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JohnM


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Taking stock - from another board
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The UFA market for big name forwards seems to have dried up with the announcement of Brendan Shanahan's signing with the Rangers. And this very signing took the collective gasps of a good portion of Canadiens fans who were hoping for Shanahan to sign with Montreal.

Previous hope centred around Devils star Patrik Elias and Jason Arnott, who both spurned the Habs, sparking outrage and anger from fans at the team's lack of activity this offseason. But is the sky really falling?

To answer it simply, NO. Undoubtedly most clubs in the Eastern Conference have made additions; and the NorthEast especially is looking like a tough division. The Bruins added Savard & Chara and the Leafs added Kubina & Raycroft. However, Montreal is a young club with a pack of speedy forwards who look to improve with age. Keeping the core together and actually giving young players lots of icetime is what the team has to do to develop them.

A cause for concern for many fans was the attitude of free agents towards Montreal. Let's face some facts: The Canadiens' playoff performance hasn't gone very far in the past 2 seasons, so to get free agents a GM would have to overpay significantly. In comparison, the Leafs missed the playoffs, but inked Pavel Kubina because their GM gunned for Kubina and put a lot of money where his mouth was. It doesn't make sense to fault Gainey for not breaking the bank on free agents and handicapping the team's salary cap for next offseason, when players such as Andrei Markov need new contracts. When the team gets better, the free agents will come.

Yes, some fan enemies are still around. Mike Ribiero, the longtime fan enemy could actually do better this year. Perhaps an attitude adjustment could be had under new coach Guy Carbonneau. Richard Zednik who's somehow become a hated player is set to bounce back from his injury plagued 05/06. He's still a good player. Radek Bonk, the oft-maligned and overpaid centre is actually a good penalty killer believe it or not. Is he overpaid? Yes, but that doesn't mean he can't do a good job as a checker, which is what he did in the last half of last season. No offense from him though. None of these guys are going anywhere because their trade value is low; which is why the best thing to do is to actually give them a shot.

Although one forward to round out the top lines would have been ideal, the lack of one doesn't mean that Montreal will regress. Instead full seasons from young players such as Chris Higgins, who burst onto the radar playing alongside captain Saku Koivu, Alexander Perezhogin, Tomas Plekanec and Mike Komisarek should equal improvement from the club. Especially of note is Plekanec, who knocked in 30pts playing on the bottom lines last season, this year we may see him in a more offensive role. Mike Komisarek has finally become a solid NHLer. Alexander Perezhogin needs consistency but could be a potential first liner. Chris Higgins has already proven himself on the top lines. These 4, along with rookie Andrei Kostityn will be the basis of the Montreal club for the foreseeable future.

Rookie Andrei Kostitsyn, the former first round pick, is slated to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL this season. It will be interesting to see whether he makes the club in training camp or not. Fans shouldn't hold their breaths waiting for UFA signings, but Montreal's roster isn't that bad at all.

Montreal's projected 06/07 lineup:

Higgins - Koivu - Ryder
Perezhogin - Plekanec - Kovalev
Kostitsyn - Ribiero - Zednik
Murray - Bonk - Begin

Souray - Rivet
Markov - Komisarek
Bouillion - Dandenault

Huet
Aebischer

Ex. Aaron Downey, Mark Streit

Montreal's defenders did a very good job moving the puck and starting the rush last season. The Canadiens led the league along with Calgary, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Vancouver with five defensemen posting 20 or more points last season: Andrei Markov (46), Sheldon Souray (39), Craig Rivet (34), Francis Bouillon (22) and Mathieu Dandenault (20).

So does this equal the playoffs for Montreal? To be frank, this all depends on the man in the net, just like it has for the past 5 or so years in Montreal. Previously it was Jeff Hackett, then allstar Jose Theodore, and now Cristobal Huet. But even if Huet struggles (and let's all hope he doesn't), David Aebischer, the longtime Avs starter, waits in the wings.

Judging from the age of Montreal's young core players, such as: Higgins (23), Komisarek (24), Perezhogin (22), Plekanec (23), 26yr olds Ryder and Ribiero, Markov (27) and the talent coming up in players such as Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Kostitsyn and Carey Price, the best is yet to come...



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barry33


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Boy am I excited!! Wait til next year!

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Diehardhabsfan


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whether the team changes or not I will be happy just to see the habs play again.  I honestly think I'm going through hockey withdrawl and its only been like a month



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barry33


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Diehardhabsfan wrote:

whether the team changes or not I will be happy just to see the habs play again.  I honestly think I'm going through hockey withdrawl and its only been like a month
Amen!

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doodie


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Totally agree... they almost took the canes ,and they won the cup...had it not been for a couple of misstakes,at critical times it might of been the habs raising the cup.they played very solid in the playoffs, and the reason was the rookies came every night to play.

