Given the returns for Weight as a "rental" player...

Ando · Guru

Given the returns for Weight as a "rental" player...

AB Habman · Guru

RE: Given the returns for Weight as a "rental" player...

Figaro · Guru

Good point, AB. We are not really in a spot where we can make a big buy, like Carolina, nor do we want to start dumping, like St. Louis.

heet_150 · Guru

Ando wrote:

...anyone else thinking about what the Habs could attract for their upcoming UFA??? And-o thinks that St.Louis just made up allot of ground in terms of rebuilding with this deal! Doug Weight was going to demand a bundle to resign...and they basically just turned a player who was likely gonzo in 30 games into some pretty big loonnnnnggg-term returns!!! GAINEY SHOULD TAKE NOTE!

Ando, are you implying that the Habs should be sellers, rather than buyers as the trade deadline approaches? Would the thinking be, get something back for their players that are worth something and hope for the best for the rest of the season? (while my questions may sound sarcastic or smarmy, I don't mean them to be, I am in fact looking for clarification)

I guess I wouldn't totally hate that idea, except the Habs' drafting lo these last few years has been, well, crappy. If you get 3 draft picks for the likes of Koivu, and the picks all turn into Hainseys, then that wouldn't help much for the future. Sure, they would clear up some cap room for next year, but, without a core group to build on (since they have been traded), the UFA that they pick up in the off-season, turns into the guy they are looking to deal at the deadline next year to clear up cap room for the next off-season. And so on, and so on. Just my $0.02 worth.

barry33 · Guru

Figaro wrote:

Good point, AB. We are not really in a spot where we can make a big buy, like Carolina, nor do we want to start dumping, like St. Louis.

We are in fact in "trading purgatory". Damned if we do and damned if we don't. Personally, I would have a hard look at the deadline at where we are versus who we think we can sign next year. If we are a borderline playoff team at the deadline, and Gainey thinks that he will not be able to sign Saks..then I say lets trade and get some prospects. That still leaves you with the cap space to sign a Free Agent in the off season. But if you keep Saks, and he does not sign, you do not get the prospects and you still need to spend money to find a replacement.