Recrutes

Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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McLean’s Pub Call Of The Wilde: Tough Test In Pittsburgh

March 21, 2018

By Brian Wilde

The Montreal Canadiens have only a short time left before they put an end to this most difficult season. Some nights as they play out the string have gone well, but some have been painful. Last game, the club was shutout for a franchise record 12th time this season. The Penguins at home would not be an easy test.

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About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

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Reader Interactions

  • They said on tsn690 radio that all the goalie interference calls will be reverted back to toronto,no more ipad refs.good one guys making all the calls equals more consistant calls.
    4 wins in the last 21 i heard dan say on the radio.
    Habs were bott 5 this am,ya buddy !!
    8 of 8 to tank.then this nightmare of hellish nightmares is finally over.hate to say it but ill pull for the leafs in the playoffs,i wont watch one..unless they get to the cup final.or if bill burillko goes on a fishing trip,lol
    Oh ya almost forgot..FIRE BERGEVIN !!!

  • Count me in as a believer in JDLR. He’s converted me. I am with you in that I don’t think he will ever set the world on fire but he looks like a guy you can count on in a shutdown role. He won’t likely replace Pleks of old when he was racking up crazy seasons with Kovalev, but this is a kid who looks like he is finding himself.

    The defence. Oi. Bergevin has his work cut out for him this summer.

  • Price has chronic fatigue syndrome,lets call it was it is.new baby syndrome.since the lil ones been born price is so worried about the family hes not sleeping.he cant focus.add major injuries to that.paying him ten mill a yr is paying him for PAST reputation. Wrong thing to do.thee most over rated player of alltime.won a vezina in his hungry days,an olympic gold.big whoop.in ten years. Now hes 30 injury prone,woorn out,tired,and
    Complacent fat cat.
    Quick way to retool :
    1- trade price before july 1 for an experienced young 1c and a 1st rounder.
    2- trade patchs for a 1d straight up
    3-replace bergy
    4- draft the best center in june
    5- cut benn,schlemko retool the d core

    • Yeah ok… NO! Every athlete in the world will have ups and downs. When Sid wasn’t scoring a lot 2 yrs ago, did that mean he sucked??? I don’t believe 31 is washed up at all. He looked great to me last night! That score could have easily been 8-3 by the end of it. Also, it doesn’t help that he has no defence in front of him…

  • All good points Brian, although I find that you forgot one guy who in my view is getting too much ice time, especially on PP. Daniel Carr! Oh, he works hard, agree, but man, he doesn’t bring anything to the PP! He is supposed to do what Gallagher does on the first wave? Then do it for the love of God!
    Coaches are too patient with some of their experiences. The second wave on the PP is the AHL version of the first wave. I don’t mind the Scherbak, Reilly and Lernout but I truly don’t see the offensive upside to Carr’s game right now.
    Anyway, can’t wait for this to be over (I never thought I would say that twice in three years)!

  • Brian great analysis of the game. I am still a diehard that watches every game hoping to see what the future will look like. I was at the Florida game Monday. What a snooze fest. I agree worh you and putting 38 on the 1st PP. wjat I don’t understand is the lack of adjustments mid-game by this coaching staff. The first PP unit is not clicking, make adjustments. They started a PP Monday and were so awful that the coach took them out after 15secs only to bring the same group a minute later. Change it up Claude! It’s okay!