If your last name starts with "P", take one step back.
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Jun 27, 2011 6:01 PM EDT
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The Montreal Canadiens did not make qualifying offers to pending restricted free agents (RFA) Alexandre Picard, Tom Pyatt and Benoit Pouliot. The trio will therefore become unrestricted free agents (UFA) on July 1.
The Canadiens had until 5pm Monday to make qualifying offers.
According to Radio-Canada's J-F Chaumont on Twitter, the Canadiens made offers to Josh Gorges, Yannick Weber, and Ryan White. The team also reached out to Hamilton Bulldogs Kyle Klubertanz, Mathieu Carle, Frederic St. Denis and Ryan Russell.
It comes as no surprise to many that Pouliot, who was in a career tailspin, was done in Montreal. A former first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, he will now be able to test the open market. He made $1.35 million last season, and had 30 points (13 goals) in 79 games.
Picard played 43 games for the Canadiens last season, registering eight points. With the abundance of rearguards available in the organization, and five more picked up in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, it appears he was deemed expendable.
Pyatt came to the Habs via the New York Rangers, in the Scott Gomez deal, and had seven points 61 games last season.
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Around the league there were some interesting, arbitration-avoidance non-qualification going on. Tyler Kennedy, Anthony Stewart, and Matt D’agostini are a few of them.
I’m sure MathMan will be hear to tell us about D’agostini’s shooting percentage, so I’ll just say I’m not all that interested.
Tyler Kennedy though… wow. Wasn’t riding on Crosby or Malkin’s coattails (probably thanks to injuries), reasonably tough minutes normal Ozone% with positive zone-shift, nice Corsi, not abnormal on-ice Shooting percentage or personal shooting percentage… he’s a quality player. I would bet Kennedy gets priced out of the Habs’ range because of the 20-goal season but I don’t know what Pittsburgh are thinking. Must be something in the water in Pennsylvania
It’s an odd decision. It’s not like Pittsburgh is bleeding quality wingers.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Jun 27, 2011 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
RFA’s are being released in numbers this year even with the rising cap. This is pretty unusual.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 27, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Looking for upgrades probably. I think the market on decent UFA forwards is going to take a big upswing.
Sure is looking that way. Probably time to take another look at my salary estimates… I had Miettinen at $3 million for a year or two.
Unless Pittsburgh is just trying to avoid arbitration with Kennedy and they do re-sign him I don’t see many forwards out there who are clear-cut upgrades. That move in particular is a little strange to me.
Especially with their famous lack of winger depth.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 27, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Deals gotta be signed soon, and deals need to be made… ready for some Philly-Crazy Deals in Montreal??
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jun 28, 2011 2:19 AM EDT reply actions
Laich is off the market. It’s going to be really slim pickings. We’re going to see some stupid contracts handed out, I suspect.
The Habs are going to swing a trade, methinks, and not go into the season with 5+ million in free cap space (although that would flash pretty significant the-system-is-broken warning lights). I’m thinking this is why Hamrlik got an offer — they may simply hope/expect to dump Spacek, but I’ve got this feeling they are looking to deal a D-man for a significant deal.
The Laich contract reminds me of Plekanec’s last year: I thought the salary was about right but didn’t really like the term on it. Though Plekanec is a better player and I look stupid thinking back because i wanted to let Plekanec go and sign Lombardi.
If the Habs are looking to deal a dman in a deal and not just dump Spacek, I guess it comes down to Gorges, Weber, or possibly Subban since Gill and Markov were just re-signed UFAs and are unlikely to be dealt.
It ain’t gonna be Sunban. Weber is the knee-jerk answer but I could see Gorges leaving as part of a deal for a major forward.
by MathMan on Jun 28, 2011 11:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t see Weber having huge value at this point so Gorges is probably the most likely to move.
I would like to keep Gorges and have a Gorges-Subban toughest-minutes pairing but perhaps Gauthier doesn’t want to meet his salary demands.
At this point I’d much rather retain Gorges than trade him but wouldn’t say no to a solid return. He has huge value as a relatively cheap tough minutes guy that’s young enough to be with the team for a very long time. He and Subban are the best long-term assets on defense right now.
Weber is somewhat redundant, especially with the addition of Diaz, so I’d be fine with moving him
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If Gorges goes, there has to be a relatively young top-6 forward coming back, IMO. Otherwise what’s the point? And I think it would have to be a first-line forward for it to be worth it to the Habs.
Really it would probably have to be a guy seriously better than Kostitsyn for it to make any sense for Montreal. Otherwise there is nothing to be gained.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
can you define relatively cheap?
Are we talking $2.5MM-$3.0MM per, or $3.5MM+ ?
I think $2.75MM is fair, but I’ve heard others say that $3.5MM is “market” for this type of Dman. With no O contribution, I wonder if team would rather pay the extra $$ for Wiz if Gorges is priced at $3MM+
My prediction has been $11.5MM/4 yrs for Gorges. Although younger, he’s really no different than H Gill in what he brings to the ice.
I find it incredible that they would let Pouliot go like that. Maybe they hope to re-sign him for a lesser amount?
That Latendresse trade isn’t looking too good right now.
They didn’t qualify him last year either, so its possible.
But no, the Latendresse trade doesn’t look good at all right now. Not so much trading him, that I understood, just that the return wasn’t what it should have been.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Largely yes. Although there was a short period when he was an effective complement to Gomez-Gionta where it was looking to be worthwhile. But that’s small sample sizes for you.
He is a decent ES producer with favorable Corsi numbers, so I wanted him back to play the bottom six scorer role. But its not a big deal.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Pacioretty’s emergence really killed his chances. 67’s the de-facto missing piece in the top-6 and now any winger signed (and the team has ample cap space to do that) simply has to be a top-9 type. Which means Poo’s out of a job.
Too bad, he’s a talent and still pretty darn young. He’ll catch on somewhere else, for sure, just too bad the habs couldn’t get anything back.
24 is really pushing the point where most scoring forwards stop making significant improvements to their game. He could catch on elsewhere, but you could also see the european professional leagues in his future.
Pacioretty did so much to make the team better. That 2nd line left wing spot was the biggest hole in the organization, when he filled it the team finally looked like it had decent players to fill all the roles. Now they can focus on what luxuries they want with the cap space rather than worry about patching major holes in the lineup.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
That trade was needed, Pouliot was struggling in Minni, Latendresse was struggling on the 3rd/4th line last year with the Habs. The deal gave both of them fire, Pouliot played very well last season then decreased towards the end of the season, as did Latendresse. Pouliot just sucked this season, but then again at least he was dressed and produced 30 points, Latendresse played in something like 8 games this season in Minni.
It was a terrible deal. Latendresse was at the time a far better player than Pouliot and it was obvious already that Pouliot was exceedingly unlikely to close the gap. Both went on great shooting sprees right after the deal, which occluded the fact that hockey-wise Montreal had just been stupid.
The Habs letting Pouliot go only emphasizes Montreal’s mistake, but the mistake was made when Latendresse was first traded.
The sad part is that he wasn’t even more productive in Minny than he’d been in Montreal. He just got more icetime to do it in, plus PP time.
I liked Pyatt as a defensive player, and he couldn’t have been asking for much money. Why let him go?
I don’t quite understand this, either. I mean, a QO would have been for $550k, only $25k above the league minimum.
Oh well, it is not like he’s an important player, but it just strikes me as a bit odd. I guess they want as many contract spots as possible available for free agency.
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If you can get Jeff Halpern for the same money, and you’re fairly sure Pyatt isn’t going to get better, then there’s no much point in keeping Pyatt really.
Well, Halpern is 11 years older than Pyatt…and how sure can you be that a 24-year-old isn’t going to get better?
Pyatt's not getting any better
good wheels, no finish and not much of a play maker. Halpern is great on face-offs and can play multiple positions well on 2nd, 3rd or 4th line, as necessary.
Pyatt plays a role typically filled by cheap veterans so the advantages of youth are largely wasted on him.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 28, 2011 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
A winger’s gonna be available as a UFA soon apparently.
23 goals and 27 assists in 77 games, 49% Ozone starts, 0.436 Corsi Rel QoC, 0.7 Pdraw/60
Interested?
I bet he’d like to play in Montreal, his brother already plays here!
I dunno, that guy was awfully lucky with the shooting. Not a top-6 guy but he’d look awfully nice on the third line with Eller.
It would be pretty funny if the re-signed in Montreal considering how upset people were with the return.
Wisniewski traded for a 7th that becomes a 5th if he signs to Columbus.
With rumours from the Russian media that Jagr has settled on Pittsburg the question is starting to become whether any of this cap space gets used on an upgrade.
Any word on trade partners?? Speculation on how might be coming in?? Feel in the shadows….
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jun 29, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
I doubt we’ll hear anything substantive about trades… when’s the last time the Habs made a major trade and we heard about it beforehand?
As for speculation, Hemsky in Edmonton seems like a decent bet with his pending their management, his pending UFA status, and Hemsky being older than 22. I would love to have him with the Habs.
Hemsky would be fantasitc. But I would see other teams putting in a better bid for him if he is availible.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
The Habs need to line up as many former 1st-round picks as they can and then offer them to Edmonton…. in the press conference about the Penner deal the main positives Tambo had to say about Teubert was that he played for the Canadian U-20 team and he was a former 1st-rounder.
Seriously though, a 1st and a prospect (Tinordi/Weber/Leblanc/Kristo… I don’t now prospects worth a damn) would be worth doing given how strong the Habs were last year in possession metrics and the need for a forward or two so Darche and Moen don’t end up in the top-6 again. It’s not like next year is the only year for the Habs to contend (assuming no major CBA changes without NHL/NHLPA bail-outs for near-cap teams), but with Subban and Price’s contracts it’s a big year to potentially do so.
If we’re talking Penner equivalent plus another asset then a 1st Weber/Tinordi + Kristo/Avstin
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Was thinking about that at deadline day.. Though… injuries… I’d like someone more stable physically… I won’t be disappointed if they land him but not at cost…. would be nice for him to settle in at about … 3.7/yr
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jun 29, 2011 3:39 PM EDT reply actions
Hemsky is going to be a 6 million dollar UFA in 2012 if injuries haven’t destroyed his career.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is getting to be a big if at this point. Hemsky’s a great player but he only helps if he’s in the lineup.
by despisethesun on Jun 30, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Relatively a point per game player.. when healthy…
Could be good with Plek…??
Not a true stellar signing for 5.5 but market value is overrated in a high ceiling market… god knows what he’ll sign for with the Rangers now that Drury is gone (just saying Sather likes to over pay)
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Jun 29, 2011 3:53 PM EDT reply actions
0.850 cap hit apparently. my 0.9 prediction was pretty accurate.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice deal for the Habs, I was expecting $0.975 for 1-year. Not anything resembling crippling if he sucks but if he does break-out into a regular NHL defenseman who’s also productive on the PP they get that second year at slightly below value.
So that leaves Gorges and I’m not sure to expect for him. Going into the off-season I thought multi-year $2.25-2.5 deal but $3 million for more than one year would be him giving the Habs a discount.
I’m still a little confused by the Hamrlik negotiations as well unless Spacek is injured. That boat seemed to have sailed with Emelin coming over and Gill re-signing yet the Habs were still willing to offer him a contract. I would like to see Hamlik back but I really don’t see space for him. All that said, it will be interesting to see if someone else gives him the multi-year deal he wants.
If Wisniewski isn’t the plan they really should look at getting another top-4 defender. The have the space and the money for it. If Hamrlik was only for a year that would fill the need until Yemelin/Weber/Diaz step in.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Who are you envisioning for the role? Erhoff is looking for a payday, who else is available? Jovanovski?
by MathMan on Jun 29, 2011 5:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m thinking Hamrlik if he “comes to Jesus” on a one year deal. Elsewise its a bit of a wasteland. Thats why I was very much in favor of retaining Wisneiwski’s services long term for the 3/4 position in the lineup. Even if Yemelin is top-4 worthy, having 3 3/4 guys on a wealthy team is a good situation to be in. For 12-13 Montreal is currently at
Markov-Subban
Gorges-xxxxxxx
Yemelin-Weber
Diaz
So there is a long-term roster spot to fill unless one of Weber/Diaz is ready to be a 4/5 level defenseman.
Maybe a Hejda, Hannen or Montador would be a good investment to improve defensive depth.
Of course if they can make major forward additions with this space Gill and Spacek can carry the load for a year.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Andy Greene also would be an interesting guy to look at.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
You forgot Gill and Spacek…
I’m thinking him and Subban start the year together while Yemelin gets used to the NHL on the third pair. Then Yemelin gets to play with Markov for the good old “Markov + big guy” pair and Subban plays with Gorges.
