Kiwihab

I think we get the third

Maybe, but seems like not really worth all the effort to me. Got rid of Hoffman but basically spread his salary over two years with the Petry salary retention. Now they have an extra goalie which hopefully they can trade for something, but seems like a lot of moving parts that don’t leave us much better off (although we do have Hoffman’s spot open for a young guy, so maybe that).

Would it not have been easier to retain $2m on Hoffman’s salary and try to move him? At least that’s only for one year.

Agree with all your comments, great player and great person unfortunately robbed of being a superstar by injury. I wonder if there is a place for him within the habs organisation? Surely a classy guy like that would make an excellent player development guy (didnt bresbois have a role like that?)

I sure hope he does force the issue soon. I just can't get my head around us being a serious contender with DD as our number 1 centre. And just to preempt the inevitable, I am aware we nearly got there last season, I just don't think we can do it consistently with him there.

Isn't Benoit Pouliot a UFA now? I thought he played well against us. Any thoughts on chasing him?

In regards to Price vs Bishop, I think that besides the stats, the confidence Price gained at the Olympics should not be underated. He just seems so calm since his return. Also seems to me that Emelin is playing better since the Olympic break.

Don't get me wrong, I don't feel sad for him. I feel let down that all that size and talent is going to waste, particularly that it is going to waste on my team and not the leafs or bruins.

Its kinda sad the Bourque situation. I often wonder with guys like him, if he ever thinks to himself "I could be the big name trade guy". He has all the physical tools, just won't use them. Its a real shame.

Great Game Day Thread. Reminds me a little bit of the old "four habs fans" site.

Any thoughts on Moen and Bournival swapping lines? I would like to see Bournival play with Plek's and Gionta.

I wish for the usual things, more size, goal scoring sniper, a Stanley Cup. But i also wish that as fans we weren't so hard on ourselves. One thing you can never claim is that habs fans have no passion. Sometimes there is an ugly side to that, but as I've said before, passion has to outweigh empty stadiums and disinterested media. I've enjoyed this site immensely once again this year and hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas.

Haha, yeah, all they would need then is Gomez to round out their top 6

Unless there's been a trade I missed, you might want to swap Marc-Andre Fleury with Ryan Miller in goal lol. I assume its a cut and paste error

Yes I still get those emails from the official website.

That's not a serious question is it? Captain K hands down.

Lots of talk about injuries costing us. Seems to me that for the last 2 seasons (about to be three) we have had a high number of injuries. Do any of you know if our injury rate is above average for the league? And if it is, is it just bad luck or are our guys not conditioned as well as other teams? Of course it's entirely possible that every team has the same amount (or more) injuries than us and it only seems the hockey gods crap on us because the habs are my team, but it sure seems the hockey gods are bruins fans to me.

At the risk of suggesting washed up injury prone francophones, what about Latendresse? I'm not sure if he signed in the KHL or not, but he would be cheap and imho better than Gagne.

I don't believe MB should react too soon in regards to bringing someone in. At the moment we are in a comfortable position in the standings and rotating Tinordi, Beaulieu and maybe Pateryn is going ok for us. If we go on some sort of extended losing streak or get another injury then he will need to look elsewhere, but until then he should keep his powder dry. If we can stay in touch until Emelin gets back it will be like picking up a top 4 D at the deadline. (Assuming he comes back at the same level as before his injury)

I would rather they brought Pateryn up to act as a gritty fillin guy for Murray. I thought he was ok during the preseason.

Maybe, but that dosnt make any of what I said untrue.

The trouble with DD on the wing is that unlike Gallagher, he's not fast, and he's not physical enough to win any board battles. He also won't drive the net. If he can't make it as a centre i just can't see him doing much on the wing either.

I think the bridge may be the way to go in most cases, but for the sake of argument, the real risk you run with the bridge (besides overpaying later) is that you potentially make the player concerned feel undervalued and you give them an opportunity to leave the organization earlier than locking them up long term. I imagine the screams will be long and loud if Subban walked next year. I'm not saying this will happen, just pointing out a risk you take with bridge contracts.

Underatted: just to be different Im going for Therrien. Lots of people (including myself) were dissapointed to say the least, when he was hired, but overall I can't help but be impressed with how he's brought on the youngsters and has the habs playing attractive hockey. Overatted: I find it difficult for this because one bad period in montreal has a 20000 person facebook page screaming for your immediate trade. However despite saying that, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and say Desharnais, and even then, I only think hes overatted by Therrien, MB and Patches.

Interesting reading all of your comments, I would just guess from looking through the comments that there seems around a 70/30% split in favour of banning fighting (or at least banning the staged fighting) I must admit to being torn on the subject. There is no doubt, I certainly perk up when a fight starts and enjoy it for what it is, however I don't think I would not watch the game if they banned it (or limited it from what it is today) I think they inevitably will, as if they don't, sooner or later somebody is going to take the league to court over it. What I would like to see eliminated is the situation where you have someone like John Scott going after Phil Kessel. As amusing as it is to see the leafs getting some of their own medicine, there is no way you want star players being chased around the ice by a thug like that. I don't really blame Kessel for slashing him (particularly the first one) but I don't want star players in the league to be in that situation. Don't get me wrong, if Crosby chooses to fight Giroux I'm fine with that, but when you have goons running around after star players, I'm not so fine. Maybe player numbers should be replaced with the players salary and you're only allowed to fight someone in your salary band lol