DON

So can chalk up a late round swing and miss @154th for Timmins.

No I didn't say ideal, just that if "fanatics" are willing to pony up the $, games are still "available" somewhere on the dial, it wont be worst case. But less competition is never a good thing for public.

The Sabres suck and as long as Habs play their game and be disciplined, they should win easily. 5-19 is a very bad record

He averages 45points/season, gets the odd big hit, is a bit shakey defensively but good all-round, so $6 isn't crazy, but some team may pay $7 for him. He would be almost a #1 d-man on some weak teams (like his hometown Edmonton).

If blacked out and totally unavailable that would be crappy deal, but I also heard that will not be the case and like normally blacked out regional Sportsnet games, if you get centreice package or pay for extra cannel(s) and pay $, the games are not "blacked out". Maybe sportsnet will have Ottawa and Montreal games on their "East" channel as they do for Oil/Flames on their "West" one?

For past few years for here in BC, RDS has been extra $4/month and TVA sports was $2/month last year, so if that dosnt change wont be a big deal. Just too bad CBC hadnt drawn the short straw, i simply cant stand idiot Healy-Cherry and crew and refuse to watch any games or pre-game crap done by them. I have avoided Cherry for years and dont miss his foolishness one bit.

And the 40 years before the lock-out also they managed to avoid being "elite", which is quite a feat of management that few sports teams can match, cept maybe Chicago Cubs, Detroit Lions, LA Clippers.

Hopefully Bob McKenzie for clown quintet of Doug Maclean, (and CBC toss in) Cherry, Healy, Stock, Milbury, but will never happen, TSN isn't that braindead. How bout Maclean for Maggie the monkey?

Why is it that bad a matchup? In any regular season game it is always a toss up between Leafs & Habs. But in a series with these 2 rosters, Habs seem to have better team wouldn't you say?

With Yemelin back and goalies playing as they are, you are correct and team wouldn't even notice a rookie on 3rd pairing. Pateryn is much stronger and defensively sound than Beaulieu and likely stronger than Tinordi and better all-round than the ordinary AHL play Tinordi is showing at present. But, give the big guy another 20-30 games in Hamilton and his game may really improve (and get his confidence back?). And give him another year in weight room and summer work on his skating and he should be ready for prime time. But no, of course, I don't think Pateryn has the upside of either 1st rounder, but am quite curious to see how he would do given a few game stretch. But no big rush for any of the three.

Sure, GMs are always looking to improve team and wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't testing the waters. Last year it was said, he had more inquiries on Eller and Bourque than the rest (as some others were never gonna be traded or virtually untouchable and demand-return for rest not there)

Pateryn still seems like the "most NHL ready", but none of the three would be better options over the two vets on the 3rd pairing, come playoff time. But we will surely see one or two of them as injury call-ups over the next several months and see how they look. Same up front, Habs simply do not have excess quality forwards to ship out for picks/prospects and I doubt any will be traded before a key injury happens.

Agree, but other GMs will look at injury history and not be keen on giving up anything worthwhile for him, so he is more valuable for Habs to simply keep for playoff depth.

And some will say that best time to trade is when you are doing well and not when trading out of desperation, which is sort of along the line of a Pacioretty-for-Kane based trade deal. Simply a hockey deal (highly contentious/debatable swap but). But, I think most would say that Habs will not be sellers, unless things go way off the rails. And Bergevin has contended that he does not want to mortgage the future for short term success, so is another reason why I don't see any big trades being done before deadline.

Defensive depth and Diaz'z play both seem underrated, there simply isn't another d-man on roster nor in Hamilton, who can play top 4 minutes as Diaz can if Markov-Subban ever get injured (without trading picks/prospects to fill that hole). And you know one of top-4 will miss time between now and April, with a shot off ankle/foot or some other random injury.

One PK Subban had defensive gaffs often when he broke in and is till working on that aspect of his game and I would wager that a 22-24 year old version of Beaulieu will be an impact player, if he can just hone his defensive decision making skills just a bit, he could be top notch offensive d-man.

