ch_nl

Useless. I don't know... Dagenais has 24 points. So useless? I don't know. He's not a star but I don't know if anyone ever said so either.

I can understand what you mean but let's face it: It is not a good sign when some off the top names are thinking off retirement. I don't know if the same thing happens in the MLB, NBA or NFL. But to me it doesn't look good. NHL is the smallest of the super leauges. Why? NHL should be the biggest. All the other leauges only have a few non-american players. But Yankees sell more caps in Europe than Rangers. And how many europeans have a clue who won the last World Series? Thats why I think this is of interesting. Because it's another sign of that NHL needs to do something with the image.

http://www.allehanda.se/sport/2601.html Vancouvers Markus Näslund says that he's not certain that he will play more hockey after this season. Not i the NHL nor in Sweden. He also says that he is longing for this season to end and that Vancouver has nothing to get in the playoffs if they don't step up. Sad.

I think it will be up to Kovalev. I don't think Montreal are willing to spend 6.6 million on Kovalev. Maybe 4 million and some bonuses. And if he takes the deal then we should re-sign him. He seems happy to be in Montreal and I think he has played better and better for every shift.

Buffalo and Montreal are two of the hotest property in the leauge right now. And I could see us lose this one. We are on pretty solid grounds and Buffalo is hunting that last spot. I predict that the end up in OT. 2-2. Montreal goals by Dagenais and Kovalev.

I want to play the leafs. And then send them home with a 4-0 series.

I'm stunned. I haven't seen Canadiens play like this since I don't know when. Maybe the playoffs two years ago? Or is it ´93? Anyway. The team is looking good. Souray to return soon, Zednik is hot. And so is Koivu, Ryder, Ribeiro and Perreault. Koval is looking better and better. I think he had a good third period versus the Avs. And the next two games can decide much. Two games against the Devils. Both worth 2 points but since Habs have 87 and Devils 89 each win will be worth 4 points. And if Canadiens can continue playing like this we could be entering the Coupe Stanley as a dark horse.

I would have been nice to add O'Neil or Daze(!) But I think Dowd and Kovalev are enough. This team can make it trough the first round but it will be hard, but after last eleven games I don't think it's unrealistic. Toronto is looking good but they can turn out to be the new (new) york rangers. Colorado is also looking strong. I think Ossi Vaananän was a smart move and Salo won't be a backup. Ottawa could also make it. Vancouver and Detroit are also stong. But I think we're next in the rankings. Philly and Tampa may have been good but I don't think they got what it takes.

I know that the reallity is different from what I think. Perreault is very unlikley to be resigned. But I like him. Can't explain why. Just like Benoit Brunet was one of my Montreal heroes. But honestly... Perreault is usefull in powerplay. He scores in clutches but at least he scores. And before I can admitt that Perreault has no future in Montreal is when I have seen him fail with two defensive wingers on the third line. In my dreams (the one that I have at nights...) Perreault is centering the third with a selke contender and Jan Bulis. And I wish that selke contender could be Sundström, but he seems unconfortable in Montreal. But at least TRY. Bulis - Perreault - Sundström If that could work out I think Perreault could still be on the team by next season. And another thing that makes Perreault stocks even better is that he WANTS to be a habs. He could have signed with another team for more money but he chosed Montreal. Alfredsson and others should follow his example. And the fact that he his valuable in powerplay plus his faceoffs makes me want him to stay. But I won't cry (like I did when Brunet was traded for Van Allen) but still be sad.

And that stupid Swede was asking why anybody wanted to trade Perreault... Hmmmm. Seems like he still is stupid.

He's gone. Sadly he was picked up the Leafs. But maybe that was the best think. For Kilger and for Montreal. I wish I could wish him some succes with Toronto, but I think I have to wait for that...

Im not so sure about the Leafs. Or should we call them the Toronto Maple Rangers? After last weeks play I think we can beat anybody. And when Kovalev and Souray returns we have a pretty solid team.

I don't know about this one. It would be great to add O'Neil. But we have allready aquired Kovalev. And Dowd. If a trade should be made I hope it is Dackell, Kilger or Hossa going. And if we are going to deal Sundström I hope it's for a defensive right winger to have on the third line. I don't think we need to add another top six forward. We have Kovalev, Zednik, Koivu, Ryder, Ribeiro and Dagenais. The only one that's not top six material is Dagenais, but he has chemistry with Ribeiro. So keep him there. The third line is the hardest one. Whom to have and whom to be on the fourth. We have Begin, Ward, Bulis, Dackell, Perreault, Dowd and Juneau. In my opinion we should have Sundström - Perreault - Bulis. But if Sundström was traded the whole idea was messed up. And Dowd was impressive...

