Bob Gainey and the Montreal Canadiens are not Quitters!!!
Great, and to show our point to the world, let's keep all our impending UFA's for a chance to make the playoffs (and, in all likelyhood, a quick in/out dance in the 1st round) and then lose them for nothing, while the rest of the world is selling their impending UFA's for insane prices (the Tkachuk deal is the most insane of them all).
But at least everybody will know we are not quitters!!!
Great, and to show our point to the world, let's keep all our impending UFA's for a chance to make the playoffs (and, in all likelyhood, a quick in/out dance in the 1st round) and then lose them for nothing, while the rest of the world is selling their impending UFA's for insane prices (the Tkachuk deal is the most insane of them all).
But at least everybody will know we are not quitters!!!
I expect we'll just sit on the fence as usual, and miss the boat.
I expect we'll just sit on the fence as usual, and miss the boat.
That's exactly what I think. This team is affraid to make a bold move. The return for rentals is high. It's the perfect occasion to build for the future. Plus, we can rebuild as soon as this summer with UFAs like Briere, Stuart, Philips, etc.
That's exactly what I think. This team is affraid to make a bold move. The return for rentals is high. It's the perfect occasion to build for the future. Plus, we can rebuild as soon as this summer with UFAs like Briere, Stuart, Philips, etc.
If draft picks and prospects are crapshoots, then I think the idea we could sign UFAs like Briere, Stuart, and Phillips is an even bigger crapshoot. Stuart made it abundantly clear in Boston that he's not interested in playing anywhere in the East. To pry guys like Briere or Phillips out of their current cushy posts, the degree of overpayment you'd have to offer would have to be of astronomical proportions. Nossir, in all likelihood, relying on the UFA market to allow us to replace our key guys would be awfully risky. We'd probably end up with more Samsonovs. Plan Ds. Adrian Aucoin. Stuff like that.
As for making bold moves... I call massive BS on that one. Gainey has a very proven track record on boldness. I just think the timing isn't quite right for the Habs right now. If we're in the playoff races in the Centennial season that management is building towards, however, I bet they'll be ready to pull out all the stops. We'll have an extra season+ of development in from our prospects, we'll have the contracts of some guys getting near to expiry, all the chips will be on the table then. Gainey has a plan. He'll boldly go there when the time is right. And he'll boldly ignore the panicky mobs in the meantime.
The Habs should be looking to trade Souray as they are not in a position to win the Cup. The return that they will get for him will be quite good considering the trade this morning between the Thrashers and the Blues. On the other hand, if Gillette is solely concerned about money, than it would be a stupid trade as two to three home playoff dates could potentially disappear.
Moreover, is it me or are the Habs management being too patient. Or, is it simply a result of our players not appearing all that attractive on the trade market, which means that we will be stuck with the likes of Bouillion (great assist yesterday afternoon), Samsonov, Kovalev (4.5 mil for 13 goals does not cut it for me), etc.? Bouillion instead of Hainsey and Bouchemin? Brilliant.
As I have said in previous posts, the Habs should have started a major rebuilding program when Gainey came to the Habs or three to four years before his arrival. They have not and thus continue to remain in a position of mediocrity. I would rather see this team descend to the depths of hockey hell (i.e., 25-30 overall) by playing their younger players rather than being in perpetual hockey purgatory for the last 10 years by playing veterans (14-21 overall). In short, the Habs need to jettison a good deal of dead weight and try to rebuild in via the draft, bold trades, and intelligent UFA signings.
plafleur10 you are just mr negativity, not one positive thread started by you.
If you are talking this week-end, you are right. I just don't like what I am hearing, don't get what the Gainey masterplan is, am afraid we will end up sitting on the fence like Reuben and Franchise Player said.
Just would like to see a mind at work really trying to be better than others, being proactive as opposed to reactive. Look at Brian Burke, he traded his 1st rounder to get Pronger, then he needed a 1st rounder to try to be a player in this year's deadline, yeaterday he goes out to get a 1st rounder for a player nobody even knows about.
Compare this to us, we were supposedly interested in Forsberg, we "placed a call" according to Gainey, "the call was not returned" and that was it. What in hell is that? If you really wanted him, call again and again, for God's sake! The reality is we probably did not know what we wanted, were sitting on the fence just as we are now, so we allowed fate to make the decision for us, all the while being able to tell our fans "well...we tried...but it was not in the cards".And our gullible fans just buy it, nobody even seems to have been upset by this "call not returned" story.
Honestly, this type of BS makes me furious, I see this trade deadline, with the crazy prices being paid for impending UFA's as a short window of opportunity to convert what is a very difficult and delicate situation for the Habs (8 impending UFA's, including 3 of their 4 top D's, with little Cap space to spend) into a glorious opportunity to acquire good young players/picks for the not so distant future.
And from what I hear from Gainey, we are just about to blow it! My only hope, right now, is that as some of you have suggested, Gainey is outright lying to everybody, has come to his senses and will do the selling he must do.
If you are talking this week-end, you are right. I just don't like what I am hearing, don't get what the Gainey masterplan is, am afraid we will end up sitting on the fence like Reuben and Franchise Player said.
Just would like to see a mind at work really trying to be better than others, being proactive as opposed to reactive. Look at Brian Burke, he traded his 1st rounder to get Pronger, then he needed a 1st rounder to try to be a player in this year's deadline, yeaterday he goes out to get a 1st rounder for a player nobody even knows about.
Compare this to us, we were supposedly interested in Forsberg, we "placed a call" according to Gainey, "the call was not returned" and that was it. What in hell is that? If you really wanted him, call again and again, for God's sake! The reality is we probably did not know what we wanted, were sitting on the fence just as we are now, so we allowed fate to make the decision for us, all the while being able to tell our fans "well...we tried...but it was not in the cards".And our gullible fans just buy it, nobody even seems to have been upset by this "call not returned" story.
Honestly, this type of BS makes me furious, I see this trade deadline, with the crazy prices being paid for impending UFA's as a short window of opportunity to convert what is a very difficult and delicate situation for the Habs (8 impending UFA's, including 3 of their 4 top D's, with little Cap space to spend) into a glorious opportunity to acquire good young players/picks for the not so distant future.
And from what I hear from Gainey, we are just about to blow it! My only hope, right now, is that as some of you have suggested, Gainey is outright lying to everybody, has come to his senses and will do the selling he must do.
In another part of cyberspace, Gainey has EARNED the Mr. Waffles name. He wears it well.......
I'm still waiting for anything other than Kovy that really surprised me and helped the team... Unless you consider trading your second line centre for a no. 8 d-man making 2.5mil to be good and unexpected...
The Habs should be looking to trade Souray as they are not in a position to win the Cup. The return that they will get for him will be quite good considering the trade this morning between the Thrashers and the Blues. On the other hand, if Gillette is solely concerned about money, than it would be a stupid trade as two to three home playoff dates could potentially disappear.
Moreover, is it me or are the Habs management being too patient. Or, is it simply a result of our players not appearing all that attractive on the trade market, which means that we will be stuck with the likes of Bouillion (great assist yesterday afternoon), Samsonov, Kovalev (4.5 mil for 13 goals does not cut it for me), etc.? Bouillion instead of Hainsey and Bouchemin? Brilliant.
As I have said in previous posts, the Habs should have started a major rebuilding program when Gainey came to the Habs or three to four years before his arrival. They have not and thus continue to remain in a position of mediocrity. I would rather see this team descend to the depths of hockey hell (i.e., 25-30 overall) by playing their younger players rather than being in perpetual hockey purgatory for the last 10 years by playing veterans (14-21 overall). In short, the Habs need to jettison a good deal of dead weight and try to rebuild in via the draft, bold trades, and intelligent UFA signings.
great thread, agreed we should of dismantled it a bit every year , rather than be forced to deal with it big time in the next few years. But clearly if Souray can fetch us a Carle at 22, YOU ARE STUPID , for saying no. Souray for a low first, 4th and a Cube crap on D is a no, but if you get a legit asset , you have to pounce on a deal.
I don't think trading Souray is a sign of quitting, I think it is a sign of a good GM building for his core for the future and next year like St.Louis and Philly have been doing.
Sure Souray is a PP specialist, bu how many does he cause 5 on 5? He is aweful defensively and I would hate to lose him for nothing and I would hate to put 5+ million per into a one dimensional player like Souray.
I think Gainey has the upper hand on GM's out there wanting a PP specialist like Souray and could have a decent bidding war for his services, especailly since Brewer re-signed and Blake isn't waiving his no trade clause.
If you are talking this week-end, you are right. I just don't like what I am hearing, don't get what the Gainey masterplan is, am afraid we will end up sitting on the fence like Reuben and Franchise Player said.
Just would like to see a mind at work really trying to be better than others, being proactive as opposed to reactive. Look at Brian Burke, he traded his 1st rounder to get Pronger, then he needed a 1st rounder to try to be a player in this year's deadline, yeaterday he goes out to get a 1st rounder for a player nobody even knows about.
Compare this to us, we were supposedly interested in Forsberg, we "placed a call" according to Gainey, "the call was not returned" and that was it. What in hell is that? If you really wanted him, call again and again, for God's sake! The reality is we probably did not know what we wanted, were sitting on the fence just as we are now, so we allowed fate to make the decision for us, all the while being able to tell our fans "well...we tried...but it was not in the cards".And our gullible fans just buy it, nobody even seems to have been upset by this "call not returned" story.
Honestly, this type of BS makes me furious, I see this trade deadline, with the crazy prices being paid for impending UFA's as a short window of opportunity to convert what is a very difficult and delicate situation for the Habs (8 impending UFA's, including 3 of their 4 top D's, with little Cap space to spend) into a glorious opportunity to acquire good young players/picks for the not so distant future.
And from what I hear from Gainey, we are just about to blow it! My only hope, right now, is that as some of you have suggested, Gainey is outright lying to everybody, has come to his senses and will do the selling he must do.
Although I agree we should trade guys like Souray if we can get a return like others have, I don't understand your take on the Forsberg situation. What do you mean "call again and again"? This is rediculous. If he inquired about Forsberg and Philly was not interested in calling back, that is Philly's problem. And as it turns out, I'm glad. If we beat Nashville's offer, I for sure would not be happy.
I'm sure Gainey has been doing this long enough to know what should and should not be done. And surely he must know more about this business than pLafleur10 from hfboards.
If draft picks and prospects are crapshoots, then I think the idea we could sign UFAs like Briere, Stuart, and Phillips is an even bigger crapshoot. Stuart made it abundantly clear in Boston that he's not interested in playing anywhere in the East. To pry guys like Briere or Phillips out of their current cushy posts, the degree of overpayment you'd have to offer would have to be of astronomical proportions. Nossir, in all likelihood, relying on the UFA market to allow us to replace our key guys would be awfully risky. We'd probably end up with more Samsonovs. Plan Ds. Adrian Aucoin. Stuff like that.
As for making bold moves... I call massive BS on that one. Gainey has a very proven track record on boldness. I just think the timing isn't quite right for the Habs right now. If we're in the playoff races in the Centennial season that management is building towards, however, I bet they'll be ready to pull out all the stops. We'll have an extra season+ of development in from our prospects, we'll have the contracts of some guys getting near to expiry, all the chips will be on the table then. Gainey has a plan. He'll boldly go there when the time is right. And he'll boldly ignore the panicky mobs in the meantime.
Get Draft picks, get assets out of a situation that you will loose assets. Thats what I think a lot of people are forgetting. Plan B, Plan C whatever this is not the debate, the debate is about asset management.
This thread is ridiculous. Tomorrow night, we play our biggest game of the year against arguably our biggest rivals in the league. In Gainey's Thursday press conference, he said he would assess the Habs situation on Tuesday. Let's see how we make out tomorrow night before giving up on the season.
Relax everyone. Let's root for our Habs to torch the Leafs tomorrow night.
Last edited by Schooner Guy: 02-25-2007 at 01:06 PM.
Reason: wrong word
Get Draft picks, get assets out of a situation that you will loose assets. Thats what I think a lot of people are forgetting. Plan B, Plan C whatever this is not the debate, the debate is about asset management.
Nobody here even has a clue whether we'd lose the Souray asset anyway.
Making the playoffs, getting our kids (and our coach!) more experience and exposure, building a winning environment and a positive mindset, those are assets in themselves.
