not a chance", but there is no other center of Sundin's stature that could add the same things to the team as he would. Gainey should wait it out only if Sundin has given a solid verbal reason to him, such as saying, "Bob, I'm leaning towards playing next season, and if I do, the Canadiens are the first team I will contact. I promise you that. I should know in two weeks how I feel."

If Gainey has not heard a statement similar to this, he ought to think to himself, "Thanks for nothing", and move on.

Are there other viable plan B and C solutions?

Kinda, sorta!

The other two highest profile free agents available are Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell. While both are quality players, I'd be cautious to guess exactly what they could add to the Canadiens.

My guess is both will be looking for about 8 million dollars to sign somewhere.

Hossa would obviously be an upgrade on wing for the Canadiens, but they are about to hand a King's ramsom for one good year's work to Andrei Kostitsyn. The signing of Hossa would bump him down a line. It would upset the apple cart some, with not enough offensive centers for all the firepower on the wings. The Habs would be creating another Michael Ryder, searching for his game, the odd man out.

As for Brian Campbell, I think he is being overpriced in this free agent season because he is clearly the lone markee offensive blueliner out there. Heck, he doesn't even have Souray numbers, but is set to command quite the pricetag. Of course Campbell is way more rounded in his game by a longshot, still he is no physical specimen. If a team is spending that type of money on a defenseman, they should get the whole package.

Campbell's numbers in the end might resemble Mark Streit's totals, which the Habs could have at half the cost.

So plans B and C may just become finding cheap ways to upgrade the third and fourth lines. That wouldn't be the worst thing!

This scenario would affect other potential signings by the team by causing the Canadiens to focus their upgrading of the club from the bottom up instead of from the top line down. In other words, is there a better Bryan Smolinski out there? Would Brooks Orpik be an improvement on Ryan O'Byrne.

My say is, for the extra dollars, why even bother?

If Gainey has not given Sundin a deadline date beyond July 1, I hope that his patience is based on something concrete that Sundin has said. Barring a definite gauge of Sundin's interest for Montreal, Gainey will know whether to move on or not based on the talks they have had.

For now, all scenario's point to little happening for the Canadiens on July 1.

Of course Gainey will be criticized, it comes with the territory! Regardless of the efforts involved, it will be perceived in many corners as a failure by Gainey, but nothing will be further from the truth.

Gainey was criticized for not adding Hossa at the trade deadline last February.

Gainey was also commended for not overpaying for Hossa at the time, and compromising the future of the team.

It's the old "damned if you do, damned if you don't" motto playing out.

Many free agents will be calling Montreal and the Habs will not be interested for a variety of reasons, some listed above.

What it comes down to, is that Gainey long ago identified Sundin as the one concrete upgrade the Habs could sensibly make.

He's gone out on a limb to secure the rights to negotiate with him ahead of free agency - from the Maple Leafs, no less.

If it doesn't work out, why is Gainey to blame?

He set the table by adding Alex Tanguay at the draft immediately after the prosepective deal with the Leafs.

As a fan of the team, I'd be more worried if the Canadiens were to panic and begin adding players after July 1 that have no place.

My take is that if Sundin refuses the Habs advances, then it is truly time to start signing what is already in the Canadiens stable to long term deals that will be bargains years from now.

What else would be as sensible and sound?

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Habs Report Cards Are In

I promised myself that I wouldn't go ahead with grading the Habs players and management so soon, in the light of this elimination wound still being fresh. At first I did not wish for playoff disappointment to blur what has ben an excellent and surprising season for the team and the individuals who comprise it.

I decided to go ahead with this in spite of that because this is time where the evaluation and perspective are the most important. How these players performed in the past few weeks speaks greatly for where they are as individuals. The Canadiens are after all, building to win a Cup and not simply be a strong regular season club. In fairness, my assessments will take in both seasons, and the overall mark will reflect what the player brought over the course of 94 games.

So here goes, starting from the net out:

Carey Price:

Price proved to be mortal, fallable and not quite a saviour yet. He was asked to carry the heaviest of burdens and in retrospect, it was perhaps a little much to ask of a 20 year old. Despite his playoff ups and downs, he had a stellar rookie season and his playoff showing does not tarnish the outlook on what should be a very promising career. While there surely will be a tendency to be extremely harsh on Price due to Bob Gainey's decision to trade Huet, it isn't quite the goalie's cross to bear for now. Price had great runs, especially down the stretch, but his slips may be due to the fact that he was in the end overworked (since the whole of 2006-07) and possibly overwhelmed. The experience he has gained in one NHL season is invaluable, and should serve him well as soon as next season. The Canadiens, management and players included, might be guilty of having been caught up in all the hype as well, as they likely relied on him to ridiculous extremes. B+

Jaroslav Halak:

Truthfully, we learned more about Halak's worth in 2006-07 than this season. He is a solid goaltender who will need to play more games before a truer evaluation can be made. I can see him making 35 starts next season and faring extremely well. It would serve the Canadiens interests to use both young goalies smartly next season. A better distrubution of unpicked games for Halak will allow for the goalies to thrive a be fresh and tuned for the playoffs. Halak gets no grade due to having seen too little action in Montreal.

On defense:

Andrei Markov:

Got the big bucks and earned every penny. Played a key role in Montreal's top ranking PP and appeared in his first all star game. Teamed with Mike Komisarek on the Habs top defense duo, the pair shutdown top opponent lines all season and helped the Canadiens to a stronger defensive game. In the playoffs, injuries that went unpronounced kept his effectiveness to a minimum. Komisarek was banged up as well. Markov's health was the main reason the Habs PP went south as his natural tendencies took a hit. His being limited in ability meant the Habs were playing on a crutch. A

Mike Komisarek:

The big bruiser became a top line blueliner this season as a leader in hits and blocked shots. 29 other teams would love to have Komisarek to put on the ice. Overexhuberance might be his only drawback, and he need to learn better when to reel it in and let it loose. His breakaway goal against the Leafs is still on my personal top 10 faves of the year. A



Roman Hamrlik:

Gainey's biggest off season signing helped steady a defensive corps that had a reputation of running wild when pressured. His physical game was a surprising and welcome addition as well. Hamrlik sometimes plays on cruise control and takes a pedal off before games are decided. Overall though, he was a rock for the Habs this season. His play could always be counted upon when the Habs needed to insert a less reliable defenseman into the lineup. Partners of Hamrlik's this season includedBrisebois, O' Byrne, Gorges, and Streit - all handed to Hammer when they needed some calming down. B+

Francis Bouillon:

Perhaps his best season in a Montreal jersey. Made for a solid, if unspectacular, pairing with Gorges. The physical element of his game never dipped and his transition game improved over the past few seasons. Bouillon may still not be in the team's longer termed plans, but he's he welcomed back next season. B




Josh Gorges:

