The Royal Lineage
Thank God the habs traded Gill. I don't understand this whining about giving up on the season. We can still give it the 100% try without Gill, and for that matter Ak46 and Moen and Weber and Campoli and even others if we get the right offer. Has anyone actually seen Gill play this year. He has slowed down to a snail's pace. Added to his lack of pace is the fact he is the softest 6'7" player in the history of the NHL. He cannot deliver a bodycheck, and he has virtually no upperbody strength to move opposing power forwards. He is a total waste in the offensive zone with his shot being as fast as his skating. Granted his one strength was his penalty killing where he could take up space in front of the net and make it hard for point shooters to zone in or forwards on the wing to get the puck across for a pass. All to say a second round pick would have been great to get for this unrestricted free agent with diminishing returns. However, we also got 2 prospects. Is this trade similar to the steal the Habs inflicted on the Sharks when they traded Craig Rivet for a first rounder and Josh Gorges. We all know the first rounder turned out to be Max Pacioretty. At least Rivet still had a couple of good years left.
One of the prospects we received for Gill is of royal lineage. Blake Geoffrion was in the minors playing in the AHL. He has scored a hattrick in the NHL with the Predators. Yes he was in the minors but does anyone recall Pacioretty played two seasons in the AHL and was doing nothing for most of the first year. Blake Geoffrion was the Hobie Baker award winner a couple of years ago and his team made it to the NCAA final. He is tall at 6'2 and still filling out. There are rumours about his lack of foot speed. At 24 he is the same age as Max Pacioretty. American college players seem to take a little longer to mature in the NHL.
Getting back to the lineage, Geoffrion is the great grandson of Howie Morenz and the grandson of Bernie Geoffrion. Howie Morenz was the first superstar of the Montreal Canadiens. He had lightening speed and a great goalscorer. He actually scored 40 goals one year in a 44 game season. He won 3 Stanley Cups with the Habs. His number 7 was the first to be retired by the venerable organization. He will forever be remembered for dying after breaking a leg in a game in 1937. Hospital care what it was back then must have contributed to his death. The Stratford Streak had a funeral conducted in the the old Montreal Forum to a filled arena.
Bernard Boom Boom Geoffrion was one of the flying frenchmen of the 50's that won 5 Stanley cups. His nickname coined by a journalist came from the fact that when he took a slapshot and missed the net the sound reverberating from the boards seemed to say boom boom. In fact, the Boomer was the first to patent the slapshot and use it on a regular basis. His shots from the point on the powerplay led to the NHL to reverse its penalty rules and allow a player to leave the penalty box after a goal. There were many legends on the 50's Habs, but Boomer was probably the most charismatic similar to the recently deceased Gary Carter of the Expos. In later years when he was with the Rangers he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johhnny Carson and because of his personality he was used to sell hockey in the American South. The Boomer's number 5 was retired late in his life. It was true the Quebecois never forgave Boomer for tying the Rocket's record of 50 goals in a season. The Boomer as well, resented the fact the Habs brass made Jean Beliveau captain over the more experienced Boomer. That expedited his trade to the Rangers. The Boomer might have expected better treatment considering he married the daughter of the legendary Morenz. Ironically, the day the Boomer's sweater retirement ceremony was to take place he passed away. Two deaths linked to the habs and two mournful ceremonies in arenas.
Blake Geoffrion was raised in Florida and Tennessee. If pedigree means anything he should turn out to be a decent player. His dad didn't do well in the NHL even though he had a stellar junior career and showed some promise. His stint with the habs was shortlived almost as short as the Boomer's stint as the head coach of the Habs. Injury may have shortened his career. Bake Geoffrion has shown promise in the NCAA and leading a team to the NCAA final always merits some attention. Let's hope he reminds us of his grandpa and great grandpa rather then his dad.
One of the prospects we received for Gill is of royal lineage. Blake Geoffrion was in the minors playing in the AHL. He has scored a hattrick in the NHL with the Predators. Yes he was in the minors but does anyone recall Pacioretty played two seasons in the AHL and was doing nothing for most of the first year. Blake Geoffrion was the Hobie Baker award winner a couple of years ago and his team made it to the NCAA final. He is tall at 6'2 and still filling out. There are rumours about his lack of foot speed. At 24 he is the same age as Max Pacioretty. American college players seem to take a little longer to mature in the NHL.
Getting back to the lineage, Geoffrion is the great grandson of Howie Morenz and the grandson of Bernie Geoffrion. Howie Morenz was the first superstar of the Montreal Canadiens. He had lightening speed and a great goalscorer. He actually scored 40 goals one year in a 44 game season. He won 3 Stanley Cups with the Habs. His number 7 was the first to be retired by the venerable organization. He will forever be remembered for dying after breaking a leg in a game in 1937. Hospital care what it was back then must have contributed to his death. The Stratford Streak had a funeral conducted in the the old Montreal Forum to a filled arena.
Bernard Boom Boom Geoffrion was one of the flying frenchmen of the 50's that won 5 Stanley cups. His nickname coined by a journalist came from the fact that when he took a slapshot and missed the net the sound reverberating from the boards seemed to say boom boom. In fact, the Boomer was the first to patent the slapshot and use it on a regular basis. His shots from the point on the powerplay led to the NHL to reverse its penalty rules and allow a player to leave the penalty box after a goal. There were many legends on the 50's Habs, but Boomer was probably the most charismatic similar to the recently deceased Gary Carter of the Expos. In later years when he was with the Rangers he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johhnny Carson and because of his personality he was used to sell hockey in the American South. The Boomer's number 5 was retired late in his life. It was true the Quebecois never forgave Boomer for tying the Rocket's record of 50 goals in a season. The Boomer as well, resented the fact the Habs brass made Jean Beliveau captain over the more experienced Boomer. That expedited his trade to the Rangers. The Boomer might have expected better treatment considering he married the daughter of the legendary Morenz. Ironically, the day the Boomer's sweater retirement ceremony was to take place he passed away. Two deaths linked to the habs and two mournful ceremonies in arenas.
Blake Geoffrion was raised in Florida and Tennessee. If pedigree means anything he should turn out to be a decent player. His dad didn't do well in the NHL even though he had a stellar junior career and showed some promise. His stint with the habs was shortlived almost as short as the Boomer's stint as the head coach of the Habs. Injury may have shortened his career. Bake Geoffrion has shown promise in the NCAA and leading a team to the NCAA final always merits some attention. Let's hope he reminds us of his grandpa and great grandpa rather then his dad.
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