MONTREAL GAZETTE
Is Head Coach Jacques Demers on the Hot Seat?
December 1st, 1995
Results
LOSS 3-0 @ Washington Capitals
WIN 5-2 @ Boston Bruins
WIN 5-2 vs Anaheim Ducks
LOSE 7-4 @ Calgary Flames
LOSE 3-2 @ Vancouver Canucks
LOSE 6-0 @ Edmonton Oilers
WIN 6-2 vs Ottawa Senators
WIN 5-2 vs Hartford Whalers
WIN 5-4 @ Hartford Whalers
LOSE 6-3 vs Colorado Avalanche
LOSE 3-1 @ Detroit Red Wings
LOSE 5-2 @ St. Louis Blues
Record: 5-7-0 (Overall: 11-11-1, 23 points), 2nd in Northeast
Montreal Canadiens News
November 9th - After sending out the news that Defenseman Lyle Odelein was on the trading block the San Jose Sharks came calling looking to acquire Odelein for Mike Rathje, their 3rd overall pick in 1992. Already the Sharks have decided to give up on the 21 year old after just 97 NHL Games. Obviously interested in the defensive defenseman, Martin wanted to get a deal done but he was already finalizing a deal with Florida involving Odelein that he wasn't going to pull back. So he reworked the trade and offered a deal that satisfied Sharks GM Dean Lombardi. Heading to San Jose would be left winger Yves Sarault along with Pittsburgh's 4th and Montreal's 8th round picks in the 1995 NHL Draft while Mike Rathje will head to Montreal. Rathje has played 8 games this season in the NHL but is expected to play in the AHL with Fredericton for the rest of the season
November 11th - 2 Days after completing the deal with the Sharks, the Lyle Odelein to Florida trade was finally completed after different versions of the exchange had fallen through. In the end the trade ended up being:
To Florida
Lyle Odelein D
David Wilkie D
1996 7th and 9th round picks
1997 9th round pick
To Montreal
Robert Svehla D
Radek Dvorak RW
Braden Martin had this to say on the trade:
Quote:
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We had too many defenseman on our depth chart that could be a regular player for an NHL club. We decided early this season that some were going to be moved after evaluating their performances. Unfortunately Odelein and Wilkie were the odd men out. I wish them good luck with their new team. In return we get a guy in Svehla who will be one of the better offensive defenseman on the team but also still has room to grow. Radek Dvorak was someone that we wanted in the deal as well which took some time to iron out but finally we made it work. He's a skilled playmaking forward who will have opportunities to play this season but a good chance to make the roster next year if he takes the steps we think he will - Braden Martin
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November 12th - Newly re- acquired forward Stephane Richer has ruptured his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) after colliding with the goal post in the Canadiens 7-4 loss against the Calgary Flames yesterday. Team Doctor’s have said the recovery time will be about 5 months before he’s able to play again. It’s disappointing for Montreal and for Richer who was expecting to have a good season back with his old team. Richer had 3 points through 11 games so far this season. 22 year old John Madden will be called up to the Canadiens in place of Richer
November 25th - Montreal Prospect Radek Dvorak made his NHL debut against the Colorado Avalanche after injuries to some Canadiens forwards left some spots that needed to be filled. The Avalanche sit atop the the NHL with 33 points and a 16-5-1 record. The big reason for their success has been their scoring prowess as they lead the league in goals with 102, 19 more then the 2nd place Rangers. They showed the Canadiens just how they do it as the Avs won 6-3. Dvorak didn't score any points in the game and was a -1 but said the following after the game:
Who's Hot?
J.J. Daigneault - One of those players you wouldn't notice by box scores but watching the game you would see how effective Daigneault has been on the defensive side of the game. Arguably the best defensive D-man on the team, J.J. has been averaging around 19:00 minutes of ice time a game and been a solid defensive presence every time he's out there.
