Bleacher Report - Articles by Fred Poulin

Tomas Plekanec Showing Flashes of Brilliance This Season for Montreal Canadiens

Fred Poulin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:55:31 -0400

After a 2008-2009 season during which his offensive production (20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points in 80 games) was mediocre at best, Tomas Plekanec has found a renewed passion and his old offensive flair this season.

After 11 games, he already has recorded two goals and eight assists for 10 points, despite playing with several different wingers: Andrei Kostitsyn, Matt D’Agostini, Max Pacioretty, Guillaume Latendresse, Maxim Lapierre, etc.

We all remember the 2007-08 season when Plekanec played on a line with A. Kost and Alex Kovalev, leading the Habs to the regular season conference title.

Plekanec notched 29 goals and 40 assists for 69 points in 81 games that season, a 22 points increase over the 2006-07 season.

Jacques Martin is showing a lot of confidence in Plekanec this season, using him on the power play as well as the penalty kill.

Over the first 11 games, Plekanec has played around 19:41 minutes per game, with a season-high 23 minutes against Atlanta last week. His +4 rating ranks him second on the team in the +/- category.

Compared to last season, Plekanec is not afraid to drive the net with grit and keeps the puck longer instead of giving it away to the opponent.

On yesterday’s overtime goal against the Islanders, Plek took the puck deep in his own zone and skated the length of the ice, deking John Tavares and Mark Streit before dishing a spectacular saucer pass on a 2-on-1 to Roman Hamrlik who roofed the puck past Martin Biron.

The talented Czech is playing with confidence despite having to play with different players every night, and even almost every shift, as his usual linemates Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn are respectively struggling a lot and playing in the AHL.

The Canadiens desperately need secondary scoring from their second and third lines to thrive in their quest for a playoffs spot, and Plekanec is an integral part of their success.

Do you think Plekanec will maintain his near-1 PPG ratio during the whole season?

Glen Metropolit's Underappreciated Value for the Montreal Canadiens

Fred Poulin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:49:06 -0400

Montreal Canadiens’ center Glen Metropolit was back into action yesterday evening after missing six games with a rib injury. He notched two assists in the Habs’ 5-1 victory over the lowly New York Islanders.

He now has one goal and three assists for four points in only three games. The Canadiens are undefeated when he is in the lineup.

Acquired via waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers last season, Metropolit already has more points this season than during his 21 games with le Bleu Blanc Rouge last season.

The 35-year-old Toronto-native is mainly recognized for his defensive play and his quality face-offs. Metro played with Travis Moen and Max Pacioretty on the Habs energy line. His return gave Jacques Martin more flexibility with his line-up, moving centre Maxim Lapierre on the wing. Lapierre scored his first goal of the season playing with Plekanec and A. Kostitsyn.

A right-handed shooter, Metropolit was even used frequently on the second power play unit, getting an assist on M-A Bergeron’s first PP goal with the Habs. Metro lodged over 18 minutes of ice time and was the best player on the ice and game’s first star.

He had his best season in 2007-08 with the Boston Bruins, recording 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. He also played for Washington, St. Louis, Boston, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. In 342 games in the NHL, he has 42 goals and 92 assists for 134 points.

His $1M salary for the 2009-2010 makes him an affordable two-way centre who can kill penalties and play on the second power play unit. The Canadiens really need to keep using him as Kyle Chipchura keeps proving everyone that he is a bust and will never become the third line centre he was supposed to be.

Should Martin keep using Metropolit for 18 minutes per game? I’d say yes.

http://hockeyindependent.com

Should the Montreal Canadiens Acquire Alexander Frolov from Los Angeles?

Fred Poulin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:11:06 -0400

After Terry Murray made him a healthy scratch during the Kings’ last game in Dallas, you have to wonder if there is a future for Alexander Frolov in Los Angeles, especially since the Russian left winger is an unrestricted free agent after the 2009-10 season.

With one goal and four assists in eight games, Frolov, according to Murray, doesn’t fit with the Kings’ team concept. Murray said Frolov is lazy, has trouble motivating himself, and doesn’t play with his teammates.

Frolov doesn’t seem to like Murray very much as it was his first healthy scratch in years, which you can see in Rich Hammond’s blog: http://lakingsinsider.com/?p=684 .

Frolov, 27, has recorded 150 goals and 185 assists for 335 points in 463 career games (a 0.72 PPG rate). The Russian left winger scored 30 goals twice in his career, and had his best season in 2006-07 with 35 goals while playing with Michael Cammalleri.

Now a Montreal Canadien, Cammalleri has yet to gel with his new linemates Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez, which has led to a lack of goals scored for the Canadiens’ lackluster offense. Cammalleri has only one goal and five assists in eight games for the Habs and their offense is ranked 28th in the NHL with a 1.95 GPG average. The lack of scoring depth has hurt the team all season long as the second line of Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Max Pacioretty has been unproductive so far.

The Canadiens need a productive offensive player to complete their top-six as Pacioretty is not ready to contribute consistently at the NHL level. The American rookie needs more seasoning in the AHL in order to have an impact with le Bleu Blanc Rouge in the near future.

Same thing with forward Guillaume Latendresse, who’s more of a checking player than a natural scorer as he has yet to score more than 18 goals per season in the NHL. So far, Pacioretty and Latendresse have combined for a mere two points in 16 games this season.

Frolov’s current salary is $4 million with an affordable cap hit of $2.9 million. Even with the signing of Marc-Andre Bergeron, the Habs have plenty of room to add such a salary by putting their star defenseman Andrei Markov on the long-term injury list.

Now the real question is, what would Kings GM Dean Lombardi ask to let his prized left winger go?

The Kings have very good prospects in the AHL and the CHL in the likes of forwards Andrei Loktionov, Oscar Moller, Justin Azevedo, Juraj Mikus, and Brayden Schenn. On defense, they have Thomas Hickey, Colbin Teubert, and Vyacheslav Voinov only a few seasons away from graduating. Finally, Jonathan Bernier is their goalie of the future.

This leads me to suspect that Lombardi would likely ask for one or two roster players and a high draft pick for Frolov. Is Montreal’s GM Bob Gainey ready to give that much for a top-six winger?

