Fire Pierre Gauthier

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Er, just to be clear, I'm not saying Gauthier should be fired!! - but I *am* questioning whether this organization is deeply, truly serious about contending this season, or whether it's happy just to be 'pretty good.' In some ways it's an unanswerable question, but I remain slightly uneasy about the answer.

[Colin]

Cash cannot be moved in deals. This is something that I think will be a big discussion point in the next CBA though.

Big, big, BIG discussion point. Ask Brian Burke. He thinks GM's are completely hamstrung because they can't use case or portions of contracts in trades. I.E. We'll give you Gomez +x+y but will keep 50% of Gomez's salary for asset Z. Think of how much easier it would be to move a guy like Gomer if you were willing to eat some salary in the name of player acquisition.

[JMMR]

PG made some decent moves but I also don't like how he has managed our assets. We also seem to be on the losing end of trades in small ways.

That said, I will judge him based on how he handles this season. If we suck like this and he trades prospects and young guys for temporary help, I say fire him. If he trades away guys he isn't going to sign and gets prospects, picks, etc, then good on him. We need a plan to get to the top 4 of the east, not a plan to hover around 7th to 12th.

If he is going to trade young kids and prospects for temp help you need to fire him before he does this wayyy before.

I still say... do nothing until February. Markov is back in January.

Let this team sink or swim with what they have.

If Markov is the answer we want him to be, and things look good, then try to find a 2nd line centre at the deadline.

If the team continues to suck... sell at the deadline.

No need to rush this.

Markov may also need another Surgery in Jan.

[JMMR]

Well Colin, you're on fire today in my books. I should just requote what you are saying, as we share the same opinion on this topic.

Yes, just imagine if we were somehow to miraculously trade Gomez and his $7m salary for a true number 1 center who earns the same amount. Say, Gomez, Weber, Gallagher and a first rounder for Eric Staal. I know that would never happen but if something like that did, we would definitely be considered serious contenders. That is, if Markov and the rest are healthy as well. Although Pleks is awesome at what he does, he isn't the prototypical #1 center and would be better suited as #2. This team isn't that far off from being really really dangerous. Look how great it could potentially look. Tell me that isn't a Stanley Cup contender.

Pacioretty Staal Gionta

Cammalleri Pleks Kostitsyn

Desharnais Eller Cole

Moen Noke White

Markov Emelin

Subban Gill

Campoli Gorges

Price

If that did ever happen how would you not have Cole and Staal together?

Big, big, BIG discussion point. Ask Brian Burke. He thinks GM's are completely hamstrung because they can't use case or portions of contracts in trades. I.E. We'll give you Gomez +x+y but will keep 50% of Gomez's salary for asset Z. Think of how much easier it would be to move a guy like Gomer if you were willing to eat some salary in the name of player acquisition.

I beleive Gomez has a NTC but not a NMC so Geoff Molson if you want to get rid of him burry him in Hamilton till next season when his sal is down but cap hit high for another team.

[TurdBurglar]

I don't think you should be able to trade money, it's a gamble you take when you sign a player for a large amount of money. It's also a chance you take when you make the stupid move of acquiring an underachieving-overpaid player. There is always a solution to Gomez. Waive him and hope someone picks him up, if not, send him to the minors. We just freed up roughly 5.3M(off the top of my head, may be off 200kish either way). With the 4M we still have from the off season, thats roughly 9.2M in cap space we can have.

While I would flip if Gallagher gets traded because his offense is something we need and could be playing as early as next year, I wouldn't be totally against it if it brought in a true susperstar #1 center, like a Lecavalier, a Staal, or a Getzlaf. It would need to be a superstar center, not another 2nd-3rd line aged center posing as a first line center. Other than that I wouldn't be alright with Gallagher being traded away.

[DON]

Fire Gathier? You are joking arnt you?

[IN THE HEARTS OF MEN]

Well Colin, you're on fire today in my books. I should just requote what you are saying, as we share the same opinion on this topic.

