So who woulda been better?

by blockersave93 on Jul 1, 2009 11:23 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

Trade Koivu, Kovalev for Gionta, Cammalleri and I am ok to a point. If you replaced Antropov with any of the 4 are you happy? What about Lang versus the other 4? We are talking about our captain and captain in lieu, leadership may be there in these two, only time will tell.

All 4 were on pace for 60 points or more but signing the younger players does make some sense. If this works, we are golden for 5 years. If it doesn't, they will be relatively inexpensive and we could move them if need be (easier than a Gabornik at 7million per game!).

Sure the team is small in stature, but it is fast and has consistent scorers that have upside with the right chemistry.

So what about Komi. We got 2 D-men that will chew up minutes. I was more scared of not getting a d-man to replace him. We actually got two. Was anybody nervous about Hammer being the #2 d-man?! Or O'Byrne playing minutes in the #2 pairing?!?

Hammer is still good but on the downside of his career and needs help. He got it. We now have a full defense corp again. Not a fan of Gill, but I'll have to become one. Gill played well for Toronto, looked awful slow for Pitt, but still ended up logging a lot of minutes for the Pens and keeping the Wings off the board in the Finals. Spacek is a quality player, solid #2 defenseman with good passing and sturdier defense than his frame. An excellent addition. Lets not forget Weber looked good in limited action last year.

I am a Habs fan first and foremost, and while I wish we could have had Koivu and Kovy back (hopefully I am wrong and we see 1 of them back) I am excited to see the new players gel and fly up and down the ice. It's about what this TEAM can do, that was painfully absent last year, maybe these changes get us the team that can truly compete for the cup.

Also remember with the salary cap stuff, we don't get to use the cap room next year that we don't use this year...so why not spend it?! Are we hoping that next year will be better...I want to compete THIS year, and this team looks competitive. Only time will tell.

And I'm sure you'll all tell me who woulda been better...let the berating begin!

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I don’t think any of the new forwards can be called relatively inexpensive. If anything they’re all a little overpriced, probably cause that was the only way to get them to come to Montreal. If they don’t work out, the Habs will be stuck with their salaries for 5 years. I understand the getting younger part, although Tanguay was only 29 anyways. But I don’t get the getting smaller part, even if it means faster (and how does Gill fit into that theme?).

Assuming the young guys have a good season, sure they’ll be competitive again, but no closer to the Cup than before.

by Bert3d on Jul 2, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions

Cheaper...kinda

If salaries increase in the next 2 years, they may be relatively cheap…except Gomez!

Gill hurts more than helps, and certainly slows us down…but maybe a pairing with Weber allows for more creativity? We’ll have to see.

by blockersave93 on Jul 2, 2009 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh by the way, Higgins, Kovalev, and Komisarek have all worn the A at times in the past couple of seasons. They along with Koivu are all gone. They’ve completey changed the leadership of the team and it makes me wonder who the next captain will be.
Markov seems to be the most logical choice.

by Bert3d on Jul 2, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

Who is the Captain?

I agree that Markov makes sense. And Max Lapierre is an Assistant without question, maybe even a dark horse, or future candidate. Spacek, Gomez and Gionta along with Hammer are reasonable candidates for an A as well.

Who else could be captain but Markov, really? Also it may help persuade him to re-sign down the road when his contract is up.

by blockersave93 on Jul 2, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions