Tuesday morning Habs Links
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Jul 5, 2011 5:00 AM EDT
in Opinions and other Habs links
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PrintGetting antsy for the 2011-12 season to start up? Yeah same hear, fourtunatley there is some activity and news going on for the next few weeks, until the August "slumber" leading up to training camps.
While many of us plan our summer vacations, weddings, or in Mike Richards case whine about moving expenses, some are doing a little better for the planet.
Earlier this afternoon, P.K. Subban arrived in Haiti, along with former Hab Georges Laraque on the latest World Vision humanitarian expedition.
Subban talked to the media, prior to his departure, and will be tweeting from the Carribean nation throughout the trip. He also spoke on the addition of Eric Cole and the departure of Roman Hamrlik.
Video from Subban and Laraque on the trip, and more Habs bits and pieces, after the jump.
Back in the home office, the Canadiens announced that Brock Trotter is officially returning to the fold, after a year playing with Riga of the KHL. Trotter's return had been first reported by HockeyBuzz's Steven Hindle and later confirmed by PuckDaddy!'s Dmitri Chesnokov via Twitter.
The one-year, two-way deal is reported to be worth $550,000. Trotter spoke to CJAD's Abe Hefter Monday.
Phase two of the Canadiens development cap takes place this Wednesday at theBell Sportsplex in Brossard. The three day session features two-a-day on-ice sessions that will be open to the public. Seven of the eleven attendees were selected by the Canadiens at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Chris Boucher scouts Andrei Markov during the November 13, 2010 game.
Pierre Gauthoer's stability plan from Pat Hickey.
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News almost as good as Laraque and PK doing work in Haiti…
Konopoka to Ottawa on a 1-year, $700k contract.
I don’t think Gauthier was in for him but the Habs not signing Konopka is good news.
I think management shares our views on the enforcer role. They succombed to pressure to get Laraque and after that failure they’ve joined the league’s more progressive teams like Vancouver and Detroit in considering the role obsolete.
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty much. If you want to believe in the “protection” myth I think you’re better off getting a guy who can act like a deterrent such as Cooke rather than a fighter. Go after our star players and we’ll send this crazy guy to take out your star out kind of thing.
Of course that would probably just escalate things and make it worse. Better off doing what the Habs did in the playoffs last season: whistle blows, go to the bench (unless Marchand is near you). No need to waste energy on the after-whistle nonsense.
Its telling how Montreal’s non-engagement was much more effective than what Vancouver was doing. The only really important thing is to guard the crease so the goalie doesn’t take more hassle then necessary, although Carey is pretty good at protecting himself.
NHL altercations are a lot more like the schoolyard than the barroom or alleyways that fans make it out to be.
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I like how Price gets away with beating up on guys standing in fromnt of him because he does it with his glove and not his blocker.
That being said, I’m mystified by the wide acceptance of the “We need Konopka!” line… I mean the guy is useless.
It seems a lot of importance is given to winning faceoffs, but the fact is, Plekanec is the high-leverage faceoff taker on this team and there is no. way. in. hell. Jacques Martin is letting a guy like Konopka into those kind of situations.
We are almost at the 200 games mark of JM’s reign, and people still act like they don’t know what kind of player he uses in what situations. Laraque went away mid-year because there was no way in hell Martin would ever put him on the ice again.
And that’s the thing with Gauthier: he gives Martin players Martin will use.
I think the fan base is burdened by mis-understood history, especially with regards to the glory days of the 70’s. Thus it was the Habs getting tougher and not the confluence of the prime years of the Big Three, Lafleur and Dryden coupled with obscene organizational depth that lead to the cup years of the dynasty.
The fact that guys like Ferguson and Nilan were also pretty solid players, top-9 worthy on any team and more comparable to Lucic and Hartnell than Konopka in talent and role is missed.
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
It is the 70’s myth that the Habs “toughed up” and beat the Flyers at their own game, when in reality the man responsible for the toughness was a Chara like figure in Robinson that assured the Habs were never the victims of abuse.
It wasn’t Bouchard and Lupien, it was the baddest dog on the block destroying all comers and every other player knowing they had the biggest nuclear bomb on the planet. The fact that Big Bird was one of the best players meant that he was on the ice for close to half the game.
The Habs did beef up in the early 90s when they had Ewen, Odelein and Roberge, so there is some understanding there, but the NHL was a different game in both those era’s.
Which is the idea, if you want to build tough it has to be at the top or at least the middle. 4th line goons don’t do anything for you
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Delmas
Anybody, have the scoop on this kid?
Kid played with the Lewiston Maineiacs, Ramparts and Halifax MooseHeads in the QMJHL. He wasn’t great .Best season being 23-10-3 in Lewiston 2006. Was drafted in 2008 by Colorado. Invited to Habs camp in 2010, played in Wheeling in ECHL, and Hamilton since.
According to Hockey Futures:
A solid, positional goaltender, Delmas is unflappable between the pipes and plays a mature, steady game beyond his years. Always square to the shooter, he never gives up on the puck and possesses a quick glove, but at times he struggles controlling rebounds. Though he has settled down from his rookie year, Delmas is sometimes a bit too adventurous in and around the net and doesn’t have the quickness and agility to always make up for his aggressiveness.
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jul 5, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Dominoes fall. Kaberle to Carolina, Corvo to Boston, McArthur, Yandle and Ladd re-ups with their teams.
Carolina’s blueline was thin so this is something of an upgrade and Corvo might be a good partner for Chara. If this was Boston’s big move on defense I’m not particularly concerned, they’re now deeper than yesterday but not a lot deeper.
Double checking on it, Corvo was doing better playing a bigger role for Carolina then I though. Smart pick up for the Bruins.
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Gorges asks for arbitration. Bit risky for a player like him TBH. I bet it never reaches the hearing.
I think its mutual insurance. Gorges can hold the threat of a one year deal then UFA status. His comparables are getting signed for around 3 million this summer and he’s apt to get the same. Gauthier’s probably been lowballing him for a while just to see if he can get him for less.
Unless Gorges is traded for another defenseman, I don’t see him out of Habs uniform.
by Stephan Cooper on Jul 5, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Good for PG ...
Play nice, but don’t overspend. the wait-and-see approach should save the team dollars. When a guy like Yandle signs for $4.4MM per, the ceiling on Gorges (love him tho I do) can’t be over $3MM per …. I still think $11.5MM for 4 years sounds about right.
The Yandle and Kaberles signings also provide solid estimate of how much CLB overpaid for Wiz – about 20-25% … $4.5MM per would’ve been fair, and even then you risk overpaying
Who would the Habs want to get for Gorges??
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jul 5, 2011 10:02 PM EDT reply actions
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