Friday 28 December 2012

The Montreal Canadiens Top 10 positive signs from 2012



The Montreal Canadiens 2011-12 season proved to be one of the most frustrating and embarrassing seasons ever in Canadiens storied franchise’s history.   Finishing last in the Eastern conference, and 3rd last overall, and with the NHL lockout still in effect with no signs of ending anytime soon, seeing 2012 end couldn’t come too soon.  So I wanted to compile a top 10 list of positive signs from 2012, and what Habs fans can look forward to in 2013 (pending lockout ends one day soon).

The Montreal Canadiens The top 10 positive signs for 2012 (in no particular order):

Lars Eller four goal outburst:  On Jan 4th, 2012, Lars Eller performed the Lars Eller show scoring four goals and picking up one assist as the Habs trounced the Winnipeg Jets 7-2 at the Bell Centre.  Not bad for Eller considering earlier in the season against the Jets, Eller was benched!  Eller’s four goal game was the first by a Canadiens since Jan Bulis performed the feat back in 2006.

Habs beat Red Wings 7-2 on Jan 25:  Who would have thought with the Canadiens struggling so badly in 2011-12, and with Stanley Cup contenders Detroit Red Wings coming to town that the Canadiens would blow them out like they did?  Well that’s exactly what happened back on Jan. 12, 2012 when the Canadiens exploded to a 6-0 lead and won 7-2.  One of the very few on-ice highs for the Canadiens in 2012.

Andrei Markov returns to action: On March 12, 2012, Andrei Markov returned to action after almost 16 months off due to injuries. Prior to his comeback game in March, Markov, had played in only seven games in the last two seasons suffering from two major knee surgeries and another arthroscopic procedure.  Markov finished the 2012 season talking a regular shift.  These last few months during the lockout, Markov has taken a regular spot with Vityaz Chekhov in the KHL showing signs that he has indeed fully recovered.
David Desharnais surprising season:  Last season was David Desharnais’ breakout season in the NHL.  At 5’7, 177lbs not many pegged Desharnais as a No. 1 Centre on any team.  But that’s where Desharnais  found himself centring Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole for most of the season and tallying 16 goals and 44 assists.  A far cry from Desharnais’ previous NHL highs the season prior, his rookie season, when in 43 games, Desharnais recorded 22 points.

Max Pacioretty’s comeback season and breakout year.  On March 9, 2011 Max Pacioretty’s hockey reality came to a crashing halt when he was viciously hit by Zdeno Chara.  Pacioretty’s season came to an instant end, suffering a season ending severe concussion and breaking his neck, coming just a few millimetres from being paralyzed.  But Pacioretty was determined to make a full recovery.  Pacioretty finished the 2011-12 season with career highs in goals (33) and assists (32), and leading the Canadiens in team scoring with 65 points.  Pacioretty capped off the season winning the Bill Masterton award, awarded to the player that best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, team spirit and dedication to the sport of hockey.

Firing of Pierre Gauthier:  With the Canadiens worst record since the 1940’s. The writing was on the wall for Pierre Gauthier to be fired.  Under Gauthier’s short tenure as GM, he fired assistant head coach Perry Pearn hours before a hockey game.  Soon after, team head  coach, Jacques Martin was fired too.    And on Jan 12, 2012, Pierre Gauthier also managed to trade Mike Cammalleri during a hockey game forcing Cammalleri to leave part way into a game verses  the Boston Bruins giving a new meaning to dysfunctional organization.  Prior to end of the 2012 season, on March 29, 2012 Canadiens CEO Geoff Molson announced that Pierre Gauthier was relieved of his duties as the team’s general manager,.

Hiring of Marc Bergevin:  After an exhaustive four-week search for the next General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, the list wound down to two candidates;  Pierre McGuire and Marc Bergevin.  On May 2nd, 2012, Team President Geoff Molson announced that Marc Bergevin would become the club’s 17th General Manager in club history.  Bergevin wasted no time putting his team in place.  Gone were the days of the Canadiens GM performing all the player development and player personnel moves.   Scott Melanby was hired as Director of Player Personnel.  Martin Lapointe was hired as Director of Player Development.  Bergevin also added another assistant GM in Rick Dudley.  And the scouting department under Trevor Timmins was expanded.  What remains to be seen is how Bergevin’s hiring of new head coach Michel Therrien will play itself out.

Drafting of Alex Galchenyuk:  The Montreal Canadiens had the third pick overall in the 2012 Entry Draft and they selected centre  Alex Galchenyuk.  This season, Galchenyuk is dominating his last season junior hockey with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL, and Galchenyuk  is also competing in the 2012 World Junior Championships playing for Team USA.  It can be argued that the Galchenyuk pick represents the best non-goalie draft pick the Canadiens have selected since Saku Koivu back in 1993. 

Tomas Plekanec thriving in Europe:  On Sept 15, 2012 when the NHL announced that there would be a lockout as both the NHL and NHLPA failed to reach a negotiated settlement for  a new CBA, Plekanec was one of the first players  to decide to play in Europe during the lockout.  Playing in his native Czech republic for  team Kladno, in 32 games Plekanec is second in scoring with 46 points.  And should the lockout end soon, Plekanec would be in mid-season form.  Although Plekanec just suffered a slight setback injuring his ribs and should miss one week.

