Player Spotlight: Carey Price, the Cowboy

[Player Spotlight Archives]

What can we tell the diehard Montreal Canadiens fan about Carey Price that he or she doesn't already know?  Probably not too much, though there was some good news just yesterday that Price has fully recovered from his concussion and thus may now travel home to British Columbia.  It is based on this news that today we take a step back from Carey Price the goaltender and look at Carey Price the cowboy, providing some insights on the roots of the stone-cold Habs keeper.

To begin, here is a clip done by TSN on Price's favourite off-ice pass-time:

And more Carey on horseback:

Price's cowboy origins come from his growing up in Anahim Lake, British Columbia, a village which, when combined with surrounding areas, has a population of just 1,500 (just 360 of which are in the community of Anahim Lake itself).  Nearly half of that number is made up of Ulkatcho First Nations living on nearby reserves.  The local Stampede is the highlight of the region's social calendar, and thus the foundation of Price's love for the rodeo.

Anahim Lake, a small area hours north of Whistler (or a 10-12 hour drive from Vancouver), is primarily a community based on forestry, though cattle farming, sport fishing, and mushroom picking are also important economic activities.  Outdoor adventure opportunities bring some tourism to the area, with the village being surrounded by the snow-capped Coastal Mountain Range.  It is no wonder, then, that Price has such a calm and peaceful demeanour from growing up in these parts.

If you ever wanted to make a pilgrimage out there in Carey's honour, there is actually a small airport serving the region with direct service from Vancouver on Pacific Coastal Airlines.  You can spend a weekend or more camping and enjoying nature's beauty at "resorts" like this one: http://www.anahimlakeresort.com/index.htm

So how did a country boy from such a tiny community rise to NHL superstardom?  Anahim Lake has no real arena, with just an outdoor rink to serve as entertainment and recreation (photo credit for left).  In fact, the village also has no educational institutions that go beyond the 9th grade level.  Thus, for Carey to become the man he is today took serious dedication on the part of his family, with his father shuttling a young Price to and from the nearest rink - that in Williams Lake - three times a week to play minor hockey.  Many parents make big sacrifices to cater to their childrens' professional sport aspirations, but consider that the drive from Anahim Lake to Williams Lake is about five hours each way.  The solution to this?  Fortunately, Jerry, Carey's father and a former goaltender taken in the 8th round by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978 in his own right, was a licensed pilot and was thus able to make the commute in shorter time spans when weather conditions permitted.

Carey has come an awfully long way to be where he's at today, and I couldn't be happier to hear that he's received a clean bill of health to start his off-season relaxing and training regimen.  For the Canadiens to bounce back at all next year, they will need him at the top of his game, so here's to a great and productive summer for a remarkable young man.

A Recap of Carey Price's All-Star Weekend

We'll be back with new content tomorrow, but for now, enjoy a little look at Carey Price's NHL All-Star weekend:

Please Stay - An Open Letter to Carey Price

Dear Carey Price,

As you celebrate Christmas with those near and dear to you over the next few days, I have no doubt you will be faced with a barrage of questions about your hockey team. "What's wrong this season?" they'll ask. "Aren't you tired of being the only one trying?"

"And what's up with all this language crap?" (feel free to refer them HERE)

But before you're faced with an inevitable, "Wouldn't it be easier to just play somewhere else?" let me make a case for you to stay.

I know you're well aware of the history of goaltenders in this city. I mean... I know you've seen this:



You made it painfully clear, in fact, responding to some jeers in your direction with a salute of your own:

We haven't always given you a fare shake. Sure, when Jaroslav Halak was with the team, there were times we wanted him to play ahead of you. But we can all admit Halak was super human that season. Winning is more than a want here; it's a need in this city. The Canadiens faithful are getting restless as we approach 20 years since the last Stanley Cup. We're ready to sacrifice almost anything or anyone for a shot at glory. The potential to be a part of that HAS to motivate you, as when you do eventually bring the 25th cup to the city, it will be a feeling that is unattainable in any other market. Ask Saku Koivu how badly he wanted not only to win, but very specifically to win it all in Montreal.

You told us to "chill out," and we did. We gave you a chance and you never looked back. This is YOUR team now. You are the only thing that keeps many fans from diving into a deep depression in the current season-gone-wrong. Whoever may be the General Manager when it comes time to negotiate a new deal with you this summer will be prepared to give you whatever you want. The keys to the city? Consider them yours.

Look, we acknowledge that the team hasn't been worthy of your dominance this season. We're sorry you've had to watch it all unfold from your crease. You deserve so much better. All we ask is that, unlike Patrick Roy in the videos above, you be willing to stick out, through thick and thin, riding the ups and downs that come with playing in the most hockey-crazed city in the world. Commit to us long term, let us know you are happy here and want to stay, and we will be able to sleep easier at night (perhaps clutching our Carey Price plush dolls).

