Aaron Downey Update

Apparently things are going better for Aaron Downey and he is awaiting the green light to begin skating again.

Sportsnet reported some fabricated story that he was ready to retire. Well he isn’t which is good news for Habs fans and hockey fans in general.

Hopefully Downey can make a full recovery and come back as healthy as before.

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15 Comments

#1 PACTUM SERVA says:
October 20, 2006 at 2:26 pm

Great news.This is one guy that plays his heart out for the CH.Lets get that left cross workin again.

#2 Razz says:
October 20, 2006 at 3:12 pm

Who would you trade Samsonov and Kovalev for?

I think trading away Samsonov is not a bad idea, but Kovalev?!
Plus, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Samsonov might leave by the end of the year if he has a bad year, but Kovalev is one of Gainey’s favorite players.

#3 Rob says:
October 20, 2006 at 3:15 pm

No worries! Downey has taken on some of the toughest customers in the NHL. This incident won’t stop him. If you ever doubted how tough he was, you should have a look at this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJvHZn4MuvA&search=downey

#4 jay says:
October 20, 2006 at 5:21 pm

How about a straight trade to philly SAMSONOV for GAGNE?

#5 Jack says:
October 20, 2006 at 7:35 pm

Sheesh!!!! Trading Samsonov after a few games?? I’d hate to see what happens if there’s a fire near you, Raz or Jay!! Whoa on the panic!!

Let’s focus on Downey: a real leader by all accounts. Fact is the Habs need character players as well; people like Downey, Begin and Komi who make up for their lack of “touch” with solid, hard, work.

I’ll agree with the pessimists on one thing, though: Sammy has a thing to learn about heart from Aaron.

#6 Phil says:
October 20, 2006 at 7:45 pm

Downey will be back soon according to his quote.But what he says he won’t forget about that lame hit.Trading this time of the season is just stupid…Unless Gainey gets a chance to MAKE the team better.I believe it is a matter of chemistry. Little tinkering here and there and those two guys will excel.

#7 J-Nic says:
October 20, 2006 at 8:27 pm

to Rob : Not because Downy is able to fight that he would recover faster from an head injury. It’s not his first similar injury, so it could be problematic for him in long term. He is a good fighter, but do we really need a fighter ? There is less fight now than there was and we don’t need them as much cause others guys can fight when needed, but we do need some big guys to make big hit on the other team.

Why is everyone talking about a trade ? Cmon, they already traded Ribeiro, nothing else will happens. Because it’s need time to see what the guys can do after a little more games, you don’t want to give something you consider bad after 6 games, and the other teams won’t exchange something now that they wouldn’t exchange this summer, cause they also want to see what will happens.

Forget a trade with Samsonov. No manager will trade a guy they signed up in their first year of contract, and no one else want him either or else they would have offered him the money too. Unless a team really wanted a guy, and he refused or signed for more else where and the team accept to trade him for less.

Does Samsonov or Kovalev have any anti-trade thing in their contract ?

I don’t think we will see them go this year. May be Kovalev won’t have a great year, but might have another good one.

My concern is more with Samsonov and Huet than with Kovalev. We signed Samsonov, and he is doing nothing right now, hope it’s change for better. For Huet, he play good but not like last year or like Aebi is doing. It would be hard to get something decent or only to trade Huet, cause he earn a lot (if he can’t play like last year) and not playing well would be he is not the player we tought he was. But Aebi earn less and could give more to a team, so easier to trade.

#8 Rob says:
October 20, 2006 at 10:09 pm

J-Nic:

I am not sure that I understood any of your last post, but…

Go back in time five years when every other team in the league took liberties with the Habs because they knew no one on the team was a capable fighter. Do you remember seasons when half of the Canadiens’ talented players would be out with injuries? Who are these other guys on the Habs who will fight when needed? Yes, I believe that the Canadiens absolutely need an enforcer on the team. I don’t think that the game has really changed that much! If it has, why does just about every other team in the league still have enforcers on their fourth line? Anyways, it is great to hear Downey saying he feels good and like he is ready to go again after the whack that he took merely days ago. That’s the kind of toughness that the Habs have been lacking since Nilan played for them.

