John B

UFAs Gilbert - could be useful depth on the roster and would need to take at least a 50% pay cut for me to want him back. Bartley - would be a nice depth guy on a two-way deal. Dumont - would be a solid veteran leader for the farm. Holloway - would be a solid veteran with offense for the farm. Brown/Scott - the game is moving away from this type of player and so should the Habs. Scrivens - crease is already too crowded and he didn't impress this season in the NHL or AHL. RFAs Danault/Lessio - like to see what they could do in a full season with the team/organization. A show me contract at the very least (two-way for Lessio). Andrighetto/Carr - intrigued me enough to earn a show me contract at the very least. Barberio - I'd like to see him back as the 3rd pair LD. Hanley/Deitz/Ellis - solid depth guys for now. I'd like to see if they can step it up another level or if they've hit their ceilings. Bournival - his career is over. Too many concussions. Not worth the contract. Bennett - just isn't good enough.

I'd like to see the Habs sign Reway. Offer him the maximum entry level deal ($925 000 base salary + bonuses that could bring the cap hit up to $3.775 mil) for the minimum term with a clause that he can return to Europe if he doesn't make the team. It's the best deal he is going to get from any team. If he ends up earning those bonuses than great. The Habs have a legit NHLer, if not, he's an inexpensive rookie or tucked away in Europe. His NHL rights will belong to the Habs until he's 27. If he improves and/or matures he could be useful down the road or as trade bait. If he says no to the contract (which as I said is the best offer he is going to get from any NHL team), perhaps Bergevin can use him as part of a package to land immediate help. I also wonder if he could be shipped along with a pick to move up in the draft. Maybe turn our second rounder into a late first rounder or Minnesota's second rounder into an early second rounder. I can understand why he may not want to play for the Habs. Montreal tends to bring their prospects along slowly, and sometimes it seems like they maybe holding them back. I'm just saying that could be his perception. I'm sure he doesn't want to end up sitting in the press box for a prolonged period of time (or at all). He recognizes that he has a chance to sign with any team he wants in a year. Perhaps a rebuilding team that can just about guarantee him a good spot on the roster for lack of better options. As far as him missing rookie camp to go on vacation, perhaps he didn't want to risk injury without a contract signed. He has a selfish outlook and looks out for himself. That's not very positive, but I'd rather try to get him under contract and trade him for something than lose him for nothing and watch him possibly flourish somewhere else.

Rumor is that Jimmy Vesey is going to sign with Toronto (where his father was brought in as a scout and his brother was drafted) or Boston. However with this just being a rumor, does anybody think that he could be swayed to sign elsewhere? I think the Habs should take a run at him.

Flyers have two kicks at the can. Doesn't look good for Boston.

I want to start by saying that I don't want to see Subban get traded. I think it would be a mistake as well, unless (as many have stated on here) the return is mind blowing. Having said that, it's not surprising that a team that needs as much help as the Habs (at least 2 top 6 forwards to be a contender) and have to resign some significant free agents in the next few years (Price, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk) would consider clearing $9 million in cap space. Perhaps Bergevin isn't getting any interest in Desharnais, Eller, or Emelin and is looking at other options to clear the necessary cap space to add the forwards this team needs. Of course by trading Subban they would be creating a huge hole on their defense. I think the Habs have painted themselves into a corner in many ways. They can't afford to sign two top 6 forwards without clearing cap space and nobody is going to want their "junk" without sending some "junk" back. They also need to consider the long term ramifications of handing out huge contracts to 2 higher end forwards. What would that mean for the current players on the roster that will be needing new deals soon? Price $6.5M + $4-6M raise Pacioretty $4.5 + $3-5M raise Galchenyuk $2.8M + $4-5M raise Beaulieu $1M + $3-5M raise Markov $5.75M - will need to be replaced by another top 4 dman in UFA market. Cost would be at least $5M depending on who it is. Plekanec $6M - Doubt he will still be a 2nd line caliber player in 2 years, so again will need to be replaced in free agency. Cost at least $5M. Unfortunately Markov and Plekanec will likely have to be replaced through free agency because the Habs lack high end prospects that can fill the void at this time. Perhaps that changes with their first round pick this year, but even then it will only fill one of the two voids. Just my opinion on why this rumor could be out there.

I think the Habs are going to play hard in front of the rookie tonight. I can see the Habs pulling out a victory to help the youngster get his first NHL win.

I'm predicting a Habs victory tonight.

Dubois seems like the safe pick. Seems like a well rounded player according to scouting reports.

There is an article on cbssports.com about some potential college free agents. www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25509103/north-dakota-duo-among-college-free-agents-to-watch-for-the-nhl.

Petry is probably overpaid by a bit right now, but that's not that uncommon for potential UFAs. Teams have very little leverage in negotiations with UFAs. Especially sought after ones like Petry was last season. That's the tough part with trying to fill holes through free agency. It's not a problem unique to the Canadiens. It happens to all teams around the league. Overpaying is unavoidable in pro sports.

If Gilbert were to sign for around 1 to 1.4 mil he could be a pretty useful 3rd pair guy at a good price. I think it depends on how Pateryn plays the rest of the season. If there's any doubt that Pateryn can be a regular next season, it might be a good idea to bring Gilbert back as insurance (Unless there is a better, cheaper option in the UFA market).

I was not aware of that. Thanks for the info.

I think it all depends on what the Habs future plans are for Galchenyuk. If they want him as their future 1st (or even 2nd) line center, than he should be developed as such and play center. There are parts of his game that need work and he isn't going to learn the nuances of playing center by playing on the wing. If management has changed their minds and decided that Galchenyuk is better on the wing and that's where his future lies with the team, then there is no problem with the way they have been bringing him along. He has played well on the wing and has shown that he can play center when needed. His ability in the faceoff circle can still be used even as a winger. Versatility for a winger is a huge plus. I realize that he was drafted as a center and was projected to be the team's future #1, or at least that was the plan. But sometimes plans change and I'm sure Bergevin has some kind of plan moving forward. IMO part of the problem is a lack of versatility from other players. Galchenyuk is a better winger than everyone except Pacioretty and is about even with Gallagher right now. Eller isn't as good of center as Galchenyuk, but he's a better center than he is a winger, I have no excuses for Desharnais. I'm not sure what he's like as a winger.

Desharnais to Arizona for Pronger. Pronger is on LTIR and isn't ever coming back. Arizona is a team that needs to save money and Desharnais makes less than Pronger (and can still play if needed). Habs save $3.5 mil on next years cap. It's exactly what Toronto did to get rid of Clarkson. If guys like Clarkson and Rene Bourque can be moved, Desharnais can also be moved. NO MORE BUYOUTS. Still have to deal with Parenteau's $1.3 and change on next year's cap. If the Habs are going to bring in the pieces they need, they are going to need all the cap space they can muster up.

If I'm not mistaken there was an article on the hockey news website about Kovalchuk and what it would take for him to be reinstated after retirement. I can't seem to find it now. It was last year when the Russian economy tanked and there was speculation of some players that could return to the NHL. If I remember correctly all the owners had to agree to reinstate Kovalchuk. It may have had something to do with the fact that he retired while still under contract. It was a really strange bunch of hoops that he would have to jump through to come back.

Leafs are ensuring their last place finish by dealing anyone that can help them win. Taking Torres back was only to get a better return. I doubt they will bring him back next year.

There were rumors early in the season that the Caps might trade Marcus Johansson. He's an RFA this summer and it's believed that they will not be able to afford a long term extension for him. Markov likely wouldn't be enough, but if there were other pieces involved maybe something could be worked out. There are a few teams that are apparently looking for defenseman. Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Washington are the ones I've read about in rumor reports. Obviously Edmonton is as well, but I doubt Markov is what they're looking for. I wouldn't be shocked if Arizona, Carolina, Detroit, New Jersey, and San Jose could also be looking at adding a defenseman.

Coaches don't have the most secure jobs in the NHL unless they're winning. I wonder if they get tunnel vision on winning to save their jobs and creativity, risk, and sometimes player development (in that veterans get more important minutes) tend to take a back seat. At the beginning of the season Therien was getting the best out of these players. It seemed like the young guys were getting plenty of opportunities and there seemed to be more creativity from the team. The players were getting a little more leash IMO. Now, not so much.

For the pro tank crowd this is a must lose. A regulation win ties the Habs with the Flyers, Sens, and Yotes in the standings. A OT/SO win ties the Habs with the Sens and Yotes.

I'm aware that the Habs are currently selecting 9th, but they are also tied with Arizona and Ottawa with 58 pts. They are only 2 behind Minnesota (who are also struggling), and Philly. Most of the teams behind the Habs are rebuilding (or just coming out of a rebuild) and are willing sellers at the deadline. Those teams also have more high profile rentals that they will likely unload making them worse. Habs are looking for long term help that will help now and in the very near future. It's hard to compete against teams who are committed to tanking. Unloading Gilbert, Weise, and Fleischmann doesn't hurt the Habs as much as Winnipeg moving Ladd, Calgary moving Hudler and Russell, Vancouver moving Vrbata and Hamhuis, ect. hurts those other teams. They play the Jets, Leafs, Flames, and Sens 1 more time. They play the Sabres 2 more. They would have to lose the majority of those games and hope for some help from other teams. I just don't think the Habs can lose more games than the teams chasing them. I'm not saying it's not possible, just improbable. I'm all in for a tank and I'm hoping for a good pick.

I doubt the Habs win the draft lottery or even get close to a top 5 pick. The best we can probably hope for is around 10th to 15th. Unfortunately they are better than most of the other non-playoff teams and if Price returns you can expect them to get close to playoffs or maybe even sneak in. Nothing worse than being a bubble team at trade deadline time.

There were a lot of rumors about Yakupov going to Montreal last year too. I wonder if it's media speculation because Yakupov played with Galchenyuk in Sarnia or if there is some actual merit to it. This is the first time I hear Eller's name mentioned as part of a deal for him though (from the media that is). As a matter of fact, none of the rumors that I'm aware of last year speculated who was going the other way.

Good point guys. Gallagher and Subban were coached by Therien and seem to be doing just fine. I suppose it could just be the circumstances of this season that make it seem like some of the young players aren't getting the proper opportunities. Can't blame the guy for trying to win (we gripe if he doesn't). Maybe he feels that he is doing the right thing for their development. I guess only time will tell.

I've read good things about Keller. Small players (by NHL standards) rarely get much respect in the draft rankings unless they have an elite skill level. I wonder if I'll see him in Windsor next year or if he will go the NCAA route. I'm guessing NCAA, but I know the Spits have been making a strong push for him.

I agree that demotions/promotions are on Bergevin not Therien, but how rosters players are used (including deployment) is on Therien. Therien doesn't seem to show any confidence in his young players, which intern adversely affects their confidence and performance. It's not so much that Galchenyuk isn't good as a winger, it's that he was drafted to be the future #1 center and hasn't been given the opportunities to develop as such. It seems like every time the going gets rough, Galchenyuk's ice time as a center is cut back in favor of a veteran or he is moved to the wing. This year saw the longest stretch of games in his career as a center. How is not knowing what his long term position at the NHL level is going to be helping his development. A decision has to made on Galchenyuk's position so he can be properly developed, otherwise we are looking at a kid that will never hit his ceiling.