Worth waiting Fore!
posted by Mike Boone at 7h37 EST on Sep 3
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Submitted by edmond on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:13.
A report today has Sundin saying that he will not decide on playing before the start of the season and that if other players started play in mid year why could he not do so as well. He also said that if he returned it would be in the NHL or not at all. He is looking at a December return.
Forget about Sundin, we are not talking about Gretzky here after all. The guy did not want to take a run at the cup with the Red Wings last year, I think that is a good look at his motivation. He said that he did not want to be a rental, well look at what he is doing now.
This is disruptive to team chemistry that is critical if we want to go for the cup. Just listen to Bouillon yesterday talking about how tired he is of hearing about this, let's work and focus with the players we have now. I think Carbo is also fed up.
Also, forget about Schneider, he is way past due.
Gainey should advise Sundin's agent that if he does not agree to the Habs offer by the end of the week then the offer is off the table and we are moving on. The team needs to focus on the group that is in place and on the job at hand.
Submitted by Nicolas St-Henri on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 15:50.
According to this Sundin might have reservations for a Montreal Hotel tonight (sorry if this has already been posted))
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080903/CPSPORTS0101/809030922/1002/C...
Submitted by cautiousoptimist on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:25.
I gotta say, I've had a good feeling about Sundin coming to town for a good long while now. If he plays at all this season, my gut tells me he'll be sporting our colours in the season's first game.
1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."
Submitted by HabFab on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:07.
Unless his femme is with him checking out the city as a potential winter home...not excited.
Submitted by Chorske on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 14:56.
Please, oh Lord, make these Schneider rumours go away.
Submitted by RGM on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:43.
After reading the Gazette stories, how can one not be enthused about the prospects for our team this year? The guys sound like they're really revved up to go!
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Go Habs Go!
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:28.
Fan Poll : Pick your 8 teams that will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference (Habs are in 2nd) .. by James Mirtle ..... http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/09/eastern-conference-your-early-picks.h...
Submitted by ZepFan2 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:47.
I hear Mario Tremblay showed up at the golf tournament yesterday. Did any of the press ask him THE question?
Submitted by cautiousoptimist on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:48.
Poor Brisebois -- at $700k, the guy's a super-cheap insurance policy and a serviceable 7th D-man, and we get him for nothing. I don't think he'd mind warming the bench 45 games a year, and for what it's worth he can offer a few tips to the kids here and there.
If we deal for an ancient Schneider, we add $5M to our payroll and likely have to give up something like Bouillon and a 3rd-rounder at the very least. And then we still need a 7th defenseman. If we're going to deal, I'd rather deal for Lang.
In any case, the only way Gainey doesn't re-sign Brisebois is if Sundin eats up $7M in salary, and even then he may just deal Dandy's $1.7M contact for a 5th-rounder or place him on waivers to clear some cap room for Breezer. At least that's what I'd do -- I'd take Breezer at $700k over Dandy at $1.7M any day.
1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:29.
ca - That's my take on it.
Submitted by HAB-PROFESSOR on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:31.
anyone notice how KOVY shot a 72 and was the best golfer?
best hockey player...best golfer.
on a more serious note, like I said yesterday, Sundin will not say anything till after the Charity Game he has to play this friday at the ACC.
can't blame him for that, best to keep himself low key and not distract the event, people (fans) have to understand the PR of the business.
oh, why is breezE showing up in print in regards to signing???
Sit in the hotdog stand and make some hotdogs for Stewart and Valentank.
Submitted by Timo (not verified) on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:22.
Sigh... Brisbois. I knew his name had to start coming up at some point.
Schneider might be a bit tad expensive but would be a welcome addition over breezer any day of the week and twice on sunday. That being said, why not give kids a chance and see what they can do for you.
Submitted by Hoegarden on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:03.
According to Boivin's comments yesterday on RDS, Plan B goes into effect "next week ", not a moment too soon if you ask me.
Submitted by rossy131 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:57.
Another leaf blunder.....Van ryn is traded to toronto in such urgency that he does not need to pass/take a physical. Good move leafs on signing a player with cronic wrist problems without even taking a physical!!
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:31.
Van Ryan has been working out in Ontario before he went down south to workout with his old teammates and all indications are that his wrists are great and there's no pain but it still is a gamble.
Submitted by Fer_hab on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 14:02.
Just wait till Bouillion gets hold of that wrist.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:54.
NHL Morning Papers (Wednesday Edition) .. by Richard Pollock .. illegalcurve.com ..... http://www.illegalcurve.com/
Submitted by cautiousoptimist on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:45.
More heart attacks all around, Mike -- now you're just doing it on purpose!
1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."
Submitted by 24 Cups on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 08:51.
