sign a ufa dman!

wright · Veteran Member

sign a ufa dman!

plouf · Guru

wright wrote:

The list of quality free agent centers with offensive capabilities is very slim. Arnott, Savard and not much else. Pursuing a quality defenceman with offensive abilites looks to be a batter bet. There is approximately 15 to 20 quality defencemen that will be ufa's after this season, from the top teir of Lidstrom to Redden and Jovanovski. Even a notch below those guys there are some real interesting players such as Willie Mitchell, Kubina,Spacek,Numminen to name a few.
In the new NHL with the emphasis on the stretch pass, a need for defencemen to have a lot of mobility and be efficent puck movers, defencemen now more than ever can generate offense. Outside of Markov the Habs defence does not have an abundance of those qualities. When Markov is not in the lineup, or when he is not on his game (as was the case in the latter part of the Carolina series) the team suffers,badly. Buffalo has a similar to team to Montreal, but their defence as a whole are much more mobile and can transition from defence to offense much quicker.
Instead of getting into a bidding war for a select few quality centers, maybe a better strategy is to go after adefenceman even if he is below the radar screen. Another mobile dman could enable the Habs to use a 2-1-2 system which would better suit the quicker forwards than the presently employed 1-4 trap. By adding another quality dman, it would add more depth and perhaps enable Gainey then to put a package together to land a center.

Not a bad idea, although I wonder who would go?

Can't be Markov...he's still essential - no matter his poor playoff performance, the team sucks without him.
Bouillon? He's certainly qualified to be a #5 or #6 and be part of the heart and soul of the team. He's cheap and useful.
Can't be Souray or Rivet in my humble opinion, hard to give up guys with so much heart, although both had lousy playoffs.
Can't be our up-and-comer Komisarek.

Which leaves Dandenault, who IS mobile, and does have some offense. Picking him up may have been a mistake on Gainey's part, because he's been pretty inconsistent this year. He might be worth something in a trade still though.

beakermania · Senior Member

We need another legit 1-2 dman. Right now Markov is our only one.

If we get another I can say goodbye to Souray. Package him with some other pieces and get the Centre we need that way. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

If we keep Souray too, I can also see Dandenault/Boullion splitting time as the 6/7th Dman, with Dandy maybe spending some games on the forward units. All depending on opponents. Dandy is quicker, Bouillion a harder hitter (despite the small frame). Also there are always injuries especially on Defence so having 7 quality NHL dmen on the roster is never a bad thing.

If you keep Souray then Streit is the one to go. Get a draft pick.

habgirl · Guru

No doubt Souray's had his issues this year, but I say NO...KEEP HIM. He's a great influence. The young guys look to him, and he's definitely got his heart in the right place - right in the CH.

Streit-you are the weakest link. Good bye.

Now Bob, get us a CENTRE, CENTRE, CENTRE, CENTRE, CENTRE!

rwp2le · Guru

How is everyone missing the fact that we need a left winger too? With the exception of Higgins who will be a top 6 forward in a few years, who else do we have on the left side? We attempted to use Bulis this year, we need a left winger badly.

Habtastic · Guru

They will either acquire a winger or move Perez or Kostitsyn into that spot. I still like the idea of moving Souray into that position though.

Habtastic

plouf · Guru

Habtastic wrote:

They will either acquire a winger or move Perez or Kostitsyn into that spot. I still like the idea of moving Souray into that position though.

Habtastic

Kostsitsyn or Perezhogin is probably the long-term plan. Both are still projected as top line wingers, and Kostsitsyn's a sniper with size and speed.

That's the rub. If we pick up a top winger we hurt the development of Higgins, Ryder, Kostsitsyn and Perezhogin.

Fatherhab · Senior Member

How about moving Chris Higgins back to his natural position as a centreman. He has good speed and its not like he is unfamilar with the postion. Good work ethic, size and given the opportunity could develope into a diamond in the bush.

Johab · Guru

beakermania wrote:

We need another legit 1-2 dman. Right now Markov is our only one. If we get another I can say goodbye to Souray. Package him with some other pieces and get the Centre we need that way. Kill 2 birds with one stone. If we keep Souray too, I can also see Dandenault/Boullion splitting time as the 6/7th Dman, with Dandy maybe spending some games on the forward units. All depending on opponents. Dandy is quicker, Bouillion a harder hitter (despite the small frame). Also there are always injuries especially on Defence so having 7 quality NHL dmen on the roster is never a bad thing. If you keep Souray then Streit is the one to go. Get a draft pick.

Couldnt Disagree more Beaker...sorry...but really, Souray might be a bad 1 on 1 defenseman...but he is a threat everywhere else and sticks up for this team. Not only that but he plays with a fire ( when hes on his game ) and is hard to stop when he does. The guy is and will be valueable to this team in the future. Definately worth keeping around. And hes a bargain price no less...

wright · Veteran Member

beakermania wrote:

We need another legit 1-2 dman. Right now Markov is our only one. If we get another I can say goodbye to Souray. Package him with some other pieces and get the Centre we need that way. Kill 2 birds with one stone. If we keep Souray too, I can also see Dandenault/Boullion splitting time as the 6/7th Dman, with Dandy maybe spending some games on the forward units. All depending on opponents. Dandy is quicker, Bouillion a harder hitter (despite the small frame). Also there are always injuries especially on Defence so having 7 quality NHL dmen on the roster is never a bad thing. If you keep Souray then Streit is the one to go. Get a draft pick.

No question the Habs need another quality dman to complement Markov. To achieve that they don't have to pay an exhorbant amount of money to do so. Sure Redden, Chara, Lidstrom would be great but the price tag will be too high. Kuba, Kubina Mitchell or even Spacek would be an upgrade over anyone else the Habs have at the present time, at least in terms of offensive capabilities. Kuba,Kubina and Mitchell all are in the 6 foot 3 inch range and around 210 pounds. Each have great shots from the point and are mobile. Mitchell's salary at present is 1.3 million, Kuba's is 1.7 million and Kubina is 2.3 million, all cheaper than Rivet's 2.5 million and Souray's 2.2 million for the 06-07 season. Would hate to see either Rivet or Souray traded, but if a quality ufa dman is signed, and either a Rivet or a Souray in part could land a quality centerman in a trade, it might be necessary in a way to improve the team.