hab29RETIRED
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Posts posted by hab29RETIRED
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The Brisebois signing has me wondering if BOb is going to trade. If this particular rumour is true and we get Linden then I'll be that much more suspicious.
Thank god Linden signed with Vancouver. I definitely did not want him back!!!
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anyone know when habs individual game tickets are going to be available. I'm hoping to try and make a trip to Montreal in October or February to catch some games.
btw,
you can see some of the photos i've taken at habs games at my new site:
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You can bet that if Breezy signs here that it is a set up for a deal involving Dandy and Boullion.
Patrice would be a depth move to cover the losses in a trade and at $700K he is a great bargain that can chip in more points then Boullion or dandy (combined maybe)
I thought Dandy got a NTC when he signed as a UFA. Although i hope that gainey is able to dump both Dandenault and Bouillon, i don't see it happening.
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Whats the dilly? What did he do this time?
major trade between Vancouver and Habs (possibly a three way with Toronto), also an as yet undetermined deal between Islanders and Habs, and the Habs pick up either a D (not Boucher) or Lehtinen from Dallas.
The Canucks have been rumoured to making a big deal for a while now. I guess we'll wait and see if anything happens this time....... I'll trust Eklund for now.
Quite frankly, there really isn't anyone on the Canucks that i would want (other then Luongo, if Price and Halak didn't look so good).
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Whats the dilly? What did he do this time?
major trade between Vancouver and Habs (possibly a three way with Toronto), also an as yet undetermined deal between Islanders and Habs, and the Habs pick up either a D (not Boucher) or Lehtinen from Dallas.
I hope this doesn't happen. I would h ave loved Lehtinen 3-4 years ago. He is not what the habs currently need.
I want bourdon! (dreaming is free
)Does anyone on this site ever dream about non-french players.
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With a few spots open on the roster, but a whopping load of prospects waiting, who will crack the line up next season. (someone who knows how should make a voting pole)
I would try something like this
HigginsLahti Koivu RyderKostitsyn Plekanec
GrabovskyHigginsKovalev Smolinski Latendresse
BeginGrabovsky Chipchura LapierreFirst three lines should all be able to score
I still can't see a spot for Begin when Grabs has so much potential, and I still don't like that he is on the fourth line. The fourth line has 3 centres...a trade MUST be made here, even if it is just to move a body with a pick in return.
I see your point, but Begin won't be off the team next year. 1) he costs too much for us to move him, 2) his work ethic is too strong, so he's BG and Carbo's kind of guy...
I think it's more likely that Chipper will get injury call ups and won't make the team out of camp, while maybe Lahti will actually play on the third or fourth, while Grabs will get a chance on the first... I've never seen Lahti, so it's hard to say if he'd fit well on a grinding/banging line, but I'd imagine it would make more sense to give Grabs minutes on an offensive line and Lahti minutes on the crash and bang line...
Is Lahti a first line type player??? He stats and brief bio make him out to be more of a third liner/depth player. I'd rather see the habs give a chance to Grabovsky or Kostitsyn on the first line with Koivu.
I also think Gainey brought in Smolinski as a 2nd liner - which i think is a BIG mistake.
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I would like to put my 2 cents in about the signings. Definitely need help on D, especially in the top 4. Hamrlik should be a solid contributor and is being paid about market price. I would say not overpaid for a top 4, maybe a 2 or 3 d-man who should produce about 40 points. Souray woulda been nice but Hammy should fit in fine. Smolinski for 2 million over one year is great. Solid producer for about 40- 50 points, and very versatile. Depth guy will definitely help and only signed for a year, giving a little flexibility at that point. Addin Souray would still be great, but the chances don't look good. Maybe one more forward, but hard to say.
The flames - who he played for the last two years were only willing to offer him 2 years and only $4m. They even decided to go with an injury prone Aucion then bringing hamrlik back. The habs not only were willing to pay a lot more then the flames, but also doubled calgary's contract term.
And 4000 Park-Ex residents buy season's tickets...Another BS signing. After the habs did a pretty decent job at the draft they have gone to their usual practice of signing castoffs that no one else really wants to play depth roles.
We need to add to the meat of the lineup - we have enough turnips on this team!!!!
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I understand that statisitcs don't mean everything when it comes to judging talent but let's put it this way...
