Bleacher Report - NHL Northeast

What the Marc Savard Extension Means to the Boston Bruins' Future

Ryan Pickard — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:51:16 -0500

I guess I'm a little late to this one, as a couple of other writers have already penned articles about the Boston Bruins signing Marc Savard to a contract extension, so I decided to look at it in another way.

The Bruins announced yesterday that they have signed star center Marc Savard to a seven-year extension worth a total of about $28.05 million. It's set up so he will make more money toward the beginning of the contract and less as the years go on.

If Savard is still around at the end of his contract, he will be 39 years old, which is the obvious reason why he will be making much less, as he will have probably lost a step or two after seven more seasons.

Savard will make $7 million in each of the first two seasons, then $6.5 million in the third year, and $5 million in the fourth year. For the final three years, his salary will drop considerably, to $1.5 million and then to $525,000 for each of the final two years.

Looking at the future of the Bruins, this is a great signing. Savard could have most likely gone elsewhere in the offseason and gotten more money playing for another team, but he decided to stick around in Boston even though he got paid a little less.

Savard has been in Boston for the past four years and has been one of the Bruins' best players since he arrived. He has been at the top of the league in assists each year, averaging 67 per season.

He has also made the All-Star game the past two years and has changed his play dramatically. Considered a one-way player before he came to Boston, usually taking weak penalties in the offensive zone and not helping the defense much, Savard has completely changed his play in Boston and is now a formidable two-way player.

He's been a great mentor to the younger guys, too, helping them learn the way to play in the NHL.

This signing also signals a change in the Bruins organization. In past years they were known as a team that wasn't willing to sign the big-time players, most notably Bill Guerin. Now with this signing, hopefully it will attract other big-time free agents to think about signing in Boston.

Expect Savard to continue to be a great contributor to the Bruins for years to come, and hopefully he might just be able to help the B's bring back the Cup that has been eluding them for far too long.

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Jaroslav Halak Can Empathize with Tomas Vokoun

Rocket All Habs — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:57:00 -0500

The hockey world was abuzz today with reaction to Keith Ballard's stick swinging incident that caught Panther goaltender Tomas Vokoun in the head.

While most said that they had never seen anything like it in hockey, there is one member of the Montreal Canadiens who has first hand experience.

Last Spring, Jaroslav Halak didn't have a very good world championship tournament playing for Slovakia. Halak gave up several weak goals against Canada and was pulled. Halak ended the tournament with a 1-3 record, 3.17 GAA and .871 SV percentage.

But the ultimate insult came in a game against the Czech Republic after the Slovaks gave up their eighth goal in an 8-0 loss. Halak was struck in the head by his frustrated defenseman Tomas Surovy.

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Leafs-Canadiens: Gameday Notes (No. 27)

Rocket All Habs — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:55:00 -0500

Pre-Game Notes

Scott Gomez and Matt D'Agostini return to the lineup tonight after being out with injuries.

Hall Gill skated today and should be back later this week.

Tomas Plekanec has two goals and eight points in his last six games.

Phil Kessel has eight goals in 13 games with Toronto.

Carey Price makes his ninth consecutive start in goal.

Jonas Gustavsson makes his Bell Centre debut.

Game time is 7:30 pm. EST. at the Bell Centre.

Expected Canadiens Lineup

Plekanec, Cammalleri, Sergei Kostitsyn
Gomez, Moen, Pacioretty
Metropolit, Chipchura, D'Agostini
Lapierre, White, Pyatt

Hamrlik, Spacek
Mara, Bergeron
Gorges, O'Byrne

Carey Price starts in goal for the Canadiens; Jonas Gustavsson for the Leafs.

scratches: Wyman, Leach, Andrei Kostitsyn (foot), Pouliot (wrist), Laraque (suspended), Gionta (foot), Gill (leg), Markov (ankle)

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NHL: Vote for Your Favourite Habs Blog

Rocket All Habs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:46:00 -0500

We have received an email that All Habs is competing with other Canadiens' blogs to determine the most "Habs' related" blog.

If so inclined, we would love to have your support.

The link to vote and comment can be found here!

An email from theNHLarena.com :

First we wish to determine which is the most Habs' related blog (which will
then be declared the official Habs' Blog of The NHL Arena and be given a
dedicated banner in our Habs' subforum sidebar), and then the winner will go
head to head with blogs featuring other teams in your Division, Conference and
ultimately be given the chance to be the best NHL team related blog of all.

