Mar 22, 2016

Give a fuck ~ Ducks

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75 comments:

  1. Obviously there are problems in the room. Its the old chicken and egg, which came first, losing or room problems. Obviously PFK rubs many people the wrong way, especially eMTy. Reading the subtle clues one can conclude Patches and PFK would not pick the other as a foxhole mate. Mike Weaver was on the radio obliquly talking about this. You are never going to have 20 guys who love each other, but its part of the puzzle that management must figure out. This seasson has demonstrated the leader both on and off the ice is PFK by a large margin. I would trade Patches and make PFK capitian. It seems PFK and TFS are tight, so put all your chips on that duo to win the cup and anyone who want to row in the other direction walks the plank.

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  2. I wish what Steve said above didn't seem right. I wonder how badly our USA homeboy PatCHes really wants to be playing and living north of the border, especially with the contract short-changing him and the added pressure of the captaincy, which I don't think he ever truly wanted in the bad times. That is why PFK is the true leader. Bad times for him just makes it a greater test of his mettle. He is up for anything, undaunted by adversity.

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  3. Thoughts and prayers to all of Brussels for suffering at the hands of more cowards.

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  4. the Maritimer10:59 AM

    I agree with Steve. The clues are there, such as yesterday when Knuckles and Marinaro were speculating why PK was not back in the line-up. He seems to be fine, practicing hard skating well, so why is he being held out? To make life easier for brain dead Empty and heartless Max? Kerry Fraser pointed out as well that PK is a unique personality, who rubs some people the wrong way. So, what's a GM to do? Trade your only star player or a pure shooter who can get 35 a season? Since 30 minute a night defencemen who can skate like the wind are extremely hard to come by, it would probably be Max who is moved out. gCHuk can replace those goals under a better coach, then MB find another winger who can play top 6 minutes.

    I'd like to also say, if I may, and pointing out I am in no way prejudiced, if I were Geoff Molson I would be implementing a "hire the most qualified people regardless of language skills" policy immediately when the season is over. I would tell anyone who protests, that winning comes first. Winning. Period. I would provide translating services for all media outlets. At every post game briefing or any one on one interviews. I feel the "must be able to speak french" requirement for coaches must become secondary to a winning atmosphere. It is outdated. I believe the protest would be small and brief. If the Montreal Canadiens want to be successful again, they must concentrate on the on ice product rather than the political side of the game. I believe the francophone media would rather speak to some successful Quebecois players than a coach, franco or anglo, who repeats the same scripted answers or cliches day after day, game after game. In short, they (the franco media) would get over it. I know I would rather see some Flying Frenchmen on the ice than a French statue behind the bench who is telling his multi-cultural players what to do in English anyway.

    Geoff Molson and his investors paid half a billion dollars to acquire this franchise and should be able to run it as he sees fit. They are in a league with 29, perhaps soon to be 30 other teams, in a mostly American league with the headquarters in New York, N.Y. run by American lawyers. This is the reality. The Montreal Canadiens cannot remain an island or they will be doomed to failure. Embrace the history, but it is time to move forward. Please Mr. Molson, I implore you, restore this proud franchise to it's former stature. There are millions of us fans who live outside Quebec, please include us in the future decision when considering who will lead this franchise going forward.

    Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, the M, this is exactly what I have been trying to say about coaching hires. Protests would eventually fizzle out and as I said previously, the media DO hold interviews with players in English and translate to their audience later and there is no reason they can't do the same for a coach that only provides PR-screened-canned responses.

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  5. Crisss de tabarnac. With all due respect (and I do respect), the coach of the Club de Hockey Canadien Inc needs to be able to address the public and the media in french. Point finale. This team is a public trust and Bob Gainey got that. Geoff Molson gets it. Everyone in Quebec gets it. It's bad enough the capitain can barely say bonjour and merci. This policy does not preclude finding the best coach. If I can learn enough french to get by here, why can't a coach who's dying to get back behind the bench of a world-renowned franchise? It's all about respect for the fans who actually live in the province, and live and breathe en français.

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    1. SinM, as a born and raised French Canadian, I could care less if the Habs coach is actually versed en Francais. I just wants a solid, intelligent, innovative and of course winning coach.

