A Bourque trade for one of those awesome Christmas calenders, the ones that you open windows and get chocolate, probably can’t be had now because the stock of those calenders increase tremendously as we approach the holiday season.

Perhaps if we are patient enough, they’ll go on sale, and then we might be able to work out a trade that sends Bourque for the calender o’ chocolate, and one of those cool hats you get from Christmas crackers!

In all seriousness, it’s a long season that’s pretty much just started, and a load of teams are going through the injury bug. This team knows to get going when we have to, and last year’s squad wasn’t looking so hot around this same time last season. Should be in high gear the more and more people get healthy, and get their ice time off of the injury.

I think it’s got a lot to do with the defensemen around him too. This doesn’t mean he’s allowed to let in soft goals or anything (like he did against the Sens), but I think it does play a factor. As a goaltender, I’d imagine you get used to what your d-men do. How they work the front of the net and whether they’re going to screen you. How they play the corners so you can protect the net accordingly. How they’re going to chase after the guy position behind the net with the puck (that was Eaton’s fault in that one game, you may recall).

I’m not saying Fleury is entirely in the clear, because he isn’t. But I do feel that more of this is a combination of his surrounding than it is just a bashing of his abilities in net.

The first 15 games showcased his talent. We don’t need to be convinced he’s a good goalie. It’s a rough patch for everyone on the team right now. I don’t think Fleury should be the scapegoat here.

Ok, I have to admit that since getting lashed last night, I wrote that in the heat of the moment.

I never thought about how different defensemen would play different angles, so that is a good point, and I could see how a goalie could get tricked on things like that. As for Eaton, I don’t have very much faith in him; it seems every time we need something big he goes and gives up a penalty.

But I can’t be the only one who thinks that this is the perfect time for these young guys, or vets, to start making their mark? (Obviously not Bourque, I don’t know how many opportunities that kid needs.) And still, I would expect Fleury to be even more stellar than he usually is, especially during injury season like right now. Right?