Gainey says thank you's, Pierre Page GM in NHL again, wastes no time.

The shocking news in Habs-land is that one of the NHL's former GM's that nobody knew was still even alive, is back from Europe to take the reigns of the Montreal club.

Pierre Page, former Nordique's GM that traded Lindros to the Flyers in what would become an integral trade that landed the club the Stanley Cup after they had moved to Denver, has been head coach and director of EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Erste Bank Hockey League. The same team that faced the LA Kings and lost 7-6 back in September of 2007.

The personnel change had already been made official a week earlier but the press conference was not started until earlier today. Sitting side by side with Page, Gainey thanked the fans, Boivin, Gillette, personnel and players for his time with the franchise and through his time of need after Laura Gainey had passed away in a tragic sea voyage.

Wasting little time, Page had informed Plekanec, Bergeron and Mara that their contracts would be be renewed, at the same time, Page had also informed Halak that he will find him a new home in which he can be the starting goalie, ensuring that there will be no "goalie controversy" in Montreal. Page stressed that for Price to succeed and keep his confidence, he must know that the team is with him for every loss and win and will not be in jeopardy of losing his spot to another goalie.
The cleaning continued as oft injured pugilist, Georges Laraque was bought out of his remaining year which would have paid him 1.5 million.

The lack of a second line center prompted Page to sign Marc Savard, relegating Gomez to second line duties, to an nine year contract that will pay Savard 5 million per season. Although the contract was reviewed by league officials as the contract ties Savard to the team until he becomes 41, was approved later in the day. The signing marks what will most likely be the only possible signing the Habs are able to make as their RFA's have rounded out the roster and there is virtually no room for any more signings.

The expected starting line up this coming November:

Gionta-Savard-Cammalleri
AKostityn-Gomez-Latendresse
Pacioretty-Lapierre-SKostitsyn
D'Agostini-Metropolit-Moen

Markov-Hamrlik
O'Byrne-Gorges
Gill-Spacek

Price
Sanford

Kovalev Slumping as Captain

With the absence of Koivu and a lack of veteran team players, new head coach, Jacques Martin, has appointed Alex Kovalev as the 28th (players that held the position in non-consecutive years not counted twice) captain of the storied Montreal Canadiens franchise, much to the delight of the fans that staged rallies at the Bell Center urging Gainey to re-sign the Russian.
Saku Koivu was the first European born player to become team captain and the trend of a European captain continued with Kovalev.

The lack of French oratory skills which plagued Koivu for much of his tenure does not seem to follow Kovalev. The enigmatic Russian lifts fans from their seats with dazzling stick handling from time to time, although he does lose the puck at the offensive blue line much like last season. Not since Lafleur has a Canadien had such marvelous moves that turns the Bell Centre into a vacuum as 21,273 people inhale all at once.

The problem is though, the stick handling doesn't amount to points on the score board as Kovalev, in his first year of a two year contract, has only produced three points in the first twelve games. All three points have been gained on the first line while playing with Gomez and Cammalleri. After three consecutive games without a point, Gionta was moved into Kovalev's spot while Kovalev moved down to the second line with Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn. Martin, hoping to build on the scoring the line succeeded during the 07/08 season, had moved Kovalev down to the third line with Lapierre and Latendresse after he failed to gain a point but was still a plus four while playing on the second line.

Players have slumps from time to time, all of which Kovalev has been accused of being a lazy player when he goes into his own slump. It could be that being the voice of a team, in the Canadiens case it could be the province of Quebec itself, has come down on Kovalev who hasn't been able to find any chemistry with old or new teammates.

Kovalev has been playing well and creating many chances, his plus nine rating is proof enough, the puck just doesn't want to go the net for him this year. Times like this is what Kovalev seems to strive for and expect him to explode with an offensive game that rivals Ovechkin in a single night.....that is unless the powder keg that is the local Montreal media blows up on him first.

Breaking News: McGuire trades for Phaneuf - Feb 2, 2008

In a shocking announcement made just hours ago, Canadiens GM Pierre McGuire has wasted little time in making a big splash for his club, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens send 3 first round draft picks, a second round pick in 2009, a 3rd round pick in 2008, the rights to Alexei Emelin, the rights to Alexander Perezhogin, Jaroslav Halak, Ryan O'Byrne, a 6th round pick in 2010, a 3rd round pick in 2011, Sergei Kostitsyn and Andrei Kostitsyn to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Dion Phaneuf.

Upon finalizing the deal, McGuire had this to say: "Whammo! We've now got 2 monsters here in Montreal! Opposing teams now have a choice: they can either be double-Dion'd or KO'd by Komisarek. It's all about choices, and I want to give the opposition a choice of dying by either hand. They don't discriminate, they're equal opportunity hitters."

McGuire then lept in the air and clicked his heels before running up the side of the wall.

With the trio of Markov, Komisarek and Phaneuf the Habs have undoubtedly the best defense in all of hockey. The only question that remains is this: which one wins the Norris?

Latendresse recalled from the AHL - Nov 6, 2009

Latendresse gets his chance to shine

Tonight is the moment Hab fans (as well as Guillaume Latendresse) have been waiting for. After tearing up the American Hockey League with 8 goals and 17 points he's hoping to make an impact in the NHL as well. "I've learned a lot in Hamilton," says Latendresse "especially how to get involved physically. If that means dropping the gloves every once in a while then I don't mind." Tomorrow night will be the 15th NHL game of the 22 year old's career.

The callup is bittersweet for Bob Gainey, who lost his job as General Manager of the Canadiens not long after the controversial decision to send Latendresse back to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Latendresse had impressed in training camp as an 18 year old after being drafted and then again at the age of 19, but the General Manager felt he was still too raw to expose him to the National Hockey League. Fans an analysts across Quebec were outraged that Latendresse had to spend another year in junior when they felt he was clearly ready. Bob Gainey was not fired directly because of this incident, but it was just the beginning of a series of events that caused the fanbase to turn on him, and eventually, the new owners of the Canadiens.



Luckily for Bob, he can have a good laugh at it. "It seems to have worked out for the best, he's one of those players that needs a little more time to develop. You have to be patient with the bigger guys," says Mr. Gainey. His team is in town visiting the Habs, after which they will head out West to complete the 4 game road trip.

Game time is 7pm tomorrow, and it should be a good one. It's always a classic when the Leafs and Habs get together.