Is Bob Gainey watching the parade go b y?

[Chadd 916]

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect...newsItemID=5099

I like it. Pick the right guy(s) to fit the role they need filled. Have money left, and if come Feb-Mar, they are still in it, they will have Cap room to add a player if the opportunity comes.

the Rangers proved for years, that just throwing money at lots of big names...because you can...doesn't make a good team (necessarily).

BG is a smart guy. I like what he is doing.

The Leafs fan in me is saying that this is only an excuse because they can't attract big name UFAs like other teams can, but in reality I think it might be a smart move. Signing nobody is better than signing the wrong player. With the Leafs, I'd rather sign nobody than Peca. I have to hand it to Gainey. I think this is actually a smart move so far, although I've heard through various rumors that they've just been unlucky to sign a lot of big name players thus far (Shanny, Poti, Sykora).

Well...I won't cry over missing out on Poti...but Arnott, and Shanny were ones I hoped for. Isn't Sykora still available?

Anson Carter would be nice...

Really though, I suspect the changes to Montreal will be via trades once the season starts...not UFA's.

Rucinsky would give them some size up front, Maybe Petrovicky to grind and Markov on D?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Andrei and Dany Markov would be AWESOME together.

Tarnstrom maybe?

Dingman. He won't win you many games, but he'll clear the way for the guys who can.

Rucinsky had his Hab go-around...I doubt he comes back.

[hamstercaster 2]

I wasn't sure what to think of what Gainey said at first.. finding excuses or reasons for not moving.. then come to think of it, any of the big names mentionned would have been nice but if they were too greedy or just wouldn't come to Montreal, what else could he do. I too expect a transaction.. but when is the question. In my mind, if the team is winning it's hard to do a transaction so not to affect team chemistry and all. If the team is losing early on in the season, then the players he'll be trying to move will not be considered to their full value and Gainey will more than likely get less than he was hoping for. I think that he should trade before the season starts in order to have full value for his player(s), have the new player(s) at camp so Carbonneau has a few pre-saison games to mix and match his lines to be ready to go when season starts. I heard Detroit may be interested in Aebischer even though they are negotiating with Belfour and Hasek... talk about being desperate when a team like Detroit is shopping 40+ year old goalies because they were too stupid to sign what they had that was more than decent and a much safer bet then those two has been they are negotiating with... Don't get me wrong, Belfour and Hasek are very good goalies when healthy, the problem is that they are more often than not injured.. and that's not mentionning the way they can affect team moral with their temper... Eddy is a nut case while Hasek has proven many times in the past that he is not much of a team player and can be a distraction to his team...

[RadioGaGa 162]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171128&hubname=

Hmmm....so Huet makes 3.0...now Aeby makes 1.9...

$4.9mil for 2 goalies. A guy that has come from nowhere to be the #1, and a proven, solid guy as the #2 Some teams pay 5-7 mil for the #1, and have no backup if that goes wrong, or the guy gets hurt.

I still like what BG is doing.

[Patrick67 1]

Belfour & Hasek as a Tandem in Detroit(or any other club).... if the sum of your goalie-tandem is closing in on 90years you sure have alot of experiance between the pipes. :lol:

Sometimes too much experiance is a bad thing... ;)

[Eazy_b97 1]

Zednik to Washington for a 3rd rounder

Mike Johnson to Montreal for a 4th.

Looks like he did something today. Good move for Montreal. I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Zednik to Washington for a 3rd rounder

Mike Johnson to Montreal for a 4th.

Looks like he did something today. Good move for Montreal. I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

Johnson is a big guy...has some touch (20 goals). Give up a 4th add a 3rd...

Zednik & Ovy together will be nice.

Good all around.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think Zednik started his career in Washington. Could be interesting to see him return.

I still can't believe PHX gave up Johnson for a 4th.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think Zednik started his career in Washington. Could be interesting to see him return.

I still can't believe PHX gave up Johnson for a 4th.

2001-Mar-13 Traded from Washington Capitals with Jan Bulis and Round 1 pick in the 2001 draft (Alexander Perezhogin) to Montreal Canadiens for Trevor Linden and Dainius Zubrus and Round 2 pick in the 2001 draft (Andreas Holmqvist)

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

If what you say is true, we'll be really disapointed with him, hell, Ryder only has finishing skills, nothing else.

[D3nZ 0]

Montreal just signed Sergei Samsonov to a 2 year contract (RDS.ca)

[thejackal 46]

Holy crap... :P

[RadioGaGa 162]

Montreal just signed Sergei Samsonov to a 2 year contract (RDS.ca)

Cripes...I went out for a sub, and my team gets a facelift....

Kewl. I'm happy. Now, just sign Ryder and a D-man & trade Ribeiro.

[kosydar 0]

trade Ribeiro.

Is this the general consensus among Habs fans? I remember two years ago everyone was hyping this kid up to be the savior of the franchise.

[kosydar 0]

Assuming you still have Kovalev, it will certainly be quite a number of turnovers between those two.

But he should help in the scoring department

I think its a good pick up by the Habs, but at the same time I think Samsonov is one of the most overrated players in the league. He'll help your offense, but by how much? He is a guy who has never scored 30 goals before, even when playing first line minutes with Thornton. For a "scorer" thats not very impressive. Does anyone know how much the contract was for? I have a feeling he probably got minimum $3.5-4 million, which is way too much for what he brings.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

If what you say is true, we'll be really disapointed with him, hell, Ryder only has finishing skills, nothing else.

Up and down the wings, finishes checks, but doesn't throw any big ones. Isn't fancy, does his job. He DOES have finish, just Ryder's is better. Good fit to keep consistency on the lines. With the Samsonov signing, it could be what they are going for.

Ryder - Koivu - Kovalev

Johnson - Ribeiro - Samsonov

lines seem to have some consistency on them. Up and down the wings guy on one side. Center's who like to pass, but have finish. Other wingers who love to handle the puck and dangle. Come with speed, provide excitement.

[Chadd 916]

I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

If what you say is true, we'll be really disapointed with him, hell, Ryder only has finishing skills, nothing else.

Up and down the wings, finishes checks, but doesn't throw any big ones. Isn't fancy, does his job. He DOES have finish, just Ryder's is better. Good fit to keep consistency on the lines. With the Samsonov signing, it could be what they are going for.

Ryder - Koivu - Kovalev

Johnson - Ribeiro - Samsonov

lines seem to have some consistency on them. Up and down the wings guy on one side. Center's who like to pass, but have finish. Other wingers who love to handle the puck and dangle. Come with speed, provide excitement.

Maybe they can get a HUD for their visors so they can find their own zone once in a while.

[RadioGaGa 162]

trade Ribeiro.

Is this the general consensus among Habs fans? I remember two years ago everyone was hyping this kid up to be the savior of the franchise.

Well, he was the leading scorer (65 pts) on a team that could hardly score 3 seasons ago, and there seemed to be a breakout looming...then "the flop" against Boston. I think playing in Europ during the lockout hurt his development. There was the 'cliche' with Theodore...and a sub-par season last year where he phones it in a lot of the time.

Now...having said that...apparantly he's worked hard this offseason to bulk up a bit. If he plays a little 'bigger' he may still have a spot...but, I think at this point he's expendable.

Sadly, he will probably go somewhere and flurish and come back to bite us in the ass (can you say John Leclair?)

[D3nZ 0]

Remember guys, a couple of years ago Montreal was willing to trade Koivu for Samsonov but Sergei got hurt (one of the many times). The Habs have been eying this guy for alot of time but injuries have held back the deals between the 2 teams.

[Adam91 0]

I think you'll see Johnson similar to Ryder, but less finish.

If what you say is true, we'll be really disapointed with him, hell, Ryder only has finishing skills, nothing else.

Don't worry he's better in every facet of then Ryder other then pure goal scoring. He was always my favorite player on the Leafs, which isn't saying much but I like the game he brings and I'm pretty sure he's a really solid defensive player despite not being that great a skater.

Didn't want Samsonov but there wasn't much left on the market so I'm happy BG did something rather then nothing

2YRS/7.05M for Samsonov

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I am really happy with Samsonov in MTL...wow, with Kovalev it will be awesome to watch.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I am really happy with Samsonov in MTL...wow, with Kovalev it will be awesome to watch.

On offense....It will be very fun to watch....but Montreal's D-men better be on their toes...both guys kinda need a map to find their way behind the blue line at times...

[gp3r 0]

I think they just got a very good player with Johnson. He's consistent and is good on both sides. For a third liner, 54 points is very good.

As for Samsonov, I'm not sure what to think. If him and Kovalev can find some chemistry, they should be excinting to watch. But one thing that bothers me is both Samsonov and Kovalev like to control the puck and keep it for a long time, so I don't know if they'll play well together.

It's a good start in re-shaping the team. We finally got rid of Zednik, who I really didn't like.

Rumors are coming in that a few teams, more likely in the west, are interested in Abi. Plus, Souray wants out of Mtl. so he can move in closer to his daughter who lives in L.A. So I think there could be an interesting deal made with a few players.

The Habs have to make room for their rookies. Latandresse, I hope, should make the team this year, and I would love to see Chipchura in the lineup, maybe on a third line with Johnson and Plekanec.

Mark my words: Kyle Chipchura will be the habs' captain in the future. He's got leader written all over his face.

But, if we're to have Latendresse with the team, he has to play either on the first or second line. If there's no place, leave him in the juniors. That's one of the reasons why I think there will be another trade in the next weeks or so.

The habs still don't have a number 1 center. I think they could be tempted to trade Ryder away.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Don't count on Latandresse. Let him work his way up through the ranks. He's unlikely to produce like he did at last year's camp.

I can't see Samsonov and Kovalev on the same line.

[kosydar 0]

Here is something to fuel the Habs/Leafs debate...

Who would you rather have on your team, putting all biases aside?

Darcy Tucker

or

Sergei Samsonov ?