DON

You forgot to include Patrick Roy in dearly departed/bad trade. Classiest organization? Dont know if i buy that, you would have to poll all non Hab diehard fans for a more unbiased ranking. Likely are exact same as 90% of others. All teams ship out players for personal reasons and all teams regret a couple of those, no big deal. Habs are again likely in the middle of pack for traded players. But from what is said, Bergevin and Dudley may be the perfect upgrade on Pro-Player assessments on own and other teams; that maybe Gauthier and Gainey werent best at?? Will see hw plays out.

Ya, i noted Jankowski plays quebec high school or something of the like and Button also thought him hard to judge due to competition level, but has all the parts (but so did/does Ben Pouliot). Am curious; I see many question Craig Button's rankings as being out to lunch, but he commented his is not a mock draft per say and more a long term prospect forcast, Whereas the TSN/McKenzie draft rank is easy to look back on and see as fairly accurate; do you know how Button's rankings have played out? He has been involved with prospects for a long time now and must be pretty good at talent projection by now, any idea?

I see a day soon when fighting will not be a big factor and the NHL may join the 21st century. You fight in NFL/Rugby/ NBA/MLB/Soccer/Any INternational Hockey event and you are instantly gone as well as fined normally. I dont buy Cherry's arguement for it one bit and will be glad when the NHL owners finally man-up and bring in instant ejection from game for being childish. But till then i am fine with Staubitz playing his 5-6 minutes/game and join his peer on the ice once a night for a dance. Humans will always love and cheer for a bloodsport, but a necessary part of Hockey not a chance. World juniors/Olympics is just super hockey and has zero fights.

Dont remember Turcott, but bio says he is from Indiana? But the french battle is only reason you dont want another Canadian franchise? Dosent seem a good arguement for hoping Phoenix/Florida/Carolina/Columbus and other shakey teams all stay afloat? I remember the battles they used to have on the ice and would welcome the rivalry again. And losing fans/$$ i dont think has ever been an big issue for Habs has it?

ISS had him 21st NA skater, CS has 29th and Bob had him at 38th and the 5 point effort in U18 gold medal game wouldnt do anything but raise his status a bit, so will be no surprise to see go anywhere from 30-to-40. And just another example of why this class dosent seem as thin as some are saying. Timmins should (barring trades) have a sweet haul of 3 quality prospects with 32nd-51st and 63rd picks?

Screw that, stick it too them, just business and class aint got nothing to do with it; but like i say Dudley aint real important for draft anyways and likely more important for July 1st dealing. Again, it was numbnuts Burke who should of read over contract prior to signing Dudley and price to pay for having a lame duck director of player development. I loved the way Cammalleri was shown the door, that was just too funny and one of highlights of year for me; just a super trade and cant wait to see how Holland does in Hamilton this fall and Calgary should suck next year and that 2nd round pick will likely be fairly high (if not used in trade by then).

I was very happy he got the boot at the time and i wouldnt want him back still. I think you might be overstating the move a bit?, it is very similar to Avery getting punted, just 2 classy guys.

i think you are thinking of boxing. Could really care less about winning percentage, Kostopoulas is 0% for his career; but still stands up for his teammates every time, that takes balls and he is likely more valuable than a Shelley/BGL or Parros.

Souray was a slug years ago, horrendous defensively and is slower than Gill, wouldnt touch with ten foot pole. I would try and resign Gil before Souray (but dont really want Gill niether) There are so many crap teams in USA ready to fold, that just a matter of which one moves where? and would love to see a team in Quebec, they used to have some very spirited games. Why wouldnt you like one in Quebec city? I want contraction and would love to see at least 4 teams axed, instead of the 10-15 money makers being used to prop up the rest, sooner or later some of the southern teams got to go.

nice fantasy team anyways

Patrick Roy is in almost identical situation and a demigod in Quebec city isnt he?

Not Lats, who has hardly played in several years. And i gag when i say this, but Riberio has had a very solid career for sure, but still wouldnt want him back.

You could be 100% correct, but i am skeptical that Vincent would have much more a grip on scouting than a layman, even after being a very good player? I am very high on Dumba as a prospect, but he, in his own words even, needs much work in the defensive zone, but i am one who would risk picking him for sure if Galchenyuk is gone in first 2 picks. But Habs have a big well paid scouting dept to make the final call on who is worthy of top 3 pick. will see in 5-6 weeks.

Everyone on 4th line play limited minutes. And at $250,000 you dont much better value than Staubitz, even Knopka is 700 or so, for a couple minutes/game. Goons are a dying breed, but almost every team has an idiot or 2 running around out there and a goon on the bench. Shultz is like White and not a big time fighter (or so i am told), but he did show improvment last year and a 4th line of White-Staubitz and Shultz might rattle the boards pretty good? And they are only likely to see 7-10 minutes /game at most (with White playing some on PK also), so how much harm could they cause.

And i guess is pretty safe to assume Flames and Caps are drawing from a different pool altogeather than Habs and not much worry of being scooped for a francophone coach by either of those teams eh?

Since coaching interviews havent happened yet, when is it expected, or when is a coach being named really needed? July/Aug? or just after a 2nd AGM is hired?

CC wanted some assurance of upgrade over Plekanec and tried to keep it simple, you can say who cares and may not mean dick-all, but i would see as a super change-up. And the face-off % is a killer to PP/PK and last minute defensive zone face offs, not many star centres are below 50% as Plekanec/Desharnais and Eller all are. Desharnais and Eller still can learn and improve Plekanec has been the same for years with zero improvment. PLekanec if good on the PK, but Habs #1 PK guy is Price, followed by Gorges, so is easily replaceable, by maybe Eller/Leblanc (heard same about Gill, but PK almost improved once Gill was gone) And like i say Stastny is but one of several who might reshape the forward group up the middle, Joe Thorton would be another whose team is maybe looking to shake up roster? $7/year is acceptable and he brings alot to table, but may be costly to pry away. Am very curious to see what Bergevin does to put his stamp on team?

Of course he is a 4th liner and he knows his role. He was surprisingly an OK skater and forechecker; but he seems very good at what he does well. And if he only sees 5-6minutes/game i think that would be fine with him and 4th liners are lucky to get 10 minutes/game anyways, so if double shift a forward a couple times/game is insignificant. The smaller players seem to be quite happy to have him and he would be a lot cheaper and better skater than BGL, so i would sign him to 2 way contract if possible? If Ian Shultz can improve and train hard he may squeeze him out, but he hasnt yet.

Damphousse is just a RDS guy right? So i wouldnt worry about much he commented on, maybe he is a good guy and all that, but he is not even involved in hockey is he? a new Hab scout?? I almomst totally agree, Dumba's seems a bit lost in own end, but his offense could be super and Murray is what he is, a solid all-round d-man, as someone said, he is like Niedermayer but wont have the offense. Only time will tell and if Timmins called Murray's name, that would be dandy with me as well. And Bergevin could trade a d-man on JUly 1st to make room for Murray this fall. I cant remember when the last teenager who suited up and had a good career with Habs was, never?

Would love to have opening round 5 game series, would be sweet and done in NBA (or used to be) but hell will freeze over first. How bout back to back games in every series (bring in conditioning as a bigger factor), oh again dosent fit with maximizing TV revenue, so another no go. Scrap more exibition games, start earlier. Summer Hockey is just wrong in many ways, i am only saying chop off 2 weeks is all. It would be very easy to speed it up, but it all comes down to $$ (and to a minor part, schedullin issues).

But (as a Dumba promoter) Dumba has already spoken about his defensive liabilities and recognizes it is his weak aspect. And they say defense is something that can be taught (in AHL), and Subban is one example of a very similar player, who now dosent take himself out of position to make the big hit; as much anymore and is learning the defensive side of game. But Dumba, has all that cant be taught, skating, puck skills, offensive instincts, open-ice hitting, leadership and he is very tough kid for his size, so if Timmmins called his name at #3 (which i think unlikely) i would be very happy, but still would prefer slightly Galchenyuk.

But he definitely plays on the edge; many times i think he is getting a penalty and it goes un-called, not sure why, maybe becasue he is not a whiner, plays consistantly tough/clean and dosent piss off refs post whistle? But before he came to NHL, it was said he did have a reputation and drew Kasparitis comparisons.

I started watching in 80s and still love the wide open, fast, hard hitting, higher scoring game, to a soccer match-up. The WHL finals was just that for all 7 games and made for very exciting and entertaining hockey. I would say start with goaltending equipment, ignore the goalies whining and make it sensible size. Is an easiest of fixs. Maybe do as the NBA has and institute a defensive zone penalty for trap and collapse around the net defensive system. Try and have more objective Referring, who arnt total puppets of Bettman and GMs. Call the same hooking penalty in pre-season as is called in last 5 minutes of game 7 of finals, it is done in every other professional sports league, who, unlike the NHL, actually have some integrity. There is a reason the World juniors draw every Candian Hockey Fanatic to watch every X-mas. Even a final without the Candians was a super game to watch. And the memorial cup shouldnt be any different. The NHL season should be ending right around now, not June. I hope Phoenix wins cup, but summer is here. Go Blue Jays!

Stastny is an upgrade in every catagory, cept PK maybe?? Stastny is 12th in league on face offs (which is one achilles heal of habs) Thomas is 54th and has been his whole career sub 50%. Stastny has him in size, he is a NHL average 6'0" and 205lb, Thomas is not even average size. Stastny has bout same points in over 100 fewer games. Stastny is 3 years younger. Stastny has 3 years with 70-80 points out of his 6 years in league on a shitty team. I am not saying Stastny would be a cure-all and the guy to go after; and i also love Thomas's play and his has an affordable (undervalued maybe) contract; but if Bergevin is too reshape the team i see having 2 small forwards as top 2 centres as the first place to start a retooling. But a Stastny-like centre, could be JoeThorton/Marleau/O Reilly/Stall/Getzlaf or any of a number of all-star centres would fit between Cole and Pacioretty nicely, and Stastny seems to have some chemisty with Max. And many other GMs might see Plekanec as a nice fit for an underperforming/stagnant team.

Good one! I think a 2nd line of Bozon-Galchenyuk-Gallagher could be a very popular and productive one in 2 or 3 years?