Habs in ’08
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The Habs play their first game of 2008 tonight in Montreal against the Lightning.
The Holiday stretch of games is over, a time where in recent years has been a negative turning point for the Habs.
Usually the Holiday stretch is the time where the good start of the Canadiens season ends abruptly. Followed by the slow descent into mediocre hockey and the struggling to just make, or barely miss the playoffs begins.
Not this time around. The Habs have put together a very good road record at the right time and start the new year with the 3rd best point total in the entire Eastern Conference.
However, the Conference is so tight they’ll need to continue their pace until the very last game. Or risk sinking fast like the Lightning.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are dead last in the East. Dead last.
A team that boasts NHL Points Leader Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Brad Richards has played one more game and scored one less goal then our offensively challenged Canadiens. They’ve also allowed 25 more.
Is it fair to say a franchise goaltender is worth more then a franchise scorer?
Would you still be willing to trade away Carey Price and friends for Vinny Lecavalier?
Maybe Bob Gainey ‘sitting on his hands’ and not giving 90% of the money to 3 guys is a good thing?
Only time will tell.
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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).
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January 3, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Would I trade for Lecavalier …ah….duh.That’s like asking if I would cash in a winning lotto ticket,lol.
January 3, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yes, but not for PRICE though.
January 3, 2008 at 12:48 pm
No kidding, but WHAT would you trade? Price plus…(higgins, plekanec, and draft choices)
January 3, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Like you said we have one more goal then TB and if you look we have the same amount of goals as the “HIGH SCORING LEAFS”(what people were calling them at the start of the season).Not bad for a offence challenged team. We sit tied for 3rd in the east and 7th in the league in scoring. We are tied for 6th in the east and tied for 14th in the league for goals against. Also not bad for a team with no pure number 1 goalie (as we are always being told). I say we keep what we have for a bit longer and try to get a great deal at the dead line. We have enough salary cap room to get some rental players for a few draft picks and make a run for it. We have shown we can play with anyone in the east when everyone played together. Oh yea one more thing …. everyone that is out know should stay out or be traded because it shows that the ones we have playing can do it. Keep Ryder and put him in positions where he can shake that monkey from his back , if not he will be no good to trade or to keep and when it comes down to it wouldn’t we all like to keep him if he is scoring goals again. By the way he always does better in the second half ,so lets forget what he did (or didnt do )in the first half and hope he can get it going in the second half….GO HABS GO
January 3, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I would never trade Price for Lecavalier, I would instead try to focus on someone like Ovechkin. There is no way that Lecavalier will be let go from Tampa. On the Other side Ovechkin, will be a free agent and must be tired of being with a team that ain’t going anywhere. Anyhow, I’ll be at the game tonight and can’t wait.
Go Habs Go indeed.
January 3, 2008 at 5:09 pm
While I would like nothing more than to see Vinny come to Montreal, I wouldn’t give up Price. I’d like to see a blockbuster trade that involves Huet and Koivu – Tampa gets another potential star forward plus the steady goaltending that they need. We work hard on Price to make him a true starter, bring up Halek, and off we go!
The way that road trip went, I’m willing to stick as-is for now. I assume Huet is getting the start tonight with Price starting against the Caps on Saturday – can anyone confirm?
January 3, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Huet is the starter tonight but still no word on the next one. I would go with Huet on sat. as well if tonight goes well
January 3, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Huet couldn’t stop Youppi on a breakaway! He freezes ! what a choker!
I hope Price plays on Saturday, because Huet can’t cut it.
January 3, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Just wait until next year. The habs will be amazing. they arent too bad so far this season also.
January 3, 2008 at 11:09 pm
habs2010 looks like Huet had more shots and allowed 3 less goals. Does that cut it for you?
January 3, 2008 at 11:19 pm
It doesn’t cut it, because he can’t stop anyone on a breakaway, and he even admitted that he has no confidence, and really bad on shootouts and one on one. So what going to happen when the game goes to a shootout? we’ll lose!
I think Price should play more. After all, Huet not going to be here next year.
January 3, 2008 at 11:27 pm
To be honest…Huet has earned his stay but with a blockbuster trade to bring in a solid centre with heart, then we have to have the right bait. It may mean Huet and Ryder or even Kovalev (yeah, yeah he’s something alright (listening to Murray Wilson, you think that Kovalev is top three scoring for the last 10 years or so he’ll have you believe), well that’s not the case in fact more often than not Kovalev is no where to be seen.
I still say the value for Ryder is increasing and for this reason (I know so many are saying why now? He’s just starting and watch him go…but you know it’s a UFA situation and now is the time for his stock value to increase and maybe catch the big fish.
Got to find the right combination bait and team willing to shake up…Tampa Bay & Washington (Ovechkin too is UFA)….let’s deal or no deal!!!
Anyways happy to see the Habs thump the lightning…it can’t hurt to knock them around and maybe soften up on the trade issue.
January 3, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Since Huet and Ryder are UFA’s at the end of the season, we need to get rid of them at the trade deadline, so we don’t have another Souray situation, and get something for them, because otherwise they’re gone , with nothing in return!
