Montreal Canadiens 20xx-2013 Season

[RadioGaGa 162]

Ok...I'll admit, my homer glasses firmly in place on this one:

I have a hard time finding fault with anything in the Habs game last night. I think everyone played perfectly into their designed roles, and to their strengths.

Markov looked like the Markov of old,

The kids, Gallagher and Galchenyuk, didn't look at all out of place in the NHL.

Price played a great game.

PP clicked

The 4th line, as well as Prust playing with Gally's had some good physical play

Gorges blocked a bunch of shots

Yemelin threw a bunch of hits.

Top line had a bunch of 5-5 chances, although no goals...

Great overall effort. If they play like this all year, the projected 12th place finish will be way off.

Ok, glasses off...back to work.

Feel free to pick away at my hockey happiness.

[EDIT] Just saw this on the Habs site: http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=66&id=194526〈=en

Pretty cool to let a camera into the room for this.

[hamstercaster 2]

Only got the 1st and 2nd period (yeah yeah I know I said I'd boycott hockey all year but I guess the love of the game took over real quick). I liked what I saw. The tempo was really good. Defensively it was a good game as well as offensively. So far I'm impressed with Prust. He's not a superstar by any stretch of the imagination but he seems to be bringing more to the game than just his toughness.

One thing though is that they better stop taking so many penalties cause it's going to bite them in the ass before long. Thursday against the Caps should be a much better test. Still not enough to get too excited though. I'm hoping they can go on a pretty good stretch just to ease off the pressure on management for them to make a deal with Subban. If they go on a losing streak, they'll be stuck between a rock and a hard place and may have to cave in to Subban's demands as the pressure in Montreal will be unreal, although I think Bergevin has the balls to keep on course no matter what happens. If they go on a winning streak, then, Subban may realize that they don't really need him and he may come to his senses and accept the Habs offer so he can rejoin the team. If the team's playing well, who do you take out of the line up to play your hold out?

As for CH 24/7, it's pretty much a HBO 24/7 dedicated to the Habs. Not original but should still be pretty fun to watch. I think it will be on for the whole season if I'm not mistaking.

Edit: Added bit about CH 24/7

[hamstercaster 2]

Subban's contract negotiations have heated up on Twitter in the past few hours as rumors have been circulating that Don Meehan told Subban to accept the Habs offer but that Subban's response was that he wanted to be paid his worth, whatever that is. Nobody knows who he's comparing himself to but the rest of his answer was about how he played the most minutes, had the most points on D for Montreal etc. etc. If that proves to be true, looks like the guy his seeing himself bigger than the team and what he actually is as well. Never was a big fan of Subban because of his antics but acknowledge that he has good potential. However, if he doesn't get his ego in check soon, he will soon end up with teammates going from not liking him much to just hating him plain and simple. Gorges had an interesting response when he was asked about what the dressing room was like without Subban. His response was: Quiet...

[chippa13 1844]

When a guy with only 2 years in says, "I want to be paid what I'm worth", well, that is going to turn off a lot of GM's and teammates. Curious to see where the situation goes from here.

[RadioGaGa 162]

As someone said in the Off Season thread: Marc Bergevin is in control here...the team in playing really well...Markov is healthy and producing. Diaz leads the league in D scoring.

PK who????

At this point, he plays under the contract MB is offering...or they don't need to sign him. As much as I want him in Montreal...the team looks so good without him right now...If someone gets injured, or falters, his "worth" goes up...but right now....he is worth whatever they are offering....how badly does he want to be a part of this team? He was saying all the right things before the season started.

[troy 12]

He's not worth whatever they're offering, he's worth whatever someone's willing to offer him. As optimistic as you seem, I don't think the Habs will want to rely on Raphael Diaz and porcelain Markov. Can't wait to see the offer sheet the Flyers are cooking up with Meszaros out now.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I guess that should have read "In the eyes of MB...his worth (to the Habs) is whatever they are offering"

He's not ready (or proven enough) to be a $5-7M player. He's a $2-4M guy right now...

I doubt that Diaz can keep up this pace, but healthy....I have every reason to think Markov will have a great season.

[troy 12]

If it was an entirely rational world, yes he would be, but with the premium already attached to defensemen and a weak UFA class coming up, he must think someone will give him the money he wants. I am inclined to agree with him. I just hope the Flyers throw 6/40 at him and see what happens.

[hamstercaster 2]

Who will be the GM dumb enough to throw an offer sheet to a player? With how much they cried poor and shit, not sure a GM will risk an offer sheet so early after signing a new deal. I wouldn't be surprised if there were clear instructions to team owners not to play this game, at least not right away. But who knows. There are some team owners who don't care and will do what they need to do to win. If the Flyers offer 6 millions a year, hey be my guest, I'll even help him pack for what the Habs will get in return. Although the UFA class will be weak next summer, the draft is bound to be a pretty good one.

[chippa13 1844]

There are plenty of teams with cap space who could use a defenseman for the next 5-7 years. Don't be surprised if an offer sheet doesn't turn up if the stalemate drags deep into February.

[Law Goalie 147]

I really have to believe the Habs wouldn't accept a late first, second, and third, even in a deep draft, for a young but established top-pair defenceman with room to grow. Any team in the NHL would take that deal in a heartbeat if they had the cap room.

[hamstercaster 2]

I wouldn't be surprised if an offer sheet is tendered. But that early out of the lockout would certainly not bode well with many teams and the powers that be but some team owner may not give a rats ass. However, it may not create that much of a splash if it's done for Subban as Montreal is a rich team and no one would feel sorry for them having to match an offer sheet as besides having to do acrobatics to stay under the cap, it would not be a problem for them to match, money wise.

