shortcat1

I know that this is only indirectly related to this topic but, anybody know what's going on with Perezoghin? Is he staying in Russia? Is he coming over? Is his contract still valid? etc, etc, etc... :?- I put this question in the Perezoghin topic below and, so far, no response. I'm very curious and very interested in the possibilities of this guy especially when, according to HockeysFuture.com, he's our #1 prospect. :eyes: :ghg::ghg::ghg:

You're joking... I expect... Yes, it would be great to have Redden and Havlat (the pick would likely be a non-issue because usually Ottawa would finish near or at the top of the league so, at best, a 25th pick... pretty weak possibilities). My biggest 'but' is who's going to backstop for our team? There's no one in the system and no one available (Free agents) who could do an adequate job like Théodore. So, nada, nyet, nein, non, no thanks. :nono: :ghg::ghg::ghg:

Now, as to the line-up and the addition of the suggested coaches and General Managers, I have no qualms whatsoever. I'd like to have seen Bobby Rousseau in there somewhere (the couldn't make it list anyways). This brings up a neverending peeve I have about my favourite team. I could never understand why they kept trading away core players, especially during the 1990s. Players like Carbonneau, Desjardins, Roy, Skrudland, Damphousse, Chelios, Kean among others... quality players, some of them who have become top players of their next teams (and future hall-of-famers), if they had stayed with Montreal would have contributed to much more success. (I'm not even counting LeClair among these because he hadn't yet shown what he could do and, maybe, he wasn't able because he didn't have the kind of linemates that he got when he went to Philadelphia. There are surely other players in that category but that same situation goes with all teams.) The next one I see possibly being traded or 'let go' is Koivu. Good grief!!! another one who is a core and heart player for this team. I hope it doesn't go that way. [Edited on 2005/8/16 by shortcat1]

I found this on the web. It's pretty up to date also. Check the 4th paragraph. http://www.canoe.ca/Slam030116/col_gross-sun.html

I agree with you. From what I've seen so far he doesn't look to be a prima donna kind of guy. I'm sure that he will do the best for himself and his family in the long run but I don't think he will do it at the expense of (that is running rough shod over) other people, especially the team that he 'grew up with' over the years and looks to have fully supported him in his times of difficulty. Here's hoping anyway. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

And I fully agree with you. He may not be the best thing for the Canadiens on the ice for now but as I've stated before, I do believe that a player worth is more than the skills he brings to the team. Koivu is a leader, a motivator, an example, a heart to this team. To just let him go for solely bang-for-the-buck financial considerations would show a narrow sense of vision. On the other hand, he also has a say in whether he's willing to accept what will be offered to him next year. He has said that he'd like to continue playing here and winning the Stanley cup here (http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/185852.html) so I hope that this can come to fruition. I do deplore the passing of the days of player/team relationships like Yzerman and the Red Wings.

I guess Julien was still trying to figure out what would work for the team. Also there may have been injury considerations - Koivu isn't mentioned on that list. I just found the 2003 roster and that's what that Julien had to work with. (http://www.hockeynut.com/monroster.html). Yes, it certainly wasn't the best of line-ups and things have improved quite a lot since then. Another indication that Gainey is doing a super job at making this into a team that WILL strike fear into its opponents hearts. Attago Bob

On an article in RDS.ca, Koivu himself admitted that he had hoped to sign a long-term contract but that as the summer wore on the idea of a one-year contract suited him quite well also. It says that he doesn't dismiss the idea of staying with Montreal but that he had to think of his future. The link is: http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/185852.html

So far, I'd likely have done the Kovalev deal and signed Koivu to a longer term deal. As to the Théodore/Luongo, Koivu&Ryder/Lecavalier deal, that's an awfully interesting one. The two we get have ridiculously super upside whereas the ones we would lose are solid parts of our present team and help to make up the present positive atmosphere in the locker room. The risk/possibilities of Luongo and Lecavalier look to be worth it and yet the risk/possibilities of losing our three are hard to justify because a player's skill level doesn't necessarily make him a valuable asset to a team. So, I'm neither here or there on this one... I'll leave that burden to the one who's being paid to carry it. Anything else? No, not really - I trust Gainey on those. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

Any news on this guy and the coming year? I've heard nothing and can't find anything. He should be a good one. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

As to the MOST useful opinion on prospects, I can't say that I'd chose on over the other. I don't know enough about the whole thing - rating prospects and all. I tend to look at Woodlief, The Hockey News, Central Scouting, Habsworld, Hockey's Future, McKeens (if I can get a bit of freebee info), TSN and whomever else I can get a hold of. The most useful opinion to me is a sort of compilation of all of those. I know that there's conflicts in their opinions but with regards to the top 10 there's usually not a whole lot of difference. The next 10 are a somewhat more varied and the last 10 are often all over the map. I use all of this to look at the 'candidates' who will likely be around when they pick. It gives me an idea and so I start 'dreaming'. I've usually been surprised. The only time I wasn't a whole lot surprised is when they picked someone I was sort of pulling for and then that candidate ended up being a bit (or quite a bit) of a dud. I'd never have picked Koivu and I'd never have thought of picking Price either. So, if 'history' holds, those two should be among their best in a number of years. (By the way, I sort of hoped that they'd pick Kostsitsyn - I hope 'history' doesn't hold out on this one - I still really like his possibilities). :ghg::ghg::ghg:

