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Beneath the Big Top

January 19, 2012, 11:03 AM ET [27 Comments]
Steven Hindle
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Circus City


Braving cold and ice on a frigid January evening, many patrons of the Bell Center simply couldn't muster the courage to stomach the entire 60 minute performance that was the Washington Capitals 3-0 shutout over the home-town favorites.

Though I couldn't blame many for departing early, I do take exception with the idea that the Canadiens played a poor game last night.

If anything, as I would know, it was the Capitals who indeed played the poorer of the two, clamping down on a few freebies courtesy of a rare "off-night" for Carey Price. To that extent, it wasn't even an off-night so much as it was Price simply not being on top of his game in the 1st period.

Ironically, were you to have arrived moments after Ovechkin potted the Caps third goal of the evening and were to have watched the 2nd half of the game alone, you would certainly have been confused as to how the Capitals walked away with the two points.

Save for Price's lapses and Michal Neuvirth's exceptional play, along with some remarkable sacrifices made on behalf of the Washington netminder's teammates, the Habs dominated play.

Sadly, dominating play is only half the battle as execution is what sets good teams apart from the bad, and though the Caps are certainly amid struggles of their own, that is one thing Washington's gotten better at over the past 12 games. An element that clearly still eludes the Canadiens.

Hitting Neuvirth with 31 shots, having the Capitals block 25 attempts and missing the net another 15 times, the Habs spent plenty of time and effort in their opponent's end last night, but to no avail.

It's rather sad because the culprits on the night remain two elements of the Canadiens game that have been their keys to success over the past few years, goaltending and the power play.

Though Price can't be blamed for struggling to stay in the game, facing only 16 shots on the night, the reality remains that the Caps struck early, and often, on opportunities that Price regularly turns away. Flummoxed by some softies, Price, who rarely puts his team behind the eight ball, crushed some early confidence after Habs newcomer Rene Bourque decided to take ownership for his hit on Nicklas Backstrom, dropping the gloves and trying to set the tone for his new teammates.

Unfortunately, with those early goals working against the Habs, the Capitals employed a smart dose of reverse psychology, continuously placing the Canadiens - the NHL's worst man advantage - on the power play.

Handed 7 chances to chip away at the 3-0 deficit, including a 6 minute power play in the 3rd period, the Habs fired away at Neuvirth but from relatively useless angles as Washington boxed up in front of their goaltender, a big reason why they wound up with 25 blocked shots on the night.

The ramifications of the loss are ultimately no different than they have been for any of the 28 regulation and overtime losses that have preceded it this season.

Deflation instead of elation, aggravation and frustration and, above all else, that empty sense of loss.

Bounces and bad breaks chartered a course none of these players were mentally prepared for this season, and as a result, the pervasively negative atmosphere that comes with losing regularly has become a brick wall that now stands between them and success.

It remains a far cry to think that Montreal will be making a surprise run anytime soon, but there's no need to rush a "rebuild."

As a matter of face, there's no need for a rebuild whatsoever given the youthful foundation in place between the pipes and on the blue line.

What needs to be done now is for Montreal management to properly seek a solution for a winning formula in today's NHL.


Why you shop a guy like PK Subban


So, most folks have been yucking it up over the fact that the Montreal Canadiens are shopping PK Subban.

Believe it or not, people honestly believe the Habs are willing to part with the blue line stud.

But I have a different opinion on the matter, one I was given by someone in the know that just so happens to make a lot of sense to me.

I will preface that with a brief conversation I had with a fellow colleague regarding the value of PK Subban and why trading him won't bring a sufficient return.

- Despite the urge to trade for a #1 centerman, is PK Subban worth it? Not really, if you consider the fact that players of his nature don't come along everyday. Within the next few seasons PK's game will develop to the point where he will be a balanced, minute-eating two-way star. To forego his RFA years and the inherent value that comes with it, for a proven commodity that will cost untold milliions more in cap space in the near-term, is losing out on perhaps immeasurable value. Pursuing a solution for the Canadiens must absolutely involve PK Subban as a fixture on the blue line, otherwise they will be forced to wait out the development years of players like Beaulieu and Tinordi (dues Subban has already paid)...why develop a star for someone else?

A view I hold, echoed by others, I began to wonder about the validity of Subban's name coming up in rumours.

So I sought out some legal advice.

Coming from a family with a legal background, I inquired about why a team like the Canadiens would consider throwing a name like Subban's out there.

The response I got also made a lot of sense.

If you have a bunch of assets you are interested in moving but won't likely get a response regarding their availability, how would you get other GM's on the phone?

By possibly dangling an asset every GM would pick up the phone for?

Makes sense to me.

And from what I have come to learn, it seems that, while players like Cammy (who held an NTC) limit themselves to specific markets, RFA's like Subban have no control over this.

Meaning that opposing GM's will be very interested if the conversation kicks off with talk of Subban.

For Gauthier to offer him up seems rather ludicrous, yet if the intention isn't to move the player himself but to attract buyers to what appears to be an open house, I'd have to say the strategy should likely work.

Of course I am completely against moving Subban for the reasons mentioned above, but with a plethora of assets that won't have much use for the Canadiens come next fall, what better way to bring attention to the sale by enticing buyers with the possibility of a sweet deal?

If true, I think it would be a genius move to get GM's on the phone that likely otherwise wouldn't, and if it works in moving some of the assets we all know should be on their way, than consider it a surprisingly bright move on behalf of a GM whose drawn nothing but the ire of fans for the better part of his tenure in Montreal.


A Hidden Coaching Candidate


While I endorse Randy Cunneyworth as the Habs head coach, I can't help but hear the rumors surrounding who may very well replace him. And, though I'd like to see him stay as I believe he has a great rapport with the players and, if given the chance, can have a great connection with the team, there's no hiding his odds of remaining behind the bench are rather slim.

That said, one coaching candidate whose name hasn't made the rounds yet, perhaps over-shadowed by another, is Lightning assistant coach, Martin Raymond.

A Montreal native and former McGill Redmen and Hamilton Bulldogs bench boss, his candidacy has been hidden beneath the lure of Guy Boucher.

Though Boucher has made quite a name for himself, it's hard to ignore the guy behind Boucher who has been a key component in his success.

Raymond is a well respected and intelligent hockey mind who fits every aspect of what the Canadiens organization would need in a head coach. Though he has never had the opportunity to guide a team as a head coach at the NHL level, he is on the verge of emerging from Boucher's spotlight.

So, while you'll hear a whole bunch of names before here and when an actual decision is made, remember that there are always more candidates available off the radar than there are on it.

Though I feel that the Habs are not prepared to enter that realm just yet, consider this your first warning in regards to Martin Raymond's future as a potential candidate for head coaching jobs in the NHL, possibly starting here in Montreal.



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