The suspence is killing me !!!! First time in so many years I have been this excited about the deadline .

We sure have options , so Price starts tommorow against Atlanta … and of course some are saying this is cause Huet is out of here … LOL what another rumor?

The Huet trade baffles me a bit… UFA at the end of year who will be looking for a Bryzgalov like contract($4.25M / season for a minimum of 3 years)… and he’s older (32)…

Is Price ready?? So hard to tell… maybe Melanson isn’t a good goalie coach or something… the potential for both is there, but they haven’t been proving it night after night…

Honestly thinking… I think we’d win as many games with Halak + Price in nets, and get something for Huet… we won’t want or need him next year…

my 2¢…

PS – Bring us Hossa! Ryder + Danis + 2nd round pick in 2010 (Hossa is technically a rental player, so we can’t give much more than that…if we had a guaranteed 2 more years…that would be different)

It now appears that Calgary has decided not to trade Tanguay.
So Sundin, and now Tanguay off the trading board. Is it possible we could end up with nobody? I’m starting to get really bummed out.

gentlemen what would happen if we get nobody, how many of you guys will be upset?? Because it really looks like we will not get Hossa, I have no inside infomation on this matter but it`s a feeling I have…why us and not Detroit or Ottawa?…now Tanguay is off the radar so the offers for Hossa will be huge and are the Habs ready to give up more then they offered for a rental player.

Forsburg just signed a 1 year deal with Colorado

in my the other blog i was sayin huet and higgy or ryder for nabokov or any other good goalie…what do you guys think?

Barriehabfan you atre so right montral has VERY GOOD PROSPECTS so why give them up for a shot at one cup . Believe me there is many more cups in the future. I mean our future. Just my 2 cents.

my stomach is turning in anticipation for this dead line, we need someone to play with koivu, poor guy is struggling cuz no one on his line is stepping up. he’s not a goal scorer, we makes plays….we need someone for him, and to take some reassure of kovi’s line. i hope we can get hossa, and sign him right away to an extension for a couple of years….i read somewere, i think it was on sportsnet.ca that atlanta was interested in, higgins, chipchura and grabovski. whould you guys make that trade???? its a little much i think…i would go something like: ryder, huet, draft pick…wat do u all think?

Hossa doesnt want to play in Atlanta. I say they trade ryder and kostopolis for holik and hossa. these 2 players would be key for a playoff rush

no way we’re getting hossa for ryder, huet and draft pick

i’d give higgins, chipchura, grabovski and a pick for jokinen though

how about trading Huet to Tampa for their #1 pick? you know they’re finishing in last place, so would be a good deal for us.

CH2009 has a good idea if TB would go for it. They do need a goalie and at sometime we need to get a first round pick in the top five soon in order to find that offensive superstar we have been looking for. I am surprised at that trade with Phily. Picard and a 3rd does not help their offense and I am not so sure that Picard is their answer on defence.

LOL so what they got Prospal , why do you feel the need to question everything? What do you know about him? Who cares what other teams are doing, lets see what happens and when it is all said and done then we will have all the fodder we need to fire our mouths off eh !!

trade huet to tampa for their #1 pick? are you nuts? Huet’s not worth a #1 pick, plus he’s a ufa this summer,
once again every trade idea on this site is basically trade ryder and huet for the other team’s best player

and Higgins can’t go!!!

also maybe we should get Gratton from TB, centerman, big and strong, and great on faceoffs. I bet we could get him for a prospect.
1 thing is for sure. Gainey can’t come away empty handed. he has to get a winger who can score, otherwise we’re screwed!

We are getting Hossa and to that you had a Holik or Recchi, Wadell is really interested in the kids we have in the American league, people wake up, I’m really tired of reading, keep the kids, get round picks hello, Am I dumb or what ? We have more prospect that we can even put on our lineup ……. Most of them will end their Careers in the farm team of the Canadiens since we have too many. We gotta give a chance to a few and take advantage of the situation.

Go Habs Go

The good news is that if we don’t get Hossa, it probably means some other team (like Ottawa) overpaid for him. The Habs are a good young team that are only getting better. Hossa is UFA at the end of the year and, barring an agreement that only the Habs and a few other teams (not Ottawa) have cap room to make, Hossa is a playoff rental. Would we really want to lose Chris Higgins forever for the sake of a rental player? Pas mois.

I could see Malkin moving to New York in exchange for the New York Rangers, Madison Square Gardens, the Statue of Liberty and a third round pick in 2008.

and (superfan), you do have a really good point, It’s just that we have a chance to improve our team, and we all want to come first so we can go 4-0 against the Bruins! We’re 3rd among scoring(pretty sure). Hossa would take us to #1 or #2.

word is habs are offering Ryder, Grabovski, Lapierre for Hossa.

I think that that would be a trade that most of us would agree on. No real loss and a huge gain

TFP reporting that most other teams, including Ottawa and Boston, are out of the Hossa race. An Atlanta source says the price-tag is too high. This leaves Montreal in the running.

TSN reporting that Montreal has traded Huet for a second round pick to Washington? What the hell is that?!

HUET traded to Washington for a 2nd round draft pick. YAHOO!!!!!!!
Thank god he’s gone. we really was playing bad, letting in multiple soft goals/game.

Jeff Hackett = Christobal Huet

Here and Gone… we should got more, but Gainey has to pull the trigger now on Hossa… come on Bob!

THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

GO HABS GO!

Thank-you and see you Huet,here comes the great tandum oh Halak and Price ,the king is dead,god bless the king!

I don’t know what to make of the Huet trade just yet. I’ll refrain from
comment until the end of the deadline. Price has proved that in time
he will emerge into a force – but that time is not just yet. I think the
present pressure will kill him. In my opinion it is Halak who can step
right in there on a consistent basis and get the job done.

Wow!!…I hope I’m right.

Patrick sound dead on. Huet for a second round draft pick sounds like a horrible trade. Huet is worth at least a 1st round draft pick. The Canadiens must have dumped his 2+ million dollar salary, and don’t have to sign him for 6+ million next several years. I’m surprised that he wasn’t included in the Hossa trade! I curious what comes next. Maybe the Canadiens recalled Grabovski for the Hossa trade.

Not sure I’m a big fan of the “rent a body for the playoffs” school of thought. Sure, having Hossa would be fun, I suppose, but most analysts agree that he would be a short-ter rental, and unlikely to sign with the team this summer. We have a team that is playing well and winning as a team. I can’t imagine that throwing a journeyman in there–no matter how talented–would be a good thing.

I agreed with Sundin’s justification for staying in Toronto. For winning the cup to mean anything, you have to have gone through the entire season with the team. The other great thing about him staying there is that he makes the Leafs too competitive to end up in the basement and have a shot at Stamkos/Doughty. Ha! Stupid Leaves …

HOT OF THE PRESS ……………

Montreal got:

HOSSA in return for Higgins, Lapierre, Grabovski & Ryder

&

OLAF KOLZIG & 2 round pick in 2009 In return for HUET

I realize that cap space has been cleared, but as it stands at the moment
we’ve lost out on the Huet trade.

I haven’t heard any more news out of Montreal… Still some time left, however.

WE DIDN’T GET HOSSA! PITT DID! DAMN YOU GAINEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

leave it up to Gainey to do NOTHING! as USUAL! last year did squat, and again this year NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so, again we only have 1 line! NO PLAYOFFS GUYS!

Pittsburg gave up a bunch of players for him…..who cares he chokes in the playoffs.

I’m happy, in a way. Look what Pitsburgh had to give up. We’d have had to give up Higgins, a bunch of prospects, and a first round pick for a rental. Not a good deal for Pittsburgh. It wouldn’t have been a good deal for Montreal.

Gaigney didn’t give up on the players in the room. Pitsburgh lost some good talent for this year only. They won’t be able to sign Hossa once Crosby and Malkin’s rookie contracts expire.

And don’t underestimate that second round pick in 2009. He or she could win the playoffs for us in 2015. LOL. Omg we’re screwed.

What do you mean “Gainey didn’t give up on the players in the room” He gave up Huet for a bag of pucks.

Pitt definitely overpaid!

I just don’t understand. Has this team made any good trades in the last 10-15 years? The way this organization treats it’s goaltenders…even if Price is the next Roy, he’ll be gone in two seasons after he loses three games in a row. I’m just glad Montreal didn’t have the chance to draft Crosby. He would have been dealt for a funny looking mascot and a left skate four months later. Unbelievable.

Gainey is all talk and no action! I will never believe him again! and he kkeps Ryder and gets nothing for him! real smart move Bib!

sorry for the typo errors.

Not getting Hossa was like a kick in the Nuts.

Xtrahabsfan
I know you’re not the biggest Huet fan – but I just refuse to believe that basically
throwing him away for next to nothing was the right thing to do. To be honest
I’m a little disappointed right now.

lol, we actually did worst than last year lol. At least we got Gorges last year. Go Bob Go lol

Not angry here, sometimes the price is too high, we will see how Pittsburgh does with him.

I think the issue with Huet is rather simple. Gainey didn’t believe he could win with Huet. With this mentality, you might as well let him go and get SOMETHING for him. He’s a UFA, so they would have lost him.

So how come he only got a 2nd round draft pick? I think it’s really comes down to confidence. Huet is a lot like Theodore.. When he’s on his game, he’s very very good. When he’s not, he stinks up the place worse than a skunk run over by a transport on a highway – he stinks. Lately, Huet hasn’t given Gainey and I believe most GMs in the league that he’s currently worth his salary.

Sure it’s unfortunate, but at least we got a 2nd round pick instead of losing him, because I’m definitely sure Gainey would NOT have signed Huet this year.

Ah come on, everything was on our side going into the trade deadlines and now we come out of it worse then before, we dont get the star we should of got, HOSSA, and on top of that we loose a not so bad goalie for nothing. Price is not ready, i bet halak will out perform him, and why the hell did we call up Grabovski, hes just an ugly midget on skates. We seriously got FCk over. We will have to wait for the next season to see anything big to happen to the Habs.

