Commandant

I'd say late first/early 2nd. If he has a growth spurt (he's 5'09 or 5'10 right now) he could move up.

Its early, but here is a preseason top 10 for next year's draft http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/07/early-look-top-10-nhl-draft-prospects-for-2013/

5'11" is not small. Especially when you play the style of game that Plekanec does.

Great value for him.

I haven't seen the financials on it yet.

We should have avoided Czerkawski

Slacker, but might be worth a cheap contract if you want to fill the 2nd line LW spot. He's got talent.

Nokelainen didn't leave.

Or he'll score 30 goals, get resigned, get cheapshotted in the playoffs, score 30 again, turn into a bag of crap, and then leave for a 4th round pick. Yeah, you are right, its probably the 1 and done.

Howson was asking for Skinner + prospects from Carolina and for Couture plus prospects from SJ surely he'd ask for MaxPac ++ from us Howson is nuts And we arent on Nash's list anyway

The big movers and shakers of free agency was the Northwest division, with 7 of the biggest names in Free Agency going there. A look at the changes in that division. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/06/go-west-go-northwest-the-powerbrokers-of-nhl-free-agency/

Bourque wants 17 (always was his number) and Gally wants 94

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=637297 Prust gets 8 Bouillion 55 Armstrong 20 and Bourque switches from 27 to 17.

When your market has 1) the highest taxes 2) the most media and fan pressure in the NHL 3) you can't go out in public without being recognized. 4) some of the worst weather in the NHL and 5) has not won the cup in a long time. You need to provide these type of enticements or watch players not sign with you... like Briere, Smyth, Shannahan, Elias, Hossa, Rafalski, and numerous others we've gone after.

In Gionta's two healthy seasons, he led the Habs in goals both years. We keep complaining we don't have a 2nd line winger who can score goals, and thats true we need another one to play LW... but why do we want to throw away one of the goal scorers we do have?

Thats probably the way they go, but we really don't know right now. Either way you are paying for the skills he brings, and he brings the skill of a 45 pt dman if given the PP time. I think they are keeping him until they know more about Markov's knee.

I read the article and it seemed to state a lot of very obvious points.

So does Kaberle. Someone is gonna have to learn to play the other side. I think Markov can do it. Yes we tried him there before and it didn't work, but two things with that 1) he needed to be on the LH side, to set up Kovalev on the RH side, and when we moved him to the right it took that away. We'll be looking at a different PP now, and don't need that same setup without Kovalev or Cammalleri taking the shot on the RH boards. 2) when he was moved, Tanguay was made the passer and Markov the shooter, changing not only his position, but his role. If he moves there and sets up PK it might work (of course this changes if its Kaberle on the other point, which is why I think PK-Markov is more likely, as I stated).

Kaberle is capable of bigger numbers We have yet to see what they will do this year Is Markov healthy? Is it Markov - Subban or Markov - Kaberle? while the first is more likely I wouldnt be 100% sure either

Got it thanks

What do the teams that lost out on Parise and Suter do now? http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/05/left-scrambling-teams-that-feel-the-pain-of-the-parisesuter-decision/

The Habs have invited Brendan Ranford to training camp. (Bill's nephew) He’s a young LW/C who was drafted in the 7th round in 2010 by the Flyers, but unsigned. At 5’10″ he has some size issues… and he’s not the best skater in the league, but he plays a gritty game and has put up a ton of points for Kamloops in the WHL. 86 points in 68 games in 2011 92 points in 69 games this year. Definite low risk/high reward type of move here. Ranford has some skils, he works hard, goes to the net, has a decent shot, and good playmaking working off the cycle game. He does have the deficiencies stated above though. We’ll see how he does in camp.

going rate... see wideman and wiz Another reason why Kaberle's 4.25 is not excessive for a 40 assist 45 point guy

Doan and Semin for legit top 6 talent Sykora for a guy with a nice 21 goal 44 point season in Jersey Wolski, Mueller, Kostitsyn, Huselius, if you want to go for a reclaimation project.

Sounds like Matt Carle is going back to Tampa.