[SydNap 25]

I guess the question is, what would the Habs do if Subban signed an offer sheet for 4 years at 4 mil per season.

[Law Goalie 147]

Match it in about a tenth of a second.

I think you're referring to the original offer sheet compensation rather than the updated numbers: the two firsts now kick in at just over 6.25. Now, if someone signs him in that range, or for a dollar less than the point at which the two firsts kick in as compensation, and for five years (outside the 'lesser of' clause), THEN they're in a tough spot. I don't think Subban is worth a $31M contract right now, but he's certainly worth more than the 1-2-3 package.

Offer sheets are always a game of chicken. The player wants to use them as leverage, but doesn't want to piss the fans off -- especially Montreal fans. The player's team can't just cave at the mere hint of an offer, but they have to acknowledge that the player is likely worth more than the compensation they would receive. Other teams want to poach the player, but don't want to get victimised themselves.

[hamstercaster 2]

I'm pretty sure Montreal would match a 7 year 35 million dollar offer sheet. Beyond that, not sure. They would have to ask themselves if Montreal is a better with Subban in the line up. I think it is. Then they would have to ask themselves if Subban is worth the money that was tendered in the offer sheet. The answer could go either way. I'd be tempted to say no but who knows how management evaluates Subban's potential. Do they think that Subban will eventually be good enough to warrant a 6 or 7 million per salary? It's almost impossible to know right now. Too many players seem to have gone downhill after signing a big deal. But the kid's only 23 and he's showed some good things and defensemen really only mature around 27 so in theory, the best is still to come in his case.

News this morning is that both parties met yesterday and that Subban went back home to think about the offer and discuss it with his family. Word is that Montreal are still offering the same deal, no more no less. Subban saying he'll think about may indicate that he's starting to perhaps think that they may let him sit all year if he doesn't accept those terms, who knows. If Montreal wins tomorrow, this will IMO add even more pressure on Subban to sign. He absolutely cannot afford to see the Habs go on winning streak because even if he signs, Therrien may not make room for him in the line up at least until they hit a slump or something. Some would say that it's ludicrous to sit a good player, however, when the team is playing well, coaches often tend to stick to the same line up.

[Chadd 916]

Who will be the GM dumb enough to throw an offer sheet to a player? With how much they cried poor and shit, not sure a GM will risk an offer sheet so early after signing a new deal. I wouldn't be surprised if there were clear instructions to team owners not to play this game, at least not right away. But who knows. There are some team owners who don't care and will do what they need to do to win. If the Flyers offer 6 millions a year, hey be my guest, I'll even help him pack for what the Habs will get in return. Although the UFA class will be weak next summer, the draft is bound to be a pretty good one.

Clear instructions not to make an offer would be collusion and that is an anti-trust violation.

[hamstercaster 2]

Pacioretty out 3 to 4 weeks. He had an emergency surgery to remove his appendix. Eller should be back in the line up. Not sure who's going to get a promotion to play on the first line though.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Eller was on that line tonight;

Eller/Desharnais/Cole

Bourque/Plekanec/Gionta

Galcheyuk/Gallagher/Prust

Moen/White/Armstrong

Blunden/Kaberle/Pax were the scratches.

Weber in for Kaberle on D tonight.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Bergevin and Therien told Galchenyuk and Gallagher that they are staying with the team. I suppose this is bigger news for Chucky...as Gally can still go to the AHL.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I guess his isn't an "Off Season" transaction any more...PK Subban has signed. 2 years. Haven't seen terms yet.

[hamstercaster 2]

2 years at 2.875 cap hit. First year notches him 2 millions and the second year 3.75.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Good on the Habs GM for standing firm.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Good term...good money. If he puts up big numbers he gets his big/long term contract in 2 years.

I wonder if this means the end for Kaberle, or a guy like Weber?

Markov, Gorges, Bouillon, Emelin are all 100% save. You have to think the way Diaz has started the year, they aren't about to make a change with him. I think they try their luck at Weber through waivers and send to Hamilton, Kaberle is the H/C to get PK into the lineup.

Markov/PK

Gorges/Emelin --> between Gorges blocking shots and Emelin hitting everything that moves, this may actually STILL be their best pair of DEFENCEmen.

Diaz/Bouillon

I don't know what the CBA did to the waiver rules...if they were to send Kaberle down, is the recall waiver at half the Cap still in play somewhere down the road. Mind you, the Habs do have the money to just eat Kaberle in the AHL the way Toronto is with Connoly.

[chippa13 1844]

I think they did away with re-entry waivers.

[hamstercaster 2]

If they send Kaberle to the minors, he still counts against the cap as you can no longer bury a player in the minors in order to take his cap hit off the books. Hence the Gomez/Redden "affair". Kaberle will probably be Montreal's 2nd compliance buy out as he has a year left on the deal. Although, they are still playing him and risking injury so perhaps Montreal's plan was to play him out for the duration of his contract or they were forced to keep him at least until Subban signed. I only saw a bit of Sunday's game but I believe Kaberle was a healthy scratch and Weber was in the line up. Weber would probably be the odd man out unless they decide to alternate Kaberle, Weber and another D man because of the compressed schedule. They will more than likely give Markov some time off from time to time if they can afford to.

Another option would be to trade Weber. There is apparently some interest in the league for Weber so they could potentially trade him for a decent pick or something. Like it's been mentioned, they could always put Kaberle on waivers and hope someone will pick him up but I doubt they would do that and risk losing him on re-entry waivers and then be stuck with half of his cap hit when they probably plan on buying him out this summer and not have any of his cap hit.