This article is largely worthless, the worst being these statements:
Quote:
The signing saved a massive headache for Gauthier as the team faced the very real prospect of opening training camp with Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford splitting duties between the pipes. That would have been an underwhelming prospect considering that goaltending was considered one of Montreal's biggest strengths last season.
The fact that they actually thought that it was a real possibility Price wouldn't sign is laughable.
Quote:
That being said, the Canadiens did not address one of their most glaring weaknesses as they are still extremely small down the middle. In addition the departure of unsung heroes Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore, leaves them short a pair of checking line forwards.
Funny enough, and not surprising, they put much emphasis on Halak leaving, but not what is coming back the other way. Eller provides size down the middle, and judging from the playoffs, their depth at center was NOT a concern, more the depth in general, specifically on the bottom 6. The departure of Moore and Metropolit are directly replaced by Eller and Halpern. Not to mention the addition of Boyd, and other promising young players like Pyatt does address the checking line forwards. Could be improved more though.
"The Habs took a dip in the free agent pool, picking up netminders Curtis Sanford and Alex Auld."
He makes Sanford sound like a new addition in the organization.
"When it took longer than expected to sign newly anointed starter Carey Price, the Canadiens added some more depth in net by acquiring Karri Ramo in a trade with the Lightning."
The Ramo deal had nothing to do with the Price situation as we all know that Ramo cannot play in the NHL this year.
"The signing (of Price) saved a massive headache for Gauthier as the team faced the very real prospect of opening training camp with Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford splitting duties between the pipes."
The prospect of starting camp without Price was never a factor as both sides declared that the deal should be done before camp opened.
"That being said, the Canadiens did not address one of their most glaring weaknesses as they are still extremely small down the middle."
False. While the Canadiens are still on the small side, the writer fails to note that they did get slightly bigger down the middle with the addition of Lars Eller. Infact, he doesn't even mention Eller at all in the article.
"In addition the departure of unsung heroes Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore, leaves them short a pair of checking line forwards. "
Dustin Boyd? Tom Pyatt for the full year? Perhaps Ryan White if he's needed? Not to mention, Metro was never specialized as a "checker". That's not metro's game. To the writer's credit, he did mention Halpern but shrugged him off as old and in decline... fair opinion there but the fact remains that the habs are not short on checkers.
I understand that its not an easy task to know the ins and outs of 30 nhl teams, but he missed some pretty basic points for one of the high profile clubs in the league. This guy is not very good at his craft.
Having said that, the ranking itself is hard to argue with... the habs are in that middle pack somewhere.
"The Habs took a dip in the free agent pool, picking up netminders Curtis Sanford and Alex Auld."
He makes Sanford sound like a new addition in the organization.
"When it took longer than expected to sign newly anointed starter Carey Price, the Canadiens added some more depth in net by acquiring Karri Ramo in a trade with the Lightning."
The Ramo deal had nothing to do with the Price situation as we all know that Ramo cannot play in the NHL this year.
"The signing (of Price) saved a massive headache for Gauthier as the team faced the very real prospect of opening training camp with Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford splitting duties between the pipes."
The prospect of starting camp without Price was never a factor as both sides declared that the deal should be done before camp opened.
"That being said, the Canadiens did not address one of their most glaring weaknesses as they are still extremely small down the middle."
False. While the Canadiens are still on the small side, the writer fails to note that they did get slightly bigger down the middle with the addition of Lars Eller. Infact, he doesn't even mention Eller at all in the article.
"In addition the departure of unsung heroes Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore, leaves them short a pair of checking line forwards. "
Dustin Boyd? Tom Pyatt for the full year? Perhaps Ryan White if he's needed? Not to mention, Metro was never specialized as a "checker". That's not metro's game. To the writer's credit, he did mention Halpern but shrugged him off as old and in decline... fair opinion there but the fact remains that the habs are not short on checkers.
I understand that its not an easy task to know the ins and outs of 30 nhl teams, but he missed some pretty basic points for one of the high profile clubs in the league. This guy is not very good at his craft.
Having said that, the ranking itself is hard to argue with... the habs are in that middle pack somewhere.
That said Peter Regin is a real gem of a player, and Spezza may decide this year that he actually wants to play for the Senators. Still, I'd argue that with the old age of Alfreddson, Kovalev and Gonchar, the not-so defensive defense, and the not "great" goaltending tandem of Leclaire and Elliott, you'd think at least someone would think they might have had a fluky year last year.
Really no more flukey than the Habs run in the playoffs riding Halak. Ottawa had injuries to signifcant players all through the season (Spezza, Michalek, Kovalev) and were also missing 3 key players in the playoffs. Much like any team in this league, success is built off momentum and good luck, with a bit of consistent play. Its a crap shoot most of the time.
Really no more flukey than the Habs run in the playoffs riding Halak. Ottawa had injuries to signifcant players all through the season (Spezza, Michalek, Kovalev) and were also missing 3 key players in the playoffs. Much like any team in this league, success is built off momentum and good luck, with a bit of consistent play. Its a crap shoot most of the time.
Thank you for clearing up the Sens situation for us !
We had no idea how bad you guys had it last year, well we will have to be careful of them this year !