What would you give in order to acquire Frolov? The Kostitsyn brothers? D’Agostini? Pacioretty?

Ottawa Senators Re-Sign Matt Carkner to a Two-Year Contract

Fred Poulin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:01:31 -0400

Ottawa Senators' general manager Bryan Murray announced yesterday that the team has signed defenseman Matt Carkner to a two-year contract extension.

Carkner, 28, is a feisty defenseman who is ranked eighth in the league in blocked shots with 19 this season. After two seasons in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators, Carkner made the team out of training camp as the seventh defenseman. But an injury to Filip Kuba has allowed him to participate in each of the Senators’ seven regular-season games.

The 6′4”, 230 lb, defenseman was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (58th overall) of the 1999 entry draft. He was signed as a free agent by Ottawa in 2007.

Marc-Andre Bergeron's Imminent Impact

Fred Poulin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:36:12 -0400

After a devastating injury to their power-play quarterback and best defenseman Andrei Markov in the first game of the season, the Montreal Canadiens were forced to sign free agent Marc-Andre Bergeron to a one-year, $750,000 contract.

During a condition stint with the Hamilton Bulldogs where Bergeron recorded six assists and a plus-six rating in only three games, the Canadiens managed to lose five games in a row, scoring only nine goals. Their anemic offense now ranks 25th in the league, tied with the Ducks and the lowly Islanders, at an average of only 2.11 goals per game.

Montreal’s power play ranks 24th in the NHL at a mere 15.4 percent. The Habs’ other offensive defensemen (Mara, Spacek, and Hamrlik) have combined for only two goals and seven assists in 20 games.

Bergeron, 29, was recalled by le Bleu Blanc Rouge on Monday. Shawn Bell was demoted to the Bulldogs as a result.

Marc-Andre Bergeron after his first practice with the team on Monday.

During Bergeron’s time in Hamilton, the Canadiens recalled promising offensive defenseman Yannick Weber without great success. Weber, 21, recorded no points and minus-four differential while looking out of place on the ice. Weber needs another full season in the AHL before getting major ice-time in the NHL.

Bergeron, a power-play specialist whose defensive capacities are underrated and improving, should have an immediate impact on the Habs’ transition game, which has been lackluster lately. Bergeron is known for his great skating abilities, his booming shot, and his excellent first outlet pass.

Bergeron will likely make his season debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Thrashers at Bell Centre. His defensive partner will be Paul Mara. Coach Jacques Martin said earlier that Bergeron will be used for about 14 minutes and on the power play.

A native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Bergeron played in 72 games with Minnesota last season, recording 14 goals and 18 assists (32 points), with seven goals coming on the power play.

In 339 NHL games, Bergeron has 62 goals and 98 assists for a total of 160 points.

Do you think Bergeron will help the Canadiens win their first game at home?

Trevor Timmins' Work as the Canadiens' Head Scout

Fred Poulin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:33:08 -0400

With the Montreal Canadiens' early playoffs elimination looming, it is time to have a look at the work of their head scout Trevor Timmins.

After working with the Ottawa Senators, Trevor Timmins was appointed to his position in 2002-2003. He participated in his first NHL draft with the Canadiens in 2003.

The Canadiens picked the following players:

Mtl. Canadiens

Andrei Kostitsyn

CSKA Moscow [Russia]

186

108

Mtl. Canadiens

Cory Urquhart

Montreal Rocket [QMJHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Maxim Lapierre

Montreal Rocket [QMJHL]

179

Mtl. Canadiens

Ryan O'Byrne

Nanaimo Clippers [BCHL]

271

Mtl. Canadiens

Jaroslav Halak

Bratislava Jrs. (Slovakia)

The Canadiens missed the following notable players:

First round:

Jeff Carter PHI

Mike Richards PHI

Dustin Brown LA

Brent Seabrook CHI

Zach Parise NJ

Ryan Getzlaf ANA

Brent Burns MIN

Corey Perry ANA

Second round:

Loui Eriksson DAL

Patrice Bergeron BOS

Shea Weber NAS

Patrick O'Sullivan EDM

David Backes STL

Fourth round and later:

Lee Stempniak TOR

Bruno Gervais NYI

Joe Pavelski SJ

Tobias Enstrom ATL

Then in 2004 Timmins drafted the following players:

Mtl. Canadiens

Kyle Chipchura

Prince Albert Raiders [WHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Alexei Yemelin

Samara (Russia)

150

Mtl. Canadiens

Mikhail Grabovski

Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik [Russia]

105

246

Mtl. Canadiens

Greg Stewart

Peterborough Petes [OHL]

262

Mtl. Canadiens

Mark Streit

Zurich [Swiss-A]

279

124

165

The Canadiens missed the following notable players:

First round:

Travis Zajac NJ

Wojtek Wolski COL

Andrej Meszaros TB

Mike Green WAS

Second round:

David Booth FLA

Brandon Dubinsky NYR

David Krejci BOS

Third round:

Alexander Edler VAN

Johan Franzen DET

Fourth round and later:

Tyler Kennedy PIT

Ryan Callahan NYR

Kris Versteeg CHI

Chris Campoli OTT

After that in 2005 Timmins drafted the following players:

Mtl. Canadiens

Carey Price

Tri-City Americans [WHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Guillaume Latendresse

Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]

209

190

Mtl. Canadiens

Matt D'Agostini

Guelph Storm [OHL]

200

Mtl. Canadiens

Sergei Kostitsyn

Gomel (Belarus)

108

The Canadiens missed the following notable players:

First round:

Devin Setoguchi SJ

Anze Kopitar LA

Marc Staal NYR

TJ Oshie STL

Andrew Cogliano EDM

Second round:

Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJ

Paul Stastny COL

Mason Raymond VAN

Third round:

Kris Letang PIT

In 2006 Timmins selected the following players:

Mtl. Canadiens

David Fischer

Apple Valley H.S. (Minn)

Kootenay Ice [WHL]

Acadie-Bathurst Titan [QMJHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Ryan White

Calgary Hitmen [WHL]

139

Mtl. Canadiens

Pavel Valentenko

Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik [Russia]

The Canadiens missed the following notable players:

First round:

Claude Giroux PHI

Simeon Varlamov WAS

Patrick Berglund STL

Nick Foligno OTT

Second round:

Nikolai Kulemin TOR

Milan Lucic BOS

Third round:

Steve Mason CBJ

Cal Clutterbuck MIN

In 2007 Timmins picked the following players:

Mtl. Canadiens

Ryan McDonagh

Cretin Derham Hall H.S. (Minn.)

