Commandant

On some players I agree. For example I'd do it for a Brad Richards, or on our own team I'd do it for Carey Price. I don't know if you want to get into these long term contracts with players who aren't superstars though. Kostitsyn I like, but he's not in that class of importance and he's not the guy I commit a decade too.

I agree 100%, I hate how this has been handled. From a PR perspective this team badly misses Pierre Boivin who was extremely good at marketing and PR. Since he's left, they haven't had the same success in getting their side of the story out and the narrative always is spun against them.

Yes, and my belief is that Plekanec would do much better if we had another centre to support him. He's proven what he can do in the past, and he didn't forget how to play hockey. He's still the best centre on this team, I don't see how anyone could argue otherwise right now.

Boston had another high pick and picked Zach Hamil 7th. Columbus has averaged a pick at #5 since they joined the league. They have 2 successful picks in that time Tyutin and Nash. though the jury is out on Johannsen. There are no guarantees. My preference is 1) Playoffs 2) High Pick. I'd rather be last than 9th, but I'd rather be in the playoffs if I can. Because I look at this team and I say the only way we make the playoffs is with Subban, Eller, Emelin, Patches, and other young players continuing to contribute at a very high level, and i think that is good for the future too.

He's got to play, its not even a question really. They are a better team with a gomez in the lineup than without him. In the offseason, I'll listen to the cap space argument on why we need to get rid of him... I'll even agree with it... but for now, he's on the roster, use him. He's still an NHL player.

I agree on the time value of money helping. I'm just not sure it helps as much as you suggest though.

Also we're talking about a 27 year old.... the whole... we'll reduce the salary in later years, doesn't work with a 27 year old and a 6 year deal. He's still in his early 30s at the end of the contract. This isn't Brad Richards scheduled to make 1.5 million and 1 million per season at the age of 38 and 39 when his skills have likely declined and he can retire without even playing those years. This is a 27 year old who will still want to get paid at 33. You'd have to go 12 years to have the same ability to do the tack on years at the end.

Signing Bonuses still count against the cap.... if you give him 24 million in salary + 6 million signing bonus, it means his cap hit is 30m/6 = 5 mill per season

You can't give players bonus clauses... not unless they are Entry Level Contracts... over 35s on a one year contract only, or a player who has been massively injured for 2 straight years, and is signing a one year deal.

Agreed, and you've made it weaker... not stronger. Explain how that makes sense. No I don't like relying on 20 year old guys straight out of junior with 0 AHL time and say they will immediately be 40 pt players... not unless they are a Nugent Hopkins or someone special like that. Hes good but Development isn't linear, and he might need AHL time as well, just look at Pacioretty for an example of a guy who needs time.... Lars Eller is another... On many.... Pleks is a 70 pt guy, who the Habs exhaust because he's all we have. Get him some support and he'll do a lot more. He has to be on the number 1 PK unit. He has to match up against everyone else's top line and top D pair. While doing this, he has to cover for less than perfect wingers defensively like Cammalleri. He has to take every key faceoff for this team. What we needs is a true compliment to him and his role, not to remove him and hope Gomez can do the role. Torres hasn't scored 20 goals since 2005-2006. Looks like a one year aberation to me. He's on pace for 12 this year. And that was all because of Gomez? Yes Gomez was good in the 2010 playoffs, but you'll notice which centre took nearly every shift against Crosby was Plekanec. Pleks had heavy defensive responsibilities in those playoffs. Last year, Gomez didn't help us to the number 6 seed. He was more a liability than an asset for this team. And pleks has outscored Gomez in each of their three seasons together. Dumping Pleks instead of Gomez, makes us weaker, no doubt about that in my mind. Sure it is.

For this season I agree 100%. In the offseason, maybe things change... but there is no advantage to leaving Gomez out of the lineup today.

Gomez is your #1 Centre... what makes you think thats a good idea? Even at his best in Montreal, he's been a number 2. Which of those forwards kills penalties. That team has 0 chance of the playoffs from the get go, even if they stay healthy, they won't score enough goals. In that lineup you are also going to overtax Eller as he would be the only line capable of matching up against other team's offensive units. I really think that is a lottery team, even with a relatively healthy season and good coaching. In fact it looks a lot like those 1999-2001 era habs teams. A major, major problem of this team is that we have a number 1 centre in Plekanec, and then 3 guys who at this point in their careers are third liners in Gomez, DD, and Eller. Gomez hasn't looked like a 2nd liner since the spring of 2010. DD just is much better suited to a bottom line role, bringing some extra offence in easier matchups. and Eller is progressing but not a true #2 yet. Getting rid of the number 1 guy and asking those three to be 1,2,3 is suicide.