We promise to try to go easy on you. To stand by you as best we can. To not care if you ever learn more than a few words in French. To rally behind your buddy P.K. Subban even as he struggles through a sophomore slump. To endorse your buddy Josh Gorges as he (hopefully) looks for a long-term contract this summer. Something you don't like? Tell us and we'll protest it. Heck, we'll call 911 if we have to. But the truth is, this is Montreal. We fans know the game and can be harsh critics. What we can truly promise is to be honest with you. If you continue to work hard and give your best effort, night in and night out, as you have this year, we will love you forever. And who knows... stick around long enough and play your cards right and maybe some day wayyy down the road, your #31 could even find its way up to the rafters along some of the game's all-time greats. But lose your focus, and we'll also let you know, particularly if you've got a young hotshot (read: not Peter Budaj) backing you up at the time. So I guess, what I'm saying is we promise to keep you on your toes and to push you to be at your best. Think of us like a parent who tries to push their kid to do better by seeing a 99% on an exam and asking what happened to the other 1%. But we love you; really, we do.

At this point, Carey, you're going to hear a lot of crazy shit out there. On the internet, in the media, in the streets... fans are hurting and are emotional. The mood and beat of this city, as I'm sure you've seen, tends to thrive and die with the performances of you and the boys. We're all clinging to hope that the team can come out of the holiday break with renewed energy and look at it like the start of a new season. We know the struggles aren't your doing, so please don't take any negativity or wise-cracks personally. We're all just waiting for the day when you will lead a turned-around team back to glory. Just please don't ask to leave before that day comes.

Yours Truly,

Habs Fans

Your Canadiens for November 21, 2011

While the attention of the rest of the league is on the much-anticipated return to action of Sidney Crosby this evening, Habs fans have a big game of their own to watch. After ending the New York Rangers' 7-game win streak on Saturday night, the team will have a chance to put a stop to Boston's 8-game run this evening.

- Your Montreal Canadiens for tonight:

Mike Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta

Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Erik Cole

Travis Moen - Scott Gomez - Lars Eller

Mathieu Darche - Petteri Nokelainen - Aaron Palushaj

Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban

Frederic St. Denis - Yannick Weber

Alexei Emelin - Raphael Diaz

Carey Price

- Carey Price was today named the NHL's first star of the week for a second time this season. Despite Peter Budaj getting a start mid-week, Price put up a 2-0-1 record with a .972 save percentage and a 0.67 goals against average. His last two starts have represent the first time in his young career that he has recorded back-to-back shutouts, with his current streak at 127 minutes. Congratulations Carey!

- Tonight marks the 100th game of P.K. Subban's career. The young blueliner has stepped up his game in the wake of injuries after a slow start to the season.

- Hal Gill, released from hospital on Friday, rejoined his teammates for practice for the first time this morning, but will not play tonight. His return shouldn't be far away, however.

- Gill skated in practice with Andrei Markov, who was wearing the same white-coloured jersey as his teammates. This led to speculation that he may have received medical clearance for contact in practice, but it was later clarified that he has yet to get that green light. It is expected that it may come later this week, though. There is still no specific timeline for Markov's return, but Jacques Martin had mentioned it won't be before the California road trip which is in early December.

- Chris Campoli and Andrei Kostitsyn also skated this morning, but with a team trainer as opposed to their mates. While Campoli being a ways off is hardly news, it seems Kostitsyn isn't progressing as quickly as many had hoped for.

- Turning our attention to the prospect ranks...

After a great game with a goal and 3 assists on Friday night, Brendan Gallagher was held off the scoresheet Saturday and then collected an assist on Sundy, now giving him 36 points in 21 games, but falling off the 50-goals-in-50-games track for the first time, stuck at 19.

Fellow WHL'er Darren Dietz scored a goal yesterday, giving him 15 points in 24 games and a team best +18 rating.

Despite finishing the night a +2, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu had a 6-game point streak broken yesterday. Montreal's first round pick last June has 20 points and is a +17 in 23 games.

Michael Bournival has played three games since returning from injury. He was twice held off the scoresheet (and finishing a -2 on both of those occasions), but Saturday night he picked up 2 goals, to now give him 12 in 10 games played.

Danny Kristo was held off the scoresheet for a second consecutive weekend (with a bye weekend in between), cooling off after a rocket start. He is now back at the 1 point-per-game mark with 12 points in 12 games.

Also in the NCAA, Mac Bennett scored his 3rd goal of the season, passing the 2 he notched last year. In his rookie season, the defenseman put up 12 points in 32 games, while now as a sophomore he has 10 in just 14 contests.

A Great Day to be a Habs Fan

In an early season that has had plenty of ups and downs for diehard Montreal Canadiens fans, last night was certainly one where we could all sit back and smile.

Not only did the Habs put up a dominating 4-0 win, giving Carey Price his first shutout (and assist!) of the season and P.K. Subban his first goal (a culmination of greatly improved play over the past few games), but for the first time in the 2011-12 regular season, the team is now above the .500 winning percentage mark. They've battled their way to that point with an impressive 7-2-1 record over the past 10 games. And if even that isn't enough to please you... at long last, Mathieu Darche did NOT receive any powerplay time yesterday!

I recently saw it suggested that Erik Cole might be one of the more disappointing off-season signings league-wide. If you had only watched the first 7 Montreal Canadiens games this year, I could see how you would think that. Cole took his time finding his zone in Montreal. But over the last 11 contests, night in, night out, Cole has been one of the team's most dangerous forwards, playing physically and driving the net hard. Over the last 11 games, Cole has picked up 4 goals and 4 assists, a rate which would project to 60 points on an 82-game season. Sixty is just one less than Cole's career high of 61 set in 2006-07, so it would be unrealistic for Habs fans to expect anything more from him. I, for one, am loving Cole, and feel every bit as happy about the signing as when it was first announced (or when I was clamouring for it prior to July 1).

Shifting over to other good news which made it a great day to be a Habs fan...

- Yesterday evening, the Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of Brendan Gallagher to a 3-year entry level contract. Gallagher is in his final season with the Vancouver Giants, where he currently has 18 goals and 31 points in 18 games. He is well on pace to better his last season's totals of 44 goals and 91 points in 66 games and seems a near-lock to represent Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championship. Last night, he captained the WHL Team that defeated Russia 5-2 in the penultimate Subway Super Series match, though he was held off the scoresheet.

Gallagher is the second highly touted prospect to be signed to join the Hamilton Bulldogs (if he doesn't make the Habs outright) for 2012-13 after Jarred Tinordi. They will form part of a strong incoming pro class that should also include Michael Bournival, Morgan Ellis, Nathan Beaulieu, Greg Pateryn, and Danny Kristo.

- Speaking of Ellis and Beaulieu, both were in action for their QMJHL clubs last night, and each recorded 2 assists in respective 4-3 victories. After a bit of an up-and-down start offensively, Beaulieu is now on a 5-game point streak, over which he has 2 goals and 6 assists. It will be interesting to see if he is invited to Canada's December camp for the World Juniors and if he can lock down a spot amidst tough competition.

Could It Be? Is That Hope I see?

Yes, it was just one win. Yes, the Montreal Canadiens are still only 2-5-2. But for the first time since the Jets' home opener in Winnipeg, there were a few reasons to smile in Montreal last night.

Let's start with an obvious one: Max Pacioretty. There were legitimate fears over how he would play once returning from last season's spinal cord injury. The truth is, Max hasn't been the same player he was prior to that injury; he still hesitates a little about charging into danger areas or going recklessly to the net. But he is maturing into the player he has always had the potential to be, whose mix of size, speed, and skill make him a top notch top 6 guy. And if he ever re-gains that head down, charge the goal, style... (and it isn't unreasonable to think he'll only get more and more comfortable on the ice over time) look out NHL cause we'll have a legitimate star powerforward on our hands. Four goals, five assists through 9 games is a great start for Max, and this while bouncing around on numerous combinations of lines. Plus the game seems like nothing can keep him down, a studly quick healer worthy of the nickname Wolverine.

Next, there's Carey Price. The Habs' star netminder got a couple of demons out of his closet by finally picking up career win #100 and shirking the pink pads he was using since for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Not to suggest it was causing a distraction, but getting past the milestone always helps to have one less thing at the back of your mind, and about those bads... well I'm not saying they were bad luck, or that they were of some inferior quality or comfort or fit... but for whatever reason, Carey wasn't getting it done in them. If the team is going to turn this terrible start around, they need Price at his best, so hopefully he gets to that level quickly.

Third would be Erik Cole. After a tough start to the season that saw Jacques Martin misuse him in every way imaginable other than sticking him on defense, Cole has been amongst the team's top wingers in each of the last two games. The Cole that Habs fans were happy to sign seems to have shown up, and hopefully he stays hot as when on his game, he is exactly the type of player this team needs.

Next let's talk Perry Pearn. No, I'm not going to say that he was the root of all of the team's problems and his firing allowed the team to stomp the Flyers last night. I've never been a big fan of Pearn, as he has a demeanor not all that unlike Jacques Martin's and his work on the powerplay and with the defense has at times been questionable. But the firing of an assistant coach with no external replacement isn't ultimately going to be a difference-maker. So why was Pierre Gauthier's announcement and subsequent press conference an encouraging sign? Maybe it's just the eternal optimist within me grasping at straws, but I was happy to hear the line Gauthier toed with the media. He spoke of a new commitment to "outside the box" thinking. He repeated a few times that the organization had to "change its global outlook." While he did state flat out that Jacques Martin was still his guy (for as much as we can believe it when a GM says this), what this says to me is they want to evolve, modify, or completely scrap the defensive shell system that Martin preaches. This says to me they see the issues at hand and they're ready to step outside of their country club mentality and open themselves up to new tactics. I'm a fan of getting creative and using all the tools at your disposal in sports management, so if Gauthier says they're ready to try new thing, then I take that as a great sign of better days ahead. The first step may have been firing Pearn, but I'm certain other changes - whether we're privy to them or not - area round the corner.

Finally, there's the long lost saviour of the Montreal blueline, Andrei Markov. There is renewed hope on this dossier as well, with members of the media taking advantage of having access to Gauthier to get an update and PG stating that things look good. Markov has responded well to testing in Florida and will get back to Montreal this Friday. There's no explicit timetable for his return to practice or game action, but it sounds like we may finally be getting closer. If the offense has awoken, a healthy Markov is the type of boost that could quickly lift this team out of the depths of the Eastern Conference basement.

So Habs fans, happy days may not be here again just yet, but there is some light at the end of our collective tunnel. And this while Brian Gionta has yet to show up, Hal Gill is still in his usual clumsy early season mode, P.K. Subban is struggling to find his game, and Scott Gomez and Chris Campoli remain on IR. Maybe... just maybe... the Fail for Nail must be put on hiatus.

Your Canadiens for October 12, 2011

Finally! We're now only one day away from the return of meaningful hockey to the Bell Centre as the Canadiens prepare for their home opener tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames. As always, we'll have updates from practice as they come in.

UPDATE: - The team's lines are the same as we saw yesterday, meaning:
Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta
Travis Moen - Tomas Plekanec - Erik Cole
Mathieu Darche - David Desharnais - Andrei Kostitsyn
Lars Eller - Andreas Engqvist - Aaron Palushaj

Why Travis Moen on the Tomas Plekanec line instead of any of the offensively inclined bottom 6 wingers? Who knows. Ask Jacques Martin.

- Hal Gill was absent from practice today, though the reason why wasn't immediately clear. The 6'7" locker room leader was later said by the team to have had family commitments that kept him away. Hopefully that's all it was, because the team can ill-afford to lose yet another veteran blueliner.

- Credit to Big T on the Habs for their story yesterday based on a recent photo of Andrei Markov at Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport.
Markov was boarding a plane to Miami, presumably to meet with Dr. James Andrews, the physician who performed his ACL surgeries. Dr. Andrews has offices in Alabama and Florida, either which may have been Markov's final destination. The real question is why he was headed there? Was it to get final medical clearance? Based on his raised right knee in the picture, this is doubtful (though PERHAPS it was just a comfy way to sit... we don't mean to speculate based purely on him elevating his leg). Was it a normal scheduled check-up? Hopefully... But was it to have the knee drained again due to fluid buildup? This would be the worst case scenario and would see Markov out the longest. We don't know, and it is unlikely the Habs will tell us. Their injury updates have consisted simply of "he's on schedule."

- For the Carey Price stalker types, his sister appears to have a Twitter account based on an exchange with P.K. Subban. If you just can't get enough of the Price family, be sure to follow Kayla at @KaylaPrice: http://twitter.com/#!/kaylaprice

- Habs prospect Michael Bournival was injured in practice and early reports indicate he could miss up to one month of action. This is unfortunate as Bournival was off to a torrid start in the QMJHL with 10 goals and 3 assists in just 7 games. If he does miss significant time, it may also hurt his chances of being on Team Canada's World Junior Championships squad, a role he was looking a lock for.

- As an aside, if you've seen the terrific Brad Pitt movie Moneyball (and if you haven't you SHOULD!), one can't help but laugh at the parallels between it and the current Montreal Canadiens situation. Not catching my drift? Stay tuned for our feature article Friday. [/spoiler alert] You have two days to watch the movie in order to appreciate our piece! Get on it! EDIT: This article was cancelled (or at least postponed) for the time being. While we do find it a little funny that it has required injuries and/or roster moves to get Martin to play his younger players or change his lines at times, the Moneyball analogy doesn't go far enough just yet.

Your Canadiens for October 5, 2011 (Updates from Collingwood)

We're only a day away from a return to NHL hockey! As the Canadiens finish off their final preparations for the opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, we bring you one final training camp update.

- Instead of joining their teammates on the ice today, Aaron Palushaj, Mike Blunden, and Jeff Woywitka trained in the gym. This likely indicates they will all be Hamilton-bound by day's end (though Woywitka would still need to be waived first). This is good news as it could indicate more healthy bodies (Lars Eller?) returning to the line-up.

UPDATE: - Per the Canadiens, Palushaj has officially been sent to Hamilton. Blunden will have to wait till he clears waivers at noon today, and Woywitka should be placed on waivers at the same time. The cuts come as the Canadiens must submit their opening day roster by 3:00 PM today.

UPDATE: - As we mentioned, Woywitka was placed on waivers by the Canadiens today as well. After clearing waivers, Blunden was officially assigned to the Bulldogs at noon.

- Per Canadiens.com, Ryan White has also now officially been placed on IR. Since he was not on injured reserve at the end of last season, this means he must be held out at least a full week.

UPDATE: - Lines in practice remained the same today. I put up a feature this morning on trying to make sense of them. Check it out here:

http://yourcanadiens.blogspot.com/2011/10/trying-to-understand-jacques-martins.html

So with the cuts, this will be your final roster.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2011-12 Montreal Canadiens:

Mike Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn

Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta

Mathieu Darche - David Desharnais - Erik Cole

Travis Moen - Andreas Engqvist - Yannick Weber

Lars Eller (inj.)

Hal Gill - P.K. Subban

Chris Campoli - Josh Gorges

Jaroslav Spacek - Raphael Diaz

Alexei Yemelin

With Ryan White and Andrei Markov currently on injured reserve.

Very interestingly, this is only 22 names, meaning there is 1 free roster spot. Does the team know something that we don't yet? Is there a waiver claim in for Blair Betts and/or Victor Oreskovich?

