CFN – Bob Gainey can’t be a happy camper this morning.    The team that he crafted came out of the All Star break with just a glimmer of hope.    Those horns in the background were not the sounds of victory, but of the death of the Habs 2011/12 NHL season.

With two horrible losses out of the gate the team’s Play Off dreams are smashed on the rocks and now the exiting of some veterans will begin.    Hal Gill, gone.  Travis Moen; probably gone.  Andrei Kostitsyn, probably gone too,and maybe, just maybe, Pierre Gauthier will be gone too.

Mr. Gainey?  Only Geoff Molson can answer that question; but today he can’t be terribly happy with his team.   The good news is that there are a bunch of games to let the younguns get some valuable experience.     Louis Leblanc should be getting his chance to learn on the job.

Montreal’s biggest question mark is Carey Price.   Goalies are funny creatures.  Mr. Price’s value is very very high right now.   Media reports are suggesting a long term $7M per year contract.    I think that would be tragic for this team.  Almost as tragic as trading for Scott Gomez who most likely will be given another chance next year to redeem himself.

There’s plenty for Montreal fans to be chewing on.       A big concern for me is finding a way to make Tomas Plekanec happy.   He really needs a line to play on for his own growth and success and he’s really earned it watching the fiasco that this season has been.

Montreal managed to blow a lead against New Jersey and lose 5-3 on only 22 shots by the Devils.    That kind of loss can’t be acceptable in Montreal.

In other NHL scores Sam Gagner had the game of his career notching 8 points and a + 6 on the night as Edmonton stunned Chicago 8-4.

Carolina shut out Boston 3-0; Philly defeated Nashville 4-1; the Jets nipped Tampa 2-1; Minnesota shut out Colorado 1-0; Detroit 4 Vancouver 3 in the shoot out, and San Jose defeated Dallas 5-2.

What do you think Hockey Fans?  Is it full rebuild or tinker time for the Habs?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – We owe Tea Party Tim Thomas a debt of gratitude.   It’s a slow week in the NHL.  No major news out there as the All Star break approaches.  Nobody really cares about the All Star game so Mr. Thomas deciding to be a totally classless human being is making the news far and wide in sports columns.

 I have a friend that works for the US government and we once chatted how he had been on “Bush Duty”  ie; he was assigned to protect the President of the United States of America; a role that would require him to step in Harms Way if the President attacked.

I asked him how he personally resolved it as he certainly wasn’t a Bush supporter and he said:

It’s the office of the President you Dumb Ass!

Yes, Mr. Thomas is a free man; chiefly because his country has a President and is a Democracy.    Mr. Thomas was not PERSONALLY invited to the White House.

His TEAM of which he’s simply one player as great as he is a goalie was invited to be honoured.     Instead of being a TEAM PLAYER he stole the spotlight from his team mates and made it a platform to espouse his personal political position.

This is wrong on so many levels.   The Bruins, in  the thick of a race to win Lord Stanley’s Cup again so they are trying to not have this impact their team.

What do you think of Mr. Thomas’ play Hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Stunning is the only word that comes to mind as Montreal blew a 4-2 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins to lose 5-4 in the shoot out.   Evgeni “Geno” Malkin is thriving with Sidney Crosby on the shelf as he scored the game tying goal and the shoot out winner.

With writers and fans openly writing off the Habs they pulled out to a manly lead with Max Pacioretty an assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick.   Erik Cole notched another goal and Alex Kostitsyn saw what happens when he manages three shots in a game with two points, but this year’s team doesn’t seem to have that killer instinct.

Infighting; bad management; weird mojo of some sort has led to an early golf season.  Daily the miracle needed to turn the tide grows which is sad as I was ready to write about why it’d make good sense for Montreal to grab Alex Hemsky or Derick Brassard.   It may still make good sense as Hemsky’s price will probably never be lower and I have a hunch he might be the winger Tomas Plekanec is looking to make magic with   Brassard may be the big Centre that the team was looking for to take pressure off of Plekanec as well.

But geez these gormless wonders seem to be finding new and more pathetic ways to lose.  Maybe Cammy was right?

With Ottawa looking better and better with a ton of cap space it should be interesting to see what they do to amp it up for the play offs.  Toronto will probably wheeling and dealing as they are in the edge of making the play offs.

New Jersey quietly made a move sending over a 4th and spare parts for a big winger that fits in nicely with their team.  Alexei Ponikarovsky can score and he can hit.  His cap hit this year was $1.5M.   Good move on Uncle Lou!

The thing about selling is yes the Habs can get value for Hal Gill and Travis Moen for example, but then next year who fills their skates? Of course if  Geoff Molson doesn’t fix his house what agents or players will want to play for Montreal?     Back to the dark old days of Reggie Houle where players nobody wanted came to die?   Andreas Dackell anyone?  Joe Juneau?

Sports writing Legend Red Fisher interviewed Serge Savard, one of the team’s best GM’s ever who at 66 just might have an interest although he denies any interest.    Patrick Roy’s name is bandied about with even the sly threat of King Pat jumping to a Quebec City franchise if Montreal doesn’t snatch him up.       While a marketing bonanza could Mr. Roy survive long if the team didn’t win?   Would he be waving a finger in Mr. Molson’s face the way he did Ronald Corey’s at some point?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2k-GW21co

Over 20 years of bad mostly bad management have put Montreal in a space where there are no players under 60 to bring into the fold the way that people like Joe Nieuwendyk  and Steve Yzerman have.    Actually the NHL is littered with the successful bodies of former Hab coaches including last year’s Stanley Cup contenders both having Hab victims in Claude Julien and Alain Vignault.

No the key to turning this franchise around is ownership realizing what needs to be done and putting the right people in place.  There was hope with Bob Gainey; but then Mr. Gillette got into financial trouble and distracted.

In today’s NHL you need a GM that understands contract cycles and cap management.   You can’t just stack talent like the pre-cap days.   I’m not sure what Mr. Molson and Gainey have against Pierre Macguire, but he’d be a serviceable choice.

For Habs fans they can only dream of the future and hope that Gauthier’s last act as GM is not giving Carey Price a 7 year $7M contract and trading PK Subban for Janne Niinimaa.

What do you think hockey fans? You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Ships passing in the night.  I love that term, and it seems that’s what’s happening in the NHL as the Ottawa Senators, the Comeback Kids (although some of them definitely are not kids ) came back and won the battle of Ontario Tuesday night beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Toronto.

If that’s not smack. If that’s not the mark of a team destined for the Play Offs I don’t know what is?   Newcomer Kyle Turris scored the winner in a gritty match where the home town Leafs out shot the Sens 39-21, but still fell short.    Captain Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza scored the other Sens goals.   In otherwords; the Money Guys in Ottawa came through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fB9ra1ZJIE

There were two fights in the game too.   Zenon Konopka took on Mike Brown and Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf showed some of his frustration taking on Nick Foligno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po5tEtFNR-A

The loss puts more pressure on Brian Burke to pull the trigger on a deal as the Leafs fall a bit further out of the play off picture.

I am so loving these Ottawa Senators this season.   In contrast, former Habs Coach Jacques Martin spoke openly about PK Subban and some of the friction in Hab Land over the Lippy D Man who not only apparently aggravates the opponents, but his own team mates.

What a mess the Habs are in right now as they spiral to the bottom of the bowl waiting for the flush of the 2011/12 NHL season.

In other NHL scores; Jaromir Jagr added 2 assists and played 20 minutes in Philly’s 5-1 romp over Minnesota.   It’s funny that Pierre Gauthier passed on Jagr and Kenopka; both areas that Montreal is sorely lacking in this year; primary scoring and team toughness…

The Penguins needed the shoot out to nip Carolina 2-1; Mr. Nabokov and the Islanders shut out Washington 3-0; Columbus doubled Edmonton 4-2; New Jersey beat the Jets 5-1; the Rangers shut out Nashville 3-0; Tampa Bay beat powerhouse Boston 5-3; Detroit 3-2 over Dallas; LA 3-2 over Vancouver; and Calgary is still winless since the Cammalleri trade losing 2-1 in the shoot out to San Jose.

What do you think Hockey fans?  Are the Sens for real?  Can the Leafs make the play offs?  Will Pierre Gauthier finish the season as GM of the Habs?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Mike Cammalleri had a better first night with Calgary than the Habs did as he notched a goal on 3 shots.   Both teams lost; Calgary 5-1 to LA and Montreal in the shoot out to Ottawa after Tomas Plekanec scored a 3rd period short  handed goal and Max Pacioretty added a second to tie the game and sent it to overtime, and eventually the shoot out where Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson beat Carey Price.

It was an interesting game Montreal out shooting Ottawa 35-25.   Craig Anderson was huge in net for the Sens making some major saves.      The first goal of the game, scored by Montreal was called back which I think partially discombobulated the Habs, but the kept moving.   Scott Gomez returned.   Zero shots, Zero points, over 16 minutes of ice time as he played wing on the Plekanec line.

Alexei Emelin sat out for Chris Campoli.       Folks I think the Habs are pretty much done for this season.  It’s time to trade players who won’t be a part of next year and giving guys like Emelin all the ice time they can get.    Of course the Habs may be showcasing some of the vets they want to move now.

I for one hope they keep Travis Moen.  I just like his game and I have a hunch his salary at this stage should be pretty cap friendly.   Of course a lot of vets may not want to stay or come to Montreal with the drama of this season.  For example do you think Mike Cammalleri’s agent will be recommending many of his clients to Montreal where his guy has lost value and agents only make their livings off of a players maximum value…

The Leafs were humiliated and shut out by the NY Rangers highlighting some of the weaknesses of the team; chiefly in nets unless James Reimer gets his game back.

Former Hab Ryan McDonagh had an assist and was PLUS 3 for the night.   The Rangers took it to Toronto right out of the gate and out shot the Leafs 30-20 giving Martin Biron the shut out.

Pekka Rinne  earned his money as he fended off 36 of 38 shots as Nashville beat the Flyers 4-2; Detroit edged Chicago 3-2; Colorado nipped Dallas 2-1;  New Jersey 2 – Winnipeg 1; same score for San Jose over Columbus; the Islanders doubled Buffalo 4-2;   Cam Ward and 3 Carolina goals led the Hurricanes to a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins; and St. Louis 3-2 over Minnesota in the Shoot Out.

What do you think Hab fans?  Who stays, who goes?   You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Friday the 13th will never be the same for Habs fans!   What the heck is going on in Montreal?  The Habs just traded their biggest star; albeit Mike Cammalleri is having his worst NHL season, but then this team is a mess and guys like Cammy don’t work their best in those scenarios.

Listening to Team 990′s Tony Molinaro this morning and Tony is pointing a finger at Bob Gainey who’s impact from the shadows does seem to be apparent.

The Habs made a mid game trade during last night’s loss to the Bruins.  Not sure if the goal is to run this team into the ground, but this trade is as odd as the Halak trade.

Jaroslav Halak returned to Montreal this week and shut out the Habs.    With Carey Price about to command in excess of $5M per year after this season who would you rather have?  I can tell you who the paid faithful at the Bell Centre would choose.

Mr. Molson, and surprisingly Mr. Gainey, seem to forget what the fan base in Montreal expect and will support.   And that’s championship hockey.  It doesn’t mean that you have to win every year, but you have to play like Champions.    Mike Cammalleri was a free agent that chose Montreal.   For years players did not even consider Montreal unless they had no other options; never mind sign in the prime of the careers as Cammy did.

His voicing publicly his concerns of the organization to me aren’t what Eric Engels suggested; but indicative of what Patrick Roy did to Reggie Houle.   And it was handled in manner just as bush as how they handled Roy.

When you have a talent like the Habs had in Cammy and you want to move it, you shop it.  It’s not hard.   Same as the Halak situation.     Montreal gets Rene Bourque; a good NHL talent who makes half the money as Cammy, but at best is a grittier Michael Ryder – 25 or so goals per year with some grit.

In the play offs; when the money is on the line you need players who make magic happen as Cammy did in the semi finals it was Cammy putting up the points.

Bob Gainey made some questionable moves to bring in Scott Gomez and then signing Brian Gionta.   It’s helped attract talent to Montreal even if the Habs have to overpay a bit.   There was a semblance of structure to the team.

Today, after two years of fractured management we have a head coach gone; an assistant coach sacrificed; an interim coach sacrificed, and now a team losing one of its cornerstone stars.

I have a hunch Calgary is having a great big laugh today.   They picked up a star for a second round draft pick and a higher end Travis Moen with a French name.    Montreal is not going to the play offs and I’m sure there is a line up in the dressing room looking for the exit door.

Not good.   There are going to be some dark days for Habs fans on the horizon.   Thank goodness Ottawa is not that far away as they are playing some great hockey; shutting out Conference leaders, the NY Rangers who feature a talented young defenseman named Ryan McDonagh, a throw in on the Scott Gomez deal….

What do you think Hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN - So as we approach the half way mark of the NHL season the Habs are in a strange position.     The odds of them making the play offs are not terribly good right now.   The odds of this team drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup are near non existent.

The job that Pierre Gauthier has done as GM is pretty deplorable.   Addressing team needs in the off season.  Filling needs during the season.    Having the right players for his coach or the right coach for his players.