Mtl. Canadiens

Max Pacioretty

Sioux City Musketeers [USHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

P.K. Subban

Belleville Bulls [OHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Olivier Fortier

Rimouski Oceanic [QMJHL]

Mtl. Canadiens

Yannick Weber

Kitchener Rangers [OHL]

The Canadiens missed the following notable players:

David Perron STL

In 2008, the Canadiens didn't have any First round draft pick.

2005 was Timmins' best year as he drafted Price, Latendresse, D'Agostini and S. Kostitsyn. However, he didn't fare too well in the other years as of now. Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Kostitsyn, David Fisher, and Ryan McDonagh have all been major disappointments while players such as Zach Parise, Devin Setoguchi, and Jeff Carter all had breakout seasons in 2008-09.

What do you think of Timmins' work so far?

In a Must-Win Year Bob Gainey Watches the Trade Deadline Parade, Once Again

Fred Poulin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:50:45 -0500

Most of the Montreal Canadiens' direct rivals made a move to improve their team at this 2009 trade deadline.

The Boston Bruins have acquired Mark Recchi and pick from Tampa Bay for two prospects (Lashoff and Karsums), and Steve Montador from Anaheim for Petteri Nokaleinen.

The New Jersey Devils have acquired Nicklas Havelid from Atlanta for prospect Anssi Salmela.

The Florida Panthers have acquired Steve Eminger from Tampa Bay for youngster Noah Welch and a pick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Bill Guerin from the NYIslanders for a conditional draft pick, they also picked up Craig Adams off waivers from Chicago. A few days ago they acquired Chris Kunitz from Anaheim for Ryan Whitney.

The Buffalo Sabres have traded for Dominic Moore of Toronto in exchange for a second-round draft pick. They also acquired goalie Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix for a fourth-rounder.

The Philadelphia Flyers have traded for super pest Daniel Carcillo from Phoenix for Scottie Upshall and a pick. They also acquired veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren from San Jose for a mid-round pick.

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded Justin Williams to the Los Angeles Kings for Patrick O'Sullivan; they then traded Patrick O'Sullivan to Edmonton for Erik Cole. The Habs killer is back in the East!

Finally, the New York Rangers have claimed Sean Avery on waivers from Dallas, have acquired Nik Antropov from Toronto for a second-round pick, and Derek Morris from Phoenix in exchange for Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha.

Gainey could not even get rid of Mathieu Dandenault who asked to be traded. The Canadiens could really have used a big forward, especially a centre for their playoff run (if they make it) and a gritty defenseman.

Don't forget that even though they won their last four games, the Canadiens allowed 167 shots (about 42 shots/game) during that span; without's Halak marvelous performances, the Habs would be sitting out of the playoffs at the moment.

As a Habs' fan, I am very disappointed once again in Bob Gainey...Are you?

The Buffalo Sabres' Year in Review, Preview to Tomorrow's Trade Deadline

Fred Poulin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:45:58 -0500

Currently sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference with 69 points in 63 games, the Buffalo Sabres are in the thick of the playoffs race with the trade deadline looming.

The Sabres have lost their past three games, scoring only three goals during that span and during Ryan Miller's absence. Patrick Lalime has been doing very well in goal for Buffalo, but an evident lack of offensive support and led to poor results, especially against the Islanders on Saturday where they lost 2-0.

Injuries to key players such as Thomas Vanek, Tim Connolly, Paul Gaustad and Ryan Miller have affected the team's chemistry along the way. Jason Pominville and Jochen Hecht's subpar seasons haven't help either.

With Thomas Vanek likely back Wednesday against the Canadiens, the Sabres will likely get the boost they need to start scoring goals again.

The real question now is should the Sabres be sellers or buyers before tomorrow's trade deadline?

The fans are desperate for a playoffs appearance and I'm sure Lindy Ruff would welcome any help he can get; however, GM Darcy Regier will have to be very creative to bolster his lineup for a playoffs run.

With Miller's long term injury, the Sabres desperately need to acquire another veteran goalie if they hope to make it to the postseason. The Sabres also need help on their backend and their defensive has been very inconsistent throughout the year.

Regier will likely try to trade underachieving forward Maxim Afinogenov - if he can find a taker. Other players such as Tim Connolly and Henrik Tallinder are likely dangled by Regier in order the get free up some salary and get help.

Some defensemen the Sabres should try to acquire are Phoenix's Derek Morris, Columbus' Rotislav Klesla, Nashville's Dan Hamhuis, ans Colorado's Jordan Leopold.

New Jersey's Scott Clemmensen and St. Louis' Manny Legace would complement Patrick Lalime's work nicely and should not be expensive

New Jersey Devils Send Scott Clemmensen to Lowell (AHL)

Fred Poulin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:46:50 -0500

Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello announced earlier today that the Devils have sent goaltender Scott Clemmensen and defenseman Anssi Salmela down to make room for Martin Brodeur.

Brodeur was activated Wednesday morning, leaving the Devils with 22 players on their roster. Brodeur is expected to be in net against Colorado Thursday night.

Clemmensen was 25-13-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts during Brodeur's extended absence. Clemmensen did not have to clear waivers because he was recalled on an emergency basis when Brodeur went down with his biceps injury. New Jersey could have kept three goalies, but Lamoriello was not comfortable with the idea.

The Devils will have four recalls from the minors after the Mar. 4 trade deadline. The players recalled would not have to clear waivers.

We don't know yet if the Devils will try to trade Clemmensen before the trade deadline, or if they will simply keep him around in case Brodeur re-injures himself.

Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues Talking About Tkachuk?

Fred Poulin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:47:40 -0500

Blues forward Keith Tkachuk is now reportedly the Bruins' top target prior to the March 4 trade deadline. Bruins' GM Peter Chiarelli said he would seriously consider making a move for a rental player this season because he believes his team can make a deep playoff run.

The Bruins are facing serious cap issues next season (Tim Thomas, David Krejci, and Phil Kessel are the top three priorities to be extended), so expiring contracts aren't as bad as they seem for Chiarelli.

Boston's recent 1-3-1 road stumble will not change Chiarelli's strategy going into the trade deadline, but it might help identify the areas to improve, e.g. the power play. The most instant and obvious upgrade would be Tkachuk, who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Tkachuk, 36, has a no-trade clause, but he submitted a list of six teams to where he would accept a trade and the Bruins are on it (Tkachuk is native from Medford, Massachusetts). Tkachuk has 18 goals, 11 power play goals, and 17 assists for 35 points in 57 games for the lowly Blues.

The Blues are currently five points out of the eight seed in the Western Conference, and should they falter in the next 10 days, look for Tkachuk to be moved for a high draft pick and prospect; a price that the Bruins are willing to pay.

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

The New York Rangers Fire Tom Renney; John Tortorella Named Head Coach

Fred Poulin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:28:53 -0500

Rangers' GM Glen Sather has finally fired head coach Tom Renney after more than five years behind the bench, as well as assistant Perry Pearn. The Rangers lost 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday in overtime.

The Blue Shirts have been slumping recently, going 2-5-3 in the past ten games. New York's offense has been sputtering throughout the year, and Renney's firing has only been delayed by their terrific 10-2-1 start. The Rangers' offense is ranked 29th in the league, only in front of the dismal Predators with a 2.28 GFA.

In their past six games, they Rangers have not scored more than three goals in a game under Renney's defensive system. The players were lacking desperation and conviction in their play.

No immediate replacement has been named yet, but Nick Kypreos is suggesting that John Tortorella would be a good fit in the Big Apple. It could also be former Devils head coach Jim Schoenfeld, who works in the Rangers' front office.

Glen Sather will be available on a conference call late this afternoon.

More to come as the information comes out.

Edit: According to various sources, former Tampa coach and current TSN commentator John Tortorella has reached a multi-year agreement to succeed Tom Renney as head coach of the Rangers. The Lightning wants compensation for Torts' hiring and the league is helping with the final deal.

The Mathieu Schneider Effect: The Canadiens' Power Play Is on Fire

Fred Poulin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:23:02 -0500

Since being acquired by GM Bob Gainey from the Atlanta Thrashers last Monday, Mathieu Schneider has played three games for the Canadiens. The veteran defenseman already has two goals and one assist, all on the power play, and despite being -4 during that span, Schneider has played very well for the Habs, logging about 23 minutes of play per game.

With Francis Bouillon's groin injury now deemed long-term, Schneider's acquisition is even more important for the Canadiens, as it should allow them to get some stability on their top two defenseman pairings. For now, Schneider is playing with Andrei Markov while Mike Komisarek plays with Roman Hamrlik.

With Schneider around, coach Guy Carbonneau doesn't have to wear out Patrice Brisebois or Josh Gorges.

Still, the main beneficiary of Schneider's presence has been the Canadiens' power play. In 12 attempts over the past three games, the Canadiens have scored seven goals; that's a stellar 58.3 percent rate.

The Canadiens are now ranked 17th in the NHL after this recent boost. They hovered around the 25th rank for most of the season.

With a motivated Kovalev, an explosive power play, and Alex Tanguay's imminent return, GM Bob Gainey will be in good position at the deadline to make the right move to consolidate the Canadiens' position as a playoff team.

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

Senators Surprisingly Trade for Islanders' Mike Comrie

Fred Poulin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:11:39 -0500

Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray acquired centre Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli earlier today in exchange for veteran forward Dean McAmmond and San Jose's 2009 first-round draft pick, obtained from the Tampa Bay Lightning in August 2008.

Comrie, 28, has 20 points in 43 games for the Islanders this season. He played 41 games with the Senators in 2006-07, recording 25 points. Comrie, who is making $4 million this season, will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Campoli, 24, is an offensive defenseman who is having a rough year in New York. In 51 games, Campoli has 17 points, but he also has a -20 plus-minus differential. Campoli, who only makes $633,333/year, is a very affordable defenseman.

McAmmond has seven points in 44 games with Ottawa. He has played on the Sens' fourth line for most of the season. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The 35-year-old forward has played 916 regular season games.

GM Bryan Murray decided to help his rookie coach by getting offensive help. With Captain Daniel Alfredsson rumored to be out for a few weeks because of a fractured jaw, Murray acted fast in replacing Alfie's offensive output. Comrie should fit nicely in Ottawa's new up-tempo forechecking style, while Campoli will help Ottawa's transition game.

GM Garth Snow still has plenty of veteran players to trade before the trade deadline, such as Guerin, Weight, and Witt. Nice job getting a first-rounder for Comrie and an underachieving Campoli.

I do believe, however, that it's too little too late for Ottawa to clinch a playoff berth. The Senators are currently 13 points back from the eight seed occupied by the Sabres. They do have two games in hand.

The Senators will visit the sinking Montreal Canadiens on Saturday afternoon in a very important Northeast division matchup.

Rookie goaltender Brian Elliott will be in goal.

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

Sergei Kostitsyn Demoted to AHL By Bob Gainey; Alex Kovalev Not Making Road Trip

Fred Poulin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:18:31 -0500

The younger of the Kostitsyn brothers, Sergei, packed his bags to Hamilton earlier today to regain his confidence after going through a slump lately. Sergei only has three assists in the past 11 games. His last goal was scored on Jan. 11. In 52 games this season with the Bleu Blanc Rouge, he has eight goals and 23 assists.

The Canadiens recalled gritty forward Gregory Stewart to take his place on the 23-man roster.

Stewart has one assist in three games this season with Montreal.

In another move, Bob Gainey asked All-Star MVP Alex Kovalev to stay home this week while his team will fly to Washington and Pittsburgh. Gainey asked him to do so in order to reflect on his play and to have some rest. Kovalev finds the situation difficult these days, but he did not ask to be traded, and he said he wants to stay in Montreal.

Gainey didn't reject the idea of trading Kovalev, but he believes Kovalev should be back on the ice when the Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Tomas Plekanec will be back from his two-game suspension tomorrow night in Washington.

Expected lines for tomorrow

Higgins - Koivu - D'Agostini

A. Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Pacioretty

Bégin - Lapierre - Kostopoulos

Laraque - Chipchura - Dandenault

Extra: Stewart

Penguins Shopping Jordan Staal; Predators Interested

Fred Poulin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:31:15 -0500

The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently listening to offers for young centre Jordan Staal, and many teams have expressed interest. Staal who is making $2.2M this season just signed a four-year contract extension worth $16M ($4M/year) with the Penguins.

The Penguins are silently shopping Staal in exchange for a top-six winger and a puck moving defenseman. The lack of offensive support for Crosby and Malkin is blatant this season and given the Penguins' depth at centre (Crosby, Malkin, Talbot, Thomas, and Zigomanis) they can afford to move Staal for other assets.

Staal, who has 31 points in 58 games, has garnered interest from the Nashville Predators. GM David Poile is shopping forward Martin Erat before his NTC kicks in next July. Erat, a speedy winger with good hands, has 35 points in 54 games with Nashville this season. He is making $4.5M/year until the 2014-15 season after having recently signed a contract extension. Poile would also send talented rearguard Dan Hamhuis to the Pens, while Mark Eaton would head to the Country Capital.

Newly-appointed head coach Dan Bylsma is looking to implement a more aggressive offense-oriented style of play and he needs quick players to achieve it. Erat and Hamhuis fit the bill, while Eaton gives Nashville a veteran presence on their young blue line. Eaton played five seasons for the Predators before joining the Penguins, so he is quite familiar with Barry Trotz style of play.

Pittsburgh gives

Staal $4M/year

Eaton $2M/year

for

Erat $4.5M/year

Hamhuis $2M/year

GM Ray Shero needs to move fast in order to give his team a chance to get back in the playoff race, while GM David Poile is looking more long term even if he wants to make the playoffs as well.

Mathieu Schneider Traded from Thrashers to Canadiens

Fred Poulin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:37:04 -0500

Veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider has been traded by the Atlanta Thrashers to the Montreal Canadiens for draft picks (apparently a second and a third draft pick).

In 44 games with the Thrashers this season, Schneider has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He has been playing very well lately after a rough start.

He was acquired by Atlanta from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Brad Larsen, Ken Klee, and prospect Chad Painchaud before the season.

Schneider, 39, played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1988 to 1995. He won a Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1993.

Schneider, a power play specialist, is a great puck-moving defenseman that should help the game transition of the Canadiens. He will likely man the point with Markov on the first unit.

Thank God the Gorges experiment on the power play is over. The odd man out will likely be Ryan O'Byrne, who will be demoted to the AHL. Patrice Brisebois becomes the seventh defenseman, as expected.

Edit: The Canadiens will get a third- , fourth-, or fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft depending on their performance this season.

Check here to see that my prediction came through.

Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers Should Start Talking Trade

Fred Poulin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:55:23 -0500

Hawks' Patrick Sharp injured his knee during yesterday's contest against the Dallas Stars when he collided with forward Steve Ott. Sharp's injury seems very serious and he might be lost for an extended period of time. He will not make the upcoming trip to South Florida and Dallas.

The Hawks are desperately looking to add a top-six forward to an already potent offense and Sharp's injury will only confirm their need for offensive depth and the fact that they must keep Martin Havlat until season's end even though he is a pending UFA.

The Philadelphia Flyers would be a good trade partner as they are looking for a true No. 1 goaltender and have plenty of depth at forward. With Daniel Briere slated to return on February 25th, the Flyers will have to shed salary in order to reactivate him from the injury list. As a result, they will likely have to trade a forward like Mike Knuble or Joffrey Lupul.

The Flyers are very interested in Nikolai Khabibulin, who is having a great season with the Hawks, and since Martin Biron is having a tough season, they could send him the other way. Both goaltenders are unrestricted free agents at season's end.

The following trade would definitely make sense for both teams and would work cap-wise:

Philly gives:

Joffrey Lupul $2,3M/year

Andrew Alberts $1,250,000/year

Glenn Metropolit $1M/year

Martin Biron $3.5M/year

Chicago gives:

Nikolai Khabibulin $6,75M/year

Matt Walker $600,000/year

The Flyers get their proven goaltender (Bullin Wall) for the playoffs while the Hawks get the top-six forward (Lupul) and the defensive face-off specialist (Metropolit) they really need.

Biron is an insurance policy with playoffs experience in case Huet falters in the long run.

Jaroslav Halak Stops an Avalanche Of Shots In 4-2 Win

Fred Poulin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:47:17 -0500

The losing is finally over! Jaroslav Halak stood tall and stole the game in a 4-2 Habs' win over the Colorado Avalanche.

After a strong 1st period—during which they took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Bouillon and Brisebois—the Canadiens faltered and were dominated by the Avalanche during the last two periods.

The Habs were outshot 36-to-9 in the last 40 minutes and generated little offense, consistently icing the puck and losing face-offs in their own end.

The Avalanche finally tied midway through the third period on a Tyler Arnason goal. Luckily for the Canadiens, Andrei Kostitsyn got a breakaway with three-minutes left to the game and buried a backhand behind Peter Budaj to give them the lead. Tom Kostopoulos made it 4-2 with an empty-netter.

Halak's performance was his best of the season, stopping 46 of the 48 shots he faced. The Canadiens really needed that kind of performance from their goalie and Halak delivered.

The next stop will be in Vancouver on Sunday where they will face Roberto Luongo and the Canucks, which will be a much more tougher opponent than the bottom-dweller Avs.

I cannot imagine that Carbonneau will give the net to Price even if he's playing in front of his family and friends in his native province.

BTW Carbo: Koivu and Kovalev will never produce together, stop this stupid experiment!

Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche Talking Trade?

Fred Poulin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:36:13 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche face each other tonight for the first time of the season, and with both teams mightily struggling, trade talks are heating up before the Mar. 4, 2009, trade deadline.

The Canadiens have lost four games in a row, and Wednesday's 7-2 shameful performance against the Oilers was their seventh consecutive loss on the road.

The Avalanche have lost three consecutive games, and have lost seven of their last nine games. They currently sit dead last in the Western Conference with only 51 points, eight points fewer than the eight seed, the Minnesota Wild. With all their injuries, it is highly improbable that they will be able to turn it around and clinch a playoff spot.

As a result, tonight's matchup will be a great opportunity for Bob Gainey and Francois Giguere to scout each other's team and players.

A trade that would make sense for both teams would be the following:

Colorado trades Ian Laperriere, John-Michael Liles, and Andrew Raycroft for Jaroslav Halak, Mathieu Dandenault, Kyle Chipchura, and a high draft pick.

The Canadiens desperately need a good puck-moving defenseman and Liles is a power-play specialist. Laperriere adds grit and toughness to a soft Habs team, while Raycroft is an insurance policy in case Marc Denis isn't able to back up young Carey Price.

The Avalanche's goaltending has been a problem all year long and, Halak is a young and talented goalie who is looking to be a starter, which will never happen in Montreal.

Dandenault is simply a throw-in as he doesn't fit in the Habs plans, while Chipchura is too similar to Maxim Lapierre; therefore, he's expandable and would replace Tyler Arnason next season as the Avs' third line centre.

It should be interesting to see who comes out on top tonight!

Time to Fire Guy Carbonneau: Montreal Canadiens Sinking Fast

Fred Poulin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:03:18 -0500

After the Canadiens' fourth consecutive loss against the Oilers yesterday, it is clear that the Canadiens players don't want to play for their coach anymore. They have lost nine of their past 11 games, during which they scored only 25 goals (2.27 GF per game) and surrendered an astounding 48 goals (4.36 GA per game).

The Habs have lost their last seven road games and have still four road games to go before returning home on Feb. 21 against Ottawa.

Carbonneau keeps juggling his lines like a Cirque du Soleil juggler, trying to find some chemistry among his players, but since they don't play together for more than a few shifts, it's hard to build chemistry.

Carbonneau doesn't have a game plan. The Canadiens don't fore-check, can't make a good first pass, are unable to clear the front of the net, don't finish their checks, and don't win one-on-one battles. They clearly need to go back to basics; however, they don't practice. Carbonneau prefers sending them to a bowling alley to hone their shooting skills.

The Canadiens are lucky to have registered that many points this season, because they've been sloppy most of the season, but they have been able to win some games because of their talent. The problem is that the farther we get into the season, the harder it is to win games without working, and the Canadiens don't work. As soon as they get scored on, they stop hustling and playing hard; they simply give up.

When you give up, it means you don't care, and that's the job of the coach to make the players care, which is not happening right now.

I know that Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau are close friends, but it's time to put an end to their working relationship, especially since Gainey can't find a trading partner just yet because of the salary cap. We are still three weeks away from the deadline, and the Canadiens can't afford to wait that long to make changes.

The Senators waited way too long before canning Craig Hartsburg, as I had predicted on Jan. 7, 2009 (Hartsburg was fired at the beginning of February).

GM Bob Gainey must make his move NOW! Time to put a veteran coach behind the bench—someone with extensive experience like Larry Robinson, Bob Hartley, or John Tortorella.

Stay tuned!

Montreal Canadiens Shopping Kovalev Actively, Trying To Acquire Whitney?

Fred Poulin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:30:50 -0500

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey is reportedly shopping Alexei Kovlev actively, as he has no intention of re-signing the star forward next season.

Kovalev is a pending UFA at season's end, and since Gainey will have to deal with 11 UFA or RFA players come Jul. 1, 2009, he'll have to make some tough choices.

A few teams are looking for offensive help for the Stanley Cup run (Rangers, Penguins, Hurricanes, Predators, Coyotes) and could be interested in Kovalev.

The Penguins would be a perfect trade partner, as they have a plethora of quality defenseman. The Habs and Penguins are currently talking about a potential Ryan Whitney for Alexei Kovalev, plus high picks swap. Whitney is signed for the next four seasons at an affordable $4 million per year. He is having a tough year, as he's trying to recover from an off-season surgery.

Yet he's only 25 years old and he recorded 59 points only two years ago. The 6'4'', 220 pounds, Whitney would add much needed grit and toughness to a soft defensive corps.

Alex Kovalev, by the Numbers: Why He's Having a Rough Year

Fred Poulin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:10:35 -0500

Many Canadiens fans are growing tired of Kovalev's lacklustre play on the ice this season.

However, they must know that Kovalev only had two seasons over 80 points in his long career (2000-01 and 2007-08).

After 53 games, Kovy has 37 points (13 goals and 24 assists) on pace for a mere 57 points, a 27-point decrease compared to last year.

1992-93	New York Rangers	NHL	65	20	18	38	79
1993-94	New York Rangers	NHL	76	23	33	56	154
1994-95	Tolyatti Lada	Russia	12	8	8	16	49
1994-95	New York Rangers	NHL	48	13	15	28	30
1995-96	New York Rangers	NHL	81	24	34	58	98
1996-97	New York Rangers	NHL	45	13	22	35	42
1997-98	New York Rangers	NHL	73	23	30	53	44
1998-99	New York Rangers	NHL	14	3	4	7	12
1998-99	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	63	20	26	46	37
1999-00	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	82	26	40	66	94
2000-01	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	79	44	51	95	96
2001-02	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	67	32	44	76	80
2002-03	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	54	27	37	64	50
2002-03	New York Rangers	NHL	24	10	3	13	20
2003-04	New York Rangers	NHL	66	13	29	42	54
2003-04	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	12	1	2	3	12
2004-05	Kazan Ak-Bars	Russia	35	10	13	23	80
2005-06	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	69	23	42	65	76
2006-07	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	73	18	29	47	78
2007-08	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	82	35	49	84	70

As a Ranger, Kovalev registered 275 points in 402 games for a 0.68 point-per-game average.