JR
You’re thoughts are interesting. Whispers in the media say that Ryder is unhappy
with his ice time – he is also gone at the end of the year.
I have been thinking for a while that Huet and Ryder could have been shopped
as a package. I’m no expert here, but I see far too many missed opportunities
come this time of year.

Jaker1
You missed Washington!! LOL

Btw, I think Price is a good goaltender and will possibly be a great one in the future. I hope this huge amount of pressure and attention doesn’t destroy him. Too much too soon for a 20 year old.

I can’t believe I listened to this for 3 hours for nothing…and I mean nothing. Granted we would’ve had to deal Huet eventually anyway, but dear god! what the hell is Gainey up to?? are best team and years and he decides not to build..even a little. I shouldn’t even be surprised.

I don’t have a problem with losing Hossa. I don’t think he is all that but I think Gainey let Waddell keep him on a string when there were probably other deals that could have been done. Federov,Peca and others. I think Bob has Reibero and Iginla Itis.

Well, that was a worst case scenario for the Habs. They gave up goaltending depth and never followed it up with a reliable backup just in case Price can’t handle the load. They then added absolutely no forwards to a team that needed depth and size at the position. They had tons of depth at defense and had guys like Ryder with expiring contracts and they managed to do absolutely nothing with it. Between last year, this offseason and now this and I think Gainey has shown how bad he is dealing with contracts and players. Almost every team around them (including Pitt, NJ, Wash, Ott, Phi, and Car) got better while they stayed the same and left a HUGE question mark with their goaltending. If all this guy can do is draft and then let players like Robidas, Ribiero, Ryder, and Huet go, what is the frigging point.

The Penguins transformed that drafting depth into one of the most lethal lists of forwards now. He sat around and waited for another team to swoop in, just like all the free agents.

Maybe him suiting up the other night was a preview for his grand solution to bring them back to the cup.

If all he can do is draft, he should be a scout and leave the GM duties to someone with a pair.

I don’t care how well “the system” has worked out this year. He has set them up for failure. I can already see the offseason now.

No major UFA will sign with Montreal….that is a given.
Kovalev gets a shiny new contract and does absolutely nothing based on one good year of service this year.
Ryder leaves and returns to his 30 goal form with another team next season.
Price, coming off a complete collapse this year, will have no veteran backup to ensure that the Canadiens can even make the playoffs the following year.

Hossa made so much sense in that it was the winger they needed to pair with Koivu and have 2 legit scoring lines. It also gives him 3 months to negotiate a new contract since everyone knows he can’t do that during UFA season. He could have dumped Ryder for something and possibly brought in the veteran backup goalie at the same time in the form of Hedberg if he was going to have to part with good prospects.

That comeback win against the Rangers showed how incredible Montreal fans are and that it is the greatest NHL city and all Bob did was piss on that legacy by skating around an dhaving his jersey retired one day and then sitting his hands and trying to explain how the most hisotric franchise in the league couldn’t swing any deals to improve themselves.

He is a disgrace and deserves to be fired before the team even hits the ice tonight.

I agree with one thing. We could have got a 1st rounder for Huet. Or at least a player!!! Bob could have got a little guy, but I think he really tried for Hossa but the Penguins were *** with him. I’m glad Pittsburhg got Hossa because they traded away soooo much! Montreal can walk out of this having a chance to win the cup for the next 5 years. Yes I’m really depressed that Montreal didn’t get someone, and I already had Hossa on the habs roster in NHL 08. but montreal is still 5th in the east and 3rd best offence!And Bob Gainey did try!

Higgins, Ryder and a pick and the deal would’ve been made. But things happen and maybe Gainey was smart for saying no, but why not get somebody, anybody. You give our number #1 goalie away right before the playoffs for nothing, and we hand the wheel over to Price who’s been playing ok, at best.

The writing is on the wall for yet another nose dive.

So that CAPS are 11 points behind us and they somehow get our Number 1 goalie, Cooke, and Federov.. What did Gainey bring us.. a bag of pucks and a draft pick for 2000 fking 9. Gainey is either missing the balls or the abilty (probably the later) to make trades on the clock. Very disapointed.. we are now worse off than we were yesteday.. BRAVO GAINEY!

CHRIS
In my books, it’s not about the impact player coming to habland. It’s more about
not getting fair value for our goalie. I’m sorry folks, like him or hate him, Huet is
worth more than just a 2nd rounder. Heck Chad Kilger even garnered a 3rd from
Florida.
That’s it for me folks, enjoy the game tonight!

Just because everyone else made moves, it doesn’t mean that they are better. Look at the Rangers. They are stacked, they are good but not great. All these players that moved today still have to gel with their new teams. Now the Habs on the other hand have no new players to worry about. They have already gelled.

it would have been nice to get another defenseman to protect Price. i have no problem with trading Huet. but if price suffers an injury, gainey will have learned a powerful lesson. Montreal’s offense is far more productive than Pittsburgh’s so montreal didn’t need hossa as badly.

but, the team did need a third line center and federov was available and certainly they could have found some responsible defensive specialist with playoff experience for depth.

teams are made in the draft and the off season, not at the deadline. gainey made the usual lowball offers and got pushed aside by motivated buyers. that’s his style. it’s the same reason he doesn’t get free agents.

i am baffled that ryder was not traded. gainey should have had a backup plan to trade ryder when the hossa deal fell apart.

