Habs Biggest Problem?

[Ribeiro]

What do you think will be the Habs biggest problem this/next season that can be changed?

Defense, goaltending, offense?

I think Defence is definitely a problem which can be solved by young guys like Komasarik.

[Fanpuck33_]

Defence by far. We have put together a team that can score pretty well, but our D is very lacking.

I think a full season of Komi will help. I really hope we bring in a guy like Matvichuk or Schneider to give us a true top D-man. That would be huge. I hope Hainsey finally puts it all together as well.

[Ribeiro]

The Habs will probably have to trade for a good Defenseman.

If they sign Kovalev (and hopefully Perreault) I doubt they'll have the money to sign a decent D-man.

I'm afraid to say this but Garon is expendable. We could get a really good defenseman for a young, talented and promising goalie.

And maybe more.

It's not like the Habs are short on back-up goalies anyways.

[simonus]

i don't know if I would necessarily trust any goaltender in our system aside from Garon to be theo's backup next season.

[Habs77]

Other than the draft, my big question for the summer are:

- will there be a season in 04-05?

- will we re-sign Kovalev

- will Kastitsyn be signed and come over to NA?

- what will happen to Perezhogin?

- what will become of the H's, Hossa & Hainsey?

- who will Gainey sign to replace some of the exiting vets?.. hopefully add some size/grit in the process

- which Souray will we have next year... he ended the year with shoulder, wrist and knee injuries bothering him...

- will anything be done to address the D?.. or will we stay with the status quo

No new GM news this summer, but still quite an interesting off-season ahead for Habs fans... however long that "off-season" ends up being.

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On the subject of the defense... I see room for little change.

Right side:

- Komisarek is a lock for one of the 3 regular spots, and Quintal will be cut loose since he has said he won't accept a #7 spot.

- Breezer has 2 years left on his deal, and the no-trade clause has now expired I believe. The 2nd year is a team option at 4.5M, they can opt out but it will cost them 1M to do so.

I think the Breezer-haters will be disappointed... I expect Gainey to re-sign him to an extension while obviously lowering his salary.

From the Habs side it makes sense in that a more modestly paid Breezer used in a lesser role can be an asset as he showed last year... he is also the only "puck-moving/PP D-man" on the right side.

From Breezer's side, accepting a lower salary is a given, and he has always wanted to retire a habs.

- The real problem to me is Rivet... who has the ugliest contract of any habs IMO in the sense he still has 3 years left on it.

Not only has his lacking play not earned the contract he was awarded, but the length & size of the contract makes him impossible to buy-out... and the current downward pressure on salaries will make him hard or impossible to trade away.

We're stuck with him, and unless he suddenly starts performing on a regular basis instead of mediocre uneven performances he is the one D man that will be preventing the Habs from having a really solid defensive core.

On the left side:

- Souray comes with the eternal health questions, on top of whether last year's 1st half was a fluke or not

- Markov had an uneven year, a great Boston series, then a tough Tampa series... he father was ill and eventually died later in the season, and he game picked up once he came back from the funeral.

He's also not yet at the prime age for D men, and as for Souray we have to wonder if we will see the Markov of 2 years ago again or not.

- Bouillon could well be replaced, bumped to a #7 role which on a team with the oft-injured Souray/Breezer/Rivet is still an important one.

If we can land a big/physical solid vet then we solidify the left side, and find ourselves with good depth in case of injury.

So I see room for one new D man on the left side, of a big/physical nature... but that's it in terms of changes, aside from Komi finally playing.

[Edited on 23-5-04 by Habs77]

[Ribeiro]

Breezer has 2 years left on his deal, and the no-trade clause has now expired I believe. The 2nd year is a team option at 4.5M, they can opt out but it will cost them 1M to do so.

I think the Breezer-haters will be disappointed... I expect Gainey to re-sign him to an extension while obviously lowering his salary.

From the Habs side it makes sense in that a more modestly paid Breezer used in a lesser role can be an asset as he showed last year... he is also the only "puck-moving/PP D-man" on the right side.

From Breezer's side, accepting a lower salary is a given, and he has always wanted to retire a habs.

He was one of our decent Defenseman during the playoffs, he must be resigned.

So I see room for one new D man on the left side, of a big/physical nature... but that's it in terms of changes, aside from Komi finally playing.

I do too, but who?

Garon would probably start than back-up (obvious), so a desperate team would give up quite a bit for him...the Canucks come to mind.

Even the Avs.

[Habs77]

Originally posted by Ribeiro

I do too, but who?

Garon would probably start than back-up (obvious), so a desperate team would give up quite a bit for him...the Canucks come to mind.

Even the Avs.

Aebischer is just like Garon, a backup who after years waiting in the background finally gets his chance to start... why would the Avs make a lateral move like that, I can't see it happening.

Either they stick with their guy, or reach out for a vet to lead them to the Cup.

Vancouver is a better fit, especially with Burke now gone maybe there's nobody left to protect the unworthy Cloutier.

But Cloutier got injured, and the Vancouver loss will be mostly blamed on Bertuzzi's absence... so they might stick with him yet.

Besides... I rather keep Garon for now. Theo has never matched his outstanding 01-02 season, he was outplayed by both goalies he faced in the playoffs... gave up too many weak goals.

Now the trials against his family and that of his girlfriend's father will be coming up in the coming year... nothing to help him.

I'm not saying he can't battle through all that, I just think this is not the time to trade away our plan B.

Not to mention Theo's contract going into a new CBA environment... that's another concern.

Trade away Theo, get some great assets in return and save some decent $$ in nets with no dropoff in performance between the pipes if Garon can answer the bell.

If all works out well, we'd be significantly improved... if Garon can't handle it we're screwed of course.

I wouldn't gamble quite yet... but when the time is right I would consider such a scenario.

Anyway, back to the subject...

I don't think we need to land an All-Star defenseman here... on the left side we already have Souray & Markov whom I want to see heavy minutes.

We might be able to pick up such a player on the UFA market, or eventually trade Hainsey who doesn't have a future here anyway IMO.

P.S. Looking forward... on the right side I see O'Byrne coming in to replace Rivet when his contract is up.

With O'Byrne & Komisarek on the right side, it's gonna be fun to watch.

Can't wait.

[Edited on 23-5-04 by Habs77]

[Leafs Suck]

Weak forwards

[ch_nl]

I think the most difficult question is forwards.

On the blueline we have 6 players that we are stuck with. Brisebois, Rivet, Souray, Markov and Komisarek. They will all play next season.

Quintal will probably retire? Or? And Bouillion is a perfect seventh.

Try Hainsey or Beauchemin and if it doesn't work get another one. Shouldn't be that hard.

But on forwards we have some big issues. Sign Kovalev. That's prio 1. If he don't wan't what Habs can offer we're in the vacum-situation. We had him, saw the light, but went into the shadows... So sign Kovalev!

But... Kovalev is a rightwing. Just like Ryder. Ryder uses his body and Koivu is small. We need a big guy on the first line. So Kovalev may have to play left wing.

Ribeiro and Zednik on the second. Looks alot like Koivu and Kovalev. But whom will play with them? The tired Dagenais? The face-off specialist Perreault or the two-way-Bulis?

I think that this spot is the second most imortant to fill this summer. First Kovalev and then this. If I could chose any player I wan't I'd pick Simon Gagne.

[seanman99]

I don't understand why everyone wants to keep Garon.

He will never become a great goalie. Maybe a good one

but never great. There are just too many flaws in his

game. I would trade him. I dont know to who but a

team like CHicago could use a new up and coming

goalie. Dunno what they have to give up though. :?-

I like s

[ch_nl]

And why should we have a great goalie to backup our great goalie?

I think that we need a good goalie to backup our great goalie, and in my opinion Theodore is great goalie and Garon is a good goalie.

[habsfan88]

goaltending is fine, offence is good and still improving, and our d is struggling. my feeling is that the habs defense are pretty strong, but we need more speed. an oleg Tverdovsky would be good.......

[seanman99]

No way an Oleg Tverosky type of player would be too soft something the Habs already have trouble with. I thnik let Komisarek and Hainsey have thier shots but also sign a good new defencemen like Sean Hill, Dan Magillis, or Bob Boughner. The o-fence is supposted to score let the d do their job. (Which they already have alot of trouble doing)

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Defence is definitely an issue. However, I think we have problems upfront that need to be dealt with first.

Kovalev is not coming back. We will not offer the kind of $ he will want.

Ribs is going to be ribs. I want to see him get better but I really don't think he will.

Where does that leave us?

Koivu playing by himself again (yes zednik is good but not enough)

We have some decent minor guys that may help but we are back to square one.

We need to resign kovy and pick up one or two UFAs.

Gainy has a tough summer ahead of him.

[habsfan88]

yes I know what you are saying, and we should pick up some more toughness, but an tverdovsky can score and get points, and is very agile and speedy. Speed is also what our defence lacks in my opinion. So by picking up Oleg, we could then pick up a boughner or something after its just i feel that as well as toughness, speed is something out D lacks.

[Fanpuck33_]

Prime Minister Koivu, why are you so pessimistic about resigning Kovalev? He has had that he enjoys playing in Montreal. He has not put up good numbers since he was with the Penguins, so he has no leverage for a raise. I see no reason why he can't be signed for under 5 million.

[ch_nl]

Why would Oleg Tverdovsky sign a NHL contract? Has he said anything about returning to the NHL?

Jonas Höglund (former Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens) has signed with Färjestads BK. But from what I've heard he is interesting in returning to the NHL.

In my opinion it may be worth a shot. He's familiar with the club and had a decent world championship. If we don't get Kovalev to stay I think Gainey should at least have a look at it.

And yeah, Prime Minister Koivu, why are you so negative about re-sign Kovalev?

I think that he should be offered a contract worth about the same as Koivu and then give him bonuses that makes it possible to earn about the same money he did last year.

[koivu4prime-minister]

the gm has a hard summer but it will be great summer if things go right

when and if we get kovy that will be great I also think we need do something about ribs and I am not sure what (sorry i am not rib biggist fan)

[ch_nl]

Ribeiro just won the Canadiens internal scoring chart and you want to do something about him?! Are you for real?

We have been waiting for this kid for I don't know how long, and when he finaly breaks out, you want to do something?

And the kid is on our second line?

No way. We're a bit short on centers and Ribeiro aint going. Add some muscles and play him with Zednik and that line has about the same things as Ryder-Koivu-Kovalev.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Originally posted by Fanpuck33

Prime Minister Koivu, why are you so pessimistic about resigning Kovalev? He has had that he enjoys playing in Montreal. He has not put up good numbers since he was with the Penguins, so he has no leverage for a raise. I see no reason why he can't be signed for under 5 million.

Don't get me wrong, I want kovy back!!!!!!!!!

I think the CBA thing will be a problem.

Gainey may pick up two free agents totalling 5-6 million instead of Kovy.

I have no facts to support my thoughts but I just don't think he will be back.

[Ribeiro]

Kovalev's pay will likely rise, because he put up such a good playoff performance. That'll boost his ego (and his demands) fer sur.

Like most of you, I really hope he comes back and the Habs need him back badly.

Another huge problem is the Habs Powerplay. It was horrible during the Playoffs, and sometimes we couldn't even get a shot off let alone a goal.

We would have won many more games, or at least won them easier with a better powerplay. I actually didn't want to have a Powerplay, as another member mentioned that it actually killed our momentum.

What can be done to fix our PP? Besides signing a fast forward, which isn't easy.

[Toren]

Our biggest problem on the PP is gaining the offensive zone and retrieving dump-ins in the offensive zone. So we need some fast bodies who are willing to take a hit and some big bodies who are willing to grind along the boards for a puck, as well as play in front of the net.

[bombTHEice]

@ch_nl: Of course Jonas Höglund played a great WC but PLEASE don't bring this guy back to the NHL. He simply has too many deficits ... his physical play is quite bad and his work attitude is also not really great. This guy should stay in Europe and I think Gainey don't even know his name anymore ... so we won't see him back with the HABS. :king:

BTW: I just read that Ian Lapperiere bought a house in Montréal ... hopefully it's a good sign, perhaps we can get him. :/)

[Edited on 30-5-04 by habsfannr1]

[ch_nl]

I am aware of that Jonas Höglund is not the kind of player Gainey might seek.

But, I do think he is good enough to play in the NHL. Don't know if I agree about his work ethics. I see him as a 3rd line winger.

[bombTHEice]

Originally posted by ch_nl

I am aware of that Jonas Höglund is not the kind of player Gainey might seek.

But, I do think he is good enough to play in the NHL. Don't know if I agree about his work ethics. I see him as a 3rd line winger.

Höglund is an offencive player .... you saw it at the WC. They used him very often on the PP, he was the "sniper" for Sweden. He is a very good goal scorer but I don't think you can use him on a third line. He lacks too much on defence ... with Bulis and Ward we have much better players for the wing on the 3rd line.

[Edited on 30-5-04 by habsfannr1]