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smon

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Everything posted by smon

  1. Oh sorry, didnt mean to quadruple post. Cannot find server kept coming up.
  2. Poor trade smacking of desperation here. O'Connell is going to be fired soon..unless the club makes the playoffs. It's pretty obvious that ownership still expects success, or they would've sent him out for a prospect package and some dead weight salary. Watching TSN and the somewhat reliable Bob McKenzie says the GM's he talked to were even unaware that Thornton was being talked about. Strange way to move a superstar, not even shop him around.
  3. Poor trade smacking of desperation here. O'Connell is going to be fired soon..unless the club makes the playoffs. It's pretty obvious that ownership still expects success, or they would've sent him out for a prospect package and some dead weight salary. Watching TSN and the somewhat reliable Bob McKenzie says the GM's he talked to were even unaware that Thornton was being talked about. Strange way to move a superstar, not even shop him around.
  4. Yeah, another of one of Frost's "proteges" is Sheldon Keefe..think he bottomed out as a Lightning and is in Phoenix's farm team now.
  5. Oh boy, for Thornton..of all people.
  6. Exactly. This falls into a minor mistake category really. Similar to keeping Dags over Hossa. Neither have much heart, but once again the upside issue comes in. Does this mean that Hainsey will be a star? Heck, no. Not unless he plays like he means it, and even then its a longshot. But in my humble opinion, he is a better player than Streit. 'Tis all. And hey, if Streit suddenly becomes the offensive defenseman the Habs lack, I'll eat my words.
  7. Best way to get him going - sit him and his good buddy Dagenais for a couple of games.
  8. Well, jeez your attitude is just great. I'm stating the obvious - giving a 25 year old former first rounder a shot is better than giving a Swiss league allstar who has tried before and failed a shot. As for Ribs, well why would there be takers? And who'd pick up the offensive slack as the second line centre..? Plekanec? His offensive capabilities aren't so great. Bonk? All of 0 goals. Higgins? Barely any ice time. Begin? Awesome energy guy, but not more. let him do what he does best.
  9. Ninimaa has really struggled this season and has clashed with the coach down there..dont know if he can still contribute, like Souray his adjustment has been slow.
  10. Yeah I believe it was financial. But it makes him more of a salary cap liability if he doesnt play 30 games. Either way, yeah the club wants to give him a chance. But they really don't have a choice anyways, they made their one back in preseason.
  11. Well, I think its clear that Zed and Koivu don't really have much chemistry. With Kovalev they seemed to function better.
  12. The 30 Game clause really takes the cake for me. Streit's done, whether we like it or not. Unlikely that he can play at the NHL level, and if he can, he's probably got zero confidence in his game right now.. Hard to guess, but I'd wager he's thinking being the best of the best in Switzerland was more suited to him.
  13. The defensemen aren't all that bad, some, especially Souray need confidence.. We need depth though, that has become clear. Sorry Streit, but you gotta go.
  14. Bonk just scares me with his play now. It's becoming obvious that his linemates in Ottawa were the big keys to his success.
  15. I'll preface this by saying that hindsight is 20/20, but its fairly obvious from how this turned out that management really dropped the ball on this. Not Gainey neccessarily, but European scouts for sure. Streit is a serviceable defenseman, but to date his play has just not been NHL calibre. For a supposed powerplay quarterback, his play with the puck has been dreadful. And let's just not start with his defense (with the exception of last night which wasnt as catastrophic as it usually is). He usually gets all of his time on the powerplay, but undeservedly. Often times when Montreal has dressed 7 dmen, and played him exclusively for the powerplay. I've heard that he has a 30 game clause - ridiculous. How did he get this contract? Well, some scouts saw his work as the best defenseman in the Swiss League and this was needed to lure him back. But obviously, those skills don't necessarily translate to North America. He had a failed attempt at North American hockey several years back and ended up in the IHL. The point I'm trying to make is that Hainsey should have been kept over Streit at the end of preseason. Streit played then like he plays now - mediocrity. Hainsey had flashes of brilliance, and flashes of sheer and utter stupidity during preseason. But let's get one thing straight - he had potential, he was not drafted 13th overall for no reason. And its safe to say he probably couldnt make more mistakes than Streit. At least with Hainsey there were some chance that he could improve... he deserved a chance to finally stick with the team, like Komisarek. Komi made some mistakes last year, and this year, but the development of his game has been obvious. Whereas with Streit its become painfully clear that they're simply giving him his 30 games and getting him outta here. Now the plan wasn't a bad one - European defenseman adjusts to "new" NHL, since everyone has to adjust, why can't he? So in one fell swoop he bypassed Hainsey on the depth chart, thanks to that contract. Now this of course led to Hainsey's demotion and eventual callup. And naturally a struggling team would be more than happy to give a once-elite prospect a shot. So now Montreal has a $275,000 albatross on the salary cap, not to mention the $550,000 given to Streit. Now all this wouldn't have happened if the brain trust had done some homework. Another sorry example of the way some top prospects pan out for Montreal - Hossa, Ward, anyone?
