dreegking

Lame. Good job stirring the pot.

Well. He went to Edmonton and made a difference when he played with people who could make a difference. Just saying.

No. But there are unintriguing players who will be signed.

Addition by subtraction.

Worked out ok.

Ok. Firstly, yes the Habs have major work to do in the left defensive side. It's Empty. Obviously at least one right defendemen will shift. That's fairly common. But it's likely two that will play other side. Secondly, Markov now can ask for more money then the market. Just out of desperate need to keep him and be a left sided dman. Third, the team is missing a star Centre. But apart from that, I think there's a good balance of all four lines type of players. So the comment about fourth liners is out of line. With that said, the Habs are short their 4th dman. That's a given when you trade for offence, which was needed, and losing your fourth to expansion, when you can only protect three. And trading another fringe 4th/5th dean or second pairing -- in an expansion year. Which is why I just didn't get trading Beauliau for a third. I would rather have lost him and still had Emelin. Management felt otherwise. Which meant they were happy with the thought they could use Emelin's contract money to snag a FA better for the price. Or the same quality for less. I personally don't think so. It's a big gamble to me. One or or two of the blue chip drafted prospects needs to step up. Sign Markov, snag a Benn ish type FA, and it's all good. Go Habs.

Why sign before the dispersal draft?

You think a 20/21 year old is fully developed?

I don't care about them. I am talking about the Habs.

I have finally come around. I agree.

Let me understand. Trade a protected dispersal draft player goes a first rounder with a bright future. All the while adding a piece that makes another piece vulnerable to the dispersal draft. Acquire a talent that is very equivalent to a similar talent that is now rumoured to be on the trade block. I have always line Drouin. But...I can't get behind this.

No. Good as it is. What about evening the playing field by making the Habs a bottom quarter salary spender instead of an annual top quarter budgeted team? What about them apples?

In in Asia. Only follow need and see the hilites. Has Chucky been that bad? Wow.

You know, sometimes it just depends on the gap between deserved 4 th line and benchwarmers and plug, or fit on another line perhaps. I have zero problem with past strategy. And current rotation. I'd prefer players make themselves indispensable quite frankly.

Rick Nash - ok. I know. Taylor Hall - just bored with the usual garbage.

Meh. Flynn? Just another Bowman and Tangradi. I think there are guys better that are younger. Depth for Hamilton again? I guess he's youngish. So that is good.

I'm a Bournival fan. He's healthy and playing good hockey. He is a sleeper to many fans. I think people forget he is just 22, going on 23 I guess. Good for MT. He does that often. Why? Seriously, just asking cuz I want to know.

Giordano deserves the Norris either way IMO.

Weaver is around to mentor. We are good there.

Agreed. But unfortunately his play earlier was inconsistent and kind of a shambles at times. Even in the AHL. He's just really seemed to round into shape the last month. Hopefully he just gets better and better now, and he puts a lock on it finally.

I didn't know Emelin wrangled a no trade clause. That's insane. Wow.I think Tokarski should have a number of suitors. Including Edmonton. Sekera, ok. Then a third round and Pateryn. Pateryn is still considered a player on the rise and young, no? But that my max for a rental. If he re-signs, there's a conditional bump for second rounder instead of a third.

Succinct. Dead on.

What about shifting dynamics quote a bit: Trade 1 - Eberle acquired for Emelin and Tokarski. Condon moves up to the big club and Tinordi becomes the hitter as a third d pairing with Gilbert or Gonchar. Beaulieu has clearly developed this past month and is a fast becoming a bonfide 2 nd pairing. I think the team has been happy with Tinordi as of late. Trade 2 - Sekera joins the fold, for Pateryn and a 3rd rounder. Fits the salary structure and can play in all situations as required. Shores up the D again. Not a major cost for a rental. But he's good, so it's gonna cost.

His two assists recently might argue against your point. He still has value. I don't think he was signed to be an ambassador and cut. I do believe he could be around to be an on ice coach for the young guys in Hamilton however, if he isn't carried with the big club and "injured".

Good post. I could live with all that. But I do expect some sort of trade deadline deals of risk and significance this year. Like last year. And Moen and Bourque could figure into that equation. perhaps Bourque gives us his worth this year. That would be fantastic. Pleks can help him play consistent hockey, as he shows up every shift. That would be good. Sekac along side would be nice. But so would Prust, quite possibly the best two way winger on the team. If we want them to be a shut down type line, I'd like Lars and Prust on the wing with Pleks at Centre. Chucky with Galls and Bourque could look nice with sheltered minutes. I think this line will need sheltered mintues this year. I don't think the line of Patches-DD-Parenteau needs sheltered minutes. All are now undervalued defensively imo. Patches gets penalty kill minutes now, DD is already a good two player and Parenteau is underestimated imo. In short, its about Sekac versus Bourque imo. Lars to the wing is a must if we keep Chucky at centre, which I suspect is going to happen. And Malholtra is the 4th line Centre now. I don't see that changing. I just can't help but see Lars as a winger. He can bang very nicely now and he is strong skating along the boards, and his passing and vision are not adequate enuf to be anything else other than 3rd line at best at Centre. If it's about maximizing potential. Lars needs to be a winger and Chucky a Centre.