Chris

Thanks, I predicted them out of the playoffs as well, they surprised the heck out of me. I actually do like Philly's youngsters, 2 good D men, 2 real good centers, some toughness. I agree they over paid for Briere and a few others. There will always be teams that over pay to try and put them over the top. The Habs are getting better and BG has them with good young talent. GC has made them accountable and they play alot harder then the previous 15 years. They just need to stay the course and make a few adjustments to the roster. ABout 5 or 6 of them will be in there last year with the habs,.

Most of what you said was true, i'll add that the Bruins took alot out of the habs physically. I will argue about the Flyers being a crap team, they were ahead of the habs all year in the standings until they hit that 8 game skid or whatever it was. They also played in a good division. They weren't that far behind the habs in points either. The habs made big strides this year, fans should be happy with the season and getting some playoff team. You don't go from out of the playoffs to cup winners in one year, especially with the youth the team has. The Price comparisons to Royand Dryden are just redicolous, mainly due to the teams they played with were SIGNIFICANTLY better then the habs this year. Those teams were good defensively, sould score, hit, fight and had quality leadership. Price didn't have that luxury.

The NHL network showed the games in the tournament over the weekend so i got to see Weber and Subban. The Bulls play again tonight on tv. I'll just report what i saw, it's not to be critical, i've never seen CHL games before. I wasn't very impressed with either one of them. Subban has a good shot from the point, a good skater. He is a turnover factory, he is definitely dangerous in all 3 zones. He did have a big hit. Weber was equally as bad, it was his first game back from injury, like Subban very good on the PP, he has a bomb from the point. Decent passer, his ankle injury may be taking away from his mobility. He took 2 dumb penalties and i didn't even notice him unless the Rangers were on the PP.

If they land Hossa he would be the replacement. He is the only one out there who makes sense for long term. You could certainly see The kosty's and pleks as a threatening line, then you have Lats, Hossa and a centre as your other top line. BG has shown he won't trade the youth for a big fish, Atlanta asked to much and Bob wouldn't bite. He will stck to the plan, he will need to sign a big fish. Kovalex is fine but there is upgrades out there, especially at 38 when his contract is up.

No, you take option #3. Kovalev has one more year on his contract. He is playing for his last NHL contract, which should motivate him to play as well as last year. You just let him walk at the end of his contract. The youth will be older more experienced and able to handle his loss. You don't trade players like Higgins, his problem is the media and fans and sometimes he thinks he is a top line LW. He isn't, he is the perfect 3rd line LW. Does everything well, but he isn't a finisher. There are some UFA that are interesting as many posters suggested. Only Hossa should be considered for longer then a year contract. I've said it before DO NOT sign any current habs UFA's, no reason to, Smoke was the only one who showed up in the playoffs. Chipchura can do the same job next year. Streit was invisible in the playoffs, people wonder what he was made of, well the playoffs let you know. Sundin: No brainer, big, tough, wins faceoffs, scores big goals. Would look nice with Lats on his wing. Problem is he not much of a leader, similar to Koivu, never made a difference for his team in the playoffs. Rolston: Can play any position, great speed, kills penalties, has a rocket from the point on the PP. Would look good with Higgins Lapierre. Shannahan: A couple years too late for me but he is gritty, a RW to play with Koivu and SK. Plays physical and goes to the net. Could teach Lats a thing or 2. I think he's done but what do i know. It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer.

Who exactly has taken a home town discount in the past? Like Souray, Kovalev will take the highest offer if he wants to play. Koivu may take one since he has been on the team his entire career. Players don't take home town discounts, it's nice for fans to think that but i can't even think one player who has done that. Lemieux maybe but he was a co-owner and wanted the Pens to stay.

I'm not sure what some of you think is his dilemma? I think some fans get a little paranoid about things. BG does exactly what he should for the good of the team. He won't pick anyone's RFA's. He will Lock up the Habs RFA's who he considers valuable to the team. AK is one of those players. He will give him a fair offer and for 2-4 years. He will do this with everyone. After next year this team will go over the next hump in getting rid of the old guard. I doubt any of Kovalev, Koivu, Bouillon, Dandy, Begin will be back after next year. It's then up to Markov, Komi, Higgins, Pleks, Lapierre and the other youth to take the next step.

I think Stewart has proven he can play in the NHl, he has good size and speed, seems pretty smart, willing to fight. The key for him can he bring it every night instead of a 2 game trial. Plus GC likes him. I read somewhere that White may not have enough speed for the NHl. Can anyone confirm or deny that. I know nothing about him.

The entire team folds like a tent when something bad happens. That has been happening for years. It was much better during the regular season this year but in the playoffs they did it again numerous times. The questions for this team remain the same for me. 1. Leadership / Character 2. Physical play (playoffs now) they proved they can be a playoff team, take the next step) 3. D zone: Thye are too soft and small to play with the big boys

The entire team folds like a tent when something bad happens. That has been happening for years. It was much better during the regular season this year but in the playoffs they did it again numerous times. The questions for this team remain the same for me. 1. Leadership / Character 2. Physical play (playoffs now) they proved they can be a playoff team, take the next step) 3. D zone: Thye are too soft and small to play with the big boys

Yea, there is about zero chance he signs. The Penguins need to resign many RFA's plus Malone. Who is probably more valuable to the Pens then Hossa. There will be plenty of teams lining up for his services. One advantage the habs may have is they are on there way up while other teams are not.

According to "the fourth period" the habs are intersted in bringing Yashin in. Yes, that's what the habs need, another soft player who disappears in the playoffs. Let the rumor season officially begin. I say they go after Hossa very hard, if they don't land him they may not do much. Draft day i hope they move Grabs and a first to move up a few spots.

My point was not to blame 1 player. I wasn't blaming Koivu.

Funny how know one blames anyone but Price. The defensive zone was pathetic in the playoffs. The PP vanished. If it wasn't for Price they wouldn't have got out of the first round. How about this, without koivu 3-2. With Koivu 2-5. Kind of dumb to blame one guy for losses when knowone stepped up.

Jagr complains too much, he tells the coaches who to play him with, no thanks. BG has finally cleared the locker room of most of the distractions, i doubt after 1 good year he will mess that up. He will offer a good contract to a top UFA but he'll be a late 20's player. The habs aren't 1 player away from the cup. Kovalev, Koivu, Bouilon, Dandy all have contracts coming up. I would guess it's there last contract as habs players. Signing a Hossa type player to 4-6 wouldn't be a bad idea.

Why does everyone want to get rid of Halak? Having 2 good young goalies is a good idea. Competition is what everyone needs, it's also a cheap. Price can play 55-60 games and Halak can play 25-30 games.

BG won't be signing RFA's. He won't give up the picks. I don't think he should sign any UFA's off the current roster. Streit had a good regular season but when things got tougher he vanished. I would think he'll go after Hossa or Malone The other top priority is Emelin, as fans found out in the playoffs you need size and toughness on the back end, the habs still have too many smurfs. Higgins Koivu Sk (Hossa) AK Pleks AK Lats lapierre Malone Begin (50) Chipchura Kosto Stewart (32) Markov Komi Hamrlik O'Byrne Emelin Gorges Boiullon Price Halak That team will be good enough to make the playoffs, generally it's bigger and tougher. As i keep saying, they need aleader, don't know where they can get one or who can step up but as everyone saw as soon as something bad happened they folded. 2 and 5 with Koivu, 3 and 2 without him.

Yea, that wasn't the response i was expecting from the team. Don't let the score fool you, they finally scored a couple after the flyers were shorhanded like 10 minutes. They had a chance early to make a difference and they didn't. They are having good stretches and bad against the flyers. Is it just me or do they seem to just skate around and wait for something good or bad to happen. If it's good they wake up and play well, if it's bad they don't ever have a response. Game 4 is do or die, all year they had a good response when they needed it, well they need it Wed. Someone needs to step up and make a difference.

Well said Wamsley, how quickly people forget.

Streit hasd been awfull in the playoffs, yes he had a great goal but when playing D he takes dumb penalties and turns the puck over. He isn't the solution. The habs D zone has been a big concern, they have been very soft, out of position and turning the puck over. The offensive zone was fine, they just couldn't score. It happens. The habs simply need to pick up the intensity and work harder, especially defensively. Young teams especially in the playoffs look great one night, the next night a bust. They'll be fine if they keep working hard. The difference is the Flyers forwards can score and have a good forecheck, they Bruins were offensively challenged.

Well i think people should remember that all the goals may have looked weak or soft however there were a series of Gaffs by the D that caused Price problems. Hamrlik tipped the puck over his shoulder so it looked bad. Markov simply had to hit Briere to prevent him from going to the front of the net. Markov again turning the puck over to let the 4th goal in. I'm certainly not defending Price because he did look weak on some goals but if the D played better maybe a different result. This is all god learning experince for him. People forget the Habs were outplayed in game 1 and Price got them a win. The habs outplayed the Flyers and Byron got them a win.

I think Byron is pretty solid overall. He is a little streaky like Huet. I agree with you about the Philly D. The Habs should have a good match up there. The habs D was poor at best overall in the last series, so they'll have something to prove as well.

As much as it people said it was coaching, i'll disagree a bit. Markov playing hurt isn't helping the PP. Not having Koivu wasn't helping the PP, people playing out of position didn't help either. The Bruins have played that way all year, they stepped up and the habs didn't skate and play there game. Numerous interviews from players said the same thing. Philly is a similar style to the habs, the difference will be who plays their game, who doesn't take bad penalties and simply who wants it more. Price will be solid so will Byron. The big guns need to show up for this series. Kovalev, Koivu and Markov

They are 1 and 1 with him this year. The Impact was Higgins playing out of position. If Grabovski had shown anything he may have teken the spot keeping hiigins and SK on the wings. This year they did much better without him in the lineup then in the past. The team is no question better when he plays, but they can still win without him.

Well i didn't see that effort coming. Just when i count them out they play a pretty good game. SO i'll have to wait to doubt them again until they need it most. They showed alot of character last night, which i for one thought was lacking. Price kept them in it in the first, then the team played a very solid 2 periods. The switching of lines paid off well. The top 2 lines were pretty effective last night. Defense was shakey in the first better as the game went on. When will they learn about those dumb penalties, they tried to put Boston back in it but the Pk shut the door. I would much rather have the habs paly the flyers, the Rags played them tough all year. Price and the Smoke line MVP's of that series for sure.