Carbonneau Needs To Make Adjustments

The analysis of a game should never be measured by the final score.

After the Canadiens narrow 3-2 overtime win game 2 of the series, one could sense the gap between the Bruins and the Canadiens was closing. Despite the fact that it was the Habs 13th straight win over the Bruins, it hardly looked by the the Canadiens play that they could commandeer such a streak of domination. Regardless of this series being a first against eighth seed, there isn't that big a difference between the teams in terms of overall effectiveness.

Looking back over the Canadiens run over Boston, the assessment that the Bruins did a whole load of dumb things to enable a 13 game losing streak would be just.

Over this season, and stretching back to 2006-07, the Canadiens have always found a way to beat the Bruins. Often, it was a case of the Bruins becoming frustrated with losing to Montreal, and somehow beating themselves.

There is much to be learned from continuous losing to the same team in same way over and over again, and the Bruins have been able to make the correct adjustments. On the Habs side, the biggest danger is complacency, and that is something that a team can never adjust to until after it happens.

With game 4 fast approaching, this is where the two teams sit.

When a coach gets the sense that something is slipping away from his team, he has the choice to react strongly, or simply place faith in his players bouncing back.

It's a tough read for a coach, to scan around the room, or look down the bench, and take the pulse of a team that has been winning and decide changes are imminent. His reactions can be misconstrued as over reacting, and on the flipside, his silence and faith can enable the complacency to set in. It's a hard call to make either way, but often a decision has more impact than not making one does.

The storyline of game 2 had the Bruins gaining ground on the Canadiens, who were fortunate things went their way in overtime. Without the benefit of a day off between games, Boston coach Claude Julien didn't hesitate to make a change and send a message to his troops, dropping the potentially offensive, but so far ineffective Phil Kessel from the lineup.

Guy Carbonneau for his part, adhered to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto, and was likely left second guessing himself.

Many people were perhaps caught off guard by the fact that Carbonneau chose to make no adjustments. Perhaps the coach didn't see the cracks forming. There was nothing in Saturday's game for a coach to be alarmed about, but Carbonneau's patience with certain players will be questioned as the series wears on.

With as many as six players on the Habs card offering less than stellar results so far, many thought Carbonneau would be ready to tinker by game 3. Names mentioned as being a little off have included Michael Ryder, Tomas Plekanec, Alex Kovalev, Mathieu Dandeneault, Mark Streit, Josh Gorges, and Patrice Brisebois, so Carbonneau is not at a loss for places to start making changes.

Even though some big names have been pointed to by some, don't expect Carbonneau to do anything as drastic as Julien has.

















Plekanec and Kovalev have been shadowed and keyed upon moreso than they have been all season. It's a playoff thing and nothing else.

The often maligned Brisebois is safe as well, having just playing some of his most alert hockey all season. With his defense partner Roman Hamrlik being so effective in all areas, the Bruins has constantly pressured Brisebois' side, and he has responded with toughness beyond expectations.

Josh Gorges has been the goat of a few tentative moves, and it is in all likelyhood due to his pairing with the more adventurous Mark Streit, who hasn't played a whole lot of defense for the Canadiens this season. For his part, Gorges normal game will return with the steadiness Francis Bouillon brings as a partner.

Streit, bluntly put, is out of place on defense and getting pounded more and more. He may have been the Canadiens third leading point getter this season due to powerplay time on the point and forward line duty, but as a rearguard he has revealed himself to be a liability. Perhaps assessments on him have been harsh - his positional instincts must be confused after almost 80 games on the wing - but excuses aren't what is needed in his case.

Mathieu Dandeneault offers an honest effort every game. The fact that he cannot physically complement the right side of the pounding Lapierre and Latendresse duo with the same carsh and bang shouldn't be a knock on him. In his place, Mark Streit offers no more weight, but when it comes to having natural defenseman play that wing, Streit brings more creativity by far.

The case of Michael Ryder must concern Carbonneau greatly. This season Ryder has placed more emphasis on his play without the puck, and has come away a more solid forward in that regard. Unfortunately, it has come at the expense of his scoring chances. Ryder is not in his usual slot positions when receiving the puck, and still has trouble telling the difference between a playmaking opportunity and a dump in when a clear shot at the net hasn't presented itself. It might be time for the coach to cut the deck in response to what Ryder creates offensively and what he gives away to other teams by not recognizing what really is a scoring chance.

Adding in that the Habs have been pushed around more than they'd like, it is time for adjustments. The more physical Ryan O' Byrne would be a welcome addition, and should Francis Bouillon be cleared to go, a ripple effect might be felt through the Habs starting lineup.

If for no other reason than to shake off some complacency, it could be a good call by the coach.


















Bring in the tall and pounding O' Byrne, move Streit back in to a more comfortable role alongside Lapierre and Latendresse.

Sit Dandeneault.

Play Bouillon if he's ready if for no other reason than to calm the steady Gorges at the expense of Patrice.

Have a one on one with Ryder, and make him understand that there is a kid named Gregory Stewart that they will not hesitate to give another start to. Stewart did more in his first NHL game with top standing in the East than Ryder has done in three games since the playoff puck was dropped.

Shake some foundations. Rattle an ego or two. It has worked all year - witness the effort given by grinders named Kostopoulos, Smolinski, and Begin - the Habs best line in this post season - who have all sat out games uncomfortably this season while inhaling the message.

The Canadiens will be able to exhale easier if they should return to Montreal with a three to one lead in games.

If the Bruins tie up this series tonight in Boston, the Canadiens will no longer be facing an adversary they have beaten in 13 consecutive game.

They will be matching up against an opponent that has the momentum from back to back wins, in what amounts to a best of three series.
.

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
.

Canadiens 4 Bruins 2 Highlights

Did Alex Kovalev sell his training tips video tonight or what?

Kovalev's two second period goals might just be the prettiest pair of goals he's scored this season, and they couldn't have been more timely as they lifted the Habs from a sludgy first half of the game.

