Mark Napier

Hainsey will start the season because he can't be sent down without going through waivers. Streit doesn't have to clear waivers and he can pick up his games later in the season. By that time they will have a decision on Hainsey. He's either going to make the team or be traded.

You guys don't seem to get it. Hossa was not good enough to crack the line-up so he was going to be lost at waivers. No team other than the rags was willing to trade for him because he could be picked up for free. That shows you Hossa's value when nobody was willing to offer any more than what the rags offered. Nobody wanted him enough to trade for him. He has no value.

Just noticed that you don't have Bonk on the list.

23 including goalies.

That doesn't make a lot of sense since some team would have picked him up from waivers. Also what's to stop the Rags from sending him down? Nice thought but unlikely.

I think Hainsey will make the team instead of Streit just for the fact that Streit can be sent to Hamilton without going through waivers. I don't think that they will dump Hainsey like they did Hossa because he still has more promise than Hossa showed. Then it will be a matter of either Hainsey improves and sticks with the team or he will be traded later on for something more worthwhile than we got for Hossa. Then Streit can get his games with the big club that he has written into his contract. They're not just going to lose Hainsey on waivers.

Regardless of what anyone here thinks or believes about themselves being great hockey experts, Bob gainey has forgotten more about hockey than anyone in this community will ever know. Why rush Latendresse and secondly why piss off guys that have been working hard in the ahl and deserve their shot right now? I mean is Latendresse really any better than Perezhogin, Plekanec or Higgins at this point in his career? He may very well be better down the road but give him time to develope. Id like to see all 3 of those guys in the line-up this season. That being said, I wouldn't mind if they gave Latendresse a 10 game tryout like the poll mentioned but unless he really excelled in those 10 games, I would want him back in juniors.

Julien says that the trading of Hossa doesn't mean the Latendresse will necessarilly be making the team. Story on RDS. I didn't think they would throw the kid to the lions so early in his career. He went on to say that the may be starting with the 2 tough guys in the lineup, that being Vandermeer and Ivanans.

OMG PEOPLE!!!! Get over it ! Hossa sucks. He hasn't done squat in his career with the Habs and he's almost middle aged in hockey terms. What makes you think he's going to all of a sudden live up to the hype. I can't for the life of me understand why all this moaning over such a heartless, streaky hockey player. We have much better younger players waiting in the wings and Hossa had to get his fat under-acheiving ass out of the way. End of story. Good riddance to bad garbage. Sheesh.

Considering Hossa wasn't going to make the team, it's a good trade because at least they got something in return. I'd much rather have Sunstrom around than Hossa any day.

I have no problem with taking the risk as long as he can be returned to his junior team if he is overwhelmed by the pace or regular season NHL play. I don't want to see such a promising young player languish in Montreal losing confidence daily because he is not playing up to everyone's expectations. This has destroyed many a promising player and that is something I don't relish the thought of.

Can you really base your opinion of Latendresse on a handful of preason games? He could find himself in a whole different situation when the real season starts with teams loaded with their vet players. Too soon to say he's the next coming before we see the real games. I'd prefer that he had another year in junior and then one on the farm. And so what do you do with Perezhogin? Would you put him back in that bad situation in Hamilton? That might be worse for him than rushing Latendresse would be.

I think room was made more for Perezhogin than Latendresse. Think about it. Can they really send Perezhogin back to the AHL and Hamilton after that fiasco that happened last year? Besides Latendresse is just too young and he doesn't have to be rushed. Why rush him? Many young prospects have been ruined by making them play in the NHL too early. It's not like the Habs are despearate to fill roster spots. Given this and Perezhogin's situation I'd say that Perezhogin is going to be staying.

Well to simplify this further I'd say that the lone unknown player that's going to be cut is either Latendresse or Perezhogin unless there is a trade but I don't see a trade happening. The guys you suggested, Dags and Sunny, are unlikely because Dags is lighting it up and the coaching staff loves Sunny. So it's Latendresse or Perehogin gone and I would bet Perezhogin gets a shot and Latendresse goes back to the juniors.

I don't know why so many of you are high on Hossa. He has never showed anything that would merit this type of reaction. I think he is a career ahler. No check that; he'll be playing out his career in Europe. No big loss.

Oh and I also agree that Sundstrom is a valuable player with the new rules coming in. He fills a defensive roll that Hossa couldn't carry out in a million years. We need guys like Sunny in defensive situations.

Never impressed by Hossa . He's had a shot a few times already and done nothing with them. His numbers in the AHL are less than impressive so what makes you think he is going to do any better in the NHL? This is simply a move to get rid of extra bodies and trying to get something in return. I'm sure Gainey got the best he could for Hossa though I would rather he picked up a draft pick even if it was a later one but I don't know much about the guy we got in return so maybe it's ok. Hossa is getting on in years for a prospect and Gainey just gave up on him. He couldn't wait forever for Hossa to wake up.

Vandermeer has a one way contract I believe which means he's not going to Hamilton. He's on the team and his spot is guaranteed. I don't think he'll be playing every night just when there's a goon to contend with.

Are you sure Perezhogin can play in Hamilton? Isn't he still banned?

OK so Plekanec makes the team but the numbers are just too much. Hossa, Plekanec, and Perezhogin can't go down without clearing waivers so they have to stay. So how does Higgins stay up as well? I would think that one of these guys would have to steal Dags place but he is getting the goals this pre-season and is playing well. I'm glad that Gainey didn't go crazy with the free agents because it's hard enough trying to get the guys that are here on the roster. [Edited on 2005/9/28 by Mark Napier]

Don't think he was ever considered a favourite to make the team but he's really showing something this preseason. Really playing well and he has 5 points I believe maybe leading the team in points. So does he make the team? Is there room for him?

It will be great to see (well hear) the big line again after all this time. They're going to have a big year. Hopefully beating the Lightening will be the first step.