A Longgggggg Way to Go yet

barry33 · Guru

A Longgggggg Way to Go yet

JohnM · Guru

Can't disagree with any of your points Barry, if the team can get a better center than Saku then I am all for it as long as it makes the team better in the long haul. If it means Saks is second line center, I don't think he'll complain, he'll actually welcome better players to the team... I think he would thank the hockey Gods if they finally showed up to help him out.

Ando · Guru

Yeah Barry33, the Habs need more offense...although I don't mind Gainey making the forwards play back in the neutral zone, since it seems to slow down the play before hitting our pylons...er I mean defensemen!

...a good win though! But LOADS of work needs to be done.

wright · Veteran Member

It would greatly upgrade the team if the Habs were able to acquire a top line center to complement Koviu. I agree with Barry that Koviu does wear down and the burden of being essentially the only go to guy down the middle has to be effecting him. Still far from convinced that he will re sign with the team. Certainly there would appear to be signals that it is far from certain that he wants to stay.

Although the salary cap is supposed to even the playing field when it comes to signing free agents, i still think that the Habs are at a disadvantage in terms of signing free agents. Many players both on and off the record have indicated Montreal is not a preferred destination. Secondly there are many teams like nashville, Carolina, Boston that have more cap space than the Canadiens do going into 06 to acquire top free agent talent.

Outside of resigning Kovalev (one of the few times a player actually wanted to sign with the Habs) the Canadiens could not sign anyone else of substance, and supposedly they did take a run at the likes of Selanne and Satan.

I hope I am proven wrong and the Canadiens can retain Koviu and add at least one top quality free agent center in the off season but I don't think it will be easy.

Nil d · Guru

Barry - it's really 42 shots in three games, as 5 of last night's 20 were in overtime. Pretty anemic, if you ask me.

(Rangers outshot Pittsburgh 51 - 17 last night, so I guess it's not just us.....)

As for the OT call, that was evening up for the non-call just before the Leafs' tying goal -so we're still owed one!

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Can't disagree with any of your points Barry, if the team can get a better center than Saku then I am all for it as long as it makes the team better in the long haul. If it means Saks is second line center, I don't think he'll complain, he'll actually welcome better players to the team... I think he would thank the hockey Gods if they finally showed up to help him out.

Johnny-I honestly feel that he will be more productive as a second line center. The guy has given his heart and soul and is tired (although he will never admit it). I think he will add years to his career.

ray · Senior Member

Yeah Barry i noticed Tucker in front of the bench, he is an idiot. The last games hes played its like he got shot or something. Then next shift its amazing ( so Cole and Neal think) hes not hurt!!!!! One game against Calgary he missed a one timer, and then lied on the ice like he'd been hit by a bus, while the Flames celebrated the win. I've met him a few times also, and have nothing good to say about him. He is a little chatter box, and if it wasn't for the lady friends with us, i can tell you he would of gotten a lickin'! NO class at all.

I remebered when Kilger punched him out one year, was one of those moments i'll never forget!

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

...I believe that he gets tired when overused and it has been showing. If you notice in the Ottawa game, Gainey was benching Saks and I believe that last night Saks played better because he was rested. It would be no slap in the face to have Saks as a second line center and on the PP folks. On the contrary. It will make him more productive and prolong his career.

Barry. That is what I said in my above post. Diference being that Koivu has NEVER had a second line center playing in Montreal. So how do we know how good he would be as number 1 if we actually had #2???? Koivu has logged alot of miles due to shoddy drafting and poor judgement( actually believing the media about Ribby). What is sad is that some people on this board don't recognize the skill koivu has. If I where Koivu I would have demanded a trade long ago to actually play with some talent( Having Kovalev has helped but NO team/player can do much with garbage to back you up).

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: ...I believe that he gets tired when overused and it has been showing. If you notice in the Ottawa game, Gainey was benching Saks and I believe that last night Saks played better because he was rested. It would be no slap in the face to have Saks as a second line center and on the PP folks. On the contrary. It will make him more productive and prolong his career. Barry. That is what I said in my above post. Diference being that Koivu has NEVER had a second line center playing in Montreal. So how do we know how good he would be as number 1 if we actually had #2???? Koivu has logged alot of miles due to shoddy drafting and poor judgement( actually believing the media about Ribby). What is sad is that some people on this board don't recognize the skill koivu has. If I where Koivu I would have demanded a trade long ago to actually play with some talent( Having Kovalev has helped but NO team/player can do much with garbage to back you up).

I am going to say something here that may get me in trouble..but a reliable source ha stold me that Kovalev is the most selfish player he has ever met...I will leave it at that.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

I am going to say something here that may get me in trouble..but a reliable source ha stold me that Kovalev is the most selfish player he has ever met...I will leave it at that.

I would not be suprised by that actually. But what does that have to do with my thoughts on Koivu?

rwp2le · Guru

Barry, I know you have ties to C.J. but Gainey is 10 times the coach CJ is. Dont get me wrong, I like CJ. He just did not fit in with our team. When you have a team that may just sneak by, you dont fall into a defensive shell when you are up by a goal or two. Watch the Sens. They are so good defensively because they always attack. There is no room for defensive hockey in the new NHL. I am sure the lack luster play of Theo helped CJ get the boot from Montreal, but it could possibly be the best thing that ever happened to him. He might get to coach in a city where players arent afraid to sign. Give him 2 really good lines and a few good defensemen and CJ could take them to the cup. The chances of us getting that in Montreal in the next 5 years are very very slim. Thank the french media and the thousands of boo birds at the Bell Centre for that.

Muller93 · Guru

rwp2le wrote:

Barry, I know you have ties to C.J. but Gainey is 10 times the coach CJ is. Dont get me wrong, I like CJ. He just did not fit in with our team. When you have a team that may just sneak by, you dont fall into a defensive shell when you are up by a goal or two. Watch the Sens. They are so good defensively because they always attack. There is no room for defensive hockey in the new NHL. I am sure the lack luster play of Theo helped CJ get the boot from Montreal, but it could possibly be the best thing that ever happened to him. He might get to coach in a city where players arent afraid to sign. Give him 2 really good lines and a few good defensemen and CJ could take them to the cup. The chances of us getting that in Montreal in the next 5 years are very very slim. Thank the french media and the thousands of boo birds at the Bell Centre for that.

Same wavelength again! You are a silent one but when you speak you certainly nail the facts eh? And I do think CJ could win the cup with more talent. He is a supurb coach. He has proven it at all levels. It's too bad we banked on Ribero as our second line center. If we had not wasted our time with that guy we may have made productive strides to locate a REAL center. HMMMM? Who do we have to thank for that??? See the last sentence in rwp21e's post!