Good as it was to see O'Byrne back and Lapierre having a standout game, one has to be concerned about the loss of Mike Komisarek. The extent of the injury is not yet known but with the minutes he eats up, the hits he dishes, and the shots he blocks, it will be very difficult to fill his slot.

I hope Carbo isn't thinking Brisebois again! Reader Wamsley informed me earlier today that the Habs are 17-16-6 with Brisebois in the lineup, which means they are 27-8-4 with him on the pines.

Or to put it another way, we are the Maple Leafs when he dresses and the Red Wings when he's absent.

Take a leave Breezer, here's some free tickets to Paris!

Carey Price was solid as a rock again tonight, being beaten by only a deflection and another shot after he was bumped on a play that deserved a closer look by officials.

Guillaume read my morning post it seems....

Latendresse made a great play to feed Koivu on an angled pass off the backboard to led to Ryder's winning goal. He did all the little things in a big way tonight.

Here's the game clip from Habs TV.

Some Curious Notes On Habs Salary Structure For 2008-09

As of now, the Canadiens payroll for 2008-09 stands at 39.3 million for 15 contracted players. On the present roster, there are 11 players who will reach full or limited free agency next season, and Bob Gainey's job will get more difficult in regards to keeping the current structure intact.

Several younger players, nearing the end of RFA status are due nice raises, and Gainey will have choices to make as to who stays and who leaves. Certain scenarios could get sticky, but the plan in place calls for a continuous injection of youth at a lower cost replacing the high end dropoffs of unrenewed contracts.


Here's a look at the Canadiens current salary status for this season and upcoming years.

Trying to get inside Gainey's head is never easy. Here are some of the things that will need to be dealt with in 2008-09 or sooner.

1 - The Canadiens have 4 UFA's next season, two of whom could return to the team if the price is right.

It would be doubtful that either Bryan Smolinski or Patrice Brisebois are resigned, but the Canadiens will surely have an interest in bringing back Mark Streit, and perhaps to a lesser extent, Michael Ryder.

Streit is the NHL's best bargain at $600,000 and could command upwards of 2 million in free agency. Ryder is the fifth highest paid Hab at 2.95 million. He gambled and lost in signing a one year deal last year, and has been a tremendous disappointment this season. Ryder could return if he settles for a salary in the range of 2 million. Seeing as he was not a highly sought after commodity at the trade deadline, it is doubtful that he will strike a jackpot anywhere come July.
The Canadiens will save 2.7 million on the Brisebois and Smolinski salaries.

2 - The Canadiens have seven RFA's all under the age of 24. They are goalie Jaroslav Halak, defenseman Josh Gorges, Ryan O' Byrne, and forwards Corey Locke, Mikhail Grabovski, Maxim Lapierre, and Andrei Kostitsyn. The group totalled roughly 4.4 million in cap space this season.
Kostitsyn ( $785,000 ) and Halak ( $492,000 ) are on the verge of big increases in respect to their worth to the team. Kostitsyn will score close to 25 goals and should receive a salary just slightly above what Chris Higgins is earning. A multi year deal would raise the per annun above the 2.5 million range. Halak, as a young goaltender of promise will likely see his salary doubled and then some. Teams will consider tendering Halak offers that will make for an uncomfortable negotiation for Gainey, and he may be forced into paying him more than he wishes for now.

Lapierre ( $583,000 ), O'Byrne ( $613,000 ), and Gorges ( $495,000 ) will see their salaries close in on the one million mark, likely in one or two year pacts. At $725,000, Grabovski's payday will reflect his performance over the Canadiens final stretch of the season. Locke ( $495,000 ) will likely seek employment with another NHL organization, whose talent depth offers him more opportunity than the Canadiens.

3 - Plekanec, Higgins, and Komisarek are each playing into the final years of deals and need to be re-upped before they expire.

Making 1.9 million next season, Komisarek will be a UFA come 2009-10. The Canadiens should attempt to sign him to a long term deal before next season kicks in. The Habs understand Komisarek's worth, and would be thrilled if he signed on for four more years at 3 million per. Komisarek wouldn't be wrong in thinking that he is worth more, and might seek longer term for above 4 million a year.

Plekanec ( 1.8 million ) as the team's top centerman will see his salary doubled and perhaps extended into a 4 year pact as he is entering into his final season as a RFA. Higgins ( 1.9 million ) will be in same situation, though he may not command as much. The assistant captain may earn near 3 million on his next deal, which good sense says would not be extended more than three years.

4 - Mathieu Dandeneault, Tom Kostopoulos, and Steve Begin are all on contracts that expire after the 2008-09 season and each will then be UFA's.

The Canadiens will have interest in retaining Begin ( $1.057 million ) as he is both a consumate fourth line professional and a contract that will not neccessitate a large raise.

Dandeneault ( $1.725 million ) and Kostopoulos ( $900.000 ) could be deemed expendable and too expensive to keep around. As victims of the Habs youth movement, their final year deals could see them traded or bought out. Much of their fate will depend on team depth come next summer. In all likelyhood, their roles on the team next season would not differ greatly, and team management will have to decide on the sense of having close to 3 million dollars of salary sitting in the press box.

5 - Francis Bouillon's contract ends at the same time as Dandeneault, Kostopoulos and Begin.
At $1.875 million per year, Bouillon is currently the Canadiens third highest paid defenseman. The 31 year old's fate is tied to three factors - the Komisarek deal, Pavel Valentenko's next training camp, and whether the Habs can convince Alexei Emelin to come to Canada.

Komisarek's contract renewal could mean Bouillon plays out his last season and looks for work elsewhere, and the scenarios involving the two Russian defenseman could play into Bouillon's ice time starting next season if the situations lend themselves.

Gainey might decide that 2 million is better spent elsewhere come next season, and simply sacrifice Bouillon for a draft pick.



6 - Guillaume Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn have one and two years respectively remaining on their current deals.

I would expect to see the Latendresse contract
( $850,000 ) played out in full before the Canadiens assess his worth. The younger Kostitsyn has two more years remaining at $817,000 per season - quite a deal for a 200th overall draft choice that surprised. Should he continue to develop at the same speed, the Canadiens might renegotiate his deal by the thrid year of his present contact. The Habs have some wiggle room with both players being that they are each 20 years old and a few years away from unresticted free agency.

7 - How soon will Carey Price warrant a contract extension?

Of course it is a little soon to bring this up, but what happens if Jaroslav Halak begins next season making more money than Price?

Time will tell if it does happen and whether it will be an uncomfortable situation. Price is a very composed young man, but he has his ego just as any player does. Will what Gainey ends up paying Halak affect Price? If the Canadiens want to create and keep a healthy competition between the two goalers, having the contracts in sync will go a long way towards achieving that.

8 - With the rise in contracts for 2008-09, where exactly can a high end free agent fit it?

Should the team wish to bring in a star player in the July free agent hunt, Gainey will need to deal with the status and contracts of Ryder, Dandeneault, Kostopoulos, and Bouillon first. These four players represent close to $8 million dollars of cap space, and freeing up this money is what would lead to being able to compete for players Gainey wishes to bring in. With Smolinski's deal expiring, and some of the total savings being spread across the contracts of Plekanec, Higgins and Komisarek starting the following season, Gainey's wiggle room will shrink. Much of what he may be doing could be tied to how how the salary cap rises.

All of the scenarios above tie into what management does on an annual basis. Gainey and Julien Brisebois, who deals mainly with the players contracts and the CBA, have a general plan that is followed in regards to how to keep the core of the team intact. The four larger contracts of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Andrei Markov, and Roman Hamrlik are evaluated in the balance as much as those of younger players. Decisions will need to be made when the second tier of salaries - the players nearing 25 years of age - begin to cost in the range of top tier players.

It could end up being that the most important contract renewal on Gainey's horizon is that of head scout Trevor Timmins. Lock him up long term now!

Koivu, Higgins and Ryder Trio Key To Habs Success

Going into the 2007-08 season, many assessments of the Canadiens standing were based on the upside of the team's number one line of Saku Koivu, Michael Ryder, and Chris Higgins.

While each member of the trio were coming off career best seasons of sorts, the predictions remained grim for the Habs, and the 80 or so goals brought by these three players rendered them something less worthy than a true number one line.

That might have been the reality in some people's eyes before the season, but the perspective now is greatly different as the former number one line is no longer alone in expectations to shoulder the load.

In fact, Koivu, Ryder, and Higgins are not only not the team's top line this season, they have only played together sporadically. This season, Koivu and Higgins have been whittled down to a duo more often than not, as winger Ryder has struggled to find the scoring touch that placed him on the captain's side since his rookie season.

At times the duo have been flanked by the likes of Guillaume Latendresse, Mark Streit, and most recently, and seemingly with permanance, Sergei Kostitsyn.

Had Ryder been a constant on the scoresheet since October, all this neccessitated juggling would not have been required. They have been reunited on occassion, and they either ignite sparks or sputter to a stall, depending on the opponant and perhaps the ebbs and flows of games.

In sprinklings of games during the month of February, the trio has been reborn of sorts. The line has seen more time together and success seems to have found them more often. Perhaps rebirth is a premature word, but all three former linemates have been turning in more inspired performances of late - most recently Higgins 2 goal effort against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Last week, Ryder lost a hat trick on a deflection of Streit's ankle, and Koivu has begun to resemble the whirling dervish we've always known him to be.

What has been noticable most, is that in games where these three players point, the Canadiens win.

The brunt of the Habs offensive thrust this season may be carried by the team's nouveau top trio of Alex Kovalev, Tomas Plekanec, and Andrei Kostitsyn, but as perspective renders reality, the contributions of the Koivu line as reinforcement leading into the playoffs are becoming essential.

Against top teams, the well rounded ones, top lines can get shut down from game to game, and this is exactly where the importance of Koivu, Higgins and Ryder come into play. The Plekanec line, who I like to call the Tomahawk line ( Toma + AK + AK ! ) will not be able to carry the Canadiens offense alone come April. Team depth wins playoff rounds, and the Koivu line's resurgence couldn't come at a better time.

It has been a rough season for the three so far, and each have had their issues to overcome.

For Koivu, his struggling and slumping linemates have affected his point total and perceptions of his overall effectiveness and team worth. Even through successful stretches, the exasperation and frustration of the failures of his line to produce were evident on Koivu's facial expressions.

One can see and sense that he wants more for his team and from himself, but varying situations from game to game have dictated otherwise. The captain has batlled, sweat and bled for his team over the years.

In the Habs dressing room for all read daily is the Flanders Field quote, "To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be it yours to hold it high." The quote is most often taken in the context of retiring players passing on the flame to a group of players that will carry on the Canadiens tradition.

Koivu may well represent the first Habs captain, active and still capable, whose gestures and plight actually suggest that all hands together must grab the flame and hold it up.

Koivu has been inspired as he finds himself surrounded by the most solid Canadiens team since his rookie season over a decade ago. His inspiration has worn of on his linemates.

Michael Ryder is scoring again and that is great news. Lately he has shed the split second of hesitation that has bogged him down this season and in games where he has been successful he is making smarter choices with the puck when scoring opportunities aren't present.

This season Ryder has attempted to become a more complete player and has focussed on his play without the puck. By becoming less of a deficiency in 5 on 5 play, he has been more properly positioned than before when the puck isn't on his stick. He is reading the play better, and often it has hurt his offensive game as it has caused a hesitance in what was always instinctive in him. Not the most fluid skater or passer, Ryder of late is choosing the simpler plays when carrying the puck and is not turning the play over as often as he was in the first half of the season.

Ryder has found success lately through this simplicity and is learning to be open in different ares of the offensive zone. Standing still less often and variying his positioning has made him a target for Koivu and his defenseman's passes once again. The split second he has gained back is serving him well.