January 4, 2008 at 12:08 am
I don’t think there’s nothing stopping Gainey from renegociating Hot for a week Ryder and the sometimes frozen like roadkill Huet’s contract except for the question: How much more will it cost?He can’t sign them for less?so how much more would you pay them???
January 4, 2008 at 12:23 am
Nice game tonight! Huet was sharp for the most part but that deer-in-the-headlights thing on breakaways is bothersome. Congrats to the team on a big night and Ryder especially with 3 points.
I heard that Washington will be starting their backup, a Montreal native, on Saturday night so I’d like to see Price get the start, but we’ll see.
January 4, 2008 at 2:43 am
whats with all the trade talks look at are record ! i’m lovin’ this team!
January 4, 2008 at 9:48 am
So far we arent all that bad. But they are talking about trades because they think we’ll make in the playoffs, but to win a cup we need a superstar.
January 4, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Habs 2010..you never did answer… are you of the opinion were building for 2010, or should we try to contend now… your statements about Huet are purely thoses of someone who is … well, to put it nicely, blind or can’t read stats..check them out…who would you prefer back there for the same $$
Price is not ready to handle the weight of being the #1 Habs goalie…yet!
January 4, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I agree that that is the question at trade deadline, are we buyers or sellers, the only players we could trade and receive good 1 on 1 value would be Koivu or Price (Huet yes if under a longer contract) both would be a mistake (I don’t need to say trading Markov would be retarded, though Hamrilik could bring value). I say we are buyers now. We have depth and youth to compensate for lack of superstar power, we also have a weak schedule for February (Washington x 3) which will boost the stats and value of our players. I would like to see a parcel of players and prospects sent for a top line forward.
January 4, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Why is Price not ready Mr.Bigtime?
January 4, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Gainey held on to souray at the deadline because he thought we still had a chance at the playoffs. If we are in a playoff posistion come the deadline i cant see gainey trading huet or ryder. So unless we make a run at the cup we will lose both players for nothing and you can throw striet in there aswell.
January 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm
big time: Are you in love with Huet? because stats mean nothing! and in case you haven’t noticed it, most hockey observers are of the same opinion as me. Huet does nothing when facing a shooter on a breakaway or shootout. He freezes, and it’s not just my opinion. he needs to be more mobile when facing a shooter one on one. Did you see Lecavalier’s goal, or Shanahan’s goal from thr game on Sunday? Huet just froze on thoase breakaways, and it’s starting to become a bad trend with him. Hell, he even admitted to not having confidence in shootouts. don’t you ever read the sports news?
January 4, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Streit’s not going anywhere. He’ll re-sign. And for some reason I have a feeling that Huet will as well. The FA market, as you can see from last year with guys like Cujo and Belfour, isn’t all that hot on goalies right now.
January 5, 2008 at 12:23 am
I still fantasize about getting Lecavalier on a regular basis but, given the shape we’re in now, I don’t think a trade is the most important thing the team should be focusing on. We’ve got unbelievable young talent and we could win a Cup as is if everyone were in it.
Good point about February’s schedule, let’s hope we continue with the 6 goal a game trend!
January 7, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I think he meant January’s schedule… and it does look pretty good… let’s hope to put some points together and distance us from the pack in the east…
January 9, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Woohoo…..finally playing good hockey. All 3 lines starting to click…at different times mind you, but it’s a huge boost. Ryder broke his curse….Koivu played like a man posessed against Chicago Tues. night. Tied for 3rd in the conference…only 8 points behind the Sens…and 10 points ahead of the dirty Leafs. Could life be any better for a Habs fan right now?
Anyone notice that all this started when a few “key” guys got injured? Guy’s new line combos are working and so are the young guys. Got one fear myself…does anyone think anyone is gonna be foolish enough to stick Begin and Smolinski back in the line-up when they’re healed? This means sending down or sitting a couple of players that helped get outta this slump. Please Guy, please don’t ruin this…you gotta go with whats working right? How helpful have these 2 guys been compared to what you got clicking right now? Thet’re pros…they know whats what right? They know ya gotta keep a line-up in thats working.
So Guy…just pleading a little here…as one of a legion of loyal Habs fans who wants to see this club keep doing well. Stay with what ya got…and think hard about what these 2 guys will actually bring to the line-up as compared to what other 2 guys you would have to put on the sidelines. We’re winning…everyone likes this feeling…don’t mess with it. GO HABS GO !!!
January 17, 2008 at 6:15 pm
cujo got signed by the flames
January 20, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I am not sure about the rest of you Habs fans but I am beinging to worry that we cannot win any important faceoffs. The last two games we have played one win on loss we have not been able to get puck possession off the faceof. I Know that Gainey is looking at this but maybe it is time make a deal. The last thing we want to have happen is the way we ended up last year. I have been watching Koivu and he seems to be making a lot of bad decisions with teh puck this year. I am wondering if it is time to trade him, Huet maybe Ryder and get a good centreman who can win faceoffs and be a first liner. To me our second line has been our first line for the last two months or so and koivu’s line has disappeared most nights. Kovalev has looked very good most of the time this year although the last two games he seems to play more like last year with less effort. Hopefully he is not getting tired or falling into old habits. Anyway I think we need to make a move for a centreman who can win some faceoffs.