FORMER HAB CHRIS CHELIOS HANGS THEM UP

Today, former Hab captain Chris Chelios retires after 26 NHL seasons.
"I have been so fortunate to be on great teams and have great teammates throughout my whole career, starting with the Montreal Canadiens,” offered Chelios, who played his first seven years in Montreal. “I would like to thank [former Canadiens GM] Serge Savard for the support he showed me. He went to bat for me from day one. I will never forget my start. I had one point in my first 14 games with the Canadiens. I never even unpacked my bags because I thought I was going to the minors,” Chelios said.

“Serge Savard and [head coach] Jacque Lemaire kept playing me and I finally figured it out. It also didn't hurt that I had Patrick Roy behind me for the next six years, so thank you, Patrick – a good friend and teammate.” Chelios played in 11 all star games and he won 3 Stanley Cups (2 with Detroit and 1 with Montreal). Chelios retires at the age of 48 only one NHL player retired when he was older than 48 and that was Gordie Howe at the age of 52.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Chelios Career statistics

From Wikipedia

				Regular season							Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
1978–79	Moose Jaw Canucks	SJHL		24	3	16	19	—	68		—	—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Moose Jaw Canucks	SJHL		53	12	31	42	—	118		—	—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Moose Jaw Canucks	SJHL		54	23	64	87	—	175		—	—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Wisconsin Badgers	WCHA		43	6	43	49	—	50		—	—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Wisconsin Badgers	WCHA		45	16	32	48	—	62		—	—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		12	0	2	2	-5	12		16	1	9	10	3	17
1984–85	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		74	9	55	64	11	87		9	2	8	10	2	17
1985–86	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		41	8	26	34	4	67		20	2	9	11	3	49
1986–87	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		71	11	33	44	-5	124		17	4	9	13	-1	38
1987–88	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		71	20	41	61	14	172		11	3	1	4	3	29
1988–89	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		80	15	58	73	35	185		21	4	15	19	2	28
1989–90	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		53	9	22	31	20	136		5	0	1	1	-4	8
1990–91	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		77	12	52	64	23	192		6	1	7	8	2	46
1991–92	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		80	9	47	56	24	245		18	6	15	21	19	37
1992–93	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		84	15	58	73	14	282		4	0	2	2	-1	14
1993–94	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		76	16	44	60	12	212		6	1	1	2	0	8
1994–95	EHC Biel	Swiss-A		3	0	3	3	—	4		—	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		48	5	33	38	17	72		16	4	7	11	6	12
1995–96	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	14	58	72	25	140		9	0	3	3	2	8
1996–97	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		72	10	38	48	16	112		6	0	1	1	-2	8
1997–98	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	3	39	42	-7	151		—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		65	8	26	34	-4	89		—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		10	1	1	2	5	4		10	0	4	4	-6	14
1999–00	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		81	3	31	34	48	103		9	0	1	1	-3	8
2000–01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		24	0	3	3	4	45		5	1	0	1	-1	2
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		79	6	33	39	40	126		24	1	13	14	15	44
2002–03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		66	2	17	19	4	78		4	0	0	0	-3	2
2003–04	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		69	2	19	21	12	61		8	0	1	1	1	4
2004–05	Motor City Mechanics	UHL		23	5	19	24	13	25		—	—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		81	4	7	11	22	108		6	0	0	0	2	6
2006–07	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		71	0	11	11	11	34		18	1	6	7	7	12
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		69	3	9	12	11	36		14	0	0	0	2	10
2008–09	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		28	0	0	0	1	18		6	0	0	0	0	2
2008–09	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		2	0	1	1	0	2		—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Chicago Wolves	AHL		46	5	17	22	34	24		14	0	0	0	0	12
2009–10	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		7	0	0	0	-2	2		—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1651	185	763	948	350	2891		268	31	113	144	48	423

EASTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASON

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDING'S PREDICTIONS 2010-2011 Predicted by Andrew Di Pardo:

1.Washington Capitals:

The Caps will have a good sold defense this season and will need some big time scoring from Ovechkin this season especially when it comes to playoff time. But I wounder if the caps will get some consistent goaltending from Varlamov because if they don't I think that you'll see the Caps 3 game playoff losing streak extend. But overall I think the Caps will have a good regular season by finishing in first but I still tend to wonder how far the Caps could go in the playoffs.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins:

The Penguins are going to have a break out season this year after a round 2 upset that was given to them by Montreal. With having one of the youngest teams in the NHL the Pens are going to get number 1: Solid Defense, Number 2: Strong offense and Number 3: Solid goaltending. With those 3 major factors you can expect the Penguins to finish in second and expect the Pens to at least pass round 1 of the playoffs if not more.

