Habs77
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Posts posted by Habs77
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For what it's worth - Summers, Grabner, Stewart - one of those three would be good picks at 16th based on what a few scouts are saying.
According to these 2 scouts... this is their top 17:
Johnson
Staal
Toews
Backstrom
Mueller
Kessel
Brassard
Little
Tlusty
Sheppard
Okposo
Sanguinetti
Stewart
Frolik
Summers
Bernier
Grabner
Kessel has dropped quite a bit... viewed as a selfish player by some.
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As much as I would love to see the big guy in a Habs uniform, I believe they can get better offers elsewhere. Pittsburg has the #2 pick overall and some young stars.
St Louis with #1 overall has that magical #1 pick and Pronger may want to go back. New owner may want a superstar defenceman and Pronger fits the bill. He was traded to Edmonton, he never went there as a free agent.
I said off the bat, IF Pronger would ever say a move to MTL was ok with him (and his wife)... it was a longshot to be sure.
I would forget Pittsburgh... for a variety of reasons, namely that nobody wants to live there either.
Also they can't afford to spend anything near the cap, and they are stuck with an ugly contract like Gonchar... I don't see it happening.
St-Louis seems like the obvious destination, as I had mentioned.... he was there for a long time, now a year after leaving he's asking for a trade to live somewhere else, St-Louis would be my guess.
Plus they have the 1st pick, although to be honest... if I were St-Louis I don't give it up. EDM is under the gun to trade Pronger, why would I pay such a high price to solve EDM's problem?
Especially not when I have a future PRonger-type player like Erik Johnson in the draft... I'd give 'em something, but not the #1 pick.
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Pronger has to be traded from EDM... for family reasons he want to live elsewhere.
If it's to go back near St-Louis, we can forget it.
But if by any chance he is ok with living in MTL... then a trade looks possible btw the 2 teams:
- Souray is rumored to want out of MTL, to be closer to his kid a move to the West would be good for him... he's also an EDM native I believe. He's also another big Dman with a PP shot, he would help fill part of what Pronger brought them and he's signed for about half what Pronger makes.
- we have the cap room after having unloaded Theo
- EDM would typically prefer to send Pronger to the Eastern Conference
- we have a glut of prospects, that we could throw in
- EDM also has Bergeron that they benched in the playoffs... and Laraque... although is he a UFA?
Anyhow...
Souray, Ryder, our 1st rounder.... whatever the package you want to make... it wouldn't be impossible.
We can even throw in Aebischer if they can't re-sign Rollie.
Again... I'm not sure Pronger wants to come East... if he doesn't then forget it.
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Originally posted by Toren
Remind me what team you've been watching? This is MARCEL Hossa, not Marian. He's not faster than Sundstrom. Niklas is a very smooth skater with good acceleration.
Sundstrom is not that quick, granted Hossa is no speed demon... gimme the younger legs any day.
He's also produced offensively more than Marcel ever has.Oh yes, same could have been said of Juneau... problem is his offensive days are WAY behind him, whereas Hossa's are ahead of him.
Potentially anyway.
And Hossa is not solid defensively. Anyone who has a questionable work ethic and desire is not solid anywhere. Sundstrom is one of the best defensive specialists in this new era. He plays defense like a Lidstrom-type player. Smarts and finese instead of hooking, holding, and roughing guys up.Hossa is very solid defensively, his background as a natural center made him more defensively conscious than most young forwards... when he was playing with Ribs & Ryder a couple of years ago he was the one covering for the other 2, always the first one back with his man.
Problem was he didn't do squat offensively and was sent down.
Kind of thing most people don't notice, then because we expect them to score assume they suck defensively... not so in this case.
And looking at your PK lines, you're saying half of the PK players should be rookies? That's ridiculous. When special teams matter even MORE this season, you can't have half your players without any NHL experience. Good two-way players or not. They're NOT NHL players, they'll get embarassed out there when they're up against top PP lines.PK is all about positional play... it's not rocket science.
Higgins & Plekanec are more than smart enough to be very effective right off the bat.
They will not "get embarassed out there", please.
They'll do better than alot of our vets would.
I hate that we got no return for Hossa, but stop thinking he's some sort of God incognito. He's proved nothing in many years, while Sundstrom has proven he can be counted on to save us games.Who the ###### said he was a god?
