Writing on the wall for the Habs?

I'm not going to lie, I'm pessimistic and cynical.  Thanks a lot, lessons learned in life!
When you include a love for one's hockey team, and continuous questionable moves, ie Gomez and Briere, it tends to re-enforce these attitudes.

I've always prided myself on being a fan, lead with my brain and not my heart, which is why I've been pleasantly surprised for the majority of this season with Montreal's play. Currently 3rd in the Atlantic and 4th in a very weak Eastern conference, the Habs have been riding high in the standings for the majority of this season for a simple two reasons.

Carey Price and the power play. However, something here is faltering, and it's not Carey Price

With their last 10 being of 4 Wins and 6 Loses, the Habs are stalling. Why?, Because they got their early success by the power play and the power play is dead in the water.

How dead?, The last ten games it's been are floating carcass of  11.8%.. That's a far cry from their season average of 19.3%.  Hell, go back even another 10 games and the Habs power play is 11.3%  We're talking terrible. Hence why they've 9-11 in their last 20

The Habs can barely gain the zone lately and when they do teams have figured out that the only players they have to pressure are Markov and Subban.  After that, it's clear our forever undersized forwards away from the net as the perimeter players won't dare crash the net.

When you live by the sword, you die by sword and that's what is taking place in Montreal.

Their 5 on 5 is brutal.  This team can barely play 5 on 5.  They rank 24th in the league for Goals For/Goals Against and 29th...2nd last in the league with an amazingly terrible 76 Goals for... on 5 on 5.

Let that set in.. 2nd last.

When you play, on average, 48 minutes a night at even strength, that screams that:
A) The Habs system sucks (Therrien is terrible)
and
B) The Habs better start beefing up their offense.  Be it via the Draft (Offensivly, the cubboard's dry), Trade (We're over a barrel) or Free Agency (you know the Habs will have to over pay so English players can tolerate the hardcore Francais Quebec media.)

If it wasn't for Carey Price, we'd be swimming with the Oilers.

Lastly, if the Habs can some how make the playoffs, Carey Price deserves a Hart nomination.

Cheers
@Dingwell

Man-cold from Hell, so why not discuss the Habs draft options

With the Habs doing their usual overachiever act in the standings, I figured it would be fun to have a look at the Habs prospects and their potential draft picks.

Let me rephrase that, players that are ranked around the Habs draft pick.  NONE of us have any idea who the Habs are ever going to draft as they can go off the board. See Fischer, David and McCarron, Mike as two quick examples that pop into my head.

The two positions I'm going to focus on are center and defence and why do I think they are weakest positions in the prospect pool?

Bournival is nearly "graduated" to full time player and well, Leblanc is a bust who was only picked to appease the "Restless Natives". After that, it's still too early to decide on de la Rose and Joonas Nattinen seems too soft for a 3rd line center.  Though Nattinen could make himself into a 3rd-4th line defensive forward yet.

As for Defence, I am of the firm belief that you can never have too many quality D-men in the system.  With Tinordi & Beaulieu nearing full-time status in the 'Show' and Pateryn bidding his time to become a 5th-7th D-man.  This leaves the cupboards pretty bare as the Habs other D prospects are 3-4 years away.  That, and the hockey boner many people had for Mac Bennet has straight up vanished.

So being the hockey nerd that I am, and using the mind blowing powers of  "What prospects are ranked around the Habs draft pick", let's have a look at 4 potential 1st round draft picks in this average draft class.

Ryan MacInnis, C, 190cm / 6'3, 77kg / 170lbs.  Do you like "hockey genes"?  Do you like players who have bloodlines to former NHLers?  Then why not have a look at Al MacInnis' son.   What's not to like of this potential two-way center? He has size with tons of frame to fill out, and a very heavy shot.

No, not your cup of tea? How about a player that everyone will be afraid to draft just because he's Russian.

Vladislav Kamenev, C,  188cm / 6'2, 92kg / 203lbs.  The former #3 over all in the KHL draft, the Vladislav has been documented as a strong defensive center , but put up the 3rd most points at the recent 2013 World Junior A Challenge. (7pts in 5 games)

A few D-men to have a peek at who's last names don't end in Ekblad are:

Brycen Martin, D, 190cm / 6'3, 81kg / 179lbs.  Martin is on a very strong Swift Current team this year, and like the other two I've listed above has room to fill out his fair size frame.  Most importantly, scouts have noted his first pass.  The first pass is the most important for D-men.  A trait he shares with our next prospect.

Jack Glover, D, 191cm / 6'3, 78kg / 172lbs.  Yes, Glover has a lot of his frame to fill out, and yes he is more of a 2nd round pick, but I'm giving him notice as he is from the draft machine that is the USNT.  Being a teammate of Mike McCarron will give the Habs lots of time to look at the kid.

Note for all of you hardcore Canadian fanatics, the US is going to start pumping out more and more high end prospects.  Get used to it.


As I said, these are only players that ranked around the Habs draft pick.  There's no saying who they'll pick.

Cheers

I'm amazed the debate wasn't done over Tea and Crumpets

Last Night, I decided to go and take in the Fort McMurray - Wood Buffalo candidates debate in the 2012 Alberta Election and boy, was it ever a hootenanny.... no, it was beyond tame, it was exactly how the title of this silly blog states.  I could imagine Guy Boutilier, of the Wildrose Party (WRP) and Mike Allen, of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCAA) sitting in a fancy lounge holding this debate

First thing, I'd like to clearly state how disappointed I am that the neither the NDP nor Liberal's had a representative at the debate.  Did they just not show up?, Were they not invited?,  I understand it is a two horse race but it doesn't exactly encourage growth for either party and leaves the left wing of the political spectrum terribly unrepresented. Ok, moving on...

Secondly, I don't know who the moderator is, but seriously, bring some professionalism.  I don't understand how it could be hard to pronounce Boutilier (BOO-ta-LEER) but when you butcher the fellas last name, seriously, at last 5 different ways (I jokingly stated on twitter it was at least 20 different ways) . I heard it pronounced BOO-ti-LINI, BOO-ta-NEER, BOO-ta-LANI... ugh.. -1 to the Quiz Master

Honestly, I don't really know how to even comment on this debate.  Mike Allen (PCAA) said it best, in that you have two Right Wing parties so their will be a lot of agreement on questions.  Their was, a lot of it. The only differences were whenever they added the Parties line to each answer.

Two questions regarding getting International workers here were asked, which really had no bearing in a provincial riding debate  They have very little say in this issue.  Sure they can get in contact and voice their opinion but this is a federal issue, plain and simple.  -2 points to the Quiz Master

Regarding Questions that truly are local issues, Twinning of 63, Keyano College, and the local overpasses, both candidates never offered any fresh ideas.  Once again, towing the party line, supporting the college and saying they will do their best to get the work done faster...  I mean really, they couldn't say "I want the work done slower"..

From my POV, questions that weren't asked that I was hoping for were; What would the two candidates do to help potential first time home owners do so they can own a home.  With rent sky high here, due to the obscene market values, it makes saving exceptionally hard.  I know Mike Allen stated he wants to help make the region more attractive for people to move here, but until housing prices are tackled, people will continue to do FIFO.

Electricity.  Bills are getting higher, and not due to usage but because of all the foolish add-on's in the bill.  Transmission fees, service fees etc, and with the recent application by Capital Power and Direct Energy to start selling energy to the US for 10 years, it only adds to the feeling that the consumers are being gouged.  What would the candidates do to help the "grassroots"..  End the deregulation?  Set limits on how high they can charge for Transmission fees etc...

Lastly, and I know they would have very little ability in tackling this issue, but the price of flights out of the region.  For example, to fly on My 21st to Edmonton, would cost 187 (total with taxes) while a flight on that same day would cost the exact same with a stop over in Calgary.  That makes no sense, but, as i said, i don't they'd have any abilities in dealing with this issue.

Basically, you have two ways to vote... The party/leader or the person.  There's enough info out their regarding the parties and the leaders so I'll let you make that decision on  your own.

NOTE: I've never personally met either person, except for a brief moment in which I was introduced to Guy Boutilier, but my thoughts regarding each person from their performance last night are.