Yes, just imagine if we were somehow to miraculously trade Gomez and his $7m salary for a true number 1 center who earns the same amount. Say, Gomez, Weber, Gallagher and a first rounder for Eric Staal. I know that would never happen but if something like that did, we would definitely be considered serious contenders. That is, if Markov and the rest are healthy as well. Although Pleks is awesome at what he does, he isn't the prototypical #1 center and would be better suited as #2. This team isn't that far off from being really really dangerous. Look how great it could potentially look. Tell me that isn't a Stanley Cup contender.

Pacioretty Staal Gionta

Cammalleri Pleks Kostitsyn

Desharnais Eller Cole

Moen Noke White

Markov Emelin

Subban Gill

Campoli Gorges

Price

staal would be the impossible but with shedding gomez 7.5 campoli 1.75 spacek 3.8 gill 2 moen 1.5 id pull these moves in the off season

i'd like to stack the defence in a trade and it's ryan suter whom i'd target. he's a UFA and most likely would be commanding 5.5 million it would have to be sign and trade though!

camms- plex- Cole

LeBlanc - eller- AK

gionta- kelly(UFA)- patch

white-gausted(UFA)-asham(UFA)

gallagher

*suter(UFA)- subban

markov- gorges

emelin- souray(UFA)

diaz, st. denis, tinordi, beaulieau, bennent

id be trading gomez,spacek, weber, moen(his stock is real high right now 8 goals) maybe even campoli all at this years deadline for picks prospects no matter our position in the standings

of course i havent even considered cap implications and salaries of impending RFA's of our own but this is the kind of lineup id look to build! i think those 4 down the middle would be an exceptional foursome and i think our wings are strong already.. of course if the chance to trade for a big center presented itself im all for that to but it wont!!!!

We have freakin Carey Price! we should build a Defence that will surrender 0 goals!!!

[hab29RETIRED]

I'm kinda glad this thread came up. I think it's ridiculous to fire Gauthier because he hasn't fired JM; and I won't bother reiterating the reasons why JM should not be fired (yet). Some have been mentioned in this thread, thankfully.

My question is this. Is this organization truly committed to doing everything possible to ice a contender right now? Or is it happy to have a team that's good enough to have shot if it stays healthy and gets some breaks (which is what, on paper, we seem to have), while hoping we can get better in the future?

Two cases in point: the #2 C slot, and Wisniewski.

It is obvious for all to see that our #2C slot is a mess. Neither DD nor Eller, God love 'em both, qualify as truly serious options there if the goal is to contend. A Gomez who has returned to his pre-2010-11 form might qualify. Then again, his salary is a major impediment to improving the team in other areas.

So fans can well ask why the team has not moved heaven and earth to fix this problem. Now, maybe we are trying to do so. But there's certainly no indication of that. And I do not believe that a Philly, Boston, Vancouver, Chicago, San Jose or other team with serious designs on winning a Stanley Cup would put up with this situation: they'd launch a bold, risky strike for the brass ring, cap be damned. Why aren't we?

Wisniewski: I realize that the deal he eventually signed was probably unrealistic for us given the cap. But I cannot understand why the Canadiens made no serious overtures to Wiz last season. To me, it was a no-brainer that IF we could keep both Wiz and Markov we would have one of the very best defence corps in the entire NHL - which would both drive our offence up several notches and further protect Price. I can accept losing Wiz, but I have trouble accepting that a team which was really serious about winning right now would happily let an elite offensive defenceman walk without even sussing him out about conditions under which he'd stay. That doesn't speak to an organization that is truly urgent about contending.

Final thought: back when Gainey blew up the team in 2010, I suggested that the new team was a 'rebuild in disguise.' These guys were here to keep us competitive while we brought along the nucleus of youth that would allow us eventually to contend. So now I ask: are we seeing this play out? Is gauthier's REAL agenda to cross his fingers in the present and hope for better 2-3 years down the line?

How is this team going to be better in 2-3 years. They really have to get some lottery picks, to be good in the future. If I'm price or MaxPac and see the team not doing what it takes to be competitive, I walk when I'm a UFA in 2-3 years. Ditto with Subban.