He's not, but he's better than Sundstrom... and that isn't saying much at all btw.
Oh yeah, I saw how great Sunny was at saving us games in the playoffs last year... he didn't save it, he blew it for us.
He's a marginal, average, depth player that won't be getting any better... forgive me if I'd rather have kept a prospect that was bigger & more skilled, and had potential to improve.
With your thinking we'd still have Poulin & Bureau for their defensive play and we'd have shipped off Ryder & Ribeiro because they had proven nothing at age 23.
Brilliant.
[Edited on 1-10-05 by Habs77]
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Trading Hossa for lesser value is a direct product of BG signing Sunny to a 2 year deal before the lockout for no good reason.
I thought it was a dumb move then, it looks even dumber now.
Hossa is solid defensively... I'd rather have him on my 3rd-4th line than Sundstrom, any day of the week.
Bigger, faster, younger, more skilled... hello?
Bulis, Bonk, Begin, Higgins, Plekanec, Hossa can all play the PK very well... it's not as if Sundstrom fills some kind of big need we have.
I've never caught myself saying "what the Habs need is a small soft vet who doesn't do abything very well, but can be counted on for the PK".
But at this point and time, were we going to find a team willing to absorb his salary without sending us an equally useless salary in return?
No way.
But for Hossa we did... we trimmed the roster by one, with a player on a 2-way deal coming back the other way.
That was the key here.
Should have bought Sunny out this summer while we still could, or better yet never re-sign him in the first place.
BG is good but he isn't perfect, that much is clear.
As for Murray, he'll either end up like a Begin... underrated character player that'll bring much needed grit and leadership on the 3rd-4th lines.
If not he can end up a Benoit Gratton type, gritty & good leadership but can't quite cut it in the NHL... will provide key leadership in Hamilton for our developping kids.
Just gotta hope Hossa will be bust.
NYR seems like the worst fit possible for the kid, plenty of distractions and not much in the way of veteran leadership to help get the kid on track.
I say he'll end up in ATL before the end of the year.
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I'm guessing the Habs wanted to sign him, he said he'd only come over to NA for a one-way deal.
BG said 2-way deal.
Given how much faith the Habs have in Hainsey, they ended up with a compromise... sign a 2-way deal BUT we'll guarantee that you get a fair shake by putting it in the contract that you must play 30 NHL games.
It makes sense... I can see how they came to that arrangement.
Again, he could spend the whole 1st half of the year in Hamilton... then we make a trade to make room and call him up.
Or there's an injury and he gets a good part of his 30 games that way.
I don't know exactly what this clause means in terms of what we'll do with him...
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Originally posted by puck7x
The Als have traded WR Kwame Cavil to the Esks for DL Clinton Wayne..
Surprises me a bit, though the Als obviously need help on D. I liked Kavil, oh well
Matthews is not the type to tolerate his players making cheap shots like poking an opponent in the eye... plus we needed to move someone to make room for Stala full-time.
And we sure need all the help we can get on defense... a non-import no less, althought I have no clue how good he truly is.
Problem is that we are now pretty thin at receiver, if the injury bug bites... Cavil & Giligan are now out of the picture.
Our first backup is now Owen Wilson I believe.
Saskatchewan will be another good test... we could very well fall to 2-4.
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Elkund mentions Price was taken to be part of a trade, but the trade either fell through or just hasn't happened yet.
Later he mentions he's been hearing Bertuzzi to Montreal rumors.
Put the two together and you have the Habs trading Price and who knows what for Bertuzzi... if that were to happen I know a lot of us would be able to understand what happened today a little better
P.S. So far Elkund has mentionned that Kariya, Modano, Foote, Aucoin, Turgeon were all fair to strong possibilities of ending up in MTL.
take it for what it's worth
So what exactly is happening right now?When the lockout ended we entered the period to qualify your own players, and basically get your own house in order. But something happened on the way to the draft. And to try and follow it requires a couple drinks and a degree in Psych. First off, we all anticipated great amounts of buy-outs that never came. And the ones that did come came very late in the game. Only the Flyers apparently cared enough about their players (LeClair and Amonte) to give them the most time they could to prepare for a new home.
That would be odd enough, but not nearly as odd as when you consider the number of RFA players that are not qualified yet. I have had players calling me all day today asking me "What are you hearing about me? The team won't even give me a clue." Agents are being put in the spot, while trying to calm confused players, unaware of whether or not they are going to be qualified. It really is insane how little actually happened in this week that passed. When you consider the teams had months to prepare for this. One source said this, "They can't use the excuse they didn't know the CBA. It has been give or take a few million for months." Another agent went as far to say, "I think the atmosphere is completely confused and several of these GMS are (in over their heads)." On player added, "It almost feels like payback for the lockout. We have called and said, 'cut us loose for crying out loud.' and they say, 'we'll call you' or if we're lucky 'we really don't know what we are doing yet.' "
Now sure, it is your responsibility as a GM to see what is out ther to improve your team, but one agent said this, "everyone is getting Khabibulin and Neidermayer. so everyone is hedging. problem is that those guys are only going to one team and likely not even moving to a new team. so what you will have is all these unqualified free agents and teams are all thinking they will just be able to get them back. not so fast." And the guys who are getting qualified are being asked to take less money. The common mantra being revenues will be less next year. "If you take your qualifier you have to give them a couple more years." an agent added.
While I wrote this article another player, arguably one of the best at his position, instant messaged me claiming he has yet to talk to anyone from the team he played for. He said he gets the impression that the team "doesn't have a clue which way is up."
That brings us to today and the draft. Bobby Ryan, a great player, but the #2 pick was picked by a team dying for young defensive help? Jack Johnson was on the board...you knew he would be for ever. And Burke goes on TSN and claims to have only seen films of Ryan. Granted he is trusting his scouts, and the Ducks have great ones, but this is the #2 pick. This is not a 6th round guy. Ryan is a top 7 guy by all accounts, and a great fit for the Wild at 4, but the Canaucks makes absolutely no sense. Unless....he is going for the "win now" score and he really felt he could get Gagne or Handzus plus Seidenberg from Philly. They really want Ryan. That would make a bunch of sense...but now, he is saying the offer is way too low...he has painted himself into a corner and Clarke may be able to get Ryan for less...Just speculation.
<b>Then Montreal...skipping past an amazing French Canadian kid in Gilbert Brule( a guy I thought would be off the board by Montreal) and snagging Price, a great goalie prospect, but the Habs have goalies for years to come. Then I talked to a source who said Montreal was told to pick up Price to move him as a part of a trade...but that trade never happened..at least not yet. </b>
That brings us to the Blues. A team who qualified TOO many people. Chris Pronger sweepstakes are still ongoing at this hour according to my source, but the Blues need to move him today to get the most for him. Then we hear rumors that Forsberg and Foote are coming back to Colorado, but young studs Hedjuk and Tanguay aren't? Naslund must be going to Colorado to make any sense of that one. Forsberg is amazing, a real favorite of yours truly, but he is an injury risk. Tanguay and Hedjuk are young All-Stars. I will following the dirt on those two in the coming week, I promise...Even a rumor surfaced that Sundin might be getting moved today leaving one agent to say to me, "Maybe the CBA has them drunk still." <b>And Bertuzzi to the Canadiens? That is a hot one tonight...</b>How about Demitra to the Oilers?
Another source predicted the following, "What you are looking at is a canvas and everyone is afraid to paint the first stroke. Once someone does you will see so many moves your head will spin. The problem is to make this work you need to target guys...but they are all targeting the same guys, and if they try and wait each other out too long there will be teams that will implode. Some of these GMs can handle assembling a team in 48 hours, but some can't."
So here we are. With everyone thinking they will be able to put together teams from almost scratch. What a week we have coming up. I really don't think the guys that aren't qualified will just sit around and wait for the calls welcoming them back for less...
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Originally posted by ch_nl
Bobby Ryan was the second overall pick. That was a surprise to me.
I was sure Jack Johnson would go after Crosby. Guess Carolina fans are pretty happy about this.
And I thought many teams where interested in Anaheim's second pick so they could draft Poulit or Johnson. But if Anaheim was planing to take Ryan all the time why didn't they deal their second pick?
Because Philly was actively trying to trade up to take Ryan... moving down could have meant giving Philly an opportunity to steal him away.
Not worth it just to get an extra mid-level pick.
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The beginning of the draft reminded me a little of the year Bouwmeester was being touted as the top pick all year... then Nash ends up top pick at the draft.
