DON

In thinking of trading Moan, it just would be very hard to replace a guy who, works hard every game, kills penalties very well, has a bit of scoring touch, is fairly tough and never ever takes a bad penalty? I was trying to think of even one dumb stick penalty of his and draw a blank? But Gauthier must be getting some good offers i bet, but resigning him wouldnt be a bad idea.

Like i said, i didnt think he would stay another year, just thinkin wouldnt hurt is all and i had sort of penciled him for AHL anyways and i will really be looking forward to Kristo, Gallagher, Bournival and Holland turning pro and also Leblanc and Eller after a full summer of training (barring any more injury/surgeries), because with no training camps i think both had to have suffered a bit and still look great.

you are probably correct on what will happen, just Beaulieu's defense scares me and he reminds me exactly of Subban, great skater and puck skills (and not lacking in confidence) but defensive decision making is weak and a final year in junior wouldnt hurt and Habs dont really need him with depth of offensive d-men already in pro (Markov, Subban, Diaz, Weber). Now; Tinrodi, Ellis, Pateryn, Stejalskal, Nash the Habs could use right away, if only just for size. Also i thought St.Denis was more than capable and would love to see him called up for last 20-30 games. And for Kristo, i just think his development was set back a year with the ol frostbite incident and also he might as well finish schooling and if he can, rip up his league? But he is a scorer and Habs are in desparate need of any offense they can add.

PK improved when Gill got hurt near start of year and i dont agree he is a "key" component and is repalceable, Price/Gorges are the key ones. splittin hairs, but i would wager, there will be little difference with Gill gone and overall 5-0n-5 will be an improvment. Not that i dont appreciate his effort and he will be a key PK addition to another team, but Habs defense and between the pipes will offset his loss for sure.

Too bad Palushaj was sent back down, he, Eller and Louis looked super and was first time i have seen Palushaj actually play with other skilled players. Pateryn will likely be signed i am guessing. Probably be best for both Kristo and Beaulieu to just play out 1 more year where they are now?

the top francophone in QMJHL is ranked 57th by ISS, so it aint a hot bed for players, so it would pay to scout WHL/OHL, Europe and USHL long before even bothering with the Q. wouldnt it? After the first couple rounds it is really a crap shoot, even Detroit took 6 flops before fluking out with Datsyuk. Now the SEL is one place the Habs have avoided for some reason? cant even remember the last Swedish Hab pick to play regular shift for Habs? At least Habs take a token francophone or 2 every year, but none have paid off yet, cept maybe Ellis (whom i think wil do well). Archambault is the latest and is not too promising is he? Whereas a Gallagher or Holland play in a tougher more defensive league and produce more NHLers, as does the OHL. Why the Q seems to be so thin in talent seems odd, fewer kids playing maybe?

Gainey and Sather are the real idiots and not sure what Gauthier could of ever done with Gomez? If any youngster needs some NHL experiance, fo sure send Gomez away, dont care if Hamilton, press box, Alaska or to go hang out with Big George, just dont waste a roster spot on him, let Palushaj take his minutes or Engqvist take his centre slot on 4th line? He is of no use to a non playoff team and i pray is not in 2012-13 plan?

i think Tinordi will start in AHL, but will get some injury call up games. I expect he will add some strength this summer and no way you can compare him to Weber/Subban's development i dont think, he is a defensive d-man with the reach of a Gill, but much quicker. Sure he will lose some battles along the boards for a couple years and get turned inside out by some fast forwards, but killing penalties and clearing the crease is where he will shine and easily fill Gill's role. And he will add some of what Yemelin has brought to the table and Subban has lately with his big hits. But still will spend most of year in Hamilton and play a ton of minutes i hope.

`if he would take a good salary, i would resign in a second, $6 for 3 years i would say right at deadline Leafs/St Louis/Canucks/Sens/Pitts/Detroit 2nd rounder or late pick and prospect. if the prospect is like Holland, i would want a centre prospect. I would give away Moan for nothing, if that team would take Gomez as well.

for once will they actually give Palushaj a regular shift on one of top 2 lines, to see what he really has, or can do? playing 5-8minutes on 4th line is just a waste of an offensive player. At this point what can it hurt?

I think he is supposed to be back within the week? But, there would be worse things than just resigning Moan,instead of him for a pick/prospect. I feel same about Kostitsyn, if they get good return than trade him today, but if just resign him for a couple years, i would be happy either way. Just as long as UFAs dont walk for dick-all!

I am a Plekanec fan, but if could trade him and extra stuff for a bigger centre of similar value, why not deal him? But i got a feeling he is going no where, which is also fine by me. The only untradeable one i see is Price, cause he just cant be replaced and like Plekanec he aint going anywhere.

Pollack may have been shrewd but that trade proposal aint. Given Columbus's draft track record they would make that trade in an instant. I suppose we will sign Budai long term as a #1 will we?

I would disagree and say Price is untradeable and for Subban, i would want a Tavares/Duschene/Mikko Koivu/Couturier type player, but he aint going anywhere and i bet both he and Price get signed to long term deals. Gauthier has lots of other assets to trade before thinking of dealing Subban.

I dont see a big fire sale coming; but shipping out Moan, Desharnais, Gill, Campoli, Weber, Kostitsyn may clear the way for signing a #1 centre on July 1st possibly, as well as a bunch of picks/prospects? Not a clue how to get rid of Gomez, just the biggest boat anchor in league! Markov "should" be back to play 20 games or so of practice i hope and all will be healed up fine ? Seems many players still havent heard of Yemelin yet and are easily pasted by him; at least he, Gorges, Price and a few others show up to play every night. Only 1 spot out of lottery pick at present. I hadnt thought Habs were bad enough to challange for that, but as lame as they played last night, Grigorenko aint that far off?