3.Boston Bruins:

After what could have been a great cup run for the Bruins (after blowing a 3-0 series lead to the soon to be East champs the Flyers) the Bruins will look to rebound. I think they will. They have good offense and defense but like I said in my 09-10 season preview the Boston Bruins like the Capitals have inconsistency goaltending. That inconsistency cost them a trip to round 3 vs Montreal. So I think the Bruins will finish in 3rd but if they don't get a Consistent goalie they could make a early exit in the playoffs.

4.Buffalo Sabres:

After a farley ok season for the Sabers. The Sabres will have high expectations for this season. With all the offseason changes and or signings like Tim Conboy (won the cup with Chicago last season),Paul Byron being called up,Collin Stuart and Manny more you can expect the Sabers to have a good PK and you can expect them to finish in 4th.

5.Montreal Canadiens:

After the Habs longest Cup run since 1993 you can expect Montreal to have more of the same. You can expect anything and everything from the Habs like a great Powerplay and a great PK. Speaking of P.k, P.K Subban will be starting the season with the Habs with high expectations and he's ready to take those on. So expect a great season from PK. The Habs will have great goaltending this season from Carey Price (who will be signed in a few days) and Alex Auld so expect Montreal to be a big contender this season.

6. New Jersey Devils:

This upcoming season the Devils are not going to have one of there best seasons. As of now the Devils don't even have enough forwards for 4 lines (they only have 11) and they would just have enough if the Devils could somehow sign Kovalchuk which at the moment isn't going well. But anyway Brodeur (who I think is to old to play in the NHL) is not going to have a good year. I think he's going to be very inconstant. Which will be a problem for the Devils because if Brodeurs not at his best there not going anywhere. Even there back up named Hedburgh is inconsistent and I also think he's to old. So with these facts I think the Devils will make the Playoffs but they won't pass the first round.

7.Philedephia Flyers:

After going all the way to the Stanley cup final but coming up short the Flyers have high expectations for this season. But the only problem with the Flyers is there getting older. With them getting older they will not have a good PK or a good powerplay.So I don't think you'll see them finish above 7th.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs:

After missing the playoffs for a franchise record 5th straight season the Leafs have the youngest team in the NHL and with that they will have there work cut out for them this season.
But with what the Leafs Gm did to this team you can expect to see the Leafs in the playoffs this season.
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9.New York Rangers:

After a great ending to the 09-10 season the Rangers and a few minor changes in the offseason the Rangers would hope to make the playoffs this year. But I don't think that they have done all there homework. So you can expect the Rangers to finish a few points back of 8th this season.

10. Ottawa Senators:

What have the Sens done with there team? I can answer that.. Nothing. When I say nothing I mean that they have only made a few deals that won't improve there team. So after a season where they had there oldest player (Alfredsson) lead the team in points which is kinda pathetic you can expect the Sens to miss the playoffs this season.

11.Tampa Bay Lightning:

This past offseason the Lightning have changed there team for the better.When I say better I mean future. So if your a Lightning fan expect them not to make the playoffs this season. But expect them to make it in the next 2-3 seasons.

12. Carolina Hurricanes:

After a season of missing the playoffs you can expect more of the same due to the fact that the Hurricanes like all teams that are going to miss the playoffs have just made a few changes. So expect nothing from this team. Expect a bad powerplay and a bad PK which will lead the Canes to a 12th place finish.

13.Atlanta Thrashers:

I think the Thrashers just like the lightning have a bright future but that future is not going to come this season. You can expect Atalanta to start off on the wrong foot and end the season on a good note (on a win streak). But they still will finish in 13th.

14. Florida Panthers:

The Panthers are coming off a bad season by finishing in 14th. But they are getting better. But that doesn't mean they will make the playoffs. I think the Panthers will have an unbalanced team. What I mean by that is they will have bad defense and good offense which will lead to another 14th place finish.

