Seb

Gotta love that beergut. I do remember seeing a few pictures where I could not believe the size of Carey's legs. They were enormous. And leg muscle goes a long way. Also, let us not discard the fact that muscle weighs more than fat, and could add up quite easily on a guy his size. I'm not worried. (Apply for HWL.)

2 vacant positions. Apply at: http://hwl.habsworld.net

[tetes-a-claques voice]UN-BELIEVABLE!![\tetes]

Where is Janne Niniimaa nowadays?

Apparently Andrew Brunette left Colorado because the team is going nowhere this year, citing the goalies as one major concern. Sakic likely feels the same way. He's going to retire.

When Detroit went 1-8-2 last season, they were without Lidstrom during the entire stretch and without 3 or 4 regular defensemen at a time. Any team would be hard-pressed to win without 3 to 4 dmen. Especially without Lidstrom.

big luvable dumb swede (don't ask)

Boy-o-boy did we fleece San Hoser.

http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/255777.html Only (ahem) 1 left.

Indeed, he could very well become very comparable to Hossa.

I've got this feeling that Andrei Kostitsyn will emerge as a hell of a player this season. Obviously we've only seen the tip of the iceberg with this player, considering he was a 10th overall pick after his stock dropped due to him having a form of epilepsy (Or something along those lines?) AND being a Trevor Timmins selection. Kostitsyn will be a household name in the NHL following this season. That's my feeling.

God I love how we got Gorges and Max for Rivet, and the Sharks got two 2nds only a year and a half later. Makes me smile inside.

Well hopefully our Mr. Kovalev will enjoy starting with two linemates with which he is farmiliar. We know that last season he started with Plex, but Andrei was only muted with them a month in (or so). And the season before he had Sammy. And the season before he had Ribs. So therefore, my 1st grader analysis tells me Kovy should be rockin from start to finish this year. And Andrei will outplay the value of the contract he just signed, starting this season. Look for at least 30 goals, and if he (and by he, I mean him and Kovalev) has a fantastic season, we could see 40!

By long term, I meant 4 years (Gainey's idea of long term). And after 2 or 3 of these seasons, 5.5 to 6 mil is reasonable if he doesn't hit the open market. Hossa's been doing it for years, and has reached higher point totals a few times. For Pleks, we're talking a few 70-80 point seasons. Not 5 consecutive 50 goal campaigns. Let's see how Pleks does when Kovy's gone.

Amen. That'd be a great year for Pleks. And if he can string a few of these seasons together, his contract would eventually be a long term one at or around 5.5 mil, as long as he doesn't hit the open market. Which is reasonably manageable for a player with that production.

Front end loading a contract allows the player to cash in sooner, and allows the team the flexibility to buy the player out cheaper (should they need to) after a few seasons.

The best defence is a good offence. Carbo matches top lines when he can: the other team's best players can't score if they don't have the puck. We don't need a 1 dimensional line like that.

A. Kost - Plex - Kovy Higgins - Koivu - Tanguay Lats - Laps - S. Kost Are the top 3 lines, that leaves Chips, Begin, Kostopoulous, Laraque and Dandenault for a 4th line. That means there's a bit of a situation there that doesn't necessarily NEED to be addressed, but SHOULD to avoid having a whiner Dandy. Unless BG is happy with Dandenault being the 7th dman, then we're not so bad, but that means less of a chance for Valentenko or whichever young dman prospect to get a dozen games in this season. I think Laraque won't be sitting any games unless he has an attitude problem, so it looks to me like Chips, Begin and Kosto will rotate for the other two spots, and Dandy is 7th dman/ 14th forward. And if we sign Sundin, then someone's going to be moving, for sure. But if we don't get the DIN, we could conceivably start the season with this exact current roster. (why not): Komi - Markov Hamrlik - O'Byrne Cube - Gorges Dandy If Breezer's back, I'd be surprised. But if he is, well... Bye Dandenault.

I think Gainey really has no issue with waiting around with the available cap space. I think Sundin announcing his return to the NHL is imminent (probably in a month or so), and the Habs will be there with open arms. Will Sundin sign with us? Who knows, but we'll be able to afford him. If he doesn't, then we're no worse then than we are right now; which is no worse than we were the day we got eliminated from the playoffs (when we shouldn't have.) So we're in a good situation. Should Sundin decide in the a month he wants to return, the only teams (who Sundin would consider) who will be able to afford him are the Leafs and the Habs. The only other one I could see is Vancouver, but only if they strike out big time on all the other UFA forwards. But I think if Sundin opens his big swedish eyes, he'll see that he will have to carry the load there just as much as he did in TO, and that a cup there is a longshot, at best.

Bob was asked if Grabs was a part of the Sundin rights deal, and he said no, that there was really no room for Grabovsky at centre on our team, that the Leafs needed a young offensive centerman, and that Grabs had asked Gainey to find him a place to play. Leafs need a (young) offensive centerman - Yes they do, Wellwood would be their top guy now, I think? (assuming Sundin is gone.) Habs had no space - True, a team can really only get away with having two offensive centermen.. let alone 2 small offensive centermen. We weren't going to bump Plex or Koivu down to the 3rd line so Grabs could play his role. Grabs wants to play, and doesn't care where - Fact (Gainey said it was), he's Belarussian, he could care less about Montreal's history.. only the bottom line on his BMO account.

So 47.319 mil with Gorges, O'Byrne and Halak (and Sundin ) to be signed.

Decent fight, but Laraque is mic'ed up, so they show what he says to Ivanans. I had a good laugh. "Hey, wanna do it? K. Good luck."

Call him an offensive defensemen, but last season he was a 4th line PP specialist. And by specialist, I mean a guy who could handle the puck at the point and do what Jarvis told him to do. Let him walk, Sergei can do it too.

Picking him up for free is tempting, but I think Bob would hold back. When Bert is bought out, we could sign him in the 2-3 mil range. But I have a feeling someone will pick him up. 1 more year at 4 mil after the cap has just gone up. But he'd be a great big body presence for us.

Yes... Yes they did.