LOL I love reading comments, we got to where we are how? Was it because of Huet alone?

If the answer is no then where is the problem? If you think we are where we are because of Huet , then we are in deep doo doo. I think that this team has some great young players and they should play, let them play and just let things happen. No matter what happens we did not sell the farm, we have not added an unknown face and character to the room. One guy is gone, a guy that was not going to be here next year anyways. Where is the real problem with this?

Let the kids play and let’s see where we are in April , after that there is the free agent season and a draft , and back to Habs edition 2008 – 2009 our younger ones are older .. Sure maybe having Hossa’s 21 points in 50 playoff games was we needed for that cup!!!! MMMMM wait a sec 21 points in 50 games? At what cost?

peace out

I think you nailed it Jaker1, By the way, why is everyone so happy to just go into a trade deadline and not get completely screwed? “good job Gainey, you didn’t completely sink the ship, you just burned all the lifeboats, congrats!”

Plain and simple……..we lost this one. Gainey tried…..and i am sure that he did….but the cost was too high. Loosing Huet will hurt us when the play-offs hit. I am sure a deal fell through on Gainey…..its the only logical explanation he would trade Huet and leave us with two un-experienced goaltenders for the play-offs….Anyways….time must go on….

Gainey messed up and we will pay for it….Mark my words!!!

I’m disappointed that the habs didn’t land anyone. But I am slightly pleased that Gainey passed on Hossa for the price that Atlanta eventually got. Hossa is a rental and without assurance that he will re-sign with the team Pittsburgh paid a huge price. And Pittsburgh likely can’t even afford to sign him for next year, so they better plan on winning the cup in ‘08!
What’s most dissapointing to me is that Gainey was probably in on Hossa down to the last minute and passed on making other deals because of this. Nothing anyone can do about that.
As for Huet, I was shocked at first. Then I thought about it and the fact that he’s played very poorly of late, is a UFA at seasons end and likely won’t sign again with the habs. I think it must have come down to Gainey realizing over the last few weeks that this team may get in to the playoffs, but they are not a cup team. That being the case having Huet here makes no sense and as difficult as it is to see now, this type of deal to get a very good draft pick is the type of deal that eventually wins stanley cups. And for those of you who question what he got, Huet was not worth a 1st round pick in what is projected to be a strong draft in 2009.

BarrieHabFan
“What’s most dissapointing to me is that Gainey was probably in on Hossa down to the last minute and passed on making other deals because of this. Nothing anyone can do about that.”….

I agree!!!! Bob was bidding on Hossa, but too costly. But besides Hossa either no players were so attractive to BG or they had no interests coming to Montreal. C’est la vie! that’s business.

I am sitll confident with Habs of ‘08: No ALL-STAR forwards, but ALL FORWARDing.

i think if your going to trade huet you could atleast get a little more for him. wow they pretty much gave him away!

I think you don’t realize the fact that Hossa will be playing with Sidney Crosby… Hey may not have done great in the playoffs in the past but he is going to be playing on a line with thee best set up player in the league. Also, I’m pretty sure Pittsburgh is at least 10 million under the cap… and since Sidney is only getting 8.7 million, they can afford Hossa. The habs just got worse… we needed him.. Congrats Pittsburgh on winning the cup.. three top ten scorers on one team… Gainey needs to go

Well Bob I`m glad you did not sell the farm for a Rental player,but trading a proven #1 goalie for an empty cup of coffee in 2009 just as the playoff push begins in ernest is just a little mind boggling !!!!!!!!

CM is right on the mark, there’s no way to spin this other than a huge loss… Hal F’ing Gill got more of a return than Huet, Unbelievable

All of you who think Huet was worth more than a second round pick are either forgetful or conveniently ignoring the fact that he is an unrestriced free agent at seasons end.
Even though Hal Gill got more of a return he is signed beyond 2008.

that’s true, remember that Burke couldn’t give bryzliagov away for a seventh rounder,
trading a golaie like Huet can’t be compared to a defenseman like Gill, those interested in Huet would be those heading into the playoffs (i beleive washington will be there) and those goalies aren’t looking at Huet as a number one because they already have an est. #1, hence them going into the playoffs, most of the ****** teams have bad goaltending,but Huet’s won’t bring them to the post season at this point in the year, so what would they want with a rental like Huet?