Again today after all the Johnson talk, power-forward Ryan ends up going before the better projected D man.
We'll see if they will have been right again to do so.
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Prospects with actual shot at making the NHL at one point:
LW: Higgins (LW/C), Latendresse (LW/RW), Hossa (LW/C), Grobovsky
C: Plekanec, Mikus (C,RW), Chipchura, Lapierre, Aubin
RW: Perezhogin, Kostitsyn, G. Stewart
LD: Hainsey, O'Byrne, Korpikari, Yemelin, Flood
RD: Paquet
G: Price, Danis, Halak
Future lineup down the road (1 of a million possibilities):
Latendresse-Mikus-Kostitsyn
Ryder-Ribeiro-Perezhogin
Higgins-Chipchura-Hossa
Bonneau-Begin-Lapierre
* Plus potentially signing a Lecavalier UFA really puts it over the top.
Souray - Aucoin or new UFA by that time
Markov - Komisarek
Hainsey - Paquet
O'Byrne
Danis-Price or Price-Danis
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*** Of course we'll never have a lineup so massively comprised of Habs prospects... just showing we can fill out a future lineup from within, that's how deep we are in terms of prospects/young vets.
Add the UFA angle, and it looks even better.
When I look at that "depth chart"... the Price pick doesn't look bad at all IMO.
We might really appreciate that depth down the road... at the most key position.
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Of course I'm no prospect expert... just going with what I think from what I've seen & read.
Looking forward to Dan's analysis of where our new prospects fit in our new organizational depth chart.
[Edited on 31-7-05 by Habs77]
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190 MTL MATT D'AGOSTINI 10/23/1986 Sault Ste. Marie, ON CA 5' 11" 170 OHL GUELPH RW R
rated 64th NA by Central scouting
[Edited on 30-7-05 by Habs77]
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Originally posted by ap79
Crosby & Johnson are the only two guys who dont seem to have any flaws in their games. That's why they're ranked #1 & #2...
After that it gets tricky.
GILBERT BRULÉ
Pros: Great offensive talent, gritty, physical.
Cons: Inconsistent, not a team player, physical game might not translate well to the NHL because of small built.
BOBBY RYAN:
Pros: Big, strong, incredible offensive talent
Cons: Skating is weak. Might get away with it in juniors because of strenght, but everyone is stronger in the NHL.
ANZE KOPITAR:
Pros: Great size & talent, good overall attitude
Cons: Might have looked better than he really is because he comes from a 2nd rate hockey nation.
BENOIT POULIOT:
Pros: All around offensive talent with good size.
Cons: Lack of a proven track record might mean he's only a draft-year hype that could flop the next season.
Here's the tough choice that awaits the Habs drafting crew. They got to pick the guy they think is most likely to overcome his weaknesses.
Its a real, real tough choice. In a way, if you're not drafting #1 or #2, you're almost better off drafting #5. That way you're left picking what's left and have less pressure.
Gimme Brule or Ryan... we need NAs with top line talent, and an edge.
The 2 others seem soft from what I can tell... we have enough of that.
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Originally posted by Prime Minister Koivu
If Brisebois does get bought out, he will retire. His whole life in Montreal, he would die anywhere else.
Not so, I saw him interviewed a day or two ago... he said it's out of his hands and if he's bought out, he'll start fresh somewhere else.
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Originally posted by HABS Fan Nr.1
Originally posted by Doktor Kosmos
- Satan likely to be bought out
It'll be a cold day in Hell before that happens. :/)
I agree ... *lol*
Seriously, this rumour must be crap as Satan has no new contract so far (RFA) ...?
You're right, I had misread the rumor... they simply mentionned they might not qualify... go after a UFA instead.
But since I've read that he should be staying put... even Zhitnik could re-sign.
Gonchar is also a name being mentionned in BUF.
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On the Habs front:
- Breezer to be bought out, Kings apparently interested
- Potential interest in Modano, but I don't buy since he wants a 4-5 year deal... forget it
- Kovalev liked MTL, could yet decide to return
Other teams:
- Thornton to be traded by Boston, they know they will lose him next year... might as well get something for him now.
Florida, Toronto & Detroit seem to have the most interest.
Boston would want Bouwmeester as part of the package Florida would have to offer, apparently.
- Same thing for Samsonov, who might be going to Chicago.