Pat Hickey basically re-hashes the SOS on guys like Brisebois, Lang and Schneider. Lang and Brisebois would eat up about 4.7 mil of cap space and take us out of the Sundin running unless he comes back at Christmas (we would still havee to move some salary at that point in time). Schneider would be a great one year rental on defense but would eat up most of our remaining cap space at $5.6 mil a year. It would also mean that we would have to live and die with Lapierre and Chipchura at centre during a Cup run. I'm not sure I'm keen on that chain of events.
The quotes from Gainey are interesting in terms of him being 99% sure the team is set and that it would be very difficult for a young rookie to crack the lineup this year. Translation: Gainey will sign Brisebois and then sit and wait with his extra cap space to see how things shake down early in the season. Patience is a virtue.
The Original 24 Cups
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 10:23.
Steve - Here's the deal with Chicago. They are over the cap 2.6 million and they still want to sign Kevyn Adams (C) (900.000). I think they are set in their ways of having Sharpe and Toews as their top 2 centers so Lang is expendable as he was at the trade deadline but he had a nagging back issue. I wouldn't be surprised that GM Tallon starts the season with Khabibulin and Huet to get off to a good start and dangle Khabibulin in the process. So Lang could come cheap (draft choice) and "IF" Sundin does want to sign with us in December then we can trade Lang for the cap space as centers are rather scarce these days as we know. As for Brisbois , he only signs when Sundin signs and we trade Dandy and that salary. It will all work out.
Submitted by HabFab on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 15:42.
Gentlemen ,if no Sundin and I had a say ;
1-move Dandy and free up another $1.7 ml for $8.25 ml cap space
2-keep $1.25 ml for call ups (Bo said last year you need $1-2 ml)
3-have $7 ml for a good size centre and top 4 defenseman
4-go shopping with the cap challenged teams
5-there are presently 6 teams over cap and most of these have not completed their 23 player rosters PLUS Dallas,Detroit and Rangers will all be over cap by the time they have a 23 player roster
6-have faith in Gainey and his team to chose but
7-for the seek of argument ; Lang or Kozlov and Sopel or Boucher taking into consideration which players these teams will be prepared to move cheaply
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 18:45.
Frank - Great post , point #7 - I think Gainey is looking for a center with size to back up Saku and Pleks if they are injured. Kozlov is interesting but slow a foot and doesn't use his size but i'm sure he's available as is Lang who i lean to cuz of a tad more offence and experience with top teams but both have faults but are only a bandaid for a year or less. Sopel this time last year was granted a tryout by the Red Wings and due to injuries the Hawks signed him right under Holland's dithering and have been extremely happy with him and injury prone Boucher has been rumoured to be on the block but it seems the Stars are going to keep him basically cuz of all the injuries to their D last year and the loss of Norstrom but who knows.
Submitted by 24 Cups on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 08:29.
The McCabe trade speaks volumes about the new NHL and the pitfalls of signing free agents to lucrative, long term contracts. Strictly from the viewpoint of a hockey transaction, I think you would have to say that the Panthers won the deal. McCabe should perform better down south where there is little pressure. He always had a knack for taking a bad penalty late in the third period in a close game or making a bone headed gaffe when the outcome of the game was on the line. But he is still a much better player than the overrated, injury prone Van Ryn. Of course, the laffs figure they won because of the salary cap swap. McCabe's arrival also has to be a sign that Bouwmeester will probably not be re-signed during the off season in his UFA year. Regardless, it's a lesson for all teams on what you get in return when the rest of the league knows you have screwd up and overestimated the value of a player (or in some cases, gone over the yearly cap)
It's easy to blame JFJ for re-sigining McCabe, but hell, there have been lots of those deals recently. It certainly doesn't take a team or the fan base that long before they turn on a player because he can't live up to their perceived expectations. Trust me, Toronto turned on McCabe, big time. Something for the Habs to ponder as they try to sign 5 or 6 of their core players this year. (The money is the easy part - anyone can count up to 56-62. It's the term of the contract that is the sticky part) There is also something to be learned from the Panthers being upable (or unwilling) to re-sign Bouwmeester, one of their major building blocks for the next 10 years. It certainly will be interesting to see how Gainey handles the Komisarek situation in 2008-09.
The Original 24 Cups
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:50.
The Morning Hockey Fix : Yes , It's a Business .. by George Richards .. MiamiHerald.com ..... http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/ ......................... Trade Analysis : Bryan McCabe Trade .. by Jes Golbez .. Hockey Rants ..... http://jesgolbez.blogspot.com/
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 08:09.
A Leaner Carey Price ( Check Photo ) .. Two Line Pass ..... http://thetwolinepass.com/ .............................Tanguay Speaks Out .. Five Hole Fanatics ..... http://fiveholefanatics.blogspot.com/2008/09/tanguay-speaks.html
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 08:01.
Empty Netters .. by Seth Rorabaugh .. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ..... http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/emptynetters/default.aspx
Submitted by Ian Cobb on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 07:56.
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1 800 565-6333 or 514-938-8333
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Don't forget to tell them your with HIO group.
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Ian
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