Locke to Switzerland?
posted by Mike Boone at 15h42 EST on Jun 10
Tags:
Comments
Submitted by Habhopeful on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 08:42.
If anyone is still on this site, check this out, under-appreciated but good picks for this years draft...
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/16547-The-Hot-List-Behind-the-scen...
"If I wanted to hear from an ***, I would fart..."
Submitted by TommyB on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 14:57.
What the hell are you saying? In one breath you whine about "another soon to be good Hab might go" (assuming you mean Locke, since that is the topic here), and then you go on to preach about the Habs needing SIZE!!!!!!
Do you not know Corey Locke is the size of a termite?
Submitted by habsguy on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 09:00.
Did YOU watch the finals, if you did, you would have noticed a highly skilled team with ave, maybe below ave size win the cup.
And who are the small french players on the team.
We have Begin at 193 who plays like he's 220, Bouillon at 5'8" and 201, who plays huge !!!!, Lapierre at 200, Lats at 229, Dandenault at 215, Gorges at 195..
Your opening comment about "Too bad!1 Another soon to be good Hab might go" is funny, first you criticize Gainey for not playing him because he doesn't speak french, then you say " The Habs need SIZE!!!!!!!!not small somewhat skilled french guys". Oh and BTW St Louis goal totals over the past few years, 25, 43, 31, 38, 33, I'd take him in a minute !!!!
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 19:32.
The Malone Watch : latest on Ryan Malone's agent Mike Liut negotiation's with Pen's GM Ray Shero ...... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08163/888941-61.stm
Submitted by hab faithful on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 19:10.
geard that Angelo Esposito will play this year, his final year in junior, with the Montreal junior Canadiens. Any chance, if he plays well, that the senior habs will try and make a deal with Atlanta to get his rights?
Submitted by coutNY on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 13:32.
Hey it could be worse, we could have a player like Blake Wheeler, a top 5 pick in 2004, refuse to sign an entree level contract in Phoenix... and further evidence today indicating he's looking for the money and it was not a matter of location is that he doesn't want to play for the Minisota Wild (who offered the MAX entree level money possible under the rules) which happens to be his home State. The only logical explaination would be he wants someone to show him the money.
The CBA will have to close up this loop-hole in the rules or they're going to have more descention among the top young players looking for a payday by side-stepping their originally drafted clubs to seek the more lucrative Free Agency money.
Submitted by Habsville on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 07:53.
A good farm hand that lacks the size to make it in the big leagues. I wish him well but we have to make room for new picks, such as Chipchura, Maxwell and White. I wish him well and thank him for his contribution with the Bulldogs Championship. Good Look and good health to him.
Submitted by G-Man on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 06:05.
Crawford being given the boot opens up the door for Joel Quenneville (am I spelling that right?). The moment he was let go, I figured there would be a few coaches changing teams. I wonder if anyone will be brave enough to do what the Caps did and go with their minor league head coach.
Gilbert
Submitted by Topham on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 05:42.
Another depth player potentially lost for nothing.
Between Huet, Locke and Grabovski we might have a 2nd round pick.
This is why the Marian Hossa trade made so much sense for Pittsburgh. If a GM doesn't look to consolidate his assets into one bigger asset, he will quickly find himself with no assets to speak of. Gainey must be braver in the upcoming weeks, and definitely over the next year to make sure the once best crop of prospects in the NHL isn't reduced to 6 NHLers and an AHL worst farm team.
In the end, that's what all good drafting is about. After all, you can't add 12 new players to the big team every year. But you can add twelve assets to turn around for something that will benefit the big club, whether it be a top draft pick, a decent player or a star for rent.
I've said it many times, I'll say it again. With the new landscape (no IIHF agreement potentially), it is time for Gainey to show us he can set himself apart. It will take more creativity, hard work and courage than we've seen. Patience alone will no longer suffice as players trickle back to Europe...
