HIT THE POST WITH CJAD'S RICK MOFFAT, VOICE OF THE CANADIENS&ALS

Didn't I tell you the Habs would make Lecavalier a happy man over Draft Weekend? Too bad it was Philippe Lecavalier, not Vinnie. That's the agent for the most wildly cheered selection of Round 5--Gabriel Dumont. Don't be thinking at 5'9" that Gainey was playing the race card. Trevor Timmins says Dumont WILL find his way to the NHL. "I tell ya he's a heart and soul player," raves the Director of Player Development. "He went through the playoffs and into the Memorial Cup with 1 shoulder. This young man is gonna find a way to play in the NHL---I really believe. We love his passion, his drive, his attitude. He's a deceptive skater...better than a lot of people give him credit for." And that includes Dumont himself...he says "I got trouble with my skating."

Did it really matter that the Canadiens made the last pick of the draft? Timmins insists it did, that his European scouts were going crazy for Petteri Simila, only the Habs' 2nd prospect in the crease who'll fill alot of net with height over 6'5"!

When the Sutter Brothers get Jay Bouwmeester to settle down in Calgary will they claim family reasons? And will that mean the Queen's family? As in...the family that's on all those dollar bills?

Isn't your Habs' Heart hurting already? Joonas Nattinen says he'd be heartbroken if Saku Koivu is not his captain when he shows up in September for his first NHL training camp. I don't care that the job openings at center on the depth chart can ease him in all the quicker. Saku would be the ideal role model for him. But I'm no longer optimistic Koivu will be at the Canadiens' Centennial December 4th.

Habs scouts think Alexander Arvtsin could play with the Hamilton Bulldogs this coming season. Then agani, they think that of Pavel Valentenko too! Good news is Arvtsin sounds determined to prove himself in North America. And isn't it appropriate that at a time when Serge Savard is a figure in the shadows of the Mo-Bros era, the Canadiens are again trying to heat up hockey's Cold War again.

Not the worst crime of the Soviet era, but for Habs fans? Le Senateur reminded me this week that the Soviet Hockey KGB--I mean Hockey Federation-- told the then Habs GM Vladislav Tretiak wasn't interested in coming to the NHL. Of course they never told Tretiak that.

Will I see you at the ALS Society Classic at Jarry Parc July 2nd with Tony Proudfoot, Vinnie Damphousse and the Alou's? Hope so.

I'll be in Calgary for a Happy Canada Day, so let's hope Cahoon, Calvillo and Company have the fireworks for CJAD!