Habs Fan in Edmonton

Agree, even if you are doing a rebuild you need some veteran leadership to show the way. The Oilers will absolutely abysmal because they didn't have a strong enough veteran presence when they had some talented kids. Ask Andrew Ference about that. He really unloaded on them. Now their young talented guys have character. I think MB decided a couple years ago that the only real way to build a winner was through the draft and making the odd trade when appropriate. I think the Pacioretty trade will pay off in spades. The pass Suzuki made on the 3rd goal was phenomenal.

It's not a question of doing nothing. Panic moves rarely work.

I disagree 100% on that one, Edmonton is a small city. Hall had to go and Chiarelli was in a corner because he had to get rid of him. But perhaps Hall has matured since his time in Edmonton. Young guys do grow up.

Chiarelli made some bad moves no question but apparently Larsson was the best he could get as teams had concerns about Hall. I don't blame players at all for seeing what's on the market. Anyway it doesn't matter much anyway, I don't see Hall coming here.

Agree that you don't make that trade unless you can guarantee resigning him. I am leery of giving up too much for Hall, love his talent, not convinced of his character which I mentioned on another thread. There is a reason that the best the Oilers could get for a young dynamic player like Hall was Adam Larson who is a decent defenceman but nowhere near the talented player Hall is.

I wouldn't give up a significant package for Hall (would most certainly include top prospects and picks) and then take the chance of losing him for nothing in the summer. I am a fan of Hall's talent but not convinced of his character. I expect he will go to the highest bidder in the summer, it won't be Jersey so I expect them to trade him somewhere.

I think the Subban trade was risky from the perspective that trading a highly talented, high profile, popular with the fans (I think), player can come back and bite you. Looking back, it hasn't been risky as Subban seemed to have worn out his welcome in Nashville. I really like Weber and he was certainly a safe addition for the reasons you mentioned. I think the Drouin trade was risky as giving up a potential stud defenceman can make any GM look bad. I think even the francophone fans would prefer to have a stud Russian defenceman to an inconsistent francopohone forward. Who wouldn't want to have a young Markov again? The jury is still out on that one. Yup, Alzner was a mistake , MB messed up that one (perhaps his scouts can part of the blame), tying up the money he has for a player like Alzner was a risk but obviously a bad one. The point I was trying to make is that MB is not afraid to make a trade and has taken risks, more risks than many GM's in the league. Some have worked, some haven't, some we need more time to evaluate.

I don't dispute that MB has had time to address certain deficiencies and hasn't. I don't consider MB risk averse, the Subban trade and the Domi trade were not risk averse trades. The Alzner signing was high risk and turned out to be a bad risk.

I agree there is a huge difference between black face and the N word if that's your point. I think what Trudeau did was based on ignorance not any sort of racism. I am no fan of Trudeau but am willing to give him a break on that one. I am not a young man but it's only because of what came out with Trudeau that I have come to understand what black face is. I have known for a long long time that the N word is horrible. Peters should have known better. There is no excuse for his behaviour.

Let Bouchard take over ? Does that mean Alain Vigneault or Michelle Therrien are not available? OK, bad joke.

I agree with a lot of your points. I definitely thought resigning Radulov was an opportunity. I was tremendously disappointed when he was not resigned as he is a terrific player. I believe (who really knows) that MB made a sincere effort to resign him but failed. Whether it was only money that influenced Radulov's decision to leave or something else, who knows. If it was purely money then competing with Dallas where these is no state income tax is difficult. It's interesting that many crucify MB for net getting Radulov resigned but hardly anyone gives him credit for taking a chance to bring him back to the NHL when almost no other GM was willing to do it. Obviously management thought Markov was on his last legs and wouldn't give him 2 years. he wouldn't be helping them now that's for sure but you are absolutely right as that's when the unexpected cap space became available. It's true that teams winning the cup are close to the cap limit or slightly over. What free agent do you think the Habs could have signed over the last couple years to get them to be a cup contender? Obviously Alzner was a big mistake.

Exactly, I think MB has finally realized his best chance of success is building from within, overpaying for guys like Alzner (big mistake) sets you back. Not saying that you don't jump in when the right free agent opportunity is available but it's harder as mentioned for the Habs to get free agents without overpaying.

I don't think everyone is giving Bergevin a pass, he has made mistakes no question. I prefer to focus on what he should do going forward in an era where teams are limited by the salary cap. At the least the last couple years he has accumulated draft picks and accumulated some good young talent. The only way you can win in this salary cap world is having some good young players on entry level contracts to give you some flexibility.

Exactly, managing the cap wisely is not easy. If every GM was fired for missing the playoffs once there would be a lot of GM openings every year.

It would be fun if it happened, if the contract was somewhat reasonable and if Taylor has grown up since his time in Edmonton. When was the last time a high profile free agent chose Montreal over somebody else especially when that free agent would have multiple offers. He will choose the biggest offer and it won't be Montreal or New Jersey.

I don't get why many are so focused on spending to the cap. In my opinion you spend to the cap when a good opportunity comes up, not waste it on a mediocre player that will make you marginally better. MB has made attempts but some players don't want to come here. He has some cap room and hopefully a good opportunity will come up where he can use it wisely. He also has players coming up that will get raises (ie. Domi, Gallagher). He has to think about that as well.

I was just kidding about Babcock. I think he will take a break for a while, did the Toronto media ever throw him under the bus after he got fired. Definitely the last 2 games are cause for concern, not panic time but cause for concern. Is there a flu bug going around the dressing room?

Good one!! Made me laugh. Since being up 4-0 the Habs have been outscored 14-2 at home. Ouch!

Well there is a coach available who studied sport psychology and is very familiar with the city of Montreal. Maybe they will listen to him?

No question that elite D do not come cheap. Did you have anyone in mind ?

If you are giving up Tatar + Poehling + a 1st round pick then you better get an elite NHL defenceman, in my opinion Gostisbhere is not elite. That's a lot to give up. Your leading goal scorer, plus a great prospect plus a first.

He did put up a lot of points last year but Josh Brook and a 2nd seems like a lot to give up for a guy who will likely be a rental. I am really high on Josh Brook and hate to give him up but in the right deal it may be worth it.

Yes, what's done is done. Who really knows what went on behind the scenes, two top 4 picks would have been too much to give up for Subban. Bottom line is the Oilers kept Draisaitl and they are very glad they didn't trade him anywhere. Would have loved to see him in a Hab uniform. He is a beast.

You and me both. I remember when there were rumours of PK going to Edmonton. I was really really hoping we would get Draisaitl. He's not going anywhere now. What a stud.

I think what has made it easier for Tippett in Edmonton is that he has a couple superstars who totally buy into the team first/structured approach and the rest have to follow. Not sure Babcock has the same support. Plus they are getting excellent goaltending which has obviously been helped by Tippett's approach. I think they will slip a bit at some point but they have turned it around despite missing one of their best defenceman (Larson). Draisaitl is such a beast, so strong on the puck. Signing him to a long term contract at 8.5mil a year is starting to look like a good deal.