On the defensive side one looks at +/-
(Last season)
Stuart: -10
Hamrlik: +22
On the offensive side for a defenseman one looks at points
(Last season)
Stuart: 22
Hamrlik: 38
Now the fact that he got first line PP minutes probably helped him as far as points go but like Tony said, there's a reason he was a top 2 defenseman on the flames.
Both Stuart and Hamrlik played on the same team last season, so I hardly see the comparison. Just because you like the way someone looks on the ice, does not necessarily mean he'd be a better pickup.
No, Staurt was a late season pickup for Calgary. he spent most of the year on a real lousy Bruins team
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Staurt - who IMO is a much better defencemen then Hamrlik just signed for $3.5M.
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Yes, enough about RFAs... how many offer sheets have been offered in the past 5 years... GMs have an unspoken rule, it's rare that it's broken.
I wouldn't call it an unspoken rule - the better word is COLLUSION.
Last year philly did make an offer to a RFA.
St Louis also offered contracts to Stevens and Shanny - albiet that was over 10 or 15 years ago.
The bottom line is that you have to do what you can within the rules. If the habs are having issues attracting UFA's, why not go after the RFA's. The habs obviously have an issue convincing UFA's to play in montreal - even when they are offering more money. They need to do something to get top players to want to come to montreal, so they have to think out of the box and conventional practices to improve their team. There is less competition for RFA's, so why not go after them. I would much rather make a huge long-term offer to a young Vanek or Martin who have their best years ahead of them, rather a guy who had a career year just before he became a UFA, but maybe getting close to being over the hill.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense giving a 23, 24 or 25 year old a 6 or 7 year deal then someone who is 29 or in his 30's.
What do you have to lose in making an offer to an RFA. IF it is a team you are chasing in the standings, and they match, you have just reduced their available cap space. The GM's have to start using the Cap to their advantage instead of being dinasours and not being willing to change with the times and system.
So far the habs are first shooting themselves (by not trying to lockup their impending free agents before they can become free agents (the way Calgary and SJ have done), and then limiting themselves to going after UFA's when it has become obvious during the last three or four years that players would rather play someone other then montreal if they are getting similar contracts from other teams. Going after RFA's would allow montreal to chase players that there isn't as much competition for.
If you sit down and ponder this, it stands to reason that the Smolinski acquisition signals a trade. Don't be surprised if it's Pleks and/or Ryder.I think trading Pleks is a BIG MISTAKE. If you ask me he is much more complete player (is faster, looks like he has much more hockey sense) and given his age, has potentially a much bigger upside.
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I wasn't comparing the business in terms of revenues vs expenditures, from all angles that apparently is doing well since we're keeping pace in terms of payroll with the high end of the cap and still making money. I was going in terms of productivity (i.e. results) vs payroll. We're spending more but getting the same results.
I don't see us getting rid of one of Bouillon or Dandenault unless we acquire a new player via trade. At this point we might as well pony up for Ryder and try and get a 3 year deal done with him if that's possible, even if it's for $4m per.
We have three roster spots available for players that weren't on the NHL team at the end of the year... They could go to any combination of Lahti, O'Byrne, Grabovski, Chipchura, Ferland, Milroy, or Cote. Murray is the only guy who was on the team last year that is in jeopardy, as well as Halak with Price coming up.
I agree, with signing Ryder to a longer term deal. Personally, i'd like to see him traded for a top two centre, which would probably be easier if he was signed to a longer term deal.
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one more point i want to add is that if the habs were going to over-pay, i would much preferred them tendering an offer sheet to an RFA rather then the UFA's they signed. Preferably one in their own conferance, so that if the other team does end up matching they may get screwed by being up against the cap.
I would have preferred them offering the $7.5M they spent to someone like Vanek.
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For all those saying Hamrlik's play is inflated based on his play with Dion the last two years, here's Pat Hickey's take on this one:
"One radio commentator suggested Hamrlik might find things more difficult in Montreal because he won't have Dion Phaneuf as a partner nor will he have Miikka Kiprusoff in goal. The fact is a large part of Phaneuf's success was the result of playing with Hamrlik during the past two seasons and, whoever winds up playing in goal for Montreal, might have better numbers with Hamrlik on defence.
Hamrlik could play a key role in the development of another young defenceman, Ryan O'Byrne. There are some question marks about his readiness to play in the NHL, but a veteran like Hamrlik could cover up some of his deficiencies.
Hamrlik also gives the Canadiens more flexibility because, while he is a left-handed shot, he can play either side."
