That is a fair assessment!

Still...And-o wishes that Bob had stood firm by an offer to Saku of $3.3 million'ish...and stuck the rest in performance bonuses!  Does that seem reasonable??? 

Anyhow...it is finally done!!!

I guess that Theo's contract is rooted more towards the "old NHL".

...but given that we are stuck with it...And-o thinks that Jose Theodore will be the starting goaltender again in Montreal when the NHL resumes! 

However, at this point, NOTHING would surprise me on/before deadline day from Bob Gainey!

I see your point Muller93! 

...now apply your logic to the Leafs for a minute in terms of re-signing Brian McCabe and you will understand just how much trouble the Leafs are facing (just for example)!!!

Just heard on the FAN590 in Toronto some pretty reasonable debate that McCabe will likely command somewhere in the $6-$6.25 million range next season!

...talk about over-paying!!!  BUT...what else can Toronto do???

(anyone else think that these salaries are showing signs of getting outta control again already???)

 

 

Nil d wrote:

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Ando wrote:
(anyone else think that these salaries are showing signs of getting outta control again already???)    

Absolutely!  With a higher cap next year, we'll be right back where we were.

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But at least owners have to think a little. AND all are technically on a level playing field...technically.

Ando wrote:

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(anyone else think that these salaries are showing signs of getting outta control again already???)    

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Yup, couple of years like this and there will be new lock out.

Muller93 wrote:

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Suppose Gainey only offered 3.5 mil? I imagine Koivu would have left for more money because it would have been offered to him. Then what? Do you think we could land a free agent center BETTER than Koivu? I'm not saying there are not better center's, just I don't think there will be any. A few that are equatable, but we would have to offer them big bucks too right? So if we did not sign him, we may have been left with Ribs as our number one. Ouch.

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Ahhh cmon Muller..if Saks bleeds red white and blue like you claim he does, he would not have left over a measly mill? I think that whatever way you spin it..it is too much money for 2 reasons. the length of the contract and the lack of incnetive clauses. I would have made the contract heavy in incentives in games played/points etc. However, I respect Gaineys judgement, it is done, I support Koivu..time to move on.

JohnM wrote:

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I think the smart GM's will be the winners. Overpaying will cause more trouble than good in the end. 3 players on the habs taking 40% of the payroll sounds like way too much, add in the cash to have a #1 defenceman and I don't know how we will compete in the future. The only way will be to build from within, drafting and good cheap signings.

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Johnny- this has been my point with the Saks signing. Not that Gainey overpaid..he paid what he had to pay to keep him. But combine that with Theo, Kovalev, and deadweight like Bonk and we are in cap trouble already. Thsi talk about "oh well he can unload this guy or that guy" is easier said than done. If Gainey could have unloaded guys like Dandenueat, Bonk, or Ribs, they would have been unloaded by now. I see the league quickly heading back to the old days and the Habs not being able to compete. The owners were able to dictate salaries for one whole year.  Now the pendulum is quickly swinging back to the players.

AB Habman wrote:

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 Guys, I need to quote everyone of you! This is what I've been trying to tell you for the last few days!  40% of our Cap gone on a #1 one hit wonder(theo) #2 a floater (kovy) #3 an injury prone player who is 32 going on 42 (saks)! All over paid in todays new standard Cap system!  How the hell do we build a winner now? I'm worried big time for our future core? The players we need to trade have no market value and the players we need to keep will want big bucks!  That's why this signing is too high! You can't base it on the last ten years just because he had the letter C! How will that win us a Cup in the next few years? How can Gainey come out and say, it's special that he will be one of our longest serving Captains? Who cares? I want to watch success not sentiments!  Frankly, now I'm thinking we can't rebuild or win a Cup in the next three years because of these three signings! They're all too high! It's going to snow ball again! Saks wants more than Kovy so he gets more! Who's next down the road? Ryder, Plecs, Markov?  Maybe the best scenario is if we of let Saks go to free agency and let some other team pay the big bucks! We have already shown that we can win without him! Give the C to Rivet and move on! We could then at least rebuild and hope to trade Theo! Instead it seems Gainey compounded two high signings with another one! When will it stop! I would rather rebuild with our young crop like Sabres and Hurricanes than lose these young guys and at least feel we are heading into a productive chance at winning the Cup!  I guess what I'm saying is under this Cap thing, we have a better chance of winning if we pay players that have the numbers that equal their pay rather than base it on sentiments! It should be about producing! Put it this way, I would much rather have a Kariya and Gomez who have the numbers and are payed 3.3 mil and 2.2mil! Those two saleries could win us way more games than the one Saks signing!  Leadership can be replaced and we have guys that can and are doing it( Rivet, Begin, Even Kovy may be a monster every night with a C because he at least can still dominate)!   Again we need high paid production not sentiments!   Gainey now added alot of commitment on 40% of the team, it will be interesting to see how he make his bed from here on in with the 60% remaining players! Does he trade some, add some, lose some? He's placing himself in a tougher position for sure after this signing!  Three players have never won a team a cup by themselves unless they're maybe Roy, Gretz and Lemieux and our three players certainly don't come close! Is it too late for a team concept? We have a few years to find out!  

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Guys I hate to say it but those of you upset over the bucks for the three guys have it wrong. Way wrong. And here is why:

1.Theo has had a hell of a bad year. We cannot unload him. I suspect Theo will be back sooner than later. He has been an elite goalie at all levels. It did not vanish into thin air. It's a confidence thing. Once the team starts playing better( maybe even not until next year), Theo will get his groove back. Be patient. Plus we have Dannis, Huet and Price on the horizon...Looks pretty good for trait Bait huh?

2 The habs are known in the league to have a great core of youngsters in their system( second only to Nashville I beleive). Guys like Higgns, Plek, Komi, Latendress, Chipchura, Kostisyn, are going to be key ingredients over the next 1-2 years. luckily, they will still be too young to demand huge wages. Even Bulis, Ryder and Ribs are 2 years away from demanding big contracts. And Begin will never command a huge wage.

3. In order for these young guns to learn how to win and even better...how to compete...they need to be given an opportunity to play with solid NHL'ers and win some games. That's how the habs of old did it. All the rookies came into camp with a tradition of leadership and comitment to winning. THAT is what Gainey is finaly installing in the habs dressing room.

Guys, we should recognize that this is a good move. It demonstrates a commitment to leadership and stability. Something these young rookies and sophomores will need to achieve their full potential. Trust Gainey...he knows what he is doing.