While watching the game against the Florida Panthers, Houde on RDS said that Dowd expressed that he'd like to go back with the wild at the end of the season and sign with them.
That would really be a downer since I fell in love with the guy since he've been playing for us, he's a really nice addition to this team.
Anyone heard anything about this or him signing with the Habs next season?
We'll have plenty of time to discuss that in the off-season. Usually we have like 3 months to talk about prospects, contracts and free agent signing.
Right now we should be concentrating scrictly on the season ending and the playoffs, as far as I'm concerned.
While watching the game against the Florida Panthers, Houde on RDS said that Dowd expressed that he'd like to go back with the wild at the end of the season and sign with them.
That would really be a downer since I fell in love with the guy since he've been playing for us, he's a really nice addition to this team.
Anyone heard anything about this or him signing with the Habs next season?
Houde also said that Minnesota would unlikely want him back, so I don't think it's a real problem right now. Let him feel comfortable here, have a good rest of season, good playoffs and he will stay here, if we still want him, of course but so far he's been really helpful.
Sorry man, I thought his skating looked really choppy.
Skating has always been Dowd's bread and butter. I like the fact that both Begin and Dowd bring good speed to that checking line as they really apply alot of pressure on the puck carrier.
Skating has always been Dowd's bread and butter. I like the fact that both Begin and Dowd bring good speed to that checking line as they really apply alot of pressure on the puck carrier.
Oh, I didn't think he was slow, just not as smooth. Anyways, he's a welcomed addition to the team
If Kovalev don't sign with the Habs at the end of season, we will receive a 2nd pick from the league for compensation. Are we receive a compensatory(sp?) pick if Dowd don't sign with Monteal?
Last edited by Freaky Habs Fan: 03-14-2004 at 07:07 PM.
If Kovalev don't sign with the Habs at the end of season, we will receive a 2nd pick from the league for compensation. Is that the same case if Dowd don't sign with Monteal?
Yeah right! We paid a 4th and could receive a 2nd???????????????????
Do you think before writing???????
If Kovalev don't sign with the Habs at the end of season, we will receive a 2nd pick from the league for compensation. Are we receive a compensatory(sp?) pick if Dowd don't sign with Monteal?
no we won't get any comp for Dowd unless he signs a huge contract somewhere else cause it's based on money. Kovy should get us a 2nd if he signs a big contract which I would assume he would, although it should be less then 6.6M cause that's sick.
In all honesty, I thought Dowd was happy to be a Canadien... I'd sign him for a year or two... Until one of Higgins or Plekanec are ready to step in, as I'm sure Koivu/Ribeiro have the 1-2 locked up for the time being... And Begin has one of the lower lines jobs locked as well (it's still unclear to me whether he's a lock for #3 or 4). Either way, it's not the end of the world if Dowd decides to head back to Minnesota at the end of the year... At 35 years old, he's more of a stop gap measure than anything else. He's a strong defensive chip, who can help shut down the opposing team's top lines in the play-offs.
As for statements players make after being traded... well, IMO that's all just talk to keep the media in another city happy. Usually when some player is happy about a trade, then they are usually villified by the fans/media, good players don't like closing doors... Wendel Clark was a Leaf 3 times, because he had nohing but good words for Toronto. If after the first time, he was an arse, they wouldn't of ever of brought him back.
If you read the following article by Pat Hickey in today's Gazette it says the opposite of what this thread indicates. In a nutshell, Dowd is saying he would love to sign with the Habs.
In a few years. I think the leafs still consider him a little young.
I think we are getting a little ahead of ourselves as far as Dowd goes. I'm sure his comment about going back to Minnesota was just to state how he enjoyed his time there and wouldn't mind being in that situation again, but I'm pretty sure as of right now, Dowd isn't thinking about next season...he is thinking about the rest of this season and the deep playoff drive he and his hab teammates are about to embark no.
"My contract is up at the end of this season and I'll be an unrestricted free agent, but I'd definitely like to stay with this team," Dowd, 35, said after a recent practice.
So it sounds like he wants to stay and I think we should try sign him. Sure we have some young guys coming in but he's a great depth player and can play 3rd or 4th line. Juneau's not looking too great lately and Dowd is an excellent replacement.
The Begin Dowd Ward line is great fun to watch, and Dowd could have a big effect on the still young Ward and not much older Begin. I'd like to see him back next year for sure.
Now that we're seeing that Ward and Begin are effective, responsible players, that the coach trusts, wouldn't they be ideal to break in a player like Plekanec or Higgins depending on who earns it ?
Even keeping Dowd (which I strongly support...leadership and someone who has won a cup is good to have on a young team), there still should be room on the lineup for a couple of the Dogs who are making a name for themselves: namely Hossa, Higgins, Perezhogin and Hainsey. This assumes that some of the pending UFA's and RFA's are not signed, but that is better discussion for this summer when our playoff run is over!!
Dowd-Begin-Ward kept the Sundin line off the scoresheet on Saturday and held them to one shot all game. That's impressive.