Topham
lionsinwinter.blogspot.com
Submitted by MikeL on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 08:43.
You make some solid points, but I don't think Locke falls into the category of player which you are discussing. Locke had little, to no value on the trade market. This was evident when he cleared waivers after training camp, if I remember correctly.
Submitted by The Cat on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 04:51.
If were to go out after a big money player, it should be Jokinen and not Hossa, we have no depth at centre and throughout the farm system as well.
Submitted by Bill H on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 10:26.
I too favour Jokinen over Hossa. But with Hossa, it will probably take something like $8M a year over 4 years. With Jokinen, he is under contract for 2 years at $5M. So when you negotiate with Florida, the price you pay is for his talent as well as his contract. So you will pay through the nose in talent, prospects, and picks. On the one hand, you pay money (and cap space), on the other hand you pay in manpower and save on cap space, at least for two years.
I agree that Jokinen is a better fit, but I don't know that I would be willing to pay the price for either. We need cap space next year to sign UFAs like Komi, Koivu, Kovalev, Higgins, etc. i.e. the core of the team. I don't think Bob will jeopardize that for a player (Hossa) who gives us what we already have (were we not #1 in GF during the season?) and doesn't give us what we need - a big, gritty, hardworking centre who can win faceoffs. And Florida is not going to settle for Locke, Fischer, Grabovski and Dandenault in exchange for Jokinen. No sir, they will be looking at Higgins, Sergei and Pacioretty or McDonagh, or something like that. So I won't hold my breath waiting for either player to show up in a Habs uniform.
Submitted by saku11saku11 (not verified) on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 12:35.
first paragraph is spot on.
i've been interested in obtaining a solid winger for koivu on the second line. he's still got it as shown in the playoffs.
imagine having saku and s kots (SK & SK) with a potent winger.... then the third line would have higgins w/ lats, laps, streit, grabs - whatever it would be a very solid third line. fourth line would have begin as the anchor with tom k and whomever doesn't make the third or maybe some new blood.
this assumes smokes, dandy and ryder are gone.
Submitted by Bill H on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 17:08.
Don't forget Chipchura. He belongs somewhere in that mix of 3rd and 4th lines.
Submitted by saku11saku11 (not verified) on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 09:29.
yes good point about chips.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 04:05.
Again trade rumours swirl around Panthers Olli Jokinen..... http://www.miamiherald.com/623/story/565809.html
Submitted by The Cat on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 20:12.
I got to say I'm very surprised Crawford got the boot. The Kings are just around the corner and could surprise next year but they're in a very tough division. And I wonder about Crawford's mood in general, wasn't Bertuzzi going to sue him civilly for the 'incident' while both were in Vancouver?
Submitted by Ian G Cobb on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 19:32.
Nightmare-- There sure no rocking chair for you either, you are on top of every story that comes up first. Good work!
Breaking news by the nightmare.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 19:51.
Ian - As i read in the Kingston Whig-Standard there's no rocking chair for you also and keep standing up for your rights , Buzz G.Cobb. Have a great summer my man as there is something special to look forward too around the corner if things are done properly.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 19:21.
That's what i like about Brian Burke , he obtained Bergeron for a 3rd round pick for insurance on "D" for the playoffs on Feb-26/08 and probably knew he wouldn't fit in for the future with his coach but covered a hole in case of injury now he unloads him for a similar pick in ranking , that's being proactive and shows he's doing his job. No rocking chair for Burke.
Submitted by Ian G Cobb on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 19:14.
Locke Will not play in the NHL, he has to move on. To small and Killer used him on his famous power play for most of his goals with the 67s.
Mark Crawford is not the coach that most people think he is. Now his father, that is another story. He has one of the best eyes for up coming talent in the country and he fed all his kids prospects as they coached.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:52.
The Minnesota Wild acquire Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Ducks for a 3rd round pick... http://ww3.startribune.com/blogs/wildblog/
Submitted by The Teacher on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:45.
Locke is done, he needs to go to Europe. He will not make it here.
Submitted by howtathor on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 17:55.
He's a Brian Killroy protege and the old coach has a lot of contacts in the league. Maybe he can put a good word in. The bottom line is his size. The Habs are in desperate need of a sizeable center ( that's you M. Sundin!) and the kid will never get an honest shot. I hope he can catch on with another team. Look at Marty St. Louis? It's just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. From what I hear he's a good playmaker.
Submitted by Mike Boone on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:02.
Marty St. Louis is way faster and stronger than Locke.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 17:39.
Marc Crawford fired.... http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl/kings/la-sp-kings11-2008jun11,0...
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 17:36.
Marc Crawford just got the boot in Los Angeles and the laffs must be kicking themselves as Crawford made his name coaching the laffs farm club in St. Johns and was well respected by their organization when the Nordiques scooped him up. Crawford will find a job very fast as he is a very good coach as well as being a down to earth guy but it still is a surprise. Even Al Strachan didn't have that scoop, lol.
Submitted by 24 Cups on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:05.
NM49 - It's good timing for Crawford seeing that there are a handful of NHL coaching jobs still available. Failing that, he can receive his pay next year from LA and be the coach in waiting for the first team to hit the skids in 2008-09.
The rumour mill in Toronto still continues to be:
Burke - Nonis - Wilson triumvirate with Nieuwendyk as the trainee in waiting who will be in charge of organizing Laff golf tournaments at Wooden Sticks. Gary Roberts will join them once he retires from Pittsburgh. Hey, it's only 15 minutes from my house, maybe there's a gig for me in the Lousy Leaf organization. After all, I am a member of the Onatrio Teachers'Pension Plan!
The Original 24 Cups
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:19.
24 - Are you saying that your going to caddy for Gary Roberts, lol. Nonis is working for St.Louis as head of player development as he read his tea leafs correctly.
Submitted by 24 Cups on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 19:44.
NM49 - Good one! Not sure all posters are aware, Roberts and Nieuwendyk are kissin' cousins and both are part owners of a major golf course in Durham Region (Ontario) called Wicked Sticks. It's a replica course. Good heads up on Nonis. Vancouver may have panicked a little early there.
As Ian stated, I couldn't help but notice that you are on top of all hockey matters during the summer. Maybe you should think about getting the sticks out and playing a little golf. It's good for the soul.
The Original 24 Cups
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 01:17.
two "fore" - I may have been premature on Nonis signing with the Blues but they have talked but nothing finalised , i think , and i loved golf and still dream of it but an accident pretty well stopped my golfing days (back injury)but i dream about all my three putts from 4.5 feet, lol. Great game though and will be checking out the U.S. Open.
Submitted by hab faithful on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 17:19.
no loss! He can't break the habs squad because he's a career minor league player. If the Euros are dumb enough to pay big bucks for him, they can have him!
Submitted by sidhu on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 16:30.
Can't blame him either - Locke has been passed up on waivers (I believe) and won't get a meaningful shot to play, especially with Grabs and Chipper ahead of him on the depth chart.
Submitted by Cable Guy on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 15:51.
He's probably better off playing there anyway, I can't see him making our lineup this fall, not for lack of skill though.
Submitted by sportsfreak_39 on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 16:18.
I think it would be better if Gainey went to other teams who think Locke can crack their lineups, and if so, he'll go to Corey and ask him does he want to try and get a legetimat shot at making the NHL before going to Europe, so we can at least get something for him.
Submitted by 24 Cups on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:06.
sf39 - I think Locke is doing the right thing here. He's played 4 years in Hamilton and his agent probably realizes there are no other takers around the NHL. In reality, he has no trade value or any kind. Go to Europe, play a game that's suited to your style, and make some coin while you can. He won't be the last Montreal farmhand to leave the organization under similar circumstance.
The Original 24 Cups
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed