The Montreal Canadiens are without a doubt the most storied franchise in the National Hockey League. They boast an almost unreachable 24 Stanley Cups, a myriad of Hall Of Famers and of course, Scott Gomez.
Despite all of the success that the Canadiens have experienced over recent years the current generation of Montreal Canadiens fans have nothing too insane to celebrate about. The majority of Habs talk these days circles around who the Habs have compared to who the Habs used to have. It’s no secret that the Habs have stunted some players development over the years, players might have been self-entitled Europeans, misunderstood French Canadians or even misunderstood rest –of- Canadians.
Habs fans have undoubtedly spent countless drunken rants going over the players that were terrible on the Habs, were traded for nothing, and then went on to have success with their new team.
You’ve heard of the “All Habs Team” where experts have put together a team including the best Habs of all time…well, I did the research, I scoured the internets, and I put together the “All Former Habs Team”
I chose this team based on success with the Canadiens VS. success with new team, what the team got for said player and basic availability and since the list could go on and on and on I’m doing this post-lockout style….here we go folks.
Centers:
1st Line: Mikhail Grabovksi-Toronto Maple Leafs: The Habs let Grabovski go for a 2nd round pick that ended up being traded for Robert Lang. His deportation to Toronto was due to a combination of a sense of self entitlement combined with the fact that there was simply no room for him. He earns first line center honours because he has grown up, found his scoring touch…and did it all while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2nd Line: Mike Ribeiro-Dallas Stars: While he may miss the snow in Montreal he certainly hasn’t missed a beat in Dallas. Bottom line, he turned into the player we all wanted him to become in Montreal. What’s Janne Niinimaa doing these days?
3rd Line: Saku Koivu-Anaheim Ducks: I have no idea why the Habs let him go. Screw you Scott Gomez.
4th Line: Maxime Lapierre-Vancouver Canucks: How many of you wished he was still on the team during the Boston series?
Honourable Mentions: Tommy Pyatt-Tampa Bay Lightning, Jeff Halpern-Washington Capitals, Glen Metropolit, Switzerland. Mike Johnson,-TSN. Brian Smolinski-Wherabouts Unknown. Dominic Moore-Tampa Bay Lightning.
Wingers:
1st Line:
Michael Ryder-Dallas Stars: Ryder was the worst 30 goal scorer the Habs ever had, on top of this…he just won a cup with the Bruins. First liner for sure.
Guillaume Latendresse-Minnesota Wild: He was supposed to be the next big thing…he was…in terms of pants size.
2nd Line:
Sergei Kostitsyn-Nashville Predators: The return is now absolutely zero and he’s putting up very solid numbers with the predators. This one stings based on the fact that his brother is still on the team.
Alex Tanguay-Calgary Flames: I’d rather have Cammalleri anyways.
3rd Line:
Chris Higgins-Vancouver Canucks: Remember when he said he was going to score 40 goals? Ah Memories. New York and Florida couldn’t figure him out. Vancouver managed to turn him into a solid energy forward with scoring upside.
Matt D’Agostini-St. Louis Blues: He just scored his 3rd of the season in OT for the Blue last night. How’s Aaron Palushaj doing?
4th Line:
Tom Kostopoulos-Calgary Flames: High octane, high energy, high last name word content.
A Habs team wouldn’t be a Habs team without a non-scoring center playing the wing. One of my honourable mentions at Center will fill this role.
Honourable Mentions: Alex Kovalev-Space. Benoit Pouliot-Boston Bruins. Georges Laraque-Politics.
Defense:
1st Pairing:
Mark Streit-New York Islanders: Don’t you wish they still had him? Captaining the
Islanders right now.
Ryan McDonaugh-New York Rangers: He earns top pairing status because of what they got in return. Big time ouch.
2nd Pairing:
Roman Hamrlik-Washington Capitals: Enjoy that cup, Roman.
James Wisniewski-Columbus Blue Jackets: He’ll be great in Columbus, just hope he doesn’t…blow it *ba dum tss*
3rd Pairing:
Mike Komisarek-Toronto Maple Leafs: This is a jokes blog after all.
Ron Hainsey-Winnipeg Jets: Barely a Hab but could have been a solid reliable defenseman who would have probably been traded for nothing.
Honourable Mentions: Brent Sopel-Russia. Francis Bouillon-Nashville Predators. Paul Mara-Free Agent. Marc-Andre Bergeron-Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan O’Byrn-Colorado Avalanche. Etc.
Goaltenders
Starting Goalie:
Jaroslav Halak-St. Louis Blues: While he isn’t having the stellar career most thought he would he is definitely the reason the Habs experienced their best showing since 1993…which a conference finals appearance, in case anyone forgot.
Backup Goalie:
Jose Theodore-Florida Panthers: Another man who misses the Montreal winters. He wont the Hart and Vezina in the same year. That’s ridiculous.
Honourable Mentions: Alex Auld-Ottawa Senators. Mathieu Garon-Tampa Bay Lightning. Cedric Desjardins-Colorado Avalanche. Cristobal Huet-France? Yann Danis-Edmonton Oilers.
With all of this amazing talent available, here is what the lineup would look like.
All Former Habs Team:
Latendresse-Grabovski-Ryder
Tanguay-Ribeiro-Kostitsyn
Higgins-Koivu-D’Agostini
Halpern-Lapierre-Kostopoulos
Streit-McDonaugh
Hamrlik-Wisniewski
Hainsey-Komisarek
Halak
Theodore
Now the question remains, Habs Laughs readers: Are they a playoff team?
Despite all of the success that the Canadiens have experienced over recent years the current generation of Montreal Canadiens fans have nothing too insane to celebrate about. The majority of Habs talk these days circles around who the Habs have compared to who the Habs used to have. It’s no secret that the Habs have stunted some players development over the years, players might have been self-entitled Europeans, misunderstood French Canadians or even misunderstood rest –of- Canadians.
Habs fans have undoubtedly spent countless drunken rants going over the players that were terrible on the Habs, were traded for nothing, and then went on to have success with their new team.
You’ve heard of the “All Habs Team” where experts have put together a team including the best Habs of all time…well, I did the research, I scoured the internets, and I put together the “All Former Habs Team”
I chose this team based on success with the Canadiens VS. success with new team, what the team got for said player and basic availability and since the list could go on and on and on I’m doing this post-lockout style….here we go folks.
Centers:
1st Line: Mikhail Grabovksi-Toronto Maple Leafs: The Habs let Grabovski go for a 2nd round pick that ended up being traded for Robert Lang. His deportation to Toronto was due to a combination of a sense of self entitlement combined with the fact that there was simply no room for him. He earns first line center honours because he has grown up, found his scoring touch…and did it all while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2nd Line: Mike Ribeiro-Dallas Stars: While he may miss the snow in Montreal he certainly hasn’t missed a beat in Dallas. Bottom line, he turned into the player we all wanted him to become in Montreal. What’s Janne Niinimaa doing these days?
3rd Line: Saku Koivu-Anaheim Ducks: I have no idea why the Habs let him go. Screw you Scott Gomez.
4th Line: Maxime Lapierre-Vancouver Canucks: How many of you wished he was still on the team during the Boston series?
Honourable Mentions: Tommy Pyatt-Tampa Bay Lightning, Jeff Halpern-Washington Capitals, Glen Metropolit, Switzerland. Mike Johnson,-TSN. Brian Smolinski-Wherabouts Unknown. Dominic Moore-Tampa Bay Lightning.
Wingers:
1st Line:
Michael Ryder-Dallas Stars: Ryder was the worst 30 goal scorer the Habs ever had, on top of this…he just won a cup with the Bruins. First liner for sure.
Guillaume Latendresse-Minnesota Wild: He was supposed to be the next big thing…he was…in terms of pants size.
2nd Line:
Sergei Kostitsyn-Nashville Predators: The return is now absolutely zero and he’s putting up very solid numbers with the predators. This one stings based on the fact that his brother is still on the team.
Alex Tanguay-Calgary Flames: I’d rather have Cammalleri anyways.
3rd Line:
Chris Higgins-Vancouver Canucks: Remember when he said he was going to score 40 goals? Ah Memories. New York and Florida couldn’t figure him out. Vancouver managed to turn him into a solid energy forward with scoring upside.
Matt D’Agostini-St. Louis Blues: He just scored his 3rd of the season in OT for the Blue last night. How’s Aaron Palushaj doing?
4th Line:
Tom Kostopoulos-Calgary Flames: High octane, high energy, high last name word content.
A Habs team wouldn’t be a Habs team without a non-scoring center playing the wing. One of my honourable mentions at Center will fill this role.
Honourable Mentions: Alex Kovalev-Space. Benoit Pouliot-Boston Bruins. Georges Laraque-Politics.
Defense:
1st Pairing:
Mark Streit-New York Islanders: Don’t you wish they still had him? Captaining the
Islanders right now.
Ryan McDonaugh-New York Rangers: He earns top pairing status because of what they got in return. Big time ouch.
2nd Pairing:
Roman Hamrlik-Washington Capitals: Enjoy that cup, Roman.
James Wisniewski-Columbus Blue Jackets: He’ll be great in Columbus, just hope he doesn’t…blow it *ba dum tss*
3rd Pairing:
Mike Komisarek-Toronto Maple Leafs: This is a jokes blog after all.
Ron Hainsey-Winnipeg Jets: Barely a Hab but could have been a solid reliable defenseman who would have probably been traded for nothing.
Honourable Mentions: Brent Sopel-Russia. Francis Bouillon-Nashville Predators. Paul Mara-Free Agent. Marc-Andre Bergeron-Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan O’Byrn-Colorado Avalanche. Etc.
Goaltenders
Starting Goalie:
Jaroslav Halak-St. Louis Blues: While he isn’t having the stellar career most thought he would he is definitely the reason the Habs experienced their best showing since 1993…which a conference finals appearance, in case anyone forgot.
Backup Goalie:
Jose Theodore-Florida Panthers: Another man who misses the Montreal winters. He wont the Hart and Vezina in the same year. That’s ridiculous.
Honourable Mentions: Alex Auld-Ottawa Senators. Mathieu Garon-Tampa Bay Lightning. Cedric Desjardins-Colorado Avalanche. Cristobal Huet-France? Yann Danis-Edmonton Oilers.
With all of this amazing talent available, here is what the lineup would look like.
All Former Habs Team:
Latendresse-Grabovski-Ryder
Tanguay-Ribeiro-Kostitsyn
Higgins-Koivu-D’Agostini
Halpern-Lapierre-Kostopoulos
Streit-McDonaugh
Hamrlik-Wisniewski
Hainsey-Komisarek
Halak
Theodore
Now the question remains, Habs Laughs readers: Are they a playoff team?
...was this a joke or are you being serious? You can't tell for shit.
ReplyDeleteDon't think a playoff team. These players aren't the most consistent of the bunch. They be around the 8-9-10 spot in the East but this wouldn't quite be the powerhouse you'd be interested in.
ReplyDelete