[dlbalr]

I beleive Gomez has a NTC but not a NMC so Geoff Molson if you want to get rid of him burry him in Hamilton till next season when his sal is down but cap hit high for another team.

You're correct with regards to an NTC although it's only a very limited one (details on the contract page or CBA thread) and that it's not a NMC. However, Molson stated just two days ago that sending Gomez to the minors is simply not an option.

[hab29RETIRED]

<p>

Well Colin, you're on fire today in my books. I should just requote what you are saying, as we share the same opinion on this topic. Yes, just imagine if we were somehow to miraculously trade Gomez and his $7m salary for a true number 1 center who earns the same amount. Say, Gomez, Weber, Gallagher and a first rounder for Eric Staal. I know that would never happen but if something like that did, we would definitely be considered serious contenders. That is, if Markov and the rest are healthy as well. Although Pleks is awesome at what he does, he isn't the prototypical #1 center and would be better suited as #2. This team isn't that far off from being really really dangerous. Look how great it could potentially look. Tell me that isn't a Stanley Cup contender. Pacioretty Staal Gionta Cammalleri Pleks Kostitsyn Desharnais Eller Cole Moen Noke White Markov Emelin Subban Gill Campoli Gorges Price

Gallahger is one guy I wouldn't trade. He looks like the best offensive junior prospect we've had for a LONG time.

[JMMR]

You're correct with regards to an NTC although it's only a very limited one (details on the contract page or CBA thread) and that it's not a NMC. However, Molson stated just two days ago that sending Gomez to the minors is simply not an option.

Does that mean won't or can't?

[dlbalr]

Does that mean won't or can't?

It means they won't send him down.

[TurdBurglar]

Gomez's NTC is a pretty weak one. He gives a list of 3 teams he doesn't want to be traded to, the other 26 are fair game. Only circumstance where he would be required to waive the NTC is if Gauthier strikes a deal with 1 of the 3 teams on Gomez's list. Pretty easy to get around really. The hardest part is finding a team thats interested in taking on him with this contract.

Edited December 8, 2011 by Turd Burglar

[Commandant]

To expand on your thoughts.There is a glaring hole at C. Unfortunately, that's not new. That's not on JM, that's on PG to fill that hole. That's failed. This does not mean lack of action, it simply means the end result in whatever action PG may have taken is failure. It almost seems they were banking on Gomez's "rededication" to play itself out. As a fan, I was hoping it would. As a GM, I should have a valid personnel plan in place should that fail.

Explain your plan, and what you would have done.

In a cap era with 50 man contract limits there is no way of planning for every eventuality.

Plex/Gomez were ok in year 1 of the rebuild-in-disguise, but that appears to be an anomaly.

PG went after Brad Richards on July 1st according to media reports. However Richards was never interested in anyone but New York.

DD should be on the wing, he was a fun player to watch on the wing in the playoffs last year until he got hurt. Eller, I think has the potential to get there, but not in his second season.

Agreed, but what should have been Plan B if Gomez didn't recover. What other player was out there who could do this?

The D last year was aided by the addition of Wiz about halfway through the season. But still, no Markov, no Gorges, no Spacek for a 1/4 of the year. There were somewhat capable file-ins in Sopel, Mara and (gulp) Picard. That said, with those injuries last year, it is inexcusable that the Habs went into the season knowingly missing its #1 dman, a recovering ACL surgery that thankfully has help in Gorges, and aging vets in Spacek and Gill. 1 injury meant the team would be escalating an untested rookie into its top 4. I can't blame the coach that Diaz-Weber-Emelin are half of the defense corp. Gill really should be a PK specialist, but has to play more minutes due to injuries. (Granted he was brought back due to his intangibles, not his play.) Funny how folks thought the Habs were stacked on D before the season only to find out the cupboard is rather bare. That falls on PG.

