I realize that many of you still believe we can climb back into contention. No doubt back-to-back wins leads one to believe that, but my feeling is the Cammy trade was already an indication Gautier is looking to next season.
Here's my fantasy team, with the assumption the cap goes up by atleast 2 mil. Pick up Suter, Parise, Doan and Halpern in the off season. Keep all our core youth and contracted players, trade all the vets UFAs for picks.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Zach Parise ($7.250m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Shane Doan ($3.750m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.500m) / Lars Eller ($1.500m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Louis Leblanc ($1.170m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Ryan White ($0.650m)
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.750m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $66,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,203,333; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $96,667
I realize that many of you still believe we can climb back into contention. No doubt back-to-back wins leads one to believe that, but my feeling is the Cammy trade was already an indication Gautier is looking to next season.
Here's my fantasy team, with the assumption the cap goes up by atleast 2 mil. Pick up Suter, Parise, Doan and Halpern in the off season. Keep all our core youth and contracted players, trade all the vets UFAs for picks.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Zach Parise ($7.250m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Shane Doan ($3.750m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.500m) / Lars Eller ($1.500m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m) Louis Leblanc ($1.170m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Ryan White ($0.650m)
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.750m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $66,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,203,333; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $96,667
Whats ur team?
no way you play bourque or leblanc on the 4th line
Zach Parise is going to a cup contender. Parise was asked about whether or not he was signing with devils and if not where does he want to go. He said he cares more about being on a team that is competing for the cup year in year out rather than money. Suter will also want more than 5.25
FORWARDS
Erik Cole ($4.500m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Max Pacioretty ($1.625m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.250m) / Lars Eller ($1.575m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Travis Moen ($2.000m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Ryan White ($0.625m) / Scott Gomez ($7.357m) / Petteri Nokelainen ($0.550m)
/ / Mike Blunden ($0.615m)
edit: switch blunden and nokelainen
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.000m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $60,330,476; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,969,524
Last edited by Coach Brisebois*: 01-26-2012 at 08:38 PM.
As much as I like Cole but if we want to be cup contenders a player like Cole shouldn't be our best scorer especially at 32 yrs old. So I'd do EVERYTHING to sign Parise and try to package Plekanec for a bigger center. Trade or burry Gomez.
As for fedense, I really don't know, it will depend on Markov's form but we would still be soft on defense.
Edit: those who want to sign Doan, LOL, haven't you learned anything from this year's circus regarding english coach? Remember accusations towards Doan and french players few years back?
So we're trading Desharnais to Calgary for Cammalleri back and then putting him at centre? Ok then...
yeah....if only people who didn't know anything about hockey didn't post on here....I guess we wouldn't have anyone to laugh at. So thank you all you dummies for making this board humorous.
Leblanc should spend at least another year in Hamilton.
I don't know. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll be third line ready by the start of next season. He handled those minutes just fine during his call up and is doing pretty well in Hamilton this year.
Right now I'd be looking at a positional depth chart like this
LD
Markov?
Emelin
?????/Kaberle
St. Denis/Nash/Beaulieu
RD
Subban
Gorges
Diaz
Weber
G
Price
Budaj
But so much depends on what happens at the deadline, the draft and how the Gomez, Kaberle and Markov situations resolve themselves that its pretty difficult to project
FORWARDS
Erik Cole ($4.500m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Max Pacioretty ($1.625m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.250m) / Lars Eller ($1.575m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Travis Moen ($2.000m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Ryan White ($0.625m) / Scott Gomez ($7.357m) / Petteri Nokelainen ($0.550m)
/ / Mike Blunden ($0.615m)
edit: switch blunden and nokelainen
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.000m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $60,330,476; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,969,524
So basically the same team as this year? That seems to be working out well...
I think this team should be looking at major changes. No option should be dismissed.
FORWARDS
Zach Parise ($7.250m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.500m) / Lars Eller ($1.500m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Travis Moen ($1.500m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Ryan White ($0.650m)
Louis Leblanc ($1.170m)
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.750m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $66,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,703,333; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,596,667
In house only, gave raises to a couple of RFAs. Gomez buried. 22 man roster, $6,8M cap space left assuming no cap raise next season.
FORWARDS
Erik Cole ($4.500m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Max Pacioretty ($1.625m)
Rene Bourque ($3.333m) / Lars Eller ($2.000m) / Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.500m)
Mike Blunden ($0.915m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Ryan White ($0.625m) / Andreas Engqvist ($0.900m) / Louis Leblanc ($1.170m)
Aaron Palushaj ($0.883m)
GOALTENDERS
Peter Budaj ($1.150m) / Carey Price ($5.750m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $57,452,533; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $6,847,467
FORWARDS
Erik Cole ($4.500m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Max Pacioretty ($1.625m)
Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.250m) / Lars Eller ($1.575m) / Rene Bourque ($3.333m)
Travis Moen ($2.000m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Ryan White ($0.625m) / Scott Gomez ($7.357m) / Petteri Nokelainen ($0.550m)
/ / Mike Blunden ($0.615m)
edit: switch blunden and nokelainen
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($4.000m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $60,330,476; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,969,524
Something wrong with that center line...
Seriously, I think its time to part ways with Gomez and if we can give Gomez's contract/cap hit to Weber, we should be really really good next season. And if we can get rid of Karbele aswell and use the money to sign another top 9 winger it would be great.
If they want Leblanc to start in HAM next year, they should go for Ruutu from Carolina. He would be the perfect compliment to Eller-AK. Solid 30-35 ES pts foward who can bring what Moen brings to that line but with more offence. This could give us 9 fowards who can realistically reach 30+ES pts. If the powerplay doesn't fail us next year, that would be a very good team. No big superstar but it follows a bit the 2010-2011 Flyers/Bruins model. Not sure about the D pairings, I think the Gorges-Subban pair will stick together. Markov-Emelin? Not sure.
Bourque - Plekanec - Doan
Pacioretty - Cammalleri - Cole
LeBlanc - Eller - Gionta
Prust - Nokelainen - White
Markov - Gorges
Emelin - Kaberle
Diaz - Subban
Wow, can we stop signing old players like Doan (Gionta, Cole) at the tale ends of their careers for big money, when we have 0 chance of winning a cup until we acquire a franchise forward. This is how the mediocrity death spiral is perpetuated.
If they want Leblanc to start in HAM next year, they should go for Ruutu from Carolina. He would be the perfect compliment to Eller-AK. Solid 30-35 ES pts foward who can bring what Moen brings to that line but with more offence. This could give us 9 fowards who can realistically reach 30+ES pts. If the powerplay doesn't fail us next year, that would be a very good team. No big superstar but it follows a bit the 2010-2011 Flyers/Bruins model. Not sure about the D pairings, I think the Gorges-Subban pair will stick together. Markov-Emelin? Not sure.
Ruutu would be ideal there but I doubt they can fit him into the salary structure if you're keeping Kostitsyn. Especially since he's going to take a longer term deal and Montreal has to consider Pacioretty and Desharnais likely to be substantial raises the year after.
Sixth offensive winger is a spot on the depth chart that you really want a new young player like one of Leblanc, Palushaj or maybe Gallagher or Kristo filling. You can probably get them up to 30 ES points as a passenger of two established players in a depth role.
FORWARDS
Erik Cole ($4.500m) / Jeff Carter ($5.272m) / Louis Leblanc ($1.170m)
Rene Bourque ($3.333m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Antoine Vermette ($3.750m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / Lars Eller ($1.900m) / Andrei Kostitsyn ($4.250m)
Mike Blunden ($0.850m) / Paul Gaustad ($2.250m) / Ryan White ($0.825m)
Arron Asham ($0.800m)
GOALTENDERS
Carey Price ($6.000m) / Peter Budaj ($1.150m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,126,060; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $423,940 (not counting cap increase)
not sure if Carter trade is doable, or if UFA signings are reasonable...
but with this roster, Habs CAN/SHOULD compete for top-4 conference spot, and if PO's go well, a cup.
defense a bit weak (youth), but lots of positive improvement potential, fwds are deep/talented, goalie is top-5.
moen/gill/campoli deals should add some solid assets, plus 1st rd pick.
