So Gainey signs him to a ridiculous contract, they don't use him at all and buy his contract out in the middle of the season with a cap hit of 500k for the next 2 years, when we'll need every penny to fit under the cap.
... what's next? Halak for a 4th rounder or future considerations?
Don't understand things much? He's being paid to stay home... at full salary. Buyout is this summer, not now. IF Laraque would actually do his job and stick up for his team he would have been worth the money but a goon that refuses to fight is useless. The Rangers game was the final straw.
Better be picking up a toughguy for replacement or the little Habs are going to be getting more beatings like they took in the last couple games. Hope Price puts on the foil next game. I don't mind Laraque being bought out but I do hope they have a capable replacement in mind. And none of this White/Stewart talk. They couldn't fight their way up Crescent St. on a windy day. I watched White get beat up the other day by some Russiun kid that was his first ever fight. Jeez I think Laraque was correct in saying that JM doesn't like toughness. The HAbs little guys are going to be in for a rough ride
His uselessness in the Rangers game was the last string.
Too bad; the Habs are in dire need of grits and size upfront and I still think that Martin misused him (only one 12 seconds shift in the 3rd) against the Rangers; especially when the score was 5-2, 6-2 in the 3rd against a conference rival that was playing the intimidation card.
That being mentioned, Laraque is quickly becoming "borderline useless": a lot of talks (he does not like to fight, The Code of fighters and all that crap!) and near zero action (hits/fights) on the ice.
A good smart man but he was unable (unwilling?), when healthy, to help his team.
So… we are getting even smaller eh? I think we should rename the Canadiens… what about the "Boy Scouts of Montreal"?
One last note: Martin told Gainey that he can win without a goon…
PS Martin seems unable to extract the best of his physical players: Latendresse, Chipchura, Mara, Laraque, Lapierre, Moen, Stewart… is it just me or someone else share this interpretation/opinion?
Damn that NMC sucks, wish they coulda waived him down to minors where he belongs. I don't want the habs stuck with a buyout cap hit, every cap $ counts.
I am pretty sure the NMC was only for the first season, after that it was a list of 6 teams in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference that he will accept a trade to.
To me, no teams need a "fighter" per se. I don't equate toughness with fighting. I want players who play tough.
I never was in favour of this signing and this is Gainey cutting losses with a mistake. It saves the Habs a million on the cap next year, a year when the team is stressed for cap space. The additional $500K in 2 seasons should be easier to manage.
All I want out of a 4th line is a great work ethic, energy and toughness. Again, not necessarily fighting but a line that probably plays 8-10 min and can help set the tone. Offense not required. Ryan White really fits the bill to me.
We all know the top 2 lines when healthy are:
Camm-Pleks-A.Kosty
Pouliot-Gomez-Gionta
And these 2 lines have proven they can score (granted, not at the same time due to injuries)
I want a third line that can bang a little, play shutdown D and add some offense. With the exception of Moen, all candidates for this line are having sub-par years. I think ideally, if players would play to their potential, it would be something like:
Pacioretty-Lapierre-S.Kosty
This leaves the 4th line as:
Moen-Metro-White
The extra at this point is D'agostini
This has the potential to be good and allow Martin to roll 4 lines to keep everyone (esp the smaller forwards) fresh
It's not the top 6 forwards or the goaltending hurting this team. It is the lack of anything from the bottom 6 forwards and some spotty defensive zone play
I wonder why they did that today or whatever. Do we need some dough. I was a fan of BGL and an apologist for him over the course of the year. I suppose the detractors were right and BGL has been around the block too many times.
I wonder if he is done. He'd make a good TV personality.
To me, no teams need a "fighter" per se. I don't equate toughness with fighting. I want players who play tough.
I never was in favour of this signing and this is Gainey cutting losses with a mistake. It saves the Habs a million on the cap next year, a year when the team is stressed for cap space. The additional $500K in 2 seasons should be easier to manage.
All I want out of a 4th line is a great work ethic, energy and toughness. Again, not necessarily fighting but a line that probably plays 8-10 min and can help set the tone. Offense not required. Ryan White really fits the bill to me.
We all know the top 2 lines when healthy are:
Camm-Pleks-A.Kosty
Pouliot-Gomez-Gionta
And these 2 lines have proven they can score (granted, not at the same time due to injuries)
I want a third line that can bang a little, play shutdown D and add some offense. With the exception of Moen, all candidates for this line are having sub-par years. I think ideally, if players would play to their potential, it would be something like:
Pacioretty-Lapierre-S.Kosty
This leaves the 4th line as:
Moen-Metro-White
The extra at this point is D'agostini
This has the potential to be good and allow Martin to roll 4 lines to keep everyone (esp the smaller forwards) fresh
It's not the top 6 forwards or the goaltending hurting this team. It is the lack of anything from the bottom 6 forwards and some spotty defensive zone play
Why do San Jose and Pittsburgh have these types of players but we can't seem to use one?
I am pretty sure the NMC was only for the first season, after that it was a list of 6 teams in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference that he will accept a trade to.
Yes, I can't find any references to an NMC past the first year. If he just has a NTC, I'm confused as to why the team didn't just waive him.
What we need isn't a goon like Laraque/Boogaard/Godard...what we need is a tough guy who can skate and contribute in other parts of the game and who will still defend his teammates. More like a Rypien/Neil/Ott player. Unfortunately, those players are not very easy to come by and teams tend to hang on to them when they have a good one.
I hope this doesn't discourage Gainey from getting another enforcer. There are a lot of guys in the A that would fight 20 times a season for the league minimum.
For all those who are complaining about BGL's contract and NMC..... At the time of the signing, the Oilers actually offered him more money and longer term.
BGL really became a useless player. Has he fought more than once this season? The coach doesn't trust him on the ice and this has been reflected in his 3-5 minutes of TOI/G (and rightfully so). I'm amazed he was even dressing in recent weeks. The Habs will be a better team without him. The organization did the right thing today.
Matt Carkner: 500K, 22 fights.
Georges Laraque: 1.5M, 4 fights.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ngc_5128
His stat line tells it all: 21 hits in 28 games and 4 fighting majors.
The two posts above are unquestionably the response to the whole Laraque = tough fallacy. He does not bring toughness. End of discussion.
Once again, bad pro talent evaluation by the Habs. Fire that entire staff. And for the first time I will say it out loud, Gainey's ability to judge his staff's work (i.e. coaches, pro scouts etc) must be questioned.
How many mistakes in Pro Player evaluations and contracts can not go unanswered.
For all those who are complaining about BGL's contract and NMC..... At the time of the signing, the Oilers actually offered him more money and longer term.
BGL really became a useless player. Has he fought more than once this season? The coach doesn't trust him on the ice and this has been reflected in his 3-5 minutes of TOI/G (and rightfully so). I'm amazed he was even dressing in recent weeks. The Habs will be a better team without him. The organization did the right thing today.
They are a better team with 2 defensemen playing on the 4th line? You've got to be kidding...
