Patrick Traverse

It didn’t take long for the Canadiens to address their defensive concerns.

How they did it however, is a bit surprising.

Patrick Traverse was claimed off waivers to return to Montreal where he played from 2000-2003.

Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM

2002-2003 Canadiens 65 0 13 13 -9 24
2001-2002 Canadiens 25 2 3 5 -7 14
2000-2001 Canadiens 19 2 3 5 -8 10

Was this the right move given the circumstances?

There is a strange feeling about this. With all the new youth and progress the Habs have made recently, signing a mediocre player from our past mediocre seasons takes away from the excitement and feel surrounding the new team.

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20 Comments

#1 PACTUM SERVA says:
September 28, 2006 at 3:03 pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

#2 MAB82 says:
September 28, 2006 at 3:53 pm

YAY !!!!

THE FORMERS HABS PYLON IS BACK GREAT NEWS FOR OPPOSING TEAMS BAD NEWS FOR HUET!

GREAT JOB GAINEY

#3 Razz says:
September 28, 2006 at 4:01 pm

Yeah! Great move Bob! Signing a mediocre defenceman because he is french!
On the other hand, when Souray and Boullion get healthy he will be down in the minors, where he might help develop the younger guys. It’s not like he will earn a very big salary (obviously well under a million). He is a patch for the next month or two, till the others get back.

#4 Habs Blog says:
September 28, 2006 at 4:52 pm

test

#5 Oct.21 - - - - The Return Of THEO!! says:
September 28, 2006 at 8:50 pm

And just when I thought Gainey couldnt get any stupider

#6 Phil says:
September 28, 2006 at 9:07 pm

Guys down on Gainey…get a life one with purpose…one that counts..jeez..I believe it was a smart move period…If you don’t get it, hell cheer for the LAFFS!!What a bunch of jumpers!!

#7 Jack _Tornton says:
September 28, 2006 at 9:11 pm

This is a joke…
I think Patrick Traverse was the worst defenceman we ever aquired! History stays history except if Bob wants to expand the history! lol

#8 t8ter says:
September 28, 2006 at 9:38 pm

Hey Jack, Do you remember a guy named patrice???

#9 Jack _Tornton says:
September 28, 2006 at 11:19 pm

t8ter:

You mean Patrice Brisebois??

#10 superfan says:
September 29, 2006 at 10:41 am

worst move ever.

#11 koivufan says:
September 29, 2006 at 5:04 pm

i’m a gainey fan but what the hell were you thinking

#12 snake says:
September 29, 2006 at 7:23 pm

At least we didnt sign Murray Baron.

#13 snake says:
September 29, 2006 at 7:24 pm

I remember Traverse socred this beauty one night where he split the defence. I remember thinking “wow”. Maybe that was a dream.

#14 t8ter says:
September 29, 2006 at 7:44 pm

Yes thats the same guy Jack, Traverse will have to go a long way to beat him!

#15 Habs Fan says:
September 30, 2006 at 9:49 pm

Canadiens Acquire Niinimaa From Stars for Ribeiro

#16 Habs heartland 1 says:
September 30, 2006 at 10:43 pm

Well, now that we have acquired Niinimaa from Dallas,Patrick can traverse his way back down to the minors. I don’t understand Gainey. If you’re going to trade for Niinimaa, why go and get Traverse? The money spent on Traverse, could have gone for an offensive player, right? Makes no sense! Does our GM have all his marbles? We don’t need 2 more defenceman, WE NEED ANOTHER CENTERMAN! Please sign an offensive player who can play center! We are very, very, very, weak at that position. What we don’t need is another Traverse, or should I say, Breeze Bye, as in Brisebois! If Koivu gets injured, is Traverse going to play center ice? really, what are you thinking!

#17 t8ter says:
October 1, 2006 at 11:03 am

What kind of offensive player who can play center and that could fill in for Koivu (not that anything more will ever happen to him) could you get right now for say $450,000? The way Montreal is losing defence men and the lack of them right now that are available, I would think having an extra would be wise. Goalies and defence hold there value. Don’t be so quick to panic, GO HABS!!!

#18 jay says:
October 1, 2006 at 2:46 pm

It’s a good thing we have medicare in this country, what with all of you getting whiplash from JUMPING ON AND OFF THE BANDWAGON SO QUICKLY!!! ease up and chill out..let the season start ~GO HABS GO!

#19 Reality Check says:
October 1, 2006 at 4:51 pm

No team ever has enough depth defenseman. Witness Buffalo against Carolina in last seasons playoffs. With Bouillon, Souray, and Cote on the sidelines, the Habs D was looking mighty thin. Gainey needed to make both these moves. Traverse has a minor league contract and will see action in maybe a dozen Habs games this season at most, making him an efficient replacement for 6 or 7 minutes per game.

Gainey traded from a position of depth to get Niinimaa, who has 700 plus games experience in the league. A decent upgrade at the 6th D position, I think.

At center, the Canadiens have much youth to move around in that spot. What we saw from Plekanec on Saturday ought to assure folks that it was a smart move. Higgins can also move there as well as Begin. With 6 centerman in the lineup nightly, we have a multitude of combination we can ice.

Most of you questioning Gainey in here are as clueless as Leafs fans. He aquired Traverse prior to Niinimaa, not after. Second guessing is for those who can’t make a point. Gainey likely would not have picked up PT after this trade, but when a player with a certain usefullness becomes available via waivers, there is only a small time frame for picking him up at no cost. In this case PT will be left unprotected at the start of the season and probably never land in Montreal at all. No big sweat for all concerned any way you slice it.

#20 smiler2729 says:
October 3, 2006 at 12:17 pm

Traverse will love Hamilton.

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