Gainey's summer

[Chris]

I don't know what you guys are thinking he is going to do.HE has stated numerous times he isn't trading youth for a player. He won't sign a big name player, he knows they aren't one player away. He is making moves to free up money and make a trade or 2. I don't think it will be anything big. Ryder, Halak and Huet are good trade bait and added in the some of the D garbage can fetch an upgrade to the D.

Everyone needs a little patience. It will be 1 possibly 2 years before they are contenders, they have some bad contracts with a few years left.

[Makh2o]

cons:

he managed to get rid of a bad apple that he brought upon us.

didn't bring a bona fide player in return of above said bad apple.

Are you kidding me??? We were spending 3.5MM on a guy we didn't want, who didn't play the last 13 games of last season... Simply getting him off the books, and out of our dressing room was a victory... and you're complaining on our returns? Seems a bit ridiculous... that's like complaining about Theodore, and how we need to just get rid of him, then being mad that all we got was Aebischer... haven't heard a single complaint about letting him go for nothing...

[Habitforming]

Are you kidding me??? We were spending 3.5MM on a guy we didn't want, who didn't play the last 13 games of last season... Simply getting him off the books, and out of our dressing room was a victory... and you're complaining on our returns? Seems a bit ridiculous... that's like complaining about Theodore, and how we need to just get rid of him, then being mad that all we got was Aebischer... haven't heard a single complaint about letting him go for nothing...

Well said.

[smon]

I don't know what you guys are thinking he is going to do.HE has stated numerous times he isn't trading youth for a player. He won't sign a big name player, he knows they aren't one player away. He is making moves to free up money and make a trade or 2. I don't think it will be anything big. Ryder, Halak and Huet are good trade bait and added in the some of the D garbage can fetch an upgrade to the D.

Everyone needs a little patience. It will be 1 possibly 2 years before they are contenders, they have some bad contracts with a few years left.

Trading Huet would be a huge move. I don't see how that would fail to be big, putting all the team's hopes on a teenager who hasn't played a minute of NHL hockey.

[redondo]

I think some people underestimate how big of a signing Markov was, and it's already looking like a better deal then when first announced. That alone has made Souray expendable, as opposed to putting Gainey in a position to absolutely HAVE to overpay him just to not look bad for losing both of his UFAs and leaving the defence in shambles. It may have also made the Valentenko signing possible, since it dispells the rumours that Russians are not welcome here.

Now I'm not sure what went on behind closed doors (or phone lines), but it sounds like Bob showd up to the Emelin party late, so on the other hand that has to count against him (the Lada Togliatti situation was known for MONTHS), at least based on what Emelin said.

The draft is still ahead too, and that we won't be able to judge for years. But the true answer will come in how Gainey works the cap $$$ manouvering room that he created for himself. He needs a bona-fide center, and at least one steady defenceman (I think it's closer to two). But he also has a mixed record with UFA signings (Samsonov, Audette), so just having the money is no guarantee.

This team has some obvious holes, but it SHOULD be better next season, because it's a young team and everyone will be a year older/wiser, including Carbonneau. Some of the kids will obviously have to go in order to get back some of the assets we need and simply don't have in our system, but the challenge there is to hold onto the right ones (Example: everyone jumps on the Price bandwagon, Halak gets traded, Price can't handle the pressure, Halak becomes Hasek elswhere, a simplified example but you get the point).

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

I'd expect Bob to try to sign a defenceman UFA to try to plug the hole left by Souray. However, assuming Souray to be gone, I'm not sure this team will be much better...that will depend on the UFA in question, partly (Rafalski, Priessing, Hannan, etc., all would be helpful). Will emerging youth, not getting the flu, and Carbo's increased experience be enough to put us on solid footing? Probably enough to get us into the playoffs but probably not enough to count us as even long-shot contenders.

Sooner or later this team HAS TO acquire a major centreman to spell off Koivu. There is no such animal in our system, except possibly Pleks (which I severely doubt; and even if Pleks emerges as a point-per-game player you probably need more size down the middle to really make a run). Therefore, I would not be wholly surprised to see Bob acquire a C along the lines of Marleau in what would be his first really major trade as GM for us.

I don't say it's gonna happen. I just say that if it doesn't happen sooner or later, our dreams of Saks raising a Cup before he retires will never come to pass. Bob's basically got this summer and next, to pull it off. And my assessment of his performance may ultimately depend on the result.

