Editor's note: Technically BBQ should be the white whale, not Ahab (the Whaler) in a Moby Dick comparison. Just couldn't resist the pic with the wooden leg.
To me, this almost feels like Weber's first real game with the Habs. The first year after the trade, his heart was obviously still in Nashville, and he hadn't come to terms with the fact he had been shipped out (same as was for PK). Last year, I still had the feeling he wasn't 100% on board and then the injury. Lots has changed since then. Changes behind the bench have to be encouraging. As a Dman, to go from JJD to Luke has to be a world of difference (mind you he hasn't done wonders with his AHL level squad to date). And the changes in the team's style of play. The fact that he's that much more immersed in the Montreal culture and community. And he must be hungry to play.
I think once he gets his game legs (give him a few games) we are going to see a Shea Weber that we haven't seen yet, assuming he can remain healthy. Here's hoping.
Well, I applaud your optimism regarding Mr. Weber and I agree it will be a while before he is truly effective. He is 2 months behind every one else. I will always maintain trading for Weber was a mistake, not that getting rid of PFK wasn't always Dollar Store's play, he thought he had a team to challenge for the Cup and was totally wrong. PFK needed to be traded for a center which they desperately needed. Weber was already on the downward side of the curve of his playing abilities as shown by his performance in his last playoff game in Nashville. David Poile recognized it and wanted to be rid of a massive contract which, believe it or not, still has 7 or 8 years to go. Also, Weber doesn't fit the new NHL defenceman criteria which is quick, fast skating, mobile with great passing skills. Weber has a hard shot and is tough in front of the net. That's it. But hey, Luke Richardson has to work with what he's got, end of story. Best of luck to all.
It was interesting reading the comments yesterday regarding backgrounds of some key posters who grew up in Quebec or a French community in Ontario. I grew up in rural Nova Scotia and took French from Grade 7 to 12. I could read and write a second language quite well but couldn't speak it worth a darn. I've figured out that my brain can't translate between the two fast enough to make it work. It is what it is. I won't get into all the politics of bilingualism here in New Brunswick but all I can tell you is when it comes to ever working for the Province of New Brunswick and in the eyes of the Acadien Society elites, as a unilingual anglophone I am a second class citizen, possibly even 3rd class.
I don't disagree about 'the trade' but that's yesteryear's news. It still baffles me that those 2 trades were made within minutes of each other and PFK for Taylor Hall would have made so much more sense for both teams. Instead the Habs got what you've noted above and the Oil got Adam Larsson. All because I maintain that BBB and Chiapet hold grudges against each other from the Habs-Broon rivalry, so they don't deal with each other.
Anyway, as I said, moving on BBQ will be a revelation. There is still a place for him in today's game (again, if healthy) and probably for 3 more years at which time he becomes very trade-able to a cap floor team as his salary plummets to $3m for a year, then $1m for the final 3 of his contract.
So is this then the start of a "new era" in Habs history? I can't take credit for this but "bbb is waiting for his 2017 Free agent signing to clear waivers and his 2018 free agent signing of 2018 will be a healthy scratch for the 3rd time in 4 games. At this rate he might never sign another free agent ...ever" but what do I know eh! Let's hope the white pads make a difference...Just fucking win! Gio You Fucking Habs Go!
You could have used Cpt Dan from FG. This was meant for Captian Ahab. Dont you know you cant trade for or free agent players, you have to draft them and develop them. Aside from TFS and KidA, do we have one player I mean a player we have drafted and developed?
KidKo on being in BBQ's line of fire: "I almost peed in my pants, it's pretty scary, heh..."
What a great honest response. This kid should be great Hab for a long time. I hope we have the management in place to ensure he is and is one day part of a cup winning team.
Welcome back Chester! Having once been a Loyola campus Con U student, I can attest to the supreme joy of B & M pizza. Pointe-Claire's GIGI, while un peu trop cher, compares favourably.
I am glad they bit the bullet on Alzzzner, I feel a little sorry for him, but more for us. Who thought that contract was a good idea? That is a fireable offence. The NHL is not a development league.
I am glad Karl has a nice contract and will be set for life.
Poorly. The other shoe thats going to drop is age. Science tells us an athelte is done at 31. Some like Vodkov will be able to think the game fast, but many will be done at 31, PatCHes I am looking at you.
The USS Gill would be torpedoed with extreme prejudice indeed. This is not the Jagr clutch'n'grab league of yesteryear, and the better for it. If there is one thing Buttman got right, it's the emphasis on speed and skill returning to the game. Now we need the CJv2's of the world to admit it too.
I feel kinda bad for Alzner too, but he is going to get his money regardless. My only concern is down the road many UFAs are going to think Montreal is where your career goes up in flames. Alzner, Pleky, Streit, Hemsky, Semin and many others have all been signed and turfed. Not good optics. Homegrown is the only way to go with MiniMax and Sauce seemingly the exceptions.
See, here's the problem with coaches like julien and a stuffy organization like the Habs. Rookie makes a mistake, punished, sits out for a long time. This helps no one. Montreal are not winning a Cup. They are not making the playoffs. Let the young guys make mistakes and learn. It's fucking bullshit.
As of now the Habs are dead in the middle of the league, with 15 teams above them and 15 below. Basically hockey purgatory. Not good enough to challenge for a playoff spot (or at best squeak in to lose in the first round) and scoring and winning just enough to get that coveted 14th overall pick. Is it an identify crisis? We've praised the bench hirings enough, but look at the defense and the power play. Not exactly systems that future generations of coaches will be studying (other than for to figure out what not to do).
Close to a 1/3 of the season is gone. MB best decide whether he wants to pay to upgrade the D or throw them an anchor (which he already sent to Laval). And figure out the effin PP.
Brian Wilde made a good point about the D situation. What he saw was a far better SCHlemko paired with BBQ, an effective Kulak with Dish, and JB doing fine with reduced TOI all around, thanks to BBQ-effect rippling through the line-up. I can see Jewel or Radar fighting to get in too. As with the reduced scoring without GI Finn and LB, the injury bug is what will make or break this team this season.
I know this team is definitely more fun to watch with the likes of Mini-Tie, kidG, Tomas Taataaaarrrrrr and even the turnover machine, but I think they would be better served to get a top 10 pick. There's no fixing this defence and the PP is putrid. There's no winning with no special teams. So, Timmins already has a ton of picks for the 2019 Draft and could get even more if Dollar Store bergy decides to be a seller. Rumour has it this is a very deep and talented draft, might as well bite the bullet and reload again. In the meantime all these young guns, including KoHo, gain a year of experience. Maybe they become next year's Buffalo Sabres. Just thinking out loud.
The M, you speak the true-true as usual. Let me tell you something else though. I work in downtown Mtl. The Phone Booth and its environs are dependant on fans in the seats. The bars all need people to want to watch. Last year, the suckage was brutal all around. I saw my local "old Greek man's watering hole" almost go under, it was so bad. Give ol' Geoff credit for this: he seems to have (subtley?) hit the panic button on his operation in the off-season. They want to turn around the excitement level now-ish. It's going okay so far. Timmins will help us draft well regardless of how poorly they play from here on out. Lightning struck for us last year, with the third pick coming out in our favour. Doubtful we'd see a Penguins-like repeat (remember the Fleury-Malkin-Crosby BS?) I feel like a corner has been turned with this franCHise.
Can we get a law passed, it should be illegal to have Shaggy and Billy on the same team.
M I second that. As I have said before not tanking the year after we got gCHuck was a big mistake, then trading all those seconds for rentals, trading Lego, signing Alzzzner. Jury is still out on the BBQ trade and the TFS contract.
This team is entertaining, they lose with dignity. Two or three more years of this and plan the parade. We remain one PFK and one Squid away from the cup.
I like Kidko Koho and still support the pick. However Tchauk and that Russky in the big picture may have been better choices. Especially TCHauk who brings that Wilson size and scare to the table.
I don't think they'll hit the bottom of the barrel this year. They need a high-end D to replace PFK and SergaCHev. There is one available -- Byram Bowen or something like that. This Josh Brook kid out west is supposedly the real deal, Joel Bouchard can get him some training next season.
Anyway, I'm not watching every game, I can't stand crap teams like the Hurricanes and such, they always show up to kick Montreal's ass for whatever reason. Original 6 or teams with stars like Sid or McSaviour are worth a look.
The leaf are winning lots of regular season games but their defence will get exposed come playoff time. We can at least enjoy their and the sniveling, sycophantic SFU's future disappointment.
The SFU obsession with Nylander, at the expense of covering 30 other teams is pure proof why they are truly sick and totally fucked-up. The fuckers are not professional, they have zero integrity and are nothing but desperate leafools.
Moeman you are being unfair, in between breaths they have time to annoint Billy as a future hall of famer, no kidding thats how they identify Billy now. They argue about who is the greatest living player Shaggy or Billy, and if you could only choose one, who would it be.
This is the greatest story of the year. A made in Canada solution for active shooters.
Meat is cooking in Laval, and Alzzner is a great AHL player. In other fantastic news Season 3 of The Last Kingdom has dropped on Netflix. If you like Vikings, its the same story told from the English side, and the leading man is a much better swordsman with the femmes than Rangor.
The American Hockey League and TSN announced today that several games will be televised live on TSN2 this season. The first three games will feature the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
'Todd Ewen was posthumously diagnosed earlier this year by a Boston University neuropathologist with the brain-withering disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a development that contradicts the findings of a Toronto doctor two years ago that the former National Hockey League player didn’t have the disease.'
I'll simply add that sn has been totally disgusting in it's non coverage of this issue. Their disgusting shilled NHL rights make them totally complicit. One would think they couldn't be this mclame. Sick fucks.
Editor's note: Technically BBQ should be the white whale, not Ahab (the Whaler) in a Moby Dick comparison. Just couldn't resist the pic with the wooden leg.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this almost feels like Weber's first real game with the Habs. The first year after the trade, his heart was obviously still in Nashville, and he hadn't come to terms with the fact he had been shipped out (same as was for PK). Last year, I still had the feeling he wasn't 100% on board and then the injury. Lots has changed since then. Changes behind the bench have to be encouraging. As a Dman, to go from JJD to Luke has to be a world of difference (mind you he hasn't done wonders with his AHL level squad to date). And the changes in the team's style of play. The fact that he's that much more immersed in the Montreal culture and community. And he must be hungry to play.
ReplyDeleteI think once he gets his game legs (give him a few games) we are going to see a Shea Weber that we haven't seen yet, assuming he can remain healthy. Here's hoping.
Go Captain Go!
BBQ gonna cook; chef got some Julien-cut tender Meat, basted with the new Sauce.
DeleteWell, I applaud your optimism regarding Mr. Weber and I agree it will be a while before he is truly effective. He is 2 months behind every one else. I will always maintain trading for Weber was a mistake, not that getting rid of PFK wasn't always Dollar Store's play, he thought he had a team to challenge for the Cup and was totally wrong. PFK needed to be traded for a center which they desperately needed. Weber was already on the downward side of the curve of his playing abilities as shown by his performance in his last playoff game in Nashville. David Poile recognized it and wanted to be rid of a massive contract which, believe it or not, still has 7 or 8 years to go. Also, Weber doesn't fit the new NHL defenceman criteria which is quick, fast skating, mobile with great passing skills. Weber has a hard shot and is tough in front of the net. That's it. But hey, Luke Richardson has to work with what he's got, end of story. Best of luck to all.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting reading the comments yesterday regarding backgrounds of some key posters who grew up in Quebec or a French community in Ontario. I grew up in rural Nova Scotia and took French from Grade 7 to 12. I could read and write a second language quite well but couldn't speak it worth a darn. I've figured out that my brain can't translate between the two fast enough to make it work. It is what it is. I won't get into all the politics of bilingualism here in New Brunswick but all I can tell you is when it comes to ever working for the Province of New Brunswick and in the eyes of the Acadien Society elites, as a unilingual anglophone I am a second class citizen, possibly even 3rd class.
Sorry for the rant.
I don't disagree about 'the trade' but that's yesteryear's news. It still baffles me that those 2 trades were made within minutes of each other and PFK for Taylor Hall would have made so much more sense for both teams. Instead the Habs got what you've noted above and the Oil got Adam Larsson. All because I maintain that BBB and Chiapet hold grudges against each other from the Habs-Broon rivalry, so they don't deal with each other.
DeleteAnyway, as I said, moving on BBQ will be a revelation. There is still a place for him in today's game (again, if healthy) and probably for 3 more years at which time he becomes very trade-able to a cap floor team as his salary plummets to $3m for a year, then $1m for the final 3 of his contract.
So is this then the start of a "new era" in Habs history? I can't take credit for this but "bbb is waiting for his 2017 Free agent signing to clear waivers and his 2018 free agent signing of 2018 will be a healthy scratch for the 3rd time in 4 games. At this rate he might never sign another free agent ...ever" but what do I know eh! Let's hope the white pads make a difference...Just fucking win! Gio You Fucking Habs Go!
ReplyDeleteFree Agents are pretty costly 'round CH parts. Best left alone usually.
DeleteStarts winning with the white pads and you'll hear a big "I told ya so!" from the Ol' Crotch on HNIC.
DeleteYou could have used Cpt Dan from FG. This was meant for Captian Ahab.
DeleteDont you know you cant trade for or free agent players, you have to draft them and develop them. Aside from TFS and KidA, do we have one player I mean a player we have drafted and developed?
Leko, CHud, Jewels, come to mind, but there are fewer than one should expect, given Timmins prowess in finding gems in the rough.
DeleteKidKo on being in BBQ's line of fire: "I almost peed in my pants, it's pretty scary, heh..."
ReplyDeleteWhat a great honest response. This kid should be great Hab for a long time. I hope we have the management in place to ensure he is and is one day part of a cup winning team.
Don't let him get a gander at KidA's reconstructed hand or he'll soil his pants too.
ReplyDeleteOr the list I've added to the page.
DeleteDavid Poile is the best on this list.
DeleteWonder if he can reach Bergy in his ivory tower.
DeleteJFW!
ReplyDeletePizza Hut baby!
ReplyDeleteSausage, bacon, onion.
Carmenere.
I am a Domini man, my wife says it tastes like vomit. Hoever if you like that taste they do give nice deals all the time if you sign up on line.
DeleteB & M is the only real pizza
DeleteGo Habs
Welcome back Chester! Having once been a Loyola campus Con U student, I can attest to the supreme joy of B & M pizza. Pointe-Claire's GIGI, while un peu trop cher, compares favourably.
DeleteI am glad they bit the bullet on Alzzzner, I feel a little sorry for him, but more for us. Who thought that contract was a good idea? That is a fireable offence. The NHL is not a development league.
ReplyDeleteI am glad Karl has a nice contract and will be set for life.
I wonder how Hal Gill would make out in this new NHL?
DeletePoorly. The other shoe thats going to drop is age. Science tells us an athelte is done at 31. Some like Vodkov will be able to think the game fast, but many will be done at 31, PatCHes I am looking at you.
DeleteThe USS Gill would be torpedoed with extreme prejudice indeed. This is not the Jagr clutch'n'grab league of yesteryear, and the better for it. If there is one thing Buttman got right, it's the emphasis on speed and skill returning to the game. Now we need the CJv2's of the world to admit it too.
Deletefrancois gagnon is a hack.
ReplyDeleteI feel kinda bad for Alzner too, but he is going to get his money regardless. My only concern is down the road many UFAs are going to think Montreal is where your career goes up in flames. Alzner, Pleky, Streit, Hemsky, Semin and many others have all been signed and turfed. Not good optics. Homegrown is the only way to go with MiniMax and Sauce seemingly the exceptions.
ReplyDeleteCaptain BBQ!
ReplyDeleteAck, 4th line crap after a nice start to the game.
ReplyDeletenot a terrible pp
ReplyDeletebad news at the doorstep I could not take one more step. Meat is sitting next game
ReplyDeleteSee, here's the problem with coaches like julien and a stuffy organization like the Habs. Rookie makes a mistake, punished, sits out for a long time. This helps no one. Montreal are not winning a Cup. They are not making the playoffs. Let the young guys make mistakes and learn. It's fucking bullshit.
DeleteI have seen the future and its a loss this eve, night all
ReplyDeleteDano!! GYFHG - tie it up boys --SiM
ReplyDeleteDeserved a win.
ReplyDeleteCan't finish and fucking score.
As of now the Habs are dead in the middle of the league, with 15 teams above them and 15 below. Basically hockey purgatory. Not good enough to challenge for a playoff spot (or at best squeak in to lose in the first round) and scoring and winning just enough to get that coveted 14th overall pick.
ReplyDeleteIs it an identify crisis? We've praised the bench hirings enough, but look at the defense and the power play. Not exactly systems that future generations of coaches will be studying (other than for to figure out what not to do).
Close to a 1/3 of the season is gone. MB best decide whether he wants to pay to upgrade the D or throw them an anchor (which he already sent to Laval). And figure out the effin PP.
Brian Wilde made a good point about the D situation. What he saw was a far better SCHlemko paired with BBQ, an effective Kulak with Dish, and JB doing fine with reduced TOI all around, thanks to BBQ-effect rippling through the line-up. I can see Jewel or Radar fighting to get in too. As with the reduced scoring without GI Finn and LB, the injury bug is what will make or break this team this season.
DeleteWow, lots of SFU splooging about the return of the Glass Shouldered Wonder.
