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You can say what you want about Grabovski, but the laffs are going to give this guy tons of icetime and he could have a great year. Regardless, he had no real future here in Montreal. He wasn't going to beat out Koivu or Pleks at centre or any of the other guys on the wing (if he shifted over). His departure is a sign that we are now a team with a decent roster that reflects talent as well as depth.
The Original 24 Cups
Lat's Speed etc. : Much has been said about Lats new found speed but this is only part of the problem. a) we have to see how his first three strides are cuz he was brutal off the mark last year b) This player to be successful has to keep his feet moving the majority of the time to be of value c) A big one, when he has possession of the puck a high percentage of the time the opposition ends up with the puck directly which hurts the teams puck possession game and doesn't loom well for being on the top lines or any lines for that matter and is one of the reasons why his assist total is so poor with all the ice time he gets.. His other holes can be taught by good coaching to go along with his obvious assets and skills.
Grabovski starts out on leafs #1 line. Says he wanted out of Montreal due to lack of opportunity and threatened to go back to Russia if Canadiens didn't trade him. So trade him we did, getting the draft pick that would eventually secure the services of Robert Lang. Sounds like the perfect trade for everyone. We get someone who rounds out our third line and helps make it a scoring threat. Grabs gets to go where he actually has a chance to make the lineup. And the leafs get a centre to replace Mats Sundin lol. But it speaks volumes of the leafs that where he can't crack the lineup in Montreal, he starts on the first line in Toronto. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/503163
Just a small comment on the Ducks' Schneider. So, is Burke still a genius? I have to say: NOT! :)
Great to see the Habs back on the ice and the instant "controversy" over lines. This preseason, Carbo is going to tinker to his heart's content.
Can't wait until Tuesday's game in Roberval on RDS.
Gilbert
2008/09 is the season of the Habs
There's now a possibility of a "Triple Alex" line (Kovalev, Tanguay, Kostitsyn).
-- GK
cool, when did we sign alex kostitsyn?
;)
The same day the team signed Max Price!
Funny guys.
Laraque will make them Pay the Price!
So what can happen with Schneider now?
Can the Duckies ONLY do a trade now? There not gonna send him down and they're still 3.5mil over the cap WITHOUT Selanne.
So what are the options?
They'd have to ADD a prospect or a pick in a deal to dump him? The team getting Schneider would still get a good player, nevermind the bonus.
If Burke said he had only been offered salary back in exchange, how will that change now?
Why isn't Schneider in Los Angeles NOW? is what I'm at gettin', I guess.
Peace Out.
He can retire , look at the Red Wings and Chelios. He will play for min amount as will McCarty who signed a 2 way deal. The cieling is set!
Would YOU leave 5.7 million on the table do to a FAVOR for a company that's throwing you out on the street???
Even if Schneidie had lost ALL his talent (which he hasn't), I'm pretty sure he'd want to honor the end of his contract, whwerever it is he ends up.
Not that I know him or can speak for him.
But 5.7 million???
...waitaminnit...unless you were being facetious?
Peace Out.
All of this Schneider talk is redundent.To go through Re-entry Waivers to get his salary down to a reasonable $2.9 ml;A)has to be passed on by about 24 teams before us and he is affordable to other teams also at that price and;B) Burke is still in Cap Space trouble with the other $2.9 ml so Burke will have to trade and give something to some team to take him.We can't afford him at $5.7 ml so end of debate.
H F - People thinking that he'd be around at 2.875 million are delirious , Tampa Bay already have said that they would wait for re-enyry.
Awww, let us have fun. Party pooper :P
Laraque will make them Pay the Price!
Was worried about Steve's blood pressure.Am so looking forward to changing his name and when he started yelling...Well!!
HF - Don't worry, the red wine keeps my blood pressure under control and I was only 'yelling' at Sulemaan to keep him from running the Habs' ship ashore. He's the keel that keeps the HIO shift afloat - we can't have him drifting off course:-) Also, I totally agree with you Frank, that there's little hope that Schneider will come to Montreal.
The Original 24 Cups
Have not been as optimistic since late 80's ,early 90's for this team and future.By the way, always felt cheated by Calgary's Cup.Realize that you have to win to deserve it...but still.
HF - To my knowledge, you are the first person to bring up that series. We were right there but couldn't close the deal.
The Original 24 Cups
Remember Vernon and Gilmour as being killers to us however just went back to review and found that they won in 6 ,although games were close .Believe I found the secondary reason for my discontent...it was the only Cup ever won in Montreal by a visiting team,Canadiens or Wanderers .I guess I just hold long grudges.
I think a deal will be made for a top six right handed forward before the season is over. The depth is in the house. As Carbo pointed out he does not have one and that makes someone play the opposite side to what is natural.
Really don't want to see Schneider as a Hab again, thank you very much. Move forward. Plenty of talent on the farm.
Things are definitely gonna be interesting this year... If I were gonna take a guess, barring any major surprises, the forward lines should look something like this:
TANGUAY LANG KOVALEV
KOSTITSYN PLEKANEC KOSTITSYN
HIGGINS KOIVU LATENDRESSE
BEGIN LAPIERRE LARAQUE
CHIPCHURA KOSTOPOULOS
I think Dandy will be gone... Just no room for him at his salary...
Defensively, it's pretty straightforward:
MARKOV KOMISAREK
O'BYRNE HAMRLIK
GORGES BOUILLON
BRISEBOIS
Price and Halak in goal...
One thing for some reason that keeps bugging me is this whole M. Schneider situation in Anaheim. Just a thought IF Gainey could pick him up on re-entry waivers:
Trade Cube to LA for a pick/prospect, who have cap room and are looking for a solid stay at home defenseman, and somehow trade Dandy to someplace like Atlanta for a pick/prospect. It would still leave the Habs with about 1.853 million in cap space... Plug Schneider into the 3rd pairng with Gorges and the 2nd pp unit...
Just a thought...
Really don't want to see Schneider as a Hab again, thank you very much. Move forward. Plenty of talent on the farm.
Stretch - It may be too late for Schneider to come to Montreal, although I wouldn't have a problem with that under the right circumstance. Right now, we have 1.815 left in cap space, but must budget for two more situations. In theory, Brisebois could earn another 750000 if he meets his bonus clauses. As well, Gainey would need to have an injury buffer of close to a mil. That pretty well breaks the bank at this point. Cutting the roster to 23 players by moving Dandy would probably get us back up to 2 mil max.
For what it's worth, if Schneider ever came to Montreal this year, I would see him playing on the 2nd unit with Hamrlik and on the PP as well. Otherwise, why bring him here for such high coin? He's much better suited to that role (presently) than Gorges.
The Original 24 Cups
The CKAC station reports the following two lines combo:
LATENDRESSE LANG KOVALEV
KOSTITSYN PLEKANEC KOSTITSYN
Stretch - I'll stick with Cube at 1.8 million and not Schneider at 5.7 million for the 3rd pairing on 'D'.
He said Re-entry waivers. That means Schneider would be a 2.9 hit and not a 5.8 or whatever it is now.
Laraque will make them Pay the Price!
Still not a deal in my opinion even if it's $2.9M hit Teach. Dandenault should be gone soon enough and if we deal Bouillon that's fine as he's a UFA next year and I'd like to open a slot for another young player like Carle or Valentenko if they show well in training camp. (We've got Brisebois as insurance and it appears that Yemelin will come next year.)
SULEMAAN - WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED TO YOU? WE'RE GOING FOR THE CUP THIS YEAR. IT'S BREAKING MY HEART THAT GUYS ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO TRADE BOUILLON FOR FUTURE PICKS. RIGHT NOW, THIS SECOND, VALENTENKO AND CARLE COULDN'T EVEN PARK THE CUBE'S CAR. Good, now I feel better. Let's stop all this crazy talk of trading/dumping Bouillon, Lapierre, and Halak. I don't care about young players right now - we're loading up on experience and going for the works. Training camp is a mirage - don't be fooled.
The Original 24 Cups
Steve - Woah big fella! I'm not saying we don't try and make a run this year but I do think that Valentenko could be 6th or 7th defenseman this year. I like Bouillon as he's got heart but if we got a good deal for someone who will never be a top 4 defenceman and is an impending UFA, why not? And I've never mentioned anything about dealing Lapierre or Halak mon ami.