I really thought I had dreams, but now i'm delusionned
He was traded for as a rental, wouldn't sign until he tested his UFA value, and then came to an agreement with the habs as a UFAand signed his current deal.
Not to dispute that Kovalev was traded for, just like Janni Niniimaa. But I was giving Bob credit for signing both Kovalev and Hamr as UFAs. Which he did.
Finally one UFA signing that doesn't disapoint. To the players who are scared of signing here, they should stay away...If they aren't willing to come here to perform every night, why sign 'em?
Ps: Kovalev shouldn't really be considered a UFA signing, since he was with the team before signing.
Ps: Kovalev shouldn't really be considered a UFA signing, since he was with the team before signing.
I see your point, but to me since he wouldn't sign until he did actually go UFA and field offers from other teams, he has to be considered a UFA signing, and in fact one we had to trade for to then be able to sign later.
If Hossa waits to go UFA and then, after fielding offers, signs with Pittsburgh I'd consider him the same way: First a rental, then a UFA signing. Not either-or a trade or UFA, but both. Technically Kovalev was both.
I think the Habs are becoming a much better option for UFA's with this year's turnaround.
I think if they get to at least the 2nd round and finish top 4 in the conference, then guys like Shanahan Arnott Briere Smyth of the past couple years will look much more favorably to signing with the Habs.
When the Habs are doing poorly, Montreal is a very tough place to play, when they are doing well, it's a great place to play and NHL hockey players know this well. The taxes and climate is not as much of a factor if you have a shot at a cup.
Hammer, in my opinion, has been our best defenseman all year.
Markov has had better games. Komisarek too. But Hamrlik never makes a mistake. I love him.
I couldn't agree with you more!!
Hammer is our best defencemen as far as I'm concerned...he plays an awesome style and he is very consistant back there. Your right, Markov and Komisarek have had their better games...but Hammer has been right there for us all year.
I think it showed how important he is to our blueline when he missed all those games with the flu or skin rash! We didn't play to good in our own end.
I think the Habs are becoming a much better option for UFA's with this year's turnaround.
I think if they get to at least the 2nd round and finish top 4 in the conference, then guys like Shanahan Arnott Briere Smyth of the past couple years will look much more favorably to signing with the Habs.
When the Habs are doing poorly, Montreal is a very tough place to play, when they are doing well, it's a great place to play and NHL hockey players know this well. The taxes and climate is not as much of a factor if you have a shot at a cup.
I don't think so. The problem with signing in Montreal is the taxes.
comments like this is exactly what this team needs to attract UFAs.
The team has been average or worse for many years and nobody of the current NHL players knew what is the madness in Montreal when we have a winning team, how much we love them. Now that the players are experiencing it, they understand.
I don't think Gainey will have problems attracting UFAs next year.
Best signing in years, he solidified the hole D crew, his defensive game in mistakeless, he's as reliable as they come, he's also the only mentor the kids on D have, this year it's O'byrne, the next ones will be Emelin,, Valentenko, Mcdonagh, etc....
If you wanna offer me veterans, Hamrlik is the type of player i want, not old deadweight like Smolinski and Kostopoulos
Several new players have made the Habs a better team this season, that plus the renaissance of Alex Kovalev. Hamrlik has been one of the best additions.
Could someone please translate Hammer's quotes......Please. Thanks alot.
When asked about Montreal's performance this year, he says "Yes I'm surprised."
He says he didn't see the Canadiens much during his 2 years in Calgary.
"We're better when we play as a team. We have a number of young players in the line-up, but everyone can be a leader in their own way."
"Mike Komisarek, Chris Higgins, and Tomas Plekanec are all young veterans who have taken their spots."
"The support of the fans is incredible! I'd never seen anything like that in my career before coming here. We really feel it on the bench."
"The season's not over. There are still 9 games left to play and we have yet to clinch a playoff spot. That's our goal. Once we're in the playoffs, anything can happen. It's another season."
