|
Better Efforts Not Interfering With Draft Position = Win/Win |
|
|
|
|
|
The Canadiens no show against the Maple Leafs seemed to have had a positive response on this young group despite their shut out loss to Florida and their last game against the Penguins.
I’m happy to see the work from the young group under such difficult circumstances. It can’t be easy trying to get into these games knowing that your fanbase, while supporting you for the most part, is rooting for the best draft choice possible and the only road to that is through losses.
Five of the Canadiens final eight games are against teams heading to the post season so there is a good chance that the Canadiens could still improve on their draft position heading into the offseason.
At the moment the Habs are 5th last in the NHL at 64 points and 8 games remaining. The teams below them with a legit chance of passing them are Ottawa (63 pts, 10 games remaining), Arizona (61 pts, 9 games remaining), and Vancouver (59 pts, 9 games remaining). I would include Buffalo (58 pts, 9 games remaining) but I don’t see them making any kind of late push to make up the 6 points the Habs currently hold on them.
With the recent, tragic news from Ottawa regarding their Captain E Karlsson’s family I don’t know if the team will find resolve and work through it together for Karlsson or if they will be emotionally drained in what was already a disappointing season.
I can’t blame them if they falter as that news was devastating and heart breaking. Karlsson seems like a genuinely solid person and I pray he and his family find the support and resolve through this time in their lives. I have two young boys myself and my world would crumble should anything happen to them. My heart aches for Karlsson and I hope they make their way through this as best they can.
Arizona is playing like a young team tired of losing and while that is positive for the Coyotes fanbase, it’s also positive for us Canadiens fans. Arizona holds a game in hand on the Canadiens and is only 3 points back of the depleted Habs. Should the Canadiens lose more often than not in these last 8 games there is a good chance Arizona could jump them.
The Canucks are likely looking to drop for yet another top pick so I don’t expect them to make up the 5 points they are back, but it could be close.
That means I’m looking at a final draft position of 3rd or 4th overall heading into the lotto night which would give them a 8.5-9.5% (estimated) chance at winning 1st overall this summer.
I just tried my luck at the simulator at nhllotterysimulator.com and ended up drawing the Habs 1st, Senators 2nd, and Canucks 3rd. Not too shabby…
There is a greater chance the Canadiens could move back according to the tankathon.com lotto odds, but I can’t entertain that possibility right now. But I must acknowledge that the Canadiens could move back 3 spots in the worst possible scenario.
So as of today they could chose between 1st and 7th and that’s pretty much exactly where you want to be for this draft. Basically their targets could be Zadina, Tkachuk, Wahlstrom, Boqvist, and Bouchard. All elite, impact potential players and I wouldn’t complain about adding any of them to the Canadiens depth charts.
Price Returns, Plays Well, Immediately Shows The NHL Is Still Officiated Like A Bush League
Price returned, despite calls for him to rest out the season, and played fairly well considering the circumstances. I hoped for a good outing for the net minder as he shook off some rust and began working with a largely revamped D squad compared to the last time he played.
He stopped 35 of 39 shots he faced including a penalty shot and some break aways but was the victim of a top notch Penguins PP Unit that struck on 2 of their 3 chances. Price was also the victim of an odd goal allowed to E Malkin to open the scoring in the first that many believe could definitely have been ruled Goaltender Interference.
The problem with the NHL is that the executives in charge of facilitating the changes needed now (guys like C Campbell) are also the old school guys who fought to keep the officiating bush league and heavily influenced by people like himself.
Integrity has been bred out of NHL officiating for so long that the attempts to fix the issues now are immense. NHL refs have been raised through the ranks to understand that the rule book isn’t to be used consistently, it’s up to ref discretion to a fault and has been influenced behind the scene by gutless types like Colin Campbell for years.
Now that the NHL is more popular than ever and you have more kids playing than ever they are trying to show more integrity, consistency, and proper enforcement of the rules and it’s been ugly trying to make the changes. How can an experienced ref really make changes to his style when he likely has kept that job by doing what his handlers say all these years? He must be fearful of losing his job by not doing what he has been told for years to do, from the same clowns like Campbell no less.
You want change in NHL officiating? Start in the executive offices and shed the old school types who lack any form of integrity and honesty and bring in people who are educated and outspoken in their desire to see the NHL reach levels of consistency seen in other sports instead of what they resemble right now, the WWE.
Anyways, that’s my rant on the matter. I won’t comment on the goal against Price as there’s no real point. The goal was allowed and some agreed and some didn’t but the greater problem remains still and it starts at the top. There is a PARAMOUNT need for a culture change within the high ranking types in the NHL executive offices, but good luck tossing them out from their cushy perches….
As I’ve said for a long time now, ignore the refs and just play hard the right way and you can walk away with your head high and without having someone like C Campbell’s hand up your backside making you lose your honor and integrity.
LAST NOTE:
My readers will know my lack of frequency in blogs has been because of a recent basement flood followed by my attempts to sell the family home. Well, the home is sold and we are moving across Canada in just over a month. Bear with me folks and thanks for the supportive comments I’ve read. I appreciate them even if I’m not active in the comments section.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»