ReplyDeleteI know this team is definitely more fun to watch with the likes of Mini-Tie, kidG, Tomas Taataaaarrrrrr and even the turnover machine, but I think they would be better served to get a top 10 pick. There's no fixing this defence and the PP is putrid. There's no winning with no special teams. So, Timmins already has a ton of picks for the 2019 Draft and could get even more if Dollar Store bergy decides to be a seller. Rumour has it this is a very deep and talented draft, might as well bite the bullet and reload again. In the meantime all these young guns, including KoHo, gain a year of experience. Maybe they become next year's Buffalo Sabres. Just thinking out loud.
ReplyDeleteThe M, you speak the true-true as usual. Let me tell you something else though. I work in downtown Mtl. The Phone Booth and its environs are dependant on fans in the seats. The bars all need people to want to watch. Last year, the suckage was brutal all around. I saw my local "old Greek man's watering hole" almost go under, it was so bad. Give ol' Geoff credit for this: he seems to have (subtley?) hit the panic button on his operation in the off-season. They want to turn around the excitement level now-ish. It's going okay so far. Timmins will help us draft well regardless of how poorly they play from here on out. Lightning struck for us last year, with the third pick coming out in our favour. Doubtful we'd see a Penguins-like repeat (remember the Fleury-Malkin-Crosby BS?) I feel like a corner has been turned with this franCHise.
DeleteAgree with both of you. Enjoying the fun. A nice handful of very good players moving forward.
DeleteA few of the shitty losses could've been won.
The PP has been pure shit for a while now. Maybe Coach CK isn't up to that par. Also get a face-off coach.
I'm taking it one game at a time.
Put KidKo on the 2nd line and leave him there until he deserves the 1st line Centre role.
Can we get a law passed, it should be illegal to have Shaggy and Billy on the same team.
ReplyDeleteM I second that. As I have said before not tanking the year after we got gCHuck was a big mistake, then trading all those seconds for rentals, trading Lego, signing Alzzzner. Jury is still out on the BBQ trade and the TFS contract.
This team is entertaining, they lose with dignity. Two or three more years of this and plan the parade. We remain one PFK and one Squid away from the cup.
I like Kidko Koho and still support the pick. However Tchauk and that Russky in the big picture may have been better choices. Especially TCHauk who brings that Wilson size and scare to the table.
They lose with dignity. Word. Credit to KidA in particular for that.
DeleteI don't think they'll hit the bottom of the barrel this year. They need a high-end D to replace PFK and SergaCHev. There is one available -- Byram Bowen or something like that. This Josh Brook kid out west is supposedly the real deal, Joel Bouchard can get him some training next season.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm not watching every game, I can't stand crap teams like the Hurricanes and such, they always show up to kick Montreal's ass for whatever reason. Original 6 or teams with stars like Sid or McSaviour are worth a look.
The leaf are winning lots of regular season games but their defence will get exposed come playoff time. We can at least enjoy their and the sniveling, sycophantic SFU's future disappointment.
The SFU obsession with Nylander, at the expense of covering 30 other teams is pure proof why they are truly sick and totally fucked-up. The fuckers are not professional, they have zero integrity and are nothing but desperate leafools.
ReplyDeleteMoeman you are being unfair, in between breaths they have time to annoint Billy as a future hall of famer, no kidding thats how they identify Billy now. They argue about who is the greatest living player Shaggy or Billy, and if you could only choose one, who would it be.
ReplyDeleteThis is the greatest story of the year. A made in Canada solution for active shooters.
Meat is cooking in Laval, and Alzzner is a great AHL player. In other fantastic news Season 3 of The Last Kingdom has dropped on Netflix. If you like Vikings, its the same story told from the English side, and the leading man is a much better swordsman with the femmes than Rangor.
ReplyDeleteNational network, my ass;
ReplyDeleteThe American Hockey League and TSN announced today that several games will be televised live on TSN2 this season.
The first three games will feature the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
Because naturally anyone watching AHL hockey will want to see the Marlies...its obvious...wayon...bwhahahahahha
Delete'Todd Ewen was posthumously diagnosed earlier this year by a Boston University neuropathologist with the brain-withering disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a development that contradicts the findings of a Toronto doctor two years ago that the former National Hockey League player didn’t have the disease.'
ReplyDeleteI'll simply add that sn has been totally disgusting in it's non coverage of this issue. Their disgusting shilled NHL rights make them totally complicit. One would think they couldn't be this mclame. Sick fucks.
Deletehttps://fourhockeyfans.blogspot.com/2018/11/no-time-to-have-cow-just-play-big-nyr.html
ReplyDelete