Detroit might be interested, and Samsonov's wife is from DET... but they might not have the $$ to sign him.
- Manny Fernandez wants out of Minnesota, could end up in Vancouver.
- Ottawa to make pitch at Gary Roberts
- Satan likely to be bought out
- Klee, Kaberle could be bought out... make room for hopeful Niedermayer/Foote signing in TO
- Giguere will not be bought out in ANH, as some rumors say
- the Niedermayer brothers' most likely destination is Vancouver
- Weight to be bought out in STL, end up in EDM or PHX
- Joseph could end up in STL, don't they just love goalies that just don't quite cut it?
Brathwaite, Osgood, Lalime... now this.
... more later
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Huet injured his knee in June, needed operation... total rest until November, so he might be ready until december.
And with the cap, I doubt we reach out for another backup now... but who knows.
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this message is circulation through msg boards accross the league:
THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ACTION IS NEEDED NOW!!!
According to sources at the NHL, as of this point, ESPN is not planning on airing the draft lottery on ESPN, ESPN 2, or ESPN News. You may not be able to see this event in the US. We need to utilize all of our forces and get this changed immediately. This should be on ESPN. This Draft Lottery will be one of the greatest events in the history of our sport. Every hockey fan reading this has a serious shot at Sydney Crosby.
I am calling on you now to make your voice heard. The largest number of hockey fans on the internet read this blog every day! We can make this happen...Your voices got the NHL to make the lottery into a TV event. Now let's bring hockey back full force! THIS IS VITAL! This is not just about the lottery, it is about showing ESPN how passionate you are about this sport.
Take time this afternoon and tomorrow and call 860-766 2000 ask for programming, when you're transferred press 0 and leave your rant...Tell them that the draft lottery, at 4pm on Friday, is a huge event and should be covered live on ESPN. TSN, their sister station, is already covering it. All they need to do is flick a switch and take the feed. Also after you call double hit them by emailing askespntv@espn.twdc.com.
I have talk to people on the inside, and you can make this happen...so don't think this is a futile experiment.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!!! HOCKEY NEEDS YOU!
I also implore you all to post this message on every hockey related place you visit. Let's use the power of the internet and flood them like never before. If you get a busy signal keep calling.
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Originally posted by sakiqc
http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/183821.html
The misunderstanding comes from the article where they say they'll announce the results from the 30th draft pick to the 1st, Friday at 4pm.
The concern is if they are selecting the balls in that order (which wouldn't make sense at all) or if they are just telling the final result after previously taken the balls for position 1 to last.
If they start picking a ball for position #30 to the 1st, the team who has 3 balls has more chance to be selected for the late pick...:eyes:
I've seen people say they could inverse the number of balls... MTL would have 3 & NYR would have 1... then start picking at #30 and the odds would be right.
But that's not what will happen, the draw will be 1 to 30 behind closed doors... then the results will be revealed from 30 up to 1 on TSN.
Just like the NBA does it.
Bettman should know how it works, being an NBA alumni.
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Originally posted by Habitforming
I like the fact that the NHL will be filling draft positions from the thirty spot backwards to the number one pick.
That makes the teams with 2,3, and 4 balls that much more likely to be picked sooner.
Huh?.. What are you talking about?
a) that makes no sense
B) where did you get that from?
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Reports suggest Lecavalier will be available next summer... and it made me wonder how we can fit his salary into our payroll.
I obviously had to approx. many salaries, but let's just say that'll every penny you can save here and there will be really key with the salary cap.
Here's what I've come up with, for the Habs in the next 2 seasons... the first without Vinny, the second assuming he wants to come to Montreal:
Players__________05-06 Salary___06-07 SalaryKovalev, Alex __________5_______5
Lecavalier, Vincent______________5
Theodore, Jose________4.5_____4.5
Koivu, Saku___________3.5_____3.5
Rivet, Craig___________2.66____2.66
Bonk, Radek__________2.394___2.394
Souray, Sheldon_______2.128___2.356
Markov, Andrei_________2_______2
Brisebois, Patrice_______2_______2__Or his replacement
Ryder, Micheal________1.25_____1.5
Ribeiro, Mike_________1.25_____1.5
Bulis, Ian_____________1_______1.1
Perezhogin, Alexander__0.8588____1
Komisarek, Mike_______0.8588____1
Hossa, Marcel_________0.75______1
Hainsey, Ron__________0.75_____1
Higgins, Chris_________________0.85__Has to clear waivers to be sent down in 06-07
Begin, Steve___________0.608___0.646 Team option in 06-07
Ward, Jason___________0.45____0.5
Plekanec, Thomas_______0.45____0.5
Huet, Cristobal_________0.456___0.5
Bouillon, Francis________0.45____0.5
Lapierre, Maxim________________0.45__Has to clear waivers to be sent down in 06-08
Zednik, Richard________1.8___________"1.976 in 06-07, but traded"
Sundstrom, Niklas______0.988__________not re-signed in 06-07
Team Payroll__________36.1016____41.456
So we're a little over for next year... but there's some tweaking BG can do to make it all fit.
