yeah they need Selanne just look at my comment on Canadiens 2007 Free Agent Activity. Back to Hamrlik: he’ll be awesome on the powerplay with his “Hamr” of a shot!Look I already got a nickname for him “Hamrlik the Hamr”.Anyways, he could play with Markov.But, still I’ll Show you my comment from Canadiens 2007 Free Agent Activity on my next comment everyone read it…, it’s really good.

Selanne’s still available and he want’s to go to the habs.
P.S. Bertuzzi,Forsberg,and Yashin want to come.
Selanne says he’ll take 32 million for 12 years or 12 million for 6 years, and he would give koivu and (hopefully) Kovalev a big boost. And that would make Koivu a 35 goal scorer and a 95 point getter. Selanne would 50-65 goal scorer and 115-125 point getter. oh, Selanne would also be a replacement for Souray on the powerplay 35 goals on the man-advantage. And instead of Kovalev, Ryder and higgins would be 40(ryder), and 30(higgins) goal scorers. Higgins would have 60 pionts Ryder would have 75! That’s the difference one player can make. As for Kovalev…he would have about 62 points 20 goals so if they sign Selanne
they should keep kovalev until the deadline and if worth it longer.So come on Gainey! Sign Selanne!Go habs Go!Go habs Go! And sign souray somehow!!(If you have money!!)

Second highest paid Hab this year behind Markov……Brutal

I like this move.Already our defence is bigger and better defencively.

Why is no one reading my Selanne comment?

smolinski to montreal tsn

Forget it…..Bert just signed with Ananheim…*******!!!

Smolinski to Montreal for 1 yr./$2 mil.???????? How old is Smolinski???? Isn’t he like 39-40 yrs old???? How does that help Montreal???

Bob…..WHY>>>>you should have just left it alone and let the young-uns get some time in…..you don’t need to sign someone for the sake of signing someone!!!

I’m sure that having Smolinski on board will make Captain Koivu feel tons better about their cup chances…..WTF!!

I made a mistake. typo error. The last time Smolinski scored more than 20 goals, was 2007! Not very good! We need a younger, and better scorer.

Souray just signed with SJ.

Decent signing, need more!

18

Hamerlik was a smart sining and Smolinski was brought in to be the #3 centre. Looks like Pleks will be #2 again next year.

While 5.5 per may look like alot for Hamerlik, did you see the salaries handed out yesterday? Daniel Briere and Scott Gomez aren’t worth the money they got, especially Gomez.

But since the Habs offered more money to Briere and Ryan Smyth then they took with the teams they signed with. Gainey is working his *** off, these guys just don’t want to deal with the taxes, media asking them why they don’t speak french and certain fans like joshtm who will turn on you after one bad game.

I’d still like to see Zubrus as a second line winger with Pleks.

Hamerlik is a better all around defenceman then Souray so we should be happy.

Gainey is going to try to sign Selanne tommorrow for 24 million 7 years or 32 million for 10 years. Got to go I’ll be back!

Souray says he will retire if he does not get signed.And Selanne is getting upset he’s not getting any calls from Gainey but what till tomorrow! Imagine Koivu with 95 points 35 goals and Selanne with 50-60 goals and 115-120 points! That could be the future if Selanne signs with the habs.But they might not have enough money with Hamrlik and Smolinski signed.

As much as I loved Souray…..Hamrlik is a definite upgrade for the defense. He has been a plus player every year since 2001, a three time allstar, and a
player for his native Country…plus 22 last year and is a good skater with a cannon shot and he apparently likes playing in Canada. 5.5 mil. for four years
is about what the market is at right now, and frankly I would rather pay Hamrlik that kind of money that Souray….good signing! As for Smolinski…he
will take the place of Bonk for less money and give back more production…had to be done as Chipchura still needs one more year of seasoning down on the farm. I still think Bob is going to make a trade for a significant player over the next few weeks that should also booster the club.

If you look at our payrollwe still have $13,250000 and we have maby 3-4 players we have to sign .(ryder,pleks and gorge) I say 2-3 mill to ryder 900 to pleks and 500 to gorge and that still leaves us with just under 9mill for some more to players. So as far as payroll goes we are not to bad. There will still be some good players that we will (I HOPE)be able to sign. Or if bob pulls of a trade we will be able to handle the contract if we have to resgn them ( like the oil with Pik.)

Great, Gainey has handicapped himself yet one more time, nickel and dime-ing himself to death, leaving even less moola room to sign someone like a decent forward! What we get another small European who flops just as badly as Markov? Both signings today smack of old broken down has beens! Although if we keep Souray (I hope now with not signing any decent players now) both signings today will complement the power play but that’s about it. Definitely no power forward, still no decent size, typical small flaky players. Both Hamer and Smokerlinksly there were only good cause they were part of teams who had enforcers. Smolinsky and Hamerlink are also wimpy penalty kings! Great, more competition for Sakku’s hook! What, we are gonna beat the other team to death with limp noodles? We’ll smother them to death with Johnson and Cullimer and Salamander…add Hammer and Smelt Fish there….and Gainey thinks he did great?

Oh well, at least we have a decent power play to look forward to if we keep Souray. But in order to sign a big player, Gainey’s gonna have to hold firm and not give Souray a raise! So it seems Yashin will join the habs, we’ll have a Russian Prima Donna cage match between Kovalev and Yashin, and then we’ll have the Europeans trying to outdo each other with wimpy penalties, while Cullimore tries to outdo Dandenault’s and Bouillon’s pathetic defense! Somehow signing a big name player just doesn’t make sense.

Yup, here we blame the taxman and the media! What, we are gonna blame Youpie next won’t we? Oh ya, Smyth wanted to come to Montreal but his kids were scare of Youpie so he chose the other team cause of their mascot! Or hey, cause Smyth’s wife like the paint scheme in the other teams dressing room, or hey, cause Montreal didn’t have enough English speaking snobs…not snooty enough for Smyth’s stuck up wife….come on, join the excuse making club, what else, or hey there were not enough shoe stores in Montreal and the malls are too chintzy! Come on let’s outdo each other on excuses for why Smyth didn’t come to Montreal! Like as if we heard him say “oh no, Premier Charest charges too many taxes and the Montreal Gazette is too critical and oh by the way, I’m a real racist pig and I don’t wanna expose my kids to the frogs!” Like as if. Honestly, how stupid does that sound? Like as if hockey players actually look at taxes, and the media and worry about their kids schooling? That is the reality of a pro hockey player you jerks! It’s like the military, its part of the hazards your family has to put up with!

There finally got that off my chest. All it does is expose why Montreal will never get decent hockey players, its not because of taxes, its not because of the media, its because hockey players don’t wanna go to a city full of really crappy used, broken down rookies and veterans! No they don’t wanna come to Bob Gainey’s School for For Hockey Players Who Can’t Read Good And Want To Do Other Things Good Too….

The Hamrlik that Montreal is getting is not the free-wheeling defenceman he was early in his career, when his offensive numbers were good but his plus-minus was deplorable.

That’s a switch from Souray, who had 64 points last season, including 26 goals, and was a formidable force on the power play, but was minus-28. Hamrlik’s last season in the red was minus-20 in 2000-01 with the New York Islanders.

“I have to say I changed my style,” he said. “I’m not rushing too much up front with the forwards.

“I’m reading the game better and I learned to play defence better. And as you get older, you don’t have as much speed as when you’re 20. In Calgary, they taught me a lot of good things about playing defence.”

He also got used to working with young defencemen like Dion Phaneuf, which he will most likely also do with the Canadiens, who have selected defencemen in the first round of the last two drafts.

“We’ll see how many goals I score, but I’m just looking forward to playing in Montreal,” he added. “I don’t know much about them, but I’m sure I’ll fit in.

“I’ve never had any problem with any team. I hope I can bring experience and help the team.”

This is from Sportcentre.ca.

Great, another European defenseman loves Montreal cause hey, everyone knows they don’t have to work for their paycheque once they come here, worst thing they’ll get is a lecture from Gainey and be placed on waivers once their contract runs up…..and then get traded to Chicago for other worn down has beens.

Montreal, where the former great Europeans players come to retire….

I agree with Xhabfan, you have to pay superstars more money if you want them to play for a non playoff team.You basically have to blow them out of the water or don’t even waste your time negotiating.If Montreal thinks they will get Vincent Lecalvier in the couple of years they better either get a whole lot better or be willing to pay a lot more money. There is no hometown discount when it comes to money hungry hockey players (Ask Daniel Briere).

Where did you hear Souray to the Rangers, Darrell? Doesn’t seem likely, or even possible. Considering that they have around 25 mil this season tied up in Jagr(8 and change), Drury( @7mil), and Gomez (10 mil this season), it’s hard to see just where x million Souray fits in, especially when you consider that Lundqvist, Shanahan and Avery all are still to be signed, and Avery and Lundqvist are due raises.