A third pair of Gill/Weber looks good but I think Weber will start the year as 7th until the first injury.
by Simon Lamarche on Jun 29, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I haven’t forgotten them, I’d just rather have them as bottom pairing guys that fill in the top-4 after injuries rather than rely on them from the start when the team has the money to have better.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand, but I’m pretty sure Diaz hasn’t passed them in the depth chart yet ;)
You’re right that the FA market for forwards is not that interesting and getting an even better D might be a better option though.
by Simon Lamarche on Jun 29, 2011 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Sadly, the market for defenseman has collapsed over the last week or so.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know if Kaberle’s value really has dropped because of the playoffs, but I’d give him a chance!
I didn’t realize it until he got traded for Boston, but Kaberle hasn’t played 1st-pairing minutes in a few years… I think since Wilson became Toronto’s coach. Now i’m not sure what to think of Kaberle, but he’ll probably be high-priced on reputation alone.
Although whenever I look at Toronto’s line competition stats I’m always struck by how little matching up they do. Either Wilson doesn’t trust anyone with really difficult minutes or he isn’t a good bench manager.
I think Kaberle’s deficincies that no one cared about on a losing Toronto franchise got a bit exposed on Boston’s team however.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Following the Jagr saga has started to get amusing. He was supposed to announce today but aparrently has gone AWOL.
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 29, 2011 11:11 PM EDT reply actions
I wonder if Gauthier has decided or will decide to bump his offer up because of the terrible free-agent market. Jagr was rumoured to want what, $2-3 million? At this point I’d offer him $4 million and see if he’d bite.
Maybe he is on a walk with Luongo along the seawall or Gainey and him are strolling around Old Montreal.
by Chris Boyle on Jun 30, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why released Pyatt?
Ok Tom Pyatt ain’t a star player, not by far. But he’s got something that most Montreal forwards don’t have, back checking. Montreal is weak at back checking and depends on the defense and Carey Price to get the puck and turn it up the ice. Pyatt in his best season will probably get 15-20 points, but in a way, I feel that Tom Pyatt need to be signed, he played both wings & center last season and killed penalties like the best of them. He’s a role player, and I know people are gonna say, Jeff Halpern, Glen Metropolit, Dominic Moore, veteran players will be more dependable. Ok then why extend an offer to Ryan White. Ryan White and Tom Pyatt to me are the same player, Ryan White a bit more aggressive and loves to fight. They both make the smart plays and kill penalties well, so sign Pyatt, dump Pouliot & Picard, and while I’m at it, dump Roman Hamrlik, he’s good, but his age caught up to him.
In his rookie year I thought Pyatt was awful. One of the worst non-goons I can remember “seeing” since the lockout; decent on the penalty kill, awful everywhere else. That carried forward through most of this season.
Then a funny thing happened… I took a look at the Habs’ individual metrics at behindthenet.ca Not only was he not awful, he almost held his head above water playing against a level of opposition that he probably shouldn’t have. I’m surprised the Habs didn’t qualify him as I had him as a cheap 13th/14th forward if the off-season went well for the Habs. The non-qualification is puzzling… when you’re getting into pressbox/injury guys Pyatt would be a very nice player to have in that role and especially when his salary would probably be so close to the league minimum.
As for Hamrlik, his age did catch up to him but he’s still a quality defenseman. Up until the halfway point of last year he was the #1 defenseman on the Habs when Markov was injured, and doing okay at it. If he was brought back for a top-4 role where he’s the supporting defenseman on the pairing (i.e. playing with Subban) rather than the defenseman driving the bus on the pairing (arguably when he was playing with Spacek against the other team’s top lines) he is a very capable top-4 defenseman. I’d probably still like him back if Spacek is known to be injured or about to be traded for some bizarre reason.
Pyatt isn’t gone yet. They just don’t have to sign him to a raise if they don’t quakify him. My guess is he’s back at minimum wage.
Well, it’d still be a raise: minimum wage goes up to $525k this year from $500k. A QO would’ve been at $550k. If he is back, I’d guess they did this to avoid an arbitration hearing. I don’t know what he’d get at arbitration, but I suppose it saves the costs of flying to Toronto or NYC or wherever the hearings are. :)
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For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.
by Bruce Peter on Jun 30, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
What are you talking about that would make following you on twitter not a waste of my time?
by Stephan Cooper on Jun 30, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
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