MCeh

Top-10 Russian Super League Free Agents (with commentary): http://www.rushockey.com/events.php?i=sl&a...news&id=503 Disregard former Penguin Alexei Morozov: "I am staying in Russia for the next three years."

Unfortunate, persisting red tape: "Russian League club owners are the ones who continue to resist signing [an NHL transfer deal with Russia]. New Russian hockey federation head Vladislav Tretiak, it appeared, had smoothed things over in early June with them. Both Tretiak and the NHL were somewhat confident at the time that an official announcement would soon happen [...] Russian League clubs refused to sign the agreement, wanting instead to negotiate individual agreements with players they lost to the NHL." Even if Emelin (who in June was reported to have signed a 2 year contract with Lada Togliatti) were to follow proper channels, give his two weeks' notice and leave his current club, his transfer would be comparable to that of Alexander Semin, "whom the Washington Capitals finally got under wraps for next season after a costly court battle that finally required the NHL, IIHF and NHL Players' Association getting involved in a complicated negotiation." With diminished incentive for both Emelin and the Canadiens organization, it seems we'll have to wait two more seasons before the prospect's even in a Bulldogs uniform.

DISCLAIMER: for entertainment purposes only http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=2398 A background quasi-clarification here.

Yes, the rumour won't die. It's bullet bomb-proof. Despite Souray officially stating his intent yesterday, Code publishes this today: The Habs have offered to send Souray to the Red Wings for Robert Lang. The Habs would like a prospect to be included. The name that has been mentioned is Hulder. The Kings have also expressed interested in Souray, and so have the Sharks.

Unless there's a Habs scholarship program (that could serve as a loophole of sorts) acknowledged by the NCAA, O'Byrne likely couldn't accept any financial contribution. David Fischer, bound to NCAA regulations, couldn't even attend the prospects camp unless the $700 transportation cost came from his pocket -- or his dad's. Kinda silly willy, but I suppose the rules are in place to deter Lebron James types from accepting bling rides premturely. O'Byrne's profile draws a monolith blue liner. If he's a smart position player and/or very mobile (especially laterally) for his frame, I want to see him in a Habs uni ASAP. But that formal sheet of paper they call a degree -- an Ivy League one at that -- surely takes precedence. Conceding that I still cringe, trust me. Later on it'll be nice to say we have two academic athletes in O'Byrne and Higgins... certified intelligence, for whatever it's worth beyond prestige. (Upper Habs management in the far future?)

Because the league is almost certainly going to increase its revenues by no more than a minimal amount this year, the players are going to get tagged with escrow payments of at least 10%, probably 12%. So watch the fun when someone such as defenceman Chris Pronger -- who thought he had a great post-lockout deal at $6.25 million a year for five years -- gets told that he has to give back roughly $700,000 this year to cover the pay raises of people like Briere, McCabe and Kaberle. A canoe.ca article, re: escrow, to the same effect: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2006/...688694-sun.html Enter Nelson, finger pointing. He taunts, "Ha-Hah!"

Last season, while playing with linemate Anson Carter, Daniel and Henrik Sedin had their most offensive seasons. Chemistry indeed. Carter is reportedly asking for $3 million over 3 seasons; Nonis is offering $2 million over 2. http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/spo...06-af82a51a65bd 'Nucks fans'll have to do without Mr. Modified Helmet.

In a more standard year for NHL rookies, i.e. a year without the likes of Ovechkin and Crosby, Marek Svatos would have been a shoe-in for rookie of the year candidacy. Even with his injury limiting him to 32 goals and 50 points in 61 games. http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_4049247

I just saw a RDS Sports30 report on a charity street hockey event Sheldon Souray and Martin Brodeur attended yesterday. Having split his time this summer between Los Angeles and the Montreal region, Souray addressed the rumour of his requesting a trade so might be geographically closer to his daughter: "It's true and it's not true." He clarified he's perfectly happy playing in Montreal -- of course he wants to be with his daughter, but that it hasn't translated into a trade request. Souray went on to comment on the acquisition of Samsonov, saying he's a creative player who'll fit right into the team. A belated 30th birthday cake was presented to Shelly.

:?- Monster website lauched on July 8, 2006.

Recently outside of hockey, Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo quite unorthodoxly signed Maccabi Tel Aviv star Anthony Parker. Should any NHL GM be without their sought after UFA, or find their prospects still too green, the various European pro-leagues might be the place to look: Sportsnet.ca's "No Eurotrash Here" Article - - - - - Might our European HW members be able to provide insight into a player or two?

L'embarras du choix indeed. I chose Kyle Chipchura. The best thing is the likelihood most of the gents'll comprise the Habs of the future. Most of them are near-ready, younger and cheaper alternatives. [Excellent work, prospectors. I hope André Savard didn't have a direct hand in your work, as he's departed ]

Teams would easily pay a fixed salary of $3 million to an 80 points per season player.. so Lindros earning half the dollars (as a base salary) looks fine on paper. How teammates react to an inconstant presence isn't as simple. Yes. It's a given.

Absolutely. His numbers are far from that of an offensive powerhouse, still his profile suggests the Canadiens won't be wanting for hard-nosed, responsible 3rd/4th line play from a centre in the near future. In Bonk, how much longer can Gainey pay $2.4 million to someone nine years his senior and who provides but the same play? As much as next season is Ribeiro's 'make it or break it' time, I think it'll be the same for Bonk. Les Habs were banking on his more offensive past when he was acquired, and it hasn't come through.

At an RDS link a user comments on Latendresse quite humourously. The hearsay's translated by Google and contains my english insertions where the conversion's just too ugly: I says it immediately to you, Guillaume Latendresse will not make the large club before two years. He is what I would describe as project. He is quite simply not ready, it would be wasting to make him graduate this year. You see [the expectations] which you have towards him? Imagine a similar pressure on a 19 year old young person… moreover, why make him go up if [he'll only] plays on the 4th trio? You do not believe that it would be better to plays 25 minutes per match with Drummondville instead of 5 minutes in Montreal? And a reason moreover for which he is not ready, it is that with his success with the fans (without having played a regular match), he's swelled in the head. He lives in my smaller town (Co.-Catherine) and I cross [paths with him] on the occasion. We also has several mutual friends. [He flashes] with his Charger provided by [his sponsor], Dodge Brossard. In public places, like IGA [supermarket], he speaks bombastically and arranges it so that he is noticed. In short, it is not ready mentally. Who could blame him? You've made a hero of him before he's even played a regular match. Let progress him at his rate/rhythm and leave [develop] in the junior before making the next Maurice Richard of him. WARNING: STOP PRAISING LATENDRESSE LIKE YOU DO, YOU ARE MAKING an ALEXANDRE DAIGLE of HIM ----- Ouch!

Guillaume 'Tenderness', PLEASE pull one out of the hat and earn a spot in the lineup. Even if only periodically.

:?- ... was confused for a sec, as Stewart looks like Higgins in that pic. Fortune telling camera maybe... Sorry about your dad's ride btw.

By the linked-to forum's Sinurgy: Johnson is not a rough type player but he doesn't shy away from contact. He'll go in the corners if he has to. He has a pretty good shot but I think the biggest thing Johnson brings to the table is his ability to help other players. It seemed like anytime someone was in a slump here in Phoenix, they'd put them on a line with Johnson and they'd start producing again. He's very much a glue type of player and at the moment I'm thinking the Coyotes were stupid to trade him for a freakin 4th rounder. Awesome. Merci buckets Chicoutimi.

What, baby-mamma troubles like Souray? Or wife/lover passive-aggressively wanting relocation like Mrs. Pronger? What's with defensemen and their personal lives... BAH, let this Markov 'news' be a rumour.

It's still more wishful thinking than a realistic expectation, but I would love to see that too. Gomer brings the power-forward element that's seriously lacking in the Habs. Could you imagine the Canadiens actually having an offensively threatening sh*t disturber parked atop the opposition's crease? It's a matter of how along in his development he is as discerned by the trainers and management. On a side note, Gomer's not reputed as the charismatic team player Chipchura is. It's said he (at 19 years of age thus understandably, maybe) is a disgruntled bad-ass, leaving much for wanting in social/locker room maturity.

If left vacant by his being traded , Ribeiro's center position could adequately be filled by Chris Higgins IMO. Then there'd be another, second spot on the team for a rising prospect.

While Kosty's done more time to earn his spot, Kyle Chipchura [C] and Guillaume Latendresse [RW] are getting scrutinized too.

http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/208396.html Latendresse, comme Chipchura, va cogner à la porte du Canadien. Mais si Bob Gainey trouve le joueur autonome qu'il recherche, le calcul est simple: il reste un poste disponible. Latendresse and Chipchura are working to crack the Habs roster. But if BG finds the free agent he's looking for (article was posted prior to the acquisition of Samsonov, so BG has it seems), there will be one available spot on the team. Chipchura est un candidat sérieux pour ravir le poste convoité. Il était le capitaine de l'Équipe Canada junior qui a gagné la médaille d'or en 2006. Il sait qu'il sera au plus fort de la course. Captain of the Canadian Junior team that won the gold medal in 2006, Chipchura is a frontrunner in the competition to win the coveted, open slot. - - - - - I'll presume he'd take the checking center role if/when he plays a few NHL games with the team. If he has a great camp, he might give BG a reason to rethink Bonk's salary and expendability.

Didn't Samsonov sport #14 in Boston? After Theo Fleury in the late-80's, it seemed anyone under 5'9" reputed as a shifty, skilled player wore that number. Ol' Radek is sporting #14 though... I'm thinking Samsonov'll take Gilchrist's previous #41.

Sexy move. I already had him on my EA NHL 05 team, lol. In all seriousness, we've brought in yet another play '-maker' rather than '-finisher'. Habs'll have to call upon Ryder and.. oh... who else is there that can pot 30+ goals? Higgins must play the next full season the way he did the 2nd half of the last. Samsonov better play up to his touted skill. Else he fall under this forum's pop-term "Euro trash". :?-