#9 snake says:
October 21, 2006 at 2:51 am

Well Rob five years ago (2001) half of our talented players was 1 injury. But yeah Calgary lerned first hand that no one will walk into our building and push us around.

#10 joshtm says:
October 21, 2006 at 11:15 am

I think everyone forgets Lindros, before his concussion and related injuries, he was great, I mean a flash in the pan as they say. After his injury he was hit and miss, more miss than hit mind you. You just don’t know what injuries will do, but concussions are usually different than say Mario Lemieux’s back injury and comeback for stanley cup….

Definitely having Downey made up for Souray’s lack of defensive performance and enforcement, and Souray’s injury kind of shows what an injury can do for a player’s main skill sets…like Souray handling the stick like its a curling rock…it’s all right if you are in the Tournament of Hearts but when you have Zdeno Charra or Peca coming down on you, hey, anyone can skate faster than a curling rock….

Huet is also playing with an injury don’t forget.

I think a package of Downey, Souray and Huet…hey that rhymes, would probably net you a decent player in return, Toronto is not treating Peca with respect…or heck even Havlat or someone of that stature…maybe another European player than can finish the line and have a totally European line, heck why not repeat the Finnish National Team’s Olympic Performance?

#11 joshtm says:
October 21, 2006 at 11:20 am

The other problem with Montreal is its like the Vet hospital for broken down hockey players, we have the worlds greatest hockey doctors…hmmm…nurse nurse…I think it is time to bring up the rookies and send the broken down players to the old folks home perhaps…

#12 Rob says:
October 21, 2006 at 11:27 am

Relax. Both boxers and fighters get knocked out all the time. There are lots of extra brain cells up there not being used anyways so what’s a few dead ones? The same principle is involved in drinking JD in the stands. The Lindros brothers, I guess, really did not have that many extra brain cells to spare. Concussions happen all the time in sport, and almost always, they are no big deal. We used to call this “getting one’s bell rung.” You went to bench took a sniff of the smelling salts, and went out for your next shift. Nowadays, it is probably better to sit out at least a week after a concussion, but not every concussion is career ending. Far from it. Downey will be fine, and will be back soon. We don’t need to trade him or sell him off as damaged goods just yet.

#13 ROFL1967 says:
October 22, 2006 at 7:06 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwyqveE_fIM&NR

looks dirty to me, albeit not intentional. Safe thing to call would be a elbowing minor or at least something.

#14 Rob says:
October 23, 2006 at 8:03 am

You are right, ROFL1967.

With the benefit of replay, it was clearly an elbow. Downey has also indicated that he felt that Regehr should have been penalized on the play, and has said that there is a double standard with the NHL officiating when it comes to players like him. It’s too bad that the earliest that we can see the Flames again this year would be the finals, but Calgary really do not look like they will make it right now. Downey will just have to take Regehr’s number for now.

#15 lavaman says:
October 26, 2006 at 11:40 am

The hit on Downey was legal but brutal. Regeir should have benn run the entire game and I’m very dissapointed Surray didn’t personaly pound him. I don’t care who is on the receiving end of that hit- his teamates should have made Reiger regret it!

Lava

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Avatar37 : pressure playing in Montreal, since he has problems with the expectations in Washington and Montreal isn't any easier. Then again, the media were very easy on Kovalev, so maybe it's a Russian thing? No idea. Anyway, yeah, it would have to be an established star that gives us an immediate drastic upgrade at forward, that's the only way I'd trade PK, because we'd be giving up a potential QB on our blueline for the next decade.
Avatar37 : Goalie - Sure, the only player I'd say who is untradeable (meaning I wouldn't trade no matter what) is Carey Price. You build a winning team from the net out, and I don't think there's a better goalie for his age in the NHL than Price, so I wouldn't trade him. Otherwise, every player would be open for offers, but for PK Subban, it would take (for me) an already established star, like Carter or Crosby or Ovechkin. As much as I like Ovechkin, I'm not sure he could handle all the media pre
goalie : I'm not suggesting at all that we judst dump or get rid of PK. I do however believe that he is a very valued commodity in the NHL adn that the Habs will receive offers for his services. If someone ffers us young, strong, puck handling forwards who can score, I think the Habs have to look at that possible trade.
Avatar37 : Agreed. It would be a big mistake to trade PK just to move up 2 spots in the draft. PK, Emelin, and Gorges are the bright future of our defense.
Senet1 : I am with you Avatar, Subban stays, it is not often that you get a stud defenceman who can play 25+ minutes. The mistakes he makes are for the most part not that serious and people forget he is only 23 and been in the league 2 years. He has come a long way in those two years. He has offense, defence and he hits. You cannot bet much better than that. Two more years experience and he has a shot at the Norris. If Markov does anything I hope he teaches PK how to work the PP.
Avatar37 : «link»
Avatar37 : go.
Avatar37 : round exit. Heck, even the year they won the cup we almost took them out in round 1. I believe in the corps of this team, I really think we just need a few tweaks. Adding Larry Robinson to run the defense would be a BIG help, keep Cunneyworth as offensive coach, and get a head coach who can get these guys back on the right path. We need to establish an identity again, a team that won't let itself be pushed around like it was under Martin. A few scrappers on this team and we'll be good to
Avatar37 : Yeah, the only way I'd trade PK is if we were getting an established star in return, like Carter or Crosby. I don't think we're miles away from competing deep into the playoffs, the NHL has become so competitive because of the salary cap that really there aren't huge differences between the teams. Add into the equation the stupid scoring system (some games worth 2 points, some 3) that the standings don't truly reflect where teams should really be. Look at Boston, cup winners to first rou
Senet1 : It would have to be something pretty special before I would trade PK. To me he is the #1 building block of our defence. I would trade any other defenceman we have before I would trade PK.
Senet1 : An improvement in our offense and strengthening our defence. Personally, I do not think we are that far off, five players at best could get us there. One thing that has always been true about the playoffs, Defence wins and you need a strong 3rd and 4th line.
goalie : I'm more optimistic now about the Habs than I have been for the past three dreadfully long seasons!
goalie : 2: I think GM Bergevin will make somewhat of a 'blockbuster't rade either before or on the day of the draft adn I believe PK Subban will be in that package. WE have t rememebr we have to give away some talent to get back other talent. No one wants players like Moen to move up in the draft etc.
goalie : Some thoughts:The more I see the playoffs it becomes even more obvious that we're miles away from being able to 'compete' dep into the playoffs
Avatar37 : «link»
Senet1 : Young Subban might also be an option if the Russian goalie is not available. However, to me I would wait another year and attempt to use my draft 2nd round draft picks to improve out forward situation.
Senet1 : Although Rinne contact is another example of long term at the wrong time. He is 29 years old. A case could be made with Price that double his money now with bonuses if we win the cup, I think that is still allowed in contracts?
Senet1 : Problem is he is going to want Pekka Rinne money and term. That is closer to 7M. On the other hand, the contract could have step up clauses in it over the 7 years.
Avatar37 : With Price, I wouldn't blink twice about offering him a 7 year contract now, especially if he'd be willing to give up dollar value for length. 7 years at $5.5 million a year would be just fine in my book.
