sbhatt

I wonder if BG could sweeten the pot with a draft pick and get Visnovsky out of LA...he's a guy that can make the perfect first pass out of the defensive zone AND is a PP specialist. 17G and 50A last season.

We definitely can't afford to lose Souray without picking up a defenseman with a big shot to replace him.

Not at all...it pretty much seals the deal that the line will be kept together, but they could find themselves being the second line if Samsonov and Kovalev are tearing it up.

Great move by Bob....a quality forward for a reasonable price AND for a reasonable term (rare with the UFAs this summer!!!). I think this move pretty much makes Kovalev automatic for 35-40 provided Ribeiro plays even halfway decent. Also agree on the 'sink or swim' time for Ribeiro sentiment...if you can't produce with Samsonov and Kovalev as your wingers, you should probably prepare to play somewhere other than the NHL when your contract expires.

Please, Bob....make a lateral move involving Ribeiro next....unload another slacker!!!

I agree...I'm dumbfounded. I was sick when Bob paid what he did for Koivu....but 6mil for Havlat takes the cake. He will be paid the same as Elias next year, for the love of God. Havlat is a good player...I'll even say very good...but he's no Elias!!! :puke:

It's official...the GMs are out of control again!

Montreal may have offered more, but it would have had to been significantly more to offset the tax situation (someone did a great job breaking that down in a thread earlier this week).

If you were your team's leading goalscorer, wouldn't you push for a raise??? I certainly would! Money talks now more than ever in the post-lockout era; the owners played serious hardball with the players (IE the salary clawback), so why would the players not do the same when it's time to negotiate???

I'd love to see Kovy grab Ribs by the throat after a 'floating' shift a-la Barry Bonds on Jeff Kent. That's what it's going to take maybe...

That's the only good thing about this situation....if we find ourselves looking promising around trade deadline time, Bob will be able to pull the trigger and deal away a draft pick to absorb a high-salary rent-a-sniper for the home stretch and the playoffs.

You hit the nail on the head....as of right now, teams we have to play many times have improved while the Habs have just held the line. Very disappointing. I'm just hoping that BG can swing a trade that makes us better.

I agree that Bob was wise not to match the seven year term. I can see that contract being a real albatross around the neck of the Devils in the 5th or 6th year (or sooner if a major injury occurs). On the other hand, if Bob isn't able to land Arnott....the Habs are in trouble. The rest of the division has improved...we can't afford to just hold the line.

DAMMMMMMMMN! I really wanted Elias. Oh well, Arnott isn't exactly a 'booby prize' if we get him.

Blake signed with the Kings...2 years, 12 million: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170251&hubname=

I get the feeling guys like Arnott and Elias are going to wait for all the offers to pile up on the table in front of them before making their choice.

I think that Savard will prove to be overpayed once things play out.

Makes much more sense to keep Koivu, Ryder, and Higgins in tact...then roll out Kovalev, Elias, and ???whoever. Give both lines equal icetime....essentially two 'first' lines.

Leafs sign Kubina: four years, 20mil http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170213&hubname=nhl

I can't see it happening...but thinking about Elias at LW and Kovalev at RW...you could plug just about any center between them and have a killer line.

I wonder if they are looking at replacing Blake with Leopold (offensively), and then using the savings to go after another scorer.

I'm relieved that the job didn't go to that piece of shit Mario Tremblay

I wouldn't offer any more than Aebischer, Ribeiro, and our 1st rounder. MAYBE throw in another draft pick, but definitely not any of our best prospects. Lecavalier is a good player, but he's not going to produce the kind of points Joe Thornton does (50 less points this past season).

Top 5 Habs: Kovalev ( hands-down the most talented Habs forward) Huet ( I think this guy is the real deal) Markov ( breakout passer / PP specialist) Higgins ( speed and hands Koivu ( when he's on, and healthy, he produces) Top 5 'wish-list': Elias ( a steady producer who shines in the playoffs) Arnott ( size and skill at center) Redden ( breakout passes/PP specialist) Selanne ( synergy with Koivu) Roenick ( a fallback for a center, definitely a gamble, but could have another good season in him if healthy)

A month ago, Chara was my pick to fill the void on 'D'....but he looked very ordinary in the playoffs. So unless there's a good reason that he was hitting like a girl out there (playing hurt???), I have to question his heart.