smon

You know, the whole emphasis of this topic is ridiculous. If I follow correctly, the logic is the following: Koivu is the best player we have, and he slumps each year, and that's when the team slumps. Therefore, we should trade Koivu. How does that make any sense? If anything, it points to the rather obvious suggestion that perhaps the Canadiens don't have good enough depth. They should be able to withstand a slump by Koivu. It's not rocket science, every player slumps. The slump of one player (in this case Koivu, who as some quite correctly pointed out, isn't a superstar) isn't an excuse for everyone else to play badly. Look at the other forwards who have stopped scoring, too. The core problems that the team has are similar to last season - not enough offense, allowing too many shots, and a general lack of effort. The team doesn't have a single elite offensive player. True, there's some decent offensive talent in Koivu, Kovalev and Higgins. But the team's only 30 goal scorer from last season has 3 goals this year. (Wow, Ryder's agent must be incredibly pleased with that)

Actually, to be honest, I would give him a shot. I know he's not the player he once was, but he could be useful and better than Ryder on the PP. And if not, then so what? He could always be waived again. But, I don't expect Gainey will give him a chance

To a greater extent, Kostitsyn's production is worrisome - he's getting the minutes now, so he has to produce at least 20 goals this year. Latendresse is a power forward, and those are notoriously hard to develop, but within a couple of years when he finally gets all his game together he'll be a force. Chipchura will not really take over the team, but I think he will be a good checking line centre with some offensive capability.

I realize that, but Higgins point total is pretty low for a guy who plays on the first line every night. It's not that he isn't a good player, or that he's suffering a "terrible" season, but rather that he isn't going to become some kind of offensive superstar. He's got the desire, says the right things, but I don't see it on the scoresheet. I think a lot of people forget that he was drafted as more of a two way forward, and his production came as a surprise to many people. He's definitely an interesting player in that he's quite reliable defensively and also has a sniper's hands. However, he hasn't yet shown that he can break the 80point mark - I was hoping this year would be the year, but aside from 33 goals, he's on pace for 20-odd assists. So don't get me wrong here, I'm still a big fan of Higgins and he's easily the best young goal scorer the team has, but I don't think he's the second coming of Guy Lafleur.

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward Mark Recchi on waivers Tuesday and he cleared on Wednesday morning, according to TSN. Ironically, Monday was "Mark Recchi Bobblehead" night in Pittsburgh. He's headed to retirement, I think. Just like Leclair a couple of years back.

Eh, it's worth a shot. Although, Recchi's at 1.75M and that isn't cheap, so I doubt Montreal will be picking him up.

Correct, and Luongo is considered to be the best or second best goaltender in the league (which Huet obviously is not)...and even then the lunatic Keenan traded him for a washed up Todd Bertuzzi

Well, if the team needs him back on his game - trading him would not solve that. I just don't understand the panic some people are in, yes he's slumping, but it's been 6 games. Give him some time to work out of it. I'd have to say with the exception of Kovalev, all of the team's forwards could be playing better right now.

Wow, what a silly sentiment

I'd think Lapierre, but the fact that he hasn't been called up yet makes me think that the Canadiens are not enthused with his work ethic.

Quite condescending language... It's an accepted fact that all players slump at some point in their careers. Heck, even Gretzky and Lemieux can't score every single game, or every single week. Even Sidney Crosby was in a goal scoring slump at the start of this year. If you don't know that players slump, you're hardly a sports fan, let alone a hockey fan. I'm hardly criticizing Koivu or Marleau, but you obviously missed the point of my post I don't know, I'd like to believe that there's still time yet. Look, if the team is on the outside looking in come trade deadline, then yes it could be a possibility. But only, and I stress this, if the Canadiens were recieving one heck of a deal. None of that trading Vinny Damphousse for a second round pick kind of crap. Even then, I would strongly question the value of such a move. It's got high risk spelled all over it, and if it misfired would probably end Gainey's career with the Habs. I sincerely doubt that he would attempt anything like that.

All players slump... Just take a look at Marleau, who everyone seems high on. He's slumping right now.

Yeah, in terms of Koivu - it really is tough to see. I'm glad he is putting up full seasons and good production these days, but man he had the makings of a superstar before his injuries struck. The way it goes sometimes, I guess. And Koivu's sadly had more than his fair share of that. He could have been one of the greats of the past decade.

The guy put up 10 goals and 36 points last season - I dare say there aren't any fourth line forwards in the league who put up that many points these days.

It's dirty and uncalled for - it's not good enough to blame the victim. Sure, the intent was not to decapitate, but so what? It was still extremely careless. Hartnell and all NHLers should learn that they can't steamroll guys when they're caught in a vulnerable position like that. Philly's sure getting a fine reputation.

Well said

Gorges, Streit, Brisebois and Bouillon seem interchangeable to me at the moment. They all have some stengths but significant shortcomings. Obviously, Carbonneau and Gainey will have to do something to steady the bottom pairing - possibly shaking up the pairing with the Hamrlik one, or perhaps a callup. Although switching Dandenault back seems like an option, there's no point since he has far more value to the team as a checking forward than what he ever demonstrated on D in the past couple of years.

Very true - Komisarek has really grown into a fantastic defensive player - one of the league leaders in blocked shots I believe.

I think you might be right. It's interesting how when he was an Islander he was always publicly feuding with the team, but now that he's in Toronto, he's giving interviews saying he misses the great coaching of Ted Nolan..

Denis has been playing terribly for the past year and a half. There's a reason Holmqvist is getting plenty of starts. As well, who says that GM's aren't above doing that anyway? Look at the Devils and Lou Lamoriello who waived Alexander Mogilny (much better than Marc Denis) and had him playing in the AHL for part of a season.

If Huet puts up a good season, sadly, he is as good as gone. He'd be expecting to be the #1, not a veteran mentor to a rising star. That's the kind of good problem that Montreal has - Huet is simply too good of a goaltender to stay in a reduced role or for similar money. It's worth noting that as you mentioned, goalies have no trade value on the market right now - another good example would be Martin Biron being dealt for a 2nd round pick last year. Personally, I would prefer re-signing Huet, but I really doubt Gainey will make that cap commitment (and he probably shouldn't from an economic standpoint). The intangible is really Price's play - if he manages to surpass Huet then the team might gamble on him and Halak next year, but if he doesn't, it'll be tough for the team to throw an inexperienced tandem in and expect to compete.

Teams I think he might go to - Phoenix or Los Angeles. The Penguins/Lightning seem like obvious destinations but both teams may not want to ditch their current #1's and #2's..Still it would make sense for Tampa to save money by claiming him and shipping Denis to the AHL.

The property taxes in the City of Montreal seem dangerously high and quite obviously should be lowered. The Canadiens deserve a break, but they're not the Expos - they can afford to pay the difference.

I wouldn't even try to presume what Perezhogin was thinking, and I was not suggesting he did it intentionally. I was just pointing out that in terms of his North American pro hockey career, those are the two most notable things he did.

Perezhogin's career accomplishments seem to mirror those of a goon rather than a talented player. He's best known for ending Keith Primeau's career with an elbow, and whacking Garett Stafford.