Habs Sign UFA Chris Campoli And Make Roster Cuts
by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:16 PM EDT
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In a truly bewildering move, the Montreal Canadiens have signed 27 year old veteran Chris Campoli to a one year deal worth $1.75 million. Campoli had an underwhelming season last year, split between the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks, capped off by sending a pass onto the stick of Alexandre Burrows in overtime of game 7 of round 1 that led to the Blackhawks being eliminated from the 2011 NHL playoffs.
Campoli managed 4 goals and 17 assists in 77 games with an even +/- rating, 36 PIM, 99 hits, and just 84 shots.
Listed at 6' and 190 lbs and is known as an offensive defenseman even though his career high is just 34 points. Here are Campoli's career stats from HockeyDB:
Official statement by the Canadiens:
PRESS RELEASE
MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced Monday the signing of defenseman Chris Campoli to a one-year contract for the 2011-12 season. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In 2010-11, Campoli registered 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 77 games with the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks. One of his goal was scored on the powerplay and he tallied one game-winning goal. Campoli served 34 penalty minutes and totaled 84 shots on goal.
Campoli, 27, played 397 career regular season games in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Ottawa and Chicago. He has registered 135 points (33 goals, 102 assists) and 192 penalty minutes. He suited up for 18 career playoff contests, collecting five points (1 goal, 4 assists).
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Campoli was drafted in the seventh round, 227th overall by the
Islanders at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Opinion on the signing after the jump.
As far as depth moves go, I don't get this signing at all. To sign a perennial disappointment like Campoli is one thing, the Blackhawks wanted to retain him after last year in spite of his brain cramp for example. However at this stage in the game I can't support the salary being agreed on. Campoli is worth that salary at perhaps the best of times, but he's been a free agent for nearly two months and there have been no takers. The man has literally zero leverage and he gets perhaps double what the Habs should have paid. I just don't like it.
It's been brought up that perhaps Campoli can help out on the powerplay, but I just don't buy it. His career high for powerplay goals in a season is a whopping TWO. And to make matters worse, last year he only managed two powerplay points season.
I'm usually on the side of management in Montreal as for the most part they know what they're doing, but this reeks of a panic move, or at the very least a lack of patience.
It's pretty clear something is up with the Habs defense for this move to be made at this stage, but it's unclear what it is.
In other news, the Canadiens announced several cuts this afternoon:
PRESS RELEASE
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens announced Monday that three players have been reassigned to their junior team, and seven players have been assigned to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.
Forward Olivier Archambault (Drummondville – QMJHL), defensemen Morgan Ellis (Cape Breton – QMJHL) and Nathan Beaulieu (St. John’s – QMJHL) have been returned to their respective junior teams.
Forwards Alexander Avtsin, Andrew Conboy and Dany Masse, as well as defensemen Mark Mitera and Joe Stejskal, and goaltenders Robert Mayer and Peter Delmas have been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
There are still 45 players at camp, including ten players sidelined due to injuries: Andrei Markov, Hunter Bishop, Brendon Nash, David Desharnais, Lars Eller, Olivier Fortier, Louis Leblanc, Joonas Nattinen, Ryan White and Ian Schultz.
Canadiens will play tonight the sixth of their eight preseason games hosting the Boston Bruins, at the Bell Centre.
The Hamilton Bulldogs’ training camp will get underway tomorrow at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
Brock Trotter was also put on waivers earlier today in order to send him to Hamilton after tonight's game.
It's looking more and more like Brendan Gallagher might get a shot at a 9 game tryout for the Habs this year. So far it's hard to say he doesn't deserve it, especially with all the injuries up front.
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Has to be more on the injury concern side. It’s also obvious Woywitka should be waived.
In a sense, the money doesn’t matter, but it’s still bizarre.
FYI, he was an arbitration walkaway, so he’s been a UFA for about 2 months, not since July 1.
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I’ll fix the UFA status. The salary is just so out there for me. Campoli has been disappointing since his rookie year. He should be a Halpern like signing, 900K or less.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a pretty good deal, Campoli is a high-quality third-pairing guy so the money’s fair, but I don’t get why that deal was made given the Habs’ blueline situation; they already had more guys than they could fit.
I don’t dislike the signing but I am intrigued, and a little worried, at the implications.
I guess you can’t have too much defensive depth. I am not going to the “Markov is done” phase just yet.
The implications are worse than the signing for sure. When the best case scenario is that Weber is trade bait, I’m not too happy. If our defense was weak, I would understand shelling out that kind of cash for a player like Campoli, but I don’t think he’s better than Weber or Yemelin, so I don’t see the point unless Subban and Markov are both severely injured.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
They don’t have to be severely injured. Maybe Markov won’t be back until Christmas and the Habs didn’t want to go 30 games without some help. Those 30 games could be the difference between 3 and 8th or 8th and 10th.
I would count missing 30 games as a severe injury.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
He had a severe injury. The second that he wasn’t ready for the season I knew that 10+ games was a possibility. I have been prepared for even more than that since that announcement. This doesn’t push me into worst case in my mind, I was there 2 weeks ago.
10 games I don’t think is a problem, 30 though is really worrying.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
For PK, yes. For Markov, no. That is for me, not everybody else.
This team overcame injuries all over the place last season. If Markov misses 30, I think they can cope.
I think they can cope, but I’m kind of tired of coping to be honest. I’d like to see a healthy season for the first time since 2008.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
In strict terms, his signing means no Woywitka, which is a good thing. It makes all of our top 8 D respectable.
The injury to Brendon Nash also plays a minor role in this as well.
But it does make one wonder what the coaching staff’s opinion is of guys like Yemelin, Weber or Diaz stepping up. I guess they’ll really have to earn their ice time now.
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No Woywitka is a good thing, but this is a pricey replacement.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, the Habs aren’t cap-strapped and it seems about fair given the guy’s ability. Gill makes more money.
Gill is also an established vet who brings other things to the table though.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I’ve seen of him, I really doubt that. I’m willing to let him prove me wrong though.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Assuming Subban isn’t out, what are the pairings shaping up like?
Gill – Subban
Spacek – Gorges
Campoli – Weber
Yemelin?
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I’ve seen a suggestion that Weber might move to forward with all the injuries there, which makes the move make a lot more sense.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Could happen Andrew, as I’m more comfortable with Yemelin as the 6th d-man over Weber.
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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Sep 26, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
So am I if truth be told.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
You have to see it from his side
He’s looking at the other options on D and he realizes there’s a chance he’ll play for Hamilton or spend a lot of time in the pressbox soon. If the Habs don’t wanna give him a no-movement clause, I don’t think he’d want to sign for less than a million. It’s about risk-reward for him too!
If he evaluates his chances are playing 20 games for the habs this year, he signed a 500K deal. By the end of the year, he could be 9th in the depth chart!
I don’t place any blame on Campoli for the contract, good on him and his agent for managing to get overpaid. I’m just saying considering the circumstances and talent available, I’m not impressed with Gauthier’s negotiating ability on this one.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t see a problem. Campoli’s paid pretty much what a player of his caliber (high-end 5th D-man with PP ability) should command. I don’t see him as overpaid.
You’re making the assumption that he’s still a UFA because there has been zero interest. That’s not necessarily the case; he may simply have been rejecting those sub-1 million offer knowing that someone would need a D-man eventually, and the pickings are rather slim by now.
There was a report earlier today that several teams lost interest on him over the last week, so it’s not entirely an assumption. And PP ability being listed as his strength is a bit of a stretch considering his career production in that area.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
His PP numbers are very weird; he’s had one good year, but since then his on-ice shooting percentage on the PP has been terrible, even though the shot production has largely been there.
