TCL Top 10 Questions for your Friday
Submitted by George Prax on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 10:54
UPDATE: Marc-Andre Bergeron has been placed on IR after taking a shot in last night's game and will miss a minimum of one week. While it was expected that Bergeron would miss this weekend's games, the move to IR was made to make room for a trio of forwards from Hamilton.
Called up from the farm team was David Desharnais, who played one game for the Canadiens on emergency call-up this season, Ryan White, back for another stint with the team, and Brock Trotter. This is Trotter's first go-around in Montreal.
The Canadiens' entire first line of Plekanec, Sergei Kostitsyn and Benoit Pouliot took therapy days, along with Bergeron, but there is no word on whether or not any of them would miss this weekend's games, or which of the above call-ups would suit up during the weekend.
More to come.
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FROM EARLIER:
Going to take a page out of Eric Engels' book from Hockeybuzz and ask you guys to answer 10 Habs related questions today. (Sorry Eric. I'll send you a TCL Hat if you want one).
I'll follow up with some thoughts from last night's game. But for now, here is today's TCL Top 10: Ten Questions about our Habs for this Friday Morning:
1. Five games remain between now and the Olympic break. How many does Halak start? Price?
2. What about the 19 games in March and April?
3. One month remains between now and the trade deadline. Are the Habs buyers or sellers? What do they do on the trade market between now and March 4th?
4. Should Mathieu Darche stay in Montreal? For how long?
5. Is there anyone else from the Bulldogs you would like to see with the Habs between now and the end of th season?
6. What ONE ex-Hab still in the league would you want back on the team and why?
7. How would you have reacted if Ilya Kovalchuk was coming to the Habs and not the Devils?
8. You have a choice: Sign Plekanec now for over $5 million per season or trade him while his value is at its highest. What do you do?
9. If Bob Gainey were to be fired today, who would you replace him with and why?
10. Finally, overall, as your opinion and/or expectations from this team and how good it is changed at all over the last 3 games?
For the second time in as many games, the Canadiens stole two points from a team that should have beaten them, from a team that totally outshot and dominated them. But somehow, they managed to squeak some effort in, score a few goals and beat the Bruins in a shootout.
Like I said yesterday, I don't understand this team, and I can't begin to explain to you how this team manages to do the things that they do on the ice. For all intents and purposes, the Canadiens went into last night game against the Bruins an underdog, even though they were 5 spots ahead of them in the standings. For all intents and purposes, they delivered on that reputation throughout most of the game, surrendering loads of shots and scoring chances, allowing nearly 50 shots to be peppered on Jaroslav Halak for the second game in a row, forgetting how to change properly while the game is ongoing, and overall just being outplayed.
But somehow, they manage to come back from two one-goal deficits, stretch the game to overtime and get themselves a shootout victory.
Was it because Jaroslav Halak is that good? Was it because the Bruins are that bad when it comes to scoring goals? Or are both these teams just that bad?
It really boggles the mind. And while I'm happy that the Canadiens came out with a victory against their most hated rivals, a part of me wishes they would have lost, because they didn't deserve to win. And as I've been saying for the last few weeks, the only way this team is going finally get out of this slump of mediocrity is if they do start losing badly, if they miss the playoffs and real changes are finally made, both on and off the ice.
This team, if they make the playoffs, and it looks like they're going to get lucky and squeak in, is going to be embarrassed for the third year in a row in the post-season. It started two years ago when they couldn't dominate the Bruins like they had for so long in the first round and then were tossed around like a sack of monkeys against the Flyers. It continued the next year when they got swept by the Bruins. And it will happen again this year, whether it's against the Capitals, the Devils, the Penguins or the Sabres.
We can only hope that the Molsons have a good enough hockey sense that they can see past the stats, past the standings, and past the black ink on their financial statements.
The Canadiens enter their usual Superbowl weekend stretch with two afternoon games at the Bell Centre. I will be at the game against the Bruins on Sunday afternoon, but the Canadiens host the Penguins tomorrow, and because of last week's live blog success, I will be holding another live blog tomorrow.
So keep yourself logged into TCL tomorrow, as I will be sharing my thoughts and all the happenings from the game between the Pens and the habs at 3PM!
Looking forward to your answers for the top 10.
