5 things

1) It's not officially a brawl unless the goalies get involved.... not that the goalies got involved in this one...



I mean.....it's still amusing to watch. But you need Emery to beat the crap out of Biron for it to be a brawl... I'm still entertained by that brawl.... And yeah, the game in Russia got suspended because they didn't have enough players to continue playing :D

2) So I saw this thing that was talking about attendance in the Q this year. Apparently the Remparts average over 11,000 per game.

I know Quebec had an NHL and an AHL team before. I know they want an NHL team back. I know Quebec City is situated on a cliff in the middle of nowhere.... and yes, I know Patrick Roy probably helps with attendance for the sheer fact that he is well, Patrick Roy.

But WOW those are a lot of people going to a QMJHL game o.O Before you say it, I know, I know. Most buildings don't have 15,000 seats. Verdun Auditorium only seats just under 4,000 people. But that's still an insane number. The Hammies' building seats 17,000 or so people and they're happy if they get 7,000 people (which they almost never do). Poor things...

3) What is what less confusing? Have Pyatt on the ice at the same time as Pyett? Or having Wyman shoot the puck only to have Weiman making the save?

4) your daily puke: "I've coached for 30 yrs, there's no question that Halak is the quicker, faster more agile goalie. Price is an AHL goalie" - someone calling into the Team990.

5) apparently over 100 players were traded in the Q between Dec. 19 to the trade deadline on...January.....6th was it?

5 things

1. *curls up in a ball and points to the news* I will save the drinking for when he actually leaves....
   
   
2. They're holding a fundraiser in Kirkland for a kid who got injured in a hockey tournament in November. He's just 15 and is paralyzed after being checked into the boards. This really struck me really hard for some reason.... I can't really explain it..... There's a great article on him here.
   
   
3. Now THIS is a teddy bear toss. Wow, Calgary! Oh and apparently Guy got hit upside the head with a teddy bear the other night *G* I find that hilarious *G*
   
   
4. Seguin was among the first guys to be cut from Team Canada. I'm pretty surprised by this. Yes, he's only 17, but for a guy who's been touted as going first or second overall, it's kinda surprising. Actually, I'm pretty surprised that Louis Leblanc hasn't been cut yet. I've heard he's been struggling at camp - which is not surprising considering how few games he's up against guys from the CHL.
   
   
5. Sea Dogs finally lost a game. Their winning streak ended at 22 games. Insane. Now shoo.
   
   

Now that I've had time to process this...

8 thoughts on this trade

1. Did we just trade one underachiever for another?
   
   
2. I hope Timmins is happy right now because he was the one who said the Canadiens would have drafted Poo if he had still been available (and I was just the other day going to write about how damn lucky we were not have Poo).
   
   
3. I really wish I could've known if Latendresse would've ended up any different if he had spent time in the AHL. It might have done his development some good to stay away from the Montreal media lovefest. Then again maybe not. We'll never know. I think while management didn't handle this one very well, they can't be blamed entirely for how Latendresse has turned out. He's been given every opportunity here. More than just about any other player. He hasn't done what's been asked of him this year (which wasn't that much to begin with). Essentially, Latendresse has nobody to blame but himself for this (but of course he's blaming management).
   
   
4. I wonder if the flags are at half mast at RDS?
   
   
5. I'm not liking the reports that are saying that Poo needs to work on the mental side of his game. Sounds like we just landed one of those "super talented but super lazy" players.... damn......
   
   
6. I hope Poo speaks French.... for his sake.
   
   
7. What the hell is a "jammed wrist" anyway? I have visions of Poo sticking his hand in a cookie jar and getting it stuck and now his wrist is all swollen. No jokes. 
   
   
8. Maybe I'll just cheer for Sergei.... although I'm betting his days are numbered too..... 

8 things

aka random info day!

1. I have the flu. Or a cold. Or a cold AND the flu. I dunno what I have actually, but I'm siiiiiiick.....Boohoo.
   
   
2. If the Habs don't win tonight it will be a very sad day in Habsland. The Whalercanes are sitting at the BOTTOM of the league for crying out loud....But you know the Habs... if you've got a losing streak, we're more than happy to fix it for you.
   
   
3. Nikita Filatov has gone to Russia. Apparently he asked to be loaned to CSKA and the Blue Jackets complied. I'm kind of surprised to be honest. I know Filatov did not want to play in the AHL (which is fine by me. I don't need him scoring on my Hammies) and he said if he didn't get a lot of time in the NHL, he would look into going back to Russia. Still, I'm surprised that he's actually going back. Oh well. The loan is good for half a year so we'll see what happens.
   
   
4. Now I know why I don't listen to the radio.... Apparently someone called the Habs an AHL team after their dismal loss to the Preds and the guys on the Team 990 considered this is a "huge insult". Yeah, it's an insult alright. It's an insult to the really hard working AHL teams out there. Don't rag on the AHL.
   