I guess we will now see what the Habs are made of… Higgins said he wanted the trade dead line to be over with so you know who you have and just be able to go forward with the team. WELL HIGGINS YOU NOW HAVE YOUR TEAM SO SHOW US WHAT YOU CAN DO…….. GO HABS GO

I get a real charge out of some of you guys. You have a promising team being built with youth by one of the best hockey men in the game today. Yes everyone would like to see us win the cup this year but this team was not built for this year it was built for 2008-2009 our 100th anniversary. Will we be successful maybe, but I certainly would not have given up what Pittsburg gave up for Hossa unless they know they can sign him. Huet was out of here at the end of the year anyway. We had to get something for him and yes it would have been nice to get more, but if more was not there then we got another potential prospect to help in the future. I am disappointed that we did not get something for Ryder because I think he will be gone at the end of the season too. Those of you who like to bad mouth Gainey should take a look at what we had we he arrived and what we have now. Is the team better yes, is it going to improve my guess is yes. Did we do it with free agents No! we did it with mostly draft picks, and the last time I checked most teams that build with draft picks usually are successful. I said all along that it was not that important that we make a big deal this year. This summer maybe but a GM cannot have a gun to his head in order to make a trade. Sam Pollock wouldn’t do it and neither will Gainey and I think they are cut from the same mold, just a little different time now than back then with the cap an all.

I think that BG was right in not trading the future for Hossa … as for Huet, a lot of you guys wanted him gone and in today’s market you do not get a lot for a goalie (anaheim) so you get what you wanted *HUET GONE PRICE IN* ….the trade deadline is over so let us get over it and cheer on the great young team we have and will have for a long time to come …GO HABS GO

I think tomorrow I’ll feel alittle better, but still a bit empty,because this morning Yahoo sports reported that Grabovski was recalled, and that habs had obtained Hossa. Shouldn’t there be some type of discipline for reporting something that didn’t happen? they got us sky high, and then despair. what a rollercoaster ride. I thought it was a done deal. If the habs get in the playoffs I’ll feel better.

lol montreal is now tied but I’m just saying. Ottawa is really bad. and they’e been like this since january, so It’s not a streak that they’re on, un less u can call 30 games a cold streak.

Sorry type o, “see how the southern teams deal with free agency in a few yers without MTL’s income”.

samsonov scores both goals for canes! who’duthunkit

well I would not plan the Cup pirade just yet, we should make the playoff but we need to start playing better in our own end especially now that we are going to rely on two rookie goalies. I personally think this is the right move. Our kids get some experience in the playoffs, I think Gainey should start attempting to sign Ryder as long as it is not to high and then if he continues to improve his play this year we either keep him or trade him in the summer. If we get two rounds in the playoffs I will be happy. If we get three that would be great. As far as the southern teams income is concerned eventually they either will not be part of the league or they will have to find more owners with deep pockets looking for tax right offs. They cannot keep going the way they are and survive, we need to be ready for the sell offs and take advantage at that point.

Could someone please tell me why this was reported by Yahoo sports:
Hossa soon a Canadien: Yahoo report
posted by Dave Stubbs at 6h49 EST on Feb 26
Yahoo Sports, citing an unnamed NHL executive, is reporting this morning that Marian Hossa will today join the Canadiens in exchange for at least Michael Ryder
They should be fined heavily! for doing that to hab fans!

Honestly I am happy that BG didnt trade the whole farm for Hossa.

IMO Pittsburgh gave up alot for a rental player.
For them they pretty much said lets win the cup now.
Because in two years that team will break apart.
Mark my words.

Had Hossa come to the habs the whole team chemistry would get thrown off.

We got rid of one Hossa why would we want another?
Also, Hossa is not a playoff performer.

BTW whoever said we need to win with all-stars?
I would much rather win with the team now because the team psyche is just too good to mess around with.

This year I predict we will make it to the 2nd round.
(this will increase the confidence and experience of our young guys and will be valuable for next year)

The Cup is coming next year for centennial anniversary!

GO HABS GO!

Fu*k the Bruins and the Sens ,we gots lots of heart in the Bullbogs,”Biron,etc”. Bring it on!!!!

Somehow I feel that we put too much energy into Hossa and dropped the ball on Brad Richards.

Personally I think Richards would have been the man to get. That superstar forward that can do it all.
To think Dallas offered Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, Halpern and a first rounder.
I would have even asked Saku Koivu to waive his no trade and been better prepared.
My offer would have consisted of Halak, Koivu and you choice of Gabovski OR S. Kostistyn and a first rounder.

Sorry but for a playoff MVP and a young superstar like Richards we would be set for years to come.

I think the Habs might have dropped the ball!!

Patrice Bergeron is practicing again. hooooooo, Praticing with is balls of a shaky guy that will stay far from the corners for the next 2 years. With him or without. The habs will whip you again and again and again. Go chit chat on the Bruins blog and get lost.

Go Habs Go

Apparently Atlanta wanted 4 players 3 of whom were playing in last nights game.

