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Canadiens sign Tom Kostopolous

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  1. #1 Rubberman says:
    July 10, 2007 at 1:05 pm

    I agree with “Dan Im feed up”. I read the most comments (almost daily)on this blog but I’m tired of the **** that’s going on. One guy keeps bashing the Habs, Gainey, or whatever. Others always address his comments and encouraging him. Isn’t this blog about hockey??!!?? So, I too am finished with this bullshit. Habsblog you got to put your foot down, if not see ya…

  2. #2 Xtrahabsfan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 2:35 pm

    Thank-you coutNY, for stating the obvious about the postings on little blog,you a good HabsBRO. I’m sure H.B. knows who’s been the ***-dits making those messed up postings and he should let us all know who the idiot is,you bet I’d love to know!!!! As for some of my other Habs bro’s ,WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPERCRITICAL RAT ******** ,some of you guy’s should be extras in the remake of Mississippi burning,lol!AND RUBBERMAN you want to talk hockey ? nobodys stoping you so lets talk Hockey,but please don’t be so naive to believe I’m going to agree with everything you post,most chanses are it ain’t going to happen,eh.lol.Question for all ,how do you think our Habs year will go???

  3. #3 fuzz16 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 2:44 pm

    It all depends on Huet….we will go as far as Huet will take us

  4. #4 Dan Im Fed UP says:
    July 10, 2007 at 6:03 pm

    They will struggle to make the playoffs. Because of this Habs Nation and the media will freak out and pressure the team to make a push for the final playoff spot. They will pickup a deadbeat, over the hill, former 40 goal scorer and trade the farm to do so. This pickup will not re-sign the next year and before you know we will be back at square one.

    This team is like Edmonton, to a tee almost. Except Edmonton has the problem of being in the middle of nowhere and is a small market and Montreal has the problem of the french media and high tax rate.

    PS. Koivu is the worst captain. Get rid of the Euro Trash.

  5. #5 BarrieHabFan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 6:29 pm

    thanks Xtrahabsfan. Happy to contribute to some REAL hockey talk.
    I actually think that this team isn’t as bad as many think. They have replaced those they lost with perhaps even a little more grit, they have great prospects coming up and the young players they have that are playing well (Ryder, Higgins, Komisarek, Halek or Price, etc) are most likely going to be better this year. Pair that with improved performances from the coaching staff and I beleive that this team can do well. Probably still a few years away from serious contention, but I think a good bet for playoffs.
    And frankly, I can’t see why so many are down on this team. The development of prospects seems to be going ahead of schedule and that’s how this team is going to be built. Not through the signing of over-paid veterans.

  6. #6 Habs#1 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    “Koivu is the worst captain. Get rid of the Euro Trash.”

    Saku Koivu is the best captain the Habs have had since Guy Carbonneau. You obviously don’t watch the Habs game in a game out. When Saku is there the team has a chance, when he isn’t they’re screwed. Or did you not watch the Carolina series a couple years ago?

  7. #7 Higgy21 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:28 pm

    This team will be better prepared for battle this year then last: why?

    - Hamrlik, Smokey and Greek are an improvement over Bonk, Johnson and SS.
    - HIggins, Komi, Pleks Kost, Lats?, Laps? and streit will be better.
    - Our goaltending duo will be competitive every night. No Abby
    - Carbo will make less rookie errors.
    - Kovy cant get any worse
    - Gainey should not have to leave the team again in January. HE is our general without him we sunk fast.

    negatives:
    - Lats will still be the slowest skater in the league
    - Laps will get too confident and think he is a 6 goal a year superstar
    - 5/6 d are weak

  8. #8 Higgy21 says:
    July 10, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    I love Josh.

  9. #9 nigelski says:
    July 10, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    I expect a tough season, myself. Replacing Bonk and Johnson with Smolinski and Kostopolous is still not guaranteed to be an upgrade, to me at least. Smolinski has probably a better offensive sense than Bonk, but Kostopolous is an unknown factor. The media say good things about his work ethic and drive, so I’m hopeful…

    Hamrlik isn’t an upgrade, he’s a stopgap. He’s coming off a season in which he had 26 fewer points than Souray, isn’t a factor on the power play, is no more physical than Souray, and isn’t appreciably faster. He gets too much credit for the play of Dion Phaneuf–I saw Phaneuf at the world juniors, hitting everything in sight, scoring and setting up plays, and Hamrlik was nowhere to be seen. If you ask me, he has been insulated by playing with Phaneuf, not the other way around. Phaneuf is a star, and future Norris winner.

    Hoping on our rookies from Hamilton to make a big difference has some basis in fact, as they just won the Calder Cup. Or Price won it, I should say. When I was reading the boxscores during the ‘Dogs playoff run, I thought I was looking at Canadiens’ stats. They were outshot almost every game, just like the Habs usually are, sometimes by more than 20 shots.

    And AHL stardom doesn’t always translate into NHL success–just ask Jason Ward, former AHL scoring Champion.

    I don’t believe the team’s most glaring weakness, the lack of a big offensive threat, was addressed. I certainly hope that we see improvement from guys like Higgins, Plekanec and Lantendresse, number-wise, but will it be enough?
    The pessimist in me says no.

    That said, nothing would make me feel better than to be wrong. I hope I am…

  10. #10 BarrieHabFan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 9:46 pm

    I agree that Hamrlik certainly is a step down from Souray on offence and he may be slightly overrated, however he is a big upgrade defensively. Not to say Hamrlik is one of the best defensive players in the game. But for as good as Sheldon Souray was offensively, he was that bad defensively.
    The key this year may be how much offence the habs can pick up from the forwards. They will lose offensive production from the defence, so they have to pick it up somewhere else.
    And you’re absolutely right, nigelski, when you say that AHL success doesn’t necessarily turn into NHL success. But to elaborate on what I had said about the farm team, I think they are drawing form a pretty large pool of AHL talent (relatively speaking)and although many will turn out dissapointing, some will undoubtedly turn out to be legitimate NHL talent. A strong farm system is a key to most if not all of the strongest and most successful teams in the NHL. They suplement their lineup with trades and free agent signings, but the base is made through the draft and farm team.
    I think Montreal finally has a good development system. The rest will follow. It’s hard to be patient, but the best is yet to come.

  11. #11 Dan Im Fed UP says:
    July 10, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    Habs#1. First of all I have RDS out in Calgary so I never miss a game. Second two years ago? A lot has changed, I think he’s tired of carrying the team and the was evident during druing the HAbs slide last year, remember last year! He was horrible. Taking stupid penalties, not caring, pretty much acting like Kovalev or Samsonov. I give him credit for the end run but by that time it was too late. Souray was a more consistent leader even at -25(?). Now with Shelly leaving and Koivu most likely not caring anymore, who will lead? It won’t be Koivu,Gainey gave him no reason to be optimistic. Carbs?

  12. #12 wpgghabsfan says:
    July 10, 2007 at 11:43 pm

    I think the solution to the habs problems has to be drastic…as much as i love koivu..i believe we should use him as trade bait for marleau or lecavalieror even richards ….I think we should get rid of kovalev at any cost..and also ryder. I know this sounds like i have no faith in the habs but I really do believe we need a change at the top. I think we need a star centerman…and i dont believe koivu is him.

  13. #13 Signings says:
    July 11, 2007 at 9:23 am

    As far as the awarding of contracts go, wouldn’t it be a lot better to pay the players based on performance? For example, a player like Kovalev could have a 1.5 million dollar guaranteed salary. Give him an extra million if he plays at least 41 games. Give him an extra million if he passes the 50 point mark. An extra million if the team makes the playoffs. For what is expected of him this next season, that would earn him 4.5 million, which is what he now gets anyways. That way, he will be sure to really try.
    One could do this with every player. You get paid to perform, after all.

    As far as Kovalev is concerned I think he will try hard to have a good season this time because his contract expires by the end of the year and he will be looking to sign for the most possible amount come next summer.

  14. #14 fan4066 says:
    July 11, 2007 at 10:00 am

    all comes down to – no playoffs this year either. Nobody wants to play here, thats the bottom line, its obvious

  15. #15 habsandwich says:
    July 11, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    still waiting on those t-shirts HB

  16. #16 nigelski says:
    July 12, 2007 at 6:08 am

    http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213273&hubname=

    There’s Yashin’s latest crybaby story, if anyone cares…

    While I agree that performance based signings would be good, Signings (post#162), the problem is that the collective agreement only allows for such after a player hits a certain age, and has had health problems in the past limiting them to a certain # of games. I don’t have exact #s on the requirements, but past incentive laden contract getters include Jason Allison, Lindros, and most recently Hasek last season.

    By far, the best solution, is to go after guaranteed contracts in the next CBA, and eliminate them altogether. Buyout issues would become a thing of the past, and you’re only as good as your last season. It seems to work well for the NFL–the NFL being THE model for pro franchising, revenue sharing, and television contract.

    To quote Homer Simpson,”…I liked your hustle out there…that’s why it was so hard to cut you…” Let the cuts begin!

  17. #17 netcase says:
    August 7, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    I always waited for Gainey to make that stellar move that makes us understand what he’s doing.
    I’m still waiting.

  18. #18 TrueHabFan says:
    April 4, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    Well, solidly in the playoffs and division champions.

    Now, it’s been a while since all the experts on this thread gave us their opinions. Time to explain yourselves.

    Go Habs!

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  • Margahayuland : hi all... sorry add this «link»
  • Senet1 : I want the Bruins to win anyway so that we pick ahead of them in the Draft.
  • Senet1 : Muller you got your wish NYR won game 4. So the Bruins will have to play another game at least.
  • Senet1 : He may just bring all three of the kids up.
  • muller93 : MB is forced to go out and get a big D-man. Missing Emelin for almost half the season is the last thing we needed to hear. Now going out and getting a big D-man is a MUST!!!
  • muller93 : Now for the Fu**en Bruins who have no business even being in the second round are going to get a nice rest. Yes the same goons who took out one of best D-man for 6 more months. There is NO Fu**en justice. Just venting--Ok i feel better now.
  • muller93 : So pissed to see the Rangers lay down and play like total crap. How did the Rangers beat the Caps? This team is playing with no heart--a must win and can only muster 23 shots...PATHETIC !!!
  • muller93 : Senet I did see Galchenyuks goal--Made a great move for the game winner. You can see the kid has so much confidence.
  • goalie : If Rangers get swept I wonder if Tortorella will get his walking papers? Or Glen Sather? They have tons of 'talent' but zero wins in this series.
  • goalie : It's really too bad we lost to the Sens as we would have played the Rangers and the way NYR are playing we would have beat them too. If only. If only!
  • Senet1 : Actually I agree it was a good move for them to play a shorter season and get the experience. He could not have played in the minors this year he would have had to play junior or the NHL. However, he now has a year under him and knows what to expect next year and hopefully take a bigger responsibility on the team. Did you see those two goals in the bronze game? Wow.
  • muller93 : Good move by the Habs not having Galchenyuk play in the minors. Now Galchenyuk has 1 year in the NHL and playoff experience this is going to pay off big time come next year.
  • Senet1 : Galchenyuk scores to back to back goals in shoot out to help USA win Bronze metal. I did not see the second goal but the first was a beauty.
  • Senet1 : So we could pick anywhere from 25th to 23rd depending on who wins these quarter final series.
  • Senet1 : First, is the 14 teams in the lottery. Then there are 12 teams that did not make the semi finals in the order of the seasonal finish, Then there are the four teams in the semi final the first two eliminated pick in the order of the regular season points total and the last two based on who wins and who loses the cup. So as it stand now if say Detroit beats Chicago then Detroit moves up to pick after us. Boston or NYR will move up and pick after us. LA or San Jose will move up and pick after us
  • Senet1 : Basically, I was wrong about the draft pick situation. There are three groups of drafting teams within the 30 teams.
  • 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.

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