NHL 2008-09 regular season thread!

[Doc Holliday]

My My are we quick to kick to the Habs!

This was the same team that clocked the Bruins last year!

Why the Habs play like shit.. Who knows! Are they playing to their potential. NO!

Last season was a mirage. The Habs beat the Bruins something like 11 straight in the regular season. If the Bruins would have won half of those games, the Habs would have been at the same point as this season's. What saved them was their incredible powerplay last year. No powerplay this year, lousy team. That was the big difference-maker between this season's edition & last year's.

The Bruins almost surprised them in last year's playoffs. However, the Flyers didn't blow their chance & swept them in 4!! Just like the Bruins will do tomorrow night!! Bye, bye, bunch of gutless & talentless overpaid bums!

 

[Techman]

This year the Bruins are playing a Habs team that is riddled with injured players, two of which are due to the Leafs. They have a young goalie with confidence problems and a GM/coach who is trying to do the best with what he has left to work with. I would be very disappointed in the Bruins if they couldn't win this series. The fact that they have only managed a 1 goal margin, discounting empty net goals, in two of the three games played, doesn't look good for the Bruins to make the Stanley Cup finals.

Do I think that things would have been different with Markov, Lang and a healthy Schneider in the line-up? Probably a big difference. Do I think the Habs would have won the series even with those players? Probably not but they would have had a hell of a lot better chance.

As I said in an earlier post, the Bruins owe a big thank you to the Leafs for putting Markov and Schneider on the shelf. If they hadn't done that, the Bruins would probably have been playing the Rangers in the first round.

 

[Doc Holliday]

This year the Bruins are playing a Habs team that is riddled with injured players, two of which are due to the Leafs. They have a young goalie with confidence problems and a GM/coach who is trying to do the best with what he has left to work with.

Plus, the team is rumoured to be up for sale at the worse time of the year, just prior to & during the playoffs. The team barely made the playoffs, sneaking in on the final day of the season on a technicality. Florida finished tied with the Habs & in my opinion was more deserving. But so be it. They were also a team full of controversy all season long: rumours of Higgins & Price's drinking problems. Rumours of Price screwing around with minors (which i doubt happened, but who knows). Rumours & actual proof that a member of Mtl's underworld had infiltrated the team, in the form of the Kostitsyn brothers & former Habs players (e.g. Mickael Grabovski). A rumoured internal feud between the team captain (Koivu) & it's lone superstar, Alex Kovalev. The GM first saying hiring Carbonneau as his best move ever with the team, then firing the extremely popular coach (who should have won the Jack Adams last year) a month or so later.

You know what? The Habs have become a Mickey Mouse organization!! Shades of the days of Pal Hal (Harold Ballard) & the Leafs!!

As I said in an earlier post, the Bruins owe a big thank you to the Leafs for putting Markov and Schneider on the shelf. If they hadn't done that, the Bruins would probably have been playing the Rangers in the first round.

As for getting injured in the Leafs game, all the Habs could have done to avoid injuries to their key personnel was to rest them. Ooops!! They couldn't do that, could they? They were still fighting for the playoffs with the Florida Panthers!! What a f#^# joke this once famous organization has become!! THEY DESERVE TO HAVE CELINE DION AS THEIR OWNER!!!

(I can't wait for the day when Celine forces the team to accept little Rene Charles as one of the assistant coaches! )

 

[Merlot]

My My are we quick to kick to the Habs!


This was the same team that clocked the Bruins last year!

Why the Habs play like shit.. Who knows! Are they playing to their potential. NO!

I saw last night a team that did what they were told to do, but not a team that wants to win!

Montreal needs a new buyer, they need a new GM a new coach and a new team! Might as well scrap what we have and start fresh.

C'mon Porter,

First, Montreal almost got knocked out of the playoff by the Bruins last year. I have the feeling you and nearly every Habs fan was shocked it went to 7 games and were close to soiling your underwear over it. Second, I see nothing but excuses. If the Habs aren't playing to their potential, for whatever reason, it their fault. So they have injuries too. Fine. You don't see me crying about the Celtics who lost Garnett, and just lost Powe with torn ligaments. Injuries and everything else you mention are just part of the game and what makes or doesn't make a good team.

I don't know how the "farm system" or recruitment worked for hockey in the past and long past. I read something in an article about the Canadiens having a kind of monopoly on many of the best players in the past. If true that sure didn't make for a balanced sport. If things are now evening out more it's good for the sport, and every team will just have to live with it.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[Techman]

At least the Habs were in postition to fight for a playoff spot which is more than the Leafs have done for the last 4 years and probably the next four also.

I wouldn't worry about Rene-Charles...from the look of him he will be headlining upstairs at Cleo's as soon as he is 18.