I could be wrong, but it just doesn’t seem likely, unless they manage to lowball all three guys, and Souray also. In any case, he’ll not be playing for Montreal, wherever he ends up.

I’m not big on the signings Gainey has made, but I suppose it could’ve been worse (i.e. Yashin, Lang, Handzus…etc.). And I guess it could still get worse (i.e, Yashin, Zubrus,…).

What sucks the most for me as a fan, is that every off season finds me caught up in the hype of the times, and I inevitably am disappointed by the results. Whatever the reasons/excuses, they just ring hollow after a while. Barring significantly better numbers this season by some of our young guys, it looks like it’s going to be another struggle for respectability, let alone playoffs. Another season of mediocrity in Cupland.

Not only do I SEE a LAST PLACE FINNISH for our Habs,but I see a string of looses all season long to the maple-queens and Carbo juggling lines like he’s panning for $ in front of the beer & wine store and our powerplay??????HA !!!!

Stop bashing Gainey about Smyth… He made the most money/longest term contract offer to him (from what I read), it was a phone call from Sakic that convinced Smyth to go to Colorado.. Damn Sakic lol… oh well, that’s the way it goes. You win some, you lose some… At Briere’s price, I consider it a “win” that he signed in Philly… Smyth would have been worth the price Gainey offered him, we “lost” that one… I think losing Bonk and replacing him with Slo Mo is a loss, but hey… At least Josh will be happy, he wanted Bonk and Johnson gone… If we sign Yashin, that’s a “loss” .. so far we’re winning on that one… and every day that goes by increases the chances that Souray will be back… if we sign Selanne to play on the wing with Koivu well… Maybe they can get a little Finnish chemistry going… certainly couldn’t hurt, anyway.

I knew it all along, I thought he would get Refalski though but now I know what he’s doing. Hamrlik is a forgotten D that was playing on the 2nd line in Calgary and not too many managers thought about him, so Bob saved money, and for Smolinski, I call him RADEK BONK. Bonk went to the preds but montreal got smolinski for the same reason they got Bonk, defensive forward. the only difference is that bonk can’t get points, but Smolinski sure as hell can. I see him with Kovalev. speaking of Kovalev, he has to get at least 60+ points this year or he’s done! I here names like,Selanne,Guerin,Forsberg, but they WILL NOT PLAY 4 THE HABS! It’s either Shanahan or Zubrus. Zubrus is just my brain. but Shanahan was sooooo close to coming here last year! anyways If they end up getting someone else, don’t get mad at me. peace!

Smolinski’s record sucks! He scores a goal every seven games! That’s the centreman, most faceoff kings are also goal scorers!

Hamrlik may be strong but he’s already talking like an old veteran who admits to not working hard anymore…if you read his TSN interview between the lines, he is basically saying, Martin Rucinsky says MOntreal is great cause you don’t have to work hard anymore….

Just want to say a couple of things about this Habs blog. It’s incredibly interesting and the knowledge of most of the people is unbelievable. Even Josh has been great these past few days. I’ve been following Montreal for 50 years and I had no idea of the great intelligence from the fans regarding the team. I’m a new loyal reader.

… correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Shanny still unsigned? A possible player, wouldn’t ya say? With Gomez and Drury in the big apple now, Shanny can shine somewhere else… why not Montreal? All I’m saying is that this would make me happy!

Yes, Slo Mo is a replacement for Bonk, but Bonk is a better defensive forward… so why replace your defensive line with a more expensive less effective center? Harmlik was signed as a replacement for Souray, just look at the contract numbers, I bet that was what was offered to Souray… Priessing and Regehr both signed for less and would have been better defensemen…

And if you think the only two players that give it all every night are Latendresse and LaPierre you obviously don’t watch Begin play… No one consistently gives more of an effort than he does.

Well spoken Avatar37. I agree, Begin is a total work horse!

Bonk was getting paid 3 million so Smolinski is a better deal for onl 2 million. And Hamrlik is a replacement for Souray because he has a “Hamr” of ashot too and he is much better defencevly, so he is is a much better all-around defenceman/replacement for Souray. Thank you Gainey!!

