ForumGhost

If he never ascends to a top 6'er, I would be happy to have him as a permanent fixture as 3rd line center.

Honestly, I would rather have Ryan that Nash. May not be as skilled, but they are definitely in the same ballpark, and I doubt that Ducks would be asking as much. Maybe Pleks and a 1st rounder? Ryan, Galchenyuk and Gionta seems good... How many years is Ryan signed for?

So who's left in the top 6 market? Just Doan? Carle signs for 6 years, 33 million. Good contract.

Wow Minny, GREEDY MUCH? I'm sure both of their fans are ecstatic.

Wonder what it would take to get Bobby Ryan out of CA...

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Cole Leblanc - Pleks - Gionta I know it's likely Leblanc's spot will be taken by Bourque, Moen or Armstrong, but I think this would be a great opportunity to let Leblanc let loose and play in an offensive role without being shuffled around in the bottom six. Let him learn from Gionta and Pleks. I also wouldn't be surprised with Gallagher makes another big impression in camp and sneaks his way in.

Very smart to bring Desjardins back into the fold.

Good deal, glad this didn't drag out.

Bergevin busted in the room last minute with a fistfull of cash, while security attempted to restrain him.

So... did the press conference happen?

Realistically, I gotta hope that Jagr will cap off our free-agency. If we can just add a bit of scoring up front, I think we will have a great team next year.

What does our cap look like at the moment (factoring in the increase)?

Exactly the type of guy you want to stabilize your bottom 2 lines, plus a great mentor. Like the term, like the cap hit. Bergevin has made a good first impression.

Kovy is obviously a star, but I look at our future core, the guys we will want to build around (PK, Price, Max, Tinordi, Bealieu and Galy), and I would rather look for another winger in their age bracket, around 23 years old or less. I want a young group of guys who will group up and solidify the core together for the next 15 years. I'm sure that a top 6 winger around that age can be got less for Kovy. Doesn't have to be a superstar. Anyways, I'd rather work with the draft and use the FA pool for veteran stop-gaps rather than be forced to dip into our promising pool of youngsters.

The salary cap will be going up by almost 6 million for next season. This has GOT to mean there's a team willing to take Gomez off our hands to reach the cap floor. Although this means more money for every team to throw around, it makes me feel like we have got a better chance of throwing a ton of money at Suter or Parise while easily signing Price to a lucrative deal.

So apparently, Eric Fehr was not qualified by Winnipeg and will not be returning. At 6'4 and 212, he could be a 3rd-line winger with real size and offensive upside. Worth looking into?

So what is the consensus projections for LL currently? 2nd liner winger?

What's the rush, especially with the CBA expiring?

So with the draft coming up, consensus is that Galchenyuk will be Mtl's pick at number 3 because we need a #1 center going forward. Now, this is interesting because in anticipation of the draft, it seems that our #1 need has gradually shifted from a big number one center to just a number one center. I think this has to do with the fact that unless we want to risk Grigs, who could leave us with a Kovalev-sized headache, the only other option at center is Galchenyuk. Now, I agree we need a big, physical center (just as much as every team), but if there is no such center to be had, should we be really be saddling Galchenyuk, a modest 6'1, with the same expectations? The main reason I bring this up is because while we don't have a big center in the system, we do have skilled centers. Mainly I'm looking a Leblanc, who seemed to satisfy everyone's hopes for a top center a mere two years ago. Has he disproved he has that capability already? With extremely limited ice time on the Habs, playing on the bottom lines, we have seen great promise in his skill and smarts. I for one can still seem him maturing into a fantastic offensive center, and at only 1 inch shorter than Galchenyuk. Not that we are hurting for a center immediately, as Pleks in doing fine and is in his prime years, while the younger Desharnais has defied expectations. DD may or may not be a flash in the pan, and even if he's not, his size might not be desirable to build around in the long haul, but it's pretty obvious Pleks and DD will be our top two centers out of camp next year and probably all year long, so Leblanc has time to develop steadily. While I realize that yes, to be ranked in the top 5 means Galchenyuk might be the overall better player and more of a sure bet in the long run at center, we would be picking him at the expense of losing a top 6 winger in Forsberg, which is something we are sorely lacking, size or no size. I'm just wondering if picking Forsberg and letting Leblanc, Desharnais and Eller mature while Pleks leads the way might make for a more balanced offense in the long run rather than just having one great center and a bunch of good ones that we don't have room for in offensive roles.

If Galchenyuk does go to Columbus, I would be okay with Forsberg. He seems like he's projected to be a top 3 power forward.

I thin it would be a great move. We need some immediate help up front until Galchenyuk or whoever we draft is ready. With a slim UFA pool this summer, having Jagr as a one year stop-gap would be great. Now, would Jagr want end his career signing with the team that finished 15th in the conference?

Guys, Kovalev is finished. Period.

I don't have too much faith in him, but ultimately it's a low-risk, high-reward move.

Maybe Therrien is just what they both need.

I wouldn't mind Lats back at a decent price. Bourque - Eller - Latendresse would be a big-body 3rd line that could produce offensively.