Sad, sad, sad... But let's hope for the best. You can't blame him for being hurt but as long Kovalev will be a habs during the playoffs I'm fine.

Right now I have no idea. But Jim Dowd is on fire! First I saw him as our fourth line center going in to the playoffs. But now... I don't know. But I am weak for Perreault. But I have to admit. It's hard to find a spot for him. And Dagenais has deserved the place on the second line. He scores. But Zednik, Koivu, Kovalev, Ryder, Ribeiro and Dagenais belongs to the top two lines. I think Dowd and Bulis should be on the third. Begin and Ward on the fourth. That leaves two spots for Perreault, Dackell, Juneau, Sundström and Kilger. Juneau is done and won't be traded. In my opinion we should keep Perreault and Sundström as long as we don't make an upgrade.

I just looked at the recaps from the games we had versus Rangers this year... In our first game we lost 5 to 1. Kovalev had one assist. The second game we won 2 to 1. No points by Kovalev The third game was a tie. 2-2 Kovalev with a goal and one assist The fourth game was a win. 4-1 Kovalev without a point.

I'm not so sure about that... I think Sundström has improved his game lately. And as for the lines... Zednik - Koivu - Kovalev Dagenais - Ribeiro - Ryder Bulis - Perreault - Sundström Juneau - Begin - Dackell So I think that Kilger and Dackell could be traded. And why shouldn't we be able to find any takers? Their salaries are low and they can help teams that's rebuilding. I love Perreault but I do realize that many want's him out. But WHY hasn't they've used him on the third with Bulis and Sundström? To me that's a mystery. Bulis and Sundström can handle the defensive task, Perreault is great at faceoffs and scores from time to time. The two first lines are set. No further needs. But our third line is still a problem. Even if it's a minor...

Is this discussion dead now when we've got Kovalev? I hope so. I don't want Big-Baby-Eric-Headache-Lindros.

I agree. Kovalev is one of the best. I just wondering wath the Leafs fan are doing right now? Didn't they wan't Kovalev a year ago? And if Kovalev will find his game in Montreal this is a very good deal (Did anybody notice that I didn't spell VERY with 2 R?) And if things go well we should resign him. No doubt.

Holy smoke! Mixed reactions from me as well. But it's one thing that is really good with this trade that no one hasn't mention yet. We got another Russian in the locker-room. And as far as I know that's something Andrei Markov want's. Now if Kovalev can click with Ribeiro or Koivu we've got a leathal offensive weapon.

Kozlov is injuried. And Berglund has potential.

No one may make 10 million dollar a year in Russia, but they are making money. More money than then players in Sweden and Finland. And that's something new. We barely have ruissian players in Sweden anymore. Oleg Tverdovsky is not a star, never said that, but I think he his good enough to be in NHL. And realize that NHL is a IHL. The best players in the world in one leauge. Do you think that you would like NHL just as much if there was only american players? Just take a look at our own team... Of course we wan't the european! And the reason why I took Chelsea Football Club as an example is because they have a new owner. Roman Abramovich... A Russian millionaire who bought Chelsea and want's to buy Vancouver Cunucks. And if he will be succesfull, more people of his kind will be in the game...

So you're saying that where the money is, thats the place where the best hockeyplayers will play? Then NHL should be really scared about the situation. Take a look at the salaries in Russia. Oleg Tverdovsky is making the same in russia and many other european players plays in the russian leauge. Chelsea football club? Anybody? And with a comig lock-out... If the best player wan't to play in Sweden, NHL has done something wrong. And why is Forsberg so much injuried? Why was Gretzky never on the IRL? New sources said earlier today that if there will be a lock-out Paul Karyia and Todd Bertuzzi may play for MoDo as well. It could be a really fun elitserie next year...

I one have to have in mind that in the end it's up to chemistry... Remember Mariuz Czerkawski? We know what Zednik adds to this team. O Niel is still a Hurrican and no-one can be certain if he ever would fit Habs needs. So why trade Zednik for O'Neil? Seems like a stupid deal for both parts? But if we have to give away a early pick and a less important player like Kilger or Dackell, then it would be a different story. Bring in O'Neil but don't sacrifice Zednik.

Why not Komisarek in the playoffs? Why not give him the valuable experience? I think that we should try to get a prospect, not Sean Hill. What about Bruno St Jaques in Carolina?