Habs Versus Former Habs - October 5 - Habs Eyes On The Prize

Habs Versus Former Habs - October 5

by Robert L on Oct 5, 2009 10:03 AM EDT Comment 7 comments

A short while ago on July 30 a note sent to me by reader Peter Young was misconstrued by yours truly. Taken slightly aback by large off-season turnover, Peter wondered if there had been any similar summers in Canadiens history where such a great chunk of the club had been replaced. In his query, Peter hinted that I should dig such an example an compare it to the present day facelift.

Somewhere along the line, I gather I took those thoughts by Mr. Young and came up with an entirely different take, that of tracking the former Habs stats versus the current group. Great idea, I thought. Thanks Peter. Only, Peter won't accept the credit for the subliminal inspiration. (See his note, and mine, below.)

The matchups below aren't meant to have much significance and it should also be noted that many of the former Habs are receiving first string ice time as opposed to their current Canadiens counterparts. That's an inevitable reality, and in that sense a whole lot shouldn't be read into the comparisons.

The * beside Asham's name notes that he was the only former Hab on the list not cast off during the Gainey regime.

Of course, it is early. Some players have yet to play a second game at this time. I'll do my best to update this every Monday if interest follows.

Carey Price 2-2-0-0 1.89 / Cristobal Huet 1-0-0-1 2.77 (CHI)

Jaroslav Halak 0-0-0-0 0.00 / Jose Theodore 1-1-0-0 1.00 (WSH)

Andrei Markov 1-0-0-0 / 1-0-0-0 Sheldon Souray (EDM)

Jaroslav Spacek 2-0-1-1 / 1-1-1-2 Mark Streit (NYI)

Roman Hamrlik 1-0-1-1 / 2-0-0-0 Mike Komisarek (TOR)

Paul Mara 2-0-1-1 / 2-0-1-1 Francois Beauchemin (TOR)

Josh Gorges 2-1-1-2 / 1-0-1-1 Craig Rivet (BUF)

Hal Gill 2-0-0-0 / Francis Bouillon 1-0-0-0 (NAS)

Scott Gomez 2-0-1-1 / 1-0-0-0 Mike Ribeiro (DAL)

Mike Cammalleri 2-0-2-2 / 1-0-0-0 Alex Kovalev (OTT)

Brian Gionta 2-2-0-2 / 1-0-1-1 Alex Tanguay (TBA)

Tomas Plekanec 2-0-2-2 / 1-0-0-0 Saku Koivu (ANA)

Andrei Kostitsyn 2-0-0-0 / 2-1-1-2 Michael Ryder (BOS)

Pacioretty 2-0-0-0 / 2-0-2-2 Higgins (NYR)

Maxim Lapierre 2-0-0-0 / 2-1-2-3 Mikhail Grabovski (TOR)

Guillaume Latendresse 2-0-0-0 / 2-0-3-3 Steve Begin (BOS)

Travis Moen 2-2-0-2 / 1-0-1-1 Sergei Samsonov (CAR)

Glen Metropolit 2-1-1-2 / 1-1-0-1 Robert Lang (PHO)

Matt D'Agostini 1-0-0-0 / 0-0-0-0 Arron Asham* (PHI)

Georges Laraque 2-0-1-1 / 1-0-0-0 Tom Kostopoulos (CAR)

Totals GP/G/A/P 33-6-11-17 / 23-4-13-17

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Comments

More interesting to see down th road

Interesting comparison Robert. Good idea

Looking forward to when the numbres reveal more impact (15-20 games) down the road.

Of course, Markov’s injury throws a monkey wrench in it.

Ya! The Habs Rule!

by yathehabsrule on Oct 5, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting Idea, Robert L.

Robert L.,

Whatever I suggested, it was not this. Twice you’ve now given me credit, undeservedly, for what is actually your own very good idea, though apparently prompted by something I wrote. Sorry I didn’t write in to disclaim credit for myself earlier. What I think I did suggest was to look back through Canadiens history and see if there ever had been as many players shifted in the off-season by the Canadiens. Was this the biggest clear-out ever in Canadiens history? I think it may well have been.

by Peter Young on Oct 5, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

P.S.

I think it was the poor description in my message to you that gave you what was your own inspiration. I said something like it would be good to compare players cleared out in previous years with this clear out.

by Peter Young on Oct 5, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

The note I misconsrewed :)…..

Robert, I was thinking about the number and quality of Canadiens players turned over this summer, and it strikes me that in modern history at least there never has been such a turnover, not just simply in number but quality as well. By quality, I mean where the players stood in the hierarchy on the team. This might be a subject for a piece, although you may already have touched on it.

Best, Peter

Looks like it was my intepretation of your idea….guess I give credit even when it isn’t entirely due! :)

by Robert L on Oct 5, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Credit Where It's Due

Robert, I have been furious on the occasions when other people have taken credit for my work or ideas, and I have therefore tried to be scrupulous in not taking any undeserved credit. But it strikes me that my idea was a pretty good one, too. Any chance of you looking over your records to see if this clearout was the biggest ever in Canadiens history? I remember some shocking trades, but nothing on the level of what Gainey did this past summer.

by Peter Young on Oct 5, 2009 8:57 PM EDT reply actions

Three occassions come to mind, but neither truly compare.

After the Canadiens first season, only four players were kept of the seven man, four spare lineup. Everyone but Newsy, Jack Laviolette, Didier Pitre and Skinner Poulin were ixnayed in favor of fresh blood.

In 1939-40 the Canadiens reached their nadir. The following season, Tommy Gorman came in as GM and brought Dick Irvin in as coach. The entire 1939-40 lineup, save for Toe Blake were placed on waivers. For the 1940-41 season, 10 new players were added.

It looked something like this:

Regulars in 1939-40:
Toe Blake, Charlie Sands, Ray Getliffe, Georges Mantha, Lou Trudel, Polly Drouin, Marty Barry, Doug Young, Red Goupille, Paul Haynes, Johnny Gagnon, Tony Demers, Bill Summerhill, Armand Mondou, Rod Lorrain, Walter Buswell, Cy Wentworth and goalie Claude Bourque.

The players in bold were the only returnees to play more than 10 of 48 games in 1940-41.

Added to the group were:

John Quilty, Joe Benoit, Murph Chamberlain, Elmer Lach, John Adams, Ken Readon, Jack Portland, Tony Grabovski, Alex Singbush and goalie Bert Gardiner.

The final example that comes to mind perhaps occurred over two or three season, and would involve the ‘61 to ’63, which cast off players such as Harvey, Plante, Geoffrion and others, in what better exemplified on ongoing facelift.

by Robert L on Oct 5, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Undeserved Credit

In college I played for the varsity soccer team. In one particular game I played left wing; I tried to make a shot on goal on a muddy field and miskicked it. instead the ball skidded to a fellow forward on the team, who promptly scored a goal. The captain of our team, who was a defender, ran all the way up the pitch to congratulate the scorer of the goal and then he came over and congratulated me, obviously thinking I had made the pass that set up the goal. He had not seen it was a miskick on my part. I said nothing and, then saw the goal scorer looking at me. He knew my “pass” was a miskick. I hung my head in shame for not having said anything and taking credit that was not really due. It’’s not a nice feeling, and I never want it to happen again.

by Peter Young on Oct 5, 2009 9:07 PM EDT reply actions