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Audio: Habs GM Gainey's mid-term report
posted by Dave Stubbs at 15h33 EST on Jan 7
Highlights from Bob Gainey's talk:
- The Canadiens have a slight advantage over their chief rivals in the playoff race;
- He's happier than surprised for the performance of Alex Kovalev;
- He's happier with the balance of the team, which last season at this time was No. 1 in the league in power play, penalty kill and goaltending, but was giving up far too many penalties and shots;
- The team's home-ice record isn't an overly large concern. Gainey says you can fix a home record more easily than a road record; poor performance on the road suggests a fear or anxiety about being away from home;
- On goalie Cristobal Huet: Gainey says there's no policy against negotiating contracts during the season;
- On goalie Carey Price: He's impressed some nights and must continue to fight for ice time. There might come a time when it could be advantageous sending him to Hamilton to get more playing time, if head coach Guy Carbonneau sees Price sitting on the bench for long stretches in the weeks to come;
- On Carbonneau: Gainey sees a more comfortable, confident coach who's developing his own style. He and the team "are in it together, which is good."
- Faceoffs are a weakness. He wants his centremen to "take it personally, to look across at the other guy and say he's not going to beat me."
- On forward Michael Ryder: He was a powerhouse offensively last season but "miserable defensively. ... I've told him he needs to invest more, up the ante and be better prepared for the games."
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Some thoughts on the audio...
1. Wow. Bob's frustration about Power Plays is palpable! While people here are talking Ovechkin and Lecalvalier (was that talking or dreaming?) it's clear when it comes to thinking about trades, face off skills is high in Bob's mind. I love it when he said (about faceoffs) you need to look at that other guy and let him know you're not going to lose. That fighting spirit is what Gainey wants to see above all else.
2. Goaltending. It sounds like without an injury to Huet, Price is likely to go down and Halak up in January. Though Price's desire to stay up seems strong so I wonder if that's a factor.
3. Ryder. Very frank talk about Ryder. During camp he told him to 'balance out his game'. He said he was 'dismissing other parts of the game'. I wonder if Bob's taking him to task on his overall game was a hit to his confidence or comfort here. He said lately his play overall "got into a downward cycle"... spoke to him a month or three weeks ago - invest more in your preparation and training. "Whatever you're doing it's not enough." Seems like the recent talk may have worked. Let's hope... but it sounds a like Ryder's on his last chance.
4. Carbo. He says the team and Carbo are 'in it together'.... a 'good thing'. I think it's true that Carbo has found a groove now that he's got his lines working and can focus on other things... and it's great to see so much offense. But Carbo must be frustrated with the PK... and some defensive play.
I was disappointed there was little talk about whether he thinks this team is competitive. What the biggest challenges are to making it that way. Whether we need a trade (besides face-offs). What to do with so many goalies in the pipeline....? Journalists ask the obvious things - and about the obvious people. Yaaawwwnnn... where are the tough questions?
Conclusion...
While Gainey plays it close to the vest, the one thing I think about differently now than before is that he's not thinking about a big change ... most likely, I could see Ryder traded for a face-off specialist. Though if the team works at it and increases their face-off percentage and Ryder scores a few more everything could stay as it is, or at least Ryder could stay. But I still think there will be a trade, not a big one, but something... and that who-ever comes in will be a hard-working competitor, a veteran probably.
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Let the kids play... let the non-performers watch or walk.
i have changed my opinion on price.he should be sent down in a month or 2 for a 2 week conditioning for the playoffs.as ordered by DR. hhl.
IMHO,a good pairing would be kovie, sundin not that its gonna happen or anything,I should trade for him on my nhl 07.
You can find a comprehensive list of internet jargon and acronyms at www.netlingo.com or www.computerhope.com/jargon/chat.htm .
Off topic here folks, but can someone please tell me what IMFAO and LMAO stand for? I have seen these often posted on this site. Thanks.
Whoops! You can find a comprehensive list of internet jargon and acronyms at www.netlingo.com or www.computerhope.com/jargon/chat.htm .
