Hit The Post with The Voice of the Als & Canadiens on CJAD

Has Montreal done more to revitalize Hamilton than any Prime Minister or any election promise? By losing to the Tiger-Cats Saturday the Als actually set up Hamilton players for a Coach-dunking celebration--Marcel Bellefeuille's first win as a head coach---on a day when the Als were debating whether they should dunk Marc Trestman if they clinched the East Division title with a victory.

Just hours after the Cats halted a 14-game winstreak led by Anthony Calvillo against his former club, Bob Gainey and the Canadiens were expected to confirm Max Pacioretty will start the season as a Hamilton Bulldog not a Hab.

Would Ben Cahoon trade his milestone moment against the Cats for a win? You bet he would. But let's not let the loss and even the opening drive fumble lost by Velcro Hands tarnish our appreciation for him. Cahoon's fumble lost is only his 2nd of the season...and its the first time in six years he's coughed up that many footballs in an entire season and 2 matches his career worst. That's remarkable.

Much has been made of the Canadiens heading into a season with a ridiculous number of potential key free agents (including Koivu, Kovalev, Tanguay, Lang, Komisarek, not to mention Plek and Higgins restricted free agents). How do your Als stack up?

My sources say the Als will have plenty of cap room for both Calvillo and Cahoon to return for another year or more if they wish. The Als will want to make re-signing Scott Flory a priority, and on defense Mark Estelle and Anwar Stewart will be the most sought-after Als.

Jamel Richardson has to attract attention from NFL scouts.

Even Pacioretty in Hamilton should keep Guillaume Latendresse 'honest' in Montreal.

Chip Cox has to step up in the Als secondary, and too often this season when the Als have been in zone, they haven't reacted well to receivers sliding into the seams.

Gemara Williams has to have the worst luck of any Alouette this season. He's waited several weeks to be activated off the practise roster, after waiting 2 years for the Patriots to give him regular season game action. Williams finally gets into the special teams fray, and makes a great hustle play on special teams only to be injured and miss the rest of the game in Hamilton.

I never want to feel Ben Cahoon's straight-arm. If Ben weren't such a nice guy, I'd say that I hope Ray Elgaard gets to feel it one day! Or at least let's hope Ben has a discreet opportunity to tell the prairie plow "nice beating you" in the alltime pass receiving totals.