Prax
www.thecheckingline.com
www.twitter.com/thecheckingline
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 12:43
2. 1 for Halak, 18 for Price
3. They acquire Alexei Ponikarovsky
4. Yes, until July 1st
5. Brock Trotter
6. Beauchemin, he's good
7. I would have laughed at what you guys gave up
8. trade him
9. JFJ, cause it would be funny
10. Yes, first I wanted them to lose, now I can't wait to see Phaneuf destroy them.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 14:49
2. See above
3. Buyers (they don't have anything to sell). Trade Price for a top6 forward and a good pick/prospect. Love Price but Halak seems as good if not better. Price will fetch a better return.
4. Keep him on the 3rd / 4th line for the rest of the season
5. Desharnais, Trotter
6. Guillaume Laten... just kidding. No one, really.
7. Mad we paid too much for a rental.
8. Sign him
9. Pierre McGuire
10. Mediocre team at best. Not sure if it's a chemistry problem (so many new players), coaching or lack of talent up front. We need a top6 forward and better puck-moving defensemen.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 14:51
2. Halak 12, Price 7.
3. Sellers with one "major" (for them) player leaving and maybe a minor on the side deal. Too much suspense for too little a result. Same as every year.
4. Yes, and until the pieces from the trade deadline fall into place.
5. David Desharnais, but it probably won't happen.
6. Mark Recchi because I almost cried yesterday as I have internally since the day he was traded and forced to wear that blasted jersey.
7. By laughing hysterically and going into denial, followed by heavy skepticism.
8. ........You're asking who again? Hello?
9. Someone who would respond to #8 the way I would.
10. Not one bit.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 15:01
Habs I/O says Bergeron, Plekanec, SK, Pouliot all took therapy days. Bergeron unlikely to play this weekend after taking a slap shot last night.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 15:48
I have a question to add. With a gun to your head, you're forced to part with one of Carey Price or Halak in a trade. Who goes, and what do you expect in return?
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 15:52
I have a question to add. With a gun to your head, you're forced to part with one of Carey Price or Halak in a trade. Who goes, and what do you expect in return?
Like I said, trade Price for a top6 forward and pick/prospect.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 15:58
I have a question to add. With a gun to your head, you're forced to part with one of Carey Price or Halak in a trade. Who goes, and what do you expect in return?
Hahaha Wally, no hard feelings
It's such a tough decision... I want to keep Price because he has so much potential. But the simple truth is that Halak is playing better NOW. Will he continue playing well in the future? A lot of fans will tell you yes, but really, I don't think we can tell. Even now, he's fighting to start every game and isn't the number 1. He's never proved anything in the playoffs and I'm skeptical about investing the entire future of our organization in a hot streak.
Also, i seriously don't think that either goalie would really fetch more than the other in the trade market... Call me crazy but Halak's been that good this year and Price hasn't...
That being said... If we can get a top six forward and a 1st rounder for him (plus whatever throw ins on either side), I would trade Price.
But frankly, I think we can keep both going into next season, neither is going to be a cap breaker IMO.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 17:55
1. halak 4, price 1
2. mojority halak
3. trade price in a package deal, buyers, the time is now for a top six, you win some you loose some, thats why hockeys a big gamble.
4. yes, till the end of the playoffs
5. desharnais, and maybe subban for a taste of the big league(just a couple of games)
6. Marcel Hossa(jokes) Bouillon or begin for there grit and heart
7. i would be happy because the new jersey devils gave up dick for him. lamoriello is laughing at Wadell for being an idiot.
8. sign him he has great chemestry with ak and cammi
9. Steve Yzerman or Pierre M.
10. well im a habs fan and i got to stick with them, i wouldn't say there midiocre i just say thier still trying to grip with injuries and the system. hence the roller coaster year. face it they beat some really good teams this year convincingly.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 17:57
No word on who sits and who played out of the six.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 18:02
1. halak 4, price 1
2. mojority halak
3. trade price in a package deal, buyers, the time is now for a top six, you win some you loose some, thats why hockeys a big gamble.
4. yes, till the end of the playoffs
5. desharnais, and maybe subban for a taste of the big league(just a couple of games)
6. Marcel Hossa(jokes) Bouillon or begin for there grit and heart
7. i would be happy because the new jersey devils gave up dick for him. lamoriello is laughing at Wadell for being an idiot.
8. sign him he has great chemestry with ak and cammi
9. Steve Yzerman or Pierre M.
10. well im a habs fan and i got to stick with them, i wouldn't say there midiocre i just say thier still trying to grip with injuries and the system. hence the roller coaster year. face it they beat some really good teams this year convincingly.
Nearly 50 shots against = outplayed. They couldn't change for crap the entire game, including one sequence where they actually tried to change all five players at once... the Bruins aren't much better, but the Habs made them look like an all-star team playing against a pee-wee team last night. They were luck to come out with 2 points, again.
In response to your #6, I liked Bouillon and Begin while they were here, but it was time for them to go. They weren't getting any younger and those are spots that can be filled by guys like O'Byrne (for Bouillon) and Darche (for Begin) not a big loss.
Also, as for #10, I think true fans can see beyond their fandom and realize it when they're team isn't doing so well. Sure, they've had injuries, but there's a point where injuries stop being a viable excuse. They've been MOSTLY healthy for a while now, and they still struggle. I think them struggling against lesser teams is just as important to look at as them beating stronger teams.
Thanks for your comments Eric!
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 18:26
Thanks for the remark George!
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 18:43
Thanks for the remark George!
I'll give them the time when Markov was injured and Gionta and Gill broke their foots and when nearly half the team was on the shelf for a single game, but that excuse wears thin as the season wears on. I didn't say they were healthy, I just said that that excuse gets tiresome 60 games into the season. Why was nothing done to counter those injuries? Why doesn't the team have the organizational depth to cover for those players?
Also, I doubt that the entire first line is going to sit this weekend, and I stand by my point that injuries are wearing thin as an excuse, so how exactly am I contradicting myself?
And you don't win hockey games with luck, you win hockey games with hard work.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 19:15
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 22:35
The system, management, all these things, to me, are a part of the team. I didn't call out one player or another for lack of effort or not playing well (even though some of them deserve calling out), but as a group something isn't working, and something needs to be done.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 22:44
Figured I'd answer my own quesitons while I was at it lol.
1. Five games remain between now and the Olympic break. How many does Halak start? Price?
I hope martin realizes that Halak is going to play at the Olympics and goes easy on him, even though we need to win. Back-to-back games this weekend and the next, so I say they go Halak 3 - Price 2.
2. What about the 19 games in March and April?
Unless something drastic happens, I actually want them to ride Halak no matter what. Give him his shot and let him show us what he's made of. If he's the real deal, he'll lead us into the playoffs and play then like he is now. I want to see what this kid can do, then we can decide what to do with him and/or with Price in the off-season. Give halak at least 14 starts out of the last 19.
3. One month remains between now and the trade deadline. Are the Habs buyers or sellers? What do they do on the trade market between now and March 4th?
I think Gainey picks up a rental forward to be honest. Otherwise, he's not going to do much, again.
4. Should Mathieu Darche stay in Montreal? For how long?
Keep him up for the rest of the season. not doing any harm on the bottom six.
5. Is there anyone else from the Bulldogs you would like to see with the Habs between now and the end of th season?
Well after I asked this we got Trotter, Desharnais, and White. Curious how Pyatt has been developing, otherwise, maybe Subban for a game or two just to see what he's got. Although I have a feeling we're only going to see him next year unless there are a lot of injuries.
6. What ONE ex-Hab still in the league would you want back on the team and why?
Bring back Saku!
7. How would you have reacted if Ilya Kovalchuk was coming to the Habs and not the Devils?
I would have actually been really excited at first. It's been a long time since we've had a true starin Montreal. But it would depend heavily on what the price would have been (no pun intended). Definitely excitement though, at least at first.
8. You have a choice: Sign Plekanec now for over $5 million per season or trade him while his value is at its highest. What do you do?
Over five million might be too much but it's a conflicting decision. He'll go elsewhere and dominate more than he did hear. We have to keep him.
9. If Bob Gainey were to be fired today, who would you replace him with and why?
PIERRE.
10. Finally, overall, as your opinion and/or expectations from this team and how good it is changed at all over the last 3 games?
Not at all, a few wins won't change the inherent problems this team has, both on and off the ice.