Too steep a price to pay for someone you might not be able to sign at the end of the season.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/02/26/gainey-canadiens-roundup.html

The team has started the Price era on the right foot so hopefully that continues this weekend against Buffalo and New Jersey.

was anyone aware of the fact that Gainey focused solely on Hossa, with no other balls in the fire? So in other words, if you don’t get Hossa, which we didn’t, there’s nothing left. Is this the way a responsible GM should manage a team? Are you kidding? while other GM’s are working on multitude deals, Gainey has blinders on, only attempting to get 1 player. Did you people see what Gainey did in the off season? nothing! oh, yes all the UFA’s (except Hamrlik), sat in the pressbox last night(Breezer, Dandeneault, Smolinski).
And last year’s deadline, did nothing. the year before at deadline, nothing.
He is unable to make trades and sign free agents. So what the hell has he done?
remember that he isn’t the one who does the drafting, it’s Timmons.
We need help on our 2nd line, help on defence, need a faceoff centerman, need a 3rd defensive player, need an experienced goalie to mentor Price, a power forward, AND GAINEY DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING TO IMPROVE THIS TEAM!!!
This guy is afraid to make deals, he’s frail mentally, no guts, not aggressive, way too conservative.
And wait, until the offseason, because he’ll sign NOBODY AS USUAL!
As long as he is our GM this team will do nothing, and NEVER WIN THE CUP! MARK MY WORDS! absolutely shameful. in 4 years, he makes 1 trade. Are you kidding me? It probable would be better for us to miss the playoffs, because that’s the only way he gets fired. Once he’s gone, we will imprve and win the cup, and ONLY THEN!

hab2b, I think you are away off base. Firstly it takes two teams to deal and other than Ryder which apparently know one wanted and Huet, we did not have much to trade without giving up the farm. Gainey is the guy that has the ultimate decision on draft day and every GM at least takes the advice of their scouting staff but the decision is still theirs to make. The three UFA signed players have all worked reasonably well for our team however, it has been said that know one expected our young players to develop as fast as they did. The bottom line is are we better today than we were last year at this time, well the answer is in the standings. I agree that we need a centreman who can win more faceoffs and a good stay at home defensemen, but I would not be willing to give up all the prospects that we have in order to achieve these items. I have said it before and I will say it again this team is being built for next year not this year, the fact that it has progressed faster than expected is good and says a lot for the management and coaches of the team. As far as trades made in the last four years it is always been a proven fact that you build a team through the draft and at the right time if the right player is available you either trade for him or sign a FA. Gainey approaches the trade process the same as Sam Pollick, Sam would never trade is youth only his veterans for youth and Sam did not have to deal with the Cap. I believe that this team is going in the right direction and I still believe if the right player is available Gainey will try to get him by next year or this summer. So I would suggest you stop your Gainey bashing and think back to when he was not hear and the team we had to live with before he took over the job.

Donnie I agree with your that we have to ge behind Price because he is our goalie. Unlike you though I do not think that the next 18 games will tell the story unless of course you are only thinking of this year. As I see it if we can make the playoffs and hopefully play a couple of rounds, the kids will get the need playoff experience and the team will be that much better for it including Price. If there is any change I would make right now it may be our goaltender coach Price needs some guidance and I am not sure he is getting it. He needs to bring the speed of his mental process up a notch to match the NHL speed of the game, he handles the puck as good as most top goalies which is a plus compared to Huet. I agree with Gainey’s move he got what he could get for Huet before he lost him as a UFA.

We need fans that stop cry. I’m ashamed. Come the f.. on. They win… Good Jod, but any bad move and we have the worst GM. Well honestly, as much as the habs have the best fans, that as as much the have the worst. Thank freaking god you aren’t leafs fans cuz most of you would hang yourselfs. If they would be in the same position as last year, I’d say ok, something is wrong, but dawm, we are 1 POINT behind first in the Division what f…ing more do you want ? The cup handed to us without winning ???

Lol

Go Habs Go.

Thats what I meant Senet…the next 18 games will tell the story for this year….meaning, was Bob to hastey in giving up Huet.
I’m not only looking to this year….Price will be a brilliant goalie in this league, but this year is whats upon us right now, and I’m following the games closely to see what we can achieve this year. I think in the end we will do no worst then we’ve been all year (which isn’t that bad) and our forwards gotta keep scoring….even the greatest goalies lose games when their team doesn’t score…can’t take our foot off the brake now or spend 10 games mourning the loss of Huet…keep playing hard, score goals, and Price will work out in the cage.
We can have a successful finish without Huet, as long as no one is expecting a spot in the finals. I think the Cup is going out west again anyways. But yeah, for now, I’m thinking about this year…let the future happen when it unfolds, but Price is gonna be the man, he’s just been handed the team earlier than expected….kudos to Bob. GO HABS GO !!!

Has anyone seen my Huet vid on youtube? It’s pretty good. I’m not saying It was bad to lose Huet but they could have gotten more if they traded him to a team that needed goaltending.(L.A) Either than Samsonov I’m always sad to lose a hab. Good Luck Huet!

Hello ? Making the playoff ain’t going to be different from the past 64 games. Common on people. Have faith in yours habs, they are doing much better than last year so give them a chance. If they don’t make the playoff, than you can complain, but for now, they are in the playoff run and theres 18 games left.

Think big stie

lol Go habs Go

If they play like they did last night… They probably won’t win them all but they have great odds of winning many.

