1) Shocker. The Canadiens failed to win at the Bell Centre once again. Not that they didn't try, but man, whether it's failing to capture a lead, or failing to hold onto one, not much to celebrate around these parts.

2) Which is why the ovation for Louis Leblanc for depositing his first National Hockey League goal was such a breath of fresh air.

Granted, it was a dumpy one, off Michael Blunden, with Louis playing 'Johnny on the spot'.

Good for him.

When I asked him if he ever expected to be scoring goals in the NHL this year, after coming to training camp with an injury, he responded with a very frank "Not at all".

3) Pronger theory:

It's horrible to know on December 15th that Pronger's concussion is so bad, that the rest of the season and the playoffs are completely out of the question.

It's shocking that the Philadelphia Flyers have exacted this policy.

We're talking about the team that allowed Eric Lindros, Simon Gagne and Keith Primeau to put their careers on the lines at times when they should've been sitting in quiet rooms.

That's not intended to be a shot across Ed Snider's bow, because surely the Flyers weren't the only team to put their players at risk before the discussion of concussion protocol proliferated to the degree at which it's at today.

There's no doubting how serious Pronger's condition is, otherwise the Flyers wouldn't have ever shut him down for the year. As mentioned above, they've been through this before.

However, how could anyone predict--even given the gravity of Pronger's situation right now--that he wouldn't be able to get back for the playoffs, or before then?

The Flyers obviously don't want to play the wait and see game, because it's not consistent with their organizational philosophy, not with a piece as important as Pronger.

Exhibit A; the playoffs last season. The team can't win in that setting without a Pronger-like presence.

The Flyers always go for it. There's no "we're going to make the playoffs and take it from there,". It's "we're going to compete for the Stanley Cup, every year,".

It's why they traded for Pronger in the first place, why they traded Richards and Carter out of town and focused on finally signing a top-tier goalie.

And make no mistake about it, the Flyers can get to the playoffs without Pronger easily, as they're currently constructed.

Replacing him will be about how they can win the Cup without him. Even if the team wasn't sold on the idea that Pronger would miss the rest of the season and the playoffs, his questionable status and his ability to recover and be the same player at 37 puts a real wretch in their plans.

So now, they have no worry about clearing cap space after replacing him through long-term injury reserve. And they're under no pressure to clear cap space in seeking out a replacement.

Over the next few days, you're going to hear names like that of Sergei Gonchar, or other prolific defensemen who could be considered available, but don't adequately replace what Pronger brings to the Flyers.

There's only one player in the league who gives the Flyers what they want to go out and compete for the Cup.

His name is Shea Weber.

And Holmgren wouldn't even have to move a roster player to get him.

Take two first rounders for 2012, 2013, take Brayden Schenn, and take another prospect or pick and trade it all to Nashville for a chance to add a Norris-worthy defenseman; an RFA at the end of the year; A young guy who is most capable of replacing Pronger; for a chance to win the Stanley Cup, right now!

Worry about clearing space next year to sign him long-term. If the Flyers get Weber, they won't lose him for anything.

There's a million other moves they can make to make it work. Whether it's shipping Van Riemsdyk out to get one of those 1st rounders back in the off-season, or getting rid of Timmonen somehow, or having Pronger retire (as if he wasn't going to before his contract expired anyways).

There's always a way, and no other team has proven that more than the Flyers in the post-cap era.

4) Then you watch HBO's 24/7, and you think about all the ways you wish the Montreal Canadiens were more like the Flyers. The team everyone in Montreal loves to hate.

Going for it, every year.

5) Quipped with Dominic Saillant--the team's PR specialist--that the Canadiens were made for the lights and cameras of HBO's amazing series.

I said they'd never go for it.

Dom said, "You'd be surprised. I think for sure they'd want to. But do you think HBO would want to do it in French?".

Funny guy, that Saillant.

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Heartbreak> Brian Bannan

» Game 3 Preview: Brian Bannan

» Will the Real Habs Please Step Forward? by Andrew Wright

» Game 2 recap- Jennifer Berzan Cutler

» New Habs Blog> M.R. d'Awe