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    2. Scott, also with all due respect, firstly, not everyone has the ability to learn another language, for whatever reasons, they simply do not have the ability and I will point to my own brother, he just could not and we both were born here, raised in the same house and he is 2 years older than me, I speak French while he cannot. secondly, do you actually believe that coaches should go out and learn how to speak French in IN CASE the only team in the league that requires it may knock on his door and offer him the job?

      This policy DOES preclude finding the best coach and if it's all about respect for the fans who actually live in the province, TOGETHER, that should include ALL fans, who ALL spend their money which goes into Molson's pocket. Like I have previously posted, I am in no way anti-French, my first love could not speak English and my children carry their father's FRENCH name, I put them in French Immersion from kindergarten, from day 1 they were exposed to the language as conversations with my half sister were always in French because she sould not speak English and they both graduated with bilingual certification and speak French fluently. I believe learning another language enriches a person and opens more opportunities no matter where you choose to live in this world. I don't care if the coach can only speak Swahilli, if he's the BEST then you hire him because he is the best for the job available. Living and breathing in French here is life, hockey is not life, it's a sport and icing a winning team and a winning management does not affect life in the province, it will still exist as is and poses no threat whatsoever.

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    3. In a perfect world... However, too many Quebecois do not see it that way. It remains a fact of life that for practical reasons, the Canadiens need a functionally bilingual coach.

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    4. Being a francophone is the only reason he has not been fired after dragging this franchise and it's storied history down to a historically, epically embarrassing level not seen since WWII, so horrid that if he were coaching any of the 29 other teams he would not be deemed competent to coach and still hold the job, their management would have tolerated it.
      Can you give any other valid reason why he is still behind the bench of this team? Do fans feel respected listening to his arrogance post-games? Will they still feel that way if he returns next year? The sole and only goal of the Montreal Canadiens should be winning the Stanley Cup, not appeasing the local media and their feeding the fans the perception that not having a francophone coach is showing them disrespect, if they let up on that rhetoric, so would many fans and that issue would then become moot.

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    5. *not* have tolerated...

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    6. juce: Can you give any other valid reason why he is still behind the bench of this team?

      Hey, don't look to me. I would've fired his ass back in January if I were MB, whom I suspect had his brains scrambled by aliens last autumn. I never thought eMTy was a great choice in the first place. He is a mediocre at best. I don't think you can simply point to the fact of his name and mother tongue to explain why he is still there, beyond the simple fact his contract was renewed a little hastily and too far into the future, so it looks a little embarrassing to fire him so soon after. There are certainly better candidates available who could handle the market and the pressure -- and satisfy the language requirement, (including Marc Crawford). eMTy must know where the bodies are buried or something.

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  6. Jesus there are more important issues in the world today - condolences go out to everyone in Brussels who was/is affected by another cowardly bunch of bastards trying to start a war. What a terrible time we are living in. And think what you want of him but condolences to the Ford family at the passing of Rob Ford - Fuck Cancer!

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    1. Yes on both counts.

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    2. So true, R.I.P, condolences to the Ford family

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  7. Anonymous1:47 PM

    Even if they fire that goofball,Molson will only insist on giving the job to another L'anti Chambre arm chair idiot.This English french crap is getting old.

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  8. Anyway, I agree with Jack:

    Jack Todd ‏@jacktodd46 2h2 hours ago

    First time round, Guy Carbonneau was fired for reasons he still doesn't understand.
    Nor do we. Habs could do far worse. And are.

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  9. the Maritimer2:22 PM

    I didn't mean to start a language firestorm. I was only trying to look at the situation logically. If Mr. Molson bows to the pressure from political forces to continue to hire recycled French speaking coaches or promoting from the QMJHL then he is only in it for the money. Winning won't matter. As I said, I would prefer to see a Lafleur, Lemieux or Lecavalier skating and scoring for the bleu, blanc et rouge than seeing some guy in a suit giving instructions to a Finn, a Swede, a Russian or whatever.

    I would have to disagree with Scott in Montreal about the Canadiens being a public trust. They are a privately owned company that should be able to operate as they see fit within the confines of league rules. They shouldn't have to answer to a very few journalists or media personalities. Do you think Lou Lamoriello or Mike Babcock give a fuck what Bob McCowan or James Duthie or Darren Millard think about how they operate the Leafs? That would be a big fat No.

    Again, my apologies for airing my own personal thoughts about the team I have cheered for the last 56 years. There hasn't been much to cheer about lately.