Donnie, I see the point you are trying to make and it would be nice to go deep into the playoffs, hopefully the kids can be steady enough to do that this year and in the process gain valuable experience. Those of us who think we are arm chair GM’s, if we are truely trying to improve our team then we have to look long term not short term. Just ask the Toronto fans and the New York Fans. One organization does not know how to draft and the other spends money on free agents that do not pan out. Who would have thought that NY would be struggling to make the playoffs this year after their FA signings last year. Rome was not built in a day and neither is a Stanley Cup winner.

Stuo11, I agree it would have been nice to get more than a 2nd round pick, but you have to deal with the teams that want to deal with you. Apparently other teams did not want to deal with us, or who knows sometimes developing a relationship with another GM today will foster future deals as well. Just look at the way Montreal and St, Louis use to deal with each other. So sometimes everything does not seem the way it looks. Have faith.

Does anyone think Gainey will take a run at Hossa in July. He definately won’t be re-signing with Pittsburgh unless they explain to Sidney Crosby that thanks for giving us a break on your salary but we will be paying Mr. Hossa more than you. He will be demanding 9-10 million per season.

we won’t get him. I hear he might go to Boston. His best friend Chara wants him there, and they live next door to each other.

frank taylor,don’t worry bout the Bruins,they can kiss are collective C.H. asses,lol.

we shouldn’t worry about other teams. We just need to play our style and put in the 60 minute effort.

iceman,
so I see you have made disparaging remarks against two bloggers here,
most of us are on here because we enjoy the Habs and want to see them do better.

If you cannot respect other peoples opinions, and think you are the only one who knows anything, quite obviously you are a maple leaf supporter
not a Hab supporter. as such, I for one do not wish to read your trash
anymore so leave your juvenile comments off the site and switch to the maple leaf blog instead. I am quite sure other Habs bloggers will agree.

What has Richards done in the playoffs since 04?

Look here Habs4ever.

Have you heard me bash the Habs in here. Probally not.

I am and are probally more of a Habs Fan than you or anyone on this blog. I have spent tons of money in Habs stuff over the years proudly displayed in my rec. room.

DON’T DARE TO CALL ME A LEAF FAN.

ice man,
I appreciate you are a habs fan, I’m not sure any bigger than I am, I even have a Canadiens logo tatoo, plus my rec room is also total Habs.
Regardless I still don’t think anyone on the site should be trashed because
of different opinions.
so lets carry on and cheer on our Habs, I do believe there is a difference
between trashing a team and commenting on deficiencies, but still loving
the team and cheering for them.
All said and done, lets cheer on the Canadiens.

We are now all friends lol

Go Habs fans Go and Go Haba Go

Ty Conklin made 50 saves the other night in the Pittsburgh win…and is 17-4-5 since Fleury went down… now the Penguins are something to be scared of!!

But who knows who we will meet in the first round with where things stand now… we should just worry about winning and getting into the playoffs for now, no one has clinched yet. It would be pretty funny to see the Sens move to the 7th-8th spot in the conference though… anything can happen when points are this close…

I am so very happy that Gainey did not give up for Hossa, he is not worth the players that we would loose and definately not worth the contract that he would want as well.

As for Huet, it is a huge chance, but it is going to work out in the end, Price is going to be just fine, it is going to be up to Markov and Kommie and the rest of the defense to really help out with offensive opportunities.

One more thing, i heard about 10 times about us only having 1 line, 1 line, 1 line nothing else. That is not really true. If you are to look at the stats for Montreal, you would notice that out of the top 7 scorers for Montreal, they are on the second line. The Koivu line just has to get going, they have been doing fine lately and that is a great sign for things to come, but we have enough offense, more than 97% of the league actually this year, just have to concentrate on defense.

My 2 cents.

1) goal scoring not a problem

2) everyone in the east is beatable, EVERYONE!

Both Ottawa and Pittsburgh lost tonight!!!

We can move past Ottawa with a win tommorrow night.

Lets go Habs!

Hossa was hurt in his first game with the Pens sat out the 3rd … a knee

See how things are people, no one this planet knows whats gonna happen next.

GO HABS GO !! GO HABS GO !! GO HABS GO !!

I find it quite laughable that all of you so called “die-hard” fans come out here and blog away negatively and rip apart the very team you claim to love. Part of being a die hard fan is riding with the team through all of the highs and lows. Granted there have been many low points in the organization in the last 10 years….currently we are experiencing a great high! We should be celebrating and feel pround of what our boys are accomplishing. We all know the HABS have not been this high in the standing since they won the cup in 1993. However we must also think in realistic terms. This is a young team that is overachieving this year because of the rapid development of two key players (Koistisyn and Plekanec) as well as the turn-around play of a suddenly motivated Kovalev. There is still development to be done and experience to be had. This is the perfect time to trade away unecessary assets ie. Huet)

Give the full reigns to Carey Price and Jaro Halak….if they fail so be it, gives them valuable experience and pressure they will need to be successful long term in this city. I give Bob Gianey a great deal of credit for making this kind of move now. It shows he has the balls to do what it takes to bring this team to its former glory. He is a proven leader both as a Player(show with retiring his number) and a front office man (leading Minnesota North Stars to the Stanley cup finals in the early Nineties, and then building a cup winner in Dallas as their GM in the late Ninties.) I think we should all put a little more trust into this man, as he has proven he knows what he is doing both off and on the ice. Lets all show him the respect he deserves.

