ch_nl

Defending Ryder here... Why so critical? Low draft pick, came out of nowhere and scores a lot of goals. Will just start his third season and still learning. Why on earth do people want him to leave when things are working for Ryder in Montreal? Let's say the Habs aquired a top scorer like Cheechoo. What would garuantee Cheechoo to score 50 goals with the Habs just because he did in San Jose? There's a lot of individual factors and chemistry that trading Ryder would be stupid when the team needs scoring. Or take a look at Marcus Näslund. He didn't produce in Pittsburgh but once he landed in Vancouver he started to lit the light and he didn't became a different player just over night. He had it all along.

Ryder?! No, no, no. He may not be the most complete hockeyplayer but he score goals! When did the Habs had a guy capable of putting up 40 goals before Ryder? Perezhogin, Aebischer and Souray are the guys that will have to fight if they want to stay. Perezhogin have the Kostitsyn brothers fo fight, Aebischer has Huet, Danis, Price and every other Habs goalie and Souray want to play closer to his family.

I'll watch the Leafs taking a hit (Hopefully) and to watch my childhood star Börje Salming get his number retired.

Kovalev - 77 Ryder - 75 Johnson - 63

About size... Is Montreal still that small? Jan Bulis, Richard Zednik and Mike Ribeiro gone. Mike Johnson, Guillaume Latendresse and Janne Niinimaa added.

I don't know about you guys but my opinion is that most you haven't realized how good Janne Niinimma is. His stats may not be so great but please find an old video and watch. He's dominant from time to time. Markov, Niinimaa and Boullion. Looks fine to me. Souray might be happy, Habs get something they need. Win-win situation.

I guess the same thing could have been said about Michael Ryder a coupple of seasons ago. I would love to see Latendresse on a line with Ryder and Koivu. But that would demote Higgins to the second line. And remember that Higgins is a center and should work well with Samsonov and Kovalev. Plekanec is still a great player but I wonder if he wouldn't do better on a third line with Mike Johnson. So... Don't rule out the possibillity of Latendresse getting time on the top line, nor winning the calder. But Malkin is the favourtite and one of the most skilled hockey players on the planet.

3 former Habs players. Good they are all in the west.

Anze Kopitar is rookie. Played last season in Sweden.

Hard. 7# looks like a Sergio Leone. My guess would be The good, the bad and the ugly. 9# Could it be Patton? and taking a wild guess at number 2: Paths of Glory.

Latendresse could turn som heads this season. He is the only real physical forward on this team and has scoring touch which could take him to a top line position as the Habs as the smallest first line center in the NHL. He's also a fan and media favourite and with the right start he could be riding the wave and if mature enough to try harder when things don't go his way he has the chane of winning the Calder. But Malkin is the player to beat to the trophy and he's in a class of his own. I would go so far and say that Malkin is one of the top 20 players in the world. Other notables is Wojtek Wolski of the Avs and Dustin Penner in Anaheim. I would also like to mention Johnny Oduya in New Jersey. Oduya and Henrik Zetterberg is the only Swedish players that played with the national team Tre Kronor before they had played a single game in the Elitserien. Oduya can play it all. Brute, defense and offense. Has grown the last years and Devils may have found a new Rafalski.

That's right, even if I cheer a bit for Luleå after my military service in Boden. And about Leksand, Sweden need them. Who cares about Mora? Get Leksand back in Elitserien. Me suporting AIK and Montreal Canadiens are connected. When I started to play hockey as a child there was a guy called Patric Kjellberg in the senior team in RA73 (Later renamed to Arlanda Wings, Arlanda is the international airport of Stockholm) He was a great guy and the star of the team. He got a contract with AIK and later the Montreal Canadiens. So there's basicly his fault Im a Habs fan. When he got home he signed with AIK's worst rival, Djurgårdens IF and I gave up on him. But Im still "Gnagare" and a "habs".

Mat Sundin is one of many great hockey players that has never won a Stanley Cup. He's also a great ambassadore for the sport and a great captain. Im a bit proud of that both Finland and Sweden have captains in the two greatest Canadian hockeyteams. Even if I have learnt to hate the Maple Leafs I cannot have any hard feelings towards Sundin.

I don't know. I saw some of him when he played in Sweden and I think he was really good. Last year all Vancouver had a rough year and no one really shined. I alos think he would do better on a second line. But Perezhogin, Rivet and Aebisher would be too much, I realize that.

Im not sure about this. I was more surtain that the team was complete before the Ribeiro trade, now things looks different. If a trade is comming it should be a blockbuster move. With Niinimaa on the team the Habs could use one of of the defenceman, not Markov, Boullion and Komisarek, as a thorw in. Perezhogin and Kostitsyn. Top prospect, same style and same position. Both looking good. Andrei Kostitsyn has his younger brother within the organisation and Alex Perezhogin being the one that is more ready for the NHL. So my guess is that Perezhogin would be easiest to deal and at the same time the one that would get more in return. Carey Price and Yann Danis comming up. Trade Aebisher when he's value is the peak. Don't know if that's right now but Aebisher has the intention of being a number one in this leauge. So combine any and it could be enough to add a second line or even first line center. Big trades don't happen to often but as I see it the Canadiens has what it takes to pull it of with Radek Bonk and his contract ending after this season, and Plekanec will do the same job once he's gone. Scott Gomez? To small. Patrick Marleau? I wouldn't mind... But would San Jose? Daniel Briere? Buffalo wouldn't as we're in the same division. Brendan Morrison? Underrated, but I don't know.

