wright wrote:

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From my perspective, a major trade at this time would be terrific, but unrealistic. As I have stated previously the so called marque players on this team are playing at such poor levels, Gainey could not get anything close to fair value. Failing to make a major trade i think Gainey's next best move is to give larger roles and responsibilities to the younger players. in otherwords power play time to Plekanec,Kostitsyn,Higgins. Give the younger players more minutes, and take ice time away from the underachievers.     Make a statement, don't dress some of the malcontents, and if necessary take a hit on one trade to send a message that nothing short of a full effort on every shift game in game out is expected, and that no one is above being replaced.     Somehow Gainey has got to reach these guys, because at the moment it really is his only option. This is a marginally talented team, but at this juncture they are cumulatively playing below their abilities.     

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I agree. And trade them to Pittsburg so that they are on just as bad a team. Only now you are playing in a city that could care less about hockey really. It's like getting sent to hell. You can't send them to a decent team and hockey city or the message would be " how would you like to get the heck off this garbage team and onto a REAL team..."

I say ship Ribero and Theo to Hamilton to join DAGS( no one will pick them up on waiver--Ribero sucks and Theo's contract is too fat). Then send Zednik to Pittsburg or Columbas. Message sent!

Muller93 wrote:

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wright wrote: From my perspective, a major trade at this time would be terrific, but unrealistic. As I have stated previously the so called marque players on this team are playing at such poor levels, Gainey could not get anything close to fair value. Failing to make a major trade i think Gainey's next best move is to give larger roles and responsibilities to the younger players. in otherwords power play time to Plekanec,Kostitsyn,Higgins. Give the younger players more minutes, and take ice time away from the underachievers.     Make a statement, don't dress some of the malcontents, and if necessary take a hit on one trade to send a message that nothing short of a full effort on every shift game in game out is expected, and that no one is above being replaced.     Somehow Gainey has got to reach these guys, because at the moment it really is his only option. This is a marginally talented team, but at this juncture they are cumulatively playing below their abilities.      I agree. And trade them to Pittsburg so that they are on just as bad a team. Only now you are playing in a city that could care less about hockey really. It's like getting sent to hell. You can't send them to a decent team and hockey city or the message would be " how would you like to get the heck off this garbage team and onto a REAL team..." I say ship Ribero and Theo to Hamilton to join DAGS( no one will pick them up on waiver--Ribero sucks and Theo's contract is too fat). Then send Zednik to Pittsburg or Columbas. Message sent!

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I have said it before..WHY all this focus on Ribiero??! He is a minor player on this team. Off ice dress code and on ice lack of effort aside, this guy has very little influence on the habs performance. Theo, yes, of course. He is the goalie.  The problem lies in team leadership and last time I checked, Ribiero was not a captain or assistant. There has been a real lack of ability by the team leaders to take control of this team. I look back at great leaders (and no, before you jump down my throat boys I am not neccessarily pointing the finger at Saks alone.,.,heaven forbid) in our game. Do you think Mark Messier would allow guys like Ribiero to get away with what he has? Nope. Would Bob Gainey have put up with it when he was captain? Kirk Muller? No. When will we all come to the realization that there is a leadership problem on this team folks? We have changed the coach (6th time in recent years). Same result. You can rid the team of small players like Ribs, Dags, and Bonk. Bottom line is you still have a dressing room with little cliques standing up for thei rlittle groupls of buddies and not everyone on the team. As captains,. Rivet and Koivu need to have control of that whole room, not just the select few that are lucky enough to be in their club. The C  and A i snot on their sweaters for a decoration and so they can chat with the referee without getting a penalty.

Muller93 wrote:

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barry33 wrote:  Do you think Mark Messier would allow guys like Ribiero to get away with what he has? Nope. Would Bob Gainey have put up with it when he was captain? Kirk Muller? Barry33. I just asked you that same question in an above post. But I view it from another angle I guess. Koivu DID fight with the fancy boy. But manegement chose to do nothing. He should have been traded ASAP. I for one have to ask why he was not dealt with firmly? Once Ribiero was allowed to get away with that, the ship was sent down the wrong path right there IMO. It's a management screw up, not a koivu screw up...he at least had a fight with the clown.

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Good points Muller- I guess as a fan I just want to be open to examining ALL aspects of the team, inside and out. I had to come to terms with CJ needing to be replaced because it was for the good of the team. I just do not feel that getting rid of fancy boy will cure us but it is a piece of the puzzle.