The Official M.E.R.B. Hockey Thread

[Doc Holliday]

Gauthier cleans shop: Habs fire 6 scouts

MONTREAL -- Pierre Gauthier didn't waste any time since the Montreal Canadiens were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs seven days ago.

After bringing young defenceman Kyle Klubertanz on board last week, the Habs' GM sacked six of the team's scouts on Monday.

Those who were let go include amateur scouts Denis Morel (Quebec), Dave Mayville (U.S.), Antonin Routa, (Europe) Pelle Eklund (Sweden) and Nikolai Vakourov (Russia), as well as professional scout Gordie Roberts.

The news was confirmed by the Habs' vice-president for communications, Donald Beauchamp. He noted that the contracts in question were up at the end of June.

Denis Morel, who is also a former NHL referee, confirmed the dismissals in a phone interview with QMI Agency.

"I have to admit I wasn't expecting this at all," Morel said. "I loved my work and I was ready to continue for a few more years.

"The organization didn't give me a real reason, only that it's changing course with its recruitment team."

With reduced personnel out in the field, the Habs only have one scout, Michel Boucher, currently active in Quebec.

The team has no recruitment presence in Sweden or Russia and is down to a single scout anywhere on the entire European continent, Hannu Laine in Finland.

The Habs have often turned to drafting American players in recent years and so it's no surprise that their two U.S. scouts, William A. Berglund and Pat Westrum, kept their jobs.

There's still no word on whether the team will bring in new scouts to replace the six let go this week.

 

[Jman47]

How about those Blackhawks?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4

 

[lgna69xxx]

How about those Flyers? Looks like we now have a series, GREAT GAME tonight all around!

 

[Special K]

How about those Flyers? Looks like we now have a series, GREAT GAME tonight all around!

Just delaying the inevitable Iggy! 'Hawks in 5!

 

[lgna69xxx]

philly could just of easily won all three games so far, as could of Chi-town, i think it will go 7, and be a classic series for the ages, so far so good

Just delaying the inevitable Iggy! 'Hawks in 5!

 

[joelcairo]

philly could just of easily won all three games so far, as could of Chi-town, i think it will go 7, and be a classic series for the ages, so far so good

You originally predicted Philly in 6. I originally replied "I think not - Chicago in 6".

 

[Doc Holliday]

Philly should have won game 1, but game 2 belonged to the Hawks. Game 3 was a toss-up, won by Philly. So far, very exciting games. Any of those two teams could win the Cup. If Philly's goaltending doesn't fail them, they have a chance. But as we saw in game 1, if Leighton isn't up to par, Chicago will likely win the Cup.

I'll be happy if any of those two teams win. I'm slightly pulling for Philly since they're the obvious underdog in this series, but i won't be too disappointed if Chicago wins & ends its nearly 50 year Stanley Cup drought.

If i'm Philly, i'm likely not dressing Dan Carcillo in their next game. The guy is too much of a ticking-time bomb.

 

[lgna69xxx]

good thing your not a betting man K, oh wait, you are, and im still waiting for that Boustan meal and a guinness

Flyers looked good but the hawks really came on strong in the 3rd... Go Pronger! GO FLYERS!

Just delaying the inevitable Iggy! 'Hawks in 5!

 

[Special K]

good thing your not a betting man K, oh wait, you are, and im still waiting for that Boustan meal and a guinness

Flyers looked good but the hawks really came on strong in the 3rd... Go Pronger! GO FLYERS!

Don't sweat it, you'll get it. Was a little rushed last week! Lol. Double or nothing?

 

[lgna69xxx]

your on! ... btw habs fans, ask Special K if i take and pay up my bets, as does he! good guy K, it is always a pleasure taking my winnings from you

Don't sweat it, you'll get it. Was a little rushed last week! Lol. Double or nothing?

 

[Jman47]

FUCK the Flyers!!!
Let's go Blackhawks...what an Ice Crew!!

Have fun,

Jman

 

[lgna69xxx]

Broad "Street Smarts"

Why the Flyers Could Be Zeroing in on Their First Cup in 35 Years, Great Article.........



After two Stanley Cup Final games in Chicago, the Flyers showed they could stay with the heavily favored Blackhawks. Not beat them, but stay with them.

After two title series games in South Philly, the Flyers have shown they can take some brutal hits and late adversity to defeat the Hawks.

Both these conclusions were not evident before the puck was dropped at the United Center last Saturday night.

Summarizing what each of these fine teams bring to the championship table now that the Flyers have tied the series 2-2 is clearer than ever. Chicago is very young, fast and physically tough. Philadelphia is fairly young, just as fast, and mentally tougher.

That last attribute could be the trigger to the Flyers' first Cup in 35 years.

The street smart Flyers get their direction from super defenseman Chris Pronger. All Pronger has done is totally buffalo Chicago bullrusher Dustin Byfuglien, who had been an offensive powerhouse entering the Final. The duel in front of the net between these two stars has been mezmerizing to watch. Pronger has gotten the better of his foe, but then again, he usually gets the better of anyone who stalks the crease.

