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John B

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Everything posted by John B

  1. My issue with Therien is his lack of ability to develop young players. If Galchenyuk doesn't become the #1 center he has all the tools and potential to be, it's on Therien. Therien is the only coach Galchenyuk has had since junior and therefor he is responsible for developing him. Therien doesn't seem to like to use his youngsters in important situations (where they can learn) and punishes mistakes (that are bound to happen with youngsters) by benching them or scratching them. Young players are more important than ever in a salary cap system and need to learn to play key roles wether the coach likes it or not. If the Habs fire Therien, I hope they are able to find a coach that can do a better job bringing along young players (and still win of course).
  2. I agree with you CC. The Habs remind a bit of the Leafs from the last few years with a couple big differences (Price and Subban). Like the Leafs the Habs relied on a winger to be the go to guy for offense up front (Pacioretty - Kessel), and a 2nd line center to center the first line (Plekanec - Bozak). They also have a slow to develop forward that has yet to break out (Galchenyuk - Kadri) and the same on defense (Beaulieu - Gardiner). Prior to the Leafs beginning their rebuild, their prospect pool was similar to the Habs' prospect pool in that there were no sure things just potential. Both teams also have/had bad contracts that are/were proving hard to move (Bourque, Parenteau, Desharnais, Eller, Emelin - Clarkson, Lupul, Bernier, Phaneuf, Kessel). While the Habs have the advantage with Price and Subban, the Leafs have the advantage when it comes to free agency. It seems like nobody wants to sign with the Habs, while everyone of note are/were linked in someway to the Leafs (when they're not in rebuild mode). Leafs might win a cup before the Habs unless things change in a hurry.
  3. Canadiens seem to be a pretty dysfunctional organization as well over the past decade or so. At least the Leafs have a plan to rebuild and has made that clear to the fans and any prospective players that want to join the team. What's Bergevin's plan? He hasn't made any significant moves at all this season. What's his plan going into the trade deadline? Is he going to be a seller and clear some cap space for next season to bring in the help necessary to put this team over the top? Or is he going to try to make a push for the playoffs by adding a rental or two with the hopes that Price will be back and able to carry this team on his wonky knee? It just seems like the Habs are no man's land right now and that Bergevin has no idea what to do. If he's going to sell, then start selling...like right now. They are only 11 points out of last place and 2 points outside of a top 10 pick (which has more trade value than a playoff pick). If he's making a run (even though it's an exercise in futility with or without Price), then start adding the help this team needs. They are only 5 points out of a wildcard spot. Make a decision already.
  4. I agree with you Commandant that they would need to go hard after a top defenseman in the UFA market. I also agree that if the Habs can get a lights out deal for Beaulieu (or any other player) that they should go for it. The problem I have with trading Beaulieu (other than Markov being gone after next season), is that the Habs have a young blueliner that can play on the second pair and has $1 mil cap hit this season and next (in Beaulieu). After that he's an RFA, which gives the Habs plenty of leverage to sign him to another cap friendly deal. Yandle is believed to be looking for between 5 and 6 mil long term on his next contract. I'm sure Hamhuis and even Goligoski (who is also a LHD and UFA) will be looking for close to the same. Will Beaulieu ever be a top pairing guy? Probably not. I see him more as a useful 2nd pairing guy that can be used on the PP. If the Habs sign him to an extension on July 1st they could probably get him for around 4 mil a season or less depending on term. The shorter the term, the less they would have to pay (or that seems to be the trend when it comes to young players/RFAs anyway). I'm hoping the Habs lock him and Galchenyuk up to extensions before next season. That is assuming that management believes those players will hit their ceilings and that those players are part of the future. Hopefully they don't repeat the mistake they made with Subban and wait until these guys break out and have to pay out the a** to keep them.
  5. Toronto's farm system is going to get a boost. They have 2 picks in each of the first 3 rounds and are likely going to add to that when they dump UFAs at the deadline. Their first rounder will be top 5 (so one of Matthews, Puuljujarvi, Laine, Tkaczuk, Chychrun, Sergachev, Nylander, Dubois, Juolevi), plus a mid to late rounder depending on where Pittsburgh finishes and drafts. Next year you can count on another top 5 pick (top 10 at worst) and likely the year after as well. They will also most likely have multiple picks going into those drafts if they continue to trade UFAs and players that don't have a long term future with the team.
  6. Problem with the Oilers is that they're looking for a young top four defenseman in the 23 to 26 years old. I personally don't think that RNH, Yakupov, or Eberle are players they want to trade. I think that they are players that they are willing to give up in exchange for what they want (young top 4 dman). Canadiens can't afford to give up a good young dman with Markov on the decline and likely finished after next season.
  7. Kopitar got $10 mil for 8 years. I truly believe that this is the comparable that the Stamkos camp is going to use in contract negotiations. As far as him going to Toronto...I could see it. Leafs will be a playoff team within 8 years, especially if they get Matthews this year and a couple more top 5 picks in the coming years. Leafs aren't as far off as we all think. They're a team that is able to attract big name free agents as well.
  8. I read a rumor that believed that Ladd turned down a 6 year/$36 million dollar deal from Winnipeg. Of course that's just a rumor, and if it's true it could be about more than just the money.
  9. Enstrom has also been rumored as a possible trade candidate from the Winnipeg blueline.
  10. I doubt they're going to shut Price down unless it's absolutely necessary. That win against the Oilers yesterday keeps them in the running for the playoffs. As long as they can get within sniffing distance of the playoffs, Bergevin will do everything possible to make it. If the Habs win today, you can forget about the "tank". They will likely go all in to try and salvage the season. They are too stupid to realize that it's over and even if they make the playoffs, they will be lucky to make it out of the first or second round. I expect a few desperation trades that involve the Canadiens giving up good young assets for more crap that gets us nowhere and hurts us in the next few seasons. I'm praying that I'm wrong.
  11. I read a rumor on mynhltraderumors.com that the Oilers are looking for a 3rd line center a couple days ago. I wonder if this could be a good opportunity for Montreal to trade Eller or Desharnais. It would shed some cap space for next season.
  12. There were rumors last year that the Habs were trying to get Yakupov, but it didn't work out. I read a rumor that Bergevin has re-opened those talks with Edmonton on the possibility of acquiring Yakupov again this year. Rumor was on thefourthperiod.com in the same blog as a Drouin rumor about a week ago. Only problem is, I think it will at the very least cost Beaulieu (that's my opinion not the rumor).
  13. Bergevin will not throw in the towel. Whoever the Canadiens can get in the first round, you can forget about. Bergevin will trade Montreal's first rounder along with some solid young assets to make a run this year. Even if this team is 10 points out come deadline. I've never seen a Montreal team give up, although sometimes it's what's best for the team. Management is just as concerned about "the window" as the fans. Bottom line is that this team was built poorly. Our core players weren't in their primes 5 years ago, and management failed to bring in a supporting cast for them when they had the opportunity. Instead every year they thought it was "their year to win" and went for it instead of cleaning house and sacrificing a little then to have success now. Tanking is not in their DNA, nor is giving up. Same story, different year.
  14. I had read on one of the rumor sites that the price of rentals will likely be high this year due to how close the standings are. There are very few sellers at this point and a lot of potential buyers. A lot can change in the next few weeks, and some other teams may throw in the towel though. The Canucks are believed to be asking for a top prospect and 2nd rounder for Vrbata. That's more than what the Habs paid for Vanek 2 years ago and he was the most sought after rental at the deadline. Last year Vermette cost a 1st and prospect. Vermette is no where near as talented as some of the guys available this year. I'm sure there will be some deals to be had, but given the Habs position of win now (plus their slide in the standings) GMs will be looking to take advantage of Bergevin's desperation.
  15. Any trade Bergevin makes will be risky at this point. He will overpay for someone. Every GM in the league knows he is getting desperate and are going to take advantage of that. This team has also dropped from Cup contender to playoff bubble team. I realize that they haven't had Price, but does adding one scorer to the lineup make them true contenders again? Bergevin needs to pull off a miracle trade for this team to win the Cup this year.
  16. Agree about Kassian and Semin. When goals are hard to come by, big crash the net kind of players like Kassian are extremely helpful. Garbage goals are goals too.
  17. I'd be looking at Troy Brouwer as well in the offseason and perhaps this year at the deadline. The Blues are tough against the cap and are looking to add inexpensive help. He also wouldn't be as sought after in the offseason as many of the other high profile guys, so likely would be cheaper to resign. He was a guy that I was hoping the Habs would target last year from the Caps. There were rumors that he was available at the deadline. Okposo would be a dream for this team. Plekanec for Okposo would be a great trade for the Habs. Nielsen is similar type to Plekanec and becomes a UFA July 1st as well. Plekanec is older, but brings more offense. Islanders are having trouble working out an extension with Nielsen. So maybe that deal would at least be considered? Potential UFAs Chris Stewart RW - Bergevin likes dumpster diving. Mikkel Boedker LW/RW - Speed and skilled winger. Shane Doan RW - Doubt he waives his NMC. Loui Eriksson LW/RW/C - Versatility, scoring, and two-way play. Jamie McGinn LW - Depth scoring with grit. Jiri Hudler C/LW - Skilled forward. Eric Staal C/LW - Size and skill. Kris Versteeg RW - More dumpster diving. Alex Tanguay LW - Thought it would be funny to put this in. Brad Richards C - 2 Stanley Cups are hard to argue with. Darren Helm C - Wild card. Better option at 3C than DD. Teddy Purcell RW - Size and scoring. Jaromir Jagr RW - Doubt the Cats trade him. Milan Lucic LW - Likely would go postal in Habs dressing room and kill everyone. Patrik Elias RW - Doubt he waves his NMC. Lee Stempniak RW - Having great year. Jiri Tlusty C/LW - Desperation move? Kyle Okposo RW - Bergevin's dream. Chris Neil RW - What? We got All Star John Scott. LOL David Perron LW/RW - He just dealt to Anaheim who may not make playoffs and decide to sell. David Backes C/LW/RW - Doubt he gets moved before trade deadline. Troy Brouwer RW - Big depth scorer. Steven Stamkos C - Sorry this is Bergevin's dream.lol Radim Vrbata RW - Skilled winger. Andrew Ladd LW - Grit and scoring. Possible players on trade block (names I've heard in various rumors this season) Tyler Ennis C/RW (3yrs/$4.6) - Rumor has it that they are listening to offers. Matt Moulson LW (MNTC 3yrs/$5) - Unhappy with his production. Jeff Skinner LW/C (3yrs/$5.725) - Unhappy with his inconsistency. Matt Duchene C (3yrs/$6) - Need cap space for MacKinnon extension. Jarome Iginla RW (NMC 1yr/$5.4) - Will not wave NMC midseason. Scott Hartnell LW (NMC 3yrs/$4.75) - Re-tooling. Cam Atkinson RW - (2yrs/$3.5) - Cap crunch. May no longer be available with trade of Johansen. Jordan Eberle RW (3yrs/$6) - Cost is a young top 4 dman. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C (5yrs/$6) - Cost is a young top 4 defenseman. Nail Yakupov RW (1yr/$2.5) - Cost is a young top 4 defenseman. Marian Gaborik RW (5yrs/$4.875) - Unhappy with his production. Jason Pominville RW (MNTC 3yrs/$5.6) - Cap crunch/unhappy with production. Wayne Simmonds RW (3yrs/$3.975) - More speculations than rumors. Brayden Schenn C (RFA) - Cap crunch. Sidney Crosby C (NMC 7yrs/$8.75) - Rumored rift with Lemieux. Evgeni Malkin C (NMC 6yrs/$9.5) - Cap crunch. Joe Thornton C (NMC 1yr/$6.75) - Rumors. Patrick Marleau C (NMC 1yr/$6.7) - Asked for trade. Patrik Berglund LW (NTC 1yr/$3.7) - Cap crunch. Jonathan Drouin LW (EL 1yr/$900K) - Asked for trade. Joffrey Lupul LW (LNTC 2yrs/$5.25) - Rebuild. James van Riemsdyk LW (2yrs/$4.25) - Rebuild. Tyler Bozak C (MNTC 2yrs/$4.2) - Rebuild. Marcus Johansson LW/C (RFA) - Cap crunch.
  18. Weird trade. Habs were afraid to lose Tinordi on waivers for nothing. So they trade him for two players that likely will not play for the Habs and likely will not be resigned at the end of the year. So essentially nothing. The only advantages to this move that I can see is the marginal cap savings and the Habs controlled Tinordi's destination (western conference). Personally I would have taken the chance and placed him on waivers and sent him to the minors if he cleared.
  19. I agree Don. Trading away picks for useless players at the deadline doesn't make much sense to me either. It also doesn't make sense to hang on to players that aren't essential to the teams success now or in the future when the team has very little chance of winning in the playoffs. I'm not saying that this year they don't have a chance of winning, I'm talking about past years. I know I'm reaching a bit here, but stay with me. I look back at the 2006-07 season and wonder if the Habs missed an opportunity to really improve this club. The Canadiens already had drafted Price in 2005 and he was coming off a spectacular performance at the WJC for Canada and was having a great season in Tri-City. No doubt he was going to be special. The Habs were bubble playoff team for the majority of that season and leading up to the trade deadline. Even if they would have snuck into the playoffs (which they missed) they would have been trounced in the first round. The roster had 8 potential UFAs and a number of underachievers. Were they sellers or buyers at the deadline? Hard to say. The only trade they made was Craig Rivet (1 of the 8 UFAs) to SJ for Gorges and a 1st rounder (Pacioretty). Not exactly a move that says your making a playoff push, nor a move that says your selling. Markov ended up being the only one of the 7 UFAs to resign and the rest left for nothing. Considering the Habs got a 1st and Gorges for Rivet, imagine what they could have gotten for Souray (who was leading all defenseman in goals at the time of the trade deadline if I'm not mistaken) or Markov (who finished the season with 49 points). It was pretty well known that the Habs weren't going to be able to resign both, yet the elected to hang on to them. For what? A chance to get destroyed in the first round of the playoffs? Another interesting trade that year was Alexei Zhitnik to Atlanta for Braydon Coburn. Atlanta was going all in and willing to deal picks and prospects on their way to their first (and only) playoff birth in franchise history. Zhitnik was playing on the 3rd pair for Philly. Coburn was young defenseman drafted 8th overall 3 years earlier. Habs could likely have traded Souray to Atlanta for a better return. Just noticed as I typed all this that CC made a similar post about Souray. Glad I'm not the only one who was thinking it.
  20. It is difficult to build through the draft when the scouting/drafting and development is below average to average at best. The Detroit Red Wings don't seem to have any problems finding gems in the draft despite drafting late in each round year after year. They also do a great job developing their youngsters by not rushing them to the NHL before they are ready. 1990 was the last time the Wings missed the playoffs. They have had two top 15 pick in the draft since then (Dylan Larkin, Martin Lapointe) and have won 4 Stanley Cups. Jurco, Marchenko, Larkin, Sheahan, Mrazek, Tatar, Pulkkinen, Nyquist, Smith, Andersson, Kindl, Abdelkader, Helm, Franzen, Howard, Quincey, Ericsson, Kronwall, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk are all Wings picks chosen after #15 that are still playing with the team today. Glendening and DeKeyser were undrafted free agents that were signed and developed by the Wings that are on the current roster. I haven't even named the prospects that are in the system or the players that are no longer with the team. Those are pretty impressive results. They have had some misses and some players that haven't reached their potential just like any other team, but this occurs very infrequently compared to other teams and more specifically the Habs. When you have top notch scouting and developing you can fill a lot of holes on your roster from within and you have plenty of trade bait to make your team better. Only 4 first rounders (Thomas McCollum, Maxim Kuznetsov, Yan Golubovsky, Jesse Wallin) since 1990 have played less than 300 NHL games and only one (Curtis Bowen) didn't play a single game in the NHL. Of course I didn't include recent picks that are still developing. My point is that the Habs need to do a better job in the scouting and development departments to have long term success. It's a big reason why this team is struggling right now, and until it is addressed, why they will continue to be a hot and cold team for years to come.
  21. Rebuild? Did I miss something? I've seen this team re-tool, but never a rebuild. A rebuild starts with tearing it down to the studs and starting fresh. I haven't seen that from the Canadiens...ever. Chicago, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh (3 of last 4 Stanley Cup champs in the past 7 years) have built there cores through high draft picks because of a proper rebuild. Rebuilds are painful and typically mean that the team will miss the playoffs for a few years. Habs are rarely sellers at the deadline despite the fact that sometimes it is what's best for the team. I'm not saying that's what's best this year, but it might have helped if they had been in previous years. Of course rebuilds don't always work either (look at Edmonton and Arizona who always seem to be rebuilding). Scouting, drafting, and player development are crucial and the Habs are below average to average at best in those departments. Of course this is all just my opinion and I'm no expert.
  22. I read a similar report that there were Habs scouts at the Colorado/Los Angeles game. This prior to the Lecavalier deal. I wonder if they were still scouting LA instead of Colorado. Either way, I don't see much that the Canadiens could acquire from either team. Rumor has it that Duchene is no longer on the block. Iginla said that he would not waive his NTC during the season. Doesn't leave many options that help the Habs from Colorado. Tanguay, Winchester, Skille, and Street are the only forwards with UFA status this summer. I doubt Landeskog or MacKinnon are available. Soderberg (NTC, 4yrs/$4.75) and Comeau (2yrs/$2.4) aren't having as good of seasons this year as they did last year. Aside from Grigorenko's potential, there's nothing but a bunch of bottom sixers left. Los Angeles haven't been happy with Gaborik's (5yrs/$4.875) and Brown's (6yrs/$5.875) production. Can't see any other top 6 forward being available. Perhaps Colorado or Los Angeles are interested in someone from the Canadiens and the Habs are simply scouting them to see if there is a deal that fits. Avs are looking for a quality defenseman. Prior to the Lecavalier/Schenn to LA deal, the Kings were looking for defense help as well. Maybe the Habs are going to swap Tinordi for Gormley considering Gormley has already cleared waivers and can play in the minors.
  23. Rumor website thefourthperiod.com has speculated that the Lightning are looking for a "top" right handed defenseman for Drouin. As a result they don't believe that the Canadiens are still in the mix for Drouin. From what I have read from multiple sites, St. Louis seems to be the front runner right now. They could be offering Shattenkirk (top righty dman). Anaheim is said to be in as well and recent rumors have them shopping Vatanen who happens to be a righty. The Lightning have very limited cap space, so adding a top right handed defenseman will mean that they will have to create cap room. So this is all likely just speculation. I'm sure that if a team had made the right offer, Drouin would already be in a new city.
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