Edited June 19, 2007 by The Chicoutimi Cucumber

[BTH]

Let's say Schneider signs with us. He can replace Souray pretty neatly and could cost less. That would give us a solid top 4, leaving us with Bouillon, Dandenault, Gorges and farmers to duke it out for the final 2 spots. If we could just replace Dandenault with one more decent guy, like a Preissing, then our D is fine for this season. In the next years, young D will be joining us so signing UFA defenceman long-term is not a necessity for us. That's why Schneider (38) is a good option. Also, he apparently wants to come here, which is great since we could use him.

At forward, it's a similar story, we only need guys for 1 or 2 more years. I think Gainey will give Shanahan another shot.

[JoeLassister]

Now that Timonnen started (or re-started) the party, i really want Souray back with us for the PP.

Souray and Hannan. That's all i'm asking for Bob !!!

[CHice]

There probably was no deal if Cullimore wasn't invoved

It's only proof that Gainey values Markov a lot more then you do and more then he values Souray who will get six somewhere else. I'm not dogging what your saying. I agree it's a lot of money but it seems to be the going rate for a player you value. Sends a good message to Andrei and you know he will be teaching the kids all his secrets. Who else would you fill his shoes with?, that would be cheaper.

Markov had to be signed if we had any hope in the future

[CHice]

I think some people underestimate how big of a signing Markov was, and it's already looking like a better deal then when first announced. That alone has made Souray expendable, as opposed to putting Gainey in a position to absolutely HAVE to overpay him just to not look bad for losing both of his UFAs and leaving the defence in shambles. It may have also made the Valentenko signing possible, since it dispells the rumours that Russians are not welcome here.

Now I'm not sure what went on behind closed doors (or phone lines), but it sounds like Bob showd up to the Emelin party late, so on the other hand that has to count against him (the Lada Togliatti situation was known for MONTHS), at least based on what Emelin said.

The draft is still ahead too, and that we won't be able to judge for years. But the true answer will come in how Gainey works the cap $$$ manouvering room that he created for himself. He needs a bona-fide center, and at least one steady defenceman (I think it's closer to two). But he also has a mixed record with UFA signings (Samsonov, Audette), so just having the money is no guarantee.

This team has some obvious holes, but it SHOULD be better next season, because it's a young team and everyone will be a year older/wiser, including Carbonneau. Some of the kids will obviously have to go in order to get back some of the assets we need and simply don't have in our system, but the challenge there is to hold onto the right ones (Example: everyone jumps on the Price bandwagon, Halak gets traded, Price can't handle the pressure, Halak becomes Hasek elswhere, a simplified example but you get the point).

situations like that is why we havent won in 14 years

[CHice]

Let's say Schneider signs with us. He can replace Souray pretty neatly and could cost less. That would give us a solid top 4, leaving us with Bouillon, Dandenault, Gorges and farmers to duke it out for the final 2 spots. If we could just replace Dandenault with one more decent guy, like a Preissing, then our D is fine for this season. In the next years, young D will be joining us so signing UFA defenceman long-term is not a necessity for us. That's why Schneider (38) is a good option. Also, he apparently wants to come here, which is great since we could use him.

At forward, it's a similar story, we only need guys for 1 or 2 more years. I think Gainey will give Shanahan another shot.

Dandenault has 2 years left on his contract. his off year last year was due to the injury he suffered early in the year and he never recovered much like franky. dan will be much better next year like he was in 2006 when he was excellent this guy has 3 rings and really showed it in the 2006 playoffs lets give dan another shot here.

[ShortHanded]

Dandenault has 2 years left on his contract. his off year last year was due to the injury he suffered early in the year and he never recovered much like franky. dan will be much better next year like he was in 2006 when he was excellent this guy has 3 rings and really showed it in the 2006 playoffs lets give dan another shot here.

we'll see, but to me Dandy's three rings had a lot more to do with Stevie Y, Nicklas Lidstrom, and the gang in detroit being one of the best teams of the last decade then it did with him specifically...

[lazy26]

Still... it's always a plus to have players that have experience with a winning tradition. Dandy may not have singlehandedly won those Cups, but he knows how to do it. Who else in MTL does? (Coaching staff, GMs, etc... excluded)

[BTH]

Dandenault has 2 years left on his contract. his off year last year was due to the injury he suffered early in the year and he never recovered much like franky. dan will be much better next year like he was in 2006 when he was excellent this guy has 3 rings and really showed it in the 2006 playoffs lets give dan another shot here.

Well for our D to improve (which it needs to) we must either let Souray walk and replace him with a better UFA or upgrade Bouillon or upgrade Dandenault. You can make the same argument for Bouillon that he was hurt last year and that's why he had an off year, so I don't think Dandenault has anything on him but experience. Like Rivet, I think he's a good leader but just doesn't have the talent to remain on the roster as the team improves.