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    1. I doubt an apology is in order.

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    2. I see no need to apologize, the Maritimer, you only spoke the facts of the situation.

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    3. the Maritimer3:20 PM

      Thanks folks.

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    4. No need to apologize for airing your opinion. I was reacting to the piling on factor. I don't want eMTy coaching a minute longer, and I remember living through the Cunneyworth fiasco. Don't want to relive this season, nor that one, thank you. GHG as always!

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    5. the Maritimer5:41 PM

      Hey Scott, thanks for that. Randy C. got hung out to dry and he inherited a poisonous atmosphere which is why MB probably didn't turf eMTy mid-season.

      I want to say one more thing and I'll let this go. My personal belief, and I have been thinking about this for a while, the main language of ANY coach should be tactics and personnel deployment. Last February 2015 I went to a local fundraiser which featured two great former Habs, Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt. When they were regaling we starstruck Habs fans with past tales of hockey glory a few things stayed with me. Regarding coaching they both hated Scotty Bowman, until they received their Stanley Cup rings and cheques. You know how today is all about analytics, right? Well Mr. Shutt stated that Bowman had all that info stored in his head at all times. He knew the players on the opposition team and he knew how to exploit any weaknesses. He knew who to put out against who. He knew the percentages. This is what a coach at the NHL level should know. There are only so many systems in hockey and whichever one is being used against you, you should know how to counter it or which players have the best chance (percentage) to break it. eMTy only knows one tactic, roll 4 lines one after the other. He and his helpers have no fucking clue how to operate a power play. It's been abysmal for three straight years. Bring in a smart tactician regardless of language skills. Now, I will agree 100% that the GENERAL MANAGER of the Montreal Canadiens should unequivocally be fluently bilingual OR unilingual French speaking for all I care. That's the guy I want to hear talking periodically about the team, the players, his PlayStation whatever. Why? 'Cause he's the guy that ultimately has to have the answers about why the team is not performing or even if it is doing well.

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    6. Good stuff everyone.

      the M., don't forget that MT2s rolled lines go through a blender first.

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  10. I like this article more for how it speaks about today's media than it does about Therrien.

    http://montrealgazette.com/sports/jack-todd-inert-habs-dont-need-bergevin-to-retain-therrien-next-season

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  11. Guess I'm going to the game tonight, my son couldn't get rid of his tickets, he paid top dollar as a ticket holder so I won't be able to hold up a sign thanking Therrien for the really cheap seat.

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  12. Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!!

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  13. 1-0 Habs. PleXXXe!

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  14. I'm not one for fighting but Big McM did well. The kid was literally pumped.

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    1. the Maritimer8:02 PM

      I am holding to my Lent pilgrimage of being Habless until this Friday. I will watch this Saturday --- Rangers --- should be close enough. That is if the boys and I aren't at the movies --- Batman vs Superman!

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    2. I might be shovelling Friday.

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    3. the Maritimer8:35 PM

      We got about 25cm yesterday. My plow guy came about 11pm and cleaned it up. Really light and fluffy stuff easy to move. I just cleaned off the front stairs.

      The storm you are talking about will be a mix of snow/rain by the time it gets here.

      Funny, there was a flock of robins foraging like mad in my yard on Sunday. They knew what was coming...

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    4. Gonna be a wet mess.

      Lots of birds back, geese too.

      Fat robins and chirping cardinals are enjoying the pieces of bread.

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  15. Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!!

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  16. Habs D has been weak most of the season. Hopefully jjdaigneault isn't ruining the young Dmen.

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    1. the Maritimer8:51 PM

      I never quite understood that hire, discounting the heritage factor, he wasn't very good as a defenceman. You want this guy coaching your young D-Men? I'd bring in the now retired Mike Weaver to coach the D next year. I liked his never give in attitude.

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    2. Yeah, Weaver is a good one. I dream of Larry Robinson behind the bench.

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    3. The best players don't always make the best coaches...but then again the shit players don't always turn into Jack Adams candidates either. JJ wasn't shit but he wasn't all that either. Don't think he's much of a coach. Larry Robinson on the other hand, would have been the real deal for the Habs. I think that boat has pretty much sailed, which is such a shame. Does anyone think that turfing DGMB, Therrien and the entire staff except Waite and bringing in Saint Patrick would be a positive move? Would he and Waite get along? Don't know who would coach them however...Boucher?...don't know...Just thought I would throw that out for discussion

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  17. 2-2, gCHuk!

    Now 3-2 Habs! I think Brown. Good for him.

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  18. 3-3, another bad D giveaway.

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  19. Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!! Go Habs Go!!

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  20. 2 assists for new Dman Justin Hanley. I'll nick him PM until further notice/effort/...

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  21. 4-3 Habs, Brown to Lessio, juce must be CHeering!

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  22. Hope you had FHFun juce!

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  23. Just admit it, eMTy is a genius, his AHL team beat a Stanley Cup contender, all is right in the universe, dont change a thing Mr Molson, the team with the best sixth line wins.

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    1. the Maritimer8:17 AM

      I'm thinking the mighty Ducks didn't take the AHL Canadiens very seriously. Bites you on the ass every time.

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    2. Give the AHLers some credit as there is no way that they have learned 'the system' yet and played well despite MT2's blending.

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  24. Yeah baby! I stayed to watch Brown toss the pucks, you can tell he's a rookie at it, I think he tossed them all towards the same seat, good for you. And how about #27 for #27!? I expected to see a half empty building, not sure about the attendance numbers but it looked quite full. It always amazes me how different a live game is vs TV. The best part, sharing a win and spending time with my son. In October (remember the good ole days full of promise?) I won a gift certificate for Moxie's on tsn so we'll do it again Thursday along with my future daughter-in-law and a friend of mine when Habs play the Wings which we've planned a while back. I want the Habs to win but I also want the Wings to make the playoffs because the SFU will claim they are lost without Bab$ discounting the fact they were in it for many years, way before he ever came along.

    Good job, moeman, couldn't have done it better myself.

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    1. Happy for you juce! Hope you were far enough away to avoid smelling eMTy's aftershave

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    2. Thanks, Scott. Unfortunately, eMpTy stinks up the joint even if you can't smell his stockpile of Aqua Velva.

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  25. Looks like DDD may play tomorrow, he says he's ready, MT will be ecstatic.

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    1. The boys screwed up the tanking machine last night but re-inserting DDD should fix that. Meanwhile:

      Аrpon Basu ‏@ArponBasu 4h4 hours ago

      Subban: "It’s not really in my hands. I’m not a doctor.”
      Therrien: "At the end of the day P.K.'s going to decide."

      OK then.

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    2. Best call Dr. Recchi for a third opinion.

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  26. Local snow storm warning keeps dipping but like 20-30cms tomorrow. The crocuses will have to wait.

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    1. Going to hit here too.

      1st round of snow ends this AM w sunny breaks this aft.
      2nd round starts early Thurs & mixes with some ice pellets & frz rain: 5-10cm

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    2. the Maritimer9:07 PM

      Going to be a mess here on Friday as well. Snow>freezing rain>rain...

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  27. R.I.P. Joe Garagiola. Fun to listen to.

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  28. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25528393/blackhawks-suspend-prospect-garret-ross-amid-revenge-porn-charge

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  29. It seems eMTy either figurs he is invicible or he is going out naming names. There is no explanation for his statements about when PFK will play again, or not telling gCHuck he was a fixture at center.
    The age of play hard because you hate the coach is gone. That does not win any more. Since Pat Burns have we had a coach the players would go through the boards for? For me that is the most important charateristic we need. A coach that will make the players come out of the foxhole and charge a machine gun bunker.

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    1. BTW eMTy's epic rant about the Pens should have disqualified him from every getting the job. That kind of tiger does not change its stripes ever.

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    2. The fact that they fired him then won the cup should have given them an inkling.

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    3. I want to love DGMB but we idiots have identified an insane fact twice

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    4. the Maritimer9:54 AM

      If not for his bilingual skills I don't think eMpTy for have ever coached in the NHL again. There should be a rule if you have been fired twice in your career you are done. Roger Neilson, Mike Keenan and Tortorella are freaks of nature.

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    5. Lefebvre has to go too,


      St. John's IceCaps
      ‏@IceCapsAHL
      Game Over. Rochester scores with 4 seconds left. They rally from a 5-1 deficit to beat the IceCaps 6-5.

      How long since they made the playoffs?

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  30. I want to change DDD name to GW for Global Warming. He is that kind of dichotomy.

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  31. > http://fourhockeyfans.blogspot.ca/2016/03/ddds-big-adventure.html

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