by Chantal, Managing Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC — I always enjoy these meetings. I love your questions, and I enjoy answering them, sometimes with the help of my colleagues. This is YOUR mailbag, and you do a fantastic job with it! I got a vast array of questions this week, so let’s get to work.
Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to discuss? Okay, here’s what you can do.
Let us know:
- who you are
- where you’re from
- if you wish, send us a photo of you in your favourite Habs gear
- who’s your favorite player, present or past
- and of course, your question
You can contact us via Twitter, our Facebook page or email at info (at) allhabs (dot) net
We’ll feature you, and your question, in the All Habs Mailbag!
So here’s what you wanted to discuss this week:
Hi. I’m not sure I understand the new playoff format. Could you explain it? Thanks.
Carl, St-Hyacinthe
Hey Carl! How’s Lenny? Let me try to explain this, it’s really not that complicated. First, the new realigned NHL is made up of four divisions: Atlantic and Metropolitan (Eastern conference), Central and Pacific (Western conference). The Eastern conference divisions have eight teams each, while the Western conference divisions have seven each. This seems a little unfair to me, but it’s fitting in a league that would name one of its divisions Metropolitan.
16 teams will make the playoffs, eight from each conference. It will be division-based and a wild card system has been added. Here’s how it works: the top three teams in each division will make the playoffs (12 teams), and the remaining four slots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference – based on regular season points, regardless of divisions. These wild card teams’ seedings in the playoffs will be determined by regular season points. So the division winner (most points) will be matched against the wild card team with the fewest points in each conference, much like it was before.
With this system, it will be possible to see five teams from a same division in the playoffs, which could be kind of cool. To sum up, if your team finishes first, second or third in its division, they will be in the first round of the playoffs. If you want a wild card spot, rack up those points early in the season to give yourself a better shot. I hope this helps. Playoffs will begin on Wednesday, April 16. Thanks for the Q!
Does Dustin Tokarski have a future with the Habs?
David Becker, Deltona
Hey David. As I usually do with questions regarding the Bulldogs, I turn this over to my colleague Dan:
Tokarski had an illustrious junior career which included a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. In four AHL seasons since then, he has always had a save percentage better than .900, and earned a pair of NHL call-ups, playing seven games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in return for Cedric Desjardins last season, Tokarski put up stellar numbers for the Hamilton Bulldogs, with three shutouts in fifteen games and a .927 save percentage. Yet this is where the situation gets curious.
Despite his performances, head coach Sylvain Lefebvre refused to anoint Tokarski the team’s starter, splitting his time with Robert Mayer. When the Canadiens needed a body to warm the bench following Carey Price‘s post-season injury, it was Mayer who got the call over Tokarski to sit with the team while Peter Budaj flopped between the pipes.
Budaj was extended for two additional years mid-season, filling any short-term vacancies as Price’s back-up, and at season’s end prospect Mike Condon was signed for two years, adding to the goaltending stockpile. In a more shocking turn of events, Mayer – who had signed to play in Switzerland – changed his mind and re-upped with the Canadiens for two seasons as well. While he’s a longer-term project, on draft day, the Habs also added Zachary Fucale to the pipeline, making the organization an even less attractive destination for a young netminder.
With all this said, Tokarski remains a restricted free agent, having not agreed to sign his qualifying offer. He is the last remaining RFA Marc Bergevin has to deal with, leading many to speculate he may be considering options overseas. Tokarski still has NHL upside, and thus his loss would not be immaterial to the Canadiens (or especially to the Hamilton Bulldogs), but with every passing day, his future with the organization becomes increasingly cloudy.”
Hope this helps, David. For a more comprehensive look at the Bulldogs, check out Dan’s latest: Retooled Bulldogs Ready to Rebound
When will Jaromir Jagr retire?
Max, Lost somewhere in Quebec
Hi Max! At 41 years old, you have to believe the new Devil is on his last lap in the NHL. Mind you, I said the same thing three or four years ago.. Although he can still be an efficient player in a more limited role, I find it odd that guys like that, who were once revered (and still are to some extent), refuse to just hang them up. I understand his passion, his dedication and his love for the game.. but at this point I suspect the fear of the unknown is what keeps him going.
It can’t be easy to maintain that level of fitness and play into his fourties. That all said, if he’s still got something left in the tank, more power to him. So to answer your question: never.
How many years will the Bruins win the conference in a row? Three-peat, four-peat, eight-peat?
Benny, the Bruins Fan
Hi Benny! I felt like you were trolling me, but as you pointed out, it’s a legitimate question. The oldest team in the US does seem to have the goods to be on top for a while. But history tells a different story. The Bruins have four conference championships under their belt: 1987-1988, 1989-1990, 2010-2011, 2012-2013. See that trend? By those numbers, they’ll win their next championships in 2033-2034 and 2035-2036.
Of course, I might be a division rival in denial using those numbers to fit my narrative. As long as Tuukka Rask is stellar between the pipes, and Claude Julien (despite rumors of his firing every time Boston has a short slump) is able to reinforce his message, and system, I have to believe the Bruins will be one of the top teams in the Eastern conference, or even a contender, for a least a few more years. The pride they take from being a middle-class, working Joe team is something Julien has sold them on and seems to be one of the keys to their success.
A three-peat is not out of the question. Let’s talk again in April.
Is poker a sport?
Caroline, Blainville
Hello Caroline. No. Poker is a game. They only show it on sports networks to fill air time, much like they do with other non-sports like darts, or basketball. Some (poker players mostly) would argue that you have to practice a lot, have a good strategy and great stamina to successfully sit at a poker table for hours without your ass falling asleep, but I don’t buy it. It’s a fun game to play, but I would never categorize it a sport, no matter how much they sweat.