Mr. Boutilier:  Very confident public speaker, openly admits he is a "frustrated man" and comes across as a quick thinking speaker.  I have to wonder how many times he's spoke first and then thought.  I can't say it is a terrible fault as I know I'm personally guilty of it.  However, you can certainly hear the emotions in his voice when he speaks.

Mr. Allen, speaks thoughtfully, takes his time to speak and get his point across.  Doesn't rush his answers.  Comes off as a TV Dad in a way with his calm collective thoughts/comments.  However, when he slips in speaking, he will fall to the verbal fillers/pauses.  I believe he is aware of it, as he would do more of them until he corrected himself and spoke more confidently.  Once again, it's not a terrible trait as I'm sure any of us would be have been worse on the stage (Oh me nervs).

Lastly, if you made it this far, hopefully you'll take the last step and vote.  There's tons of info out there, each party has their website. Take 10 min from reading TMZ, Jersey Shore or some bullshit rumour hockey website and get the info... just take the extra step and vote

Cheers

Random Hockey Rants - 25-Feb-2012

I really wish I had more times on my hands to write out my thoughts, but with work, training for work and regular every day life...Just don't have it in me..anyways!

Ales Hemsky

Oilers are stupid, plain and simple.  Ales has all the talent in the world but has the same heart as the Lion from Wizard of Oz and the same body as Mr. Glass.  The guy is pure offence, no defence.  Since the Oilers got him for another 2 yrs, they might as well play him mainly on the first line... Well try to, as the last 3 season's he's only averaged 38 games a season.. Money well spent.

Though, I won't bash the guy for his lack of goals.. he's an assist machine just moving dimes all over the ice.  Pair him up with a sniper and you'll get your monies worth.  I don't see him playing well with Hall as Taylor is more of a "Act Like Bull/Charge at Net" winger...  Though I'd love to see him on a line with Eberle if one of them were to shift wings..

All in all, Oilers still overpaid, he's not worth the money and the owner's can't blame the players for the GM's being idiots..

Carter to LA for nothing...

I was so glad this summer when Carter got traded to Columbus.  I thought they'd finally gain some traction in the NHL's toughest division.. then the Wiz went all Tomahawk, Carter's body suddenly became as fragile as his ego and Steve Mason is continuing his impression of the great Bruins goalie Jim Carey....  All this combined made Columbus "The Blue Jackets are who we thought they were" .

Now Carter's on the King's team who's offence is worse than the California Golden Seals..it really is, look it up...but what the Kings gave up for it is amazing.  Nothing.  They get a proven 30+ year goal scorer for what?, a mid to late 1st round draft pick (aka "No Man's Land", even with Columbus's track record of brilliant drafting) and Jack Johnson, who the Kings won't miss as they have a plethora of young D-man, and that Defensive God-child in Doughty.

A lot of people think Lombardi is crazy, but watch Carter & Richards get all bromantic with each other and start becoming scoring machines...on the ice that is.

Habs


This season sucked. If you think they're making the play offs, quit watching hockey.  It's been this way even before they pulled that little win streak in January.. you know what I'm talking about.. It's like when some one is dying, and just before they die they get that "Last wind" and you get that false hope that they are feeling better.  Then you wake up the next day and find their cold stiff body...

Ya, that's the Habs this season.  Try and find the bright side though, we got three amazing young talents in Price, Patches and Subban.  Erik Cole is not pulling shades of his time in Edmonton, Gorges is showing he's a rock on D, Emelin is doing a Iron Curtain imitation and we have a chance to get a very early draft pick.. and for once, the Habs can draft a pure offensive super star... Something this team has needed for over 20 yrs... Fail for Nail and start a new in September..

So just close your eyes, bite the pillow and hope this season ends soon as it's been a nightmare..

NL Government needs to pick up its game

This morning, The Telegram, released a story ( http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2011-11-04/article-2795782/100-million-tonnes-in-iron-ore-production-possible-by-2020/1 ) from the annual Mineral Resources Review held at the Delta hotel in St. John's, NL.  At the 'Review', the government showed, if max production is hit and prices remain high, that Newfoundland's provincial Iron Ore output could hit between a low of 40 million ton/year to a high of 100 million tons/year.  The upper number is a staggering amount, as this would drive NL's Mining GDP from it's current 12% to levels between 30-35%, on par with NL's current Oil & Gas industry.  However, unlike Oil & Gas, the Iron Ore veins of Western Labrador are just now being tapped as there are voluminous amount of Ore to be mined.

In just the last two years, the big 3 mining players in the Labrador West/Quebec region (Rio Tinto, Cliffs Natural Resources and Arcelor Mittal have announced expansion plans to bring their combined Iron Ore output capabilities up to 96 Mtons/year by 2016,  up from their current levels of  37 Mtons.  These expansions are so far costing 8.1 Billion dollars, combined with more undetermined figures to be announced.  Combine these with junior mining company Alderon Resources and you could see the annual output increased to 104-112 Mtons/year and at least an additional 989 Million dollars.

Daniel MacEachern ends his article in The Telegram with these lines...

" Gallagher echoed Liverman’s comments that infrastructure and other issues will prove to be a challenge over the next 10 years.
“To co-ordinate the logistics, to best serve all the constituents, will be something that will take a lot of stakeholders getting together and working on,” he said."

No, it will not prove to be a challenge because the challenge is already there.

In the Summer of 2002, none of this seemed possible but now it's slapping a dark reality on the Labrador West region as housing prices have sky rocketed.  A 3 bedroom bungalow in 2002 was selling for 80,000 dollars while the current average price for a 40 year old house is now 310,000 dollars.  Newer models are in the range of 368-460,000 dollars.  Trailers, which once went for 25,000 dollars are now going for 180,000 to 250,000 dollars.


Like many 'Boom towns', rent has sky rocketed with the sudden influx of Fly In/Fly Out (FIFO) workers.  the going rate for rent per room is anywhere from 1000/month to 120/night.  To rent a trailer, the price is 4500/month and apartments (2 bedroom) is now 2500/month.  This is great for FIFO workers as they are subsidized by their employer, but is causing local low-income service workers to be slowly pushed out the door.

I don't feel that the blame for the housing shortage should be placed solely on the FIFO workers, as the majority are only in the region for short term construction work so they can support the families. They spend many weeks and holidays away from home, a fact many Newfoundland families can relate to. 

The fault belongs to industry and the municipal and provincial governments for not opening up a dialogue for the short and long term plans of the region, and not developing a clearer understanding of what lies ahead. Decisions should have been made then, not now.

This is already causing a "shadow community" for some local companies, who are there for the long haul, but cannot bring workers to stay in the community.  With ever-rising housing prices, and transportation issues like the terrible quality of the highway and lack of accessible, affordable flights (Ex: Round trip from Fort McMurray to St. John's for the May 24th weekend is $965.79, compared with flying from Wabush to St. John's, a total of $1010.50), the community is tripping in a game of catch-up with the booming mining industry. 

The service industry is struggling to accommodate with the sudden on rush of workers.  A recently completed hotel did not even have a chance to open the doors before a contracting firm filled all the rooms.  Business trying to open new shops (IE Canadian Tire, Jungle Jims) are not even able to do so for a lack of available commercial space to a lack of workers willing to take a 12$/hour job as this would barely be able to put a roof over their head.

Labrador West has the highest concentration of heavy industry in the province, yet the region only has 8 doctors with 2 of these doctors being within 5-8 years of retirement.  The local hospital is not even able to give local women the comfort to give birth in their home town as the Hospital does not have a full time Obstetrician-Gynaecologist.  

As a former resident of Labrador West, and hearing the voices from close friends who still live home, I take this as all slap in the face from the government of Newfoundland & Labrador.  A slap of complete disrespect from one of the hardest working regions of Canada, least of all Newfoundland & Labrador. There was no foresight, no long term planning for the region and no communication with local industry.  

The government of NL has to immediately step in and help solve the issues in Labrador West.  Give the local health authority a larger budget to bring in the many needed doctors, open up the land for Housing and Commercial space to be built and bring in much needed Low-Income housing for those not lucky enough to enjoy the high wages of the mining industry that being pushed out the door to make room for the FIFO workers..

