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Sheldon Souray


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As someone said, let him play the season and then decide what to do with him. He really picked up his game after the Olympics and I'm pretty sure that he can improve again this upcoming season.

If Gainey really wants to keep him long term (I'm sure Souray wants to stay with the HABS, even when he can't be with his daugther that often), I think Souray will also accept not so much money (maybe he could get up to 5 million $ somewhere else) and stay with the HABS.

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I Montreal is not one of those stupid teams that pay a player a salary because some lesser team in inflating the market by giving McCabe $5+million. Yes there are plenty of overpaid players in the league, but not many of them play for the Habs. BG is very smart and I am willing to bet will not pay Souray that kind of money and will trade him before the deadline, for a comparable Dman at a fraction of the cost.

I beg to differ.... Koivu is overpaid at $4.75 Million. Kovalev is overpaid at $4.5 Million. Begin is overpaid at $1 Million. Montreal unforntunatley has to overpay a little to attract/keep players.

And I wouldn't say $2.5 Million is overpaying a guy who scored 30 goals and plays 80 games when theres guys on the team making more and playing and scoring less.

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I have no doubts that there is teams out there willing to spend $4+ million on Souray that doesn't mean it's smart or a move Montreal will make. I'm sure some teams would have spent $2.5-$3 million on Ryder as well, that doesn't make it a good move. Montreal is not one of those stupid teams that pay a player a salary because some lesser team in inflating the market by giving McCabe $5+million. Yes there are plenty of overpaid players in the league, but not many of them play for the Habs. BG is very smart and I am willing to bet will not pay Souray that kind of money and will trade him before the deadline, for a comparable Dman at a fraction of the cost.

Id rather have a competetive team and overpay a few rather than be stuck up like that and be a junk team.

If 29 other teams wants to pay him 4M$ / season then its what he is worth and it cant be called overpay.

Every nhl player in the world are overpayed if we are going to reason like that and I refuse to take a step back AGAIN and be a "might make the playoffs"-team just because we refuse to pay the cash players wants.

Concidering what other Centers have been awarded this season, Koivu for 4.75M$ is about what he is worth... same with Kovalev. Samsonov for below 4M$ is a steal concidering the cash some wingers have gotten this summer.

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Just ridicilous ... :wacko::rolleyes::lol:

We doesn't have much depth on defence and then we should trade Souray for a guy like Cairns?!

Cairnes would add toughness on D and Malone has offensive upswing. Just a thought.

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Cairns is one of the worst skaters ever and not really a great help in the "new NHL".

Malone is surely not bad but I don't think that it would help the team if it means to weaken our defence.

ok then......who? With Boo out for 2 months and who knows the real story with Souray, does anyone else feel a trade is in the works for a d-man. Vish would fit well at 1.55M

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Bouillon's injury surely hurts and maybe Gainey will sign a depth d-man (someone ala Simpson) as I don't see anyone from the prospects who could do Cube's job right now.

But we also have Streit and maybe that's his chance to prove that he can be a legit NHL d-man.

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Good, a debate, which is what I wanted!

For one, it's obvious people can't really be terribly objective about players on the Habs. It seems to be a love em, or hate em situation. Very polarized group we have here. I understand Souray has positive attributes, he is big, strong, and has a good shot (maybe, things got better for him last year when he switched back to the sticks he was using in 03-04). And those are the points people are highlighting. But where are the people talking about his defensive prowess? Pretty much nowhere. That's the point I'm trying to make. He scares me on the ice when he's in open space. Watch his footwork. There are other defenseman out there that are PP specialists that don't see gobs of ice time on even strength. On the PK, his role is to move people from the front of the net, and he can be effective at that. I said can, because there are plenty of times that he's not.

As far as Souray improving on his point total, he played in 12 fewer games in his all star year, so he actually had a decrease in PPG production. He was also +4 in 03-04, -11 last year (worst on the team). So yeah, I say Souray needs to improve his production and his defense for me to hold him in as high regard as many other people do here. You'd think he was the next Norris winner.

Would it bother me if the Habs retained Souray? Not at all, if the price is right. I think he's more apt to move on than take a "hometown discount" and stay in Montreal. People in CO expected Blake to take a discount to stay with the Avs...wrong. I wish people wouldn't assume that because a player is on a certain team that they automatically love playing there and would take less money to stay there out of loyalty.

Regarding Bouillon's injury, I see him being ready for the start of the season. I'm not terribly worried about that.

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I think the reason why people are polarized on Souray is because Souray is so inconsistent, he can look like a superstar for a stretch and then look like a fringe NHLer for another stretch.

I also understand why people attach so much importance to the "grit factor". Souray has plenty, he's big and he looks visually scary. Still, at other times Souray struggles so much he's Habs worst d-man. I dont like carrying around a D-man just because he's big and scary. That's a 4th liner's role, not a D-man's role; let alone a top 4 D-man.

As for focusing on Habby1197's line and responding to it "out of context": look back at the actual post, the line was set-up and written in all-caps at the very start of Habby1197's post. I wasn't condemning Habby1197 at all, otherwise I'd said so explicitly. However the line stood out enough to deserve a specific response; and I've seen that enough of that kind of "stop criticizing _____" reaction in other threads to jump on the occasion to make a statement now.

No player is above criticism.

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I'll add my voice (words) to those supporting Souray. You don't just throw someone away because of a few mistakes, especially given the personal issues he was dealing with. I trust that Habs management understands a certain level of loyalty to players is necessary to expect any back in return. I fully expect Souray to come back and have a very good season. Mistake-free, no; but if that's the standard, there's noboby who can meet it.

BTW - Habby1197's post seems to have received response based on one sentence contained therein, but the rest of his excellent contribution is filled with reasons WHY people should 'stop shitting on Souray', as he so eloquently put it. Criticizing one line out of context ignores the validity of his argument.

Thanks Mont Royal!

Kozed, off topic... but you back for another SK season?

I would hope so.

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Kozed, off topic... but you back for another SK season?

I would hope so.

Unlikely. I've really grown weary of the Yahoo/SK type of pool. Its too limited. Draft aside, there's one formula for success: look at player's past 10 games trends, trade players on the rise for players slowing down, and repeat as often as possible. Basically comes down to "who trades the most wins".

Anyways, I'd go back to HWL before I go back to SK; and I dont see myself joining HWL soon. Dont really that kind of spare time. But thanks for thinking about me. :)

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This is just a fantasy trade scenario but what if we did the following.....

1. Habs trade Souray and Ryder to the Ducks.

2. Ducks send Souray,Vishnevski and their 1st round pick to the Kings. ( Keep Ryder )

3. Kings send to the Habs, Anaheim,s #1 pick, their own #1 pick, and Rob Blake.

Benefits: Ducks--Get a 30 goal forward (who they apparrently need) for an average D-man and 1st pick.

Kings--Get 2 D-men for the price of one ( and their #1 pick ). LAK can re-sign Souray no problem. He,s 6 years younger than Blake, so a better long-term investment.

Habs--Ryder can easily be replaced. I like the guy, but he is only a 2.2 mil. 30-goal scorer. We're not talking Guy Lafleur here. Plenty of young guns in the arsenal.

Souray will be gone after 2006-07. UFA. No compensation. I'm pretty sure Blake is signed for 6 mil for each of the next 2 years.

The Habs would have to take about a 1.5 mil cap hit, but maybe dumping Bonk for a 3-4th rounder, or maybe Aebischer during the season could free up some space. Next year, Bonk is gone. His deleted 2.4 mil would make Blake's 6 mil affordable.

And can you imagine what His Highness could do with THREE First Round picks ?

I know it's a fatigued-fuelled idea, but .......

the wife & kids will be home soon and I won't be able to reply until tomorrow. Promised the young 'un's we'd camp outside tonight. <_<

Edited by bigbird19
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Rob Blake just signed with L.A. as an UFA, he won't be traded by the Kings in the near future. He might be an awesome fit for our blueline but it simply won't happen.

You're absolutely right. But I think the Kings signed him because he was the best choice available.

I just think that if I'm LA, as opposed to having Blake at 6.5 for two more years I'd rather have a younger guy at maybe 20M over 4.

Then again, Blake probably would rather play in LA. :wacko:

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Rob Blake has always been the answer for Montreal for a while. That's obvious. But LA is going to keep him. The only way this deal happens is at the deadline. LA will have to be out of the playoffs and may be willing to deal Blake then, but not before.

If Gainey can do this, he would IMO.

But, in hockey you never know what's coming. Like the Calder/Handzus deal. We usually have no idea. :blink:

It definitely is summer. Maybe I'll do a thread on Carbonneau explaining why he is my favorite habs of all time. definitely and unequivocally not the greatest, but that is not the reason I choose him.

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Maybe I'll do a thread on Carbonneau explaining why he is my favorite habs of all time. definitely and unequivocally not the greatest, but that is not the reason I choose him.

You bet. Carbo was never my favourite, but he was a guy who showed up EVERY night. :hockey: :hlogo:

I don't recall him smiling much. It was all business. Get the job done.

Same with Gainey. We have the best front office in the NHL, and the rest of the league is ready to hide under their beds in fear. Probably not this year, but we will see glory again ( and again and again.......).

B)

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It definitely is summer. Maybe I'll do a thread on Carbonneau explaining why he is my favorite habs of all time. definitely and unequivocally not the greatest, but that is not the reason I choose him.

do it, do it

I grew up watching carbonneau for some reason he always been a favourite player of mine

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