Free Agent Solutions

by TonyLobster on Apr 24, 2009 12:03 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

GM Tony Lobster is back and is willing to share his upcoming moves this summer. Notice, I wrote "Solutions" in the title, because I have a couple of options, depending on player availability and price. Bettman sent me the free agent list for my summer shopping (meaning I found it on the web) and I've come up with two options. (keep in mind that the list may not be accurate, as I don't keep up with all the signings)

Before looking at my new depth charts, I'll summarize who I am not signing:

Kovalev, Lang, Kostopoulos, Bouillon, Dandenault(except in Opt#2), Komisarek, Schneider, Brisebois.

I will sign Koivu and Tanguay.

You can assume I will trade anyone who is not listed for draft picks and practice pucks. Trading Laraque for pucks by weight equals something like 700 pucks. A really good deal if you ask me.

Option #1 - Buy a #1 line consisting of the Sedins and Gionta, add Chris Neil to

L- Sedin, Tanguay, A. Kostitsyn, Higgins, Stuart

C- Sedin, Koivu, Plekanec, Lapierre, Metropolit

R-Gionta, Neil, Latendresse, D'Agostini, S. Kostitsyn

D-Markov, Gorges, Hamrlik, Oduya, Weber, O'Byrne

G-Price, Halak

Option #2 - Beef up the D - Boumeester, Beauchemin - and add Franzen, Gionta, Neil.

L-Tanguay, A. Kostitsyn, Higgins, S. Kostitsyn, Stuart

C-Franzen, Koivu, Plekanec, Lapierre, Metropolit

R-Gionta, Neil, Latendresse, D'Agostini, Dandenault

D-Markov, Boumeester, Beauchemin, Gorges, Hamrlik, O'Byrne, Weber

G-Price, Halak

I like both options, but i think I prefer #2 because we need help on defense. Thinking about Carey here, but he is a franchise goalie with a bit more support.

I used a $56 Million salary cap for 2009-10. Also, I am likely in La-la Land over what the FA would actually cost, but that's Bettman's fault.

GM Tony Lobster

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Comments

Oh Larry…Tony sorry…. you are so off the path of redemption.

The Habs don’t need a Gionta, or Neil or one of the Sedins… seriously… one would not come out without the other. And as it stands (IMHO) Gionta will not get out of NJ… he’s needed there. Latendresse needs to be on a team that will use him in front, and not expect too much out of him otherwise. He’s slow, and unsteady and likely won’t pay big dividends in the system the Habs play.

Unfortunate is the idea that the Habs need to get bigger up front. I mean historically they have done well with Savards, and Koivus and Mats Naslund… Getting a Vinny would be AWESOME but they need to know how to play a bang up game … and the NHL has changed some of this with the rule changes. Philly and Anaheim seem to be banger and crasher teams that make it work to have big guys… if Latendresse could speed up by about 5 strides we’d be fine, but that’s not going to happen. And despite the amount of FAs (R or U) it does not make sense after 2 solid seasons (Yes solid despite a ba playoff showing and injuries) to go and do a total team re-adjustment.
Re tooling isn’t the goal here.

I disagree with the leaving the UFAs. There has to be some consideration for Lang and Kovy. Lang although injured was a real bright spot for the Habs, and letting go of Komisarek is ridiculous.

Yes Price could use some younger D in front of him…. but we have boat loads of talent in the Farm, and the Habs have always been a in- house org before looking for free agent help. Weber, Subban, Valentenko are just a few. I can’t see them trying to land a Boumeester. Yes Boumeester is good , give the kid credit. But the thinking is help upfront brings help overall.

Real consideration should be given to keeping Schneider, getting rid of Brisebois, cleaning up the 3 and forth lines to actually have productive scoring… yes they need to PK and play against the top lines in the league but it would help a lot if they could have a 20 goal scorer in there somewhere.

Big off season, new looking team… may bring about a new regime… who knows… But I think (hope) Gainey is around to do what he sees fit… new ownership shouldn’t mean rebuilding year.

by Cruisin4aBruisin on Apr 30, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

GM Tony Lobster responds

Cruisin’, I read your post and heard your criticism, but disagree with the few counter proposals you put forward.

For starters, we can’t just promote half a dozen or more people from the farm and call it a solution. We can only afford to develop a couple of rookies at a time, otherwise our record drops like a brick. Besides, if that talent in the farm is so good, then they’ll earn their spots this summer.

I didn’t suggest one of the Sedins, I clearly indicated getting both of them.

Lang and Kovy are getting too old, and Kovalev ~~although talented~~ takes extended breaks throughout the season. We need a top line Center and a RW. Wishing Latendress would get faster isn’t a real solution to our RW problem. If not Gionta, then who do you suggest takes on top line duties at RW?Gaborik, Hossa, Havlat are all 50% – 100% more then we currently pay Kovalev. Also, Kovy is 36-37 yrs old. It’s a sad truth that declining play comes with age.

Komisarek’s game fell off after his injury. He couldn’t take on Lucic in two tries that last game. He isn’t that good skill-wise, maybe he is a 5th or 6th defenseman.

I didn’t say Price needs younger D, I think he needs better D. It just so happens that a few guys – brisebois, schneider for example are getting older and losing their effectiveness.

I totally didn’t understand your comment about cleaning up the third and fourth lines. Are you suggesting a 20-goal scorer in there would fix something? Adjusting for injuries, we have 6 20-goal scorers on the team. All forwards. That’s pitiful. How is adding one more going to significantly change the situation? We need to add some 30+ goal scorers, and build a true 1st line as good as Tanguay/Koivu/Kovalev was in the last month before the playoffs. On top of that, we have to shore up our D. There are some blatant holes there.

Well, it should be an interesting summer.

There is never enough time to do things right, but always enough time to do things over.

Carpe Diem

by TonyLobster on May 2, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Rick Rypien?

i liked what i saw of him in the playoffs? what do you think?

by hoppy91 on May 13, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

Injury prone

You know, I noticed him too, and I hear he is a great guy, but gee he’s run a string of injuries.

There is never enough time to do things right, but always enough time to do things over.

Carpe Diem

by TonyLobster on May 13, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

OK .. younger may not mean better. Older may not mean worse.
I agree the last month of the season was a great one to be a Habs fan. Unfortunately we didn’t have the rest of the season look like that.

As for Komisarek being a punching bag for Lucic… is fighting his role? We can argue that Streit was not a fighter but contributed on the PP, Souray contibuted on the PP but took untimely penalties when we needed him on the ice. We can talk about Komisarek’s one ‘down’ year and debate that he’s not worth the 6 mill he’s likely to get elsewhere. But to say one bad year makes it time for him to go I can’t agree with.

Goal scorers on the 3 and 4th lines would take pressure off guys like Plek, Kostitsyn, Higgins (he’s more capable than his stats for 08 show). There would not be pressure on the 1st line either. No a 20 goal scorer doesn’t negate a need for a 30 goal scorer.. but.. that being said, if the 30 goal scorer is going to be a minus – 10 what’s the benefit?
And I don’t think Gionta is in the same category as Hossa or Gaborik. And again I don’t think he won’t resign with Devs.

Yes lots on the burner for debate….

by Cruisin4aBruisin on May 21, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions