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About Mike Boone
Full Name
Mike Boone
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http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/mike_boone.html
About
I grew up in Park Extension, within walking distance of Dickie Moore's Dairy Queen on Jean Talon. Moore had a place on L'Acadie Blvd., and we used to see him driving around in his convertible with a Samoyed and a very dishy wife.
While "studying" at McGill University during the 1960s, I used to attend games at the old Montreal Forum. My fellow undergraduate reprobates and I would scramble up the stairs to get centre-ice spots in the top standing room section, where aged ushers didn't know or care what we were smoking.
I stood out in the cold for six hours to get tickets to the 1975 New Year's Eve game between the Canadiens and Central Red Army. With the exception of the birth of my daughter, the 3-3 tie was the greatest event I've ever seen in my life.
The Canada-U.S. Gold medal game comes close .... but I wasn't there.
I've been a professional journalist since 1974, when I joined the Montreal Star sports department. I've covered the 1976 Olympic Games, the 1979 Expos, pop music and MSO tours of Europe and Asia (classical musicians are WAY more fun to drink with than athletes). I wrote a TV & Radio column for 20 years and, since 2000, have written a City column for The Gazette.
The best part of being a Habs Inside/Out contributor is attending games at the Bell Centre. I think it's a great building: noisy, raucous and packed to the rafters with Montrealers and visitors who live for hockey.
And I still get goosebumps every time Michel Lacroix booms out "Accueillons nos Canadiens ..."
Having seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series and the Pittsburgh Steelers add a couple Super Bowl titles, I suppose I can die happy ... but not before another Stanley Cup parade. And I'd really like my daughter to see a historic New Year's Eve game.
I like all the players. Covering baseball gives me a profound appreciation of pro athletes who aren't jerks.
My weltanschauung was summarized by the late great Bill Hicks when he said "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves."
Have a nice day.
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Maybe it's just me, but I thought the worst news to come out of the off-season was the Halak trade. Unless, of course, Eller turns out to be brilliant. Then, we'll see. For now, though, playoff MVP for unproven prospects doesn't do it for me.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
With all due respect to Chris - whom I have a lot of respect for - I agree with you.
__________________________
"Peoples will only be truly free when the last king is strangled by the bowels of the last priest" Denis Diderot
The worst news of the off season is that they have stopped making Speedos in my size!
Are you sure you didn't simply "outgrow" the largest available size?
Touche!
Bye Dan.
Says who? McKenzie? I don't trust a single word that comes out of that dude's mouth unless it's talking about prospects.
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Enjoy!
http://habsprospects.hockeyhq.net/
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=2
last year when gainey made the first move by GM's ( gomez ) and then started spending money at high noon , we were all up in arms about how the team sucked , was too small , should have resigned our own free agents . and then BAM 3rd round of the playoffs , what a ride it was , even with the injuries one after another the team did pull through when it counted
reading the posts the last days are only like reading last year about this same time , and look what happened last year
seems like PG is doing the same thing this year , being pro-active is what i would call it , and sticking to the plan , when you hear about a five year plan it doesnt mean you start over in five years , plans are revised every year with the five year plan still in mind .
i like what the team is doing , even more when i think long term , we have some veterens who have won , middle aged over/under achivers , young talent and still the best fans
even though we dont think anything will happen tomorrow , good for us anyways , i am already excited about the season thats still 3 months away
FWIW, maybe someone should look into this:
http://twitter.com/rdsRenaudLavoie
its not his twitter
--------- Listen to the SmartDog. He knows his poop.
Renaud is probably my favourite personalities on RDS. He ALWAYS argues with Gaston and co and makes it halirious.
Bob McKenzie says that Ellis will hit the Free Agent Market, But Radio Canada and now RDS Say that he will sign.
Is that really Renaud Lavoie's twitter? Cause the two last tweets would make me giddy all day.
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Enjoy!
http://habsprospects.hockeyhq.net/
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=2
I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah really. I'm kind of excited about the Hamrlik one lol
_______________________________
The Habs are making me Bi-Polar.
how is kurtis foster going to free agency again? and he was only paid 600k last year? he had a career high 42 points..he's 6'5 and 220lbs. how was he paid only 600k last year and how is stevie Y letting him go?
his career stats aren't bad either, almost .5ppg and he surely has size... i remember him giving us a hard time last year when we faced the lightning.
I asked Pierre LeBrun that same thing yesterday, he sent me a private message that basically said Yzerman has been negotiating with him since he was hired but Yzerman and Foster's agent are very far apart on numbers.
I would put PIT and ANA on his likely destinations if he's looking to price himself in the FA market. ANA could use some help on the back end with Niedermayer retiring. Pittsburgh could use anybody possibly with the Gonchar and Hamhuis negotiations still going poorly. That or perhaps Burkie needs an 11th defencemen.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
does foster provide TRUCCULENCE.
i can see TMLSE asking job applicants to their monthly magazine to have "trucculence"
I bet his agent is looking for 3mil per.
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Enjoy!
http://habsprospects.hockeyhq.net/
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=2
Could someone enlighten me on why did we needed to sign Darche for 1 more season? I know he is a good guy and all, but couldn't we rather save 500k and sign Metro or Moore? Bit more expensive, but heaps better as well, not?
And per Twitter: Ellis seeking 2 years / around 4 million $. Agent Mike Liut talking to GM Gauthier. Gauthier called Ellis to promote Montreal.
(JP Chaumont, Radio-Canada Sports Reporter)
Metro and Moore are both Center's, and we are already starting to have a lot of depth at that position. Gomez, Plekanec, Eller, Lapierre, Pyatt. Metro is as good as gone, and it's down to either Boyd or Moore. I think Gauthier got Boyd to try and use him as negotiation pressure with Moore, sort of like "Either lower your price, or we'll just sign Boyd who is almost just as good".
Darche is depth winger who will be making the league minimum. He goes 100% every shift, plays with heart, and will do anything for the team. Why wouldn't you want some one like that for your 4th line or extra forward?
I don't understand either. Darche is not NHL caliber, and he is 33.
The reason why we signed Darche is because he's going to be the 13th forward. He's a veteran guy who can challenge the younger guys, but who'll most likely be a healthy scratch half the season. You don't want a guy as good as Moore playing that role because it's a waste of money, and you don't want a prospect playing that role because it's a waste of time for development.
Ellis better be willing to come down on that number if he wants to play here, but it's not a bad starting point for negotiations.
I think this was a... leadership move. Darche must be very good in the dressing room with the young guys. Being captain of the Bulldogs im sure a lot of the young guys go to him. He did put up some timely goals when he was first called up, had a sub-pay playoff but hes a solid depth/reserve forward.
Financial stability for a season as well, so im happy for the guy. He is guarranteed his 500,000 and can actually live in a house with his family and not a hotel room.
As per TSN:
The Philadelphia Flyers appear to be going with a familiar face as their No. 1 netminder next season, as the club has signed Michael Leighton to a two-year, $3.1 million contract.
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Never judge another man's decision poor until you actually have proof of it failing!
As a follower of the Flyers, I'm really dissapointed in the news about Leighton...
Sure it's better for my favorite team, MTL, that the Flyers will once again have a rubber chicken in nets. But seriously, GM's across the league are so smart. Same can be said for the whole staff of an NHL team (with the exception of Milbury).
So how is it that the Flyers still refuse to adress their biggest need for the like the 25th straight year? They're able to assemble one heck of a squa every single year, but always ignore the most important one.
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
Two words: Bobby Clobber.
Unbelievable. I mean, I don't have a problem with it, but simply unbelievable, in particular with an emerging buyer's market for goaltenders.
I don't believe that Leighton is their number one. Not signing him for that amount. I'm guessing they are still active for a tender tomorrow
He goes from $600k to $3 Mil / 2 and you don't think they're thinking number 1? It's a buyer's market for goaltending, just look at the talent out there they could have got for the money they spent. Unbelievable.
The Flyers don't believe in goal keeping.
Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeightonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeightonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !!!!
Does that mean your love affair with Carey is over?
Hahahah TSN's headline "Flyers sign playoff hero to 2 year contract" what the heck?!
Their playoff hero, as much as I dislike him, was Chris Pronger.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Claude Giroux.
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Enjoy!
http://habsprospects.hockeyhq.net/
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=2
flyers signed kane? who shot it thru some goalie's legs like the other hawks did all game? on the same goalie who shutout the habs 3 times in a series?
I would credit the Flyers' defense, not Leighton, for the 3 shutouts. Plus we only had 2 guys scoring and the Habs' tank was out of fuel.
And gaz is expensive these days....
It was a cost management decision I guess...
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
The new NHL is all about youth. You need a strong crop of cheap youngsters to play alongside your veterans. The team with the most young talent will ultimately win. The days of Kovalev, Kariya, Koivu and other senior veterans are over.
I dont see Boyd being signed as we have lots of players in his category already. Ellis could be signed but only if he's willing to accept no raise and a second string position. This trade was all about dumping Sergei.
We are cap constrained and have lots of depth players.
Gomez, Pleks, Endqvist, Eller, Lapierre, White, Maxwell... We have centers. We lack money.
And whats with the love in for Moore? Sure he played some quality hockey down the stretch but we need size and toughness at that position and he brings neither. He also over values his services. He was a good pickup when we were in injury trouble but isnt exactly what you pick as your 3rdd line center.
Someone will pick him up, just not us.
Ref the love in for Moore, I think we all saw the difference on the third line before and after Moore. A guy who plays with hearth every game, every shift, raises everyone else's effort level. Sergei and Lapierre had their best games of the season when Moore was their center. Only after this happenned did we start to see any secondary scoring. At the start of the season when the 3rd line was MaxPac-Metro-Moen, they were basically just killing time for the first two lines to catch their breaths.
Lack of size and toughness is not a huge deal when you play with Moen and Lapierre who will compensate somewhat. Lapierre's not the toughest guy but he has the most hits on the team.
---Guy Lafleur smoked between periods. Did smoking give him the relaxation he craved before scoring so many goals?
I don't think Gauthier would have traded for Ellis and Boyd if he didn't plan to try to sign them. Otherwise, he could have dealt Sergei for a 4th-rounder and been done with it. And youth certainyl counts for something, but it's the cap hits that really matter -- Ellis and Boyd will probably make something in the area of $2.5M combined, so they're a really cheap way to solve the backup goalie and 4th-line centre problems.
from Pierre LeBrun 3:01pm
Gonchar, Guerin inch closer to FA market and much more.
Gonchar and Guerin are both over 35 so any team that signs them won't be able to get out of the contracts. Not even if the guy retires.
Flyers have signed Leighton to a 2 year 3.1 million dollar contract.
Wow, Flyers never learn do they?
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
The guy can't stop a basketball, low or high. Habs went dry on offense and made him look like a $3 mil man... LMAO
Oh gosh. He's probably going to be a back-up goaltender - but that's a lot of coin for a back-up...are you serious Flyers, this guy can't be your starter!
They already have a backup signed in Boucher, so I guess they'll fight in camp to see who plays for the Phantoms. Gotta say they overpaid for a terrible goalie who went on a hot streak, no way I would sign Leighton.
Yeah bud, looks like Nabokov is going to test the market.
tell me there was no market for a goalie like halak? like gauthier claimed this was the very best deal he could find!
You need an intervention.
They are UFA's, and were probably being offered under 3 Million a season (In Turco's case 2 Million/season). Halak on the other hand is an RFA and will get an arbitrators salary of minimum 3.5 Million. Flyers dont have that kind of cap space.
