Gainey Trigger SHY?

Fatherhab · Senior Member

Gainey Trigger SHY?

barry33 · Guru

What bothers me is this. All along Gainey has indicated that he would get big free agents. He stated publicly that was his plan. His primary plan was NOT to build through the draft or trades. Last winter he indicated that he was happy with his team and was going to land a couple UFA's to supplement it. Gainey has been in a league a long time and in Montreal a long time. If this whole language/tax/media thing was such a problem, do you think he only became aware of it since July 1st? Why would he go on record as stating he was going to sign free agents then? What bugs me is the people who are now saying "Oh Gainey's plan was always to build through the draft and trades". That is simply not the case as indicated by this article and many other statements the man has made. He has been forced into that position because he failed.

Having said that, what is done (or not done) is done. Time to shift our focus into the trade market now. But if anyone thinks that we are 'just fine" with what we had last year (ie Saks and Ribs as our centers) is sorely mistaken and in for a big surprise.

wright · Veteran Member

Fatherhab wrote:

Has Gainey now gone gun shy? Excerpt of Media release when Carbo was announced as Coach While the Canadiens will be competing with 29 other teams once NHL GMs get the green light to start shopping on July 1, Gainey likes Montreal’s chances of wooing the players of their choice. “Now, more than ever, in Montreal we hold an advantage over all other cities,” said Gainey. “The support our fans have shown us all year, the energy that exists in our building and the atmosphere in this city say it all. “In Montreal, people care. And if you care, then there is nowhere else to play in the NHL,” vowed Gainey. “There might be other places, but there’s no place better. “If the pressure, the expectations and the passion are too much, or if Montreal is too lively and spicy for you,” added Gainey, “then this isn’t the place for you.” I'm starting to waver on my support of him as GM.

Don't think Gainey is going to sit back and do nothing to improve the team. As full time gm and temporary coach last season, Gainey saw first hand the strengths and weaknessess of the team. Although he has been unable to sign a ufa, it has not been without trying. All reports indicate he put out competitive offers to the likes of Elias,Shanahan and Arnott. Gainey decided not to get locked into longer term committments or more money thanhe thought was worth it. At least he is not over spending in a tight salary cap era. Gainey will have a second chance to upgrade the team via trade just prior to the season starts when teams like Jersey,Philly,Tampa and others will be forced to make moves due to the fact they are right at or above the cap limits.

Gainey will also have opportunities at next season's trade deadline, with financial flexibility he will be able to make a move with teams that again are tight against the cap and are not in a playoff position and are willing to cut payroll. Frustrating to see other teams making moves that are improving their squads while we sit still, but again I think this is temporary. Better to continue to stockpile good young talent (Grabovsky, Plekanec,Higgins,Ryder,Lantandresse etc etc) through the draft than feel forced to make a rash trade, (Remember the Leclair and Desjardins trade for Recchi?) that can haunt you for years to come.

skov1044 · Member

“Now, more than ever, in Montreal we hold an advantage over all other cities,” said Gainey

im sorry but after the last 2 yrs ,im starting to believe players dont want to play for the habs

gainey has thrown some money around theo,kovalev and im sure he threw some money at some free agents example shanny

im starting to believe taxes,language,schools,and the media are a big reason players arent coming here

Fatherhab · Senior Member

You may be WRIGHT, but the frustration is setting in. The Habs have the cash to make some significant moves, yet Ziltch to date to full fill a declaration made to whoo players to Montreal.. Whats really frustrates me, is to see an opportunity to pick-up a guy like Bell who would have strengthed us down the middle, gave us some size and ability, not to mention character. The asking price was not astonomical, yet BG failed to pull the trigger. What is he waiting for? The Eric Stal's of this world are few and far between.....Bell comes from the same cloth.

wright · Veteran Member

Fatherhab wrote:

You may be WRIGHT, but the frustration is setting in. The Habs have the cash to make some significant moves, yet Ziltch to date to full fill a declaration made to whoo players to Montreal.. Whats really frustrates me, is to see an opportunity to pick-up a guy like Bell who would have strengthed us down the middle, gave us some size and ability, not to mention character. The asking price was not astonomical, yet BG failed to pull the trigger. What is he waiting for? The Eric Stal's of this world are few and far between.....Bell comes from the same cloth.

