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Free Agency 2013: Who do we want, who can we get?


Trizzak

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How about a thread for 2013?

Bergevin says, "Free agency to me is a tool but it's not a way to make your team a top team. It's overplayed. You have to be careful."

However, we will have some cap space to spend and a few roster spots to fill...

Some pretty obvious needs are at 3rd and 4th line RW, plus perhaps an Emelin replacement.

To quote Commandant from last year: "Who do we want, who can we get?"

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Guest Stogey24

Jerome Samson could be a good free agent pick up and he'll come cheap. He has lit up the AHL. Looks like he could be on the up.

Random player I know. I have some time on my hands at work. Or a guy like Eric Nystrom.

Not too sure for D-men. Any size out there in free agency? O'byrne lol?

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I'll order one Rob Scuderi. (2 years 3.5 per season)

and

one Brendan Bickell (4 years, 3.5 per season)

100% agree, that would be a perfect addition. I think it's Bryan Bickel though?

I think Clarkson is going to command way too much cash. Honestly like a 5 year deal 4.5 or something. He would be a good addition but not at that price.

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Guest Stogey24

lol. I've always been for these type of guys. Even though I'm sure Montreal has no intention of going after Samson.

You'll pay 3.5 a year to guy who hasn't scored more than 2 goals his entire career(scuderi). He's a vet for sure, but there is a cheaper player out there that can do the same thing.

Stogey, I love any free agent thread where the first name mentioned is Jerome Samson.

Upvote for you, sir. Don't spend it all in one place.

lol. I've always been for these type of guys. Even though I'm sure Montreal has no intention of going after Samson.

I'll order one Rob Scuderi. (2 years 3.5 per season)

and

one Brendan Bickell (4 years, 3.5 per season)

You'll pay 3.5 a year to guy who hasn't scored more than 2 goals his entire career(scuderi). He's a vet for sure, but there is a cheaper player out there that can do the same thing.
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Jerome Samson could be a good free agent pick up and he'll come cheap. He has lit up the AHL. Looks like he could be on the up.

Samson missed over half the year with injuries and failed to put up a half a point per game. I wouldn't say he's on the way up but I think the Habs would be wise to look at a couple of players like that - ones that will clear waivers to go down to the minors be could be options as short term callups while giving Hamilton some actual scoring options. Samson has spurned the Habs once before - they offered him a contract after he went undrafted but he opted to go to Carolina (where he got paid a lot less than the Habs ever pay their minor leaguers).

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Guest Stogey24

Samson missed over half the year with injuries and failed to put up a half a point per game. I wouldn't say he's on the way up but I think the Habs would be wise to look at a couple of players like that - ones that will clear waivers to go down to the minors be could be options as short term callups while giving Hamilton some actual scoring options. Samson has spurned the Habs once before - they offered him a contract after he went undrafted but he opted to go to Carolina (where he got paid a lot less than the Habs ever pay their minor leaguers).

Prior to this season very steady in the points department though. I had no idea the Habs had made him an offer. Good info ++

Montreal really isn't that thin on the roster offensively. Some bigger depth wingers that are willing to get dirty is something we should keep an eye out for. Also like you guys had mentioned before. Someone to fill emelin's shoes.

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100% agree, that would be a perfect addition. I think it's Bryan Bickel though?

I think Clarkson is going to command way too much cash. Honestly like a 5 year deal 4.5 or something. He would be a good addition but not at that price.

It was 1:17 in the morning.... Bryan, Brendan, it all looked the same.

As for Clarkson, he scored 30... was on pace for like 27 last year. Can hold his own fighting anyone... I'd give him 4 years at 5.5.

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Guest Stogey24

.

It was 1:17 in the morning.... Bryan, Brendan, it all looked the same.

As for Clarkson, he scored 30... was on pace for like 27 last year. Can hold his own fighting anyone... I'd give him 4 years at 5.5.

Clarkson has broken the 30 point mark 1 time prior to the 2011-2012 season. Lol come on now 5.5?
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. Clarkson has broken the 30 point mark 1 time prior to the 2011-2012 season. Lol come on now 5.5?

Slim pickings this year. Obviously an over-pay, but that's what happens with UFAs. Granted, I'd be reluctant to take that cap hit, but if his play doesn't regress, I think he'd be worth his weight in gold in Montreal.

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Commandant knows his stuff. Clarkson would be a bit of a gamble and a huge overpay, but that's UFAs for you. Like I say, you can EITHER want the Habs to sign UFAs OR complain about overpayment. Not both.

This being so, though, would it be better to target Horton, if we're looking to overpay for a physical FW who can score?

As for less high-profile UFAs, would Mark Fistric be a useful pick up? Tough-as-a boot-sandwich defender, probably modest cap hit. Too marginal a player? Or possible bottom-pairing dur à cuire?

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. Clarkson has broken the 30 point mark 1 time prior to the 2011-2012 season. Lol come on now 5.5?

And now has two straight years at a 25-30 goal pace.

And you pay a premium for added value of being a guy who can fight while actually playing a top 6 role and scoring those goals.'

Its UFA season... go big or go home.

Last year many called Prust an overpay..... just saying.

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As for less high-profile UFAs, would Mark Fistric be a useful pick up? Tough-as-a boot-sandwich defender, probably modest cap hit. Too marginal a player? Or possible bottom-pairing dur à cuire?

I've brought him up here before but he's a #6 guy that needs limited minutes. His strengths would tie in well with what the team could use on the back end though.

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I've brought him up here before but he's a #6 guy that needs limited minutes. His strengths would tie in well with what the team could use on the back end though.

I think in signing Drewskie, and in having Tinordi looking like he can make the squad out of camp, the need for a #6 like Fistric is alleviated.

The need is for a top 4 guy IMO.

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Guest Stogey24

I think in signing Drewskie, and in having Tinordi looking like he can make the squad out of camp, the need for a #6 like Fistric is alleviated.

The need is for a top 4 guy IMO.

I agree. I think it might be time for some quality
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And now has two straight years at a 25-30 goal pace.

And you pay a premium for added value of being a guy who can fight while actually playing a top 6 role and scoring those goals.'

Its UFA season... go big or go home.

Last year many called Prust an overpay..... just saying.

Is winning an occasional fight really worth that much money, like an extra 1.5-2 million? If he wasn't a mostly successful fighter people would be offering more in the 4 million range. Clarkson has good goal totals, but still doesn't figure to be more than a 40 point player. At 6 feet 200 pounds, he's about the same size as Prust - an underdog against Lucic and his ilk. We've already overpayed for one fighter, it's not something that we can do too much of.

And it's too early to say if Prust has earned his keep. Cole earned the first year of his deal, and then we got out of that situation as quickly as we could. I expect Prust to be here all four years, but if he's injured as often as he was this year it won't look like a good use of 2.5 million by the end of the deal.

I think it's much more likely Bergevin goes for Bickell at 3-3.5 than Clarkson at 5-5.5.

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I think it's more important to bulk up on the blueline than at FW anyway. I still think the idea that we are fatally "small" up front is partly a distortion created by the injury to Eller (which led to Desharnais getting too much ice) and injuries to Bourque, Prust and Patches. That said, adding a Horton, Bickell or Clarkson would certainly help. Any time you can add a combination of size and skill, you should do it.

But adding that combo to the back end is much more important.

As for being an "underdog against Lucic," well. Lucic is THE most intimidating top-6 player in the game. I don't think we can make it our mission in life to beat Lucic and Chara at their game. As people keep reminding the Blackhawks, the way to beat the Bruins is to play YOUR game. Let's get off the Lucic/Chara fetish and concentrate on building an ace team, period.

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As for being an "underdog against Lucic," well. Lucic is THE most intimidating top-6 player in the game. I don't think we can make it our mission in life to beat Lucic and Chara at their game. As people keep reminding the Blackhawks, the way to beat the Bruins is to play YOUR game. Let's get off the Lucic/Chara fetish and concentrate on building an ace team, period.

That's why I don't think it's a good idea to overpay for a fighter.

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That's why I don't think it's a good idea to overpay for a fighter.

Well, I think Commandant's point is that Clarkson's more than a fighter. He's more like a John Ferguson, a fighter who can score. And a player of that profile is, by general consensus, the kind of guy we need. Tough, mean, goes to the net, drops 'em as needed, can play top-6 minutes. So it's not about Lucic, it's about beefing up the 'power and toughness' quotient in our top 9. But 5.5 is a huge and risky cap hit, no question.

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As for being an "underdog against Lucic," well. Lucic is THE most intimidating top-6 player in the game. I don't think we can make it our mission in life to beat Lucic and Chara at their game. As people keep reminding the Blackhawks, the way to beat the Bruins is to play YOUR game. Let's get off the Lucic/Chara fetish and concentrate on building an ace team, period.

As to Lucic being sooo tough, He did not look all that tough when big george followed him around for 2 periods. He ran like a scared girl, so if you get the right guy (NO I didn't say bring bgl back) Lucic will fold up like a paper airplane. He doesn't have heart, he is a bully. We need a big, hockey player, who can score some and play good defensive hockey who will keep that pruck in check. Yeah we are going to have to pay for him but it is the key to beating the Broons, Chara we can handle, just bu getting under his skin, he takes dumb penalties when he is pissed off. :habslogo:

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What do you guys think about zidlicky. Power play specialist, Excellent shot, solid vet.

Way too soft in his own end, and prone to MAB-like gaffes. Other than helping the PP, I see no reason to bring him in.

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