   
5. Also... The Team 990 is advocating for the Habs to blow up the team and start from scratch (for real as opposed to just letting half the team walk and resigning new guys). Hate to say it, but the time to go for a top lottery pick was when Gainey first came in. Not now (mind you, it would be pretty sweet to have Taylor Hall). The thing is, I don't think there is a point in drafting good players if you're just going to ruin them by bringing them up to the NHL before they're ready. Not necessarily saying that the Habs do this (well, okay, maybe I am) but I'm not sure I have a ton of faith in the management right now to handle their draft picks (mind you, if they left Guy in Hammie-town and left the players with Guy... now THAT I have faith in).
   
   
6. Speaking of Guy.....I'm really digging Guy's whole idea of not coaching with a system but rather coaching the individual players and building a working relationship with the players. And he digs this whole communication with his players. I'm really thinking the Habs could use some of this philosophy (memo to Habs: this is NOT a plea for you to hire Guy as the Habs coach. Leave him in Hammie-town please).
   
   
7. Is it really obvious yet that I have a major crush on Guy Boucher? Not in THAT way... but I'm totally loving him as the coach of the Hammies...
   
   
8. Speaking of Hammies... the Spec says that Julien BriseBois has a plan in place in the event that the Habs don't send them another player or two for their up coming four game road trip (seeing as the Habs haven't given them another player.... I'm still waiting to see what this plan will be). EDIT: AHAH! So BriseBois was forced to sign a player (thanks Habs). The Hammies just announced that they signed Ryan Kinasewich to a professional tryout contract. He plays with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. When do all these college prospects of the Habs get to go to the ECHL so the Hammies would at least have the option of calling up Baby Habs from the ECHL instead of signing random people?
   
   
9. Hey, Taylor Hall is not first in the SUPER early OHL rankings. Tyler Seguin is. Hmm... I'm seriously betting that will change soon though. Oh and a baby Junior (Aubry) is also in the top rankings of the Q players.

5 things

'bout time I did this again.

1. $%^&*(... the Leafs won a game. There go my hopes of them ending the season 0-82. I guess this just means that they'll end the season 1-80-1.
   
   
2. Martin is pretty much responsible for this goalie-controversy and I think it's hurting both goalies. Before you scream at me, yes, I think Halak should get more time to play and yes, I think that Price should have to work for his job. HOWEVER. There really hasn't been a "hot hand" in these wins. Justin Pogge could have won against the Islanders last week for crying out loud. Martin has basically put the goalies in a lose-lose situation. If Halak can't bail the team out against the Penguins, they're left with putting in a goalie who's going to be colder than a block of ice because he hasn't played in 4 games.
   
   
3. One thing that baffled and infuriated me about Carbonneau was how his lines would change faster than you say "Ovechkin scooores". I was hoping that Martin would be a bit more sensible, but so far no go. His lines have been all over the place.
   
   
4. Remind me again why the league does not have a "no hits to the head" rule? Mike Richards takes out David Booth and the league rules it a "clean" hit? Exactly what is clean about a guy going out cold BEFORE he even hits the ice? I've witnessed a few stomach churning hits last year - including two against the Habs. I have no idea why and how people can condone this.
   
   
5. There is no food in my fridge. 

5 things

1. I'd really love to have some of those Habs stamps that just came out. They sound cool.
   
   
2. I'm also seriously tempted to get tickets to the premiere of that Habs movie at the BC. The trailer made me cry buckets. Granted, I was sleep deprived at the time, but yeah... I don't know though. I'm not a movie person to begin with and I really don't like trying to watch a movie with a pile of noisy people. So I guess seeing it at the BC is a bad idea.... but maybe I should just make an exception for this movie? Meh. Maybe not...
   
   
3. Okay so the Habs and Juniors are failing, but the Impact actually won the USL title. Say what? You missed out on the big news too? Don't worry. It's okay. We all know everyone was busy downing copious amounts of alcohol because of the Habs. But yeah, Impact won. And beat last year's champions too. WHOO!
   
   
4. Forgot to mention this last night, but please, Stephen Harper, stop trying to grab votes in Quebec by appearing on RDS. Just stop it. Go cheer for the Leafies like you're supposed to. They could use the help.
   
   
5. Who designated Sunday "American/Canadian football day" anyway? Boo. Do. Not. Like.
   
   
6. Also, I know what's wrong with me and the Habs this year. Too tired to write about it now, but I might write it up tomorrow. If not... well, just ignore this item which shouldn't be here anyway as it's supposed to be "FIVE things" *g*

8 more things

1. Confession: I feel bad for Vesa. I've spent so much time laughing at him that now I'm starting to feel bad for him. Apparently I'm not the only one who feels bad for the Failtender either. Hrm, you know it's bad when the HABS fans are feeling bad for a Leafs goalie....
   
   
2. I still love Leafsfail though. I DIED laughing at the Leafs 4-1 loss to the Avs. Especially when the puck bounced off of Komisarek's head and into the back of the Leafs net. Sorry, Leafs, but there's no sympathy for the rest of you.
   
   
3. Got bitten by my guinea pigs today. Down to 8 fingers that I can actually type with. I'm sure getting bitten by Ruutu isn't as bad as this.
   
   
4. Apparently the Juniors got some defenseman named David Stich (nice name, eh?) from the Seadogs... apparently they ditched Solomonov because they're only allowed two European players (Stich is Czech and.... I think Toni Ritter is the other European).
   
   
5. Why do NHL teams/arenas have stupid camera policies? Guhhh.
   
   
6. They say it's snowing but I don't see any snow.
   
   
7. It's officially hockey season when they put up the boards for MY hockey rink at my local park. Today, they put up the boards. Now we just wait it to be below zero so we can have ice.
   
   
8. Listening to the Habs I/O podcast.... Stubbs says "Gill is on the precipice of becoming the next Patrice Briseboise with the fans". I think he's fallen off that precipice for some fans to be honest.

8 things

1. Why is it raining? Why can't I have some snow? Please? Please? I would like some snow. At least that way my dogs wouldn't smell like wet dogs (and if you don't have a dog and don't know what that smells like, count yourself lucky).
   
   
2. I really, really, really want to take more hockey pictures. Need to go find a way to do this that won't cost me a fortune just to get into the rink. Or make me look like a stalker. I'm not a stalker *wails* Hmm... maybe my local rink will be kind enough to let me take pictures? Hrmmm.....
   
   
3. Wait.... Hartnell supposedly bit Letang's finger? Who does he think he is? Ruutu? Lesson learned: don't give someone a facewash....?
   
   
4. Speaking of violence.... Neil apparently got into a slashing match with Spezza and then he dropped the gloves. Spezza ran off at that point. I support that. Spezza running off, I mean.
   
   
5. Violence against innocent walls! Pricey punched the visitor's dressing room after the Habs lost in Vancouver. I'm thinking the defense should foot that bill. Mind you, I think the Priceberg punching walls isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's good he's angry. Now tell your team how you feel!
   
   
6. Um, I'm outta stuff already?! Oh well, I'll just go put on Chopin's "Funeral March" and enjoy the rest of my day before the Hammies prove they're better than all the rest of these depressing NHL teams (yes, Caps, that "let's imitate the Habs and lose to the Rags" last night counts as "semi-depressing if EP had decided to be depressed this year").
   
   
7. Oh yeah. That reminds me. I have a totally new attitude this year. Surprisingly after having three sleep deprived nights + crappy weather + my teams losing, I am still smiling like an idiot. No idea why. It's bizarre actually. I like it though.

8 Random Things

1. FIE ON TORONTO sports teams. Marlies won in a shootout yesterday while I was suffering through dinner.
2. FIE ON STUPID RESTAURANTS. As a mostly-vegan I get that it's hard to eat out, but when a restaurant 1) only has like 10 things on a menu to begin with and 2) fills them with meat, I get ticked off. This has nothing to do with hockey but yeah.... I missed hockey so I could battle my way through a stupid menu and a poor newbie for a waiter and a not very pleasant time with the relatives. GUH.
3. FIE ON INJURIES. Desharnais has a broken foot (did I mention that already? Well, he does and it was about a week ago that he did it). GUH.
4. JUNIORS HAD A SHUTOUT last night. Missed the third period because, you guessed it, I was suffering through dinner. Gotta feel for their opponents though, because the Drakkar lost 9-1 the other day to the Remparts (guhh) and now they got blanked. Too bad. YAY JUNIORS!
5. FIE ON SHOOTOUTS. Out of curiosity, I had to find Sanford's shootout record (as he was rather um dismal last night) and his NHL totals appear to be 3-8 with a save percentage of .514. If you're wondering, our dear Priceberg is 8-8 with a save percentage of .702. Not dissing Sanford or anything, but please, Hammies, let's not go to a shootout again, okay?
6. Wait a second... Sergei is back in Belarus? HOW DID I MISS THAT ONE? Get your butt back to Hamilton, you twerp. Fie on whatever part of Sergei's brain isn't thinking here. EDIT: umm okay... now RDS is reporting that he will go back to Hamilton. What the heck? I give up....I don't know where Sergei is. but hopefully we all know where he will be on Tuesday - which is when he's expected to show up.
7. I really hope the Dalai Lama left some good mojo at the Bell Centre while he was there (and seriously, who gave him a Habs jersey?! That's nuts).
8. Oh and Mike Boone says Komisaurus and Beauchemin were on the ice or in the box during all of the goals scored against the Leafs thus far. Beautiful. FIE on the Komisaurus!