Plus ça change ...

Bryan McCabe! yeah we should give him $20 million for 2 years. Naslund is another Koivu but not as good. We need size. We need Gui! with hands that aren't made of stone. If Avery signs here I'll eat my hat. Marleau has a no-trade clause, and i'd be surprised if he was willing to waive it in the first few days he has it... and for who? it's not worth it to give up Higgins and Lapierre for Marleau... If he was a free agent, sure. But we don't have a lot to trade, especially now that we lost Ryder and Streit. The Bulldog guys (Grabovski, d'Agostini, Stewart, Locke) don't have a lot of trade value, not if we're looking to sign an "impact player". Maybe Sundin will want a Cup more than a few more million dollars, and maybe Bob knows something we don't, but if you ask me (and I realize no one has), we should all be getting used to the look of the team now, because I don't think it's going to change much. Start counting days until training camp!

There's an old saying where I'm from. #$%^ them! Now let's get on with building our team without overpriced questionable talent.

Tough luck but I don't expect to see any significant acquisitions in the free agent market this summer probably 5th Dman and 3rd line forward at most for depth purposes. Without looking at training camp and assuming we do sign our RFAs, the lines would likely appear to be: AKosts Pleks Kovy Tangy Koivu SKosts Higgs Laps Lats Begin Chips Kosto Stewart? D'Agostino? Grabs* Markov Komi OB* Hammer Cube Gorges* Dandy Price Halak* PP units AKosts Pleks Kovy, Markov SKosts Higgs Koivu Lats, Tangy Hammer Not bad really. Although one or two key injuries on D or forward lines could send us crashing down. Even without Streit I think we our a better team overall. We probably won't have the #1 PP anymore but I think we'll make up for it in even strength offense. Not sure if you'd really be able to trade Begin or Dandy. Grabs if signed could be traded but not for much really. If nothing happens in the summer, I have no worries even if other teams in the East get better, a trade might come up during the season that could benefit us.

ryder gone to boston..4m per year for 3 years

The craziness continues. Boston signed Ryder for 3 years at 4 mill per year.

That 7 million is all we really have to offer. Its definitely not a question of spending money for this organization, and it never really was. Now we finally have a management team that is holding itself accountable, and making the right moves, unlike some other franchises in the NHL. We still have 3 players to sign (all important to this years team), let the rest of the GM's overpay for the talent that's out there, and we'll pick the best player that's left over after all is said and done. By the way, this was only day 1, this could last all summer. lemur out

Well, can't say I'm surprised that Gainey stayed out of this lunacy. Of the "top" free agents that I would have gone after if I were G.M. (for what incredibly little its worth) Sundin remains available. Rolston and Streit were signed by other teams...I don't think Rolston was ever coming to a Canadian team, and Streit cashed in on a career year (a la Sheldon Souray) and I wish him the best in New York. Montreal has far too many defence prospects kicking around to be offering contracts of long enough term, so Redden, Campbell and Roszival were never real possibilities. Stuart decided to stay in Detroit, and who can blame him. For those of you who are whining about the lack of action by Gainey, please check out the salary structure of the Detroit Red Wings this past season: when you get past Lidstrom at $7.6 million and Rafalski at $6.0 million, nobody else made more than $3.5 million (http://static.fantasysports.ca/NHLSalaryData/globe/team-Det-eff.html). Their free agent signings last summer were Brian Rafalski, Dallas Drake and Dominik Hasek. Two summers ago, it was Dominik Hasek, Greg Johnson and Danny Markov. Let's look at another "model" NHL franchise, the Anaheim Ducks. In 2006, they signed Ian Moran and Travis Green (and also acquired Pronger by trade). In 2007, they signed Todd Bertuzzi, Matt Schneider and Shane Hnidy. Both teams got where they were from building a strong talent base and tweaking it as necessary. Gainey has built a strong core, and is now starting to tweak the lineup. In 2006, he signed Sergei Samsonov (while also acquiring Niinimaa and Johnson by trade). In 2007, he signed Kostopolous, Hamrlik, Smolinski and Brisebois, all of whom contributed to a great regular season and first-round playoff win, all the while providing crucial mentorship to our core of young players. This year, Alex Tanguay has already been added and I wouldn't be suprised to see a couple of depth players also added. With the addition of Tanguay, I would be a bit surprised to see Montreal make a run at Hossa. Gainey's moves are not always right (see Samsonov, Sergei and Niinimaa, Janne) but I hardly think he is gun-shy. He just realized that the teams with the biggest splash on July 1 don't always win the Cup. In fact, they almost never do. But as Gainey leads the Canadiens back to being a contender and a classy organization, Montreal will once again become a desirable destination.

look at this logically....Gainey has kept his money because he is going to sign Sundin, thats why he didn't go to plan B,C,D etc... he is still on PLAN A!..thats why Sundin is not signed YET. If Sundin was going somewhere else, Gainey would have made a move today.

