Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
December 2, 2017
By Brian Wilde
The Montreal Canadiens tried to keep their winning streak going to five games taking on the Red Wings. Jonathan Drouin out again but Shea Weber was back. To the Wilde Horses…
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How this team’s fortunes have changed eh? My friend who had watched a lot of Sharks hockey last season was telling me last summer what a great player SCHlemko was and is.
Hi Brian, question for you that I am been wandered about for awhile. As a journalist is it better/ more exciting, professionally speaking, when the team that you are following is winning or losing? At the beginning of the season while the Habs were losing, the comment section of your articles was alive with input and feedback from your subscribers. Lately it has been much less with coincides with the Habs winning streak. Even on my side, I am not as quick to go read your synopsis of a game that the Habs win. Just curious.
Page views historically are 80 percent higher after a win. Debate might be less because a General happiness doesn’t produce argument but it is much more beneficial to be involved in a winning team. The patrons buy tickets. They buy extra beer or two or three. They go to a bar to watch the game instead of stay at home. They actually watch the game instead of not. They read the articles and look for analysis to enjoy. The only thing that is less is debate.
When I was at CTV a big time COTW could get 30000 page views. After a loss, that number can be as low as 2000. It’s remarkable as people want to get the unhappiness out of them. The last thing they wish to do is read more on it.
Thanks for the insight Brain, I learned something new today. Thought initially the opposite but actually happy to hear otherwise.
Gakchenyuk’s game reminds me of Vanek’s. He plays, looks like he floats, doesn’t seem to do much but ends the game with 2-3pts. Huge offensive potential.
Carr deserves an NHL job. He drive the fourth line and really allowed JDLR to shine as well Deslaurier. Carr will score more. He can kill penalties too I believe. He’s tenacious.
Schlemko has been really good; steady.
Mete is an awesome case to study. Every time experts and people have said he won’t excel and won’t be able to keep up, he’s been able to match and even excel as the level rises. MB has always said that he looks to see if a hound player is just trying to service but he he handles pressure on the ice like a pro. He looks cornered, beat maybe and he still rolls off hits and makes a perfect outlet and gets out of danger. Truly amazing for a 19yr old pro who never trained with a pro during the summer. Great story.
Price is Price. Awesome to see him and what he means for the Habs. MB said after the contract extension, nobody in the league had a goalie like Price-it’s true.
Habs need to find a way to get RNH. It’s a perfect fit as Wilde has been saying. The two teams have strengths that can be exchanged fairly that can help both teams. I’d be willing to move pacioretty in this package but this is a massive blockbuster. We’ll see what MB does.
If Scherbak makes it back, he would be wasted on the fourth line, imo.