Now, Johnny's Spanish isn't all that great but he can hack his way through (same with French from all those years listening to Red Wings and Canadiens games on a French radio station -- guess you could say Johnny hacks away at three languages) and it means FC Barcelona would like to have Xavi Hernandez say his goodbyes (and nobody has ever earned more time to say goodbye than Xavi at Barca) and move to, as reported here months ago, to NYCFC where he will join former teammate David Villa and most likely Frank Lampost--er Lampard. These announcements should be coming along in a week's time if not sooner.
Your home for NYCFC news, right here, from time-to-time.
This really is the best blog in this price range isn't it?
Showing posts with label montreal canadiens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label montreal canadiens. Show all posts
Monday, July 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
It's a national holiday in the US and Canada!
Or rather, it should be.
The NHL playoffs begin today (Hey Jeff Vanderbeek, enjoy them on teevee, you have nobody to blame but yourself) and so many first round series' have intrigue and involve long-time rivals.
Johnny's first round picks you ask?
Chicago over Minnesota in 4 because it can't be 3.
Detroit over Anaheim in 6 or 7. These teams meet like clockwork in the playoffs don't they?
San Jose over Vancouver. It's the playoffs and like always the Canucks are a mess. Sharks in 6.
It'd be great if St. Louis won. Johnny would like to see the Blues win a cup one day. But the Kings have had the Blues number. Kings in 7
___________
Pittsburgh over the overmatched Islanders in 4. Unless Darius Kasparaitis and David Volek plan on suiting up.
Boston over Toronto in 5. Toronto would have been better off playing Montreal but Ottawa ganked that up.
Capitals and Rangers. Hmmmmm, for five minutes Johnny think the Caps will win and for the next five he thinks it'll be the Rangers. Just flipped a coin. Rangers in 7.
Montreal and Ottawa. And CBC will STILL show the Leafs. Montreal in 6.
So dear readers, who ya got?!
The NHL playoffs begin today (Hey Jeff Vanderbeek, enjoy them on teevee, you have nobody to blame but yourself) and so many first round series' have intrigue and involve long-time rivals.
Johnny's first round picks you ask?
Chicago over Minnesota in 4 because it can't be 3.
Detroit over Anaheim in 6 or 7. These teams meet like clockwork in the playoffs don't they?
San Jose over Vancouver. It's the playoffs and like always the Canucks are a mess. Sharks in 6.
It'd be great if St. Louis won. Johnny would like to see the Blues win a cup one day. But the Kings have had the Blues number. Kings in 7
___________
Pittsburgh over the overmatched Islanders in 4. Unless Darius Kasparaitis and David Volek plan on suiting up.
Boston over Toronto in 5. Toronto would have been better off playing Montreal but Ottawa ganked that up.
Capitals and Rangers. Hmmmmm, for five minutes Johnny think the Caps will win and for the next five he thinks it'll be the Rangers. Just flipped a coin. Rangers in 7.
Montreal and Ottawa. And CBC will STILL show the Leafs. Montreal in 6.
So dear readers, who ya got?!
Monday, September 17, 2012
It would be legally, morally and ethically wrong to toss Gary Bettman off the Chrysler Building...
...but if someone decides to do it can you film it so the rest of the REAL hockey lovers can enjoy it many many times? Devils fans, your organization is complicit in this coming rant, you know Johnny loves you but, well, facts are facts.
Gary Bettman (hereafter to be known in this rant as "Commissioner Jackhole") has shut down the NHL again for a few of his owner friends. Not ALL owners mind you, no, just these captains of industry who demand to own a team in a SOCIALIST system. Set salary caps, tax the workers more every time to put money in the state's hands. When you want to extract more money just shut down the plant. Yes many of Commissioner Jackhole's "southern strategy" teams aren't doing so well. All that buy in cash in the form of franchise fees is long gone, those teams never could support themselves and it kicks off this spiral of lockout after lockout after lockout (3 on Mr. Jackhole's watch as the NHL's fearless leader).
Like we said, not all owners are with the Commissioner on this. They have successful teams built the right way. Unlike say, mmmm, The Minnesota Wild. A team that just busted the bank for two all-star players KNOWING they were in mere months going to look to Gary Bettman and say "Cut their piece of the pie, it's killing my bottom line. I just can't do business like this."
In other words it's not "don't stop me before I spend again" but "please protect me when I do."
If I were a Devils fan I'd be very worried right now. They are ready-built hockey "markets" out there like Kansas City, Portland/Seattle (because Vancouver needs a playmate) and some say they might put a professional team in Columbus one day. Honey Badger Gary doesn't give a shit as long as there might be a couple more franchise fees to gnaw on.
Something else Commissioner Jackhole won't discuss that much folks, revenue sharing. These failing franchises are being wheezed back to life yearly by the revenue sharing wherein teams like the Rangers, Red Wings, Canadiens, Flyers and a few others pay millions to prop up Nashville, Carolina, Florida, the artists formerly known as the Thrashers, Phoenix and a handful of others (Yes Devils this is where you fit in). More socialism from the lower end owners again. See if this is how business works; The Canadiens pay X millions in revenue sharing and money from that pot goes to say Nashville so Nashville has money to bid against the Canadiens for free agents and such. And as long as this kind of untoward thing goes on should these poorer market owners be able to shake down the players for more money after the players caved 7 years ago to the owners demand of a salary cap? These owners signed that deal.
Commissioner Jackhole you come off as a miserable little petty man in all this. A sniveling huckster who happens to have a trump card. You sneer from behind your office windows at hockey fans you spew platitudes at. You don't know how hockey fans feel because you're not one. You had never attended an NHL game before you became commissioner, you said it yourself.
Johnny's going to give the last words on this to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun:
Almost every time Gary Bettman opens his mouth, I have this tendency to want to slam my fist right into it.
And I’m not, in any way, what you’d call a violent person.
It’s his way, his voice, his condescension, his verbal cadence, his don’t-you-understand-I’m-the-smartest-man-in-the-room vibe that makes him so impossible to believe or trust.
So here we are again, held hostage by the NHL boss for the third time — a distinguished record of most work stoppages by one commissioner — with an absolutely unnecessary lockout, his league with record revenues, the players with record high salaries, fighting over increments and percentages. And this time, without a need to change the game, without a philosophical argument, with Bob Goodenow long gone, there is no one to truly detest from the players’ side.
Gary Bettman (hereafter to be known in this rant as "Commissioner Jackhole") has shut down the NHL again for a few of his owner friends. Not ALL owners mind you, no, just these captains of industry who demand to own a team in a SOCIALIST system. Set salary caps, tax the workers more every time to put money in the state's hands. When you want to extract more money just shut down the plant. Yes many of Commissioner Jackhole's "southern strategy" teams aren't doing so well. All that buy in cash in the form of franchise fees is long gone, those teams never could support themselves and it kicks off this spiral of lockout after lockout after lockout (3 on Mr. Jackhole's watch as the NHL's fearless leader).
Like we said, not all owners are with the Commissioner on this. They have successful teams built the right way. Unlike say, mmmm, The Minnesota Wild. A team that just busted the bank for two all-star players KNOWING they were in mere months going to look to Gary Bettman and say "Cut their piece of the pie, it's killing my bottom line. I just can't do business like this."
In other words it's not "don't stop me before I spend again" but "please protect me when I do."
If I were a Devils fan I'd be very worried right now. They are ready-built hockey "markets" out there like Kansas City, Portland/Seattle (because Vancouver needs a playmate) and some say they might put a professional team in Columbus one day. Honey Badger Gary doesn't give a shit as long as there might be a couple more franchise fees to gnaw on.
Something else Commissioner Jackhole won't discuss that much folks, revenue sharing. These failing franchises are being wheezed back to life yearly by the revenue sharing wherein teams like the Rangers, Red Wings, Canadiens, Flyers and a few others pay millions to prop up Nashville, Carolina, Florida, the artists formerly known as the Thrashers, Phoenix and a handful of others (Yes Devils this is where you fit in). More socialism from the lower end owners again. See if this is how business works; The Canadiens pay X millions in revenue sharing and money from that pot goes to say Nashville so Nashville has money to bid against the Canadiens for free agents and such. And as long as this kind of untoward thing goes on should these poorer market owners be able to shake down the players for more money after the players caved 7 years ago to the owners demand of a salary cap? These owners signed that deal.
Commissioner Jackhole you come off as a miserable little petty man in all this. A sniveling huckster who happens to have a trump card. You sneer from behind your office windows at hockey fans you spew platitudes at. You don't know how hockey fans feel because you're not one. You had never attended an NHL game before you became commissioner, you said it yourself.
Johnny's going to give the last words on this to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun:
Almost every time Gary Bettman opens his mouth, I have this tendency to want to slam my fist right into it.
And I’m not, in any way, what you’d call a violent person.
It’s his way, his voice, his condescension, his verbal cadence, his don’t-you-understand-I’m-the-smartest-man-in-the-room vibe that makes him so impossible to believe or trust.
So here we are again, held hostage by the NHL boss for the third time — a distinguished record of most work stoppages by one commissioner — with an absolutely unnecessary lockout, his league with record revenues, the players with record high salaries, fighting over increments and percentages. And this time, without a need to change the game, without a philosophical argument, with Bob Goodenow long gone, there is no one to truly detest from the players’ side.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
It's Hockey Afternoon in Newark®
Hockey Night in Canada comes later tonight. The Devils skate with the fly-by-night organization known as the Montreal Canadiens with the puck dropping at 1 pm at The Rock. It's a perfect day, afternoon hockey, maybe some drinks and grub in The Ironbound and back home in time for the 7 pm games. It's a little chilly but that's hockey weather bunky.
Les Habitants come in reeling losing 6 of 7 games. This is one of those games that the Devils are going to have pick up valuable points now so they don't have to go on a tear to try and make the playoffs like last year. Montreal has no powerplay to speak of which is why they traded for defenseman Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle may make his Montreal debut this afternoon after being traded by the Carolina Hurricanes. Who knew guys could play worse if they left Toronto? Kaberle is answering that rhetorical question this season.
Get on out to The Rock and have some funz. Bring your cameras to take a picture of Zach Parise so you can fondly recall his time in a Devils sweater.
Les Habitants come in reeling losing 6 of 7 games. This is one of those games that the Devils are going to have pick up valuable points now so they don't have to go on a tear to try and make the playoffs like last year. Montreal has no powerplay to speak of which is why they traded for defenseman Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle may make his Montreal debut this afternoon after being traded by the Carolina Hurricanes. Who knew guys could play worse if they left Toronto? Kaberle is answering that rhetorical question this season.
Get on out to The Rock and have some funz. Bring your cameras to take a picture of Zach Parise so you can fondly recall his time in a Devils sweater.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
TV Guide, because TV is getting more complicated all the time
That actually used to be a TV ad tag line for TV Guide in the 80's. Uh huh. Like Zagat's but only for your living room.
Anyway here is all you need know today dear readers:
12:00 Penguins vs Lighting
3:00 Rangers vs Crapitals
7:00 Canadiens vs Bruins
10:00 Kings vs Sharks
You've got a mere half hour to make enough sammiches and make a quick bodega run to lay in more chips and Buckhorn beer. Stop reading this crap and get going.
And don't forget the Cheez Whiz boy...
Anyway here is all you need know today dear readers:
12:00 Penguins vs Lighting
3:00 Rangers vs Crapitals
7:00 Canadiens vs Bruins
10:00 Kings vs Sharks
You've got a mere half hour to make enough sammiches and make a quick bodega run to lay in more chips and Buckhorn beer. Stop reading this crap and get going.
And don't forget the Cheez Whiz boy...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Let's talk some Devils hockey this morning
Johnny was stunned and then distraught that the Devils coach Jacques Lemaire was considering resting players for the playoffs vs. trying to top Pittsburgh for the division crown in this last weekend of the regular seaon. The Devils and the Flightless Birds are dead even. Even Steven. Exact same record. BUT The Devils gave Pittsburgh a red ass beat down every single time they played this year.
The New Jersey Six hold the tie-breaker.
Would you rather face a tough hard nosed Ottawa club in the first round? No, in Johnny's opinion Johnny would want the Bruins in the first round. They have a glass jaw. It's not as famous as the glass jaw worn by the San Jose Sharks but it's there and if the Devils could win the first two at home the B's might just go away. Sure Chara is a beast but the Devils could easily work around that.
The Canadiens in the first round wouldn't be a horrid matchup for the Devils but they do score on the powerplay at a clip that could win a game and send one or two to overtime. Always a good idea to stay away from hot powerplay teams in the tournament. Halak has used his strong Olympic performance as a springboard to much better play in the NHL.
The Flyers have just enough up front to win a game or two. Mike Richards seemingly scores 1 or 2 shorthanded goals a series. Their netminding might as well be that Capital One goat that goes skiing only on skates but their forwards can score. Then there is the Pronger factor. Take it from a lifelong die hard Red Wings fan; Chris Pronger is capable of any evil. The Wings have been playing against Pronger since seemingly the dawn of hockey time. He will and does take cheap shots and is capable of injuring ANY Devils player. Plus, looking at those orange sweaters would make your eyes bleed by game 4.
All of this speculation is out the window if the Devils shut some players down and don't win the division. Excuse me Mr. Lemaire but didn't the core of this team just get a couple weeks off for the Olympic break? Marty Brodeur certainly didn't wear himself out. Patrik Elias didn't play a ton of games either. Parise is the Energizer bunny so he needs no break.
Johnny thinks it'd be a horrible error to rest guys at this point and not spend the energy to win the division. A couple games now could mean 4-5 days off before the second round when you REALLY need to rest guys.
The New Jersey Six hold the tie-breaker.
Would you rather face a tough hard nosed Ottawa club in the first round? No, in Johnny's opinion Johnny would want the Bruins in the first round. They have a glass jaw. It's not as famous as the glass jaw worn by the San Jose Sharks but it's there and if the Devils could win the first two at home the B's might just go away. Sure Chara is a beast but the Devils could easily work around that.
The Canadiens in the first round wouldn't be a horrid matchup for the Devils but they do score on the powerplay at a clip that could win a game and send one or two to overtime. Always a good idea to stay away from hot powerplay teams in the tournament. Halak has used his strong Olympic performance as a springboard to much better play in the NHL.
The Flyers have just enough up front to win a game or two. Mike Richards seemingly scores 1 or 2 shorthanded goals a series. Their netminding might as well be that Capital One goat that goes skiing only on skates but their forwards can score. Then there is the Pronger factor. Take it from a lifelong die hard Red Wings fan; Chris Pronger is capable of any evil. The Wings have been playing against Pronger since seemingly the dawn of hockey time. He will and does take cheap shots and is capable of injuring ANY Devils player. Plus, looking at those orange sweaters would make your eyes bleed by game 4.
All of this speculation is out the window if the Devils shut some players down and don't win the division. Excuse me Mr. Lemaire but didn't the core of this team just get a couple weeks off for the Olympic break? Marty Brodeur certainly didn't wear himself out. Patrik Elias didn't play a ton of games either. Parise is the Energizer bunny so he needs no break.
Johnny thinks it'd be a horrible error to rest guys at this point and not spend the energy to win the division. A couple games now could mean 4-5 days off before the second round when you REALLY need to rest guys.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tonight Johnny gets to say hello to an old friend, Brendan Shanahan
Since Shanahan recently signed with the Devils, and will hopefully be playing tonight vs Montreal, Johnny will get to say hello to Shanny all over again. Johnny was a regular at Joe Louis Arena (aka The Church) in Detroit for Wings games for years and years. Shanahan as many of you know played in Detroit for many years and won three Stanley Cups. He scored many big goals and beat down many enemy skaters (In Game 4 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals in Detroit, Colorado Nordilanche loser Eric Lacroix reached into a fighting scrum of humanity and managed to pull out one very pissed off Brendan Shanahan as his fight partner. Shanny beat him to the ice like a narc at a biker rally). It'll be good to see him again.
Ya know, when Shanahan used to score goals in Detroit the Joe Louis Arena audio guru would play an Irish jig over the PA. Might not be a bad idea for The Rock to try the same thing.
Ya know, when Shanahan used to score goals in Detroit the Joe Louis Arena audio guru would play an Irish jig over the PA. Might not be a bad idea for The Rock to try the same thing.
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