Stanley Cup of Chowder - The Montreal Canadiens are having a bad year and we're here to laugh about it.David Pastrnak is legend.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11233/stanley-fave.jpg2016-02-04T10:02:58-05:00http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/rss/stream/106699392016-02-04T10:02:58-05:002016-02-04T10:02:58-05:00Montréal continue de changer l'Histoire
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>La nuit derni</span>ère, avec une défaite 4-2 contre les imparables Flyers de Philadelphie, les Canadiens de Montréal donnent libre cours à leur passe-temps favori : changer l’histoire :</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Canadiens' 5-19-1 record since December 3rd is the team's worst 25 game stretch since the 1939-40 season.</p>
— Chantal Desjardins (@ChantalOnAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChantalOnAir/status/694738051562606592">February 3, 2016</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal">C’est un véritable exploit d’avoir les pires 25 matches d’affilée depuis l’année suivant celle où Toe Blake finit sa saison avec le trophée Hart, au plus haut point de sa carrière, à 27 ans. En 1939-40, les Habs avaient la même trajectoire que l’équipe de cette année – 10 victoires sur 48 matches, 7 d’entre elles avant la mi-Décembre. Ils manqueront les play-offs complètement, finissant 7<sup>ème</sup> au classement. N’allons pas oublier le fait que c’était l’époque des 6 équipes originales.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Les Habs de cette année ? 23 victoires sur 51 matches. Oui, c’est mieux que 10 sur 48, mais il faut noter qu’ils ont gagné leur 19<sup>è</sup></span>me match le 1<sup>er</sup> Décembre. Ils avaient l’air d’être infaillibles pendant les premiers mois de la saison, avant que Carey Price ne soit blessé. On pouvait lire et entendre un peu partout <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/1/17/10782868/the-habs-are-still-nothing-more-than-carey-price-by-the-way">de bien gentils mots à leur propos</a>, dont ceux de notre expert local (demandez au gagnant de la Coupe Stanley Patrick Beverly), Bill Simmons :</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just send the Stanley Cup to Montreal right now. No way this team is losing next spring, the season is over.</p>
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/658096545166835712">October 25, 2015</a>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/bear-necessities-bruins-fun/2016/2/4/10912798/montreal-continue-de-changer-lhistoirehockeyfied2016-02-04T09:00:03-05:002016-02-04T09:00:03-05:00Trade Of The Century - PK Subban, Boston Bruin
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<p>The Montreal Canadiens are in full-blown panic. They're losing games hand over fist and the Montreal media is already debating whether or not they should tank. But now they're beginning to talk about the untouchable - trading PK Subban.
<br>If that ever came close to fruition - here's why the Bruins should be in - and how it could happen.</p> <p>Times are tough over on the dark side.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> are struggling spectacularly. <span>Carey Price</span> is injured. The Habs can't score. Right now, they are the worst team in the NHL by a distance and a half.</p>
<p>But surely nobody ever thought that it would be so bad that the phrase "trade PK Subban" would actually get mentioned or, nevertheless, discuss.</p>
<p>Except today, it did.</p>
<p>On the TSN690 morning show today, RDS' Francois Gagnon <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690/gagnon-moving-core-pieces-1.432542" target="_blank">went into great detail about how,</a> contrary to popular wisdom, PK Subban is no longer untouchable as a Montreal Canadien.</p>
<p>Gagnon threw this grenade into a discussion on how to fix the Habs problems this morning...</p>
<p>"<i>The big question for me - what do you do with PK Subban? He's a superstar on his own. But he IS on his own. Do you think you could trade PK Subban? If you would be able to do something involving PK Subban that would bring in an elite center - would I do it? </i></p>
<p><i>I think right now, do you really put Subban as an untouchable? Yes, but...You need to see what you can get."</i></p>
<p>Gagnon then goes on to argue that "<i>Wayne Gretzky was traded. You need to see what you can get!".</i></p>
<p>So...let's just consider this. At least one member of the Montreal media is arguing that PK Subban should be a player dangled out there on trade hooks...just to see what happens.</p>
<p>Predictably, this has already caused violent reaction in Montreal. Marc Dumont over at Habs EOTP has made a passionate case explaining in great detail just why <a href="http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2016/2/3/10905168/the-habs-should-avoid-trading-p-k-subban-at-all-costs-trade-rumours-alex-galchenyuk-center" target="_blank">this is one of the most illogical moves ever discussed</a></p>
<p>But logic, as anyone who's watched the NHL for any length of time knows, is often in short supply in the big Canadian markets. Particularly when the team is panicking.</p>
<p>And, of course, Boston a) needs an elite defenceman and b) loves putting one over Montreal.</p>
<p>So...let's go hunting.</p>
<p>Firstly, if you're a Boston Bruin fan and you're even thinking of claiming that you wouldn't turn cartwheels of joy down Causeway if PK Subban became a Boston Bruin - you're lying to yourself. There is no team in the NHL, however much they hate their rivals, that doesn't covet at least one of their stars.</p>
<p>That reason alone is one that should see Don Sweeney pick up the phone to Marc Bergevin and at least fire the shot across the bows of "Marc...if you're ever seriously considering putting PK on the trade block...we need to have a conversation".</p>
<p>Granted, it would probably see the phone slammed down, probably with a whole string of Quebecois swear words ending in "tabernac"...but again, let's say Bergevin called back. this trade deadline. Or, more likely, let's say Don Sweeney goes full Godfather and plans to make an offer Bergevin could not refuse.</p>
<p>What do the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> do then?</p>
<p>Let's use that TSN conversation as a guide. The argument is that Habs need an "elite center" for <span>Max Pacioretty</span>.</p>
<p>Luckily, center is an area the Bruins are loaded at.</p>
<p>Don't worry, I'm not going to even consider suggesting Quebec native <span>Patrice Bergeron</span> is a possibility here. There are some prices that are too high, even for PK Subban.</p>
<p>But what about <span>David Krejci</span>? <span>Ryan Spooner</span> is developing beautifully into a top-six center who could plug in at that spot, the farm system is loaded with talent up the middle...and plus, there's going to need to be one hell of a contract in this deal from B's side just to make the money work.</p>
<p>Again - think about this. If you had to give up David Krejci as part of a deal to get PK Subban - would you really say "nope"?</p>
<p>Yes, David Krejci is a hell of a player. But in a hypothetical deal of this magnitude-is Krejci an untouchable?</p>
<p>I don't think he is.</p>
<p>But let's be honest here - Krejci for Subban is never a deal that is going to even come close to getting done. Boston need to put more into the pot. A lot more.</p>
<p>We are talking a nuclear trade, after all. Superstars get traded for superstars, not spare parts (well, unless you're Toronto)</p>
<p>So...let's take a look at the sweeteners.</p>
<p>Firstly, the Habs are going to want someone they can claim could step into Subban's role. Unfortunately for the Bruins, there's no D-man on this team who they'd willingly give up who could step into that role...probably not even close.</p>
<p>However, down in the prospect system, there's Jéremy Lauzon. A Quebec native, with reckless attacking talent. A player who the Bruins themselves are very high on indeed. The B's, however, have an embarrassment of riches on the blue, too, including their own local heroes in players like Matt Grzezlcyk and Rob O'Gara. They can afford to throw Lauzon into the pot.</p>
<p>Besides...have we forgotten who we're trading for here? It's PK SUBBAN.</p>
<p>The prospect possibilities keep piling up here. Jake DeBrusk. Jesse Gabrielle. Zack Senyshyn. These are all players who would possibly sting when being lost from the B's prospect system...but when you look at the return coming the other way, that sting suddenly looks worth it.</p>
<p>Besides-this is a prospect system that can take the cut and heal itself almost Terminator style. The Bruins talent pipeline is full of possibilities...it's worth giving some of those up for one of the surest things in hockey-even to a deadly rival.</p>
<p>Then we move to the future. Picks.</p>
<p>How many picks do you think the Boston Bruins have in the 2016 draft?</p>
<p>Ten. At the moment five of them are in the top 100. Two are in the first round. One (the SJ pick) has a legitimate, if outside right now, chance of being a top-ten or even top five pick.</p>
<p>Would you give up an outside chance at Patrik Laine or Jesse Puljujarvi (or even Auston Matthews) as part of a guaranteed Subban?</p>
<p>You probably would, wouldn't you? Especially with backup plans like future college FA Ahti Oksanen sitting out there ready to be aggressively pursued.</p>
<p>So, let's throw in one of those first rounders. Now, we're starting to build a package, you'd think.</p>
<p>The question is, though...how far do you go? How much is too much?</p>
<p>For someone like PK Subban, probably very little. This is a once-in-a-generation player the Habs media is seriously talking about their GM dangling out there. For them, you chase and you pursue the living hell out of them.</p>
<p><span>Loui Eriksson</span> is floating there too...yes, that's an expiring contract...but it's well worth throwing him in there as well if we're really loading up the pot. Again - would you seriously not if you heard "PK Subban offers - we're listening/nous allons écouter"</p>
<p>Again...this is all speculation, and the chances that Marc Bergevin will even consider dangling the name of PK Subban over the feeding frenzy that would be the other 29 NHL GMs are minimal.</p>
<p>But if there is the slightest chance - even the SMALLEST of chances, then Don Sweeney and Cam Neely should be loading up the big guns.</p>
<p>An offer of David Krejci, <span>Jeremy Lauzon</span> and a high pick would probably not get the job done. But it might start the conversation.</p>
<p>And that's a conversation that Boston can't afford not to have.</p>
<p>After all - is there an NHL team that wouldn't at least consider pulling that trigger - at (almost) any price?</p>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/2/4/10906822/boston-bruins-montreal-canadiens-pk-subban-trade-of-the-centurypucktistic2016-02-03T20:21:04-05:002016-02-03T20:21:04-05:00Habs player of the month? Nobody.
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<p>Montreal today announced that, despite having played enough games to qualify, they will not be awarding a player of the month Molson Cup (Coupe Molson, if you prefer) this month. As we all remember, they kicked off the month with a full third of their wins, setting the stage for a blistering 3-7-1 (That's bad) pace.</p>
<p>What do the habs have to say about it? Well, they claim that it was a three-way tie, but we know the truth. Here's the excuse for when the people who called 911 on Chara decide to stage another protest, <a target="new" href="http://www.rds.ca/hockey/canadiens/la-coupe-molson-est-reportee-en-fevrier-1.2852028">per RDS</a>:</p>
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<p><span>Gallagher, Pacioretty et Eller ont reçu une première étoile chacun et une sélection à titre de troisième étoile du match. En raison de la triple égalité – une première dans l’histoire de la coupe Molson soit dit en passant – la direction du Canadien a simplement décidé de reporter de quatre semaines l’élection de celui qui obtiendra le titre de joueur des mois de janvier et de février.</span></p>
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<p>Because I can't speak to Patrice Bergeron in his native tongue, I ran it through google translate, and got this:</p>
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<p>Gallagher, Pacioretty Eller and received first star each and selected as the third star of the game. Because of the three-way tie - a first in the history of the Molson Cup incidentally - the leadership of the Canadian simply decided to postpone by four weeks of the election that will get the player of the months of January and February.</p>
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<p>Let's remember the good times:</p>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/bear-necessities-bruins-fun/2016/2/3/10910750/montreal-canadiens-player-of-the-month-coupe-molson-cup-nobodyCornelius Hardenbergh2016-02-03T13:01:34-05:002016-02-03T13:01:34-05:00Montreal continues to make history.
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<p>Last night, with a 4-2 loss to the powerhouse Philadelphia Flyers, the Montreal Canadiens got into their favorite pastime: chasing history:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Canadiens' 5-19-1 record since December 3rd is the team's worst 25 game stretch since the 1939-40 season.</p>
— Chantal Desjardins (@ChantalOnAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChantalOnAir/status/694738051562606592">February 3, 2016</a>
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<p>It's a pretty mean feat to have the worst 25-game stretch since the days when Toe Blake, who coached for 13 years, was coming off a Hart Trophy season and in the prime of his career at 27 years old. The 1939-40 habs had a similar arc to the current team - They had 10 wins in their 48-game season, and they had 7 of them by mid-December. They missed the playoffs entirely, finishing seventh. This is especially noteworthy because it was in the original six era.</p>
<p>This year's habs? 23 wins through 51 games. Much better than 10 in 48, but they also got the 19th on December 1st. They looked pretty unstoppable in those first few months before Carey Price got hurt, though. Pundits everywhere, <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/1/17/10782868/the-habs-are-still-nothing-more-than-carey-price-by-the-way" target="new">were saying such nice things about them</a> and so was local Hockey expert (just ask Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Beverly) Bill Simmons:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just send the Stanley Cup to Montreal right now. No way this team is losing next spring, the season is over.</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/658096545166835712">October 25, 2015</a>
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https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/bear-necessities-bruins-fun/2016/2/3/10905788/montreal-continues-to-make-historyCornelius Hardenbergh2016-01-17T14:10:31-05:002016-01-17T14:10:31-05:00The Habs are still nothing more than Carey Price, by the way.
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<p>At least they have John Scott now</p> <p>Remember last season? When the Habs got outshot every single night but still managed to go 50-22-10 and get the second best record in the league? And people gave <span>Carey Price</span> lots of big throphies and hugs because he dragged what would have been an otherwise mediocre team into elite territory?</p>
<p>And then, while the hockey world agreed the 2014-15 Habs were basically the 2012-13 Leafs taken to their logical extreme, all the Habs fans resented that analysis?</p>
<p>And now, remember how great the Habs were at the beginning of this season?</p>
<p>And do you remember all the articles like <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=783702">this one?</a></p>
<p>And <a href="http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/habs-notebook-carey-price-named-nhls-first-star-of-the-week">this one?</a></p>
<p>And <a href="http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/835500">this one?</a></p>
<p>And then Price went down.</p>
<p>And then the denial got even worse.</p>
<p>"But Gallagher is gone too! You know, he's just as important as Price!"</p>
<p>Gallagher didn't give the Habs a 102 PDO last season.</p>
<p>"But the Habs are good this year! They're a slightly above average possession team!"</p>
<p>It's true, the Habs aren't getting outshot to heck like they were last year. Instead, they're a slightly above average team in terms of shot metrics.</p>
<p>But do you want to know what happens to teams that are only slightly above average who receive below average goal tending?</p>
<p>Those teams suck.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Since December 1st the Habs are 5-14-1, with a -20 goal differential (30th), are shooting 5.7% (30th), getting an .891 save % (28th). Yikes.</p>
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) <a href="https://twitter.com/DimFilipovic/status/688559225266556929">January 17, 2016</a>
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<p>And now the Habs suck. And I gotta say, I'm feeling some insane levels of schadenfreude right now.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/1/17/10782868/the-habs-are-still-nothing-more-than-carey-price-by-the-wayjohndavis33