patience is a virtue

I like the suggestion here that The Wiz moves up with Hammer and PK plays with Mara. Weber and Picard play reduced minutes and if Mara holds his own him and PK play 25+. lol - the old man might keel over. like me on the outdoor rink with Queen's students last week.

I agree with most of the praise for AK above. He is a valuable asset, with a killer shot, big body, and creative passing abilities. The lure of untapped potential is there - especially given what has been happening with his bro. I think the time to move him has come. Can't see resigning him for $3.25M. Nashville is even more desperate for offense than Montreal is, and they're also trying to make a playoff run. They know how to rehab a Kostitsyn. Cody Franson in return fills a number of Mtl's needs and the Preds are deep with backend prospects. Maybe they force us to take the slumping Dumont and his salary in return as part of the deal. We have to send Picard, a pick and maybe a prospect the other way for him. The stars are aligning on such a deal - meets both teams short and long-term needs. OK, I'll stop repeating myself now

sucks to have lost a game they had in hand twice, but the fact that they almost won, and we expected them to win, against a very hot buffalo team, and down 4 of our top 6 d-men and our best goal scorer is, actually, a very good sign.

While I agree with all you've said above about microstats and AK's value, and with TCC's comments above, I think PG will make an "out-of-character" strong move - especially if the Habs go on a bit of a winning streak and move up a spot or two more - before the deadline. How much more proof do we need of this teams grit and gumption if they go into March in 3rd or 4th in the East, down Markov and Gorges (and maybe others)? I think Gauthier has to have faith in what the coaches and players are saying - "It might not look like we have the horses on paper, but we have what it takes in our hearts and on the ice, so give us some more tools to make a real run at the Cup." I think AK is the one piece that PG can leverage to meet multiple short and long-term needs (big, fast, young, balanced, d-man), and if the Preds need to offload salary in the form of slumping Dumont to boot, that has the potential to compensate for AK up front. You know what it really comes down to for me though? When I try to imagine AK resigning before July 1st, something just doesn't feel right. I may be off base with this intuition, but it seems like something (on ice performance? commitment? work ethic? AK's groove with the city and hockey culture here?) is not fitting with him. And Nashville is the team who will probably pay the most for a Kostitsyn.

Gotcha. Except the habs's top priority has to be a d-man. With the news flash that Nash has been called up I am beginning to imagine a scenario where Gill is out for a while (or is it Spacek?), Nash is up to be tested while the scouts check out Franson and Dumont in Music City. Could be something like the four player deal I suggested above with Nash as the fifth player instead of Maxwell. Maybe Nash's call-up is dual purpose: a) pressure the Preds/see if Nash is ready and the trade is unnecessary (not likely), b) showcase Nash as part of the deal (perhaps even at Nashville's request...) Nash to Nashville. Fun times!

interesting. i wonder if PG would take a risk on on a four/five player deal: Franson and veteran Montrealer J-P Dumont for AK and Picard + a third round pick, or a prospect like Maxwell. Halpern also comes to mind, if Nashville's centres are injured long-term - I don't know the deets on their recovery timelines and assume Fisher covers that base.

I posted a less developed version of this (love the edit function here!) over at Lions in Winter after reading those two Montreal Examiner links on the HW homepage, and then remembered that LiW is not the only Habs forum with thoughtful discussion. Should have posted here instead, hope the re-post passes muster: Gotta believe we're looking for a d-man, maybe scrambling for one if Gill is out long-term. The Habs might have a hold on 3rd or 4th in the East come the trade deadline. Despite our collective tendancy to downplay Mtl's playoff potential this season, you gotta respect the resilience, determination and success of JM and his team. If they do move up another spot or two in the standings during the next couple of weeks, I expect PG to make a serious move before the deadline to bolster our backend for the playoffs. Nashville has two options being touted in this follow up article: Alexander Sulzer or Shane O'Brien. Each has their advantages. Either could be had as an affordable rental, for a mid-level pick (3rd or 4th?), or prospects like Maxwell and Carle. But I don't see a lot of upside for Nashville. They are making a serious run for a playoff spot themselves in the West. They must be looking for something immediate as well. I don't know the details of their needs, but they are even more starved for top six scoring than we are! This leads me to the possibility of the other K dropping. It seems totally possible to me that the Preds have asked the Habs to consider shipping the other brother their way - Sergei is a hit afterall, and Andrei has even more potential. PG won't part with RFA AK lightly, nor should he. Yet, I find it easy to imagine no AK in Montreal next season. And easy to imagine that the Preds would make the best offer going for AK, given their positive experience with his bro and the possibility that the Belarussians might like to be re-united (not to mention the fact that most Habs fans way underestimate AK's value). Nashville has defensive depth to offer in return (Blum and Ellis are their top prospects). My guess is that Cody Franson would come the other way. Straight up. Or maybe we send them Maxwell or Carle as well. 23, 6'4", 213lbs, signed till 2012 at 800K, an all round d-man with speed and size, a plus rating and points. Exactly what the doctor ordered for the short-term and adds to our exciting youth movement for the long-term. Added bonus - would put a little pressure on The Wiz to play a more physical and balanced game or slip down the depth chart and risk short-changing his big upcoming UFA payday.

How about this? Dman ---- 2010-11 --- 2011-12 Markov --- 5,750,000 - 5.5M - 2 years Ham ------ 5,500,000 - walks Gill -------- 2,250,000 - 2M - 1 year Wiz -------- 3,250,000 - 4M - 3 years Gorges -- 1,100,000 - 2.75M - 5 years Weber --- 875,000 --- 800,000 - 2 years (one way contract) Picard --- 600,000 --- walks Subban - 875,000 --- 875,000 Spacek - 3,83M ------ 3,833,333 Totals: $22,558,333 $19,758,333 That, as you said, leaves $12M to sign AK ($3.75M for 3), Poo ($3M for 3), Max Pac ($1.5M for 2), Darche ($0.55M for 1) and Pyatt ($0.55 for 1) and maybe Halpern and Desharnais, or their replacements with the rest...