Id like to keep Plekanec and am a fan, but to get a bigger top centre of equal value or better, that is worth trading for, he would be bout only top forward with a fair salary that another team might like? If DD was moved to wing, sounds good, but again at his cheap salary and he good production, he might be a wanted valued commodity, that i think the Habs could do without, with a spot for Leblanc needed and most lkely Gallagher/Bournival in 2013, if not sooner if do well in AHL? (but i tend to overly optomistic with most prospects)

Watched Patrick Holland play vs Dumba/ Red Deer, That Dumba is quite a d-man, he scored 2 goals; but 1 was in last minutes of game to tie and next was in first minute of OT for win, i know the Habs dont need a d-man, but you couldnt pass on him unless you had a very top pick. Holland was 3rd star of game without a point. Commentators said he might be best skater in WHL after he rushed puck end to end several times and was all over the ice all game, blocking shots and backchecking. He kind of reminded me of Eller's play. Kristo's play seems OK, but does not really stand out (like a Gallagher/Holland do), but he is producing, wouldnt be a bad idea for him to maybe stay 1 more year in NCAA? Mark MacMillan is doing fine as freshman and he is on both the PP and PK for North Dakota, hopefully next year he can up his production? Bournival and Ellis are both doing great and look forward to seeing them play in memorial Cup in May.

i think you got it 100% bang on and i am looking forward to see how all the guys you noted take to being a pro; ie: will Gallagher's offense translate against bigger/faster players. With Cole/Pacioretty/Bourque/Eller/Blunden/Engqvist/Kostitsyn/White/Leblanc/Moan; the size up front will be quite different next year, but still have 1 too many small centres i think and Desharnais or Plekanec being traded in a package for a big top centre would seem the next move to make. Plekanec and Weber/Moan and/or Kostitsyn for a bigger centre? Like a Getzlaf/Koivu/Stastny/ORielly/Kopitar?

Weber/McDonagh/Subban and Pacioretty all 2007 picks for Habs, the last year they have had a 2nd round pick. And i agree 100% that he may be one that got away and down the road a solid puck moving point producing d-man for some team, Oilers/Florida/Colorado/Islanders may be a good fit for him for a 2nd round pick or forward prospect. But Habs are too small on back end right now and Diaz makes him expendable and a nice asset to trade to another rebuilding team by himself or in a package deal with say a Plekanec or Desharnais? I have followed him since OHL days and would hate to see him go, but Habs dont lack defense prospects.

He wasnt the only one who rated Kostitsyn as a top 5 talent, and they only worry at the time was siezures he had, which is why he fell to 10th. I remember Piere McQuire ranting positively about him (which i guess is all he ever does, so goes without saying). I think everyone seems to have favorites, as last year i thought Mark McNeil or Shiefele would fit perfect with Habs, but never had Beaulieu falling to 17th, and McNeil was still available, but time will tell if he pans out with Backhawks. Gaunce seems to be perfect fit this year, but does he have the offense to go 8th-11th where Habs will pick? I also see Forsberg as a possibility for Hab range. But how could you pass on one more top d-man? Can you ever have enough good d-men?

Win/lose, no matter at this stage and i just hope they put forth a good effort and play the young guys a ton. But i got feeling the game will be close and i would almost guess the Habs will win.

I am a fan of Engqvist, love his size and defensive smarts, the only drawback was his faceoffs. But he is only 2nd year pro with bout 80 games under belt, which is far fewer tham most NHLers, such as a Plekanec, who i think played 200 AHL games or thereabout. But i would say he is and will be a nice upgrade over that Finn and may stop the yearly change at the 4th line centre position, although White may end up at centre down the road?

A bit harsh. And if i recall most were 50-50 on whether to either sign the Wiz or Markov, i think you would of been almost alone last july to say we would of let both walk, dont you think? Markov's recovery seems almost unprecidented in length, but all in hindsight sir, who knew? Campoli signing was i bet at request of Martin for another vet on the backend, and he is not a big salary. Also many seem to simply assume, you just offer a Weber or Stamkos the big $$ and you get them, it dosent quite work like that and you must realize some are hesitant to sign in Quebec for obvious reasons. Giving up 4 1st round picks is OK if you have a bunch of highly skilled players already in the farm system and are just looking for that final big piece to really contend and it is a move that is rarly done, with good reason. And unlike you, i am good/pleased with Kaberle signing and he will fit in nicely as a 3rd pairing/PP guy, sure a bit overpaid, but if we can convince Gomez to retire it wont be a big deal.

Diaz is almost 3 years older and has played more games this year and has zero PP goals while Weber has 4? so almost like comparing Apples and Oranges and i would bet you in 3 years Weber will be a valuable puck mover and point producer for some team; but he is a nice movable asset but too bad we will likely trade him. But; i really only see him going to a rebuilding team and maybe could be part of a package deal with a Plekanec or Desharnais (not that i want to move any of them, but 1 small centre should go and both have very fair contracts)? By himself; Weber should be worth a 2nd rounder or equivalent forward prospect i would hope?

yes, bout 20 goals for out of playoffs, what were you expecting a top contender? Add in a healthy Gionta, Markov and delete cull Cammalleri and if had Bourque all year and would be sitting fine and this and that happened..etc. Habs have been a mediocre middle of road team for 20 years, with many GM and coach combos, you think grass is greener with a another new GM, possibly but likely dreaming. You will likely get your wish anyways, but Gauthier has been at least average GM and majority of trades /signings i am pleased with. Bout time for Habs to suck it up and be a seller at deadline, sure some shortterm pain, but in long run could be what Habs really need. And the next month will be where Gauthier can really implement some big changes, but will he get the most for assets or be a Milbury, or even be allowed by Molson to trade for future??