Exclusive Interview With Montreal's Jay Baruchel
Sunday afternoon I sat down with Montreal's own Jay Baruchel in his NDG home to watch the Montreal Canadiens take on the Winnipeg Jets for Scott Gomez's anniversary game since his last goal. A 3-0 win for the good guys that was one of the few bright spots of this depressing season.
We spoke about how growing up in a hockey loving family has influenced his career and life, and how his new film "Goon" is more than just a movie to him.
Jay also talks about his favourite Habs from Bob Gainey to P.K. Subban, and how he feels about the future of the team.
"Goon" hits theaters in North America on Friday, February 24th, 2012.
For more from Jay, you can follow him on twitter @BaruchelNDG and follow his sports tweeting @JBSportsface. The following interview contains coarse language and is suitable for anyone who isn't super sensitive.
And a special thank you to John Leger, friend and tech geek, for supplying the equipment used to record the interview. You can follow him (he's a funny guy, do it) @crosseyed_mofo.
98 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Good interview, can’t wait for Goon to open.
Goals scored on Stanley Cup winning goalies by Scott Gomez this past year: 0
Goals scored on Stanley Cup winning goalies by me: 1
I watched Goon last night, and let me just say; it was awesome.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Plekanec
There are a lot of rumors that talk about St-Louis scouts and Plekenac ice time yesterday. I really hope that Gauthier won’t even think about trading him…
Speculation based on the fact that Pleky played 24 minutes, and having three St-Louis scouts present.
Of course, maybe Pleks just played 24 minutes because he was having a good game after being put back in his real role.
I agree, it doesn’t seem likely the org would be dumb enough to trade him. The question for me is whether RC keeps Plekanec in that role or not.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
Friedman said the Blues were looking for defensive depth, so I’d look more at Gill and Campoli’s ice time than Plekanec’s. The fact that Campoli is playing ahead of Diaz to me suggests they’re trying to let other teams have a look at him.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
Now if it’s Plekanec for Chris Stewart and Patrick Berglund I’m willing to listen.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
It’ll be Blunden at center, don’t be foolish!
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Until I see how Desharnais does in 3rd-line matchups with 3rd-line-ish wingers i’m not too enthused with the idea of Plekanec-Eller-DD down the middle. I have him pencilled in as (ideally) the 4th-line centre until I see that happen.
I have a feeling that unless there’s a change in philosophy, Desharnais is going to continue to get the two best wingers to the detriment of the rest of the lineup. Might be better served by upgrading the wings this summer.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
If he were still getting Martin-sheltered it would make sense if you were hoping to find someone to over-value him in a trade. His contract is a great deal so it would have to be significant overvaluing.
Most teams I could see building up Desharnais and reaping the rewards on his tiny contract then trading him, but I can’t see the Habs trading the only Francophone point producer they’ve had in awhile.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 8:23 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. I’d just like to see Eller get the same opportunity.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
It would also make the most sense since Eller is the long term solution there and the only player in the system who projects as a first line center.
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 6, 2012 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
And especially if you’re already giving him tougher comps than DD. No sense giving him 2nd line competition with Darche and Blunden.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly, either you get him the soft minutes or you give him the quality wingers.
I liked the soft minutes line with Leblanc and Palushaj last game.
But at this point of the season, I think it would be better to give him Cole and Pacioretty with tough minutes to see if he’s ready to be a real ES top 6 center next year. This will answer a lot of question about what this team is going to do this summer, mostly about Gomez.
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 6, 2012 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
This is my feeling on the situation as well. Test players for the roles you actually want to put them in.
I was browsing behind the net today, and just to note, Eller’s on ice Corsi at 4vs5 is amazing.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
It's a great suggestion in a reality but....
RC is not thinking about Canadiens version 2012 and it will not be done. He is trying to wring every “W” out of this team that he can to pump up his post season resume out of here.
"It's only through change we learn to grow".
Good thing he’s mostly incompetent then!
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
Especially since it’s not like depending on that line has given Randy a stellar record. No healthy team should depend entirely on a soft minutes line, especially if you have to make the rest of the lineup weaker for that line to work. I don’t hate DD but if the org think a player who has to get sheltered by the teams two best ES wingers against fairly soft opposition while boasting a 1021 PDO to produce at a top 6 ES rate is their longterm solution at center, I don’t know if I can be too optimist about their evaluation of this team.
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 7, 2012 12:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
As you say, it’s not about Desharnais, it’s about the team. And if his progression has allowed him to handle soft minutes without insulation then the team should test him.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe they're the best wingers
because they play with Desharnais.
by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 6, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve donne WOWYs for DD, Cole and MaxPac and the wingers are awesome on their own while DD is underwater without them. I’m fairly confident the wingers make DD awesome and not the reverse.
by MathMan on Feb 6, 2012 7:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That’s why they’re both significantly better than Desharnais in every measurable metric?
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
I think the N is too small to make any conclusions.
DD has played mostly with Cole and MaxPac, and he is essentially a rookie. There just aren’t enough data points to determine that he is no good with anyone else. Also he is learning to play in the league. If he is better since forming a line with those two it could just be that he is getting better as an NHLer (which is what it looks like).
Besides, we have no other very good wingers on the team. If DD doesn’t score as much when – say – Moen and Darche are his wingers, that isn’t very informative.
The fact that Cammy wanted to play with him instead of Plex tells me something.
by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 6, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
The fact that Cammy wanted to play with him instead of Plex tells me something.
Where is that from?
by Simon Lamarche on Feb 6, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry but we’re not dealing with that small of a sample size here. By everything measurable Desharnais is the weakest part of that line.
The fact that DD is constantly trumpeted as the #1 center when Eller has put up basically the same ES production with far worse linemates and tougher competition is what leads me to be very critical of DD. it’s about perspective.
And please find a quote about Cammalleri saying that. I don’t doubt that he would want to considering Desharnais has played against 3rd line competition nearly the entire year, so that’s an easier job for Cammalleri than playing on Plekanec’s wing, but I’d like to see the quote with a source anyway.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
And to clarify, no one has said Desharnais isn’t any good, he’s just not a 1st line center, and he’s not a 2nd line center without being heavily sheltered.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve started poking at qualcomp (slooowly) and he does, indeed, looks like a decent 2nd line C. Like, he doesn’t look like he needs heavy sheltering anymore.
I still have to look into this, and I’d love him to play with, say, Bourque and Kostitsyn in with a high OZone faceoff rate and see where he ends up, but we may be selling Desharnais short.
Short… See what I did there?
We really need to know what he can do without the team’s best two wingers.
I still would not feel too comfortable going into next season with anyone-DD-Eller as the center line.
It all depends on who you have on the wings. If you can load up with extra cap space and start the year with Cole, Pacioretty, Gionta, Penner, Kostitsyn and Bourque… That’s not bad. That seems to me to be enough insulation for a weakish center group.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
DD is basically a rookie!
He has 60 points in 100 games played.
Cole and MaxPac did not score as much when they were playing with Gomez or even Plekanec.
And he looks terrific – digs pucks out of corners, looks confident when he has the puck, and he is getting better with every game. 15 points in his last 15.
Why are you people so down on him?
Shelter Gomez with Pacioretty and Cole and see what happens.
by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 7, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not about being down on him, it’s about people such as yourself overreacting to small successes.
Pacioretty produced at close to the same rate last year with Gomez before his injury, and neither Cole nor Pacioretty have played enough time without Desharnais for you to make that judgement.
Put it this way. Desharnais has 26 points that weren’t accrued on the powerplay. This is while playing the entire season being sheltered by starting in the offensive zone and being placed against 3rd line competition until recently.
Eller has 20 points not accrued on the PP, playing a good chunk of the season with players like Darche and Blunden, some on the wing which isn’t his natural position, all the while facing tougher competition than Desharnais and starting in the offensive zone 7% less often than Desharnais.
Desharnais might only have 102 NHL games played, and 59 points in those, but he’s 25 years old. This isn’t some green boy, he’s been around the block.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
Why is everything that isn’t fawning considered an insult? I don’t think anybody here dislikes DD, but everybody here is tired of being told he is a 1st line center or that he is a rookie.
The same thing happened with Price and Halak. Price was 21 and Halak was 23 and everybody was doing a straight comparison. Price was facing Washington, Pittsburgh etc and Halak was playing Florida, Toronto and Atlanta.
It is about perspective. I don’t think one person here would be disappointed if DD started chewing up defensive zone assignments and elite competition. All that is being pointed out is that he is not.