- Thanks to Mike Cammalleri's Tweet, we know that last night the team visited Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain for some rest and relaxation. Looks like a nice place.

If you want to see the latest Tweets from all members of the Canadiens organization, you can follow our Habs Player List on Twitter.

- Alexei Emelin's agent Don Meehan gave an interview to a Russian news outlet where he expressed his confidence that his client will remain with the Habs all season. He confirmed that there is indeed a clause in Emelin's contract which would allow him to return to the KHL instead if he were to be assigned to Hamilton, but says he had a chat with Pierre Gauthier who expressed satisfaction with Emelin's performance thus far. The interview:

http://www.sports.ru/en/hockey/127034149.html

- For those that may not have seen it, during the Canadiens' game in Quebec City against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the crowd was doing the wave, Carey Price joined in. Courtesy of the amazing site 25stanley.com, here is the video:

- The Canadiens officially sent forward Ian Schultz down to the Hamilton Bulldogs, indicating that he is sufficiently recovered from his injury to get the needed medical clearance. That leaves Louis Leblanc, Olivier Fortier, Hunter Bishop, and Brendon Nash as players technically still with the Canadiens camp because their injury prevents them from being sent down to the AHL. The Habs are charged a small fraction of their AHL salary against the cap for every day they will be spend on the NHL roster.

- Former Habs goaltender David Aebischer (yes, THAT David Aebischer) has signed a 1 year AHL deal with the farm team of the Winnipeg Jets, the St. John's Ice Caps. Aebi has spent the last 4 seasons playing in the Swiss Elite League.

Canadiens Training Camp Opens with Annual Golf Tournament

(Quotes taken from various Twitter accounts, most notably CanadiensMTL, JFChamont, renhockey, and ArponBasu)

Today marks the start of the official Montreal Canadiens 2011 Training Camp as players reported in for the annual Golf Tournament. Next step for them will be physicals on Friday. Some quotes from the guys this morning are below.

If you want to hear them speak for yourself, check out The Team 990's audio page HERE. Big thanks to them for much of the content!

Also, check some notes and audio from Hockey Inside/Out HERE. Some video clips from their site are embedded at the bottom of this post as well.

A few more quotes (mostly the same ones as below) in the Canadiens.com article HERE. But they've got a nice little photo gallery to go with it HERE. And even more photos from Cyberpresse HERE.

Erik Cole: "The media isn't as intimidating as they make it out to be. You may or may not believe this, but I was actually recognized on the street a few times in Raleigh too!"

"I've been in and out of town for the majority of the summer, and permanently moved in the middle of August, trying to get the family settled, kids back in school. We're not on the island, decided to go out in the south shore, close to the practice facility."

"Great group of guys, tremendous staff, everything. World class organization and facilities."

"It's the atmosphere, it's everything [about the Bell Centre that brings out the best in me]. It's a special place to play; it has to do with the history and the passion."

"It's important for the NHL to work together with the PA to listen to the guys who are going through the hits and symptoms. It's a combined effort, but there's more and more that can be done to protect players."

Pierre Gauthier: Confirming our fears this morning, Pierre Gauthier on Andrei Markov: "If the season started tomorrow, he would not be available to us. We hope he'll be ready for opening night against the Leafs, but no guarantees. I have guarded optimism for the team's chances this season."

"There's only 5 guys left from the team 3 years ago. Now we've identified leadership and the team is more stable."

"Everybody is doing well. Some are out of rehab, some are in it still. There are no long-term issues of any kind. Obviously when you have players who have had knee reconstruction, some adaptation will be needed even when they're playing. I don't know that either Mr. Markov or Mr. Gorges will be playing 28 minutes the first game. Their medicals are Friday, but the prognosis is good."

"In the case of Mr. Cole, we made the call at 12:01 and made sure his agent knew he was #1 on our list."

"I have good feelings about all our players right now, including Mr. Gomez, and they've all had good summers. It's obvious when you're around [the players] that there's real commitment to the team. There are few egos; they all want to win. The mood is very optimistic. They know they have a good team that had a few injuries. We've been chomping at the bit for a while here."

"I know [Andrei Kostitsyn and Jacques Martin] get along and Andrei is a very respectful person. It doesn't carry much weight; Mr. Martin and myself said this is out of character and there is nothing there."

"I know Mr. Yemelin is very excited; it's been 2 or 3 years that he has wanted to come. He's a national team level player, who will have an adaptation like any European player, but we hope he can contribute."

On the subject of Andrei Markov, by day's end, reports indicated that he had a setback during the summer due to training too hard and too quickly to get ready for the season, resulting in him having to have water drained from his knee. This is the reason his status remains uncertain, though we should get a good update on Friday as to his health.

Mike Cammalleri: [on limited offensive production in the league despite rule changes] "I think goaltending equipment is still too big. You get very few goalies that play like Martin Brodeur, Marty Turco, or even Carey is a guy who plays the game more athletically."

"You just wrote down we have a minute and a half left, but I could talk about headshots for six hours. Stuff can be done to 'safe-en' our game while it remains fun and exciting."

