TheAussiePosse

SUre he'd be a good addition... ... After we lose Dykhuis ... After we lose Brisebois ... After we get rid of more salary Nope, I'm hoping he goes to Columbus, or somewhere that can use him properly. CMB is gonna surprise people next year. Sydor, Richardson, Lachance, Spacek, Klesla... Berard could fit in. I'm more upset about Daniil signing with the Hurricanes. Oh well, we didn't need him anyway.

"WOOHOO!" -Homer Simpson Anyway, yup, from now on, any lineup I do, it will include him on the 4th line. He'll play instead of Perezhogin. All those stupid people who believe that Pere will play with the Canadiens this upcoming year :nono: A year of seasoning will help a lot. I don't want to rush him. I think if we're patient this year, and continue to be patient next year, we can reap the benefits when the new CBA begins, and thus the new NHL. So until then, this is Gordie D. signing out... (Um, which wing does he play? Both? I've seen both around...)

I think the best explanation you'll get from a non-Habs employee (where's MM when you need him) is that he tried to aquire LA's final pick in the 1st round (previously the Detroit Red Wing's pick), but the asking price was too high. From the looks of it, there seemed to be only little talk, so you can guess it wouldn't have been a package deal (picks and players for 1st rounder, pick and/or player). And I also wouldn't have been surprised if it was something like Souray the first. Or maybe something less, like Perreault for the 1st, or Audette for the 1st. Something like that. Player for pick, straight up. When you saw them stop bantering, and the LA team went up to the stage and the Habs reps back to the table, the conversation right before the end was something like this: Andre Savard: "Souray for Number 1?" Dave Taylor: "You gotta be kidding me!" AS: "Fine, how 'bout Audette? It's a contract year..." DT: "Hmm, not a bad offer, but... nope, not buying it" AS: "Aargh. OK then, Perreault, but that's my final offer" DT: "No way, Jose. Ooh, wait, how about Jose?" AS: "No, We're keeping him. Try again in August" DT: " Ah, screw it, I'll stick with Cech-maniak" AS: "Fine then!" DT: "Fine!" AS: "I never wanted it in the first place" DT: "Well I was just pulling your leg, I woulda never have traded with you" etc, etc, etc. But anyway, I like the look of LA. They have to solid lines of: Deadmarsh-Allison-Palffy Robitaille-Stumpel-Klatt And adding in Frolov, Belanger and Cammalleri and the other solid rookies, a solid group of 3rd/4th defensmen (yes, Norstrom and Miller are both 3rd), and a solid reg. season goalie, I wouldn't be surprised if they make the playoffs this year, and even defeat a contender (although not COL or DET. Maybe STL or even DAL, at a stretch). I look forward to seeing them in the Finals in '08... a 15 year anniversary of the '93 Finals. That's my pick right now. Hell, maybe the WHA will still be around too. Double the action!

Oops. Trust HF not to have updated yet. But no matter, we should be stronger. I guess this also means we don't have to sign too many prospects (ie Dagenais and Damphousse) to make up for a lack in numbers. Can't wait to see who they send over!

I'd like: Andreas Holmqvist Kristian Kudroc Alexander Svitov Alexander Polushin :ghg:

www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/tunak.php It's got everything you've ever asked for! Dance moves! Cool music! Special Effects! International stars! Make sure you watch the whole thing, don't just judge it by the first 30 seconds.

Who knows, mayb Charron is next. Good to see we're still active. And I'm crossing my fingers that Gilchrist doesn't come here... and if he does, it's as assistant coach in Hamilton. He's not good enough to coach, assistant or whatever. Also, I'm glad Ron Wilson finally found a home. ALthough am I mistaken in that this isn't Ron WIlson from Washington? Or SJ? idunno, I'd prefer him, but whatever. Oh well, about 6.5 days until the next habs move (on average). I got my popcorn ready! [Edited on 2003/8/1 by TheAussiePosse]

If you had to choose between Damphousse and Michaud to be our goalie of the future (imagine no Garon or Theodore, and our goalies are Belfour and Kidd, or some duo of old goalies), who would you choose? I think I'd take Damphousse, even though I haven't really seen him in action. I hope he makes NJ kick themselves. Ahonen is good, but IMO Damphousse can/will be better.

Claude Julien? Please? :ghg:

Who?

COL: Theo+Brisebois MTL: Tanguay+Morris+whatever I'm not so much against that deal so long as we get some goalie to play 40 games along side Garon. 1 year contract with Potvin? He isn't a bad goalie, and always does well at the beginning with a team. French Canadien, and successful in the playoffs. He could be had for a portion of Theo's salary. Don't get me wrong, I want Theo with us, but as we've seen before, monkey say one thing, monkey do something different. People don't want us to get ripped off again. But who says we're getting ripped off? Sure, Tanguay might not be the best fit for our team. But how about Battaglia+Morris+1st round pick? Rights to Roy are worth nothing, seeing as he's retired. He's not coming back. And I don't think I'd want him back either. I don't know, you might not want Battaglia, Morris and a 1st. However, without jumping on the bandwagon, I'd actually approve a trade by BG that: a.) Dumped Brisebois b.) Aquired a solid, young, physical defencemen and similar forward c.) Aquired a 1st round pick I like Theodore, and I don't believe Garon is ready for starting goaltender duties yet, but that type of deal I would accept. Who knows, if we shipped Garon over there too, and he shared half a season with Aebischer...? But I think Sakiqc hit the nail on the head when he said that Lacroix wants to win, and now. Which is actually a compliment if he wants Theo. It'd prove a lot of people wrong who felt that Jose was a one-hit wonder

There is always someone out there who doesn't like the idea of aquiring so-and-so for our team. This time it's me. Lang would not help this team the way we're looking for. - We're looking to clear up our Centre position. Perreault, Riberio, Juneau for the 2nd and 3rd line pivots. Lang would not help us there - We're looking to get more physical. While he is bigger, he does not play a physical game. If there was somehow a three-way deal involved, I wouldn't mind (there've been 2 recently - PHO/CMB/DAL and BUF/CAL/COL). If we shipped off a defencemen for Lang, then traded Lang for another defencemen or physical forward, that would help. I think either STL, DET (as mentioned in article), ATL or NJ (if they lose Nieuwendyk) would benefit from his skills. ALthough NJ would want more defensively, and that might not work out. However, if he was on the team, he can play on LW (he did with the Caps for some time), and can score, which would help us both Reg . strength and PP. But IMO, he's not needed. Oh well, if he don't sign, there's always the WHA... He is soft, has a bad work ethic and is inconsistent. Not what we want.

I guess anything is better than having a moron like Hickey write a critique on the Habs. However, I want one of the La Presse Journos' to write a report on Ottawa in return. While it might be a little biased against the Senators, it would still be fair, right? I don't feel that the Habs are all doom and gloom like the article said. And I wish he'd gone into more depth about the players, and less about "Habs will never ever win another Stanley Cup" and "Habs will suck again", etc. Nothing there about Dykhuis or Souray. Garon? Nada. Ryder, Gratton? Dwyer? Nuffin. And yet there are 12 Paragraphs about how Theodore is 'scandalous'. There are 5 on the rest of the habs's players. :?- OI! THIS IS A HOCKEY COLUMN! YOU MIGHT FANTASIZE ABOUT WRITING FOR THE GAZETTE ONE DAY, BUT UNTIL THEN, STICK WITH HOCKEY! I mean, c'mon, the title: Habs' Tournaround Nowhere in Sight ...is just a little too depressing. Of course the future's within sight. In fact, with Montreal's farm team better than Ottawa's, I wonder who will be leading in points 5 years from now? 10 years? Nah, it's a better article than we could expect certain La Presse ######s(and I think Herb {Zurkowsky} is writing for THN, so he was unavailble), seeing as it wasn't entirely biased for us. Anyway, next season will tell all for a few players. Juneau and Audette (referred to in the article as "on the way down") will be facing their contract's end and UFA-dom, so who knows, they might pick up their game. I want to see Dykhuis, Rivet and Brisebois show us that we're wrong about them this coming season. Same with Jose. And with Joe, Donald, Yanic, Chad, and Dackell (if he's still around). For all we know, he could be trying to jinx us, but in the good way. *Knock on Wood* :ghg:

Here is the link to ESPN's Habs 03-04 analysis: http://msn.espn.go.com/nhl/s/2003offseason/mon.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Boston was 2 days ago ( I think) ad Buffalo was today (I think), so therefore we should be tomorrow (I think). I'm just guessing because if they start with NE Division, and go alphabetically...: Boston Buffalo Montreal Ottawa Toronto But it's just a guess. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention for the rest of the ones. Anyway, :ghg: [Edited on 23-7-03 by Habs77] [Edited on 23-7-03 by Habs77]

It's been around for a couple of days now, but no-one's said anything about it. It's probably because there's not really a forum to put it in. This is in the NHL forum, but it's not the NHL. Anyway, I'm looking for your opinions. You happy that it's back? More hockey the better? How long will it last? What sort of players will change leagues? What teams will transfer/begin? etc. Of course the Habs won't change leagues (unless the NHL ultimately fails), but it'd still be interesting to see what comes of it. Maybe it'll be successful... Maybe there will be two successful leagues. I'd rather Bobby Hull as commissioner than Gary Bettman. We can have the first NA equivalent to European soccer. Sure, it's all a big 'If', but it's worth talking about. Until the regular season starts, that is... Here's the official link: http://www.worldhockeyassociation.net/#

I was reading somewhere, and the writer posted this defensive lineup: Markov-Rivet Souray-Komisarek Hainsey-Quintal With Brisebois, Dykhuis, Bouillion and Traverse as spares. And sure, if Brisebois doesn't go anywhere, he'll take Hainsey's spot, or something like that. I have a feeling BG will give him a chance at training-camp/Preseason/maybe even reg. season. Likewise with Dykhuis (unfortunately). Idunno, Traverse will go to Hamilton, and potentially Hainsey too, but Bouillion has a one-way contract (is that correct?), so will probably substitute in and out of the lineup But if you look at it, it's actually pretty solid. Rivet is a solid defenseman, and even if he doesn't play like the Team Canada showing, he'll still be strong enough in his own zone. Souray isn't officially back yet, but he played well in the playoffs 2 seasons ago, so we can probably expect more of the same. Quintal is similar to Rivet defensively, although will probably hit more because there are more similar physical Ds on the team (Souray, Komi, mebbe Rivet). Markov will excel if Brisebois is not there, as he'll play on the top PP unit and even strength unit. If Brisebois is there, and plays on 2nd PP unit and 2nd ES unit, it will cut down on ice time, but maybe cut down on mistakes as well. Komisarek will continue to improve, and Hainsey will get his chances during the year. Dykhuis will hopefully not replicate last season, but if he does... I really hope Bob doesn't give him that chance though. Or he leaves via waiver draft. Or trade. Or UFO. Or... Anyway, my point is that our defense looks stronger, and will probably be 2x better than last season. Add to that an improved and revamped Jose Theodore, an eager-to-please Mathieu Garon, and I reckon we can play well enough in the final non-cap season to make the playoffs. Or not, maybe it can be our last non playoff year so we can get a good draft spot. And shore up our future once and for all. Anyway, I end on the point: we have a strong defense [Edited on 2003/7/18 by TheAussiePosse]

Until prospects are no longer able to sign to play with NHL teams. Or something like that. Does that mean the Bob will most likely pull another signing or too in the next 3 days? Or is this just for the NHL, and Bob can continue to sign FA prospects as long as they play for Hamilton only? :shrug: :?- BTW, this is the 300th topic in HW I'd like to give a round of applause for making it this far. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: [Edited on 2003/7/12 by TheAussiePosse]

Jim Rutherford is having a tad bit of trouble signing him. If we can get rid of Dykhuis/Brisebois/both, there should be space for him. Although I think he's a RD, sooooooo... http://www.forecaster.ca/demo/hockey/player.cgi?0559 Sounds a bit like Kasparitis in the way he can take himself out of the play to dish out a big hit... and that's not a good thing. Also he is plagued by injuries, but we can change that. We're more than efficient depthwise, but he would be a good asset because: a.) Under 2 million, especially if we tie in a 'minimum games played' clause (like with Lindros) b.) He can work the powerplay, and would be a good rolemodel for Komisarek (when in the lineup). I see similarites with Souray. Maybe they can exchange spots. Ones injured, the other plays, the first guy recovers and plays, the other get injured... nah, we don't want that c.) A Russian for our Markov. You can imagine what it'd be like with Markov-Markov on the PP and 1st line... :clap: Only problem is, how would we aquire him? CAR would want a prospect or a quality winger. Maybe Hossa, or Souray, or Brisebois. Oh well. Discuss

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0708/1578233.html And even in another sport too. Onya Paul!

'...He's big, he's also big, that guy's big, this other guy has a mean streak, he's a ######, that guys sucks, this guy's big, that guy's big...'

how long until he's UFA? next season?

CS was good before all the hackers started playing. I play Age of Mythology (3rd in Age of Empires Series) a lot, and it's a good game. Apart from normal units like archers and knights, they have heroes and myth units. Myth units kick major ass against human units, and heroes do that to myth units. It's a good game. They have a demo version at: http://www.ensemblestudios.com/aom/index.asp Under 'Downloads'

If next year is a write off, and you want Jose to go similar to 01-02, isn't that a bit hypocritical. There were 3 main differences last season to this season: 1.) Koivu was there the whole season 2.) Our special teams sucked 3.) Jose was not comparible to 01-02, particularily 1st half If the second and third things go right next year, it can't be a write-off... can it? Maybe something else will happen... 1.) Koivu gets injured doesn't play more than 10 games 2.) There's a massive drift in the lockerroom, between Francophones, Anglophones and Europeans, and the Habs fall into disarray 3.) We trade some youngbloods (completely against club policy) for Lindros, or Jagr, or some bum that doesn't perform to salary expectations 4.) I was going to say tons of injuries, but that wouldn't hurt too much, as we're really deep with prospects. But with the Habs, who knows what they'll do

Nikos Tselios? Man, and people bagged me out for wanting Maxim Kuznetsov Maybe if we get both, we'll have guys who can beat up Zdeno Chara Kuznetsov - 6'6" Tselios - 6'5" Chara - 6'9" And Deron Quint? No thanks! I'd rather have Dykhuis. What am I saying!?! But it's true...

With those 2-3 signings, you begin to wonder who else, if any, will be next. Does anyone have a link to young players who were not resigned, so therefore are UFAs like our Descoteaux and Landry. I'll look around too, but if anyone has a link, that'd be great. We could guess who'll be signed next. The closest thing I've found is TSN's link http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=46015 Where, at the bottom, it has all UFAs. I'm looking for just the young guys, so no Craig Berube. I liked a few prospects, and a few that IMO we should sign (if we could) are Ivan Ciernik (LW-WAS), Sami Hulenius(F-CHI) and Kristian Kudroc (D-TB). Oh well, onya Bob!