tokyohabs

And it looks like the only way we can get anyone to consider playing here is through a trade. For whatever reasons, we can clearly forget UFA's and most likely RFA's. If Bob can make us a winner again, with both hands tied behind his back like this, it will be very impressive. PK Subban is the MAN!

Oh, I'm sure Brendan will back out at the last minute, because Jamba Juice is having a two-for-one in LA next December. After all, who in their right - or wrong - mind would want to play for the Montreal Canadiens????? Preissing Nylander Souray, could we afford all of them? Would any of them actually consider playing here? (Mtl, not Tokyo - though at this point...)

Would Nylander actually want to come here? Or would the sight of snow and media criticism make him moan and run for Florida or California or some other wonderful place? Hockey players are making me sick today. Smyth and Pronger's wife friends? Whipped much, lads?

Smyth, Shanahan and Ryder to form the Molasses line.

But 8 years with the no movement clause is insane - unless they know the cap will hit 80 mil in the next few years.

How the hell do they afford Drury, Gomez and Jagr? not to mention Lundqvist, Nylander and Shanahan. I hate that team...let's lower the cap to 1 mil.

Laffs just signed Blake. If I'm Bob, Preissing and Nylander are looking pretty nice right now. Btw, didn't Drury say somewhere he'd only play in Cali?

Hmm... Hannan, Rafalski, Schneider, all gone. Leafs get Blake, Rags get both Drury and Gomez, Bruins get Fernandez. Looks like some upgrades going on around us. Preissing? Him and Souray?

"P.K. Subban, calling Mr. P.K. Subban to the power-play point, please!" Seriously, how great would it be to see him make the team?

'Had' being the operative word. I think the deal would have been done by now if the intent had been forged in steel. I just think it is Cubs-fan delusional to think he will resign here out of...er...nostalgia??? Loyalty??????? I am not commenting at all on Souray's abilities or deficiencies, just that I think there is a less-than-zero % chance we resign him. I agree, things will be tricky for BG. Somehow I think he has lower-profile targets he will very aggressively pursue. I'd be surprised if every team with more cap room is lying in wait to see who BG is after, only to dash his plans with higher bids. Should have said 'trade for one of the C/D', as I agree with you, a trade to fill one of those positions is imminent

D first, one of Rafalski, Hannan, Preissing. I'd say we might get Hannan. Rafalski seems to be 'svengali-ed' by lou lamiorello. Has something changed in Zubrus' demeanor? If so, might be worth it. I have the feeling Kariya would suck with us.

Wow, the screaming naiveté... Souray is gone, strictly business, at least done cordially. Thanks for the memories, Sheldon. Please, everyone, a team looks after their players when injured pretty much regardless. The offer by BG is a token one. We have a bit of room under the new cap, so we will be able to: 1) fill our holes at big C (probably more a 3rd line, unassuming, low-risk, mistake free guy) and puck moving D 2) make the playoffs, who knows, a first round win as underdog? 3) let the kids grow into their roles, further pare the roster next year of more underperformers/over-the-hill players, or lesser players

I honestly don't think we'll land a big catch. The team is being built in another direction, not the UFA way. We'll probably land a character guy who is solid, responsible, hard-working and willing to buy into Carbo's alleged 'system' (whatever it is this week). Remember, the Habs do not need to 'rent' a big name player, we have no probs with attendance, fan interest, etc. Leave that to losers like Atlanta, Nashville, etc. All hail Carey Price.

No deals with the Scum. F'n blueshirts, go to hell. They can keep Kubina. somehow i have a feeling Bob is going to make a huge pitch for Briere. Personally I'd go hell-for-leather for Gomez, even though it would be way tougher to convince him to come. This lad is the real deal and fits with guys like Higgins (not just the yank thing). Briere is a great player who doesn't put up in the playoffs.

We should make a big offer to the Blunts for Vanek and screw them up totally. Imagine how great it would be if they lost Vanek, Briere and Drury in a week. The rats would start jumping off the ship, I bet. If a team has a low ceiling, go after it. It is not 'dirty pool', it is business and well within the rules. Agree with Ryder, if a big offer comes in, let him walk and take the picks. This team could be a giant in about three years, with all that talent maturing, plus gets rid of a very fundamentally-challenged player. 30 goals can be replaced, stats can always be replaced.

There is another problem playing Kovalev with Ryder. Kovalev has probably the best 'pure' hockey sense on the team, while Ryder has almost none. I really don't think they would work together. Playing with Kovalev, Ryder can't simply 'keep stick on ice-go front of net'. work ethic works conversely, as mentioned above: Ryder's is very high, Kovalev has some kind of negative rating. But please, let's not have the juggling. Set the lines, make adjustments after 20 - 25 games, roll with it. Of course, Tanguay could probably play with Kovalev and Koivu...

Fantastic projection. Koivu, Briere and Marleau down the middle. Maybe Plecks too. If we go to a European-sized rink, no problem.

I think whatever Espo's potential character issues are, they will be ruthlessly hammered out by Bob, Carbo, Kirk. They will not let him go to seed like Ribs. Anyway, I think he'll be gone by our pick, unless we are trading up with Washington's pick (do they have a pick higher than us or did they trade it away?) Go Habs!

Please not for Higgins. This is our future captain and probably going to be the leader of the team for a long time. I think whatever Marleau has over Higgins in terms of raw talent, Higgins has vastly superior intangiables. Look at how many years the Rgs spent loading up on the most stats-worthy players, with no playoffs - let alone cups - to show for it. No f'n way I do any deal with Higgins involved and the Sharks. Stats you can replace. Intangiables you can't. Higgins has the will to win and lead in every fibre of his body. A better offense Carbo, a lesser offense Yzerman, whatever. He is the future.

Who would be stunned to see Sheldon get a 7-m offer sheet? 6 now seems like a starting point. Let's go the modest overpayment way to see someone play two ways. We have too many younger players that need to be bled and playing now. Yes, obviously, we'll miss the goals. The pp was great, would you sacrifice some % pts off the pp for a better overall team and the playoffs? No guarantee, but sould take a step closer to that with a different defenseman. I won't throw more names into the hat, that is Bob's job. Preissing looks good, though.

Well, Celtic have the advantage of being in a two-team league, whereas you have three (and occasionally Boavista). I'd say we have a shade less pedigree than you, but two great old clubs. Much respect to Liverpool as well, the most Irish team in the world after us. Online voting poll, like the All-Star-Fitzpatrick-Game? Great idea. Gentlemen, start your mouses...mices...

Good, let someone else absurdly overpay Souray. Use the $$$ to sign a UFA D, not for some astronomical fee, enough to lock up someone a bit better in his own end and who can make consistent outlet passes. We'll end up 'overpaying', of course, but it will all be relative. Have a feeling Emelin will never be with us.

I meant Pleks in a package, of course. I think the Sharks will be more patient and keep more or less the same team, certainly won't move their big guns yet. No Marleau for us, I bet. e4 - wasn't that ek's linescore when he played 2nd base in little league? Grade-A w**ker.

5 million inside Quebec. 18 million inside rest of Canada. 2 million in the States. The entire remainder of the Russian Communist Party (7 more right there). Two dozen internationally, but don't worry - we're holding the fort. Anyway, Benfica, Liverpool, there is only one true Faith. Celtic, you know it.

I liked Hartnell, but not at that price. More power to him, I guess. Marleau would easily be worth Plecks, I think. Hope there is truth to this.