Since Hamrlik is gone the next on my Christmas list is a back-up goalie. I don't know if I'd want one of Roman Cechmanek, Byron Dafoe, Mike Dunham, Arturs Irbe and Curtis Joseph. Given a choice of the five on the list, no to Cujo, Dunham and Dafoe. Of Cechmakek and Irbe, it's close. With Irbe, you get a bona fide back-up goalie. and he is getting old so he'd probably be glad to be a back-up for a couple of years and would do his best. The downside is that he's two years away from being 40 and I don't think he's a Johnny Bower. With Cechmanek, you get a younger goalie who's got the experience of being a # 1 goalie so the pressure should be nothing new to him. The problem here is that he may still want to be # 1 and being the back-up may not be to his liking in the long run. It may be the source of conflicts in the dressing room. Bottom line, I'd likely go with IRBE. His monetary demands will likely be lower than Cechmanek and his attitude will likely contribute positively to the dressing room atmosphere. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

I don't know if LeClairs up to doing a whole lot anymore, especially with his injury and health problems. If he does well, then that'll be one more piece of the puzzle to support and guide Crosby. That's good. We'll see.

On the one hand, I'd like to see a back-up goalie but I don't know who's left over and if they'd do. On the other hand, I'd like to see Danis give it a shot. I'm sure that he knows that, bottom line, he's not fully ready for the NHL yet but the experience might be good as long as he takes it as such... experience. So, in this case, no free agents. We'll see. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

Agreed on all counts. :/) I always hope the best for all of those guys, knowing that they can't and won't all make it but... go for it, Marcel!!

By the way, welcome to the gang. You'll see all sorts of topics with all sorts of opinions from all sorts of people. Very informative at it's best :/) and quite entertaining at it's not best.

Well, I don't know what's going on in either one's head but I hope that this isn't a sign of Montreal dumping their captain again. :eyes: A lot of good players, as captain, were let go in the last two decades. Koivu has worn the C for quite a few years and he deserves it. :king: I'm thinking it's probably more Koivu who wants to see what's going to happen next year than Gainey setting up to dump him. We'll see. :?- :ghg::ghg::ghg: [Edited on 2005/8/15 by shortcat1]

I hope you're right for Lindros' sake. He's so close to really serious brain damage. By that I mean that he could become another Mohammed Ali. That would be sad. As to the 1993 match-up, yes, that would have been some series. I'm glad that it didn't happen though because Montreal would have been creamed by the Leafs at that time. The Leafs 'owned' Montreal then and, if any Habs fan will be realistic and honest, Montreal didn't really deserved the cup that year. All of the teams that 'owned' Montreal that year were eliminated by other underdog teams (Buffalo, Islanders, Kings, etc). These underdog teams were so tired from having eliminated their opponents that, when Montreal came up against them, it wasn't really a serious series for them. The Habs took them out relatively quickly (except for the LA series which could have gone the other way). In any case, I hope the best for Lindros. The worst case scenario would be personally tragic.

Witt would be a nice addition. I've been 'longing' for him ever since he was drafted. He seemed and still seems like a good, solid hard-hitting defensive defenseman. No offense worth mentioning but still a good crease protector and back-board banger. That said, I don't think that this would be a worthwhile acquisition for Montreal. If the league is going to stress more offense and the potential of skill players, defensemen like Witt may be at a disadvantage. He does have a tendency to get out of position to hit his opponents and this will likely lead to being deked-out a lot of times. As to clearing the crease, that would be nice but there's more to the defense that needs to be done than that. Bottom line... no thanks. :ghg::ghg::ghg:

The TSN players page says that he's a workhorse but with no offensive potential. He also doesn't do much with his body (hits, etc). No... not for us...

Aie, Aie, Aie... :eyes: I must have been sleepy last night. I got back into the flow of things somewhere around midnight after getting back from our trip. By goal song, I understood what the goalie would sing... eeeeeshhh. :eyes: Ok... a scoring song... let me see... Led Zep's "Rock and Roll"... Yes, that'll work just fine...

At that price, he's a bargain! The kid's a shooter par excellence. He may not be a physical player and sometimes he seems to disappear but when he gets a shot on net, it's something to be considered. He won't be off target very often. Very good, Bob.

Great news. He's a young guy with a lot of super potential! I read the TSN/Players comments on him and it's very encouraging. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp...304&hubName=MTL

Here's a mouldy ouldy. "STOP! In the name of love" by the Supremes.

Yes, Hamrlik is a Flame. Good for them. It would have been good to see him with the CH on his chest but I don't think there was room for him especially at 3.5 million per year.