Tony Patoine

Analysis Canadiens

CH: Just pretending to be a mature team, or are they actually mature?
Tony Patoine

There was a lot of complaining two weeks ago when the team left too many points on the table after squandering two-goal leads. Both collectively and individually, there was frequent talk of a “lack of maturity.” Add to that Demidov’s injury, along with those of Suzuki and Matheson—not to mention Dobes’ lackluster performances—and some people […]

CH: Just pretending to be a mature team, or are they actually mature?
Analysis Canadiens

Reminder: Reconstruction is not yet complete
Tony Patoine

Since last season, we’ve been hearing this phrase more and more: “The CH’s rebuild is complete.” Last spring’s almost unexpected run of success certainly added fuel to the fire. As a result, as our cousins say, expectations have started to rise, and fans want things to move faster. After all, the window seems to be […]

Reminder: Reconstruction is not yet complete
Analysis Canadiens

Let’s (finally) debunk the myth of meritocracy
Tony Patoine

We hear all sorts of things about the famous meritocracy, which, according to many, should govern every decision made by the good leaders of the Flanelle and the NHL. Thus, meritocracy is supposedly THE way to do things, the guiding principle, the only way to properly manage a team and an organization. Yet meritocracy—much like […]

Let’s (finally) debunk the myth of meritocracy
Analysis Canadiens

Michael Hage for Dylan Larkin: A Moral Dilemma?
Tony Patoine

Morality is one of those characteristics that is often mentioned when it comes to distinguishing humans from the other creatures that inhabit the Earth and its surroundings. On Channel D, does the lioness feel guilty about killing the little antelope calf that’s limping? One might doubt it… Same goes for the alligator, who wouldn’t have […]

Michael Hage for Dylan Larkin: A Moral Dilemma?
Analysis Canadiens

Marchenko-Knies’ Failure: The CH Must Aim Even Higher
Tony Patoine

So, the Leafs and the Jackets have completed a trade that likely involves the two players whose names have been mentioned most frequently in Montreal trade rumors over the past six months. There’s every reason to believe that Knies came within minutes of becoming a member of the Canadiens on March 6. There’s also every […]

Marchenko-Knies’ Failure: The CH Must Aim Even Higher
Analysis Canadiens

CH: A Look Back at a Very Encouraging Training Camp… and Our Predictions
Tony Patoine

That’s it—the CH’s training camp is over! What have we learned? What can we say and hope for each of the key players heading into the upcoming season? Here’s a quick recap of this whirlwind camp before we move on to the proverbial “real deal”! They were outstanding Lane Hutson: Can we expect anything less […]

CH: A Look Back at a Very Encouraging Training Camp… and Our Predictions
Analysis Canadiens

$53 million in savings: The CH’s “culture” will eventually pay off…
Tony Patoine

Those who have been reading my blog for 25 years (yes, there really are some!) know that I’m not a big fan of terms with quasi-esoteric connotations when it comes to sports.  Terms like “aura” and “culture” always make me smile a little. Even if it almost sounds like you’re hearing the voices of angels, […]

$53 million in savings: The CH’s “culture” will eventually pay off…
Analysis Canadiens

If you were Kent Hughes, would you target Kreider or Marchenko?
Tony Patoine

So it seems that Chris Kreider, a “fan favorite” in Montreal since 2014—and THE player Trevor Timmins would have drafted in 2009 instead of Louis Leblanc, had it not been for those very same fans—is on the verge of returning to the East. Rumor has it—with “rumor” primarily coming from Renaud Lavoie—that the Habs could […]

If you were Kent Hughes, would you target Kreider or Marchenko?
Analysis Canadiens

The CH’s summer in three questions, the main one being…
Tony Patoine

Now that we’ve covered our top 15 most promising CH prospects, it would be good to revisit some summer topics that we’ve put on the back burner. Here are three questions that still deserve some thought and answers before the next season kicks off! There are plenty of others, but hey, we have to keep […]

The CH’s summer in three questions, the main one being…
Analysis Canadiens

Top 15 CH Prospects: Demidov, Hage, and Fowler on the Podium
Tony Patoine

Following last week’s rankings from 6 to 4, today marks the conclusion of our annual list of the CH’s 15 top prospects. You’ll find a summary of our analysis series at the end of this article. But for now, let’s dive into the final top 3! 3. Jacob Fowler, G Potential: 35.5/40 Confidence: 16/20 Usage […]

Top 15 CH Prospects: Demidov, Hage, and Fowler on the Podium