Regarding the trade deadline…..I have never been a fan of signing rental players. Really what is the point? It takes a lot longer to gel with a team then 8 weeks before the playoffs. And what if the palyer does not mix well with the team? Look what happened when we brought in Samsinov two years ago! There is no guarantee with name talent. Hossa is over-rated bottom line. The media hypes up trades like a firestrom, and close to none of them ever help a team win the cup in the end. Why would we give up proven talent and main ingridients in our team of Higgins, Ryder, and top prospects for a rental? Makes no sense to me and i am glad Gainey was not able to pull the trigger on the deal. We now have more than enough room under the cap to take a hard look and evaluate in LENGTHIER time span what we need additionally in the off season. Pulling the trigger on a deal at the last minute never works, and i suspect Pittsburg will realize this when they again lose in the first round and Hossa signs with someone else in the off season. They gave up way too much to get him, and their GM will be hearing about it to the effect of possibly losing his job. He will alresdy be losing either Malkin or crosby in the nest 2-3 years as well because both of them will be demanding upwards of $9mill + in the market then.

Lets evaluate Michael Ryder as well, seeing as he is another favorite to get picked on. Lets compare him to say Kovalev. What did Alexi do for us last year? Nothing…underachieved to great porportion. But in a year later they guy is an all-star again. The same will and can be said about Ryder. He is having an off year, but is a natural goal scorer in this league as he has proven. In recent last two weeks he has shown signs of turing it around, and i suspect Gianey has witnessed this and decided to hold on to him. Even if he walks at the end of the year, he gives us second line of scoring that has made us successful already this year. I predict he will have a strong presence in the playoffs and will again sign with the team for at least one more year in the off season. We dont want to see another Ribeiro situation here where we trade a proven goal scorer away, only to see him have amazing year with another club (look what he is doing in Dallas with less pressure).

Finally this audascious statement that we only have one scoring line, again just laughable. We are sitting in fourth overall in total number of goals scored. Behind only the almight Red Wings and Senators. We have more than proven to all the nay sayers (even within our own fans) that we can score on multiple lines, 5-on-5 and held on to our top powerplay line, even with the loss of baby Souray (whom by the way is having quite the year with the lowly Oilers lol)….I guess Souray didnt want to be a part of something special that is about to happen in Montreal….just in time for the 100 year Centennial Celebration happening next year. Coincidence? You decide…..Gainey has many surprises in his sleeve yet to come.

Cristopher,your post was great till ya got to Ryder and tried to compare him to Kovalev,lol,apples and oranges man.As for Ryder ,if he is to be a Hab next year,he better stay on his goal scoring horse and ryder if he want to be a Hab next year,”notice NO other teams wanted him”

Did any of you guys consider that no body wanted Huet, think about it, he cannot handle the puck, he is inconsistent in goal and we were probably lucky at the last minute to get Washington to take him for a second rounded especially since he is a UFA.

If Gainey had traded Higgins, Ryder a roster defenceman and a 1st rounder and Hossa got injured like last night and say he was put out for the season. Now consider he decided not to sign with the Habs for next year. Now how do you like this trade?

Ditto, Well put Christopher, I remember the year Koivu was sidelined with
cancer, I believe Linden was with the team, League high # of man games lost to
injury and (if I remember the right) Theodore on his way to MVP.

I had no dillusions of a Stanley cup, but (at least prior to this year, or in the previous 10 years or so )never had I been a more proud habs fan.

This years team is the best in a long time, I didn’t at the beginning of the
year and still do not have high hopes for a cup this year, but I’m a believer
in Bob Gainey, and the NEAR future.

I always felt that Huet reminded me of Kirk McLean, he was brilliant in spurts
couldn’t (contrary to what was said) handle the puck. I never believed that McLean was a great goalie, and was never sold on Huet.
If my take on Price is right (and I could be on glue)then he wants the spotlight, he was made the go to guy in the WJ’s guess what, he was the starter
out of nowhere in the playoffs for the Bulldog’s, guess what.

To paraphrase a scene with Gene Hackman and Keannu Reeves from the “Replacements” – Winners always want the ball, when the game is on the line.

And I think Price is a winner.

Finally to all the complaining HABS FANS?????, whatever happened to real hockey
teams, you know the ones that were built not bought. Back in the day when trades to build your team were the exception not the rule. I DON”T WANT A RENTAL PLAYER!!!!!! I didn’t like the Kovalev trade (I can live with it now because he is still a hab)then, and I don’t want another one.

I want to identify with the team from start to finnish for the season, win or lose.

This is the best product we have seen in years, they are young, talented, mostly products of our own system, if you want a window shopped team go follow the Laughs or Rangers.

MY TAG NAME IS DATARA and I AM A HABS FAN!!!