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Can we take bonk to arbitration


habsfan_69

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Sorry, no dice there.

Under the terms of the CBA, existing player contracts cannot be restructured, so we'll have his deal for this and next season, then he's a UFA.

And, only RFA's can be taken to arbitration, and of those, only those that are arbitration eligible (5 years in the league I think), can be, so there really isn't a whole wack of time that it can be done.

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But are Bonk really that bad?

I thought he was to expensive when we traded for him but now when he is on the team the Habs will have to do the best.

Bonk do a fine job on the penalty killing line. But his offensive play will never be anything near what he showed in Las Vegas Thunder. He was aquired as a checking line center and that what he does.

I don't think Canadiens management whould expect that all of their prospects would be so good. Plekanec, Higgins and Perezhogin. Even Kostitsyn are a goal away from being an NHL´er. Latendresse is another young guns soon ready.

In sweden there's a proverb called "Efterklokhet är en exakt vetenskap". Im not skilled enought to translate it but maybe someone else is. But it's about that beeing wise when you know the outcome is an exact sceince.

Ian Laperrier would obviosly had been a better choice...

But if Gainey could trade him, what could he get in return? Only two forwards on the Habs makes more than he does. Koivu and Kovalev. Rivet and Theodore also makes more. All of them including Rivet are worth thoose money.

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I would have to say yes, CH_NL ,.....he is that bad.....so far.

I dont mean by this that he is a nuisance for the CH whenever he hits the ice but that his role as a third line center would have been better served by either Begin or Plekanec in that I believe, they have more to contribute,..... than he does... so far.

He did look better during the pre-saison games when paired with Marcel Hossa and Guillaume Latendresse, but those two where so hot during that short period that any center would have looked good between those two.

You could say that the total outcome of having Bulis, Sundstrom and Bonk on the same line is a very bad balance,......way too Ying as some would say. If Bob was expecting Bonk to bring some Yang

in the balance to that line.....he must be as much disappointed as I am.

Things could improve somehow (groin).....but I wouldn't bet on it.

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Bonk was aquired as a 3rd line checking center and thats what he is doing. He is shutting down oppenents and you don't see him giving the puck away all the time. Just because he isn't scoring goals doesn't mean he is not valuable, look at his original linemates (Sundstrom and Bulis). They are 3 playmakers on one line so points would naturally be hard to come by, just because they aren't scoring means we need to trade them. That's what the firls two "Scoring Lines" are for, they seem to be doing their job as "Checking Line" pretty damn good. Maybe if everyone would realize we don't need 4 scoring lines they would appreciate these players, two of three used to be top line players and now re-invented themselves as checking line players will some offensive upside (need to have a goal scorer on the line instead of 3 playmakers), I didn't see everyone write that Joe Juneau should be traded, he was the same type of player (over 100 pts in his rookie season then defensive specialist). So CH_NL and especially PB is Bonk that bad? No, he doesn't get the offensive number because he's playing defensive minutes (although recently on the PP due to injuries), and with defensive players in a defensive role. He has done a damn good job in the role he's been given, let the scorers score and the checkers check. Need to keep the pucks out of the net as much as you need to put them in, lay off Bonk he'll be fine. Also maybe that groin injury keeps nagging him, playing though pain? That would drop ones play, look at Koivu, this week off should rest all.

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Originally posted by nam

Bonk was aquired as a 3rd line checking center and thats what he is doing.  He is shutting down oppenents and you don't see him giving the puck away all the time.  Just because he isn't scoring goals doesn't mean he is not valuable, look at his original linemates (Sundstrom and Bulis).  They are 3 playmakers on one line so points would naturally be hard to come by, just because they aren't scoring means we need to trade them.  That's what the firls two "Scoring Lines" are for, they seem to be doing their job as "Checking Line" pretty damn good.  Maybe if everyone would realize we don't need 4 scoring lines they would appreciate these players, two of three used to be top line players and now re-invented themselves as checking line players will some offensive upside (need to have a goal scorer on the line instead of 3 playmakers), I didn't see everyone write that Joe Juneau should be traded, he was the same type of player (over 100 pts in his rookie season then defensive specialist).  So CH_NL and especially PB is Bonk that bad?  No, he doesn't get the offensive number because he's playing defensive minutes (although recently on the PP due to injuries), and with defensive players in a defensive role.  He has done a damn good job in the role he's been given, let the scorers score and the checkers check.  Need to keep the pucks out of the net as much as you need to put them in, lay off Bonk he'll be fine.  Also maybe that groin injury keeps nagging him, playing though pain?  That would drop ones play, look at Koivu, this week off should rest all.

This was basically my thoughts regarding Bonk until fairly recently. Recently I've been getting annoyed and it's not the lack of goals in of itself (he is a checking line center). It's his apparent lack of effort on the ice. I'm not sure if it's not just a physical impression he gives out without actual reflecting his actual state of mind, but man from here he sure does seem disengaged from the game. He does just enough to be effective defensively and rarely shows any kind of spunk on offense. He seems to just coast through games. Could it be that our Bonk is a dispassionate man who just happens to also be somewhat lazy?

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Since the arrival of Kovalev and the success Koivu's line had in overplaying Thornston's line during the Boston's series, the CH as passed the stage where it feels the need to match a ''checking line'' against the other teams top line to be able to win (thank God).

Julien is barely using that tactic anymore.

Ideally the third and fourth line should be able to provide within its rank a total of 4 players that are inclined to do great stuff on the power killing units so that Julien doest need to use players from the top two lines, keeping those playerst fresh for the extra time they get playing on the power play.

Its 82 games a season so its a good way to do it.

Ideally the third and fourth line should provide extra value to the team else than just a good pool of players for the PK units......more offensive depth would be nice, physical presence is always a bonus, or grit or something,.....take our fourth line as a good exemple when, with their speed, kept the other teams on their toes pushing them to take penaltys on many occasions........ that's extra value.

I might be wrong in thinking that BG was expecting to get any ''extra value'' from this player other than being extremely good in the power killing units as he is........but I gess linemates and groin have not been an ideal situation neither.

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All excellent arguments by everyone.

Yes Bonk seems to be uninspired, I hope that if he is back Saturday he is ready to play and play hard with no (nagging injury's) Go HABS Go.

It is time for Bonk to tickle the twine.

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i was one of the very first here to mention early in the season that i thought the two players who were performing at the lowest level for us were streit and bonk. and while i am still not convinced streit is worth keeping, he has played a bit better the last couple games. and bonk has actually won me over with his defensive work. i would keep him around and see how much he helps in the playoffs. i'm not totally convinced the refs will be as strict as they have been once the playoffs come, so bonks size could still come in handy, and even if there are a lot of playoff penalties, bonk is pretty good on the penalty kill. now if we were in salary cap trouble or needed to move salary to bring a huge impact player in, then i am all for dumping bonk as he is grossly overpaid, but if we are going to remain comfortably under the cap, then i'm all for keeping him, letting him fly under the radar as far as goals are concerned (even thats an understatement concerning no goals in forty plus games) and seeing what he will provide for us in the playoffs. for me, it's all about stanley cups, and he could still be a valuable part of the cup run i am foreseeing this year :) (with theo winning the conn smythe of course)

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Originally posted by Patskidoo

What i would do with is groin injury is that i would put in on the injury list for a period of time until he proves that his injury is healed. And send him in the AHL 3 games like we did with Huet to regain health.

So we save cap space money for three weeks and maybe light a fire under his lazy ass.

LOVE the idea! It might just be what he needs.

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  • 2 weeks later...

the reality is we dont know how long Bonk has been playing with this injury. Its quite possible that he's been hurt all season, which would be a decent explanation for his horrible play. I mean come on the guy has a TORN groin. I dont know about you but that sounds incredibly painful, Im willing to give the guy a clean slate and prove himself once he's healthy.l

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I suspect Bonk will be out until at the earliest 31st of December. The reason I believe this is because this will put him at 10 consecutive games missed removing some money for our cap situation and also to ensure he is 100% healthy. Does anyone have any actually information as this is just speculation. Has Bonk skated at all since being placed on the ir.

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