Canadiens prospects in the AHL:  With the lockout now over 100 days strong, the Canadiens have focused on stock piling their AHL farm club with prospects.  Never have the Canadiens been loaded with this much depth and prospects in their farm like they have this season. Although  Aaron Palushaj , Blake Geoffrion, and  Louis Leblanc have already played in the NHL, they are getting additional work in the AHL due to the lockout.  And providing tutelage to new comers Brendan Gallagher, Nathan Beaulieu, , Patrick Holland, Brendon Nash, Morgan Ellis, Jarred Tinordi.  It wouldn’t be too surprising to see that from these names mentioned, at least three or four will turn into solid NHL players in years to come.

Mario Perrazzino
 
mario@gohabs.com

Friday 22 June 2012

Montreal Canadiens unveil 2012-13 Schedule

The Montreal Canadiens 2012-13 regular season schedule is now out.
And for starters the Canadiens won't be starting the season versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And as well they will be starting at home for a change.

Circle Thursday October 11 2012 (provided their won't be a lockout) as the Canadiens will play host to the Ottawa Senators.

Worth mentioning, former team captain Saku Koivu returns to the Bell Centre on Saturday October 27 when the Habs play host to the Ducks.

And Mike Cammalleri pays his respect as the Flames visit the Canadiens on November 13.

And the Canadiens traditional Super Bowl matinees will continue once again this season when on Sat Feb and Sunday February 3rd, Canadiens entertain both the Islanders and Senators respectively.

Montreal Canadiens 2012-13 Schedule
Oct-12
Date Opponent Time TV
THU, 11 OCT 2012 OTTAWA 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
SAT, 13 OCT 2012 @ TORONTO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 16 OCT 2012 BOSTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN
THU, 18 OCT 2012 @ BOSTON 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 20 OCT 2012 WASHINGTON 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 23 OCT 2012 @ MINNESOTA 8:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
THU, 25 OCT 2012 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN
SAT, 27 OCT 2012 ANAHEIM 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 30 OCT 2012 @ CALGARY 9:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
Nov-12
Date Opponent Time TV
THU, 1 NOV 2012 @ EDMONTON 9:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 3 NOV 2012 @ VANCOUVER 10:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 6 NOV 2012 PHOENIX 7:30 PM RDS
THU, 8 NOV 2012 WINNIPEG 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 10 NOV 2012 NY RANGERS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC/MSG
TUE, 13 NOV 2012 CALGARY 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
THU, 15 NOV 2012 @ WINNIPEG 8:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 17 NOV 2012 @ COLORADO 10:00 PM RDS/CBC
MON, 19 NOV 2012 NASHVILLE 7:30 PM RDS
TUE, 20 NOV 2012 @ NJ DEVILS 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS/NBCSN
SAT, 24 NOV 2012 VANCOUVER 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 27 NOV 2012 @ TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM RDS/TSN
Dec-12
Date Opponent Time TV
SAT, 1 DEC 2012 TORONTO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
SUN, 2 DEC 2012 @ COLUMBUS 6:00 PM RDS
TUE, 4 DEC 2012 CHICAGO 7:30 PM RDS/TSN
THU, 6 DEC 2012 @ BUFFALO 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 8 DEC 2012 BUFFALO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
MON, 10 DEC 2012 CAROLINA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
WED, 12 DEC 2012 @ NY RANGERS 7:00 PM RDS
THU, 13 DEC 2012 LA KINGS 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 15 DEC 2012 @ BUFFALO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
MON, 17 DEC 2012 BUFFALO 7:30 PM RDS/NBCSN
WED, 19 DEC 2012 @ OTTAWA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
THU, 20 DEC 2012 @ WASHINGTON 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
SAT, 22 DEC 2012 @ TORONTO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC/NHL-US
THU, 27 DEC 2012 @ TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
FRI, 28 DEC 2012 @ FLORIDA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
MON, 31 DEC 2012 @ CAROLINA 8:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
Jan-13
Date Opponent Time TV
THU, 3 JAN 2013 NJ DEVILS 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 5 JAN 2013 TORONTO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 8 JAN 2013 FLORIDA 7:30 PM RDS
THU, 10 JAN 2013 @ PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 12 JAN 2013 @ DALLAS 2:00 PM RDS/CBC
SUN, 13 JAN 2013 @ ST-LOUIS 7:30 PM RDS
WED, 16 JAN 2013 PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
FRI, 18 JAN 2013 @ PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 19 JAN 2013 BOSTON 7:00 PM RDS/CBC/NHL-US
TUE, 22 JAN 2013 TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
TUE, 29 JAN 2013 EDMONTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
WED, 30 JAN 2013 @ DETROIT 7:30 PM RDS/TSN/NBCSN
Feb-13
Date Opponent Time TV
SAT, 2 FEB 2013 NY ISLANDERS 1:00 PM RDS/CBC
SUN, 3 FEB 2013 OTTAWA 1:00 PM RDS/CBC
WED, 6 FEB 2013 CAROLINA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
FRI, 8 FEB 2013 @ PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 9 FEB 2013 TORONTO 7:300 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 12 FEB 2013 @ NY ISLANDERS 7:00 PM RDS
FRI, 15 FEB 2013 @ BUFFALO 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS/MSG-B
SUN, 17 FEB 2013 @ WINNIPEG 2:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 19 FEB 2013 SAN JOSE 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
WED, 20 FEB 2013 @ NY RANGERS 7:00 PM RDS
SAT, 23 FEB 2013 PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM RDS/CBC/NHL-US
MON, 25 FEB 2013 @ OTTAWA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
THU, 28 FEB 2013 BOSTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
Mar-13
Date Opponent Time TV
SAT, 2 MAR 2013 NY ISLANDERS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
MON, 4 MAR 2013 @ BOSTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN/NBCSN
THU, 7 MAR 2013 @ WASHINGTON 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
SAT, 9 MAR 2013 @ TAMPA BAY 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
SUN, 10 MAR 2013 @ FLORIDA 6:00 PM RDS
WED, 13 MAR 2013 OTTAWA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
FRI, 15 MAR 2013 @ PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN
SAT, 16 MAR 2013 @ NY DEVILS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 19 MAR 2013 @ OTTAWA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
THU, 21 MAR 2013 NJ DEVILS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
SAT, 23 MAR 2013 @ NY ISLANDERS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 26 MAR 2013 WINNIPEG 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
WED, 27 MAR 2013 @ BOSTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN/NBCSN
SAT, 30 MAR 2013 NY RANGERS 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
Apr-13
Date Opponent Time TV
TUE, 2 APR 2013 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
THU, 4 APR 2013 WASHINGTON 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
SAT, 6 APR 2013 BUFFALO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC
TUE, 9 APR 2013 FLORIDA 7:30 PM RDS/TSN-HABS
FRI, 12 APR 2013 @ CAROLINA 7:00 PM RDS/TSN-HABS/NHL-US
SAT, 13 APR 2013 @ TORONTO 7:00 PM RDS/CBC