Hey if we could keep Souray, what a duo that would be. Hammer and Souray! And who knows, maybe the young rookie talent would help revive Smolinsky. Only time can tell. What scares me is the prospect of having Dandenault, Bouillon and Cullimore and Salamander all suiting up on a line together! Man it almost makes me wanna switch to the Senators! Sacrilege! How can Gainey pull such a horrible combination as that?

Don’t worry It’s not over. Bob said he’s thinking of only using 2-3 Million but he mentioned Shanahan’s name and Bob hardly never mentions names. usually when he wants someone he gets it. I’m glad they never got Smyth(he can only tip in pucks) we need a hockey player not a baseball player. lol. cheer up habs fans, Our future is very very bright! Higgins will exlode this season possible 60+ points! Kovalev is a question mark, Ryder will be a blast and Plekanec will be outstanding.Some rumours for the habs: Jan Bulis, Brendan Shanahan, re-sign Mike Johnson

Shanahan is just what Montreal needs. Heck promise him the C if you have to. Open a school, build a restaraunt, post English-only signs for Montreal only, anything to get Hockey back to Montreal, that is if Crazy Bob and Gillett ain’t gonna let Quebec born superstars play in Montreal. Instead they have to insult us with Dandenault! Honestly. Send Dandy back to Detroit they would love him for sure! If we have to keep Dandy at least take him off defense and put in forward for God’s Sake! Dandy can score if he is given the chance I am sure, he knew how to do that in Detroit. Not that I am going to Dandy’s defense. All I know is he is a real disappointment.

Getting Shanahan would revive next season. Maybe that is all the little Koivu needs, pressure taken off so he can shine once more. Shanahan and Souray with Hamrlik, man that would be a real power play line…..as long as we don’t lose Souray. If we can’t get Quebec born talent lets at least have some decent Canadian-born players, enough of these prima donna Euros and disappointing yanks!

Let both Dandy and Johnson leave the club, and we can promise their spots to our young-ins.

The youngsters did what they had to do, and they lifted the Calder Cup. Give them some chances in the big club.

The biggest problem is Carbs, no 95 point scorer wants to sign in Montreal and lose 30 points off theyre total to play Carbs defencive system. Its a no brainer. It isn’t the crazy media, it isn’t the taxes. Its this defencive **** we play, and were not any good at it BTW, we hav a young fast team, who is more design to run and gun then lay back and wait for mistakes, theyre not mature enough to play this boring style, and guys like kovalev and saku shouldn’t be in any defencive system, theyre highly skilled players who should be given the chance to do theyre thing. I’ll start the fire carbs chants, if we do that and people still won’t come. I’ll admit I was wrong, if I was a star player I wouldn’t sign in this system.

Joshtm.. You said the NHL is a league full of bigots because they won’t let french players play in montreal?… If I were a bigot I would want the french people to stay in Montreal.. Whatever this is a stupid argument.. However I do agree with you on comment #64.. However on TSN.ca the interview with gainey, it seems like souray won’t be back. They only other way I see him coming back is if no teams make an offer on him because of his horrible +/- and lack of one on one skills. But shanny in montreal would be a very good change for once. He could bring some much needed offense and leadership ability. Maybe beat down kovalev at practice to get his *** in gear. Also he would help our young guns like ryder and higgy develop even more offensive awareness… But 2-3 million dollars looks like nothing.. maybe a one year contract at the least and it seems these days players are looking for long term signings..
Seems sad how we are here dreaming of a day when we can have the best to players in the NHL in lecavalier and crosby when we can only sign hammer and smolinski. Even when Bob offered crazy money to smyth and jean the great couldn’t talk briere into coming here..

RBK…..RE: your last paragraph…….one big difference between Smyth and Briere…both Vinnie and Sid have both stated publicly that Montreal is their favorite hockey team and they both wished they would have been drafted by the Habs….to boot…..when asked if they would ever play for Montreal…they both answered in the exact same way……”I hope so”!!!

Wouldn’t that be so awsome to have both of them on our team!!! That is a dream, big time!!

habs4ever post #68,is on the rite track.If Saku wants out cause the Habs are rebuilding again,why would any body else want in ,unless they are washed up!Plus, there’s Carbo’s super duper defensive system that nobody can play or figure out cause of the constent line juggling.GREAT PLAYERS WANT TO WIN THE CUP AND ALL THE MONEYS THAT GO WITH IT,PERIOD. And I don’t see a cup any time soon in Montreal !

Joshtm, calm down before you have a heart attack, I don’t think bob gainey reads this site.. However I wish he did because I d