SB Nation User Blog: saskhab

Time for Big Brother to talk to Little Brother

saskhab — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:50:15 -0000

So Sergei Kostitsyn has refused to report to Hamilton and asked for a trade through his agent, Don Meehan. Sergei's frustration is understandable, to a point. He has played most of his pro career with the Canadiens and the new coach, Jacques Martin, clearly is challenging Sergei's stature on the team. Guy Carbonneau always seemed to like Sergei, employing him in a variety of situations at a very young age. In the heat of the moment, it's easy for Sergei to have lost perspective. But there are some facts that his older brother, who is still on the Montreal Canadiens, should be able to relate to his younger sibling and perhaps ease the tension.

Andrei Kostitsyn is no stranger to Hamilton or the American Hockey League. From 2004 through 2007, he played 180 regular season games in Hamilton and 3 playoff games there. It wasn't until a 22 game stint with Montreal at the end of the 2006-07 season that Andrei ensured a spot with the main club. Andrei was never given a spot in the NHL, he earned it. This was despite being drafted 10th overall in the 2003 Entry Draft, which is widely considered the deepest draft class in recent NHL history.

By contrast, the younger brother Sergei was an afterthought at age 18, drafted 200th overall in 2005 by Montreal in what could have been seen as a charity pickup. He impressed when he came over to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights, racking up a ton of points and becoming one of the top major junior players in North America. He turned professional in 2007-08, playing 22 games with Hamilton before getting called up to Montreal, where he quickly became an everyday 3rd line player on a team that finished first overall. In 2008-09, he had what could be classified as a sophomore slump, and played his way to a mid-season demotion to Hamilton for 16 games. He came back when injuries struck the Habs again down the stretch, but failed to secure a spot.

Big brother (and more highly regarded) Andrei played a majority of 3 seasons in the AHL. After 2 professional seasons, the younger brother has only spent parts of each season in Hamilton, and has played less than a quarter of the games that his big brother did in the AHL before becoming a full time player. Perhaps the key to mending the relationship between Sergei and the Habs, if it's at all possible, rests with Andrei.

But maybe that's asking too much.

Proof positive that they don't make 'em as tough as they used to

saskhab — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:42:04 -0000

http://www.vancouversun.com/Legendary+hockey+coach+Ernie+Punch+McLean+found+alive+northern/1914195/story.html

Legendary former WHL Coach Ernie "Punch" McLean was found after spending four days without food in the mountianous terrain of northern British Columbia. Upon a medical examination, the 77 year old was deemed to be in good health and quickly released. It's not McLean's first close call, as he once survived a plane crash in the middle of winter in northern Saskatchewan. Another time, he got run over by a bulldozer. This time, however, he not only survived a fall into a crevasse, but he got out of it, and started walking around, only to get lost. Did I mention he's 77?

Obviously the man had a lot of success as a coach with New Westminster, winning back-to-back Memorial Cups in the 1970s. But could you imagine playing for this guy? I'd imagine his teams were ridiculously tough, as no scrawny teenager could dare challenge him.

Although apparently his wife will challenge him when he gets home: "When I see him, I'm going to smack him."

Great story.

Player Watch: Defunct Franchise Alumni

saskhab — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:46:34 -0000

There has been a lot of news regarding players that were once on now defunct/moved franchises. Martin Gelinas' (Nordiques) retirement was made official with him signing on as Nashville's new Director of Player Development. This follows on news in recent weeks that had Derian Hatcher (North Stars) and Bobby Holik (Whalers) retire, as well as reports that Michael Nylander (Whalers) was set to leave the NHL for the KHL.

I don't recall hearing any of the following players' retirements, but none of the following played any hockey of note during the past year after being active in 2007-08: Geoff Sanderson (Whalers), Richard Matvichuk (North Stars), Aaron Miller (Nordiques), Jocelyn Thibault (Nordiques), and Chad Kilger (Jets). Kilger's sudden leave from the NHL remains a mystery, so he has the potential to come back at some point, and Jocelyn Thibault is still 34, but it is quite likely we have seen the last of all five of these players as well. Nolan Pratt (Whalers) played the past year in the KHL, and since he only turns 34 this August, he could potentially catch on in the NHL again, although he was never considered a top four defender during his prime, so it is quite possible he's out of the NHL for good as well. And then, of course, there is future Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg (Nordiques), who came back for three games with Modo of the Elitseren this past year, but his nagging foot injuries have prevented him from rejoining the NHL, and may force him into retirement.

What are we left with, then? For old Minnesota North Stars fans, it's just Mike Modano, who has recently stated he will come back to finish the final year on his contract with Dallas. Last week, Modano turned 39, so it is quite possible this will be his final season.

Meanwhile, the Hartford Whalers had six alumni participate in the NHL last year (Pronger, Giguere, Holik, Nylander, Shanahan, Malik), but only Pronger, Nylander and Giguere are under contract for next year. With Holik retired, and Nylander's situation undetermined, that just leaves two players who joined their last teams during the regular season in Marek Malik and Brendan Shanahan. At 40 years old, Shanahan appears to have hit the end of the line on a Hall of Fame worthy career, notching just 13 points in 34 regular season games, plus three points in seven playoff games for New Jersey. Malik, meanwhile, battled injuries all year and was limited to just 42 games. At 34, he could have a couple of years left, but if the injuries persist he might not have much left in him.

The Quebec Nordiques, meanwhile, have only two alumni under contract for next season in Colorado's Adam Foote and Minnesota's Owen Nolan. Foote will be 38 next year, while Owen Nolan is 37 years old. The other two ex-Nordiques that played in the NHL last year were Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. Sakic has battled a variety of injuries this past year, and is said to be seriously contemplating retirement as a result. He'll turn 40 this July. Sundin, meanwhile, didn't return to the NHL until after Christmas this past year, signing in Vancouver to huge fanfare. However, Sundin didn't live up to the lofty expectations, and has gone back to his "undecided" mode that caused him to sit out the start of the last season. It's early, but we could easily be down to only two Nordiques alumni next season.

The Winnipeg Jets had a fairly young team when they left town in 1996, and have 3 former players still signed to a contract for 2009-10. They are Shane Doan of Phoenix, Kris Draper of Detroit, and Teemu Selanne of Anaheim. Meanwhile, of their three unrestricted free agents, only Teppo Numminen seems likely to retire. Nikolai Khabibulin and Keith Tkachuk both had good years, and should be able to find NHL employment on the open market. Shane Doan will be 33 this fall, the youngest of this exclusive club, so ex-Jets players will probably last the longest of any of the groups brought up here.

Only 17 alumni from teams that no longer exist played in the NHL last year, and it won't be long until those fans have no former players left to cheer on. So who will these old fans follow? Perhaps they'll have to live vicariously through the offspring of former players, like Alex Steen, Paul Stastny, or potential 2009 1st round pick Landon Ferraro.

Stat of the Season

saskhab — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:26:00 -0000

Montreal's point total, 2007-08, excluding games vs. Boston: 88 in 74 games
Montreal's point total, 2008-09, excluding games vs. Boston: 89 in 76 games

Boston's point total, 2007-08, excluding games vs. Montreal: 93 in 74 games
Boston's point total, 2008-09, excluding games vs. Montreal: 105 in 76 games

Points gained in Montreal-Boston season series, 2007-08 (max 16): MTL 16, BOS 1
Points gained in Montreal-Boston season series, 2008-09 (max 12): BOS 11, MTL 4

This rivalry tends to throw reason out the window. The Habs aren't much different vs. the rest of the NHL this year in comparison to last. The Bruins improved not only against the Habs, but against everyone else as well. The rest of the NHL does worse against Boston than against us, not only this year, but last year as well. The Habs really aren't any worse than they were last year... Boston is simply that much better.

If you wanted to talk the difference in the Habs' GF/GA ratio from last year to this, again, look at this season series. The Habs won several games vs. Boston last year by 4 or more goals. This year, they only won once, in a shootout (which is a tie on the GF/GA card). I'm sure if you broke down the team's PP differential, a lot of the difference between the two seasons would be accounted for in the MTL-BOS series.

If Montreal were to win this series, you'd have to think their chances of winning the Cup are about the same as they were a year ago. The only advantage lost from then until now was the difference in standing, meaning the Habs got a more favourable draw a year ago, and that they have lost home ice in Game 7.

Pens fans get Crosby into East's Starting Lineup

saskhab — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:02:02 -0000

This morning, Sidney Crosby overtook Alex Tanguay for 3rd place amongst forwards, breaking up the All-Montreal Canadien Eastern All Star starting lineup for the first time since voting began last month. Not coincidentally, the other Penguins on the ballot are the runners-up at every position, including Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, who will not be allowed to participate under the NHL's new Rory Fitzpatrick inspired 20 game rule, which may also force Montreal rearguard Mike Komisarek off the starting lineup as well.