Fail to.   Montreal has now won two in a row making things a tad more interesting.  Mighty Mite Brian Gionta is back.  Scott Gomez may return; maybe even Andrei Markov, but those are not keys to the magic kingdom of play off hockey.

This team was run this season like a roti league team.  Some interesting contracts and pick ups, but at the end of the day it’s not built right.   There are lots of bright lights and good signs, but if Carey Price is given a Josh Gorges contract; PK Subban the same where will the team be?

With players like Tomas Plekanec and Cammy playing like they are frustrated with this mess where does that leave the Habs and do they have the right people to do what’s needed to be done.

As an armchair GM if I saw the geography out there and thought that by pulling the trigger on a big trade I could go deep in the play offs I’m there, but the Habs don’t have a lot of chips to play with.

They can mortgage their future and let go of a 1st.   They have some interesting spare parts and some enigmas, but will that land them a big ticket?

Giving up a 2nd rounder for a rent a player like they did with Domenic Moore isn’t the smartest of moves.  It was a second rounder that landed PK Subban.

Right now Geoff Molson, and maybe Bob Gainey have some big decisions to make; like Bryan Murray learned last year in Ottawa sometimes you have to make big decisions.   Sometimes you have to put it on the line.    This is most likely the scenario that Montreal has to decide really really soon.   IF they can’t pull off a bit of magic to make a run for this year then they have to gear up for next year.

Things can change fast in the NHL with parity.

If I’m GM I’m listening to offers.  You can get a 2nd for Hal Gill; maybe a prospect into the deal too with injuries this year. Same goes for Moen who’s the kind of player that can help play off teams.

I still don’t know what to do about Alexei Kostitsyn.  I love his talent, but when Chris Neil has a higher rate of shots per game I’m not sure what do to with him.  I guarantee that if the Habs move him he notches 30 goals next year, but Montreal has to either resign him or move him this year.    Can you get a 1st + for him?

Gionta?  If I get a serious chance to trade him it’s bye bye.    There are not too many untouchables on this squad.

This season has shown the future of the team.    The big move by Bob Gainey yielded a good play off run.   Nobody could predict that Scott Gomez would be the complete and utter failure he’s been.   I think Mr. Gainey rolled the dice and changed this team; but the ownership change seems to have sunk is play.

Carey Price has to decide if he wants to stay in Montreal.   If he can be signed for a reasonable deal great.  If he holds out for a premium I trade him as he’s the one cog in Montreal that they can really max a return on .   Teams would be lining up to snatch him up.

The bottom line is that this all relies on a good horse trader in the GM seat; something Montreal can’t claim to have at the moment.

The big money question for Geoff Molson is to allow his current crew to deal with this or get someone in who could do a better job?

Players respond to strong management from top down.  Agents respond even more.   Get in a good GM and coach and players want to be there.   It’s not complicated.

There are a lot more buyers this year than sellers and the there’s going to be a premium on some players this play off season.    Toronto looks like the real deal and Ottawa is very very close.  I’m personally rooting for them.   They are completely at the mercy of injuries as one to any of their key players would be brutal; but I like this team in the play offs.

A top six forward can really up the ante for them and a stronger back up goalie.

Toronto is interesting.   They seem always in any play for a top player on the trade market.  They have some real strengths this season.   New Jersey will need some help to maintain a play off spot although they are playing some strong hockey now.

Pittsburgh is playing without Crosby and Staal.  They’re gritting it through.  They have some gifted forwards, but need some help on D.  A puck mover like a Tomas Kaberle would probably be the ticket for them.    Washington should power up now that Alex Ovechkin wants to play again.   I expect the Caps to not trade Semin as long as they are clicking on all eights.

Winnipeg is missing a stud. They have played better hockey in the second quarter of the season, but need help.

St. Louis is on fire under Ken Hitchcock and really zooming.  Vancouver is on course; I see LA making a move and nipping by Dallas where injuries are taking their toll.

What do you think hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN –  Wow, betcha nobody was expecting Lars Eller to ever put up a five point game, but that’s what the Habs great Dane did in Montreal’s 7-3 drubbing of the Winnipeg Jets.

The third period started 3-2 Montreal, but the Habs put the game away scoring four more goals.

Alexei Emelin was +3 for the night; Travis Moen had 3 assists, and Tomas Kaberle scored his first as a Hab.

Heck Hal Gill even had a fight on the evening.   Sounds like a bunch of  ”les boys” found their cups!

