HabsCast Hockey Blog

Uploaded on September 15, 2007 (flickr.com)
by jason_hope

Keeping Price… Giving Higgins the “A”
Today, the Montreal Canadiens announced their final roster in preparation for their season opener on Wednesday.

Carey Price, Kyle Chipchura, and Mikhail Grabovski are all staying with the team, while Jaroslav Halak, Maxim Lapierre, and Ryan O’Byrne are all being demoted to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

So here’s the complete rundown of the players who did and didn’t make the team:

To start, the Canadiens made the right choice in keeping Carey Price in the NHL because he needs as much experience as possible at this point in his young career. This decision comes as a major blow to Halak who single handedly led the Canadiens when Cristobal Huet was injured last season. The last thing Halak needs right now is to become the next Yann Danis or Mathieu Garon, however, it is unlikely he will face that fate since Huet’s time with the Habs are numbered.

Experts believe that the Canadiens are in for a major disappointment this season and have them finishing 13th in the East. Even though this team is young, they have plenty of talent up front. The newcomers this season are Kyle Chipchura and Mikhail Grabovski. This leaves Maxim Lapierre out in the cold and heading to Hamilton.

Kyle Chipchura is a model “2-way player” and will be a great asset on the penalty kill. I could see him playing on the third or fourth line. Mikhail Grabovski, on the other hand, is a great skater and playmaker (sexy soft hands). I see him playing on the fourth line and sitting some odd games out. It should be interesting to see what Carbonneau does with him.

Unfortunately, my favorite defenseman, Ryan O’Byrne, didn’t make the cut. I like the way he played this preseason and he used his size to his advantage. I really thought he was making the team because he’s better than some of our regulars (Bouillon and Brisebois a.k.a. Breeze-By). Hopefully, O’Byrne won’t be down there (Hamilton) much long because I feel the Canadiens can use some size in our own zone.

On another note, Guy Carbonneau handed an “A” to the much deserving Chris Higgins. Higgins has shown us time and time again the way hockey should be played. I remember seeing him in a preseason game, long before he made the team, and thinking to myself “this kid never gives up on the puck… WTF” A few years later Higgins has proven himself a major part of this team. His passion for hockey and the Habs organization doesn’t go unnoticed. This is precisely why Higgins is a fan favorite. I can definitely see him as the next captain of the Montreal Canadiens once Saku Koivu decides to retire or sadly leave the team.

The preseason is over and the roster is finalized. Finally, after a long, LONG summer it’s time to drop the puck for the 2007-2008 NHL season. It should be interesting to see if the Canadiens can silence the critics once again and make the playoffs. To all the Habs fans in Montreal and all over the world: GO HABS GO!

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