[about Boston winning the Cup] "Did they win it? I don't even know."

Brian Gionta, who drove Cole to the golf course this morning: "Our goal entering the season is to win the Stanley Cup."

"Andrei [Kostitsyn] is a big part of this team. He brings grit and secondary scoring and he understands his role on this team."

"Nobody was happy [with Gomez] last year, himself included. He brings a dimension we need to the team and he's anxious to get going and put last year behind. He took it hard; nobody puts more pressure on themselves than he does. He's not content with just packing it in. He's going to be a huge part of this team as a top 2 center."

"Jacques Martin does not need to be your friend. He manages the players and it doesn't have to be a great relationship at all times."

Carey Price: "I don't feel pressure to repeat last season's performance. You never train thinking or expecting to have a bad season. A hockey season is a marathon, not a sprint."

"Josh Gorges will hopefully be twice as good this year [now that he has 2 knees]."

"It was fun to get a way for a little, but I was sitting at home all summer itching to get back. I missed playing hockey."

"We've gotta be looking at ourselves as one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference."

"I talked to Peter; he's a really nice guy. We get along really well and have a lot of the same beliefs. Everyone you talk to around the league that's played with him will tell you what a great guy he is."

"Both Markov and Gorges are doing really well and they're really big parts of our D row. I'm very confident they'll be ready to go."

"It's always tough to watch another team win because you're jealous. But out of all the guys that could have won the cup, I think Tim [Thomas] really deserved it with the way he played all season."

Jacques Martin: "I haven't spoken to Andrei Kostitsyn, but I don't foresee any problems with communication. The recipe to get Scott Gomez going this year comes from Gomez himself."

"I am eager to watch some of the young kids like Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi, Michael Bounrival, and Brendan Gallagher live in preseason games." You and us both, Mr. Martin. You and us both. Which is good news cause it sounds like these guys will all see action!

Andrei Kostitsyn (whose English is quite improved): "I'm good with Jacques; I never say anything bad about him. I'm here for a good season."

"I will see Jacques tomorrow and we'll talk about what the newspaper said and we should be good for the season. Jacques is a good coach."

"I come to play hockey and think this season will be better than the last couple."

"We'll see what happens in preseason games but I think it's good help for us to have this Erik Cole to help us score more goals."

"I like everything Montreal Canadiens. [The city,] the style, and everything."

"I'm 100% ready for the start of the season."

"I'd like to stay in Montreal. I'd have liked to sign not 1 year, but more years."

"I do everything I can every game. I try to score more goals and play better than last season."

Ryan White arrived at the tournament wearing a Hamilton Bulldogs polo shirt, but was quickly given a Canadiens blue shirt to change into.

Max Pacioretty: "I'm actually excited to receive that first hit this year. Maybe a teammate can help me out! I hope to come back to play at the same level I was at, if not better."

"I put on 10 pounds this year - all muscle; my body fat went down too."

"We're that same team from last year, except now we have Gorges, Markov, Cole, and myself. We have three good lines of offense and you can mix and match line combos."

"[Gomez] and I have pretty good chemistry because he's always looking to pass and I'm always looking to shoot. With him, you know he's going to take the puck from end to end, and hopefully I can create some space for him with my body. I hope to play with [Gomez and Gionta] again to start the season."

"[25 goals and 25 assists] sound like perfect goals for me this year, and I think I can hit them."

"[I spoke to Chara] just one time, and that's all I really want to speak. It was tough enough to make that phone call. He apologized, but I want to put all of that in the past and I'm glad it's out of the way."

"I told my 'Ma the night I got injured when they told me in a hospital bed that my neck was fractured, 'That's probably it, huh? I'll never play again?' But she encouraged me the whole way, telling me that I'm a quick healer."

"I couldn't even remember my own name in the hospital, but somehow I remembered [wife Katia Afinogenova's] phone number, so I called her up and asked her to come over here, forgetting she was in Florida."

Pacioretty also announced the formation of the Max Pacioretty Foundation for research and development for brain trauma at the Montreal General Hospital, expected to launch sometime soon.

Josh Gorges: "I'm 100%. In fact, the doctors were ready to give me the green light had we advanced to the third round of the playoffs. I'll be ready to go from day 1."

P.K. Subban: "I'm only 22 years old. I still have a lot of room to improve. I'm feeling good but as a precautionary thing, because of a minor upper body thing that happened a while ago, I won't golf today, but I'll be ready for day 1 of camp."

"AC Milan sucks! I'm a fan of Manchester United."

"Off-season training for me is not a joke. That's where I get better and improve as a player. That's where I get faster and get stronger. You have to take it seriously."

"I'm at a very critical and sensitive time in my career where everything I do is magnified, so my focus has to be sharp and precise. I need to focus on the things that will make me succeed. At the end of the day, I don't think [the exchange between him and Mike Richards] it's anything personal. Not about me, or about Mike. That's just hockey. Everybody has their own way of trying to get guys off their game."

"I can't say I was upset when [Boston] won the Cup. As a player, you don't want to be envious; you have to congratulate them and give credit when they deserve it. Their leaders did a good job of keeping the team together. If I didn't like them winning the championship, I would never let them know it. On the ice, you gotta bring it."

