1. i really want striet back

2. I agree Lyndsey Elizabeth, the loss of Mark Streit has hurt the powerplay production.

   We forgot to add him to the list of players for the poll. He would have been the landslide winner.

   He already has 33 points (G-8 A-25) in 42 games with the lousy NY Islanders…..impressive to say the least!

   I was sure his offensive production was going to drop substantially with a weaker team like the Isles….he’s proving me wrong big time.

3. Mark Streit was not forgotten at all. This was a poll question specifically designed to ask about former Canadiens forwards.

   We are just going to have to disagree on this one Habster.

   Let’s not forget that Streit signed with the Islanders for 5 years at $20.5 million. People can speculate all they wish that he would have signed with the Canadiens for less but there is no evidence to support that claim.

   So at $4.1 million for Streit this season, would you want Streit or Robert Lang? That’s a pretty clear choice in my books.

   In addition, signing Streit for 5 years probably would displace one of the young defensive prospects in future years.

   Streit was also demanding an iron clad guarantee that he wouldn’t play as a forward. Would he have got that from Carbonneau? Not likely! A one-dimensional special teams player takes up a valuable roster spot. This isn’t the NFL.

   We can’t look back on last season with rose coloured glasses. We should recall that Streit really struggled the last month of the regular season and disappeared completely in the playoffs.

   It is no surprise that Streit has 33 points this year. He is the best defenseman on a “lousy NY Islanders” team and is therefore getting tons of icetime.

4. Rocket, you’re reading between the line again…..LOL…..where did I say that Bob Gainey/Canadiens should have signed Streit to a 5 year/$20.5 million?

   Whether you want to admit it or not, the loss of Streit has hurt the Habs powerplay. They have missed his point shot and playmaking ability.

   Now, with that being said, there is no way Gainey would have been justified to sign a powerplay “specialist” and suspect defenseman like Streit to a huge contract.

   Pierre McGuire recently mentioned that Gainey’s policy of not negotiating during the season probably cost him the chance to sign Streit to a more reasonable contract before Streit put up those big numbers.

   McGuire also wondered why Gainey didn’t try to sign Streit before the season began at a much reduced price.

   As far as I’m concerned, I believe prospects like Subban, Weber or Carle could perform the same offensive role on the powerplay in the next year or two.

5. The Canadiens could have landed Mark Streit for 5 years at $20.5 million if they so wished. That is the only number that is fact. Anything else is speculation.

   I heard what McGuire said about earlier contract negotiations. But even when he and others speculate that Streit could be had for less, no one says that would be less than $3.0 million. Even if that is true (of which we have no proof), that number would have prevented Gainey from entering the Sundin sweepstakes (and subsequently signing Lang).

   I’m not ready to agree that the loss of Streit is the major reason that the power-play is struggling this year. You will remember that both the Bruins and the Flyers devised a way to defend against the Montreal power-play during last year’s playoffs. Streit was in the line-up at that time. And I will repeat that Streit struggled down the stretch last Spring.

   The biggest impediment to this year’s power-play success is Guy Carbonneau’s stubborn refusal to overhaul his scheme…which has been cracked by other teams and is now easily defended.

   I don’t disagree that part of devising a new scheme is an effective point shot but is it mandatory that person is Streit? I don’t think so.

   I can tell you that Patrice Brisebois is part of the problem and the last person that should be out on the PP point. His passes are slow and predictable. He is not mobile. His shot is weak. His decision-making ability to pinch is poor.

   Also sending out the team’s 3rd/4th line against the opposition’s best defenders doesn’t seem like a formula for success to me. And the results have been predictably awful.

   It is easy to romanticize that bringing back one player would be the single answer for all that ails, but I don’t think it is realistic.

6. Incidentally, two more goals for Michael Ryder on Saturday. That makes 17!

7. Rocket! My thanks again for sending Michael "Light the Lamp" Ryder down to "Les Bruins"! He's been a great addition to the team and has played solid two-way hockey since coming over. It should be an interesting game tonight here in Boston given the fact that both teams have been crushed by injuries & scratches of late… Enjoy the game & keep well!

   PS- As always don't read too much or take offense to the anti-Habs bluster on our blog site as it's in jest & with underlying respect which I hope you know by now is all Marketing baby!

   Go Broounze!

8. Hey Krej..

   Im happy for Ryder…not so happy with the stupid move by my team. Ryder got a raw deal here..Gainey even said so.

   Just that Ryder was Carbo’s whipping boy to deflect attention from Latendresse who was awful last year. Same thing happened this year with Brisebois and O’Byrne. Carbonneau is great at undermining the confidence of players he hates in order to protect his favorites.

   Want a future #4 defenseman, Krej? O’Byrne will be a good one in this league…just not for Carbo.

   Tonight should be a good one. I’m looking forward to it. Will Lucic play?

   No offense taken Krej but thanks for the explanation. You got the marketing thing down pat!

Comments are closed.