LMAO = laugh my a$$ off
IMO = in my opinion
IMHO = in my HUMBLE opinion
IMFAO = in my f---ing arrogant opinion
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Let the kids play... let the non-performers watch or walk.
Thanks TradeRyder.
That comparison holds little ground. the teams were not the same for one. and you are also taking away one of the last games Price played...so that stat is not made from his last 4 games (go look at the amount of GA and the amount of SA for both goalies). Come on, if Huet is our #1, let him be just that, if Price cannot be sat on the bench for more than 3 games without going cold or crumbling, he should be sent back to HAM for play time. nobody is arguing the fact that Price is good. Geez, just let this one go already.
I agree with you Kjdavid 100%. All most people in here care about is stupid stats. Stats don't always show the true picture. It is the teams Price & Huet face.
Washington has beat the top team in the NHL(Ottawa) TWICE... So Price's loss was nothing to be ashamed of...
What do you agree with, he is the one that brought up the stats...
wow using the weak team card now thats a little much.. the first few games he didn't get that many shot on him where as huet was seeing alot of shots in his games
OMG Give me a break Huet has in no way been labelled as a god PRICE has been hailed as the guy who is going to get us in the playoff and get us the cup... Someday He hopefully will be but not in the next few yrs... The only reason ppl defend huet so much is because of the fact that Price can do no wrong,and everything Huet does he gets cut down for... Even if he stops 40 shot and one gets past him that is all ppl will go on and on about how he shuold have stop it... It not about either goalie being a god its about supporting the goalie that in the net... Huet and Price get along better then the price fans vers huet fans. They work well together huet has taking on the mentor role with great character.Knowing that Price is being groomed to be the franchise goalie.. and considering his playing time drops significantly because carey needs playing time,and he is capable of winning.Huet does way better when he plays many games in a row gets in a groove. Carbo hasn't allowed him to actually be The #1 goalie he just like to "say" he is. It also kills me how ppl keep say oh he is to old, his career is over... He is 32 not 42 The only reason that seems old to habs fans is because of all the young talented players in the New NHL.Huet is perfect for the habs situation he is a veteran,a mentor,and very capable of standing on his head facing alot of shots and stealing a game.. with Him and Price continuing to work so well togther why mess with it let price develope over the next few seasons before all the pressure is on his shoulders. If Huet goes and its now a Price/halak combo.. Its going to be a disaster.. Halak is NOT going to just sit back and let Price be #1 He is going to fight for the #1 spot and possible cause problems between them.. and you end up with Price who has already played a season in the NHL and now no longer have a veteran to work with.. Lets just support both goalies and be thankful we have such a great tandem. that means also be just as critical of Price as huet.. Yes there will be somethings that for Price is cause he is a rookie. But not everything.. like it is now. Had Huet been the one who played like price did last game there would be 500 comments about how bad he is,trade him ETC ETC. instead of the excuses fans give for Price. like ts only one game, he will rebound the goals weren't soft... one reason for this is becasue of how well price has done so far. He generally hasn't look like a rookie so far... hes calm, confident,square... You can't say he plays like a veteran and then say he is just a rookie when he makes a mistake.. Like mishandling the puck and causing a goal.. That is not a rookie mistake as he is one of the better puck handlers.... keep the tandum support the goalies
If only we could get another Mats Naslund...
Just in... TSN posted that Stars signed Mikey Ribs to a 5 year $25 mil deal. Boy, are they ever going to regret it. Mark my word.
yeah they probably will though i wish him the best,except againts us. he scored a pretty good contract.
Wow, some of these signings of the past six months are difficult to comprehend. I'm really at a loss for words. The salary cap is starting to slip away from the owners. This Kelly guy must be smiling from ear to ear.
The Original 24 Cups
Oh, I agree one hundred percent, Here comes a few Dallas losing seasons now.