Rivet bettet than Niinimaa? Come on! Read the old Niinimaa thread... I'd say that Niinimaa is better then Kimmi Timmonen. I'd alos say that Petteri Nummelin is better than Kimmo Timmonen. But that's just me... We'll see. The best deal since Kovalev.

You guys really think Plekanec will center the second line? After this I think we will see a whole new set of combinations. Latendresse making the team and Ribeiro gone. How about this: Latendresse - Koivu - Ryder Samsonov - Higgins - Kovalev Perezhogin - Plekanec - Johnson Murray - Bonk - Begin Markov - Souray Niinimaa - Rivet Boullion - Komisarek 1:1. Latendresse HAVE to be on one of the top two lines. He brings size and Koivu is now the smallest center in Habsland. I also like the idea of letting the rookie play along with the veteran and captain. Michael Ryder will be the third link that may produce even more points with someone in front of the net as he is the one that shot the puck most. A quick look at the stats says that Ryder had 243 shots on net last season. 1:2. Another idea I like is having Samsonov and Kovalev at the same line. Russian magic or something. Kovalev the most skilled player along with the most talented goalscorer. Could work. Higgins is a center and proved last year that he has what it takes. Maybe he's mature enogh to center a line of his own as he takes defence responsibility. 1:3. Plekanec on the fourth line? No. Mike Johnson on the fourth? No. Add anyone of choice and you have a great third line no mather who you choose. 1:4. Bonk having a contract year. Begin always the energizer. Add some speed and a fourth line is what you have that's better than most teams. 2:1 Markov being number one. No question about it. Souray has a deadly shot and with Ryder and Latendresse in front this will produce some goals. Koivu is now the most defensive center on the team and that might help a defensive pair like Souray and Markov. 2:2 Janne Niinimaa and Craig Rivet. Call it a feeling but my guess is that the will work fine together. If Niinimaa get his thing going in Montreal he WILL set a personal best year. 2:3 Size and no size. But still physical. Komisarek doesn't need a techer anymore. Boullion is fast and mobile. 3:1. Cristoball Huet. Not a Jim Carrey or a Roman Chechmanek. The real deal. Will be even better this season. 3:2 David Aebischer. The backup that will once again win a Stanley Cup as a backup to a great Montreal Canadiens goaltender!

Niinimaa is much better than Rivet. He's more complete than Souray. He had a great rookie-season in Philly. I think he has been traded for another player plus a second round pick twice since then. Raffi Torres and Brad Isbister I think it was... Could be misstaken. JANNE NIINIMAA, what a night!

Janne Niinimaa is the best defenceman that have a passport that says: Finnish. He's that good. Underrated. On the Habs I only rank Markov higher and not by much. I've seen Niinimaa a lot since he's one of my favourite players and this is a great upgrade on defence for the Habs.

WOW!!! I didn't see this comming at all. After Ribs got signed I expected him to get the chance as he had a decent last half. But Janne Niinimaa... I don't think you people understand how good he is. The best defenceman from Finland. READ THIS THREAD: http://forums.habsworld.net/index.php?show...amp;hl=niinimaa

Im not from Skåne... Im from Stockholm, and a fan of "Gnaget". I've seen Staal played a few times tough. Last time when AIK played Malmö in Allsvenskan. I think I made a post about it in the forum and said Kim Staal has never looked better.

Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round in 1992 danish Kim Staal did never get the chance. Kim Staal has played most of his proffesional career with Malmö and MoDo in Swedish Elitserien. Staal is right now 28 years old and was invited to the Nashville Predators camp and danish media is reporting the Barry Trotz will sign Staal and making him the first dane in the NHL. Staal that means "Steel" in danish, alos called "Stålmannen" (Superman) translated to "Steelman" in swedish had a great world championship. Staal has been sent down to Milwaukee Admirals but Staal has decided to stay in North America.

Samsonov - Ribeiro - Kovalev Higgins - Koivu - Ryder Johnson - Plekanec - Latendresse Begin - Bonk - Open Murray, Downey and Perezhogin depending on the other team. Counter-goon: Downey Physical defensive: Murray Offensive: Perezhogin Markov - Rivet (Better fit with first line) Komisarek - Souray Dandenault - Streit

That's the only reason. Promise. I get a lot of people talking Dutch on my MSN... Really crazy. The disc worked just fine. Can't tell how greatfull I am.

If Gainey and Carbo will take the best players then both Kostityn and Latendresse will make the team. Latendresse has been the best player at camp for two years now and he brings the team a new dimension. There's should be no question. Perezhogin and Kostitsyn. Both good but play the same kind of game and either one will do a fine job.