Summertime and the living is easy

I always preferred Janis Joplin’s version of Summertime she really put some sexual soul into it. Anyways whenever it gets hot and sticky for some reason I start thinking about hockey again and the habs. Free agent frenzy day is just around the corner or as we used to know it as Canada day (and in Quebec moving day).

So all the armchair GMs on Twitter are deciding which free agents Bergy should sign. Since I got a very comfortable armchair here are my thoughts on the matter. I am not saying that Bergy will sign anyone because as everybody knows many hockey players even from Quebec do not want to play in Montreal because of  the weather, the taxes, and the media circus. I have to agree with a few of the hockey pundits who think that Jake Gardiner would be a good fit with the habs. However, I disagree that he should be partnered with Shea Weber. I would prefer him playing with Jeff Petry. I still think that Weber and Mete are a viable duo. Mete is underrated as to how his speed helps Weber’s lack of mobility.

In terms of free-agent forwards, will Bergy do something dramatic like make an offer sheet to Mitch Marner? Remember the alamo or in habs terms the Tavares slight. It would be sweet revenge. I have my doubts Bergy is a shit disturber that would do that move.  I think a more realistic signing could be Corey Perry. I would consider this to be a signing somewhere along the lines of Alexander Semin, where you take a gamble with somebody who appears to be washed up but you never know he could actually resurrect like Eric Staal.

 

Some other random thoughts include the recent Twitter fights over the never-ending debate about the Subban-Weber trade, the Caufield pick, and baseball versus basketball. Subban was traded away from Nashville probably for cap issues. However, it is clear that Subban’s personality does not appeal to the NHL coaching musical chair fraternity and maybe some of his team-mates. I cannot recall if  I ever worked with someone who was always as hyper as Subban appears to be on the ice. Love him or hate him Subban gets results, and the Predators record when he was on the team was the best in that team’s history.    

We should be excited about Cole Caufield. Clearly if he was 6’2, he might have been the second or third pick overall. However, he isn’t, so there is some reality to consider. Picking Caufield would  be similar to buying a Tesla share. The world needs to get away from fossil fuels as much as the habs need a sniper. However are they viable long-term options? There is high risk that could lead to high reward or another failed first rounder in this pick.

Montreal seems to be heading towards a new major league baseball franchise. I grew up following the expos listening religiously to Van Horne and Snyder, and cheering the team from  Staub to the Dawson-Carter era, and the Guerrero final curtain. The reality is baseball started to fade in Montreal. One can blame it on the Big Owe and the frugal owners, but I think the changing demographics in Montreal also played a part. As anglophones left the province, many of the more recent immigrants never grew up with baseball. In fact, most of them followed soccer in their home countries. I can see the new baseball franchise having a few good years before the interest fades again. I think there is a nostalgia about having a baseball team by some wealthy Quebecers and by members of the media, but I doubt it will be feasible long term.

The NBA has a worldwide audience since the first dream team. The likes of Air Jordan, Magic, Bird et al created a worldwide appeal. The league’s marketing is second only to the NFL. Since it does not appear that the NFL is coming anytime soon to Canada, basketball would be a great alternative in Montreal. It is a sport that young people seem enchanted with. It is an indoor sport when Montrealers are enduring the weather by hibernating indoors. Having attended a few NBA games in person, I was surprised at how appealing a spectator sport it is. You can not keep your eyes off giants running up and down the court contorting their bodies to make a basket. The unfortunate part is that there are few wealthy Quebecers or media in Quebec that have hoops roots or any links to that sport. So baseball it is.