Bacchus

It is split over two years to reduce the impact on the team's cap. Consider it a courtesy from the league to the teams.

Any word on the Johnson injury?

I thin that you'd agree that re-building takes time. Well, look at our minors, and you will see some true talent for the first time in years. Give that talent 2-3 years and we will have a VERY good team. Gainey hasn't been given enough time yet ... I have faith in his process ultimately. By the time Price makes it with the big club, we will have a very good team. The half-assed rebuilding I was talking about was under the Rejen Houle years. Firesale/rebuilding.

My scheme worked!!!

I would like to point something out: we are rebuilding. We have been rebuilding (properly, not half-assed) since Gainey took over. We should see good to great results in the next 2-3 years. Expecting anything more would be wanting to have your cake and eat it too. The guys who Todd wants to get rid of, aside from Koivu, are all filling holes until our young-uns are able to take full time rolls.

I'm going to try a new tactic: Lose :hlogo: LOSE!!!! Lets get us into a good draft position ... (it may work )

we'll meet half way and call him "perky lil' ####"

I think he is actually going by the moniker, "Lil' ####".

Me thinks your numbers are off. 2/3 of 5.33 is less that 4 million. Actually, it is 3.52 mill. So I guess they would be on the hook for 1.76 mill per season over the next two seasons .... good work if you can get it. Theo, what a chump. I'm sure he is laughing though ... he made his money and he obviously doesn't care ... no heart. Just pride!

2-3 weeks too late for that. It is funny that everyone has 20-20 hindsight in the media ... don't know if we should trade Souray ... if he wants to stay on, we should keep him. Having Souray re-sign would send a message to the NHL that some stars want to stay. If we can unload Kovalev and Samsonov, that might be good. But the cap hit idea is wrong. Put them on waivers, and if they clear, send them to the minors. Pay them, just don't take a cap hit. I guarantee that after a few months riding buses, both players will walk ... We have been half assed re-building for a while ... I think we need to make a wholesale change .... and as much as I love Koivu, I think that this season he has shown that something is seriously wrong with him. Don't know what ... but something is.

Wasn't Simons the same guy who slashed Brashear in the head from behind a couple of seasons ago? If he is, I think he should be banned for at least a year as a repeat offender. Pretty vicious. Hollweg did hit him from behind though ... so he should get something too. That kind of hit is dangerous.

Danis needs to be given a shot too. I'd take Halak to the side and say, "listen kid ... you did good. Got a lot of great experience. Go back to Hamilton and win a championship, and next season we'll start over again with a better team philosophy". Then when Danis comes up, I'd say, "It's gonna be tough, but go out there and get some minutes with the big team. We aren't expecting you to steal games, we just want to give you an opportunity to face some more intense competition." But if Halak stays, I think, like others have written, his development will be stunted. Also, listening to CKAK right now ... the after game analysis guy, and most of his listeners, are racist and ignorant. I can't believe that this guy is given a paycheque to flap his lips. Also, good thing he isn't a psychologist, because he lacks a certain "je ne sais quoi ;-) " ... and he can hardly speak proper french ... nor pronouce it in a non-joule way.

Unfortunately, if these two do have an impact, it will be momentarily in the history of things. There are much deeper rooted reasons for the fact that Quebec makes this kind of journalism popular. And it will take more than two respected men to change an entire province's philosophy on things ... at least not these two guys on this particular issue.

I'm sure Kovalev said something to that effect. I'm also sure that it is a somewhat accurate portrail of what is going on behind close doors. The only part that is missing is some objective criticism of his role in all of this. Racism is rampant around the Habs. Fans, journalists, and others think way too much about ethnicity and language. Stubbs' piece nailed it today. Until pariety is restored to the Habs, and the administration truely ignores what is being said by ethnocentric fans and media, this team is doomed. Furthermore, this team has to jetison Kovalev at the end of the season ... he is, unfortunately, making things worse. Not by his comments, but by his lackluster play. Also, please bring back the Nordiques ... so all the hack journalists in Quebec will start ranting and raving about them. And then all their demented readership/audience can follow them, and curse the Nordiques again. There was a very good reason that Lindros didn't want to go there ...

Go :hlogo: GO!!!

What an excellent article ... and awesome the Cournoyer and Richard spoke out against the crap that passes for journalism in this city. As I've said a hundred times: I miss the Nordiques ... that way they would be the bastard child of Quebec hockey, and the unreal expectations would be placed on them .... great stuff! I would bash the Francophone sports media right about now, but certain people don't take too kindly to it.

Just saw it too, and was about to post it. Looks like you beat me to it! What a season this kid is having ... at the same time, it is to be expected. He was considering turning pro, but the Habs wanted him to gain some good experience in a leadership capacity. Hopefully it will pay of in spades! Good Job Lil' ####!

This is a picture of the average Habs fan: They get ecstatic when they win, and usher players as the next grea one; and when they lose, they think that they ought to scrap everything and start over. I'm pretty sure that most Habs fans are partially bi-polar. Now, the journalists are the shit stirers fulling the psychological schism. In their desperate bid to sell, they will make a deal with the devil and sell their mothers. Solution: Bring back the Nordiques, or some other Quebec city club. That way all the hacks can make sure that they are perenial losers, and leave the Habs alone. Will this ever happen: No!

Quite a few positives from this game. 1) Chipchura with the first star and 2 assists. 2) Danis back in the roster. 3) The Dogs getting scoring throughout their roster. The 1 negative: Grabovski doesn't seem like he is doing much. Perhaps he is still not fully recovered.

I hope this isn't a patriotic, "why don't we have coaches from Quebec style question". If it isn't, I'll answer it for you: Ontario is huge. HUGE. Most of the population of Canada is centered in the East, and by far, Ontario is the largest population in the East. And, when you go back 20 years in hockey, 75% of the players were Canadian. Put those two facts together and you see how this anomoly can happen.

This journalist is trying to sell copy! Point final. I only wish someone would publish a series of his blunders ... but a journalist's life isn't as public as a GM's. Now, I think BG is a crossroads ... and it will determine if his time in MTL is successful ... what he does about this recent losing streak, the possible problems in the lockerroom, and Carboneau not getting the job done.

I think Gainey should put out a call to Mr. Hunter, coach of the Londo Knights, this summer, and try to get him on board. He seems to know how to let his team run and gun.

I gave up listening after the third goal ... I was sure we were going to get killed. Looks like the boys came back and made a game of it. It was 6-5 until nearly the 10th minute of the 3rd. Had we not been fools in the first period and given up 3 unanswered goals we may have been more competitive. Glad some of the kids shone tonight! BTW, why is everyone beating up on our 5-6 d-pairing? Our top two lines of both D and F let in the first 3 goals. Absolutely unforgivable to come out like that. They should get an electric enema before the game if they can't motivate themselves. Someone is asleep at the wheel, whether it is Carboneau, or Koivu .... but someone has to motivate the troops. If they can do it, I'd like to see some of the veterns sit, and some more kids given the opportunity after a night like that. Also, Halak should get the next start. How did Kastitsyn play? 2 points and +1? No bad.

I live in Korea, and I can tell you that they are pretty pissed with the Japanes ... and this is just going to make it worse. There is a lot of tension, a lot of anger, and a lack of hope for the future here.

Yikes!