I don't know if you would like to alert your readers and give them a chance to
vote for you, or not. But in any event, I thought you might like to know that
your blog is in the running.

LeaferSutherland
Commissioner of theNHLarena.com

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Capitals-Canadiens: Habs Pick up Another Point vs. Caps

Rocket All Habs — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:27:00 -0500

Montreal 3, Washington 4 SO (Bell Centre)

posted by Rocket
All Habs

The Canadiens suffered a loss tonight, bringing their season record to 12-12-2. But is it possible that the dark cloud of despair hanging over Montreal fans is starting to lift?

After being down, 2-0, the Canadiens came back to go ahead of the Washington Capitals, and came within 11 seconds of defeating one of the elite teams in the Eastern conference.

The Habs took three of four points from Washington in their two games this season.

And is there not a silver lining in all the injury-riddled lineup? Let's be clear. The Canadiens are a better team with a healthy Andrei Markov, Andrei Kostitsyn, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta.

However, if the Canadiens don't have a rash of injuries...

Do we really get to see the warrior-like effort by Jaroslav Spacek and Roman Hamrlik?
Can we truly appreciate the versatility of Glen Metropolit and Travis Moen?
Are we treated to the solid, give-everything-on-every-shift play by Ryan White and Tom Pyatt?

All are goood experience building situations that will bode well for the team when the injured Habs return to the lineup.

While I wish coach Martin could prepare the team well enough for a good start, one really has to admire this team, who refuses to give up.

And in the absence of a captain, we must acknowledge the leadership of their 22-year-old goaltender, who keeps the Canadiens in every game until they can get on track.

Tonight was no exception. With 1:41 gone in the second period, it was Carey Price who, with his team down 2-0, stopped Alexander Ovechkin on a breakaway. Cue the comeback!

Four minutes later, Jaroslav Spacek scored a powerplay goal with Max Pacioretty screening at the top of the crease.

Similarly, Price made a spectacular save on Jay Beagle (pictured above) at 10:35 of the second period. Bell Centre fans chanted CA-REY, CA-REY!

Three minutes later, Sergei Kostitsyn tipped a Roman Hamrlik point shot. Tomas Plekanec corralled the rebound and backhanded it past Varlamov.

Moen was the other two-goal scorer for the Canadiens. Pacioretty and Kostitsyn had strong games for the Habs.

On defense, it was another solid game for Spacek, as he defended Ovechkin. In addition to his goal and an assist, Spacek blocked six shots. Hamrlik blocked five shots to add to his two assists.

Hamrlik logged more than 25 minutes but was surpassed tonight by both Plekanec and Mike Cammalleri. Cammalleri led the Canadiens with five shots.

The large ice-time totals resulted from coach Martin shortening his bench. Jay Leach played 1:11. James Wyman played 2:50. Kyle Chipchura had only 5:09 ice-time with, curiously, 1:19 coming on the power-play.

While Ovechkin had a goal, an assist and eight shots, he was not credited with any hits, which is rare, given his style of play.

Canadiens now prepare for their first December game against the Leafs on Tuesday.

Rocket's three stars

1. Carey Price
2. Eric Fehr
3. Jaroslav Spacek

Special mentions: Ovechkin, Hamrlik, Moen

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Washington Capitals-Montreal Canadiens: Game Day Notes (No. 25)

Rocket All Habs — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:38:00 -0500

Mike Cammalleri and Josh Gorges scuffled during practice on Friday. Both described it as a non-event.

Andrei Markov skated briefly this week and suggested that he may be back earlier than expected from his injury.

Jaroslav Spacek will be back in the lineup and wearing custom Kevlar skate protectors.

Carey Price will make his eighth straight start in goal.

Jacques Martin will go with seven defenseman, with Jay Leach getting some playing time as a forward on the fourth line.

Both teams have allowed 71 goals, but the Capitals have scored 26 more goals than the Canadiens.

Game time is 7:00 pm. EST. at the Bell Centre.

Expected Canadiens lineup

Plekanec, Cammalleri, Sergei Kostitsyn
Metropolit, Moen, Pacioretty
Lapierre, White, Pyatt
Chipchura, Wyman, Leach

Hamrlik, Spacek
Mara, Bergeron
Gorges, O'Byrne

Carey Price starts in goal for the Canadiens; Simeon Varlamov for the Capitals.

Scratches: Andrei Kostitsyn (foot), Gomez (groin), Pouliot (wrist), Laraque (suspended), Gionta (foot), D'Agostini (knee), Gill (leg), Markov (ankle)

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