Chris Higgins style of play involves many elements in tandem with center Koivu. He takes his roles seriously to heart as he tries not only to be defensively sound but offensively effective.

Battling hard in the corners to win the puck, Higgins has more shots on goal than any Canadien this season. When not emerging victorious from the corners to shoot or pass, he is adept at crashing the net for rebounds. It is this last facet of his game that has been successful of late.

When the three play together and are all on their game, their strongpoint is cycling the puck behind the net to create scoring chances in front of it. When they haven't been united, the flip flopping of Ryder with Sergei Kostitsyn between the second and third lines has helped the production of both trios, and as long as these two player continue to pop in the odd goal every other game the Canadiens will be well served offensively.

With seven players topping the 40 point mark and nine goal scorers in double digits, the Canadiens offense is neck and with Detroit and just an offensive outburst away from catching the Senators.

The balance is enviable and with a hot scoring second line the Canadiens should be hard to stop. Should Koivu keep playing with the renewed zest he has shown, and Ryder and Higgins keep finding the net, the Habs should be served well down the stretch.

Higgins Hoping Roommate Stays

Translated from an article in today's Le Journal

Maybe it is the fact that he has become almost immune to such talk, but Michael Ryder didn't seem too bothered yesterday by the mounting rumours that he is on his way out of Montreal.

"I don't know what I can tell you", Ryder said while removing his equipement after practice, "We'll just have to wait until tomorrow."

All that is known for now is that the winger from Newfoundland is not a Calgary Flames - where the rumours dais he was destined.

Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter was unequivocal yesterday in maintaining that Alex tanguay would not be moved. Not yesterday. Not today!

For his part, Ryder says he is not following the rumours.

"I'm not up on it", he admits, "I'm just following my normal routine when I leave the Bell Centre. After that, it's just a waiting game."

Team mate Chris Higgins didn't hide behind the fact that he would be saddened to see Ryder leave. The two are close friends.

"I hope he stays. He's my best friend on the team and we room together on the road. Things would be different for me if he left."

Higgins doesn't consider himself untouchable either, even though Bob Gainey declared last Friday that he did not want to cut into the core of the team when dealing.

"When the manager states that he is in search of an impact player, then it becomes evident that roster players could be asked in return. When the GM makes such a declaration, rumours circulate in no time."

Higgins admits that all the trade scenarios being bandied about are a distraction for him.

"It's talked about lots in the dressing room", Higgins said, "As soon as a sports channel is turned on in the dressing room, you hear the talk."

"I'm not wondering whether I'll be traded, but it is a relief when it is over."

Mike Komisarek won't be sitting down to watch it unfold.

"I don't see myself wasting hours listening to commentators speculate", says the big defenseman.

Gainey In A No Win Situation

The harsh reality of today's 3 P.M. deadline for Habs GM Bob Gainey, is that regardless of what he does, he will be unfairly maligned for it.

No matter what the evolution of several unfolding scenario's will be, unless there is a Stanley Cup attached to it, what he does or does not do today will be described as a failure.

And that outlook could start as early as 3:05 P.M. Tuesday.

Gainey could do one of three things today. He could decide to stand pat in light of the rising cost of the players he seeks. He could succumb to the pressure and foolishness of the day, not wanting to be outbid for who he truly has an eye on, and overpay dearly for 2 months worth of rent a player disinterest. Lastly, he could choose to unload a potential free agent as he did last season for futures and get crucified for it in the short term should the Habs fail to have a season's end that could be termed a success.

Watching the trickle of signings and trades in the past hours leading up to February 26, I get the sense that several GM's are about to get squeezed in the same vice of helplessness.

Three key happenings have helped set what is, or isn't, about to go down on Tuesday.

First, Mats Sundin and other valuable trade commodities in blue and white, have refused to waive their no trade clause. This removes possibly three or four potential deals with teams who were interested in these players.

Second, Calgary GM Darryl Sutter seems quite serious about hanging on Alex Tanguay until summer. The bidders for this player will be turning their focus elsewhere.

Third, Peter Forsberg has signed with the Avalanche, and Dan Boyle with the Lightning, who then traded Vaclav Prospal to the Flyers. The moves cut down potential scenarios that other teams might have envisioned.

How all this affects the Canadiens and Gainey's situation is that it raises the price of players on the market by supply and demand.

The asking price for Gainey's targetted player of choice, Marian Hossa, will now have risen because there are more teams bidding. What Thrashers GM Don Waddell was asking yesterday, will have increased by today.

Gainey, a sensible man amongst a league of gambling fools, might just choose to suffer the consequences of sitting still once again.

I'm prepared for such an eventuality - I'm almost expecting it.

Should he do so, it's not the worst landscape in the world. I'll comfort myself with the thought that Gainey has at least not taken his stare off he big picture.

Should the bidding get ridiculous, and it will, much will depend on how the domino's fall. The big fish of the day other than Hossa are Brad Richards, Ollie Jokinen, Brian Campbell, Patrick Marleau, and Glen Murray. When they move will be as important as where they move to.

It is said that the most serious threat to the Habs landing Hossa is his former employers, the Ottawa Senators, who are rumoured to be offering two or more roster players, as they have little to offer on the farm. The Senators, if you can appreciate this, are even more desperate to make a move for the Holy Grail than the Canadiens are. Should the stakes rise, my feeling is that Ottawa will either fall out of the Hossa contention early, or make a ridiculous unrefusable offer that compromises their future depth somewhat.

If Montreal were to part with Michael Ryder, Ryan O'Byrne, Mikhail Grabovski, David Fischer, and Alexei Emelin for Hossa, I think every Habs fan would shudder.

Especially if Gainey fails to sign Hossa in the summer.

Would he even do such a deal if Hossa came signed?

Names of other Canadiens such as Mark Streit and Chris Higgins (doubtful) have been also mentioned as possibly heading out of town on such a deal, as well as prospects Matt Carle, Pavel Valentenko, Jaroslav Halak (doubtful as well seeing Huet is a free agent soon) and Matt D' Agnostini. Draft choices could also come into play, but seeing the Canadiens will not be picking in the top 10 that pick would not be highly valued or a deal breaker in any way.

In the end, Gainey might just throw everyone a curveball, and send one of Ryder, Streit or Huet to some team on the playoff bubble and fetch a first round pick, while lining himself up for the firing squad that is the Montreal media.

Such a play would be doubtfull as Gainey as unabashedly stated his mission this time out.

When the day is done, let's hope he has neither settled for something lesser than his target, or compromised the future depth of the team to win an additional playoff round.

The Saga Of The Hossa Glove Thickens

You can tell when parades and Stanley Cups are the minds of Montreal hockey fans and media alike when stories bordering on absurdity take on the realm of a believable scoop.

Last week it was "Pursegate", and now we have "Glovegate"!

What's next? Jockgate?

As you might have read recently, a pair of gloves in the Marian Hossa name and in the Canadiens colours, brought a frenzy to the euphoria already implanted in the hearts and minds of Habs fans, when it was reported that such equipement was made to order and delivered to the Bell Centre three days ago.

Amid the speculation that Bob Gainey is trying to land the biggest of fish before the trade deadline, and combined with the reports that Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell has been following the Habs closer than the Enquirer spies Britney Spears, came a story that an equipement manufacturer in La Belle Province had been called upon to fit and deliver game paraphanelia in the Hossa name to the Habs hockey rink.

Fact before confirmation. Scoop. News. Insane. Absurd. Believable and unbelievable. Unreal. Reality check.

In light of this, I figured one of two things would occur on Thursday.

There would be a trade announcement between Atlanta and Montreal, or an equally creative denial from many fronts.

I was expecting almost anything from either the Canadiens or Thrashers organizations to refute the news, but all that came forth were redundancies that Atlanta was still in negotiation with Hossa, and some even more farfalluted pipe dream than the Edmonton Oilers, of all hellish snowballs chances, were looking at bagging Hossa in the off season with a kings ramsom of Ovechkin proportions.

Oh, and yes, the was a half baked denial that said the gloves were ordered for Marian's brother Marcel, the former Hab who is now New York Ranger property, who was not so coincidentally in town that very night for a game against Les Canadiens.

I could see this coming!

Nice try!

Marcel is currently a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack, having been demoted to the AHL recently.

So, it would make total sense that he needs new gloves and that they would be sent to Montreal at the precise moment the Rangers were in town.

Does Marcel Hossa need new gloves?

The Wolf Pack wear the same colours as the Rangers!

I smell a coverup!

Mathias Brunet, who broke the story at La Presse, had much to add to the tale today, despite the refutals made. The spin says:

At the top, let's make it perfectly clear: La Presse maintains it's version of facts that equipement in Canadiens colours was ordered for Marian Hossa of the Atlanta Thrashers, and that ongoing negotiations in this area are serious even though nothing can yet be officially announced about a trade involving the Canadiens and Thrashers.

It can be pointed to as fact for the moment, that the it can be confirmed that the piece of equipement in question - a pair of gloves - were odered by Hossa himself, and not by the Montreal Canadiens. That would go a long way to explain the Canadiens reaction yesterday morning, being caught completely off guard as they have nothing to do with the origin of the story. Nowhere did it say yesterday that the Habs had placed the order.

We can then understand why the Canadiens made no statement either way Wednesday, when it was suggested that the gloves were intended for Hossa's brother Marcel, currently in the AHL with Hartford, while the Rangers were in town.

We can however state that the pair of gloves destined for Marian are one thing, and that those headed for Marcel are another.

Benoit Brunet mentioned last night on RDS that he had his own informers saying that gloves for Hossa were also made in the colours of the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild, two other teams were Hossa is susceptible of landing by next Tuesday. At press time yesterday, no confirmation could be made that gloves in the colours of other teams were also constructed and ordered other than the ones in Canadiens colours.

The latest news on the subject of Hossa are the folowing: He was dressed for the Thrashers gama against Carolina and according to TSN, Atlanta GM was giving signing Hossa a final shot today despite the player having publically admitted chances were slim at best of getting a deal done before next Tuesday.

What arises from all this will be interesting to follow as his services are vied for. The two visits to the Bell Centre by Waddell make clear that his interest was serious in dealing Hossa to the Canadiens.

In addition, it is still not possible to confirm in any way that Michael Ryder and Mark Streit, names mentioned in the same breath as Hossa, are indeed heading the other way.

To reiterate, as we had repeated in yesterday's story, there is nothing enabling us to confirm that a transaction has been completed, only that negotiations are by all counts very serious.

Hossa Has One Foot In The Bell Centre

Robert L note: I was hearing about this Mathias Brunet piece from La Presse as early as 2 A.M. on CKAC. He it is transcribed. Oh boy!

There is no other evidence as of yet that La Presse can use to confirm that the Canadiens and Thrashers have in fact sealed a deal, but the paper has learned that as of yesterday, an equipement order in the colors of the Montreal Canadiens has been made in the name of Marian Hossa.

Orders as such don't neccessarily mean it's in the bag. Two years ago, a order was placed for Nikolai Khabibulin and Adrien Aucoin in the Canadiens colors, but Aucoin broke his ankle on the eve of the announced trade and everything was annuled. The word was they were all but headed to Montreal for Jose Theodore, Mike Ribeiro, and Pierre Dagenais.

It is also possible that a GM changes his mind at the last minute in light of a better offer.

However, orders are not placed with equipement manufacturers unless talks have reached serious proportions. Companies can take a day to manufacture a pair of gloves or pants to an athletes specifications and the Canadiens would be placing the order to have the equipement ready for the player's timely arrival for the next game.Names circulating as going the other way were Michael Ryder and Mark Streit, and either a prospect or a draft pick, but nothing existed to confirm as much.

During the last day of General Manager meetings in Naples, Florida yesterday, certain rumors were jumping the gun. Late yesterdat afternoon the CBC had posted on it's website a tradec sending Michael Ryder to Calgary in return for Alex Tanguay but the news was quickly and quietly pulled.

Several hints recently pointed to Bob Gainey and Don Waddell pulling off a big deal. Gainey hasn't hidden the fact this week that he's looking to add an impact player to the lineup.

Waddell has taken in some Canadiens games over the past two weeks and even skipped his own team's practice to watch the Canadiens play in Florida eight days ago. At the Bell Centre, Waddell joked with the local press that he was in town to watch a player who wasn't even dressed (Michael Ryder).

The Thrashers GM has maintained that he wants to aquire players that could help Atlanta in the short if he should part with Hossa, since he considers his team still in the runnung for a playoff spot and perhaps even first place in their division. He has also made it clear that he is seeking an offensive defenseman.

Marian Hossa, Mark Streit and Michael Ryder all have identical contract situations and will be free agent at the term of the season. It is not out of the question that the teams involved has given each permission to talk contract with the players they would be aquiring. CJAD analyst Murray Wilson had declared on air that Gainey had received such a privelege from Waddell to talk contract with Hossa.

Hossa, who is making 7 million dollars this season, has seen his numbers drop below standard with 53 points in 58 games, but notched 100 and 92 in the two preceeding years. He remains one of the most gifted wingers in the league.

Here's hoping for the Canadiens sake that Hossa remains as prolific as before and that this formidable player fits nicely into that new equipement...

The Power Of Team Effort.

It was a comeback of unforeseen proportions.

In the 99 year history of the Montreal Canadiens, no edition of the Habs, not the fifties five in row dynasty, not the four in a row Cup champs of the seventies, has ever pulled off a 5-0 come from behind win.

That's freaking unbelievable!

I feel like I am high on something as I type these lines out, and it is a feeling I have not felt about this TEAM in ages.

As much as I have been thrilled by the play of the individual talents that make up the Montreal Canadiens today, I am completely blown away by the TEAM they have become of late.

They are a TEAM, a gelled unit all working in the same direction for each other for the benefit of they goal they share.

This TEAM has it's eyes on the prize!























I claim that it takes a special TEAM to accomplish such a rare one in a hundred year feat, and this Habs TEAM has recently found the ways to dig deep enough to find new ways to win games.

The boys had rarely won games coming from behind in the first half of this season until they turned the trick against New Jersey, a few weeks back, in the hellish confines of the Devils home ice. Winning where they had not claimed victory in years seemed to serve notice that these Canadiens were on the rise.

Last week they unshackled themselves from the death grip of the Florida Panthers smothering system to pull a rabbit from their hat late in the game.

This latest escape against a Rangers team that had them tied and bound is their ultimate Houdini!

The historic win will long be remembered for several reasons.

I'll never forget Alex Kovalev, throwing his entire body into the shot that gave the Canadiens the tying goal, so much so, that he rolled over himself onto his back and went fetal. Kicking legs and pumping arms, Kovalev rose with the snow on his back into a jubilant glee that was one of the most awesome goal celebrations I can recall. The Bell Centre crowd erupted as a whole and it looked like Kovalev's limbs were being raised by the simultaneous momentum of the fans motions.























This was also the game where I noticed a "C" fading into the jersey of Mike Komisarek. Rarely in the last decade, probably not since the days of Patrick Roy, have I seen a player so upset and outright pissed about being down in a game. It's also been that long since I witnessed a Habs so angered and disgusted with a game situation that he went out and lit a fire under everyone with his actions that it not only inspired a team, but also torched an arena of fans. Komisarek was more than willing to do anything to gain this game back, and he hit and fought with passion and determination to achieve it.

I saw Michael Ryder reborn and invaluable for the first time this season. The doubt and hesitation that has plagued him all season had vanished to reveal a Ryder who does things as instinctively as he always has. I've often been on Ryder's case this season, but last night I was able to feel good for him for the first time in a long while. I'll be watching him closely over the next few games in hopes that this injection of confidence helps to re-establish his role on the team. He deserves full credit for his part in this historic win.

There was Cristobal Huet, the most sedate and stoic starting goalie in the league, leaping into the arms of the first player off the bench - Komisarek - after foiling Jaromir Jagr in the shootout to preserve the win, notched just seconds before on a beauty move by captain Koivu.

I saw the freight train that was Steve Begin, role player par excellence, going off the tracks like the unstoppable force attempting to shove back the immovable object.

His gestures typified what the TEAM were accomplishing as a whole.
















Yesterday, before this game, I was listening in the car to former Habs player and GM Serge Savard on CKAC speaking about Bob Gainey, in reference to the current man in power's upcoming jersey hoist.

Savard was lured off topic and hardly baited into talking about the present edition of the Canadiens and where they are heading.

The former man in charge, who in his heyday as a player was both a star and a team leader, candidly admitted that he has seen something quite distinct about the 2007-08 Canadiens TEAM. Savard said that the manner in which they were playing for each other and not individually, was very telling. He continued with the TEAM theme, and pointed out the leadership that was coming from its role players and even it's rookies. He suggested that when everyone is on board, heading unselfishly in the same direction, and settling for nothing less that victory, that amazing things can happen.
















Savard needn't refer to the Habs glory days in which he partook in annual parades to testify that he knew what he was talking about. Instead, Savard took on the perimeter outlook that perhaps only a GM can sense and told of two previous occasions where he'd felt the same TEAM atmosphere building into something very special.

They were 1986 and 1993!

TEAM wins both - by players united that believed that together anything could be conquered.

Who Could Leave?

Yesterday in Le Journal De Montreal, journalist Pierre Durocher took a look at which Canadiens players are most likely to be moved before the February 26 deadline. Of course not all, if any at all, will be moved, but Durocher's piece just seeks to explore the scenarios that could involve various players the Habs could part with should the cards of a progressive deal fall into place.