Could be that he’s just not a good shooter, and had one lucky year.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
To put things into perspective, while Campoli was on the ice the Sens managed the rare feat of having a worse shooting percentage on the PP than at even-strength.
Sorry, thought you meant HIS shooting percentage.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
No problem — “on-ice shooting percentage” isn’t nearly descriptive enough, we need a better name for that stat.
How about “team on-ice shooting percentage”?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 26, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
“Campoli’s team on-ice shooting percentage”? Or more “Campoli’s on-ice team shooting percentage”?
It works but it’s a mouthful.
If there’s any problem with advanced stats, it’s that they’re a mouthful and hard to abbreviate. Relative Corsi Qualcomp for example. Just sounds like a mess of words if you don’t already know what it means.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 27, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I prefer Gomezitis.
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I still don’t think Markhov is close to being back. Woywitka is probably out and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spacek out pretty soon. They gave Campoli to much money I think.
Campoli
Was he the best of the free agent Ds still available? Was there anyone else we could have picked up?
Not Many out there
There was Campoli, Paul Mara, Bryan McCabe. Montreal could’ve resigned Brent Sopel or negotiated with Niclas Wallin before he went to Europe.
I’m thinking deal.
As stated, his 1.75 isn’t bone crushing, and maybe for what they are working with it makes sense. OK so the guy made a gaff in the playoffs at the worst possible time, but, so to did Kevin Lowe (though that might have been a regular season game..can’t recall) .
The misnomer of calling him a PP additive is well…. a gaff in itself. Whoever shared this nugget of subjectivity must have had their jock on their head when they watched him play.
My question is:
Is he worse defensively than Spacek?? If he isn’t and Spacek is dealt, then we win. Did Spacek recover from his injury from last season? he’d be a couple of years younger than Spacek, and less salary wise…. could this be why he was signed?
by Cruisin4aBruisin on Sep 27, 2011 3:07 AM EDT reply actions
Spacek is significantly better defensively and not getting traded.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Sep 27, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I think you might be thinking of Steve Smith, actually. You’re referring to the own-goal in the Edmonton-Calgary series in 1986?
by despisethesun on Sep 27, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Campoli Sucks...
He’s never been strong defensively, he’s not great offensively either. I just don’t understand this signing. All he’s ever been is a support player, he doesn’t have much to bring to the table. He doesn’t have the skating or stick skills of a PK Subban, he certainly doesn’t have the shot of a PK Subban or Yannik Weber. He doesn’t have the passing skill of an Andrei Markov. He doesn’t have the defensive skills of a Hal Gill or Josh Gorges. And he’s not even a Jaroslav Spacek. So, Gauthier, why was Roman Hamrlik not resigned? Because essentially, Campoli is crap
#6 - #8 ... hedging strategy
If Woywitka has been as bad as everyone says, it’s very risky to go into season relying on 3 unproven youngsters (Weber, Yemelin & Diaz) to be your 5-7 Dmen behind only PK, Gill, Spacek and Gorges, who’s also coming back from major surgery. Assuming Markov’s back within 10-15 games, Campoli becomes your #6/7 guy …. and if all goes well, he’s surpassed quickly by all 3 of the youngsters, which means they’re playing well. Or even beter – maybe he outperforms to earn new contract and Habs keep him to replace Gill and Spacek next year.
Seems like win-win scenario at reasonable contract size. Paying him less would be better, but are there really better options at less money? Don’t know.
Blackhawks fans
If you look at Second City Hockey’s website, people over there were worried when front office didn’t sign Campoli. If he’s good enough to be on the third pairing in Chicago, I’m pretty sure he’ll do in Montreal.
I’m not worried, especially since there are a few guys that can take his job if he isn’t that good. And if the cap space is needed for another move, I’m pretty sure they can send him to Hamilton, haven’t heard anything about a NMC. Very low-risk signing.
by Simon Lamarche on Sep 27, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
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