I hear you, and agree with you to a certain extent. As Barry33 indicates a center combination of Koviu and Riberio is not going to cut it. We desperately need some size and scoring ability upfront. There could not have been a more poignant example of the teams short comings upfront than in the late stages of game 4 or 5(I can't remember which) when the Habs had Souray playing as a winger when the Habs were trying for the equalizer. Lack of physical size and finish around the net is a major liability for this team.

Habtastic · Guru

Apparently, from what I have been reading for the last while, is that GMs have had a year to see how players have reacted to the NHL and this Summer there will be a lot of trades as they search for their missing pieces. The Havlat trade kicked things off. Eklund is one guy who reports that Gainey is working on something big. This guy (Eklund) has been gaining some good credibility and has a fun and informative site with some excellent writers. He says that we should expect the Habs to make at least one major move in the next two weeks. Let's hope!

Habtastic

barry33 · Guru

Habtastic wrote:

Apparently, from what I have been reading for the last while, is that GMs have had a year to see how players have reacted to the NHL and this Summer there will be a lot of trades as they search for their missing pieces. The Havlat trade kicked things off. Eklund is one guy who reports that Gainey is working on something big. This guy (Eklund) has been gaining some good credibility and has a fun and informative site with some excellent writers. He says that we should expect the Habs to make at least one major move in the next two weeks. Let's hope! Habtastic

As critical as I have been with Bob failing to get the UFA's he wanted, I have total faith in the guy that he will get it done on the trade market. I will not be critical unless we open the season with what we have now. Time to switch gears and get 'er done via trades.

brew · Member

Hey fatherhab, do you think we could have given Chicago the same kind of players as Ottawa did for Bell (I know he's in San Jose but the result is the same). We don't have the kind of players to give to land a player like that. As for free agents, I'd bet Gainey tried his best to land one but if they don't want to come here then we can't blame him. Until he pulls one of those dumb trades (a la Patrick Roy, or Leclair etc) then i'll have full confidence in him.

Fatherhab · Senior Member

brew wrote:

Hey fatherhab, do you think we could have given Chicago the same kind of players as Ottawa did for Bell (I know he's in San Jose but the result is the same). We don't have the kind of players to give to land a player like that. As for free agents, I'd bet Gainey tried his best to land one but if they don't want to come here then we can't blame him. Until he pulls one of those dumb trades (a la Patrick Roy, or Leclair etc) then i'll have full confidence in him.

Ok Brew, from my knowledge of the trade, it cost the Sharks (their top players) 1- 2yr. defenseman(Presiing) and an unproven 21 yr(Hennessy) to obtain Bell. As Barry 33 stated, did Gainey only know how difficult it was going to be to get UFA to come to Montreal on the 1st of July. He made the statement about having an advantage and wooing players of his choice to Montreal. I can only describe it as "Foot in mouth desease". He'll have to live with that statement.

murphy · Veteran Member

Fatherhab wrote:

brew wrote: Hey fatherhab, do you think we could have given Chicago the same kind of players as Ottawa did for Bell (I know he's in San Jose but the result is the same). We don't have the kind of players to give to land a player like that. As for free agents, I'd bet Gainey tried his best to land one but if they don't want to come here then we can't blame him. Until he pulls one of those dumb trades (a la Patrick Roy, or Leclair etc) then i'll have full confidence in him. Ok Brew, from my knowledge of the trade, it cost the Sharks (their top players) 1- 2yr. defenseman(Presiing) and an unproven 21 yr(Hennessy) to obtain Bell. As Barry 33 stated, did Gainey only know how difficult it was going to be to get UFA to come to Montreal on the 1st of July. He made the statement about having an advantage and wooing players of his choice to Montreal. I can only describe it as "Foot in mouth desease". He'll have to live with that statement.

We all have to live with statements that we make-some come back to haunt us and others just "go away". We have no way of knowing who Gainey might have tried to woo to Mtl. He is not one that will make public his "behind the scenes" efforts, nor should he. I have enough confidence in BG to accept that he has been making every effort to improve the Habs but I too feel the press, taxes, language, and schools have become a big factor in players not wanting to come to Mtl. Hopefully there will be a couple of them who can be convinced to accept these perceived disadvantages(boy am I hopeful) and will accept a trade to the Habs. As others on this board have indicated, I too will be very disappointed if we have to start next season with the same crew we now have. Lets keep the faith until then.