Rather than my usual transcription of a newsworthy piece from this paper, I thought I'd turn this entry into a type of point - counterpoint argument where I would analyze what Durocher sums up.

I don't neccessarily take the opposite point of view just for devil's advocate purposes. I agree or disagree and extend the thought into another area suitable for speculation and second guessing.

Durocher's words are in italics.

Have fun with it!

Habs fans will know in two weeks, 16 days to be exact, if Bob Gainey has been successful in his efforts to improve the team via a transaction before the February 26 trade deadline.

Last season at this time, Gainey sent defenseman Craig Rivet to the San Jose Sharks in return for Josh Gorges and a second round pick that turned out to be Max Pacioretty.

He also added Michael Leighton on waivers, though the goaltender was only dressed for a pair of games and saw no action. The Habs flipped the pick to the Carolina Hurricans for a 7th round pick that became USHS defenseman Scott Kishel.

At the time, it seemed that the Canadiens were perceived as throwing in the towel in the pursuit of a playoff spot.

Many onlookers felt the move was not the step forward they were hoping for.

Leading up to last year's deadline day, the watch was on for Sheldon Souray to be moved, but Gainey explained his decision to stick with his record breaking defenseman by declaring the Habs still in the race. He also stated that he did not want to deprive fans of a star player in the midst of a career year and reiterated the hope that could resign Souray in the off season.

Souray did set a power play goal record for defenseman in the Habs failed season, and departed for the Edmonton Oilers in the summertime. In hindsight, one can only guess if Gainey would have been able to add an element to the team that would be helpful today.

Such is the nature of speculation.

























Canadiens fans are certainly hoping Gainey fares better this season as the stakes are higher, and the team more loaded with tradable assets.

For now, we can only look and speculate some as to who is most likely to no longer be wearing the bleu, blanc, rouge come the night of the 26th.

According to Le Journal De Montreal, the Habs untouchables are Andrei Markov, Alex Kovalev, Tomas Plekanec, Roman Hamrlik, Mike Komisarek, Carey Price, brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, Mark Streit, and Guillaume Latendresse.

I would hesitate to include Streit in with this group, and I sense that many would replace Latendresse with the name of forward Chris Higgins.

I won't disagree that this is where fans opinions would differ most.

Also, I find it absolutely dangerous not to consider goalie Cristobal Huet among the untouchables at this point. I'm not too crazy about how Le Journal is looking at Huet, but this will be disected in detail shortly.

Now let's go over the names of those most succeptible to leaving if the price is right.

MICHAEL RYDER: He represents without a doubt, Gainey's most assured trading value. Ryder's past stats work in his favor. Placed with the right center, Ryder could find his magic touch around the net again. Gainey has to be careful not to sell him for a song. He cannot repeat the error of the Ribeiro trade.

What Le Journal is saying in Ryder's regard is partially true - he could, combined with someone slick to feed him, become the player he was once before.

For myself, I quite doubt it will happen. Ryder is the same player he has always been, it is just that the rest of the league has caught up to this one trick pony. The best he'll ever be is a 20 to 25 goal man tops.

Still, it is Gainey's job to maximize the asset Ryder could still be. So far, no takers have been found that will offer Gainey more than a song. That says something about what other GM's think of Ryder. A second round pick would be great returns on him.

While it has been brought up - the Ribeiro trade was no mistake. No one in the Canadiens camp could stand the skinny little bugger for his attitude and lack of dedication.

From management to players, everyone was fed up of his act, and Gainey couldn't have gotten more from him based on the league wide low esteem of this selfish, self centered prima. Had there been a better offer out there, Gainey would have grabbed it. The hypocrite media who complain about the deal will never own up to wanting him offed as well. I don't care how many points he scores in Dallas, I don't miss him.

MATHIEU DANDENAULT: The Canadiens don't really have any place left for him and the versatile veteran could be of interest to many teams. Don't forget that Dandeneault has three Cup rings from his Detroit years. However, he has one year left on a deal that pays him 1.75 M, which makes him one expensive role player.
















This is true enough, but if Dandenault cannot crack the Habs top six on defense, I would assume no contending team would see him as an upgrade at that position either. As a forward, what's the going crrency on seven goal scorers? As long as Dandy's salary outweighs his usefulness, he's staying put. I like him as an energetic fourth liner with the Habs as long he he stops requiring being sat out in order to get what's expected of him.

SAKU KOIVU: Our captain is having an off year. He seems tired. If Gainey were to decide to trade him for a younger player, what message would this send to fans dreaming of playoff success? Koivu is no longer the team's top pivot, but he is still a very good second line center. Who even knows whether Koivu would wave his no trade clause? Wade Redden wouldn't do it.

"Each case should be analyzed differently", suggest Koivu. "Redden surely has his own good reasons to want to remain a Senator. I've never thought about what I would decide to do if the Canadiens received an offer for me because the scenario has never produced itself".

If Koivu stays, he might have to swallow some pride in taking on a different role. The Canadiens would also have to properly manage his drop in play to make it all work.

My thinking is that people are getting way ahead of things in proclaiming Saku's decline. Yes, I will admit at times that it has been frustrating to watch him suffer this season, but Koivu has played on a suddenly disfunctional line. I think it is short sighted to blame a trio's problems on a steady and reliable vet who has always gotten the job done.

Explain how it is that he can have a career year last season, and now be on the downside of the hill?

His decade long commitment and dedication to the Canadiens cause should buy him at least another playoff round to set things straight. Koivu is usually at his best then, and it should make for a truer evaluation of where he is at before reviting the subject in the off season. Teams who generally upset chemistry on the eve of the playoffs rarely reap the benefits. The move would be better made at any other time.

CHRIS HIGGINS: If the Canadiens are dreaming of player in Marian Hossa's ball park, they may have to surrender a top player themselves. Chris Higgins might need to be let go of in such a case.
























