GoHabs2002

It does if it means, that while saving 1.5m they managed to plug 2 other holes in their lineup.... 1 player at 6.75 or 3 players at 5.25m and an extra 1.5m to spend; which is better for a team without depth or cap room?

They'll never do Vinny for anyone straight up. They'll take the opportunity to bolster other areas of the team and still try to save 1-2m off the cap. That's why I beleive a Perezhogin, Abby, Souray combination is good, they get a potential top 6 forward, a top 4 d-man and a top goalie all the while saving 1.5 m, approximately. Whether that's too much for the Habs is another story. But if the fans want a big, talented 1st line centre, you have to pay the price, both in assets and in cap room. We always ask for the stars, but then we bitch about the money the team will have to pay that player. 6.75m might be too much for Lecavalier, but if Richards is gettin 7.8m, McCabe 5.75m and Jokinen 5.5m, then Lecavalier is probably getting his market value. If you want to acquire top talent, you have to pay market price, players have no reason to accept less. I would take Vinny (but I would try anything not to trade Souray in that deal, offering a 1st and ribs instead) because I believe he would directly make Kovy better, indirectly make Koivu produce better, and make our offensive transition better.

I would agree, but Lecavalier would be staying in the same conference and would have to face TB at least 4 times per season, so TB would want to recieve an added premium, I would think. Then again, Feaster needs a #1 goalie and to reduce payroll...so it probably will mirror the Bruins-Sharks deal, if it would ever happen. Steady experience player (Stuart) veteran player (Sturm) Plugger (Primeau)

Kubina is a UFA-to be, there would be no point in adding him unless its guaranteed he'll sign. I would expect TB to ask of a package similar to the following: Perezhogin, Abby, Ribs and a 1st, or Perazhogin, Abby and Souray I'd prefer to give Abby, Souray, Ribs and a second or Trade Abby and a 3rd for TB's 1st and Fedotenko

The Gazette had a cover story this morning (Saturday) entitled "Koivu Future Uncertain". THey still don't know the extent of the damage and the recovery might go into next season. This is major implications to what the Canadiens will want to do this summer.... If Koivu is forced to retire, we have an extra 4.75m but a huge void at center and in the locker room If Koivu isn't forced to retire, but is uncertain of his return, we can have an extra 4.75m as he will be on long-term injury list and won't count against the cap, but when he returns it'll count automatically, so that might limit Gainey's options. And does it enhance Gainey's objective for a offensive center? Get well Koivu

According to Sportsnet.ca, the Vancouver Province is reporting that Gaborik is playing hardball and might settle for arbitration which would make him a UFA next summer. The article speculates that Minny might trade him before it gets that far. Considering the Habs connection within the Wild organization, talks could be a lot more amicle than we would think.

Some people would say the same about Fedorov. But look what he did in Detroit, around a solid support system, in players, coaches and management. He dominated and was the catalyst for the Wings' offense for their first 2 cups. Jagr had that same support in Pittsburgh and now in NY, Yashin has never had that support. Ottawa never supported him publically, defended him somewhat in the beginning, but nothing categoric and NYI simply placed him the lineup and expected him to do miracles. The Habs have shown time in and time out that they will support their players absolutely and they will not let anyone outside influence the locker room: People started questionning Koivu's place in the team, Gainey gives him a no trade clause, people boo Brisebois, Gainey calls them out. My two concerns would be the 5-years left and whether, if no one bites on the 1st round pick offer, if NYI buy him out and we can get him for 2.5-3m and a shorter term.

I find it hilarious how fans will always find an out for Koivu's lack of production. I agree, I would probably choose Saks over Dats, but let's stop the repetitive justification. For the first 8 years, everyone argued and would agree that Koivu didn't have the teammates or linemates to put up #1 numbers. Then Kovy came along and everyone cheered and said finally a winger for Koivu. Well, after an extended period as teammates, having Kovelov on the same team didn't seem to help Koivu much. I think Koivu is capable of scoring a solid 55-65 points and being among the league's top on and off ice leaders....2nd line numbers. To me a first line center must be capable of scoring 25 goals, and 80 points, regularly. Koivu is past that. He might make it one season, but he'll never do season in, season out. But that's okay, his contribution goes beyond stats. We need a number center capable of what I just said and then Koivu will be given less coverage and maybe will be able to produce more and be injured less.

I don't think Robinson want to go back to the day-to-day grind of NHL coaching so soon. I wouldn't mind Savard, I've been hoping for him to come to the Habs' coaching reigns since 2000. My ideal would be Savard, Jarvis as assistants and hire Robinson as Defense Consultant, where he is an assistant coach for practices and works with the defensemen at home.

I've mentionned this before, but now it could be interesting Spector reported today that NYI might consider offering their 1st rounder to any team willing to take Yashin and his cap space. Now considering, it might take a trade like Zednik, ribs and our 2nd rounder for Yashin and their 1st rounder, it would give us 2 first rounders this season, and a big, right-handed center who may gel with Kovy pretty good. I wouldn't do that trade. Personally, I feel Ribs' obvious pleasure playing for the Habs and his passion for it, I'd take another chance on him this season than taking Yashin.. But it is interesting nonetheless

If I was Gainey, I would send in a notice of interest for Lecalvalier and what I'd offer is this: Perezhogin, Abby and Ribs (and our first rounder if need be) for Vinny. Clears at least 2 million for the team in cap space and Montreal gets that size, speed and language most want down the middle.