Save the cap hit for what? You later say that you aren't acquiring any big name players, so whats the point of saving the cap hit. I'm confused how if your plan is to write off this season, any excess cap space helps this season. If you move Pleks, now you are looking for 2 centres, not 1. You have just set the team back even farther. On top of that, we've gone through the UFA list, there is noone to replace Pleks with. There is no top line centre in UFA this year, heck if Zach Parise re-signs in New Jersey, there won't be any top notch wingers either, not anyone who is better than Cammalleri. I don't think a blow up lieaves the roster in good shape at all, I don't think those rookies are gonna be ready for the prime time ice you'll need them to play. Yes Leblanc is near ready, but near ready to be a third liner and work his way up the roster, not ready to be given the role he'll get if AK, Cammy, and Moen are all gone. Maybe they are not gonna pass 5 teams this year. But that doesn't mean you handicap them for next season too.

Cunneyworth has done so though. He pledged to start Rosetta Stone now and intensive lessons in the offseason. He starts press conferences now with one or two lines in french. But its being ignored. For the sake of keeping the story going, the small number of politicians and media members who continue to fuel this story totally ignore the efforts Cunneyworth has made. To the extremists with the loudest voices, its still not good enough. To them, there is no such thing as learning on the job, not for a head coach. Their opinion seems to be that you are an assistant at best when learning, and can't take the head job til you are ready.

How the people who hear the comment percieve it, is often as important as the intention of the person saying it. If Barch doesn't understand the sensitivity around the use of the banana, thats kind of his own fault, I mean the Simmonds thing had to come to his attention. Pleading ignorance and not understanding that the comment can be taken the wrong way isn't a defence here, he knows whats gone on previously. If someone is offended by the implications of a banana and being a black person, do you think they shouldn't have a right to feel that way?

Context. There are a lot of things I can say that are not racist in one context, but are racist in another depending solely on who I am saying them to and about. Given that it was directed at Subban, and given the Simmonds incident. Its different than saying it to Stortini. The monkey implication is just something the NHL cannot tolerate.

Cole and Gio are both more effective at RW though.. the way Cole protects the puck on his off wing is a huge strength of his.

Depends on the standings If we were close to the playoffs I wouldn't complain too much (though i think Campoli should be dumped even if we are close due to the potential return and an excess number of Dmen). If we are still as far out as we are today, I'd hate it.

Unless you go on a pretty big run over the next 6 weeks, I figure you sell off Campoli and Gill too, and figute out what you are doing with Moen... is he back or is he moved. Weber is another guy who could potentially move as it appears they don't have room for him. Darche if you get any offer at all. But really other than that, you take the calls and unless someone knocks your socks off, or wants a Gomez.

I thought Columbus was much better than they were. Mason blows chunks.

My prediction: The team does nothing today, and takes stock of where it is in the standings about 1-2 weeks before the deadline before deciding to buy or sell.

Pacioretty missed practice with the flu. Gomez is fully practicing and to keep the lines together they just threw Gomez on LW on Patches line. Cunneyworth says Gomez should return "soon".

Don't look now but the Dogs are 10th in the conference They are only 2 pts out of 8th and hold a game in hand on Rochester They are also 2 pts behind 9th place Peoria and hold 2 games in hand there too. In the division they are 6 pts behind the Marlies but hold 2 games in hand.

Basically we have to get real hot and it needs to start now. If we don't take like 75% of our games between now and the trade deadline, we might as well dump some vets and say screw this season cause it ain't happening. I'd love to see us go on the run though, playoffs is always more fun than no playoffs.

316 yards passing for Tebow. 31.6 yrds per completion. 3:16? You've gotta be kidding right? oh and the guy who told him to "pull the trigger" is JOHN elway, and his coach is JOHN fox. oh and when the Steelers had a 3rd and 16, Roethlisberger threw an interception in the 2nd quarter. oh and the pass that finally silenced all the doubters was made to Thomas (Doubting Thomas) oh and the Steelers and Broncos combined for 666 total yards. Thats just messed up.