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Watching Hockey Tonight... |
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How many more times will the NHL break our hearts?
Once more would be enough for a serious revolt.
And as optimism gains--out of some secret talks that obviously weren't kept so secret--and the henchmen return to the boardroom, will we finally get a result that can have us move on from the lockout?
Or is this another buildup to a catastrophic explosion of mudslinging and game-cancelling?
Big day-- tomorrow!
Could have a new CBA before the presidential election wraps up.
10 Notes:
1) Saw some Bulldogs highlights over the weekend, and have to admit, I'd love to see if Blake Geoffrion could transfer the style he succeeds with in the AHL to the NHL. Clearly, there's been some off-season improvement to his game, with four goals and two assists in eight games for the Bulldogs, after only scoring two goals in 20 games with Milwaukee last season.
2) To no one's surprise, after potting a goal and assist against Rochester, Saturday, Brendan Gallagher's got three goals and three assists, and an even rating, through eight games. I don't worry so much about him transferring those skills to the NHL. This kid was born to play at the highest level.
3) As for the Bulldogs, for a young team, playing against other teams with far more NHL hands on them, Geoffrion and Gallagher are the first Bulldogs on the scoring leaderboard, at 80th, and 88th respectively.
4) If you were wondering why so many teams were lined up for Justin Schultz in the off-season, the rookie defenseman leads the AHL in scoring with six goals and 9 assists in 10 games.
And for anyone who scoffed at rookie coach Kirk Muller for fast-tracking Justin Faulk to becoming his go-to defenseman in Carolina, Faulk is #2 in scoring, with two goals, 11 assists in eight games.
5) The Canadiens are going to have do some work on goaltending. There doesn't seem to be a viable prospect in the system with hope to some day reach the NHL.
6) Habs prospects Tim Bozon, Brady Vail, Alex Galchenyuk and Charles Hudon are all doing excellent in their respective leagues. Most of them will provide the scoring influx the Hamilton Bulldogs will desperately need after this season.
7) The annual super-series gets underway tonight, with Russia taking on the QMJHL, and that will officially be the first hockey game I've watched since the Kings won the Stanley Cup. Sweet Lord, it's about time!
8) The super-series is always a great exhibition of cross-continental talent, but I always feel bad for this group of Russian kids, going up against the stars of all three Junior leagues, in a hostile environment with no home-ice advantage. They can hold their own when it comes to skill, but physically, they're playing against prospects who know this is among the best opportunities to impress NHL general managers, and NHL general managers want to see big-time physical hockey. And that's not the type of game the Russians are known for.
9) Andrei Markov has one assist in nine games with the KHL's Chekhov Vityaz, and only one injury--to his ribs--so far. Just saying...
10) With so many players overseas, and so many other hockey opportunities available, what does it say about Scott Gomez that he's not playing anywhere at the moment?
Last lockout, he played in the ECHL with the Alaska Aces, and put up 86 points in 61 games. He came back with the Devils the next season and popped 84 pts in 82 games.
Gomez tried out with the Aces recently, but had no intention of playing in the regular season.
Is this guy not in need of a confidence boost? Or is he just afraid that he can't even compete at a lower level of hockey?
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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