Rooster

Ribs won't get us a 2nd center capable of his offensive output that has some of the basic attributes Ribs lacks (speed, grit, determination) and I don't think we need to give anybody else worth giving to upgrade the second center. Play Ribs for the rest of the year -he really hasn't been that bad- (or Pleks if that fails) and I'd look to improve the second center position in the free agent market next summer.

As usual Leafs Suck you are right. He is an upgrade offensively. Problem is he is a fourth forward on the ice and Montreal does not have a stud defenceman to back up his rushing the other teams net. Normally I would say do it if Montreal was strong defensively, but right now Souray is average defensively where Ozolinsh is YIKES! With a big Y. (I like Ozolinsh) [Edited on 2005/11/30 by Howie_Morenz] I happen to think that a creative, talented offensive dman (a fourth forward even as you say) is just what the doctor ordered for the style of hockey the Habs are built for and should be playing (fast, agile, creative attack). This could really help our forward lines get going and emphasise the team's strenghts. Sure we have responsible dman to pair with an Ozolinsh......I'd put Bouillon with him so that we keep Markov and Rivet together.

I have quite a good initial feeling about this. Ozolinsh is a big guy who can really help out on the PP and with the Offense generally. Souray has neither been good at defense nor offense and I don't see any improvement coming in his game. The guy just had a half season of point shots going in the net and never had any offensive creativity. Souray is one of the most overated dman in the league. I don't think Ozolinsh is our number 1 stud (Markov is, I have loads of confidence in that guy's development).....but he does bring more to the Habs than Souray. Considering the current shortage of dman however, I would perfer trying to obtain Ozolinsh for a pick (other than a 1st) and a lower prospect. Don't think it can be done though (Ducks wise and cap wise). [Edited on 2005/11/30 by Rooster]

For argument's sake, going with the "you have to give something good to get something good" way of thinking, I'd also add Zednik and Ryder to the list of "expendables". I love the finishing these two guys bring, but that's also what other teams will want. For the same reasons that some players were listed as "expendable" in this thread, other teams will list them as "not really desirable". Zednik and Ryder must have high value in the market and are not the team's core. Again, it depends on what we are trying to do and who we are after. Noboby has mentionned the D here. With the current situation, it would not be surprising that Gainey is looking around the league to acquire available help. Not saying this will happen or that, if it does, it will be big but if a move takes place in the next few days/weeks it will be to shore up the D. As far as the Habs D is concerned, only Markov (way too much upside) and Bouillon (way too much value) are "untouchables" in my book. You can't go around messing with a team's chemistry for the sake of it, trades are dangerous things. But I think that, if the opportunity is there, something will now be done to shore up the D. Our frailty at that position has been exposed. [Edited on 2005/11/30 by Rooster]

Think he had a team's option on his contract which the Habs simply didn't pick up....making him a UFA. Picking up that option would have been at a salary around $4M.

Could you imagine the incredible boost a win tonight would provide to this team? I doubt it would happen, but the Habs have nothing to lose in the circumstances going in to this one.

If only! There is predictability and reliability (based on an underlying tought out in advance plan) with traffic lights. Pedestrians trust the light. The light has a plan. It knows where it's going. ok sorry about that, cheap low blow. my jury is still out on Julien too.

Good observation Capt. This seems to plague all Habs administrations (albeit this one seems more -but not enough- open to making room for the kids). Good, cheap, young players are SOOOOOO important in a cap world.

Exactly. That's why this looked like a great pre lockout trade.

Just how exactly are the Leafs our daddy (or any other parental figure)? Seriously, if you had to pick a team, now and in the short-medium term, just how are the Leafs better (other than getting the OT wins on the PP while we are in a slump)? The Sens (or their affectionate cousins the mighty "Sentors") are the best team in the league. They are everybody's daddy!

I'd say the jury is still out. I had a very positive bias towards BG, which has been dented somewhat. I feel he has made a few minor mistakes (Hossa, Hainsey, not shoring up the D) and has not made any real significant positive moves. Kovalev was a very good move, but an evident one. I would think he was not the first forward on the wish list this summer, but the one who wanted to sign in Montreal. Many GM's in that situation would have done that (sign the best forward willing to sign). Bonk, I don't consider a mistake. Can't judge with hindsight, gotta place yourself at the time the move was made. The Garon/Bonk trade was pre lockout and looked good at the time it was made.

For how many years has he been our top dman prospect? Too many, that's why it's sad. But the fact still remains.

The goals against, if I am not wrong, where 4th overall in the league prior to Kovalev's operation. They where doing obviously fine defensively speaking and had enought offensive skills to get that extra goal that became their standart way of winning. Since they where hardly any room to imrove upon, defensively speaking, it was clear what loosing Kovy would mean offensively speaking and it happens. Loosing Markov for three game is bound to have the same negative consequence since he was for the defence what Kovalev was for the offense. The russian roulette as gone negative on BG for this late fall. I have the feeling that Kovalev, with his puck possession skills, actually contributed quite a bit to the Habs defense by keeping other teams away from the attack.

Yeah, but Gainey knew it was a calculated risk to call him up, and decided to take it. Otherwise, he stays in the AHL until next season, when he finally makes the Habs... or not. If he was a surefire prospect, this risk wouldn't have been taken. (If he was surefire, he'd be in his 2nd or 3rd full year with the Habs!) Think it was a miscalculated risk. I'm not in the know, but my sense is that the probabilities of a $225,000 former first rounder who still has some potential being claimed by one of 29 teams is pretty high. By miscalculating his risk, the Habs did not improve their current dman shortage situation one bit.....all they did was lose what is VERY SADLY our top dman prospect.

Silly bird - Rooster's can't skate! But those skates I bought are wicked fast!

I just bought a brand new shinny pair of skates. maybe I could offer my services for tonight.

I always thought it was stupid to call Hainsey on the re-entry. I can understand you want you're best available man, but when that means there is a very high chance of him getting claimed....all it ends up doing is costing your best available man for good, $225,000 in cap space and still be at square one and need to call someone else or trade. I'm far from finding these moves very bright. Not that I think losing Hainsey is huge, just that this is bad management in my mind. [Edited on 2005/11/29 by Rooster]

I would not have taken the chance of calling Hainsey up, we'll see what gives until the noon deadline. Trying to stay positive, but tonight could be a memorable beating. The Sens agaisnt the Habs missing the better part of their defense. Ouch! Hope the boys can play tight and show strenght in adversity.

No trade clauses are prohibited under the new CBA. Those 110% freaks where quite hilarious when they were stating (back during the Theo negotiations this summer) that Theo's insistence on a no trade clause was what was holding the deal back.

Salary is an issue for the Panthers. They would want a good, young, cheap goalie in return. Theo is not at all what they would want in return I would imagine. Remember, they are not contenders, they would want a goalie that will grow with the team not an expensive goalie who is at his prime at a time when the team is not. I'd suspect that if any Habs goalies would interest the Panthers, it would be C. Price....and he is too unproven to warrant trading Luongo over. You have to remember that lots of team's would be interested in Luongo and Florida will have choice. Montreal is not a natural partner for them right now. [Edited on 2005/11/28 by Rooster]

What's with the Luongo won't play for the Panthers ever again? Is this news? I know he doesn't seem to want to commit to them long term and that being that the Panthers might trade him this year (cause I figure he has more value this year then next -which is the year before he becomes a UFA). But they'll wait until his value is at the highest (closer til the end of year). As for his bieng traded to the Habs, I would seriously doubt that. Don't think they would want an expensive older goalie to replace him. They are a team that is rebuilding (and even more so if they trade Luongo). They will be looking for teams with good young goalies at cheap salary plus some top prospects. Teams that would be interested would be contenders with weaker goalies that don't have huge salaries. I don't think that Montreal and Florida are natural partners at all for this trade. I could see Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Boston, etc. as more natural destinations if the Panthers decided to move him.

That whole shootout was something else, the Malik goal was just the icing on the cake. The NHL network showed the shootout in lenght (some thing like 16 shooters....each team matching the other's scorers tit for tat), it was awsome.

Get with the times man:)

My thoughts exactly, especially considering the chemestry/relationship he seemed to have going with Kovalev. I agree that a player doesn't have to develop in the first line. In this case, considering that Zed is the alternative and Perezhogin was doing quite well on that line, I think the first line is the best place. Nothing against Zednik, I just don't think he can bring to the Koivu-Kovalev line what Perezhogin can bring in terms of complamenting that line's play, with a little time.

You don't scare me Ryder. Watch out in the parking lot after next practice. I've got your number boy.