was always bummed there's no Habs Sather hockey card.
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2015 9:38:32 GMT -5 by habernac
"The final people I want to thank are you, the greatest fans in the greatest city hockey has ever known," Robinson said in French. "Without you, I wouldn't be here today. You warmly welcomed an Anglophone farm boy from Marvelville and made him fall in love with this city."
was always bummed there's no Habs Sather hockey card.
The only one I've seen is the 1975-76 O-Pee-Chee (or TOPPS) Guy Lapointe All-Star card ... Lapointe is bent over on his stick with Glen Sather standing behind him ... I tried to post it but my BlackBerry isn't cooperating ...
Cheers.
"Only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten." - Neville Longbottom
Semin banished to the press box. Byron to take his place. Here's one article on Semin and his play to date.
Let Semin be
By Jack_Han
Why (almost) everything you’ve been told about the Russian winger is flat out wrong
Having experienced the NHL from the same perspective as most members of the mainstream sports media (through covering the Canadiens for the team’s official website in 2013-14), it is very difficult for me to accept the way Alex Semin is being portrayed by the media in recent days. Casting doubts about #13’s contributions nine games into an undefeated season is, at best, misleading.
In a particularly puzzling instance last week, a panelist on a popular post-game show was faulting Semin’s streaky tendencies and inconsistent play.
Never mind that this person, a former Canadiens captain, scored 40 goals in his best year, he also went goal-less a whopping 55 times that regular season. Clearly the pot calling the kettle black, and further proof that nearly every popularly-held belief tends to be wrong.
So in the interest of fairness, allow me to cherry-pick a couple of video examples from the Canadiens-Leafs game last Saturday, which we’ll use to build a case for Alexander Semin actually being a selfless player and great teammate, in terms of his on-ice actions. 1) Discipline And Tenacity On the Powerplay
By and large, I have to give credit to the Montreal coaching staff for putting Semin in a position to succeed this season, in contrast to how they handled P.A. Parenteau last year. Semin has been sharing the ice with linemates who share his offensive flair (Alex Galchenyuk) and who can cover up his defensive limitations (Lars Eller).
The Russian has also received plenty of powerplay time. Though his shooting hasn't been showcased in the best possible way, we can say that he has been doing plenty of little things to justify his usage.
On the PP zone exit, which we don’t see here, Semin swings way back into the defensive zone to support Andrei Markov on the controlled exit, then backs up Galchenyuk as he makes the controlled zone entry. He doesn’t touch the puck, but puts himself in the position to receive a pass and cover defensively for his teammates if they bobble the puck.
Because of this, Toronto penalty killers cannot pressure the puck carrier aggressively, allowing Montreal to set up in the offensive zone. Markov slides the puck over to P.K. Subban, who takes a hard, low one-timer on net.
David Desharnais recovers the puck and cycles it back up to the point, via Semin. A few cross-ice passes later, Semin has an opening to take a shot, but passes on this opportunity. He then blocks a Toronto clearing attempt and finally uses good stickwork to allow Subban to tee it up from the slot.
Looking at this clip, we see a player with tremendous hockey sense and discipline. If anything, he should have taken a shot on net when he had the puck on his stick instead of looking to dish it off. It’s definitely not the type of shift a selfish player would have had.
2) Effort On The Backcheck
It's important to note a few things here:
For one thing, the score is 0-0 midway through the first period. There is some virtue in having players battle just as hard whether down three goals, tied, or up three goals. But I tend to believe that every human being is wired just a bit differently.
Maybe that dogged determination Semin lacks 100% of the time is a gift, same as how Devante Smith-Pelly will never be able to skate, stickhandle or shoot as well as he does. Semin was benched later on in that runaway win, perhaps due to soft play or a lack of compete, but he certainly busted his butt to repair Nathan Beaulieu’s mistake here, when the outcome of the game was still in doubt.
Is Alex Semin still an elite scorer? Probably not. Will he make some obvious mistakes? Most definitely yes. But the knowledgeable observer already knew that.
What matters most right now, is that he is a productive top-six player and an underrated teammate; the right fit for a team that’s doing pretty well for itself.
Jack Han is the Video & Analytics Coordinator for the McGill Martlet Hockey team. He also writes occasionally about the NHL for Habs Eyes on the Prize. You can find him on Twitter or on the ice at McConnell Arena.
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2015 15:43:38 GMT -5 by seventeen
Is this Berkshire in disguise? The guy writes for EOTP so I am not surprised when he calls a guy with one goal in nine games productive after he admittedly, cherry picks videos of Semin doing the right thing.
BTW - does Han think Babcock is using Parenteau ( and his one goal) in Toronto?
No, it is indeed Jack Han. I don't think he's saying anything other than that Semin has become a media whipping boy without deserving it. I've noticed myself that he's made some excellent defensive plays. I think, though, that may be the issue. We didn't sign him in the expectation he'd make excellent defensive plays. We want the 30 goal Semin. I think that ship has sailed, but I think he makes our third line much more exciting than it would be without him. I guess we'll see how that shapes up with Byron on the wing instead. Unless, of course, MT moves up other right wingers and shifts Byron elsewhere. I think Byron will be on Galchy's line tonight.
I don't know what Han's opinion of Parenteau is at this point. He was good on shootouts, no?
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2015 16:14:53 GMT -5 by seventeen
I'm pretty sure several ppl on this board have acknowledged that Semin's backchecking has been a pleasant surprise. It's also been noted that Semin should be shooting more. Jack Han interprets this as being unselfish, and I don't think that's necessarily wrong. I think we've all noticed the same thing here, but we on this board don't have a bone to pick with the media.
However I don't agree with Jack that Semin has been productive, though. Imo the benching could be justified, but I get the feeling MT will play Flynn on Chuckie's wing and I won't like it.
Why not bring up Holloway from the farm? He's probably the most offensive rightie option that we have, and he's been producing well so far.
Han is more right than wrong. The effort is there and share the puck mentality is there.
Production? Well, in general the second line is showing signs of life but seems like a work in progress. Galchenyuk needs time establish two-way game and it is his development that most interest me, not Semin. If Galchenyuk has more trouble with rotating line mates, then Therrien is to deserve the blame since there would have been no pressing reason to start the juggling with 9-1 record.
No, it is indeed Jack Han. I don't think he's saying anything other than that Semin has become a media whipping boy without deserving it. I've noticed myself that he's made some excellent defensive plays. I think, though, that may be the issue. We didn't sign him in the expectation he'd make excellent defensive plays. We want the 30 goal Semin. I think that ship has sailed, but I think he makes our third line much more exciting than it would be without him. I guess we'll see how that shapes up with Byron on the wing instead. Unless, of course, MT moves up other right wingers and shifts Byron elsewhere. I think Byron will be on Galchy's line tonight.
I don't know what Han's opinion of Parenteau is at this point. He was good on shootouts, no?
I brought up Parenteau because Han couldn't resist taking a shot at the coaches over the handling of Parenteau. They felt that he was an answer to the Hab's offensive problems.
I'm pretty sure several ppl on this board have acknowledged that Semin's backchecking has been a pleasant surprise. It's also been noted that Semin should be shooting more. Jack Han interprets this as being unselfish, and I don't think that's necessarily wrong. I think we've all noticed the same thing here, but we on this board don't have a bone to pick with the media.
However I don't agree with Jack that Semin has been productive, though. Imo the benching could be justified, but I get the feeling MT will play Flynn on Chuckie's wing and I won't like it.
Why not bring up Holloway from the farm? He's probably the most offensive rightie option that we have, and he's been producing well so far.
When I see Semin pass up a good scoring chance I don't think it's unselfish - I think it's wrong. If you have a good look then shoot, don't make a lower % pass. I think the writer is trying to hard to make his case. He said in the article that he cherry picked clips that showed Semin doing something well.Will he show us clips of the other side of Semin? Or will he do what they usually do at EOTP - ignore facts that don't support their argument?
Post by CentreHice on Oct 29, 2015 19:51:03 GMT -5
Watching the SN pre-game.
Marek, Shannon, and Armstrong are in agreement that the Oilers are having trouble with fast teams....teams that move the puck quickly and put pressure on their defence, which still doesn't have a true 1-2 pairing.
Well, we shall see which Habs' team shows up tonight. The one that played a fast, relentless pressure game vs. Detroit and St. Louis.....or the one that showed up vs. the Sabres, Leafs, and Canucks.
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2015 19:51:44 GMT -5 by CentreHice
Here we go again with a 4th liner in the top 6 ...I joked with a buddy Semin wil be benched by game 10 and here we are game 11.... Small investment with 13 but huge hole for this team. AG need a real winger that can score...Eller has been good but he's not a pure scorer MB better be looking sooner than later for some he.
Post by CentreHice on Oct 29, 2015 20:46:33 GMT -5
I swear Subban gets called for more borderline penalties than any other player.
Pouliot went down too easily, IMO.
Habs with a .500 shooting pct. in that period.
Have to keep exploiting that porous D and goaltending with our speedy forecheck and transition. All the Oilers' talent is up front. Nurse is going to be a quality d-man, but he's alone, it seems.
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2015 20:50:19 GMT -5 by CentreHice
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 29, 2015 20:54:54 GMT -5
Nice to see les boys up 3-0 ... not gettong the game despite Harrah's Race and Sorts Book room having 25-odd TVS all on different games ... will check in later ... thanks for keeping the thread going guys ...
Cheers.
"Only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten." - Neville Longbottom
I'm pretty sure several ppl on this board have acknowledged that Semin's backchecking has been a pleasant surprise. It's also been noted that Semin should be shooting more. Jack Han interprets this as being unselfish, and I don't think that's necessarily wrong. I think we've all noticed the same thing here, but we on this board don't have a bone to pick with the media.
However I don't agree with Jack that Semin has been productive, though. Imo the benching could be justified, but I get the feeling MT will play Flynn on Chuckie's wing and I won't like it.
Why not bring up Holloway from the farm? He's probably the most offensive rightie option that we have, and he's been producing well so far.
When I see Semin pass up a good scoring chance I don't think it's unselfish - I think it's wrong. If you have a good look then shoot, don't make a lower % pass. I think the writer is trying to hard to make his case. He said in the article that he cherry picked clips that showed Semin doing something well.Will he show us clips of the other side of Semin? Or will he do what they usually do at EOTP - ignore facts that don't support their argument?
Yup. It's absolutely the wrong play. That doesn't mean that it's not unselfish.
I think we all saw that he should have been shooting more. Maybe that would have kept him in the lineup for tonight.