Was that Bob Gainey or Leonard Cohen?
posted by Mike Boone at 15h13 EST on May 6
Gainey and Carbonneau spoke mainly in generalities (with gusts to platitudes) – and you can listen to it all on the main page.
There were, however, kernels of useful information:
• The Philadelphia Flyers, Gainey said, were the better team in the series and deserved to advance.
• Over the course of the season, team play and discipline improved and "a group of good young players became a good team."
• The Canadiens are set in goal and have "long-term sustainability" in their defence corps, current and in the pipeline. Gainey indicated he would try to strengthen the team at forward.
• Carbo said the coaching staff was not aware,untilthe last few days, of the degree to which Carey Price was mentally fatigued.
• Gainey accepts "as reality" that Andrei Kostitsyn could be sought by a Russian club or an NHL team willing to sign him as an RFA.But "he's been with us three years ... his brother is here and I think he's comfortable here."
• Gainey defended Michael Ryder as"much maligned." He pointed out that Ryder's 13 even-strength goals this season were only two fewer than in 2006-'07. The powerplay, without Sheldon Souray, was reorganized, possibly to Ryder's detriment. Ryder "worked hard ... the reality is we were a stronger team using other players ... (Ryder's) effort was there, his desire to do well was there."
• Almost three years into the post-lockout NHL, Gainey is more comfortable managing in a salary-cap environment and Canadiens are "using the rules in a way that's comfortable for us.... We have no 15-year contracts at this point."
• Fabian Brunnstrom was in Montreal for two days on the weekend and has visited two other cities (reportedly Dallas and Detroit). Gainey said Brunnstrom "has the talent for the NHL" and expects the Swedish star to make a decision by the end of the week."
• Alexei Yemelin is under contract in Russia for one more season. * Guy Carbonneau has received "about 400 ties" over the last two weeks. Thelucky psychedelic tie saga has been good fun, the coach added, but next season "I hope it starts with suits."•
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