What's with the Habs?

[tokugawa]

I am a huge Habs fan and was severely disappointed with how this past season transpired. I really thought they had a chance to go far.

That being said, with such disappointment it was inevitable that Bob Gainey had to do some drastic things. However, I didn't think dealing for Gomez and signing Cammalleri and Gionta were the changes everyone was envisioning.

Montreal's problem has always been having a talented big center who can distribute the puck well. Then again that's a problem that almost every team has as well. But I didn't think getting Gomez was the solution to that problem. The problem with Gomez is that he's small and costs more than $7 million a year for another 5 years (I think). Yes he's talented but I think he's more suited to the 2nd line role than say a 1st line role. Another thing that bugged me is that Bob gave up Higgins and 3 D Men (Ryan McDonagh 2007 1st rounder and Pavel Valentenko). Seeing that Sather had this monster contract to deal with, couldn't Bob have gotten a better deal i.e., give up less?

To make things worse, he goes out and signs Cammalleri and Gionta today who are also not the biggest of bodies out there. And wasn't Montreal's biggest problem in recent years was the size of their team?

As for Spacek and Gill, I got no issues with them. They are both cheaper replacements for Schneider and Komisarek.

Anyway, maybe some of you Hab fans out there like wilde can help me understand Bob's mentality.

 

[wilde]

I am a huge Habs fan and was severely disappointed with how this past season transpired. I really thought they had a chance to go far.

That being said, with such disappointment it was inevitable that Bob Gainey had to do some drastic things. However, I didn't think dealing for Gomez and signing Cammalleri and Gionta were the changes everyone was envisioning.

Montreal's problem has always been having a talented big center who can distribute the puck well. Then again that's a problem that almost every team has as well. But I didn't think getting Gomez was the solution to that problem. The problem with Gomez is that he's small and costs more than $7 million a year for another 5 years (I think). Yes he's talented but I think he's more suited to the 2nd line role than say a 1st line role. Another thing that bugged me is that Bob gave up Higgins and 3 D Men (Ryan McDonagh 2007 1st rounder and Pavel Valentenko). Seeing that Sather had this monster contract to deal with, couldn't Bob have gotten a better deal i.e., give up less?

To make things worse, he goes out and signs Cammalleri and Gionta today who are also not the biggest of bodies out there. And wasn't Montreal's biggest problem in recent years was the size of their team?

As for Spacek and Gill, I got no issues with them. They are both cheaper replacements for Schneider and Komisarek.

Anyway, maybe some of you Hab fans out there like wilde can help me understand Bob's mentality.

Gainey is under a lot of pressure to do something. I am sure he made offers to other free agents but Montreal with it's crazy media (in 2 languages) and high taxes is not the top destination by choice for a lot of free agents. So to get them signed, he has no choice but to overpay.

Personally, I would have preferred trading for Vinny but his no trade clause kicked in today. So he went to plan B and got Gomez. I am sure he went after Hossa hard and when Hossa signed with Chicago, he again went to plan B and got Cammalleri. As for the D, I would have preferred Francois Beauchemin but word on the street is he's asking for Komisarek type contract ($4.5M for 5 years).

As far as trading Valentenko, he was a goner. Basically, he walked out on Hamilton (said his relative was sick or something then turned around and signed with a KHL team).

Like you, I am not over the moon with some of these deals. But Gainey had to go to mainy Plan Bs because his time as GM is running out.

.

 

[tokugawa]

Hey wilde do you honestly think Bob hasn't done a very good job in Montreal since taking over from Andre Savard?

I mean compared to Reggie Houle, Gainey tenure hasn't been all that bad. I mean the farm system has been rebuilt and has been producing serviceable HNLers the past few years. And like you said, Montreal is a tough market place to attract high priced talent due to the tax and currency situation along with the unwanted 24/7 media attention.

Yes they won the cup in 93 (was it?) and 86 under Serge Savard but those were lucky years. There were better teams out there those years (Edmonton and Philly in 86 and Pittsburg, Vancouver, Calgary, Detroit, Quebec and Boston in 93) and Montreal lucked out by not having to play them. In the 80s Montreal was a very scoring challenged team and in the 90s there were a lot holes in their defensive game. So I really think Bob is not getting a fair shake right now in his GM duties. Compared to others I think he's done a pretty good job.

 

[tom t runner]

don't forget Montreal had key injuries going into the playoffs, I hate to use that excuse but it also happens to be true. I agree that Gainey deserves more time but in Montreal...The clock is ticking....tick..tick...tick...

 

[wilde]

Hey wilde do you honestly think Bob hasn't done a very good job in Montreal since taking over from Andre Savard?

I mean compared to Reggie Houle, Gainey tenure hasn't been all that bad. I mean the farm system has been rebuilt and has been producing serviceable HNLers the past few years. And like you said, Montreal is a tough market place to attract high priced talent due to the tax and currency situation along with the unwanted 24/7 media attention.

A bag of pucks is better than Reggie Houle. I actually thought Andre Savard was doing a pretty good job. Gainey has done an ok job IMHO. When he was first hired, he talked endlessly about his 5 yr plan. Well, that 5 yr plan ended in a first round sweep in the centennial season. During those five years, his biggest moves were to get Alex Kovalev, get rid of Theodore and his big fat contract, and over pay for Hamrlik out of necessity (by losing Souray).

.

 

[visiting]

Gainey, has said it is easier for Montreal to trade, than to sign free agents. Don't forget Montreal has new owners, The Molson family, so Gainey's days are not as numbered... Now, the real story of why Carbo was fired may actually come out...... In Montreal, Fans want Carbo back as coach..... Will not happen, but some of the guys bidding on them team (30 groups showed interest to buy the habs, then Gillette narrowed it down to six) mentioned they would like to see that happen.... IF Possible....


Just remember that "ON Paper" does not translate to the same "ON Ice" results 100% of the time, I think Montreal doesn't have much trouble selling out the 21,000 seats, so really as long as they are in the playoff hunt before the trade deadline with cap space, that is great.

And for not beating the Bruins, nobody in Montreal was expecting to beat he Bruins in the play-offs, I think 5-6 Montreal starters were out, and Boston was that good this year vs Montreal. (Guys out were, On D, Bouillon, Markov, Schneider, and Brisebois, and forwards Lang, Tanguay) Brisebois, and Tanguay did play in the series, but insured, not that it mad a difference for Brisebois, but he would have been better than Weber who has 10 games in the NHL Tops... (but great prospect, with a very hard shot)

 

[seannachie]

Gainey needs to tool up to beat the Bruins over the next few years. Boston looks pretty strong and may be serious contenders for the Cup. My concern is that the goaltending situation may be the weakest link for the Habs. I wasn't too impressed with Price's skills in the last half of the season.

 

[visiting]

Gainey needs to tool up to beat the Bruins over the next few years. Boston looks pretty strong and may be serious contenders for the Cup. My concern is that the goaltending situation may be the weakest link for the Habs. I wasn't too impressed with Price's skills in the last half of the season.

lets just say there were off ice distractions with Price.... I think that has a little to do with why Carbo was fired....

http://lebagelblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/pourquoi-le-canadien-joue-comme-des-pee-wees/

One of the big problems last year was in the dressing room, so some of the changes are for that exact reason, to make sure the room does not get divided again.

As for Mike Komisarek, hab fans are sad to see him go, but he went to Toronto? WTF, that is not a sign of a winner ....

 

[wilde]

I just want to say a few words about our ex-captain Saku Koivu. He is small but he plays his heart out every time he is out on the ice. He took a lot of abuse from the French media but never complained. I still remember that game when he came back from cancer like it was yesterday. The standing ovation he got send chills down my spine. He never got the talent to play on his wing for a long stretch. That year when they upset the Bruins in the playoffs, everyone was saying how Joe Thornton was playing with cracked ribs, well so was Koivu. I am going to miss you Saku, hope you get to play with Mikko in Minny. Good luck!!!

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