This is an absolutely fantastic singing by Gainey. A great day all around. Johnson will be a great upgrade over Zednik on the 3rd line and Samsonov will be a monumental improvement over Bulis on the second line.

Samsonov is more consistent, potent and effective than Bulis. And I don’t think that Gainey had to spend that much because he only scored 23 goals after spending most of the season on a terrible team in Boston.

I still don’t think Gainey is done. They still need a centre to play in between Kovalev and Souray wants to go to California to be close to his daughter and Ribeiro is still available I believe.

I think Gainey’s going to hang on to Aebischer till he makes sure that Huet wasn’t a fluke so he’ll hang on to hime till the trade deadline I think.

I read that the Red Wings might be interested in Aebischer. I would be too, if my other option was over-the-hill Ed Belfour. Someone else mentioned here the possibility of Robert Lang coming to Montreal, and mentioned his success playing with Kovalev in Pittsburgh.

Aebischer for Lang (and throw in Ribeiro for a bag of dead octopi) would still leave Detroit with a decent 1-2 center tandem in Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Aebischer signed for $1.9M, and I’m guessing Lang is due more than that. so it would make financial sense to the Wings. Of course, Lang is a little old too but was still good for 62 pts in 72 games last year.

Great moves. Zednik has never been the same since that Mclaren elbow. We gave him time to adjust but that never happened. We all thought he was gonna be out of here at 05-06 trade dead line. Not the case. Thank God he’s gone. We need all men on deck to put forth their all. Ribeiro that means you. As for Samsonov, what an upgrade. From Bulis to Samsonov. WOW! Bulis was supposed to be a good two-way forward who could kill penalties. A rookie took his place whether it be Higgins, Plekanec or Murray. All we need from Ribeiro, if he actually stays, is to keep up with those russian fire power flanking him.
There’s still work to be done though. We still need a power forward down the middle with speed. We also need to figure out what to do with Aebischer. It seems Detroit is the only place anybody talks about as a destination for him. Last time I checked Florida doesn’t have a solid number one unless you consider Alex Auld as being solid. But that’s just food for thought. And Souray. What the hell are we gonna do with Souray? He wants to swicth coasts, preferably to California. Who are we gonna get for Souray? I guess that’s why none of us work at the Bell Centre. That’s why Gainey gets paid the big bucks to do what he does. The team has been improving every year since he got here. Yeah, I know we eliminated from the first round. **** happens. But I find that last season’s version of the Habs was a lot moe solid than the previous one and the present one is also better than the last one. The Habs MAY have a chance this year to win the division, you never know. Ottawa got singficantly weaker and I’d be really surprised if Buffalo can manage to keep all 12 of their RFA’s. All in all, Bob, good job!

So much for those that trashed Gainey up to now:=)Great move!!!

Good players still available that could help this team:

DEFENSE
D-Cory Sarich, D-Aaron Ward, D-**** Tarnstrom,
D-Danny Markov, D-Eric Desjardins, Brian Leetch
CENTER
C-Jason Allison, C-Eric Lindros, C-Mike Peca,

What do you guys think this contract is for? 2.5 mil per year or more? I think the signing is great but the terms not being disclosed always bugs me. Samsonov can disappear for long stretches, so I hope this deal makes sense. I’m happy it’s only 2 years. Looks like this could be a “put up or shove off” year for a lot of players on this team. If Samsonov does play with Ribeiro and Kovalev, that would be a friggin’ dynamic second line. Holy Jebus. Lots of creativity, speed, scoring potential, and lets never forget: dramaqueens.

So what’s the terms, Habs? Out with it!

Good move. Now Kovalev has someone to play with.

This is off topic, but does anyone know when canadiens tickets go on sale??

I agree with those who say Bob Gainey is a genius!

Any thoughts on this idea.

