habscout

His time with the Habs is over. He was effective at times during his tenure with the Habs. His faceoff skills are the best in the NHL, however his skating and defensive ability were below average. In the new NHL, provided the referees actually stick to the rule changes this time, the need for speed will be very advantageous, which will hinder Perreault. Also, Perreault has to play on one of the top 2 lines in order to be effective, and I can't see him getting that opportunity again in Montreal, as the team has improved greatly since he began playing for them. He's still a good shooter, and if he can get close to the net with the puck he stands a great chance to score. I'm sure a team will sign him to a 1 year deal, perhaps a team with a lot of younger forwards.

I remember emailing both Mcguire & Sisto in the last 90's when they were broadcasting the Habs games on CJAD. Back then, their Internet radio feeds were free. I told Mcguire that his colour comments were often too lengthy, since the play would continue while he rattled on; I could tell because the noise level of the crowd would rise while Pierre continued to harp on a play, and I would be screaming at Mcguire to shut up! :mad: He cut off Sisto too often, which was also frustrating. For a guy that was "learning on the job" he didn't take critcism well as I never got a reply back from him. Dino Sisto replied to me and agreed with my comments. Anyways, I don't believe that Mcguire had any idea that Price was from native decent. It was just an example of Pierre's colourful comments [no pun intended by me either], and he did apologize about it in an article a day or two later. That said, I enjoy listening to Mcguire now, because as a TSN analyst he can talk about key points to a game during the intermissions, when there's a sufficient amount of time for him to talk.

For those of you who can watch them play, please post anything you can about them. I'm really looking forward to seeing if all 3 of them can make the junior team this season, although Price has two players that are 1 year older than him to beat out, so his work is cut out for him.

It's a good signing, as Hossa is too young and unproven for the Habs to give up on him. It's good to have some depth forwards, and you never know when a player is going to decide to put the effort needed to succeed when given the chance. There are always injuries in the NHL, and Hossa can step in when they occur; what he does when that happens is all up to him.

It looks to me that Gainey's recent signings of guys like Aitken & Vandemeer, as well as last off-season signing of Ivanans, is a way of adressing their lack of toughness. However, neither of these guys are likely to be starters, and will likely only be used when it necessary,against a team with a known enforcer or perhaps in the 2nd half of back-to-back games when the first game has resulted in some bad blood between the Habs and the other team.

I'm glad to see the Habs resigned him. There's been no doubt about his determination to make it to the NHL. I remember seeing him in the brief call up he had one season, and his skating seemed pretty good. He didn't get much ice time so it was difficult to get a read on him. However, everything else that I've read about him is positive, so I have to believe he stands a chance to make the pro squad, just like Perezhogin, Higgins & Hossa do [up front]. However, I believe that only one of these 4 will be starters, and perhaps 1 or 2 others will be spare players that will not play much unless injuries arise. Someone from this group of 4 will be back in the AHL to start the season.

I found a couple of URL's with information about Aitken, and one has a fight clip of his which was a one-punch knockout. From what I read, Aitken sounds like a defensive dman with some good fighting ability, who occasionally makes mistakes behind the blueline. He is a hard working guy, who plays within his ability. He sounds like a decent 7th defenceman, who will fill in with the Habs in case of injuries. Aitken Information Aitken vs. John Tripp

I'm pretty sure that Ryder will get a contract similar to Ribeiro's. The length of the contract is what to be seen, but I suspect that a 1 or maybe 2 year contract will be offered. While I'm sure that Gainey would like to commit to longer terms to these young players, the risk is high since neither has established a track record. Both are coming off their finest seasons, and obviously in Ryders case his only pro season. But, the old sophmore jinx may be a factor for him, and Ribeiro has been very inconsistent prior to the last NHL season. If both of them could put a few good seasons together, I'm sure they could write their own ticket for salaries when their turn for UFA status comes up. -Norm S.

Thanks for posting this links. It's always good to watch the old greats do their thing.

Back in 2001 Michaud was an emergency call up from his junior team, due to injuries to both Habs starters at the time. Jeff Hackett [dislocated shoulder] and Jose Theodore [concussion] were not ready to play. I believe that Mathieu Garon was called up from the AHL to be the Habs starter, and that Michaud was his backup. During one of the games that Garon started, he was injured and so Michaud got an opportunity to play 18 minutes. That was a different scenario then what the Habs would face if they kept Price after training camp and the exhibition season are over. Under the previous CBA, all teams are allowed the first 10 games of the season to evaluate a junior player before they either have to return him to junior or keep him and pay his junior club the development fee. I believe it used to be around $250K, but I'm not sure what the new CBA has that figure set to now. Also, starting Price as a regular NHLer at 18 would start his pro career early, making him one of the types of players that would be eligible for UFA status when he's 25.

I may have posted this before, but if the Habs wanted to shore up their defence, then I'd gamble on a guy like Jason Doig. He has decent size and toughness, is a good skater, is only 28, and has been a regular in Washington the past couple of years. He has this claim to fame: on Jan 29, 2004 he checked Lindros into the boards, giving Lindros his eigth career concussion . The guy is from Montreal, and may be willing to sign with the Habs for a low contract. http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...tarSource=email

I'd rather see the Habs pass on Hamrlik. The guy is not a team player, has sulked in the past when he thought he wasn't being paid enough, and he's a defensive liability. Gainey just let Brisebois go, so why replace him with a similarly bad defenceman?

Well, if it's true, then I'd be happy if the Habs could sign/trade for Lecavalier. However, I'm afraid of two things: first, a trade could hurt the Habs depth wise to obtain him. The players involved would be either Theodore/Koivu/Ribeiro plus Komisarek/Price/Perezhogin/Higgins, since Tampa would argue that they want top talent in return for their top player. Second, signing him as a UFA may put the Habs in a tough position cap wise, unless they have the room for him next season. That's where the resigning of Theodore comes into play, in either a short term or long term deal. A short term deal may be helpful for the Habs should they really want a chance to sign Lecavalier. A long term Theodore contract may not give them to room to also Lecavalier, especially since they've committed $4.5M for Kovalev over the next 4 seasons.

If you can find a source that refers to the 60 player limit, please post it, as I have not heard anything about it.

I'm sure that Gretzky was itching to get back into a more hands on role in the NHL. I hope he does well, except when the 'Yotes play the Habs [f & when that happens this season]. ;-)

Heh, 100% of Brisebois is a whole lot of nothing. To put it another way, you either get 100% of his offence which is good, but 200% of his giveaways or inability to tie up an opposing forward which lead to goals against . That's the "bad" version of Breezy. The "good" one had him "concentrating" on defence only, partially through being assigned to the #5/6 pairing where he didn't always have to face the top 2 lines. Unfortunately the "good" Brisebois scored very few points, and obviously didn't warrant the top salary he was facing for the Habs before he was bought out. At least with the Habs trying out Streit and/or Hainsey, these players will make mistakes but they have the chance to learn and correct them, unlike Brisebois, who made the same mistakes he made as a rookie, year after year. LMAO good excuse... Briser always has back problems that's why he never was 100%

I believe that all of the RFA's that have had qualifying offers have until the 10th to respond to the league if they want arbitration. Otherwise, they are assumed to not require it and they will work things on with their club.

I don't put much stock in these big name trade rumours that involve the Habs. Over 95% of the time, they amount to nothing, and I'm that certain this is just such an example.

I believe Gainey's done, unless he signs a depth veteran, someone to fill the 6th/7th position on defence, or the 4th line. It would obviously have to be someone fairly inexpensive since they will not have a lot of cap room once all the RFA's are signed.

That's a real wishful thinking/dreamer type of trade. There's no way that Florida would move a younger, taller goalie for one that will become a UFA in another season.

I'm wondering why Huet hasn't flown back to Montreal to have the Habs doctors check out his knee? Gainey mentioned that they're not exactly sure how long it will take, perhaps because they're basing it on what his doctor has said is the usual prognosis for this type of surgery. Gainey mentioned that they may want to get a replacement goalie if Huet would take longer than 6 weeks into the season to be ready. I'm not sure who will be available if the Habs have to wait too long into the free agency period. I'd rather see Dannis get the chance to play.

Bulis has had a couple of chances as a winger on the top line last season, with mixed results. He doesn't seem to have a real scorer's touch around the net, as he's left many of us fans frustrated with missed chances at burying the puck. However, he does have good anticipation, is a good passer & skater. Those attributes help him greatly as a penalty killer & 3rd line checker. I'm hopeful that his good season in the Czech league is a sign that he's ready to take on more offensive duties with the Habs, but I'm not sure where he would fit in. Perhaps he could be slotted into Ribeiro's line. I have a feeling that Julien will slot him back into the 3rd line checker's role, but an injury to a winger on the top 2 lines might give him another chance to advance.

Hi classical. Thanks for the tip; I'll have to check it out.

Hmm, I guessing that Gainey and Sather like to work together.

This interview was from just after Streit was drafted. It's interesting because it gives a little insight. It's in francais, so a translation website will be necessary for some of you. http://www.chfans.com/in_comments.php?t=8336