The Chicoutimi Cucumber

Yeah, a 1st and an NHL-ready prospect - and a serious prospect, with either real top-4 D or top-6 FW potential - and I would very, very seriously consider moving Markov, especially if I don't like his salary demands. And I don't restrict trading partners to the west either, which is typical blinkered Montreal Canadiens stupidity. (Now, it goes without saying that you don't trade him to Boston, Toronto, or even Ottawa, but that's another matter). So it sounds like MB is looking at all options and has the right idea about asking price. That's good. PK will get paid what he deserves. Live with it.

I think that, if your plan relies on "cap floor" teams being willing to take on washed-up overpaid players, it's not a good plan. Remember how Gomez was supposed to be tradable to such teams? If you don't believe Markov will be worth anywhere near $5 mil per season three years from now, then don't agree to pay him $5 mil three years from now.

At the risk of further compounding the aggravation, it really does depend on return. I doubt that most of the "keep Markov" crowd are saying we have to keep him under any circumstances. It's more that they doubt the return will be sufficiently impressive to warrant the damage to the blueline. And I doubt that the "trade Markov" crowd are saying to dump him no matter what. For instance, I for one would expect a serious prospect back, not just picks. As for replacing Markov, my thought is that we shouldn't think in terms of a comparable replacement, but rather a top-4 defenceman of nearly any profile, as long as they can reliably play top-4 minutes. Doesn't have to be an elite defender, just a competent one. You don't replace Markov's exact contribution, but you still have a useful D by committee. But that's just a thought. EDIT: the Markov-St Louis scenario...now THAT is the exact opposite of the direction I'd advocate. Although it would be lots of fun to see St Louis in Montreal!

The question of what the average GM "does all day" is an interesting one! I'm sure that most of them have very full days, and of course there would be times of ferocious activity such as deadline day, but still...sitting here, at vast remove from the inner doings of a hockey club, it's hard to imagine exactly what is on a GM's average day planner. I like KoRP's point that Zoot Suit will have to make bold moves sooner or later - a horse I've been beating for a while. But even if he accepts this principle, I doubt it'll be this deadline. Gainey re-established this organization as a respected, strong NHL franchise and UFA destination. He also built from within, but his efforts were sabotaged by disastrous player development. The much-documented bad trades didn't help, either, obviously! In terms of the big picture, though, I don't think Gainey deserves blanket condemnation as a GM. He did tolerably well on the whole; but he was never able to hit that elusive "higher level."

Well, if I'm Markov I sure don't settle for a 1-year deal even at the overpay. The obvious endgame is a 2-year deal, splitting the difference. But it'll be interesting to see how it plays out...maybe if MB doesn't think #79's demands can be accommodated, we will indeed see a deadline deal.

Anyone expecting a busy deadline from Zoot Suit? Not me. But the Parenteau thing has been bubbling around for long enough that I wouldn't be surprised at all if it happens...so maybe one significant move and the usual minor tweaks.

I really like Getzlaf - both his game, and how he came across on "NHL Revealed." Seems like a smart, grounded guy. Plus you don't see too many NHLers that bald

Well, there's no question about THAT - the women's game was one for the ages for sheer drama All I'm saying is that I don't know how a knowledgeable hockey fan could not appreciate what they witnessed from the last two games by the men. That's as good as a hockey team gets.

I agree that this was an extraordinary team. I have never seen a team so dominant against such elite competition. To those who say these games were boring, I say that they were hockey games for connoisseurs - just as Sidney Crosby is a hockey player for connoisseurs, not those looking for flash and dash. The entertainment lay in seeing devastatingly perfect hockey being executed by the winning team. SOOOO happy for Carey Price. Not only did he deliver in the big games, he put on a clinic of masterful, controlled goaltending. This was exactly what I was hoping for - that Price emerge from the tournament as a gold medal champion and with the full mantle of greatness that was always his to claim. He was already a leader in the Habs' room - imagine the aura he will now command both with his teammates and with his opponents. Awesome.

Watching the gold medal ceremony, who was the happiest-looking guy on the ice? PK Subban. This guy is just a big soul, and his energy and joy in the game spills over in a way that grates against the traditional "robotic" hockey mentality. In 4 years he will be a core cog on this team.

I agree with everything brobin says. That said, the last game was sort of an eye-opener. That was simply one of the most technically perfect games I've ever seen a team play: a virtuoso display against superb opposition. If that's been Babcock's vision all along - a team that plays a hermetically-sealed, error-free, 200-foot game, winning game after game by one-goal margins, sort of like a glorified version of Pat Burns's old Habs teams - then the case for excluding Subban does become at least comprehensible. A single high-risk play becomes totally incompatible with the "concept" Babcock is instilling. Now, why you wouldn't dress PK as a 7th defenceman, to be used on the PP and in the event that we need a late-game push from the back end, remains a totally open question. But for my money Babcock probably didn't want Subban on the team in the first place because he doesn't fit his "vision" for the team. And I guess if the team plays tomorrow like it did against the USA - as, basically, an unbeatable hockey machine - you can't argue with the results.

Machine: everything you say about risks is true. But the choice is to be risk-averse and a permanent non-contender, or to take a big risk or two and maybe FINALLY hit that next level. Pick your poison.

I felt that Canada was in control for that entire game. Price made some big stops, but his rebound control was sublime and his D superb. Maybe we need to stop thinking in terms of offensive juggernaut. When your forwards are keeping the puck in the offensive zone for the bulk of the game, and your D is easily the best in the tournament, and your goalie is in the zone, you don't need to score 5 goals. Canada was like a machine out there today in terms of the "200 foot" game (so to speak). No team on the planet can beat that. The Swedes will be a big challenge, but based on what we saw today, there is no way you can't say Canada is the favourite.

Price gets zero offensive support wherever he goes. And he still kicks ass. Incredible mental toughness. He truly has hit another level this season, and if it continues the Habs are in great shape going forward.

I guess that should settle the debate on whether Carey Price can "win the big game." We all hate Babcock and rightly so, but to be honest, that was a well-coached team out there. You can't deliver supremacy on that level without that.

It's exciting, but frankly Canada's control is near-total so far. From Price on out the team has been impeccable. EDIT: that's that. Considering the quality of the opposition, that might be THE single most commanding performance I have ever seen a hockey team play. Canada was absolutely superb. And A SHUTOUT FOR OUR MAN CAREY PRICE!!!

I know what you mean, Habs29, but ultimately I want Price to win a gold medal.

Man, great hockey out there. Close game, but this is the real Team Canada. They are just too good for the US so far.

Damn, what an absolutely outstanding goal by Boumeester and Benn. Just a terrific precision play by both guys.

Cherry ripping Keith. Imagine if that'd been PK getting blown by on the outside Phil Kessel looks deadly out there. Yes, Seguin is a strong player and Armstrong will be good for years, but the fact is that that trade has never been as terrible as it's made out to be. Kessel is a legitimate top-10 NHL forward and scoring threat. Patches had some good moments too. Crosby, Kunitz (!) and Doughty stood out to me for Canada. Good, exciting hockey with Canada having the edge in play so far. USA's dodgy D could prove their undoing.

Crosby has come to play today. He is excellent. And so is our boy Price.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if we win, it will be despite our coaches and management, not because of them.

Oh, I agree that the winner of this game will be favoured against an injury-ravaged Sweden. But the win isn't automatic, especially for a Team Canada that barely beat a decimated Finnish and a pathetic Latvian roster.

I'm a tad worried about the common assumption that if we win this, the gold medal game will be a cakewalk. Sweden isn't going to roll over. Anyway, no question, this is the marquee matchup of the Olympics. I doubt it'll be an all-time classic to rival yesterday's game, but it should be a humdinger. I give the USA a slight edge - they're due, and they've been a better team so far in this tourney. But go Price go!!!

Actually, I'd agree that trading Markov for a 20th overall pick probably isn't worth it. I'd want an actual prospect back: a bona-fide top-6 FW or top-4 defensive prospect. Maybe that seems unrealistic, but if Dallas could get a 2nd round pick and Kevin Connauton for Derek Roy, surely we can get a player of that profile for a defenceman would could well make the difference for a Cup contender. Deadline day is insane, remember.