I agree with you, but can an arguement be made that he is playing better with the new rules?? I don't know much about his game, so I can't comment much about his capabilities, but I think it can be tricky this summer in evaluating players: is a succesful season a one-shot deal, is a breakthrough, is it great adaption? Is a bad season due to the lockout, bad adaption, one-shot deal or a sign of things to come? This summer is the transition summer. Last year everyone was starting from scratch practically and next summer things will have settled down, but this summer is where management's big bucks will be earned. How to evaluate talent! What about Yashin?? I heard that the Islanders might consider buying him out just to get away from his contract. Have he and Kovy played well together in the past in international play?? He's big, can score 30-70 pts and can probably come in for around 2-3m?

It would be awesome for Theo, but not for the Habs... Can you imagine the Press that story would get...UGH!

That's exactly right! And as it should be. We always complain that the league isn't exposed properly or marketed the right way...well, a hockey guy won't do the job. A business guy, and a corporate lawyer is very much a business guy, can lead the charge into the corporate world. If that guy surrounds himself and his office with the right hockey people, then it will be a fine operation. For today's scenario, Bettman is the mouthpiece of the NHL and its corporate partners, the real changes are thought of by hockey people, Colin Campbell, Mike Murphy and the competition commitee. Bettman has a highly-valued opinion that can determine whether anything is implemented, but the idea creation is not in Bettman's duties.

I remember watching the play live and when Ryder was going across the blueline I was saying "dump it in, dump it in" and then as he gave it up i yelled "Ryder had to dump that puck in". I was impressed with what Ryder showed the last half of the 5th game and most, if not all, of the 6th game, but I don't know why he was trying that play on a line change in OT facing elimination...safe to say it was a maturity mistake..I doubt he'll do that again.

Top 4 in the east made it, bottom four in the west made it....East must be the favorite now to win it all. And Colorado must be the favorite to make it from the West. Good luck Theo, it would be an amazing story after the year he had

Or ignore that he's got skill and get burned by it

The Canes have gotten some fluky goals in the series and the refs jobs have been pre lockout-style. I agree with your lines completely but I wouldn't label them 1,2,3, just roll them out and play whoever is playing better more. But I wouldn't forget about BEGIN. He will be back Sunday (it's officially a maybe, but I gotta think Sunny will be taken out for Begin)

Yeah, Pedneault mentionned something like this in the pre-game show. Kovelov's same knee is acting up and he wouldn't deny nor confirm he spent a part of Thursday at the hospital. It was questionnable whether he would start or not.

Why would Halifax get an NHL team?? When expansion is based on support of the sport, probably any Canadian team south of Yukon can support an NHL team. But what alot of fans refuse to accept is that professional sports is a business! A basic customer support/loyalty will help any solid business, but it can't be the only source of support. As much as we hate to think it, NHL teams are a for-profit sports entity. It exists to make money. It makes money by providing entertaining sporting events. Is it better to have 19,000 sellout in Halifax and have no major U.S National Sponsor or have 16,500 in Dallas or New York but have National Sponsors? I would think with the stronger U.S dollar, the 2,500 attendance difference is caught up and at least those big American cities give the league exposure to big dollar corporate sponsors. The league implemented special rules to help keep Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa in. Don't you think Bettman would have gotten fed up and forced Bryden to sell the Senators to an American Investor during the Ottawa debacle. He didn't, he stood strong with the team, like he done for others. The U.S had to expand to non-traditional cities to remove the niche-sport conception most Americans have of the NHL. It might not show in ratings yet, but over time it will improve.

This is IT! A Big SWING Game tonight. WIth a win tonight it is by no means over and with a loss it is by no means over, but the momentum will be changed when the final siren goes. Let's go boys!!!! Win 1 for Saku!!! Win for Me!!!!

Anyone hear anything of Begin? I know he started skating a few days ago. My bet is he plays Friday. Koivu should be gone for the playoffs. Sundin's injury seemed less severe and he was gone 5 weeks just from the swelling, so I don't expect Koivu to be back. If Begin plays, put Pleks up with Ryder and Higgy and move Begin with Zed and Zhog and I think we can play our lines without missing a beat...and we can hope Begin can create a spark that will overcome any mental hit that the Koivu and Game 3 losses created.

I'd say Kovelov stands out on most shifts. I can't count the times last night when I said to just put Kovelov on. Even the line doesn't get a shot, or a goal, they either gain the momentum of the game or they slow down Carolina's momentum.

To tell you the truth, I'm more relieved than happy. Carolina was only in this game because the Habs let them into the game. They almost blew it. But it feels good being up 2-0. This reminds of the TB-MTL series. No matter what we do, how much we came back, Tampa always seemed to score timely goals, ALWAYS!

I don't know if its the same situation, but what I remember the most and what is the defining moment of Markov's completed transition from up and coming player to established veteran player is during a game (I'm not sure which opponent), I think the oppenent went off-side or something with a few minutes left in a period, shoved a player and Souray came in to start shoving back. It looked like Souray was about to start something serious, but Markov grabbed Souray and motioned to him to back off. When I saw that, I roclaimed him a MONSTER player for the Montreal Canadiens. His leadership skills blossomed during the lockout.