Jay1982 wrote:

---

barry33 wrote: OK let's hear it..Peca is old..over the hill..the Laffs overspent, the did nothing to improve their team..so on and so on. I pray that Gainey does something via the trade route because two teams that finished under us last year, Boston and Toronto will not be missing the playoffs this year. I'm ready to make a money bet with you that the habs finish ahead of both those teams.

---

Well Jay I am at the point where I will wait and see...And-O has rubbed off on me and I see many positives:

1. Beaucoup space de cap- I fully expect that Ribiero was signed to be traded to a team like Jersey (Geesh I hope that CJ does not get stuck putting up with THAT act again).
   
2. Young assets that can only get better..Perezhogan should only get better and Higgins will be a future star in that league. Look for either Latendresse or Chipchura to break the lineup and make an impact this year
   
3. Huet- many here laughed at Toronto signing Raycroft. Lets hope that Huet does not turn into a Raycroft and flop this year. I still expect Abeschier to get traded and Danis to be the backup. But the teams seeking goalies are dwindling daily
   
4. Koivu- this is a KEY season for him. He needs to stay healthy and play close to 80 games and he needs to produce. If he gets back to form look out

I guess all in all I am switching gears. I am over the disbelief that we failed in the UFA market and am turning to optomism that we are in a great position cap wise to pick up some castoffs, either trade wise or waiver wire. As for Toronto and Boston..as you know, I am a great believer in coaching. Paul Maurice in Toronto is a much better fit for them with their young players. Sames as Dave Lewis and his no nonsense approach in Beantown. Forget about the signings and whether they were warrented or not..these teams will be significantly better. We will be fighting these guys for a playoff spot. And, ok laugh at me now, but Pittsburgh will make some noise this year in the east, especially if the Russian guy comes over. It is just a matter of how fast their young guys can improve. There will be no easy games in the east this year. The only team I see as having done nothing is Washington.

Note- one other thing that scares me is this...we talk about making trades with teams that are over the cap...names being thrown around are Ribs, Abby, and Zednick. Gainey just signed Ribs to 1.9 million. Given his "performance" (Zednick as well), how is this an attraction to a team looking to dump cap space? I need to disagree with ANd-O here. If you are to argue that Saks is overpaid the same holds true for Ribiero. Ribs production was down over last year..yet you give him a big raise of 72%??? My sales are down over lats year..I think I will go in and ask my boss for a big raise. I feel like golfing all summer anyways. In the same breath you argue and go to arbitration for Michael Ryder. Your only 30 goal scorer...makes no sense.