For the first time, Labrador West truly has the chance to become a multi-generational community.  With many couples, having watched their children grow and move on to start their own lives, are now choosing to stay and retire. Many of these people came to Labrador West fresh out of trade school /University, got married in Labrador West, raised their children in Labrador West and made life long friends in Labrador West ...They made lives in Labrador West and are content there.


With the sudden influx of young couples to Labrador West, the possibility of young energy is there as there is much for young families that have a taste for the outdoors to do there, but the Provincial government needs to start re-investing into a region that for too long had too much taken from it.

Hopefully the recently elected MHA Nick McGrath will still be able to use his strong and clear voice in St. John's to help address these issues, unlike that of "Silent" Jim

The Season Grows Darker

Personal Note:  I am far to busy in my personal life, so I highly doubt I'll have the time to keep this blog active.  I'll reserve it for when my rants and ravings are more than 140 characters can contain.

This time of year, as the sun shine lessens, the nights grow longer and the days colder is being reciprocated by the on ice product our Habs are currently delivering.  Admittedly, I haven't had much opportunity to watch the Habs so far in this short schedule-skewed season, but the games I've watched, there are three things that caught my eye.

1) Lack of effort/heart or just plain timidness:  I notice this the most in nearly any puck battle.  It seems as if we're always 2nd to the puck or just get knocked off it.  Where's the fight?, Where's the passion? You can't win hockey games if you don't win battles...

2) Defensive zone break out:  This is something we all know... with Markov down and PK trying too hard, The Habs are getting pinned in their own end far too often or are turning the puck over in the neutral zone.  This was painfully evident last night every time Brian Campbell touched the puck.  I don't know if it was the style of play in Chicago or his contract but my god can that man skate.  His first pass is crisp and accurate and he DOES NOT over skate.  His timing, read of the play is fantastic.

THIS is what PK needs to work on.  He's young, full of confidence and perhaps feels he needs to take the game over.  How many times have we seen him skate a little too far with the puck... How many times has he caused an off-side by trying one move too late near the blue line... How many times has he take the puck in the offensive zone, skated around the head with a head of steam only for nothing to happen.

Please don't think I'm bashing him.. his talent ceiling and abilities are so high.  the only thing he needs to work on, which all young defence man learn, is his timing.  when to make the pass, how far to skate up, etc..  It'll come, but it could be a painful learning experience.  This is one key reason why I'm really hoping for Markov to come back sooner than later, so he can help relieve PK of the pressure that young man must be under.

3)  Carey Price and the fuck show that is the Defensive zone coverage..  I'll be honest.. kid still makes amazing saves.. I don't know if he's shell shocked or it's the pure mass confusion going on in his end.  Either way, he's getting frustrated with his play and the D in front of him and it's becoming evident. Diaz is showing promise, Emelin I really haven't seen much off so I can't pass judgement and well Weber's never been given a chance to fully work on his defensive game.. A quality, veteran Defensive D-man is needed...badly

Folks we can get as pissed as we want with Jacques Martin and Pierre Gauthier, we can beg for a new coach and some amazing trade to right the ship, but doing neither of these things will do anything more then get us 8th place and a first round ticket punch.

Fire JM and replace him with who? another out of work Bi-lingual talking head from RDS or someone over in Europe...Replace him with another young coach out of the Q who will wilt under the Montreal spotlight and then go on to be successful in other markets with the lessons they have learned?  This team has the quality, but needs a coach who knows what he is doing because he's been there before.. (I'm looking at you Ken Hitchcock, Columbus hasn't been the same since you left)

Fire PG and then what? Bring in Patrick Roy who may be too hot headed for his own good?  and Trade what? The Habs aren't exactly swimming in riches in the development pool and the few shining stars we do have would only mortgage our future as other teams know the Canadiens could be desperate and/or are dealing from a position of weakness...All we'll get is some other teams parts they don't want or another overpaid contract

(PS..I hate, with an ungodly passion, how the coach HAS to be bilingual.. it's pure bullshit and we're handicapping our search parameters for the best and brightest.  The only language they need to speak is hockey.. )

If this team doesn't right itself in the next few weeks, this Winter will be a lot colder and darker