Hickey knows his hockey...
I live in Calgary. Why don't you read what some of the calgary writers have written about Hamrlik while he was here. Yes he was good for Dion, but the guy makes a lot of bonehead plays. He isn't going to be the human pylon that SOuray was, but he will make a lot of stupid passes and terrible turnovers.
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Indeed, we are in Plan F.
F as in Future.
Smolinski is an offensive upgrade on the guy he will replace (not in terms of skating, but point production). We have him for all of one year, so he doesn't hurt up-and-coming players' development. Plus I'm sure he can teach plenty of tricks to the young pups on the march up from Hamilton, or those already here (Lapierre). He is a hustler, a decent skater, a team player, seems to be a vocal vet. Smart move, we had the room and the roster spot. If Chips needs to work on his skating, as many who have seen him have said, better to do it in Hamilton than with us now.
Different kind of player than previous, maybe more the kind of player Bob wants (looking at the future, of course).
Hamrlik, looks decent. Souray was never going to re-sign here. We have a guy who is infinitely more balanced than Souray. What we lost in leadership can be replaced by Smolinski, the ever-burgeoning Higgins and maybe Hamrlik himself.
People complain that he coughs the puck up. And Souray didn't, apparently. Hamrlik is going to make mistakes, but he will be much more solid at the back. So his plus minus was inflated playing with Phaneuf? Then play him with Komi and let him skate. He will be a good influence on younger players as well, with his knowledge and responsibility.
Overpaid? Check the UFA market lately? MARKET VALUE - doesn't mean good or bad value, but what the market will bear. Or maybe we could let Souray walk and sign nobody?
Again, I feel Bob is changing the team here. He has to change the type of player we have first, and that is what he is doing. Plus, a D-man playing well until he is 37 is no rarity now.
These two moves are in no way 'panic' moves - that kind of comment is ludicrous. We are well under the cap still, enough for a trade or two (forget Marleau, I think), and we have gone a few steps to change the team's identity, in terms of younger players seeing what it takes to wear the shirt.
Yes this are panic moves. Panic moves brought on with a stupid policy of not being willing to negotiate during the year so they couldn;t sign Souray and the fact that no QUALITY UFA's wanted to sign with the habs. The habs could have signed both Souray and Markov during the year and saved considerably, before the MARKET VALUE INCREASED. The flames just signed Reghyr for less money then Markov, hamrlik and whatever it will cost to sign souray now, even though he is definitely a better dman then Souray and Hamrlik.
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I'll ignorthe second part of yuor post because it's just a bad argument, but as to the first part, it's called comitting to your players. Why would we trade Smolinski if he's on a one-year deal? He's a solid no-risk kind of guy for the third line. We're not taking muc hof a risk at all wit hthat NTC.
We have Pleks, Lapierre and possibly Chips and Gaby coming up. If all four of them are looking better then Smolinski in camp, we are going to be forced to send one or two of them back to the minors (most likely Chips). If Smolinki gets out played by the kids - which i think he most likely will (there is a reason this guy has been bounced around for the last few years), without a NTC we could have still moved him.
It is a terrible signing, coz at centre, the habs don't need another checking type 3rd liner. They needed a top six player and a top three D-man. In today's NHL, this signing is $2M wasted.
As far as the second part of my argument, if you are going to eat up $2m from cap space, you may as well do it for an impact player. Moreover, Smolinski signed for more then Bonk did. I would have rather offered Bonk a 2 year deal WITHOUT a NTC, for what he signed for, he still would have been a future asset, as his contract would still have made him movable if the kids show they belong.
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We got even softer on offense.
Common slow minsky is a floater, we need grit and size.
Exactly why i hate this signing. I think we already have better 3rd line centres then him - all he is going to do i impede on the progress of Lapierre/Pleks and possibly Chips.
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Great. Thanks!
So we have to keep $3.5M open for Price (in case he makes the team and reaches his bonuses) we have to give Ryder a raise (@#$%^ Ryder!!!) Plex will end up with the same deal as Higgins and Komi so
$1.7 plex
$3M for Ryder???
$3.5 for Price, unless they get a good deal (yeah that's you Marleau $4.5 M) in a trade and send Price to the dogs no matter what.
We have roughly $3M left.
Gainey is done signing players then.