"I don't really know what a sophomore jinx is. Any league I played in, I got better every year. It's news to me, people bringing it up to me, 'the sophomore jinx.'"

"I don't know [who I'll play with on D]. Those decisions are up to Jacques Martin. I have a job to do, Hal has a job to do, Marky has a job to do, Georgie has a job to do. It's about the team moving forward; you don't know where you're going to fit in. You have to earn your ice time and not come in expecting anything."

"Everybody's a coach. For me, I'm just playing the game the way I can do it to make the team successful. I play the game the way the game dictates me to play. You have to learn when to [jump into the rush]."

Mathieu Darche: "I've been training all-out for 8 or 9 weeks already. I feel young!"

Scott Gomez: "I'm ready to deliver."

Lars Eller: "I hope to be in the line-up on October 6th, and I'd say it's a strong possibility, but I'm still waiting for the green light from doctors to practice with contact."

The following players did not golf today: Andrei Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec by preference, while Josh Gorges, Andrei Markov, P.K. Subban, and Lars Eller skipped out as they are rehabbing minor injuries.

Young potential "rookies-to-be" like Rafael Diaz, Alexei Yemelin, and Andreas Engqvist were not present at the tournament, despite also being excluded from Rookie Camp. Seems like they fall under a "misfit" category meaning we won't see them till weight-ins on Friday.

Some video courtesy of Hockey Inside/Out:

Top 10 Things to Look Forward to this Season

As if you needed reasons to find the beautiful Montreal summer long and to be counting down the days till we drop the puck once again, today we bring you 10 unfolding storylines to excite you for 2010-11 as a Habs fan.

10) The pro debut of Louis Leblanc

Of the 17 players drafted before Louis Leblanc in 2009, only 6 have yet to make their NHL debut. Five players taken after him in the first round have also played NHL games, while Habs fans have waited patiently for the man dubbed the team's next French Canadian star on draft day. This Fall will mark the fourth consecutive season in which Leblanc starts play in a new league (USHL, ECAC (NCAA), QMJHL, and now AHL) and he is further coming off summer shoulder surgery. Hab fans, then, should continue to show patience even if he has a slow start in the American League and shouldn't expect him to see any National League ice until 2012-13. Still, all will be eagerly monitoring his progress with the Hamilton Bulldogs as one of the organization's top hopes up front for the future. Other stories to follow with the 'Dogs will include the progress of Alexander Avtsin, and the first impressions of Rafael Diaz.

9) Peter Budaj's (few) performances as Carey Price's new back-up

Alex Auld performed reasonably well last season in Price's few nights off. Still, he invoked little confidence in his ability to play multiple games in a row, and so the Habs looked to upgrade their insurance policy in Peter Budaj. Accepting that the performance of the team's back-up won't ultimately decide the Canadiens' season, thus mitigating the risk of the signing to an extent, Budaj has a lot of upside as he was once seen as a quality future starter. He never really lived up to the hype in Colorado, but encouraging for Habs should be that his best NHL numbers came during the season where he was a full-time back-up to Craig Anderson, with a .917 save percentage in 15 games in 2009-10. This compares to Auld's numbers of .914 in 16 games last season in Montreal. It will be interesting to see how he does after working with a new goalie coach.

8) Competition between Lars Eller and David Desharnais

At least thus far, the Canadiens haven't moved to bring in a veteran depth centerman, much in contrast to the past few years. That means a large role for both Lars Eller and David Desharnais within the forward group, with fans hoping they don't fall into an NHL sophomore slump. Unless one is moved to the wing, the two will push each other for the third line ice time, and hopefully this competition will keep both on top of their game. Because of the glimpses of skill he shows, many expect a breakout year from 22-year old Eller, but we mustn't forget that Desharnais was also playing perhaps his best hockey at the NHL level during the playoffs, and he will still have just turned only 25 when the season starts. It gives the organization nice depth and reliability to have two young players at center behind two veterans in Tomas Plekanec and Scott Gomez.

7) A better season from Scott Gomez

Speaking of Gomez... I mean... he couldn't possibly have a WORSE season, right?? Likely to start the year with Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty, the trio should be able to produce consistently, and an improvement from last year will be the team's depth, not forced to bump a plugger like Travis Moen into the top 6 just because of an injury or two. As such, whether it's with Andrei Kostitsyn, Erik Cole, or David Desharnais, he'll have a chance to catch fire with a number of different combinations of linemates. It isn't unthinkable for Scottie to bounce back with 50-60 points, but after last year's debacle, it will take more than just production to appease uneasy fans. The Canadiens need to get 100% effort from Mr. Gomez at both ends of the rink on a nightly basis.

6) What will Pierre Gauthier do with > $5M in cap space?