I agree with the sentiment, but I would hate to see him leave for anything less than Hossa. Higgins is a hard working character guy that isn't as easily replaced as one might think. Every player has slumps or off seasons in their career and they sometimes need to tolerated for the benefit of the talent to come.You have to ride it out and you can't just give up on a kid when he first plateau's. Higgins should get a lot better once he's over this hump.

CRISTOBAL HUET: A complex case for Gainey. Huet is an upcoming UFA and the Canadiens will need his services until Carey Price is indeed ready to assume the role of number one goalie. Gainey surely wants to keep Huet around another year, but Huet knows he'll get some good offers elsewhere. At his age, his priority will be security, first and foremost.




















This is absolutely true. Gainey is running a risk by not trading him that is as tenuous as hanging onto him without a signed contract.

The solution is to sign him now to a multi year deal and gamble that trading a contracted Huet will bring them more later if they do than it would to deal him unsigned now. Of the three risks, the contract is the safest route - provided were not talking about Theodore type money.

RYAN O'BYRNE: Certain observers believe that the young defenseman could serve well as alluring trade bait. It's considered a safe enough scenario to depart with O'Byrne seeing as Pavel Valenteno, Mathieu Carle, and perhaps Alexei Yemelin are next up in the defensive pipeline.

























I quite agree, although his size is not easily replaced. If he's the throw in that seals a good deal for Montreal then I'd not hesitate a second longer.

Le Journal did not mention the names, but other players of value not on the untouchable list who have good return value could include Max Lapierre, Jaroslav Halak, Josh Gorges, and Steve Begin.

For Lapierre, I wouldn't part with the young centerman unless it brought in another center with more upside through a package deal.

In Halak's case, his is tied to Huet's, and he won't be going anywhere until that more important case is solved either way. Gainey won't burn both ends of the candle.

Josh Gorges represents an interesting option for many teams. He's young, he comes cheap, and has a decent upside for a stay at home defenseman - all traits that explain why Gainey sought him. As defense is still the Habs achilles heel, I don't anything happening in this regard.

Steve Begin would be as loved in 29 other cities as he is in Montreal. He's in a sense irreplacable as I doubt the Habs could find another like him for his fetching value. I've always called Begin a captain without a "C".

All Eyes On Gainey As Deadline Approaches

It only took Michael Ryder to leave the Bell Centre on Sunday, sticks in hand, to get things started.

The gestures of Bob Gainey and staff will be closely scrutinized. You'll hear about where every Habs scout has been and is going and you will read and hear about which birdogs from other teams are on Montreal's trail.

The reasons are solid ones - Montreal are armed and poised to deal better than ever in recent memory, and with something big on the line this season, Gainey will almost have to become active.

There are 21 more days of hockey trade rumours to put up with until the February 26 deadline. I say "put up with", because 95% of what you will read about trades in the next three weeks is absolute journalist fantasy hogwash.

It happens in the newspapers and fan sites because it is what we folllowers of the game think about most leading up to the trade deadline, and it follows the supply and demand credo of the media feeding us what we want to read about.

It doesn't make anything they speak of - truth!

When seeing our Habs through the view of this media, dust trails are magnified into mountains.
Don't believe everything you read, and trust little of what you see.

I laugh my tail off when I read something involving trades between teams that starts with "it is rumoured" or "sources suggest" or my all time favorite, "an insider says". Get used to it until February ends.

Any NHL employed "insider" that blabs to a paper about a trade would be fired.

Don't confuse a scoop for a shovelfull!

























GM's of teams don't discuss potential trades with the waterboy and the chick at the concession stand. Often they don't even inform their own coaches until the trigger is about to be pulled - or after!

The rumours gain ink because they have a sensible notion to them, but for the most part they are just journalistic fodder.

One is often lead to thinking that the writers of these rumours have an inside track, but that is convoluted nonsense. The first person a GM wouldn't want this information to find is someone working in the press. Printing it, compromises the trade deal, and disrupts the players lives and performance at a time when it such a distraction is not what they would want to cause.

So when you read it - don't buy it! Use your common sense to divide fact from fiction.

Are potential UFA's being shopped?

Of course they are, if a GM is doing his job correctly.

Are they about to be traded to your favorite team?

Chances are, your team's GM has called about the player in question and shown a certain interest by tabling who he would offer in return at some point. The likelyhood of the scenario being played out in print by some crystal ball gazing rumour monger is obvious.

Three instances of trades that never hit ink before they happened were the Joe Thornton trade, and two involving Montreal players, Mike Ribeiro and Craig Rivet.

Where were the sniffers on these surprises where most of us where caught off guard?

In the case of the Rivet trade to San Jose by Montreal, even Ducks GM Brian Burke, the sharpest of hockey wheelers and dealers was admittdly caught snoring!

What, doesn't Burke read the papers?

It would matter if he didn't!




















Habs fans, over the coming weeks will read all about Bob Gainey's interest in players such as Mats Sundin, Marian Hossa, Ollie Jokinen and others.

The interest will be obvious and the scenario's often farfetched.

Suday, in the Ottawa Sun, under the heading "Trades We'd Like To See", they had Sundin coming to the Habs for Chris Higgins and Ryan McDonagh. (They also had Ray Emery off to the Kings for a puck!)

I'd rate this one a 4 on a scale of 10 truth wise.

First, Sundin has a no trade clause and doesn't seem to be all too willing to waive it. I know - go figure!

Two, Gainey will not throw McDonagh into any scenario - no matter what. The kid just has way too much upside to gamble with. As far as Higgins goes, Gainey would have to be sure the move would translate into a Cup win before he would part with him.

Three, the Leafs would want more than this, even though it is a hefty price, and will wait until a desperate GM pays their price. That man will not be the logical Gainey, who always has an eye on the future.

There will come a time when a deal such as this makes more sense for the Habs, but at this point, when the p