If you want 30 tweets a day, don't follow me. @ChrisBoyle33
by Chris Boyle on Feb 7, 2012 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This a thousand times.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
One comment I made elsewhere that I think is applicable is that he provides most of what you’d get from a player like Brad Richards, at least on even strength.
Players that can truly make a significant difference against the tops of other lineups are extremely rare. Lines that break better than even against the top usually involve 2-3 special players together with good supporting cast, usually the top forward-top defenseman combo (Datsyuk-Lidstrom, Bergeron-Chara, Kopitar-Doughty etc.). I’d say the only way in the near future that Montreal gets that is to play Plekanec-Subban-Markov together with some good wingers (Gionta, Pacioretty, Cole, Kostitsyn etc.)
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think they’re that far off from Boston at least. Bergeron, if he’s better than Plekanec, is better by the most miniscule margin imaginable, and Chara is soon to decline at 35 this March. I would say Subban in the next couple years will be as good as Chara is now.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
The more I look into Chara the more I think he’s truly at a level that is very difficult to match. He makes an elite 1st line pairing with spare parts. And I suspect he may actually have shooting percentage suppressing talent that gets lost in the noise.
Subban’s best seasons are going to be after Plekanec’s decline so I don’t think the two of them will ever be quite at that level together (although to start this year they were pretty close).
Bergeron also gets Seguin now, which is just plain unfair.
As far as Eller goes, he has the potential to match Pleks but I don’t think he’s overwhelmingly likely to get that high. Pacioretty-Eller-Subban sounds like something that could be the heart of a strong PvP 5 on 5 unit 2-3 years from now though.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t sell Eller short. He’s on a similar production level that Plekanec was at, at a younger age. Not only that, but Plekanec’s first year in the NHL he wasn’t facing 2nd line toughs like Eller is with Koivu and Ribeiro around. I think he’s as likely to get there as it gets with that type of player.
Eller is already putting up elite level Corsi on the PK as well.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
While that is true, its also pretty rare for players to manage Plekanec’s continual development curve. He seemed to have hit his peak at 27 (09-10) which is pretty late for a forward.
We shouldn’t over estimate the likelihood that Eller follows the same path. He’s got talent but plenty of promising guys end up stalling out and don’t get better.
Which is a big reason why finding beastly two-way 5 on 5 centermen is so difficult. Its something that usually happens to guys that both have the potential and get continuously better during their early to mid twenties like Datsyuk, Kesler, M. Richards, M. Koivu.
Like I say to Leafs fans about Kadri and Colborne about counting eggs prior to hatching.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
I get that, but Eller’s progress is already showing. Is it possible that he stalls? Maybe. Would we be calling him our best prospect if he was playing with Cole and Pacioretty this year? That’s also pretty probable.
I don’t think it’s too early to suggest Eller can become a bigger Plekanec when we’ve seen him grow pretty exponentially over 130 or so games.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I took a look at Kadri’s numbers on the weekend and I still think he can be a decent player. That’s only looking at the stats and trying to view him in a lens comparable to Pacioretty. Max had 3.4 S/game at age 21 in his short time in the AHL while Kadri’s at 3.0
Taking a look at Colborne’s numbers I don’t see it. The goals might be there this season but the shots aren’t (2.05 S/game). as a 22 year-old. At age 22 Max was putting up 4.8 S/game as a 22 year-old. Maybe it’s unfair to compare players to guys like Pacioretty though.
3.0 is very respectable for a 20 year old as is the almost PPG. Most AHL prospects aren’t shooting fiends like Pacioretty and Leblanc. His curve is in line with future top-6.
The only numbers that really support a bright future for Colborne though are 6’5" and 220+ pounds. His early season AHL dominance appears to have been transitory and at at 22 he needs to start making a serious case towards being an NHL player rather than just showing signs. He’s not in the woods but it does look like he’s straying from the pack.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
Agree about Kadri and Colbourne. I’m not sure what Leafs fans and guys like Corey Pronman see in Colbourne. When I watch him play he seems slow and behind the play most of the time.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
My impression is that there is a lot more Nik Antropov in his potential upside than Joe Thorton.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions
That’s true, also a big part of why I want Eller to get his chance is that he could devellop into a Plekanec type thus giving us a Subban – Eller combo in the more longterm future.
