bobby Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 But if they want to make a deal to improve the team, they can't do it using worthless players. There are two sides in any deal, and in order to acquire a quality player they will have to give up the same. I'm not saying that Grabovski or Kostitsyn don't have talent or potential, just that they have it at a position where the Habs have an excess at the moment. There is no doubt the team has a lot more forwards who prefer to play RW than LW, both on the parent team and in the organization. Trading a RW and/or right handed C for a LW makes the most sense. In my view, Grabovski, Kostitsyn, and Perezhogin are the three most likely candidates because they have trade value and there are younger players coming along who can replace them in the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Do we have younger guys who can replace them? As far as offensively gifted forwards come (especially ones who play with intensity and have some aggression to their game) we seem to only have those 3 guys within even a sniff of firstline potential. It seems to me that if we traded a guy liek Perezhogin, it would only be becase we know we have Kostitsyn and Grabovski as replacements. If we traded all three, there will be no one to replace them except guys who play different games and different styles. Guys who currently fill up our roster from almost top to bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I don't think any of the three has first line potential. None of them put up eye popping numbers at any level so far in their career. Grabovski and Kostitsyn look good on the ice, but neither has been that productive. I think that Perezhogin can make the transition to being a two way left winger similar to Chris Higgins. At least that is what he will have to do if he remains in Montreal. I realize it is a minority opinion here, but I just don't see Andrei Kostitsyn breaking out in a big way at the NHL level. He doesn't have the spark and isn't flexible enough to adapt his style to the opportunities that occur. There aren't any obvious first line candidates in the system, but players like Matt D'Agostini, Sergei Kostitsyn, Ryan White, and Ben Maxwell have all exceeded expectations thus far in their development. They are more versatile as well. Capable of fitting in on the third or fourth line and working their way up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smon Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Just a note, I noticed something talking about Tom Preissing. Preissing is a restricted free agent for the Senators and will undoubtedly get a qualifying offer, so he's not coming here anyhow. Don't get too impressed by his plus 45 or whatever it is. The local media and Sens coach Bryan Murray joke around quite a bit about how any player could get that since he plays only in certain situations as essentially a powerplay specialist and sixth defender. The Senators had him and Joe Corvo playing top four minutes at the start of the year, and they were absolutely horrendous. He is a good puck mover, but he suffers brain cramps, and knowing the Montreal pressure cooker, it wouldn't be a good recipe for success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 I mentioned Preissing because he's a solid defenceman and would come at a cheaper price than the other guys in trade, if not contract (since you say he's an RFA). There are lots of high-quality UFA d-men this summer so I think they won't cost as muc has people believe. For example, Arnott got that huge contract because he was pretty much the only top 2 center available. Had there been 20, they would not have been offered so much and teams would take their time to see which one they can get for cheapest. I think Poti might be a good fit or one of the other second pairing offensive defenceman who will be UFA this summer. Maybe a veteran leader like Greg de Vries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smon Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Poti is no thanks, I'll pass. He's essentially a second rate offensive defenseman with no defensive capability. De Vries is a decent proposition. Again though, he's not much of an upgrade on the guys we already have, and he really reminds me of Craig Rivet. I'd suggest Gainey target a defender like Brad Stuart, Mathieu Schneider, Danny Markov, Darryl Sydor or Ossi Vaananen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Well Poti is having a great year for the Islanders, logging a good amount of minutes on the Isles, hwo are a great team 5-on-5 which is where you'd think his weak defensive game would be exposed. De Vries, I guess has more experience than Rivet - playoff and Stanley Cupexperience, that is. That's something are team lacks. But I agree, he wuoldn't be my first choice. There are guys with much bigger names on the market. The question is who will come here and how much will they cost us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 BTH is right Poti has imporved so much this season. Nolan really gave him a lot more responsibility and he responded very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAKS-AVENUE Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 I think we'll see some trading at the draft table from Gainey. Is it possible that Gainey may sign Souray based on conversations with another GM. What I'm saying is......... Gainey signs Souray for 6 million, which he agrees on with Washingtons GM for example or Chicago. Then he trades Souray to Washingotn or Chicago for there first round pick. Then we draft Kane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chicago ...???? maby....but I do read on Spectors' site Washington is offering they're fifth pick to all teams. Is this type of thing legal in the NHL. If we take Washington's stance on not rebuilding and trying to win a cup I think we can afford to give up our 1st round picks for some decent players and not be screwed in the future. We are good for the next few years if a championship team is what we are building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 yeah it is legal but it never happens. Sometimes there are sign and trades of RFA's but never UFA's it just does not make sense. It could happen I would guess about a .01% chance though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Sometimes UFA's are traded before July 1st (they are technically still owned by the team at that point) but it rarely happens. Last time I remember Montreal doing it was Quintal (sp?) to LA for future considerations. (Habs didn't get anything because Quintel (sp?) retired before playing for them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Sometimes UFA's are traded before July 1st (they are technically still owned by the team at that point) but it rarely happens. Last time I remember Montreal doing it was Quintal (sp?) to LA for future considerations. (Habs didn't get anything because Quintel (sp?) retired before playing for them.) Yeah but he was thinking the Habs could sign him and get a first rounder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Yeah but he was thinking the Habs could sign him and get a first rounder. Kind of a dick move don't you think? "Souray, we want you here and we'll offer you 4.25 mill a season for 4 years" "That's a little bit less than I was hoping for, but I really want to play for Montreal and finish my career here" *signs* "That's wonderful. By the way, we just traded you to Chicago." "Mother f-" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbhatt Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 (edited) Kind of a dick move don't you think? "Souray, we want you here and we'll offer you 4.25 mill a season for 4 years" "That's a little bit less than I was hoping for, but I really want to play for Montreal and finish my career here" *signs* "That's wonderful. By the way, we just traded you to Chicago." "Mother f-" I'm sure that Souray will demand a no-trade clause from whoever it is that signs him. Edited April 14, 2007 by sbhatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Puck Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Best news for me is that they seem to be going hard after Valentenko. I'm really excited to see what he can do in North America, after watching him at the WJC. Chances of seeing him play at the World Championships went from slim to none, unfortunately, as he left camp due to an injury. Gainey said they are in intense negotiations with Valentenko but less intense with Emelin. People have interpreted this as meaning Emelin is unlikely to come over. This might be right but I think that the Habs can't go strongly after Emelin until they know whether Markov and Souray will resign and if so for how much. Once we know what happens with Markov and Souray, Gainey will be a position to start serious negotiations with Emelin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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