Round One: Montreal @ Boston

While I see your point Bee, my personal bias aside, I think the Habs are DONE.

Fact is, they will NOT be the same team next year, with SO many UFA's and RFA's to deal with, not to mention, how do you ignore the fact that your team is for sale?!

I'm not saying Boston is taking the Habs lightly, but with Thomas playing soundly and Julien's coaching once again shinning, it certainly goes without saying that spoiler or not, Montreal has a LOT of work ahead of them.

Cronie wrote:While I see your point Bee, my personal bias aside, I think the Habs are DONE.

Fact is, they will NOT be the same team next year, with SO many UFA's and RFA's to deal with, not to mention, how do you ignore the fact that your team is for sale?!

I'm not saying Boston is taking the Habs lightly, but with Thomas playing soundly and Julien's coaching once again shinning, it certainly goes without saying that spoiler or not, Montreal has a LOT of work ahead of them.

IMHO it's very important to put one's personal bias aside here...if you want you to look at this series realistically.

This is NOT, as I said earlier, "Carbo's Cuties". This is not the arrogant bunch of cruisers who waffled their way through most of the season. This is Gainey's Gang.

Bob Gainey knows EXACTLY what it takes to win, and Gainey knows how to lead. He also holds--as GM--the futures of each of them in his hand.

They know that he knows, and they respect him.

Gainey communicates with his guys...watch him during a game, talking to them.

He knows the odds are stacked against Le Canadien.

And he knows "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog".

It might be a terrier against a grizzly...but it's going to be a battle.

Would hockey fans want anything less? cool)

Very good point DTR, as always.

I'm starting to think that perhaps this series could be an entertaining as my prediction(s) for the Columbus - Detroit one... Komisarek vs. Chara; Gainey vs Julien, Thomas Vs Price or Halak?

Throw in the vintage and nostalgic history and suddenly, the energy and anticipation is incredibly palpable.

Cronie wrote:Very good point DTR, as always.

I'm starting to think that perhaps this series could be an entertaining as my prediction(s) for the Columbus - Detroit one... Komisarek vs. Chara; Gainey vs Julien, Thomas Vs Price or Halak?

Throw in the vintage and nostalgic history and suddenly, the energy and anticipation is incredibly palpable.

For the first 10 minutes of the first game until Boston smashes them into the next century. :D:

Not to mention the coaching is heavily in Boston's favour.

I agree. While I respect what Gainey achieved both as a former NHL'er and now as a business man in the hockey world, I think his absence from coaching as a whole gives the edge to Julien, despite Gainey's acquired knowledge and such.

Jebus, I don't want to wait any longer...let's get these games GOING!!

Cronie wrote:I agree. While I respect what Gainey achieved both as a former NHL'er and now as a business man in the hockey world, I think his absence from coaching as a whole gives the edge to Julien, despite Gainey's acquired knowledge and such.

Jebus, I don't want to wait any longer...let's get these games GOING!!

GET IT ON!

504Heater wrote:Not to mention the coaching is heavily in Boston's favour.

Not sure what your basis is for that one... :KJK:

davetherave wrote:

504Heater wrote:Not to mention the coaching is heavily in Boston's favour.

Not sure what your basis is for that one... :KJK:

He hasn't coached much would be my basis. He's a hockey guy for sure, loads of knowledge, but that doesn't magically translate into being a great coach.

Meanwhile, Claude Julien is one of the brightest coaching minds in the entire NHL.

When was the last time he coached before now with the Habs? I remember him coaching the Minny Stars to a Cup Finals berth, but I don't recall him coaching since?

504Heater wrote:

davetherave wrote:

504Heater wrote:Not to mention the coaching is heavily in Boston's favour.

Not sure what your basis is for that one... :KJK:

He hasn't coached much would be my basis. He's a hockey guy for sure, loads of knowledge, but that doesn't magically translate into being a great coach.

Meanwhile, Claude Julien is one of the brightest coaching minds in the entire NHL.

When was the last time he coached before now with the Habs? I remember him coaching the Minny Stars to a Cup Finals berth, but I don't recall him coaching since?

FYI from Wikipedia:

Gainey became head coach of the Minnesota North Stars in 1990–91, guiding his team to the sixth game of the Stanley Cup finals in his first season. In January 1992, Gainey also was named general manager.

In 1993, after the franchise relocated to Dallas, he stepped down as head coach to focus solely on his general manager duties.

Gainey turned the franchise into a powerhouse by acquiring players such as Joe Nieuwendyk, Brett Hull, Ed Belfour and Sergei Zubov. The team won the Presidents' Trophy in 1998 and 1999. Dallas won the Stanley Cup in 1999.

Along with Bobby Clarke and Pierre Gauthier, Gainey was given the responsibility of selecting Canada's men's ice hockey squad for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Gainey became general manager of the Montreal Canadiens in May 2003 turning the Canadiens into a playoff contender.

On January 13, 2006, Gainey fired Canadiens' head coach Claude Julien and stepped in as head coach on an interim basis.

At the same time, he hired Guy Carbonneau to work as an associate coach, handing the coaching reins over to him for the 2006–2007 season.

On July 24, 2006, Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin extended Gainey's contract to 2009–2010.

On March 09, 2009, Gainey returned as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after firing Guy Carbonneau.

Gainey knows his stuff...and some things, you don't forget...

Neither does Claude Julien LOL.

GO HABS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hoping this makes them lose quicker)

Bears in 5!!

Oh Diddle Dave, that's hilarious!!!!!!!!!!

Betcha not many people have taken the time to research that little ditty:

Gainey fires Julien as head coach of Habs, takes over

Is it THursday yet!??!?!

Cronie wrote:Is it THursday yet!??!?!

I don't even give a diddle, I'll take Wednesday to get some playoff action going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanna see Lucic and Chara crush some Wing Dang Doodle right off the opening draw. I don't just want the Bruins to win, I want them to humiliate the Habs and beat them to a pulp.

Amen to that PKC... I don't care if I let my bias or hatred for arrogant Habs fans loose right now...

Also, I should say, after one failed attempt, I've now made it 67 hours without a single drag or cigarette...

Sorry for the rants in other posts... trying to keep my hands busy! LOL

PKC wrote:I wanna see Lucic and Chara crush some Wing Dang Doodle right off the opening draw. I don't just want the Bruins to win, I want them to humiliate the Habs and beat them to a pulp.

This Wing Dang Doodle mother Diddle can eat my Dung and die as their Diddle and Wing Dang Doodle slapped. Price can eat Front Bum and Donkey while he gets scored on. Then he can about it afterwards like a little Wing Dang Doodle Front Bum.

Cronie wrote:Amen to that PKC... I don't care if I let my bias or hatred for arrogant Habs fans loose right now...

Also, I should say, after one failed attempt, I've now made it 67 hours without a single drag or cigarette...

Sorry for the rants in other posts... trying to keep my hands busy! LOL

Exactly. It's important to be non-biased at all times. cool)