hab29RETIRED

I hope it is Carle or Bernier. The habs already have plenty of prospects like Pavelski. How is he an upgrade from Plekanac?

I'm not saying Bonk for Carle would happen. i'm saying if you put a pacakge together that allows SJ to plug their other holes, so that they could be a SERIOUS Contender, you may be able to get him. I'd try to make that deal, even if it meant throwing in either Dandeanault or Bouillon. I really think the year is done for the habs and there Defence sucks. They need a complete overhaul. They should only try to re-sign Markov, hang on to Komisorik, keep Striet as a depth player, but otherwise blowup their blue line. The Habs have to be the worst team in moving the puck out of their zone.

you have got to be kidding. BertuzzI???? the guy has done squat for 2 yeaars AFTER serving his suspension. Florida got raped on that trade. the guy is exactly what the habs DO NOT NEED - another self centered, lousy attitude, play when he feels like it, over paid bum. As far as Roberts, if the habs were one, or two players away from being a contender, I would pick him up. But we have far two many holes in the lineup that need to be filled before we go after vetern leadership (ie. defencemen, who can actually PLAY defence, bona-fide goal scorer/front line center).

I'm thinking there is something more going on. Vision problems :?- :?- he has missed a lot of chances in close lately, where it seems like he just couldn't find the puck. Frustration is leading to the penalties. I've said this b4, that after Roy he is my favorite post 70's Habby. But given that he has probably around another 2-3 years remaining as being an impact player, if we can add someone younger and he waives his no-trade, we may as well trade him. Considering the number of d-men we are going to lose this year, and the difficulty in siging free agents in Montreal, I don't see montreal being a contender for at least another 2-3 years now. I'm not sure they can sign the only guy they should sign from this year's UFA's (Markov), and if they can't they are going to be in even WORSE trouble next year. The only d-men other then Markov I'd like to see back is Komisarik who still a work in progress and has a lot of upside, and Streit - but as a 5th/6th d-man. Carboneau has given him WAY to much ice time.

Totally agree on Higgens. Even now, the effort is there (unlike others like Ryder). It's just a lack of confidence right now.

I still say you need to bring someone in who can meet all of the following needs: -Offensive centre -Much needed leadership in the dressing room -a guy who they can build around going forward but can help the young guys now And that leads me to the only guy out there who meets all of the above - Marleau. I say the habs should make an offer that SJ can't say no to. SJ needs the following: -clutch guy with playoff track record - Kovolev -Offensive defencemen - Souray -addtional scoring to pick up slack from Cheecho - Ryder I would also even though in Bonk or Johnson (who are UFA's anyway), and try to pry away a d-prospect like Carle.

I'd be VERY hesitant to include Higgens, only bcoz, i think he has a higher upside then 20 goals/season, is someone who will become a leader and likes Montreal. Marleau is giong to be a UFA in another year. I would do Kovolev-Ryder-souray in a second. And i think SJ may consider this deal also, bcoz, need a big D-men who brings offence and leadership and they would have a VERY good chance of re-signing Souray (since he probably wants to sign in California), they need a clutch playoff guy like kovolev - Thornton has never been able to produce in the clutch, and Ryder gives them anothr scorer - a streak scorere, but nevetheless a guy who should be able to get 25-35 goals a year.

I don't see the habs making the playoffs. Get shutout at home at a critical game like this :?- :?- :?- Belfour was ok, but he was not the reason the habs lost. the habs had no pressure on him and he saw pretty much every shot he faced. With NJ coming up, almost an automatic loss. I think the habs have to get rid of their core. There just is no heart out there. The game against florida, they have a 2 man advantage, souray, finally is able to get shots through, but the forwards just were not willing to get their asses in Belfour's face (the way Williams did in the habs game agaisnt Carolina. I think carboneau and the coaching staff has done a crappy job during the past 1 1/2 months. But this team has gone through way too many coaches. they should call up koitsyn, and grabowsky. see what the kids can do b4 next year. this team just not have heart. Does not play with the desperation, grit and consistancy that is needed. I say you have to blow-up the core veterans, HOPE to hell you can attract some good free agents and give the kids a chance to play next year. FORWARDS: The only untouchables in my eyes are Higgens and Latendresse (even then, if someone was going to offer an A list prospect, i'd even trade them. Koivu - has a no trade clause, is USUALLY a good leader, but as despite him being my favorite habs after Roy in the post 70's era habs, I would move even him if i could. I just can't figure out what is wrong with him. Not only is he not producing, the usual captain K effort is not there and he is taking terrible penalities. I'm almost hoping he is just having TEMPORARY eye problems, coz his play has been totally out of character. Kovolev - if he is healthy enough to trade, trade him. Pittsburgh probably needs some playres with playoff experience to help the kids (i think the only playoff experieince they have is Rechhi and Gonchar). Bonk - him has been great all year. If you can sign him for 1-2 year deal at under $1.5M sign him b4 the trade deadline, otherwise get something back for him. Samsanov - hope to hell that someone is desperate at the deadline to take him. I think getting out of the bad situation in montreal he will probably go back to being a 20-25 goal guy. so someone at the deatline may take a chance, since less of this years salary will be left against the cap. Johnson - see Bonk, - keep him as vetern help for next year if he signs under $1.5M Ryder - is a worthless, overated as a sniper - i don't care how many goals he has. He has blown 20 chances for every goal he has gotten. Perozhogin - i'd like the habs give this guy a chance with a good centre. Has all of the tools to be an impact player. Has really been mis-used by the habs braintrust. But if he is a throw in for a BONA-FIDE #1 Centre or can't miss TOP 2 player, i'd trade him. Plekanac - hang on to this guy, unless someone blows you away with an offer. Usually puts in a solid effort and plays hard. Lapierre - like this kid, one of the few guys who regularly plays with heart. One of the few guys (other then Ryder, i'd like to see pass more). Begin - see Plekanac. Murrey - If you can throw him in to a deal for a good player, do it, on his own, probably wouldn't even fetch a 4th pick. Downey - if someone wants him, let em have him. Last year he at least played hard and broght energy. This year, has been not used much, but probally more then he should have been used. DEFENCE: As far as the D goes, the only 2 guys the habs should keep is Komisarik and do whatever it takes to sign Markov. Souray - has been the only bright spot this season, and he is the only guy who should bring a decent return for the future, the habs can't let him walk for nothing. I say the habs should move him and another core player for a top d-prospect or a top-center prospect. if edmonton is still in the hunt, Ryder and Souray to Edmonton could snag a good young prospect. Ryder-Souray-Kovy for Marleau is something else the habs should pursue. Bouillon - move him. The guy is not going to be ever be a bona-fide top 4 d-man. paying close to 2 million for a 5th/6th defencemen is asanine in the cap era. Dadenault - i think he signed with a no trade clause, if he waives it, trade him for someone who wants a d-man with cup experience. Rivet - has to go. Has not acted like a leader when he was benched, and really has not been even passable as a d-man for the bulk of the year. Ninnema - the guy was a total waste of over $2.5M against the cap this year. hopefully he can at least fetch a draft choice for a team looking for depth for the playoffs. GOALIES Move one of them this year. This is the one area the habs are actually deep in. Give Halak or Price a chance next year. I hate to say this. I have always hoped for the best, even during the idiocy of Grundmen and Houle/Tremblay, but this years team just does not have any heart at all. they say all the right things, and hen play like crap. For all those that want to go on about how good they were for the first half, keep in mind that they have pretty much sucked 5 on 5 all year. I've watched every game this year and am embarresed to have done so. I've been a habs fan for over 30 years, but have never been more frustrated by any team then this year's bunch of worthless millionaires who if i watch much longer will give me an ulcer!!!!! Gainey should make a trade with the wizard of oz and get some courage for the forwards, to they'll be willing to pay the price in front of the net. Some brains, so they won't take so many bloddy stupid penalties. Some heart for guys that have world-class talent and paychecks, but just don't seem to give a damn. Ok, i guess that's enough post-game venting.

this really ticks me off, the habs are making it a habit of discouraging their prospects. The team stinks right now, can't buy a goal 5 on 5, and they got a guy tearing it up in the minors but won't give him a chance.

The habs should explore a kovolev move. SJ needs someone with playoff (successful) experience. How about Kovolev, Souray and a prospect for Marleau and one of SJ's defensive prospects.

that was what pissed me off at the time. A guy is playing his heart out, getting results and gets sent back down. If the the habs took the same approach as laviolete in Carolina. either Murrey or Downey would have been sent down, coz they have pretty much down squat this year. WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY won't carboneaue give Samsonov and Koivu a chance :?- :?- :?- :?- :?-

i think they should put kovolev on the point on the PP, that way with both Souray and Kovolev for the opposition to worry about, either one of the two will be open at the point, or there should be a play in low. it was kind of painful watching this clip....where the heck is THAT kovolev?

Koivu has a no-trade clause, not sure about Kovalev

i agree. I'd rather see the habs making a move for someone like Marleau, then greybeards. Even if it means putting a package that would include Souray (probably will sign with a California team anyway), Kovelev and a prospect for Mareleau and one of SJ's yound defencemen. The only young guys you here in rumours are Horcoff and Lupal. and i think we already have too many guys like that - guys that don't play with enough desire on a consistant basis. I would have loved to get Forsburg and would have been willing to give up anything for him - 5 years ago. but right now, whoever gets him really doesn't know if they are going to have him for the rest of the year or the rest of the week. besides, i don't know even if we hold onto a playoff team, if we can do any damage. This team has sucked 5 on 5 all year. Now with the special teams not working either, I just can't see us going very far unless we get a real change in attitude and charater in the dressing room. I'm hoping saterday's meeting will lead to something, but lets face it, this is a tough week coming up once they get by Florida - and thats assuming they don't look past Florida, who the habs havent' done to well against.

i was really hoping to see sammy-koivu-Higgens/latendresse

Gainey should make a trade with the wizard of Oz and get; - a heart for kovolev - a brain for Carboneau we may see some decent line combos - some courage for his forwards, so they may be willing to pay the price in front of the net

when things aren't going well it is the coaches job to make adjustments. They have done diddly squat. The only thing that the habs were doing well was the PP and PK. The oppostion has adjusted. Ever since the habs played NJ, the way NJ keyed in o Souray and shut down the PP has been what every team has done since. In today's over-coached NHL, it is the coaching staff to adjust and make changes when their game plan is not working. Carbo's line combos suck. i also think one of the reasons the habs get dinged for every marginal call is that on every call - even when it is a blatent penalty he is ALWAYS yapping at the refs.

the muller-schneider trade for Turgeon-malakov was pretty good, since Muller was in decline. At the time i was hoping the habs would go after Lafontaine who was rumoured to be available - but ended up having concussion problems shortly thereafter. if only turgeon with all his skill had even half of mullers heart!

amen to that!!! I so pissed watching the game tonight. What the hell is wrong with Carbo!! The PP is not working, yet its the same guys, the same game plan still. Its been almost a month since they have sucked!! what the hell is Ryder still on the pp for???? ANd i would have liked to have seen samsonov in tonight - playing with Koivu!