The Habs planned on having Campoli and Spacek in the lineup.... that would mean only 1 rookie D is playing. 1D as your number 6 is a lot different from having 4 in the lineup as the Habs have had at times

There was simply no way to account for having all of Campoli, Spacek, and Gill all hurt at the same time... not with a 50 man contract limit and a salary cap.

There is only so much depth you can have... you can't plan for every contingency.... and no team would be putting experienced NHL caliber players on the ice with 4 of their top 6 on the IR.

[Commandant]

If he is going to trade young kids and prospects for temp help you need to fire him before he does this wayyy before.

Markov may also need another Surgery in Jan.

If he's not back and the team can't turn it around without him.... trade Gill, Spacek, Campoli and Moen for picks. Figure out if you are gonna be able to re-sign Gorges and AK, and if not trade them too.

If the writing is on the wall, then so be it.

But don't trade youth for a stop gap solution.

There are 2 major holes on the team (1B or 2A Center) and (#1 PP QB dman)... you can't possibly fill both at the trade deadline, so if Markov can't comeback healthy.... you say ###### it and load up on picks in a very, very deep draft.

[Commandant]

If that did ever happen how would you not have Cole and Staal together?

I beleive Gomez has a NTC but not a NMC so Geoff Molson if you want to get rid of him burry him in Hamilton till next season when his sal is down but cap hit high for another team.

Gomez's NTC is limited, he can name three teams every year on July 1st; and for that season Gomez cannot be traded to those 3 teams only. He can be moved to anyone else

It means they won't send him down.

Molson said, not yet ready to send him down.... I don't think he said won't ever send him down.

[BCHabnut]

Plek. Great starter. No playoff punch, but great overall two way centre. Descent 2nd line centre on any team. One first line player. Eric Cole. 3 midgets in the top 6. Top offensive prospect is a midget. Subban and Pacioretty are good prospects. Defense is so full of holes it isn't funny. Price is awesome. Gorges is fantastic. Eller is a 3rd line centre.

At the begining of the year, I thought that this team looked good on paper, but I am starting to wonder. If they are so frail and weak from being midgets, that they can't play together or ever get offensive pressure, then I say what you have is a rebuilding team.

1st line: Cole

2nd line: Pacioretty, AK, Plek

3rd line: Eller

4th line White

1st pairing: none

2nd Defense pairing: Subban Gorges

3rd pairing: Emelin

Goalie: Price

Those are the only players that are worth a crap this year. They are the only ones I have any faith in. This team has one legitimate 2nd line. In reality it doesn't have one first line player other than Cole if he had a superstar to play beside him. I didn't count tiny little horse jockeys that bounce off of the smallest defensemen in the league and never win puck battles. This is super negative, which is unlike me, but I am just showing the players that I like and that have potential, and the role they are currently able to fill. I like DD as well and would keep him around if Gionta, Cammie, and Gomer were gone.

If the vets don't start performing and earning their massive multi million dollar contracts, this is the team we have. If they can't get it together, I would not fire Martin. I would fire the guy that brought them in. Gauthier. I actually think they will pick it up and gel after Christmas, but I do not think there will be a playoffs for this team this year.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

How is this team going to be better in 2-3 years. They really have to get some lottery picks, to be good in the future. If I'm price or MaxPac and see the team not doing what it takes to be competitive, I walk when I'm a UFA in 2-3 years. Ditto with Subban.

While I don't subscribe to either the 'lottery' theory or the idea that all our good players are just dying to blow town, I do tend to agree with you that we should be trying to build a winner NOW. There is no particularly fabulous crop of youngsters on the horizon - just a steady trickle of good-to-middling players, from the little I can see. That's the whole challenge: to get the team to that 'next level' without tanking for five years.

So I wasn't saying it's a good idea to tread water now until some influx of great Young Studs arrives. I was asking whether it is what the organization is in fact doing, instead of taking bold steps to address glaring issues (especially the #2 C slot) and get us over the hump.

I live in Vancouver, and the Habs at present remind me a little bit of the Canucks when GM Mike Gillis took over. At the time, the Canucks were a decent team; he said the Canucks could contend, but it would take 'a couple of bold moves' to get them there. It turns out that his 'bold moves,' like signing Mats Sundin, didn't all work out. But he got there eventually, and not by being afraid to think big. Chicago, Boston, Philly, San Jose - such teams aren't afraid of that big, chancy move to try to get to that next level. They think big. Do we?

[JoeLassister]

While I don't subscribe to either the 'lottery' theory or the idea that all our good players are just dying to blow town, I do tend to agree with you that we should be trying to build a winner NOW. There is no particularly fabulous crop of youngsters on the horizon - just a steady trickle of good-to-middling players, from the little I can see. That's the whole challenge: to get the team to that 'next level' without tanking for five years.

So I wasn't saying it's a good idea to tread water now until some influx of great Young Studs arrives. I was asking whether it is what the organization is in fact doing, instead of taking bold steps to address glaring issues (especially the #2 C slot) and get us over the hump.

I live in Vancouver, and the Habs at present remind me a little bit of the Canucks when GM Mike Gillis took over. At the time, the Canucks were a decent team; he said the Canucks could contend, but it would take 'a couple of bold moves' to get them there. It turns out that his 'bold moves,' like signing Mats Sundin, didn't all work out. But he got there eventually, and not by being afraid to think big. Chicago, Boston, Philly, San Jose - such teams aren't afraid of that big, chancy move to try to get to that next level. They think big. Do we?

Chicago ?!? Please... all they did was finishing dead last for a couple seasons and draft Toews and Kane. Then, they signed Huet... and forgot to re sign their RFA. They think big ??? Do they ?

[patience is a virtue]

I live in Vancouver, and the Habs at present remind me a little bit of the Canucks when GM Mike Gillis took over. At the time, the Canucks were a decent team; he said the Canucks could contend, but it would take 'a couple of bold moves' to get them there. It turns out that his 'bold moves,' like signing Mats Sundin, didn't all work out. But he got there eventually, and not by being afraid to think big. Chicago, Boston, Philly, San Jose - such teams aren't afraid of that big, chancy move to try to get to that next level. They think big. Do we?

Yes. BG trading for Gomez and signing Cam, Gio and Spac was about as bold as it gets - very big, if somewhat smurfy, thinking

Yes. PG trading Halak post-conference final run, trading up for Tinordi, getting Emelin to hop the pond, and committing to Markov for three and Cole for four = thinking big.

Yes. PG letting the Wiz walk and signing AK and Gorges to 1 year deals in order to leave room to lock up Price, Subban, Eller and perhaps Emelin long-term = thinking big.

PG has given Gomez one more shot this season. Despite what the fenwickers over at EOTP might say about Gomez's puck possession magic (see here), I'd guess he is on thin ice. If PG survives the season and Gomez doesn't produce, I expect some more big thinking bold moves, which will include the acquisition of a genuine 2C. The timing of this process makes good sense, as DD and Eller's long-term potential at C will be much clearer by the end of this season.

[Willey101]

staal would be the impossible but with shedding gomez 7.5 campoli 1.75 spacek 3.8 gill 2 moen 1.5 id pull these moves in the off season

i'd like to stack the defence in a trade and it's ryan suter whom i'd target. he's a UFA and most likely would be commanding 5.5 million it would have to be sign and trade though!

camms- plex- Cole

LeBlanc - eller- AK

gionta- kelly(UFA)- patch

white-gausted(UFA)-asham(UFA)

gallagher

*suter(UFA)- subban

markov- gorges

emelin- souray(UFA)

diaz, st. denis, tinordi, beaulieau, bennent

id be trading gomez,spacek, weber, moen(his stock is real high right now 8 goals) maybe even campoli all at this years deadline for picks prospects no matter our position in the standings

of course i havent even considered cap implications and salaries of impending RFA's of our own but this is the kind of lineup id look to build! i think those 4 down the middle would be an exceptional foursome and i think our wings are strong already.. of course if the chance to trade for a big center presented itself im all for that to but it wont!!!!

We have freakin Carey Price! we should build a Defence that will surrender 0 goals!!!

