ch_nl

I have faith in Gainey as well, but I have chosen to believe in the reports he tried to sign Briere. And year after year the first choise seems to sign elsewhere. But if Souray head west I will probably think of this UFA frenzy as a failure. Winners? Philly and Colorado. The Flyers can now have a line with two of my favourites. Gagne and Briere.

Not looking good. Right now they can keep the team as it is. Don't know if any of the availables would be upgrades. But there are som interesting longshots left. Would Robert Lang ignite Kovalev? Could Gainey sign Souray and then ship him to San Jose for Marleau? Would Ossi Väänänen be an upgrade over Janne Niinimaa? Does Pierre Turgeon has one year left? Could Alexei Yashin sign here for little? Will the Red Wings afford Markov now when they have signed Rafalski?

Im taking a guess from the Blue. Souray will sign in LA, Bonk in Atlanta and Briere in Montreal.

So does everybody agree on Briere? Would he be our savoir? I think different. What has Briere proved? What has he acomplished more than one great season? Would he perform as good with all the pressure playing for the Habs as a Quebecois? Why aren't they eyeing Ryan Smyth instead? If he signs with Toronto then the Leafs might actually be a force. Which of course is a bad thing... And when will we start the prediction poll? Sunday?

A six year contract is 3 years too much in my opinion. Just look how many long term contracts that has been bought out the last couple of years. Even real stars like Jaromir Jagr has been released due to heavy contracts. Also... I was trying to be realistic and looked on what teams could land which players. Los Angeles Kings could get maybe two of the most wanted. I expect them to pursue Souray if he's a free agent by monday. Meanwhile they could be forced to move a defenceman by them selfs. Aaron Miller? How about a trade and sign move? Souray for Miller? And why are the Sharks eyeing Drury? And why haven't the Sabres done anything yet? Is it because Vanek is a restricted free agent? What will happen to Perezhogin? Does he really want to play in Russia or could he accept to play for another team in the NHL? If so he could be used as bait. Mike Johnsson? Are they waiting or will he be lost? Anyway. If the Sharks get Drury would they be interested in trading Marleau?

So I've heard... Another funny name is that Japanese goaltender in LA. What's his name "Fukc You Fuju"

I can't help it. But his name is PK Subban. And no mather how hard I try I can't stop reading "The Penalty Killing Bitch"...

I don't get it either. Europeans are good skater because the focus on skating a lot more in juniors and less on the physical play.

Some good names in there. But as I see it Montreal will have a hard time upgrading their current roster.

Before making any defenceman move I would like to see what will happen to Souray. Is he lost the the Habs?

Hmmm... Why buy out Salmelainen? He's a young talented player that doesn't make big bucks. Why not try him? Maybe the only thing he needed was a change of scenery. Why not send him to Hamilton? Not sure I get it.

No doubt about it. I don't know much at all about the prospects. But the ones that sometime, somehow got my attention was Cherepanov and Esposito. And my point was that it feels like the Habs drafted the same player once again and that the Bulldogs in a year or two will be the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Bulldogs. And I think so without being from Montreal or having any love for francophones.

Subban = The Bitch Not exactly but used in the same way... A "Subba" is always a woman and was orginaly not something bad. Now it's used for a sloppy woman.

Im not from Montreal and doesn't care from where a player is. From what I've seen Esposito and Cherepanov where the biggest talents this year. And about Malkin, Crosby and Esposito, I don't expect them to be on the same line since they are all centers.

A day has passed and Im still a bit dissapointed. It feels like the Habs drafted the same player this year as they did a year ago... And at the same time the passed on the two most spectaculars player in Cherepanov and Esposito. If Esposito will be as good as he can then Pittsbutgh will have Crosby, Malkin and Esposito.

Didn't Salmelainen play for the Bulldogs the same year Ryder made it?

I think there's a lot of criticts to Yashin. But if he's that bad how did he got that 10-year contract in the first place? Why has he worn a C on his chest? By beeing a lazy cancer?

Isn't there statistics on sold merchandise? That should tell something I guess.

Cherepanov is as good as Ovechkin and Malkin. Will be a calder nominee. Get the best available. Esposito might be left---

The sun has fallen over Sweden hours ago but discussing hockey is never to late (even if the spelling thinks otherwise) All I want is the Habs to make the playoffs and and make an impact. Do I think that will be with Briere in the team? No. Yashin? No, but perhaps he might be the best center available in late July and players that have exposed disire to play for a certain team tends to come cheap so Yashin might become "best available" in July and then its's nothing to discuss anymore. Give it a shot! Nothing to lose!

Im not sure if I buy that thing with small players anymore. The NHL has changed and just look at Martin St. Louis who went undrafted. And Rafalski too! Daniel Briere would probably do good in Montreal, but my guess is that he will be the most expensive player this summer. Alexei Yashin... Can't stop thinking about it. Garth Snow has now made sure that the Islanders will pay two thirds of the contract they bought him out from. Yashin still makes a lot of money and if he openly says he wants to come to Montreal to play with friends then that should mean that he's willing to take a cut. Yashin to Montreal, one year contract at 1,5 Million? He could be the bargain of the year if he can find chemistry with Samsonov and Kovalev. I don't know if it has been mentioned but Koivu and Yashin use to play hockey together in Åbo during summer and maybe Yashin can take another role in Montreal? He's also close friend with Andrei Markov and knows Kovalev. Landing Yashin would also mean that the Habs can spend the money elsewhere. Signing Souray and maybe even another top 4-defenceman? Scott Hannan and Danny Markov? Higgins - Koivu - Ryder Samsonov - Yashin - Kovalev Latendresse - Plekanec - Johnson Kostitsyn - Begin - Perezhogin Hannan - Souray Markov - Markov Dandenault - Komisarek Huet Halak Out: Niinimaa, Bonk, Aebischer. Resign: Souray and Johnson Chipchura, Price, Valentenko, Boullion, Streit, Cote and Lapierre would be the call-ups. That's a team I would love to see in October.

Thats a strange move by the Flames... If I would have guessed on a team the Nucks, Florida and Flames would be my last choices.

In my opinion this years draft is somewhat hard to predict. Many player with equal talent. So I don't see any reason to move up. Pick 22 might be as good as pick 12.

Hearing stuff like the Kovalev-trade was a flop? Both Kovalev and Samsonov has great talent. Kovalev might be one of the most talented players in the NHL. But for a coach to utilize that is a whole different story. And about Briere versus Yashin... Daniel Briere played for a team that made it to the conference finals. And before he got traded to Buffalo he was considered as a second line center. Has his play excelled that much? Apart from work-ethics, is he THAT much better than Mike Ribeiro? I'm not so sure... Alexei Yashin on the other hand has only once survived the first playoff round and has a total of 48 playoff games under his belt. My point is that Alexei Yashin has never played in a team as good as Briere has in the last two seasons.

Depends on what else the Habs can get. A center is wanted and if there isn't any better player around then Yashin could be the best solution. He's got the talent and if he could accept a one year deal worth a million and a half then maybe he could ignite Samsonov.