As a Penguin, Kovalev notched 347 points in only 345 games for a 1.01 point-per-game pace.

As a Canadien, Kovalev recorded 199 points in 236 games before this season for a 0.84 point-per-game average.

Finally, throughout his career (including this season's numbers) Kovalev played 1,126 games and recorded 913 points for a 0.81 point-per-game pace.

After looking at the above numbers, it would be wise and normal to expect about 65 points from Kovy over a 82-game season. Even fewer, if we take into account that the Habs' power play has been mediocre this season.

Last season, he recorded 37 points on the man advantage, 44 percent of his production. This season, he only has 14 points on the PP—38 percent of his total—which means he is producing more this season at even strength than last year.

The Canadiens' lack of success on the power play is reflected in Kovalev's stats and play, which in return hampers the Canadiens' ability to win close games.

I have been saying all year long that a productive Canadiens team must start with an effective power play. When Kovalev is producing on the PP, he is a happy player and he is not trying to do everything by himself, which in turn helps the remaining players carry and share the offensive load.

Players like Plekanec and Koivu are trying to do too much and are not able to bear that much pressure.

Bob Gainey, it's time to find the power-play specialist the Habs need so much!

Canadiens and Thrashers Talking Trade

Fred Poulin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:22:40 -0500

The Atlanta Thrashers are actively shopping centre Erik Christensen and veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider and according to various sources the Montreal Canadiens, among others, have inquired about the above players.

Christensen, 25 years old, is having a subpar season with the Thrashers notching only four goals and 11 assists in 36 games. He was acquired with Colby Armstrong and Angelo Esposito for Marian Hossa at the trade deadline last season.

Christensen, 6'1'', 208-lb, is a shootout specialist with great skating abilities, and soft hands. Earning only $750,000 this season he is a restricted free agent at season's end.

Schneider, 39, is a power play specialist with a great vision and good skating abilities. He is having a rough season with the Thrashers recording only eleven points in 39 games. He had a great season with the Ducks the year before notching 39 points in only 65 games.

His high salary, $5,625 million per a year makes him very available. He will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Atlanta is reportedly seeking a middle round draft pick, and second-tier prospect.

With the long term injury to Robert Lang the Canadiens have the cap space to absorb both players' salary.

Would you do it if you were Bob Gainey?

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

Ottawa Senators: New Coach, Same Result

Fred Poulin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:09:45 -0500

The Senators did not exactly get off to a fast start yesterday against the Kings as they were blanked 1-0 at home in Cory Clouston's debut as an NHL coach.

The 39-year-old Clouston, promoted from the Binghamton Senators, took over after Craig Hartsburg was fired Sunday night by GM Bryan Murray. He is the team’s fourth coach since the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.

The Senators are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL with just 116 goals in 49 games and it showed yesterday as they were unable to take advantage of their numerous scoring chances on rookie netminder Jonathan Quick.

The Senators managed 29 shots on Quick and were unable to convert their five power-play opportunities.

The Senators have now lost four of their past five games to slip to the 13th rank in the Eastern Conference standings. They will host the Boston Bruins tomorrow night.

The Sens also have returned rookie Peter Regin to Binghamton of the AHL today.

Guillaume Latendresse Out Four to Six Weeks with Shoulder Dislocation

Fred Poulin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:50:58 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens have announced earlier today that forward Guillaume Latendresse will miss four to six weeks of activity as a result of the shoulder injury he sustained during Sunday's contest against the Boston Bruins.

Latendresse separated his left shoulder when he fell awkwardly into the boards after he collided with Bruins' Chuck Kobasew. Latendresse should be back into action in early March.

No. 84 has nine goals and nine assists in 43 games this season with the Habs. His absence means Max Pacioretty will stay at least one more month with the Canadiens. The latter played very well yesterday on a line with Max Lapierre and Sergei Kostitsyn.

Bob Gainey Must Move, and Move Fast

Fred Poulin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:40:11 -0500

With the latest long term injuries to veteran centre Robert Lang, winger Guillaume Latendresse and defenseman Josh Gorges, the Canadiens players are dropping like flies.

They will be joining winger Alex Tanguay (shoulder), George Laraque (back) and Mathieu Dandenault (wrist) on the injury list.

Latendresse is out for a few weeks with a shoulder injury that he sustained during Sunday's matinee against the Boston Bruins when he collided with Chuck Kobasew and fell awkwardly into the board.

Gorges is out indefinitely with concussion symptoms after he was viciously hit during Saturday's matchup against the LA Kings when Denis Gauthier nailed him with a vicious elbow to the head. Gauthier, who received a five-minute major and a game-misconduct on the play, has been suspended five games by the NHL earlier today for this behavior.

While Latendresse and Gorges were playing very well recently for a Habs team that is sinking fast, the injury to Lang is the most costly. Lang is currently leading all Canadiens forward with 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 50 games. He also has a team-leading eight power play goals.

Lang's season-ending injury means Gainey must get help down the middle if he wants his team to be successful come playoffs time as neither Tomas Plekanec nor Saku Koivu have been able to pick up the slack offensively.

Youngsters like Ben Maxwell and Kyle Chipchura have shown the management that they are not ready to carry the offensive load in Lang's absence.

Who would you trade for if you were Bob Gainey?

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

Where Is the Montreal Canadiens' Captain? Koivu Still Bothered By Ankle Injury

Fred Poulin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:36:57 -0500

The Canadiens' captain last played on Dec. 11, 2008, against the Lightning. Ever since his ankle injury, Saku Koivu experienced various problems delaying his return in the Habs' uniform.

Koivu suffered his latest setback yesterday when he was forced to leave the ice during practice because of lingering pain on his injured ankle. As a result, the team doctors ordered him to take a few days off the ice to rest his ankle.

This guarantees Koivu won't be back before the All-Star break and maybe more. The Finnish captain has now missed 15 games in a row and since the Canadiens are playing well without him, this will likely put an end to his tenure as the Habs' captain.