[Chris]

Well i wouldn't go that far. Ryder is a very tradable forward. Kovalev is not. There is youth that need top minutes and Ryder will soon be looking for 4 mill a year. So Ryder and lets say Bouillon can get you an upgrade to the D.

Souray will take the money and run so i'm not sure your point there. Unless you meant trading him last year.

Plus Those 2 were like minus 70 or something and didn't help the team make the playoffs. They were both in reality PP specialists.

Sorry that was on ther Alex Kovalev post for bar's coment. Wrong thread.

[Athlétique.Canadien]

This thread should have more to input within the next 2 to 3 days.

GO HABS STAFF GO :hlogo:

[InsaneHABSfan]

This thread should have more to input within the next 2 to 3 days.

GO HABS STAFF GO :hlogo:

Yup. Excitement over who Habs draft or if they trade shall make it very interesting.

Love that GO HABS STAFF GO comment!

[saskhab]

There's also the improvement from within potential:

Komisarek is still in progress. He's arrived in terms of being a top d-man on the team, but he can get better. He may not need Markov as his partner full-time, either. Markov makes guys around him better, so if we had a lot of confidence in Komi and paired him with another d-man, we could potentially improve our group as a whole.

Bouillon-Dandenault's injuries helped neither. As a pairing, they rely on each other to be effective. Neither got to that point last year, but they were good the year previous. I don't think we should keep both of them anyways, but there's no reason to expect a repeat of last year if we end up with both back.

Gorges is young and will get a full training camp to get adjusted to his new team and system. That's huge for a young d-man.

Streit can still improve if given a permanent spot on the blueline as well, as well as finding good chemistry with a partner.

Changes can be made, but if we lose Souray and don't replace him with a big time player we still can improve. That's what I'm getting at.

BTW, if O'Byrne makes the team, he'll be broken in slowly, much like Komi was when he first came up.

[dark_faerie87]

Dandenault has 2 years left on his contract. his off year last year was due to the injury he suffered early in the year and he never recovered much like franky. dan will be much better next year like he was in 2006 when he was excellent this guy has 3 rings and really showed it in the 2006 playoffs lets give dan another shot here.

Agreed, I was really impressed with Dandy's play against the 'Canes. I can remember a couple bone-crunching hits. I'd like to see more of that this upcoming season if he stays with the team.

[Habsfan24]

I think he will stay I just hope he is able to elevate his game this season.

[CHice]

we'll see, but to me Dandy's three rings had a lot more to do with Stevie Y, Nicklas Lidstrom, and the gang in detroit being one of the best teams of the last decade then it did with him specifically...

Your missing the point of course, Dan has won 3 cups has went through it and experienced it and knows how to win

[CHice]

There's also the improvement from within potential:

Komisarek is still in progress. He's arrived in terms of being a top d-man on the team, but he can get better. He may not need Markov as his partner full-time, either. Markov makes guys around him better, so if we had a lot of confidence in Komi and paired him with another d-man, we could potentially improve our group as a whole.

Bouillon-Dandenault's injuries helped neither. As a pairing, they rely on each other to be effective. Neither got to that point last year, but they were good the year previous. I don't think we should keep both of them anyways, but there's no reason to expect a repeat of last year if we end up with both back.

Gorges is young and will get a full training camp to get adjusted to his new team and system. That's huge for a young d-man.

Streit can still improve if given a permanent spot on the blueline as well, as well as finding good chemistry with a partner.

Changes can be made, but if we lose Souray and don't replace him with a big time player we still can improve. That's what I'm getting at.

BTW, if O'Byrne makes the team, he'll be broken in slowly, much like Komi was when he first came up.

when Komisarek came in, in 03-04 he was apart of the top 6 played regularly besides the pp and went through alot of blunders and pains as we remember in the tampa series in 04 when he turned the puck over to richards in game 3 OT. thats the only downside to bringin in rookies to fill holes is the growing pains the first few years but look at Komi now and look at what Byrne and Cote will be.

[ShortHanded]

Your missing the point of course, Dan has won 3 cups has went through it and experienced it and knows how to win

no, I get it. I just think it takes a combination of "having been there" (experience) AND leadership to be able to pass that along to the other players.

[JMMR]

no, I get it. I just think it takes a combination of "having been there" (experience) AND leadership to be able to pass that along to the other players.

I think he a decent leader for sure he gave it all in the playoffs next year and barring any injuries next year I expect a lot more from him.

[ShortHanded]

I think he a decent leader for sure he gave it all in the playoffs next year and barring any injuries next year I expect a lot more from him.

Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour. My fear is that this team is full of players that we expect a lot more of 'next year'. If they're just not the guys who are going to do it, we should move them if we can, and if the return is worthwhile.