The bottom line for today's "free agent frenzy" seems to be overpaying. I hear the Canadiens are going in another direction vis a vis Sundin. Isn't it time for us to up the ante and join the fray to acquire an impact player? Heck, we have the BEST market in hockey. I can't fathom that it's a matter of dollars and cents (aside from the cap). It's time to stop acting so nebbish and holding on to that 7 mil a year offer because it just ain't going to cut it in this day's market. C'mon George, loosen those purse strings. Sundin, Hossa...still available!

I haven't posted on yet today.. Here is my evaluation of the da so far... One word says it all... Overpayed.. Huet, Campbell, Sundin.. and many more.. Is there anything wrong with a building a team from within.. It worked for us for years and we have the talent to go real far with the talent we have... As for the Canadiens.. I do not blame Bob for not signing any UFA yet... He offered something very reasonable and I thought high for Sundin.. I hope that he doesn't give contracts and are unreasonable.. In my honest opinion I believe Sergei K. will center spomeone this year. He has great vision of the ice and he is tough enough to work both ends of the ice... So I truly believe he will be a centre in training this year, and he will do great... Players win games, teams win championships. - Bill Taylor

After picking up Cole, Edmonton doesn't seem to have the cap room to sign Hossa.

I vote Habsfan09 and FORDTOUGH off the island. Damn, that only works on tv.

I hope this recent turn of FA non-signings doesn't necessarily guarantee another year of Breezby in Montreal.

I think Mr Gainey has done very well to keep his head. For the amount of money being thrown about what is everybody getting? The best of what is available. It is the players who do not seem available that the Habs need. The ones who can make a difference and lift a team to the next level.

Seeing all of the ludicrous signings makes me appreciate Gainey so much more. The only sensible signing I seen today was Brain Rolston. Maybe Brian Campbell, but that's a lot of money. Wade Redden at 6.5 million? Wow, he has 2 horrible years and gets rewarded with the same overpaid contract. Unbelievable. Mike Commodore makes Sheldon Souray look like Bobby Orr. Ridiculous signing. Do these GM's even watch hockey? Wouldn't they have seen how horrible Mike Commodore was for Ottawa last year? And then we have Jeff Finger. I cannot wait to hear Cliff Fletcher's explanation for this one. Just when I thought the Leafs were cleaning house and rebuilding, they sign an almost 30 year old who has under 100 NHL games under his belt, for 3.5 million a year. He would have been lucky to get 1.5 anywheres else. Unbelievable. For the first July 1st in years, I'm happy the Habs and Gainey were quiet.

People!!! Montreal will not land any STARS. They were luckey to land Tanguay........

I just came back and I can't believe the contracts I'm seeing handed out. What were the Blackhawks thinking with Huet? And if Redden is worth that much moolah, imagine how much Komi will want. _____________________________________________________ Remember February 19th: The Comeback

Oh crap! Good luck Mark!

If that "FOOL" Gainey would have controlled his "PET" Carbonneu with the whole Ryder mess, Ryder would have been here next year a better player.

New York Islanders sign defenceman Mark Streit to a five-year contract worth $20.5 million Dagnabit... Hate to see him go.

So long Streit. Won't miss the poor defensive play but might miss the shot, depending on what happens from now till september.

SPORTSNET HAS STREIT TO ISLANDERS FOR 5 YRS AT 20.5 MILLION

apparently streit may take a 5 year deal with the islanders. It was posted as an e4 on hockeybuzz, which normally doesn't mean much but i've been following the site (among others) all day and he has been pretty accurate.

I said it this morning. Gainey comes up empty handed, and the French media begins pointing fingers. And here we are, 8:00PM, no big signing, and morons on CKAC are already starting. I'm not upset. There is still some talent out there, but if we don't get anyone, fine... James Duthie said it, 75% of signings go bad, especially for us in recent years. Remember these names? Donald Audette, Mariusz Czerkawski, Sergei Samsonov? Ouch!!! Who cares... If we get through all of this with our current squad and an upgrade from Tanguay, then I'd say we are doing just fine. If we could agree on terms with Streit, then even better. Worst case scenario - we keep our millions, wait to see who actually plays well this season, and make a big move midseason. We are in good shape In Bob I trust!

I am not dissapointed at all..in fact after seeing sheer lunacy of the Huet, Redden, Finger and Co. contracts I am Relieved Bob did not went wacko. I trust him and he trusts our boys. We will be just fine!

Or we could have paid Huet 6 million... Give Gainey a chance to land someone without giving up the farm. He has proven to be one step ahead already...

