sbhatt

The dot-com bubble burst seriously crimped Kanata's projected growth.

If the money is right, Markov will sign. I don't see him giving the Canadiens a 'hometown discount'. Might be able to further entice him by throwing in an extra 'player option' year and a no-trade clause though.

Agreed...even if they play this crap system next year and suck ass, I'll still go to one game just so I can hold up a giant "Fire Guy" sign for the cameras.

That'd be great, but I don't think we'll be able to afford him after we fill our more glaring needs, hence my looking at Avery as the 'poor man's Ryan Smyth'; once BG maneuvers for a center and shores up the blue line, the Habs will be that 'poor man'.

For those of you that have seen the Rangers in action since the deadline, or have watched their playoff games....how great would Sean Avery look in a Habs uni? He goes to the net, he finishes plays....call him a 'poor man's Ryan Smyth'. Not that the Rangers would give him up...the guy has been incredible for them.

He gets a lot of extra abuse that doesn't get called...he HAS to bark at the refs and draw attention to it. What are his alternatives? He sure as hell can't drop his gloves and risk hurting his hands....would you prefer he start using his stick whenever an opposing player takes a shot at his head?

Rivet scored again tonight by joining the rush. It's hard to fault him for saying what he said...clearly it's more fun for a D-man to play when he gets to join the rush.

I'm sure that Souray will demand a no-trade clause from whoever it is that signs him.

Damn, he's the kind of defenseman needed in Montreal...solid as hell. Smart move by Ottawa to lock both Phillips and Volchenkov up.

If this keeps Bob from sitting on his hands at the draft and on the free agent market, and forcing too many kids into the lineup, I'm glad that Saku spoke up. I have no interest in watching a rebuilding team, just as Saku has no interest in playing for one.

Absolutely. Factor in the terrible tax situation in Canada, a system where your stats are going to take a hit (and therefore cost you money on your next deal), and the pressure of playing in Montreal...and you pretty much have to be the highest bidder by a substantial margin.

Let me say this: if Saku comes right out and bashes Carbonneau's idiotic system, and forces a change in policy, I will drop every complaint I've had about him up til this point and become a card-carrying member of the Saku Koivu fan club.

Given his inability to put the puck in the net during the crucial stretch drive...they probably should be to some exent.

I'd love to see Chris Phillips in Montreal. The Sens just re-signed Volchenkov to a 3-year, 7.5mil deal. I wish we could have acquired him somehow had his contract negotiation had become difficult. He's the type of defenseman we desperately need: a hard-hitting shot blocker. I can't believe that so many of you think Briere will sign with Montreal. Philly makes the most sense for him probably (if their money offer is competitive), as he'd have Simon Gagne to finish off his passes.

Funny....that was my Dad's take (lifelong Habs fan who has been disgusted with their play most of this year, btw) before the puck even dropped on Saturday night. He basically said Leafs, Habs, and Isles are all shit teams that have no business in the playoffs. If he had any say, he'd have yanked the 8th place team in the East out of the playoffs and put the Avalanche in their place.

I couldn't have scripted that better myself. The miraculous tying goal with less than a second left, sending the hopes of Leafs fans soaring....only to have their hearts ripped out in the shootout. Screw 'em....let them be miserable along with us.

I'm not impressed with the job done by Gainey either....nor Carbonneau. If the plan is to run a 'rebuilding' team out there, or if that's just what ends up happening because no free agents want to sign in Montreal, this team won't be worth watching next year.

First, the Habs blow it against the Leafs and don't make the playoffs. Then, Georges St. Pierre gets knocked out in the first round by Matt Serra. :puke: What a shitty day!!!

Why, Kovalev of course, by Carbonneau's logic. To heck with the fact that Begin's errant stick cost them the momentum and a goal, or that Begin can't score to save his life; Kovalev is a no-good Russian, and Begin is a good French lad. :puke: Carbonneau is a first-rate jackass as a coach.

Need two...not one, but TWO solid Dmen. The amount of running around in the defensive zone is ridiculous, and the lack of decent bodychecks is sickening. Let Souray walk, unload Samsonov for a bag of pucks, and use that money on two solid defensive D-men.

Overall story of the season: Carbonneau is not a capable coach at the NHL level. Drove that point home tonight at the end of that game when he kept rolling out the kids in the crucial dying minutes of the game. WTF!!! You don't put that situation on the backs of twenty year-olds!

Four hours til the puck drops, and my nerves are already shot. I don't know how I'm going to be able to eat the Easter dinner my mom will be serving tonight (early of course, as she was warned that the men in the family would be abandoning the dining room come hell or high water at 7pm SHARP). Soon as I get out to ma and pa's, I'm cracking a beer. Hopefully that will settle my nerves some.

I think we win by a goal....maybe two with the empty net because the Leafs will have to pull the goalie very eary if they're down (since we hold the tiebreaker and they HAVE to win in regulation to make it).

I'm going to need a few drinks to take the edge off. Hell, I'd take a valium if I could track some down. Already, I feel nervous...and it's not even gameday yet.