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 Riled – Grant’s Rant

November 2, 2017

By Grant McCagg

Grant’s Gladiators

Gallagher – The only player to show up for the opening period as he was competing like he always does while the rest of the team was still snoozing on the plane, Gallagher got rewarded in the second period with a nice backhand deke goal after a nice strip by Hudon and subsequent pass. Gallagher added a second goal in the third period when the game was out of hand, but once again, nice to see him rewarded for his hard work. He now leads the team in goals by two having six in total, and suddenly is on pace to score 37 or 38. I feel a little sheepish suggesting he could be traded for scoring help a couple of weeks ago now…right now he IS the scoring.

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  • Chris Loreto says

    Thank you for stating what we have all felt! Look at Toronto, you play well, you are rewarded- period.
    This is why our youth do not de slop.

  • Scott Murray says

    When Price is back… it changes everything. Starting to worry though. Maybe he needs glasses but isn’t prepared to face that reality?

  • Ming Fai Ng says

    Right on Grant! Exactly what I’ve been thinking since the beginning of the season. Time to play the young guns more often and stop rewarding veterans who doesn’t have enough in the tank anymore.

  • Jean Sévigny says

    Unfortunately I must agree! With everything! I can understand I don’r Know everything that is going on within this team and the dynamics with the coaching staff, but I’ll say this: repeating the same behaviour and expecting different results is the definition of insanity! Frustrated guy here!

  • John Rayner says

    It is looking like Julien does not fit with the Habs — a $25 000 000 mistake?
    It’s like every MB move turns out wrong, including Carey at this point.

  • Curtis Traverse says

    Jeez its like I wrote this myself! 😉
    So many good points here about the veterans being treated so differently. It’s glaring to everyone else that watches this team but the behavior happens over and over.

  • Trevor Birtch says

    can you please send this to Julien, MB and Molson? Couldn’t agree more with your article

  • Tony sollazzo says

    Great rant ! Would love if the coaching staff would read this. Seems they have no clue about their own players.

  • Stu says

    Good call Grant. WTF is going on? These are professionals or so they claim.
    This veteran mandate must come directly from the top. This whole would be comical if it’s was another team.

  • Steve B. says

    Love the rant, Grant.

    These guys have to turn this thing around. I don’t see any heart with many of the guys out there. Get the young lads out there and give them an opportunity to shine. They will perform.

    We have the right core of guys – need that 1/2D and a 1C – to make things work. There’s chemistry, but it’s not showing up.

    And what’s the deal with Price? As Brian tweeted minutes ago:
    “I fully expect Carey Price to recover this 879. That’s not even an AHL goalie. All players slump. No one is immune. Wasn’t long ago that people said Crosby was done when he did zippo for 20 games. It happens to everyone.”

    I agree with this for the most part. I’m just scratching my head here trying to figure out what is going wrong. Is it mental, or is it physical? Some are pointing to his old injury – I have a hard time accepting that as he played well last year (with a small slump) including the World Cup. He was awesome with no signs of a nagging injury. Perhaps it’s a new injury? To me, it seems like it is a confidence issue. Something is just beating him up inside his head and he can’t focus. He doesn’t look like Carey when he is setting up for a faceoff. He looks too uptight. He doesn’t give off the confidence that he normally does. He’s usually quite chill, and that should help him overcome, but something is just not right. Definitely not lucky bounces or bad luck.

    Thoughts, Grant, Brian, and Recruters?

  • Jean Numainville says

    Great analysis! We’re loosing with our veterans and other teams are learning to win with their kids!!!

  • Jennifer LaPoint says

    I agree with much of this. I was at the game last night and the first period they seemed to just go through the motions, no energy whatsoever except Gallagher. He played awesome the entire game. Price looked completely lost and I hope he snaps out of it soon. And the Hudon thing angered me so much, he was a bright spot as well and gets demoted, unbelievable!! We really need to do something about defense too, I can tell that just by the way I held my breath every time someone other than Weber was on the ice. Even Drouin had better defensive plays then them last night! I did enjoy watching Mete, such great speed, the future for him is bright, as long as management doesn’t hinder him as per norm.

  • Alex Laberge says

    Thank you! This is great. If MB goes, coach Julien needs to go too. Nothing really positive since he’s been named coach. I don’t see him changing his ways. Heck, I’m no fan of MT but he got more out of the players & was more proactive when things didn’t work. No coaches would look good the way Price & Captain Pacioretty have been playing but at least, cut their ice time! It’s overdo & can it be worse?(don’t answer that..)

  • Ralph Segreto says

    Absolutely bang on, Grant. The conservatism and non meritocracy on the Habs, regardless of the coach, makes you wonder where it’s coming from. The guy at the top sets the tone and Julien isn’t the guy at the top. The Alzner signing is the next Gomez contract. Just who is scouting these guys. I’ve often thought there are too many friends and family in the Habs organization and not enough guys who know what they’re doing. Nic Carriere for assistant coach on the Rocket? What has he ever achieved? Check his resume.
    I wonder if Carey is just tired of all the above and is showing it. Hard to get pumped for an organization going downhill.