Begin, Downey and Murray Signed

The Montreal Canadiens made their first signings of the off season inking Steve Begin, Garth Murray and Aaron Downey to new deals.

Great news for the Canadiens. Bob Gainey identified and signed his role players that will make up a core part of the Canadiens next season.
Begin had one of his best seasons last year and newcomers Garth Murray and Aaron Downey fit in quite well.

All of these guys have similar rough and physical styles of play and aren’t afraid of dropping the gloves. Gainey’s assuring early that the Canadiens won’t lack a physical element like they have in so many recent years.

All of these guys have been borderline NHLers and the vote of confidence the Canadiens have just given them should make for an interesting season.

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8 Comments

#1 BJ says:
June 6, 2006 at 10:42 am

This was a great move by the habs. Now we need to worry about Huet and get a Defenceman and a 2nd Line Center. Get rid of Ribs!!!!!!!!

#2 Habs#1 says:
June 6, 2006 at 6:44 pm

The Habs needed to keep their grit togehter and they did that yesterday. Great move by Gainey. The Oilers proved this year that grit will get you far in the playoffs before what I call the curse of ’93 hit them.

(The curse is that no Canadian team has won the cup final since the Habs in ’93 and no canadian team will win it till the Habs do in what I believe to be the next 1 to 2 years)

Get rid of Ribeiro and Zednik immediately, Bonk they won’t be able to get rid of because of his massive contract and he showed at the end of the year to be a good #4 centre.

Keep the defence intact because they were the fidth highest scoring unit in the NHL, they were very good defensively at the end of the season and now I think Souray’s gotten used to the new NHL they will be even better next season.

Kovalev needs a real centreman to play with (i.e. Lang,Arnott. These are the only viable options folks because they’re not getting Richards obviously and unless Gainey is willing to trade Higgins, Ryder, and Komisarek which Tampa would reportedly be asking for, Vinny Lecavelier will not be wearing the CH any time soon, and Savard would want to much and would not want to play second fiddle to Koivu.)

As well as either getting someone like Mark Parrish or Jamie Langenbrunner to play the second line wing or moving Perezhogin up there and having Kostitzyn play on the third line with Plecanek and Murray, both of which I like a lot. Elias would be far to expensive to also go with the more pressing need at second line centre.

By the way, everyone saying that Latendresse will come and play for the big team next season. GET REAL!!!!! He had a good preseason sure but after that he had a very average season in the QMJHL, he apparently has terrible work ethic and attitude( i.e. Ribeiro) and he did absolutly JACK ALL in the world juniors so Gainey will make him go the hard way through the QMJHL one more season, hopefully have a better showing at the ‘Juniors’ and then at least the 3 manditory seasons on his AHL contract.

#3 PACTUM SERVA says:
June 6, 2006 at 7:12 pm

I could’nt say it better myself habs#1 great post

#4 Habs#1 says:
June 6, 2006 at 10:35 pm

There are three rumored people to be in the running for asst. head coach. All are ex. Habs I believe, and all are good buddies with Carbonneau and I think played with him.

They are Larry Robinson, Mario Tremblay(I really don’t think we want to go down that road again), and Kirk Muller.

Robinson retired because he couldn’t take the pressure in NEW JERSEY! so how would he deal with it in Montreal? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he’s just an assistent. I never liked Mario Tramblay and the dark days of the Habs/Molson family marriage started with him and got really bad with Vingealt(not his fault that he didn’t have any good players though) and Kirk Muller’s never had a proffesional coaching job before.

There’s risks to which ever one you take. I would like to see Muller. Who do the rest of you loyal Habs fans think would be the better fit?

#5 fan3 says:
June 6, 2006 at 11:48 pm

Definitely NOT Tremblay!!! ANYONE else!!! Nothing good could come by bringing him back into the picture…it’s taken us like a decade to fix his errors. As for the other two, I don’t really care. Like you said, Robinson couldn’t handle the pressure (and Montreal fans provide plenty of that) and Muller has no coaching experience. I’m sure that Gainey will make the best decision in the end (if it’s even up to him).
As for the trades: all for Begin and Murray but I’m indifferent to Downey. Downey hasn’t done anything wrong but he also hasn’t earned his keep; then again he didn’t get that much of a chance to.

#6 SaskHab says:
June 7, 2006 at 1:42 am

As far as the coach goes, I love the possibility of Robinson coming back. He’s been an assistant with us before and did very well. So well in fact that he got plucked from our staff to become a head coach in the show. As an assistant he would shoulder virtually none of the pressure and due to his unwillingness to be a head coach again it would be pretty safe to say he’d be in it for the long haul at that position. Obviously my second choice would be Muller for lack of a better option in Tremblay. To be fair, because one sucks at the head coach position does not mean they can’t be an effective assistant. They are two completely separate and differing roles, therefore I would even be willing to bring Tremblay into the fold. Now let’s sign Huet and find a decent scoring forward.

#7 Don't Know says:
June 10, 2006 at 7:17 pm

Downey sucks. Habs should get Charra, or Redden , or Spezza , or another big name player like Havlat

#8 Don't Know says:
June 10, 2006 at 7:22 pm

i dont think the habs will do good next yr if they dont sign some good free agents this yr

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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).