Chuko

The Gaborik to Mtl rumor just isn't going away. Last week there was an article in a Buffalo paper about talks between Gainey and Risebrough, and today there is a similar article in a Minnesota paper. http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/314...yKUnciaec8O7EyU So it certainly isn't just coming out of the Montreal media. Where there's smoke, there's fire. I've been reading everyone's comments about why it's not a good idea to bring Gabby to Mtl, i.e. present and future cap issues, injury-prone player, team chemistry, etc... All of these comments make sense and have merit. But I also believe Gainey is the type of GM who can smell blood and understands that it's all about winning the Cup when the opportunity presents itself. With the team we have, and with it being the Habs centennial, there is no better scenario than to win the Cup NOW. Gainey did a similar type deal when he was in Dallas and traded a young Jarome Iginla for Joe Nieuwendyk. The Stars went on to win the Cup. If it comes down to a deal that is of the type Higgins-McDonagh for Gaborik and Gainey could figure a cap solution, I think he pulls the trigger and I would certainly approve.

I would like to like Brisebois. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, always ready to talk to the media, loves playing for the Habs and understands the importance of the rich hockey history of this city. However, I never liked him as a player, and in the end that's all that really matters. Brisebois had some offensive skill and imagination during his better years but always sucked defensively. I didn't understand why Gainey brought him back, even if it's only for 700K. I hope we don't have to watch Brisebois play one more game ever for the Habs. Time to retire, he's simply awful now.

Wow ! $1.5 million for Perrin !?!?! Talk about an average player... is that what an average player gets on day 1 of the UFA market opening ? The way GMs are handing money out you would think that the lock out season was 40 years ago. Nobody learned anything. When the cap starts going back down, teams that signed players like Brière to long term very rich contracts will be in deep doodoo. I can't believe the direction the market is taking.

I would have liked Brière, but this is a ridiculously rich and long deal. No thanks. TRUST BOB !

As far as I know, he bruised his knee and water is accumulating now and then. After a surgery, this is something that is fairly common for athletes. If it's just that, he could probably work through it and continue playing, even with some discomfort. I'm not really worried at this point. With Kovalev's history, I'm sure he will play big when it counts. He is easily our best player and key to any success we might have in the playoffs. He's a warrior.

I think they look cool and modern, but I am totally opposed to changing the classic design of the Habs' jersey. If it's just a third jersey, then I'm all for it. If it's to change the jersey permanently, then it's a joke.

What ????? You wouldn't want Gagne in Montreal ??? I would trade either Huet or Aebischer for Gagne and call up Danis in a hearteat. Unless I misunderstood your comment...

Amen ! Exactly ! The story so far is simple: lines 1 and 3 have been great, lines 2 and 4 have underperformed. Latendresse didn't make the team because of his defensive skills, yet on the fourth line he's played with the fear of screwing up defensively. Ok, that's normal for a young rookie, and he's learning. Now he gets the opportunity to dig for the puck in the corners, go to the front of the net, let Kovy do his thing, and bang in some rebounds. I think Carbo has handled Lats very well so far, and that fans need to be patient. THE KID IS ONLY 19 ! Also, Begin has done squat. Samsonov might help him get things going and we may end up seeing four lines producing. This is a very good move by Carbo. It doesn't mean that it will work immediately, but it's certainly a move that is addressing the immediate concerns. It's a long season folks.

Easy big guy. Breathe deeply. RDS will show all the games, no exceptions.

The whipping boy will be someone with a big contract that underperforms and doesn' t seem to put the effort. Candidates along these lines: Niinimaa, Samsonov. I'm worried about Niinimaa. I certainly hope I'm wrong, but if his career continues along the same lines as the last couple of years, his $2.5 million contract and the fact that he was traded for a french canadian, will make him this year's whipping boy. Prove me wrong Janne. Have a great comeback year.

Thanks for the info. So, two more years on his contract. Hmmmm. This worries me. We need to see what he can do in an NHL training camp. Sounds like he could be a little far away from that.

Any idea how long his existing Russian contract is ? I really hope we get to see this guy because from what I'm told he's exactly what we need more of: big, physical, and a smart player. I just hope that he doesn't fall through the cracks and that we miss out on seeing what he can do at the NHL level. I guy like this could be a hidden card next year when Souray, Markov, Rivet, and Niinimaa are all UFAs.

Does anyone know why we haven't seen Emelin yet in North America ? A friend of mine lives in Moscow and says this kid has been playing great D in the Russian Super League and that he's definitely NHL material. He also plays with a real mean streak. I'm just curious to know what the deal is with him, given all the recent hoopla about our lack of depth on D.

LMAO. I was just thinking that. Traverse... geez

I'm glad he cleared, but he's really only a depth player if he ever gets to make the team one day. No biggie.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!! How desperate are we ? Bob !!! What the XXXX ??? I can't stand Traverse ! I'm in shock. I hope I don't have to watch this guy play in a Habs uni. Seeing this guy would bring visions back of the Habs' darkest days. I don't believe this. Someone pinch me.

