cfposi

Ya, Grabs will likely play wing. Seems like Carbo like having 2 centers on each line for face-off prowess. Grabs is an exciting player to watch and makes things happen with his speed and creativity. I see Kovalev hands on this kid...but much much faster. The only downside is his size. He has been injured several times, but if he continues to mature and buid strength, he can be a VERY valuable player. I truly hope we see a Lil'#### - Grabs - Big'#### line one day soon!

Ya, those are the two most likely options for him. I see Lats starting with SMokes and moving to the top line like last year if they need him. I just hope the keep Higgs-pleks-kost together!

Ya...cuz your not partial eh, Spider-Man NL?

The offensive comparison is fair to Hamrlik. Once Phaneuf made the Flames Hamrlik was no longer the guy to take the shot from the point or set up plays as much on the PP. In Montreal, Souray had to be injured to not play at least a minute and a half per PP opportunity. I don't think Hammy was brought in to replace Souray's shot, rather he will be a responsible D who can help teach the young kids. I think O'Byrne/Streit will replace the point shot. They both have great shots. The blue line could look like: 1st PP shift: Markov setting up Steit 2nd PP shift: Hammy setting up O'Byrne

I can GUARANTEE the passport issue will be cleared shortly. He (or his agent) waited too long before applying for his visa. This is the delay...Passport Canada is severely backed up right now. So what normally would have taken a week, is now taking 8 weeks to sort out because of backlogs in the office. Most people at PC have been reassigned to help deal with the overwhelming number of Canadian applying for passports. Combine this with the manpower shortage at missions abroad and you have one very delayed and very dissapointed Lil'####.

Whats the dilly? What did he do this time?

Grabs has seniority on Chipper...so I see him getting a shot, but maybe on the 4th line. People seem to forget that Chips was an AHL rookie last season, he can do with another year there (I think thats why they brought in smoky for a yr). Here is what I hope for: Grabs - Koivu - Kovy/Ryder (Grabs is a hard worker who will do well with Koivu as an attempt. one of Kovy/Ryder need to be let go) Higgs - Pleks - Kosty (This line deserves a chance to thrive) Lats - Smoky - Lapierre (Shut down/irritant line with 2 centers for face-offs) The Greek - Chipper - Lahti Extra: Streit, Begin on D now... Marky - Komi (Why mess with success) Hammy - O'B (Hopefully he can teach O'Byrne how to play like Phaneuf) Gorges - Dandy (Give Gorges a chance...he has potential dammit! If that fails, put Streit on full time) Extra: Streit, Bouillon Goners: Murray, Kovy/Ryder (no matter what the permutations...either one of Kovy or Ryder need to go to make room for youth.) Hope I didn't miss anything. Won't comment on goaltending...that is another can of worms. By the way...this is simply what I would LIKE to see, not a prediction.

No way TB is going to do a straight up trade like that for Richards...and I dont want his salary. As for AK, noone will want him until they see him play a few games this coming season. Perhaps good deadline bait with Ryder.

The thing is...I really don't think we did that badly. I say this with the DEEPEST respect for Red, he is a hockey LEGEND and deserves that respect. But here is the thing... Blame it on the flu, or whatever, but this team was seriously chugging along in the first half of last season. They were comfortably in 4th spot with Higgins injured to-boot! I think what made this team collapse was a lack of experience and leadership (from the GM all the way down). The fact is, this franchise dealt with alot last season...BG was not at his best (and he can't be faulted for that), Guy C was inexperieced as a coach, The second line did not even come close to clicking, and 90% of the team almost went tot eh hospital with the West-figgin-Nile virus. I am not saying that we will not hit roadblocks next season, but we will be better prepared to deal with them. Adding two veteran guys like Smoky and Hammy will help. Smoky is Bonk, but younger and more upside. Hammy, speaking to my good friend from Cgy, is similar to Markov (flies under the radar but plays a very important role on the team). I won't call this UFA period a success, but I won't call it a failure either. I am glad we didn't lock up guys like Smyth and Briere to long-term cash-cow deals. This is NOT the best UFA crop the NHL has seen...trust me...we can do better through trades or patience. Look out next summer when we no longer are paying for buy-outs and Kovalev's salary.

See you in September...nothing further needs to be discussed here apparently!

Could he be our Sean Avery?

Lol...I agree, lets notarize and move on to the next topic. well-put

we didnt draft beauregard, cote, or danis. Ok...let me clarify...Aside from the point that we didn't draft him, it was always my impression that he was picked up mainly to help develop the younger guys in Hamilton. I don't think anyone expected him to crack the lineup (with the exception of injury call-ups).

I don't know if he can be considered a prospect...we didn't draft him.

Pleks just signed a 2 year deal! http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212843&hubname= Whew...finally...was hoping we wouldn't go to arbitration with him!

Exactly...why do you think Ryder's efforts has been decreasing with time. I wouldnt want to put in 110% effort if my team kept giving me minimum raises for leading the team in goals!

Maybe he doesn't show up for a team that takes him to arbitration every season. I mean, C'Mon! I wouldn't want to put out effort everynight for a team that insisits on giving me the bare minimum every season...while overpaying guys like Kovalev! The habs should do the right thing here, pay him what he deserves or send him somewhere where they will.

So, based on what we have today, I came up with these lines as the most likely (by my estimation). I have also included as extras, those who are left out, or those who deserve to be ont he team this year (in the very least): O-Corps: Kovy - Koivu - Ryder Higgs - Pleks - Kost Lats - Smoky - Lapps Begin - Chips - Lathi/Kosto Extras: Murray Locke Grabs Milroy Ferland D-Corps: Marky - Komi Hammy - Streit Dandy - Bouillon Extras: Gorges O'Byrne Janny Cote There just seems to be too much in our laps right now. Although I understand the benefits of depth, it seems to me that by signing Kosto and keeping either Kovalev or Ryder, we have (yet again) taken chances away from well deserving young guys. We seem to be ok on D, but our lines SHOULD look more like this next year. Lats - Koivu - Ryder/Kovy Higgs - Pleks - Kost Lathi - Smoky - Lapps Begin - Chips - Milroy Extras: Kosto Grabs Locke I base this on 3 things: 1) Either Ryder of Kovalev are gone for prospects/picks (Ryder more likely) 2) Kosto is kept as depth/grinder and we let murray go (finally) 3) Grabs and Locke get priority call-up for injuries next year. Just my thoughts....but I just can't imagine how we will use all of these players next year. Eventually Hamilton will become a hindrance to the development of our young talent. I understand this organization's belief in being patient with the youth, but we already have guys in hamilton losing jobs because of a lack of space. I dunno...just a thought.

oops...my bad...mods please delete my topic...didnt' realize we were discussing all signings in this thread...

Habs just signed Tom Kostopoulos (LA Kings) to a 2 yr, 1.8M contract. Aaron Downey with a few more goals?? anyone heard of this guy?

See http://forums.habsworld.net/index.php?show...mp;#entry227534 I think we are over-committed in terms of players....I think a trade has to be coming up!

Why do I get the feeling we are a little over committed on players? Maybe Bob IS trying set up a trade cuz this is our breakdown by position (List includes all current players signed as well as those most senior prospects): At C: 1) Koivu 2) Pleks 3) Smoky 4) Begin 5) Chips At LW: 1) Higgs 2) Lats 3) Lahti 4) Murray 5) Grabs (Also C) 6) Locke At RW: 1) Kovy 2) Kosty 3) Ryder 4) Lapierre (Also C) 5) Milroy 6) Ferland 7) D'Agostini At D: 1) Marky 2) Komi 3) Hammy 4) Dandy 5) Bouillon 6) Georges 7) Streit (Also W) 8) O'Byrne 9) Cote 10) Valentenko Seems to me that we have a surplus of NHL ready and close to ready players. I would we are done shopping in the UFA market...but we may have a big trade looming.

Good points....really, I don't care about the lines next year...as long as we let them develop and resist from rotating lines every period!

Smoke is a little expensive for a 4th line center...I Hope our O-lines will look like: Grabs/Lats - Koivu - Ryder Higgs - Pleks - Kost/Kovy Lats/Grabs - Smoke - Kovy/Kost Begin - Chips - Lapierre

Agreed...although Hamrlik is a downgrade offensively...that responsibility should be taken by the offence. The fact that a defenceman was one of our top scorers last season is actually a symptom of a horrible offence. I am much happier having 2 experienced top-4 D on the team who can get the rush moving with outlet passes and who can help develop our yound D-corps. As long as our offence finds some rythm next season, the signing of Hammy over Shelly is a significant upgrade.