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 7, 2012 5:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
If he’s still getting high ozone starts that’s still sheltering though. I don’t think Desharnais is a tough minutes center is what I’m saying.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
Looking at behind the net, DD also boast the highest team shooting % 5-5 (10.13%). On the powerplay too (10.34%) but that one is pretty normal, or maybe even low, I’m not sure what’s the average PP shooting %.
He also as a pretty high shooting % himself (15.9%). To illustrate this, Plekanec as 1 goal more, despite having more than double the number of shots.
Basically, he has a lot going the right way for him right now.
Also, that PP shooting % is brutal, wow!
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 6, 2012 11:02 PM EST up reply actions
The team’s PP shooting percentage is insanely low. Earlier in the season we were 1st overall in shot production on the PP, got nothing for it.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
Also Gomez after going back to a normal team shooting % 5-5 is rocking an hilariously low 4% on the powerplay.
Brutal, just brutal. At this point you have to think we are due for a Bruins like PDO next year.
by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 6, 2012 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
You would think so. Everything could definitely work out next year, which is why I’m worried about the org panicking again and hiring an idiot GM.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
Great interview, Andrew. JB’s clearly a brightly articulate guy and it makes for a compelling listen.
You can take the guy out of Montreal, but you can’t…‘n’ all that.
Thanks as always, and I’m sure Jay will appreciate hearing that.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
White and Palushaj sent down
White’s down for a conditioning stint. Per HIO it is figured that Moen is good to go for Tuesday.
Kevin van Steendelaar
http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar
but don't forget...
http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 6, 2012 12:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Like I said on twitter, tough for Palushaj to have his best NHL game of his career and get booted right after, but at least now he knows he can belong, and he can build that confidence.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Funny, I just watched How to Train Your Dragon the other day. Good timing?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Robertson's Rants - Exceedingly occasional, lengthy ramblings on hockey topics, hosted at Puck Podcast. And no, my name's not Doug.
I told my wife that Andrew was interviewing him.
Wife: “Who?”
Me: “Hiccup!, and the guy in the Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
Wife: “Oh!”
Kevin van Steendelaar
http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar
but don't forget...
http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 6, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
She’s never seen it. Needed something she could relate to.
Kevin van Steendelaar
http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar
but don't forget...
http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 6, 2012 7:01 PM EST up reply actions
The wife loves How To Train Your Dragon more than almost every movie I can think of.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
Wonderful...
…interview Andrew. I may not agree with everything he says but that’s the way it is with Habs fans these days. Lots of competing viewpoints. Good work!
I think he said it well in the interview, there are tons of reasons to enjoy hockey and ways to approach the sport. Thanks Dave.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
Ha!
Laraque points the finger at Gainey for the Gomez deal
Kevin van Steendelaar
http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar
but don't forget...
http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 6, 2012 10:47 PM EST reply actions
Great Interview, Andrew
This is way better than little soundbites you get from press junkets. It’s great that you let him talk, because he clearly had a lot to say and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I'm just as ridiculous on Twitter
Thanks Laura!
Jay is a great story teller so I just let him go. I feel privileged that he got so personal and shared his passion. I feel like more people know who he is now as well as what he does. Great guy.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
Finally got to watch it. Great stuff, just shooting the shit with a fan like that. I think it’s a pretty common thread that a lot of people miss the way that 80s team played for each other. Going into the Forum was scary, today going to the Bell is fun for opponents. There is something to be said about the fear of God element… Subban and Emelin as top 4 D is an excellent starting point for that.
As Jay said, there’s so many parts of this game to be a fan of. I’m a fan of a lot of different elements of the game, and it’d be fantastic to see a bit of everything in the mix.
Jay is still the awkward freshman from Undeclared to me. Looking forward to Goon.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
First thing I said to Jay when the genesis of this interview started was that he’d always be Steven Karp to me hahaha.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 6, 2012 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
When he talked about his dad (which was great stuff), I was kind of like… “he doesn’t sound like Hal”.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
Hahaha complete opposite sounds like!
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
Statistical oddity, while it lasts
So I was wondering if the West was still stronger than the East so I added up each conference’s record against the other.
The East is 92-66-26 against the West.
The West is 92-66-26 against the East.
That is not a typo, the conferences have identical records against one another. Until tonight, anyway.