15.New York Islanders:

After yet another bad season. The Islanders aren't getting any better and that's why I think they will finish in last place in the NHL and in the East.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS TO GO

WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS 2010-2011 TO GO Predicted By Andrew Di Pardo:

1.San Jose Sharks

2.Vancouver Canucks

3.Chicago Blackhawks

4. Calgary Flames

5. Los Angels Kings

6.St.Louis Blues

7.Detroit Red Wings

8.Edmonton Oilers
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9.Anaheim Ducks

10.Nashville Predators

11.Columbus Blue Jackets

12. Colorado Avalanche

13. Phoenix Coyotes

14.Minnesota Wild

15. Dallis Stars

SCOTT HAS A NEW NUMBER

According to the Canadiens official site (Canadiens.NHL.com), Scott Gomez has changed his number from 91 to 11. Gomez joined the Habs last season in the "Chris Higgins trade to N.Y." That was the first big deal in the 2009 offseason for Montreal. There were several other big deals after that like the Gionta signing and the Cammalleri signing. But back on the topic, this will be Gomez's first season wearing the number 11. Before he came to Montreal he played with the Devils and Rangers and he always wore number 19. But because that number was already retired in Montreal he chose number 91. But now he has decided to change his number to 11. Which former Hab players like Kirk Muller and Saku Koivu wore.

Kirk Muller wore number 11 throught his career but he wore it when he was a member of the Habs from 1991-1995.Saku Koivu (who was the Habs captain for 9 seasons) wore number 11 from 1995-2009 on the Canadiens and he currently still wears that number on the Anaheim Ducks. So back to Gomez, Gomez will be looking for a better season this year with number 11 than with number 91 after a very disapointing season which he only had 59 points throught 78 games (which included 12 goals and 47 assist).

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

UPDATE ON CAREY PRICE'S CONTRACT NEGOTIATION

According to sources, Montreal goaltender Carey Price will be signed by early September. The reason why this deal has been taking a while is due to the fact that Carey Price wants more money than the Canadiens expected (Price wants 2 million) that's the biggest problem.

But another problem is Price wants a 3 year contract but Gauthier wanted to give him a 2 year contract. There has just been so much problems with this deal. At one point it didn't look like Montreal was going to sign him. But now the contracts back on track. But Gauthier still is trying to lower the cost of money in this deal due to he only has 4 million available on the cap. So he is trying to work out a 2 year 1 million dollar contract.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS PRE-SEASON 2010

Date away home time (ET) venue:

sept. 22, 2010 Bruins Canadiens 7:30 PM bell centre - montréal
sept. 24, 2010 SeNAToRS Canadiens 7:30 PM bell centre - montréal
sept. 25, 2010 Canadiens Senators 7:00 PM scotia bank place - ottawa
sept. 26, 2010 wild Canadiens 7:00 PM bell centre - Montréal
sept. 27, 2010 panthers Canadiens 7:30 PM bell centre - Montréal
sept. 30, 2010 sabres Canadiens 7:30 PM bell centre - Montréal
oct. 2, 2010 canadiens N.Y. islanders 7:00 PM colisée- quebec city

"WE EXPECT HIM TO BE A BIG PART OF OUR TEAM. FORGET THE FUTURE, HE'S A SPECIAL PLAYER NOW"

Today in Toronto at a conditioning camp, the Canadiens defenseman P.K Subban has high expectations for the upcoming season in Montreal. But after a great cup run with Montreal Subban feels he's ready to meet those expectations."Well, there's always high expectations," Subban told TSN. "Whether it's from the media or the organization there's always high expectations for me that I put on myself. It's nothing different - I look at this like the first time I came into training camp. It's hockey - I've been playing since I was three, four years old so nothing's really changed. I'm here to have some fun."

In the 2009-2010 season Subban played 2 regular season games (both against the flyers) and he had 2 assist. Subban also played in the 2010 playoffs and he had 1 goal and 7 assists."He came in and showed that he can handle himself right away and contribute to our team," said teammate Michael Cammalleri. "We're happy with his progress for sure and we expect him to be a big part of our team. Forget the future, he's a special player now, he's a charismatic guy and he's got a lot of tools. We'll expect a lot out of him." Subban just like Cammalleri said will be a big part of the Habs team this upcoming season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

THE HABS HAVE THE 11TH BEST FANS IN NORTH AMERICA!!

North America’s Best Sports Fans
1.		Boston Red Sox	9.		Dallas Cowboys
2.		Pittsburgh Steelers	10.		St. Louis Cardinals
3.		Detroit Red Wings	11.		Montreal Canadiens
4.		Indianapolis Colts	12.		Los Angeles Lakers (2010 Champs)
5.		New England Patriots	13.		Cleveland Cavaliers
6.		Pittsburgh Penguins	14.		New York Yankees (2009 world series Champs)
7.		Boston Celtics	15.		Philadelphia Phillies
8.		San Antonio Spurs	16.		Chicago Blackhawks(2010 Stanley Cup Champs)

Well the results are in and The Montreal Canadiens are ranked 11th in North America's Best Sports fans. Wow. I guess Montreal is Canada's team, Well since the Maple Laugh's I mean Leafs arn't on the list. But it doesn't matter anyway's because everyone already knew that the Habs would be on the list. For Example just look at the fan support. The fans are there and they give the home team support through the good times and Bad. That's why Montreal's on the list.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS TRADE Desjardins TO THE LIGHTNING FOR RAMO

Today in Montreal, the Habs traded Goaltender Cédrick Desjardins to the Tampa Bay Lightnig for Goaltender Karri Ramo.Ramo played 44 games with Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League last season, he had a record of 21-17-4 with 4 shutouts. Ramo is expected to start the season in the minors. As For Desjardins (who Montreal recently signed) spent last season in the AHL with the Bulldogs and he had a great record. In 47 games he had a record of 29-9-4 with 6 shutouts (second in AHL).

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

THE HABS 2010-2011 SEASON ROSTER

Forwards

#	Name	Height	Weight	Date Of Birth	Age	Birth Place
17	Dustin Boyd	6' 0"	187	16 Jul 1986	24	Winnipeg, MB, CAN
13	Michael Cammalleri	5' 9"	182	8 Jun 1982	28	Richmond Hill, ON, CAN
52	Mathieu Darche	6' 1"	215	26 Nov 1976	33	Montreal, QC, CAN
21	Brian Gionta "A"	5' 7"	173	18 Jan 1979	31	Rochester, NY, USA
11	Scott Gomez	5' 11"	202	23 Dec 1979	30	Anchorage, AK, USA
46	Andrei Kostitsyn	6' 0"	214	3 Feb 1985	25	Novopolotsk, BLR
40	Maxim Lapierre	6' 2"	207	29 Mar 1985	25	Saint-Léonard, QC, CAN
61	Ben Maxwell	6' 1"	195	30 Mar 1988	22	North Vancouver, BC, CAN
32	Travis Moen	6' 2"	215	6 Apr 1982	28	Swift Current, SK, CAN
14	Tomas Plekanec	5' 11"	198	31 Oct 1982	27	Kladno, CZE
57	Benoit Pouliot	6' 3"	199	29 Sep 1986	23	Alfred, ON, CAN
94	Tom Pyatt	5' 11"	187	14 Feb 1987	23	Thunder Bay, ON, CAN

Defencemen

#	Name	Height	Weight	Date Of Birth	Age	Birth Place
75	Hal Gill "A"	6' 7"	241	6 Apr 1975	35	Concord, MA, USA
26	Josh Gorges	6' 1"	200	14 Aug 1984	25	Kelowna, BC, CAN
44	Roman Hamrlik	6' 2"	207	12 Apr 1974	36	Zlin, CZE
79	Andrei Markov "A"	6' 0"	207	20 Dec 1978	31	Voskresensk, RUS
20	Ryan O'Byrne	6' 5"	234	19 Jul 1984	26	Victoria, BC, CAN
6	Jaroslav Spacek	6' 0"	210	11 Feb 1974	36	Rokycany, CZE
76	PK Subban	6' 0"	206	13 May 1989	21	Toronto, ON, CAN

Goalies

#	Name	Height	Weight	Date Of Birth	Age	Birth Place
35	Alex Auld	6' 4"	216	7 Jan 1981	29	Cold Lake, AB, CAN
31	Carey Price	6' 3"	219	16 Aug 1987	22	Anahim Lake, BC, CAN

THE 2011 HERITAGE CLASSIC JERSEYS

This month, The NHL announced that there would be a heritage classic on February 20th 2011 in Calgary at McMahon Stadium. The teams that will be playing are the Flames and Habs. This Heritage classic will mark the first outdoor game in Canada since 2003."I was here at the Olympics in '88.I remember one day being out at the bobsled track completely dressed for winter. By the middle of the afternoon, I couldn't get the stuff off fast enough. And as soon as I got it off, I had to put it back on.If the weather isn't so good for an hour or so, just wait. It will change," Bettman said.

The Jerseys the Habs will be wearing in this classic game is there home jersey from home games between 1974-75 and 1995-96. As for the Flames they will wear there road jerseys from the 70's and 80's.


Written By Andrew Di Pardo

METROPOLIT SIGNS A 2 YEAR CONTRACT WITH EV ZUG IN SWITZERLAND

Today in Switzerland, EV ZUG's GM Glen Suitor announced that he had signed Glen Metropolit to a 2 year deal. Metropolit had a great season with the Habs last year. He helped Montreal go all the way to the conference Final."It was a great way to finish my NHL career. That means a lot to me,"Metropolit said. Speaking of Glen. He had 16 goals and 13 assist in 69 games in the regular season and in the playoffs he had 2 assist in 16 games.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo