Komisarek the Cruncher

Kolzig signed a 2 year deal for 10.9M$ in February, I don't where you got your rumors from or if you were unaware of his new contract, but Washington is definetly a no-no. Rumors were for Denis because Leclaire was doing fine. He's only 23 and he had a 0.911% save %, if that's a bust, I would like him as a bust. Denis' stats are not as good and he's older (28), if one is on the market, its him, not Leclaire who is their future. Anyways, they're keeping both for now. Leclaire will get tested a lot this year and Denis will play the veteran back-up. They're not making the playoffs because of the quality of their team, not the goalies. As for Khabi, I'm willing to bet the farm that nobody wants him. Why would TB take on an extra 1.5M$ on their cap by trading St-Louis for Khabi when there are plenty of cheaper solutions? As for Theo, BG was amazing pulling that one off. Besides, Theo is 1.5M$ cheaper, younger and one less year remaining on his contarct, not that comparable. Auld was is first year as #1 goalie. He's 25 and had a 2.75 GAA and a 0.907 SV%, not that bad for a first crack at #1 job. Besides, Vancouver wants to resign Jovo, they have to resign Carter and the Sedin twins who will all cost a lot. They are like TB, no cap room. Aebi is not a huge upgrade on Auld and I don't think that they will spend cash on a goalie. As for Detroit, you're right, Aebi is probably not their #1 choice (probably Biron), but you never know, Biron might end up somewhere else. As for Legace staying another year, there are zillions of reports and rumors that they want to replace him, they would only keep him as a backup.

Most of the goalies you mentioned where here in North America for a while before making the jump to the NHL, not straight out from Europe. There is a difference in both styles. I will agree that it's not a major factor, but its still one to consider. These European leagues don't compare to the NHL, being good there doesn't equal being good here. Honestly, I'm not an expert on the subject, but the fact that TB was able to sign all of them so easily makes me think that they are not that great and more of a long shot, otherwise other teams would have jumped at them also. TB signed 3 Euro goalies in the past few weeks (Holmqvist, Norrena nad Ramo), maybe there solution is to sign all the long shots hoping that one will pan out , but saying that one of them is the solution for sure is wrong. I guess Feaster did not have is lesson this year, lesson #2 coming up next year. I didn't mean that you over rated Aebi, I just meant to say that if you see him as a Cup winning goalie, then you are probably over rating him. I think is a very good goalie, especially for his price tag. As for Roloson for a 1st round, I think that Edmonton was just desperate to get him. Paying a 1st round for a rental player is expensive, but hey, look at how great it turned out for them. Look at my other analysis, there are not that many teams looking for a goalie and there are a few available, I don't think we can start a bidding war for Aebi's services, GMs can turn around and look somewhere else if we are too greedy.

For point #1, no way he keeps both. A 2.5M$ back up is terrible under a cap system. Besides, they both want to play 50 games, so it wouldn't be a good idea, and I don't want to lose Danis, who as the potential to be a very good backup in the NHL. For point #2: Toronto (you're right, never going to happen) Washington (Kolzig is under coontract and still has a few years left, there not going for a replacement yet, they would be interested in a prospect goalie, but not Aebi) Nashville (last news was that Vokoun would be fine and Mason is a good young goalie) Columbus (Leclaire and Denis are doing fine) Chicago (who will want Khabi?) St-Louis (there's a team in need of a goalie, they have 2 good young guys, their #2 and 6 prospects per Hockeysfuture site, but probably not ready and in need of a good experienced goalie) Edmonton (depend on Roloson) Vancouver (they have Auld who did well but not great when Cloutier was hurt, depends on their intentions, but they also have a cap issue, so I think they're going to go with Auld) Phoenix (just resigned Joseph, so I doubt there's any interest there) Minnesota (Fernandez is solid and better then Aebi, so no possibilities there) You forgot: Detroit (they want to replace Legace and need a cheap solution because of cap issues - definetly a possibility) There are not that many teams in need of a goalie, 5 or 6 top. TB, St-Louis and Detroit being the most desperate probably. I never did this full analysis before, but Anaheim (Guigere) and San Jose (Nabokov) might find it hard to trade their high priced goalies this summer. Most teams looking for a goalie are looking for a cheap affordable one. I think that Aebi and Biron will be the most desired ones, good for us

How can a 26 year old be that over rated, he hasn't even started to peak yet. Is value is in his potential, not his past performances, which include a Cup by the way, and he was a key member of that Cup team. It makes me laugh so much when people refer to Aebi as a Cup winning goalie, its ridiculous, the guy didn't even play a minute for the Avs in the playoffs when they won the Cup, and he's a Cup winning goalie??? Please, talk about over rating a player, look at your own comments. Souray id good, but an All-star? Its not because he went to the All-star game that he's an All-star player. Yes he had a great first half that season, but he never played up to that level after that. He scored the 3/4 of his goals in the 1st half that season, which is why he got invited to the game, period. Yes he was better at the end of this season, but Souray is a poor version of McCabe, good on the PP with a good shot, but lousy and a huge liability in his own end. Who looked like a fool vs. Brind'amour (and it was an easy play to do defensively) because he tried to smash him and missed him, which tied the game near the end of game 3, the game that would have sealed the Canes faith...yes it was Souray. Souray contributes in his own way, but an All-star, not even close. McCabe is not even an All-star in my books. A lousy D in his own end will never be an All-star as far as I'm concerned. My offer does not include any of our future except a 1st round pick, which will be |16 this year in a what they calll a not so deep draft year. Besides, 1st round picks are always a gamble. The rest, we can get rid of. We don't need Aebi with Huet, replacing Ribs by Lecavalier is a no brainer, Souray as his value (but not All-star). Honestly, I think that Aebi, Souray and Ribs would be enough, but if we got to add a pick, go for it. We have plenty of youth right now, Lecavalier is 26 (pretty young), so I don't see a problem with this. I said it before and I will say it again, top centers are the hardest commodity to get your hands on, most teams are looking for one, so the market dictates that you have to overpay for one. As for Holmqvist, the prospect he was is far behind, he's 28 years old now and what he did in Latvia does not impress me. Medium caliber teams on an International size arena is not the NHL. Besides, search the net,every expert, analysist, including the ones close to TB say that he's nothing more then an insurance policy. Do you really think that with all the teams looking to improve their goalie situation that if he was so hot that there would not have been a bidding war for him? The guy is probably nothing more then Burke's future replacement, talk again about over rating players. Some of us don't undr rate Habs players, we are just more realistic to the other factors, such as big good centers are the commodity the most in demand, so the market dictates that you have to overpay for them. Besides, like I said, my offer (Aebi, Souray, Ribs and a pick) does not touch any of our young guns and we lose players taht we either don't need or that we can afford to lose. Don't worry, I've already gone threw this in my mind, the problem is that we are not the only ones with a goalie available, its not like TB is forced to deal with us. There's also a guy called Biron that's available. Same quality and same price tag as Aebi. Hey, if BG can get Lecavalier for less, more power to him, but what I wanted to state was that if he makes the deal I mentionned, I would be pleased, I would not be upset for having overpaid.

I agree that its overpaying, never said otherwise, but we need a good big center, and there are not that many that fit that description, and there are even less that can bring to the table what Lecavalier does. Its the price I'm willing to pay to get him.

I agree, I haven't seen it called once all season when it deflects off the glass. I watched most of the Habs game, and for the zillion calls we got because of that rule (I swear, we probably finished first in the league for these penalties), not once was it called when it deflected off the glass. I also, like the rule, your in trouble in your own zone, good, let's see some action, I don't want to see a player shoot it out just to get away because they can't clear th puck without cheating. Yes, it causes many 5 on 3, but hey, that's life. It goes both ways, learn to clear the puck properly and it won't happen. Geez, the glass is high enough as it is, no need to shoot it over, just bounce it of the glass to the sides and you'll clear the zone.

Good defensive solutions are, Mitchell, Kubina, McKee, Frantisek Kaberle, Spacek, Kuba, Dany Markov, Witt, and others. Some being more expensive then others. I still prefer to upgrade the offense first. I would be interested in a D if we include Souray in trade to get that offensive help we need. We need a good top 2 center, after Koivu, we lack that top 2 line center. I prefer keeping Plecky as the 3rd line center.

Problem with Bossy is that he's 50 years old and has been out of the hockey circles for a long time. He has another life and business here in Mtl and I give a 0% chance of him becoming a coach. He is definetly not the right guy for the job. Besides, Carbonneau said that he wanted someone energic and Bossy is not, at least not from watching him on TV in the past few years. Today's hockey is not like when he played and like I said, he has been out of the hockey circles for a long time.

Not that I know every details of the CBA, but to keep it simple, the CBA entitles the players to earn a certain % of the league revenues (which are clearly identified and specific per a formula). Depending on the size of the revenues, the players are entitled to a certain % (54% up to 2.2billion$ and the % increases if the revenues exceed 2.2 billion). At the beginning of a season, the league estimates the league revenues for the year and then they calculate the % owed to the players. During the season, the players get 85% of that amount (85% of their paycheck) and 15% (the escrow amount) is put in an escrow account that nobody can touch (teams and players). At the end of the season, once all revenues are determined, the league can calculate the exact amount owed to the players based on the formula x% times to tal revenues. Once they have that figure, they release the % escrowed to the players (say 13%) so that in the end, all the players salaries in the league get the exact % they deserve per the formula. If, for some reason the league gets so much more revenues that the escrow amount doesn't cover the % owed to the players, they release the full escrow amount and the teams have to pay the extra amount to get to the exact amount owed to the players. Therefore, the cap is a figure set at the beginning of the season based on the etimate of the league revenues (which is based on the prior year figures plus certain assumptions and facts), so that the players will get in return that guaranteed % in return. Since its all based on estimates, the escrow is used to make sure they get exactly the amount they deserve per the formula set by the CBA. I guess it was a bit more complicated to explain then I thought. Anyways, hope that this helps. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

As much respect as I had for Bossy the player, no thank you as a coach. The guy was on 110% (Sports show here in Mtl) a few times in the past few years and he's a joke. As no clue what he's talking about. Doesn't follow hockey on a regular basis and it was obvious from his comments. He even sounds silly when he talks. He certainly didn't get anybodys respect from his presence on the show. If its a non defensive coach, I want Muller. If its a defensive coach, I have no clue who could be availble?

I have to agree with Kaos on this one, Aebi and Ribs is not enough for Vinny. The guy is only 26 years old and as the potential to be top three center in the league. He's the whole package, good shot, good passr, quick, big, hits hard and even fights once in a while. By the way, Vinny is listed as 6'4" and 223 lbs on the NHL site, not 207 lbs. That was probably when he was 18 years old . Get real, you obviously never looked at him, the guy is huge, how can he be only 207 lbs at 6'4" and be a monster on the ice ? As for your comparative with Thornton, you forgot many details. Boston had a much better team then Vinny when they started their careers. Vinny was the "SAVIER" as Joe was just a good young player to help the team. Vinny started as #1 center right away vs. Joe who started on the 3rd line. Put Vinny here with Kovy, and you will see 90 pts plus. As for TB signing Holmqvist, its mentioned everywhere that he is only back-up material, only an added assurance who will probably play in the AHL. No way TB will go with another unproven goalie, we saw how good that did them this year. The Rangers had Weekes as the #1 goalie and Lundqvist went in and grabbed the job from Weekes, nothing comparable with going in with Holmqvist as the #1 goalie. Once they season will have started, it will be too late to find a goalie once Holmqvist becomes a flop, I'm sure that TB will go after an experienced goalie. Will it Be Aebi? Who knows, there are a few not too expensive goalies that are available...Cloutier, Biron, ? (Forget Giguere and Nabokov, too expensive for TB). I would give up Aebi, Ribs, Souray and a #1 pick for Vinny, and TB would still be saving 1M$. Aebi fills there #1 need at a very good price. Souray fills the Kubina loss and Ribs fills the Vinny loss, and they still have a little bit of money to retain the rest of their players and possibly sign a decent UFA D or forward to had depth. TB would be a better team this way, but what will Feaster decide is only up to him ????

What do you no about professionalism...absolutely nothing obviously by thinking that what I said was unprofessional. Besides the professionalism was about not giving out details, not the comments about Theo, I can say what I want about Theo. You would know this if you were a member of a professional association, which you are obviously not. As for what you think about me having dealings or not with Theo, I could not care less...I know what's true, that's all that counts. The second hand that told me was the left side of my brain. I can bring any business I want here, this is a free web site where we can express our opinions. You don't like it, too bad for you, just don't reply then, or go find another web site to go cry to. I don't spend my time bitching other people unless they start, unlike you and your "professionalism". As for free agents, I would recommend that BG signs all the ones you don't want to come here, that way I'm sure they will be of good quality since you know so much about hockey Well, so long sucker, I found a better web site for the habs, I'm fed up of arguying with an arrogant fool like you. Be bye !!!

The way I describe Theo is far from being unprofessional, I did nor reveal anything that I'm not allowed and saying that he's an idiot is not unprofessional. The business world is a very tough world, much tougher then the day to day life that the average person lives. Being rough and saying that someone is a prick is common. Weak people don't last a minute in the business world, I may sound rough, but actually, I'm one of the nice guys out there. There are many jerks, and Theo is the biggest I have met so far. As for questioning my honesty and making it impossible to prove my point, it was not my intention, I knew that I would not be able to prove it by giving out details, I'm simply saying how I feel about the guy. Even if I were to give details, it would not bring credibility because nobody would be able to corroborate what happened. The guy was done in Mtl, hopefully for you, he wil bounce back as he was a good goalie a few years ago (always been overrated in my opinion, but was a goog goalie). He used to be nice (I used to have respect for him), but the trophees, money and attention he got from the fans and media went straight up to his head. Like I said, hopefully Colorado will deflate that head, then he might be able to come back. As for Huet being better or not, let's just say he's less of a risk under a cap system. 5.5M$ for Theo is way too much in my opinion. He's not really a team player either. Funny how a few Habs (including captain Koivu) gave Theo a shot when they mentionned how the team was more confident and a better team with Huet in net. Koivu even said that bringing Huet back for next year is the most important thing that BG as to do this summer. Theo, Ribs and Dagenais were a click that nobody respected in that team. Nopw, there's only Ribs left to get rid of. Good luck to your Avs next year. I like them, I use to be a Nordiques fan.

It's called professionalism. It's also called respecting the code of deontology (code of ethic for all non professionals) to which I have to respect and honor. I'm not going to lose my license/title, as well as my job and career for this idiot to please your curiosity. Sorry, but that's how it works in the life of professionals. Like the lawyers, can't reveal anything, client confidentiality. It's not because that I can't reveal why, that I'm not going to critisize him. My opinion is what it is (it was also the opinion of all 9 people involve in the deal) and I won't start saying nice things or respecting the guy because I can't explain why. All I will say is that the guy is by far the biggest ego and jerk that I had to deal with, and I had to deal with guys much more important and much richer then him, including Serge Savard...now that's at class act when it comes down to business, the man sticks to his word, unlike Mr. Propecia. Don't be fooled by the media and the image it projects, it's only for business that he does it, he doesn't care about anyone except his bank account and how good he looks. The guy cares more about being a star then a hockey player. Maybe going to Colorado and getting a reality check (he won't get the attention over there like here even if he tries) will do him some good. I sure hope it deflates his big head.

We did not finish in the top 5 in the league defensively with Huet in net for nothing, and he did not get 7 shutouts in only 36 games by accident, it takes good D to accomplish this. So what if Souray is a liability, that's 1 D out of 6, and the other 5 are quite reliable defensively. All teams have 1 or 2 weaker links in the chain. Souray's role is on the PP and PK, and he does it well. As for getting in the playoffs with another team losing, what does that have to do with anything??? There are 82 games in a season, and the last game is as important as the first. We would not have needed to have another team lose if Theo would have done is job earlier in the season in the first place. Besides, I've already said that if BG wants to replace a D, Souray is the one to replace, but for a 4M$ D top, not a 7M$ Redden. As for not being in Pronger's league, nobody his. Redden could not even bring Ottawa to the semi-finals, why would he bring the Habs further??? Buffalo and Carolina don't have star D and they are doing well I would say. In fact, if it wasn't for Koivu's injury, the Habs would probably be playing against Buffalo right now, not Carolina. As for Elias getting all the attention, great, that's what a super star is needed for. Koivu and Kovalev would have more freedom that they don't have right now because they are presently are best offensive threats, therefore our most checked players. If not a star, a few good quality players to add depth and have 3 good scoring lines would make me as happy, the point is we need offense, not defense. As for Theo, let's not discuss him further, because I will never have respect for this asshole, whom I had to deal with (business wise) years ago. The guy is such a primadona prick who thinks the world resolves around him it's not even funny. Sorry, but I know certain things that you don't know, which I can't get into the specifics, but trust me when I say that he only cares about himself.

Look who's on a Habs board trying to tell me what my team needs...as if you know them welll !!!! Your coments are quite foolish them selves. Who's the fool !!! I don't go on Avs boards telling Avs fans what they need. I don't know what you guys need except a decent goalie. I never said anything about the rest of your team. I know it's frustrating to be stuck with a 5.5M$ garbage goalie, but that's life. Good for you if your team needs to get younger and faster, I never said otherwise??? As for Avs fans being pleased with Theo, I did scan Avs boards after they acquired him and during the playoffs, and except in your imagination, they were tearing him apart. Does it make you a stupid fan, NO, just a not well informed fan who will quickly know what I'm talking about next year when it comes to Theo. The guy finished dead last this year, yes last, which means 30th out of 30 teams as a #1 goalie. Worst GAA and worst save% in the league for #1 goalies, and I watched him all year long here in Mtl, and you're gonna convince me that he will be good That's a good one. He is small and will be a terible goalie in the new HNL with the new rules. Guys have more time to shoot now and the big, huge, humongous holes he as above his shoulders because he's always down are easy targets for NHLers. Why do you think that are so many good goalies who are now bad or average at best with the new rules and some nobody's became great goalies...because the new rules require different skills for a goalie, and Theo does not have them. Besides, he's more worried about his contract, his hair, the next TV publicity he as to shoot and the next photo shoot for a star magazine he will appear in, than playing well and being competitive. There was a reason we kicked Brisebois out and there's a reason why we kicked Theo out. You learned it the hard way this year with Brisebois, the same will happen next year with Theo. As for the rest of your team, I hope Guigère gives you what you want, because to be competitive next year with Theo in net, you will desperatly need it.

It's not crap, it's a fact. Not my fault if you're stuck with a 5.5M$ garbage goalie. Will see how old it is next year (which is the future) when you hire a sniper to shoot him down.

With TV contracts already signed for the next few years and arenas mostly filed this year (won't increase much in the next few years), I don't see where they will find new revenues. I think that the cap will settle around 45-47M$ in the next few years.

Not as long as Red Light Theo is there. Watch Budaj take over the job by mid-season. That is 5.5M$ down the drain. Does Brisebois ring a bell???? Theo is as bad as Brisebois. Other then that, the Avs should have a good team.

No, Theo did not take is team further then Huet, the team carried Theo one round further then the Habs. If you watched the Colorado-Dallas games, which I doubt because you would not have made that comment, the Avs completely dominated Dallas (just look at the shots on net). Theo played horrible except the last game where he got 50 shots. Even I could have been in net for that series and advance to the next round. If you are going to bring a point, compare apples with apples and take all the factors in consideration, not just the obvious result that goes in your favor. What did Theo do when the Avs needed him in the second round???? Absolutely NOTHING !!!! The media over there riped him apart for is poor performance. Theo was the worst #1 goalie this year. Look at the stats, all 29 other #1 goalies have better stats then him, even Grahame...ENOUGH SAID. Since when did I blame Theo for all the Habs problem??? You guys need to read properly before putting things in other peoples mouth. Yes Theo was the main problem for the Habs, put poor offense as also a problem. The D is fine. Souray (divorce) and Komisarek (mother died) had personel problems and Dandenault needed some time to adapt to new teammates and a new system, but once all these things past, the D was very good at the end of the season and in the playoffs. Yes our D could be improved, but so is all other 29 teams, you can always improve any position, but what we need the most is offensive help...PERIOD. Getting a Redden won't score us more goals, except maybe a half dozen goals. You say that putting NHL talent at center and wing with Kovalev will help, well where do you think that NHL talent will come from, the clouds??? BG as to go out and get that talent, therefore, we need to invest in offense, not D, thank you for contracdicting your self and proving my point at the same time. All of you dreaming of a top D, time to get back to reality, it won't happen. BG will look to improve the offense. He might make one change at D, but it won't be for a 7M$ D, a 4M$ D top. Replacing Souray by a 4M$ D would only cost us 1.5M$, but forget the big top D.