Sundin, Hossa, and perhaps Jagr....the same 3 or 4 teams are mentioned as being at the forefront with offers for their services. Those teams are: New York, Detroit, and Montreal, with the odd one here and there for one of the three, but not all three. So, it seems reasonable to me that if indeed Gainey has targeted one of these three, then he has a good chance of landing one of the three. I don't think there is a team out there who can take on two of those contracts. I don't pretend to guess who Gainey has targeted beyond Sundin, but only go by the reports on TV. Those who want to jump all over Gainey for "doing nothing" would fare no better if they were in his shoes. Should not one of these players, or any other "significant" player (in the minds of the all-knowledgeable fans) end up in Montreal, we are still one very good team that will be better this fall.

It's nuts what some GMs are paying!! I'm not ready to mortgage the Habs future cap space for some of these deals. I mean, come on -- Campbell for $7.1m / yr?!! I'm ecstatic that AK46 and BG settled on a sane dollar figure. In fact, if I ever see Markov or AK46 I will offer to buy them a beer for the trust and honesty they have brought to the bargaining table. I sure hope BG resists the urge to tie up multi-year cap-space. And it's not just cap-space -- it's also real dollars. Sheesh! There'll be some really great deals on the trading block later in the year as teams struggle to reconcile their past mistakes with their future goals. Plus, I'm really happy with the players we have. Kovy, Koivu, Komy, Markov all need to be re-signed at rational salary levels. GMs who have no vision and no plan are driving up prices beyond belief. Let's sit this one out and laugh about it next year. The only decent deals out there have been Holik and maybe Gaustad. Cheers! Andy

Sadly, rich teams can still steal all the talent by attracting players with super long term high priced contracts 'cause the team can afford to buy them out should it not work out. The players aren't doing themselves any favours accepting these deals either. They rarely ever work out. I beleive in the team we have regardless of who we get. I would like to see Koivu replaced or demoted with a better 2nd line center.

You can't be serious about McCabe right?? He was the laughing stock of.....the league!!!! Even Greg Stewart made him look like the immature amatuer at the end of last year. If we sign McCabe, which I'm positive we won't, I will curse the Habs till the day I die!!!! And I am very dissapointed in some of the BS that gets put on this site, by the users of course, I think everyone who is writing stuff like that needs to show a little more class. That's what this organization was built on and I believe that's what it's had in spades these last few years.

Obviously, I'm disappointed that it appears we may miss out on the Sundin sweepstakes - he'll get his $20 mil in Vancouver but there is no hope of a Cup there in the next two years. We can still sign a 4th defenseman and maybe even trade for a decent centre. We also made the best signing out of all today's transactions - AK46 for 3 years at below market value. We won on both counts - salary and term. Which NHL team did better than that? It's too early to analyze every transaction today but I think it's a safe bet to say that most teams overpaid in terms of dollar value and term (not including trades). They may eventually land up paying a heavier price down the road. Madness still ruled the day and at a heavy price. I'll have no trouble sleeping tonight as a Habs' fan. The Original 24 Cups

Agree that Gainey is doing the right thing by not throwing the bank at some of these guys. Marleau would be a good fit if we do not have to give up too much. San Jose would likely want to trade him to free up some cap room and go after another D to replace Campbell. Afterall they have two number one centres right now. Failing a Marleau trade train Sergi Kostitsyn as a centre and bring in Chipchura, we would then have four good two way centres.

Gainey trusts his team. He wanted to add a BIG centre, again, but the right deal has eluded him, again. There is no deadline to the FRENZY as long as there are players. Options remain available throughout the year and he must not overspend his resources or assets until the moment of opportunity presents itself. Bob isnt splashy but he's a top NHL GM and in the same company as Ken Holland and Brian Burke. Let the others gamble their futures and we can wait on the wings to pick up on their mistakes to further strenghten our club.

At this point, I don't want Marleau. He comes with too much of a price tag. A cap hit of 6.3 million, for 48 points in 78 games. He might bounce back, or he might not. We do need a big center though. I really think we should try and resign Streit. It looks like Sundin has forgotten about us, Hossa looks like he's going to Edmonton(not that I wanted him), and Rolston's already in NJ. I understand that our team is better than last year's squad, we don't need to make a move just for the sake of making a move. But, we don't have too many defencemen that can play the point like Streit did. We can still sign O'Byrne, Halak, Gorges, and Grabovski and then give Streit a reasonable contract. As long as he doesn't want some insane ammount.

Gord Miller on three years of free-agent signings: 75 per cent can be classified as ranging from poor to really bad.

If I am Gainey I fold them. He played his hand. . He made legitimate offers. This team will be better next year by virtue of a years experience. I am not upset. One question - Does anyone know what happened to Grabs. I would not be so quick to write this guy off. I would like Gainey to sign Grabs, OBryne, Gorges and Halak. mjames