Perhaps a pleasant surprise, Gorges became a dependable third line d-man when teamed with Bouillon and played on his proper side. Adept at taking a hit to make the right play, Gorges consistently delivered the goods without ever sacrificing physical play. All that good being said, Gorges and his partner offer no fear factor's in their smart game and present an area when the Canadiens must gain in size. B

Ryan O' Byrne:

Had his NHL baptism this season and passed the test. His size and strength are NHL calibre though his reads and speed are where he needs improvement most. In time he ought to stake out a reputation and a working space for himself much like Komisarek. Got a good lesson in off ice conduct in mid season. B-




Patrice Brisebois:

A more likeable version of himself returned to Montreal amidst much fear this season, and Brisebois fared beyond expectations for the most part. He found trouble and some old bad aptitudes when played too often for too long, but in the end the Canadiens got what they bargained. Few experienced depth defenseman come this experienced and this cheap. He eould warrant a return of the Habs didn't have bigger things planned for a multitude of prospects in the organization. B-

Mark Streit (D):

I'm taking creative licence here with Mark Streit, and rating him at two positions for fairness. Over the course of two seasons, it appears as though Streit has carved himself out a niche on the team, and it isn't at this position full time. Streit is an ace on the PP point, but his defensive work inside the Habs blueline this season exposed some inadequacies. While his unpressured transition passes are slick, when in traffic he becomes a whole other hand grenade. The demands of a different type of physical game around his end seemed a little too high a reach for Streit this year. Balancing his PP excellence, is the notion there is no longer a need for him on the backline. C+

Forwards:

Alex Kovalev:

Was TSN's "Comeback Player Of The Year" and a more than worthy recipient. Everything that Kovalev wasn't one season ago, he was in 2007-08. Might just be the most exciting player in Montreal since Guy Lafleur and surely one of the more talented to play in the city. That being said, Kovalev still has his flaws and occasional bad games where he forgets that not everyone playing alongside him has his skill level. His saucer pass feeds, for one example, are more expected by the opposition at this point than by linemates. Those are but a small complaint in what was a big, big season for Kovalev. His passionate play was the engine behind a memorable Habs season. Docked a + for a string of ordinary at best playoff games. A

Saku Koivu:

The captain lost his number one center status on the team this season but none of his fire and grit. The veteran remains the most playoff atuned forward on the Habs, as was seen in his 9 game playoff of 2008. Statistics have always led to an unfair evaluation of Koivu's worth to the team, which involves work in the four corners of both ends of the rink, often against the opponents top scorers. Linemates were shuffled like a deck of cards this season, but Koivu still remained close to his point averages. Still has lots of good years left in him. B+

Tomas Plekanec:

With continued growth this season, Plekanec reached top line center status in his third full season at the position as he nudged both the 30 goal and 70 point plateau. Confidence might be his biggest barrier at times, as he has tendency to slump and shy away from the things that work well for him. There is a growing perception that the Czech is fearful of traffic, yet he plays his best games in the thick of things. Underappreciated is Plekanec's two way, which goes a great length to covering for Kovalev's adventures and Andrei Kostitsyn's inexperience. Plekanec will hit the 30 goal mark as he grows more self assured and his line continues to gel. B+

Andrei Kostitsyn:

The elder of the Kostitsyn brothers had a great full first NHL campaign in what was essentially a rookie season. Having played in 22 contests one year ago and 11 in the season prior, this was Andrei's first turn as a regular and he responded with 26 goals, which would have placed him at the top of the rookie list had he been eligible. While his transition into a pro has taken some time, Kostitsyn learned a great deal in 2007-08. He offered a sound defensive game most nights and was capable of physical play when fighting for the puck. There is much work to be done in regards to his puck posssession skill and his turnovers and it should all round out with experience. A solid season for a first year player on the top line. B+

Mark Streit (F):

Helped fill part of the void left by Sheldon Souray with crisp passes and shifty moves on the powerplay. Plays a more creative role on wing than he is able to on defence, but will not warrant icetime on the top two line. The Canadiens third leading scorer stands out most for his versatility. B

Chris Higgins:

Despite setting career highs in all stat categories, and leading the team in shots on goal with 241, Higgins was somewhat a disappointment this season. His play at times often leads to great expectations before streakiness and slumps even out such assessments. Sometimes displaying the potential of a 40 goal scorer, Higgins is often a victim of trying to do too much rather than play within his means. His enthusiam, seen in this light, becomes both his blessing and his curse as he tries to everything and be all, all at once. It is in his traits as a leader to want to assume so much responsability, but as Guy Carbonneau noted on a pair of occasions, Higgins has to learn his game and play within his talents to be successful. B

Steve Begin:

Begin is a needed component on any team. This season, he brought his usual set of intangibles that include gritty play, throwing checks and blocking shots. He is a perfect example of a player who knows his role and understands how to maximize his assets. His rambunctious style usually means playing through injuries, and as a motivational sparkplug on the Habs, no one does it better. Lack of offense in his case will never be a detriment as long as his play serves to shift the game's flow in his team's favor as it always has. B

Sergei Kostitsyn:

No one saw the younger brother on the scene so soon, but his callup seemed to throw wind behind the Canadiens sails once he joined the team. With superb vision, sleek passing skills, and guts that defy his size, Kostitsyn's season of adapting to the NHL gave many a glimpse into an interesting and productive future. He will, of course, learn in time to reel in his zest and adventurous side. Sergei made many mistakes, but also showed a committment to correcting them while playing a mature two way game for his age. Was a surprsing + 5 for the Habs in the playoffs. B

Maxim Lapierre:

Continued to progress towards being a solid defensive NHL center. When Lapierre is on his game, forechecking, hitting with authority, and creating scoring chances, he can be a gamebreaker. Consistency remains Lapierre's biggest issue still and he has a tendency to coast and disappear on occasion. His upside will never take him beyond 3rd line status, but he could turn out to a dependable pivot with close to a 20 goal in him when he matures. Does his best to give an honest effort every game. B

Tom Kostopoulos:

Brings a game similar to Begin's, but is more of a pest than a pounder. Used his speed well to cause turnovers while annoying anyone in his path. Doesn't have the greatest game in game out endurance, although he rarely lacks for effort. Was a star in the Boston series and had shifts worthy of a Conn Smythe winner at times, before sizzling out quickly and heading for a void. B



Guillaume Latendresse:

Did not benefit from as much powerplay time as the previous season while matching his rookie year goal totals. Latendresse's defensive game gained a great deal in awareness and positioning which helped make him less of a liability in his own end. His mobility often comes into question in the offensive zone due to his slowness to read developing plays. His instinct isn't yet geared towards crashing the crease like that of a goal scorer though his game shows signs of that aspect coming around slowly. Much more will be expected of him in his third NHL season. C +

Mikhail Grabovski:

A cautious assessment only 24 games into a career warns that Grabovski only has game when owning the puck. Without the puck, he is often not a factor. Displays great speed and offensive instinct, but is not yet able to sacrifice himself in order to make a play. There is much potential in the player combined with a sense that his shortcomings will prevent their use until harder lessons are learned. Two or three dazzling plays per game in his case do not equal a 60 minute committment. C+

Michael Ryder:

A big disappointment this season, Ryder offered little new to his play other than a keener eye for his own zone. Opposition defenses seemed to have Ryder figured out as the space he always found to unleash a wicked wrister was no longer unoccupied. Ryder's playmaking abilities with the puck are barely NHL calibre, and that was part of what lent to a stiffling of his game. The effort and understanding required to combat this never surfaced. C


Mathieu Dandeneault:

A likeable, team oriented player, Dandeneault suffered through a season of reaquainting himself with the forward position to mixed results. His experience reading breaking plays served him well in certain capacities, but there is little physicality in his game to broaden his contribution. C





Staff:

Bob Gainey:

There isn't much front line work for a GM to do in today's NHL other than the free agency period and the trade deadline. Gainey compensated for striking out signing a big catch in July by adding Hamrlik, Smolinski, Kostopoulos, and Brisebois. There were no home runs hit, but the 4 additions were solid and helped the Canadiens in different ways at different times. At the deadline, Huet was let go to create room and bring on the Carey Price era. Results were immediate, but later tempered. Having Huet around in the end might not have hurt when Price tired, but that is the nature of taking a calculated risk. Gainey resisted selling the farm for Marian Hossa when the stakes reached an insane cost, a wise move that fit in with his poised nature. What Gainey has been busy building is still being built, and the promise looks tantalizingly good. B+














Guy Carbonneau:

Constantly learning on the job, Carbonneau's faults will always gain more print that his merits. It was evident by season's end that he didn't take notice of his goalie's workload or the effect it was having on his play. He might need to work on managing his personel on the fly. He stuck with lineups when his team won ugly and failed to tinker with it when it lost competitively. All that being said, he did many things well, including letting youngsters play and develop and earning better respect and responce from the veterans he counted on. B
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Reconsidering Brisebois

I've never been a charter member of the Patrice Brisebois fanclub, far from it. It's not easy to convert me, either. It's hard for me to put my finger on exactly why this is. He's has always left me indifferent to much of what he does on the ice. That's always one of the first words that comes to mind when I think of Brisebois - indifferent!

When Brisebois scored last night what would become the eventual contest winner in game 3, a little thought came to me.

"Oh no, am I going to have to write about Brisebois now?", I silently dreaded.

I was hoping for the remainder of the game that the Habs would add a couple more in the third, or that Claude Julien's forehead would pop a vein in anger making him look like a bipolar Hulked out Humpty Dumpty and give me something else to write about than Patrice.

I'ts not that I dislike Brisebois - he has many likeable traits - it is that I cannot love the notion of Brisebois as a Montreal Canadien. Somewhere else should be there, you know.

Heck, here's a guy who has spent 15 seasons donning the CH and has won a Stanley Cup with the Habs in 93. I ought to have some appreciation for what he brings.

But no, empty is all he has ever left me.















When Bob Gainey brought Brisebois back to Montreal as a free agent at the beginning of this season after having bought out his contract two seasons ago I was baffled by the move.

I understood it, as a depth move. I kinda got the experience thing. The former Hab angle, that would have mattered more to me had it been another player, say Mark Recchi.

At first when I heard the news, I thought it was a joke. A friend of mine who likes to get my Habs colours in a twist, approached me last summer: "Guess who the the Habs signed today? Brisboihahahaha!"

Patrice, the booed one, the bought out one, the Paris midseason vacation one? Come on, Bob, what's up?

When this season began, there was Brisebois dressed and in the lineup when many felt other players belonged there more. He started off doing okay, but then the old visions of him came tauntingly back into his game. Pucks hopping over his stick at the blueline on the PP, pinching when he shouldn't be and causing two on one's, and the always predictable getting beat to the outside where a veteran defenseman should be strongest.

Soon enough, with the steadying of Josh Gorges, a healthy Francis Bouillon, and the call up of Ryan O' Byrne, Brisebois was back where most were most comfortable with him - in the pressbox.

As the regular season wore on, and the Habs climbed in the standings, Brisebois became an afterthought of sorts until injuries hit Francis Bouillon and Mike Komisarek and the Canadiens needed his services in the final games.

The playoffs began, and to everyone's surprise, Ryan O'Byrne is sitting out, and Brisebois is dressed. My dread was reborn.




















Did you ever get the impression that if Bob Gainey and Carbonneau were baseball pitchers, that they would serve hitters nothing but a steady diet of off speed changeups, curves, and knucklers?

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why they would risk playing a 37 year old veteran seemingly at the end of the line in place of a towering stud rookie like O' Byrne against a physical team like the Bruins. It didn't add up for me, and the head scratching continued.

I tried to find and understand anything I could like about the player many refer to as the Breezer, and I came up with shreds of appreciation for a few little things about him.

Honestly, I liked that HE wanted to return to Montreal to play. I can't say the price of his contract rankled me like the $ 4 million per deal he signed here last and was bought out of. At $700,000, and for the experience he has, let's just admit that it was interesting.

I liked that he had the gonads to return and prove something in a city where he has been mistreated to some extent. Maybe misunderstood is a n equally apt word.

At the Habs Fans Summit last October, I really liked it when Brisebois was the one Canadiens player who walked into the rink right off the streets. No big darkened window SUV zoming into the parking garage for this guy. Brisebois walked in off La Gauchetière, comfortable in his surroundings, sucking in the Montreal hockey atmosphere while fans stepped up to chat and seek autographs. I'd have thought the he'd be the last one to act such a way.

With that gesture, I began to understand that perhaps Montreal was one of the few cities where Brisebois was wanted, but that he wanted the experience of playing here again even more. It certainly appeared that way to me.

During this season, which has been a trying one for Brisebois at times, he has never complained about his icetime or made any statements detrimental to the team. When on the sidelines, he set an example for others who have had to sit out as well.

Though I like it when a player is mad about being left out, I like it even more when they keep their views to themselves and work harder to get back in the lineup and remain there.

There are surely other facets of Brisebois' game, demeanor and experience that fans are not privy to. Players on the teams he has been part of have always credited him with being a team player first and foremost. Perhaps no one knows Brisebois as a team mate better than coach Carbonneau.

Maybe it is time to forget what Brisebois has been. Perceptions change as people and players grow. Different roles make for different assessments.

I'm talking about Brisebois. I'm talking about myself, as a Habs fan who wishes to be fair.

Seeing Brisebois as something other than indifferent, for myself now, brings a more current appreciation. In four games this spring against the Bruins, he has been one pleasant surprise. While he still brings the same package as a player, and still makes similar mistakes at times, I have noticed that he has been steadier more often alongside Roman Hamrlik. Oddly, I have noticed his toughness and his confidence more than I ever did before.

Last night, when Brisebois unleashed that howitzer that Tim Thomas admitted he lost track of, I forgot about much of what's annoyed me concerning the player.

It started with the surprise of how the goal was scored itself, beginning with not finding the puck for a split second after it entered the net. Then it was the joy, the sheer joy and look of relief that flashed across Brisebois' grin when the camera zoomed in on him. The awkward moment gave way to a sweetness of sorts that made it all seem just right.

Brisebois, who ironically still employs a wooden stick, had earned this moment.

By being an old Habs warrior, against the Bruins in battle, he caused what has so far been the biggest turning point of the series, at a time when the outcome of the game, and perhaps the series itself, was up for grabs.

That deserves a hard earned measure of respect.

After the game, when questioned about the goal, Brisebois said the put everything he had behind it. Great quote!

I'm ready to like Patrice Brisebois again.

Like it's 1993, and a fresh start has been earned.
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Habs For Breakfast: 16 for 25 Begins

Two quick thoughts.

When considering overwhelming favorites, don't forget who won the last Super Bowl?

Add the jersey numbers of the last two Cup winning Canadiens goalies to Carey Price's number. It equals the last year a Cup appreared in Montreal. It's just coincidence. Keep believing that.

Five days off from hockey games feels like an eternity. Enough talk.

The Wait Is Over - Gazette

"It's about what they're going to do," Carbonneau said before the Canadiens' final pre-playoff practice yesterday. "We beat them 11 times in a row, so I don't think they're going to play the same way. They're going to change some things. I haven't got an email from (Boston coach Claude Julien) that says: 'This is what we're going to do.' So we're gonna have to find out and then react and we have to do it quick. Maybe between periods or between games or after the second game."

Honk Twice If You Love The Habs - Gazette

"Guy Carbonneau says it takes him 45 minutes to make the commute from his West Island home to the Bell Centre, "and I get honked at about 150 times a day." This doesn't necessarily make the Canadiens head coach special; he is driving a Quebec highway, after all." - Dave Stubbs

'71 Proved Upsets Happen - Gazette

"If I'm reading and hearing it correctly, the Montreal Canadiens tonight embark on their journey to a 25th Stanley Cup. Whoa! I admit the numbers say the No. 1 seed Canadiens should be able to handle the No. 8 Boston Bruins, but don't the games have to be played before they move on to the second round?" - Red Fisher

Canadiens Avoid Putting Too Much Stock In Recent And Past Success Against Bruins - International Herald Tribune

""You know, the playoffs are a grind," Gorges said. "You ask anybody that's been through any type of playoffs, it's never easy. It's a battle of attrition and I think the team that wants it the most and the team that prepares the hardest and does what it takes is the team that ultimately is successful."

Habs Koivu Unlikely For Series Opener - TSN

"Barring a last-minute recovery by Saku Koivu, it will be Alex Kovalev wearing the captain's C when the Montreal Canadiens begin the playoffs against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night."

Price, Canadiens Out To Slay Bruins Masters - The Sporting News

"Once the postseason starts there are no favorites," Canadiens defenseman Mike Komisarek said. "Our record against Boston or our record in the regular season is not going to help us win in the postseason. Montreal Canadiens teams aren't defined on what they do in the regular season, they're defined on the success they have in the postseason."

Is Bob Gainey A Clairvoyant? - Bleacher Report

"Bob Gainey took a lot of heat from Montreal Canadien fans when he sent Huet packing. I was one of the critics. I thought for sure Carey Price was too young and inexperienced to carry the Habs to the playoffs. I was wrong. I owe Bob Gainey an apology. How did he know?" - Phillip Houghton

Round One Preview: Goaltending - Four Habs Fans

"Undoubtedly the most important position in all of sports (not that I'm biased), FHF turns it's in-depth "analysis" to the teams' respective goaltenders, Carey Price - aka The Franchise Saviour (tm), and Tim Thomas - aka Tiny Tim." - Panger76

Hold Onto Your Hats, Habs Fans Are In For A Joyous Ride - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"Montreal is so much more than what people, other than Habs fans, are giving them credit for. It’s a young team, faster than lightening, with a system that allows for quick breakouts, and with a steady defence that includes the duo that some oppposing players have said recently is the best defence partnership in the league - Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek."

Le CH prêt pour un très long printemps - RDS

"Durant nos réunions, j'ai dit aux joueurs qu'on se préparait à jouer 28 matchs. Aucune équipe n'a jamais remporté la coupe en gagnant 16 matchs d'affilée. Je ne m'attends pas à ça." - Guy Carbonneau

Kovalev peut compter sur son père - RDS

"Il ne voulait pas. Il se disait trop âgé (68 ans), que les voyages le fatiguaient beaucoup. J'ai dû mettre cinq mois à le convaincre", racontait Kovalev mercredi à la veille du premier affrontement de cette série quart de finale de l'Association Est. "Aujourd'hui, il est très très heureux d'être venu."

Carbonneau a hâte d'aller à Roberval - RDS

"Guy Carbonneau s'est dit très heureux que la ville de Roberval, au Lac-Saint-Jean, ait été sacrée "hockey town" au Canada à la suite d'un concours organisé par la CBC. Le Canadien va ainsi disputer un match préparatoire aux Sabres de Buffalo durant le camp d'entraînement en septembre prochain."

Le CH est trop jeune pour avoir peur - RDS

"D’entrée de jeu, je tiens à vous parler de la jeunesse du Canadien. Certains experts ou amateurs pensent que le manque d’expérience pourrait nuire au Tricolore. Mais je ne suis pas du tout de cet avis, en fait je crois que leur jeunesse sera leur force." - Bob Hartley

Carbonneau: "Je n'ai pas l'intention de perdre" - La Presse

"Comment je réagirais? Je ne sais pas. Mais je n’ai pas l’intention de perdre." C’est avec cette remarque que Guy Carbonneau a complété son point de presse à la veille du premier match de la série Canadien-Bruins qui s’amorcera demain au Centre Bell." - François Gagnon

Julien: "Chara ne sera pas dérangé du tout" - La Presse

"Notre seule chance d'être compétitifs, c'est de demeurer disciplinés, a reconnu Julien. C'est assez évident puisque le Canadien est la meilleure équipe en avantage numérique." - Marc Antoine Godin

Le piège : l'excès de confiance - Le Journal

"Si j'étais dans les souliers de Carbonneau, je serais quelque peu inquiet. Surtout inquiet de la façon dont mes nombreux jeunes joueurs peuvent se laisser endormir par ces statistiques ronflantes. À vrai dire, si j'étais Carbonneau, je m'organiserais pour que toutes ces statistiques prennent le bord de la poubelle." - Jacques Demers

L'équipe du Canada, le CH? - Le Journal

"Le Canadien, qui a gagné sept de ses huit derniers matchs du calendrier, qui a dominé la ligue avec 267 buts et qui compte sept marqueurs de 50 points, s'en remet au gardien de l'avenir dans la Ligue nationale pour aller loin. Même si les trois derniers finalistes de la coupe Stanley ont été Calgary, Edmonton et Ottawa, aucune formation canadienne n'a gagné la coupe depuis le Canadien en 1993, la seule organisation à avoir réussi l'exploit en 18 ans." - Bertrand Raymond

Le Canadien enflamme les casernes de Montréal - Le Journal

"Décidément, même la participation du Canadien aux séries ne peut calmer la tension entre les pompiers et le Services des incendies de Montréal (SIM). La direction a demandé hier soir aux sapeurs de la caserne 5 d'enlever les logos de la Sainte- Flanelle des fenêtres de l'édifice." - Charles Poulin
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Gainey Knows Price Under Pressure

From franchise saviour to the second coming of Ken Dryden, Carey Price has avoided no superlatives on his mercurial rise to the ranks of NHL stardom.

In a year where his exploits have been mirrored against those of Patrick Roy in his rookie rise with the Canadiens, who won a Stanley Cup after a surprise Calder Cup in 1986, the expectations placed on Price are so high as these playoffs loom, one must wonder how a 20 year old young man can handle the pressure.

Of course Price is no run of the mill goalie. He defies almost every goalie stereotype with a coolness so alarming, a nonchalance so boring, one could be tempted to check his pulse.

Mountains of hype seem to have little effect on his demeanor, and he seems to know precisely what is being asked of him.

"They do not raise conference title banners in this building", he was quoted as saying earlier this week.

Rivers of ink were spilled in the pre - season as to how the Canadiens should treat such a precious gem of a prospect. Little of it was adhered to. Even Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau felt strongly that Price remain in the AHL and be brought along more slowly.

He made the Canadiens out of camp!


















When opinions suggested picking Price's opponents carefully for game , there he was back on October 10, winning his first NHL start against none other than the high flying Pittsburgh Penguins.

Between then and now, Price has had moments of appearing merely human. A pair of consecutive weak games found him back in Hamilton where most figured he'd finish out the season. The Canadiens stated Price needed to play more often while working out some kinks in his game.

That Price was at best average in Hamilton was a surprise. So was his recall after 10 games. So was the trading of Cristobal Huet to Washington to allow Price all the needed room to assume the mentality of a number one goalie.

Like many Bob Gainey moves, fans and onlookers reacted to the news like a deer in the headlights of oncoming doom.

"What the devil is he thinking?", might have been the kindest initial reaction to Gainey's rabbit from a hat.

It now appears that Gainey, not unlike Price in some ways, is quite singular in his approach to sizing up situations.

Gainey, as facts have attested, has assembled quite a crack scouting staff. They look beyond the obvious talent and skill of players for mental attributes that are best described as an edge.

Searching for that uniqueness among young players means peeling back the layers of what it is they do very well, and analyzing what it is that makes them tick as hockey beings. Maturity beyond their young ages, leaderships traits and qualities, personal affronts defeated, work ethic and living habits all make up these background checks. Often when the Canadiens select a player, the word character follows his name.

What Gainey and crew are intent upon finding, is that difference maker between what is a good junior or college prospect, and a professional. The seek the man inside the boy.

Last June for example, when the Canadiens selected Ryan McDonagh in the first round, head scout Trevor Timmins mentioned at one point that the Habs had seen the player compete in over a hundred games in the past few seasons.

They have had a watchful eye on his progression since the age of 16. It was an astounding revelation.

The NHL is about pressure and committment, demeanor and dedication.

The Canadiens scout as if performing vital autopsies on living breathing hockey players, and understand early in a players learning curve what they can and cannot yet aspire to.

We get to see Carey Price perform and be interviewed. He's judged in our eyes on great saves, bad goals and offhand and rhetorical quotes.

Bob Gainey knows what Carey Price eats for breakfast!

Often what we don't see in a player's personal day to day existance are determining factors for team decisions. What we are not privelege to, not only create a nessecitated distance and mystique between fan and athlete, it also creates misunderstandings and misconceptions we have about those players.

We know that Carey Price has shown great promise and looks like the real deal, while giving off the impression that little perturbs him.

Bob Gainey looks at how Price took charge when Cristobal Huet was injured, and how he returned to a quieter more condescending way upon Huet's return. The difference in dressing room and off ice demeanor in Price when he held fort in the starting goalies absense revealed to Gainey that his young goalie was more comfortable and offered better performances when in a starter's role.

It was the difference between waiting to assume command, and taking command for Price. It had much to do with having the room to completely be himself.

It is why Bob Gainey did not err in dealing Huet, while stunning an unsuspecting public with the move.

The GM has concrete idea's of what he was getting into. Fans and followers are surprised by Price's success down the stretch.






















Bob Gainey will never be an arrogant man. He is humble, cautious, planning, decisive and studied. Perhaps one day, his quiet and successful methods will no longer come under such fire and rabid questioning.

How does Gainey understand why Price is so effective under pressure?

It might go back to background checks and character.

Carey Price's mother is chief of an Indian reservation. She deals in people's lives on a daily basis.

I do not recall which NHL player said it at the time, but the perspective was a pearl of wisdom. This player, when asked about the pressure most assumed he was under, straightened it out by saying, "What pressure? Pressure is having three children and a pregnant wife, you have a mortage and bills to pay, and you've just lost your job!"

Now that is grounded in perspective.

Hockey is kicks.

Perhaps when you come from a family where parents deal with lives in the balance, this distinction gets a whole a simpler and clearer. Maybe only humble beginnings enable this view, and surely Carey Price has had that.

A bad goal after all, is nothing more than a bad goal. Life or death it is not. The spotlight contorts it's meaning when a million eyes are on it.

When one has the ability and the common sense to place events in their proper perspective, it allows them the composure to deal with them head on.

By shucking off outside pressure like water off a duck's backside, Carey Price focuses on what he needs to do to get the job done.























Maybe when Gainey and staff consider player's off ice habits, they zero in on such traits that would make a kid a winner regardless of which career they would choose. When scraping off the boastful nature and machismo of an athlete, the revealed human being often is the truest picture.

It seems that Gainey has known Price quite well for some time now. His goalie is unique in a position well known for it's rare birds. What pressure does to him, is bring out his best. Challenges are his game.

Gainey, in his regular season ending press conference, made reference to what he saw Price achieve first hand and up close last season in Hamilton. He made a parallel between Price's comfort zone then and now, and traded Huet to enable it happen once more.

The gesture does guarantee the success will be duplicated, it only removes what was seen as one barrier that could prevent it. Gainey knows goalie personalities well enough to manage the area with expertise. He has won with goalies who beat to different drummers before in Dryden, Roy, and Belfour. You could say the man is well schooled.

Tonight, Carey Price's biggest test awaits him.

It makes a lot of us who are just getting to know him very nervous.

Good thing for us is, Carey Price likely doesn't see it that way at all.
.

Phenom Price Leads Exciting Canadiens

Robert L Note: Jacques Demers, a two-time coach of the year and winner of the 1993 Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens, will be providing USA Today with weekly on-line analysis during the first three playoff rounds and before each game during the Finals.

By Jacques Demers, as told to USA TODAY

The excitement is pretty prevalent in Montreal these days.

It's been 15 years since the Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup. It's been 15 years since they last had a 100-point season. But the belief is that they can make a run at it this postseason.

The excitement all starts in net, with the phenom Carey Price. He has been called the second coming of Patrick Roy and that says it all. Roy won the Stanley Cup in Montreal as a rookie in 1986 and fans have waited 22 years for another young goalie of his caliber. Yes, Jose Theodore won the MVP in 2001-02, but you can see the way Price inspires confidence in his teammates, the way great goalies like Martin Brodeur, Evgeni nabokov and Miikka Kiprusoff do.

He has a different personality from Roy. Patrick was emotional and tense. This kid is tense in his own way, but he's not excitable. He has great composure and a great amount of confidence in his abilities. He's mature. And he has a pedigree. He jumped from junior hockey to the American Hockey League last year and won the title there.

General manager Bob Gainey was criticized for trading Cristobal Huet and handing the No. 1 job to a 20-year-old, but I think he has handled Price well all season.


He sent him to the minors in midseason and that helped Price raise up his game. It was a setback at first because Price had trouble accepting the move and he was terrible for the first week to 10 days in Hamilton. But he's a smart kid. He understood why they sent him down and he started playing better and earned a recall.


Once he was back up, it made sense to trade Huet. It's not like he and Price were enemies, but the competition wasn't healthy for either of them. When Price came back, Gainey and coach Guy Carbonneau felt that they had their No. 1 goalie and would have to go with him. And Price has gone 12-3 since the trade.



















Alexei Kovalev is also adding to the excitement in Montreal. He had a 35-goal season, the first since Vincent Damphousse had 38 in 1995-96. He's great on the ice and great in the dressing room. He has helped bring along some of the younger players such as Tomas Plekanec and the two Kostitsyns.

Kovalev's play is a complete turnaround from last year. For some reason, he wasn't involved then. He didn't feel wanted. This year, he has brought a breath of fresh air to this organization. He's positive. He's getting cheered. He received the Molson Cup the other night and the fans gave him a standing ovation.

Some of that turnaround has to do with Carbonneau. Last year as a rookie coach, he was strong technically and managed the bench well. But he had a problem with communication because he was a quiet, low-key guy. He was smart enough to learn, though, that he needed to be a better communicator.


















Now, I think that Carbonneau is one of the leading candidates for coach of the year. Many people thought this was a rebuilding year, but the Canadiens had 104 points and the best record in the conference. His success is not surprising to me because he was a great captain when I coached him. He played in the league for 20 years and wasn't the biggest guy or the strongest skater. But he was one of the smartest guys who ever played for me.

He always thought the game through. He had a tremendous understanding of the game. That allowed him to play against Wayne Gretzky or bigger guys like Mario Lemieux or Eric Lindros. He managed his game so well and that's what made him such a strong, all-around defensive player.

I'm sure he's always told his younger players not to get cocky about going 8-0 against their first-round opponents, the Boston Bruins. He knows that cockiness could turn around on you quickly.
Personally, if I were still coaching, I would have preferred to have played to a split with Boston. I think you're going to see a different Bruins team in the playoffs.

They showed they had a lot of pride by having so many injuries and making it to the playoffs and having a heck of a year. They have a great player in Zdeno Chara. Marc Savard is a dangerous player. They'll probably get a boost from Patrice Bergeron's return from a concussion.

Goalie Tim Thomas has had an unbelievable year and yet he has the worst trouble against Montreal. But if he can put that out of his mind and play as he did against the rest of the NHL, it could be a problem for Montreal.

A lot of people are predicting a sweep, but I think it will be a tough series because Boston is fed up by being humiliated and embarrassed by Montreal.

Still, the Canadiens will win this series in six. And they'll be led by their phenomenal rookie in net.
.

Habs For Breakfast - April 8, 2008

How's your hockey pools coming?

I joined one last night with 6 people including a girl who chose 6 Ottawa Senators!

Pretty simply rules in this pool: One point for a goal and assist, one point for a shutout, 12 players plus 2 goalies chosen randomly in the draft.

I didn't get too adventurous, except for grabbing my 2 goalies with my first 2 picks!

Here's my guys in order chosen:

Nabokov, Price, Plekanec, Holmstrom, Sykora, A. Kostitsyn, Whitney, Rafalski, Michalek, Malone, Cheechoo, Cleary, Koivu, S. Kostitsyn.

In all 5 Habs, 3 Red Wings, 3 Sharks, and 3 Penguins. You could say I stuck with the favorites!
The Canadiens had by far the most players chosen of the 84 selected - 11, all the way to surprise picks a la Hamrlik and Latendresse. I grabbed captain K with my 13th pick!

If you are into joining a hockey pool, the Habs Inside Out site has one set up - no cost, no prize other than honour, and it is fairly straightforward as far as rules go. Check it out here.

Should be fun stuff!























"Now that we're in the playoffs, our goal is to win the Stanley Cup." - Gazette

"We began in October with 15 Eastern Conference teams and our objective was to make the playoffs, in the best position possible," Gainey said. "Now that we're in the playoffs, our goal is to win the Stanley Cup." And just like that, the genius behind this remarkable Canadiens team turned playoff fever up another few degrees in a civic cauldron that's been on a rolling boil for weeks." - Dave Stubbs

One Step At A Time - Montreal Canadiens.com

"The first half of the season was a matter of preparing our team after having made room for our young players," explained Gainey. "Over the second half of the season, we began to see the results of our efforts and an improvement in our overall play."

