dlbalr

2 more years for the Bulin wall and I agree on Souray, just putting the notes out there. As for sending Horcoff back, why is Edmonton absorbing another albatross contract if Gomez is as bad as you've called him out for being? They have the cap space but could spend it better than Gomez (Savard?). Perhaps he needs a change of scenery (and I'm not convinced of that), but they feel the same way about Horcoff. The Habs, if they could find a taker for Gomez, aren't shedding years of obligation and millions in cap hit in such a deal. Big ticket for big ticket will be the way they'd have to go. Speaking of Horcoff, forgot to mention full NMC for him.

Souray, 1 year left at $5.4, with NTC. Penner, 1 year left at $4.25. Horcoff, who'd have to come back in a Gomez deal, 4 years at $5.5 per, buyout prohibitive front-loaded deal like Gomez.

As I've stated before, there is 0 chance that Gomez gets moved. He has been better of late and if he keeps it up for the rest of the season and playoffs, then there's a slim chance. But until that salary drops dramatically towards the back of the contract, saying that are a "few" takers is overselling things some. Name a team who can use and afford Gomez and then ask why they wouldn't go after Marc Savard instead, cheaper salary, cap hit, and better player. I agree that Penner would be a good fit, but in the scenario you proposed, it'd have to be a pretty good prospect going with Kostitsyn for Tambellini and the Oilers to bite.

Blame the rain. As it stands, I wouldn't be surprised to see this pushed back to tomorrow, even if it means going against Week 17 in the NFL...speaking of which, I didn't make my picks this week, oops.

The Bulldogs (20-10-5) will look to go for the home-and-home sweep as they travel to Lake Erie to take on the Monsters (14-15-7). Newly acquired Brett Festerling should be available for this one. Scoring leaders: Goals: Max Pacioretty (NWT) (17) (Active leader: Conboy - 8) Assists: David Desharnais (NWT) (35) (Active leader: Maxwell - 17) Points: David Desharnais (NWT) (45) (Active leader: Maxwell - 23) +/-: David Desharnais (NWT) (+14) (Active leader: Nash - +11) PIMS: Jimmy Bonneau (89) Scoring leaders: Goals: Mark Olver (11) Assists: Ben Walter (16) Points: Ben Walter (25) +/-: Cameron Gaunce (+9) PIMS: Patrick Bordeleau (74) Puck drop is at 7:30 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/ A Bulldogs' GDT for my 5,000th post, interesting.

You don't often see a lot of bottom-6 for bottom-6 swaps, the Latendresse-Pouliot one was the exception, not the norm. If depth guys are dealt, it's usually because that player needs a change of scenery, or the team is looking to make room for someone. Here, it was both. Festerling serves a purpose, I'll say it right here: If he does get called up at some point (he instantly becomes the #1 in Hamilton right now), he becomes the team's top physical blueliner without question. I don't disagree that talent wise, it never looks good trading an NHL'er for a tweener D and a late pick, but that's about what the market is set for those guys right now. Maybe they could've held out for a 4th outright and no Festerling, but the team is better off getting the D depth even at the expense of dropping 30 spots in the draft. One final note, as I noted in my comments on the trade (link earlier in the thread), it isn't going to be Festerling's performance that determines how the Habs make out here but rather Desharnais. Now there's a full time roster spot for him in the top-13. If he can produce, the Habs are winners as had they not made the deal, Desharnais would be suiting up against Lake Erie today...speaking of which...better make the GDT.

Here's the actual condition of the pick, just found out now: If the Habs make the playoffs this season and Wisniewski plays in at least half of the playoff games, they get the pick. If Wisniewski isn't in Montreal then, they keep it. Also to note, if Montreal trades the 2012 5th in another trade (which they can do since it's a conditional pick), the Isles instead receive the Habs' 2013 4th rounder. (And there's no condition as to if that pick is traded too...)

He's been back for 4 or 5 games now, though he hasn't done a whole lot in those contests as he works his way back into game shape.

Aside from the 20 minute part, that's Festerling basically, who played quite a physical game while with the Ducks last season.

He's a pending RFA, actually. Still a couple years away from UFA time.

Wait a year or two, he'll have a little more value then to a cap floor team.

Two of us have sent our 2 cents in for the trade, so I've gone ahead and posted those thoughts to the site. Our other writers will (hopefully) be adding to this over the weekend. http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2332 And yippee for me, the large checklist from the Wisniewski deal (and about 5 other things) are now complete (the stuff that needs to be done every time there's a trade).

That was funny and confusing for me - my brother and I were watching, neither of us speak French. When Alain comes on and announces the goal, we both were asking, "Did he say Wisniewski scored? Woo hoo?"

For the most part, seemed to be Gill-Subban, Hamrlik-Wisniewski, Spacek-Weber, a nice balance to me.

Went to commercial, then the panel, then a commercial, then the panel announced Wisniewski had scored. No clue why.

Quite a thing when it's almost as if you hear: "Report: Habs scored in OT." There's a way to end the year. Cammalleri/Plekanec the assists at 3:41.

Wisniewski on the PP! Works for me...

Quick note on the trade is up on the main site, will be adding a profile, updating the capsheet, and going back to that giant checklist from the other day after the game. I was planning on doing the 3 Stars tonight but that may not be happening now as I've got a good 2-3 hours of work ahead of me (and would prefer not to be on the computer all night.)

2-0 FLA, both goals have come since I started the Lapierre writeup. Not missing anything good I suppose.

Not a bad deal, will be doing the write up and cap analysis shortly. I've liked Festerling for a while, actually.

Former Alouette Tony Proudfoot passed away today after a lengthy battle with ALS. He was quite the inspiration when he was diagnosed a few years back and raised a ton of money for ALS research. I obviously never met the guy but always paid attention when his name was in the news, it was almost always a feel good story, a few of which are in the Gazette article below. RIP, Tony. http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Form...5473/story.html

Desharnais won't be playing tonight, we'll have to wait until Sunday to see him.

Parent clears waivers for the 2nd time this year, Florida waives Steven Reinprecht. For a team with an offensive 3rd line, he might not be a bad option.

Auld starts in goal tonight, now that he's all battle tested from last night's 10 minutes of action.

Gorges on IR, Desharnais recalled. Will not be available this afternoon though...(so why not wait until tomorrow?) Also, someone else needs to do a GDT today, cut the jinx.