March 4, 2023 – The NHL is in a strange place. While the salary cap has been a success, the structure of seasons now seem to be 60 game seasons with a long 22 game wind down until the playoffs start. While mathematically there are still chances for some teams like the Ottawa Sens, who… Continue reading Habs, Sens, Flames, & Oilers Fail at NHL Trade Deadline. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
Category: Hockey Crunch
Habs 9-2 Beating by Caps Highlights New Regime’s Struggles in Montreal HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
DECEMBER 31, 2022 – This is the last Hockey Crunch for the year. As some of our viewers know yours truly was the first NHL Analytics hire, all the way back in 1995 for the Habs. While things have come a long way since I used an old Sony VHS deck with a shuttle (the… Continue reading Habs 9-2 Beating by Caps Highlights New Regime’s Struggles in Montreal HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
If the Habs Were to Trade Josh Anderson I’d Talk to Washington. HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
December 9, 2022 – It’s bewildering at how so many GM and management teams bemoan the cap age in the NHL. It’s really not rocket science. It’s always been a gamble to make a trade, but it’s still the best way to resolve an issue. First off I like Josh Anderson a lot. I get… Continue reading If the Habs Were to Trade Josh Anderson I’d Talk to Washington. HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig HABS & Leafs After Game 3 Review
October 16, 2022 – Early days, but a few interesting trends are appearing for both teams. Toronto is 2-1 with its loss coming vs Montreal. The Habs are 1-2. Toronto has 9 goals for and 8 against. That’s not good for the Leafs. Montreal has 5 goals for and 9 against which clearly shows early… Continue reading HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig HABS & Leafs After Game 3 Review
Habs Win Opening Night vs Leafs – HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
October 13, 2022 – It wasn’t a great game, but it was entertaining. The kids were alright except for Slafkovsky who really needs to get to the AHL and play lots of minutes. Mostly he needs to keep his feet moving. Compared to Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, and Arber Xhekaj, #1 looked a bit lost… Continue reading Habs Win Opening Night vs Leafs – HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
Make or Break Year for GM Kyle Dubas & Leaf Core. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
October 12, 2022 – It’s that time! First game of the season when all looks optimistic and the dew is fresh. The big question is can the Leafs shake this first round and out that they’ve been enduring? Did they do enough in the off season? This writer thinks not. The core really wasn’t touched.… Continue reading Make or Break Year for GM Kyle Dubas & Leaf Core. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
NHL OPENING DAY – Did Habs Really Improve? by Jamie Gilcig – HOCKEY CRUNCH
October 10, 2022 – There’s a lot of excitement in la belle province as the season kicks off against The Leafs. The Habs didn’t win a pre season game this year, but this scribbler predicts a pounding of Toronto tonight. It’s not that the team is that much better. It’s just good drama. Under Jeff… Continue reading NHL OPENING DAY – Did Habs Really Improve? by Jamie Gilcig – HOCKEY CRUNCH
Hockey Canada Scandal Demands Nothing Less Than A Clean Sweep. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEY CRUNCH
OCTOBER 5, 2022 – The problem with lawyers is that while the great ones can prove in court that elephants just might be able to fly; in the real world, when the issue is heinous enough, it doesn’t really matter if elephants can indeed fly or not. In this situation it’s gone way past the… Continue reading Hockey Canada Scandal Demands Nothing Less Than A Clean Sweep. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEY CRUNCH
Battle of Ontario – Sens UP – Leafs DOWN. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
August 16, 2022 – Yes it’s August. Camps open soon and rosters will still be tinkered with, but we’ve gone through the draft, and the opening of Free Agency. The trade frenzy between and the bottom line is a Toronto team that surely cannot afford another first round drubbing, but has simply not moved the… Continue reading Battle of Ontario – Sens UP – Leafs DOWN. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
Looking @ the Habs the Morning of Free Agency 2022. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEY CRUNCH Have They Moved Forward?
July 13, 2022 – As I sit here pondering whether the Habs under new GM Kent Hughes are doing well or not I’m mulling over their core. Clearly the Habs are not addressing the very real factor that the team needs a few francophone players in their core. Right now there seems a huge opportunity… Continue reading Looking @ the Habs the Morning of Free Agency 2022. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEY CRUNCH Have They Moved Forward?
HOCKEY CRUNCH – Leafs Choke Again in Game 7 – Tampa Moves to Second Round. By Jamie Gilcig
May 15, 2022 – For Leaf nation it’s essentially like living in the movie Ground Hog Day. A really good team racking up the points during the regular season and failing for the sixth year in a row to move forward. Frankly Leaf fans deserve better. Connor McDavid put on a show leading his team… Continue reading HOCKEY CRUNCH – Leafs Choke Again in Game 7 – Tampa Moves to Second Round. By Jamie Gilcig
Hockey Crunch – By Jamie Gilcig – Kent Hughes Hiring Reflects on Quebecois Culture & Nordiques Expos Reality
January 23, 2022 – Kudos to Geoff Molson. The Jeff Gorton & Kent Hughes hires feel good. As someone that was the Habs first Analytics guy and video statographer back in the 90’s it’s great to see the team finally take some strong steps forward with a clear focus to winning. As this scribbler has… Continue reading Hockey Crunch – By Jamie Gilcig – Kent Hughes Hiring Reflects on Quebecois Culture & Nordiques Expos Reality
HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig – Oilers Slipping Out of Contention. Can Their Season Be Saved?
JANUARY 7, 2022 – GM Ken Holland has to be feeling the pressure. He gambled with the Duncan Keith trade and the signing of Zach Hyman & Cody Ceci while not truly addressing the team’s goaltending issues. The team jumped out to a great start, but now are 2-6-2 in their last team with McDavid… Continue reading HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig – Oilers Slipping Out of Contention. Can Their Season Be Saved?
Habs Owner Geoff Molson Gets an A for Firing of Berg & Hiring of Gorton. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
November 30, 2021 – Many people don’t realize that I actually used to work for the Habs. Way back in the 90’s I was their first real analytics guy during the Rejean Houle/Mario Tremblay days. I actually used a VCR with a shuttle that caught fire to crunch video. Sometimes I’d literally work through the… Continue reading Habs Owner Geoff Molson Gets an A for Firing of Berg & Hiring of Gorton. HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
Habs Hire Jeff Gorton. Bergevin Days May Finally Be Over. HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
NOVEMBER 28, 2021 – Omicron and an Anglo hire in Montreal management in the same week. It’s going to be an interesting week and the “le Journal de Montreal” crew will have fun with this, but it’s expected that there will be another hire. Anglo Scott Mellanby resigned from the team. Can’t blame him if… Continue reading Habs Hire Jeff Gorton. Bergevin Days May Finally Be Over. HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
Blow it up? Rebuild? Stay the Course? What to do if I’m the Habs Owner. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEYCRUNCH
NOVEMBER 16, 2021 – What an odd situation the Habs are in. The team is as bad as last year; but for different reasons. Like many pundits I enjoyed the Habs miracle run to the finals, but I’m no wearer of rose coloured glasses. There were no real positives or moving forward for the team… Continue reading Blow it up? Rebuild? Stay the Course? What to do if I’m the Habs Owner. By Jamie Gilcig HOCKEYCRUNCH
How Bad Will Habs Be This Year? HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
NOVEMBER 7, 2021- Hoo boy. First we had that lovely start to the season and now it appears, unless Jake Allen notches a shut out, wins will be infrequent. Carey Price is coming back soon, but he didn’t perform much better statistically than Jake Allen last year during the regular season nor much better than… Continue reading How Bad Will Habs Be This Year? HOCKEY CRUNCH By Jamie Gilcig
Understanding NHL Culture re KYLE BEACH & Aaron Rodgers is a Scumbag HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig
November 8, 2021 – I was mulling whether to write about the Kyle Beach NHL Sex Scandal or not. After all, what could I add? Well a lot, but did I want to? And then the Aaron Rodgers getting Covid-19 while breaking NFL protocols and putting others at risk happened. Who you are many times… Continue reading Understanding NHL Culture re KYLE BEACH & Aaron Rodgers is a Scumbag HOCKEY CRUNCH by Jamie Gilcig