Post by habslive on Oct 24, 2008 20:30:38 GMT -5
With the offense in a serious funk, the Montreal Canadiens have reloaded in a big way. The team was leading the league in goals at around the 10-15 game mark, but has since plummeted to 4th from the bottom, averaging under 3.5 goals per game. The saving grace of the Habs has been the IHL-best defense and Vezina front runner Evgeni Nabokov.
Well, GM Rob Seitz told Nabokov to be patient and has rewarded his star goaltender with two immense upgrades. At a press conference earlier today, Seitz brought in the additions, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce to you the newest members of our Montreal Canadiens family, Paul Kariya and Alex Tanguay."
The move hardly comes as a surprise, as it was common knowledge in the league that Seitz was actively seeking an improvement. Seitz later added, "Ryan Malone was wearing out his welcome and resting on his (Evgeni Malkin's) laurels. We don't appreciate lackluster efforts in the greatest hockey city in the world, so we shipped him out. He doesn't deserve to be here."
Asked where the two wingers could fit onto this team, Seitz was quick to say that the decisions would be made by coach Guy Carbonneau, but that Tanguay and Kariya will likely flank Derek Roy on the second line, with Mark Recchi moving down to the 3rd line.
The Habs are expected to test the new lineup tomorrow night in the back half of a home and home with Paris.
Kariya-Richards-Kovalev
Frolov-Roy-Tanguay
Steen-Conroy-Recchi
Latendresse-Belanger-Gionta
Scratch: Stempniak
Campbell- Seabrook
Streit-Hejda
Wideman-Gill
Nabokov
Look for a lot more red lights to be firing up behind opposing goaltenders in the next couple of months.
Well, GM Rob Seitz told Nabokov to be patient and has rewarded his star goaltender with two immense upgrades. At a press conference earlier today, Seitz brought in the additions, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce to you the newest members of our Montreal Canadiens family, Paul Kariya and Alex Tanguay."
The move hardly comes as a surprise, as it was common knowledge in the league that Seitz was actively seeking an improvement. Seitz later added, "Ryan Malone was wearing out his welcome and resting on his (Evgeni Malkin's) laurels. We don't appreciate lackluster efforts in the greatest hockey city in the world, so we shipped him out. He doesn't deserve to be here."
Asked where the two wingers could fit onto this team, Seitz was quick to say that the decisions would be made by coach Guy Carbonneau, but that Tanguay and Kariya will likely flank Derek Roy on the second line, with Mark Recchi moving down to the 3rd line.
The Habs are expected to test the new lineup tomorrow night in the back half of a home and home with Paris.
Kariya-Richards-Kovalev
Frolov-Roy-Tanguay
Steen-Conroy-Recchi
Latendresse-Belanger-Gionta
Scratch: Stempniak
Campbell- Seabrook
Streit-Hejda
Wideman-Gill
Nabokov
Look for a lot more red lights to be firing up behind opposing goaltenders in the next couple of months.