Players signing with the Habs

[habookus 1]

Does nobody want to play in MTL, or is Gainey playing his usual waiting game when it comes to signing players. They clearly need players, but are just watching all the top names being signed by everyone else.

[GH_ID 0]

Dude it's really hard being a Habs fan these days :(

[Dean_ 0]

Dude it's really hard being a Habs fan these days :(

i agree, and i dont why gainey wont sign souray

[RadioGaGa 162]

Dude it's really hard being a Habs fan these days :(

i agree, and i dont why gainey wont sign souray

Because what they offered (if reports are right) is about 2 Mil less than he wants.

I can't believe Souray hasn't landed somehwere yet.

[golfpuck 0]

montreal is rumored to have offered more $ to smyth and briere, but both turned them down.

[habookus 1]

I could understand why Smyth wouldn't sign, but Briere's a quebecer, come on. Besides not signing ANYONE, I think their problems stem from drafting safe players all the time, and never gambling on anyone.

[Dean_ 0]

I could understand why Smyth wouldn't sign, but Briere's a quebecer, come on. Besides not signing ANYONE, I think their problems stem from drafting safe players all the time, and never gambling on anyone.

The reason why i think briere didn't sign with the canadiens because there would be probally way too much pressure on him.

[habookus 1]

Great, they signed another defensive center who most probably won't put up 20 goals. I'm happy with the Hamrlik signing though.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Great, they signed another defensive center who most probably won't put up 20 goals. I'm happy with the Hamrlik signing though.

But they lost Bonk....Smolinski replaces Bonk...Chipper mot likely replces Johnson. If you are expecting 20 goals from that position you're setting up for failure. 10-15 would be gravy if he plays well defensively...which is, afterall, his main role.

[kosydar 0]

montreal is rumored to have offered more $ to smyth and briere, but both turned them down.

He turned down a very similar offer in Toronto, too. In his case it seems like he doesn't want to play in the spotlight. I guess he wants to start a new phase in his life of being Captain Colorado.

[Adam91 0]

Great, they signed another defensive center who most probably won't put up 20 goals. I'm happy with the Hamrlik signing though.

But they lost Bonk....Smolinski replaces Bonk...Chipper mot likely replces Johnson. If you are expecting 20 goals from that position you're setting up for failure. 10-15 would be gravy if he plays well defensively...which is, afterall, his main role.

I'd take Bonk over Smolinksi anyday, Bonk was actually one of the most consistent Canadien last year and Smolinksi was abosolutly invisible in the playoffs.

[habookus 1]

The thing is, the Canadiens don't need any more defensive forwards, they need someone who can put up serious numbers offensively. If they just keep replacing the players they let go of and sign the same type of players, their not going to improve at all.

[Gongshow11 1]

think of it on a numebr of levels. why would anybody want to come to montreal? they've been a 8th-9th place team the last few years, they have no superstar to lure players in except kovalev, who i have witnessed in practice while guys are doin dzone he stick handlesin the other end by himself. Honestly as a montrealer myself, why do we feel as if briere HAD to come to montreal. What does he owe montreal at all? he hasnt lived here in years, and has a family with 2 kids in the states. Dont forget briere wa son waivers with phoenix, why didnt anyoen take him then?

Also, with the media, its a lot of pressure on a guy. if briere played unreal 80 out of 82 games for the habs, those 2 games you'd hear "trade briere trade briere." Aside from taxes, which are the highest in north america in quebec, no french canadian has to play in montreal. Hell what if briere was a philly fan growing up?

With souray, the guy was -28 last year with hamrlik at +22. Thats 50 less goals that the habs are getting scored agaisnt. Souray is by far the biggest plug in the NHL, and there is a reason no one wants that useless defenseman.

In terms of smolinski, he is a better leader and checker than bonk. Bonk was effective maybe the last 15 games of the year. Smolinksi is faster than bonk, and bonk plays slower than peter worrell.

o and for habs fans heres a tip for you, chipchura will not make the canadiens next year. And i know this as a fact. He isnt ready.

Smyth woudl have come to montreal i think had sakic not called him. I assume as well that also gainey not personally offering briere an offer when he came to montreal insulting, which should clear some questions up.

