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Originally Posted by Qui Gon Dave
Depends how soon you want this in the lineup and if you want proven ability at the NHL level. If so, trade/UFA is probably the best option, but if you don't mind waiting for some of the kids to adapt to the big league then we can add Perezhogin (who has some nice moves but can really use his pace to un-nerve the D) and Andrei Kostitsyn who can pull some great moves given time and space or given virtually no room to move. Plekanec also has a shifty manner when stickhandling and he showed it a few times in montreal this year. Not to the potential level of the two mentioned previously, but he can beat guys 1 on 1. If these guys continue to develop, that gives us Koivu, Kovalev, Perezhogin, Kostitsyn and Plekanec in our top 6. Throw Ribeiro in there is you think he will be with the team in the future.
The Habs have great prospects, but at center? well not right now for sure. Chip and Tender are at least 1 year away.
So Gainey has no options right now but to find a top center for 2-3 years. UFA or trade. Both are a possibility because of a war chest and at least some current assets others like.
A UFA means a proven player, but Gainey might go for an up and comming top center and trade for him. To tear away a top center young player will cost big time but you get exactly what you need to plug that hole for years.
I don't put anything past Gainey at this point.
As for attracting a huge star, we have that as a possible option and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a guy like Selanne find his way to Montreal. But the ability to pull a huge star centre is more unlikely than a winger, I feel. But hopefully Bob can find the right man for the job, he certainly seems to be a man who can make something happen (Can he fix the 2nd line C spot? Yes he can!)  |
A UFA means a proven player, but Gainey just might trade for a center. It will cost big time to tear away a young up and comming top center, but if Gainey can do it he does plug a huge hole for years to come. Trading a top asset that can be replaced ( example: Markov, a ton of teams would be interested) might be enough to tear away a top young center. Gainey could be the winner of the Redden or Chara UFA sweapsteakes alowing this to take place.
As I said , many options.