  16. Why exactly is Marc Chouinard of all people on this list..? Not exactly a star player, I'll tell you that, but he has 7 pts in 6 games this year. Gretz is just making sure that the team is prepared for any players with breakout seasons.
  17. I think the Habs have needed one for years to be honest. Markov showed flashes a few years back..Souray had the big year last NHL season. But neither have been consistent #1 defensemen. The Devils really dont have anyone we need available. I'd say a guy like Ninimaa, doubt he's available in NYI mind you. I've heard some rumours outta Philly regarding Desjardins..somewhat plausible he could be moved for capspace if Pitkanen steps up. But Desjardins' best years are really behind him.
  18. Zednik - Koivu - Kovalev Ryder - Ribeiro - Perehzogin Sundstrom - Bonk - Bulis Begin - Plekanec - Hossa not dressed: Vandermeer (comes in for expected brawls), Dagenais Defence Souray - Komisarek Markov - Rivet Hainsey - Dandenault not dressed: Bouillon I think Streit may not have enough to make it to the NHL this year. Heads back to Switzerland.
  19. You gotta consider that Malakhov was heading for UFA after the season..usually rental players dont net quality defensemen in return, this case looks like an exception. Malakhov was a good offensive defenseman in his prime, but that ended after he was dealt to New Jersey. He signed an enormous UFA deal with the Rangers, then missed the entire next season with injuries. Since leaving the Habs four seasons ago, he has never scored more than 28pts or 6goals in a season. Woeful considering he netted 10 goals three times with the Habs.
  20. First time poster, longtime visitor. Now as we all well know, the Habs have made boneheaded trades many times...Roy trade of course, Recchi twice, etc..but on the flipside the club has also on occasion completely won trades. And isn't that a great thing. :/) For example..flashback to 2000, which actually was a good trade year for the Habs. The sulking but talented enigma that is Vladimir Malakhov was headed to UFA and had played all of 7 games due to injury. At the deadline, Malakhov was shipped to New Jersey for Sheldon Souray, Josh DeWolf, and a 2nd round pick (later dealt to washington, more on that later). Now the Devils did win the cup that season, but Malakhov signed a big deal with NYR in the offseason, while Souray has become a hardhitting top two defenseman. The normally slowwitted Houle made an excellent move here. Another good move by Houle was the acquistion of Jeff Hackett in 1999. Chicago Blackhawks traded Jeff Hackett, Eric Weinrich, Alain Nasreddine and 4th round selection (previsoulsy acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning - Chris Dyment) to the Montreal Canadiens for Jocelyn Thibault, Dave Manson and Brad Brown. Manson was a physical presence, but Weinrich was much much better allaround..although Savard eventually dealt him for Traverse :eyes: Hackett was miles above Thibault in consistency and he provided solid goaltending for years -- until he was dealt for Sundstrom. Nasreddine and Brown were a wash, they both sucked. Next off, Trevor Linden, Dainius Zubrus and a 2nd round selection (previously acquired, later traded to Tampa Bay - Andreas Holmqvist) were sent to the Washington Capitals for Richard Zednik, Jan Bulis and a 1st round selection (Alexander Perezhogin). Another steal for the Habs. Best trade by Savard. Any thoughts? [Edited on 2005/9/15 by smon]
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