Give it a rest

kuvu · Member

Give it a rest

habsforeverfan · Veteran Member

Great post!!

I have always disliked Detroit's bought cups. Homegrown talent makes victory all the more sweeter.

Agree with you totally.

Hkydude_77 · Member

Give it a rest? Are you kidding? Locke, Ferland, Archer, Milroy, Cote are not a nucleus to win you a Stanley Cup. Combined they'll be lucky to play 50 games in the NHL combined.

The bottom line is, Montreal led the league in attendance this year. Montreal traded there STAR player, and replaced him with a player half his salary (Theo for Huet). Montreal should be be adding key components to their existing roster, so young players such as Higgins, Ryder, Komisarek etc., don't accept squeeking into the playoffs every year, putting in a good effort and getting bounced in 6 games.

The fans of this team deserve better - and they can't rely strictly on there prospects to build a Cup contender for the simple fact they don't have the quality of prospects to do so.

I'm not bashing Bob Gainey, I think Montreal is fine in net, fine on the blueline, but they can significantly improve upfront via free agency. . .although they could have addressed the big centre they've been lacking for years by signing Arnott.........

mperra (Admin) · Guru

Hkydude_77 wrote:

Give it a rest? Are you kidding? Locke, Ferland, Archer, Milroy, Cote are not a nucleus to win you a Stanley Cup.

That's true. Remember, the Canadiens goal is to win a Stanley Cup before their Centennial season 2008-09.

These youngsters will NOT put us over the top.

In an earlier thread, Patg mentions that Montreal needs a front line centre, and a defenceman.

The only way Montreal will and can address these needs is by trades only. Other players, when weighing in the options, won't come here. especially top first tier players.

Patg is absolutely correct when addressing the team's needs. But how many other teams are in the same boat? And how much can the Habs afford?

Yes the revenues the Habs generates is one of the top 3 in the NHL. But Canadiens also pay the highest arena tax in all of the NHL at $10M. Many US teams pay none. Another factor when considering the team's purse strings.

-- Edited by mperra (Admin) at 19:31, 2006-07-03

barry33 · Guru

mperra (Admin) wrote:

Hkydude_77 wrote: Give it a rest? Are you kidding? Locke, Ferland, Archer, Milroy, Cote are not a nucleus to win you a Stanley Cup. That's true. Remeber, the Canadiens goal is to win a Stanley Cup before their Centennial season 2008-09. These youngsters will NOT put us over the top. In an earlier thread, Patg mentions that Montreal needs a front line centre, and a defenceman. The only way Montreal will and can address these needs is by trades only. Other players, when weighing in the options, won't come here. especially top first tier players. Patg is absolutely correct when addressing the team's needs. But how many other teams are in the same boat? And how much can the Habs afford? Yes the revenues the Habs generates is one of the top 3 in the NHL. But Canadiens also pay the highest arena tax in all of the NHL at $10M. Many US teams pay none. Another factor when considering the team's purse strings.

Good post Mario. I guess the concern I have, and many others, is that the clock is ticking and alot of the coveted players are gone already. Gainey was unable to pull the trigger on a trade last year, why would it be any different now? It is not. In fact, it is worse because after a year off, alot of teams are now reloaded with free agents.

mperra (Admin) · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Gainey was unable to pull the trigger on a trade last year, why would it be any different now? It is not. In fact, it is worse because after a year off, alot of teams are now reloaded with free agents.

Jose Theodore was traded at last year's trade deadline. Abd that was more an addition by substraction kinda deal if you get my drift .

The year before he picked up Alex Kovalev.

Anyway I understand the frustration. I too am!!! I would love Gainey to stand up and tell it like it is. How the mean spirited media does not help the situation. Also he could have squashed the TVA reporter this past Spring when he challenged Koivu for not speaking French. Gainey should have intervened on the press conference podium.

But Gainey, a class act, works for a class organization.

norskipaul · Senior Member

I have to admit I didn't know any of that tax stuff you've been talking about recently, it makes a lot of stuff clearer to me. I still think that if a guy chooses to go to a hockey mecca like Anaheim (as one of our posters so nicely put it) because they can't take the media pressure, or the weather, for that matter, then who needs 'em. I would have thought that a "real" hockey player would thrive on the pressure of playing for The Canadiens. Ah, well maybe that's just me...another thought that crossed my mind is that although I realize we need certain reinforcements (centre, forward) I'm thinking that keeping the same group of players together should breed familiarity and build a true "team". That is, of course , if BG has adressed the oft debated problems in the dressing room...