Stretch Run Shows Price Is Ready - Gazette

"Price has no playoff experience in the NHL, but Gainey said he sees comparisons between the Price who has posted a 12-3 record down the stretch and the 19-year-old who led Hamilton to the Calder Cup a year ago." - Pat Hickey

Walking Wounded Making Progress - Gazette

"The Canadiens are still hoping to have defenceman Mike Komisarek in the lineup for Game 1 Thursday. He did a lot of hemming and hawing Monday, but his injured hip is on the mend. He still needs clearance from the team doctors, but he appeared to be handling the contact in practice Monday." - Pat Hickey

Gainey revels in young talent, but says veterans will lead Habs in playoffs - CP

Sharks to top Habs in Stanley Cup final, according to EA Sports simulation - NHL.com

Price, Jagr, and Huet named week's 'Three Stars' - NHL.com

Habs Lessons: 2002, 2004, and 2008 - Lions In Winter

"I have nothing against the 2008 Bruins themselves, nor the 2002 Canadiens for that matter. Half the league or more fits into this category. Most Habs teams for the past decade, too. But know this, Bob Gainey has been diligently working and building for 5 seasons since then to make sure we can ice better teams on a consistent basis than the 2002 Canadiens." - Topham

Who Should Win And The Best Things Boston Has Going For Them - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"Although Toe Blake said predictions are for gypsies, I’m going to have my say about who I think will win each series. And this isn’t rocket science." - Dennis Kane

Revival In Montreal - Bleacher Report

Bruins' Bergeron cleared for post-season play - CBC Sports























L'objectif de Bob Gainey : gagner la coupe Stanley, rien de moins - CKAC Sports

"Gagner la coupe Stanley, rien de moins. C'est l'objectif de Bob Gainey. Pour y arriver, le Canadien devra miser sur l'expertise de vieux routiers comme Alex Kovalev, Bryan Smolinski, Roman Hamrlik Mathieu Dandeneault et Patrice Brisebois." - Robert Laflamme

Komisarek, Bouillon et Ryder devraient jouer jeudi - La Presse

"Mike Komisarek n'est pas un très bon menteur. Le défenseur du Canadien s'est efforcé d'en dire le moins possible quant à son état de santé, lundi, mais on a pu lire entre les lignes qu'il sera à son poste pour le premier match de la série contre les Bruins de Boston, jeudi." - Robert Laflamme

Gainey vise la Coupe Stanley - La Presse

"Vous (les journalistes) et nos partisans n’aviez pas vu jouer Carey Price l’an dernier dans les séries de la Coupe Calder. Ce n’est pas juste le fait qu’il ait gagné le trophée, mais son attitude qui m’avait convaincu que nous avions sous la main un grand gardien. Le moment était venu de lui donner la place." - Bob Gainey

Carbo croit que les Bruins auront la rage au coeur - La Presse

"C'est le principal aspect (la discipline) sur lequel ils vont mettre l'accent, a-t-il opiné. Historiquement en séries, il y a moins de pénalités parce que les joueurs sont plus soucieux et concentrés. Peu importe le total de jeux de puissance qu'on se verra accorder, ce sera à nous d'imposer notre style et d'exploiter notre vitesse." - Guy Carbonneau

Barbes bleues, blanches et rouge - La Presse

"Même si le port de la barbe et celui d’un masque ne font pas bon ménage, Carey Price suivra la mode. « C’est dur sur le menton et c’est inconfortable à cause des frottements avec l’intérieur du masque. Ça frise la torture par moment, mais je vais suivre la parade." - François Gagnon

More links at La Presse











Le Canadien en six - RDS

"Les séries représentent une saison complètement différente et c’est pourquoi je concède deux parties aux Bruins lors de la première ronde, mais je prédis que le Canadien l’emportera en six parties." - Jacques Demers

Conférence de presse de Bob Gainey - RDS

Point de presse de Guy Carbonneau - RDS

L' éffet Kovalev - Le Journal

"Phil Goyette, lui, a surtout insisté sur l'effet Kovalev, qui s'est investi du rôle de leader dès les premiers jours de la saison. "En attaque, il essaie de créer des choses. Il est patient avec la rondelle, il ne s'en débarrasse pas. Kovalev, à cet égard, a donné le ton et les jeunes cherchent à faire comme lui. Au hockey, tu ne donnes pas la rondelle. Et quand tu ne donnes pas la rondelle, tu contrôles le jeu."

Josh Gorges: La plus belle surprise - Le Journal

"Plusieurs jeunes ont su saisir la chance qui leur a été offerte cette saison de jouer régulièrement dans la LNH et Gorges en constitue un bel exemple", a raconté Gainey. "Il voulait obtenir une place dans notre excellent groupe de défenseurs et il a su la mériter en jouant très bien".

Est-ce encore essentiel ? - Le Journal

"Il y a actuellement huit nationalités au sein du Canadien. Cinq de ses sept premiers marqueurs proviennent de pays différents, mais aucun du Canada. La présente situation a incité le quotidien national à poser une question quand même pas banale : est-ce toujours aussi essentiel aux yeux des Québécois qu'il y ait des vedettes locales au sein de l'équipe ? La réponse est facile. Bien sûr que c'est essentiel. Primordial même. Toutefois, si on en juge par le vent de folie qui souffle sur la ville, tant que l'équipe connaîtra du succès, on ressentira moins le besoin de crier à l'injustice." - Bertrand Raymond

More links at Le Journal
.

Looking Back On A Successful Regular Season

What a difference one year can make!

Last season, the Canadiens rode the hot goaltending of Jaroslav Halak, in for the injured Cristobal Huet, trying desperately to cling to an elusive playoff spot.

In 11 games from March 10 to April 3, Montreal were 9-2, and saw their hopes of advancing to the post season vanish with consecutive losses in their final two games.

The 6-5 heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 5th did them in.

That final game was a fair representation of what 2006-07 was to the Canadiens. It all about breaks, bounces, and unpredictability.

For certain followers of the team, the ending result was dubious - a happenstance of the oddball calamities that inflicted the team. Some knew the Canadiens were a better team that the record showed.

For others, it was testimony that the Habs were still at square one. Faith, in the big picture for doubters, was fleeting.

So, what happened this season? What were the causes of behind the Canadiens launching from tenth place a year ago into the top spot in their conference this season?

It all started with the believers in the team, the GM, the coach, and the entire organization, understanding that the end result last season was not a true reflection of where the Canadiens were at.

No one panicked, no one was fired, the blueprint was not blown up.

Instead, the continuity of faith in the plan was reaffirmed.























General manager Bob Gainey hit the summer free agency period with a Plan B that might have worked out better than his Plan A.

When the homerun swing for Daniel Briere and the attempted resigning of Sheldon Souray failed, Gainey went for depth. Subtracting Souray, Radek Bonk, Mike Johnson, Janne Niniimaa and David Aebischer from the starting lineup, the Habs GM latched onto Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Patrice Brisebois, and Tom Kostopoulos, and with them, brought in character and experience.

Gainey's best moves may have involved doing his homework in regards to the Canadiens youth corps.

With over a half dozen prospects ready to contribute in Montreal, he managed every case perfectly.

Young players on the table in off season discussions included Price, Halak, O' Byrne, Grabovski, Lapierre, Latendresse, the Kostitsyn brothers, and Kyle Chipchura.

Many organizations follow structured means and motto's where each player is treated the same, when it comes to making it to the National Hockey League.

Gainey treated every player scenario individually based on a progression expectation. He tested skills, maturity, and and compatibility in each player, and learned exactly where each one stood.