Oh Tony, as much as you annoy me its always fun to teach you some things about the business of hockey :)
I guess im a zombie..... Must...loovee...habbssssss..
they lost to chicago not because of cap space but space between his legs. do you really think the flyers thought nabakov or turco or any good goalie would sign for $1.5 million? they can create cap space by moving players! they still need a goalie. emery can be removed. whatever else they could do. i repeat halak was worth more in trade than gauthier got for him. i stand by it!
If the Flyers signed Leighton for 1.5 a year, how much would we have had to pay Halak? Bye Bye Pleks.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey...
Please don't make me defend T2's position but he was inferring that the Habs could've gotten more for Halak in a trade. I am neither agreeing with nor disagreeing with what he is saying just clarifying what he actually is saying.
The Habs needed to get a rookie in that trade. They got rid of Halak because they couldn't afford him. Can't very well trade him for Jeff Carter in that case can you?
flyers still have same old problem. can they not find themselves a quality goal keeper for once. unreal.
Mike Modano in a 1year deal with option for 1 more...just throwing it out there. Have always liked him as player and if my memory is right still a great shot and excellent character guy. team him up with the other guys from stars and stripes...maybe , maybe.
ps..i think someone else mentioned him earlier.
Whats the hold up with getting Price signed? i think it would be ill advised to go into tomorrow without him signed and run into the potential of being forced into matching an offer sheet.
I really doubt there will be any offer sheets this summer. If there is, maybe Bobby Ryan or Niemi(because people know the Hawks can't match very much...)
They are just too dangerous to be used. If the other team matches, then you end up with an enemy and you ruffle too many feathers. If they don't match, you have to give up several draft picks, along with making enemies. Then you end up looking really stupid if the player doesn't pan out or produce. Burke ended up trading an extra draft pick for Kessel then what he would have had to give up as compensation just so he didn't have to use an offer sheet.
well if i were a top place team with expected late round draft picks, i wouldn't mind a 1st and 3rd overall going if i see price as my future. a 1st and 3rd overal pick is all it would cost a team if they offered 3.9M to price per year.
so it's not as crazy as some might think.
lil more info on offer sheets and compensation:
Below $863,156 No Compensation
$863,156-$1,307,812 Third-round pick
$1,307,812-$2,615,625 Second-round pick
$2,615,625-$3,923,437 First- and third-round picks
$3,923,437-$5,231,249 First-, second and third-round picks
$5,231,249-$6,539,062 Two first-rounders, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.
$6,539,062 or more Four first-round picks
$2,615,625 2nd round pick -------------------- should raise price immediately up to that level for habs. if you think moore, lang, schneider, tanguay for a few months play is worth losing a 2nd round pick for then signing him at that level makes even more sense to any team looking for a young goalie. and if they really want him as gauthier claimed price had more trade value then sign him for higher and put the habs either in worst cap hell or give up a #1 next year and a #3 who might not play for 4 more years in the nhl for a goalie you'll have for all those years. price should have been signed before halak was traded if this was their plan. another time the modern salary cap era is clearly showing all that the game of today has passed by these near 60 year olds - gainey and gauthier.
I have a feeling that we will have some good news on Price before tonight.
wishful thinking! blues will never trade halak even up for price tonight or any night or day or morning.
-1.
-2
- Duodecillion.
Patrick O'Sullivan. (-35)
I agree, although seeing as how the Habs have made it all but clear that Price is our number one, GMs would have to assume that any offer sheet they sent would be matched...meaning all they would be doing is making an enemy out of PG. And with the crop of goalies available as UFAs, Price as an RFA might be low on the list.
But I agree, why chance it?
Re: "Habs have made it all but clear that Price is our number one" ----- You surely mean Gainey and Gauthier made it clear NOT the Habs players by their play on the ice last season NOR the Habs fans at those games either!
-3
------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them." - Sam Pollock
Re: "Habs have made it all but clear that Price is our number one" ----- You surely mean Gainey and Gauthier made it clear NOT the Habs players by their play on the ice last season NOR the Habs fans at those games either--------------yeah right - i just imagined the booing!
If someone made him an offer and Habs refused to match it how many picks back in return?
Depends on the salary.
the ak74 trade may have been a last second move...otherwise you would think boyd would heve been qualified...
According to Bob McKenzie, they didn't qualify Boyd because he was an RFA with arbitration rights. In other words, they are really cheap bastards, and didn't want to end up paying Boyd $1-$1.2 million.
they were going to let him go on july 1. they have done this every june. this was first team balsillie was trying to buy and move because they were having financial difficulty because tennessee is not a major league hockey market! like bettman claims it and other cities in the usa are.
or he never was in habs consideration and preds used this to hide from green fans that they were trading him for a player and not as they really were doing just cutting off his salary from their payroll. and habs who had no interet in boyd said go ahead and throw his talking rights for 2 days in too!
I was among those who were not thrilled to see Pierre Gauthier take over as GM. It seemed that the Habs, instead of looking for the best available candidate, were taking the easy way out by staying within the organization and promoting the assistant because he is a francophone. But I have to say that so far I've liked what Gauthier has done. I liked the Dominic Moore trade at the time and, even if we don't re-sign him, it's hard to argue that a second-rounder was too much to give up for him considering how big a part he played in our post-season success. I liked Gauthier's aggressive move in jumping the gun on free-agency and trading Halak when he did, and, while I would have liked to get a roster player for him, I'm pleased about the two prospects we did get. I also like the fact that Gauthier refused to be deflected from his choice of Eller, even though the Blues tried to steer him in a different direction. He showed similar determination in trading up at the draft to get the player he wanted. He said he would re-sign Plekanec and he's done so. This latest move shows the same kind of aggression and determination. We're rid of SK74, and we've again jumped the gun on free-agency, giving ourselves an extra window of time to begin negotiations with two players so that, when free-agency begins, we'll have a better idea of where we stand and hopefully avoid being left grasping at straws while the players who might fill our needs sign elsewhere. In every situation so far, Gauthier seems to have a clear idea of what he wants, and he takes the steps necessary to get it. He also shows a willingness to take risks and to make unpopular moves.
Good post bro, I agree. Don't listen to that Tony douchebag (although you probably didn't need to be reminded).
the vast majority of the players in the nhl who played at least 500 games in the league were drafted in the first three rounds. habs in last 2 years traded away 3 #2 draft picks and one #1 draft pick, traded away another #2 this year to move up in the first round and for moore another #2 for next year. so that means habs traded away for 4 players all who played less than one year here four #2s for lang, moore, schneider, tanguay, and one #1 for tanguay - this is NOT how you build a team! NOTE - not counting the #2 they traded to move up this year.
this is a business. if you balance the trades, draft picks and the additional revenue from the moves (eg playoff games) maybe it works out. playoffs are big money and the habs the past few seasons make a lot more than they did prior.
secret mod
this is a business. if you balance the trades, draft picks and the additional revenue from the moves (eg playoff games) maybe it works out. playoffs are big money and the habs the past few seasons make a lot more than they did prior-------------- not even close - way more bad deals than good - and since 1993 havent won a single conference final - only played in one and it was this year 17 years later because of halak dragging the team into the playoffs and as far as he could on his own AND NOW HE'S GONE. yes they make money so do the leafs who probably played more playoff games the last 17 years but thats only because montreal and toronto are the 2 greatest cities of hockey fans - not the old business types running their operations. habs biggest help was quebec's greedball owner moving his team away leaving habs with their monopoly again in quebec. but management of winning and money management of a business are 2 different things. they have bee a succes at only one the past 17 years. and the bad hockey operations management of the last 7 years contiunues today.
I feel dirty while saying this but, "I agree!"
omg!! a joke!!! woohooo!!!! T2 made a funny!!! right on buddy!!! u are starting to come around
face it- all the regulars here on this blog think they are jerry seinfeld BUT they are not even funny!
- 10^39.
I completely agree. Better to be assertive, and get what you want. Then if he has success or failure it will be a result of accomplishing the things he wanted to clearly. Personally I do think the moves will work out for us though.
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