Ando wrote:

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...and take the night off! No hockey tonight for And-o gang...I feel a "slight twinge in my groin" (why not - that seems to work for everyone else)!   It might actually be quite liberating to just read about how soft the Habs are and how poorly coached this team is (watch tonight be the night that CJ masterminds a gem...complete with emotion and passion...conviction and command...heart and desire...oh yeah - and a well placed time-out...maybe even a clear and logical gameplan)!    Anyway, here is hoping that '05 ends on a more tolerable note...cuz '06 ain't threatening to start out too sweet! (And-o is preparing to bestow the nickname "TimBit" on the next centre to wear the "CH", since it will fall upon him to fill this centre of our soft fluffy donut!!!)  

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"New Center" I did not know we had a Center to begin with. All kidding aside And-O, my wish if for you to have a Happy New years Eve as by the time the Habs finish tonite I doubt I will be able to see the tv let alone the score. My other wish is that CJ be left to coach if and when they ever get a complete team and then, if they are still losing, that those here wishing he be gone get their wish. Unfortunately I do not see teh same lack of a game plan and conviction and command that you and John M do. And I do not say that because I know the guy. John M thinks I make excuses for him with our lack of depth up the middle and a mobile dman. I only point out the facts as I see them, as a guy who has coached a game or 2. Bob Gainey overestimated the value of Bonk, could not foresee Koivu being hurt again (although history dictates that the odds are he would be) and he also thought Robs would thrive rather than die in the new NHL. Leaving us with, you said it, a big hole up the middle. Even if we had Begin and Plekanecs, these guys are not NEAR capable of being a first line center. Bulis? PUUUHHHLLLLEEEEAASEEE.With no Center, Julien has managed to have the team with the 14th ranked Pwer Play in the League. Ahead of "powerhouses" like Philly (Ken Hitchcock), Calgary (Sutter) Tampa Bay (Hello?! Vinny, Richards and St Louis?, we counter with Bulis, Kovalev and Zednick uhmmmm ok..oh wait our second wave of power Play Specialists  is coming out of the gate now.. Ribiero, or maybe Higgins, Ryder and maybe Perzhogan!!  Oh yes on the point w ehave Bouillon and Rivetr..go team!), and the New York Rangers with Jagr (yes REAL centers do exist Bob!!).

Penalty Kill has dropped but is still working at 80.8%. Much of that drop if you look closely at the stats can be attributed to the high number of 5 on 3's. We are the 3rd most penalized 5 on 3 team in the league.

So my friend there are two ways to look at it. You can get all emotional and say that the team sucks because of the coach, or look at some stats and say I cannot believe we are as good as we are considering. This is NOT a team with no game plan, coaching or direction. Trust me, if it was, given the product we have had to put on the ice lately, it would be much uglier than it was.

To John M. I am like you, sick of excuses because of lack of personell. It is up to the rest of these guys to figure out it is time to make an effort. I just do not like to see 90% of the blame being heaped on a good coach who works his butt off for these guys and prepares them the best he can. And I would say that regardless of who was coaching. These players need to look in the mirror. If I am GM for the day, here is my order for trades:

1. Zednick (not even in the same rink most nights)


2. Bonk (if anyone would take him)


3. Ribiero (half as good as he thinks he is)


4. Bulis or Sundstrom (because we have an overabundance of defnsive players)


5. Julien (because it is possible these wimps will not play for him


6. Koivu (depedning on his wishes and injury situation. It would be interesting to know the real story behind why he only signe for a year)