Hossa, a Penguin, slips through Habs grasp
posted by Dave Stubbs at 16h34 EST on Feb 26
Marian Hossa's biography and statistics at NHLPA.com:
Tags:
Comments
123next ›last »
Submitted by blueline on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 00:52.
I can't help but wonder if the Habs inability to land a pre-playoff "impact" player isn't partially due to Gainey himself. By opening his mouth and proclaiming several days prior to the trade deadline that he was interested in obtaining such a player, the only thing he accomplished was to increase the appetite of any GM who was potentially looking to trade one to the Habs. Gainey may have been more successful if he had kept quiet, played his cards close to his chest and not be seen publicly as an eager buyer. As proof, nobody knew the Penguins were interested in Hossa and they eventually got him for less than what the Habs were being asked to give up.
Submitted by rogus on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 14:24.
Very good for the Pens to have someone to play with Crosby and/or Malkin. Unfortunately, I don't think Hossa is very good in nets! Good luck there fellas! Furthermore, I think there will be a lot of interest from the f/a's this summer and we won't have to sell the farm to get them then. Bob continues to build - no addition by subtraction. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day either!
Submitted by habsguy on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 10:15.
Y...thats cool. True Hab fans don't need you in here anyway..But in saying that, I'm sure you're already changed your name and jumped back on the wagon !!!!
Submitted by The Cat on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 10:07.
The habs did well by not going for Hossa. However Im disappointed at how Huet was treated. I understand Gainey's thinking in that a goalie tandem doesnt work for some goalies, it didnt work for Price and likely Price will step up now...But giving him away for a 2nd round pick (in 2009 when the caps will be even better), then come on the air and say you were prepared to trade Huet away irregardless of if it was a 6th or 7th round pick was really disrespectful of Bob. I dont know why this organization always sees it fit to treat people that have been good to them so poorly. It is said Huet was in a foul mood when leaving the Bell centre, and he has every right to be.
Submitted by RetroMikey on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 08:12.
In Bob I trust totally 100%
Sad to see Huet go, but that's part of hockey! Carey Price now will lead us to our conquest of our next Stanley Cup.
Bob is a smart man and all those bashers out there wanting Hossa, Tanguay, etc... are gonna eat those words. Pittsburgh obtaining Hossa is not going to guarantee them a Cup. They gave up more and I, for one, would not make that trade! I've always stated we need young Marcel Goc on our team but who knows what Bob will do in the summer?
We have a good team and team chemistry and unity is important. The young guns are going to surprise alot of us come playoff time on our team...mark my word! I am glad we did not give up on our youth to get a short term rental player.
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 22:25.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. Why not ride him into playoffs, if you're gonna get crap in return? Certainly they weren't going to win the cup this year but you could have had some class and let Huet play out his contract with you.
I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season and so have I, I've had enough of this charade.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
PS: Sayonara to all you blind sheep who follow Bob like he was some sort of God. クソをするバカヤロ！
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Leclerc1965 on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 21:15.
You gotta be kidding. Throwing in the towel for this year? Put down the pipe monkey boy, if you consider trading 3 roster players (good young players) and a 1st a bad decision for Hossa maybe you should be a leaf fan. Can anyone believe this guy? We're in 5th place, 2 points out of being 3rd in the conference and this guy wants to bail. What did you expect? A cup this year? Get real...we weren't expected to even make the playoffs this year let alone win a cup. Get a clue, Huet wasn't going to lead this team to a cup either, go forbid if his feelings got hurt. This is a business ape face, Huet would have walked at the end of the year anyway is we have held onto him and we would have received nothing! How long have you been a Hab fan anyway, it's fans like yourself that deserve a good whack and sent to your room without dinner for whining.
Furthermore, no binky in your crib..cry yourself to sleep.
Submitted by Will Longlade on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 02:50.
Cry me a river Y. Hockey is business and sometimes G.M.'s have to make decisions for the good of the team, not individuals.
Signed,
Tired of reading the same post again and again
Submitted by mrstewart61 on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:03.
Enjoy your spring!
Submitted by Vancouver Hab Fan on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 00:55.
Huet for a 2nd was value. Your post is senseless subjective dribble. Not mortgaging the future for today is a foundation of continued success and prosperity. The Habs will continue to draft well and develop talent under Gainey creating a higher and higher probability of the team being an elite team over the coming years!
Go Habs!
Submitted by Will Longlade on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 02:36.
Couldn't have said it any better myself. The bleeding hearts who are lamenting the loss of Huet and absence of Hossa will all be jumping back on the bandwagon when the Habs edge out the Pens in the conference final.
Submitted by Rich B on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 00:20.
Throwing in the towel? This is of course much like what people said about the Bulldogs allowing Price to play last year. Why does Price have to lead them to the cup this year? If playoff experience this year leads to the cup next year or results in a cup in any subsequent year, I will be happy. Of course, I'll still be a Canadiens fan either way. Is it really any surprise that the same analysts and fans that doubted this team at the beginning of the season thought the Habs needed to dump a ton of talented youth to bring in a superstar/playoff dud so far? John Ferguson Jr. says the Habs are the deadline losers. The man who built a horrible franchise thinks Mr. Gainey made a mistake. Interesting. I'm not convinced that it is bad thing to go against what JFJ thinks. Of course, it is no secret that I'm a "baby Price lover" as you put it. I'm certainly not jumping for joy at seeing Huet go, but this is a result of this team building from within...too many NHL caliber goaltenders in the system. The future continues to look bright. A draft pick allows this positive cycle to continue even if it doesn't feel good tonight knowing a player who brought a lot of excitement to our lives won't be wearing the CH anymore. That's the nature of the NHL these days in my eyes. Then again as you pointed out, what do I know? - Rich B Blind Sheep #2342
Submitted by mjames on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:47.
You sound like a petulant child. Very mature. The next time I see you posting here I will remind you that you quit. As they say "don't let the door hit you on the way out ...."
mjames
Submitted by MCHC24 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:49.
Ole' ole'...!
Submitted by showey47 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:36.
good riddance, go sign up for laff nation, they can use another useless posting tool like yourself
Submitted by HabsAlltheWay on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:17.
If you're being serious, then good riddance. They're battling for 1st/2nd/3rd in the conference, they're 2nd in the league in scoring, and playing solid hockey and they're as exciting to watch as they have been in YEARS.
You're bitchin' because Gainey didn't give up three roster players and a pick to get 20 games out of Hossa? Please...
Submitted by MCHC24 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 22:56.
Not cool...not informed.
Lost interest?...One less neagative voice.
Submitted by Chuck V. on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:11.
and about 90 replica posts less
Submitted by MCHC24 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:36.
Ole'
Submitted by Chuck V. on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:20.
You know what the more time goes by, the more I'm starting to like what transpired today. Let me explain:
Everyone says that we are turning it over to a goalie who has no playoff experience in Carey Price, but Huet has played in 1 NHL playoff series and has a 2-4 record. Huet probably wouldn't have re-signed, and if he had he'd have been pretty expensive to keep. We can use that money to lure a nice free agent in the summer, or re-sign or RFA's.
Also, this move will do wonders for Carey Price as he knows now that he's the man and he'll have the net for the rest of the year. Where he would have to worry about Huet in the past, now he knows it's his team.
As for Hossa, while I was all for getting him and was really pissed when we didn't, the price to pay was far too high. I was a fan of some of the proposed trades, but to match Pittsburgh's offer would have been too much without having Hossa locked up long-term.
In the end, I think that this is not a bad situation for the team to be in. We have a young team that can gain experience together. I really like that we didn't shake up the core of the team too much and I think that a team that grows together ultimately wins together. While Hossa would have vaulted us into legitimate contender status, we are now still in a position to make some noise and we know that our best days are ahead of us.
It took some serious balls for Bob to do what he did today (either way, getting Hossa or standing pat) and I think the only real disappointment is not getting more for Huet.
Submitted by Vancouver Hab Fan on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:02.
Pretty much my thoughts on it all.
I knew, posted, claimed all year that Huet would be traded by the deadline because there was no way the team was going to resign him with Price and Halak around; as well as Huet having never distinguished himself as more than good, maybe good plus. Huet was a solid 77% on any exam, good but not good enough!
Watching the game on RDS I heard the guys briefly speak about how Waddell didn't allow Gainey to speak with Hossa (about a contract), so he had no assurance he was getting anything more than a rent a player and 3 roster players and a prospect/high pick would have been too much to give up for a run this year.
Submitted by New on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:55.
You're right about Hossa as well.
You have to look beyond the hype, see what actually is, and take it from there.
Huet brought what the market for Huet is, a second round pick. If Washington goes deep into the playoffs, and it's Huet in nets, then the market will change for him. Rigt now he's very, very well paid. Mainly because of hype.
Submitted by showey47 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 23:42.
you know chuck i was preaching the same thing about price/huet for months and got slack from the likes of "Y" and others who think we needed to resign huet to his retirement contract.
Submitted by The Teacher on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:16.
Well, Gainey pretty much made it clear that he didn't think Huet had the tools in the end. He would not resign him in the summer and thus it made sense on several fronts to go with a Price/Halak tandem.
1. We have marked Price as our guy, with Halak a noticeable second. If they are our guys, they might as well be the ones getting the experience. I would rather have Price get 1 or 2 series in the playoffs down the give it to Huet who will leave. Thus rendering Price in the same position as he is this year.
2. Huet was leaving no matter which way you put in. Considering Burkie had to put Bryzygalov on waivers, a 2nd isn't too bad. We all would like a 1st, but, the market isn't good for goalies right now.
3. Now there is no uncertainty among the players, they know who their guy is. They will have to hold themselves responsible if they let young kids out to dry.
Ryder did not go because we NEED him now. He was only going if we picked up a 1st or 2nd line forward.
As for Hossa. I'm glad we didn't get him. Gave up a lot and I find it hard to believe Pittsburgh will resign him.
Anyways, let's see the reaction among the players today. I think Higgins will bring it as will Ryder for some reason.
Submitted by Vancouver Hab Fan on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:13.
Good call on Higgins who played his best game in months! If Higgins played this well all of the time he would be in the same class as the Hossas, I keep expecting him to move to that level and don't understand what has happened to him over the last 35 games.
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:06.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season and so have I, I've had enough of this charade.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:05.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season and so have I, I've had enough of this charade.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:05.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:05.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:04.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Y on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:04.
What absolute nonsense. Gainey once again proves that he can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. He slaps Huet in the face by giving him away for nothing and good ol' UFA Ryder is still here. I've lost complete interest in this season and don't see these guys going anywhere. To me Bob the Builder just threw in the towel on this season.
Have fun all you baby Price lovers. I won't ever eat my words unless your beloved leads them all the way to cup this year.
Signed,
An absolutely disgusted and disgruntled fan
Thanks for the memories Cristobal! Best of luck with Ovechkin and friends
You will be missed!
Submitted by Chorske on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:10.
OK, ciao.
Submitted by Chorske on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:12.
I'm not that devastated. Let somone else mortgage their future.
Submitted by Blitzen on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:51.
Allright...this afternoon was this afternoon and tonight is tonight.
Go Habs Go!!!!!!
_____________________________________________________
Remember February 19th: The Comeback
Submitted by A. Berke on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:51.
As much as I would have liked to see a very good player join our team (Koivu line), I'm happy with the outcome:
First, the final decision was Waddell's and Hossa's, and Hossa may have pulled another Briere for not wanting to come Montreal or he may have thought that he may have a better chance for a cup run this year with Crosby and Malkin.
What Gainey offered atlanta (for Hossa only) is as good if not better than what the pens offered for two players.
Despite some posters (as well as mine) criticism, if Ryder can find his groove back we'll be just fine without losing 3 players for Hossa only to play here for a couple of months.
As for Huet, I wish him good luck and hope the caps sign him for 3 or 4 years. Being an UFA, his time and future here in MTL was limited at best. Time to move on with Price/Halak and see what they can do and hopefully they'll be great eventually.
The trade deadline is over and let's focus on the season's remaining games.
Cheers,
Ali B.
Submitted by jimbo on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:29.
Hossa had no say in it
Submitted by imafogdevil on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:50.
Glad the day went as it did. I would have liked some grit up front, but we need to refocus and prepare for the stretch drive.
Goalies are a funny thing. I believe now that Price knows he's the guy, he should, nay, will step up and play at a high level.
As for Ryder, well, I hope my faith will be justifed. I believe that it will because now, he knows he's not going anywhere. He should better concentrate on scoring.
__________________________________________
It can only get better!! Go Ryder, Go Habs!
Submitted by DownwithBobBarker on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:44.
Alright, for all the Carey doubters and Huet lovers, let's look at our supposed "Number One" goalie that we just "gave away for nothing":
-7th round pick
-Has never handled the work load of a real number one goalie (60+ games)
-has only reached the 20 win mark for the first time this season
-is very streaky, sometimes he's great, sometimes he sucks
-is 33 years old
- is a UFA at the end of the season
I say we dodged a bullet by not giving in to what atlanta was asking for, and did the right thing ultimately dumping huet. He's only been to the playoffs once, and he choked there, how much more experience than price and halak does he really have? Price has dealt with the pressure in playoffs in the world juniors and the calder cup run (ya i know, not the nhl, but u don't think theres pressure involved when u represent ur country, at any level?) and won. Huet? saved our season when he took over from theo, but was PARTLY (not entirely) to blame for our early exit that year, and was pretty much entirely to blame for that loss against the leafs last year that ended our hopes. He's had periods of brilliance this year, but lately has become a hell of a sieve and lost the confidence of his organisation. The best of luck to him in washington, but BELIEVE ME, Montreal is better off without him.
Have faith...who knows, maybe Grabovskis recent hot streak will carry over to the nhl, price and halak will dominate, and huet will stink it up in washington. then all the haters will love gainey.
Submitted by Blitzen on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:43.
Gainey's dream score tonight:
3-0 Habs on a hat trick by Grabs.
_____________________________________________________
Remember February 19th: The Comeback
Submitted by Timo (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:38.
Too bad all journalists concentrated on was Hossa. To me Habs have a more pressing need and it's not goal scoring. Anyway... nothing we can do now (or ever for that matter)
Hope habs can win one at least against atlanta, cause I am definitely not holding my breath for buffalo or devils' games.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:40.
Yeah I have a bad feeling about the next month. Hopefully the last 15 years of pathetic hockey is just coloring my judgment.
Here's to hope....
Submitted by Timo (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:44.
... yeah, once again hoping to make just make playoffs.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:46.
My fear is that once we start making the playoffs reliably, our core of young players will be way to soft to get us anywhere. I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel in regards to that.
Submitted by Vancouver Hab Fan on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:19.
Have some faith!! Why look at the class half empty, look at the half full and hope/believe/expect the young Habs will pick their game up for the playoffs!
Go Habs!
Submitted by mjames on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:37.
After reading some of the negative posts that are no more than immature emotional rants, one thing is abundantly evident. We have some of the worst fans in sports. We are acting like spoiled brats. I am glad there are some who are rational and objective.
mjames
Submitted by HKisses on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:49.
LIKE U SAID.....BEST FANS HERE ARE ON TOP OF MY POST...(mmaybe under not sure but nething Under MJames u guys are the good fans who stick around through highs and lows.....
Submitted by tony d on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:49.
mj
I think many of us (Boone included) have seen a pattern develop with our boys far too often....they shine in one game and are absolutely brilliant and then tank the next 2... and so it goes....I'm not worried about 2 rookie goalies in net...I'll miss Huet, he was a great team player and a nice guy but as Jacques Demers said on RDS....there's a lot of great guys on teams who will never get you to the Stanley Cup.
My problem has always been our on again off again offense...it's a major concern... and it should be addressed come July (since today's done)
I've been a Habs fan for over 45 years...
Go Habs Go
Submitted by RudeMood19 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:39.
Well said. It's better to win with homegrown talent than rental players.
_____________________________________________________________
1. February 19th, 2008, a day which will live in sublimity.
Submitted by Chorske on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 21:17.
hey, nice icon!!!
Submitted by Habs_008 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:42.
Agree, i said before i think Gainey is the best GM we have had since the 70's. He has turned the team around. Some of these fans need to be Patient, we will be a serious contender, maybe not this year but in the years to come. Patients!
Submitted by HabsProf on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:36.
Others have commented on this site that we have no game-breaking, 100-point men in the minors and the only way we will see that is to sign one as a UFA.
Well, despite the lack of success over the last couple of years, we might get one this summer. Unlike in the past, we clearly have an up and coming team and UFAs will be more attracted to us then they were in the past.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:39.
I would settle for a 60 point guy who isn't afraid to take a hit.
Submitted by Vancouver Hab Fan on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:25.
You have to like to S.Kostitsyn's game, he's feisty and I think he will easily be a 60 point guy next season. He isn't a big guy who will clobber anyone but he finishes checks, stands up for himself and his teammates and sees the ice. I think the kid may end up being great and a regular 100 point guy.
A.Kostitsyn could hit 60 this year and again he is getting better, gaining confidence and playing the body more.
Submitted by jimbo on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:36.
Sergei has to shoot more.Always looking to pass it off.and tonight playing with Streit and Slug-o,not gonna get you much in the way of points always passing it to them 2
Submitted by tony d on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:32.
Tonight will be an interesting game....this is the team (as is) that will hopefully lead us into the playoffs
There's been so much talk of team chemistry and not wanting to play with that....just hope it doesn't end up like a lab experiment that blows up in your face
If they lose tonight....yikes.....
Submitted by Prof Piton Palchak on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:32.
Big round of applause for our "impact player" suiting up tonight...Mikhail Grabovski!!!!!
I would've loved to see Hossa in a Habs uniform tonight but I like Bob's decision. His patience and smarts have turned this team around after years of ineptness. The team can STILL do damage this year and they are on their way to solid years in the very near future!
"Y'en aura pas de facile!"
-Claude "Piton" Ruel
Submitted by MCHC24 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:37.
Bravo!
Submitted by Cams Habs on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:31.
QUOTE:"We have no superstar waiting in the minors to come save our team. We, at best, have a decent selection of average to slightly above average players down there.
I honestly don't see a 100 point scorer in our next 5 years unless we sign an UFA." END QUOTE.
Do we need a 100 point scorer? No. Our team is strong now and will only be stronger due to our strength in pure numbers - Higgy, Tits 1, Tits 2, Plek, Komisarek, McDonaugh, Grabovski - Bob has taken a path to actually DEVELOP our youth, instead of trading 3 of them to borrow a 100 point guy for 3 months.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:38.
Fair enough and thats your opinion. I completely disagree. I don't think that a bunch of 40-60 point players will do anything to insure our success longterm, especially when they are as soft as the bunch you just listed (with the exception of Komi). A bunch of hardnosed 40-60 point players would be a different story but we have zero now and probably zero for a while.
The problem with soft players who score 40 points, 60 points, 80 points or 100 points is, that when you hit them, they disappear. See Sat night against Columbus.
Submitted by Shobud on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:43.
Then how come atl. was not on top of the league.. They had Hossa..One player does not carry a team
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:44.
...
Wtf are you talking about?
I never wanted Hossa. I wasn't talking about Hossa
Read.
Submitted by sadave on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:31.
Just getting ready to hear the press conf . . . kept waiting all day for the other skate to drop after the Huet trade for what seemed like almost nothing.
Overall, I am glad we didn't give up what Pitt did for Hossa. And, If I read the current standings correctly, if the season ended now, that second round pick is somewhere around 37th to 40th overall (just had a real quick look at it, admittedly). Not that bad.
Some of us here wanted Price to take the lead . . . here goes. I'll sure be watching tonight!!
Submitted by frank81 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:36.
It's Anaheim's 2nd round pick that we acquired, not Washington's.
Submitted by sadave on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:50.
frank81 -- thanks for clarifying my error . . . it was a REAL quick look I took, obviously. So it's more like at 56th pick (as things stand now).
Submitted by Cams Habs on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:29.
Ray gave up quite a bit, especially considering theres no way he can resign Hossa on July 1st, but they have ridiculously strong talent anyways (Crosby, Malkin, Stall) and it won't hurt them so much.
It would hurt us more considering our team is very young and the youth are the key for years to come. It will hurt Pens long term, but it certainly won't wipe them out.
Submitted by Prof Piton Palchak on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:28.
"Y'en aura pas de facile!"
-Claude "Piton" Ruel
Submitted by Bill H on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:28.
For those who doubt Gainey, you should know that John Ferguson Jr. is on record as saying that the Habs are the biggest losers of the trade deadline trading sweepstakes. Doesn't that just tell you that BG did the right thing in not overpaying for UFA Hossa, and going with youth in goal that we can sign over, Huet who would be gone at end of season anyway.
Submitted by Leclerc1965 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:36.
Yea and like John Ferguson Jr. knows the difference between winners and losers.
Submitted by BJ on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:27.
Bob went as far as he felt was reasonable to give for a rental player. Is Hossa worth 8 million in the coming years? I don't think so. Ask Tampa Bay with their top loaded 3-4 guys. How's Pittsburgh going to afford Crosby, Malkin and Hossa (Malkin is still low ball financially for another year, but after that they can't afford all three and Hossa will not be looking for a 1 year contract to accomodate the Pens). So its a big risk and I think the Pens decided they were in a position to go for the cup this year and gave up what they needed to get a high level rental player. The Pens have a team thats potentially closer to the cup than the Habs this year. As for Huet I'm sorry to see him go but I think the kids can handle the workload. Gainey is open to a lot of flak but he did the right thing. I'm sure the team would be happy to go two rounds in the playoffs and thats just not far enough to pay the asking price for Hossa.
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:24.
I don't think that Ray Shero is an assoH, but he paid quite a price for a rental.
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:35.
maybe the prise wasn't that big .Epostito a wssh , Erik super skill but super soft and a role player.
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:24.
Oops
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:24.
I don't think that Ray Shero is an assoH, but he paid quite a price for a rental.
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Submitted by madhabsfan on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:22.
A little irony comes with all this
The Montrealer Gainey didn't draft (Esposito) becomes part of the deal to screw Gainey out of Hossa.
I see Gainey's point of view after his press conference, but am I the only one who is getting tired of hearing about "great prospects in Hamilton" and "the future of this franchise"? These phrases are getting very tired very quickly.
Submitted by madhabsfan on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:43.
I am not downplaying the young talent in our organization. I just think that many fans are downplaying the importance of proven talent. This, too, is a necessary part of any organization that can claim, with a straight face, that their future is bright.
Am I saying we should have given Waddell what he wanted? Not necessarily. But I do think Gainey should make another serious go at getting someone in the offseason.
Submitted by wild flower on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:29.
No I am not tired. This team has improved considerably because of prospects up from Hamilton (who won the AHL championship last year). Aside from his playing success, Bob has coached a team the Minneapolis North Stars to the finals and was the GM who built the Dallas Stars championship team, so I think I will trust his judgement over that of the sages on this site.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:27.
Yeah its an old and tired message. Especially when its not really true.
We have no superstar waiting in the minors to come save our team. We, at best, have a decent selection of average to slightly above average players down there.
I honestly don't see a 100 point scorer in our next 5 years unless we sign an UFA.
Submitted by twilighthours on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:31.
How many 100 pt scorers did the last 4 cup winners have combined? HOw many 100 pt scorers were on the '93 Habs (a much higher-scoring era)?
There are many ways to win the cup. I don't think we're there yet but I love the direction of this franchise.
What is with all the impatience? At the beginning of the year, we would have been thrilled to be in 5th with 19 games left.
Submitted by the_vipah on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:42.
Err..some of us have waited for 15 years for something good to happen with this team, that may explain the annoyance.
Submitted by madhabsfan on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:49.
right on man!!!
Submitted by Chuck V. on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:26.
I like both McDonagh and Pacioretty better than Esposito, and I'm biased because I played with Angelo for a couple of years
Submitted by twilighthours on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:26.
Maybe you're only tired of hearing these phrases because you're impatient or you don't listen.
Guy and Bob have both been preaching - for a while now - that this year's goal was to make the playoffs, with a realistic run at the cup next year or the year after.
He's on plan and on target. Why does he keep touting great prospects and bright future? Because this was his plan all along.
Submitted by Cams Habs on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:25.
That's understandable, but we are VERY strong when it comes to youth development, in fact, near the top of the league, and it starts from the net out...
Price is the future.
O'Byrne and Komisarek are very promising, and we have Markov and Hammer locked up for a long time - no shortage in depth.
Our forwards are oozing potential. Higgins, Tits 1, Tits 2, Plekanec are our big 4, but we also have Latendresse, Lapierre, Chipchura, Grabovski... This team will only go up.
Submitted by Habs_008 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:20.
Good no Trade for Hossa. Wasnt sure about the Huet thing. but after hearing Gainey talk about Price and Halak i am happy with the move.
Submitted by Bob Barker on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:17.
I'm happy we didn't overpay for a rental. Getting Kovalev for Josef Balej and a 2nd rounder is a great deal especially since we resigned him. Trading away 3 current roster players as well as a prospect for Hossa would have been too much.
I'm excited to see Grabovski get another chance since he's been on a tear lately. I think Price and Halak will be an excellent tandem.
The Habs have some great chemistry this season, why risk messing it up by getting rid of 3 roster players.
Submitted by Smart Dog on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:17.
1. We had to move Huet. Too many goalies. Better to keep two young guys that will leave more cap room and who both have potential great careers ahead of them. If one becomes an all-star (and now we don't know which) it will show this was the necessary move to get there.
2. Not a goalies market. The Ducks got nothing when they put their spare goalie part on wavers and now the Coyotes have a great starter for nuthin. It's just not a goalies market now.
3. Hossa. Good that Bob didn't trade our future for this rent-a-player. We now have cap space and great prospects, a promising looking team to go for a big fish this summer. Last year was Hamrlik - this year a sniper.
I say Bob done good - set the table for the next step and didn't spill any milk.
________________________________________________________________
Habs Fans! The FUTURE looks bright:
Plekanec, Higgins, Chipchura, A Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Latendress,
Price, S Kostitsyn, Komisuarus, O'Byrne
Submitted by Chuck V. on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:24.
I'm with you on this. People keep saying how we have 2 inexperienced goaltenders going into the playoffs, but Huet has all of 6 NHL playoff games under his belt with a 2-4 record, and he's not getting any younger/better.
This move also does a great deal for Price as he knows he's the man now.
Submitted by Cams Habs on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:19.
Agree, agree and agree. Cristobal Huet has shown he isn't yet (and he's only getting older) the goalie needed to guide a team in 4 playoff series with consistent goaltending, let alone stealing games. Better to get an asset then let him go for nothing - I doubt he was going to resign him.
Submitted by Will Longlade on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:14.
I think Grabs should be given an opportunity to play tonight to demonstrate to everyone what the Habs would have lost in the deal. I'm glad the Hossa trade didn't go down and B.G. stuck to his long-term plan for the team. Yes, getting Hossa for a while would have been nice, but it involved giving up too much and the deal simply didn't make sense at the end of the day. For those lamenting the loss of Huet, B.G. also traded the right goalie. I like the guy and think he's a decent goalie, but the Habs wouldn't have retained his services for next year.
Submitted by frank81 on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 19:13.
I wonder how many people bemoaning the Huet trade were in favour of calling up Halak and sending Price down to the Bulldogs. If Gainey was telling the truth, it seems like Halak will now get his chance to show what he can do.
123next ›last »
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed