davidolinger.bsky.social
Retired communications professional. Writer, music, outdoors enthusiast, sports, especially Habs and Jays, dining, wining, dogs, and volunteering. Co-author of themuseandviews.wordpress.com
1,020 posts
439 followers
389 following
Active Commenter
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Fine, shut off the electricity. It seems like many Americans are in the dark anyway.
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Me, too, but an exciting summer of drafting, trades and signing ahead as the #Habs rebuild moves to its next stage!
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And Engstrom. I think he's further ahead defensively than Mailloux.
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I don't think Slafkovsky needs to fight. He needs to be consistent is his pushback, skate hard and finish his checks. So often he's leading with his stick. He needs to use his size in front of the net consistently.
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For a centre, plus. #Habs are still a low scoring team. I'd also look at stabilizing defence. Lots of young guys and Canadiens had among the worst goals against.
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It will be important to take serious steps. Rangers, Detroit, Columbus, Boston, and the Islanders will want to be in the mix. Second line centre is a must. Dach is a question mark so who else is on the second line? Maybe it's two forwards. I know there are lots of D but a vet, rugged guy would help.
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Sam Bennett would be a great choice but I don't see him leaving Florida.
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I don't think he needs to fight. That's not really part of his makeup, as I said. I'm looking for him to put it all together over the next couple of years. Finish his checks, be more aggressive, be a presence in front of the net. Keep skating.
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I can't remember a year I have been more excited about a #Habs summer. Sure, there have been years where they had high draft picks but now there are expectations of being competitive in the playoffs. This year was gravy with an unexpected playoff spot. Rebuild is onto go time!
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That is who Anderson has become. Great on the penalty kill, adds energy but isn't going to score much.
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I don't think Slafkovsky has the personality or makeup to be a Tkachuk which is fine. Just keep skating all the time and finish checks. Don't lead with your stick. He hasn't put it all together yet but improving every season.
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I'm more excited about this summer than I have been in a very long time. Yes, other years the #Habs have been up for high draft picks, which was intriguing, but now the Canadiens have created an expectation that they are ready to take the rebuild to another step, competitiveness in the playoffs.
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I heard on the @thesickpodcasts.bsky.social tonight that there have been discussions toward keeping Armia around. He's big but he is far from consistent in using his body. I'd move on from him. It looks like Dvorak is gone, which is fine because he only had one decent season with #Habs, this year.
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This will be an exciting summer. We know the need for the second line centre. What we don't know is status of Laine and Dach. Maybe it's two forwards that's needed. With Savard gone, lots of takers for his spot but should probably consider a veteran to mix in. Had too many young D to start rebuild.
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Not a goon but clearly on and over the edge. Wilson has learned to rein it in when the game is on the line.
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Yes, the #Habs now have lots of skilled small- to medium-sized players. Now they need to fill around the edges with bigger, stronger players who can deliver punishing hits. I don't know that Slafkovsky is ever going to be a power forward who hits. Anderson hits but not on the Tom Wilson level.
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Yeah, those were some good words, though he also mentioned the #Habs being cheap. Not sure what he meant by that. Maybe he needed the Canadiens to really rock one of their players.
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Loved that series. And if any Flyers wanted to mess, The Big Bird was there to tune them in.
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Totally agree. I am all for the big hits. You don't need to go looking for them. That's where a Xhekaj needs to learn.
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Exactly. Gritty guys who can play regular minutes who add to the offence. The #Habs need a culture that balances skill and toughness.
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If a Wilson type is a goon. Ovi threw devastating hits, too. #Habs now have much of the skilled talent they need. What's lacking is that overall sandpaper. Washington has that with several players. Montreal needs to now round out its lineup with more guys that Xhekaj and Anderson. Make it a culture.
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Yes, Xhekaj can hit but he is still learning to do that from a positional perspective and with force. Toughness and grit are an overall team need. Otherwise, the #Habs will be fancy in the regular season but that won't work in the post season. They don't want to be like another nearby Canadian team.
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Yes, I've not been this excited about the #Habs in a long time. Growing up, the Canadiens were expected to win or at the very least be competitive every season. Now, the future looks bright with talent at many positions. The holes are ones everyone has identified.
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I'd say the Boston-Vancouver series in 2011 was pretty dirty. But, yes, #Habs have to adapt. It's not just a question of whether an Arber Xhekaj is in the lineup. He and the few players who do hit don't throw devastating hits like Wilson and Ovechkin deliver. Overall team toughness needed.
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Nothing. #Habs were projected to finish in bottom five with 76 points. In December it looked like that was going to come true. The playoffs were not expected by anyone. The team itself simply wanted to be in the mix. Playoffs were close games, great experience. Great info for management for summer.
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Vegas had them in that position going into the season with 76 points. Definitely looked like that would come through until they hit that magical run in late December.
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Great analysis. So much focus on Xhekaj's value. I get the sentiment but he was on the roster for the most important hit of the series. To me, it's a question of overall toughness that needs to occur. That's not use of Xhekaj question. It's up to management to build the roster out. 2C a must also.
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Beyond Xhekaj, the #Habs don't really have anyone that fits into that category, if he really even does. Anderson and Gallagher, as much as I love them, hit but they aren't devastating. Guhle throws the occasional thundering hit but he's just emerging. Up to management to find tougher, grittier guys.
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Yes, and every game was close. First one went into overtime. Second game could have gone either way, too. Lots to be proud of. A year ahead of where I thought they'd be. #GoHabsGo!
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Well, he hasn't posted on X since election night, so he must be busy getting resumes out. LOL
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Maybe another makeover is in order. George Thorogood had some advice in this regard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNg3...
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What a Fab Four. LOL
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Nooooooo ... please don't break up the Core Fore!
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It seems another makeover is in order. Maybe some life coaching tips ... like change your repellant personality. LOL
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Hear, hear!
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The #Habs would go down as worse. They were given no chance to win even one game. Analysts thought the Sens would win one or two games.
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Here's to Hubby's health and the #Habs!
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Danny was the best of all time. When I was a kid, I would tune into #Habs games on French CBC, even though I wasn't fluent. I understood enough to follow along.
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Caufield's father, Paul, was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
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And the way the NHL is, he would get suspended. Anderson would do better just to level a beat down on Wilson like he did earlier in the season. At worst, he'd get the instigator in a fight or a two-minute penalty if Wilson turtled trying to draw a call.
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Lack of accountability by NHL officials is the greater issue. The Capitals are a bigger, more physical team. Even with Xhekaj, that's won't change. However, not calling fundamental fouls like three crosschecks to the face is downright egregious. I have no issue with hard, but not late or dirty hits.
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Anderson did give it back and got the additional penalty. But if the #Habs initiated dirty play, they would certainly get called.
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A couple of years, I actually didn't watch once the #Habs were eliminated. It's tough to be a fan of this kind of play, where one team is allowed to cross the line so blatantly. It reminds me of the 2011 series between Boston and Vancouver. The Bruins got away with murder.
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It's an age-old thing in the NHL where officials hesitate to call a lot of penalties in the post-season because they don't want to influence the outcome of the game. But they are having an impact, by putting the whistles away. It's embarrassing they're missing or choosing to not call blatant fouls.
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People have questioned St. Louis all season and I still see references to "Pee Wee Coach". And yet, the #Habs are in the playoffs, having exceeded expectations by a wide margin. The Canadiens were projected before the season to be in the bottom five again with 76 points.
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That is a possibility, though, I think it can upset the rhythm of the defence corps. I'd favour inserting him into game 3, as necessary.