This former champion is a master of getting away with hockey murder by tweaking, taunting, and tickling opposing players and crowds.

It's a true intangible, and it could be the edge so many teams say they look for when entering a championship game or series.



The other end of the Flyers brainy approach comes from head coach Peter Laviollette. As many of his players have acknowleged, Laviolette has a system worth following, as well as a knack for adapting on the fly. The in-game changes Laviolette makes, whether it's shuffling lines or calling timely time outs, always seem to make sense. Blackhawks skipper Joel Quenneville is just as saavy as Laviolette, so that aspect of the matchup cancels out. So, give the craftiness edge to Philadelphia since the Hawks have no equal for Pronger. It's no accident that the Flyers have avoided a lot of stupid penalties against Chicago. That's using your head.

Do the Blackhawks have better raw talent than the Flyers? Possibly. But it's not just talent that ferries a team all the way through a playoff run to the title.

It takes street smarts. Broad Street smarts.

 

[ghn1575]

Well I have seen the four games... Most of the people support the Hawks but in my opinion they are very lucky to be tied 2-2. They really deserved loosing games 3 and 4. And they did not make a clear difference in games 1 and 2. It could be 3-1 Flyers and this would be quite normal based on the games... Currently the momentum is really with the flyers, and I am very curious to see game 5... When the hawks will start playing ??? it is now... or next year ! The hawks are still in just because the Flyers' goalie is weak... If the flyers would have Halak in from of the net, the serie would be finished 4-0 !

 

[lgna69xxx]

you know what? i totally agree with you, and thats about as close to saying anything good i ever will about the habs. lol... by the way, the blackhawks goalie is not exactly lighting the world on fire with his play either.

If the flyers would have Halak in from of the net, the serie would be finished 4-0 !

 

[ghn1575]

lol yes, regarding the habs... even with Halak in front of the net, they had no chance to beat the flyers ! And beating the Caps was a miracle...

 

[lgna69xxx]

yea they had a decent run but are not as good as they made their fans think heading into next season.. cap issues are gonna hurt them big time it looks like, but hey, ya never know. Halak got them that far, w/o him being red hot for most of the last 10 games of the season as well as most of the playoffs, they would of been on the outside looking in, a goalie can take you far, but the others have to show up as a team to win it all. just look at whomever wins the Stanley Cup, both teams are "teams"

lol yes, regarding the habs... even with Halak in front of the net, they had no chance to beat the flyers ! And beating the Caps was a miracle...

 

[ghn1575]

Sure, Flyers and Hawks are both teams... it is strange because none of these teams have a hot goalie... I would not have guessed that it was possible to win the Stanley Cup with an averagish goalie... The Habs are the opposite, an averagish team with a hot goalie !

 

[JH Fan]

I would not have guessed that it was possible to win the Stanley Cup with an averagish goalie... !

None have a hot goalie ?
Keep talking about the HABS hey ?

Last I heard the goalie the coach and advisor were part of the team.
You seem to forget who's is in the stands, up above Chicago.

As for the Flyers ? and average team ? you seemed to forget that other than the 6 in a row in the 90's they only missed the playoffs what 3 times since 1967 ?

Playoffs and the regular are always different.

Both Halak and Leighton became HOT in the playoffs.
And anyone who think Leighton is an average goalie because of the regular is totally missing the boat here. This guy made history and even if I HATE Flyers I can still admire them as much.

This is a team with character when it counts.

Of course I'll be happy (if they loose) to say they average 3 or 4 ? cups in what 21 or 22 playoffs ?

And if they win ? well... we'll have fun laughing at the Leafs.
Even if... the Leafs will still have twice as much Stanley Cups as Flyers.

Anyway ! don't you love statistics ?

Even if the Habs didn't win in what 17 years ? they still are... WAY UP THERE !

And for those who gloat that Canadian teams didn't win much since the 90's...
Take a look at both Hawks and Flyers roster.
Do you see any American in there ? a couple ? maybe 1/3 of a team ? ))

Chicago in 7 would be nice.
More games, more hockey and another one with Scotty.

 

[ghn1575]

hey I said both the Flyers and the Hawks are *&?$ great teams... they do not play in the same league as the Habs..

However their goalies, especially Leighton, are far from being Hot goalies... Leighton is lucky to have such a great defense. He very rarely stole a game for his team, and quite often he got some bad goals against him... With a hot goalie, I believe that the Flyers would have already won the cup and beat the Hawks...

But for now I am pretty surprise how well Chicago adapted its lines in game 5... I hope the Flyers will be able to rebound so that we will have a game 7, but I am not sure....

 

[JH Fan]

hey I said both the Flyers and the Hawks are *&?$ great teams...

No prob ghn1575 ) it's more fun to see a 'little passion' from you guys ! )
After it's all about Hockey !