 

[Doc Holliday]

At least the Habs were in postition to fight for a playoff spot which is more than the Leafs have done for the last 4 years and probably the next four also.

Who cares? The Habs didn't stand a chance anyway. Why bother? They just should have let Florida get in....maybe the Bruins would have had an NHL-calibre opponent to play against. Not a minor league european team!

Montreal Canadiens=Team Europe West

 

[Techman]

Baseball? What's that? Oh yeah!!! That's the sport that has a 'World Series' that only includes teams from the US and on the very rare occasion one team from Canada and promotes better living through chemistry!

No thanks...I'll pass.

 

[JLB]

At least the Habs were in postition to fight for a playoff spot which is more than the Leafs have done for the last 4 years and probably the next four also.

hey the leafs are doing great in the playoffs. wellwood, colliacoavo

 

[Techman]

Holy crap! Carolina scores with 0.02 seconds on the clock to win 4-3 but the goal is under review. What a piss off if they say it's no goal.

The goal stands and it's a 4-3 win for Carolina!

 

[Doc Holliday]

The goal stands and it's a 4-3 win for Carolina!

I'm happy for Carolina, especially for Paul Maurice, one hell of a classy guy & a very good coach.

 

[gohabsgo]

GOHABSGO hasn't posted since 4/5/2009... a true HABS FAN that one. Front runner all the way...

KUDOS to you HABS fans that stick with your team...Boston just seems to be too big and too strong.

The Pens and Sid will knock your crappy Flyers out. Unlike Montreal, Philly has no key injuries, so I can't wait to hear your excuses - but by then you would have jumped off the Flyers bandwagon and be cheering for NYR or Washington.

 

[Doc Holliday]

The Pens and Sid will knock your crappy Flyers out. Unlike Montreal, Philly has no key injuries, so I can't wait to hear your excuses - but by then you would have jumped off the Flyers bandwagon and be cheering for NYR or Washington.

He's alive!! He's back!! He didn't jump off the Champlain bridge like some people had said he did!!! I'm glad to see him back among the living!!!

 

[gohabsgo]

Montreal Canadiens=Team Europe West

Remind me again ... how far did the Leafs go in the playoffs this year? Yeah, that's what I thought.

 

[Techman]

A little something to lighten the mood here...Subject: A True Canadian Hockey Fan

Subject: A True Canadian Hockey Fan


It's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and a man makes his way to his seat right at center ice.
He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbour if someone will be sitting there.

"No," says the neighbour. "The seat is empty."

"This is incredible", said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and not use it?"

The neighbour says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."

"Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or a relative, or even a neighbour to take the seat?"




The man shakes his head. "No. They're all at the funeral."

 

[Doc Holliday]

Remind me again ... how far did the Leafs go in the playoffs this year? Yeah, that's what I thought.

I always find it fascinating that every time a Habs fan has his back against the wall & can't come up with an answer or reply....when he has run out of them....right out of the blue, he tries to change the subject & wants to start talking about the Leafs. Fascinating!

It's just like if i'd own a Toyota Camry & once it starts having problems, people start giving me a hard time & joke around that my car is a piece of shit. Flustered, i retaliate & get even more upset when they have an answer for every single retaliation of mine. So, desperate & truly pissed off, i then tell them that Honda Accords are crap also. What the f$&#??

One thing, though. Yes, the Leafs did not have a very good team the past couple of seasons. However, they only missed the playoffs by a single point last season (and the year before, i think). Okay, still not high-calibre hockey, but pretty much at the same point that the Habs were this season. Yes, the Habs have now sunk to Toronto Maple Laughs level!!

As for this season, it was a rebuilding year & everyone who knows anything about hockey knew this. But rebuild they did! The arrival of Brian Burke has upped the pace of the rebuilding & he's already began to put his mark on the hockey team. Give them another 2-3 years and the results will be a sight to the behold. In 5 years, they might even be contending for the Cup. Take the Anaheim Mighty Ducks...they are surprising everybody in the playoffs & just might eliminate the San Jose Sharks. That was one of my predictions if you look back, by the way. The Ducks, whom a lot of people were certain wouldn't even make the playoffs. Contending for the Cup again? Yep, those same Ducks.....Brian Burke's team. He built them.

As for the Habs, they've become the Mickey Mouse organization of the entire NHL outside the NY Islanders. Heck, maybe even worse than the Islanders!! If you're a free agent, would you really want to go and play for the Habs knowing about all the turmoil that's surrounded the team all season long? If you're an american hockey player, would you want to move your family to a team whose fans boo the US national anthem? Do you want to move to a team where you don't even know who'll be its owner next season? Who will be the GM? Who will be the coach? Do you want to move to a team with 11 potential free agents? That's almost half the current roster gone!!! Well, do you?? Of course you don't. You prefer joining a first-class organization like the Toronto Maple Leafs, with a great tradition & one of the most stable & wealthy organizations in the entire NHL with one of its largest fan base. A team run by a hockey architect who's been dubbed a genius by many & who will one day take the team to the promise land. Yes indeed, the contrast between the two organizations is a huge one. I'm glad i'm on the right side. Very.

