Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu Signs Three-Year Extension

NEWFIEHABSFAN · Senior Member

RE: Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu Signs Three-Year Extension

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Habsolutey!

Just watching Koivu compete on the ice is something in itself. This guy is amazing. We are blessed to have a guy like this Captain our team.

Jean.

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

It is too much money, I agree. But so is what he's paying for Theo, Kovy and Bonk with the way all of them are playing right now. I guess he believes that they will all start playing better and we as Habs fans (I guess I should include you in there) should do the same or we are in 3-4 years of trouble.

Unlike some who will feel it is time to stop asking more from Koivu (and asking more is not bashing), I will be turning up the heat. His play this year, overall, did not justify a 3 year deal of that amount of $$$$$$$$$$$$ and a no trade clause. Sorry boys and girls. We now have HUGE amounts of cap space tied up. And by saying that it is "ok because look at what he is paying Theo Kovy and Bonk", only suggests that Gainey is a bad GM and does nothing to justify the expense. I guess we have one hope. The NHL ups the cap amount next year and Gillette ups the wallet.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

But it's our Saku!

-- Edited by jeanthehabtiste at 15:46, 2006-02-11

JohnM · Guru

He da MAN! SAKU a Hab 4 Life!

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

When it comes to a guy like Saku Koivu, or any other human being for that matter, who survives an illness such as cancer, it goes deeper than "cap room" for me as a Montreal Canadiens fan. It's about the heart the guy has.

When he was so ill, almost to the point of death, and came back to play for my (our) team, all I can say is THAT is a warrior, and I want him somewhere on this roster.

Some folks say we should cut him loose because his performance hasn't been the best this season, but I think the guy is awesome. He made a huge impact on this team, and again, Saku Koivu to me is a true Montreal Canadien.

I'm Glad You're Stayin' Sak!!

West Coast Habs Fan · Member

Ando wrote:

3 Years...no trade clause...at $4.75 mln per...wayyyyyyyyyyy too much money!!! And-o is glad though that Bob has finally shown his cards and taken a direction!!! This move will define his regime (...Teflon Bob is no more)! ...anyone else think that having $15 million per year tied up by the likes of Theodore, Kovalev and Koivu almost borders on "Ballard-esque-ness"? NO MORE EXCUSES for Saku...TIME TO PRODUCE NIGHTLY! (...Saku's agent should be charged with theft!!!)

What I find interesting about this signing is the $$$$. We have all agreed that Koivu should be a second line centre. I wonder what Gainey is thinking on this. If Gainey is going to try and get a 1st line centre it best be by trade because what is the expectation going to be for a free agent first line centre?

barry33 · Guru

West Coast Habs Fan wrote:

Ando wrote: 3 Years...no trade clause...at $4.75 mln per...wayyyyyyyyyyy too much money!!! And-o is glad though that Bob has finally shown his cards and taken a direction!!! This move will define his regime (...Teflon Bob is no more)! ...anyone else think that having $15 million per year tied up by the likes of Theodore, Kovalev and Koivu almost borders on "Ballard-esque-ness"? NO MORE EXCUSES for Saku...TIME TO PRODUCE NIGHTLY! (...Saku's agent should be charged with theft!!!) What I find interesting about this signing is the $$$$. We have all agreed that Koivu should be a second line centre. I wonder what Gainey is thinking on this. If Gainey is going to try and get a 1st line centre it best be by trade because what is the expectation going to be for a free agent first line centre?

Where is he going to GET the money to sign a legitimate firts line Center? He is already paying one. Like it or not folks., with the Money the "Bank of Bob" just shelled out for Saks, we have our first line center. Stay healthy saks.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Where is he going to GET the money to sign a legitimate firts line Center? He is already paying one. Like it or not folks., with the Money the "Bank of Bob" just shelled out for Saks, we have our first line center. Stay healthy saks.

I disagree. The habs are paying big bucks to Bonk and about a million to Ribeiro. Dump those two clowns and then await the dumpings during free agent time.

Notice Gainey just sat back at watched...no free agent signings...I think that was by design.

Alot of teams will have to dump guys next year...( Tampa Bay perhaps with Richards, St. loius and Lecavlier?). With Bonk and Ribeiro playing in the ECHL...the habs have cap room to land a pretty dam good center, without losing anything. Don't you think that is plausible?

Don't count Gainey out---he is a sly one I think.

davidb · Guru

I like the guy, I feel he is important but I feel its way too much monewy. Look at the Boston Redsox. They signed this guy CoCo Crisp. He maid 300,000 last year. He now signed a 1 year for 3.2 million. Where have we gone in this world when people are making this much money.

Nil d · Guru

davidb wrote:

I like the guy, I feel he is important but I feel its way too much monewy. Look at the Boston Redsox. They signed this guy CoCo Crisp. He maid 300,000 last year. He now signed a 1 year for 3.2 million. Where have we gone in this world when people are making this much money.

That's why I'm still unemployed. I'm holding out for the Big Bucks...................

Habtastic · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: Where is he going to GET the money to sign a legitimate firts line Center? He is already paying one. Like it or not folks., with the Money the "Bank of Bob" just shelled out for Saks, we have our first line center. Stay healthy saks. I disagree. The habs are paying big bucks to Bonk and about a million to Ribeiro. Dump those two clowns and then await the dumpings during free agent time. Notice Gainey just sat back at watched...no free agent signings...I think that was by design. Alot of teams will have to dump guys next year...( Tampa Bay perhaps with Richards, St. loius and Lecavlier?). With Bonk and Ribeiro playing in the ECHL...the habs have cap room to land a pretty dam good center, without losing anything. Don't you think that is plausible? Don't count Gainey out---he is a sly one I think.

