Is Gainey making a mistake?

AB Habman · Guru

Is Gainey making a mistake?

24 Rings · Guru

Not that I don't want the Habs to get him for a couple of years, but if Huet finishes the season as well as he's playing, he may want to try the market out. There are a lot of teams looking for goaltending.

Nil d · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Shouldn't he try to lock up Huet now rather than wait for a potential bitting war on him in the off season? There's a big need for quality goalies around the league! Huet is saying all the right words now but like 99% of the players, it'll come down to the money aspect.

I know what you're saying, AB, but we need Huet to want to prove to the world (Gainey included) that he is a world-class goalie. To have that edge every night, like he does now. My fear would be that the minute he's signed on a long-term contract, he goes in the tank. It happened to Theo. We can't have that at this crucial time.

Key Lime · Guru

Nil d wrote:

AB Habman wrote: Shouldn't he try to lock up Huet now rather than wait for a potential bitting war on him in the off season? There's a big need for quality goalies around the league! Huet is saying all the right words now but like 99% of the players, it'll come down to the money aspect. I know what you're saying, AB, but we need Huet to want to prove to the world (Gainey included) that he is a world-class goalie. To have that edge every night, like he does now. My fear would be that the minute he's signed on a long-term contract, he goes in the tank. It happened to Theo. We can't have that at this crucial time.

...but isn't that what Huet will be looking for, a long term deal? It really isn't as simple as it seems. The off-season will be an interesting period for Habs nation.

MC Girl · Guru

I think that Gainey freed up enough money (with Theo) to give Huet what the other teams would offer him. I bet there is no talk until the end of the season to prevent Huet from becoming lax. Gainey wants him "playing for his contract" not "comfortable because he has a contract". Any change right now could rock a seemingly steady boat.

Besides, Huet has been a habs fan for quite sometime & the fan support in Montreal for him is second to none. He is a Montreal superstar.... I don't think he'd mess with that.

Sort of like Kovalev... he came to our organization for less money than others had offered mainly due to the response he got from us (the fans) when he played in Montreal.

Well... that's my take on the topic anyways

AB Habman · Guru

Nil d wrote:

AB Habman wrote: Shouldn't he try to lock up Huet now rather than wait for a potential bitting war on him in the off season? There's a big need for quality goalies around the league! Huet is saying all the right words now but like 99% of the players, it'll come down to the money aspect. I know what you're saying, AB, but we need Huet to want to prove to the world (Gainey included) that he is a world-class goalie. To have that edge every night, like he does now. My fear would be that the minute he's signed on a long-term contract, he goes in the tank. It happened to Theo. We can't have that at this crucial time.

What's the good of proving to the Habs brass that he's quality if we can't sign him anyway?

I think he needs to be locked up before the playoffs. Other teams are catching on and will take a run at him in the off season.

I'm not saying sign him to a huge big contract but lock him up now while we can for a couple seasons at a couple mil. per season.

Just a thought but we need him until our farm boys are ready.

24 Rings · Guru

IF they do offer him a deal, they are going to have to be VERY careful about the terms. Too much and they have another Theo fiasco. Too little and he may walk and try the market out.

hockeyman · Senior Member

One word.......Luongo

AB Habman · Guru

hockeyman wrote:

One word.......Luongo

I highly doubt it!