We finished 13th because we had an idiot in net for most of the season (Theo). The guy could not even stop a beach ball. Our stats are in the top 5 with Huet in net, which is impressive. Don't be fooled by the overall stats becasue Red Light Theo was there...which now you are stuck with in Colorado...I pitty you. You will know what I'm talking about next season. Our D played well in the playoffs. You are missing some facts. Carolina crashed the net illegaly which stoped or they were penalized for at the end once BG told the league to watch out for this. No D can stop that, even 6 Prongers can't stop that. What did Redden do against Buffalo...absolutely nothing !!! Let's not put the blame on the offense??? Are you kidding me !!!! Are goals against was very good in the playoffs and it would have been excellent if Souray would not have screwed up a few times. He's are main liability at D, the rest is fine. But how many chances did the forwards missed because they stink....a zillion. Buffalo as no problem scoring against Ward. It's time to realize that many of our top 3 lines players are not goal scorers and have hands of steel. Man I can't believe some people can't see what is so obvious. Even BG said in is post season comments that offense was the #1 area to improve. Don't expect BG to go after a big D because you will be disapointed. He will improve the offense, Ribs being is #1 priority.

I agree, we don't need Redden at 7M$, that would mean we can't afford to improve our offense which is our biggest problem. Our D is not great but it's good, we don't need a 7M$ D. Look at Buffalo and Carolina, they don't have a superstar D. In fact, we have the better D of all 3 teams in Markov. BG needs to improve our offense and I'm sure that he's well aware of that. Funny how people keep talking about improvng the D when we finished 13th overall for goals against and we are very close to the top 10 while we only finished 20th overall for goals for. Besides, we lost to Carolina because we couldn't score, not because we were giving up too many goals.

Agreed, but what we can agree on is that if they keep all three, TB is going nowhere next year. They won't have the cash to sign or acquire a good goalie and they will have to get rid of a few good players (Kubina, Prospal, Fedotenko, etc). If I was Feaster, I would trade Lecavalier (St-Louis first, but I doubt anybody will be interested - old, overpaid, and only 60 pts while playing with Richards) for a good goalie and a good center. TB would be a better team. Hey, let them keep all three, it's one team less to worry about next year. They have 34M$ tied up in 13 players so far for next year (including Andreychuck who retired but they have to pay is salary). They won't even be able to make a qualifying offer to most of their Group II RFA to retain them, because they would bust the cap. TB and Feaster are a joke. He might be good at recognizing talent but the guy can't work under a cap system. They can't take on a Guigere or Nabokhov salary without trading either Richards, Lecavalier or St-Louis. If they really want to keep all three, they can only afford a 2 to 3M$ goalie, top, and that is still with getting rid of a few players. They also need D, Kubina will not be back and they already had D problems when Kubina was there. I can't wait to see what Feaster will do this summer. I don't expect much, his hands are tied and all the GMs know this.

I don't even know why Pedneault still has a job. Here in Montreal in the french community, he is a real joke. Everybody makes fun of him and his stupid comments. The guy knows nothing about hockey.

Thank you for proving my point. In my first post, I said that we would be crazy to pass up on Lecavalier (if he was available) because there are no top centers available. So yes that deal of Perezhogin, Abby and Ribs + 1st round for Lecavalier would be great unlike what you said...which was the post you replied to. I never said that Lecavalier was available this summer. I would make that same deal for most of the players you listed above, but the post was about Lecavalier. Besides, I said to name centers that were remotly available that potentialy can bring to a team what Lecavalier can bring. Stick to the conversation man. I never ask for a list of top centers period. And yes Lecavalier is remotly available, unlike what you think. Maybe not for us, but teams have a remote chance at him. Wait until Feaster realizes that he can't trade St-Louis, he can't get a good goalie who's not too expensive and Lecavalier will become remotly available for the right offer. Fortunatly for us, we have that good cheap goalie they need in Abby, but unfortunatly for us, we don't have a good young cheap center to offer with him to replace Lecavalier. Ribs doesn't cut it in my opinion. Maybe Pleckanec. But then I would not include the 1st round...that would be only if they take Ribs instead.