That line up would never happen. First Gomez won;t be traded and Molson will not bury the contract so we will certainly have a $7.4 million elephant in the room.

Second because Leblanc won't surpass Gionta, Pacioretty on the depth chart and even next year will not be ready for the NHL. He will get called up as he did now but he has horrible cardio, and no body muscle. It's something he seriously has to work on. Give him a couple years to work on this.

Third Souray won;t come back to the east coast. He wants to play in California so as to be close ton his daughter.

Fourth, Price, Subban, Emelin, Eller, Gorges, White, AK46 all have expiring contracts and will get raises. This is going to mean a heck of alopt less coin to go around to sign anyone. Forget us landing a big fish like Suter at $5.5 million because the money we have will be used just to keep our current roster.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Yes. BG trading for Gomez and signing Cam, Gio and Spac was about as bold as it gets - very big, if somewhat smurfy, thinking

Yes. PG trading Halak post-conference final run, trading up for Tinordi, getting Emelin to hop the pond, and committing to Markov for three and Cole for four = thinking big.

Yes. PG letting the Wiz walk and signing AK and Gorges to 1 year deals in order to leave room to lock up Price, Subban, Eller and perhaps Emelin long-term = thinking big.

PG has given Gomez one more shot this season. Despite what the fenwickers over at EOTP might say about Gomez's puck possession magic (see here), I'd guess he is on thin ice. If PG survives the season and Gomez doesn't produce, I expect some more big thinking bold moves, which will include the acquisition of a genuine 2C. The timing of this process makes good sense, as DD and Eller's long-term potential at C will be much clearer by the end of this season.

Interesting post. Bonus points for the use of the word 'fenwickers'

Obviously Gainey's 2010 blow-up was a huge move - one of the most dramatic acts of general-managing in NHL history, actually. Then again, it yielded a team that (if we set aside the current hysteria) has generally been of the 'pretty good' variety, not clear-cut contenders. So my question is really about whether we have the organizational vision, determination and cojones to go further than that.

And to be honest, partly my question just comes from fatigue. I'm just so damned tired of this limping along, year after year, with no real conviction that a Cup is truly imminent. I'm tired of optimism being dashed year after year. But looking at it rationally, it's too soon in his tenure to draw any conclusions about PG's boldness and true will to win.

As for your evidence:

-I don't rate 'letting guys walk' so you can re-up other guys, for instance, as particularly 'bold.' A far gutsier move would have been to re-sign Wiz (if feasible) and then restructure the lineup as needed in order to keep Subban and Price when the time came. 'Not letting Markov walk' - this also fails to qualify as 'bold.' Both of the above are examples of sticking with the status quo rather than letting events (Markov's injuries, Wiz's career season) alter your intentions.

-Getting Emelin to cross the pond? Hardly 'bold.' Is this what it's come to, where actually convincing a draft pick to play for your team constitutes bold GMing?

-The Halak deal is more like it. A major move that makes the team better going forward. Not, I'd note, a move to make us contenders NOW, however.

-Cole was unquestionably a good move in the short term, and I like the willingness to shrug off the capologists' angst in order to bag the guy we wanted. A good sign of the will to win.

You're right that PG's fate may ultimate hinge on how he handles the Gomez file. If he doesn't get it right, we can probably kiss goodbye to any real hope that the 'Gionta' edition of the Habs will ever contend. Markov's knee and how he handles that, however it plays out, is also critical.

[huzer]

Explain your plan, and what you would have done.

Agreed, but what should have been Plan B if Gomez didn't recover. What other player was out there who could do this?There is only so much depth you can have... you can't plan for every contingency.... and no team would be putting experienced NHL caliber players on the ice with 4 of their top 6 on the IR.

My plan for a #2c? I'm not a GM, nor do I play one on TV, but this need should've been addressed eons ago. As far as Brad Richards, that wasn't even realistic. Everyone knew where that circus was heading. I'm also not privy to inside knowledge. As I said on my previous post, lack of results (for GM moves) does not mean PG was necessarily inactive. It simply means that whatever attempts he may have made failed for whatever reason.