I'm inclined to agree with you but I just hope this is not another Claude Lemieux or John Leclair type situation in the making.
the claude lemieux comparison crossed my mind,but lemieux was bigger, meaner,and tougher. rebiero i think . has to try to survive the playoffs more. unless he got stronger.i havent seen him play in a while,
So... Bob has masterfully pretty much shut everybody up, however, not sure if the first half can be considered such a success. Afterall, Habs are 3 points behind where they were last year at this time and while they admittedly are playing better as of late, I would be very cautious about predicting they'll make playoffs. There is still 40 some games to be played.
I hope that the habs will be able to sustain current level of play, but who knows what might happen. So, while the first have was not a complete disaster, it was not such a great success either. Afterall, I expected they would build on last years successes and mistakes - instead they have started from scratch. Same story every year.
Gohabs25, it is not ridiculous to go and get a big centreman when we have such depth in the most sought after commodity -solid goaltenders. I would think its very doable. Im not saying Im not pleased with how the habs are playing, just suggesting what needs to be done to get to the next level with the elite of the NHL (Ottawa, Calgary, San Jose and Anaheim).
I am a little disappointed that the current expectation/goal is just to make the play-off. I was hoping that he is aiming at winning the cup.
Looks like the only personal move he would make is offering a contract extension to Huet and get a face-off man. May be he is playing poker but I doubt that he'll get us a big 1st line center man this year. How many more years we still have to wait?
Consider the Habs' rebuilding model as a business plan; If you took over a business that wasn't far removed from some of the worst years in its history, you wouldn't set your immediate goal as becoming the world-leader in whatever it is that you do. That would be your eventual goal.
You want slow, steady progress that ensures your business long-term success over short-term gain. We didn't even make the playoffs last year. We're only in the process of building a contender. First making the playoffs has to be a priority over winning the Cup this year.
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"Vote Saku for All-Star... or little Timmy gets it!!!"
In the 2003 draft, Getzlaf was picked 19th; there were 18 other GM's that did their homework and felt that felt that there were other players better suited for their teams. It's not like we picked first overall and he went second.
Some of the names ahead of Getzlaf: Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Stall, Nathan Horton, Thomas Vanek, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, Milan Michalek, Dustin Brown, Zach Parise... for what it's worth, the Habs picked 10th and drafter none other than Andrei Kostitsyn. Perhaps your efforts would be better spent congratulating Bob and his team on their choice and in supporting Andrei rather than concentrating on who he didn't take.
If not, then you're never allowed to cheer for Andrei.
:)
By the way, I never see you get on anyone's case for passing up on Patrice Bergeron, who went 45th that year. He's got almost double the career NHL points of your precious Getzlaf. The Habs took Cory Urquhart 40th, and he's yet to play a game in the NHL.
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"Vote Saku for All-Star... or little Timmy gets it!!!"
you know anaheim has this really cool website u should go visit.apperently theer r others just like you drooling over getzlaf
I like Getzlaf
So do I but the easiest game in town is to point to a draft pick several years after the decision and say, oh, we should have picked that guy. Remember Doug Wickenheiser? Drafting is, with a few exceptions, a gamble.
But if we are going to be lauding draft picks why aren't we happy with all those who are playing on the team this year? Is there another team in the NHL who has as many rookies in their line up: Sergie, Kyle, Ryan, Carey; 2nd year players: Guy, Andrei, Maxim; 3rd year players: Chris and Mike.
Isn't this quality drafting?
Thanks Chuck for the link,glad to see who is at the bottom,I also read some of the comments on tsn about Gainey and all the trade wishes they are making .Man if we got rid of all the players they are talking about we would be where the laffs are ..
FIRST MANY THANKS to MR STUBBS & company - UP TO THE MINUTE INFO and INTERVIEWS with the players...
COULD WE ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
Great,.great interviews, Komi and Higgs both feeling good about themselves and the team, and Price...pretty obvious he doesn't want to go down to HAM....he said that he can correct his game during Practice...he said that more than once...that alone tells me he is now HUNGRY for a chance to REDEEM...
Carb should start him against CHIC.
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1. In my picture you'll find one of the keys to our success...
2. Your not a Hab fan till you watch & UNDERSTAND "The Rocket"
3. Delenda Est Torontium....