When training camp broke, Gainey dispatched Lapierre, Halak, O' Byrne and the younger Kostitsyn back to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Many thought all four had earned a spot - but there are only so many openings.

Opinions were divided over the camps of Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn, and the cases of Price and Grabovski making the big club caught many by surprise.

In certain cases Gainey was examining reaction and adaptation. He kept a pulse on maturity and an eye on domination in the AHL.

The fate of the Hamilton Bulldogs be dammed - Gainey wasn't in this to win back to back Calder Cups!

The tests that Gainey layed out for individual players paid great dividends. Eight of the nine players are currently with the Canadiens - save for Chipchura, who likely a victim of depth.

Price played well, but not steady enough to satisfy the team. A stint, a reality check of sorts, in Hamiltom at mid season served him well. He has been a different netminder since his callback, to the point where Gainey did not bat an eyelash in dispatching Cristobal Huet to the Capitals so that Price could assume his destiny.

Max Lapierre coasted when he should have been focused in camp. His easing off the gas pedal cost him a Hamilton reminder. He returned to the Habs with renewed dedication.

Halak brooded upon his send down, a victim of numbers. No fault of his own, the Canadiens needed to learn what Price was capable of at an NHL level, as they had an impending free agent goalie to assess. After a shakey start, Halak reaffirmed his AHL dominance and his NHL worthiness.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Guillaume Latendresse shared a similar microscope. Both had qualities worthy of being solid NHL'ers, but their work habits represented question marks.

For Andrei Kostitsyn, it was an application to a more physical game that was being looked at. Intensity and a willingness to pay the price were his faults, and patiences were tested when he was sat off on occasion.

For Latendresse, the Canadiens organization kept a close eye on his dedication to learning. Not blessed with wingers of size, the Canadiens needed the big winger for his physical element as much as his scoring. A different approach was applied to his learning curve and there was a marked improvement in his on ice awareness while he maintained his offensive numbers.




















Grabovski and Chipchura were left to duel it out as fourth line center and eventually both were sent back to Hamilton.

Grabovski had lost his spot with the team initially for two main reasons. The first, which had nothing to do with his play, involved the Canadiens getting good offensive contributions from everyone to the point where he was not really needed. The second was the fact that Chipchura had outplayed him and it didn't do any good for him to be sitting around.

Chipchura's half season was a positive one, where he often looked very instinctive for a player of his young age. He did a lot of things well, but when measured against Maxim Lapierre in a similar role, his role and roster spot became expendable.

Sergei Kostitsyn was a revelation of sorts. He had been scoring at a point per game pace in Hamilton when called up and he has never looked back. He offered a physical dimension Grabovski did not have and also was a most compatible winger on whatever line he was given to play on. He also had a profound effect on his older brother, and somehow having the two together brought out the best in Andrei.

O'Byrne came as advertised and hasn't disappointed. He is a patient and poised defender who does not try to do to much. His size and his reach demanded a big league tryout and he passed it with steady play. O' Byrne seems to improve with each passing week, and I recently heard one assessment by a former NHL coach who said that O' Byrne is ahead of Mike Komisarek at the same stage.























In the grand scheme of things, it was important for Gainey to find out exactly what he had in all this youth. They were all tested at the NHL level and though trial and error Gainey and Carbonneau learned what their youngsters were capable of bringing to the team. Seeing each indivudual player as a piece of a larger puzzle, enabled the team to find out exactly where other individuals fit.

What helped speed up the process for Gainey was the Hamilton Bulldogs surprise Calder Cup win in 2007. That bought players experience they could not have gotten otherwise, and not only was it beneficial to their progression as professionals, it also expediated Gainey's evaluation of his best prospects.

An abundance of talented youth injects a great faith in a team when every player understands their role. It can cause division and individualism if players feel their jobs or roles are threatened.

None of this seemed to occur with the Canadiens this season. Most players who were sat out for a game or two were quickly brought back into the lineup to contribute. One has to assume that Carbonneau understood how to manage not only his players, but their personalities.

Dealing with the ego's of third and fourth line players, as well as the extra defenseman the team carried, was crucial to not causing a division and the creation of player cliques.

It is obvious that both Carbonneau and Gainey learned a great deal about how to proceed with this from the Stanley Cup win of 1986.
















The storyline of the Canadiens 23rd Cup will always center around the exploits of Patrick Roy's rookie season, but in truth it had as much to do with how a team with 9 rookies at any given time learned the hard lessons of bonding for the betterment of team goals. Veterans and newcomers that season ran into conflict upon occasion, but this season the Habs seemed to steer right by such problems.

The tales of Alex Kovalev playing big brother to many of the European talents on the team is but one example of possibly many in regards to how this team gelled almost from the start. Veteran players such as Koivu, Hamrlik, Markov, Smolinski, Brisebois, and others surely were as supportive of the team first scheme.

Much has been made of Gainey's off season chats with Kovalev and the dividends they have paid, and rightfully so. For a player to show up with a freshened attitude, and who turns himself from a team cancer to it's most outspoken leader, it has an unestimable trickle down effect on the overall chemistry of a team. Leadership needs to come from many areas on a winning team, but when it is sought and found where it should be is most reassuring, especially on a young squad seeking guidance in their initial seasons.

Many decisions were made by team managemant throughout 82 games. There are always lineup substitutions, line mate changes, callups, demotions, off ice incidents, and game plan alterations. Players all have their opinions on what they believe works and doesn't work. When decision made by Carbonneau or Gainey produce the desired result time after time, players cease to question the motives or means, and simply place faith in those decisions as being best for the team.























When Bob Gainey chose to part with Cristobal Huet at the trade deadline, he had to consider many evaluations. Gainey had to not only know for certain that Price was ready to handle the starters role, but also have a solid idea how the players themselves would react to it.

Huet was obviously a respected and appreciated team mate. Many mourned his trading away, but few doubted Gainey in knowing that it was the right thing to do. There were no players questioning the risk of the move or Gainey's bravery in being so decisive at a crucial time.

Gainey obviously has his thumb on the pulse of team, otherwise he would not have risked such a trade. He had to now that his team had faith in Carey Price and the character to soldier on.
In the 19 games in the post Huet era, the Habs went 14-4-1 to finish out the season.

In looking back over what has been the 2007-08 regular season, you will find all kinds of individual benchmarks, career years, and shining statistical notes. Numbers are spit out about how the Canadiens have not done this or that since whenever, and it all adds up to one big sexy spin.

The angles and views build great confidence, from players down to fans, but it is wise not to get too caught up in the allure.

What the Montreal Canadiens did best in this season was build, gel, and progress.

They are getting closer and closer to that Holy Grail destination, and if 2008 doesn't turn out to be the year, we can be comforted in the knowledge that a foundation has been poured, secured, and cemented for the future.

Regardless of how far the Habs go into this playoff, what has been learned along the way should serve them for years to come.
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