Hockey World Loses a Legend

Jean Beliveau has passed away at the age of 83. It is impossible to describe how much #4 meant to the Montreal Canadiens and their fans. Even though I was never able to see him play live, my father would entertain me with stories about watching the Hall of Famer. Beliveau won 10 Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, scored 507 goals and finished with 1,219 points between 1950 -1971.  He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972, two years earlier than the traditional three year waiting period.

I was fortunate enough to meet stick-handling legend. I was 8 years old and he was on a book tour promoting his biography Jean Beliveau My Life In Hockey at the Lynden Park Mall in Brantford, Ontario. My father had bought his book but was unable to make the signing. In his place my mother, sister and I waited patiently in line to get the book signed. I remember my mom telling me that I would be the one who would approach Mr. Beliveau which scared me to death. I watched as each person in front of me got their copies signed and walked off with huge grins on their faces. I don't really recall what exactly was going through my head as I walked up to the legendary #4 himself, but I do remember the very first thing he did was extend his hand to me and smile. At that point all fear vanished. I will remember that handshake until the day I die and that was the first thought that came to my mind when I heard the tragic news late Tuesday night. The hockey world has lost a legend, a great ambassador and an even greater man.

Jean Beliveau - August 31, 1931 – December 2, 2014

Here is a video of Beliveau scoring the fastest Stanley Cup winning goal in history in Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks, May 1st, 1965

The Habs So Far

We are now 26 games into the regular season and I think we have seen enough of this team to evaluate them. The 2014-2015 Montreal Canadiens are very much a Jekyll and Hyde team. When they play well, they look like they belong near the top of the league. Unfortunately when they lose, they lose big. After winning six in a row, the Habs dropped a 5-0 road game against the less than impressive looking New York Rangers, then dropped both games in a home and home against last place Buffalo.  On Monday night the Habs were able to get back in the win column with a less than impressive 4-3 win against the surging Colorado Avalanche.

           

 Lets start with the positives. The Canadiens possess one of the deepest offensive units in the league and can roll four lines that can make the opposition pay. Max Pacioretty has appeared to heat up offensively and Alex Galchenyuk continues to make improvements. (Even if he has hit a bit of a cold streak) The newly resigned Branden Gallagher remains a throne in the opposition’s side and while producing valued offense and Thomas Plekanec remains  good old reliable Thomas Plekanec.

             

The off season acquisitions to the Canadiens have also pay big dividends for the team. P.A. Parenteau has proven to a clutch player scoring timely goals, Tom Gilbert has been an staple on defense (pay no mind to his haters) and Manny Malhotra has done exactly what he was asked to do. Malholtra leads the NHL in face-off wins and his success has seemed to rub off on the other Habs centres. The jury still remains out on Sergei Gonchar, Bryan Allen and Eric Tangradi until they have played more games.

           

 Now to the negatives; Man is that defense old.  That was clearly evident Monday night in Denver when the speedy Avalanche forwards flew right past the Montreal defense.  That aging defense looked their age out there. I will admit that it is a bit disconcerting that management relies so much on the likes of Gonchar, Allen and Gilbert while Nathan Beaulieu, Jared Tinordi and Greg Pateryn languish in the AHL. You have to believe that those guys will start to wear down as the season goes on.

             

Another concern is the play of PK Subban. While he is by no means playing poorly, he is playing very un-Subban like. He has gotten off to a less than stellar offensive start and the hope is that he can start to heat up, as the games get more important. 

             

As of December 3^rd  the Montreal Canadiens sit 2^nd in the Atlantic Division with 36 points with a 17-7-2 record. All in all I think their positive record is reflective of the way the team has played, but the opposition continues to make ground. The Lightning sit one point ahead while the Red Wings and Maple Leafs continue to surge and you can never count out the Bruins.  

Up next is the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.