Trading Halak, alone, is useless IMO....he's almost worth more to the habs than trading him for a draft pick to another team. If i'm Gainey (and I often like to think I am lol) i'd package Halak + pick + young roster player to get full value for Halak
Something like Halak + D'ags and a pick maybe.
But would that be enough for a bona fide top 6 winger? I dont think so.
I always wonder how those "trade me now !" go public ?
Why it is not only between Gainey (and CH's management) and Halak ? How does it go to the media ?
It's obvious that Halak requested more playing time quite some time ago. This latest bit is just to put more pressure on BG to move him. It's pretty clear.
The report indicates Gainey was looking for a top-six forward in return, but the Canadiens GM downplayed his demands.
''Let's be realistic,'' Gainey told the website. "I received a second round pick from the Washington Capitals for Cristobal Huet and the Flyers gave up a second round pick from Buffalo for Martin Biron.''
Well he's obviously not playing in Montreal as much more than a backup this year, so what do you think he's implying with that statement?
Hmmmm THAT HE WANTS TO PLAY
Seems pretty obvious and straight forward. He didn't flatout ask for a trade. He asked Bob for an oppurtunity to play often, and that if he can't offer him this in Montreal, then to offer him the chance to do it elsewhere.
Note this is the second time Halak makes such a statement in last two years and a half. He's just sticking to his guns.
Also, like Sergei, I also found this to be an indication that he doesn't want to go to the KHL either. Halak wants to play in the NHL.
It appears Canadiens general manager Jaroslav Halak wants to play more and general manager Bob Gainey is willing to accomodate him if the right offer comes along.
Halak told Bob, I wanna PLAY, whether I'd be IN MONTREAL OR ELSEWHERE. He asked Bob to decide.
This is not the first time to happen either, and Halak is still with us since the last time it happened.
On another note, BG is giving exclusives to Raymond again now? It's been a really long time, maybe now Graymound will stop ******* the Habs at every turn.... or did he just make this up (I would be surprised).
Posted via a funtioning brain
exactly, halak asked for this but once again, will not be an ass and will keep quiet during this process like he has been doing all along,
if gainey cant find a good deal then there is no way that halak is traded, gainey would then trade him in the offseason where he could sign a capable veteran backup for price...
it's very logical, Olympics are in 2 months and he wants to be a starter and ready for a big tournament
besides, year after year he bailed your a$$ and never asked a single thing, it's time for him to move somewhere else where he will be better acknowledged
The title of this thread is wrong - Halak never actually requested a trade, he requested playing time.
Career wise, his numbers are pretty similar to Price (.912 SV% for both goalies, .10 GAA difference, 0.06 difference in WIN%).
Admittedly, Halak hasn't had the best season to date - but he's been good enough to post a winning record. He's never really had the chance to string together 15 starts in a row on a few occasions to see if he really has the "it" factor.
Price is playing well now and hopefully he's finally hit his stride where he won't have horrible 20 game stretches anymore since that'll mean we win more games.
I'm in favour of trying to either 1) Improve the club 2) Improve the future 3) move bad contracts if we feel we won't compete. Using Halak to sweeten the deal (or be the key factor) is fine, so long as it does one of those things. Trading him for the sake of trading him would suck because he's a good player and I'd hate to see another Bryzgalov situation.
Looks like the Flyers laughed at Gainey's request though (claimed Leighton off waivers), so we'll have to look elsewhere for a team in need of a goalie.
exactly, halak asked for this but once again, will not be an ass and will keep quiet during this process like he has been doing all along,
if gainey cant find a good deal then there is no way that halak is traded, gainey would then trade him in the offseason where he could sign a capable veteran backup for price...
Exactly, and if anyone reads this article and knows the relationship between BG and Raymond has not been good in the last 6 years, and then BG gives Raymond the scoop that Halak told him this, and that he offered him to other teams, but it went nowhere for the moment... my only conclusion is that its a PR move by BG to tell Halak "I'm trying to accomodate you, but its not working at the moment, please be patient and we'll find a solution"
BG is trying to keep Halak on his side and on his game, despite not playing a lot, despite wanting to play more, despite BG being unable (he says) to trade him.