That’s kind of awesome. How weird that you decide to add them up on possibly the only day of the season where they’re the same.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
2 goals for Ryan White in this morning’s (!) AHL game, in the first period. I think someone was pretty pumped to play hockey again.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
Awesome for him. Too bad the Bulldogs still have trouble winning games they dominate (sound familiar?).
Seems like they’ve regularly been firing 35-40 shots and not scoring. Good system but bereft of talent maybe?
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
Shooting talent often distinguishes itself more in lower leagues, especially ones which lose their top players so readily like the AHL.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
And if any AHL team has lost it’s top end talent, it’s the Bulldogs. They’re also suffering from a terribly unlucky season by Brian Willsie.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
Their goaltending apparently hasn’t been very good either. Which is probably a big part of it.
Willsie’s snakebite is probably one of the biggest reasons Leblanc’s assist stats are pretty so much worse than his shots/goals.
Not that it matters so much. At least half their squad is getting turned over this off-season as the biggest wave of new professional prospects in a long time comes up. Its actually pretty interesting to see how circumstances conspired to deplete the squad this season of talent and add so much the next.
6 AHL to NHL graduations last season (Subban, Pacioretty, Desharnais, Weber, White, Eller).
2 European free agents to NHL immediately (Emelin, Diaz).
So the older talent (22 years old and up) is pretty much all in the NHL
What about the new talent?
The players from 08 and 09 drafts should be the strength of the AHL team. Where are they?
No 21 year old professionalism due to few picks in 2008 (4) of which the 2 legit prospects are in the NCAA and thus have not turned professional yet.
20 year olds, 1st round pick (Leblanc) is now in NHL. Best latter round pick (Bennett) in NCAA. Unremarkable later picks are on the team not particularly accomplishing much (i.e. Nattienen, Avtsin, Dumont).
For next season though there is the full graduation of what has become a strong prospect year due to trade and good late round selections (Tinordi, Gallagher, Ellis, Bournival, Holland). The early graduation due to birth rate of the next season’s first round pick (Beaulieu). And the likely late graduation of all meaningful prospects from 4 years ago (Kristo, Quailer, Pateryn).
So the best talent from 3 prospect years are all arriving at the same time. This probably means that 1-2 years from now there will be a lesser repeat of 10-11 where a bunch of prospects make the jump to the NHL within a year of each other.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 7, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
And don’t forget that they were killed defensively as the top 3 guys from last year were traded (Carle), signed in Europe (Klubertanz), and injured the entire year (Nash).
I’m wondering if this relatively weak Bulldogs team will be a Calder Cup champion in a year or two provided they can find a better goaltender than Lawson, who in my opinion is terrible.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
This kind of story kind of makes me wish that the org would buyout Gomez if there’s a buyout amnesty, then sign him back for something like 1M/year for 2 years.
At that salary he could basically be a 4th liner (best one in the league) and be a perfect fill in if there’s an injury.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions
I could be wrong, but I thought the buyout amnesty with this CBA had a provision where you couldn’t sign the player for a year (which is not the case with ordinary course buyouts).
I have no idea what the rules would be. Everything I’ve seen is speculation.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
This was the case in 2005, so I assume the same rules would apply.
Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.
For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
You lost me at
“sign him back”.
by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 7, 2012 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
If you can’t recognize that Gomez would be an asset at 1/7 his current salary or as a 4th liner I’m not sure what to say.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
I'd love for this to happen...
but do you really think Scotty would want to re-sign, and pay 53% marginal tax, to play in a city where he’s had the worst luck of his career. If I’m him, I run as far away as I can and start fresh in a much less serious hockey market.
Wasn’t a reply fail, you did it correctly.
Obviously Gomez’s wants and needs factor, but he seems pretty enthused about staying in Montreal. As for paying a bunch of tax, he’ll basically be getting an $7M bonus or there about, and he’s made a lot of money since the lockout. I’m not sure he would be factoring cash into his decision making much.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
Is he really that enthused?
That something like going to Phoenix and making 2 mill per, maybe an unreasonable assumption on my part, wouldn’t be more compelling?
I just think we’ve been such douches to him, that he’d want to abandon ship and collect some additional cash along the way.
Hard to tell. It really seems on the surface that he loves Montreal, but who are we to tell? Very unpredictable.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
We’re all totally unqualified so it’s all good man!
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 7, 2012 10:52 PM EST up reply actions















