Rudyard Kipling on hockey

posted by Mike Boone at 19h30 EST on Jul 8

If you can keep your head while all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on Lowe ... you'll be a man in the treacherous world of salary cap hockey.

Bob Gainey is a man.

He has locked up Andrei Kostitsyn for three years at a fair-but-affordable $3.5 million per.

Gainey has re-signed Jaroslav Halak for $1.5 million over two seasons. Halak will play about 20 to 25 games as the Canadiens Number 2 goaltender. Should Carey Price falter or succumb to the sophomore jinx, Halak has the experience and talent to step in and carry the team.

With Marc Denis rediscovering his game and sharing time with young Cedric Desjardins in Hamilton, the organization is set at hockey's most important position – and every goaltender is playing for six figures.

A glance at the salary cap table shows the Canadiens with $8.6 million worth of breathing room – enough to sign Josh Gorges and Ryan O'Byrne while structuring a deal for Mats Sundin.

Contrast this with the teams who are over the cap already: Chicago, Calgary, Philadelphia and, most egregiously after the Brendan Morrison signing, Anaheim.

The Rangers have a cushion of $650,000 – enough to hire an escort for 82 nights in Manhttan. A hockey player? I'm not so sure.

Chapeau to Gainey and Canadiens capologist Julien BriseBois. They know what they're doing.

Let's hope their touch doesn't desert them next year, when the Canadiens will be looking to re-up Tanguay, Mike Komisarek, Tomas Plekanec, Christopher Higgins, Alex Kovalev and Saku Koivu.

Comments

Submitted by Habtroll on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 23:21.

ingul

GRRR....Habs Rule.....sometimes suck. GRRRRR...here's why...

Submitted by GrimJim on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 17:33.

Hi Boone,
As of 4;30pm Alberta time the link to the salary cap table would take you instead to Pat Hickey's Gazette article about Max Pan..etc. If you have the time and ability, would you check (and if necessary correct) the link please? I'd like to see where the Habs stand.
Thanks

Submitted by dicktracy on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 00:55.

tanguay plus 2 mil, komi plus 4, plekanec plus 2, higgins plus 2, kovalev and koivu even. = plus 10....therefore...subtract 1 year of matts...7-8mil... plus cap increase plus minus etc....bob's already fugured it out

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:41.

I wonder if Gainey has ever shopped Duncan Milroy to Kevin Lowe. Milroy was agruably Hamilton's best all round player for the last two years. Last year was a little trying for him but the whole team was terrible last year.

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:42.

Pardon me, but are you a troll?

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:44.

Am I a troll?

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:45.

Yes, apparently there is a problem on this site, something about trolls?

will it screw up my computer?

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:51.

Well I think I know what a troll is and I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm not one of them. Are you saying that people are somehow sending other people viruses to there computer from this site?

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 22:55.

I have no idea, I'm just repeating what I was told and I was told that there are trolls on this site.

So you are not a troll....What or who is?

someone told me a Ford is a troll, but that doesn't make sense to me.

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:02.

I'm sorry Koivu12 but I really don't know what you are even saying. I drive a Ford F150 and it can be a bitch sometimes but I wouldn't really call it a troll. I would call a Dodge a troll though, lol!

Submitted by twocents on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:12.

I will keep this more succinct... I am fairly new to this but, from what I can tell, a troll is someone who tries to aggravate people for the sake of it.

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:12.

Hmm, interesting.

i thought trolls only lived under bridges, but I guess that's a good name for people who like to aggravate others for no reason at all.

sorry for being a troll myself.

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by twocents on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:17.

Yeah well like I said I am fairly new to this but, I wonder if it's not the kind that lives under bridges but a originally a reference to fishing... as in dragging a lure behind a boat trying to get a bite. Some individuals seem to just 'troll' for trouble. But, I have seen bridge references on here so, I don't know.

Submitted by G-Man on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 04:24.

That's "trawl."

Gilbert
2008/09 is the season of the Habs

Submitted by twocents on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 08:13.

Cheers, Thanks

Submitted by twocents on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:20.

Oh, and by the way I don't see how you were being a troll, you just seemed confused.

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:28.

You are really nice. Thanks.

So are the Habs winning the Cup this year or what?

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by twocents on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:32.

I think so. If we get Sundin we have to be considered serious serious contenders and without I still think we could do it. I am done for tonight, happy posting... watch out for the nasty trolls!!!!

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:18.

I thought trolls were green, yellow or orange things. That's why I asked mr. Troy West if he was one.

sorry for all the confusion.

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:21.

No troll, Koivu12, just a big muscle bound Higgins.

Submitted by twocents on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:27.

Higgins! great... Every time I've seen you on here, I thought it was Michel Therien's face. I really couldn't figure it out. That's much better.

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:36.

Michel Therien - not in a million years. :)

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:04.

I just want to know what a Troll is.

The Ford 150 is a beautiful truck, but it must be very expensive on gas. Maybe you should get a job in the NHL as it seems their salaries are rising even faster than the price of gas these says!

Are they built Ford Tough?

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:14.

I don't have to pay for gas, my company does. It would suck if I had to.

Submitted by Koivu12 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:30.

Can your company pay for my gas also?

"Give Koivu a Lifetime Contract"

Submitted by T-roy West on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 23:39.

I'll ask............nope, they said no. Sorry! :)