Habs lock up Koivu for three more years

SpiderManNL · Guru

Habs lock up Koivu for three more years

Key Lime · Guru

Sorry AB. Don't break anything now... You'll survive this sad day in your confused life.

wright · Veteran Member

I admit I was 100 percent wrong! I really believed that Koviu would test the free agent market and sign somewhere else. Glad to see him back with the team, and yes we can debate forever whether he is a number one or two guy down the middle. Hopefully Gainey can go out and sign another quality center in the free agent market to give the team greater strength next season.

barry33 · Guru

wright wrote:

I admit I was 100 percent wrong! I really believed that Koviu would test the free agent market and sign somewhere else. Glad to see him back with the team, and yes we can debate forever whether he is a number one or two guy down the middle. Hopefully Gainey can go out and sign another quality center in the free agent market to give the team greater strength next season.

I will be curious to see how much cap room it took to sign him. My hope is that there will still be cash for a number one center.

plouf · Guru

barry33 wrote:

wright wrote:
I admit I was 100 percent wrong! I really believed that Koviu would test the free agent market and sign somewhere else. Glad to see him back with the team, and yes we can debate forever whether he is a number one or two guy down the middle. Hopefully Gainey can go out and sign another quality center in the free agent market to give the team greater strength next season.
I will be curious to see how much cap room it took to sign him. My hope is that there will still be cash for a number one center.

I wonder if this won't settle things for him, and get him out of his recent funk. It's hard to imagine that this contract hasn't been an issue recently.

I do agree we need another top-level centre. Plekanec looks good, but he's also kind of small. Maybe Bonk will keep improving and turn out to be the guy after all. He's been way better lately.

barry33 · Guru

plouf wrote:

barry33 wrote: wright wrote: I admit I was 100 percent wrong! I really believed that Koviu would test the free agent market and sign somewhere else. Glad to see him back with the team, and yes we can debate forever whether he is a number one or two guy down the middle. Hopefully Gainey can go out and sign another quality center in the free agent market to give the team greater strength next season. I will be curious to see how much cap room it took to sign him. My hope is that there will still be cash for a number one center. I wonder if this won't settle things for him, and get him out of his recent funk. It's hard to imagine that this contract hasn't been an issue recently. I do agree we need another top-level centre. Plekanec looks good, but he's also kind of small. Maybe Bonk will keep improving and turn out to be the guy after all. He's been way better lately.

Even the most ardent Koivu supporters seem to agree that we need to have a centre ahead of him on the depth chart. I just hope he stays healthy.

wright · Veteran Member

Yes I am a Koviu supporter. He is a quality player, and at this point is the team's most creative center. Nonetheless I recognize that Koviu at this point in his carear may be better suited to being the number two guy down the middle. Despite the rule changes and the crackdown on obstruction, Koviu has not benefited as well as he would have earlier in his carear. I agree with Barry that he has worn down somewhat and he needs help in terms of creating offense for the team. As a die hard Habs fan I want the team to excel, and adding another quality center is no slight against Koviu, it is just a recognition that this team needs more offense to take the burden off of Koviu.

barry33 · Guru

wright wrote:

Yes I am a Koviu supporter. He is a quality player, and at this point is the team's most creative center. Nonetheless I recognize that Koviu at this point in his carear may be better suited to being the number two guy down the middle. Despite the rule changes and the crackdown on obstruction, Koviu has not benefited as well as he would have earlier in his carear. I agree with Barry that he has worn down somewhat and he needs help in terms of creating offense for the team. As a die hard Habs fan I want the team to excel, and adding another quality center is no slight against Koviu, it is just a recognition that this team needs more offense to take the burden off of Koviu.

Well put Wright. Not a slap in the face. Quite the contrary. Time to reward the smurf with someone else to take the load off.

ray · Senior Member

Maybe with this signing it will stop all the arguing on this post and we can get down to encouraging this team. Wright, I totally agree with you that we need another centre man, but if we could get one with as much talent and heart as koivu it wouldn't be so bad neither. I would love to get a Joe Thornton or a Vinny, but lets face it there are very few in the league and with so many teams in the league its hard to land one. I'm glad the Habs signed Saku and hopefully it works out for the team. A no trade clause contract,leads me to believe he wants to stay in Montreal, which is very rare with the media and other circumstances in and around Montreal.

Nil d · Guru

ray wrote:

Maybe with this signing it will stop all the arguing on this post and we can get down to encouraging this team.

Well, the And-o/AB camp has certainly been quiet so far today............ (Yes, AB, I realize it's still early out there.)

I imagine they're crying in their beer.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

. Even the most ardent Koivu supporters seem to agree that we need to have a centre ahead of him on the depth chart. I just hope he stays healthy.

I agree Barry. But I am not sold on if we need a cnter AHEAD of him on the depth chart...or just a adequate center BEHIND him to offload the pressure.

We have never had a chance to see him with a decent center to play behind him. Do you agree Barry?

I could care less really. Whether we get a bonified first line center or a solid back up. Either one will do.

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: . Even the most ardent Koivu supporters seem to agree that we need to have a centre ahead of him on the depth chart. I just hope he stays healthy. I agree Barry. But I am not sold on if we need a cnter AHEAD of him on the depth chart...or just a adequate center BEHIND him to offload the pressure. We have never had a chance to see him with a decent center to play behind him. Do you agree Barry? I could care less really. Whether we get a bonified first line center or a solid back up. Either one will do.

I agree Muller. I do not care if it is first or second..whatever. I do not think Saks cares..it i sall in theory anyway because we do not have anything close to resembling a legitimate threat number one line right now. I do strongly feel though that he is tiring being used how he is now..PP, PK and alot of ice besides that. I think we all agree that a rested and healthy Koivu is a better Koivu. GO HABS GO. Get er done boys.

Ando · Guru

barry33 wrote:

...Even the most ardent Koivu supporters seem to agree that we need to have a centre ahead of him on the depth chart...

That has been my argument all along! The mere mention of this position on this board...even as late as this past Christmas...meant instant ridicule!

I tell ya, and I'm not looking to diminish anyone else's beliefs here, And-o believes wholeheartedly that Saku Koivu, Michael Ryder & Chris Higgins would make THE BEST second line in hockey. So, I just hope that Gainey can really try and finally address this situation by landing a truly special elite centre to pivot between Kovalev and Zednik (or Perezhogin/Latendresse).

...like I said above...3 years - no problem...no-trade - not worried cuz they change...but $4.75 million equates to a potential millstone!!!

JohnM · Guru

We haven't seen the best of Koivu this year. Just remember what he brought in the 2003/2004 playoffs against the elite centerman you talk of Joe Thornton. Both had serious injuries and who came out on top... Same for the 2001/2002 playoffs. Not sure we need to invest in a superstar center, more of a Marleau kinda center or someone young from the draft like Carter/Richards.

24 Rings · Guru

plouf wrote:

Maybe Bonk will keep improving and turn out to be the guy after all. He's been way better lately.

Bonk?? We're talking about Radek Bonk, here? Lets be serious for a minute. He's been a borderline average NHLer lately. I'm amazed at the slack this guy gets!!!???

So no one here had mentioned the obscene amount of $$$ that they shelled to Koivs? Don't you think that it is a lot of money for what he can offer? Koivs is one of my favourite Habs, and I am glad that we signed him but I can't believe the $ amount. I have to think that we overpaid for him?