I imagine Ribs will be the whipping boy all season if he doesn't have chemistry with the "I don't feel like playing hard Russians". Kovy and Sammy won't get demoted to fourth line....what do they have to lose? Where's the motivation?

I'm with Jay on this one guys.
 
Think about it. Once the real season starts it'll be the full team out there. Right now we're trying to figure things out. I'd rather lose 10 games straight in preseason than in the season. Don't get me wrong, i'm sure we'll have our losing streak during the regular season but i'd rather them work out the kinks now than later.
 
Lets be patient. Remember last year? we were one of the hottest teams in preseason and our expectations were high. I have faith that things will place themselves nicely. Sammy, Kovy and Ribs are all great players... Just as Koivu, Ryder and Higgins are. It's gonna be a good year!

 True enough. It's possible also that they're saving their experienced legs for the real thing. Pre-season means nothing to the veterens but to get their stride and not get injured. Let's hope that's what it is.

Thanks

Jay1982 wrote:

---

Pre-season means absolutly nothing, and as far as I'm concerned, the habs have been out-dressed. Meaning the teams are putting 'fuller lines' out on the ice, where as carbo is trying new things. Its the perfect time to do that.

---

Come on Jay outdressed? Maybe for the first two game against the Bruins but last night the Leafs only dressed ONE NHL defensmen, McCabe. The may have outdressed us offensivly but we should have had many more chances.

Habs were not out dressed last night ... they were OUTPLAYED. Only 3 regular forwards werent dressed - Koivu, Higgins and Johnston. Only 1 regular defenseman was not dressed - Souray.  Habs were out played.   Leafs were no less thin up front.

I don't quite see why some posters are saying "well its the preseason, vets don't really try hard, etc" If this were true, it should be true FOR ALL TEAMS, and yet the habs are 0 wins and 3 losses, and only 5 goals in 3 games. Also, shouldn't the rookies be trying real hard to make the team?  why hasn't a habs rookie beein lighting it up?  Latendress didn't look like hell on wheels last night. And Perez was mostly invisible.

So ... I'm getting worried.

Perhaps Carbo hasn't yet found the magic to inspire his team?

 

Come on Jay, we're all Habs fans here, paying customers who deserve better from the likes of Kovalev and Samsonov. Any room in you time schedule at Concordia for Hockey 101  lol

Actually I wasn't pissed either, except for the non-performace of Kovalev and Sammy, are you ready to accept half hearted efforts from Kovalev for another year.....I'm not nor are alot of fans here. $113.00 for a ticket, I'm going next Thursday to The Habs/Sens game for $75.00 for 2 seats including parking. The seats are high enuff that I probably won't see Kovalev from there anyways.

Ottawa Sun, September 24, 2006

It's not just pre-season
 

Have you ever tried to hold your tongue about something and the strain of keeping your thoughts to yourself was almost too much to bear?

That's how I feel about the NHL around this time of year. You can't say a word, because the perpetual rebuttal will always be, "it's just the preseason." You may as well banish any verbal thoughts or writing implements, and replace them with the contents of Marcel Marceau's makeup drawer. Say nothing, do nothing. Just observe.

Why can't I have an opinion on a player's performance in the pre-season? Why am I constantly subjected to the incessant claims that nothing of significance is taking place? If that were the case, wouldn't the pre-season cease to exist?

A perfect example of this occurred at last Sunday's Senators Fan Fest out at Scotiabank Place. I watched; I took notes -- I sat amongst fans in paper helmets, and ironically, felt strangely silly because I was the only one who appeared sane.

The thing was, once I got settled in with the paper helmet posse, I heard the same serve-and-volley comments for nearly two hours. Fans would make an observation, and attribute it to the insignificant pre-season.

Naturally, I kept my mouth shut the entire time -- I didn't want to be subjected to this. I remained silent for more than two hours, during the walk through the concourse, out the building and into the parking lot. It wasn't until I hit the safety of my own car that I felt the freedom to let loose. I did -- and then some.

