REV-G

Losing Brashear perhaps doesn't make a big difference today, but it did back then when a top enforcer who could score a few goals and skate made a pretty big difference in your team. It's why they had to go out and pick up a few different guys for that role in the following years. My problem with it all was that we lost Brashear and other players back then due mainly to the poor handling of players and different situations that arose. The bottom line, in my opinion? Poor leadership and management back then.

I think the reason for the Habs turnaround in the past few years can be attributed to two keys moves. First when they brought in Pierre Boivin as President, and then his decision, along with Andre Savard unselfishly agreeing, to bring in Bob Gainey. These two moves were two of the absolute best moves the Habs could have made. No longer do we have to put up with bad decisions, losing good, or great, players because someone mishandled a situation [Patrick Roy, Donald Brashear, Mike Keane to name a few]. We now have a strong, stable organization from the top down and I think we are in great shape for many years to come. I wonder what would have happened if Ken Dryden had been allowed to bring in Bob Gainey to run the Leafs a year or two before the Habs signed Gainey? The Leafs could be a very different team today and who knows who might be running the Habs. To see many of our former players, who were successful, being welcomed back and used to pass on that tradition of winning is a great sign for any organization and the Habs have done that very well. I'm sure other teams are noticing what they've done and how successful they have become. Great leadership and vision will usually bring solid results and we're seeing that today with the Habs.

I think one of the better additions the Habs made this summer was Mike Johnson. He is big, skates well, uses the body and last night against Philly made an incredible pass to set up Dandenault, and scored saturday night agaisnt the Leafs. A big improvement and it gives us a great third line.

I thought, as we saw with Malkin, that all a Russian player had to do was give two weeks written notice, even with a signed contract, and he was free to leave.

I think sending Lats down to another year of junior would be a waste. I think he needs to be pushed and does better when he's playing at a higher level. The only advantage of going to junior would be to play at the World's. I think he would be better saying with the big club. I also think a trade might be looming for some non-producers who have to clear waivers in order to be sent down.

I'm starting to get a little concerned. With all the talk that Ribs must have heard I thought he would be working harder than anyone on the ice. From what I hear he's kind of gliding through games. I also thought Samsonov would want to show something for the fans and management. I'm also getting a little concerned about our AHL goalies. I thought they would have shown better stuff so far.

This is my first posting on HW. I haven't heard much lately about Columbus trading Nikolai Zherdev, but I think he would be a great addition to Montreal . There had been a story that Toronto had offered Stajan and a draft choice for Zheredev, but on the Blue Jackets site their GM/President Doug McLean denied it. I read that Columbus was talking to an eastern team about a trade if they can't sign him. Do you think BG would pull the trigger on a deal for him. We'd probably have to give up a young guy and a draft pick or two good young guys.