Trade Aebischer to Detroit who need a new YOUNG starter capable of playing for a solid, young defensive prospect, and sign Manny Legace as an unrestricted free agent. With a record of 37 wins-8 losees, GAA 2.19, 7 shutouts and .915 save percentage last year, and a contract that was less expensive than Aebischer’s, Legace was the top Canadian goaltender in the league, and is GREAT VALUE for his money. Legace has something to prove for this upcoming season since no one has expressed interest in him as a UFA, and would be a great insurance if Huet happened to have a sophomore slump.

Two top ten goaltenders on the Canadiens with 14 shut outs between them last season, and all for much less than that loser in Colorado makes. Oh, I am getting giddy!

Interesting opinion Rob. I too would rather have Legace as backup than Abeischer. But i dont think the wings want Abby. They’re too focussed on star goalies that are passed their prime. They are still considering Belfour and Hasek. I will laugh though when whoever they sign breaks their back or pulls their groin again. Its GONNA happen theres no stopping it haha.

If i were the wings GM i would definately stick with legace for at least another season. He had a bomb season but choked in the playoffs. So what that can change he just needs another shot. But the wings should really be looking for like Martin Biron (who was just resigned by buffalo to be traded i think). With miller there now they forgot how good he is.

Anyways screw the wings, what counts is that all of OUR team is under control. Ribeiro and Kovalev had some chemistry last season, and im certain he will be centering the russian force of Kovy and Sammy. It will work, gainey knows what he’s doing. As for goaltending, Huet was a mediocre goalie in LA. But he’s from france man, do you really think he felt at home over in California? Now that he’s back into french town he’s rippen that **** up and with all those shutouts he showed us in so few games last year, i really think we reeled in a cup reeeaaaally soon.

Sorry dyed in wool fan, but Brendan Witt has already signed a three year deal with the Islanders.

Canadiens re-signed goaltender Yann Danis, right wing Duncan Milroy and defensemen Andrew Archer and Dan Jancevski to one-year contracts.

I am so excited about this trade can’t wait for next season. I think that he is very much a needed piece of the puzzle kind of restore’s my hope after riebero. Maybe Bob does know what he’s doing maybe mike has something bob likes. cant wait

FOrget Souray for this season. Let Gainey trade him. He is a wife abuser and Montreal press is really hard on players like that.

Gainey has been remarkably consistent. He tried to add a big name but couldn’t, so he quietly upgraded the talent he didn’t want (Zednick, Bulis and Sundstrom) and gave up nothing else.

Right now the team is sitting pretty. It’s competitive as is, with depth at all positions, if lacking in elite firepower. Once Ryder’s signed, there won’t be any smart cap room left, but unlike many teams Gainey can create more by trading any of a number of 1.8-2.5 mil dollars guys. For the right guy, he has elite young talent to offer, including Ryder.

For the first time since Serge Savard was producing a Schneider one year and a Dejardins the next (or vice versa), I see the machine in place to sustain a winning team. With that functioning, my gut tells me Gainey will seek to add a key player, probably giving something significant in return.

Probably happen well after the season starts, but I keep hoping it’ll be tomorrow.

Habs, it ended yesterday at 5:00 p.m. And Souray has came out and publicaly denied rumors that he wants out. Not sur I believe it though.

Yo Bobby! Isn’t Havlat still teamless?

If you say so.

Jason Allison of old was dynamite, I loved him in L.A. Point per game his entire career.
He has something to prove and would be an upgrade from Mike Ribeiro.
If HEALTHY and at 30 there’s a lot left in the tank, he could come cheap.

We could probably land him for 1 million + bonus’.
What a power play we could have, WOW!

Looking at Montreal’s payroll, I think that Saku Koivu, being the highest paid member of the team, is definitely also one of the most over-paid. How the hell is Saku worth nearly 5 million a year? It’s certainly not his scoring touch we are paying for. Could it be that he is such a great leader in the locker room or something?

For the same price there are easily 3 other players in the team that contribute much more on the ice than Saku.

Lakita, Saku HAS HEART, LEADERSHIP and POISE!!He offers more then scoring touch. Notice this the team went flat when he was injured in the playoffs.You obviously do not watch many Montreal games to say what you just said.

huh?………………….