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Blood Type? Habs Positive.
posted by Chris Aung-Thwin at 21h12 EST on Jul 2
Losing a favorite player is worse than a break up. An ex disappears into the world never to be seen again. A player lost to a trade or free agency, on the other hand, is never too far away. For 82 games (and playoffs), you’re gonna have to watch that player as they put pucks into a net for another team.
That’s hard to watch.
I think that’s one of the reasons people are freaking out so much. We’re going to have to watch a bunch of our exes score with other teams.
It’s hard to put emotions – especially the sour ones – aside, but let’s take a deep breath and break it all down:
SCOTT GOMEZ He’s a good center who’s made a name for himself. His presence helped lure UFAs Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri. He’s small, but he’s durable. He can put up 70 points and be responsible in his own end. He’s a great stick handler who can carry the puck into the offensive zone – something the Habs have routinely struggled with.
But we had to give up Chris Higgins!
Higgins was an RFA who was routinely achieving below expectations. He was a first line player who dropped down to the second line and then the third. I thought he’d be a CH forever, but if you look at the way things worked out with his best bud Mike Komisarek, Higgy might also have wanted out of Montreal. Gomez is definitely an upgrade.
But we had to give up Ryan McDonagh!
He was supposed to be a blue chip prospect. Some reports/rumours are now saying that things weren’t progressing as well as Habs brass had hoped. McDonagh is 20 and is still has time to develop, but others his age have made the jump or are closer. Time will tell about this kid, but Gomez is here now.
And Pavel Valentenko!
He had given up on the Habs and rode Sputnik back to Moscow. He gave us the Siberian shoulder at the beginning of the season and negotiations this past month didn’t warm things up. It really didn’t look like he was going to come back for us. The Rangers win this round (but the Habs don’t lose either).
A couple of minor leaguers were thrown around too, but I don’t know why or who they were and I don’t particularly care. My apologies to Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto if you read this, but yeah, you’re just throw-ins.
But we took on a big contract!
Well folks, that’s the cost of doing business. As much as you might want to believe that Gainey can’t count or some silly thing like that, the fact is he didn’t have much choice. He wanted a specific type of center, tried to get Lecavalier (deal got vetoed by Lightning owner Len Barrie), and after calling around, found out Gomez was his best bet. Gainey did not have to bring in Gomez on June 30th. He could’ve waited to make that trade. But he knew that by rolling the dice, he could probably bring in other notable free agents.
That brings us to:
BRAIN GIONTA
He’s a great two-way winger who thrived in New Jersey’s system. Heck, he scored 48 goals a couple years back! 48 goals. That’s a number Habs fans haven’t heard in a looooong time. He should do well under Habs coach Jacques Martin and alongside old linemate Gomez. Put a shooter like Cammalleri or Andrei Kostitsyn on the other wing and we should see some fireworks. Oh yeah, and the guy has won 2 Stanley Cups.
MIKE CAMMALLERI
He puts up good numbers. He scored 39 goals under Iron Mike last season and he’s only 27 years old. Martin Havlat scored 29. Marian Hossa notched 40. No, he won’t be playing with Jarome Iginla, but Gionta and Gomez should be able to get this guy the puck from time to time. He’ll be fun to watch.
JAROSLAV SPACEK
He’s a great top four defenseman. He’s defensively reliable (a plus player since the lockout) and he can move the puck. The Habs transition game has needed some work and he will take some of that burden off of Markov. He also might be able to help fellow countryman Roman Hamrlik find better “friends”. My only concern with Spacek is that he’s been injury prone. I hope he can give us a good 65-70 games.
HAL GILL
I loved making fun of this guy when he played for the Leafs. Since then, he’s won a Stanley Cup. Welcome to Montreal!
….
I’d love to see Kovalev back, if for no other reason than for the fans. Losing so many core players is tough on a fan base and bringing a favorite like the Magician back would go a long way to easing this transition. If we could sign him for a low cap hit, I’d do it.
I’m disappointed that we won’t be able to watch Koivu finish his career here. He gave us everything during his Captaincy and for that I am a grateful, grateful fan. I’m disappointed that the Centennial Team won’t get another shot – a chance to redeem a rotten year. Without injuries, they might have been a much better team. I’m disappointed that our “core” group of players has vanished with a tick of the clock.
But I’m hopeful for a new season. Bob Gainey has given this team a fresh start with quality players. Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri will help this team win games.
Long live the CH.
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
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No. Hab-not fans refuse to see the wrath of God that is about to descend upon them, an Angel of Doom wearing a Blue and White uniform and ready to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting Hab-nots.
We in Toronto cannot wait to get at the Hab-nots this coming season. The Leaf side of center ice will be a War Zone and there'll be a NO PARKING sign in the crease. These runt Hab-nots will be littering the ice and the Hab-not bench will need 10 cell phones for 911 Emergency calls. I hope the Hab-not players have reinforced material in the seats of their pants and that they like getting the backs of their shirts dirty. The great, super hockey player Bob Gainey has not been that as GM, mes amis, stumbling and bumbling his way along from crisis to crisis and making all sorts of weird and puzzling moves. Why didnt he keep Saku on, this skilled and courageous Captain, and why let someone as skilled as Kovy get away? This man's skills are nonpareil and now look where he will play. How can Bob say Kovy was too expensive and then bring in 16 goal Gomez at 8 mil, ? etc etc. Well I'm afraid, mes amis, that these moves, or non-moves, will come back to bite Bobby on the bum. Not that I glory in his demise, far from it, I think he;s a good man and was as said earlier, a great player but I afraid the Hab-nots in some deep water right now. CLEAR THE TRACK, HERE COMES SHACK. LEAFS ARE BACK. LEAFS ARE BACK !
