Is it time to trade....

AB Habman · Guru

Is it time to trade....

salted_one · Veteran Member

although im a huge saks fan and i love everything he's done with the team but you are absolutly right if he are gonna lose him anyways, i would rather get somthing for him than lose him for nothing. as much as it pains me to say, trading him might be the best idea. i mean would you want to stay in a place where you are one of the only ones giving it your all? i deal with that everyday at work and it sucks.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

I would package him with Theo if possible and try to land Bertozzi, Jovanoski and Cloutier!

There's gotta be a better value out there. Bertuzzi's never going to be a hab. He doesn't look the part. Cloutier has less potential than our farm guys have, I think his best days are travelling south in a Winnibago. Jovs? I'll take him in a second, but they would never give him up for a temporary Saku fix.

Out there somewhere is an ideal trade. But tossing out Theo for much less in return is going to cost us money and our future. It's way better to let him ride out the season, because he's not going to be worth any less, and the upside if he gets his game back is either a Vezina winner in a Habs uni, or a fat carrot for the donkey teams out west to bite on.

Habtastic · Guru

I would have to agree with not trading Theo until next summer, as we will need him for the stretch run and playoffs. And if his value goes up, great, as it probably can't go down much since he is still young. As for Saku, why will we lose him next summer? We are allowed to start negotiating after Jan 1st and if he makes noises about not re-signing, then maybe it is an idea, but even if we keep him for the playoffs and he doesn't re-sign next summer, we can raplace his contract with another free agent. Apparently, the crop should be very good next year.

The only trade I see happening now is possibly Souray if he requests one and maybe an insurance guy for D, and possibly a rental at the deadline. Gainey doesn't have a history of making major moves during the season, other than a deadline rental, which doesn't remove anyone from our core players. Yes, I would love to get a second-line center, a 3rd line right wing, and a top-four right-side D, but I doubt we will get more than one of those things. I could see Bonk being moved to either the NY Jagr-Czech-family or maybe to the Islanders for Niinima and I could also see Souray to the Sunny States, but that is it.

The biggest change I want to see happen, is for the rookies to be given the puck for an extended period time so that we know what they can do.

Habtastic

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Excellent post habtastic!

A trade with the Rangers would get us the most bang for our Bonk, and the Islanders' Niinima would be a great addition.

But all this talk about Saku going away? As you said, why? We should do whatever it takes to keep him with us. He's damn near the only piece of continuity we have going for us, and without him, we'd be as aimless as an expansion team. It would be a shame to see him playing for the New Mexico Devil Lizards or the San Antonio Super Shockk or whatever the Penguins turn into

davidb · Guru

I have an awful sinking feeling that he is fragile, and it will not take much to put him out for a long time. I agree on a trade right now. Making a trade and getting Kovy back could make a big difference in this team not short term, but long term

Jax · Newbie

A trade eh...

I'd try to trade Souray and if no one wants him, I'd tenderize the deal by packaging up Souray and Bonk in there. Bonk as a good D game, but, we need a center like Bonk...with a twist. A center who can put the puck in once in a while! Get a 20ish goals/season center to replace him. I can't suggest anyone, but that's not my job ;)

GO HABS GO!

Zulrath · Senior Member

Actually, when thinking about trades, Bob Gainey seems to have a thing for the surprise blockbuster trade. If the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to slide all season long, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Adam Foote perhaps shipped up to us.

heet_150 · Guru

Zulrath wrote:

If the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to slide all season long, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Adam Foote perhaps shipped up to us.

While they aren't on a slide at the moment (they have won 4 of last 5), Luke Richardson has been a healthy scratch on a couple of occassions and has given his 'C' to the aforementioned Foote.

AWOL · Veteran Member

Koivu is not going anywhere. There is no reason to trade him. It would be a stupid move. Every team needs leadership and he provides that in spades.

beakermania · Senior Member

Saku will re-sign in Montreal if Gainey can even come close to what other teams offer. He bleeds red white and blue and would love to finish his career right where he started it. He will not forget the reception he got the day he came back from his bout with cancer. Koivu is a pure hockey player who loves to play in a pure hockey town. He loves the fans, he loves the city, and he loves the CH. Most of us can see that, one day even Ando might.