Boyfriend: "Well? What did you think?"

(pause)

Me: "Oh-my-God-did-you-see-Joe-Corvo-that-guy-scared-me-to-death-with-the-way-he-s kated-up-the-right-side-boards-with-Redden-I'm-not-sure-they-should-be-on-the- same-line-and-Kaigorodov-likes-to-reach-with-his-stick-so-much-I-want-him-to-s kate-more-I-want-to-see-better-pickup-and-I-hope-Gerber's-just-having-a-bad-da y-and-McGrattan-looks-like-he-came-to-play-and-Nick-Foligno-didn't-look-out-of -place..."

(Finally, I ran out of breath.)

Boyfriend: "Well, it's only the pre-season."

(And at this point, my head wanted to explode.)

So basically, if a Senator does anything memorable in September, does it make a sound?

That's the thing -- a negative comment will automatically be stifled by claims of a long season ahead. And you can negate any positive observation (particularly of a forward) by dropping one name: Brandon Bochenski.

Does it really make that big of a difference right now? Can't someone make an observation, and change their opinion later on? The last time I checked, the players we're attempting to discuss are highly paid professionals. I'm sure they're used to everyone commenting on their play.

Besides, there are plenty of expectations that come with wearing the black, red and gold.

We know, for the most part, what to expect from the core members of this team.

We have an idea of who needs to step up, to bring their game to the next level.

However, what about the newest members of Ottawa's team? It's difficult not to make immediate assumptions regarding their play, when the coaching staff chooses to place them in positions of importance. Joe Corvo was playing with the $6.5-million man -- better known as Wade Redden -- before breaking his foot during Friday's game vs. Buffalo. Rookie Alexei Kaigorodov is getting a legitimate shot at the coveted No. 2 centre position.

Are they ready for it? There's only one way to get an idea -- the pre-season -- where first impressions are made.

A lot will change between now and April, and one of the biggest modifications will involve any opinions regarding these players. But that doesn't mean that any contemplation concerning their play and practices thus far are completely irrelevant.

It's all right to have an opinion about pre-season play. You can bet that behind closed doors at Scotiabank Place, there are plenty.

Fatherhab wrote:

---

Ottawa Sun, September 24, 2006

It's not just pre-season
 

H Why am I constantly subjected to the incessant claims that nothing of significance is taking place? If that were the case, wouldn't the pre-season cease to exist?

---

Its to shake off the cobwebs for the vets and give the young guns a chance to prove themselves. To expect some players to give it their all in an exhibition game is ridiculous, you risk injury and jeopardize one's whole season, and not only that, they are not in game form yet, they are almost there but still need a bit of time to get back into shape.
And if anyone is so bold as to make a comment concerning their conditioning during the offseason....how would you like to finish your day of work, only to have to take your work home every single night for a whole year, or work through their vacation.

I'm probably gonna end up not making sense in the next few lines, so I'll leave it at this: Panic if you want, but it's wasting your time. If things in pre-season scare you, if you expect the habs to come out of the gates with all cyclinders firing and go on some 25 game winning streak from October to december, you will be disappointed in learning that Samsonov and Kovalev will need to work to get some chemistry...sometimes its just there, but it isn't the case with these two. Our goalies need to get back into game form, carbo needs to tweak lines and see what can work best for the habs. Carbo will also need to fill a few spots on the roster with rookies...THAT, my friends...is what the pre-season is for. Its not about winning games, its about getting your team ready for the season ahead, winning a pre-season game will give you an ego boost, thats it.

There would be no problem if some of these things being tried looked as if they would be used in the season.By 6 October we'll be back to pretty much last years lines(excepting Samsonov) but without any match practice at the moment.I'm all in favour of trying things out in pre-season but maybe we've just about reached the point of trying a genuine line-up!