Like Jeff Carter, hate the 10 year contract. Not sure I'd want to take that on.
Most of these lines exclude Gomez but realistically, do we think that is going to happen? Yes, his cap will be larger than his salary the next 2 years, which may enhance his trade value but I don't think it makes him tradeable. And do we really think he will be buried in the minors? I'm not so certain. And everyone is talking about a potential one time buyout with no cap hit with the new CBA but that is an unknown. So, my gut tells me that Gomez will be a Hab next year and as such, I don't think any line combo without him seems to be fantasy.
I, for one, am not a Gomez hater like most. I know he is in an incredible slump but with the exception of one season, has never been a goal scorer. Worth his contract, heck no, no one is and definitely a player to move because of the contract.
I'm loving Eller, he is a player this team needs to keep. I expect Pleks to bounce back next season. The best trade chip may be DD, who is putting up numbers but his size and defensive play is a concern.
Tell me that lineup isn't a contending team? No true number "1 line", but I see 3 "2nd lines", same on D, no true 1st pairing, but 3 good top 4 pairings.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Rene Bourque ($3.333m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Tuomo Ruutu ($4.500m) / Lars Eller ($1.500m) / Andrei Kostitsyn ($4.000m)
Brandon Prust ($1.250m) / Ryan White ($0.625m) / Mike Blunden ($0.615m)
DEFENSEMEN
Andrei Markov ($5.750m) / Josh Gorges ($3.900m)
Tim Gleason ($3.500m) / P.K. Subban ($3.000m)
Tomas Kaberle ($4.250m / Alexei Emelin ($1.250m)
Raphael Diaz ($1.250m) / Yannick Weber ($0.850m)
GOALTENDERS
Peter Budaj ($1.150m) / Carey Price ($5.500m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,198,333; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,101,666
Tell me that lineup isn't a contending team? No true number "1 line", but I see 3 "2nd lines", same on D, no true 1st pairing, but 3 good top 4 pairings.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Rene Bourque ($3.333m) / Tomas Plekanec ($5.000m) / Brian Gionta ($5.000m)
Max Pacioretty ($1.625m) / David Desharnais ($0.850m) / Erik Cole ($4.500m)
Tuomo Ruutu ($4.500m) / Lars Eller ($1.500m) / Andrei Kostitsyn ($4.000m)
Brandon Prust ($1.250m) / Ryan White ($0.625m) / Mike Blunden ($0.615m)
DEFENSEMEN
Andrei Markov ($5.750m) / Josh Gorges ($3.900m)
Tim Gleason ($3.500m) / P.K. Subban ($3.000m)
Tomas Kaberle ($4.250m / Alexei Emelin ($1.250m)
Raphael Diaz ($1.250m) / Yannick Weber ($0.850m)
GOALTENDERS
Peter Budaj ($1.150m) / Carey Price ($5.500m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,198,333; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,101,666
That is a team that will contend for the 8th place. In fact, it is this year's team, and that team is contending for a lottery pick.
That is a team that will contend for the 8th place. In fact, it is this year's team, and that team is contending for a lottery pick.
Disagree, you add Gionta who wasn't played much this season, who is good for 27-30 goals. You add Ruutu who should be good for 20-25 goals. And you upgrade your D with Gleason instead of Gill. Hate him all you hate put you have Kaberle for a full year instead of Spacek. And you add Markov you add Markov.
That is a team that will contend for the 8th place. In fact, it is this year's team, and that team is contending for a lottery pick.
You take away Cammalleri. You add in a *hopefully* healthy Gionta. Bourque brings so much to that line.
Add a good third line winger (or hope Leblanc plays well there).
Desharnais, Eller, and Pacioretty will gained more experience (Desharnais could potentially hit 70 points next year, IMO).
Same goes for Emelin and Diaz.
A healthy Markov (look how bad the Wings looked with Lidstrom - it looked like they were a terrible team) will improve our team, even if he's not quite at the same level as before.
Kaberle will produce more with Markov on the PP, IMO.
Bourque will fit in fully (and I think his "lack of effort" won't exist much in Montreal because he's not going to let himself get attacked constantly).
Price will have a better year with a defense with more experience and Markov back.