Avatar37 : I think the goaltending void in our current system would push me to draft Vasilevski with our second pick, if he was available. He's young and has lots of potential, but is at least 5-6 years away from starting to be ready to play on an NHL roster.
Senet1 : Long tern contracts are a risk, but if you have a super star not as much. Luongo's contract was long term but signed too late in his career.
Avatar37 : Senet - Yes, you were clear in your post, my question was directed at goalie. I'm with you in that I'd be willing to sign him to a 7 year contract. I'd be nervous about anything longer, because every single long term goalie contract I can think of turned out to be a disaster for the team signing it.
Senet1 : I think that Budaj is a better goalie than many give him credit for, is he a Price no but with a tight defence he could be a good goalie. Many teams have average goalies but have great defence and still win. Look at Detroit, for years they have had average goaltending, but won cups. Goalies can get on a roll in the playoffs, look at Huet as an example, he was not really a good goalie but played great in the playoffs, next year he was a wash. Defence makes the goalie a winner, just ask Price.
Senet1 : Having a young equivalent goalie in the system right now is not important, three years from now it will be, so we have three years to make that kind of move in the draft. I think we have more pressing needs aat the moment.
Senet1 : Personally, I do not see this as a negative because of Price's age, you wait to draft a goalie of a Patrick Roy or Brodeur some teams wait a life time. To me we have on so why would we want to not play that out for as long as we can. Bottom line is this, regardless, right now you have a stud goalie, you are either going to pay him the money he deserves for not sign him and lose him. There is no middle of the road here.
goalie : Avatar made a great point. We don't have an NHL or up adn coming NHL goalies in our system. Another great move by Gauthier. Price is sitting very pretty.
goalie : WEll Price has us by the nads. I guess I'd have to go as far as a 7 year contract due to his play adn his age.
Senet1 : Luongo is now 33, he has been a good goaltender for a number of years. I would sign Price for 7 years and at age 31 then we deal with UFA at that time. Hopefully, we could provide him with another 5 years at that time. That is my opinion anyway, I would never risk losing him as a UFA at this point in his career to me that would be a very poor management decision. Even a 10 year contract would put him only at 34 years old. If you are going to sign him to long term now is the time.
Senet1 : If you have a young stud you have to gamble a little and give him a contract that is worthy of his abilities and his potential. It can have escalation clauses or reducing clauses like Kovalchuk's contract.
Senet1 : Avatar, I thought I was clear Yes I would sign him long term. My previous post said. The problem is if you have a out in the contract after 5 years then the player also has an out after 5 years. So no self respected lawyer would accept a contract that did not have equal escape clauses. So no I would not sign only for 5 years, if Price was 28 years old yes but not a 24. Seven years still only makes him 31 when the contract is over. If you have a young stud you have to gamble a little and give him
Avatar37 : Cammalleri trade. Given the fact that we have no NHL starting quality goaltenders in the system currently, aren't we held hostage to having to sign Price?
Avatar37 : There are many bad goalie contracts, just look at Huet. However, your post didn't answer my question as to what you'd do with Price. He's an RFA now, but for argument sake, if he were a UFA, what would you do? If he wanted a 7+ year contract, you know some other team would give him one. Would you risk losing him for nothing because you didn't want to sign a contract over 5 years? And if we lose Price, our goalies are Budaj and Robert Mayer, as we sent Karri Ramo to the Flames in the Cam
goalie : .. a 5 years contract again based upon the experience he has had AND he likes Bobby Lou!
goalie : Ditto for Philly, Ther goaltender 'situations' have both become the number 1 story line for both teams, and in Vancouver one could see the exaspiration on Gillis' adn to some extent Vigneault's faces when continously being bombarded by the loooong term contract that the Canucks are stuct with. (Gillis even said last February or so, thank goodness it looks like more than few other teams will be looking for a starting goaltender for 2012-13. He said he would never again do more than a 5 year c
goalie : I've spent the past four winters in BC thus I am very aware of the Canucks situations. I'd first say I give Gillis adn Vigneault 100% credit for being VERY supportive of Roberto L. even when Corey Schenider has vastly out played him. (I too like Bobby Lou but facts are facts).