Really no more flukey than the Habs run in the playoffs riding Halak. Ottawa had injuries to signifcant players all through the season (Spezza, Michalek, Kovalev) and were also missing 3 key players in the playoffs. Much like any team in this league, success is built off momentum and good luck, with a bit of consistent play. Its a crap shoot most of the time.
Habs lost Cammy, Gionta, AK, Markov and Pouliot for long stretches. And the Sens lasted 5 hillarious games against the Pens, when the Habs dominated them a couple of times, especialy the 7th game.
Very surprised to see the Pens 13th, they have an improved defence, losing Gonchar made them drop a lot but defensively they are much better now, I see them top 10.
I knew it was going to be sens and habs at 14th and 15th, just thought they would give us the 14th because personally I feel we have the better team. I think time will tell though
Very surprised to see the Pens 13th, they have an improved defence, losing Gonchar made them drop a lot but defensively they are much better now, I see them top 10.
Same, in fact I'd even go as far to say 1-2 more cups in the next 5 years.
TSN ( the toronto sports network) this is a very sly way of insulting the habs yet again. Right now they have a full page on HALAK.
I remember full well as the playoffs started TSN was betting Halak was the second string and the habs are gone in 4. Then it's all about the habs being too small and they are just riding halak and his lucky streek. Then it's all Halak, this 2nd stringer playing way over his head flopping around and still lucky. the Pens in 4... Well pens took the week off did not shoot did not skate and let a clearly pip-skweak talentless smurf team take the series on a lucky goalie. Now that Halak is NOT A HAB, he is the best thing since GOD and the constantly stupid team called the habs trade away the goalie of the century for more totally worthless players that will be crushed under the skates of the Mighty LEAFS this year.
TSN ( the toronto sports network) this is a very sly way of insulting the habs yet again. Right now they have a full page on HALAK.
I remember full well as the playoffs started TSN was betting Halak was the second string and the habs are gone in 4. Then it's all about the habs being too small and they are just riding halak and his lucky streek. Then it's all Halak, this 2nd stringer playing way over his head flopping around and still lucky. the Pens in 4... Well pens took the week off did not shoot did not skate and let a clearly pip-skweak talentless smurf team take the series on a lucky goalie. Now that Halak is NOT A HAB, he is the best thing since GOD and the constantly stupid team called the habs trade away the goalie of the century for more totally worthless players that will be crushed under the skates of the Mighty LEAFS this year.
"The Habs took a dip in the free agent pool, picking up netminders Curtis Sanford and Alex Auld."
He makes Sanford sound like a new addition in the organization.
"When it took longer than expected to sign newly anointed starter Carey Price, the Canadiens added some more depth in net by acquiring Karri Ramo in a trade with the Lightning."
The Ramo deal had nothing to do with the Price situation as we all know that Ramo cannot play in the NHL this year.
"The signing (of Price) saved a massive headache for Gauthier as the team faced the very real prospect of opening training camp with Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford splitting duties between the pipes."
The prospect of starting camp without Price was never a factor as both sides declared that the deal should be done before camp opened.
"That being said, the Canadiens did not address one of their most glaring weaknesses as they are still extremely small down the middle."
False. While the Canadiens are still on the small side, the writer fails to note that they did get slightly bigger down the middle with the addition of Lars Eller. Infact, he doesn't even mention Eller at all in the article.
"In addition the departure of unsung heroes Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore, leaves them short a pair of checking line forwards. "
Dustin Boyd? Tom Pyatt for the full year? Perhaps Ryan White if he's needed? Not to mention, Metro was never specialized as a "checker". That's not metro's game. To the writer's credit, he did mention Halpern but shrugged him off as old and in decline... fair opinion there but the fact remains that the habs are not short on checkers.
I understand that its not an easy task to know the ins and outs of 30 nhl teams, but he missed some pretty basic points for one of the high profile clubs in the league. This guy is not very good at his craft.
Having said that, the ranking itself is hard to argue with... the habs are in that middle pack somewhere.
Eller is just 6 foot tall and he only play in 7 nhl games so far. A reason why he don't mention Eller at all, it's because he's not a sure thing to make the squad at the begining of the year. I personally tend to agree with the TSN writer here : the Habs did not get bigger at the center position.
Am I the only one who's noticed that when TSN shows clips of an NHL team or an NHL player outside of Montreal, they usually include a goal scored on the Habs?
It's especially annoying when it's a Western conference team that the Canadiens play once a year on the road in March.
How will Cammalleri get 27 goals? He got 39 goals in 84 games last year. 33 goals and 65 points seem like a much more realistic yet slightly pessimistic prediction.
Am I the only one who's noticed that when TSN shows clips of an NHL team or an NHL player outside of Montreal, they usually include a goal scored on the Habs?
It's especially annoying when it's a Western conference team that the Canadiens play once a year on the road in March.
Eller is just 6 foot tall and he only play in 7 nhl games so far. A reason why he don't mention Eller at all, it's because he's not a sure thing to make the squad at the begining of the year. I personally tend to agree with the TSN writer here : the Habs did not get bigger at the center position.
Like I said, the habs only got slightly bigger with the 6 foot 1 eller.... but its an improvement in size over moore and metro, dont you think?
Unless Eller has a horrific camp, look for him to get a spot on the team. The bigger question for me is that even though he is a natural centre, will he play the wing instead? Martin didn't rule out that possibility.