Problem is Muller, you can't just dump guys under the salary cap. Every year after the first year of someone being demoted, their salary counts against the cap and their contracts have more than a year left... at least Bonk's does. The other problem is we pay half their salary, against our cap, if we need to re-call them and someone else, and they will, takes them off of waivers. I can see us getting another top 2 center, like Arnott or Arnason, to make two top lines. It is very possible that we acquire one in a trade and that is when you can unload a Ribiero/Zednik/Bonk. Although I doubt anyone takes Bonk.

Habtastic

Muller93 · Guru

Habtastic wrote:

Muller93 wrote: barry33 wrote: Where is he going to GET the money to sign a legitimate firts line Center? He is already paying one. Like it or not folks., with the Money the "Bank of Bob" just shelled out for Saks, we have our first line center. Stay healthy saks. I disagree. The habs are paying big bucks to Bonk and about a million to Ribeiro. Dump those two clowns and then await the dumpings during free agent time. Notice Gainey just sat back at watched...no free agent signings...I think that was by design. Alot of teams will have to dump guys next year...( Tampa Bay perhaps with Richards, St. loius and Lecavlier?). With Bonk and Ribeiro playing in the ECHL...the habs have cap room to land a pretty dam good center, without losing anything. Don't you think that is plausible? Don't count Gainey out---he is a sly one I think. Problem is Muller, you can't just dump guys under the salary cap. Every year after the first year of someone being demoted, their salary counts against the cap and their contracts have more than a year left... at least Bonk's does. The other problem is we pay half their salary, against our cap, if we need to re-call them and someone else, and they will, takes them off of waivers. I can see us getting another top 2 center, like Arnott or Arnason, to make two top lines. It is very possible that we acquire one in a trade and that is when you can unload a Ribiero/Zednik/Bonk. Although I doubt anyone takes Bonk. Habtastic

Yes Ribeiro is not a problem. He signed a one year. You are right about Bonk, But I think next year is is meant to earn 3 mill?. So if we dump him down to hamilton and then someone takes him off waivers, we take half the salary(ouch)...But 1.5 mil is better tahn 4 mill( Ribs and Bonk)...still frees up 2.5 mill.

I just think there are ways to free up cap room unlike Barry. That is all I am saying...

Nil d · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

I just think there are ways to free up cap room unlike Barry.

Let's not free up Barry; we like having him on this Board................

Muller93 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

Muller93 wrote: I just think there are ways to free up cap room unlike Barry. Let's not free up Barry; we like having him on this Board................

Freudian slip? No, Barry makes me think about what I am saying. His arguments are always really well done, so we wont "free him up".

In fact, if this board was run like a hockey club and I was the GM; I would sign Barry to a multi-year contract.

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Nil d wrote: Muller93 wrote: I just think there are ways to free up cap room unlike Barry. Let's not free up Barry; we like having him on this Board................ Freudian slip? No, Barry makes me think about what I am saying. His arguments are always really well done, so we wont "free him up". In fact, if this board was run like a hockey club and I was the GM; I would sign Barry to a multi-year contract.

Thanks Muller- I like to think that I do not play favorites. I praise the guys that are playing well, and I call out the guys who are not. Am I harder on Koivu then some? Yes. Because I expect more of him. I guess I view this board and my opinions the same way that I coach. There are kids on my team that I expect alot more of. My captain for instance, gives 100% every game. But I do not except any less of him. I will continue to make everyone on that team accountable.

plouf · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Muller93 wrote:
Nil d wrote: Muller93 wrote: I just think there are ways to free up cap room unlike Barry. Let's not free up Barry; we like having him on this Board................ Freudian slip? No, Barry makes me think about what I am saying. His arguments are always really well done, so we wont "free him up". In fact, if this board was run like a hockey club and I was the GM; I would sign Barry to a multi-year contract.
Thanks Muller- I like to think that I do not play favorites. I praise the guys that are playing well, and I call out the guys who are not. Am I harder on Koivu then some? Yes. Because I expect more of him. I guess I view this board and my opinions the same way that I coach. There are kids on my team that I expect alot more of. My captain for instance, gives 100% every game. But I do not except any less of him. I will continue to make everyone on that team accountable.

You know, I thought Murray Wilson's analysis the other night on CJAD was pretty believable. He said Montreal has more cap room than most teams, and fewer big long-term contracts. With the cap going up, and some contracts in their last year next year, there's little danger Montreal will be near the limit.

Instead, Wilson read it as a positive sign that Gillette wants to PAY for a real contender, and that other free agents will also read it this way. There's been a perception developing around the league for a decade that Montreal is not a team who will shell out to go the extra mile and keep its nucleus, and this move (along with the Kovalev and Theo moves) is helping to change that perception. This will actually make it easier to lure another key free agent here in the off-season (I'm hoping for a top-2 defenseman).

Wilson also laughed off the notion that this was too much money, pointing out that every GM (and thus every agent) knows that prices are going up this summer when the cap goes up. This may seem high compared to what people are making now (at least that's how I felt about it - seemed high, especially with a no-trade clause), but it's actually probably a bargain given what free agent market value will be this summer (according to Wilson, mind you).

It's a shame that we have some wasted money with Theo and Bonk (although there's still some hope in both cases, especially Bonk to my mind). But by the sounds of it we have the space to keep things improving.

Also...we don't ALL agree that Saku is a number two centre. I think he's fine as a number one, IF we get a GOOD second-line centre. Anyway, the distinction is overrated to some extent. Bottom line is we need some improvement at the position. The good news is that all three of our other centres are playing well right now, and though Saks is in a slump, it may actually be partly related to the contract negotiations.

Obvious big worry - Saku's injury woes are perhaps overrated, his abrasive style definitely makes me wonder when the next injury will come.