I wonder where you are now Lobstertrap? Still cheering on your "Blue and White Angels of Doom"? After that sad start to the season, the Leafs need a visit from the Angel of Mercy...
"As the dust settles, BG is being hounded by critics for bringing in 2nd line talent, over-paying for it and missing out on Franchise players"-what franchise players did we miss out on? Hell we signed the highest scoring free agent in cammillari. After sedin,the best ufa center available was antropov. The free agent pool was extremely shallow this year. There was obviously nothing available via trade unless it included markov.
At least when we change the face of the team ther are FACES!
when Toronto gutted the team my wife's parents didn't know what to do with their season tickets.. whom would they be going to see?
ps. yes, I'm sleeping with the enemy
Good read i agree completely here i mean at first on july 1st when i saw these signings happening slowly i was dissapointed and waiting for something bigger! I was looking at these guys and thinking I dont know why gainey is doing this has he lost his mind? Then I took a step back and really gave a look at what had happened... I realized we got a defensive style coach in martin so why not bring in some guys who know how to play in that style?
Gomez and Gionta both thrived in that type of system and the last full year they played together put on career numbers and they are in their prime now. Look for them to put up some good numbers ill say around 70-80 pts each!
Camalleri everyone thinks he had a good season because he played with iginla but last time i checked iginla is a scorer not a passer and camalleri scored 39 goals! Now he has a great passer in gomez who will feed him some nice passes. He did most his damage on the pp and with markov on the point and our pp style he should do some damage! Look for him to put up 80 pts 30-40 goals easy!
Spacek is a solid two way defense he can make a good play on either side of the ice something only markov could do last season.
Gill although he is slow he is huge and is a good defensive defenseman with spacek, markov, hammer and maybe subban or weber taking care of offense he shud do just fine on the point. Both d men add to our depth and help make us better defensively as will martin's style of play.
These additions might look like a random put together... the only players would could attract but if you look they all fit in perfectly. They were all chosen for a reason and fit into our system and help releave pressure off our other young players. This shud be a good season!
the fact of the matter is that we can't tell whether or not these moves are good ones or bad. We will have to wait till about 20-25 games into the season before we really know how these guys are gonna pan out. Pissing and moaning about it now is about as usefull as tits on a bull.
It's just like that New Coke. People have to get used to it before trashing it and replacing it with Coke Classic. I still think there's a move or 2 left in BG's bag of tricks.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau is the best that ever was.
Bad example. New Coke SUCKED. If I had wanted something that tasted like Pepsi, I would have drunk Pepsi.
Chris,
I totally thredjacked your bloodtype theme...but I am not a fan of rearview mirror prognosticating,
Put a 3rd line nowhere winger in a Habs uniform, the magic of the Bell Center takes over. What What numbers he did on his last team is just sports bar hot air.
We are letting go some really good players, we will get the same number in return.
This is sports entertainment as only 700 of the worlds best hockey players can perform at this level.
Injuries, player chemistry and coaching determine who hoists the cup.
Super-duper post! I can't wait to see what's coming this season will bring...
---------- I am down but never out for their elimination from the playoffs. They will come back next year. Thanks for the Centennial, can't wait for 101st...
great post as always Chris.
Yup. To the people who were braying before and are also braying now: be careful what you ask for.
Good perspective.
New Player Smell
Chris,
-How many players wearing the C have retired from the Habs?
-Worse than a break up? have you any clue, the number of doors which open as others shut? Exes do not vanish never to be heard from again, they tend to reappear like an STD or regrettable UTUBE post
-Miss the outgoing guys? they will play their hockey elsewhere, others will replace them in Montreal, hockey will be played.
A wise old Burman (Myanmaran) once provided me the following wisdom...
Put your finger in a bowl of water, and then once pulled out, should there remain a hole where your finger had been, you are truly indispensable.
Any of the NHL players leaving Montreal will have enjoyed an experience of a lifetime, stories to tell the generations. , for they played in the most storied city on the planet, displayed their talents and exposed their weaknesses nightly before the most passionate fans on the planet. (And before the contortionists at Wanda's in practice for the ballet).
Kind of like your most intense and worst sexual encounter all rolled into one...you do not easily forget that night or season. The fine line between pleasure and pain.
THANKS BOB NOW WE GET THAT NEW PLAYER SMELL!!
Obtuse like Bill Lee and evidently this must be fully debated over dead cow and much beer at Magnans.
FRIGG...I forgot the very well thought out ONE BRIDGE RULE is so cool for Habs now that the Brossard training center is...well..one bridge from the betrothed! you live one bridge away from the training center...AWESOME negotiating hook IMHO.
New player smell is much better than old player smell.
Excellent post. If you and I are accused of wearing rose colored glasses so be it.
Maybe we're using binoculars when everyone else is using a microscope.
atta boy!
pretty much how i feel, i'm going to miss saku...hope he lands in anaheim and hooks up with the finnish flash! forget his brother...watching the two finns rekindle their international magic would be entertaining.
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
great post!
I enjoyed it from the start and feel pretty much the same, thanks for the great read Chris
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