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barry33


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doodie wrote:

Totally agree... they almost took the canes ,and they won the cup...had it not been for a couple of misstakes,at critical times it might of been the habs raising the cup.they played very solid in the playoffs, and the reason was the rookies came every night to play.
Dave- although I appreciate your optomism, the habs were,and are, a long ways away from hoisting the cup. We do not have near the depth that many other teams do. Toronto has the same problem. Could we have upset Carolina? Absolutely. But as I said before, we did not have the guns to score once the Canes got decent 'tending.

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doodie


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I can understand what your saying Barry,goaltending is a major part of a hockey team,and ward played well ,he was the surprise.But so was Huet,the canes didn't blow the habs away in any games,they were right there,and Huet was awesome,he's the reason the habs were competing,like i said a couple of misstakes?....It's like when Dryden,Penney...were giving the chance to play ,your more focused,as was ward,if they had of been able to grab that third game,we'd be singing...

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barry33


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doodie wrote:

I can understand what your saying Barry,goaltending is a major part of a hockey team,and ward played well ,he was the surprise.But so was Huet,the canes didn't blow the habs away in any games,they were right there,and Huet was awesome,he's the reason the habs were competing,like i said a couple of misstakes?....It's like when Dryden,Penney...were giving the chance to play ,your more focused,as was ward,if they had of been able to grab that third game,we'd be singing...
You are right Dave. Personally I am ghoing to start focusing on what we have instead of what we don't have. Because if I do not do that, I will either throw myself in front of a truck or eat my ex wife's cooking, both would have the same result. I think we have a good nucleus of young players and if BG can pull off a siging or trade or 2, we will be more competitive right away. If not, we will need to be patient and wait for the youngsters to develop.

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Fatherhab


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barry33 wrote:

doodie wrote: Totally agree... they almost took the canes ,and they won the cup...had it not been for a couple of misstakes,at critical times it might of been the habs raising the cup.they played very solid in the playoffs, and the reason was the rookies came every night to play. Dave- although I appreciate your optomism, the habs were,and are, a long ways away from hoisting the cup. We do not have near the depth that many other teams do. Toronto has the same problem. Could we have upset Carolina? Absolutely. But as I said before, we did not have the guns to score once the Canes got decent 'tending.

For what it is worth, this series came down to 1 goal games once Ward stepped in. Perhaps the Canes had more fire-power, and were lucky to pot the winning goals. 


Could the series have gone to the HABS---most definitely..........why? Despite the HAbs lack of goal scoring, they played a system which made up for some of their weaknesses. Do do the HABS need high priced firepower, or is it suffice to have players in their system, who can play and gel as a team. Stocking Hamilton with players who could have filled in when guys like Koivu go down. Just a thought. Signing high priced players limits your ability to spread the wealth amongst middle of the road players who, at times, will carry the team a whole lot further. 



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hockeyman


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When asked if he was looking to progress under Carbo's tutelage didn't Ribeiro state he didn't need no Daddy, or Guy is not my Daddy?  Something along that line!!!!!  I can't wait for the day Ribeiro's punk-a$$ attitude gets shipped out of town.  The sooner the better.

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barry33


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Fatherhab wrote:

barry33 wrote: doodie wrote: Totally agree... they almost took the canes ,and they won the cup...had it not been for a couple of misstakes,at critical times it might of been the habs raising the cup.they played very solid in the playoffs, and the reason was the rookies came every night to play. Dave- although I appreciate your optomism, the habs were,and are, a long ways away from hoisting the cup. We do not have near the depth that many other teams do. Toronto has the same problem. Could we have upset Carolina? Absolutely. But as I said before, we did not have the guns to score once the Canes got decent 'tending. For what it is worth, this series came down to 1 goal games once Ward stepped in. Perhaps the Canes had more fire-power, and were lucky to pot the winning goals.  Could the series have gone to the HABS---most definitely..........why? Despite the HAbs lack of goal scoring, they played a system which made up for some of their weaknesses. Do do the HABS need high priced firepower, or is it suffice to have players in their system, who can play and gel as a team. Stocking Hamilton with players who could have filled in when guys like Koivu go down. Just a thought. Signing high priced players limits your ability to spread the wealth amongst middle of the road players who, at times, will carry the team a whole lot further. 
The problem in my eyes is last year. when Koivu went down, the habs had no one who was either willing, or capabale, of stepping up. Of course we can stick with the status quo and appears that at this stage, we may have to. But any thought sof competeing for a Cup this year, or next, should be forgotten. The thoughts of another season with Koivu (if he plays) and Ribs as our "one two punch" at Center is not enticing. Other teams will exploit that weakness to no end. Carolina did in spades. Brindamour simply dominated.

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