Pierre Turgeon - Montreal's Captain was on the "Not Hot" section last month but after watching November's games more closely that might have been a bad call. I said he wasn't putting up enough points and didn't pay attention to the high calibre of defense Turgeon was playing while also putting up points. He now has 17 points in 23 games which is second on the Habs behind Recchi with 22. Turgeon has probably been the teams best defensive forward so far this season which is both a good thing and bad thing. Turgeon hasnt really been known as a good defender so has he turned a page in his career or is this team lacking on the defensive end? We'll have to see as the season heads into December.
Who's Not?
Jacques Demers - Something might be brewing in Montreal as Head Coach Jacques Demers has started the 18 year rookie Jose Theodore in more games then Patrick Roy has this season. The continuous descision to name Theodore starter over Patrick Roy is puzzling considering Theodore is sitting with a 5-7-0 record and a SV% of .901. Meanwhile Roy has a 6-4-1 with a .922%. Is there some sort of beef between Demers and Roy or does Jacques truly believe Theodore will win them more hockey games? This situation will have to be monitored closely.
Montreal's Special Teams - The Canadiens Power Play and Penalty Kill has been abysmal this season. The Power Play is 20th in the NHL with a weak 17%. The Canadiens are having troubles scoring goals and that Power Play will need to be fixed to help that problem. The Penalty Kill is even worse as it's second last in the league ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings who have allowed 94 goals against this year to the Habs 73. Both of the units will need to be mixed up if they want to start winning more games.
NHL News
Injuries
Murray Craven (
CHI) Out 5-6 Months with a Broken Kneecap
Mark Messier (
NYR) Out 1-2 Months with a Grade II Concussion
Shawn McEachern
(BOS) Out 3-4 Months with a Ruptured Tendon (Foot)
Player of the Month Honours
Brian Bradley
(TBL) - 24 GP 11 Goals 26 Assists 37 Points (5th in Points in NHL)
Martin Brodeur
(NJD) - 17 GP 10-4-3 Record .932SV% 1.93GAA 3 Shutouts (1st in Shutouts, 3rd in SV%, 3rd in GAA, 5th in Wins)
Milestones
November 2nd -
Ray Ferraro 600 Points in Rangers 3-4 Loss against Washington (1 Goal, 1 Assist) (31 years Old)
November 16th -
Dale Hawerchuk 500 Goals in St. Louis 6-3 Win against San Jose (1 Goal, 1 Assist) (32 years Old)
Trades
New Jersey Devils Acquire:
Ulf Dahlen LW (28 Years Old)
San Jose Sharks Acquire:
Petr Sykora RW (18 Years Old)
Trade Analysis - In a trade that surprised many people in the hockey world, 18 year old Petr Sykora was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Swedish winger Ulf Dahlen. Sykora was lighting it up this season as he had 12 points in 13 games. The Czech native was just drafted 18th overall this past offseason and was looking like the steal of the draft. However rumours say Devils management (GM Lamoriello and head coach Jacques Lemaire mainly) and Sykora were not seeing eye to eye whatsoever. Sykora was repeatedly late for meetings, showing up in the wrong attire and skipping mandatory practices. They decided that his on ice performance wasn't enough to cover for his off ice issues. So they shipped him to the other side of the country for two-way forward Ulf Dahlen. Dahlen is recognized as one of the better defensive forwards in the league while still being able to put up points. The trade is a steal for the Sharks who get a potential superstar in the making but the Devils also get another stingy defensive player to add to their defensive powerhouse
December Schedule
December 2nd - vs Detroit Red Wings
December 6th - vs New Jersey Devils
December 7th - @ Pittsburgh Penguins
December 9th - vs New York Rangers
December 12th - @ Winnipeg Jets
December 15th - @ Chicago Blackhawks
December 16th - vs Philadelphia Flyers
December 18th - vs Hartford Whalers
December 20th - @ Buffalo Sabres
December 22nd - @ Pittsburgh Penguins
December 23rd - vs Pittsburgh Penguins
December 26th - @ Washington Capitals
December 28th - @ Tampa Bay Lightning
December 30th - @ Ottawa Senators