JGC21

Agreed, but we had Emelin and Beaulieu playing with Weber last year - Schlemko is better than both those guys. Now, if Markov re-signs then maybe he plays with Weber.

Agreed. I think the top 12 looks like this: Pacioretty - Danault - Drouin Galchenyuk - Shaw - Gallagher Lehkonen - Plekanec - Hemsky Byron - De La Rose - Hudon

My guess is Chucky stays. Besides, the D is set with: Schlemko - Weber Alzner - Petry Davidson - Benn Morrow/Jerabek battling it out for 7th spot

Looks like DAL caved and gave him his 5-year term he was seeking. No way MTL was doing that.

Normally, yes. But I scrolled through his 'rumour chart' and he had Marleau going to TOR and a few other mediocre signings correct. His pass/fail ratio is still terrible but I'm always curious to see what he's reporting....

Uh-oh.... EK is reporting Galchenyuk for Anisimov rumors....

Word is that the Flyers and Stars have offered Radu more money ($7M+ AAV) but MTL is the only team that has offered the most term (4 years). Radu needs to decide soon.

According to http://www.danslescoulisses.com/fr/radulov-exigerait-4-ans/, MTL has offered Radu a 4-year/$6.5M AAV contract. He hasn't turned it down, he had to fly home to Russia to deal with 'personal issues' yesterday. I say Radu signs it.

I agree. MB should've explored trading Price for Tavares and then signed him to 8 years / 84 million. Then call up Lindgren and have him be the starter for MTL, or Montoya, or maybe MB should've signed Miller, Mason, Elliott or Pavelic? You know what, all this could've been avoided if Gainey had just drafted Kopitar instead of Price like he was supposed to back in '05. Having Carey Price sucks.

You're probably right. Getting Radu, Chucky and Markov back next year will likely cost $16M - they have $15M in cap space. Somebody else will have to go.

Funny, I feel the opposite is true. If the money/term was that much better in free agency then they BOTH would have signed by now. The realty is, it isn't. I see one (if not both) coming back to MTL with their tail between their legs.

No he hasn't. He told SJ he would come back on a one year deal but the paperwork hasn't been filed yet. Marleau has now signed with TOR so it could get interesting.

With Marleau gone from SJ could Jumbo Joe be next?

What are the reports on TJ Brodie in CGY? He seems like an extra (i.e. expendable) body now that the Flames have a top four of Giordano, Hamilton, Hamonic and Stone. Could Brodie be a fit for playing beside Weber?

Correct. But my guess is they see Drouin as a better option to convert to C than Galchenyuk. Pacioretty - Drouin - Radulov Byron - Danault - Gallagher Lehkonen - Plekanec - Shaw Hudon - Mitchell - McCarron Martinsen, De La Rose

If Radu re-signs with MTL (which I think he will) then Chuky gets dealt for a top LHD to play with Weber.

I would echo the sentiment of 'calm down'... before the end of this weekend, MTL's top-4 will be: Markov - Weber Alzner - Petry

Show me the money... Bonino - 4 years/$16M (AAV $4M) Galchenyuk - 2 years/$10M (AAV $5M) Markov - 2 years/$11.5M (AAV $5.75M) Alzner - 4 years/$18M (AAV $4.5M) Pacioretty - Bonino - Galchenyuk Drouin - Danault - Gallagher Lehkonen - Shaw - Hudon Martinsen - De La Rose - Byron Plekanec, Mitchell Alzner - Weber Markov - Petry Schlemko - Benn Davidson Price Montoya The only trade MB makes is dumping Plex (some salary retained, for a 3rd round pick).

What about trading Draisaitl for Galchenyuk?

I agree, Girardi is done. Maybe sign him on a one year deal, but 3? No way. I do think Bonino is coming to MTL, he is an upgrade at center versus Plex, he's younger and has Cup winning ways thanks to his time in PIT. I still say that one of Radulov/Galchenyuk won't be back.

No doubt that McDavid and Draisatl passed him by on the depth chart. They probably need to save some money and dealing RNH makes sense. Now, dealing Gallagher means that Radulov and Galchenyuk are signed and ahead of him on the RW depth chart for the Habs. Makes sense for both teams really. Agreed, the D is weak and no doubt MB signs a new LHD - questions is who?

Here's my prediction at next year's lineup: Pacioretty - Nugent-Hopkins - Radulov Drouin - Danault - Galchenyuk Lehkonen - Bonino - Shaw Martinsen - Mitchell - Byron De La Rose Markov - Weber Schlemko - Petry Davidson - Benn Jerabek Price Montoya *Note: Gallagher traded for Nugent-Hopkins, Plekanec traded for draft pick (50% salary retained)

My take is MB inquired BEFORE he landed Schlemko. I hope.

Nick Bonino is in Montreal tomorrow to meet with MB. I believe that's the third UFA to come to Montreal to check the city/organization out (Weal, Alzner). Interesting.

It seems as though MB is playing the waiting game; Radu needs to decide if he'll accept an offer in length for 4-5 years. If Radu goes sign with the Habs, my guess is Galchenyuk is gone. What about dealing Chucky to Minny for Brodin or Scandella? Radu - $7M/year Markov - $5.5M/year Brodin/Scandella - $4.1/year That leaves $7M+ for Jumbo Joe