Inexplicably, Montreal RW Alex Kovalev leads Montreal forwards at the moment, despite having a subpar season and currently going through the longest goal drought of his NHL career.

http://fanballoting.nhl.com/leaders

EDIT: If this story is accurate, Crosby has received about 100,000 votes in the past 13 hours, which has to be seen as highly suspicious.

Check out the crowd at Nassau Coliseum, Satruday, Nov 1/08 vs. Montreal. Photo courtesy of Habs...

saskhab — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 06:01:49 -0000

Check out the crowd at Nassau Coliseum, Satruday, Nov 1/08 vs. Montreal.

Photo courtesy of Habs Inside/Out

Koivu reunion a pipe dream

saskhab — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:40:59 -0000

Before and after yesterday's game between the Canadiens and Wild in St. Paul, there was much talk about the Koivu brothers playing each other, as captains, in front of their parents. It was a very compelling story, to be sure. Saku was leading the Habs in scoring, having developed early chemistry between himself and two new linemates this season, Alex Tanguay and Guillaume Latendresse. Mikko, meanwhile, was leading the Wild in scoring, and tied for the NHL lead in assists. Both teams had nearly identical records, with only one regulation loss heading into the final game of October.

Being in Minnesota, this lead to the curious speculation of what it would be like for Saku to join the Wild. The Minnesota Star-Tribune brought the speculation right to the brothers themselves:

"Well, I played with him in the Olympics, so we've got that experience. But it would be fun in a way, but at the same time he went through a lot earlier in his life following my steps and everybody thinking that he's going to be the same player, so in a way I think it's better for him to have his career somewhere else and not being on the same team.

"But at the same time, that would be a great experience at the end of my career. We'll see what happens."

Asked if he'd be interested in Saku joining the Wild, Mikko said, "Of course. Whenever it's your best friend, or brother ... it would be a big thing for the family obviously. But I think it's better to just live in the moment and [we're] just going to see what's going to happen in the future."

There has been speculation from both sides of uniting the Koivu brothers, but with Koivu approaching unrestricted free agency this summer, the most obvious immediate possibility of this happening would be in Minnesota. One of the first questions asked here is, at age 33 (he turns 34 on Nov. 23), is Saku really at the end of his career? And would he simply leave Montreal just to join his brother?

There is little reason to suggest Koivu would feel the need to leave Montreal this summer, or that Montreal would not find a way to retain him. As the franchise's 2nd longest serving captain (having surpassed GM Bob Gainey recently in longevity), with the team considered a Stalney Cup contender in their centennial year, the idea of the Habs going into 2009-10 without Koivu seems proposterous. But Michael Russo's article also uses as evidence the idea that Gainey had said he would not negotiate with Koivu during the season. This is untrue. In annoucing the recent contract extension for Head Coach Guy Carbonneau, Gainey was also asked about negotiating with any of the team's potential free agents during the season. The Habs have 10 UFA's and 4 potential RFA's this summer, including Alex Kovalev, Mike Komisarek, Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins and Robert Lang. Here is what RDS reported:

Au sujet des nombreux joueurs qui deviendront autonomes à la fin de la saison, Gainey a indiqué les performances de ces joueurs vont dicter s'ils vont demeurer avec l'équipe et s'il y aura des négociations avec eux durant la saison.

Translation? The performances of the players will determine whether or not the team starts negotations with them during the season. This is the standing policy for everyone. The team negotiatied with Mark Streit early during last season, but no agreement was reached and the PP specialist soon priced himself out of Montreal. The season before, the team elected not to negotiate with any of their 3 UFA eligible blueliners during the season. Craig Rivet was traded at the deadline, Andrei Markov was signed to a 4 year deal before July 1, and Sheldon Souray was offered a 3 year deal that he rejected. On July 1, the team decided to focus on Roman Hamrlik and signed him instead of Souray. In fact, the only player in Bob Gainey's tenure that has been signed mid-season was Koivu, back in 2006.

Given Montreal's current position, and lack of alternatives at centre moving forward, it's a pretty safe bet that Koivu will return to Montreal for 2009-10 and beyond. The only thing that needs to be determined is for how long, and how big of a slice of the available cap space should he take up. Judging by his early season performance, he might be first in line for mid-season negotiations.

If someone in the future wants to unite the Koivus, they'll have to wait. It looks like Team Finland in 2010 will be their next game as teammates.