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redondo

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Everything posted by redondo

  1. Come on, five games into the season and we're having these kinds of threads? LOL only in Montreal. Lets chill out, watch the games and see how we do a couple dozen games at least before making these kinds of pronouncements.
  2. If the rest of the team keeps showing up for one period per game, it won't matter who's in goal, the results will be predictable. The other night in Vancouver, Jacques Plante couldn't have helped this bunch.
  3. Everyone's been waiting for the other shoe to drop since he got cut from the training camp roster. He wants out? I would NOT give him the easy way out after the way it played out, trade him only if we can get a decent return, which right now is very unlikely. If you're unhappy go to the KHL, if he is half the player he thinks he is, we will get more for his rights in a couple of years then right now outright. Also, I don't think people should be bunching both of the Kosty brothers together - Andrei's upside is much bigger than SK's, and his attitude is better too. You may yet end up trading AK down the line, but not after a sub-par season which he's primed to improve upon with better linemates this year, and not as a knee-jerk reaction to the antics of his younger brother.
  4. Except that Halak is the one who's been around for longer, and he's certainly paid his dues. First in the AHL, then in the NHL, where he was pushing Huet before Carey had played an NHL game. At the very least even you have to admit he performed the backup duty that season very capably. The disparity in the NHL starts (which is not much of a sample size at this point in their careers) can also be chalked up to the preferential treatment of one vs. other, so that argument can work both ways. As far as "worst starter in the league", reputations and expectations are one thing and results another. Look at how we did last year for the most recent example. And I think it's clear if you re-read my original post, I am not lobbying for Halak at any cost. I am in favour of best goalie playing, and the shared workload scenario at this point makes more sense to me then automatically anointing Price, based on career stats, what I've seen the past season and in the playoffs. It pushes both goalies to excel, and earn their starts. I also think it sends a message that fits well with the new mantra of this team. And it will help Price in the long run.
  5. So if you are Martin, how long do you give someone carte blanche based on a good camp at 20? And btw, I personally think it's less about the camp and more about how we all got excited after Price's wonderful Memorial Cup run and the start to the subsequent season and had images of Roy and Dryden. I'll admit it, I did too, and it was worth a shot. I still think he'll turn into a great goalie, and it's not the end of the world if it takes a couple of years for him to grow into that. But it will suck if we are dragging down the results and accomplishments of the whole team for sake of Price's development. I somewhat disagree with this point too. Why is it self-evident that Price has a lot more potential? I'm not arguing that he doesn't, just that you're taking an assumption as an irrefutable argument. Why even bother picking players after the 2nd round, according to your argument they'll never amount to anything anyway. Another empty argument. You're not talking about Brodeur and Clemmensen with long-determined assets and celings here, this is two young goalies, both unproven as of yet. Halak has been patient, and has been doing everything that's been asked of him. It's not the end of the world if your supertalented projected superstar gets a little rest because he's struggling, or the other guy is playing better at the time. I can't find you a better example than what people already mentioned, Marc-Andre Fleury. He was annointed, he wasn't ready, they gave him a break to improve his confidence/game, in the end when he came back he was ready and all worked out wonderfully. I know the waiver issue, but as a general approach, THAT is what i want for Price. The best player plays, however all things being equal you obviously play your starter over your backup. We don't need to get into what is and isn't life, but if you try and imagine that situation in your job, where another guy is constantly getting better opportunities and benefit of the doubt over you even though you are doing better AT THE TIME i don't think you'd be readily accepting it as "well that's life". I know NHL is obviously more talent driven then a regular job, but you still have to reward hard work and results over talent and potential.
  6. My memory may be a bit hazy, but I also remember that Price was given ample opportunity to play himself out of it when he struggled, whereas Halak was benched at the time when he reasonably was playing in good form (and on a few nights seemed the only player out there still competing when the team in front of him was allowing 30-40 shots on a regular basis). Not saying that it's unreasonable to give your starter more rope than your backup, but it speaks more to the preferential treatment than the stats. Plus the case few years ago when he was also benched in the last game of the season in favor of just-recovered Huet, where in fact he was the one whose play down the stretch put us in a position to fight for a playoff spot as well. My point here is accountability. This was the problem with the whole team last year, the fact was they weren't pushed enough from within, and they didn't get punished for bad/lazy play. Maybe sending a message that everyone, including your projected franchise goalie, is not exempt from sitting down when he's not playing well, and conversely that even your projected backup can be rewarded with more starts because he's playing when those in front of him quit is not a bad thing. Plus, as CC says, development, like drafting, is not an exact science. If I remember correctly, Hasek was stuck behind Belfour for years before he had a chance to shine in Buffalo, a late bloomer for sure, but in hindsight, I know whom I'd pick between the two. I am not saying that Halak is future Dominik Hasek, just that you should keep an open mind because stranger things have happened.
  7. LOL check out "Markov" photo on the lower right......
  8. I don't think we have 4 million to sign him with though.....
  9. Condolances to Theo and the family, so sad to see a young one go. RIP
  10. You may want to "throw in" someone else.... If Price takes his time to get back to his pre-All Star game form, Halak is the only other NHL-calibre goalie we have in the system (I haven't seen Curtis Sanford play much, what I have seen didn't impress me) and has a cap friendly contract on a team that could use more of those. I'm with CC, sit tight, take this roster for a spin, we may like the results....Plekanec included.
  11. I hope not, that's way too much to give up for Frolov.
  12. Well it had to be done because of the Kessel situation, but not having Ward definitely will be felt on their blue line, he has been pretty solid for the Bruins. It's STILL not a foregone solution that they resign Kessel though, they may have to do another salary-shedding deal to make it happen, especially if someone else signs him to an offer sheet and they intend to match, like Chiarelli said they would.
  13. I agree on most of the risk being cap-related. The real danger here is that Gainey may have tied his hands going forward in case he needs to add another few key pieces, and may have to rely on someone taking some of the big contracts off his hands, and probably having to overpay in the process. Depending on the state of the economy/salary cap, this may not be as easy in the coming years as it is now (and it ain't easy now either). In the past he's always kept some-to-significant cap wiggle room, so he could add a Schneider to plug an obvious hole. Now, we're more likely to dance to the tune of "this is your team for the next few years, like it or not". The other very real possibility is that if some of the kids progress as expected, especially blue-chippers, we will have some serious headaches signing everyone, and again, may be in a predicament to have to give away assets just to be able to hang onto guys like Price. But hockey-wise, looking at the upcoming season there isn't much argument that on paper this team is MUCH MUCH improved over last year's product.
  14. Yeah I thought the same thing when I read it. If I recall correctly, he also went out of his way (on a separate occasion, forget where) to give Andre Savard the credit for starting the Habs scouting department back up from the dead. And while AS certainly deserves the credit for it and usually doesn't get enough, the timing in relation to the previous comment and the McDonagh being included in the trade is interesting.
  15. I feel you on the "out of the blue" factor, it's great to be on the other side of it after tearing my hear out every damn year reading about FAs we wanted signing elsewhere. It also depends on what your definition of "seriously" overpaying is. I think Gionta and Gill are significantly overpaid, and Cammalleri got AT LEAST his market value. Mind you, I'm not arguing with the results of Bob's summer overall, and I am cautiously optimistic, but we also need to check our expectations. I'm glad Mara and Moen feel the way they do, and it's certainly great to get them at below-market value, but.....New coach, new system, lots of new guys. This could go either way, and if this group doesn't come together early enough, that still doesn't mean that this is a failed experiment. I hope we (collectively, as fans) maintain patience and give these guys enough time to gel.
  16. Hey, can the mods perhaps change the title of this thread? I understand everyone has their opinions, but calling one of the Habs greats an idiot because you're unhappy with his latest moves is a bit juvenile, and frankly makes the board look a little unprofessional.
  17. Saku to Anaheim, looks like done deal.... Best of luck to you Captain K, you were often the lone bright star in years of mediocrity. Thanks for all the memories...
  18. That's good if he's not coming back, I think he was definitely part of the problem and not the solution for this team last year. Sincerest thanks for the memories, good luck to him wherever he goes. This team needs hard workers and not part-time artists, especially with the vets who are expected to set the tone.
  19. Yes, we are better, we have the best forward corps we've had in years, and the D should be comparable to last year (I would bring Dandenault back for another year just to solidify the situation). The real issue here is that there is no more room for error, because we're so tight against the cap AND our most expensive players are signed for a minimum of 3 years. If help is needed, it's going to have to come from within.
  20. Been there, done that. I would have preferred to give that $$$ to Tanguay. Plus, I know Kovy's conditioning programme is great, but frankly I don't think he has another rebound year in him. Hope I'm wrong and he does great for us this year though....
  21. To the Leafs? Says a lot about him, good riddance. Still in the same division as Lucic though....
  22. A little high on the $$$ if it's $30 mil indeed, but you have to love what Cammalleri brings to the table. Martin is definitely being given some toys to play with.
  23. Another great signing today, both budget-wise and as far as addressing our needs. Now let's see who wants to try and park in Price's crease.
  24. I couldn't agree more. And I would even say that yesterday's as you'd put it "atypical Gainey" move is a direct product of inflated/unrealistic expectations that turned a 5 year plan into a 4 year plan, one domino at a time. By the way it's funny how people will complain about Spacek being under contract until he's 38, but would be willing to live with a Lecavalier millstone contract well into his 40's.
  25. Good signing, addresses a definite need. I think Spacek will do well here, and the price is more than decent for what he brings to the table.
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