Not worried about Bourque's contract, not that high/long to be an issue, for a bigger (softish) 20+ goal scorer. I simply think his injury history will keep him off the market, or be tradable for anything worthwhile. But he was one I think wouldn't be missed and would open up room for Bournival (and Leblanc or Holland), but not a pressing issue.

Detroit seems a weak version this year and if Habs roster key players can stay healthy, as they are now, they can contend. I don't think the return of Yemelin and winning streak are just coincidence and seem back to playing like the team was prior to #74 going down injured last year. Of course still a long time, an Olympics and many games till the real season begins in April, but got my rose-coloured glasses on and very encouraged by recent team play (and Hamilton also mirroring Habs recent success).

Just Dumont will be gone, sparepart for a sparepart at deadline. Simply will need all the d- depth they have, so none of those will be traded with the team headed to playoffs and up front I think will stay the course as well. And obviously a couple of current healthy players, will be out injured come deadline day and I think Hamilton's top couple forwards or d-men will simply be asked to fill-in and Bergevin wont need to deal.

But, what are you thinking! That stuff isn't important, is irrelevant and simply wrong; because it is incalculable to the biostatisticians among us. Don't you realize that it is cherry-picked stats that matter most (which we all use from time to time to support a point of view).

He seems to stand back from puck battles, or opposite of a Gallagher, and almost hope puck is freed for him to grab and go (Cammalleri-like). Lacking "assertiveness" seems bang-on. But, he was on a bad Blazer team and is showing signs of adjusting to new team, so I hope am premature and wrong in pigeon holing him and he is able to produce in Hamilton.

Ryan Ellis plays 30 seconds more/game than Murray, so that 30 seconds is dividing line between "garbage" and useful I suppose? Stress on other 5, really, come on, seems a weak argument? Markov is the only one to worry about (but that will not change till he retires), but Subban at 18th, Gorges 84th and Diaz at 88th for d-icetime and Yemelin will be 20+minutes down the road. So Pateryn (or some non-garbage 3rd pairing hab d-man) would take the 2nd best defending team, to the #1 spot?

Bozon had 5 points in 3 games this week. But, watched a few of his games this year and I just don't get a "good feeling" about how he may do at the pro level. I get the impression he will just be a Avtsin or that Alain Berger type? I thought Thrower also was trending in wrong direction, but seems to really have rebounded from a tough year and look forward to seeing what game he will bring to Hamilton in the spring. Fucale with shutout and 2nd star in another easy victory. (That Auger goalie for Saint John is seeing a ton more shots and leading the Q in #of saves and save%)

And Hal Gill was no ballerina o the ice and was a key role player for Habs. I see the same in Murray and have been impressed every game with his simple solid play. I would compare him to other lead-footed Hab d-men like Rick Green, Craig Ludwig who imitated pylons often, but were good Habs to have on roster. I imagine you will toss out some stats to prove his meets your 'Worst D-man" call, but ask Bergevin, Rick Dudley, Ray Shero, why they would recently trade for and recruit & sign him, they have all the information, statistical analysis, etc etc. And I would say you are in the minority who hasn't thought Murray should be playing. He has ben blocking shots, clearing the crease, tossing his weight around and not being a major liability out there. Beaulieu and Tinordi are exactly where they should be, till at least New Year or they start to dominate a bit more in Hamilton. I would love to see Paterym draw in, but another year in Hamilton wont hurt one bit and he seems to be thriving there. I don't like crapping on Boullion and think he is a capable 3rd pairing guy, but another sub-6 footer or smallish d-man vs the physical presence of Murray, I will take Murray for fewer shifts and I am sure the top 4 or 5 don't mind playing an extra shift or 2 anyways.

Beaulieu/Pateryn/Tinordi had 13 shots 3 PP goals And Thomas may be a nice boost to offense.