One thing GM's might start doing is give long term deals where you pay a guy like Koivu more this year when you don't plan to max out the cap.... and in exchange he accepts a lower salary next year so you can afford a big signing like Lacavalier the next year.
When you look at the whole picture... you realize how tempting it is to buyout Rivet right away to make some extra room, or at least replace him with a better D who makes the same amount.
Overpaying players REALLY hurts you in this salary cap era.
Bonk also feels like a pretty expensive addition if he doesn't pan out btw.
But if we can manage to make the above roster fit under the cap, our lineup look pretty damn good in 06-07:
Perezhogin-Koivu-Kovalev
Ribeiro-Lecavalier-Ryder
Bulis-Bonk-Hossa
Plekanec-Begin-Ward
Higgins, Lapierre
Souray-"Breezer replacement"
Markov-Komisarek
Hainsey-Rivet
Bouillon
Theo
Huet
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Sure the lineup is prospect heavy at the bottom of the lineup... some of them can be moved for picks... replaced with cheap character players like Begin.
Shouldn't change the total payroll too much.
The following year, 07-08, we could let Kovalev or Koivu go... bring in Kostitsyn... so we save a few millon on the cap to pay other young players their salary bump up.
But things would be very tight, to say the least... and would imply we plan to max out the cap, which I think the Habs would do to grab Lecavalier.
- I put Perezhogin with Kovalev, both Russian and played together in Russia this year.
- I put Lecavalier with Ribeiro, similar thinking.
If we can't make the money work, if we just can't afford both Kovalev & Lecavalier... then perhaps forgetting Kovalev and grabbing a cheaper yet effective 1st liner... like Jeff O'Neil for example... might be a better move to position ourselves for next year.
Just a thought.
[Edited on 17-7-05 by Habs77]
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It will be 4 home/4 away vs. division... 2 home/2 away vs other division in Conference. And, yes, 10 games vs. opposing conference, BUT NOT HOME AND HOME AGAINST THE SAME DIVISION. I was told it would be five home against one division, and five road against another, alternating each year. For example, the Flyers would play Central teams (Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, St. Louis, Nashville) at home, and Pacific teams (Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose) on the road. The next year, it could be Northwest Division at home and Central on the road, etc.
This is not the initial format that was first reported... don't know if I prefer this one of not, but there it is.
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Originally posted by Fanpuck33
Speaking of TV contracts, does anyone think that now that the dispte is over, ESPN will sign at least a cheap, 1 year deal to see how it works out?
I heard the ESPN was indeed interested... but it would not pay for it, would want a deal like NBC where the NHL would only see a cent if profits are made.
It would be a case the NHL needs the exposure ESPN can provide, and ESPN needs the NHL product to have some more actual sports on it's network instead of poker and the like.
So don't count on TV renevues to be split up... because 0/30 = 0... any way you want to share it.
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What concerns me about the article above is the mention that a team like Calgary will both lose the Canadian assistance it used to get, and will now be actually one of the teams that pays money to low-revenue teams.
This makes no sense to me... CGY was supposed to be one of the market we would help, not hinder, in the new CBA.
That said, with all the oil money there... you'd think they could support the team sufficiently now.
Still a weird proposition to have the top revenue teams including Calgary... I already hate Montreal being part of them.
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Originally posted by montreal
Hainsey, Hossa, Shasby, Komisarek, Plekanec all need to clear waivers to be sent down. Guys on their rookie contracts don't need to go through waivers. Milroy, Larrivee, Michaud, Higgins, Kostitsyn, Lambert, Urquhart, Archer are all still playing under their rookie contract.
Archer, Milroy, Higgins, Larrivee, Michaud are in their final year, so next season they will have to clear waivers to play in the AHL.
Thanks Dan, that really clears it up.
Aside from Shasby... the other 4 could conceivably all make the 23-man roster.
Or Gainey could deal them... but it's no as if we're really under the gun and HAVE to deal someone or we lose him.
Of next year's crop... only Higgins & Larrivee would be worth worrying about IMO.
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Link here
Small market teams may not like this deal in the end.
_________________________________
Small markets face big trouble
Free agent frenzy looming next year NHL lockout will count as a season
KEN CAMPBELL
SPORTS REPORTER
Upon further review, the new collective bargaining agreement is looking better for the likes of Tomas Kaberle, Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier and potentially disastrous for the small-market teams it was supposed to help.
A source close to the negotiations confirmed a published report yesterday stating that not only does the free agency age drop to 29 next summer, but players under that age who have eight years of NHL experience, will also qualify for unrestricted status. In the summer of 2007, players who are 28 or have seven seasons will qualify. In 2008 — and for the remainder of the agreement — players who are 27 or have seven seasons of experience will qualify.
Also, for purposes of player tenure, last year's aborted season will count as a season played for all NHL players.
All of which means next summer is shaping up to have the strongest free agent crop in the history of the game. Along with Iginla, Thornton, Lecavalier and Kaberle, other potential unrestricted free agents include Martin St-Louis, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Jose Theodore and Ed Jovonovski.
Under the previous CBA, the Leafs wouldn't have had to deal with Kaberle as an unrestricted free agent until after the 2008-09 season. Because he will have been an NHLer for eight years once his contract expires next summer, Kaberle will now be unrestricted.
Liberalized free agency was one of the concessions the owners made in exchange for a salary cap, but critics suggest that this will do nothing to protect the small-market teams. What it does mean is that the effects of arbitration, one of the league's biggest concerns going into negotiations for a new CBA, will not drive salaries for players in their mid 20's because those dollars will now be driven by unrestricted free agency.
But instead of holding a player's rights until age 31, teams will now face the proposition of losing star players because they either won't have enough room under the salary cap or it will force them to spend closer to the cap limit of $39 million (all figures U.S.). In 2003-04, 15 of the league's 30 teams spent under what the cap will be next season.
"Wait until fans of small-market teams like the Ottawa Senators find out about this," said one player agent. "I sure hope they win the Stanley Cup next season because what are they going to do when teams offer Chara and Hossa the cap (of $7.8 million) and Redden $6 million?"
The Calgary Flames will be particularly hard-hit by the CBA for several reasons. If not for the eight-year rule, Iginla would have had to wait one more year to become an unrestricted free agent, but unless the Flames sign him to a long-term deal, he'll be free next summer.
To make matters worse, the revenue-sharing aspect of the deal will also hurt Calgary.
"If you go by 2003-04, they were in the top 10 in revenues so they'll have to share revenues," said an NHL executive. "So now they lose the Canadian assistance plan and they have to share revenues. How exactly does that help them?"
It was always thought that the deal would put a larger importance on drafting and developing players, an area in which the Leafs have been lacking, but this makes player personnel decisions even more crucial.
"Edmonton always complained that they couldn't keep their stars and that they lost Doug Weight and Bill Guerin when they were 30," the agent said. "But now they might lose Eric Brewer when he's 26."
Small market teams might not like this deal in the end, but the Habs will IMO if they can have a crack Vinny next summer.
That would be amazing.
Now our only concern would have to position ourselves to have enough cap room next year to be able to land him... and maybe Chara?.. hehe
Seriously though, Goodenow has always managed to get tons of concessions in the last days of negotiations... and it seems he's done it again the more I hear about the details of the deal.
How disastrous would it be for the NHL to have conceded too much just to be able to say they got the cap?
They were initially very happy with the last CBA as well you may recall.
[Edited on 17-7-05 by Habs77]
Trade For Pronger Possible?
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted · Edited by Habs77
If wanting a Cup was a priority... he'd had stayed in EDM.
This is about his wife not wanting to live there, and if she wants to go back to St-Louis... and he says he'll only be happy in STL, or near there, then why would an Eastern team sell the farm to bring in a player who doesn't want to be there?