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Canadiens Acquire Scott Gomez

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  1. #1 Mats Naslund says:
    June 30, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Well, I don’t think anyone could have predicted this a few hours ago. Clearly talks between Tampa and Montreal died a couple days ago and so Gainey switched to plan C.. D? This may mean that the Sedins are intrigued by the recent deal Vancouver has tabled, or that they do not wish to play in Montreal – or that we’re going to be falling off of the couch in utter shock when TSN announces their signing. While I’m hesitant to celebrate given the $7.3 mil cap hit on Gomez’s deal for five years, the Canadiens have added a consistent play maker, who is an excellent defender, and automatically makes us better down the middle. Context will be everything when it comes to this trade. We gave up very little. Higgins barely had a roster spot at the end of last season. Basically we traded a 3rd liner for a 1st. His spot can be filled cheaper by one of the youngsters (with any luck Sergei has a strong season). As for McDonaugh – he was still far enough away that he really didn’t figure into the Habs plans, especially given Montreal’s deep pool of defensive prospects.

    If this is the end of the news for this offseason, we’re in trouble. However, Gomez is a definite upgrade from any of our Centres from last year. Keep the news coming Bob.. just know that you lost a lot of wiggle room on this one.

  2. #2 PACTUM SERVA says:
    June 30, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Fire gainey. He must be sniffing glue.

  3. #3 Donnie says:
    June 30, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Im happier about Higgins being gone. If Gomez performs the way he did last year, it’s a bust. But he has the potential to be an offensive force as he has proven in recent years….I guess we’ll see.

  4. #4 Mats Naslund says:
    June 30, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    The truth will come out in the next few days as to what was truly available. If the Sedins were gone, then there is really no other option than to trade for a centre. Look at Puckdaddy’s list of free agent centres: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Good-Bad-Ugly-The-top-10-free-agent-centers;_ylt=AoinBMmUVGdngfNGJOaxAT97vLYF?urn=nhl,173766

    The fact that 2 of the 10 names our our centres from last season (aged 35 and 39 respectively) is not good. Add to that list Leaf cast-offs Antropov, Moore and Sundin and you have a steaming pile of **** available this year at centre outside of Hank Sedin.

    Given our definite need to get better down the middle Gainey was left with one option given that our only asset is capspace (who would YOU trade for on our roster not named Markov?). Gainey used his capspace and made a major upgrade from Higgins in Gomez. In order to make a deal like this, you need to have a willing partner who desperately needs capspace – AND has a quality centre that they no longer want. That made Gainey’s list VERY short. I say good for Bob for making the deal, and being aggressive with his assets.

    The one thing that cracks me up in all of this is how Habs fans can criticize Bob for doing nothing in past years while other teams over-spend and land the top talent. For once the Habs have been assertive in their attempt to lead the pack, and people whine because he didn’t land the absolute perfect player. There are 29 other GMs in the league who are unwilling to just stand aside and give the Canadiens access to all of the top talent in the league. This FA frenzy is far from over – and Bob has sent a message to both players and GMs that he’s willing to dance.

  5. #5 Mats Naslund says:
    July 1, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    An interesting day if nothing else for Habs fans thus far. My feeling on the Gomez situation, is that Gainey would have a lot of convincing to do in order to make people feel good about the move. I have to be honest – though I like Gomez, I have a hard time with his contract and what it does as a potential barrier moving forward. as of 5:10 we still have not heard about an extension or Kovalev, Tanguay or Koivu. Komisarek is as good as gone given that Montreal has signed Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill. Neither names blow you away, but they do address a need that the Habs have to get stronger (and more experienced) on D. The Defense corps for next season will read as: Markov, Hamrlik, Spacek, Gill, Gorges, O’Byrne – and most likely Weber. We still have just under 20 million to spend. On FAs with a lot of holes to fill on the forward lines.

  6. #6 Donnie says:
    July 1, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Camalleri, Gomez, Gill, and Spacek…can’t say Bob didn’t make a splash this year. I’m saying good move…can’t be any worst off than last year. We have a first and second line center now…very surprised at these moves, but again, thinking we can only improve with these acquisitions.

  7. #7 habknot says:
    July 1, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    Mats,
    With Cammalleri signed for $6 million does that leave 14 for BG to spend? I like these moves, competitive guys who are good at what they do with flexibility up front. That D looks very good to me, Gill was the shut-down guy against Detroit, impressed (and surprised me). He’s like Komisarek with experience.

    I’d like to sign Kovi, Plekanec and Brian Sutherby from Dallas as our 3rd line center. Finally, if we could get Franky Beauchemin, I wwould be willing to give O’Byrne another year of seasoning.

    C’mon Bob; this is fun!!

  8. #8 Mats Naslund says:
    July 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    You’re right Habknot – $14M is the magic number for Bob right now. He still has a lot of work left to do. Depending on how Cammalleri will be used (he has played both centre and wing), we will not need another centre. Gomez, Cammalleri, Lapierre, and Metropolit are currently signed. If Plex is re-signed then we can assume Cammallerri is going to be a winger (which is probably better suited to his game). http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=MON <–is a link to the most up-to-date reflection of our roster and cap space.

    You can see that our spending on defense is over. With any luck Ryan O’Byrne will learn by watching Gill. He is exactly what we need after losing Komisarek. People will question (legitimately) why Gainey let Komi walk, but after watching Gill in the playoffs last season, you get a clear example of how much his type of player should make. No offense, but a monster to move people out from Price’s crease.

    Again, the story here will be told when the Habs start playing in October. If Gainey irons out the remaining pieces and the boys play well in October – the whole deadline/playoff/FA fiasco is forgotten. If they struggle, you will hear about how we missed Gaborik, Hossa, the Sedins etc.

  9. #9 habknot says:
    July 1, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    Thanks for the link, Mats, that’s a nice site. Even if we sign our 4 RFA (about 8M, 3.5 Plek, 1.5 each the rest) that leaves 6M. Kovalev, Paulson, and we’re done. That leaves Tanguay and Lang out, which is too bad. Cammalleri is better on the wing, and all four guys you listed are small, so I’m hoping for Paulson.

  10. #10 habknot says:
    July 1, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    Pahlsson signed by Columbus, 3yrs/8M. damn!

  11. #11 habknot says:
    July 1, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Begin a Bruin!?

  12. #12 CanadiensFinatic31 says:
    September 3, 2009 at 1:43 am

    its a good move in the short term. Higgin’s is still a young player, he is not quite in his prime yet… but i think Gomez will do good with Mike Cammalleri this Year

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  • Senet1 : seriously ready to challenge for the cup. He will us win games but he will not be the difference between winning the cup and not winning the cup. You pick up players like that once you have the team ready to challenge,.
  • Senet1 : I am looking at the players to draft and there are a lot of big 6'3-6'5 forwards available ion the draft this year. If we could draft 3-4 big young players in the 2nd and 3rd round why would you want to give that up for a roster player who may have 2-3 years at best. If we are going to build a winner to have to build it with bigger players and there are a lot of good big players available this year. So you sign Ott and he is with us for the short run, but probably not when we are seriously re
  • Senet1 : Boullion is a great mentor for the young D-men
  • muller93 : Boullion is one of MBs great additions--Boull ion is a definite Keeper.
  • muller93 : Getting rid of Kaberle frees up a lot of cash. Boullion is small but is reliable and doesn't back down from anyone.
  • muller93 : Exactly Goalie any thoughts on a punishing D-man?
  • goalie : They;re showing determination adn skill vs Ducks and Blackhawks.
  • goalie : REd Wings could turn out to be the surprise team of this year's playoffs!
  • goalie : WE need to rid our team of Kaberle and Webber. Step two would be to then move Diaz. If we get that big d-man I believe that would push Boullion to # 7 on the chart. We'd then go with Georges, PK,Markov (to continue mentoring Ememlin) Tinordi as our starting six . THEN I'd be excited about our chances. We could then work on getting bigger forwards.
  • goalie : I too would gladly give up a 3rd round pick for Ott- the type of player we sadly lack. AND if we could get one more rugged, expeienced defenceman it would help immensely.
  • muller93 : Senet what you are saying makes sense but if we can get Ott for a 3rd round I'll take that all day.
  • muller93 : MB should be looking at a big D-man first, even though I like our blue line with the addition of Tinordi. We need that insurance just in case one gets injured. Also I'm a firm believer in starting with the goalie first then-defense-for wards-and we already have good goalie. We have all noticed when we have the lead Price is tough to beat.
  • Senet1 : So sometimes you have to sacrifice for one year or two to build that team in the draft. then add the finishing touches through FA and trades.
  • Senet1 : Muller, Detroit is another good example. They have been in the hunt every year with good well balanced teams yet only one or two cups to show for it. However, they have built a team that has a chance every years for the last 10+ years. That is what I think we have a chance to do this year with a good draft. It reminds me of the habs teams of the mid 80 and 90's we built a team then with sold draft picks and won the cup twice during that time period. So sometimes you have to sacrifice a one
  • muller93 : Very true Senet, you do need luck and we haven't had any luck it seems since the habs moved to the Bell Center. We had an incredible run in 2010 with some crazy goal tending from Halak. With Galchenyuk-Tinor di-Gallagher all in 1 year--not too bad, even with an early exit in the playoffs.
  • Senet1 : Muller I guess we all have our own ideas, but there has never been too many times that were successful when they traded their draft picks away. We have a chance to build this team so we have a shot at winning the cup over the next 10 years. Even as good as Pittsburgh has been they have only won the cup once since Crosby and Malkin have been with the team. That is because you not only need great players but you need luck to win, but one thing about Pittsburgh they have a chance every year. The
  • muller93 : Good point on Torres, he might be a liability. Torres has to tone it down a bit, but that's his game-very aggressive.
  • goalie : Though I don't condone what Raffi Torres did - thos shows you how repeat offenders or near offenders are going to be treated. His hit was NOT illegal BUT what the rap sheet adn reputation Torres has he got severly punished. Lesson to be learned by OTHER players because Torres dopesn't learn fromk his mistakes.
  • muller93 : Senet normally I would agree with you on not trading draft picks but we are not in a rebuilding stage. Sometimes draft picks can be a roll of the dice and it can take up to 3 years to be NHL ready. We have a good team and I agree with Stuo players like Clowe-Torres-Ott -Scott will make a big difference. Somebody has to protect Gallagher, he can't keep getting hit the way does--we need a tough forward so they think twice before going after Gallagher.
  • Senet1 : Really a heathly Habs team would probably win more games against the Pens that we did against the Sens. Reason they Pens would not play as physical against us as against the Sens. If we get good goaltending we win at least two games.
  • zpezada4ok : hello all «link»
  • stuo11 : hes a tougher big guy too! Just a minor adjustment but will help a bit
  • stuo11 : hes better than markov, and hes french who was in mention for defenceman of the year
  • goalie : Markov for Beauchemin - an injury prone d-man for an ;old timer'd-man. Beauchemin is NOT what the Habs need in my opinion. He is a HUGE defensive liability.
  • goalie : Stuo 11 I'd make that trade with Oilers fast BUT I doubt the Oilers will make that. Two marginal d-men at the best for a switch of first round picks - not a chance .
  • stuo11 : markov for beachemin?
  • stuo11 : let moen go
  • stuo11 : maybe try and get steve begin back
  • stuo11 : we wouldve kicked out all other teams but pens, sens,
  • stuo11 : pens have alot of forwaRDS same with us but we have better goaltending
  • stuo11 : theres styles of play goalie. Sens played us good, but lost games to southeast teams florida and tampa and get crushed by leafs EVERYTIME. sens and leafsd cant beat bruins but we do frequently
  • stuo11 : Diaz weber and our 1st for their first edm
  • goalie : SEns beat us 4 games to 1. Pens had last night's game under their control. What does that mean if we were up vs the Pens in a series. I think the Habs have a way to go before we're competing for Lord Stanley's Cup!
  • Senet1 : If he could score goals like Lucic and we could sign him to a four year contract then I would consider it too. However, NOT if we only have him for one to two years.
  • Senet1 : So we went from 27th pick to 21st pick.

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