tokyohabs

I'll gladly take Beauchemin, a d-man with better mobility, passing skills, and some toughness, as well as a proven winner, when Komisarek walks. Pairing him on the top four is fine. If we got Oduya as well, that would be starting something special. Not counting on it, of course. There are always trade routes, and surely the trade winds blow heavy in the upper regions of the Bell ctr this summer...

Savard doesn't come to mind at all. He was already a shadow of his best days. Vinny is in the middle of his best days. But will be too 'expensive', both in players we'd give up and salary. Sedins, I'd take them in a heartbeat. They drive the net a lot more than people think, and are often right there on the doorstep. They've said they enjoy living and playing in Vancouver though. I think we are looking at depth forwards this year, though signings, trades. Shoring up the d to play Martin's style / system and setting the table to lure high-profile attacking forwards next year is what I think will be going on. One of Beauchemin / Oduya? One big-name d-man?

Gotta be kidding with this. Only people who didn't see any trace of him would say Orr not be considered in the top whatever. Like us saying Howie Morenz was this or that. Orr made people watch hockey. And I hate the scum more than anyone on here!

Interesting musings. Reads almost like Wamsley's preaching of patience, watching-nd-waiting strategy. Maybe Wamsley is Arpon Basu??? Except the last line is way off. BG will be remembered as a player first and foremost if he doesn't bring us a cup as GM. You are right about the team last season, exciting and great to finish first, but things like even-strength play were very significant as to how good the team actually was. And how good does Martin look in light of Serge's admissions (who I thought would be a great owner), my my, Demers and Brunet, Les Canadiens de RDS.

Yeah...against Barry!

Of course the trade for either would be more, but if they can't afford one of them, then they are the ones in the tight spot. That run they had at the end of the season, where the whole team played more than they should have because no more call-ups were permitted under the cap, really took a lot out of them in the playoffs I felt, and they simply can't afford to risk that again. They'll have an interesting decision if it comes down to choosing in their d corps, PHaneuf had a write-off year but lots of young players do and bounce back.

Beauchemin has been plumped for a while now on these boards, I think when (not if!) we lose Komisarek we'd do much worse than to tempt Beauchemin back. Trading for Reghr is a decent idea (better than the moribund Ohlind for sure), if we pair him with an uncompromising ass-kicker. I'd think the Flamers would want a young offensive-minded winger to replace Cammalleri should he walk in free agency.

It's clear that Jaques Martin is not Bowman, Blake. But what is also clear is: Habs needed: discipline from the hc; a tight defensive system; a clear playing-style identity; an educator for younger skilled players; experienced coach at handling vets and their egos. Whether Martin is the long-term solution or not, BG has filled all those needs with Martin. We are not the Sharks, fantastic in the season almost every year, unable to get over the playoff hump, needing a guy who is a playoff-tested coach who can bring them to the semis or the finals. We are a relatively young team whose future is absolutely tied up in the youth. We need to hit the playoffs consistently, in a kind of stride, with a clearly established identity, before thinking going to the finals. We need to install a defensive system to exploit what is our best asset, #31. We need some sense of order - call it fear if you like - that means the GM does not have to make a drastic 'recall' of the star player with the team on the other side of the country. Martin will do all this, with a core of players that believe in him and the system. The talent level is better than he ever had in Florida, as are the finances. He inherits a team that is looking for authority and a leader. He isn't my first choice, but he can, at the very least, start setting the tables and get us out of this yo-yo mediocrity we've had for years. Not surprised at all with BG's choice, and in the bigger picture approve.

And Serge stepping aside to pave the way for the Molsons / Bell to stop the Peladeau parade. Hmm...methinks a massive red herring all round, as George needs us to secure loans for Liverpool. Let's the Molson's in further? Why would he? Now if Liverpool were to miss out on a Champs league place next year to Arsenal and Man City...

Well, Jaques Martin, alright. Older, experienced, lots of wins, a GM and coach, bilingual, defensive system, discipline...lots of plusses there. Maybe pretty much what they were looking for. Negatives, genraly p*ss-poor playoff performances with the Sens, as Wamsley pointed out, making adjustments. Dogmatic belief in sticking to his system, at all costs. Has p*ssed off players in the past, what coach hasn't? But a nice babysitter for the babies, no?

I agree that Komisarek is on his way to overpaid millions. Just pointed out in that fantasy scenario that he would not be part of the equation. Beauchemin is a good tough player who can move the puck, shoot a bit. I'd be angling hard after him, proven commodity and Cup-winner to boot. Who knows if all the kids will develop according to plan? In fact, we can be assured they won't. Oduya maybe too similar, but again, tough and can pass the puck a-to-b. I'd be looking at him too. O'Byrne wasn't that fine as a rookie and visibly progressed 0.0% from his first game to his last. Gorges is also too soft and a concede-at-all-costs d man, but at least when he has the puck passes successfully more often than not. I'd be throwing in O'Byrne as trade bait to any deals - big bodied d man who is young. I think we can replace him down the line (hoe much worse can Emelin be after a couple of years' seasoning?). Hamrlik unmovable in the bad sense, stuck with his contract no matter what. But has proven he can play last season, hope that is was an off-year due to instability among other things, not signs of decay. *sorry, meant Hamrlik has proven he can play before last season!

Komi gone in that scenario. Adding Jay Bo would likely be the end of the d tinkering, he'll cost so much. But adding Beauchemin and Oduya, at the price of Komi and O'Byrne, now that might be interesting.

Yeah, in Florida a lot of 1-0, or that's the impression. But Ottawa was up for it a lot of times. Did Martin choose Redden over Chara back then? Or was that someone else?

Wow, Dandenault a quelque chose tres, tres belle chez lui. La femme de Koivu aussi. Le realisateur est con. J'aurais aime voir un 'split screen' quand il expliquait que ce n'etait pas en fait une emission 'reality tv', avec le visage de Michel Tremblay dans le coin de l'ecran.

Yeah, apparently he's willing to leave money on the Florida table to coach us, and we are very interested - all according to RDS. http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/275723.html I know what you mean Wamsley; I'm thinking more potential than results, which of course can be countered with we have possible better potential in the minors. Oduya is an ass-kicker I'd love to see with us.

The question then becomes, is a Bouwemeister-type player out there next year, even when teams are possibly trimming their rosters because of the cap? He's got fantastic potential, and we can compliment him with our players now; plus a d coach or better d strategy doesn't count against the almighty cap. Conversely, do you believe (you in general, not specifically targeted at Wamsley) that after next year our d prospects will be matured enough that signing Boowmeister now is a panic move? He might not be all that many think he is, playing in a high-pressure environment night it, night out. Glad I'm not the GM. But I'd take a strong look at him; and for sure I'd go hard after Beauchemin once the bidding for Komi reaches 5-per, which it will. Plus, I think building a rock-solid d corps now, whether Beauchemin, Bouwmeisster or both (assuming we lose Komisarek) will entice forwards to us next year, instead of them coming into a mess of a team with glaring weaknesses everywhere. Anyway, by the time their four-year deals run out, PK 'Bobby Orr' Subban, Alexi 'Scott Stevens' Emelin and Ryan 'Larry Robinson' McDonagh should be ready to run roughshod over the league.

Richard Simmons, come on da-own!

Prepare to be pissed Psycing. Always wondered how it would work if the taxes were levelled out. Who would make up the difference is a big starter question. But in theory a great thing. FG, it seems that way on the forum, all cynicism and money and cap space and belittling players, but once the puck drops we are all 7 years old again, and everyone thinks for a few minutes that we will go on a run of the ages and win it all, even people like me branded ' a pessimist who sees the bad in everything'. But again, as has been said many times on many different posts, the Habs cannot tank.

More importantly than any Zetterberg / Lahti clones, Easy Ryder is back. Welcome back. And whatever one wants to say about Detroit, they aren't screwing up in too many areas, eh?

CKAC says Molson just met Uncle George. Prelude to a kiss?

Without upgrading the d-corps, even somewhat, the only way they'll be able to take a step in any direction without exposing our goaltenders is maybe a radical re-think of how the d gameplan is laid out? Is this what you're suggesting? It's semantics at that point, which is at fault, a fundamentally flawed collection of players, or a fundamentally flawed strategy? Anyway, I agree with the patience first philosophy, whatever I may write about wanting us to overspend on Bouwemeister. More fun than anything, none of us are the real GM. Right? Btw, in a no-surprise video clip on RDS, Michel Bergeron goes on at length, agreeing with Guy Lafleur, how the Habs and Koivu are finished and it is time to move on. And Pierre-Marc Bouchard would welcome Koivu anytime on the Wild.

Sorry about that. Though admittedly my ideas often drift to EA sports category. When is Lecavalier building that Baie D'Urfe house then???

Depends on what he'll be paid FG. How much would you consider overpaying? Think of the Islanders position (for example). They can build a marketing campaign around him. If you replace a largely overpaid Komisarek with a guy like Beauchemin, not as good defensively but pretty damn good, and a superior player with the puck, then why overpay to a player who cannot do anything with the puck? I don't want him to leave, it is just a feeling that he will. If he is determined to test the FA waters, we'll need a replacement, because someone is bound to overpay (Gomez, Briere, long list). I don't think trying to get Dubinsky from a team that has f'd themselves down the middle for years to come is necessarily 'EA Sports' territory.

That's what I meant by 'fantasy'. I don't want us to pay him all that. Fantasy doesn't necessarily mean nice. But he is a tremendous player, with great upside. He'll get at least 6m I'd think. Doesn't matter what he's actually worth. You're right Wamsley, you don't need a great team to insulate a goaltender. How about a good one then?

Pretty sure Jay Bo won't sign for that with us. Many teams will easily outbid us. But I wouldn't mind us getting into a sweepstakes for him and overpaying, the flexibility that will allow the team on-ice is tremendous. Komi will get his payoff with another team, Isles maybe. They need to sell tickets, local boy, next Scott Stevens, however they want to dress him up. Get Beauchemin, more puck-savvy than Komi, not the same physical presence but a good shut-down guy who can actually pass a-to-b. Oh and a Cup-winner to boot. Old heads at 1-year deals or gone. Lots of contracts and space out there, I wouldn't do much to the forwards. Keep Kovalev on a one-year, he is the focal point of the offense. Use guys as trade bait to fill out important role-positions on the roster, building a team as Wamsley says that wants to play together, get ready for the feeding frenzy FA market next year at forward (Dubinsky would be a really really fine #2 ctr, no?).