titanfan

Crawford, Anisimov and Debrincant for Price and Galcheyuk

OK, i checked, the Hossa things doesn;t make sense since he has three more seasons left. But, with Crawford's salary off the books the Blackhawks have the room for Price this year. Chicago goes from Fighting for a playoff spot to instant Cup Contender, and Price gets a chance to win (which he deserves). We take Crawford back, knowing he won't play for us until next year anyway. Niemi and Fucale can finish this year - since the season is lost anyway.

Crawford's salary comes off the books if he is done for the season. How many years of Hossa left? We can eat that salary for them for the rest of this season (if indeed this is the last year he is on the books). So, yeah they have room. Now, who would we want?

Crazy as it sounds...do we look at trading Price? This team is not going to win in the next few years when he is in his prime., The Habs need to do a total rebuild right now (which should start with management, but that is another thread...) We already dealt Subban, so no need to think Price is really untouchable. Chicago? With Crawford's 'upper body' injury likely sidelining him for the season, the Blackhawks would be crazy not to give this a serious look....

You are right, but that is hindsight. Things didn't turn out well. The thing with '01 was we were going to take Koivu, but missed by one pick. So that isn't the same. Had we landed him we would have had a number one centre with size. And who knows what that might have meant to Saku's career from then on...getting a chance to play with his brother.

Are you saying Bergevin has cred? I'd say he lost that a longgggg time ago.

Can't argue with that.

The draft is fun to look back on. GMs gambling on teenagers, there are always going to be hits and misses. I think the most important draft for the Habs was in 2001. They had 7th overall pick, BUT Minnesota had the 6th pick and took a big centre named Mikko Koivu. How different things might have been. Our consolation prize by the way, Mike Komisarek (Habs did get Plekanec in the third round that year)

That works too. Same 12 guys as my original post, just different configurations. The only thing for me, I guess, is that I want to give Galchenyuk the best chance to succeed and if he and Drouin could catch fire it could be the turning point in his career. He has already played with Gallagher a lot and I was thinking of giving him a new look - since it isn';t about winning anymore, it is about development. Still wish they had thrown $1 million at Yakupov instead of Hemsky... If those two could recapture some magic.....

I have no problem moving Drouin to centre as well. I would just like to see what Galchenyuk and Drouin can do together. As for the fourth line, you are right. Maybe: Carr - Froese - Deslauriers

I don't understand what the thinking is with Bergevin and Julien. The season is lost. Done, Finished. There is no hope of making the playoffs. So.... the obvious plan is to prepare for the future. Forgetting trades - finally put Galchenyuk at centre and leave him there for the rest of the season. Give it a real/honest chance. Not two games, then the fourth line... Why not try this - and let it stick: Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Drouin Byron - Danualt - Gallagher Lekhonen - Plekanec - Shaw Carr - Deslauriers - Hudon Go with that until the end of the year and see what happens. Confidence builds, players develop chemistry, real assessments can be made, and WE CAN'T DO ANY WORSE!!! As for the defence - close our eyes and pray! There is no help there.

I have always wondered this, to be honest - and I don't get it. What has he done to deserve such high regard? Is it because the Habs tell us he is great? Is it because he has been around for nearly 20 years? Then why hasn't anyone ever tried to poach him? It reminds me of Bob Gainey, or MarcBergevin for that matter. When Gainey got hired it was a constant barrage of "In Bob We Trust" - look where that got us... And it sure changed. When Bergevin first got hired - he was the greatest thing since the forward pass. Hmmmm. Yet somehow Timmins is like a god-like figure. Yet Montreal has a terrible record of developing talent. Terrible. We have a virtually non existant farm system.... JUst sayin'!

It sure is, but I figured since we were throw out crazy deals why not... LOL I have always wondered what it would take to get Crosby in Mtl. His favourite team, etc. You can bet he would be motivated to bring a cup to Montreal if he wound up a Hab. Mind you, he would never come to Mtl. if Price was going the other way.

Then why not: Pacioretty, Galchenyuk and a 1st to Pittsburgh for Crosby.

Edwin Encanarcion

The answer is - 'obviously we do' - by all the posts on the subject and the calls for Bergevin's head after failing to sign him. But should we? Let's keep in mind he has been a problem player throughout his career, who knew the minute he signed with Montreal a year ago that he was fighting for his next contract and some big $$$. He became a fan favourite in Montreal for a few reasons. First the Habs suffered offensively last season (last decade!) and second he was a superstar in junior just a short drive down the 20 in Quebec City. But seriously - he scored 18 goals! 18 GOALS And Dallas gave him 5 years and over $30 million. And we think Plekanec's contract is bad now? Chris Nilan scored 21 goals in 1984-84, and averaged nearly 19 goals a season for the three years that included that year. Sure it was a different team and a different era, but let's put it in perspective. Heck, Paul Byron just scored 22 goals and we aren't talking about making him the NHL's next Steve Austin. So why Radulov? Seriously, why Radulov? Who cares. Good riddance. We just saved ourselves over $6 million a season – FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS! Obviously the Habs have problems…serious problems if they are to come close to competing for cup #25. And really – they WANT to find a way to do it with Carey Price. Otherwise why sign him to the historic contract they shelled out on the weekend? I think it starts with replacing Bergevin. And there are plenty of reasons, other than not signing Radulov, that make this crucial to the team’s future success. Just look at his track record and it is easy to see he has failed miserably. There is no salary cap for anyone else in the organization other than players. Identify the best there is and GO OUT AND GET THAT PERSON. I hate to say it but that is exactly what Toronto did – and the results speak for themselves. On one hand, Molson has all summer to figure that out. On the other, every day with Bergevin is another day that has the potential for a serious blunder to the team. Somehow signing Markov, or a replacement, needs to be a priority. If Bergevin hasn’t already burned that bridge – or is five minutes late with his offer again. Some more scoring is crucial as well. And that is more than Radulov’s 18 goals. I hope they get Galchenyuk extended and take a stab at Yakupov to see what the two of them can do together. And it won’t come close to costing us the $6 million dollars Radulov got. And just to add one more piece of perspective. That Galchenyuk kid, who everyone seems to want gone as quickly as possible – in his down year scored 17 goals! 17 goals – that is ONE LESS than Radulov – and he is almost a decade younger with his best days ahead of him! And I bet Galchenyuk’s extension, and a flyer on Yakupov (which is exactly what we did with Radulov last year when no one else wanted him), won’t add up to the $$$ and term that the $6 million dollar man got from Dallas! Perspective! Something we all need to think about. And to quote Oscar Goldman by replacing Radulov with Galchenyuk and Yakupov – “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him…Better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster.

I know there is a need for a number one centre, but has this team ever had a worse defence corps? Weber Markov (39 and slow, but still the smartest player on the ice) (Side note - is there a better long-term defenceman playing the game that has never won a Norris?) ..... Then nothing, Petry - overrated (by a long shot) Emelin - really...at that $$$$ Benn... Anybody... We need HELP on the blueline. Desperately! Yes, we could use a top-line centre - but WE HAVE Galchenyuk...if we let him play!

Agree 100%. But I think the only real contract at questions that matters is Galchenyuk's. Get that done, and then we have a clearer picture. Man, I'd love to land Vlasik...

Let Beaulieu walk, or holdout then. Not worth worrying about. And if we need a little more for Galy, we tweak somewhere else. Don't sign Gagner for example, move Danualt to second line centre. Gallagher takes his spot on second line wing and we find an option for third line wing. I get that you have no hope for the Habs - but offer some options... Do you want to get better or do you think the status quo is ok? Because all I hear are excuses, or reasons we CAN'T get better. I am offering scenarios where we can. Maybe they work, maybe they don't, but they are options. Instead of only saying "That's Impossible" find an option the works! One thing is for sure, I am tired of being a 'so-so' team with a great goaltender. And there are options out there that work. Am I an NHL GM (I wish!). There are much smarter hockey people out there than me. I just hope they are looking at ALL options to WIN. And not settling for... --------------------------------- Two top-line centres - now that is dreaming big! How do we make it work?

Cap numbers come directly off Habsworld.net. I sued actual salary instead of cap hit. I see my mistake now, but the overall difference is only $.75, so an even $70 million. We are still under the cap by $2 million. Not ideal, but if we lose Beaulieu (for example) then we are $3+ away (from my projections - since I have Beaulieu at $1.25). My number for Price is because we renegotiate his contract now, getting him at 10 instead of 11 or more but starting it this season. And we send a 2nd and Emelin to Vegas to get them to take Pleks. Something like that.

Could we work a deal to get Marc-Edouard Vlasik (Montreal born) out of San Jose? Hey they can have Emellin, Plekanec and/or Beaulieu...

Brendan Smith?

Karl Alzner?

That is the question...

Completely agree Commandant and Cucumber. LD needs to be the focus. And as for a top line C - I believe the Habs need to give Galchenyuk the entire year to prove he can be that guy. Before he does it with someone else. Otherwise it is a waste of an asset. Tell him you are going to qualify him, maybe get as high as $4.5 and tell him to prove he deserves more! Hey Pacioretty is only getting $5 (I know team friendly contract now). If someone else steps in and makes him an offer -0 we'll be more than happy to take the draft picks and move on... (I just want to be clear - a 30 goal scorer is NOT someone to just give up on - I am just tired of the Habs not using their asset properly... I also don't believe we should be overpaying for 'potential' that hasn't happened and is never going to happen unless we use the asset properly)