Defensemen: My point was last year, the Habs had 3 D out and managed to have non-rookie players available to them (Mara, Sopel, Picard) that had valid NHL experience. This year,the team lost Hamrlik walk, Wiz, Mara, Sopel, Picard and they were replaced with rookies or players with limited experience. I'm on the fence as to whether Subban should be listed a "vet" or a youngster, given he has 1 whole year of experience. Simple fact is, NHL experience was replaced with no experience in Emelin, Diaz, St. Denis/Weber (i think he played 40ish games last year). Contract limit or not, should the Habs gone into the season with no veteran 7th man sitting in case of injuries (Woywitka doesn't count, especially since he was waived after signing Campoli, if my memory is correct). Campoli, to me, was not a planned move. That was reactionary to Markov not being ready.

[brobin]

If he's not back and the team can't turn it around without him.... trade Gill, Spacek, Campoli and Moen for picks. Figure out if you are gonna be able to re-sign Gorges and AK, and if not trade them too.

If the writing is on the wall, then so be it.

But don't trade youth for a stop gap solution.

There are 2 major holes on the team (1B or 2A Center) and (#1 PP QB dman)... you can't possibly fill both at the trade deadline, so if Markov can't comeback healthy.... you say ###### it and load up on picks in a very, very deep draft.

AMEN!

[Commandant]

My plan for a #2c? I'm not a GM, nor do I play one on TV, but this need should've been addressed eons ago. As far as Brad Richards, that wasn't even realistic. Everyone knew where that circus was heading. I'm also not privy to inside knowledge. As I said on my previous post, lack of results (for GM moves) does not mean PG was necessarily inactive. It simply means that whatever attempts he may have made failed for whatever reason.

Defensemen: My point was last year, the Habs had 3 D out and managed to have non-rookie players available to them (Mara, Sopel, Picard) that had valid NHL experience. This year,the team lost Hamrlik walk, Wiz, Mara, Sopel, Picard and they were replaced with rookies or players with limited experience. I'm on the fence as to whether Subban should be listed a "vet" or a youngster, given he has 1 whole year of experience. Simple fact is, NHL experience was replaced with no experience in Emelin, Diaz, St. Denis/Weber (i think he played 40ish games last year). Contract limit or not, should the Habs gone into the season with no veteran 7th man sitting in case of injuries (Woywitka doesn't count, especially since he was waived after signing Campoli, if my memory is correct). Campoli, to me, was not a planned move. That was reactionary to Markov not being ready.

Regardless of whether it was a planned move or a reactionary move.  It was still one that was made.  IMO Campoli was signed once it became obvious not that Markov wasn't ready, but that Jeff Woywitka wasn't good enough to be a stop gap solution for the month of October and a better D was necessary.  Still none of this matters.  PG saw a weakness and addressed it, which is what a good GM does.  Same as Betts, Betts was claimed when it became obvious Engqvist couldn't do the job they had planned for him.  Neither of these two moves worked out, but that is completely unpredictable and PG should be given credit for making the moves rather than criticized for not doing so.  Campoli being injured in his first regular season game, and Betts being unhealthy and illegally placed on waivers could not have been anticipated.

As for the 2nd line centre spot, there was another team that needed a top 6 centre and had 8 million to spend.  They ended up with an oft injurd Tim Connolly and Matt Lombardi combo.  Its not exactly working out for them either (even if as a team they are playing well... its not because of these two guys who have had a minimal impact).  Thats a GM who is known for being extremely aggressive in addressing his weakness and he really didn't get anywhere with that position.  Calgary has been looking for a centre for Iginla for 10 years and they weren't able to either.  A top 6 centre with size and skill is probably the hardest spot to fill in the entire NHL right now.  Gauthier may be trying right now, but I'm not gonna hold it against him, if he couldn't make it happen overnight. Gomez was good enough his first year here, its probably been only since the end of last season that we have really needed to address the spot, because I'm sure it was always hoped he'd come around.