ryder_rocks

A 24% rollback should breed a working system, with maybe better values in luxury tax revenue sharing. Shame on the PA if this was a PR move (why does it matter what the public thinks anyway? we aren't involved in this process), but its a good offer IMHO. Like somebody on TSN said last week, a monkey could probably work with this and make money. One thing that bugs me about this whole thing is the NHL's position that it needs long-term, systemic changes. A collective bargaining agreement is never permanent. This particular offer is for 6 years. Bargain that number down if you think the league will be worse off before then. If things are still bad when it expires, get more money back and toughen the tax and revenue sharing. If the PA is not going to take linkage, theres no reason why the league just can't work harder at maintaining the current system.

They had a press release ready? If it wasn't up, how'd you know? And I thought it was against club policy to disclose financial terms of contracts....wonder why Zednik's numbers got out?

Stupid question... whats this WHA stuff? I know there used to be a WHA, but that folded, right? Are these players gone from the NHL?

Guy sounds good to me... God I wish we never dealt him way back when.

Our 2 main needs are experience, which will take care of itself, and size.

The CBA negotiations are whats taking so long. Nobody really wants to sign anyone with an expiring agreement between players and owners.

That's why Montreal should avoid him. I hate players with question marks. There is plenty of consistent talent in the league. This club needs few changes. Experience alone will make us better next year than we were this past season. In situations like that, players like Bure are too huge a gamble.

Well, I certainly feel better having them inked. Now time to seal up the rights to Michael Ryder.

Bingo. Especially on point one. Making room for rookies sounds sensible, but when you think about it, there's no telling how a player will do in the big leagues. Sure they'd have no trouble filling a hole if a rookie bombs with Sunny gone, but nothing wrong with having him there. If they have to, they'll deal him later. At least Gainey signed SOMEBODY at last.

Thanks to some experience, the team they've got will be better next year I expect. They don't need many changes, except maybe a little size. The young guys are under contract and will get a shot, with or without Kovalev.

Restricted, yes, but they still need new deals. Montreal isnt getting much worse, but the moves are starting to, with the exception of Bonk...who we now must sign if I'm not mistaken.

But most of the guys leaving are guys we didn't really want back anyway. Dackell, Sunny, etc. So far. They are slowly getting worse though. Quintal and Langdon could've contributed. And with Dackell and Jenau choosing to leave, and Sunny and others being dropped, there was definitely room somewhere. Aren't Ribero and Ryder free agents still on the market? Aren't there a few non-habs on the market who could come in and be of value? So far its been all letting go. Wake up Gainey and sign somebody.

He won't be the last guy to leave this team. Just watch. We're not done missing the boat yet.

Has Bonk been signed? I know Gainey is willing to make him a qualifying offer, but that just means his free agency staus goes from unrestricted to restricted, right? He'd already been dealt to the Kings. That lasted 6 minutes. I'm not convinced.

Roy's 33 should definitely be raised. Nobody should ever wear that number again in Montreal. 1995 should be a non-issue too. He had a right to be angry and demand a trade. He was no more unprofessional on that night than Mario Trembley.