It says that he hurt his shoulder against the Laffs. Will be re-evaluated later. That's it for now.

Chris, I understand your point and agree with you in terms of what Downey and Murray can bring to a team. However, I think Lats brings more than Downey or Murray. Personally, I would replace Downey with Lats. Lats is bigger, hits harder, has better offensive upside and the fans love him. Downey drops them, but he's certainly not a feared enforcer (he's a middleweight), and in today's NHL enforcers are a dying breed. I'd rather have someone that could turn a game around with big hits, like Lats can.

Could someone fill me in please. Does a 23-man roster include Downey and Murray with two spots left for Latendresse, Kostytsin and Perezhogin ? If this is the case, I would cut either Downey or Murray, replace him with Latendresse, and pick between Kostytsin and Perezhogin for the remaining spot. Then trade either Kostytsin or Perezhogin for a decent depth defenceman.

Great post alexstream. It seems Carbo agrees with you as well and that Perez is on the bubble. Latendresse had a great camp last year and almost made the team. When he was sent back to junior, he disappointed. I had my doubts about him, but now he seems right back on last year's track that he laid in camp. He looks like the kind of player that is more effective at the NHL level than he is in junior. If he has another good camp, I think he'll stay, and I think he'll have a good camp. As far as him being quebecois and that helping him, I say great. Don't take him just because of that, but when you have a guy with his size and talent and who is just dying to play for the Montreal Canadiens, take him. Give him a shot. He's not a sure thing, but if we don't try him, we won't know. The rest is all speculation. Let the kid earn his spot.

Canes are said to be looking to deal Jack Johnson according to tsn.ca http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177467&hubname= Seems Canes management is upset that Johnson turned down their offer to join them this year, preferring to return to university. Canes are likely looking for D since Kaberle is out for an extended period of time. Johnson would be an amazing addition to the Habs and exactly what we need, but we don't really have D to spare to give in return. Not sure if it's because he doesn't want to play for Carolina and would play somewhere else, or if he simply wants to play another year in university no matter what.

Savard and Dryden this year, Robinson and Gainey in 2008, and Roy in 2009. I agree with what some of you say in terms of having Roy wait a bit, but it seems the Habs organization wants these numbers retired before the centennial in 2009. There were many great players in the Habs history that would undoubtedly have their numbers retired if they had played for any other team than the Habs, but I think that after the above mentionned numbers are retired, that will be it for a while.

Great. I'm in. Love these pools.

This is obviously great cause for worry. These type of injuries are very hard to predict when the player will come back and if he will come back. While I'm not a big Koivu fan in terms of him being a top quality first line centre, without him our team is much weaker. You only need to think back to last year`s playoffs to see the ripple effect this has on our team. This leaves us with Ribs as our no. 1 centre, and we all saw what happened to Ryder and Higgins when Koivu got injured, and even how it messed up our third and fourth lines. I don't want to sound too alarmist, but if Koivu misses any extended period of time, I think it could be disastrous for our team, particularly that Gainey's hands would probably pretty much be tied up in terms of replacing him adequately in the first half of the season. I hope Koivu will be ready to play right off the bat, otherwise it could be long and painful.

Let me first say that I think the Habs could have a potentially awesome team this year. Yes, I tend to be on the optimistic side at the start of a new season, but I`ll try to raise a few question marks as to why the Habs season might not be as great as I think it will be. 1- Carbo is a rookie coach. I loved him as a player, believe he could be a very good coach, but he remains nonetheless a big question mark. 2- Koivu and Ribs as our top two centers is rather weak. I`ve always believed in Ribeiro`s playmaking abilities and his potential, but this is definitely his last chance with the Habs. I think it will be his breakout year, but this is also a big question mark. Koivu: I hate to say this because I really like the guy, but he`s not an NHL #1 centreman. Not consistent enough in his offensive production. I hope he has a great year, but my fingers are crossed. 3- Huet. I believe he`s the real deal but this will be his first shot at beginning an NHL season as a #1 goalie. I have confidence in him, but he is nonetheless another question mark. 4- Grit and size. Not enough of it, particularly on the enforcer front. Ok, some people will say that in today`s NHL you don`t need an enforcer. I disagree. Just having a heavyweight present that keeps other teams in line allows your skilled players to do their thing. We just don`t have that. Other than that, I think we`re definitely on the right track and I think the future looks bright. All this being said, here`s my prediction: - Ribeiro finally gets it, grows up, gets serious, and has a career year between Sammy and Kovy. He finishes the season as the Habs top scorer with 82 points. - Huet is the real deal and leads the league in shutouts and GAA behind the Habs great defensive team play. - The rookies (or sophomores for that matter) breakout and the future looks better than ever. - Habs finish first in the division and first in the conference. You heard it right here.