Why?

Is Cristobal Huet really hurt?

Is Carey Price really sick?

Or is Jaroslav Halak being put on display for a trade?

Is this a smart move for the Habs? Is this an insurance policy or is Bob Gainey shuffling D-men for a potential trade?

Souray wanted out of Montreal – signing in Edmonton for the same money Montreal offered. $27 Million over 5 years.

In doing so Souray an Alberta native returns to his home province and about as far away as you can get from the Montreal media.

Post your trade day comments and analysis here.

Or maybe not.

This turns out not to be true, a mistake printed by the Associated Press blown out of proportion. Got to love the Internet and rumors at trade deadline time….it won’t be the last one.

Clearing $4.5 Million of salary sure got some people excited.

The next 24-48 hours should be exciting as the playoff race between the Habs and Leafs is closer than it’s been all year. Tonight could very well be certain player or players last game as Montreal Canadiens.

Does Craig Rivet remember his last game? His days with Montreal are over and he gets a new opportunity with a pretty good hockey club in San Jose.

The trade makes sense for both teams, and particularly the Canadiens. Rivet had deep roots with the Habs, leadership qualities and one guy who just loved to be a Montreal Canadien. A quality you don’t find very frequently these days. With so many people refusing to come play for Montreal, Craig Rivet was the polar opposite – a proud hab.

Character aside, his play this year wasn’t what it needed to be for the Canadiens. The trade makes sense for the Habs bringing in a prospect and a pick and it makes sense for the Sharks who want a little veteran experience on their young blue line. Good luck to Craig in SJ.

One deal is done, are there more to come? Maybe. Most people believe that now Rivet is gone Sheldon Souray is magically going to re-sign for 10 years. There is still a strong chance Souray is gone before the Habs play New York tommorow night.

Gainey commented that the Rivet deal had as much to do with the salary cap and financial aspects than the actual players involved. The same rules apply to Souray, who is arguably ‘worth’ more and whichever team he signs with, he will occupy a large chunk of their cap.

The fact that Souray can be lost for nothing as a free agent almost forces Gainey’s hand. The Canadiens aren’t often in the position to have highly sought after players and with a lot of improvements to be made, HB predicts Souray is playing his last game tonight.

Another popular theory is the Canadiens have their 1st round pick from the Rivet deal and are ready to move it immediately if the right deal is there.

Enjoy the game tonight and take a look at each player as it may be there last as a Hab. Should Souray still go, the blueline will be quite a different looking one from here on in and hopefully the playoffs.

So put yourselves in Bob Gainey’s shoes and make the deal.

Does Souray go alone and who do you go after in return?

The team with most heavy interest is rumored to be the Sharks who have just coincidentally recalled Steve Bernier.

Is it a Souray for Bernier swap? More players or picks involved? Or is Souray going somewhere altogether different?

Forsberg is meeting with Flyers Management today to discuss his future.

Forsberg in Montreal? Is it worth it? At what price? What will it take and will the price be too high for what is essentially a rent-a-player? No one honestly thinks Forsberg is going to come and have a mini career in Montreal do they?

Who or what would you give up for Forsberg?

Sergei Samsonov and his agent aren’t pleased. Not pleased with how he’s been treated in Montreal.

Well roll out the red carpet for Mr. Samsonov because he’s certainly earned it, hasn’t he? He should be calling the shots right? With his performance he’s earned the right to demand what he wants, earned the right to flap his gums to the media.

Samsonov will never recover from this. Should he NOT be traded, the taste he’s left in the mouths of Canadiens fans is bitter. Very bitter.

Who in their right mind will take Samsonov and his salary? The big rumor is Chicago. Gainey will have to pull some strings to come out ahead on this one.

Congratulations Mr. Samsonov, you’ve brought no class to an organization built on it.

Everyone and their dog can make up a rumor, and it just pollutes the reality. That being said, trades DO happen, and sometimes they don’t. Either way there is discussion involved, there are after all how many pro scouts in the league?

Apparently the Los Angeles Kings have being scouting around our Canadiens. In fact there were four Kings scouts including General Manager Dave Taylor at the Montreal/Ottawa game.

Their main focus, Sheldon Souray.

Souray is leading the entire league in goals and points for Defensemen. His stock has never been higher.

Not to mention that Souray is a free agent at the end of the year.

Combine that with the fact he’d like to be on the West coast to be close to his young daughter – and this seems quite plausible.

Who would Souray go for? It’s hard to say at this point, but if something does happen it may involve more than two teams and more than two players.

The league is taking notice of the Canadiens. Five other NHL teams had scouts in Montreal and although Souray is gathering most interest, there are a number of desirable players teams may have interest in.

So let the speculation run wild.

One thing is sure, the high demand puts Bob Gainey in a favorable position.

How do you feel about Souray leaving?

It’s tough to say, Souray is arguably the best powerplay defenseman in the league. He’d already be a candidate for the All Star team, and although it’s early a front runner for the Norris. Who wants to give that up?

On the other hand, Souray is also known for momentary lapses and his ability to magically change into a pylon in certain situations.

Who said General Managers had easy jobs?

Habs look for revenge against the Canes tonight. Expect Koivu to ‘show up’ against the team that nearly blinded him.

Cristobal Huet gets the call tonight. The Canes played last night and the Habs are fresh which always makes for an interesting third period.