[kosydar 0]

Montreal scored 11 less goals than they gave up. Calgary scored 32 more than they gave up. Yes Hamrlik is better defensively, but I don't think he is +50 better. The +/- stat can be one of, if not the most deceiving stat in the game.

[Eazy_b97 1]

montreal is rumored to have offered more $ to smyth and briere, but both turned them down.

He turned down a very similar offer in Toronto, too. In his case it seems like he doesn't want to play in the spotlight. I guess he wants to start a new phase in his life of being Captain Colorado.

Smyth apperantly didn't like Toronto's overall depth, while he apperantly didn't like Montreal at all. Him and his wife simply weren't fans.

Montreal scored 11 less goals than they gave up. Calgary scored 32 more than they gave up. Yes Hamrlik is better defensively, but I don't think he is +50 better. The +/- stat can be one of, if not the most deceiving stat in the game.

That's overall. Not as a +/- stat. Montreal's special teams was a huge reason they were down 11 goals.

[B-Nads 0]

Two words sum it up:

INCOME TAX

Quebec taxes people at a very ball-squeezing rate, and players lose big money by coming to Montreal - Souray was complaining about it this past spring. The Habs have to offer at least 10% more for most players to consider it. Add that to the other problems mentioned and you get what we have now.

[kosydar 0]

Good point, they had a great PP and a good PK. Montreal as a team had a lot more players with a worse +/- than Calgary. Montreal had nine players who were a -10 or worse, Calgary had two. Kiprusoff could have a lot to do with that, though. Still, I don't think Hamrlik is +50 better than Souray and I have absolutely no respect for Souray's defense.

[B-Nads 0]

I agree completely - that stat is very dependant on the performance of the whole team and the conference you play in. That being said, you can't really compare Hamrlik's and Souray's defensive abilities - Souray has none to compare. Mtl is going to give up a lot on the PP with him gone, for sure, but their biggest need last year was perfomance at 5-on-5 hockey. I cannot justify spending 5.5 mil on either of these guys, however, as neither is a Lidstrom, Neidermeyer, or Pronger. All in all, I am very unimpressed yet again with Bob Gainey's efforts.

[habookus 1]

As much as everyone is bashing Souray for his defensive capabilities, I have noticed that compared to 2 years ago, he has gotten a bit better, and his overall game is improving, mostly his patience with the puck coming out of the zone. I'm not exactly sure who he was paired with for the most part of the season, but if he's playing with someone who is very defensive minded, Souray is a good puck moving defensemen and a good physical presence. Anyways I wouldn't blame him for wanting to leave Montreal. I've lived in Montreal my whole life, but if I were playing in the NHL, I don't think I would want to play for the Canadiens, and personally I don't know what Gainey or the organization can do to get this team going, but im starting to lose interest.

[B-Nads 0]

Well, I'll tell you what's really getting on my nerves about the whole thing:

I have been following the Habs' efforts on RDS for the past few days, and there is one sentiment that always seems to pop up around the trades, drafts, and free-agent dead-lines - "we need more quebecois on our team!" Maybe they think it's like the 70's when the Habs had first dibs on the best Quebec plaers...it drives me nuts.

[habookus 1]

RDS is another reason for the Canadiens sucking the past 15 years

[RadioGaGa 162]

RDS is another reason for the Canadiens sucking the past 15 years

How so...

[Dean_ 0]

RDS is another reason for the Canadiens sucking the past 15 years

How so...

yah i am also wondering, how can a tv station affect a team

[RadioGaGa 162]

RDS is another reason for the Canadiens sucking the past 15 years

How so...

yah i am also wondering, how can a tv station affect a team

Unless he just means it adds to the "we need more Quebecqois on this team" thing.

One of the reasons I got Digital cable was so I could get RDS...I love watching hockey in French....just seems right to me *L*

[EDIT] http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect...newsItemID=6003

Gainey talking about what the Habss have done (and haven't done) in FA so far...and why. I think they made every offer they thought reasonable for both Smyth and Briere, but when Philly dangles a $10 Million carrot and Joe Sakic (A player that Smyth really looks up to both in the NHL adn Internationally) is personally working to help sign the player....what mroe could BG do?

[RadioGaGa 162]

To add to Bob's building from within philosophy...Tomas Plekanec has re-signed.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212843&hubname=

I'll refrain from making a new thread EVERYTIME a Hab player signs *L*