I have no doubt that souray will get close to $6M on the market maybe even more. That will be by those gm's that haven't figured out that you can't pay a guy who is not either 1) your number 1 defencemen, 2) your top forward, or 3) a broduer level goalie, that kind of money and have success. There are only a handful of defencemen that i think are worth that kind of money: Neidermeyer, Pronger, Lidstrom (phaneuf and other will be part of that group once he is a free agent in 6 years). It would not make sense for the habs to shell out that kind of money for Souray, coz he is essentially a one trick pony. The guy the really need to re-sign is Markov. I would love for the habs to keep souray, but not at the expense of not being able to have the salary left to field a contender. I also don't think Bob is delusional - like i said before - compared to Houle, Gainey is the second coming of Sam Pollack and has brought back respectablility to the CH. I don't wknow what it is, maybe as a former player who gave it his all, night in, night out (this IS after all the guy who played in the playoffs with TWO separted shoulders), that he thinks the guy he signed will try to live up to that salary. But these days there are just too many players who mail it in, and just don't even come close to giving it their all. That's why i just don;t understand why he wanted Arnott. The guy has all of the tools - size, skill but just does not have that extra desire that is needed to be an elite player. I think you have to factor in a guys character these days as well, before you start throwing big money at them. Coz, you can't be making the mistakes like the NYR and the leafs have made for years, by just keep on writing big checks in the hope that some of your signings will work out.

I totally agree with you regarding Perohzogin. Although, I would try samsonov-Koivu-Higgens first. Just to see if you can get Sammy going. Higgens looks like he is coming around, with a new linemate, Koivu may come out of his funk as well. I thought they didn't give Perohzogin a long enough time on the first line last year. While Ryder has been getting a free pass despite his inconsistancy.

I'm excited at the potential of both. But I'd like to see a full year of production from either to annoint them as the next messiah in Montreal. I got to see 3 habs games live last year from the front row. Two of them were stinkers against buffalo, the guy who caught my eye then was Pleakanac. HE is showing much more offensive potential and hockey smarts then what i saw at the time. What did impress me last year is how hard he works. To me that is the real common trait between the two. They both work hard and have had some success. Let's hope that continued hard work and some addtional experience will lead to more consistancy in production.

I'd also rather have ovechekin. Crosby is probably the better player. But simply from a fan's prospective, i like wathcing ovechikin. He plays with much more of an edge. Having said that, I would give up 3 or 4 of our top guys from our roster today for Malkin (while i think oveckin and crosby are untouchable), given the number of young players pittburgh has, who knows, they might be willig to part with Malkin or Stall if they received enough in return. WIth the salary cap, they can't wait 2-3 years for the young players to gel into a plowerhouse, and another 2-3 for them to learn to win like the young oilers did. So you may be able to pry a malkin or Stall out of pittsburgh if you gave enough in return.

lets hope he gets a prolonged chance to play with a guy like koivu, rather then have carboneau play koviu with Striet and johnson or let Ryder-Koivu-Higgens flounder any longer. Ive said that so many times as well. Ryder blows way more chances then he converts. I would LOVE to see Ryder score two or three in the next couple of games. I would love it even more if he was TRADED right away. Everytime he has gotten hot, i've hoped that the habs would finally trade him to some unsuspecting gm. I can't believe he has been called a poor man's brett hull!!!

I totally agree with you regarding Gainey turning the team around. I was esthatic when he became GM, actually even before he took over from Savard, i was happy he was on board. I also liked the Kovolev pickup. I do think that in today's salarycap system, you have to be a little chintzy. I was shocked at the contract he signed ribeiro for in the summer and was thrilled when we got rid of him before the season started. But i do think, that you can't risk picking up a guy like ninnima for what his contract is worth (i'm just glad it there is only 1 yr left). ANd it is very DIFFICULT to not be negative when night after night you watch the habs not show up for 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 nights. Yes we have a possibility of habs dynasty, but not if we don't let some of our assets like Perozhogin, grabovzsy, Koitysen a prolonged chance to show what the can do. Affennigov did not become the player he is today sitting in the minors, being told to play defence, or toiling on the 4th line. The habs coaching staff has to give the kids a real chance to play and learn from their mistakes. The habs have a long history in the post pollack days of giving up on guys and watching them excel elsewhere.