Thursday 19 April 2012

Former Habs in the 2012 Playoffs



Two weeks into the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, I can’t stop to think the amount of former Canadiens participating.

16 former Habs are still playing in the 2012 Playoffs.  Here's a rundown.

Phoenix Coyotes: 
  Kyle Chipchura (C); whom Habs traded to Anaheim in 2009 for 4th Round Pick ,2011 (Magnus Nygren – D)

Florida Panthers:  
 Jose Theodore (G); whom Habs traded to Colorado in 2006 for David Aebischer (G).

New Jersey Devils: 
  Dainius Zubrus (F); whom Habs traded to Washington Capitals in 2001 along with Trevor Linden in exchange for Richard Zednik (RW), Jan Bulis (C), and 2001 1st Rnd Draft Pick (Alexander Perezhogin).

San Jose Sharks: 
  Domenic Moore (C); whom Habs lost to free agency in 2010 to Tampa Bay Lightning.

St. Louis Blues: 
   Jaroslav Halak (G); whom Habs traded to St. Louis in 2010 in exchange for Lars Eller (C), and Ian Schultz (RW).
  Matt D’Agostini (F); whom Habs traded to St. Louis in 2009 in exchange for Aaron Palushaj (F).

Nashville Predators:
   Sergei Kostitsyn (F); whom Habs traded to Nashville in exchange for Dan Ellis (G) and Dustin Boyd (C).
Andrei Kostitsyn (F); whom Habs traded to Nashville in 2012 in exchange for 2nd Round Pick (2013).
Hall Gill (D); whom Habs traded to Nashville in 2012 Blake Geoffrion (F) and
Robert Slaney (F)

Ottawa Senators:
  Matt Carkner (D); whom Habs drafted in 1999 but never signed with the Canadiens and signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent in 2001.

New York Rangers:
 Ryan McDonagh (D); whom Habs drafted in the 2007 but whose rights were traded to the New York Rangers in 2009 along with along with Christopher Higgins, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto.

Washington Capitals:
 Roman Hamrlik (D); whom Habs lost to free agency in 2011 to the Washington Capitals.

Boston Bruins:
 Benoit Poilliot (F); whom Habs lost to free agency in 2011 to the Boston Bruins.


Philadelphia Flyers:
  Michael Leighton (G); whom Habs traded in 2007 to Carolina for a 2007's 7th Rnd Pick (Scott Kishel, D.
Vancouver Canucks:
Chris Higgins (F);  whom Habs traded to New York Rangers in 2009 along with Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Michael Busto.
Maxime Lapierre (F); whom Habs traded to Anaheim in 2010 in exchange for Brett Festerling (D)
5th Rnd draft pick, 2012.


Some of the players moved explains why the Canadiens failed to make the playoffs in 2011-12. One can argue not one player acquired in those trades have helped the Canadiens move forward. Too many deals where the Canadiens got little in return in terms of player procurement despite the fact the majority of the players were 3rd or 4th line players.


Mario Perrazzino