They will be lucky to get Ryder for $3M, thanks to the Horton signing. I've been hoping gainey packages Ryder and either Dandy or Bouillon for a true top 3 d-man or toptwo centre (i.e Marleau). With the signing of Smolinski i doubt that will happen unless Pleks is moved and i'd rather have pleks over Smolinski any day.
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Um.. because otherwise he wouldn't sign here. Why do yuo think Briere was attracted by Philly's offer? The no-movement clause. These things are big deals to players. They don't want to have to move their families around every second year. Smoke's on a one-year contract anyway, so it's no tlike we're going to trade him.
ummmm, why would you want a third liner asking for a NTC. He's a 3rd liner - easily replaceable!!! If they were going to sign a smolinksi, they should have just upped their offer for Briere or Smyth.
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It's only a one year contract for 2 million!!!
He doesn't want to move at the deadline if he is bringing his family....why is this so hard to accept and why is it all anyone wants to focus on. Smokie is very versatile and can play anywhere we need him. Good PK guy and can play centre if Plex decides to hide again....great pickup for Gainey and cheaper then Bonk.
the habs have young guys who can probably be a # 3 centre. Hell they are loaded with #3 centres (Pleks, Chips, Lapierre, Begin). THere were two glaring holes Gainey needed to fill - Top 2 centre and top 3 D man. I don't think he did either.
Hell Robin Regyhr, who was MUCH more valuable for the flames signed for $4M (yes I know he is a RFA not a UFA).
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great i start reading this thread and start off being pissed at how much we signed Hamerlik for and then read that we signed smolinski. WHy the hell can we not get a top 6 guys. Every year it is the same BS. All of our UFA signings/trades seem to be for third and 4th liners (with the exception of Kovolev and Samsonov - which i guess somebody forgot to tell carbo, coz he seemed to think that Sammy was signed to sit in the press box.
I read here that Bonk was signed by Nashville. Was it less then what Smolinksi signed for??? if so, i would rather have brought Bonk back then Smolinksi. AND WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED TO GIVE A NTC TO 3RD LINE PLAYER??????????????????????????
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As if the Habs players we constantly followed around by hordes of papparazis... Come on!
no they just sneak into hotel rooms of guys who just had eye surgery so that they can flash them
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A few things
1. Is he better than Souray? He has a hard shot, has scored 15+ goals before. Won't be as good on the point as Shelly was, but few are.
2. Does his defense make up for that?
3. Maybe 5.5 million per season isnt as bad as it may seem? Right now its 1/10th of the cap, but lets say the cap is up to 55-60 million by year 3 of the contract, does that salary still seem like way too much?
As much as i still dont like the contract, this probably had to be done.
His defence is NOT much better then souray. He is apt to make the bonehead play. He won't be a human pylon highlight reel. but will turnover the puck faster then you can say brisbois.
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Are you crazy?
nothing that carboneau does will surprise me anymore.
btw, i think the philly signing of Briere is starting to look much better now.
Hamarlik's plus/minus is inflated considering the flames play a much more defensive style and the fact that he played with Phaneauf didn't hurt either.
TERRIBLE TERRIBLE contract!
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according to howard berger
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=8380
"As of 9:45 p.m. EDT tonight, a good source tells me Ryan Smyth has narrowed his list of teams to four -- Colorado, Calgary, Montreal and the Islanders. The Canadiens have the most tempting offer on the table at $39 million over six years, which means Smyth would be guaranteed to make $6.5 million in the final season of the contract at age 37. Not a bad number. But, neither Smyth nor his wife are said to be happy with playing in Montreal. Smyth reportedly told his agent, Don Meehan, that he didn't like the Maple Leafs' depth, and does not believe the Canadiens or the Islanders will be strong enough teams in the immediate future. The Islanders have a five-year, $32.5 million deal ($6.5 million/season) on the table."
oh welll surprise to surprise to hear a rumour about a player not enjoying the thought of playing in montreal hahaha... montreal needs to do some PR work... but even then the bad taste about playing in montreal may indeed linger for many more years to come.
There really isnt any PR the habs can do. There problem is the DAMN FRENCH media. they're on the right track with Gainey, but are in a no win situation with rags like Le Presse and the idiiot analysts on RDS who would rather lose with French Canadiens then win with no french canadiens.
Habs individual game tickets
in Habs & Hockey Talk
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For the 3 game packs, can you pick the games or are they already in a pre-pack?
Will they also be available on the internet?