The past couple of seasons, Montreal's cap situation has been somewhat precarious come trade deadline, making a deal to rent the top available talent somewhat difficult as it would require sending salaries elsewhere. As of now anyway, this season looks to be different with the Canadiens having a full roster under contract and over $5M in cap space. By trade deadline, this room will allow them to trade for any player in the league (that is, any playable available of course). It seems as of now that the biggest hole is on defense (as we covered previously), and there is no short supply of potential rentals out there depending on how their clubs are faring in the standings. So what happens with this cash? Does it go unspent? Is it a patch on the blueline? Or... just maybe... Gauthier finds a way to land a big fish and upgrades one of Montreal's top performers to a bonafide superstar. He has certainly shown he isn't afraid to make a concerted effort to be aggressive/proactive.

5) The progression of Carey Price and P.K. Subban

Funny to think that a year ago, the term "Triple Low-Five" meant nothing to Canadiens fans, and now most can't wait to see the next one. Two of the more promising young players at their positions, both Price and Subban took major strides last season towards reaching their potential. For the Habs to have a good year, they need neither of these players to regress, but rather to continue in their development. The two may have a little extra incentive to perform, as both will be restricted free agents next summer looking for big, long-term contracts. And if Carey Price manages to perform like the top 5 goaltender he can be, and P.K. Subban continues to show he will be a top pairing blueliner for many, many years, the Canadiens will have no problem shelling out the dough to keep both around. The lengthy playoff run they can help bring the city next Spring will hopefully assist in covering the team's future tab.

4) Finally seeing Alexei Yemelin in North America

Year after year, Habs fans were teased by rumours that the promising Yemelin would finally sign a deal and come over to North America for training camp. Well this summer, that fantasy finally came true as Yemelin inked a 1-year contract. Now 25 years old, Yemelin is coming off a breakout season offensively in the KHL, rounding out his game by besting his previous high of 7 points with an amazing 26 in 52 games. Given that he brings toughness and physicality lacking on the Montreal blueline, and that he apparently has a contractual clause allowing him return to Russia rather than report to the Bulldogs, he should be given every opportunity to make an impression with the Canadiens. One thing he must do is control his temper, as he has been known to sometimes take bad penalties, something the Habs already did in abundance last year. He should battle Jaroslav Spacek and Yannick Weber for ice time on D.

3) The return of Andrei Markov

An undoubtedly risky signing, the Canadiens brass basically gave Andrei Markov a mulligan on his injury-filled past few years by extending his contract at the same salary for 3 more seasons. If a little nervous, all Habs fans will be super excited to see Markov The General back patrolling the Montreal blueline this season and so long as he can stay healthy, he could return to being a top 5 or 10 two-way defenseman in the league. Yes, Markov suffered a series of repeated ACL/MCL injuries, but the truth is that for the most part, they were relatively freak situations. Now that he has been fully repaired, they should not be seen as predictors of his future health, so Canadiens fans can only be nervous about his age by contract's end slowing him down. Jacques Martin might choose to start Markov off slowly given how little he has played the last two years, but once he hits his stride, he should be soaking up big minutes to make up for the losses of Roman Hamrlik and James Wisniewski. And his saucer passes over to P.K. Subban on the top powerplay unit will hopefully be a thing of beauty for all to behold.

2) The debut of Erik Cole

For a player that Habs fan hated to see touch the Bell Centre ice for many years, Erik Cole's perception to Montrealers has done a full 180-degree spin and now his debut as a Canadien is one of the most hotly anticipated stories of the upcoming season. The Canadiens hope his time here will be more fruitful than the last time he left the Carolina Hurricanes (for the Edmonton Oilers) so that the club doesn't regret handing him a rich 4-year deal. Cole brings the club the type of player it has lacked for oh so very long. The type of player that Andrei Kostitsyn can be when he's on his game (with a little more grit and a little less skill). A big body who can throw his weight around, go to the net, and has soft hands to bury the puck. Those who have been with our blog from the beginning know we were advocating for his signing since early June, so adding another 20+ goal scoring Stanley Cup champion to the line-up is something we all should be excited about. Playing the same style of game as Max Pacioretty, and also having recovered from a serious neck/spinal cord injury, he could serve as a great role model for Max, which brings us to...

1) The return of Max Pacioretty

When he is introduced on opening night, Pacioretty will get a long and loud round of applause from the Bell Centre faithful. After an up-and-down start to his pro career, it seemed Max had managed to put everything together last season. After ripping up the AHL with 32 points (including 17 goals) in just 27 games, Max got the call-up and didn't disappoint, registing 14 goals and 24 points in 37 games with the Canadiens. His breakout season was cut short by the infamous check into a stanchion by Zdeno Chara, and his recovery has been a long and difficult one. But before that injury, Pacioretty had been arguably the team's best attacker, looking like an emerging top power forward, and so his return to the line-up this Fall will be greatly anticipated. With Pacioretty and Cole both in the top 6, the concerns over the club's small stature will be diminished. Habs fans need to hope, however, that the hit won't have any adverse effects on Pacioretty's mental game. He is saying all the right things during his recovery (aside, perhaps, from a joking insult to Brad Marchand's nose), but only he can know (and maybe not even he right now) how he'll react when he hops back on the Bell Centre ice. A Pacioretty who is hesistant to go into the corners or to charge the net is far less effective than the one of last season, so hopefully he can put all effects of his serious injury behind him and get back on track.