Commandant

Yeah, I think we're all gonna feel that way for several months until we are confident in his knee.

Kaberle is much better than Campoli and Weber. I don't get how he ends up #7. We'll see how the minutes get split.

As for a sign and trade with Halak, the problem is that the UFA goalies became available July 1st and arbitration for Halak would have been the last week of July/early August. Teams weren't going to wait that long before trading for him. They were gonna at least sign somebody because no one wants to be the GM who gets left without a goalie in September.

Tough to acquire a prospect goalie who has already had some seasoning in the minors and looks promising. Teams typically aren't selling those. The one thing you can do though, is go out and sign a college or euro UFA who looks good if you want an older prospect. The contracts with Mayer and Delmas kinda gum up that from happening though. You'd pretty much need to guarantee that the college or euro UFA is far enough along in his development that he could immediately step in to the Nathan Lawson role (Hamilton starter and 3rd goalie in the organization). This is why I think you draft an 18 year old, he'll spend two years in the CHL and then when he's ready for the AHL, Mayer and Delmas are long gone.

They started renting the ice to "Steel City Hockey" a beer league on nights the Dogs aren't playing this year as well. Not sure what effect this is having on the ice surface, I'm not complaining about cheap beer night. That seems like a good thing to bring fans into the building IMO. The jerseys didn't seem cheap to me. I was at the game and while they were certainly the third jerseys, I can't say that they were cheaper material than the regular jerseys. They also where these 3rds for one game and then raffle them for charity, while they sell the home/away jerseys also for charity. I really don't have big complaints about that. I think they want the scratches to actually watch the game. It can be a great learning tool for young players watching from the press box or crowd with a veteran player or assistant coach, or another member of the organization.

Carolina gets a win, keeps them moving farther away from us.

Yeah that makes sense, I'm also not sure vokoun is ready to be a backup either. Budaj is back next year so its a ways before we think about it, but there needs to be more quality in our next choice.

I think Easy Ryder said that about him, but I'm not entirely sure.

Pleks a wuss and a rat? What?

Oilers get 1 point today. 3 points back.

What is worng with the ice at Copps this year? Its never been this bad before, ifrc. Its clearly an issue, but why. I also agree big time with the lack of naturally skilled players in Hamilton right now. They really miss leblanc and Palushaj and also need the influz in talent of kristo, gallagher, holland, bournival and Quailer. This is also a reason why Avtsin is so frustrating.

We could have a lot of offence from the backend next year with Subban, Kaberle and Markov all threats to put up 45+ points at the back end if healthy. That's a nice backend that will be a big part of helping put our new draft pick in positions where he can succeed right off the bat. The good transition game that these three can provide would go great with a guy like Galchenyuk.</br></br>As well, some good coaching and with guys like Cole and Patches who go to the net and Pleks and Desharnais who are good set up guys up front, there is no reason we can't have a dominant PP again next season. In fact our PP over the last month or so has really started to produce, but season long stats won't show that yet.

Thanks DL. Here is where I point out Kaberle is on pace for 46+ pts since he joined the Habs.

How many 45-50 pt dmen do people think there are in the NHL? Kaberle just needs a steady defensive partner, not Campoli who shares all of his weaknesses in his own zone, but without his great puckmoving ability. Give Kaberle a big crease clearing, shot blocking, tough defensive dman partner next year and we'll all be singing his praises. Mark my words on this one.

I don't think that St. Denis will ever really be a goal scorer though or should be counted on for that. He's more of a poor man's Josh Gorges to me. As for the jerseys off our backs and the selling of the other jerseys, doesn't it all go to the Bulldogs Foundation (similar to the Canadiens Foundation)? Yes the stuff is over priced, but it all gets sold and the money goes to charities, not the team so I don't mind that. Agreed on the water fountains. Agreed on the Leaf fans, there were guys in front of me with Colton Orr jerseys, like ###### off, don't be that guy with a Colton ######ing Orr jersey. One guy I'm totally done with is Avtsin. B-U-S-T. No improvement in his game. All the tools but no effort level and no hockey sense. He can go back to Russia and I won't even care. Let him walk.

all that "get an apartment" means is that you are likely to be on the team for the rest of the season. No guarantees for next year. However I bet they sign him, he wasn't a bad 4th liner and brings some physical play.

Game time decision.

I'd say that Kaberle isn't really a cap issue though. Gomez is the only guy we need to buy out.

The big issue with LTIR is that it is very difficult to use for a major move unless the player will not be returning to the roster in that season. As long as there is a chance Markov can return in season it really handcuffs the team. If he's gets injured and decides to sit out the whole year, we can use the money... if he's injured and will be back in December, it creates a problem and really is only used for callups and such (if at all).

I think there is a large contingent of Habs fans on this site who agree with you. Not 100% but it does seem to be a popular opinion. I agree with you too. I think you merely need to look at the GF/GA of the Habs and of all the teams close to them in the standings to see that we are a much better team than has been shown. Now as long as we don't win to many games down the stretch we can add that stud pick.

No, what team confirms, "we will be firing our GM, but not today, 7 weeks from now?"

Could play as early as tonight. Mods feel free to move this to the injury thread or the GDT if you want, but I thought major news deserved its own thread.

Fischer never looked good though. Even the first season after he was drafted he didn't play well. It never got better. He was an ok NCAA player but he was never a dominant player like Kristo has been at well over a PPG this season. Fischer was a third pairing defender for his first two years and then second pairing as a junior and senior, he never made himself into a go-to defenceman on his team, he was always more of a depth guy.

Drafting a goalie and getting a prospect is a good idea, but the problem is it will take 4-5 years before he's ready to play even 20 games per year. Thats why I think you have to go after a veteran backup type.

Did they qualify Boyd and Dawes last year?