Earning $4,750,000 this season, Koivu, 34, is in the last year of his contract and he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. Unless Koivu accepts a large pay cut to stay in Montreal. I highly doubt GM Bob Gainey will tender an offer to his aging captain because of the numerous UFAs or RFAs the Canadiens will have to retain at season's end.

Alex Tanguay, Alex Kovalev, Robert Lang, Steve Begin, Tom Kostopoulos, Mike Komisarek, Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Dandenault, and Patrice Brisebois will all become UFAs, while Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, Gui Latendresse, and Kyle Chipchura will become RFAs.

Would you keep Koivu? Or is it time to pass the torch to a younger captain (a.k.a. Komisarek)?

From: www. nhl-northeast.com

Waiter! A Cold Miller On Ice For The All-Star Game Please!

Fred Poulin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:00:49 -0500

With Carey Price being more and more doubtful for the All-Star game, the league will likely have to find him a replacement. The Eastern Conference's backups being Tim Thomas and Henrik Lundqvist, who gets the third spot?

If we look at the statistics of the other candidates, Ryan Miller emerges as the likely replacement for Price. Ranked second in the conference with 19 wins, Miller has already four wins in January. His GAA and his save percentage are both ranked sixth in the conference. Miller is also leading the conference with three shutouts (tied with three other goalies).

Miller, 28, has bounced back from a subpar season in 2007-08 where he only won 36 wins despite playing an enormous 76 games. The Sabres even missed the playoffs for the first-time in three years.

The Sabres currently ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference only one point ahead of the Panthers who are currently ranked ninth. Without Miller's strong play this season, the Sabres would be way out of contention.

Other candidates include Scott Clemmensen and Craig Anderson (1A goalies who replaced respectively Martin Brodeur and Tomas Vokoun).

From : www.nhl-northeast.com

Maple Leafs Mid-Season Awards: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Fred Poulin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:33:36 -0500

Halfway through the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have 16 wins, 21 losses, six overtime losses for a total of only 38 points in 43 games. They sit in the 11th spot of the Eastern Conference, nine points out of a playoffs spot.

It's time for the mid-season report card.

The good:

Nik Antropov: The giant Russian is having a good season with 33 points (13 goals and 20 assists) in 43 games. He's been very consistent on a line with Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky. He also has avoided the injury bug as of today... Burke should trade him before he goes down with an injury.

Matt Stajan: Stajan, 25, is having the best season of his short career so far. In 37 games, he has 32 points (10 goals and 22 assists). He missed six games with a freak soccer incident two weeks ago. Stajan is thriving under Ron Wilson after he was a healthy scratch earlier this season.

Alexei Ponikarovsky: The Poni Express is having a surprisingly good season after a very ordinary 2007-08 season. Ponikarovsky, 28, has notched 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 43 games this season, only five fewer than last season. He also has a good plus/minus differential at plus-3.

The bad:

Jason Blake: After a very slow start, Blake has produced a little bit more lately, but that's not sufficient for a player of his caliber. In 39 games in 2008-09, Blake has only 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points while getting plenty of ice time. He has been made a healthy scratch a few times by Wilson to no good avail. His inflated salary (thank you John Ferguson!) makes him almost impossible to trade.

Mike Van Ryn: Acquired from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Bryan McCabe, Van Ryn has been injured most of the season. A talented offensive defenseman, Van Ryn has always been a band-aid boy and he is proving it this season having only played 17 games, notching three goals and six assists. He is currently out with a concussion since Dec. 19, 2008.

Lee Stempniak: Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo in early December, Stempniak has been nothing short of a deception. After registering 13 points in 14 games with the Blues, Stempniak has slumped mightily in Toronto, notching only three goals and five points in eight games.

The Ugly:

Ryan Hollweg: After 25 games with the Leafs, Hollweg is already on his way out. He has had as many suspensions as he had points (2) this season and with the arrival of Brad May and the emergence of Andre Deveaux, there is no more room for Hollweg. Don't forget the Leafs traded a fifth-round pick to get him...

Vesa Toskala/Curtis Joseph: One of the worst goaltending tandems in the league, they have been pretty bad for most part of the season. Toskala's 3.31 GAA is ranked 42nd among the qualified goaltenders this season. His disappointing .883 save percentage ranks hims 43rd in the league. He has allowed three goals or more 21 times this season. Joseph's stats are atrocious so I don't even want to look at them.

The Surprises:

Mikhail Grabovksi and Dominic Moore have been pleasant surprises so far in Leaf Land, the former showing flashes of brilliance of the ice with his speed and quick hands, while the latter proving to be a very reliable two-way centre who's good on face-offs.

It's now time for Brian Burke to make changes to start the reconstruction of a Maple Leafs team that's been very inconsistent this season. The lack of talent and depth is quite apparent and the Leafs must head now into position to draft John Tavares if they want a fast and painless rebuild.

What are your Good, Bad, and Ugly players?

From: www.nhl-northeast.com

The Price Is Wrong for the Canadiens: Carey Without a Start in 2009

Fred Poulin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:08:31 -0500

Carey Price has yet to play in 2009, having played his last game on Dec. 30, 2008 in Tampa Bay, earning a 2-1 shootout win. Before going down with a lower-body injury, Price was having a great season, posting a 16-4-5 record with a good 2.30 GAA and a great .921 save percentage.

Originally expected to only miss one week with an unspecified lower-body ailment, Price has been shelved for over two weeks and there is no sign he will be back anytime soon.

Price was back on the ice Monday for about 20 minutes trying to recover from the injury (likely an ankle injury) that he sustained on Dec. 30. Price has also missed part of December battling a cold and another lower-body injury.

It is believed Price won't be back before the All-Star break as the Habs proceed cautiously with their young goalie, while still confident in the strong play of backup Jaroslav Halak lately.

The Canadiens host Nashville tomorrow before leaving for a three-game road trip with stops in Ottawa, Atlanta, and New Jersey. Since the Senators and Thrashers are not NHL powerhouses, there is no need to rush things with Price, especially since he seems more fragile than the Canadiens expected.

Is the Price right or wrong?

From: www.nhl-northeast.com