 

[G1GBallday]

Subject: A True Canadian Hockey Fan


It's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and a man makes his way to his seat right at center ice.
He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbour if someone will be sitting there.

"No," says the neighbour. "The seat is empty."

"This is incredible", said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and not use it?"

The neighbour says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."

"Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or a relative, or even a neighbour to take the seat?"




The man shakes his head. "No. They're all at the funeral."

This was funny.


But this is REALLY FUNNY.

You prefer joining a first-class organization like the Toronto Maple Leafs, with a great tradition & one of the most stable & wealthy organizations in the entire NHL with one of its largest fan base. A team run by a hockey architect who's been dubbed a genius by many & who will one day take the team to the promise land.

BTW if the Habs are a Camry then the Leafs are a Yugo GV http://i.treehugger.com/files/yugo-gv.jpg

 

[Doc Holliday]

But this is REALLY FUNNY.

BTW if the Habs are a Camry then the Leafs are a Yugo GV

Laugh as much as you want, but non-Habs fans will & always get the last laugh. You presently have a team with an owner who wants to sell it to the highest bidder (lookout for Celine & Rene-Charles! lol), with no head coach, with a GM acting as coach & making bone-headed decisions game in & game out (Bouillon??), and a team who will lose nearly half its current roster to free agency come next July.

Get ready for half a decade of misery & depressing hockey. The Habs still haven't realized how awful they are & have yet to begun rebuilding. Lets' hope that after they're swept by the Bruins tonight (have they ever been swept two consecutive playoffs series in a row? Heck, i don't even think this has even happened to the Leafs! ) , they'll realize it's time for drastic changes, including the departure of Sad Bob Gainey to other pastures. Carbo never should have got fired & Gainey should have moved at the trade deadline to try to rid his team of the cancer that had been surrounding it all season long. But no! He didn't make one single move!!!

Look out, Habs fans!! The Leafs will be the envy of the league within 2-3 seasons. As for you, you will be keeping your fingers crossed for the next 5 seasons in order for your sad-sack team to just make it into the playoffs.

Tonight, the doc will be chanting: "La-la-la.....la-la-la.....hey-hey, goodbye!!!"

 

[JustBob]

I always find it fascinating that every time a Habs fan has his back against the wall & can't come up with an answer or reply....when he has run out of them....right out of the blue, he tries to change the subject & wants to start talking about the Leafs. Fascinating!

Actually what's fascinating is your obsession with the Habs. Mind you, I understand why a fan of a team that has been irrelevant for over 40 years would be more than a tad jealous.

It's just like if i'd own a Toyota Camry & once it starts having problems, people start giving me a hard time & joke around that my car is a piece of shit. Flustered, i retaliate & get even more upset when they have an answer for every single retaliation of mine. So, desperate & truly pissed off, i then tell them that Honda Accords are crap also. What the f$&#??

No, it's more like a fan of the Bengals constantly pissing on the Steelers because that's the only way he can make himself feel better and momentarily forget how crappy his team is.

You prefer joining a first-class organization like the Toronto Maple Leafs, with a great tradition & one of the most stable & wealthy organizations in the entire NHL with one of its largest fan base. A team run by a hockey architect who's been dubbed a genius by many & who will one day take the team to the promise land. Yes indeed, the contrast between the two organizations is a huge one. I'm glad i'm on the right side. Very.

And you call Habs fans delusional? lollll

 

[Doc Holliday]

Actually what's fascinating is your obsession with the Habs. Mind you, I understand why a fan of a team that has been irrelevant for over 40 years would be more than a tad jealous.

It's not an obsession with the Habs. If you hadn't noticed already, this is a forum with Montreal as its main theme. I suspect most of the hockey fans on this board are Habs fans. If it were a Vancouver board, i'd probably base the majority of my posts about the Canucks. And so on.....

As for the last statement, either you have alzheimer's or you weren't around in the 90's and for the first part of the millenium. The Leafs WERE relevant. And they will once again, trust me & remember my words. Also remember my words when i state that the Habs will be among the bottom half of the entire NHL for years to come. Meanwhile, the Leafs will be among the league's elite, like they were a decade ago.

 

[Merlot]

How SWEEP it is! ​

Bruins 4 Canadiens 1​

Yeah, I know it's the first round. But after so many losses to the Canadiens it's sooooo nice to enjoy this victory. Now, I hope my prize wine is chilled and ready.

Bisous sweety,

Merlot