Maybe Plekky and PK should scrap at practice more often?    This is the kind of hockey this team can and should play.  Put the pedal the metal and don’t let go.  IF Gionta and Gomez come back and can up the ante it should be an interesting second half of the season.

Boston continued dominating their NHL opposition as they destroyed the Devils 6-1; Vancouver shut out Minnesota 3-0; and San Jose BBQ’d the Ducks 3-1.

What do you think Hab fans?  Was last night the real deal?  You can post your comments below.

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CFN – Coach Ron Wilson got his first win under his new contract as the Leafs blasted Tampa 7-3 with seven Leaf players scoring goals and Joffrey Lupal adding 3 assists.

The Monster; Jonas Gustavsson picked up the win in the fight filled match.   The win puts the Leafs 10th in the Conference 1 point out of a play off spot.

In other NHL scores Buffalo nipped Edmonton 4-3; Alex Ovechkin scored another goal as he led Washington to a 3-1 over Calgary.   Jarome Igninla did not score his 500th goal.   The Islanders won or lost depending on your perspective, 4-3 to Carolina; Detroit 5 Dallas 4; and St. Louis beat Phoenix 4-1 with Jaroslav Halak picking up the win.

I was looking over some numbers and I’m a funny kind of numbers guy.    I decided to compare some teams based on their goals for/against differential.   It was an interesting snap shot.  I’ve always been a firm believer that if you score more goals than you give up you’re going to win more games.

The chart suggests that the Heart Attack Kids, the Ottawa Senators are playing over their heads while Washington are inefficient.   San Jose in the Western conference have truly failed at maxing out their goal scoring and turning those into wins, while LA is doing the opposite.

Interesting huh?  Not a lot of surprises, but it does offer a snapshot of how efficient some teams are over others.   We can debate many of the factors involved with a team’s result, but at the end of the day it’s about goals.

So hockey fans; what do you think about the Leafs?  Is it their first year back in the play offs?   How fast after Iginla notches his 500th goal does he get traded?   You can post your comments below.

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CFN –  It’s interesting watching how the Habs keep blowing leads while the Sens keep stealing games by not giving up and storming back to snatch wins.  It also could be why the Ottawa Senators; in a season that most thought would be a rebuilding year are looking like they will make the play offs while media pundits are mulling over stories about who the Habs will dump as the season dwindles along.

Captain Alfredsson scored the winner in OT as Ottawa came back from 2-0 after two and beat the Devils 3-2.  Jason Spezza who was 20-4 in the face off circle scored as did Eric Condra.

You have to love this team.  It’s a lunch bucket squad that just are playing way over their heads and don’t care.   There’s a lot of grit on this team, but they don’t take too many penalities.   Good coaching and good chemistry are going a long way.   I have to admit that I thought last season that GM Bryan Murray should get the chop; but his fire sale and patience have worked.

The Senators are not only winning this year, but are in great cap position too.   I’m almost tempted to put in a request for accreditation and make the trip to Kanata a few times this year, and that says volumes from this person who even when working for the Habs didn’t want to go to games!

It should be interesting to see what moves the team makes as we get closer to the trade deadline…

In other NHL news, Pierre Gauthier is making odd and bizarre statements to the media.    First off apologizing for hiring a unilingual coach in Randy Cunneyworth.   I can’t share how much this disappoints  and embarrasses me as both a Habs fan and a former Quebecer.     Hockey is about winning.  This language crap is why the Nordiques never won jack squat.  It’s for amateurs.     It’s not even worth debating.    It’s a shame that this legendary team caved to a few bored sports writers….

Even Reggie Houle would never stoop to that level of pandering.   While nobody disregards or disrespects that this team plays in a province that by far the majority of citizens are Francophones; and while it’d be a factor that the coach should have a grasp of that language,it’s far more important to communicate to the players than the media.   It’s the coach’s job to coach his players.   Two coaches equal; sure give the nod to the guy that speaks French, but to take any edge in winning away from this team over language is utterly retarded.

You get the best players, coaches, and managers period.   Nothing less than a Stanley Cup is acceptable for Montreal fans of all linguistic background and these idiotic language issues have held this team back.

In other NHL scores;  the Rangers nipped Philly 3-2; SJ needed the shoot out to beat the Canucks 3-2; Edmonton made some long shot bets pay off as they defeated the Hawks 4-3 in Chicago, and Colorado beat Los Angeles 2-1.

What do you think Hockey fans?  You can post your comments below.

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